WASHINGTON (AP) — Military troops must immediately begin to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo Wednesday, ordering service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementation.”

More than 800,000 service members have yet to get their shots, according to Pentagon data. And now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the Defense Department is adding it to the list of required shots troops must get as part of their military service.

<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Aug/25/2002838826/-1/-1/0/MEMORANDUM-FOR-MANDATORY-COR[%E2%80%A6]019-VACCINATION-OF-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE-SERVICE-MEMBERS.PDF" target="_blank">The Austin memo</a>&nbsp;does not dictate a specific timeline for completing the vaccinations. But it says the military services will have to report regularly on their progress. A senior defense official said that Austin has made it clear to the services that he expects them to move quickly, and that this will be completed in weeks not months.

“To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force,” Austin said in the memo. “After careful consultation with medical experts and military leadership, and with the support of the President, I have determined that mandatory vaccination against coronavirus disease...is necessary to protect the Force and defend the American people.”

Troops will be able to get their Pfizer shots at their bases and from their commands around the world. The Pentagon has said it has enough vaccine supply to meet demand. Individual service members may also go out and get any of the other COVID vaccines on their own.

Fulfilling the vaccine mandate, however, may be a challenge for National Guard forces who are scattered around the country, and gather just once a month for their required drills.

According to the Pentagon, there are more than 1.3 million troops on active duty and close to 800,000 in the Guard and Reserve. And, as of Aug. 18, more than 1 million active duty, Guard and Reserve service members were fully vaccinated and nearly 245,000 more had received at least one shot.

Senior military leaders have consistently pressed their forces to get vaccines through a wide range of public pleas, and via social media and other campaigns. But — as is true among the U.S. population — many service members have been reluctant.

Defense officials have said it’s critical for troops to get the vaccine because they live and work closely together and outbreaks could hamper the U.S. military’s ability to defend America.

Military officials have said they don’t have specific numbers on how many Guard troops are not yet vaccinated, and the Pentagon only provides a troop total that lumps active duty, Guard and Reserve into one statistic.

Guard officials have said all along that it is very difficult to assess how many of their citizen soldiers have gotten a vaccine. And only now will they be able to begin actually tracking the number with more precision as Guard members report to their drill weekends this fall.

Austin’s decision to mandate the vaccine fulfills a vow he made earlier this month to require it no later than mid-September, or immediately upon FDA licensure, whichever came first. His move reflects similar actions by governments and companies around the world, as nations struggle with the highly contagious delta variant that has sent U.S. cases surging to heights not seen since last fall.

Hospitalizations and deaths are increasing among the military. Over the past month, the number of service member deaths jumped from 25 to 34 – by more than a third.

“Our vaccination of the Force will save lives,” said the Austin memo. “Thank you for your focus on this critical mission.”

Members of the U.S. military are already required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they are deployed. The requirements — which include shots for smallpox, hepatitis, polio and the flu — also provide for a number of temporary and permanent exemptions for either medical or administrative reasons.

Austin in the memo noted that the new requirement will allow for exemptions that are consistent with the current policies for all the other vaccines. Permanent exemptions include serious medical reactions to the vaccine, immune deficiencies such as HIV infection, and “evidence of existing immunity” by a serologic antibody test or “documentation of previous infection or natural infection presumed.”

There also are administrative exemptions, including one for religious reasons. The religious exemption is granted by the military services based on their policies, and it appears to be relatively rare. The decision is made by commanders based on consultation with medical personnel and chaplains.

Briefing the news media on Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said commanders are expected to carry out the vaccine order with “skill and and a measure of compassion.” Service members who object, he said, will have the opportunity to meet with medical personnel and with their own leadership, to ensure the troops understand the risks to themselves and their teammates if they don’t take the vaccine.

Asked about specific punishments for noncompliance, Kirby said commanders have a “wide range of tools” to use. “It’s a lawful order and we fully anticipate that our troops are going to follow lawful orders,” he added.

The Navy and the Marine Corps said they have had zero religious exemption requests for other vaccines in recent years and the Air Force said there were few. The Army was not able to provide any data.

A little over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated with one of the country’s three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson.

The Pentagon decision only applies to the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. J&amp;J said it hopes to do so later this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629972789785.png" alt="Troops will be able to get their Pfizer shots at their bases and from their commands around the world&nbsp;photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Troops will be able to get their Pfizer shots at their bases and from their commands around the world&nbsp;photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Military troops must immediately begin to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo Wednesday, ordering service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementation.”More than 800,000 service members have yet to get their shots, according to Pentagon data. And now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the Defense Department is adding it to the list of required shots troops must get as part of their military service.<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Aug/25/2002838826/-1/-1/0/MEMORANDUM-FOR-MANDATORY-COR[%E2%80%A6]019-VACCINATION-OF-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE-SERVICE-MEMBERS.PDF" target="_blank">The Austin memo</a>&nbsp;does not dictate a specific timeline for completing the vaccinations. But it says the military services will have to report regularly on their progress. A senior defense official said that Austin has made it clear to the services that he expects them to move quickly, and that this will be completed in weeks not months.“To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force,” Austin said in the memo. “After careful consultation with medical experts and military leadership, and with the support of the President, I have determined that mandatory vaccination against coronavirus disease...is necessary to protect the Force and defend the American people.”Troops will be able to get their Pfizer shots at their bases and from their commands around the world. The Pentagon has said it has enough vaccine supply to meet demand. Individual service members may also go out and get any of the other COVID vaccines on their own.Fulfilling the vaccine mandate, however, may be a challenge for National Guard forces who are scattered around the country, and gather just once a month for their required drills.According to the Pentagon, there are more than 1.3 million troops on active duty and close to 800,000 in the Guard and Reserve. And, as of Aug. 18, more than 1 million active duty, Guard and Reserve service members were fully vaccinated and nearly 245,000 more had received at least one shot.Senior military leaders have consistently pressed their forces to get vaccines through a wide range of public pleas, and via social media and other campaigns. But — as is true among the U.S. population — many service members have been reluctant.Defense officials have said it’s critical for troops to get the vaccine because they live and work closely together and outbreaks could hamper the U.S. military’s ability to defend America.Military officials have said they don’t have specific numbers on how many Guard troops are not yet vaccinated, and the Pentagon only provides a troop total that lumps active duty, Guard and Reserve into one statistic.Guard officials have said all along that it is very difficult to assess how many of their citizen soldiers have gotten a vaccine. And only now will they be able to begin actually tracking the number with more precision as Guard members report to their drill weekends this fall.Austin’s decision to mandate the vaccine fulfills a vow he made earlier this month to require it no later than mid-September, or immediately upon FDA licensure, whichever came first. His move reflects similar actions by governments and companies around the world, as nations struggle with the highly contagious delta variant that has sent U.S. cases surging to heights not seen since last fall.Hospitalizations and deaths are increasing among the military. Over the past month, the number of service member deaths jumped from 25 to 34 – by more than a third.“Our vaccination of the Force will save lives,” said the Austin memo. “Thank you for your focus on this critical mission.”Members of the U.S. military are already required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they are deployed. The requirements — which include shots for smallpox, hepatitis, polio and the flu — also provide for a number of temporary and permanent exemptions for either medical or administrative reasons.Austin in the memo noted that the new requirement will allow for exemptions that are consistent with the current policies for all the other vaccines. Permanent exemptions include serious medical reactions to the vaccine, immune deficiencies such as HIV infection, and “evidence of existing immunity” by a serologic antibody test or “documentation of previous infection or natural infection presumed.”There also are administrative exemptions, including one for religious reasons. The religious exemption is granted by the military services based on their policies, and it appears to be relatively rare. The decision is made by commanders based on consultation with medical personnel and chaplains.Briefing the news media on Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said commanders are expected to carry out the vaccine order with “skill and and a measure of compassion.” Service members who object, he said, will have the opportunity to meet with medical personnel and with their own leadership, to ensure the troops understand the risks to themselves and their teammates if they don’t take the vaccine.Asked about specific punishments for noncompliance, Kirby said commanders have a “wide range of tools” to use. “It’s a lawful order and we fully anticipate that our troops are going to follow lawful orders,” he added.The Navy and the Marine Corps said they have had zero religious exemption requests for other vaccines in recent years and the Air Force said there were few. The Army was not able to provide any data.A little over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated with one of the country’s three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson.The Pentagon decision only applies to the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. J&amp;J said it hopes to do so later this year.

Pentagon: US troops must get COVID-19 vaccines ASAP

Window for school, library purchases opens in September

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it has received requests for $5.137 billion to fund 9.1 million connected devices and 5.4 million broadband connections as part of the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.  The first filing window, which closed August 13, attracted applications from all 50 states, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia – including schools and libraries in both rural and urban communities seeking funding for eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.  In view of outstanding demand and the recent spike in coronavirus cases, the FCC will open a second application filing window for schools and libraries to request funding for connected devices and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons for the current 2021-22 school year.

“The Emergency Connectivity Fund is the single largest effort to bring connectivity and devices to students who lack them – and this robust response from applicants shows the tremendous need in our communities.  This funding is an important down payment in closing the Homework Gap so that all children, regardless of their circumstances or where they live, have access to the tools they need to succeed,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “The pandemic highlighted like never before the difference a reliable internet connection can make in a student’s education, and we want to make sure that as many schools and libraries can apply for support this school year.  The need is there, and the opening of a second application window reflects that.  Together with the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are investing more than $10 billion in American students and households, so more Americans can connect, communicate, and more fully participate in modern life.” 

The FCC will open the second application filing window to provide support for the current school year in light of outstanding demand, including applications that were filed after the close of the initial application filing window, and resource challenges some schools faced with a summertime application filing window.  Moreover, the rise of the Delta variant means off-campus connectivity remains vital to ensuring students, school staff, and library patrons can engage in remote learning as they face challenges and uncertainty amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  

During the second application filing window, which will run from September 28 to October 13, eligible schools and libraries can apply for financial support to purchase eligible equipment and services for students, school staff and library patrons with unmet needs.  The acting Chairwoman has long made closing the Homework Gap a priority during her tenure at the Commission.  Recent estimates suggest there may be as many as 17 million children struggling without the broadband access they need to fully engage in remote learning.  

For the first application filing window, the FCC set a target to review and issue decisions for 50% of workable applications within 60 days of the close of the application filing window and 70% of workable applications within 100 days of the close of the application filing window.  The funding is available for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need, and is available to support off-campus leaning, such as homework, even if schools have returned to full time in-person instruction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Window for school, library purchases opens in September</h2>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it has received requests for $5.137 billion to fund 9.1 million connected devices and 5.4 million broadband connections as part of the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. The first filing window, which closed August 13, attracted applications from all 50 states, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia – including schools and libraries in both rural and urban communities seeking funding for eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. In view of outstanding demand and the recent spike in coronavirus cases, the FCC will open a second application filing window for schools and libraries to request funding for connected devices and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons for the current 2021-22 school year.“The Emergency Connectivity Fund is the single largest effort to bring connectivity and devices to students who lack them – and this robust response from applicants shows the tremendous need in our communities. This funding is an important down payment in closing the Homework Gap so that all children, regardless of their circumstances or where they live, have access to the tools they need to succeed,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The pandemic highlighted like never before the difference a reliable internet connection can make in a student’s education, and we want to make sure that as many schools and libraries can apply for support this school year. The need is there, and the opening of a second application window reflects that. Together with the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are investing more than $10 billion in American students and households, so more Americans can connect, communicate, and more fully participate in modern life.” The FCC will open the second application filing window to provide support for the current school year in light of outstanding demand, including applications that were filed after the close of the initial application filing window, and resource challenges some schools faced with a summertime application filing window. Moreover, the rise of the Delta variant means off-campus connectivity remains vital to ensuring students, school staff, and library patrons can engage in remote learning as they face challenges and uncertainty amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the second application filing window, which will run from September 28 to October 13, eligible schools and libraries can apply for financial support to purchase eligible equipment and services for students, school staff and library patrons with unmet needs. The acting Chairwoman has long made closing the Homework Gap a priority during her tenure at the Commission. Recent estimates suggest there may be as many as 17 million children struggling without the broadband access they need to fully engage in remote learning. For the first application filing window, the FCC set a target to review and issue decisions for 50% of workable applications within 60 days of the close of the application filing window and 70% of workable applications within 100 days of the close of the application filing window. The funding is available for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need, and is available to support off-campus leaning, such as homework, even if schools have returned to full time in-person instruction.

Emergency broadband fund receives more than $5B in requests

LAWRENCE — Five University of Kansas researchers are part of a multi-institutional team awarded a five-year, $12.5 million National Science Foundation grant focused on the restoration of native prairie and agricultural ecosystems, with more than $3 million coming to KU. Collaborators include eight organizations and 26 scientists and educators. 

KU researchers will focus on native prairie ecosystems and polycultures using the perennial grain Kernza that is under development in collaboration with The Land Institute in Salina. The KU researchers are Jim Bever, Peggy Schultz, Maggie Wagner, Ben Sikes and Tom McKenna, all scientists at KU’s Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research. Bever, Wagner and Sikes are KU faculty members in the Department of Ecology &amp; Evolutionary Biology, and Schultz is a faculty member with the Environmental Studies Program.

The project, based at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, establishes the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute. The overall project will be directed by Allison Miller, a member of the Danforth Center and a professor of biology at St. Louis University.

The research will address natural and agricultural systems in tandem, applying technologies used primarily to study annual grain crops to wild plant species and perennial crop candidate species. The project also will provide opportunities for recruitment, training and placement of new scientists, with a focus on persons excluded because of ethnicity or race, whose research is aimed at restoring wild landscapes and restructuring of agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.

Partner institutions, in addition to KU, are St. Louis&nbsp;University; The Land Institute; the University of Missouri; the Chicago Botanical Garden and the University of Vermont. The research will take place at seven field sites, including the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Shaw Nature Reserve and the University of Kansas Field Station.

Teams within the group will focus on specific themes, including restoration ecology of natural areas, agro-ecology and plant evolutionary genetics.

Researchers from KU and The Land Institute will lead the study of the soil ecosphere. The new grant will extend support for experiments at the KU Field Station testing the effects of plant diversity and drought on plant productivity that were initiated with a five-year NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity grant awarded in 2017.

The new grant also extends collaborations of scientists from KU and The Land Institute, including various studies at the Perennial Agriculture Project Field Station just northwest of Lawrence.

“We want to understand how the soil ecosphere — soil and soil microbes — and the plant community influences above- and belowground variation in plant traits, and vice versa,” said Bever, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the project’s lead researcher at KU. “We’ll look at the question of how these traits influence properties of plant communities and the soil ecosphere.”

The overall project is titled “New Roots for Restoration: Integrating plant traits, communities, and the soil ecosphere to advance restoration of natural and agricultural systems.”&nbsp;The New Roots for&nbsp;Restoration Biology Integration Institute&nbsp;was established with support from the NSF Biology Integration Institutes program, award number 2120153.

The Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research was established at KU in 1911. The center houses a variety of environmental research labs and remote sensing/GIS programs in Takeru Higuchi Hall, Smissman Research Laboratories and the West District greenhouse. The center also manages the 3,700-acre KU Field Station, a site for study in the sciences, arts and humanities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629906682924.jpeg" alt="Tom McKenna, assistant research professor at the Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research, checks seed heads of the perennial grain Kernza, a trademarked intermediate wheatgrass, in experimental plots at the Perennial Agriculture Project Field Station northwest of Lawrence. (The Perennial Agriculture Project is a joint venture between the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation and The Land Institute.)" />
 <figcaption>Tom McKenna, assistant research professor at the Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research, checks seed heads of the perennial grain Kernza, a trademarked intermediate wheatgrass, in experimental plots at the Perennial Agriculture Project Field Station northwest of Lawrence. (The Perennial Agriculture Project is a joint venture between the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation and The Land Institute.)</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE — Five University of Kansas researchers are part of a multi-institutional team awarded a five-year, $12.5 million National Science Foundation grant focused on the restoration of native prairie and agricultural ecosystems, with more than $3 million coming to KU. Collaborators include eight organizations and 26 scientists and educators. KU researchers will focus on native prairie ecosystems and polycultures using the perennial grain Kernza that is under development in collaboration with The Land Institute in Salina. The KU researchers are Jim Bever, Peggy Schultz, Maggie Wagner, Ben Sikes and Tom McKenna, all scientists at KU’s Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research. Bever, Wagner and Sikes are KU faculty members in the Department of Ecology &amp; Evolutionary Biology, and Schultz is a faculty member with the Environmental Studies Program.The project, based at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, establishes the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute. The overall project will be directed by Allison Miller, a member of the Danforth Center and a professor of biology at St. Louis University.The research will address natural and agricultural systems in tandem, applying technologies used primarily to study annual grain crops to wild plant species and perennial crop candidate species. The project also will provide opportunities for recruitment, training and placement of new scientists, with a focus on persons excluded because of ethnicity or race, whose research is aimed at restoring wild landscapes and restructuring of agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.Partner institutions, in addition to KU, are St. Louis&nbsp;University; The Land Institute; the University of Missouri; the Chicago Botanical Garden and the University of Vermont. The research will take place at seven field sites, including the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Shaw Nature Reserve and the University of Kansas Field Station.Teams within the group will focus on specific themes, including restoration ecology of natural areas, agro-ecology and plant evolutionary genetics.Researchers from KU and The Land Institute will lead the study of the soil ecosphere. The new grant will extend support for experiments at the KU Field Station testing the effects of plant diversity and drought on plant productivity that were initiated with a five-year NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity grant awarded in 2017.The new grant also extends collaborations of scientists from KU and The Land Institute, including various studies at the Perennial Agriculture Project Field Station just northwest of Lawrence.“We want to understand how the soil ecosphere — soil and soil microbes — and the plant community influences above- and belowground variation in plant traits, and vice versa,” said Bever, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the project’s lead researcher at KU. “We’ll look at the question of how these traits influence properties of plant communities and the soil ecosphere.”The overall project is titled “New Roots for Restoration: Integrating plant traits, communities, and the soil ecosphere to advance restoration of natural and agricultural systems.”&nbsp;The New Roots for&nbsp;Restoration Biology Integration Institute&nbsp;was established with support from the NSF Biology Integration Institutes program, award number 2120153.The Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research was established at KU in 1911. The center houses a variety of environmental research labs and remote sensing/GIS programs in Takeru Higuchi Hall, Smissman Research Laboratories and the West District greenhouse. The center also manages the 3,700-acre KU Field Station, a site for study in the sciences, arts and humanities.

KU researchers will work to restore native prairie ecosystems

DAWSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after finding 11 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop in Dawson County, Nebraska.

Just after 11:00 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed an eastbound BMW sedan with defective lighting traveling on Interstate 80 near Lexington, according to a media release. 

The trooper performed a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the trooper and a Dawson County Sheriff’s Deputy observed marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle revealed 11 pounds of fentanyl and a small amount of marijuana.

Troopers arrested the driver, Alexis Murillo Godoy, 27, of Long Beach, California, on requested charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and other charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629846259874.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>DAWSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after finding 11 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop in Dawson County, Nebraska.Just after 11:00 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed an eastbound BMW sedan with defective lighting traveling on Interstate 80 near Lexington, according to a media release. The trooper performed a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the trooper and a Dawson County Sheriff’s Deputy observed marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle.A search of the vehicle revealed 11 pounds of fentanyl and a small amount of marijuana.Troopers arrested the driver, Alexis Murillo Godoy, 27, of Long Beach, California, on requested charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and other charges.

State troopers find 11 pounds of fentanyl during traffic stop

JUNCTION CITY—A bomb threat ruined the first day of school at Spring Valley Elementary School in Junction City on Aug. 11.

Fortunately a bomb was never found and no one was injured. But since there have been social media concerns expressed about the JCPD response to the incident. Tuesday police and school district administrators met for an after action review.

Capt. Cory Odell, noted that an unsubstantiated threat about a bomb came in from the school district at approximately 7:34 a.m. and dispatchers contacted school resource officers who just preparing to come to work. "Due to the way that the information came in it was not a lights-sirens run so it was not a 30-second response like people anticipate just because of morning traffic going all the way from the east side of town to where we're at all the way to the west side of town where the school's located. "

JCPD officers did not arrive on scene until about 8:04 a.m. nearly 30-minutes later. JC Post asked about the 30 minutes it took to respond. "He was just finishing up getting ready to come in to work. He had to get all of his work stuff together and get loaded into his vehicle, " said Odell. Police Chief John Lamb pointed out that at time it was still an unsubstantiated threat. "Nobody had called in. This was based on a group meet message that was put out by the school district telling staff to check your areas. If you see anything out of sorts report to us. It was still perceived by them as a low threat so we weren't going to endanger the community more by trying to get over there by lights and sirens."

Lamb said a 911 call came in shortly after receiving the group meet text and a second SRO, school resource officer, was sent to the school on the west side of Junction City. Lamb said some sheriff's department personnel were also at the school because they happened to be dropping off their children.&nbsp;

Odell said after 8:04 police linked up with school officials and did an immediate walk-through of the building and nothing seemed out of place. School staff had also conducted an earlier walk through and nothing seemed out of place. Lamb commented that eventually four walk-throughs were done by police or school personnel. "A lot of people think the kids were evacuated. The kids were never allowed in the school. School staff had made the decision I am not going to put the kids in school and then run the chance of possibly evacuating them which we understand, so the kids were never allowed in school, they were just taken to a safe distance away and cared for away from the school.

Police said the students were allowed into the school about 10:27 a.m. It was the first day of the new school year.

Some improvements will be made. Lamb said police have assessed their policies and there are some things that have been identified where changes need to be made. "Working with the school board comparing their policy to ours, make sure that policy matches practice and that we're working together and everybody understands everybody's role as we respond. " Lamb said a committee will review it to make sure the policy is compliant with accreditation standards, will identify best practices in the profession, and what works well with not just schools but also other large facilities. While not identifying specific changes now, Lamb did confirm there will be some to make it more clear on response so entities can understand the police role and what to expect. 

Lamb also stated, "There are some things that we have identified that we can improve on. Just like I said at the after action report with the school who we're working closely with, there were some ah-ha moments in that. No situation like this is ever going to be perfect. There's no cookie cutter response to any situation in law enforcement. " Lamb also added, "So what you do is remain fluid, calm." He commented that the main goal is to protect the students and the staff, and the chief added that all agencies were combined in that effort.

Lamb noted that he wants to ensure communication between the JCPD and school district is strong, they want to build on it, identify each other's roles so next time it will run a lot smoother. The goal is to strive to do better in the future.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629854922350.jpeg" alt="Spring Valley Elementary School&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Spring Valley Elementary School&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>JUNCTION CITY—A bomb threat ruined the first day of school at Spring Valley Elementary School in Junction City on Aug. 11.Fortunately a bomb was never found and no one was injured. But since there have been social media concerns expressed about the JCPD response to the incident. Tuesday police and school district administrators met for an after action review.Capt. Cory Odell, noted that an unsubstantiated threat about a bomb came in from the school district at approximately 7:34 a.m. and dispatchers contacted school resource officers who just preparing to come to work. "Due to the way that the information came in it was not a lights-sirens run so it was not a 30-second response like people anticipate just because of morning traffic going all the way from the east side of town to where we're at all the way to the west side of town where the school's located. "JCPD officers did not arrive on scene until about 8:04 a.m. nearly 30-minutes later. JC Post asked about the 30 minutes it took to respond. "He was just finishing up getting ready to come in to work. He had to get all of his work stuff together and get loaded into his vehicle, " said Odell. Police Chief John Lamb pointed out that at time it was still an unsubstantiated threat. "Nobody had called in. This was based on a group meet message that was put out by the school district telling staff to check your areas. If you see anything out of sorts report to us. It was still perceived by them as a low threat so we weren't going to endanger the community more by trying to get over there by lights and sirens."Lamb said a 911 call came in shortly after receiving the group meet text and a second SRO, school resource officer, was sent to the school on the west side of Junction City. Lamb said some sheriff's department personnel were also at the school because they happened to be dropping off their children.&nbsp;Odell said after 8:04 police linked up with school officials and did an immediate walk-through of the building and nothing seemed out of place. School staff had also conducted an earlier walk through and nothing seemed out of place. Lamb commented that eventually four walk-throughs were done by police or school personnel. "A lot of people think the kids were evacuated. The kids were never allowed in the school. School staff had made the decision I am not going to put the kids in school and then run the chance of possibly evacuating them which we understand, so the kids were never allowed in school, they were just taken to a safe distance away and cared for away from the school.Police said the students were allowed into the school about 10:27 a.m. It was the first day of the new school year.Some improvements will be made. Lamb said police have assessed their policies and there are some things that have been identified where changes need to be made. "Working with the school board comparing their policy to ours, make sure that policy matches practice and that we're working together and everybody understands everybody's role as we respond. " Lamb said a committee will review it to make sure the policy is compliant with accreditation standards, will identify best practices in the profession, and what works well with not just schools but also other large facilities. While not identifying specific changes now, Lamb did confirm there will be some to make it more clear on response so entities can understand the police role and what to expect. Lamb also stated, "There are some things that we have identified that we can improve on. Just like I said at the after action report with the school who we're working closely with, there were some ah-ha moments in that. No situation like this is ever going to be perfect. There's no cookie cutter response to any situation in law enforcement. " Lamb also added, "So what you do is remain fluid, calm." He commented that the main goal is to protect the students and the staff, and the chief added that all agencies were combined in that effort.Lamb noted that he wants to ensure communication between the JCPD and school district is strong, they want to build on it, identify each other's roles so next time it will run a lot smoother. The goal is to strive to do better in the future.&nbsp;

Police criticized for response to Kan. school bomb threat 

TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced Wednesday the release of the Kansas COVID County Ranking report, according to a media release from the agency.

This report is designed to help county commissioners and local leaders stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities by tracking critical COVID-19 metrics including testing, case and vaccination rates.

“I believe that data is a powerful tool we can use to guide our response to COVID-19,”&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman said. “I am hopeful this report empowers action in communities and encourages sharing and implementation of best practices across Local Health Departments. Local leaders and communities are working tirelessly to keep us safe; to help them, helps all of us.”

This report is not a report-card, as multiple factors impact COVID-19 testing, case and vaccination rates in our communities. It brings together the most critical COVID-19 metrics at a local level to help state, county, and local leaders work together to stop the spread of the dangerous COVID-19 delta variant and keep Kansans safe and keep the economy open.

“Over the past 18 months, Kansas Counties have worked tirelessly to provide ongoing response and vital resources for county residents to keep them safe and informed on the evolving COVID-19 virus,”&nbsp;shared Bruce Chladny, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Counties, “And, the county response efforts, including vaccinations and essential messaging, continue as Kansas now experiences yet another surge from the deadly virus.”

Three metrics are reported and ranked across each county:

Each county’s rankings are added together to generate a total score for the county. The total scores for counties are then ranked from 1-105.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629922813969.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced Wednesday the release of the Kansas COVID County Ranking report, according to a media release from the agency.This report is designed to help county commissioners and local leaders stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities by tracking critical COVID-19 metrics including testing, case and vaccination rates.“I believe that data is a powerful tool we can use to guide our response to COVID-19,”&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman said. “I am hopeful this report empowers action in communities and encourages sharing and implementation of best practices across Local Health Departments. Local leaders and communities are working tirelessly to keep us safe; to help them, helps all of us.”This report is not a report-card, as multiple factors impact COVID-19 testing, case and vaccination rates in our communities. It brings together the most critical COVID-19 metrics at a local level to help state, county, and local leaders work together to stop the spread of the dangerous COVID-19 delta variant and keep Kansans safe and keep the economy open.“Over the past 18 months, Kansas Counties have worked tirelessly to provide ongoing response and vital resources for county residents to keep them safe and informed on the evolving COVID-19 virus,”&nbsp;shared Bruce Chladny, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Counties, “And, the county response efforts, including vaccinations and essential messaging, continue as Kansas now experiences yet another surge from the deadly virus.”Three metrics are reported and ranked across each county:<ul>
 <li>Full series vaccination rate of eligible population (12+ year olds)</li><li>7- day daily average number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people</li><li>7- day daily average number of COVID-19 tests administered per 100,000 people&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Each county’s rankings are added together to generate a total score for the county. The total scores for counties are then ranked from 1-105.&nbsp; &nbsp;Allen&nbsp;County: 76Anderson County: 62Atchison County:&nbsp;18Barber County:&nbsp;39Barton County:&nbsp;79Bourbon County:&nbsp;101Brown County:&nbsp;1Butler County:&nbsp;76Chase County:&nbsp;67Chautauqua County:&nbsp;103Cherokee County:&nbsp;80Cheyenne County:&nbsp;66Clark County:&nbsp;24Clay County:&nbsp;16Cloud County:&nbsp;85Coffey County:&nbsp;72Comanche County:&nbsp;66Cowley County:&nbsp;58Crawford County:&nbsp;47Decatur County:&nbsp;89Dickinson County:&nbsp;26Doniphan County:&nbsp;48Douglas County:&nbsp;2Edwards County:&nbsp;51Elk&nbsp;County:104Ellis County:&nbsp;47Ellsworth County:&nbsp;32Finney County:&nbsp;76Ford County:&nbsp;88Franklin County:&nbsp;9Geary County:&nbsp;6Gove County: 22Graham County:&nbsp;20Grant County:&nbsp;58Gray County:&nbsp;42Greeley County:&nbsp;12Greenwood County:&nbsp;42Hamilton County:&nbsp;71Harper County:&nbsp;45Harvey County:&nbsp;44Haskell County: 102Hodgeman&nbsp;County: 73Jackson County:&nbsp;13Jefferson County:&nbsp;22Jewell County:&nbsp;37Johnson County:&nbsp;3Kearny County:&nbsp;25Kingman County:&nbsp;10Kiowa County:&nbsp;23Labette&nbsp;County: 61Lane County:&nbsp;43Leavenworth&nbsp;County: 8Lincoln&nbsp;County: 56Linn&nbsp;County: 98Logan&nbsp;County: 81Lyon&nbsp;County: 14Marion&nbsp;County: 53Marshall&nbsp;County: 56McPherson&nbsp;County: 20Meade County:&nbsp;63Miami&nbsp;County: 31Mitchell&nbsp;County: 5Montgomery County:&nbsp;79Morris&nbsp;County: 7Morton&nbsp;County:&nbsp;96Nemaha County:&nbsp;4Neosho&nbsp;County: 100Ness&nbsp;County: 33Norton&nbsp;County: 56Osage&nbsp;County: 59Osborne&nbsp;County: 70Ottawa&nbsp;County: 34Pawnee&nbsp;County: 40Phillips&nbsp;County: 77Pottawatomie&nbsp;County: 95Pratt&nbsp;County: 29Rawlins&nbsp;County: 85Reno&nbsp;County: 31Republic County:&nbsp;68Rice County: 38Riley&nbsp;County: 49Rooks&nbsp;County: 36Rush&nbsp;County: 52Russell&nbsp;County: 99Saline&nbsp;County: 36Scott&nbsp;County: 66Sedgwick&nbsp;County: 15Seward&nbsp;County: 85Shawnee&nbsp;County: 11Sheridan&nbsp;County: 92Sherman&nbsp;County: 90Smith&nbsp;County: 51Stafford&nbsp;County: 28Stanton&nbsp;County: 82Stevens County:&nbsp;105Sumner County:&nbsp;93Thomas&nbsp;County: 94Trego&nbsp;County: 91Wabaunsee&nbsp;County: 27Wallace&nbsp;County: 70Washington&nbsp;County: 61Wichita&nbsp;County:&nbsp;86Wilson&nbsp;County:&nbsp;88Woodson&nbsp;County: 97Wyandotte&nbsp;County: 17The report will be refreshed three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It can be found <a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/">on KDHE’s website&nbsp;</a>

Where does your county rank in KDHE's new COVID report?

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning 
October 1, 2021. The rates will be:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment 
rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate 
for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during July 2021 to take effect August&nbsp;1, 
2021, based on daily compounding.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-21-17.pdf">Revenue Ruling 2021-17</a>, announcing the rates of interest,&nbsp;will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2021-37, dated September&nbsp;13, 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning 
October 1, 2021. The rates will be:<ul>
 <li>3% for overpayments (2% in the case of a corporation); 
	&nbsp;</li><li>0.5 % for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>3% percent for underpayments; and 
	&nbsp;</li><li>5% percent for large corporate underpayments.</li>
 </ul>Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment 
rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate 
for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during July 2021 to take effect August&nbsp;1, 
2021, based on daily compounding.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-21-17.pdf">Revenue Ruling 2021-17</a>, announcing the rates of interest,&nbsp;will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2021-37, dated September&nbsp;13, 2021.

IRS: Interest rates remain the same for the fourth quarter 2021

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman involved in a fatal crash in Kansas City told investigators she had been fleeing gunfire when she ran a red light and crashed into another car, police there said.

The crash happened earlier this month on the morning of Aug. 3 at an eastern Kansas City intersection, police said. Thee woman was driving east on Truman Road when she ran a red light and slammed into a northbound car, according to investigators.

The 80-year-old driver of the northbound car was taken to a hospital and died there Monday from his injurieS, police said. His name has not been released.

Police said the woman involved in the crash told officers she fled when someone started shooting at her.

Police have not said whether charges will be filed in the cash.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman involved in a fatal crash in Kansas City told investigators she had been fleeing gunfire when she ran a red light and crashed into another car, police there said.The crash happened earlier this month on the morning of Aug. 3 at an eastern Kansas City intersection, police said. Thee woman was driving east on Truman Road when she ran a red light and slammed into a northbound car, according to investigators.The 80-year-old driver of the northbound car was taken to a hospital and died there Monday from his injurieS, police said. His name has not been released.Police said the woman involved in the crash told officers she fled when someone started shooting at her.Police have not said whether charges will be filed in the cash.

Woman in fatal KC crash says she was fleeing gunfire

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-08-24/overland-park-doctor-accused-in-26-million-telemedicine-abuse-scheme">Kansas News Service</a>

A federal grand jury in St. Louis has indicted an Overland Park 
anesthesiologist on charges he conspired to defraud Medicare out of $26 
million.

The 25-count indictment of Dr. Scott Taggart Roethle 
alleges that telemedicine and marketing companies paid him more than 
$674,000 in kickbacks between 2017 and 2020 to sign prescriptions and 
orders for patients he had never met.

Between October 2017 and 
April 2019, the indictment says he ordered knee braces for 3,584 
patients for which Medicare was billed $6.5 million.

He also 
allegedly signed orders for genetic tests after receiving an email from a
 company called Encore Telemedicine/Locum Tenens USA asking if he was 
interested in signing about 180 genetic test orders. The labs that 
received those tests billed $53 million to Medicare, which ended up 
paying more than $18 million for 2,853 patients for whom Roethle signed 
orders.

The indictment also charges that Roethle ordered medically
 unnecessary topical creams for 206 patients, causing Medicare to pay 
out more than $365,000.

Roethle did not respond to a message KCUR left on his cellphone. It is not known if he is represented by an attorney.

The
 indictment says two durable medical equipment companies in Cape 
Girardeau, Missouri — MC Medical Supply and Integrity Medical Supply — 
paid kickbacks to Roethle in exchange for orders he sent to them.

Court
 records show the owner of MC Medical Supply, Brandy McKay, pleaded 
guilty in St. Louis last October to defrauding Medicare and Medicaid. 
She is awaiting sentencing.

The owners of Integrity Medical 
Supply, Jackson Siples III and Jamie McCoy, were indicted in connection 
with the same scheme. McCoy pleaded guilty last November to defrauding 
Medicare and Medicaid and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14. 
Siples has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Roethle’s 
indictment says he worked as a telemedicine doctor for at least 10 
medical supply companies, including MC Medical Supply and Integrity 
Medical Supply. That work was in addition to his work as an 
anesthesiologist in Kansas and Missouri, according to the indictment.

“It
 was part of the conspiracy that marketing companies ran television and 
online ads offering orthotic braces and other services, at no cost, to 
patients,” the indictment alleges. “When a patient responded to the ad, 
an employee of a call center collected pertinent information from the 
patient, including the patient's name and address, the name of the 
patient's primary care physician, insurance information, Medicare 
number, and areas of pain. In some instances, the marketers made ‘cold 
calls’ to patients.”

The companies then allegedly sent the patient
 information to Roethle and other telemedicine doctors, who certified 
that the patients needed the products in question, even though they had 
no doctor-patient relationship with them and didn’t determine the items 
or services were medically necessary.

In many instances, patients 
complained to Roethle that they didn’t need or want the items he had 
ordered for them, according to the indictment.

Michael Bradley, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. 
Louis, which is prosecuting the case, told KCUR that Roethle was 
indicted in St. Louis because many of the affected patients live there.

Roethle
 obtained licenses to practice in 22 states and, according to the 
indictment, signed orders for thousands of patients living in those 
states.

Records show he has been sanctioned in at least 10 states 
for prescribing medications via telemedicine to patients with whom he 
did not have a physician-patient relationship.

In December 2018, <a href="https://bmp.hlb.state.mn.us/ostate/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20(PY64266)/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20ID%206-26-20.pdf" target="_blank">the Idaho State Board of Medicine cited him</a> for prescribing testosterone to three patients via telemedicine and publicly reprimanded him.

In December 2019, <a href="https://bmp.hlb.state.mn.us/ostate/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20(PY64266)/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20IA%2012-20-19.pdf" target="_blank">the Iowa Board of Medicine cited him</a> for prescribing medications to a patient via telemedicine. Roethle agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.

Reciprocal
 disciplinary actions over the Idaho and Iowa cases have been issued 
against Roethle by medical boards in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, 
Alabama, Minnesota, Mississippi, Maine and Texas, records show.

Various
 health care-related websites state that Roethle received his medical 
degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2005. 
(Doximity, an online networking service for health care providers, <a href="https://www.doximity.com/pub/scott-roethle-md" target="_blank">says he received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School</a> and did his internship and residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center.)

An Overland Park company called <a href="https://www.in2greatkc.com/about-us/" target="_blank">In2Great Functional Medicine</a>
 lists Roethle as its medical director. A bio on its website describes 
Roethle as a board-certified anesthesiologist “with a passion for 
helping people get and stay healthy.”

A person who answered the phone at In2Great Functional Medicine said he was not in the office. 

Several
 health care websites list Roethle as being affiliated with Overland 
Park Regional Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center and Children’s 
Mercy Hospital. But spokespersons for those hospitals said he was not 
affiliated with them.

The indictment says Roethle was licensed in 
Missouri and Kansas but doesn’t say where he worked. His Kansas Board of
 Healing Arts profile lists his address as 13725 Metcalf Ave. in 
Overland Park, which turns out to be a UPS store where he maintains a 
mailbox.

He lists the same phone number for Bothwell Regional 
Health Center in Sedalia, Missouri, where he was employed until June of 
this year.

Dana Kelchner, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said 
Roethle left after saying he had found another job. She said the 
hospital had not experienced any problems with Roethle and the hospital 
was not mentioned in the criminal charges against Roethle.

The 
indictment underscores how readily telemedicine, the practice of using 
telecommunication technology to provide long-distance health care, can 
be abused. The technology has proven particularly popular during the 
COVID-19 pandemic because it reduces disease exposure for providers and 
patients, preserves scare supplies of personal protective equipment and 
reduces patient demand on facilities.

Two weeks ago, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/telemedicine-company-owner-charged-superseding-indictment-784-million-health-care-fraud" target="_blank">a federal grand jury charged</a>
 the Florida owner of multiple telemedicine companies with an illegal 
kickback scheme involving the submission of $784 million in allegedly 
fraudulent claims to Medicare.

About a year ago, 345 defendants 
were charged in a major telehealth takedown that prosecutors said 
resulted in $6 billion in losses to federal health care programs, 
including $4.5 billion related to telemedicine.

And in April 2019, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2019-04-10/feds-charge-24-in-alleged-1-2-billion-medicare-fraud-scheme" target="_blank">federal prosecutors charged 24 individuals and telehealth companies</a>
 for allegedly accepting kickbacks from medical equipment companies and 
defrauding Medicare of $1.2 billion by persuading patients in 
telemedicine visits to accept items that were not medically necessary.

Dan Margolies is senior reporter and editor at KCUR. He can be reached by email at dan@kcur.org or on Twitter @DanMargolies.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629906041715.png" alt="Dr. Scott Taggart Roethle listed his address as this UPS Store at 137th Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park. Photo Illustration-Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Scott Taggart Roethle listed his address as this UPS Store at 137th Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park. Photo Illustration-Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-08-24/overland-park-doctor-accused-in-26-million-telemedicine-abuse-scheme">Kansas News Service</a>A federal grand jury in St. Louis has indicted an Overland Park 
anesthesiologist on charges he conspired to defraud Medicare out of $26 
million.The 25-count indictment of Dr. Scott Taggart Roethle 
alleges that telemedicine and marketing companies paid him more than 
$674,000 in kickbacks between 2017 and 2020 to sign prescriptions and 
orders for patients he had never met.Between October 2017 and 
April 2019, the indictment says he ordered knee braces for 3,584 
patients for which Medicare was billed $6.5 million.He also 
allegedly signed orders for genetic tests after receiving an email from a
 company called Encore Telemedicine/Locum Tenens USA asking if he was 
interested in signing about 180 genetic test orders. The labs that 
received those tests billed $53 million to Medicare, which ended up 
paying more than $18 million for 2,853 patients for whom Roethle signed 
orders.The indictment also charges that Roethle ordered medically
 unnecessary topical creams for 206 patients, causing Medicare to pay 
out more than $365,000.Roethle did not respond to a message KCUR left on his cellphone. It is not known if he is represented by an attorney.The
 indictment says two durable medical equipment companies in Cape 
Girardeau, Missouri — MC Medical Supply and Integrity Medical Supply — 
paid kickbacks to Roethle in exchange for orders he sent to them.Court
 records show the owner of MC Medical Supply, Brandy McKay, pleaded 
guilty in St. Louis last October to defrauding Medicare and Medicaid. 
She is awaiting sentencing.The owners of Integrity Medical 
Supply, Jackson Siples III and Jamie McCoy, were indicted in connection 
with the same scheme. McCoy pleaded guilty last November to defrauding 
Medicare and Medicaid and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14. 
Siples has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.Roethle’s 
indictment says he worked as a telemedicine doctor for at least 10 
medical supply companies, including MC Medical Supply and Integrity 
Medical Supply. That work was in addition to his work as an 
anesthesiologist in Kansas and Missouri, according to the indictment.“It
 was part of the conspiracy that marketing companies ran television and 
online ads offering orthotic braces and other services, at no cost, to 
patients,” the indictment alleges. “When a patient responded to the ad, 
an employee of a call center collected pertinent information from the 
patient, including the patient's name and address, the name of the 
patient's primary care physician, insurance information, Medicare 
number, and areas of pain. In some instances, the marketers made ‘cold 
calls’ to patients.”The companies then allegedly sent the patient
 information to Roethle and other telemedicine doctors, who certified 
that the patients needed the products in question, even though they had 
no doctor-patient relationship with them and didn’t determine the items 
or services were medically necessary.In many instances, patients 
complained to Roethle that they didn’t need or want the items he had 
ordered for them, according to the indictment.Michael Bradley, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. 
Louis, which is prosecuting the case, told KCUR that Roethle was 
indicted in St. Louis because many of the affected patients live there.<h2>Medical licenses</h2>Roethle
 obtained licenses to practice in 22 states and, according to the 
indictment, signed orders for thousands of patients living in those 
states.Records show he has been sanctioned in at least 10 states 
for prescribing medications via telemedicine to patients with whom he 
did not have a physician-patient relationship.In December 2018, <a href="https://bmp.hlb.state.mn.us/ostate/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20(PY64266)/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20ID%206-26-20.pdf" target="_blank">the Idaho State Board of Medicine cited him</a> for prescribing testosterone to three patients via telemedicine and publicly reprimanded him.In December 2019, <a href="https://bmp.hlb.state.mn.us/ostate/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20(PY64266)/ROETHLE,%20Scott%20T%20IA%2012-20-19.pdf" target="_blank">the Iowa Board of Medicine cited him</a> for prescribing medications to a patient via telemedicine. Roethle agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.Reciprocal
 disciplinary actions over the Idaho and Iowa cases have been issued 
against Roethle by medical boards in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, 
Alabama, Minnesota, Mississippi, Maine and Texas, records show.Various
 health care-related websites state that Roethle received his medical 
degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2005. 
(Doximity, an online networking service for health care providers, <a href="https://www.doximity.com/pub/scott-roethle-md" target="_blank">says he received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School</a> and did his internship and residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center.)An Overland Park company called <a href="https://www.in2greatkc.com/about-us/" target="_blank">In2Great Functional Medicine</a>
 lists Roethle as its medical director. A bio on its website describes 
Roethle as a board-certified anesthesiologist “with a passion for 
helping people get and stay healthy.” A person who answered the phone at In2Great Functional Medicine said he was not in the office. Several
 health care websites list Roethle as being affiliated with Overland 
Park Regional Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center and Children’s 
Mercy Hospital. But spokespersons for those hospitals said he was not 
affiliated with them.The indictment says Roethle was licensed in 
Missouri and Kansas but doesn’t say where he worked. His Kansas Board of
 Healing Arts profile lists his address as 13725 Metcalf Ave. in 
Overland Park, which turns out to be a UPS store where he maintains a 
mailbox.He lists the same phone number for Bothwell Regional 
Health Center in Sedalia, Missouri, where he was employed until June of 
this year.Dana Kelchner, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said 
Roethle left after saying he had found another job. She said the 
hospital had not experienced any problems with Roethle and the hospital 
was not mentioned in the criminal charges against Roethle.The 
indictment underscores how readily telemedicine, the practice of using 
telecommunication technology to provide long-distance health care, can 
be abused. The technology has proven particularly popular during the 
COVID-19 pandemic because it reduces disease exposure for providers and 
patients, preserves scare supplies of personal protective equipment and 
reduces patient demand on facilities.Two weeks ago, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/telemedicine-company-owner-charged-superseding-indictment-784-million-health-care-fraud" target="_blank">a federal grand jury charged</a>
 the Florida owner of multiple telemedicine companies with an illegal 
kickback scheme involving the submission of $784 million in allegedly 
fraudulent claims to Medicare. About a year ago, 345 defendants 
were charged in a major telehealth takedown that prosecutors said 
resulted in $6 billion in losses to federal health care programs, 
including $4.5 billion related to telemedicine.And in April 2019, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2019-04-10/feds-charge-24-in-alleged-1-2-billion-medicare-fraud-scheme" target="_blank">federal prosecutors charged 24 individuals and telehealth companies</a>
 for allegedly accepting kickbacks from medical equipment companies and 
defrauding Medicare of $1.2 billion by persuading patients in 
telemedicine visits to accept items that were not medically necessary.Dan Margolies is senior reporter and editor at KCUR. He can be reached by email at dan@kcur.org or on Twitter @DanMargolies.&nbsp;

Kan. doctor accused in $26M telemedicine abuse scheme 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Congress flew unannounced into Kabul airport in the middle of the chaotic evacuation stunning State Department and U.S. military personnel who had to divert resources to provide security and information to the lawmakers, U.S. officials said.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., flew in and out on charter aircraft and were on the ground at the Kabul airport for several hours Tuesday. That led officials to complain that they could be taking seats that would have otherwise gone to other Americans or Afghans fleeing the country, but the congressmen said in a joint statement that they made sure to leave on a flight with empty seats.

“As Members of Congress, we have a duty to provide oversight on the executive branch,’” the two said in their statement. “We conducted this visit in secret, speaking about it only after our departure, to minimize the risk and disruption to the people on the ground, and because we were there to gather information, not to grandstand.”

The two lawmakers are both military veterans, with backgrounds in the region. Moulton, a Marine who has been outspoken critic of the Iraq War, served multiple tours in Iraq. Meijer was deployed as part of the Army Reserves and later worked in Afghanistan at a nongovernmental organization providing aid. Moulton serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Meijer is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Three officials familiar with the flight said that State Department, Defense Department and White House officials were furious about the incident because it was done without coordination with diplomats or military commanders directing the evacuation.

The U.S. military found out about the visit as the legislators’ aircraft was inbound to Kabul, according to the officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.

One senior U.S. official said the administration saw the lawmakers’ visit as manifestly unhelpful and several other officials said the visit was viewed as a distraction for troops and commanders at the airport who are waging a race against time to evacuate thousands of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others as quickly as possible.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement Tuesday evening taking note of the desire of some legislators to visit Afghanistan and saying she was writing to “reiterate that the Departments of Defense and State have requested that Members not travel to Afghanistan and the region during this time of danger. Ensuring the safe and timely evacuation of individuals at risk requires the full focus and attention of the U.S. military and diplomatic teams on the ground in Afghanistan.”

The Pentagon has repeatedly expressed concerns about security threats in Kabul, including by the Islamic State group. When members of Congress have routinely gone to war zones over the past two decades, their visits are typically long planned and coordinated with officials on the ground in order to ensure their safety.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he is sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline for completing the risky airlift as people flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The two congressmen said they went into their visit wanting “to push the president to extend the August 31st deadline. After talking with commanders on the ground and seeing the situation here, it is obvious that because we started the evacuation so late, that no matter what we do, we won’t get everyone out on time, even by September 11.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629894518244.png" alt=" "Witnessing our young Marines and soldiers at the gates, navigating a confluence of humanity as raw and visceral as the world has ever seen, was indescribable." photo courtesy Rep. Seth Moulton" />
 <figcaption> "Witnessing our young Marines and soldiers at the gates, navigating a confluence of humanity as raw and visceral as the world has ever seen, was indescribable." photo courtesy Rep. Seth Moulton</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Congress flew unannounced into Kabul airport in the middle of the chaotic evacuation stunning State Department and U.S. military personnel who had to divert resources to provide security and information to the lawmakers, U.S. officials said.Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., flew in and out on charter aircraft and were on the ground at the Kabul airport for several hours Tuesday. That led officials to complain that they could be taking seats that would have otherwise gone to other Americans or Afghans fleeing the country, but the congressmen said in a joint statement that they made sure to leave on a flight with empty seats.“As Members of Congress, we have a duty to provide oversight on the executive branch,’” the two said in their statement. “We conducted this visit in secret, speaking about it only after our departure, to minimize the risk and disruption to the people on the ground, and because we were there to gather information, not to grandstand.”The two lawmakers are both military veterans, with backgrounds in the region. Moulton, a Marine who has been outspoken critic of the Iraq War, served multiple tours in Iraq. Meijer was deployed as part of the Army Reserves and later worked in Afghanistan at a nongovernmental organization providing aid. Moulton serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Meijer is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">we won’t get everyone out on time, even by September 11. Sadly and frustratingly, getting our people out depends on maintaining the current, bizarre relationship with the Taliban.&mdash; Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) <a href="https://twitter.com/sethmoulton/status/1430331370727936006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Three officials familiar with the flight said that State Department, Defense Department and White House officials were furious about the incident because it was done without coordination with diplomats or military commanders directing the evacuation.The U.S. military found out about the visit as the legislators’ aircraft was inbound to Kabul, according to the officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.One senior U.S. official said the administration saw the lawmakers’ visit as manifestly unhelpful and several other officials said the visit was viewed as a distraction for troops and commanders at the airport who are waging a race against time to evacuate thousands of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others as quickly as possible.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement Tuesday evening taking note of the desire of some legislators to visit Afghanistan and saying she was writing to “reiterate that the Departments of Defense and State have requested that Members not travel to Afghanistan and the region during this time of danger. Ensuring the safe and timely evacuation of individuals at risk requires the full focus and attention of the U.S. military and diplomatic teams on the ground in Afghanistan.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We did this visit in secret to reduce risks and impact on the mission and we insisted on leaving in a plane that was not full, in a seat designated for crew so that we didn’t take a seat from someone else.&mdash; Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) <a href="https://twitter.com/sethmoulton/status/1430331074832445443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Pentagon has repeatedly expressed concerns about security threats in Kabul, including by the Islamic State group. When members of Congress have routinely gone to war zones over the past two decades, their visits are typically long planned and coordinated with officials on the ground in order to ensure their safety.President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he is sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline for completing the risky airlift as people flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.The two congressmen said they went into their visit wanting “to push the president to extend the August 31st deadline. After talking with commanders on the ground and seeing the situation here, it is obvious that because we started the evacuation so late, that no matter what we do, we won’t get everyone out on time, even by September 11.”

Biden furious: 2 congressmen make secret trip to Kabul 

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 3,478 to a total of 362,321, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 37 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,535.

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

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

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 3,478 to a total of 362,321, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 37 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,535.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629911178413.png" alt="Wednesday August 25, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday August 25, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 37 new COVID deaths, 3,478 new cases

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Death Valley National Park rangers are reminding visitors to limit stressful activities during blazing summer heat after another hiker died along the same trail within days.

Blake Chaplin, 52, of Leawood,&nbsp;Kansas, was found dead on Aug. 21 along the Golden Canyon Trail, the park said in a statement Tuesday.

A search-and-rescue team recovered the body after it was reported by an early morning hiker. The cause of death was being investigated by Inyo County authorities but foul play was not suspected, the park said.

Temperatures on Aug. 21-22 reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit ), below the daily normal of 115 F.

Authorities said Lawrence Stanback, 60, of San Francisco died on the same trail on Aug. 18. Heat stroke was suspected in his death.

Temperatures on Aug. 21-22 reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius), below the daily normal of 115 F (46 C).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629909870235.png" alt="Golden Canyon Trailhead, with departing search and rescue team and warning sign stating: extreme heat danger walking after 10 a.m. not recommended -Photo courtesy National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>Golden Canyon Trailhead, with departing search and rescue team and warning sign stating: extreme heat danger walking after 10 a.m. not recommended -Photo courtesy National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Death Valley National Park rangers are reminding visitors to limit stressful activities during blazing summer heat after another hiker died along the same trail within days.Blake Chaplin, 52, of Leawood,&nbsp;Kansas, was found dead on Aug. 21 along the Golden Canyon Trail, the park said in a statement Tuesday.A search-and-rescue team recovered the body after it was reported by an early morning hiker. The cause of death was being investigated by Inyo County authorities but foul play was not suspected, the park said.Temperatures on Aug. 21-22 reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit ), below the daily normal of 115 F.Authorities said Lawrence Stanback, 60, of San Francisco died on the same trail on Aug. 18. Heat stroke was suspected in his death.A search-and-rescue team recovered the body after it was reported by an early morning hiker. The cause of death was being investigated by Inyo County authorities but foul play was not suspected, the park said.Temperatures on Aug. 21-22 reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius), below the daily normal of 115 F (46 C).Authorities said Lawrence Stanback, 60, of San Francisco died on the same trail on Aug. 18. Heat stroke was suspected in his death.

Heat danger: Kan. man dies in Death Valley National Park

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities investigating a Tuesday afternoon shooting have identified the victim as James Epps, Jr., 37, of Topeka.

Just before 2 p.m. officers were dispatched to Travelers Inn, 3846 SW Topeka Blvd. on a report of a shooting, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

Responding officers located Epps suffering from life-threatening injuries. American Medical Response personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.

Multiple people were taken into police custody to be interviewed.

A suspect was identified as Isaiah Krainbill, 19, of Topeka. Police located and took him into custody and later booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of First Degree Murder, according to Lt. John Trimble.

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Tuesday afternoon shooting that left one person dead.

Responding officers located an adult male suffering from life-threatening injuries believed to be associated with a shooting. American Medical Response personnel pronounced the man deceased at the scene.

Multiple people were taken into police custody to be interviewed. Police have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629838626533.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation Tuesday afternoon -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation Tuesday afternoon -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities investigating a Tuesday afternoon shooting have identified the victim as James Epps, Jr., 37, of Topeka.Just before 2 p.m. officers were dispatched to Travelers Inn, 3846 SW Topeka Blvd. on a report of a shooting, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Responding officers located Epps suffering from life-threatening injuries. American Medical Response personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629888257059.png" alt="Krainbill-photo WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Krainbill-photo WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Multiple people were taken into police custody to be interviewed.A suspect was identified as Isaiah Krainbill, 19, of Topeka. Police located and took him into custody and later booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of First Degree Murder, according to Lt. John Trimble.-----------------------------SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Tuesday afternoon shooting that left one person dead.Just before 2 p.m. officers were dispatched to Travelers Inn, 3846 SW Topeka Blvd. on a report of a shooting, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Responding officers located an adult male suffering from life-threatening injuries believed to be associated with a shooting. American Medical Response personnel pronounced the man deceased at the scene.Multiple people were taken into police custody to be interviewed. Police have not released the name of the victim.

19-year-old accused in fatal Kansas motel killing

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash that occurred just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County and have identified the victim as 53-year-old Dana Pabst of Wellington.

An eastbound Nissan Rogue driven by a 61-year-old woman struck a northbound Chevy Malibu driven by Pabst at the intersection of 79th Street South and HIllside, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

 The Malibu crossed the centerline and Pabst lost control as she was negotiating a curve at the intersection.&nbsp;Pabst died at the scene.

EMS transported the other driver to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to Blick. The circumstances of the collision are under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629903633169.png" alt="First responders near the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash that occurred just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County and have identified the victim as 53-year-old Dana Pabst of Wellington.An eastbound Nissan Rogue driven by a 61-year-old woman struck a northbound Chevy Malibu driven by Pabst at the intersection of 79th Street South and HIllside, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. The Malibu crossed the centerline and Pabst lost control as she was negotiating a curve at the intersection.&nbsp;Pabst died at the scene.EMS transported the other driver to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to Blick. The circumstances of the collision are under investigation.

Sheriff IDs Kansas woman who died in 2-vehicle crash

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Officials in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, say a man pulled from the basement of a burning home in Shawnee has died from his injuries at a hospital. 

The Shawnee Fire Department says in a news release that firefighters were called to the home on West 52nd Terrace Street late Monday night. Officials say four of five people in the home were able to safely escape, but firefighters had to enter the house to try to rescue 53-year-old Matthew Deckard from the basement. 

Firefighters pulled him from the home, started CPR and rushed him to a Kansas City hospital in critical condition. Officials say Deckard died at the hospital the next day.

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Officials in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, say a man pulled from the basement of a burning home in Shawnee has died from his injuries at a hospital. The Shawnee Fire Department says in a news release that firefighters were called to the home on West 52nd Terrace Street late Monday night. Officials say four of five people in the home were able to safely escape, but firefighters had to enter the house to try to rescue 53-year-old Matthew Deckard from the basement. Firefighters pulled him from the home, started CPR and rushed him to a Kansas City hospital in critical condition. Officials say Deckard died at the hospital the next day.

Man pulled from burning Kan. home dies at hospital

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who took a joy ride in a police vehicle.

Just before 1:30 a.m., Sunday, a citizen at the Quik Trip at Murdock and Broadway in Wichita contacted police, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

 While the officer was at the scene with reporting party, 24-year-old Alex Flores entered the patrol vehicle and drove to the 1000 block of South Topeka, where the patrol struck a parked vehicle causing heavy damage to both vehicles. 

Police located Flores at the scene and took him into custody without incident. He<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070463"> remains jailed on requeste</a>d charges of auto theft, hit and run, drive under the influence, drive with a suspended driver's license and an active warrant.

Police are also investigating&nbsp; the officers' actions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629891930820.png" alt="Flores photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Flores photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who took a joy ride in a police vehicle.Just before 1:30 a.m., Sunday, a citizen at the Quik Trip at Murdock and Broadway in Wichita contacted police, according to Officer Trevor Macy. While the officer was at the scene with reporting party, 24-year-old Alex Flores entered the patrol vehicle and drove to the 1000 block of South Topeka, where the patrol struck a parked vehicle causing heavy damage to both vehicles. Police located Flores at the scene and took him into custody without incident. He<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070463"> remains jailed on requeste</a>d charges of auto theft, hit and run, drive under the influence, drive with a suspended driver's license and an active warrant.Police are also investigating&nbsp; the officers' actions.

 Police: Man took joy ride in Kansas officer's patrol car

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Biden administration likely violated federal law in trying to end a Trump-era program that forces people to wait in Mexico while seeking asylum in the U.S.

With three liberal justices in dissent, the high court refused to block a lower court ruling ordering the administration to reinstate the program informally known as Remain in Mexico.

It’s not clear how many people will be affected and how quickly. Under the lower court ruling, the administration must make a “good faith effort” to restart the program.

There also is nothing preventing the administration from trying again to end the program, formally called Migrant Protection Protocols.

A federal judge in Texas had previously ordered that the program be reinstated last week. Both he and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused the administration’s request to put the ruling on hold.

Justice Samuel Alito ordered a brief delay to allow the full court time to consider the administration’s appeal to keep the ruling on hold while the case continues to make its way through the courts.

The 5th Circuit ordered expedited consideration of the administration’s appeal.

The court offered little explanation for its action, although it cited its opinion from last year rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to end another immigration program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. In that case, the court held that the decision to end DACA was “arbitrary and capricious,” in violation of federal law.

The administration has “failed to show a likelihood of success on the claim that the memorandum rescinding the Migrant Protection Protocols was not arbitrary and capricious,” the court wrote Tuesday in an unsigned order.

The three dissenting justices, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, did not write an opinion expressing their views of the case.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it regrets that the high court declined to issue a stay. The department said it would continue to challenge the district court’s order.

The American Civil Liberties Union called on the administration to present a fuller rationale for ending Remain in Mexico that could withstand court scrutiny.

“The government must take all steps available to fully end this illegal program, including by re-terminating it with a fuller explanation. What it must not do is use this decision as cover for abandoning its commitment to restore a fair asylum system,” said Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s immigrant rights project.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, the policy required tens of thousands of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to turn back to Mexico. It was meant to discourage asylum seekers but critics said it denied people the legal right to seek protection in the U.S. and forced them to wait in dangerous Mexican border cities.

The judge, U.S. District Judge Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, ordered that the program be reinstated in response to a lawsuit filed by the states of Texas and Missouri, whose governors have been seeking to reinstate some of the hard-line anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration.

The Biden administration argued in briefs that the president has “clear authority to determine immigration policy” and that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had discretion in deciding whether to return asylum seekers to Mexico.

The policy has been dormant for more than a year and the administration argued that abruptly reinstating it “would prejudice the United States’ relations with vital regional partners, severely disrupt its operations at the southern border, and threaten to create a diplomatic and humanitarian crisis.”

The Trump administration largely stopped using the “Remain in Mexico” policy at the start of the pandemic, at which point it began turning back virtually everyone crossing the Southwest border under a different protocol — a public health order that remains in effect.

President Joe Biden suspended the program on his first day of office and the Homeland Security Department ended it in June.

Kacsmaryk was nominated to the federal bench by Trump. The 5th Circuit panel that ruled Thursday night included two Trump appointees, Andrew Oldham and Cory Wilson, along with Jennifer Walker Elrod, nominated to the appeals court by President George W. Bush.

At the high court, at least five of the six conservative justices, including three Trump appointees, voted for the restart of the program. Under the court’s opaque treatment of emergency appeals, the justices don’t always say publicly how they voted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617909066947.png" alt="Migrants near the Texas border photo courtesy Senator Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Migrants near the Texas border photo courtesy Senator Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Biden administration likely violated federal law in trying to end a Trump-era program that forces people to wait in Mexico while seeking asylum in the U.S.With three liberal justices in dissent, the high court refused to block a lower court ruling ordering the administration to reinstate the program informally known as Remain in Mexico.It’s not clear how many people will be affected and how quickly. Under the lower court ruling, the administration must make a “good faith effort” to restart the program.There also is nothing preventing the administration from trying again to end the program, formally called Migrant Protection Protocols.A federal judge in Texas had previously ordered that the program be reinstated last week. Both he and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused the administration’s request to put the ruling on hold.Justice Samuel Alito ordered a brief delay to allow the full court time to consider the administration’s appeal to keep the ruling on hold while the case continues to make its way through the courts.The 5th Circuit ordered expedited consideration of the administration’s appeal.The court offered little explanation for its action, although it cited its opinion from last year rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to end another immigration program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. In that case, the court held that the decision to end DACA was “arbitrary and capricious,” in violation of federal law.The administration has “failed to show a likelihood of success on the claim that the memorandum rescinding the Migrant Protection Protocols was not arbitrary and capricious,” the court wrote Tuesday in an unsigned order.The three dissenting justices, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, did not write an opinion expressing their views of the case.In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it regrets that the high court declined to issue a stay. The department said it would continue to challenge the district court’s order.The American Civil Liberties Union called on the administration to present a fuller rationale for ending Remain in Mexico that could withstand court scrutiny.“The government must take all steps available to fully end this illegal program, including by re-terminating it with a fuller explanation. What it must not do is use this decision as cover for abandoning its commitment to restore a fair asylum system,” said Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s immigrant rights project.During Donald Trump’s presidency, the policy required tens of thousands of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to turn back to Mexico. It was meant to discourage asylum seekers but critics said it denied people the legal right to seek protection in the U.S. and forced them to wait in dangerous Mexican border cities.The judge, U.S. District Judge Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, ordered that the program be reinstated in response to a lawsuit filed by the states of Texas and Missouri, whose governors have been seeking to reinstate some of the hard-line anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration.The Biden administration argued in briefs that the president has “clear authority to determine immigration policy” and that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had discretion in deciding whether to return asylum seekers to Mexico.The policy has been dormant for more than a year and the administration argued that abruptly reinstating it “would prejudice the United States’ relations with vital regional partners, severely disrupt its operations at the southern border, and threaten to create a diplomatic and humanitarian crisis.”The Trump administration largely stopped using the “Remain in Mexico” policy at the start of the pandemic, at which point it began turning back virtually everyone crossing the Southwest border under a different protocol — a public health order that remains in effect.President Joe Biden suspended the program on his first day of office and the Homeland Security Department ended it in June.Kacsmaryk was nominated to the federal bench by Trump. The 5th Circuit panel that ruled Thursday night included two Trump appointees, Andrew Oldham and Cory Wilson, along with Jennifer Walker Elrod, nominated to the appeals court by President George W. Bush.At the high court, at least five of the six conservative justices, including three Trump appointees, voted for the restart of the program. Under the court’s opaque treatment of emergency appeals, the justices don’t always say publicly how they voted.