WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20611847-biden-administration-budget-request" target="_blank">$1.5 trillion wish list</a>&nbsp;for his first federal budget, asking for substantial gains for Democratic priorities including education, health care, housing and environmental protection.

The request by the White House budget office Friday for an 8.4% increase in agency operating budgets spells out Biden’s top priorities as Congress weighs its spending plans for next year. It’s the first financial outline of the Democrats’ broader ambitions since the expiration of a 2011 law that capped congressional spending.

“I’m hoping it’ll have some bipartisan support across the board,” Biden said before an Oval Office meeting with his economics team, though prominent Senate Republicans immediately complained the plan would shortchange the military and national security in boosting domestic programs.

Bipartisanship in 2011 also restricted Democrats’ ambitions, a problem they’re now trying to address. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was “inheriting a legacy of chronic underinvestment” because of the caps.

“The president is focused on reversing this trend and reinvesting in the foundations of our strength,” she told reporters at a briefing.

At stake is “discretionary spending,” roughly one-third of the huge federal budget that is passed by Congress each year, funding the military, domestic Cabinet department operations, foreign policy and homeland security. The rest of the budget involves so-called mandatory programs with locked-in spending, chiefly Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

The Biden request provides a significantly smaller 1.6% increase for the $700 billion-plus Pentagon budget than for domestic accounts. Homeland security accounts would basically be frozen, reflecting opposition among Democratic progressives to immigration security forces.

Senate Republicans were quick to criticize the modest proposed increase for defense, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Oklahoma’s Jim Inhofe, Florida’s Marco Rubio, South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham and Alabama’s Richard Shelby releasing a joint statement.

“Talk is cheap, but defending our country is not,” they said. “We can’t afford to fail in our constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense. To keep America strong, we must balance domestic and defense spending priorities.”

The appropriations process was one of the few consistent success stories of former President Donald Trump’s tumultuous four-year tenure in office, but this year’s budget cycle is not governed by the formal spending caps of a broader outline. The lapse of those caps opens the door to more domestic spending favored by Biden and Democrats but invites a battle with Republicans over military accounts.

The Biden administration believes the caps, imposed by a long-abandoned 2011 budget deal, caused a decade of severe underinvestment in public services that the president is now trying to turn around with large increases that would mostly bypass national security programs.

The administration says the request would bring spending in line with historical averages. It seeks $769 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, about equal to the 30-year average relative to the overall U.S. economy.

Biden wants to increase the Education Department’s budget by a massive 40.8% to $102.8 billion, which includes an additional $20 billion in grants for high-poverty schools.

The Department of Health and Human Services would get a 23.1% boost to $133.7 billion. There would be additional funds to combat opioid addiction and for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose mission took on new urgency during the coronavirus pandemic. The administration is also asking for $6.5 billion to establish a biomedical research agency to address cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Biden is seeking a $14 billion increase across government agencies to address climate change. It’s part of a whole-of-government approach to the climate crisis that includes billions to boost environmental justice for communities near refineries, power plants and other hazardous sites.

Housing and Urban Development would get a 15.1% increase to $68.7 billion, primarily to provide housing vouchers for an additional 200,000 families. The administration also seeks more money for civil rights enforcement and addressing gun violence as a public health epidemic.

Passing the president’s plan as written through Congress is typically a long shot. Recent history and guaranteed conflicts with Republicans are likely to force lawmakers to put discretionary accounts on autopilot for months after the Sept. 30 expiration of the budget year.

The plan also details how the Biden administration will try to deal with the influx of arrivals at the U.S. southern border. It includes $861 million to invest in Central America to address the forces driving people to migrate to the United States. An additional $345 million would go to immigration services to resolve delays in years-long naturalization and asylum cases. The budget for the Executive Office of Immigration Review would jump 21% to $891 million in order to hire 100 new immigration judges and support teams to reduce the existing backlogs.

The president seeks modest increases for national security. Defense -- the largest department in the discretionary plan -- would get a 1.6% increase to $715 billion. Homeland Security would edge up 0.2% to $52 billion.

But the administration views diplomacy as a way to engage with the wider world. It’s pursuing a 12% increase in funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, taking their spending to $63.5 billion.

Friday’s request does not include plans for tax revenues or mandatory federal spending. Nor does it include the planned spending in Biden’s infrastructure plan. A fuller budget proposal will be released later this spring.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618062522198.png" alt="President Biden during a Friday meeting in the Oval Office said he wants to increase the Education Department’s budget by a massive 40.8% to $102.8 billion, which includes an additional $20 billion in grants for high-poverty schools-image courtesy White House." />
 <figcaption>President Biden during a Friday meeting in the Oval Office said he wants to increase the Education Department’s budget by a massive 40.8% to $102.8 billion, which includes an additional $20 billion in grants for high-poverty schools-image courtesy White House.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20611847-biden-administration-budget-request" target="_blank">$1.5 trillion wish list</a>&nbsp;for his first federal budget, asking for substantial gains for Democratic priorities including education, health care, housing and environmental protection.The request by the White House budget office Friday for an 8.4% increase in agency operating budgets spells out Biden’s top priorities as Congress weighs its spending plans for next year. It’s the first financial outline of the Democrats’ broader ambitions since the expiration of a 2011 law that capped congressional spending.“I’m hoping it’ll have some bipartisan support across the board,” Biden said before an Oval Office meeting with his economics team, though prominent Senate Republicans immediately complained the plan would shortchange the military and national security in boosting domestic programs.Bipartisanship in 2011 also restricted Democrats’ ambitions, a problem they’re now trying to address. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was “inheriting a legacy of chronic underinvestment” because of the caps.“The president is focused on reversing this trend and reinvesting in the foundations of our strength,” she told reporters at a briefing.At stake is “discretionary spending,” roughly one-third of the huge federal budget that is passed by Congress each year, funding the military, domestic Cabinet department operations, foreign policy and homeland security. The rest of the budget involves so-called mandatory programs with locked-in spending, chiefly Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.The Biden request provides a significantly smaller 1.6% increase for the $700 billion-plus Pentagon budget than for domestic accounts. Homeland security accounts would basically be frozen, reflecting opposition among Democratic progressives to immigration security forces.Senate Republicans were quick to criticize the modest proposed increase for defense, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Oklahoma’s Jim Inhofe, Florida’s Marco Rubio, South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham and Alabama’s Richard Shelby releasing a joint statement.“Talk is cheap, but defending our country is not,” they said. “We can’t afford to fail in our constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense. To keep America strong, we must balance domestic and defense spending priorities.”The appropriations process was one of the few consistent success stories of former President Donald Trump’s tumultuous four-year tenure in office, but this year’s budget cycle is not governed by the formal spending caps of a broader outline. The lapse of those caps opens the door to more domestic spending favored by Biden and Democrats but invites a battle with Republicans over military accounts.The Biden administration believes the caps, imposed by a long-abandoned 2011 budget deal, caused a decade of severe underinvestment in public services that the president is now trying to turn around with large increases that would mostly bypass national security programs.The administration says the request would bring spending in line with historical averages. It seeks $769 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, about equal to the 30-year average relative to the overall U.S. economy.Biden wants to increase the Education Department’s budget by a massive 40.8% to $102.8 billion, which includes an additional $20 billion in grants for high-poverty schools.The Department of Health and Human Services would get a 23.1% boost to $133.7 billion. There would be additional funds to combat opioid addiction and for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose mission took on new urgency during the coronavirus pandemic. The administration is also asking for $6.5 billion to establish a biomedical research agency to address cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other diseases.Biden is seeking a $14 billion increase across government agencies to address climate change. It’s part of a whole-of-government approach to the climate crisis that includes billions to boost environmental justice for communities near refineries, power plants and other hazardous sites.Housing and Urban Development would get a 15.1% increase to $68.7 billion, primarily to provide housing vouchers for an additional 200,000 families. The administration also seeks more money for civil rights enforcement and addressing gun violence as a public health epidemic.Passing the president’s plan as written through Congress is typically a long shot. Recent history and guaranteed conflicts with Republicans are likely to force lawmakers to put discretionary accounts on autopilot for months after the Sept. 30 expiration of the budget year.The plan also details how the Biden administration will try to deal with the influx of arrivals at the U.S. southern border. It includes $861 million to invest in Central America to address the forces driving people to migrate to the United States. An additional $345 million would go to immigration services to resolve delays in years-long naturalization and asylum cases. The budget for the Executive Office of Immigration Review would jump 21% to $891 million in order to hire 100 new immigration judges and support teams to reduce the existing backlogs.The president seeks modest increases for national security. Defense -- the largest department in the discretionary plan -- would get a 1.6% increase to $715 billion. Homeland Security would edge up 0.2% to $52 billion.But the administration views diplomacy as a way to engage with the wider world. It’s pursuing a 12% increase in funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, taking their spending to $63.5 billion.Friday’s request does not include plans for tax revenues or mandatory federal spending. Nor does it include the planned spending in Biden’s infrastructure plan. A fuller budget proposal will be released later this spring.

Biden budget seeks more for schools, health care and housing

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating aggravated burglary and theft in Great Bend and have made an arrest. 

On April 8, police detained Dominque Hoch, age 23, in the 2400 block
of 11th Street, according to a media release. He was in possession of
methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to police. Officers arrested him on requested charges of aggravated burglary, possession of methamphetamine,
possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.&nbsp; He is being held in the Barton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618201677102.png" alt="Dominque Hoch has previous convictions for marijuana possession, criminal threat and for possession of opiates, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>Dominque Hoch has previous convictions for marijuana possession, criminal threat and for possession of opiates, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating aggravated burglary and theft in Great Bend and have made an arrest. On April 8, police detained Dominque Hoch, age 23, in the 2400 block
of 11th Street, according to a media release. He was in possession of
methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to police. Officers arrested him on requested charges of aggravated burglary, possession of methamphetamine,
possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.&nbsp; He is being held in the Barton County Jail.

Police: Kansas man arrested for alleged burglary, theft 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder after a couple was shot to death inside a car.

Michael L. Gilmore, 23, was charged Friday in the deaths of Mia Sheridan and Joshua Gilmore-Harris, both 22, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Court documents said the victims were in a relationship and had two children. Police found the bodies inside a vehicle that came to a stop against a rock wall in eastern Kansas City.

Witnesses told officers Gilmore said he shot both victims during an argument inside the vehicle. Gilmore-Harris reportedly accused Gilmore of owing him money.

Gilmore told police he has known Gilmore-Harris for about 10 years but denied having been with the victims the day they were killed. Bond was set at $500,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618092477502.png" alt="Gilmore photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Gilmore photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder after a couple was shot to death inside a car.Michael L. Gilmore, 23, was charged Friday in the deaths of Mia Sheridan and Joshua Gilmore-Harris, both 22, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said.Court documents said the victims were in a relationship and had two children. Police found the bodies inside a vehicle that came to a stop against a rock wall in eastern Kansas City.Witnesses told officers Gilmore said he shot both victims during an argument inside the vehicle. Gilmore-Harris reportedly accused Gilmore of owing him money.Gilmore told police he has known Gilmore-Harris for about 10 years but denied having been with the victims the day they were killed. Bond was set at $500,000 bond.

Kansas City man charged  in murder of 22-year-old couple

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a shooting call in the 5100 block of E 2nd Street in Wichita, according to officer Trevor Macy.

 Upon arrival, they located a 20-year-old man in the backyard of a home in the 200 block of North Battin who was suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased on scene.

Three additional&nbsp; male victims ages 29, 26 and 17 all suffering gunshot wounds, arrived at an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; They were treated for their injuries and released, according to Macy.

Investigators learned that the victims were involved in a party at a home on Battin, which was being rented out as an Airbnb. 

The investigation is ongoing into what led to the shooting. Cooperation from the victims has been limited, but this does not appear to be a random incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618171433205.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Sunday investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Sunday investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita.Just after 3a.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a shooting call in the 5100 block of E 2nd Street in Wichita, according to officer Trevor Macy. Upon arrival, they located a 20-year-old man in the backyard of a home in the 200 block of North Battin who was suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased on scene.Three additional&nbsp; male victims ages 29, 26 and 17 all suffering gunshot wounds, arrived at an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; They were treated for their injuries and released, according to Macy.Investigators learned that the victims were involved in a party at a home on Battin, which was being rented out as an Airbnb. The investigation is ongoing into what led to the shooting. Cooperation from the victims has been limited, but this does not appear to be a random incident.

1 dead, 3 wounded in shooting at Airbnb in Kansas

GRAY COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. Sunday in Gray County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp; Cleff O. Andre, 22, Holcomb,was westbound on U.S. 50 fifteen miles&nbsp; east of Garden City.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The car crossed left of center struck an eastbound 2021 Peterbilt semi driven by Phillip A. Stout, 60, Lebanon, Mo, near the south shoulder.

Andre was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Stout was not injured.&nbsp; Andre was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GRAY COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. Sunday in Gray County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp; Cleff O. Andre, 22, Holcomb,was westbound on U.S. 50 fifteen miles&nbsp; east of Garden City.&nbsp; &nbsp;The car crossed left of center struck an eastbound 2021 Peterbilt semi driven by Phillip A. Stout, 60, Lebanon, Mo, near the south shoulder.Andre was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Stout was not injured.&nbsp; Andre was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

22-year-old Kan. man dies after crash with a semi

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government picked up nearly 19,000 children traveling alone across the Mexican border in March, authorities said Thursday, the largest monthly number ever recorded and a major test for President Joe Biden as he reverses many of his predecessor’s hardline immigration tactics.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-mexico-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-6a412f3edf07715509e3181b8bc63ca7">complex mix of factors</a>&nbsp;in the United States and Central America drove the increase. It has coincided with the Biden administration’s decision to exempt unaccompanied children from pandemic-related powers to immediately expel most people from the country without giving them an opportunity to seek asylum. Children are instead released to “sponsors” in the U.S., usually parents or close relatives, while being allowed to pursue their cases in heavily backlogged immigration courts.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters" target="_blank">Border Patrol encountered</a>&nbsp;18,663 unaccompanied children in March, well above previous highs of 11,475 in May 2019 and 10,620 in June 2014. The agency started publishing the numbers in 2009. Before then, adults made up the vast majority of those crossing the border.

March’s count was roughly double the number of unaccompanied children encountered by the Border Patrol in February and more than five times the number in March 2020.

The huge increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-us-news-texas-e1cd317d83c3a2c2fe829b1d2e03cd4e">children traveling alone</a>&nbsp;— some as young as 3 — and families has severely strained border holding facilities, which aren’t allowed to hold people for more than three days but often do. It’s left the government scrambling to find space and hire staff to care for children longer term until they can be placed with sponsors.

For many, a hurricane that hit Central America in November added urgency to endemic poverty and violence that have led people to flee for decades.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mexico-health-immigration-immigration-policy-1fb007e86452849d8e373908a3d81e94">Changes in U.S. policy under Biden</a>&nbsp;also have guided their decisions, whether real or rumored.

Hermelindo Ak, a Guatemalan corn grower who barely makes enough to feed his family, was expelled to Mexico from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-crossing-rio-grande-valley-texas-b47bbbb5846c8528a016f1bb9bbc3db0">Texas’ Rio Grande Valley</a>&nbsp;with his 17-year-old son. Ak decided to send his son alone for a second attempt after learning unaccompanied children can stay in the U.S. Ak, 40, said he would return to family in Guatemala after selling his house to pay smugglers. The plan was for his oldest son to live with relatives in the U.S.

“I didn’t want to leave him alone,” Ak said last week in the Mexican border city of Reynosa. “Necessity obligates us.”

Amid the growing numbers, more than 4,000 people at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection holding facility have been jammed into a space designed for 250 at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-texas-59d0eafb23d135f901dfc50ff326cfcd">tent complex in Donna, Texas</a>. They lay inches apart on mats on the floor with foil blankets.

CBP must transfer unaccompanied children within 72 hours to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose facilities are more suited to longer-term care while arrangements are made to release them. More than 2,000 children were held longer than that at the Donna facility one day last week, with 39 there at least 15 days.

HHS opened its first temporary holding facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, on Feb. 22, and has since struck a slew of agreements to occupy large venues near the border, including convention centers in Dallas and San Diego, a stadium in San Antonio and Fort Bliss army base in El Paso, Texas. The department also has been paying for flights for children and sponsors to limit time in government custody.

In this March 19 photo, migrants are seen in custody at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing area under the Anzalduas International Bridge, in Mission, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Overall, the Border Patrol had 168,195 encounters with migrants on the southern border in March, its busiest month since March 2001, when it counted 170,580 arrests. The numbers aren’t entirely comparable because more than half of last month’s encounters resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-border-guatemala-4d6e258b4b23c4f068b008af83c1151e">expulsions under pandemic-related authority</a>&nbsp;instituted by former President Donald Trump and kept in place by Biden.

People who are expelled are far more likely to try again because they face no legal consequences.

Unlike expulsions, people arrested under immigration laws can face jail time, felony prosecution for repeat offenses and bans on entering the country legally through marriage or other means. Biden administration officials said 28% of expulsions in March were people who had been expelled before, compared with a 7% pre-pandemic recidivism rate for the 12-month period that ended in September 2019.

The Border Patrol had 52,904 encounters with people arriving as families, with only about one in three being expelled and the rest allowed to stay in the U.S. to pursue asylum.

Mexico’s refusal to accept Central American families with children 6 and under because of a new law against detaining migrant families has limited the effectiveness of expulsions, administration officials said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mexico-immigration-guatemala-central-america-cbb61c31526c988451c305855c8f8486">Mexico</a>&nbsp;is especially reluctant to accept families with young children in Tamaulipas state bordering the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.

The means hundreds of migrants go to bus stations in Texas border towns like McAllen and Brownsville on their way to their final destinations in the U.S. To save time, the Border Patrol last month began releasing migrant families — about 9,600 people as of Tuesday, according to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/migants-freed-without-court-notice-paperwork-9ace3e41e0acadac7cece17c83a8f7ff">without notices to appear in court</a>, instead directing them to report to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in 60 days.

Numbers grew sharply during Trump’s final year in office but further accelerated under Biden, who quickly ended many of his predecessor’s policies, including one that made asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for court hearings in the U.S.

Mexicans represented the largest proportion of people encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol, and nearly all were single adults. Arrivals of people from Honduras and Guatemala were second and third, respectively, and more than half of the people from those countries were families or children traveling alone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617909066947.png" alt="Migrants near the U.S. Texas border last month -image courtesy Sen. Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Migrants near the U.S. Texas border last month -image courtesy Sen. Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government picked up nearly 19,000 children traveling alone across the Mexican border in March, authorities said Thursday, the largest monthly number ever recorded and a major test for President Joe Biden as he reverses many of his predecessor’s hardline immigration tactics.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-mexico-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-6a412f3edf07715509e3181b8bc63ca7">complex mix of factors</a>&nbsp;in the United States and Central America drove the increase. It has coincided with the Biden administration’s decision to exempt unaccompanied children from pandemic-related powers to immediately expel most people from the country without giving them an opportunity to seek asylum. Children are instead released to “sponsors” in the U.S., usually parents or close relatives, while being allowed to pursue their cases in heavily backlogged immigration courts.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters" target="_blank">Border Patrol encountered</a>&nbsp;18,663 unaccompanied children in March, well above previous highs of 11,475 in May 2019 and 10,620 in June 2014. The agency started publishing the numbers in 2009. Before then, adults made up the vast majority of those crossing the border.March’s count was roughly double the number of unaccompanied children encountered by the Border Patrol in February and more than five times the number in March 2020.The huge increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-us-news-texas-e1cd317d83c3a2c2fe829b1d2e03cd4e">children traveling alone</a>&nbsp;— some as young as 3 — and families has severely strained border holding facilities, which aren’t allowed to hold people for more than three days but often do. It’s left the government scrambling to find space and hire staff to care for children longer term until they can be placed with sponsors.For many, a hurricane that hit Central America in November added urgency to endemic poverty and violence that have led people to flee for decades.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mexico-health-immigration-immigration-policy-1fb007e86452849d8e373908a3d81e94">Changes in U.S. policy under Biden</a>&nbsp;also have guided their decisions, whether real or rumored.Hermelindo Ak, a Guatemalan corn grower who barely makes enough to feed his family, was expelled to Mexico from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-crossing-rio-grande-valley-texas-b47bbbb5846c8528a016f1bb9bbc3db0">Texas’ Rio Grande Valley</a>&nbsp;with his 17-year-old son. Ak decided to send his son alone for a second attempt after learning unaccompanied children can stay in the U.S. Ak, 40, said he would return to family in Guatemala after selling his house to pay smugglers. The plan was for his oldest son to live with relatives in the U.S.“I didn’t want to leave him alone,” Ak said last week in the Mexican border city of Reynosa. “Necessity obligates us.”Amid the growing numbers, more than 4,000 people at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection holding facility have been jammed into a space designed for 250 at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-texas-59d0eafb23d135f901dfc50ff326cfcd">tent complex in Donna, Texas</a>. They lay inches apart on mats on the floor with foil blankets.CBP must transfer unaccompanied children within 72 hours to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose facilities are more suited to longer-term care while arrangements are made to release them. More than 2,000 children were held longer than that at the Donna facility one day last week, with 39 there at least 15 days.HHS opened its first temporary holding facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, on Feb. 22, and has since struck a slew of agreements to occupy large venues near the border, including convention centers in Dallas and San Diego, a stadium in San Antonio and Fort Bliss army base in El Paso, Texas. The department also has been paying for flights for children and sponsors to limit time in government custody.In this March 19 photo, migrants are seen in custody at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing area under the Anzalduas International Bridge, in Mission, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Overall, the Border Patrol had 168,195 encounters with migrants on the southern border in March, its busiest month since March 2001, when it counted 170,580 arrests. The numbers aren’t entirely comparable because more than half of last month’s encounters resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-border-guatemala-4d6e258b4b23c4f068b008af83c1151e">expulsions under pandemic-related authority</a>&nbsp;instituted by former President Donald Trump and kept in place by Biden.People who are expelled are far more likely to try again because they face no legal consequences.Unlike expulsions, people arrested under immigration laws can face jail time, felony prosecution for repeat offenses and bans on entering the country legally through marriage or other means. Biden administration officials said 28% of expulsions in March were people who had been expelled before, compared with a 7% pre-pandemic recidivism rate for the 12-month period that ended in September 2019.The Border Patrol had 52,904 encounters with people arriving as families, with only about one in three being expelled and the rest allowed to stay in the U.S. to pursue asylum.Mexico’s refusal to accept Central American families with children 6 and under because of a new law against detaining migrant families has limited the effectiveness of expulsions, administration officials said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mexico-immigration-guatemala-central-america-cbb61c31526c988451c305855c8f8486">Mexico</a>&nbsp;is especially reluctant to accept families with young children in Tamaulipas state bordering the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.The means hundreds of migrants go to bus stations in Texas border towns like McAllen and Brownsville on their way to their final destinations in the U.S. To save time, the Border Patrol last month began releasing migrant families — about 9,600 people as of Tuesday, according to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/migants-freed-without-court-notice-paperwork-9ace3e41e0acadac7cece17c83a8f7ff">without notices to appear in court</a>, instead directing them to report to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in 60 days.Numbers grew sharply during Trump’s final year in office but further accelerated under Biden, who quickly ended many of his predecessor’s policies, including one that made asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for court hearings in the U.S.Mexicans represented the largest proportion of people encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol, and nearly all were single adults. Arrivals of people from Honduras and Guatemala were second and third, respectively, and more than half of the people from those countries were families or children traveling alone.

Number of kids alone at U.S. border hits all-time high

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Police: Kansas felon wanted for fatal Sunday shooting 

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/taking-lessons-pandemic-wichita-s-virtual-school-alters-its-approach-fall">Kansas News Service</a>

Last
 spring, Wichita families clamoring for online learning options quickly 
snapped up 500 spots at Education Imagine Academy, a K-12 virtual school
 that allows students to work at their own pace.

Next school 
year, many of those students will return to traditional, in-person 
schools. Others plan to remain at the virtual academy.

And the online school is changing its approach based on lessons learned from the pandemic.

"There’s
 been negative feedback, and we know that virtual school is not for 
every family," said Amanda Young, program manager of Education Imagine 
Academy. "Every student is different, and every student needs a 
different type of environment to learn in.

“But we do know that when it does work for students, it works really, really well.”

Next
 fall, students in the virtual program will attend classes in person two
 or three half-days each week, depending on their grade level. They also
 will go on field trips — such as to Exploration Place or the 
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum — and meet one-on-one with 
teachers more regularly.

The district’s other virtual option, My 
School Remote, will not be available in the fall, in part because Kansas
 lawmakers are pushing for policies that would sharply limit online and 
hybrid instruction.

“There's no perfect school, ever. But I think
 that we've tried to take the best things about virtual learning and My 
School Remote that we've heard from families and tailor a program that 
highlights all of those good things, to provide an opportunity for 
students who really thrived in this environment,” Young said.

The
 district is currently accepting applications for Education Imagine 
Academy. Enrollment once again will be capped at 500 students: 30 
students per grade in the elementary school, 40 per grade for middle 
school, and 50 per grade for high school.

Young said the pandemic
 spurred interest in virtual learning. Parents got more involved in 
their children’s schooling, and some students liked working from home 
more than they thought they would.

“I asked my high-schooler why 
she liked it, and she said because she doesn’t have to worry about any 
of the drama or what she wears to school,” Young said. “We’ve just had a
 lot of students who really liked the flexibility of learning 
virtually.”

Young said families considering Education Imagine 
Academy next year — particularly those coming from My School Remote — 
are required to meet with administrators, who will explain the 
similarities and differences.

The virtual school focuses on 
project-based learning, real-world experiences and community projects. 
All students are provided a free device and internet service.

The
 school recently was selected as a Microsoft Showcase School — the only 
school in Kansas and the first virtual program anywhere to earn the 
distinction. As a showcase school, EI Academy works closely with 
Microsoft, and its teachers collaborate with teachers across the globe.

“We
 get to work with schools all over the world to share best practices," 
Young said, "and we're not limited by a building or a facility or time 
and space."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617993832845.png" alt=" Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption> Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/taking-lessons-pandemic-wichita-s-virtual-school-alters-its-approach-fall">Kansas News Service</a>Last
 spring, Wichita families clamoring for online learning options quickly 
snapped up 500 spots at Education Imagine Academy, a K-12 virtual school
 that allows students to work at their own pace.Next school 
year, many of those students will return to traditional, in-person 
schools. Others plan to remain at the virtual academy.And the online school is changing its approach based on lessons learned from the pandemic."There’s
 been negative feedback, and we know that virtual school is not for 
every family," said Amanda Young, program manager of Education Imagine 
Academy. "Every student is different, and every student needs a 
different type of environment to learn in.“But we do know that when it does work for students, it works really, really well.”Next
 fall, students in the virtual program will attend classes in person two
 or three half-days each week, depending on their grade level. They also
 will go on field trips — such as to Exploration Place or the 
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum — and meet one-on-one with 
teachers more regularly.The district’s other virtual option, My 
School Remote, will not be available in the fall, in part because Kansas
 lawmakers are pushing for policies that would sharply limit online and 
hybrid instruction.“There's no perfect school, ever. But I think
 that we've tried to take the best things about virtual learning and My 
School Remote that we've heard from families and tailor a program that 
highlights all of those good things, to provide an opportunity for 
students who really thrived in this environment,” Young said.The
 district is currently accepting applications for Education Imagine 
Academy. Enrollment once again will be capped at 500 students: 30 
students per grade in the elementary school, 40 per grade for middle 
school, and 50 per grade for high school.Young said the pandemic
 spurred interest in virtual learning. Parents got more involved in 
their children’s schooling, and some students liked working from home 
more than they thought they would.“I asked my high-schooler why 
she liked it, and she said because she doesn’t have to worry about any 
of the drama or what she wears to school,” Young said. “We’ve just had a
 lot of students who really liked the flexibility of learning 
virtually.”Young said families considering Education Imagine 
Academy next year — particularly those coming from My School Remote — 
are required to meet with administrators, who will explain the 
similarities and differences.The virtual school focuses on 
project-based learning, real-world experiences and community projects. 
All students are provided a free device and internet service.The
 school recently was selected as a Microsoft Showcase School — the only 
school in Kansas and the first virtual program anywhere to earn the 
distinction. As a showcase school, EI Academy works closely with 
Microsoft, and its teachers collaborate with teachers across the globe.“We
 get to work with schools all over the world to share best practices," 
Young said, "and we're not limited by a building or a facility or time 
and space."

Pandemic lessons: Kansas virtual school alters its approach for fall 

As governors loosen long-lasting coronavirus restrictions, state lawmakers across the U.S. are taking actions to significantly limit the power they could wield in future emergencies.

The legislative measures are aimed not simply at undoing mask mandates and capacity limits that have been common during the pandemic. Many proposals seek to fundamentally shift power away from governors and toward lawmakers the next time there is a virus outbreak, terrorist attack or natural disaster.

“The COVID pandemic has been an impetus for a re-examination of balancing of legislative power with executive powers,” said Pam Greenberg, a policy researcher at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Lawmakers in 45 states have proposed more than 300 measures this year related to legislative oversight of executive actions during the COVID-19 pandemic or other emergencies, according to the NCSL.

About half those states are considering significant changes, such as tighter limits on how long governors’ emergency orders can last without legislative approval, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council, an association of conservative lawmakers and businesses. It wrote a model “Emergency Power Limitation Act” for lawmakers to follow.

Though the pushback is coming primarily from Republican lawmakers, it is not entirely partisan.

Republican lawmakers have sought to limit the power of Democratic governors in states such as Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina. But they also have sought to rein in fellow Republican governors in such states as Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana and Ohio. Some Democratic lawmakers also have pushed back against governors of their own party, most notably limiting the ability of embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to issue new mandates.

When the pandemic hit a year ago, many governors and their top health officials temporarily ordered residents to remain home, limited public gatherings, prohibited in-person schooling and shut down dine-in restaurants, gyms and other businesses. Many governors have been repealing or relaxing restrictions after cases declined from a winter peak and as more people get vaccinated.

But the potential remains in many states for governors to again tighten restrictions if new variants of the coronavirus lead to another surge in cases.

Governors have been acting under the authority of emergency response laws that in some states date back decades and weren’t crafted with an indefinite health crisis in mind.

“A previous legislature back in the ’60s, fearing a nuclear holocaust, granted tremendous powers” to the governor, said Idaho state Rep. Jason Monks, a Republican and the chamber’s assistant majority leader.

“This was the first time I think that those laws were really stress-tested,” he said.

Like many governors, Idaho Gov. Brad Little has repeatedly extended his monthlong emergency order since originally issuing it last spring. A pair of bills nearing final approval would prohibit him from declaring an emergency for more than 60 days without legislative approval. The Republican governor also would be barred from suspending constitutional rights, restricting the ability of people to work, or altering state laws like he did by suspending in-person voting and holding a mail-only primary election last year.

A measure that recently passed New Hampshire’s Republican-led House also would prohibit governors from indefinitely renewing emergency declarations, as GOP Gov. Chris Sununu has done every 21 days for the past year. It would halt emergency orders after 30 days unless renewed by lawmakers.

Next month, Pennsylvania voters will decide a pair of constitutional amendments to limit disaster emergency declarations to three weeks, rather than three months, and require legislative approval to extend them. The Republican-led Legislature placed the measures on the ballot after repeatedly failing to reverse the policies Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf implemented to try to contain the pandemic.

In Indiana, the Republican-led Legislature and GOP governor are embroiled in a power struggle over executive powers.

The Legislature approved a bill this past week that would give lawmakers greater authority to intervene in gubernatorially declared emergencies by calling themselves into special session. The House Republican leader said the bill was not “anti-governor” but a response to a generational crisis.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has issued more than 60 executive orders during the pandemic, vetoed the bill Friday. He contends the legislature’s attempt to expand its power could violate the state Constitution. Legislative leaders said they intend to override the veto, potentially setting up a legal clash between the legislative and executive branches. Unlike Congress and most states, Indiana lawmakers can override a veto with a simple majority of both houses.

Several other governors also have vetoed bills limiting their emergency authority or increasing legislative powers.

In Michigan, where new variants are fueling a rise in COVID-19 cases, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed GOP-backed legislation last month that would have ended state health department orders after 28 days unless lengthened by lawmakers.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, contended that legislation allowing lawmakers to rescind his public health orders “jeopardizes the safety of every Ohioan.” But the Republican-led Legislature overrode his veto the next day.

“It’s time for us to stand up for the legislative branch,” sponsoring Sen. Rob McColley told his colleagues.

Kentucky’s GOP-led Legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes of bills limiting his emergency powers, but a judge temporarily blocked the laws from taking effect. The judge said they are “likely to undermine, or even cripple, the effectiveness of public health measures.”

In some states, governors have worked with lawmakers to pare back executive powers.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, signed a law last month giving the GOP-led Legislature greater say in determining whether to end his emergency orders. It was quickly put to the test by the Arkansas Legislative Council, which decided to let Hutchinson extend his emergency declaration another two months.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, also enacted a law last month giving legislative leaders power to revoke her emergency orders. Top Republican lawmakers immediately used it to scuttle a Kelly order meant to encourage counties to keep mask mandates in place.

“The power of the executive has been emasculated when it comes to the Emergency Management Act,” Democratic state Rep. John Carmichael said. “That may have very dire consequences in other circumstances and other disasters.”

Kelly said it will be harder to persuade people to keep wearing masks without state or local mandates. She said her orders had relieved pressure on local leaders and businesses.

“Let me be the bad guy. Let me be the one who mandates so that they don’t have to make those kinds of decisions,” Kelly said.

Republican lawmakers insisted that their push to curb the governor’s power is not partisan. Lawmakers said they didn’t understand how broad the governor’s power was until she started issuing orders last spring to close K-12 schools, limit indoor worship services and regulate how businesses could reopen.

House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said he believes the changes in Kansas’ emergency management law will encourage future governors to “use that power sparingly” and collaborate with lawmakers.

“Our system is set up not to give one person of any party too much power over the lives of Kansans,” he said. “We’re supposed to have checks and balances.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611280712430.png" alt="Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, also enacted a law last month giving legislative leaders power to revoke her emergency orders." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, also enacted a law last month giving legislative leaders power to revoke her emergency orders.</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated PressAs governors loosen long-lasting coronavirus restrictions, state lawmakers across the U.S. are taking actions to significantly limit the power they could wield in future emergencies.The legislative measures are aimed not simply at undoing mask mandates and capacity limits that have been common during the pandemic. Many proposals seek to fundamentally shift power away from governors and toward lawmakers the next time there is a virus outbreak, terrorist attack or natural disaster.“The COVID pandemic has been an impetus for a re-examination of balancing of legislative power with executive powers,” said Pam Greenberg, a policy researcher at the National Conference of State Legislatures.Lawmakers in 45 states have proposed more than 300 measures this year related to legislative oversight of executive actions during the COVID-19 pandemic or other emergencies, according to the NCSL.About half those states are considering significant changes, such as tighter limits on how long governors’ emergency orders can last without legislative approval, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council, an association of conservative lawmakers and businesses. It wrote a model “Emergency Power Limitation Act” for lawmakers to follow.Though the pushback is coming primarily from Republican lawmakers, it is not entirely partisan.Republican lawmakers have sought to limit the power of Democratic governors in states such as Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina. But they also have sought to rein in fellow Republican governors in such states as Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana and Ohio. Some Democratic lawmakers also have pushed back against governors of their own party, most notably limiting the ability of embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to issue new mandates.When the pandemic hit a year ago, many governors and their top health officials temporarily ordered residents to remain home, limited public gatherings, prohibited in-person schooling and shut down dine-in restaurants, gyms and other businesses. Many governors have been repealing or relaxing restrictions after cases declined from a winter peak and as more people get vaccinated.But the potential remains in many states for governors to again tighten restrictions if new variants of the coronavirus lead to another surge in cases.Governors have been acting under the authority of emergency response laws that in some states date back decades and weren’t crafted with an indefinite health crisis in mind.“A previous legislature back in the ’60s, fearing a nuclear holocaust, granted tremendous powers” to the governor, said Idaho state Rep. Jason Monks, a Republican and the chamber’s assistant majority leader.“This was the first time I think that those laws were really stress-tested,” he said.Like many governors, Idaho Gov. Brad Little has repeatedly extended his monthlong emergency order since originally issuing it last spring. A pair of bills nearing final approval would prohibit him from declaring an emergency for more than 60 days without legislative approval. The Republican governor also would be barred from suspending constitutional rights, restricting the ability of people to work, or altering state laws like he did by suspending in-person voting and holding a mail-only primary election last year.A measure that recently passed New Hampshire’s Republican-led House also would prohibit governors from indefinitely renewing emergency declarations, as GOP Gov. Chris Sununu has done every 21 days for the past year. It would halt emergency orders after 30 days unless renewed by lawmakers.Next month, Pennsylvania voters will decide a pair of constitutional amendments to limit disaster emergency declarations to three weeks, rather than three months, and require legislative approval to extend them. The Republican-led Legislature placed the measures on the ballot after repeatedly failing to reverse the policies Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf implemented to try to contain the pandemic.In Indiana, the Republican-led Legislature and GOP governor are embroiled in a power struggle over executive powers.The Legislature approved a bill this past week that would give lawmakers greater authority to intervene in gubernatorially declared emergencies by calling themselves into special session. The House Republican leader said the bill was not “anti-governor” but a response to a generational crisis.Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has issued more than 60 executive orders during the pandemic, vetoed the bill Friday. He contends the legislature’s attempt to expand its power could violate the state Constitution. Legislative leaders said they intend to override the veto, potentially setting up a legal clash between the legislative and executive branches. Unlike Congress and most states, Indiana lawmakers can override a veto with a simple majority of both houses.Several other governors also have vetoed bills limiting their emergency authority or increasing legislative powers.In Michigan, where new variants are fueling a rise in COVID-19 cases, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed GOP-backed legislation last month that would have ended state health department orders after 28 days unless lengthened by lawmakers.Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, contended that legislation allowing lawmakers to rescind his public health orders “jeopardizes the safety of every Ohioan.” But the Republican-led Legislature overrode his veto the next day.“It’s time for us to stand up for the legislative branch,” sponsoring Sen. Rob McColley told his colleagues.Kentucky’s GOP-led Legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes of bills limiting his emergency powers, but a judge temporarily blocked the laws from taking effect. The judge said they are “likely to undermine, or even cripple, the effectiveness of public health measures.”In some states, governors have worked with lawmakers to pare back executive powers.Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, signed a law last month giving the GOP-led Legislature greater say in determining whether to end his emergency orders. It was quickly put to the test by the Arkansas Legislative Council, which decided to let Hutchinson extend his emergency declaration another two months.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, also enacted a law last month giving legislative leaders power to revoke her emergency orders. Top Republican lawmakers immediately used it to scuttle a Kelly order meant to encourage counties to keep mask mandates in place.“The power of the executive has been emasculated when it comes to the Emergency Management Act,” Democratic state Rep. John Carmichael said. “That may have very dire consequences in other circumstances and other disasters.”Kelly said it will be harder to persuade people to keep wearing masks without state or local mandates. She said her orders had relieved pressure on local leaders and businesses.“Let me be the bad guy. Let me be the one who mandates so that they don’t have to make those kinds of decisions,” Kelly said.Republican lawmakers insisted that their push to curb the governor’s power is not partisan. Lawmakers said they didn’t understand how broad the governor’s power was until she started issuing orders last spring to close K-12 schools, limit indoor worship services and regulate how businesses could reopen.House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said he believes the changes in Kansas’ emergency management law will encourage future governors to “use that power sparingly” and collaborate with lawmakers.“Our system is set up not to give one person of any party too much power over the lives of Kansans,” he said. “We’re supposed to have checks and balances.”___

Lawmakers seek long-term limit on governors' emergency power

GRUNDY COUNTY, IA (AP) — A 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol was shot and killed during a violent standoff with a man who fought back against agents in an armored personnel carrier and said he wanted to shoot other officers, authorities said Saturday.

Sgt. Jim Smith was killed Friday night in Grundy Center as he and other officers entered the home of Michael Thomas Lang, 41, who fled there after an earlier police pursuit, authorities said.

The standoff ended about midnight Friday when a team of highway patrol troopers in an armored personnel carrier smashed into the home. Lang fired multiple shots at the carrier. Three officers inside the carrier returned fire, hitting the man several times, authorities said.

Lang was hospitalized in critical condition on Saturday. He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $1 million bond.

Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Steve Bayens said Smith “died a hero” and “sacrificed himself protecting others.”

“We are hurting, we are angry,” Bayens said. “But rest assured we’re not broken. We will continue to shoulder the burdens of our communities while carrying our own. We will continue to stand in the gap of good and evil because, like Jim, that is what we are called to do.”

Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the division of criminal investigation, said events began at 7:22 p.m. on Friday when a Grundy Center officer tried to stop Lang for a traffic violation. Lang was known to Grundy City officers and was not supposed to be driving, he said.

Lang fled but eventually stopped and assaulted the officer, Mortvedt said. During the assault, Lang yelled “Shoot Me” at the officer several times, and Lang disarmed the officer of his gun and stun gun and put him in a chokehold, he added.

A Grundy County deputy arrived and told Lang to drop his gun. Lang instead yelled “Come get me” and got into his vehicle. He ended up at his home, and several law enforcement officers arrived, Mortvedt said.

Lang’s father arrived and told officers his son had multiple weapons in the house.

Four Iowa patrol troopers, including Smith, and a K-9 unit, entered the home, and Smith was shot as officers tried to clear the house, he said. Two members of the team retreated into the basement while other officers pulled Smith out.

Lang barricaded himself for several hours. Officers who were in the basement said Lang made several statements about shooting Smith and “expressed the desire to shoot more police officers,” he said.

About 11:50 p.m., a patrol team tried to enter the home in the armored personnel carrier and exchanged gunfire with Lang, Mortvedt said.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said she plans to order flags flown at half-staff in Smith’s memory.

“It’s with deep sorrow that we recognize the loss of Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith, a courageous hero who died in the line of duty,” Reynolds said in a statement Saturday. “Sgt. Jim Smith was a loving husband, father of two, and a pillar of the community. I along with the entire state of Iowa grieve for his family and friends as they try to cope with this devastating loss. Today we are once again reminded of the selfless sacrifices the brave men and women in uniform make. Let us never forget their bravery and that of their loved ones.”

Smith is the 11th trooper to die in the line of duty in the patrol’s history. The last death was on Sept. 20, 2011, when Trooper Mark Toney died in a crash in Warren County as he tried to make a traffic stop.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618102224872.png" alt="Sgt. Jim Smith photo courtesy Iowa State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Sgt. Jim Smith photo courtesy Iowa State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>GRUNDY COUNTY, IA (AP) — A 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol was shot and killed during a violent standoff with a man who fought back against agents in an armored personnel carrier and said he wanted to shoot other officers, authorities said Saturday.Sgt. Jim Smith was killed Friday night in Grundy Center as he and other officers entered the home of Michael Thomas Lang, 41, who fled there after an earlier police pursuit, authorities said.The standoff ended about midnight Friday when a team of highway patrol troopers in an armored personnel carrier smashed into the home. Lang fired multiple shots at the carrier. Three officers inside the carrier returned fire, hitting the man several times, authorities said.Lang was hospitalized in critical condition on Saturday. He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $1 million bond.Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Steve Bayens said Smith “died a hero” and “sacrificed himself protecting others.”“We are hurting, we are angry,” Bayens said. “But rest assured we’re not broken. We will continue to shoulder the burdens of our communities while carrying our own. We will continue to stand in the gap of good and evil because, like Jim, that is what we are called to do.”Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the division of criminal investigation, said events began at 7:22 p.m. on Friday when a Grundy Center officer tried to stop Lang for a traffic violation. Lang was known to Grundy City officers and was not supposed to be driving, he said.Lang fled but eventually stopped and assaulted the officer, Mortvedt said. During the assault, Lang yelled “Shoot Me” at the officer several times, and Lang disarmed the officer of his gun and stun gun and put him in a chokehold, he added.A Grundy County deputy arrived and told Lang to drop his gun. Lang instead yelled “Come get me” and got into his vehicle. He ended up at his home, and several law enforcement officers arrived, Mortvedt said.Lang’s father arrived and told officers his son had multiple weapons in the house.Four Iowa patrol troopers, including Smith, and a K-9 unit, entered the home, and Smith was shot as officers tried to clear the house, he said. Two members of the team retreated into the basement while other officers pulled Smith out.Lang barricaded himself for several hours. Officers who were in the basement said Lang made several statements about shooting Smith and “expressed the desire to shoot more police officers,” he said.About 11:50 p.m., a patrol team tried to enter the home in the armored personnel carrier and exchanged gunfire with Lang, Mortvedt said.No other officers were injured.Gov. Kim Reynolds said she plans to order flags flown at half-staff in Smith’s memory.“It’s with deep sorrow that we recognize the loss of Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith, a courageous hero who died in the line of duty,” Reynolds said in a statement Saturday. “Sgt. Jim Smith was a loving husband, father of two, and a pillar of the community. I along with the entire state of Iowa grieve for his family and friends as they try to cope with this devastating loss. Today we are once again reminded of the selfless sacrifices the brave men and women in uniform make. Let us never forget their bravery and that of their loved ones.”Smith is the 11th trooper to die in the line of duty in the patrol’s history. The last death was on Sept. 20, 2011, when Trooper Mark Toney died in a crash in Warren County as he tried to make a traffic stop.

Authorities: Iowa patrol trooper slain amid violent standoff

WOODSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Woodson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Fusion driven by Raymond&nbsp;McIntosh, 83, Buffalo, Kansas,&nbsp;was westbound on 10th Road ten miles south of Yates Center..

The car came to a stop at the stop sign at U.S. 75 and then the driver failed to yield.&nbsp; A southbound 2016 GMC Yukon driven by Gary Alan Flanagan, 74, Topeka, struck the Ford.

EMS transported McIntosh to&nbsp; Fredonia Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. EMS transported Flanagan and a passenger Brenda Flanagan, 60, Topeka, to the Coffey County Hospital.&nbsp; McIntosh was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WOODSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Woodson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Fusion driven by Raymond&nbsp;McIntosh, 83, Buffalo, Kansas,&nbsp;was westbound on 10th Road ten miles south of Yates Center..The car came to a stop at the stop sign at U.S. 75 and then the driver failed to yield.&nbsp; A southbound 2016 GMC Yukon driven by Gary Alan Flanagan, 74, Topeka, struck the Ford.EMS transported McIntosh to&nbsp; Fredonia Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. EMS transported Flanagan and a passenger Brenda Flanagan, 60, Topeka, to the Coffey County Hospital.&nbsp; McIntosh was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

83-year-old Kan. man dead, 2 hospitalized after crash

Kansas City (AP) — A Kansas City man has been convicted of stabbing his father to death.

A Jackson County jury on Thursday convicted Curtis Lee, 42, of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the stabbing in April 2018, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Officers who went to an Independence home from Charles and Clyde Burtin, who were brothers, both dead of stab wounds. A large knife with dried blood also was found.

Lee told police his father stabbed his uncle during an argument. Lee said he pulled the knife out of his uncle before going into his father’s room and sharing a cigarette. Lee said he stabbed his father after the the older man said ”“it’s going to be you or me.” The jury recommended life without parole and 15 years for the armed criminal action conviction, according to the prosecutor’s office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618000152850.png" alt="Lee photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lee photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — A Kansas City man has been convicted of stabbing his father to death.A Jackson County jury on Thursday convicted Curtis Lee, 42, of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the stabbing in April 2018, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.Officers who went to an Independence home from Charles and Clyde Burtin, who were brothers, both dead of stab wounds. A large knife with dried blood also was found.Lee told police his father stabbed his uncle during an argument. Lee said he pulled the knife out of his uncle before going into his father’s room and sharing a cigarette. Lee said he stabbed his father after the the older man said ”“it’s going to be you or me.” The jury recommended life without parole and 15 years for the armed criminal action conviction, according to the prosecutor’s office.Lee’s will be sentenced June 24.

Jury: Kansas City man guilty of father's stabbing death

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

On April 6, sheriff's deputies stopped a vehicle for an alleged registration violation east of U.S. Highway 75 on 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Further investigation in the traffic stop led to the discovery of suspected illicit items in the vehicle. 

Deputies arrested the driver, Kevin Lamont Hayes, 33, of Topeka and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal carrying of weapons, driving with no license and no insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617878769556.png" alt="Hayes photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hayes photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after a traffic stop.On April 6, sheriff's deputies stopped a vehicle for an alleged registration violation east of U.S. Highway 75 on 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Further investigation in the traffic stop led to the discovery of suspected illicit items in the vehicle. Deputies arrested the driver, Kevin Lamont Hayes, 33, of Topeka and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal carrying of weapons, driving with no license and no insurance.

Sheriff: Kan. felon was driving with weapons and meth

PARIS (AP) — French health officials said Friday that people under 55 who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should get other vaccines for their second shot because of an extremely rare risk of a blood clotting disorder.

Germany is expected to recommend a similar booster dose strategy for people under age 60. The World Health Organization says it’s too early to know whether to recommend such vaccine mixing, however, and the European Medicines Agency hasn’t advised putting any age restrictions on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

French authorities said the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company’s vaccine remains central to its vaccination plan strategy, and they urged older populations to keep taking it as France’s hospitals battle another surge in COVID-19 patients.

“It’s an effective vaccine,” Dominique Le Guludec, president of France’s High Authority for Health, told reporters. “If we want to win the battle against the virus, we must use all weapons at our disposition.”

Several European countries decided in recent weeks to limit their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to older people because of strengthening evidence the vaccine may be linked to rare blood clots in younger populations.

Since March 19, France has only offered the vaccine to people over 55. More than half a million French people under that age — including Health Minister Olivier Veran — received a first dose before then.

France’s High Authority for Health said Friday that it is maintaining the age limit for now and recommending that younger people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose should get booster shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead.

“It’s a precautionary measure,” Veran said Friday on RTL radio.

The health authority also called for more research on the effects of vaccine mixing.

Germany on March 30 recommended restricting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 60, in most cases. The country’s independent vaccine expert panel last week recommended giving a second shot of the BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to people under 60 who had received a first shot of AstraZeneca’s product.

Health ministers from Germany’s 16 states are expected to sign off on the recommendation next week.

Dr. Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman, said Friday that an advisory group on immunization made recommendations about the AstraZeneca vaccine in February, but didn’t have enough information at the time to determine whether it could be used in conjunction with other vaccines.

“There is not adequate data to be able to say whether this is something that could be done,” Harris told a U.N. press briefing in Geneva.

France, which has reported one of the world’s highest virus death tolls, has closed schools and nonessential businesses for a month and imposed nationwide travel restrictions to stem the spread of new virus variants.

It’s also trying to speed up vaccinations. President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged Friday that the United States “won the bet” on coronavirus vaccines by investing massively and moving fast with experimental treatments.

Macron visited a French factory that started bottling and packaging Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines this week, and urged his compatriots to join a “national war effort” to administer and make vaccines. He promised that France would produce 250 million vaccine doses this year for domestic and global use.

PARIS (AP) — French health officials said Friday that people under 55 who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should get other vaccines for their second shot because of an extremely rare risk of a blood clotting disorder.Germany is expected to recommend a similar booster dose strategy for people under age 60. The World Health Organization says it’s too early to know whether to recommend such vaccine mixing, however, and the European Medicines Agency hasn’t advised putting any age restrictions on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.French authorities said the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company’s vaccine remains central to its vaccination plan strategy, and they urged older populations to keep taking it as France’s hospitals battle another surge in COVID-19 patients.“It’s an effective vaccine,” Dominique Le Guludec, president of France’s High Authority for Health, told reporters. “If we want to win the battle against the virus, we must use all weapons at our disposition.”Several European countries decided in recent weeks to limit their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to older people because of strengthening evidence the vaccine may be linked to rare blood clots in younger populations.Since March 19, France has only offered the vaccine to people over 55. More than half a million French people under that age — including Health Minister Olivier Veran — received a first dose before then.France’s High Authority for Health said Friday that it is maintaining the age limit for now and recommending that younger people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose should get booster shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead.“It’s a precautionary measure,” Veran said Friday on RTL radio.The health authority also called for more research on the effects of vaccine mixing.Germany on March 30 recommended restricting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 60, in most cases. The country’s independent vaccine expert panel last week recommended giving a second shot of the BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to people under 60 who had received a first shot of AstraZeneca’s product.Health ministers from Germany’s 16 states are expected to sign off on the recommendation next week.Dr. Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman, said Friday that an advisory group on immunization made recommendations about the AstraZeneca vaccine in February, but didn’t have enough information at the time to determine whether it could be used in conjunction with other vaccines.“There is not adequate data to be able to say whether this is something that could be done,” Harris told a U.N. press briefing in Geneva.France, which has reported one of the world’s highest virus death tolls, has closed schools and nonessential businesses for a month and imposed nationwide travel restrictions to stem the spread of new virus variants.It’s also trying to speed up vaccinations. President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged Friday that the United States “won the bet” on coronavirus vaccines by investing massively and moving fast with experimental treatments.Macron visited a French factory that started bottling and packaging Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines this week, and urged his compatriots to join a “national war effort” to administer and make vaccines. He promised that France would produce 250 million vaccine doses this year for domestic and global use.

Some countries recommend mixing COVID-19 vaccines  

KOSHKONONG, Mo. (AP) — One person was killed and three others were critically injured Saturday morning in a shooting at a convenience store in southern Missouri, authorities said.

The shooting occurred at a Snappy Mart convenience store in Koshkonong, a town of about 200 people on the Missouri-Arkansas border.

Officers were alerted when a clerk inside the store called 911. The suspect walked into the store and started firing with a handgun. Several witnesses inside the store were not injured, Oregon County Sheriff Eric King said.

A 28-year-old suspect from Thayer, Missouri, was arrested about four hours later in neighboring Howell County, King said. Authorities do not believe any other suspects are involved.

The suspect and at least one of the victims knew each other, the sheriff said. Three of the victims, including the person who died, were from out of state. No other details were immediately released. Koshkonong is about 145 miles southeast of Springfield, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618080788145.png" alt="Sheriff's deputies have arrested a suspect -photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>Sheriff's deputies have arrested a suspect -photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KOSHKONONG, Mo. (AP) — One person was killed and three others were critically injured Saturday morning in a shooting at a convenience store in southern Missouri, authorities said.The shooting occurred at a Snappy Mart convenience store in Koshkonong, a town of about 200 people on the Missouri-Arkansas border.Officers were alerted when a clerk inside the store called 911. The suspect walked into the store and started firing with a handgun. Several witnesses inside the store were not injured, Oregon County Sheriff Eric King said.A 28-year-old suspect from Thayer, Missouri, was arrested about four hours later in neighboring Howell County, King said. Authorities do not believe any other suspects are involved.The suspect and at least one of the victims knew each other, the sheriff said. Three of the victims, including the person who died, were from out of state. No other details were immediately released. Koshkonong is about 145 miles southeast of Springfield, Missouri.

1 dead, 3 injured in shooting at Missouri convenience store

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced that $16 billion in grants will be administered to shuttered venues through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program by the Small Business Administration (SBA), according to a media release.

“Kansas venues are an integral part of our history, our culture, and our communities,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said. “I strongly support the SBA’s efforts to aid these important local businesses. These grants will ensure venues emerge from the pandemic with the resources they need, and I encourage all Kansas venues that are eligible to apply for the program.”

The SVOG program will be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants may qualify for the SVOG grant equal to&nbsp;45% of their gross earned revenue for 2019, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million.

$2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. The program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020.

“Kansas venues were hit especially hard by this pandemic, and this program was established specifically to support them,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said.&nbsp;“SBA has created a strong lifeline for venues in our state, and I would encourage any business owner who feels this funding could help them to apply. To Kansans with impacted venues - you are not alone. We're here to help.”

Eligible entities must have been in operation by February 29, 2020 and include:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for our industry, with most venues facing 95%+ revenue loss,”&nbsp;Adam Hartke, Co-Owner of the Cotillion in Wichita, said.&nbsp;“Through these hard times we have committed to persevere to become once again economic, tourism, and cultural drivers within Kansas.”

“Prior to COVID, our economic impact within Kansas was over $400 million annually, and we brought&nbsp;tens of thousands of tourists to Kansas from across the country for shows at our venues every year,”&nbsp;Jessie Hartke, Cotillion Co-Owner, said.&nbsp;“We are ready to get back to work, and with the continued overwhelming support of the State of Kansas, grow our industry for years to come, gaining Kansas the recognition it deserves as a vital tour stop for traveling musicians, and shedding light on the vast depth of local talent found within our local communities.”

All eligible Kansas venues are encouraged to take part in the SVOG program. You can learn more about the Program and apply&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.f62zmuWdIVcrQ67l_qBWUO7fdlLzOKM-CCLbmLtVlGY/s/1303160919/br/101757746494-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584386106306.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced that $16 billion in grants will be administered to shuttered venues through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program by the Small Business Administration (SBA), according to a media release.“Kansas venues are an integral part of our history, our culture, and our communities,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said. “I strongly support the SBA’s efforts to aid these important local businesses. These grants will ensure venues emerge from the pandemic with the resources they need, and I encourage all Kansas venues that are eligible to apply for the program.”The SVOG program will be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.Eligible applicants may qualify for the SVOG grant equal to&nbsp;45% of their gross earned revenue for 2019, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million.$2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. The program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020.“Kansas venues were hit especially hard by this pandemic, and this program was established specifically to support them,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said.&nbsp;“SBA has created a strong lifeline for venues in our state, and I would encourage any business owner who feels this funding could help them to apply. To Kansans with impacted venues - you are not alone. We're here to help.”Eligible entities must have been in operation by February 29, 2020 and include:<ul>
 <li>Live venue operators or promoters</li><li>Theatrical producers</li><li>Live performing arts organization operators</li><li>Relevant museum operators, zoos, and aquariums</li><li>Motion picture theater operators</li><li>Venue must have&nbsp;fixed seating</li><li>Talent representatives</li><li>Owners of eligible business entities</li>
 </ul>“The COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for our industry, with most venues facing 95%+ revenue loss,”&nbsp;Adam Hartke, Co-Owner of the Cotillion in Wichita, said.&nbsp;“Through these hard times we have committed to persevere to become once again economic, tourism, and cultural drivers within Kansas.”“Prior to COVID, our economic impact within Kansas was over $400 million annually, and we brought&nbsp;tens of thousands of tourists to Kansas from across the country for shows at our venues every year,”&nbsp;Jessie Hartke, Cotillion Co-Owner, said.&nbsp;“We are ready to get back to work, and with the continued overwhelming support of the State of Kansas, grow our industry for years to come, gaining Kansas the recognition it deserves as a vital tour stop for traveling musicians, and shedding light on the vast depth of local talent found within our local communities.”All eligible Kansas venues are encouraged to take part in the SVOG program. You can learn more about the Program and apply&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.f62zmuWdIVcrQ67l_qBWUO7fdlLzOKM-CCLbmLtVlGY/s/1303160919/br/101757746494-l" target="_blank">here</a>.