WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas mayor who resigned abruptly before the couple was charged with making fake tickets to attend a zoo fundraiser has entered into a diversion agreement with prosecutors in the case.

Former Goddard Mayor Jamey Lee Blubaugh signed his diversion packet in open court on Monday, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said in a written statement.

Prosecutors charged Blubaugh and his wife, Elizabeth, each with one misdemeanor count of counterfeiting in August. The couple, both local real estate agents, are accused of photocopying passes to the Sedgwick County Zoo’s 2019 charity fundraiser, Zoobilee.

The charges were made public just days after he resigned from his post as Goddard’s mayor.

Announcement of his diversion agreement comes on the same day the former mayor had been scheduled for trial, the Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article250613964.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. Diversion allows defendants to have their prosecution suspended and criminal charges subsequently dismissed if they promise to follow rules and stay out of trouble.

“Among the standard conditions of diversion, for the next 12 months, Mr. Blubaugh must follow the law, perform 50 hours of community service, and pay $980 in restitution as well as court costs and diversion fees,” Bennett said.

His wife,&nbsp;Elizabeth Blubaugh, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-a68ce099a93289892bdf47fc0eb1f121">granted diversion</a>&nbsp;in December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608833499741.png" alt="Elizabeth Blubaugh was granted diversion in the case in December.-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Elizabeth Blubaugh was granted diversion in the case in December.-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas mayor who resigned abruptly before the couple was charged with making fake tickets to attend a zoo fundraiser has entered into a diversion agreement with prosecutors in the case.Former Goddard Mayor Jamey Lee Blubaugh signed his diversion packet in open court on Monday, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said in a written statement.Prosecutors charged Blubaugh and his wife, Elizabeth, each with one misdemeanor count of counterfeiting in August. The couple, both local real estate agents, are accused of photocopying passes to the Sedgwick County Zoo’s 2019 charity fundraiser, Zoobilee.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608833569407.png" alt="Jamey Blubaugh-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Jamey Blubaugh-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges were made public just days after he resigned from his post as Goddard’s mayor.Announcement of his diversion agreement comes on the same day the former mayor had been scheduled for trial, the Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article250613964.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. Diversion allows defendants to have their prosecution suspended and criminal charges subsequently dismissed if they promise to follow rules and stay out of trouble.“Among the standard conditions of diversion, for the next 12 months, Mr. Blubaugh must follow the law, perform 50 hours of community service, and pay $980 in restitution as well as court costs and diversion fees,” Bennett said.His wife,&nbsp;Elizabeth Blubaugh, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-a68ce099a93289892bdf47fc0eb1f121">granted diversion</a>&nbsp;in December.

Ex-Kan. mayor strikes deal for counterfeiting fundraiser tickets

TOPEKA – A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emerging Variant known as the Brazilian or P.1 variant has been identified in an individual in Sedgwick County. 

A case investigation is being conducted to determine how the person became infected with this particular variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as, if others may have been exposed. No further details will be released concerning the patient, including demographics.

The variant was determined through the whole genome sequencing conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

The P.1 variant was originally identified in four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at Haneda airport outside Tokyo, Japan. 

This variant was detected in the U.S. at the end of January 2021 and has been&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA0MTMuMzg3MDgwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi90cmFuc21pc3Npb24vdmFyaWFudC1jYXNlcy5odG1sP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.-0O-9-5IJTolc4wspUsudU4lji1mIZypKY8N4R-85iQ/s/1305913448/br/101976527309-l" target="_blank">found in 31 states and territories</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. At this point, there is still much to learn about the transmission characteristics and potential severity of the P.1 variant. Although this strain can reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines, vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness and death.

“We continue to encourage people to take the appropriate precautions. This includes wearing a mask that fits snuggly around the nose and face and has multiple layers of fabric or layering thinner masks with an additional cloth face mask to improve the fit,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “Kansans should also follow isolation and quarantine recommendations, practice physical distancing, good hygiene, staying home if ill and getting the vaccine if you are able to.”

Two other variants of concern have been identified in Kansas, including the UK variant, B.1.1.7, and the South African variant, B.1.351. Variant information in Kansas can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA0MTMuMzg3MDgwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292LzE2MC9DT1ZJRC0xOS1pbi1LYW5zYXM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.a6rqq0vuenhfl1r_L-wUWD8_7IdAZBLRbMDQNKguKPM/s/1305913448/br/101976527309-l" target="_blank">COVID-19 dashboard</a>&nbsp;under the “Variants” tab.

“In addition to following these healthy behaviors, this finding also shows the importance of getting tested for COVID-19,” Adrienne Byrne, Sedgwick County Health Director, adds.

Testing is available and free for all Kansans. To find a location near you, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA0MTMuMzg3MDgwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvMjgwL0NPVklELTE5LVRlc3Rpbmc_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.s-jifUbFDBcqbLVz4HKQIs6RcJ95wptgslZfZQG_61o/s/1305913448/br/101976527309-l" target="_blank">www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/280/COVID-19-Testing</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608566572342.png" alt="VIrus variant image courtesy GISAID" />
 <figcaption>VIrus variant image courtesy GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emerging Variant known as the Brazilian or P.1 variant has been identified in an individual in Sedgwick County. A case investigation is being conducted to determine how the person became infected with this particular variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as, if others may have been exposed. No further details will be released concerning the patient, including demographics.The variant was determined through the whole genome sequencing conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).The P.1 variant was originally identified in four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at Haneda airport outside Tokyo, Japan. This variant was detected in the U.S. at the end of January 2021 and has been&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA0MTMuMzg3MDgwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi90cmFuc21pc3Npb24vdmFyaWFudC1jYXNlcy5odG1sP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.-0O-9-5IJTolc4wspUsudU4lji1mIZypKY8N4R-85iQ/s/1305913448/br/101976527309-l" target="_blank">found in 31 states and territories</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. At this point, there is still much to learn about the transmission characteristics and potential severity of the P.1 variant. Although this strain can reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines, vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness and death.“We continue to encourage people to take the appropriate precautions. This includes wearing a mask that fits snuggly around the nose and face and has multiple layers of fabric or layering thinner masks with an additional cloth face mask to improve the fit,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “Kansans should also follow isolation and quarantine recommendations, practice physical distancing, good hygiene, staying home if ill and getting the vaccine if you are able to.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618343095662.png" alt="Tuesday April 13, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday April 13, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Two other variants of concern have been identified in Kansas, including the UK variant, B.1.1.7, and the South African variant, B.1.351. Variant information in Kansas can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA0MTMuMzg3MDgwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292LzE2MC9DT1ZJRC0xOS1pbi1LYW5zYXM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.a6rqq0vuenhfl1r_L-wUWD8_7IdAZBLRbMDQNKguKPM/s/1305913448/br/101976527309-l" target="_blank">COVID-19 dashboard</a>&nbsp;under the “Variants” tab.“In addition to following these healthy behaviors, this finding also shows the importance of getting tested for COVID-19,” Adrienne Byrne, Sedgwick County Health Director, adds.Testing is available and free for all Kansans. To find a location near you, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA0MTMuMzg3MDgwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvMjgwL0NPVklELTE5LVRlc3Rpbmc_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.s-jifUbFDBcqbLVz4HKQIs6RcJ95wptgslZfZQG_61o/s/1305913448/br/101976527309-l" target="_blank">www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/280/COVID-19-Testing</a>.

Brazilian COVID variant identified in Kansas

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ largest community college is paying staff members to get COVID-19 vaccinations, and one of the state’s largest public school districts is making in-home coronavirus testing kits available to students who want them.

Johnson County Community College is paying employees $250 to get inoculated in the hopes of bringing more students back to campus in the fall, KMBC-TV reported. Spokesperson Chris Gray said the college sees it as “an innovative way to reinforce healthy decisions.”

Colleges throughout the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-colleges-divided-student-coronavirus-vaccination-8c46ab65afc4538cb060c320ed94fc54">are taking different approaches</a>&nbsp;to vaccinations, with several already saying they’ll require students to get vaccinated before returning to campus in the fall. Gray said Johnson County Community College hopes to have half of its nearly 14,000 students back on campus then.

“Fatigue is there and it’s fatigue of staring at a screen constantly,” Gray said.

Meanwhile, the 22,400-student Blue Valley school district in Johnson County began a voluntary COVID-19 testing program Monday that sends rapid-testing kits home with students who sign up for them,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/blue-valley-schools-begin-at-home-covid-testing-for-students-this-week/article_2c283ad2-9b7a-11eb-afda-131145b90bde.html?block_id=991162" target="_blank">KCTV reported.</a>

District officials said they are sending those students home with rapid-test kits to get a snapshot of how prevalent the coronavirus is within its schools.

The district has seen a decrease in cases during the winter, with 13 positive cases reported the week of March 31, compared with 107 during the week of Jan. 13.

The state as a whole also has seen a decline in new confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases in recent months. Kansas averaged 213 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, as low as the rolling seven-day average for late June 2020, according to state Department of Health and Environment data.

The department added 483 new cases since Friday to the state’s pandemic total, bringing it to 304,719. The health department reported no additional deaths and in fact subtracted eight from the pandemic total to make it 4,930. The department sometimes removes fatalities from the count after a review of death certificates.

As the state has seen a decline in new cases, local officials have eased off mask mandates and other restrictions, and Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature overturned a policy from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly seeking to encourage counties to keep mask requirements in place.

But Kansas also is seeing a decline in the number of new people getting tested for COVID-19, according to the health department’s data. It peaked at 6,292 a day during November and is 1,255 a day for April.

But 34% of the state’s residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or nearly 996,000 of the state’s 2.9 million residents, according to the state health department. About 569,000 residents have received two shots or 19.5%. The state averaged almost 27,300 shots a day for the seven days ending Monday.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ largest community college is paying staff members to get COVID-19 vaccinations, and one of the state’s largest public school districts is making in-home coronavirus testing kits available to students who want them.Johnson County Community College is paying employees $250 to get inoculated in the hopes of bringing more students back to campus in the fall, KMBC-TV reported. Spokesperson Chris Gray said the college sees it as “an innovative way to reinforce healthy decisions.”Colleges throughout the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-colleges-divided-student-coronavirus-vaccination-8c46ab65afc4538cb060c320ed94fc54">are taking different approaches</a>&nbsp;to vaccinations, with several already saying they’ll require students to get vaccinated before returning to campus in the fall. Gray said Johnson County Community College hopes to have half of its nearly 14,000 students back on campus then.“Fatigue is there and it’s fatigue of staring at a screen constantly,” Gray said.Meanwhile, the 22,400-student Blue Valley school district in Johnson County began a voluntary COVID-19 testing program Monday that sends rapid-testing kits home with students who sign up for them,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/blue-valley-schools-begin-at-home-covid-testing-for-students-this-week/article_2c283ad2-9b7a-11eb-afda-131145b90bde.html?block_id=991162" target="_blank">KCTV reported.</a>District officials said they are sending those students home with rapid-test kits to get a snapshot of how prevalent the coronavirus is within its schools.The district has seen a decrease in cases during the winter, with 13 positive cases reported the week of March 31, compared with 107 during the week of Jan. 13.The state as a whole also has seen a decline in new confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases in recent months. Kansas averaged 213 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, as low as the rolling seven-day average for late June 2020, according to state Department of Health and Environment data.The department added 483 new cases since Friday to the state’s pandemic total, bringing it to 304,719. The health department reported no additional deaths and in fact subtracted eight from the pandemic total to make it 4,930. The department sometimes removes fatalities from the count after a review of death certificates.As the state has seen a decline in new cases, local officials have eased off mask mandates and other restrictions, and Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature overturned a policy from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly seeking to encourage counties to keep mask requirements in place.But Kansas also is seeing a decline in the number of new people getting tested for COVID-19, according to the health department’s data. It peaked at 6,292 a day during November and is 1,255 a day for April.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618247348913.png" alt="Monday April 12, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday April 12, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>But 34% of the state’s residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or nearly 996,000 of the state’s 2.9 million residents, according to the state health department. About 569,000 residents have received two shots or 19.5%. The state averaged almost 27,300 shots a day for the seven days ending Monday.

Kansas college paying staff $250 to get COVID-19 vaccines

Package extends jobless benefits, advances IT upgrade, aids businesses

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/12/hefty-110-page-kansas-unemployment-reform-bill-awaits-signature-of-gov-kelly/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The unemployment 
reform package unanimously passed by the Kansas Legislature dedicated 
$500 million to reimburse employers for fraudulent claims, extended the 
pandemic-inspired, 26-week jobless benefit into September and built 
momentum for overhaul of a decrepit computer system used to distribute 
assistance.

The bill sent to Gov. Laura Kelly would <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/21/kansas-enforces-nations-most-draconian-penalty-for-unemployment-fraud/">reduce the toughest-in-the-nation sanction for unemployment fraud</a>
 from a five-year eligibility ban to a one-year prohibition for 
first-time offenders, while retaining the stiffer penalty for repeat 
offenders. In addition, it increased the number of claimants connected 
to employment services at the Kansas Department of Commerce and outlined
 a path for employers to report people on unemployment who refused job 
offers.

The Legislature created 
the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council to 
usher in change over the next three years in the way Kansas handled 
unemployment. One of the council’s first tasks would be an audit to 
reveal what led to hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims 
in Kansas — a calamity that visited other states as the Congress pushed 
relief funding with expectations of quickly getting it in hands of 
out-of-work people.

The Legislative&nbsp; 
Coordinating Council, which includes House and Senate leaders from both 
parties, also would be expected to play a role in monitoring the 
unemployment system in the future.

“This is a long-term, 
forever fix,” said Stilwell GOP Rep. Sean Tarwater, a frequent critic of
 the governor and the chairman of the House Commerce, Labor and Economic
 Development Committee. “It insures the modernization will happen. It 
gets to the bottom of the fraud issues with a forensic audit. I don’t 
know how you couldn’t support this bill.”

Indeed, none had the audacity to vote no on <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2196_04_0000.pdf">House Bill 2196</a>. The tally was 122-0 in the House. The vote in the Senate: 38-0.

Baldwin City Sen. Tom 
Holland, ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, said the 
bill was an “incredibly important piece of legislation” that carved 
unusually detailed provisions into the woodwork. He said the auditing 
system would properly reimburse employers that bore the brunt of fraud 
from March 2020 and through December 2022. A total of $500 million in 
federal funding was earmarked for the cause, but it would be released in
 $250 million increments.

“We put in the right amount of money that we need,” Holland said. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

Provisions of the bill 
were hammered out by House and Senate negotiators working with 
Department of Labor officials and the governor’s office. The Legislature
 is scheduled to return to the Capitol in May to close out the session 
and deal with possible vetoes by Kelly.

Kelly said she was pleased legislators collaborated with her administration to move ahead with <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/06/kansas-labor-agency-opens-search-of-private-contractor-to-handle-it-overhaul/">replacement of the 40-year-old computer network for the unemployment system</a>
 that proved too fragile for a wave of claims prompted by the COVID-19 
pandemic. One estimate put the cost of a new IT system at more than $40 
million.

“Throughout it all,” Kelly
 said, “the pandemic has taught us an important and expensive lesson. It
 is critical that we invest in and maintain our safety net so that they 
are available to citizens when they need it most. This legislation will 
ensure that we complete the work we started and replace the state’s 
antiquated unemployment system.”

The governor said passage of this legislation made clear the state government’s commitment to Kansas businesses and workers.

Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe 
Republican and chairman of the Senate’s commerce committee, said another
 piece of the bill required that after three consecutive weeks of 
unemployment benefits a person would have to submit a resume to the 
Department of Commerce. The idea is to use the labor department’s 
information about job vacancies to help the commerce department match 
people with employment opportunities.

The bill anticipated a 
stepped-up effort for reporting to state government people on 
unemployment who refused job offers. In addition, the labor department 
would be expected to expand security reviews on claimants by cross 
referencing Social Security numbers, verifying citizenship and 
immigration status, monitoring prison and jail databases and tracking 
computer addresses from applicants that appeared to be outside the 
United States.

Tarwater, the Stilwell 
Republican, said he would have preferred to restore the regular 
unemployment benefit maximum of 16 weeks given the state’s 3.2% 
unemployment rate.

He said the Legislature 
held off because the labor department predicted flipping the switch from
 26 weeks to 16 weeks would drag down the computer system and slow 
payments to the jobless and “none of us really wanted to be responsible 
for that.”

One consequence of the 
extended benefit period, he said, was that people would milk the extra 
10 weeks of benefits rather than looking for employment.

Sen. Jeff Pittman, 
D-Leavenworth, said the bill would lower the state’s penalty for making a
 fraudulent unemployment claim from five years to 12 months. He said the
 existing level two felony for fraud was outrageously high and slicing 
it to a level five crime might not be sufficient.

“I’m still a little bit 
bothered by this,” said Pittman, who indicated the state’s criminal 
sentencing grid needed attention to remove inconsistencies.

The 13-member unemployment
 council would be appointed by the House, Senate and governor each 
selecting an employer and an employee member. Republicans in the 
Legislature would hold four seats on the council, while Democrats would 
have two.

In addition to the fraud 
audit, the council would make recommendations to the labor department on
 reform of rules and regulations relevant to the unemployment system.

“I think there’s going to 
be a lot of eyes on this,” said Holland, the Baldwin City Democrat. 
“We’re going to have a successful implementation.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618325019443.png" alt="Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, said a bill reforming the unemployment system in light of the COVID-19 pandemic unanimously sent by the Legislature to Gov. Laura Kelly offered a "long term, forever" fix to problems. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, said a bill reforming the unemployment system in light of the COVID-19 pandemic unanimously sent by the Legislature to Gov. Laura Kelly offered a "long term, forever" fix to problems. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Package extends jobless benefits, advances IT upgrade, aids businesses</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/12/hefty-110-page-kansas-unemployment-reform-bill-awaits-signature-of-gov-kelly/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The unemployment 
reform package unanimously passed by the Kansas Legislature dedicated 
$500 million to reimburse employers for fraudulent claims, extended the 
pandemic-inspired, 26-week jobless benefit into September and built 
momentum for overhaul of a decrepit computer system used to distribute 
assistance.The bill sent to Gov. Laura Kelly would <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/21/kansas-enforces-nations-most-draconian-penalty-for-unemployment-fraud/">reduce the toughest-in-the-nation sanction for unemployment fraud</a>
 from a five-year eligibility ban to a one-year prohibition for 
first-time offenders, while retaining the stiffer penalty for repeat 
offenders. In addition, it increased the number of claimants connected 
to employment services at the Kansas Department of Commerce and outlined
 a path for employers to report people on unemployment who refused job 
offers.The Legislature created 
the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council to 
usher in change over the next three years in the way Kansas handled 
unemployment. One of the council’s first tasks would be an audit to 
reveal what led to hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims 
in Kansas — a calamity that visited other states as the Congress pushed 
relief funding with expectations of quickly getting it in hands of 
out-of-work people.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618325079272.jpeg" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly praised passage of House Bill 2196 overhauling the state’s approach to unemployment benefits, including authorization for replacement of a computer system that plagued the Kansas Department of Labor during the COVDI-19 pandemic. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly praised passage of House Bill 2196 overhauling the state’s approach to unemployment benefits, including authorization for replacement of a computer system that plagued the Kansas Department of Labor during the COVDI-19 pandemic. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Legislative&nbsp; 
Coordinating Council, which includes House and Senate leaders from both 
parties, also would be expected to play a role in monitoring the 
unemployment system in the future.“This is a long-term, 
forever fix,” said Stilwell GOP Rep. Sean Tarwater, a frequent critic of
 the governor and the chairman of the House Commerce, Labor and Economic
 Development Committee. “It insures the modernization will happen. It 
gets to the bottom of the fraud issues with a forensic audit. I don’t 
know how you couldn’t support this bill.”Indeed, none had the audacity to vote no on <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2196_04_0000.pdf">House Bill 2196</a>. The tally was 122-0 in the House. The vote in the Senate: 38-0.Baldwin City Sen. Tom 
Holland, ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, said the 
bill was an “incredibly important piece of legislation” that carved 
unusually detailed provisions into the woodwork. He said the auditing 
system would properly reimburse employers that bore the brunt of fraud 
from March 2020 and through December 2022. A total of $500 million in 
federal funding was earmarked for the cause, but it would be released in
 $250 million increments.“We put in the right amount of money that we need,” Holland said. “Nothing more, nothing less.”Provisions of the bill 
were hammered out by House and Senate negotiators working with 
Department of Labor officials and the governor’s office. The Legislature
 is scheduled to return to the Capitol in May to close out the session 
and deal with possible vetoes by Kelly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618325105640.jpeg" alt="Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said a council set up to advise the Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly on unemployment issues would bring enough stakeholders to the table to guarantee successful implementation of reform. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said a council set up to advise the Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly on unemployment issues would bring enough stakeholders to the table to guarantee successful implementation of reform. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kelly said she was pleased legislators collaborated with her administration to move ahead with <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/06/kansas-labor-agency-opens-search-of-private-contractor-to-handle-it-overhaul/">replacement of the 40-year-old computer network for the unemployment system</a>
 that proved too fragile for a wave of claims prompted by the COVID-19 
pandemic. One estimate put the cost of a new IT system at more than $40 
million.“Throughout it all,” Kelly
 said, “the pandemic has taught us an important and expensive lesson. It
 is critical that we invest in and maintain our safety net so that they 
are available to citizens when they need it most. This legislation will 
ensure that we complete the work we started and replace the state’s 
antiquated unemployment system.”The governor said passage of this legislation made clear the state government’s commitment to Kansas businesses and workers.Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe 
Republican and chairman of the Senate’s commerce committee, said another
 piece of the bill required that after three consecutive weeks of 
unemployment benefits a person would have to submit a resume to the 
Department of Commerce. The idea is to use the labor department’s 
information about job vacancies to help the commerce department match 
people with employment opportunities.The bill anticipated a 
stepped-up effort for reporting to state government people on 
unemployment who refused job offers. In addition, the labor department 
would be expected to expand security reviews on claimants by cross 
referencing Social Security numbers, verifying citizenship and 
immigration status, monitoring prison and jail databases and tracking 
computer addresses from applicants that appeared to be outside the 
United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618325132027.jpeg" alt="Leavenworth Democratic Sen. Jeff Pittman, left, said an unemployment reform bill would take the necessary step of lowering the five-year penalty in Kansas for unemployment fraud, but he wasn’t convinced the new one-year ban was appropriate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Leavenworth Democratic Sen. Jeff Pittman, left, said an unemployment reform bill would take the necessary step of lowering the five-year penalty in Kansas for unemployment fraud, but he wasn’t convinced the new one-year ban was appropriate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Tarwater, the Stilwell 
Republican, said he would have preferred to restore the regular 
unemployment benefit maximum of 16 weeks given the state’s 3.2% 
unemployment rate.He said the Legislature 
held off because the labor department predicted flipping the switch from
 26 weeks to 16 weeks would drag down the computer system and slow 
payments to the jobless and “none of us really wanted to be responsible 
for that.”One consequence of the 
extended benefit period, he said, was that people would milk the extra 
10 weeks of benefits rather than looking for employment.Sen. Jeff Pittman, 
D-Leavenworth, said the bill would lower the state’s penalty for making a
 fraudulent unemployment claim from five years to 12 months. He said the
 existing level two felony for fraud was outrageously high and slicing 
it to a level five crime might not be sufficient.“I’m still a little bit 
bothered by this,” said Pittman, who indicated the state’s criminal 
sentencing grid needed attention to remove inconsistencies.The 13-member unemployment
 council would be appointed by the House, Senate and governor each 
selecting an employer and an employee member. Republicans in the 
Legislature would hold four seats on the council, while Democrats would 
have two.In addition to the fraud 
audit, the council would make recommendations to the labor department on
 reform of rules and regulations relevant to the unemployment system.“I think there’s going to 
be a lot of eyes on this,” said Holland, the Baldwin City Democrat. 
“We’re going to have a successful implementation.”Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

Kan. unemployment reform bill awaits governor's signature

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two men and continue to search for a woman following a pursuit Tuesday morning in central Salina.

Just after 1:30 a.m., an officer observed a black 1997 Audi A4 traveling northbound in the 600 block of Sheridan Street with a license plate that belonged to a 2003 Ford Escape, according Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. 

The officer attempted to stop the car at the intersection of W. Crawford Street and Sheridan Street. The driver later identified as&nbsp;s Joseph Case, 27, of Minneapolis, turned the car east on West Crawford Street and accelerated.

&nbsp;The pursuit lasted for several minutes and eventually the back seat passenger rolled out of the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle jumped out with the vehicle while the car was still rolling in the 500 block of S. 12th Street.&nbsp; The front seat passenger then jumped out as well. All three occupants fled on foot.

The driver, identified as Joseph Case, 27, of Minneapolis, was located a short time later. The front seat passenger, identified as Timothy Collins, 23, of Salina, was also located shortly after. Police are still searching for a female passenger who police have identified.

Speeds during the pursuit reached approximately 50 mph.

Police arrested Case on requested charges of Felony flee and elude, Reckless driving, Multiple traffic infractions, Violation of a protection order and Collins on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement Possession of marijuana Possession of drug paraphernalia

&nbsp;Requested charges on the female passenger are pending, according to Forrester.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618320409150.jpeg" alt="Case photo Saline County." />
 <figcaption>Case photo Saline County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two men and continue to search for a woman following a pursuit Tuesday morning in central Salina.Just after 1:30 a.m., an officer observed a black 1997 Audi A4 traveling northbound in the 600 block of Sheridan Street with a license plate that belonged to a 2003 Ford Escape, according Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. The officer attempted to stop the car at the intersection of W. Crawford Street and Sheridan Street. The driver later identified as&nbsp;s Joseph Case, 27, of Minneapolis, turned the car east on West Crawford Street and accelerated.&nbsp;The pursuit lasted for several minutes and eventually the back seat passenger rolled out of the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle jumped out with the vehicle while the car was still rolling in the 500 block of S. 12th Street.&nbsp; The front seat passenger then jumped out as well. All three occupants fled on foot.The driver, identified as Joseph Case, 27, of Minneapolis, was located a short time later. The front seat passenger, identified as Timothy Collins, 23, of Salina, was also located shortly after. Police are still searching for a female passenger who police have identified.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618320563169.jpeg" alt="Collins photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Collins photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Speeds during the pursuit reached approximately 50 mph.Police arrested Case on requested charges of Felony flee and elude, Reckless driving, Multiple traffic infractions, Violation of a protection order and Collins on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement Possession of marijuana Possession of drug paraphernalia&nbsp;Requested charges on the female passenger are pending, according to Forrester.

3 Kan. suspects jump from moving vehicle during chase

WASHINGTON (AP) — The casket of slain U.S. Capitol Police Officer William “Billy” Evans arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and congressional leaders prepared to pay their respects to an officer struck by a car and killed while he manned a barricade near the Senate side of the building.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?510593-1/memorial-service-capitol-police-officer-billy-evans&amp;live">CLICK here</a> to watch a replay of the service

Evans’ casket was placed in the Capitol Rotunda for the second such memorial ceremony this year for a force that has edged close to crisis in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Members of the National Guard lined the street and saluted as the hearse carrying Evans’ flag-draped casket entered the Capitol complex. His former colleagues gathered on the Capitol’s East Plaza Front while church bells rang in the distance. His family, including his two children, gathered to watch as his casket was carried up the Capitol steps.

Evans, 41, and another officer were struck on April 2 by a car driven by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-politics-451c5c5154045d404d0db76270f78aac">Noah Green</a>, 25, who came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police. Investigators believe Green had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts.

Evans’ death came just three months after a violent mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters blew past security barricades and attacked the Capitol, injuring dozens of Capitol Police officers. Officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brian-sicknick-honored-at-capitol-d8804f70438d1a731a7b5b0f96061d0a">Brian Sicknick</a>&nbsp;died after engaging with the rioters, though officials do not yet know exactly what caused his death.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-tanios-julian-khater-charged-capitol-riot-f28484b486155d911cab41c90a8bed8d">Two men have been arrested</a>&nbsp;and charged with assaulting him with bear spray.

Sicknick and Evans are two of only six Capitol Police officers who have been killed in the line of duty in the force’s nearly 200-year history, according to the department. Another officer, Howard Liebengood, died by suicide in the days after Jan. 6.

The three deaths in as many months have taken an unbearable toll on the force, which has been overworked and understaffed as leaders try to figure out how to move forward after the mistakes of Jan. 6. The Capitol Police were massively unprepared for the hundreds of violent Trump supporters who pushed past them that day, injuring them as they broke into the building. In the weeks and months since, top leaders have resigned and many have considered leaving the department. Officials have brought in trauma therapists, and lawmakers are considering what more they can do.

“This is a group of men and women who’ve been through an overwhelming amount of trauma over the last few months,” said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who heads a spending committee that oversees the Capitol Police and has been investigating the response to the insurrection. “The loss of Officer Evans is yet another stark reminder of what our brothers and sisters in uniform risk every day to protect us. The honor of lying in state under the Capitol dome is befitting of this American hero.”

Lawmakers, family and members of the police force will be invited to pay their respects to Evans after the ceremony with Biden and congressional leaders. He will be only the sixth person to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a designation for those who are not elected officials, judges or military leaders.

Evans, who had two young children, was an 18-year veteran of the force. He was remembered by colleagues and friends as a man with a sense of humor who loved baseball and golf.

Members of his family said in a statement through the police earlier this month that most important in his life were his two children, Logan and Abigail.

“His most cherished moments were those spent with them — building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series,” the family said. “He was always so eager to show how proud he was of everything they did.”

The family said Evans was proud of his job and his friendship with colleagues near the “North Barricade” of the Capitol complex was one of the best parts of it.

“We hold them in our hearts, as we know they acutely share our grief,” they said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said on the Senate floor Monday evening that Evans was a “familiar and friendly face” at that barricade where he died, a gate that is frequently used by senators and staff. Durbin said the three deaths this year are an “incredible hardship” for the department and Congress owes them a debt that can never be repaid.

“Every day it is incumbent on those of us who work in this building to remember this officer, and to thank him, and the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police who have given so much to keep us safe,” Durbin said.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., who represented Liebengood and has gotten to know his family since his suicide, has worked to find more mental health resources for the Capitol Police as they have worked extra shifts and dealt with the trauma of losing their colleagues. She said the current pace for the force is unsustainable.

“We’ve lost officers to this level of stress and as we approach the second laying in honor of a Capitol police officer this year, I fear an exodus is approaching if we don’t prioritize the mental and physical health of our Capitol police officers,” Wexton said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618327771250.png" alt="Evans’ casket was placed in the Capitol Rotunda for the second such memorial ceremony this year -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Evans’ casket was placed in the Capitol Rotunda for the second such memorial ceremony this year -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The casket of slain U.S. Capitol Police Officer William “Billy” Evans arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and congressional leaders prepared to pay their respects to an officer struck by a car and killed while he manned a barricade near the Senate side of the building.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?510593-1/memorial-service-capitol-police-officer-billy-evans&amp;live">CLICK here</a> to watch a replay of the serviceEvans’ casket was placed in the Capitol Rotunda for the second such memorial ceremony this year for a force that has edged close to crisis in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection.Members of the National Guard lined the street and saluted as the hearse carrying Evans’ flag-draped casket entered the Capitol complex. His former colleagues gathered on the Capitol’s East Plaza Front while church bells rang in the distance. His family, including his two children, gathered to watch as his casket was carried up the Capitol steps.Evans, 41, and another officer were struck on April 2 by a car driven by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-politics-451c5c5154045d404d0db76270f78aac">Noah Green</a>, 25, who came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police. Investigators believe Green had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts.Evans’ death came just three months after a violent mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters blew past security barricades and attacked the Capitol, injuring dozens of Capitol Police officers. Officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brian-sicknick-honored-at-capitol-d8804f70438d1a731a7b5b0f96061d0a">Brian Sicknick</a>&nbsp;died after engaging with the rioters, though officials do not yet know exactly what caused his death.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-tanios-julian-khater-charged-capitol-riot-f28484b486155d911cab41c90a8bed8d">Two men have been arrested</a>&nbsp;and charged with assaulting him with bear spray.Sicknick and Evans are two of only six Capitol Police officers who have been killed in the line of duty in the force’s nearly 200-year history, according to the department. Another officer, Howard Liebengood, died by suicide in the days after Jan. 6.The three deaths in as many months have taken an unbearable toll on the force, which has been overworked and understaffed as leaders try to figure out how to move forward after the mistakes of Jan. 6. The Capitol Police were massively unprepared for the hundreds of violent Trump supporters who pushed past them that day, injuring them as they broke into the building. In the weeks and months since, top leaders have resigned and many have considered leaving the department. Officials have brought in trauma therapists, and lawmakers are considering what more they can do.“This is a group of men and women who’ve been through an overwhelming amount of trauma over the last few months,” said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who heads a spending committee that oversees the Capitol Police and has been investigating the response to the insurrection. “The loss of Officer Evans is yet another stark reminder of what our brothers and sisters in uniform risk every day to protect us. The honor of lying in state under the Capitol dome is befitting of this American hero.”Lawmakers, family and members of the police force will be invited to pay their respects to Evans after the ceremony with Biden and congressional leaders. He will be only the sixth person to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a designation for those who are not elected officials, judges or military leaders.Evans, who had two young children, was an 18-year veteran of the force. He was remembered by colleagues and friends as a man with a sense of humor who loved baseball and golf.Members of his family said in a statement through the police earlier this month that most important in his life were his two children, Logan and Abigail.“His most cherished moments were those spent with them — building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series,” the family said. “He was always so eager to show how proud he was of everything they did.”The family said Evans was proud of his job and his friendship with colleagues near the “North Barricade” of the Capitol complex was one of the best parts of it.“We hold them in our hearts, as we know they acutely share our grief,” they said.Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said on the Senate floor Monday evening that Evans was a “familiar and friendly face” at that barricade where he died, a gate that is frequently used by senators and staff. Durbin said the three deaths this year are an “incredible hardship” for the department and Congress owes them a debt that can never be repaid.“Every day it is incumbent on those of us who work in this building to remember this officer, and to thank him, and the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police who have given so much to keep us safe,” Durbin said.Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., who represented Liebengood and has gotten to know his family since his suicide, has worked to find more mental health resources for the Capitol Police as they have worked extra shifts and dealt with the trauma of losing their colleagues. She said the current pace for the force is unsustainable.“We’ve lost officers to this level of stress and as we approach the second laying in honor of a Capitol police officer this year, I fear an exodus is approaching if we don’t prioritize the mental and physical health of our Capitol police officers,” Wexton said.

Biden, lawmakers pay tribute to slain Capitol Police officer

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that Kansas will pause administration of the Johnson &amp; Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine following an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tuesday morning.

(Click below to listen to the FDA, CDC news conference on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.)

 There are reports of six recipients in the United States who developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination. No known cases have been reported in Kansas to date. &nbsp;

“Just as important as getting vaccines into arms -- is making sure those vaccines are safe,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“While this appears to have affected six people in the nearly seven million doses administered, out of an abundance of caution, Kansas will suspend Johnson and Johnson until the CDC and FDA clear it for use again. In the meantime, we anticipate our shipments of Pfizer and Moderna to continue and we will build on the one-third of Kansans who have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The federal government will further study links between the vaccine and the rare blood clotting disorder. An emergency meeting of the CDC’s advisory committee has been scheduled for Wednesday.

KDHE asks providers with Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine to pause administration of the vaccine immediately and to place the supply into storage while material is reviewed. After KDHE has reviewed the findings from the federal government, further guidance will be given to providers on next steps.

Those who have received the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine should contact their health care provider if they have any symptoms and report any illness to the VAERS Reporting System <a href="https://vaers.hhs.gov/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">by clicking here.</a>

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that Kansas will pause administration of the Johnson &amp; Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine following an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tuesday morning.(Click below to listen to the FDA, CDC news conference on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ELXnGYgsJY?start=325" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> There are reports of six recipients in the United States who developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination. No known cases have been reported in Kansas to date. &nbsp;“Just as important as getting vaccines into arms -- is making sure those vaccines are safe,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“While this appears to have affected six people in the nearly seven million doses administered, out of an abundance of caution, Kansas will suspend Johnson and Johnson until the CDC and FDA clear it for use again. In the meantime, we anticipate our shipments of Pfizer and Moderna to continue and we will build on the one-third of Kansans who have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.”The federal government will further study links between the vaccine and the rare blood clotting disorder. An emergency meeting of the CDC’s advisory committee has been scheduled for Wednesday.KDHE asks providers with Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine to pause administration of the vaccine immediately and to place the supply into storage while material is reviewed. After KDHE has reviewed the findings from the federal government, further guidance will be given to providers on next steps.Those who have received the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine should contact their health care provider if they have any symptoms and report any illness to the VAERS Reporting System <a href="https://vaers.hhs.gov/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">by clicking here.</a>

 🎥 KDHE: Kan. will stop using Johnson and Johnson vaccine

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a jail inmate on felony charges for damaging the windows in his cell.

Just after 2 a.m. Friday, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy, conducting physical rounds, discovered an inmate in the process of breaking a hole in his outer cell window, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

 The deputy immediately removed the inmate from the cell and secured the area.

While conducting regular physical rounds inside the housing unit the deputy noticed paper covering a portion of the window. The deputy instructed the inmate to remove the items so he could examine the window. When the items were removed the deputy observed damage to the window approximately six inches in diameter. The inmate had already managed to break through the first several layers of glass, but was stopped before gaining access to the outside of the building.

The inmate involved was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail approximately three months ago and is currently being held on one count of First Degree Murder. 

As a result of the damage to the window a case was cut for felony criminal damage to property. That case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for charging at a later date, according to Blick.

A hole of this size, with access to the outside of the building would have provided an access point to introduce dangerous contraband into the secure portion of the facility. Due to the attention to detail and quick action of the Detention Deputy involved, the inmate was unable to gain access to the outside of building.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1564443451040.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a jail inmate on felony charges for damaging the windows in his cell.Just after 2 a.m. Friday, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy, conducting physical rounds, discovered an inmate in the process of breaking a hole in his outer cell window, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. The deputy immediately removed the inmate from the cell and secured the area.While conducting regular physical rounds inside the housing unit the deputy noticed paper covering a portion of the window. The deputy instructed the inmate to remove the items so he could examine the window. When the items were removed the deputy observed damage to the window approximately six inches in diameter. The inmate had already managed to break through the first several layers of glass, but was stopped before gaining access to the outside of the building.The inmate involved was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail approximately three months ago and is currently being held on one count of First Degree Murder. As a result of the damage to the window a case was cut for felony criminal damage to property. That case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for charging at a later date, according to Blick.A hole of this size, with access to the outside of the building would have provided an access point to introduce dangerous contraband into the secure portion of the facility. Due to the attention to detail and quick action of the Detention Deputy involved, the inmate was unable to gain access to the outside of building.

Kan. murder suspect accused of breaking through jail cell window

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is recommending a “pause” in administration of the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.

In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said it was investigating clots in six women in the days after vaccination, in combination with reduced platelet counts. More than 6.8 million doses of the J&amp;J vaccine have been administered in the U.S.

U.S. federal distribution channels, including mass vaccination sites, will pause the use of the J&amp;J shot, and states and other providers are expected to follow.

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases and the FDA has also launched an investigation of the cases.

“Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of the CDC and Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said in a joint statement.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is recommending a “pause” in administration of the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said it was investigating clots in six women in the days after vaccination, in combination with reduced platelet counts. More than 6.8 million doses of the J&amp;J vaccine have been administered in the U.S.U.S. federal distribution channels, including mass vaccination sites, will pause the use of the J&amp;J shot, and states and other providers are expected to follow.CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases and the FDA has also launched an investigation of the cases.“Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of the CDC and Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said in a joint statement.

US recommends 'pause' of Johnson & Johnson vaccine 

GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, say a four-vehicle crash has left a child dead and three others injured.

 The crash happened Monday morning at a rural intersection west of Gardner, according to the&nbsp; Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say a roofing truck crashed into a sport utility vehicle driven by a woman and carrying her three children. The impact of the crash sent the SUV into another truck, which then hit a van. 

One child in the SUV was killed. The woman and other two children were taken to a hospital with injuries, but are expected to survive. 

Officials have not released the names of the child killed or those injured. No one in the other vehicles was seriously injured.

GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, say a four-vehicle crash has left a child dead and three others injured. The crash happened Monday morning at a rural intersection west of Gardner, according to the&nbsp; Johnson County Sheriff's Office.Investigators say a roofing truck crashed into a sport utility vehicle driven by a woman and carrying her three children. The impact of the crash sent the SUV into another truck, which then hit a van. One child in the SUV was killed. The woman and other two children were taken to a hospital with injuries, but are expected to survive. Officials have not released the names of the child killed or those injured. No one in the other vehicles was seriously injured.

4-vehicle crash in Kansas kills 1 child, injures 3 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden wants Congress to know he’s sincere about cutting a deal on infrastructure, but Republican lawmakers have deep-seated doubts about the scope of his proposed package, its tax hikes and Biden’s premise that this is an inflection point for the U.S. as a world power.

Biden met Monday afternoon with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and tried to assure them that the Oval Office gathering was not “window dressing.” One of the core disputes is over what counts as infrastructure in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-coronavirus-pandemic-pittsburgh-jen-psaki-8865ffc8f5ad3142155a5bd3c3a3e6d3">$2.3 trillion proposal</a>.

“I’m prepared to negotiate as to the extent of my infrastructure project, as well as how we pay for it,” Biden said. “It’s going to get down to what we call ‘infrastructure.’”

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi indicated after the meeting that he was willing to negotiate with Biden and called it a “good discussion.” But a more fundamental disagreement also emerged about whether the United States is losing its status atop the global economy because of its deteriorating infrastructure.

“He says that we’re a declining superpower, the United States is no longer number one,” Wicker said afterward. “I just fundamentally disagree with that.”

The meeting came as the Biden’s team is making a direct argument for lawmakers to put their constituents ahead of their ideologies. The White House released state-by-state breakdowns Monday that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability, among other issues. An appeal to the broader public is unlikely to resonate much with Republican lawmakers who have already blasted the plan.

Among the Republicans at the meeting were Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Reps. Garret Graves of Louisiana and Don Young of Alaska. Democrats attending were Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Reps. Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey and David Price of North Carolina.

In the room, “nobody said we didn’t need infrastructure investment,” Cantwell, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in an interview.

The lawmakers said Biden will seek to drive a consensus by having his team revisit with them and others, as soon as Tuesday.

Graves said the president talked about how he was open to discussion and open to negotiation on the size, scope and definition of infrastructure.

“Those are all the exact words that I wanted to hear going into the meeting. And so that was really encouraging,” Graves, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told The Associated Press. “Is this truly going to be a two-way discussion where we talk about better ways to deliver infrastructure, what the appropriate size and scope are, ways of funding, things like that?”

The figures in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20613298-biden-infrastructure-plan-state-highlights" target="_blank">state summaries</a>&nbsp;paint a decidedly bleak outlook for the world’s largest economy after years of repairs being deferred and delayed. They suggest that too much infrastructure is unsafe for vehicles at any speed, while highlighting the costs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/weather">extreme weather events</a>&nbsp;that have become more frequent with climate change as well as dead spots for broadband and a dearth of child care options.

Drawn from an array of private and public data, the state reports show there are 7,300 miles (11,748 kilometers) of highway in Michigan alone that are in poor condition. Damaged streets in North Carolina impose an average yearly cost of $500 on motorists. Iowa has 4,571 bridges in need of repair. There is a roughly 4-in-10 chance that a public transit vehicle in Indiana might be ready for the scrap yard. Pennsylvania’s schools are short $1.4 billion for maintenance and upgrades.

Most states received a letter grade on their infrastructure. West Virginia earned a D. So did Biden’s home state of Delaware. Of the states rated, the highest grade went to Georgia and Utah, which each notched a C-plus. The lowest grade, D-minus, went to the territory of Puerto Rico.

The administration is banking that the data will confirm the everyday experiences of Americans as they bump over potholes, get trapped in traffic jams and wait for buses that almost never correspond to published schedules. There is already a receptive audience to the sales pitch, and the strategy is that public support can overcome any congressional misgivings.

“We don’t have a lot of work to do to persuade the American people that U.S. infrastructure needs major improvement,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-buttigieg-transportation-secretary-infrastructure-bb883b4af7b9c700d0ef2b7c29d7a5b0">Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;said on Fox News Channel’s “Fox News Sunday” ahead of the reports’ release. “The American people already know it.”

Republican lawmakers have been quick to reject the infrastructure proposal from Biden. They say just a fraction of the spending goes to traditional infrastructure, as $400 billion would expand Medicaid support for caregivers and substantial portions would fund electric vehicle charging stations and address the racial injustice of highways that were built in ways that destroyed Black neighborhoods.

The reports give some data to back up their argument that more money should be spent on roads and bridges. Biden’s plan would modernize 20,000 miles (32,187 kilometers) worth of roadways, but California by itself has 14,220 miles (22,885 kilometers) of highway in poor condition.

Republican lawmakers also object to funding the package by increasing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/corporate-taxes">the corporate tax rate</a>&nbsp;from 21% to 28% and increasing the global minimum tax, among other tax changes including stepped-up IRS enforcement being proposed by the Biden administration.

“This plan would impose the biggest tax hikes in a generation when workers need an economic recovery. It would gut right-to-work protections for blue-collar workers,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a Monday floor speech. “It would throw hundreds of billions at the far-left’s ‘green’ fads.”

Yet the state-by-state reports make clear that many of the people in Mississippi that Wicker represents could benefit from the package, an aspect of the Biden effort to engender the backing of voters across party lines.

Mississippi needs $4.8 billion for drinking water and $289 million for schools. Nearly a quarter of households lack an internet subscription, and a similar percentage lives in areas without broadband. Mississippians who use public transportation have to devote an extra 87.7% of their time to commuting.

Mississippi’s infrastructure received a grade of D-plus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618264660542.png" alt="President Biden at meeting&nbsp; on&nbsp; Monday with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress to discuss American Jobs Plan. -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden at meeting&nbsp; on&nbsp; Monday with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress to discuss American Jobs Plan. -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden wants Congress to know he’s sincere about cutting a deal on infrastructure, but Republican lawmakers have deep-seated doubts about the scope of his proposed package, its tax hikes and Biden’s premise that this is an inflection point for the U.S. as a world power.Biden met Monday afternoon with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and tried to assure them that the Oval Office gathering was not “window dressing.” One of the core disputes is over what counts as infrastructure in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-coronavirus-pandemic-pittsburgh-jen-psaki-8865ffc8f5ad3142155a5bd3c3a3e6d3">$2.3 trillion proposal</a>.“I’m prepared to negotiate as to the extent of my infrastructure project, as well as how we pay for it,” Biden said. “It’s going to get down to what we call ‘infrastructure.’”Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi indicated after the meeting that he was willing to negotiate with Biden and called it a “good discussion.” But a more fundamental disagreement also emerged about whether the United States is losing its status atop the global economy because of its deteriorating infrastructure.“He says that we’re a declining superpower, the United States is no longer number one,” Wicker said afterward. “I just fundamentally disagree with that.”The meeting came as the Biden’s team is making a direct argument for lawmakers to put their constituents ahead of their ideologies. The White House released state-by-state breakdowns Monday that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability, among other issues. An appeal to the broader public is unlikely to resonate much with Republican lawmakers who have already blasted the plan.Among the Republicans at the meeting were Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Reps. Garret Graves of Louisiana and Don Young of Alaska. Democrats attending were Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Reps. Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey and David Price of North Carolina.In the room, “nobody said we didn’t need infrastructure investment,” Cantwell, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in an interview.The lawmakers said Biden will seek to drive a consensus by having his team revisit with them and others, as soon as Tuesday.Graves said the president talked about how he was open to discussion and open to negotiation on the size, scope and definition of infrastructure.“Those are all the exact words that I wanted to hear going into the meeting. And so that was really encouraging,” Graves, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told The Associated Press. “Is this truly going to be a two-way discussion where we talk about better ways to deliver infrastructure, what the appropriate size and scope are, ways of funding, things like that?”The figures in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20613298-biden-infrastructure-plan-state-highlights" target="_blank">state summaries</a>&nbsp;paint a decidedly bleak outlook for the world’s largest economy after years of repairs being deferred and delayed. They suggest that too much infrastructure is unsafe for vehicles at any speed, while highlighting the costs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/weather">extreme weather events</a>&nbsp;that have become more frequent with climate change as well as dead spots for broadband and a dearth of child care options.Drawn from an array of private and public data, the state reports show there are 7,300 miles (11,748 kilometers) of highway in Michigan alone that are in poor condition. Damaged streets in North Carolina impose an average yearly cost of $500 on motorists. Iowa has 4,571 bridges in need of repair. There is a roughly 4-in-10 chance that a public transit vehicle in Indiana might be ready for the scrap yard. Pennsylvania’s schools are short $1.4 billion for maintenance and upgrades.Most states received a letter grade on their infrastructure. West Virginia earned a D. So did Biden’s home state of Delaware. Of the states rated, the highest grade went to Georgia and Utah, which each notched a C-plus. The lowest grade, D-minus, went to the territory of Puerto Rico.The administration is banking that the data will confirm the everyday experiences of Americans as they bump over potholes, get trapped in traffic jams and wait for buses that almost never correspond to published schedules. There is already a receptive audience to the sales pitch, and the strategy is that public support can overcome any congressional misgivings.“We don’t have a lot of work to do to persuade the American people that U.S. infrastructure needs major improvement,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-buttigieg-transportation-secretary-infrastructure-bb883b4af7b9c700d0ef2b7c29d7a5b0">Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;said on Fox News Channel’s “Fox News Sunday” ahead of the reports’ release. “The American people already know it.”Republican lawmakers have been quick to reject the infrastructure proposal from Biden. They say just a fraction of the spending goes to traditional infrastructure, as $400 billion would expand Medicaid support for caregivers and substantial portions would fund electric vehicle charging stations and address the racial injustice of highways that were built in ways that destroyed Black neighborhoods.The reports give some data to back up their argument that more money should be spent on roads and bridges. Biden’s plan would modernize 20,000 miles (32,187 kilometers) worth of roadways, but California by itself has 14,220 miles (22,885 kilometers) of highway in poor condition.Republican lawmakers also object to funding the package by increasing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/corporate-taxes">the corporate tax rate</a>&nbsp;from 21% to 28% and increasing the global minimum tax, among other tax changes including stepped-up IRS enforcement being proposed by the Biden administration.“This plan would impose the biggest tax hikes in a generation when workers need an economic recovery. It would gut right-to-work protections for blue-collar workers,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a Monday floor speech. “It would throw hundreds of billions at the far-left’s ‘green’ fads.”Yet the state-by-state reports make clear that many of the people in Mississippi that Wicker represents could benefit from the package, an aspect of the Biden effort to engender the backing of voters across party lines.Mississippi needs $4.8 billion for drinking water and $289 million for schools. Nearly a quarter of households lack an internet subscription, and a similar percentage lives in areas without broadband. Mississippians who use public transportation have to devote an extra 87.7% of their time to commuting.Mississippi’s infrastructure received a grade of D-plus.

Lawmakers debate 'infrastructure' in Biden's $2.3T plan

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the driver of a vehicle&nbsp; forced off the roadway into a field during a high-speed pursuit on Saturday in Shawnee County.

Just after 9p.m. On Saturday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification of a blue passenger car in the 8000 block of SE Berryton Road traveling northbound erratically and at high speeds, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 A deputy arrived in the 5500 block of SE Berryton Road and observed a blue 2010 Toyota Corolla traveling north at approximately 95 miles per hour. The driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. 

During the pursuit, the driver left the roadway and crossed the center line multiple times. Deputies pinned the vehicle to end the pursuit in the roundabout at SE 45th Street and California Avenue.

Deputies arrested the driver, Brian C. Weixelman Jr., 19, of Topeka, and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, reckless driving, driving under the influence, failure to stop at an accident, minor in consumption, failure to stop at a stop sign, improper driving on a laned roadway and speeding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618253033013.png" alt="Weixelman photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Weixelman photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the driver of a vehicle&nbsp; forced off the roadway into a field during a high-speed pursuit on Saturday in Shawnee County.Just after 9p.m. On Saturday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification of a blue passenger car in the 8000 block of SE Berryton Road traveling northbound erratically and at high speeds, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. A deputy arrived in the 5500 block of SE Berryton Road and observed a blue 2010 Toyota Corolla traveling north at approximately 95 miles per hour. The driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, the driver left the roadway and crossed the center line multiple times. Deputies pinned the vehicle to end the pursuit in the roundabout at SE 45th Street and California Avenue.Deputies arrested the driver, Brian C. Weixelman Jr., 19, of Topeka, and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, reckless driving, driving under the influence, failure to stop at an accident, minor in consumption, failure to stop at a stop sign, improper driving on a laned roadway and speeding.

Sheriff: Kansas teen jailed after chase at 95mph

INDIANAPOLIS —The NCAA Board of Governors on Monday issued a statement firmly and unequivocally in support of the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports, according to a statement on the organization's web site.

This commitment is grounded in our values of inclusion and fair competition, according to the statement.

The NCAA has a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf">long-standing policy</a>&nbsp;that provides a more inclusive path for transgender participation in college sports. Our approach — which requires testosterone suppression treatment for transgender women to compete in women’s sports — embraces the evolving science on this issue and is anchored in participation policies of both the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport. Our clear expectation as the Association’s top governing body is that all student-athletes will be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to ensuring that NCAA championships are open for all who earn the right to compete in them.

When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected. 

We will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants

On Friday, Kansas conservatives pushed a proposed ban on transgender athletes in girl’s and women’s school sports through the Republican-controlled Legislature. Governor Kelly has not indicated whether she will sign the bill.&nbsp;The bill's supporters were eight votes short in the House and one short in the Senate of the two-thirds majorities for overriding a veto.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587379293613.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>INDIANAPOLIS —The NCAA Board of Governors on Monday issued a statement firmly and unequivocally in support of the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports, according to a statement on the organization's web site.This commitment is grounded in our values of inclusion and fair competition, according to the statement.The NCAA has a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf">long-standing policy</a>&nbsp;that provides a more inclusive path for transgender participation in college sports. Our approach — which requires testosterone suppression treatment for transgender women to compete in women’s sports — embraces the evolving science on this issue and is anchored in participation policies of both the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport. Our clear expectation as the Association’s top governing body is that all student-athletes will be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to ensuring that NCAA championships are open for all who earn the right to compete in them.When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected. We will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participantsOn Friday, Kansas conservatives pushed a proposed ban on transgender athletes in girl’s and women’s school sports through the Republican-controlled Legislature. Governor Kelly has not indicated whether she will sign the bill.&nbsp;The bill's supporters were eight votes short in the House and one short in the Senate of the two-thirds majorities for overriding a veto.&nbsp;

NCAA says it unequivocally supports transgender athletes

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have two suspects in custody.

Just after 1:3o a.m. Sunday police officers were on routine patrol in the area of 5th and Hendricks in Hutchinson when they heard a series of gunshots north of their location, according to a media release.

 While investigating, a 911 call came into dispatch advising of a shooting.    Officers arrived in the 1500 block W 12th Street where they contacted a 42 year old black male laying in the street with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. 

EMS transported the victim to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. He was reported in stable condition just after 1p.m.&nbsp;

 Officers located a second victim, a 46-year-old black male laying in the front yard of a nearby residence with a single gunshot wound to his chest. The 46-year-old was also taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and was pronounced deceased, according to the release.&nbsp;

Just before noon Monday, detectives and members of the Special Operations division of the Hutchinson Police Department conducted a search warrant on a residence within the city limits of Hutchinson and located Sandral Wade, a person of interest in the homicide. Through the investigation of the homicide, detectives also arrested Wade and 71-year-old Robert Louis Lagrange on requested charges of first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and asking the public for help to locate a suspect

 Officers located a second victim, a 46 year old black male laying in the front yard of a nearby residence with a single gunshot wound to his chest. The 46-year-old was also taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and was pronounced deceased, according to the release.&nbsp;

Police are asking for help to locate a person of interest in this case Identified as 64-year-old Sandral Lee Wade.&nbsp; He is described as 6-foot--4,&nbsp; 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. . Anyone with information on Wade’s whereabouts or additional information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Reno county, 1-800-222-TIPS or Lt Loepp at the Hutchinson Police Department 620-694-2829.    

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618271578571.jpeg" alt="Robert LaGrange photo Hutchinson Police" />
 <figcaption>Robert LaGrange photo Hutchinson Police</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have two suspects in custody.Just after 1:3o a.m. Sunday police officers were on routine patrol in the area of 5th and Hendricks in Hutchinson when they heard a series of gunshots north of their location, according to a media release. While investigating, a 911 call came into dispatch advising of a shooting. Officers arrived in the 1500 block W 12th Street where they contacted a 42 year old black male laying in the street with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. EMS transported the victim to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. He was reported in stable condition just after 1p.m.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618162821449.jpeg" alt="SANDRAL WADE has previous convictions for indecent liberties with a child, criminal threat, aggravated assault, four times for DUI, failure to report an injury accident and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections. -photo Hutchinson Police" />
 <figcaption>SANDRAL WADE has previous convictions for indecent liberties with a child, criminal threat, aggravated assault, four times for DUI, failure to report an injury accident and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections. -photo Hutchinson Police</figcaption>
 </figure> Officers located a second victim, a 46-year-old black male laying in the front yard of a nearby residence with a single gunshot wound to his chest. The 46-year-old was also taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and was pronounced deceased, according to the release.&nbsp;Just before noon Monday, detectives and members of the Special Operations division of the Hutchinson Police Department conducted a search warrant on a residence within the city limits of Hutchinson and located Sandral Wade, a person of interest in the homicide. Through the investigation of the homicide, detectives also arrested Wade and 71-year-old Robert Louis Lagrange on requested charges of first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.----------RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and asking the public for help to locate a suspectJust after 1:3o a.m. Sunday police officers were on routine patrol in the area of 5th and Hendricks in Hutchinson when they heard a series of gunshots north of their location, according to a media release. While investigating, a 911 call came into dispatch advising of a shooting. Officers arrived in the 1500 block W 12th Street where they contacted a 42 year old black male laying in the street with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. EMS transported the victim to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. He was reported in stable condition just after 1p.m.&nbsp; Officers located a second victim, a 46 year old black male laying in the front yard of a nearby residence with a single gunshot wound to his chest. The 46-year-old was also taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and was pronounced deceased, according to the release.&nbsp;Police are asking for help to locate a person of interest in this case Identified as 64-year-old Sandral Lee Wade.&nbsp; He is described as 6-foot--4,&nbsp; 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. . Anyone with information on Wade’s whereabouts or additional information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Reno county, 1-800-222-TIPS or Lt Loepp at the Hutchinson Police Department 620-694-2829.

Police arrest 2 Kansas men for weekend murder

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged vehicle theft.

At noon Sunday, police were sent to Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth Street in Salina for the report of a disorderly subject, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. 

When they arrived, the mortuary employees told police that the suspect had left in one of the mortuary's Lincoln hearses. The hearse is valued at $80,000.

Officers then located the hearse parked on the north side of the police department in the driveway of the parking lot on W. Elm Street, according to Forrester.

Police arrested 52-year-old Craig Gilbert of Salina on requested charges that include Felony theft, Criminal trespassing and Driving on an expired driver's license.

The hearse was not damaged and returned to the mortuary, according to Forrester.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618233316273.jpeg" alt="Gilbert&nbsp; has previous convictions for theft, burglary and forgery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Gilbert&nbsp; has previous convictions for theft, burglary and forgery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged vehicle theft.At noon Sunday, police were sent to Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth Street in Salina for the report of a disorderly subject, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. When they arrived, the mortuary employees told police that the suspect had left in one of the mortuary's Lincoln hearses. The hearse is valued at $80,000.Officers then located the hearse parked on the north side of the police department in the driveway of the parking lot on W. Elm Street, according to Forrester.Police arrested 52-year-old Craig Gilbert of Salina on requested charges that include Felony theft, Criminal trespassing and Driving on an expired driver's license.The hearse was not damaged and returned to the mortuary, according to Forrester.

Man arrested after hearse stolen from Kan. mortuary 

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/12/lawmakers-finalize-effort-to-limit-mail-voting-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A pair of 
election bills passed by the Legislature to limit advance voting options
 and restrict the authority to change election law prompted passionate 
debate in the Senate and House.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2183/">House Bill 2183</a>,
 opposed by voting rights activists, would restrict the number of 
advance ballots an individual may deliver on behalf of others to a 
maximum of 10, loosened from five in negotiations. In addition, the 
measure would remove the authority of the secretary of state to extend 
the deadline for receiving mail ballots.

The bill also bans candidates from assisting neighbors, friends or family with their ballots.

Rep.
 Vic Miller, D-Topeka, questioned Republican efforts to target the 
practice of so-called ballot harvesting — gathering advanced ballots 
from voters and delivering them to the election office. He said he often
 assists those in his community who request help filling out and 
delivering their ballot.

Earlier
 this year, Secretary of State Scott Schwab reported no abnormalities in
 Kansas during the 2020 election. Why then is a bill criminalizing 
candidates and other citizens for assisting one another necessary, 
Miller asked.

“For
 decades we’ve referred to it as ‘get out the vote,’ because in my 
party, we believe in making it as easy as we can for every individual to
 cast their constitutional rights,” Miller said. “Now you want to make a
 criminal out of people like me because people like me don’t sit at home
 and send out mail asking for people to vote for us.”

Senators passed the bill 27 to 11, and within an hour, the House followed suit, 80 to 42.&nbsp;

These
 measures come amid a nationwide push by Republican-led legislatures who
 argue increased election security is needed — after they’ve made 
unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. In Kansas, this prompted 
some Democratic legislators and election advocates to raise concerns 
about the possible voter suppression such measures could cause.

To counter GOP efforts, the Democratic majority in <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/04/u-s-house-passes-sweeping-voting-rights-package/">the U.S. House passed a voting rights package in March</a>
 which expanded mail-in voting and access to the polls. Republican 
legislators in Kansas urged the state’s delegation in D.C. to reject 
these proposed changes.

While Miller has remained skeptical of some provisions included in the federal bill, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1/text">HR1 or the For the People Act</a>, he said changes to election law should be working to raise — not lower — voter registration and turnout.

Sen.
 Richard Hilderbrand, R-Galena, championed several of the voting bills 
proposed in Kansas, including limitations on candidates interacting with
 the voting process. He said situations like Miller’s are exactly why 
these measures are needed.

Hilderbrand pointed to procedure and policy regarding voting in person on Election Day.&nbsp;

“I
 do not believe as a candidate, I can sit (in the voting booth) and help
 people fill out their ballot or assist with the process of going 
through the ballot process,” Hilderbrand said. “If we are not allowed in
 that process that we should not be doing that outside of that arena as 
well.”

The
 penalty for violating the proposed advanced ballot delivery provisions 
was lowered in the conference committee from a felony offense to a class
 B misdemeanor.

While
 he praised the intent to secure future elections, Sen. Jeff Pittman, 
D-Leavenworth, said Kansas lawmakers were going about it the wrong way. 
He pointed to partisan election officials and dark-money groups funding 
campaigns as larger issues needing to be addressed.

“Our
 focus in on these details is wrong and really restrict a vote of our 
people out there,” Pittman said. “I understand that desire to make sure 
no election is stolen, but I also want to fight those elections that are
 bought, and I think we’re going down the wrong direction.”

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2332/">House Bill 2332</a>,
 the second election bill considered late last week, passed in the House
 83 to 38 and in the Senate 27 to 11. The bill would amend the law 
regarding advanced voting ballot applications and require every county 
election officer to keep the residential and mailing address for each 
registered voter if they differ.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618258986952.png" alt="Incensed Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, heavily criticizes a voting bill whose provisions, he said, would make criminals out of candidates and everyday citizens. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Incensed Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, heavily criticizes a voting bill whose provisions, he said, would make criminals out of candidates and everyday citizens. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/12/lawmakers-finalize-effort-to-limit-mail-voting-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A pair of 
election bills passed by the Legislature to limit advance voting options
 and restrict the authority to change election law prompted passionate 
debate in the Senate and House.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2183/">House Bill 2183</a>,
 opposed by voting rights activists, would restrict the number of 
advance ballots an individual may deliver on behalf of others to a 
maximum of 10, loosened from five in negotiations. In addition, the 
measure would remove the authority of the secretary of state to extend 
the deadline for receiving mail ballots.The bill also bans candidates from assisting neighbors, friends or family with their ballots.Rep.
 Vic Miller, D-Topeka, questioned Republican efforts to target the 
practice of so-called ballot harvesting — gathering advanced ballots 
from voters and delivering them to the election office. He said he often
 assists those in his community who request help filling out and 
delivering their ballot.Earlier
 this year, Secretary of State Scott Schwab reported no abnormalities in
 Kansas during the 2020 election. Why then is a bill criminalizing 
candidates and other citizens for assisting one another necessary, 
Miller asked.“For
 decades we’ve referred to it as ‘get out the vote,’ because in my 
party, we believe in making it as easy as we can for every individual to
 cast their constitutional rights,” Miller said. “Now you want to make a
 criminal out of people like me because people like me don’t sit at home
 and send out mail asking for people to vote for us.”Senators passed the bill 27 to 11, and within an hour, the House followed suit, 80 to 42.&nbsp;These
 measures come amid a nationwide push by Republican-led legislatures who
 argue increased election security is needed — after they’ve made 
unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. In Kansas, this prompted 
some Democratic legislators and election advocates to raise concerns 
about the possible voter suppression such measures could cause.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618259043064.jpeg" alt="Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, R-Galena, says if candidates aren’t allowed to assist at the polls, they should not be able to deliver advanced ballots on behalf of another person. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, R-Galena, says if candidates aren’t allowed to assist at the polls, they should not be able to deliver advanced ballots on behalf of another person. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>To counter GOP efforts, the Democratic majority in <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/04/u-s-house-passes-sweeping-voting-rights-package/">the U.S. House passed a voting rights package in March</a>
 which expanded mail-in voting and access to the polls. Republican 
legislators in Kansas urged the state’s delegation in D.C. to reject 
these proposed changes.While Miller has remained skeptical of some provisions included in the federal bill, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1/text">HR1 or the For the People Act</a>, he said changes to election law should be working to raise — not lower — voter registration and turnout.Sen.
 Richard Hilderbrand, R-Galena, championed several of the voting bills 
proposed in Kansas, including limitations on candidates interacting with
 the voting process. He said situations like Miller’s are exactly why 
these measures are needed.Hilderbrand pointed to procedure and policy regarding voting in person on Election Day.&nbsp;“I
 do not believe as a candidate, I can sit (in the voting booth) and help
 people fill out their ballot or assist with the process of going 
through the ballot process,” Hilderbrand said. “If we are not allowed in
 that process that we should not be doing that outside of that arena as 
well.”The
 penalty for violating the proposed advanced ballot delivery provisions 
was lowered in the conference committee from a felony offense to a class
 B misdemeanor.While
 he praised the intent to secure future elections, Sen. Jeff Pittman, 
D-Leavenworth, said Kansas lawmakers were going about it the wrong way. 
He pointed to partisan election officials and dark-money groups funding 
campaigns as larger issues needing to be addressed.“Our
 focus in on these details is wrong and really restrict a vote of our 
people out there,” Pittman said. “I understand that desire to make sure 
no election is stolen, but I also want to fight those elections that are
 bought, and I think we’re going down the wrong direction.”<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2332/">House Bill 2332</a>,
 the second election bill considered late last week, passed in the House
 83 to 38 and in the Senate 27 to 11. The bill would amend the law 
regarding advanced voting ballot applications and require every county 
election officer to keep the residential and mailing address for each 
registered voter if they differ.Sen. Larry Alley, R-Winfield, addressed concerns regarding how this provision would work for people without housing.“A homeless shelter would 
be classified as their physical address,” Alley said. “They could 
receive your mail at a post office box, but the physical address had to 
be where they spend the night. It could even be in a car, actually, 
parked at a location.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618259072382.jpeg" alt="Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, says he considers House Bill 2332 a necessity to prevent the type of changes to election law made by the executive and judicial branch during the 2020 elections. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, says he considers House Bill 2332 a necessity to prevent the type of changes to election law made by the executive and judicial branch during the 2020 elections. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Perhaps
 the most significant section of the bill prohibits the executive and 
judicial branches from creating new election laws. Rep. Blake Carpenter,
 R-Derby, said this was in response to changes made by the governor and 
judicial branch last year during the pandemic.“If
 we’re going to pass laws, it should be the Legislature that does so,” 
Carpenter said, adding the provision would not interfere with the 
judicial branch’s authority to strike down unconstitutional laws.While
 both bills’ restrictions were softened in the conference committee, the
 effort to advance the legislation did not sit well with Rep. Brett 
Parker, D-Overland Park. He noted many of the bills had few proponents 
and those who did testify in support were all sitting legislators.“What
 is the point of our process that we go through here, where we let the 
public come in and testify and — as the opposition from people outside 
of the building is negative — we still advanced the legislation,” Parker
 said. “What are we doing? Who are we listening to at that point?”Both
 bills will now go to Gov. Laura Kelly. The governor has not said 
whether she would veto them. If she does, the House vote fell shy of the
 two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.