PAWNEE COUNTY—A third accomplice arrested in connection with the escape of John Freeman Colt from the sex offender treatment program at the Larned State Hospital made her first court appearance Monday.

Sydni Eileen Hartman, 29, is charged with Obstructing in the Apprehension or Prosecution of a Registered Sex Offender; Traffic in Contraband in a Care and Treatment Facility while employed by the Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services and Conspiracy to commit Aggravated Escape from the Sexual Predator Treatment Program, ccording to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

The other two accomplices in the escape identified as&nbsp;Rachel Rena Perez, 50, Larned, and Liliana Guadalupe Houser, 45 now of Garden City,  were employed by Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services leading up to the time of the escape.&nbsp;

Perez is charged with a 15 count Felony Criminal Complaint. Houser is charged with a 13 count Felony Criminal Complaint, according to the Pawnee Co. Attorney's office.

<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2021/colt.pdf"> John Freeman Colt</a>, 42, was sentenced on Dec. 14, 2001, to five years in state prison for aggravated sexual battery, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, and four counts of aggravated battery against law enforcement. He was required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life.

After his criminal sentence was completed, the State of Kansas courts deemed him a Sexually Violent Predator at high risk to commit a future sex offense and too dangerous to be released. He was indefinitely civilly committed and sent to the Larned State Hospital’s Sexual Predator Treatment Program in 2007, where he has resided until the escape.

Investigators believe Colt planned his escape several months in advance, obtaining a replica of a staff ID badge and dress clothes. The morning of his escape he shaved off his long hair and beard. He put blankets under his bed covers making it appear he was still in bed sleeping. He was then able to convince a new staff worker (that he targeted) that he was in fact a new doctor and needed help finding his way out. Posing as a doctor, Colt was able to make his way past five secured doors and ultimately outside the gates.

Several hours passed before staff noticed he was missing and alerted the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office.

After escaping, Colt received a ride from a local farmer into Larned, where he was last seen leaving a hardware store on a motorcycle he’d purchased prior to his escape with the help of an accomplice.&nbsp; U.S. Marshals arrested him in Wayne County Utah on Sept. 27.

A Preliminary Hearings for Hartman has been scheduled for November 1, 2021. She remains jailed on a 75,000 bond, according to the county attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634300894930.png" alt="Hartman -photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hartman -photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—A third accomplice arrested in connection with the escape of John Freeman Colt from the sex offender treatment program at the Larned State Hospital made her first court appearance Monday.Sydni Eileen Hartman, 29, is charged with Obstructing in the Apprehension or Prosecution of a Registered Sex Offender; Traffic in Contraband in a Care and Treatment Facility while employed by the Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services and Conspiracy to commit Aggravated Escape from the Sexual Predator Treatment Program, ccording to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632850718422.png" alt="Colt-photo Sevier Co. Utah Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Colt-photo Sevier Co. Utah Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The other two accomplices in the escape identified as&nbsp;Rachel Rena Perez, 50, Larned, and Liliana Guadalupe Houser, 45 now of Garden City, were employed by Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services leading up to the time of the escape.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634076399777.png" alt="Perez -photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Perez -photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Perez is charged with a 15 count Felony Criminal Complaint. Houser is charged with a 13 count Felony Criminal Complaint, according to the Pawnee Co. Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634076547899.png" alt="Houser photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Houser photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2021/colt.pdf"> John Freeman Colt</a>, 42, was sentenced on Dec. 14, 2001, to five years in state prison for aggravated sexual battery, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, and four counts of aggravated battery against law enforcement. He was required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life.After his criminal sentence was completed, the State of Kansas courts deemed him a Sexually Violent Predator at high risk to commit a future sex offense and too dangerous to be released. He was indefinitely civilly committed and sent to the Larned State Hospital’s Sexual Predator Treatment Program in 2007, where he has resided until the escape.Investigators believe Colt planned his escape several months in advance, obtaining a replica of a staff ID badge and dress clothes. The morning of his escape he shaved off his long hair and beard. He put blankets under his bed covers making it appear he was still in bed sleeping. He was then able to convince a new staff worker (that he targeted) that he was in fact a new doctor and needed help finding his way out. Posing as a doctor, Colt was able to make his way past five secured doors and ultimately outside the gates.Several hours passed before staff noticed he was missing and alerted the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office.After escaping, Colt received a ride from a local farmer into Larned, where he was last seen leaving a hardware store on a motorcycle he’d purchased prior to his escape with the help of an accomplice.&nbsp; U.S. Marshals arrested him in Wayne County Utah on Sept. 27.A Preliminary Hearings for Hartman has been scheduled for November 1, 2021. She remains jailed on a 75,000 bond, according to the county attorney.

3rd employee charged in escape from Kan. sex offender program

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Washington State fired football coach Nick Rolovich and four of his assistants on Monday for refusing a state mandate that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19, making him the first major college coach to lose his job over vaccination status.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, had set a deadline of Monday for thousands of state employees, including the Cougars’ coach, to be vaccinated. Rolovich applied for a religious exemption, which was denied Monday, Washington State athletic director Pat Chun said.

Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert will be elevated to acting coach and his first game in charge will be Saturday at home against BYU.

“This is a tough day for Washington State football,” Chun said at a news conference. “Nobody wants to be here.”

Also fired for refusing vaccination were assistant coaches Ricky Logo, John Richardson, Craig Stutzmann and Mark Weber. Chun said there may be no precedent for a team losing its head coach and so many assistants in the middle of a season.

“Our student-athletes are the biggest losers in this,” he said.

Rolovich was not immediately available for comment.

The 42-year-old Rolovich was the highest-paid state employee with an annual salary of more than $3 million in a contract that runs through 2025. He had said he wouldn’t get vaccinated but wouldn’t specify his reasons. He was the only unvaccinated head coach in the Pac-12 and had worn a mask during games.

Rolovich was fired for cause, which means the university does not have to honor the rest of his contract, although lawsuits over the decision are likely. The Washington State athletic department is currently facing a shortfall of more than $30 million.

Around the country, many college football coaches have publicly advocated for vaccination, including Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Alabama’s Nick Saban. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said not getting vaccinated would be irresponsible and bragged about his team being 100% vaccinated.

Many coaches have talked about their teams’ high vaccination rates, though schools are not under any obligation to share those numbers.

Unlike last season, when COVID-19 cases swept through major college football, postponing and canceling games weekly, no games have needed to be rescheduled because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Rolovich was hired from Hawaii two years ago, after Mike Leach left for Mississippi State, and led Washington State to a 1-3 record in the Pac-12 in a 2020 season cut short because of the pandemic. Washington State has won its past three games and is 4-3 this season, including a 34-31 win over Stanford last Saturday. He finishes with a 5-6 record at the Pullman campus in southeastern Washington.

Rolovich revealed in July that he would not get vaccinated and couldn’t attend Pac-12 media day in person because of it.

He said in mid-August that he intended to follow the new mandate requiring vaccinations for every state employee but repeatedly declined to say how.

After refusing for weeks to reveal his plans, Rolovich on Oct. 9 confirmed he was seeking a religious exemption to the mandate. He has not specified his religious beliefs.

Chun said he met with Rolovich over a period of several months, but could not change the coach’s mind.

“He was resolute in his stance,” Chun said.

Rolovich needed to prove a sincerely held religious belief that prevented him from getting vaccinated in his exemption application. The application was put before a committee that reviewed the requests without knowing names of the applicants.

To continue coaching, Rolovich needed to receive the religious exemption and also to have Chun determine that Rolovich could do his job while keeping the public safe. In addition to his work as a coach, Rolovich oversaw a youth football program and participated in promotional and fundraising events.

Dickert is in his second season as Washington State’s defensive coordinator and came to Pullman after three seasons at Wyoming. He has not previously been a head coach.

Chun said the school is looking to hire assistants immediately to fill the vacancies on the staff.

Washington State President Kirk Schulz said nearly 90% of WSU employees and 97% of students had been vaccinated. Fewer than 50 of some 10,000 employees have sought exemptions, Schulz said.

The vaccine issue has percolated all season, dividing Washington State fans and providing a continual distraction.

“There was a lot of frustration with such a prominent employee choosing to be unvaccinated,” Schulz said.

Players stood up for their coach as the season progressed. Quarterback Jayden de Laura told a sideline reporter after Saturday’s win: “Stop hating on Rolo. We love him.”

Wide receiver Travell Harris commended Rolovich after the game for being a “players’ coach.”

“He’s a coach we all love to play for,” Harris said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634639299144.png" alt="Coach Rolovich&nbsp;photo courtesy Washington State University" />
 <figcaption>Coach Rolovich&nbsp;photo courtesy Washington State University</figcaption>
 </figure>SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Washington State fired football coach Nick Rolovich and four of his assistants on Monday for refusing a state mandate that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19, making him the first major college coach to lose his job over vaccination status.Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, had set a deadline of Monday for thousands of state employees, including the Cougars’ coach, to be vaccinated. Rolovich applied for a religious exemption, which was denied Monday, Washington State athletic director Pat Chun said.Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert will be elevated to acting coach and his first game in charge will be Saturday at home against BYU.“This is a tough day for Washington State football,” Chun said at a news conference. “Nobody wants to be here.”Also fired for refusing vaccination were assistant coaches Ricky Logo, John Richardson, Craig Stutzmann and Mark Weber. Chun said there may be no precedent for a team losing its head coach and so many assistants in the middle of a season.“Our student-athletes are the biggest losers in this,” he said.Rolovich was not immediately available for comment.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WHAT A GAME! COUGS WIN!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoCougs</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BackHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BackHome</a> <a href="https://t.co/WmNdP57HmJ">pic.twitter.com/WmNdP57HmJ</a>&mdash; Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/WSUCougarFB/status/1449571261055582208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 42-year-old Rolovich was the highest-paid state employee with an annual salary of more than $3 million in a contract that runs through 2025. He had said he wouldn’t get vaccinated but wouldn’t specify his reasons. He was the only unvaccinated head coach in the Pac-12 and had worn a mask during games.Rolovich was fired for cause, which means the university does not have to honor the rest of his contract, although lawsuits over the decision are likely. The Washington State athletic department is currently facing a shortfall of more than $30 million.Around the country, many college football coaches have publicly advocated for vaccination, including Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Alabama’s Nick Saban. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said not getting vaccinated would be irresponsible and bragged about his team being 100% vaccinated.Many coaches have talked about their teams’ high vaccination rates, though schools are not under any obligation to share those numbers.Unlike last season, when COVID-19 cases swept through major college football, postponing and canceling games weekly, no games have needed to be rescheduled because of a COVID-19 outbreak.Rolovich was hired from Hawaii two years ago, after Mike Leach left for Mississippi State, and led Washington State to a 1-3 record in the Pac-12 in a 2020 season cut short because of the pandemic. Washington State has won its past three games and is 4-3 this season, including a 34-31 win over Stanford last Saturday. He finishes with a 5-6 record at the Pullman campus in southeastern Washington.Rolovich revealed in July that he would not get vaccinated and couldn’t attend Pac-12 media day in person because of it.He said in mid-August that he intended to follow the new mandate requiring vaccinations for every state employee but repeatedly declined to say how.After refusing for weeks to reveal his plans, Rolovich on Oct. 9 confirmed he was seeking a religious exemption to the mandate. He has not specified his religious beliefs.Chun said he met with Rolovich over a period of several months, but could not change the coach’s mind.“He was resolute in his stance,” Chun said.Rolovich needed to prove a sincerely held religious belief that prevented him from getting vaccinated in his exemption application. The application was put before a committee that reviewed the requests without knowing names of the applicants.To continue coaching, Rolovich needed to receive the religious exemption and also to have Chun determine that Rolovich could do his job while keeping the public safe. In addition to his work as a coach, Rolovich oversaw a youth football program and participated in promotional and fundraising events.Dickert is in his second season as Washington State’s defensive coordinator and came to Pullman after three seasons at Wyoming. He has not previously been a head coach.Chun said the school is looking to hire assistants immediately to fill the vacancies on the staff.Washington State President Kirk Schulz said nearly 90% of WSU employees and 97% of students had been vaccinated. Fewer than 50 of some 10,000 employees have sought exemptions, Schulz said.The vaccine issue has percolated all season, dividing Washington State fans and providing a continual distraction.“There was a lot of frustration with such a prominent employee choosing to be unvaccinated,” Schulz said.Players stood up for their coach as the season progressed. Quarterback Jayden de Laura told a sideline reporter after Saturday’s win: “Stop hating on Rolo. We love him.”Wide receiver Travell Harris commended Rolovich after the game for being a “players’ coach.”“He’s a coach we all love to play for,” Harris said.___

NCAA Division 1 head football coach fired for refusing vaccine

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in the drive-by shooting at a home in Wichita that critically injured an 11-year-old girl who was sleeping in her bed had recently been released from prison.

On Thursday, police arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18777609">25-year-old Byron Monroe Purcell</a> on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18777609">requested charges</a> of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and weapons, drug and parole violation charges, according to the online jail records.

Since Nov. 2017 Purcell was in one of several Kansas prisons following three convictions for aggravated&nbsp; robbery. The state also reported Purcell had over&nbsp; two dozen disciplinary violation during his time in prison. He was released in June, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

He's accused of being the gunman in a shooting that happened early Oct. 12 in a Wichita neighborhood in which bullets hit a house.

Police say the<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer"> 11-year-old girl </a>was in the house and asleep in her bed when she was hit by the gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say four other people in the home at the time of the shooting were not injured.

The Sedgwick County County District attorney's office had not released when Purcell will make his first appearance in court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634298594579.png" alt="Purcell photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Purcell photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in the drive-by shooting at a home in Wichita that critically injured an 11-year-old girl who was sleeping in her bed had recently been released from prison.On Thursday, police arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18777609">25-year-old Byron Monroe Purcell</a> on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18777609">requested charges</a> of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and weapons, drug and parole violation charges, according to the online jail records. Since Nov. 2017 Purcell was in one of several Kansas prisons following three convictions for aggravated&nbsp; robbery. The state also reported Purcell had over&nbsp; two dozen disciplinary violation during his time in prison. He was released in June, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634162750977.png" alt="Image of the suspect vehicle driving by the home early Tuesday-Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image of the suspect vehicle driving by the home early Tuesday-Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>He's accused of being the gunman in a shooting that happened early Oct. 12 in a Wichita neighborhood in which bullets hit a house.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634171148198.png" alt="A cousin established a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page </a>to help the girl's family with medical expenses. She was in the ICU at a Wichita hospital late Wednesday, according to the fundraiser account." />
 <figcaption>A cousin established a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page </a>to help the girl's family with medical expenses. She was in the ICU at a Wichita hospital late Wednesday, according to the fundraiser account.</figcaption>
 </figure> Police say the<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer"> 11-year-old girl </a>was in the house and asleep in her bed when she was hit by the gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say four other people in the home at the time of the shooting were not injured.The Sedgwick County County District attorney's office had not released when Purcell will make his first appearance in court.---------

Suspect in shooting of 11-year-old was just released from Kan. prison

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to block the Texas law banning most abortions, while the fight over the measure’s constitutionality plays out in the courts.

The administration also took the unusual step of telling the justices they could grant the Texas law full review and decide its fate this term, which already includes a major case about the future of abortion rights in the U.S.

No court has yet reached a decision on the constitutionality of the Texas law, and the Supreme Court rarely grants such requests.

The law has been in effect since September, aside from a district court-ordered pause that lasted just 48 hours, and bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.

The Justice Department asked the high court Monday to lift an order imposed by a conservative federal appeals court that has allowed Texas to continue enforcing the nation’s strictest curbs on abortion through a novel law that was written to make it hard to challenge in the federal court system. The department had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-health-texas-aeedf9630e395f9115909ce5fb63eea5">announced its intentions</a>&nbsp;last Friday.

The Texas law defies the Supreme Court’s major decisions on abortion rights “by banning abortion long before viability -- indeed, before many women even realize they are pregnant,” the Justice Department wrote in its plea to the court.

“The question now is whether Texas’ nullification of this Court’s precedents should be allowed to continue while the courts consider the United States’ suit. As the district court recognized, it should not,” the Justice Department wrote.

The administration also said the court could short-circuit the usual process and rule on the law’s constitutionality this term, even though lower courts have yet to do so. The justices have done this only a handful of times in recent decades, the last occasion being a 2019 dispute over the Trump administration’s ultimately failed effort to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. In that case, a deadline for finalizing the census was fast approaching.

In this case, the administration said, Texas’ attempt to evade federal court review of its law and the possibility that other states could adopt similar measures justify the court’s early involvement.

The high court ordered Texas to respond by midday Thursday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at Monday’s news briefing that President Joe Biden would protect abortion rights, and that the Justice Department would lead efforts to ensure that women have “access to fundamental rights that they have to protect their own health.”

It’s not clear whether the administration will prevail at a Supreme Court with a conservative majority that has been fortified by three appointees of former President Donald Trump and already has agreed to hear a major challenge to abortion rights in a case from Mississippi.

The Trump appointees, joined by two other conservatives, have once before rejected a plea to keep the law on hold, in a separate lawsuit filed by abortion providers. There was no immediate timetable for Supreme Court action on this latest motion.

While courts have blocked other state laws effectively banning abortion before a fetus can survive outside the womb, roughly around 24 weeks, the Texas law has so far avoided a similar fate because of its unique structure that leaves enforcement up to private citizens, rather than state officials. Anyone who brings a successful lawsuit against an abortion provider for violating the law is entitled to claim at least $10,000 in damages.

In the 5-4 vote last month to allow the law to remain in effect, the high court acknowledged in an unsigned order that there were “serious questions regarding the constitutionality of the Texas law” but also “complex and novel” procedural questions about whom to sue and whether federal courts had the power to stop the law from being enforced.

In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that he would have put the “unprecedented” law on hold so that court could consider “whether a state can avoid responsibility for its laws” by handing off enforcement. The court’s three liberal justices also dissented.

The question now is whether the administration’s presence in the new lawsuit will make a difference. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals provided its answer late Thursday, extending its earlier order that allows the law to remain in effect. In a 2-1 vote, the court said it was siding with Texas for the same reasons the Supreme Court and a different 5th Circuit panel cited in the providers’ lawsuit — questioning whether anyone could march into federal court to challenge the law.

Texas sought help from the appeals court after U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the Justice Department did have the ability to sue and that he had the authority to stop the law from being enforced, writing that “women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution.”

The judge conceded, however, that “other courts may find a way to avoid this conclusion.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to block the Texas law banning most abortions, while the fight over the measure’s constitutionality plays out in the courts.The administration also took the unusual step of telling the justices they could grant the Texas law full review and decide its fate this term, which already includes a major case about the future of abortion rights in the U.S.No court has yet reached a decision on the constitutionality of the Texas law, and the Supreme Court rarely grants such requests.The law has been in effect since September, aside from a district court-ordered pause that lasted just 48 hours, and bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.The Justice Department asked the high court Monday to lift an order imposed by a conservative federal appeals court that has allowed Texas to continue enforcing the nation’s strictest curbs on abortion through a novel law that was written to make it hard to challenge in the federal court system. The department had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-health-texas-aeedf9630e395f9115909ce5fb63eea5">announced its intentions</a>&nbsp;last Friday.The Texas law defies the Supreme Court’s major decisions on abortion rights “by banning abortion long before viability -- indeed, before many women even realize they are pregnant,” the Justice Department wrote in its plea to the court.“The question now is whether Texas’ nullification of this Court’s precedents should be allowed to continue while the courts consider the United States’ suit. As the district court recognized, it should not,” the Justice Department wrote.The administration also said the court could short-circuit the usual process and rule on the law’s constitutionality this term, even though lower courts have yet to do so. The justices have done this only a handful of times in recent decades, the last occasion being a 2019 dispute over the Trump administration’s ultimately failed effort to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. In that case, a deadline for finalizing the census was fast approaching.In this case, the administration said, Texas’ attempt to evade federal court review of its law and the possibility that other states could adopt similar measures justify the court’s early involvement.The high court ordered Texas to respond by midday Thursday.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at Monday’s news briefing that President Joe Biden would protect abortion rights, and that the Justice Department would lead efforts to ensure that women have “access to fundamental rights that they have to protect their own health.”It’s not clear whether the administration will prevail at a Supreme Court with a conservative majority that has been fortified by three appointees of former President Donald Trump and already has agreed to hear a major challenge to abortion rights in a case from Mississippi.The Trump appointees, joined by two other conservatives, have once before rejected a plea to keep the law on hold, in a separate lawsuit filed by abortion providers. There was no immediate timetable for Supreme Court action on this latest motion.While courts have blocked other state laws effectively banning abortion before a fetus can survive outside the womb, roughly around 24 weeks, the Texas law has so far avoided a similar fate because of its unique structure that leaves enforcement up to private citizens, rather than state officials. Anyone who brings a successful lawsuit against an abortion provider for violating the law is entitled to claim at least $10,000 in damages.In the 5-4 vote last month to allow the law to remain in effect, the high court acknowledged in an unsigned order that there were “serious questions regarding the constitutionality of the Texas law” but also “complex and novel” procedural questions about whom to sue and whether federal courts had the power to stop the law from being enforced.In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that he would have put the “unprecedented” law on hold so that court could consider “whether a state can avoid responsibility for its laws” by handing off enforcement. The court’s three liberal justices also dissented.The question now is whether the administration’s presence in the new lawsuit will make a difference. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals provided its answer late Thursday, extending its earlier order that allows the law to remain in effect. In a 2-1 vote, the court said it was siding with Texas for the same reasons the Supreme Court and a different 5th Circuit panel cited in the providers’ lawsuit — questioning whether anyone could march into federal court to challenge the law.Texas sought help from the appeals court after U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the Justice Department did have the ability to sue and that he had the authority to stop the law from being enforced, writing that “women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution.”The judge conceded, however, that “other courts may find a way to avoid this conclusion.”

Court could review nation's most restrictive abortion law this term

WASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service is updating its 
process for certain frequently asked questions (FAQs) on newly enacted 
tax legislation. The IRS is updating this process to address concerns 
regarding transparency and the potential impact on taxpayers when these 
FAQs are updated or revised. At the same time, the IRS is also 
addressing concerns regarding the potential application of penalties to 
taxpayers who rely on FAQs by providing clarity to taxpayers as to their
 ability to rely on FAQs for penalty protection.

Significant FAQs on newly enacted tax legislation, as well as any 
later updates or revisions to these FAQs, will now be announced in a 
news release and posted on IRS.gov in a separate Fact Sheet. These Fact 
Sheet FAQs will be dated to enable taxpayers to confirm the date on 
which any changes to the FAQs were made. Additionally, prior versions of
 Fact Sheet FAQs will be maintained on IRS.gov to ensure that, if a Fact
 Sheet FAQ is later changed, taxpayers can locate the version they 
relied on if they later need to do so. In addition to significant FAQs 
on new legislation, the IRS may apply this updated process in other 
contexts, such as when FAQs address emerging issues.

To address concerns about the potential application of penalties to 
taxpayers who rely on an FAQ, the IRS is today releasing a statement 
clarifying that if a taxpayer relies on any FAQ (including FAQs released
 before today) in good faith and that reliance is reasonable, the 
taxpayer will have a "reasonable cause" defense against any negligence 
penalty or other accuracy-related penalty if it turns out the FAQ is not
 a correct statement of the law as applied to the taxpayer's particular 
facts. For more information on taxpayer reliance, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">General Overview of Taxpayer Reliance on Guidance Published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and FAQs</a>.

As part of today's revision of the FAQ process, the following legend will be added to Fact Sheet FAQs:

These FAQs are being issued to provide general 
information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as 
possible. Accordingly, these FAQs may not address any particular 
taxpayer's specific facts and circumstances, and they may be updated or 
modified upon further review. Because these FAQs have not been 
published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, they will not be relied on 
or used by the IRS to resolve a case. Similarly, if an FAQ turns out to 
be an inaccurate statement of the law as applied to a particular 
taxpayer's case, the law will control the taxpayer's tax liability. Nonetheless, a taxpayer who reasonably and in good faith relies on these FAQs will not be subject to a
 penalty that provides a reasonable cause standard for relief, including
 a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalty, to the extent 
that reliance results in an underpayment of tax. Any later 
updates or modifications to these FAQs will be dated to enable taxpayers
 to confirm the date on which any changes to the FAQs were made. 
Additionally, prior versions of these FAQs will be maintained on IRS.gov
 to ensure that taxpayers, who may have relied on a prior version, can 
locate that version if they later need to do so.

General Overview of Taxpayer Reliance on&nbsp;Guidance Published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and FAQs

Guidance Published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin

The Internal Revenue Bulletin (Bulletin) is the authoritative 
instrument of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for announcing 
official rulings and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service and for 
publishing Treasury Decisions, Executive Orders, Tax Conventions, 
legislation, court decisions, and other items of general interest.

It is the policy of the Service to publish in the Bulletin all 
substantive rulings necessary to promote a uniform application of the 
tax laws, including all rulings that supersede, revoke, modify, or amend
 any of those previously published in the Bulletin. All published 
rulings apply retroactively unless otherwise indicated. Procedures 
relating solely to matters of internal management are not published; 
however, statements of internal practices and procedures that affect the
 rights and duties of taxpayers are published.

Revenue rulings represent the conclusions of the Service on the 
application of the law to the pivotal facts stated in the revenue 
ruling. In those based on positions taken in rulings to taxpayers or 
technical advice to Service field offices, identifying details and 
information of a confidential nature are deleted to prevent unwarranted 
invasions of privacy and to comply with statutory requirements.

Rulings and procedures reported in the Bulletin do not have the force
 and effect of Treasury Department Regulations, but they may be used as 
precedents. Rulings not published in the Bulletin will not be relied on,
 used, or cited as precedents by Service personnel in the disposition of
 other cases. In applying published rulings and procedures, the effect 
of subsequent legislation, regulations, court decisions, rulings and 
procedures must be considered, and Service personnel and others 
concerned are cautioned against reaching the same conclusions in other 
cases unless the facts and circumstances are substantially the same.

FAQs are a valuable alternative to guidance published in the Bulletin
 because they allow the IRS to more quickly communicate information to 
the public on topics of frequent inquiry and general applicability. FAQs
 typically provide responses to general inquiries rather than applying 
the law to taxpayer-specific facts and may not reflect various special 
rules or exceptions that could apply in any particular case. FAQs that 
have not been published in the Bulletin will not be relied on, used or 
cited as precedents by Service personnel in the disposition of cases. 
Similarly, if an FAQ turns out to be an inaccurate statement of the law 
as applied to a particular taxpayer's case, the law will control the 
taxpayer's tax liability. Only guidance that is published in the 
Bulletin has precedential value.

Notwithstanding the non-precedential nature of FAQs, a taxpayer's 
reasonable reliance on an FAQ (even one that is subsequently updated or 
modified) is relevant and will be considered in determining whether 
certain penalties apply. Taxpayers who show that they relied in good 
faith on an FAQ and that their reliance was reasonable based on all the 
facts and circumstances will have a valid reasonable cause defense and 
will not be subject to a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related 
penalty to the extent that reliance results in an underpayment of tax. 
See <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1b2b14f0922063e6b00b93d0237127a1&amp;mc=true&amp;node=se26.15.1_16664_64&amp;rgn=div8">Treas. Reg. § 1.6664-4(b)</a>
 for more information. In addition, FAQs that are published in a Fact 
Sheet that is linked to an IRS news release are considered authority for
 purposes of the exception to accuracy-related penalties that applies 
when there is substantial authority for the treatment of an item on a 
return. See <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1b2b14f0922063e6b00b93d0237127a1&amp;mc=true&amp;node=se26.15.1_16662_64&amp;rgn=div8">Treas. Reg. § 1.6662-4(d)</a> for more information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service is updating its 
process for certain frequently asked questions (FAQs) on newly enacted 
tax legislation. The IRS is updating this process to address concerns 
regarding transparency and the potential impact on taxpayers when these 
FAQs are updated or revised. At the same time, the IRS is also 
addressing concerns regarding the potential application of penalties to 
taxpayers who rely on FAQs by providing clarity to taxpayers as to their
 ability to rely on FAQs for penalty protection.Significant FAQs on newly enacted tax legislation, as well as any 
later updates or revisions to these FAQs, will now be announced in a 
news release and posted on IRS.gov in a separate Fact Sheet. These Fact 
Sheet FAQs will be dated to enable taxpayers to confirm the date on 
which any changes to the FAQs were made. Additionally, prior versions of
 Fact Sheet FAQs will be maintained on IRS.gov to ensure that, if a Fact
 Sheet FAQ is later changed, taxpayers can locate the version they 
relied on if they later need to do so. In addition to significant FAQs 
on new legislation, the IRS may apply this updated process in other 
contexts, such as when FAQs address emerging issues.To address concerns about the potential application of penalties to 
taxpayers who rely on an FAQ, the IRS is today releasing a statement 
clarifying that if a taxpayer relies on any FAQ (including FAQs released
 before today) in good faith and that reliance is reasonable, the 
taxpayer will have a "reasonable cause" defense against any negligence 
penalty or other accuracy-related penalty if it turns out the FAQ is not
 a correct statement of the law as applied to the taxpayer's particular 
facts. For more information on taxpayer reliance, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">General Overview of Taxpayer Reliance on Guidance Published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and FAQs</a>.As part of today's revision of the FAQ process, the following legend will be added to Fact Sheet FAQs:These FAQs are being issued to provide general 
information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as 
possible. Accordingly, these FAQs may not address any particular 
taxpayer's specific facts and circumstances, and they may be updated or 
modified upon further review. Because these FAQs have not been 
published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, they will not be relied on 
or used by the IRS to resolve a case. Similarly, if an FAQ turns out to 
be an inaccurate statement of the law as applied to a particular 
taxpayer's case, the law will control the taxpayer's tax liability. Nonetheless, a taxpayer who reasonably and in good faith relies on these FAQs will not be subject to a
 penalty that provides a reasonable cause standard for relief, including
 a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalty, to the extent 
that reliance results in an underpayment of tax. Any later 
updates or modifications to these FAQs will be dated to enable taxpayers
 to confirm the date on which any changes to the FAQs were made. 
Additionally, prior versions of these FAQs will be maintained on IRS.gov
 to ensure that taxpayers, who may have relied on a prior version, can 
locate that version if they later need to do so.<h2>General Overview of Taxpayer Reliance on&nbsp;Guidance Published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and FAQs</h2><h2>Guidance Published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin</h2>The Internal Revenue Bulletin (Bulletin) is the authoritative 
instrument of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for announcing 
official rulings and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service and for 
publishing Treasury Decisions, Executive Orders, Tax Conventions, 
legislation, court decisions, and other items of general interest.It is the policy of the Service to publish in the Bulletin all 
substantive rulings necessary to promote a uniform application of the 
tax laws, including all rulings that supersede, revoke, modify, or amend
 any of those previously published in the Bulletin. All published 
rulings apply retroactively unless otherwise indicated. Procedures 
relating solely to matters of internal management are not published; 
however, statements of internal practices and procedures that affect the
 rights and duties of taxpayers are published.Revenue rulings represent the conclusions of the Service on the 
application of the law to the pivotal facts stated in the revenue 
ruling. In those based on positions taken in rulings to taxpayers or 
technical advice to Service field offices, identifying details and 
information of a confidential nature are deleted to prevent unwarranted 
invasions of privacy and to comply with statutory requirements.Rulings and procedures reported in the Bulletin do not have the force
 and effect of Treasury Department Regulations, but they may be used as 
precedents. Rulings not published in the Bulletin will not be relied on,
 used, or cited as precedents by Service personnel in the disposition of
 other cases. In applying published rulings and procedures, the effect 
of subsequent legislation, regulations, court decisions, rulings and 
procedures must be considered, and Service personnel and others 
concerned are cautioned against reaching the same conclusions in other 
cases unless the facts and circumstances are substantially the same.<h2>FAQs</h2>FAQs are a valuable alternative to guidance published in the Bulletin
 because they allow the IRS to more quickly communicate information to 
the public on topics of frequent inquiry and general applicability. FAQs
 typically provide responses to general inquiries rather than applying 
the law to taxpayer-specific facts and may not reflect various special 
rules or exceptions that could apply in any particular case. FAQs that 
have not been published in the Bulletin will not be relied on, used or 
cited as precedents by Service personnel in the disposition of cases. 
Similarly, if an FAQ turns out to be an inaccurate statement of the law 
as applied to a particular taxpayer's case, the law will control the 
taxpayer's tax liability. Only guidance that is published in the 
Bulletin has precedential value.Notwithstanding the non-precedential nature of FAQs, a taxpayer's 
reasonable reliance on an FAQ (even one that is subsequently updated or 
modified) is relevant and will be considered in determining whether 
certain penalties apply. Taxpayers who show that they relied in good 
faith on an FAQ and that their reliance was reasonable based on all the 
facts and circumstances will have a valid reasonable cause defense and 
will not be subject to a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related 
penalty to the extent that reliance results in an underpayment of tax. 
See <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1b2b14f0922063e6b00b93d0237127a1&amp;mc=true&amp;node=se26.15.1_16664_64&amp;rgn=div8">Treas. Reg. § 1.6664-4(b)</a>
 for more information. In addition, FAQs that are published in a Fact 
Sheet that is linked to an IRS news release are considered authority for
 purposes of the exception to accuracy-related penalties that applies 
when there is substantial authority for the treatment of an item on a 
return. See <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1b2b14f0922063e6b00b93d0237127a1&amp;mc=true&amp;node=se26.15.1_16662_64&amp;rgn=div8">Treas. Reg. § 1.6662-4(d)</a> for more information.

IRS updates process for FAQs on new tax laws

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on felony charges after a weekend arrest.

Just after 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15., police checked a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of S. 3rd Street in Garden City, according to a media release.

Officers made contact with 40-year-old Elliot Schuckman&nbsp; and 44-year-old&nbsp; Claudia Astudillo both of Scott City.

 After further investigation, a search of the vehicle was conducted, where suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located. Schuckman and Astudillo were arrested at the scene. A 1-year-old child who was in the vehicle during the incident was taken into Police Protective Custody.&nbsp;

Schuckman and Astudillo remain in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634586913306.png" alt="Schuckman photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Schuckman photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on felony charges after a weekend arrest.Just after 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15., police checked a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of S. 3rd Street in Garden City, according to a media release.Officers made contact with 40-year-old Elliot Schuckman&nbsp; and 44-year-old&nbsp; Claudia Astudillo both of Scott City. After further investigation, a search of the vehicle was conducted, where suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located. Schuckman and Astudillo were arrested at the scene. A 1-year-old child who was in the vehicle during the incident was taken into Police Protective Custody.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634586970633.png" alt="Astudillo photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Astudillo photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Schuckman and Astudillo remain in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Police find 1-year-old in car during SW Kansas drug bust

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Just after&nbsp;5:37 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a disturbance and possible shots fired in the area of SE 31st Street and SE Adams Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

&nbsp;The investigation led to the arrest of Leonardo Martinez-Sanchez, 36, of Topeka, on requested charges of Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Assault, Battery and&nbsp;Criminal Damage, according to Ekis. He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634562680873.png" alt="Martinez-Sanchez-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Martinez-Sanchez-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.Just after&nbsp;5:37 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a disturbance and possible shots fired in the area of SE 31st Street and SE Adams Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.&nbsp;The investigation led to the arrest of Leonardo Martinez-Sanchez, 36, of Topeka, on requested charges of Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Assault, Battery and&nbsp;Criminal Damage, according to Ekis. He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Police arrest Kan. man for alleged shooting at occupied vehicle

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Contract talks between Deere &amp; Co. and its 10,000 striking workers have resumed, but it wasn't immediately clear how far apart the two sides remained Monday.

Both the Moline,&nbsp;Illinois-based company and the United Auto Workers union confirmed that talks had resumed.

The strike began last Thursday after union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others depending on their positions in the factory.

Deere spokeswoman Jen Hartmann said the company remains “committed to the collective bargaining process and resolving the strike.”

The last major strike at the maker of agricultural and construction equipment came in 1986. This year's strike comes as companies are dealing with worker shortages. Deere had predicted it would report record profits this year between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion on strong sales.

The contracts under negotiation cover 14 Deere plants, including seven in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>, four in Illinois and one each in&nbsp;Kansas,&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;and&nbsp;Georgia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634596496067.png" alt="The strike began last Thursday after union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others depending on their positions in the factory.-Photo courtesy WQAD TV" />
 <figcaption>The strike began last Thursday after union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others depending on their positions in the factory.-Photo courtesy WQAD TV</figcaption>
 </figure>MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Contract talks between Deere &amp; Co. and its 10,000 striking workers have resumed, but it wasn't immediately clear how far apart the two sides remained Monday.Both the Moline,&nbsp;Illinois-based company and the United Auto Workers union confirmed that talks had resumed.The strike began last Thursday after union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others depending on their positions in the factory.Deere spokeswoman Jen Hartmann said the company remains “committed to the collective bargaining process and resolving the strike.”The last major strike at the maker of agricultural and construction equipment came in 1986. This year's strike comes as companies are dealing with worker shortages. Deere had predicted it would report record profits this year between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion on strong sales.The contracts under negotiation cover 14 Deere plants, including seven in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>, four in Illinois and one each in&nbsp;Kansas,&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;and&nbsp;Georgia.

Contract talks resume between Deere and its striking workers

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A suspect in a shooting death in Lawrence has been transferred back to&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;after being arrested in&nbsp;Tennessee.

Andrel Darnell Spats Jr., 19, was arrested Oct. 6 in Three Way, Tennessee. He was booked into the Douglas County Jail on Sunday evening and is being held on $1 million bond while awaiting formal charges.

He is the second suspect in the death of 21-year-old Christian Willis in central Lawrence on Sept. 8.

Javier Romero, 18, has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633554885919.png" alt="Spates after his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Madison County, Tennessee" />
 <figcaption>Spates after his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Madison County, Tennessee</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A suspect in a shooting death in Lawrence has been transferred back to&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;after being arrested in&nbsp;Tennessee.Andrel Darnell Spats Jr., 19, was arrested Oct. 6 in Three Way, Tennessee. He was booked into the Douglas County Jail on Sunday evening and is being held on $1 million bond while awaiting formal charges.He is the second suspect in the death of 21-year-old Christian Willis in central Lawrence on Sept. 8.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631932120397.png" alt="Romero photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Romero photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Javier Romero, 18, has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Shooting suspect captured in Tennessee is back in Kan. jail

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have&nbsp;identified 21-year-old Desabian Williams as the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred Friday afternoon in the 600 block of South Eastern in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Shortly before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 600 block of South Eastern. Multiple calling parties reported hearing gunshots at an apartment complex at the location, and witnesses reported potentially multiple victims.

When officers arrived, they located Williams inside one of the apartment buildings. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An extensive crime scene was discovered, containing multiple firearms and numerous evidentiary items, according to Macy.

Witnesses reported seeing additional victims leaving the scene. Shortly after the initial call, another 911 call was made from a restaurant in the 100 block of South Rock Road. One of the victims from the shooting on Eastern was located at that location and transported to an area hospital by EMS. Another victim later arrived at the hospital via private vehicle.

Two adult male victims remained hospitalized on Monday, according to Macy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634572000466.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have&nbsp;identified 21-year-old Desabian Williams as the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred Friday afternoon in the 600 block of South Eastern in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Shortly before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 600 block of South Eastern. Multiple calling parties reported hearing gunshots at an apartment complex at the location, and witnesses reported potentially multiple victims.When officers arrived, they located Williams inside one of the apartment buildings. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An extensive crime scene was discovered, containing multiple firearms and numerous evidentiary items, according to Macy.Witnesses reported seeing additional victims leaving the scene. Shortly after the initial call, another 911 call was made from a restaurant in the 100 block of South Rock Road. One of the victims from the shooting on Eastern was located at that location and transported to an area hospital by EMS. Another victim later arrived at the hospital via private vehicle.Two adult male victims remained hospitalized on Monday, according to Macy.

2 remain hospitalized after fatal Kan. apartment shooting

By JASON HANCOCK <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/18/feds-seize-property-of-kansas-city-companies-accused-of-covid-relief-fraud/">Kansas Reflector</a>

The
 federal government has seized two vehicles, and is threatening to seize
 a lake house, allegedly purchased illegally with COVID-19 relief money 
by a Kansas City-area businessman.

The property was seized from several 
real estate companies incorporated in Kansas by Joseph Campbell, with 
most operating under a version of the name Titan Fish.

According to a complaint filed by the
 U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas, in early 2020 Campbell submitted 20 
applications to the Small Business Administration for federal disaster 
loans made available under the CARES Act.

Most were deemed duplicates of other applications, the complaint says, and five were granted.

Campbell’s companies received nearly 
$1 million in aid that was supposed to be used to pay debts, payroll and
 other bills that could have been paid had the COVID-19 pandemic not 
occurred.

According to an affidavit filed by 
Richard Littrell, a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service, 
Campbell’s applications contained false information and he used the 
money he received to purchase two vehicles and a lake house in Morgan 
County, Missouri.

“Based on the information set forth 
in this affidavit, there is probable cause to believe Campbell committed
 violations of wire fraud and money laundering,” said Littrell, who 
conducts money laundering investigations as part of the Kansas City 
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

Littrell later added that there is 
probable cause that the vehicles and property “were purchased with 
proceeds derived or obtained from the wire fraud violations.”

The two vehicles — a 2019 Dodge Ram 
1500 and a 2017 Ford Explorer — have been seized by the government. The 
lake house has not yet been seized.

Campbell did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Danielle Thomas, spokeswoman for the 
U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas, said she cannot comment on open cases 
beyond what is available in the public record.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.titanfish.com/">Titan Fish</a>,
 based in Shawnee, Kansas, is described on its website as “special 
situation investors that focus on unique investment opportunities in 
real estate, energy and other real assets.”

The company garnered attention in 
2017 when it purchased the former Rockwood Golf Club in Independence for
 $550,000 from a company that had owned the property for several years.

Just months after that purchase, the 
Independence City Council voted to buy the golf course from Titan Fish 
for $1 million in order to use it to build a solar farm.

The deal drew <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237681249.html">FBI scrutiny over a series of donations to Independence Mayor Eileen Weir </a>days before she voted to approve the purchase.

Those donations came from four 
political action committees connected to lobbyist Steve Tilley, a former
 state lawmaker and longtime friend and adviser to Missouri Gov. Mike 
Parson.

Tilley’s lobbying firm represents Independence’s utility and the company chosen to operate the solar farm.

In 2019 Tilley began representing Titan Fish, and a year later was part of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article241176816.html">proposal involving Titan Fish to repurpose a power plant owned by Independence</a>.

Titan Fish and Tilley severed ties shortly after details of the proposal were made public.

Jason Hancock is editor of the Missouri Independent, an affiliate of States Newsroom. He has been writing about Missouri since 2011, most recently as lead political reporter for The Kansas City Star.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634579441167.png" alt="A Kansas City-area company is accused in a complaint filed by the U.S. attorney in Kansas of wire fraud and money laundering involving federal COVID relief funds. (Pixabay photo)" />
 <figcaption>A Kansas City-area company is accused in a complaint filed by the U.S. attorney in Kansas of wire fraud and money laundering involving federal COVID relief funds. (Pixabay photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON HANCOCK <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/18/feds-seize-property-of-kansas-city-companies-accused-of-covid-relief-fraud/">Kansas Reflector</a>The
 federal government has seized two vehicles, and is threatening to seize
 a lake house, allegedly purchased illegally with COVID-19 relief money 
by a Kansas City-area businessman.The property was seized from several 
real estate companies incorporated in Kansas by Joseph Campbell, with 
most operating under a version of the name Titan Fish.According to a complaint filed by the
 U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas, in early 2020 Campbell submitted 20 
applications to the Small Business Administration for federal disaster 
loans made available under the CARES Act.Most were deemed duplicates of other applications, the complaint says, and five were granted.Campbell’s companies received nearly 
$1 million in aid that was supposed to be used to pay debts, payroll and
 other bills that could have been paid had the COVID-19 pandemic not 
occurred.According to an affidavit filed by 
Richard Littrell, a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service, 
Campbell’s applications contained false information and he used the 
money he received to purchase two vehicles and a lake house in Morgan 
County, Missouri.“Based on the information set forth 
in this affidavit, there is probable cause to believe Campbell committed
 violations of wire fraud and money laundering,” said Littrell, who 
conducts money laundering investigations as part of the Kansas City 
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.Littrell later added that there is 
probable cause that the vehicles and property “were purchased with 
proceeds derived or obtained from the wire fraud violations.”The two vehicles — a 2019 Dodge Ram 
1500 and a 2017 Ford Explorer — have been seized by the government. The 
lake house has not yet been seized.Campbell did not respond to a request for comment Friday.Danielle Thomas, spokeswoman for the 
U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas, said she cannot comment on open cases 
beyond what is available in the public record.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.titanfish.com/">Titan Fish</a>,
 based in Shawnee, Kansas, is described on its website as “special 
situation investors that focus on unique investment opportunities in 
real estate, energy and other real assets.”The company garnered attention in 
2017 when it purchased the former Rockwood Golf Club in Independence for
 $550,000 from a company that had owned the property for several years.Just months after that purchase, the 
Independence City Council voted to buy the golf course from Titan Fish 
for $1 million in order to use it to build a solar farm.The deal drew <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237681249.html">FBI scrutiny over a series of donations to Independence Mayor Eileen Weir </a>days before she voted to approve the purchase.Those donations came from four 
political action committees connected to lobbyist Steve Tilley, a former
 state lawmaker and longtime friend and adviser to Missouri Gov. Mike 
Parson.Tilley’s lobbying firm represents Independence’s utility and the company chosen to operate the solar farm.In 2019 Tilley began representing Titan Fish, and a year later was part of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article241176816.html">proposal involving Titan Fish to repurpose a power plant owned by Independence</a>.Titan Fish and Tilley severed ties shortly after details of the proposal were made public.Jason Hancock is editor of the Missouri Independent, an affiliate of States Newsroom. He has been writing about Missouri since 2011, most recently as lead political reporter for The Kansas City Star.

Feds seize property of KC companies accused of COVID relief fraud

CRAWFORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 20-year-old man who was assaulted by another inmate while in custody at the Crawford County Jail, according to a media release from the agency.

Preliminary information indicates that at around 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 16, corrections officers at the Jail were called to an injured inmate. 

When they arrived at the jail pod, a common area accessible to several inmates, they located Dante M. Martinez, 20, of Pittsburg. Martinez was suffering from severe injuries. EMS responded and provided medical aid. They transported Martinez to Girard Medical Center.

Following a review of video surveillance from the incident area, it was determined that 25-year-old Gavin P. Wood, of Arma, had attacked Martinez causing his injuries.&nbsp;

Martinez was later transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Just before 9p.m. on Oct. 16, he was pronounced deceased from his injuries. An autopsy has been scheduled.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Wood was charged with second-degree murder, and arrested on the new charge.

By statute, the KBI investigates all in-custody deaths which occur in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy. On Saturday, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office asked the KBI to investigate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634586113919.png" alt="Wood photo Crawford Co." />
 <figcaption>Wood photo Crawford Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>CRAWFORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 20-year-old man who was assaulted by another inmate while in custody at the Crawford County Jail, according to a media release from the agency.Preliminary information indicates that at around 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 16, corrections officers at the Jail were called to an injured inmate. When they arrived at the jail pod, a common area accessible to several inmates, they located Dante M. Martinez, 20, of Pittsburg. Martinez was suffering from severe injuries. EMS responded and provided medical aid. They transported Martinez to Girard Medical Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634586209007.png" alt="Martinez photo Crawford Co." />
 <figcaption>Martinez photo Crawford Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Following a review of video surveillance from the incident area, it was determined that 25-year-old Gavin P. Wood, of Arma, had attacked Martinez causing his injuries.&nbsp;Martinez was later transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Just before 9p.m. on Oct. 16, he was pronounced deceased from his injuries. An autopsy has been scheduled.At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Wood was charged with second-degree murder, and arrested on the new charge.By statute, the KBI investigates all in-custody deaths which occur in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy. On Saturday, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office asked the KBI to investigate.

Inmate arrested for murder after assault at Kansas county jail 

LYON COUNTY—There were no injuries after an emergency landing on a Kansas highway.

On Sunday morning, Lyon County sheriff's deputies assisted Wabaunsee County deputies with traffic control near the county line  on Kansas Highway 99 after an Eagle Med Helicopter had an engine malfunction, according to a social media report from the sheriff office.

The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing. Due to the quick actions of the pilot, the helicopter was able to make a safe landing with no damage or injuries.

In a statement from EagleMed, they reported one of their air ambulance helicopters made a precautionary landing at 3:41 a.m. on Sunday when a light on the instrument panel indicated a potential problem with the aircraft. 

The pilot followed company protocols and made a controlled, safe landing near K-99 and Elm Creek Road in Wabaunsee County. 

No injuries were reported. One patient was on board the Bell 407 helicopter, and another air medical service responded to complete the transport. 

EagleMed officials said the pilot made the appropriate decision to land the aircraft, noting that safety is integral to providing patients with the quality medical care they deserve, and equally important, a safe work environment for our crewmembers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634580708855.png" alt="Photo Lyon County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lyon County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—There were no injuries after an emergency landing on a Kansas highway.On Sunday morning, Lyon County sheriff's deputies assisted Wabaunsee County deputies with traffic control near the county line on Kansas Highway 99 after an Eagle Med Helicopter had an engine malfunction, according to a social media report from the sheriff office.The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing. Due to the quick actions of the pilot, the helicopter was able to make a safe landing with no damage or injuries.In a statement from EagleMed, they reported one of their air ambulance helicopters made a precautionary landing at 3:41 a.m. on Sunday when a light on the instrument panel indicated a potential problem with the aircraft. The pilot followed company protocols and made a controlled, safe landing near K-99 and Elm Creek Road in Wabaunsee County. No injuries were reported. One patient was on board the Bell 407 helicopter, and another air medical service responded to complete the transport. EagleMed officials said the pilot made the appropriate decision to land the aircraft, noting that safety is integral to providing patients with the quality medical care they deserve, and equally important, a safe work environment for our crewmembers.

Update: Medical helicopter made precautionary landing  on Kan. highway

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are setting the stage for a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign for younger children, inviting state officials to order doses before the shots are authorized.

Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is currently being given to people as young as 12 in the U.S. In the next three weeks, federal officials plan to discuss making smaller-dose versions available to the nation’s 28 million children between the ages of 5 and 11.

To help states and cities prepare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a seven-page document with guidance on how to set up expanded vaccination programs.

For example, it notes pharmacies in every state can give COVID-19 shots to children, but it clarifies that only doses prepared and packaged specifically for children are to be used for those under 12.

It doesn’t speak to some thornier questions, however, such as how much school-based clinics should be relied on or whether kids should be required to get then shots as a condition of school attendance.

Those questions will have to be worked out in each state and city.

The guidance comes as communities are gearing up for a new phase in the 10-month-old effort to vaccinate as many people as possible against a virus that has killed more than 720,000 in the U.S.

The disease has been most dangerous to older adults, who have higher rates of death and hospitalization than children. But some kids are at risk for severe illness, and more than 540 U.S. children have died from COVID-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Just as important, health officials believe that vaccinating children will reduce virus spread to vulnerable adults.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are furthest along in researching use of their vaccine in younger children. They say a two-dose vaccine series — one-third as potent as the version giving to people over 12 years old — is safe and effective in 5- to 11-year-olds.

An independent expert panel that advises the Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to publicly debate the evidence at a meeting in late October. If the FDA authorizes the kid-size doses, a different expert panel advising the CDC would take up the matter in early November, and then offer a recommendation to the CDC.

It’s not yet clear how many people will get shots for their younger kids right away, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

“We’re going to have potentially a very busy, and perhaps modestly chaotic time” initially, he said.

But there probably will not be the kind of heavy demand seen when shots first became available for adults, he added.

The new CDC guidance calls for shots to be given at the offices of pediatricians and family-practice doctors, and at pharmacies, rural health clinics and federally-qualified health centers.

The CDC discussed the option of vaccination clinics at schools, but stopped short of endorsing that as a primary way to get kids vaccinated. School clinics are logistically appealing, but many parents may not be comfortable with the idea, Plescia said.

The guidance also warns health care providers to only use doses that have been prepared especially for kids, and not try to fraction adult doses, Plescia noted.

CDC guidance said immunization program managers can start ordering doses Wednesday, though vials wouldn’t be delivered until the FDA and CDC sign off.

When the coronavirus vaccines were first authorized in December, the U.S. government prioritized having hospitals and pharmacies administer them. Some office-based physicians felt left out.

Dr. Jesse Hackell registered early with New York state to be able to administer the shots to teens. He said his office, located 25 miles north of New York City, didn’t receive doses for that until May.

But Hackell said the CDC has reassured pediatricians that once authorization happens for 5- to-11-year-olds, the process will go more smoothly and pediatricians’ offices will be able to get shipments quickly.

Dr. Richard Besser called on the government to do more to address racial and economic disparities that might emerge in the push to vaccinate younger kids.

For example, kids may not get shots if parents can’t get time off from work to bring them in.

“It’s really important that we recognize the barriers to vaccinations,” said Besser, chief executive of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are setting the stage for a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign for younger children, inviting state officials to order doses before the shots are authorized.Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is currently being given to people as young as 12 in the U.S. In the next three weeks, federal officials plan to discuss making smaller-dose versions available to the nation’s 28 million children between the ages of 5 and 11.To help states and cities prepare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a seven-page document with guidance on how to set up expanded vaccination programs.For example, it notes pharmacies in every state can give COVID-19 shots to children, but it clarifies that only doses prepared and packaged specifically for children are to be used for those under 12.It doesn’t speak to some thornier questions, however, such as how much school-based clinics should be relied on or whether kids should be required to get then shots as a condition of school attendance.Those questions will have to be worked out in each state and city.The guidance comes as communities are gearing up for a new phase in the 10-month-old effort to vaccinate as many people as possible against a virus that has killed more than 720,000 in the U.S.The disease has been most dangerous to older adults, who have higher rates of death and hospitalization than children. But some kids are at risk for severe illness, and more than 540 U.S. children have died from COVID-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.Just as important, health officials believe that vaccinating children will reduce virus spread to vulnerable adults.Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are furthest along in researching use of their vaccine in younger children. They say a two-dose vaccine series — one-third as potent as the version giving to people over 12 years old — is safe and effective in 5- to 11-year-olds.An independent expert panel that advises the Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to publicly debate the evidence at a meeting in late October. If the FDA authorizes the kid-size doses, a different expert panel advising the CDC would take up the matter in early November, and then offer a recommendation to the CDC.It’s not yet clear how many people will get shots for their younger kids right away, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.“We’re going to have potentially a very busy, and perhaps modestly chaotic time” initially, he said.But there probably will not be the kind of heavy demand seen when shots first became available for adults, he added.The new CDC guidance calls for shots to be given at the offices of pediatricians and family-practice doctors, and at pharmacies, rural health clinics and federally-qualified health centers.The CDC discussed the option of vaccination clinics at schools, but stopped short of endorsing that as a primary way to get kids vaccinated. School clinics are logistically appealing, but many parents may not be comfortable with the idea, Plescia said.The guidance also warns health care providers to only use doses that have been prepared especially for kids, and not try to fraction adult doses, Plescia noted.CDC guidance said immunization program managers can start ordering doses Wednesday, though vials wouldn’t be delivered until the FDA and CDC sign off.When the coronavirus vaccines were first authorized in December, the U.S. government prioritized having hospitals and pharmacies administer them. Some office-based physicians felt left out.Dr. Jesse Hackell registered early with New York state to be able to administer the shots to teens. He said his office, located 25 miles north of New York City, didn’t receive doses for that until May.But Hackell said the CDC has reassured pediatricians that once authorization happens for 5- to-11-year-olds, the process will go more smoothly and pediatricians’ offices will be able to get shipments quickly.Dr. Richard Besser called on the government to do more to address racial and economic disparities that might emerge in the push to vaccinate younger kids.For example, kids may not get shots if parents can’t get time off from work to bring them in.“It’s really important that we recognize the barriers to vaccinations,” said Besser, chief executive of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC.___

States set to reserve COVID-19 shots for younger kids 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
beginning October 18, the IRS's large business division will accept all 
taxpayer requests to meet with IRS employees using secure 
videoconferencing. This step extends the practice used during the 
pandemic to accommodate taxpayers who sought more than meeting with an 
IRS employee over telephone calls.

"Since 2020, we advanced several measures to better interact 
virtually and digitally with large business taxpayers," said Nikole 
Flax, IRS commissioner of the Large Business and International Division 
(LB&amp;I). "Our success in using these tools and the convenience and 
efficiency for taxpayers and their representatives convinced us that the
 way forward will continue to involve the use of 
video-teleconferencing."

The new guidance, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/foia/ig/lmsb/lbi-04-0821-0011.pdf">Video Meetings with LB&amp;I Taxpayers and their Representatives</a>&nbsp;PDF,
 requires LB&amp;I employees to grant large business taxpayer requests 
for a secure video meeting with IRS-approved platforms in lieu of an 
in-person or telephone discussion with a compliance function.

Today's announcement represents a step forward in the IRS's effort to
 work with taxpayers in a virtual environment, including the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/foia/ig/spder/nhq-01-0421-0001.pdf">expanded use of secure email</a>&nbsp;PDF
 and the launch of a virtual reading room environment to enable large 
LB&amp;I taxpayers and IRS agents to share certain privileged taxpayer 
documents in a read-only capacity. In addition, LB&amp;I also launched 
and expanded its use of paperless processes so that cases can continue 
to move swiftly through examination and resolution.

These efforts are aimed at continuing to improve service to meet the 
needs of large business taxpayers and their representatives and are a 
part of the IRS's ongoing commitment to find more convenient and 
effective ways to interact with taxpayers and the community of tax 
professionals.

LB&amp;I is responsible for tax administration activities for 
domestic and foreign businesses with a United States tax reporting 
requirement and assets equal to or exceeding $10 million, as well as the
 Global High Wealth and International Individual Compliance programs.

IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
beginning October 18, the IRS's large business division will accept all 
taxpayer requests to meet with IRS employees using secure 
videoconferencing. This step extends the practice used during the 
pandemic to accommodate taxpayers who sought more than meeting with an 
IRS employee over telephone calls."Since 2020, we advanced several measures to better interact 
virtually and digitally with large business taxpayers," said Nikole 
Flax, IRS commissioner of the Large Business and International Division 
(LB&amp;I). "Our success in using these tools and the convenience and 
efficiency for taxpayers and their representatives convinced us that the
 way forward will continue to involve the use of 
video-teleconferencing."The new guidance, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/foia/ig/lmsb/lbi-04-0821-0011.pdf">Video Meetings with LB&amp;I Taxpayers and their Representatives</a>&nbsp;PDF,
 requires LB&amp;I employees to grant large business taxpayer requests 
for a secure video meeting with IRS-approved platforms in lieu of an 
in-person or telephone discussion with a compliance function.Today's announcement represents a step forward in the IRS's effort to
 work with taxpayers in a virtual environment, including the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/foia/ig/spder/nhq-01-0421-0001.pdf">expanded use of secure email</a>&nbsp;PDF
 and the launch of a virtual reading room environment to enable large 
LB&amp;I taxpayers and IRS agents to share certain privileged taxpayer 
documents in a read-only capacity. In addition, LB&amp;I also launched 
and expanded its use of paperless processes so that cases can continue 
to move swiftly through examination and resolution.These efforts are aimed at continuing to improve service to meet the 
needs of large business taxpayers and their representatives and are a 
part of the IRS's ongoing commitment to find more convenient and 
effective ways to interact with taxpayers and the community of tax 
professionals.LB&amp;I is responsible for tax administration activities for 
domestic and foreign businesses with a United States tax reporting 
requirement and assets equal to or exceeding $10 million, as well as the
 Global High Wealth and International Individual Compliance programs.

IRS extends videoconferencing to large business taxpayers

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,520 to a total of 424,802, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported five new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,170.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,520 to a total of 424,802, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported five new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,170.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634578227582.png" alt="Monday Oct. 18, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday Oct. 18, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.