SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and shooting at a Kansas home.

Just before 4:00 a.m. on Friday, Wichita Police Department (WPD) officers were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 8200 block of E 33rd Court South in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stevens.

Officers arrived and contacted a 31-year-old man and 29-year-old woman who advised they were home when they received an alert on their phone from a Ring doorbell camera that indicated motion at their front door. 

Upon further investigation, the man realized someone was attempting to access their garage.

The man retrieved a firearm and confronted the suspect, who was walking away toward a silver/grey-colored van. After resident yelled at the suspect to stop, the suspect turned and fired a single shot – missing the resident but striking his home. The suspect then fled the area.

Investigators learned that the garage was accessed via a remote garage door opener taken from the resident's unlocked car. Additionally, police found evidence of another vehicle burglary was located in the neighborhood.

The suspect was described as an unknown race male in his 20's or 30's, wearing all black clothing with a hood up. The vehicle was described as a light gray Dodge Caravan.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and shooting at a Kansas home.Just before 4:00 a.m. on Friday, Wichita Police Department (WPD) officers were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 8200 block of E 33rd Court South in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stevens.Officers arrived and contacted a 31-year-old man and 29-year-old woman who advised they were home when they received an alert on their phone from a Ring doorbell camera that indicated motion at their front door. Upon further investigation, the man realized someone was attempting to access their garage.The man retrieved a firearm and confronted the suspect, who was walking away toward a silver/grey-colored van. After resident yelled at the suspect to stop, the suspect turned and fired a single shot – missing the resident but striking his home. The suspect then fled the area.Investigators learned that the garage was accessed via a remote garage door opener taken from the resident's unlocked car. Additionally, police found evidence of another vehicle burglary was located in the neighborhood.The suspect was described as an unknown race male in his 20's or 30's, wearing all black clothing with a hood up. The vehicle was described as a light gray Dodge Caravan.

Kansas burglary suspect fired handgun at homeowner 

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a&nbsp;&nbsp;14-year-old boy is on multiple charges after a chase in Friday traffic in Topeka.

Just before 5:30p.m., a deputy sheriff attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a maroon 2007 Ford Focus near NW Polk Street and NW Grant Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The Ford was reported stolen out of Lawrence. The driver failed to stop and initiated a pursuit that continued through North Topeka. The deputy performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) and ended the pursuit in an alley near NW Clay Street and NW Fillmore Street.

Three occupants fled the scene on foot and one passenger, an 11-year-old boy complied and stayed at the scene. The two other passengers, a 13-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, were located. The 14-year-old male driver was taken into custody and booked into the Shawnee County Juvenile Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;flee or attempt to elude, aggravated endangering a child, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

This incident is still under investigation. The Topeka Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with this incident

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a&nbsp;&nbsp;14-year-old boy is on multiple charges after a chase in Friday traffic in Topeka.Just before 5:30p.m., a deputy sheriff attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a maroon 2007 Ford Focus near NW Polk Street and NW Grant Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The Ford was reported stolen out of Lawrence. The driver failed to stop and initiated a pursuit that continued through North Topeka. The deputy performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) and ended the pursuit in an alley near NW Clay Street and NW Fillmore Street.Three occupants fled the scene on foot and one passenger, an 11-year-old boy complied and stayed at the scene. The two other passengers, a 13-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, were located. The 14-year-old male driver was taken into custody and booked into the Shawnee County Juvenile Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;flee or attempt to elude, aggravated endangering a child, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.This incident is still under investigation. The Topeka Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with this incident

14-year-old jailed after chase in stolen car with 3 juvenile passengers

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a woman.

Shortly after 2:00 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 2200 block of E. 12th street N. in Wichita, according to officer Trevor Macy.

At the scene, police located a 39-year-old woman with a single gunshot wound. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

Investigators learned that a party took place at the location on 12th street when an argument broke out in the parking lot. This led to multiple shots being fired. One of the shots struck the victim. 

It is believed that multiple people then began to flee the location, and at least one vehicle struck the victim causing additional injuries.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a woman.Shortly after 2:00 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 2200 block of E. 12th street N. in Wichita, according to officer Trevor Macy.At the scene, police located a 39-year-old woman with a single gunshot wound. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment of critical injuries.Investigators learned that a party took place at the location on 12th street when an argument broke out in the parking lot. This led to multiple shots being fired. One of the shots struck the victim. It is believed that multiple people then began to flee the location, and at least one vehicle struck the victim causing additional injuries.

Kan. woman struck by gunfire, vehicle in parking lot of party

PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that left three dead in Pawnee County.

Just after 9p.m. Saturday, the Larned Police Department received a 911 call from a man who discovered the three subjects dead inside a residence at 524 Park Street Larned, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

At the scene, first responders located 44-year-old Shala M. Smith,&nbsp; 12-year-old Carver A. Smith and 44-year-old Jon B. Smith all of Larned, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. They each died from gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead by the coroner at the scene, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to Larned to investigate.

No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident. Additional details will be released after the autopsies are completed.

On Saturday, an&nbsp;apparent domestic violence incident at a residence in Larned resulted in the death of two adults and one minor child, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

The individual believed to be responsible is one of the deceased. The incident was discovered when a friend stopped by to check on the family. 

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is currently handling the investigation at the request of the Larned Police Department. Formal autopsies have been ordered.

The County Attorney's office released no additional information early Sunday afternoon. Check the Post for additional details from he Kansas Bureau of investigation.

PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that left three dead in Pawnee County.Just after 9p.m. Saturday, the Larned Police Department received a 911 call from a man who discovered the three subjects dead inside a residence at 524 Park Street Larned, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.At the scene, first responders located 44-year-old Shala M. Smith,&nbsp; 12-year-old Carver A. Smith and 44-year-old Jon B. Smith all of Larned, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. They each died from gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead by the coroner at the scene, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to Larned to investigate.No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident. Additional details will be released after the autopsies are completed.--------------------------PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that left three dead in Pawnee County.On Saturday, an&nbsp;apparent domestic violence incident at a residence in Larned resulted in the death of two adults and one minor child, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.The individual believed to be responsible is one of the deceased. The incident was discovered when a friend stopped by to check on the family. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is currently handling the investigation at the request of the Larned Police Department. Formal autopsies have been ordered.The County Attorney's office released no additional information early Sunday afternoon. Check the Post for additional details from he Kansas Bureau of investigation.

Two adults, child dead after violent incident at Kan. home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Throughout this week, law enforcement authorities received information concerning a Sedgwick County detention deputy bringing contraband into the jail, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

The detectives assigned to the case discovered the 21-year-old detention deputy Andrew Gilbert was involved in trafficking contraband. 

Due to the allegations and evidence ascertained, it was determined enough probable cause existed to arrest him for trafficking contraband. Additional charges could be applied, depending on the results of the ongoing investigation.

Gilbert began employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in June of 2019. On Friday he was placed on suspension without pay and was no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641604738375.png" alt="Gilbert photo Sedgwick Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Gilbert photo Sedgwick Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Throughout this week, law enforcement authorities received information concerning a Sedgwick County detention deputy bringing contraband into the jail, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.The detectives assigned to the case discovered the 21-year-old detention deputy Andrew Gilbert was involved in trafficking contraband. Due to the allegations and evidence ascertained, it was determined enough probable cause existed to arrest him for trafficking contraband. Additional charges could be applied, depending on the results of the ongoing investigation.Gilbert began employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in June of 2019. On Friday he was placed on suspension without pay and was no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kan. jail deputy allegedly brought contraband into the jail

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A preliminary voting report in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy indicates the group’s reorganization plan has failed to win the desired support from tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children.

The report, filed earlier this month, shows 73% of 53,888 valid ballots were cast in support the plan, with just under 27% against. The Boy Scouts were hoping to garner at least 75% of the vote.

Under the rules for a typical Chapter 11 case, the Boy Scouts needed approval of two-thirds of sexual abuse claimants who voted. However, because the BSA plan includes liability releases for non-debtor third parties, including local Boy Scout councils and troop sponsoring organizations, a higher level of support likely will be required. It’s unclear exactly what level of support the BSA plan needs in order to win court approval, but the bankruptcy code requires at least 75% voter approval in cases involving asbestos claims and third-party releases.

A final voting report is due Jan. 17, but the initial results could spell trouble for the Boy Scouts of America’s goal of compensating survivors for decades of child sexual abuse by Scoutmaster and others while being able to emerge from bankruptcy on sound financial footing and continue the Scouting movement.

“We are encouraged by these preliminary results and are actively engaging key parties in our case with the hope of reaching additional agreements, which could potentially garner further support for the plan before confirmation,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement.

Opponents of the plan, including the official committee appointed to represent all abuse claimants, said the vote shows the Boy Scouts’ proposal was inadequate.

“This was a poorly constructed plan driven by a group of lawyers who wanted to achieve a quick, cheap bankruptcy settlement,” said Jason Amala, an attorney whose law firm represents more than 1,000 claimants. “Many of these law firms signed up clients under engagement letters where they did not even agree to represent their client if the case had to be pursued outside of bankruptcy.”

John Humphrey, co-chair of the official abuse claimants committee, said abuse survivors understood the plan does not adequately compensate them.

“The prospect of litigation against the BSA, its local councils, chartered organizations, and their respective insurers will not dissuade those who have spent lifetimes seeking justice,” Humphrey said in a prepared statement. “The Boy Scouts tout the Plan and the settlements as historically high. When considered from the perspective of the individual abuse survivor, the settlements are historically low.”

Meanwhile, attorneys continue to gather information and take depositions from opposing parties in advance of a hearing to begin Feb. 22 to determine whether Judge Laura Selber Silverstein should confirm the plan.

The plan calls for the Boys Scouts and its roughly 250 local councils to contribute up to $820 million in cash and property into a fund for abuse claimants. They also would assign certain insurance rights to the fund. In return, the local councils and national organization would be released from further liability for sexual abuse claims.

The plan also includes settlement agreements with the BSA’s two largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and The Hartford. Century and affiliated companies would contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims, while The Hartford would pay $787 million. Other insurers have agreed to contribute about $69 million.

The Century settlement provides for additional contributions from the BSA and its local councils on behalf of chartered troop sponsoring organizations such as churches, civic clubs and community groups. They include a $40 million commitment from the local councils and additional potential payments of up to $100 million from the BSA and local councils attributable to growth in membership because of chartered organizations’ continued sponsorship of Scouting units.

Meanwhile, the BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church, has agreed to contribute $250 million into the fund for abuse claims involving the church. Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million into the fund, and a committee representing United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting activities has agreed to help lead an effort to raise an additional $100 million from other troop sponsoring organizations.

The sponsoring organizations, like settling insurers, would be released from further liability in exchange for their contributions to the fund.

All told, the contributions would bring the compensation fund for abuse claimants to more than $2.69 billion, which would be the largest aggregate sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for men who say they were sexually abused as children. Although the organization was facing 275 lawsuits at the time, it found itself facing more than 82,000 sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy case.

An ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice has played a dominant role in the bankruptcy case and the formulation of the BSA’s reorganization plan, despite the existence of an official committee charged with representing the best interests of all abuse claimants. The coalition represents nearly 18,000 abuse claimants and is affiliated with more than two dozen law firms that collectively represent more than 60,000 claimants. It has been at the center of various disputes over information sharing, the huge number of claims that were filed, and how the BSA’s reorganization plan and trust distribution procedures were crafted.

The coalition said in a statement that it is continuing to negotiate with all parties, and that the plan provides survivors “the best and fastest avenue to closure, as well as just, fair and equitable compensation.”

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A preliminary voting report in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy indicates the group’s reorganization plan has failed to win the desired support from tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children.The report, filed earlier this month, shows 73% of 53,888 valid ballots were cast in support the plan, with just under 27% against. The Boy Scouts were hoping to garner at least 75% of the vote.Under the rules for a typical Chapter 11 case, the Boy Scouts needed approval of two-thirds of sexual abuse claimants who voted. However, because the BSA plan includes liability releases for non-debtor third parties, including local Boy Scout councils and troop sponsoring organizations, a higher level of support likely will be required. It’s unclear exactly what level of support the BSA plan needs in order to win court approval, but the bankruptcy code requires at least 75% voter approval in cases involving asbestos claims and third-party releases.A final voting report is due Jan. 17, but the initial results could spell trouble for the Boy Scouts of America’s goal of compensating survivors for decades of child sexual abuse by Scoutmaster and others while being able to emerge from bankruptcy on sound financial footing and continue the Scouting movement.“We are encouraged by these preliminary results and are actively engaging key parties in our case with the hope of reaching additional agreements, which could potentially garner further support for the plan before confirmation,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement.Opponents of the plan, including the official committee appointed to represent all abuse claimants, said the vote shows the Boy Scouts’ proposal was inadequate.“This was a poorly constructed plan driven by a group of lawyers who wanted to achieve a quick, cheap bankruptcy settlement,” said Jason Amala, an attorney whose law firm represents more than 1,000 claimants. “Many of these law firms signed up clients under engagement letters where they did not even agree to represent their client if the case had to be pursued outside of bankruptcy.”John Humphrey, co-chair of the official abuse claimants committee, said abuse survivors understood the plan does not adequately compensate them.“The prospect of litigation against the BSA, its local councils, chartered organizations, and their respective insurers will not dissuade those who have spent lifetimes seeking justice,” Humphrey said in a prepared statement. “The Boy Scouts tout the Plan and the settlements as historically high. When considered from the perspective of the individual abuse survivor, the settlements are historically low.”Meanwhile, attorneys continue to gather information and take depositions from opposing parties in advance of a hearing to begin Feb. 22 to determine whether Judge Laura Selber Silverstein should confirm the plan.The plan calls for the Boys Scouts and its roughly 250 local councils to contribute up to $820 million in cash and property into a fund for abuse claimants. They also would assign certain insurance rights to the fund. In return, the local councils and national organization would be released from further liability for sexual abuse claims.The plan also includes settlement agreements with the BSA’s two largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and The Hartford. Century and affiliated companies would contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims, while The Hartford would pay $787 million. Other insurers have agreed to contribute about $69 million.The Century settlement provides for additional contributions from the BSA and its local councils on behalf of chartered troop sponsoring organizations such as churches, civic clubs and community groups. They include a $40 million commitment from the local councils and additional potential payments of up to $100 million from the BSA and local councils attributable to growth in membership because of chartered organizations’ continued sponsorship of Scouting units.Meanwhile, the BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church, has agreed to contribute $250 million into the fund for abuse claims involving the church. Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million into the fund, and a committee representing United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting activities has agreed to help lead an effort to raise an additional $100 million from other troop sponsoring organizations.The sponsoring organizations, like settling insurers, would be released from further liability in exchange for their contributions to the fund.All told, the contributions would bring the compensation fund for abuse claimants to more than $2.69 billion, which would be the largest aggregate sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for men who say they were sexually abused as children. Although the organization was facing 275 lawsuits at the time, it found itself facing more than 82,000 sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy case.An ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice has played a dominant role in the bankruptcy case and the formulation of the BSA’s reorganization plan, despite the existence of an official committee charged with representing the best interests of all abuse claimants. The coalition represents nearly 18,000 abuse claimants and is affiliated with more than two dozen law firms that collectively represent more than 60,000 claimants. It has been at the center of various disputes over information sharing, the huge number of claims that were filed, and how the BSA’s reorganization plan and trust distribution procedures were crafted.The coalition said in a statement that it is continuing to negotiate with all parties, and that the plan provides survivors “the best and fastest avenue to closure, as well as just, fair and equitable compensation.”

Boy Scouts bankruptcy plan missed mark in vote by sex abuse claimants

There is a great deal to discuss surrounding the inflation that is ripping through America. However, few people are focused on what inflation means to farmers and those who benefit most from a bountiful harvest: the hungry, those that live in poverty, as well as the food stamp budget and USAID budget.

It’s no secret farmers are faced with a fertilizer crisis. Prices for phosphorus-based and potassium-based (potash) fertilizers have more than doubled in Kansas while Nitrogen-based fertilizers have more than quadrupled. Fertilizer is vital to feeding not only the country, but the world. It contains essential nutrients for plant life, and without it, American agricultural yields will quickly suffer as well as food prices in local grocery stores.

There are three main types of fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Depending on the crop and soil, a farmer may need one or all three types. Nitrogen fertilizers like Anhydrous Ammonia are made by mixing nitrogen in the air with the hydrogen from natural gas at high temperatures. Sixty percent of the natural gas is used as the ingredient while 40% is used as the energy source. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are made from mostly imported mined rock, which then go through a chemical process to create several different compounds.

The US only makes up for 10% of global fertilizer use, despite producing 35% of its corn and soybeans. Even with our efficiency we are a major importer of fertilizer therefore our market price is largely driven by global supply and demand. This means both international and domestic issues have a significant impact on our fertilizer prices – all suffer to some extent from supply disruption policies like paying more for people to stay at home than work. This is also complicated by weather disruptions that put a dent in U.S. production of nitrogen.

Sixty percent of total U.S. ammonia production capacity is in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas because of their large reserves of natural gas. Natural gas prices are up more than 150% in North America, and are up around 500% in Europe. Since natural gas makes up 70 percent of production costs for anhydrous ammonia, so follows the price of fertilizer. Many European fertilizer producers have shut down, curtailed operations, or dramatically increased their price. At this rate, Europe will starve themselves before they die from pollution.

At the same time, just like they did with medical supplies during the worst days of the COVID pandemic, China has significantly curtailed its fertilizer exports – a common trick they use to artificially create shortages and raise prices. This means fertilizer producers outside of Europe and China are seeing significantly higher demand, pushing prices upward. The U.S. has countervailing duties on phosphate from Russia and Morocco and several other major global producers are also limiting exports which exacerbate the supply shortage globally.

As global prices rise around the world, the costs of U.S. imports continue to climb. The price of goods produced in the U.S. also increases as local demand competes with foreign demand to keep products in the U.S. – a vicious cycle of a dog chasing its tail, a tail that’s on fire as those on the left continue to borrow and print money like a drunken sailors.

Make no mistake, President Biden’s disastrous policies are equally to blame for the cost of fertilizer in the U.S. His energy policy curtails the production and transport of natural gas and has impacted every facet of production. Moving away from energy independence affects domestic transportation costs. Vaccine mandates limit the labor supply. The extra unemployment dollars kept people at home rather than at work. Extra regulation continues to constrain business. At every step, the president has made a bad situation worse. In a time of crisis you don’t create roadblocks, you get out of the way and let business do what they do best.

Inflation means so much more than just increased fertilizer costs for farmers. The cost of food is up almost 10 percent since 2019, and the fertilizer shortage will increase this even further. Biden-flation is hitting the hungry the hardest. For example, our McGovern-Dole Funding reached 1.3 million people in 2020 and cost taxpayers $215 million. In 2021, we reached 220,000 less people and spent $33 million more. If we want to help people in need the best play is to get inflation under control and to encourage economic growth – not stifle it. Instead of continuing down this path of reckless spending, we need to keep up the pressure to halt vaccine mandates, get our financial house in order, cut back on out-of-touch regulations, and avoid raising taxes.

The unfortunate reality is this is only the beginning. It may take more than a year before the effects felt by fertilizer prices at the farm will also be felt at the fork.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637756060789.jpeg" alt="Roger_Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Roger_Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D.There is a great deal to discuss surrounding the inflation that is ripping through America. However, few people are focused on what inflation means to farmers and those who benefit most from a bountiful harvest: the hungry, those that live in poverty, as well as the food stamp budget and USAID budget.It’s no secret farmers are faced with a fertilizer crisis. Prices for phosphorus-based and potassium-based (potash) fertilizers have more than doubled in Kansas while Nitrogen-based fertilizers have more than quadrupled. Fertilizer is vital to feeding not only the country, but the world. It contains essential nutrients for plant life, and without it, American agricultural yields will quickly suffer as well as food prices in local grocery stores.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>There are three main types of fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Depending on the crop and soil, a farmer may need one or all three types. Nitrogen fertilizers like Anhydrous Ammonia are made by mixing nitrogen in the air with the hydrogen from natural gas at high temperatures. Sixty percent of the natural gas is used as the ingredient while 40% is used as the energy source. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are made from mostly imported mined rock, which then go through a chemical process to create several different compounds.The US only makes up for 10% of global fertilizer use, despite producing 35% of its corn and soybeans. Even with our efficiency we are a major importer of fertilizer therefore our market price is largely driven by global supply and demand. This means both international and domestic issues have a significant impact on our fertilizer prices – all suffer to some extent from supply disruption policies like paying more for people to stay at home than work. This is also complicated by weather disruptions that put a dent in U.S. production of nitrogen.Sixty percent of total U.S. ammonia production capacity is in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas because of their large reserves of natural gas. Natural gas prices are up more than 150% in North America, and are up around 500% in Europe. Since natural gas makes up 70 percent of production costs for anhydrous ammonia, so follows the price of fertilizer. Many European fertilizer producers have shut down, curtailed operations, or dramatically increased their price. At this rate, Europe will starve themselves before they die from pollution.At the same time, just like they did with medical supplies during the worst days of the COVID pandemic, China has significantly curtailed its fertilizer exports – a common trick they use to artificially create shortages and raise prices. This means fertilizer producers outside of Europe and China are seeing significantly higher demand, pushing prices upward. The U.S. has countervailing duties on phosphate from Russia and Morocco and several other major global producers are also limiting exports which exacerbate the supply shortage globally.As global prices rise around the world, the costs of U.S. imports continue to climb. The price of goods produced in the U.S. also increases as local demand competes with foreign demand to keep products in the U.S. – a vicious cycle of a dog chasing its tail, a tail that’s on fire as those on the left continue to borrow and print money like a drunken sailors.Make no mistake, President Biden’s disastrous policies are equally to blame for the cost of fertilizer in the U.S. His energy policy curtails the production and transport of natural gas and has impacted every facet of production. Moving away from energy independence affects domestic transportation costs. Vaccine mandates limit the labor supply. The extra unemployment dollars kept people at home rather than at work. Extra regulation continues to constrain business. At every step, the president has made a bad situation worse. In a time of crisis you don’t create roadblocks, you get out of the way and let business do what they do best.Inflation means so much more than just increased fertilizer costs for farmers. The cost of food is up almost 10 percent since 2019, and the fertilizer shortage will increase this even further. Biden-flation is hitting the hungry the hardest. For example, our McGovern-Dole Funding reached 1.3 million people in 2020 and cost taxpayers $215 million. In 2021, we reached 220,000 less people and spent $33 million more. If we want to help people in need the best play is to get inflation under control and to encourage economic growth – not stifle it. Instead of continuing down this path of reckless spending, we need to keep up the pressure to halt vaccine mandates, get our financial house in order, cut back on out-of-touch regulations, and avoid raising taxes.The unfortunate reality is this is only the beginning. It may take more than a year before the effects felt by fertilizer prices at the farm will also be felt at the fork.

MARSHALL: Why high fertilizer prices could hit consumers' forks

BUTLER COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the case of a fatal house fire in Butler County.

Late Friday, the El Dorado Police and Fire Departments responded to the fire at a home in the 300 block of N Taylor in El Dorado, according to a media release.

First responders learned there was an individual inside of the home. Emergency personnel were able to retrieve this individual from the home and administered life saving measures. 

Unfortunately, the individual did succumb to their injuries and was pronounced deceased. The cause of the fire and the death are pending further investigation. Authorities have not released the victim's name or additional details.

BUTLER COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the case of a fatal house fire in Butler County.Late Friday, the El Dorado Police and Fire Departments responded to the fire at a home in the 300 block of N Taylor in El Dorado, according to a media release.First responders learned there was an individual inside of the home. Emergency personnel were able to retrieve this individual from the home and administered life saving measures. Unfortunately, the individual did succumb to their injuries and was pronounced deceased. The cause of the fire and the death are pending further investigation. Authorities have not released the victim's name or additional details.

Police: One dead in Kansas house fire

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Principals, superintendents and counselors are filling in as substitutes in classrooms as the surge in coronavirus infections further strains schools that already had been struggling with staffing shortages.

In Cincinnati, dozens of employees from the central office were dispatched this week to schools that were at risk of having to close because of low staffing. The superintendent of Boston schools, Brenda Cassellius, tweeted she was filling in for a fifth grade teacher.

San Francisco’s superintendent, Vince Matthews, has called on all employees with teaching credentials to take a class.

“This is the most challenging time in my 36 years as an educator,” Matthews said Thursday during a break from filling in as a substitute sixth grade science teacher. “We’re trying to educate students in the middle of a pandemic while the sands around us are consistently shifting.”

Staff absences and the surge driven by the omicron variant have led some big districts including Atlanta, Detroit and Milwaukee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-york-education-milwaukee-dce5cae3226eb78ebf074383a2d8135b">to switch temporarily to virtual learning</a>. Where schools are holding the line on in-person learning, getting through the day has required an all-hands-on-deck approach.

“It’s absolutely exhausting,” said history teacher Deborah Schmidt, who was covering other classes during her planning period at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy in St. Louis. On Thursday, she was covering a physics class.

In a school year when teachers are being asked to help students recover from the pandemic, some say they are dealing with overwhelming stress just trying to keep classes running.

“I had a friend say to me, ‘You know, three weeks ago we were locking our doors because of school shootings again, and now we’re opening the window for COVID.’ It’s really all a bit too much,” said Meghan Hatch-Geary, an English teacher at Woodland Regional High School in Connecticut. “This year, trying to fix everything, trying to be everything for everyone, is more and more exhausting all the time.”

Labor tensions have been highest in Chicago, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-chicago-teaching-4ce377443ef2345ed759049f868a1c77">classes were canceled</a>&nbsp;after the teachers union voted to refuse in-person instruction, but union leaders in many school systems have been clamoring for more flexibility on virtual learning, additional testing and other protections against the virus.

In New Haven, Connecticut, where hundreds of teachers have been out each day this week, administrators have helped to cover classrooms. When her classroom aide did not show up for work Wednesday, special education teacher Jennifer Graves borrowed paraprofessionals from other classrooms for short stretches to get through the day at Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School — an arrangement that was difficult and confusing for her young students with disabilities.

“It’s very difficult to get through my lesson plans when somebody doesn’t know your students, when somebody is not used to working with students with disabilities,” Graves said. “Some students need sensory inputs, some students need to be spoon-fed. So it’s very hard to train someone on the spot.”

Even before infection rates took off around the holidays, many districts were struggling to keep up staffing levels, particularly among substitutes and other lower-paid positions. As a result, teachers have been spread thin for months, said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association.

“All of these additional burdens and stresses on top of being worried about getting sick, on top of being stressed like all of us are to after a two-year pandemic ... it just compounded to put us in a place that we are now,” Pringle said in an interview.

Some administrators have already been helping for months in classrooms and cafeterias to fill in for sick and quarantining staff.

“We’re not in love with the circumstances, but we’re happy to do the work because the work is making sure that we’re here for our kids,” said Mike Cornell, superintendent of the Hamburg Central School District in New York, who spent time this fall on cafeteria duty poking straws into juice pouches and peeling lids off chips to fill staffing gaps.

In San Francisco, 600 of the district’s 3,600 teachers were out Thursday. Even with administrators, curriculum developers and teacher coaches filling in, there were not enough substitutes to cover all classrooms and some classes needed to be combined, said Matthews, the superintendent.

Among the schools that went virtual this week because of staffing shortages was second grade teacher Anna Tarka-DiNunzio's school of roughly 200 students in Pittsburgh. Some taught their students despite being sick with the virus, said Tarka-DiNunzio, who was disappointed to hear some characterize staffing shortages as the result of teachers arbitrarily taking off work.

“It’s not just people calling off. It’s people who are sick or who have family members who are sick," she said.

The strains on schools this week might have been even tougher if not for large numbers of students being absent themselves. In New Haven, teachers say classes have been only about half full.

Jonathan Berryman, a music teacher, said some of his students haven't shown up for weeks. He worries what that will mean for the performance targets set for students and their teachers.

“Before omicron came along, there was fairly smooth sailing. Now the ship has been rocked,” he said. “We get to make midyear adjustments in our evaluation system. And some I’m sure are wondering whether we should even be concerned about that academic progress piece.”

Graves, who is in her 12th year of teaching in New Haven, said that she is grateful for administrators who have been helping out in classrooms and the aides who have pitched in, but that her students have struggled with the lack of consistency in staffing.

She also has been frustrated with quickly changing health protocols, and worried about the health of herself and her extended family. Most of her young students are not able to tolerate wearing masks for long stretches, and many have been coughing lately.

“This is the hardest year I've had,” she said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Principals, superintendents and counselors are filling in as substitutes in classrooms as the surge in coronavirus infections further strains schools that already had been struggling with staffing shortages.In Cincinnati, dozens of employees from the central office were dispatched this week to schools that were at risk of having to close because of low staffing. The superintendent of Boston schools, Brenda Cassellius, tweeted she was filling in for a fifth grade teacher.San Francisco’s superintendent, Vince Matthews, has called on all employees with teaching credentials to take a class.“This is the most challenging time in my 36 years as an educator,” Matthews said Thursday during a break from filling in as a substitute sixth grade science teacher. “We’re trying to educate students in the middle of a pandemic while the sands around us are consistently shifting.”Staff absences and the surge driven by the omicron variant have led some big districts including Atlanta, Detroit and Milwaukee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-york-education-milwaukee-dce5cae3226eb78ebf074383a2d8135b">to switch temporarily to virtual learning</a>. Where schools are holding the line on in-person learning, getting through the day has required an all-hands-on-deck approach.“It’s absolutely exhausting,” said history teacher Deborah Schmidt, who was covering other classes during her planning period at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy in St. Louis. On Thursday, she was covering a physics class.In a school year when teachers are being asked to help students recover from the pandemic, some say they are dealing with overwhelming stress just trying to keep classes running.“I had a friend say to me, ‘You know, three weeks ago we were locking our doors because of school shootings again, and now we’re opening the window for COVID.’ It’s really all a bit too much,” said Meghan Hatch-Geary, an English teacher at Woodland Regional High School in Connecticut. “This year, trying to fix everything, trying to be everything for everyone, is more and more exhausting all the time.”Labor tensions have been highest in Chicago, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-chicago-teaching-4ce377443ef2345ed759049f868a1c77">classes were canceled</a>&nbsp;after the teachers union voted to refuse in-person instruction, but union leaders in many school systems have been clamoring for more flexibility on virtual learning, additional testing and other protections against the virus.In New Haven, Connecticut, where hundreds of teachers have been out each day this week, administrators have helped to cover classrooms. When her classroom aide did not show up for work Wednesday, special education teacher Jennifer Graves borrowed paraprofessionals from other classrooms for short stretches to get through the day at Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School — an arrangement that was difficult and confusing for her young students with disabilities.“It’s very difficult to get through my lesson plans when somebody doesn’t know your students, when somebody is not used to working with students with disabilities,” Graves said. “Some students need sensory inputs, some students need to be spoon-fed. So it’s very hard to train someone on the spot.”Even before infection rates took off around the holidays, many districts were struggling to keep up staffing levels, particularly among substitutes and other lower-paid positions. As a result, teachers have been spread thin for months, said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association.“All of these additional burdens and stresses on top of being worried about getting sick, on top of being stressed like all of us are to after a two-year pandemic ... it just compounded to put us in a place that we are now,” Pringle said in an interview.Some administrators have already been helping for months in classrooms and cafeterias to fill in for sick and quarantining staff.“We’re not in love with the circumstances, but we’re happy to do the work because the work is making sure that we’re here for our kids,” said Mike Cornell, superintendent of the Hamburg Central School District in New York, who spent time this fall on cafeteria duty poking straws into juice pouches and peeling lids off chips to fill staffing gaps.In San Francisco, 600 of the district’s 3,600 teachers were out Thursday. Even with administrators, curriculum developers and teacher coaches filling in, there were not enough substitutes to cover all classrooms and some classes needed to be combined, said Matthews, the superintendent.Among the schools that went virtual this week because of staffing shortages was second grade teacher Anna Tarka-DiNunzio's school of roughly 200 students in Pittsburgh. Some taught their students despite being sick with the virus, said Tarka-DiNunzio, who was disappointed to hear some characterize staffing shortages as the result of teachers arbitrarily taking off work.“It’s not just people calling off. It’s people who are sick or who have family members who are sick," she said.The strains on schools this week might have been even tougher if not for large numbers of students being absent themselves. In New Haven, teachers say classes have been only about half full.Jonathan Berryman, a music teacher, said some of his students haven't shown up for weeks. He worries what that will mean for the performance targets set for students and their teachers.“Before omicron came along, there was fairly smooth sailing. Now the ship has been rocked,” he said. “We get to make midyear adjustments in our evaluation system. And some I’m sure are wondering whether we should even be concerned about that academic progress piece.”Graves, who is in her 12th year of teaching in New Haven, said that she is grateful for administrators who have been helping out in classrooms and the aides who have pitched in, but that her students have struggled with the lack of consistency in staffing.She also has been frustrated with quickly changing health protocols, and worried about the health of herself and her extended family. Most of her young students are not able to tolerate wearing masks for long stretches, and many have been coughing lately.“This is the hardest year I've had,” she said.

Schools sticking with in-person learning scramble for subs

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal Friday crash have identified the victim and 36-year-old Peder Simmons of Cheney.

According to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick, a Toyota Camry driven by Simmons&nbsp; was northbound on 295th Street West and entered the intersection without yielding to the crossing traffic on 21st Street North. 

An eastbound Ford Focus driven by a 19-year-old man struck the Camry on the driver’s door. Simmons was ejected died at the scene, according to Blick.

EMS transported a 38-year-old female passenger of the Toyota Camry and the driver of the Ford to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Stop signs are posted at the intersection for north and southbound traffic on 295th Street West, according to Blick. The circumstances of the collisions are under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641589189903.png" alt="First responders at the crash scene photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the crash scene photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal Friday crash have identified the victim and 36-year-old Peder Simmons of Cheney.According to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick, a Toyota Camry driven by Simmons&nbsp; was northbound on 295th Street West and entered the intersection without yielding to the crossing traffic on 21st Street North. An eastbound Ford Focus driven by a 19-year-old man struck the Camry on the driver’s door. Simmons was ejected died at the scene, according to Blick.EMS transported a 38-year-old female passenger of the Toyota Camry and the driver of the Ford to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.Stop signs are posted at the intersection for north and southbound traffic on 295th Street West, according to Blick. The circumstances of the collisions are under investigation.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died after ejected in 2-vehicle crash

One of the first studies to track whether COVID-19 vaccination might affect women’s periods found a small and temporary change.

Research published Wednesday tracked nearly 4,000 U.S. women through six menstrual cycles and on average, the next period after a shot started about a day later than usual. But there was no change in the number of days of menstrual bleeding after COVID-19 vaccination.

“This is incredibly reassuring,” said Dr. Alison Edelman of Oregon Health &amp; Science University, who led the research and said it's important to tell women what to expect.

Some women have reported irregular periods or other menstrual changes after their shots. The National Institutes of Health is funding studies to examine if there’s any link.

Edelman’s team analyzed data from a birth control app called Natural Cycles, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for women to track their menstrual cycles and tell when they’re most likely to become pregnant.

Menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Slight variations from month to month are normal, and stress, diet, even exercise can spur temporary changes.

Edelman said the study included women with “the most normal of normal” cycle length, averaging between 24 and 38 days. Researchers tracked vaccinated women for three cycles before the shots and the immediate three cycles after, including the months they received a dose -- and compared them to unvaccinated women. The app prompted women to enter vaccine information.

A subset of 358 women who got both vaccine doses in the same menstrual cycle saw a slightly larger change to their next cycle length, on average two days. About 10% of them had a change of eight days or more, but subsequently returned to normal ranges, the researchers reported in the journal Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology.

Edelman said one theory is that when the immune system revs up at certain times in the cycle, “our body clock or what controls the menstrual cycle can have a hiccup.”

She plans additional study to tell if there are changes in the heaviness of menstrual bleeding or if women who have irregular periods react differently.

The findings provide “important new evidence underscoring that any impact of the COVID vaccines on menstruation is both minimal and temporary,” Dr. Christopher Zahn of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630092497465.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical WriterOne of the first studies to track whether COVID-19 vaccination might affect women’s periods found a small and temporary change.Research published Wednesday tracked nearly 4,000 U.S. women through six menstrual cycles and on average, the next period after a shot started about a day later than usual. But there was no change in the number of days of menstrual bleeding after COVID-19 vaccination.“This is incredibly reassuring,” said Dr. Alison Edelman of Oregon Health &amp; Science University, who led the research and said it's important to tell women what to expect.Some women have reported irregular periods or other menstrual changes after their shots. The National Institutes of Health is funding studies to examine if there’s any link.Edelman’s team analyzed data from a birth control app called Natural Cycles, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for women to track their menstrual cycles and tell when they’re most likely to become pregnant.Menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Slight variations from month to month are normal, and stress, diet, even exercise can spur temporary changes.Edelman said the study included women with “the most normal of normal” cycle length, averaging between 24 and 38 days. Researchers tracked vaccinated women for three cycles before the shots and the immediate three cycles after, including the months they received a dose -- and compared them to unvaccinated women. The app prompted women to enter vaccine information.A subset of 358 women who got both vaccine doses in the same menstrual cycle saw a slightly larger change to their next cycle length, on average two days. About 10% of them had a change of eight days or more, but subsequently returned to normal ranges, the researchers reported in the journal Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology.Edelman said one theory is that when the immune system revs up at certain times in the cycle, “our body clock or what controls the menstrual cycle can have a hiccup.”She plans additional study to tell if there are changes in the heaviness of menstrual bleeding or if women who have irregular periods react differently.The findings provide “important new evidence underscoring that any impact of the COVID vaccines on menstruation is both minimal and temporary,” Dr. Christopher Zahn of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement.___

Study offers reassurance on COVID shots, menstrual cycles 

A
 lead generation company that collected sensitive information from 
millions of consumers under the guise of connecting them with lenders 
will pay $1.5 million in civil penalties and face restrictions on their 
operations as a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit.

The FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/itmedia_cacd_2_22cv73_1_complaint.pdf">complaint</a>&nbsp;alleges
 that since at least 2012, ITMedia Solutions LLC, a number of affiliate 
companies, and their owners and officers have operated hundreds of 
websites that were designed to entice consumers into sharing their most 
sensitive financial information—including their Social Security numbers 
and bank account information. The defendants sold that information to 
marketing companies and others without regard for how the information 
would be used, according to the complaint.

“ITMedia tricked 
millions of people into giving up sensitive financial information and 
then sold it to companies that were not making loans,” said Samuel 
Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The 
company’s extraction and misuse of this data broke the law in several 
ways.”

The suit alleges that the defendants -- who have used 
cashadvance.com, personalloans.com, badcreditloans.com and websites with
 similar names -- promised consumers that their information would be 
shared with “... our network of trusted lenders...” or would “... only 
be shared with qualified lenders.” Some sites promised that loans were 
available for people with bad credit histories without credit score 
requirements.

In its complaint, the FTC alleges that 84 percent of
 the loan applications collected through these websites since January 
2016 were not sold to lenders, but instead disseminated to an array of 
marketers, debt relief and credit repair sellers, and companies that 
would resell consumers’ information without regard for how the 
information would be used. According to the complaint, in many 
instances, ITMedia was not even aware of the purpose for which a company
 was buying consumers’ data, or at times even the physical location of 
the company.

ITMedia sold consumers’ information to<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/05/ftc-halts-deceptive-payday-lender-took-millions-consumers"> a group of companies that were sued by the FTC last year</a> for marketing payday loan products that overcharged consumers by tens of millions of dollars.

The
 complaint notes that the harm to consumers from ITMedia’s 
“indiscriminate” selling of consumer data was substantial, putting them 
at risk for identity theft and scams.

In addition to misleading 
consumers and selling their data without permission, the complaint 
alleges that ITMedia violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by 
unlawfully obtaining and reselling the credit scores of consumers who 
submitted information. The FCRA limits the purposes for which businesses
 can obtain credit scores and using scores to market leads is not a 
permissible purpose.

The defendants agreed to settle the FTC charges against them and, in addition to the civil penalty, the proposed <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/order_itmedia_cacd_2_22cv73_8_1_proposed_stipulated_order.pdf">settlement order</a>&nbsp;will
 prohibit the defendants from making misleading statements to consumers,
 including about how their personal information will be used. The order 
will also prohibit the defendants from selling consumers’ personal 
information outside of a limited set of circumstances, and the order 
requires them to screen the recipients of that information.

The 
complaint alleges that ITMedia Solutions LLC and a number of related 
companies, along with Michael Ambrose, Daniel Negari, Jason Ramin, Grant
 Carpenter, Anisha Hancock, and Sione Kaufusi violated the FTC Act and 
FCRA.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the 
complaint and stipulated final order was 4-0. Commissioner Christine S. 
Wilson <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2022/01/concurring-statement-commissioner-christine-s-wilson-ftc-v-itmedia">issued a concurring statement</a>. The FTC filed the complaint and final order/injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

NOTE: The
 Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the 
named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it 
appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. 
Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed 
by the District Court judge.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCA
 lead generation company that collected sensitive information from 
millions of consumers under the guise of connecting them with lenders 
will pay $1.5 million in civil penalties and face restrictions on their 
operations as a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit.The FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/itmedia_cacd_2_22cv73_1_complaint.pdf">complaint</a>&nbsp;alleges
 that since at least 2012, ITMedia Solutions LLC, a number of affiliate 
companies, and their owners and officers have operated hundreds of 
websites that were designed to entice consumers into sharing their most 
sensitive financial information—including their Social Security numbers 
and bank account information. The defendants sold that information to 
marketing companies and others without regard for how the information 
would be used, according to the complaint.“ITMedia tricked 
millions of people into giving up sensitive financial information and 
then sold it to companies that were not making loans,” said Samuel 
Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The 
company’s extraction and misuse of this data broke the law in several 
ways.”The suit alleges that the defendants -- who have used 
cashadvance.com, personalloans.com, badcreditloans.com and websites with
 similar names -- promised consumers that their information would be 
shared with “... our network of trusted lenders...” or would “... only 
be shared with qualified lenders.” Some sites promised that loans were 
available for people with bad credit histories without credit score 
requirements.In its complaint, the FTC alleges that 84 percent of
 the loan applications collected through these websites since January 
2016 were not sold to lenders, but instead disseminated to an array of 
marketers, debt relief and credit repair sellers, and companies that 
would resell consumers’ information without regard for how the 
information would be used. According to the complaint, in many 
instances, ITMedia was not even aware of the purpose for which a company
 was buying consumers’ data, or at times even the physical location of 
the company.ITMedia sold consumers’ information to<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/05/ftc-halts-deceptive-payday-lender-took-millions-consumers"> a group of companies that were sued by the FTC last year</a> for marketing payday loan products that overcharged consumers by tens of millions of dollars. The
 complaint notes that the harm to consumers from ITMedia’s 
“indiscriminate” selling of consumer data was substantial, putting them 
at risk for identity theft and scams.In addition to misleading 
consumers and selling their data without permission, the complaint 
alleges that ITMedia violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by 
unlawfully obtaining and reselling the credit scores of consumers who 
submitted information. The FCRA limits the purposes for which businesses
 can obtain credit scores and using scores to market leads is not a 
permissible purpose.The defendants agreed to settle the FTC charges against them and, in addition to the civil penalty, the proposed <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/order_itmedia_cacd_2_22cv73_8_1_proposed_stipulated_order.pdf">settlement order</a>&nbsp;will
 prohibit the defendants from making misleading statements to consumers,
 including about how their personal information will be used. The order 
will also prohibit the defendants from selling consumers’ personal 
information outside of a limited set of circumstances, and the order 
requires them to screen the recipients of that information.The 
complaint alleges that ITMedia Solutions LLC and a number of related 
companies, along with Michael Ambrose, Daniel Negari, Jason Ramin, Grant
 Carpenter, Anisha Hancock, and Sione Kaufusi violated the FTC Act and 
FCRA.The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the 
complaint and stipulated final order was 4-0. Commissioner Christine S. 
Wilson <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2022/01/concurring-statement-commissioner-christine-s-wilson-ftc-v-itmedia">issued a concurring statement</a>. The FTC filed the complaint and final order/injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.NOTE: The
 Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the 
named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it 
appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. 
Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed 
by the District Court judge.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC: Company fined $1.5M for duping consumers into sharing personal info

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man in connection with making and spending counterfeit cash, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Johnny Hockaday, 57, of Wichita, is accused of manufacturing and possessing counterfeit federal currency of various denominations in 2019. He is also accused of attempting to defraud a business using four counterfeit $100 bills in September 2021.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641417506162.png" alt="Hockaday photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hockaday photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man in connection with making and spending counterfeit cash, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Johnny Hockaday, 57, of Wichita, is accused of manufacturing and possessing counterfeit federal currency of various denominations in 2019. He is also accused of attempting to defraud a business using four counterfeit $100 bills in September 2021.The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case.

Kan. man indicted for making, spending counterfeit cash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a traffic stop where a Kansas deputy was injured have the driver who fled the scene in custody.

&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. 

During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the driver identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Patrick C. Morere &nbsp;exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.

The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.

Late Friday Morere turned himself in at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, according to Christian. Morere was interviewed by the Criminal Investigations Division, arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of driving under the influence, interference with law enforcement, improper driving on laned roadway and failure to signal turn.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspects involved in a traffic stop that injured a sheriff's deputy and are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the male driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

Authorities identified the driver as 39-year-old Patrick C. Morere of Topeka. Anyone with information on Morere’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. A 32-year-old female passenger was interviewed and released from the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641660613847.png" alt="Morere photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Morere photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a traffic stop where a Kansas deputy was injured have the driver who fled the scene in custody.&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the driver identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Patrick C. Morere &nbsp;exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505804589.png" alt="Gant-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gant-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.Late Friday Morere turned himself in at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, according to Christian. Morere was interviewed by the Criminal Investigations Division, arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of driving under the influence, interference with law enforcement, improper driving on laned roadway and failure to signal turn.-----SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspects involved in a traffic stop that injured a sheriff's deputy and are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505836289.png" alt="Law enforcement continues to search for Patrick Morere -photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff." />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement continues to search for Patrick Morere -photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the male driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505804589.png" alt="Gant-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gant-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.Authorities identified the driver as 39-year-old Patrick C. Morere of Topeka. Anyone with information on Morere’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. A 32-year-old female passenger was interviewed and released from the scene.

Driver turns himself in after Kan. deputy injured in traffic stop

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal weekend stabbing made his first court appearance Wednesday.&nbsp; Bryce Johnson, 27, Bel Aire, was charged in the first-degree murder of 44-year old Jayson Stalkup, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2700 block of N Amidon in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

 On arrival, officers located Stalkup in the parking lot with multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

At around the same time officers were dispatched to the stabbing, an injury accident was called in at 25th and Amidon. Officers arrived at that location and contacted 27-year-old Bryce Johnson of Bel Aire, Kansas, who they were able to identify as the suspect in the stabbing.

The investigation revealed that the two were involved in an altercation at an apartment complex when Johnston fatally stabbed Stalkup. It is believed the two men were known to each other.

Johnston was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to the Sedgwick County Jail, according to Macy. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and is expected back in court on January 18, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641221110685.png" alt="Johnston-photo Sedgwick o." />
 <figcaption>Johnston-photo Sedgwick o.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal weekend stabbing made his first court appearance Wednesday.&nbsp; Bryce Johnson, 27, Bel Aire, was charged in the first-degree murder of 44-year old Jayson Stalkup, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2700 block of N Amidon in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy. On arrival, officers located Stalkup in the parking lot with multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641220101073.png" alt="Police on the sene of the stabbing investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the sene of the stabbing investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>At around the same time officers were dispatched to the stabbing, an injury accident was called in at 25th and Amidon. Officers arrived at that location and contacted 27-year-old Bryce Johnson of Bel Aire, Kansas, who they were able to identify as the suspect in the stabbing.The investigation revealed that the two were involved in an altercation at an apartment complex when Johnston fatally stabbed Stalkup. It is believed the two men were known to each other.Johnston was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to the Sedgwick County Jail, according to Macy. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and is expected back in court on January 18, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man charged in fatal apartment parking lot killing 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement Investigators are asking for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King, who is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.

The crash occurred&nbsp;East 12th Street and Bales Ave. on Sept. 17.

Detectives believe King may have cut his hair to alter his looks. He is wanted for vehicular manslaughter, tampering w/a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

If you have information that will help officers capture King and help a grieving family, contact our Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477 or fill out this form anonymously-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641679333998.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement Investigators are asking for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King, who is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.The crash occurred&nbsp;East 12th Street and Bales Ave. on Sept. 17.Detectives believe King may have cut his hair to alter his looks. He is wanted for vehicular manslaughter, tampering w/a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.If you have information that will help officers capture King and help a grieving family, contact our Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477 or fill out this form anonymously-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5</a>.

KCPD asks for help to locate suspect who killed mother of 2 in crash

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-01-03/transgender-inmates-say-the-way-theyre-treated-in-kansas-prisons-puts-them-in-danger">Kansas News Service</a>

Rayne Bennett hadn’t begun her gender transition the first time she 
was sent to a state prison. She was held in a men’s prison and that felt
 like the right choice.

Upon reflection and meditation, she decided while in that men’s facility to begin her transition to female.

“Obviously,” Bennett said, “this is who I am.”

After
 her release from prison, she began taking hormone therapy, got a gender
 doctor and a gender therapist. She began dressing as a woman. 
Eventually, she became more comfortable with herself.

“Not only 
are the looks different, the personality is dramatically different. Not 
just confidence, not just self-esteem, not just an actual smile. But, in
 reality, it’s that sense of peace,” Bennett said. “I feel better than I
 felt in my entire life.”

Prisons and jails can be difficult 
places for transgender people. Staff and other inmates treat them 
poorly, they struggle for basic necessities and even fear for their 
safety. Trans inmates say Kansas prisons fail to recognize their gender 
identity or protect them from violence and staff harassment.

Bennett
 would end up back in Kansas prisons. She said her first sentence in 
state prison “was a breeze.” In her second stint, that gender transition
 was well underway, she struggled immensely. The only difference was how
 she looked.

The second time Bennett was arrested, she was placed 
in a men's prison despite identifying as female. That’s common practice.
 Prison officials have the authority to decide where to place 
transgender inmates.

She met with a behavioral health professional
 at the prison expecting a diagnosis for gender dysphoria. Gender 
dysphoria isn’t the same as being transgender, but it is when someone is
 distressed because they don’t identify with the gender they were 
assigned at birth. The diagnosis also helps transgender inmates get the 
services they need to live in their gender identity while they’re in 
prison.

But prison medical staff rejected the idea that Bennett 
was transgender at all. She wanted to seek a second opinion but wasn’t 
able to get one.

Bennett struggled to get diagnosed because 
Corizon Health, which used to hold the state’s prison medical care 
contract, told its staff not to diagnose inmates with gender dysphoria, 
former staff members say. Those former Corizon workers told the Kansas 
News Service that another medical professional was called in to make the
 diagnosis even if the first specialist was qualified.

Corizon 
denied the allegations and said it knows of 145 inmates with gender 
dysphoria in Michigan. Charles Seigel, spokesperson for Corizon, said 
the company has a process for people to seek another opinion if they 
believe they were misdiagnosed.

“If we found out someone was doing
 the opposite of our policy,” he said, “we would certainly take some 
kinds of actions depending on what that was.”

Corizon is no longer the medical services contractor for Kansas 
prisons. Centurion of Kansas currently works with KDOC and it deferred 
any questions to the department. Bennett said both providers treated her
 poorly, but Centurion eventually recognized her transition. 

Multiple
 transgender inmates in state prisons also said they were told they 
weren’t transgender or had to prove they were trans by going through 
what they called a “disturbing” interview process.

Emily Feingold,
 who used to work as a behavioral health professional for Corizon, said 
there were at least five times she would have diagnosed someone with 
gender dysphoria but couldn't. 

“I'm literally not allowed to 
click on that diagnosis and have that appear in your chart,” she said. 
“I have the degree, I have the license. I have the power (to make that 
diagnosis). That power was taken away from me.”

Problems for 
transgender inmates didn’t stop there. Five current and former 
transgender inmates said Kansas prisons discriminated against them 
because they were trans. They said their hormone therapy was not at the 
proper dosage or difficult to get, they feared for their safety and were
 constantly misgendered or called the wrong name.

Transgender inmates said it it is harder to be transgender in a Kansas prison than on the outside.

“Every
 day is the day where I have to worry about: Is this person going to 
hurt me? Are they gonna kill me?” Bennett said. “(Prison) broke me. It 
destroyed a part of me. A good part of me.”

Multiple transgender 
inmates contacted by the Kansas News Service said the treatment inside 
Kansas prisons made them consider or attempt suicide.

“It’s not easy living in a body that doesn’t belong to you,” Bennett said.

The Kansas Department of Corrections said it has no documented complaints from Bennett and declined any interview requests.

Bennett
 provided the Kansas News Service with unofficial complaints she filed 
and said if the department was tracking and investigating the complaints
 as they happened, it would have enough information on the allegations.

'They punish us worse. They treat us worse'

KDOC
 spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email the department will use the 
complaints to inform policy decisions and training in the future.

Transgender inmates’ complaints range from struggling to get underwear that fit their gender identity to harrassment by staff.

Tredessa
 Donnell, an inmate at Topeka’s Women's Facility, said staff will call 
him “ma’am” or “miss” because he is a women's facility, but those aren’t
 his pronouns.

“I can’t say nothing because I'm going to get 
(disciplined),” he said. “I’m going to get consequences if I say 
something or try to stand up for myself.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641306078578.png" alt="Bennett kept journal entries, complaint forms and medical services request during her time in state prisons. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Bennett kept journal entries, complaint forms and medical services request during her time in state prisons. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-01-03/transgender-inmates-say-the-way-theyre-treated-in-kansas-prisons-puts-them-in-danger">Kansas News Service</a>Rayne Bennett hadn’t begun her gender transition the first time she 
was sent to a state prison. She was held in a men’s prison and that felt
 like the right choice.Upon reflection and meditation, she decided while in that men’s facility to begin her transition to female.“Obviously,” Bennett said, “this is who I am.”After
 her release from prison, she began taking hormone therapy, got a gender
 doctor and a gender therapist. She began dressing as a woman. 
Eventually, she became more comfortable with herself.“Not only 
are the looks different, the personality is dramatically different. Not 
just confidence, not just self-esteem, not just an actual smile. But, in
 reality, it’s that sense of peace,” Bennett said. “I feel better than I
 felt in my entire life.”Prisons and jails can be difficult 
places for transgender people. Staff and other inmates treat them 
poorly, they struggle for basic necessities and even fear for their 
safety. Trans inmates say Kansas prisons fail to recognize their gender 
identity or protect them from violence and staff harassment.Bennett
 would end up back in Kansas prisons. She said her first sentence in 
state prison “was a breeze.” In her second stint, that gender transition
 was well underway, she struggled immensely. The only difference was how
 she looked.The second time Bennett was arrested, she was placed 
in a men's prison despite identifying as female. That’s common practice.
 Prison officials have the authority to decide where to place 
transgender inmates.She met with a behavioral health professional
 at the prison expecting a diagnosis for gender dysphoria. Gender 
dysphoria isn’t the same as being transgender, but it is when someone is
 distressed because they don’t identify with the gender they were 
assigned at birth. The diagnosis also helps transgender inmates get the 
services they need to live in their gender identity while they’re in 
prison.But prison medical staff rejected the idea that Bennett 
was transgender at all. She wanted to seek a second opinion but wasn’t 
able to get one.Bennett struggled to get diagnosed because 
Corizon Health, which used to hold the state’s prison medical care 
contract, told its staff not to diagnose inmates with gender dysphoria, 
former staff members say. Those former Corizon workers told the Kansas 
News Service that another medical professional was called in to make the
 diagnosis even if the first specialist was qualified.Corizon 
denied the allegations and said it knows of 145 inmates with gender 
dysphoria in Michigan. Charles Seigel, spokesperson for Corizon, said 
the company has a process for people to seek another opinion if they 
believe they were misdiagnosed.“If we found out someone was doing
 the opposite of our policy,” he said, “we would certainly take some 
kinds of actions depending on what that was.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641306156082.png" alt="Bennett filed an informal inmate complaint alleging her consitutional rights were violated, but she said her treatment in state prisons didn't improve. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Bennett filed an informal inmate complaint alleging her consitutional rights were violated, but she said her treatment in state prisons didn't improve. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>Corizon is no longer the medical services contractor for Kansas 
prisons. Centurion of Kansas currently works with KDOC and it deferred 
any questions to the department. Bennett said both providers treated her
 poorly, but Centurion eventually recognized her transition. Multiple
 transgender inmates in state prisons also said they were told they 
weren’t transgender or had to prove they were trans by going through 
what they called a “disturbing” interview process.Emily Feingold,
 who used to work as a behavioral health professional for Corizon, said 
there were at least five times she would have diagnosed someone with 
gender dysphoria but couldn't. “I'm literally not allowed to 
click on that diagnosis and have that appear in your chart,” she said. 
“I have the degree, I have the license. I have the power (to make that 
diagnosis). That power was taken away from me.”Problems for 
transgender inmates didn’t stop there. Five current and former 
transgender inmates said Kansas prisons discriminated against them 
because they were trans. They said their hormone therapy was not at the 
proper dosage or difficult to get, they feared for their safety and were
 constantly misgendered or called the wrong name.Transgender inmates said it it is harder to be transgender in a Kansas prison than on the outside.“Every
 day is the day where I have to worry about: Is this person going to 
hurt me? Are they gonna kill me?” Bennett said. “(Prison) broke me. It 
destroyed a part of me. A good part of me.”Multiple transgender 
inmates contacted by the Kansas News Service said the treatment inside 
Kansas prisons made them consider or attempt suicide.“It’s not easy living in a body that doesn’t belong to you,” Bennett said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641306195647.png" alt="Rayne Bennett corrected staff on her pronouns, but it didn't stop them from misgendering her. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Rayne Bennett corrected staff on her pronouns, but it didn't stop them from misgendering her. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Corrections said it has no documented complaints from Bennett and declined any interview requests.Bennett
 provided the Kansas News Service with unofficial complaints she filed 
and said if the department was tracking and investigating the complaints
 as they happened, it would have enough information on the allegations.<h2>'They punish us worse. They treat us worse'</h2> KDOC
 spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email the department will use the 
complaints to inform policy decisions and training in the future.Transgender inmates’ complaints range from struggling to get underwear that fit their gender identity to harrassment by staff.Tredessa
 Donnell, an inmate at Topeka’s Women's Facility, said staff will call 
him “ma’am” or “miss” because he is a women's facility, but those aren’t
 his pronouns.“I can’t say nothing because I'm going to get 
(disciplined),” he said. “I’m going to get consequences if I say 
something or try to stand up for myself.”Donnell, and multiple 
other current and former inmates, told the Kansas News Service they have
 filed complaints against staff for a variety of alleged transgender 
discrimination. But as they write more reports, the inmates said, they 
become more of a target.“They punish us worse. They treat us 
worse,” he said. “They use terms to classify us as aggressive, 
victimizers, manipulators and that’s how they treat us. So you don’t 
even have a fair shake.”Donnell, who is Black, said treatment can be worse for Black transgender people.Rodrigo
 Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for 
Transgender Equality/NCTE Action Fund, said transgender discrimination 
is common in correctional facilities. Transgender inmates in Georgia, 
New Jersey and Virgina sued correctional facilities for being denied 
access to gender-affirming surgery, alleged assualts or for alleged 
sexual assault.“No one should be discriminated against just 
because of who they are,” Heng-Lehtinen said. “When someone is behind 
bars, they shouldn't be singled out for harassment, or denied their 
humanity just because they happen to be transgender.”Heng-Lehitnen
 said creating an inclusive environment for all inmates shouldn’t be 
hard. He said allegations of mistreatment would be clearly seen as 
discriminatory if they weren’t about transgender people.Simple policies, like using the right name or allowing people to get a wig, can make a difference, Heng-Lehtinen said.“These
 things that might sound small … (but) are actually really about 
authenticity and being seen as who you are,” he said. “In the most 
extreme cases, they can make a difference on your safety.”Bennett
 said she was raped multiple times in Kansas prisons due in part to what
 she said is KDOC’s lack of interest in keeping her safe. She said she 
was raped by other inmates because she was transgender, and she raised 
her safety concerns to KDOC but not enough was done.“As a male, I
 would have been left alone because it’s well known that 
feminine-looking inmates are pretty prized,” Bennett said. “Why in the 
hell would you put a trans inmate that is identifying as female, dresses
 as female in the prison with a bunch of sex-starved males?”Bennett
 said her rape claims also weren’t investigated properly. She said that 
in one instance, she had both DNA inside of her and on her clothing but 
no rape kit was done and KDOC didn’t ask for her clothes for a week.<h2>KDOC promised to be better</h2> Nathaniel
 Callaway spent decades in Kansas prisons and served time before Bennett
 or Donnell were incarcerated. He had similar issues to inmates today, 
like misgendering.“For the first 12 or so years of my 
incarceration, I walked around, I say bare a** because I refuse to wear 
women's underwear,” Callaway said. “Everything was a fight for me when 
it wasn't a fight for everyone else. Anything that I got had to be a 
fight.”He said one deputy warden admitted the department made mistakes and tried to make things better.One
 inmate who spoke with the Kansas News Service said they didn’t mind 
their treatment at KDOC. They were allowed to shower at different times 
and given access to products that matched their gender. Staff who used 
to work at the department decades ago said they implemented some 
changes, like housing trans inmates in cells by themselves, and they 
made life easier for transgender people.Callaway did get the 
Department of Corrections to pay for his top surgery, but he suspects 
that was to avoid repercussions from a complaint. He thought the 
department had made meaningful change since he was incarcerated, but he 
was disappointed to hear allegations of discrimination are still 
ongoing.“They (implied) to me that it was gonna make it easier 
for the next people,” Callaway said. “It just lets me know that they 
didn't change their mindset, it didn't change anything.”Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.