Kansas City (AP) — Human remains found last week in rural Clay County were those of a missing 45-year-old woman from Independence, Clay County authorities said Wednesday.

The sheriff's office said the death of Alesha Jane Reade was being investigated as a homicide. Reade was last seen on Feb. 9. Her body was found Feb. 11, the same day she was reported missing.

Officials did not provide further information. The investigation is continuing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613604861628.png" alt="Reade photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Reade photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — Human remains found last week in rural Clay County were those of a missing 45-year-old woman from Independence, Clay County authorities said Wednesday.The sheriff's office said the death of Alesha Jane Reade was being investigated as a homicide. Reade was last seen on Feb. 9. Her body was found Feb. 11, the same day she was reported missing.Officials did not provide further information. The investigation is continuing.

Homicide: Remains found near KC identified as missing 45-year-old 

Manhattan — There were no injuries in a fire at Manhattan apartment complex Wednesday evening.

Just after 9p.m., crews were dispatched to The Gramercy apartment complex, 2215 College Avenue, Building M, for smoke in the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes.

Upon arrival, crews found a three-story apartment building with a dryer on fire on the first floor. The building was evacuated and the fire was quickly extinguished.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Loss is estimated at $5,000 to contents and $10,000 to the structure.&nbsp; One unit on the first floor was vacated for the night.&nbsp; The fire cause is accidental related to an issue with the dryer, according to Almes. This was the third structure fire and 27th call for service for the day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613648455984.png" alt="Fire crews in Manhattan at their 3rd structure fire on Wednesday -photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews in Manhattan at their 3rd structure fire on Wednesday -photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>Manhattan — There were no injuries in a fire at Manhattan apartment complex Wednesday evening.Just after 9p.m., crews were dispatched to The Gramercy apartment complex, 2215 College Avenue, Building M, for smoke in the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes.Upon arrival, crews found a three-story apartment building with a dryer on fire on the first floor. The building was evacuated and the fire was quickly extinguished.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Loss is estimated at $5,000 to contents and $10,000 to the structure.&nbsp; One unit on the first floor was vacated for the night.&nbsp; The fire cause is accidental related to an issue with the dryer, according to Almes. This was the third structure fire and 27th call for service for the day.

Kansas apartment building evacuated, no injuries in fire

KIOWA COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Kiowa County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Buick Enclave driven by Jordan Jae Stauth, 37 Haviland, was traveling on U.S. 54, one half mile east of&nbsp; 37th Avenue. 

The SUV crossed the eastbound lane onto the eastbound shoulder and collided head on with an eastbound 2011 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp;Moyer, Richard M. Moyer, 74, Haviland.

Stauth was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Hatfield-Prusa Mortuary. EMS transported Moyer to Kiowa County Hospital.&nbsp; The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information due to the fire.

KIOWA COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Kiowa County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Buick Enclave driven by Jordan Jae Stauth, 37 Haviland, was traveling on U.S. 54, one half mile east of&nbsp; 37th Avenue. The SUV crossed the eastbound lane onto the eastbound shoulder and collided head on with an eastbound 2011 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp;Moyer, Richard M. Moyer, 74, Haviland.Stauth was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Hatfield-Prusa Mortuary. EMS transported Moyer to Kiowa County Hospital.&nbsp; The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information due to the fire.

Kansas woman dies after head-on crash with semi

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child sex allegations after an arrest.

On Tuesday afternoon, MotorCity Justice, the organization helping law enforcement identify and capture alleged child sexual predators,&nbsp; contacted the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

MotorCity Justice shared information with the Sheriff’s office that led deputies to believe an individual was attempting to solicit unlawful activity with a juvenile.

Deputies and detectives placed an area in the 3700 block of 8th Street in Great Bend under surveillance. Shortly after 5p.m. deputies made contact with 32-year-old Lonny R. Miller of Larned. 

Deputies had reason to believe probable cause existed that Miller was attempting to solicit a 15-year-old for sex. 

The deputies placed Miller under arrest and transported him to the Barton County Jail without incident. He was booked on requested charges of indecent solicitation of a child, attempted exploitation of a child and electronic solicitation. He’s being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613598241057.png" alt="Miller photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child sex allegations after an arrest.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flonestarrjusticeog%2Fvideos%2F418175722606487%2F&show_text=false&width=267" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>On Tuesday afternoon, MotorCity Justice, the organization helping law enforcement identify and capture alleged child sexual predators,&nbsp; contacted the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.MotorCity Justice shared information with the Sheriff’s office that led deputies to believe an individual was attempting to solicit unlawful activity with a juvenile.Deputies and detectives placed an area in the 3700 block of 8th Street in Great Bend under surveillance. Shortly after 5p.m. deputies made contact with 32-year-old Lonny R. Miller of Larned. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613598696334.png" alt="Miller meeting the Barton Co. Sheriff's deputies -image courtesy Motor City Justice" />
 <figcaption>Miller meeting the Barton Co. Sheriff's deputies -image courtesy Motor City Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies had reason to believe probable cause existed that Miller was attempting to solicit a 15-year-old for sex. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613598722415.png" alt="Image courtesy Motor City Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Motor City Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputies placed Miller under arrest and transported him to the Barton County Jail without incident. He was booked on requested charges of indecent solicitation of a child, attempted exploitation of a child and electronic solicitation. He’s being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

🎥 Social media tip: Kan. man wanted to meet teen for sex

HARVEY COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 4p.m. Wednesday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Canam ATV driven by Levi&nbsp;Minkevitch, 30, Peabody, was traveling in the ditch along Dutch Avenue approximately 1/2 mile east of Harvest Hill Road.

The rider lost control of the vehicle when he attempted to jump the ditch into the adjacent field.&nbsp; The ATV rolled into the creek.

EMS transported Minkevitch to Newton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. .

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613646715400.jpeg" alt="Levi Minkevitch photo courtesy Newton Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Levi Minkevitch photo courtesy Newton Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 4p.m. Wednesday in Harvey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Canam ATV driven by Levi&nbsp;Minkevitch, 30, Peabody, was traveling in the ditch along Dutch Avenue approximately 1/2 mile east of Harvest Hill Road.The rider lost control of the vehicle when he attempted to jump the ditch into the adjacent field.&nbsp; The ATV rolled into the creek.EMS transported Minkevitch to Newton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. .

Newton police officer dies after ATV rolls into creek

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man who pleaded guilty to robbing a 65-year-old woman heading to prison for one count of robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.

A Judge sentenced Curlie Guiden, 53 of Wichita, to just over 9-years in prison, according to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.

According to testimony, on the afternoon of August 11, 2019, a woman returned to her home in the 500 block of east Dewey in Wichita to find her back door open and Guiden standing in the doorway holding a pillow case. 

Guiden pushed the victim down and drove off in her car, nearly striking her. Guiden then drove in a big circle and almost hit her a second time. The woman's car was later recovered in a nearby parking lot.

Investigators took photographs and collected latent prints for analysis. The prints were analyzed and found to match Guiden.

Guiden will be placed on 24 months post-release after he completes his prison sentence, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613492155387.png" alt="Guiden-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Guiden-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man who pleaded guilty to robbing a 65-year-old woman heading to prison for one count of robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.A Judge sentenced Curlie Guiden, 53 of Wichita, to just over 9-years in prison, according to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.According to testimony, on the afternoon of August 11, 2019, a woman returned to her home in the 500 block of east Dewey in Wichita to find her back door open and Guiden standing in the doorway holding a pillow case. Guiden pushed the victim down and drove off in her car, nearly striking her. Guiden then drove in a big circle and almost hit her a second time. The woman's car was later recovered in a nearby parking lot.Investigators took photographs and collected latent prints for analysis. The prints were analyzed and found to match Guiden.Guiden will be placed on 24 months post-release after he completes his prison sentence, according to the district attorney.

Kansas man sentenced for violent home invasion robbery

MANHATTAN — A family cat helped homeowners locate a fire in their Manhattan&nbsp; home.

Just before 9a.m. Wednesday, crews were dispatched to 2905 Hickory Court for a report of a fire in a single-story home possibly extinguished by the occupants, according to&nbsp;Deputy Chief Ryan Almes.

Upon arrival, crews found a home with light smoke inside.&nbsp; A fire was found beneath the fireplace in the ceiling cavity between the main floor and basement.&nbsp; 

The fire was contained within about 15 minutes.&nbsp; The occupants reported that their cat was scratching at a closet door and upon opening the door, they discovered the fire above the ceiling of the closet.&nbsp;

Loss is estimated at $25,00 to contents and $15,000 to the structure, according to Almes.&nbsp; The fire cause is accidental due to an issue with the fireplace.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613597600233.png" alt="Wednesday morning house fire due to a fireplace problem-photo Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Wednesday morning house fire due to a fireplace problem-photo Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — A family cat helped homeowners locate a fire in their Manhattan&nbsp; home.Just before 9a.m. Wednesday, crews were dispatched to 2905 Hickory Court for a report of a fire in a single-story home possibly extinguished by the occupants, according to&nbsp;Deputy Chief Ryan Almes.Upon arrival, crews found a home with light smoke inside.&nbsp; A fire was found beneath the fireplace in the ceiling cavity between the main floor and basement.&nbsp; The fire was contained within about 15 minutes.&nbsp; The occupants reported that their cat was scratching at a closet door and upon opening the door, they discovered the fire above the ceiling of the closet.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $25,00 to contents and $15,000 to the structure, according to Almes.&nbsp; The fire cause is accidental due to an issue with the fireplace.

Family cat helped Kansas homeowner discover fire 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victim of 2-vehicle crash that occurred just after 8a.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.

A 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Evelyn A. Webster, 75, Carbondale,&nbsp;1 was westbound on Interstate 470 just east of Gage. The car slid through the median and traveled westbound in the eastbound lanes.&nbsp;

The Toyota struck a 2005 Ford F550 driven by Motsinger, Nicholas Jay Motsinger, 24, Topeka. .

Webster was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call Mortuary.&nbsp;Motsinger was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victim of 2-vehicle crash that occurred just after 8a.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.A 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Evelyn A. Webster, 75, Carbondale,&nbsp;1 was westbound on Interstate 470 just east of Gage. The car slid through the median and traveled westbound in the eastbound lanes.&nbsp;The Toyota struck a 2005 Ford F550 driven by Motsinger, Nicholas Jay Motsinger, 24, Topeka. .Webster was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call Mortuary.&nbsp;Motsinger was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

KHP IDs Kansas woman who died in wrong-way crash

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to announce her back to school vaccination plan. In addition, Kansas Corporation Commission Chairperson Andrew French provided an update on extreme cold temperatures and their impact on Kansas' energy grid.

Utility companies in Kansas lifted rolling power blackouts Tuesday but most of the state is expected to remain in a deep freeze until temperatures warm later in the week.

The Southwest Power Pool ordered the blackouts Monday and early Tuesday to save energy reserves in the 14 states it oversees. The utilities asked customers to continue to conserve energy to avoid future blackouts and said the blackouts could return without warning if necessary.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1267 to a total of 288,717, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4521 an increase of 115.

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to announce her back to school vaccination plan. In addition, Kansas Corporation Commission Chairperson Andrew French provided an update on extreme cold temperatures and their impact on Kansas' energy grid.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F179149120309819%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Utility companies in Kansas lifted rolling power blackouts Tuesday but most of the state is expected to remain in a deep freeze until temperatures warm later in the week.The Southwest Power Pool ordered the blackouts Monday and early Tuesday to save energy reserves in the 14 states it oversees. The utilities asked customers to continue to conserve energy to avoid future blackouts and said the blackouts could return without warning if necessary.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613584997529.png" alt="Wednesday February 17, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday February 17, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1267 to a total of 288,717, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4521 an increase of 115.

🎥 Gov., KCC Chairman update on cold weather, COVID in Kansas

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.

Just before noon Monday, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a southbound 2002 Infiniti QX4 for allegedly committing a traffic infraction near 110th Road on U.S Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The investigation into the traffic stop led to the discovery of illegal contraband. Deputies placed the passenger, Phil Amos Davis, 67, of Topeka, under arrest on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Davis was booked and remains in the Jackson County Jail, according to online records. He has previous felony convictions in Brown County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613595588678.png" alt="Davis photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Davis photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.Just before noon Monday, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a southbound 2002 Infiniti QX4 for allegedly committing a traffic infraction near 110th Road on U.S Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The investigation into the traffic stop led to the discovery of illegal contraband. Deputies placed the passenger, Phil Amos Davis, 67, of Topeka, under arrest on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Davis was booked and remains in the Jackson County Jail, according to online records. He has previous felony convictions in Brown County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sheriff: Kansas man back in jail after traffic stop

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are moving to exert more control over upgrades to Kansas’ unemployment benefits system, and a key GOP legislator has even suggested stripping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly of her control over the state Department of Labor.

(Click on the video to watch a replay of Wednesday's hearing)

The Kansas Senate Commerce Committee continued hearings Wednesday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb177_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would create a new council to monitor Department of Labor technology upgrades, direct the agency to modernize the unemployment system by the end of 2022, and make other changes to the system for distributing benefits to jobless workers. Its House counterpart is considering a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2196_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">separate but identical measure,</a>&nbsp;and both committees hope to vote on them this week.

Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature have been critical of Kelly and the department for months over problems during the coronavirus pandemic that Kelly and agency officials have blamed on a decades-old computer system, including delays in getting benefits to workers. GOP lawmakers in recent weeks have intensified their focus on whether Kansas has paid thousands of fraudulent claims and whether employers are on the hook for covering the cost until the scamming is uncovered.

The scrutiny— and GOP criticism —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-topeka-74ac0a21fa8c04ac74e62602605c471d">has increased</a>&nbsp;even though the department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-f79ed0b839ad8501cf50650ca51dcbb1">shut down</a>&nbsp;the unemployment system from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 to install new security protocols that it says have blocked fraudulent log-in attempts at a rate of three every second. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, said lawmakers are trying to make sure that technology gets upgraded and avoid a future “catastrophe.”

“What will come out of this, hopefully moving forward, is that we stay on top of this,” Olson said during a hearing Tuesday. “Maybe we need to redo the whole Labor Department organization and remove it from under the governor.”

Olson said later that he has considered whether the department should answer to a board of trustees rather than the governor, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kpers.org/about/board.html#members" target="_blank">the state’s pension system</a>&nbsp;for teachers and government workers does.

“We need to think outside the box on this one,” he said.

But Kelly spokesperson Sam Coleman said Kansas was left unprepared to deal with the effects of the pandemic by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, which led the state from 2011 until 2018. Brownback’s administration stopped a Department of Labor modernization project that some Republicans at the time worried was wasteful in its spending, but Coleman said Kansas should not “repeat mistakes of the past.”

Kelly attributed GOP lawmakers’ intensifying criticism to them “just laying the groundwork” to try to prevent her reelection in 2022.

“I’m fully aware that we have issues over there, and we are doing everything in our power and putting an incredible amount of resources to resolving the issues,” Kelly said. “We will just continue to do that and not get sidetracked by the rhetoric and conversation.”

Kelly has included $37.5 million in her proposed budget for upgrading the unemployment system’s computer technology, but Deputy Labor Secretary Peter Brady told the House committee last week that the work is likely to take two to three years after vendor proposals are reviewed and one is picked. He said the Dec. 31, 2022, deadline for completing the project “is not realistic.”

Brady also said that although the department plans to work with interested parties, creating the new council and having it make recommendations about upgrading technology could delay the project.

He also noted that the bill is specific about what upgrades are required and said putting those details in law also could slow down the project.

“I’ve never seen them describe the architecture to that level in statute before,” Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, said of other bills dealing with computer systems during Tuesday’s Senate committee hearing. “And I have some concern over that.”

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are moving to exert more control over upgrades to Kansas’ unemployment benefits system, and a key GOP legislator has even suggested stripping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly of her control over the state Department of Labor. (Click on the video to watch a replay of Wednesday's hearing)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o1tGM4cvKDE?start=2" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Kansas Senate Commerce Committee continued hearings Wednesday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb177_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would create a new council to monitor Department of Labor technology upgrades, direct the agency to modernize the unemployment system by the end of 2022, and make other changes to the system for distributing benefits to jobless workers. Its House counterpart is considering a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2196_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">separate but identical measure,</a>&nbsp;and both committees hope to vote on them this week.Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature have been critical of Kelly and the department for months over problems during the coronavirus pandemic that Kelly and agency officials have blamed on a decades-old computer system, including delays in getting benefits to workers. GOP lawmakers in recent weeks have intensified their focus on whether Kansas has paid thousands of fraudulent claims and whether employers are on the hook for covering the cost until the scamming is uncovered.The scrutiny— and GOP criticism —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-topeka-74ac0a21fa8c04ac74e62602605c471d">has increased</a>&nbsp;even though the department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-f79ed0b839ad8501cf50650ca51dcbb1">shut down</a>&nbsp;the unemployment system from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 to install new security protocols that it says have blocked fraudulent log-in attempts at a rate of three every second. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, said lawmakers are trying to make sure that technology gets upgraded and avoid a future “catastrophe.”“What will come out of this, hopefully moving forward, is that we stay on top of this,” Olson said during a hearing Tuesday. “Maybe we need to redo the whole Labor Department organization and remove it from under the governor.”Olson said later that he has considered whether the department should answer to a board of trustees rather than the governor, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kpers.org/about/board.html#members" target="_blank">the state’s pension system</a>&nbsp;for teachers and government workers does.“We need to think outside the box on this one,” he said.But Kelly spokesperson Sam Coleman said Kansas was left unprepared to deal with the effects of the pandemic by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, which led the state from 2011 until 2018. Brownback’s administration stopped a Department of Labor modernization project that some Republicans at the time worried was wasteful in its spending, but Coleman said Kansas should not “repeat mistakes of the past.”Kelly attributed GOP lawmakers’ intensifying criticism to them “just laying the groundwork” to try to prevent her reelection in 2022.“I’m fully aware that we have issues over there, and we are doing everything in our power and putting an incredible amount of resources to resolving the issues,” Kelly said. “We will just continue to do that and not get sidetracked by the rhetoric and conversation.”Kelly has included $37.5 million in her proposed budget for upgrading the unemployment system’s computer technology, but Deputy Labor Secretary Peter Brady told the House committee last week that the work is likely to take two to three years after vendor proposals are reviewed and one is picked. He said the Dec. 31, 2022, deadline for completing the project “is not realistic.”Brady also said that although the department plans to work with interested parties, creating the new council and having it make recommendations about upgrading technology could delay the project.He also noted that the bill is specific about what upgrades are required and said putting those details in law also could slow down the project.“I’ve never seen them describe the architecture to that level in statute before,” Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, said of other bills dealing with computer systems during Tuesday’s Senate committee hearing. “And I have some concern over that.”___

 🎥 Kan. lawmakers seek more control on unemployment upgrades

KANSAS CITY —Nearly four years after the fatal shooting, murder charges were filed Wednesday in the homicide of 3-year-old Marcus Haislip III who was shot in May 2017 near 54th and Park in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Derrick D. Wren Jr.,21, faces 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of 1st Degree Assault.

"I hope our community will see how many in law enforcement have worked over the last three-plus years to bring justice and to bring charges against the defendant," Prosecutor Baker stated. "We never gave up in our efforts.

"I especially want to thank our partners at the ATF and the Kansas City Police Department," Baker added. "Together, they've followed the leads and developed the evidence we need to obtain charges."

According to court records, Kansas City police responding on May 12, 2017 to shots fired in the area of 54th and Brooklyn. 

Moments later, they received information that a vehicle had arrived at Research Medical Center with three gunshot victims, one confirmed deceased. 

The deceased victim was 3-year-old Marcus Haislip III. He was shot in his car seat in a vehicle. Multiple people advised that they saw a man fire his weapon. He wore a red hooded sweatshirt and fired a long gun from the porch on Park Avenue. A witness said the description sounded like Derrick D. Wren Jr. He also had been seen with a long gun like the one described. Multiple shell casings were recovered at the crime scene as well as a Styrofoam cup.

In 2019, the Missouri Highway Patrol notified detectives that DNA from the Styrofoam cup matched the defendant, according to court records. In September and November of 2020, new witnesses told detectives that the defendant had confessed to fatally shooting the 3-year-old Haislip III. Wren said he used a 7.62 mm pistol with a 30 to 50-round clip.

Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000 cash. The defendant is currently in federal custody and was served this morning with a warrant for his arrest in this case.

"Many people in Kansas City don't realize the efforts that still go in to solving cases just because they're not in the news this week," said Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith.&nbsp; "I'd like to compliment the detectives and agents on the ATF who never gave up."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613587020907.png" alt="Marcus Haislip III photo courtesy Jackson County District Attorney" />
 <figcaption>Marcus Haislip III photo courtesy Jackson County District Attorney</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Nearly four years after the fatal shooting, murder charges were filed Wednesday in the homicide of 3-year-old Marcus Haislip III who was shot in May 2017 near 54th and Park in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Derrick D. Wren Jr.,21, faces 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of 1st Degree Assault.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613586773394.png" alt="On Wednesday morning, Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced the murder charges in the shooting death of 3 year old Marcus Haislip after 4 years of investigation by the Kansas City Police and the ATF-Kansas City -photo courtesy ATF Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>On Wednesday morning, Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced the murder charges in the shooting death of 3 year old Marcus Haislip after 4 years of investigation by the Kansas City Police and the ATF-Kansas City -photo courtesy ATF Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>"I hope our community will see how many in law enforcement have worked over the last three-plus years to bring justice and to bring charges against the defendant," Prosecutor Baker stated. "We never gave up in our efforts."I especially want to thank our partners at the ATF and the Kansas City Police Department," Baker added. "Together, they've followed the leads and developed the evidence we need to obtain charges."According to court records, Kansas City police responding on May 12, 2017 to shots fired in the area of 54th and Brooklyn. Moments later, they received information that a vehicle had arrived at Research Medical Center with three gunshot victims, one confirmed deceased. The deceased victim was 3-year-old Marcus Haislip III. He was shot in his car seat in a vehicle. Multiple people advised that they saw a man fire his weapon. He wore a red hooded sweatshirt and fired a long gun from the porch on Park Avenue. A witness said the description sounded like Derrick D. Wren Jr. He also had been seen with a long gun like the one described. Multiple shell casings were recovered at the crime scene as well as a Styrofoam cup.In 2019, the Missouri Highway Patrol notified detectives that DNA from the Styrofoam cup matched the defendant, according to court records. In September and November of 2020, new witnesses told detectives that the defendant had confessed to fatally shooting the 3-year-old Haislip III. Wren said he used a 7.62 mm pistol with a 30 to 50-round clip.Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000 cash. The defendant is currently in federal custody and was served this morning with a warrant for his arrest in this case."Many people in Kansas City don't realize the efforts that still go in to solving cases just because they're not in the news this week," said Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith.&nbsp; "I'd like to compliment the detectives and agents on the ATF who never gave up."

After 4 years, murder charges filed in death of Kansas City boy

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1267 to a total of 288,717, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4521 an increase of 115.

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1267 to a total of 288,717, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4521 an increase of 115.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613584997529.png" alt="Wednesday February 17, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday February 17, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —Rush Limbaugh, the talk radio host who ripped into liberals and laid waste to political correctness with a merry brand of malice that made him one of the most powerful voices on the American right and foretold the rise of Donald Trump, died Wednesday. He was 70.

Limbaugh, an outspoken lover of cigars, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. His death was announced by his wife Kathryn to open her husband's radio show Wednesday and on his website.

President Trump, during a State of the Union speech, awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Unflinchingly conservative, wildly partisan, bombastically self-promoting and larger than life, Limbaugh galvanized listeners for more than 30 years with his talent for vituperation and sarcasm.

He called himself an entertainer, but his rants during his three-hour weekday radio show broadcast on nearly 600 U.S. stations shaped the national political conversation, swaying ordinary Republicans and the direction of their party.

Blessed with a made-for-broadcasting voice, he delivered his opinions with such certainty that his followers, or “Ditto-heads,” as he dubbed them, took his words as sacred truth.

“In my heart and soul, I know I have become the intellectual engine of the conservative movement,” Limbaugh, with typical immodesty, told author Zev Chafets in the 2010 book “Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One.”

Forbes magazine estimated his 2018 income at $84 million, ranking him behind only Howard Stern among radio personalities.

Limbaugh took as a badge of honor the title “most dangerous man in America.” He said he was the “truth detector,” the “doctor of democracy,” a “lover of mankind,” a “harmless, lovable little fuzz ball” and an “all-around good guy.” He claimed he had “talent on loan from God.”

Long before Trump’s rise in politics, Limbaugh was pinning insulting names on his enemies and raging against the mainstream media, accusing it of feeding the public lies. He called Democrats and others on the left communists, wackos, feminazis, liberal extremists, faggots and radicals.

When actor Michael J. Fox, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, appeared in a Democratic campaign commercial, Limbaugh mocked his tremors. When a Washington advocate for the homeless killed himself, he cracked jokes. As the AIDS epidemic raged in the 1980s, he made the dying a punchline. He called 12-year-old Chelsea Clinton a dog.

He suggested that the Democrats’ stand on reproductive rights would have led to the abortion of Jesus Christ. When a woman accused Duke University lacrosse players of rape, he derided her as a “ho,” and when a Georgetown University law student supported expanded contraceptive coverage, he dismissed her as a “slut.” When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Limbaugh said: “I hope he fails.”

He was frequently accused of bigotry and blatant racism for such antics as playing the song “Barack the Magic Negro” on his show. The lyrics, set to the tune of “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” describe Obama as someone who “makes guilty whites feel good” and is “black, but not authentically.”

Limbaugh often enunciated the Republican platform better and more entertainingly than any party leader, becoming a GOP kingmaker whose endorsement and friendship were sought. Polls consistently found he was regarded as the voice of the party.

His idol, Ronald Reagan, wrote a letter of praise that Limbaugh proudly read on the air in 1992: “You’ve become the number one voice for conservatism.” In 1994, Limbaugh was so widely credited with the first Republican takeover of Congress in 40 years that the GOP made him an honorary member of the new class.

During the 2016 presidential primaries, Limbaugh said he realized early on that Trump would be the nominee, and he likened the candidate’s deep connection with his supporters to his own. In a 2018 interview, he conceded Trump is rude but said that is because he is “fearless and willing to fight against the things that no Republican has been willing to fight against.”

Trump, for his part, heaped praise on Limbaugh, and they golfed together. (The president’s Mar-a-Lago estate is eight miles down the same Palm Beach boulevard as Limbaugh’s $40 million beachfront expanse.) In honoring Limbaugh at the State of the Union, Trump called his friend “a special man beloved by millions.”

Limbaugh influenced the likes of Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and countless other conservative commentators who pushed the boundaries of what passes as acceptable public discourse.

His brand of blunt, no-gray-area debate spread to cable TV, town hall meetings, political rallies and Congress itself, emerging during the battles over health care and the ascent of the tea party movement.

“What he did was to bring a paranoia and really mean, nasty rhetoric and hyperpartisanship into the mainstream,” said Martin Kaplan, a University of Southern California professor who is an expert on the intersection of politics and entertainment and a frequent critic of Limbaugh. “The kind of antagonism and vituperativeness that characterized him instantly became acceptable everywhere.”

In one breathless segment in 1991, he railed against the homeless, AIDS patients, criticism of Christopher Columbus, aid to the Soviet Union, condoms in schools, animal rights advocates, multiculturalism and the social safety net.

His foes accused him of trafficking in half-truths, bias and outright lies — the very tactics he decried in others. Al Franken, the comedian and one-time senator, came out with a book in 1996 called “Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.”

In 2003, Limbaugh admitted an addiction to painkillers and went into rehab. Authorities opened an investigation into alleged “doctor shopping,” saying he received up to 2,000 pills from four doctors over six months.

He ultimately reached a deal with prosecutors in which they agreed to drop the charge if he continued with drug treatment and paid $30,000 toward the cost of the investigation.

He lost his hearing around that time. He said it was from an autoimmune disorder, while his critics said hearing loss is a known side effect of painkiller abuse. He received cochlear implants, which restored his hearing and saved his career.

A portly, round-faced figure, Limbaugh was divorced three times, after marrying Roxy Maxine McNeely in 1977, Michelle Sixta in 1983 and Marta Fitzgerald in 1994. He married his fourth wife, Kathryn Rogers, in a lavish 2010 ceremony featuring Elton John. He had no children.

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born Jan. 12, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His mother was the former Mildred Armstrong, and his father, Rush Limbaugh Jr., was a lawyer.

Rusty, as the younger Limbaugh was known, was chubby and shy, with little interest in school but a passion for broadcasting. He would turn down the radio during St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, offering play-by-play, and gave running commentary during the evening news. By high school, he had snagged a radio job.

Limbaugh dropped out of Southeast Missouri State University for a string of DJ gigs, from his hometown, to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh and then Kansas City. Known as Rusty Sharpe and then Jeff Christie on the air, he mostly spun Top 40 hits and sprinkled in glimpses of his wit and conservatism.

“One of the early reasons radio interested me was that I thought it would make me popular,” he once wrote.

But he didn’t gain the following he craved and gave up on radio for several years, beginning in 1979, becoming promotions director for baseball’s Kansas City Royals. He ultimately returned to broadcasting, again in Kansas City and then Sacramento, California.

It was there in the early 1980s that Limbaugh really garnered an audience, broadcasting shows dripping with sarcasm and bravado. The stage name was gone.

Limbaugh began broadcasting nationally in 1988 from WABC in New York. While his know-it-all commentary quickly gained traction, he was dismayed by his reception in the big city. He thought he would be welcomed by Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.

“I came to New York,” he wrote, “and I immediately became a nothing, a zero.”

Ultimately, Limbaugh moved his radio show to Palm Beach and bought his massive estate. Talkers Magazine, which covers the industry, said Limbaugh had the nation’s largest audience in 2019, with 15 million unique listeners each week.

“When Rush wants to talk to America, all he has to do is grab his microphone. He attracts more listeners with just his voice than the rest of us could ever imagine,” Beck wrote in Time magazine in 2009. “He is simply on another level.”

Limbaugh expounded on his world view in the best-selling books “The Way Things Ought to Be” and “See, I Told You So.”

He had a late-night TV show in the 1990s that got decent ratings but lackluster advertising because of his divisive message. When he guest-hosted “The Pat Sajak Show” in 1990, audience members called him a Nazi and repeatedly shouted at him.

He was fired from a short-lived job as an NFL commentator on ESPN in 2003 after he said the media had made a star out of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because it was “very desirous that a black quarterback do well.” His racial remarks also derailed a 2009 bid to become one of the owners of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.

“Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just think to yourself, `I am just full of hot gas?’” David Letterman asked him in 1993 on “The Late Show.”

“I am a servant of humanity,” Limbaugh replied. “I am in the relentless pursuit of the truth. I actually sit back and think that I’m just so fortunate to have this opportunity to tell people what’s really going on.”

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70, according his wife Kathryn, who announced the news to open her husband's radio show Wednesday.

In February of 2020, Limbaugh revealed that he had advanced lung cancer. A few days later, President Trump invited Limbaugh to attend the State of the Union Address.&nbsp;

During the address, Limbaugh appeared stunned, when the President announced he was awarding the talk show legend with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.&nbsp; Others sat in silence as first lady Melania Trump draped the medal around his neck on the spot.

“Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump told Limbaugh, commending “all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and that you inspire.”

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580901433879.png" alt="Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address in 2020 -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address in 2020 -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —Rush Limbaugh, the talk radio host who ripped into liberals and laid waste to political correctness with a merry brand of malice that made him one of the most powerful voices on the American right and foretold the rise of Donald Trump, died Wednesday. He was 70.Limbaugh, an outspoken lover of cigars, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. His death was announced by his wife Kathryn to open her husband's radio show Wednesday and on his website.President Trump, during a State of the Union speech, awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.Unflinchingly conservative, wildly partisan, bombastically self-promoting and larger than life, Limbaugh galvanized listeners for more than 30 years with his talent for vituperation and sarcasm.He called himself an entertainer, but his rants during his three-hour weekday radio show broadcast on nearly 600 U.S. stations shaped the national political conversation, swaying ordinary Republicans and the direction of their party.Blessed with a made-for-broadcasting voice, he delivered his opinions with such certainty that his followers, or “Ditto-heads,” as he dubbed them, took his words as sacred truth.“In my heart and soul, I know I have become the intellectual engine of the conservative movement,” Limbaugh, with typical immodesty, told author Zev Chafets in the 2010 book “Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One.”Forbes magazine estimated his 2018 income at $84 million, ranking him behind only Howard Stern among radio personalities.Limbaugh took as a badge of honor the title “most dangerous man in America.” He said he was the “truth detector,” the “doctor of democracy,” a “lover of mankind,” a “harmless, lovable little fuzz ball” and an “all-around good guy.” He claimed he had “talent on loan from God.”Long before Trump’s rise in politics, Limbaugh was pinning insulting names on his enemies and raging against the mainstream media, accusing it of feeding the public lies. He called Democrats and others on the left communists, wackos, feminazis, liberal extremists, faggots and radicals.When actor Michael J. Fox, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, appeared in a Democratic campaign commercial, Limbaugh mocked his tremors. When a Washington advocate for the homeless killed himself, he cracked jokes. As the AIDS epidemic raged in the 1980s, he made the dying a punchline. He called 12-year-old Chelsea Clinton a dog.He suggested that the Democrats’ stand on reproductive rights would have led to the abortion of Jesus Christ. When a woman accused Duke University lacrosse players of rape, he derided her as a “ho,” and when a Georgetown University law student supported expanded contraceptive coverage, he dismissed her as a “slut.” When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Limbaugh said: “I hope he fails.”He was frequently accused of bigotry and blatant racism for such antics as playing the song “Barack the Magic Negro” on his show. The lyrics, set to the tune of “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” describe Obama as someone who “makes guilty whites feel good” and is “black, but not authentically.”Limbaugh often enunciated the Republican platform better and more entertainingly than any party leader, becoming a GOP kingmaker whose endorsement and friendship were sought. Polls consistently found he was regarded as the voice of the party.His idol, Ronald Reagan, wrote a letter of praise that Limbaugh proudly read on the air in 1992: “You’ve become the number one voice for conservatism.” In 1994, Limbaugh was so widely credited with the first Republican takeover of Congress in 40 years that the GOP made him an honorary member of the new class.During the 2016 presidential primaries, Limbaugh said he realized early on that Trump would be the nominee, and he likened the candidate’s deep connection with his supporters to his own. In a 2018 interview, he conceded Trump is rude but said that is because he is “fearless and willing to fight against the things that no Republican has been willing to fight against.”Trump, for his part, heaped praise on Limbaugh, and they golfed together. (The president’s Mar-a-Lago estate is eight miles down the same Palm Beach boulevard as Limbaugh’s $40 million beachfront expanse.) In honoring Limbaugh at the State of the Union, Trump called his friend “a special man beloved by millions.”Limbaugh influenced the likes of Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and countless other conservative commentators who pushed the boundaries of what passes as acceptable public discourse.His brand of blunt, no-gray-area debate spread to cable TV, town hall meetings, political rallies and Congress itself, emerging during the battles over health care and the ascent of the tea party movement.“What he did was to bring a paranoia and really mean, nasty rhetoric and hyperpartisanship into the mainstream,” said Martin Kaplan, a University of Southern California professor who is an expert on the intersection of politics and entertainment and a frequent critic of Limbaugh. “The kind of antagonism and vituperativeness that characterized him instantly became acceptable everywhere.”In one breathless segment in 1991, he railed against the homeless, AIDS patients, criticism of Christopher Columbus, aid to the Soviet Union, condoms in schools, animal rights advocates, multiculturalism and the social safety net.His foes accused him of trafficking in half-truths, bias and outright lies — the very tactics he decried in others. Al Franken, the comedian and one-time senator, came out with a book in 1996 called “Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.”In 2003, Limbaugh admitted an addiction to painkillers and went into rehab. Authorities opened an investigation into alleged “doctor shopping,” saying he received up to 2,000 pills from four doctors over six months.He ultimately reached a deal with prosecutors in which they agreed to drop the charge if he continued with drug treatment and paid $30,000 toward the cost of the investigation.He lost his hearing around that time. He said it was from an autoimmune disorder, while his critics said hearing loss is a known side effect of painkiller abuse. He received cochlear implants, which restored his hearing and saved his career.A portly, round-faced figure, Limbaugh was divorced three times, after marrying Roxy Maxine McNeely in 1977, Michelle Sixta in 1983 and Marta Fitzgerald in 1994. He married his fourth wife, Kathryn Rogers, in a lavish 2010 ceremony featuring Elton John. He had no children.Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born Jan. 12, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His mother was the former Mildred Armstrong, and his father, Rush Limbaugh Jr., was a lawyer.Rusty, as the younger Limbaugh was known, was chubby and shy, with little interest in school but a passion for broadcasting. He would turn down the radio during St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, offering play-by-play, and gave running commentary during the evening news. By high school, he had snagged a radio job.Limbaugh dropped out of Southeast Missouri State University for a string of DJ gigs, from his hometown, to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh and then Kansas City. Known as Rusty Sharpe and then Jeff Christie on the air, he mostly spun Top 40 hits and sprinkled in glimpses of his wit and conservatism.“One of the early reasons radio interested me was that I thought it would make me popular,” he once wrote.But he didn’t gain the following he craved and gave up on radio for several years, beginning in 1979, becoming promotions director for baseball’s Kansas City Royals. He ultimately returned to broadcasting, again in Kansas City and then Sacramento, California.It was there in the early 1980s that Limbaugh really garnered an audience, broadcasting shows dripping with sarcasm and bravado. The stage name was gone.Limbaugh began broadcasting nationally in 1988 from WABC in New York. While his know-it-all commentary quickly gained traction, he was dismayed by his reception in the big city. He thought he would be welcomed by Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.“I came to New York,” he wrote, “and I immediately became a nothing, a zero.”Ultimately, Limbaugh moved his radio show to Palm Beach and bought his massive estate. Talkers Magazine, which covers the industry, said Limbaugh had the nation’s largest audience in 2019, with 15 million unique listeners each week.“When Rush wants to talk to America, all he has to do is grab his microphone. He attracts more listeners with just his voice than the rest of us could ever imagine,” Beck wrote in Time magazine in 2009. “He is simply on another level.”Limbaugh expounded on his world view in the best-selling books “The Way Things Ought to Be” and “See, I Told You So.”He had a late-night TV show in the 1990s that got decent ratings but lackluster advertising because of his divisive message. When he guest-hosted “The Pat Sajak Show” in 1990, audience members called him a Nazi and repeatedly shouted at him.He was fired from a short-lived job as an NFL commentator on ESPN in 2003 after he said the media had made a star out of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because it was “very desirous that a black quarterback do well.” His racial remarks also derailed a 2009 bid to become one of the owners of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.“Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just think to yourself, `I am just full of hot gas?’” David Letterman asked him in 1993 on “The Late Show.”“I am a servant of humanity,” Limbaugh replied. “I am in the relentless pursuit of the truth. I actually sit back and think that I’m just so fortunate to have this opportunity to tell people what’s really going on.”--------Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70, according his wife Kathryn, who announced the news to open her husband's radio show Wednesday.In February of 2020, Limbaugh revealed that he had advanced lung cancer. A few days later, President Trump invited Limbaugh to attend the State of the Union Address.&nbsp;During the address, Limbaugh appeared stunned, when the President announced he was awarding the talk show legend with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.&nbsp; Others sat in silence as first lady Melania Trump draped the medal around his neck on the spot.“Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump told Limbaugh, commending “all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and that you inspire.”-The Associated Press contributed to this report

Conservative talk radio legend Rush Limbaugh dead at 70

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As more coronavirus vaccine doses become available in the weeks and months ahead, many business owners face a difficult decision: whether to require employees to be inoculated.

And if they decide “yes,” they have to be ready for the possibility that some staffers will refuse.

Dentist Andrew Geller initially didn’t feel comfortable with requiring his staff to get the shots because of the many unknowns about the vaccine. But he did extensive research and concluded that the 23 employees at Geller Family Dental should be vaccinated. Turns out most were grateful that as health workers they could receive the vaccine when it first arrived.

However, Geller did have more difficult conversations with a handful of employees who were uneasy about getting the shots.

“I did my best to ensure them that this was going to maintain the health and safety of their families. It took a little bit longer for some to make an appointment, but they did, thankfully,” says Geller, whose practice is located in Bronxville, New York.

State governments determine who can be vaccinated and when; in most states, priority has been given to health workers, first responders and older people, but employees of some businesses — for example, restaurant workers in New York — are eligible. The general population isn’t expected to be vaccinated until the spring at the earliest, so most business owners still must decide what their policy on vaccinations will be.

It’s not known how many employers will require staffers to get the vaccine — and many companies likely haven’t made a decision. About two-thirds of Americans say they plan to get vaccinated or have already done so, according to a poll released Wednesday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also found that 15% of Americans say they will definitely not get the vaccine and another 17% say they probably will not.

Employers can require many staffers to be vaccinated under guidelines from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They can’t require inoculations for employees with medical conditions protected by the Americans with Disability Act or those who object to vaccinations for religious reasons. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more workers, and some state and municipal laws cover smaller businesses. Owners must find what the law calls a reasonable accommodation to allow these staffers to keep working. One example during the pandemic would be an assignment that could be done in a space a safe distance from co-workers or customers.

Employers have been contacting attorneys and human resources consultants and asking, what should we do?

“We are having some very honest and real conversations with clients to make sure it’s the right decision for them,” says Fernanda Anzek, a consultant with the human resources provider Insperity.

A frequently asked question is whether an employer can dismiss a staffer who refuses to be vaccinated and who isn’t protected by law. The short answer is yes.

“The employer has the latitude under the EEOC to keep the workplace safe,” says Jerry Maatman, an employment law attorney with Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. But Maatman cautions that while the EEOC has released guidelines about the vaccine, issues over employers’ rights to dismiss staffers who don’t comply are likely to end up in court.

“These rulings are going to take place in the second and third quarters,” he says.

Maatman and Anzek advise businesses to seek legal or human resources advice before disciplining or dismissing employees over vaccinations, whether or not the staffers are in what’s called a protected class.

Legal and HR experts also recommend employers create companywide policies on vaccinations, provide each staffer with a copy and explain to everyone why the shots are necessary. And owners should keep in mind that this is a subject that requires sensitivity and understanding — an overbearing approach can be a morale buster.

“The best plan is education and policies and letting employees know that everything is uniform and you’re not singling anyone out,” says Andrew Zelmanowitz, an employment attorney with Berger Singerman in Fort Launderdale, Florida.

Owners may feel some trepidation before broaching the topic. Joann Butler decided to ask her 10 staffers how they felt about getting vaccinated, and “fortunately, everyone agreed it was something we need to do.”

“It’s always a slippery slope when you mandate something like this — with religious and health issues, not everyone is gung-ho,” says Butler, owner of Consultancy Media, a broadcast and production studio in New York.

The circumstances of a particular workplace can make the conversations easier. When Denise Buzy-Pucheu talked to the three staffers at her Newtown, Connecticut, bridal shop, “they were very on board — they want to keep safe,” she said. While in many stores the sales associates can keep a safe distance from shoppers, or have plastic barriers at checkout counters, employees of The Persnickety Bride have to help customers get in and out of gowns. There’s no way to do that without being right next to a bride.

“They understand the severity of this,” Buzy-Pucheu says of her staffers. “We are physically in touch with people.”

Some employers have opted to let staffers make their own decisions. Finally Restaurant Group, which operates 15 restaurants in four western states and Louisiana, is offering information about the vaccines and time off for employees to get them, but isn’t requiring shots.

“We’re letting them know what their options are, and they can make choices themselves,” says Ashley O’Bryan, director of human resources for the Bozeman, Montana-based company.

At Knead Hospitality &amp; Design, a restaurant group in Washington, D.C., hourly employees are being offered four hours pay and those on salary will get a day of paid time off if they are inoculated.

While co-founders Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin want their employees to be vaccinated and are offering them incentives to get the shots, they’re stopping short of requiring inoculations.

“There are a lot of people out there who are vaccine hesitant for religious and ethical reasons. I don‘t think it‘s our job to tell people how to live their life,” Berry says.

Restaurant workers come in close contact with diners, but “we hope there’ll be enough peer pressure or excitement to get people on board on their own volition,” Berry says.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As more coronavirus vaccine doses become available in the weeks and months ahead, many business owners face a difficult decision: whether to require employees to be inoculated.And if they decide “yes,” they have to be ready for the possibility that some staffers will refuse.Dentist Andrew Geller initially didn’t feel comfortable with requiring his staff to get the shots because of the many unknowns about the vaccine. But he did extensive research and concluded that the 23 employees at Geller Family Dental should be vaccinated. Turns out most were grateful that as health workers they could receive the vaccine when it first arrived.However, Geller did have more difficult conversations with a handful of employees who were uneasy about getting the shots.“I did my best to ensure them that this was going to maintain the health and safety of their families. It took a little bit longer for some to make an appointment, but they did, thankfully,” says Geller, whose practice is located in Bronxville, New York.State governments determine who can be vaccinated and when; in most states, priority has been given to health workers, first responders and older people, but employees of some businesses — for example, restaurant workers in New York — are eligible. The general population isn’t expected to be vaccinated until the spring at the earliest, so most business owners still must decide what their policy on vaccinations will be.It’s not known how many employers will require staffers to get the vaccine — and many companies likely haven’t made a decision. About two-thirds of Americans say they plan to get vaccinated or have already done so, according to a poll released Wednesday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also found that 15% of Americans say they will definitely not get the vaccine and another 17% say they probably will not.Employers can require many staffers to be vaccinated under guidelines from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They can’t require inoculations for employees with medical conditions protected by the Americans with Disability Act or those who object to vaccinations for religious reasons. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more workers, and some state and municipal laws cover smaller businesses. Owners must find what the law calls a reasonable accommodation to allow these staffers to keep working. One example during the pandemic would be an assignment that could be done in a space a safe distance from co-workers or customers.Employers have been contacting attorneys and human resources consultants and asking, what should we do?“We are having some very honest and real conversations with clients to make sure it’s the right decision for them,” says Fernanda Anzek, a consultant with the human resources provider Insperity.A frequently asked question is whether an employer can dismiss a staffer who refuses to be vaccinated and who isn’t protected by law. The short answer is yes.“The employer has the latitude under the EEOC to keep the workplace safe,” says Jerry Maatman, an employment law attorney with Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. But Maatman cautions that while the EEOC has released guidelines about the vaccine, issues over employers’ rights to dismiss staffers who don’t comply are likely to end up in court.“These rulings are going to take place in the second and third quarters,” he says.Maatman and Anzek advise businesses to seek legal or human resources advice before disciplining or dismissing employees over vaccinations, whether or not the staffers are in what’s called a protected class.Legal and HR experts also recommend employers create companywide policies on vaccinations, provide each staffer with a copy and explain to everyone why the shots are necessary. And owners should keep in mind that this is a subject that requires sensitivity and understanding — an overbearing approach can be a morale buster.“The best plan is education and policies and letting employees know that everything is uniform and you’re not singling anyone out,” says Andrew Zelmanowitz, an employment attorney with Berger Singerman in Fort Launderdale, Florida.Owners may feel some trepidation before broaching the topic. Joann Butler decided to ask her 10 staffers how they felt about getting vaccinated, and “fortunately, everyone agreed it was something we need to do.”“It’s always a slippery slope when you mandate something like this — with religious and health issues, not everyone is gung-ho,” says Butler, owner of Consultancy Media, a broadcast and production studio in New York.The circumstances of a particular workplace can make the conversations easier. When Denise Buzy-Pucheu talked to the three staffers at her Newtown, Connecticut, bridal shop, “they were very on board — they want to keep safe,” she said. While in many stores the sales associates can keep a safe distance from shoppers, or have plastic barriers at checkout counters, employees of The Persnickety Bride have to help customers get in and out of gowns. There’s no way to do that without being right next to a bride.“They understand the severity of this,” Buzy-Pucheu says of her staffers. “We are physically in touch with people.”Some employers have opted to let staffers make their own decisions. Finally Restaurant Group, which operates 15 restaurants in four western states and Louisiana, is offering information about the vaccines and time off for employees to get them, but isn’t requiring shots.“We’re letting them know what their options are, and they can make choices themselves,” says Ashley O’Bryan, director of human resources for the Bozeman, Montana-based company.At Knead Hospitality &amp; Design, a restaurant group in Washington, D.C., hourly employees are being offered four hours pay and those on salary will get a day of paid time off if they are inoculated.While co-founders Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin want their employees to be vaccinated and are offering them incentives to get the shots, they’re stopping short of requiring inoculations.“There are a lot of people out there who are vaccine hesitant for religious and ethical reasons. I don‘t think it‘s our job to tell people how to live their life,” Berry says.Restaurant workers come in close contact with diners, but “we hope there’ll be enough peer pressure or excitement to get people on board on their own volition,” Berry says.

Business owners ponder whether to require COVID-19 shots

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a man who is still on the lam with murder in the shooting death last week of another man in the Kansas City suburb of Belton.

Cass County prosecutors have charged Charles Baldwin Jr., 38, with murder, armed criminal action and weapons counts in the shooting death of 39-year-old Christopher Bell.

Belton officers were called around 12:30 a.m. Friday to an apartment complex and found Bell in the parking lot with gunshot wounds, police said. Bell later died.

Police are actively looking for Baldwin, and anyone with information on his whereabouts should call police, authorities said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613572851819.png" alt="Baldwin photo Belton Police" />
 <figcaption>Baldwin photo Belton Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a man who is still on the lam with murder in the shooting death last week of another man in the Kansas City suburb of Belton.Cass County prosecutors have charged Charles Baldwin Jr., 38, with murder, armed criminal action and weapons counts in the shooting death of 39-year-old Christopher Bell.Belton officers were called around 12:30 a.m. Friday to an apartment complex and found Bell in the parking lot with gunshot wounds, police said. Bell later died.Police are actively looking for Baldwin, and anyone with information on his whereabouts should call police, authorities said.

Prosecutors charge, police seek suspect in KC-area killing

WASHINGTON —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined the governors of&nbsp; other states in a phone call with President Joe Biden on Tuesday night.

The governors and the President discussed the extreme winter weather across the central and southern United States that is impacting tens of millions of Americans and leaving many homes without power, according to a release from the White House.

President Biden relayed to the governors that he and the First Lady were praying for a swift recovery from the effects from the storm.

Biden told the governors his administration is prepared to assist and stand ready to respond to requests for Federal assistance from the governors and will deploy any additional Federal resources available to assist the residents of their states in getting through this historic storm.

The President also expressed gratitude for all the workers on the front lines responding to the storm, especially road workers, highway patrol officers and first responders who are taking swift action in horrific conditions to save lives.

In addition to Kelly, the governors from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi were on the call, according to the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613512667361.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during her Monday press conference to answer questions about the severe winter weather." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during her Monday press conference to answer questions about the severe winter weather.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined the governors of&nbsp; other states in a phone call with President Joe Biden on Tuesday night.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I just got off the phone with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> &amp; 7 other Governors to provide an update on the challenges Kansas is facing due to extreme weather. President Biden assured us his administration will do everything possible to support our state until we are through this emergency.&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1361800896053706754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The governors and the President discussed the extreme winter weather across the central and southern United States that is impacting tens of millions of Americans and leaving many homes without power, according to a release from the White House.President Biden relayed to the governors that he and the First Lady were praying for a swift recovery from the effects from the storm.Biden told the governors his administration is prepared to assist and stand ready to respond to requests for Federal assistance from the governors and will deploy any additional Federal resources available to assist the residents of their states in getting through this historic storm.The President also expressed gratitude for all the workers on the front lines responding to the storm, especially road workers, highway patrol officers and first responders who are taking swift action in horrific conditions to save lives.In addition to Kelly, the governors from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi were on the call, according to the White House.

Biden, Gov. Kelly discuss response to historic winter weather

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 42-year-old Michael Stringfield of Topeka, according to police department spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center started receiving calls about gunshots in the area of the 3700 block of SW Plaza Drive in Topeka, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.

Officers arrived and located Stringfield in a parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police used a K9 to track suspects from that location and found three individuals. They were apprehended and transported to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews. Those&nbsp;three individuals have since been released, according Spiker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613483141832.png" alt="Police at the scene of the Tuesday morning shooting investigation photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the Tuesday morning shooting investigation photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 42-year-old Michael Stringfield of Topeka, according to police department spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center started receiving calls about gunshots in the area of the 3700 block of SW Plaza Drive in Topeka, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.Officers arrived and located Stringfield in a parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.Police used a K9 to track suspects from that location and found three individuals. They were apprehended and transported to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews. Those&nbsp;three individuals have since been released, according Spiker.

Police ID Kan. man who died in shooting; 3 suspects questioned, released

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is likely to have pockets of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom, and public health officials believe it could become the state’s dominant strain, the head of the state health department said Tuesday.

Dr. Lee Norman also said that winter weather across the central and eastern U.S. has created a “brief speed bump” in the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Norman said the shipment of some vaccine doses from the federal government have been delayed a few days, and below-zero temperatures prompted the Shawnee County health department in northeast Kansas to cancel a vaccination clinic.

The first recorded Kansas case of the United Kingdom coronavirus variant was&nbsp;<a href="https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/2-3-21%20variant%20final.pdf" target="_blank">in Ellis County</a>&nbsp;earlier this month, infecting a student-athlete at Fort Hays State University “who never was particularly very ill,” Norman said. The state health department said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-hays-health-kansas-wichita-8d11eb934446eb05bb79fca33b4a4e2f">a second case&nbsp;</a>had been identified in Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, and Norman said the person infected was a “young man” who had traveled out of state.

Public health officials said the emergence of the coronavirus variant in a majority of states means that people can’t let their guard down about wearing masks, social distancing and taking other precautions. Norman said the case in Ellis County in northwest Kansas and in Sedgwick County in south-central Kansas are not connected.

“We are getting the feeling that it will become a dominant strain because it is more infectious,” Norman said during an online briefing with University of Kansas Health System officials. “I’m sure there’s going to be pockets of spread in local regions.”

The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and Norman said the state health department is now doing it for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”

Meanwhile, Kansas is still dealing with the economic effects of the pandemic, and Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday that the state will receive $200 million under the last federal coronavirus relief legislation approved in December to help people struggling to pay their rent and utility bills. The city of Wichita plans to take applications for its residents starting Feb. 22, and the state’s Housing Resources Corporation will be begin taking them from people outside Wichita on March 15.

Kansas has seen the number of new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases drop in recent weeks. The state averaged 641 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, according to state Department of Health and Environment data, the lowest figure since early October. The state averaged 30 additional COVID-19 deaths a day during the same period.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611785447420.png" alt="The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said the state health department is now doing this for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”" />
 <figcaption>The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said the state health department is now doing this for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is likely to have pockets of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom, and public health officials believe it could become the state’s dominant strain, the head of the state health department said Tuesday.Dr. Lee Norman also said that winter weather across the central and eastern U.S. has created a “brief speed bump” in the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Norman said the shipment of some vaccine doses from the federal government have been delayed a few days, and below-zero temperatures prompted the Shawnee County health department in northeast Kansas to cancel a vaccination clinic.The first recorded Kansas case of the United Kingdom coronavirus variant was&nbsp;<a href="https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/2-3-21%20variant%20final.pdf" target="_blank">in Ellis County</a>&nbsp;earlier this month, infecting a student-athlete at Fort Hays State University “who never was particularly very ill,” Norman said. The state health department said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-hays-health-kansas-wichita-8d11eb934446eb05bb79fca33b4a4e2f">a second case&nbsp;</a>had been identified in Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, and Norman said the person infected was a “young man” who had traveled out of state.Public health officials said the emergence of the coronavirus variant in a majority of states means that people can’t let their guard down about wearing masks, social distancing and taking other precautions. Norman said the case in Ellis County in northwest Kansas and in Sedgwick County in south-central Kansas are not connected.“We are getting the feeling that it will become a dominant strain because it is more infectious,” Norman said during an online briefing with University of Kansas Health System officials. “I’m sure there’s going to be pockets of spread in local regions.”The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and Norman said the state health department is now doing it for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”Meanwhile, Kansas is still dealing with the economic effects of the pandemic, and Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday that the state will receive $200 million under the last federal coronavirus relief legislation approved in December to help people struggling to pay their rent and utility bills. The city of Wichita plans to take applications for its residents starting Feb. 22, and the state’s Housing Resources Corporation will be begin taking them from people outside Wichita on March 15.Kansas has seen the number of new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases drop in recent weeks. The state averaged 641 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, according to state Department of Health and Environment data, the lowest figure since early October. The state averaged 30 additional COVID-19 deaths a day during the same period.The state health department has reported more than 287,000 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases since the pandemic reached Kansas in early March 2020, or nearly one for every 10 of the state’s 2.9 million residents. The state has reported more than 4,400 deaths, or one for every 661 residents.The state health department is reporting that as of Monday, nearly 292,000 Kansas residents, or 10% of the population, have received at least the first of two required vaccine doses. Norman has said repeatedly that the number of shots given is actually higher than reported because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-1627f9bd4761376d9f0e117b9499e98c">a lag in reporting&nbsp;</a>that the state is working to end.The state launched its second phase of vaccinations last month, and it covers people over 65, as well as teachers, workers critical to the economy and people in group living situations, including prison inmates. That’s as many as 1 million people, and Gov. Laura Kelly and the health department have repeatedly faced criticism that it’s moving too slowly.The Shawnee County Health Department in Topeka also cited the possibility of rolling electricity blackouts in canceling its clinic in an older exhibition building near the city’s largest arena and convention center, though Evergy, the electric provider for Topeka, later announced that blackouts used to limit the demand on its system had been suspended Tuesday morning.Spokesman Craig Barnes said the county health department will open its planned vaccination clinic Thursday three hours early to allow people who’d planned to get shots Tuesday to still get them.