SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man will be sentenced Tuesday afternoon for causing a crash that killed an off-duty Wichita police officer and the officer's 10-year-old son, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In September, James Dalrymple, 39, Valley Center, pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence in the death of 37-year-old Stacey Woodson and his son, Braeden, in April 2018. 

Prosecutors said Dalrymple pulled his pickup truck in front of Woodson's motorcycle at a Wichita intersection. Court records say Dalrymple had alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of the crash. Woodson was a 16-year veteran of the Wichita police force.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631564009505.png" alt="Dalrymple from his arrest in April in 2018" />
 <figcaption>Dalrymple from his arrest in April in 2018</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man will be sentenced Tuesday afternoon for causing a crash that killed an off-duty Wichita police officer and the officer's 10-year-old son, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In September, James Dalrymple, 39, Valley Center, pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence in the death of 37-year-old Stacey Woodson and his son, Braeden, in April 2018. Prosecutors said Dalrymple pulled his pickup truck in front of Woodson's motorcycle at a Wichita intersection. Court records say Dalrymple had alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of the crash. Woodson was a 16-year veteran of the Wichita police force.

Sentencing day for man in DUI crash that killed Kan. officer and son

Today,
 the Federal Trade Commission released the National Do Not Call Registry
 Data Book for Fiscal Year 2021. The FTC’s National Do Not Call (DNC) 
Registry lets consumers add their phone number and choose not to receive
 most legal telemarketing calls. In the last fiscal year, nearly three 
million people signed up with the DNC Registry, bringing the total close
 to 245 million phone numbers. 

Now in its thirteenth year of publication, the Data
 Book also provides the most recent fiscal year information available on
 robocall complaints, the types of calls consumers reported to the FTC, 
and a complete state-by-state analysis. According to the Data Book, 
complaints about imposter calls again topped the list, with almost 
594,000 received during the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2021, 
including both live calls and robocalls. In such calls, imposters 
falsely pose as government representatives, such as the Social Security 
Administration or the IRS, legitimate business entities, or as people 
affiliated with them.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/DoNotCall/Infographic"></a>

According to the Data Book, at the end of FY 2021, the DNC Registry contained 244.3 million actively registered phone numbers, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/10/ftc-releases-fy-2020-national-do-not-call-registry-data-book">up from 241.5 million at the end of FY 2020</a>.
 The number of consumer complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls 
increased, from nearly four million in FY 2020 to over five million in 
FY 2021. Of those complaints, 68 percent concerned robocalls and 22 
percent were about live telemarketing.

In FY 2021, the Commission 
received 3.4 million complaints about robocalls, up from 2.8 million in 
FY 2020. The FY 2021 total is in line with previous years, following FY 
2020’s significant decline. For every month in the fiscal year, 
robocalls—defined under FTC regulations as calls delivering a 
prerecorded message—made up the majority of consumer complaints about 
DNC violations, with the most -- 347,000 -- coming in March of this 
year.

Again this year, imposters 
were the topic of the robocalls consumers reported the most, with more 
than 496,000 complaints received. Warranties and protection
 plans comprised the second-most commonly reported topic, with consumers
 filing more than 412,000 robocall complaints. Calls about supposed 
debt-reduction made up the third-most commonly reported topic, followed 
by complaints about medical and prescription issues, and computers and 
technical support.

With respect to state data, 
New Hampshire continues to top the nation in active DNC registrations 
per capita (94,642). The states reporting the most complaints per 
100,000 population changed in FY 2021: the top five states were Maryland
 (2,028 per 100K population), Delaware (1,982 per 100K population), 
Arizona (1,945 per 100K population), Colorado (1,943 per 100K 
population), and Virginia (1,939 per 100K population).

The underlying data in the report is publicly available at: <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/national-do-not-call-registry-data-book-fiscal-year-2021">https://www.ftc.gov/reports/national-do-not-call-registry-data-book-fiscal-year-2021</a>.

Information for consumers about the <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry">DNC Registry</a>, <a href="http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0198-telemarketing-sales-rule">company-specific DNC requests, and telemarketer caller ID requirements</a> can be found on the FTC’s website, and <a href="https://www.donotcall.gov/">consumers can sign up for the DNC Registry for free</a>. <a href="http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0025-robocalls">Other information about robocalls and what consumers can do about them</a> is also available. To report unwanted telemarketing calls, consumers can file a complaint at <a href="http://www.donotcall.gov/">www.donotcall.gov</a> or call 1-888-382-1222.

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>FTCToday,
 the Federal Trade Commission released the National Do Not Call Registry
 Data Book for Fiscal Year 2021. The FTC’s National Do Not Call (DNC) 
Registry lets consumers add their phone number and choose not to receive
 most legal telemarketing calls. In the last fiscal year, nearly three 
million people signed up with the DNC Registry, bringing the total close
 to 245 million phone numbers. Now in its thirteenth year of publication, the Data
 Book also provides the most recent fiscal year information available on
 robocall complaints, the types of calls consumers reported to the FTC, 
and a complete state-by-state analysis. According to the Data Book, 
complaints about imposter calls again topped the list, with almost 
594,000 received during the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2021, 
including both live calls and robocalls. In such calls, imposters 
falsely pose as government representatives, such as the Social Security 
Administration or the IRS, legitimate business entities, or as people 
affiliated with them.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/DoNotCall/Infographic"></a>FY 2021 Registration and Complaint DataAccording to the Data Book, at the end of FY 2021, the DNC Registry contained 244.3 million actively registered phone numbers, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/10/ftc-releases-fy-2020-national-do-not-call-registry-data-book">up from 241.5 million at the end of FY 2020</a>.
 The number of consumer complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls 
increased, from nearly four million in FY 2020 to over five million in 
FY 2021. Of those complaints, 68 percent concerned robocalls and 22 
percent were about live telemarketing.In FY 2021, the Commission 
received 3.4 million complaints about robocalls, up from 2.8 million in 
FY 2020. The FY 2021 total is in line with previous years, following FY 
2020’s significant decline. For every month in the fiscal year, 
robocalls—defined under FTC regulations as calls delivering a 
prerecorded message—made up the majority of consumer complaints about 
DNC violations, with the most -- 347,000 -- coming in March of this 
year.FY 2021 Data HighlightsAgain this year, imposters 
were the topic of the robocalls consumers reported the most, with more 
than 496,000 complaints received. Warranties and protection
 plans comprised the second-most commonly reported topic, with consumers
 filing more than 412,000 robocall complaints. Calls about supposed 
debt-reduction made up the third-most commonly reported topic, followed 
by complaints about medical and prescription issues, and computers and 
technical support.Registration and Complaint Data by StateWith respect to state data, 
New Hampshire continues to top the nation in active DNC registrations 
per capita (94,642). The states reporting the most complaints per 
100,000 population changed in FY 2021: the top five states were Maryland
 (2,028 per 100K population), Delaware (1,982 per 100K population), 
Arizona (1,945 per 100K population), Colorado (1,943 per 100K 
population), and Virginia (1,939 per 100K population).Underlying Data AvailabilityThe underlying data in the report is publicly available at: <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/national-do-not-call-registry-data-book-fiscal-year-2021">https://www.ftc.gov/reports/national-do-not-call-registry-data-book-fiscal-year-2021</a>.Information for ConsumersInformation for consumers about the <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry">DNC Registry</a>, <a href="http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0198-telemarketing-sales-rule">company-specific DNC requests, and telemarketer caller ID requirements</a> can be found on the FTC’s website, and <a href="https://www.donotcall.gov/">consumers can sign up for the DNC Registry for free</a>. <a href="http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0025-robocalls">Other information about robocalls and what consumers can do about them</a> is also available. To report unwanted telemarketing calls, consumers can file a complaint at <a href="http://www.donotcall.gov/">www.donotcall.gov</a> or call 1-888-382-1222.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: Registrations, complaints spike on Do Not Call registry book

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George says
the U.S. economy has made a remarkable recovery after the devastating blow dealt
it by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The economy has recovered in many respects,” George says. “So,
output, meaning the growth we have in the economy, is back from pre-pandemic
levels. Unemployment is coming down, rapidly, even though it hasn’t fully
recovered yet. That’s coming down. And demand is soaring. We have really strong
demand in our economy right now.”

George spoke to reporters after delivering the keynote address
at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce 2021 Economic Summit on the Missouri
Western State University campus Friday.

George says the pandemic sent the economy into a freefall 18
months ago.

George says inflation has been more persistent than many
foresaw. She says the markets reacted favorably to the Fed tapering the asset
purchases it began at the depth of the pandemic-induced economic downturn,
because the Fed signaled its intentions early.

“And I think what we’ve learned is our communication is
important, to set expectations for the markets, to explain how we’re thinking
about the economy,” George says. “That, of course, is a conversation that
happens around a big table as we each present our views on how we do that. So,
communicating clearly about the next steps is going to be important.”

George refers to the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market
Committee (FOMC), which guides Fed monetary policy, primarily through asset purchases,
setting interest rates, and setting bank reserve requirements. Directors of the
regional Federal Reserve Banks, such as George, rotate as voting members of the
FOMC, though they provide input, voting or not. George becomes a voting member
again next year. The FOMC holds eight meetings each year.

George says the Federal Reserve acted appropriately during the
pandemic by buying assets and lowering interest rates to prop up the ailing
economy. She says now the Fed needs to back off; continue to taper asset
purchases and begin to discuss raising interest rates.

George says she doesn’t want to tighten financial conditions,
though.

“I do not want to derail the economy,” George says. “And that’s
why I’m arguing starting sooner rather than later with beginning to talk to the
public about when will we raise interest rates?”

George says interest rates will likely be raised at least
twice in the coming year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637677386646.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George speaks to an attendee after the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce 2021 Economic Summit./Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George speaks to an attendee after the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce 2021 Economic Summit./Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George says
the U.S. economy has made a remarkable recovery after the devastating blow dealt
it by the coronavirus pandemic.“The economy has recovered in many respects,” George says. “So,
output, meaning the growth we have in the economy, is back from pre-pandemic
levels. Unemployment is coming down, rapidly, even though it hasn’t fully
recovered yet. That’s coming down. And demand is soaring. We have really strong
demand in our economy right now.”George spoke to reporters after delivering the keynote address
at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce 2021 Economic Summit on the Missouri
Western State University campus Friday.George says the pandemic sent the economy into a freefall 18
months ago.George says inflation has been more persistent than many
foresaw. She says the markets reacted favorably to the Fed tapering the asset
purchases it began at the depth of the pandemic-induced economic downturn,
because the Fed signaled its intentions early.“And I think what we’ve learned is our communication is
important, to set expectations for the markets, to explain how we’re thinking
about the economy,” George says. “That, of course, is a conversation that
happens around a big table as we each present our views on how we do that. So,
communicating clearly about the next steps is going to be important.”George refers to the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market
Committee (FOMC), which guides Fed monetary policy, primarily through asset purchases,
setting interest rates, and setting bank reserve requirements. Directors of the
regional Federal Reserve Banks, such as George, rotate as voting members of the
FOMC, though they provide input, voting or not. George becomes a voting member
again next year. The FOMC holds eight meetings each year.George says the Federal Reserve acted appropriately during the
pandemic by buying assets and lowering interest rates to prop up the ailing
economy. She says now the Fed needs to back off; continue to taper asset
purchases and begin to discuss raising interest rates.George says she doesn’t want to tighten financial conditions,
though.“I do not want to derail the economy,” George says. “And that’s
why I’m arguing starting sooner rather than later with beginning to talk to the
public about when will we raise interest rates?”George says interest rates will likely be raised at least
twice in the coming year.

KC Fed chief expects interest rate hike next year to temper inflation

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made an arrest.

Just before&nbsp; 9a.m. on Saturday officers responded to a burglary that had occurred at an apartment in the 200 block North 3rd Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Investigators determined that forced entry had been made during the night into an apartment located within the complex. A suspect took clothing and household items.

Officers located two suspects, one of which lived in the apartment complex. Kala Woods and Janice Jimenez-Saavedra were taken into custody on requested charges of burglary and theft. Jimenez-Saavedra was also charged with disorderly conduct and interference with law enforcement. Police also recovered the stolen items, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637597244001.png" alt="Jimenez-Saavedra-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Jimenez-Saavedra-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made an arrest.Just before&nbsp; 9a.m. on Saturday officers responded to a burglary that had occurred at an apartment in the 200 block North 3rd Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Investigators determined that forced entry had been made during the night into an apartment located within the complex. A suspect took clothing and household items.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636469263291.png" alt="Woods -photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Woods -photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers located two suspects, one of which lived in the apartment complex. Kala Woods and Janice Jimenez-Saavedra were taken into custody on requested charges of burglary and theft. Jimenez-Saavedra was also charged with disorderly conduct and interference with law enforcement. Police also recovered the stolen items, according to Wilson.

Police arrest 2 Kan. women for alleged apartment burglary 

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double homicide in Reno County have found the 2000 red Ford F-150 truck connected to the crime, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff's Department.

Someone called authorities on a suspicious vehicle in a rural area of Reno county and it matched the description of the suspect vehicle.

 Kyle Hardwick, 37, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 56-year-old Marion Edward Bates and 58-year-old Phillip Duane Anstine.

Police arrested Hardwick in&nbsp; Maize Sept. 1 after he was&nbsp; listed as a person of interest when two bodies were discovered on a property in eastern Reno County. The truck had been missing since the crime was discovered.

The sheriff’s department says it hopes that the truck will bring about new information that will assist in the investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630599777911.png" alt="Police arrested Hardwick on Sept. 1-photo Reno Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Police arrested Hardwick on Sept. 1-photo Reno Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double homicide in Reno County have found the 2000 red Ford F-150 truck connected to the crime, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff's Department.Someone called authorities on a suspicious vehicle in a rural area of Reno county and it matched the description of the suspect vehicle. Kyle Hardwick, 37, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 56-year-old Marion Edward Bates and 58-year-old Phillip Duane Anstine.Police arrested Hardwick in&nbsp; Maize Sept. 1 after he was&nbsp; listed as a person of interest when two bodies were discovered on a property in eastern Reno County. The truck had been missing since the crime was discovered.The sheriff’s department says it hopes that the truck will bring about new information that will assist in the investigation.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Tip helps locate pickup connected to Kan. double homicide 

BELOIT —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a scam and have recovered $13,000 in cash.

On November 19, police received a report of a scam that involved someone who claimed to work for Amazon, according to a social media report from the Beloit Police Department. The incident led to an individual withdrawing $13,000 in United States currency, packaging it up, and attempting to ship the money to an address in Dallas.

The officers, with the help of the United States Postal Service, intercepted the package in Beloit and stopped it from being delivered to scammers in Dallas.

Beloit police reminded residents to be vigilant and to be aware that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.&nbsp;

BELOIT —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a scam and have recovered $13,000 in cash.On November 19, police received a report of a scam that involved someone who claimed to work for Amazon, according to a social media report from the Beloit Police Department. The incident led to an individual withdrawing $13,000 in United States currency, packaging it up, and attempting to ship the money to an address in Dallas.The officers, with the help of the United States Postal Service, intercepted the package in Beloit and stopped it from being delivered to scammers in Dallas.Beloit police reminded residents to be vigilant and to be aware that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.&nbsp;

Police, postal service recover $13,000 sent from Kansas to Texas

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 90% of federal workers received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday’s deadline set by President Joe Biden.

Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no with option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured an approved medical or religious exemption. A U.S. official said the vast majority of federal workers are fully vaccinated, and that a smaller number have pending or approved exceptions to the mandate.

In all, more than 95% of federal workers are in compliance with the Biden mandate, the official said, either by being vaccinated or having requested an exemption. Workers who are not in compliance are set to begin a “counseling” process that could ultimately result in their termination if they don’t get a shot or secure an approved exception to vaccination.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the statistics because the official wasn’t authorized to speak on the record before their official release later Monday.

The deadline is a major test of Biden’s push to compel people across the country to get vaccinated, as his administration has emphasized that vaccination is the nation’s surest way out from the pandemic. Beyond the federal worker rule, his administration is looking to compel large businesses to institute vaccinate-or-testing requirements that would cover more than 84 million workers, though plans for January enforcement have been on hold pending litigation.

There was considerable concern over whether federal employees would follow the mandate, particularly in law enforcement and intelligence agencies where there was vocal resistance, and among federal workers involved in the travel sector heading into the busy holiday travel season

The White House says they don’t anticipate any federal disruptions from the mandate. At the Federal Aviation Administration, 99% of employees are in compliance with Biden’s order, at the Transportation Security Administration, 93% are in compliance, and 98% of Customs and Border Protection workers are in compliance.

The official said that on Wednesday the Office of Management and Budget would release a breakdown of agency compliance rates.

According to the official, nearly 25% of the Internal Revenue Service’s employees started getting vaccinated after Biden’s announcement, and 98% of its employees are now in compliance with the requirement.

Just about two weeks ago, several intelligence agencies had at least 20% of their workforce unvaccinated as of late October, said U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, a Utah Republican who is a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President Larry Cosme said around the same time that there are about 31,000 members from 65 federal law enforcement agencies in the association and he estimated 60% of them have been vaccinated.

The White House is now aiming to use the federal vaccination mandate as a model for private businesses to implement their own mandates even before litigation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s is resolved.

Since Biden announced the first federal mandates earlier this summer, the number of unvaccinated Americans aged 12 and over has dropped from about 100 million to under 60 million. Health officials emphasize that the overwhelming majority of instances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 now occur among those who haven’t received a vaccine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632773278988.png" alt="President Biden received his COVID booster earlier this month-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden received his COVID booster earlier this month-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 90% of federal workers received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday’s deadline set by President Joe Biden.Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no with option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured an approved medical or religious exemption. A U.S. official said the vast majority of federal workers are fully vaccinated, and that a smaller number have pending or approved exceptions to the mandate.In all, more than 95% of federal workers are in compliance with the Biden mandate, the official said, either by being vaccinated or having requested an exemption. Workers who are not in compliance are set to begin a “counseling” process that could ultimately result in their termination if they don’t get a shot or secure an approved exception to vaccination.The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the statistics because the official wasn’t authorized to speak on the record before their official release later Monday.The deadline is a major test of Biden’s push to compel people across the country to get vaccinated, as his administration has emphasized that vaccination is the nation’s surest way out from the pandemic. Beyond the federal worker rule, his administration is looking to compel large businesses to institute vaccinate-or-testing requirements that would cover more than 84 million workers, though plans for January enforcement have been on hold pending litigation.There was considerable concern over whether federal employees would follow the mandate, particularly in law enforcement and intelligence agencies where there was vocal resistance, and among federal workers involved in the travel sector heading into the busy holiday travel seasonThe White House says they don’t anticipate any federal disruptions from the mandate. At the Federal Aviation Administration, 99% of employees are in compliance with Biden’s order, at the Transportation Security Administration, 93% are in compliance, and 98% of Customs and Border Protection workers are in compliance.The official said that on Wednesday the Office of Management and Budget would release a breakdown of agency compliance rates.According to the official, nearly 25% of the Internal Revenue Service’s employees started getting vaccinated after Biden’s announcement, and 98% of its employees are now in compliance with the requirement.Just about two weeks ago, several intelligence agencies had at least 20% of their workforce unvaccinated as of late October, said U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, a Utah Republican who is a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President Larry Cosme said around the same time that there are about 31,000 members from 65 federal law enforcement agencies in the association and he estimated 60% of them have been vaccinated.The White House is now aiming to use the federal vaccination mandate as a model for private businesses to implement their own mandates even before litigation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s is resolved.Since Biden announced the first federal mandates earlier this summer, the number of unvaccinated Americans aged 12 and over has dropped from about 100 million to under 60 million. Health officials emphasize that the overwhelming majority of instances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 now occur among those who haven’t received a vaccine.—

Official: More than 90% of fed workers got shots by deadline

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — Police say the suspect in a deadly Christmas parade crash in suburban Milwaukee was in a domestic disturbance just minutes before he killed five people and injured 48. 

Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said Monday there is no evidence of terrorism in the event. He says police were preparing five charges of intentional homicide against Darrell Brooks, 39, of Milwaukee. 

Thompson identified those killed as four women including 71-year-old&nbsp; LeAnna Owen, 52-year-old&nbsp;Tamara Durand,  52-year-old&nbsp;Jane Kulich,  79-year-old Virginia Sorenson, and 81-year-old&nbsp;Wilhelm Hospel. The women were members of the “Dancing Grannies” club. One victim was an employee of Citizens Bank.

Police also asked for video footage of the suspect vehicle in the parade route or fleeing from the scene, and&nbsp; contact information here&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FxVKV6n9JbwUNjwvC8%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR13auXRfLNUfRcHbQoUcYfn4B1IFUV4h1iT3Ie5Vqzunfas8jCnV9GjLRA&amp;h=AT28TAPqZPihnp52yENNCzSj5vQvCys-BgyykyIxvOnaI6tUuKTBGuHYZ7yHmjcd1srEmohI5OoLdBk9TKC7iYo7dm5osh5YNAs1hmFfSLIswdOk5iamYd-QhSMWXBvOzcI2VNQ&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1LbqzdggqSJeQqQG_iCkHYASPrRkKaFA51uDoKTxK7bUmKePuPW-Tog56U46qQ6Asf84vnlR7eyCP2a8mC5hDIqVFMfW5DCbVP6dbJq3UVccxQ6ji8JGlZTO7fmNEHGrpfd8Xgih3ot73LGrjd4LjQYn_q9wzNhsp9y1dW" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/xVKV6n9JbwUNjwvC8</a>. Police are looking for video that a person captured themselves – not video they saw on someone’s social media page.

Police were&nbsp; only looking for footage of the incident, not the aftermath of the event. We know that members of the community want to help out and help the victims. 

The Waukesha County Community Foundation, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee &amp; Waukesha County have joined together to create the “United for Waukesha Community Fund.” This fund will support the needs of the families impacted. You can donate at: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waukeshafoundation.org%2Fparade%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR13auXRfLNUfRcHbQoUcYfn4B1IFUV4h1iT3Ie5Vqzunfas8jCnV9GjLRA&amp;h=AT0vPdb2ej3cTm6ebcFaexXTTLgibJPw_XgcStSi-Hceb6lez1ee6gFcTpi-DvnjJEvMzJjsxJf4sZFsptUIsXzl-wT1H1odLPQpIoEjAJiBH3bCajr7KcYXJQWtlckgB5WbqoI&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1LbqzdggqSJeQqQG_iCkHYASPrRkKaFA51uDoKTxK7bUmKePuPW-Tog56U46qQ6Asf84vnlR7eyCP2a8mC5hDIqVFMfW5DCbVP6dbJq3UVccxQ6ji8JGlZTO7fmNEHGrpfd8Xgih3ot73LGrjd4LjQYn_q9wzNhsp9y1dW" target="_blank">www.waukeshafoundation.org/parade</a>.

Many people witnessed traumatic events last evening. If you need to talk to someone, you can call or text 800-985-5990 to be connected to a trained, caring counselor - they are available 24/7. Please only call 911 for emergencies. There will be a Friends and Family Resource Center set up at Carroll University in the Campus Center ballroom for all the victims from 2pm-6pm on Tuesday and 9am-1pm on Wednesday. The District Attorney Victim Assistance Program is also available to assist. You can email help4victims@da.wi.gov

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — A person taken into custody after an SUV plowed into holiday parade in Wisconsin, killing at least five people, has been identified as 39-year-old Darrell Brooks.

Police haven’t yet identified the “person of interest” they are holding. But two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter provided the identification to The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Online court records showed a person named Darrell Brooks, with an birthdate making him 39, has two open criminal cases in Milwaukee County. In one case, filed Nov. 5, he is charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, reckless homicide, disorderly conduct, bail jumping and battery. Records show $500 cash bond was posted Nov. 19.

In the other case, filed in July 2020, Brooks is charged with reckless endangering and illegal possession of a firearm.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP)— A joyous scene of marching bands and children dancing in Santa hats and waving pompoms turned deadly in an instant, as an SUV sped through barricades and into a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing at least five people and injuring more than 40 others.

One video showed a woman screaming, “Oh my God!” repeatedly as a group of young dancers was struck Sunday. A father talked of going “from one crumpled body to the other” in search of his daughter. Members of a “Dancing Grannies” club were among those hit.

The city of Waukesha posted on its social media accounts late Sunday that it could confirm at least five died and more than 40 were injured, while noting that it was still collecting information. The city's statement also noted that many people took themselves to hospitals. The city did not release any additional information about those who died.

A “person of interest” was in custody, Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said, but he gave no details about the person or any possible motive. The investigation was ongoing, with assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

“What took place in Waukesha today is sickening, and I have every confidence that those responsible will be brought to justice,” Attorney General Josh Kaul, the state’s top law enforcement officer, tweeted.

The horror was recorded by the city’s livestream and onlookers' cellphones. One video shows the moment the SUV broke through the barricades and the sound of what appears to be several gunshots. Thompson said a Waukesha police officer fired his gun to try to stop the vehicle. No bystanders were injured by the gunfire, and Thompson said he did not know if the driver was struck by the officer’s bullets.

Another video shows a young child dancing in the street as the SUV speeds by, just a few feet from her, before it hurtles into parade participants a few hundred feet ahead. One video, of dancers with pompoms, ends with a group of people tending to a girl on the ground.

“There were pompoms and shoes and spilled hot chocolate everywhere. I had to go from one crumpled body to the other to find my daughter,” Corey Montiho, a Waukesha school district board member, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “My wife and two daughters were almost hit. Please pray for everybody. Please pray.”

The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies posted on its Facebook page that “members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions.” The group’s profile describes them as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades.”

A Catholic priest, multiple parishioners and Waukesha Catholic schoolchildren were among those injured, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee spokeswoman Sandra Peterson said.

Chris Germain, co-owner of the Aspire Dance Center studio, had about 70 people in the parade ranging from as young as 2 being pulled in wagons to age 18. Germain, whose 3-year-old daughter was in the parade, said he was driving at the head of their entry when he saw a maroon SUV that “just blazed right past us.” A police officer ran past in chase. Germain said he jumped out of his own SUV and gathered the girls who were with him to safety.

Then he walked forward to see the damage.

“There were small children laying all over the road, there were police officers and EMTs doing CPR on multiple members of the parade,” he said.

Angelito Tenorio, a West Allis alderman who is running for Wisconsin state treasurer, said he was watching the parade with his family when they saw the SUV come speeding into the area.

“Then we heard a loud bang,” Tenorio said. “And after that, we just heard deafening cries and screams from the crowd, from the people at the parade. And people started rushing, running away with tears in their eyes, crying.”

The Waukesha school district canceled classes Monday and said in a notice on its website that extra counselors would be on hand for students and staff. The parade’s list of entries included cheer, dance and band entries associated with district schools.

Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife, Kathy, were “praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act.”

The parade, held each year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, is sponsored by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. This year’s, the 59th, had the theme of “comfort and joy.”

Waukesha is a western suburb of Milwaukee, and about 55 miles north of Kenosha, where Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted Friday of charges stemming from the shooting of three men during unrest in that city in August 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637579510864.png" alt="photo courtesy city of Waukesha&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy city of Waukesha&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — Police say the suspect in a deadly Christmas parade crash in suburban Milwaukee was in a domestic disturbance just minutes before he killed five people and injured 48. Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said Monday there is no evidence of terrorism in the event. He says police were preparing five charges of intentional homicide against Darrell Brooks, 39, of Milwaukee. Thompson identified those killed as four women including 71-year-old&nbsp; LeAnna Owen, 52-year-old&nbsp;Tamara Durand, 52-year-old&nbsp;Jane Kulich, 79-year-old Virginia Sorenson, and 81-year-old&nbsp;Wilhelm Hospel. The women were members of the “Dancing Grannies” club. One victim was an employee of Citizens Bank.Police also asked for video footage of the suspect vehicle in the parade route or fleeing from the scene, and&nbsp; contact information here&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FxVKV6n9JbwUNjwvC8%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR13auXRfLNUfRcHbQoUcYfn4B1IFUV4h1iT3Ie5Vqzunfas8jCnV9GjLRA&amp;h=AT28TAPqZPihnp52yENNCzSj5vQvCys-BgyykyIxvOnaI6tUuKTBGuHYZ7yHmjcd1srEmohI5OoLdBk9TKC7iYo7dm5osh5YNAs1hmFfSLIswdOk5iamYd-QhSMWXBvOzcI2VNQ&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1LbqzdggqSJeQqQG_iCkHYASPrRkKaFA51uDoKTxK7bUmKePuPW-Tog56U46qQ6Asf84vnlR7eyCP2a8mC5hDIqVFMfW5DCbVP6dbJq3UVccxQ6ji8JGlZTO7fmNEHGrpfd8Xgih3ot73LGrjd4LjQYn_q9wzNhsp9y1dW" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/xVKV6n9JbwUNjwvC8</a>. Police are looking for video that a person captured themselves – not video they saw on someone’s social media page. Police were&nbsp; only looking for footage of the incident, not the aftermath of the event. We know that members of the community want to help out and help the victims. The Waukesha County Community Foundation, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee &amp; Waukesha County have joined together to create the “United for Waukesha Community Fund.” This fund will support the needs of the families impacted. You can donate at: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waukeshafoundation.org%2Fparade%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR13auXRfLNUfRcHbQoUcYfn4B1IFUV4h1iT3Ie5Vqzunfas8jCnV9GjLRA&amp;h=AT0vPdb2ej3cTm6ebcFaexXTTLgibJPw_XgcStSi-Hceb6lez1ee6gFcTpi-DvnjJEvMzJjsxJf4sZFsptUIsXzl-wT1H1odLPQpIoEjAJiBH3bCajr7KcYXJQWtlckgB5WbqoI&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1LbqzdggqSJeQqQG_iCkHYASPrRkKaFA51uDoKTxK7bUmKePuPW-Tog56U46qQ6Asf84vnlR7eyCP2a8mC5hDIqVFMfW5DCbVP6dbJq3UVccxQ6ji8JGlZTO7fmNEHGrpfd8Xgih3ot73LGrjd4LjQYn_q9wzNhsp9y1dW" target="_blank">www.waukeshafoundation.org/parade</a>. Many people witnessed traumatic events last evening. If you need to talk to someone, you can call or text 800-985-5990 to be connected to a trained, caring counselor - they are available 24/7. Please only call 911 for emergencies. There will be a Friends and Family Resource Center set up at Carroll University in the Campus Center ballroom for all the victims from 2pm-6pm on Tuesday and 9am-1pm on Wednesday. The District Attorney Victim Assistance Program is also available to assist. You can email help4victims@da.wi.gov<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637624207281.png" alt="Brooks photo Waukesha Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Brooks photo Waukesha Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — A person taken into custody after an SUV plowed into holiday parade in Wisconsin, killing at least five people, has been identified as 39-year-old Darrell Brooks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637581922928.png" alt="Darrell Brooks-photo Nevada Sex offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Darrell Brooks-photo Nevada Sex offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>Police haven’t yet identified the “person of interest” they are holding. But two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter provided the identification to The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.Online court records showed a person named Darrell Brooks, with an birthdate making him 39, has two open criminal cases in Milwaukee County. In one case, filed Nov. 5, he is charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, reckless homicide, disorderly conduct, bail jumping and battery. Records show $500 cash bond was posted Nov. 19.In the other case, filed in July 2020, Brooks is charged with reckless endangering and illegal possession of a firearm.-----------WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP)— A joyous scene of marching bands and children dancing in Santa hats and waving pompoms turned deadly in an instant, as an SUV sped through barricades and into a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing at least five people and injuring more than 40 others.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637579510864.png" alt="Photo courtesy city of Waukesha, Wisconsin&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy city of Waukesha, Wisconsin&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>One video showed a woman screaming, “Oh my God!” repeatedly as a group of young dancers was struck Sunday. A father talked of going “from one crumpled body to the other” in search of his daughter. Members of a “Dancing Grannies” club were among those hit.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At this time, we can confirm that 5 people are deceased and over 40 are injured. However, these numbers may change as we collect additional information. Many people have self-transported to area hospitals. The Police Department has the person of interest in custody.&mdash; cityofwaukesha (@CityofWaukesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofWaukesha/status/1462659959544594433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The city of Waukesha posted on its social media accounts late Sunday that it could confirm at least five died and more than 40 were injured, while noting that it was still collecting information. The city's statement also noted that many people took themselves to hospitals. The city did not release any additional information about those who died.A “person of interest” was in custody, Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said, but he gave no details about the person or any possible motive. The investigation was ongoing, with assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.“What took place in Waukesha today is sickening, and I have every confidence that those responsible will be brought to justice,” Attorney General Josh Kaul, the state’s top law enforcement officer, tweeted.The horror was recorded by the city’s livestream and onlookers' cellphones. One video shows the moment the SUV broke through the barricades and the sound of what appears to be several gunshots. Thompson said a Waukesha police officer fired his gun to try to stop the vehicle. No bystanders were injured by the gunfire, and Thompson said he did not know if the driver was struck by the officer’s bullets.Another video shows a young child dancing in the street as the SUV speeds by, just a few feet from her, before it hurtles into parade participants a few hundred feet ahead. One video, of dancers with pompoms, ends with a group of people tending to a girl on the ground.“There were pompoms and shoes and spilled hot chocolate everywhere. I had to go from one crumpled body to the other to find my daughter,” Corey Montiho, a Waukesha school district board member, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “My wife and two daughters were almost hit. Please pray for everybody. Please pray.”The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies posted on its Facebook page that “members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions.” The group’s profile describes them as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades.”A Catholic priest, multiple parishioners and Waukesha Catholic schoolchildren were among those injured, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee spokeswoman Sandra Peterson said.Chris Germain, co-owner of the Aspire Dance Center studio, had about 70 people in the parade ranging from as young as 2 being pulled in wagons to age 18. Germain, whose 3-year-old daughter was in the parade, said he was driving at the head of their entry when he saw a maroon SUV that “just blazed right past us.” A police officer ran past in chase. Germain said he jumped out of his own SUV and gathered the girls who were with him to safety.Then he walked forward to see the damage.“There were small children laying all over the road, there were police officers and EMTs doing CPR on multiple members of the parade,” he said.Angelito Tenorio, a West Allis alderman who is running for Wisconsin state treasurer, said he was watching the parade with his family when they saw the SUV come speeding into the area.“Then we heard a loud bang,” Tenorio said. “And after that, we just heard deafening cries and screams from the crowd, from the people at the parade. And people started rushing, running away with tears in their eyes, crying.”The Waukesha school district canceled classes Monday and said in a notice on its website that extra counselors would be on hand for students and staff. The parade’s list of entries included cheer, dance and band entries associated with district schools.Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife, Kathy, were “praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act.”The parade, held each year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, is sponsored by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. This year’s, the 59th, had the theme of “comfort and joy.”Waukesha is a western suburb of Milwaukee, and about 55 miles north of Kenosha, where Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted Friday of charges stemming from the shooting of three men during unrest in that city in August 2020.

Police ID 5 who died in Christmas parade crash 

KANSAS CITY— The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department&nbsp; investigating a homicide in the 1500 block of Walker Avenue have identified the victim as 24-year-old Emileigh N. Wilson of Atchison, according to a media release from police.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Walker Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas on the report of a shooting.

When they arrived, officers discovered an adult male with apparent gunshot wounds outside a residence, according to police. The man was then transported to an area hospital. He remains in critical but stable condition.

Police located Wilson who was deceased outside of a vehicle near 15th and Waverly. Police asked anyone with information to call the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477.

KANSAS CITY— The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department&nbsp; investigating a homicide in the 1500 block of Walker Avenue have identified the victim as 24-year-old Emileigh N. Wilson of Atchison, according to a media release from police.Just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Walker Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas on the report of a shooting.When they arrived, officers discovered an adult male with apparent gunshot wounds outside a residence, according to police. The man was then transported to an area hospital. He remains in critical but stable condition.Police located Wilson who was deceased outside of a vehicle near 15th and Waverly. Police asked anyone with information to call the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477.

Police ID Kansas woman who died in Kansas City shooting

<a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12142/sweet-potato-pie-i/">Try this recipe for a simple sweet potato pie!</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637787311506.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12142/sweet-potato-pie-i/">Try this recipe for a simple sweet potato pie!</a>

Simple sweet potato pie recipe for Thanksgiving

CHEROKEE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Cherokee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Peterbilt semi driven by Brian T. Nicholas, 53, Indianapolis, IN., was northbound on Kansas 7 at Cherokee, Kansas.

The semi rear-ended a 2016 Freightliner school bus driven by Debra Sue Smith, 63, Cherokee, that had slowed to make a right turn on Magnolia Street.

There were 23 passengers in the school bus. including 2 adults and 21 minor children. EMS transported one passenger identified as Jamee&nbsp;Shierk, 43, Cherokee, to the hospital in Pittsburg. There were not other injuries reported.

CHEROKEE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Cherokee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Peterbilt semi driven by Brian T. Nicholas, 53, Indianapolis, IN., was northbound on Kansas 7 at Cherokee, Kansas.The semi rear-ended a 2016 Freightliner school bus driven by Debra Sue Smith, 63, Cherokee, that had slowed to make a right turn on Magnolia Street.There were 23 passengers in the school bus. including 2 adults and 21 minor children. EMS transported one passenger identified as Jamee&nbsp;Shierk, 43, Cherokee, to the hospital in Pittsburg. There were not other injuries reported.

1 injured after semi rear-ends Kan. school bus with 23 on board

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators are moving to make it easy in Kansas for workers to claim religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates. But GOP leaders were divided Monday over whether they also needed to promise unemployment benefits for people refusing the shots. sider ways for Kansas to push back against Biden’s vaccine mandates.

Republican leaders also faced a push by some conservatives to prohibit private employers from imposing their own vaccine mandates whether or not federal mandates from President Joe Biden survive federal lawsuits challenging them. That proposal emerged from a debate in the state Senate. The GOP-controlled Legislature forced Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to convene a special session to consider the issue.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators are moving to make it easy in Kansas for workers to claim religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates. But GOP leaders were divided Monday over whether they also needed to promise unemployment benefits for people refusing the shots. sider ways for Kansas to push back against Biden’s vaccine mandates.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KUbMd1qHHG4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Republican leaders also faced a push by some conservatives to prohibit private employers from imposing their own vaccine mandates whether or not federal mandates from President Joe Biden survive federal lawsuits challenging them. That proposal emerged from a debate in the state Senate. The GOP-controlled Legislature forced Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to convene a special session to consider the issue.

🎥 Kansas moves against COVID mandates; employers may face ban

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are treating Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s opposition to federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates as a political bluff and are forcing policy choices upon her that could complicate her already difficult bid for reelection.

The GOP-controlled Legislature forced Kelly to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-religion-legislature-2f5d833228a712538a1c55de34bc3b6e">call a special session</a>&nbsp;that was underway&nbsp; Monday to consider two proposals for helping workers who refuse to get inoculated despite mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">announced in September</a>&nbsp;by President Joe Biden. One measure would require employers to exempt workers who say they have a religious objection to the shots without questioning them. The other would provide unemployment benefits to people who lose their jobs because they didn’t get vaccinated.

The proposals appeal to Republicans’ conservative base, and if Kelly vetoes them, that GOP base would remain energized ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Meanwhile, more liberal voters in Kelly’s base back the mandates as a way to finally end the pandemic, and she could face criticism if she signs Republican measures or brokers a compromise in an effort to keep the support of the moderate GOP and independent voters who helped her win in 2018.

“She’s walking a tightrope just like everybody is, but hers — hers is a little higher and a little more difficult,” said Joan Wagnon, a former Kansas House member, ex-Topeka mayor and former Kansas Democratic Party chair.

Kelly already faced a difficult reelection because Kansas is a Republican-leaning state in which no Democratic governor has won reelection under a Democratic president since 1968.

Also, in 2018, Kelly’s general election foe was Kris Kobach, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">take-no-prisoners style</a>&nbsp;alienated some GOP moderates, independent voters and some business groups. The presumed Republican nominee for 2022, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, is on track to avoid a contentious primary race.

To be sure, Republicans face political perils, too, in forcing the Legislature back into session when it wasn’t set to reconvene until January. Influential business groups have strong misgivings about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-topeka-kansas-legislature-da3b571d0554e0ca350fa6fdf3a6c029">their proposals.</a>&nbsp;Those groups fear that the unemployment measure will prove costly, raising the state taxes on businesses that help finance the benefits.

A messy special session could raise questions about how effectively the Republicans govern, and there’s a risk of being associated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-bf71306f4f6aafb8175e38838c624d32">the anti-vaccine fringe</a>&nbsp;or being accused of allowing the pandemic to linger.

Yet Republicans also have reasons to feel bullish. Several GOP leaders quickly noted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">Kelly’s public opposition</a>&nbsp;to Biden’s mandates came two days after victory in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-virginia-election-2020-phil-murphy-ea5d582e30d526a946319d64c97605f1">the Virginia governor’s race</a>&nbsp;and a closer-than-expected loss in New Jersey’s gubernatorial contest. They chided her for not making a statement for weeks.

“I hope her words are not hollow,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican and the author of the proposals before lawmakers.

Schmidt has sought political points on the right by bringing Kansas into federal lawsuits against vaccine mandates covering health care workers, employees of federal government contractors and workers for companies with 100 or more employees.

And Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s tougher-than-expected race in New Jersey provides lessons for his party across the U.S., said Brendan Gill, a consultant and Murphy adviser. Murphy saw his margin shrink by more than 10 percentage points from 2017 — in a state that Biden carried by almost 16 percentage points.

Gill said New Jersey saw a “red surge,” with larger turnout increases in more GOP areas that more than compensated for Murphy turning out more voters.

“There are headwinds that I think we have to wrap our heads around pretty quickly,” Gill said.

Kelly’s office declined to make her available for an interview or to comment about how the special session might affect her reelection bid.

Schmidt also wasn’t available Friday for an interview but spokesman C.J. Grover said in an email earlier in the week that Schmidt had opposed the federal mandates since they were announced and welcomes the Legislature’s efforts.

University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said Kelly must both be attentive to her Democratic political base while keeping the support of GOP moderates. He said centrist voters want the coronavirus pandemic to end but aren’t “particularly worked up at the moment.”

Wagnon and other Democrats said they understand Kelly’s opposition to Biden’s vaccine mandate, given the political climate. But Wagnon said progressives are disappointed by it, seeing the mandates as public health measures that will save lives and prevent serious illnesses.

Chris Reeves, a Leavenworth consultant and former Democratic National Committee member, said voters in Kelly’s base “don’t want anybody around them to not be vaccinated” and have been eager to get their children inoculated now that vaccines have been authorized for those aged 5 through 11.

“She came across as a little bit too political by half, you know — an effort to say, ’Well, you know, I don’t want to turn off potential voters I have in the west and the southeast and so on,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636550088740.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly shopping and promoting a plan to eliminate the state tax on groceries." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly shopping and promoting a plan to eliminate the state tax on groceries.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are treating Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s opposition to federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates as a political bluff and are forcing policy choices upon her that could complicate her already difficult bid for reelection.The GOP-controlled Legislature forced Kelly to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-religion-legislature-2f5d833228a712538a1c55de34bc3b6e">call a special session</a>&nbsp;that was underway&nbsp; Monday to consider two proposals for helping workers who refuse to get inoculated despite mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">announced in September</a>&nbsp;by President Joe Biden. One measure would require employers to exempt workers who say they have a religious objection to the shots without questioning them. The other would provide unemployment benefits to people who lose their jobs because they didn’t get vaccinated.The proposals appeal to Republicans’ conservative base, and if Kelly vetoes them, that GOP base would remain energized ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Meanwhile, more liberal voters in Kelly’s base back the mandates as a way to finally end the pandemic, and she could face criticism if she signs Republican measures or brokers a compromise in an effort to keep the support of the moderate GOP and independent voters who helped her win in 2018.“She’s walking a tightrope just like everybody is, but hers — hers is a little higher and a little more difficult,” said Joan Wagnon, a former Kansas House member, ex-Topeka mayor and former Kansas Democratic Party chair.Kelly already faced a difficult reelection because Kansas is a Republican-leaning state in which no Democratic governor has won reelection under a Democratic president since 1968.Also, in 2018, Kelly’s general election foe was Kris Kobach, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">take-no-prisoners style</a>&nbsp;alienated some GOP moderates, independent voters and some business groups. The presumed Republican nominee for 2022, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, is on track to avoid a contentious primary race.To be sure, Republicans face political perils, too, in forcing the Legislature back into session when it wasn’t set to reconvene until January. Influential business groups have strong misgivings about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-topeka-kansas-legislature-da3b571d0554e0ca350fa6fdf3a6c029">their proposals.</a>&nbsp;Those groups fear that the unemployment measure will prove costly, raising the state taxes on businesses that help finance the benefits.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637597709385.png" alt="Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab opened Monday's special legislative session in the Kansas House- photo courtesy Kan. Legislative YouTube" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab opened Monday's special legislative session in the Kansas House- photo courtesy Kan. Legislative YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>A messy special session could raise questions about how effectively the Republicans govern, and there’s a risk of being associated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-bf71306f4f6aafb8175e38838c624d32">the anti-vaccine fringe</a>&nbsp;or being accused of allowing the pandemic to linger.Yet Republicans also have reasons to feel bullish. Several GOP leaders quickly noted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">Kelly’s public opposition</a>&nbsp;to Biden’s mandates came two days after victory in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-virginia-election-2020-phil-murphy-ea5d582e30d526a946319d64c97605f1">the Virginia governor’s race</a>&nbsp;and a closer-than-expected loss in New Jersey’s gubernatorial contest. They chided her for not making a statement for weeks.“I hope her words are not hollow,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican and the author of the proposals before lawmakers.Schmidt has sought political points on the right by bringing Kansas into federal lawsuits against vaccine mandates covering health care workers, employees of federal government contractors and workers for companies with 100 or more employees.And Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s tougher-than-expected race in New Jersey provides lessons for his party across the U.S., said Brendan Gill, a consultant and Murphy adviser. Murphy saw his margin shrink by more than 10 percentage points from 2017 — in a state that Biden carried by almost 16 percentage points.Gill said New Jersey saw a “red surge,” with larger turnout increases in more GOP areas that more than compensated for Murphy turning out more voters.“There are headwinds that I think we have to wrap our heads around pretty quickly,” Gill said.Kelly’s office declined to make her available for an interview or to comment about how the special session might affect her reelection bid.Schmidt also wasn’t available Friday for an interview but spokesman C.J. Grover said in an email earlier in the week that Schmidt had opposed the federal mandates since they were announced and welcomes the Legislature’s efforts.University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said Kelly must both be attentive to her Democratic political base while keeping the support of GOP moderates. He said centrist voters want the coronavirus pandemic to end but aren’t “particularly worked up at the moment.”Wagnon and other Democrats said they understand Kelly’s opposition to Biden’s vaccine mandate, given the political climate. But Wagnon said progressives are disappointed by it, seeing the mandates as public health measures that will save lives and prevent serious illnesses.Chris Reeves, a Leavenworth consultant and former Democratic National Committee member, said voters in Kelly’s base “don’t want anybody around them to not be vaccinated” and have been eager to get their children inoculated now that vaccines have been authorized for those aged 5 through 11.“She came across as a little bit too political by half, you know — an effort to say, ’Well, you know, I don’t want to turn off potential voters I have in the west and the southeast and so on,” he said.

Kansas push to defy COVID rules complicates governor's race

TOPEKA, Kan. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,431 to a total of 458,221, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 9 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,643.

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA, Kan. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,431 to a total of 458,221, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 9 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,643.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637604038481.png" alt="Monday November 22, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday November 22, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 2,400 new cases, 9 more COVID deaths

By Scott Edger Little Apple Post

RILEY COUNTY —Just before 8p.m. Sunday, Riley County Police arrested 38-year-old Kenneth Durell Dotson&nbsp;for multiple counts of stalking, protection order violations, and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Police say Dotson’s current arrest and charges&nbsp;stem from&nbsp;his&nbsp;October 12&nbsp;arrest&nbsp;in connection with a violent attack at&nbsp;a&nbsp;Dairy Queen&nbsp;in Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On October 12, the police arrested Dotson and Cornelius Lee Sisson,&nbsp;37,&nbsp;both of Manhattan,&nbsp;after they&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;forced their way&nbsp;into the Dairy Queen&nbsp;at 1015 N. Third Street&nbsp;and chased a man and woman outside before assaulting them with a weapon.&nbsp;

Police arrested Dotson at his home at 12:14&nbsp;Saturday morning, October 12. He&nbsp;was charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;domestic battery, battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, violation of a protection order and aggravated burglary.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the time of the Sunday night incident, Dotson was free on a $50,000 bond posted October 20.&nbsp;Following his release, Dotson was issued a protection order banning&nbsp;contant&nbsp;with witnesses.&nbsp;

Authorities&nbsp;had recently&nbsp;taken&nbsp;multiple&nbsp;reports of Dotson stalking&nbsp;and contacting&nbsp;witnesses from the October 12&nbsp;attack. Dotson is scheduled for a December 7 hearing in&nbsp;Riley County District Court&nbsp;for the October 12 case.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632060646160.png" alt="Kenneth Dotson- from an earlier arrest in Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Kenneth Dotson- from an earlier arrest in Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Scott Edger Little Apple PostRILEY COUNTY —Just before 8p.m. Sunday, Riley County Police arrested 38-year-old Kenneth Durell Dotson&nbsp;for multiple counts of stalking, protection order violations, and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;Police say Dotson’s current arrest and charges&nbsp;stem from&nbsp;his&nbsp;October 12&nbsp;arrest&nbsp;in connection with a violent attack at&nbsp;a&nbsp;Dairy Queen&nbsp;in Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 12, the police arrested Dotson and Cornelius Lee Sisson,&nbsp;37,&nbsp;both of Manhattan,&nbsp;after they&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;forced their way&nbsp;into the Dairy Queen&nbsp;at 1015 N. Third Street&nbsp;and chased a man and woman outside before assaulting them with a weapon.&nbsp;Police arrested Dotson at his home at 12:14&nbsp;Saturday morning, October 12. He&nbsp;was charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;domestic battery, battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, violation of a protection order and aggravated burglary.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the time of the Sunday night incident, Dotson was free on a $50,000 bond posted October 20.&nbsp;Following his release, Dotson was issued a protection order banning&nbsp;contant&nbsp;with witnesses.&nbsp;Authorities&nbsp;had recently&nbsp;taken&nbsp;multiple&nbsp;reports of Dotson stalking&nbsp;and contacting&nbsp;witnesses from the October 12&nbsp;attack. Dotson is scheduled for a December 7 hearing in&nbsp;Riley County District Court&nbsp;for the October 12 case.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. man accused in attack jailed for stalking victims

SEWARD COUNTY— Friends and family attended a funeral mass for a 5-year-old Kansas boy who died in an accident near his elementary school in Liberal.

The service for&nbsp; Nathaniel Garro Rivera was held Monday morning at&nbsp; St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Liberal, according to&nbsp;Brenneman Funeral Home. Friends <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-with-little-nathaniels-funeral-costs?member=15377267&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=sms&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser t</a>o assist the family.

Just before 8a.m. Wednesday, emergency crews responded to report of an accident involving a juvenile near Prairie View Elementary in the 600 Block of Warren in Liberal, according to a media release from police.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 GMC Sierra driven by Lizeth Michelle&nbsp;Hernandez-Ibarra, 25, Liberal,&nbsp;was northbound on Warren Street and made a left turn onto Hickory Avenue.&nbsp; The pickup struck 5-year-old Nathaniel Garro&nbsp;Rivera of Liberal in the cross walk.

EMS transported the boy to Southwest Kansas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Authorities released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637358986406.png" alt="Nathaniel Garro Rivera&nbsp;photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Nathaniel Garro Rivera&nbsp;photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY— Friends and family attended a funeral mass for a 5-year-old Kansas boy who died in an accident near his elementary school in Liberal.The service for&nbsp; Nathaniel Garro Rivera was held Monday morning at&nbsp; St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Liberal, according to&nbsp;Brenneman Funeral Home. Friends <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-with-little-nathaniels-funeral-costs?member=15377267&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=sms&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser t</a>o assist the family.Just before 8a.m. Wednesday, emergency crews responded to report of an accident involving a juvenile near Prairie View Elementary in the 600 Block of Warren in Liberal, according to a media release from police.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 GMC Sierra driven by Lizeth Michelle&nbsp;Hernandez-Ibarra, 25, Liberal,&nbsp;was northbound on Warren Street and made a left turn onto Hickory Avenue.&nbsp; The pickup struck 5-year-old Nathaniel Garro&nbsp;Rivera of Liberal in the cross walk.EMS transported the boy to Southwest Kansas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Authorities released no additional details.

Funeral mass for Kan. boy who died in accident near his school

TOPEKA —A special session of the Kansas legislature begins at 10a.m. Monday challenging COVID-19 vaccine mandates&nbsp;from President Joe Biden covering more than 100 million American workers

Among proposals, one would&nbsp; make it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.&nbsp;

TOPEKA —A special session of the Kansas legislature begins at 10a.m. Monday challenging COVID-19 vaccine mandates&nbsp;from President Joe Biden covering more than 100 million American workers<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KUbMd1qHHG4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Among proposals, one would&nbsp; make it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.&nbsp;

🎥 Kansas legislature special session on COVID mandates

By
NICK GOSNELL<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — 
Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale let
 Hutch Post know that one of his schools is taking additional COVID-19 
precautions immediately before Thanksgiving.

"Thursday of last 
week, we got a pretty decent spike at South Hutch Elementary," 
Nightingale said. "Today and tomorrow, South Hutch Elementary is 
in ... they're in masks for Monday and Tuesday, to hopefully get us to the
 break."

The hope is that the break can give both students and staff a chance to reset.

"You've
 got to realize the amount of anxiety that faces our staff each and 
every day when they come to school," Nightingale said. "You think about a
 teacher that's got over 100 kids that are going to funnel through their
 classroom on a given day. As you do that, you're just dealing with that
 larger of a potential of either contracting something or something 
getting spread in your building and I think everybody's kind of looking 
forward to that."

The district is out from Nov. 24 to 26 for Thanksgiving break and back in school Monday, Nov. 29.

By
NICK GOSNELL<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a> 
HUTCHINSON — 
Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale let
 Hutch Post know that one of his schools is taking additional COVID-19 
precautions immediately before Thanksgiving."Thursday of last 
week, we got a pretty decent spike at South Hutch Elementary," 
Nightingale said. "Today and tomorrow, South Hutch Elementary is 
in ... they're in masks for Monday and Tuesday, to hopefully get us to the
 break."The hope is that the break can give both students and staff a chance to reset."You've
 got to realize the amount of anxiety that faces our staff each and 
every day when they come to school," Nightingale said. "You think about a
 teacher that's got over 100 kids that are going to funnel through their
 classroom on a given day. As you do that, you're just dealing with that
 larger of a potential of either contracting something or something 
getting spread in your building and I think everybody's kind of looking 
forward to that."The district is out from Nov. 24 to 26 for Thanksgiving break and back in school Monday, Nov. 29.

Hutchinson-area grade school returns to mask mandate

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637581922928.png" alt="Darrell Brooks-photo Nevada Sex offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Darrell Brooks-photo Nevada Sex offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — A person taken into custody after an SUV plowed into holiday parade in Wisconsin, killing at least five people, has been identified as 39-year-old Darrell Brooks.Police haven’t yet identified the “person of interest” they are holding. But two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter provided the identification to The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.Online court records showed a person named Darrell Brooks, with an birthdate making him 39, has two open criminal cases in Milwaukee County. In one case, filed Nov. 5, he is charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, reckless homicide, disorderly conduct, bail jumping and battery. Records show $500 cash bond was posted Nov. 19.In the other case, filed in July 2020, Brooks is charged with reckless endangering and illegal possession of a firearm.-----------WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP)— A joyous scene of marching bands and children dancing in Santa hats and waving pompoms turned deadly in an instant, as an SUV sped through barricades and into a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing at least five people and injuring more than 40 others.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637579510864.png" alt="Photo courtesy city of Waukesha, Wisconsin&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy city of Waukesha, Wisconsin&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>One video showed a woman screaming, “Oh my God!” repeatedly as a group of young dancers was struck Sunday. A father talked of going “from one crumpled body to the other” in search of his daughter. Members of a “Dancing Grannies” club were among those hit.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At this time, we can confirm that 5 people are deceased and over 40 are injured. However, these numbers may change as we collect additional information. Many people have self-transported to area hospitals. The Police Department has the person of interest in custody.&mdash; cityofwaukesha (@CityofWaukesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofWaukesha/status/1462659959544594433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The city of Waukesha posted on its social media accounts late Sunday that it could confirm at least five died and more than 40 were injured, while noting that it was still collecting information. The city's statement also noted that many people took themselves to hospitals. The city did not release any additional information about those who died.A “person of interest” was in custody, Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said, but he gave no details about the person or any possible motive. The investigation was ongoing, with assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.“What took place in Waukesha today is sickening, and I have every confidence that those responsible will be brought to justice,” Attorney General Josh Kaul, the state’s top law enforcement officer, tweeted.The horror was recorded by the city’s livestream and onlookers' cellphones. One video shows the moment the SUV broke through the barricades and the sound of what appears to be several gunshots. Thompson said a Waukesha police officer fired his gun to try to stop the vehicle. No bystanders were injured by the gunfire, and Thompson said he did not know if the driver was struck by the officer’s bullets.Another video shows a young child dancing in the street as the SUV speeds by, just a few feet from her, before it hurtles into parade participants a few hundred feet ahead. One video, of dancers with pompoms, ends with a group of people tending to a girl on the ground.“There were pompoms and shoes and spilled hot chocolate everywhere. I had to go from one crumpled body to the other to find my daughter,” Corey Montiho, a Waukesha school district board member, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “My wife and two daughters were almost hit. Please pray for everybody. Please pray.”The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies posted on its Facebook page that “members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions.” The group’s profile describes them as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades.”A Catholic priest, multiple parishioners and Waukesha Catholic schoolchildren were among those injured, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee spokeswoman Sandra Peterson said.Chris Germain, co-owner of the Aspire Dance Center studio, had about 70 people in the parade ranging from as young as 2 being pulled in wagons to age 18. Germain, whose 3-year-old daughter was in the parade, said he was driving at the head of their entry when he saw a maroon SUV that “just blazed right past us.” A police officer ran past in chase. Germain said he jumped out of his own SUV and gathered the girls who were with him to safety.Then he walked forward to see the damage.“There were small children laying all over the road, there were police officers and EMTs doing CPR on multiple members of the parade,” he said.Angelito Tenorio, a West Allis alderman who is running for Wisconsin state treasurer, said he was watching the parade with his family when they saw the SUV come speeding into the area.“Then we heard a loud bang,” Tenorio said. “And after that, we just heard deafening cries and screams from the crowd, from the people at the parade. And people started rushing, running away with tears in their eyes, crying.”The Waukesha school district canceled classes Monday and said in a notice on its website that extra counselors would be on hand for students and staff. The parade’s list of entries included cheer, dance and band entries associated with district schools.Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife, Kathy, were “praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act.”The parade, held each year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, is sponsored by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. This year’s, the 59th, had the theme of “comfort and joy.”Waukesha is a western suburb of Milwaukee, and about 55 miles north of Kenosha, where Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted Friday of charges stemming from the shooting of three men during unrest in that city in August 2020.

SUV driver ID'd in Christmas parade crash that killed 5

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 49-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, is hospitalized in critical condition after being struck while crossing a road on the Truman Sports Complex property in Kansas City, Missouri, during a Chiefs game. 

Police say the man was struck by a Chrysler Sedan Sunday afternoon, about 25 minutes after the start of the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The driver stopped at the scene. Last month, 66-year-old Steven Hickle of Wichita, Kansas, was killed when he was struck by two hit-and-run drivers near Arrowhead Stadium. His death prompted a bicycle and pedestrian safety advocacy group to renew calls to make the area safer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637589620835.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the accident-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the accident-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 49-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, is hospitalized in critical condition after being struck while crossing a road on the Truman Sports Complex property in Kansas City, Missouri, during a Chiefs game. Police say the man was struck by a Chrysler Sedan Sunday afternoon, about 25 minutes after the start of the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. The driver stopped at the scene. Last month, 66-year-old Steven Hickle of Wichita, Kansas, was killed when he was struck by two hit-and-run drivers near Arrowhead Stadium. His death prompted a bicycle and pedestrian safety advocacy group to renew calls to make the area safer.

Man critically injured after being struck near Chiefs game

KANSAS CITY (AP) — No one was injured in a suburban Kansas City bank robbery Saturday morning,

FBI spokesman Dixon Land said the suspect demanded cash from a Commerce Bank in Gladstone, Missouri. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

The FBI described the suspect as a roughly 50-year-old man with light brown skin. He wore jeans, a dark blue coat, red Kansas City baseball hat, black shoes, blue latex gloves and a COVID-19 mask while robbing the bank.

The FBI and Gladstone police are investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637580412860.png" alt="The FBI is investigating a Saturday morning bank robbery at the Commerce Bank at 6334 N. Antioch Road-Photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>The FBI is investigating a Saturday morning bank robbery at the Commerce Bank at 6334 N. Antioch Road-Photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — No one was injured in a suburban Kansas City bank robbery Saturday morning,FBI spokesman Dixon Land said the suspect demanded cash from a Commerce Bank in Gladstone, Missouri. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money.The FBI described the suspect as a roughly 50-year-old man with light brown skin. He wore jeans, a dark blue coat, red Kansas City baseball hat, black shoes, blue latex gloves and a COVID-19 mask while robbing the bank.The FBI and Gladstone police are investigating.

Suspect escapes with cash from Kansas City-area bank robbery

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Kansas legislators are trying to tamp down fears about the cost and other potential problems with their proposal to provide unemployment benefits to workers who lose their jobs for refusing COVID-19 vaccines.

The GOP-controlled Legislature is expected to consider the measure during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-lifestyle-kansas-legislature-848501fa7ee73b3ef8e9626233109dee">a special session</a>&nbsp;that convenes Monday, along with another proposal that would make it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The measures are responses to vaccine mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">from President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;covering more than 100 million American workers.

The push for unemployment benefits for vaccine-refusing workers comes after GOP lawmakers worried for months that the depletion of funds to pay claims last year during the pandemic would force an increase in the state tax that finances the benefits. There’s bipartisan concern that the unemployment proposal before lawmakers now could lead to such a tax increase.

“I certainly don’t want to see increased unemployment taxes or that type of thing because of our actions,” Republican state Sen. Jeff Longbine of Emporia said.

Kansas’ special legislative session comes as Republican governors, state attorneys general and lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-states-suing-employer-vaccine-mandates-f4300ed015ed716a1054949cf199a25a">are pursuing ways</a>&nbsp;to push back against the Biden mandates.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-iowa-legislature-kim-reynolds-4846ae980cd6727c82cd8ee8b30a082d">Iowa enacted a law</a>&nbsp;last month extending unemployment benefits to workers who refuse to get vaccinated.

Although vaccine mandates from private companies and local officials have boosted inoculation rates, GOP officials across the U.S. see Biden’s mandates as violating personal liberties.

“No American should lose their livelihood because their personal health care decisions differ from the preferences of the president of the United States,” said C.J. Grover, a spokesperson for Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor next year. He endorsed the legislative proposals.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">opposes Biden’s mandates</a>&nbsp;but didn’t publicly embrace specific proposals ahead of the special session. Her administration is handling questions about whether unvaccinated workers receive unemployment benefits case by case.

Lawmakers have no good estimates of how much the GOP unemployment proposal might cost the state. Business groups have suggested it could be hundreds of millions of dollars, but backers of the measure insist it will be close to zero.

They said that’s because of the companion proposal on religious exemptions. It says workers asking for exemptions must get them without having their belief scrutinized — and employers could face tens of thousands of dollars in state fines if exemptions are rejected. Conservative Republicans said workers will seek exemptions knowing they’ll be granted and that people won’t lose their jobs, so unemployment benefits won’t be needed.

“If we were to only pass the unemployment piece and not the other part, then we could have some real issues, but I don’t think that’s going to be the case,” said Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican.

Critics predict abuses. Rabbi Moti Rieber, the executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action, said the policy would allow people with political objections to falsely claim religious ones.

“Opposition to the public health is the religion,” he said. “Trumpism is the religion.”

One question is whether such a state law can be enforced because federal law is supreme.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.501" target="_blank">A mandate</a>&nbsp;from Biden for workers at companies with 100 or more employees allows workers to opt for regular COVID-19 testing instead, and it permits “reasonable accommodations” for “sincerely held” religious beliefs.

Owens and other Republicans argue that the Kansas measure on religious exemptions wouldn’t conflict with Biden’s mandate and would withstand a possible court challenge. They argue that the proposal merely gives more guidance to businesses.

“If they just stick to that and accept the exemptions, we will protect the unemployment fund,” said Republican Rep. Sean Tarwater, of Stilwell.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599526970466.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Kansas legislators are trying to tamp down fears about the cost and other potential problems with their proposal to provide unemployment benefits to workers who lose their jobs for refusing COVID-19 vaccines.The GOP-controlled Legislature is expected to consider the measure during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-lifestyle-kansas-legislature-848501fa7ee73b3ef8e9626233109dee">a special session</a>&nbsp;that convenes Monday, along with another proposal that would make it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The measures are responses to vaccine mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">from President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;covering more than 100 million American workers.The push for unemployment benefits for vaccine-refusing workers comes after GOP lawmakers worried for months that the depletion of funds to pay claims last year during the pandemic would force an increase in the state tax that finances the benefits. There’s bipartisan concern that the unemployment proposal before lawmakers now could lead to such a tax increase.“I certainly don’t want to see increased unemployment taxes or that type of thing because of our actions,” Republican state Sen. Jeff Longbine of Emporia said.Kansas’ special legislative session comes as Republican governors, state attorneys general and lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-states-suing-employer-vaccine-mandates-f4300ed015ed716a1054949cf199a25a">are pursuing ways</a>&nbsp;to push back against the Biden mandates.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-iowa-legislature-kim-reynolds-4846ae980cd6727c82cd8ee8b30a082d">Iowa enacted a law</a>&nbsp;last month extending unemployment benefits to workers who refuse to get vaccinated.Although vaccine mandates from private companies and local officials have boosted inoculation rates, GOP officials across the U.S. see Biden’s mandates as violating personal liberties.“No American should lose their livelihood because their personal health care decisions differ from the preferences of the president of the United States,” said C.J. Grover, a spokesperson for Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor next year. He endorsed the legislative proposals.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">opposes Biden’s mandates</a>&nbsp;but didn’t publicly embrace specific proposals ahead of the special session. Her administration is handling questions about whether unvaccinated workers receive unemployment benefits case by case.Lawmakers have no good estimates of how much the GOP unemployment proposal might cost the state. Business groups have suggested it could be hundreds of millions of dollars, but backers of the measure insist it will be close to zero.They said that’s because of the companion proposal on religious exemptions. It says workers asking for exemptions must get them without having their belief scrutinized — and employers could face tens of thousands of dollars in state fines if exemptions are rejected. Conservative Republicans said workers will seek exemptions knowing they’ll be granted and that people won’t lose their jobs, so unemployment benefits won’t be needed.“If we were to only pass the unemployment piece and not the other part, then we could have some real issues, but I don’t think that’s going to be the case,” said Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican.Critics predict abuses. Rabbi Moti Rieber, the executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action, said the policy would allow people with political objections to falsely claim religious ones.“Opposition to the public health is the religion,” he said. “Trumpism is the religion.”One question is whether such a state law can be enforced because federal law is supreme.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.501" target="_blank">A mandate</a>&nbsp;from Biden for workers at companies with 100 or more employees allows workers to opt for regular COVID-19 testing instead, and it permits “reasonable accommodations” for “sincerely held” religious beliefs.Owens and other Republicans argue that the Kansas measure on religious exemptions wouldn’t conflict with Biden’s mandate and would withstand a possible court challenge. They argue that the proposal merely gives more guidance to businesses.“If they just stick to that and accept the exemptions, we will protect the unemployment fund,” said Republican Rep. Sean Tarwater, of Stilwell.But the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business had strong doubts.They fear businesses would face a choice: Comply with state law and face federal government fines or follow the federal mandate and get sued in state court.“It certainly is a very tough place to be,” said Chuck Grier, president and CEO of UCI, an industrial construction company. “And it’s also a very tough place to be when you think that you could potentially lose employees who are good employees because they refuse to follow a government mandate.”Some Democrats argue that the proposals are being rushed. Lawrence Rep. Boog Highberger dismisses them as “political theater” signaling a refusal by Republicans to sacrifice for the public good.“If the people in the Kansas Legislature were running our country in the 40s and 50s, we would have lost World War II and we’d still have polio,” Highberger said.___