SALINE COUNTY —A series of earthquakes continues in central Kansas. The U.S. Geological Survey reported two more quakes in Saline County early Monday.

Just before 12:30a.m., the U.S. Geological Survey reported&nbsp; a 2.6 magnitude quake southwest of Gypsum. Twenty-six minutes later, a 2.5 magnitude quake shook in the same area.

On Saturday, the agency reported a 2.2 magnitude quake near Gypsum and a 2.3 magnitude quake in Smith County. There are no reports of any damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636383916137.png" alt="Location of the Monday morning quakes-USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Location of the Monday morning quakes-USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —A series of earthquakes continues in central Kansas. The U.S. Geological Survey reported two more quakes in Saline County early Monday.Just before 12:30a.m., the U.S. Geological Survey reported&nbsp; a 2.6 magnitude quake southwest of Gypsum. Twenty-six minutes later, a 2.5 magnitude quake shook in the same area.On Saturday, the agency reported a 2.2 magnitude quake near Gypsum and a 2.3 magnitude quake in Smith County. There are no reports of any damage.

USGS: Small earthquakes continue to shake north-central Kansas

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

GREAT BEND — Cheyenne 
Bottoms in northern Barton County is well known for an amazing variety 
of birds that live and migrate through the wetlands. The species of 
birds that can be seen&nbsp;there&nbsp;changes throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Employees
 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center keep track of the birds that 
are sighted at any given time. Curtis Wolf, the Center's director, said 
it is easy to find out what species are in the area.&nbsp;

"We do have a
 recent sightings&nbsp;list that we post on our website,” Wolf explained. 
“We’ll update it every couple of weeks&nbsp;usually just to give people an 
idea of the things that can be seen. That's a good way of figuring out a
 little&nbsp;bit&nbsp;about what’s there.”&nbsp;

A link to the Center's website can be found in this story on <a href="https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">HERE</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The
 Education Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Wolf 
says 30-minute and&nbsp;90-minute&nbsp;van tours of Cheyenne Bottoms are available
 to individuals or groups and have been a popular family activity this 
year.&nbsp;

By KEN CARPENTER <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Cheyenne 
Bottoms in northern Barton County is well known for an amazing variety 
of birds that live and migrate through the wetlands. The species of 
birds that can be seen&nbsp;there&nbsp;changes throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Employees
 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center keep track of the birds that 
are sighted at any given time. Curtis Wolf, the Center's director, said 
it is easy to find out what species are in the area.&nbsp;"We do have a
 recent sightings&nbsp;list that we post on our website,” Wolf explained. 
“We’ll update it every couple of weeks&nbsp;usually just to give people an 
idea of the things that can be seen. That's a good way of figuring out a
 little&nbsp;bit&nbsp;about what’s there.”&nbsp;A link to the Center's website can be found in this story on <a href="https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">HERE</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The
 Education Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Wolf 
says 30-minute and&nbsp;90-minute&nbsp;van tours of Cheyenne Bottoms are available
 to individuals or groups and have been a popular family activity this 
year.&nbsp;

How to find out what birds are visiting Cheyenne Bottoms 

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in the parking lot of a Sonic restaurant in suburban Kansas City.

Police in Lee's Summit, Missouri, found the man after gunshots were reported in the area Saturday evening.&nbsp;He was identified as 51-year-old Randall Lord of Kansas City.

Police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Depue said witnesses reported hearing a loud disturbance between people in the parking lot before the shots were fired.

The suspect fled shortly before police arrived. Police declined to release a description of the suspect.

But the incident was captured on video by several witnesses and surveillance cameras in the parking lot. Depue said investigators are reviewing that video.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636379673175.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in the parking lot of a Sonic restaurant in suburban Kansas City.Police in Lee's Summit, Missouri, found the man after gunshots were reported in the area Saturday evening.&nbsp;He was identified as 51-year-old Randall Lord of Kansas City.Police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Depue said witnesses reported hearing a loud disturbance between people in the parking lot before the shots were fired.The suspect fled shortly before police arrived. Police declined to release a description of the suspect.But the incident was captured on video by several witnesses and surveillance cameras in the parking lot. Depue said investigators are reviewing that video.

Police ID man killed in parking lot of KC-area fast food restaurant  

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pushing forward with a massive plan to require millions of private sector employees to get vaccinated by early next year. But first, he has to make sure workers in his own federal government get the shot.

About 4 million federal workers are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the president’s executive order. Some employees, like those at the White House, are nearly all vaccinated. But the rates are lower at other federal agencies, particularly those related to law enforcement and intelligence, according to the agencies and union leaders. And some resistant workers are digging in, filing lawsuits and protesting what they say is unfair overreach by the White House.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-7e14906b91d1d97126ab60f652cb7b34">The upcoming deadline is the first test of Biden’s push&nbsp;</a>to compel people to get vaccinated. Beyond the federal worker rule, another mandate will take effect in January aimed at around 84 million private sector workers, according to guidelines put out this past week.

On Saturday, a federal appeals court in Louisiana&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/appeals-court-stays-vaccine-mandate-coronavirus-biden-b235b6fa858bd23b02ab5f9c009428db">temporarily halted the vaccine requirement&nbsp;</a>for businesses with 100 or more workers. The administration says it is confident that the requirement will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules preempt state laws.

“The president and the administration wouldn’t have put these requirements in place if they didn’t think that they were appropriate and necessary,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “And the administration is certainly prepared to defend them.”

If the mandates are a success, they could make the most serious dent in new coronavirus cases since the vaccine first became available, especially with the news this past week that children ages 5-11 can get the shot making an additional 64 million people eligible.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-travel-army-9ae47e40bec45bf709b3bae7b8451a50">But with two weeks remaining until the federal worker&nbsp;</a>deadline, some leaders of unions representing the employees say that convincing the unvaccinated to change their mind is increasingly challenging.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632773278988.png" alt="About 4 million federal workers are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the president’s executive order-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>About 4 million federal workers are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the president’s executive order-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pushing forward with a massive plan to require millions of private sector employees to get vaccinated by early next year. But first, he has to make sure workers in his own federal government get the shot.About 4 million federal workers are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the president’s executive order. Some employees, like those at the White House, are nearly all vaccinated. But the rates are lower at other federal agencies, particularly those related to law enforcement and intelligence, according to the agencies and union leaders. And some resistant workers are digging in, filing lawsuits and protesting what they say is unfair overreach by the White House.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-7e14906b91d1d97126ab60f652cb7b34">The upcoming deadline is the first test of Biden’s push&nbsp;</a>to compel people to get vaccinated. Beyond the federal worker rule, another mandate will take effect in January aimed at around 84 million private sector workers, according to guidelines put out this past week.On Saturday, a federal appeals court in Louisiana&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/appeals-court-stays-vaccine-mandate-coronavirus-biden-b235b6fa858bd23b02ab5f9c009428db">temporarily halted the vaccine requirement&nbsp;</a>for businesses with 100 or more workers. The administration says it is confident that the requirement will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules preempt state laws.“The president and the administration wouldn’t have put these requirements in place if they didn’t think that they were appropriate and necessary,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “And the administration is certainly prepared to defend them.”If the mandates are a success, they could make the most serious dent in new coronavirus cases since the vaccine first became available, especially with the news this past week that children ages 5-11 can get the shot making an additional 64 million people eligible.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-travel-army-9ae47e40bec45bf709b3bae7b8451a50">But with two weeks remaining until the federal worker&nbsp;</a>deadline, some leaders of unions representing the employees say that convincing the unvaccinated to change their mind is increasingly challenging.

Biden vaccine mandates face first test with federal workers

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;

At last Wednesday’s meeting of the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education, the&nbsp;boiling&nbsp;debate over Manhattan High School’s Indian mascot&nbsp;spilled over the rim and onto the public burner once again.&nbsp;

BOE Vice President Kristin Brighton&nbsp;brought up the issue during the meeting, calling for continued discussion leading toward the&nbsp;“respectful retirement” of the&nbsp;MHS Indian name and imagery.&nbsp;

Brighton said she is for&nbsp;respectfully retiring the mascot&nbsp;and&nbsp;would like to see a museum-type display discussing the use of the historical&nbsp;mascot, but also noting&nbsp;that as social norms changed,&nbsp;the way we talk about and treat other cultures in the United States changed as well.&nbsp;

“Society&nbsp;is completely different than it was 80 years ago,” Brighton said.&nbsp;

In 2017, the board voted to change the mascot from the Indians to the Wolves, but the plan was scrapped following heated opposition, with MHS ultimately removing Indian imagery from athletic uniforms and the football field logo.&nbsp;

Officials elected to retain the various large Native American “Chief” depictions on campus and decorating walls within the existing high school facility.&nbsp;

Brighton&nbsp;noted that as a marketing professional, “If a client says they are not using their logo because it's embarrassing&nbsp;or it's out-of-date, I tell them it's time for a new brand,” she said.&nbsp;

“I believe that the Manhattan High School brand needs an overhaul for 2022.”&nbsp;

While contemporary society reconsiders the&nbsp;historic&nbsp;treatment&nbsp;and current&nbsp;sensibilities of largely ignored peoples,&nbsp;the Manhattan community seems positioned in opposing trench lines.&nbsp;

Opponents of native imagery say that at&nbsp;a time&nbsp;of&nbsp;mass&nbsp;efforts to&nbsp;improve&nbsp;cultural&nbsp;awareness&nbsp;of&nbsp;myriad&nbsp;racial&nbsp;and&nbsp;ethnic&nbsp;groups,&nbsp;Indigenous&nbsp;peoples are all but forgotten.&nbsp;

Board member Brandy Santos was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting, but said she is not a proponent of changing the mascot name or removing native images.&nbsp;

“I don't see it&nbsp;as disparaging and I'm not of the opinion that we should change anything,” she said.&nbsp;

Santos said that the imagery is meant to pay tribute to Native Americans, and naming a team&nbsp;the&nbsp;“Indians” is a matter of honor.&nbsp;

“When I hear the word&nbsp;Indian&nbsp;I don’t think of it as a word that reflects warriors and fighting,” she said. “I think of a good people who were here before my some of my own&nbsp;ancestors, people who persevered and had a positive influence.”&nbsp;

Santos points to the placement of a statue depicting a Kansa warrior on top of the capitol building in Topeka as indicative of the high regard in which native history and contributions are held.&nbsp;

“It’s our job to teach students that respect and honor,” she said.&nbsp;

Santos is open to discussions about the&nbsp;mascot .&nbsp;

“I would sit down and talk about it, but I’m not going to blindly vote&nbsp;to remove these images because somebody is offended,” she said.&nbsp;

Santos said that the solution is not erasing history.&nbsp;“We’ve got to come up with something better than that,” she said.&nbsp;

By contemporary social justice standards, the issue is not whether or not the use of native images is embracing and honoring Indigenous culture, but rather how it reinforces antiquated notions and whether or not Indigenous people want to be embraced and honored in that manner in the first place.&nbsp;

Dr. Alex&nbsp;Red Corn is an assistant professor at Kansas State University and co-chair of the K-State Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance.&nbsp;

Red Corn acknowledged the purported honor&nbsp;and respect&nbsp;bestowed on Indigenous populations with the portrayals.&nbsp;

“That’s a&nbsp;sticking point in a lot of communities,” Red Corn said. In the&nbsp;larger picture, Red Corn said that people are inundated with a&nbsp;“stuck-in-the-past" imagery of American Indians.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It's not just a mascot problem,” Red Corn said. “It’s&nbsp;all over the place, it's a media problem, and it's also a curriculum problem. The conversation isn't just about the images, it's about the collection of imagery and stereotypes that we are exposed to.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

He noted that when student&nbsp;go through an institution all of their learning is based on the textbooks,&nbsp;standards, and&nbsp;curriculum available that outdated stereotypes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“They don't have a modern, nuanced understanding of who American Indians are in the present,” Red Corn said. “Mascots are just one of a handful of things that are propping up these stereotypes.&nbsp;

Redcorn&nbsp;noted that Wichita North Atchison and Shawnee Mission North made changes after examining district policies and determining that using the mascots violated&nbsp;their own guidelines.&nbsp;

According to Red Corn,&nbsp;we are propping up&nbsp;the old&nbsp;stereotypes in state&nbsp;curriculum and textbook&nbsp;choices&nbsp;and modifying&nbsp;their curriculum to learn about the four tribes of Kansas in their&nbsp;modern context, and exposure to contemporary native authors.&nbsp;

“This helps paint a more accurate picture of who American Indian people are in the modern context,” Red Corn said,&nbsp;“because we all inherited this awkward and entangled history.&nbsp;

“The productive thing would to be focus on what does that look like now, and&nbsp;engage&nbsp;and&nbsp;expose our students to current Native&nbsp;issues so that when they go out in the world and they meet in American Indian they are operating from a better understanding of who that person is and not relying&nbsp;on an image of a&nbsp;stuck-in-the-past, feather-wearing people that does not&nbsp;exist in the present.”&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;At last Wednesday’s meeting of the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education, the&nbsp;boiling&nbsp;debate over Manhattan High School’s Indian mascot&nbsp;spilled over the rim and onto the public burner once again.&nbsp;BOE Vice President Kristin Brighton&nbsp;brought up the issue during the meeting, calling for continued discussion leading toward the&nbsp;“respectful retirement” of the&nbsp;MHS Indian name and imagery.&nbsp;Brighton said she is for&nbsp;respectfully retiring the mascot&nbsp;and&nbsp;would like to see a museum-type display discussing the use of the historical&nbsp;mascot, but also noting&nbsp;that as social norms changed,&nbsp;the way we talk about and treat other cultures in the United States changed as well.&nbsp;“Society&nbsp;is completely different than it was 80 years ago,” Brighton said.&nbsp;In 2017, the board voted to change the mascot from the Indians to the Wolves, but the plan was scrapped following heated opposition, with MHS ultimately removing Indian imagery from athletic uniforms and the football field logo.&nbsp;Officials elected to retain the various large Native American “Chief” depictions on campus and decorating walls within the existing high school facility.&nbsp;Brighton&nbsp;noted that as a marketing professional, “If a client says they are not using their logo because it's embarrassing&nbsp;or it's out-of-date, I tell them it's time for a new brand,” she said.&nbsp;“I believe that the Manhattan High School brand needs an overhaul for 2022.”&nbsp;While contemporary society reconsiders the&nbsp;historic&nbsp;treatment&nbsp;and current&nbsp;sensibilities of largely ignored peoples,&nbsp;the Manhattan community seems positioned in opposing trench lines.&nbsp;Opponents of native imagery say that at&nbsp;a time&nbsp;of&nbsp;mass&nbsp;efforts to&nbsp;improve&nbsp;cultural&nbsp;awareness&nbsp;of&nbsp;myriad&nbsp;racial&nbsp;and&nbsp;ethnic&nbsp;groups,&nbsp;Indigenous&nbsp;peoples are all but forgotten.&nbsp;Board member Brandy Santos was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting, but said she is not a proponent of changing the mascot name or removing native images.&nbsp;“I don't see it&nbsp;as disparaging and I'm not of the opinion that we should change anything,” she said.&nbsp;Santos said that the imagery is meant to pay tribute to Native Americans, and naming a team&nbsp;the&nbsp;“Indians” is a matter of honor.&nbsp;“When I hear the word&nbsp;Indian&nbsp;I don’t think of it as a word that reflects warriors and fighting,” she said. “I think of a good people who were here before my some of my own&nbsp;ancestors, people who persevered and had a positive influence.”&nbsp;Santos points to the placement of a statue depicting a Kansa warrior on top of the capitol building in Topeka as indicative of the high regard in which native history and contributions are held.&nbsp;“It’s our job to teach students that respect and honor,” she said.&nbsp;Santos is open to discussions about the&nbsp;mascot .&nbsp;“I would sit down and talk about it, but I’m not going to blindly vote&nbsp;to remove these images because somebody is offended,” she said.&nbsp;Santos said that the solution is not erasing history.&nbsp;“We’ve got to come up with something better than that,” she said.&nbsp;By contemporary social justice standards, the issue is not whether or not the use of native images is embracing and honoring Indigenous culture, but rather how it reinforces antiquated notions and whether or not Indigenous people want to be embraced and honored in that manner in the first place.&nbsp;Dr. Alex&nbsp;Red Corn is an assistant professor at Kansas State University and co-chair of the K-State Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance.&nbsp;Red Corn acknowledged the purported honor&nbsp;and respect&nbsp;bestowed on Indigenous populations with the portrayals.&nbsp;“That’s a&nbsp;sticking point in a lot of communities,” Red Corn said. In the&nbsp;larger picture, Red Corn said that people are inundated with a&nbsp;“stuck-in-the-past" imagery of American Indians.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It's not just a mascot problem,” Red Corn said. “It’s&nbsp;all over the place, it's a media problem, and it's also a curriculum problem. The conversation isn't just about the images, it's about the collection of imagery and stereotypes that we are exposed to.”&nbsp;&nbsp;He noted that when student&nbsp;go through an institution all of their learning is based on the textbooks,&nbsp;standards, and&nbsp;curriculum available that outdated stereotypes.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They don't have a modern, nuanced understanding of who American Indians are in the present,” Red Corn said. “Mascots are just one of a handful of things that are propping up these stereotypes.&nbsp;Redcorn&nbsp;noted that Wichita North Atchison and Shawnee Mission North made changes after examining district policies and determining that using the mascots violated&nbsp;their own guidelines.&nbsp;According to Red Corn,&nbsp;we are propping up&nbsp;the old&nbsp;stereotypes in state&nbsp;curriculum and textbook&nbsp;choices&nbsp;and modifying&nbsp;their curriculum to learn about the four tribes of Kansas in their&nbsp;modern context, and exposure to contemporary native authors.&nbsp;“This helps paint a more accurate picture of who American Indian people are in the modern context,” Red Corn said,&nbsp;“because we all inherited this awkward and entangled history.&nbsp;“The productive thing would to be focus on what does that look like now, and&nbsp;engage&nbsp;and&nbsp;expose our students to current Native&nbsp;issues so that when they go out in the world and they meet in American Indian they are operating from a better understanding of who that person is and not relying&nbsp;on an image of a&nbsp;stuck-in-the-past, feather-wearing people that does not&nbsp;exist in the present.”&nbsp;

School mascot debate boiling again in Manhattan

BOURBON COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Sunday in Bourbon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Cadillac DTS driven by Nelson T. Blythe, 27, Uniontown, Kan., was eastbound on U.S. 54 two miles east of Kansas Highway 3. The car struck a black cow.

EMS transported a passenger Euna K.Blythe, 28, Uniontown, to KU Medical Center. The driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

BOURBON COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Sunday in Bourbon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Cadillac DTS driven by Nelson T. Blythe, 27, Uniontown, Kan., was eastbound on U.S. 54 two miles east of Kansas Highway 3. The car struck a black cow.EMS transported a passenger Euna K.Blythe, 28, Uniontown, to KU Medical Center. The driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman seriously injured after car strikes a cow

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Sunday morning shooting in Osage County.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Osage County Communications Center received 911 call of shots being fired at a vehicle that had stopped at 165th and South Osage Road, northwest of Burlingame, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies along with a Burlingame Police Officer responded to the scene. While searching the area, several more shots were fired toward law enforcement. 

A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter and an Osage County K9 unit responded to the scene to assist. After an extensive search, deputies did not locate those responsible.&nbsp;

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit.

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Sunday morning shooting in Osage County.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Osage County Communications Center received 911 call of shots being fired at a vehicle that had stopped at 165th and South Osage Road, northwest of Burlingame, according to the sheriff's department.Deputies along with a Burlingame Police Officer responded to the scene. While searching the area, several more shots were fired toward law enforcement. A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter and an Osage County K9 unit responded to the scene to assist. After an extensive search, deputies did not locate those responsible.&nbsp;Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit.

Sheriff asks for help to ID suspect who shot at Kansas deputies 

The Federal Trade Commission obtained an <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/2-1.pdf">order</a>&nbsp;permanently
 banning a payment processor that facilitated a fraudulent student loan 
debt relief scheme from processing debt relief payments.&nbsp; The order also
 requires the company and its owner to surrender $500,000 to the FTC for
 consumer redress.

The FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/complaint_7.pdf">complaint</a>&nbsp;against
 Automatic Funds Transfer Services, Inc. (AFTS) and its owner, Eric 
Johnson, alleges that AFTS processed at least $31 million in consumer 
payments for <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-stops-student-loan-debt-relief-scheme-charges-operators">a fraudulent student loan debt relief scheme</a> sued by the FTC in 2019. The debt relief scheme used numerous names, including The Student Loan Group (SLG).

“Firms
 that facilitate fraud—especially against struggling student 
borrowers—need to pay a price,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the 
FTC’s Consumer Protection Bureau. “Many of these firms may operate in 
the background, but they’re very much in our sights.”

AFTS and 
Johnson processed payments from tens of thousands of consumers deceived 
by SLG into paying illegal upfront fees with false promises to lower the
 consumers’ monthly student loan payments. The complaint cites 
correspondence showing that AFTS and Johnson were aware of numerous 
issues with the scheme.

The FTC alleges that the company and 
Johnson received complaints from, among others, consumers and banks; 
were aware that SLG had high return rates and was collecting illegal 
upfront fees from consumers; and knew that SLG kept changing company and
 brand names to, among other reasons, mitigate negative publicity. 
Despite numerous warning signs, AFTS and Johnson continued processing 
consumer payments for SLG right until the scheme was ultimately shut 
down following an enforcement action by the FTC.

The settlement 
permanently prohibits AFTS and Johnson from processing payments for debt
 relief or student loan companies. They will also be prohibited from 
processing payments indirectly for any merchant that does not have a 
signed contract with AFTS, and will be required to apply enhanced 
screening and monitoring of certain high risk clients to ensure such 
clients are not operating illegally.

The settlement includes a 
monetary judgment of $27,584,969, which is largely suspended due to an 
inability to pay. AFTS and Johnson will be required to surrender 
$500,000 to the FTC, and if they are found to have misrepresented their 
financial status, the full amount of the judgment would be immediately 
due.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the 
complaint and stipulated final order was 4-0. The FTC filed the 
complaint and final order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission obtained an <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/2-1.pdf">order</a>&nbsp;permanently
 banning a payment processor that facilitated a fraudulent student loan 
debt relief scheme from processing debt relief payments.&nbsp; The order also
 requires the company and its owner to surrender $500,000 to the FTC for
 consumer redress.The FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/complaint_7.pdf">complaint</a>&nbsp;against
 Automatic Funds Transfer Services, Inc. (AFTS) and its owner, Eric 
Johnson, alleges that AFTS processed at least $31 million in consumer 
payments for <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-stops-student-loan-debt-relief-scheme-charges-operators">a fraudulent student loan debt relief scheme</a> sued by the FTC in 2019. The debt relief scheme used numerous names, including The Student Loan Group (SLG).“Firms
 that facilitate fraud—especially against struggling student 
borrowers—need to pay a price,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the 
FTC’s Consumer Protection Bureau. “Many of these firms may operate in 
the background, but they’re very much in our sights.”AFTS and 
Johnson processed payments from tens of thousands of consumers deceived 
by SLG into paying illegal upfront fees with false promises to lower the
 consumers’ monthly student loan payments. The complaint cites 
correspondence showing that AFTS and Johnson were aware of numerous 
issues with the scheme.The FTC alleges that the company and 
Johnson received complaints from, among others, consumers and banks; 
were aware that SLG had high return rates and was collecting illegal 
upfront fees from consumers; and knew that SLG kept changing company and
 brand names to, among other reasons, mitigate negative publicity. 
Despite numerous warning signs, AFTS and Johnson continued processing 
consumer payments for SLG right until the scheme was ultimately shut 
down following an enforcement action by the FTC.The settlement 
permanently prohibits AFTS and Johnson from processing payments for debt
 relief or student loan companies. They will also be prohibited from 
processing payments indirectly for any merchant that does not have a 
signed contract with AFTS, and will be required to apply enhanced 
screening and monitoring of certain high risk clients to ensure such 
clients are not operating illegally.The settlement includes a 
monetary judgment of $27,584,969, which is largely suspended due to an 
inability to pay. AFTS and Johnson will be required to surrender 
$500,000 to the FTC, and if they are found to have misrepresented their 
financial status, the full amount of the judgment would be immediately 
due.The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the 
complaint and stipulated final order was 4-0. The FTC filed the 
complaint and final order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.NOTE: The
 Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the 
named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it 
appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. 
Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed 
by the District Court judge.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC: Company processed millions in payments in student debt relief scheme 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that did damage to several homes in Topeka.

Just before 4:00 PM, fire crews responded to a house fire at 1271 S.W. Western Avenue, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison. As they arrived, fire crews observed heavy fire and smoke present at the rear of the residence and spreading rapidly to the adjacent structures. 

A search of this residence revealed that it was vacant at the time of the incident. The fire was extinguished at 1271 S.W. Western Ave. but not before 1269 S.W. Western Ave. and 1275 S.W. Western Ave. sustained exterior siding fire damage. Estimated total damage is listed at $38,000, according to Harrison.

1271 S.W. Western Ave. sustained an estimated $32,000 to the structure and no contents loss. 1269 S.W. Western Ave. sustained an estimated $2,500 structural damage and no contents loss. 1275 S.W. Western Ave. sustained an estimated $3,500 structural damage, no contents loss.

Fire investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the home. Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 or Toll Free at 1-800-222 TIPS (8477).

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that did damage to several homes in Topeka.Just before 4:00 PM, fire crews responded to a house fire at 1271 S.W. Western Avenue, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison. As they arrived, fire crews observed heavy fire and smoke present at the rear of the residence and spreading rapidly to the adjacent structures. A search of this residence revealed that it was vacant at the time of the incident. The fire was extinguished at 1271 S.W. Western Ave. but not before 1269 S.W. Western Ave. and 1275 S.W. Western Ave. sustained exterior siding fire damage. Estimated total damage is listed at $38,000, according to Harrison.1271 S.W. Western Ave. sustained an estimated $32,000 to the structure and no contents loss. 1269 S.W. Western Ave. sustained an estimated $2,500 structural damage and no contents loss. 1275 S.W. Western Ave. sustained an estimated $3,500 structural damage, no contents loss.Fire investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the home. Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 or Toll Free at 1-800-222 TIPS (8477).

Kansas house fire spreads to neighbor's homes

BBB is receiving several reports from seniors reporting that they are receiving <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21903-scam-alert-mandatory-covid-19-test-texts-are-a-scam" target="_blank">text messages from scammers</a>
 posing as the U.S. Department of Health, about taking a mandatory 
online COVID-19 test in order to receive the recently approved stimulus 
payment. Others are receiving emails stating they qualify for a payment 
and to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21774-scam-alert-government-relief-checks-trigger-latest-coronavirus-scam" target="_blank">click on a link to claim a check</a>.
 During this time of uncertainty, it is the ideal time for a scammer to 
prey on fear. The bottom-line is don’t respond to a text, email or phone
 call from a sender that is unfamiliar, even if it looks official or 
from a respected agency.

These schemes often manifest as someone impersonating a respected 
agency or government entity, like the Social Security Administration or 
police, insisting a potential victim act immediately or face 
consequences. In fact, a <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21781-coronavirus-creates-perfect-storm-for-scammers" target="_blank">research report</a>
 released by the Better Business Bureau, FINRA Investor Education 
Foundation, and the Stanford Center on Longevity found that the top 
reason people said they lose money was because the scammer “seemed 
official.”

Seniors aged 65 and over reported losing a median of $350 last year 
when falling victim to a scam – which is more than double the loss 
across all age groups ($160). However, seniors 65 and older are more 
likely to walk away from a scam and avoid financial loss, with one in 
four seniors reporting a loss this past year (versus one in three across
 all ages).

With the current coronavirus pandemic, scammers will constantly 
change their tactics to catch people off guard. Here are some tips for 
seniors to protect against scams:

Learn more about COVID-19 scams at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">BBB.org/coronavirus</a>, and review reports from other consumers at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker.</a> You can help protect your friends and family by passing on what you’ve learned!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauBBB is receiving several reports from seniors reporting that they are receiving <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21903-scam-alert-mandatory-covid-19-test-texts-are-a-scam" target="_blank">text messages from scammers</a>
 posing as the U.S. Department of Health, about taking a mandatory 
online COVID-19 test in order to receive the recently approved stimulus 
payment. Others are receiving emails stating they qualify for a payment 
and to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21774-scam-alert-government-relief-checks-trigger-latest-coronavirus-scam" target="_blank">click on a link to claim a check</a>.
 During this time of uncertainty, it is the ideal time for a scammer to 
prey on fear. The bottom-line is don’t respond to a text, email or phone
 call from a sender that is unfamiliar, even if it looks official or 
from a respected agency.These schemes often manifest as someone impersonating a respected 
agency or government entity, like the Social Security Administration or 
police, insisting a potential victim act immediately or face 
consequences. In fact, a <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21781-coronavirus-creates-perfect-storm-for-scammers" target="_blank">research report</a>
 released by the Better Business Bureau, FINRA Investor Education 
Foundation, and the Stanford Center on Longevity found that the top 
reason people said they lose money was because the scammer “seemed 
official.”Seniors aged 65 and over reported losing a median of $350 last year 
when falling victim to a scam – which is more than double the loss 
across all age groups ($160). However, seniors 65 and older are more 
likely to walk away from a scam and avoid financial loss, with one in 
four seniors reporting a loss this past year (versus one in three across
 all ages).With the current coronavirus pandemic, scammers will constantly 
change their tactics to catch people off guard. Here are some tips for 
seniors to protect against scams:<ul>
 <li>Don’t be afraid to contact someone. Reach out to a 
family member, neighbor, or a company or organization you trust for 
advice. Research shows that individuals that are living alone, widowed, 
or those feeling isolated from others are more likely to engage with and
 lose money to scammers. If a scammer tries to keep you on the phone or 
rush you to a decision, hang up and ask someone for advice. </li><li>Avoid “miracle” product claims that can protect you
 or your home from disease. Companies targeting older consumers with 
products and services claiming to protect from diseases like COVID-19 
are shams without a proven cure. Don’t just believe testimonials on a 
company’s website; instead, research the company and product through 
trusted organizations like the <a href="https://www.bbb.org">Better Business Bureau</a>. </li><li>Be wary of offers sounding too good to be true. 
They won’t help you get ahead. Scammers look for individuals looking to 
“catch up” or “get ahead” financially, and if your retirement was 
affected by the market's ups and downs – don’t panic. Periods of high 
emotion are rarely the right time to re-evaluate your financial future. 
Instead, take a deep breath and contact a trustworthy broker or <a href="http://www.bbb.org/near-me/financial-planning-consultants" target="_blank">financial advisor</a>. </li><li>Be smart and aware. Knowing about the scams out 
there significantly reduces the likelihood of financial loss. When 
someone contacts you about an “amazing opportunity,” it’s easier to 
separate fact from fiction.</li>
 </ul>Learn more about COVID-19 scams at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">BBB.org/coronavirus</a>, and review reports from other consumers at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker.</a> You can help protect your friends and family by passing on what you’ve learned!Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Pandemic scams increasingly targeting US seniors

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say one woman has died and another has been wounded in a shooting outside a home. 

Police say the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday just west of Highland Cemetery following a disturbance. Arriving officers found two women who had been shot in front of a home. 

Both were rushed to a hospital, where one of the women died from her injuries. Police have not released the women's names. Wichita Police Lt. Roderick Miller told television station KAKE that investigators were interviewing neighbors and the surviving woman to learn more details of the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636386789329.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say one woman has died and another has been wounded in a shooting outside a home. Police say the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday just west of Highland Cemetery following a disturbance. Arriving officers found two women who had been shot in front of a home. Both were rushed to a hospital, where one of the women died from her injuries. Police have not released the women's names. Wichita Police Lt. Roderick Miller told television station KAKE that investigators were interviewing neighbors and the surviving woman to learn more details of the shooting.

Police: 2 women found shot outside Kansas home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man convicted of fleeing from police that led to another driver's death has been sentenced to life in prison. Brandon Jordan was sentenced Friday in the death of 69-year-old Dennis Affolter of Topeka. 

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said the chase in November 2019 began after officers received a report of a man trying to pass forged checks at a Topeka bank. 

The suspect's car eventually ran a red light and hit a vehicle driven by Affolter, who later died of his injuries. Jordan was convicted in August of first-degree murder and several other charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573558827876.png" alt="Brandon Jordan-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Brandon Jordan-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man convicted of fleeing from police that led to another driver's death has been sentenced to life in prison. Brandon Jordan was sentenced Friday in the death of 69-year-old Dennis Affolter of Topeka. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said the chase in November 2019 began after officers received a report of a man trying to pass forged checks at a Topeka bank. The suspect's car eventually ran a red light and hit a vehicle driven by Affolter, who later died of his injuries. Jordan was convicted in August of first-degree murder and several other charges.

Life in prison for man's death during Kan. police chase

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a violent attack on a woman.

At 2:30p.m. September 17, officers responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

EMS transported a 36-year-old woman from the scene to the hospital for injuries incurred during the disturbance. 

A 34-year-old suspect had left the area and not located. It was determined that the suspect had struck the victim with his hands and feet and struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat.

On Friday, police arrested Anthony M. Barnhart, 34, Atchison, on a District Court warrant and requested charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal threat, according to Wilson.

Authorities have arrested Barnhart six times over the past two years, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636138280692.png" alt="Barnhart-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Barnhart-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a violent attack on a woman.At 2:30p.m. September 17, officers responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.EMS transported a 36-year-old woman from the scene to the hospital for injuries incurred during the disturbance. A 34-year-old suspect had left the area and not located. It was determined that the suspect had struck the victim with his hands and feet and struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat.On Friday, police arrested Anthony M. Barnhart, 34, Atchison, on a District Court warrant and requested charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal threat, according to Wilson.Authorities have arrested Barnhart six times over the past two years, according to online jail records.

Police: Kan. man used baseball bat in violent attack on woman

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

&nbsp;Just after 7:30p.m. on September 1, police were dispatched to the 1300 Block of SW Huntoon Street in Topeka in reference to a shooting that had just occurred, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.

 Officers arrived and found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Thanks to citizen tips on Crime Stoppers, the photos of the suspect were identified as Adofo-Julius Smith, 19, of Topeka.&nbsp; On Friday, police located Smith, also due to a Crime Stopper tip, and arrested him, according to Lt. Stanley. 

Smith is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Criminal Possession of a firearm, Unlawful Discharge of a weapon and interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636230099834.png" alt="Smith-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;Just after 7:30p.m. on September 1, police were dispatched to the 1300 Block of SW Huntoon Street in Topeka in reference to a shooting that had just occurred, according to Lt. Edward Stanley. Officers arrived and found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp;Thanks to citizen tips on Crime Stoppers, the photos of the suspect were identified as Adofo-Julius Smith, 19, of Topeka.&nbsp; On Friday, police located Smith, also due to a Crime Stopper tip, and arrested him, according to Lt. Stanley. Smith is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Criminal Possession of a firearm, Unlawful Discharge of a weapon and interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.

Tip leads police to ID and arrest of Kan. shooting suspect 

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — As COVID-19 ravaged Hungary in April, Budapest resident Akos Sipos received his second vaccine dose, believing he was doing the right thing for his own health and to help end the pandemic.

But Sipos, 46, soon discovered that the vaccine he received, Russia’s Sputnik V, disqualified him from traveling to a number of other countries where it hadn’t been approved. The nations include the United States, which is pushing forward with a new air travel policy that will make Sipos and many like him ineligible to enter.

“I thought it’s better to get Sputnik today than a Western vaccine at some uncertain future time,” Sipos, who works as a search engine optimization specialist, said of his initial decision to receive the jab. “But I couldn’t have known at that time that I wouldn’t be able to travel with Sputnik.”

Starting Monday, the United States plans to reopen to foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But there’s a catch: non-immigrant adults need to have received vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or which received an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization.

That leaves many hopeful travelers across the globe who have taken full courses of vaccines widely used in other parts of the world — Sputnik V and the China-produced CanSino jab, in particular — scrambling to get reinoculated with shots approved by U.S. authorities.

Two other Chinese vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac, have been approved by the WHO and will thus be accepted for travel into the U.S.

Mexico received nearly 12 million doses of CanSino and almost 20 million of Sputnik V after shipments began earlier this year. Residents who got the required two shots of those vaccines now are looking to top up with shots of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines, hoping that will make them eligible to cross the border.

“They screwed those of us who got this vaccine,” said Rosenda Ruiz, 52, a public relations manager in Mexico City who received Sputnik V. “There are lots of Mexicans who want to travel, but we can’t. I am thinking of getting whatever other vaccine I can get.”

While Sputnik V is used in around 70 countries worldwide, it has still not been approved by either the FDA or the U.N. health agency. Nearly 1 million people have received the vaccine in Hungary, a Central European country of around 10 million.

Hungary was one of only two countries in the 27-member European Union to roll out the Russian vaccine. Fewer than 20,000 people received it in Slovakia.

Judit Molnar, president of the Association of Hungarian Travel Agencies, says so many Hungarians being unable to travel to the United States — or even to some countries in the EU which don’t accept the jab — has had an effect on her industry.

“We see that in the last few months, travelers are increasingly asking us when they can travel to America,” said Molnar, who is also president of the OTP Travel agency.

“These travelers are saying they really hope the situation will change and that the United States will accept the Sputnik vaccine. There are many people who would like to travel and in Hungary, many people were vaccinated with Sputnik,” she said.

Citizens of Russia, where use of Sputnik V is most widespread, also are seeking Western-approved shots so they can travel abroad. Faced with the prospect of being turned away from flights, Russians have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-russia-travel-serbia-sputnik-v-02aa2bc49d00299493aa46c1af5e15a2">booked tours to Serbia</a>, which has authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech, China’s Sinopharm and the AstraZeneca vaccines in addition to Sputnik V.

Russia, which unveiled Sputnik V with much fanfare as the world’s first registered vaccine in August 2020, criticized U.S. plans to leave the vaccine off its list of approved shots.

“There are exactly zero reasons for such decisions,” Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign relations committee in the Russian Duma, or lower house of parliament. “The effectiveness and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine has been proven not only by specialists, but also by its practical application.”

But the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-world-health-organization-europe-russia-3e8159d00b525c187864f8b68252691e">still is reviewing the vaccine</a>, and months of holdups make it unclear when Sputnik V might receive an emergency use listing.

Hungary’s government has made bilateral agreements with 24 countries — including Russia, Serbia, Mongolia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan — on mutually recognizing proof of vaccination, regardless of vaccine type.

Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Associated Press that it is open to a similar agreement with the United States, but “currently there is no ongoing negotiation.”

Sipos, the search engine specialist, said that while he was confident in Sputnik V’s efficacy, he recently sought a Western-approved booster shot, Moderna, so he could travel where he wants.

“I felt deceived because they accept Sputnik in more than 60 countries in the world, but in tons of other countries they don’t,” he said.

Silvia Morales, 38, a public high school teacher in Monterrey, Mexico, said she recently received a Moderna shot after hearing that the U.S. government wouldn’t recognize her CanSino vaccine.

She said she “needed to have peace of mind” about her level of protection against the virus.

“But I also love traveling to the United States,” she said.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — As COVID-19 ravaged Hungary in April, Budapest resident Akos Sipos received his second vaccine dose, believing he was doing the right thing for his own health and to help end the pandemic.But Sipos, 46, soon discovered that the vaccine he received, Russia’s Sputnik V, disqualified him from traveling to a number of other countries where it hadn’t been approved. The nations include the United States, which is pushing forward with a new air travel policy that will make Sipos and many like him ineligible to enter.“I thought it’s better to get Sputnik today than a Western vaccine at some uncertain future time,” Sipos, who works as a search engine optimization specialist, said of his initial decision to receive the jab. “But I couldn’t have known at that time that I wouldn’t be able to travel with Sputnik.”Starting Monday, the United States plans to reopen to foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But there’s a catch: non-immigrant adults need to have received vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or which received an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization.That leaves many hopeful travelers across the globe who have taken full courses of vaccines widely used in other parts of the world — Sputnik V and the China-produced CanSino jab, in particular — scrambling to get reinoculated with shots approved by U.S. authorities.Two other Chinese vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac, have been approved by the WHO and will thus be accepted for travel into the U.S.Mexico received nearly 12 million doses of CanSino and almost 20 million of Sputnik V after shipments began earlier this year. Residents who got the required two shots of those vaccines now are looking to top up with shots of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines, hoping that will make them eligible to cross the border.“They screwed those of us who got this vaccine,” said Rosenda Ruiz, 52, a public relations manager in Mexico City who received Sputnik V. “There are lots of Mexicans who want to travel, but we can’t. I am thinking of getting whatever other vaccine I can get.”While Sputnik V is used in around 70 countries worldwide, it has still not been approved by either the FDA or the U.N. health agency. Nearly 1 million people have received the vaccine in Hungary, a Central European country of around 10 million.Hungary was one of only two countries in the 27-member European Union to roll out the Russian vaccine. Fewer than 20,000 people received it in Slovakia.Judit Molnar, president of the Association of Hungarian Travel Agencies, says so many Hungarians being unable to travel to the United States — or even to some countries in the EU which don’t accept the jab — has had an effect on her industry.“We see that in the last few months, travelers are increasingly asking us when they can travel to America,” said Molnar, who is also president of the OTP Travel agency.“These travelers are saying they really hope the situation will change and that the United States will accept the Sputnik vaccine. There are many people who would like to travel and in Hungary, many people were vaccinated with Sputnik,” she said.Citizens of Russia, where use of Sputnik V is most widespread, also are seeking Western-approved shots so they can travel abroad. Faced with the prospect of being turned away from flights, Russians have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-russia-travel-serbia-sputnik-v-02aa2bc49d00299493aa46c1af5e15a2">booked tours to Serbia</a>, which has authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech, China’s Sinopharm and the AstraZeneca vaccines in addition to Sputnik V.Russia, which unveiled Sputnik V with much fanfare as the world’s first registered vaccine in August 2020, criticized U.S. plans to leave the vaccine off its list of approved shots.“There are exactly zero reasons for such decisions,” Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign relations committee in the Russian Duma, or lower house of parliament. “The effectiveness and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine has been proven not only by specialists, but also by its practical application.”But the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-world-health-organization-europe-russia-3e8159d00b525c187864f8b68252691e">still is reviewing the vaccine</a>, and months of holdups make it unclear when Sputnik V might receive an emergency use listing.Hungary’s government has made bilateral agreements with 24 countries — including Russia, Serbia, Mongolia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan — on mutually recognizing proof of vaccination, regardless of vaccine type.Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Associated Press that it is open to a similar agreement with the United States, but “currently there is no ongoing negotiation.”Sipos, the search engine specialist, said that while he was confident in Sputnik V’s efficacy, he recently sought a Western-approved booster shot, Moderna, so he could travel where he wants.“I felt deceived because they accept Sputnik in more than 60 countries in the world, but in tons of other countries they don’t,” he said.Silvia Morales, 38, a public high school teacher in Monterrey, Mexico, said she recently received a Moderna shot after hearing that the U.S. government wouldn’t recognize her CanSino vaccine.She said she “needed to have peace of mind” about her level of protection against the virus.“But I also love traveling to the United States,” she said.___

Foreign citizens seek US-approved shots as travel resumes

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/03/kansas-foster-care-system-isnt-following-family-first-imperative-advocates-parents-argue/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — In 21 years working with 
incarcerated mothers and grandmothers, Dani Hulings has seen how the 
Kansas foster care system can often shut out parents and their families 
from the placement process.

Hulings, a coordinator for the 
Offender Family Reintegration Services at the Topeka Correctional 
Facility, meets with approximately 67 of these mothers as part of the 
Women’s Activity Learning Center program. Those 67 mothers have 122 
children currently in the foster care system.

Many of the women, who often lack 
external support, are not being given a fair shot to keep a familial 
connection with their child, Hulings said. She said people have a 
misconception that these mothers are only sober because they are in 
jail.

“I see the women through their sober 
eyes and see that they are truly giving it their all to maintain their 
parental rights,” Hulings said. Those who are sober here are that way 
because they make the conscious decision to be.”

Hulings provided her perspective on 
the failings of the beleaguered Kansas foster care system on Wednesday 
to the Joint Committee on the Child Welfare System. While governmental 
agencies and foster care providers say the goal is to keep families 
together, Hulings, parents and other stakeholders say this is often not 
how things play out.

In Hulings’ experience, for example, 
once a woman becomes incarcerated, reintegration usually gets sidelined 
and parental rights are almost assuredly terminated. She said this goes 
against the principle of supporting a family-first approach with 
children before placing them in foster care.

In many cases, children in the foster
 care system will go through three to five caseworkers in a year and 
several placements, Hulings said. Rather than focus on placing a child 
into foster care, the state ought to focus on truly keeping children in 
the family and addressing the root cause of the incarcerated women’s 
difficulties, like a growing drug epidemic.

“The majority of the women I assist 
here have an underlying drug problem and, in some cases, prison saved 
their lives,” Hulings said. “Once they are incarcerated and able to 
focus on drug rehabilitation and trauma issues, a new door opens for 
them to see life differently. They just needed someone to give them a 
chance to work on themselves.”

Legislators on the panel noted this view of incarcerated mothers is not often highlighted during their committee hearings.

Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, 
said incarceration often cuts the moms off from outside resources, 
leaving them unable to fight for their parental rights and show their 
efforts to adequately parent their child.

“We have a very lackluster skills 
program for the women in the adult custody to develop skills for 
meaningful job opportunities,” Baumgardner said. “How might we make 
things more consistent for women that are incarcerated and afford them 
the same leeway that seems to be occurring outside of the incarcerated 
foster system?”

Three parents — Tobin Hoffman, Randy 
Pruett and Raymond Sipult — whose children entered the foster care 
system at one point, testified about what needed to be changed to 
prevent families from being left out of the process. Hoffman said he and
 30 members of his family showed up to the custody hearing, but even 
then, the state chose to place his son into foster care.

“You have agencies that are not 
following the laws and policies that were set forth by the Kansas 
lawmakers,” Hoffman said. “I want an independent entity to be able to 
have the community review their practices to make sure they are 
following the appropriate guidelines for families.”

Mary Dean, president of Kansas 
Justice Advocate, also noted that Black children are reintegrated at a 
disproportionately lower rate than other demographics. She said Black 
children are also over-represented in foster care nationally at a rate 
more than twice their proportion in the U.S. child population.

Black children are four times more likely to be placed in the state’s care, she said.

“I get phone calls regularly from 
parents and grandparents about issues, especially when it comes to 
having their children taken away from them because of their situations,”
 Dean said. “Black cultures are different from a lot of cultures and 
that’s something that it would appear that some social workers are not 
willing to understand. They don’t care.”

Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, said 
there is a larger issue with people conflating having limited space in 
their living arrangements with a parental inability to care for their 
children. Gossage pointed to her own upbringing as one of 15 children 
growing up on a farm with tight living quarters.

She also said cultural differences might be at play, especially if the people making custody decisions were raised in homes where there were three bathrooms and everybody had their own bedroom.

“They don’t understand that these are
 people that maybe can benefit from some free clothing or some help with
 food, but can still take care of their families,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636051463799.png" alt="Dani Hulings said work with incarcerated mothers revealed a foster care system struggling to keep children with their families. Focus should be on rehabilitating the parents and reuniting them with their children, she said. (Screenshot of Kansas Legislature Youtube)" />
 <figcaption>Dani Hulings said work with incarcerated mothers revealed a foster care system struggling to keep children with their families. Focus should be on rehabilitating the parents and reuniting them with their children, she said. (Screenshot of Kansas Legislature Youtube)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/03/kansas-foster-care-system-isnt-following-family-first-imperative-advocates-parents-argue/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — In 21 years working with 
incarcerated mothers and grandmothers, Dani Hulings has seen how the 
Kansas foster care system can often shut out parents and their families 
from the placement process.Hulings, a coordinator for the 
Offender Family Reintegration Services at the Topeka Correctional 
Facility, meets with approximately 67 of these mothers as part of the 
Women’s Activity Learning Center program. Those 67 mothers have 122 
children currently in the foster care system.Many of the women, who often lack 
external support, are not being given a fair shot to keep a familial 
connection with their child, Hulings said. She said people have a 
misconception that these mothers are only sober because they are in 
jail.“I see the women through their sober 
eyes and see that they are truly giving it their all to maintain their 
parental rights,” Hulings said. Those who are sober here are that way 
because they make the conscious decision to be.”Hulings provided her perspective on 
the failings of the beleaguered Kansas foster care system on Wednesday 
to the Joint Committee on the Child Welfare System. While governmental 
agencies and foster care providers say the goal is to keep families 
together, Hulings, parents and other stakeholders say this is often not 
how things play out.In Hulings’ experience, for example, 
once a woman becomes incarcerated, reintegration usually gets sidelined 
and parental rights are almost assuredly terminated. She said this goes 
against the principle of supporting a family-first approach with 
children before placing them in foster care.In many cases, children in the foster
 care system will go through three to five caseworkers in a year and 
several placements, Hulings said. Rather than focus on placing a child 
into foster care, the state ought to focus on truly keeping children in 
the family and addressing the root cause of the incarcerated women’s 
difficulties, like a growing drug epidemic.“The majority of the women I assist 
here have an underlying drug problem and, in some cases, prison saved 
their lives,” Hulings said. “Once they are incarcerated and able to 
focus on drug rehabilitation and trauma issues, a new door opens for 
them to see life differently. They just needed someone to give them a 
chance to work on themselves.”Legislators on the panel noted this view of incarcerated mothers is not often highlighted during their committee hearings.Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, 
said incarceration often cuts the moms off from outside resources, 
leaving them unable to fight for their parental rights and show their 
efforts to adequately parent their child.“We have a very lackluster skills 
program for the women in the adult custody to develop skills for 
meaningful job opportunities,” Baumgardner said. “How might we make 
things more consistent for women that are incarcerated and afford them 
the same leeway that seems to be occurring outside of the incarcerated 
foster system?”Three parents — Tobin Hoffman, Randy 
Pruett and Raymond Sipult — whose children entered the foster care 
system at one point, testified about what needed to be changed to 
prevent families from being left out of the process. Hoffman said he and
 30 members of his family showed up to the custody hearing, but even 
then, the state chose to place his son into foster care.“You have agencies that are not 
following the laws and policies that were set forth by the Kansas 
lawmakers,” Hoffman said. “I want an independent entity to be able to 
have the community review their practices to make sure they are 
following the appropriate guidelines for families.”Mary Dean, president of Kansas 
Justice Advocate, also noted that Black children are reintegrated at a 
disproportionately lower rate than other demographics. She said Black 
children are also over-represented in foster care nationally at a rate 
more than twice their proportion in the U.S. child population.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636051536689.jpeg" alt="Sen. Beverly Gossage said many who grow up with ample living space misunderstand that less space doesn’t equal an inability to care for children. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Beverly Gossage said many who grow up with ample living space misunderstand that less space doesn’t equal an inability to care for children. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Black children are four times more likely to be placed in the state’s care, she said.“I get phone calls regularly from 
parents and grandparents about issues, especially when it comes to 
having their children taken away from them because of their situations,”
 Dean said. “Black cultures are different from a lot of cultures and 
that’s something that it would appear that some social workers are not 
willing to understand. They don’t care.”Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, said 
there is a larger issue with people conflating having limited space in 
their living arrangements with a parental inability to care for their 
children. Gossage pointed to her own upbringing as one of 15 children 
growing up on a farm with tight living quarters.She also said cultural differences might be at play, especially if the people making custody decisions were raised in homes where there were three bathrooms and everybody had their own bedroom.“They don’t understand that these are
 people that maybe can benefit from some free clothing or some help with
 food, but can still take care of their families,” she said.

Advocates: Kan. foster care system isn’t following family-first imperative

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest facing child pornography charges in&nbsp;Rhode Island&nbsp;was released on unsecured bond and will be allowed to travel to&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;to stay with a family member while he awaits trial.

The Rev. James W. Jackson, 66, made an initial appearance in federal court in Providence on Wednesday.

Prosecutors sought to have Jackson detained, saying he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. But Jackson will be allowed to travel to Kansas with home detention and GPS monitoring. Authorities did not specify exactly where in Kansas he would stay.

Jackson was arrested on Saturday by state police after a court-authorized search warrant was executed at St. Mary's church and rectory in Providence.

According to an affidavit, the investigation began on Sept. 4 after police identified an IP address sharing files of “child sexual abuse materials” through a peer-to-peer network.

The IP address was linked to St. Mary’s, according to authorities.

Investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on an external hard drive owned by Jackson, according to court documents. An email seeking comment was left with Jackson's attorney.

Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin in an earlier statement said Jackson has been prohibited from performing the duties of a priest.

Jackson came to the diocese in August from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, which has cared for St. Mary's since June 2018. He had previously passed a background check, the organization said.

Jackson also faces arraignment on related state charges on Nov. 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636050976552.png" alt="Jackson photo&nbsp;Rhode Island State Police" />
 <figcaption>Jackson photo&nbsp;Rhode Island State Police</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest facing child pornography charges in&nbsp;Rhode Island&nbsp;was released on unsecured bond and will be allowed to travel to&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;to stay with a family member while he awaits trial.The Rev. James W. Jackson, 66, made an initial appearance in federal court in Providence on Wednesday.Prosecutors sought to have Jackson detained, saying he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. But Jackson will be allowed to travel to Kansas with home detention and GPS monitoring. Authorities did not specify exactly where in Kansas he would stay.Jackson was arrested on Saturday by state police after a court-authorized search warrant was executed at St. Mary's church and rectory in Providence.According to an affidavit, the investigation began on Sept. 4 after police identified an IP address sharing files of “child sexual abuse materials” through a peer-to-peer network.The IP address was linked to St. Mary’s, according to authorities.Investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on an external hard drive owned by Jackson, according to court documents. An email seeking comment was left with Jackson's attorney.Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin in an earlier statement said Jackson has been prohibited from performing the duties of a priest.Jackson came to the diocese in August from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, which has cared for St. Mary's since June 2018. He had previously passed a background check, the organization said.Jackson also faces arraignment on related state charges on Nov. 15.

Priest had 'hundreds' of child porn images, will await trial in Kan.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 1a.m. Sunday in Shawnee County.

&nbsp;A 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Chase A. Barfoot, 28, Topeka, was westbound in the 2700 Block of SE 61st Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The pickup left the road to the north, struck multiple objects including trees, culverts and a telephone pole.

Barfoot was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's department released no additional details. The incident is still under investigation.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 1a.m. Sunday in Shawnee County.&nbsp;A 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Chase A. Barfoot, 28, Topeka, was westbound in the 2700 Block of SE 61st Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The pickup left the road to the north, struck multiple objects including trees, culverts and a telephone pole.Barfoot was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's department released no additional details. The incident is still under investigation.

Kansas man dies after violent pickup crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than two dozen Republican-led states filed lawsuits Friday challenging President Joe Biden’s vaccine requirement for private companies, setting up a high-stakes legal showdown pitting federal authority against states’ rights.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4, or face mask requirements and weekly tests.&nbsp;&nbsp; The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51">requirement issued Thursday by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;applies to businesses with more than 100 employees. The lawsuits ask courts to decide whether the administration’s effort to curtail the pandemic represents a federal power grab and usurps the authority of states to set health policy.

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule.

“This mandate is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a court filing in the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of 11 states.

The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-6e758dc5e24320677e48f58cbfca37bf">has been encouraging widespread vaccinations</a>&nbsp;as the quickest way out of the pandemic. A White House spokeswoman said Thursday that the mandate was intended to halt the spread of a disease that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the U.S.

The administration says it is confident that its requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.

Seema Nanda, solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, said in a statement Friday that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act gives OSHA the authority to act quickly during an emergency if it finds workers are subject to a grave danger. The agency contends its temporary rule also preempts any state or local bans on employers’ ability to require vaccines.

“We are fully prepared to defend this standard in court,” Nanda said.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and director of the World Health Organization’s center on health law, said the half-century-old law that created OSHA gives it the power to set minimum workplace safety measures.

“I think that Biden is on rock-solid legal ground,” he said.

Critics have taken aim at some aspects of the requirement, including that it was adopted as an emergency measure rather than after the agency’s regular rule-making process.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than two dozen Republican-led states filed lawsuits Friday challenging President Joe Biden’s vaccine requirement for private companies, setting up a high-stakes legal showdown pitting federal authority against states’ rights.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4, or face mask requirements and weekly tests.&nbsp;&nbsp; The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51">requirement issued Thursday by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;applies to businesses with more than 100 employees. The lawsuits ask courts to decide whether the administration’s effort to curtail the pandemic represents a federal power grab and usurps the authority of states to set health policy.At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule.“This mandate is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a court filing in the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of 11 states.The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-6e758dc5e24320677e48f58cbfca37bf">has been encouraging widespread vaccinations</a>&nbsp;as the quickest way out of the pandemic. A White House spokeswoman said Thursday that the mandate was intended to halt the spread of a disease that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the U.S.The administration says it is confident that its requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.Seema Nanda, solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, said in a statement Friday that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act gives OSHA the authority to act quickly during an emergency if it finds workers are subject to a grave danger. The agency contends its temporary rule also preempts any state or local bans on employers’ ability to require vaccines.“We are fully prepared to defend this standard in court,” Nanda said.Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and director of the World Health Organization’s center on health law, said the half-century-old law that created OSHA gives it the power to set minimum workplace safety measures.“I think that Biden is on rock-solid legal ground,” he said.Critics have taken aim at some aspects of the requirement, including that it was adopted as an emergency measure rather than after the agency’s regular rule-making process.“This is a real emergency,” said Gostin, who has spoken with the Biden administration about the requirement. “In fact, it’s a national crisis. Any delay would cause thousands of deaths.”Missouri’s lawsuit was joined by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-states-suing-employer-vaccine-mandates-f4300ed015ed716a1054949cf199a25a">Republican attorneys general</a>&nbsp;of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Also joining the lawsuit was the office of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, the only Democratic attorney general to take part in the legal challenges to the mandate.In a statement, Miller said he was filing at the behest of Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican: “It is my duty, under the law, to prosecute or defend any actions in court when requested by the governor.”Other coalitions of states also filed lawsuits Friday: Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Utah in the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia in the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit; and Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit. Later Friday, Indiana filed in the Chicago-based 7th Circuit.The states filed the lawsuits in the most conservative appeals courts in the country, courts where appointees of former President Donald Trump bolstered Republican-appointed majorities. It’s unclear whether different judges will rule on the challenges separately at first, or whether the cases will be consolidated in one court early in the process.Several businesses, associations and religious groups also joined with the states’ petitions, and some filed lawsuits on their own.Among them are a conservative media company,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-wisconsin-lawsuits-ee8ea9d8aa856d6d5d3722818b921d65">two Wisconsin manufacturers,&nbsp;</a>companies in Michigan and Ohio, the owner of 15 grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi, and a group of remote workers in Texas. All are represented by conservative law firms.“Over the past 20 months, my employees have showed up to work and served their communities in the face of COVID and hurricanes. Now I’m being told by the government to insert myself into their private health decisions?” Brandon Trosclair, owner of grocery stores that employ about 500 workers, said in a statement. “That’s wrong and I won’t stand for it.”The Daily Wire media company objected on several fronts, including the idea that employers will have to track which workers have been vaccinated and treat those who have received shots differently from those who have not.“What the government is asking us to do is discriminate against our own employee over their own personal health care decisions,” said Jeremy Boreing, co-CEO of the company.Shannon Royce, president of the Christian Employers Alliance, said the group wasn’t challenging the rule out of opposition to vaccines, noting that some group members have provided incentives for employees to get the shot. Instead, they “oppose being used as a tool” of the federal government.Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said the workplace rule also changes religious organizations’ relationship with their employees.“That, I believe, is a form of government coercion — turning a religious institution into a form of government coercion that we must resist,” Mohler said.So far, courts have allowed businesses on their own to require employees to be vaccinated. But Michael Elkins, a Florida-based employment lawyer, said those decisions do not necessarily mean judges will rule the same way when it comes to the federal government’s requirement.“You may see a federal judge, or a bunch of them, say, ‘This is just overreach,’” Elkins said.Benjamin Noren, a New York-based labor lawyer, said he thought the rule is likely to be struck down because OSHA was intended to deal with workplace hazards such as chemicals, not a virus. He said OSHA has made 10 emergency rules in the last five decades. Of the six that were challenged, only one survived intact.“It’s an innovative use by the Biden administration to figure out some way to mandate vaccination in the private sector,” Noren said. “I hope it works. I have doubts.”Ahead of the OSHA rule, several states have passed laws or issued executive orders blocking or limiting employer mandates related to the virus.In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson allowed such a bill to become law without his signature. It takes effect early next year and allows employees to opt out of vaccine requirements if they are tested weekly for the virus or can prove they have COVID-19 antibodies from a previous infection. Health officials say antibody testing should not be used to assess immunity against the virus and that people who have had it should still be vaccinated.Hutchinson, however, noted that his state’s opt-out law creates a difficult scenario for businesses if both it and the federal requirement — which does not allow for antibody tests in place of vaccinations — are in effect.“We’ve put our businesses in a catch-22,” he said. “You’re going to be violating somebody’s law here.”___