WASHINGTON (AP) — A new committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol would have 13 members and the power to subpoena witnesses, according to legislation released by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday. The House is expected to vote on the bill this week.

The effort comes after Senate Republicans blocked the formation of an independent, bipartisan commission to probe the attack, in which hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters violently broke into the Capitol and interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.

The new, partisan House panel would have eight members appointed by Pelosi and five appointed “after consultation with” Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. A Pelosi aide said the speaker is considering including a Republican among her appointments, which would bring the likely partisan split to 7-6. The aide was granted anonymity to discuss her thinking.

Pelosi said in a statement that Jan. 6 was “one of the darkest days in our nation’s history” and that the committee will seek the truth about it.

“The Select Committee will investigate and report upon the facts and causes of the attack and report recommendations for preventing any future assault," she said.

Many Republicans were concerned about such a partisan probe, since majority Democrats are likely to investigate Trump’s role in the siege and the right wing groups that were present for it. Almost three dozen House Republicans voted to create an independent panel, which would have had an even partisan split among members. Seven Republicans in the Senate supported moving forward on that bill, but that was short of the 10 Senate Republicans who would be necessary to pass it.

As laid out in Pelosi’s legislation, the new select committee would have subpoena power and no specific end date. The panel can issue interim reports as it conducts the probe.

Trump is not explicitly referenced in the legislation, which directs the select committee to investigate “facts, circumstances and causes relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex and relating to the interference with the peaceful transfer of power." The panel would also study “influencing factors that fomented such an attack on American representative democracy while engaged in a constitutional process.”

The House passed the bill to form an independent commission last month, and Pelosi, D-Calif., said it was her preference to have an independent panel lead the inquiry. But she said last week that Congress could not wait any longer to begin a deeper look at the insurrection so she would form the select panel. She has not said who will lead it.

Still, Pelosi said that the select committee could be complementary to an independent panel, should one ever be formed, and that she is “hopeful there could be a commission at some point.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he might hold a second vote, but there’s no indication that any GOP votes have changed.

Many Republicans have made clear that they want to move on from the Jan. 6 attack, brushing aside the many unanswered questions about the insurrection, including how the government and law enforcement missed intelligence leading up to the rioting and the role of Trump before and during the insurrection.

Others in the GOP have gone further, with one suggesting the rioters looked like tourists and another insisting that a Trump supporter named Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed while trying to break into the House chamber, was “executed.”

Two officers who battled the rioters, Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone and Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, have been lobbying Republicans to support an independent commission and met with McCarthy on Friday. Afterward, they said they had asked McCarthy to denounce GOP comments downplaying the violence.

In the absence of an independent commission, Fanone said he asked McCarthy for a commitment not to put “the wrong people” on the new select panel and that McCarthy said he would take it seriously. McCarthy's office did not respond to requests for comment on either the meeting or the legislation to form the select committee.

The officers also asked McCarthy to denounce 21 Republicans who voted earlier this month against giving medals of honor to the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police to thank them for their service on Jan. 6. Dozens of those officers suffered injuries, including chemical burns, brain injuries and broken bones.

McCarthy, who voted for the measure, told them he would deal with those members privately.

Seven people died during and after the rioting, including Babbitt and three other Trump supporters who died of medical emergencies. Two police officers died by suicide in the days that followed, and a third officer, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, collapsed and later died after engaging with the protesters. A medical examiner later determined he died of natural causes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624924788291.png" alt="House Speaker Pelosi said in a statement that Jan. 6 was “one of the darkest days in our nation’s history” and that the committee will seek the truth about it.-photo courtesy House Speaker's Office." />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Pelosi said in a statement that Jan. 6 was “one of the darkest days in our nation’s history” and that the committee will seek the truth about it.-photo courtesy House Speaker's Office.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A new committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol would have 13 members and the power to subpoena witnesses, according to legislation released by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday. The House is expected to vote on the bill this week.The effort comes after Senate Republicans blocked the formation of an independent, bipartisan commission to probe the attack, in which hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters violently broke into the Capitol and interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.The new, partisan House panel would have eight members appointed by Pelosi and five appointed “after consultation with” Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. A Pelosi aide said the speaker is considering including a Republican among her appointments, which would bring the likely partisan split to 7-6. The aide was granted anonymity to discuss her thinking.Pelosi said in a statement that Jan. 6 was “one of the darkest days in our nation’s history” and that the committee will seek the truth about it.“The Select Committee will investigate and report upon the facts and causes of the attack and report recommendations for preventing any future assault," she said.Many Republicans were concerned about such a partisan probe, since majority Democrats are likely to investigate Trump’s role in the siege and the right wing groups that were present for it. Almost three dozen House Republicans voted to create an independent panel, which would have had an even partisan split among members. Seven Republicans in the Senate supported moving forward on that bill, but that was short of the 10 Senate Republicans who would be necessary to pass it.As laid out in Pelosi’s legislation, the new select committee would have subpoena power and no specific end date. The panel can issue interim reports as it conducts the probe.Trump is not explicitly referenced in the legislation, which directs the select committee to investigate “facts, circumstances and causes relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex and relating to the interference with the peaceful transfer of power." The panel would also study “influencing factors that fomented such an attack on American representative democracy while engaged in a constitutional process.”The House passed the bill to form an independent commission last month, and Pelosi, D-Calif., said it was her preference to have an independent panel lead the inquiry. But she said last week that Congress could not wait any longer to begin a deeper look at the insurrection so she would form the select panel. She has not said who will lead it.Still, Pelosi said that the select committee could be complementary to an independent panel, should one ever be formed, and that she is “hopeful there could be a commission at some point.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he might hold a second vote, but there’s no indication that any GOP votes have changed.Many Republicans have made clear that they want to move on from the Jan. 6 attack, brushing aside the many unanswered questions about the insurrection, including how the government and law enforcement missed intelligence leading up to the rioting and the role of Trump before and during the insurrection.Others in the GOP have gone further, with one suggesting the rioters looked like tourists and another insisting that a Trump supporter named Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed while trying to break into the House chamber, was “executed.”Two officers who battled the rioters, Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone and Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, have been lobbying Republicans to support an independent commission and met with McCarthy on Friday. Afterward, they said they had asked McCarthy to denounce GOP comments downplaying the violence.In the absence of an independent commission, Fanone said he asked McCarthy for a commitment not to put “the wrong people” on the new select panel and that McCarthy said he would take it seriously. McCarthy's office did not respond to requests for comment on either the meeting or the legislation to form the select committee.The officers also asked McCarthy to denounce 21 Republicans who voted earlier this month against giving medals of honor to the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police to thank them for their service on Jan. 6. Dozens of those officers suffered injuries, including chemical burns, brain injuries and broken bones.McCarthy, who voted for the measure, told them he would deal with those members privately.Seven people died during and after the rioting, including Babbitt and three other Trump supporters who died of medical emergencies. Two police officers died by suicide in the days that followed, and a third officer, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, collapsed and later died after engaging with the protesters. A medical examiner later determined he died of natural causes.

House to vote on bill launching investigation of Jan. 6 insurrection

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities in southwest Kansas are investigating an arson fire involving&nbsp; hay bales north of Garden City, according to a social media report from Garden City&nbsp; Police.

The fire occurred north of Garden City, from Jennie Barker Road to Big Lowe Road.&nbsp; All fires were extinguished and authorities reported no injured.&nbsp; Police reported no additional details.

Police asked the public for help with information on these fires.

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities in southwest Kansas are investigating an arson fire involving&nbsp; hay bales north of Garden City, according to a social media report from Garden City&nbsp; Police.The fire occurred north of Garden City, from Jennie Barker Road to Big Lowe Road.&nbsp; All fires were extinguished and authorities reported no injured.&nbsp; Police reported no additional details.Police asked the public for help with information on these fires.

Police: Possible arson fire involving hays bales in southwest Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police identified on Monday the victims in two weekend homicides.

Officers found 49-year-old Erron I. Holley inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds around 2:30 a.m. Sunday after a shooting was reported near Independence and Lawn avenues, police said in a news release.

Holley was taken to a hospital where he died. Police said the investigation is continuing.

Investigators believe the man was shot by someone outside the vehicle.

In a separate incident about two hours earlier, police were called to an apartment complex near East 80th and Campbell streets after a disturbance was reported. Officers found 27-year-old Ronnell Buchanan, who was wounded and later died at a hospital.

Police said Monday a person of interest has been identified in that case, but no one has been charged at this time.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police identified on Monday the victims in two weekend homicides.Officers found 49-year-old Erron I. Holley inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds around 2:30 a.m. Sunday after a shooting was reported near Independence and Lawn avenues, police said in a news release.Holley was taken to a hospital where he died. Police said the investigation is continuing.Investigators believe the man was shot by someone outside the vehicle.In a separate incident about two hours earlier, police were called to an apartment complex near East 80th and Campbell streets after a disturbance was reported. Officers found 27-year-old Ronnell Buchanan, who was wounded and later died at a hospital.Police said Monday a person of interest has been identified in that case, but no one has been charged at this time.

Police ID victims in weekend homicides in Kansas City

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A third suspect accused in the shooting death of a Kansas teen is facing a murder charge.

On Friday, 25-year-old Jaron Palmer was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery aggravated robbery and battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

On April 25, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.

When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident including 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita who was shot and killed.

EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.

Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.

Police released a video of two suspects involved in the homicide.&nbsp; After the release, police received numerous tips from the community, which led to the identification and arrest of 18-year-old Easton Palmer&nbsp; and&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070532">18-year-old Breckyn I. Elliot</a>&nbsp;both of Wichita. They have been charged with first degree murder&nbsp; aggravated robbery.

On June 21, police arrested Jaron Palmer.&nbsp; His next court appearance July 8. He is being held on a bond a $250,000, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624361905393.png" alt="Palmer photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Palmer photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A third suspect accused in the shooting death of a Kansas teen is facing a murder charge.On Friday, 25-year-old Jaron Palmer was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery aggravated robbery and battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.On April 25, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619801567819.png" alt="Elliott photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Elliott photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident including 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita who was shot and killed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619547988764.png" alt="Through the investigation, detectives determined the two pictured suspects and possibly other were involved in the incident." />
 <figcaption>Through the investigation, detectives determined the two pictured suspects and possibly other were involved in the incident.</figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619618101953.png" alt="Easton Palmer photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Easton Palmer photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Police released a video of two suspects involved in the homicide.&nbsp; After the release, police received numerous tips from the community, which led to the identification and arrest of 18-year-old Easton Palmer&nbsp; and&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070532">18-year-old Breckyn I. Elliot</a>&nbsp;both of Wichita. They have been charged with first degree murder&nbsp; aggravated robbery. On June 21, police arrested Jaron Palmer.&nbsp; His next court appearance July 8. He is being held on a bond a $250,000, according to the district attorney.

Suspect charged for April robbery, murder of Kan. teen 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Virginia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gavin-grimm-discrimination-virginia-gender-identity-us-supreme-court-68f298068a572f1faeb610a7e42c37c2">school board’s appeal</a>&nbsp;to reinstate its transgender bathroom ban.

Over two dissenting votes, the justices left in place lower court rulings that found the policy unconstitutional. The case involved former high school student Gavin Grimm, who filed a federal lawsuit after he was told he could not use the boys bathroom at his public high school. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas voted to hear the board’s appeal.

The Gloucester County, Virginia, school board’s policy required Grimm to use restrooms that corresponded with his biological sex — female — or private bathrooms.

Seven years ago, Grimm was barred from using the boys restroom when he was a 15-year-old student at Gloucester High School. He sued a year later, and his case has worked its way through the courts ever since.

After learning that the Supreme Court refused to hear the case, Grimm, now 22, said that his long court battle is over. “We won,” he tweeted. “Honored to have been part of this victory,” he added.

David Corrigan, an attorney for the school board, did not immediately respond to email and voice mail messages seeking comment.

In its petition asking the Supreme Court to hear the case, the school board argued that its bathroom policy poses a “pressing federal question of national importance.”

The board argued previously that federal laws protect against discrimination based on sex, not gender identity. Because Grimm had not undergone sex-reassignment surgery and still had female genitalia, the board’s position has been that he remained anatomically a female.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Grimm in his yearslong lawsuit against Gloucester, argued that federal law makes it clear transgender students are protected from discrimination.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Virginia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gavin-grimm-discrimination-virginia-gender-identity-us-supreme-court-68f298068a572f1faeb610a7e42c37c2">school board’s appeal</a>&nbsp;to reinstate its transgender bathroom ban.Over two dissenting votes, the justices left in place lower court rulings that found the policy unconstitutional. The case involved former high school student Gavin Grimm, who filed a federal lawsuit after he was told he could not use the boys bathroom at his public high school. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas voted to hear the board’s appeal.The Gloucester County, Virginia, school board’s policy required Grimm to use restrooms that corresponded with his biological sex — female — or private bathrooms.Seven years ago, Grimm was barred from using the boys restroom when he was a 15-year-old student at Gloucester High School. He sued a year later, and his case has worked its way through the courts ever since.After learning that the Supreme Court refused to hear the case, Grimm, now 22, said that his long court battle is over. “We won,” he tweeted. “Honored to have been part of this victory,” he added.David Corrigan, an attorney for the school board, did not immediately respond to email and voice mail messages seeking comment.In its petition asking the Supreme Court to hear the case, the school board argued that its bathroom policy poses a “pressing federal question of national importance.”The board argued previously that federal laws protect against discrimination based on sex, not gender identity. Because Grimm had not undergone sex-reassignment surgery and still had female genitalia, the board’s position has been that he remained anatomically a female.The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Grimm in his yearslong lawsuit against Gloucester, argued that federal law makes it clear transgender students are protected from discrimination.

Transgender boy wins over school bathroom ban in Supreme Court

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Police are investigating the shooting deaths of a man and woman in Kansas City believed to be linked.

Officers discovered the man and woman at separate locations Sunday night, but believe they were shot in the same home, police said in a news release.

Officers were first called to the scene of a crash near East 9th Street and Prospect Avenue, where they found a woman inside the vehicle who had been shot. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died.

Around the same time, officers were sent to a home on East 9th Street for reports of a shooting and found a man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police later determined that the woman had also been shot at the home before she fled.

The names of those killed were not immediately released, and police said they were still trying to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the shootings at the home.

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Police are investigating the shooting deaths of a man and woman in Kansas City believed to be linked.Officers discovered the man and woman at separate locations Sunday night, but believe they were shot in the same home, police said in a news release.Officers were first called to the scene of a crash near East 9th Street and Prospect Avenue, where they found a woman inside the vehicle who had been shot. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died.Around the same time, officers were sent to a home on East 9th Street for reports of a shooting and found a man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police later determined that the woman had also been shot at the home before she fled.The names of those killed were not immediately released, and police said they were still trying to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the shootings at the home.

KC Police: Shooting deaths of man, woman may be linked

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Police are looking for the driver of a red pickup that struck an 84-year-old woman at a central Salina convenience store on Friday evening.

Police were called to Salina Regional Health Center where Wilma Debolt, 84, had been taken after being struck by an unknown make red pickup in the parking lot on the north side of the Kwik Shop at 1600 S. Ninth Street, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Debolt had a black eye, a cut above her left brow, small cuts on her hands, a skinned knee, and hurting ribs, he said.

Debolt told police that she had been walking in the parking lot on the north side of the convenience store near the dumpster when she was struck by the pickup. Police found blood in the parking lot in the area where Debolt said she was hit, corroborating her story, Forrester said.

The driver of the pickup, who identified herself as "Shannon," gave Debolt a ride to Debolt's home on West Jewell Avenue and gave her a small amount of cash in case she needed to go to the emergency room, Forrester said. The woman was described as young, with long brown hair, and a thin build.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostPolice are looking for the driver of a red pickup that struck an 84-year-old woman at a central Salina convenience store on Friday evening.Police were called to Salina Regional Health Center where Wilma Debolt, 84, had been taken after being struck by an unknown make red pickup in the parking lot on the north side of the Kwik Shop at 1600 S. Ninth Street, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday.Debolt had a black eye, a cut above her left brow, small cuts on her hands, a skinned knee, and hurting ribs, he said.Debolt told police that she had been walking in the parking lot on the north side of the convenience store near the dumpster when she was struck by the pickup. Police found blood in the parking lot in the area where Debolt said she was hit, corroborating her story, Forrester said.The driver of the pickup, who identified herself as "Shannon," gave Debolt a ride to Debolt's home on West Jewell Avenue and gave her a small amount of cash in case she needed to go to the emergency room, Forrester said. The woman was described as young, with long brown hair, and a thin build.

Police looking for driver who struck 84-year-old Kan. woman

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troops in eastern Syria came under rocket attack Monday, with no reported casualties, one day after U.S. Air Force planes carried out airstrikes near the Iraq-Syria border against what the Pentagon said were facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups to support drone strikes inside Iraq.

Iraq’s military condemned the U.S. airstrikes, and the militia groups called for revenge against the United States.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the militias were using the facilities to launch unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq. It was the second time the administration has taken military action in the region since Biden took over earlier this year.

There was no indication that Sunday’s attacks were meant as the start of a wider, sustained U.S. air campaign in the border region. But a spokesman for the U.S. military mission based in Baghdad, Col. Wayne Marotto, wrote on Twitter Monday that at 7:44 p.m. local time “U.S. forces in Syria were attacked by multiple rockets.” He said there were no injuries and that attack damage was being assessed.

Marotto later tweeted that while under rocket attack, U.S. forces in Syria responded in self-defense with artillery fire at the rocket-launching positions.

Kirby said the U.S. military targeted three operational and weapons storage facilities — two in Syria and one in Iraq. In its release of videos of the strikes by Air Force F-15 and F-16 aircraft, the Pentagon described one target as a coordination center for the shipment and transfer of advanced conventional weapons.

Kirby said the airstrikes were “defensive,” saying they were launched in response to the attacks by militias.

“The United States took necessary, appropriate, and deliberate action designed to limit the risk of escalation — but also to send a clear and unambiguous deterrent message,” Kirby said.

The Pentagon said the facilities were used by Iran-backed militia factions, including Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

A Pentagon spokeswoman, Navy Cmdr. Jessica McNulty, said Monday that each strike hit its intended target and that the U.S. military was still assessing the results of the operation.

“The targets selected were facilities utilized by the network of Iran-backed militia groups responsible for the series of recent attacks against facilities housing U.S. personnel in Iraq,” McNulty said. She said those groups have conducted at least five such “one-way” drone attacks since April.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking to reporters in Rome on Monday, said Biden has been clear that the U.S. will act to protect American personnel.

“This action in self-defense to do what’s necessary to do to prevent further attacks, I think sends a very important and strong message. And I hope very much that it is received,” he said. “I think we’ve demonstrated with the actions taken last night and actions taken previously, that the president is fully prepared to act and act appropriately and deliberately to protect us.“

Two Iraqi militia officials told The Associated Press in Baghdad that four militiamen were killed in the airstrikes near the border with Syria. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give statements. They said the first strike hit a weapons storage facility inside Syrian territory, where the militiamen were killed. The second strike hit the border strip.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that closely monitors the Syrian conflict through activists on the ground, reported that at least seven Iraqi militiamen were killed in the airstrikes.

The Iran-backed Iraqi militia factions vowed revenge for the attack and said in a joint statement they would continue to target U.S. forces. “We ... will avenge the blood of our righteous martyrs against the perpetrators of this heinous crime and with God’s help we will make the enemy taste the bitterness of revenge,” they said.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi state-sanctioned umbrella of mostly Shiite militias — including those targeted by the U.S. strikes — said their men were on missions to prevent infiltration by the Islamic State group and denied the presence of weapons warehouses.

Iraq’s military condemned the strikes as a “blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and national security.” It called for avoiding escalation, but also rejected that Iraq be an “arena for settling accounts” — a reference to the U.S. and Iran. It represented rare condemnation by the Iraqi military of U.S. airstrikes.

In Iran, foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh accused the U.S. of creating instability in the region. “Definitely, what the U.S. is doing is disrupting the security of the region,” he said on Monday.

U.S. military officials have grown increasingly alarmed over drone strikes targeting U.S. military bases in Iraq, which became more common since a U.S.-directed drone killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport last year. Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the attack. The strike drew the ire of mostly Shiite Iraqi lawmakers and prompted parliament to pass a nonbinding resolution to pressure the Iraqi government to oust foreign troops from the country.

Sunday’s strikes mark the second time the Biden administration launched airstrikes along the Iraq-Syria border region. In February, the U.S. launched airstrikes against facilities in Syria, near the Iraqi border, that it said were used by Iranian-backed militia groups.

The Pentagon said those strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier that month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member and other coalition troops.

At that time, Biden said Iran should view his decision to authorize U.S. airstrikes in Syria as a warning that it can expect consequences for its support of militia groups that threaten U.S. interests or personnel.

“You can’t act with impunity. Be careful,” Biden said when a reporter asked what message he had intended to send.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624914054376.png" alt="Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the militias were using the facilities to launch unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against U.S. troops-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the militias were using the facilities to launch unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against U.S. troops-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troops in eastern Syria came under rocket attack Monday, with no reported casualties, one day after U.S. Air Force planes carried out airstrikes near the Iraq-Syria border against what the Pentagon said were facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups to support drone strikes inside Iraq.Iraq’s military condemned the U.S. airstrikes, and the militia groups called for revenge against the United States.Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the militias were using the facilities to launch unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq. It was the second time the administration has taken military action in the region since Biden took over earlier this year.There was no indication that Sunday’s attacks were meant as the start of a wider, sustained U.S. air campaign in the border region. But a spokesman for the U.S. military mission based in Baghdad, Col. Wayne Marotto, wrote on Twitter Monday that at 7:44 p.m. local time “U.S. forces in Syria were attacked by multiple rockets.” He said there were no injuries and that attack damage was being assessed.Marotto later tweeted that while under rocket attack, U.S. forces in Syria responded in self-defense with artillery fire at the rocket-launching positions.Kirby said the U.S. military targeted three operational and weapons storage facilities — two in Syria and one in Iraq. In its release of videos of the strikes by Air Force F-15 and F-16 aircraft, the Pentagon described one target as a coordination center for the shipment and transfer of advanced conventional weapons.Kirby said the airstrikes were “defensive,” saying they were launched in response to the attacks by militias.“The United States took necessary, appropriate, and deliberate action designed to limit the risk of escalation — but also to send a clear and unambiguous deterrent message,” Kirby said.The Pentagon said the facilities were used by Iran-backed militia factions, including Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.A Pentagon spokeswoman, Navy Cmdr. Jessica McNulty, said Monday that each strike hit its intended target and that the U.S. military was still assessing the results of the operation.“The targets selected were facilities utilized by the network of Iran-backed militia groups responsible for the series of recent attacks against facilities housing U.S. personnel in Iraq,” McNulty said. She said those groups have conducted at least five such “one-way” drone attacks since April.Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking to reporters in Rome on Monday, said Biden has been clear that the U.S. will act to protect American personnel.“This action in self-defense to do what’s necessary to do to prevent further attacks, I think sends a very important and strong message. And I hope very much that it is received,” he said. “I think we’ve demonstrated with the actions taken last night and actions taken previously, that the president is fully prepared to act and act appropriately and deliberately to protect us.“Two Iraqi militia officials told The Associated Press in Baghdad that four militiamen were killed in the airstrikes near the border with Syria. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give statements. They said the first strike hit a weapons storage facility inside Syrian territory, where the militiamen were killed. The second strike hit the border strip.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that closely monitors the Syrian conflict through activists on the ground, reported that at least seven Iraqi militiamen were killed in the airstrikes.The Iran-backed Iraqi militia factions vowed revenge for the attack and said in a joint statement they would continue to target U.S. forces. “We ... will avenge the blood of our righteous martyrs against the perpetrators of this heinous crime and with God’s help we will make the enemy taste the bitterness of revenge,” they said.The Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi state-sanctioned umbrella of mostly Shiite militias — including those targeted by the U.S. strikes — said their men were on missions to prevent infiltration by the Islamic State group and denied the presence of weapons warehouses.Iraq’s military condemned the strikes as a “blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and national security.” It called for avoiding escalation, but also rejected that Iraq be an “arena for settling accounts” — a reference to the U.S. and Iran. It represented rare condemnation by the Iraqi military of U.S. airstrikes.In Iran, foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh accused the U.S. of creating instability in the region. “Definitely, what the U.S. is doing is disrupting the security of the region,” he said on Monday.U.S. military officials have grown increasingly alarmed over drone strikes targeting U.S. military bases in Iraq, which became more common since a U.S.-directed drone killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport last year. Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the attack. The strike drew the ire of mostly Shiite Iraqi lawmakers and prompted parliament to pass a nonbinding resolution to pressure the Iraqi government to oust foreign troops from the country.Sunday’s strikes mark the second time the Biden administration launched airstrikes along the Iraq-Syria border region. In February, the U.S. launched airstrikes against facilities in Syria, near the Iraqi border, that it said were used by Iranian-backed militia groups.The Pentagon said those strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier that month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member and other coalition troops.At that time, Biden said Iran should view his decision to authorize U.S. airstrikes in Syria as a warning that it can expect consequences for its support of militia groups that threaten U.S. interests or personnel.“You can’t act with impunity. Be careful,” Biden said when a reporter asked what message he had intended to send.___

US troops in Syria attacked after airstrikes on militias

Only 15 Democrats, 12 Republicans from class of 2010 still serving

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/28/no-need-for-term-limits-legislatures-turnover-rate-tops-80-in-past-decade/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Only 27 of 165 
Kansas legislators holding office in 2010 — a mere 16% — have been able 
to harness the desire, persuasiveness, money or luck to still hold seats
 in the House or Senate.

Exodus from the 
Legislature — driven by unprecedented campaign contributions, rising 
toxicity in politics, low legislative salaries and long stretches away 
from home — meant 15 Democrats and 12 Republicans in that class were 
still standing after the 2020 election.

While Missouri voters 
passed a constitutional amendment nearly 30 years ago to rely on term 
limits to prompt turnover, Kansas’ roster in the Statehouse has been 
substantially transformed without such a mandate.

Michael Smith, political 
science chairman at Emporia State University, said during the Kansas 
Reflector podcast the churn among Kansas senators and representatives 
appealed to some voters yearning for fresh faces and ideas at the 
Capitol. The evolution in personnel also diminishes institutional 
knowledge useful when dealing with complex policy, he said.

“The nice thing about 
having experienced legislators is that they can mentor the newer 
legislators,” Smith said. “They can show them the ropes and they can go 
over why certain policy ideas that sound at the surface like they might 
be a great idea didn’t work out like it was hoped.”

The 2010 group of state 
legislators included Sen. Laura Kelly, now governor, and Sen. Jeff 
Colyer, who made it to the governor’s office just before Kelly. The 
roster included Sen. Tim Huelskamp and Rep. Kevin Yoder, who were 
subsequently elected to Congress. Independence Sen. Derek Schmidt is the
 state’s attorney general. Scott Schwab, who is Kansas’ secretary of 
state, was in the House. And, Sen. Vicki Schmidt went on to be elected 
state insurance commissioner.

Those folks moved on by 
climbing the political ladder in Kansas, but were tip of an iceberg in 
terms of movement that left eight of 40 senators and 14 of 125 
representatives holding seats in the same chamber they were in during 
2010. A dozen House members in 2010 later joined the Senate, but only 
five of them still serve in the Legislature’s upper chamber.

Democratic Sen. David 
Haley of Kansas City, Kansas, is the longest-serving current state 
senator in Kansas, having entered the Legislature in 1994. Hiawatha Sen.
 Dennis Pyle, who arrived in 2000, holds distinction as the most veteran
 of GOP senators.

Over in the House, Rep. 
Barbara Ballard, a Lawrence Democrat, possesses senior status. She was 
elected in 1992. Wichita Rep. Brenda Landwehr tops the GOP roster in the
 House. She was elected in 1994, left in 2012 and was elected again in 
2016.

Bob Beatty, the Washburn 
University political science professor, said the Legislature’s 
composition was naturally fluid as people retired, changed jobs, moved 
away or took on new family responsibilities.

A key influence in the 
past decade, Beatty said, was launch in 2012 of the Kansas Republican 
Party’s successful plan to recruit conservative Republicans to challenge
 moderate GOP senators. Internecine conflict was relatively new to 
Kansas, he said, but has remained a factor in elections for the House 
and Senate as the Legislature became more conservative.

Beatty said the U.S. 
Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, which opened the firehose of 
dark money into politics, played a role in Kansas legislative races. 
Outside sources of cash proliferated and the blur of mailers and 
advertisements sometimes leaves candidates uncertain of who is 
influencing their races, he said.

He said toxicity of political discourse deterred lawmakers from seeking re-election to the Senate and House.

“Some legislators who get 
into the Legislature, you know, maybe they’re even a little naive, ‘Oh, 
I’m gonna join the citizen Legislature.’ And, then they get in there and
 it can become very, very toxic. They’re like, ‘OK, that’s enough of 
this for me.'”

Smith said legislators in 
Kansas weren’t fairly compensated for the four-month session in Topeka 
and the ongoing demands of constituent services.

“We actually do have a term limit for legislators. It’s called low pay,” he said.

Formal term limits don’t bring diversity of thought and career experiences that champions of reform often tout, Smith said.

“You do not get private 
citizens from all walks of life — nurses, truck drivers, teachers, and 
so forth — running for the Legislature,” he said. “What you get is the 
same politicians rotating from office to office.”

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624903686743.png" alt="Rep. Barbara Ballard, a Lawrence Democrat, was elected in 1992 and is the longest-serving member of the Kansas House. The state's senior senator is Democrat David Haley of Kansas City, Kansas, who was elected in 1994. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Barbara Ballard, a Lawrence Democrat, was elected in 1992 and is the longest-serving member of the Kansas House. The state's senior senator is Democrat David Haley of Kansas City, Kansas, who was elected in 1994. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Only 15 Democrats, 12 Republicans from class of 2010 still serving</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/28/no-need-for-term-limits-legislatures-turnover-rate-tops-80-in-past-decade/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Only 27 of 165 
Kansas legislators holding office in 2010 — a mere 16% — have been able 
to harness the desire, persuasiveness, money or luck to still hold seats
 in the House or Senate.Exodus from the 
Legislature — driven by unprecedented campaign contributions, rising 
toxicity in politics, low legislative salaries and long stretches away 
from home — meant 15 Democrats and 12 Republicans in that class were 
still standing after the 2020 election.While Missouri voters 
passed a constitutional amendment nearly 30 years ago to rely on term 
limits to prompt turnover, Kansas’ roster in the Statehouse has been 
substantially transformed without such a mandate.Michael Smith, political 
science chairman at Emporia State University, said during the Kansas 
Reflector podcast the churn among Kansas senators and representatives 
appealed to some voters yearning for fresh faces and ideas at the 
Capitol. The evolution in personnel also diminishes institutional 
knowledge useful when dealing with complex policy, he said.“The nice thing about 
having experienced legislators is that they can mentor the newer 
legislators,” Smith said. “They can show them the ropes and they can go 
over why certain policy ideas that sound at the surface like they might 
be a great idea didn’t work out like it was hoped.”<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1077519844&color=%232b7fb4&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast" title="Reflector Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Reflector Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast/political-scientists-examine-mass-exodus-from-legislature-since-2010" title="Political scientists examine mass exodus from Legislature since 2010" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Political scientists examine mass exodus from Legislature since 2010</a></div></div>The 2010 group of state 
legislators included Sen. Laura Kelly, now governor, and Sen. Jeff 
Colyer, who made it to the governor’s office just before Kelly. The 
roster included Sen. Tim Huelskamp and Rep. Kevin Yoder, who were 
subsequently elected to Congress. Independence Sen. Derek Schmidt is the
 state’s attorney general. Scott Schwab, who is Kansas’ secretary of 
state, was in the House. And, Sen. Vicki Schmidt went on to be elected 
state insurance commissioner.Those folks moved on by 
climbing the political ladder in Kansas, but were tip of an iceberg in 
terms of movement that left eight of 40 senators and 14 of 125 
representatives holding seats in the same chamber they were in during 
2010. A dozen House members in 2010 later joined the Senate, but only 
five of them still serve in the Legislature’s upper chamber.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624903801607.jpeg" alt="Sen. David Haley, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, is the longest-serving member of the state Senate. He was elected in 1994. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. David Haley, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, is the longest-serving member of the state Senate. He was elected in 1994. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Democratic Sen. David 
Haley of Kansas City, Kansas, is the longest-serving current state 
senator in Kansas, having entered the Legislature in 1994. Hiawatha Sen.
 Dennis Pyle, who arrived in 2000, holds distinction as the most veteran
 of GOP senators.Over in the House, Rep. 
Barbara Ballard, a Lawrence Democrat, possesses senior status. She was 
elected in 1992. Wichita Rep. Brenda Landwehr tops the GOP roster in the
 House. She was elected in 1994, left in 2012 and was elected again in 
2016.Bob Beatty, the Washburn 
University political science professor, said the Legislature’s 
composition was naturally fluid as people retired, changed jobs, moved 
away or took on new family responsibilities.A key influence in the 
past decade, Beatty said, was launch in 2012 of the Kansas Republican 
Party’s successful plan to recruit conservative Republicans to challenge
 moderate GOP senators. Internecine conflict was relatively new to 
Kansas, he said, but has remained a factor in elections for the House 
and Senate as the Legislature became more conservative.Beatty said the U.S. 
Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, which opened the firehose of 
dark money into politics, played a role in Kansas legislative races. 
Outside sources of cash proliferated and the blur of mailers and 
advertisements sometimes leaves candidates uncertain of who is 
influencing their races, he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624903829406.jpeg" alt="Sen. Dennis Pyle, Hiawatha Republican, is the longest-serving GOP member of the Kansas Senate. He was elected in 2000 to represent a portion of northeast Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Dennis Pyle, Hiawatha Republican, is the longest-serving GOP member of the Kansas Senate. He was elected in 2000 to represent a portion of northeast Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>He said toxicity of political discourse deterred lawmakers from seeking re-election to the Senate and House.“Some legislators who get 
into the Legislature, you know, maybe they’re even a little naive, ‘Oh, 
I’m gonna join the citizen Legislature.’ And, then they get in there and
 it can become very, very toxic. They’re like, ‘OK, that’s enough of 
this for me.'”Smith said legislators in 
Kansas weren’t fairly compensated for the four-month session in Topeka 
and the ongoing demands of constituent services.“We actually do have a term limit for legislators. It’s called low pay,” he said.Formal term limits don’t bring diversity of thought and career experiences that champions of reform often tout, Smith said.“You do not get private 
citizens from all walks of life — nurses, truck drivers, teachers, and 
so forth — running for the Legislature,” he said. “What you get is the 
same politicians rotating from office to office.”Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

Term limits? Kan. Legislature’s turnover rate tops 80% in past decade

SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) — Rescue workers digging for a fifth day into the remnants of a collapsed Florida condo building stressed Monday that they could still find survivors in the rubble, a hope family members clung to even though no one has been pulled out alive since the first hours after the structure fell.

Another body was recovered overnight, bringing the confirmed death toll to 10. But more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-0c1be1e82c4bc6010515199513fc5a93">150 people</a>&nbsp;are still missing in Surfside. Their families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-miami-surfside-condo-building-collapse-02507acd6f14d31ccfe8c42662b76532">rode buses</a>&nbsp;Sunday to a nearby site to watch the intense rescue effort, which included firefighters, sniffer dogs and search experts using radar and sonar devices.

Early Monday, a crane lifted a large slab of concrete from the debris pile, enabling about 30 rescuers in hard hats to move in and carry smaller pieces of debris into red buckets, which are emptied into a larger bin for a crane to remove. The work has been complicated by intermittent rain showers, but the fires that hampered the initial search have been extinguished.

Andy Alvarez, a deputy incident commander with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that rescuers have been able to find some voids inside the wreckage, mostly in the basement and the parking garage.

“We have over 80 rescuers at a time that are breaching the walls that collapsed, in a frantic effort to try to rescue those that are still viable and to get to those voids that we typically know exist in these buildings,” Alvarez said.

“We have been able to tunnel through the building,” Alvarez added. “This is a frantic search to seek that hope, that miracle, to see who we can bring out of this building alive.”

Others who have seen the wreckage up close were daunted by the task ahead. Alfredo Lopez, who lived with his wife in a sixth-floor corner apartment and narrowly escaped, said he finds it hard to believe anyone is alive in the rubble.

“If you saw what I saw: nothingness. And then, you go over there and you see, like, all the rubble. How can somebody survive that?” Lopez told The Associated Press.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai, head of a humanitarian delegation from Israel that includes several search-and-rescue experts, said professionals have told him of cases where survivors were found after 100 hours or more.

“So don’t lose hope, that’s what I would say,” he said.

Some families had hoped their visit to the site near the 12-story building would enable them to shout messages to loved ones possibly buried inside the pile. As they returned to a nearby hotel, several paused to embrace as they got off the bus. Others walked slowly with arms around each other back to the hotel entrance.

“We are just waiting for answers. That’s what we want,” said Dianne Ohayon, whose parents, Myriam and Arnie Notkin, were in the building. “It’s hard to go through these long days and we haven’t gotten any answers yet.”

The building collapsed just days before a deadline for condo owners to start making steep payments toward more than $9 million in repairs that had been recommended nearly three years earlier, in a report that warned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-building-collapses-technology-ef5b013114b766b7ed1e88a5b27c501f">“major structural damage.”</a>

Authorities on Sunday identified the additional four people who have been recovered as Leon Oliwkowicz, 80, and his wife, Christina Beatriz Elvira Oliwkowicz, 74; and Ana Ortiz, 46, and her son Luis Bermudez, 26. The number of people left unaccounted for was 152.

Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah explained that conditions at the site have frustrated crews looking for survivors. Alan Cominsky, chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, said his team must move slowly and methodically.

“The debris field is scattered throughout, and it’s compact, extremely compact,” he said, noting that teams must stabilize and shore up debris as they go.

“We can’t just go in and move things erratically, because that’s going to have the worst outcome possible,” he said.

Among the tools rescuers used was a microwave radar device developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and the Department of Homeland Security that “sees” through up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of solid concrete, according to Adrian Garulay, CEO of Spec Ops Group, which sells them. The suitcase-size device can detect human respiration and heartbeats and was being deployed Sunday by a seven-member search-and-rescue team from Mexico’s Jewish community.

Six to eight teams are actively searching the pile at any given time, with hundreds of team members on standby ready to rotate in. Teams have worked around the clock since Thursday, said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

Crews spent Saturday night digging a trench that stretches 125 feet long, 20 feet across and 40 feet deep (38 meters long, 6 meters across and 12 meters deep), which, she said, allowed them to find more bodies and human remains.

Earl Tilton, who runs a search-and-rescue consulting firm in North Carolina, said rushing into the rubble without careful planning and execution could injure or kill rescuers and the people they are trying to save.

“Moving the wrong piece of debris at the wrong time could cause it to fall” on workers and crush them, he said.

But Tilton agreed that families were not wrong to hold out hope. During past urban rescues, he said, rescuers have found survivors as long as a week past the initial catastrophe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624902613147.png" alt="Photo Miami Dade County Fire and Rescue" />
 <figcaption>Photo Miami Dade County Fire and Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure>SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) — Rescue workers digging for a fifth day into the remnants of a collapsed Florida condo building stressed Monday that they could still find survivors in the rubble, a hope family members clung to even though no one has been pulled out alive since the first hours after the structure fell.Another body was recovered overnight, bringing the confirmed death toll to 10. But more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-0c1be1e82c4bc6010515199513fc5a93">150 people</a>&nbsp;are still missing in Surfside. Their families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-miami-surfside-condo-building-collapse-02507acd6f14d31ccfe8c42662b76532">rode buses</a>&nbsp;Sunday to a nearby site to watch the intense rescue effort, which included firefighters, sniffer dogs and search experts using radar and sonar devices.Early Monday, a crane lifted a large slab of concrete from the debris pile, enabling about 30 rescuers in hard hats to move in and carry smaller pieces of debris into red buckets, which are emptied into a larger bin for a crane to remove. The work has been complicated by intermittent rain showers, but the fires that hampered the initial search have been extinguished.Andy Alvarez, a deputy incident commander with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that rescuers have been able to find some voids inside the wreckage, mostly in the basement and the parking garage.“We have over 80 rescuers at a time that are breaching the walls that collapsed, in a frantic effort to try to rescue those that are still viable and to get to those voids that we typically know exist in these buildings,” Alvarez said.“We have been able to tunnel through the building,” Alvarez added. “This is a frantic search to seek that hope, that miracle, to see who we can bring out of this building alive.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624626672386.png" alt="Photo Miami Dade County Fire and Rescue" />
 <figcaption>Photo Miami Dade County Fire and Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure>Others who have seen the wreckage up close were daunted by the task ahead. Alfredo Lopez, who lived with his wife in a sixth-floor corner apartment and narrowly escaped, said he finds it hard to believe anyone is alive in the rubble.“If you saw what I saw: nothingness. And then, you go over there and you see, like, all the rubble. How can somebody survive that?” Lopez told The Associated Press.Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai, head of a humanitarian delegation from Israel that includes several search-and-rescue experts, said professionals have told him of cases where survivors were found after 100 hours or more.“So don’t lose hope, that’s what I would say,” he said.Some families had hoped their visit to the site near the 12-story building would enable them to shout messages to loved ones possibly buried inside the pile. As they returned to a nearby hotel, several paused to embrace as they got off the bus. Others walked slowly with arms around each other back to the hotel entrance.“We are just waiting for answers. That’s what we want,” said Dianne Ohayon, whose parents, Myriam and Arnie Notkin, were in the building. “It’s hard to go through these long days and we haven’t gotten any answers yet.”The building collapsed just days before a deadline for condo owners to start making steep payments toward more than $9 million in repairs that had been recommended nearly three years earlier, in a report that warned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-building-collapses-technology-ef5b013114b766b7ed1e88a5b27c501f">“major structural damage.”</a>Authorities on Sunday identified the additional four people who have been recovered as Leon Oliwkowicz, 80, and his wife, Christina Beatriz Elvira Oliwkowicz, 74; and Ana Ortiz, 46, and her son Luis Bermudez, 26. The number of people left unaccounted for was 152.Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah explained that conditions at the site have frustrated crews looking for survivors. Alan Cominsky, chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, said his team must move slowly and methodically.“The debris field is scattered throughout, and it’s compact, extremely compact,” he said, noting that teams must stabilize and shore up debris as they go.“We can’t just go in and move things erratically, because that’s going to have the worst outcome possible,” he said.Among the tools rescuers used was a microwave radar device developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and the Department of Homeland Security that “sees” through up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of solid concrete, according to Adrian Garulay, CEO of Spec Ops Group, which sells them. The suitcase-size device can detect human respiration and heartbeats and was being deployed Sunday by a seven-member search-and-rescue team from Mexico’s Jewish community.Six to eight teams are actively searching the pile at any given time, with hundreds of team members on standby ready to rotate in. Teams have worked around the clock since Thursday, said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.Crews spent Saturday night digging a trench that stretches 125 feet long, 20 feet across and 40 feet deep (38 meters long, 6 meters across and 12 meters deep), which, she said, allowed them to find more bodies and human remains.Earl Tilton, who runs a search-and-rescue consulting firm in North Carolina, said rushing into the rubble without careful planning and execution could injure or kill rescuers and the people they are trying to save.“Moving the wrong piece of debris at the wrong time could cause it to fall” on workers and crush them, he said.But Tilton agreed that families were not wrong to hold out hope. During past urban rescues, he said, rescuers have found survivors as long as a week past the initial catastrophe.

Rescuers: Survivors could still be inside collapsed Florida condo

MISSION, Kansas (AP) — A federal freeze on most evictions that was enacted last year is scheduled to expire July 31, after the Biden administration extended the date by a month. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, has been the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and have fallen months behind on their rent.

Landlords successfully challenged the order in court, arguing that they also had bills to pay. They pointed out that tenants could access more than $45 billion in federal money set aside to help pay rents and related expenses.

Advocates for tenants say the distribution of the money has been slow and that more time is needed to distribute it and repay landlords. Without an extension, they feared a spike in evictions and lawsuits seeking to boot out tenants who are behind on their rent.

As of June 7, roughly 3.2 million people in the U.S. said they would face eviction within the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. The survey measures the social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic every two weeks through online responses from a representative sample of U.S. households.

WHAT’S THE STATUS OF EVICTION MORATORIUMS IN THE STATE?

Last month, top Republican lawmakers rescinded the executive order from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly that imposed the state’s pandemic ban on evictions and foreclosures. That left only the CDC moratorium, which offered slightly different protections.

The state moratorium had been in effect since August. Kelly also issued an eviction moratorium in March 2020 but let it expire two months later. When the latest Kansas moratorium was lifted, Kelly spokeswoman Reeves Oyster said GOP leaders had decided to “kick people out of their homes.” Republicans have argued that the state’s moratorium prevents landlords from getting paid.

WHAT’S BEING DONE TO HELP PEOPLE FACING EVICTION?

Kansas has received two rounds of federal rental aid — $200 million in one and $20 million in the other. As of mid-June, the Kansas Housing Resources Corp. had distributed $5.5 million from the largest pot to about 950 of the 7,780 households that applied (Wichita is the only community not served by the housing corporation). The money can go toward 15 months of rent, utilities and internet expenses.

The state also distributed $17 million in rental aid from the smaller pot, said Emily Sharp, a spokeswoman for the agency.

One challenge is that both tenants and landlords must apply to access some of the money, but certain landlords are saying, “No, I just want you out,” said Casey Johnson, an attorney for Kansas Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm. Some tenants also have refused to fill out the paperwork, making it impossible for landlords to collect any money, said Steve Vogel, the head of the Shawnee County Landlords Association. Johnson speculated that tenants might be resistant because they remain protected from eviction by the soon-to-expire CDC moratorium.

The state is anticipating an additional $150 million later this year.

HOW ARE THE COURTS HANDLING EVICTION HEARINGS?

In Johnson County, the state’s most populous, eviction proceedings are still conducted remotely. Many counties are now handling such cases in person or as a hybrid.

It’s impossible to tell whether more Kansans were kicked out of their homes during the pandemic because the state lumps its eviction data into a broader category that also includes landlord disputes, debt collection and employment discrimination, said Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for the state’s Office of Judicial Administration. But Johnson, of Kansas Legal Services, said landlords are increasingly finding reasons beyond nonpayment to evict tenants, such as not cleaning well enough or having an unauthorized pet. He said some landlords are not renewing leases when they expire. A Johnson County judge has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-health-coronavirus-pandemic-b9b1b17c941ce4c6bdeb5e523e3eaac9">found&nbsp;</a>that the CDC moratorium is not enforceable and is proceeding with evictions.

HOW AFFORDABLE IS HOUSING IN THE STATE’S MAJOR RENTAL MARKETS?

Kansas has among the nation’s most affordable housing markets, said Kirk Mcclure, a retired professor of urban planning for the University of Kansas and a contract worker for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He said only the Deep South is cheaper.

From 2015 to 2019, rent for a two-bedroom apartment increased by 7.9%, which was far below the national average of 15.4%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The vacancy rate was 7.8% before the pandemic, which was above the 6% national average.

As of May, the median monthly rent in the Kansas City metropolitan area was 4.6% higher than a year before, at $1,109, according to a report released June 16 by Realtor.com. The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the area was $1,319.

ARE EVICTIONS EXPECTED TO CREATE A SURGE IN HOMELESSNESS?

Kansas advocates for the homeless are bracing for a spike in people entering shelters or moving in with relatives. One indication is recent census survey data showing that 18,107 people believe they could be evicted within the next two months.

The process could move quickly: Kansas has one of the shortest timeframes in the country for evicting tenants who fall behind on rent. Johnson said landlords must merely send them a notice that gives renters three days to pay in full. After that, landlords can get a court order that gives the county sheriff 14 days to remove them.

Vogel, of the Shawnee County Landlords Association, said landlords “are not eager about any of this.” But he added: “It is just like having a job but not getting paid. You just can’t sustain that because they still have all their costs.”

The Salvation Army in Wichita has already seen an increase in calls from people asking for shelter, said Jami Scott, the organization’s director of homeless services.

“Unfortunately, the money that has been flooded into the community to help people pay their bills, a lot of that money is drying up, and it is going to be really difficult for us to be able to get people into housing,” she said.

ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-health-49fe073aadeab3eff879fa2cf9b89f15">COVID variant first gained foothold in rural Missouri</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-george-floyd-michael-brown-journalists-death-of-george-floyd-2a1ff281ade880e5a95087ea9b280c7c">County to pay $280K to journalists tear-gassed in Ferguson</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-fd8c24396fb818558a9c95c7724d12bf">Guitarist quits Mumford &amp; Sons to ‘speak freely’ on politics</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHMISSION, Kansas (AP) — A federal freeze on most evictions that was enacted last year is scheduled to expire July 31, after the Biden administration extended the date by a month. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, has been the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and have fallen months behind on their rent.Landlords successfully challenged the order in court, arguing that they also had bills to pay. They pointed out that tenants could access more than $45 billion in federal money set aside to help pay rents and related expenses.Advocates for tenants say the distribution of the money has been slow and that more time is needed to distribute it and repay landlords. Without an extension, they feared a spike in evictions and lawsuits seeking to boot out tenants who are behind on their rent.As of June 7, roughly 3.2 million people in the U.S. said they would face eviction within the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. The survey measures the social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic every two weeks through online responses from a representative sample of U.S. households.Here’s the situation in Kansas:WHAT’S THE STATUS OF EVICTION MORATORIUMS IN THE STATE?Last month, top Republican lawmakers rescinded the executive order from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly that imposed the state’s pandemic ban on evictions and foreclosures. That left only the CDC moratorium, which offered slightly different protections.The state moratorium had been in effect since August. Kelly also issued an eviction moratorium in March 2020 but let it expire two months later. When the latest Kansas moratorium was lifted, Kelly spokeswoman Reeves Oyster said GOP leaders had decided to “kick people out of their homes.” Republicans have argued that the state’s moratorium prevents landlords from getting paid.WHAT’S BEING DONE TO HELP PEOPLE FACING EVICTION?Kansas has received two rounds of federal rental aid — $200 million in one and $20 million in the other. As of mid-June, the Kansas Housing Resources Corp. had distributed $5.5 million from the largest pot to about 950 of the 7,780 households that applied (Wichita is the only community not served by the housing corporation). The money can go toward 15 months of rent, utilities and internet expenses.The state also distributed $17 million in rental aid from the smaller pot, said Emily Sharp, a spokeswoman for the agency.One challenge is that both tenants and landlords must apply to access some of the money, but certain landlords are saying, “No, I just want you out,” said Casey Johnson, an attorney for Kansas Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm. Some tenants also have refused to fill out the paperwork, making it impossible for landlords to collect any money, said Steve Vogel, the head of the Shawnee County Landlords Association. Johnson speculated that tenants might be resistant because they remain protected from eviction by the soon-to-expire CDC moratorium.The state is anticipating an additional $150 million later this year.HOW ARE THE COURTS HANDLING EVICTION HEARINGS?In Johnson County, the state’s most populous, eviction proceedings are still conducted remotely. Many counties are now handling such cases in person or as a hybrid.It’s impossible to tell whether more Kansans were kicked out of their homes during the pandemic because the state lumps its eviction data into a broader category that also includes landlord disputes, debt collection and employment discrimination, said Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for the state’s Office of Judicial Administration. But Johnson, of Kansas Legal Services, said landlords are increasingly finding reasons beyond nonpayment to evict tenants, such as not cleaning well enough or having an unauthorized pet. He said some landlords are not renewing leases when they expire. A Johnson County judge has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-health-coronavirus-pandemic-b9b1b17c941ce4c6bdeb5e523e3eaac9">found&nbsp;</a>that the CDC moratorium is not enforceable and is proceeding with evictions.HOW AFFORDABLE IS HOUSING IN THE STATE’S MAJOR RENTAL MARKETS?Kansas has among the nation’s most affordable housing markets, said Kirk Mcclure, a retired professor of urban planning for the University of Kansas and a contract worker for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He said only the Deep South is cheaper.From 2015 to 2019, rent for a two-bedroom apartment increased by 7.9%, which was far below the national average of 15.4%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The vacancy rate was 7.8% before the pandemic, which was above the 6% national average.As of May, the median monthly rent in the Kansas City metropolitan area was 4.6% higher than a year before, at $1,109, according to a report released June 16 by Realtor.com. The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the area was $1,319.ARE EVICTIONS EXPECTED TO CREATE A SURGE IN HOMELESSNESS?Kansas advocates for the homeless are bracing for a spike in people entering shelters or moving in with relatives. One indication is recent census survey data showing that 18,107 people believe they could be evicted within the next two months.The process could move quickly: Kansas has one of the shortest timeframes in the country for evicting tenants who fall behind on rent. Johnson said landlords must merely send them a notice that gives renters three days to pay in full. After that, landlords can get a court order that gives the county sheriff 14 days to remove them.Vogel, of the Shawnee County Landlords Association, said landlords “are not eager about any of this.” But he added: “It is just like having a job but not getting paid. You just can’t sustain that because they still have all their costs.”The Salvation Army in Wichita has already seen an increase in calls from people asking for shelter, said Jami Scott, the organization’s director of homeless services.“Unfortunately, the money that has been flooded into the community to help people pay their bills, a lot of that money is drying up, and it is going to be really difficult for us to be able to get people into housing,” she said.ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-health-49fe073aadeab3eff879fa2cf9b89f15">COVID variant first gained foothold in rural Missouri</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-george-floyd-michael-brown-journalists-death-of-george-floyd-2a1ff281ade880e5a95087ea9b280c7c">County to pay $280K to journalists tear-gassed in Ferguson</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-fd8c24396fb818558a9c95c7724d12bf">Guitarist quits Mumford &amp; Sons to ‘speak freely’ on politics</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

Federal aid may not be enough to prevent Kansas evictions

Americans urged to watch out for tax scams during the pandemic

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today began its "Dirty 
Dozen" list for 2021 with a warning for taxpayers, tax professionals and
 financial institutions to be on the lookout for these 12 nefarious 
schemes and scams.

This year's "Dirty Dozen" will be separated into four separate categories:

The agency compiled the list into these categories based on who 
perpetuates the schemes and who they impact. In addition to today's 
scams the IRS will highlight the other schemes over the next three days.

The IRS urges all taxpayers to be on guard, especially during the 
pandemic, not only for themselves, but also for other people in their 
lives.

"We continue to see scam artists use the pandemic to steal money and 
information from honest taxpayers in a time of crisis," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We provide this list to alert taxpayers 
about common scams that fraudsters use against their victims. At the 
IRS, we are dedicated to stopping these criminals, but it's up to all of
 us to remain vigilant to protect ourselves and our families."

Taxpayers are encouraged to review the "Dirty Dozen: list in a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">special section</a> on IRS.gov and should be alert to these scams during tax filing season and throughout the year.

A continuing threat to individuals is from identity thieves who try 
to steal Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as stimulus 
payments. Most eligible people will get their payments automatically 
from the IRS. Taxpayers should watch out for these tell-tale signs of a 
scam:

Taxpayers should remember that the IRS website, IRS.gov, is the 
agency's official website for information on payments, refunds and other
 tax information.

Unemployment fraud leading to inaccurate taxpayer 1099-Gs

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many taxpayers lost their jobs and 
received unemployment compensation from their state. However, scammers 
also took advantage of the pandemic by filing fraudulent claims for 
unemployment compensation using stolen personal information of 
individuals who had not filed claims. Payments made on these fraudulent 
claims went to the identity thieves.

The IRS reminds taxpayers to be on the lookout for receiving a Form 
1099-G reporting unemployment compensation that they didn't receive. For
 people in this situation, the IRS urges them to contact their 
appropriate state agency for a corrected form. If a corrected form 
cannot be obtained so that a taxpayer can file a timely tax return, 
taxpayers should complete their return claiming only the unemployment 
compensation and other income they actually received. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-theft-and-unemployment-benefits">Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits</a> for tax details and <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> for state-by-state reporting information.

Additional protection to help protect taxpayers

IRS makes IP PINs available to all taxpayers – adding another layer of security

To help taxpayers avoid identity theft, the IRS this year made its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/all-taxpayers-now-eligible-for-identity-protection-pins">Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)</a>
 program available to all taxpayers. Previously it was available only to
 victims of ID theft or taxpayers in certain states. The IP PIN is a 
six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps 
prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a 
taxpayer's personally identifiable information.

Using an IP PIN is, in essence, a way to lock a tax account. The IP 
PIN serves as the key to opening that account. Electronic returns that 
do not contain the correct IP PIN will be rejected and paper returns 
will go through additional scrutiny for fraud.

The IRS and its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 partners in the states and the private-sector tax community have made 
changes to help reduce identity theft-related refund fraud that are 
noticeable to the average person filing a return:

It is important for taxpayers filing in 2021 to know that online tax 
software products available to both taxpayers and tax professionals will
 contain options for multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor 
authentication allows users to better protect online accounts. One way 
this is accomplished is by requiring a security code sent to a mobile 
phone in addition to the username and password used to access the 
account.

The IRS and its Security Summit partners have formed an information 
sharing center that allows them to quickly identify emerging scams and 
react to protect taxpayers. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/2020-information-sharing-and-analysis-center-isac-annual-report.pdf">Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Information Sharing and Analysis Center&nbsp;PDF</a> is now operational.

Also, check out our recent <a href="https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/when-it-comes-to-tax-scams-knowledge-is-power">A Closer Look column</a> for more on how to be vigilant about tax scams. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/tax-fraud-alerts">Tax Fraud Alerts</a> for more information on how to protect against or report identity theft or fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Americans urged to watch out for tax scams during the pandemic</h2>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today began its "Dirty 
Dozen" list for 2021 with a warning for taxpayers, tax professionals and
 financial institutions to be on the lookout for these 12 nefarious 
schemes and scams.This year's "Dirty Dozen" will be separated into four separate categories:<ul>
 <li>pandemic-related scams like Economic Impact Payment theft;</li><li>personal information cons including phishing, ransomware and phone "vishing;"</li><li>ruses focusing on unsuspecting victims like fake charities and senior/immigrant fraud; and</li><li>schemes that persuade taxpayers into unscrupulous actions such as Offer In Compromise mills and syndicated conservation easements.</li>
 </ul>The agency compiled the list into these categories based on who 
perpetuates the schemes and who they impact. In addition to today's 
scams the IRS will highlight the other schemes over the next three days.The IRS urges all taxpayers to be on guard, especially during the 
pandemic, not only for themselves, but also for other people in their 
lives."We continue to see scam artists use the pandemic to steal money and 
information from honest taxpayers in a time of crisis," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We provide this list to alert taxpayers 
about common scams that fraudsters use against their victims. At the 
IRS, we are dedicated to stopping these criminals, but it's up to all of
 us to remain vigilant to protect ourselves and our families."Taxpayers are encouraged to review the "Dirty Dozen: list in a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">special section</a> on IRS.gov and should be alert to these scams during tax filing season and throughout the year.<h2>Economic Impact Payment theft</h2>A continuing threat to individuals is from identity thieves who try 
to steal Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as stimulus 
payments. Most eligible people will get their payments automatically 
from the IRS. Taxpayers should watch out for these tell-tale signs of a 
scam:<ul>
 <li>Any text messages, random incoming phone calls or emails 
inquiring about bank account information or requesting recipients to 
click a link or verify data should be considered suspicious and deleted 
without opening.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Be alert to mailbox theft. Frequently check mail and report suspected mail losses to <a href="https://www.uspis.gov/">Postal Inspectors</a>.</li><li>Don't fall for stimulus check scams. The IRS won't initiate contact
 by phone, email, text or social media asking for Social Security 
numbers or other personal or financial information related to Economic 
Impact Payments.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers should remember that the IRS website, IRS.gov, is the 
agency's official website for information on payments, refunds and other
 tax information.<h2>Unemployment fraud leading to inaccurate taxpayer 1099-Gs</h2>Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many taxpayers lost their jobs and 
received unemployment compensation from their state. However, scammers 
also took advantage of the pandemic by filing fraudulent claims for 
unemployment compensation using stolen personal information of 
individuals who had not filed claims. Payments made on these fraudulent 
claims went to the identity thieves.The IRS reminds taxpayers to be on the lookout for receiving a Form 
1099-G reporting unemployment compensation that they didn't receive. For
 people in this situation, the IRS urges them to contact their 
appropriate state agency for a corrected form. If a corrected form 
cannot be obtained so that a taxpayer can file a timely tax return, 
taxpayers should complete their return claiming only the unemployment 
compensation and other income they actually received. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-theft-and-unemployment-benefits">Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits</a> for tax details and <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> for state-by-state reporting information.<h2>Additional protection to help protect taxpayers</h2><h2>IRS makes IP PINs available to all taxpayers – adding another layer of security</h2>To help taxpayers avoid identity theft, the IRS this year made its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/all-taxpayers-now-eligible-for-identity-protection-pins">Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)</a>
 program available to all taxpayers. Previously it was available only to
 victims of ID theft or taxpayers in certain states. The IP PIN is a 
six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps 
prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a 
taxpayer's personally identifiable information.Using an IP PIN is, in essence, a way to lock a tax account. The IP 
PIN serves as the key to opening that account. Electronic returns that 
do not contain the correct IP PIN will be rejected and paper returns 
will go through additional scrutiny for fraud.<h2>Reducing fraud</h2>The IRS and its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 partners in the states and the private-sector tax community have made 
changes to help reduce identity theft-related refund fraud that are 
noticeable to the average person filing a return:<ul>
 <li>Tax software providers agreed to strengthen password protocols. 
This is the first line of defense for these companies to make sure their
 products are secure.</li><li>State tax agencies began asking for taxpayers' driver's license numbers as another way for people to prove their identities.</li><li>The IRS limited the number of tax refunds going to financial accounts or addresses.</li><li>The IRS masked personal information from tax transcripts.</li>
 </ul><h2>Multi-factor authentication can help</h2>It is important for taxpayers filing in 2021 to know that online tax 
software products available to both taxpayers and tax professionals will
 contain options for multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor 
authentication allows users to better protect online accounts. One way 
this is accomplished is by requiring a security code sent to a mobile 
phone in addition to the username and password used to access the 
account.The IRS and its Security Summit partners have formed an information 
sharing center that allows them to quickly identify emerging scams and 
react to protect taxpayers. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/2020-information-sharing-and-analysis-center-isac-annual-report.pdf">Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Information Sharing and Analysis Center&nbsp;PDF</a> is now operational.Also, check out our recent <a href="https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/when-it-comes-to-tax-scams-knowledge-is-power">A Closer Look column</a> for more on how to be vigilant about tax scams. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/tax-fraud-alerts">Tax Fraud Alerts</a> for more information on how to protect against or report identity theft or fraud.

IRS announces 'Dirty Dozen' tax scams for 2021

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 347 to a total of 317,651, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 3 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5150.

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 347 to a total of 317,651, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 3 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5150.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624900000681.png" alt="Monday June 28, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday June 28, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

A Salina woman was arrested late Sunday afternoon on multiple requested charges, including aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer.

Officers were sent to a residence in the 500 block of S. Ninth for the report of Delilah Ross, 33, of Salina, being on the property in violation of a protection from abuse order, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. 

When officers made contact with Ross, she was at the residence, seated in a 2005 Buick Park Avenue with the driver's door open. Police attempted to arrest Ross, but she was able to get the key in the ignition and start the car, Forrester said. Ross started backing away when the open car door struck a 23-year-old female officer and knocked her down.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624893518755.jpeg" alt="Delilah Ross. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Delilah Ross. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Salina woman was arrested late Sunday afternoon on multiple requested charges, including aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer.Officers were sent to a residence in the 500 block of S. Ninth for the report of Delilah Ross, 33, of Salina, being on the property in violation of a protection from abuse order, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. When officers made contact with Ross, she was at the residence, seated in a 2005 Buick Park Avenue with the driver's door open. Police attempted to arrest Ross, but she was able to get the key in the ignition and start the car, Forrester said. Ross started backing away when the open car door struck a 23-year-old female officer and knocked her down.The officer, who has been with the Salina Police Department for approximately 1.5 years, suffered minor abrasions and bruising, Forrester said. Additionally, some items on her duty belt were damaged.Ross left the scene and a pursuit ensued, during which speeds reached 60 mph, along city streets until she turned east into the Salina Regional Health Center parking lot, where she was arrested on the following requested charges&nbsp;criminal trespassing, violation of a protection from abuse order, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle, battery of a law enforcement officer, One count of interference with a law enforcement officer,&nbsp; damage to property, flee and elude, violation of a no-contact order and Miscellaneous traffic offenses.