WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who pay <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">estimated taxes</a> that they have until June 15 to pay their estimated tax payment for the second quarter of tax year 2021 without penalty.

Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that isn't 
subject to withholding. This includes income from self-employment, 
interest, dividends, rent, gains from the sale of assets,

prizes and awards. You may also have to pay estimated tax if the amount of income tax being

withheld from your salary, pension or other income isn't enough.

Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, and S corporation 
shareholders, generally have to make estimated tax payments if they 
expect to owe tax of $1,000 or more when they file their return.

Individual taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/am-i-required-to-make-estimated-tax-payments">IRS Interactive Tax Assistant</a> online to see if they are required to pay estimated taxes. They can also see the worksheet in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a> for more details on who must pay estimated tax.

Corporations generally have to make estimated tax payments if they 
expect to owe tax of $500 or more when they file their return. 
Corporations can see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1120-w">Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations</a> for more information.

Special rules apply to some groups of taxpayers, such as farmers, 
fishermen, certain higher income taxpayers, casualty and disaster 
victims, those who recently became disabled, recent retirees and those 
who receive income unevenly during the year.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a>,
 has additional details, including worksheets and examples, that can be 
especially helpful to those who have dividend or capital gain income, 
owe alternative minimum tax or self-employment tax, or have other 
special situations.

This means taxpayers need to pay most of their taxes owed during the year as income is received. There are two ways to do that:

Taxpayers can avoid an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc306">underpayment penalty</a>
 by owing less than $1,000 at tax time or by paying most of their taxes 
during the year. Generally, for 2021 that means making payments of at 
least 90% of the tax expected on their 2021 return. Most taxpayers who 
pay at least 100 percent of the tax shown on their return for tax year 
2020 may also avoid the penalty. There are special rules for farmers and
 fishermen, certain household employers and certain higher income 
taxpayers. For more information, refer to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a>.

Generally, taxpayers should make estimated tax payments in four equal
 amounts to avoid a penalty. However, if they receive income unevenly 
during the year, they may be able to vary the amounts of the payments to
 avoid or lower the penalty by using the annualized installment method. 
Taxpayers can use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2210">Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts</a> to see if they owe a penalty for underpaying their estimated tax.

Third quarter payments are due September 15 and the final estimated tax payment for tax year 2021 is due on January 17, 2022.

If a taxpayer receives salaries and wages, they can avoid having to 
pay estimated tax by asking their employer to withhold more tax from 
their earnings. To do this, they would submit a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4</a> to their employer.

If a taxpayer receives a paycheck, the Tax Withholding Estimator can 
help them make sure they have the right amount of tax withheld from 
their pay.

The Tax Withholding Estimator offers workers, as well as retirees, 
self-employed individuals and other taxpayers a clear, step-by-step 
method for effectively checking their withholding to protect against 
having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or 
penalty at tax time next year.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES</a>&nbsp;includes instructions to help taxpayers figure their estimated taxes.

The fastest and easiest ways for individuals to make an estimated tax payment is electronically by using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> from their checking or savings account or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">pay using a debit or credit card</a>.
 Taxpayers should note that the payment processor, not the IRS, charges a
 fee for debit and credit card payments. Both Direct Pay and the pay by 
debit or credit card options are available online at IRS.gov and through
 the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>.

Taxpayers can also use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;to make an estimated tax payment.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1120w">Corporations</a>
 must use electronic funds transfer to make all federal tax deposits 
(such as deposits of employment, excise, and corporate income tax). This
 includes installment payments of estimated tax. Generally, electronic 
funds transfer is made using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System 
(EFTPS). However, if the corporation does not want to use EFTPS, it can 
arrange for its tax professional, financial institution, payroll 
service, or other trusted third party to make electronic deposits on its
 behalf.

If taxpayers opt to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-by-check-or-money-order">mail a check or money order,</a> they should make them payable to the "United States Treasury."

For information on all payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

Tax help is available 24/7 on IRS.gov. The IRS website offers a 
variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer common tax questions. 
For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to get answers to common questions.

The IRS is continuing to expand ways to communicate to taxpayers who 
prefer to get information in other languages. The IRS has posted 
translated tax resources in 20 other languages on IRS.gov. For more 
information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">We Speak Your Language</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who pay <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">estimated taxes</a> that they have until June 15 to pay their estimated tax payment for the second quarter of tax year 2021 without penalty.Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that isn't 
subject to withholding. This includes income from self-employment, 
interest, dividends, rent, gains from the sale of assets,prizes and awards. You may also have to pay estimated tax if the amount of income tax beingwithheld from your salary, pension or other income isn't enough.<h2>Who must pay estimated tax?</h2>Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, and S corporation 
shareholders, generally have to make estimated tax payments if they 
expect to owe tax of $1,000 or more when they file their return.Individual taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/am-i-required-to-make-estimated-tax-payments">IRS Interactive Tax Assistant</a> online to see if they are required to pay estimated taxes. They can also see the worksheet in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a> for more details on who must pay estimated tax.Corporations generally have to make estimated tax payments if they 
expect to owe tax of $500 or more when they file their return. 
Corporations can see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1120-w">Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations</a> for more information.Special rules apply to some groups of taxpayers, such as farmers, 
fishermen, certain higher income taxpayers, casualty and disaster 
victims, those who recently became disabled, recent retirees and those 
who receive income unevenly during the year.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a>,
 has additional details, including worksheets and examples, that can be 
especially helpful to those who have dividend or capital gain income, 
owe alternative minimum tax or self-employment tax, or have other 
special situations.<h2>Taxes are pay-as-you-go</h2>This means taxpayers need to pay most of their taxes owed during the year as income is received. There are two ways to do that:<ul>
 <li>Withholding from pay, pension or certain government payments such as Social Security</li><li>Making quarterly estimated tax payments during the year.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers can avoid an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc306">underpayment penalty</a>
 by owing less than $1,000 at tax time or by paying most of their taxes 
during the year. Generally, for 2021 that means making payments of at 
least 90% of the tax expected on their 2021 return. Most taxpayers who 
pay at least 100 percent of the tax shown on their return for tax year 
2020 may also avoid the penalty. There are special rules for farmers and
 fishermen, certain household employers and certain higher income 
taxpayers. For more information, refer to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a>.Generally, taxpayers should make estimated tax payments in four equal
 amounts to avoid a penalty. However, if they receive income unevenly 
during the year, they may be able to vary the amounts of the payments to
 avoid or lower the penalty by using the annualized installment method. 
Taxpayers can use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2210">Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts</a> to see if they owe a penalty for underpaying their estimated tax.Third quarter payments are due September 15 and the final estimated tax payment for tax year 2021 is due on January 17, 2022.<h2>Tax Withholding Estimator</h2>If a taxpayer receives salaries and wages, they can avoid having to 
pay estimated tax by asking their employer to withhold more tax from 
their earnings. To do this, they would submit a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4</a> to their employer.If a taxpayer receives a paycheck, the Tax Withholding Estimator can 
help them make sure they have the right amount of tax withheld from 
their pay.The Tax Withholding Estimator offers workers, as well as retirees, 
self-employed individuals and other taxpayers a clear, step-by-step 
method for effectively checking their withholding to protect against 
having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or 
penalty at tax time next year.<h2>How to pay estimated taxes</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES</a>&nbsp;includes instructions to help taxpayers figure their estimated taxes.The fastest and easiest ways for individuals to make an estimated tax payment is electronically by using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> from their checking or savings account or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">pay using a debit or credit card</a>.
 Taxpayers should note that the payment processor, not the IRS, charges a
 fee for debit and credit card payments. Both Direct Pay and the pay by 
debit or credit card options are available online at IRS.gov and through
 the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>.Taxpayers can also use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;to make an estimated tax payment.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1120w">Corporations</a>
 must use electronic funds transfer to make all federal tax deposits 
(such as deposits of employment, excise, and corporate income tax). This
 includes installment payments of estimated tax. Generally, electronic 
funds transfer is made using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System 
(EFTPS). However, if the corporation does not want to use EFTPS, it can 
arrange for its tax professional, financial institution, payroll 
service, or other trusted third party to make electronic deposits on its
 behalf.If taxpayers opt to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-by-check-or-money-order">mail a check or money order,</a> they should make them payable to the "United States Treasury."For information on all payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.<h2>IRS.gov assistance 24/7</h2>Tax help is available 24/7 on IRS.gov. The IRS website offers a 
variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer common tax questions. 
For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to get answers to common questions.The IRS is continuing to expand ways to communicate to taxpayers who 
prefer to get information in other languages. The IRS has posted 
translated tax resources in 20 other languages on IRS.gov. For more 
information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">We Speak Your Language</a>.

IRS: Deadline approaches for second quarter estimated tax payments

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris offered an optimistic outlook for improved cooperation with Guatemala on addressing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-guatemala-central-america-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-a37241f7310940c98dbdd986efec3532">spike in migration to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;after her meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday. She also delivered a direct warning to migrants considering making the trek: “Do not come. Do not come.”

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512371-1/vice-president-harris-guatemalan-president-giammattei-hold-news-conference">Click here</a> to watch the Vice President's press conference

Her comments, during a press conference after she met privately with Giammattei, underscored the challenge that remains even as Harris engages in substantive talks with the Guatemalan and Mexican presidents during a three-day visit to the region this week, her first foreign trip as vice president.

“I want to emphasize that the goal of our work is to help Guatemalans find hope at home,” Harris said. “At the same time, I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come, do not come.”

In conjunction with Harris’ trip, the Biden administration announced that the Justice Department would create an anti-corruption task force and an additional task force to combat human trafficking and drug smuggling in the region. Harris also promised a new program focused on creating education and economic opportunities for girls there, among other new initiatives. And she told Giammattei that her goal in the region was to restore “hope” to residents so they no longer felt the need to flee their homeland for better opportunities in the U.S.

But for all the talk about new ways to cooperate, reining in corruption and improving living conditions in the region have been long-running challenges that previous administrations have been unable to achieve in their efforts to stem the tide of migration to the United States.

Part of the challenge remains that, despite the best efforts of U.S. officials, corruption underpins many of the region’s governments. Indeed, Giammattei himself has faced criticism over his handling of the issue.

Last month, two lawyers who are outspoken critics of Giammattei’s administration were arrested on what they say were trumped-up charges aimed at silencing them.

And the selection of judges for Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, its highest, was mired in influence peddling and allegations of corruption. Giammattei&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-cabinets-guatemala-city-guatemala-alejandro-giammattei-1546696816b78a3fabbedc2e2dbee0d7">picked his chief of staff</a>&nbsp;to fill one of the five vacancies. When Gloria Porras, a respected force against corruption, was elected to a second term, the congress controlled by Giammattei’s party refused to seat her.

On Monday, Giammattei seemed less than eager to address those issues.

Asked by The Associated Press about criticism of his record on corruption, Giammattei initially ignored the question. When pressed by another journalist to answer for the complaints against him, Giammattei seemed to bristle at the allegation that he was at fault, insisting there were “zero” allegations of corruption against him and labeling drug traffickers the biggest corruption issue in his nation.

Still, Harris expressed optimism about their ability to work together, telling reporters that the two had a “very frank and very candid” conversation that included “the importance of anti-corruption and the importance of an independent judiciary.”

Harris said the Justice, Treasury and State departments would work together on anti-corruption investigations and train local law enforcement to conduct their own.

“We are creating this task force to address corruption. We are working on a task force that is about human smuggling. We are doing the work of requiring certain progress be made if we are going to attract U.S. investment, private investment, to this region,” Harris said.

Giammattei said that the U.S. and Guatemala also agreed to collaborate on a “very simple process” through visas to allow for regular migration to the U.S., and that the two countries would work to prioritize family reunifications.

The White House also announced a $7.5 million commitment through USAID to support entrepreneurs and innovators in Guatemala, as well as millions more in investments in affordable housing, agribusinesses and loans to small businesses in the country.

Besides her meeting with Giammattei, Harris participated in a roundtable with Guatemalan community and civil society leaders and met with young female engineers and entrepreneurs.

In addressing the root causes of migration, Harris has laid out an approach centered on creating better opportunities and living conditions in the region through humanitarian and economic aid.

Harris had previously announced plans to send $310 million to provide support for refugees and address food shortages, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/central-america-immigration-business-government-and-politics-e5f715296eef17c08af58c633b2b9b3e">she recently secured commitments</a>&nbsp;from a dozen companies and organizations to invest in the Northern Triangle countries to promote economic opportunity and job training.

Washington won some goodwill through its vaccine diplomacy this past week. Giammattei and Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador both received calls from Harris on Thursday telling them the U.S. would be sending 500,000 doses and 1 million doses, respectively, of COVID-19 vaccine.

While in Latin America, Harris is also navigating the politics of immigration. Congressional Republicans have criticized both President Joe Biden and Harris for not visiting the U.S.-Mexico border and contend the administration is ignoring what they say is a crisis there.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-health-coronavirus-pandemic-government-and-politics-7c155484414c569451d330ebea7d0094">April was the second-busiest month</a>&nbsp;on record for unaccompanied children encountered at the border, following March’s all-time high. The Border Patrol’s total encounters in April were up 3% from March, marking the highest level since April 2000.

On Monday, Harris defended her decision not to visit the border, telling reporters she was focused on addressing the root causes of migration in a way that delivers “tangible” results “as opposed to grand gestures.”

But even as Harris made the case for reforms in the nation’s capital, those very migrants she hoped to help were still streaming to the nation’s borders.

On Monday, Henry Armando Rodríguez, 27, from El Paraiso in south-central Honduras, rested outside the migrant shelter in Tecun Uman at the Guatemala-Mexico border on his journey toward the United States. He didn’t know about Harris’ visit but described reasons for leaving that touched on the hopelessness the vice president wants to address.

“Life is very bad in Honduras right now,” he said.

It was his first time attempting to migrate, he said. He decided to make the journey because it was impossible to find any agricultural work because of droughts at home.

When he was able to find work, he couldn’t make enough money to pay for a decent home. He said that, because of poverty in Honduras, “we have to flee from there to be able to look for new opportunities.” And he wasn’t impressed with the politicians who he says only claim to want to help when they’re fishing for votes around election season.

“They promise you the sun and the moon, and then in the end they forgot all of that,” he said. “What interests them is only themselves, how they live, and the life of the poor is of little importance to them.”

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — With Kamala Harris visiting Guatemala and Mexico on her first foreign trip as vice president, the Biden administration is expected to announce new measures to fight smuggling and trafficking, and hopes to announce additional anti-corruption efforts as well on Monday, a senior administration official said.

The official, who briefed reporters traveling with Harris on Sunday, spoke on condition of anonymity to preview announcements before they have been made public. No further details were provided.

Harris has been tasked by President Joe Biden with addressing the root causes of the spike in migration to the U.S.-Mexico border, and her aides say corruption will be a central focus of her meetings with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday and Mexico’s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday.

“Corruption really does sap the the wealth of any country, and in Central America is at a scale where it is a large percentage of GDP across the region,” said special envoy Ricardo Zuniga.

“We see corruption as one of the most important root causes to be dealt with,” Zuniga added.

The trip got off to a rocky start when Harris’ plane returned to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland about 30 minutes after takeoff because of what her spokesperson said was a problem with the landing gear. She departed on another plane and landed late Sunday in in Guatemala City, where she was met by Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo.

Harris is seeking to secure commitments from Guatemala and Mexico for greater cooperation on border security and economic investment, and aides say she will also discuss vaccine sharing during her meetings. But corruption in the region — a far more intractable challenge — will complicate her efforts.

It’s already had a significant impact on her work in Central America. Harris has yet to engage substantively with the leaders of Honduras and El Salvador, who are both embroiled in corruption scandals.

Giammattei has faced criticism over corruption within his own government. Zuniga acknowledged that the U.S. government faces a challenge in working with him but argued Harris was in the country in part to have a direct conversation with the president about this and other issues.

“The best way to deal with these cases where you have a very complex relationship in a country like Guatemala is to talk clearly and plainly as partners, as countries that have to get along” he said.

Harris has laid out an approach centered on creating better opportunities and living conditions in the region through humanitarian and economic aid. She announced plans to send $310 million to provide support for refugees and address food shortages, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/central-america-immigration-business-government-and-politics-e5f715296eef17c08af58c633b2b9b3e">recently secured commitments</a>&nbsp;from a dozen companies and organizations to invest in the Northern Triangle countries to promote economic opportunity and job training.

Washington won some goodwill through its vaccine diplomacy this past week. Giammattei and López Obrador both received calls from Harris on Thursday telling them the U.S. would be sending 500,000 doses and 1 million doses, respectively, of COVID-19 vaccine.

While in Guatemala, Harris also plans to meet community leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. In Mexico, she will speak with female entrepreneurs and hold a roundtable with labor workers.

She’s underscored the need to address corruption in public remarks and events. In a May meeting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/guatemala-aab7d6852c956a981cc73aff1e5bdcd1">a number of leading voices on Guatemala’s justice system</a>, she noted her work as a prosecutor and said that “injustice is a root cause of migration.”

“Part of giving people hope is having a very specific commitment to rooting out corruption in the region,” she said.

Harris has also raised the issue during virtual meetings with the leaders of both countries, and aides say she will do it again during meetings on her trip. During their past conversations, they have discussed areas of mutual interest — improving port security, fighting smuggling networks, going after corrupt actors — and the goal of this trip is to turn that talk into action, aides say.

While the vice president will make announcements concerning new efforts at cooperation and new programs, she’s not expected to announce any new aid during her trip.

While in Latin America, Harris will also have to navigate the politics of immigration. Congressional Republicans have criticized both Biden and Harris for deciding not to visit the border, and contend the administration is ignoring what they say is a crisis there. April was the second-busiest month on record for unaccompanied children encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border, following March’s all-time high. The Border Patrol’s total encounters in April were up 3% from March, marking the highest level since April 2000.

Conservatives will be watching Harris closely for any missteps, hoping to drag her into further controversy on an issue that they see as a political winner.

In her efforts to win commitments on corruption from the region’s leaders, Harris can point to a number of moves by the Biden administration last week.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the problem during his own recent trip to Central America. The White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/03/memorandum-on-establishing-the-fight-against-corruption-as-a-core-united-states-national-security-interest/" target="_blank">issued a memo</a>&nbsp;elevating foreign corruption to a major national security issue, and directed all federal agencies to prioritize it and modernize their foreign corruption-fighting tools.

Eric Olson, director of policy at the Seattle International Foundation, which works to promote good governance in Central America, said that addressing corruption will take particular diplomatic skill. Harris will need to hold the leaders of Guatemala and Mexico accountable while also deepening trust and cooperation with the two nations.

“The challenge that she faces is how to, on the one hand, have a conversation, keep the door open — while not seeming to ignore the obvious elephant in the room, which is this incredible penetration of the state by corrupt actors,” he said.

In Mexico, López Obrador continues to face a complicated security situation in many parts of the country. Nearly three-dozen candidates or pre-candidates were killed before this weekend’s midterm elections as drug cartels sought to protect their interests. The government’s inability to provide security in parts of the country is of interest to the U.S. in an immigration context, both for the people who are displaced by violence and the impact it has on a severely weakened economy trying reemerge from the pandemic.

The number of Mexicans encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection rose steadily from December through April. Mexico remains a key U.S. ally in trying to slow immigration, not only of its own citizens, but those crossing its territory. Successive U.S. administrations have effectively tried to push their immigration enforcement goals south to Mexico and Guatemala.

Nongovernmental organizations placed Guatemala’s widespread corruption at the top of their list of concerns before Harris’ visit.

The selection of judges for Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, its highest, was mired in influence peddling and alleged corruption. Giammattei picked his chief of staff to fill one of the five vacancies. When Gloria Porras, a respected force against corruption, was elected to a second term, the congress controlled by Giammattei’s party refused to seat her.

Harris’ visit comes with high expectations, but experts say clear progress on corruption may be elusive.

“These are societies built on corruption,” said Olson. “You’re not gonna have an impact in six months.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623101366879.png" alt="<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?kamalaharris">Vice President Kamala Harris&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?130268">Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;upon her arrival on Sunday night.-photo courtesy Office of Vice President" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?kamalaharris">Vice President Kamala Harris&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?130268">Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;upon her arrival on Sunday night.-photo courtesy Office of Vice President</figcaption>
 </figure>GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris offered an optimistic outlook for improved cooperation with Guatemala on addressing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-guatemala-central-america-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-a37241f7310940c98dbdd986efec3532">spike in migration to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;after her meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday. She also delivered a direct warning to migrants considering making the trek: “Do not come. Do not come.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512371-1/vice-president-harris-guatemalan-president-giammattei-hold-news-conference">Click here</a> to watch the Vice President's press conferenceHer comments, during a press conference after she met privately with Giammattei, underscored the challenge that remains even as Harris engages in substantive talks with the Guatemalan and Mexican presidents during a three-day visit to the region this week, her first foreign trip as vice president.“I want to emphasize that the goal of our work is to help Guatemalans find hope at home,” Harris said. “At the same time, I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come, do not come.”In conjunction with Harris’ trip, the Biden administration announced that the Justice Department would create an anti-corruption task force and an additional task force to combat human trafficking and drug smuggling in the region. Harris also promised a new program focused on creating education and economic opportunities for girls there, among other new initiatives. And she told Giammattei that her goal in the region was to restore “hope” to residents so they no longer felt the need to flee their homeland for better opportunities in the U.S.But for all the talk about new ways to cooperate, reining in corruption and improving living conditions in the region have been long-running challenges that previous administrations have been unable to achieve in their efforts to stem the tide of migration to the United States.Part of the challenge remains that, despite the best efforts of U.S. officials, corruption underpins many of the region’s governments. Indeed, Giammattei himself has faced criticism over his handling of the issue.Last month, two lawyers who are outspoken critics of Giammattei’s administration were arrested on what they say were trumped-up charges aimed at silencing them.And the selection of judges for Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, its highest, was mired in influence peddling and allegations of corruption. Giammattei&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-cabinets-guatemala-city-guatemala-alejandro-giammattei-1546696816b78a3fabbedc2e2dbee0d7">picked his chief of staff</a>&nbsp;to fill one of the five vacancies. When Gloria Porras, a respected force against corruption, was elected to a second term, the congress controlled by Giammattei’s party refused to seat her.On Monday, Giammattei seemed less than eager to address those issues.Asked by The Associated Press about criticism of his record on corruption, Giammattei initially ignored the question. When pressed by another journalist to answer for the complaints against him, Giammattei seemed to bristle at the allegation that he was at fault, insisting there were “zero” allegations of corruption against him and labeling drug traffickers the biggest corruption issue in his nation.Still, Harris expressed optimism about their ability to work together, telling reporters that the two had a “very frank and very candid” conversation that included “the importance of anti-corruption and the importance of an independent judiciary.”Harris said the Justice, Treasury and State departments would work together on anti-corruption investigations and train local law enforcement to conduct their own.“We are creating this task force to address corruption. We are working on a task force that is about human smuggling. We are doing the work of requiring certain progress be made if we are going to attract U.S. investment, private investment, to this region,” Harris said.Giammattei said that the U.S. and Guatemala also agreed to collaborate on a “very simple process” through visas to allow for regular migration to the U.S., and that the two countries would work to prioritize family reunifications.The White House also announced a $7.5 million commitment through USAID to support entrepreneurs and innovators in Guatemala, as well as millions more in investments in affordable housing, agribusinesses and loans to small businesses in the country.Besides her meeting with Giammattei, Harris participated in a roundtable with Guatemalan community and civil society leaders and met with young female engineers and entrepreneurs.In addressing the root causes of migration, Harris has laid out an approach centered on creating better opportunities and living conditions in the region through humanitarian and economic aid.Harris had previously announced plans to send $310 million to provide support for refugees and address food shortages, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/central-america-immigration-business-government-and-politics-e5f715296eef17c08af58c633b2b9b3e">she recently secured commitments</a>&nbsp;from a dozen companies and organizations to invest in the Northern Triangle countries to promote economic opportunity and job training.Washington won some goodwill through its vaccine diplomacy this past week. Giammattei and Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador both received calls from Harris on Thursday telling them the U.S. would be sending 500,000 doses and 1 million doses, respectively, of COVID-19 vaccine.While in Latin America, Harris is also navigating the politics of immigration. Congressional Republicans have criticized both President Joe Biden and Harris for not visiting the U.S.-Mexico border and contend the administration is ignoring what they say is a crisis there.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-health-coronavirus-pandemic-government-and-politics-7c155484414c569451d330ebea7d0094">April was the second-busiest month</a>&nbsp;on record for unaccompanied children encountered at the border, following March’s all-time high. The Border Patrol’s total encounters in April were up 3% from March, marking the highest level since April 2000.On Monday, Harris defended her decision not to visit the border, telling reporters she was focused on addressing the root causes of migration in a way that delivers “tangible” results “as opposed to grand gestures.”But even as Harris made the case for reforms in the nation’s capital, those very migrants she hoped to help were still streaming to the nation’s borders.On Monday, Henry Armando Rodríguez, 27, from El Paraiso in south-central Honduras, rested outside the migrant shelter in Tecun Uman at the Guatemala-Mexico border on his journey toward the United States. He didn’t know about Harris’ visit but described reasons for leaving that touched on the hopelessness the vice president wants to address.“Life is very bad in Honduras right now,” he said.It was his first time attempting to migrate, he said. He decided to make the journey because it was impossible to find any agricultural work because of droughts at home.When he was able to find work, he couldn’t make enough money to pay for a decent home. He said that, because of poverty in Honduras, “we have to flee from there to be able to look for new opportunities.” And he wasn’t impressed with the politicians who he says only claim to want to help when they’re fishing for votes around election season.“They promise you the sun and the moon, and then in the end they forgot all of that,” he said. “What interests them is only themselves, how they live, and the life of the poor is of little importance to them.”___GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — With Kamala Harris visiting Guatemala and Mexico on her first foreign trip as vice president, the Biden administration is expected to announce new measures to fight smuggling and trafficking, and hopes to announce additional anti-corruption efforts as well on Monday, a senior administration official said.The official, who briefed reporters traveling with Harris on Sunday, spoke on condition of anonymity to preview announcements before they have been made public. No further details were provided.Harris has been tasked by President Joe Biden with addressing the root causes of the spike in migration to the U.S.-Mexico border, and her aides say corruption will be a central focus of her meetings with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday and Mexico’s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday.“Corruption really does sap the the wealth of any country, and in Central America is at a scale where it is a large percentage of GDP across the region,” said special envoy Ricardo Zuniga.“We see corruption as one of the most important root causes to be dealt with,” Zuniga added.The trip got off to a rocky start when Harris’ plane returned to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland about 30 minutes after takeoff because of what her spokesperson said was a problem with the landing gear. She departed on another plane and landed late Sunday in in Guatemala City, where she was met by Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo.Harris is seeking to secure commitments from Guatemala and Mexico for greater cooperation on border security and economic investment, and aides say she will also discuss vaccine sharing during her meetings. But corruption in the region — a far more intractable challenge — will complicate her efforts.It’s already had a significant impact on her work in Central America. Harris has yet to engage substantively with the leaders of Honduras and El Salvador, who are both embroiled in corruption scandals.Giammattei has faced criticism over corruption within his own government. Zuniga acknowledged that the U.S. government faces a challenge in working with him but argued Harris was in the country in part to have a direct conversation with the president about this and other issues.“The best way to deal with these cases where you have a very complex relationship in a country like Guatemala is to talk clearly and plainly as partners, as countries that have to get along” he said.Harris has laid out an approach centered on creating better opportunities and living conditions in the region through humanitarian and economic aid. She announced plans to send $310 million to provide support for refugees and address food shortages, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/central-america-immigration-business-government-and-politics-e5f715296eef17c08af58c633b2b9b3e">recently secured commitments</a>&nbsp;from a dozen companies and organizations to invest in the Northern Triangle countries to promote economic opportunity and job training.Washington won some goodwill through its vaccine diplomacy this past week. Giammattei and López Obrador both received calls from Harris on Thursday telling them the U.S. would be sending 500,000 doses and 1 million doses, respectively, of COVID-19 vaccine.While in Guatemala, Harris also plans to meet community leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. In Mexico, she will speak with female entrepreneurs and hold a roundtable with labor workers.She’s underscored the need to address corruption in public remarks and events. In a May meeting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/guatemala-aab7d6852c956a981cc73aff1e5bdcd1">a number of leading voices on Guatemala’s justice system</a>, she noted her work as a prosecutor and said that “injustice is a root cause of migration.”“Part of giving people hope is having a very specific commitment to rooting out corruption in the region,” she said.Harris has also raised the issue during virtual meetings with the leaders of both countries, and aides say she will do it again during meetings on her trip. During their past conversations, they have discussed areas of mutual interest — improving port security, fighting smuggling networks, going after corrupt actors — and the goal of this trip is to turn that talk into action, aides say.While the vice president will make announcements concerning new efforts at cooperation and new programs, she’s not expected to announce any new aid during her trip.While in Latin America, Harris will also have to navigate the politics of immigration. Congressional Republicans have criticized both Biden and Harris for deciding not to visit the border, and contend the administration is ignoring what they say is a crisis there. April was the second-busiest month on record for unaccompanied children encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border, following March’s all-time high. The Border Patrol’s total encounters in April were up 3% from March, marking the highest level since April 2000.Conservatives will be watching Harris closely for any missteps, hoping to drag her into further controversy on an issue that they see as a political winner.In her efforts to win commitments on corruption from the region’s leaders, Harris can point to a number of moves by the Biden administration last week.Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the problem during his own recent trip to Central America. The White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/03/memorandum-on-establishing-the-fight-against-corruption-as-a-core-united-states-national-security-interest/" target="_blank">issued a memo</a>&nbsp;elevating foreign corruption to a major national security issue, and directed all federal agencies to prioritize it and modernize their foreign corruption-fighting tools.Eric Olson, director of policy at the Seattle International Foundation, which works to promote good governance in Central America, said that addressing corruption will take particular diplomatic skill. Harris will need to hold the leaders of Guatemala and Mexico accountable while also deepening trust and cooperation with the two nations.“The challenge that she faces is how to, on the one hand, have a conversation, keep the door open — while not seeming to ignore the obvious elephant in the room, which is this incredible penetration of the state by corrupt actors,” he said.In Mexico, López Obrador continues to face a complicated security situation in many parts of the country. Nearly three-dozen candidates or pre-candidates were killed before this weekend’s midterm elections as drug cartels sought to protect their interests. The government’s inability to provide security in parts of the country is of interest to the U.S. in an immigration context, both for the people who are displaced by violence and the impact it has on a severely weakened economy trying reemerge from the pandemic.The number of Mexicans encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection rose steadily from December through April. Mexico remains a key U.S. ally in trying to slow immigration, not only of its own citizens, but those crossing its territory. Successive U.S. administrations have effectively tried to push their immigration enforcement goals south to Mexico and Guatemala.Nongovernmental organizations placed Guatemala’s widespread corruption at the top of their list of concerns before Harris’ visit.Last month, two lawyers who are outspoken critics of Giammattei’s administration were arrested on what they say were trumped-up charges aimed at silencing them.The selection of judges for Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, its highest, was mired in influence peddling and alleged corruption. Giammattei picked his chief of staff to fill one of the five vacancies. When Gloria Porras, a respected force against corruption, was elected to a second term, the congress controlled by Giammattei’s party refused to seat her.Harris’ visit comes with high expectations, but experts say clear progress on corruption may be elusive.“These are societies built on corruption,” said Olson. “You’re not gonna have an impact in six months.”___

🎥Vice President to Central Americans: Don't come to U.S.

WASHINGTON — On Monday, FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program enrolled over 2.3 million households into the subsidy program initiated by Congress.  Since mid-May, households in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa were approved to receive a discount on their monthly internet bills and have selected a participating EBB provider to receive internet service at home. 

“I am thrilled to see that the great need for affordable broadband support is being met with over 2 million households enrolled in three short weeks. I’ve also said we need good data to know how the program is progressing and to inform any long-term efforts to address broadband affordability. This information is now available to the public as we always intended,” said Rosenworcel. 

Additionally, at the agency’s direction, USAC debuted a new data dashboard for advocates, members of Congress, and the general public to track the progress of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.  The dashboard contains information related to nationwide and state-specific enrollment figures, will report the amount of program funds disbursed once participating providers start to file claims and will be updated regularly by USAC staff.  You can access the EBB data dashboard here. 

Over 1000 broadband providers have agreed to take part in the program. &nbsp;The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating providers.&nbsp; Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online at https://www.getemergencybroadband.org, or sign up via mail.&nbsp; To learn more or learn where to access a mail-in application, call (833) 511-0311.

Households can qualify several ways such as through their use of existing assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline or if a child received reduced-price school meals programs in the last two school years.&nbsp; The Emergency Broadband Benefit is also available to households who are eligible for a broadband provider’s existing COVID relief program, to those who have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, and to those low-income households who suffered a significant loss in income during the pandemic due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — On Monday, FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program enrolled over 2.3 million households into the subsidy program initiated by Congress. Since mid-May, households in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa were approved to receive a discount on their monthly internet bills and have selected a participating EBB provider to receive internet service at home. “I am thrilled to see that the great need for affordable broadband support is being met with over 2 million households enrolled in three short weeks. I’ve also said we need good data to know how the program is progressing and to inform any long-term efforts to address broadband affordability. This information is now available to the public as we always intended,” said Rosenworcel. Additionally, at the agency’s direction, USAC debuted a new data dashboard for advocates, members of Congress, and the general public to track the progress of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The dashboard contains information related to nationwide and state-specific enrollment figures, will report the amount of program funds disbursed once participating providers start to file claims and will be updated regularly by USAC staff. You can access the EBB data dashboard here. Over 1000 broadband providers have agreed to take part in the program. &nbsp;The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating providers.&nbsp; Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online at https://www.getemergencybroadband.org, or sign up via mail.&nbsp; To learn more or learn where to access a mail-in application, call (833) 511-0311.Households can qualify several ways such as through their use of existing assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline or if a child received reduced-price school meals programs in the last two school years.&nbsp; The Emergency Broadband Benefit is also available to households who are eligible for a broadband provider’s existing COVID relief program, to those who have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, and to those low-income households who suffered a significant loss in income during the pandemic due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020.

FCC: 2.3M households sign up for emergency broadband payments

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attempted armed robbery, have made an arrest and continue to search for a weapon believed involved.

Just before 8a.m. June 4, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an attempted armed robbery that just occurred in the 7100block of SW Montara Parkway, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

 The armed suspect attempted to steal an occupied vehicle and then fled. Deputies arrived on scene and located the suspect identified as 40-year-old James McKay IV of Topeka nearby and took him into custody.

McKay was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charge of aggravated robbery and interference with law enforcement.

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Deputies continue to actively search for a firearm that was used in this attempted armed robbery, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson on Monday.

Investigators believe the suspect may have discarded the firearm somewhere in the Montara neighborhood between the 7100 block of SW Montara Parkway and the 1700 block of SW Clearview Lane.

Police asked any citizen that may encounter this unsecured firearm to immediately notify law enforcement and not touch the firearm.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622911038803.png" alt="McKay photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>McKay photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attempted armed robbery, have made an arrest and continue to search for a weapon believed involved.Just before 8a.m. June 4, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an attempted armed robbery that just occurred in the 7100block of SW Montara Parkway, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson. The armed suspect attempted to steal an occupied vehicle and then fled. Deputies arrived on scene and located the suspect identified as 40-year-old James McKay IV of Topeka nearby and took him into custody.McKay was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charge of aggravated robbery and interference with law enforcement.The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Deputies continue to actively search for a firearm that was used in this attempted armed robbery, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson on Monday.Investigators believe the suspect may have discarded the firearm somewhere in the Montara neighborhood between the 7100 block of SW Montara Parkway and the 1700 block of SW Clearview Lane.Police asked any citizen that may encounter this unsecured firearm to immediately notify law enforcement and not touch the firearm.&nbsp;

Search continues for gun used in attempted Kan. carjacking

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged attempted-murder and have made an arrest.

Just before 11 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a call of a vehicle that struck a building in the 1700 block of East 2nd&nbsp;Street North in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located a black 2014 Dodge Challenger that had struck a building.&nbsp; Officers also contacted the driver identified as 42-year-old Tamica Johnson and her 45-year-old husband.

The investigation revealed Johnson was driving the Challenger and attempted to hit her husband multiple times, threatened him and then struck the business.&nbsp; No one was injured.

Johnson is being held on a requested charge of attempted first-degree murder, criminal damage to property, driving under the influence, and transporting an open container.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623017807458.png" alt="Johnson photo Sedegwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo Sedegwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged attempted-murder and have made an arrest.Just before 11 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a call of a vehicle that struck a building in the 1700 block of East 2nd&nbsp;Street North in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located a black 2014 Dodge Challenger that had struck a building.&nbsp; Officers also contacted the driver identified as 42-year-old Tamica Johnson and her 45-year-old husband.The investigation revealed Johnson was driving the Challenger and attempted to hit her husband multiple times, threatened him and then struck the business.&nbsp; No one was injured.Johnson is being held on a requested charge of attempted first-degree murder, criminal damage to property, driving under the influence, and transporting an open container.

Police: Kan. woman tried to kill husband with car

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid pleaded not guilty Monday to critically injuring a young girl in a crash, and the judge allowed him to resume driving with restrictions.

The judge modified his bond during his arraignment to allow him to have a special interlock device installed that requires him to pass a breathalyzer test before his vehicle will start.

Reid, the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid, was charged with driving while intoxicated causing serious physical injury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">in April, two months&nbsp;</a>after he hit two cars on an Interstate 435 entrance ramp near Arrowhead Stadium. The collision happened just days before the Chiefs played in the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida.

One of the vehicles he hit had stalled because of a dead battery and the second was owned by a cousin who had arrived to help, according to charging documents. A child in one of the cars, 5-year-old Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury.

A Kansas City police officer reported he could smell alcohol and Reid’s eyes were bloodshot and red, according to the documents.

He was driving about 84 mph shortly before the collision and had a blood alcohol level of 0.113 two hours after the crash, police said. The legal limit is 0.08.

Reid, who underwent emergency surgery for a groin injury after the crash, was placed on administrative leave. The Chiefs then allowed his contract to expire, ending his employment with the team.

The next hearing will be a pretrial conference on July 22. No trial date has been set.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618277826304.png" alt="Reid photo Kansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Reid photo Kansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid pleaded not guilty Monday to critically injuring a young girl in a crash, and the judge allowed him to resume driving with restrictions.The judge modified his bond during his arraignment to allow him to have a special interlock device installed that requires him to pass a breathalyzer test before his vehicle will start.Reid, the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid, was charged with driving while intoxicated causing serious physical injury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">in April, two months&nbsp;</a>after he hit two cars on an Interstate 435 entrance ramp near Arrowhead Stadium. The collision happened just days before the Chiefs played in the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida.One of the vehicles he hit had stalled because of a dead battery and the second was owned by a cousin who had arrived to help, according to charging documents. A child in one of the cars, 5-year-old Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612784011749.png" alt="Ariel Young photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Ariel Young photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>A Kansas City police officer reported he could smell alcohol and Reid’s eyes were bloodshot and red, according to the documents.He was driving about 84 mph shortly before the collision and had a blood alcohol level of 0.113 two hours after the crash, police said. The legal limit is 0.08.Reid, who underwent emergency surgery for a groin injury after the crash, was placed on administrative leave. The Chiefs then allowed his contract to expire, ending his employment with the team.The next hearing will be a pretrial conference on July 22. No trial date has been set.

Former Chiefs coach enters plea in crash that injured girl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has recovered the majority of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment to hackers after a cyberattack that caused the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline to halt its operations last month, officials said Monday.

The operation to recover the cryptocurrency from the Russia-based hacker group is believed to be the first of its kind, and reflects what U.S. officials say is an increasingly aggressive approach to deal with a ransomware threat that in the last month has targeted critical industries around the world.

“By going after an entire ecosystem that fuels ransomware and digital currency, we will continue to use all of our tools and all of our resources to increase the costs and the consequences of ransomware attacks and other cyber-enabled attacks,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said at a news conference announcing the operation.

Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline, which supplies roughly half the fuel consumed on the East Coast, temporarily shut down its operations on May 7 after a gang of criminal hackers known as DarkSide broke into its computer system.

Colonial officials have said they took their pipeline system offline before the attack could spread to its operating system, and decided to pay a roughly $4.4 million ransom in an effort to bring itself back online as soon as it could.

The FBI generally discourages the payment of ransom, fearing it could encourage additional hacks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has recovered the majority of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment to hackers after a cyberattack that caused the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline to halt its operations last month, officials said Monday.The operation to recover the cryptocurrency from the Russia-based hacker group is believed to be the first of its kind, and reflects what U.S. officials say is an increasingly aggressive approach to deal with a ransomware threat that in the last month has targeted critical industries around the world.“By going after an entire ecosystem that fuels ransomware and digital currency, we will continue to use all of our tools and all of our resources to increase the costs and the consequences of ransomware attacks and other cyber-enabled attacks,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said at a news conference announcing the operation.Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline, which supplies roughly half the fuel consumed on the East Coast, temporarily shut down its operations on May 7 after a gang of criminal hackers known as DarkSide broke into its computer system.Colonial officials have said they took their pipeline system offline before the attack could spread to its operating system, and decided to pay a roughly $4.4 million ransom in an effort to bring itself back online as soon as it could.The FBI generally discourages the payment of ransom, fearing it could encourage additional hacks.

US recovers millions in ransom paid to pipeline hackers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a hit-and-run incident that critically injured a 26-year-old woman have made an arrest.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a hit-and-run injury accident at Douglas and Greenwood in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located the victim with critical injuries.&nbsp; EMS transported her to an area hospital for medical treatment.

Investigators learned the woman was crossing the street, leaving a business in the 100 block of South Greenwood and a newer white northbound sedan struck her. It is believed the sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to Davidson.&nbsp; &nbsp;

On Sunday, police found the unoccupied vehicle at a hotel at 36th&nbsp;and Rock Road in Wichita.

Officers also contacted contacted 18-year-old Bricetin Wedel of Wichita about the incident.&nbsp; Police then arrested him on a requested charge of aggravated battery and two counts of hit and run, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623008016375.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Saturday night investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Saturday night investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a hit-and-run incident that critically injured a 26-year-old woman have made an arrest.Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a hit-and-run injury accident at Douglas and Greenwood in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located the victim with critical injuries.&nbsp; EMS transported her to an area hospital for medical treatment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623083406162.png" alt="Wedel photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wedel photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators learned the woman was crossing the street, leaving a business in the 100 block of South Greenwood and a newer white northbound sedan struck her. It is believed the sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to Davidson.&nbsp; &nbsp;On Sunday, police found the unoccupied vehicle at a hotel at 36th&nbsp;and Rock Road in Wichita.Officers also contacted contacted 18-year-old Bricetin Wedel of Wichita about the incident.&nbsp; Police then arrested him on a requested charge of aggravated battery and two counts of hit and run, according to Davidson.--------------

Kan. teen jailed for hit and run crash that injured woman

WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that thousands of people living in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons are ineligible to apply to become permanent residents.

Justice Elena Kagan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20798529-sanchez-v-mayorkas" target="_blank">wrote for the court</a>&nbsp;that federal immigration law prohibits people who entered the country illegally and now have Temporary Protected Status from seeking “green cards” to remain in the country permanently.

The designation applies to people who come from countries ravaged by war or disaster. It protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally. There are 400,000 people from 12 countries with TPS status.

The outcome in a case involving a couple from El Salvador who have been in the U.S. since the 1990s turned on whether people who entered the country illegally and were given humanitarian protections were ever “admitted” into the United States under immigration law.

Kagan wrote that they were not. “The TPS program gives foreign nationals nonimmigrant status, but it does not admit them. So the conferral of TPS does not make an unlawful entrant...eligible” for a green card, she wrote.

The House of Representatives already has passed legislation that would make it possible for TPS recipients to become permanent residents, Kagan noted. The bill faces uncertain prospects in the Senate.

President Joe Biden has said he supports the change in the law. But his administration, like the Trump administration, argued that current immigration law doesn’t permit people who entered the country illegally to apply for permanent residency.

On the other side were immigrant groups that argued many people who came to the U.S. for humanitarian reasons have lived in the country for many years, given birth to American citizens and put down roots in the U.S.

Federal courts around the country had come to conflicting decisions about whether the grant of TPS status was, by itself, enough to enable an immigrant to try to obtain permanent residency.

Former President Donald Trump tried to cancel the program for many immigrants, stoking fear they could be sent back to their homelands where they haven’t lived in many years.

“All of these families that are established in the United States and have lived in our communities for decades faced a very real threat,” said Lisa Koop, a lawyer with the National Immigrant Justice Center who also teaches at Notre Dame’s law school.

In 2001, the U.S. gave Salvadoran migrants legal protection to remain in the U.S. after a series of earthquakes in their home country.

People from 11 other countries are similarly protected. They are: Haiti, Honduras, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Monday’s decision does not affect immigrants with TPS who initially entered the U.S. legally and then, say, overstayed their visa, Kagan noted. Because those people were legally admitted to the country and later were given humanitarian protections, they can seek to become permanent residents.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that thousands of people living in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons are ineligible to apply to become permanent residents.Justice Elena Kagan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20798529-sanchez-v-mayorkas" target="_blank">wrote for the court</a>&nbsp;that federal immigration law prohibits people who entered the country illegally and now have Temporary Protected Status from seeking “green cards” to remain in the country permanently.The designation applies to people who come from countries ravaged by war or disaster. It protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally. There are 400,000 people from 12 countries with TPS status.The outcome in a case involving a couple from El Salvador who have been in the U.S. since the 1990s turned on whether people who entered the country illegally and were given humanitarian protections were ever “admitted” into the United States under immigration law.Kagan wrote that they were not. “The TPS program gives foreign nationals nonimmigrant status, but it does not admit them. So the conferral of TPS does not make an unlawful entrant...eligible” for a green card, she wrote.The House of Representatives already has passed legislation that would make it possible for TPS recipients to become permanent residents, Kagan noted. The bill faces uncertain prospects in the Senate.President Joe Biden has said he supports the change in the law. But his administration, like the Trump administration, argued that current immigration law doesn’t permit people who entered the country illegally to apply for permanent residency.On the other side were immigrant groups that argued many people who came to the U.S. for humanitarian reasons have lived in the country for many years, given birth to American citizens and put down roots in the U.S.Federal courts around the country had come to conflicting decisions about whether the grant of TPS status was, by itself, enough to enable an immigrant to try to obtain permanent residency.Former President Donald Trump tried to cancel the program for many immigrants, stoking fear they could be sent back to their homelands where they haven’t lived in many years.“All of these families that are established in the United States and have lived in our communities for decades faced a very real threat,” said Lisa Koop, a lawyer with the National Immigrant Justice Center who also teaches at Notre Dame’s law school.In 2001, the U.S. gave Salvadoran migrants legal protection to remain in the U.S. after a series of earthquakes in their home country.People from 11 other countries are similarly protected. They are: Haiti, Honduras, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.Monday’s decision does not affect immigrants with TPS who initially entered the U.S. legally and then, say, overstayed their visa, Kagan noted. Because those people were legally admitted to the country and later were given humanitarian protections, they can seek to become permanent residents.

Unanimous: Court rules against immigrants with temporary status

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation

State officials are seeking feedback from Kansans to help guide future housing development efforts. 

The initiative, part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012tfG-IhrQtEoWRsC9NHy90RR84DvQH0MGEmr6shLFaJHOo_iP4xtxlRUdShS3H8-xdzdKL5nCT4MBVZ1y_3ARnwdX4nGevmUKChumf0tpHeop4EAiZWcbs1r0sQsdihx2AqSa8xQmgJOQjox64_MRF9G6Nj5J2F4mPnm5l2FYTEhX2YPpLwz7ZlsSre7Mjxw_Cswu3cAp6iZJyJTfzQbKjjhOHlMjJ2piSmwfIOLejRPw_2yPSNOjVXYuQhHgzO7&amp;c=3TW48txw9iEF7WcVj7ippqe4CDwtVxN3SA7J0cKOSHFVqH1g8kf2pA==&amp;ch=yEOTYUjaOCT45eFZLl8cRkkfwgrpnriGaxxdVYqWq6vUrgnxr179gw==" target="_blank">state’s first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years</a>, aims to review current housing opportunities, identify strategic goals, and develop recommendations to guide future housing development.

﻿All respondents who provide their email address will be entered in a drawing for a $100 VISA gift card. Take the survey <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasHousing">HERE</a>. Ready to learn more?&nbsp;Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012tfG-IhrQtEoWRsC9NHy90RR84DvQH0MGEmr6shLFaJHOo_iP4xtxs9CLmfgjsLezY16w6JIe49t5N5T1mrQ_A0MTR89Ubk8GHBe8qhr3pJIwCta4MRF-RXK694uQpcUNyapkKGqIkQmYOKTaaRF3lkcUEEObXpJxj1lv3oWHi9W2WbZTE7WqR6dmFq4c1GJasHj6pHaEwMk3jggXe0ruQ==&amp;c=3TW48txw9iEF7WcVj7ippqe4CDwtVxN3SA7J0cKOSHFVqH1g8kf2pA==&amp;ch=yEOTYUjaOCT45eFZLl8cRkkfwgrpnriGaxxdVYqWq6vUrgnxr179gw==" target="_blank">Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment webpage</a>. Questions?&nbsp;Contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:housingdevelopment@kshousingcorp.org" target="_blank">housingdevelopment@kshousingcorp.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://files.constantcontact.com/cf2922fe001/a0b5cc8b-8172-40d5-a6eb-050b1cc667e6.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Housing Resources CorporationState officials are seeking feedback from Kansans to help guide future housing development efforts. The initiative, part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012tfG-IhrQtEoWRsC9NHy90RR84DvQH0MGEmr6shLFaJHOo_iP4xtxlRUdShS3H8-xdzdKL5nCT4MBVZ1y_3ARnwdX4nGevmUKChumf0tpHeop4EAiZWcbs1r0sQsdihx2AqSa8xQmgJOQjox64_MRF9G6Nj5J2F4mPnm5l2FYTEhX2YPpLwz7ZlsSre7Mjxw_Cswu3cAp6iZJyJTfzQbKjjhOHlMjJ2piSmwfIOLejRPw_2yPSNOjVXYuQhHgzO7&amp;c=3TW48txw9iEF7WcVj7ippqe4CDwtVxN3SA7J0cKOSHFVqH1g8kf2pA==&amp;ch=yEOTYUjaOCT45eFZLl8cRkkfwgrpnriGaxxdVYqWq6vUrgnxr179gw==" target="_blank">state’s first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years</a>, aims to review current housing opportunities, identify strategic goals, and develop recommendations to guide future housing development.﻿All respondents who provide their email address will be entered in a drawing for a $100 VISA gift card. Take the survey <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasHousing">HERE</a>. Ready to learn more?&nbsp;Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012tfG-IhrQtEoWRsC9NHy90RR84DvQH0MGEmr6shLFaJHOo_iP4xtxs9CLmfgjsLezY16w6JIe49t5N5T1mrQ_A0MTR89Ubk8GHBe8qhr3pJIwCta4MRF-RXK694uQpcUNyapkKGqIkQmYOKTaaRF3lkcUEEObXpJxj1lv3oWHi9W2WbZTE7WqR6dmFq4c1GJasHj6pHaEwMk3jggXe0ruQ==&amp;c=3TW48txw9iEF7WcVj7ippqe4CDwtVxN3SA7J0cKOSHFVqH1g8kf2pA==&amp;ch=yEOTYUjaOCT45eFZLl8cRkkfwgrpnriGaxxdVYqWq6vUrgnxr179gw==" target="_blank">Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment webpage</a>. Questions?&nbsp;Contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:housingdevelopment@kshousingcorp.org" target="_blank">housingdevelopment@kshousingcorp.org</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615921648040.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

State seeks input on Kan. housing needs via survey

By DAN GLICKMAN Former congressman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Now that all adults are 
eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, we should inject our political 
leaders with a healthy dose of authentic, self-deprecating humor, so 
they can make themselves the butt of their jokes instead of using them 
to add more poison to the American body politic. Seriously, when was the
 last time you heard a politician in Congress making fun of him or 
herself?

According to Thomas Ford, a psychologist at Western Carolina University and editor-in-chief of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.humorstudies.org/JournalCenter.htm">HUMOR: The International Journal of Humor Research</a>, “Non-aggressive forms of humor have a real bonding effect. There’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_laughter_brings_us_together">special connection</a>&nbsp;we make with one another when we laugh with one another.”

Throughout American history, we’ve seen our leaders use humor to appease “warring” parties and bring people together — to get things done
 and make America a better, more humane country.&nbsp;Many of our impactful 
leaders of the past, from Lincoln to FDR to Kennedy and Reagan, were 
able to use the power of humor, especially at their own expense, to 
persuade, persevere and ultimately make valuable progress for everyone.

If you can laugh at 
yourself and encourage others to do the same, people will like you, 
which means you can more easily inspire others to follow. A friendly 
sense of humor can make people feel closer to each other, a first step 
toward compromise — and getting things done.

Positive humor relieves 
stress while negative humor increases it. Jokes at someone’s expense 
tend to keep those people entrenched in their polarizing views, 
especially when they think they are being attacked for their values or 
policy positions. Tacit approval of negative humor on both sides of the 
political spectrum makes people less willing to embrace compromise.

<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/jill_suttie">Jill Suttie</a>, a doctor of psychology and staff writer at <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/">Greater Good</a>,
 says that “humor could be used to heal our political divide rather than
 encourage it.” This is true for conservatives and liberals, as both 
have a choice to make: Do they stay in their silos and use negative 
humor to take potshots at each other, or do they opt to look in the 
mirror, make fun of themselves for a change, and extend an olive branch 
to their “friends across the aisle” and get things done. Because isn’t that the point of being in Congress — to get things done?

Our current political leadership, at all levels of government, is missing an opportunity to bring people together and
 become more relatable to voters. Where is the spirit of Mark Twain and 
Will Rogers when we need them?&nbsp;We are living in an age of mean-spirited 
discourse (if you can call it that) and relentless vitriol, which may 
score points for TV pundits but does nothing to create progress. In 
fact, it’s getting us nowhere fast.

As a nine-term congressman
 from Kansas, secretary of agriculture under President Bill Clinton, and
 chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, I faced thorny 
challenges on a regular basis. Humor, especially at my own expense, was 
often my best way to communicate and create mutual understanding and 
became my chosen method to get things done. If others could follow my example, it would benefit the country.

Of course, I am not so 
naïve to think that humor is a cure-all by itself, and I agree that 
hard-charging rhetoric is sometimes justified during political battles. 
But humor can keep these conflicts from becoming endless wars, which 
just might save our democracy in the process.

I’m not suggesting that 
politicians become stand-up comedians. God help us. But folks could 
surely lighten up. Humor can puncture pomposity, defuse tense 
situations, attract allies, and bring focus to serious issues. It is 
essential to disarming colleagues and to get things done.

Incidentally, “<a href="https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-3213-8.html">Laughing at Myself</a>” is the title of my new memoir, out this month from the University Press of Kansas.

Life is about building 
bridges between rivals, not making permanent enemies, and if we are ever
 going to achieve fairness and equality, humor can help us get there.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of Kansas’s favorite sons, expressed this best.

“A sense of humor is part of leadership,” he said, “of getting along with people; of getting things done.”

Dan Glickman celebrates his book release at two virtual events this month: 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, at Wichita’s <a href="https://www.watermarkbooks.com/event/dan-glickman">Watermark Books &amp; Café</a>, and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16 at Lawrence’s <a href="https://www.ravenbookstore.com/event/dan-glickman-conversation-burdett-loomis">Raven Book Store</a>.

Dan Glickman is a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center; adjunct professor of agriculture and nutrition, Tufts University; board member of the World Food Program USA; and recently retired as vice president and executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program. He served for eighteen years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 4th Congressional District of Kansas, as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 to 2001, and as chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., from 2004 to 2010.

Republished courtesy the Kansas Reflector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623093655021.jpeg" alt="Dan Glickman" />
 <figcaption>Dan Glickman</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN GLICKMAN Former congressman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Now that all adults are 
eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, we should inject our political 
leaders with a healthy dose of authentic, self-deprecating humor, so 
they can make themselves the butt of their jokes instead of using them 
to add more poison to the American body politic. Seriously, when was the
 last time you heard a politician in Congress making fun of him or 
herself?According to Thomas Ford, a psychologist at Western Carolina University and editor-in-chief of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.humorstudies.org/JournalCenter.htm">HUMOR: The International Journal of Humor Research</a>, “Non-aggressive forms of humor have a real bonding effect. There’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_laughter_brings_us_together">special connection</a>&nbsp;we make with one another when we laugh with one another.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Throughout American history, we’ve seen our leaders use humor to appease “warring” parties and bring people together — to get things done
 and make America a better, more humane country.&nbsp;Many of our impactful 
leaders of the past, from Lincoln to FDR to Kennedy and Reagan, were 
able to use the power of humor, especially at their own expense, to 
persuade, persevere and ultimately make valuable progress for everyone.If you can laugh at 
yourself and encourage others to do the same, people will like you, 
which means you can more easily inspire others to follow. A friendly 
sense of humor can make people feel closer to each other, a first step 
toward compromise — and getting things done.Positive humor relieves 
stress while negative humor increases it. Jokes at someone’s expense 
tend to keep those people entrenched in their polarizing views, 
especially when they think they are being attacked for their values or 
policy positions. Tacit approval of negative humor on both sides of the 
political spectrum makes people less willing to embrace compromise.<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/jill_suttie">Jill Suttie</a>, a doctor of psychology and staff writer at <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/">Greater Good</a>,
 says that “humor could be used to heal our political divide rather than
 encourage it.” This is true for conservatives and liberals, as both 
have a choice to make: Do they stay in their silos and use negative 
humor to take potshots at each other, or do they opt to look in the 
mirror, make fun of themselves for a change, and extend an olive branch 
to their “friends across the aisle” and get things done. Because isn’t that the point of being in Congress — to get things done?Our current political leadership, at all levels of government, is missing an opportunity to bring people together and
 become more relatable to voters. Where is the spirit of Mark Twain and 
Will Rogers when we need them?&nbsp;We are living in an age of mean-spirited 
discourse (if you can call it that) and relentless vitriol, which may 
score points for TV pundits but does nothing to create progress. In 
fact, it’s getting us nowhere fast.As a nine-term congressman
 from Kansas, secretary of agriculture under President Bill Clinton, and
 chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, I faced thorny 
challenges on a regular basis. Humor, especially at my own expense, was 
often my best way to communicate and create mutual understanding and 
became my chosen method to get things done. If others could follow my example, it would benefit the country.Of course, I am not so 
naïve to think that humor is a cure-all by itself, and I agree that 
hard-charging rhetoric is sometimes justified during political battles. 
But humor can keep these conflicts from becoming endless wars, which 
just might save our democracy in the process.I’m not suggesting that 
politicians become stand-up comedians. God help us. But folks could 
surely lighten up. Humor can puncture pomposity, defuse tense 
situations, attract allies, and bring focus to serious issues. It is 
essential to disarming colleagues and to get things done.Incidentally, “<a href="https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-3213-8.html">Laughing at Myself</a>” is the title of my new memoir, out this month from the University Press of Kansas.Life is about building 
bridges between rivals, not making permanent enemies, and if we are ever
 going to achieve fairness and equality, humor can help us get there.President Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of Kansas’s favorite sons, expressed this best.“A sense of humor is part of leadership,” he said, “of getting along with people; of getting things done.”Dan Glickman celebrates his book release at two virtual events this month: 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, at Wichita’s <a href="https://www.watermarkbooks.com/event/dan-glickman">Watermark Books &amp; Café</a>, and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16 at Lawrence’s <a href="https://www.ravenbookstore.com/event/dan-glickman-conversation-burdett-loomis">Raven Book Store</a>.Dan Glickman is a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center; adjunct professor of agriculture and nutrition, Tufts University; board member of the World Food Program USA; and recently retired as vice president and executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program. He served for eighteen years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 4th Congressional District of Kansas, as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 to 2001, and as chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., from 2004 to 2010.Republished courtesy the Kansas Reflector.

GLICKMAN: What the world needs now is humor

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Fisher-Price says it is recalling a model of its baby soothers after the deaths of four infants who were placed on their backs unrestrained in the devices and later found on their stomachs. 

In a joint statement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fisher-Price said Friday it is recalling its 4-in-1 Rock ’n Glide Soothers, which are designed to mimic the motion of a baby being rocked in someone’s arms. 

The fatalities between April 2019 and February 2020 were a 4-month old from Missouri, a 2-month old from Nevada, a 2-month old from Michigan and an 11-week old from Colorado, according to the statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623089196601.png" alt="Fisher Price&nbsp; photo courtesy Consumer Products Safety Commission" />
 <figcaption>Fisher Price&nbsp; photo courtesy Consumer Products Safety Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Fisher-Price says it is recalling a model of its baby soothers after the deaths of four infants who were placed on their backs unrestrained in the devices and later found on their stomachs. In a joint statement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fisher-Price said Friday it is recalling its 4-in-1 Rock ’n Glide Soothers, which are designed to mimic the motion of a baby being rocked in someone’s arms. The fatalities between April 2019 and February 2020 were a 4-month old from Missouri, a 2-month old from Nevada, a 2-month old from Michigan and an 11-week old from Colorado, according to the statement.

Fisher-Price recalls baby soothers after 4 infant deaths

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary of a detached garage in Wichita.&nbsp; Four police officers received minor injuries during the incident.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home on North Crestview Lake, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

The homeowner reported a suspect was inside a detached garage.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers discovered the garage entry door had been barricaded from the inside.

Additional officers were requested to help with the investigation, and they were able to push their way into the garage.&nbsp; Inside the garage, officers heard the suspect and learned the suspect had retreated and barricaded himself into another smaller room.&nbsp;

Officers attempted to remove him from the room, and they discovered the suspect started a fire. Officers requested the Wichita Fire Department for assistance and utilized fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire.

Firefighters were able to remove the 42-year-old suspect from the barricaded room.&nbsp; EMS transported him to an area hospital in critical condition and he remains hospitalized, according to Davidson.

The four police officers received minor injuries from smoke inhalation and were transported to an area hospital for medical treatment and released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623088630797.png" alt="The suspect hiding in the garage started the fire. -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The suspect hiding in the garage started the fire. -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary of a detached garage in Wichita.&nbsp; Four police officers received minor injuries during the incident.Just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home on North Crestview Lake, according to Officer Charley Davidson.The homeowner reported a suspect was inside a detached garage.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers discovered the garage entry door had been barricaded from the inside.Additional officers were requested to help with the investigation, and they were able to push their way into the garage.&nbsp; Inside the garage, officers heard the suspect and learned the suspect had retreated and barricaded himself into another smaller room.&nbsp;Officers attempted to remove him from the room, and they discovered the suspect started a fire. Officers requested the Wichita Fire Department for assistance and utilized fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire.Firefighters were able to remove the 42-year-old suspect from the barricaded room.&nbsp; EMS transported him to an area hospital in critical condition and he remains hospitalized, according to Davidson.The four police officers received minor injuries from smoke inhalation and were transported to an area hospital for medical treatment and released.

Kan. officers, suspect injured in fire during burglary investigation

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 244 to a total of 315,099, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 16 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,100.

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 244 to a total of 315,099, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 16 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,100.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623085602584.png" alt="Monday June 7, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday June 7, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: COVID-19 deaths in Kansas at 5,100 

CAMDEN COUNTY —An 8-year-old Missouri boy died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday on Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a propeller from a 2017 Playcraft Tritoon driven by 34-year-old Timmy Isaac of Waynesville struck his 8-year-old son as the boy was exiting the rear of the boat.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Camdenton. 

The accident occurred at the six mile mark of Glaize arm.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details early Monday.

CAMDEN COUNTY —An 8-year-old Missouri boy died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday on Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a propeller from a 2017 Playcraft Tritoon driven by 34-year-old Timmy Isaac of Waynesville struck his 8-year-old son as the boy was exiting the rear of the boat.He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Camdenton. The accident occurred at the six mile mark of Glaize arm.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details early Monday.