SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have arrested the victim's uncle.

Just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, officers responded to a walk-in shooting call at an area hospital, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a 45-year-old victim who had a gunshot to his arm.&nbsp; He was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed 63-year-old Ernest Coburn and his nephew got into an argument at Coburn's home in the 2400 block of North Beacon Hill.&nbsp; The victim and his 44-year-old girlfriend were leaving in the girls's 2013 Buick Enclave when Coburn pulled out a handgun and began firing shots at the vehicle, striking the vehicle and his nephew.

Officers located Coburn at his home on Beacon Hill and he was arrested without incident. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal damage to property, according to Davidson.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617567833859.png" alt="Coburn photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Coburn photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have arrested the victim's uncle.Just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, officers responded to a walk-in shooting call at an area hospital, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a 45-year-old victim who had a gunshot to his arm.&nbsp; He was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed 63-year-old Ernest Coburn and his nephew got into an argument at Coburn's home in the 2400 block of North Beacon Hill.&nbsp; The victim and his 44-year-old girlfriend were leaving in the girls's 2013 Buick Enclave when Coburn pulled out a handgun and began firing shots at the vehicle, striking the vehicle and his nephew.Officers located Coburn at his home on Beacon Hill and he was arrested without incident. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal damage to property, according to Davidson.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.

Police: Kan. man shot nephew during weekend dispute

WASHINGTON – Unclaimed income tax refunds worth more than $1.3 
billion await an estimated 1.3 million taxpayers who did not file a 2017
 Form 1040 federal income tax return, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service.

"The IRS wants to help taxpayers who are due refunds but haven't 
filed their 2017 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"Time is quickly running out for these taxpayers. There's only a 
three-year window to claim these refunds, and the window closes on May 
17. We want to help people get these refunds, but they will need to 
quickly file a 2017 tax return."

The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2017 to 
be $865 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $865 and half are 
less.

In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law 
provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim
 a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the 
money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2017 tax returns, 
the window closes May 17, 2021, for most taxpayers. The law requires 
taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is 
postmarked by that date.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2017 tax refund that their checks
 may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2018 and 2019. In 
addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the 
IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support
 or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just 
their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2017. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2017, the credit was worth as much as $6,318. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds. The thresholds for 2017 were:

Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2017 Form
 1040, 1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the 
IRS.gov&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms and Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (<a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>).

Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years
 2017, 2018 or 2019 should request copies from their employer, bank or 
other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their 
employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at 
IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a>
 tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and 
income transcript. A wage and income transcript shows data from 
information returns received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, 
Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the 
information from the transcript to file their tax return.

The IRS reminds first-time filers and those who usually don't have a 
federal filing requirement that they must file a 2020 tax return to 
claim the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC)</a>,
 if they were eligible but did not receive the first or second Economic 
Impact Payment (EIP), or received less than the full amounts. The IRS 
offers free options to prepare and file a return at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/how-to-file">How to File</a>
 on IRS.gov. Taxpayers who received the full amounts of both EIPs cannot
 claim the RRC and should not include any information about the payments
 on their 2020 tax return.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – Unclaimed income tax refunds worth more than $1.3 
billion await an estimated 1.3 million taxpayers who did not file a 2017
 Form 1040 federal income tax return, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service."The IRS wants to help taxpayers who are due refunds but haven't 
filed their 2017 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"Time is quickly running out for these taxpayers. There's only a 
three-year window to claim these refunds, and the window closes on May 
17. We want to help people get these refunds, but they will need to 
quickly file a 2017 tax return."The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2017 to 
be $865 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $865 and half are 
less.In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law 
provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim
 a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the 
money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2017 tax returns, 
the window closes May 17, 2021, for most taxpayers. The law requires 
taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is 
postmarked by that date.The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2017 tax refund that their checks
 may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2018 and 2019. In 
addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the 
IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support
 or past due federal debts, such as student loans.By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just 
their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2017. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2017, the credit was worth as much as $6,318. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds. The thresholds for 2017 were:<ul>
 <li>$48,340 ($53,930 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>$45,007 ($50,597 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>$39,617 ($45,207 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>$15,010 ($20,600 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.</li>
 </ul>Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2017 Form
 1040, 1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the 
IRS.gov&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms and Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (<a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>).Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years
 2017, 2018 or 2019 should request copies from their employer, bank or 
other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their 
employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at 
IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a>
 tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and 
income transcript. A wage and income transcript shows data from 
information returns received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, 
Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the 
information from the transcript to file their tax return.<h2>First-time filers and EIP eligible</h2>The IRS reminds first-time filers and those who usually don't have a 
federal filing requirement that they must file a 2020 tax return to 
claim the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC)</a>,
 if they were eligible but did not receive the first or second Economic 
Impact Payment (EIP), or received less than the full amounts. The IRS 
offers free options to prepare and file a return at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/how-to-file">How to File</a>
 on IRS.gov. Taxpayers who received the full amounts of both EIPs cannot
 claim the RRC and should not include any information about the payments
 on their 2020 tax return.

IRS: $1.3B in refunds waiting for 2017 tax returns to be filed

WASHINGTON (AP) — A surge in hiring in the United States last month —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-employers-add-916k-jobs-march-7fb625eacadc17dc03fb5353e3143200">916,000 added jobs</a>, the most since August — coincides with growing confidence that a blistering pace of job growth will continue as vaccinations increase and federal aid fuels economic growth.

The most optimistic economists even predict that between now and year’s end, the nation could produce as many as 10 million more jobs and restore the labor market to its pre-pandemic level.

Maybe so. Yet even in normal times, it would be hard to regain all those jobs so quickly. And these aren’t normal times.

Many people who’ve been thrown out of the labor force remain fearful of the coronavirus and reluctant to take face-to-face service jobs. Millions of women are still caring for children attending school online — and can’t take jobs because they can’t find or afford child care.

Extended unemployment aid has meant that some employers might have to pay more to attract workers, which they may feel unable to do. And some people will need new skills before they can land a job to replace the one they lost.

While few doubt that the trillions in federal money flowing through the economy will help accelerate hiring, the challenges are sure to endure. Here’s a look at some of them:

For now, a sizable majority of Americans remain unvaccinated. And after weeks of sharp declines, the number of daily infections is creeping back up. Recruiters say that trend is discouraging some of the unemployed from taking jobs.

“People are afraid to come to work — there is some of that,” said Tammy Browning, president of KellyOCG, a staffing agency.

Eventually, ongoing vaccinations ought to gradually reduce such fears, although a portion of Americans remain hesitant to get vaccinated. Browning also suggested that employers will need to become more creative about making workers feel comfortable on the job. Many of her firm’s clients are manufacturing companies. On many hot factory floors, their employees have to wear masks and gloves for eight or more hours a day.

Companies should consider providing more break times, Browning said, and allow workers to remove their masks outside or in socially distant break rooms.

As a single mother, Jennifer Knapp of Augusta, Maine, worries about what a return to work would mean for her and her children’s health. A year ago, Knapp, 44, lost her job as a receptionist at a hotel and spa, a place she described as a “hub of germs.”

“There is work out there, if you want to put yourself at risk,” she said.

But the open jobs she sees are typically temporary and offer low pay. Right now, Knapp is living off savings, child support payments from her ex-husband and unemployment aid. Like many parents, she’d like to find a work-from-home job, ideally in her field of psychology and social work.

“The goal,” she said, “is to get back out there and work, as long as my kids are doing OK.”

Nearly 2.5 million women lost jobs and stopped looking for work during the pandemic. In most cases, experts say, it was because so many children were suddenly stuck at home, going to school online, and their parents lacked available or affordable child care. Better child care options or more flexible work schedules would be needed to fully reverse that trend.

Some such change is becoming evident as schools and child care centers reopen. About 500,000 women returned to the labor force in March and found jobs. The improvement could continue in the coming months: Jed Kolko, chief economist at Indeed, the job listings website, says job openings at child care centers are growing, a sign that more of these centers are back in business.

Recruiters also say flexible or hybrid work schedules, along with benefits for part-time workers, may be critical in attracting job seekers, especially women. More companies could provide on-site child care.

“I think it is going to require some systemic changes by employers,” said Karen Fichuk, chief executive of Randstad North America, a recruiting firm.

Recruiters say the $300-a-week federal unemployment benefit that was provided by President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID aid package, on top of regular state jobless benefits that average about $340 a week, might have made it harder for some employers to find workers. For some job seekers, especially those fearful of the virus, part-time or temporary jobs at restaurants or stores that may pay less than their unemployment aid, aren’t much of an alternative.

Economic research suggests that unemployment benefits generally don’t deter workers from taking jobs: A study by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/institute/pdf/Institute-UI-Research-Brief-ADA.pdf" target="_blank">JPMorgan Chase Institute found</a>&nbsp;that last year’s federal unemployment payment didn’t discourage recipients from working. But the new $300-a-week federal supplement is set to last six months — longer than the previous payment did.

“It’s a much more attractive benefit now,” said Julia Pollak, an economist at ZipRecruiter. “It would be foolish to think that wouldn’t have any effect.”

Economists have calculated that roughly half the unemployed are earning more from benefits than they did at their former jobs.

Another factor is that jobless benefits normally require the unemployed to document their efforts to seek a job in order to remain eligible. But during the pandemic, most states have suspended this requirement. That means there is less incentive to job hunt.

Browning said her firm is advising clients to pay more and offer other benefits, including bonuses, to offset the extended jobless aid. Six months ago, a client raised the hourly rate for a temporary position by $4 an hour. The proportion of jobs filled, she said, jumped from 35% to 98%.

“You really have to encourage people to come back to work,” Browning said, “and that means pay at the level the market is demanding.”

For some of the unemployed, their old job appears gone for good. In some cases, their former employers have learned to operate with fewer workers. Landing a job will require finding work in a new occupation or industry — perhaps only after obtaining job training. This takes time.

Many economists expect more companies to help reskill workers themselves, particularly if they become desperate to hire. Should the unemployment rate keep declining, businesses might have little choice.

“When the economy is running hot, businesses begin to increase training and take risks on someone they might not have hired in the past,” said Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody’s Analytics.

For millions of Americans, the past year has meant demoralizing job losses — sometimes multiple layoffs — and fruitless job searches, leading many to give up on finding work.

As an example, the number of people who said they want a job but were too discouraged to look for one in the past month didn’t change in March. That was true even though several job search websites report that job postings have risen sharply in recent weeks.

For discouraged workers, Pollak said, it can take time to regain confidence.

“There are many job seekers who haven’t yet realized how rapidly the conditions in the labor market have changed,” she said. “Many searched for work earlier during the pandemic, when it was most difficult and frustrating to do so, and are now discouraged.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A surge in hiring in the United States last month —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-employers-add-916k-jobs-march-7fb625eacadc17dc03fb5353e3143200">916,000 added jobs</a>, the most since August — coincides with growing confidence that a blistering pace of job growth will continue as vaccinations increase and federal aid fuels economic growth.The most optimistic economists even predict that between now and year’s end, the nation could produce as many as 10 million more jobs and restore the labor market to its pre-pandemic level.Maybe so. Yet even in normal times, it would be hard to regain all those jobs so quickly. And these aren’t normal times.Many people who’ve been thrown out of the labor force remain fearful of the coronavirus and reluctant to take face-to-face service jobs. Millions of women are still caring for children attending school online — and can’t take jobs because they can’t find or afford child care.Extended unemployment aid has meant that some employers might have to pay more to attract workers, which they may feel unable to do. And some people will need new skills before they can land a job to replace the one they lost.While few doubt that the trillions in federal money flowing through the economy will help accelerate hiring, the challenges are sure to endure. Here’s a look at some of them:___HEALTH FEARSFor now, a sizable majority of Americans remain unvaccinated. And after weeks of sharp declines, the number of daily infections is creeping back up. Recruiters say that trend is discouraging some of the unemployed from taking jobs.“People are afraid to come to work — there is some of that,” said Tammy Browning, president of KellyOCG, a staffing agency.Eventually, ongoing vaccinations ought to gradually reduce such fears, although a portion of Americans remain hesitant to get vaccinated. Browning also suggested that employers will need to become more creative about making workers feel comfortable on the job. Many of her firm’s clients are manufacturing companies. On many hot factory floors, their employees have to wear masks and gloves for eight or more hours a day.Companies should consider providing more break times, Browning said, and allow workers to remove their masks outside or in socially distant break rooms.As a single mother, Jennifer Knapp of Augusta, Maine, worries about what a return to work would mean for her and her children’s health. A year ago, Knapp, 44, lost her job as a receptionist at a hotel and spa, a place she described as a “hub of germs.”“There is work out there, if you want to put yourself at risk,” she said.But the open jobs she sees are typically temporary and offer low pay. Right now, Knapp is living off savings, child support payments from her ex-husband and unemployment aid. Like many parents, she’d like to find a work-from-home job, ideally in her field of psychology and social work.“The goal,” she said, “is to get back out there and work, as long as my kids are doing OK.”___NEED FOR CHILD CARENearly 2.5 million women lost jobs and stopped looking for work during the pandemic. In most cases, experts say, it was because so many children were suddenly stuck at home, going to school online, and their parents lacked available or affordable child care. Better child care options or more flexible work schedules would be needed to fully reverse that trend.Some such change is becoming evident as schools and child care centers reopen. About 500,000 women returned to the labor force in March and found jobs. The improvement could continue in the coming months: Jed Kolko, chief economist at Indeed, the job listings website, says job openings at child care centers are growing, a sign that more of these centers are back in business.Recruiters also say flexible or hybrid work schedules, along with benefits for part-time workers, may be critical in attracting job seekers, especially women. More companies could provide on-site child care.“I think it is going to require some systemic changes by employers,” said Karen Fichuk, chief executive of Randstad North America, a recruiting firm.___EXTENDED JOBLESS AIDRecruiters say the $300-a-week federal unemployment benefit that was provided by President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID aid package, on top of regular state jobless benefits that average about $340 a week, might have made it harder for some employers to find workers. For some job seekers, especially those fearful of the virus, part-time or temporary jobs at restaurants or stores that may pay less than their unemployment aid, aren’t much of an alternative.Economic research suggests that unemployment benefits generally don’t deter workers from taking jobs: A study by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/institute/pdf/Institute-UI-Research-Brief-ADA.pdf" target="_blank">JPMorgan Chase Institute found</a>&nbsp;that last year’s federal unemployment payment didn’t discourage recipients from working. But the new $300-a-week federal supplement is set to last six months — longer than the previous payment did.“It’s a much more attractive benefit now,” said Julia Pollak, an economist at ZipRecruiter. “It would be foolish to think that wouldn’t have any effect.”Economists have calculated that roughly half the unemployed are earning more from benefits than they did at their former jobs.Another factor is that jobless benefits normally require the unemployed to document their efforts to seek a job in order to remain eligible. But during the pandemic, most states have suspended this requirement. That means there is less incentive to job hunt.Browning said her firm is advising clients to pay more and offer other benefits, including bonuses, to offset the extended jobless aid. Six months ago, a client raised the hourly rate for a temporary position by $4 an hour. The proportion of jobs filled, she said, jumped from 35% to 98%.“You really have to encourage people to come back to work,” Browning said, “and that means pay at the level the market is demanding.”___NEED FOR NEW SKILLSFor some of the unemployed, their old job appears gone for good. In some cases, their former employers have learned to operate with fewer workers. Landing a job will require finding work in a new occupation or industry — perhaps only after obtaining job training. This takes time.Many economists expect more companies to help reskill workers themselves, particularly if they become desperate to hire. Should the unemployment rate keep declining, businesses might have little choice.“When the economy is running hot, businesses begin to increase training and take risks on someone they might not have hired in the past,” said Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody’s Analytics.___OPTIMISM NEEDEDFor millions of Americans, the past year has meant demoralizing job losses — sometimes multiple layoffs — and fruitless job searches, leading many to give up on finding work.As an example, the number of people who said they want a job but were too discouraged to look for one in the past month didn’t change in March. That was true even though several job search websites report that job postings have risen sharply in recent weeks.For discouraged workers, Pollak said, it can take time to regain confidence.“There are many job seekers who haven’t yet realized how rapidly the conditions in the labor market have changed,” she said. “Many searched for work earlier during the pandemic, when it was most difficult and frustrating to do so, and are now discouraged.”

From child care to COVID, rising job market faces obstacles

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend shooting.

Just before 8 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the 2600 block of North Madison, according officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 23-year-old man who had been shot.&nbsp; He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed the victim met with individuals known to him at the home on North Madison.&nbsp; After arriving, a suspect shot him with a handgun and fled the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617619872501.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Saturday night shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Saturday night shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend shooting.Just before 8 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the 2600 block of North Madison, according officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers contacted a 23-year-old man who had been shot.&nbsp; He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed the victim met with individuals known to him at the home on North Madison.&nbsp; After arriving, a suspect shot him with a handgun and fled the scene.Police have not reported an arrest.

Police: 23-year-old Kansas man shot at his home

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A Dallas woman was sentenced to five years in prison for causing a nightclub dancer’s death by performing an illegal cosmetic butt injection on her in Missouri.

Nitica Deonte Lee, 49, was sentenced Thursday for involuntary manslaughter in the 2015 death of Daysha Phillips.

Prosecutors said Lee traveled from her Dallas home to a hotel in Edmundson, a suburb near St. Louis’ main airport, where she injected the liquid silicone. Phillips, who was 22, died four days later after the silicone entered her bloodstream and became trapped in her lungs.

Three others accompanied Phillips. One backed out, and two others who received injections didn’t appear to suffer any ill effects, police said at the time.

Lee, who previously served time in prison for robbery, burglary and theft, was charged a few months after Phillips&nbsp;died.&nbsp;But she was a fugitive for five years before being arrested by Dallas police in July. Prosecutors said she spent some of that time in Mexico.

Cosmetic surgeons use fat from elsewhere in the body for enhancements, but black market practitioners sometimes use silicone sourced from hardware stores. Deaths have occurred around the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617460290299.png" alt="Lee- photo&nbsp; Edmundson Missouri Police" />
 <figcaption>Lee- photo&nbsp; Edmundson Missouri Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A Dallas woman was sentenced to five years in prison for causing a nightclub dancer’s death by performing an illegal cosmetic butt injection on her in Missouri.Nitica Deonte Lee, 49, was sentenced Thursday for involuntary manslaughter in the 2015 death of Daysha Phillips.Prosecutors said Lee traveled from her Dallas home to a hotel in Edmundson, a suburb near St. Louis’ main airport, where she injected the liquid silicone. Phillips, who was 22, died four days later after the silicone entered her bloodstream and became trapped in her lungs.Three others accompanied Phillips. One backed out, and two others who received injections didn’t appear to suffer any ill effects, police said at the time.Lee, who previously served time in prison for robbery, burglary and theft, was charged a few months after Phillips&nbsp;died.&nbsp;But she was a fugitive for five years before being arrested by Dallas police in July. Prosecutors said she spent some of that time in Mexico.Cosmetic surgeons use fat from elsewhere in the body for enhancements, but black market practitioners sometimes use silicone sourced from hardware stores. Deaths have occurred around the U.S.

Woman sentenced to prison for butt injection death 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two teens to the hospital and have made an arrest.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting in the 2300 block of North Broadway in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson. 

Upon arrival, officers located a 19-year-old man who had been shot in the hand and torso by what appeared to be pellets from a shotgun. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

While at the hospital, a second 17-year-old victim arrived who had also been shot in the torso by pellets from a shotgun. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed the two victims entered the Treatco plant property in the 2300 block of North Broadway when they were approached by 62-year-old Ken Thomas, who is the owner of the property. 

Thomas fired multiple shots from a shotgun at them.

Officers contacted Thomas at the Treatco property, and he was arrested without incident on requested charges of&nbsp;two counts of aggravated battery, according to Davidson. Officers also recovered a shotgun.&nbsp; Treatco was a pet treat company. Three fires have been reported at the property since 2011. Federal and state officials investigated the business several times in the past for alleged environmental violations, according to the Associated Press.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617498540734.png" alt="Thomas photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Thomas photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two teens to the hospital and have made an arrest.Just after 10:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting in the 2300 block of North Broadway in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a 19-year-old man who had been shot in the hand and torso by what appeared to be pellets from a shotgun. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.While at the hospital, a second 17-year-old victim arrived who had also been shot in the torso by pellets from a shotgun. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed the two victims entered the Treatco plant property in the 2300 block of North Broadway when they were approached by 62-year-old Ken Thomas, who is the owner of the property. Thomas fired multiple shots from a shotgun at them.Officers contacted Thomas at the Treatco property, and he was arrested without incident on requested charges of&nbsp;two counts of aggravated battery, according to Davidson. Officers also recovered a shotgun.&nbsp; Treatco was a pet treat company. Three fires have been reported at the property since 2011. Federal and state officials investigated the business several times in the past for alleged environmental violations, according to the Associated Press.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Police: Kan. property owner arrested; used shotgun on teens

WASHINGTON (AP) —Microsoft won a nearly $22 billion contract to&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2021/03/31/army-moves-microsoft-hololens-based-headset-from-prototyping-to-production-phase/" target="_blank">supply U.S. Army combat troops</a>&nbsp;with its augmented reality headsets.

Microsoft and the Army&nbsp;<a href="https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2556870/ivas-production-contract-award/" target="_blank">separately announced the deal</a>&nbsp;last week. The technology is based on Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets, which were originally intended for the video game and entertainment industries.

Pentagon officials have described the futuristic technology — which the Army calls its Integrated Visual Augmentation System — as a way of boosting soldiers’ awareness of their surroundings and their ability to spot targets and dangers.

Microsoft’s head-mounted HoloLens displays let people see virtual imagery superimposed over the physical world in front of them — anything from holograms in virtual game worlds to repair instructions floating over a broken gadget.

The Army’s website says soldiers tested the gadgets last year at Fort Pickett in Virginia. It said the system could help troops gain an advantage “on battlefields that are increasingly urban, congested, dark and unpredictable.”

The Army first began testing Microsoft’s system with a $480 million contract in 2018 and said the headsets could be used for both training and in actual battle. The new contract will enable Microsoft to mass produce units for more than 120,000 soldiers in the Army Close Combat Force. Microsoft said the contract will amount to up to $21.88 billion over the next decade, with a five-year base agreement that can be extended for another five years.

It’s not clear how it corresponds to the $740 billion defense policy bill that Congress passed in January after overriding a veto by President Donald Trump. The bill affirmed a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops but included cuts to the headset initiative.

Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday that the technology is promising but its results must be closely tracked “and it’s our job to raise issues if the technology isn’t meeting the needs of our troops now and in the future.”

Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reed’s committee in February that the system could integrate thermal night vision and facial recognition to provide soldiers with “real-time analytics” on remote battlefields. He also described how it could help in planning a hostage rescue operation by creating a “digital twin” of the building.

A group of Microsoft workers in 2019 petitioned the company to cancel its initial Army deal, arguing it would turn real-world battlefields into a video game.

Microsoft is among several tech companies that have sought to wow the gaming world with glitzy new virtual reality goggles over the past decade, though the efforts have largely fizzled. Microsoft pivoted away from consumer applications for its second-generation HoloLens 2, introduced in 2019, which is the basis for the Army’s new gadgets.

Although Microsoft recently demonstrated a way to use the goggles to play the hit game Pokemon Go, it mostly pitches the devices as work tools to help surgeons, factory crews and others. Users can often control what’s on their screens using hand gestures or voice commands.

The headset deal is part of Microsoft’s broader work as a defense contractor. The Pentagon in September reaffirmed Microsoft as winner of a cloud computing contract potentially worth $10 billion, although the work has been delayed by a legal battle over rival Amazon’s claim that the bidding process was flawed.

By MATT O'BRIENWASHINGTON (AP) —Microsoft won a nearly $22 billion contract to&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2021/03/31/army-moves-microsoft-hololens-based-headset-from-prototyping-to-production-phase/" target="_blank">supply U.S. Army combat troops</a>&nbsp;with its augmented reality headsets.Microsoft and the Army&nbsp;<a href="https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2556870/ivas-production-contract-award/" target="_blank">separately announced the deal</a>&nbsp;last week. The technology is based on Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets, which were originally intended for the video game and entertainment industries.Pentagon officials have described the futuristic technology — which the Army calls its Integrated Visual Augmentation System — as a way of boosting soldiers’ awareness of their surroundings and their ability to spot targets and dangers.Microsoft’s head-mounted HoloLens displays let people see virtual imagery superimposed over the physical world in front of them — anything from holograms in virtual game worlds to repair instructions floating over a broken gadget.The Army’s website says soldiers tested the gadgets last year at Fort Pickett in Virginia. It said the system could help troops gain an advantage “on battlefields that are increasingly urban, congested, dark and unpredictable.”The Army first began testing Microsoft’s system with a $480 million contract in 2018 and said the headsets could be used for both training and in actual battle. The new contract will enable Microsoft to mass produce units for more than 120,000 soldiers in the Army Close Combat Force. Microsoft said the contract will amount to up to $21.88 billion over the next decade, with a five-year base agreement that can be extended for another five years.It’s not clear how it corresponds to the $740 billion defense policy bill that Congress passed in January after overriding a veto by President Donald Trump. The bill affirmed a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops but included cuts to the headset initiative.Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday that the technology is promising but its results must be closely tracked “and it’s our job to raise issues if the technology isn’t meeting the needs of our troops now and in the future.”Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reed’s committee in February that the system could integrate thermal night vision and facial recognition to provide soldiers with “real-time analytics” on remote battlefields. He also described how it could help in planning a hostage rescue operation by creating a “digital twin” of the building.A group of Microsoft workers in 2019 petitioned the company to cancel its initial Army deal, arguing it would turn real-world battlefields into a video game.Microsoft is among several tech companies that have sought to wow the gaming world with glitzy new virtual reality goggles over the past decade, though the efforts have largely fizzled. Microsoft pivoted away from consumer applications for its second-generation HoloLens 2, introduced in 2019, which is the basis for the Army’s new gadgets.Although Microsoft recently demonstrated a way to use the goggles to play the hit game Pokemon Go, it mostly pitches the devices as work tools to help surgeons, factory crews and others. Users can often control what’s on their screens using hand gestures or voice commands.The headset deal is part of Microsoft’s broader work as a defense contractor. The Pentagon in September reaffirmed Microsoft as winner of a cloud computing contract potentially worth $10 billion, although the work has been delayed by a legal battle over rival Amazon’s claim that the bidding process was flawed.

Microsoft $22B Army deal could turn battlefields into video game

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/dignity-and-grace-new-historical-marker-showcases-life-legacy-hattie-mcdaniel">Kansas News Service</a>

Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black actor to win an Academy Award, for her role as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.”

Now, visitors passing her childhood home near 9th and Waco in Wichita can read all about her.

A
 colorful new memorial showcasing the actor’s life and career was 
dedicated Wednesday at 925 N. Wichita, across the street from where 
McDaniel once lived. It replaces a trail marker placed there by The 
Kansas African American Museum in 2011, which was removed after the 
sign's sponsor went out of business.

About 100 people gathered near the new marker on a sunny afternoon to
 remember McDaniel and honor her life. Among them was Ebony 
Clemons-Ajibolade, who read an original poem, “Black Not Accepted,” by 
Kevin John Goff, a descendant of McDaniel’s.

“But Wichita accepts
 her,” Clemons-Ajibolade read. “All of you here today accept her. You 
understand. You try to hold back the tears, for you were born in that 
everyday kind of pain that she knew all too well.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The new 
marker relates McDaniel’s remarkable history: Her father, Henry 
McDaniel, was a former slave who fought in the Civil War. He moved his 
family to Manhattan, Kansas, and then to a portion of Wichita previously
 known as the “Black District.”

Hattie McDaniel, the youngest of 13 children, moved with her family 
to Colorado when she was 5. She began her career in vaudeville and was a
 talented singer, songwriter, playwright, dancer, radio show host and 
comedienne.

When “Gone with the Wind” was set to be released in 
1939, the producer scheduled a gala premiere in Atlanta, the hometown of
 author Margaret Mitchell. Because of Jim Crow laws in effect at the 
time, McDaniel and other Black actors were denied entrance to the 
premiere, and their photos were removed from a souvenir program.

Denise
 Sherman, executive director of the Kansas African American Museum, 
choked up toward the end of the dedication ceremony as she reflected on 
McDaniel’s career and its impact on Black history.

“I want to 
really share with you how blessed we are today,” Sherman said. “That we 
can come together and recognize an awesome African-American woman who 
endured so much but left a positive legacy for all of us.”

The historical marker is part of an initiative between The Kansas African American Museum, the city of Wichita and KMUW.

Carla
 Eckels, KMUW’s director of cultural diversity, news and engagement, 
helped raise interest and funds for the historical marker after 
interviewing fellow Wichitan Karla Burns at the site in 2019. Burns, a 
Broadway performer who portrayed McDaniel in a musical called “Hi-Hat 
Hattie,” was distressed that the marker noting the actor’s birthplace 
had been removed.

“You never know where a story will take you,” 
Eckels said Wednesday. “After the interview aired, there was an 
outpouring of calls and emails from KMUW listeners. . . And she now has a
 historic marker in her birthplace — Wichita, Kansas.

“As you 
will read on her historic marker, she lived her life with dignity and 
grace, proudly and bravely serving as an inspiration and shining example
 to all who knew her and for the generations to follow.”

You can view the new historical marker from a walking and biking path just east of Waco, between north 8th and 9th streets.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617294612284.png" alt="Suzanne Perez / KMUW " />
 <figcaption>Suzanne Perez / KMUW </figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/dignity-and-grace-new-historical-marker-showcases-life-legacy-hattie-mcdaniel">Kansas News Service</a>Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black actor to win an Academy Award, for her role as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.”Now, visitors passing her childhood home near 9th and Waco in Wichita can read all about her.A
 colorful new memorial showcasing the actor’s life and career was 
dedicated Wednesday at 925 N. Wichita, across the street from where 
McDaniel once lived. It replaces a trail marker placed there by The 
Kansas African American Museum in 2011, which was removed after the 
sign's sponsor went out of business.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617294693252.jpeg" alt=" Denise Sherman, executive director of The Kansas African American Museum, speaks at a dedication ceremony for a new marker honoring Wichita native Hattie McDaniel. Credit Hugo Phan / KMUW" />
 <figcaption> Denise Sherman, executive director of The Kansas African American Museum, speaks at a dedication ceremony for a new marker honoring Wichita native Hattie McDaniel. Credit Hugo Phan / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>About 100 people gathered near the new marker on a sunny afternoon to
 remember McDaniel and honor her life. Among them was Ebony 
Clemons-Ajibolade, who read an original poem, “Black Not Accepted,” by 
Kevin John Goff, a descendant of McDaniel’s.“But Wichita accepts
 her,” Clemons-Ajibolade read. “All of you here today accept her. You 
understand. You try to hold back the tears, for you were born in that 
everyday kind of pain that she knew all too well.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The new 
marker relates McDaniel’s remarkable history: Her father, Henry 
McDaniel, was a former slave who fought in the Civil War. He moved his 
family to Manhattan, Kansas, and then to a portion of Wichita previously
 known as the “Black District.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617294721015.jpeg" alt=" Hattie McDaniel was born in Wichita. She became a talented singer, songwriter, playwright, dancer and radio show host. She was the first Black person to win an Academy Award. Credit BETTMANN/CORBIS/NPR" />
 <figcaption> Hattie McDaniel was born in Wichita. She became a talented singer, songwriter, playwright, dancer and radio show host. She was the first Black person to win an Academy Award. Credit BETTMANN/CORBIS/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure>Hattie McDaniel, the youngest of 13 children, moved with her family 
to Colorado when she was 5. She began her career in vaudeville and was a
 talented singer, songwriter, playwright, dancer, radio show host and 
comedienne.When “Gone with the Wind” was set to be released in 
1939, the producer scheduled a gala premiere in Atlanta, the hometown of
 author Margaret Mitchell. Because of Jim Crow laws in effect at the 
time, McDaniel and other Black actors were denied entrance to the 
premiere, and their photos were removed from a souvenir program.Denise
 Sherman, executive director of the Kansas African American Museum, 
choked up toward the end of the dedication ceremony as she reflected on 
McDaniel’s career and its impact on Black history.“I want to 
really share with you how blessed we are today,” Sherman said. “That we 
can come together and recognize an awesome African-American woman who 
endured so much but left a positive legacy for all of us.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617294759155.jpeg" alt="Credit Hugo Phan / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Credit Hugo Phan / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>The historical marker is part of an initiative between The Kansas African American Museum, the city of Wichita and KMUW.Carla
 Eckels, KMUW’s director of cultural diversity, news and engagement, 
helped raise interest and funds for the historical marker after 
interviewing fellow Wichitan Karla Burns at the site in 2019. Burns, a 
Broadway performer who portrayed McDaniel in a musical called “Hi-Hat 
Hattie,” was distressed that the marker noting the actor’s birthplace 
had been removed.“You never know where a story will take you,” 
Eckels said Wednesday. “After the interview aired, there was an 
outpouring of calls and emails from KMUW listeners. . . And she now has a
 historic marker in her birthplace — Wichita, Kansas.“As you 
will read on her historic marker, she lived her life with dignity and 
grace, proudly and bravely serving as an inspiration and shining example
 to all who knew her and for the generations to follow.”You can view the new historical marker from a walking and biking path just east of Waco, between north 8th and 9th streets.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617294786628.png" alt="Credit Hugo Phan / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Credit Hugo Phan / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>

New historical marker in Kansas showcases the life of Hattie McDaniel 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Texas man has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison in a deadly Kansas crash.

&nbsp;Benjamin Buzzini also was ordered Friday to pay about $2,090 in restitution.

He pleaded no contest in January to involuntary manslaughter resulting from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the April 2017 crash that killed Stephanie Futral, of Wichita,

A state trooper testified at the preliminary hearing that the sport utility had been traveling at a speed of 150 mph just seconds before it began to roll near South Hutchinson.

A blood draw several hours after the crash showed Buzzini had a blood-alcohol level of 0.07, which is just below the legal limit, but that he also had THC, from marijuana, in his system.

His attorney, Kenneth Miller, sought a shorter sentence, noting that Buzzini is the father of a 7-month-old girl and has health issues. Miller also raised questions about whether Buzzini was behind the wheel.

But prosecutors noted that Buzzini was arrested in Houston on suspicion of road rage in September and aggravated assault in February while free on bond in the Kansas case.

Futral’s sister, Olivia Hicks, challenged Buzzini to use his time in prison become a “better man” and to stop drinking.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617480879144.png" alt="Buzzini photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Buzzini photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Texas man has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison in a deadly Kansas crash.&nbsp;Benjamin Buzzini also was ordered Friday to pay about $2,090 in restitution.He pleaded no contest in January to involuntary manslaughter resulting from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the April 2017 crash that killed Stephanie Futral, of Wichita,A state trooper testified at the preliminary hearing that the sport utility had been traveling at a speed of 150 mph just seconds before it began to roll near South Hutchinson.A blood draw several hours after the crash showed Buzzini had a blood-alcohol level of 0.07, which is just below the legal limit, but that he also had THC, from marijuana, in his system.His attorney, Kenneth Miller, sought a shorter sentence, noting that Buzzini is the father of a 7-month-old girl and has health issues. Miller also raised questions about whether Buzzini was behind the wheel.But prosecutors noted that Buzzini was arrested in Houston on suspicion of road rage in September and aggravated assault in February while free on bond in the Kansas case.Futral’s sister, Olivia Hicks, challenged Buzzini to use his time in prison become a “better man” and to stop drinking.

Man sentenced for fatal Kansas crash at 150mph

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to lose a total of $360 million in tax revenues over three years because of a change in federal policies on COVID-19 relief for businesses, complicating legislative debates over state spending and cutting income taxes.

The disclosure of the state’s expected loss is a cloud in what for months has otherwise been a sunny fiscal picture, with tax collections exceeding expectations and the unemployment rate back to lows seen before the coronavirus pandemic. The disclosure this week came as Republicans pushed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-legislature-kansas-topeka-c014cb53898dfb79502311cef1557cee">a bill cutting income taxes</a>&nbsp;through the GOP-controlled Legislature.

The expected loss was outlined in a short memo to six legislative leaders from Mark Burghart, the state Department of Revenue’s top administrator, and Adam Proffitt, budget director for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The memo noted that relief legislation approved in December by Congress created a new income tax deduction for businesses that received federal Paycheck Protection Program loans.

“This new deduction will have a negative impact on the state’s revenue forecast that had not been accounted for in previous revenue estimates,” the memo said.

Kansas has experienced what many GOP lawmakers see as an unanticipated “windfall” in tax collections from changes in federal income tax laws in 2017 championed by former President Donald Trump. Republican leaders want to provide relief to people and businesses paying more taxes to the state because of those changes, and the GOP’s bill would save taxpayers $284 million over three years.

Kelly vetoed two Republican tax-cutting bills in 2019, arguing that they would return Kansas to a nationally notorious, now-mostly repealed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e4f794cd96cb488cb04ab1cd48b1458d">tax-cutting experiment</a>&nbsp;in 2012 and 2013 under then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback that was followed by persistent budget shortfalls. Kelly has not said whether she will veto this year’s bill, but she called Thursday for caution.

“We cannot risk passing any tax bill that would put Kansas back into a self-inflicted budget crisis, and jeopardize our COVID-19 recovery efforts,” Kelly said in a statement issued as&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/09_March_Revenue_FY2021_04-01-2021_Final.pdf" target="_blank">the Department of Revenue reported</a>&nbsp;that tax collections in March exceeded the state’s official forecast by more than $52 million, or 9.7%.

The state anticipated taking in $538 million in taxes and instead collected more than $590 million.

Tax collections have been better than forecast for eight consecutive months and all but four months during the past four years. For the budget year that began July 1, the state has collected more than $6 billion, when it anticipated less than $5.8 billion — a difference of 4%, or $233 million higher.

The state reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in February, the latest data available, down from 3.4% in January. The rate approached 13% in April 2020, after Kelly imposed a statewide stay-at-home order.

Kelly’s budget staff, Department of Revenue officials, legislative researchers and university economists plan to meet April 20 to issue a new fiscal forecast that will guide lawmakers as they wrap up budget decisions.

The 2017 federal tax changes increased the state’s tax collections partly because they discouraged people from claiming itemized deductions on their federal income tax returns. Kansas law doesn’t allow people to claim deductions on their state returns if they don’t on their federal returns — something&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb50_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">the GOP tax-cutting bill</a>&nbsp;would change.

The changes approved by Congress in December involve Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven by the federal government. Congress is allowing filers to claim a deduction for expenses paid with forgiven loans.

The memo from Burghart and Proffitt noted that Kansas has “rolling conformity” with federal tax laws, meaning changes at the federal level “automatically flow through at the state level.”

“Kansas tax filers will also be allowed to deduct expenses associated with forgiven PPP loans on their state income tax returns, even though the loans themselves are not included as taxable income,” the memo said.

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to lose a total of $360 million in tax revenues over three years because of a change in federal policies on COVID-19 relief for businesses, complicating legislative debates over state spending and cutting income taxes.The disclosure of the state’s expected loss is a cloud in what for months has otherwise been a sunny fiscal picture, with tax collections exceeding expectations and the unemployment rate back to lows seen before the coronavirus pandemic. The disclosure this week came as Republicans pushed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-legislature-kansas-topeka-c014cb53898dfb79502311cef1557cee">a bill cutting income taxes</a>&nbsp;through the GOP-controlled Legislature.The expected loss was outlined in a short memo to six legislative leaders from Mark Burghart, the state Department of Revenue’s top administrator, and Adam Proffitt, budget director for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The memo noted that relief legislation approved in December by Congress created a new income tax deduction for businesses that received federal Paycheck Protection Program loans.“This new deduction will have a negative impact on the state’s revenue forecast that had not been accounted for in previous revenue estimates,” the memo said.Kansas has experienced what many GOP lawmakers see as an unanticipated “windfall” in tax collections from changes in federal income tax laws in 2017 championed by former President Donald Trump. Republican leaders want to provide relief to people and businesses paying more taxes to the state because of those changes, and the GOP’s bill would save taxpayers $284 million over three years.Kelly vetoed two Republican tax-cutting bills in 2019, arguing that they would return Kansas to a nationally notorious, now-mostly repealed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e4f794cd96cb488cb04ab1cd48b1458d">tax-cutting experiment</a>&nbsp;in 2012 and 2013 under then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback that was followed by persistent budget shortfalls. Kelly has not said whether she will veto this year’s bill, but she called Thursday for caution.“We cannot risk passing any tax bill that would put Kansas back into a self-inflicted budget crisis, and jeopardize our COVID-19 recovery efforts,” Kelly said in a statement issued as&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/09_March_Revenue_FY2021_04-01-2021_Final.pdf" target="_blank">the Department of Revenue reported</a>&nbsp;that tax collections in March exceeded the state’s official forecast by more than $52 million, or 9.7%.The state anticipated taking in $538 million in taxes and instead collected more than $590 million.Tax collections have been better than forecast for eight consecutive months and all but four months during the past four years. For the budget year that began July 1, the state has collected more than $6 billion, when it anticipated less than $5.8 billion — a difference of 4%, or $233 million higher.The state reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in February, the latest data available, down from 3.4% in January. The rate approached 13% in April 2020, after Kelly imposed a statewide stay-at-home order.Kelly’s budget staff, Department of Revenue officials, legislative researchers and university economists plan to meet April 20 to issue a new fiscal forecast that will guide lawmakers as they wrap up budget decisions.The 2017 federal tax changes increased the state’s tax collections partly because they discouraged people from claiming itemized deductions on their federal income tax returns. Kansas law doesn’t allow people to claim deductions on their state returns if they don’t on their federal returns — something&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb50_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">the GOP tax-cutting bill</a>&nbsp;would change.The changes approved by Congress in December involve Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven by the federal government. Congress is allowing filers to claim a deduction for expenses paid with forgiven loans.The memo from Burghart and Proffitt noted that Kansas has “rolling conformity” with federal tax laws, meaning changes at the federal level “automatically flow through at the state level.”“Kansas tax filers will also be allowed to deduct expenses associated with forgiven PPP loans on their state income tax returns, even though the loans themselves are not included as taxable income,” the memo said.

New federal policy to cost Kan. $360M over 3 years

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Vaccine passports being developed to verify COVID-19 immunization status and allow inoculated people to more freely travel, shop and dine have become the latest flash point in America’s perpetual political wars, with Republicans portraying them as a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices.

They currently exist in only one state — a limited government partnership in New York with a private company — but that hasn’t stopped GOP lawmakers in a handful of states from rushing out legislative proposals to ban their use.

The argument over whether passports are a sensible response to the pandemic or governmental overreach echoes the bitter disputes over the past year about masks, shutdown orders and even the vaccines themselves.

Vaccine passports are typically an app with a code that verifies whether someone has been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19. They are in use in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-can-unvaccinated-return-to-work-dilemma-coronavrius-7e18cdee3a66018c36a6c61d5bc8a4c1">Israel&nbsp;</a>and under development in parts of Europe, seen as a way to safely help rebuild the pandemic-&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-travel-pandemics-europe-airlines-9c410bacd04c443f4ed562d1b2c3d37e">devastated travel industry</a>.

They are intended to allow businesses to more safely open up as the vaccine drive gains momentum, and they mirror measures already in place for schools and overseas travel that require proof of immunization against various diseases.

But lawmakers around the country are already taking a stand against the idea. GOP senators in Pennsylvania are drawing up legislation that would prohibit vaccine passports, also known as health certificates or travel passes, from being used to bar people from routine activities.

“We have constitutional rights and health privacy laws for a reason,” said Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican. “They should not cease to exist in a time of crisis. These passports may start with COVID-19, but where will they end?”

Benninghoff said this week his concern was “using taxpayer money to generate a system that will now be, possibly, in the hands of mega-tech organizations who’ve already had problems with getting hacked and security issues.”

A Democratic colleague, Rep. Chris Rabb of Philadelphia, sees value in vaccine passports if they are implemented carefully.

“There’s a role for using technology and other means to confirm people’s statuses,” Rabb said. “But we do have concerns around privacy, surveillance and inequitable access.”

Republican legislators in other states have also been drafting proposals to ban or limit them. A bill introduced in the Arkansas Legislature on Wednesday would prevent government officials from requiring vaccine passports for any reason, and would ban their use as a condition of “entry, travel, education, employment or services.”

The sponsor, Republican state Sen. Trent Garner, called vaccine passports “just another example of the Biden administration using COVID-19 to put regulations or restrictions on everyday Americans.”

President Joe Biden’s administration has largely taken a hands-off approach on vaccine passports.

At a news conference this week, Andy Slavitt, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said he considered them a project for the private sector, not the government.

He said the government is considering federal guidelines to steer the process surrounding vaccine passports. Among its concerns: Not everyone who would need a passport has a smartphone; passports should be free and in multiple languages; and private health information must be protected.

“There will be organizations that want to use these. There will be organizations that don’t want to use these,” said Dr. Brian Anderson of Mitre, which operates federally funded research centers and is part of a coalition working to develop standards for vaccine certifications to make their use easier across vendors.

Anderson noted the Vaccination Credential Initiative is not making recommendations on how — or even if — organizations choose to use the certifications.

In Montana, GOP lawmakers this week voted along party lines to advance a pair of bills that would ban discrimination based on vaccine status or possession of an immunity passport, and to prohibit using vaccine status or passports to obtain certain benefits and services.

And a freshman Republican state lawmaker in Ohio spoke out about the concept, saying more restrictions or mandates are not the answer to every COVID-19 problem.

“Ohioans are encouraged to take the COVID-19 vaccine for the health and well-being of themselves and others,” Rep. Al Cutrona said. “However, a vaccine should not be mandated or required by our government for our people to integrate back to a sense of normalcy.”

Republican Florida Gov. Ron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fort-myers-miami-orlando-fort-lauderdale-florida-d2f3bc41dd70f812bdd5becea2bcfbbd">DeSantis on Friday</a>&nbsp;issued an executive order that said no governmental entity can issue a vaccine passport, and businesses in that state can’t require them. He said he expected the Legislature to pass a similar law.

His order said requiring “so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life — such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater — would create two classes of citizens.”

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, a newly elected member who has embraced and promoted a range of far-right political positions, told her supporters on Facebook earlier this week that “something called a vaccine passport” was a form of “corporate communism” and part of a Democratic effort to control people’s lives.

And a GOP lawmaker in Louisiana has teed up a bill to keep the state from including any vaccination information on the Louisiana driver’s license or to make issuance of a driver’s license subject to vaccine status.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-public-health-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-de31c6f9da7a0d83c8e38be36a0fca33">New York</a>, a government-sponsored vaccine passport called the Excelsior Pass is being introduced. A smartphone app, it shows whether someone has been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo touted the idea as letting an event venue usher, for example, use their own smartphone to scan a concertgoer’s code.

New York officials have not released specific details about how the app will work, access someone’s vaccination or testing status or protect a user’s name, date of birth or the location where their code was scanned. The app’s privacy policy says data will be “maintained in a secure manner” and won’t be used for sales or marketing purposes or shared with a third party. But some privacy experts say the public needs more specifics to ensure its information is protected.

Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project at the Urban Justice Center, a New York–based civil rights and privacy group, warned the Excelsior Pass creates a new layer of surveillance without sufficient details about how it collects data or protects privacy.

“We basically only have screenshots of the user interface and not much more,” Cahn said of Excelsior Pass.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Vaccine passports being developed to verify COVID-19 immunization status and allow inoculated people to more freely travel, shop and dine have become the latest flash point in America’s perpetual political wars, with Republicans portraying them as a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices.They currently exist in only one state — a limited government partnership in New York with a private company — but that hasn’t stopped GOP lawmakers in a handful of states from rushing out legislative proposals to ban their use.The argument over whether passports are a sensible response to the pandemic or governmental overreach echoes the bitter disputes over the past year about masks, shutdown orders and even the vaccines themselves.Vaccine passports are typically an app with a code that verifies whether someone has been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19. They are in use in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-can-unvaccinated-return-to-work-dilemma-coronavrius-7e18cdee3a66018c36a6c61d5bc8a4c1">Israel&nbsp;</a>and under development in parts of Europe, seen as a way to safely help rebuild the pandemic-&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-travel-pandemics-europe-airlines-9c410bacd04c443f4ed562d1b2c3d37e">devastated travel industry</a>.They are intended to allow businesses to more safely open up as the vaccine drive gains momentum, and they mirror measures already in place for schools and overseas travel that require proof of immunization against various diseases.But lawmakers around the country are already taking a stand against the idea. GOP senators in Pennsylvania are drawing up legislation that would prohibit vaccine passports, also known as health certificates or travel passes, from being used to bar people from routine activities.“We have constitutional rights and health privacy laws for a reason,” said Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican. “They should not cease to exist in a time of crisis. These passports may start with COVID-19, but where will they end?”Benninghoff said this week his concern was “using taxpayer money to generate a system that will now be, possibly, in the hands of mega-tech organizations who’ve already had problems with getting hacked and security issues.”A Democratic colleague, Rep. Chris Rabb of Philadelphia, sees value in vaccine passports if they are implemented carefully.“There’s a role for using technology and other means to confirm people’s statuses,” Rabb said. “But we do have concerns around privacy, surveillance and inequitable access.”Republican legislators in other states have also been drafting proposals to ban or limit them. A bill introduced in the Arkansas Legislature on Wednesday would prevent government officials from requiring vaccine passports for any reason, and would ban their use as a condition of “entry, travel, education, employment or services.”The sponsor, Republican state Sen. Trent Garner, called vaccine passports “just another example of the Biden administration using COVID-19 to put regulations or restrictions on everyday Americans.”President Joe Biden’s administration has largely taken a hands-off approach on vaccine passports.At a news conference this week, Andy Slavitt, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said he considered them a project for the private sector, not the government.He said the government is considering federal guidelines to steer the process surrounding vaccine passports. Among its concerns: Not everyone who would need a passport has a smartphone; passports should be free and in multiple languages; and private health information must be protected.“There will be organizations that want to use these. There will be organizations that don’t want to use these,” said Dr. Brian Anderson of Mitre, which operates federally funded research centers and is part of a coalition working to develop standards for vaccine certifications to make their use easier across vendors.Anderson noted the Vaccination Credential Initiative is not making recommendations on how — or even if — organizations choose to use the certifications.In Montana, GOP lawmakers this week voted along party lines to advance a pair of bills that would ban discrimination based on vaccine status or possession of an immunity passport, and to prohibit using vaccine status or passports to obtain certain benefits and services.And a freshman Republican state lawmaker in Ohio spoke out about the concept, saying more restrictions or mandates are not the answer to every COVID-19 problem.“Ohioans are encouraged to take the COVID-19 vaccine for the health and well-being of themselves and others,” Rep. Al Cutrona said. “However, a vaccine should not be mandated or required by our government for our people to integrate back to a sense of normalcy.”Republican Florida Gov. Ron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fort-myers-miami-orlando-fort-lauderdale-florida-d2f3bc41dd70f812bdd5becea2bcfbbd">DeSantis on Friday</a>&nbsp;issued an executive order that said no governmental entity can issue a vaccine passport, and businesses in that state can’t require them. He said he expected the Legislature to pass a similar law.His order said requiring “so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life — such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater — would create two classes of citizens.”U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, a newly elected member who has embraced and promoted a range of far-right political positions, told her supporters on Facebook earlier this week that “something called a vaccine passport” was a form of “corporate communism” and part of a Democratic effort to control people’s lives.And a GOP lawmaker in Louisiana has teed up a bill to keep the state from including any vaccination information on the Louisiana driver’s license or to make issuance of a driver’s license subject to vaccine status.In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-public-health-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-de31c6f9da7a0d83c8e38be36a0fca33">New York</a>, a government-sponsored vaccine passport called the Excelsior Pass is being introduced. A smartphone app, it shows whether someone has been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19.Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo touted the idea as letting an event venue usher, for example, use their own smartphone to scan a concertgoer’s code.New York officials have not released specific details about how the app will work, access someone’s vaccination or testing status or protect a user’s name, date of birth or the location where their code was scanned. The app’s privacy policy says data will be “maintained in a secure manner” and won’t be used for sales or marketing purposes or shared with a third party. But some privacy experts say the public needs more specifics to ensure its information is protected.Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project at the Urban Justice Center, a New York–based civil rights and privacy group, warned the Excelsior Pass creates a new layer of surveillance without sufficient details about how it collects data or protects privacy.“We basically only have screenshots of the user interface and not much more,” Cahn said of Excelsior Pass.

Vaccine passport efforts draw opposition from GOP lawmakers

KANSAS City, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a crash that killed one and sent three others to a hospital.

While on patrol just before 11:30p.m. Kansas City, Kanas police came upon a two vehicle crash in the 6700 Block of Parallel Parkway, according to a media release.

EMS transported two minors and one adult to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. A minor was also pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.

The initial investigation indicates speed may have been a factor in the crash.

Police closed the westbound lanes of Parallel Parkway from 64th to 68th Street overnight while they investigated.

Police released no additional details early Sunday.

KANSAS City, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a crash that killed one and sent three others to a hospital.While on patrol just before 11:30p.m. Kansas City, Kanas police came upon a two vehicle crash in the 6700 Block of Parallel Parkway, according to a media release.EMS transported two minors and one adult to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. A minor was also pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.The initial investigation indicates speed may have been a factor in the crash.Police closed the westbound lanes of Parallel Parkway from 64th to 68th Street overnight while they investigated.Police released no additional details early Sunday.

Police: Child dead, 3 hospitalized after Kansas crash

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A mother and father have been charged with first-degree murder in the alleged drug overdose death of their 2-year-old son in a Kansas City suburb.

Shelly Vallejo, 29, and Jean Morales, 26, both of Shawnee, made a first appearance Friday. They also are charged with aggravated child endangerment and a felony charge alleging that they possessed Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is potentially deadly if misused. Each is jailed on a $1 million bond.

Court records said the child’s death in November at a home in Merriam stems from the “commission of an inherently dangerous felony.” No details about the child’s death were released in court records, but Vallejo’s attorney, Michael Duma, said the state contends the child died of a Fentanyl overdose.

“She is a grieving mother who tragically lost a child under tragic circumstances,” Duma said. “We believe the evidence will show that she did not in any way contribute to the death of her son. She has been cooperative with investigators since the death of her son, and it comes as a surprise to us that she is charged with a crime.”

He added that he believed she would be acquitted. Morales’ attorney didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617465387693.png" alt="Morales photo Johnson Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Morales photo Johnson Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A mother and father have been charged with first-degree murder in the alleged drug overdose death of their 2-year-old son in a Kansas City suburb.Shelly Vallejo, 29, and Jean Morales, 26, both of Shawnee, made a first appearance Friday. They also are charged with aggravated child endangerment and a felony charge alleging that they possessed Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is potentially deadly if misused. Each is jailed on a $1 million bond.Court records said the child’s death in November at a home in Merriam stems from the “commission of an inherently dangerous felony.” No details about the child’s death were released in court records, but Vallejo’s attorney, Michael Duma, said the state contends the child died of a Fentanyl overdose.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617465328633.png" alt="Vallejo photo Johnson Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Vallejo photo Johnson Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>“She is a grieving mother who tragically lost a child under tragic circumstances,” Duma said. “We believe the evidence will show that she did not in any way contribute to the death of her son. She has been cooperative with investigators since the death of her son, and it comes as a surprise to us that she is charged with a crime.”He added that he believed she would be acquitted. Morales’ attorney didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Kan. mom, dad charged in death of 2-year-old son

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a Kansas man on drug distribution allegations.

On April 1, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 900 block of SW Tyler related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

At the home, officers located heroin and drug paraphernalia. They also arrested 36-year-old&nbsp;Dustin Lutterman&nbsp; of Topeka on requested charges of Possession of heroin with the intent of distribution within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent and Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility, according to Monasmith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617467287936.png" alt="Lutterman photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Lutterman photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a Kansas man on drug distribution allegations.On April 1, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 900 block of SW Tyler related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.At the home, officers located heroin and drug paraphernalia. They also arrested 36-year-old&nbsp;Dustin Lutterman&nbsp; of Topeka on requested charges of Possession of heroin with the intent of distribution within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent and Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility, according to Monasmith.

Kan. man accused of heroin distribution near a school

By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/02/cdc-if-youre-fully-vaccinated-you-can-travel-in-the-u-s-without-tests-or-quarantines/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON
 — Fully vaccinated individuals can travel at low risk to themselves, 
and do not need to get a COVID-19 test or quarantine after traveling 
within the United States, federal health officials said Friday as they 
unveiled updated travel guidelines.

The
 new guidelines offer the first official guidance to Americans who are 
at least two weeks past receiving their final dose of a COVID-19 
vaccine, and want to visit family and friends elsewhere in the United 
States.

Those
 who do travel are urged to continue taking precautions: wearing a mask,
 avoiding crowds, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently.

Fully
 vaccinated people seeking to travel internationally may still need to 
have a negative COVID-19 test to enter their destination. They should 
have a negative COVID-19 test result before they board a flight home to 
the United States, and should take another test three to five days after
 returning, according to the CDC.&nbsp;

But those traveling abroad won’t need to quarantine upon return unless their state requires doing so.

The new travel guidance expands upon <a href="https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/03/08/cdc-its-ok-for-vaccinated-grandparents-to-visit-family-if-no-risk-for-severe-disease/">an initial set of guidance that the CDC released last month</a>, outlining recommendations for how vaccinated individuals should socialize with those who are and are not vaccinated.

Those
 initial recommendations sidestepped questions about traveling. And even
 as federal officials released the new guidelines, they also urged 
Americans to continue refraining from any travel that is not essential.

“While
 we believe that fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to 
themselves, the CDC is not recommending travel at this time due to the 
rising number of cases,” said Rochelle Walensky, the CDC’s director.

<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations">According to CDC tracking data</a>,
 30% of Americans have received at least one dose of one of the three 
authorized COVID-19 vaccines, and 17% have been fully vaccinated.&nbsp;

But the vaccination effort has been racing to outpace <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases">a rise in the daily rate of coronavirus infections</a>.
 After falling to an average daily rate of 40,000 new cases in 
mid-March, that number has been going up, to 75,000 new cases reported 
Thursday.

Earlier
 this week, Walensky described a sense of “impending doom” as she 
watched those numbers grow and new variants of the virus pop up across 
the country.

“We
 know that travel was up in the month of March more so than it had been 
since the beginning of this pandemic. We know that right now we have a 
surging number of cases,” Walensky said, adding that the CDC guidance 
“is silent on recommending or not recommending fully vaccinated people 
travel —&nbsp;our guidance speaks to the safety of doing so.”

<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/04/cdc-data-suggests-vaccinated-dont-carry-cant-spread-virus.html">Recently released studies</a>
 have suggested that fully vaccinated people are unlikely to spread the 
virus, a scenario that scientists have said for months is likely to be 
true, but had lacked enough data on the brand-new vaccine to say 
definitively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617480482614.png" alt="In this 2020 photograph, captured inside a clinical setting, a health care provider places a bandage on the injection site of a patient who just received a vaccine. (Lauren Bishop/CDC)" />
 <figcaption>In this 2020 photograph, captured inside a clinical setting, a health care provider places a bandage on the injection site of a patient who just received a vaccine. (Lauren Bishop/CDC)</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/02/cdc-if-youre-fully-vaccinated-you-can-travel-in-the-u-s-without-tests-or-quarantines/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON
 — Fully vaccinated individuals can travel at low risk to themselves, 
and do not need to get a COVID-19 test or quarantine after traveling 
within the United States, federal health officials said Friday as they 
unveiled updated travel guidelines.The
 new guidelines offer the first official guidance to Americans who are 
at least two weeks past receiving their final dose of a COVID-19 
vaccine, and want to visit family and friends elsewhere in the United 
States.Those
 who do travel are urged to continue taking precautions: wearing a mask,
 avoiding crowds, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently.Fully
 vaccinated people seeking to travel internationally may still need to 
have a negative COVID-19 test to enter their destination. They should 
have a negative COVID-19 test result before they board a flight home to 
the United States, and should take another test three to five days after
 returning, according to the CDC.&nbsp;But those traveling abroad won’t need to quarantine upon return unless their state requires doing so.The new travel guidance expands upon <a href="https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/03/08/cdc-its-ok-for-vaccinated-grandparents-to-visit-family-if-no-risk-for-severe-disease/">an initial set of guidance that the CDC released last month</a>, outlining recommendations for how vaccinated individuals should socialize with those who are and are not vaccinated.Those
 initial recommendations sidestepped questions about traveling. And even
 as federal officials released the new guidelines, they also urged 
Americans to continue refraining from any travel that is not essential.“While
 we believe that fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to 
themselves, the CDC is not recommending travel at this time due to the 
rising number of cases,” said Rochelle Walensky, the CDC’s director.<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations">According to CDC tracking data</a>,
 30% of Americans have received at least one dose of one of the three 
authorized COVID-19 vaccines, and 17% have been fully vaccinated.&nbsp;But the vaccination effort has been racing to outpace <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases">a rise in the daily rate of coronavirus infections</a>.
 After falling to an average daily rate of 40,000 new cases in 
mid-March, that number has been going up, to 75,000 new cases reported 
Thursday.Earlier
 this week, Walensky described a sense of “impending doom” as she 
watched those numbers grow and new variants of the virus pop up across 
the country.“We
 know that travel was up in the month of March more so than it had been 
since the beginning of this pandemic. We know that right now we have a 
surging number of cases,” Walensky said, adding that the CDC guidance 
“is silent on recommending or not recommending fully vaccinated people 
travel —&nbsp;our guidance speaks to the safety of doing so.”<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/04/cdc-data-suggests-vaccinated-dont-carry-cant-spread-virus.html">Recently released studies</a>
 have suggested that fully vaccinated people are unlikely to spread the 
virus, a scenario that scientists have said for months is likely to be 
true, but had lacked enough data on the brand-new vaccine to say 
definitively.Even before the new CDC guidelines, air travel had begun to pick up again. <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus/passenger-throughput">Data from the Transportation Security Administration</a> has shown a rising number of travelers passing through airports.Laura covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.