VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Hollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, has blasted into space and safely returned to Earth in a convergence of science fiction and science reality. He set out Wednesday morning for the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company. 

The “Star Trek” hero becomes the oldest person to ride a rocket. The fully automatic spacecraft reached an estimated altitude of 66 miles over the West Texas desert. The up-and-down flight lasted about 10 minutes, with Shatner and his three fellow passengers parachuting back to Earth in the capsule.

VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Hollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, has blasted into space in a convergence of science fiction and science reality. He set out Wednesday morning for the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company. 

The “Star Trek” hero becomes the oldest person to ride a rocket. The fully automatic spacecraft is set to reach an altitude of 66 miles over the West Texas desert. The up-and-down flight should last about 10 minutes, with Shatner and his three fellow passengers parachuting back to Earth in the capsule.

VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Actor William Shatner is counting down to his wildest role yet: riding a rocket into space, courtesy of “Star Trek” fan Jeff Bezos. Best known for his role as Captain Kirk, the 90-year-old Shatner is joining three other passengers for Wednesday morning's launch from West Texas. 

He will become the oldest person in space. Bezos' space travel company, Blue Origin, invited Shatner on the brief jaunt to the fringes of the final frontier. It will be Blue Origin's second passenger flight and should last just 10 minutes, like Bezos' own spaceflight in July.

VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — As William Shatner prepares to be beamed up Wednesday for his first real-life spaceflight, and to become at 90 the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier, he’s bringing out the awe in the small handful of people around a rural Texas spaceport.

Shatner’s 10-minute trip with three others on the second passenger flight from Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin will be more like the first space launches of the 1960s than the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shatner-blue-origin-2f300ec9fc37e5625d56bbc6de3f42b7">fictional galactic voyages of the Starship Enterprise</a>&nbsp;on “Star Trek,” but the very idea of him leaving the atmosphere is powerful.

“It’s time Captain Kirk actually physically got up into space. I’m kind of excited about that,” said Becky Brewster, mayor of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-technology-travel-texas-space-tourism-da559b0b6f84606829c4e79163e602d8">Van Horn, a rural town of about 1,800 people</a>&nbsp;on what was once desolate desert ranchland in far West Texas that has been transformed by the presence of the Blue Origin spaceport facilities 25 miles away.

The mayor, a lifelong “Star Trek” fan, said she was disappointed she wasn’t invited to the launch site but is savoring the moment anyway. She’s planning to watch from her backyard with the livestream playing.

“He and Mr. Spock were the ones that got me interested in space and science fiction and and everything else,” Brewster said. “So, from junior high age up to now where William Shatner is actually in our town fixing to go up into space. You know, it’s kind of like the whole circle now for me.”

Beyond his celebrity identity, Shatner being space-bound at his age is a kick for close observers.

Joseph Barra, who works as a bartender for a Los Angeles catering company, heard only that he was getting an unusual gig at a remote Texas launch site.

“I’m like stop. You had me at space. Had no clue what else,” Barra said. “And then all I heard was their gonna send some 90-year-old man into space. And I’m like, Dang, that sounds intense. Like, I wonder who that is. Then you get in site and I’m like, Oh, it’s William Shatner.”

Barra said the experience of serving drinks to Shatner and his crew mates has been surreal and then some.

“We’re seeing that the man who in a sense like made space popular or made or gave everybody dreams of going to space,” Barra said. “Now he’s the one going to space and he’s the one setting the bar. It’s inspiring. Some like here, this man is 90 years old, proving that no matter how old you are, you still have more to do and accomplish on this Earth, and you can still give people an inspiration and a source and something to aspire to.”

Barra said he heard Shatner say he plans to just gaze out the window at Earth during his minutes of weightlessness.

But he has a bit more planned apparently.

A Twitter user asked Shatner, an avid tweeter, on Tuesday whether he will post from space.

“I cannot bring my phone but I’ve prearranged a little something,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1447906641823756288" target="_blank">Shatner replied</a>&nbsp;with a wink emoji.

Earlier in the week he tweeted a photo of himself and his fellow crew members in blue flight suits that are far more futuristic than the yellow leotard-style uniform he wore on the original “Star Trek.”

“Aren’t we all adorbs!”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1447367260473987074" target="_blank">Shatner said</a>.

Bezos, who was on Blue Origin’s debut flight in July, is also a big “Star Trek” fan, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/william-shatner-star-trek-blue-origin-space-jeff-bezos-e10877d624a4cc0be9385585c2647cdd">invited Shatner to take the flight as a guest</a>.

He’ll join three others — two of them paying customers in the burgeoning business of space tourism — aboard a Blue Origin capsule.

The fully automated flight, delayed by a day due to weather, will take them no higher than about 66 miles (106 kilometers). The capsule will parachute back to the desert floor, not far from where it took off.

Shatner plans to get right back to his work as Captain Kirk once he’s back down to Earth.

“I’m doing Space, then Indiana Comic Con, &amp; then on Sunday Wizard World Chicago,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1447759827577368578" target="_blank">he tweeted</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634138062297.png" alt="William Shatner as he emerged from the capsule after the flight-photo Blue Origin" />
 <figcaption>William Shatner as he emerged from the capsule after the flight-photo Blue Origin</figcaption>
 </figure>VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Hollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, has blasted into space and safely returned to Earth in a convergence of science fiction and science reality. He set out Wednesday morning for the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uEhdlIor-do" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The “Star Trek” hero becomes the oldest person to ride a rocket. The fully automatic spacecraft reached an estimated altitude of 66 miles over the West Texas desert. The up-and-down flight lasted about 10 minutes, with Shatner and his three fellow passengers parachuting back to Earth in the capsule.--------VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Hollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, has blasted into space in a convergence of science fiction and science reality. He set out Wednesday morning for the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company. The “Star Trek” hero becomes the oldest person to ride a rocket. The fully automatic spacecraft is set to reach an altitude of 66 miles over the West Texas desert. The up-and-down flight should last about 10 minutes, with Shatner and his three fellow passengers parachuting back to Earth in the capsule.--------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634134056055.png" alt="Shatner in the final steps ahead of boarding the spacecraft Wednesday morning -photo Blue Origin" />
 <figcaption>Shatner in the final steps ahead of boarding the spacecraft Wednesday morning -photo Blue Origin</figcaption>
 </figure>VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Actor William Shatner is counting down to his wildest role yet: riding a rocket into space, courtesy of “Star Trek” fan Jeff Bezos. Best known for his role as Captain Kirk, the 90-year-old Shatner is joining three other passengers for Wednesday morning's launch from West Texas. He will become the oldest person in space. Bezos' space travel company, Blue Origin, invited Shatner on the brief jaunt to the fringes of the final frontier. It will be Blue Origin's second passenger flight and should last just 10 minutes, like Bezos' own spaceflight in July.----------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634134171505.png" alt="Special delivery: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS18?src=hashtag_click">#NS18</a> astronauts put pen to postcard ahead of their flight. When they take to the skies, they’ll boldly go where no mail carrier has gone before.-photo Blue Origin" />
 <figcaption>Special delivery: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS18?src=hashtag_click">#NS18</a> astronauts put pen to postcard ahead of their flight. When they take to the skies, they’ll boldly go where no mail carrier has gone before.-photo Blue Origin</figcaption>
 </figure>VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — As William Shatner prepares to be beamed up Wednesday for his first real-life spaceflight, and to become at 90 the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier, he’s bringing out the awe in the small handful of people around a rural Texas spaceport.Shatner’s 10-minute trip with three others on the second passenger flight from Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin will be more like the first space launches of the 1960s than the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shatner-blue-origin-2f300ec9fc37e5625d56bbc6de3f42b7">fictional galactic voyages of the Starship Enterprise</a>&nbsp;on “Star Trek,” but the very idea of him leaving the atmosphere is powerful.“It’s time Captain Kirk actually physically got up into space. I’m kind of excited about that,” said Becky Brewster, mayor of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-technology-travel-texas-space-tourism-da559b0b6f84606829c4e79163e602d8">Van Horn, a rural town of about 1,800 people</a>&nbsp;on what was once desolate desert ranchland in far West Texas that has been transformed by the presence of the Blue Origin spaceport facilities 25 miles away.The mayor, a lifelong “Star Trek” fan, said she was disappointed she wasn’t invited to the launch site but is savoring the moment anyway. She’s planning to watch from her backyard with the livestream playing.“He and Mr. Spock were the ones that got me interested in space and science fiction and and everything else,” Brewster said. “So, from junior high age up to now where William Shatner is actually in our town fixing to go up into space. You know, it’s kind of like the whole circle now for me.”Beyond his celebrity identity, Shatner being space-bound at his age is a kick for close observers.Joseph Barra, who works as a bartender for a Los Angeles catering company, heard only that he was getting an unusual gig at a remote Texas launch site.“I’m like stop. You had me at space. Had no clue what else,” Barra said. “And then all I heard was their gonna send some 90-year-old man into space. And I’m like, Dang, that sounds intense. Like, I wonder who that is. Then you get in site and I’m like, Oh, it’s William Shatner.”Barra said the experience of serving drinks to Shatner and his crew mates has been surreal and then some.“We’re seeing that the man who in a sense like made space popular or made or gave everybody dreams of going to space,” Barra said. “Now he’s the one going to space and he’s the one setting the bar. It’s inspiring. Some like here, this man is 90 years old, proving that no matter how old you are, you still have more to do and accomplish on this Earth, and you can still give people an inspiration and a source and something to aspire to.”Barra said he heard Shatner say he plans to just gaze out the window at Earth during his minutes of weightlessness.But he has a bit more planned apparently.A Twitter user asked Shatner, an avid tweeter, on Tuesday whether he will post from space.“I cannot bring my phone but I’ve prearranged a little something,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1447906641823756288" target="_blank">Shatner replied</a>&nbsp;with a wink emoji.Earlier in the week he tweeted a photo of himself and his fellow crew members in blue flight suits that are far more futuristic than the yellow leotard-style uniform he wore on the original “Star Trek.”“Aren’t we all adorbs!”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1447367260473987074" target="_blank">Shatner said</a>.Bezos, who was on Blue Origin’s debut flight in July, is also a big “Star Trek” fan, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/william-shatner-star-trek-blue-origin-space-jeff-bezos-e10877d624a4cc0be9385585c2647cdd">invited Shatner to take the flight as a guest</a>.He’ll join three others — two of them paying customers in the burgeoning business of space tourism — aboard a Blue Origin capsule.The fully automated flight, delayed by a day due to weather, will take them no higher than about 66 miles (106 kilometers). The capsule will parachute back to the desert floor, not far from where it took off.Shatner plans to get right back to his work as Captain Kirk once he’s back down to Earth.“I’m doing Space, then Indiana Comic Con, &amp; then on Sunday Wizard World Chicago,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1447759827577368578" target="_blank">he tweeted</a>.

🎥 William Shatner, TV's Capt. Kirk, becomes oldest in space

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after&nbsp;&nbsp;he allegedly battered a police officer and also engaged in disorderly conduct, according to a media release.

Just after 5p.m. Oct. 10, police responded to MeadowWalk Apartments, 925 W. Skyline Road in Arkansas City for a report of trespassing.

When they arrived, they made contact with deputies from the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office who already were on scene and learned that&nbsp;Issa Ahmed Moder Nemr, 38, was&nbsp;apparently very intoxicated.

The manager of MeadowWalk Apartments wanted Nemr removed from the premises because he was being very loud and disruptive. He then refused to follow commands from officers, according to the release.

Nemr made several aggressive movements toward officers and was taken into custody for disorderly conduct. He was escorted to an Arkansas City Police Department patrol vehicle for transport.

However, Nemr then head-butted one of the Arkansas City officers in the face. He subsequently was brought back under control and placed into a Cowley County Sheriff’s patrol truck for transport.

The Arkansas City police officer sustained only minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nemr was booked on requested charges that include&nbsp; battery of a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634133453060.png" alt="Nemr-photo Cowley Co." />
 <figcaption>Nemr-photo Cowley Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after&nbsp;&nbsp;he allegedly battered a police officer and also engaged in disorderly conduct, according to a media release.Just after 5p.m. Oct. 10, police responded to MeadowWalk Apartments, 925 W. Skyline Road in Arkansas City for a report of trespassing.When they arrived, they made contact with deputies from the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office who already were on scene and learned that&nbsp;Issa Ahmed Moder Nemr, 38, was&nbsp;apparently very intoxicated.The manager of MeadowWalk Apartments wanted Nemr removed from the premises because he was being very loud and disruptive. He then refused to follow commands from officers, according to the release.Nemr made several aggressive movements toward officers and was taken into custody for disorderly conduct. He was escorted to an Arkansas City Police Department patrol vehicle for transport.However, Nemr then head-butted one of the Arkansas City officers in the face. He subsequently was brought back under control and placed into a Cowley County Sheriff’s patrol truck for transport.The Arkansas City police officer sustained only minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nemr was booked on requested charges that include&nbsp; battery of a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct.&nbsp;

Police: Man accused of head-butting Kansas officer during arrest

WASHINGTON — The Biden’s administration’s mandate that employers with 100 or more workers require coronavirus vaccinations or institute weekly virus testing has moved one step closer to enforcement.

On Tuesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration finalized the initial draft of the emergency order and sent it to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. That’s according to the Department of Labor.

OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs will conduct a standard review of the regulation.

Officials did not immediately provide an estimate for the OMB examination. The agency has 90 days to review the rule or send it back to OSHA for revision. Text of the proposed order won’t be published until OMB completes its review.

Owing to the bureaucracy surrounding the rulemaking process, President Joe Biden has encouraged businesses to implement mandates ahead of the final rule being implemented.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629663997116.png" alt="President Joe Biden has encouraged businesses to implement mandates ahead of the final rule being implemented." />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden has encouraged businesses to implement mandates ahead of the final rule being implemented.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The Biden’s administration’s mandate that employers with 100 or more workers require coronavirus vaccinations or institute weekly virus testing has moved one step closer to enforcement.On Tuesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration finalized the initial draft of the emergency order and sent it to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. That’s according to the Department of Labor.OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs will conduct a standard review of the regulation.Officials did not immediately provide an estimate for the OMB examination. The agency has 90 days to review the rule or send it back to OSHA for revision. Text of the proposed order won’t be published until OMB completes its review.Owing to the bureaucracy surrounding the rulemaking process, President Joe Biden has encouraged businesses to implement mandates ahead of the final rule being implemented.

Biden vaccine mandate another step closer to enforcement

FORD COUNTY —A line of strong to severe thunderstorms rolled across&nbsp; Kansas Tuesday night and early Wednesday producing high winds, heavy rain and tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes were reported in rural areas of Wallace, Haskell and Ford counties.&nbsp; There are no injuries reported.

&nbsp;Pioneer Electric and Victory Electric are working to restore service in areas of southwest Kansas due to the storms.&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634149009998.png" alt="Storm damage at the Wallace County community of Sharon Springs" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage at the Wallace County community of Sharon Springs</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY —A line of strong to severe thunderstorms rolled across&nbsp; Kansas Tuesday night and early Wednesday producing high winds, heavy rain and tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.Tornadoes were reported in rural areas of Wallace, Haskell and Ford counties.&nbsp; There are no injuries reported.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D6244194935653110%26id%3D1063782470361075&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="187" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>&nbsp;Pioneer Electric and Victory Electric are working to restore service in areas of southwest Kansas due to the storms.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Due to high winds and a semi being blown over, I-70 eastbound is shutdown between exit 70 to exit 76. Traffic is being routed to US 83 south to US 40, then back to I-70 eastbound at the 76 milepost for an unknown amount of time. Be mindful of the weather if you&#39;re traveling. <a href="https://t.co/I7s1Lds4rK">pic.twitter.com/I7s1Lds4rK</a>&mdash; Trooper Tod (@TrooperTodKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperTodKHP/status/1448123269895307264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Storm rolls across Kansas producing heavy rain, tornadoes

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) – Two people from New Mexico were killed Tuesday when a small plane crashed in a wooded area near a suburban Milwaukee neighborhood.

The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted about 12:30 p.m. that a GlaStar aircraft crashed near Waukesha.

The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office later reported that the plane went down in the Village of Waukesha, which lies just to the south of the city of Waukesha.

Both people aboard were killed, the sheriff’s office said.

Federal Aviation Administration officials told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the plane took off from Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport in Milwaukee and was headed to Salina Regional Airport in Salina, Kansas, when it went down at 9:35 a.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634122445579.png" alt="A view from above the crash scene image courtesy WITI-TV" />
 <figcaption>A view from above the crash scene image courtesy WITI-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) – Two people from New Mexico were killed Tuesday when a small plane crashed in a wooded area near a suburban Milwaukee neighborhood.The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted about 12:30 p.m. that a GlaStar aircraft crashed near Waukesha.The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office later reported that the plane went down in the Village of Waukesha, which lies just to the south of the city of Waukesha.Both people aboard were killed, the sheriff’s office said.No one on the ground was hurt.Federal Aviation Administration officials told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the plane took off from Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport in Milwaukee and was headed to Salina Regional Airport in Salina, Kansas, when it went down at 9:35 a.m.

2 dead after plane flying to Kansas crashed in rural Wisconsin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of the House on Tuesday pushed through a short-term increase to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">the nation’s debt limit</a>, ensuring the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December and temporarily averting an unprecedented default that would have decimated the economy.

The $480 billion increase in the country’s borrowing ceiling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-mitch-mcconnell-6e330d9fb94b73787ea70e7807b87151">cleared the Senate last week</a>&nbsp;on a party-line vote. The House approved it swiftly so President Joe Biden can sign it into law this week.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-janet-yellen-cf59ef71fe0dfd51d8343aea84fe3bd6">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned</a>&nbsp;that steps to stave off a default on the country’s debts would be exhausted by Monday, and from that point, the department would soon be unable to fully meet the government’s financial obligations.

A default would have immense fallout on global financial markets built upon the bedrock safety of U.S. government debt. Routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and active-duty military personnel would also be called into question.

The relief provided by passage of the legislation will only be temporary though, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December — a time when lawmakers will also be laboring to complete federal spending bills and avoid a damaging government shutdown. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-filibusters-27ee5558714da1347b68d58952cc137b">yearend backlog&nbsp;</a>raises risks for both parties and threatens a tumultuous close to Biden’s first year in office.

“I’m glad that this at least allows us to prevent a totally self-made and utterly preventable economic catastrophe as we work on a longer-term plan,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Republicans signaled the next debt limit debate won’t be any easier and warned Democrats not to expect their help.

“Unless and until Democrats give up on their dream of a big-government, socialist America, Republicans cannot and will not support raising the debt limit and help them pave the superhighway to a great entitlement society,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.

Procedurally, the House took a single vote Tuesday that had the effect of passing the Senate bill. The measure passed by a party-line vote of 219-206.

The present standoff over the debt ceiling eased when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to help pass the short-term increase. But he insists he won’t do so again.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-economy-bills-f2b52bc7ff5d1f241ed12e73e382c6b8">letter sent Friday</a>&nbsp;to Biden, McConnell said Democrats will have to handle the next debt-limit increase on their own using the same process they have tried to use to pass Biden’s massive social spending and environment plan. Reconciliation allows legislation to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60 that’s typically required. In the 50-50 split Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris gives Democrats the majority with her tiebreaking vote.

Lawmakers from both parties have used the debt ceiling votes as leverage for other priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to vote against raising the debt ceiling when President Donald Trump was in office, saying she had no intention of supporting lifting the debt ceiling to enable Republicans to give another tax break to the rich. And Republicans in 2011 managed to coerce President Barack Obama into accepting about $2 trillion in deficit cuts as a condition for increasing the debt limit — though lawmakers later rolled back some of those cuts.

Pelosi told reporters Tuesday that over the years Republicans and Democrats have voted against lifting the debt ceiling, “but never to the extent of jeopardizing it.”

Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved. But she also floated a bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., that would transfer the duty of raising the debt limit away from Congress and vest it with the Treasury secretary, saying, “I think it has merit.”

In his focus on the debt limit, McConnell has tried to link Biden’s big federal government spending boost with the nation’s rising debt load, even though they are separate and the debt ceiling will have to be increased or suspended regardless of whether Biden’s $3.5 trillion plan makes it into law.

“Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it,” McConnell said in a letter to the president. “They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help.”

McConnell was one of 11 Republicans who sided with Democrats to advance the debt ceiling reprieve to a final vote. Subsequently, McConnell and his GOP colleagues voted against final passage.

The debate over the debt ceiling has at times gotten personal. McConnell last week suggested that Democrats were playing “Russian roulette” with the economy because they had not dealt with the debt ceiling through the process he had insisted upon. He called out Pelosi for traveling to Europe last week.

“I can only presume she hopes the full faith and credit of the United States will get sorted out,” McConnell said.

Pelosi did not let the shot pass. “Russian roulette from Moscow Mitch. Interesting,” she said.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday’s vote marked the 50th time dating back to President Ronald Reagan that he has voted on extending the debt limit.

“Nobody has clean hands when it comes to the debt limit,” he said.

Because the Senate bill only allowed for a stopgap extension, Hoyer called it a “lousy deal.”

“And then we’re going to play this game one more time, a despicable and irresponsible act for adults who know better,” Hoyer said.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he wanted to “thank” Hoyer for sharing that he had previously voted for raising the debt ceiling 49 times.

“When he came into this body, the debt was about a trillion dollars,” Roy said. “Thank you, I guess, on behalf of the people of America who are staring at 28-and-a-half trillion dollars of debt.”

The current debt ceiling is $28.4 trillion. Both parties have contributed to that load with decisions that have left the government rarely operating in the black.

The calamitous ramifications of default are why lawmakers have been able to reach a compromise to lift or suspend the debt cap some 18 times since 2002, often after frequent rounds of brinkmanship.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634082573669.png" alt="House Speaker Nancyi Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved." />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancyi Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of the House on Tuesday pushed through a short-term increase to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">the nation’s debt limit</a>, ensuring the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December and temporarily averting an unprecedented default that would have decimated the economy.The $480 billion increase in the country’s borrowing ceiling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-mitch-mcconnell-6e330d9fb94b73787ea70e7807b87151">cleared the Senate last week</a>&nbsp;on a party-line vote. The House approved it swiftly so President Joe Biden can sign it into law this week.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-janet-yellen-cf59ef71fe0dfd51d8343aea84fe3bd6">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned</a>&nbsp;that steps to stave off a default on the country’s debts would be exhausted by Monday, and from that point, the department would soon be unable to fully meet the government’s financial obligations.A default would have immense fallout on global financial markets built upon the bedrock safety of U.S. government debt. Routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and active-duty military personnel would also be called into question.The relief provided by passage of the legislation will only be temporary though, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December — a time when lawmakers will also be laboring to complete federal spending bills and avoid a damaging government shutdown. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-filibusters-27ee5558714da1347b68d58952cc137b">yearend backlog&nbsp;</a>raises risks for both parties and threatens a tumultuous close to Biden’s first year in office.“I’m glad that this at least allows us to prevent a totally self-made and utterly preventable economic catastrophe as we work on a longer-term plan,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.Republicans signaled the next debt limit debate won’t be any easier and warned Democrats not to expect their help.“Unless and until Democrats give up on their dream of a big-government, socialist America, Republicans cannot and will not support raising the debt limit and help them pave the superhighway to a great entitlement society,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.Procedurally, the House took a single vote Tuesday that had the effect of passing the Senate bill. The measure passed by a party-line vote of 219-206.The present standoff over the debt ceiling eased when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to help pass the short-term increase. But he insists he won’t do so again.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-economy-bills-f2b52bc7ff5d1f241ed12e73e382c6b8">letter sent Friday</a>&nbsp;to Biden, McConnell said Democrats will have to handle the next debt-limit increase on their own using the same process they have tried to use to pass Biden’s massive social spending and environment plan. Reconciliation allows legislation to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60 that’s typically required. In the 50-50 split Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris gives Democrats the majority with her tiebreaking vote.Lawmakers from both parties have used the debt ceiling votes as leverage for other priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to vote against raising the debt ceiling when President Donald Trump was in office, saying she had no intention of supporting lifting the debt ceiling to enable Republicans to give another tax break to the rich. And Republicans in 2011 managed to coerce President Barack Obama into accepting about $2 trillion in deficit cuts as a condition for increasing the debt limit — though lawmakers later rolled back some of those cuts.Pelosi told reporters Tuesday that over the years Republicans and Democrats have voted against lifting the debt ceiling, “but never to the extent of jeopardizing it.”Pelosi offered her hope that Congress would lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan way this December because of the stakes involved. But she also floated a bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., that would transfer the duty of raising the debt limit away from Congress and vest it with the Treasury secretary, saying, “I think it has merit.”In his focus on the debt limit, McConnell has tried to link Biden’s big federal government spending boost with the nation’s rising debt load, even though they are separate and the debt ceiling will have to be increased or suspended regardless of whether Biden’s $3.5 trillion plan makes it into law.“Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it,” McConnell said in a letter to the president. “They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help.”McConnell was one of 11 Republicans who sided with Democrats to advance the debt ceiling reprieve to a final vote. Subsequently, McConnell and his GOP colleagues voted against final passage.The debate over the debt ceiling has at times gotten personal. McConnell last week suggested that Democrats were playing “Russian roulette” with the economy because they had not dealt with the debt ceiling through the process he had insisted upon. He called out Pelosi for traveling to Europe last week.“I can only presume she hopes the full faith and credit of the United States will get sorted out,” McConnell said.Pelosi did not let the shot pass. “Russian roulette from Moscow Mitch. Interesting,” she said.House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday’s vote marked the 50th time dating back to President Ronald Reagan that he has voted on extending the debt limit.“Nobody has clean hands when it comes to the debt limit,” he said.Because the Senate bill only allowed for a stopgap extension, Hoyer called it a “lousy deal.”“And then we’re going to play this game one more time, a despicable and irresponsible act for adults who know better,” Hoyer said.Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he wanted to “thank” Hoyer for sharing that he had previously voted for raising the debt ceiling 49 times.“When he came into this body, the debt was about a trillion dollars,” Roy said. “Thank you, I guess, on behalf of the people of America who are staring at 28-and-a-half trillion dollars of debt.”The current debt ceiling is $28.4 trillion. Both parties have contributed to that load with decisions that have left the government rarely operating in the black.The calamitous ramifications of default are why lawmakers have been able to reach a compromise to lift or suspend the debt cap some 18 times since 2002, often after frequent rounds of brinkmanship.

House sends debt limit hike to Biden; budget battle contiues

COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with three burglaries that occurred while the occupants were at church.

On October 8, police responded to 416 N. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a burglary in progress, according to a media release. They arrived and spoke to the homeowner, who reported that he had a security camera inside his home.

While attending a local church service, the victim, a 35-year-old Arkansas City man, observed someone entering his home on the camera and notified police.

Officers cleared the residence and determined the suspect had left before they arrived. Police identified 18-year-old Cristian Alexis Vega-Alvarez as the suspect based on the home security video footage.

The victim said his home had been burglarized a week ago, also while he was attending church, and so he installed the security camera in case the residence was ever burglarized again.

Police later learned another member of the same church, a 29-year-old Arkansas City man, also had his home at 503 N. Eighth St. broken into while he was attending a church service on Sept. 20.

Officers determined Vega-Alvarez previously was a member of the same church as the victims, but recently had quit attending services. They later located him and took him to the police department for questioning, during which officers learned Vega-Alvarez allegedly had committed all three burglaries.

He was taken into custody without incident and booked him into the Cowley County jail on requested charges that include three felony counts of burglary of a dwelling, three misdemeanor counts of theft of property totaling less than $1,500 in value, and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.&nbsp; He remains in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634077577564.png" alt="Vega-Alvarez-photo Cowley Co." />
 <figcaption>Vega-Alvarez-photo Cowley Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with three burglaries that occurred while the occupants were at church.On October 8, police responded to 416 N. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a burglary in progress, according to a media release. They arrived and spoke to the homeowner, who reported that he had a security camera inside his home.While attending a local church service, the victim, a 35-year-old Arkansas City man, observed someone entering his home on the camera and notified police.Officers cleared the residence and determined the suspect had left before they arrived. Police identified 18-year-old Cristian Alexis Vega-Alvarez as the suspect based on the home security video footage.The victim said his home had been burglarized a week ago, also while he was attending church, and so he installed the security camera in case the residence was ever burglarized again.Police later learned another member of the same church, a 29-year-old Arkansas City man, also had his home at 503 N. Eighth St. broken into while he was attending a church service on Sept. 20.Officers determined Vega-Alvarez previously was a member of the same church as the victims, but recently had quit attending services. They later located him and took him to the police department for questioning, during which officers learned Vega-Alvarez allegedly had committed all three burglaries.He was taken into custody without incident and booked him into the Cowley County jail on requested charges that include three felony counts of burglary of a dwelling, three misdemeanor counts of theft of property totaling less than $1,500 in value, and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.&nbsp; He remains in custody.

Kan. teen burglarized homes while victims were at church

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the Oct. 10 drive by shooting on Fort Riley Blvd. have upgraded charges against the suspect 37-year-old Torrey Lindsey of Manhattan.

Lindsay is now accused of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a weapon into an occupied vehicle. He remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

Just after 10:00 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a 911 call of shots fired from one car to another while both were traveling eastbound on Fort Riley Blvd. near the Geary-Riley County Line, according to police spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.

Officers made contact with the two cars involved near the intersection of Miller Pkwy. and Fort Riley Blvd in Manhattan. They found a 33-year-old female victim, driving one of the cars, suffering from minor glass shrapnel injuries to the face. The victim was transported from the scene to Via Christi and released after treatment.

Lindsay who had been driving the second car involved, allegedly shot from his car into the victim’s car. Police originally arrested him on a requested charge of attempted second-degree murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633920083288.png" alt="Lindsay has previous convictions for making a false writing and Impairing a security interest, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Lindsay has previous convictions for making a false writing and Impairing a security interest, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the Oct. 10 drive by shooting on Fort Riley Blvd. have upgraded charges against the suspect 37-year-old Torrey Lindsey of Manhattan.Lindsay is now accused of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a weapon into an occupied vehicle. He remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a $750,000 bond.Just after 10:00 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a 911 call of shots fired from one car to another while both were traveling eastbound on Fort Riley Blvd. near the Geary-Riley County Line, according to police spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.Officers made contact with the two cars involved near the intersection of Miller Pkwy. and Fort Riley Blvd in Manhattan. They found a 33-year-old female victim, driving one of the cars, suffering from minor glass shrapnel injuries to the face. The victim was transported from the scene to Via Christi and released after treatment.Lindsay who had been driving the second car involved, allegedly shot from his car into the victim’s car. Police originally arrested him on a requested charge of attempted second-degree murder.

Police: Suspect in Kan. drive-by shooting faces new charges 

KANSAS CITY, Kansas —First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stopped in Kansas Tuesday. She met with Hispanic representatives during a visit to El Centro Academy, 1330 South 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. It is a dual-language early childhood education program, according to the<a href="https://www.elcentroinc.com/education-2/academy-kansas-city-dual-language-school/"> school's website.</a>

Kansas 3rd District Rep. Sharice Davids accompanied the First Lady on her trip to the school.&nbsp;

Biden's trip includes additional stops in Chicago and Allentown, Pennsylvania to take part in conversations and listen to concerns of Hispanic Americans, according to her office.

In May, Biden visited a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. The college offered free class and other incentives for students to get vaccinated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634078755169.png" alt="Photo courtesy Janet Murguia, President and CEO of UnidosUS" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Janet Murguia, President and CEO of UnidosUS</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kansas —First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stopped in Kansas Tuesday. She met with Hispanic representatives during a visit to El Centro Academy, 1330 South 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. It is a dual-language early childhood education program, according to the<a href="https://www.elcentroinc.com/education-2/academy-kansas-city-dual-language-school/"> school's website.</a>Kansas 3rd District Rep. Sharice Davids accompanied the First Lady on her trip to the school.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ready for <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SBAIsabel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBAIsabel</a>! I brought along a few souvenirs - proud to share our community college connection and belief that a good education uplifts more than just the individual student. (Plus, my mom made the bag!) <a href="https://t.co/PeSgHRQ2He">pic.twitter.com/PeSgHRQ2He</a>&mdash; Rep. Sharice Davids (@RepDavids) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDavids/status/1447985868900343813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden's trip includes additional stops in Chicago and Allentown, Pennsylvania to take part in conversations and listen to concerns of Hispanic Americans, according to her office.-------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622153299060.png" alt="Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver greet a patient waiting to get vaccinated in May -Photo courtesy Metropolitan Community College" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver greet a patient waiting to get vaccinated in May -Photo courtesy Metropolitan Community College</figcaption>
 </figure>In May, Biden visited a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. The college offered free class and other incentives for students to get vaccinated.----------

First Lady Jill Biden visits a preschool in Kansas

PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the June 30 escape of violent sexual predator John Freeman Colt from the&nbsp;Sexual Predator Treatment Program at the Larned State Hospital have made two arrests, according to Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King.

Both accomplices in the escape identified as&nbsp;Rachel Rena Perez, 50 of 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. The two face multiple charges, according to King.

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.

<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>PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the June 30 escape of violent sexual predator John Freeman Colt from the&nbsp;Sexual Predator Treatment Program at the Larned State Hospital have made two arrests, according to Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King.Both accomplices in the escape identified as&nbsp;Rachel Rena Perez, 50 of 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. The two face multiple charges, according to King.<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.

Update:  Employees arrested for escape from Kan. sexual predator program

PRATT&nbsp;– When a lure drops below the water’s surface, it’s not always known what might rise to meet it. On a warm night late last month, one angler fishing the Neosho River east of Parsons caught something he probably never expected to see – a four and a half-foot, 39.5-pound Alligator Gar, according to a release from the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks.

The kicker? Alligator Gar aren’t native to Kansas and have never been documented here.

Though not always common, Alligator Gar are distributed from southwestern Ohio and southeastern Missouri and Illinois, south to the Gulf of Mexico, and a small portion of northeastern Mexico. A predatory fish, Alligator Gar are sometimes referred to as “living fossils” since fossil records trace them back nearly 100 million years. As the name implies, Alligator Gar are easily identified by their broad snouts that loosely resemble that of the American Alligator. Alligator Gar are the largest gar species with specimens weighing more than 300 pounds and measuring more than 8 feet long. Just three gar species are native to Kansas: Longnose, Shortnose, and Spotted Gar. Longnose Gar are the most common and largest gar species in Kansas. While the Longnose Gar are common in the state and reach lengths exceeding 5 feet, they are distinguished from the Alligator Gar by a narrow snout and smaller overall size, among other characteristics. So, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Fisheries biologists must ask, “What’s an alligator gar doing in the Neosho River?”

It’s a good question, and one KDWP Fisheries biologists are attempting to answer.

“We’re confident the information from the angler is accurate and the fish was, in fact, caught from the Neosho River,” said KDWP Fisheries biologist Connor Ossowski. “However, that doesn’t mean the fish originated from the river.”

To determine the fish’s origins, KDWP biologists have several unique options.

Since all states involved in Alligator Gar reintroduction efforts for populations in decline have been tagging each hatchery-produced Alligator Gar, KDWP staff had the option of looking for a tag. After using a “wand” to detect any identification markers, KDWP staff are confident this catch was not part of a formal reintroduction effort.

“Because most populations of this species can be distinguished from one another with a sample of the fish’s fins, another option we’re considering is genetic identification,” said KDWP assistant director of Fisheries research, Jeff Koch. “This will tell us if the fish came from an existing population in another state.”

If genetic testing doesn’t pan out, not all hope is lost; KDWP Fisheries biologists would still have one more option.

“Microchemistry is another technique at our disposal,” Koch added.

Microchemistry is performed by measuring the elemental proportion of a bone on a given fish and comparing it to the elemental concentration of a surrounding water. If consistencies exist, the data may be able to help Fisheries biologists determine at least how long the fish had been in the Neosho River.

Of all the potential scenarios for how this giant came to be in the Neosho River, there’s one hypothesis that rings the truest – the possibility that the Kansas-caught Alligator Gar was released from an aquarium.

“It’s not unlikely that this fish was once somebody’s pet or purchased from a pet store, and simply released into the river once it became too large,” said Doug Nygren, KDWP Fisheries Division director. “These techniques should allow us to determine which mode of introduction occurred.”

Time will tell if the Neosho River Alligator Gar made its way to the Sunflower State by natural or assisted means. While it would be very difficult for this fish to have made its way to Kansas naturally, due to the distance to the nearest population and the series of dams along the river, KDWP Fisheries biologists won’t jump to conclusions; they’ll do as they always have, which is rely on verifiable data from proven research methods.

Once their research is complete, KDWP Fisheries biologists will publish the results of this catch on ksoutdoors.com and on the Kansas Fisheries Division Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEwMTIuNDcyMzg0OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmZhY2Vib29rLmNvbS9LRFdQRmlzaGVyaWVzIn0.lOuNlVKOQrAEQmV1aJkryGdmNbrx63qeqGCM0VepGB0/s/1303160919/br/113769587528-l" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/KDWPFisheries</a>.

In the meantime, it’s important to note that transporting and releasing fish or other species in public waters, whether native or non-native, is illegal in Kansas. Chris Steffen, KDWP Aquatic Nuisance Species coordinator, warns, “Transporting and releasing fish risks spreading other harmful species such as microscopic zebra mussels, fish diseases, or aquatic vegetation that might be present in the water used to transport the fish.”

To report a rare species find in Kansas, <a href="https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife/Rare-Species-Sighting">click here</a> email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rare.species@ks.gov" target="_blank">rare.species@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;and visit for more information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634063994816.png" alt="Alligator Gar -photo courtesy Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks" />
 <figcaption>Alligator Gar -photo courtesy Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT&nbsp;– When a lure drops below the water’s surface, it’s not always known what might rise to meet it. On a warm night late last month, one angler fishing the Neosho River east of Parsons caught something he probably never expected to see – a four and a half-foot, 39.5-pound Alligator Gar, according to a release from the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks.The kicker? Alligator Gar aren’t native to Kansas and have never been documented here.Though not always common, Alligator Gar are distributed from southwestern Ohio and southeastern Missouri and Illinois, south to the Gulf of Mexico, and a small portion of northeastern Mexico. A predatory fish, Alligator Gar are sometimes referred to as “living fossils” since fossil records trace them back nearly 100 million years. As the name implies, Alligator Gar are easily identified by their broad snouts that loosely resemble that of the American Alligator. Alligator Gar are the largest gar species with specimens weighing more than 300 pounds and measuring more than 8 feet long. Just three gar species are native to Kansas: Longnose, Shortnose, and Spotted Gar. Longnose Gar are the most common and largest gar species in Kansas. While the Longnose Gar are common in the state and reach lengths exceeding 5 feet, they are distinguished from the Alligator Gar by a narrow snout and smaller overall size, among other characteristics. So, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Fisheries biologists must ask, “What’s an alligator gar doing in the Neosho River?”It’s a good question, and one KDWP Fisheries biologists are attempting to answer.“We’re confident the information from the angler is accurate and the fish was, in fact, caught from the Neosho River,” said KDWP Fisheries biologist Connor Ossowski. “However, that doesn’t mean the fish originated from the river.”To determine the fish’s origins, KDWP biologists have several unique options.Since all states involved in Alligator Gar reintroduction efforts for populations in decline have been tagging each hatchery-produced Alligator Gar, KDWP staff had the option of looking for a tag. After using a “wand” to detect any identification markers, KDWP staff are confident this catch was not part of a formal reintroduction effort.“Because most populations of this species can be distinguished from one another with a sample of the fish’s fins, another option we’re considering is genetic identification,” said KDWP assistant director of Fisheries research, Jeff Koch. “This will tell us if the fish came from an existing population in another state.”If genetic testing doesn’t pan out, not all hope is lost; KDWP Fisheries biologists would still have one more option.“Microchemistry is another technique at our disposal,” Koch added.Microchemistry is performed by measuring the elemental proportion of a bone on a given fish and comparing it to the elemental concentration of a surrounding water. If consistencies exist, the data may be able to help Fisheries biologists determine at least how long the fish had been in the Neosho River.Of all the potential scenarios for how this giant came to be in the Neosho River, there’s one hypothesis that rings the truest – the possibility that the Kansas-caught Alligator Gar was released from an aquarium.“It’s not unlikely that this fish was once somebody’s pet or purchased from a pet store, and simply released into the river once it became too large,” said Doug Nygren, KDWP Fisheries Division director. “These techniques should allow us to determine which mode of introduction occurred.”Time will tell if the Neosho River Alligator Gar made its way to the Sunflower State by natural or assisted means. While it would be very difficult for this fish to have made its way to Kansas naturally, due to the distance to the nearest population and the series of dams along the river, KDWP Fisheries biologists won’t jump to conclusions; they’ll do as they always have, which is rely on verifiable data from proven research methods.Once their research is complete, KDWP Fisheries biologists will publish the results of this catch on ksoutdoors.com and on the Kansas Fisheries Division Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEwMTIuNDcyMzg0OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmZhY2Vib29rLmNvbS9LRFdQRmlzaGVyaWVzIn0.lOuNlVKOQrAEQmV1aJkryGdmNbrx63qeqGCM0VepGB0/s/1303160919/br/113769587528-l" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/KDWPFisheries</a>.In the meantime, it’s important to note that transporting and releasing fish or other species in public waters, whether native or non-native, is illegal in Kansas. Chris Steffen, KDWP Aquatic Nuisance Species coordinator, warns, “Transporting and releasing fish risks spreading other harmful species such as microscopic zebra mussels, fish diseases, or aquatic vegetation that might be present in the water used to transport the fish.”To report a rare species find in Kansas, <a href="https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife/Rare-Species-Sighting">click here</a> email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rare.species@ks.gov" target="_blank">rare.species@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;and visit for more information.

KDWP: First-ever Alligator Gar caught in Kansas

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. questioned&nbsp;U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training nominee Jose Javier Rodriguez recently on how he plans to handle the upcoming spike in unemployment rates caused by President Biden’s vaccine mandate. During the hearing, Senator Marshall said in part,

“We had record unemployment through the COVID pandemic…Kansas like many states just did&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/press-releases/marshall-moran-estes-laturner-mann-state-leaders-call-on-governor-to-improve-response-times-to-kansans-filing-for-unemployment/" target="_blank">horrible</a>&nbsp;trying to filter through the unemployment issues…On top of this now, the White House has issued a vaccine mandate…My phone again blowing up from small businesses, from big businesses. They are telling me maybe 30 to 50 percent of their line workers, the blue collar workers are not vaccinated. They don’t plan on getting vaccinated. This is a personal choice they have made. This vaccine mandate is a slap in the face of so many people that ran to the battle. The nurses, the doctors, the ambulance drivers, our police officers, they developed natural immunity because there was no vaccine. The natural immunity [is] well proven to be better than vaccines, but the CDC and this White House will not acknowledge natural immunity. So you can see that we are on the path to more record numbers of people becoming unemployed because of Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate…You have little if any experience dealing with unemployment… when we see unemployment rates spike again in the next couple months due to this vaccine mandate, what is your plan to help Kansas and other states be able to handle the problem.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621958703771.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. questioned&nbsp;U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training nominee Jose Javier Rodriguez recently on how he plans to handle the upcoming spike in unemployment rates caused by President Biden’s vaccine mandate. During the hearing, Senator Marshall said in part,“We had record unemployment through the COVID pandemic…Kansas like many states just did&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/press-releases/marshall-moran-estes-laturner-mann-state-leaders-call-on-governor-to-improve-response-times-to-kansans-filing-for-unemployment/" target="_blank">horrible</a>&nbsp;trying to filter through the unemployment issues…On top of this now, the White House has issued a vaccine mandate…My phone again blowing up from small businesses, from big businesses. They are telling me maybe 30 to 50 percent of their line workers, the blue collar workers are not vaccinated. They don’t plan on getting vaccinated. This is a personal choice they have made. This vaccine mandate is a slap in the face of so many people that ran to the battle. The nurses, the doctors, the ambulance drivers, our police officers, they developed natural immunity because there was no vaccine. The natural immunity [is] well proven to be better than vaccines, but the CDC and this White House will not acknowledge natural immunity. So you can see that we are on the path to more record numbers of people becoming unemployed because of Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate…You have little if any experience dealing with unemployment… when we see unemployment rates spike again in the next couple months due to this vaccine mandate, what is your plan to help Kansas and other states be able to handle the problem.”

Marshall: Biden COVID policy will create record unemployment

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Cross-country traveler Gabby Petito was strangled to death, a Wyoming coroner announced Tuesday.

Petito, 22, died three to four weeks before her body was found Sept. 19 near an undeveloped camping area along the border of Grand Teton National Park in remote northern Wyoming, Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said in a news conference.

It wasn’t clear if the determination might lead to additional charges against Petito’s boyfriend and traveling partner, Brian Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in her disappearance and remains unaccounted for.

Blue declined to say more about the autopsy or the case overall, saying he was prevented by Wyoming law that limits what coroners can release.

Petito had been on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend. She was reported missing Sept. 11 by her parents after she did not respond to calls and texts for several days while the couple visited parks in the West.

Blue previously classified Petito’s death as a homicide — meaning her death was caused by another person — but had not disclosed how she was killed pending further autopsy results.

Petito’s case has led to renewed calls for people to pay greater attention to cases involving missing Indigenous women and other people of color, with some commentators describing the intense coverage of her disappearance as “missing white woman syndrome.”

The search for Laundrie has generated a frenzy, with TV personalities like Duane Chapman — known as Dog the Bounty Hunter — and longtime “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh working to track him down.

Petito and Laundrie posted online about their trip in a white Ford Transit van converted into a camper. They got into a physical altercation Aug. 12 in Moab, Utah, that led to a police stop, which ended with police deciding to separate the quarreling couple for the night. No charges were filed, and no serious injuries were reported.

Investigators have searched for Laundrie in Florida and also searched his parents’ home in North Port, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Sarasota.

Federal officials in Wyoming last month charged Laundrie with unauthorized use of a debit card, alleging he used a Capital One Bank card and someone’s personal identification number to make unauthorized withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000 during the period in which Petito went missing. They did not say to whom the card belonged.

In Florida, FBI-led search teams have been looking in a vast nature preserve for any sign of Laundrie. Weeks of searching in the swampy Carlton Reserve south of Sarasota — where Laundrie’s parents say he went after returning home from the West — have turned up nothing.

Laundrie family lawyer Steve Bertolino said in an email there was “nothing new” in the search.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634065134730.png" alt="Gabby Petito and her boyfriend and traveling partner, Brian Laundrie traveled down Interstate 70 in Kansas on the way to Wyoming. Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in her death remains unaccounted for.-photo FBI Denver" />
 <figcaption>Gabby Petito and her boyfriend and traveling partner, Brian Laundrie traveled down Interstate 70 in Kansas on the way to Wyoming. Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in her death remains unaccounted for.-photo FBI Denver</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Cross-country traveler Gabby Petito was strangled to death, a Wyoming coroner announced Tuesday.Petito, 22, died three to four weeks before her body was found Sept. 19 near an undeveloped camping area along the border of Grand Teton National Park in remote northern Wyoming, Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said in a news conference.It wasn’t clear if the determination might lead to additional charges against Petito’s boyfriend and traveling partner, Brian Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in her disappearance and remains unaccounted for.Blue declined to say more about the autopsy or the case overall, saying he was prevented by Wyoming law that limits what coroners can release.Petito had been on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend. She was reported missing Sept. 11 by her parents after she did not respond to calls and texts for several days while the couple visited parks in the West.Blue previously classified Petito’s death as a homicide — meaning her death was caused by another person — but had not disclosed how she was killed pending further autopsy results.Petito’s case has led to renewed calls for people to pay greater attention to cases involving missing Indigenous women and other people of color, with some commentators describing the intense coverage of her disappearance as “missing white woman syndrome.”The search for Laundrie has generated a frenzy, with TV personalities like Duane Chapman — known as Dog the Bounty Hunter — and longtime “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh working to track him down.Petito and Laundrie posted online about their trip in a white Ford Transit van converted into a camper. They got into a physical altercation Aug. 12 in Moab, Utah, that led to a police stop, which ended with police deciding to separate the quarreling couple for the night. No charges were filed, and no serious injuries were reported.Investigators have searched for Laundrie in Florida and also searched his parents’ home in North Port, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Sarasota.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634065104645.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Federal officials in Wyoming last month charged Laundrie with unauthorized use of a debit card, alleging he used a Capital One Bank card and someone’s personal identification number to make unauthorized withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000 during the period in which Petito went missing. They did not say to whom the card belonged.In Florida, FBI-led search teams have been looking in a vast nature preserve for any sign of Laundrie. Weeks of searching in the swampy Carlton Reserve south of Sarasota — where Laundrie’s parents say he went after returning home from the West — have turned up nothing.Laundrie family lawyer Steve Bertolino said in an email there was “nothing new” in the search.

Coroner: Gabby Petito was strangled to death

Older adults without heart disease shouldn’t take daily low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, an influential health guidelines group said in preliminary updated advice released Tuesday.

Bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and up who haven’t had a heart attack or stroke outweigh any potential benefits from aspirin, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said in its draft guidance.

For the first time, the panel said there may be a small benefit for adults in their 40s who have no bleeding risks. For those in their 50s, the panel softened advice and said evidence of benefit is less clear.

The recommendations are meant for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or other conditions that increase their chances for a heart attack or stroke. Regardless of age, adults should talk with their doctors about stopping or starting aspirin to make sure it’s the right choice for them, said task force member Dr. John Wong, a primary-care expert at Tufts Medical Center.

“Aspirin use can cause serious harms, and risk increases with age,” he said.

If finalized, the advice for older adults would backtrack on recommendations the panel issued in 2016 for helping prevent a first heart attack and stroke, but it would be in line with more recent guidelines from other medical groups.

The task force previously said certain people in their 50s and 60s may want to consider a daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack and stroke, and that they might get protection against colorectal cancer, too. The updated guidance says more evidence of any benefit for colorectal cancer is needed.

Doctors have long recommended daily low-dose aspirin for many patients who already have had a heart attack or stroke. The task force guidance does not change that advice.

The guidance was posted online to allow for public comments until Nov. 8. The group will evaluate that input and then make a final decision.

The independent panel of disease-prevention experts analyzes medical research and literature and issues periodic advice on measures to help keep Americans healthy. Newer studies and a re-analysis of older research prompted the updated advice, Wong said.

Aspirin is best known as a pain reliever but it is also a blood thinner that can reduce chances for blood clots. But aspirin also has risks, even at low doses — mainly bleeding in the digestive tract or ulcers, both of which can be life-threatening.

Dr. Lauren Block, an internist-researcher at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, said the guidance is important because so many adults take aspirin even though they have never had a heart attack or stroke.

Block, who is not on the task force, recently switched one of her patients from aspirin to a cholesterol-lowering statin drug because of the potential harms.

The patient, 70-year-old Richard Schrafel, has high blood pressure and knows about his heart attack risks. Schrafel, president of a paperboard-distribution business, said he never had any ill effects from aspirin, but he is taking the new guidance seriously.

Rita Seefeldt, 63, also has high blood pressure and took a daily aspirin for about a decade until her doctor told her two years ago to stop.

“He said they changed their minds on that,” recalled the retired elementary school teacher from Milwaukee. She said she understands that science evolves.

Wong acknowledged that the backtracking might leave some patients frustrated and wondering why scientists can’t make up their minds.

“It’s a fair question,” he said. ‘’What’s really important to know is that evidence changes over time.’’

By LINDSEY TANNER, Associated PressOlder adults without heart disease shouldn’t take daily low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, an influential health guidelines group said in preliminary updated advice released Tuesday.Bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and up who haven’t had a heart attack or stroke outweigh any potential benefits from aspirin, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said in its draft guidance.For the first time, the panel said there may be a small benefit for adults in their 40s who have no bleeding risks. For those in their 50s, the panel softened advice and said evidence of benefit is less clear.The recommendations are meant for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or other conditions that increase their chances for a heart attack or stroke. Regardless of age, adults should talk with their doctors about stopping or starting aspirin to make sure it’s the right choice for them, said task force member Dr. John Wong, a primary-care expert at Tufts Medical Center.“Aspirin use can cause serious harms, and risk increases with age,” he said.If finalized, the advice for older adults would backtrack on recommendations the panel issued in 2016 for helping prevent a first heart attack and stroke, but it would be in line with more recent guidelines from other medical groups.The task force previously said certain people in their 50s and 60s may want to consider a daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack and stroke, and that they might get protection against colorectal cancer, too. The updated guidance says more evidence of any benefit for colorectal cancer is needed.Doctors have long recommended daily low-dose aspirin for many patients who already have had a heart attack or stroke. The task force guidance does not change that advice.The guidance was posted online to allow for public comments until Nov. 8. The group will evaluate that input and then make a final decision.The independent panel of disease-prevention experts analyzes medical research and literature and issues periodic advice on measures to help keep Americans healthy. Newer studies and a re-analysis of older research prompted the updated advice, Wong said.Aspirin is best known as a pain reliever but it is also a blood thinner that can reduce chances for blood clots. But aspirin also has risks, even at low doses — mainly bleeding in the digestive tract or ulcers, both of which can be life-threatening.Dr. Lauren Block, an internist-researcher at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, said the guidance is important because so many adults take aspirin even though they have never had a heart attack or stroke.Block, who is not on the task force, recently switched one of her patients from aspirin to a cholesterol-lowering statin drug because of the potential harms.The patient, 70-year-old Richard Schrafel, has high blood pressure and knows about his heart attack risks. Schrafel, president of a paperboard-distribution business, said he never had any ill effects from aspirin, but he is taking the new guidance seriously.Rita Seefeldt, 63, also has high blood pressure and took a daily aspirin for about a decade until her doctor told her two years ago to stop.“He said they changed their minds on that,” recalled the retired elementary school teacher from Milwaukee. She said she understands that science evolves.Wong acknowledged that the backtracking might leave some patients frustrated and wondering why scientists can’t make up their minds.“It’s a fair question,” he said. ‘’What’s really important to know is that evidence changes over time.’’___

Advice shifting on aspirin use for preventing heart attacks

HARVEY COUNTY —A Kansas kidnaping suspect who ran from a court appearance last week is back in custody, according to the Harvey County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday, 47-year-old Joshua Harris of Wichita&nbsp;appeared in court at the Harvey County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a felony drug charge. Separately, Harris was wanted on a Harvey County warrant for aggravated kidnapping. A Harvey County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to detain Harris on the warrant. Harris evaded the deputy and ran from the Courthouse.&nbsp;Harris was able to get into his vehicle and flee the area.&nbsp; Traffic near the courthouse prevented deputies from reaching Harris' vehicle before he drove away.

Just after 4:15 p.m. Monday, local law enforcement were notified Harris had been seen at a convenience store in the 3500 block of S. Duncan Street in Newton. As law enforcement arrived at the location, Harris fled in his vehicle.

Harris was pursued by law enforcement as he drove south into Sedgwick County. He later exited his vehicle and continued to run away from law enforcement.

Law enforcement utilized a drone and a K-9 unit to help locate him. Harris was found by drone footage attempting to hide in the yard of a residence in the 8100 block of N. Hillside Street in Valley Center. Just after 5p.m., Harris turned himself over to law enforcement when the K-9 unit began to be deployed.

Harris is being held without bond in the Harvey County Detention Center on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping, failure to appear, possession of opiates, use and possession of drug paraphernalia, and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633781801985.png" alt="Harris from an earlier arrest in Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>Harris from an earlier arrest in Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —A Kansas kidnaping suspect who ran from a court appearance last week is back in custody, according to the Harvey County Sheriff's Office.On Thursday, 47-year-old Joshua Harris of Wichita&nbsp;appeared in court at the Harvey County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a felony drug charge. Separately, Harris was wanted on a Harvey County warrant for aggravated kidnapping. A Harvey County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to detain Harris on the warrant. Harris evaded the deputy and ran from the Courthouse.&nbsp;Harris was able to get into his vehicle and flee the area.&nbsp; Traffic near the courthouse prevented deputies from reaching Harris' vehicle before he drove away.Just after 4:15 p.m. Monday, local law enforcement were notified Harris had been seen at a convenience store in the 3500 block of S. Duncan Street in Newton. As law enforcement arrived at the location, Harris fled in his vehicle.Harris was pursued by law enforcement as he drove south into Sedgwick County. He later exited his vehicle and continued to run away from law enforcement.Law enforcement utilized a drone and a K-9 unit to help locate him. Harris was found by drone footage attempting to hide in the yard of a residence in the 8100 block of N. Hillside Street in Valley Center. Just after 5p.m., Harris turned himself over to law enforcement when the K-9 unit began to be deployed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633781783180.png" alt="Harris ph0to Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Harris ph0to Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>Harris is being held without bond in the Harvey County Detention Center on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping, failure to appear, possession of opiates, use and possession of drug paraphernalia, and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement.------------

Kan. kidnapping suspect who fled court appearance is in custody

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a search at a Kansas home.

On Monday,&nbsp;members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a residence in the 1600 Block of SW Harrison in Topeka, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

While conducting the search warrant, the officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers arrested Erasto Ortega, 64 years of age, and James Funkhouser II, 51 years of age, both from Topeka. They were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges for Erasto Ortega Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution, according to Monasmith.

James Funkhouser II is being held on a Felony Shawnee County warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634034117254.png" alt="Funkhouser photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Funkhouser photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a search at a Kansas home.On Monday,&nbsp;members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a residence in the 1600 Block of SW Harrison in Topeka, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.While conducting the search warrant, the officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634034050257.png" alt="Ortega photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ortega photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers arrested Erasto Ortega, 64 years of age, and James Funkhouser II, 51 years of age, both from Topeka. They were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges for Erasto Ortega Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution, according to Monasmith.James Funkhouser II is being held on a Felony Shawnee County warrant.

Police: 64-year-old Kan. man jailed for alleged drug distribution 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Data shows that most of the people who participated in Missouri's COVID-19 vaccine lottery were already immunized before the program started.

The incentive program was started in July as Missouri struggled to control a surge in cases driven by the more transmissible delta variant in less-vaccinated communities.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services conducted the last of the drawings in the program Friday. Among the participants, 57,117 adults got the shot after the program was announced, while nearly 600,000 got the shot beforehand.

The program also had more than 39,000 entries from children.

In total, the state will pay out $9 million to 900 prizewinners, who will each receive $10,000 in either cash or, for the youth winners, scholarship accounts.

Anyone who had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine was eligible to enter, but separate drawings were conducted for those who had already gotten a shot, making the odds of winning higher for the newly vaccinated.

Just over 48% of Missouri's total population is fully vaccinated, up from about 40% when the incentive program was announced.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Data shows that most of the people who participated in Missouri's COVID-19 vaccine lottery were already immunized before the program started.The incentive program was started in July as Missouri struggled to control a surge in cases driven by the more transmissible delta variant in less-vaccinated communities.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services conducted the last of the drawings in the program Friday. Among the participants, 57,117 adults got the shot after the program was announced, while nearly 600,000 got the shot beforehand.The program also had more than 39,000 entries from children.In total, the state will pay out $9 million to 900 prizewinners, who will each receive $10,000 in either cash or, for the youth winners, scholarship accounts.Anyone who had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine was eligible to enter, but separate drawings were conducted for those who had already gotten a shot, making the odds of winning higher for the newly vaccinated.Just over 48% of Missouri's total population is fully vaccinated, up from about 40% when the incentive program was announced.