Paul E. Pletcher, 98, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS. 
 Paul was born to William F (Bill) and Emma (Barcus) Pletcher on 
October 5, 1923, in the Crystal Plains area.&nbsp; He was number nine of ten 
children.&nbsp; After serving in World War II, he married the love of his 
life Ginger Gregory on September 28, 1948. &nbsp;Four children were born to 
them. Paul accepted the Lord and was baptized at the Grace 
Brethren Church in Portis, Kansas in 1953.&nbsp; He loved the Lord and 
serving God.&nbsp; Paul attended Central Community Church up until his 
death.&nbsp; He loved attending his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s school and sporting events. 
 After Paul retired from farming he and Ginger loved to travel with 
their 5th wheel trailer.&nbsp; They were members of the US Center and Picnic 
Ants camping clubs.&nbsp; He was very involved in church and many community 
organizations.&nbsp; Paul loved woodworking and spent many hours building 
projects with his grandchildren and built cedar chests for his 
granddaughters.&nbsp; He built tables, kitchen islands and many other things 
for his children.&nbsp; He was very skilled and built pieces for furniture 
for Ginger. Paul had farming in his blood so after retirement
 he worked for the Doane family in Downs helping with harvest.&nbsp; He loved
 driving truck for them and only stopped when he said “his brain said he
 could drive but his body said he couldn’t." Paul is preceded in death by his parents and eight of his siblings. 
 He is survived in death by his wife Ginger of 72 years, his children 
Robert and wife Sharon of Mount Vernon, TX, Vicki Hutchison and husband 
Mike of Cedar, KS, Gayle Pletcher of Topeka, KS and Sandi Tucker and 
husband Gregg of Portis, KS, eleven grandchildren, nine 
great-grandchildren and his sister Roma (Pletcher) Caldwell of Portis, 
KS. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, 
July 19, 2022, at New Covenant Church, 117 W. Kansas St., Smith Center, 
KS, with Pastor Dennis Lambert officiating.&nbsp; Visitation will be held on 
Monday, July 18, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with family present to
 greet friends and family from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at All Faiths 
Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, and Tuesday, July 
19th, 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church.&nbsp; Burial with Military 
honors will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS.&nbsp;


Memorials may be given to Central Community Church of Smith Center 
and/or Grace Brethren Church of Portis and can be sent in care of the 
funeral chapel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657992256250.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Paul E. Pletcher, 98, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS. 
 Paul was born to William F (Bill) and Emma (Barcus) Pletcher on 
October 5, 1923, in the Crystal Plains area.&nbsp; He was number nine of ten 
children.&nbsp; After serving in World War II, he married the love of his 
life Ginger Gregory on September 28, 1948. &nbsp;Four children were born to 
them. Paul accepted the Lord and was baptized at the Grace 
Brethren Church in Portis, Kansas in 1953.&nbsp; He loved the Lord and 
serving God.&nbsp; Paul attended Central Community Church up until his 
death.&nbsp; He loved attending his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s school and sporting events. 
 After Paul retired from farming he and Ginger loved to travel with 
their 5th wheel trailer.&nbsp; They were members of the US Center and Picnic 
Ants camping clubs.&nbsp; He was very involved in church and many community 
organizations.&nbsp; Paul loved woodworking and spent many hours building 
projects with his grandchildren and built cedar chests for his 
granddaughters.&nbsp; He built tables, kitchen islands and many other things 
for his children.&nbsp; He was very skilled and built pieces for furniture 
for Ginger. Paul had farming in his blood so after retirement
 he worked for the Doane family in Downs helping with harvest.&nbsp; He loved
 driving truck for them and only stopped when he said “his brain said he
 could drive but his body said he couldn’t." Paul is preceded in death by his parents and eight of his siblings. 
 He is survived in death by his wife Ginger of 72 years, his children 
Robert and wife Sharon of Mount Vernon, TX, Vicki Hutchison and husband 
Mike of Cedar, KS, Gayle Pletcher of Topeka, KS and Sandi Tucker and 
husband Gregg of Portis, KS, eleven grandchildren, nine 
great-grandchildren and his sister Roma (Pletcher) Caldwell of Portis, 
KS. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, 
July 19, 2022, at New Covenant Church, 117 W. Kansas St., Smith Center, 
KS, with Pastor Dennis Lambert officiating.&nbsp; Visitation will be held on 
Monday, July 18, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with family present to
 greet friends and family from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at All Faiths 
Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, and Tuesday, July 
19th, 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church.&nbsp; Burial with Military 
honors will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS.&nbsp; 
Memorials may be given to Central Community Church of Smith Center 
and/or Grace Brethren Church of Portis and can be sent in care of the 
funeral chapel.

Paul E. Pletcher

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher

We have turned the calendar to July, and that means different things to different people. For students and teachers July means summer is at the halfway point, and the first day of school is near. For those of us in agriculture it means haying season and watching fall crops grow. In the Farm Bureau world, July is the start of county Farm Bureau annual meetings.

County Farm Bureau meetings in Kansas are as unique as the counties themselves. They are held anytime from July until October; the only stipulation is that they have to be done in time to get the voting delegates for that county registered for the Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting in December. The meetings vary in the type of meal served – anything from catered affairs to hotdog and hamburger feeds or even ice cream socials. Some have entertainment, others feature educational speakers while some are bare bones, business-only gatherings. Recently some counties have gone with more family friendly activities with their annual meeting tagged on at the end.

Yes, there is no cookie-cutter county Farm Bureau Annual meeting template. That is the beauty of Kansas Farm Bureau, each county organization is its own unique entity. That is what makes me proud to be a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and the Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau specifically. I have never been involved with an organization that was so grassroots driven and responsive to its members.

Every annual meeting reflects the unique personality of an individual county and the members on the board. I have seen traditions developed over many years in some counties and other counties like to mix it up with something new each year. The COVID-19 years saw a lot of change in our county annual meeting with many being held virtual, thank goodness that isn’t the case anymore. One thing that all county annual meetings share is great fellowship among the members.

That is where I want to make the plea to you. If you are a member and you have not been to one of your annual meetings, please change that this year. You should receive notice of the meeting from your respective county. Some will be a simple postcard while others will be a newsletter touting what your county has done during the year. If you have not received your notice yet or think you might have missed it, just call your local office and they will be happy to give you the details.

I hope you will consider attending, this is a good way to get your toes wet and see what your organization has to offer. I don’t know of a single county that isn’t looking for members who want to be active and this is a good way to find out what it is all about. Who knows you might at least have a great meal or some other experience?

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Bunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Bunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancherWe have turned the calendar to July, and that means different things to different people. For students and teachers July means summer is at the halfway point, and the first day of school is near. For those of us in agriculture it means haying season and watching fall crops grow. In the Farm Bureau world, July is the start of county Farm Bureau annual meetings.County Farm Bureau meetings in Kansas are as unique as the counties themselves. They are held anytime from July until October; the only stipulation is that they have to be done in time to get the voting delegates for that county registered for the Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting in December. The meetings vary in the type of meal served – anything from catered affairs to hotdog and hamburger feeds or even ice cream socials. Some have entertainment, others feature educational speakers while some are bare bones, business-only gatherings. Recently some counties have gone with more family friendly activities with their annual meeting tagged on at the end.Yes, there is no cookie-cutter county Farm Bureau Annual meeting template. That is the beauty of Kansas Farm Bureau, each county organization is its own unique entity. That is what makes me proud to be a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and the Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau specifically. I have never been involved with an organization that was so grassroots driven and responsive to its members.Every annual meeting reflects the unique personality of an individual county and the members on the board. I have seen traditions developed over many years in some counties and other counties like to mix it up with something new each year. The COVID-19 years saw a lot of change in our county annual meeting with many being held virtual, thank goodness that isn’t the case anymore. One thing that all county annual meetings share is great fellowship among the members.That is where I want to make the plea to you. If you are a member and you have not been to one of your annual meetings, please change that this year. You should receive notice of the meeting from your respective county. Some will be a simple postcard while others will be a newsletter touting what your county has done during the year. If you have not received your notice yet or think you might have missed it, just call your local office and they will be happy to give you the details.I hope you will consider attending, this is a good way to get your toes wet and see what your organization has to offer. I don’t know of a single county that isn’t looking for members who want to be active and this is a good way to find out what it is all about. Who knows you might at least have a great meal or some other experience?"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Summits of summer

WASHINGTON — With millions of people still waiting to file their tax 
returns, the IRS reminds them to file as soon as possible and take 
advantage of special tools available on IRS.gov that can help them file.

Summer may be a busy time for many, but it's a great time to start 
tax planning - whether you still need to file a 2021 tax return or start
 planning for next year's tax season.&nbsp;The IRS website&nbsp;is the fastest and
 most convenient way to get tax-related information and help. The online
 tools are available any time, so taxpayers can use them at their 
convenience.

Here are some important reasons for taxpayers to visit IRS.gov this summer.

Taxpayers can also download the official IRS mobile app,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>, to check their refund status, make payments, find free tax preparation assistance, sign up for helpful tax tips and more.

Adjust withholding now to avoid tax surprises next year

Summer is a great time for taxpayers to check their withholding to 
avoid a tax surprise next filing season. Life events like marriage, 
divorce, having a child or a change in income can affect taxes.

The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 on IRS.gov helps employees assess their income tax, credits, 
adjustments and deductions, and determine whether they need to change 
their withholding. If a change is recommended, the estimator will 
provide instructions to update their withholding with their employer 
either online or by submitting a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate</a>.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc153">Taxpayers who requested an extension to October 17 or missed the April 18 deadline</a>&nbsp;can still prepare and e-file returns for free with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>, if they qualify. The IRS accepts <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">electronically filed returns</a>
 24/7. There's no reason to wait until October 17 if filers have all the
 information and documentation they need to file an accurate return 
today. They can get their refund faster by choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.

Taxpayers who missed the April 18 deadline and owe should file and 
pay electronically as soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest.
 Taxpayers can make payments or set up <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">payment plans online</a>.

The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Taxpayer Assistance Center Locator tool</a>
 has a new look and feel, featuring a dynamic map, a directions button 
and two tabs for inputting search criteria. It's important to remember 
that Taxpayer Assistance Centers operate by appointment only. Taxpayers 
can make an appointment by calling the number for the office they want 
to visit.

Many IRS webpages are now available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Haitian Creole and Chinese. Some of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">multilingual resources</a> include the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file resources</a> and many tax <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">forms and publications</a>.

At the online <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/information-about-the-alternative-media-center">Alternative Media Center</a> (AMC), taxpayers will find a variety of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/accessible-irs-tax-products">accessible products</a>
 to help with the use of assistive technology such as screen reading 
software, refreshable Braille displays and screen magnifying software. 
These products include tax forms, instructions and publications that can
 be downloaded or viewed online as Section 508 compliant PDFs, HTML, 
eBraille, text and large print.

Please note that every product is not available in all formats. For 
example, tax forms are not available as HTML. To request paper copies of
 tax forms or instructions or publications in Braille or large print, 
taxpayers can call the tax form telephone number at <a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>. Taxpayers can complete <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f9000.pdf">Form 9000, Alternative Media Preference</a>PDF,
 to choose to receive their IRS tax notices in Braille, large print, 
audio or electronic formats. This includes notices about additional 
taxes or penalties owed. Taxpayers can include the completed form with 
their tax return, mail it as a standalone form to the IRS or they can 
call <a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>.

Taxpayers can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/subscribe-to-irs-tax-tips">subscribe</a> to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-tax-tips">IRS Tax Tips</a>
 to get easy-to-read articles sent directly to their e-mail from the 
IRS. Tax Tips are brief, to the point and cover various tax topics, like
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/year-round-tax-planning-all-taxpayers-should-understand-eligibility-for-credits-and-deductions">year-round tax planning</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/understanding-taxpayer-rights-everyone-has-the-right-to-finality">understanding taxpayer rights</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — With millions of people still waiting to file their tax 
returns, the IRS reminds them to file as soon as possible and take 
advantage of special tools available on IRS.gov that can help them file.Summer may be a busy time for many, but it's a great time to start 
tax planning - whether you still need to file a 2021 tax return or start
 planning for next year's tax season.&nbsp;The IRS website&nbsp;is the fastest and
 most convenient way to get tax-related information and help. The online
 tools are available any time, so taxpayers can use them at their 
convenience.Here are some important reasons for taxpayers to visit IRS.gov this summer.<h2>Get tax information 24/7</h2>Taxpayers can use IRS.gov to:<ul>
 <li>View the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">filing page</a> to get information on most federal income tax topics.</li><li>Access the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a> tool for answers to many tax law questions.</li><li>Sign into their individual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS online account</a> to view their balance an tax records, manage communication preferences, make payments and more.</li><li>Find the most up-to-date information about their tax refunds using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an e-filed return.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers can also download the official IRS mobile app,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>, to check their refund status, make payments, find free tax preparation assistance, sign up for helpful tax tips and more.<h2>Adjust withholding now to avoid tax surprises next year</h2>Summer is a great time for taxpayers to check their withholding to 
avoid a tax surprise next filing season. Life events like marriage, 
divorce, having a child or a change in income can affect taxes.The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 on IRS.gov helps employees assess their income tax, credits, 
adjustments and deductions, and determine whether they need to change 
their withholding. If a change is recommended, the estimator will 
provide instructions to update their withholding with their employer 
either online or by submitting a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate</a>.<h2>File electronically</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc153">Taxpayers who requested an extension to October 17 or missed the April 18 deadline</a>&nbsp;can still prepare and e-file returns for free with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>, if they qualify. The IRS accepts <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">electronically filed returns</a>
 24/7. There's no reason to wait until October 17 if filers have all the
 information and documentation they need to file an accurate return 
today. They can get their refund faster by choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.Taxpayers who missed the April 18 deadline and owe should file and 
pay electronically as soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest.
 Taxpayers can make payments or set up <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">payment plans online</a>.<h2>Find a taxpayer assistance center</h2>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Taxpayer Assistance Center Locator tool</a>
 has a new look and feel, featuring a dynamic map, a directions button 
and two tabs for inputting search criteria. It's important to remember 
that Taxpayer Assistance Centers operate by appointment only. Taxpayers 
can make an appointment by calling the number for the office they want 
to visit.<h2>Read information in other languages</h2>Many IRS webpages are now available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Haitian Creole and Chinese. Some of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">multilingual resources</a> include the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file resources</a> and many tax <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">forms and publications</a>.<h2>Access the Alternative Media Center</h2>At the online <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/information-about-the-alternative-media-center">Alternative Media Center</a> (AMC), taxpayers will find a variety of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/accessible-irs-tax-products">accessible products</a>
 to help with the use of assistive technology such as screen reading 
software, refreshable Braille displays and screen magnifying software. 
These products include tax forms, instructions and publications that can
 be downloaded or viewed online as Section 508 compliant PDFs, HTML, 
eBraille, text and large print.Please note that every product is not available in all formats. For 
example, tax forms are not available as HTML. To request paper copies of
 tax forms or instructions or publications in Braille or large print, 
taxpayers can call the tax form telephone number at <a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>. Taxpayers can complete <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f9000.pdf">Form 9000, Alternative Media Preference</a>PDF,
 to choose to receive their IRS tax notices in Braille, large print, 
audio or electronic formats. This includes notices about additional 
taxes or penalties owed. Taxpayers can include the completed form with 
their tax return, mail it as a standalone form to the IRS or they can 
call <a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>.<h2>Keep current with IRS Tax Tips</h2>Taxpayers can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/subscribe-to-irs-tax-tips">subscribe</a> to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-tax-tips">IRS Tax Tips</a>
 to get easy-to-read articles sent directly to their e-mail from the 
IRS. Tax Tips are brief, to the point and cover various tax topics, like
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/year-round-tax-planning-all-taxpayers-should-understand-eligibility-for-credits-and-deductions">year-round tax planning</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/understanding-taxpayer-rights-everyone-has-the-right-to-finality">understanding taxpayer rights</a>.<h2>More helpful links:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">Gig Economy Tax Center</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-503">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">About Form W-2</a></li>
 </ul>

File a tax extension? IRS advises taking these steps soon

Phillipsburg resident Jack Siglinger Jr. passed away Monday, July 11, 2022, in the Phillips County Retirement Center, Phillipsburg, at the age of 93.

He was born April 5, 1929, in Phillipsburg the son of John Paul and Ethel I. (Nay) Siglinger.  He worked for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Phillipsburg for 47 years.

He was united in marriage to Mickey Jackson on October 7, 1950, in Great Bend, Kansas.  She preceded him in death on December 5, 2016.

Jack was also preceded in death by his parents; a son Marlin Ray Siglinger; a brother Donald Wayne; a sister Menta Margaret Bickle; and granddaughter Stacy Siglinger.

Survivors include sons Stanley J. Siglinger and wife Bonita of WaKeeney and Paul Reid Siglinger of Phillipsburg; 5 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating.  The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.  Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mr. Siglinger will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday evening for visitation.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg.

Phillipsburg resident Jack Siglinger Jr. passed away Monday, July 11, 2022, in the Phillips County Retirement Center, Phillipsburg, at the age of 93.He was born April 5, 1929, in Phillipsburg the son of John Paul and Ethel I. (Nay) Siglinger. He worked for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Phillipsburg for 47 years.He was united in marriage to Mickey Jackson on October 7, 1950, in Great Bend, Kansas. She preceded him in death on December 5, 2016.Jack was also preceded in death by his parents; a son Marlin Ray Siglinger; a brother Donald Wayne; a sister Menta Margaret Bickle; and granddaughter Stacy Siglinger.Survivors include sons Stanley J. Siglinger and wife Bonita of WaKeeney and Paul Reid Siglinger of Phillipsburg; 5 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.Mr. Siglinger will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday evening for visitation.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg.

Jack Siglinger Jr.

Charles Lee Welch passed away on Friday, July 8, 2022, at the Logan 
County Manor in Oakley, Kansas at the age of 72. He was born on February
 28, 1950, to Arthur and Joan (White) Welch in Covington, Virginia.
 Charles grew up in Globe, Arizona and graduated from Globe High 
School in 1968. He furthered his education at Northern Arizona 
University majoring in English. Charles was a talented singer and sang 
in a choir as well as bowled competitively in several leagues. He met 
and married Wilma Welch on October 3, 1998, at the Methodist Church in 
Woodston, Kansas. The couple made their home in Winkleman, Arizona until
 he retired from ASARCO mining as a chemist in 2003. They returned to 
Rooks County where they resided in Woodston and later relocated to 
Stockton, and finally, Plainville.
 Charles was a hardworking, loving, and dedicated family man. He 
loved what he did and did what he loved. Although he will be greatly 
missed, his life, his love, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of
 his family and friends. In the words of his favorite Gospel singer Bill
 Gaither, “I’ve been blessed. This has been a great journey and a great 
trip.” 
 He is survived by his children, James and Pamela of AZ; sister, Shae
 (Dan) Mercado of Oracle, AZ; brother-in-law, Garold (Judy) Holcombe of 
Maud, OK; nieces, Melissa (John) Weidow of Geronimo, OK, Christina 
(Robert) Henson, Danielle (Mark) Peterson; nephew, John (Dr. Brianne) 
Holcombe of Madison, AL; great-nephews, John Weidow, Trenton Holcombe, 
Rhylan Holcombe, Cody Ollson, JJ Paxton, Anthony Henson; great-nieces, 
Alyssa Ollson, Amya Peterson, Hayley Henson; great-great-nephews Zander 
Ollson, Zaedyn Ollson, Mario Henson; as well as cousins in the 
surrounding Rooks County Area.
 Charles is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Joan Welch; 
wife, Wilma Welch; and a brother and sister-in-law, David Leon and Carol
 Jean Holcombe.
 A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, starting at 10 AM at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton.
 Memorials are suggested to the High Plains Humane Society and may be
 sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First, 
Stockton, KS 67663.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657658897623.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Charles Lee Welch passed away on Friday, July 8, 2022, at the Logan 
County Manor in Oakley, Kansas at the age of 72. He was born on February
 28, 1950, to Arthur and Joan (White) Welch in Covington, Virginia.
 Charles grew up in Globe, Arizona and graduated from Globe High 
School in 1968. He furthered his education at Northern Arizona 
University majoring in English. Charles was a talented singer and sang 
in a choir as well as bowled competitively in several leagues. He met 
and married Wilma Welch on October 3, 1998, at the Methodist Church in 
Woodston, Kansas. The couple made their home in Winkleman, Arizona until
 he retired from ASARCO mining as a chemist in 2003. They returned to 
Rooks County where they resided in Woodston and later relocated to 
Stockton, and finally, Plainville.
 Charles was a hardworking, loving, and dedicated family man. He 
loved what he did and did what he loved. Although he will be greatly 
missed, his life, his love, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of
 his family and friends. In the words of his favorite Gospel singer Bill
 Gaither, “I’ve been blessed. This has been a great journey and a great 
trip.” 
 He is survived by his children, James and Pamela of AZ; sister, Shae
 (Dan) Mercado of Oracle, AZ; brother-in-law, Garold (Judy) Holcombe of 
Maud, OK; nieces, Melissa (John) Weidow of Geronimo, OK, Christina 
(Robert) Henson, Danielle (Mark) Peterson; nephew, John (Dr. Brianne) 
Holcombe of Madison, AL; great-nephews, John Weidow, Trenton Holcombe, 
Rhylan Holcombe, Cody Ollson, JJ Paxton, Anthony Henson; great-nieces, 
Alyssa Ollson, Amya Peterson, Hayley Henson; great-great-nephews Zander 
Ollson, Zaedyn Ollson, Mario Henson; as well as cousins in the 
surrounding Rooks County Area.
 Charles is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Joan Welch; 
wife, Wilma Welch; and a brother and sister-in-law, David Leon and Carol
 Jean Holcombe.
 A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, starting at 10 AM at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton.
 Memorials are suggested to the High Plains Humane Society and may be
 sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First, 
Stockton, KS 67663.&nbsp;

Charles Lee Welch

Marilyn Mae Kendrick, age 81, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022, 
at Parklane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on November
 3, 1940, in Boise, Idaho, the daughter of Martin Earl and Mildred 
Jurldean Hammond Spellman. She was a resident of Scott City, Kansas from
 her youth.

She was a member of the Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas, and was a member of Women on Mission.

On October 5, 1958, she married E. Earl Kendrick in Scott City, Kansas. He passed away on January 25, 2021.

Survivors include One Daughter - Annette &amp; Chris Shultz of Paola,
 Kansas, one daughter-in-law - Kendra Kendrick of Scott City, Kansas, 
One sister - Mary Lou &amp; Jim Redfern of Pueblo, Colorado, three 
brothers - Max &amp; Jerri McQuitty of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mike 
&amp; Teresa McQuitty of Pueblo, Colorado, Robert &amp; Tracy McQuitty 
of Colorado, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother - Tommy, one son - Brett, and one Grandson - Ryan

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, July 13, 
2022, at Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with 
pastor Chris Shultz presiding.

Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.

Memorial in Lieu of Flowers can be made to the Immanuel Southern 
Baptist Church or the Park Lane Nursing home in care of Price and Sons 
Funeral Home; PO Box 553; Scott City, Kansas 67871.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 
12, 2022, at Price &amp; Sons Funeral home in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657544167953.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Marilyn Mae Kendrick, age 81, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022, 
at Parklane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on November
 3, 1940, in Boise, Idaho, the daughter of Martin Earl and Mildred 
Jurldean Hammond Spellman. She was a resident of Scott City, Kansas from
 her youth.She was a member of the Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas, and was a member of Women on Mission.On October 5, 1958, she married E. Earl Kendrick in Scott City, Kansas. He passed away on January 25, 2021.Survivors include One Daughter - Annette &amp; Chris Shultz of Paola,
 Kansas, one daughter-in-law - Kendra Kendrick of Scott City, Kansas, 
One sister - Mary Lou &amp; Jim Redfern of Pueblo, Colorado, three 
brothers - Max &amp; Jerri McQuitty of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mike 
&amp; Teresa McQuitty of Pueblo, Colorado, Robert &amp; Tracy McQuitty 
of Colorado, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother - Tommy, one son - Brett, and one Grandson - RyanFuneral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, July 13, 
2022, at Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with 
pastor Chris Shultz presiding.Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.Memorial in Lieu of Flowers can be made to the Immanuel Southern 
Baptist Church or the Park Lane Nursing home in care of Price and Sons 
Funeral Home; PO Box 553; Scott City, Kansas 67871.Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 
12, 2022, at Price &amp; Sons Funeral home in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp;

Marilyn Mae Kendrick

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/08/kansas-report-on-evictions-highlights-ignorance-of-legal-system-confusion-over-rent-assistance/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A new judicial committee <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kscourts.org/kscourts/media/kscourts/court%20administration/Committees/eviction/best-practices-eviction-proceedings.pdf">report on evictions</a> in Kansas points to multiple problems with a complex, fast-paced legal system for ousting tenants who fail to pay their rent.

Three-fourths of eviction filings are resolved through procedural 
errors, an indicator of the ignorance tenants and landlords have with 
the legal process, the report found.&nbsp;Under the strain of the pandemic, 
courts failed to mitigate widespread confusion and misunderstanding 
about the availability of $300 million in federal aid administered by 
the state, half of which went unused.

The report recommended judges tell tenants early in the process that 
they can fight their eviction and that rental aid may be available to 
them. Other recommendations include targeting high schoolers with 
programs designed to educate them about the landlord-tenant relationship
 before they sign their first lease.

The committee also applied for a grant to install a program in 
Sedgwick County, which accounts for one-third of the state’s eviction 
filings, where an evictions facilitator could try to resolve disputes 
outside of the legal system.

The Kansas Supreme Court established the committee to examine best practices in anticipation of a spike in evictions after <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/28/legislative-leadership-extends-disaster-declaration-through-june-15-ends-block-on-evictions/">state</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/biden-urges-state-and-local-leaders-to-postpone-evictions-while-rental-aid-is-distributed/">federal</a>
 moratoriums expired in October 2021. Judge Sarah Warner, of the Kansas 
Court of Appeals, led the committee, which included judges, trial 
clerks, attorneys who routinely represent tenants and property owners, 
and representatives of landlords in Wichita and Hays. The 29-page 
report, dated April 20, was released on Wednesday.

The committee examined the evictions process and court filings going 
back to the 12-month fiscal year that ended in June 2017. The panel 
found that tenants didn’t respond to half the filings, resulting in an 
automatic judgment for the landlords. A quarter of the cases were 
dismissed because property owners had not provided a three-day notice 
required under state law for a tenant to come up with overdue rent.

Courts reported about 14,500 eviction filings per year in the three 
years before the pandemic, but no more than 150 cases went to trial in 
any of those years.

“The committee questions the wisdom and equity of this judicial 
model, which relies, at least in part, on litigants’ ignorance to stay 
afloat,” the report said.

Vince Munoz, of Rent Zero Kansas, a coalition that advocates for 
tenants,&nbsp;questioned the findings and recommendations of the committee 
because its members didn’t include a tenant, or anybody who has been 
evicted.

“It’s really hard to understate how significant of an oversight that 
is,” Munoz said. “For people who experience an eviction, when the court 
case is done, that’s when the impact starts on their life. For all the 
attorneys involved, it’s all over when the judge bangs the gavel or 
releases the opinion.”

He also said the report misses a broader point about the number of 
informal evictions that happen in Kansas by landlords who disconnect 
utilities or otherwise harass tenants into leaving. Many landlords 
declined to renew leases as they expired during the pandemic, or refused
 to accept federal aid — loopholes in state and federal orders banning 
evictions, Munoz said. Those factors could help explain why most of 
Kansas didn’t see a spike in eviction filings after the moratoriums 
expired.

The data presented in the committee’s report also shows that Kansas 
courts continued to handle thousands of eviction cases while the 
moratoriums were in place.

“The courts don’t really serve tenants’ interests,” Munoz said. “They
 serve those who are already powerful in the situation, and they just 
kind of sanitize and formalize landlord power over tenants.”

The judicial committee report, however, is critical of how some 
courts handle evictions and sympathetic to the challenges presented to 
tenants throughout a legal process that is designed to last no more than
 six weeks.

After a landlord provides a three-day notice for overdue rent, and 
the three days lapse without payment, the landlord can file an eviction 
petition in district court. The tenant has 14 days to respond. If the 
tenant disputes the allegation, a trial is set within 14 days. If the 
property owner prevails at trial, the court will order the tenant to be 
removed within 14 days.

Tenants may choose not to contest an eviction because they know they 
are unable to pay rent, the report found, or because they feel 
overwhelmed and don’t understand that they have the right to contest the
 eviction.

Tenants also didn’t know the rental assistance was available, or that
 it could be used even after the landlord had filed an eviction. Some 
judges asked the parties at trial if they had considered trying to get 
rental aid, but attorneys said that information needed to be presented 
early in the process — especially since so few cases reach trial.

One judge balked at the idea of notifying parties that funds were 
available, because it could be viewed as providing legal advice. Others 
on the committee rejected the concern.

The committee took interest in a program in Monroe County, Indiana, 
where the district court employs an evictions facilitator who answers 
questions for property owners and tenants, provides information about 
federal aid, and is available to act as a mediator if the two sides are 
willing to resolve the case outside of court.

“As one committee member who manages rental properties observed, it 
is in everyone’s best interest if a tenant continues to live in the 
property and a property owner continues to be paid under the lease,” the
 report said.

The committee applied for grant through National Center for State 
Courts to establish a similar program in Sedgwick County that could 
serve as a toolkit across the state.

Unlike other areas of the state, eviction filings significantly 
increased in Sedgwick County after moratoriums were lifted. While the 
rest of the state saw filings last fall merely return to pre-pandemic 
levels, there was a 25% increase from pre-pandemic eviction cases in 
Sedgwick County. More cases in Sedgwick County result in default 
judgment for the property owner, and fewer cases go to trial.

Munoz said Sedgwick County established its own rental assistance 
program with federal aid, while the rest of the state was served by 
the&nbsp;Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.

Under the KHRC program, tenants and landlords <a target="_blank" href="http://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance">can apply</a>
 jointly for up to 18 months of assistance. Eligible households also may
 receive a lump sum of $900 in past-due or future internet assistance.

The organization’s general counsel served on the committee, and a 
spokeswoman said KHRC has now dispersed $196 million in rental aid.

“More than a third of Kansans rent their homes, and many have 
struggled to cover rent and utility bills since the pandemic began,” 
said Ryan Vincent, executive director of KHRC, in a news release in 
March. “The financial repercussions are far from over for our most 
vulnerable families. This crucial assistance is still available to keep 
Kansans safely housed throughout our economic recovery.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657385468684.png" alt="Organizers for Rent Zero Kansas gather April 1, 2021, on the south steps of the Statehouse to warn legislators of potential fallout of inadequate housing policy. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Organizers for Rent Zero Kansas gather April 1, 2021, on the south steps of the Statehouse to warn legislators of potential fallout of inadequate housing policy. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/08/kansas-report-on-evictions-highlights-ignorance-of-legal-system-confusion-over-rent-assistance/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A new judicial committee <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kscourts.org/kscourts/media/kscourts/court%20administration/Committees/eviction/best-practices-eviction-proceedings.pdf">report on evictions</a> in Kansas points to multiple problems with a complex, fast-paced legal system for ousting tenants who fail to pay their rent.Three-fourths of eviction filings are resolved through procedural 
errors, an indicator of the ignorance tenants and landlords have with 
the legal process, the report found.&nbsp;Under the strain of the pandemic, 
courts failed to mitigate widespread confusion and misunderstanding 
about the availability of $300 million in federal aid administered by 
the state, half of which went unused.The report recommended judges tell tenants early in the process that 
they can fight their eviction and that rental aid may be available to 
them. Other recommendations include targeting high schoolers with 
programs designed to educate them about the landlord-tenant relationship
 before they sign their first lease.The committee also applied for a grant to install a program in 
Sedgwick County, which accounts for one-third of the state’s eviction 
filings, where an evictions facilitator could try to resolve disputes 
outside of the legal system.The Kansas Supreme Court established the committee to examine best practices in anticipation of a spike in evictions after <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/28/legislative-leadership-extends-disaster-declaration-through-june-15-ends-block-on-evictions/">state</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/biden-urges-state-and-local-leaders-to-postpone-evictions-while-rental-aid-is-distributed/">federal</a>
 moratoriums expired in October 2021. Judge Sarah Warner, of the Kansas 
Court of Appeals, led the committee, which included judges, trial 
clerks, attorneys who routinely represent tenants and property owners, 
and representatives of landlords in Wichita and Hays. The 29-page 
report, dated April 20, was released on Wednesday.The committee examined the evictions process and court filings going 
back to the 12-month fiscal year that ended in June 2017. The panel 
found that tenants didn’t respond to half the filings, resulting in an 
automatic judgment for the landlords. A quarter of the cases were 
dismissed because property owners had not provided a three-day notice 
required under state law for a tenant to come up with overdue rent.Courts reported about 14,500 eviction filings per year in the three 
years before the pandemic, but no more than 150 cases went to trial in 
any of those years.“The committee questions the wisdom and equity of this judicial 
model, which relies, at least in part, on litigants’ ignorance to stay 
afloat,” the report said.Vince Munoz, of Rent Zero Kansas, a coalition that advocates for 
tenants,&nbsp;questioned the findings and recommendations of the committee 
because its members didn’t include a tenant, or anybody who has been 
evicted.“It’s really hard to understate how significant of an oversight that 
is,” Munoz said. “For people who experience an eviction, when the court 
case is done, that’s when the impact starts on their life. For all the 
attorneys involved, it’s all over when the judge bangs the gavel or 
releases the opinion.”He also said the report misses a broader point about the number of 
informal evictions that happen in Kansas by landlords who disconnect 
utilities or otherwise harass tenants into leaving. Many landlords 
declined to renew leases as they expired during the pandemic, or refused
 to accept federal aid — loopholes in state and federal orders banning 
evictions, Munoz said. Those factors could help explain why most of 
Kansas didn’t see a spike in eviction filings after the moratoriums 
expired.The data presented in the committee’s report also shows that Kansas 
courts continued to handle thousands of eviction cases while the 
moratoriums were in place.“The courts don’t really serve tenants’ interests,” Munoz said. “They
 serve those who are already powerful in the situation, and they just 
kind of sanitize and formalize landlord power over tenants.”The judicial committee report, however, is critical of how some 
courts handle evictions and sympathetic to the challenges presented to 
tenants throughout a legal process that is designed to last no more than
 six weeks.After a landlord provides a three-day notice for overdue rent, and 
the three days lapse without payment, the landlord can file an eviction 
petition in district court. The tenant has 14 days to respond. If the 
tenant disputes the allegation, a trial is set within 14 days. If the 
property owner prevails at trial, the court will order the tenant to be 
removed within 14 days.Tenants may choose not to contest an eviction because they know they 
are unable to pay rent, the report found, or because they feel 
overwhelmed and don’t understand that they have the right to contest the
 eviction.Tenants also didn’t know the rental assistance was available, or that
 it could be used even after the landlord had filed an eviction. Some 
judges asked the parties at trial if they had considered trying to get 
rental aid, but attorneys said that information needed to be presented 
early in the process — especially since so few cases reach trial.One judge balked at the idea of notifying parties that funds were 
available, because it could be viewed as providing legal advice. Others 
on the committee rejected the concern.The committee took interest in a program in Monroe County, Indiana, 
where the district court employs an evictions facilitator who answers 
questions for property owners and tenants, provides information about 
federal aid, and is available to act as a mediator if the two sides are 
willing to resolve the case outside of court.“As one committee member who manages rental properties observed, it 
is in everyone’s best interest if a tenant continues to live in the 
property and a property owner continues to be paid under the lease,” the
 report said.The committee applied for grant through National Center for State 
Courts to establish a similar program in Sedgwick County that could 
serve as a toolkit across the state.Unlike other areas of the state, eviction filings significantly 
increased in Sedgwick County after moratoriums were lifted. While the 
rest of the state saw filings last fall merely return to pre-pandemic 
levels, there was a 25% increase from pre-pandemic eviction cases in 
Sedgwick County. More cases in Sedgwick County result in default 
judgment for the property owner, and fewer cases go to trial.Munoz said Sedgwick County established its own rental assistance 
program with federal aid, while the rest of the state was served by 
the&nbsp;Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615921648040.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Under the KHRC program, tenants and landlords <a target="_blank" href="http://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance">can apply</a>
 jointly for up to 18 months of assistance. Eligible households also may
 receive a lump sum of $900 in past-due or future internet assistance.The organization’s general counsel served on the committee, and a 
spokeswoman said KHRC has now dispersed $196 million in rental aid.“More than a third of Kansans rent their homes, and many have 
struggled to cover rent and utility bills since the pandemic began,” 
said Ryan Vincent, executive director of KHRC, in a news release in 
March. “The financial repercussions are far from over for our most 
vulnerable families. This crucial assistance is still available to keep 
Kansans safely housed throughout our economic recovery.”

Kan. eviction report: Ignorance of legal system, confusion over rent assistance

Rita Jan Hartman, of Hays, Kansas, died Sunday, June 26, 2022, at Ascension Via Christi-St Francis Hospital, Wichita. She was born October 11, 1955, in Oakley, Kansas, to James Harley and Mildred Elaine (Eiring) Briard. Rita married Cliff Jamison in 1974 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Studly Kansas; they had 3 children Cherie, Kris, and Jackie.&nbsp;&nbsp;They later divorced, and he preceded her in death in February 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;She later met and married Ray Hartman, who also preceded her in death in May 2021.

Rita was a giving soul who enjoyed sharing her talents and gifts with her friends and family.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was a licensed CNA and CMA and worked for many years as a Senior Companion and for the Good Samaritan Society.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was a lover of animals and a hobby of hers was microbiology and using her microscope.

She is survived by her daughters: Cherie Pfannenstiel and husband Eric of Munjor, Kansas; Jackie Diaz and husband Elias of Farmington, New Mexico; a son: Kris Jamison and fiancé&nbsp;Krista Tice, Hutchinson, Kansas; stepdaughter: Erica Rae Towne of Hays, Kansas; sisters: Monica Porter of Hays, Kansas; and Roxie Skeers and husband Ed of Oakley, Kansas; grandchildren: Dawson Jamison, Tobias Diaz, Tavius Diaz, Payton and Parker Barnes, and a step grandson: Matthew Towne of Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was preceded by her parents; a sister: Joyce Skeers; and her husband: Ray.

A celebration of life for Rita, Ray and Ray’s sister Alice Hartman will be held on Friday, Aug. 12th, from 4:30-7:30 PM at the Hays VFW.&nbsp;&nbsp;A private joint inurnment of Ray and Rita will be held in the Oakley Cemetery that morning.&nbsp;

Memorials are suggested to the FHSU Senior Companion program in care of the funeral chapel.

Services in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657289765171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rita Jan Hartman, of Hays, Kansas, died Sunday, June 26, 2022, at Ascension Via Christi-St Francis Hospital, Wichita. She was born October 11, 1955, in Oakley, Kansas, to James Harley and Mildred Elaine (Eiring) Briard. Rita married Cliff Jamison in 1974 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Studly Kansas; they had 3 children Cherie, Kris, and Jackie.&nbsp;&nbsp;They later divorced, and he preceded her in death in February 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;She later met and married Ray Hartman, who also preceded her in death in May 2021.Rita was a giving soul who enjoyed sharing her talents and gifts with her friends and family.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was a licensed CNA and CMA and worked for many years as a Senior Companion and for the Good Samaritan Society.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was a lover of animals and a hobby of hers was microbiology and using her microscope.She is survived by her daughters: Cherie Pfannenstiel and husband Eric of Munjor, Kansas; Jackie Diaz and husband Elias of Farmington, New Mexico; a son: Kris Jamison and fiancé&nbsp;Krista Tice, Hutchinson, Kansas; stepdaughter: Erica Rae Towne of Hays, Kansas; sisters: Monica Porter of Hays, Kansas; and Roxie Skeers and husband Ed of Oakley, Kansas; grandchildren: Dawson Jamison, Tobias Diaz, Tavius Diaz, Payton and Parker Barnes, and a step grandson: Matthew Towne of Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was preceded by her parents; a sister: Joyce Skeers; and her husband: Ray.A celebration of life for Rita, Ray and Ray’s sister Alice Hartman will be held on Friday, Aug. 12th, from 4:30-7:30 PM at the Hays VFW.&nbsp;&nbsp;A private joint inurnment of Ray and Rita will be held in the Oakley Cemetery that morning.&nbsp;Memorials are suggested to the FHSU Senior Companion program in care of the funeral chapel.Services in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Rita Jan Hartman

Trevor E. McLaughlin, 36, Hays, died 
Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis of 
injuries from an oilfield accident.

He was born October 7, 1985, in Hays the
 son of Craig and Chris (Miller) McLaughlin.&nbsp; On July 21, 2012, he was 
united in marriage to Kara Norris.&nbsp; Trevor worked as a roughneck for 
Murfin Drilling Company and was a member of Cornerstone Southern Baptist
 Church.&nbsp; He enjoyed playing guitar, listening to music, and was an avid
 sports fan.&nbsp; Trevor possessed a generous spirit, fun sense of humor, 
and love for babies.&nbsp; Most of all, he loved his children.

Survivors include his parents: Craig 
and Chris McLaughlin of Hays, wife: Kara McLaughlin of Armour, SD, four 
sons: Taj, Kingston, and Kamden McLaughlin, all of Hays and Tai Riot of 
Ellis, a daughter: Kynleigh McLaughlin of Hays, a brother: Trent 
McLaughlin and wife Amber of Ogallah, a sister: Jessie Meyers and 
husband Alex of Aurora, CO, grandparents: Frank and Deanna Miller of 
Victoria, five uncles: Galen McLaughlin, Mark Wilson, and Monte Wilson, 
all of Hays, Terry Wilson and wife Dana of Hot Springs, AR, and Gerald 
Miller and wife Carla of Dodge City, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Charles and Loretta Wilson and two uncles: Dennis McLaughlin and Randy Wilson.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on
 Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church with 
Pastor Gary Simon and Pastor Jason Murray officiating.&nbsp; The family will 
receive friends from 9:00 am until service time at the church.&nbsp; 

In lieu 
of flowers, memorials may be made payable to:&nbsp; Craig McLaughlin to be 
used for an education fund for Trevor’s children.&nbsp; Services are in care 
of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, and condolences and memories of 
Trevor may be shared with the family at <a href="http://www.haysmemorial.com">www.haysmemorial.com</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657024051152.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trevor E. McLaughlin, 36, Hays, died 
Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis of 
injuries from an oilfield accident.He was born October 7, 1985, in Hays the
 son of Craig and Chris (Miller) McLaughlin.&nbsp; On July 21, 2012, he was 
united in marriage to Kara Norris.&nbsp; Trevor worked as a roughneck for 
Murfin Drilling Company and was a member of Cornerstone Southern Baptist
 Church.&nbsp; He enjoyed playing guitar, listening to music, and was an avid
 sports fan.&nbsp; Trevor possessed a generous spirit, fun sense of humor, 
and love for babies.&nbsp; Most of all, he loved his children.Survivors include his parents: Craig 
and Chris McLaughlin of Hays, wife: Kara McLaughlin of Armour, SD, four 
sons: Taj, Kingston, and Kamden McLaughlin, all of Hays and Tai Riot of 
Ellis, a daughter: Kynleigh McLaughlin of Hays, a brother: Trent 
McLaughlin and wife Amber of Ogallah, a sister: Jessie Meyers and 
husband Alex of Aurora, CO, grandparents: Frank and Deanna Miller of 
Victoria, five uncles: Galen McLaughlin, Mark Wilson, and Monte Wilson, 
all of Hays, Terry Wilson and wife Dana of Hot Springs, AR, and Gerald 
Miller and wife Carla of Dodge City, and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Charles and Loretta Wilson and two uncles: Dennis McLaughlin and Randy Wilson.Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on
 Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church with 
Pastor Gary Simon and Pastor Jason Murray officiating.&nbsp; The family will 
receive friends from 9:00 am until service time at the church.&nbsp; In lieu 
of flowers, memorials may be made payable to:&nbsp; Craig McLaughlin to be 
used for an education fund for Trevor’s children.&nbsp; Services are in care 
of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, and condolences and memories of 
Trevor may be shared with the family at <a href="http://www.haysmemorial.com">www.haysmemorial.com</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trevor E. McLaughlin

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Smithfield Foods will pay restaurants and caterers $42 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the giant meat producer of conspiring to inflate pork prices, which will likely only add to concerns about how the lack of competition in the industry affects meat prices.

Lawyers began notifying companies affected by this latest settlement Tuesday. Previously, Smithfield settled with a different group of pork buyers for $83 million, and JBS agreed to pay the restaurants and caterers $12.75 million in the pork lawsuit. Earlier this year, JBS also said it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-prices-beef-markets-394112b62cb6301ff740e3247971eb3d">pay $52.5 million to settle</a>&nbsp;a similar beef price-fixing lawsuit. Neither Smithfield nor JBS admitted any wrongdoing as part of those settlements, and officials at Smithfield's headquarters in Virginia declined to comment on the details of the deal.

Additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-fa91f3a79e4eb9aa5e3d0046e4f16d85">price-fixing lawsuits</a>&nbsp;have also been filed against chicken producers. Nearly $200 million of settlements have been approved in those chicken cases.

The restaurant companies that sued accused the meat processors that control more than 70% of pork production of coordinating efforts to limit the supply of hogs and inflate prices between 2009 and this year.

The lawsuit remains pending against other major pork producers, including Hormel, Tyson Foods, Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods, and the Agri Stats database company they allegedly used to share confidential information about price, capacity and demand.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0e87235d52f847e4aae370212843faa7">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;says that the private information in those reports allowed competitors to compare their profits and helped them control the supply and price of pork.

The meat industry argues that supply and demand factors drive prices, not anticompetitive behavior, but the industry's practices have been questioned by the White House, several prominent members of Congress and trade groups.

The Biden administration has announced several efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-business-prices-inflation-78335dba9802d7eb727744301d4489df">boost competition</a>&nbsp;in the industry to help reduce food prices including a $1 billion plan to help independent slaughterhouses expand.

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Agriculture also created a website earlier this year to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to report any concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-c899e1c834f1d7ba272d7c524c5a8e09">anticompetitive behavior</a>&nbsp;in the industry.

A Minnesota federal judge is scheduled to hold a hearing in October to consider whether to approve the Smithfield settlement, but he already gave it preliminary approval in April.

“We look forward to moving for final approval of our settlement with Smithfield and continuing to litigate with the remaining defendants,” one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Blaine Finley, said.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Smithfield Foods will pay restaurants and caterers $42 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the giant meat producer of conspiring to inflate pork prices, which will likely only add to concerns about how the lack of competition in the industry affects meat prices.Lawyers began notifying companies affected by this latest settlement Tuesday. Previously, Smithfield settled with a different group of pork buyers for $83 million, and JBS agreed to pay the restaurants and caterers $12.75 million in the pork lawsuit. Earlier this year, JBS also said it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-prices-beef-markets-394112b62cb6301ff740e3247971eb3d">pay $52.5 million to settle</a>&nbsp;a similar beef price-fixing lawsuit. Neither Smithfield nor JBS admitted any wrongdoing as part of those settlements, and officials at Smithfield's headquarters in Virginia declined to comment on the details of the deal.Additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-fa91f3a79e4eb9aa5e3d0046e4f16d85">price-fixing lawsuits</a>&nbsp;have also been filed against chicken producers. Nearly $200 million of settlements have been approved in those chicken cases.The restaurant companies that sued accused the meat processors that control more than 70% of pork production of coordinating efforts to limit the supply of hogs and inflate prices between 2009 and this year.The lawsuit remains pending against other major pork producers, including Hormel, Tyson Foods, Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods, and the Agri Stats database company they allegedly used to share confidential information about price, capacity and demand.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0e87235d52f847e4aae370212843faa7">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;says that the private information in those reports allowed competitors to compare their profits and helped them control the supply and price of pork.The meat industry argues that supply and demand factors drive prices, not anticompetitive behavior, but the industry's practices have been questioned by the White House, several prominent members of Congress and trade groups.The Biden administration has announced several efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-business-prices-inflation-78335dba9802d7eb727744301d4489df">boost competition</a>&nbsp;in the industry to help reduce food prices including a $1 billion plan to help independent slaughterhouses expand.The U.S. Departments of Justice and Agriculture also created a website earlier this year to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to report any concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-c899e1c834f1d7ba272d7c524c5a8e09">anticompetitive behavior</a>&nbsp;in the industry.A Minnesota federal judge is scheduled to hold a hearing in October to consider whether to approve the Smithfield settlement, but he already gave it preliminary approval in April.“We look forward to moving for final approval of our settlement with Smithfield and continuing to litigate with the remaining defendants,” one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Blaine Finley, said.

Smithfield Foods settles pork price-fixing lawsuit for $42M

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A registered sex offender entered a guilty plea to&nbsp; murder and sex crimes in connection with his wife's death in 2020.

&nbsp;Just before his trial was to begin, Craig Johnston, 44,&nbsp; pleaded guilty last week to reckless second-degree murder, attempted rape, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated sexual battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.&nbsp;

On October 23, 2020, deputies responded to the report of an injured woman at a home in the 7900 block of West 109th in Sedgwick, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

When they arrived they found 40-year-old Amber Dawn Slankard with critical injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported her to Via Christi St. Francis and she later died of her injuries.

Deputies transported her husband Craig Johnston to Sheriff Investigations and later booked him on requested charges of Second Degree Murder and violations of the Offender Registration Act, according to Blick.&nbsp;

Johnston has a previous conviction from Illinois in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the age of 13-16, according to the Offender Registry. Johnston is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1656773771864.png" alt="Johnston-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Johnston-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A registered sex offender entered a guilty plea to&nbsp; murder and sex crimes in connection with his wife's death in 2020.&nbsp;Just before his trial was to begin, Craig Johnston, 44,&nbsp; pleaded guilty last week to reckless second-degree murder, attempted rape, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated sexual battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.&nbsp;On October 23, 2020, deputies responded to the report of an injured woman at a home in the 7900 block of West 109th in Sedgwick, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.When they arrived they found 40-year-old Amber Dawn Slankard with critical injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported her to Via Christi St. Francis and she later died of her injuries.Deputies transported her husband Craig Johnston to Sheriff Investigations and later booked him on requested charges of Second Degree Murder and violations of the Offender Registration Act, according to Blick.&nbsp;Johnston has a previous conviction from Illinois in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the age of 13-16, according to the Offender Registry. Johnston is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, according to the district attorney's office.

Sex offender enters plea in wife's murder at their Kan. home

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A local government in Kansas has agreed to pay $12.5 million to a man and his mother after he spent 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, approved the settlement Thursday and said in a statement Friday that it admits no guilt in the wrongful conviction and two life sentences of Lamonte McIntyre in the mid 1990s.

McIntyre was 17 in 1994 when he was arrested in Kansas City for the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Doniel Quinn and 34-year-old Donald Ewing.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f0aeacf5fd0e4297a8d7b0ca4cda363e">McIntyre was freed in 2017</a>&nbsp;after a local prosecutor asked the court to vacate his convictions and drop all charges, calling his case an example of “manifest injustice.” Prosecutors presented no physical evidence tying McIntyre to the killings and their case largely hinged on testimony that was allegedly coerced.

The following year, McIntyre and his mother sued the unified government and former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski, who they have accused, along with other police, of framing McIntyre for the killings. Their lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-kansas-city-kansas-7b4c4af7410f67d20fd19cb2e9235aad">sought up to $123 million</a>&nbsp;in damages.

McIntyre and his mother have said Golubski coerced her into sex and then framed her teenage son for the double homicide because she rejected the detective’s later sexual advances. They also allege Golubski abused dozens of Black women for years and many officers were aware of his conduct.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-kansas-city-kansas-4d005737c9046b7d65363a6e82f93493">Federal authorities are investigating Golubski,</a>&nbsp;and the Kansas City, Kansas, police department revealed last October that it had been responding to subpoenas from the FBI since 2019 involving allegations against Golubski.

Golubski has denied the allegations. His attorney, Morgan Roach of Kansas City, did not immediately return phone messages left Friday at his office and on his cellphone seeking comment.

Thursday's settlement also resolves the lawsuit against Golubski, said attorney Cheryl Pilate, who represents McIntyre and his mother.

“Lamonte now hopes to put this painful chapter behind him and move forward with his life,” Pilate said in an email. “Lamonte remains deeply committed to the cause of justice, particularly in Wyandotte County, and will continue to be a voice for those who have suffered wrongful convictions or other injustices.”

In 2020, McIntyre was awarded a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03a51b0fe56481f586ef8e031d2ffc2c">certificate of innocence</a>&nbsp;and $1.5 million from Kansas after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f6cd02cf633461eb20338733a76d398?utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow">the state attorney general's office initially fought his compensation claim</a>. McIntyre now lives in Arizona.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583330843112.png" alt="Lamont McIntyre photo by Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Lamont McIntyre photo by Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A local government in Kansas has agreed to pay $12.5 million to a man and his mother after he spent 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit.The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, approved the settlement Thursday and said in a statement Friday that it admits no guilt in the wrongful conviction and two life sentences of Lamonte McIntyre in the mid 1990s.McIntyre was 17 in 1994 when he was arrested in Kansas City for the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Doniel Quinn and 34-year-old Donald Ewing.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f0aeacf5fd0e4297a8d7b0ca4cda363e">McIntyre was freed in 2017</a>&nbsp;after a local prosecutor asked the court to vacate his convictions and drop all charges, calling his case an example of “manifest injustice.” Prosecutors presented no physical evidence tying McIntyre to the killings and their case largely hinged on testimony that was allegedly coerced.The following year, McIntyre and his mother sued the unified government and former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski, who they have accused, along with other police, of framing McIntyre for the killings. Their lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-kansas-city-kansas-7b4c4af7410f67d20fd19cb2e9235aad">sought up to $123 million</a>&nbsp;in damages.McIntyre and his mother have said Golubski coerced her into sex and then framed her teenage son for the double homicide because she rejected the detective’s later sexual advances. They also allege Golubski abused dozens of Black women for years and many officers were aware of his conduct.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-kansas-city-kansas-4d005737c9046b7d65363a6e82f93493">Federal authorities are investigating Golubski,</a>&nbsp;and the Kansas City, Kansas, police department revealed last October that it had been responding to subpoenas from the FBI since 2019 involving allegations against Golubski.Golubski has denied the allegations. His attorney, Morgan Roach of Kansas City, did not immediately return phone messages left Friday at his office and on his cellphone seeking comment.Thursday's settlement also resolves the lawsuit against Golubski, said attorney Cheryl Pilate, who represents McIntyre and his mother.“Lamonte now hopes to put this painful chapter behind him and move forward with his life,” Pilate said in an email. “Lamonte remains deeply committed to the cause of justice, particularly in Wyandotte County, and will continue to be a voice for those who have suffered wrongful convictions or other injustices.”In 2020, McIntyre was awarded a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03a51b0fe56481f586ef8e031d2ffc2c">certificate of innocence</a>&nbsp;and $1.5 million from Kansas after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f6cd02cf633461eb20338733a76d398?utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow">the state attorney general's office initially fought his compensation claim</a>. McIntyre now lives in Arizona.

Kansas wrongful conviction lawsuit reaches $12.5M settlement

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-954_7l48.pdf" target="_blank">The Supreme Court said</a>&nbsp;Thursday the Biden administration can scrap a Trump-era immigration policy that was at the center of efforts to deter asylum-seekers, forcing some to wait in Mexico. Two conservative justices joined their three liberal colleagues in siding with the White House.

The justices’ decision came in a case involving former President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-us-supreme-court-mexico-united-states-missouri-b0df7cad5c0c5860a01d786cca7c5aa5">“Remain in Mexico”</a>&nbsp;policy, formally know as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/migrant-protection-protocols" target="_blank">Migrant Protection Protocols</a>, which enrolled about 70,000 people after it was launched in 2019.

President Joe Biden suspended the program on his first day in office in January 2021. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-mexico-joe-biden-8aeaa6b2e144bfee1125aa8702815dbe">lower courts</a>&nbsp;ordered it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-mexico-texas-missouri-1eb0b6dd1d0676e33702aec7f07e75ac">reinstated</a>&nbsp;in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mexico-courts-immigration-8d82420a572999b886928244abc0f1b3">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;from Republican-led Texas and Missouri. The current administration has sent far fewer people back to Mexico than did the Trump administration.

The ruling was released on the same day that the court dealt the administration a blow in an important&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-epa-ruling-2e893673819a1b6c6aa272a5e814f0b0">environmental case</a>&nbsp;about the nation’s main anti-air pollution law. That ruling could complicate the administration’s plans to combat climate change.

The heart of the legal fight in the immigration case was about whether U.S. immigration authorities, with far less detention capacity than needed, had to send people to Mexico or whether those authorities had the discretion under federal law to release asylum-seekers into the United States while they awaited their hearings.

After Biden’s suspension of the program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_1029_mpp-termination-memo.pdf" target="_blank">Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas</a>&nbsp;ended it in June 2021. In October, the department produced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_1029_mpp-termination-justification-memo.pdf" target="_blank">additional justifications</a>&nbsp;for the policy’s demise, but that was to no avail in the courts.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that an appeals court “erred in holding that the” federal Immigration and Nationality Act “required the Government to continue implementing MPP.” Joining the majority opinion was fellow conservative Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump-appointee, as well as liberal justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Kavanaugh also wrote separately and noted that in general, when there is insufficient detention capacity, both releasing asylum-seekers into the United States and sending them back to Mexico “are legally permissible options under the immigration statutes.”

Cornell University law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration expert, said the Biden administration does not need to take any further action to end the policy, but that Texas and Missouri can pursue a challenge over whether the administration followed appropriate procedure in ending the program.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that the decision was “unfortunate.” He argued it would make “the border crisis worse. But it’s not the end. I’ll keep pressing forward and focus on securing the border and keeping our communities safe in the dozen other immigration suits I’m litigating in court.”

Because of lower court decisions MPP resumed in December, but the administration has registered only 7,259 migrants in the program, about 6 of every 10 of them Nicaraguans. The administration has said it would apply the policy to nationalities that are less likely to be subject to pandemic-era asylum limits. Strained diplomatic relations with Nicaragua makes it extremely difficult for the U.S. to expel people back to their homeland under the pandemic rule, known as Title 42 authority.

U.S. authorities stopped migrants 1.2 million times on the Mexico border from December through May, illustrating the limited impact that “Remain in Mexico” has had under Biden.

Democratic-led states and progressive groups were on the administration’s side in the case. Republican-run states and conservative groups sided with Texas and Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="President Joe Biden suspended the program on his first day in office in January 2021. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-mexico-joe-biden-8aeaa6b2e144bfee1125aa8702815dbe">lower courts</a>&nbsp;ordered it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-mexico-texas-missouri-1eb0b6dd1d0676e33702aec7f07e75ac">reinstated</a>-photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden suspended the program on his first day in office in January 2021. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-mexico-joe-biden-8aeaa6b2e144bfee1125aa8702815dbe">lower courts</a>&nbsp;ordered it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-mexico-texas-missouri-1eb0b6dd1d0676e33702aec7f07e75ac">reinstated</a>-photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-954_7l48.pdf" target="_blank">The Supreme Court said</a>&nbsp;Thursday the Biden administration can scrap a Trump-era immigration policy that was at the center of efforts to deter asylum-seekers, forcing some to wait in Mexico. Two conservative justices joined their three liberal colleagues in siding with the White House.The justices’ decision came in a case involving former President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-us-supreme-court-mexico-united-states-missouri-b0df7cad5c0c5860a01d786cca7c5aa5">“Remain in Mexico”</a>&nbsp;policy, formally know as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/migrant-protection-protocols" target="_blank">Migrant Protection Protocols</a>, which enrolled about 70,000 people after it was launched in 2019.President Joe Biden suspended the program on his first day in office in January 2021. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-mexico-joe-biden-8aeaa6b2e144bfee1125aa8702815dbe">lower courts</a>&nbsp;ordered it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-mexico-texas-missouri-1eb0b6dd1d0676e33702aec7f07e75ac">reinstated</a>&nbsp;in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mexico-courts-immigration-8d82420a572999b886928244abc0f1b3">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;from Republican-led Texas and Missouri. The current administration has sent far fewer people back to Mexico than did the Trump administration.The ruling was released on the same day that the court dealt the administration a blow in an important&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-epa-ruling-2e893673819a1b6c6aa272a5e814f0b0">environmental case</a>&nbsp;about the nation’s main anti-air pollution law. That ruling could complicate the administration’s plans to combat climate change.The heart of the legal fight in the immigration case was about whether U.S. immigration authorities, with far less detention capacity than needed, had to send people to Mexico or whether those authorities had the discretion under federal law to release asylum-seekers into the United States while they awaited their hearings.After Biden’s suspension of the program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_1029_mpp-termination-memo.pdf" target="_blank">Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas</a>&nbsp;ended it in June 2021. In October, the department produced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_1029_mpp-termination-justification-memo.pdf" target="_blank">additional justifications</a>&nbsp;for the policy’s demise, but that was to no avail in the courts.Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that an appeals court “erred in holding that the” federal Immigration and Nationality Act “required the Government to continue implementing MPP.” Joining the majority opinion was fellow conservative Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump-appointee, as well as liberal justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.Kavanaugh also wrote separately and noted that in general, when there is insufficient detention capacity, both releasing asylum-seekers into the United States and sending them back to Mexico “are legally permissible options under the immigration statutes.”Cornell University law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration expert, said the Biden administration does not need to take any further action to end the policy, but that Texas and Missouri can pursue a challenge over whether the administration followed appropriate procedure in ending the program.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that the decision was “unfortunate.” He argued it would make “the border crisis worse. But it’s not the end. I’ll keep pressing forward and focus on securing the border and keeping our communities safe in the dozen other immigration suits I’m litigating in court.”Because of lower court decisions MPP resumed in December, but the administration has registered only 7,259 migrants in the program, about 6 of every 10 of them Nicaraguans. The administration has said it would apply the policy to nationalities that are less likely to be subject to pandemic-era asylum limits. Strained diplomatic relations with Nicaragua makes it extremely difficult for the U.S. to expel people back to their homeland under the pandemic rule, known as Title 42 authority.U.S. authorities stopped migrants 1.2 million times on the Mexico border from December through May, illustrating the limited impact that “Remain in Mexico” has had under Biden.Democratic-led states and progressive groups were on the administration’s side in the case. Republican-run states and conservative groups sided with Texas and Missouri.The case is Biden v. Texas, 21-954.

Court: Biden can end Trump-era remain in Mexico policy

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ketanji-brown-jackson">Ketanji Brown Jackson</a>&nbsp;has been sworn in to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>, shattering a glass ceiling as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-voting-rights-college-admissions-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-75dc3f82758903dc702d86186ff9eedb">the first Black woman</a>&nbsp;on the nation’s highest court.

The 51-year-old Jackson is the court’s 116th justice and she took the place Thursday of the justice she once worked for.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephen-breyer">Justice Stephen Breyer’s</a>&nbsp;retirement took effect at noon.

Moments later, joined by her family, Jackson recited the two oaths required of Supreme Court justices, one administered by Breyer and the other by Chief Justice John Roberts.

“With a full heart, I accept the solemn responsibility of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and administering justice without fear or favor, so help me God,” Jackson said in a statement issued by the court. “I am truly grateful to be part of the promise of our great Nation. I extend my sincerest thanks to all of my new colleagues for their warm and gracious welcome.”

Roberts welcomed Jackson “to the court and our common calling.” The ceremony was streamed live on the court's website.

Jackson, a federal judge since 2013, is joining three other women, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett — the first time four women will serve together on the nine-member court.

Biden nominated Jackson in February, a month after Breyer, 83,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retirement-2f9c1f5da824e3b1ef25964205131fff">announced he would retire</a>&nbsp;at the end of the court's term, assuming his successor had been confirmed. Breyer's earlier-than-usual announcement and the condition he attached was a recognition of the Democrats' tenuous hold on the Senate in an era of hyper-partisanship, especially surrounding federal judgeships.

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-confirmation-f39263cdbb0c59c8a20a48edf9b6786e">confirmed Jackson's nomination</a>&nbsp;in early April, by a 53-47 mostly party-line vote that included support from three Republicans.

Jackson had been in a sort of judicial limbo since, remaining a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., but not hearing any cases. Biden elevated her to that court from the district judgeship to which she was appointed by President Barack Obama.

Jackson will be able to begin work immediately, but the court will have just finished the bulk of its work until the fall, apart from emergency appeals that occasionally arise. That will give her time to settle in and familiarize herself with the roughly two dozen cases the court already has agreed to hear starting in October as well as hundreds of appeals that will pile up over the summer.

The court issued final opinions earlier Thursday after a momentous and rancorous term that included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade’s guarantee of the right to an abortion</a>. One of Thursday’s decisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-epa-ruling-2e893673819a1b6c6aa272a5e814f0b0">limited how the Environmental Protection Agency can use the nation’s main anti-air pollution law</a>&nbsp;to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, a blow to the fight against climate change.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656606967625.png" alt="Jackson will be able to begin work immediately, but the court will have just finished the bulk of its work until the fall-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Jackson will be able to begin work immediately, but the court will have just finished the bulk of its work until the fall-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ketanji-brown-jackson">Ketanji Brown Jackson</a>&nbsp;has been sworn in to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>, shattering a glass ceiling as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-voting-rights-college-admissions-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-75dc3f82758903dc702d86186ff9eedb">the first Black woman</a>&nbsp;on the nation’s highest court.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the 116th justice of the Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman to sit on the nation&#39;s highest court. <a href="https://t.co/FO1jHg1X7u">pic.twitter.com/FO1jHg1X7u</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1542547743037603840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 51-year-old Jackson is the court’s 116th justice and she took the place Thursday of the justice she once worked for.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephen-breyer">Justice Stephen Breyer’s</a>&nbsp;retirement took effect at noon.Moments later, joined by her family, Jackson recited the two oaths required of Supreme Court justices, one administered by Breyer and the other by Chief Justice John Roberts.“With a full heart, I accept the solemn responsibility of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and administering justice without fear or favor, so help me God,” Jackson said in a statement issued by the court. “I am truly grateful to be part of the promise of our great Nation. I extend my sincerest thanks to all of my new colleagues for their warm and gracious welcome.”Roberts welcomed Jackson “to the court and our common calling.” The ceremony was streamed live on the court's website.Jackson, a federal judge since 2013, is joining three other women, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett — the first time four women will serve together on the nine-member court.Biden nominated Jackson in February, a month after Breyer, 83,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retirement-2f9c1f5da824e3b1ef25964205131fff">announced he would retire</a>&nbsp;at the end of the court's term, assuming his successor had been confirmed. Breyer's earlier-than-usual announcement and the condition he attached was a recognition of the Democrats' tenuous hold on the Senate in an era of hyper-partisanship, especially surrounding federal judgeships.The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-confirmation-f39263cdbb0c59c8a20a48edf9b6786e">confirmed Jackson's nomination</a>&nbsp;in early April, by a 53-47 mostly party-line vote that included support from three Republicans.Jackson had been in a sort of judicial limbo since, remaining a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., but not hearing any cases. Biden elevated her to that court from the district judgeship to which she was appointed by President Barack Obama.Jackson will be able to begin work immediately, but the court will have just finished the bulk of its work until the fall, apart from emergency appeals that occasionally arise. That will give her time to settle in and familiarize herself with the roughly two dozen cases the court already has agreed to hear starting in October as well as hundreds of appeals that will pile up over the summer.The court issued final opinions earlier Thursday after a momentous and rancorous term that included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade’s guarantee of the right to an abortion</a>. One of Thursday’s decisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-epa-ruling-2e893673819a1b6c6aa272a5e814f0b0">limited how the Environmental Protection Agency can use the nation’s main anti-air pollution law</a>&nbsp;to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, a blow to the fight against climate change.

🎥Jackson sworn in; 1st Black woman on Supreme Court

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated Press

At least some U.S. adults may get updated COVID-19 shots this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it’s time to tweak booster doses to better match the most recent virus variants.

Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration wrestled with how to modify doses now when there’s no way to know how the rapidly mutating virus will evolve by fall — especially since people who get today’s recommended boosters remain strongly protected against COVID-19′s worst outcomes.

Ultimately the FDA panel voted 19-2 that COVID-19 boosters should contain some version of the super-contagious omicron variant, to be ready for an anticipated fall booster campaign.

“We are going to be behind the eight-ball if we wait longer,” said one adviser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego.

The FDA will have to decide the exact recipe, but expect a combination shot that adds protection against either omicron or some of its newer relatives to the original vaccine.

“None of us has a crystal ball” to know the next threatening variant, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. But “we may at least bring the immune system closer to being able to respond to what’s circulating” now rather than far older virus strains.

It’s not clear who would be offered a tweaked booster — they might be urged only for older adults or those at high risk from the virus. But the FDA is expected to decide on the recipe change within days and then Pfizer and Moderna will have to seek authorization for the appropriately updated doses, time for health authorities to settle on a fall strategy.

Current COVID-19 vaccines have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-england-54d29ae3af5c700f15d704c14ee224b5">saved millions of lives</a>&nbsp;globally. With a booster dose, those used in the U.S. retain strong protection against hospitalization and death but their ability to block infection dropped markedly when omicron appeared. And the omicron mutant that caused the winter surge has been replaced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-united-states-pandemics-72462053f8d60fd548cf34377864100b">genetically distinct relatives</a>. The two newest omicron cousins, called BA.4 and BA.5, together now make up half of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pfizer and Moderna already were brewing boosters that add protection to the first omicron mutant. Their combination shots, what scientists call “bivalent” vaccines, substantially boosted levels of antibodies capable of fighting that variant, more than simply giving another dose of today’s vaccine.

Both companies found the tweaked shots also offered some cross-protection against those worrisome BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too, but not nearly as much.

Many scientists favor the combination approach because it preserves the original vaccines’ proven benefits, which include some cross-protection against other mutants that have cropped up during the pandemic.

The question facing FDA is the correct recipe change. Both companies said they’d have plenty of omicron-targeted combo shots by October but Moderna said switching to target omicron’s newest relatives might delay its version another month.

Further complicating the decision is that only half of vaccinated Americans have received that all-important first booster. And while the CDC says protection against hospitalization has slipped some for older adults, a second booster that’s recommended for people 50 and older seems to restore it. But only a quarter of those eligible for the additional booster have gotten one.

Marks said that by tweaking the shots, “we’re hoping we can convince people to go get that booster to strengthen their immune response and help prevent another wave.”

The logistics will be challenging. Many Americans haven’t had their first vaccinations yet, including young children who just became eligible — and it’s not clear whether tweaked boosters eventually might lead to a change in the primary vaccine. But the FDA’s advisers said it’s important to go ahead and study updated vaccine recipes in children, too.

And one more complexity: A third company, Novavax, is awaiting FDA authorization of a more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine, protein-based shots. Novavax argued Tuesday that a booster of its regular vaccine promises a good immune response against the new omicron mutants without a recipe change.

Advisers to the World Health Organization recently said omicron-tweaked shots would be most beneficial as a booster only, because they should increase the breadth of people’s cross-protection against multiple variants.

“We don’t want the world to lose confidence in vaccines that are currently available,” said Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a virologist who chairs that WHO committee.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated PressAt least some U.S. adults may get updated COVID-19 shots this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it’s time to tweak booster doses to better match the most recent virus variants.Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration wrestled with how to modify doses now when there’s no way to know how the rapidly mutating virus will evolve by fall — especially since people who get today’s recommended boosters remain strongly protected against COVID-19′s worst outcomes.Ultimately the FDA panel voted 19-2 that COVID-19 boosters should contain some version of the super-contagious omicron variant, to be ready for an anticipated fall booster campaign.“We are going to be behind the eight-ball if we wait longer,” said one adviser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego.The FDA will have to decide the exact recipe, but expect a combination shot that adds protection against either omicron or some of its newer relatives to the original vaccine.“None of us has a crystal ball” to know the next threatening variant, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. But “we may at least bring the immune system closer to being able to respond to what’s circulating” now rather than far older virus strains.It’s not clear who would be offered a tweaked booster — they might be urged only for older adults or those at high risk from the virus. But the FDA is expected to decide on the recipe change within days and then Pfizer and Moderna will have to seek authorization for the appropriately updated doses, time for health authorities to settle on a fall strategy.Current COVID-19 vaccines have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-england-54d29ae3af5c700f15d704c14ee224b5">saved millions of lives</a>&nbsp;globally. With a booster dose, those used in the U.S. retain strong protection against hospitalization and death but their ability to block infection dropped markedly when omicron appeared. And the omicron mutant that caused the winter surge has been replaced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-united-states-pandemics-72462053f8d60fd548cf34377864100b">genetically distinct relatives</a>. The two newest omicron cousins, called BA.4 and BA.5, together now make up half of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pfizer and Moderna already were brewing boosters that add protection to the first omicron mutant. Their combination shots, what scientists call “bivalent” vaccines, substantially boosted levels of antibodies capable of fighting that variant, more than simply giving another dose of today’s vaccine.Both companies found the tweaked shots also offered some cross-protection against those worrisome BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too, but not nearly as much.Many scientists favor the combination approach because it preserves the original vaccines’ proven benefits, which include some cross-protection against other mutants that have cropped up during the pandemic.The question facing FDA is the correct recipe change. Both companies said they’d have plenty of omicron-targeted combo shots by October but Moderna said switching to target omicron’s newest relatives might delay its version another month.Further complicating the decision is that only half of vaccinated Americans have received that all-important first booster. And while the CDC says protection against hospitalization has slipped some for older adults, a second booster that’s recommended for people 50 and older seems to restore it. But only a quarter of those eligible for the additional booster have gotten one.Marks said that by tweaking the shots, “we’re hoping we can convince people to go get that booster to strengthen their immune response and help prevent another wave.”The logistics will be challenging. Many Americans haven’t had their first vaccinations yet, including young children who just became eligible — and it’s not clear whether tweaked boosters eventually might lead to a change in the primary vaccine. But the FDA’s advisers said it’s important to go ahead and study updated vaccine recipes in children, too.And one more complexity: A third company, Novavax, is awaiting FDA authorization of a more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine, protein-based shots. Novavax argued Tuesday that a booster of its regular vaccine promises a good immune response against the new omicron mutants without a recipe change.Advisers to the World Health Organization recently said omicron-tweaked shots would be most beneficial as a booster only, because they should increase the breadth of people’s cross-protection against multiple variants.“We don’t want the world to lose confidence in vaccines that are currently available,” said Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a virologist who chairs that WHO committee.___

FDA advisers recommend updating COVID booster shots for fall

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Fifty people died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer in the sweltering Texas heat, one of the worst tragedies to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico to the U.S. More than a dozen people had been taken to hospitals, including four children.

A city worker heard a cry for help from the truck on a San Antonio back road shortly before 6 p.m. Monday and discovered the gruesome scene, Police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground near the trailer and bodies remained inside as authorities responded.

Forty-six people were found dead at the scene, authorities said. Four more later died after being taken to hospitals, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the county’s top elected official,

Among the dead were 39 males and 11 females, he said.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said those who died had “families who were likely trying to find a better life.”

“This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy,” Nirenberg said.

Attempts to cross the U.S. border from Mexico have claimed thousands of lives in in both countries in recent decades.

President Joe Biden called the latest deaths “horrifying and heartbreaking.” He said initial reports were that smugglers or human traffickers were to blame.

“Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry,” he said in a statement.

The home countries of all of the migrants and how long they were abandoned on the side of the road were not immediately known.

Twenty-two were from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, head of the North America department in Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department, said on Twitter.

South Texas has long been the busiest area for illegal border crossings. Migrants ride in vehicles through Border Patrol checkpoints to San Antonio, the closest major city, from which point they disperse across the United States.

Wolff said Tuesday that authorities believe the truck came from Laredo, a border city about 150 miles (241 kilometer) south.

“They had just parked it on the side of the road,” Wolff said. “Apparently had mechanical problems and left it there. The sheriff thinks it came across from Laredo.”

Officials were asking neighboring counties to help with the number of bodies, he said.

San Antonio has been a recurring scene of tragedy and desperation in recent years involving migrants in the back of semitrailers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-antonio-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-laredo-cc2fe9b212b34619ab7777f2a4a830c9">Ten migrants died in 2017</a>&nbsp;after being trapped inside a truck parked at a San Antonio Walmart. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of the city. More than 50 migrants were found alive in a trailer in 2018, driven by a man who said he was to be paid $3,000 and was sentenced to more than five years in prison.

“These drivers, they take money from the cartels and so on,” said state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat whose district includes the site of the abandoned truck discovered Monday. “I’m sure many times these trucks end up at their destination successfully. Unfortunately, this has now happened all too often.”

Other incidents have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. border. In December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer filled with migrants rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-united-states-central-america-mexico-8f7660031e45a9a2107e41f4228e4ac9">reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers</a>&nbsp;near the U.S. border. They were stopped at a military checkpoint.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656432366900.png" alt="President Joe Biden says the deaths of migrants who were in the back of a tractor-trailer in Texas is "horrifying and heartbreaking-photo courtesy KSAT-TV" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden says the deaths of migrants who were in the back of a tractor-trailer in Texas is "horrifying and heartbreaking-photo courtesy KSAT-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Fifty people died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer in the sweltering Texas heat, one of the worst tragedies to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico to the U.S. More than a dozen people had been taken to hospitals, including four children.A city worker heard a cry for help from the truck on a San Antonio back road shortly before 6 p.m. Monday and discovered the gruesome scene, Police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground near the trailer and bodies remained inside as authorities responded.Forty-six people were found dead at the scene, authorities said. Four more later died after being taken to hospitals, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the county’s top elected official,Among the dead were 39 males and 11 females, he said.San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said those who died had “families who were likely trying to find a better life.”“This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy,” Nirenberg said.Attempts to cross the U.S. border from Mexico have claimed thousands of lives in in both countries in recent decades.President Joe Biden called the latest deaths “horrifying and heartbreaking.” He said initial reports were that smugglers or human traffickers were to blame.“Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry,” he said in a statement.The home countries of all of the migrants and how long they were abandoned on the side of the road were not immediately known.Twenty-two were from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, head of the North America department in Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department, said on Twitter.South Texas has long been the busiest area for illegal border crossings. Migrants ride in vehicles through Border Patrol checkpoints to San Antonio, the closest major city, from which point they disperse across the United States.Wolff said Tuesday that authorities believe the truck came from Laredo, a border city about 150 miles (241 kilometer) south.“They had just parked it on the side of the road,” Wolff said. “Apparently had mechanical problems and left it there. The sheriff thinks it came across from Laredo.”Officials were asking neighboring counties to help with the number of bodies, he said.San Antonio has been a recurring scene of tragedy and desperation in recent years involving migrants in the back of semitrailers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-antonio-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-laredo-cc2fe9b212b34619ab7777f2a4a830c9">Ten migrants died in 2017</a>&nbsp;after being trapped inside a truck parked at a San Antonio Walmart. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of the city. More than 50 migrants were found alive in a trailer in 2018, driven by a man who said he was to be paid $3,000 and was sentenced to more than five years in prison.“These drivers, they take money from the cartels and so on,” said state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat whose district includes the site of the abandoned truck discovered Monday. “I’m sure many times these trucks end up at their destination successfully. Unfortunately, this has now happened all too often.”Other incidents have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. border. In December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer filled with migrants rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-united-states-central-america-mexico-8f7660031e45a9a2107e41f4228e4ac9">reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers</a>&nbsp;near the U.S. border. They were stopped at a military checkpoint.The truck discovered Monday was abandoned on the outskirts of San Antonio, next to a railroad track in an area surrounded by auto scrapyards that brush up against a busy freeway.Officers arrived to find a body on the ground outside the trailer and a partially opened gate to the trailer. Three people were taken into custody, but it was unclear if they were definitively connected with human trafficking, McManus said. The trailer was gone Tuesday morning, and access to the area where it was found remained blocked.Sixteen people were taken hospitals with heat-related illnesses, with four later dying. At least four were in critical condition, according to the hospitals. Among those were a 23-year-old woman in serious condition and an adolescent male in critical condition at University Hospital in San Antonio, Wolff said.Those taken to the hospital were hot to the touch and dehydrated, and no water was found in the trailer, said Fire Chief Charles Hood.“They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion,” Hood said. “It was a refrigerated tractor-trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig.”Those in the trailer were part of a presumed migrant smuggling attempt into the United States, and the investigation was being led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, McManus said.Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas.Before that, people paid small fees to mom-and-pop operators to get them across a largely unguarded border. As crossing became exponentially more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more perilous terrain and paid thousands of dollars more.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a10655ccefe64f4394518492b7ab114f">Heat poses a serious danger</a>, particularly when temperatures can rise severely inside vehicles. Temperatures in San Antonio on Monday approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).Some advocates drew a link to the Biden administration’s border policies. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, wrote that he had been dreading such a tragedy for months.“With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes. Truck smuggling is a way up,” he wrote on Twitter.Migrants — largely from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — have been expelled more than 2 million times under a pandemic-era rule in effect since March 2020 that denies them a chance to seek asylum but encourages repeat attempts because there are no legal consequences for getting caught.U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 557 deaths on the southwest border in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Most are related to heat exposure.CBP has not published a death tally for this year but said that the Border Patrol performed 14,278 “search-and-rescue missions” in a seven-month period through May, exceeding the 12,833 missions performed during the previous 12-month period and up from 5,071 the year before.