By ERIC BERGER <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/with-a-vaccine-mandate-looming-nursing-homes-face-more-staffing-problems/">Kaiser Health News</a>

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Jamie Smith, a staffing agency nurse who loves end-of-life care, said she has been warmly welcomed by staffers and residents at Frontier Health &amp; Rehabilitation in this conservative St. Louis suburb.

That’s even though she has not been vaccinated against covid-19.

But leaders of the nursing home, where 22 residents died from covid 
before vaccines were available, likely won’t be able to employ 
unvaccinated people like Smith for much longer. The <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/supreme-court-vaccine-mandate-ruling/">U.S. Supreme Court</a> on Jan. 13 upheld a <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-05/pdf/2021-23831.pdf">federal mandate</a>
 requiring health care workers at facilities that receive Medicaid or 
Medicare funding to be fully vaccinated. If all staffers — excluding 
those with approved religious or medical exemptions — aren’t fully 
vaccinated, the facility will lose that money.

Health care sites in Missouri and other states that challenged the 
federal requirement have until March 15 for their staffs to be fully 
vaccinated, according to the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid 
Services, while facilities in states that didn’t sue to block the 
mandate have a Feb. 28 deadline.

That poses a challenge for Frontier and its residents because the 
nursing home already doesn’t have enough staffers. And it is in the 
state with the lowest rate of fully vaccinated nursing home health care 
workers, 67% as of Jan. 9, according to CMS data. Frontier’s reported 
staff vaccination rate was just 30% at the start of the year.

That compares with a national rate of 81%, according to the federal data.

Although the mandate ensures that unvaccinated staff members are not 
caring for some of the people most vulnerable to the virus, not enough 
workers are willing to take the low-paying, challenging jobs. If they 
quit to avoid getting shots or are fired because they won’t get them, 
nursing home residents might not be any safer — because of lack of care.

“Obviously we need good staff members to take care of residents, but 
the residents need to be safe as well,” said Marjorie Moore, who 
supports the mandate and is executive director of Voyce, a St. Louis 
nonprofit that advocates for nursing home residents and their families.

“A person who lives in their own home has the chance to say, ‘I don’t
 want somebody in my home who isn’t vaccinated,’” she added. “In a 
nursing home, they don’t have the opportunity to say, ‘I don’t want 
somebody who is unvaccinated coming up and feeding me.’”

The problem of inadequate staffing at nursing homes predates the pandemic, and it’s gotten worse.

In March 2020, 3.3 million people were employed at U.S. nursing homes
 and residential care facilities, according to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. In December 2021, that number had dropped to 2.9 million, a 
loss of 400,000 workers.

Nursing home operators can’t find enough staffers because they often 
don’t pay much. The mean hourly wage for nursing assistants in Missouri 
was $13.33 in 2020, according to the statistics bureau. And the homes 
require employees to take on a slew of responsibilities, including 
feeding residents, changing adult diapers, and caring for residents who 
have dementia and may become combative.

Nursing assistants “can typically find a job with better pay that is less physically and emotionally demanding,” said <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/26750101-brian-e-mcgarry">Brian McGarry</a>,
 a University of Rochester professor who studies long-term care. 
“Somebody’s life and dignity is in your hands, and it’s a huge 
responsibility, and you are not getting paid commensurate with that 
responsibility.”

Those downsides of the job often lead to significant turnover. In 2017-18, <a href="https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/codifying-the-nursing-home-industrys-elusive-alarming-turnover-rates/">the turnover rate</a> among nursing home employees in Missouri was 138%, the fourth-highest in the country, according to a <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00957">study in the journal Health Affairs</a>. Frontier had a rate of more than 300%, according to Huizi Yu, one of the study’s authors.

The nursing home’s management declined to comment.

Smith, the nurse who works for a health care staffing agency, said 
she has not been vaccinated against covid because she had a rare cancer 
in 2017 and is “very particular about what I put in my body.”

She said, “I’m not sure if I would be able to get it just to keep a job.”

But, she noted in a text message, “I still practice safely.”

And, indeed, no Frontier residents have died from covid since the 
outbreak at the start of the pandemic, according to the federal data. 
But the center reported having seven new confirmed cases among its 
residents and 10 new cases among its staff as of Jan. 9. At the 
beginning of the year, 89% of residents were fully vaccinated against 
covid.

Low vaccination levels among staffers place residents at greater risk, according to a <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2115674">recent analysis</a>
 in The New England Journal of Medicine. Facilities in high-covid 
counties with an average staff vaccination rate of approximately 30% had
 nearly three times as many covid deaths among residents as facilities 
where about 82% of employees were vaccinated, the analysis found.

“An unvaccinated or low-vaccinated staff, I think, pretty clearly 
puts residents at risk — even if they are vaccinated,” said McGarry, one
 of the analysis’s authors.

The vaccination rate has increased from fewer than half of Missouri 
nursing home staff members when President Joe Biden announced the 
mandate for nursing homes Aug. 18 to about two-thirds of staffers now, 
according to the federal data.

Like Frontier, Northview Village does not have enough staffers, and 
most people who work there have not been vaccinated. The facility — a 
nursing home in a predominantly Black, low-income north St. Louis 
neighborhood — held a vaccination drive in December to increase its 
roughly 20% staff vaccination rate, but the numbers did not rise, 
according to the federal data. And only half of residents were fully 
vaccinated.

The Northview management declined to comment.

Kimberly Watkins, a technician who works to keep Northview residents 
active, was reluctant to get any of the shots, in part because she heard
 the conspiracy theory that they contained a tracking chip. But she said
 she decided to go ahead and get vaccinated because she has asthma and 
high blood pressure. Co-workers told her their doctors said that they 
didn’t need the vaccine or that they may be allergic to it.

Now with the mandate taking effect, Moore, of the nonprofit Voyce, thinks most local nursing home staffers will comply.

She highlighted Mary, Queen and Mother Center, a Catholic nonprofit 
nursing home in St. Louis County, that announced its own mandate in 
August. Before its Sept. 30 deadline, the nursing home saw its staff 
vaccination rate increase from 67% to 92%, with the remainder being 
those with a medical or religious exemption, according to the 
organization. The facility retained almost all its staff.

Not everyone is worried about nursing home staffers being vaccinated, in part reflecting the community around them. Just <a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/data/public-health/vaccine-county.php">55% of Missourians</a> are fully vaccinated.

“I’m not into forcing stuff on people,” said Antuan Diltz, a St. 
Louis firefighter whose mother is a 64-year-old retired nurse with 
dementia and diabetes living at Frontier. She received the vaccine; 
Diltz had not.

But others, like Bill Talton, who have family at Frontier hope more 
staffers will get the shots. Talton, a 77-year-old retired computer 
programmer, said he is happy with the care his younger brother, who has 
dementia, has received, although he sometimes couldn’t visit him during 
covid-related lockdowns.

“It’s kind of late in the game,” said Talton, who is fully vaccinated and received a booster. “They’ll get it done — I hope.”

KHN data editor Holly K. Hacker contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643123004196.png" alt="Nursing homes in Missouri like Frontier Health &amp; Rehabilitation in St. Charles risk losing funding from Medicaid and Medicare if their employees are not fully vaccinated by March 15. (Eric Berger for KHN)" />
 <figcaption>Nursing homes in Missouri like Frontier Health &amp; Rehabilitation in St. Charles risk losing funding from Medicaid and Medicare if their employees are not fully vaccinated by March 15. (Eric Berger for KHN)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC BERGER <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/with-a-vaccine-mandate-looming-nursing-homes-face-more-staffing-problems/">Kaiser Health News</a>ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Jamie Smith, a staffing agency nurse who loves end-of-life care, said she has been warmly welcomed by staffers and residents at Frontier Health &amp; Rehabilitation in this conservative St. Louis suburb.That’s even though she has not been vaccinated against covid-19.But leaders of the nursing home, where 22 residents died from covid 
before vaccines were available, likely won’t be able to employ 
unvaccinated people like Smith for much longer. The <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/supreme-court-vaccine-mandate-ruling/">U.S. Supreme Court</a> on Jan. 13 upheld a <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-05/pdf/2021-23831.pdf">federal mandate</a>
 requiring health care workers at facilities that receive Medicaid or 
Medicare funding to be fully vaccinated. If all staffers — excluding 
those with approved religious or medical exemptions — aren’t fully 
vaccinated, the facility will lose that money.Health care sites in Missouri and other states that challenged the 
federal requirement have until March 15 for their staffs to be fully 
vaccinated, according to the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid 
Services, while facilities in states that didn’t sue to block the 
mandate have a Feb. 28 deadline.That poses a challenge for Frontier and its residents because the 
nursing home already doesn’t have enough staffers. And it is in the 
state with the lowest rate of fully vaccinated nursing home health care 
workers, 67% as of Jan. 9, according to CMS data. Frontier’s reported 
staff vaccination rate was just 30% at the start of the year.That compares with a national rate of 81%, according to the federal data.<div><iframe title="Nursing Home Staff Vaccination Rates Vary Widely" aria-label="Map" id="datawrapper-chart-hs29A" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/hs29A/10/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="686"></div>Although the mandate ensures that unvaccinated staff members are not 
caring for some of the people most vulnerable to the virus, not enough 
workers are willing to take the low-paying, challenging jobs. If they 
quit to avoid getting shots or are fired because they won’t get them, 
nursing home residents might not be any safer — because of lack of care.“Obviously we need good staff members to take care of residents, but 
the residents need to be safe as well,” said Marjorie Moore, who 
supports the mandate and is executive director of Voyce, a St. Louis 
nonprofit that advocates for nursing home residents and their families.“A person who lives in their own home has the chance to say, ‘I don’t
 want somebody in my home who isn’t vaccinated,’” she added. “In a 
nursing home, they don’t have the opportunity to say, ‘I don’t want 
somebody who is unvaccinated coming up and feeding me.’”The problem of inadequate staffing at nursing homes predates the pandemic, and it’s gotten worse.In March 2020, 3.3 million people were employed at U.S. nursing homes
 and residential care facilities, according to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. In December 2021, that number had dropped to 2.9 million, a 
loss of 400,000 workers.Nursing home operators can’t find enough staffers because they often 
don’t pay much. The mean hourly wage for nursing assistants in Missouri 
was $13.33 in 2020, according to the statistics bureau. And the homes 
require employees to take on a slew of responsibilities, including 
feeding residents, changing adult diapers, and caring for residents who 
have dementia and may become combative.Nursing assistants “can typically find a job with better pay that is less physically and emotionally demanding,” said <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/26750101-brian-e-mcgarry">Brian McGarry</a>,
 a University of Rochester professor who studies long-term care. 
“Somebody’s life and dignity is in your hands, and it’s a huge 
responsibility, and you are not getting paid commensurate with that 
responsibility.”Those downsides of the job often lead to significant turnover. In 2017-18, <a href="https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/codifying-the-nursing-home-industrys-elusive-alarming-turnover-rates/">the turnover rate</a> among nursing home employees in Missouri was 138%, the fourth-highest in the country, according to a <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00957">study in the journal Health Affairs</a>. Frontier had a rate of more than 300%, according to Huizi Yu, one of the study’s authors.The nursing home’s management declined to comment.Smith, the nurse who works for a health care staffing agency, said 
she has not been vaccinated against covid because she had a rare cancer 
in 2017 and is “very particular about what I put in my body.”She said, “I’m not sure if I would be able to get it just to keep a job.”But, she noted in a text message, “I still practice safely.”And, indeed, no Frontier residents have died from covid since the 
outbreak at the start of the pandemic, according to the federal data. 
But the center reported having seven new confirmed cases among its 
residents and 10 new cases among its staff as of Jan. 9. At the 
beginning of the year, 89% of residents were fully vaccinated against 
covid.Low vaccination levels among staffers place residents at greater risk, according to a <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2115674">recent analysis</a>
 in The New England Journal of Medicine. Facilities in high-covid 
counties with an average staff vaccination rate of approximately 30% had
 nearly three times as many covid deaths among residents as facilities 
where about 82% of employees were vaccinated, the analysis found.“An unvaccinated or low-vaccinated staff, I think, pretty clearly 
puts residents at risk — even if they are vaccinated,” said McGarry, one
 of the analysis’s authors.The vaccination rate has increased from fewer than half of Missouri 
nursing home staff members when President Joe Biden announced the 
mandate for nursing homes Aug. 18 to about two-thirds of staffers now, 
according to the federal data.Like Frontier, Northview Village does not have enough staffers, and 
most people who work there have not been vaccinated. The facility — a 
nursing home in a predominantly Black, low-income north St. Louis 
neighborhood — held a vaccination drive in December to increase its 
roughly 20% staff vaccination rate, but the numbers did not rise, 
according to the federal data. And only half of residents were fully 
vaccinated.The Northview management declined to comment.Kimberly Watkins, a technician who works to keep Northview residents 
active, was reluctant to get any of the shots, in part because she heard
 the conspiracy theory that they contained a tracking chip. But she said
 she decided to go ahead and get vaccinated because she has asthma and 
high blood pressure. Co-workers told her their doctors said that they 
didn’t need the vaccine or that they may be allergic to it.Now with the mandate taking effect, Moore, of the nonprofit Voyce, thinks most local nursing home staffers will comply.She highlighted Mary, Queen and Mother Center, a Catholic nonprofit 
nursing home in St. Louis County, that announced its own mandate in 
August. Before its Sept. 30 deadline, the nursing home saw its staff 
vaccination rate increase from 67% to 92%, with the remainder being 
those with a medical or religious exemption, according to the 
organization. The facility retained almost all its staff.Not everyone is worried about nursing home staffers being vaccinated, in part reflecting the community around them. Just <a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/data/public-health/vaccine-county.php">55% of Missourians</a> are fully vaccinated.“I’m not into forcing stuff on people,” said Antuan Diltz, a St. 
Louis firefighter whose mother is a 64-year-old retired nurse with 
dementia and diabetes living at Frontier. She received the vaccine; 
Diltz had not.But others, like Bill Talton, who have family at Frontier hope more 
staffers will get the shots. Talton, a 77-year-old retired computer 
programmer, said he is happy with the care his younger brother, who has 
dementia, has received, although he sometimes couldn’t visit him during 
covid-related lockdowns.“It’s kind of late in the game,” said Talton, who is fully vaccinated and received a booster. “They’ll get it done — I hope.”KHN data editor Holly K. Hacker contributed to this report.

With vaccine mandate looming, nursing homes face staffing crisis

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has issued its first clean energy loan guarantee, reviving an Obama-era program that helped launch the country’s first utility-scale wind and solar farms a decade ago but has largely gone dormant in recent years.

The Energy Department said it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/open-business-lpo-issues-new-conditional-commitment-loan-guarantee" target="_blank">guarantee up to $1 billion in loans to help a Nebraska company scale up production of “clean” hydrogen</a>&nbsp;to convert natural gas into commercial products used in manufacturing and agriculture.

The revived loan program is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, amid legislative gridlock that has stalled a $2 trillion package of social and environmental initiatives. It’s among the tools he can use without new legislation.

Under President Barack Obama, the program boosted Tesla’s efforts to become a behemoth in electric cars, but it stumbled after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barack-obama-archive-economic-stimulus-30189ac3d2eb4daf926f2575cf6d0874">California solar company Solyndra failed&nbsp;</a>soon after receiving federal aid a decade ago, costing taxpayers more than $500 million. Republicans and other critics seized on Solyndra as an example of wasteful spending under Obama’s stimulus program.

The aid to Lincoln-based Monolith Inc. is the program’s first non-nuclear loan guarantee since 2016.

Monolith produces “carbon black,” a powdery substance that enhances tires and other rubber products, and hydrogen used in ammonia-based fertilizer.

Monolith says it can create both products while vastly shrinking their greenhouse gas emissions. The company plans to use the Energy Department guarantee to finance a major expansion of its existing Hallam, Nebraska, plant that produces hydrogen and carbon black.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm hailed the announcement as a sign the once-high profile loan program is back in business and ready to support deployment of clean energy, from biofuels to nuclear power and offshore wind.

“Advanced, clean production technology like Monolith’s are the types of impactful projects that support not just sustainability, but economic growth and clean energy jobs for the American people,” Granholm said.

Monolith will use the loan guarantees to “develop the innovation needed to help lead the clean energy transition, while also creating high-paying green jobs and strengthening our nation’s supply chain,” said Rob Hanson, the company’s co-founder and CEO.

Jigar Shah, who took over as director of the loan program office last year, said the program has drawn over 70 applications valued at more than $60 billion. The new bipartisan infrastructure law expanded the program’s authority and broadened the pool of eligible borrowers. The agency has access to roughly $40 billion in loan authority and expects to make an array of loan commitments in 2022, Shah said.

While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-steven-chu-8ddaf26f98424eae9dbf733da62c1427">Tesla</a>&nbsp;and Solyndra are the best known examples, the loan office manages over 30 projects worth more than $30 billion and generates $500 million in interest income for the federal government every year, Shah said.

“We have a track record of our projects being winners,″ he said in an interview. “And I know that we get a lot of press on the ones who don’t succeed,″ but the program has suffered just over $1 billion in losses since 2011, or roughly 3.3% of its investment, a figure Shah said is on par with commercial banks.

“Many people think we’re not taking enough risk,″ he said. ”But we’re in line with the best of the best.″

Some companies that apply for assistance “want the Loan Program Office to be sort of your fairy godmother in Cinderella, where you show up in rags and I create a carriage for you out of a pumpkin and turn all the mice into horses and all that stuff,″ Shah said. “But it’s just not the way it works.″

A former clean-energy entrepreneur who founded the SunEdison solar company, Shah said he understands the mindset of loan applicants —“you sell the dream, right?” — but says his job as a government official is to provide a reality check even as he offers assistance.

“Tell me how you’re going to make the mice into horses, and pumpkins into a carriage and the rags into a beautiful dress,″ he said, continuing the metaphor. “What processes and procedures have you learned to put in place? How are you going to protect my money?″

The loan guarantee program “is not intended to be a subsidy. It’s intended to be market-rate debt,″ Shah said.

Monolith is the first-ever commercial-scale project to deploy a technology known as methane pyrolysis, which converts natural gas into carbon black and hydrogen. While carbon black typically emits large volumes of carbon dioxide and other gases, Monolith says its technologies aim to reduce greenhouse gases by up to 80% compared to traditional production.

Robert Howarth, professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University, said he is “highly skeptical that this can be done with low emissions,″ adding that he was “very disappointed” at the Energy Department’s action.

“I very much doubt that emission reductions will be anywhere near that large when the upstream fugitive methane emissions are included,″ Howarth said in an email.

Howarth and Stanford professor Mark Jacobson published a research paper last year questioning climate benefits of so-called blue hydrogen produced from natural gas. “Emissions from blue hydrogen are worse than if one simply burned natural gas for the energy instead,″ Howarth said.

Shah called Howarth a friend, but said he is confident Monolith can meets its projections on carbon pollution.

“Even with the worst case scenario, and methane leakage, we still have 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions versus the business as usual processes,″ he said.

Monolith said it would create about 1,000 jobs to support expansion of its hydrogen plant

Goodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Co., one of two tiremakers that has signed a letter of intent to purchase the carbon black, said in a statement it was “excited” to work with Monolith to reduce its carbon footprint.

“As the only U.S.-headquartered tire manufacturer, it’s especially rewarding to be at the connection point of significant U.S. innovation with Monolith” and the Energy Department, said Richard Kramer, Goodyear’s chairman and CEO.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643137209562.png" alt="The revived loan program is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The revived loan program is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has issued its first clean energy loan guarantee, reviving an Obama-era program that helped launch the country’s first utility-scale wind and solar farms a decade ago but has largely gone dormant in recent years.The Energy Department said it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/open-business-lpo-issues-new-conditional-commitment-loan-guarantee" target="_blank">guarantee up to $1 billion in loans to help a Nebraska company scale up production of “clean” hydrogen</a>&nbsp;to convert natural gas into commercial products used in manufacturing and agriculture.The revived loan program is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, amid legislative gridlock that has stalled a $2 trillion package of social and environmental initiatives. It’s among the tools he can use without new legislation.Under President Barack Obama, the program boosted Tesla’s efforts to become a behemoth in electric cars, but it stumbled after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barack-obama-archive-economic-stimulus-30189ac3d2eb4daf926f2575cf6d0874">California solar company Solyndra failed&nbsp;</a>soon after receiving federal aid a decade ago, costing taxpayers more than $500 million. Republicans and other critics seized on Solyndra as an example of wasteful spending under Obama’s stimulus program.The aid to Lincoln-based Monolith Inc. is the program’s first non-nuclear loan guarantee since 2016.Monolith produces “carbon black,” a powdery substance that enhances tires and other rubber products, and hydrogen used in ammonia-based fertilizer.Monolith says it can create both products while vastly shrinking their greenhouse gas emissions. The company plans to use the Energy Department guarantee to finance a major expansion of its existing Hallam, Nebraska, plant that produces hydrogen and carbon black.Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm hailed the announcement as a sign the once-high profile loan program is back in business and ready to support deployment of clean energy, from biofuels to nuclear power and offshore wind.“Advanced, clean production technology like Monolith’s are the types of impactful projects that support not just sustainability, but economic growth and clean energy jobs for the American people,” Granholm said.Monolith will use the loan guarantees to “develop the innovation needed to help lead the clean energy transition, while also creating high-paying green jobs and strengthening our nation’s supply chain,” said Rob Hanson, the company’s co-founder and CEO.Jigar Shah, who took over as director of the loan program office last year, said the program has drawn over 70 applications valued at more than $60 billion. The new bipartisan infrastructure law expanded the program’s authority and broadened the pool of eligible borrowers. The agency has access to roughly $40 billion in loan authority and expects to make an array of loan commitments in 2022, Shah said.While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-steven-chu-8ddaf26f98424eae9dbf733da62c1427">Tesla</a>&nbsp;and Solyndra are the best known examples, the loan office manages over 30 projects worth more than $30 billion and generates $500 million in interest income for the federal government every year, Shah said.“We have a track record of our projects being winners,″ he said in an interview. “And I know that we get a lot of press on the ones who don’t succeed,″ but the program has suffered just over $1 billion in losses since 2011, or roughly 3.3% of its investment, a figure Shah said is on par with commercial banks.“Many people think we’re not taking enough risk,″ he said. ”But we’re in line with the best of the best.″Some companies that apply for assistance “want the Loan Program Office to be sort of your fairy godmother in Cinderella, where you show up in rags and I create a carriage for you out of a pumpkin and turn all the mice into horses and all that stuff,″ Shah said. “But it’s just not the way it works.″A former clean-energy entrepreneur who founded the SunEdison solar company, Shah said he understands the mindset of loan applicants —“you sell the dream, right?” — but says his job as a government official is to provide a reality check even as he offers assistance.“Tell me how you’re going to make the mice into horses, and pumpkins into a carriage and the rags into a beautiful dress,″ he said, continuing the metaphor. “What processes and procedures have you learned to put in place? How are you going to protect my money?″The loan guarantee program “is not intended to be a subsidy. It’s intended to be market-rate debt,″ Shah said.Monolith is the first-ever commercial-scale project to deploy a technology known as methane pyrolysis, which converts natural gas into carbon black and hydrogen. While carbon black typically emits large volumes of carbon dioxide and other gases, Monolith says its technologies aim to reduce greenhouse gases by up to 80% compared to traditional production.Robert Howarth, professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University, said he is “highly skeptical that this can be done with low emissions,″ adding that he was “very disappointed” at the Energy Department’s action.“I very much doubt that emission reductions will be anywhere near that large when the upstream fugitive methane emissions are included,″ Howarth said in an email.Howarth and Stanford professor Mark Jacobson published a research paper last year questioning climate benefits of so-called blue hydrogen produced from natural gas. “Emissions from blue hydrogen are worse than if one simply burned natural gas for the energy instead,″ Howarth said.Shah called Howarth a friend, but said he is confident Monolith can meets its projections on carbon pollution.“Even with the worst case scenario, and methane leakage, we still have 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions versus the business as usual processes,″ he said.Monolith said it would create about 1,000 jobs to support expansion of its hydrogen plantGoodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Co., one of two tiremakers that has signed a letter of intent to purchase the carbon black, said in a statement it was “excited” to work with Monolith to reduce its carbon footprint.“As the only U.S.-headquartered tire manufacturer, it’s especially rewarding to be at the connection point of significant U.S. innovation with Monolith” and the Energy Department, said Richard Kramer, Goodyear’s chairman and CEO.

Biden revives 'clean energy' program with $1B loan guarantee

Pfizer is enrolling healthy adults to test a reformulated COVID-19 vaccine that matches the hugely contagious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-omicron-variant-c4e5662a36708a594c454b171ab93bd0">omicron variant</a>, to see how it compares with the original shots.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday.

COVID-19 vaccine-makers have been updating their shots to better match omicron in case global health authorities decide the change is needed.

Omicron is more likely than previous variants to cause infection even in people who’ve been vaccinated, but it’s not yet clear that a change to the vaccine recipe will be ordered. Among the issues regulators are weighing: Some of the first places to face an omicron surge already are seeing the mutant wane — and there’s no way to know if the next variant that arises will resemble omicron or be totally different.

The original vaccines still offer good protection against severe illness and death. Studies in the U.S. and elsewhere have made clear that adding a booster dose strengthens that protection and improves the chances of avoiding even a milder infection.

“We recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address omicron and new variants in the future,” Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s vaccine research chief, said in a statement.

The new U.S. study will include up to 1,420 volunteers ages 18 to 55 to test the updated omicron-based shots for use as a booster or for primary vaccinations. Researchers will examine the tweaked vaccine’s safety and how it revs up the immune system in comparison to the original shots.

Full study results will take many months as volunteers receive multiple vaccine doses — and as researchers measure how long virus-fighting antibodies remain at high levels after an omicron-adapted dose versus the regular booster.

Pfizer’s CEO told CNBC earlier this month that the company could have some omicron-matched doses ready as early as March. But doing what the company calls “at-risk” manufacturing doesn’t mean those doses will be rolled out to the public. Pfizer and other vaccine makers also have brewed and tested experimental doses to match previous variants, changes that ultimately weren’t needed but offered valuable practice at tweaking the recipe.

For the new study, one group of about 600 volunteers who received two doses of the current Pfizer vaccine three to six months ago will receive either one or two omicron-based shots as boosters. Another 600 who have already gotten three regular doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be given a fourth dose of either the regular vaccine or the omicron-matched version.

The study also will enroll some unvaccinated volunteers who will receive three doses of the omicron-based vaccine.

Pfizer plans to produce 4 billion vaccine doses in 2022, and said Tuesday the amount isn’t expected to change if an omicron-adapted version is needed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604926559777.png" alt="Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday.-photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday.-photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressPfizer is enrolling healthy adults to test a reformulated COVID-19 vaccine that matches the hugely contagious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-omicron-variant-c4e5662a36708a594c454b171ab93bd0">omicron variant</a>, to see how it compares with the original shots.Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday.COVID-19 vaccine-makers have been updating their shots to better match omicron in case global health authorities decide the change is needed.Omicron is more likely than previous variants to cause infection even in people who’ve been vaccinated, but it’s not yet clear that a change to the vaccine recipe will be ordered. Among the issues regulators are weighing: Some of the first places to face an omicron surge already are seeing the mutant wane — and there’s no way to know if the next variant that arises will resemble omicron or be totally different.The original vaccines still offer good protection against severe illness and death. Studies in the U.S. and elsewhere have made clear that adding a booster dose strengthens that protection and improves the chances of avoiding even a milder infection.“We recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address omicron and new variants in the future,” Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s vaccine research chief, said in a statement.The new U.S. study will include up to 1,420 volunteers ages 18 to 55 to test the updated omicron-based shots for use as a booster or for primary vaccinations. Researchers will examine the tweaked vaccine’s safety and how it revs up the immune system in comparison to the original shots.Full study results will take many months as volunteers receive multiple vaccine doses — and as researchers measure how long virus-fighting antibodies remain at high levels after an omicron-adapted dose versus the regular booster.Pfizer’s CEO told CNBC earlier this month that the company could have some omicron-matched doses ready as early as March. But doing what the company calls “at-risk” manufacturing doesn’t mean those doses will be rolled out to the public. Pfizer and other vaccine makers also have brewed and tested experimental doses to match previous variants, changes that ultimately weren’t needed but offered valuable practice at tweaking the recipe.For the new study, one group of about 600 volunteers who received two doses of the current Pfizer vaccine three to six months ago will receive either one or two omicron-based shots as boosters. Another 600 who have already gotten three regular doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be given a fourth dose of either the regular vaccine or the omicron-matched version.The study also will enroll some unvaccinated volunteers who will receive three doses of the omicron-based vaccine.Pfizer plans to produce 4 billion vaccine doses in 2022, and said Tuesday the amount isn’t expected to change if an omicron-adapted version is needed.___

Pfizer begins testing omicron-matched COVID shots in adults

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Police in Kansas City are investigating the city’s latest shooting death after officers found a woman fatally wounded on a sidewalk early Tuesday.

The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in the northeastern section of the city, police said in a news release. Officers called to the scene found the woman unresponsive on a sidewalk with a gunshot wound. Paramedics declared her dead at the scene.

Her name was not immediately released. Police have not announced any arrests or suspects in the case.

Detectives were canvassing the area for witnesses, and and crime scene officials were processing the scene for evidence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643129663292.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Police in Kansas City are investigating the city’s latest shooting death after officers found a woman fatally wounded on a sidewalk early Tuesday.The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in the northeastern section of the city, police said in a news release. Officers called to the scene found the woman unresponsive on a sidewalk with a gunshot wound. Paramedics declared her dead at the scene.Her name was not immediately released. Police have not announced any arrests or suspects in the case.Detectives were canvassing the area for witnesses, and and crime scene officials were processing the scene for evidence.

Police find woman fatally wounded on sidewalk in Kansas City

My wife and I own a small catering business. We have a few big corporations as clients, and our company has been very successful over the last two or three years. Now, we are planning to build a house. I was wondering what you think about how much should be spent on the land itself versus the construction of the actual house.&nbsp;

When the whole thing is done, the payment you end up with shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take-home pay on a 15-year, fixed-rate loan. The ratio of land to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-calculator">house</a>&nbsp;can vary, and that part’s up to you. If you’re buying a big piece of land, you’re probably going to have a higher ratio of land cost to home cost than if you bought a simple lot and put a really nice home there.

Generally, a standard subdivision lot is going to be around 20% of the total price. If you spend $100,000 on the lot, you’ll end up with a total project cost of about a half-million. Now, keep in mind that’s just a fairly standard ratio. It’s not a rule.

The only rule here is my rule about mortgage payments. Again, no more than 25% of your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">take-home pay</a>&nbsp;on a fixed-rate, 15-year note. Otherwise, you can end up house poor. And when you’re house poor, it takes away your ability to save, build wealth, and give.

Having a big house and a lot of land is cool if you can afford it, Lee. But it’s not worth it if it’s financially stressful and prevents you from living your best life!

*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,My wife and I own a small catering business. We have a few big corporations as clients, and our company has been very successful over the last two or three years. Now, we are planning to build a house. I was wondering what you think about how much should be spent on the land itself versus the construction of the actual house.&nbsp;LeeDear Lee,When the whole thing is done, the payment you end up with shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take-home pay on a 15-year, fixed-rate loan. The ratio of land to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-calculator">house</a>&nbsp;can vary, and that part’s up to you. If you’re buying a big piece of land, you’re probably going to have a higher ratio of land cost to home cost than if you bought a simple lot and put a really nice home there.Generally, a standard subdivision lot is going to be around 20% of the total price. If you spend $100,000 on the lot, you’ll end up with a total project cost of about a half-million. Now, keep in mind that’s just a fairly standard ratio. It’s not a rule.The only rule here is my rule about mortgage payments. Again, no more than 25% of your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">take-home pay</a>&nbsp;on a fixed-rate, 15-year note. Otherwise, you can end up house poor. And when you’re house poor, it takes away your ability to save, build wealth, and give.Having a big house and a lot of land is cool if you can afford it, Lee. But it’s not worth it if it’s financially stressful and prevents you from living your best life!— Dave*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: How much dirt, and how much house?

RENO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a Monday arrest.

On Monday evening, police stopped a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Derek Jaquez in the 500 Block of East 6th Street in Hutchinson, according to a media release. Police called in a K-9 unit to check for drugs.&nbsp;A search of the vehicle turned up ten pounds of marijuana in the back seat of the vehicle.

Officers took Jaquez into custody on requested charges of of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jaquez has previous convictions for burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643126166073.png" alt="Jaquez has previous convictions for burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Jaquez has previous convictions for burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a Monday arrest.On Monday evening, police stopped a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Derek Jaquez in the 500 Block of East 6th Street in Hutchinson, according to a media release. Police called in a K-9 unit to check for drugs.&nbsp;A search of the vehicle turned up ten pounds of marijuana in the back seat of the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643121971581.jpeg" alt="Photo Hutchinson Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hutchinson Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers took Jaquez into custody on requested charges of of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jaquez has previous convictions for burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police arrest Kansas felon after K9 finds 10 pounds of marijuana

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/22/legislative-auditors-skeptical-prairiefire-development-can-pay-off-64-8m-in-bond-debt/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Overland Park 
retail, office, hotel and residential development attached to the 
Prairiefire museum struggles to attract out-of-state tourists and could 
default on $64.8 million in bond debt issued through a state economic 
development program under scrutiny by the Legislature.

Auditors with the Legislature said their analysis of the Prairiefire 
project built with capital raised through issuance in 2012 of Sales Tax 
Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, indicated the project wasn’t generating 
enough sales tax revenue to repay debts in the required 20-year period. 
Originally, $64.9 million in bonds were issued for the project. Debt 
remaining to be paid: $64.8 million.

Auditors predicted it could take until 2046 or 2104 to produce 
sufficient sales tax revenue to retire the Prairiefire obligations held 
by the city of Overland Park.

“They are in danger of default,” said Andy Brienzo, of the 
Legislature’s audit division. “We can’t say that definitively. There is 
some additional development that is slated to happen.”

Bob North, general counsel with the Kansas Department of Commerce, 
said he didn’t share skepticism of auditors but also couldn’t guarantee 
success of Prairiefire, which includes a museum for traveling natural 
history exhibits. The commerce department has approved 19 STAR bond 
projects since the 1990s for Atchison, Garden City, Salina, Wichita, 
Topeka, Goddard, Manhattan and other cities.

He said museums, racetracks, sports facilities and other venues build
 with of $1.1 billion in bond proceeds were intended to raise the 
quality of life for benefit of Kansans and to attract tourists to the 
state. He said the objective of STAR bonds wasn’t simply generation of 
tax revenue.

“If they were, we’d take our money and build a bunch of Walmarts,” 
North said. “The goal of STAR bonds is to create attractions that are 
going to bring visitors to the state.”

The House and Senate commerce committees this week invited the Kansas
 Division of Legislative Post Audit to outline findings of a 2021 audit 
of STAR bond initiatives. Auditors discovered only three projects 
outside of the mega-development at Village West in Wyandotte County that
 fulfilled the objective of elevating tourism.

“STAR bonds are a very, very effective and strong economic 
development tool,” North said. “They’ve worked well in most instances. 
I’m not going to tell you every project is perfect.”

Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican, said she was 
disappointed with the quality of information submitted to the state by 
STAR bond recipients.

“As we look at the annual reports that were submitted to the 
Department of Commerce,” she said, “some of it doesn’t give real data. 
It might say visitation went up 30%. Well, 30% from what number?”

Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, said the assessment of STAR bonds 
by legislative auditors was “a particularly narrow evaluation.” It was 
based on estimates of out-of-state visitors and documentation of sales 
tax revenue but didn’t take into account other evidence of economic 
development such as the multiplier effect of those new businesses, he 
said.

“I have some issues with some of this,” Pittman said.

The latest STAR bond annual report submitted to the Legislature by 
the Department of Commerce pointed to success of Children’s Mercy Park 
where the Sporting Kansas City professional soccer team plays. It’s 
become one of the state’s top tourist destinations.

To build the MLS soccer complex, $150 million in STAR bonds were 
issued in 2010. That debt was paid off in less than seven years.

Jake Reid, president and chief executive officer of Sporting Kansas 
City, said the franchise derived significant benefit from the STAR bond 
law and the private-public partnership with the Unified Government of 
Wyandotte County and the state of Kansas.

“We’re the second-smallest market in our league, yet we often times 
consistently punch above our weight class in terms of on-field results 
as well as the business results,” Reid said. “On average, we drive over 
600,000 per year through Children’s Mercy Park.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643043754354.png" alt="The Kansas Legislature’s auditors say the Prairiefire development in Overland Park financed with $65 million in STAR bonds issued under a state program is in jeopardy of defaulting on debt because it won’t likely retire the bonds in the required 20 years. (Screen capture/Kansas Department of Commerce report)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Legislature’s auditors say the Prairiefire development in Overland Park financed with $65 million in STAR bonds issued under a state program is in jeopardy of defaulting on debt because it won’t likely retire the bonds in the required 20 years. (Screen capture/Kansas Department of Commerce report)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/22/legislative-auditors-skeptical-prairiefire-development-can-pay-off-64-8m-in-bond-debt/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Overland Park 
retail, office, hotel and residential development attached to the 
Prairiefire museum struggles to attract out-of-state tourists and could 
default on $64.8 million in bond debt issued through a state economic 
development program under scrutiny by the Legislature.Auditors with the Legislature said their analysis of the Prairiefire 
project built with capital raised through issuance in 2012 of Sales Tax 
Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, indicated the project wasn’t generating 
enough sales tax revenue to repay debts in the required 20-year period. 
Originally, $64.9 million in bonds were issued for the project. Debt 
remaining to be paid: $64.8 million.Auditors predicted it could take until 2046 or 2104 to produce 
sufficient sales tax revenue to retire the Prairiefire obligations held 
by the city of Overland Park.“They are in danger of default,” said Andy Brienzo, of the 
Legislature’s audit division. “We can’t say that definitively. There is 
some additional development that is slated to happen.”Bob North, general counsel with the Kansas Department of Commerce, 
said he didn’t share skepticism of auditors but also couldn’t guarantee 
success of Prairiefire, which includes a museum for traveling natural 
history exhibits. The commerce department has approved 19 STAR bond 
projects since the 1990s for Atchison, Garden City, Salina, Wichita, 
Topeka, Goddard, Manhattan and other cities.He said museums, racetracks, sports facilities and other venues build
 with of $1.1 billion in bond proceeds were intended to raise the 
quality of life for benefit of Kansans and to attract tourists to the 
state. He said the objective of STAR bonds wasn’t simply generation of 
tax revenue.“If they were, we’d take our money and build a bunch of Walmarts,” 
North said. “The goal of STAR bonds is to create attractions that are 
going to bring visitors to the state.”The House and Senate commerce committees this week invited the Kansas
 Division of Legislative Post Audit to outline findings of a 2021 audit 
of STAR bond initiatives. Auditors discovered only three projects 
outside of the mega-development at Village West in Wyandotte County that
 fulfilled the objective of elevating tourism.“STAR bonds are a very, very effective and strong economic 
development tool,” North said. “They’ve worked well in most instances. 
I’m not going to tell you every project is perfect.”Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican, said she was 
disappointed with the quality of information submitted to the state by 
STAR bond recipients.“As we look at the annual reports that were submitted to the 
Department of Commerce,” she said, “some of it doesn’t give real data. 
It might say visitation went up 30%. Well, 30% from what number?”Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, said the assessment of STAR bonds 
by legislative auditors was “a particularly narrow evaluation.” It was 
based on estimates of out-of-state visitors and documentation of sales 
tax revenue but didn’t take into account other evidence of economic 
development such as the multiplier effect of those new businesses, he 
said.“I have some issues with some of this,” Pittman said.The latest STAR bond annual report submitted to the Legislature by 
the Department of Commerce pointed to success of Children’s Mercy Park 
where the Sporting Kansas City professional soccer team plays. It’s 
become one of the state’s top tourist destinations.To build the MLS soccer complex, $150 million in STAR bonds were 
issued in 2010. That debt was paid off in less than seven years.Jake Reid, president and chief executive officer of Sporting Kansas 
City, said the franchise derived significant benefit from the STAR bond 
law and the private-public partnership with the Unified Government of 
Wyandotte County and the state of Kansas.“We’re the second-smallest market in our league, yet we often times 
consistently punch above our weight class in terms of on-field results 
as well as the business results,” Reid said. “On average, we drive over 
600,000 per year through Children’s Mercy Park.”

Auditors skeptical KC-area development can pay off $64.8M in bond debt

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with an officer involved shooting in Wichita.

Just before 1:30a.m. Monday, a Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy observed the driver of a red Lexus later identified as 26-year-old Kory Anziana of Wichita  commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Pawnee and Meridian in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

 The deputy attempted to stop the Lexus and Anziana fled in the vehicle. The pursuit lasted approximately six minutes with the top speeds reported near 70 MPH. The pursuit ended when the Lexus became high-centered in the parking lot of the Regency Inn at 6125 W Kellogg Drive in Wichita.

Anziana shot at the pursuing deputy and two deputies returned fire. No one was struck by any of the gunfire. He then fled into an occupied room at the Regency Inn. One of the occupants of the room was able to communicate with motel staff and eventually law enforcement through a messenger app. Eventually, the occupants of the room walked out on their own. At approximately 8:25a.m. the deputies arrested Anziana.

He is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Flee and Elude, Drug charges and three outstanding arrest warrants, according to Lt. Blick.&nbsp;Anziana has previous conviction that include theft and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643045344587.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of the standoff early Monday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of the standoff early Monday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with an officer involved shooting in Wichita.Just before 1:30a.m. Monday, a Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy observed the driver of a red Lexus later identified as 26-year-old Kory Anziana of Wichita commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Pawnee and Meridian in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The deputy attempted to stop the Lexus and Anziana fled in the vehicle. The pursuit lasted approximately six minutes with the top speeds reported near 70 MPH. The pursuit ended when the Lexus became high-centered in the parking lot of the Regency Inn at 6125 W Kellogg Drive in Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643074033843.png" alt="Anziana- has previous conviction that include theft and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Anziana- has previous conviction that include theft and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Anziana shot at the pursuing deputy and two deputies returned fire. No one was struck by any of the gunfire. He then fled into an occupied room at the Regency Inn. One of the occupants of the room was able to communicate with motel staff and eventually law enforcement through a messenger app. Eventually, the occupants of the room walked out on their own. At approximately 8:25a.m. the deputies arrested Anziana.He is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Flee and Elude, Drug charges and three outstanding arrest warrants, according to Lt. Blick.&nbsp;Anziana has previous conviction that include theft and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Sheriff: Kan. felon identified as suspect in deputy shooting, standoff

2022 Senate Scene – Week 1 and 2

TOPEKA - As we get settled into the first and second week of the 2022 legislative session, most of our work is concentrated in committees where bills are being prioritized and vetted. The Senate has 19 standing committees which cover many different topics, including education, agriculture, judiciary, budget and utilities—to name a few.&nbsp; Once a committee completes hearings and votes on a bill, if passed, it will then make its way to the Senate floor and the full body will begin to debate and vote on the measure. Floor debates and votes will begin in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in tracking our work, you can follow us at our website at&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;A daily calendar is available as well as directions on how to view committee work live-time and view archive past committee and floor action.&nbsp;

My committees remain the same as last year - the Ethics, Elections and Local Government committee is now two committees renamed Transparency and Ethics and Local Government.&nbsp; I will Chair Transparency and Ethics and will serve as the Vice-Chair of Local Government.&nbsp; I continue to serve on the Transportation, Judiciary and Utility committees and remain on the Historical Preservation Committee.&nbsp; I was also assigned to a new committee, the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, January 11th, Governor Kelly delivered her State of the State address in the House Chambers. Her address is the starting point for the budget process in Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations and sets the tone for the upcoming session.&nbsp; Both committees are currently reviewing her budget proposals for 2022.&nbsp;Currently, the state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3.0 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. &nbsp;While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions aimed at helping Kansas families and boosting the Kansas economy.

House Bill 2477 (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2477/" target="_blank">HB 2477</a>) -&nbsp;legislation crafted to codify two executive orders to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. It accomplishes this by temporarily deregulating several provisions of Kansas law, including:

*Allowing nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education.

*Providing the ability for students who are enrolled in programs to become healthcare professionals, as well as military members who are also emergency medical personnel to volunteer at healthcare facilities

*Allows Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Anesthetists, Registered Professional Nurses and Licensed Pharmacists to provide additional services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

*Health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas.

The bill sunsets the provisions in January of 2023, which will allow the legislature to look at the matter again in one year.&nbsp; HB 2477 passed the Senate 36-2. The House then immediately concurred on the legislation, sending it to the governor, who then immediately signed the legislation.

Senate Bill 318 – (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb318/" target="_blank">SB 318</a>)&nbsp;introduced by Senator Billinger, Senator Tyson and myself will aid property owners whose property is destroyed by natural disasters.&nbsp; It was written and pre-filed to address the recent fires in Ellis, Osborne, Rooks and Russell counties to provide sales tax relief for new fencing which will be needed after the fires on December 15th.&nbsp;

*It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters.

*It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair, or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021.

The bill was amended in the Senate Committee of the Whole to, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.&nbsp;&nbsp; SB 318 passed the Senate 35-0.

Before the session is complete, the legislature must pass new maps for Congress, the State Senate, the State House, and the State Board of Education.&nbsp; The maps are treated like typical legislative bills, which means they must be passed by both chambers and be signed into law by the governor – or, if the governor vetoes the bill containing the map(s), the legislature can override her veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers.

The Senate Redistricting Committee, chaired by Senate Vice President Rick Wilborn, had its first meeting of the 2022 legislative session on Wednesday, January 12th.&nbsp; Chairman Wilborn discussed the 14 in-person tours and numerous virtual tours that the legislature hosted throughout the late summer and fall, where we received incredible input from people from every corner of our great state.&nbsp; The committee also adopted its rules and guidelines for the mapping process.

On Friday, the Kansas Senate passed the “Ad Astra 2” map, a Congressional Map that is primarily based upon suggestions received on the in-person and virtual listening tours. The same map was also introduced in the House Redistricting Committee.

*The map only splits four counties. Pawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Wyandotte are the only split counties on the new map. Both Douglas and Wyandotte are primarily divided along natural and geographic barriers such as highways and rivers.

*The First District contains both University of Kansas and Kansas State University, which have aligned goals, returning them to the same Congressional district.

*The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard.

*The Third District keeps Johnson County together, blending the Kansas City suburbs with nearby bedroom communities.

*The Fourth District includes Wichita and surrounding communities.

*Indian Reservations are kept wholly within Congressional districts.

American Legion Girl and Boy State

The annual programs will return this year and are taking applications for the leadership programs.&nbsp; Girl State will be held June 12-17th&nbsp;at the University of Kansas and Boys State June 5-11th&nbsp;at Kansas State University.&nbsp; Both programs focus on “learning by doing” and is political exercise that simulate elections, political parties and government at the state, county, and local levels.&nbsp; Girl State applicants will need to have completed their junior year and Boy State applicants will need to have completed their sophomore year.&nbsp; 

For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksgirlsstate.org/" target="_blank">www.ksgirlsstate.org</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com" target="_blank">secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;with a deadline of May 30th.&nbsp; Boy State information -&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info.1937@ksbstate.org" target="_blank">info.1937@ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;or call 785 550-6492 with a deadline of March 31st, 2022.

You can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed and can also be viewed on the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. The Kansas Legislature website is easy to use with Senate and House calendars and journals as well as the rosters of both chambers. Here are the relevant links:

Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>

YouTube Streaming:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHF34R6w-q9Yyc4qETkM4i0oK77_HAcUcgnTEzGR0bc3XlkSfwIv7NNomoykZXxAe6JYkaUz8mVZZ4=&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0</a>

Committee Hearings:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFxPF3ofZot5nNQg29dl4IyyVwRxdehplaQI7UbFxYaMuHnBMclSTctfgUBGJFJhfBo5ERAz73sU3LnGPhP0mE6TsXQN3ZnpUtIzuCJEE31Q7s8BoUqzHzoE_0wonREwYfL5UydW56Tj2K886u6fhh9w==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/</a>

My office remains in the same suite, 223E (East wing second floor) next to the cage elevator.&nbsp; Randi Walters who has worked in the Capitol for 19 years as an assistant and a committee assistant is in our office.

As session progresses, not every bill introduced will make it to the governor’s desk, but that doesn’t mean opinions, facts and testimony wasn’t heard. Your participation in the state legislature is vital. As we continue to weed through the different bills, I hope to hear from you. I want to know how legislation will impact you and our district, or the ideas you have to improve a bill.&nbsp; A personal email with your thoughts is the best way to reach us as we sit in committees for most of the day and seldom get to stay at our desks for long periods.&nbsp;

Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov</a> 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>

Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas which includes:

* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell,&nbsp;Smith and Washington Counties * Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville;&nbsp;Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek,&nbsp;Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville * Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg;&nbsp;Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom,&nbsp;Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum,&nbsp;Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner,&nbsp;Valley and Walnut

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580853658061.jpeg" alt="Sen. Elaine Bowers , R-Concordia, 36th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Elaine Bowers , R-Concordia, 36th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>2022 Senate Scene – Week 1 and 2Senate HighlightsTOPEKA - As we get settled into the first and second week of the 2022 legislative session, most of our work is concentrated in committees where bills are being prioritized and vetted. The Senate has 19 standing committees which cover many different topics, including education, agriculture, judiciary, budget and utilities—to name a few.&nbsp; Once a committee completes hearings and votes on a bill, if passed, it will then make its way to the Senate floor and the full body will begin to debate and vote on the measure. Floor debates and votes will begin in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in tracking our work, you can follow us at our website at&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;A daily calendar is available as well as directions on how to view committee work live-time and view archive past committee and floor action.&nbsp;Committee AssignmentsMy committees remain the same as last year - the Ethics, Elections and Local Government committee is now two committees renamed Transparency and Ethics and Local Government.&nbsp; I will Chair Transparency and Ethics and will serve as the Vice-Chair of Local Government.&nbsp; I continue to serve on the Transportation, Judiciary and Utility committees and remain on the Historical Preservation Committee.&nbsp; I was also assigned to a new committee, the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight.&nbsp;<a>State of the State</a>On Tuesday, January 11th, Governor Kelly delivered her State of the State address in the House Chambers. Her address is the starting point for the budget process in Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations and sets the tone for the upcoming session.&nbsp; Both committees are currently reviewing her budget proposals for 2022.&nbsp;Currently, the state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3.0 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. &nbsp;While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions aimed at helping Kansas families and boosting the Kansas economy.Senate Floor ActionHouse Bill 2477 (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2477/" target="_blank">HB 2477</a>) -&nbsp;legislation crafted to codify two executive orders to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. It accomplishes this by temporarily deregulating several provisions of Kansas law, including:*Allowing nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education.*Providing the ability for students who are enrolled in programs to become healthcare professionals, as well as military members who are also emergency medical personnel to volunteer at healthcare facilities*Allows Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Anesthetists, Registered Professional Nurses and Licensed Pharmacists to provide additional services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic*Health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas.The bill sunsets the provisions in January of 2023, which will allow the legislature to look at the matter again in one year.&nbsp; HB 2477 passed the Senate 36-2. The House then immediately concurred on the legislation, sending it to the governor, who then immediately signed the legislation.Senate Bill 318 – (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb318/" target="_blank">SB 318</a>)&nbsp;introduced by Senator Billinger, Senator Tyson and myself will aid property owners whose property is destroyed by natural disasters.&nbsp; It was written and pre-filed to address the recent fires in Ellis, Osborne, Rooks and Russell counties to provide sales tax relief for new fencing which will be needed after the fires on December 15th.&nbsp; The bill does so in two ways:*It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters.*It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair, or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021.The bill was amended in the Senate Committee of the Whole to, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.&nbsp;&nbsp; SB 318 passed the Senate 35-0.Redistricting processBefore the session is complete, the legislature must pass new maps for Congress, the State Senate, the State House, and the State Board of Education.&nbsp; The maps are treated like typical legislative bills, which means they must be passed by both chambers and be signed into law by the governor – or, if the governor vetoes the bill containing the map(s), the legislature can override her veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers.The Senate Redistricting Committee, chaired by Senate Vice President Rick Wilborn, had its first meeting of the 2022 legislative session on Wednesday, January 12th.&nbsp; Chairman Wilborn discussed the 14 in-person tours and numerous virtual tours that the legislature hosted throughout the late summer and fall, where we received incredible input from people from every corner of our great state.&nbsp; The committee also adopted its rules and guidelines for the mapping process.On Friday, the Kansas Senate passed the “Ad Astra 2” map, a Congressional Map that is primarily based upon suggestions received on the in-person and virtual listening tours. The same map was also introduced in the House Redistricting Committee.Highlights of the map include:*The map only splits four counties. Pawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Wyandotte are the only split counties on the new map. Both Douglas and Wyandotte are primarily divided along natural and geographic barriers such as highways and rivers.*The First District contains both University of Kansas and Kansas State University, which have aligned goals, returning them to the same Congressional district.*The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard.*The Third District keeps Johnson County together, blending the Kansas City suburbs with nearby bedroom communities.*The Fourth District includes Wichita and surrounding communities.*Indian Reservations are kept wholly within Congressional districts.American Legion Girl and Boy StateThe annual programs will return this year and are taking applications for the leadership programs.&nbsp; Girl State will be held June 12-17th&nbsp;at the University of Kansas and Boys State June 5-11th&nbsp;at Kansas State University.&nbsp; Both programs focus on “learning by doing” and is political exercise that simulate elections, political parties and government at the state, county, and local levels.&nbsp; Girl State applicants will need to have completed their junior year and Boy State applicants will need to have completed their sophomore year.&nbsp; For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksgirlsstate.org/" target="_blank">www.ksgirlsstate.org</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com" target="_blank">secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;with a deadline of May 30th.&nbsp; Boy State information -&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info.1937@ksbstate.org" target="_blank">info.1937@ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;or call 785 550-6492 with a deadline of March 31st, 2022.Following the Kansas LegislatureYou can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed and can also be viewed on the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. The Kansas Legislature website is easy to use with Senate and House calendars and journals as well as the rosters of both chambers. Here are the relevant links:Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>YouTube Streaming:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHF34R6w-q9Yyc4qETkM4i0oK77_HAcUcgnTEzGR0bc3XlkSfwIv7NNomoykZXxAe6JYkaUz8mVZZ4=&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0</a>Committee Hearings:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFxPF3ofZot5nNQg29dl4IyyVwRxdehplaQI7UbFxYaMuHnBMclSTctfgUBGJFJhfBo5ERAz73sU3LnGPhP0mE6TsXQN3ZnpUtIzuCJEE31Q7s8BoUqzHzoE_0wonREwYfL5UydW56Tj2K886u6fhh9w==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/</a>Office InformationMy office remains in the same suite, 223E (East wing second floor) next to the cage elevator.&nbsp; Randi Walters who has worked in the Capitol for 19 years as an assistant and a committee assistant is in our office.As session progresses, not every bill introduced will make it to the governor’s desk, but that doesn’t mean opinions, facts and testimony wasn’t heard. Your participation in the state legislature is vital. As we continue to weed through the different bills, I hope to hear from you. I want to know how legislation will impact you and our district, or the ideas you have to improve a bill.&nbsp; A personal email with your thoughts is the best way to reach us as we sit in committees for most of the day and seldom get to stay at our desks for long periods.&nbsp;Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov</a> 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas which includes:* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell,&nbsp;Smith and Washington Counties * Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville;&nbsp;Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek,&nbsp;Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville * Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg;&nbsp;Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom,&nbsp;Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum,&nbsp;Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner,&nbsp;Valley and Walnut

BOWERS: Senate Scene Weeks 1 and 2

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert Monday to potentially deploy to Europe as part of a NATO “response force” amid growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine. President Joe Biden consulted with key European leaders, underscoring U.S. solidarity with allies there.

Putting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine.

At stake, beyond the future of Ukraine, is the credibility of a NATO alliance that is central to U.S. defense strategy but that Putin views as a Cold War relic and a threat to Russian security. For Biden, the crisis represents a major test of his ability to forge a united&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-vladimir-putin-soviet-union-europe-32b8a914ad4debba6c3231738a5f5a36">allied stance against Putin.</a>

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said about 8,500 U.S.-based troops are being put on alert for possible deployment — not to Ukraine but to NATO territory in Eastern Europe as part of an alliance force meant to signal a unified commitment to deter any wider Putin aggression.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-britain-intelligence-claims-8342b5b5aafd6a095d2e427d3e4201c5">Russia denies it is planning an invasion.</a>&nbsp;It says Western accusations are merely a cover for NATO’s own planned provocations. Recent days have seen high-stakes diplomacy that has failed to reach any breakthrough, and key players in the drama are making moves that suggest fear of imminent war. Biden has sought to strike a balance between actions meant to deter Putin and those that might provide the Russian leader with an opening to use the huge force he has assembled at Ukraine’s border.

Biden held an 80-minute video call with several European leaders on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion.

“I had a very, very, very good meeting -- total unanimity with all the European leaders,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “We’ll talk about it later.”

The White House said the leaders emphasized their desire for a diplomatic solution to the crisis but also discussed efforts to deter further Russian aggression, “including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.”

A day earlier, the State Department had ordered the families of all American personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to leave the country, and it said that nonessential embassy staff could leave at U.S. government expense.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Oleg Nikolenko, said that U.S. decision was “a premature step” and a sign of “excessive caution.” He said Russia was sowing panic among Ukrainians and foreigners in order to destabilize Ukraine.

Britain said it, too, was withdrawing some diplomats and dependents from its Kyiv Embassy. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said an invasion was not inevitable but “the intelligence is pretty gloomy.”

Ordering even a modest number of American troops to be ready for potential deployment to Europe is meant to demonstrate U.S. resolve to support its NATO allies, particularly those in Eastern Europe who feel threatened by Russia and worry that Putin could put them in his crosshairs.

“What this is about is reassurance to our NATO allies,” Kirby told a Pentagon news conference, adding that no troops are intended for deployment to Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance but has been assured by Washington of continued U.S. political support and arms supplies.

The Pentagon’s move, which was done at Biden’s direction and on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recommendation, is being made in tandem with actions by other NATO member governments to bolster a defensive presence in Eastern European nations. Denmark, for example, is sending a frigate and F-16 warplanes to Lithuania; Spain is sending four fighter jets to Bulgaria and three ships to the Black Sea to join NATO naval forces, and France stands ready to send troops to Romania.

In a statement prior to Kirby’s announcement, NATO said the Netherlands plans to send two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria in April and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force.

NATO has not made a decision to activate the Response Force, which consists of about 40,000 troops from multiple nations. That force was enhanced in 2014 — the year Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and intervened in support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine — by creating a “spearhead force” of about 20,000 troops on extra-high alert within the larger Response Force.

If NATO does decide to activate the Response Force, the United States will contribute a range of military units, Kirby said.

“It is a NATO call to make,” Kirby said. “For our part, we wanted to make sure that we were ready in case that call should come. And that means making sure that units that would contribute to it are as ready as they can be on as short a notice as possible.”

He said some units will be ordered to be ready to deploy on as little as five days’ notice. Among the 8,500 troops, an unspecified number could be sent to Europe for purposes other than supporting the NATO Response Force, he said. Without providing details, he said they might be deployed “if other situations develop.”

Prior to the U.S. announcement, NATO issued a statement summing up moves already described by member countries. Restating them under the NATO banner appeared aimed at showing resolve. The West is ramping up its rhetoric in the information war that has accompanied the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-vladimir-putin-soviet-union-europe-32b8a914ad4debba6c3231738a5f5a36">Ukraine standoff</a>.

Russia has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-moscow-united-states-5fbc86c84dfeb604ebe12e47a753bdcb">massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s border,</a>&nbsp;demanding that NATO promise it will never allow Ukraine to join and that other actions, such as stationing alliance troops in former Soviet bloc countries, be curtailed.

NATO said Monday it is bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region.

The alliance will “take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies,” Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. “We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense.”

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was NATO and the U.S. who were behind the escalating tensions, not Russia.

“All this is happening not because of what we, Russia, are doing. This is happening because of what NATO, the U.S. are doing,” Peskov told reporters.

The NATO announcement came as European Union foreign ministers sought to put on their own fresh display of unity in support of Ukraine, and paper over concerns about divisions on the best way to confront any Russian aggression.

In a statement, the ministers said the EU has stepped up sanction preparations, and they warned that “any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe costs.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — At President Joe Biden’s direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe to reassure allies amid rising fears of a possible Russian military move on Ukraine.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday no final decisions had been made on deployments, which he said would happen only if the NATO alliance decides to activate a rapid-response force “or if other situations develop” in connection with tensions over Russia’s military buildup along Ukraine’s borders.

“What this is about is reassurance to our NATO allies,” Kirby said, adding that no troops are intended for deployment to Ukraine itself.

Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended to Biden that about 8,500 troops be ordered to prepare for potential deployment to Europe in light of signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not de-escalating his military pressure on Ukraine. Kirby said he was not prepared to identify the U.S.-based units because they were still being notified.

“We’ve always said we would reinforce our allies on the eastern flank, and those conversations and discussions have certainly been part of what our national security officials have been discussing with their counterparts now for several weeks,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Later Monday, Biden was to hold a video call with several European leaders on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion, the White House said.

Kirby said Austin was anticipating the potential for NATO to activate what it calls the NATO Response Force, a multinational force totaling about 40,000 troops. Most of the 8,500 U.S. troops being put on higher alert would be sent as part of that response force, if it’s activated, Kirby said. He added that he could not rule out that U.S. troops already based in Europe could be shifted east as further reinforcements.

As an example of the effect of Austin’s order to make U.S.-based units more prepared for deployment, Kirby said that those currently required to be ready to move on 10-days notice will be required to be ready on 5-days notice.

The Pentagon’s move comes as tensions have soared between Russia and the West over concerns that Moscow is planning to invade Ukraine, with NATO outlining potential troop and ship deployments, Britain saying it would withdraw some diplomats from Kyiv, and Ireland denouncing upcoming Russian war games off its coast.

Prior to the U.S. announcement, the Western alliance’s statement summed up moves already described by member countries, but restating them under the NATO banner appeared aimed at showing resolve. The West is ramping up its rhetoric in the information war that has accompanied the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-vladimir-putin-soviet-union-europe-32b8a914ad4debba6c3231738a5f5a36">Ukraine standoff</a>.

Russia has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-moscow-united-states-5fbc86c84dfeb604ebe12e47a753bdcb">massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s border,</a>&nbsp;demanding that NATO promise it will never allow Ukraine to join and that other actions, such as stationing alliance troops in former Soviet bloc countries, be curtailed. Some of these, like any pledge to permanently bar Ukraine, are nonstarters for NATO — creating a deadlock that many fear can only end in war.

Russia denies it is planning an invasion, and says the Western accusations are merely a cover for NATO’s own planned provocations. Recent days have seen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-sergey-lavrov-moscow-russia-europe-f7a3da26cb574ce4beaf5616573f16c0">high-stakes diplomacy&nbsp;</a>that failed to reach any breakthrough and maneuvering on both sides.