SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Apple is following through on its pledge to crack down on Facebook and other snoopy apps that secretly shadow people on their iPhones in order to target more advertising at users.

The new privacy feature, dubbed “App Tracking Transparency,” rolled out this week as part of an update to the operating system powering the iPhone and iPad. The anti-tracking shield included in iOS 14.5 arrives after a seven-month delay during which Apple and Facebook attacked each other’s business models and motives for decisions that affect billions of people around the world.

“What this feud demonstrates more than anything is that Facebook and Apple have tremendous gatekeeping powers over the market,” said Elizabeth Renieris, founding director of the Technology Ethics Lab at the University of Notre Dame.

But Apple says it is just looking out for the best interests of the more than 1 billion people currently using iPhones.

“Now is a good time to bring this out, both because of because of the increasing amount of data they have on their devices, and their sensitivity (about the privacy risks) is increasing, too," Erik Neuenschwander, Apple's chief privacy engineer, told The Associated Press in an interview.

Once the software update is installed -- something most iPhone users do -- even existing apps already on the device will be required to ask and receive consent to track online activities. That’s a shift Facebook fiercely resisted, most prominently in a series of full-page newspaper ads blasting Apple.

Until now, Facebook and other apps have been able to automatically conduct their surveillance on iPhones unless users took the time and trouble to go into their settings to prevent it -- a process that few people bother to navigate.

“This is an important step toward consumers getting the transparency and the controls they have clearly been looking for,” said Daniel Barber, CEO of DataGrail, a firm that helps companies manage personal privacy.

In its attacks on Apple's anti-tracking controls, Facebook blasted the move as an abuse of power designed to force more apps to charge for their services instead of relying on ads. Apple takes a 15% to 30% cut on most payments processed through an iPhone app.

Online tracking has long helped Facebook and thousands of other apps accumulate information about their user’s interests and habits so they can show customized ads. Although Facebook executives initially acknowledged Apple’s changes would probably reduce its revenue by billions of dollars annually, the social networking company has framed most of its public criticism as a defense of small businesses that rely on online ads to stay alive.

Apple, in turn, has pilloried Facebook and other apps for prying so deeply into people's lives that it has created a societal crisis.

In a speech given a few weeks after the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, Apple CEO Tim Cook pointed out how personal information collected through tracking by Facebook and other social media can sometimes push people toward more misinformation and hate speech as part of the efforts to show more ads.

“What are the consequences of not just tolerating but rewarding content that undermines public trust in life-saving vaccinations?” Cook asked. “What are the consequences of seeing thousands of users join extremist groups and then perpetuating an algorithm that recommends more?”

It’s part of Apple’s attempt to use the privacy issue to its competitive advantage, Barber said, a tactic he now expects more major brands to embrace if the new anti-tracking controls prove popular among most consumers.

In a change of tone, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently suggested that Apple’s new privacy controls could actually help his company in the long run. His rationale: The inability to automatically track iPhone users may prod more companies to sell their products directly on Facebook and affiliated services such as Instagram if they can't collect enough personal information to effectively target ads within their own apps.

“It’s possible that we may even be in a stronger position if Apple’s changes encourage more businesses to conduct more commerce on our platforms by making it harder for them to use their data in order to find the customers that would want to use their products outside of our platforms,” Zuckerberg said last month during a discussion held on the audio chat app Clubhouse.

In the same interview, Zuckerberg also asserted most people realize that advertising is a “time-tested model” that enables them to get more services for free or at extremely low prices.

“People get for the most part that if they are going to see ads, they want them to be relevant ads,” Zuckerberg said. He didn’t say whether he believes most iPhone users will consent to tracking in exchange for ads tailored to their interests.

Google also depends on personal information to fuel a digital ad network even bigger than Facebook’s, but it has said it would be able to adjust to the iPhone’s new privacy controls. Unlike Facebook, Google has close business ties with Apple. Google pays Apple an estimated $9 billion to $12 billion annually to be the preferred search engine on iPhone and iPad. That arrangement is currently one element of an antitrust case filed last year by the U.S. Justice Department.

Facebook is also defending itself against a federal antitrust lawsuit seeking to break the company apart. Meanwhile, Apple is being scrutinized by lawmakers and regulators around the world for the commissions it collects on purchases made through iPhone apps and its ability to shake up markets through new rules that are turning it into a de facto regulator.

“Even if Apple’s business model and side in this battle is more rights protective and better for consumer privacy, there is still a question of whether we want a large corporation like Apple effectively ‘legislating’ through the app store,” Renieris said.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology WriterSAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Apple is following through on its pledge to crack down on Facebook and other snoopy apps that secretly shadow people on their iPhones in order to target more advertising at users.The new privacy feature, dubbed “App Tracking Transparency,” rolled out this week as part of an update to the operating system powering the iPhone and iPad. The anti-tracking shield included in iOS 14.5 arrives after a seven-month delay during which Apple and Facebook attacked each other’s business models and motives for decisions that affect billions of people around the world.“What this feud demonstrates more than anything is that Facebook and Apple have tremendous gatekeeping powers over the market,” said Elizabeth Renieris, founding director of the Technology Ethics Lab at the University of Notre Dame.But Apple says it is just looking out for the best interests of the more than 1 billion people currently using iPhones.“Now is a good time to bring this out, both because of because of the increasing amount of data they have on their devices, and their sensitivity (about the privacy risks) is increasing, too," Erik Neuenschwander, Apple's chief privacy engineer, told The Associated Press in an interview.Once the software update is installed -- something most iPhone users do -- even existing apps already on the device will be required to ask and receive consent to track online activities. That’s a shift Facebook fiercely resisted, most prominently in a series of full-page newspaper ads blasting Apple.Until now, Facebook and other apps have been able to automatically conduct their surveillance on iPhones unless users took the time and trouble to go into their settings to prevent it -- a process that few people bother to navigate.“This is an important step toward consumers getting the transparency and the controls they have clearly been looking for,” said Daniel Barber, CEO of DataGrail, a firm that helps companies manage personal privacy.In its attacks on Apple's anti-tracking controls, Facebook blasted the move as an abuse of power designed to force more apps to charge for their services instead of relying on ads. Apple takes a 15% to 30% cut on most payments processed through an iPhone app.Online tracking has long helped Facebook and thousands of other apps accumulate information about their user’s interests and habits so they can show customized ads. Although Facebook executives initially acknowledged Apple’s changes would probably reduce its revenue by billions of dollars annually, the social networking company has framed most of its public criticism as a defense of small businesses that rely on online ads to stay alive.Apple, in turn, has pilloried Facebook and other apps for prying so deeply into people's lives that it has created a societal crisis.In a speech given a few weeks after the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, Apple CEO Tim Cook pointed out how personal information collected through tracking by Facebook and other social media can sometimes push people toward more misinformation and hate speech as part of the efforts to show more ads.“What are the consequences of not just tolerating but rewarding content that undermines public trust in life-saving vaccinations?” Cook asked. “What are the consequences of seeing thousands of users join extremist groups and then perpetuating an algorithm that recommends more?”It’s part of Apple’s attempt to use the privacy issue to its competitive advantage, Barber said, a tactic he now expects more major brands to embrace if the new anti-tracking controls prove popular among most consumers.In a change of tone, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently suggested that Apple’s new privacy controls could actually help his company in the long run. His rationale: The inability to automatically track iPhone users may prod more companies to sell their products directly on Facebook and affiliated services such as Instagram if they can't collect enough personal information to effectively target ads within their own apps.“It’s possible that we may even be in a stronger position if Apple’s changes encourage more businesses to conduct more commerce on our platforms by making it harder for them to use their data in order to find the customers that would want to use their products outside of our platforms,” Zuckerberg said last month during a discussion held on the audio chat app Clubhouse.In the same interview, Zuckerberg also asserted most people realize that advertising is a “time-tested model” that enables them to get more services for free or at extremely low prices.“People get for the most part that if they are going to see ads, they want them to be relevant ads,” Zuckerberg said. He didn’t say whether he believes most iPhone users will consent to tracking in exchange for ads tailored to their interests.Google also depends on personal information to fuel a digital ad network even bigger than Facebook’s, but it has said it would be able to adjust to the iPhone’s new privacy controls. Unlike Facebook, Google has close business ties with Apple. Google pays Apple an estimated $9 billion to $12 billion annually to be the preferred search engine on iPhone and iPad. That arrangement is currently one element of an antitrust case filed last year by the U.S. Justice Department.Facebook is also defending itself against a federal antitrust lawsuit seeking to break the company apart. Meanwhile, Apple is being scrutinized by lawmakers and regulators around the world for the commissions it collects on purchases made through iPhone apps and its ability to shake up markets through new rules that are turning it into a de facto regulator.“Even if Apple’s business model and side in this battle is more rights protective and better for consumer privacy, there is still a question of whether we want a large corporation like Apple effectively ‘legislating’ through the app store,” Renieris said.

Apple finally releases anti-tracking feature on iPhone

KANSAS CITY (AP) —R&amp;B artist Trey Songz will not face charges in an alleged altercation with police officers at the AFC championship game in Kansas City, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office, said there is “insufficient evidence” to bring charges and that police were notified of the decision late last week. He declined to comment further.

Songz, whose real name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson, was arrested and jailed overnight in January. Police have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trey-songz-arrested-1b186432ea5010945456919125ae42fe">he scuffled with officers</a>&nbsp;during his arrest.

Songz’s representative, Sydney Margetson, declined to comment on the charging decision.

Authorities accused Songz of not following coronavirus protocols and other rules at the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.

Police said in a statement that other spectators at the game complained about a man who was not following COVID-19-related protocols and other code of conduct rules, including not being disruptive, intoxicated, or using obscene language.

The statement did not identify the man as Songz and did not say exactly which rules the man was breaking.

Police said the man refused to follow orders from private security guards and was asked to leave. When he refused, officers from the Kansas City police and Jackson County sheriff’s office were called and he was told he would be arrested if he didn’t comply. Police said he punched one officer and put him in a headlock.

Capt. David Jackson, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department, said Tuesday that the completed case file, including surveillance video, was sent to prosecutors. He added that “the prosecutor makes the decision to charge or not charge a suspect.”

In October, Songz posted on Instagram that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was taking the disease very seriously and urged his fans to do the same.

Songz is a three-time Grammy-nominated singer. He earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&amp;B Albums chart with “Back Home” last year. His other two chart-topping albums are “Trigga” and “Tremaine The Album.” He has also appeared in films including “Texas Chainshaw 3D,” “Baggage Claim” and he starred in “Blood Brother” in 2018.

In 2017, Songz was charged with felony assault and assaulting a police officer after he became upset when he was told to end a performance in Detroit. Authorities said microphones and speakers were thrown from the stage.

Songz pleaded guilty in August 2017 to two counts of disturbing the peace and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — R&amp;B artist Trey Songz was jailed Sunday night after he scuffled with police officers during his arrest for not following coronavirus protocols and other rules at the AFC championship game in Kansas City, police said Monday.

Songz, 36, whose name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson, was released Monday while an investigation continues, Jackson County Sheriff’s spokesman LeVanden Darks said. No charges have been filed.

Songz’s representative, Sydney Margetson, declined to comment Monday.

In October, Songz&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-zMKTh4bA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again" target="_blank">posted</a>&nbsp;on Instagram that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was taking the disease very seriously and urged his fans to do the same.

Kansas City police said in a statement that fans at the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills complained about a man who was not following COVID-19-related protocols and other code of conduct rules for fans, which include not being disruptive, intoxicated, or using obscene language.

The statement did not identify the man as Songz and did not say exactly which rules he was breaking.

Police said the man refused to follow orders from private security guards at Arrowhead Stadium and was asked to leave. When he refused, officers from the Kansas City police and Jackson County sheriff’s office were called and he was told he would be arrested if he didn’t comply, police said.

He punched one officer and put him in a headlock, police said.

TMZ released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmz.com/2021/01/24/trey-songz-chiefs-game-fight-police-officer-arrest/" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;Monday that showed Songz was not wearing a mask and struggled with several officers before he was led away in handcuffs.

The video does not show how the confrontation began. Some fans can be heard yelling at officers to leave him alone.

The video shows at least one officer without a mask and others with masks not completely covering their mouth and nose.

Kansas City police told The Associated Press that officers working Chiefs games “comply with all mask mandates.”

“He clearly had his mask on prior to being assaulted and placed in a headlock,” KCPD spokeswoman Donna Drake said in an email.

Law enforcement officials said several agencies work NFL games, making it difficult to know how many other fans might have been ejected or arrested Sunday.

Earlier this month, Songz was set to perform at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-sylvester-turner-coronavirus-pandemic-bow-wow-us-news-83d3da44fe3f904924ce955699e5bd92">a concert in Houston</a>&nbsp;but police shut it down after seeing hundreds of people lining up to enter the venue, which was supposed to be operating at 50% capacity.

In 2017, Songz&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c6ea528012e94fd38a9d8ed217744580">was charged</a>&nbsp;with felony assault and assaulting a police officer after he became upset when he was told to end a performance in Detroit. Authorities said microphones and speakers were thrown from the stage during the concert.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611674513397.png" alt="Songz whose real name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson-photo Jackson Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Songz whose real name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson-photo Jackson Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —R&amp;B artist Trey Songz will not face charges in an alleged altercation with police officers at the AFC championship game in Kansas City, prosecutors announced Tuesday.Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office, said there is “insufficient evidence” to bring charges and that police were notified of the decision late last week. He declined to comment further.Songz, whose real name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson, was arrested and jailed overnight in January. Police have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trey-songz-arrested-1b186432ea5010945456919125ae42fe">he scuffled with officers</a>&nbsp;during his arrest.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Surveillance video from the incident, including the three previous times security was called. The suspect punches the officer at about 4:44 in the video. <a href="https://t.co/npZncOfX4V">https://t.co/npZncOfX4V</a>&mdash; kcpolice (@kcpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcpolice/status/1353834743159279617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Songz’s representative, Sydney Margetson, declined to comment on the charging decision.Authorities accused Songz of not following coronavirus protocols and other rules at the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.Police said in a statement that other spectators at the game complained about a man who was not following COVID-19-related protocols and other code of conduct rules, including not being disruptive, intoxicated, or using obscene language.The statement did not identify the man as Songz and did not say exactly which rules the man was breaking.Police said the man refused to follow orders from private security guards and was asked to leave. When he refused, officers from the Kansas City police and Jackson County sheriff’s office were called and he was told he would be arrested if he didn’t comply. Police said he punched one officer and put him in a headlock.Capt. David Jackson, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department, said Tuesday that the completed case file, including surveillance video, was sent to prosecutors. He added that “the prosecutor makes the decision to charge or not charge a suspect.”In October, Songz posted on Instagram that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was taking the disease very seriously and urged his fans to do the same.Songz is a three-time Grammy-nominated singer. He earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&amp;B Albums chart with “Back Home” last year. His other two chart-topping albums are “Trigga” and “Tremaine The Album.” He has also appeared in films including “Texas Chainshaw 3D,” “Baggage Claim” and he starred in “Blood Brother” in 2018.In 2017, Songz was charged with felony assault and assaulting a police officer after he became upset when he was told to end a performance in Detroit. Authorities said microphones and speakers were thrown from the stage.Songz pleaded guilty in August 2017 to two counts of disturbing the peace and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.___KANSAS CITY (AP) — R&amp;B artist Trey Songz was jailed Sunday night after he scuffled with police officers during his arrest for not following coronavirus protocols and other rules at the AFC championship game in Kansas City, police said Monday.Songz, 36, whose name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson, was released Monday while an investigation continues, Jackson County Sheriff’s spokesman LeVanden Darks said. No charges have been filed.Songz’s representative, Sydney Margetson, declined to comment Monday.Songz is a three-time Grammy-nominated singer. He earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&amp;B Albums chart with “Back Home” last year. His other two chart-topping albums are “Trigga” and “Tremaine The Album.” He has also appeared in films including “Texas Chainshaw 3D,” “Baggage Claim” and he starred in “Blood Brother” in 2018.In October, Songz&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-zMKTh4bA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again" target="_blank">posted</a>&nbsp;on Instagram that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was taking the disease very seriously and urged his fans to do the same.Kansas City police said in a statement that fans at the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills complained about a man who was not following COVID-19-related protocols and other code of conduct rules for fans, which include not being disruptive, intoxicated, or using obscene language.The statement did not identify the man as Songz and did not say exactly which rules he was breaking.Police said the man refused to follow orders from private security guards at Arrowhead Stadium and was asked to leave. When he refused, officers from the Kansas City police and Jackson County sheriff’s office were called and he was told he would be arrested if he didn’t comply, police said.He punched one officer and put him in a headlock, police said.TMZ released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmz.com/2021/01/24/trey-songz-chiefs-game-fight-police-officer-arrest/" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;Monday that showed Songz was not wearing a mask and struggled with several officers before he was led away in handcuffs.The video does not show how the confrontation began. Some fans can be heard yelling at officers to leave him alone.The video shows at least one officer without a mask and others with masks not completely covering their mouth and nose.Kansas City police told The Associated Press that officers working Chiefs games “comply with all mask mandates.”“He clearly had his mask on prior to being assaulted and placed in a headlock,” KCPD spokeswoman Donna Drake said in an email.Law enforcement officials said several agencies work NFL games, making it difficult to know how many other fans might have been ejected or arrested Sunday.Earlier this month, Songz was set to perform at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-sylvester-turner-coronavirus-pandemic-bow-wow-us-news-83d3da44fe3f904924ce955699e5bd92">a concert in Houston</a>&nbsp;but police shut it down after seeing hundreds of people lining up to enter the venue, which was supposed to be operating at 50% capacity.In 2017, Songz&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c6ea528012e94fd38a9d8ed217744580">was charged</a>&nbsp;with felony assault and assaulting a police officer after he became upset when he was told to end a performance in Detroit. Authorities said microphones and speakers were thrown from the stage during the concert.Songz pleaded guilty in August 2017 to two counts of disturbing the peace and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

🎥No charges against R&B artist over scuffle at AFC title game in KC

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marking his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden will use his first joint address to Congress to pitch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-business-government-and-politics-9e352e3dea44997725edb279751abab3">a $1.8 trillion investment</a>&nbsp;in children, families and education that would fundamentally transform the role government plays in American life.

Biden will make his case Wednesday night before a pared-down gathering of mask-wearing legislators due to coronavirus restrictions and in a U.S. Capitol still surrounded by black fencing after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">insurrectionists protesting his election</a>&nbsp;occupied the very dais where he will stand.

In the nationally televised ritual of a president standing before Congress, Biden will lay out a sweeping proposal for universal preschool, two years of free community college, $225 billion for child care and monthly payments of at least $250 to parents. His ideas reflect the frailties that were uncovered last year by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the pandemic</a>, and he will make the case that economic growth would best come from taxing the rich to help the middle class and the poor.

His speech will also provide an update on progress in combating the COVID-19 crisis he was elected to tame, showcasing hundreds of millions of vaccinations and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-virus-relief-checks-3eed6a4659f1fb7d36b4ced0eba58f86">relief checks</a>&nbsp;delivered to help offset the devastation wrought by a virus that has&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">killed more than 573,000 people in the United States</a>. He will also champion his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-coronavirus-pandemic-pittsburgh-jen-psaki-8865ffc8f5ad3142155a5bd3c3a3e6d3">$2.3 trillion infrastructure plan</a>, a staggering figure to be financed solely by higher taxes on corporations.

Seizing an opportunity born of generational calamity, Biden has embraced momentous action over incremental progress, with the goal of making the economy fairer and stronger. But he will be forced to thread the needle between Republicans who cry government overreach and some Democrats who fear he won’t go big enough.

The Democratic president’s strategy is to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-impeachments-barack-obama-4c79ff8d59f8ce19f9dae6b550223bf0">sidestep the polarization</a>&nbsp;and make his appeal directly to voters. His prime-time speech will underscore a trio of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-climate-iran-nuclear-immigration-de7b288aa2b4315b5b7fe38559a6e666">central campaign promises</a>: to manage the deadly pandemic, to turn down the tension in Washington and to restore faith in government as an effective force for good.

“He is a big-government Democrat, and he has not been at all reluctant to propose big initiatives in a response to a national crisis,” said Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University presidential historian.

No American politician has more familiarity with the presidential address to Congress than Biden. He spent three decades in the audience as a senator and another eight years seated behind President Barack Obama during the annual address when he was vice president.

For the first time on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-vice-president-f86d6be83bf83fe9b823ae7e21f94796">a female vice president</a>, Kamala Harris, will be seated behind the chief executive for the speech.

Biden also knows that most of those seated before him have, like he did, looked at the president and envisioned themselves one day in his place. He has heard the memorable phrases and the long list of promises — often unmet — and seen the partisan reactions intensify as the years have hurried by.

He chose to delay this speech, typically given in the afterglow of a presidential inaugural. In doing so, he gave himself the chance to not simply speak of the pain of the COVID-19 crisis but also to talk about tangible progress in beating it back.

The setting will be unlike for any of his predecessors, with members of Congress spread out and socially distanced and many Republicans citing “scheduling conflicts” to explain their absence. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that Biden’s presidency “can best be described as the Biden bait and switch.”

“President Biden ran as a moderate, but I’m hard pressed to think of anything at all that he’s done so far that would indicate some degree of moderation,” McConnell said.

Yet the desire for swift action is born from political necessity. Biden understands that the time for passing his agenda could be perilously short given that president’s parties historically lose congressional seats in the midterm elections, less than two years away. The Democrats’ margins are already razor-thin.

Biden will talk to Congress amid the start of a potentially booming recovery, one that could determine whether the U.S. economy can once again fire on all cylinders after a morale-crushing pandemic and a humbling financial crisis with shock waves that linger a dozen years later.

In his first three months in office, Biden signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill — passed without a single GOP vote — and has shepherded direct payments of $1,400 per person to more than 160 million households. Hundreds of billions of dollars in aid will soon arrive for state and local governments, enough money that overall U.S. growth this year could eclipse 6% — a level not seen since 1984. Administration officials are betting that it will be enough to bring back all 8.4 million jobs lost to the pandemic by next year.

Biden’s speech Wednesday is about how to sustain those gains once the debt-financed boost fades. Federal Reserve estimates suggest that the economy will slip to more modest 1.8% growth after at least two years of robust gains, potentially leaving the Biden era with some happy memories but few enduring legacies.

New in his Wednesday speech is a “families” plan that could cement his legacy with $1.8 trillion worth of spending over 10 years.

A significant amount of the proposal would ensure that eligible families receive at least $250 monthly per child through 2025, extending the enhanced tax credit that was part of Biden’s COVID-19 aid. There would be $200 billion for free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Another $225 billion would pay for subsidized child care and invest in child care workers.

A national paid family and medical leave program would be started at a cost of $225 billion. Another $200 billion would go to permanently reduce health insurance premiums for people who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

For $109 billion, people could attend community college tuition-free for two years. There would be $85 billion for Pell Grants to help more people afford higher education. Historically Black and tribal institutions would be eligible to receive $46 billion.

Funding all of this would be a series of tax increases on the wealthy that would raise about $1.5 trillion over a decade.

Biden wants to boost IRS enforcement and require disclosures by financial institutions, specifically targeting the rich. The White House estimates that would bring in $700 billion over 10 years. He would raise the top tax rate on the most affluent families from 37% to 39.6%. People earning in excess of $1 million a year would see their rate on capital gains — the profits from a sale of a stock or home — nearly double from 20% to 39.6%, which would mean the wealthiest Americans could no longer pay at a lower rate than many families who identify as middle class.

The president has drawn a firm red line that no household earning less than $400,000 a year will pay more in taxes, a move that both broadened the definition of the middle class and clearly delineated just how extreme inequality has become.

Economist Owen Zidar, whose research suggested that capital gains tax hikes could raise meaningful revenues, said the programs funded by the proceeds might allow poorer children to become inventors and entrepreneurs, positions that are increasingly reserved for the offspring of wealthy parents.

“There are many missing Einsteins and Elon Musks,” Zidar said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marking his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden will use his first joint address to Congress to pitch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-business-government-and-politics-9e352e3dea44997725edb279751abab3">a $1.8 trillion investment</a>&nbsp;in children, families and education that would fundamentally transform the role government plays in American life.Biden will make his case Wednesday night before a pared-down gathering of mask-wearing legislators due to coronavirus restrictions and in a U.S. Capitol still surrounded by black fencing after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">insurrectionists protesting his election</a>&nbsp;occupied the very dais where he will stand.In the nationally televised ritual of a president standing before Congress, Biden will lay out a sweeping proposal for universal preschool, two years of free community college, $225 billion for child care and monthly payments of at least $250 to parents. His ideas reflect the frailties that were uncovered last year by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the pandemic</a>, and he will make the case that economic growth would best come from taxing the rich to help the middle class and the poor.His speech will also provide an update on progress in combating the COVID-19 crisis he was elected to tame, showcasing hundreds of millions of vaccinations and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-virus-relief-checks-3eed6a4659f1fb7d36b4ced0eba58f86">relief checks</a>&nbsp;delivered to help offset the devastation wrought by a virus that has&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">killed more than 573,000 people in the United States</a>. He will also champion his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-coronavirus-pandemic-pittsburgh-jen-psaki-8865ffc8f5ad3142155a5bd3c3a3e6d3">$2.3 trillion infrastructure plan</a>, a staggering figure to be financed solely by higher taxes on corporations.Seizing an opportunity born of generational calamity, Biden has embraced momentous action over incremental progress, with the goal of making the economy fairer and stronger. But he will be forced to thread the needle between Republicans who cry government overreach and some Democrats who fear he won’t go big enough.The Democratic president’s strategy is to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-impeachments-barack-obama-4c79ff8d59f8ce19f9dae6b550223bf0">sidestep the polarization</a>&nbsp;and make his appeal directly to voters. His prime-time speech will underscore a trio of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-climate-iran-nuclear-immigration-de7b288aa2b4315b5b7fe38559a6e666">central campaign promises</a>: to manage the deadly pandemic, to turn down the tension in Washington and to restore faith in government as an effective force for good.“He is a big-government Democrat, and he has not been at all reluctant to propose big initiatives in a response to a national crisis,” said Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University presidential historian.No American politician has more familiarity with the presidential address to Congress than Biden. He spent three decades in the audience as a senator and another eight years seated behind President Barack Obama during the annual address when he was vice president.For the first time on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-vice-president-f86d6be83bf83fe9b823ae7e21f94796">a female vice president</a>, Kamala Harris, will be seated behind the chief executive for the speech.Biden also knows that most of those seated before him have, like he did, looked at the president and envisioned themselves one day in his place. He has heard the memorable phrases and the long list of promises — often unmet — and seen the partisan reactions intensify as the years have hurried by.He chose to delay this speech, typically given in the afterglow of a presidential inaugural. In doing so, he gave himself the chance to not simply speak of the pain of the COVID-19 crisis but also to talk about tangible progress in beating it back.The setting will be unlike for any of his predecessors, with members of Congress spread out and socially distanced and many Republicans citing “scheduling conflicts” to explain their absence. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that Biden’s presidency “can best be described as the Biden bait and switch.”“President Biden ran as a moderate, but I’m hard pressed to think of anything at all that he’s done so far that would indicate some degree of moderation,” McConnell said.Yet the desire for swift action is born from political necessity. Biden understands that the time for passing his agenda could be perilously short given that president’s parties historically lose congressional seats in the midterm elections, less than two years away. The Democrats’ margins are already razor-thin.Biden will talk to Congress amid the start of a potentially booming recovery, one that could determine whether the U.S. economy can once again fire on all cylinders after a morale-crushing pandemic and a humbling financial crisis with shock waves that linger a dozen years later.In his first three months in office, Biden signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill — passed without a single GOP vote — and has shepherded direct payments of $1,400 per person to more than 160 million households. Hundreds of billions of dollars in aid will soon arrive for state and local governments, enough money that overall U.S. growth this year could eclipse 6% — a level not seen since 1984. Administration officials are betting that it will be enough to bring back all 8.4 million jobs lost to the pandemic by next year.Biden’s speech Wednesday is about how to sustain those gains once the debt-financed boost fades. Federal Reserve estimates suggest that the economy will slip to more modest 1.8% growth after at least two years of robust gains, potentially leaving the Biden era with some happy memories but few enduring legacies.New in his Wednesday speech is a “families” plan that could cement his legacy with $1.8 trillion worth of spending over 10 years.A significant amount of the proposal would ensure that eligible families receive at least $250 monthly per child through 2025, extending the enhanced tax credit that was part of Biden’s COVID-19 aid. There would be $200 billion for free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Another $225 billion would pay for subsidized child care and invest in child care workers.A national paid family and medical leave program would be started at a cost of $225 billion. Another $200 billion would go to permanently reduce health insurance premiums for people who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act.For $109 billion, people could attend community college tuition-free for two years. There would be $85 billion for Pell Grants to help more people afford higher education. Historically Black and tribal institutions would be eligible to receive $46 billion.Funding all of this would be a series of tax increases on the wealthy that would raise about $1.5 trillion over a decade.Biden wants to boost IRS enforcement and require disclosures by financial institutions, specifically targeting the rich. The White House estimates that would bring in $700 billion over 10 years. He would raise the top tax rate on the most affluent families from 37% to 39.6%. People earning in excess of $1 million a year would see their rate on capital gains — the profits from a sale of a stock or home — nearly double from 20% to 39.6%, which would mean the wealthiest Americans could no longer pay at a lower rate than many families who identify as middle class.The president has drawn a firm red line that no household earning less than $400,000 a year will pay more in taxes, a move that both broadened the definition of the middle class and clearly delineated just how extreme inequality has become.Economist Owen Zidar, whose research suggested that capital gains tax hikes could raise meaningful revenues, said the programs funded by the proceeds might allow poorer children to become inventors and entrepreneurs, positions that are increasingly reserved for the offspring of wealthy parents.“There are many missing Einsteins and Elon Musks,” Zidar said.___

Biden to propose free preschool, community college in speech to Congress

SALINA—Law enforcement authorities investigating the murder of a woman in Salina continue their search for a suspect identified as as 35-year-old Nelson Gerrod Hull.

He is wanted for the February 23 shooting death of 36-year-old Courtney Ann Hoffman.&nbsp; The Saline County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Hull for murder in the first degree.

Hull is described as a black male, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. A tattoo on the right side of his neck is "Mi Familia."

On Monday, police reported the arrest of Clarence Darnyl Brown, 34, of Salina, in connection with the case.&nbsp;Brown is being held on requested charges of Aiding and abetting first degree murder, Criminal solicitation and Interference with law enforcement.

Just after 11:30a.m. on February 23, police responded to the 700 block of North Fourth Street in Salina for a report of the sound of gunfire and someone screaming, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, Salina Police Officers located a woman identified as Hoffman inside a vehicle at 731 N. 4th Street. She had a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased by Salina Fire Department EMS personnel.

Police say Hull should be considered armed and dangerous. They encourage anyone with information on Hull's current location to contact 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576681996331.jpeg" alt="Hull photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Hull photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA—Law enforcement authorities investigating the murder of a woman in Salina continue their search for a suspect identified as as 35-year-old Nelson Gerrod Hull.He is wanted for the February 23 shooting death of 36-year-old Courtney Ann Hoffman.&nbsp; The Saline County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Hull for murder in the first degree.Hull is described as a black male, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. A tattoo on the right side of his neck is "Mi Familia."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614348886825.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday in Salina. photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday in Salina. photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, police reported the arrest of Clarence Darnyl Brown, 34, of Salina, in connection with the case.&nbsp;Brown is being held on requested charges of Aiding and abetting first degree murder, Criminal solicitation and Interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614629894498.png" alt="Clarence Brown -photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Clarence Brown -photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 11:30a.m. on February 23, police responded to the 700 block of North Fourth Street in Salina for a report of the sound of gunfire and someone screaming, according to a media release.Upon arrival, Salina Police Officers located a woman identified as Hoffman inside a vehicle at 731 N. 4th Street. She had a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased by Salina Fire Department EMS personnel.Police say Hull should be considered armed and dangerous. They encourage anyone with information on Hull's current location to contact 911 immediately.

 After 9 weeks, search continues for suspect in murder of Kan. woman

<a href="http://www.kansasappleseed.org">Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice</a>

The USDA has approved the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Education’s Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) implementation plan.&nbsp;This program allows Kansas families with children who utilize SNAP or free and reduced-price meals at school, as well as some Kansas kids who utilize child care, to receive benefits on electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used for groceries, much like SNAP food assistance.&nbsp;

With Kansas’s plan approved, qualifying families will begin to receive food benefits as soon as the next six weeks. The amount families receive will be based on the number of children in their household and how long their school district had remote learning due to COVID-19. P-EBT helps families fill the gaps left when families may not have been able to access school meals due to the pandemic.&nbsp;

“Pandemic-EBT benefits are critical for Kansas families,” Jami Reever, Kansas Appleseed Executive Director, said. “Programs like P-EBT, free meals offered through the Summer Food Service Program and more help families stretch their dollars as far as possible during COVID-19.”&nbsp;

USDA approval is the first step. While the state works to bring the plan online, Kansas families who haven’t done so should apply for the free and reduced lunch program to ensure their eligibility. Families who already participate should also verify their application information is up-to-date.&nbsp;

The first round of Pandemic-EBT was made available last spring for Kansas families whose children were out of school due to COVID-19 closures.&nbsp;

The USDA also announced it will expand Pandemic-EBT into the summer months. This means these same families will receive an additional $375 per child to help buy food this summer.

“Thank you to all the work of DCF, KSDE, school districts and their employees, food banks, volunteers, and all those doing everything in their power to fight hunger in Kansas,” Reever said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1562944742118.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="http://www.kansasappleseed.org">Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice</a>The USDA has approved the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Education’s Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) implementation plan.&nbsp;This program allows Kansas families with children who utilize SNAP or free and reduced-price meals at school, as well as some Kansas kids who utilize child care, to receive benefits on electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used for groceries, much like SNAP food assistance.&nbsp;With Kansas’s plan approved, qualifying families will begin to receive food benefits as soon as the next six weeks. The amount families receive will be based on the number of children in their household and how long their school district had remote learning due to COVID-19. P-EBT helps families fill the gaps left when families may not have been able to access school meals due to the pandemic.&nbsp;“Pandemic-EBT benefits are critical for Kansas families,” Jami Reever, Kansas Appleseed Executive Director, said. “Programs like P-EBT, free meals offered through the Summer Food Service Program and more help families stretch their dollars as far as possible during COVID-19.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619631893320.jpeg" alt="Reever" />
 <figcaption>Reever</figcaption>
 </figure>USDA approval is the first step. While the state works to bring the plan online, Kansas families who haven’t done so should apply for the free and reduced lunch program to ensure their eligibility. Families who already participate should also verify their application information is up-to-date.&nbsp;The first round of Pandemic-EBT was made available last spring for Kansas families whose children were out of school due to COVID-19 closures.&nbsp;The USDA also announced it will expand Pandemic-EBT into the summer months. This means these same families will receive an additional $375 per child to help buy food this summer.“Thank you to all the work of DCF, KSDE, school districts and their employees, food banks, volunteers, and all those doing everything in their power to fight hunger in Kansas,” Reever said.&nbsp;

USDA decision will mean added food assistance for many Kansans

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department
 of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they 
are disbursing nearly 2 million payments in the seventh batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.

Today's announcement brings the total disbursed so far to 
approximately 163 million payments, with a total value of approximately 
$384 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in 
batches <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-delivering-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-americans">as announced</a> on March 12.

The seventh batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 23, 
with an official payment date of April 28, with some people receiving 
direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending 
deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments:

Additional information is available on the first six batches of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which processed 
weekly on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/two-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-reaches-approximately-161-million-as-payments-continue">April 16</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-va-beneficiaries-bring-total-to-approximately-159-million-as-payments-continue">April 9</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-25-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan">April 2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-tops-130-million-with-more-to-come">March 26</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-another-37-million-economic-impact-payments-from-the-american-rescue-plan">March 19</a> and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0063">March 12</a>.

The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly 
basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom 
the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who 
recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for "plus-up"
 payments.

Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return

Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to
 urge people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received 
Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the 
benefits they're entitled to under the law, including tax credits such 
as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>,
 the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 
tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is 
eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will
 begin to be disbursed this summer.

For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020
 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information 
the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible 
individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as 
possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying
 dependents.

People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal
 benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes 
those experiencing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/those-experiencing-homelessness-can-get-economic-impact-payments-and-other-tax-benefits-permanent-address-not-required">homelessness</a>,
 the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or 
second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts 
may be eligible for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-claiming-the-recovery-rebate-credit-if-you-arent-required-to-file-a-tax-return">Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return</a>.

Free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">tax return preparation</a> is available for qualifying people.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this third round 
of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people 
won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or
 second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate 
Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000
 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing 
jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for 
married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these 
levels are ineligible for a payment.

Individuals can check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments</a> is available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department
 of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they 
are disbursing nearly 2 million payments in the seventh batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.Today's announcement brings the total disbursed so far to 
approximately 163 million payments, with a total value of approximately 
$384 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in 
batches <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-delivering-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-americans">as announced</a> on March 12.The seventh batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 23, 
with an official payment date of April 28, with some people receiving 
direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending 
deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments:<ul>
 <li>In total, this batch includes nearly 2 million payments with a value of more than $4.3 billion.</li><li>More than 1.2 million payments, with a value of over $3 billion, 
went to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have 
information to issue an Economic Impact Payment but who recently filed a
 tax return.&nbsp;</li><li>This batch also includes additional ongoing supplemental payments 
for people who earlier this year received payments based on their 2019 
tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their 
recently processed 2020 tax returns. This batch included more than 
730,000 of these "plus-up" payments, with a value of over $1.3 billion.</li><li>Overall, this seventh batch of payments contains about 1.1 million 
direct deposit payments (with a total value of $2.5 billion) and about 
850,000 paper check payments (with a total value of more than $1.8 
billion).</li>
 </ul>Additional information is available on the first six batches of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which processed 
weekly on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/two-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-reaches-approximately-161-million-as-payments-continue">April 16</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-va-beneficiaries-bring-total-to-approximately-159-million-as-payments-continue">April 9</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-25-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan">April 2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-tops-130-million-with-more-to-come">March 26</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-another-37-million-economic-impact-payments-from-the-american-rescue-plan">March 19</a> and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0063">March 12</a>.The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly 
basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom 
the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who 
recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for "plus-up"
 payments.<h2>Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return</h2>Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to
 urge people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received 
Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the 
benefits they're entitled to under the law, including tax credits such 
as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>,
 the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 
tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is 
eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will
 begin to be disbursed this summer.For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020
 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information 
the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible 
individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as 
possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying
 dependents.People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal
 benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes 
those experiencing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/those-experiencing-homelessness-can-get-economic-impact-payments-and-other-tax-benefits-permanent-address-not-required">homelessness</a>,
 the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or 
second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts 
may be eligible for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-claiming-the-recovery-rebate-credit-if-you-arent-required-to-file-a-tax-return">Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return</a>.Free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">tax return preparation</a> is available for qualifying people.The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this third round 
of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people 
won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or
 second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate 
Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000
 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing 
jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for 
married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these 
levels are ineligible for a payment.Individuals can check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments</a> is available on IRS.gov.

IRS: 2 million more COVID recovery checks sent; 163M paid so far

COWLEY COUNTY— Police cited the guardian of a juvenile for allowing the minor to drive an ATV after a rollover accident left another woman injured.

Just before 5 p.m. April 18, Fire-EMS and Police departments were dispatched to the Crestwood neighborhood in east Arkansas City for a report of an injury accident in the area of the Edgewood Lane cul-de-sac, west of Crestwood Drive and south of East Chestnut Avenue, according to a media release from the Arkansas City Police Department.

Officers determined a juvenile had been operating an ATV illegally in the roadway when, while turning around in the cul-de-sac, the vehicle rolled over onto its passenger side.

This caused injury to the ankle of the passenger identified as a 43-year-old Winfield woman. The juvenile only sustained minor injuries in the accident. Both the driver and passenger were wearing their seat belts.

&nbsp;Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department transported to injured woman to South Central Kansas Medical Center for treatment of her ankle injury.

The juvenile’s guardian, Penny L. Coffelt, 55, of Arkansas City, was cited through Arkansas City Municipal Court for permitting an unauthorized minor to drive the vehicle.

COWLEY COUNTY— Police cited the guardian of a juvenile for allowing the minor to drive an ATV after a rollover accident left another woman injured.Just before 5 p.m. April 18, Fire-EMS and Police departments were dispatched to the Crestwood neighborhood in east Arkansas City for a report of an injury accident in the area of the Edgewood Lane cul-de-sac, west of Crestwood Drive and south of East Chestnut Avenue, according to a media release from the Arkansas City Police Department.Officers determined a juvenile had been operating an ATV illegally in the roadway when, while turning around in the cul-de-sac, the vehicle rolled over onto its passenger side.This caused injury to the ankle of the passenger identified as a 43-year-old Winfield woman. The juvenile only sustained minor injuries in the accident. Both the driver and passenger were wearing their seat belts.&nbsp;Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department transported to injured woman to South Central Kansas Medical Center for treatment of her ankle injury.The juvenile’s guardian, Penny L. Coffelt, 55, of Arkansas City, was cited through Arkansas City Municipal Court for permitting an unauthorized minor to drive the vehicle.

Kan. woman cited after juvenile crashes ATV, injuring woman

The Federal Trade Commission is sending full refunds totaling more than $11 million to consumers who lost money to a bogus credit card interest rate reduction scheme operated by E.M. Systems &amp; Services.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfv9AX6pdQUbPwOIbxNJ3lkQL-2FSRM73p7sdjPQ-2Fa2RhuxcOc7r95y5dkNU0bW1RnvieQzA6jbTbK4HZYiW-2FoMYYQ-3D-3Dw2O3_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjbE33JMV-2B-2FHFPIVUNtI5wvr-2F35r3Iic8jH2LP6g0NBmDXjq1PTifMr7F59ZsaMSpf1C4tzT5TQxu88IrPg4tL0bAXWL02ygrAGBEX8jDFKWB53ln-2BdXzvszcKyanFW1yQ69K1ZPHjGA1GR-2BaGpJ8Y0g-3D">FTC and the State of Florida alleged</a>&nbsp;that the company’s owners, Steven D. Short and Karissa L. Dyar, used a variety of phony business names with associated websites, cold-called consumers with credit card debt and falsely promised to save them thousands of dollars by reducing their credit card interest rates. The FTC says that the defendants charged an up-front fee between $695 and $1,495, and falsely promised to provide refunds to consumers if they failed to reduce the interest rates.

According to the complaint, the telemarketers identified themselves as “card services,” “credit services,” and “card member services,” or used one of the defendants’ phony business names. To win consumers’ trust, they said they knew the amount of consumers’ credit card debt, provided the caller’s license or badge number, mentioned the Internet domain name of the phony business, and falsely claimed they had a business relationship with consumers’ lenders.

More than 11,000 consumers are receiving full refunds, averaging $995 each. Consumers who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.&nbsp;The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

Recipients who have questions about the redress payments, or who did not receive a payment but believe they are eligible should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-239-6082.

The funds for this refund program come from the FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfBxL2XL4hOPBqaNkXOJ4pesUvE8SZNtd7XwaHuxAIkPv8IYCmhzMlhHONY2ByONo7hVV38AsLUXEC1oYkCIinnuiXCi1fHONu-2F1YqMx3acJA-3DkKDD_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjQDvxrSfMk7S8TNFv56hahyTLIv2A2cd1jbE8MH-2BMFH2AvZ8m0ROwBCellwDOoYFZsO8kyHFMjmm7omesnLIjR-2BnLyy25t6Q1CKm-2FuNDAjZ0dFXFiXMXMOJUhmvRMo7yS6XqAC9XW1C46HDEN1QeuK4-3D">case against First Data Merchant Services</a>, the company that processed credit card payments for the defendants in this case. According to the FTC, First Data allegedly ignored repeated warnings from employees, banks, and others that they were processing payments for companies that were breaking the law. First Data agreed to pay $40 million to settle the FTC’s charges. The FTC plans to use the remaining money to provide additional refunds to consumers in two other related cases.

The FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcUmZLSH0xJ2WtBwbqiniakaGlt4YIn0B6CxtRLKddhzP4GoZfisp1lGzNgGgqlRzTDuaaeFlUh8frMSmtxmdTk-2FXAdpnv6Nw6UkQu7dC5YkuPz41qsllLLO5JBfQT1Q8mGVx1W8QCVNHzFqPi9meq4-3D3PTL_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjV2Kfb2tlRFzbvL5FNVBwN-2FQK5PTY7VYwRItNq-2B0xlXRMDvTMe4XEIyL-2Fi7mhchI4OesebOALZy-2BWuEERUGoQDM-2BJgWZbiFvJzwUm4l6JFQC2GvQURRSLDy7GXHcv1aRKIwudMeatc-2F-2B6L9jmnQVgvg-3D">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>&nbsp;provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds.&nbsp;FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the country in 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission is sending full refunds totaling more than $11 million to consumers who lost money to a bogus credit card interest rate reduction scheme operated by E.M. Systems &amp; Services.The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfv9AX6pdQUbPwOIbxNJ3lkQL-2FSRM73p7sdjPQ-2Fa2RhuxcOc7r95y5dkNU0bW1RnvieQzA6jbTbK4HZYiW-2FoMYYQ-3D-3Dw2O3_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjbE33JMV-2B-2FHFPIVUNtI5wvr-2F35r3Iic8jH2LP6g0NBmDXjq1PTifMr7F59ZsaMSpf1C4tzT5TQxu88IrPg4tL0bAXWL02ygrAGBEX8jDFKWB53ln-2BdXzvszcKyanFW1yQ69K1ZPHjGA1GR-2BaGpJ8Y0g-3D">FTC and the State of Florida alleged</a>&nbsp;that the company’s owners, Steven D. Short and Karissa L. Dyar, used a variety of phony business names with associated websites, cold-called consumers with credit card debt and falsely promised to save them thousands of dollars by reducing their credit card interest rates. The FTC says that the defendants charged an up-front fee between $695 and $1,495, and falsely promised to provide refunds to consumers if they failed to reduce the interest rates.According to the complaint, the telemarketers identified themselves as “card services,” “credit services,” and “card member services,” or used one of the defendants’ phony business names. To win consumers’ trust, they said they knew the amount of consumers’ credit card debt, provided the caller’s license or badge number, mentioned the Internet domain name of the phony business, and falsely claimed they had a business relationship with consumers’ lenders.More than 11,000 consumers are receiving full refunds, averaging $995 each. Consumers who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.&nbsp;The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.Recipients who have questions about the redress payments, or who did not receive a payment but believe they are eligible should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-239-6082.The funds for this refund program come from the FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfBxL2XL4hOPBqaNkXOJ4pesUvE8SZNtd7XwaHuxAIkPv8IYCmhzMlhHONY2ByONo7hVV38AsLUXEC1oYkCIinnuiXCi1fHONu-2F1YqMx3acJA-3DkKDD_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjQDvxrSfMk7S8TNFv56hahyTLIv2A2cd1jbE8MH-2BMFH2AvZ8m0ROwBCellwDOoYFZsO8kyHFMjmm7omesnLIjR-2BnLyy25t6Q1CKm-2FuNDAjZ0dFXFiXMXMOJUhmvRMo7yS6XqAC9XW1C46HDEN1QeuK4-3D">case against First Data Merchant Services</a>, the company that processed credit card payments for the defendants in this case. According to the FTC, First Data allegedly ignored repeated warnings from employees, banks, and others that they were processing payments for companies that were breaking the law. First Data agreed to pay $40 million to settle the FTC’s charges. The FTC plans to use the remaining money to provide additional refunds to consumers in two other related cases.The FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcUmZLSH0xJ2WtBwbqiniakaGlt4YIn0B6CxtRLKddhzP4GoZfisp1lGzNgGgqlRzTDuaaeFlUh8frMSmtxmdTk-2FXAdpnv6Nw6UkQu7dC5YkuPz41qsllLLO5JBfQT1Q8mGVx1W8QCVNHzFqPi9meq4-3D3PTL_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjV2Kfb2tlRFzbvL5FNVBwN-2FQK5PTY7VYwRItNq-2B0xlXRMDvTMe4XEIyL-2Fi7mhchI4OesebOALZy-2BWuEERUGoQDM-2BJgWZbiFvJzwUm4l6JFQC2GvQURRSLDy7GXHcv1aRKIwudMeatc-2F-2B6L9jmnQVgvg-3D">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>&nbsp;provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds.&nbsp;FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the country in 2020.

FTC sends $11M+ in refunds to consumers affected by credit card interest rate scam

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A group of faith leaders is seeking the resignation of Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez because of the department's response to the fatal shooting of a teenager in 2018. 

The organization, called MORE2, on Monday said Donchez has misled the public since 17-year-old John Albers was shot by an officer in his family's driveway.

Albers' parents have criticized the department's lack of transparency in their son's shooting and in actions the department has taken since then. The department says it will release a redacted report this week that explains the investigation into the officer’s actions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601028395769.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal 2018 shooting -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal 2018 shooting -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A group of faith leaders is seeking the resignation of Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez because of the department's response to the fatal shooting of a teenager in 2018. The organization, called MORE2, on Monday said Donchez has misled the public since 17-year-old John Albers was shot by an officer in his family's driveway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601028453799.png" alt="Albers-photo courtesy McGilley Memorial Chapel" />
 <figcaption>Albers-photo courtesy McGilley Memorial Chapel</figcaption>
 </figure>Albers' parents have criticized the department's lack of transparency in their son's shooting and in actions the department has taken since then. The department says it will release a redacted report this week that explains the investigation into the officer’s actions.

Faith leaders urge police chief to resign over Kan. teen's death

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

The owner of Blue Line Remodeling, 1014 E. Prescott Road in Salina told police that when he arrived at the business Monday morning, he found that it had been burglarized, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Video surveillance showed that at approximately 11:50 p.m. Sunday, a black male wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it and glasses was seen entering the business.&nbsp; The business owner reported a black coat and numerous business checks were taken along with numerous sets of keys. Additionally, an Acer computer monitor and a handheld digital thermometer (total loss $540) were damaged.

Upon checking business vehicles, the keys were all found in a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup and a key was in the ignition, but was the wrong key for the vehicle, according to Forrester noted. The pickup was valued at $3,000.

An officer recognized the suspect on the video as Malique Powell, 23, of Salina, and police issued an attempt to locate.

At 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, an officer spotted Powell sitting on a bench in the 100 block of N. Santa Fe Avenue. Powell was wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it. He allegedly had several of the reported stolen checks and a methamphetamine pipe in his possession.

Police arrested Powell on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Damage to Property, Attempted theft, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619530243870.jpeg" alt="Powell photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Powell photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.The owner of Blue Line Remodeling, 1014 E. Prescott Road in Salina told police that when he arrived at the business Monday morning, he found that it had been burglarized, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Video surveillance showed that at approximately 11:50 p.m. Sunday, a black male wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it and glasses was seen entering the business.&nbsp; The business owner reported a black coat and numerous business checks were taken along with numerous sets of keys. Additionally, an Acer computer monitor and a handheld digital thermometer (total loss $540) were damaged.Upon checking business vehicles, the keys were all found in a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup and a key was in the ignition, but was the wrong key for the vehicle, according to Forrester noted. The pickup was valued at $3,000.An officer recognized the suspect on the video as Malique Powell, 23, of Salina, and police issued an attempt to locate.At 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, an officer spotted Powell sitting on a bench in the 100 block of N. Santa Fe Avenue. Powell was wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it. He allegedly had several of the reported stolen checks and a methamphetamine pipe in his possession.Police arrested Powell on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Damage to Property, Attempted theft, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Suspect seen on security camera arrested for Kan. business burglary

By ABIGAIL CENSKY &amp; STEPHEN KORANDA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-04-27/from-taxes-to-trans-athletes-republicans-in-kansas-legislature-look-to-override-governors-vetoes">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas lawmakers return to the Statehouse 
next week for a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over issues at
 the heart of both culture wars and taxes.

While legislators took a
 break, Kelly vetoed a range of high-profile bills. Now the conservative
 Republicans who control the Legislature face the challenge of overrides
 with slim margins to pull that off.

Republican Senate President 
Ty Masterson blasted the governor for striking down bills ranging from 
tax cuts to restrictions on transgender athletes.

“Republicans 
will respond to the governor’s veto-a-rama with a veto-override-a-rama 
when we return in May,” Masterson said in a statement.

Here are four of the top policies that lawmakers may clash over.

Echoing a<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank">wave of bills</a> in more than 30 states, Kansas Republicans passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.”<a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank">The bill</a>
 would ban people identified as male at birth from playing on women’s or
 girls’ teams. The bill doesn’t address people identified as female at 
birth playing on men’s or boys’ teams.

The proposed law was 
swiftly vetoed by Kelly. She deemed the legislation a “devastating 
message that Kansas is not welcoming to all children and their families”
 and said that it may harm the state’s ability to “attract and retain 
businesses.”

Following her veto, Republican leaders in the Legislature issued their own<a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank">statement</a>
 lambasting the veto. They said the bill is only about fairness and “not
 about anything else other than that” and pledged to continue to fight 
“until this bill becomes law.”

However, Republicans face an uphill
 battle in whipping enough votes to override Kelly’s veto. It takes 84 
votes in the House and 27 in the Senate to overturn her veto.

Lawmakers need eight more votes in the House and one additional vote in the Senate.

Whether Republicans dig their heels in during the veto session remains to be seen. A recent NPR/PBS Newshour/ Marist<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank">poll</a>
 reported that just 29% of Republicans nationally said they would 
support a bill banning transgender athletes from playing on a team that 
matches their gender identity.

However, while a majority of adults
 surveyed said they oppose legislating a ban on transgender athletes 
playing on teams that match their gender identity, there is a stark 
partisan divide between the opinions of Democrats and Republicans on the
 matter.

The poll reports three quarters of Democrats would be in 
favor of transgender athletes playing on teams that match their gender 
identity in high school while 81% of Republicans are against it.

After the session adjourned, Kelly also vetoed a<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">bill</a>
 that would let people from other states with permits to carry a 
concealed weapon have those permits honored in Kansas. More notably, it <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2058/" target="_blank">lowers the age</a> of eligibility for a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18.

In
 a statement explaining her veto Kelly said, “Legislation that allows 
more guns on campus is neither safe nor effective, and it will drive 
prospective students away from our schools.”

Kansas already allows
 most people over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, but 
the bill would allow younger people to carry concealed guns if they get a
 state license.

Critics of the bill including gun-violence prevention group Moms Demand Action,<a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank">praised</a> Kelly’s veto. But Masterson said Kelly vetoed Second Amendment rights.

To
 override Kelly’s veto, Republicans need to pick up four votes in the 
House and could lose three in the Senate while still overriding.

Republicans took another swing at tax cuts this year. Their<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb50/" target="_blank"> plan</a>
 would benefit businesses with international divisions and help 
individual filers with changes like a larger standard deduction. But 
doing so would cost the state tax revenue.

Just like in <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/gov-kelly-vetoes-2nd-gop-tax-relief-plan" target="_blank">past attempts</a>,
 Kelly knocked the bill down with her veto pen. She raised concerns 
about the cost, pegged at several hundred million dollars in the coming 
years, and hinted at budget deficits the state saw after tax cuts in 
2012 when Republican Sam Brownback was governor.

“We cannot return to the era of perennial, self-inflicted budget crises,” Kelly said in a statement announcing her veto.

But
 lawmakers in the conservative GOP Statehouse majority think this year 
they may have the votes to override the governor’s action after <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-05/republican-gains-in-the-kansas-legislature-will-affect-vetoes-new-political-maps-and-more" target="_blank">picking up seats</a> in the 2020 election.

The tax plan passed the Senate with enough votes to override a veto, but would need three additional supporters in the House.

Conservative lawmakers <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb175/" target="_blank">tied billions of dollars</a> in school funding to a proposal that would let some struggling students use state funding to attend a private school.

Critics
 of the idea said that would hold school funding hostage to get leverage
 for the policy proposals. Voting against the private school provisions 
would also mean voting against the budget for Kansas schools.

Ultimately, that’s exactly what happened. The bill narrowly failed in the House.

But
 conservatives argued it makes sense to mix policy changes with funding 
for public schools if it gives some students access to more educational 
options.

In the final days of the session, lawmakers will either 
have to craft a new bill that mixes policy proposals with funding, or 
simplify the equation and propose a bill that just funds Kansas 
education without policy changes.

Abigail Censky is the political reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/AbigailCensky" target="_blank">@AbigailCensky</a> or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.&nbsp;Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter and news editor for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Stephen_Koranda" target="_blank">@Stephen_Koranda</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619557382396.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly struck down multiple bills with her veto pen, and Republicans are aiming to overturn those vetoes as soon as next week. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly struck down multiple bills with her veto pen, and Republicans are aiming to overturn those vetoes as soon as next week. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ABIGAIL CENSKY &amp; STEPHEN KORANDA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-04-27/from-taxes-to-trans-athletes-republicans-in-kansas-legislature-look-to-override-governors-vetoes">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas lawmakers return to the Statehouse 
next week for a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over issues at
 the heart of both culture wars and taxes.While legislators took a
 break, Kelly vetoed a range of high-profile bills. Now the conservative
 Republicans who control the Legislature face the challenge of overrides
 with slim margins to pull that off.Republican Senate President 
Ty Masterson blasted the governor for striking down bills ranging from 
tax cuts to restrictions on transgender athletes.“Republicans 
will respond to the governor’s veto-a-rama with a veto-override-a-rama 
when we return in May,” Masterson said in a statement.Here are four of the top policies that lawmakers may clash over.<h2>A tidal wave of trans athlete bans</h2>Echoing a<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank">wave of bills</a> in more than 30 states, Kansas Republicans passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.”<a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank">The bill</a>
 would ban people identified as male at birth from playing on women’s or
 girls’ teams. The bill doesn’t address people identified as female at 
birth playing on men’s or boys’ teams.The proposed law was 
swiftly vetoed by Kelly. She deemed the legislation a “devastating 
message that Kansas is not welcoming to all children and their families”
 and said that it may harm the state’s ability to “attract and retain 
businesses.”Following her veto, Republican leaders in the Legislature issued their own<a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank">statement</a>
 lambasting the veto. They said the bill is only about fairness and “not
 about anything else other than that” and pledged to continue to fight 
“until this bill becomes law.”However, Republicans face an uphill
 battle in whipping enough votes to override Kelly’s veto. It takes 84 
votes in the House and 27 in the Senate to overturn her veto.Lawmakers need eight more votes in the House and one additional vote in the Senate.Whether Republicans dig their heels in during the veto session remains to be seen. A recent NPR/PBS Newshour/ Marist<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank">poll</a>
 reported that just 29% of Republicans nationally said they would 
support a bill banning transgender athletes from playing on a team that 
matches their gender identity.However, while a majority of adults
 surveyed said they oppose legislating a ban on transgender athletes 
playing on teams that match their gender identity, there is a stark 
partisan divide between the opinions of Democrats and Republicans on the
 matter.The poll reports three quarters of Democrats would be in 
favor of transgender athletes playing on teams that match their gender 
identity in high school while 81% of Republicans are against it.<h2>Concealed carry for teens</h2>After the session adjourned, Kelly also vetoed a<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">bill</a>
 that would let people from other states with permits to carry a 
concealed weapon have those permits honored in Kansas. More notably, it <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2058/" target="_blank">lowers the age</a> of eligibility for a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18.In
 a statement explaining her veto Kelly said, “Legislation that allows 
more guns on campus is neither safe nor effective, and it will drive 
prospective students away from our schools.”Kansas already allows
 most people over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, but 
the bill would allow younger people to carry concealed guns if they get a
 state license.Critics of the bill including gun-violence prevention group Moms Demand Action,<a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank">praised</a> Kelly’s veto. But Masterson said Kelly vetoed Second Amendment rights.To
 override Kelly’s veto, Republicans need to pick up four votes in the 
House and could lose three in the Senate while still overriding.<h2>Tackling tax cuts</h2>Republicans took another swing at tax cuts this year. Their<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb50/" target="_blank"> plan</a>
 would benefit businesses with international divisions and help 
individual filers with changes like a larger standard deduction. But 
doing so would cost the state tax revenue.Just like in <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/gov-kelly-vetoes-2nd-gop-tax-relief-plan" target="_blank">past attempts</a>,
 Kelly knocked the bill down with her veto pen. She raised concerns 
about the cost, pegged at several hundred million dollars in the coming 
years, and hinted at budget deficits the state saw after tax cuts in 
2012 when Republican Sam Brownback was governor.“We cannot return to the era of perennial, self-inflicted budget crises,” Kelly said in a statement announcing her veto.But
 lawmakers in the conservative GOP Statehouse majority think this year 
they may have the votes to override the governor’s action after <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-05/republican-gains-in-the-kansas-legislature-will-affect-vetoes-new-political-maps-and-more" target="_blank">picking up seats</a> in the 2020 election.The tax plan passed the Senate with enough votes to override a veto, but would need three additional supporters in the House.<h2>K-12 funding arithmetic</h2>Conservative lawmakers <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb175/" target="_blank">tied billions of dollars</a> in school funding to a proposal that would let some struggling students use state funding to attend a private school.Critics
 of the idea said that would hold school funding hostage to get leverage
 for the policy proposals. Voting against the private school provisions 
would also mean voting against the budget for Kansas schools.Ultimately, that’s exactly what happened. The bill narrowly failed in the House.But
 conservatives argued it makes sense to mix policy changes with funding 
for public schools if it gives some students access to more educational 
options.In the final days of the session, lawmakers will either 
have to craft a new bill that mixes policy proposals with funding, or 
simplify the equation and propose a bill that just funds Kansas 
education without policy changes.Abigail Censky is the political reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/AbigailCensky" target="_blank">@AbigailCensky</a> or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.&nbsp;Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter and news editor for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Stephen_Koranda" target="_blank">@Stephen_Koranda</a>.

Republicans in Kan. Legislature look to override governor's vetoes

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident involving a bicyclist who struck the side of a semi tractor-trailer and later died of his injuries.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 200 block of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166 in Arkansas City for a report of an injury accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle, according to a media release.

Police arrived at the scene and made contact with the bicycle rider later identified as Kevin Scotty Thompson, 64, of Arkansas City, who was lying in the roadway. 

Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department transported him to South Central Kansas Medical Center in serious condition.

He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital due to the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Witnesses at the scene reported Thompson had struck the side of a westbound semi tractor-trailer.

Police interviewed the driver of the semi, Ricky Morgan, 49, of Big Cabin, Oklahoma. Morgan said he saw Thompson proceed through the stop sign at First Street and Madison Avenue without stopping.

Morgan said he tried to swerve to miss Thompson’s bicycle but was unable to do so, even though he crossed the yellow center line into the eastbound lane of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166.

This report was confirmed by another witness at the scene, according to police.&nbsp;

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident involving a bicyclist who struck the side of a semi tractor-trailer and later died of his injuries.Just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 200 block of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166 in Arkansas City for a report of an injury accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle, according to a media release.Police arrived at the scene and made contact with the bicycle rider later identified as Kevin Scotty Thompson, 64, of Arkansas City, who was lying in the roadway. Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department transported him to South Central Kansas Medical Center in serious condition.He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital due to the injuries he sustained in the accident.Witnesses at the scene reported Thompson had struck the side of a westbound semi tractor-trailer.Police interviewed the driver of the semi, Ricky Morgan, 49, of Big Cabin, Oklahoma. Morgan said he saw Thompson proceed through the stop sign at First Street and Madison Avenue without stopping.Morgan said he tried to swerve to miss Thompson’s bicycle but was unable to do so, even though he crossed the yellow center line into the eastbound lane of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166.This report was confirmed by another witness at the scene, according to police.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. bicyclist dies of injuries after striking tractor-trailer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead and are asking the public for help to ID suspects.

Just before 7p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.

When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.

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

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

f you know the identity of these individuals or know where they are, please call 911, WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead.

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

Police reported 267 calls to incidents in the area of Sunday's shooting in 2019, 465 in 2020 and 188 so far in 2021, according to officer Charley Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619547988764.png" alt="Through the investigation, detectives have determined the two pictured suspects to be involved in the incident. " />
 <figcaption>Through the investigation, detectives have determined the two pictured suspects to be involved in the incident. </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead and are asking the public for help to ID suspects.Just before 7p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.f you know the identity of these individuals or know where they are, please call 911, WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619468099880.png" alt="Wichita police vehicle at the scene of the apartment complex shooting investigation on Sunday-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Wichita police vehicle at the scene of the apartment complex shooting investigation on Sunday-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 7p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy was transported to a local hospital, treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.Police reported 267 calls to incidents in the area of Sunday's shooting in 2019, 465 in 2020 and 188 so far in 2021, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Police ask for help to ID suspects in fatal Kan. apartment shooting

The first batch of once-every-decade&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-health-census-2020-business-government-and-politics-7a9a1cb38b0cfeca8b3e9b3bc42ce383">data from the U.S. Census Bureau</a>&nbsp;shows a United States that is growing less quickly but still seeing its population shift to the South and the West.