By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND — Great Bend Economic Development Inc. is starting to see its impact
and financial status strengthen as more focus is spent bolstering the
department. Over a year and a half into the new adventure, the majority of the
city council seemed in favor at Monday's budget session of funding Economic Development an additional
$100,000 in the 2022 budget. 

Councilmember and Eco Devo Board of Directors
member Jolene Biggs said $70,000 of the extra request is for childcare startup
expenses. Great Bend received a plan from Garden City on creating a self-sufficient
daycare facility. 
"They have been able to come up with the numbers to make these childcare
 facilities self-sufficient," said Biggs. "We do have a shortage of 
childcare facilities. $70,000 of that was to be used on a one-year basis
 to bring on a director to get that set up." 
The Economic Development Inc. applied for a grant through the Department of
Commerce for a childcare facility.

Biggs acknowledged that one of Great Bend’s
first priorities is economic development and that childcare, workforce and
housing are three key parts of building a good economic development group.


Given $150,000 in 2021, Economic Development requested $250,000 for 2022. Biggs
said the remaining extra requested funds would go to hiring another worker for
the department. 
"We've been working on a shoestring with just Sara Hayden as our 
director," said Biggs.&nbsp; "The additional funds is to help with an 
additional employee. Those of us serving on the Economic board have 
volunteered many hours and we need extra manpower." 
Great Bend Economic Development also received support from the city council to
receive $1 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. The city is
expected to receive $2.27 million in federal money to help recover from the
COVID-19 pandemic. Eco Devo plans on using the $1 million as an incentive
program for downtown business owners to renovate their multi-story buildings
into livable loft space. The program will partially reimburse owners for the cost
of renovations, including fire alarms and fire sprinklers.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626357837591.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Great Bend Economic Development Inc. is starting to see its impact
and financial status strengthen as more focus is spent bolstering the
department. Over a year and a half into the new adventure, the majority of the
city council seemed in favor at Monday's budget session of funding Economic Development an additional
$100,000 in the 2022 budget. Councilmember and Eco Devo Board of Directors
member Jolene Biggs said $70,000 of the extra request is for childcare startup
expenses. Great Bend received a plan from Garden City on creating a self-sufficient
daycare facility. 
"They have been able to come up with the numbers to make these childcare
 facilities self-sufficient," said Biggs. "We do have a shortage of 
childcare facilities. $70,000 of that was to be used on a one-year basis
 to bring on a director to get that set up." 
The Economic Development Inc. applied for a grant through the Department of
Commerce for a childcare facility. Biggs acknowledged that one of Great Bend’s
first priorities is economic development and that childcare, workforce and
housing are three key parts of building a good economic development group.
Given $150,000 in 2021, Economic Development requested $250,000 for 2022. Biggs
said the remaining extra requested funds would go to hiring another worker for
the department. 
"We've been working on a shoestring with just Sara Hayden as our 
director," said Biggs.&nbsp; "The additional funds is to help with an 
additional employee. Those of us serving on the Economic board have 
volunteered many hours and we need extra manpower." 
Great Bend Economic Development also received support from the city council to
receive $1 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. The city is
expected to receive $2.27 million in federal money to help recover from the
COVID-19 pandemic. Eco Devo plans on using the $1 million as an incentive
program for downtown business owners to renovate their multi-story buildings
into livable loft space. The program will partially reimburse owners for the cost
of renovations, including fire alarms and fire sprinklers.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Great Bend looking into building new daycare facility

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Biden administration is beginning to distribute&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-joe-biden-business-health-government-and-politics-24023ed3ffba98e4a65dd6006518da7a">expanded child tax credit payments</a>, giving parents on average $423 this month, with payments continuing through the end of the year.

President Joe Biden increased the size of the tax credit as part of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, as well as making it fully available to families without any tax obligations. The benefit is set to expire after a year, but Biden is pushing for it to be extended through 2025 and ultimately made permanent.

A closer look at how the payments work and who can receive them:

The credit is $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. But six months of payments will be advanced on a monthly basis through the end of the year. This means eligible families will receive $300 monthly for each child under 6 and $250 per child older than that.

This is a change from last year, when the credit totaled $2,000 per child. Families who did not owe the government income taxes were also unable to claim the credit, a restriction that Biden and Congress lifted.

The payments begin to phase out at incomes of $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for married couples. Higher-income families with incomes of $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for married couples can still receive the previous $2,000 credit.

If you filed taxes and the IRS already has your bank account information, the payments should be deposited directly into your account on the 15th of each month. The Treasury Department estimates that 35.2 million families will receive payments in July. But even if you haven’t filed taxes in 2019 or 2020, you might still be eligible for the credit and can apply here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool" target="_blank">https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool</a>.

Advocates say the monthly payments can help smooth out an impoverished family’s income, making it easier for them to budget and less dependent on high-interest lenders.

Yes. Some people are used to the child tax credit enabling them to get a refund on their taxes. They might not want the monthly advance and about 1 million people have opted out, according to administration officials. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Click here to unenroll</a> in the program.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Biden administration is beginning to distribute&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-joe-biden-business-health-government-and-politics-24023ed3ffba98e4a65dd6006518da7a">expanded child tax credit payments</a>, giving parents on average $423 this month, with payments continuing through the end of the year.President Joe Biden increased the size of the tax credit as part of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, as well as making it fully available to families without any tax obligations. The benefit is set to expire after a year, but Biden is pushing for it to be extended through 2025 and ultimately made permanent.A closer look at how the payments work and who can receive them:HOW BIG ARE THE CREDITS?The credit is $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. But six months of payments will be advanced on a monthly basis through the end of the year. This means eligible families will receive $300 monthly for each child under 6 and $250 per child older than that.This is a change from last year, when the credit totaled $2,000 per child. Families who did not owe the government income taxes were also unable to claim the credit, a restriction that Biden and Congress lifted.ARE THERE LIMITS ON WHO CAN QUALIFY?The payments begin to phase out at incomes of $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for married couples. Higher-income families with incomes of $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for married couples can still receive the previous $2,000 credit.HOW CAN YOU APPLY?If you filed taxes and the IRS already has your bank account information, the payments should be deposited directly into your account on the 15th of each month. The Treasury Department estimates that 35.2 million families will receive payments in July. But even if you haven’t filed taxes in 2019 or 2020, you might still be eligible for the credit and can apply here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool" target="_blank">https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool</a>.WHY ARE THE PAYMENTS MONTHLYAdvocates say the monthly payments can help smooth out an impoverished family’s income, making it easier for them to budget and less dependent on high-interest lenders.CAN THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS BE STOPPED?Yes. Some people are used to the child tax credit enabling them to get a refund on their taxes. They might not want the monthly advance and about 1 million people have opted out, according to administration officials. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Click here to unenroll</a> in the program.

Payday: How the expanded child tax credit payments work

Agency charged the company with deceiving loan applicants about hidden fees

Online lender<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/x180028_-_lendingclub_corporation_-_stipulated_order_for_permanent_injunction_and_judgment.pdf"> LendingClub Corporation agreed to pay</a>
 $18 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the company
 deceived consumers about hidden fees that it charged and about whether 
their loan applications were approved.

In
 addition, the settlement bars LendingClub from making 
misrepresentations to loan applicants and requires that the company 
clearly and conspicuously disclose the amount of any prepaid, up-front, 
or origination fee and the total amount of funds that borrowers will 
receive.

“Companies that profit by 
preying on consumers don’t just harm the families they cheated — they 
also harm their competitors that play by the rules. LendingClub fleeced 
consumers looking for a loan online, and will pay $18 million for its 
alleged misconduct,” said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of the FTC’s 
Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Moving forward, when it comes to 
misconduct in the financial services arena, the FTC will bring joint 
actions with state and federal partners to seek penalties that deter 
wrongdoing market-wide, before it can harm consumers.”

The FTC <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-charges-lending-club-deceiving-consumers-0">sued LendingClub in April 2018</a>,
 charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they 
would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in 
reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in 
hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that 
LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were 
not, and took money from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization.

In
 an earlier ruling, the court found that LendingClub falsely told loan 
applicants that their loans were “on the way” and “100% Backed” while 
knowing that many of them would never get a loan. And according to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/lending_club_complaint.pdf">the FTC’s complaint</a>,
 the company also withdrew double payments from consumers’ accounts and 
charged those who cancelled automatic payments or paid off their loan, 
which led to overdraft fees and prevented borrowers from making other 
payments.

The Commission vote approving the stipulated
 final order was 4-0-1, with Chair Khan not participating. It was filed 
in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San 
Francisco Division.

NOTE: Stipulated final orders or injunctions, etc. have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Agency charged the company with deceiving loan applicants about hidden fees</h2>FTCOnline lender<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/x180028_-_lendingclub_corporation_-_stipulated_order_for_permanent_injunction_and_judgment.pdf"> LendingClub Corporation agreed to pay</a>
 $18 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the company
 deceived consumers about hidden fees that it charged and about whether 
their loan applications were approved.In
 addition, the settlement bars LendingClub from making 
misrepresentations to loan applicants and requires that the company 
clearly and conspicuously disclose the amount of any prepaid, up-front, 
or origination fee and the total amount of funds that borrowers will 
receive.“Companies that profit by 
preying on consumers don’t just harm the families they cheated — they 
also harm their competitors that play by the rules. LendingClub fleeced 
consumers looking for a loan online, and will pay $18 million for its 
alleged misconduct,” said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of the FTC’s 
Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Moving forward, when it comes to 
misconduct in the financial services arena, the FTC will bring joint 
actions with state and federal partners to seek penalties that deter 
wrongdoing market-wide, before it can harm consumers.”The FTC <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-charges-lending-club-deceiving-consumers-0">sued LendingClub in April 2018</a>,
 charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they 
would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in 
reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in 
hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that 
LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were 
not, and took money from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization.In
 an earlier ruling, the court found that LendingClub falsely told loan 
applicants that their loans were “on the way” and “100% Backed” while 
knowing that many of them would never get a loan. And according to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/lending_club_complaint.pdf">the FTC’s complaint</a>,
 the company also withdrew double payments from consumers’ accounts and 
charged those who cancelled automatic payments or paid off their loan, 
which led to overdraft fees and prevented borrowers from making other 
payments.The Commission vote approving the stipulated
 final order was 4-0-1, with Chair Khan not participating. It was filed 
in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San 
Francisco Division.NOTE: Stipulated final orders or injunctions, etc. have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

LendingClub agrees to pay $18 million to settle FTC charges

By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend Post

Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King&nbsp;obtained a search warrant on July 6 to get more information from the Larned State Hospital about the escape&nbsp;last month&nbsp;of&nbsp;John&nbsp;Freeman Colt from the hospital’s&nbsp;Sexual&nbsp;Predator&nbsp;Treatment&nbsp;Program.&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities (KDADS) is&nbsp;in charge of the&nbsp;program&nbsp;at the hospital. Pawnee County&nbsp;Attorney Doug McNett told Eagle Radio on Wednesday&nbsp;why Sheriff King made the decision to get a search warrant.&nbsp;

“He did&nbsp;not&nbsp;feel that KDADS was giving him timely access,” McNett said. “They still at that stage hadn’t received the internal videos of the events leading up to&nbsp;his escape as well as some of the documentation that law enforcement had requested.&nbsp;So&nbsp;to expedite that, they&nbsp;went to the District Court and obtained a search warrant.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

McNett said the videos might reveal if someone was helping Colt escape.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Colt&nbsp;walked out of the facility shortly after 7 a.m. on June 30, but the hospital did not notify the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office about the escape until 12:47 p.m.&nbsp;Colt&nbsp;was last seen in Larned at 11:20 a.m. that day.&nbsp;

According to McNett, the delay in contacting the&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office about the escape was caused at least in part by&nbsp;the&nbsp;hospital’s initial search for Colt.&nbsp;

"We never did get a straight&nbsp;answer as to what exactly prompted it,” McNett said. “I got the impression it was something to do with the nursing staff questioning, ‘Hey, there was this extra person on our unit that shouldn’t&nbsp;have been here.’&nbsp;It&nbsp;was determined that was Mr. Colt dressed as a psychologist.&nbsp;So&nbsp;they went and did a security&nbsp;count and that count was wrong. And then they did a second one and then they did a third one.&nbsp;It wasn’t until the fourth time that they called Safety and Security to come over. They went into his room and realized that he had staged it to look like he was sleeping in the bed, and no one had actually verified that someone was in the bed until that fourth count. That’s when they notified law enforcement.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

McNett said Colt has been charged&nbsp;in Pawnee County&nbsp;with aggravated escape from a care&nbsp;and treatment facility. A warrant has been issued which means Colt can be picked up and detained by any law enforcement agency in the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626191603052.jpeg" alt="John Freeman Colt-photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>John Freeman Colt-photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend PostPawnee County Sheriff Scott King&nbsp;obtained a search warrant on July 6 to get more information from the Larned State Hospital about the escape&nbsp;last month&nbsp;of&nbsp;John&nbsp;Freeman Colt from the hospital’s&nbsp;Sexual&nbsp;Predator&nbsp;Treatment&nbsp;Program.&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities (KDADS) is&nbsp;in charge of the&nbsp;program&nbsp;at the hospital. Pawnee County&nbsp;Attorney Doug McNett told Eagle Radio on Wednesday&nbsp;why Sheriff King made the decision to get a search warrant.&nbsp;“He did&nbsp;not&nbsp;feel that KDADS was giving him timely access,” McNett said. “They still at that stage hadn’t received the internal videos of the events leading up to&nbsp;his escape as well as some of the documentation that law enforcement had requested.&nbsp;So&nbsp;to expedite that, they&nbsp;went to the District Court and obtained a search warrant.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;McNett said the videos might reveal if someone was helping Colt escape.&nbsp;&nbsp;Colt&nbsp;walked out of the facility shortly after 7 a.m. on June 30, but the hospital did not notify the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office about the escape until 12:47 p.m.&nbsp;Colt&nbsp;was last seen in Larned at 11:20 a.m. that day.&nbsp;According to McNett, the delay in contacting the&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office about the escape was caused at least in part by&nbsp;the&nbsp;hospital’s initial search for Colt.&nbsp;"We never did get a straight&nbsp;answer as to what exactly prompted it,” McNett said. “I got the impression it was something to do with the nursing staff questioning, ‘Hey, there was this extra person on our unit that shouldn’t&nbsp;have been here.’&nbsp;It&nbsp;was determined that was Mr. Colt dressed as a psychologist.&nbsp;So&nbsp;they went and did a security&nbsp;count and that count was wrong. And then they did a second one and then they did a third one.&nbsp;It wasn’t until the fourth time that they called Safety and Security to come over. They went into his room and realized that he had staged it to look like he was sleeping in the bed, and no one had actually verified that someone was in the bed until that fourth count. That’s when they notified law enforcement.”&nbsp;&nbsp;McNett said Colt has been charged&nbsp;in Pawnee County&nbsp;with aggravated escape from a care&nbsp;and treatment facility. A warrant has been issued which means Colt can be picked up and detained by any law enforcement agency in the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

State hospital served with a search warrant after escape

DENVER (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that “Tiger King” Joe Exotic should get a shorter prison sentence for his role in a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws.

Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f3d40f4a4134f4e903da8c5ed2a0878f">was sentenced in January 2020</a>&nbsp;to 22 years in federal prison after being convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/volunteer-bitten-carole-baskin-sanctuary-66a3a67eae93955dcb1fd6409bce1743">animal rights activist Carole Baskin</a>. A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver found that the trial court wrongly treated those two convictions separately in calculating his prison term under sentencing guidelines.

The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper, known for his expletive-laden rants on YouTube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign, was prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.”

The panel agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida. According to the ruling, the court should have calculated his advisory sentencing range to be between 17 1/2 years and just under 22 years in prison, rather than between just under 22 years and 27 years in prison. The court ordered the trial court to re-sentence Maldonado-Passage.

It’s possible that Maldonado-Passage could receive an even lower sentence than the range cited in the ruling because the court has to consider other factors too, his appeals attorney, Brandon Sample, said.

Meanwhile, another attorney representing Maldonado-Passage, John M. Phillips, hinted at the possibility of seeking a new trial, saying in a statement he would be filing motions citing previously undisclosed and newly discovered evidence in the case as well as examples of government misconduct.

“People should know what they saw on television isn’t the full truth. It isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. It was snowflakes on the tip of the iceberg, largely manufactured by those who wanted to see Joe Exotic in jail for their own benefit,” he said.

Maldonado-Passage, who has maintained his innocence, was also sentenced for killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records.

His supporters were disappointed that former President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-trump-pardon-tiger-king-joe-exotic-77df2360159f247b81a293ae1a15ee25">failed to issue him a pardon before leaving office.</a>&nbsp;They were so confident in his chances that they had readied a celebratory limousine and a hair and wardrobe team to whisk him away from prison.

In his pardon application, Maldonado-Passage’s attorneys argued that he was “railroaded and betrayed” by others and said “he will likely die in prison” because of health concerns. He is serving his sentence at a medical prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626350261828.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that “Tiger King” Joe Exotic should get a shorter prison sentence for his role in a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws.Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f3d40f4a4134f4e903da8c5ed2a0878f">was sentenced in January 2020</a>&nbsp;to 22 years in federal prison after being convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/volunteer-bitten-carole-baskin-sanctuary-66a3a67eae93955dcb1fd6409bce1743">animal rights activist Carole Baskin</a>. A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver found that the trial court wrongly treated those two convictions separately in calculating his prison term under sentencing guidelines.The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper, known for his expletive-laden rants on YouTube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign, was prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.”The panel agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida. According to the ruling, the court should have calculated his advisory sentencing range to be between 17 1/2 years and just under 22 years in prison, rather than between just under 22 years and 27 years in prison. The court ordered the trial court to re-sentence Maldonado-Passage.It’s possible that Maldonado-Passage could receive an even lower sentence than the range cited in the ruling because the court has to consider other factors too, his appeals attorney, Brandon Sample, said.Meanwhile, another attorney representing Maldonado-Passage, John M. Phillips, hinted at the possibility of seeking a new trial, saying in a statement he would be filing motions citing previously undisclosed and newly discovered evidence in the case as well as examples of government misconduct.“People should know what they saw on television isn’t the full truth. It isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. It was snowflakes on the tip of the iceberg, largely manufactured by those who wanted to see Joe Exotic in jail for their own benefit,” he said.Maldonado-Passage, who has maintained his innocence, was also sentenced for killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records.His supporters were disappointed that former President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-trump-pardon-tiger-king-joe-exotic-77df2360159f247b81a293ae1a15ee25">failed to issue him a pardon before leaving office.</a>&nbsp;They were so confident in his chances that they had readied a celebratory limousine and a hair and wardrobe team to whisk him away from prison.In his pardon application, Maldonado-Passage’s attorneys argued that he was “railroaded and betrayed” by others and said “he will likely die in prison” because of health concerns. He is serving his sentence at a medical prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

Court orders shorter sentence for 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish toymaker Lego said Wednesday it had asked a Utah-based gun company to stop producing a product that makes a pistol look like it is covered with the famous multi-colored building brick.

“We have contacted the company and they have agreed to remove the product from their website and not make or sell anything like this in the future,” Lego said in a brief statement.

The design creates a customized semi-automatic Glock weapon that has a strong resemblance to a Lego toy.

On its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRR4VDErTjL/" target="_blank">Instagram account</a>, Provo-based Culper Precision said had made the Block 19 “to create an opportunity to talk about the enjoyment of the shooting sports and the joy that can only be found in marksmanship practice and training.”

“We here at Culper Precision are grateful for the attention that Block19 is currently getting across the globe,” they said. They also insisted people have the right to customize their property, but also noted that responsible gun owners take measures to secure their firearms.

The company did not immediately return messages seeking further comment. The product page for the Block19 had been taken down as of Wednesday.

Shannon Watts, founder of the gun-control group Moms Demand Action, drew attention to the product on Twitter last week, and on Wednesday called the it “a recipe for disaster.”

“We have already seen tragedies happen when unsecured firearms are around children and they don’t look like toys,” she said in a statement. Unintentional shooting deaths by children of themselves or others rose more than 30% between March and December of 2020 as compared to the same time frame the year before, the group’s research found.

That increase comes during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/philanthropy-sports-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-8450c7b642c9fccdd1031842898cfcd9">record-breaking surge in U.S. gun sales</a>&nbsp;that began as the coronavirus pandemic took hold last year. Gun rights are politically important in conservative states such as Utah, which joined several other states in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-politics-bills-utah-90eee7b4d2198963b4a9c46bded6e76b">loosening gun laws</a>&nbsp;this year by rolling back requirements for people to get permits to carry guns in public.

Lego was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The name is derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616598041817.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish toymaker Lego said Wednesday it had asked a Utah-based gun company to stop producing a product that makes a pistol look like it is covered with the famous multi-colored building brick.“We have contacted the company and they have agreed to remove the product from their website and not make or sell anything like this in the future,” Lego said in a brief statement.The design creates a customized semi-automatic Glock weapon that has a strong resemblance to a Lego toy.On its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRR4VDErTjL/" target="_blank">Instagram account</a>, Provo-based Culper Precision said had made the Block 19 “to create an opportunity to talk about the enjoyment of the shooting sports and the joy that can only be found in marksmanship practice and training.”“We here at Culper Precision are grateful for the attention that Block19 is currently getting across the globe,” they said. They also insisted people have the right to customize their property, but also noted that responsible gun owners take measures to secure their firearms.The company did not immediately return messages seeking further comment. The product page for the Block19 had been taken down as of Wednesday.Shannon Watts, founder of the gun-control group Moms Demand Action, drew attention to the product on Twitter last week, and on Wednesday called the it “a recipe for disaster.”“We have already seen tragedies happen when unsecured firearms are around children and they don’t look like toys,” she said in a statement. Unintentional shooting deaths by children of themselves or others rose more than 30% between March and December of 2020 as compared to the same time frame the year before, the group’s research found.That increase comes during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/philanthropy-sports-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-8450c7b642c9fccdd1031842898cfcd9">record-breaking surge in U.S. gun sales</a>&nbsp;that began as the coronavirus pandemic took hold last year. Gun rights are politically important in conservative states such as Utah, which joined several other states in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-politics-bills-utah-90eee7b4d2198963b4a9c46bded6e76b">loosening gun laws</a>&nbsp;this year by rolling back requirements for people to get permits to carry guns in public.Lego was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The name is derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well.”

Lego tells US company to stop making guns look like its toys

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Wednesday the league is doing everything it can to encourage vaccinations for all of its athletes, though the conference won’t mandate shots for the coronavirus.

Those not getting vaccinated, however, will be required to submit to multiple COVID-19 tests weekly, as was the case for all athletes throughout the pandemic-affected 2020-21 school year.

“I think it’s very short-sighted to not get vaccinations. Even if the Delta variant weren’t around, it makes sense to get vaccinated,” Bowlsby said during his introductory remarks at football media days.

“If indeed the Delta variant is as virulent and as infectious as it’s been reported to be, not getting vaccinated, you’re rolling the dice in terms of whether you’ll contract the virus,” he said. “And beyond that, for a student-athlete, you’re also rolling the dice on whether or not you’re going to be able to participate because you’re going to be in a testing protocol if you’re not vaccinated.”

TCU defensive end Ochaun Mathis said Horned Frogs players have not been pressured, but have been given ample opportunities to get the shots. He said he got vaccinated, and likes the additional benefit of not having to wake up early a couple of times a week for testing.

While not providing a specific number, Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said “a significant amount of our team is vaccinated. I think we’re heading in, my opinion, a great direction.”

Riley, whose Sooners are the overwhelming preseason favorite after winning the last six Big 12 titles, said he respects that vaccinations are a personal choice. But there is also the reality of being coaches and teammates together. He said those not vaccinated are going to be held to “a different standard, and you’re going to have the opportunity to lose games and not be available.”

Hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities say they will require students to be vaccinnated to return to campus or live in the dormitories this fall, including&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.nd.edu/vaccination/student-vaccination-requirement/" target="_blank">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.umich.edu/covid-19-vaccine-to-be-required-for-students-choosing-to-live-on-campus/" target="_blank">Michigan</a>. But many have no such requirements.

Nine of the 12 Pac-12 schools are requiring all students -- including athletes --- to be vaccinated to return to campus in the fall semester. In the Southeastern Conference, Commissioner Greg Sankey discussed the topic recently on the Paul Finebaum Show.

“What we can do is remove our roster numbers from last year -- if you recall, 53 available players, a certain number of offensive linemen, defensive linemen, quarterbacks -- and say, ‘You’re responsible to have a healthy team and be present at the scheduled time on the scheduled date to play,’” he said. “That very clearly says you’re going to have to adjust your thought process, your operations in order to make sure you play.”

Riley said there was an increase in Oklahoma players getting vaccinated after PGA golfer Jon Rahm was removed from the Memorial with a six-stroke lead after the third round because of a positive COVID-19 test. Even though he felt no symptoms, he missed out on the chance for a $1.67 million winner’s check the next day.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-college-sports-basketball-college-basketball-mens-college-basketball-12ded2672257696c01bf97992ffe54b9">North Carolina State was also dropped from the College World Series</a>&nbsp;because of COVID-19 protocols.

“I think some of those real-life things that have happened that we’ve seen have put in perspective for some of these guys,” Riley said. “Also, I think as time goes on and people see that the vaccination has widely been very, very successful. I think it’s opened the door for more and more people to get it, including our guys.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626344343081.png" alt="“If indeed the Delta variant is as virulent and as infectious as it’s been reported to be, not getting vaccinated, you’re rolling the dice in terms of whether you’ll contract the virus,” Bowlsby said. Photo courtesy Big 12 Conference" />
 <figcaption>“If indeed the Delta variant is as virulent and as infectious as it’s been reported to be, not getting vaccinated, you’re rolling the dice in terms of whether you’ll contract the virus,” Bowlsby said. Photo courtesy Big 12 Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Wednesday the league is doing everything it can to encourage vaccinations for all of its athletes, though the conference won’t mandate shots for the coronavirus.Those not getting vaccinated, however, will be required to submit to multiple COVID-19 tests weekly, as was the case for all athletes throughout the pandemic-affected 2020-21 school year.“I think it’s very short-sighted to not get vaccinations. Even if the Delta variant weren’t around, it makes sense to get vaccinated,” Bowlsby said during his introductory remarks at football media days.“If indeed the Delta variant is as virulent and as infectious as it’s been reported to be, not getting vaccinated, you’re rolling the dice in terms of whether you’ll contract the virus,” he said. “And beyond that, for a student-athlete, you’re also rolling the dice on whether or not you’re going to be able to participate because you’re going to be in a testing protocol if you’re not vaccinated.”TCU defensive end Ochaun Mathis said Horned Frogs players have not been pressured, but have been given ample opportunities to get the shots. He said he got vaccinated, and likes the additional benefit of not having to wake up early a couple of times a week for testing.While not providing a specific number, Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said “a significant amount of our team is vaccinated. I think we’re heading in, my opinion, a great direction.”Riley, whose Sooners are the overwhelming preseason favorite after winning the last six Big 12 titles, said he respects that vaccinations are a personal choice. But there is also the reality of being coaches and teammates together. He said those not vaccinated are going to be held to “a different standard, and you’re going to have the opportunity to lose games and not be available.”Hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities say they will require students to be vaccinnated to return to campus or live in the dormitories this fall, including&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.nd.edu/vaccination/student-vaccination-requirement/" target="_blank">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.umich.edu/covid-19-vaccine-to-be-required-for-students-choosing-to-live-on-campus/" target="_blank">Michigan</a>. But many have no such requirements.Nine of the 12 Pac-12 schools are requiring all students -- including athletes --- to be vaccinated to return to campus in the fall semester. In the Southeastern Conference, Commissioner Greg Sankey discussed the topic recently on the Paul Finebaum Show.“What we can do is remove our roster numbers from last year -- if you recall, 53 available players, a certain number of offensive linemen, defensive linemen, quarterbacks -- and say, ‘You’re responsible to have a healthy team and be present at the scheduled time on the scheduled date to play,’” he said. “That very clearly says you’re going to have to adjust your thought process, your operations in order to make sure you play.”Riley said there was an increase in Oklahoma players getting vaccinated after PGA golfer Jon Rahm was removed from the Memorial with a six-stroke lead after the third round because of a positive COVID-19 test. Even though he felt no symptoms, he missed out on the chance for a $1.67 million winner’s check the next day.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-college-sports-basketball-college-basketball-mens-college-basketball-12ded2672257696c01bf97992ffe54b9">North Carolina State was also dropped from the College World Series</a>&nbsp;because of COVID-19 protocols.“I think some of those real-life things that have happened that we’ve seen have put in perspective for some of these guys,” Riley said. “Also, I think as time goes on and people see that the vaccination has widely been very, very successful. I think it’s opened the door for more and more people to get it, including our guys.”

Commissioner: Big 12 won’t mandate shots for coronavirus

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Twenty states including Kansas and Missouri are supporting&nbsp;South Carolina's defense of a new abortion law, arguing in an amicus brief that a federal judge was wrong to pause the entire measure instead of just the provision facing a court challenge.

In a filing Tuesday with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the states,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alabama">Alabama</a>&nbsp;Attorney General Steve Marshall argued that U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis overstepped her authority when she put the entire abortion law on hold, rather than just the portion being challenged.

The judge's ruling, Marshall wrote, “treads on South Carolina’s sovereign ability to decide for itself the purposes of its legislation” and “aggrandizes the judicial power by treating the court’s injunction of the challenged provision as erasing it entirely so the whole Act collapses.”

The arguments mirror those of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican who signed the measure into law earlier this year. The state's attorneys wrote in an appellate filing earlier this month that Lewis’ decision to halt the entire measure during litigation “oversteps the bounds of federal judicial power.”

McMaster’s brief asked the appellate judges to lift a lower court’s injunction on the “ South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act.”

The law requires doctors to perform ultrasounds to check for a heartbeat in the fetus, which can typically be detected about six weeks after conception. If cardiac activity is detected, the abortion can only be performed if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, or the mother’s life was in danger.

Planned Parenthood attorneys sued immediately, and the entire law has been blocked from taking effect during the lawsuit.

The states filing in support of South Carolina all “have in place laws similar to the South Carolina laws the district court enjoined,” Marshall wrote.

In halting the whole law, Lewis presumed that the sole purpose of other provisions in the law — like requiring an ultrasound to be performed before an abortion — “was to ban abortions of unborn children with heartbeats,” Marshall wrote.

That, he continued, “would be news not only to the South Carolina General Assembly, but to many other state legislatures that have enacted similar ultrasound requirements without South Carolina’s additional regulation.”

The states that signed onto the amicus brief are: Kansas, Missouri, Alabama,&nbsp;Alaska,&nbsp;Arkansas,&nbsp;Georgia,&nbsp;Idaho,&nbsp;Indiana,&nbsp; Kentucky,&nbsp;Louisiana,&nbsp;Mississippi, Montana,&nbsp;Nebraska,&nbsp;North Dakota,&nbsp;Ohio,&nbsp;Oklahoma,&nbsp;Tennessee,&nbsp;Texas,&nbsp;Utah&nbsp;and West&nbsp;Virginia. All but three have Republican governors.

Several other groups have submitted filings in support of South Carolina, including the Southern Baptist Convention and an anti-abortion group of obstetricians and gynecologists.

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood have not responded in court.

Actions by an even higher court could also dictate outcomes in this case. Lewis has said she’s inclined to stay further motions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to take a case from Mississippi — which wants to enforce an abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court will likely hear that case in the fall, with a decision likely in 2022.

About a dozen other states have passed similar or more restrictive abortion bans, which could take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 court decision supporting abortion rights. Federal law supersedes state law.

More than 90% of abortions take place in the first 13 weeks of a woman’s pregnancy, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Opponents have argued many women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks, especially if they are not trying to conceive. And, they argue, with such an early deadline, the law gives women little time to consider whether to have an abortion.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Twenty states including Kansas and Missouri are supporting&nbsp;South Carolina's defense of a new abortion law, arguing in an amicus brief that a federal judge was wrong to pause the entire measure instead of just the provision facing a court challenge.In a filing Tuesday with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the states,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alabama">Alabama</a>&nbsp;Attorney General Steve Marshall argued that U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis overstepped her authority when she put the entire abortion law on hold, rather than just the portion being challenged.The judge's ruling, Marshall wrote, “treads on South Carolina’s sovereign ability to decide for itself the purposes of its legislation” and “aggrandizes the judicial power by treating the court’s injunction of the challenged provision as erasing it entirely so the whole Act collapses.”The arguments mirror those of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican who signed the measure into law earlier this year. The state's attorneys wrote in an appellate filing earlier this month that Lewis’ decision to halt the entire measure during litigation “oversteps the bounds of federal judicial power.”McMaster’s brief asked the appellate judges to lift a lower court’s injunction on the “ South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act.”The law requires doctors to perform ultrasounds to check for a heartbeat in the fetus, which can typically be detected about six weeks after conception. If cardiac activity is detected, the abortion can only be performed if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, or the mother’s life was in danger.Planned Parenthood attorneys sued immediately, and the entire law has been blocked from taking effect during the lawsuit.The states filing in support of South Carolina all “have in place laws similar to the South Carolina laws the district court enjoined,” Marshall wrote.In halting the whole law, Lewis presumed that the sole purpose of other provisions in the law — like requiring an ultrasound to be performed before an abortion — “was to ban abortions of unborn children with heartbeats,” Marshall wrote.That, he continued, “would be news not only to the South Carolina General Assembly, but to many other state legislatures that have enacted similar ultrasound requirements without South Carolina’s additional regulation.”The states that signed onto the amicus brief are: Kansas, Missouri, Alabama,&nbsp;Alaska,&nbsp;Arkansas,&nbsp;Georgia,&nbsp;Idaho,&nbsp;Indiana,&nbsp; Kentucky,&nbsp;Louisiana,&nbsp;Mississippi, Montana,&nbsp;Nebraska,&nbsp;North Dakota,&nbsp;Ohio,&nbsp;Oklahoma,&nbsp;Tennessee,&nbsp;Texas,&nbsp;Utah&nbsp;and West&nbsp;Virginia. All but three have Republican governors.Several other groups have submitted filings in support of South Carolina, including the Southern Baptist Convention and an anti-abortion group of obstetricians and gynecologists.Attorneys for Planned Parenthood have not responded in court.Actions by an even higher court could also dictate outcomes in this case. Lewis has said she’s inclined to stay further motions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to take a case from Mississippi — which wants to enforce an abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court will likely hear that case in the fall, with a decision likely in 2022.About a dozen other states have passed similar or more restrictive abortion bans, which could take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 court decision supporting abortion rights. Federal law supersedes state law.More than 90% of abortions take place in the first 13 weeks of a woman’s pregnancy, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opponents have argued many women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks, especially if they are not trying to conceive. And, they argue, with such an early deadline, the law gives women little time to consider whether to have an abortion.___

Kan., Mo., support South Carolina in abortion lawsuit

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.

On Tuesday, police responded to to a convenience store at 746 NE Wabash in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Upon arrival, officers located a victim suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Officers later locate the suspect, Michael Gene Moore, 54, who was arrested and transported to the Shawnee County Department of corrections. He was booked on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626345384629.png" alt="Moore photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Moore photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.On Tuesday, police responded to to a convenience store at 746 NE Wabash in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.Upon arrival, officers located a victim suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.Officers later locate the suspect, Michael Gene Moore, 54, who was arrested and transported to the Shawnee County Department of corrections. He was booked on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Kan. man arrested after convenience store shooting

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man and a 3-year-old girl were wounded in a shooting in south Wichita. Television station KAKE reports that the shooting happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday at a mobile home park. 

Investigators say the 38-year-old man who was shot called 911, and arriving officers found him, the wounded 3-year-old girl and another young child at the scene described as “panicked.” 

Police say they believe the shooting was accidental, but did not immediately give details about how the shooting occurred. Police did, however, admonish parents to keep guns away from children. Police say the man and injured child were taken in serious condition to a hospital.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626365008633.png" alt="Police said they believed the shooting was accidental- photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police said they believed the shooting was accidental- photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man and a 3-year-old girl were wounded in a shooting in south Wichita. Television station KAKE reports that the shooting happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday at a mobile home park. Investigators say the 38-year-old man who was shot called 911, and arriving officers found him, the wounded 3-year-old girl and another young child at the scene described as “panicked.” Police say they believe the shooting was accidental, but did not immediately give details about how the shooting occurred. Police did, however, admonish parents to keep guns away from children. Police say the man and injured child were taken in serious condition to a hospital.

Kan. man, 3-year-old wounded in accidental shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Missouri, have agreed as part of a lawsuit settlement to stop banning protesters from returning to areas in the city where the protests were held, civil rights groups said Wednesday.

The ACLU of Missouri and the MacArthur Justice Center sued Kansas City, Missouri, police commissioners last year challenging what they called an unconstitutional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-lawsuits-police-brutality-arrests-d048c7889cda55d0c412a912e1240e65">verbal banishment order</a>.

“Now more than ever we must safeguard the right to protest from police overreach and violence — especially where protests are about the police themselves,” said Amy Breihan, co-director at the MacArthur Justice Center.

Police spokeswoman Donna Drake said in an emailed statement that the department is “grateful to have had this opportunity to work with the ACLU on these important First Amendment issues."

“Since the summer of 2020, we have continued to make adjustments and changes to include our new First Amendment policy,” Drake said. “KCPD continues to work hard to support the First Amendment rights of the citizens of Kansas City."

The lawsuit stems from protests against police brutality and racial injustice last year at the Country Club Plaza, a popular dining and shopping district. About 100 people were arrested, including Theresa Taylor. When she was released on bail, police told her that if she returned to the Plaza she would be arrested and held without bail. A municipal charge alleging Taylor failed to comply with a police order to disperse was later dismissed.

The settlement also requires training on free speech and anti-bias and de-escalation practices as well as prohibiting officers from adding conditions of bond release beyond those imposed by the court or prosecutor.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Missouri, have agreed as part of a lawsuit settlement to stop banning protesters from returning to areas in the city where the protests were held, civil rights groups said Wednesday.The ACLU of Missouri and the MacArthur Justice Center sued Kansas City, Missouri, police commissioners last year challenging what they called an unconstitutional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-lawsuits-police-brutality-arrests-d048c7889cda55d0c412a912e1240e65">verbal banishment order</a>.“Now more than ever we must safeguard the right to protest from police overreach and violence — especially where protests are about the police themselves,” said Amy Breihan, co-director at the MacArthur Justice Center.Police spokeswoman Donna Drake said in an emailed statement that the department is “grateful to have had this opportunity to work with the ACLU on these important First Amendment issues."“Since the summer of 2020, we have continued to make adjustments and changes to include our new First Amendment policy,” Drake said. “KCPD continues to work hard to support the First Amendment rights of the citizens of Kansas City."The lawsuit stems from protests against police brutality and racial injustice last year at the Country Club Plaza, a popular dining and shopping district. About 100 people were arrested, including Theresa Taylor. When she was released on bail, police told her that if she returned to the Plaza she would be arrested and held without bail. A municipal charge alleging Taylor failed to comply with a police order to disperse was later dismissed.The settlement also requires training on free speech and anti-bias and de-escalation practices as well as prohibiting officers from adding conditions of bond release beyond those imposed by the court or prosecutor.

Police, civil rights groups settle Kansas City protester case

ATCHISON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a vehicle theft and have made an arrest.

Just after 8p.m. Tuesday, Terry Smith Jr. reported the theft of a 2011&nbsp; Volkswagen Passat from the 1500 Block of Main Street in Atchinson, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Smith and the suspect identified as&nbsp;23-year-old Kristina A. Smith of Independence, Mo., know each other and were in the Volkswagen in the 1500 block Main when Smith got out the vehicle to retrieve something left at a nearby car wash.

The suspect, Kristina Smith, drove off with the car. 

At 9:30a.m. Wednesday, police located the suspect and the vehicle at K-7 and 330th Road where the vehicle had run out of gas. Police arrested her and she remains in custody, according to online jail records. Police have not reported requested charges in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626287419629.png" alt="Smith-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a vehicle theft and have made an arrest.Just after 8p.m. Tuesday, Terry Smith Jr. reported the theft of a 2011&nbsp; Volkswagen Passat from the 1500 Block of Main Street in Atchinson, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Smith and the suspect identified as&nbsp;23-year-old Kristina A. Smith of Independence, Mo., know each other and were in the Volkswagen in the 1500 block Main when Smith got out the vehicle to retrieve something left at a nearby car wash.The suspect, Kristina Smith, drove off with the car. At 9:30a.m. Wednesday, police located the suspect and the vehicle at K-7 and 330th Road where the vehicle had run out of gas. Police arrested her and she remains in custody, according to online jail records. Police have not reported requested charges in the case.

Police: Woman dumped car's owner at Kansas car wash

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A week after missing his first sentencing hearing, a Kansas man was hauled into a federal courtroom in Kansas City, Missouri, in shackles and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for carrying out a phony debt-selling scam involving millions of dollars.

Joel Tucker, 52, of Prairie Village, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty last year to transporting stolen money, bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay more than $8 million in restitution to the IRS.

Tucker had been set to be sentenced last week, but did not show up for the hearing, and an arrest warrant was issued for him. His lawyers said Tucker was in Colorado dealing with a family matter.

Most of Tucker’s charges stemmed from his selling phony consumer information to debt collectors, who then tried to get consumers to pay debts they didn’t owe. In 2017, the Federal Trade Commission obtained a $4 million judgment against Tucker for the same scam.

Tucker’s brother, former professional race car driver Scott Tucker, is serving a nearly 17-year sentence in federal prison for running an illegal payday loan operation in Overland Park that federal authorities said exploited more than 2 million borrowers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625777725263.png" alt="Tucker photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Tucker photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A week after missing his first sentencing hearing, a Kansas man was hauled into a federal courtroom in Kansas City, Missouri, in shackles and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for carrying out a phony debt-selling scam involving millions of dollars.Joel Tucker, 52, of Prairie Village, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty last year to transporting stolen money, bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay more than $8 million in restitution to the IRS.Tucker had been set to be sentenced last week, but did not show up for the hearing, and an arrest warrant was issued for him. His lawyers said Tucker was in Colorado dealing with a family matter.Most of Tucker’s charges stemmed from his selling phony consumer information to debt collectors, who then tried to get consumers to pay debts they didn’t owe. In 2017, the Federal Trade Commission obtained a $4 million judgment against Tucker for the same scam.Tucker’s brother, former professional race car driver Scott Tucker, is serving a nearly 17-year sentence in federal prison for running an illegal payday loan operation in Overland Park that federal authorities said exploited more than 2 million borrowers.

Kan. man who skipped sentencing last week gets prison

SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) continue to investigate cases of illness associated with Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kan., just west of Wichita.

One additional person who tested positive for&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;bacteria has been identified, bringing the total cases linked to the park to seven. All seven cases visited the Splash Park on June 11, 2021. Investigations into other possible linked illnesses are ongoing.

DNA fingerprinting was performed on&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;bacteria from two cases who reside in different counties, using a standardized laboratory and data analysis method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS gives investigators detailed information about the bacteria causing illness. In this investigation, WGS showed that bacteria isolated from these two cases were closely related genetically. This means that they likely share a common source of infection. WGS testing could not be performed for the remaining five cases.

KDHE and SCHD have created a new survey for individuals who visited Tanganyika Wildlife Park from May 28 through June 19, 2021. This more detailed survey is designed to help investigators determine the cause of illness. It is important for us to get information from those who became ill as well as those that did not become ill. Please complete the new survey, even if you already completed a similar survey when the investigation was first announced. The new survey is at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTQuNDMxOTk5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tL2tzc3BsYXNoP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.-tAdJjynO6-h5xViUrpwG5eW1-sy1YvzqovLwQ-CMBc/s/1305913448/br/109298097539-l" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/kssplash</a>.&nbsp;

KDHE became aware of the first three&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;cases’ association with Tanganyika on June 18. The Splash Park has remained closed since June 19. Since then, Sedgwick County has worked with Tanganyika on improvements to processes which will meet the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTQuNDMxOTk5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNkYy5nb3YvbWFoYz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.pTFHpwsW_Sqzi-AK5jGYv2iMp5FQ83XTXRdDao3B-AM/s/1305913448/br/109298097539-l" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/mahc</a>). This investigation remains ongoing and KDHE and SCHD will continue to provide updates to the public and patrons of the park.

Shigella&nbsp;is a bacteria spread from person-to-person through exposure to contaminated stool (feces).&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;spreads easily; just a small number of bacteria can spread illness. Someone can become infected with&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;through swallowing contaminated recreational water; touching items that are contaminated and touching the mouth; or caring for someone who has&nbsp;Shigella, including cleaning up after the person who uses the bathroom or when changing diapers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624228385006.png" alt="Photo courtesy Tanganyika Wildlife Park" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Tanganyika Wildlife Park</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) continue to investigate cases of illness associated with Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kan., just west of Wichita.One additional person who tested positive for&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;bacteria has been identified, bringing the total cases linked to the park to seven. All seven cases visited the Splash Park on June 11, 2021. Investigations into other possible linked illnesses are ongoing.DNA fingerprinting was performed on&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;bacteria from two cases who reside in different counties, using a standardized laboratory and data analysis method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS gives investigators detailed information about the bacteria causing illness. In this investigation, WGS showed that bacteria isolated from these two cases were closely related genetically. This means that they likely share a common source of infection. WGS testing could not be performed for the remaining five cases.KDHE and SCHD have created a new survey for individuals who visited Tanganyika Wildlife Park from May 28 through June 19, 2021. This more detailed survey is designed to help investigators determine the cause of illness. It is important for us to get information from those who became ill as well as those that did not become ill. Please complete the new survey, even if you already completed a similar survey when the investigation was first announced. The new survey is at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTQuNDMxOTk5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tL2tzc3BsYXNoP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.-tAdJjynO6-h5xViUrpwG5eW1-sy1YvzqovLwQ-CMBc/s/1305913448/br/109298097539-l" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/kssplash</a>.&nbsp;KDHE became aware of the first three&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;cases’ association with Tanganyika on June 18. The Splash Park has remained closed since June 19. Since then, Sedgwick County has worked with Tanganyika on improvements to processes which will meet the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTQuNDMxOTk5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNkYy5nb3YvbWFoYz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.pTFHpwsW_Sqzi-AK5jGYv2iMp5FQ83XTXRdDao3B-AM/s/1305913448/br/109298097539-l" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/mahc</a>). This investigation remains ongoing and KDHE and SCHD will continue to provide updates to the public and patrons of the park.Shigella&nbsp;is a bacteria spread from person-to-person through exposure to contaminated stool (feces).&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;spreads easily; just a small number of bacteria can spread illness. Someone can become infected with&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;through swallowing contaminated recreational water; touching items that are contaminated and touching the mouth; or caring for someone who has&nbsp;Shigella, including cleaning up after the person who uses the bathroom or when changing diapers.

KDHE IDs additional case of shigella at Kan. splash park

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged assault of a detention deputy at the Sedgwick County Jail.

Just after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy was attempting to get an inmate to return to their cell after being let out to shower, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

The inmate involved identified as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=134694">31-year-old Denzel L. Cooper</a> is currently on Administrative Segregation due to repeated disciplinary issues within the Detention Facility. When instructed to return to his cell, the Cooper became aggressive and made threatening comments to the deputy. The deputy called for extra assistance and continued attempts to get Cooper to return to his cell.

Cooper then quickly approached the deputy, striking him in the face with a closed fist at least two times. The deputy was knocked to the floor, but was able to move to a secure location preventing any further attack. Additional staff arrived in the area shortly after this and were able to secure the inmate in his cell.

EMS transported the deputy to the hospital where he received 15 stitches and sustained multiple facial fractures, according to Blick. After receiving treatment the deputy was released to return home.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=134694">Cooper has been in </a>custody since May 2, 2020. He is currently being held on charges of Rape, Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, and two felony counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.

This case will be presented to the District Attorney for review for the requested charge of Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626280472949.png" alt="Cooper photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cooper photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged assault of a detention deputy at the Sedgwick County Jail.Just after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy was attempting to get an inmate to return to their cell after being let out to shower, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. The inmate involved identified as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=134694">31-year-old Denzel L. Cooper</a> is currently on Administrative Segregation due to repeated disciplinary issues within the Detention Facility. When instructed to return to his cell, the Cooper became aggressive and made threatening comments to the deputy. The deputy called for extra assistance and continued attempts to get Cooper to return to his cell.Cooper then quickly approached the deputy, striking him in the face with a closed fist at least two times. The deputy was knocked to the floor, but was able to move to a secure location preventing any further attack. Additional staff arrived in the area shortly after this and were able to secure the inmate in his cell.EMS transported the deputy to the hospital where he received 15 stitches and sustained multiple facial fractures, according to Blick. After receiving treatment the deputy was released to return home.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=134694">Cooper has been in </a>custody since May 2, 2020. He is currently being held on charges of Rape, Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, and two felony counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.This case will be presented to the District Attorney for review for the requested charge of Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.

Kansas jail deputy hospitalized after inmate attack 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two people were killed and three others injured after a house fire Wednesday in northwest Kansas City, Missouri, police said.

Police spokeswoman Donna Drake confirmed the two deaths and said two of the other victims suffered critical injuries.

The victims' names and ages were not immediately available.

Earlier in the day, fire officials said three children and one adult had been taken to local hospitals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626295203087.png" alt="Wednesday fatal fire in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday fatal fire in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two people were killed and three others injured after a house fire Wednesday in northwest Kansas City, Missouri, police said.Police spokeswoman Donna Drake confirmed the two deaths and said two of the other victims suffered critical injuries.The victims' names and ages were not immediately available.Earlier in the day, fire officials said three children and one adult had been taken to local hospitals.

Police: 2 killed, 3 injured in Kansas City house fire

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Wichita City Council has put off a decision on a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance, saying it needed more community input even after  two marathon public listening sessions. 

The proposal bans discrimination in employment, housing and businesses. 

About 40 people weighed in Tuesday during the three-hour meeting. Some described how discrimination has impacted their lives and others said that the ordinance would infringe on their religious liberties. 

The discussion focused mainly on sexual orientation and gender identity. The council tentatively agreed to take the proposal up again on Oct. 12.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626278607681.png" alt="Tuesday's discussion focused mainly on sexual orientation and gender identity. Photo courtesy city of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday's discussion focused mainly on sexual orientation and gender identity. Photo courtesy city of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Wichita City Council has put off a decision on a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance, saying it needed more community input even after two marathon public listening sessions. The proposal bans discrimination in employment, housing and businesses. About 40 people weighed in Tuesday during the three-hour meeting. Some described how discrimination has impacted their lives and others said that the ordinance would infringe on their religious liberties. The discussion focused mainly on sexual orientation and gender identity. The council tentatively agreed to take the proposal up again on Oct. 12.

Wichita delays vote on anti-discrimination ordinance

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-07-13/booming-turkey-vulture-populations-could-be-another-sign-climate-change-is-circling-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>

For the past five years or so, state Sen. Randall Hardy has watched a
 few dozen turkey vultures roost in a tree next to his garage.

He can tell when the migratory birds return to his central Salina neighborhood each spring as the colors begin to change.

“The
 roof is colored with white,” the District 24 Republican said, “and if 
you aren't careful where you park your car in the driveway, it can 
change colors overnight as well.”

The vultures clean up 
dead carcasses, the carrion that make up their diet, well enough. But 
with avian scavengers comes all that whitish guano.

Hardy 
hears some grumbling around town from others who see the vultures as 
ugly, a nuisance. One neighbor has tried to scare the birds away by 
clanging two garbage can lids together. But that’s only a temporary fix.

Each year, the turkey vultures return. And Hardy welcomes them.

“We're richer, frankly, in Salina for having them,” Hardy said. “The rain will take care of the poop.”

If
 you’ve noticed more of these foreboding figures circling in the skies 
above you lately, you’re not imagining things. It might have something 
to do with climate change and the stench of rotting flesh.

Chuck
 Otte, secretary of the Kansas Bird Records Committee and a Kansas State
 University extension agent in Geary County, described the scene in 
central Salina as one that’s become increasingly common across central 
and western Kansas.

“Go back into the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Otte 
said, “and we just didn't see that many turkey vultures in urban areas, 
even small towns.”

But over the past two decades, committees of vultures have begun to descend upon Kansas in greater numbers.

While other species of birds have seen their populations <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/" target="_blank">freefall</a>,
 Otte said the population of turkey vultures has doubled nationwide 
since 1966. And because the birds are federally protected, harming them 
or their nests is prohibited.

So for anyone in Kansas who 
wishes the vultures in their area would just go somewhere else, there’s 
not a lot they can do. But that hasn’t stopped some towns from trying.

With six-foot black 
wingspans and featherless red heads, turkey vultures are hard to miss. 
They’re often seen perched by the dozens on water towers, trees, barns 
and anywhere else they can get a high vantage point to spot their 
favorite meal: rotting meat.

Their taste for dead animals 
often gives vultures a bad rap. But Otte said that even in their growing
 numbers, the scavengers play a vital role in the ecosystem by gobbling 
up carcasses before they spread disease.

“They are nature’s
 cleanup crew,” Otte said. “I often wonder how many feet of dead animals
 we'd have if it wasn't for turkey vultures.”

Not everyone shares Otte’s sunny view. Some people are <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/article/20100417/NEWS/304179896" target="_blank">bothered</a> by the bird's ominous appearance. For others, it’s <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/vultures-taking-over-mo-town/" target="_blank">the smell</a>.

About
 40 miles west of Salina, Ellsworth Treasurer Angela Mueller said the 
town often gets complaints from residents who are tired of seeing and 
smelling the dozens of vultures that roost around town.

“They
 leave a mess. They're not clean. … They smell because they’re eating 
the dead critters,” Mueller said. “People don't like them.”

So, the central Kansas town of roughly 3,000 people has tried to take matters into its own hands, with mixed results.

In 2019, city administrator Scott Moore <a href="https://www.ellsworthks.net/files/documents/CityCouncilMinutes10-28-19104444072320AM1.pdf" target="_blank">presented</a>
 the city council with a plan for installing LED lights to shine on one 
water tower that had become a favorite haunt of the vultures. His idea 
was the lights would keep the birds away, but Mueller said that didn’t 
pan out.

“They put in lights,” Mueller said. “But they do nothing to discourage birds.”

So
 the town turned to sonic persuasion. Ellsworth police have begun using 
noisemakers that create a racket loud enough to startle the vultures 
away from the water tower. Mueller compared the sound to the boom of a 
firework.

But she said the noise usually just sends the 
birds to the town’s other water tower or to a nearby tree. And over 
time, the vultures have gotten so used to the sound that they’re not 
scared anymore.

“We just have to live with them,” she said. “This is their home station. They chose Ellsworth.”

Otte
 of the K-State extension office said researchers are still trying to 
pinpoint why vulture populations are growing so rapidly. But he said 
human causes, like climate change and urban sprawl, could be 
contributing to the birds’ surge in Kansas.

Vultures only 
stay part of the year here, generally from March through November. In 
the winter, they head south in search of warmer temperatures — not for 
their comfort, but for their cuisine.

“For dead animals to start decaying,” Otte said, “you need to have heat.”

Turkey vultures have the <a href="https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/animal-facts/turkey-vulture/" target="_blank">largest olfactory systems</a>
 of all birds and can smell decaying flesh from over a mile away. But 
during colder months, Kansas roads can’t warm roadkill enough to get it 
rotting.

So historically, winter sightings of turkey 
vultures in Kansas were virtually unheard of. But Otte said climate 
change could eventually make Kansas a welcoming year-round habitat.

“About
 every other year, we've got a bird showing up in January or maybe 
lingering into December,” he said. “So it's already happening.”

The
 growth and spread of civilization can also invite vultures to set up 
shop in cities and towns where maybe there didn’t used to be much 
rotting meat lying around.

“We have more cars, and cars and animals have collisions on the roadways,” Otte said. “That provides more food for them.”

And
 once turkey vultures find a favorite place to roost, they remember it. 
Otte described the birds as “site-faithful.” That means they tend to 
return to the same spot every year, whether it’s Hardy’s tree in Salina 
or a water tower in Ellsworth.

In extreme cases, Otte said 
homeowners who want to discourage the birds from roosting nearby could 
remove dead trees from their property. But ultimately, he said Kansans 
should learn to live with — and maybe even appreciate — the new 
neighbors.

“We've got to get past that stigma that they're associated with death,” he said. “They're necessary.”

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626289206150.png" alt="A turkey vulture perches on top of a tree branch. US Fish and Wildlife Service" />
 <figcaption>A turkey vulture perches on top of a tree branch. US Fish and Wildlife Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-07-13/booming-turkey-vulture-populations-could-be-another-sign-climate-change-is-circling-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>For the past five years or so, state Sen. Randall Hardy has watched a
 few dozen turkey vultures roost in a tree next to his garage.He can tell when the migratory birds return to his central Salina neighborhood each spring as the colors begin to change.“The
 roof is colored with white,” the District 24 Republican said, “and if 
you aren't careful where you park your car in the driveway, it can 
change colors overnight as well.”The vultures clean up 
dead carcasses, the carrion that make up their diet, well enough. But 
with avian scavengers comes all that whitish guano.Hardy 
hears some grumbling around town from others who see the vultures as 
ugly, a nuisance. One neighbor has tried to scare the birds away by 
clanging two garbage can lids together. But that’s only a temporary fix.Each year, the turkey vultures return. And Hardy welcomes them.“We're richer, frankly, in Salina for having them,” Hardy said. “The rain will take care of the poop.”If
 you’ve noticed more of these foreboding figures circling in the skies 
above you lately, you’re not imagining things. It might have something 
to do with climate change and the stench of rotting flesh.Chuck
 Otte, secretary of the Kansas Bird Records Committee and a Kansas State
 University extension agent in Geary County, described the scene in 
central Salina as one that’s become increasingly common across central 
and western Kansas.“Go back into the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Otte 
said, “and we just didn't see that many turkey vultures in urban areas, 
even small towns.”But over the past two decades, committees of vultures have begun to descend upon Kansas in greater numbers.While other species of birds have seen their populations <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/" target="_blank">freefall</a>,
 Otte said the population of turkey vultures has doubled nationwide 
since 1966. And because the birds are federally protected, harming them 
or their nests is prohibited.So for anyone in Kansas who 
wishes the vultures in their area would just go somewhere else, there’s 
not a lot they can do. But that hasn’t stopped some towns from trying.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626289281289.png" alt="Dozens of turkey vultures roost in a tree near state Sen. Randall Hardy's Salina home. Courtesy Randall Hardy" />
 <figcaption>Dozens of turkey vultures roost in a tree near state Sen. Randall Hardy's Salina home. Courtesy Randall Hardy</figcaption>
 </figure>Unwelcoming committeesWith six-foot black 
wingspans and featherless red heads, turkey vultures are hard to miss. 
They’re often seen perched by the dozens on water towers, trees, barns 
and anywhere else they can get a high vantage point to spot their 
favorite meal: rotting meat.Their taste for dead animals 
often gives vultures a bad rap. But Otte said that even in their growing
 numbers, the scavengers play a vital role in the ecosystem by gobbling 
up carcasses before they spread disease.“They are nature’s
 cleanup crew,” Otte said. “I often wonder how many feet of dead animals
 we'd have if it wasn't for turkey vultures.”Not everyone shares Otte’s sunny view. Some people are <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/article/20100417/NEWS/304179896" target="_blank">bothered</a> by the bird's ominous appearance. For others, it’s <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/vultures-taking-over-mo-town/" target="_blank">the smell</a>.About
 40 miles west of Salina, Ellsworth Treasurer Angela Mueller said the 
town often gets complaints from residents who are tired of seeing and 
smelling the dozens of vultures that roost around town.“They
 leave a mess. They're not clean. … They smell because they’re eating 
the dead critters,” Mueller said. “People don't like them.”So, the central Kansas town of roughly 3,000 people has tried to take matters into its own hands, with mixed results.In 2019, city administrator Scott Moore <a href="https://www.ellsworthks.net/files/documents/CityCouncilMinutes10-28-19104444072320AM1.pdf" target="_blank">presented</a>
 the city council with a plan for installing LED lights to shine on one 
water tower that had become a favorite haunt of the vultures. His idea 
was the lights would keep the birds away, but Mueller said that didn’t 
pan out.“They put in lights,” Mueller said. “But they do nothing to discourage birds.”So
 the town turned to sonic persuasion. Ellsworth police have begun using 
noisemakers that create a racket loud enough to startle the vultures 
away from the water tower. Mueller compared the sound to the boom of a 
firework.But she said the noise usually just sends the 
birds to the town’s other water tower or to a nearby tree. And over 
time, the vultures have gotten so used to the sound that they’re not 
scared anymore.“We just have to live with them,” she said. “This is their home station. They chose Ellsworth.”Warm meatOtte
 of the K-State extension office said researchers are still trying to 
pinpoint why vulture populations are growing so rapidly. But he said 
human causes, like climate change and urban sprawl, could be 
contributing to the birds’ surge in Kansas.Vultures only 
stay part of the year here, generally from March through November. In 
the winter, they head south in search of warmer temperatures — not for 
their comfort, but for their cuisine.“For dead animals to start decaying,” Otte said, “you need to have heat.”Turkey vultures have the <a href="https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/animal-facts/turkey-vulture/" target="_blank">largest olfactory systems</a>
 of all birds and can smell decaying flesh from over a mile away. But 
during colder months, Kansas roads can’t warm roadkill enough to get it 
rotting.So historically, winter sightings of turkey 
vultures in Kansas were virtually unheard of. But Otte said climate 
change could eventually make Kansas a welcoming year-round habitat.“About
 every other year, we've got a bird showing up in January or maybe 
lingering into December,” he said. “So it's already happening.”The
 growth and spread of civilization can also invite vultures to set up 
shop in cities and towns where maybe there didn’t used to be much 
rotting meat lying around.“We have more cars, and cars and animals have collisions on the roadways,” Otte said. “That provides more food for them.”And
 once turkey vultures find a favorite place to roost, they remember it. 
Otte described the birds as “site-faithful.” That means they tend to 
return to the same spot every year, whether it’s Hardy’s tree in Salina 
or a water tower in Ellsworth.In extreme cases, Otte said 
homeowners who want to discourage the birds from roosting nearby could 
remove dead trees from their property. But ultimately, he said Kansans 
should learn to live with — and maybe even appreciate — the new 
neighbors.“We've got to get past that stigma that they're associated with death,” he said. “They're necessary.”David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

Booming vulture population could be sign climate change is circling Kan.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats announced late Tuesday that they’d reached a budget agreement envisioning spending an enormous $3.5 trillion over the coming decade, paving the way for their drive to pour federal resources into climate change, health care and family-service programs sought by President Joe Biden.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626283910947.png" alt="President Joe Biden is stepping up his bid to push his multitrillion-dollar domestic agenda through Congress. He had lunch with Senate Democrats at the Capitol on Wednesday. The gathering comes a day after party leaders announced a compromise for pouring federal resources into climate change, health care and family service programs.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden is stepping up his bid to push his multitrillion-dollar domestic agenda through Congress. He had lunch with Senate Democrats at the Capitol on Wednesday. The gathering comes a day after party leaders announced a compromise for pouring federal resources into climate change, health care and family service programs.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats announced late Tuesday that they’d reached a budget agreement envisioning spending an enormous $3.5 trillion over the coming decade, paving the way for their drive to pour federal resources into climate change, health care and family-service programs sought by President Joe Biden.The accord marks a major step in the party’s push to meet Biden’s goal of bolstering an economy that was ravaged by the pandemic and setting it on course for long-term growth — and includes a Medicare expansion of vision, hearing and dental benefits for older Americans, a goal of progressives.But Democrats behind the agreement face possible objections from their rival moderate and progressive factions, and will have to work hard to convert their plans into legislation they can push through the closely divided Congress over what could be unanimous Republican opposition.“We are very proud of this plan,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters. “We know we have a long road to go. We’re going to get this done for the sake of making average Americans’ lives a whole lot better.”Biden was set to attend a closed-door lunch at the Capitol on Wednesday with all Senate Democrats “to lead us on to getting this wonderful plan” enacted, Schumer said.All told, the ambitious proposal reflects Biden’s vision for making the most substantive potential investments in the nation in years, some say on par with the New Deal of the 1930s. Together with a slimmer, $1 trillion bipartisan effort of traditional road, highway and public works also being negotiated, they represent close to the president’s initial $4 trillion-plus effort that could reach almost every corner of the country.The Democrats’ goal is to push a budget resolution reflecting Tuesday’s agreement through the House and Senate before lawmakers leave for their August recess. The resolution sets only broad spending and revenue parameters, leaving the actual funding and specific decisions about which programs are affected — and by exactly how much — for later legislation.Nonetheless, approving a budget will be a major boon for the Democrats’ effort to enact their subsequent funding bill. That’s because the budget contains language that would let Democrats move the follow-up spending measure through the 50-50 Senate with just a simple majority, not the 60 votes Republicans could demand by using a bill-killing filibuster.The later spending legislation will likely not start moving through Congress until the fall.Separately Tuesday, a bipartisan group of senators continued working on a third measure that would spend around $1 trillion on roads, water systems and other infrastructure projects, another Biden priority. Biden and 10 senators — five from each party — had agreed to an outline of that compromise measure last month, and bargainers have worked ever since to flesh it out.In discussing the budget agreement, Schumer and other lawmakers did not respond when asked if they had the support of all 50 Democratic senators, which they will need to succeed. They also have virtually no margin for error in the House, where they will be able to lose no more than three Democratic votes and still prevail.Moderates like Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., might still demand further changes to reduce the plan’s price tag and impact on already huge federal deficits. Progressives in both chambers might insist on beefing it up or other changes.Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the Budget Committee chairman, and other progressives pushed initially for a $6 trillion budget top line while party moderates insisted on a far lower price tag. Biden had proposed around $4.5 trillion.The Democrats’ announcement Tuesday left many questions about their budget accord unanswered. These included how much it would raise through tax increases on the wealthy and corporations and other revenue to pay for its costs; how much would be spent on specific programs; and how Biden’s proposals would be curtailed or eliminated to fit into the legislation.Schumer said the proposal would call for financing Biden’s budget priorities “in a robust way.” He also said it would include a priority of Sanders and other progressives: an expansion of Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older people, to cover dental, vision and hearing services.Sanders said the agreement would end an era in which, he said, rich people and big companies weren’t bearing enough of the burden of financing government programs.“Those days are gone,” he said. “The wealthy and large corporations are going to start paying their fair share of taxes, so that we can protect the working families of this country.”Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a leading moderate who helped shape the budget package, said the measure would be fully paid for with offsetting revenue but provided no detail. Biden has proposed financing the measure with higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations and beefing up the IRS’s budget so it can collect more revenue from scofflaws.The budget will include language calling for no tax increases on people making less than $400,000 a year, a Biden demand, or on small businesses. The provision was described by a Democratic aide who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations.On infrastructure, senators from both parties met Tuesday evening and their bipartisan deal appeared back on track, after days of disputes. Lawmakers said they were aiming for a new Thursday deadline to wrap up the details despite opposition from business leaders, outside activists and some GOP senators over how to pay for it.The bipartisan infrastructure effort was thrown into doubt earlier Tuesday when Republicans said it was unlikely it would be ready for a vote next week, as hoped.But senators exiting the meeting suggested they hadn’t so much resolved the questions over how to pay for the package but moved past them — apparently accepting that some of the proposed revenue streams may not pass muster in formal assessments by the Congressional Budget Office, the lawmakers’ nonpartisan fiscal scorekeeper.Manchin said he hoped that the CBO’s score, as it is called, would show that “everything’s paid for. If not, we’ll have to make some adjustments.”Even if the bipartisan group can meet its new deadline for agreement, it’s still a long shot the bill would be ready for a vote next week.Senators have struggled to agree to revenue streams to fund the $1 trillion plan, which includes about $579 billion in new spending beyond regular expenditures already funded by gas taxes and other sources.At least 10 Republican senators would be needed to back the infrastructure bill, joining with all 50 Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold because it would still be vulnerable to a filibuster.___