BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A Bellevue man charged in the deaths of his two young children has been returned to Nebraska and appeared in court Friday for a bond hearing.&nbsp;

Adam Price, 36, was returned to Nebraska from California on Thursday night. On Friday, he was ordered held on $2.5 million bail.

Price is charged with two counts of negligent child abuse resulting in the deaths of his children, 5-year-old Emily and 3-year-old Theodore. The children had been with Price for a court-ordered visitation when they were found dead May 16 in Price's home.

Price was nowhere to be found and was arrested hours later in Pacifica, California. Authorities have not yet said how the children died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622292619722.png" alt="Price is being held in the Sarpy County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Price is being held in the Sarpy County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A Bellevue man charged in the deaths of his two young children has been returned to Nebraska and appeared in court Friday for a bond hearing.&nbsp;Adam Price, 36, was returned to Nebraska from California on Thursday night. On Friday, he was ordered held on $2.5 million bail.Price is charged with two counts of negligent child abuse resulting in the deaths of his children, 5-year-old Emily and 3-year-old Theodore. The children had been with Price for a court-ordered visitation when they were found dead May 16 in Price's home.Price was nowhere to be found and was arrested hours later in Pacifica, California. Authorities have not yet said how the children died.

Man accused in deaths of his children held on $2.5M bond

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators have hatched a plan for returning the Kansas Statehouse’s meditation room to its original spot after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly moved it to create more space for her staff.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, outlined the proposal this week during a meeting of top lawmakers. A decision is likely later this year.

The GOP-controlled Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-prayer-b2886ff5deb44bf28da3e9308d8e8fb7">wanted space for prayer</a>&nbsp;in 2012 when then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback created a meditation room on the Statehouse’s second floor. That’s where the governor and governor’s staff have offices.

GOP legislators included provisions in annual state budgets to keep the room there. But they forgot last year, allowing Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-kansas-topeka-prayer-meditation-f9a609709f12d8bd8ab8ec87d996dc41">to commandeer&nbsp;</a>their prized space.

Kelly expanded her constituent services team to help during the coronavirus pandemic and said they needed to social distance.

The meditation room moved to an out-of-the-way spot in the basement occasionally used for shooting videos and television interviews. GOP lawmakers responded this year with a budget provision to reclaim the second-floor space, but Kelly vetoed it.

Masterson’s plan would give the governor’s staff a different second-floor suite now used by House members. That would prompt other space swaps involving them, senators, their clerks and State Library staffers.

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators have hatched a plan for returning the Kansas Statehouse’s meditation room to its original spot after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly moved it to create more space for her staff.Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, outlined the proposal this week during a meeting of top lawmakers. A decision is likely later this year.The GOP-controlled Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-prayer-b2886ff5deb44bf28da3e9308d8e8fb7">wanted space for prayer</a>&nbsp;in 2012 when then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback created a meditation room on the Statehouse’s second floor. That’s where the governor and governor’s staff have offices.GOP legislators included provisions in annual state budgets to keep the room there. But they forgot last year, allowing Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-kansas-topeka-prayer-meditation-f9a609709f12d8bd8ab8ec87d996dc41">to commandeer&nbsp;</a>their prized space.Kelly expanded her constituent services team to help during the coronavirus pandemic and said they needed to social distance.The meditation room moved to an out-of-the-way spot in the basement occasionally used for shooting videos and television interviews. GOP lawmakers responded this year with a budget provision to reclaim the second-floor space, but Kelly vetoed it.Masterson’s plan would give the governor’s staff a different second-floor suite now used by House members. That would prompt other space swaps involving them, senators, their clerks and State Library staffers.

Plan would return Kan. Statehouse prayer room to original spot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service wants to raise rates on first-class stamps from 55 cents to 58 cents as part of a host of price hikes and service changes designed to reduce debt for the beleaguered agency.

The request for the changes, which would take effect Aug. 29, was filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission. It includes price hikes for first-class mail, magazines and marketing mailers. The price hikes are part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year plan for the agency, which faces an estimated $160 billion in operating losses over the next decade.

DeJoy said the increases are necessary to “achieve financial sustainability and service excellence” and will allow the postal service to "remain viable and competitive and offer reliable postal services that are among the most affordable in the world.”

The Washington Post reported that the price hikes also are being accompanied by hundreds of layoffs of “management-level employees.” An email to postal officials seeking confirmation of the layoffs did not receive an immediate response.

The Post Office has grappled with declining revenues for years; in the past decade, overall mail volume has dropped 28 percent, and first-class letters have declined by 47 percent, according to the agency. It also faces fierce competition in the package delivery business from FedEx, UPS and Amazon.

DeJoy, a major donor to former president Donald Trump, became a figure of national controversy last year when he was publicly accused by Democrats of hampering mail service for political reasons. His attempted service cuts were seen as an extension of Trump's opposition to mail-in voting.

After Trump's defeat, DeJoy's position was considered to be in jeopardy. The Senate has approved three new appointees to the Postal Service's governing board, giving the nine-member board a Democratic majority.

However, DeJoy's dismissal is not certain. Postal Service board Chairman Ron Bloom, a Democrat, told House lawmakers in February that DeJoy "in very difficult circumstances is doing a good job.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service wants to raise rates on first-class stamps from 55 cents to 58 cents as part of a host of price hikes and service changes designed to reduce debt for the beleaguered agency.The request for the changes, which would take effect Aug. 29, was filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission. It includes price hikes for first-class mail, magazines and marketing mailers. The price hikes are part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year plan for the agency, which faces an estimated $160 billion in operating losses over the next decade.DeJoy said the increases are necessary to “achieve financial sustainability and service excellence” and will allow the postal service to "remain viable and competitive and offer reliable postal services that are among the most affordable in the world.”The Washington Post reported that the price hikes also are being accompanied by hundreds of layoffs of “management-level employees.” An email to postal officials seeking confirmation of the layoffs did not receive an immediate response.The Post Office has grappled with declining revenues for years; in the past decade, overall mail volume has dropped 28 percent, and first-class letters have declined by 47 percent, according to the agency. It also faces fierce competition in the package delivery business from FedEx, UPS and Amazon.DeJoy, a major donor to former president Donald Trump, became a figure of national controversy last year when he was publicly accused by Democrats of hampering mail service for political reasons. His attempted service cuts were seen as an extension of Trump's opposition to mail-in voting.After Trump's defeat, DeJoy's position was considered to be in jeopardy. The Senate has approved three new appointees to the Postal Service's governing board, giving the nine-member board a Democratic majority.However, DeJoy's dismissal is not certain. Postal Service board Chairman Ron Bloom, a Democrat, told House lawmakers in February that DeJoy "in very difficult circumstances is doing a good job.”

Postal Service looks to raise price of first-class stamp again

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday unveiled a $6 trillion budget for next year that's piled high with new safety net programs for the poor and middle class, but his generosity depends on taxing corporations and the wealthy to keep the nation's spiking debt from spiraling totally out of control.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512149-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-economy">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments on his budget plan

Biden has already described, in general terms, major plans on infrastructure and he won a major victory on COVID-19 relief earlier this year. But Friday's rollout tallies up the costs and incorporates them into the government's existing budget framework, including Social Security and Medicare, to provide a fuller view of the administration's fiscal posture.

The whopping deficit projections reflect a government with steadily accumulating debt that has topped $28 trillion after well over $5 trillion in already approved COVID-19 relief, which would require the government to borrow roughly 50 cents of every dollar it spends this year and next. With the government's structural deficit remaining unchecked, Biden would use proposed tax hikes on businesses and high-earning people to power huge new social programs like universal prekindergarten, large subsidies for child care and guaranteed paid leave.

“The best way to grow our economy is not from the top down, but from the bottom up and the middle out," Biden said in his written budget message. “Our prosperity comes from the people who get up every day, work hard, raise their family, pay their taxes, serve their Nation, and volunteer in their communities.”

The budget incorporates the administration's eight-year, $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal and its $1.8 trillion American Families Plan and adds details on his $1.5 trillion request for annual operating expenditures for the Pentagon and domestic agencies.

“Together, these ... will be transformational: Strengthening our economy, boosting American competitiveness, and delivering shared prosperity and economic security," said acting White House budget chief Shalanda Young. She called the Biden plan a “budget that puts these pieces together and does exactly what the president told the country he would do. Grow the economy, create jobs and do so responsibly by requiring the wealthiest Americans and big corporations to pay their fair share.”

Biden's budget is sure to give Republicans fresh ammunition for their criticisms of the new Democratic administration as bent on a “tax and spend" agenda that would damage the economy and impose a crushing debt burden on younger Americans. And he's facing a very nettlesome fight with Republicans who say he's shorting the military.

Veteran GOP Sen. Richard Shelby, whose help is needed to pass annual agency budget bills, blasted Biden's plan as “a blueprint for the higher taxes, excessive spending, and disproportionate funding priorities." He added that it ”completely disregards our debt of more than $28 trillion, yet somehow still shortchanges our national security."

Biden is a veteran of a long-gone Washington that fought bitterly in the 1980s and 1990s to wrestle the deficit under control. But there hasn't been any real effort to stem the flow of red ink since a tea party-driven moment in 2011 that produced unpopular automatic spending cuts.

Huge deficits have yet to drive up interest rates as many fiscal hawks have feared, however, and genuine anti-deficit sentiment is difficult to find in either political party.

The unusual timing of the budget rollout — the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day weekend — indicates that the White House isn't eager to trumpet the bad deficit news. Typically, lawmakers host an immediate round of hearings on the budget, but those will have to wait until Congress returns from a weeklong recess.

Under Biden’s plan, the debt held by the public would quickly match the size of the economy and soon eclipse record levels of debt relative to gross domestic product that have stood since World War II. That’s despite more than $3 trillion in proposed tax increases over the decade, including an increase in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, increased capital gains rates on top earners and returning the top personal income tax bracket to 39.6%.

Like all presidential budgets, Biden’s plan is simply a proposal. It’s up to Congress to implement it through tax and spending legislation and annual agency budget bills. With Democrats in control of Capitol Hill, albeit barely, the president has the ability to implement many of his tax and spending plans, though his hopes for awarding greater increases to domestic agencies than to the Pentagon are sure to hit a roadblock with Republicans.

Some Democrats are already balking at Biden’s full menu of tax increases, imperiling his ability to pay for his ambitious social spending. And his plans to increase spending on domestic Cabinet agencies by 16% while limiting defense to a 1.7% increase is politically impossible in the 50-50 Senate.

On Thursday, a top Senate ally, Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called for bipartisan talks to start the annual appropriations bills. There’s incentive for both GOP defense hawks and liberal Democrats like Leahy to bargain since the alternative is a long-term freeze at current spending levels.

The Biden plan comes as the White House is seeking an agreement with Senate Republicans over infrastructure spending. There are growing expectations that he may have to go it alone and pass his plans by relying on support from his narrow Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate.

The flood of Biden’s spending proposals includes numerous new programs to strengthen the “caring economy” with large programs aimed at child and elder care: $437 billion over 10 years to provide free preschool to all 3- and 4-year-olds and two years of free community college to all Americans. Also, $225 billion would subsidize child care to allow many to pay a maximum of 7% of their income for all children under age 5.

Another $225 billion over the next decade would create a national family and medical leave program, while $200 billion would make recently enacted subsidy increases under the Obama health care law permanent.

Tax hikes, Biden claims, would pay for his initiatives over the next 15 years, including $2 trillion from corporations from curbing overseas tax preferences and raising rates to 28%.

The increases would drive federal spending to about 25% of the entire economy, while the tax boosts would mean revenues approaching 20% of the size of the economy once implemented.

Last year’s $3.1 trillion budget deficit under President Donald Trump was more than double the previous record, as the coronavirus pandemic shrank revenues and sent spending soaring.

Republicans concerns about the deficit are voiced chiefly when Democrats are in power, and the Biden budget gives them ammunition to attack.

Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecelia Rouse told reporters Friday that the economy is outperforming the budget’s promises of 5.2% economic growth this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622232957258.png" alt="Biden's budget incorporates the administration's eight-year, $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal and its $1.8 trillion American Families Plan and adds details on his $1.5 trillion request for annual operating expenditures for the Pentagon and domestic agencies. He delivered remarks on the plan at&nbsp;Coyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio Thursday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Biden's budget incorporates the administration's eight-year, $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal and its $1.8 trillion American Families Plan and adds details on his $1.5 trillion request for annual operating expenditures for the Pentagon and domestic agencies. He delivered remarks on the plan at&nbsp;Coyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio Thursday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday unveiled a $6 trillion budget for next year that's piled high with new safety net programs for the poor and middle class, but his generosity depends on taxing corporations and the wealthy to keep the nation's spiking debt from spiraling totally out of control.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512149-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-economy">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments on his budget planBiden has already described, in general terms, major plans on infrastructure and he won a major victory on COVID-19 relief earlier this year. But Friday's rollout tallies up the costs and incorporates them into the government's existing budget framework, including Social Security and Medicare, to provide a fuller view of the administration's fiscal posture.The whopping deficit projections reflect a government with steadily accumulating debt that has topped $28 trillion after well over $5 trillion in already approved COVID-19 relief, which would require the government to borrow roughly 50 cents of every dollar it spends this year and next. With the government's structural deficit remaining unchecked, Biden would use proposed tax hikes on businesses and high-earning people to power huge new social programs like universal prekindergarten, large subsidies for child care and guaranteed paid leave.“The best way to grow our economy is not from the top down, but from the bottom up and the middle out," Biden said in his written budget message. “Our prosperity comes from the people who get up every day, work hard, raise their family, pay their taxes, serve their Nation, and volunteer in their communities.”The budget incorporates the administration's eight-year, $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal and its $1.8 trillion American Families Plan and adds details on his $1.5 trillion request for annual operating expenditures for the Pentagon and domestic agencies.“Together, these ... will be transformational: Strengthening our economy, boosting American competitiveness, and delivering shared prosperity and economic security," said acting White House budget chief Shalanda Young. She called the Biden plan a “budget that puts these pieces together and does exactly what the president told the country he would do. Grow the economy, create jobs and do so responsibly by requiring the wealthiest Americans and big corporations to pay their fair share.”Biden's budget is sure to give Republicans fresh ammunition for their criticisms of the new Democratic administration as bent on a “tax and spend" agenda that would damage the economy and impose a crushing debt burden on younger Americans. And he's facing a very nettlesome fight with Republicans who say he's shorting the military.Veteran GOP Sen. Richard Shelby, whose help is needed to pass annual agency budget bills, blasted Biden's plan as “a blueprint for the higher taxes, excessive spending, and disproportionate funding priorities." He added that it ”completely disregards our debt of more than $28 trillion, yet somehow still shortchanges our national security."Biden is a veteran of a long-gone Washington that fought bitterly in the 1980s and 1990s to wrestle the deficit under control. But there hasn't been any real effort to stem the flow of red ink since a tea party-driven moment in 2011 that produced unpopular automatic spending cuts.Huge deficits have yet to drive up interest rates as many fiscal hawks have feared, however, and genuine anti-deficit sentiment is difficult to find in either political party.The unusual timing of the budget rollout — the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day weekend — indicates that the White House isn't eager to trumpet the bad deficit news. Typically, lawmakers host an immediate round of hearings on the budget, but those will have to wait until Congress returns from a weeklong recess.Under Biden’s plan, the debt held by the public would quickly match the size of the economy and soon eclipse record levels of debt relative to gross domestic product that have stood since World War II. That’s despite more than $3 trillion in proposed tax increases over the decade, including an increase in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, increased capital gains rates on top earners and returning the top personal income tax bracket to 39.6%.Like all presidential budgets, Biden’s plan is simply a proposal. It’s up to Congress to implement it through tax and spending legislation and annual agency budget bills. With Democrats in control of Capitol Hill, albeit barely, the president has the ability to implement many of his tax and spending plans, though his hopes for awarding greater increases to domestic agencies than to the Pentagon are sure to hit a roadblock with Republicans.Some Democrats are already balking at Biden’s full menu of tax increases, imperiling his ability to pay for his ambitious social spending. And his plans to increase spending on domestic Cabinet agencies by 16% while limiting defense to a 1.7% increase is politically impossible in the 50-50 Senate.On Thursday, a top Senate ally, Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called for bipartisan talks to start the annual appropriations bills. There’s incentive for both GOP defense hawks and liberal Democrats like Leahy to bargain since the alternative is a long-term freeze at current spending levels.The Biden plan comes as the White House is seeking an agreement with Senate Republicans over infrastructure spending. There are growing expectations that he may have to go it alone and pass his plans by relying on support from his narrow Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate.The flood of Biden’s spending proposals includes numerous new programs to strengthen the “caring economy” with large programs aimed at child and elder care: $437 billion over 10 years to provide free preschool to all 3- and 4-year-olds and two years of free community college to all Americans. Also, $225 billion would subsidize child care to allow many to pay a maximum of 7% of their income for all children under age 5.Another $225 billion over the next decade would create a national family and medical leave program, while $200 billion would make recently enacted subsidy increases under the Obama health care law permanent.Tax hikes, Biden claims, would pay for his initiatives over the next 15 years, including $2 trillion from corporations from curbing overseas tax preferences and raising rates to 28%.The increases would drive federal spending to about 25% of the entire economy, while the tax boosts would mean revenues approaching 20% of the size of the economy once implemented.Last year’s $3.1 trillion budget deficit under President Donald Trump was more than double the previous record, as the coronavirus pandemic shrank revenues and sent spending soaring.Republicans concerns about the deficit are voiced chiefly when Democrats are in power, and the Biden budget gives them ammunition to attack.Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecelia Rouse told reporters Friday that the economy is outperforming the budget’s promises of 5.2% economic growth this year.

Biden's $6T budget: Social spending, taxes on business

COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — A suspect in a double homicide and another inmate who escaped from jail in Kansas earlier this week were recaptured in Oklahoma. 

The Cherokee County Sheriff's office said Friday that Mark Gerald Hopkins II and Michael Wayne Martsolf were arrested in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. They escaped from the county jail on Monday, prompting a massive search.

Authorities did not provide details of how they were captured. Hopkins of Columbus, was charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of two men in southeast Kansas in June 2020. Martsolf was being held on drug charges.

Authorities previously arrested 26-year-old Tasha Young, of Weir, for her alleged role in the escape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622299174237.png" alt="Photo Cherokee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Cherokee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — A suspect in a double homicide and another inmate who escaped from jail in Kansas earlier this week were recaptured in Oklahoma. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621960469451.png" alt="Hopkins photo Cherokee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hopkins photo Cherokee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Cherokee County Sheriff's office said Friday that Mark Gerald Hopkins II and Michael Wayne Martsolf were arrested in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. They escaped from the county jail on Monday, prompting a massive search.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621960532851.png" alt="Martsolf photo Cherokee Co." />
 <figcaption>Martsolf photo Cherokee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities did not provide details of how they were captured. Hopkins of Columbus, was charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of two men in southeast Kansas in June 2020. Martsolf was being held on drug charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622212658690.png" alt="Tasha Taylor Young" />
 <figcaption>Tasha Taylor Young</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities previously arrested 26-year-old Tasha Young, of Weir, for her alleged role in the escape.

Murder suspect who escaped Kan. jail recaptured in Oklahoma

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man from Puerto Rico on multiple charges after&nbsp; a vehicle stop for impairment.

Just after 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; May 22,&nbsp; police were dispatched at 7:31 p.m. to the 1400 block of North Summit Street in Arkansas City for a report of a stolen beer, according to a media release. The suspect was reported to be driving a silver car bearing a Minnesota license plate.

Police located the suspect’s vehicle pulling out of the Westlake Ace Hardware parking lot and proceeding northbound on North Summit Street. Police observed that the vehicle was traveling slowly.

The car turned west onto West Radio Lane and officers conducted a traffic stop in the Ark Plaza shopping center parking lot.

After making contact with the driver identified as 28-year-old&nbsp;Junior Modesto Bealey Viven of San Juan, Puerto Rico, police noted signs of impairment.

When an officer opened the driver’s door, Bealey Viven allegedly grabbed the door and attempted to close it on the officer. He is accused of ignoring voice commands and resisting being handcuffed.

Bealey Viven, who has a criminal history, had to be taken to the ground forcibly, where he continued to resist police. He finally was taken into custody without further incident. A glass smoking device with crystallized residue, thought to be methamphetamine, was located in the center console of the vehicle.

Bealey Viven is being held on requested charges of interference with a law enforcement officer, possession of methamphetamine and theft, as well as one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence (second offense), driving with a suspended driver’s license (third or subsequent offense), no proof of insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful transport of alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621973140374.png" alt="Bealey Viven photo Cowley Co." />
 <figcaption>Bealey Viven photo Cowley Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man from Puerto Rico on multiple charges after&nbsp; a vehicle stop for impairment.Just after 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; May 22,&nbsp; police were dispatched at 7:31 p.m. to the 1400 block of North Summit Street in Arkansas City for a report of a stolen beer, according to a media release. The suspect was reported to be driving a silver car bearing a Minnesota license plate.Police located the suspect’s vehicle pulling out of the Westlake Ace Hardware parking lot and proceeding northbound on North Summit Street. Police observed that the vehicle was traveling slowly.The car turned west onto West Radio Lane and officers conducted a traffic stop in the Ark Plaza shopping center parking lot.After making contact with the driver identified as 28-year-old&nbsp;Junior Modesto Bealey Viven of San Juan, Puerto Rico, police noted signs of impairment.When an officer opened the driver’s door, Bealey Viven allegedly grabbed the door and attempted to close it on the officer. He is accused of ignoring voice commands and resisting being handcuffed.Bealey Viven, who has a criminal history, had to be taken to the ground forcibly, where he continued to resist police. He finally was taken into custody without further incident. A glass smoking device with crystallized residue, thought to be methamphetamine, was located in the center console of the vehicle.Bealey Viven is being held on requested charges of interference with a law enforcement officer, possession of methamphetamine and theft, as well as one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence (second offense), driving with a suspended driver’s license (third or subsequent offense), no proof of insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful transport of alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

Man from Puerto Rico jailed in Kansas for drugs, theft

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A farm laborer was found guilty Friday in the abduction and killing of an Iowa college student who vanished while out for a run in 2018 and will face life behind bars for a crime that shocked the nation.

A 12-member jury unanimously found Cristhian Bahena Rivera guilty of first-degree murder in the attack on University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, who was described as so kind and friendly that investigators could find no one who spoke badly about her.

Bahena Rivera, who came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico as a teenager, will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Joel Yates ordered Bahena Rivera, who has been in custody since his August 2018 arrest, to be held without bond pending a July 15 sentencing hearing.

The verdict came after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-816cc1a4c41d82a2be4353d19d923e1e">two-week trial&nbsp;</a>at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport, in a case that fueled public anger against illegal immigration and concerns about random violence against women. The jury, which included nine white members and three of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish descent, deliberated for seven hours on Thursday and Friday.

“This was the verdict that the evidence demanded,” said one of the prosecutors, Poweshiek County Attorney Bart Klaver, who said such violent crime almost never happens in his county of 18,000 people.

Klaver said the verdict was an emotional moment for relatives of Tibbetts, calling the outcome a “weight off of everyone’s shoulders.” Several of her relatives, including her mother, had watched the proceedings daily in a conference room across from the courtroom, where the public was banned due to COVID-19 protocols.

Bahena Rivera’s defense attorneys, Chad and Jennifer Frese, said they were disappointed in the verdict and would appeal. They said that their client had never wavered since 2018 from the story that he told on the witness stand about the two masked men that he claims were responsible. They said the decision to call him to testify was an easy one.

“We can tell you that getting to know Cristhian Bahena, we are very surprised that he would be the kind of person that would commit a crime like this,” Chad Frese said. “He is nothing but a soft-spoken, respectful, kind person.”

They said they would renew their arguments that Bahena Rivera’s statements to police were coerced and should be suppressed, along with the discovery of Tibbetts’ body that followed.

Tibbetts, who ran track and cross country in high school, never returned home after going for a routine run in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa on the evening of July 18, 2018. She was reported missing the next day after she didn’t show up for her summer job at a daycare, where she was working after completing her freshman year. Tibbetts had hoped to one day become a child psychologist.

Her disappearance from the town of 1,700 was immediately deemed suspicious, and local, state and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e4641880a1bb41df97d2acf56f103093">federal agencies</a>&nbsp;joined hundreds of volunteers in a highly publicized search for her.

Investigators say they broke the case open nearly a month later after obtaining surveillance video from a homeowner that shows, for a split second, a shadowy figure that appears to be Tibbetts running in the distance. The video shows a black Chevy Malibu with chrome mirrors and door handles driving past 20 seconds later, and back and forth several times in the next 20 minutes.

A sheriff’s deputy spotted Bahena Rivera, who worked at a local dairy farm, driving the distinctive vehicle the next day. During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-816cc1a4c41d82a2be4353d19d923e1e">lengthy interrogation</a>&nbsp;that began Aug. 20, 2018, Bahena Rivera said that he drove past Tibbetts while she was running and turned around to get another look because he found her attractive.

He eventually said that he approached Tibbetts and fought with her after she tried to get away and threatened to call police. He claimed that he then “blacked out” but remembered driving with her body in the trunk of his car. He led investigators in the early morning hours of Aug. 21 to a remote cornfield where they found her badly decomposed body hidden under corn stalks.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-06f83961088643b0af3b3683ee5ad94a">autopsy found</a>&nbsp;that Tibbetts died of sharp force injuries from several stab wounds to her head, neck and chest. DNA testing showed that her blood was found in the trunk of the Malibu, but investigators never found the murder weapon.

Prosecutor Scott Brown praised the investigators whose persistence helped solve the case, noting they faced criticism during the trial from the defense.

He said in a closing argument Thursday that Bahena Rivera killed Tibbetts out of anger after she rebuked him. He said Bahena Rivera also had a sexual motive, noting that Tibbetts was found partially naked with her legs spread when her body was found.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-business-273a6b106651b27dc3d0b91966ece58e">dramatic testimony&nbsp;</a>Wednesday that surprised prosecutors, the 26-year-old Bahena Rivera denied that he killed Tibbetts. He claimed publicly for the first time that two masked men took him at gunpoint from his trailer, forced him to drive as one of them killed Tibbetts on a rural road and directed him to a rural area where he left her body. Bahena Rivera said the men threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and young daughter if he spoke out.

Bahena Rivera’s defense suggested one of the men may have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-trials-2caee5d5db80c4d9b06abcdf82fe7818">Tibbetts’ boyfriend,</a>&nbsp;Dalton Jack, who admitted during hours of difficult testimony that he had an affair with another woman and past anger problems. But police said they cleared Jack, who had bought an engagement ring and planned to soon propose marriage to Tibbetts, after establishing that he was out of town for work when Tibbetts vanished.

Then-President Donald Trump, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and other Republicans had cited the vicious crime ahead of the 2018 midterm elections to call for harsher policies to deter illegal immigration. But their efforts eventually stopped after Tibbetts’ parents said the slaying should not be used to advance a political agenda that Tibbetts would have opposed.

In a sign of how the case remains politicized, GOP U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa released a statement on Friday morning praising the guilty verdict as a just outcome, even though jurors were still deliberating at the time. Her staff quickly apologized for the error but re-released the statement after the verdict was announced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622236036202.png" alt="Rivera-photo&nbsp;Poweshiek County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Rivera-photo&nbsp;Poweshiek County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A farm laborer was found guilty Friday in the abduction and killing of an Iowa college student who vanished while out for a run in 2018 and will face life behind bars for a crime that shocked the nation.A 12-member jury unanimously found Cristhian Bahena Rivera guilty of first-degree murder in the attack on University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, who was described as so kind and friendly that investigators could find no one who spoke badly about her.Bahena Rivera, who came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico as a teenager, will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Joel Yates ordered Bahena Rivera, who has been in custody since his August 2018 arrest, to be held without bond pending a July 15 sentencing hearing.The verdict came after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-816cc1a4c41d82a2be4353d19d923e1e">two-week trial&nbsp;</a>at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport, in a case that fueled public anger against illegal immigration and concerns about random violence against women. The jury, which included nine white members and three of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish descent, deliberated for seven hours on Thursday and Friday.“This was the verdict that the evidence demanded,” said one of the prosecutors, Poweshiek County Attorney Bart Klaver, who said such violent crime almost never happens in his county of 18,000 people.Klaver said the verdict was an emotional moment for relatives of Tibbetts, calling the outcome a “weight off of everyone’s shoulders.” Several of her relatives, including her mother, had watched the proceedings daily in a conference room across from the courtroom, where the public was banned due to COVID-19 protocols.Bahena Rivera’s defense attorneys, Chad and Jennifer Frese, said they were disappointed in the verdict and would appeal. They said that their client had never wavered since 2018 from the story that he told on the witness stand about the two masked men that he claims were responsible. They said the decision to call him to testify was an easy one.“We can tell you that getting to know Cristhian Bahena, we are very surprised that he would be the kind of person that would commit a crime like this,” Chad Frese said. “He is nothing but a soft-spoken, respectful, kind person.”They said they would renew their arguments that Bahena Rivera’s statements to police were coerced and should be suppressed, along with the discovery of Tibbetts’ body that followed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622236279286.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tibbetts, who ran track and cross country in high school, never returned home after going for a routine run in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa on the evening of July 18, 2018. She was reported missing the next day after she didn’t show up for her summer job at a daycare, where she was working after completing her freshman year. Tibbetts had hoped to one day become a child psychologist.Her disappearance from the town of 1,700 was immediately deemed suspicious, and local, state and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e4641880a1bb41df97d2acf56f103093">federal agencies</a>&nbsp;joined hundreds of volunteers in a highly publicized search for her.Investigators say they broke the case open nearly a month later after obtaining surveillance video from a homeowner that shows, for a split second, a shadowy figure that appears to be Tibbetts running in the distance. The video shows a black Chevy Malibu with chrome mirrors and door handles driving past 20 seconds later, and back and forth several times in the next 20 minutes.A sheriff’s deputy spotted Bahena Rivera, who worked at a local dairy farm, driving the distinctive vehicle the next day. During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-816cc1a4c41d82a2be4353d19d923e1e">lengthy interrogation</a>&nbsp;that began Aug. 20, 2018, Bahena Rivera said that he drove past Tibbetts while she was running and turned around to get another look because he found her attractive.He eventually said that he approached Tibbetts and fought with her after she tried to get away and threatened to call police. He claimed that he then “blacked out” but remembered driving with her body in the trunk of his car. He led investigators in the early morning hours of Aug. 21 to a remote cornfield where they found her badly decomposed body hidden under corn stalks.An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-06f83961088643b0af3b3683ee5ad94a">autopsy found</a>&nbsp;that Tibbetts died of sharp force injuries from several stab wounds to her head, neck and chest. DNA testing showed that her blood was found in the trunk of the Malibu, but investigators never found the murder weapon.Prosecutor Scott Brown praised the investigators whose persistence helped solve the case, noting they faced criticism during the trial from the defense.He said in a closing argument Thursday that Bahena Rivera killed Tibbetts out of anger after she rebuked him. He said Bahena Rivera also had a sexual motive, noting that Tibbetts was found partially naked with her legs spread when her body was found.During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-business-273a6b106651b27dc3d0b91966ece58e">dramatic testimony&nbsp;</a>Wednesday that surprised prosecutors, the 26-year-old Bahena Rivera denied that he killed Tibbetts. He claimed publicly for the first time that two masked men took him at gunpoint from his trailer, forced him to drive as one of them killed Tibbetts on a rural road and directed him to a rural area where he left her body. Bahena Rivera said the men threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and young daughter if he spoke out.Bahena Rivera’s defense suggested one of the men may have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-trials-2caee5d5db80c4d9b06abcdf82fe7818">Tibbetts’ boyfriend,</a>&nbsp;Dalton Jack, who admitted during hours of difficult testimony that he had an affair with another woman and past anger problems. But police said they cleared Jack, who had bought an engagement ring and planned to soon propose marriage to Tibbetts, after establishing that he was out of town for work when Tibbetts vanished.Then-President Donald Trump, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and other Republicans had cited the vicious crime ahead of the 2018 midterm elections to call for harsher policies to deter illegal immigration. But their efforts eventually stopped after Tibbetts’ parents said the slaying should not be used to advance a political agenda that Tibbetts would have opposed.In a sign of how the case remains politicized, GOP U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa released a statement on Friday morning praising the guilty verdict as a just outcome, even though jurors were still deliberating at the time. Her staff quickly apologized for the error but re-released the statement after the verdict was announced.

Farm laborer convicted in 2018 stabbing death of Iowa runner

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo. —Two people were injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Friday in Atchison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ram pickup driven by Dalton N. Hart, 26, Tarkio, was westbound on U.S. 136 just west of Rock Port.

The driver attempted to make a left turn into a private drive.&nbsp; The pickup traveled into the path of a 1938 Chevy Deluxe driven by Kenneth D. Holmes, 50, Auburn, Nebraska.&nbsp; The vehicles collided head-on.

Atchison-Holt ambulance transported Holmes and a passenger in the Chevy Stephanie D. Holmes, 44, Auburn, to Community Hospital in Fairfax. An air ambulance later transferred them to University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.&nbsp; Hart was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Chevy did not have seat belts.

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo. —Two people were injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Friday in Atchison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ram pickup driven by Dalton N. Hart, 26, Tarkio, was westbound on U.S. 136 just west of Rock Port.The driver attempted to make a left turn into a private drive.&nbsp; The pickup traveled into the path of a 1938 Chevy Deluxe driven by Kenneth D. Holmes, 50, Auburn, Nebraska.&nbsp; The vehicles collided head-on.Atchison-Holt ambulance transported Holmes and a passenger in the Chevy Stephanie D. Holmes, 44, Auburn, to Community Hospital in Fairfax. An air ambulance later transferred them to University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.&nbsp; Hart was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Chevy did not have seat belts.

Couple airlifted to hospital after head-on crash in 1938 Chevy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators served notice Friday that they’re preparing to end Kansas’ state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic and accused Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly of having no “exit strategy.”

Eight top leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature, six of them currently Republicans, approved a shorter extension of the state of emergency than Kelly wanted, until June 15. The state of emergency was set to expire Friday, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_40_2021" target="_blank">state law</a>&nbsp;required Kelly to get to lawmakers’ approval to keep it in place. She sought the longest extension the law allows at one time, 30 days, until June 27.

Officials in Kelly’s administration told legislative leaders earlier this week that ending the state of emergency would jeopardize some federal funds, shut down the state’s emergency operations center and make it harder to share resources among state agencies and cities and counties.

But with new COVID-19 cases having dropped in recent months, top Republicans said they want emergency operations wound down. They said Kansas residents are tired of pandemic restrictions, though most have ended. They suggested that they were granting only one last extension to allow the state to wrap up emergency operations.

“I’m pretty much fed up with it,” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican. “There’s been no planning, and all we do is just keep things going and going and going.”

Republican lawmakers have been at odds with Kelly throughout the pandemic and have forced her to accept ever greater limits on her power in exchange for keeping the state of emergency in effect.

Democrats said it’s too soon to end the state of emergency because people are still being hospitalized and dying.

“We are not finished with this,” said Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, describing the call to end the state of emergency as “ridiculous.”

The vote on the shorter extension was 6-2, along party lines. By the same vote, legislative leaders rescinded&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EO-21-13-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;from Kelly that had imposed a moratorium on evictions and home foreclosures for people who have financial problems because of COVID-19.

Kelly spokesperson Reeves Oyster suggested that GOP leaders had decided to “kick people out of their homes” and were doing “what’s politically convenient” for them.

In a letter to legislative leaders Monday, Kelly said the state “has much essential work left to do,” particularly with vaccinations.

Her letter said that without an emergency declaration in place, the state’s Division of Emergency Management cannot assign emergency response tasks to other agencies. She said the state would have to stop using nurses under contract for vaccine clinics and stop delivering food in bulk to community food banks.

Kelly also said support from the state emergency operations center for distributing vaccine doses would end, putting the entire burden on the state health department. Agency spokesperson Kristi Zears said Thursday that the center is using a courier system to handle about 75% of the doses sent to health care providers.

The state health department has said reaching herd immunity would require 75% to 80% of the population to have COVID-19 antibodies, either from vaccinations or previous infections. As of Wednesday, 41.6% of the state’s 2.9 million residents had received at least one vaccine shot, and the rate of vaccinations had slowed. Reported COVID-19 cases equaled 10.8% of the population.

“I don’t think we can pretend to say, just magically say, ‘It’s over. It’s over.’” said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat.

But GOP leaders questioned whether the effects of ending the state of emergency would be as dire as Kelly suggests, and they argued that there’s far less need for an intense response now.

“It needs to be a very short extension with an exit strategy that everybody can understand and that the public can understand,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican.

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators served notice Friday that they’re preparing to end Kansas’ state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic and accused Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly of having no “exit strategy.”Eight top leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature, six of them currently Republicans, approved a shorter extension of the state of emergency than Kelly wanted, until June 15. The state of emergency was set to expire Friday, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_40_2021" target="_blank">state law</a>&nbsp;required Kelly to get to lawmakers’ approval to keep it in place. She sought the longest extension the law allows at one time, 30 days, until June 27.Officials in Kelly’s administration told legislative leaders earlier this week that ending the state of emergency would jeopardize some federal funds, shut down the state’s emergency operations center and make it harder to share resources among state agencies and cities and counties.But with new COVID-19 cases having dropped in recent months, top Republicans said they want emergency operations wound down. They said Kansas residents are tired of pandemic restrictions, though most have ended. They suggested that they were granting only one last extension to allow the state to wrap up emergency operations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Governor Kelly strongly disagrees with the LCC’s decision to revoke her evictions and foreclosure moratorium. As we finally start to recover from this global pandemic, now is not the time to kick people out of their homes. <a href="https://t.co/7bR1tLRkrA">pic.twitter.com/7bR1tLRkrA</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1398326112518914050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I’m pretty much fed up with it,” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican. “There’s been no planning, and all we do is just keep things going and going and going.”Republican lawmakers have been at odds with Kelly throughout the pandemic and have forced her to accept ever greater limits on her power in exchange for keeping the state of emergency in effect.Democrats said it’s too soon to end the state of emergency because people are still being hospitalized and dying.“We are not finished with this,” said Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, describing the call to end the state of emergency as “ridiculous.”The vote on the shorter extension was 6-2, along party lines. By the same vote, legislative leaders rescinded&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EO-21-13-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;from Kelly that had imposed a moratorium on evictions and home foreclosures for people who have financial problems because of COVID-19.Kelly spokesperson Reeves Oyster suggested that GOP leaders had decided to “kick people out of their homes” and were doing “what’s politically convenient” for them.In a letter to legislative leaders Monday, Kelly said the state “has much essential work left to do,” particularly with vaccinations.Her letter said that without an emergency declaration in place, the state’s Division of Emergency Management cannot assign emergency response tasks to other agencies. She said the state would have to stop using nurses under contract for vaccine clinics and stop delivering food in bulk to community food banks.Kelly also said support from the state emergency operations center for distributing vaccine doses would end, putting the entire burden on the state health department. Agency spokesperson Kristi Zears said Thursday that the center is using a courier system to handle about 75% of the doses sent to health care providers.The state health department has said reaching herd immunity would require 75% to 80% of the population to have COVID-19 antibodies, either from vaccinations or previous infections. As of Wednesday, 41.6% of the state’s 2.9 million residents had received at least one vaccine shot, and the rate of vaccinations had slowed. Reported COVID-19 cases equaled 10.8% of the population.“I don’t think we can pretend to say, just magically say, ‘It’s over. It’s over.’” said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat.But GOP leaders questioned whether the effects of ending the state of emergency would be as dire as Kelly suggests, and they argued that there’s far less need for an intense response now.“It needs to be a very short extension with an exit strategy that everybody can understand and that the public can understand,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican.

Kan. GOP leaders preparing to end COVID state of emergency

JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident&nbsp; late Thursday following a vehicle pursuit in rural Jackson County.

Just before 11p.m. Thursday, a police officer was in a vehicle pursuit with a Dodge Avenger, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver of the Dodge passenger car failed to stop for the officer and continued northbound out of the city on U.S. Highway 75.&nbsp; The vehicle continue east on 254th&nbsp;Road and then north on W. Road.&nbsp;

Jackson County deputies assisted with the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued westbound on 286th&nbsp;Road, failed to stop at at a stop sign at U.S. Highway 75 and struck a southbound Jeep Renegade.&nbsp;

Both vehicles left the roadway, with the suspect vehicle landing on its side.&nbsp; EMS transported both occupants of the Jeep and two occupants of the Dodge to a Topeka hospital.

A third occupant of the Dodge identified as Shai Boyd, 26, Topeka, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Morse.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is in charge investigating the accident and incident.&nbsp;Early Friday a portion of Highway 75 remained closed with traffic being detoured north of Holton.

JACKSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident late Thursday following a vehicle pursuit in rural Jackson County.

The driver of the Dodge passenger car failed to stop for the officer and continued northbound out of the city on U.S. Highway 75.&nbsp; The vehicle continue east on 254th&nbsp;Road and then north on W. Road.&nbsp; 

Jackson County deputies assisted with the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued westbound on 286th&nbsp;Road, failed to stop at U.S. Highway 75 and struck a southbound Jeep Renegade.&nbsp; 

Both vehicles left the roadway, with the suspect vehicle landing on its side.&nbsp; EMS transported both occupants of the Jeep and two occupants of the Dodge to a Topeka hospital. 

A third occupant of the Dodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Morse.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is in charge investigating the accident and incident.&nbsp;Early Friday a portion of Highway 75 remaine closed with traffic being detoured north of Holton.

JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident&nbsp; late Thursday following a vehicle pursuit in rural Jackson County.Just before 11p.m. Thursday, a police officer was in a vehicle pursuit with a Dodge Avenger, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver of the Dodge passenger car failed to stop for the officer and continued northbound out of the city on U.S. Highway 75.&nbsp; The vehicle continue east on 254th&nbsp;Road and then north on W. Road.&nbsp;Jackson County deputies assisted with the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued westbound on 286th&nbsp;Road, failed to stop at at a stop sign at U.S. Highway 75 and struck a southbound Jeep Renegade.&nbsp;Both vehicles left the roadway, with the suspect vehicle landing on its side.&nbsp; EMS transported both occupants of the Jeep and two occupants of the Dodge to a Topeka hospital.A third occupant of the Dodge identified as Shai Boyd, 26, Topeka, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Morse.The Kansas Highway Patrol is in charge investigating the accident and incident.&nbsp;Early Friday a portion of Highway 75 remained closed with traffic being detoured north of Holton.--------JACKSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident late Thursday following a vehicle pursuit in rural Jackson County.Just before 11p.m. Thursday, a police officer was in a vehicle pursuit with a Dodge Avenger, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver of the Dodge passenger car failed to stop for the officer and continued northbound out of the city on U.S. Highway 75.&nbsp; The vehicle continue east on 254th&nbsp;Road and then north on W. Road.&nbsp; Jackson County deputies assisted with the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued westbound on 286th&nbsp;Road, failed to stop at U.S. Highway 75 and struck a southbound Jeep Renegade.&nbsp; Both vehicles left the roadway, with the suspect vehicle landing on its side.&nbsp; EMS transported both occupants of the Jeep and two occupants of the Dodge to a Topeka hospital. A third occupant of the Dodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Morse.The Kansas Highway Patrol is in charge investigating the accident and incident.&nbsp;Early Friday a portion of Highway 75 remaine closed with traffic being detoured north of Holton.

Update: Kan. woman dead after crash during police chase

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 277 to a total of 313,997, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 9 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5076.

<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 277 to a total of 313,997, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 9 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5076.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622222442762.png" alt="Friday May 28, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday May 28, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Friday blocked creation of a bipartisan panel to study the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, turning aside the independent investigation in a show of party loyalty to former President Donald Trump and an effort to shift the political focus away from the violent insurrection by his GOP supporters.

The Senate vote was 54-35 — short of the 60 votes needed to take up a House-passed bill that would have formed a 10-member commission evenly split between the two parties.&nbsp;Senators Moran and Marshall from Kansas along with Senators Blunt and Hawley of Missouri voted against creation of the panel.

 It came a day after emotional appeals from police who fought with the rioters and lawmakers who fled Capitol chambers that day.

Six Republicans voted with Democrats to move forward. Eleven senators missed the rare Friday vote.

Though the Jan. 6 commission bill passed the House earlier this month with the support of almost three dozen Republicans, GOP senators said they believe the commission would eventually be used against them politically. And Trump, who still has a firm hold on the party, has called it a “Democrat trap.”

The vote is emblematic of the profound mistrust between the two parties since the siege, especially among Republicans, as some in the party have downplayed the violence and defended the rioters who supported Trump and his false insistence that the election was stolen from him.

The attack was the worst on the Capitol in 200 years and interrupted the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win over Trump. Four people died that day, and Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed and died afterward of what authorities said were natural causes. Two police officers took their own lives in the days after the riots.

The vote came after Sicknick’s mother, girlfriend and two police officers who fought the rioters went office to office and asked Republicans to support the commission.

While initially saying he was open to the idea of the commission, which would be modeled after an investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-republicans-insurrection-commission-e0ffe4990ad8f2634ca83b95a2c2c64c">turned firmly against it</a>&nbsp;in recent days. He has said he believes the panel’s investigation would be partisan despite the even split among party members.

McConnell, who once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-trump-fed-lies-to-mob-36871d68df56a10be1c46ed364ad6de6">said Trump was responsible for provoking the mob attack</a>&nbsp;on the Capitol, said of Democrats, “They’d like to continue to litigate the former president, into the future.”

Still, six in his caucus defied him, arguing that an independent look is needed.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Thursday evening that she needs to know more about what happened that day and why.

“Truth is hard stuff, but we’ve got a responsibility to it,” she told reporters. “We just can’t pretend that nothing bad happened, or that people just got too excitable. Something bad happened. And it’s important to lay that out.”

Of her colleagues opposing the commission, Murkowski said some are concerned that “we don’t want to rock the boat.”

GOP opposition to the bipartisan panel has revived Democratic pressure to do away with the filibuster, a time-honored Senate tradition that requires a vote by 60 of the 100 senators to cut off debate and advance a bill. With the Senate evenly split 50-50, Democrats need support of 10 Republicans to move to the commission bill.

The Republicans’ political arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-capitol-lockdown-2f56a611445df15fb9640893bb9f7a93">the violent siege</a>&nbsp;— which is still raw for many in the Capitol, almost five months later — have frustrated not only Democrats but also those who fought off the rioters.

Michael Fanone, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who responded to the attack, joined Sicknick’s family on Capitol Hill Thursday. In between meetings with Republican senators, he said a commission is “necessary for us to heal as a nation from the trauma that we all experienced that day.” Fanone has described being dragged down the Capitol steps by rioters who shocked him with a stun gun and beat him.

Sandra Garza, the partner of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who collapsed and died after battling the rioters, said of the Republican senators, “You know they are here today and with their families and comfortable because of the actions of law enforcement that day.”

“So I don’t understand why they would resist getting to the bottom of what happened that day and fully understanding how to prevent it. Just boggles my mind,” she said.

Video of the rioting shows two men spraying Sicknick and another officer with a chemical, but the Washington medical examiner said he suffered a stroke and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-government-and-politics-b497800805aedae48b72bc4837b90042">died from natural causes</a>.

Garza attended the meetings with Sicknick’s mother, Gladys Sicknick. In a statement Wednesday, Mrs. Sicknick suggested the opponents of the commission “visit my son’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery and, while there, think about what their hurtful decisions will do to those officers who will be there for them going forward.”

Dozens of other police officers were injured as the rioters pushed past them, breaking through windows and doors and hunting for lawmakers. The protesters constructed a mock gallows in front of the Capitol and called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence, who was overseeing the certification of the presidential vote.

“We have a mob overtake the Capitol, and we can’t get the Republicans to join us in making historic record of that event? That is sad,” said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. “That tells you what’s wrong with the Senate and what’s wrong with the filibuster.”

Many Democrats are warning that if Republicans are willing to use the filibuster to stop an arguably popular measure, it shows the limits of trying to broker compromises, particularly on bills related to election reforms or other aspects of the Democrats’ agenda.

For now, though, Democrats don’t have the votes to change the rule. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, both moderate Democrats, have said they want to preserve the filibuster.

Biden, asked about the commission at a stop in Cleveland, said Thursday, “I can’t imagine anyone voting against” it.

Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who once supported the idea of the commission, said he now believes Democrats are trying to use it as a political tool.

“I don’t think this is the only way to get to the bottom of what happened,” Cornyn said, noting that Senate committees are also looking at the siege.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622217251264.png" alt="Vote counting on Friday on the floor of the United State's Senate-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vote counting on Friday on the floor of the United State's Senate-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Friday blocked creation of a bipartisan panel to study the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, turning aside the independent investigation in a show of party loyalty to former President Donald Trump and an effort to shift the political focus away from the violent insurrection by his GOP supporters.The Senate vote was 54-35 — short of the 60 votes needed to take up a House-passed bill that would have formed a 10-member commission evenly split between the two parties.&nbsp;Senators Moran and Marshall from Kansas along with Senators Blunt and Hawley of Missouri voted against creation of the panel. It came a day after emotional appeals from police who fought with the rioters and lawmakers who fled Capitol chambers that day.Six Republicans voted with Democrats to move forward. Eleven senators missed the rare Friday vote.Though the Jan. 6 commission bill passed the House earlier this month with the support of almost three dozen Republicans, GOP senators said they believe the commission would eventually be used against them politically. And Trump, who still has a firm hold on the party, has called it a “Democrat trap.”The vote is emblematic of the profound mistrust between the two parties since the siege, especially among Republicans, as some in the party have downplayed the violence and defended the rioters who supported Trump and his false insistence that the election was stolen from him.The attack was the worst on the Capitol in 200 years and interrupted the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win over Trump. Four people died that day, and Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed and died afterward of what authorities said were natural causes. Two police officers took their own lives in the days after the riots.The vote came after Sicknick’s mother, girlfriend and two police officers who fought the rioters went office to office and asked Republicans to support the commission.While initially saying he was open to the idea of the commission, which would be modeled after an investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-republicans-insurrection-commission-e0ffe4990ad8f2634ca83b95a2c2c64c">turned firmly against it</a>&nbsp;in recent days. He has said he believes the panel’s investigation would be partisan despite the even split among party members.McConnell, who once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-trump-fed-lies-to-mob-36871d68df56a10be1c46ed364ad6de6">said Trump was responsible for provoking the mob attack</a>&nbsp;on the Capitol, said of Democrats, “They’d like to continue to litigate the former president, into the future.”Still, six in his caucus defied him, arguing that an independent look is needed.Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Thursday evening that she needs to know more about what happened that day and why.“Truth is hard stuff, but we’ve got a responsibility to it,” she told reporters. “We just can’t pretend that nothing bad happened, or that people just got too excitable. Something bad happened. And it’s important to lay that out.”Of her colleagues opposing the commission, Murkowski said some are concerned that “we don’t want to rock the boat.”GOP opposition to the bipartisan panel has revived Democratic pressure to do away with the filibuster, a time-honored Senate tradition that requires a vote by 60 of the 100 senators to cut off debate and advance a bill. With the Senate evenly split 50-50, Democrats need support of 10 Republicans to move to the commission bill.The Republicans’ political arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-capitol-lockdown-2f56a611445df15fb9640893bb9f7a93">the violent siege</a>&nbsp;— which is still raw for many in the Capitol, almost five months later — have frustrated not only Democrats but also those who fought off the rioters.Michael Fanone, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who responded to the attack, joined Sicknick’s family on Capitol Hill Thursday. In between meetings with Republican senators, he said a commission is “necessary for us to heal as a nation from the trauma that we all experienced that day.” Fanone has described being dragged down the Capitol steps by rioters who shocked him with a stun gun and beat him.Sandra Garza, the partner of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who collapsed and died after battling the rioters, said of the Republican senators, “You know they are here today and with their families and comfortable because of the actions of law enforcement that day.”“So I don’t understand why they would resist getting to the bottom of what happened that day and fully understanding how to prevent it. Just boggles my mind,” she said.Video of the rioting shows two men spraying Sicknick and another officer with a chemical, but the Washington medical examiner said he suffered a stroke and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-government-and-politics-b497800805aedae48b72bc4837b90042">died from natural causes</a>.Garza attended the meetings with Sicknick’s mother, Gladys Sicknick. In a statement Wednesday, Mrs. Sicknick suggested the opponents of the commission “visit my son’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery and, while there, think about what their hurtful decisions will do to those officers who will be there for them going forward.”Dozens of other police officers were injured as the rioters pushed past them, breaking through windows and doors and hunting for lawmakers. The protesters constructed a mock gallows in front of the Capitol and called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence, who was overseeing the certification of the presidential vote.“We have a mob overtake the Capitol, and we can’t get the Republicans to join us in making historic record of that event? That is sad,” said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. “That tells you what’s wrong with the Senate and what’s wrong with the filibuster.”Many Democrats are warning that if Republicans are willing to use the filibuster to stop an arguably popular measure, it shows the limits of trying to broker compromises, particularly on bills related to election reforms or other aspects of the Democrats’ agenda.For now, though, Democrats don’t have the votes to change the rule. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, both moderate Democrats, have said they want to preserve the filibuster.Biden, asked about the commission at a stop in Cleveland, said Thursday, “I can’t imagine anyone voting against” it.Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who once supported the idea of the commission, said he now believes Democrats are trying to use it as a political tool.“I don’t think this is the only way to get to the bottom of what happened,” Cornyn said, noting that Senate committees are also looking at the siege.

Kan., Mo. Senators vote to block Jan. 6 commission on Capitol attack

CHEROKEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the escape of two inmates from a Kansas county jail have made an arrest.

On Thursday following the execution of a search warrant at her home, deputies arrested 26-year-old Tasha (Young) Taylor of Weir&nbsp; on allegations of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Escape (2 counts), Felony Aiding a Fugitive (2 counts), and Obstructing Justice as part ongoing investigation into the Monday night escape of Mark Hopkins and Michael Martsolf from the Cherokee County Kansas Jail.

The search continues for 30-year-old Hopkins, who was being held on double murder charges, and 34 year-old Michael Martsolf, who was being held on felony drug charges.&nbsp; Both suspects now face additional charges of Aggravated Escape from Custody.

A reward of up to $5,000.00 is being offered for information leading to their capture.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621960469451.png" alt="Mark Hopkins is being held for trial in connection with a double murder, according to online jail records." />
 <figcaption>Mark Hopkins is being held for trial in connection with a double murder, according to online jail records.</figcaption>
 </figure>CHEROKEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the escape of two inmates from a Kansas county jail have made an arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622212658690.png" alt="Taylor-photo Cherokee County" />
 <figcaption>Taylor-photo Cherokee County</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday following the execution of a search warrant at her home, deputies arrested 26-year-old Tasha (Young) Taylor of Weir&nbsp; on allegations of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Escape (2 counts), Felony Aiding a Fugitive (2 counts), and Obstructing Justice as part ongoing investigation into the Monday night escape of Mark Hopkins and Michael Martsolf from the Cherokee County Kansas Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621960532851.png" alt="Martsolf-photo Cherokee Co." />
 <figcaption>Martsolf-photo Cherokee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The search continues for 30-year-old Hopkins, who was being held on double murder charges, and 34 year-old Michael Martsolf, who was being held on felony drug charges.&nbsp; Both suspects now face additional charges of Aggravated Escape from Custody.A reward of up to $5,000.00 is being offered for information leading to their capture.

Woman accused of helping Kan. murder suspect escape from jail

MANHATTAN—A Manhattan man was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday&nbsp; near the intersection of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and McCall Road, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Investigators learned a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Voleta Karstetter, 78, Manhattan, was southbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard and struck a bicycle ridden by Kenneth Scott, 60,&nbsp; Manhattan who was eastbound in a crosswalk

EMS transported Scott to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details

MANHATTAN—A Manhattan man was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday&nbsp; near the intersection of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and McCall Road, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Investigators learned a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Voleta Karstetter, 78, Manhattan, was southbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard and struck a bicycle ridden by Kenneth Scott, 60,&nbsp; Manhattan who was eastbound in a crosswalk EMS transported Scott to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details

Police: Kansas  man injured after SUV strikes bicycle

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state lawmaker from Wichita is giving up her seat, making her the third Democrat in the Kansas House to resign this month.

Rep. Elizabeth Bishop told colleagues Wednesday that she wanted to retire and it was her last day in the Legislature. It also was lawmakers’ last day in session for the year.

Bishop was first elected to the House in 2016, and she served this year on its health, elections and pensions committees. She was the top Democrat on a committee on water issues.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-d709d4e459d75c83d873648519ffff6f">Democratic state Rep. Brett Parker</a>&nbsp;announced earlier this month that he would step down after helping to start a nonprofit group for helping liberal causes and candidates. Democratic Rep. Jennifer Day announced plans to move into a new home outside her district. Both are from Overland Park.

Democrats in Bishop’s district will pick a replacement to serve through the 2022 elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622210672633.png" alt="Rep. Bishop" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Bishop</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state lawmaker from Wichita is giving up her seat, making her the third Democrat in the Kansas House to resign this month.Rep. Elizabeth Bishop told colleagues Wednesday that she wanted to retire and it was her last day in the Legislature. It also was lawmakers’ last day in session for the year.Bishop was first elected to the House in 2016, and she served this year on its health, elections and pensions committees. She was the top Democrat on a committee on water issues.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-d709d4e459d75c83d873648519ffff6f">Democratic state Rep. Brett Parker</a>&nbsp;announced earlier this month that he would step down after helping to start a nonprofit group for helping liberal causes and candidates. Democratic Rep. Jennifer Day announced plans to move into a new home outside her district. Both are from Overland Park.Democrats in Bishop’s district will pick a replacement to serve through the 2022 elections.___

3rd Democrat in Kansas House resigns this month

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Wednesday afternoon shooting in Wichita that injured a 15-year-old have arrested&nbsp;a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Just after 4 pm Wednesday, police responded to a shooting call in the area of 26th and Park Place in Wichita, according to Macy.

 Upon arrival, they located a 15-year-old boy a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The investigation revealed that the victim was walking down the street when the suspects drove by in a vehicle and began firing at him. 

Police located the suspect vehicle at a home nearby, and the suspects were taken into custody at that location.

The 16-year-old suspect was booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center (JIAC) for aggravated battery and criminal use of a weapon.

Additionally, the 15-year-old suspect was booked to JIAC for Aggravated Battery. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Wednesday afternoon shooting in Wichita that injured a 15-year-old have arrested&nbsp;a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Just after 4 pm Wednesday, police responded to a shooting call in the area of 26th and Park Place in Wichita, according to Macy. Upon arrival, they located a 15-year-old boy a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.The investigation revealed that the victim was walking down the street when the suspects drove by in a vehicle and began firing at him. Police located the suspect vehicle at a home nearby, and the suspects were taken into custody at that location.The 16-year-old suspect was booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center (JIAC) for aggravated battery and criminal use of a weapon.Additionally, the 15-year-old suspect was booked to JIAC for Aggravated Battery. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Police: Kan. teens jailed for drive-by shooting of 15-year-old  boy

Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co. is launching a new effort to incentivize more Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a media release from the company.

 The CommunityImmunity&nbsp;giveaway campaign&nbsp;will start next week and provide individuals, including customers and associates, the opportunity to win life-changing prizes like one of five $1 million payouts and 50 chances to win free groceries for a year.

The program comes after a collaboration with the Biden Administration to encourage increased vaccinations as part of the national push to have at least 70% of U.S. adults with at least their first dose by July 10.

"The faster we reach community immunity, the sooner we can all get back to enjoying backyard barbecues, live music and gathering for special occasions," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "We greatly appreciate President Joe Biden's leadership and partnership with the private sector to increase vaccinations among the U.S. population, especially people of color and individuals under age 30. As an employer, grocery provider, and community partner, the&nbsp;#CommunityImmunity&nbsp;giveaway is another way we are doing our part to help America recover from the public health crisis and safely return to normal."

As of Thursday, the Kroger Health organization's pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and healthcare technicians have distributed more than 4.6 million&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccines&nbsp;— and that number continues to grow daily.

Kroger Health will announce prizes, official rules, and eligibility next week for the #CommunityImmunity&nbsp;giveaway. Prizes will include five $1 million giveaways for a total of $5 million and 10 free groceries-for-a-year giveaways each week for five weeks, totaling 50 winners.

"To vaccinate more Americans and help bring this pandemic to an end, we all have to do our part, and it's exciting that Kroger is using innovative tactics to encourage vaccinations among its millions of customers across the country," said Ian Sams, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "Businesses like Kroger are stepping up to the plate to encourage vaccinations, as we pursue President Biden's goal of having 70% of adults with at least their first dose by Independence Day."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622203472969.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co. is launching a new effort to incentivize more Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a media release from the company. The CommunityImmunity&nbsp;giveaway campaign&nbsp;will start next week and provide individuals, including customers and associates, the opportunity to win life-changing prizes like one of five $1 million payouts and 50 chances to win free groceries for a year.The program comes after a collaboration with the Biden Administration to encourage increased vaccinations as part of the national push to have at least 70% of U.S. adults with at least their first dose by July 10."The faster we reach community immunity, the sooner we can all get back to enjoying backyard barbecues, live music and gathering for special occasions," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "We greatly appreciate President Joe Biden's leadership and partnership with the private sector to increase vaccinations among the U.S. population, especially people of color and individuals under age 30. As an employer, grocery provider, and community partner, the&nbsp;#CommunityImmunity&nbsp;giveaway is another way we are doing our part to help America recover from the public health crisis and safely return to normal."As of Thursday, the Kroger Health organization's pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and healthcare technicians have distributed more than 4.6 million&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccines&nbsp;— and that number continues to grow daily.Kroger Health will announce prizes, official rules, and eligibility next week for the #CommunityImmunity&nbsp;giveaway. Prizes will include five $1 million giveaways for a total of $5 million and 10 free groceries-for-a-year giveaways each week for five weeks, totaling 50 winners."To vaccinate more Americans and help bring this pandemic to an end, we all have to do our part, and it's exciting that Kroger is using innovative tactics to encourage vaccinations among its millions of customers across the country," said Ian Sams, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "Businesses like Kroger are stepping up to the plate to encourage vaccinations, as we pursue President Biden's goal of having 70% of adults with at least their first dose by Independence Day."