RENO COUNTY — The Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit made a pair of significant arrests this week.

Just after 9p.m. Nov. 3, the drug enforcement unit stopped a car for a traffic violation in the 11000 block of east Arlington Road, just east of Haven, according to the Reno Co. Sheriff's Department.

Deputies found methamphetamine that was stored in a quart-sized plastic baggie, which later weighed in at 1 lb. Underneath one of the seats, there was a loaded M-11 9mm firearm. There were several other items of drug paraphernalia found throughout the vehicle. Both occupants were arrested on suspicion of numerous drug charges.

Bradley Kuker, 47, Dodge City, is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended.

Anthony Thomas, 39, also of Dodge City, is being held on requested charges&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (100g-&lt;1kg), possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal transportation of alcohol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636196066934.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — The Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit made a pair of significant arrests this week.Just after 9p.m. Nov. 3, the drug enforcement unit stopped a car for a traffic violation in the 11000 block of east Arlington Road, just east of Haven, according to the Reno Co. Sheriff's Department.Deputies found methamphetamine that was stored in a quart-sized plastic baggie, which later weighed in at 1 lb. Underneath one of the seats, there was a loaded M-11 9mm firearm. There were several other items of drug paraphernalia found throughout the vehicle. Both occupants were arrested on suspicion of numerous drug charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636205299221.png" alt="Kuker has previous convictions for burglary, theft, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Kuker has previous convictions for burglary, theft, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Bradley Kuker, 47, Dodge City, is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636205454803.png" alt="Thomas has previous convictions for identity theft, criminal threat, aggravated battery, theft, forgery and aggravated endangering a child, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Thomas has previous convictions for identity theft, criminal threat, aggravated battery, theft, forgery and aggravated endangering a child, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Anthony Thomas, 39, also of Dodge City, is being held on requested charges&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (100g-&lt;1kg), possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Deputies find pound of meth, firearm, arrest 2 Kan. felons

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals 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.

Louisiana Attorney General Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.”

"The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution,” Landry said in a statement.

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of former Republican President Donald Trump.

he Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States.

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

The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential “grave statutory and constitutional issues” raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners' reply on Tuesday.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals 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.Louisiana Attorney General Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.”"The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution,” Landry said in a statement.At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of former Republican President Donald Trump.he Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States.The administration says it is confident that the requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential “grave statutory and constitutional issues” raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners' reply on Tuesday.

Appeals court temporarily halts Biden's vaccine mandate 

SALINA —Mowery Clinic has been the victim of a cyber attack.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://moweryclinic.com/notice-of-data-incident/">posting on its website</a>, Mowery Clinic,&nbsp;737 E. Crawford, wrote that it learned of the attack on Sept. 14.

"We promptly took steps to secure our network and engaged an expert cybersecurity firm to conduct a forensic investigation into the cause and scope of the attack," the posting noted.

The investigation found that an unauthorized individual had gained access to the clinic's network and deployed malware. Through the malware, the person was able to gain access and acquire "certain documents in our systems that contain current and former patient and employee information. In some cases, it also included information related to an employee’s spouse, dependent, beneficiary or minor child. This information may have included the following: name, address, date of birth, medical information such as office notes and diagnostic notes and, in limited circumstances, a Social Security Number. At this time, we have no indication that any of this information has been used to commit identity theft or fraud."

"Mowery Clinic endeavors to protect the privacy and security of the sensitive information we maintain, and we apologize for any concern this incident may cause. We are working diligently to determine how the incident happened and are taking appropriate measures to prevent a similar situation in the future," the clinic wrote on its website.

Persons with questions are encouraged to call (833) 608-3035 or go to&nbsp;<a href="https://response.idx.us/infomoweryclinic">https://response.idx.us/infomoweryclinic</a>.

SALINA —Mowery Clinic has been the victim of a cyber attack.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://moweryclinic.com/notice-of-data-incident/">posting on its website</a>, Mowery Clinic,&nbsp;737 E. Crawford, wrote that it learned of the attack on Sept. 14."We promptly took steps to secure our network and engaged an expert cybersecurity firm to conduct a forensic investigation into the cause and scope of the attack," the posting noted.The investigation found that an unauthorized individual had gained access to the clinic's network and deployed malware. Through the malware, the person was able to gain access and acquire "certain documents in our systems that contain current and former patient and employee information. In some cases, it also included information related to an employee’s spouse, dependent, beneficiary or minor child. This information may have included the following: name, address, date of birth, medical information such as office notes and diagnostic notes and, in limited circumstances, a Social Security Number. At this time, we have no indication that any of this information has been used to commit identity theft or fraud.""Mowery Clinic endeavors to protect the privacy and security of the sensitive information we maintain, and we apologize for any concern this incident may cause. We are working diligently to determine how the incident happened and are taking appropriate measures to prevent a similar situation in the future," the clinic wrote on its website.Persons with questions are encouraged to call (833) 608-3035 or go to&nbsp;<a href="https://response.idx.us/infomoweryclinic">https://response.idx.us/infomoweryclinic</a>.

Salina physician clinic was victim of cyber attack

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former inmate at the federal prison in Leavenworth,&nbsp;Kansas, claims in a lawsuit that he was left untreated for days after suffering a paralyzing injury.

The lawsuit filed last week on behalf of 58-year-old Brent Kehler names several prison officers and medical staff.

Kehler pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine distribution charge in 2018 and was sentenced to nine years in prison. The lawsuit says he fell in November 2019 after his cell in Leavenworth was flooded with wastewater.

The lawsuit says Kehler immediately experienced hip pain and eventually couldn't get out of bed. The suit says he begged for medical assistance but none was provided.

Eventually he reported being unable to move or feel anything from his abdomen to his toes. Doctors determined he suffered an epidural abscess with cervical cord swellings and a possible spinal cord infarction. He had surgery but remained paralyzed.

Kehler was later transferred to a prison in Springfield,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri">Missouri</a>. He was released last year.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons told the Star in an email that the agency “is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all inmates in our population, our staff, and the public.”

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former inmate at the federal prison in Leavenworth,&nbsp;Kansas, claims in a lawsuit that he was left untreated for days after suffering a paralyzing injury.The lawsuit filed last week on behalf of 58-year-old Brent Kehler names several prison officers and medical staff.Kehler pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine distribution charge in 2018 and was sentenced to nine years in prison. The lawsuit says he fell in November 2019 after his cell in Leavenworth was flooded with wastewater.The lawsuit says Kehler immediately experienced hip pain and eventually couldn't get out of bed. The suit says he begged for medical assistance but none was provided.Eventually he reported being unable to move or feel anything from his abdomen to his toes. Doctors determined he suffered an epidural abscess with cervical cord swellings and a possible spinal cord infarction. He had surgery but remained paralyzed.Kehler was later transferred to a prison in Springfield,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri">Missouri</a>. He was released last year.A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons told the Star in an email that the agency “is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all inmates in our population, our staff, and the public.”

Ex-prisoner in Kan. says he was left alone after severe injury

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Business operators in Kansas City are hopeful that the end of the city's mask mandate will mean a return of more customers.

The Kansas City Council voted Thursday to rescind the mask order, though it kept the mandate for children and adults in school. Businesses may still ask patrons to wear a mask indoors.

Big Mood Natural Wines owner Richard Garcia told the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article255574166.html">Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that the initial response when the business began requiring proof of vaccination was “overwhelmingly positive.” But he says that over time, pandemic fatigue set in.

The Ship, a restaurant and cocktail lounge in Kansas City’s historic West Bottoms greeted the lifting of the mask mandate enthusiastically. “Hail Santa, the mask mandate has ended!” it posted in all caps on its Facebook page.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Business operators in Kansas City are hopeful that the end of the city's mask mandate will mean a return of more customers.The Kansas City Council voted Thursday to rescind the mask order, though it kept the mandate for children and adults in school. Businesses may still ask patrons to wear a mask indoors.Big Mood Natural Wines owner Richard Garcia told the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article255574166.html">Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that the initial response when the business began requiring proof of vaccination was “overwhelmingly positive.” But he says that over time, pandemic fatigue set in.The Ship, a restaurant and cocktail lounge in Kansas City’s historic West Bottoms greeted the lifting of the mask mandate enthusiastically. “Hail Santa, the mask mandate has ended!” it posted in all caps on its Facebook page.

KC businesses hope end of mask mandate means return of customers

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Six people have been arrested after a brawl outside of South High School in Wichita — the second big fight there in nine days. KAKE-TV reports that four juveniles and two adults were arrested Friday. 

In the latest incident, a school district spokeswoman says two students were in a fight that was broken up, but relatives of the students went to the school and began fighting in the parking lot, and their students joined in. Police say those arrested are accused of disorderly conduct, battery of a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Six people have been arrested after a brawl outside of South High School in Wichita — the second big fight there in nine days. KAKE-TV reports that four juveniles and two adults were arrested Friday. In the latest incident, a school district spokeswoman says two students were in a fight that was broken up, but relatives of the students went to the school and began fighting in the parking lot, and their students joined in. Police say those arrested are accused of disorderly conduct, battery of a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.

Six arrested after fight breaks out at Kansas high school

HOUSTON (AP) — At least eight people died and numerous others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the Astroworld music festival in Houston while rapper Travis Scott was performing.

Officials declared a “mass casualty incident” just after 9 p.m. Friday during the festival where an estimated 50,000 people were in attendance, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters at a news conference.

“The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries,” the fire chief said. “People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic.”

The show was called off shortly thereafter. The fire chief said “scores of individuals” were injured.

Officials transported 17 people to hospitals, including 11 who were in cardiac arrest, Peña said. It wasn’t clear whether all eight who died were among the 17 that had been transported to hospitals. Many people were also treated at the scene at NRG Park, where a field hospital had been set up. About 300 people were examined at that site throughout the day, he said.

Astroworld is a two-day music festival that was scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday in Houston. The event was sold out, according to the Astroworld website. Saturday’s performances have been canceled.

The deaths called to mind a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8f4b34167ea84746a542a2fd19df55d0">1979 concert for The Who</a>&nbsp;where 11 people died and about two dozen were injured as thousands of fans tried to get into Cincinnati’s riverfront coliseum.

Scott, one of music’s biggest young stars, released two new songs earlier Friday, “Mafia” and “Escape Plan.” The 29-year-old Houston native has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. He has a 3-year-old daughter, Stormi, with Kylie Jenner, who announced in September that she’s pregnant with their second child.

Drake joined Scott on-stage at the concert — which was livestreamed by Apple Music — and posted photos to Instagram after the performance.

Event promoters had arranged for medical units to be on scene at the festival, however once the crowd surge began, those units were “quickly overwhelmed,” Peña said.

In a video posted to social media, Scott could be seen stopping the concert at one point and asking for aid for someone in the audience: “Security, somebody help real quick.”

Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite was near the front of the crowd and said it seemed the surge “happened all at once.”

“Suddenly we had several people down on the ground, experiencing some type of cardiac arrest or some type of medical episode,” Satterwhite said. “And so we immediately started doing CPR, and moving people right then, and that’s when I went and met with the promoters, and Live Nation, and they agreed to end early in the interest of public safety.”

Peña said officials did not immediately know the causes of death for the eight people who died. A medical examiner would investigate. The deceased had not been identified as of early Saturday.

Officials set up a reunification center at a hotel for family members who had not been able to reach relatives who had been in attendance at the event. Authorities were looking to connect families with festivalgoers who were transported to the hospital, “some as young as 10” years old, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner called for calm and urged people not to jump to conclusions as to what caused the surge.

“I think it’s very important that none of us speculate. Nobody has all the answers tonight,” Finner said. He added that there have been several rumors surrounding the event that authorities would look into.

“We’re going to do an investigation and find out because it’s not fair to the producers, to anybody else involved, until we determine what happened, what caused the surge,” he said. “We don’t know, but we will find out.”

The Associated Press reached out to a representative for Scott but did not immediately hear back.

Finner told reporters that Scott and the event promoters cooperated with police.

Scott founded Astroworld Festival in 2018 and it has taken place at the former site of Six Flags AstroWorld each year since, except for in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Other music events where there have been multiple fatalities in recent years include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-shootings-las-vegas-tennessee-6ad8d49e6a99bc2e3bd75994b1234a51">Las Vegas massacre in 2017</a>&nbsp;when 58 people were killed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-oakland-san-francisco-coronavirus-pandemic-bc08427a00668b593d4c2dd536f4bfed">Ghost Ship fire in 2016</a>&nbsp;that killed 36 people in California and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/566480ddd2ae4d0ab8ced0ea40d06fcc">2003 Station nightclub fire</a>&nbsp;that killed 100 people in Rhode Island.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636206921494.png" alt="The fire chief said “scores of individuals” were injured. -photo courtesy KPRC-TV" />
 <figcaption>The fire chief said “scores of individuals” were injured. -photo courtesy KPRC-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON (AP) — At least eight people died and numerous others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the Astroworld music festival in Houston while rapper Travis Scott was performing.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=316&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHoustonpolice%2Fvideos%2F293461855969202%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="316" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Officials declared a “mass casualty incident” just after 9 p.m. Friday during the festival where an estimated 50,000 people were in attendance, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters at a news conference.“The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries,” the fire chief said. “People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic.”The show was called off shortly thereafter. The fire chief said “scores of individuals” were injured.Officials transported 17 people to hospitals, including 11 who were in cardiac arrest, Peña said. It wasn’t clear whether all eight who died were among the 17 that had been transported to hospitals. Many people were also treated at the scene at NRG Park, where a field hospital had been set up. About 300 people were examined at that site throughout the day, he said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE AS OF 0745 am: If you have not been able to contact your loved one who attended <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASTROWORLDFest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASTROWORLDFest</a> please call 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311 or go to the reunification center at 8686 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77054.&mdash; Houston OEM (@HoustonOEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonOEM/status/1456976711766077442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Astroworld is a two-day music festival that was scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday in Houston. The event was sold out, according to the Astroworld website. Saturday’s performances have been canceled.The deaths called to mind a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8f4b34167ea84746a542a2fd19df55d0">1979 concert for The Who</a>&nbsp;where 11 people died and about two dozen were injured as thousands of fans tried to get into Cincinnati’s riverfront coliseum.Scott, one of music’s biggest young stars, released two new songs earlier Friday, “Mafia” and “Escape Plan.” The 29-year-old Houston native has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. He has a 3-year-old daughter, Stormi, with Kylie Jenner, who announced in September that she’s pregnant with their second child.Drake joined Scott on-stage at the concert — which was livestreamed by Apple Music — and posted photos to Instagram after the performance.Event promoters had arranged for medical units to be on scene at the festival, however once the crowd surge began, those units were “quickly overwhelmed,” Peña said.In a video posted to social media, Scott could be seen stopping the concert at one point and asking for aid for someone in the audience: “Security, somebody help real quick.”Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite was near the front of the crowd and said it seemed the surge “happened all at once.”“Suddenly we had several people down on the ground, experiencing some type of cardiac arrest or some type of medical episode,” Satterwhite said. “And so we immediately started doing CPR, and moving people right then, and that’s when I went and met with the promoters, and Live Nation, and they agreed to end early in the interest of public safety.”Peña said officials did not immediately know the causes of death for the eight people who died. A medical examiner would investigate. The deceased had not been identified as of early Saturday.Officials set up a reunification center at a hotel for family members who had not been able to reach relatives who had been in attendance at the event. Authorities were looking to connect families with festivalgoers who were transported to the hospital, “some as young as 10” years old, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said.Houston Police Chief Troy Finner called for calm and urged people not to jump to conclusions as to what caused the surge.“I think it’s very important that none of us speculate. Nobody has all the answers tonight,” Finner said. He added that there have been several rumors surrounding the event that authorities would look into.“We’re going to do an investigation and find out because it’s not fair to the producers, to anybody else involved, until we determine what happened, what caused the surge,” he said. “We don’t know, but we will find out.”The Associated Press reached out to a representative for Scott but did not immediately hear back.Finner told reporters that Scott and the event promoters cooperated with police.Scott founded Astroworld Festival in 2018 and it has taken place at the former site of Six Flags AstroWorld each year since, except for in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.Other music events where there have been multiple fatalities in recent years include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-shootings-las-vegas-tennessee-6ad8d49e6a99bc2e3bd75994b1234a51">Las Vegas massacre in 2017</a>&nbsp;when 58 people were killed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-oakland-san-francisco-coronavirus-pandemic-bc08427a00668b593d4c2dd536f4bfed">Ghost Ship fire in 2016</a>&nbsp;that killed 36 people in California and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/566480ddd2ae4d0ab8ced0ea40d06fcc">2003 Station nightclub fire</a>&nbsp;that killed 100 people in Rhode Island.

Fire chief: Mass casualty incident at music festival in Houston 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved a $1 trillion package of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d">road and other infrastructure projects</a>&nbsp;after Democrats resolved a months-long standoff between progressives and moderates, notching a victory that President Joe Biden and his party had become increasingly anxious to claim.

The House passed the measure 228-206 late Friday, prompting prolonged cheers from the relieved Democratic side of the chamber. Thirteen Republicans, mostly moderates, supported the legislation while six of Democrats’ farthest left members — including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri — opposed it.

Approval of the bill, which would create legions of jobs and improve broadband, water supplies and other public works, whisked it to the desk of a president whose approval ratings have dropped and whose nervous party got a cold shoulder from voters in this week’s off-year elections.

Democratic gubernatorial candidates were defeated in Virginia and squeaked through in New Jersey, two blue-leaning states. Those setbacks made party leaders — and moderates and progressives alike — impatient to produce impactful legislation and demonstrate they know how to govern. Democrats can ill afford to seem in disarray a year before midterm elections that could result in Republicans regaining congressional control.

Simply freeing up the infrastructure measure for final congressional approval was a like a burst of adrenaline for Democrats. Yet despite the win, Democrats endured a setback when they postponed a vote on a second, even larger bill until later this month.

That 10-year, $1.85 trillion measure bolstering health, family and climate change programs was sidetracked after moderates demanded a cost estimate on the sprawling measure from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The postponement dashed hopes that the day would produce a double-barreled win for Biden with passage of both bills.

But in an evening breakthrough brokered by Biden and House leaders, five moderates later agreed to back that bill if CBO’s estimates are consistent with preliminary numbers that White House and congressional tax analysts have provided. The agreement, in which lawmakers promised to vote on the social and environment bill by the week of Nov. 15, stood as a significant step toward a House vote that could ultimately ship it to the Senate.

“Generations from now, people will look back and know this is when America won the economic competition for the 21st Century,” Biden said in a written statement early Saturday.

The president and first lady Jill Biden delayed plans to travel Friday evening to their house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Instead, Biden spoke to House leaders, moderates and progressives, said a White House official who described the conversations on condition of anonymity.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Biden even called her mother in India, though it was unclear why.

“This was not to bribe me, this is when it was all done,” Jayapal told reporters. The lawmaker said her mother told her she “just kept screaming like a little girl.”

In a two-sentence statement, the five moderates said that if the fiscal estimates on the social and environment bill raise problems, “we remain committed to working to resolve any discrepancies” to pass it. The five included Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., leader of a group of centrists who this summer repeatedly pressured House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to schedule earlier votes on the infrastructure bill.

In exchange, progressives agreed to back the infrastructure measure, which they’d spent months holding hostage in an effort to pressure moderates to back the larger bill.

The day marked a rare detente between Democrats’ moderate and progressive wings that party leaders hope will continue this fall. The rival factions have spent recent weeks accusing each other of jeopardizing Biden’s and the party’s success by overplaying their hands and expressed a deep distrust of each other.

But Friday night, Jayapal suggested they would work together moving forward.

“Let me tell you, we’re going to trust each other because the Democratic Party is together on this. We are united that it is important for us to get both bills done,” she said.

The agreement came together after the White House issued a statement from Biden explicitly urging Democrats to support both bills. “I am confident that during the week of November 15, the House will pass the Build Back Better Act,” he said.

When party leaders announced early in the day that the social and environment measure would be delayed, the scrambled plans cast a fresh pall over the party.

Democrats have struggled for months to take advantage of their control of the White House and Congress by advancing their top priorities. That’s been hard, in part because of Democrats’ slender majorities, with bitter internal divisions forcing House leaders to miss several self-imposed deadlines for votes.

“Welcome to my world,” Pelosi told reporters, adding, “We are not a lockstep party.”

Progressives had long demanded that the two massive bills be voted on together to pressure moderates to support the larger, more expansive social measure.

Democrats’ day turned tumultuous early after a half-dozen moderates demanded the CBO cost estimate of the sprawling package of health, education, family and climate change initiatives before they would vote for it.

Party leaders said that would take days or more. But with Friday’s delayed vote and lawmakers leaving town for a week’s break, those budget estimates should be ready by the time a vote is held.

The infrastructure measure cleared the Senate in August with bipartisan support. The package would provide huge sums for highway, mass transit, broadband, airport, drinking and waste water, power grids and other projects.

But it became a pawn in the long struggle for power between progressives and moderates. Early Friday, Jayapal said the White House and Congress’ nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation had provided all the fiscal information lawmakers needed for the broad bill. She suggested that progressives would oppose the infrastructure bill unless the two measures were voted on together.

But that changed after the two Democratic factions reached their agreement.

House passage of the social and environment package would send it to the Senate, where it faces certain changes and more Democratic drama. That’s chiefly because of demands by Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to contain the measure’s costs and curb or drop some of its initiatives.

Moderates have forced leaders to slash the roughly 2,100-page measure to around half its original $3.5 trillion size. Republicans oppose it as too expensive and damaging to the economy.

The package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, raising children and caring for elderly people at home. The package would provide $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electric vehicles. Democrats added provisions in recent days restoring a new paid family leave program and work permits for millions of immigrants.

Much of the package’s cost would be covered with higher taxes on wealthier Americans and large corporations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved a $1 trillion package of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d">road and other infrastructure projects</a>&nbsp;after Democrats resolved a months-long standoff between progressives and moderates, notching a victory that President Joe Biden and his party had become increasingly anxious to claim.The House passed the measure 228-206 late Friday, prompting prolonged cheers from the relieved Democratic side of the chamber. Thirteen Republicans, mostly moderates, supported the legislation while six of Democrats’ farthest left members — including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri — opposed it.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636200567081.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Approval of the bill, which would create legions of jobs and improve broadband, water supplies and other public works, whisked it to the desk of a president whose approval ratings have dropped and whose nervous party got a cold shoulder from voters in this week’s off-year elections.Democratic gubernatorial candidates were defeated in Virginia and squeaked through in New Jersey, two blue-leaning states. Those setbacks made party leaders — and moderates and progressives alike — impatient to produce impactful legislation and demonstrate they know how to govern. Democrats can ill afford to seem in disarray a year before midterm elections that could result in Republicans regaining congressional control.Simply freeing up the infrastructure measure for final congressional approval was a like a burst of adrenaline for Democrats. Yet despite the win, Democrats endured a setback when they postponed a vote on a second, even larger bill until later this month.That 10-year, $1.85 trillion measure bolstering health, family and climate change programs was sidetracked after moderates demanded a cost estimate on the sprawling measure from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The postponement dashed hopes that the day would produce a double-barreled win for Biden with passage of both bills.But in an evening breakthrough brokered by Biden and House leaders, five moderates later agreed to back that bill if CBO’s estimates are consistent with preliminary numbers that White House and congressional tax analysts have provided. The agreement, in which lawmakers promised to vote on the social and environment bill by the week of Nov. 15, stood as a significant step toward a House vote that could ultimately ship it to the Senate.“Generations from now, people will look back and know this is when America won the economic competition for the 21st Century,” Biden said in a written statement early Saturday.The president and first lady Jill Biden delayed plans to travel Friday evening to their house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Instead, Biden spoke to House leaders, moderates and progressives, said a White House official who described the conversations on condition of anonymity.Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Biden even called her mother in India, though it was unclear why.“This was not to bribe me, this is when it was all done,” Jayapal told reporters. The lawmaker said her mother told her she “just kept screaming like a little girl.”In a two-sentence statement, the five moderates said that if the fiscal estimates on the social and environment bill raise problems, “we remain committed to working to resolve any discrepancies” to pass it. The five included Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., leader of a group of centrists who this summer repeatedly pressured House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to schedule earlier votes on the infrastructure bill.In exchange, progressives agreed to back the infrastructure measure, which they’d spent months holding hostage in an effort to pressure moderates to back the larger bill.The day marked a rare detente between Democrats’ moderate and progressive wings that party leaders hope will continue this fall. The rival factions have spent recent weeks accusing each other of jeopardizing Biden’s and the party’s success by overplaying their hands and expressed a deep distrust of each other.But Friday night, Jayapal suggested they would work together moving forward.“Let me tell you, we’re going to trust each other because the Democratic Party is together on this. We are united that it is important for us to get both bills done,” she said.The agreement came together after the White House issued a statement from Biden explicitly urging Democrats to support both bills. “I am confident that during the week of November 15, the House will pass the Build Back Better Act,” he said.When party leaders announced early in the day that the social and environment measure would be delayed, the scrambled plans cast a fresh pall over the party.Democrats have struggled for months to take advantage of their control of the White House and Congress by advancing their top priorities. That’s been hard, in part because of Democrats’ slender majorities, with bitter internal divisions forcing House leaders to miss several self-imposed deadlines for votes.“Welcome to my world,” Pelosi told reporters, adding, “We are not a lockstep party.”Progressives had long demanded that the two massive bills be voted on together to pressure moderates to support the larger, more expansive social measure.Democrats’ day turned tumultuous early after a half-dozen moderates demanded the CBO cost estimate of the sprawling package of health, education, family and climate change initiatives before they would vote for it.Party leaders said that would take days or more. But with Friday’s delayed vote and lawmakers leaving town for a week’s break, those budget estimates should be ready by the time a vote is held.The infrastructure measure cleared the Senate in August with bipartisan support. The package would provide huge sums for highway, mass transit, broadband, airport, drinking and waste water, power grids and other projects.But it became a pawn in the long struggle for power between progressives and moderates. Early Friday, Jayapal said the White House and Congress’ nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation had provided all the fiscal information lawmakers needed for the broad bill. She suggested that progressives would oppose the infrastructure bill unless the two measures were voted on together.But that changed after the two Democratic factions reached their agreement.House passage of the social and environment package would send it to the Senate, where it faces certain changes and more Democratic drama. That’s chiefly because of demands by Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to contain the measure’s costs and curb or drop some of its initiatives.Moderates have forced leaders to slash the roughly 2,100-page measure to around half its original $3.5 trillion size. Republicans oppose it as too expensive and damaging to the economy.The package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, raising children and caring for elderly people at home. The package would provide $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electric vehicles. Democrats added provisions in recent days restoring a new paid family leave program and work permits for millions of immigrants.Much of the package’s cost would be covered with higher taxes on wealthier Americans and large corporations.___

Dems end deadlock, House approves $1T infrastructure plan

STANTON COUNTY–A Kansas man died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Friday in Stanton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Tahoe driven by Bryce L. Stude, 28, Eudora, was eastbound on U.S. 160 just west of Kansas Highway 27.

The SUV left the roadway to the north. The driver overcorrected. The vehicle re-entered the roadway and rolled into the north ditch.

Stude was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Garnand&nbsp; Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

STANTON COUNTY–A Kansas man died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Friday in Stanton County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Tahoe driven by Bryce L. Stude, 28, Eudora, was eastbound on U.S. 160 just west of Kansas Highway 27.The SUV left the roadway to the north. The driver overcorrected. The vehicle re-entered the roadway and rolled into the north ditch.Stude was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Garnand&nbsp; Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV rolls into ditch

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.

Friday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren’t as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.

&nbsp;The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">100,450,000 people in this </a>country were not in the labor force in October, up 38,000 from the 100,412,000 in September.

All told, the figures point to an economy that is steadily recovering from the pandemic recession, with healthy consumer spending prompting companies in nearly every industry to add workers. Though the effects of COVID-19 are still causing severe supply shortages, heightening inflation and keeping many people out of the workforce, employers are finding gradually more success in filling near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-67a34a2e9c416155bab6af1b0e3cfcf1">record-high job postings</a>.

“This is the kind of recovery we can get when we are not sidelined by a surge in COVID cases,” said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the employment website Indeed. “The speed of employment gains has faltered at times this year, but the underlying momentum of the U.S. labor market is quite clear.”

The better-than-expected jobs report was welcomed on Wall Street, where investors sent stocks further into record territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 200 points, or roughly 0.5%, in early-afternoon trading. Short-term Treasury yields rose as some investors moved up their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates. But longer-term yields dipped amid muted expectations for inflation over the long term.

By most barometers, the economic recovery appears solidly on track. Services companies in such areas as retail, banking and warehousing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-eed8d8bc81c9af0e696f80b3a4b3a68a">have reported a sharp jump in sales</a>. Sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/home-sales">new and existing homes surged last month</a>. And consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-consumer-confidence-661bf08bc8f529fd0ea42fbe5ebbcd77">rose in October after three straight declines</a>.

At the same time, though, the nation remains 4.2 million jobs short of the number it had before the pandemic flattened the economy in March 2020. The effects of the virus are still discouraging some people from traveling, shopping, eating out and attending entertainment venues.

In October, the pickup in hiring was spread across nearly every major industry, with only government employers reporting a job loss, mostly in education. Shipping and warehousing companies added 54,000 jobs. The battered leisure and hospitality sector, which includes, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues, gained 164,000. Manufacturers, despite their struggles with supply shortages, added 60,000, the most since June 2020.

And employers, who have been competing to fill jobs from a diminished pool of applicants, raised wages at a solid clip: Average hourly pay jumped 4.9% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 4.6% the previous month. Even a gain that strong, though, is barely keeping pace with recent surges in consumer inflation.

Those price increases pose a headwind for the economy. Higher costs for food, heating oil, rents and furniture have burdened millions of families. Prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-consumer-spending-prices-inflation-14980a4c7cfeafe5ba9b65c577578156">rose 4.4% in September compared with 12 months earlier</a>, the sharpest such jump in three decades.

Among people who are receiving pay raises, some of the biggest beneficiaries are the record-high number of people who have been quitting jobs to take new ones. One of them is Christian Frink, who has begun work as a business analyst at a digital consulting firm. In his new job, Frink, 27, of Ferndale, Michigan, helps business clients determine the technologies they need.

Earlier this year, Frink held a marketing job but left it because, like many people during COVID, he felt burnt out. He then worked for Door Dash during the spring and summer to earn money and searched for new work. Although employers were complaining about a labor shortage, several told him they wouldn’t hire anyone without a college degree. (Frink attended college but didn’t graduate.)

This past summer, Frink took coding classes at Tech Elevator, a boot camp, and then landed his new position. Now, he’s earning 35% more than in his previous job and says he’s “blown away” that he already has health care coverage and doesn’t have to wait months to become eligible.

Yet it isn’t only job-switchers who are receiving pay raises. Chad Leibundguth, a regional director in Tampa for the Robert Half staffing agency, said the job market is the strongest for workers he has seen in his 22-year career. Before the pandemic, he said, you could fill a customer service job in Florida for $14 an hour.

“Nowadays,” he said, “you’ve got to be closer to $20 an hour, because people have options.”

Job prospects are brightening even for people who have been out of work for prolonged periods. The number of long-term unemployed — people who have been jobless for six months or more — has fallen sharply in recent months, to 2.3 million in October from 4.2 million in April. That’s still double the pre-recession total. But it’s an encouraging sign because employers are typically wary of hiring people who haven’t held jobs for an extended time.

At the same time, disparities in the job market have persisted. The Black unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 7.9%, for example, while for white workers, it fell to 4% from 4.2%. The Latino jobless rate dropped to 5.9% from 6.3%.

And though white-collar jobs in professional services like information technology, engineering and architecture are nearly back to their pre-pandemic employment levels, leisure and hospitality still has 1.4 million fewer jobs.

Hari Ravichandran, CEO of digital security provider Aura in Boston, says his 800-person company has 140 positions open, mostly in software development, and has raised pay 25% in just the past nine months.

Ravichandran is willing to hire remote workers; 170 of his staffers have never regularly worked in any of the company’s buildings. Still, hiring remains as tough as he’s ever experienced.

One disappointing note in Friday’s report is that the workforce — the number of people either working or looking for a job — was unchanged in October. That suggested that the reopening of schools in September, the waning of the virus, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-indiana-d3acd668eaf6343aada03cd660055bbc">expiration of a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement&nbsp;</a>have yet to coax many people off the sidelines of the job market in large numbers.

Drawing many people back into the workforce after recessions is typically a prolonged process. There are now 7.4 million people officially out of work — just 1.7 million more than in February 2020, before the pandemic struck the economy. Yet millions more who lost jobs during the recession have given up their job hunts, and employers might have to raise pay and benefits to draw them back in, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota.

Even so, some companies still can’t find enough workers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-careers-075d3b0ab89baffc5e2b9a80e11dcf34">Many parents, particularly mothers, haven’t returned to the workforce</a>&nbsp;after having left jobs during the pandemic to care for children or other relatives. Yet there was evidence of a small rebound last month: The proportion of women who were either working or looking for work rose after two months of declines.

Kourtni Graves of Detroit has been in and out of work during the pandemic because of her parenting duties. She quit an administrative assistant job a year ago because her day care had shut down, and she had to look after her 5-year old twin girls.

Graves, 27, looked for work-from-home jobs, but many employers didn’t want to provide the flexibility she needed.

“They don’t want you to have to pick up your kids from school,” particularly during a training, she said. “For me as their mom, I can’t do that.” She said the father of her children, who works in the auto industry, helps financially.

But with the girls now in kindergarten, Graves broadened her job search and this week accepted a job at a clothing store. She feels overqualified, given her seven years working in administrative jobs. But she is happy to be working.

“They’re paying pretty decent for retail,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle and a journey.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.Friday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren’t as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.&nbsp;The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">100,450,000 people in this </a>country were not in the labor force in October, up 38,000 from the 100,412,000 in September.All told, the figures point to an economy that is steadily recovering from the pandemic recession, with healthy consumer spending prompting companies in nearly every industry to add workers. Though the effects of COVID-19 are still causing severe supply shortages, heightening inflation and keeping many people out of the workforce, employers are finding gradually more success in filling near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-67a34a2e9c416155bab6af1b0e3cfcf1">record-high job postings</a>.“This is the kind of recovery we can get when we are not sidelined by a surge in COVID cases,” said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the employment website Indeed. “The speed of employment gains has faltered at times this year, but the underlying momentum of the U.S. labor market is quite clear.”The better-than-expected jobs report was welcomed on Wall Street, where investors sent stocks further into record territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 200 points, or roughly 0.5%, in early-afternoon trading. Short-term Treasury yields rose as some investors moved up their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates. But longer-term yields dipped amid muted expectations for inflation over the long term.By most barometers, the economic recovery appears solidly on track. Services companies in such areas as retail, banking and warehousing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-eed8d8bc81c9af0e696f80b3a4b3a68a">have reported a sharp jump in sales</a>. Sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/home-sales">new and existing homes surged last month</a>. And consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-consumer-confidence-661bf08bc8f529fd0ea42fbe5ebbcd77">rose in October after three straight declines</a>.At the same time, though, the nation remains 4.2 million jobs short of the number it had before the pandemic flattened the economy in March 2020. The effects of the virus are still discouraging some people from traveling, shopping, eating out and attending entertainment venues.In October, the pickup in hiring was spread across nearly every major industry, with only government employers reporting a job loss, mostly in education. Shipping and warehousing companies added 54,000 jobs. The battered leisure and hospitality sector, which includes, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues, gained 164,000. Manufacturers, despite their struggles with supply shortages, added 60,000, the most since June 2020.And employers, who have been competing to fill jobs from a diminished pool of applicants, raised wages at a solid clip: Average hourly pay jumped 4.9% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 4.6% the previous month. Even a gain that strong, though, is barely keeping pace with recent surges in consumer inflation.Those price increases pose a headwind for the economy. Higher costs for food, heating oil, rents and furniture have burdened millions of families. Prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-consumer-spending-prices-inflation-14980a4c7cfeafe5ba9b65c577578156">rose 4.4% in September compared with 12 months earlier</a>, the sharpest such jump in three decades.Among people who are receiving pay raises, some of the biggest beneficiaries are the record-high number of people who have been quitting jobs to take new ones. One of them is Christian Frink, who has begun work as a business analyst at a digital consulting firm. In his new job, Frink, 27, of Ferndale, Michigan, helps business clients determine the technologies they need.Earlier this year, Frink held a marketing job but left it because, like many people during COVID, he felt burnt out. He then worked for Door Dash during the spring and summer to earn money and searched for new work. Although employers were complaining about a labor shortage, several told him they wouldn’t hire anyone without a college degree. (Frink attended college but didn’t graduate.)This past summer, Frink took coding classes at Tech Elevator, a boot camp, and then landed his new position. Now, he’s earning 35% more than in his previous job and says he’s “blown away” that he already has health care coverage and doesn’t have to wait months to become eligible.Yet it isn’t only job-switchers who are receiving pay raises. Chad Leibundguth, a regional director in Tampa for the Robert Half staffing agency, said the job market is the strongest for workers he has seen in his 22-year career. Before the pandemic, he said, you could fill a customer service job in Florida for $14 an hour.“Nowadays,” he said, “you’ve got to be closer to $20 an hour, because people have options.”Job prospects are brightening even for people who have been out of work for prolonged periods. The number of long-term unemployed — people who have been jobless for six months or more — has fallen sharply in recent months, to 2.3 million in October from 4.2 million in April. That’s still double the pre-recession total. But it’s an encouraging sign because employers are typically wary of hiring people who haven’t held jobs for an extended time.At the same time, disparities in the job market have persisted. The Black unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 7.9%, for example, while for white workers, it fell to 4% from 4.2%. The Latino jobless rate dropped to 5.9% from 6.3%.And though white-collar jobs in professional services like information technology, engineering and architecture are nearly back to their pre-pandemic employment levels, leisure and hospitality still has 1.4 million fewer jobs.Hari Ravichandran, CEO of digital security provider Aura in Boston, says his 800-person company has 140 positions open, mostly in software development, and has raised pay 25% in just the past nine months.Ravichandran is willing to hire remote workers; 170 of his staffers have never regularly worked in any of the company’s buildings. Still, hiring remains as tough as he’s ever experienced.One disappointing note in Friday’s report is that the workforce — the number of people either working or looking for a job — was unchanged in October. That suggested that the reopening of schools in September, the waning of the virus, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-indiana-d3acd668eaf6343aada03cd660055bbc">expiration of a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement&nbsp;</a>have yet to coax many people off the sidelines of the job market in large numbers.Drawing many people back into the workforce after recessions is typically a prolonged process. There are now 7.4 million people officially out of work — just 1.7 million more than in February 2020, before the pandemic struck the economy. Yet millions more who lost jobs during the recession have given up their job hunts, and employers might have to raise pay and benefits to draw them back in, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota.Even so, some companies still can’t find enough workers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-careers-075d3b0ab89baffc5e2b9a80e11dcf34">Many parents, particularly mothers, haven’t returned to the workforce</a>&nbsp;after having left jobs during the pandemic to care for children or other relatives. Yet there was evidence of a small rebound last month: The proportion of women who were either working or looking for work rose after two months of declines.Kourtni Graves of Detroit has been in and out of work during the pandemic because of her parenting duties. She quit an administrative assistant job a year ago because her day care had shut down, and she had to look after her 5-year old twin girls.Graves, 27, looked for work-from-home jobs, but many employers didn’t want to provide the flexibility she needed.“They don’t want you to have to pick up your kids from school,” particularly during a training, she said. “For me as their mom, I can’t do that.” She said the father of her children, who works in the auto industry, helps financially.But with the girls now in kindergarten, Graves broadened her job search and this week accepted a job at a clothing store. She feels overqualified, given her seven years working in administrative jobs. But she is happy to be working.“They’re paying pretty decent for retail,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle and a journey.”

Report: Job creation roars back; 100 million in the U.S. not working

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two women face charges after a man’s body was found in a wooded area of Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Star reports that officers were initially called Oct. 26 after a city worker discovered a body while looking into illegal dumping activity. In federal court records, a detective said the body was found in a plastic container, “wrapped in black tape.”

 The death was ruled a homicide. The victim was later identified as 56-year-old Malvin Wallace. Michele Props, of Gardner, Kansas, was charged Oct. 29 with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution. Two days later, Kaitlyn Andes of Kansas City faced the same charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636121224466.png" alt="Andes photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Andes photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two women face charges after a man’s body was found in a wooded area of Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Star reports that officers were initially called Oct. 26 after a city worker discovered a body while looking into illegal dumping activity. In federal court records, a detective said the body was found in a plastic container, “wrapped in black tape.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636120352170.png" alt="Props-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Props-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure> The death was ruled a homicide. The victim was later identified as 56-year-old Malvin Wallace. Michele Props, of Gardner, Kansas, was charged Oct. 29 with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution. Two days later, Kaitlyn Andes of Kansas City faced the same charges.

KC women charged after man's body found in illegal dumping area

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a suspect for alleged porch theft from a home.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a woman reported an unknown suspect taking a package from the front porch of her home, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Through the examination of video, Flock Safety License Plate Readers, and police records investigators learned of 35-year-old Adam Quick’s involvement in the theft.&nbsp; Police located Quick on Friday and arrested him without incident.&nbsp;

Police will present the case to the City of Wichita prosecutor’s office.&nbsp; Additionally, Quick has been arrested and convicted on previous felony charges that include burglary and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

An increase in package thefts is generally seen during this time of year.&nbsp; Here are some tips you can do to help keep your property safe:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Have packages delivered to your home only during hours that you are there;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are not home or out of town, have packages delivered to a trusted neighbor or have that neighbor pick up the package for you;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Have packages delivered to a store you’ve ordered from, or you can have that package delivered to the carrier facility for pick-up;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check with your employer and have packages delivered to your place of work during the day;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Consider purchasing surveillance cameras and motion sensor lights; and If you are a victim of a theft, call 911 or (316) 268-4221 file a police report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636146736916.png" alt="Quick has previous convictions for burglary, theft and drugs, according to the Kan. Dept of Corrections -photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Quick has previous convictions for burglary, theft and drugs, according to the Kan. Dept of Corrections -photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a suspect for alleged porch theft from a home.Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a woman reported an unknown suspect taking a package from the front porch of her home, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Through the examination of video, Flock Safety License Plate Readers, and police records investigators learned of 35-year-old Adam Quick’s involvement in the theft.&nbsp; Police located Quick on Friday and arrested him without incident.&nbsp;Police will present the case to the City of Wichita prosecutor’s office.&nbsp; Additionally, Quick has been arrested and convicted on previous felony charges that include burglary and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.An increase in package thefts is generally seen during this time of year.&nbsp; Here are some tips you can do to help keep your property safe:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Have packages delivered to your home only during hours that you are there;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are not home or out of town, have packages delivered to a trusted neighbor or have that neighbor pick up the package for you;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Have packages delivered to a store you’ve ordered from, or you can have that package delivered to the carrier facility for pick-up;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check with your employer and have packages delivered to your place of work during the day;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Consider purchasing surveillance cameras and motion sensor lights; and If you are a victim of a theft, call 911 or (316) 268-4221 file a police report.

Kan. man out of prison caught taking package from woman's porch

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with an incident that temporarily forced a southwest Kansas school into lockdown, according to a media release from Garden City Police.

Just before 11a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to&nbsp; St. Mary's School, 503 St. John Street in Garden City for a report of disorderly conduct, according to a media release. Officers were notified of an individual yelling at the school’s priest.

The investigation revealed that the priest observed a Dodge Grand Caravan in the school’s parking lot and approached the van to check the driver’s welfare. 

The driver, identified as 24-year-old Abdiweli Aden 24 of Garden City,&nbsp; became upset and made threatening comments toward the priest before leaving the property. 

St. Mary’s School was placed on lockdown as a precaution until the man could be located by law enforcement. The school was in lockdown for approximately 30 minutes.

During this incident, Officers were at the 600 block of Labrador Boulevard investigating a prior criminal threat involving Aden and his family, where Aden allegedly threatened harm against a family member. The Officers observed Aden arrive on scene after leaving St. Mary’s School and took Aden into custody without incident. 

Aden is being held in the Finney County Jail on two charges of Criminal Threat. The case is being forwarded to the Finney County Attorney’s Office for further review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636131324639.png" alt="Aden photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Aden photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with an incident that temporarily forced a southwest Kansas school into lockdown, according to a media release from Garden City Police.Just before 11a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to&nbsp; St. Mary's School, 503 St. John Street in Garden City for a report of disorderly conduct, according to a media release. Officers were notified of an individual yelling at the school’s priest.The investigation revealed that the priest observed a Dodge Grand Caravan in the school’s parking lot and approached the van to check the driver’s welfare. The driver, identified as 24-year-old Abdiweli Aden 24 of Garden City,&nbsp; became upset and made threatening comments toward the priest before leaving the property. St. Mary’s School was placed on lockdown as a precaution until the man could be located by law enforcement. The school was in lockdown for approximately 30 minutes.During this incident, Officers were at the 600 block of Labrador Boulevard investigating a prior criminal threat involving Aden and his family, where Aden allegedly threatened harm against a family member. The Officers observed Aden arrive on scene after leaving St. Mary’s School and took Aden into custody without incident. Aden is being held in the Finney County Jail on two charges of Criminal Threat. The case is being forwarded to the Finney County Attorney’s Office for further review.

Police: SW Kan. school locked down after man threatens priest

WASHINGTON (AP) — Friends, family and former colleagues gathered Friday at Washington National Cathedral to honor Colin L. Powell, the trailblazing soldier-diplomat who rose from humble Bronx beginnings to become the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later served as the first Black secretary of state.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515554-1/colin-powell-funeral-service-national-cathedral&amp;live&amp;vod">CLICK here to watch</a> the funeral service

The funeral on a sunny and chilly day drew dignitaries and friends from across a wide political and military spectrum. They included former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, former secretary of states James Baker, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Army Gen. Mark Milley, as well as other service chiefs.

As guests gathered in the cavernous cathedral that has hosted the funerals of several past presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. Army Brass Quintet played a range of tunes, including “Dancing Queen” by Abba, a favorite of Powell's. As Powell's wife, Alma, and other family members were seated, the quintet played a hymn called “Mansions of the Lord.”

President Joe Biden attended but was not scheduled to speak. Two recent presidents did not attend — Bill Clinton, who is recovering from an infection, and Donald Trump, who Powell had criticized.

Eulogists were Madeleine Albright, who was Powell's immediate predecessor as the nation's top diplomat; Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary under Powell and had known him since they served together in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration; and Powell's son Michael.

During her tenure as ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration, Albright sometimes clashed with Powell, although they became good friends. Both have recalled the time, during his final months as Joint Chiefs chairman, when she argued for a U.S. military intervention in the Balkans, asking why the United States had built a superb military if it couldn’t be used in such circumstances. Powell recalled being so irritated by her statement, “I thought I would have an aneurysm.”

Powell’s view was that the United States should commit its military only when it had a clear and achievable political objective, a key element of what became known as the Powell Doctrine, which embodied lessons to took from the U.S. failure in Vietnam.

Powell died Oct. 18 of complications from COVID-19 at age 84. He had been vaccinated against the coronavirus, but his family said his immune system had been compromised by multiple myeloma, a blood cancer for which he had been undergoing treatment.

Funeral attendees Friday were required to wear masks, although not all did.

The story of Powell's rise to prominence in American life is a historic example to many.

In his autobiography, “My American Journey,” Powell recalled a post-Depression Era childhood in the Hunts Point section of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;City's South Bronx, where he was a mediocre student — happy-go-lucky but aimless.

He caught the military bug during his first year at the City College of New York in 1954. Powell was inspired by seeing fellow students in uniform, and he enrolled in the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps.

“I felt distinctive” in uniform, he wrote. He would go on to achieve distinction in a pioneering Army career.

Although he was only 4 when the United States entered World War II, he had vivid memories of the war years. “I deployed legions of lead soldiers and directed battles on the living room rug,” he wrote — a fantasy forerunner of his Army years.

Powell would serve 35 years in uniform. Commissioned in 1958 as a second lieutenant, he served as a platoon leader in what was then called West Germany, and in 1962 was deployed to Vietnam for a year as an adviser to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion. During that tour he was wounded; he served a second tour in Vietnam in 1968 and afterward held a variety of assignments at home and abroad.

He distinguished himself at the Pentagon even before he attained flag officer rank. In the late 1970s he worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 1983 as a brigadier general he became the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. He later served in the White House as President Ronald Reagan's national security adviser, and in 1989 he was promoted to four-star general. Later that year, President George H.W. Bush selected him to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

“He was such a favorite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice,” former President George W. Bush said when Powell's death was announced.

It was a trailblazing American dream journey that won him international acclaim and trust.

He put that credibility on the line in February 2003 when, appearing before the United Nations as secretary of state, he made the case for war against Iraq. When it turned out that the intelligence he cited was faulty and the Iraq War became a bloody, chaotic nightmare, Powell’s stellar reputation was damaged.

Still, it wasn’t destroyed. After leaving government, he became an elder statesman on the global stage and the founder of an organization aimed at helping young disadvantaged Americans. Republicans wanted him to run for president. After becoming disillusioned with his party, he ended up endorsing the last three Democratic presidential candidates, who welcomed his support.

Powell's influence was felt at the highest levels of the U.S. defense establishment long after he retired from public life. Lloyd Austin, who in January became the first Black secretary of defense, called Powell a friend and professional mentor. Like Powell, Austin rose through the ranks of the Army to become a four-star general.

On the day of Powell's death, Austin called him “one of the greatest leaders that we have ever witnessed.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636131597805.png" alt="President Biden with hand over his heart during the military honors at the National Cathedral Friday afternoon-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden with hand over his heart during the military honors at the National Cathedral Friday afternoon-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Friends, family and former colleagues gathered Friday at Washington National Cathedral to honor Colin L. Powell, the trailblazing soldier-diplomat who rose from humble Bronx beginnings to become the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later served as the first Black secretary of state.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515554-1/colin-powell-funeral-service-national-cathedral&amp;live&amp;vod">CLICK here to watch</a> the funeral serviceThe funeral on a sunny and chilly day drew dignitaries and friends from across a wide political and military spectrum. They included former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, former secretary of states James Baker, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Army Gen. Mark Milley, as well as other service chiefs.As guests gathered in the cavernous cathedral that has hosted the funerals of several past presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. Army Brass Quintet played a range of tunes, including “Dancing Queen” by Abba, a favorite of Powell's. As Powell's wife, Alma, and other family members were seated, the quintet played a hymn called “Mansions of the Lord.”President Joe Biden attended but was not scheduled to speak. Two recent presidents did not attend — Bill Clinton, who is recovering from an infection, and Donald Trump, who Powell had criticized.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636131987495.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Eulogists were Madeleine Albright, who was Powell's immediate predecessor as the nation's top diplomat; Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary under Powell and had known him since they served together in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration; and Powell's son Michael.During her tenure as ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration, Albright sometimes clashed with Powell, although they became good friends. Both have recalled the time, during his final months as Joint Chiefs chairman, when she argued for a U.S. military intervention in the Balkans, asking why the United States had built a superb military if it couldn’t be used in such circumstances. Powell recalled being so irritated by her statement, “I thought I would have an aneurysm.”Powell’s view was that the United States should commit its military only when it had a clear and achievable political objective, a key element of what became known as the Powell Doctrine, which embodied lessons to took from the U.S. failure in Vietnam.Powell died Oct. 18 of complications from COVID-19 at age 84. He had been vaccinated against the coronavirus, but his family said his immune system had been compromised by multiple myeloma, a blood cancer for which he had been undergoing treatment.Funeral attendees Friday were required to wear masks, although not all did.The story of Powell's rise to prominence in American life is a historic example to many.In his autobiography, “My American Journey,” Powell recalled a post-Depression Era childhood in the Hunts Point section of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;City's South Bronx, where he was a mediocre student — happy-go-lucky but aimless.He caught the military bug during his first year at the City College of New York in 1954. Powell was inspired by seeing fellow students in uniform, and he enrolled in the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps.“I felt distinctive” in uniform, he wrote. He would go on to achieve distinction in a pioneering Army career.Although he was only 4 when the United States entered World War II, he had vivid memories of the war years. “I deployed legions of lead soldiers and directed battles on the living room rug,” he wrote — a fantasy forerunner of his Army years.Powell would serve 35 years in uniform. Commissioned in 1958 as a second lieutenant, he served as a platoon leader in what was then called West Germany, and in 1962 was deployed to Vietnam for a year as an adviser to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion. During that tour he was wounded; he served a second tour in Vietnam in 1968 and afterward held a variety of assignments at home and abroad.He distinguished himself at the Pentagon even before he attained flag officer rank. In the late 1970s he worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 1983 as a brigadier general he became the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. He later served in the White House as President Ronald Reagan's national security adviser, and in 1989 he was promoted to four-star general. Later that year, President George H.W. Bush selected him to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs.“He was such a favorite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice,” former President George W. Bush said when Powell's death was announced.It was a trailblazing American dream journey that won him international acclaim and trust.He put that credibility on the line in February 2003 when, appearing before the United Nations as secretary of state, he made the case for war against Iraq. When it turned out that the intelligence he cited was faulty and the Iraq War became a bloody, chaotic nightmare, Powell’s stellar reputation was damaged.Still, it wasn’t destroyed. After leaving government, he became an elder statesman on the global stage and the founder of an organization aimed at helping young disadvantaged Americans. Republicans wanted him to run for president. After becoming disillusioned with his party, he ended up endorsing the last three Democratic presidential candidates, who welcomed his support.Powell's influence was felt at the highest levels of the U.S. defense establishment long after he retired from public life. Lloyd Austin, who in January became the first Black secretary of defense, called Powell a friend and professional mentor. Like Powell, Austin rose through the ranks of the Army to become a four-star general.On the day of Powell's death, Austin called him “one of the greatest leaders that we have ever witnessed.”

🎥 Family, friends gather to honor soldier-diplomat Colin Powell

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,107 to a total of 440,303, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 47 new COVID-19 deaths.&nbsp; The state reported seven deaths Monday and 26 virus deaths Wednesday for a total of 6,495.&nbsp;

<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 2,107 to a total of 440,303, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 47 new COVID-19 deaths.&nbsp; The state reported seven deaths Monday and 26 virus deaths Wednesday for a total of 6,495.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636134201337.png" alt="Friday November 5, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday November 5, 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 reports 80 COVID deaths in Kansas since last Friday

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt Friday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new federal vaccine mandate for private employers with more than 100 employees, which was announced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to a statement from the AG's office.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/osha-vaccine-mandate-petition-final.pdf?sfvrsn=27aba51a_2">Click here to </a>read the lawsuit

The new mandate, issued as an “emergency temporary standard,” requires that employees either be vaccinated or receive frequent testing for COVID-19 and would apply to all private-sector employers with 100 or more employees, affecting thousands of Kansas workers and businesses.

Schmidt joined six other state attorneys general in filing a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th&nbsp;Circuit, following through on his previous warnings about the doubtful legality of using OSHA emergency powers to mandate employee vaccinations or testing. Today’s filing asks the court to review the legality of the new mandate, arguing that OSHA lacks the statutory and constitutional authority to issue it. The attorneys general also plan to file a motion asking the court to stay the mandate pending the outcome of the case.

“Nothing in federal law gives OSHA this kind of far-reaching authority,” Schmidt said. “Businesses that do not comply would be subject to steep fines. And to make matters worse, state and federal governments have just announced they will stop paying the cost of testing for businesses, shifting that cost onto businesses themselves. The net effect of this overreaching federal mandate is to discourage private businesses from employ unvaccinated workers by making it more costly, once again threatening the livelihood of many Kansas workers and businesses and promising more disruptions to supply chains nationwide.”

The power to issue emergency temporary standards was delegated to OSHA by Congress for the express purpose of protecting employees from grave dangers posed by exposure to substances or physically harmful toxins encountered at work. The attorneys general argue that authority does not extend to risks that are equally prevalent at work and in society at large. They point out that as recently as last year OSHA agreed with their assessment, noting in the lawsuit that just last year “OSHA refused to issue a nationwide emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 because ‘COVID-19 is a community-wide hazard that is not unique to the workplace.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583409290272.jpeg" alt="Kansas AG Derek Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Kansas AG Derek Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt Friday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new federal vaccine mandate for private employers with more than 100 employees, which was announced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to a statement from the AG's office.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/osha-vaccine-mandate-petition-final.pdf?sfvrsn=27aba51a_2">Click here to </a>read the lawsuitThe new mandate, issued as an “emergency temporary standard,” requires that employees either be vaccinated or receive frequent testing for COVID-19 and would apply to all private-sector employers with 100 or more employees, affecting thousands of Kansas workers and businesses.Schmidt joined six other state attorneys general in filing a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th&nbsp;Circuit, following through on his previous warnings about the doubtful legality of using OSHA emergency powers to mandate employee vaccinations or testing. Today’s filing asks the court to review the legality of the new mandate, arguing that OSHA lacks the statutory and constitutional authority to issue it. The attorneys general also plan to file a motion asking the court to stay the mandate pending the outcome of the case.“Nothing in federal law gives OSHA this kind of far-reaching authority,” Schmidt said. “Businesses that do not comply would be subject to steep fines. And to make matters worse, state and federal governments have just announced they will stop paying the cost of testing for businesses, shifting that cost onto businesses themselves. The net effect of this overreaching federal mandate is to discourage private businesses from employ unvaccinated workers by making it more costly, once again threatening the livelihood of many Kansas workers and businesses and promising more disruptions to supply chains nationwide.”The power to issue emergency temporary standards was delegated to OSHA by Congress for the express purpose of protecting employees from grave dangers posed by exposure to substances or physically harmful toxins encountered at work. The attorneys general argue that authority does not extend to risks that are equally prevalent at work and in society at large. They point out that as recently as last year OSHA agreed with their assessment, noting in the lawsuit that just last year “OSHA refused to issue a nationwide emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 because ‘COVID-19 is a community-wide hazard that is not unique to the workplace.’”The coalition also points out that each state “has enacted its own laws and policies — or declined to issue certain mandates — in a way that balances the need for public health with the right of its citizens.”&nbsp;OSHA’s nationwide mandate takes away that power from the states and adopts a one-size-fits-all national vaccination requirement, which is beyond the federal government’s authority.“As I have said many times, I encourage Kansans to be vaccinated, but that personal health care decision should be made by each individual and not mandated by the federal government,” Schmidt said. “At a time when Kansas employers and employees are desperately seeking a return to normalcy, this mandate would further disrupt and impede their efforts in private workplaces all across Kansas.”This case is the second filed by Schmidt challenging the federal government’s recent attempts to mandate vaccination. Last week, Schmidt joined six other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit asking a federal court to declare illegal a different federal vaccination mandate – one applying to businesses and universities that participate in federal contracts – and to block its implementation. That suit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Augusta Division.