NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving Day, making permanent a shift to the unofficial start of the holiday season that was suspended during the pandemic. 

To limit crowds in stores, retailers last year were forced to turn what had become a weekend shopping blitz into an extended event with holiday sales beginning as early as October. That forced shift turned out to be a good move. 

U.S. holiday sales in November and December rose 8.2% from the previous year, and the National Retail Federation predicts that this year could shatter that record, growing between 8.5% and 10.5%.

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving Day, making permanent a shift to the unofficial start of the holiday season that was suspended during the pandemic. To limit crowds in stores, retailers last year were forced to turn what had become a weekend shopping blitz into an extended event with holiday sales beginning as early as October. That forced shift turned out to be a good move. U.S. holiday sales in November and December rose 8.2% from the previous year, and the National Retail Federation predicts that this year could shatter that record, growing between 8.5% and 10.5%.

Target to keep stores closed on Thanksgiving for good


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the bankers he surveys for the Rural Mainstreet Index aren't that enthusiastic about the infrastructure bill that has made it through Congress.

"30 percent of them, almost one-third said, no, they'd rather not have it, it's not going to have much of an impact for agriculture," Goss said. "More than one-fourth, 26.8%, said the broadband impact, the impact of that broadband connectivity portion of it, that's $65 billion, not a small amount, that will have the biggest impact on the agricultural sector of rural Main Street."

Goss said it will still be a long time before we're back to normal in both the supply chain in general and the overall money supply.

"We're saying the second half of 2022," Goss said. "In other words, six months out, we'll see things get back to normal. That would be the supply chain disruptions. That's an important part of the rural Main Street economy, too. The bankers report that farmers are having difficulty shipping out and getting in."

These are part of the forces that are causing agricultural input costs to outstrip the growth in revenue that has come from increasing commodity prices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620071466817.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the bankers he surveys for the Rural Mainstreet Index aren't that enthusiastic about the infrastructure bill that has made it through Congress."30 percent of them, almost one-third said, no, they'd rather not have it, it's not going to have much of an impact for agriculture," Goss said. "More than one-fourth, 26.8%, said the broadband impact, the impact of that broadband connectivity portion of it, that's $65 billion, not a small amount, that will have the biggest impact on the agricultural sector of rural Main Street."Goss said it will still be a long time before we're back to normal in both the supply chain in general and the overall money supply."We're saying the second half of 2022," Goss said. "In other words, six months out, we'll see things get back to normal. That would be the supply chain disruptions. That's an important part of the rural Main Street economy, too. The bankers report that farmers are having difficulty shipping out and getting in."These are part of the forces that are causing agricultural input costs to outstrip the growth in revenue that has come from increasing commodity prices.

Economist: Rural bankers not impressed with infrastructure bill

Planning to stay in a hotel soon? Scammers consider tourists and 
business travelers easy targets, so always stay aware and protect your 
personal information. Learn about hotel scams and stop the scammers from
 separating you from your cash.

Here are five common hotel scams to be aware of:

When making online hotel reservations, make certain the website is 
legitimate. A common tactic for scammers is to create look-alike web 
pages to lure consumers into providing credit card information.

The <a href="https://www.ahla.com/" target="_blank">American Hotel and Lodging Association</a> is a BBB National Partner. They provided some <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14155-bbb-tip-booking-a-hotel-room" target="_blank">tips to follow before booking a hotel room</a>.

Make sure the menus left in the hotel room are authentic. Dining-in 
can be a tempting option, especially after a day of traveling or 
exploration, but you could end up ordering from a restaurant that 
doesn’t even exist. Scammers will distribute fake menus to rooms with 
phone numbers that connect the caller to them instead of the hotel or a 
real business. They will collect the caller's credit card information 
over the phone but never deliver food. Before deciding to order out, <a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/ways-to-avoid-restaurant-scams-3259996" target="_blank">do some research</a> and make sure the business exists, and check their BBB rating. Confirm with the front desk for restaurant recommendations.

Hotel guests may receive a late night phone call from someone 
impersonating the front desk. The caller asks for credit card 
information claiming there’s a problem with the credit card on file. 
They may say it was declined, they need to re-verify payment information
 or that they lost all of the financial information and need to run an 
audit by a certain time. The scammer will offer to take your credit card
 information over the phone, so that you’re not inconvenienced. However,
 a real hotel staff member will never ask for your credit card 
information over the phone at odd hours of the night. They will always 
ask to settle up any charges at the front desk.

Always notify the hotel management of any calls of this nature.

When staying at a hotel, free internet access is often touted as a 
benefit of being a guest. However, this also provides scammers an “in." 
Wireless internet “skimming” targets travelers with the promise of free 
internet access. This usually appears in the common areas of the hotel. 
The connection is free to access but it’s not safe. Most of the time a 
hotel scam artist is controlling the connection through their computer, 
collecting all the data the traveler transmits - websites accessed, 
passwords used, credit card information, etc.

Before joining a network, make sure the Wi-Fi connection is secure 
and hosted through the hotel. Many secured connections require a 
two-step verification process. You can also consider using your 
cellphone provider network and use your phone as a hotspot -- just check
 the data useage allowed first.

When checking into a hotel, the front desk always asks for a credit 
or debit card to keep on file for incidentals. However, at check-out 
guests can decide to pay with another method, such as cash.

No matter what payment method is used, get a receipt. This provides a
 record of all charges during the stay, whether you use your original 
payment method or switch to cash. If there are any unexpected charges to
 the credit card on file, you'll have a record to dispute them.&nbsp;

The best way to prevent being scammed at checkout is to use the form 
of payment that you put on file when checking in. Consider using a 
credit card versus a debit card. If your number is compromised, using 
your debit card provides access to the checking account and a 
potentially challenging situation in correcting the situation with the 
bank.

If you encounter a scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">BBB.org/scamtracker</a>.

For more information and information on businesses you can trust, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637598279914.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>BBBPlanning to stay in a hotel soon? Scammers consider tourists and 
business travelers easy targets, so always stay aware and protect your 
personal information. Learn about hotel scams and stop the scammers from
 separating you from your cash.Here are five common hotel scams to be aware of:<h2>Fake Website</h2>When making online hotel reservations, make certain the website is 
legitimate. A common tactic for scammers is to create look-alike web 
pages to lure consumers into providing credit card information.The <a href="https://www.ahla.com/" target="_blank">American Hotel and Lodging Association</a> is a BBB National Partner. They provided some <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14155-bbb-tip-booking-a-hotel-room" target="_blank">tips to follow before booking a hotel room</a>.<h2>Fake Food Delivery</h2>Make sure the menus left in the hotel room are authentic. Dining-in 
can be a tempting option, especially after a day of traveling or 
exploration, but you could end up ordering from a restaurant that 
doesn’t even exist. Scammers will distribute fake menus to rooms with 
phone numbers that connect the caller to them instead of the hotel or a 
real business. They will collect the caller's credit card information 
over the phone but never deliver food. Before deciding to order out, <a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/ways-to-avoid-restaurant-scams-3259996" target="_blank">do some research</a> and make sure the business exists, and check their BBB rating. Confirm with the front desk for restaurant recommendations.<h2>Fake Front Desk Calls</h2>Hotel guests may receive a late night phone call from someone 
impersonating the front desk. The caller asks for credit card 
information claiming there’s a problem with the credit card on file. 
They may say it was declined, they need to re-verify payment information
 or that they lost all of the financial information and need to run an 
audit by a certain time. The scammer will offer to take your credit card
 information over the phone, so that you’re not inconvenienced. However,
 a real hotel staff member will never ask for your credit card 
information over the phone at odd hours of the night. They will always 
ask to settle up any charges at the front desk.Always notify the hotel management of any calls of this nature.<h2>'Free' Wi-Fi Connections</h2>When staying at a hotel, free internet access is often touted as a 
benefit of being a guest. However, this also provides scammers an “in." 
Wireless internet “skimming” targets travelers with the promise of free 
internet access. This usually appears in the common areas of the hotel. 
The connection is free to access but it’s not safe. Most of the time a 
hotel scam artist is controlling the connection through their computer, 
collecting all the data the traveler transmits - websites accessed, 
passwords used, credit card information, etc.Before joining a network, make sure the Wi-Fi connection is secure 
and hosted through the hotel. Many secured connections require a 
two-step verification process. You can also consider using your 
cellphone provider network and use your phone as a hotspot -- just check
 the data useage allowed first.<h2>Checkout Scam</h2>When checking into a hotel, the front desk always asks for a credit 
or debit card to keep on file for incidentals. However, at check-out 
guests can decide to pay with another method, such as cash.No matter what payment method is used, get a receipt. This provides a
 record of all charges during the stay, whether you use your original 
payment method or switch to cash. If there are any unexpected charges to
 the credit card on file, you'll have a record to dispute them.&nbsp;The best way to prevent being scammed at checkout is to use the form 
of payment that you put on file when checking in. Consider using a 
credit card versus a debit card. If your number is compromised, using 
your debit card provides access to the checking account and a 
potentially challenging situation in correcting the situation with the 
bank.If you encounter a scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">BBB.org/scamtracker</a>.For more information and information on businesses you can trust, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>.

Scam alert: Sleep easier by protecting yourself against hotel scams

LANSING, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old man who escaped from the Lansing Correctional Facility for about nine hours has been sentenced to nearly 11 additional years in prison. 

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said Dustin Frank Robinson escaped from the prison in July 2019 by climbing over a 20-foot fence that had two sections of barbed wire. KCTV reports he cut himself on the wire and called 911 after feeling “woozy” from the cut. 

Investigators later found him at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Thompson said authorities need to send the message that people who escape will face serious consequences.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637276079374.png" alt="Robinson has previous convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, DUI and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Robinson has previous convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, DUI and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>LANSING, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old man who escaped from the Lansing Correctional Facility for about nine hours has been sentenced to nearly 11 additional years in prison. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said Dustin Frank Robinson escaped from the prison in July 2019 by climbing over a 20-foot fence that had two sections of barbed wire. KCTV reports he cut himself on the wire and called 911 after feeling “woozy” from the cut. Investigators later found him at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Thompson said authorities need to send the message that people who escape will face serious consequences.

Inmate called 911 after injured during escape from Kan. prison

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Two of 17 members of a missionary group who were kidnapped more than a month ago have been freed in Haiti and are safe, “in good spirits and being cared for,” their Ohio-based church organization announced Sunday.

Christian Aid Ministries issued a statement saying it could not give the names of those released, why they were freed or other information.

“While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the 15 people who are still being held,” the group said.

The spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that two hostages were released on Sunday.

The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There are five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization.

The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met. Authorities have said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn’t immediately clear that included the children in the group.

The release comes as Haiti struggles with a spike in gang-related violence and kidnappings, with the U.S. government recently urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti amid deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel blamed on gangs blocking gas distribution terminals. On Friday, Canada announced it was pulling all but essential personnel from its embassy.

The fuel shortage has forced hospitals to turn away patients and paralyzed public transportation, with some schools closing and businesses shortening their work hours.

Haiti also is trying to recover from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck in mid-August, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Two of 17 members of a missionary group who were kidnapped more than a month ago have been freed in Haiti and are safe, “in good spirits and being cared for,” their Ohio-based church organization announced Sunday.Christian Aid Ministries issued a statement saying it could not give the names of those released, why they were freed or other information.“While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the 15 people who are still being held,” the group said.The spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that two hostages were released on Sunday.The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There are five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization.The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met. Authorities have said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn’t immediately clear that included the children in the group.The release comes as Haiti struggles with a spike in gang-related violence and kidnappings, with the U.S. government recently urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti amid deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel blamed on gangs blocking gas distribution terminals. On Friday, Canada announced it was pulling all but essential personnel from its embassy.The fuel shortage has forced hospitals to turn away patients and paralyzed public transportation, with some schools closing and businesses shortening their work hours.Haiti also is trying to recover from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck in mid-August, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.

US missionaries say 2 of 17 abductees freed in Haiti

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Police have released the names of the man and woman who were found shot to death in a car in Olathe, Kansas. The two victims were both from Tonganoxie, Kansas, which is a small town about 25 miles west of Kansas City. Olathe police identified them Sunday as Angela Santiago, 45, and Jose Arellano-Rascon, 42. 

Police have said that officers found the man and woman inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds early Saturday. Police are looking for four or five males who were in a dark gray Ford F-150 pickup truck and are suspected of being involved.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man and woman were found dead with gunshot wounds in a car in Olathe, Kansas. 

Gunshots were reported Saturday morning in Olathe. Police found two people inside a car with apparent gunshot wounds. A police spokesman says the two were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not yet identified the victims but say they were in their early 40s.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637449540395.png" alt="Scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Police have released the names of the man and woman who were found shot to death in a car in Olathe, Kansas. The two victims were both from Tonganoxie, Kansas, which is a small town about 25 miles west of Kansas City. Olathe police identified them Sunday as Angela Santiago, 45, and Jose Arellano-Rascon, 42. Police have said that officers found the man and woman inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds early Saturday. Police are looking for four or five males who were in a dark gray Ford F-150 pickup truck and are suspected of being involved.-----------OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man and woman were found dead with gunshot wounds in a car in Olathe, Kansas. Gunshots were reported Saturday morning in Olathe. Police found two people inside a car with apparent gunshot wounds. A police spokesman says the two were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not yet identified the victims but say they were in their early 40s.

Police in Kan. ID man and woman found dead in vehicle

By MARKIAN HAWRYLUK <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-11-16/how-rural-communities-in-kansas-and-across-the-u-s-are-losing-their-pharmacies">Kaiser Health News</a>

Julie Perkins, pharmacist and owner of Batson’s, graduated from the 
local high school and returned after pharmacy school to buy the 
drugstore more than two decades ago. She and her husband bought the 
grocery store next door in 2006 to help diversify revenue and put the 
pharmacy on firmer footing.

But with the pandemic exacerbating the
 competitive pressures from large retail chains, which can operate at 
lower prices, and from pharmaceutical intermediaries, which can impose 
high fees retroactively, Perkins wonders how long her business can 
remain viable.

She worries about what will happen to her customers
 if she can’t keep the pharmacy running. Elk County, with a population 
of 2,500, has no hospital and only a couple of doctors, so residents 
must travel more than an hour to Wichita for anything beyond primary 
care.

“That’s why I hang on,” Perkins said. “These people have relied on the store from way before I was even here.”

Corner
 pharmacies, once widespread in large cities and rural hamlets alike, 
are disappearing from many areas of the country, leaving an estimated 41
 million Americans in what are known as drugstore deserts, without easy 
access to pharmacies. An <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.goodrx.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GoodRx_Healthcare_Deserts_White_Paper.pdf__;!!M9LbjjnYNg9jBDflsQ!SjB5Bj6GByAskNP92GtFwZC2V9LJYjJXki7dBNLvrCvBLKAxLnX4RWsMjsfleUoE-1FYxdl9$" target="_blank">analysis</a>
 by GoodRx, an online drug price comparison tool, found that 12% of 
Americans have to drive more than 15 minutes to reach the closest 
pharmacy or don’t have enough pharmacies nearby to meet demand. That 
includes majorities of people in more than 40% of counties.

From 2003 to 2018, <a href="https://rupri.public-health.uiowa.edu/publications/policybriefs/2018/2018%20Pharmacy%20Closures.pdf" target="_blank">1,231 of the nation’s 7,624 independent rural pharmacies closed</a>, according to the University of Iowa’s <a href="https://rupri.org/" target="_blank">Rural Policy Research Institute</a>, leaving 630 communities with no independent or chain retail drugstore.

Independent pharmacies are struggling due to the vertical integration
 among drugstore chains, insurance companies and pharmaceutical benefit 
managers, which gives those companies market power that community 
drugstores can’t match.

Insurers also have ratcheted down what 
they will pay for prescription drugs, squeezing margins to levels that 
pharmacists call unsustainable. As the insurers’ drug plans steered 
patients to their affiliated drugstores, independent shops watched their
 customers drift away. They find themselves at the mercy of 
pharmaceutical intermediaries, which <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/rural-pharmacies-audit-burdens-threaten-their-existence-the-last-drugstore/" target="_blank">claw back pharmacy revenue through retroactive fees and aggressive audits</a>, leaving local pharmacists unsure if they’ll end the year in the black.

That
 has a direct impact on customers, particularly older ones, who face 
higher copays for prescription medications if they have a drug plan, and
 higher list prices if they don’t. If their local pharmacy can’t 
survive, they may be forced to travel long distances to the nearest 
drugstore or endure waits to get their prescriptions from understaffed 
pharmacies serving more and more patients.

“Living in an area with
 low pharmacy density could increase wait times, decrease supply, and 
make it harder to shop around for prescription medications,” said <a href="https://www.goodrx.com/about/tori-marsh" target="_blank">Tori Marsh</a>, GoodRx’s lead researcher on the drugstore desert study.

The
 financial pressures on independent drugstores began mounting two 
decades ago when Medicare instituted its Part D program using private 
insurance plans: Pharmacies’ most frequent customers went from paying 
cash for list prices to using insurance coverage that paid lower 
negotiated rates.

“A market clearance occurred, a big bolus of pharmacy closures,” said <a href="https://rupri.org/about-rupri/leadership/mueller/" target="_blank">Keith Mueller</a>, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute.

Independent
 pharmacies saw their margins shrink. On average, a pharmacy’s cost of 
dispensing a single prescription, factoring in labor, rent, utilities 
and other overhead, ranges from <a href="https://www.nacds.org/pdfs/pharmacy/2020/NACDS-NASP-NCPA-COD-Report-01-31-2020-Final.pdf" target="_blank">$9 to $15</a>. But the reimbursement is often far less.

Multiple pharmacists said that about half of drug plan reimbursements fail to cover the costs of drugs and their overhead.

“What
 you’re left with is that 50% of claims that you can make some money on,
 and really, the tiny percentage of claims where you make an extremely 
high amount of money,” said Nate Hux, who owns an independent pharmacy 
in Pickerington, Ohio.

It’s that tiny sliver of wildly overpaid 
drugs, especially generics, that determines whether a pharmacy can 
survive. A generic drug that costs $4 might get reimbursed by a drug 
plan at $4,000.

“Filling a generic prescription, from a financial 
standpoint, is like pulling the slots at a casino,” said Ben Jolley, an 
independent pharmacist in Salt Lake City. “Sometimes you lose a quarter,
 sometimes you lose a buck, and sometimes you make $500. But you have to
 have those prescriptions that you make $500 on to make up for the 
losses on the rest of your meds.”

Some pharmacies increase their 
list prices to ensure they capture the highest reimbursements that drug 
plans are willing to pay. But that raises prices for patients paying 
cash.

Jolley, who also works as a consultant for pharmacies across
 the country, said some pharmacists game the system by billing excessive
 charges for drugs they mix on-site or calling physicians to switch 
patients to more profitable drugs.

“Pharmacies that play this game
 get exceptionally wealthy,” he said. “Most pharmacies either don’t feel
 comfortable playing this game or aren’t aware that that’s how the 
system works, so they get left behind. That’s why you see all these 
pharmacies closing.”

Pharmacy benefit managers, brokers known as PBMs, also steer 
customers away from independent pharmacies to affiliated chain, 
mail-order or specialty pharmacies with lower out-of-pockets costs. Some
 PBMs prevent local pharmacies from offering the most expensive drugs at
 all.

The benefit managers counter that there are more independent
 pharmacies today than there were 10 years ago. An analysis conducted on
 behalf of the <a href="https://www.pcmanet.org/" target="_blank">Pharmaceutical Care Management Association</a>,
 a trade group that represents pharmacy benefit managers, showed a 13% 
increase in the number of independently owned pharmacies from 2010 to 
2019. However, many of those new stores opened in communities that 
already had pharmacies.

“PBMs are not seeking to put independent 
pharmacies out of business,” said Greg Lopes, a spokesperson for the 
trade group. “PBMs are trying and often succeeding in lowering drug 
costs.”

The insurers’ trade group, <a href="https://www.ahip.org/" target="_blank">AHIP</a>, formerly America’s Health Insurance Plans, declined to comment.

Katie Koziara, a spokesperson for the <a href="https://phrma.org/" target="_blank">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a>, an industry group representing drugmakers, said the large market power of PBMs can leave patients with fewer choices.

“The
 system might work well for health plans and these middlemen, but it 
creates difficult access barriers for vulnerable patients,” Koziara 
said. “We’re concerned about the emerging issue of ‘pharmacy deserts’ 
where patients, particularly among communities of color, cannot readily 
access a community pharmacy for their medications.”

Independent 
pharmacists routinely identify those middle-manager companies as the 
leading cause of their troubles. At Batson’s drugstore in rural Kansas, 
Perkins recently had a customer who had been taking Emgality, an 
injectable monoclonal antibody treatment for migraines made by Eli Lilly
 and Co., that typically retails for up to $760 a month. But the 
customer’s drug plan wouldn’t pay Batson’s to fill it, forcing her to 
wait until it could be mailed from a specialty pharmacy.

Frustratingly,
 Perkins said, patients who get pushed to order drugs by mail often 
bring them to her when they need help deciphering how to use them.

Even
 when pharmacies make money on a prescription, there’s no guarantee they
 can keep much of the profit. Drug plans charge pharmacies fees every 
time they need to interact with the PBM’s claims database. While those 
fees average only 10 to 15 cents per transaction, a busy pharmacy might 
need to check the database hundreds of times a day.

PBMs also have
 implemented retroactive fees based on performance metrics they set. 
Pharmacies can wind up losing money on a prescription filled months 
earlier. PBMs describe these as quality measures, but pharmacists 
complain they are more about sales volume. Many of the metrics track how
 diligently patients take their medication, which pharmacies can hardly 
control.

One PBM’s contract, <a href="https://www.axios.com/express-scripts-pharmacies-quality-clawbacks-contract-8d42f015-b1d9-4ea5-8a4a-8b0ac3501545.html" target="_blank">obtained by Axios</a>, showed only 1% of pharmacies are able to avoid retroactive fees.

Jeff Olson, who owns <a href="https://www.montrosspharmacy.com/" target="_blank">three rural pharmacies</a>
 in Iowa, said he paid $52,000 in retroactive fees on revenue of $6 
million in 2015. While his annual revenue remained flat through 2020, 
those retroactive fees last year totaled $225,000.

“That’s money 
that can’t be used for payroll, that can’t be used to add those other 
services that your community needs,” Olson said.

Moreover, Olson said, he doesn’t know what metrics insurance plans use to evaluate his performance and calculate the fees.

“They define quality themselves,” said <a href="https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2021/08/09/ncpa-announces-new-department-policy-and-pharmacy-affairs" target="_blank">Ronna Hauser</a>,
 vice president of pharmacy affairs for the National Community 
Pharmacists Association. “If you have 20 Part D plans you contract with,
 that’s 20 different quality programs that you’re supposed to be aware 
of and keep up with.”

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, such retroactive fees were <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fy2022-cms-congressional-justification-estimates-appropriations-committees.pdf" target="_blank">915 times as high in 2019</a>
 as in 2010. The resulting higher prices mean Medicare beneficiaries 
burn through their initial coverage period faster and enter a coverage 
gap, or “doughnut hole,” sooner.

At Olson’s pharmacy in St. 
Charles, Iowa, a town of fewer than 1,000 people, fees and other 
financial pressures forced Olson to scale back and operate the store as a
 telepharmacy. Technicians fill prescriptions under the eye of an 
off-site pharmacist, and customers see a pharmacist only one day a week.

For
 a town with no other health care provider, that means six days when no 
one can provide vaccinations or test for strep throat.

Back in Howard, Debbie Lane, 70, likes the personal service Perkins offers at Batson’s.

“It’s
 a lot easier to go down to a local store, and if it happens to be after
 hours or an emergency, she’ll open up for us,” Lane said.

Perkins
 will tell her if Lane can save money by driving to a chain drugstore in
 Wichita instead. And, recently, Perkins ran the numbers to help Lane 
decide which Medicare plan would be the least expensive given the 
medications she takes. Lane knows it’s a struggle to keep a small-town 
pharmacy open and fears what might happen if Batson’s closed.

“It’d
 be devastating,” Lane said. “There are a lot of us like me, who will 
sometimes pay a little extra to make sure that Julie stays in business.”

This story was originally published by <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/last-drugstore-how-rural-communities-lose-independent-pharmacies/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637088000625.png" alt="Julie Perkins bought Batson’s — the only drugstore in Elk County, Kansas — after graduating from pharmacy school. As a lifelong resident of county seat Howard, population 650, Perkins knows pretty much everyone there. Gavin Peters / KHN" />
 <figcaption>Julie Perkins bought Batson’s — the only drugstore in Elk County, Kansas — after graduating from pharmacy school. As a lifelong resident of county seat Howard, population 650, Perkins knows pretty much everyone there. Gavin Peters / KHN</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARKIAN HAWRYLUK <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-11-16/how-rural-communities-in-kansas-and-across-the-u-s-are-losing-their-pharmacies">Kaiser Health News</a>Julie Perkins, pharmacist and owner of Batson’s, graduated from the 
local high school and returned after pharmacy school to buy the 
drugstore more than two decades ago. She and her husband bought the 
grocery store next door in 2006 to help diversify revenue and put the 
pharmacy on firmer footing.But with the pandemic exacerbating the
 competitive pressures from large retail chains, which can operate at 
lower prices, and from pharmaceutical intermediaries, which can impose 
high fees retroactively, Perkins wonders how long her business can 
remain viable.She worries about what will happen to her customers
 if she can’t keep the pharmacy running. Elk County, with a population 
of 2,500, has no hospital and only a couple of doctors, so residents 
must travel more than an hour to Wichita for anything beyond primary 
care.“That’s why I hang on,” Perkins said. “These people have relied on the store from way before I was even here.”Corner
 pharmacies, once widespread in large cities and rural hamlets alike, 
are disappearing from many areas of the country, leaving an estimated 41
 million Americans in what are known as drugstore deserts, without easy 
access to pharmacies. An <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.goodrx.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GoodRx_Healthcare_Deserts_White_Paper.pdf__;!!M9LbjjnYNg9jBDflsQ!SjB5Bj6GByAskNP92GtFwZC2V9LJYjJXki7dBNLvrCvBLKAxLnX4RWsMjsfleUoE-1FYxdl9$" target="_blank">analysis</a>
 by GoodRx, an online drug price comparison tool, found that 12% of 
Americans have to drive more than 15 minutes to reach the closest 
pharmacy or don’t have enough pharmacies nearby to meet demand. That 
includes majorities of people in more than 40% of counties.From 2003 to 2018, <a href="https://rupri.public-health.uiowa.edu/publications/policybriefs/2018/2018%20Pharmacy%20Closures.pdf" target="_blank">1,231 of the nation’s 7,624 independent rural pharmacies closed</a>, according to the University of Iowa’s <a href="https://rupri.org/" target="_blank">Rural Policy Research Institute</a>, leaving 630 communities with no independent or chain retail drugstore.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637088085017.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Independent pharmacies are struggling due to the vertical integration
 among drugstore chains, insurance companies and pharmaceutical benefit 
managers, which gives those companies market power that community 
drugstores can’t match.Insurers also have ratcheted down what 
they will pay for prescription drugs, squeezing margins to levels that 
pharmacists call unsustainable. As the insurers’ drug plans steered 
patients to their affiliated drugstores, independent shops watched their
 customers drift away. They find themselves at the mercy of 
pharmaceutical intermediaries, which <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/rural-pharmacies-audit-burdens-threaten-their-existence-the-last-drugstore/" target="_blank">claw back pharmacy revenue through retroactive fees and aggressive audits</a>, leaving local pharmacists unsure if they’ll end the year in the black.That
 has a direct impact on customers, particularly older ones, who face 
higher copays for prescription medications if they have a drug plan, and
 higher list prices if they don’t. If their local pharmacy can’t 
survive, they may be forced to travel long distances to the nearest 
drugstore or endure waits to get their prescriptions from understaffed 
pharmacies serving more and more patients.“Living in an area with
 low pharmacy density could increase wait times, decrease supply, and 
make it harder to shop around for prescription medications,” said <a href="https://www.goodrx.com/about/tori-marsh" target="_blank">Tori Marsh</a>, GoodRx’s lead researcher on the drugstore desert study.The
 financial pressures on independent drugstores began mounting two 
decades ago when Medicare instituted its Part D program using private 
insurance plans: Pharmacies’ most frequent customers went from paying 
cash for list prices to using insurance coverage that paid lower 
negotiated rates.“A market clearance occurred, a big bolus of pharmacy closures,” said <a href="https://rupri.org/about-rupri/leadership/mueller/" target="_blank">Keith Mueller</a>, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute.Independent
 pharmacies saw their margins shrink. On average, a pharmacy’s cost of 
dispensing a single prescription, factoring in labor, rent, utilities 
and other overhead, ranges from <a href="https://www.nacds.org/pdfs/pharmacy/2020/NACDS-NASP-NCPA-COD-Report-01-31-2020-Final.pdf" target="_blank">$9 to $15</a>. But the reimbursement is often far less.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637088130858.png" alt="Julie Perkins bought Batson’s — the only drugstore in Elk County, Kansas — after graduating from pharmacy school. As a lifelong resident of county seat Howard, population 650, Perkins knows pretty much everyone there. Gavin Peters" />
 <figcaption>Julie Perkins bought Batson’s — the only drugstore in Elk County, Kansas — after graduating from pharmacy school. As a lifelong resident of county seat Howard, population 650, Perkins knows pretty much everyone there. Gavin Peters</figcaption>
 </figure>Multiple pharmacists said that about half of drug plan reimbursements fail to cover the costs of drugs and their overhead.“What
 you’re left with is that 50% of claims that you can make some money on,
 and really, the tiny percentage of claims where you make an extremely 
high amount of money,” said Nate Hux, who owns an independent pharmacy 
in Pickerington, Ohio.It’s that tiny sliver of wildly overpaid 
drugs, especially generics, that determines whether a pharmacy can 
survive. A generic drug that costs $4 might get reimbursed by a drug 
plan at $4,000.“Filling a generic prescription, from a financial 
standpoint, is like pulling the slots at a casino,” said Ben Jolley, an 
independent pharmacist in Salt Lake City. “Sometimes you lose a quarter,
 sometimes you lose a buck, and sometimes you make $500. But you have to
 have those prescriptions that you make $500 on to make up for the 
losses on the rest of your meds.”Some pharmacies increase their 
list prices to ensure they capture the highest reimbursements that drug 
plans are willing to pay. But that raises prices for patients paying 
cash.Jolley, who also works as a consultant for pharmacies across
 the country, said some pharmacists game the system by billing excessive
 charges for drugs they mix on-site or calling physicians to switch 
patients to more profitable drugs.“Pharmacies that play this game
 get exceptionally wealthy,” he said. “Most pharmacies either don’t feel
 comfortable playing this game or aren’t aware that that’s how the 
system works, so they get left behind. That’s why you see all these 
pharmacies closing.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637088171671.png" alt="Perkins makes a cherry limeade for a customer at Batson’s old-fashioned soda counter. Gavin Peters" />
 <figcaption>Perkins makes a cherry limeade for a customer at Batson’s old-fashioned soda counter. Gavin Peters</figcaption>
 </figure>Pharmacy benefit managers, brokers known as PBMs, also steer 
customers away from independent pharmacies to affiliated chain, 
mail-order or specialty pharmacies with lower out-of-pockets costs. Some
 PBMs prevent local pharmacies from offering the most expensive drugs at
 all.The benefit managers counter that there are more independent
 pharmacies today than there were 10 years ago. An analysis conducted on
 behalf of the <a href="https://www.pcmanet.org/" target="_blank">Pharmaceutical Care Management Association</a>,
 a trade group that represents pharmacy benefit managers, showed a 13% 
increase in the number of independently owned pharmacies from 2010 to 
2019. However, many of those new stores opened in communities that 
already had pharmacies.“PBMs are not seeking to put independent 
pharmacies out of business,” said Greg Lopes, a spokesperson for the 
trade group. “PBMs are trying and often succeeding in lowering drug 
costs.”The insurers’ trade group, <a href="https://www.ahip.org/" target="_blank">AHIP</a>, formerly America’s Health Insurance Plans, declined to comment.Katie Koziara, a spokesperson for the <a href="https://phrma.org/" target="_blank">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a>, an industry group representing drugmakers, said the large market power of PBMs can leave patients with fewer choices.“The
 system might work well for health plans and these middlemen, but it 
creates difficult access barriers for vulnerable patients,” Koziara 
said. “We’re concerned about the emerging issue of ‘pharmacy deserts’ 
where patients, particularly among communities of color, cannot readily 
access a community pharmacy for their medications.”Independent 
pharmacists routinely identify those middle-manager companies as the 
leading cause of their troubles. At Batson’s drugstore in rural Kansas, 
Perkins recently had a customer who had been taking Emgality, an 
injectable monoclonal antibody treatment for migraines made by Eli Lilly
 and Co., that typically retails for up to $760 a month. But the 
customer’s drug plan wouldn’t pay Batson’s to fill it, forcing her to 
wait until it could be mailed from a specialty pharmacy.Frustratingly,
 Perkins said, patients who get pushed to order drugs by mail often 
bring them to her when they need help deciphering how to use them.Even
 when pharmacies make money on a prescription, there’s no guarantee they
 can keep much of the profit. Drug plans charge pharmacies fees every 
time they need to interact with the PBM’s claims database. While those 
fees average only 10 to 15 cents per transaction, a busy pharmacy might 
need to check the database hundreds of times a day.PBMs also have
 implemented retroactive fees based on performance metrics they set. 
Pharmacies can wind up losing money on a prescription filled months 
earlier. PBMs describe these as quality measures, but pharmacists 
complain they are more about sales volume. Many of the metrics track how
 diligently patients take their medication, which pharmacies can hardly 
control.One PBM’s contract, <a href="https://www.axios.com/express-scripts-pharmacies-quality-clawbacks-contract-8d42f015-b1d9-4ea5-8a4a-8b0ac3501545.html" target="_blank">obtained by Axios</a>, showed only 1% of pharmacies are able to avoid retroactive fees.Jeff Olson, who owns <a href="https://www.montrosspharmacy.com/" target="_blank">three rural pharmacies</a>
 in Iowa, said he paid $52,000 in retroactive fees on revenue of $6 
million in 2015. While his annual revenue remained flat through 2020, 
those retroactive fees last year totaled $225,000.“That’s money 
that can’t be used for payroll, that can’t be used to add those other 
services that your community needs,” Olson said.Moreover, Olson said, he doesn’t know what metrics insurance plans use to evaluate his performance and calculate the fees.“They define quality themselves,” said <a href="https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2021/08/09/ncpa-announces-new-department-policy-and-pharmacy-affairs" target="_blank">Ronna Hauser</a>,
 vice president of pharmacy affairs for the National Community 
Pharmacists Association. “If you have 20 Part D plans you contract with,
 that’s 20 different quality programs that you’re supposed to be aware 
of and keep up with.”According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, such retroactive fees were <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fy2022-cms-congressional-justification-estimates-appropriations-committees.pdf" target="_blank">915 times as high in 2019</a>
 as in 2010. The resulting higher prices mean Medicare beneficiaries 
burn through their initial coverage period faster and enter a coverage 
gap, or “doughnut hole,” sooner.At Olson’s pharmacy in St. 
Charles, Iowa, a town of fewer than 1,000 people, fees and other 
financial pressures forced Olson to scale back and operate the store as a
 telepharmacy. Technicians fill prescriptions under the eye of an 
off-site pharmacist, and customers see a pharmacist only one day a week.For
 a town with no other health care provider, that means six days when no 
one can provide vaccinations or test for strep throat.Back in Howard, Debbie Lane, 70, likes the personal service Perkins offers at Batson’s.“It’s
 a lot easier to go down to a local store, and if it happens to be after
 hours or an emergency, she’ll open up for us,” Lane said.Perkins
 will tell her if Lane can save money by driving to a chain drugstore in
 Wichita instead. And, recently, Perkins ran the numbers to help Lane 
decide which Medicare plan would be the least expensive given the 
medications she takes. Lane knows it’s a struggle to keep a small-town 
pharmacy open and fears what might happen if Batson’s closed.“It’d
 be devastating,” Lane said. “There are a lot of us like me, who will 
sometimes pay a little extra to make sure that Julie stays in business.”This story was originally published by <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/last-drugstore-how-rural-communities-lose-independent-pharmacies/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News.</a>

Rural communities in Kan., across the U.S. are losing their pharmacies 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man was critically hurt when his wife drove over him twice as he tried to dislodge a bowling ball that had been thrown in front of their car on Saturday.

The couple ran over the bowling ball around 3 p.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, and the ball became lodged under their car, Kansas City Police spokeswoman Donna Drake said. Later in the day, a suspect went to a police station and admitted to throwing a bowling ball in front of a moving car.

After they stopped, the 25-year-old man crawled under the vehicle to try to remove the ball. Then a suspect approached the vehicle and tried to grab the 25-year-old woman's purse while the man was trying to reach the bowling ball.

During a struggle over the purse, the woman pressed her foot on the gas pedal and heard a yell from under the car, which had rolled over her husband.

Police said the woman then put the car in reverse and rolled over her husband a second time. As the man cried out, the suspect fled without the purse.

The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but he was in stable condition Saturday night. His name has not been released.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man was critically hurt when his wife drove over him twice as he tried to dislodge a bowling ball that had been thrown in front of their car on Saturday.The couple ran over the bowling ball around 3 p.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, and the ball became lodged under their car, Kansas City Police spokeswoman Donna Drake said. Later in the day, a suspect went to a police station and admitted to throwing a bowling ball in front of a moving car.After they stopped, the 25-year-old man crawled under the vehicle to try to remove the ball. Then a suspect approached the vehicle and tried to grab the 25-year-old woman's purse while the man was trying to reach the bowling ball.During a struggle over the purse, the woman pressed her foot on the gas pedal and heard a yell from under the car, which had rolled over her husband.Police said the woman then put the car in reverse and rolled over her husband a second time. As the man cried out, the suspect fled without the purse.The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but he was in stable condition Saturday night. His name has not been released.

KCPD: Woman ran over husband as he tried to dislodge bowling ball

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/location-other-details-released-for-kansas-redistricting-town-halls/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas legislative staff
 released details Wednesday about how to participate in upcoming public 
meetings on redistricting.

Lawmakers are gathering input before redrawing congressional and 
legislative boundaries in the upcoming session, and plan to listen by 
live video feeds to public comments from four virtual town halls.

GOP leaders previously announced they would hold the virtual town 
halls in response to criticism about the first round of public meetings 
in August. Those meetings were announced on short notice, and held 
during working hours at a time when census data had yet to be released.

The information about where to go and how to submit comments for the 
new round of meetings arrives less than a week before the first town 
hall, which will coincide with an unrelated special legislative session.

To participate in the upcoming meetings, residents must call or email
 the Kansas Legislative Research Department at 785-296-3181 or redistricting@klrd.ks.gov
 at least 24 hours in advance. Written testimony will be accepted at the
 same email address up until the start of the 2022 session in January.

The meetings will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with public comment at the following locations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637176610816.png" alt="A crowd of about 100 attend the first redistricting town hall Aug. 9, 2021, at the Kansas State University student union in Manhattan. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A crowd of about 100 attend the first redistricting town hall Aug. 9, 2021, at the Kansas State University student union in Manhattan. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/location-other-details-released-for-kansas-redistricting-town-halls/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas legislative staff
 released details Wednesday about how to participate in upcoming public 
meetings on redistricting.Lawmakers are gathering input before redrawing congressional and 
legislative boundaries in the upcoming session, and plan to listen by 
live video feeds to public comments from four virtual town halls.GOP leaders previously announced they would hold the virtual town 
halls in response to criticism about the first round of public meetings 
in August. Those meetings were announced on short notice, and held 
during working hours at a time when census data had yet to be released.The information about where to go and how to submit comments for the 
new round of meetings arrives less than a week before the first town 
hall, which will coincide with an unrelated special legislative session.To participate in the upcoming meetings, residents must call or email
 the Kansas Legislative Research Department at 785-296-3181 or redistricting@klrd.ks.gov
 at least 24 hours in advance. Written testimony will be accepted at the
 same email address up until the start of the 2022 session in January.The meetings will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with public comment at the following locations.Nov. 22<ul>
 <li>Atchison County Emergency Operations Center, 10443 U.S. Highway 59 in Atchison.</li><li>Prairie Band Casino and Resort, Council Bluffs and Chicago rooms, 12305 150th Road in Mayetta.</li><li>Ottawa City Hall, city commission chambers, 101 S. Hickory in Ottawa.</li><li>Memorial Hall Civic Center, 410 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Independence.</li>
 </ul>Nov. 23<ul>
 <li>Emporia State University, memorial union veterans hall of honor, 1331 Market Street in Emporia.</li><li>Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, board room, 1125 Williams Street in Great Bend.</li><li>Seward County Commission, commission chambers, 515 N. Washington Ave. in Liberal.</li><li>Kansas Municipal Utilities Auditorium, 2090 E. Avenue A in McPherson.</li>
 </ul>Nov. 29<ul>
 <li>Meridian Center, SP2 and 3, 1420 E. Broadway Court in Newton.</li><li>El Dorado Civic Center, 201 E. Central Ave. in El Dorado.</li>
 </ul>Nov. 30<ul>
 <li>First Baptist Church, 19950 Broadmoor Lane in Stilwell.</li><li>Bonner Springs City Hall, city council meeting room, 200 E. 3rd Street in Bonner Springs.</li>
 </ul>

Location, other details for Kansas redistricting town hall meetings

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Saturday shooting identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe and have a suspect in custody.

At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.

On Saturday evening, police reported they&nbsp; took Christopher Mendez, 21 of Topeka into custody. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of First Degree Murder, according to Johnson.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe.

Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details Saturday afternoon.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.

Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located a man with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but the victim did not survive his injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637449800387.png" alt="Mendez-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Mendez-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Saturday shooting identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe and have a suspect in custody.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.On Saturday evening, police reported they&nbsp; took Christopher Mendez, 21 of Topeka into custody. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of First Degree Murder, according to Johnson.----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details Saturday afternoon.-----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located a man with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but the victim did not survive his injuries.

Murder arrest: Kan. man in crowd died from gunshot wounds

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will start next year to require employers, individuals and health insurance companies to pay some costs associated with COVID-19 testing.

The state Department of Health and Environment announced Friday that it will start phasing out free screening tests for people who aren’t showing COVID-19 symptoms or who haven’t potentially been exposed. The agency said it expects the policy to begin in March 2022.

The department said it can’t sustain having public health agencies cover the cost of all testing indefinitely. The agency said it initially allocated $141 million in federal funds to make COVID-19 tests available and support commercial and university labs to expand processing and sampling capacity. But, the department said, infections from the delta variant depleted the funds faster than expected.

“Testing has become an increasingly important way in which those who choose to be unvaccinated may still be able to work, attend events, and travel,” Ashley Goss, the department’s acting secretary, said in a statement.

The changes will mainly affect programs used by employers to test 10% of their workers on a regular basis and programs by community organizations to offer free rapid tests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608644787522.png" alt="Free COVID-19 testing in downtown Lawrence. photo by Stephen Koranda&nbsp; Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Free COVID-19 testing in downtown Lawrence. photo by Stephen Koranda&nbsp; Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will start next year to require employers, individuals and health insurance companies to pay some costs associated with COVID-19 testing.The state Department of Health and Environment announced Friday that it will start phasing out free screening tests for people who aren’t showing COVID-19 symptoms or who haven’t potentially been exposed. The agency said it expects the policy to begin in March 2022.The department said it can’t sustain having public health agencies cover the cost of all testing indefinitely. The agency said it initially allocated $141 million in federal funds to make COVID-19 tests available and support commercial and university labs to expand processing and sampling capacity. But, the department said, infections from the delta variant depleted the funds faster than expected.“Testing has become an increasingly important way in which those who choose to be unvaccinated may still be able to work, attend events, and travel,” Ashley Goss, the department’s acting secretary, said in a statement.The changes will mainly affect programs used by employers to test 10% of their workers on a regular basis and programs by community organizations to offer free rapid tests.

Kansas to phase out some free testing for COVID-19 

RILEY COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Manhattan.

Just after 5:3 p.m. Saturday, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 2025 Tecumseh Road and found a single-story house that had fire coming out of the front and rear of the building, according to&nbsp;Deputy Chief Ryan Almes.

Crews made an aggressive attack on the fire, completed a search, and controlled the fire within 20 minutes.&nbsp; One occupant, who was outside of the structure upon fire department arrival, was transported by Riley County EMS to Via Christi for smoke inhalation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

One firefighter was injured on the scene and was transported to Via Christi by Riley County EMS and was treated and released.&nbsp; &nbsp; The house is a one-story house that had five occupants. Loss is estimated at $80,000 to contents and $115,000 to the structure.&nbsp; The home suffered exterior fire damage estimated at $2500.&nbsp; The fire cause is under investigation at this time, according to Almes. While on scene at the Tecumseh Road fire, crews responded to 1327 Houston Street, Apt. 2, for a report of a structure fire.&nbsp; Crews found a small fire in a basement stairwell and extinguished it.&nbsp; Damage to the structure was estimated at $500.&nbsp; No injuries were reported.&nbsp; The fire cause was improperly disposed of smoking materials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637467529673.png" alt="Photo Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Manhattan.Just after 5:3 p.m. Saturday, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 2025 Tecumseh Road and found a single-story house that had fire coming out of the front and rear of the building, according to&nbsp;Deputy Chief Ryan Almes.Crews made an aggressive attack on the fire, completed a search, and controlled the fire within 20 minutes.&nbsp; One occupant, who was outside of the structure upon fire department arrival, was transported by Riley County EMS to Via Christi for smoke inhalation.&nbsp;&nbsp;One firefighter was injured on the scene and was transported to Via Christi by Riley County EMS and was treated and released.&nbsp; &nbsp; The house is a one-story house that had five occupants. Loss is estimated at $80,000 to contents and $115,000 to the structure.&nbsp; The home suffered exterior fire damage estimated at $2500.&nbsp; The fire cause is under investigation at this time, according to Almes. While on scene at the Tecumseh Road fire, crews responded to 1327 Houston Street, Apt. 2, for a report of a structure fire.&nbsp; Crews found a small fire in a basement stairwell and extinguished it.&nbsp; Damage to the structure was estimated at $500.&nbsp; No injuries were reported.&nbsp; The fire cause was improperly disposed of smoking materials.

One occupant, firefighter injured after Kansas house fire

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita high school teacher has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Forty-nine-year-old Shawn Wingfield entered his plea on Wednesday. 

Wingfield resigned in July from teaching gifted English and debate at Wichita Northwest High School. 

The investigation began after a woman Wingfield dated turned over what she considered worrisome text messages to police. A court affidavit said Winfield admitted to being sexually attracted to 11- to 14-year-old children. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for alleged child sex crimes.

In June, police in Wichita were alerted to a concerning text messages sent by 48-year-old Shawn Wingfield, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

USD 259 listed Wingfield as a gifted-6 teacher at Wichita Northwest High School. His linkdin profile said he also was involved with debate and forensics.

Further investigation into the text messages led police to arrest Wingfield on Saturday and he was booked&nbsp; into the Sedgwick County Jail <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=305200">on requested</a> charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Wingfield wrote on social media," This morning, for reasons involving personal health and well being, I resigned from Wichita Public Schools. Without going into details, I have come to believe that this is not only the best decision for myself, but also for the district and my students. And while I do regret the timing of this decision so close to the start of the new school year, I believe that to stay any longer would prove to be a greater inconvenience to everyone in the end."

On Saturday Wingfield&nbsp; wrote on social media, "Time for me to check out for a while.  A little earlier than I had hoped.  See everyone, I hope, on the other side."

The case against Wingfield was presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online court records and was expected in court on Monday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627295318183.png" alt="Wingfield-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Wingfield-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita high school teacher has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Forty-nine-year-old Shawn Wingfield entered his plea on Wednesday. Wingfield resigned in July from teaching gifted English and debate at Wichita Northwest High School. The investigation began after a woman Wingfield dated turned over what she considered worrisome text messages to police. A court affidavit said Winfield admitted to being sexually attracted to 11- to 14-year-old children. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for alleged child sex crimes.In June, police in Wichita were alerted to a concerning text messages sent by 48-year-old Shawn Wingfield, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;USD 259 listed Wingfield as a gifted-6 teacher at Wichita Northwest High School. His linkdin profile said he also was involved with debate and forensics.Further investigation into the text messages led police to arrest Wingfield on Saturday and he was booked&nbsp; into the Sedgwick County Jail <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=305200">on requested</a> charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Wingfield wrote on social media," This morning, for reasons involving personal health and well being, I resigned from Wichita Public Schools. Without going into details, I have come to believe that this is not only the best decision for myself, but also for the district and my students. And while I do regret the timing of this decision so close to the start of the new school year, I believe that to stay any longer would prove to be a greater inconvenience to everyone in the end."On Saturday Wingfield&nbsp; wrote on social media, "Time for me to check out for a while. A little earlier than I had hoped. See everyone, I hope, on the other side."The case against Wingfield was presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online court records and was expected in court on Monday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Former date turned Kan. teacher in for child porn charges

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

Just after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a burglary at 123 SE 10th Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

The caller advised they saw a subject throw bricks through the front windows. Officers arrived to find the front window to Stephanie’s Salon broken and appeared the business had been burglarized. 

No one was located inside the business. It was determined that several items had been taken by a suspect.

Detectives later received information of potential subjects attempting to sell items taken from the business burglary. Detectives followed up on the information which led them to 1500 SW Van Buren, APT #3. Detectives took two individuals into custody and transported them to Law Enforcement Center.

Officers secured the apartment for the application of search warrant. At the conclusion of the investigation, police arrested James Timmerman, 35 of Topeka, and booked him on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage, and Possession of Marijuana. They booked Angela Bechstein, 40 of Topeka, on requested charges of Burglary, Theft and Criminal Damage to property. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637322478838.png" alt="immerman has previous convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>immerman has previous convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a burglary at 123 SE 10th Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.The caller advised they saw a subject throw bricks through the front windows. Officers arrived to find the front window to Stephanie’s Salon broken and appeared the business had been burglarized. No one was located inside the business. It was determined that several items had been taken by a suspect.Detectives later received information of potential subjects attempting to sell items taken from the business burglary. Detectives followed up on the information which led them to 1500 SW Van Buren, APT #3. Detectives took two individuals into custody and transported them to Law Enforcement Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637322572517.png" alt="Bechstein-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Bechstein-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers secured the apartment for the application of search warrant. At the conclusion of the investigation, police arrested James Timmerman, 35 of Topeka, and booked him on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage, and Possession of Marijuana. They booked Angela Bechstein, 40 of Topeka, on requested charges of Burglary, Theft and Criminal Damage to property.

Kan. felon jailed for burglary after police find stolen items for sale

LYONS — It took the better part of Saturday to fix a series of water leaks throughout the City of Lyons.

Eleven water leaks occurred between Wednesday and Friday and people from across central Kansas came to help. In a Saturday evening Facebook post, the City Administrator thanked all the city employees, Lyons Police Department, Lyons Fire Department, APAC, City of Ellsworth, KDOT, Rice County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Rice County Emergency/EMS Management, City of Hutchinson, City of Pratt, all volunteers who helped by donations or helping to pass out and deliver water, those who donated food, who offered services and more.

The boil water advisory will remain in effect for the city until the system is fully pressurized and the water can be tested and the test can come back from KDHE.

LYONS — The city of Lyons is under a boil advisory following multiple water line breaks.

The advisory took effect on Thursday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system.

Lyons water customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.

Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker.

Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;

LYONS — It took the better part of Saturday to fix a series of water leaks throughout the City of Lyons.Eleven water leaks occurred between Wednesday and Friday and people from across central Kansas came to help. In a Saturday evening Facebook post, the City Administrator thanked all the city employees, Lyons Police Department, Lyons Fire Department, APAC, City of Ellsworth, KDOT, Rice County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Rice County Emergency/EMS Management, City of Hutchinson, City of Pratt, all volunteers who helped by donations or helping to pass out and deliver water, those who donated food, who offered services and more.The boil water advisory will remain in effect for the city until the system is fully pressurized and the water can be tested and the test can come back from KDHE.---------------LYONS — The city of Lyons is under a boil advisory following multiple water line breaks.The advisory took effect on Thursday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system.Lyons water customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker.Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;

Crews repair series of water leaks over 3 days in Lyons 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday formally declared “squaw” a derogatory term and said she is taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names.

Haaland is ordering a federal panel tasked with naming geographic places to implement procedures to eliminate what she called racist terms from federal use. The decision provides momentum to a movement that has included the dismantling of other historical markers and monuments considered offensive across the country.

“Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage — not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” Haaland said in a statement. “Today’s actions will accelerate an important process to reconcile derogatory place names and mark a significant step in honoring the ancestors who have stewarded our lands since time immemorial.”

The first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-environment-and-nature-native-americans-parks-d438edd19ca0c7f5d980ad2b7f5aba28">as head of the National Park Service</a>, making him the first Native American to hold that position. Haaland previously said Sams, who is Cayuse and Walla Walla, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, would be an asset as the administration works to make national parks more accessible to everyone.

The Native American Rights Fund applauded Haaland’s move to address derogatory place names, saying action by the federal government is long overdue.

“Names that still use derogatory terms are an embarrassing legacy of this country’s colonialist and racist past,” said John Echohawk, the group’s executive director. “It is well past time for us, as a nation, to move forward, beyond these derogatory terms, and show Native people — and all people — equal respect.”

Environmentalists also praised the action, saying it marked a step toward reconciliation.

Under Haaland’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3404-508.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>, a federal task force will find replacement names for geographic features on federal lands bearing the term “squaw,” which has been used as a slur, particularly for Indigenous women. A database maintained by the Board on Geographic Names shows there are more than 650 federal sites with names that contain the term.

The task force will be made up of representatives from federal land management agencies and experts with the Interior Department. Tribal consultation and public feedback will be part of the process.

The process for changing U.S. place names can take years, and federal officials said there are currently hundreds of proposed name changes pending before the board.

Haaland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3405-508.pdf" target="_blank">also called for the creation of an advisory committee</a>&nbsp;to solicit, review and recommend changes to other derogatory geographic and federal place names. That panel will be made up of tribal representatives and civil rights, anthropology and history experts.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Board on Geographic Names took action to eliminate the use of derogatory terms for Black and Japanese people.

The board also voted in 2008 to change the name of a prominent Phoenix mountain from Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak to honor Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.

In California, the Squaw Valley Ski Resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe earlier this year. The resort is in Olympic Valley, which was known as Squaw Valley until it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. Tribes in the region had been asking the resort for a name change for decades.

Colorado’s advisory naming panel also has recommended renaming Squaw Mountain near Denver in honor of a Native American woman who acted as a translator for tribes and white settlers in the 19th century. Northern Cheyenne tribal members also filed an application with the federal naming board in October to change the mountain’s name.

There is also legislation pending in Congress to address derogatory names on geographic features on public lands. States from Oregon to Maine have passed laws prohibiting the use of the word “squaw” in place names.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614103644196.png" alt="Secretary Deb Haaland (Left) and Kansas 3rd District congresswoman Sharice Davids(Right)-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Secretary Deb Haaland (Left) and Kansas 3rd District congresswoman Sharice Davids(Right)-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday formally declared “squaw” a derogatory term and said she is taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names.Haaland is ordering a federal panel tasked with naming geographic places to implement procedures to eliminate what she called racist terms from federal use. The decision provides momentum to a movement that has included the dismantling of other historical markers and monuments considered offensive across the country.“Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage — not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” Haaland said in a statement. “Today’s actions will accelerate an important process to reconcile derogatory place names and mark a significant step in honoring the ancestors who have stewarded our lands since time immemorial.”The first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-environment-and-nature-native-americans-parks-d438edd19ca0c7f5d980ad2b7f5aba28">as head of the National Park Service</a>, making him the first Native American to hold that position. Haaland previously said Sams, who is Cayuse and Walla Walla, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, would be an asset as the administration works to make national parks more accessible to everyone.The Native American Rights Fund applauded Haaland’s move to address derogatory place names, saying action by the federal government is long overdue.“Names that still use derogatory terms are an embarrassing legacy of this country’s colonialist and racist past,” said John Echohawk, the group’s executive director. “It is well past time for us, as a nation, to move forward, beyond these derogatory terms, and show Native people — and all people — equal respect.”Environmentalists also praised the action, saying it marked a step toward reconciliation.Under Haaland’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3404-508.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>, a federal task force will find replacement names for geographic features on federal lands bearing the term “squaw,” which has been used as a slur, particularly for Indigenous women. A database maintained by the Board on Geographic Names shows there are more than 650 federal sites with names that contain the term.The task force will be made up of representatives from federal land management agencies and experts with the Interior Department. Tribal consultation and public feedback will be part of the process.The process for changing U.S. place names can take years, and federal officials said there are currently hundreds of proposed name changes pending before the board.Haaland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3405-508.pdf" target="_blank">also called for the creation of an advisory committee</a>&nbsp;to solicit, review and recommend changes to other derogatory geographic and federal place names. That panel will be made up of tribal representatives and civil rights, anthropology and history experts.In the 1960s and 1970s, the Board on Geographic Names took action to eliminate the use of derogatory terms for Black and Japanese people.The board also voted in 2008 to change the name of a prominent Phoenix mountain from Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak to honor Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.In California, the Squaw Valley Ski Resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe earlier this year. The resort is in Olympic Valley, which was known as Squaw Valley until it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. Tribes in the region had been asking the resort for a name change for decades.Colorado’s advisory naming panel also has recommended renaming Squaw Mountain near Denver in honor of a Native American woman who acted as a translator for tribes and white settlers in the 19th century. Northern Cheyenne tribal members also filed an application with the federal naming board in October to change the mountain’s name.There is also legislation pending in Congress to address derogatory names on geographic features on public lands. States from Oregon to Maine have passed laws prohibiting the use of the word “squaw” in place names.

Interior secretary seeks to rid US of derogatory place names

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will increase housing payments for troops in key areas and look for ways to combat hunger across the force, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday, in the department’s latest effort to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunger-in-america-military-food-insecurity-142728bcb5479fd2de73750e11dbd458">food insecurity among service members.</a>

Austin told reporters that troops have enough to worry about and that “basic necessities like food and housing shouldn’t be among them.”

According to an estimate by Feeding America, as many as 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. The group, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the country, estimates that 29% of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity during the previous year.

He said the department will immediately provide a temporary increase in the housing allowance for troops who live in areas where rent costs have gone up by at least 10% this year. Temporary lodging reimbursement will be extended for those moving into communities with housing shortages.

Austin said he has given the undersecretary for personnel 90 days to develop a longer term strategy.

The exact scope of the problem is a topic of debate, due to a lack of formal study. But activists say it has existed for years and primarily affects junior-level enlisted service members — ranks E1 to E4 in military parlance — with children.

Lower-ranking enlisted troops receive modest pay, and their frequent moves make it difficult for spouses to find steady work. The problem is exacerbated by an Agriculture Department rule that prevents thousands of needy military families from accessing the SNAP government assistance program, commonly known as food stamps.

Service members who do not live on bases get a housing allowance, which is counted as income in calculating their eligibility for food stamps. That additional amount, which is not counted as income for other federal programs, often enough to disqualify families for the food assistance.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former Blackhawk pilot who lost both legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq, has sponsored a bill that would establish a Basic Needs Allowance payment for military families in need.

Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., has sought a Pentagon study of the problem and a repeal of the USDA’s Basic Allowance for Housing regulation.

In addition to the immediate actions, Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members. They would include extending the tour length for troops deploying to some locations overseas, when they are accompanied by their families.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630115953785.png" alt="In addition to the immediate actions, Defense Sec. Lloyd&nbsp; Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>In addition to the immediate actions, Defense Sec. Lloyd&nbsp; Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will increase housing payments for troops in key areas and look for ways to combat hunger across the force, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday, in the department’s latest effort to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunger-in-america-military-food-insecurity-142728bcb5479fd2de73750e11dbd458">food insecurity among service members.</a>Austin told reporters that troops have enough to worry about and that “basic necessities like food and housing shouldn’t be among them.”According to an estimate by Feeding America, as many as 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. The group, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the country, estimates that 29% of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity during the previous year.He said the department will immediately provide a temporary increase in the housing allowance for troops who live in areas where rent costs have gone up by at least 10% this year. Temporary lodging reimbursement will be extended for those moving into communities with housing shortages.Austin said he has given the undersecretary for personnel 90 days to develop a longer term strategy.The exact scope of the problem is a topic of debate, due to a lack of formal study. But activists say it has existed for years and primarily affects junior-level enlisted service members — ranks E1 to E4 in military parlance — with children.Lower-ranking enlisted troops receive modest pay, and their frequent moves make it difficult for spouses to find steady work. The problem is exacerbated by an Agriculture Department rule that prevents thousands of needy military families from accessing the SNAP government assistance program, commonly known as food stamps.Service members who do not live on bases get a housing allowance, which is counted as income in calculating their eligibility for food stamps. That additional amount, which is not counted as income for other federal programs, often enough to disqualify families for the food assistance.Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former Blackhawk pilot who lost both legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq, has sponsored a bill that would establish a Basic Needs Allowance payment for military families in need.Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., has sought a Pentagon study of the problem and a repeal of the USDA’s Basic Allowance for Housing regulation.In addition to the immediate actions, Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members. They would include extending the tour length for troops deploying to some locations overseas, when they are accompanied by their families.Where possible, he said the department should consider extending the three-year time limit on assignments at bases within the United States.Austin also said the Pentagon should take steps to improve financial education and counseling for troops.