WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices for U.S. consumers jumped in June by the most in 13 years, evidence that a swift rebound in spending has run up against widespread supply shortages that have escalated the costs of many goods and services.

Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;showed that consumer prices in June rose 0.9% from May and 5.4% over the past year — the sharpest 12-month inflation spike since August 2008. Excluding volatile oil and gas prices, so-called core inflation rose 4.5% in the past year, the largest increase since November 1991.

The pickup in inflation, which has coincided with the economy’s rapid recovery from the pandemic recession, will likely intensify a debate at the Federal Reserve and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-government-and-politics-2c2d811df7e2b07dd927778fb7944c3a">between the Biden administration and congressional Republicans&nbsp;</a>about how persistent the accelerating price increases will prove to be.

The Fed and the White House have made clear their belief that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6e7c813472a3eb706e0cdafe305c1477">current bout of inflation will prove temporary</a>. As supply chain bottlenecks are resolved and the economy returns to normal, they suggest, the price spikes for such items as used cars, hotel rooms and clothing will fade. Some economists, along with Wall Street investors, have indicated that they agree.

“The headline inflation numbers have been eye-popping in recent months, but underlying inflation remains under control,” said Gus Faucher, an economist at PNC Financial Services. “Once again a few categories — used vehicles, airfares, rental cars, hotels — are experiencing huge price gains because of the recovery from the pandemic.”

Still, continued higher inflation does raise the prospect that the Fed could decide to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-380a7fc237023194d94af689f13a5ef7">act earlier than expected&nbsp;</a>to pull back on its ultra-low interest rate policies, which have been intended to support more borrowing and spending. If so, that would risk weakening the economy and potentially derailing the recovery.

For now, price increases are running ahead of the wage gains that have kicked in this year, which means the financial burdens on millions of households have grown more difficult. Average hourly earnings increased 3.6% in June compared with a year earlier, normally a solid gain, but far less than current inflation.

Lower-income workers are also hardest hit by rising food prices, which rose 0.8% in June, and gas costs, which rose 2.5% last month and 45% from a year ago.

One reason why year-over-year inflation readings are now so high is that the most recent prices are being measured against the sharp price declines that followed the eruption of the pandemic in March of last year. That statistical distortion began to fade in June and will no longer be a factor when July’s year-over-year inflation figures are released next month.

Looking past those distortions, prices are rising faster than they did before the pandemic but not as much as the recent monthly numbers suggest. Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, noted that compared with June 2019, inflation has risen at about a 3% annual pace over the past two years. That is up from a 2.6% annual inflation pace from May 2019 to May 2021.

In addition, some ongoing price spikes could fade soon. Hotel room prices surged 7% in June alone and 15.1% in the past year, the most on records dating to the 1950s. But that surge has merely returned hotel prices to pre-pandemic levels and so may not persist.

Airline fares, which jumped 2.7% last month, have skyrocketed nearly 25% compared with a year ago. Yet airline ticket prices are still below pre-COVID levels.

Prices for used cars are far above where they were before the pandemic and soared 10.5% last month alone — the largest such monthly increase on record. That spike accounted for about one-third of the monthly increase in consumer prices for a third straight month.

Used cars have become vastly more expensive largely because semiconductor shortages have cut production of new cars, thereby leading more buyers to the used car lots. And many rental car companies sold portions of their fleets during the pandemic to raise cash and are now desperately buying up used cars to replenish their supply.

The shortage of rental cars combined with greater demand has elevated vehicle rental prices by an astounding 90% in the past year.

The surge in used car prices, though, isn’t likely to last. Prices are starting to drop at wholesale auctions where dealers buy vehicles, and used vehicle demand may be slowing.

David Kelleher, who runs a Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) dealership in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, has observed that fewer of his customers are seeking used vehicles.

“I think the word got out that it was a tough time to buy a used car,” Kelleher said.

Kelleher, who has now cut prices on the roughly 150 used vehicles he has in stock, says other dealers are reporting the same conditions, and he expects customers to return once the price declines take full effect. Still, supplies of new vehicles remain tight and prices high, a trend that could sustain customer demand for used vehicles.

More broadly, other trends are keeping consumer prices high: Restaurant prices rose 0.7% last month and 4.2% over the past year, a sign that many companies are raising prices to offset higher labor costs.

The cost of household furniture increased 0.7% from May to June and 8.6% compared with a year ago, as more Americans have upgraded their homes after spending more time there during the pandemic. Mohawk Industries, which makes carpets and tiles,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.floordaily.net/floorfocus/engineered-floors-mohawk-announce-price-increase" target="_blank">has said it will raise prices</a>&nbsp;6% to 10% — its third price hike of the year — to cover higher costs for raw material, labor and shipping.

The spice maker McCormick &amp; Co. said it plans to raise prices to offset higher raw materials costs. Likewise, Conagra has said inflationary pressures have reduced its profits. The company, which makes everything from Duncan Hines to Pam cooking spray, has said it will raise prices to offset some of those costs. PepsiCo, too, said it will likely raise prices for its drinks and Frito-Lay snacks after Labor Day.

So far, investors have largely accepted the Fed’s belief that higher inflation will be short-lived, with bond yields signaling that inflation concerns on Wall Street are fading. Bond investors now expect inflation to average 2.4% over the next five years, down from 2.7% in mid-May.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626210690024.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices for U.S. consumers jumped in June by the most in 13 years, evidence that a swift rebound in spending has run up against widespread supply shortages that have escalated the costs of many goods and services.Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;showed that consumer prices in June rose 0.9% from May and 5.4% over the past year — the sharpest 12-month inflation spike since August 2008. Excluding volatile oil and gas prices, so-called core inflation rose 4.5% in the past year, the largest increase since November 1991.The pickup in inflation, which has coincided with the economy’s rapid recovery from the pandemic recession, will likely intensify a debate at the Federal Reserve and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-government-and-politics-2c2d811df7e2b07dd927778fb7944c3a">between the Biden administration and congressional Republicans&nbsp;</a>about how persistent the accelerating price increases will prove to be.The Fed and the White House have made clear their belief that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6e7c813472a3eb706e0cdafe305c1477">current bout of inflation will prove temporary</a>. As supply chain bottlenecks are resolved and the economy returns to normal, they suggest, the price spikes for such items as used cars, hotel rooms and clothing will fade. Some economists, along with Wall Street investors, have indicated that they agree.“The headline inflation numbers have been eye-popping in recent months, but underlying inflation remains under control,” said Gus Faucher, an economist at PNC Financial Services. “Once again a few categories — used vehicles, airfares, rental cars, hotels — are experiencing huge price gains because of the recovery from the pandemic.”Still, continued higher inflation does raise the prospect that the Fed could decide to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-380a7fc237023194d94af689f13a5ef7">act earlier than expected&nbsp;</a>to pull back on its ultra-low interest rate policies, which have been intended to support more borrowing and spending. If so, that would risk weakening the economy and potentially derailing the recovery.For now, price increases are running ahead of the wage gains that have kicked in this year, which means the financial burdens on millions of households have grown more difficult. Average hourly earnings increased 3.6% in June compared with a year earlier, normally a solid gain, but far less than current inflation.Lower-income workers are also hardest hit by rising food prices, which rose 0.8% in June, and gas costs, which rose 2.5% last month and 45% from a year ago.One reason why year-over-year inflation readings are now so high is that the most recent prices are being measured against the sharp price declines that followed the eruption of the pandemic in March of last year. That statistical distortion began to fade in June and will no longer be a factor when July’s year-over-year inflation figures are released next month.Looking past those distortions, prices are rising faster than they did before the pandemic but not as much as the recent monthly numbers suggest. Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, noted that compared with June 2019, inflation has risen at about a 3% annual pace over the past two years. That is up from a 2.6% annual inflation pace from May 2019 to May 2021.In addition, some ongoing price spikes could fade soon. Hotel room prices surged 7% in June alone and 15.1% in the past year, the most on records dating to the 1950s. But that surge has merely returned hotel prices to pre-pandemic levels and so may not persist.Airline fares, which jumped 2.7% last month, have skyrocketed nearly 25% compared with a year ago. Yet airline ticket prices are still below pre-COVID levels.Prices for used cars are far above where they were before the pandemic and soared 10.5% last month alone — the largest such monthly increase on record. That spike accounted for about one-third of the monthly increase in consumer prices for a third straight month.Used cars have become vastly more expensive largely because semiconductor shortages have cut production of new cars, thereby leading more buyers to the used car lots. And many rental car companies sold portions of their fleets during the pandemic to raise cash and are now desperately buying up used cars to replenish their supply.The shortage of rental cars combined with greater demand has elevated vehicle rental prices by an astounding 90% in the past year.The surge in used car prices, though, isn’t likely to last. Prices are starting to drop at wholesale auctions where dealers buy vehicles, and used vehicle demand may be slowing.David Kelleher, who runs a Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) dealership in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, has observed that fewer of his customers are seeking used vehicles.“I think the word got out that it was a tough time to buy a used car,” Kelleher said.Kelleher, who has now cut prices on the roughly 150 used vehicles he has in stock, says other dealers are reporting the same conditions, and he expects customers to return once the price declines take full effect. Still, supplies of new vehicles remain tight and prices high, a trend that could sustain customer demand for used vehicles.More broadly, other trends are keeping consumer prices high: Restaurant prices rose 0.7% last month and 4.2% over the past year, a sign that many companies are raising prices to offset higher labor costs.The cost of household furniture increased 0.7% from May to June and 8.6% compared with a year ago, as more Americans have upgraded their homes after spending more time there during the pandemic. Mohawk Industries, which makes carpets and tiles,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.floordaily.net/floorfocus/engineered-floors-mohawk-announce-price-increase" target="_blank">has said it will raise prices</a>&nbsp;6% to 10% — its third price hike of the year — to cover higher costs for raw material, labor and shipping.The spice maker McCormick &amp; Co. said it plans to raise prices to offset higher raw materials costs. Likewise, Conagra has said inflationary pressures have reduced its profits. The company, which makes everything from Duncan Hines to Pam cooking spray, has said it will raise prices to offset some of those costs. PepsiCo, too, said it will likely raise prices for its drinks and Frito-Lay snacks after Labor Day.So far, investors have largely accepted the Fed’s belief that higher inflation will be short-lived, with bond yields signaling that inflation concerns on Wall Street are fading. Bond investors now expect inflation to average 2.4% over the next five years, down from 2.7% in mid-May.

US consumer prices surge in June, the most  in 13-years

HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the fatal&nbsp; shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl&nbsp;filed formal charges in the case, according to the Harvey County Attorney’s Office.

Just before 10p.m. Sunday, the Newton Police Department responded to an incident at a home in the 900 block of S. Walnut Street in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.

Police found a 14-year-old girl injured with a gunshot wound. First responders provided medical treatment, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday morning, police took a 16-year-old boy into custody at his home.&nbsp; Prosecutors charged him with one count each of alleged first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal threat.

The names of the individuals involved are not being released by the Attorney’s Office due to the ages of the suspect and victim.

HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl and have a juvenile suspect in custody.

Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, the suspect identified as a 16-year-old boy arrived at a house in the 900 block of South Walnut in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.

Witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.

Witnesses and neighbors attempted to perform CPR and called 911, and the suspect ran from the house.&nbsp; Newton Police arrested the suspect just after 10 a.m. Monday at his house in Newton.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the suspect or the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626213055741.png" alt="According to police, witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>According to police, witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the fatal&nbsp; shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl&nbsp;filed formal charges in the case, according to the Harvey County Attorney’s Office.Just before 10p.m. Sunday, the Newton Police Department responded to an incident at a home in the 900 block of S. Walnut Street in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.Police found a 14-year-old girl injured with a gunshot wound. First responders provided medical treatment, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.On Monday morning, police took a 16-year-old boy into custody at his home.&nbsp; Prosecutors charged him with one count each of alleged first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal threat.The names of the individuals involved are not being released by the Attorney’s Office due to the ages of the suspect and victim.------------HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl and have a juvenile suspect in custody.Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, the suspect identified as a 16-year-old boy arrived at a house in the 900 block of South Walnut in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.Witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.Witnesses and neighbors attempted to perform CPR and called 911, and the suspect ran from the house.&nbsp; Newton Police arrested the suspect just after 10 a.m. Monday at his house in Newton.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the suspect or the victim.

Boy charged in shooting death of 14-year-old girl in Newton

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Family members and police are at odds over the shooting death of a Black gay man in Kansas City with family members saying they think he was shot because he was gay and police saying there’s no evidence to support that.

De’Angelo Wallace, 28, was killed downtown early on July 5. A suspect was arrested the same day and was later released.

Wallace’s family members held a news conference last week to draw attention to the case and said Wallace had been targeted and threatened in recent weeks because of his sexuality. Police suggest the shooting stemmed from an argument.

“There is absolutely no indication whatsoever this was related to a hate crime,” Sgt. Jake Becchina, a police spokesman, wrote in an email in response to questions from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article252659468.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star</a>.

Justice Horn, vice chair of the city government’s LGBTQ Commission, appeared with the family at the news conference, describing what he called a track record of Black LGBTQ people in the city being targeted, threatened or killed.

Horn said he had no trust in the Kansas City Police Department when it comes to determining whether Wallace’s death was motivated by hate.

“They do not have a good record when it comes to interacting with like LGBT individuals, so I frankly don’t want to hear from them,” Horn said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626210154779.png" alt="Investigators on the scene after De’Angelo Wallace, 28, was killed downtown early on July 5. A suspect was arrested the same day and was later released-photo courtesy KSHB" />
 <figcaption>Investigators on the scene after De’Angelo Wallace, 28, was killed downtown early on July 5. A suspect was arrested the same day and was later released-photo courtesy KSHB</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Family members and police are at odds over the shooting death of a Black gay man in Kansas City with family members saying they think he was shot because he was gay and police saying there’s no evidence to support that.De’Angelo Wallace, 28, was killed downtown early on July 5. A suspect was arrested the same day and was later released.Wallace’s family members held a news conference last week to draw attention to the case and said Wallace had been targeted and threatened in recent weeks because of his sexuality. Police suggest the shooting stemmed from an argument.“There is absolutely no indication whatsoever this was related to a hate crime,” Sgt. Jake Becchina, a police spokesman, wrote in an email in response to questions from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article252659468.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star</a>.Justice Horn, vice chair of the city government’s LGBTQ Commission, appeared with the family at the news conference, describing what he called a track record of Black LGBTQ people in the city being targeted, threatened or killed.Horn said he had no trust in the Kansas City Police Department when it comes to determining whether Wallace’s death was motivated by hate.“They do not have a good record when it comes to interacting with like LGBT individuals, so I frankly don’t want to hear from them,” Horn said.

Family thinks fatal KC shooting was hate crime; police disagree

ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — The Atchison school district will use the Phoenix as its new mascot. The Board of Education voted to select the new mascot on Monday night after months of discussion.

The vote came despite a petition with more than 700 signatures asking the board not to act until gathering more public input. 

The board voted in April to replace the former Native American-themed Redmen mascot for the high school and Braves for the middle school. Board members said the Phoenix is a neutral symbol, and they wanted to make the choice before the school year started.

ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — The Atchison school district will use the Phoenix as its new mascot. The Board of Education voted to select the new mascot on Monday night after months of discussion.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1eXEvGNa34A?start=1902" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The vote came despite a petition with more than 700 signatures asking the board not to act until gathering more public input. The board voted in April to replace the former Native American-themed Redmen mascot for the high school and Braves for the middle school. Board members said the Phoenix is a neutral symbol, and they wanted to make the choice before the school year started.

🎥  Atchison schools replace Native American mascot

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to find those involved.

On Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded to the Laclede Baptist Church at 11920 Onaga Road in rural Wamego, with reports of burglary and theft that occurred between 4p.m. July 10 and 10a.m. July 11, according to a media release from the&nbsp;The Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff’s Office.

&nbsp;Suspects entered the church and stole electronic equipment with an estimated value over $1,000.

Anyone with information related to the crime should call Detective Rob Gordon at 785-457-3353 or leave a tip with&nbsp;<a href="https://ptsheriff.com/" target="_blank">CrimeStoppers</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626197169057.png" alt="Laclede Baptist Church -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Laclede Baptist Church -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to find those involved.On Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded to the Laclede Baptist Church at 11920 Onaga Road in rural Wamego, with reports of burglary and theft that occurred between 4p.m. July 10 and 10a.m. July 11, according to a media release from the&nbsp;The Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;Suspects entered the church and stole electronic equipment with an estimated value over $1,000.Anyone with information related to the crime should call Detective Rob Gordon at 785-457-3353 or leave a tip with&nbsp;<a href="https://ptsheriff.com/" target="_blank">CrimeStoppers</a>.

Sheriff asks for help with info on rural Kan. church burglary

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The U.S. has seen a string of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to summer camps in recent weeks in places such as Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois and Florida in what some fear could be a preview of the upcoming school year.

In some cases the outbreaks have spread from the camp to the broader community.

The clusters have come as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. has reversed course, surging more than 60% over the past two weeks from an average of about 12,000 a day to about 19,500, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The rise in many places has been blamed on too many unvaccinated people and the highly contagious delta variant.

Gwen Ford, a 43-year-old science teacher from Adrian, Missouri, was cautiously optimistic when she eyed the dropping case numbers in the spring and signed up her 12-year-old daughter for the West Central Christian Service Camp in Missouri.

But one day after her daughter got home from a week of playing in the camp pool, worshipping with friends and bunking in a dormitory, Ford got an email about an outbreak and then learned that her daughter’s camp buddy was infected.

“And we were like, ’Oh, my gosh. This was someone you were around quite a bit,’” she recalled, adding that her daughter ultimately tested negative. Ford said she definitely plans to get her daughter vaccinated. “It was very nerve-wracking. It kind of seems like we finally felt comfortable and it happened.”

A note posted on the camp’s Facebook page showed that the camp nurse and several faculty and volunteers were among those infected. Staff members at the camp did not return a call for comment.

JoAnn Martin, administrator of the public health agency in surrounding Pettis County, lamented the difficulty in getting people to take the virus seriously and get vaccinated.

“It has been a challenge since the first case,” she said. “You have people who still say it is not real. You have people who say it is a cold. You have people who say what is the big deal. You have people who say it is all a government plot.”

Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist, said he isn’t surprised by the outbreaks as camps reopen this year after being closed last summer. He said he had his doubts that some camps “thought through all the implications of camping during COVID.”

Ideally, he said, camps would require vaccinations for adults and for campers who are old enough, and would take other measures such as serving meals in shifts, putting fewer youngsters in the cabins and requiring anyone unvaccinated to wear masks indoors.

In the Houston area, health officials said more than 130 youth and adults tested positive for the virus in cases connected to a church camp attended by several hundred young people.

The pastor of Clear Creek Community Church in League City, Texas, said the outbreak happened in two waves, first at the camp and then when people returned home in late June and spread the virus to their families.

“In some cases, entire families are sick,” pastor Bruce Wesley said on the church’s Facebook page.

In Illinois, health officials said 85 teens and adults at a Christian youth camp in mid-June tested positive, including an unvaccinated young adult who was hospitalized, and some people from the camp attended a nearby conference, leading to 11 additional cases.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said all the campers were eligible for the vaccine, but only “a handful” of campers and staff had received it. The camp didn’t check vaccination status or require people to wear masks indoors, according to the department.

The health department in Leon County, Florida, which includes Tallahassee, tweeted this month that an increase in cases there also was tied in part to summer camp outbreaks.

And in Kansas, about 50 people have been infected in an outbreak linked to a church summer camp held last month not far from Wichita.

Elsewhere the situation is better. The roughly 225 overnight camps and thousands of day camps run by local YMCAs are mostly open this summer, though with slightly reduced capacity, said Paul McEntire, chief operating officer for YMCA of the USA.

McEntire said he is aware of a few cases of Y camps where people tested positive for the virus, but no instances of significant spread. He said many camps are taking precautions such as serving meals in shifts or outside and trying to keep youngsters in separate groups. Most are requiring masks indoors, but he acknowledged it can be a challenge.

“To be frank, there are some parents that didn’t want to send their kids unless they were assured that masking was being used indoors,” he said. “There were others that took the exact opposite viewpoint.”

Ahead of the school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance last week to say vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside and 3-foot distancing of desks is not necessary for the fully vaccinated.

Summer camp outbreaks “certainly could be a precursor” to what happens when youngsters return to classrooms in the fall, said Dr. Michelle Prickett, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The outcome will depend on vaccination rates and which virus variants are prevalent, she said.

“We just need to be vigilant,” Prickett said.

Schaffner said he thinks schools won’t face similar outbreaks because they tend to be more structured and disciplined than camps and most got used to making adjustments over the past year and a half. But he said the best way to reduce the risk is to get most people vaccinated.

“There are many parts of the country that simply have not grasped this,” he said.

The COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. is authorized for people as young as 12. It could be several months before regulators make a decision on authorizing shots for children younger than that. Studies on youngsters under 12 are still going on.

Ford, the teacher whose daughter narrowly escaped getting COVID-19 at a Missouri summer camp, is worried.

“With the uptick in cases, I am concerned that we won’t be able to go back to normal, and we will have to ask people to mask and stuff,” she said, “and I have a feeling that there is going to be a huge argument.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626184305895.png" alt="Photo courtesy West Central Christian Service Camp" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy West Central Christian Service Camp</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The U.S. has seen a string of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to summer camps in recent weeks in places such as Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois and Florida in what some fear could be a preview of the upcoming school year.In some cases the outbreaks have spread from the camp to the broader community.The clusters have come as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. has reversed course, surging more than 60% over the past two weeks from an average of about 12,000 a day to about 19,500, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.The rise in many places has been blamed on too many unvaccinated people and the highly contagious delta variant.Gwen Ford, a 43-year-old science teacher from Adrian, Missouri, was cautiously optimistic when she eyed the dropping case numbers in the spring and signed up her 12-year-old daughter for the West Central Christian Service Camp in Missouri.But one day after her daughter got home from a week of playing in the camp pool, worshipping with friends and bunking in a dormitory, Ford got an email about an outbreak and then learned that her daughter’s camp buddy was infected.“And we were like, ’Oh, my gosh. This was someone you were around quite a bit,’” she recalled, adding that her daughter ultimately tested negative. Ford said she definitely plans to get her daughter vaccinated. “It was very nerve-wracking. It kind of seems like we finally felt comfortable and it happened.”A note posted on the camp’s Facebook page showed that the camp nurse and several faculty and volunteers were among those infected. Staff members at the camp did not return a call for comment.JoAnn Martin, administrator of the public health agency in surrounding Pettis County, lamented the difficulty in getting people to take the virus seriously and get vaccinated.“It has been a challenge since the first case,” she said. “You have people who still say it is not real. You have people who say it is a cold. You have people who say what is the big deal. You have people who say it is all a government plot.”Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist, said he isn’t surprised by the outbreaks as camps reopen this year after being closed last summer. He said he had his doubts that some camps “thought through all the implications of camping during COVID.”Ideally, he said, camps would require vaccinations for adults and for campers who are old enough, and would take other measures such as serving meals in shifts, putting fewer youngsters in the cabins and requiring anyone unvaccinated to wear masks indoors.In the Houston area, health officials said more than 130 youth and adults tested positive for the virus in cases connected to a church camp attended by several hundred young people.The pastor of Clear Creek Community Church in League City, Texas, said the outbreak happened in two waves, first at the camp and then when people returned home in late June and spread the virus to their families.“In some cases, entire families are sick,” pastor Bruce Wesley said on the church’s Facebook page.In Illinois, health officials said 85 teens and adults at a Christian youth camp in mid-June tested positive, including an unvaccinated young adult who was hospitalized, and some people from the camp attended a nearby conference, leading to 11 additional cases.The Illinois Department of Public Health said all the campers were eligible for the vaccine, but only “a handful” of campers and staff had received it. The camp didn’t check vaccination status or require people to wear masks indoors, according to the department.The health department in Leon County, Florida, which includes Tallahassee, tweeted this month that an increase in cases there also was tied in part to summer camp outbreaks.And in Kansas, about 50 people have been infected in an outbreak linked to a church summer camp held last month not far from Wichita.Elsewhere the situation is better. The roughly 225 overnight camps and thousands of day camps run by local YMCAs are mostly open this summer, though with slightly reduced capacity, said Paul McEntire, chief operating officer for YMCA of the USA.McEntire said he is aware of a few cases of Y camps where people tested positive for the virus, but no instances of significant spread. He said many camps are taking precautions such as serving meals in shifts or outside and trying to keep youngsters in separate groups. Most are requiring masks indoors, but he acknowledged it can be a challenge.“To be frank, there are some parents that didn’t want to send their kids unless they were assured that masking was being used indoors,” he said. “There were others that took the exact opposite viewpoint.”Ahead of the school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance last week to say vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside and 3-foot distancing of desks is not necessary for the fully vaccinated.Summer camp outbreaks “certainly could be a precursor” to what happens when youngsters return to classrooms in the fall, said Dr. Michelle Prickett, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The outcome will depend on vaccination rates and which virus variants are prevalent, she said.“We just need to be vigilant,” Prickett said.Schaffner said he thinks schools won’t face similar outbreaks because they tend to be more structured and disciplined than camps and most got used to making adjustments over the past year and a half. But he said the best way to reduce the risk is to get most people vaccinated.“There are many parts of the country that simply have not grasped this,” he said.The COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. is authorized for people as young as 12. It could be several months before regulators make a decision on authorizing shots for children younger than that. Studies on youngsters under 12 are still going on.Ford, the teacher whose daughter narrowly escaped getting COVID-19 at a Missouri summer camp, is worried.“With the uptick in cases, I am concerned that we won’t be able to go back to normal, and we will have to ask people to mask and stuff,” she said, “and I have a feeling that there is going to be a huge argument.”

Summer camps hit with COVID outbreaks -- are schools next?

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Law enforcement authorities are investigating two girls, residents at Saint Francis Ministries west of Salina, after a wild ride in an SUV.

Just after 6:30p.m. Monday, a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl who were residents at Saint Francis Ministries, 5097 W. Cloud Street, grabbed a bag of personal items and clothing and ran out the door of one of the facility's buildings, according to Saline County Under Sheriff Brent Melander..&nbsp;

In the bag, the girls located keys to a 2016 Chevrolet Trax belonging to a female employee of Saint Francis Ministries. After the girls were in the SUV and had started it, the owner of the SUV saw the girls and jumped on the hood of the SUV while telling the girls to get out of her vehicle, Melander said.

Instead, the girls drove off the Saint Francis Ministries property and headed west on W. Cloud Street with the owner of the vehicle hanging onto the hood, pleading with the girls to stop, he said.

At some point, the driver slammed on the brakes and the SUV owner fell off. The driver then accelerated, running over the woman, Melander said.

The SUV continued westbound and was later located by an Ellsworth County deputy in the 1400 block of Foster Drive in Ellsworth. The girls were taken into custody without incident, Melander said.

The owner of the SUV was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with substantial but non-life-threatening injuries, Melander said.

The two girls were arrested on requested charges of Attempted murder in the second degree, Theft of a motor vehicle, Conspiracy, Criminal solicitation and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license

Melander said the girls took turns driving the SUV.

The Trax, valued at $17,000, was returned to Saline County by the Saline County Sheriff's Office, Melander said.

The girls are being held at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostLaw enforcement authorities are investigating two girls, residents at Saint Francis Ministries west of Salina, after a wild ride in an SUV.Just after 6:30p.m. Monday, a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl who were residents at Saint Francis Ministries, 5097 W. Cloud Street, grabbed a bag of personal items and clothing and ran out the door of one of the facility's buildings, according to Saline County Under Sheriff Brent Melander..&nbsp;In the bag, the girls located keys to a 2016 Chevrolet Trax belonging to a female employee of Saint Francis Ministries. After the girls were in the SUV and had started it, the owner of the SUV saw the girls and jumped on the hood of the SUV while telling the girls to get out of her vehicle, Melander said.Instead, the girls drove off the Saint Francis Ministries property and headed west on W. Cloud Street with the owner of the vehicle hanging onto the hood, pleading with the girls to stop, he said.At some point, the driver slammed on the brakes and the SUV owner fell off. The driver then accelerated, running over the woman, Melander said.The SUV continued westbound and was later located by an Ellsworth County deputy in the 1400 block of Foster Drive in Ellsworth. The girls were taken into custody without incident, Melander said.The owner of the SUV was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with substantial but non-life-threatening injuries, Melander said.The two girls were arrested on requested charges of Attempted murder in the second degree, Theft of a motor vehicle, Conspiracy, Criminal solicitation and operating a motor vehicle without a valid licenseMelander said the girls took turns driving the SUV.The Trax, valued at $17,000, was returned to Saline County by the Saline County Sheriff's Office, Melander said.The girls are being held at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City.

Sheriff: Kan. teens steal SUV, run over ministry employee

DICKINSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Dickinson County.

A 2003 Chevy Avalanche driven by Jade E. Waters, 20, Abilene, was eastbound in the 700 block of&nbsp; 2700 Avenue, according to the Dickinson County Sheriff's office.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.

A passenger identified as Cheyenne K. Crocker, 21, Abilene, was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Waters and a second passenger Tyler D. Moreland, 18, Chapman, to Salina Regional Health Center.

The accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

DICKINSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Dickinson County.A 2003 Chevy Avalanche driven by Jade E. Waters, 20, Abilene, was eastbound in the 700 block of&nbsp; 2700 Avenue, according to the Dickinson County Sheriff's office.The driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.A passenger identified as Cheyenne K. Crocker, 21, Abilene, was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Waters and a second passenger Tyler D. Moreland, 18, Chapman, to Salina Regional Health Center.The accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

Kansas woman dies after truck overturns

JUNCTION CITY —Construction of the new high school continues to press towards timely completion to support its opening for the fall semester, according to a statement from USD 475.

 High school classes are now planned to commence on August 25th. All other schools will commence classes as previously scheduled.

Chief Operations Officer David Wild states that recent developments with the loss of city inspectors are a contributing factor to this decision. The two-week start of school delay affords room on the calendar to complete the inspection process without placing undue stress on its city partner. It also affords an opportunity for construction to proceed in key areas without unnecessary acceleration.

“It’s remarkable that Hutton Construction has been able to stay this close to its construction schedule given that the District added approximately $17M in new work, including $3M in the month of June, and in the face of an ongoing pandemic.” Wild added.

Students and staff will safely start school on August 25th while construction on the auditorium, main gym, wrestling, and weight rooms will be completed shortly after Labor Day. Late additions to the project include the orchestra and multi-purpose and fitness rooms which will remain under construction into early October.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626183091974.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JUNCTION CITY —Construction of the new high school continues to press towards timely completion to support its opening for the fall semester, according to a statement from USD 475. High school classes are now planned to commence on August 25th. All other schools will commence classes as previously scheduled.Chief Operations Officer David Wild states that recent developments with the loss of city inspectors are a contributing factor to this decision. The two-week start of school delay affords room on the calendar to complete the inspection process without placing undue stress on its city partner. It also affords an opportunity for construction to proceed in key areas without unnecessary acceleration.“It’s remarkable that Hutton Construction has been able to stay this close to its construction schedule given that the District added approximately $17M in new work, including $3M in the month of June, and in the face of an ongoing pandemic.” Wild added.Students and staff will safely start school on August 25th while construction on the auditorium, main gym, wrestling, and weight rooms will be completed shortly after Labor Day. Late additions to the project include the orchestra and multi-purpose and fitness rooms which will remain under construction into early October.

Lack of inspectors a factor in start of school year at Junction City High

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects&nbsp;following an early morning vehicle pursuit in Central Topeka, Shawnee County. 

Just after midnight Monday officers spotted a&nbsp;reported stolen vehicle in the area of SW 29th and Mulvane, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies later located the stolen vehicle in the 3700 Block of SW Wanamaker Road where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop. 

The driver of the stolen vehicle later identified a 21-year-old Jedashia Nicole Moreno failed to yield and initiated a vehicle pursuit. 

The pursuit ended in the 1200 Block of SW Polk when deputies performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) maneuver. Moreno and a passenger identified as 20-year-old Nathan. Paul Leonard were taken into custody without incident. Topeka Police and KHP assisted with the pursuit.

Moreno remains jailed on requested charges that include felony theft, felony fleeing and attempting to elude, possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and other traffic violations as well as a felony warrant through Shawnee County Sheriff's for possession of a stolen firearm and&nbsp; misdemeanor warrants from the city of Topeka.

Leonard is being held for a felony narcotics warrant and city of Topeka misdemeanor warrants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626092361961.png" alt="Moreno-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Moreno-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects&nbsp;following an early morning vehicle pursuit in Central Topeka, Shawnee County. Just after midnight Monday officers spotted a&nbsp;reported stolen vehicle in the area of SW 29th and Mulvane, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies later located the stolen vehicle in the 3700 Block of SW Wanamaker Road where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the stolen vehicle later identified a 21-year-old Jedashia Nicole Moreno failed to yield and initiated a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit ended in the 1200 Block of SW Polk when deputies performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) maneuver. Moreno and a passenger identified as 20-year-old Nathan. Paul Leonard were taken into custody without incident. Topeka Police and KHP assisted with the pursuit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626092455410.png" alt="Leonard" />
 <figcaption>Leonard</figcaption>
 </figure>Moreno remains jailed on requested charges that include felony theft, felony fleeing and attempting to elude, possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and other traffic violations as well as a felony warrant through Shawnee County Sheriff's for possession of a stolen firearm and&nbsp; misdemeanor warrants from the city of Topeka.Leonard is being held for a felony narcotics warrant and city of Topeka misdemeanor warrants.

Kan. deputies use tactical vehicle intervention to end chase

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita police officer who was shot in the line of duty June 19 was released from the hospital and transferred to a rehab facility on Monday, according to Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.

"The outpouring of community support for this hero has been overwhelming, and we're very thankful for the progress he's made in his recovery so far," Ramsay wrote on social media.&nbsp;The injured officer is a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department. Authorities have not released his name.

Just after 10:15p.m. June 19, police were dispatched to check welfare of a 32-year-0ld woman at a home in the 500 Block of West Carlyle in Wichita, according to&nbsp;Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido. Officers received information that the woman could be in danger. It was reported she was yelling for help and her 13-year-old daughter was scared.

Upon arrival, the woman told police of physical disturbance between her and her boyfriend identified as 28-year-old Tyler Hodge. She believed he had left.

Hodge's vehicle was at the home and police began checking the home and property to make sure the woman and her daughter were safe.

During their search, offices found Hodge hiding in a shed on the back of the property. He was armed with a rifle and ran toward the officers and fired the rifle multiple times, according to Salcido.

The officers took cover and called other officers to assist. As they arrived, Hodge continued shooting at those officers arriving to assist.&nbsp; One Wichita officer was hit multiple times. The injured officer returned fire and other officers were able to pull him to safety, began life-saving measures, placed him in a police vehicle and transported him to a hospital where he is listed in critical condition but was making improvement on Sunday afternoon, according to Salcido.

Hodge continued shooting at police and moved to the front of the home where an officer shot him.&nbsp; Officers moved the suspect to a safe location and began life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, Hodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Salcido.

Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire.&nbsp; Later, investigators found a loaded handgun in the detached shed where Hodge had been hiding, according to Salcido.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid leave, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.&nbsp;

The injured officer is a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626172583597.png" alt="Photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita police officer who was shot in the line of duty June 19 was released from the hospital and transferred to a rehab facility on Monday, according to Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWichitaPolice%2Fposts%2F10158535635689514&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="518" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>"The outpouring of community support for this hero has been overwhelming, and we're very thankful for the progress he's made in his recovery so far," Ramsay wrote on social media.&nbsp;The injured officer is a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department. Authorities have not released his name.------Just after 10:15p.m. June 19, police were dispatched to check welfare of a 32-year-0ld woman at a home in the 500 Block of West Carlyle in Wichita, according to&nbsp;Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido. Officers received information that the woman could be in danger. It was reported she was yelling for help and her 13-year-old daughter was scared.Upon arrival, the woman told police of physical disturbance between her and her boyfriend identified as 28-year-old Tyler Hodge. She believed he had left.Hodge's vehicle was at the home and police began checking the home and property to make sure the woman and her daughter were safe.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624198277511.png" alt="Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire. Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire. Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>During their search, offices found Hodge hiding in a shed on the back of the property. He was armed with a rifle and ran toward the officers and fired the rifle multiple times, according to Salcido.The officers took cover and called other officers to assist. As they arrived, Hodge continued shooting at those officers arriving to assist.&nbsp; One Wichita officer was hit multiple times. The injured officer returned fire and other officers were able to pull him to safety, began life-saving measures, placed him in a police vehicle and transported him to a hospital where he is listed in critical condition but was making improvement on Sunday afternoon, according to Salcido.Hodge continued shooting at police and moved to the front of the home where an officer shot him.&nbsp; Officers moved the suspect to a safe location and began life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, Hodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Salcido.Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire.&nbsp; Later, investigators found a loaded handgun in the detached shed where Hodge had been hiding, according to Salcido.The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid leave, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.&nbsp;The injured officer is a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department.&nbsp;

🎥 Critically wounded Kan.officer moved to rehab hospital

ATLANTA (AP) — Three Democratic U.S. senators from states that have refused to expand Medicaid want the federal government to set up a mirror plan to provide health insurance coverage to people in those states.

Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin introduced the bill Monday, they told The Associated Press. Congressional Democrats are pushing for a coverage expansion in upcoming legislation.

“The single most effective solution to closing our state’s coverage gap is to expand Medicaid,” Warnock said after a June 29 meeting with health care executives. “What we ought to be doing is expanding Medicaid rather than playing games with the health care of Georgia citizens.”

The effort is crucial for Warnock, who seeks reelection in 2022 facing several Republicans eager to defeat him.

People making more than 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible for federal health insurance subsidies through an online marketplace. But as many as 4 million people who make less don't get assistance in a “coverage gap," according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act envisioned states would expand Medicaid programs to cover those people, but many conservative states balked. There are 12 holdouts, while an expansion in Missouri mandated by referendum is in limbo after Republican lawmakers refused to pay for it.

Democrats increasingly say leaving people without coverage is unacceptable. They tried to lure remaining states with two years of extra money for expansion, but none budged. Baldwin said such a refusal is “just wrong."

“Our legislation will open the door to those who have been shut out and expand access to affordable health care, including preventive care, that people want and need," she said in a statement.

The bill would mandate a new health insurance plan that looks just like Medicaid offered to residents in holdout states. President Joe Biden proposed during his campaign to offer a public option through the federal healthcare marketplace. Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and others introduced a bill June 17 to let local governments create local Medicaid expansions.

The Medicaid approach has key advantages, said Jesse Cross-Call, director of state Medicaid strategy with the liberal-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

The plan would require no premiums and only small copayments, while those costs can be much higher for individuals on the marketplace. People can enroll in Medicaid year-round, while marketplace enrollment is typically only in the fall, or when someone's circumstances change.

“The idea is for it to be as close to Medicaid coverage as possible,” Cross-Call said.

A new plan could take years to set up, though. Many states use managed care networks to provide Medicaid services, and it's unclear if the federal government would be able to contract with the groups.

Sponsors say coverage is already paid for because the original Affordable Care Act included money for all 50 states. States normally shoulder 10% of the cost, but the bill would require no state contributions.

The plan also would boost incentives for holdout states to expand on their own. It would raise the federal share of state-federal Medicaid spending by 10 percentage points this coming decade. The current enticement, included in Biden's coronavirus relief bill, is 5 percentage points for two years. Based on Kaiser Family Foundation estimates, that could be worth a cumulative $160 billion to holdout states and Oklahoma, which launched expansion July 1.

Republicans, Warnock said in June, are effectively “standing between Georgia voters and their tax dollars that are still being paid to cover Medicaid in other states.”

Republicans aren't backing down. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is pursuing a limited expansion that would impose work or education requirements for benefits. It seeks to add 50,000 Georgia residents in its first two years and require everyone to shop for federally subsidized insurance through private agents. The Biden administration is reevaluating previous approval of the plan by the Trump administration, a reversal Kemp says isn't allowed.

“The Biden administration has been, in my opinion, trying to throw up roadblocks to our waiver plan that was approved," Kemp recently told AP. “Senator Warnock can hit me all he wants on Medicaid. What he never mentions is ... working on lowering costs for private sector health care. A lot of people don’t want government health care.”

Financial incentives could be required to keep other states from dropping Medicaid expansion to avoid current costs. The bill doesn't address that.

Warnock spokesperson Meredith Brasher reaffirmed that sponsors want the measure attached to any budget reconciliation measure Democrats use to advance educational and social welfare priorities through the Senate without Republican support.

“Recovery legislation presents a unique, historic opportunity to close the gaps in coverage for the millions of people in the Medicaid coverage gap,” wrote more than 60 members of the Congressional Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American caucuses on June 16.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609933317307.png" alt="Senator Raphael Warnock" />
 <figcaption>Senator Raphael Warnock</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Three Democratic U.S. senators from states that have refused to expand Medicaid want the federal government to set up a mirror plan to provide health insurance coverage to people in those states.Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin introduced the bill Monday, they told The Associated Press. Congressional Democrats are pushing for a coverage expansion in upcoming legislation.“The single most effective solution to closing our state’s coverage gap is to expand Medicaid,” Warnock said after a June 29 meeting with health care executives. “What we ought to be doing is expanding Medicaid rather than playing games with the health care of Georgia citizens.”The effort is crucial for Warnock, who seeks reelection in 2022 facing several Republicans eager to defeat him.People making more than 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible for federal health insurance subsidies through an online marketplace. But as many as 4 million people who make less don't get assistance in a “coverage gap," according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act envisioned states would expand Medicaid programs to cover those people, but many conservative states balked. There are 12 holdouts, while an expansion in Missouri mandated by referendum is in limbo after Republican lawmakers refused to pay for it.Democrats increasingly say leaving people without coverage is unacceptable. They tried to lure remaining states with two years of extra money for expansion, but none budged. Baldwin said such a refusal is “just wrong."“Our legislation will open the door to those who have been shut out and expand access to affordable health care, including preventive care, that people want and need," she said in a statement.The bill would mandate a new health insurance plan that looks just like Medicaid offered to residents in holdout states. President Joe Biden proposed during his campaign to offer a public option through the federal healthcare marketplace. Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and others introduced a bill June 17 to let local governments create local Medicaid expansions.The Medicaid approach has key advantages, said Jesse Cross-Call, director of state Medicaid strategy with the liberal-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.The plan would require no premiums and only small copayments, while those costs can be much higher for individuals on the marketplace. People can enroll in Medicaid year-round, while marketplace enrollment is typically only in the fall, or when someone's circumstances change.“The idea is for it to be as close to Medicaid coverage as possible,” Cross-Call said.A new plan could take years to set up, though. Many states use managed care networks to provide Medicaid services, and it's unclear if the federal government would be able to contract with the groups.Sponsors say coverage is already paid for because the original Affordable Care Act included money for all 50 states. States normally shoulder 10% of the cost, but the bill would require no state contributions.The plan also would boost incentives for holdout states to expand on their own. It would raise the federal share of state-federal Medicaid spending by 10 percentage points this coming decade. The current enticement, included in Biden's coronavirus relief bill, is 5 percentage points for two years. Based on Kaiser Family Foundation estimates, that could be worth a cumulative $160 billion to holdout states and Oklahoma, which launched expansion July 1.Republicans, Warnock said in June, are effectively “standing between Georgia voters and their tax dollars that are still being paid to cover Medicaid in other states.”Republicans aren't backing down. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is pursuing a limited expansion that would impose work or education requirements for benefits. It seeks to add 50,000 Georgia residents in its first two years and require everyone to shop for federally subsidized insurance through private agents. The Biden administration is reevaluating previous approval of the plan by the Trump administration, a reversal Kemp says isn't allowed.“The Biden administration has been, in my opinion, trying to throw up roadblocks to our waiver plan that was approved," Kemp recently told AP. “Senator Warnock can hit me all he wants on Medicaid. What he never mentions is ... working on lowering costs for private sector health care. A lot of people don’t want government health care.”Financial incentives could be required to keep other states from dropping Medicaid expansion to avoid current costs. The bill doesn't address that.Warnock spokesperson Meredith Brasher reaffirmed that sponsors want the measure attached to any budget reconciliation measure Democrats use to advance educational and social welfare priorities through the Senate without Republican support.“Recovery legislation presents a unique, historic opportunity to close the gaps in coverage for the millions of people in the Medicaid coverage gap,” wrote more than 60 members of the Congressional Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American caucuses on June 16.——

Senators seek Medicaid-like plan to cover holdout states

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Attorney General’s Office on Monday said it believes longtime inmate Kevin Strickland is guilty of killing three people in Kansas City and should remain in prison, despite several other prosecutors saying they believe he is innocent.

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Clarke argued in a motion filed Monday that Strickland, 62, was given a fair trial in 1979 and has “worked to evade responsibility” for the Kansas City killings since then.

Also Monday, Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman set an evidentiary hearing in Strickland’s case for Aug. 12-13. Horsman will hear arguments from Strickland’s lawyers and the attorney general’s office before deciding whether to free Strickland.

When the attorney general’s attorneys said the quick time frame could be a burden on the office, Horsman noted that Strickland has been “sitting in prison since before I was born.”

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-06e726b7ef07be53ba7bdb6088282548">announced in May&nbsp;</a>that her office believed the evidence used to convict Strickland in 1979 has since been “eviscerated.” Federal prosecutors, Jackson County’s presiding judge and members of the team that convicted Strickland agreed he should be exonerated.

When the Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-courts-c38ba2572f5286b69602ee832e248efe">declined</a>&nbsp;in June to hear Strickland’s case, his attorneys refiled the case in DeKalb County, where Strickland is imprisoned.

Strickland, who was 18 at the time, was convicted in the April 25, 1978, deaths of John Walker, 20, Sherrie Black, 22, and Larry Ingram, 21.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office argued in Monday’s motion that police said Strickland had offered Cynthia Douglas money the day of the killings to keep “her mouth shut,” which Clarke called a “tampering campaign” by Strickland.

The Jackson County prosecutor’s office said Douglas, the only eyewitness to the killings, later recanted her identification of Strickland before she died in 2015. Her family has signed affidavits for Strickland’s attorneys saying Douglas wanted Strickland released from prison.

But the attorney general’s office said Douglas’ alleged recantation in an email does not name Strickland and the judge can’t know if Douglas sent the email, “let alone absent coercive pressure.” Douglas also did not sign any affidavits while she was alive, Clarke noted.

Two men who later pleaded guilty in the murders, Vincent Bell and Kilm Adkins, have said in affidavits and interviews with The Star that Strickland was not with them and two other accomplices during the killings.

The statements from Bell and Adkins are not new evidence and, even if they were, the two are “inherently unreliable,” Clarke argued in the motion.

Schmitt’s office also said Strickland told police if he had been with Bell that night, he would have been shooting because, “I love to shoot my gun, I’m a good shot and I love to kill people.” Strickland, the detectives alleged, said if they let him go, they better “draw first” next time or he would kill them.

Jackson County prosecutors have said those statements, which Strickland denied making at trial, did not prove Strickland was involved in the killings. They suggested someone not involved in the crime — who stayed in Kansas City while the others fled to Wichita — would be more likely to make “aggressive statements” to police.

“Strickland has paid a steep price for associating with Bell, Adkins and T.A., (another suspect in the case) for mouthing off to police, and for trying to be cool in helping his older neighbor Bell,” Baker and Nelson wrote in a letter outlining the prosecutor’s office’s review of the case.

If Strickland is not released by Aug. 28, Jackson County prosecutors said they plan to file a motion then asking a Jackson County judge to exonerate him. That’s when a bill, which Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has not yet signed, would allow local prosecutors to seek to free prisoners they have deemed innocent.

Parson could also pardon Strickland but he has said he’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-fdaee252ca0799b16da00a276d1bf6fb">not convinced&nbsp;</a>Strickland is innocent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620695920927.png" alt="Strickland photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Strickland photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Attorney General’s Office on Monday said it believes longtime inmate Kevin Strickland is guilty of killing three people in Kansas City and should remain in prison, despite several other prosecutors saying they believe he is innocent.Assistant Attorney General Andrew Clarke argued in a motion filed Monday that Strickland, 62, was given a fair trial in 1979 and has “worked to evade responsibility” for the Kansas City killings since then.Also Monday, Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman set an evidentiary hearing in Strickland’s case for Aug. 12-13. Horsman will hear arguments from Strickland’s lawyers and the attorney general’s office before deciding whether to free Strickland.When the attorney general’s attorneys said the quick time frame could be a burden on the office, Horsman noted that Strickland has been “sitting in prison since before I was born.”Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-06e726b7ef07be53ba7bdb6088282548">announced in May&nbsp;</a>that her office believed the evidence used to convict Strickland in 1979 has since been “eviscerated.” Federal prosecutors, Jackson County’s presiding judge and members of the team that convicted Strickland agreed he should be exonerated.When the Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-courts-c38ba2572f5286b69602ee832e248efe">declined</a>&nbsp;in June to hear Strickland’s case, his attorneys refiled the case in DeKalb County, where Strickland is imprisoned.Strickland, who was 18 at the time, was convicted in the April 25, 1978, deaths of John Walker, 20, Sherrie Black, 22, and Larry Ingram, 21.Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office argued in Monday’s motion that police said Strickland had offered Cynthia Douglas money the day of the killings to keep “her mouth shut,” which Clarke called a “tampering campaign” by Strickland.The Jackson County prosecutor’s office said Douglas, the only eyewitness to the killings, later recanted her identification of Strickland before she died in 2015. Her family has signed affidavits for Strickland’s attorneys saying Douglas wanted Strickland released from prison.But the attorney general’s office said Douglas’ alleged recantation in an email does not name Strickland and the judge can’t know if Douglas sent the email, “let alone absent coercive pressure.” Douglas also did not sign any affidavits while she was alive, Clarke noted.Two men who later pleaded guilty in the murders, Vincent Bell and Kilm Adkins, have said in affidavits and interviews with The Star that Strickland was not with them and two other accomplices during the killings.The statements from Bell and Adkins are not new evidence and, even if they were, the two are “inherently unreliable,” Clarke argued in the motion.Schmitt’s office also said Strickland told police if he had been with Bell that night, he would have been shooting because, “I love to shoot my gun, I’m a good shot and I love to kill people.” Strickland, the detectives alleged, said if they let him go, they better “draw first” next time or he would kill them.Jackson County prosecutors have said those statements, which Strickland denied making at trial, did not prove Strickland was involved in the killings. They suggested someone not involved in the crime — who stayed in Kansas City while the others fled to Wichita — would be more likely to make “aggressive statements” to police.“Strickland has paid a steep price for associating with Bell, Adkins and T.A., (another suspect in the case) for mouthing off to police, and for trying to be cool in helping his older neighbor Bell,” Baker and Nelson wrote in a letter outlining the prosecutor’s office’s review of the case.If Strickland is not released by Aug. 28, Jackson County prosecutors said they plan to file a motion then asking a Jackson County judge to exonerate him. That’s when a bill, which Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has not yet signed, would allow local prosecutors to seek to free prisoners they have deemed innocent.Parson could also pardon Strickland but he has said he’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-fdaee252ca0799b16da00a276d1bf6fb">not convinced&nbsp;</a>Strickland is innocent.___

Attorney General: Strickland guilty of 3 Kansas City murders

DONIPHAN COUNTY—A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just after 11p.m. Monday in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wathena Police were chasing a 2011 Nissan Altima driven by Justin L. Fountain Jr., 18, Olatha, westbound on U.S. 36 one mile east of Troy.&nbsp;

The driver lost control of the car on a curve and rolled. EMS transported&nbsp;Fountain to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of serious injuries. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP. Police have not reported what prompted the chase.

DONIPHAN COUNTY—A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just after 11p.m. Monday in Doniphan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wathena Police were chasing a 2011 Nissan Altima driven by Justin L. Fountain Jr., 18, Olatha, westbound on U.S. 36 one mile east of Troy.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the car on a curve and rolled. EMS transported&nbsp;Fountain to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of serious injuries. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP. Police have not reported what prompted the chase.

Kansas teen injured in crash during police chase

By Scott Carlson-North Platte Post

MCCOOK, Neb.-A Nebraska woman who was convicted of killing her husband was sentenced Monday in Red Willow County District Court.

Lavetta Langdon, 80, McCook was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison after pleading no contest to manslaughter. Prosecutors said Langdon shot and killed her husband Larry, 79.

Langdon cited protection from years of abuse as her motive for the crime.&nbsp; Langdon was given credit for 125 days already served in jail

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626123604720.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Scott Carlson-North Platte PostMCCOOK, Neb.-A Nebraska woman who was convicted of killing her husband was sentenced Monday in Red Willow County District Court.Lavetta Langdon, 80, McCook was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison after pleading no contest to manslaughter. Prosecutors said Langdon shot and killed her husband Larry, 79.Langdon cited protection from years of abuse as her motive for the crime.&nbsp; Langdon was given credit for 125 days already served in jail

80-year-old sentenced for husband's murder

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged sex crime.

Just after 4 a.m. Sunday, a police officer on routine patrol, checking businesses on 10th Street in Great Bend observed a distraught female running towards him, who advised she had just been assaulted inside a local motel, according to a media release.

The victim was able to point out to the officer the vehicle the suspect was attempting to leave the area in. The officer was able to stop the vehicle and occupants.

After an investigation and utilizing surveillance video, officers arrested Gustavo Gomez, age 19, on a requested charge of attempted rape. Gomez was transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Anyone with information on this case or any other case is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Barton County Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626127124254.png" alt="Gomez photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Gomez photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged sex crime.Just after 4 a.m. Sunday, a police officer on routine patrol, checking businesses on 10th Street in Great Bend observed a distraught female running towards him, who advised she had just been assaulted inside a local motel, according to a media release.The victim was able to point out to the officer the vehicle the suspect was attempting to leave the area in. The officer was able to stop the vehicle and occupants.After an investigation and utilizing surveillance video, officers arrested Gustavo Gomez, age 19, on a requested charge of attempted rape. Gomez was transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked in lieu of $500,000 bond.Anyone with information on this case or any other case is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Barton County Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300

Woman running from Kan. motel accuses man of sex crime

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is seeing increasingly larger numbers of new COVID-19 cases and a surge in cases of the faster-spreading delta variant as one Kansas City-area county prepares to launch a new phase of its vaccine lottery.

The state averaged 371 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, according to state Department of Health and Environment data. That was the highest figure in more than four months, since the agency’s data showed an average of 404 new cases a day for the seven days ending Feb. 26.

The state reported 672 new cases since Friday, bringing the total to more than 321,000, or one case for each of its 2.9 million residents.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is seeing increasingly larger numbers of new COVID-19 cases and a surge in cases of the faster-spreading delta variant as one Kansas City-area county prepares to launch a new phase of its vaccine lottery.The state averaged 371 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, according to state Department of Health and Environment data. That was the highest figure in more than four months, since the agency’s data showed an average of 404 new cases a day for the seven days ending Feb. 26.The state reported 672 new cases since Friday, bringing the total to more than 321,000, or one case for each of its 2.9 million residents.The state health department reported a nearly 28% increase in confirmed cases of the delta variant, up 143 cases to 659. Confirming cases of COVID-19 variants requires genetic testing, and so far this month, labs have done it for 8.8% of the state’s positive COVID-19 tests.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626109115821.png" alt="Monday July 12, 2021" />
 <figcaption>Monday July 12, 2021</figcaption>
 </figure>In Wyandotte County, the health department already was entering people who got inoculated at its largest vaccination site in daily raffles for $500 gift cards. The department said that starting Wednesday, it also will let people spin for instant prizes.