Hospitals using $50M retention program funds in variety of ways

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/09/kansas-nurses-lack-voice-in-staff-shortage-crisis-association-director-says/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kelly Sommers thinks nurses should have a voice in policy discussions about nurses.

If you really want to understand why <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/03/kansas-prepares-50m-pay-boost-for-nurses-at-understaffed-hospitals/">a new $50 million retention pay program</a>
 won’t do much to help hospitals address a shortage of registered 
nurses, Sommers says, there are a couple of things you need to know.

As director of the Kansas State Nurses Association, Sommers sounded 
alarms long before the COVID-19 pandemic about a looming staff crisis as
 many nurses approach retirement age. Then, at the start of the 
pandemic, when hospitals halted elective surgeries and struggled to 
secure personal protective equipment, some of them began to lay off 
nurses or force them into early retirement.

Sommers said she tried to tell hospital officials they were making a huge mistake. They told her she was wrong.

“We knew, as an association, that employers who did this just made 
the biggest mistake they could have made for their system — and that is 
to devalue a nurse,” Sommers said. “We know we’re looked at not just for
 what we do, but we also know that we’re looked at as an expense.”

The situation was made worse when nurses on the front lines got 
COVID-19, and some were forced to use personal time off while under 
quarantine.

From her perspective, it’s no wonder hospitals have struggled to find
 enough registered nurses — especially when the highly contagious delta 
variant spread in late summer, and patients who willfully left 
themselves vulnerable filled emergency rooms.

“There’s only so much that a person can take on their shoulders,” 
Sommers said. “There’s only so much that a person can give. There’s only
 so many hours a person can work in a life-saving profession without 
breaking. We’re there 24-7, always.”

State officials in September responded to the staffing shortage by 
funneling $50 million in federal aid into a program specifically 
intended to retain nurses at hospitals. That money is just starting to 
reach hospital employees, depending on where they work and how hospitals
 plan to use the money.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas Taskforce — a panel 
that includes legislative leaders and members of Gov. Laura Kelly’s 
administration — <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/10/kansas-oversight-panel-releases-50m-for-nurse-pay-boost/">signed off on the Frontline Hospital Employee Retention Plan on Sept. 9</a>. The first wave of money was allocated a month later.

“This $50 million will help us retain and attract more front line 
hospital workers as we continue to fight his virus,” Kelly said. “For 
over 18 months, our heath care workers have risked their lives every day
 to protect Kansans from COVID-19 — it’s our responsibility to make sure
 they have the support they need to continue.”

The program’s goal was to retain registered nurses at hospitals where
 there were more licensed beds than available staff. The $50 million 
figure was based on an average of $5,000 per registered nurse at 
qualifying hospitals.

Money was allocated to hospitals based on the estimated number of 
nurses needed for licensed hospital beds at each facility. Employees 
could receive up to $13 per hour in bonuses from Sept. 1 to Feb. 28, 
with an individual cap of $25,000.

The program offers wide latitude to hospitals on using the cash. 
Details provided by the Kansas Department of Administration show the 
money may be distributed to “frontline workers,” who aren’t defined, in 
the manner hospitals believe “is most appropriate to ensure the 
retention of critical resources and the maintenance of staffed hospital 
beds.”

Cindy Samuelson, senior vice president and spokeswoman for the Kansas
 Hospital Association, said the money divided among employees at 122 
hospitals over a six-month period isn’t enough to retain staff.

So every hospital is using the money differently, Samuelson said.

For some, that means rewarding lab workers, respiratory therapists 
and others who worked the front lines along with nurses. Some hospitals 
are using the money as a retroactive reward for staff who stayed <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/10/inside-mission-control-hospital-capacity-in-kansas-at-its-worst-with-latest-covid-19-surge/">through workforce challenge</a>s. One hospital has decided to use the money as an incentive for workers willing to take holiday shifts.

“I think hospitals are being very frugal and responsible and taking a
 lot of time and thought into what’s going to help keep their 
communities having the best health care they can,” Samuelson said.

As of Monday, state health officials have recorded 442,232 infections
 of COVID-19, resulting in 6,534 deaths and 15,125 hospitalizations.

Sommers said she asked to participate in SPARK meetings when the 
retention program was being discussed, but “it did not happen.” She said
 she was met with resistance when she offered alternative solutions to 
address nursing shortages.

“It’s never a nursing voice that’s heard,” she said. “It’s always 
somebody else speaking on behalf of nursing, that doesn’t know who a 
nurse is, let alone what a nurse does.”

Registered nurses are highly trained. Their value can’t be measured 
in bed ratios. They don’t just give injections and change sheets.

“While I’m listening to somebody’s lung sounds, I am also assessing 
many other things,” Sommers said. “I can see how the person is 
breathing. Are they struggling to get a breath? Decipher what I’m 
hearing. What is the person doing? What does their skin look like? I 
mean, there’s a whole environment, and there’s an assessment piece that 
comes along with that one thing.”

Her ideas include funding a mentorship program for new nurses, drawing on the expertise of retired nurses.

“They need that time to be nurtured,” Sommers said. “They need that 
time to learn and to grow, or they’ll leave. This current environment is
 not healthy for a new graduate.”

She also proposed more succession planning. Hospitals fail to train 
younger nurses to move into positions before more experienced nurses 
retire.

Nurses don’t need a pizza party, Sommers said. They really don’t need
 an email from an administrator that says, “Thank you for what you’re 
doing.”

They need someone to listen to them. They need to be involved in finding solutions.

The $50 million program shows policymakers aren’t looking at the big picture, she said.

“My message is: The voice for nursing has to be a nurse,” Sommers 
said. “This is the time to hear the nurse voice, and not have other 
people who do not understand a nurse speak on our behalf.”

Sherman Smith is the Kansas Press Association’s journalist of the year.&nbsp;He previously spent 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636487107034.png" alt="Kelly Sommers, director of the Kansas State Nurses Association, says the “voice for nursing needs to be a nurse.” She said she was denied a voice in meetings for a $50 million front line staff retention program that won’t do much to retain staff. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kelly Sommers, director of the Kansas State Nurses Association, says the “voice for nursing needs to be a nurse.” She said she was denied a voice in meetings for a $50 million front line staff retention program that won’t do much to retain staff. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hospitals using $50M retention program funds in variety of ways</h2>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/09/kansas-nurses-lack-voice-in-staff-shortage-crisis-association-director-says/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kelly Sommers thinks nurses should have a voice in policy discussions about nurses.If you really want to understand why <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/03/kansas-prepares-50m-pay-boost-for-nurses-at-understaffed-hospitals/">a new $50 million retention pay program</a>
 won’t do much to help hospitals address a shortage of registered 
nurses, Sommers says, there are a couple of things you need to know.As director of the Kansas State Nurses Association, Sommers sounded 
alarms long before the COVID-19 pandemic about a looming staff crisis as
 many nurses approach retirement age. Then, at the start of the 
pandemic, when hospitals halted elective surgeries and struggled to 
secure personal protective equipment, some of them began to lay off 
nurses or force them into early retirement.Sommers said she tried to tell hospital officials they were making a huge mistake. They told her she was wrong.“We knew, as an association, that employers who did this just made 
the biggest mistake they could have made for their system — and that is 
to devalue a nurse,” Sommers said. “We know we’re looked at not just for
 what we do, but we also know that we’re looked at as an expense.”The situation was made worse when nurses on the front lines got 
COVID-19, and some were forced to use personal time off while under 
quarantine.From her perspective, it’s no wonder hospitals have struggled to find
 enough registered nurses — especially when the highly contagious delta 
variant spread in late summer, and patients who willfully left 
themselves vulnerable filled emergency rooms.“There’s only so much that a person can take on their shoulders,” 
Sommers said. “There’s only so much that a person can give. There’s only
 so many hours a person can work in a life-saving profession without 
breaking. We’re there 24-7, always.”State officials in September responded to the staffing shortage by 
funneling $50 million in federal aid into a program specifically 
intended to retain nurses at hospitals. That money is just starting to 
reach hospital employees, depending on where they work and how hospitals
 plan to use the money.<div><div class="flourish-embed flourish-table" data-src="visualisation/7699831"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div></div>The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas Taskforce — a panel 
that includes legislative leaders and members of Gov. Laura Kelly’s 
administration — <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/10/kansas-oversight-panel-releases-50m-for-nurse-pay-boost/">signed off on the Frontline Hospital Employee Retention Plan on Sept. 9</a>. The first wave of money was allocated a month later.“This $50 million will help us retain and attract more front line 
hospital workers as we continue to fight his virus,” Kelly said. “For 
over 18 months, our heath care workers have risked their lives every day
 to protect Kansans from COVID-19 — it’s our responsibility to make sure
 they have the support they need to continue.”The program’s goal was to retain registered nurses at hospitals where
 there were more licensed beds than available staff. The $50 million 
figure was based on an average of $5,000 per registered nurse at 
qualifying hospitals.Money was allocated to hospitals based on the estimated number of 
nurses needed for licensed hospital beds at each facility. Employees 
could receive up to $13 per hour in bonuses from Sept. 1 to Feb. 28, 
with an individual cap of $25,000.The program offers wide latitude to hospitals on using the cash. 
Details provided by the Kansas Department of Administration show the 
money may be distributed to “frontline workers,” who aren’t defined, in 
the manner hospitals believe “is most appropriate to ensure the 
retention of critical resources and the maintenance of staffed hospital 
beds.”Cindy Samuelson, senior vice president and spokeswoman for the Kansas
 Hospital Association, said the money divided among employees at 122 
hospitals over a six-month period isn’t enough to retain staff.So every hospital is using the money differently, Samuelson said.For some, that means rewarding lab workers, respiratory therapists 
and others who worked the front lines along with nurses. Some hospitals 
are using the money as a retroactive reward for staff who stayed <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/10/inside-mission-control-hospital-capacity-in-kansas-at-its-worst-with-latest-covid-19-surge/">through workforce challenge</a>s. One hospital has decided to use the money as an incentive for workers willing to take holiday shifts.“I think hospitals are being very frugal and responsible and taking a
 lot of time and thought into what’s going to help keep their 
communities having the best health care they can,” Samuelson said.As of Monday, state health officials have recorded 442,232 infections
 of COVID-19, resulting in 6,534 deaths and 15,125 hospitalizations.Sommers said she asked to participate in SPARK meetings when the 
retention program was being discussed, but “it did not happen.” She said
 she was met with resistance when she offered alternative solutions to 
address nursing shortages.“It’s never a nursing voice that’s heard,” she said. “It’s always 
somebody else speaking on behalf of nursing, that doesn’t know who a 
nurse is, let alone what a nurse does.”Registered nurses are highly trained. Their value can’t be measured 
in bed ratios. They don’t just give injections and change sheets.“While I’m listening to somebody’s lung sounds, I am also assessing 
many other things,” Sommers said. “I can see how the person is 
breathing. Are they struggling to get a breath? Decipher what I’m 
hearing. What is the person doing? What does their skin look like? I 
mean, there’s a whole environment, and there’s an assessment piece that 
comes along with that one thing.”Her ideas include funding a mentorship program for new nurses, drawing on the expertise of retired nurses.“They need that time to be nurtured,” Sommers said. “They need that 
time to learn and to grow, or they’ll leave. This current environment is
 not healthy for a new graduate.”She also proposed more succession planning. Hospitals fail to train 
younger nurses to move into positions before more experienced nurses 
retire.Nurses don’t need a pizza party, Sommers said. They really don’t need
 an email from an administrator that says, “Thank you for what you’re 
doing.”They need someone to listen to them. They need to be involved in finding solutions.The $50 million program shows policymakers aren’t looking at the big picture, she said.“My message is: The voice for nursing has to be a nurse,” Sommers 
said. “This is the time to hear the nurse voice, and not have other 
people who do not understand a nurse speak on our behalf.”Sherman Smith is the Kansas Press Association’s journalist of the year.&nbsp;He previously spent 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal. &nbsp;

Association director: Kan. nurses lack voice in staff shortage crisis

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,857 to a total of 445,089, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 79 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,613.

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,857 to a total of 445,089, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 79 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,613.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636569327538.png" alt="Wednesday November 10, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday November 10, 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: 2,800 new cases, 79 more COVID deaths

WASHINGTON (AP) —Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2 percent in October compared with a year earlier as surging costs for food, gas and housing left Americans grappling with the highest inflation rate since 1990.

The year-over-year increase in the consumer price index exceeded the 5.4 percent rise in September, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9 percent, the highest month-over-month increase since June.

Inflation is eroding the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-wages-salaries-increase-8ce98ea3bcc14c4810eb5a1111e1df49" target="_blank">strong gains in wages and salaries&nbsp;</a>that have flowed to America’s workers in recent months, creating political headaches for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats and intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve as it considers how fast to withdraw its efforts to boost the economy.

Job gains and pay raises have been much healthier during the pandemic recovery than they were after the Great Recession roughly a decade ago. But in contrast to the years that followed that downturn, inflation is now accelerating and diminishing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-d98e33f5f024e5109486b70662196ed7" target="_blank">Americans’ confidence in the economy, surveys have found</a>.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices rose 0.6% in from September to October. Core prices are now up 4.6 percent compared with a year ago.

Energy costs soared 4.8 percent just from September to October, with gasoline, natural gas and heating oil surging for the same reason that many other commodities have grown more expensive: Demand has risen sharply as Americans are driving and flying more, but supplies haven’t kept up.

Economists still expect inflation to slow once supply bottlenecks are cleared and Americans shift more of their consumption back to pre-pandemic norms. As COVID-19 fades, consumers should spend more on travel, entertainment and other services and less on goods such as cars, furniture, and appliances, which would reduce pressure on supply chains.

But no one knows how long that might take. Higher inflation has persisted much longer than most economists had expected. And inflation is spreading well beyond items like appliances and new and used vehicles that are directly affected by the pandemic.

“The inflation overshoot will likely get worse before it gets better,” said Goldman Sachs economists in a research note Sunday.

For months, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had described inflation as “transitory,” a short-term phenomenon linked to labor and supply shortages resulting from the speed with which the economy rebounded from the pandemic recession. But last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-economy-inflation-e4993a475b31c2e82efe788ff8b47c68" target="_blank">Powell acknowledged</a>&nbsp;that higher prices could last well into next summer.

The Fed chair announced that the central bank will start reducing the monthly bond purchases it began last year as an emergency measure to boost the economy. Investors now expect the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate twice next year from its record-low level near zero — much earlier than they had predicted a few months ago.

Many large companies are passing on the cost of higher pay to their customers, and in some cases, consumers are paying up rather than cutting back.

To attract workers, for example, McDonald’s boosted hourly pay 10 percent to 15 percent over the past year. To help cover those higher labor costs as well as more expensive food and paper, the company said last month that it raised prices 6 percent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier. Yet even so, company sales leapt 14 percent as virus restrictions eased.

Other companies have been more cautious. One of them, Wayfair, an online furniture retailer, said last week that its costs are rising as factories in Asia have shut down amid COVID outbreaks, ports are jammed, and labor costs have surged. But the company isn’t necessarily passing along all those higher costs.

“We are in a mass-oriented business where the average customer does not have an unlimited discretionary budget,” said Michael Fleisher, Wayfair’s chief financial officer. “Inflation is rampant across the economy, and there are competing demands for their time and wallet share.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625744811390.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2 percent in October compared with a year earlier as surging costs for food, gas and housing left Americans grappling with the highest inflation rate since 1990.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🚨🚨 BIDENFLATION SURGES TO 31 YEAR HIGH! It’s here to stay so long as the left continues to throw gasoline on the fire with their reckless taxing, reckless borrowing, and reckless spending agenda. <a href="https://t.co/k2wDdlSKkV">https://t.co/k2wDdlSKkV</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1458456925943762949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The year-over-year increase in the consumer price index exceeded the 5.4 percent rise in September, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9 percent, the highest month-over-month increase since June.Inflation is eroding the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-wages-salaries-increase-8ce98ea3bcc14c4810eb5a1111e1df49" target="_blank">strong gains in wages and salaries&nbsp;</a>that have flowed to America’s workers in recent months, creating political headaches for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats and intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve as it considers how fast to withdraw its efforts to boost the economy.Job gains and pay raises have been much healthier during the pandemic recovery than they were after the Great Recession roughly a decade ago. But in contrast to the years that followed that downturn, inflation is now accelerating and diminishing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-d98e33f5f024e5109486b70662196ed7" target="_blank">Americans’ confidence in the economy, surveys have found</a>.Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices rose 0.6% in from September to October. Core prices are now up 4.6 percent compared with a year ago.Energy costs soared 4.8 percent just from September to October, with gasoline, natural gas and heating oil surging for the same reason that many other commodities have grown more expensive: Demand has risen sharply as Americans are driving and flying more, but supplies haven’t kept up.Economists still expect inflation to slow once supply bottlenecks are cleared and Americans shift more of their consumption back to pre-pandemic norms. As COVID-19 fades, consumers should spend more on travel, entertainment and other services and less on goods such as cars, furniture, and appliances, which would reduce pressure on supply chains.But no one knows how long that might take. Higher inflation has persisted much longer than most economists had expected. And inflation is spreading well beyond items like appliances and new and used vehicles that are directly affected by the pandemic.“The inflation overshoot will likely get worse before it gets better,” said Goldman Sachs economists in a research note Sunday.For months, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had described inflation as “transitory,” a short-term phenomenon linked to labor and supply shortages resulting from the speed with which the economy rebounded from the pandemic recession. But last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-economy-inflation-e4993a475b31c2e82efe788ff8b47c68" target="_blank">Powell acknowledged</a>&nbsp;that higher prices could last well into next summer.The Fed chair announced that the central bank will start reducing the monthly bond purchases it began last year as an emergency measure to boost the economy. Investors now expect the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate twice next year from its record-low level near zero — much earlier than they had predicted a few months ago.Many large companies are passing on the cost of higher pay to their customers, and in some cases, consumers are paying up rather than cutting back.To attract workers, for example, McDonald’s boosted hourly pay 10 percent to 15 percent over the past year. To help cover those higher labor costs as well as more expensive food and paper, the company said last month that it raised prices 6 percent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier. Yet even so, company sales leapt 14 percent as virus restrictions eased.Other companies have been more cautious. One of them, Wayfair, an online furniture retailer, said last week that its costs are rising as factories in Asia have shut down amid COVID outbreaks, ports are jammed, and labor costs have surged. But the company isn’t necessarily passing along all those higher costs.“We are in a mass-oriented business where the average customer does not have an unlimited discretionary budget,” said Michael Fleisher, Wayfair’s chief financial officer. “Inflation is rampant across the economy, and there are competing demands for their time and wallet share.”

Kan. senator responds as U.S. inflation hits 30-year high, prices keep rising

By KEN CARPENTER <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND — Members of 
St.&nbsp;Johns&nbsp;Episcopal Church in Great Bend have been worshipping in their 
church building on the corner of 17th and Adams streets for about 70 
years. Now a "For Sale" sign has been placed in front of the church.&nbsp;

Rev.
 Teresa Lahar, St. Johns' priest, said it is not economically feasible 
for the congregation to remain at the current location and continue some
 of the church's outreach programs.&nbsp;

"We decided that if we move, we would have the funds that we could put into missional work," Lahar noted.&nbsp;

The
 church supports foster families, offers a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner
 and provides assistance to people who need help with utility bills, 
housewares and appliances.&nbsp;&nbsp;Helping the ministry at the Dream Center in 
downtown Great Bend is one of the projects that church members want to 
continue.  

"We are doing the third Sunday every other month, feeding a Sunday evening meal," Lahar said.&nbsp;

The
 St. Johns congregation will continue to worship at the current location
 until the building is sold. After that, they will move to the chapel at
 First Congregational United Church of Christ.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636565315285.jpeg" alt="Rose Kelly, left, senior warden, and Teresa Lahar, priest, at St. Johns Episcopal Church." />
 <figcaption>Rose Kelly, left, senior warden, and Teresa Lahar, priest, at St. Johns Episcopal Church.</figcaption>
 </figure>By KEN CARPENTER <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Members of 
St.&nbsp;Johns&nbsp;Episcopal Church in Great Bend have been worshipping in their 
church building on the corner of 17th and Adams streets for about 70 
years. Now a "For Sale" sign has been placed in front of the church.&nbsp;Rev.
 Teresa Lahar, St. Johns' priest, said it is not economically feasible 
for the congregation to remain at the current location and continue some
 of the church's outreach programs.&nbsp;"We decided that if we move, we would have the funds that we could put into missional work," Lahar noted.&nbsp;The
 church supports foster families, offers a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner
 and provides assistance to people who need help with utility bills, 
housewares and appliances.&nbsp;&nbsp;Helping the ministry at the Dream Center in 
downtown Great Bend is one of the projects that church members want to 
continue. "We are doing the third Sunday every other month, feeding a Sunday evening meal," Lahar said.&nbsp;The
 St. Johns congregation will continue to worship at the current location
 until the building is sold. After that, they will move to the chapel at
 First Congregational United Church of Christ.&nbsp;

Great Bend church selling building to keep mission work

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The largest school district in Kansas plans to open a COVID-19 immunization site after the vaccine was approved for kids aged 5-11. 

Wichita district spokeswoman Susan Arensman said the school system hasn’t administered any shots yet to the 5-11 group and won’t be going school-by-school with vaccines. Instead, the district will set up a vaccination station at district headquarters that will serve the school community, including students, parents and unvaccinated employees.&nbsp; 

Earlier in the pandemic, the district developed COVID vaccination capabilities to immunize teachers and staff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="The vaccine for children includes an orange cap -photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>The vaccine for children includes an orange cap -photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The largest school district in Kansas plans to open a COVID-19 immunization site after the vaccine was approved for kids aged 5-11. Wichita district spokeswoman Susan Arensman said the school system hasn’t administered any shots yet to the 5-11 group and won’t be going school-by-school with vaccines. Instead, the district will set up a vaccination station at district headquarters that will serve the school community, including students, parents and unvaccinated employees.&nbsp; Earlier in the pandemic, the district developed COVID vaccination capabilities to immunize teachers and staff.

Kan. largest school district to help vaccinate 5-11 year old kids

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The only eye witnesses to a 1978 triple murder in Kansas City tried to tell prosecutors years before she died that she had identified the wrong shooter, but they told her it was “too late” to recant and that she could be charged with perjury, her sister testified Tuesday.

Cecile “Cookie” Simmons testified on the second day of a hearing that could lead to the release of Kevin Strickland, who has served 43 years in prison for a triple murder that many people, including current Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, believe he did not commit.

In testimony on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-9674fc613175a2b1b7a2e8eefd6301f9">Strickland, who is now 62, strongly denied being involved in the crime</a>, which he has maintained since he was arrested and convicted in 1979.

Peters Baker announced in May that she and several other legal and political leaders believe Strickland was wrongly convicted. In August, she called for Strickland’s exoneration by using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">a new state law</a>&nbsp;that allows local prosecutors to challenge convictions if they believe the defendant did not commit the crime.

The evidentiary hearing was delayed several times after motions filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s office. Attorney General Eric Schmidt, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/has%20said%20he%20believes%20Strickland%20is%20guilty">he believes Strickland is guilty</a>.

Simmons’ sister, Cynthia Douglas, was injured but survived the shootings that killed three of her friends at a home in Kansas City on April 25, 1978. Her identification of Strickland, as being at the scene was a primary factor in his conviction.

Simmons said Tuesday that Douglas told her she knew two of four suspects, Vincent Bell, 21, and Kilm Adkins, 19, but did not know the other two suspects.

She picked Strickland, who was 18 at the time, out of a lineup the next day and later told people she was pressured by police to choose him, Simmons testified. Douglas’ mother, sister and a former co-worker gave similar testimony on Monday.

Years later, when Douglas told county prosecutors about her mistaken identification, they told her they were “not going to go back to court” over it and that she could be charged with perjury, according to Simmons.

Simmons said Douglas had nightmares and was sickened by her actions but she never took back her recantation before she died in 2015.

Bell and Adkins later served prison sentences for their roles in the murders. They both have said that Strickland was not involved in the crimes.

“Cindy never got her justice,” Simmons said Tuesday, noting that the two suspects Bell and Adkins identified were never arrested.

During cross-examination from Gregory Goodwin with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Simmons acknowledged she was not with her sister when she contacted various officials.

Douglas’ ex-husband, Ronald Richardson, also testified Tuesday that she told him she had been wrong to identify Strickland. Richardson, who is currently in prison, was with Douglas for 24 years and married to her for 15 years.

Douglas told him she was hesitant to revive Strickland’s case because other families were involved and she was afraid Strickland might retaliate. Richardson told her said Strickland was more likely to be grateful if she recanted her identification, he testified.

Richardson said he and Strickland are imprisoned together but they are not friends and Strickland has never promised him anything for his testimony.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Krug noted Richardson’s lengthy prison record, which started with stealing in 1994 and include convictions for drugs, forgery and sex charges. She also said the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office did not find him credible when he was prosecuted for sex crimes and robbery.

Richardson responded that he didn’t understand what his crimes had to do with Strickland’s case. And he said he watched Douglas suffer for years because she identified the wrong person, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kevin-stricklands-quest-for-freedom-continues-tuesday-in-jackson-county-court" target="_blank">reported</a>.

“I’ve lived with the girl for 24 years, and I’ve seen her slowly deteriorate and I’ve seen the hurt and the pain that the girl went through for 24 years,” Richardson said. “So don’t tell me all the things I did. I broke her heart. With the things I’ve done, I broke the girl’s heart. Y’all broke her spirit.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620695920927.png" alt="Strickland-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Strickland-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The only eye witnesses to a 1978 triple murder in Kansas City tried to tell prosecutors years before she died that she had identified the wrong shooter, but they told her it was “too late” to recant and that she could be charged with perjury, her sister testified Tuesday.Cecile “Cookie” Simmons testified on the second day of a hearing that could lead to the release of Kevin Strickland, who has served 43 years in prison for a triple murder that many people, including current Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, believe he did not commit.In testimony on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-9674fc613175a2b1b7a2e8eefd6301f9">Strickland, who is now 62, strongly denied being involved in the crime</a>, which he has maintained since he was arrested and convicted in 1979.Peters Baker announced in May that she and several other legal and political leaders believe Strickland was wrongly convicted. In August, she called for Strickland’s exoneration by using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">a new state law</a>&nbsp;that allows local prosecutors to challenge convictions if they believe the defendant did not commit the crime.The evidentiary hearing was delayed several times after motions filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s office. Attorney General Eric Schmidt, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/has%20said%20he%20believes%20Strickland%20is%20guilty">he believes Strickland is guilty</a>.Simmons’ sister, Cynthia Douglas, was injured but survived the shootings that killed three of her friends at a home in Kansas City on April 25, 1978. Her identification of Strickland, as being at the scene was a primary factor in his conviction.Simmons said Tuesday that Douglas told her she knew two of four suspects, Vincent Bell, 21, and Kilm Adkins, 19, but did not know the other two suspects.She picked Strickland, who was 18 at the time, out of a lineup the next day and later told people she was pressured by police to choose him, Simmons testified. Douglas’ mother, sister and a former co-worker gave similar testimony on Monday.Years later, when Douglas told county prosecutors about her mistaken identification, they told her they were “not going to go back to court” over it and that she could be charged with perjury, according to Simmons.Simmons said Douglas had nightmares and was sickened by her actions but she never took back her recantation before she died in 2015.Bell and Adkins later served prison sentences for their roles in the murders. They both have said that Strickland was not involved in the crimes.“Cindy never got her justice,” Simmons said Tuesday, noting that the two suspects Bell and Adkins identified were never arrested.During cross-examination from Gregory Goodwin with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Simmons acknowledged she was not with her sister when she contacted various officials.Douglas’ ex-husband, Ronald Richardson, also testified Tuesday that she told him she had been wrong to identify Strickland. Richardson, who is currently in prison, was with Douglas for 24 years and married to her for 15 years.Douglas told him she was hesitant to revive Strickland’s case because other families were involved and she was afraid Strickland might retaliate. Richardson told her said Strickland was more likely to be grateful if she recanted her identification, he testified.Richardson said he and Strickland are imprisoned together but they are not friends and Strickland has never promised him anything for his testimony.Assistant Attorney General Christine Krug noted Richardson’s lengthy prison record, which started with stealing in 1994 and include convictions for drugs, forgery and sex charges. She also said the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office did not find him credible when he was prosecuted for sex crimes and robbery.Richardson responded that he didn’t understand what his crimes had to do with Strickland’s case. And he said he watched Douglas suffer for years because she identified the wrong person, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kevin-stricklands-quest-for-freedom-continues-tuesday-in-jackson-county-court" target="_blank">reported</a>.“I’ve lived with the girl for 24 years, and I’ve seen her slowly deteriorate and I’ve seen the hurt and the pain that the girl went through for 24 years,” Richardson said. “So don’t tell me all the things I did. I broke her heart. With the things I’ve done, I broke the girl’s heart. Y’all broke her spirit.”

Woman says her sister ID'd wrong man in KC triple murder

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Biden administration is relying on infrastructure dollars to help fix the clogged ports and blanket the nation with internet access — but a series of initiatives rolled out on Tuesday show that the urgent pace might not be fast enough to address the immediate needs of an economy coping with a supply chain squeeze and a shift to remote work.

President Joe Biden spoke with the CEOs of Wal-Mart, Target, UPS and FedEx on Tuesday about how to relieve the supply chain challenges as ships are still waiting to dock at some of the country's leading ports. The key problem is that these ports are experiencing record volumes of shipping containers as the economy has recovered from the pandemic.

Biden received updates from the CEOs on how deliveries are being sped up to ensure that store shelves will be well-stocked this holiday season, according to a White House official. Bloomberg News first reported Biden's conversations with the corporate leaders.

Yet the concrete policy steps being discussed by the administration show that there is no quick fix to supply chain issues that are still hurting smaller businesses and causing consumers to face higher prices. Nor can the administration build out a national broadband network fast enough as more Americans are pivoting toward remote work.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted at the White House briefing the $65 billion for broadband access in the the $1 trillion infrastructure package that cleared the House on Friday. She said that jobs would be created and poorer Americans would receive “affordable” internet service, though she did not spell out a precise dollar amount on what the monthly bills could be.

The plan involves careful logistics that would take time to implement. Each state would receive at least $100 million to help lay fiberoptic cables and ensure its citizens can access the internet. This process would occur as jobseekers are increasingly requesting remote work where they can work from home on their computers.

“The president wants us to get it right,” Raimondo said. “And if it takes a little longer to lay the groundwork for fiber and broadband, then we’re going to do that.”

Similarly, the administration announced plans on Tuesday to identify and pay for possible upgrades to U.S. ports within the next 90 days — hoping to ultimately tamp down the inflation being caused by ships waiting to dock and a shortage of truck drivers to haul goods.

As the U.S. emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recovery has been hampered by congested and aging ports. The mix of inflation and the potential for empty store shelves during holiday shopping has created a sense of frustration for many Americans and hurt President Joe Biden and Democrats politically.

Senior administration officials said Tuesday that the Transportation Department would allow port authorities to redirect any leftover money from grant projects to address the supply chain issues. For example, the Georgia Ports Authority will use $8 million to convert its inland facilities for the port of Savannah into container yards, freeing up dock space and speeding the flow of goods to their final destinations.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the forthcoming plans, which come on the heels of the House backing the bipartisan infrastructure package late Friday. The package includes $17 billion to improve coastal and land-based ports that can help to tackle the challenges in the longer term.

Biden's team is moving straight ahead in promoting the possible benefits from the broader infrastructure package, though they've largely shied away from claiming that Americans could see clear and demonstrable changes to their lives before the 2022 midterm elections. The focus, instead, has been on how the spending on roads, bridges and broadband will help the U.S. economy compete against the rest of the world.

The president in remarks to Democratic supporters on Tuesday signaled that he will look to remind voters in the months ahead of the infrastructure win. He noted “the last president” promised to pursue legislation but failed to deliver.

“So it was left to us,” Biden said at the virtual event hosted by the Democratic National Committee. “We got the job done.”

Administration officials said the ports initiatives being announced Tuesday would make the supply chain faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly in the medium to longer term.

Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday. It's part of a broader effort to show that the administration will tackle the inflation that has left Americans feeling more pessimistic about the economy. Updated figures for the consumer price index will be released Wednesday, with the previous report showing prices were 5.4% higher than a year ago.

The Baltimore trip is designed to highlight the types of investments that the administration believes will help unclog the supply chain. The port in Baltimore is adding container cranes and adding a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. The administration has also approved grants so that the Howard Street Tunnel — a train artery that opened in 1895 — can be expanded to ferry double-stacked containers on railcars.

The Biden administration earlier helped broker an agreement to increase the hours of operation at the Port of Los Angeles, but it's been difficult to immediately fix this challenge.

Additional steps include launching a $240 million grant program in the next 45 days to modernize ports and marine highways. Within 60 days, the government wants to identify repair projects and opportunities to deepen harbors for larger ships that can be a guide for more than $4 billion in construction by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The government will also look over the next 90 days at which ports of entry should be upgraded and expanded as part of a $3.4 billion investment. It also plans within 90 days to open the first round of more than $475 million in grants for ports made possible through the newly passed infrastructure package.

The Transportation Department intends to publish a playbook for states on freight movement and issue guidance on best practices, so that the value of the infrastructure investments can be maximized. There will also be a request for information by the Transportation Department to improve data collection and sharing to improve the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636510961577.png" alt="Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday-photos courtesy Port of Baltimore" />
 <figcaption>Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday-photos courtesy Port of Baltimore</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — The Biden administration is relying on infrastructure dollars to help fix the clogged ports and blanket the nation with internet access — but a series of initiatives rolled out on Tuesday show that the urgent pace might not be fast enough to address the immediate needs of an economy coping with a supply chain squeeze and a shift to remote work.President Joe Biden spoke with the CEOs of Wal-Mart, Target, UPS and FedEx on Tuesday about how to relieve the supply chain challenges as ships are still waiting to dock at some of the country's leading ports. The key problem is that these ports are experiencing record volumes of shipping containers as the economy has recovered from the pandemic.Biden received updates from the CEOs on how deliveries are being sped up to ensure that store shelves will be well-stocked this holiday season, according to a White House official. Bloomberg News first reported Biden's conversations with the corporate leaders.Yet the concrete policy steps being discussed by the administration show that there is no quick fix to supply chain issues that are still hurting smaller businesses and causing consumers to face higher prices. Nor can the administration build out a national broadband network fast enough as more Americans are pivoting toward remote work.Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted at the White House briefing the $65 billion for broadband access in the the $1 trillion infrastructure package that cleared the House on Friday. She said that jobs would be created and poorer Americans would receive “affordable” internet service, though she did not spell out a precise dollar amount on what the monthly bills could be.The plan involves careful logistics that would take time to implement. Each state would receive at least $100 million to help lay fiberoptic cables and ensure its citizens can access the internet. This process would occur as jobseekers are increasingly requesting remote work where they can work from home on their computers.“The president wants us to get it right,” Raimondo said. “And if it takes a little longer to lay the groundwork for fiber and broadband, then we’re going to do that.”Similarly, the administration announced plans on Tuesday to identify and pay for possible upgrades to U.S. ports within the next 90 days — hoping to ultimately tamp down the inflation being caused by ships waiting to dock and a shortage of truck drivers to haul goods.As the U.S. emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recovery has been hampered by congested and aging ports. The mix of inflation and the potential for empty store shelves during holiday shopping has created a sense of frustration for many Americans and hurt President Joe Biden and Democrats politically.Senior administration officials said Tuesday that the Transportation Department would allow port authorities to redirect any leftover money from grant projects to address the supply chain issues. For example, the Georgia Ports Authority will use $8 million to convert its inland facilities for the port of Savannah into container yards, freeing up dock space and speeding the flow of goods to their final destinations.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the forthcoming plans, which come on the heels of the House backing the bipartisan infrastructure package late Friday. The package includes $17 billion to improve coastal and land-based ports that can help to tackle the challenges in the longer term.Biden's team is moving straight ahead in promoting the possible benefits from the broader infrastructure package, though they've largely shied away from claiming that Americans could see clear and demonstrable changes to their lives before the 2022 midterm elections. The focus, instead, has been on how the spending on roads, bridges and broadband will help the U.S. economy compete against the rest of the world.The president in remarks to Democratic supporters on Tuesday signaled that he will look to remind voters in the months ahead of the infrastructure win. He noted “the last president” promised to pursue legislation but failed to deliver.“So it was left to us,” Biden said at the virtual event hosted by the Democratic National Committee. “We got the job done.”Administration officials said the ports initiatives being announced Tuesday would make the supply chain faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly in the medium to longer term.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636511034475.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday. It's part of a broader effort to show that the administration will tackle the inflation that has left Americans feeling more pessimistic about the economy. Updated figures for the consumer price index will be released Wednesday, with the previous report showing prices were 5.4% higher than a year ago.The Baltimore trip is designed to highlight the types of investments that the administration believes will help unclog the supply chain. The port in Baltimore is adding container cranes and adding a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. The administration has also approved grants so that the Howard Street Tunnel — a train artery that opened in 1895 — can be expanded to ferry double-stacked containers on railcars.The Biden administration earlier helped broker an agreement to increase the hours of operation at the Port of Los Angeles, but it's been difficult to immediately fix this challenge.Additional steps include launching a $240 million grant program in the next 45 days to modernize ports and marine highways. Within 60 days, the government wants to identify repair projects and opportunities to deepen harbors for larger ships that can be a guide for more than $4 billion in construction by the Army Corps of Engineers.The government will also look over the next 90 days at which ports of entry should be upgraded and expanded as part of a $3.4 billion investment. It also plans within 90 days to open the first round of more than $475 million in grants for ports made possible through the newly passed infrastructure package.The Transportation Department intends to publish a playbook for states on freight movement and issue guidance on best practices, so that the value of the infrastructure investments can be maximized. There will also be a request for information by the Transportation Department to improve data collection and sharing to improve the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain.

White House rushes with infrastructure fixes for US economy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas are pushing to enact new state laws before Thanksgiving to protect workers financially if they refuse to comply with federal mandates to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Top GOP legislative leaders called Tuesday for lawmakers to have a special session to consider proposals making it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions from vaccine mandates and providing unemployment benefits to workers who are fired for refusing to get inoculated. Both proposals emerged from a legislative committee meeting Tuesday and come in response to vaccine mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">announced in September</a>&nbsp;by President Joe Biden.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">went public with her opposition</a>&nbsp;to the Democratic president’s mandates, but she also said she didn’t think a special session is warranted. Lawmakers can force one if two-thirds of them sign a petition, and Republicans have big enough majorities. Lawmakers adjourned for the year in May and aren’t scheduled to reconvene until January.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, suggested starting a special session Nov. 22, just three days before Thanksgiving, to address “all this garbage” from the Biden administration. The committee on vaccine mandates plans to have a hearing and could vote Friday on the two proposals, allowing quicker action should lawmakers have a special session.

“Kansans should not be forced to choose between their personal beliefs and their jobs,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in a statement.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican who hopes to unseat Kelly in the governors’ race next year, has brought Kansas into two federal lawsuits against Biden mandates. One mandate says employees of private companies with 100 or more workers must get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 tests.

Conservative Republican lawmakers pushed last month for a special session, but the effort didn’t gain much traction. Top GOP leaders’ alternative was forming the committee on vaccine mandates; Masterson is a member, and on Tuesday it endorsed having a special session as soon as possible.

“What changed is, we now have a plan,” said Rep. Stephen Owens, a conservative Hesston Republican, another committee member.

In committee hearings last month, critics of the vaccine mandates urged lawmakers not to put off action until January because deadlines to get inoculated would have passed. Both proposals before the committee Tuesday came from Masterson.

The first would prevent employers from second-guessing workers if they sought a religious exemption to a vaccine mandate by asserting that getting inoculated violated sincerely held religious beliefs.

Sen. Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said such a provision could be more lenient than longstanding state policies granting religious exemptions from other other vaccines required by the state, such as those for chickenpox, mumps or hepatitis for K-12 students. He said Masterson’s alternative for COVID-19 vaccines “looks like anything goes.”

“You don’t have to even have a good faith belief, a religious belief. If you just assert you do, then you get a free ride,” Miller said.

But Masterson said employers — and the state — have no business trying to judge the validity of a person’s religious beliefs.

“I would contend that no one has that ability — that is the fundamental contention of freedom of religion,” Masterson said.

The other proposal would revise state laws on unemployment. One says people don’t get benefits if they didn’t have “good cause” to leave their jobs or if they were “discharged.” The law also requires people to seek “suitable” work to keep getting benefits.

Kelly said last week that issues about benefits for people who left or lost a job after refusing to get vaccinated would be settled case by case.

Under the proposal, people wouldn’t lose benefits for refusing to take jobs requiring a COVID-19 vaccine, and they couldn’t be denied benefits if they lost a job after refusing to get inoculated against COVID-19.

But the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce immediately worried that the measure could result in the state paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in additional benefits. Employers pay taxes to help finance the benefits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630703364773.png" alt="Senate President Ty Masterson outlined proposals during a meeting of a joint legislative committee looking for ways for Kansas to resist COVID-19 vaccine mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">imposed by President Joe Biden.</a>&nbsp; photo by Sherman Smith" />
 <figcaption>Senate President Ty Masterson outlined proposals during a meeting of a joint legislative committee looking for ways for Kansas to resist COVID-19 vaccine mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">imposed by President Joe Biden.</a>&nbsp; photo by Sherman Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas are pushing to enact new state laws before Thanksgiving to protect workers financially if they refuse to comply with federal mandates to get vaccinated against COVID-19.Top GOP legislative leaders called Tuesday for lawmakers to have a special session to consider proposals making it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions from vaccine mandates and providing unemployment benefits to workers who are fired for refusing to get inoculated. Both proposals emerged from a legislative committee meeting Tuesday and come in response to vaccine mandates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">announced in September</a>&nbsp;by President Joe Biden.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Governor Laura Kelly&#39;s statement addressing the new federal vaccine mandate: <a href="https://t.co/lAFAs3pQLK">pic.twitter.com/lAFAs3pQLK</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1456627100593659906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">went public with her opposition</a>&nbsp;to the Democratic president’s mandates, but she also said she didn’t think a special session is warranted. Lawmakers can force one if two-thirds of them sign a petition, and Republicans have big enough majorities. Lawmakers adjourned for the year in May and aren’t scheduled to reconvene until January.Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, suggested starting a special session Nov. 22, just three days before Thanksgiving, to address “all this garbage” from the Biden administration. The committee on vaccine mandates plans to have a hearing and could vote Friday on the two proposals, allowing quicker action should lawmakers have a special session.“Kansans should not be forced to choose between their personal beliefs and their jobs,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in a statement.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican who hopes to unseat Kelly in the governors’ race next year, has brought Kansas into two federal lawsuits against Biden mandates. One mandate says employees of private companies with 100 or more workers must get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 tests.Conservative Republican lawmakers pushed last month for a special session, but the effort didn’t gain much traction. Top GOP leaders’ alternative was forming the committee on vaccine mandates; Masterson is a member, and on Tuesday it endorsed having a special session as soon as possible.“What changed is, we now have a plan,” said Rep. Stephen Owens, a conservative Hesston Republican, another committee member.In committee hearings last month, critics of the vaccine mandates urged lawmakers not to put off action until January because deadlines to get inoculated would have passed. Both proposals before the committee Tuesday came from Masterson.The first would prevent employers from second-guessing workers if they sought a religious exemption to a vaccine mandate by asserting that getting inoculated violated sincerely held religious beliefs.Sen. Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said such a provision could be more lenient than longstanding state policies granting religious exemptions from other other vaccines required by the state, such as those for chickenpox, mumps or hepatitis for K-12 students. He said Masterson’s alternative for COVID-19 vaccines “looks like anything goes.”“You don’t have to even have a good faith belief, a religious belief. If you just assert you do, then you get a free ride,” Miller said.But Masterson said employers — and the state — have no business trying to judge the validity of a person’s religious beliefs.“I would contend that no one has that ability — that is the fundamental contention of freedom of religion,” Masterson said.The other proposal would revise state laws on unemployment. One says people don’t get benefits if they didn’t have “good cause” to leave their jobs or if they were “discharged.” The law also requires people to seek “suitable” work to keep getting benefits.Kelly said last week that issues about benefits for people who left or lost a job after refusing to get vaccinated would be settled case by case.Under the proposal, people wouldn’t lose benefits for refusing to take jobs requiring a COVID-19 vaccine, and they couldn’t be denied benefits if they lost a job after refusing to get inoculated against COVID-19.But the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce immediately worried that the measure could result in the state paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in additional benefits. Employers pay taxes to help finance the benefits.

Kan. lawmakers consider special session to act against vaccine mandates 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old man who stabbed a Wichita psychiatrist more than 160 times and then ran over him with a car has been sentenced to life in prison. 

Umar Dutt was sentenced Tuesday for first-degree murder in the death of 57-year-old Dr. Achutha Reddy in September 2017. Dutt pleaded guilty in September. Prosecutors said police found Reddy's body behind Holistic Psychiatric Services clinic, where Dutt was a client of Reddy's. 

He entered the building and began assaulting Reddy, who escaped before Dutt caught up with him in the alley. Prosecutors said Dutt stabbed Reddy 165 times and ran him over with a car.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632260560803.png" alt="Dutt photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Dutt photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old man who stabbed a Wichita psychiatrist more than 160 times and then ran over him with a car has been sentenced to life in prison. Umar Dutt was sentenced Tuesday for first-degree murder in the death of 57-year-old Dr. Achutha Reddy in September 2017. Dutt pleaded guilty in September. Prosecutors said police found Reddy's body behind Holistic Psychiatric Services clinic, where Dutt was a client of Reddy's. He entered the building and began assaulting Reddy, who escaped before Dutt caught up with him in the alley. Prosecutors said Dutt stabbed Reddy 165 times and ran him over with a car.

Life in prison for man who stabbed, ran over Kansas doctor

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax 
year 2022 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, 
including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-21-45.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2021-45</a>&nbsp;PDF provides details about these annual adjustments.

Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2021-45:

The tax year 2022 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2023.

The tax items for tax year 2022 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax 
year 2022 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, 
including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-21-45.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2021-45</a>&nbsp;PDF provides details about these annual adjustments.<h2>Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2021-45:</h2>The tax year 2022 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2023.The tax items for tax year 2022 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:<ul>
 <li>The standard deduction for married couples filing jointly for 
tax year 2022 rises to $25,900 up $800 from the prior year. For single 
taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard 
deduction rises to $12,950 for 2022, up $400, and for heads of 
households, the standard deduction will be $19,400 for tax year 2022, up
 $600. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The personal exemption for tax year 2022 remains at 0, as it was 
for 2021, this elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in 
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Marginal Rates: For tax year 2022, the top tax 
rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater 
than $539,900 ($647,850 for married couples filing jointly).
	The other rates are: 
	35%, for incomes over $215,950 ($431,900 for married couples filing jointly); 
	32% for incomes over $170,050 ($340,100 for married couples filing jointly); 
	24% for incomes over $89,075 ($178,150 for married couples filing jointly); 
	22% for incomes over $41,775 ($83,550 for married couples filing jointly); 
	12% for incomes over $10,275 ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly). 
	The lowest rate is 10% for incomes of single individuals with incomes 
of $10,275 or less ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly). 
	&nbsp;
	</li><li>For 2022, as in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there is no limitation 
on itemized deductions, as that limitation was eliminated by the Tax 
Cuts and Jobs Act. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for tax year 2022 is 
$75,900 and begins to phase out at $539,900 ($118,100 for married 
couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at 
$1,079,800). The 2021 exemption amount was $73,600 and began to phase 
out at $523,600 ($114,600 for married couples filing jointly for whom 
the exemption began to phase out at $1,047,200). 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The tax year 2022 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $6,935
 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, up
 from $6,728 for tax year 2021. The revenue procedure contains a table 
providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds 
and phase-outs. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2022, the monthly limitation for the qualified 
transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified 
parking increases to $280. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For the taxable years beginning in 2022, the dollar limitation for 
employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending
 arrangements increases to $2,850. For cafeteria plans that permit the 
carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount is $570, an 
increase of $20 from taxable years beginning in 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2022, participants who have self-only coverage in a 
Medical Savings Account, the plan must have an annual deductible that is
 not less than $2,450, up $50 from tax year 2021; but not more than 
$3,700, an increase of $100 from tax year 2021. For self-only coverage, 
the maximum out-of-pocket expense amount is $4,950, up $150 from 2021. 
For tax year 2022, for family coverage, the annual deductible is not 
less than $4,950, up from $4,800 in 2021; however, the deductible cannot
 be more than $7,400, up $250 from the limit for tax year 2021. For 
family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $9,050 for tax year 
2022, an increase of $300 from tax year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The modified adjusted gross income amount used by joint filers to 
determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit provided in 
§&nbsp;25A(d)(2) is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning 
after December 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for 
taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 
($160,000 for joint returns). 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2022, the foreign earned income exclusion is $112,000 up from $108,700 for tax year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Estates of decedents who die during 2022 have a basic exclusion 
amount of $12,060,000, up from a total of $11,700,000 for estates of 
decedents who died in 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $16,000 for calendar year 2022, up from $15,000 for calendar year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2022 is the 
amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $14,890, up from $14,440 for
 2021.</li>
 </ul>

IRS provides tax inflation adjustments for coming tax year

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is facing a staffing shortage in its Department of Transportation that could slow the clearing of highways in winter storms, the agency said Tuesday.

The department said it is about 30% short of being fully staffed with snowplow operators across the state. The agency said the staffing shortage is worse this year than it has been in the past.

Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz said the staffing shortage means that with inclement weather, some highways might not be cleared as quickly as they have been in the past. She said she’s warning motorists now so they can plan ahead or alter travel plans when the state faces winter storms.

She said the department also plans to shift its crews to the regions affected worst by storms and to pretreat highways and bridges whenever possible. She said snowplow operators work 12-hour shifts already.

Lorenz said the department also will deploy all employees with commercial driver’s licenses and hire seasonal employees to help clear highways.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is facing a staffing shortage in its Department of Transportation that could slow the clearing of highways in winter storms, the agency said Tuesday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto%2F%3Ffbid%3D247184180778163%26set%3Da.222814903215091&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="489" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The department said it is about 30% short of being fully staffed with snowplow operators across the state. The agency said the staffing shortage is worse this year than it has been in the past.Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz said the staffing shortage means that with inclement weather, some highways might not be cleared as quickly as they have been in the past. She said she’s warning motorists now so they can plan ahead or alter travel plans when the state faces winter storms.She said the department also plans to shift its crews to the regions affected worst by storms and to pretreat highways and bridges whenever possible. She said snowplow operators work 12-hour shifts already.Lorenz said the department also will deploy all employees with commercial driver’s licenses and hire seasonal employees to help clear highways.

KDOT alert: Clearing roads from snow will be slow this winter

&nbsp;By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/10/seaman-schools-keep-name-but-will-stop-associating-with-vile-klan-leader/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Seaman schools north of Topeka will keep their name but disavow their racist namesake.

Following months of contentious debate — and an election where two 
school board candidates defeated incumbents with campaigns built around 
preserving the name of a former Ku Klux Klan leader — the school board 
voted Monday to denounce all associations with Fred A. Seaman. Students who have advocated for a new name weren’t satisfied with the decision and promised to keep fighting.

Last year, student journalists at 
Seaman High School reported Seaman, who founded the district’s high 
school and was its principal from 1920 to 1931, was also the “exalted 
cyclops” of the local Klan chapter. The revelation sparked an outcry 
from many in the student body and community to change the school name.

After workshops, protests and 
community discussions, the board proposed and passed an alternative to 
what became a divisive issue in local school board elections. The 
measure condemns Seaman’s “revolting” and “vile” history and mandates 
removal of all references to the Klan leader from the district 
permanently.

“The action taken by this board 
tonight is an incremental step toward removing racism in our district,” 
said board president Keith Griffin. “By separating from Fred A. Seaman, 
this board is supporting that our community is larger than one person 
and does not support or uphold the actions of Fred A. Seaman.”

The seven-person board moved 
unanimously to approve the measure. The decision comes just days after 
Griffin and Cherie Sage lost their seats in the general election to 
Chris Travis and Donna McGinty, who supported keeping the Seaman name.

The measure also encouraged the high 
school’s museum class to create an exhibit focusing on Seaman’s 
“repulsive involvement” with the Ku Klux Klan. The suggestion was 
included to ensure knowledge of Seaman’s actions does not fade into 
history.

Before the vote, more than 40 
students, parents and concerned community members gathered in front of 
the Seaman Education Center, where the vote took place. The rallygoers 
carried signs calling for the name change.

Those on hand said the board should be responsive to the students and reject a name symbolic of hate.

“If we don’t change the name, it 
sends the message to our community and communities around us that we 
condone that hate and that we don’t stand for better,” said Olivia 
Oliva, a senior at Seaman High School.

The Unified School District 345 board
 formed a nine-person namesake committee in March. An October report 
from the committee provided information on Seaman and his history but 
did not make a recommendation.

Kayla McClenny, a senior at the high 
school, came out in solidarity with her classmates of color. She said 
students should not be forced to represent someone who caused so much 
pain for people of color in the community.

“People of color are still affected, 
even today,” McClenny said. “It’s kind of just showing they don’t really
 care about all the Klan did.”

A statement on the Rename Seaman 
Schools Facebook page after the vote expressed disappointment in the 
board’s actions. The statement noted the fight to change the name would 
not end.

“In no way is this resolution 
indicative of a caring and responsive culture,” the statement reads. 
“Those of us impacted by the racism and hatred of Seaman and the KKK 
will not be deterred.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636577318408.png" alt="More than 40 people, many of them students, gathered Monday in front of the Seaman Education Center, where board members moved to keep the name of Ku Klux Klan leader Fred A. Seaman, but strip all associations and references to him. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>More than 40 people, many of them students, gathered Monday in front of the Seaman Education Center, where board members moved to keep the name of Ku Klux Klan leader Fred A. Seaman, but strip all associations and references to him. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/10/seaman-schools-keep-name-but-will-stop-associating-with-vile-klan-leader/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Seaman schools north of Topeka will keep their name but disavow their racist namesake.Following months of contentious debate — and an election where two 
school board candidates defeated incumbents with campaigns built around 
preserving the name of a former Ku Klux Klan leader — the school board 
voted Monday to denounce all associations with Fred A. Seaman. Students who have advocated for a new name weren’t satisfied with the decision and promised to keep fighting.Last year, student journalists at 
Seaman High School reported Seaman, who founded the district’s high 
school and was its principal from 1920 to 1931, was also the “exalted 
cyclops” of the local Klan chapter. The revelation sparked an outcry 
from many in the student body and community to change the school name.After workshops, protests and 
community discussions, the board proposed and passed an alternative to 
what became a divisive issue in local school board elections. The 
measure condemns Seaman’s “revolting” and “vile” history and mandates 
removal of all references to the Klan leader from the district 
permanently.The name, however, will remain.“The action taken by this board 
tonight is an incremental step toward removing racism in our district,” 
said board president Keith Griffin. “By separating from Fred A. Seaman, 
this board is supporting that our community is larger than one person 
and does not support or uphold the actions of Fred A. Seaman.”The seven-person board moved 
unanimously to approve the measure. The decision comes just days after 
Griffin and Cherie Sage lost their seats in the general election to 
Chris Travis and Donna McGinty, who supported keeping the Seaman name.The measure also encouraged the high 
school’s museum class to create an exhibit focusing on Seaman’s 
“repulsive involvement” with the Ku Klux Klan. The suggestion was 
included to ensure knowledge of Seaman’s actions does not fade into 
history.Before the vote, more than 40 
students, parents and concerned community members gathered in front of 
the Seaman Education Center, where the vote took place. The rallygoers 
carried signs calling for the name change.Those on hand said the board should be responsive to the students and reject a name symbolic of hate.“If we don’t change the name, it 
sends the message to our community and communities around us that we 
condone that hate and that we don’t stand for better,” said Olivia 
Oliva, a senior at Seaman High School.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636577467030.png" alt="The Rename Seaman Schools Facebook page said actions take by the board were insufficient and demonstrated a lack of inclusivity. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Rename Seaman Schools Facebook page said actions take by the board were insufficient and demonstrated a lack of inclusivity. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Unified School District 345 board
 formed a nine-person namesake committee in March. An October report 
from the committee provided information on Seaman and his history but 
did not make a recommendation.Kayla McClenny, a senior at the high 
school, came out in solidarity with her classmates of color. She said 
students should not be forced to represent someone who caused so much 
pain for people of color in the community.“People of color are still affected, 
even today,” McClenny said. “It’s kind of just showing they don’t really
 care about all the Klan did.”A statement on the Rename Seaman 
Schools Facebook page after the vote expressed disappointment in the 
board’s actions. The statement noted the fight to change the name would 
not end.“In no way is this resolution 
indicative of a caring and responsive culture,” the statement reads. 
“Those of us impacted by the racism and hatred of Seaman and the KKK 
will not be deterred.”

Seaman schools keep name but will stop associating with ‘vile’ Klan leader

While 2021 is quickly winding down, scams targeting
 the public continue to cause trouble. Consumers should watch out for 
any fraudulent schemes aimed at swiping their cash and stealing personal
 information. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a Naughty List with the top 12 scams of Christmas that are most likely to catch consumers and donors off guard during this season.Many of the scams on this list are facilitated 
through emails and social media platforms, however the latter is where 
most people are vulnerable. Exercise caution when coming across social 
media ads about discounted items, event promotions, job opportunities 
and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you
 are asked to make a payment or donation by wire or e-transfer, through 
third parties, by prepaid debit or gift cards, treat this as a red flag.

Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer and our tips to avoid them:

1.&nbsp;Misleading Social Media Ads: As
 you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale
 from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a 
charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam
 Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never 
receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up 
for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the
 one advertised. The <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbbscamtrackerriskreport/" target="_blank">2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>
 found that online purchase scams were the most common cons reported to 
Scam Tracker and the category with the most victims. Do your homework 
and research the company before ordering. Check out the business profile
 on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> and read the reviews.&nbsp;Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/20678-scam-alert-think-twice-before-buying-from-these-social-media-ads" target="_blank">misleading ads</a>. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24189-bbb-tip-read-the-fine-print-before-signing-up-for-a-free-trial-offer" target="_blank">free trial offers</a>, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16910-bbb-tip-counterfeit-product-scams" target="_blank">counterfeit goods</a>.2.&nbsp;Social Media Gift Exchanges: 
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up, and this year is no 
different. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging 
bottles of wine; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another 
twist asks you to submit your email into a list where participants get 
to pick a name and send money to strangers to "pay it forward." There is
 even a twist about "Secret Santa Dog" where you buy a $10 gift for your
 "secret dog."&nbsp;In all of these versions, participants unwittingly 
share their personal information, along with those of their family 
members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping 
gifts or money to unknown individuals. And-- it's an illegal pyramid 
scheme.Read more about the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/18854-bbb-warning-secret-sister-gift-exchange-is-illegal" target="_blank">social media gift exhange</a>.3.&nbsp;Holiday Apps: Apple's App Store
 and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can 
video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live 
reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish
 lists. This holiday season, like last year when COVID-19 caused 
children to skip the traditional in-person visit with Santa, apps may 
play a more important role than ever. Review privacy policies to see 
what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can 
sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee.
 Free apps can also contain malware.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18957-bbb-tip-is-that-santa-app-safe-better-check-it-twice" target="_blank">holiday apps</a>.4.&nbsp;Alerts About Compromised Accounts: BBB has been receiving reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">Scam Tracker</a>
 about a con claiming your Amazon, Paypal, Netflix or bank account has 
been compromised. Victims receive an email, call, or text message which 
explains that there has been suspicious activity on one of their 
accounts, and it further urges them to take immediate action to prevent 
the account from being compromised. Be extra cautious about unsolicited 
calls, emails, and texts.

Read more about c<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23491-bbb-scam-alert-compromised-account-think-twice-before-you-panic" target="_blank">ompromised accounts scams</a>.

5.&nbsp;Free Gift Cards: Nothing brings
 good cheer like the word 'FREE'. Scammers have been known to take 
advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting 
personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these 
emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies like Starbucks and 
promise gift cards to loyal customers that have been supporting their 
business throughout the pandemic. They may also use pop-up ads or send 
text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner
 for a prize.

If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do 
not open it. Instead, mark it as Spam or Junk. However, if you opened 
the email, do not click on any links.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14400-dont-get-scammed-out-of-a-gift-card-this-season" target="_blank">gift card scams</a>.

6.&nbsp;Temporary Holiday Jobs: 
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of 
holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday 
employers this year because of the increase in online orders and the 
need to get most of these packages delivered before Christmas. These 
jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility
 of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, jobseekers
 need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and 
personal information from job applicants. Keep an eye out for 
opportunities that seem too good to be true.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14438-bbb-tips-for-avoiding-job-scams-this-holiday-season" target="_blank">holiday job scams</a>.

7.&nbsp;Look-Alike Websites: The 
holiday season brings endless emails offering deals, sales and bargains.
 Be wary of emails with links enclosed. Some may lead to look-alike 
websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, 
making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. If you are 
uncertain about the email, do not click any of the links. Instead, hover
 over them to see where they reroute.

Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/19251-scam-alert-dont-lose-money-to-fake-lookalike-websites" target="_blank">look-alike websites</a>.

8.&nbsp;Fake Charities: Typically, 40% 
of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of 
the year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations had 
to cancel their usual fundraising events and awareness campaigns and are
 now inviting donors to support online. Donors are advised to lookout 
for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in 
need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. 
Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they 
do today. Verify a charity at BBB's <a href="https://www.give.org" target="_blank">give.org</a> or on the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23282-bbb-scam-alert-fake-charities-trick-would-be-instagram-influencers" target="_blank">fake charities</a>.9.&nbsp;Fake Shipping Notifications: 
More consumers are making purchases online, there is also an increase in
 the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and 
carriers. Scammers are using this new surge to send phishing emails with
 links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private 
information or download malware onto your device. They may also try to 
trick people into paying new shipping fees.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16460-scam-alert-fake-text-delivery-scam" target="_blank">delivery and package scams</a>.

10.&nbsp;Pop Up Holiday Virtual Events:
 This year, many local in-person events such as pop-up holiday markets 
or craft fairs, have moved online. Scammers are creating fake event 
pages, social media posts, and emails, charging admission for what used 
to be a free event. The goal is to steal credit card information. 
Confirm with the organizer of the event if there is an admission fee. In
 the cases where there is a charge, use a credit card. If the event is 
free, watch for scammers trying to claim otherwise.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18892-bbb-tip-holiday-pop-up-shops" target="_blank">pop up holiday shops</a>.

11.&nbsp;Top Holiday Wishlist Items: 
Low or ridiculously priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and
 electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. This 
year, the Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda) and game 
consoles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when 
considering to purchase these high-value items from individuals through 
social sites.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16580-scam-alert-looking-for-this-seasons-hot-toy-beware-of-scams" target="_blank">holiday hot toy scams</a>.12.&nbsp;Puppy Scams: Many families, 
especially those with children, may be considering to add a furry friend
 to their household this year. However, you could fall victim to a pet 
scam, which are on the rise this year. Request to see the pet in person 
before making a purchase.&nbsp;Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/petscams" target="_blank">pet scams</a>.&nbsp;For general information on how to avoid scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams" target="_blank">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>. &nbsp;For more advice, read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">BBB’s tips on online shopping</a>. If you’ve spotted an online scam, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker</a>.

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday" target="_blank">Read more BBB Holiday Tips at BBB.org/holiday.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBWhile 2021 is quickly winding down, scams targeting
 the public continue to cause trouble. Consumers should watch out for 
any fraudulent schemes aimed at swiping their cash and stealing personal
 information. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a Naughty List with the top 12 scams of Christmas that are most likely to catch consumers and donors off guard during this season.Many of the scams on this list are facilitated 
through emails and social media platforms, however the latter is where 
most people are vulnerable. Exercise caution when coming across social 
media ads about discounted items, event promotions, job opportunities 
and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you
 are asked to make a payment or donation by wire or e-transfer, through 
third parties, by prepaid debit or gift cards, treat this as a red flag.<h2>Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer and our tips to avoid them:</h2>1.&nbsp;Misleading Social Media Ads: As
 you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale
 from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a 
charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam
 Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never 
receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up 
for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the
 one advertised. The <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbbscamtrackerriskreport/" target="_blank">2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>
 found that online purchase scams were the most common cons reported to 
Scam Tracker and the category with the most victims. Do your homework 
and research the company before ordering. Check out the business profile
 on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> and read the reviews.&nbsp;Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/20678-scam-alert-think-twice-before-buying-from-these-social-media-ads" target="_blank">misleading ads</a>. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24189-bbb-tip-read-the-fine-print-before-signing-up-for-a-free-trial-offer" target="_blank">free trial offers</a>, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16910-bbb-tip-counterfeit-product-scams" target="_blank">counterfeit goods</a>.2.&nbsp;Social Media Gift Exchanges: 
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up, and this year is no 
different. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging 
bottles of wine; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another 
twist asks you to submit your email into a list where participants get 
to pick a name and send money to strangers to "pay it forward." There is
 even a twist about "Secret Santa Dog" where you buy a $10 gift for your
 "secret dog."&nbsp;In all of these versions, participants unwittingly 
share their personal information, along with those of their family 
members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping 
gifts or money to unknown individuals. And-- it's an illegal pyramid 
scheme.Read more about the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/18854-bbb-warning-secret-sister-gift-exchange-is-illegal" target="_blank">social media gift exhange</a>.3.&nbsp;Holiday Apps: Apple's App Store
 and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can 
video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live 
reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish
 lists. This holiday season, like last year when COVID-19 caused 
children to skip the traditional in-person visit with Santa, apps may 
play a more important role than ever. Review privacy policies to see 
what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can 
sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee.
 Free apps can also contain malware.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18957-bbb-tip-is-that-santa-app-safe-better-check-it-twice" target="_blank">holiday apps</a>.4.&nbsp;Alerts About Compromised Accounts: BBB has been receiving reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">Scam Tracker</a>
 about a con claiming your Amazon, Paypal, Netflix or bank account has 
been compromised. Victims receive an email, call, or text message which 
explains that there has been suspicious activity on one of their 
accounts, and it further urges them to take immediate action to prevent 
the account from being compromised. Be extra cautious about unsolicited 
calls, emails, and texts.Read more about c<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23491-bbb-scam-alert-compromised-account-think-twice-before-you-panic" target="_blank">ompromised accounts scams</a>.5.&nbsp;Free Gift Cards: Nothing brings
 good cheer like the word 'FREE'. Scammers have been known to take 
advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting 
personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these 
emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies like Starbucks and 
promise gift cards to loyal customers that have been supporting their 
business throughout the pandemic. They may also use pop-up ads or send 
text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner
 for a prize.If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do 
not open it. Instead, mark it as Spam or Junk. However, if you opened 
the email, do not click on any links.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14400-dont-get-scammed-out-of-a-gift-card-this-season" target="_blank">gift card scams</a>.6.&nbsp;Temporary Holiday Jobs: 
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of 
holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday 
employers this year because of the increase in online orders and the 
need to get most of these packages delivered before Christmas. These 
jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility
 of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, jobseekers
 need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and 
personal information from job applicants. Keep an eye out for 
opportunities that seem too good to be true.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14438-bbb-tips-for-avoiding-job-scams-this-holiday-season" target="_blank">holiday job scams</a>.7.&nbsp;Look-Alike Websites: The 
holiday season brings endless emails offering deals, sales and bargains.
 Be wary of emails with links enclosed. Some may lead to look-alike 
websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, 
making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. If you are 
uncertain about the email, do not click any of the links. Instead, hover
 over them to see where they reroute.Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/19251-scam-alert-dont-lose-money-to-fake-lookalike-websites" target="_blank">look-alike websites</a>.8.&nbsp;Fake Charities: Typically, 40% 
of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of 
the year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations had 
to cancel their usual fundraising events and awareness campaigns and are
 now inviting donors to support online. Donors are advised to lookout 
for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in 
need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. 
Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they 
do today. Verify a charity at BBB's <a href="https://www.give.org" target="_blank">give.org</a> or on the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23282-bbb-scam-alert-fake-charities-trick-would-be-instagram-influencers" target="_blank">fake charities</a>.9.&nbsp;Fake Shipping Notifications: 
More consumers are making purchases online, there is also an increase in
 the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and 
carriers. Scammers are using this new surge to send phishing emails with
 links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private 
information or download malware onto your device. They may also try to 
trick people into paying new shipping fees.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16460-scam-alert-fake-text-delivery-scam" target="_blank">delivery and package scams</a>.10.&nbsp;Pop Up Holiday Virtual Events:
 This year, many local in-person events such as pop-up holiday markets 
or craft fairs, have moved online. Scammers are creating fake event 
pages, social media posts, and emails, charging admission for what used 
to be a free event. The goal is to steal credit card information. 
Confirm with the organizer of the event if there is an admission fee. In
 the cases where there is a charge, use a credit card. If the event is 
free, watch for scammers trying to claim otherwise.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18892-bbb-tip-holiday-pop-up-shops" target="_blank">pop up holiday shops</a>.11.&nbsp;Top Holiday Wishlist Items: 
Low or ridiculously priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and
 electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. This 
year, the Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda) and game 
consoles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when 
considering to purchase these high-value items from individuals through 
social sites.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16580-scam-alert-looking-for-this-seasons-hot-toy-beware-of-scams" target="_blank">holiday hot toy scams</a>.12.&nbsp;Puppy Scams: Many families, 
especially those with children, may be considering to add a furry friend
 to their household this year. However, you could fall victim to a pet 
scam, which are on the rise this year. Request to see the pet in person 
before making a purchase.&nbsp;Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/petscams" target="_blank">pet scams</a>.&nbsp;For general information on how to avoid scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams" target="_blank">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>. &nbsp;For more advice, read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">BBB’s tips on online shopping</a>. If you’ve spotted an online scam, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker</a>.<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday" target="_blank">Read more BBB Holiday Tips at BBB.org/holiday.</a>

The Naughty List: BBB's 12 Scams of Christmas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to take a rapid COVID-19 test after a lawmaker who attended one of her public events tested positive. Kelly spokesperson Sam Coleman said the governor planned to take the test Wednesday afternoon even though she’s had no symptoms and likely is not infected. 

Coleman said the governor decided to take the test after learning that the lawmaker who tested positive attended a news conference Monday at a north Topeka grocery. 

Kelly held the event to outline a proposal for eliminating the state’s sales tax on food. Kelly was masked during most of the event and when she was interacting with others.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636561324355.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly shaking hands with those in attendance during her Monday "Axe the Food Tax" press conference at a Topeka grocery store.- image courtesy Governor's office" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly shaking hands with those in attendance during her Monday "Axe the Food Tax" press conference at a Topeka grocery store.- image courtesy Governor's office</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to take a rapid COVID-19 test after a lawmaker who attended one of her public events tested positive. Kelly spokesperson Sam Coleman said the governor planned to take the test Wednesday afternoon even though she’s had no symptoms and likely is not infected. Coleman said the governor decided to take the test after learning that the lawmaker who tested positive attended a news conference Monday at a north Topeka grocery. Kelly held the event to outline a proposal for eliminating the state’s sales tax on food. Kelly was masked during most of the event and when she was interacting with others.

Kansas governor to get COVID test after lawmaker's infection

HUTCHINSON — She was accused of a crime she did not commit and went through jail time and a trial that lasted for years. Now Amanda Knox is an advocate for those who are wrongly accused. Knox was the last speaker for the Dillon Lecture Series for 2021. Knox says she was practically convicted before the case could go through the legal system.

"I was arrested five days after the crime was discovered, before really any evidence was really available," Knox said. "I think what’s really telling about that is that the prosecution and the detectives sort of decided upon a theory before they actually had any evidence. And that is how this whole case unfolded."

Knox now spends her time supporting those who have been wrongfully accused of crimes. She says it is hard to get wrongful conviction cases overturned.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636491945304.jpeg" alt="Knox now spends her time supporting those who have been wrongfully accused of crimes. She says it is hard to get wrongful conviction cases overturned." />
 <figcaption>Knox now spends her time supporting those who have been wrongfully accused of crimes. She says it is hard to get wrongful conviction cases overturned.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Rod ZookHutch PostHUTCHINSON — She was accused of a crime she did not commit and went through jail time and a trial that lasted for years. Now Amanda Knox is an advocate for those who are wrongly accused. Knox was the last speaker for the Dillon Lecture Series for 2021. Knox says she was practically convicted before the case could go through the legal system."I was arrested five days after the crime was discovered, before really any evidence was really available," Knox said. "I think what’s really telling about that is that the prosecution and the detectives sort of decided upon a theory before they actually had any evidence. And that is how this whole case unfolded."Knox now spends her time supporting those who have been wrongfully accused of crimes. She says it is hard to get wrongful conviction cases overturned."One of the major obstacles to getting a wrongful conviction overturned is just the sense of they don't exist," Knox said. "And if they do exist they are so, so rare that all these claims of innocence could not possibly be based on reality."Knox also says that her case was an early onset of how crimes, criminals and victims are perceived today."I realized from very early on in my case that it was an early sign of where we were going to be heading in terms of tribalism and in terms of echo chambers," Knox said. "It really all comes down to a rather adversarial mindset that is beset with confirmation bias."&nbsp;And it's not just one side of the spectrum, according to Knox."It’s not to say that there are good people on this side and bad people on this side, which is how it is often portrayed," Knox said. "Instead, it’s these facts are meaningful to me and prove my point, and these facts are inconvenient for me so I'm not going to acknowledge them. And that happens on both sides of issues."Knox, who is a journalist, says the media coverage of criminal cases needs to be narrowed down to the areas of factual information and portray what is in the public interest. She also praised her friends and family who stuck by her during her eight-year ordeal.