KANSAS CITY (AP) — A highly contagious coronavirus variant that is contributing to a surge of cases in Missouri first gained a foothold in rural areas of the state where vaccinations rates are low, a pattern not seen previously, state health officials say.

The delta variant, first detected in India, is becoming the predominant strain detected in wastewater in some parts of the state, particularly in the southwest corner, where COVID-19 hospitals are on the rise. And it is spreading much differently than the alpha variant, which first was detected in the United Kingdom, said Jeff Wenzel, who oversees the wastewater surveillance program for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

“With the U.K. variant," he said, “we started seeing that in the larger cities and we saw that spread out into smaller communities, and we are seeing the opposite now with this delta variant."

The delta variant also has turned up in wastewater samples in the Kansas City and St. Louis area. But Wenzel said, “In the larger cities, it just doesn’t seem, we just aren’t seeing it as readily as we are in some of the smaller communities."

Officials aren't yet sure why the spread has been so different but are exploring the possibility that lower vaccination rates in rural areas of the state are playing a role.

In St. Louis County, for instance, 48.4% of residents have received at least one dose. But the percentage is half that across a large swath of southwest and northern Missouri, where the biggest rise in cases have been reported, state data shows.

The variant is worrisome because it is not only more contagious, but also more likely to lead to hospitalizations.

Dr. George Turabelidze, the state epidemiologist, said that Missouri was vaccinating about 50,000 people a day in March and April but that the number has since fallen to about 10,000 a day, making the state's vaccination rate among the lowest in the country.

“That is concerning because this new emerging variant is highly transmissible and the primary target is unvaccinated people," he said in a video posted on the health department's&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/">website&nbsp;</a>Wednesday night.

Missouri now leads the nation with most new cases per capita. Over the past 14 days, it has recorded 144.9 new cases for every 100,000 residents, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the agency is exploring a variety of incentive options at the state level. But she said Thursday that she had no details.

An email message left for Republican Gov. Mike Parson's communications staff was not immediately returned.

Besides inundating hospitals, cases are again causing problems for schools. In St. Joseph, the school district had to shift summer school online last week at two schools because about 50% of the students were out sick with COVID-19 or another illness, quarantining or vacationing, said Bethany Clark, director of elementary education for the St. Joseph school district.

She said that wasn't what she envisioned when the district was planning for the summer. Case numbers were so low this spring that the district even decided to make masks optional for summer school.

“I really thought, ‘Things are looking good. Summer school is a great option for opening up some of our restrictions. Let’s see how things work and we can return to as close to normal as we can in the fall,'" she recalled thinking. “And then yeah these cases. It was a hard hit because we really wanted, we really want to be post-pandemic."

But the district is in Buchanan County, where just 20.8% of residents have received at least one shot.

“What you are looking at now is, Where is the virus most able to circulate?" said Dr. Bill Powderly, the co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University’s School of Medicine. “Where are the pockets of vulnerability? And the pockets of vulnerability across the United States are those communities with very low vaccination rates because that means they have lots of people who are susceptible to the virus and therefore the virus is much more likely to circulate."

He noted that younger people are more likely to get sick than with earlier strains. But it is unclear whether even that will drive more vaccinations.

“If you are in a rural community where maybe a couple people got infected and nobody got sick, you think it is overblown and your political leaders are telling you it is no big deal,” he said. “You can understand why people start off the way they do, but I don’t want people to die in order to convince the rest of the population that they need to be vaccinated. I so hope that people will start to realize that this is not trivial.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608566572342.png" alt="Virus variat image courtesy GISAID" />
 <figcaption>Virus variat image courtesy GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A highly contagious coronavirus variant that is contributing to a surge of cases in Missouri first gained a foothold in rural areas of the state where vaccinations rates are low, a pattern not seen previously, state health officials say.The delta variant, first detected in India, is becoming the predominant strain detected in wastewater in some parts of the state, particularly in the southwest corner, where COVID-19 hospitals are on the rise. And it is spreading much differently than the alpha variant, which first was detected in the United Kingdom, said Jeff Wenzel, who oversees the wastewater surveillance program for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.“With the U.K. variant," he said, “we started seeing that in the larger cities and we saw that spread out into smaller communities, and we are seeing the opposite now with this delta variant."The delta variant also has turned up in wastewater samples in the Kansas City and St. Louis area. But Wenzel said, “In the larger cities, it just doesn’t seem, we just aren’t seeing it as readily as we are in some of the smaller communities."Officials aren't yet sure why the spread has been so different but are exploring the possibility that lower vaccination rates in rural areas of the state are playing a role.In St. Louis County, for instance, 48.4% of residents have received at least one dose. But the percentage is half that across a large swath of southwest and northern Missouri, where the biggest rise in cases have been reported, state data shows.The variant is worrisome because it is not only more contagious, but also more likely to lead to hospitalizations.Dr. George Turabelidze, the state epidemiologist, said that Missouri was vaccinating about 50,000 people a day in March and April but that the number has since fallen to about 10,000 a day, making the state's vaccination rate among the lowest in the country.“That is concerning because this new emerging variant is highly transmissible and the primary target is unvaccinated people," he said in a video posted on the health department's&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/">website&nbsp;</a>Wednesday night.Missouri now leads the nation with most new cases per capita. Over the past 14 days, it has recorded 144.9 new cases for every 100,000 residents, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the agency is exploring a variety of incentive options at the state level. But she said Thursday that she had no details.An email message left for Republican Gov. Mike Parson's communications staff was not immediately returned.Besides inundating hospitals, cases are again causing problems for schools. In St. Joseph, the school district had to shift summer school online last week at two schools because about 50% of the students were out sick with COVID-19 or another illness, quarantining or vacationing, said Bethany Clark, director of elementary education for the St. Joseph school district.She said that wasn't what she envisioned when the district was planning for the summer. Case numbers were so low this spring that the district even decided to make masks optional for summer school.“I really thought, ‘Things are looking good. Summer school is a great option for opening up some of our restrictions. Let’s see how things work and we can return to as close to normal as we can in the fall,'" she recalled thinking. “And then yeah these cases. It was a hard hit because we really wanted, we really want to be post-pandemic."But the district is in Buchanan County, where just 20.8% of residents have received at least one shot.“What you are looking at now is, Where is the virus most able to circulate?" said Dr. Bill Powderly, the co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University’s School of Medicine. “Where are the pockets of vulnerability? And the pockets of vulnerability across the United States are those communities with very low vaccination rates because that means they have lots of people who are susceptible to the virus and therefore the virus is much more likely to circulate."He noted that younger people are more likely to get sick than with earlier strains. But it is unclear whether even that will drive more vaccinations.“If you are in a rural community where maybe a couple people got infected and nobody got sick, you think it is overblown and your political leaders are telling you it is no big deal,” he said. “You can understand why people start off the way they do, but I don’t want people to die in order to convince the rest of the population that they need to be vaccinated. I so hope that people will start to realize that this is not trivial.”

COVID variant first gained foothold in rural Missouri

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
 today urged families to take advantage of a special online tool that 
can help them determine whether they qualify for the Child Tax Credit 
and the special monthly advance payments beginning on July 15.

Available exclusively on IRS.gov, the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>,
 launched earlier this week, is interactive and easy to use. By 
answering a series of questions about themselves and their family 
members, a parent or other family member can quickly determine whether 
they qualify for the credit.

Though anyone can use this tool, it may be particularly useful to 
families who don't normally file a federal tax return and have not yet 
filed either a 2019 or 2020 tax return. Often, these are people who 
receive little or no income, including those experiencing homelessness, 
low income households, and other underserved groups. Using this tool can
 help them decide whether they should take the next step and register 
for the Child Tax Credit payments on another new IRS tool unveiled 
earlier this week.

"This new tool provides an important first step to help people 
understand if they qualify for the Child Tax Credit, which is especially
 important for those who don't normally file a tax return," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The eligibility assistant works in concert 
with other features on IRS.gov to help people receive this important 
credit. The IRS is working hard to deliver the expanded Child Tax 
Credit, and we will be rolling out additional help for taxpayers in the 
near future. Where possible, please help us help others by distributing 
CTC information in your communities."

To help people understand and receive this benefit, the IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>
 designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit 
and the advance payments. Among other things, the page already features a
 link to both the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, and the Child Tax Credit 
Eligibility Assistant, along with a third tool launched earlier this 
week—the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/accessibility-guide-for-child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>.

The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant does not request any 
personally-identifiable information (PII) for any family member. For 
that reason, its results are not an official determination by the IRS. 
Though the results are reliable, if the questions are answered 
accurately, they should be considered preliminary. Neither the answers 
supplied by the user, nor the results, are retained by the IRS.

After checking the Eligibility Assistant, Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is available to help those who don't normally file tax returns

The online Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is designed to help eligible 
families who don't normally file tax returns register for the monthly 
Advance Child Tax Credit payments.

This tool, an update of last year's IRS Economic Impact Payment 
Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don't
 normally file tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of 
Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the 
Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of 
Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.

Developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free 
File Alliance, this tool provides a free and easy way for eligible 
people who don't make enough income to have an income tax return-filing 
obligation to provide the IRS the basic information needed to figure and
 issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This includes name, 
address, and social security numbers. This also enables them to provide 
information about their qualifying children age 17 and under, their 
other dependents, and their direct deposit bank information so the IRS 
can quickly and easily deposit the payments directly into their checking
 or savings account. It is available only on IRS.gov.

The Non-filer Sign-Up tool should not be used by anyone who has already filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return.

Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 
income tax returns should not use the Non-filer Sign-Up Tool. Once the 
IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, the information will be 
used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments.

Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned 
Income Tax Credit for low-and moderate-income families, should not use 
this tool and instead file a regular tax return. For them, the fastest 
and easiest way to file a return is the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> system, available only on IRS.gov.

The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both
 Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. The IRS
 emphasized that the only way to get either of these benefits is by 
either filing a tax return with the IRS or registering online through 
the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, exclusively on IRS.gov. Any other option is a
 scam.

Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the 
payments. Remember, the IRS never sends unsolicited electronic 
communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a 
non-governmental web site.

Earlier this week, Treasury and IRS launched another useful tool, the
 Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Initially, this tool only enables 
anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to 
see that they are eligible and unenroll from (opt out of) the advance 
payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of 
their payments and make updates to their information, including their 
bank account information. Later this year, the tool will also be 
available in Spanish.

The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education 
organizations and anyone else with connections to people with children 
to share this critical information about the Advance Child Tax Credit as
 well as other important benefits. Among other things, the IRS is 
already working closely with its community partners to ensure wide 
access to the Non-filer Sign-up Tool and the Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal. The agency is also providing additional materials and 
information that can be easily shared by social media, email and other 
methods.

The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.

The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.

To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, August&nbsp;13, 
September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15, and December&nbsp;15.

For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>, or read <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
 today urged families to take advantage of a special online tool that 
can help them determine whether they qualify for the Child Tax Credit 
and the special monthly advance payments beginning on July 15.Available exclusively on IRS.gov, the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>,
 launched earlier this week, is interactive and easy to use. By 
answering a series of questions about themselves and their family 
members, a parent or other family member can quickly determine whether 
they qualify for the credit.Though anyone can use this tool, it may be particularly useful to 
families who don't normally file a federal tax return and have not yet 
filed either a 2019 or 2020 tax return. Often, these are people who 
receive little or no income, including those experiencing homelessness, 
low income households, and other underserved groups. Using this tool can
 help them decide whether they should take the next step and register 
for the Child Tax Credit payments on another new IRS tool unveiled 
earlier this week."This new tool provides an important first step to help people 
understand if they qualify for the Child Tax Credit, which is especially
 important for those who don't normally file a tax return," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The eligibility assistant works in concert 
with other features on IRS.gov to help people receive this important 
credit. The IRS is working hard to deliver the expanded Child Tax 
Credit, and we will be rolling out additional help for taxpayers in the 
near future. Where possible, please help us help others by distributing 
CTC information in your communities."To help people understand and receive this benefit, the IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>
 designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit 
and the advance payments. Among other things, the page already features a
 link to both the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, and the Child Tax Credit 
Eligibility Assistant, along with a third tool launched earlier this 
week—the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/accessibility-guide-for-child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>.The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant does not request any 
personally-identifiable information (PII) for any family member. For 
that reason, its results are not an official determination by the IRS. 
Though the results are reliable, if the questions are answered 
accurately, they should be considered preliminary. Neither the answers 
supplied by the user, nor the results, are retained by the IRS.<h2>After checking the Eligibility Assistant, Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is available to help those who don't normally file tax returns</h2>The online Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is designed to help eligible 
families who don't normally file tax returns register for the monthly 
Advance Child Tax Credit payments.This tool, an update of last year's IRS Economic Impact Payment 
Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don't
 normally file tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of 
Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the 
Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of 
Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.Developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free 
File Alliance, this tool provides a free and easy way for eligible 
people who don't make enough income to have an income tax return-filing 
obligation to provide the IRS the basic information needed to figure and
 issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This includes name, 
address, and social security numbers. This also enables them to provide 
information about their qualifying children age 17 and under, their 
other dependents, and their direct deposit bank information so the IRS 
can quickly and easily deposit the payments directly into their checking
 or savings account. It is available only on IRS.gov.The Non-filer Sign-Up tool should not be used by anyone who has already filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return.<h2>No action needed by most other families</h2>Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 
income tax returns should not use the Non-filer Sign-Up Tool. Once the 
IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, the information will be 
used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments.Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned 
Income Tax Credit for low-and moderate-income families, should not use 
this tool and instead file a regular tax return. For them, the fastest 
and easiest way to file a return is the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> system, available only on IRS.gov.<h2>Watch out for scams</h2>The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both
 Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. The IRS
 emphasized that the only way to get either of these benefits is by 
either filing a tax return with the IRS or registering online through 
the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, exclusively on IRS.gov. Any other option is a
 scam.Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the 
payments. Remember, the IRS never sends unsolicited electronic 
communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a 
non-governmental web site.<h2>Child Tax Credit Update Portal</h2>Earlier this week, Treasury and IRS launched another useful tool, the
 Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Initially, this tool only enables 
anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to 
see that they are eligible and unenroll from (opt out of) the advance 
payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of 
their payments and make updates to their information, including their 
bank account information. Later this year, the tool will also be 
available in Spanish.<h2>Community partners can help</h2>The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education 
organizations and anyone else with connections to people with children 
to share this critical information about the Advance Child Tax Credit as
 well as other important benefits. Among other things, the IRS is 
already working closely with its community partners to ensure wide 
access to the Non-filer Sign-up Tool and the Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal. The agency is also providing additional materials and 
information that can be easily shared by social media, email and other 
methods.<h2>About the Advance Child Tax Credit</h2>The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, August&nbsp;13, 
September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15, and December&nbsp;15.For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>, or read <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

IRS: More tools to help families with Child Tax Credit pyments

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man faces life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl while her mother worked.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's office said Adalberto Gaitan, 36, was convicted Tuesday of two counts of first-degree statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy and one count of first-degree statutory sodomy.

The jury recommended life plus 25 years for the statutory rape convictions. Jurors also recommended one-year and 20-year sentences for the statutory sodomy convictions and 10 years for the first-degree statutory sodomy count.

Court records show that Missouri Children’s Division workers received a hotline call that a 10-year-old girl was possibly being abused. The girl told investigators the abuse started when she was 8 or 9.

Prosecutors said the abuse occurred in an Independence home while the girl's mother was working long hours and Gaitan was staying with children there. Gatian will be sentenced Aug. 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624465234083.png" alt="Gaitan photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Gaitan photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man faces life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl while her mother worked.The Jackson County Prosecutor's office said Adalberto Gaitan, 36, was convicted Tuesday of two counts of first-degree statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy and one count of first-degree statutory sodomy.The jury recommended life plus 25 years for the statutory rape convictions. Jurors also recommended one-year and 20-year sentences for the statutory sodomy convictions and 10 years for the first-degree statutory sodomy count.Court records show that Missouri Children’s Division workers received a hotline call that a 10-year-old girl was possibly being abused. The girl told investigators the abuse started when she was 8 or 9.Prosecutors said the abuse occurred in an Independence home while the girl's mother was working long hours and Gaitan was staying with children there. Gatian will be sentenced Aug. 31.

Jury recommends life sentence in KC child sex case

HUTCHINSON — Astronaut Gus Grissom is very special to the Cosmosphere. Especially since the spacecraft he made famous during the Mercury program sits right in the rotunda of the space museum.

Next month, the Cosmosphere will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Liberty Bell 7 flight with numerous activities planned. It all starts during Coffee at the Cosmo July 15. The free presentation will welcome back in person presentations at the museum with a look back at the Liberty Bell 7 mission. The speaker will be Cosmosphere President Jim Remar who says the spacecraft is very special to the museum.

"Its a spacecraft that the the Cosmopshere worked for many many years to acquire," Remar said.&nbsp; "The unique aspect of that was its home was at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The Cosmosphere worked to find the spacecraft, recover it and did the restoration here."

July 21 there will be a celebration of the Liberty Bell 7 mission throughout the day including a special presentation from Remar and a virtual discussion with NASA’s Nichole Herrmann who will talk about the future of space travel and the Artemis mission.

Liberty Bell 7 was lost at sea after splashdown and sat at the bottom of the ocean until a group led by the Cosmosphere and the Discovery Channel found and retrieved the spacecraft. From there it was preserved by the Cosmosphere Spaceworks group and has been on display in Hutchinson, except for the tours it takes around the globe.

Two other important space dates are on the July calendar including the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11&nbsp; moon landing and the 55th anniversary of the Gemini 10 mission. The Cosmosphere will have special displays celebrating both missions. The Gemini 10 spacecraft is also a part of the Cosmosphere collection along with Liberty Bell 7 and Apollo 13.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591643782755.jpeg" alt="Liberty Bell 7 photo courtesy Cosmosphere" />
 <figcaption>Liberty Bell 7 photo courtesy Cosmosphere</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON — Astronaut Gus Grissom is very special to the Cosmosphere. Especially since the spacecraft he made famous during the Mercury program sits right in the rotunda of the space museum.Next month, the Cosmosphere will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Liberty Bell 7 flight with numerous activities planned. It all starts during Coffee at the Cosmo July 15. The free presentation will welcome back in person presentations at the museum with a look back at the Liberty Bell 7 mission. The speaker will be Cosmosphere President Jim Remar who says the spacecraft is very special to the museum."Its a spacecraft that the the Cosmopshere worked for many many years to acquire," Remar said.&nbsp; "The unique aspect of that was its home was at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The Cosmosphere worked to find the spacecraft, recover it and did the restoration here."July 21 there will be a celebration of the Liberty Bell 7 mission throughout the day including a special presentation from Remar and a virtual discussion with NASA’s Nichole Herrmann who will talk about the future of space travel and the Artemis mission.Liberty Bell 7 was lost at sea after splashdown and sat at the bottom of the ocean until a group led by the Cosmosphere and the Discovery Channel found and retrieved the spacecraft. From there it was preserved by the Cosmosphere Spaceworks group and has been on display in Hutchinson, except for the tours it takes around the globe.Two other important space dates are on the July calendar including the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11&nbsp; moon landing and the 55th anniversary of the Gemini 10 mission. The Cosmosphere will have special displays celebrating both missions. The Gemini 10 spacecraft is also a part of the Cosmosphere collection along with Liberty Bell 7 and Apollo 13.

Cosmosphere to celebrate 60th anniversary of Liberty Bell 7 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft and other charges.

Just before noon Tuesday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a Moped sitting in the Eggberts restaurant parking, 1724 Main Street in Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

 The moped matched the description of one that was reported stolen earlier in the month.  Deputies responded to Eggberts and observed a green and black Solona 50 Evolution scooter sitting in the parking lot.  Deputies entered the restaurant and contacted the driver of the scooter who was identified as 25-year-old Peter Hawkins of Independence.

While deputies were on scene, they confirmed the scooter was still reported stolen. 

Deputies searched the scooter and located marijuana, methamphetamine, and scales.  Deputies attempted to place Hawkins in custody when Hawkins started resisting arrest.  Deputies were able to safely gain control of Hawkins and placed him in custody.  Deputies searched Hawkins person and located brass knuckles.  Hawkins was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections.  The scooter was transported to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the owner was made aware it had been recovered.  

The case has been sent to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office with the recommended charges of, possession of methamphetamine, possession of stolen property, criminal carry of weapons (knuckles) and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624490349533.png" alt="Hawkins photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Hawkins photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft and other charges.Just before noon Tuesday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a Moped sitting in the Eggberts restaurant parking, 1724 Main Street in Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The moped matched the description of one that was reported stolen earlier in the month. Deputies responded to Eggberts and observed a green and black Solona 50 Evolution scooter sitting in the parking lot. Deputies entered the restaurant and contacted the driver of the scooter who was identified as 25-year-old Peter Hawkins of Independence.While deputies were on scene, they confirmed the scooter was still reported stolen. Deputies searched the scooter and located marijuana, methamphetamine, and scales. Deputies attempted to place Hawkins in custody when Hawkins started resisting arrest. Deputies were able to safely gain control of Hawkins and placed him in custody. Deputies searched Hawkins person and located brass knuckles. Hawkins was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. The scooter was transported to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the owner was made aware it had been recovered. The case has been sent to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office with the recommended charges of, possession of methamphetamine, possession of stolen property, criminal carry of weapons (knuckles) and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Deputies find brass knuckles on Kansas moped thief

PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for allegedly burning an American flag.

On Tuesday, deputies served 37-year-old Jason Cauble of Larned&nbsp; a felony arrest warrant for a single count of arson stemming from a joint investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department and the Larned Police Department into the alleged burning of the 30’ X 20’ American Flag located at the Carr Auction and Realty Inc. building, 900 Auction Avenue in Larned, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. The alleged damage was discovered the morning of April 29.

A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for July 8. The defendant is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $15,000 bond.

If convicted, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, Cauble faces a presumptive prison sentence between 11 months and 34 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history, according to McNett.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624558483195.png" alt="Jason Cauble photo Pawnee County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Jason Cauble photo Pawnee County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for allegedly burning an American flag.On Tuesday, deputies served 37-year-old Jason Cauble of Larned&nbsp; a felony arrest warrant for a single count of arson stemming from a joint investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department and the Larned Police Department into the alleged burning of the 30’ X 20’ American Flag located at the Carr Auction and Realty Inc. building, 900 Auction Avenue in Larned, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. The alleged damage was discovered the morning of April 29.A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for July 8. The defendant is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $15,000 bond.If convicted, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, Cauble faces a presumptive prison sentence between 11 months and 34 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history, according to McNett.

Kansas man allegedly burned 30-by-20 foot American flag

DONIPHAN COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;Special agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a former deputy of the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday morning.

Just after 5:30 a.m., KBI agents conducted a search warrant at a home at 330 W. Poplar in Troy, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

Agents arrested 33-year-old Nathaniel M. Keller of Troy on requested charges of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated indecent liberties of a child, for crimes suspected to have occurred in 2017. 

He was also arrested on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat, and criminal damage to property for incidents alleged to have occurred in 2019 and 2021.

The Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office cooperated fully in the investigation. Keller is being held in the Doniphan County Jail.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624566111321.png" alt="Keller photo Doniphan Co." />
 <figcaption>Keller photo Doniphan Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DONIPHAN COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;Special agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a former deputy of the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday morning.Just after 5:30 a.m., KBI agents conducted a search warrant at a home at 330 W. Poplar in Troy, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.Agents arrested 33-year-old Nathaniel M. Keller of Troy on requested charges of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated indecent liberties of a child, for crimes suspected to have occurred in 2017. He was also arrested on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat, and criminal damage to property for incidents alleged to have occurred in 2019 and 2021.The Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office cooperated fully in the investigation. Keller is being held in the Doniphan County Jail.&nbsp;

Former Kansas deputy accused of child sex crimes

Editor's note: The article has been corrected to say&nbsp;Joseph Agrillo was sentenced in Douglas County for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly Thursday announced that she commuted the sentences of five incarcerated individuals and granted pardons to three individuals, all of whom showed strong signs of rehabilitation and the ability to safely re-enter society, according to a media release from her office.

The decision to grant the commutations and pardons was made following independent reviews by the Prison Review Board, Department of Administration, and the Governor’s legal team.

“We reviewed many applications, and, after a thorough determination process, these individuals met a clear set of criteria that demonstrates they have paid their debts to society,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Using the clemency power is not something I take lightly, nor is it the solution to the systemic issues in our criminal justice system. Instead, we’ll keep working towards commonsense reforms to save taxpayers money and offer pathways to prevent crime and to keep people out of the system in the first place.”&nbsp;

Governor Kelly took into consideration numerous factors to determine if clemency was warranted including, but not limited to: the nature of the offense (including whether it is a non-violent drug possession involving marijuana), demonstration of rehabilitation, whether the crime had a victim and if so, the victim’s input, minimal criminal history, minimal disciplinary issues in prison, and strong indicators of success upon release.&nbsp;

Article 1, Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution and K.S.A. § 22-3701 grants the Governor’s authority to grant clemency. Below please find the list of individuals receiving clemencies:

By law, clemency applications in Kansas must be submitted to the Prisoner Review Board. The Board reviews all applications and creates a clemency file before forwarding the application on for further review. Additional information about the process can be found at the Board’s website:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjQuNDIzNzY5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kb2Mua3MuZ292L3ByYiJ9.Pk271zRsSDMQpCb29QPtuTkfjCOGLTHr2fZYhGiqRkk/s/1303160919/br/108398753269-l" target="_blank">https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb</a>

Editor's note: The article has been corrected to say&nbsp;Joseph Agrillo was sentenced in Douglas County for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly Thursday announced that she commuted the sentences of five incarcerated individuals and granted pardons to three individuals, all of whom showed strong signs of rehabilitation and the ability to safely re-enter society, according to a media release from her office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624565632977.png" alt="In 2018, Joseph Agrillo was sentenced in Douglas County for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>In 2018, Joseph Agrillo was sentenced in Douglas County for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>The decision to grant the commutations and pardons was made following independent reviews by the Prison Review Board, Department of Administration, and the Governor’s legal team.“We reviewed many applications, and, after a thorough determination process, these individuals met a clear set of criteria that demonstrates they have paid their debts to society,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Using the clemency power is not something I take lightly, nor is it the solution to the systemic issues in our criminal justice system. Instead, we’ll keep working towards commonsense reforms to save taxpayers money and offer pathways to prevent crime and to keep people out of the system in the first place.”&nbsp;Governor Kelly took into consideration numerous factors to determine if clemency was warranted including, but not limited to: the nature of the offense (including whether it is a non-violent drug possession involving marijuana), demonstration of rehabilitation, whether the crime had a victim and if so, the victim’s input, minimal criminal history, minimal disciplinary issues in prison, and strong indicators of success upon release.&nbsp;Article 1, Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution and K.S.A. § 22-3701 grants the Governor’s authority to grant clemency. Below please find the list of individuals receiving clemencies:JOSEPH AGRILLO, commutation &nbsp;CHIVONDA HALL,&nbsp;pardonDOMINIC HOLDER,&nbsp;commutationJOSEPH A. JONES, commutationXUAN HIEP LE,&nbsp;pardonMICHAEL MCCLOUD, commutationLOREN THIBODO, commutationJOSHUA TOWNSEND,&nbsp;pardonBy law, clemency applications in Kansas must be submitted to the Prisoner Review Board. The Board reviews all applications and creates a clemency file before forwarding the application on for further review. Additional information about the process can be found at the Board’s website:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjQuNDIzNzY5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kb2Mua3MuZ292L3ByYiJ9.Pk271zRsSDMQpCb29QPtuTkfjCOGLTHr2fZYhGiqRkk/s/1303160919/br/108398753269-l" target="_blank">https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb</a>

Correction: Gov. Kelly pardons 3, commutes sentence of 5 in prison

KANSAS CITY— A Mission Hills, Kansas, man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for a bankruptcy fraud scheme related to his online payday loan company, according to the United State's Attorney.

“It’s ironic that someone who made a fortune loaning money to others, would try to cheat his own creditors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “This business owner engaged in a two-year scheme of lies and deception during his bankruptcy proceedings by secretly holding onto assets instead of paying what he owed. The bankruptcy system relies on the honesty, openness, and accuracy of debtors, and in return grants those debtors a fresh start free of debt. This defendant made a mockery of the system in the hope that he could discharge over $7.5 million in debt while maintaining a luxurious lifestyle for himself.”

Del Hodges Kimball, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to one year and a day in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Kimball to pay $909,323 in restitution.

“This sentence should convince others that such behavior and actions will not be tolerated in the bankruptcy system,” said Acting United States Trustee Daniel J. Casamatta.

On Jan. 19, 2021, Kimball pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud. Kimball admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the Bankruptcy Court by concealing assets, bank accounts, and claims against third parties, and by making false statements and material omissions regarding his assets and financial transfers to and from third parties.

Three of Kimball’s creditors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Kimball, his partner, and their company, LTS, an online payday loan company based in Kansas City, on Aug. 5, 2015. The claims of the three creditors totaled more than $15 million.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee filed a complaint to deny Kimball’s discharge on March 10, 2017, and the Bankruptcy Court conducted a trial on Jan. 11, 2018. After the trial, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Cynthia Norton ruled that Kimball had transferred property with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud creditors, made numerous false oaths in connection with this bankruptcy case, and concealed property from the bankruptcy estate. He did not disclose assets until he was caught and had no choice. The court found that the evidence was “overwhelming” that Kimball made false statements under oath. The court denied Kimball’s discharge due to his fraudulent concealment.

For example, Kimball failed to disclose $86,200 in transfers to friends and relatives. He undervalued collectibles by $24,000. He omitted transfers to Claw Consulting, LLC, another company he owned (with no employees). Kimball established a bank account for Claw Consulting, and caused the bank statements to be mailed to an attorney at the attorney’s business address in order to stash income and proceeds of sales he wanted to conceal from creditors.

According to court documents, Kimball claimed that he lost millions of dollars in 2013 and 2014, although he actually had gross income of $213,231 in 2014 and $158,679 in 2013.

From 2015 to 2018, Kimball arranged that $479,585 in payday company income and/or profits from Red Stag Holdings be paid into his wife’s personal bank account to conceal the payments from creditors and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee. Kimball arranged that $45,300 in payday company income and/or profits from S. Bean Finance and $16,300 from Agile Fish be paid into his wife’s personal bank account to conceal money from creditors and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee.

Kimball initially or totally omitted to schedule the transfer and sale of his interest in Red River Exploration for $116,280, as well as his ownership or interest in a number of companies.

KANSAS CITY— A Mission Hills, Kansas, man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for a bankruptcy fraud scheme related to his online payday loan company, according to the United State's Attorney.“It’s ironic that someone who made a fortune loaning money to others, would try to cheat his own creditors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “This business owner engaged in a two-year scheme of lies and deception during his bankruptcy proceedings by secretly holding onto assets instead of paying what he owed. The bankruptcy system relies on the honesty, openness, and accuracy of debtors, and in return grants those debtors a fresh start free of debt. This defendant made a mockery of the system in the hope that he could discharge over $7.5 million in debt while maintaining a luxurious lifestyle for himself.”Del Hodges Kimball, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to one year and a day in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Kimball to pay $909,323 in restitution.“This sentence should convince others that such behavior and actions will not be tolerated in the bankruptcy system,” said Acting United States Trustee Daniel J. Casamatta.On Jan. 19, 2021, Kimball pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud. Kimball admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the Bankruptcy Court by concealing assets, bank accounts, and claims against third parties, and by making false statements and material omissions regarding his assets and financial transfers to and from third parties.Three of Kimball’s creditors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Kimball, his partner, and their company, LTS, an online payday loan company based in Kansas City, on Aug. 5, 2015. The claims of the three creditors totaled more than $15 million.The U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee filed a complaint to deny Kimball’s discharge on March 10, 2017, and the Bankruptcy Court conducted a trial on Jan. 11, 2018. After the trial, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Cynthia Norton ruled that Kimball had transferred property with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud creditors, made numerous false oaths in connection with this bankruptcy case, and concealed property from the bankruptcy estate. He did not disclose assets until he was caught and had no choice. The court found that the evidence was “overwhelming” that Kimball made false statements under oath. The court denied Kimball’s discharge due to his fraudulent concealment.For example, Kimball failed to disclose $86,200 in transfers to friends and relatives. He undervalued collectibles by $24,000. He omitted transfers to Claw Consulting, LLC, another company he owned (with no employees). Kimball established a bank account for Claw Consulting, and caused the bank statements to be mailed to an attorney at the attorney’s business address in order to stash income and proceeds of sales he wanted to conceal from creditors.According to court documents, Kimball claimed that he lost millions of dollars in 2013 and 2014, although he actually had gross income of $213,231 in 2014 and $158,679 in 2013.From 2015 to 2018, Kimball arranged that $479,585 in payday company income and/or profits from Red Stag Holdings be paid into his wife’s personal bank account to conceal the payments from creditors and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee. Kimball arranged that $45,300 in payday company income and/or profits from S. Bean Finance and $16,300 from Agile Fish be paid into his wife’s personal bank account to conceal money from creditors and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee.Kimball initially or totally omitted to schedule the transfer and sale of his interest in Red River Exploration for $116,280, as well as his ownership or interest in a number of companies.

Kansas payday loan businessman sentenced for fraud

RENO COUNTY–&nbsp;There has been an alarming increase in fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Reno County, including three in a 24-hour period, according to a statement Thursday f Since June 17, there have been 15 overdoses, one of which was fatal, and four heroin overdoses requiring multiple doses of Naloxone within a period of 28 hours. This rapid increase likely involves synthetic opioids with illicitly manufactured Fentanyl. This is also suspected to be mixed in other substances including methamphetamine, heroin, and fake pills made to look like Oxycontin.

The Reno Recovery Collaborative has a coalition focused on work to prevent, educate, and support citizens of our community who have a substance misuse disease or are family members. Thanks to the continued efforts of this group, the Reno County Health Department can collect data of the events in real time and issue alerts. They have been tracking data of suspected overdoses since October 1 which can be found on the dashboard here:&nbsp;<a href="https://arcg.is/Ki9OX" target="_blank">https://arcg.is/Ki9OX</a>.

Following in the steps of the CDC’s nationwide Health Alert issued December 17, 2020, the Reno Recovery Collaborative recommends the following steps and strategies for our community on an organizational and individual level:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Naloxone (Narcan) education, trainings, and availability&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/naloxone-program/" target="_blank">https://www.dccca.org/naloxone-program/</a>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Encourage more people to carry naloxone (Narcan)&nbsp;&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Encourage members of our community who use substances to never use alone

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check in on friends or family regularly that use substances

For more local information, education, and specific activities on substance misuse, or if you want to get involved in the Reno Recovery Collaborative, please contact Seth Dewey at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seth.dewey@renogov.org" target="_blank">seth.dewey@renogov.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620675218233.jpeg" alt="Naloxone Photo Courtesy Addicts Against Overdose" />
 <figcaption>Naloxone Photo Courtesy Addicts Against Overdose</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY–&nbsp;There has been an alarming increase in fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Reno County, including three in a 24-hour period, according to a statement Thursday f Since June 17, there have been 15 overdoses, one of which was fatal, and four heroin overdoses requiring multiple doses of Naloxone within a period of 28 hours. This rapid increase likely involves synthetic opioids with illicitly manufactured Fentanyl. This is also suspected to be mixed in other substances including methamphetamine, heroin, and fake pills made to look like Oxycontin.The Reno Recovery Collaborative has a coalition focused on work to prevent, educate, and support citizens of our community who have a substance misuse disease or are family members. Thanks to the continued efforts of this group, the Reno County Health Department can collect data of the events in real time and issue alerts. They have been tracking data of suspected overdoses since October 1 which can be found on the dashboard here:&nbsp;<a href="https://arcg.is/Ki9OX" target="_blank">https://arcg.is/Ki9OX</a>.Following in the steps of the CDC’s nationwide Health Alert issued December 17, 2020, the Reno Recovery Collaborative recommends the following steps and strategies for our community on an organizational and individual level:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Naloxone (Narcan) education, trainings, and availability&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/naloxone-program/" target="_blank">https://www.dccca.org/naloxone-program/</a>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Encourage more people to carry naloxone (Narcan)&nbsp;&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Encourage members of our community who use substances to never use alone·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check in on friends or family regularly that use substancesFor more local information, education, and specific activities on substance misuse, or if you want to get involved in the Reno Recovery Collaborative, please contact Seth Dewey at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seth.dewey@renogov.org" target="_blank">seth.dewey@renogov.org</a>.

Kan. county issues health alert after 'alarming increase’ in drug overdoses

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/20/racial-equity-panel-examines-schools-use-of-american-indian-mascots/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — A Kansas racial equity panel could issue recommendations for public 
schools and colleges to eliminate the use of American Indian mascots, 
nicknames or imagery.

Dozens
 of elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges, across the
 state are still recognized by American Indian mascots and logos, 
despite long standing criticism.

Examples include the Hoxie High School Indians, the Ottawa University Braves or the South Barber High School Chieftains.

Shawn
 Watts, director of the Tribal Law and Government Center at the 
University of Kansas, told members of the governor’s Commission on 
Racial Equity and Justice during a meeting Thursday that whether they 
took personal offense or not, the time had come to remove this imagery 
from schools.

Watts is also a district court judge for the Prairie Band Potawatomi and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

He delivered a message he often tells his 10-year-old daughter on how to proceed when you are struggling with a decision.

“If
 you can’t do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, then 
you ought to do the right thing because it’s the smart thing to do,” 
Watts said. “Doing the right thing almost always aligns with the best 
interest of Kansas, and I think it will in this case too.”

The
 Commission on Racial Equity and Justice is preparing its midyear report
 to the governor and Kansas Legislature. The report will focus on the 
social determinants of health — education, economics and health care — 
after focusing on criminal justice last year.

The
 panel was established one year ago after the murder of George Floyd and
 calls for criminal justice and racial equity policy reforms. <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/22/after-george-floyds-murder-a-racial-equity-panel-proposed-changes-the-kansas-legislature-ignored-them/">No recommendations from its initial report were considered</a> during the 2021 legislative session.

Watts
 explained several methods that have been pursued at a local and state 
level to enforce changes to Native American imagery in school mascots. 
For example, in Maine, there is a ban on all associated names and 
imagery at the grade school and collegiate level.&nbsp;

Maine was the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/05/17/maine-become-first-state-prohibit-native-american-mascots-all-public-schools/">first state to prohibit Native American mascots</a> in all public schools in 2019.

Some states have bans on names but not images, or vice versa, Watts said.

In
 1998, the Kansas Association for Native American Education called for a
 ban on the use of American Indian mascots and logos in all schools in 
Kansas. Their request was largely ignored.

Elyse
 Towey, a member of the panel and citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas 
and Nebraska, told fellow commissioners the issue was far more scarring 
than it appeared. She said the names, images and actions bring up 
intergenerational trauma detrimental to the mental health of young 
American Indians.&nbsp;

She said things like the tomahawk chop or people wearing headdresses to games are a violation of things they hold sacred.

“When
 we see drunk and half-naked people at sports arenas doing those type of
 things, it really does a number on being proud of who you are,” Towey 
said. “As a child going through schools in northern California, I 
remember not telling people I was Native because I was ashamed of it. I 
was made to feel ashamed of it.”

She
 also urged for changes in education to eliminate the whitewashing of 
Native American history. The full commission will take up the exact 
wording and intent of such a recommendation for the report to be issued 
in the next few weeks.

Shannon
 Portillo, co-chairwoman of the commission, echoed Towey’s calls for the
 removal of mascots and improvements in education, no matter the 
financial hardship to replace jerseys or scoreboards.

“I think the cost for social justice is 100% worth it,” Portillo said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624371317190.png" alt="The Kansas Commission on Racial Equity and Justice waded into conversation on the use of American Indian mascots, and began the groundwork for recommending schools drop the offensive names and imagery (Screen capture by Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Commission on Racial Equity and Justice waded into conversation on the use of American Indian mascots, and began the groundwork for recommending schools drop the offensive names and imagery (Screen capture by Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/20/racial-equity-panel-examines-schools-use-of-american-indian-mascots/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — A Kansas racial equity panel could issue recommendations for public 
schools and colleges to eliminate the use of American Indian mascots, 
nicknames or imagery.Dozens
 of elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges, across the
 state are still recognized by American Indian mascots and logos, 
despite long standing criticism.Examples include the Hoxie High School Indians, the Ottawa University Braves or the South Barber High School Chieftains.Shawn
 Watts, director of the Tribal Law and Government Center at the 
University of Kansas, told members of the governor’s Commission on 
Racial Equity and Justice during a meeting Thursday that whether they 
took personal offense or not, the time had come to remove this imagery 
from schools.Watts is also a district court judge for the Prairie Band Potawatomi and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.He delivered a message he often tells his 10-year-old daughter on how to proceed when you are struggling with a decision.“If
 you can’t do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, then 
you ought to do the right thing because it’s the smart thing to do,” 
Watts said. “Doing the right thing almost always aligns with the best 
interest of Kansas, and I think it will in this case too.”The
 Commission on Racial Equity and Justice is preparing its midyear report
 to the governor and Kansas Legislature. The report will focus on the 
social determinants of health — education, economics and health care — 
after focusing on criminal justice last year.The
 panel was established one year ago after the murder of George Floyd and
 calls for criminal justice and racial equity policy reforms. <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/22/after-george-floyds-murder-a-racial-equity-panel-proposed-changes-the-kansas-legislature-ignored-them/">No recommendations from its initial report were considered</a> during the 2021 legislative session.Watts
 explained several methods that have been pursued at a local and state 
level to enforce changes to Native American imagery in school mascots. 
For example, in Maine, there is a ban on all associated names and 
imagery at the grade school and collegiate level.&nbsp;Maine was the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/05/17/maine-become-first-state-prohibit-native-american-mascots-all-public-schools/">first state to prohibit Native American mascots</a> in all public schools in 2019.Some states have bans on names but not images, or vice versa, Watts said.In
 1998, the Kansas Association for Native American Education called for a
 ban on the use of American Indian mascots and logos in all schools in 
Kansas. Their request was largely ignored.Elyse
 Towey, a member of the panel and citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas 
and Nebraska, told fellow commissioners the issue was far more scarring 
than it appeared. She said the names, images and actions bring up 
intergenerational trauma detrimental to the mental health of young 
American Indians.&nbsp;She said things like the tomahawk chop or people wearing headdresses to games are a violation of things they hold sacred.“When
 we see drunk and half-naked people at sports arenas doing those type of
 things, it really does a number on being proud of who you are,” Towey 
said. “As a child going through schools in northern California, I 
remember not telling people I was Native because I was ashamed of it. I 
was made to feel ashamed of it.”She
 also urged for changes in education to eliminate the whitewashing of 
Native American history. The full commission will take up the exact 
wording and intent of such a recommendation for the report to be issued 
in the next few weeks.Shannon
 Portillo, co-chairwoman of the commission, echoed Towey’s calls for the
 removal of mascots and improvements in education, no matter the 
financial hardship to replace jerseys or scoreboards.“I think the cost for social justice is 100% worth it,” Portillo said.

Kan. panel examines schools’ use of American Indian mascots

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A rural Saline County man is out $6,200 after being scammed via telephone.

On Tuesday, a 59-year-old resident of northeastern Saline County received a phone call from someone claiming to be the "chief council" of the Social Security office, according to&nbsp;Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.

The caller told the man that law enforcement had located a vehicle in Texas that had blood all over it and the man's Social Security card inside. Additionally, there was a warrant for the man's arrest. The call came from a 443 area code.

The caller told the man that if he provided the numbers to $6,200 worth of gift cards, the caller could get the warrant dismissed, Melander said. The man was told that he needed to stay on the phone with the caller while he purchased the gift cards and that he would need to provide the gift card numbers as he bought the cards.

Melander said the man purchased $1,000 worth of gift cards from Walmart; $2,000 worth of gift cards from Sam's Club; $1,000 worth of gift cards from Target; $1,200 worth of gift cards from Apple iTunes and $1,000 worth of gift cards from Go Play Golf

Overnight, the man realized that he probably was scammed, so he called back and talked to the same person who called the first time. That person told the man that he could issue a refund, but would need $1,000 to start the refund process, Melander said. Once additional money was required, the Saline County man hung up.

Melander said there was little the sheriff's office could do in this case or cases like it. He offered a reminder that warrants cannot be taken care of over the phone. Additionally, he said that government entities do not take payments via gift cards.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA rural Saline County man is out $6,200 after being scammed via telephone.On Tuesday, a 59-year-old resident of northeastern Saline County received a phone call from someone claiming to be the "chief council" of the Social Security office, according to&nbsp;Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.The caller told the man that law enforcement had located a vehicle in Texas that had blood all over it and the man's Social Security card inside. Additionally, there was a warrant for the man's arrest. The call came from a 443 area code.The caller told the man that if he provided the numbers to $6,200 worth of gift cards, the caller could get the warrant dismissed, Melander said. The man was told that he needed to stay on the phone with the caller while he purchased the gift cards and that he would need to provide the gift card numbers as he bought the cards.Melander said the man purchased $1,000 worth of gift cards from Walmart; $2,000 worth of gift cards from Sam's Club; $1,000 worth of gift cards from Target; $1,200 worth of gift cards from Apple iTunes and $1,000 worth of gift cards from Go Play GolfOvernight, the man realized that he probably was scammed, so he called back and talked to the same person who called the first time. That person told the man that he could issue a refund, but would need $1,000 to start the refund process, Melander said. Once additional money was required, the Saline County man hung up.Melander said there was little the sheriff's office could do in this case or cases like it. He offered a reminder that warrants cannot be taken care of over the phone. Additionally, he said that government entities do not take payments via gift cards.

Sheriff: Kansas man lost $6,200 in phone scam

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Wichita is investigating after tombstones were found in the Little Arkansas River. <a href="https://www.kake.com/story/44167168/gravestones-found-in-the-little-arkansas-river">KAKE-TV reports </a>that one of the stones is for a woman who was born in 1902 and died in 1984.

The other reads, “beloved husband, father, son.” It’s unclear how the tombstones got into the river behind trees and brush. 

City of Wichita Communications and Special Events Manager Megan Lovely says the city plans to leave the stones where they are, for now, while the investigation continues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624539526879.png" alt="Photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Wichita is investigating after tombstones were found in the Little Arkansas River. <a href="https://www.kake.com/story/44167168/gravestones-found-in-the-little-arkansas-river">KAKE-TV reports </a>that one of the stones is for a woman who was born in 1902 and died in 1984. The other reads, “beloved husband, father, son.” It’s unclear how the tombstones got into the river behind trees and brush. City of Wichita Communications and Special Events Manager Megan Lovely says the city plans to leave the stones where they are, for now, while the investigation continues.

Tombstones found abandoned in Kansas river

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, but it said this is expected to be the last time it does so.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium until July 31. It had been scheduled to end June 30. The CDC said Thursday that “this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.”

The White House had acknowledged Wednesday that the emergency pandemic protection will have to end at some point. The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without massive social upheaval.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separate bans on evictions for renters and mortgage holders were “always intended to be temporary.”

This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to Biden and Walensky&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-4f40c6aeefbfec1a42a0efd387279d5f">calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened</a>&nbsp;in some ways.

The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Jimmy Gomez of California and Cori Bush of Missouri, called for an unspecified extension in order to allow the nearly $47 billion in emergency rental assistance included in the American Rescue Plan to get into the hands of tenants.

Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the same minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus itself. They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratorium’s protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant in order to gain its protections.

“The impact of the federal moratorium cannot be understated, and the need to strengthen and extend it is an urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice,” the letter said.

Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, called an extension of the eviction ban “the right thing to do — morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure.”

But landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it in court, are against any extension. They have argued the focus should be on speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 4 million people say they fear being evicted or foreclosed upon in the coming months, just as two studies released Wednesday found that the nation’s housing availability and affordability crisis is expected to worsen significantly following the pandemic.

The studies come as a federal eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of the month. The moratorium has kept many tenants owing back rent housed. Making matters worse, the tens of billions of dollars in federal emergency rental assistance that was supposed to solve the problem has not reached most tenants.

The housing crisis, the studies found, risks widening the gap between Black, Latino and white households, as well as putting homeownership out of the reach of lower-income Americans.

The reports were released on the same day as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/hhp/#/?measures=EVICTFOR&amp;periodSelector=31" target="_blank">Census Bureau’s biweekly Household Pulse Survey</a>&nbsp;came out. It showed that nearly 4.2 million people nationwide report that it is likely or somewhat likely that they will be evicted or foreclosed upon in the next two months.

Many of those tenants are waiting to see what becomes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eviction-moratorium-rental-assistance-coronavirus-bd0947fe93b72c88305629a6608602ee">Centers for Disease Control</a>&nbsp;and Prevention eviction moratorium, which is set expire June 30. Housing advocates are pressuring President Joe Biden’s administration to extend it. They argue extending it would give states the time to distribute more than $45 billion in rental assistance and protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-us-news-bfbf0744510d50a1e173247ee5f9ba1b">rental assistance</a>&nbsp;has been slow to reach tenants.

“The latest data confirm two things — emergency rental assistance is very slow to reach renters in need, and millions of renters remain behind on rent and at heightened risk of evictions,” Diane Yentel, president of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, said in an email.

Among those confronting the June 30 deadline is Victor Richardson. The 78-year-old, who is disabled and in a wheelchair, is facing eviction from his $2,500-a-month assisted living center in Tucson, Arizona, and has a court hearing early next month.

“We have been successfully fighting this and I’ve come to believe we are going to come out this victoriously,” said Richardson, who housing advocates said would not be admitted to a homeless shelter because of his disability.

The reports by Harvard University and the National Association of Realtors come from different perspectives, but ultimately reach the same conclusion: The United States isn’t building enough housing to address population growth, causing record low home availability, and rising home prices are putting homeownership out of reach of millions of Americans.

Without substantial changes in homebuilding and home affordability, both reports say, the result will be a more-or-less permanent class of renters contrasted with what will likely be a mostly white class of homeowners. While these problems were known before the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_State_Nations_Housing_2021.pdf" target="_blank">the economic impact of the pandemic exacerbated the problem</a>, the reports say.

“These disparities are likely to persist even as the economy recovers, with many lower-income households slow to regain their financial footing and facing possible eviction or foreclosure,” researchers at Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University wrote.

A separate study commissioned by the National Association of Realtors found that the U.S. housing market&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/Housing-is-Critical-Infrastructure-Social-and-Economic-Benefits-of-Building-More-Housing-6-15-2021.pdf" target="_blank">needs to build at least 5.5 million new units</a>&nbsp;to keep up with demand and keeping home ownership affordable over the next 10 years. That’s on top of the roughly 1.2 million units built per year on average, or a roughly 60% increase in home construction for the next decade, just to keep up with demand.

“The scale of underbuilding and the existing demand-supply gap is enormous and will require a major national commitment to build more housing of all types by expanding resources, addressing barriers to new development and making new housing construction an integral part of a national infrastructure strategy,” wrote Kenneth Rosen, David Bank, Max Hall, Scott Reed and Carson Goldman with the Rosen Consulting Group, in its report to the association of realtors.

The association’s report points out several regions requiring more homes, including many parts of California and the West, Southern Florida, and the Northeast, particularly the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.

Without additional housing, an increasing share of Americans are likely to become renters in the coming years. While renting is not necessarily a bad thing since it provides more flexibility, homeownership has been the primary driver of wealth generation in the U.S. since World War II. Home equity is often a way for Americans to have a financial safety net at times of economic trouble, as seen in the pandemic.

These problems get worse when broken out by racial backgrounds. Black and Latino homeowners have less in savings than their white counterparts. White potential homeowners also have generational wealth to potentially tap in the form of a down payment.

“The diverging circumstances between those with the resources to weather the economic shutdowns and those struggling to simply stay afloat thus widened already large inequalities in income and wealth,” said the Harvard researchers.

Outside of a massive increase in homebuilding, researchers at Harvard pointed to government home affordability programs as likely the best solution to address the problem long term.

“Any of a number of new proposals to provide down payment assistance to socially disadvantaged buyers would potentially bring millions of low-income households and households of color into homeownership.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624546142101.png" alt="Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC said Thursday that “this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.” Photo courtesy White House COVID-19 Response Team" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC said Thursday that “this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.” Photo courtesy White House COVID-19 Response Team</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, but it said this is expected to be the last time it does so.Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium until July 31. It had been scheduled to end June 30. The CDC said Thursday that “this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.”The White House had acknowledged Wednesday that the emergency pandemic protection will have to end at some point. The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without massive social upheaval.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separate bans on evictions for renters and mortgage holders were “always intended to be temporary.”This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to Biden and Walensky&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-4f40c6aeefbfec1a42a0efd387279d5f">calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened</a>&nbsp;in some ways.The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Jimmy Gomez of California and Cori Bush of Missouri, called for an unspecified extension in order to allow the nearly $47 billion in emergency rental assistance included in the American Rescue Plan to get into the hands of tenants.Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the same minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus itself. They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratorium’s protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant in order to gain its protections.“The impact of the federal moratorium cannot be understated, and the need to strengthen and extend it is an urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice,” the letter said.Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, called an extension of the eviction ban “the right thing to do — morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure.”But landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it in court, are against any extension. They have argued the focus should be on speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.-------------------NEW YORK (AP) — More than 4 million people say they fear being evicted or foreclosed upon in the coming months, just as two studies released Wednesday found that the nation’s housing availability and affordability crisis is expected to worsen significantly following the pandemic.The studies come as a federal eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of the month. The moratorium has kept many tenants owing back rent housed. Making matters worse, the tens of billions of dollars in federal emergency rental assistance that was supposed to solve the problem has not reached most tenants.The housing crisis, the studies found, risks widening the gap between Black, Latino and white households, as well as putting homeownership out of the reach of lower-income Americans.The reports were released on the same day as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/hhp/#/?measures=EVICTFOR&amp;periodSelector=31" target="_blank">Census Bureau’s biweekly Household Pulse Survey</a>&nbsp;came out. It showed that nearly 4.2 million people nationwide report that it is likely or somewhat likely that they will be evicted or foreclosed upon in the next two months.Many of those tenants are waiting to see what becomes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eviction-moratorium-rental-assistance-coronavirus-bd0947fe93b72c88305629a6608602ee">Centers for Disease Control</a>&nbsp;and Prevention eviction moratorium, which is set expire June 30. Housing advocates are pressuring President Joe Biden’s administration to extend it. They argue extending it would give states the time to distribute more than $45 billion in rental assistance and protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-us-news-bfbf0744510d50a1e173247ee5f9ba1b">rental assistance</a>&nbsp;has been slow to reach tenants.“The latest data confirm two things — emergency rental assistance is very slow to reach renters in need, and millions of renters remain behind on rent and at heightened risk of evictions,” Diane Yentel, president of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, said in an email.Among those confronting the June 30 deadline is Victor Richardson. The 78-year-old, who is disabled and in a wheelchair, is facing eviction from his $2,500-a-month assisted living center in Tucson, Arizona, and has a court hearing early next month.“We have been successfully fighting this and I’ve come to believe we are going to come out this victoriously,” said Richardson, who housing advocates said would not be admitted to a homeless shelter because of his disability.The reports by Harvard University and the National Association of Realtors come from different perspectives, but ultimately reach the same conclusion: The United States isn’t building enough housing to address population growth, causing record low home availability, and rising home prices are putting homeownership out of reach of millions of Americans.Without substantial changes in homebuilding and home affordability, both reports say, the result will be a more-or-less permanent class of renters contrasted with what will likely be a mostly white class of homeowners. While these problems were known before the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_State_Nations_Housing_2021.pdf" target="_blank">the economic impact of the pandemic exacerbated the problem</a>, the reports say.“These disparities are likely to persist even as the economy recovers, with many lower-income households slow to regain their financial footing and facing possible eviction or foreclosure,” researchers at Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University wrote.A separate study commissioned by the National Association of Realtors found that the U.S. housing market&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/Housing-is-Critical-Infrastructure-Social-and-Economic-Benefits-of-Building-More-Housing-6-15-2021.pdf" target="_blank">needs to build at least 5.5 million new units</a>&nbsp;to keep up with demand and keeping home ownership affordable over the next 10 years. That’s on top of the roughly 1.2 million units built per year on average, or a roughly 60% increase in home construction for the next decade, just to keep up with demand.“The scale of underbuilding and the existing demand-supply gap is enormous and will require a major national commitment to build more housing of all types by expanding resources, addressing barriers to new development and making new housing construction an integral part of a national infrastructure strategy,” wrote Kenneth Rosen, David Bank, Max Hall, Scott Reed and Carson Goldman with the Rosen Consulting Group, in its report to the association of realtors.The association’s report points out several regions requiring more homes, including many parts of California and the West, Southern Florida, and the Northeast, particularly the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.Without additional housing, an increasing share of Americans are likely to become renters in the coming years. While renting is not necessarily a bad thing since it provides more flexibility, homeownership has been the primary driver of wealth generation in the U.S. since World War II. Home equity is often a way for Americans to have a financial safety net at times of economic trouble, as seen in the pandemic.These problems get worse when broken out by racial backgrounds. Black and Latino homeowners have less in savings than their white counterparts. White potential homeowners also have generational wealth to potentially tap in the form of a down payment.“The diverging circumstances between those with the resources to weather the economic shutdowns and those struggling to simply stay afloat thus widened already large inequalities in income and wealth,” said the Harvard researchers.Outside of a massive increase in homebuilding, researchers at Harvard pointed to government home affordability programs as likely the best solution to address the problem long term.“Any of a number of new proposals to provide down payment assistance to socially disadvantaged buyers would potentially bring millions of low-income households and households of color into homeownership.”

Biden administration extends nationwide ban on evictions

The Federal Trade Commission is sending refunds totaling more than $223,000 to people who lost money to a student loan and mortgage debt relief operation.

The FTC alleged that A1 DocPrep Inc., 
Streamlined Marketing, and their owner, Horman Ardalan falsely claimed 
to be from the Department of Education, and promised to reduce 
borrowers’ monthly payments or forgive their student loans in exchange 
for illegal upfront fees, according to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/a1_docprep_inc._complaint.pdf">FTC’s September 2017 complaint</a>.
 The FTC also alleged the defendants targeted distressed homeowners by 
making false promises that they would provide mortgage relief and 
prevent foreclosure.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>

The refunds stem from <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/11/remaining-operators-student-debt-relief-scheme-settle-ftc-charges">settlements</a> the defendants reached with the FTC that also ban them from debt
 relief and telemarketing activities and prohibits them from making 
misrepresentations or unsubstantiated claims related to other financial 
products or services.

The FTC is mailing 136 checks to consumers who previously filed a complaint with law enforcement. The checks average&nbsp;$1,641 each.
 People who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90
 days, as indicated on the check. Recipients who have questions about 
their checks can call the refund administrator, Analytics, at 844-695-0454. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission is sending refunds totaling more than $223,000 to people who lost money to a student loan and mortgage debt relief operation.The FTC alleged that A1 DocPrep Inc., 
Streamlined Marketing, and their owner, Horman Ardalan falsely claimed 
to be from the Department of Education, and promised to reduce 
borrowers’ monthly payments or forgive their student loans in exchange 
for illegal upfront fees, according to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/a1_docprep_inc._complaint.pdf">FTC’s September 2017 complaint</a>.
 The FTC also alleged the defendants targeted distressed homeowners by 
making false promises that they would provide mortgage relief and 
prevent foreclosure.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a> The refunds stem from <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/11/remaining-operators-student-debt-relief-scheme-settle-ftc-charges">settlements</a> the defendants reached with the FTC that also ban them from debt
 relief and telemarketing activities and prohibits them from making 
misrepresentations or unsubstantiated claims related to other financial 
products or services.The FTC is mailing 136 checks to consumers who previously filed a complaint with law enforcement. The checks average&nbsp;$1,641 each.
 People who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90
 days, as indicated on the check. Recipients who have questions about 
their checks can call the refund administrator, Analytics, at 844-695-0454. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC sends refunds to victims of student loan, mortgage scheme

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple drug related charges following a narcotics and identity theft search warrant at a Kansas home.

Just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the 2500 block of SW Clay Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics, firearms and arrested 35-year-old Adam J. Smith of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of criminal use of weapons, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624543028796.png" alt="Smith-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple drug related charges following a narcotics and identity theft search warrant at a Kansas home.Just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the 2500 block of SW Clay Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics, firearms and arrested 35-year-old Adam J. Smith of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of criminal use of weapons, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputies find firearms, drugs at Kansas home

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in the Kansas City suburb of Independence are investigating after a teenage girl was found shot to death.

Police responding to a call found the victim Wednesday afternoon inside a home. Her name and age have not been released. No arrests have been made.

The killing was the second this week in Independence. Police say 30-year-old Ales L. Carr of Kansas City, Missouri, died early Monday at a hospital, where she had been dropped off after being shot in the head. Police believe she was shot at a home in Independence.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in the Kansas City suburb of Independence are investigating after a teenage girl was found shot to death.Police responding to a call found the victim Wednesday afternoon inside a home. Her name and age have not been released. No arrests have been made.The killing was the second this week in Independence. Police say 30-year-old Ales L. Carr of Kansas City, Missouri, died early Monday at a hospital, where she had been dropped off after being shot in the head. Police believe she was shot at a home in Independence.

Teenage girl shot to death in Kansas City suburb

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced new efforts Wednesday to stem a rising national tide of violent crime, declaring the federal government is “taking on the bad actors doing bad things to our communities.” But questions persist about how effective the efforts can be in what could be a turbulent summer.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512889-1/president-biden-attorney-general-garland-deliver-remarks-gun-crime-prevention">Click here to watch </a>the President's remarks

Crime rates have risen after plummeting during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, creating economic hardship and anxiety. Biden’s plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624486188733.png" alt="The President's plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The President's plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced new efforts Wednesday to stem a rising national tide of violent crime, declaring the federal government is “taking on the bad actors doing bad things to our communities.” But questions persist about how effective the efforts can be in what could be a turbulent summer.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512889-1/president-biden-attorney-general-garland-deliver-remarks-gun-crime-prevention">Click here to watch </a>the President's remarksCrime rates have risen after plummeting during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, creating economic hardship and anxiety. Biden’s plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms.“These merchants of death are breaking the law for profit,” Biden said. “If you willfully sell a gun to someone who’s prohibited, my message to you is this: We’ll find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns. We’ll make sure you can’t sell death and mayhem on our streets.”But there are also tricky politics at play, and Biden's plan shows how few options the Democratic president has on the issue.The steps he outlined are aimed at going hard after gun dealers who break federal law and establishing strike forces in several cities to help stop weapons trafficking. He also said he would seek more money for the agency that tracks the nation's guns.But the rest of his new strategy boils down mostly to suggestions for beleaguered localities. He's encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers — often both targets and perpetrators of violence.But it's voluntary.The president has been clear that he is opposed to the “defund the police” movement, which has been effectively used against other Democrats to cast them as anti-law enforcement.“This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement," said Biden, who noted that "crime historically rises during the summer, and as we emerge from this pandemic the traditional summer spike may be even more pronounced than it usually would be.”But he's also is trying to boost progressives' efforts to reform policing, following a year of demonstrations and public anguish sparked by the killing by police of George Floyd and other Black people across the country. While combating crime and overhauling the police don't have to be at odds, the two efforts are increasingly billed that way.Biden will try to do both at once. But Republicans quickly tried to portray his measures as government overreach and linked them to efforts to rein in policing.“I think a lot of it ties back to this whole ‘defund the police’ movement and some of the disruption we had in civil society last year,” Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said on Fox News. “And I think that’s part of, when you start undermining that basic foundation, you start breaking apart the bonds that hold us together and that’s why you see an increase in crime.”Biden announced a “zero tolerance" policy that would give no leeway to gun dealers who fail to comply with federal law — their licenses to sell would be revoked on a first offense.The president has already announced a half-dozen executive actions on gun control, including going after “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers for tracking and often are purchased without background checks.A number of anti-crime and gun safety groups, including the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety, applauded the administration's efforts.“The president is helping start a much-needed conversation about reducing violent crime. A greater investment in community interventions will help take a bite out of violent crime," said Paul DelPonte, head of the National Crime Prevention Council. "Strategies that increase public engagement in public safety are proven crime stoppers. Putting more police officers who are trained and certified in crime prevention on the streets of our communities makes sense.”Legislation to expand background checks has so far stalled in the Senate after the House passed it in March, even though Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed then that the Senate would hold a vote on the bill.Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has been negotiating for weeks with individual Republicans to see if there is legislation that could win enough votes for passage. One option is to narrow the scope of the House bill and expand background checks only to commercial sales like gun shows. Most Republicans oppose regulating private sales between individuals, as the House bill would do, but some have said they would support tougher regulation of gun shows.Biden will seek increased transparency on gun data and better coordination among states, and he will push Congress for more money for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agency responsible for enforcing federal gun laws and regulating gun dealers. The Justice Department is also launching strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to help take down illegal gun traffickers.Police officials have said they are struggling with increasing crime and continued tensions between police and communities; some say their calls for support aren't answered as they take the blame for the spike. Biden noted that $350 billion of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package can be used by cities to hire law enforcement officers, pay overtime, prosecute gun traffickers and invest in technology to make law enforcement more efficient.While crime is rising — homicides and shootings are up from the same period last year in Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Houston — violent crime overall remains lower than it was a decade ago or even five years ago. Most violent crimes plummeted during the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic, as people stayed indoors and away from others, then started creeping up last summer.It all comes against the backdrop of the national debate on policing and racism — and as a police reform bill is being crafted in Congress.As a senator, Biden wrote several major anti-crime packages, including a 1994 bill that contained provisions now viewed by some as an overreaction to the crime spikes in the 1980s and 1990s. Critics say those bills helped lead to mass incarceration of Black Americans, and Biden’s involvement became an issue in his 2020 campaign.Biden has expressed second thoughts about some aspects of the legislation. But he and his allies still point to the law’s provisions to address domestic violence, ban assault weapons and finance community policing.___