WASHINGTON (AP) — A national <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">terrorism alert issued</a> Friday warns that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks.

<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">Click here to read</a> the advisory

The alert does not cite any specific threats. But it warns of potential danger from an increasingly complex and volatile mix that includes domestic terrorists inspired by various grievances, racial or ethnic hatred and influences from abroad.

Those threats were exacerbated by COVID-19, which spawned conspiracy theories and deepened anger at the government in some quarters over the shutdown of the economy. As virus conditions improve, the alert says new dangers loom.

“Violent extremists may seek to exploit the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions across the United States to conduct attacks against a broader range of targets after previous public capacity limits reduced opportunities for lethal attacks,” the bulletin said.

Without naming any specific potential targets, it notes that, historically, extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred have targeted religious institutions and crowded businesses or gatherings.

The National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security is an extension of one issued earlier this year in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That alert was due to expire Saturday.

It reflects a sense of anxiety over domestic extremists, particularly those motivated by racial and ethnic hatred, that has been building for months, even under the previous administration, with repeated warnings from DHS and the Justice Department.

Concern over the domestic extremists has to a certain degree eclipsed the focus on foreign terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State, though the alert warns that both groups still try to inspire homegrown attacks.

Added to the mix are adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran, which the alert says are amplifying conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19 and calls for violence against people of Asian descent.

“Today’s terrorism-related threat landscape is more complex, more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in releasing the new bulletin.

Both Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland testified to a Senate committee this week that “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” pose the greatest domestic threat to the country at the moment.

DHS and the FBI are providing guidance and other assistance to state and local law enforcement organizations to deal with the threat.

DHS has also established a new domestic terrorism branch within its Office of Intelligence and Analysis and has directed state and local governments to use 7.5% of annual grant money issued by the agency to deal with the threat.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A national <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">terrorism alert issued</a> Friday warns that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks.<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">Click here to read</a> the advisoryThe alert does not cite any specific threats. But it warns of potential danger from an increasingly complex and volatile mix that includes domestic terrorists inspired by various grievances, racial or ethnic hatred and influences from abroad.Those threats were exacerbated by COVID-19, which spawned conspiracy theories and deepened anger at the government in some quarters over the shutdown of the economy. As virus conditions improve, the alert says new dangers loom.“Violent extremists may seek to exploit the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions across the United States to conduct attacks against a broader range of targets after previous public capacity limits reduced opportunities for lethal attacks,” the bulletin said.Without naming any specific potential targets, it notes that, historically, extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred have targeted religious institutions and crowded businesses or gatherings.The National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security is an extension of one issued earlier this year in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That alert was due to expire Saturday.It reflects a sense of anxiety over domestic extremists, particularly those motivated by racial and ethnic hatred, that has been building for months, even under the previous administration, with repeated warnings from DHS and the Justice Department.Concern over the domestic extremists has to a certain degree eclipsed the focus on foreign terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State, though the alert warns that both groups still try to inspire homegrown attacks.Added to the mix are adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran, which the alert says are amplifying conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19 and calls for violence against people of Asian descent.“Today’s terrorism-related threat landscape is more complex, more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in releasing the new bulletin.Both Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland testified to a Senate committee this week that “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” pose the greatest domestic threat to the country at the moment.DHS and the FBI are providing guidance and other assistance to state and local law enforcement organizations to deal with the threat.DHS has also established a new domestic terrorism branch within its Office of Intelligence and Analysis and has directed state and local governments to use 7.5% of annual grant money issued by the agency to deal with the threat.

National terrorism alert: US warns as virus restrictions ease

O’FALLON, (AP) — After more than a year of severe restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Missouri’s two urban areas, Kansas City, St. Louis and St. Louis County on Friday took major steps to allow businesses, schools and other places to return to some semblance of normal.

Kansas City completely rescinded its emergency order, effective at noon on Friday. Mayor Quinton Lucas said at a news conference that the decision was made “somewhat reluctantly” after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-masks-cdc-guidelines-9d10c8b5f80a4ac720fa1df2a4fb93e5">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;on Thursday allowed fully vaccinated Americans to stop wearing masks indoors in most settings.

Lucas said the CDC decision could create confusion in trying to enforce restrictions, especially since there is no passport system in place to determine which business patrons are vaccinated and which are not. As a result, the city decided to end all restrictions.

Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. announced the county also was ending its indoor mask mandate in accordance with CDC guidance. And St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page appeared together at a joint news conference to announce that they, too, were rescinding indoor mask requirements following the CDC announcement.

“This is an historic moment in the pandemic that has brought relief and hope to everyone in our community,” Page said.

Lucas, Jones and Page all noted that businesses, schools and other places can still impose their own rules.

“We’re just getting out of the enforcement business,” Lucas said.

Leaders from all three jurisdictions urged residents to get vaccinated.

“We have arrived at a point in the pandemic where we have to lean more heavily on personal accountability to prevent the spread of the virus,” St. Louis Health Director Dr. Fredrick Echols said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/33c6725e908ba185bbafb9f1c37f74e2">While Missouri Gov. Mike Parson</a>&nbsp;allowed the state to largely reopen in May 2020, just a couple of months into the pandemic, the two urban areas and many other counties established their own, stricter guidelines.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-brown-st-louis-business-mo-state-wire-b5dbecb42e8a60ae0f33c59048f839a5">Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;sued St. Louis County on Tuesday, saying its continued regulations infringed on the freedom of residents. It wasn’t immediately clear if Schmitt would rescind the lawsuit. His spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an email.

Parson and Schmitt are Republicans. Lucas, White, Jones and Page are all Democrats.

The new CDC guidance announced Thursday still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings such as buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

Kansas City reduced restrictions last month, but still required masks in most indoor situations with crowds. Earlier this month, St. Louis city and county both ended limits on the number of people allowed in restaurants and ended an outdoor masking requirement.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday showed that at least 507,058 Missourians have contracted the virus since the onset of the pandemic, and 8,855 have died. The website indicated that 49.7% of Missourians have received at least one shot, and 39.1% are fully vaccinated.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Following the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated mask guidance, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas—in consultation with Kansas City Health Director Rex Archer, M.D.—Thursday announced that effective Friday at noon, Kansas City will rescind its Fourteenth Emergency COVID-19 Order, according to a media release from the city.

“Kansas City’s most recent order allowed all to go maskless outdoors and permitted unvaccinated persons to go maskless indoors with others who are vaccinated,” said Mayor Lucas. “As a matter of compliance, that allowed the Kansas City Health Department to check with retailers, employers, and more to ensure they were encouraging their staff to initiate the COVID-19 vaccine process. While welcome, today’s CDC guidance creates confusion with Kansas City’s order. Throughout the pandemic we have endeavored to ensure clarity and effective public health guidance for Kansas Citians and, importantly, our businesses. Staff at many establishments have been subject to harassment based on upholding our orders and we will not force them to do so further where our regulators cannot reasonably tell between those vaccinated or not at an establishment, and where our guidance may conflict with the CDC. We have followed CDC guidance throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so today.”

“I cannot in good faith impose an order, replete with penalties for non-compliance, that is impossible for our businesses to follow,” continued Mayor Lucas. “Accordingly, effective tomorrow at noon, Kansas City will rescind its Fourteenth Emergency Order. We will shift, as is necessary, to ensuring those needing access to the vaccine take it, and that we look out for the continued health and safety of our neighbors. We thank the many individuals and businesses in Kansas City who have worked hard to keep us all safe over the past fourteen months. We saved lives looking out for each other and all in Kansas City should be proud of the steps we have taken to protect our community’s health.”

O’FALLON, (AP) — After more than a year of severe restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Missouri’s two urban areas, Kansas City, St. Louis and St. Louis County on Friday took major steps to allow businesses, schools and other places to return to some semblance of normal.Kansas City completely rescinded its emergency order, effective at noon on Friday. Mayor Quinton Lucas said at a news conference that the decision was made “somewhat reluctantly” after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-masks-cdc-guidelines-9d10c8b5f80a4ac720fa1df2a4fb93e5">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;on Thursday allowed fully vaccinated Americans to stop wearing masks indoors in most settings.Lucas said the CDC decision could create confusion in trying to enforce restrictions, especially since there is no passport system in place to determine which business patrons are vaccinated and which are not. As a result, the city decided to end all restrictions.Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. announced the county also was ending its indoor mask mandate in accordance with CDC guidance. And St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page appeared together at a joint news conference to announce that they, too, were rescinding indoor mask requirements following the CDC announcement.“This is an historic moment in the pandemic that has brought relief and hope to everyone in our community,” Page said.Lucas, Jones and Page all noted that businesses, schools and other places can still impose their own rules.“We’re just getting out of the enforcement business,” Lucas said.Leaders from all three jurisdictions urged residents to get vaccinated.“We have arrived at a point in the pandemic where we have to lean more heavily on personal accountability to prevent the spread of the virus,” St. Louis Health Director Dr. Fredrick Echols said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/33c6725e908ba185bbafb9f1c37f74e2">While Missouri Gov. Mike Parson</a>&nbsp;allowed the state to largely reopen in May 2020, just a couple of months into the pandemic, the two urban areas and many other counties established their own, stricter guidelines.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-brown-st-louis-business-mo-state-wire-b5dbecb42e8a60ae0f33c59048f839a5">Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;sued St. Louis County on Tuesday, saying its continued regulations infringed on the freedom of residents. It wasn’t immediately clear if Schmitt would rescind the lawsuit. His spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an email.Parson and Schmitt are Republicans. Lucas, White, Jones and Page are all Democrats.The new CDC guidance announced Thursday still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings such as buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.Kansas City reduced restrictions last month, but still required masks in most indoor situations with crowds. Earlier this month, St. Louis city and county both ended limits on the number of people allowed in restaurants and ended an outdoor masking requirement.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday showed that at least 507,058 Missourians have contracted the virus since the onset of the pandemic, and 8,855 have died. The website indicated that 49.7% of Missourians have received at least one shot, and 39.1% are fully vaccinated.---------KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Following the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated mask guidance, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas—in consultation with Kansas City Health Director Rex Archer, M.D.—Thursday announced that effective Friday at noon, Kansas City will rescind its Fourteenth Emergency COVID-19 Order, according to a media release from the city.“Kansas City’s most recent order allowed all to go maskless outdoors and permitted unvaccinated persons to go maskless indoors with others who are vaccinated,” said Mayor Lucas. “As a matter of compliance, that allowed the Kansas City Health Department to check with retailers, employers, and more to ensure they were encouraging their staff to initiate the COVID-19 vaccine process. While welcome, today’s CDC guidance creates confusion with Kansas City’s order. Throughout the pandemic we have endeavored to ensure clarity and effective public health guidance for Kansas Citians and, importantly, our businesses. Staff at many establishments have been subject to harassment based on upholding our orders and we will not force them to do so further where our regulators cannot reasonably tell between those vaccinated or not at an establishment, and where our guidance may conflict with the CDC. We have followed CDC guidance throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so today.”“I cannot in good faith impose an order, replete with penalties for non-compliance, that is impossible for our businesses to follow,” continued Mayor Lucas. “Accordingly, effective tomorrow at noon, Kansas City will rescind its Fourteenth Emergency Order. We will shift, as is necessary, to ensuring those needing access to the vaccine take it, and that we look out for the continued health and safety of our neighbors. We thank the many individuals and businesses in Kansas City who have worked hard to keep us all safe over the past fourteen months. We saved lives looking out for each other and all in Kansas City should be proud of the steps we have taken to protect our community’s health.”

Update: KC area leaders end indoor mask requirements

MARSHFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A fire at a southwest Missouri propane plant caused an explosion that sent thousands of small propane tanks flying into the air, shaking surrounding neighborhoods, fire officials said.

Three employees inside the Kosan Crisplant plant in Marshfield escaped before the fire and explosion Thursday evening. One person was sent to a hospital with unknown injuries, KYTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2021/05/14/fire-chief-witnesses-react-after-propane-plant-explosion-in-marshfield/">reported</a>.

Michael Taylor, fire chief for the Marshfield Protection District, said firefighters initially had to stand back because tanks were airborne and the fire was close to a 33,000 gallon gas tank. Taylor estimated nearly 10,000 propane tanks were involved.

“Put us in a situation where we kind of had to back off and protect other buildings and get the neighborhood evacuated in case we lost that large tank,” said Taylor. “So it did take us a while before we could attack the fire itself.”

The fire was contained within three hours and surrounding neighborhoods that had been evacuated were allowed to return.

The Marshfield Fire Protection District, the Missouri Propane Gas Commission and Missouri Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621018928766.png" alt="The fire was contained within three hours and surrounding neighborhoods that had been evacuated were allowed to return -photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>The fire was contained within three hours and surrounding neighborhoods that had been evacuated were allowed to return -photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>MARSHFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A fire at a southwest Missouri propane plant caused an explosion that sent thousands of small propane tanks flying into the air, shaking surrounding neighborhoods, fire officials said.Three employees inside the Kosan Crisplant plant in Marshfield escaped before the fire and explosion Thursday evening. One person was sent to a hospital with unknown injuries, KYTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2021/05/14/fire-chief-witnesses-react-after-propane-plant-explosion-in-marshfield/">reported</a>.Michael Taylor, fire chief for the Marshfield Protection District, said firefighters initially had to stand back because tanks were airborne and the fire was close to a 33,000 gallon gas tank. Taylor estimated nearly 10,000 propane tanks were involved.“Put us in a situation where we kind of had to back off and protect other buildings and get the neighborhood evacuated in case we lost that large tank,” said Taylor. “So it did take us a while before we could attack the fire itself.”The fire was contained within three hours and surrounding neighborhoods that had been evacuated were allowed to return.The Marshfield Fire Protection District, the Missouri Propane Gas Commission and Missouri Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire.

Homes evacuated after thousands of portable propane tanks catch fire 

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an Illinois man in connection with an August 2020 domestic violence incident in Manhattan.

On Thursday the Will County, Illinois Sheriff's department in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals in Joliet, IL., arrested 24-year-old Isain Misael Lopez, 24, of Joliet, IL., on a Riley County District Court warrant, according to a media release from the RCPD.

The Riley County District Court warrant for Lopez’s arrest stemmed from the investigation of an August 2020 domestic incident at a local hotel. He was arrested on requested charges that include aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery.

Lopez was extradited Thursday night to the Riley County Jail; he is&nbsp;currently confined on a $250,000 bond.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges&nbsp; after a Thursday arrest.

Isain Misael Lopez, 24, Joliet, Illinois, is being held on a $250,000 bond on requested charges that include&nbsp;Aggravated kidnapping, Aggravated domestic battery; choke in rude&nbsp; manner; family member/dating relationship
Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily
harm to family/person in dating relationship, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report.

Police are expected to release additional details in the case Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621014727309.png" alt="Lopez was being held in Will County, Illinois" />
 <figcaption>Lopez was being held in Will County, Illinois</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an Illinois man in connection with an August 2020 domestic violence incident in Manhattan.On Thursday the Will County, Illinois Sheriff's department in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals in Joliet, IL., arrested 24-year-old Isain Misael Lopez, 24, of Joliet, IL., on a Riley County District Court warrant, according to a media release from the RCPD.The Riley County District Court warrant for Lopez’s arrest stemmed from the investigation of an August 2020 domestic incident at a local hotel. He was arrested on requested charges that include aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery.Lopez was extradited Thursday night to the Riley County Jail; he is&nbsp;currently confined on a $250,000 bond.-------RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges&nbsp; after a Thursday arrest.Isain Misael Lopez, 24, Joliet, Illinois, is being held on a $250,000 bond on requested charges that include&nbsp;Aggravated kidnapping, Aggravated domestic battery; choke in rude&nbsp; manner; family member/dating relationship
Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily
harm to family/person in dating relationship, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report.Police are expected to release additional details in the case Friday.

Update: U.S. Marshals help arrest man wanted in Manhattan

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 367 to a total of 311,705, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 9 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5038.

<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 367 to a total of 311,705, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 9 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5038.<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/2021/5/1621012494394.png" alt="Friday May 14, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday May 14, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

LOCUST GROVE, Okla. (AP) — The Grand River Dam Authority says two men were killed and a third person was injured in an explosion in a northeastern Oklahoma dam where they were doing maintenance work. 

GRDA Vice President John Wiscaver says the bodies of two contractors were recovered early Friday from inside Kerr Dam near Locust Grove, about 45 miles east of Tulsa. 

GRDA spokesperson Justin Alberty says a third contractor escaped and that the dam was not damaged by the explosion about 6 p.m. Thursday. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. The GRDA operates dams to generate electricity for customers that include cities in Kansas and Oklahoma.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621003911109.png" alt="First responders on the scene early Friday -photo courtesy KOTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene early Friday -photo courtesy KOTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LOCUST GROVE, Okla. (AP) — The Grand River Dam Authority says two men were killed and a third person was injured in an explosion in a northeastern Oklahoma dam where they were doing maintenance work. GRDA Vice President John Wiscaver says the bodies of two contractors were recovered early Friday from inside Kerr Dam near Locust Grove, about 45 miles east of Tulsa. GRDA spokesperson Justin Alberty says a third contractor escaped and that the dam was not damaged by the explosion about 6 p.m. Thursday. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. The GRDA operates dams to generate electricity for customers that include cities in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Two killed, one injured after explosion at dam in Oklahoma

On May 7, the atmosphere at the statehouse felt like one of those unforeseen pivotal moments—where things fraught with controversy just seem to come together.&nbsp; It happened through a surprisingly broad collaboration on education policy and finance.&nbsp; After months of argumentative debate supported by well-funded special interest groups, less well-funded teacher and administrative groups and a range of individuals, compromise descended upon legislators.

Major provisions of an omnibus education bill were negotiated.&nbsp; The bill’s final language has not been made public; however, because of its large size and scope, opportunities for further debate and scrutiny likely will be limited.&nbsp; But, it’s possible for last minute changes to be made at the legislature’s final session in late May.

Beyond a commitment to fund the Kansas Supreme Court ruling in the Gannon school finance case, compromises on other controversial issues included:

Tax-credit funded scholarships for qualified high-risk students to attend private schools will be expanded from those who are recipients of free lunches at the 100 lowest performing schools to those receiving both free or reduced price lunches at any K-8 school.&nbsp; But the compromise bill doesn’t raise the $10 million cap on tax credit donations that fund the program thus holding administrative costs to that of past years.&nbsp; This compromise also capped donations qualifying for the 70 per cent state tax credit which opponents have cited as benefiting the super-rich more than the average taxpayer and reducing tax dollars otherwise going to the general fund.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Education Savings Accounts, a provision that passed the House but failed in the Senate was deleted from the compromise bill.&nbsp; The original bill would have allowed state tax dollars of approximately $4,500 per year (the base per pupil funding) for high-poverty, under-achieving students to be used by families of qualifying students for private school tuition and other educational needs such as transportation to a private school. &nbsp;

The ESA attempt was, by-far, the most antagonistic and fundamental of the policy battles.&nbsp; Libertarians supported the bill as limiting a “non-essential” government function.&nbsp; For-profit private schools view it as an enrollment builder, religious schools as mission-driven opportunity or, for some, financial survival and far-right conservatives as an opening for shaping students’ values. &nbsp;

Republican fiscal conservatives and moderates, teachers and administrators, Democrats and&nbsp; some Independents see ESAs as a first step toward defunding public schools. The bill’s opponents believe that all Kansans—those with school-aged children and those without—pay taxes to support the American ideal of individuals’ and national advancement through public education.&nbsp; Thus, permitting parents to direct state funding to private schools without consistent, timely financial oversight and minimal requirements for teachers to be college educated and vetted by state and federal background checks would be allowing tax dollars to follow students into jeopardy. &nbsp;

Sending tax dollars to selective-admission private schools will be a “hard sell” to Kansans.&nbsp; Currently only five states offer ESAs and three of those limit them to students with disabilities. &nbsp;

Eliminating ESAs from the education bill was less of a compromise than a strategic withdrawal.&nbsp; Its proponents promise they will advance ESAs again.

Skeptics say the compromise bill could not have happened without a Democrat governor’s veto power or that legislators were driven by end-of-session pressures.&nbsp; I believe the governor and legislators did their best for Kansas without abandoning their beliefs and this is a hopeful sign for the future. &nbsp;

Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>On May 7, the atmosphere at the statehouse felt like one of those unforeseen pivotal moments—where things fraught with controversy just seem to come together.&nbsp; It happened through a surprisingly broad collaboration on education policy and finance.&nbsp; After months of argumentative debate supported by well-funded special interest groups, less well-funded teacher and administrative groups and a range of individuals, compromise descended upon legislators.Major provisions of an omnibus education bill were negotiated.&nbsp; The bill’s final language has not been made public; however, because of its large size and scope, opportunities for further debate and scrutiny likely will be limited.&nbsp; But, it’s possible for last minute changes to be made at the legislature’s final session in late May.Beyond a commitment to fund the Kansas Supreme Court ruling in the Gannon school finance case, compromises on other controversial issues included:Tax-credit funded scholarships for qualified high-risk students to attend private schools will be expanded from those who are recipients of free lunches at the 100 lowest performing schools to those receiving both free or reduced price lunches at any K-8 school.&nbsp; But the compromise bill doesn’t raise the $10 million cap on tax credit donations that fund the program thus holding administrative costs to that of past years.&nbsp; This compromise also capped donations qualifying for the 70 per cent state tax credit which opponents have cited as benefiting the super-rich more than the average taxpayer and reducing tax dollars otherwise going to the general fund.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Education Savings Accounts, a provision that passed the House but failed in the Senate was deleted from the compromise bill.&nbsp; The original bill would have allowed state tax dollars of approximately $4,500 per year (the base per pupil funding) for high-poverty, under-achieving students to be used by families of qualifying students for private school tuition and other educational needs such as transportation to a private school. &nbsp;The ESA attempt was, by-far, the most antagonistic and fundamental of the policy battles.&nbsp; Libertarians supported the bill as limiting a “non-essential” government function.&nbsp; For-profit private schools view it as an enrollment builder, religious schools as mission-driven opportunity or, for some, financial survival and far-right conservatives as an opening for shaping students’ values. &nbsp;Republican fiscal conservatives and moderates, teachers and administrators, Democrats and&nbsp; some Independents see ESAs as a first step toward defunding public schools. The bill’s opponents believe that all Kansans—those with school-aged children and those without—pay taxes to support the American ideal of individuals’ and national advancement through public education.&nbsp; Thus, permitting parents to direct state funding to private schools without consistent, timely financial oversight and minimal requirements for teachers to be college educated and vetted by state and federal background checks would be allowing tax dollars to follow students into jeopardy. &nbsp;Sending tax dollars to selective-admission private schools will be a “hard sell” to Kansans.&nbsp; Currently only five states offer ESAs and three of those limit them to students with disabilities. &nbsp;Eliminating ESAs from the education bill was less of a compromise than a strategic withdrawal.&nbsp; Its proponents promise they will advance ESAs again.Skeptics say the compromise bill could not have happened without a Democrat governor’s veto power or that legislators were driven by end-of-session pressures.&nbsp; I believe the governor and legislators did their best for Kansas without abandoning their beliefs and this is a hopeful sign for the future. &nbsp;Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Compromise temporarily halts K-12 education battles

Kansas State Department of Education

TOPEKA — In a world that recently has been filled with so many struggles and challenges, Jaqui Ortega wanted to acknowledge the beauty all around her. She found it in the halls of her high school in southeast Topeka – and she is sharing it with the world.

The Highland Park High School junior recently created a video highlighting the beauty of her classmates, and it has gone viral. The video, found on the school’s student newspaper Facebook page (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511">https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511</a>), started out as a monthly newspaper project for the 17-year-old journalism/yearbook student.

“I was thinking, ‘What can I do for this month?’ I saw this video on YouTube, and I decided to just go around and make people happy,” she said.

The YouTube video Jaqui drew inspiration from was of someone telling others they were beautiful. Jaqui thought it was great idea - it would cover her project for the month of April and make people feel good at the same time. Her journalism teacher, Steve Berklund, wasn’t so sure.

“I thought it sounded kind of awkward,” Berklund said. “It turned out super well. I had no idea it was going to be so big. I thought it would get a couple hundred views.”

“We do stories all of the time,” Jaqui said. “They get 20 likes. I had no idea it was going to be so big. It’s the biggest video on our page.”

In just a few weeks, the video has received more than 200 likes, has been shared more than 145 times and has been viewed nearly 9,500 times.

Jaqui’s video captures the reactions of classmates, teachers and staff members as she tells them they are beautiful. She received many different reactions – from tears to nervous giggles and all-out laughter.

“It’s always been my goal to make others happy,” Jaqui said.

“Jaqui is an exceptional student with a tremendous vision of what she wants to do,” he said. “I’m super proud of her. Highland park is super proud of her.”

Jaqui has a lot on her plate. She has five siblings – 18, 11, 9, 3 and 2, works 20 to 30 hours per week and is in theater and choir. She also is a cheerleader, serves on the student council and will be school president next year. The talented teen plays six instruments – flute, piccolo, violin, piano, guitar and ukulele.

“Music has always been my goal,” she said.

After graduation from Highland Park, Jaqui plans to attend the University of Kansas in Lawrence to major in music therapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other social challenges, have impacted students socially and academically, Jaqui and Berklund said.

“Our old normal isn’t normal anymore,” Jaqui said. “People need some uplifting right now – even me. It’s been hard and challenging. People need positivity. I hope the video has helped.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620999843147.jpeg" alt="Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, works on a yearbook page in the school’s journalism room. A video Jaqui created has garnered more attention than she ever thought." />
 <figcaption>Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, works on a yearbook page in the school’s journalism room. A video Jaqui created has garnered more attention than she ever thought.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Department of EducationTOPEKA — In a world that recently has been filled with so many struggles and challenges, Jaqui Ortega wanted to acknowledge the beauty all around her. She found it in the halls of her high school in southeast Topeka – and she is sharing it with the world.The Highland Park High School junior recently created a video highlighting the beauty of her classmates, and it has gone viral. The video, found on the school’s student newspaper Facebook page (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511">https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511</a>), started out as a monthly newspaper project for the 17-year-old journalism/yearbook student.“I was thinking, ‘What can I do for this month?’ I saw this video on YouTube, and I decided to just go around and make people happy,” she said.The YouTube video Jaqui drew inspiration from was of someone telling others they were beautiful. Jaqui thought it was great idea - it would cover her project for the month of April and make people feel good at the same time. Her journalism teacher, Steve Berklund, wasn’t so sure.“I thought it sounded kind of awkward,” Berklund said. “It turned out super well. I had no idea it was going to be so big. I thought it would get a couple hundred views.”Jaqui thought the same.They were both wrong.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620999921177.jpeg" alt="Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, created a video that has garnered more attention than she ever thought. She created the video for her yearbook/journalism class." />
 <figcaption>Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, created a video that has garnered more attention than she ever thought. She created the video for her yearbook/journalism class.</figcaption>
 </figure>“We do stories all of the time,” Jaqui said. “They get 20 likes. I had no idea it was going to be so big. It’s the biggest video on our page.”In just a few weeks, the video has received more than 200 likes, has been shared more than 145 times and has been viewed nearly 9,500 times.Jaqui’s video captures the reactions of classmates, teachers and staff members as she tells them they are beautiful. She received many different reactions – from tears to nervous giggles and all-out laughter.“It’s always been my goal to make others happy,” Jaqui said.And she does, Berklund said.“Jaqui is an exceptional student with a tremendous vision of what she wants to do,” he said. “I’m super proud of her. Highland park is super proud of her.”Jaqui has a lot on her plate. She has five siblings – 18, 11, 9, 3 and 2, works 20 to 30 hours per week and is in theater and choir. She also is a cheerleader, serves on the student council and will be school president next year. The talented teen plays six instruments – flute, piccolo, violin, piano, guitar and ukulele.“Music has always been my goal,” she said.After graduation from Highland Park, Jaqui plans to attend the University of Kansas in Lawrence to major in music therapy.The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other social challenges, have impacted students socially and academically, Jaqui and Berklund said.“Our old normal isn’t normal anymore,” Jaqui said. “People need some uplifting right now – even me. It’s been hard and challenging. People need positivity. I hope the video has helped.”

Kan. student's video project goes viral, spreads joy

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The embattled president of Haskell Indian Nations University has been fired following an internal investigation into complaints that he violated the free speech rights of faculty and students.

Ronald Graham, who began his presidency in May 2020, was dismissed Friday after the Bureau of Indian Education sent a team to the Lawrence campus last month to do&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-education-lawrence-c7acb5ee53b15830018b270eb66b1685">an administrative review</a>, the Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2021/may/07/haskell-president-removed-from-office/" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Graham, an Army veteran, said in a statement that he took an oath to protect the U.S. Constitution.

“I have been accused of violating a student’s 1st Amendment rights and now those of the faculty. I would never do this intentionally or otherwise. I love our flag and this country and fought to protect it,” Graham said.

The Faculty Senate unanimously declared last month it had no confidence in Graham, alleging he had shown disdain for the free speech rights of students and faculty and a disregard for academic freedom.

The editor of Haskell’s student newspaper, Jared Nelly,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawrence-newspapers-kansas-journalism-lawsuits-ae9977053d6ab2769c555ec87e1d19bb">sued after Graham sent a directive&nbsp;</a>to him detailing what he could report and write about in the paper. Graham rescinded that order in January.

Tamarah Pfeiffer, a leader in the federal government’s Bureau of Indian Education, is acting president.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617226828106.png" alt="Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. Google Maps" />
 <figcaption>Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. Google Maps</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The embattled president of Haskell Indian Nations University has been fired following an internal investigation into complaints that he violated the free speech rights of faculty and students.Ronald Graham, who began his presidency in May 2020, was dismissed Friday after the Bureau of Indian Education sent a team to the Lawrence campus last month to do&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-education-lawrence-c7acb5ee53b15830018b270eb66b1685">an administrative review</a>, the Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2021/may/07/haskell-president-removed-from-office/" target="_blank">reported</a>.Graham, an Army veteran, said in a statement that he took an oath to protect the U.S. Constitution.“I have been accused of violating a student’s 1st Amendment rights and now those of the faculty. I would never do this intentionally or otherwise. I love our flag and this country and fought to protect it,” Graham said.The Faculty Senate unanimously declared last month it had no confidence in Graham, alleging he had shown disdain for the free speech rights of students and faculty and a disregard for academic freedom.The editor of Haskell’s student newspaper, Jared Nelly,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawrence-newspapers-kansas-journalism-lawsuits-ae9977053d6ab2769c555ec87e1d19bb">sued after Graham sent a directive&nbsp;</a>to him detailing what he could report and write about in the paper. Graham rescinded that order in January.Tamarah Pfeiffer, a leader in the federal government’s Bureau of Indian Education, is acting president.

Kansas college president accused of muting free speech fired

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — No criminal charges will be filed against a Kansas sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed woman who refused to pull over during a high-speed police chase that began over a wrong license plate on a vehicle, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett released his final report concluding that the deputy is immune from prosecution in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3bad2e32dc7ec2b3a50140691a175275">the Dec. 30, 2019, death</a>&nbsp;of 51-year-old Debra Arbuckle.

Bennett cited the state’s “stand your ground law″ under which a person who acts in defense of himself or another is immune from prosecution. He determined the deputy fired his weapon to stop what he perceived to be a threat of bodily injury to himself and his fellow deputies.

Attorney Michael Kuckelman, who represents Arbuckle’s son in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-lawsuits-shootings-wichita-f671b358ef83ba56ac7d0b841196388b">a federal lawsuit&nbsp;</a>over her death, said Thursday that the family is disappointed that Sedgwick County Deputy Kaleb Dailey is not facing a homicide charge. He said eluding an officer doesn’t warrant deadly force.

“No other officer on the scene fired a single shot. That’s because Ms. Arbuckle wasn’t a threat to them,” Kuckelman said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

The chase, which lasted 19 minutes, began after a Wichita police officer noticed a Volkswagen with a license plate tag registered to a Chevy pickup. The Volkswagen was stopped at an intersection, but when the officer activated his emergency lights, the driver ran a red light and sped away, according to authorities.

The chase was at one point called off due to the speeds that were reached, but a sheriff’s deputy who heard the chase on his law enforcement radio drove to the Volkswagen’s last known location. The chase resumed with four pursuing deputies, and the Volkswagen was ultimately forced off the road.

When the reverse lights of the Volkswagen activated, a deputy who was on the passenger side of the vehicle, believed the other deputies would be struck and fired his handgun six times, according to the district attorney’s report.

The lawsuit filed by Arbuckle’s son, Alek Hansen, identifies the deputy who shot her as Dailey and contends Arbuckle’s vehicle was surrounded by patrol cars. It says multiple law enforcement videos show that while Arbuckle did put her car in reverse, she never accelerated toward the deputies.

“Her front wheel didn’t even have a tire on it. They rammed her car, ran it off the road, and they surrounded it with their cars. The officers weren’t in danger,” Kuckelman, the son’s attorney, said in his statement Thursday.

Arbuckle was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined she died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. A toxicology report determined her blood was positive for cocaine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577828011429.png" alt="Arbuckle-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Arbuckle-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — No criminal charges will be filed against a Kansas sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed woman who refused to pull over during a high-speed police chase that began over a wrong license plate on a vehicle, a prosecutor said Thursday.Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett released his final report concluding that the deputy is immune from prosecution in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3bad2e32dc7ec2b3a50140691a175275">the Dec. 30, 2019, death</a>&nbsp;of 51-year-old Debra Arbuckle.Bennett cited the state’s “stand your ground law″ under which a person who acts in defense of himself or another is immune from prosecution. He determined the deputy fired his weapon to stop what he perceived to be a threat of bodily injury to himself and his fellow deputies.Attorney Michael Kuckelman, who represents Arbuckle’s son in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-lawsuits-shootings-wichita-f671b358ef83ba56ac7d0b841196388b">a federal lawsuit&nbsp;</a>over her death, said Thursday that the family is disappointed that Sedgwick County Deputy Kaleb Dailey is not facing a homicide charge. He said eluding an officer doesn’t warrant deadly force.“No other officer on the scene fired a single shot. That’s because Ms. Arbuckle wasn’t a threat to them,” Kuckelman said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.The chase, which lasted 19 minutes, began after a Wichita police officer noticed a Volkswagen with a license plate tag registered to a Chevy pickup. The Volkswagen was stopped at an intersection, but when the officer activated his emergency lights, the driver ran a red light and sped away, according to authorities.The chase was at one point called off due to the speeds that were reached, but a sheriff’s deputy who heard the chase on his law enforcement radio drove to the Volkswagen’s last known location. The chase resumed with four pursuing deputies, and the Volkswagen was ultimately forced off the road.When the reverse lights of the Volkswagen activated, a deputy who was on the passenger side of the vehicle, believed the other deputies would be struck and fired his handgun six times, according to the district attorney’s report.The lawsuit filed by Arbuckle’s son, Alek Hansen, identifies the deputy who shot her as Dailey and contends Arbuckle’s vehicle was surrounded by patrol cars. It says multiple law enforcement videos show that while Arbuckle did put her car in reverse, she never accelerated toward the deputies.“Her front wheel didn’t even have a tire on it. They rammed her car, ran it off the road, and they surrounded it with their cars. The officers weren’t in danger,” Kuckelman, the son’s attorney, said in his statement Thursday.Arbuckle was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined she died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. A toxicology report determined her blood was positive for cocaine.

Prosecutor: No charges against Kan. deputy who shot woman

BOSTON (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline is flowing again after the company that runs it was hit by a gang of hackers. But long lines remain at gas stations throughout the Southeast. 

An outside audit three years ago of the major East Coast pipeline company hit by a cyberattack found “atrocious” information management practices and “a patchwork of poorly connected and secured systems,” its author told The Associated Press.

“We found glaring deficiencies and big problems,” said Robert F. Smallwood, whose consulting firm delivered an 89-page report in January 2018 after a six-month audit. “I mean an eighth-grader could have hacked into that system.”

How far the company, Colonial Pipeline, went to address the vulnerabilities isn’t clear. Colonial said Wednesday that since 2017, it has hired four independent firms for cybersecurity risk assessments and increased its overall IT spending by more than 50%. While it did not specify an amount, it said it has spent tens of millions of dollars.

“We are constantly assessing and improving our security practices — both physical and digital,” the privately held Georgia company said in response to questions from the AP about the audit’s findings. It did not name the firms who did cybersecurity work but one firm, Rausch Advisory Services, located in Atlanta near Colonial’s headquarters, acknowledged being among them. Colonial’s chief information officer sits on Rausch’s advisory board.

Colonial has not said how the hackers penetrated its network. How vulnerable it was to compromise is sure to be intensely scrutinized by federal authorities and cybersecurity experts as they consider how the most damaging cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure might have been prevented.

Friday’s pipeline shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">has led to distribution problems and panic-buying</a>, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations in the Southeast. Colonial said it initiated the restart of pipeline operations on Wednesday afternoon and that it would take several days for supply delivery to return to normal.

Ransomware&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-canada-health-coronavirus-technology-288c8979c10b648ba72a4b0fc34b02ac">attacks have reached epidemic levels</a>&nbsp;as foreign criminal gangs paralyze computer networks at state and local governments, police departments, hospitals and universities — demanding large sums to decrypt the data. Many organizations have failed to invest in the safeguards needed to fend off such attacks, though U.S. officials worry even more about state-backed foreign hackers doing more serious damage.

Any shortcomings by Colonial would be especially egregious given its critical role in the U.S. energy system, providing the East Coast with 45% of its gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

Smallwood, a partner at iMERGE and managing director of the Institute for Information Governance, said he prepared a 24-month, $1.3 million plan for Colonial. While&nbsp;<a href="https://imergeconsulting.com/" target="_blank">iMERGE’s&nbsp;</a>audit was not directly focused on cybersecurity “we found many security issues, and that was put in the report.”

Colonial’s statements Wednesday suggest it may have heeded a number of Smallwood’s recommendations. In addition, it says it has active monitoring and overlapping threat-detection systems on its network and identified the ransomware attack “as soon as we learned of it.” Colonial said its IT network is strictly segregated from pipeline control systems, which were not affected by the ransomware.

Unlike electrical utilities, the pipeline industry is not subject to mandatory cybersecurity standards, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair, Richard Glick, called for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/statement-ferc-chairman-richard-glick-chairman-glick-and-commissioner-clements" target="_blank">in a statement Tuesday.</a>

Smallwood’s study was not a cybersecurity audit. It focused on ensuring smooth operations and preventing data theft, which is exactly what Colonial suffered last week. Colonial is not saying what the cybercriminals took before activating the ransomware.

The hackers, from a Russian-speaking syndicate called DarkSide, steal data before locking up networks to doubly extort victims. If a victim refuses to pay, they not only refuse to unscramble the data, they threaten to release sensitive material online. Colonial has not said whether it paid DarkSide.

Smallwood read portions of his report to the AP but would not share it because he said some of the content is confidential. He said he was paid about $50,000 for it.

He cited, for example, Colonial’s inability to locate a particular maintenance document. “You’re supposed to be able to find it within 15 minutes. It took them three weeks.”

Locating such a document could be crucial in responding to an accident or keeping up-to-date pipeline inspection records to prevent leaks, Smallwood said.

Colonial experienced one of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-charlotte-north-carolina-277ce79717606631bc1aa608b33524f6">gasoline spills&nbsp;</a>in U.S. history last August, contaminating&nbsp;<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161498/huntersville-north-carolina-colonial-pipeline-spill" target="_blank">a nature preserve north of Charlotte</a>&nbsp;. After it was discovered by two teenagers, the spill’s severity was not immediately clear as Colonial’s initial reports indicated a far lower volume. North Carolina environmental regulators angrily called the company’s failure to promptly provide reliable data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250759789.html" target="_blank">unacceptable.&nbsp;</a>Colonial says it released the best available data on spill volume as the discovery progressed.

Separately, shippers have complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Colonial inflated what it spends on pipeline integrity to deflect accusations it overcharges them. Colonial rejects this, citing the rising costs of safely maintaining its system.

Bill Caram, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust, called worrisome the allegations of deficient IT management, piecemeal spill reporting and pipeline integrity issues.

“I think all these things just could paint a picture of the culture at Colonial maybe not taking risks seriously enough,” he said.

Smallwood said he was reluctant to go public about the Colonial audit for fear of alienating future clients “but the gravity of the situation demands that the public know just how fragile some of these systems within our infrastructure are.”

One of his main recommendations was that Colonial hire a chief information security officer, a position that cybersecurity experts consider essential in any company with infrastructure vital to national security. Colonial said it instead assigned those responsibilities to a subordinate of chief information officer Marie Mouchet.

Mouchet was on the advisory board of Rausch when it did a cybersecurity study for Colonial concurrent to Smallwood’s audit. Asked if that might present a conflict of interest, Rausch CEO Michael Lisenby said Mochet’s advisory board seat is an unpaid, voluntary position.

Smallwood’s recommendations included a data loss prevention program to ensure highly confidential, marketable data — such as details on how the pipeline is used — could not be easily removed.

Colonial says it has strengthened data-loss-prevention defenses with three different software tools that provide alerts when data leaves the network.

Smallwood said he found no security-awareness training, which mostly teaches employees not to fall victim to phishing, the cause of more than 90% of cyber-intrusions. But Colonial said its expanded cybersecurity regime includes regular simulated phishing campaigns for employees.

The audit “covered environmental procurement, legal risk, business development, asset integrity, accounting and tax safety operations, information technology, (Microsoft) SharePoint and human resources. And so it was a very comprehensive assessment,” said Smallwood.

Originally founded by nine oil companies in 1962, Colonial is privately held. It’s owners include a pair of private equity firms, a Canadian fund manager, a Koch Industries subsidiary and a subsidiary of Shell Midstream Partners. The company does not release earnings or revenue figures.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620643205978.png" alt="&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline is flowing again after the company that runs it was hit by a gang of hackers. But long lines remain at gas stations throughout the Southeast. An outside audit three years ago of the major East Coast pipeline company hit by a cyberattack found “atrocious” information management practices and “a patchwork of poorly connected and secured systems,” its author told The Associated Press.“We found glaring deficiencies and big problems,” said Robert F. Smallwood, whose consulting firm delivered an 89-page report in January 2018 after a six-month audit. “I mean an eighth-grader could have hacked into that system.”How far the company, Colonial Pipeline, went to address the vulnerabilities isn’t clear. Colonial said Wednesday that since 2017, it has hired four independent firms for cybersecurity risk assessments and increased its overall IT spending by more than 50%. While it did not specify an amount, it said it has spent tens of millions of dollars.“We are constantly assessing and improving our security practices — both physical and digital,” the privately held Georgia company said in response to questions from the AP about the audit’s findings. It did not name the firms who did cybersecurity work but one firm, Rausch Advisory Services, located in Atlanta near Colonial’s headquarters, acknowledged being among them. Colonial’s chief information officer sits on Rausch’s advisory board.Colonial has not said how the hackers penetrated its network. How vulnerable it was to compromise is sure to be intensely scrutinized by federal authorities and cybersecurity experts as they consider how the most damaging cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure might have been prevented.Friday’s pipeline shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">has led to distribution problems and panic-buying</a>, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations in the Southeast. Colonial said it initiated the restart of pipeline operations on Wednesday afternoon and that it would take several days for supply delivery to return to normal.Ransomware&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-canada-health-coronavirus-technology-288c8979c10b648ba72a4b0fc34b02ac">attacks have reached epidemic levels</a>&nbsp;as foreign criminal gangs paralyze computer networks at state and local governments, police departments, hospitals and universities — demanding large sums to decrypt the data. Many organizations have failed to invest in the safeguards needed to fend off such attacks, though U.S. officials worry even more about state-backed foreign hackers doing more serious damage.Any shortcomings by Colonial would be especially egregious given its critical role in the U.S. energy system, providing the East Coast with 45% of its gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.Smallwood, a partner at iMERGE and managing director of the Institute for Information Governance, said he prepared a 24-month, $1.3 million plan for Colonial. While&nbsp;<a href="https://imergeconsulting.com/" target="_blank">iMERGE’s&nbsp;</a>audit was not directly focused on cybersecurity “we found many security issues, and that was put in the report.”Colonial’s statements Wednesday suggest it may have heeded a number of Smallwood’s recommendations. In addition, it says it has active monitoring and overlapping threat-detection systems on its network and identified the ransomware attack “as soon as we learned of it.” Colonial said its IT network is strictly segregated from pipeline control systems, which were not affected by the ransomware.Unlike electrical utilities, the pipeline industry is not subject to mandatory cybersecurity standards, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair, Richard Glick, called for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/statement-ferc-chairman-richard-glick-chairman-glick-and-commissioner-clements" target="_blank">in a statement Tuesday.</a>Smallwood’s study was not a cybersecurity audit. It focused on ensuring smooth operations and preventing data theft, which is exactly what Colonial suffered last week. Colonial is not saying what the cybercriminals took before activating the ransomware.The hackers, from a Russian-speaking syndicate called DarkSide, steal data before locking up networks to doubly extort victims. If a victim refuses to pay, they not only refuse to unscramble the data, they threaten to release sensitive material online. Colonial has not said whether it paid DarkSide.Smallwood read portions of his report to the AP but would not share it because he said some of the content is confidential. He said he was paid about $50,000 for it.He cited, for example, Colonial’s inability to locate a particular maintenance document. “You’re supposed to be able to find it within 15 minutes. It took them three weeks.”Locating such a document could be crucial in responding to an accident or keeping up-to-date pipeline inspection records to prevent leaks, Smallwood said.Colonial experienced one of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-charlotte-north-carolina-277ce79717606631bc1aa608b33524f6">gasoline spills&nbsp;</a>in U.S. history last August, contaminating&nbsp;<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161498/huntersville-north-carolina-colonial-pipeline-spill" target="_blank">a nature preserve north of Charlotte</a>&nbsp;. After it was discovered by two teenagers, the spill’s severity was not immediately clear as Colonial’s initial reports indicated a far lower volume. North Carolina environmental regulators angrily called the company’s failure to promptly provide reliable data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250759789.html" target="_blank">unacceptable.&nbsp;</a>Colonial says it released the best available data on spill volume as the discovery progressed.Separately, shippers have complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Colonial inflated what it spends on pipeline integrity to deflect accusations it overcharges them. Colonial rejects this, citing the rising costs of safely maintaining its system.Bill Caram, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust, called worrisome the allegations of deficient IT management, piecemeal spill reporting and pipeline integrity issues.“I think all these things just could paint a picture of the culture at Colonial maybe not taking risks seriously enough,” he said.Smallwood said he was reluctant to go public about the Colonial audit for fear of alienating future clients “but the gravity of the situation demands that the public know just how fragile some of these systems within our infrastructure are.”One of his main recommendations was that Colonial hire a chief information security officer, a position that cybersecurity experts consider essential in any company with infrastructure vital to national security. Colonial said it instead assigned those responsibilities to a subordinate of chief information officer Marie Mouchet.Mouchet was on the advisory board of Rausch when it did a cybersecurity study for Colonial concurrent to Smallwood’s audit. Asked if that might present a conflict of interest, Rausch CEO Michael Lisenby said Mochet’s advisory board seat is an unpaid, voluntary position.Smallwood’s recommendations included a data loss prevention program to ensure highly confidential, marketable data — such as details on how the pipeline is used — could not be easily removed.Colonial says it has strengthened data-loss-prevention defenses with three different software tools that provide alerts when data leaves the network.Smallwood said he found no security-awareness training, which mostly teaches employees not to fall victim to phishing, the cause of more than 90% of cyber-intrusions. But Colonial said its expanded cybersecurity regime includes regular simulated phishing campaigns for employees.The audit “covered environmental procurement, legal risk, business development, asset integrity, accounting and tax safety operations, information technology, (Microsoft) SharePoint and human resources. And so it was a very comprehensive assessment,” said Smallwood.Originally founded by nine oil companies in 1962, Colonial is privately held. It’s owners include a pair of private equity firms, a Canadian fund manager, a Koch Industries subsidiary and a subsidiary of Shell Midstream Partners. The company does not release earnings or revenue figures.___

Report: '8th-grader could have hacked' nation's largest fuel pipeline

GRANT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Ulysses Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office shared new information related to the fatal shooting that occurred April 28, at&nbsp; Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, according to a media release from the KBI.

On May 2, 14-year-old<a href="https://obittree.com/funeral-home/united-states/kansas/ulysses/garnand-funeral-home---ulysses/245404/1084/"> Christopher Garcia,</a> who was injured in this incident, died at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita.

Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 13-year-old boy from Ulysses on requested charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.

Following his arrest, the teen was transported to the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Garden City.&nbsp;

GRANT COUNTY —A Southwest Kansas teen critically injured last week after he was shot in the neck and face has died, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Relatives of 14-year-old Christopher Garcia's family <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hb6cc-christophers-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser</a> to help with medical expenses.

Just after 6:30 p.m., April 28, a resident who lived near the Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, Kansas called 911 after hearing gun shots fired in the park, according to a media release from the KBI.

Officers responded to the park at the northeast corner of the intersection of W. Santa Fe Ave. and S. College Street., where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his face.

Preliminary information indicates that six teenagers, four boys and two girls, were spending time in the park when Garcia was struck by a round from a handgun that one of the teens possessed.

EMS responded to the scene and transported Garcia to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita and died over the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620988496643.png" alt="Christopher Garcia&nbsp;was a student at Kepley Middle School in Ulysses. He died May 2 at a Wichita hospital. Photo courtesy Garnand Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Garcia&nbsp;was a student at Kepley Middle School in Ulysses. He died May 2 at a Wichita hospital. Photo courtesy Garnand Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>GRANT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Ulysses Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office shared new information related to the fatal shooting that occurred April 28, at&nbsp; Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, according to a media release from the KBI.On May 2, 14-year-old<a href="https://obittree.com/funeral-home/united-states/kansas/ulysses/garnand-funeral-home---ulysses/245404/1084/"> Christopher Garcia,</a> who was injured in this incident, died at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita.Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 13-year-old boy from Ulysses on requested charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.Following his arrest, the teen was transported to the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Garden City.&nbsp;-------GRANT COUNTY —A Southwest Kansas teen critically injured last week after he was shot in the neck and face has died, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620053851062.png" alt="The incident occurred at Russ Binney Park in Ulysses -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The incident occurred at Russ Binney Park in Ulysses -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>Relatives of 14-year-old Christopher Garcia's family <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hb6cc-christophers-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser</a> to help with medical expenses.Just after 6:30 p.m., April 28, a resident who lived near the Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, Kansas called 911 after hearing gun shots fired in the park, according to a media release from the KBI.Officers responded to the park at the northeast corner of the intersection of W. Santa Fe Ave. and S. College Street., where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his face.Preliminary information indicates that six teenagers, four boys and two girls, were spending time in the park when Garcia was struck by a round from a handgun that one of the teens possessed.EMS responded to the scene and transported Garcia to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita and died over the weekend.Authorities have not reported an arrest.

KBI: 13-year-old arrested for fatal shooting at SW Kan. park

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug distribution and other charges after a Kansas traffic stop.

Deputies stopped a truck for a traffic violation on Interstate 35 near Sunflower Road, according to a social media report from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Deputies picked up on the scent of marijuana coming from the back of vehicle and seized 150 pounds of marijuana.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The driver was transporting the drugs from California to Ohio, according to the sheriff's department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620936435565.png" alt="The driver was transporting 150 pounds of marijuana from California to Ohio." />
 <figcaption>The driver was transporting 150 pounds of marijuana from California to Ohio.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug distribution and other charges after a Kansas traffic stop.Deputies stopped a truck for a traffic violation on Interstate 35 near Sunflower Road, according to a social media report from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;Deputies picked up on the scent of marijuana coming from the back of vehicle and seized 150 pounds of marijuana.&nbsp;&nbsp;The driver was transporting the drugs from California to Ohio, according to the sheriff's department.&nbsp;

Kansas deputies seize 150 pounds of marijuana 

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the death of a Kansas woman who was hit by a bullet during an arts event in Kansas City in 2019.

Deon’te Copkney, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Aug. 3, 2019, death of Erin Langhofer, 25, of Overland Park, Kansas.

Langhofer was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9e9b3e3e2b0b4523baffba1c33474920">shot in the head</a>&nbsp;while she stood near a food truck at a First Friday event in the city’s Crossroads Art District.

Copkney told detectives he emptied the clip of his gun as he ran from a group that he and his friends had fought with, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article251334313.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. He said he fired into the air and didn’t intend to hurt anyone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1564943704643.png" alt="Deon'te Copkney photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Deon'te Copkney photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the death of a Kansas woman who was hit by a bullet during an arts event in Kansas City in 2019.Deon’te Copkney, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Aug. 3, 2019, death of Erin Langhofer, 25, of Overland Park, Kansas.Langhofer was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9e9b3e3e2b0b4523baffba1c33474920">shot in the head</a>&nbsp;while she stood near a food truck at a First Friday event in the city’s Crossroads Art District.Copkney told detectives he emptied the clip of his gun as he ran from a group that he and his friends had fought with, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article251334313.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. He said he fired into the air and didn’t intend to hurt anyone.He will be sentenced July 23.

Man pleads guilty in Kan. woman's death at arts event

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

Governor Laura Kelly said Kansas will adopt the CDC guidance. "Fully-vaccinated Kansans are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors or physically distance, except in circumstances such as those required by businesses, public transportation, or health care facilities. Should fully-vaccinated Kansans feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they are welcome to continue doing&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511762-1/president-biden-speaks-rose-garden-cdc-eases-mask-wearing-guidelines">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments

“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.

The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

“We have all longed for this moment — when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at an earlier White House briefing.

The CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — in part to highlight the benefits of getting the shot.

The country’s aggressive vaccination campaign has paid off: U.S. virus cases are at their lowest rate since September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.

Walensky said the long-awaited change is thanks to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated and is based on the latest science about how well those shots are working.

“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities -– large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” Walensky said. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”

The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky said those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.

To date about 154 million Americans, more than 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The rate of new vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, but with the authorization Wednesday of the Pfizer shot for children ages 12 to 15, a new burst of doses is expected in the coming days.

Just two weeks ago, the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in all settings and outdoors in large crowds.

Walensky said evidence from the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real world use as they were in earlier studies, and that so far they continue to work even though some worrying mutated versions of the virus are spreading.

The more people continue to get vaccinated, the faster infections will drop — and the harder it will be for the virus to mutate enough to escape vaccines, she stressed, urging everyone 12 and older who’s not yet vaccinated to sign up.

And while some people still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, Walensky said, that’s rare. She cited evidence that those infections tend to be milder, shorter and harder to spread to others. If people who are vaccinated do develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately put their mask back on and get tested, she said.

There are some caveats. Walensky encouraged people who have weak immune systems, such as from organ transplants or cancer treatment, to talk with their doctors before shedding their masks. That’s because of continued uncertainty about whether the vaccines can rev up a weakened immune system as well as they do normal, healthy ones.

The new guidance had an immediate effect at the White House, which has taken a cautious approach to easing virus restrictions. Staffers were informed that masks are no longer required for people who are fully vaccinated. And Biden, who was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office when the guidance was announced, led the group in removing their masks Thursday afternoon.

First lady Jill Biden, who was traveling in West Virginia, told reporters that “we feel naked,” after the guidance, as she and her party removed their face coverings. Then she paused. “I didn’t mean it that way!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620937926737.png" alt="“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address with Vice President Harris heralding the new guidance.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address with Vice President Harris heralding the new guidance.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.Governor Laura Kelly said Kansas will adopt the CDC guidance. "Fully-vaccinated Kansans are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors or physically distance, except in circumstances such as those required by businesses, public transportation, or health care facilities. Should fully-vaccinated Kansans feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they are welcome to continue doing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511762-1/president-biden-speaks-rose-garden-cdc-eases-mask-wearing-guidelines">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.“We have all longed for this moment — when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at an earlier White House briefing.The CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — in part to highlight the benefits of getting the shot.The country’s aggressive vaccination campaign has paid off: U.S. virus cases are at their lowest rate since September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.Walensky said the long-awaited change is thanks to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated and is based on the latest science about how well those shots are working.“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities -– large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” Walensky said. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky said those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.To date about 154 million Americans, more than 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The rate of new vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, but with the authorization Wednesday of the Pfizer shot for children ages 12 to 15, a new burst of doses is expected in the coming days.Just two weeks ago, the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in all settings and outdoors in large crowds.Walensky said evidence from the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real world use as they were in earlier studies, and that so far they continue to work even though some worrying mutated versions of the virus are spreading.The more people continue to get vaccinated, the faster infections will drop — and the harder it will be for the virus to mutate enough to escape vaccines, she stressed, urging everyone 12 and older who’s not yet vaccinated to sign up.And while some people still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, Walensky said, that’s rare. She cited evidence that those infections tend to be milder, shorter and harder to spread to others. If people who are vaccinated do develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately put their mask back on and get tested, she said.There are some caveats. Walensky encouraged people who have weak immune systems, such as from organ transplants or cancer treatment, to talk with their doctors before shedding their masks. That’s because of continued uncertainty about whether the vaccines can rev up a weakened immune system as well as they do normal, healthy ones.The new guidance had an immediate effect at the White House, which has taken a cautious approach to easing virus restrictions. Staffers were informed that masks are no longer required for people who are fully vaccinated. And Biden, who was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office when the guidance was announced, led the group in removing their masks Thursday afternoon.First lady Jill Biden, who was traveling in West Virginia, told reporters that “we feel naked,” after the guidance, as she and her party removed their face coverings. Then she paused. “I didn’t mean it that way!”___

🎥 Biden: Great day for America; Kan. adopts updated mask guidance

MCPHERSON (AP) — McPherson officials are investigating after 
seven headstones were damaged or moved at a cemetery. Cemetery officials
 say sometime last week vandals knocked over and broke the headstones, 
and one was moved to nearby train tracks. 

McPherson police patrol
 the cemetery every night but no one saw the vandals. Some of the 
vandalized monuments date back to the 1800s. The damages range from 
about $200 to $500. 

The McPherson Public Lands Department has 
replaced four of the stones but it could take weeks before the other 
three are repaired.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620919664951.png" alt="Cemetery vandalism in McPherson -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Cemetery vandalism in McPherson -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON (AP) — McPherson officials are investigating after 
seven headstones were damaged or moved at a cemetery. Cemetery officials
 say sometime last week vandals knocked over and broke the headstones, 
and one was moved to nearby train tracks. McPherson police patrol
 the cemetery every night but no one saw the vandals. Some of the 
vandalized monuments date back to the 1800s. The damages range from 
about $200 to $500. The McPherson Public Lands Department has 
replaced four of the stones but it could take weeks before the other 
three are repaired.

Several headstones vandalized at McPherson cemetery

It’s been a whirlwind for two Kansas Lottery players,
 as they have come forward to claim their respective portions of the 
Super Kansas Cash jackpot that was hit on Monday, May 3. The jackpot 
amount was $2,043,273, and each of the three winning tickets is worth 
$681,091.

One person came forward to first claim one-third of the jackpot 
earlier in the week, but eventually found a second ticket with the same 
winning numbers, nabbing another portion of the jackpot. The winner, who
 chose to remain anonymous, shared that they didn’t realize they had a 
second winning ticket until the night after they claimed their first 
prize, and found it when looking through their pile of other Kansas 
Lottery tickets at home.

“I couldn’t believe my luck,” the winner said. “I had purchased a 
second ticket with my numbers just in case my first ticket didn’t cover 
that drawing. I’m so happy I did.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574716446103.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas LotteryIt’s been a whirlwind for two Kansas Lottery players,
 as they have come forward to claim their respective portions of the 
Super Kansas Cash jackpot that was hit on Monday, May 3. The jackpot 
amount was $2,043,273, and each of the three winning tickets is worth 
$681,091.One person came forward to first claim one-third of the jackpot 
earlier in the week, but eventually found a second ticket with the same 
winning numbers, nabbing another portion of the jackpot. The winner, who
 chose to remain anonymous, shared that they didn’t realize they had a 
second winning ticket until the night after they claimed their first 
prize, and found it when looking through their pile of other Kansas 
Lottery tickets at home.“I couldn’t believe my luck,” the winner said. “I had purchased a 
second ticket with my numbers just in case my first ticket didn’t cover 
that drawing. I’m so happy I did.”The winner is from Johnson County and they purchased their tickets at Queen’s Price Chopper 6 at 7201 W. 151st Street and Cosentino’s Market 425 at 8051 W. 160th Street, both located in Overland Park.Another person who claimed their portion of the pot is from Jefferson
 County, and the ticket was sold at Petro Valley Falls at 1420 Hwy K-4 
in Valley Falls. The winner also chose to remain anonymous.For selling the winning tickets, the retailers, if eligible, will split the $1,000 selling bonus.Super Kansas Cash is a Kansas-only game, with drawings held every 
Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The next drawing will be Saturday, May 
15, with a jackpot of $140,000. Tickets start at just $1 for two plays.&nbsp;The Kansas Lottery is now taking appointments for in-person claims. 
If you would like to claim a prize of $600 or higher in person, please 
contact <a href="mailto:claims.appointment@kslottery.net">claims.appointment@kslottery.net</a>
 with your name, phone number, prize amount, and preferred day and time.
 To see more information about the requirements of claiming a prize in 
person, please click <a href="https://www.kslottery.com/news-releases/kansas-lottery-resumes-in-person-claims-by-appointment/https:/www.kslottery.com/news-releases/kansas-lottery-resumes-in-person-claims-by-appointment/">here</a>.