WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today posted two new, separate sets of frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) to assist <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/child-and-dependent-care-tax-credit-faqs">families</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-credits-for-paid-leave-under-the-american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021-for-leave-after-march-31-2021">small and mid-sized employers</a> in claiming credits under the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Both the child and dependent care credit as well as the paid sick and
 family leave credit were enhanced under the ARP, enacted in March to 
assist families and small businesses with the fallout of the COVID-19 
pandemic and recovery underway. The two sets of FAQs provide information
 on eligibility, computing the credit amounts, and how to claim these 
important tax benefits. An overview of these tax credits follows:

For 2021, the ARP increased the maximum amount of work-related 
expenses for qualifying care that may be taken into account in 
calculating the credit, increased the maximum percentage of those 
expenses for which the credit may be taken, modified how the credit is 
reduced for higher earners, and made it refundable.

For 2021, eligible taxpayers can claim qualifying work-related expenses up to:

Taxpayers are also required to have earnings; the amount of 
qualifying work-related expenses claimed cannot exceed the taxpayer's 
earnings.

Combined with the increase to 50% in the maximum credit rate, 
taxpayers with the maximum amount of qualifying work-related expenses 
would receive a credit of $4,000 for one qualifying person, or $8,000 
for two or more qualifying persons. When calculating the credit, a 
taxpayer must subtract employer-provided dependent care benefits, such 
as those provided through a flexible spending account, from total 
work-related expenses.

A qualifying person generally is a dependent under the age of 13, or a
 dependent of any age or spouse who is incapable of self-care and who 
lives with the taxpayer for more than half of the year.

As in prior years, the more a taxpayer earns, the lower the 
percentage of work-related expenses that are taken into account in 
determining the credit. However, under the new law, more taxpayers will 
qualify for the new maximum 50% credit rate. That's because the ARP 
increased to $125,000 the adjusted gross income level at which the 
credit rate starts to be reduced. Above $125,000, the 50% credit 
percentage goes down as income rises. Taxpayers with adjusted gross 
income over $438,000 are not eligible for the credit.

The credit is fully refundable for the first time in 2021. This means
 an eligible taxpayer can receive it, even if they owe no federal income
 tax. To be eligible for the refundable credit, a taxpayer (or the 
taxpayer's spouse if filing a joint return) must reside in the United 
States for more than half of the year. However, special rules apply to 
military personnel stationed outside of the United States.

To claim the credit for 2021, taxpayers will need to complete Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses,
 and include the form when filing their tax returns in 2022. In 
completing the form to claim the 2021 credit, those claiming the credit 
will need to provide a valid taxpayer identification number (TIN) for 
each qualifying person. Generally, this is the Social Security number 
for the qualifying person. For more information about completing the 
form and claiming the credit, see the instructions to Form 2441. In 
addition, those claiming the credit are required to identify all persons
 or organizations that provided care for the qualifying person. This 
requires providing the care provider's name, address, and TIN.

The paid sick and family leave credits reimburse eligible employers 
for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees 
for reasons related to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to 
receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations. Self-employed individuals
 are eligible for similar tax credits.

The paid sick and family leave tax credits under the ARP are similar 
to those put in place by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act 
(FFCRA), as extended and amended by the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 
2020, under which certain employers could receive tax credits for 
providing paid leave to employees that met the requirements of the 
Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave
 Expansion Act (as added by FFCRA). The ARP amends and extends these 
credits, and provides that leave wages paid to an employee who is 
seeking or awaiting the results of a test for, or diagnosis of, 
COVID-19, or is obtaining immunizations related to COVID-19 or 
recovering from immunization, are leave wages that can be eligible for 
the credits. Additionally, under the ARP, eligible employers may now 
claim the credit for paid family leave wages for all the same reasons 
that they can claim the credit for paid sick leave wages.

The FAQs include information on how eligible employers may claim the 
paid sick and family leave credits, including how to file for and 
compute the applicable credit amounts, and how to receive advance 
payments for and refunds of the credits. Under the ARP, eligible 
employers, including businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer 
than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, may claim tax 
credits for qualified leave wages and certain other wage-related 
expenses (such as health plan expenses and certain collectively 
bargained benefits) paid with respect to leave taken by employees 
beginning on April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.

The ARP keeps the daily wage thresholds that previously existed for 
these credits under the FFCRA. The aggregate cap on qualified sick leave
 wages remains at two weeks (up to a maximum of 80 hours), and this 
aggregate cap reset with respect to leave taken by employees beginning 
on April 1, 2021. The aggregate cap on qualified family leave wages 
increases to $12,000 from $10,000, and this aggregate cap reset with 
respect to leave taken by employees beginning on April 1, 2021.

The paid leave credits under the ARP are tax credits against the 
employer's share of Medicare tax. The tax credits are refundable, which 
means that the employer is entitled to payment of the full amount of the
 credits to the extent it exceeds the employer's share of Medicare tax.

In anticipation of the credits to be claimed on the applicable 
federal employment tax return, eligible employers can keep the federal 
employment taxes that they otherwise would have deposited, including 
federal income tax withheld from employees, the employees' share of 
social security and Medicare taxes, and the employer's share of social 
security and Medicare taxes with respect to all employees up to the 
amount of the credit for which they are eligible. If the eligible 
employer does not have enough federal employment taxes on deposit to 
cover the amount of the anticipated credits, the eligible employer may 
request an advance of the credit by filing Form 7200, Advance Payment of
 Employer Credits Due to COVID-19.

Self-employed individuals may claim comparable credits on the Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-offers-overview-of-tax-provisions-in-american-rescue-plan-retroactive-tax-benefits-help-many-people-now-preparing-2020-returns">tax provisions</a> of the American Rescue Plan for more information. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments">other provisions</a> designed to help taxpayers recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/coronavirus-relief-and-economic-impact-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs</a> on these and other provisions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today posted two new, separate sets of frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) to assist <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/child-and-dependent-care-tax-credit-faqs">families</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-credits-for-paid-leave-under-the-american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021-for-leave-after-march-31-2021">small and mid-sized employers</a> in claiming credits under the American Rescue Plan (ARP).Both the child and dependent care credit as well as the paid sick and
 family leave credit were enhanced under the ARP, enacted in March to 
assist families and small businesses with the fallout of the COVID-19 
pandemic and recovery underway. The two sets of FAQs provide information
 on eligibility, computing the credit amounts, and how to claim these 
important tax benefits. An overview of these tax credits follows:<h2>Child and dependent care credit</h2>For 2021, the ARP increased the maximum amount of work-related 
expenses for qualifying care that may be taken into account in 
calculating the credit, increased the maximum percentage of those 
expenses for which the credit may be taken, modified how the credit is 
reduced for higher earners, and made it refundable.For 2021, eligible taxpayers can claim qualifying work-related expenses up to:<ul>
 <li>$8,000 for one qualifying person, up from $3,000 in prior years, or</li><li>$16,000 for two or more qualifying persons, up from $6,000 in prior years.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers are also required to have earnings; the amount of 
qualifying work-related expenses claimed cannot exceed the taxpayer's 
earnings.Combined with the increase to 50% in the maximum credit rate, 
taxpayers with the maximum amount of qualifying work-related expenses 
would receive a credit of $4,000 for one qualifying person, or $8,000 
for two or more qualifying persons. When calculating the credit, a 
taxpayer must subtract employer-provided dependent care benefits, such 
as those provided through a flexible spending account, from total 
work-related expenses.A qualifying person generally is a dependent under the age of 13, or a
 dependent of any age or spouse who is incapable of self-care and who 
lives with the taxpayer for more than half of the year.As in prior years, the more a taxpayer earns, the lower the 
percentage of work-related expenses that are taken into account in 
determining the credit. However, under the new law, more taxpayers will 
qualify for the new maximum 50% credit rate. That's because the ARP 
increased to $125,000 the adjusted gross income level at which the 
credit rate starts to be reduced. Above $125,000, the 50% credit 
percentage goes down as income rises. Taxpayers with adjusted gross 
income over $438,000 are not eligible for the credit.The credit is fully refundable for the first time in 2021. This means
 an eligible taxpayer can receive it, even if they owe no federal income
 tax. To be eligible for the refundable credit, a taxpayer (or the 
taxpayer's spouse if filing a joint return) must reside in the United 
States for more than half of the year. However, special rules apply to 
military personnel stationed outside of the United States.To claim the credit for 2021, taxpayers will need to complete Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses,
 and include the form when filing their tax returns in 2022. In 
completing the form to claim the 2021 credit, those claiming the credit 
will need to provide a valid taxpayer identification number (TIN) for 
each qualifying person. Generally, this is the Social Security number 
for the qualifying person. For more information about completing the 
form and claiming the credit, see the instructions to Form 2441. In 
addition, those claiming the credit are required to identify all persons
 or organizations that provided care for the qualifying person. This 
requires providing the care provider's name, address, and TIN.<h2>Paid sick and family leave credits</h2>The paid sick and family leave credits reimburse eligible employers 
for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees 
for reasons related to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to 
receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations. Self-employed individuals
 are eligible for similar tax credits.The paid sick and family leave tax credits under the ARP are similar 
to those put in place by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act 
(FFCRA), as extended and amended by the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 
2020, under which certain employers could receive tax credits for 
providing paid leave to employees that met the requirements of the 
Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave
 Expansion Act (as added by FFCRA). The ARP amends and extends these 
credits, and provides that leave wages paid to an employee who is 
seeking or awaiting the results of a test for, or diagnosis of, 
COVID-19, or is obtaining immunizations related to COVID-19 or 
recovering from immunization, are leave wages that can be eligible for 
the credits. Additionally, under the ARP, eligible employers may now 
claim the credit for paid family leave wages for all the same reasons 
that they can claim the credit for paid sick leave wages.The FAQs include information on how eligible employers may claim the 
paid sick and family leave credits, including how to file for and 
compute the applicable credit amounts, and how to receive advance 
payments for and refunds of the credits. Under the ARP, eligible 
employers, including businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer 
than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, may claim tax 
credits for qualified leave wages and certain other wage-related 
expenses (such as health plan expenses and certain collectively 
bargained benefits) paid with respect to leave taken by employees 
beginning on April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.The ARP keeps the daily wage thresholds that previously existed for 
these credits under the FFCRA. The aggregate cap on qualified sick leave
 wages remains at two weeks (up to a maximum of 80 hours), and this 
aggregate cap reset with respect to leave taken by employees beginning 
on April 1, 2021. The aggregate cap on qualified family leave wages 
increases to $12,000 from $10,000, and this aggregate cap reset with 
respect to leave taken by employees beginning on April 1, 2021.The paid leave credits under the ARP are tax credits against the 
employer's share of Medicare tax. The tax credits are refundable, which 
means that the employer is entitled to payment of the full amount of the
 credits to the extent it exceeds the employer's share of Medicare tax.In anticipation of the credits to be claimed on the applicable 
federal employment tax return, eligible employers can keep the federal 
employment taxes that they otherwise would have deposited, including 
federal income tax withheld from employees, the employees' share of 
social security and Medicare taxes, and the employer's share of social 
security and Medicare taxes with respect to all employees up to the 
amount of the credit for which they are eligible. If the eligible 
employer does not have enough federal employment taxes on deposit to 
cover the amount of the anticipated credits, the eligible employer may 
request an advance of the credit by filing Form 7200, Advance Payment of
 Employer Credits Due to COVID-19.Self-employed individuals may claim comparable credits on the Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-offers-overview-of-tax-provisions-in-american-rescue-plan-retroactive-tax-benefits-help-many-people-now-preparing-2020-returns">tax provisions</a> of the American Rescue Plan for more information. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments">other provisions</a> designed to help taxpayers recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/coronavirus-relief-and-economic-impact-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs</a> on these and other provisions.

New FAQs available to help families, small business with COVID stimulus aid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri police officer campaigning for a state House seat last year repeatedly told a woman to deny that they had sex years ago while she was drunk and he was on duty, the woman says.

Emily Orf, 26, spoke to The Associated Press about her interactions with now-Rep. Chad Perkins, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-government-and-politics-324ed4dd6e7cae09c6812001f1868c3b">the allegations became public last month</a>. Orf said the allegations are true. She told the AP that she had not spoken to Perkins for years until he called her last year and suggested that she deny what had happened to a police chief who was investigating.

She said Perkins, a 42-year-old Republican, has been apologetic but told her that if she wanted to avoid getting her name “dragged through the mud,” she could either tell Frankford police Chief Joshua Baker they never had sex or tell him they had sex but not while she was drunk and not while Perkins was on duty as a Bowling Green police officer.

She said he’s called her roughly eight times in the past year to say the same thing and provided AP with screenshots of phone records showing some of the calls and texts from his phone number.

Perkins — who has said the relationship was consensual but denied they had sex when he was on duty or she was drunk — told the AP on Thursday that he never suggested Orf deny anything and “never put any pressure on her to say anything that wasn’t true.”

Orf recalled falling asleep in her car at a park sometime around April 2015, when she was 20 years old, and waking up to Perkins knocking on her car window. She told AP she had gotten into an argument with her then-boyfriend and had been drinking.

Orf said Perkins talked to her about the fight and drove her around in his police car for what seemed like a long time before he had sex with her in the backseat. She said she was still drunk and remembers only bits and pieces.

“He probably should’ve just taken me home to my parents if he knew where they lived, or just let me sleep there so I could fight off my drunk,” Orf said.

Asked by the AP Thursday whether he ever had sex with her while she was drunk and he was on duty, Perkins said: “No, absolutely not.” He said he took her home that night in 2015.

“We did not have sex while I was on duty,” Perkins said. “But even if I did, that wouldn’t have been a crime committed. So why would I lie about any of that?”

Orf said the two had sex again after that but she was also drunk then.

The AP typically does not name victims of potential sexual misconduct, but Orf gave permission to identify her. Orf has hired St. Louis attorney Al Watkins to handle questions.

Orf said she previously knew of Perkins through the federally funded Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., program. He was her officer.

Perkins' law enforcement license is inactive, which means he hasn’t been working as a police officer recently and can’t return to the job immediately.

The allegations became public after Baker, the Frankford police chief, in April forwarded information about it to law enforcement agencies in a position to investigate potential criminal wrongdoing and to state House leadership, who forwarded it to the House Ethics Committee. The Highway Patrol now is conducting a preliminary inquiry.

In police reports, Baker and a former detective also claimed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-e81a5cd5bd2f7ac34128fccbaec997eb">Pike County Sheriff Stephen Korte</a>&nbsp;discouraged an investigation because of Perkins' political ambitions.

Perkins officially opened a campaign committee to run as a Republican for state representative in November 2019. Voters elected him in November 2020.

“We can’t prove any of this, Chad needs to win this, it’s important and the girl is loose,” the detective claimed Korte said during a September 2019 conversation, according to a police report.

Korte has denied saying that and has dismissed the claims against Perkins as “sour grapes” brought forward by law enforcement officials with political vendettas.

Perkins made the same argument Thursday and said Baker and the detective are unreliable based on their past behavior during a local election dispute involving Baker's wife.

“Emily and I are both the victims of a couple of cops that hate me so much they’re willing to humiliate a young woman who didn’t want to have anything to do with this,” Perkins said.

The former Pike County detective in a police report said he first brought the claims to Korte in September 2019 after he anonymously received printed copies of messages between Perkins and the woman.

The woman in a May 2015 message confronted Perkins about him sharing details about their relationship with another person, writing: “I’m sure you left out the part where u were on duty and I was drunk.”

Korte told the AP he flagged the claims to the Bowling Green police chief and spoke with both Perkins and the woman.

“At some point I might have talked to her, I can't remember when,” Korte previously told the AP. “I didn’t document it because she said, ‘No yeah, we hooked up,’ I think was her exact words.”

Bowling Green police Chief Don Nacke said Korte never contacted him about Perkins and that he wasn’t aware of the claims against him until recent media reports. Nacke said there are no records of any disciplinary action against Perkins when he was an officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622202688165.png" alt="Rep. Chad Perkins" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Chad Perkins</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri police officer campaigning for a state House seat last year repeatedly told a woman to deny that they had sex years ago while she was drunk and he was on duty, the woman says.Emily Orf, 26, spoke to The Associated Press about her interactions with now-Rep. Chad Perkins, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-government-and-politics-324ed4dd6e7cae09c6812001f1868c3b">the allegations became public last month</a>. Orf said the allegations are true. She told the AP that she had not spoken to Perkins for years until he called her last year and suggested that she deny what had happened to a police chief who was investigating.She said Perkins, a 42-year-old Republican, has been apologetic but told her that if she wanted to avoid getting her name “dragged through the mud,” she could either tell Frankford police Chief Joshua Baker they never had sex or tell him they had sex but not while she was drunk and not while Perkins was on duty as a Bowling Green police officer.She said he’s called her roughly eight times in the past year to say the same thing and provided AP with screenshots of phone records showing some of the calls and texts from his phone number.Perkins — who has said the relationship was consensual but denied they had sex when he was on duty or she was drunk — told the AP on Thursday that he never suggested Orf deny anything and “never put any pressure on her to say anything that wasn’t true.”Orf recalled falling asleep in her car at a park sometime around April 2015, when she was 20 years old, and waking up to Perkins knocking on her car window. She told AP she had gotten into an argument with her then-boyfriend and had been drinking.Orf said Perkins talked to her about the fight and drove her around in his police car for what seemed like a long time before he had sex with her in the backseat. She said she was still drunk and remembers only bits and pieces.“He probably should’ve just taken me home to my parents if he knew where they lived, or just let me sleep there so I could fight off my drunk,” Orf said.Asked by the AP Thursday whether he ever had sex with her while she was drunk and he was on duty, Perkins said: “No, absolutely not.” He said he took her home that night in 2015.“We did not have sex while I was on duty,” Perkins said. “But even if I did, that wouldn’t have been a crime committed. So why would I lie about any of that?”Orf said the two had sex again after that but she was also drunk then.The AP typically does not name victims of potential sexual misconduct, but Orf gave permission to identify her. Orf has hired St. Louis attorney Al Watkins to handle questions.Orf said she previously knew of Perkins through the federally funded Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., program. He was her officer.Perkins' law enforcement license is inactive, which means he hasn’t been working as a police officer recently and can’t return to the job immediately.The allegations became public after Baker, the Frankford police chief, in April forwarded information about it to law enforcement agencies in a position to investigate potential criminal wrongdoing and to state House leadership, who forwarded it to the House Ethics Committee. The Highway Patrol now is conducting a preliminary inquiry.In police reports, Baker and a former detective also claimed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-e81a5cd5bd2f7ac34128fccbaec997eb">Pike County Sheriff Stephen Korte</a>&nbsp;discouraged an investigation because of Perkins' political ambitions.Perkins officially opened a campaign committee to run as a Republican for state representative in November 2019. Voters elected him in November 2020.“We can’t prove any of this, Chad needs to win this, it’s important and the girl is loose,” the detective claimed Korte said during a September 2019 conversation, according to a police report.Korte has denied saying that and has dismissed the claims against Perkins as “sour grapes” brought forward by law enforcement officials with political vendettas.Perkins made the same argument Thursday and said Baker and the detective are unreliable based on their past behavior during a local election dispute involving Baker's wife.“Emily and I are both the victims of a couple of cops that hate me so much they’re willing to humiliate a young woman who didn’t want to have anything to do with this,” Perkins said.The former Pike County detective in a police report said he first brought the claims to Korte in September 2019 after he anonymously received printed copies of messages between Perkins and the woman.The woman in a May 2015 message confronted Perkins about him sharing details about their relationship with another person, writing: “I’m sure you left out the part where u were on duty and I was drunk.”Orf verified those messages to the AP.Korte told the AP he flagged the claims to the Bowling Green police chief and spoke with both Perkins and the woman.“At some point I might have talked to her, I can't remember when,” Korte previously told the AP. “I didn’t document it because she said, ‘No yeah, we hooked up,’ I think was her exact words.”Orf said she never spoke to Korte.Bowling Green police Chief Don Nacke said Korte never contacted him about Perkins and that he wasn’t aware of the claims against him until recent media reports. Nacke said there are no records of any disciplinary action against Perkins when he was an officer.

Woman: Lawmaker told her to deny allegations they had sex

GREELEY, Co. (AP) —The world’s largest meat processing company says it paid the equivalent of $11 million to hackers who broke into its computer system late last month.

Brazil-based JBS SA said on May 31 that it was the victim of a ransomware attack, but Wednesday was the first time the company’s U.S. division confirmed that it had paid the ransom.

“This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally,” said Andre Nogueira, the CEO of JBS USA. “However, we felt this decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk for our customers.”

JBS said the vast majority of its facilities were operational at the time it made the payment, but it decided to pay in order to avoid any unforeseen issues and ensure no data was exfiltrated.

The FBI has attributed the attack to REvil, a Russian-speaking gang that has made some of the largest ransomware demands on record in recent months. The FBI said it will work to bring the group to justice and it urged anyone who is the victim of a cyberattack to contact the bureau immediately.

The attack targeted servers supporting JBS’s operations in North America and Australia. Production was disrupted for several days.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced it had recovered most of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment made by Colonial Pipeline, the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline.

Colonial paid a ransom of 75 bitcoin __ then valued at $4.4 million __ in early May to a Russia-based hacker group. The operation to seize cryptocurrency reflected a rare victory in the fight against ransomware as U.S. officials scramble to confront a rapidly accelerating threat targeting critical industries around the world.

It wasn’t immediately clear if JBS also paid its ransom in bitcoin.

JBS said it spends more than $200 million annually on IT and employs more than 850 IT professionals globally.

The company said forensic investigations are still ongoing, but it doesn’t believe any company, customer or employee data was compromised.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622817709891.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GREELEY, Co. (AP) —The world’s largest meat processing company says it paid the equivalent of $11 million to hackers who broke into its computer system late last month.Brazil-based JBS SA said on May 31 that it was the victim of a ransomware attack, but Wednesday was the first time the company’s U.S. division confirmed that it had paid the ransom.“This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally,” said Andre Nogueira, the CEO of JBS USA. “However, we felt this decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk for our customers.”JBS said the vast majority of its facilities were operational at the time it made the payment, but it decided to pay in order to avoid any unforeseen issues and ensure no data was exfiltrated.The FBI has attributed the attack to REvil, a Russian-speaking gang that has made some of the largest ransomware demands on record in recent months. The FBI said it will work to bring the group to justice and it urged anyone who is the victim of a cyberattack to contact the bureau immediately.The attack targeted servers supporting JBS’s operations in North America and Australia. Production was disrupted for several days.Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced it had recovered most of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment made by Colonial Pipeline, the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline.Colonial paid a ransom of 75 bitcoin __ then valued at $4.4 million __ in early May to a Russia-based hacker group. The operation to seize cryptocurrency reflected a rare victory in the fight against ransomware as U.S. officials scramble to confront a rapidly accelerating threat targeting critical industries around the world.It wasn’t immediately clear if JBS also paid its ransom in bitcoin.JBS said it spends more than $200 million annually on IT and employs more than 850 IT professionals globally.The company said forensic investigations are still ongoing, but it doesn’t believe any company, customer or employee data was compromised.

Meat company paid far more ransom in cyberattack than first reported

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita teacher and city council candidate has pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a student. Rodney Wren pleaded guilty Wednesday to one of three counts of unlawful sexual relations. 

He admitted having sex with an underage girl in 2015 and 2016 while he worked at Wichita Collegiate School. He was fired from the school when he was arrested in February 2020. Wren was a longtime teacher and debate coach at Wichita Collegiate. He ran unsuccessfully for  the District 2 Wichita City Council seat in 2019. His attorney said Wren's actions were wrong, but he said Wren was not a pedophile.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teacher for alleged sex crimes.

In January, police in Wichita were notified of possible sexual relations occurring between a teacher at Wichita Collegiate identified as 39-year-old Rodney Wren and a former student at Wichita Collegiate who was a teen at the time of the alleged relationship, according to officer Charley Davidson.

On Feb. 7, following the police investigation, officers arrested Wren&nbsp; for three counts of unlawful sexual relations.&nbsp;

Wichita Collegiate Officials are cooperating with the investigation and had placed Wren on administrative leave.

The case has been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581367494229.png" alt="Rodney Wren photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Rodney Wren photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita teacher and city council candidate has pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a student. Rodney Wren pleaded guilty Wednesday to one of three counts of unlawful sexual relations. He admitted having sex with an underage girl in 2015 and 2016 while he worked at Wichita Collegiate School. He was fired from the school when he was arrested in February 2020. Wren was a longtime teacher and debate coach at Wichita Collegiate. He ran unsuccessfully for the District 2 Wichita City Council seat in 2019. His attorney said Wren's actions were wrong, but he said Wren was not a pedophile.-------SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teacher for alleged sex crimes.In January, police in Wichita were notified of possible sexual relations occurring between a teacher at Wichita Collegiate identified as 39-year-old Rodney Wren and a former student at Wichita Collegiate who was a teen at the time of the alleged relationship, according to officer Charley Davidson.On Feb. 7, following the police investigation, officers arrested Wren&nbsp; for three counts of unlawful sexual relations.&nbsp;Wichita Collegiate Officials are cooperating with the investigation and had placed Wren on administrative leave.The case has been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Former Kansas teacher pleads guilty to sex with student

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cerner says it plans to eliminate about 500 positions across the globe as part of continuing efforts to transform its mission. The healthcare information technology company did not say how many of the cuts will affect Kansas City area workers. 

The company, based in North Kansas City, said it will remain the largest private employer in the Kansas City region. Cerner employs 26,000 people across the world and about 13,000 at several Kansas City campuses. The company said it plans to hire 2,600 new employees around the world this year. Cerner made two separate job cuts in 2019 and another in June of last year.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cerner says it plans to eliminate about 500 positions across the globe as part of continuing efforts to transform its mission. The healthcare information technology company did not say how many of the cuts will affect Kansas City area workers. The company, based in North Kansas City, said it will remain the largest private employer in the Kansas City region. Cerner employs 26,000 people across the world and about 13,000 at several Kansas City campuses. The company said it plans to hire 2,600 new employees around the world this year. Cerner made two separate job cuts in 2019 and another in June of last year.

Kansas City based Cerner to eliminate abut 500 jobs 

WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials are investigating what appear to be higher than expected reports of heart inflammation in male teens and young adults after they get a second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

It’s not clear if the heart inflammation is caused by the shots and the reports still are rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It urges everyone 12 and older to get vaccinated.

As of May 31, the agency had 275 preliminary reports of such inflammation in 16- to 24-year-olds, CDC’s Dr. Tom Shimabukuro told a government vaccine meeting on Thursday. That’s out of more than 12 million second-dose injections of the vaccines.

The cases seem to occur more often in men and in younger people, and most already have fully recovered, he said.

This kind of heart inflammation can be caused by a variety of infections, including a bout of COVID-19, as well as certain medications — and there have been rare reports following other types of vaccinations.

The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee will meet on June 18 to further evaluate the possible risk.

WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials are investigating what appear to be higher than expected reports of heart inflammation in male teens and young adults after they get a second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.It’s not clear if the heart inflammation is caused by the shots and the reports still are rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It urges everyone 12 and older to get vaccinated.As of May 31, the agency had 275 preliminary reports of such inflammation in 16- to 24-year-olds, CDC’s Dr. Tom Shimabukuro told a government vaccine meeting on Thursday. That’s out of more than 12 million second-dose injections of the vaccines.The cases seem to occur more often in men and in younger people, and most already have fully recovered, he said.This kind of heart inflammation can be caused by a variety of infections, including a bout of COVID-19, as well as certain medications — and there have been rare reports following other types of vaccinations.The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee will meet on June 18 to further evaluate the possible risk.

CDC looking into reports of heart inflammation from vaccine

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Six people are recovering after a chemical spill inside a Johnson County veterinary clinic sent them to the hospital.

A gallon of formaldehyde spilled Wednesday inside the Mission Veterinary Emergency &amp; Specialty clinic. Arriving firefighters learned that while the spill had been cleaned up, several people who had interacted with the chemicals were ill.

The Overland Park Fire Department hazmat team was called in, and the building was evacuated. Six people were treated at hospitals and released.

Firefighters used fans to ventilate the building, and employees were allowed back in hours later.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Six people are recovering after a chemical spill inside a Johnson County veterinary clinic sent them to the hospital.A gallon of formaldehyde spilled Wednesday inside the Mission Veterinary Emergency &amp; Specialty clinic. Arriving firefighters learned that while the spill had been cleaned up, several people who had interacted with the chemicals were ill.The Overland Park Fire Department hazmat team was called in, and the building was evacuated. Six people were treated at hospitals and released.Firefighters used fans to ventilate the building, and employees were allowed back in hours later.

Six treated after chemical spill at Kan. veterinary clinic

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall and 9 of their Senate Republican colleagues introduced the&nbsp;Defending Keystone Jobs Act,&nbsp;which would require the Department of Labor to submit a report to Congress on the number of jobs lost as a direct or indirect result of the Biden administration’s move to cancel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, according to a media release from Moran's office.

This project was expected&nbsp;to provide approximately&nbsp;11,000 direct&nbsp;high-paying jobs and up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs, generate tax revenue, increase renewable-energy demand,&nbsp;reduce emissions and strengthen&nbsp;North American&nbsp;energy independence.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the sponsor of the pipeline said it's pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade the Biden administration to reverse its cancellation of the company's permit. Calgary-based TC Energy said Wednesday it would work with government agencies “to ensure a safe termination of and exit from” the partially built project.&nbsp;

“Canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline has cost our country thousands of good-paying jobs and made us more dependent on foreign countries to supply our domestic energy needs,”&nbsp;said Sen.&nbsp;Moran.&nbsp;“The Biden Administration must reverse this policy, especially in light of its decision to waive sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and reprioritize the needs of American workers and energy consumers.”

“The Keystone XL pipeline would have strengthened U.S. energy independence while supporting thousands of high-paying jobs in the U.S. and Canada. It’s hard to square why the administration canceled its construction, yet waived sanctions on Russia’s malign pipeline project,”&nbsp;said Sen.&nbsp;Risch.&nbsp;“Reinstating the Keystone project to invest in U.S. energy security and job creation is just common sense. Why is it bad for the U.S. to have access to natural gas, but it’s ok for Russia?”

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order revoking the permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Following this executive order, Sen.&nbsp;Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=BD1FCB43-90B9-4A15-BA9F-880195A3EC25" target="_blank">introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline with seven of his Senate Republican colleagues.

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall and 9 of their Senate Republican colleagues introduced the&nbsp;Defending Keystone Jobs Act,&nbsp;which would require the Department of Labor to submit a report to Congress on the number of jobs lost as a direct or indirect result of the Biden administration’s move to cancel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, according to a media release from Moran's office.This project was expected&nbsp;to provide approximately&nbsp;11,000 direct&nbsp;high-paying jobs and up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs, generate tax revenue, increase renewable-energy demand,&nbsp;reduce emissions and strengthen&nbsp;North American&nbsp;energy independence.&nbsp;On Wednesday, the sponsor of the pipeline said it's pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade the Biden administration to reverse its cancellation of the company's permit. Calgary-based TC Energy said Wednesday it would work with government agencies “to ensure a safe termination of and exit from” the partially built project.&nbsp;“Canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline has cost our country thousands of good-paying jobs and made us more dependent on foreign countries to supply our domestic energy needs,”&nbsp;said Sen.&nbsp;Moran.&nbsp;“The Biden Administration must reverse this policy, especially in light of its decision to waive sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and reprioritize the needs of American workers and energy consumers.”“The Keystone XL pipeline would have strengthened U.S. energy independence while supporting thousands of high-paying jobs in the U.S. and Canada. It’s hard to square why the administration canceled its construction, yet waived sanctions on Russia’s malign pipeline project,”&nbsp;said Sen.&nbsp;Risch.&nbsp;“Reinstating the Keystone project to invest in U.S. energy security and job creation is just common sense. Why is it bad for the U.S. to have access to natural gas, but it’s ok for Russia?”Background:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order revoking the permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Following this executive order, Sen.&nbsp;Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=BD1FCB43-90B9-4A15-BA9F-880195A3EC25" target="_blank">introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline with seven of his Senate Republican colleagues.

Moran, Marshall want to expose job loss from cancellation of Keystone Pipeline

Editors note: The story has been updated with additional details from OSHA indicating three of the citations against Tyson were dismissed. The total fine on the other two citations was $40,959. A corrected version of the story is below.

HUTCHINSON, Kan.— OSHA has released its findings into an industrial accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Hutchinson in November of 2020.

Two contract workers were injured at the plant at 521 S. Main when ammonia was released from a refrigeration system. OSHA cited the company for five serious violations connected to the incident.&nbsp;

OSHA says Tyson failed to secure parts of the system that were being worked on causing the release of ammonia. It also states that Tyson did not take the necessary precautions in the room where the work was being done and failed to implement a respiratory program for an employee wearing a full face respirator to assist during the incident.&nbsp;

Another citation was handed down to the company for not implementing a line break procedure for the replacement of equipment on the refrigeration system and for not developing and implementing safe work practices to control hazards during operations. It also noted that the company did not provide an appropriate respirator for the employees based on the hazard to which the workers were exposed.

OHSA and the Department of Labor withdrew three of the citations and fined Tyson $40,959 and ordered Tyson to correct the violations no later than July 7 to avoid further penalties.

HUTCHINSON— OSHA has released its findings into an industrial accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Hutchinson in November of 2020.

OHSA and the Department of Labor fined Tyson $68,265 for the violations and ordered Tyson to correct the violations no later than July 7 to avoid further penalties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580231689628.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Editors note: The story has been updated with additional details from OSHA indicating three of the citations against Tyson were dismissed. The total fine on the other two citations was $40,959. A corrected version of the story is below.HUTCHINSON, Kan.— OSHA has released its findings into an industrial accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Hutchinson in November of 2020.Two contract workers were injured at the plant at 521 S. Main when ammonia was released from a refrigeration system. OSHA cited the company for five serious violations connected to the incident.&nbsp;OSHA says Tyson failed to secure parts of the system that were being worked on causing the release of ammonia. It also states that Tyson did not take the necessary precautions in the room where the work was being done and failed to implement a respiratory program for an employee wearing a full face respirator to assist during the incident.&nbsp;Another citation was handed down to the company for not implementing a line break procedure for the replacement of equipment on the refrigeration system and for not developing and implementing safe work practices to control hazards during operations. It also noted that the company did not provide an appropriate respirator for the employees based on the hazard to which the workers were exposed.OHSA and the Department of Labor withdrew three of the citations and fined Tyson $40,959 and ordered Tyson to correct the violations no later than July 7 to avoid further penalties.---------HUTCHINSON— OSHA has released its findings into an industrial accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Hutchinson in November of 2020.Two contract workers were injured at the plant at 521 S. Main when ammonia was released from a refrigeration system. OSHA cited the company for five serious violations connected to the incident.&nbsp;OSHA says Tyson failed to secure parts of the system that were being worked on causing the release of ammonia. It also states that Tyson did not take the necessary precautions in the room where the work was being done and failed to implement a respiratory program for an employee wearing a full face respirator to assist during the incident.&nbsp;Another citation was handed down to the company for not implementing a line break procedure for the replacement of equipment on the refrigeration system and for not developing and implementing safe work practices to control hazards during operations. It also noted that the company did not provide an appropriate respirator for the employees based on the hazard to which the workers were exposed.OHSA and the Department of Labor fined Tyson $68,265 for the violations and ordered Tyson to correct the violations no later than July 7 to avoid further penalties.

Tyson fined for industrial accident at Kansas plant

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer says a Kansas county election office isn’t doing enough to protect him after it accidentally disclosed his Social Security number to a political research firm this spring.

Colyer is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dwight-eisenhower-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-d7017c6210f48aac003b826d8aeaf639">running</a>&nbsp;for governor in 2022, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-dwight-eisenhower-kansas-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-87542690cbd10047f1e557f7eb5ff57f">Attorney General Derek Schmidt</a>&nbsp;also seeking the GOP nomination. The winner will likely face incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in the general election.

The Johnson County election office directed a researcher to shred documents containing the personal information of Colyer and his wife in April. But an attorney for Colyer told the office that the researcher’s three-word email assurances weren’t enough to confirm that personal information wasn’t passed on. Colyer’s attorneys wanted Johnson County to require a signed affidavit.

“If they will do it to a former governor, they can do it to any Kansan,” Colyer said in an email to The Associated Press.

Colyer’s campaign released documents about the breach, email exchanges between county officials and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gravesgarrett.com/" target="_blank">a law firm</a>&nbsp;Colyer hired and the county declining to release all the records sought by the firm.

The election office received a request April 12 for voter records for Colyer and his wife from Peter Como, senior associate for&nbsp;<a href="https://percipientstrategies.com/#" target="_blank">Percipient Strategies.&nbsp;</a>Como received electronic copies the same day.

The firm’s website says it provides “political intelligence” and&nbsp;<a href="https://percipientstrategies.com/Percipient_Strategies_LLC_Prospectus_2021.pdf#page=5" target="_blank">lists&nbsp;</a>GOP candidates and groups as clients, but a Kansas connection was not clear. The company specifically asked for the Colyers’ records but it wasn’t immediately clear why or on whose behalf. Como didn’t answer email and telephone messages.

Election Commissioner Fred Sherman notified Colyer by mail that his office discovered April 21 that it disclosed Social Security numbers “inadvertently.” State law requires them to be redacted from records made public.

Cynthia Dunham, an attorney for the county, told Colyer’s attorney, Lucinda Luetkemeyer, in a May 19 email that Como provided “clear confirmation” that the documents were destroyed and personal information wasn’t passed on. Como sent identical email responses to county inquiries on April 30 and May 18: “Yes, I confirm.”

Colyer was governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9291de4d840f4bb88dde5fa699d87abc">for a year</a>&nbsp;in 2018 after former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback resigned to become the U.S. ambassador at large for religious freedom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623342007478.png" alt="Jeff Colyer during a campaign stop in Southwest Kansas last week-photo courtesy Colyer Campaign for Governor" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Colyer during a campaign stop in Southwest Kansas last week-photo courtesy Colyer Campaign for Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer says a Kansas county election office isn’t doing enough to protect him after it accidentally disclosed his Social Security number to a political research firm this spring.Colyer is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dwight-eisenhower-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-d7017c6210f48aac003b826d8aeaf639">running</a>&nbsp;for governor in 2022, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-dwight-eisenhower-kansas-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-87542690cbd10047f1e557f7eb5ff57f">Attorney General Derek Schmidt</a>&nbsp;also seeking the GOP nomination. The winner will likely face incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in the general election.The Johnson County election office directed a researcher to shred documents containing the personal information of Colyer and his wife in April. But an attorney for Colyer told the office that the researcher’s three-word email assurances weren’t enough to confirm that personal information wasn’t passed on. Colyer’s attorneys wanted Johnson County to require a signed affidavit.“If they will do it to a former governor, they can do it to any Kansan,” Colyer said in an email to The Associated Press.Colyer’s campaign released documents about the breach, email exchanges between county officials and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gravesgarrett.com/" target="_blank">a law firm</a>&nbsp;Colyer hired and the county declining to release all the records sought by the firm.The election office received a request April 12 for voter records for Colyer and his wife from Peter Como, senior associate for&nbsp;<a href="https://percipientstrategies.com/#" target="_blank">Percipient Strategies.&nbsp;</a>Como received electronic copies the same day.The firm’s website says it provides “political intelligence” and&nbsp;<a href="https://percipientstrategies.com/Percipient_Strategies_LLC_Prospectus_2021.pdf#page=5" target="_blank">lists&nbsp;</a>GOP candidates and groups as clients, but a Kansas connection was not clear. The company specifically asked for the Colyers’ records but it wasn’t immediately clear why or on whose behalf. Como didn’t answer email and telephone messages.Election Commissioner Fred Sherman notified Colyer by mail that his office discovered April 21 that it disclosed Social Security numbers “inadvertently.” State law requires them to be redacted from records made public.Cynthia Dunham, an attorney for the county, told Colyer’s attorney, Lucinda Luetkemeyer, in a May 19 email that Como provided “clear confirmation” that the documents were destroyed and personal information wasn’t passed on. Como sent identical email responses to county inquiries on April 30 and May 18: “Yes, I confirm.”Colyer was governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9291de4d840f4bb88dde5fa699d87abc">for a year</a>&nbsp;in 2018 after former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback resigned to become the U.S. ambassador at large for religious freedom.

Ex-Kansas Gov. Colyer riled by disclosure of personal data

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

The Salina Police Department seeks the public's help in identifying two men believed to be involved in a road rage incident at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

A witness called police to report hearing a vehicle honking repeatedly, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. When she looked out, she saw a Toyota 4Runner stalled in the 500 block of S. Ninth Street. She also saw what she described as a "black muscle car" behind the 4Runner, and inside the car were two white males who were screaming at the driver of the 4Runner.

A short while later, the driver of the 4Runner got the vehicle running and pulled off of S. Ninth Street onto Washington Street and then pulled to the curb, Forrester said. The witness told police that the muscle car followed and the two people got out and attempted to pull the driver of the 4Runner from the vehicle.

After the incident, the driver of the 4Runner, identified by Forrester as Mario Lachica Quintana, 56, of Salina, went to the Salina Police Department to report what had happened. Forrester said he basically gave the same account as the witness.

Lachica Quintana also told police that the passenger from the muscle car punched the passenger-side mirror off of the 4Runner. The damage was estimated at $100.

Forrester said that anyone who has information about this incident or who knows who the people in the muscle car are is asked to contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623341489888.jpeg" alt="The Salina Police Department seeks information about the two men seen with this black car.Photo Salina Police Department" />
 <figcaption>The Salina Police Department seeks information about the two men seen with this black car.Photo Salina Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThe Salina Police Department seeks the public's help in identifying two men believed to be involved in a road rage incident at 3 p.m. Wednesday.A witness called police to report hearing a vehicle honking repeatedly, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. When she looked out, she saw a Toyota 4Runner stalled in the 500 block of S. Ninth Street. She also saw what she described as a "black muscle car" behind the 4Runner, and inside the car were two white males who were screaming at the driver of the 4Runner.A short while later, the driver of the 4Runner got the vehicle running and pulled off of S. Ninth Street onto Washington Street and then pulled to the curb, Forrester said. The witness told police that the muscle car followed and the two people got out and attempted to pull the driver of the 4Runner from the vehicle.After the incident, the driver of the 4Runner, identified by Forrester as Mario Lachica Quintana, 56, of Salina, went to the Salina Police Department to report what had happened. Forrester said he basically gave the same account as the witness.Lachica Quintana also told police that the passenger from the muscle car punched the passenger-side mirror off of the 4Runner. The damage was estimated at $100.Forrester said that anyone who has information about this incident or who knows who the people in the muscle car are is asked to contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210.

Police ask for help to ID suspects in Kan. road rage incident

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple charges after a pair of traffic stops.

Just after 4:30p.m. Tuesday, a K9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department conducted a traffic stop on a white 1994 Ford Explorer in the 5800 block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the K9 was deployed and illegal narcotics were located.&nbsp;

Deputies arrested the driver Robert J. Wehner Jr.,50 of Silver Lake and the passenger Shannon K. Woehr, 51, of Overbrook.

Later that day, the same K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a spray painted 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Paramore Street. During the investigation, the K9 was deployed and illegal narcotics were located. Deputies arrested the driver, Christopher D. Kittle, 35, of Topeka.

Wehner, Woehr and Kittle were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp; Wehner is being held on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to have vehicle liability insurance, tag not assigned, operating a vehicle without registration and a bench warrant out of the City of Topeka, according to Christian.

Woehr is being held on a requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and multiple warrants. Kittle is facing possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended driver’s license and possession of marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623336773299.png" alt="Wehner-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wehner-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple charges after a pair of traffic stops.Just after 4:30p.m. Tuesday, a K9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department conducted a traffic stop on a white 1994 Ford Explorer in the 5800 block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the K9 was deployed and illegal narcotics were located.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623336862581.png" alt="Woehr-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Woehr-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested the driver Robert J. Wehner Jr.,50 of Silver Lake and the passenger Shannon K. Woehr, 51, of Overbrook.Later that day, the same K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a spray painted 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Paramore Street. During the investigation, the K9 was deployed and illegal narcotics were located. Deputies arrested the driver, Christopher D. Kittle, 35, of Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623336918081.png" alt="Kittle-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Kittle-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Wehner, Woehr and Kittle were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp; Wehner is being held on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to have vehicle liability insurance, tag not assigned, operating a vehicle without registration and a bench warrant out of the City of Topeka, according to Christian.Woehr is being held on a requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and multiple warrants. Kittle is facing possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended driver’s license and possession of marijuana.

Kansas sheriff's K9 unit helps with 3 arrests in 2 traffic stops

NEW YORK (AP) —Do you own an Amazon smart device? If so, odds are good that the company is already sharing your internet connection with your neighbors unless you’ve specifically told it not to.

On Tuesday, the company launched a program that forces users of many Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras to automatically share a small portion of their home wireless bandwidth with neighbors. The only way to stop it is to turn it off yourself.

Amazon says the program, called Amazon Sidewalk, is a way to make sure lights, smart locks and other gadgets outside the home and out of reach of a Wi-Fi connection stay working.

But some experts warn that the technology is so new that privacy and security risks remain unclear. And almost no one seems happy that Amazon forced consumers into Amazon Sidewalk — or that many people may not know they can opt out of it.

DID AMAZON TELL CUSTOMERS THIS WAS HAPPENING?

Amazon says it sent emails to customers last month and in November that Sidewalk was coming. The company says you’ll also get a notification when you set up gadgets that work with Sidewalk.

Once you know about it, it’s relatively straightforward, if not exactly simple, to opt out of Sidewalk. Echo users can go into the Alexa app, tap “More” in the lower right hand corner, then tap “Settings,” then “Account Settings,” where they’ll find a section for Amazon Sidewalk and a button to disable it. In the Ring app, go to “Control Center” and then tap “Sidewalk.”

The idea behind Sidewalk is to integrate residential wireless connections into a “mesh network” that can extend coverage to areas home Wi-Fi can’t reach. Amazon’s Echo and Ring devices band together to create a this network by grabbing a slice of bandwidth from each cooperative home network. That can extend the range of devices designed to work with Sidewalk so they’ll stay connected even when away from your home network.

One example of such a device is Tile, a tracking device that can be placed on keys or a dog’s collar. If your dog goes missing in a neighborhood where Sidewalk is working, it might turn up quickly via Tile.

Other products that work with Sidewalk include smart locks that can be controlled by phone and wearable devices that can track people with dementia who may wander. Amazon expects additional devices, including outdoor lights and motion detectors, will work with Sidewalk before long.

Amazon is tapping into a variety of radio technologies, including one called LoRa for its long range and better known for industrial and business applications such as keeping track of cattle roaming through pasturelands.

“The goal here is not to create coverage for a single home,” said Marc Pegulu of chipmaker Semtech, which is partnering with Amazon on the technology. “It’s kind of a shared network, a community shared network.”

Among other things, devices connected to the shared network can supposedly search for the best signal in a way that can preserve their battery life.

Thomas Clausen, a computer science professor at France’s École Polytechnique, says that the network Amazon is creating could be a good thing provided that it’s open and accessible, because it would make it easier and cheaper to use internet-connected devices and sensors and spark new innovations.

“But of course, when a behemoth like Amazon, or Apple or Google or Microsoft, create a platform, they also can end up controlling the platform and that can stifle innovation,” he says.

Hackers could potentially infiltrate home networks via Sidewalk, said Eric Null, a policy manager at digital rights group Access Now. If that happens, Null said hackers could observe everything you do, take over your devices or access your files to steal information.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone’s network gets hacked and data gets breached,” said Null.

William Tong, Connecticut’s attorney general,&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Press-Releases/2021-Press-Releases/Amazon-Sidewalk-Will-Automatically-Connect-Smart-Home-Devices-to-Shared-Network-on-June-8" target="_blank">warned&nbsp;</a>consumers this week that the program was “uncharted territory” and that people should opt-out of Sidewalk unless they are sure their privacy and security will be protected.

“Wireless networks are already notoriously vulnerable to hacks and breaches,” Tong wrote in a statement. “Families need better information and more time before giving away a portion of their bandwidth to this new system.”

When asked about privacy and security concerns, an Amazon spokesman said he couldn’t respond to “hypothetical situations.” The company didn’t respond to a request to make an executive available for an interview, but said that data that flows through its network has three-layers of encryption that’s meant to to keep hackers from seeing it.

Samir Jain, director of policy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said Amazon’s efforts to encrypt data was a good step. But Jain said that it’s hard to identify security vulnerabilities until a new technology is deployed in the real world.

Echo devices that share network bandwidth via Sidewalk include the third generation and newer versions of the Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Dot for Kids and the Echo Dot with Clock. The Echo Show 5, 8, 10; the second generation of the Echo Show; Echo Spot; Echo Plus; Echo Studio; Echo Input; Echo Flex.

Sidewalk-enabled Ring devices include the Ring Floodlight Cam; Ring Spotlight Cam Wired; and Ring Spotlight Cam Mount.

Amazon has explained Sidewalk in the context of consumer devices such as cameras and speakers. But it could also one day integrate the technology into its core business: delivering goods.

For example, the company could embed tiny internet-connected devices into cardboard packages to help track them, said Clausen of École Polytechnique.

“Having integration of alarm systems, presence detection of whether or not people are there, will potentially allow Amazon to create more efficient delivery schedules and fewer re-deliveries,” he says. That could be one application Amazon is thinking about, he added.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623332419012.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —Do you own an Amazon smart device? If so, odds are good that the company is already sharing your internet connection with your neighbors unless you’ve specifically told it not to.On Tuesday, the company launched a program that forces users of many Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras to automatically share a small portion of their home wireless bandwidth with neighbors. The only way to stop it is to turn it off yourself.Amazon says the program, called Amazon Sidewalk, is a way to make sure lights, smart locks and other gadgets outside the home and out of reach of a Wi-Fi connection stay working.But some experts warn that the technology is so new that privacy and security risks remain unclear. And almost no one seems happy that Amazon forced consumers into Amazon Sidewalk — or that many people may not know they can opt out of it.DID AMAZON TELL CUSTOMERS THIS WAS HAPPENING?Amazon says it sent emails to customers last month and in November that Sidewalk was coming. The company says you’ll also get a notification when you set up gadgets that work with Sidewalk.HOW CAN I STOP THIS?Once you know about it, it’s relatively straightforward, if not exactly simple, to opt out of Sidewalk. Echo users can go into the Alexa app, tap “More” in the lower right hand corner, then tap “Settings,” then “Account Settings,” where they’ll find a section for Amazon Sidewalk and a button to disable it. In the Ring app, go to “Control Center” and then tap “Sidewalk.”WHY IS AMAZON DOING THIS?The idea behind Sidewalk is to integrate residential wireless connections into a “mesh network” that can extend coverage to areas home Wi-Fi can’t reach. Amazon’s Echo and Ring devices band together to create a this network by grabbing a slice of bandwidth from each cooperative home network. That can extend the range of devices designed to work with Sidewalk so they’ll stay connected even when away from your home network.One example of such a device is Tile, a tracking device that can be placed on keys or a dog’s collar. If your dog goes missing in a neighborhood where Sidewalk is working, it might turn up quickly via Tile.Other products that work with Sidewalk include smart locks that can be controlled by phone and wearable devices that can track people with dementia who may wander. Amazon expects additional devices, including outdoor lights and motion detectors, will work with Sidewalk before long.HOW DOES IT WORK?Amazon is tapping into a variety of radio technologies, including one called LoRa for its long range and better known for industrial and business applications such as keeping track of cattle roaming through pasturelands.“The goal here is not to create coverage for a single home,” said Marc Pegulu of chipmaker Semtech, which is partnering with Amazon on the technology. “It’s kind of a shared network, a community shared network.”Among other things, devices connected to the shared network can supposedly search for the best signal in a way that can preserve their battery life.Thomas Clausen, a computer science professor at France’s École Polytechnique, says that the network Amazon is creating could be a good thing provided that it’s open and accessible, because it would make it easier and cheaper to use internet-connected devices and sensors and spark new innovations.“But of course, when a behemoth like Amazon, or Apple or Google or Microsoft, create a platform, they also can end up controlling the platform and that can stifle innovation,” he says.WHAT ARE THE RISKS?Hackers could potentially infiltrate home networks via Sidewalk, said Eric Null, a policy manager at digital rights group Access Now. If that happens, Null said hackers could observe everything you do, take over your devices or access your files to steal information.“It’s only a matter of time before someone’s network gets hacked and data gets breached,” said Null.William Tong, Connecticut’s attorney general,&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Press-Releases/2021-Press-Releases/Amazon-Sidewalk-Will-Automatically-Connect-Smart-Home-Devices-to-Shared-Network-on-June-8" target="_blank">warned&nbsp;</a>consumers this week that the program was “uncharted territory” and that people should opt-out of Sidewalk unless they are sure their privacy and security will be protected.“Wireless networks are already notoriously vulnerable to hacks and breaches,” Tong wrote in a statement. “Families need better information and more time before giving away a portion of their bandwidth to this new system.”WHAT DOES AMAZON SAY?When asked about privacy and security concerns, an Amazon spokesman said he couldn’t respond to “hypothetical situations.” The company didn’t respond to a request to make an executive available for an interview, but said that data that flows through its network has three-layers of encryption that’s meant to to keep hackers from seeing it.Samir Jain, director of policy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said Amazon’s efforts to encrypt data was a good step. But Jain said that it’s hard to identify security vulnerabilities until a new technology is deployed in the real world.WHICH DEVICES WANT TO SHARE MY INTERNET?Echo devices that share network bandwidth via Sidewalk include the third generation and newer versions of the Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Dot for Kids and the Echo Dot with Clock. The Echo Show 5, 8, 10; the second generation of the Echo Show; Echo Spot; Echo Plus; Echo Studio; Echo Input; Echo Flex.Sidewalk-enabled Ring devices include the Ring Floodlight Cam; Ring Spotlight Cam Wired; and Ring Spotlight Cam Mount.DOES AMAZON HAVE BIGGER AMBITIONS?Amazon has explained Sidewalk in the context of consumer devices such as cameras and speakers. But it could also one day integrate the technology into its core business: delivering goods.For example, the company could embed tiny internet-connected devices into cardboard packages to help track them, said Clausen of École Polytechnique.“Having integration of alarm systems, presence detection of whether or not people are there, will potentially allow Amazon to create more efficient delivery schedules and fewer re-deliveries,” he says. That could be one application Amazon is thinking about, he added.

Own an Echo? Amazon may be helping itself to your bandwidth

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 5-year-old boy who was hit by a car near a Kansas City, Kansas, park over the weekend has died, police said.

The crash happened around 7 p.m. Saturday, when the boy wandered away from adults while playing in Kensington Park, police said in a news release. 

The child then ran into State Avenue, a busy thoroughfare, and crossed the westbound lanes before being hit by an eastbound car.

The boy was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and died there on Wednesday. Police said the driver of the car was traveling within the speed limit, stayed on the scene and has cooperated with the investigation. Police have not released the boy’s name.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 5-year-old boy who was hit by a car near a Kansas City, Kansas, park over the weekend has died, police said.The crash happened around 7 p.m. Saturday, when the boy wandered away from adults while playing in Kensington Park, police said in a news release. The child then ran into State Avenue, a busy thoroughfare, and crossed the westbound lanes before being hit by an eastbound car.The boy was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and died there on Wednesday. Police said the driver of the car was traveling within the speed limit, stayed on the scene and has cooperated with the investigation. Police have not released the boy’s name.

Police: 5-year-old Kansas boy hit by car Saturday has died

MANHATTAN —A Kansas man arrested June 4 on child sex crime allegations is facing additional accusations.&nbsp;

Police arrested 31-year-old Aaron Zachry of Junction City late Wednesday afternoon on three additional counts of sexual exploitation of a child while still confined in the Riley County Jail, according to Riley County Police Department spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.

 These charges came after further information was collected during the ongoing investigation into Zachry. The circumstances behind these additional charges are believed to have occurred on March 13, 2021, at a residence in Manhattan.&nbsp;

Zachry was issued a bond of $300,000 for these additional charges, resulting in a total bond of $360,000. The bond for his initial arrest on June 4 is $60,000. Zachry remains confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of this report.

Zachry's initial arrest on June 4, at the Northview P ark Pool in Manhattan was for one count of sexual exploitation of a child after nude photographs of minors were found on his cell phone.

Zachry was employed as a paraeducator at Northview Elementary in Manhatta.&nbsp; Police are asking parents or anyone with additional information to please contact RCPD at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

MANHATTAN —A Kansas man arrested June 4 on child sex crime allegations is facing additional accusations.&nbsp;Police arrested 31-year-old Aaron Zachry of Junction City late Wednesday afternoon on three additional counts of sexual exploitation of a child while still confined in the Riley County Jail, according to Riley County Police Department spokesperson Aaron Wintermote. These charges came after further information was collected during the ongoing investigation into Zachry. The circumstances behind these additional charges are believed to have occurred on March 13, 2021, at a residence in Manhattan.&nbsp;Zachry was issued a bond of $300,000 for these additional charges, resulting in a total bond of $360,000. The bond for his initial arrest on June 4 is $60,000. Zachry remains confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of this report.Zachry's initial arrest on June 4, at the Northview P ark Pool in Manhattan was for one count of sexual exploitation of a child after nude photographs of minors were found on his cell phone.Zachry was employed as a paraeducator at Northview Elementary in Manhatta.&nbsp; Police are asking parents or anyone with additional information to please contact RCPD at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

Kansas sex crime suspect facing additional charges

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — DNA evidence preserved after a 1956 double homicide and the use of forensic genealogy has helped a Montana sheriff’s office close the books on the 65-year-old cold case, officials said.

Investigators with the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office concluded Kenneth Gould — who died in Oregon County, Missouri, in 2007 — more than likely killed Patricia Kalitzke, 16, and Duane Bogle, 18. Both were shot in the head.

Detective Sgt. Jon Kadner, who took over the case in 2012, said Tuesday it was the oldest case he could find nationwide that has been solved using forensic genealogy, which searches commercial DNA databases to find familial matches to the DNA of a crime suspect.

On Jan. 3, 1956, three boys hiking along the Sun River near Wadsworth Park northwest of Great Falls found Bogle dead near his car. A day later, a county road worker found Kalitzke’s body north of Great Falls.

Kalitzke was a junior at Great Falls High School, and Bogle was an airman at Malmstrom Air Force Base from Waco, Texas.

Officers investigated for years, but they were unable to make an arrest.

The case went cold for decades until 2001, when then-Detective Phil Matteson sent the slide of a vaginal swab gathered from Kalitzke’s body to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis. The lab found a sperm cell that did not belong to Bogle, officers said.

In the following years, law enforcement compared the DNA sample to about 35 other men, including gangster James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger Jr. They were all ruled out as suspects.

When Matteson retired, he said he didn’t believe the case would be solved. “A lot of different people had a turn at this, and we just weren’t able to take it to conclusion,” he said.

In 2018, however, forensic genealogy, which was used to help adoptees find biological family members, was used to identify Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. as the Golden State Killer. The new method has led to the identification of dozens of suspects in cold cases.

In 2019, Cascade County detectives had Bode Technology perform additional DNA testing on the evidence found on Kalitzke’s body. It was uploaded to voluntary genealogical databases, where they discovered a possible family connection — leading investigators to Gould.

Kadner had to reach out to Gould’s children and ask for DNA samples to verify the match.

“I wasn’t sure how they were going to react when I come to them saying, ‘Hey your dad’s a suspect in this case,’ but they were great to work with,” Kadner said.

Gould’s family home at the time of the homicides was a little over a mile&nbsp; from where Kalitzke lived. He was known to ride horses through the area, officials said.

After the murders, Gould sold his property near the town of Tracy. His family lived in the Montana communities of Geraldine and Hamilton before moving to Missouri in 1967. They did not return to Montana.

Gould did not have a known criminal history and was not interviewed during the murder investigation. Investigators did not find any connections between Gould and the victims.

Officers kept working the case because of the circumstances, Kadner said.

“You had two young, vibrant individuals that were well-liked among their peer group,” he said. “Investigators poured their heart and soul into this case. They leave a little bit of themselves, from what I’ve seen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623320137621.png" alt="The victims Patricia Kalitzke was 16 and Duane Bogle 18 at the time of the murders. photo courtesy Cascade County Sheriff&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The victims Patricia Kalitzke was 16 and Duane Bogle 18 at the time of the murders. photo courtesy Cascade County Sheriff&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — DNA evidence preserved after a 1956 double homicide and the use of forensic genealogy has helped a Montana sheriff’s office close the books on the 65-year-old cold case, officials said.Investigators with the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office concluded Kenneth Gould — who died in Oregon County, Missouri, in 2007 — more than likely killed Patricia Kalitzke, 16, and Duane Bogle, 18. Both were shot in the head.Detective Sgt. Jon Kadner, who took over the case in 2012, said Tuesday it was the oldest case he could find nationwide that has been solved using forensic genealogy, which searches commercial DNA databases to find familial matches to the DNA of a crime suspect.On Jan. 3, 1956, three boys hiking along the Sun River near Wadsworth Park northwest of Great Falls found Bogle dead near his car. A day later, a county road worker found Kalitzke’s body north of Great Falls.Kalitzke was a junior at Great Falls High School, and Bogle was an airman at Malmstrom Air Force Base from Waco, Texas.Officers investigated for years, but they were unable to make an arrest.The case went cold for decades until 2001, when then-Detective Phil Matteson sent the slide of a vaginal swab gathered from Kalitzke’s body to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis. The lab found a sperm cell that did not belong to Bogle, officers said.In the following years, law enforcement compared the DNA sample to about 35 other men, including gangster James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger Jr. They were all ruled out as suspects.When Matteson retired, he said he didn’t believe the case would be solved. “A lot of different people had a turn at this, and we just weren’t able to take it to conclusion,” he said.In 2018, however, forensic genealogy, which was used to help adoptees find biological family members, was used to identify Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. as the Golden State Killer. The new method has led to the identification of dozens of suspects in cold cases.In 2019, Cascade County detectives had Bode Technology perform additional DNA testing on the evidence found on Kalitzke’s body. It was uploaded to voluntary genealogical databases, where they discovered a possible family connection — leading investigators to Gould.Kadner had to reach out to Gould’s children and ask for DNA samples to verify the match.“I wasn’t sure how they were going to react when I come to them saying, ‘Hey your dad’s a suspect in this case,’ but they were great to work with,” Kadner said.Gould’s family home at the time of the homicides was a little over a mile&nbsp; from where Kalitzke lived. He was known to ride horses through the area, officials said.After the murders, Gould sold his property near the town of Tracy. His family lived in the Montana communities of Geraldine and Hamilton before moving to Missouri in 1967. They did not return to Montana.Gould did not have a known criminal history and was not interviewed during the murder investigation. Investigators did not find any connections between Gould and the victims.Officers kept working the case because of the circumstances, Kadner said.“You had two young, vibrant individuals that were well-liked among their peer group,” he said. “Investigators poured their heart and soul into this case. They leave a little bit of themselves, from what I’ve seen.”

DNA, forensic genealogy close 65-year-old double murder

SALINE COUNTY —The Rolling Hills Zoo (RHZ) family is grieving the loss of Joya, the&nbsp; greater-one horned rhino, an iconic species at the zoo since its opening in 1999, according to a media release from the organization.

At 33-years-old, Joya began developing age related issues. RHZ animal care staff and veterinarian have been monitoring his quality of life for the past several months. Most recently he developed lameness in one foot that did not respond to treatment. Because his quality of life was declining rapidly, and to allow him to pass with dignity, it was decided that humanly euthanizing him was the kindest option available.

Joya was the oldest male in the Greater One horned (GOH) rhinoceros’ Species Survival Plan (SSP)* of the Association of Zoos &amp; Aquariums (AZA). The SSP currently manages 78 GOH rhinos at 22 AZA accredited North American facilities. Rolling Hills Zoo was the only zoo in Kansas to house this species.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623289383712.jpeg" alt="Joya was the oldest male in the Greater One horned rhinoceros’ Species Survival Plan&nbsp;Photos courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Joya was the oldest male in the Greater One horned rhinoceros’ Species Survival Plan&nbsp;Photos courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —The Rolling Hills Zoo (RHZ) family is grieving the loss of Joya, the&nbsp; greater-one horned rhino, an iconic species at the zoo since its opening in 1999, according to a media release from the organization.At 33-years-old, Joya began developing age related issues. RHZ animal care staff and veterinarian have been monitoring his quality of life for the past several months. Most recently he developed lameness in one foot that did not respond to treatment. Because his quality of life was declining rapidly, and to allow him to pass with dignity, it was decided that humanly euthanizing him was the kindest option available.Joya was the oldest male in the Greater One horned (GOH) rhinoceros’ Species Survival Plan (SSP)* of the Association of Zoos &amp; Aquariums (AZA). The SSP currently manages 78 GOH rhinos at 22 AZA accredited North American facilities. Rolling Hills Zoo was the only zoo in Kansas to house this species.Born at San Diego Wild Animal Park (SWAP) on May 22, 1988, Joya came to RHZ on April 8, 1995 on loan from SWAP. He was donated in 2020 to RHZ by SWAP.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623289663927.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Arriving at RHZ with Joya was his brother Jaunpur, and white rhino, Uzazi. Jaunpur stayed at RHZ until November 11, 1996 when he was transferred to Baton Rouge Zoo. He is currently living at Lowry Park Zoo and is 31 years old. At the age 30, Uzazi still resides at RHZ. These three were RHZ’s first animals.“Joya is an iconic species at RHZ, and anyone that has been to the zoo knows him,” said Brenda Gunder, curator. “He has been an incredible representative for his species and he has taught so many of us how to be better caregivers.”