TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2017 killing of an 18-year-old Topeka woman. 

Twenty-year-old Javon Amond Smith was sentenced Thursday for second-degree murder and other crimes linked to the death of Kianna Cherise Hodges.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said Topeka police were called on March 4, 2017, after a man on foot shot into two separate vehicles, killing Hodges and wounding four other people. New information emerged during a cold case review in 2020, leading to Smith's arrest. Smith pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and criminal discharge of a weapon into an occupied vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601575530743.png" alt="Javon Smith photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Javon Smith photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2017 killing of an 18-year-old Topeka woman. Twenty-year-old Javon Amond Smith was sentenced Thursday for second-degree murder and other crimes linked to the death of Kianna Cherise Hodges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601570234524.png" alt="Kianna Hodge photo Penwell Gable Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Kianna Hodge photo Penwell Gable Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said Topeka police were called on March 4, 2017, after a man on foot shot into two separate vehicles, killing Hodges and wounding four other people. New information emerged during a cold case review in 2020, leading to Smith's arrest. Smith pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and criminal discharge of a weapon into an occupied vehicle.

Man sentenced in cold-case killing of 18-year-old Kan. woman

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on&nbsp; released a highly anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/money-and-payments-discussion-paper.htm" target="_blank">report on central bank digital currencies</a>&nbsp;that suggested it is leaning toward having banks and other financial firms, rather than the Fed itself, manage digital accounts for customers.

A central bank digital currency would differ in some key ways from the online and digital payments that millions of Americans already conduct. Those transactions are funneled through banks, which wouldn’t be necessary with a digital dollar.

The Fed’s paper stressed that no final decisions about a digital currency have been reached. But it suggested that a digital currency that “would best serve the needs” of the nation would follow an “intermediated model” under which banks or payment firms would create accounts or digital wallets.

The Fed characterized the potential introduction of a digital currency as a step that could have far-reaching consequences for banks and other financial firms as well as for the central bank itself.

“The introduction of a (central bank digital currency) would represent a highly significant innovation in American money,” the study said. The Fed said it “could fundamentally change the structure of the U.S. financial system, altering the roles and responsibilities of the private sector and the central bank.”

The report comes at a time when digital money is proliferating in a variety of forms. Millions of people own cryptocurrencies, though they are often used more as investments than as forms of payment. But so-called stablecoins, which are often pegged to the dollar, have also soared in use in the past year, mostly for cryptocurrency transactions.

And most central banks around the world are studying government-backed digital currencies. China’s central bank has already tested a digital version of the yuan. The European Central Bank began exploring a digital euro in October and said its “investigation period” would last two years. Some Caribbean nations have already issued digital currencies.

China’s action and the explosion of stablecoins, which can be used in place of dollars in international transactions, have raised pressure on the Fed to consider a digital currency. Last March, Chair Jerome Powell said that while the Fed needed to keep pace with financial innovations, it would proceed cautiously.

“As the world’s principal reserve currency...we have an obligation to be on the cutting edge of understanding the technological challenges,” Powell said then. “But...we don’t need to rush this project. We don’t need to be first to market.”

The Fed is likely years away from actually issuing a digital currency, if it decides to do so. The paper released Thursday kicks off a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/forms/cbdc" target="_blank">120-day comment period</a>, during which the Fed will seek input from the public. The Fed also said it would proceed only with support from Congress, “ideally in the form of a specific authorizing law.”

And officials at the central bank aren’t all in agreement about whether a central bank digital currency is needed. Lael Brainard, who serves on the Fed’s Board of Governors and has been nominated by President Joe Biden to be vice chair, has, for example, expressed support for the concept, while Christopher Waller, another board member, has been skeptical.

A digital dollar could bring a host of benefits as well as risks. It would be a safer form of digital payment, because the Fed, unlike a bank or the companies issuing stablecoins, can’t go bankrupt. It could be easier and less expensive to access for people without bank accounts.

At the same time, a digital currency could pose privacy risks because it would be issued by the government. The Fed’s paper suggests, though, that banks and other third-party firms would shield consumer data from the Fed while also implementing existing rules against money-laundering and other illicit activity.

Such a government-issued digital dollar could also have major consequences for commercial banks because many Americans might prefer to hold such currency in a “wallet” issued by a payment provider like PayPal or Venmo, potentially cutting into bank deposits.

The Fed could even seek to influence the economy through a digital currency, as it now does by controlling interest rates. It could pay interest on a digital dollar, for example, or even have it decline in value, as a form of a negative interest rate. An interest payment could make a digital dollar more attractive than money in a bank.

“This substitution effect could reduce the aggregate amount of deposits in the banking system,” the Fed report said.

That hasn’t gone unnoticed by banks. The Bank Policy Institute, a lobbying group, asserted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://bpi.com/legal-authority-to-issue-a-u-s-central-bank-digital-currency/" target="_blank">blog post last June</a>&nbsp;that the Fed doesn’t have legal authority to pay interest on a digital dollar.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on&nbsp; released a highly anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/money-and-payments-discussion-paper.htm" target="_blank">report on central bank digital currencies</a>&nbsp;that suggested it is leaning toward having banks and other financial firms, rather than the Fed itself, manage digital accounts for customers.A central bank digital currency would differ in some key ways from the online and digital payments that millions of Americans already conduct. Those transactions are funneled through banks, which wouldn’t be necessary with a digital dollar.The Fed’s paper stressed that no final decisions about a digital currency have been reached. But it suggested that a digital currency that “would best serve the needs” of the nation would follow an “intermediated model” under which banks or payment firms would create accounts or digital wallets.The Fed characterized the potential introduction of a digital currency as a step that could have far-reaching consequences for banks and other financial firms as well as for the central bank itself.“The introduction of a (central bank digital currency) would represent a highly significant innovation in American money,” the study said. The Fed said it “could fundamentally change the structure of the U.S. financial system, altering the roles and responsibilities of the private sector and the central bank.”The report comes at a time when digital money is proliferating in a variety of forms. Millions of people own cryptocurrencies, though they are often used more as investments than as forms of payment. But so-called stablecoins, which are often pegged to the dollar, have also soared in use in the past year, mostly for cryptocurrency transactions.And most central banks around the world are studying government-backed digital currencies. China’s central bank has already tested a digital version of the yuan. The European Central Bank began exploring a digital euro in October and said its “investigation period” would last two years. Some Caribbean nations have already issued digital currencies.China’s action and the explosion of stablecoins, which can be used in place of dollars in international transactions, have raised pressure on the Fed to consider a digital currency. Last March, Chair Jerome Powell said that while the Fed needed to keep pace with financial innovations, it would proceed cautiously.“As the world’s principal reserve currency...we have an obligation to be on the cutting edge of understanding the technological challenges,” Powell said then. “But...we don’t need to rush this project. We don’t need to be first to market.”The Fed is likely years away from actually issuing a digital currency, if it decides to do so. The paper released Thursday kicks off a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/forms/cbdc" target="_blank">120-day comment period</a>, during which the Fed will seek input from the public. The Fed also said it would proceed only with support from Congress, “ideally in the form of a specific authorizing law.”And officials at the central bank aren’t all in agreement about whether a central bank digital currency is needed. Lael Brainard, who serves on the Fed’s Board of Governors and has been nominated by President Joe Biden to be vice chair, has, for example, expressed support for the concept, while Christopher Waller, another board member, has been skeptical.A digital dollar could bring a host of benefits as well as risks. It would be a safer form of digital payment, because the Fed, unlike a bank or the companies issuing stablecoins, can’t go bankrupt. It could be easier and less expensive to access for people without bank accounts.At the same time, a digital currency could pose privacy risks because it would be issued by the government. The Fed’s paper suggests, though, that banks and other third-party firms would shield consumer data from the Fed while also implementing existing rules against money-laundering and other illicit activity.Such a government-issued digital dollar could also have major consequences for commercial banks because many Americans might prefer to hold such currency in a “wallet” issued by a payment provider like PayPal or Venmo, potentially cutting into bank deposits.The Fed could even seek to influence the economy through a digital currency, as it now does by controlling interest rates. It could pay interest on a digital dollar, for example, or even have it decline in value, as a form of a negative interest rate. An interest payment could make a digital dollar more attractive than money in a bank.“This substitution effect could reduce the aggregate amount of deposits in the banking system,” the Fed report said.That hasn’t gone unnoticed by banks. The Bank Policy Institute, a lobbying group, asserted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://bpi.com/legal-authority-to-issue-a-u-s-central-bank-digital-currency/" target="_blank">blog post last June</a>&nbsp;that the Fed doesn’t have legal authority to pay interest on a digital dollar.

The Federal Reserve wants your input on US digital currency

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-19/an-armored-car-company-busted-for-hauling-legal-weed-money-across-kansas-is-now-suing-the-feds">Kansas News Service</a>

An armored car company used by licensed marijuana dispensaries in 
Missouri and other states is suing the federal government, claiming law 
enforcement agents have illegally seized dispensary cash the company was
 transporting.

The federal lawsuit, filed in California last week 
by Empyreal Logistics, comes after a sheriff’s deputy in Dickinson 
County, Kansas, stopped one of Empyreal’s vehicles last year on 
Interstate 70 for an unspecified traffic violation and <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-10-26/feds-seized-a-van-carrying-166-000-from-legal-marijuana-sales-in-kansas-city-and-no-one-knows-why" target="_blank">seized nearly $166,000 in cash</a> it was transporting from marijuana dispensaries in Kansas City, Missouri, to a credit union in Colorado.

The
 U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas subsequently filed a civil forfeiture 
action against Empyreal, arguing the seized cash was traceable to sales 
that violated the federal Controlled Substances Act. (Cannabis is 
classified as a Schedule I drug under the act.) That case is pending.

In
 October, KCUR sought records related to the stop from the Dickinson 
County Sheriff’s Office under the Kansas Open Records Act. Doug 
Thompson, the Dickinson County counselor, responded by saying that the 
records were in the hands of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

KCUR
 then sought the records from the DEA in November under the federal 
Freedom of Information Act. The DEA has yet to respond to KCUR’s 
request.

Empyreal's lawsuit, however, alleges that Dickinson 
County Sheriff’s Deputy Kalen Robinson pulled over Empyreal’s vehicle, a
 Ford Transit van, as it was heading east on I-70 because the Colorado 
license plate tag was slightly covered by the license plate holder. 
Robinson stopped the vehicle a second time the next day as it was 
heading west toward Colorado and seized the cash.

Empyreal’s 
lawsuit accuses Robinson as well as sheriff’s deputies in California of 
acting in concert with the DEA to conduct "pretextual stops" of 
Empyreal’s vehicles, “searching them, and seizing the cash contents — 
covering up their surveillance cameras and sometimes damaging Empyreal’s
 vehicles to access the cash in their secured vaults — and are then 
turning the seized cash over to federal law-enforcement for forfeiture 
proceedings under the federal equitable sharing program.”

Under 
the federal equitable sharing program, the federal government shares 
assets seized in civil forfeitures with state and local law enforcement 
agencies.

Empyreal says that not a single traffic citation was 
issued to an Empyreal driver during any of the five traffic stops 
mentioned in its complaint.

It says federal and state law 
enforcement agencies are targeting its armored cars “because it is very 
profitable for those law enforcement agencies to seize the cash proceeds
 that Empyreal is transporting and keep that money using civil 
forfeiture.”

Dan Alban, an attorney with the Institute of Justice,
 which represents Empyreal, said Empyreal had initially viewed the 
Dickinson County stop as a one-off event. But since then, its vehicles 
have been stopped four more times in California, three of them in the 
last two months alone. The vehicles were transporting cash from 
state-licensed cannabis businesses in California.

“I think they 
began to become very concerned that this was an ongoing pattern of 
activity and that they were being targeted. And so they wanted not just 
to have to defend against these forfeiture actions after the fact” but 
to seek legal relief preventing future seizures, Alban said.

In 
addition to alleging violations of the Fourth Amendment and due process,
 the lawsuit seeks to block future stops, searches and seizures of 
Empyreal’s vehicles “based solely on the actual or suspected presence of
 cash earned by state-legal cannabis dispensaries without reasonable 
suspicion or probable cause.”

“Empyreal
 could see the writing on the wall,” Alban said. “They could tell they 
were being targeted — all of these stops and searches — five in total so
 far. And so in order to continue operating their armored car business, 
they needed not to be targeted by the feds or local sheriffs for these 
continued stops, searches and seizures.”

Empyreal is still seeking
 to recover the money that was seized in Kansas in the pending civil 
forfeiture proceeding. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has declined to 
comment on the case.

The forfeiture action is being prosecuted by 
Colin D. Wood, a retired KBI senior special agent who now serves as a 
federal contractor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the title of 
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He did not respond to a request for 
comment.

The traffic stop in Dickinson County took place last May.
 The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed the civil forfeiture action three 
months later.

Attorneys not involved in the case have questioned 
why it was brought, given that it doesn’t involve the seizure of 
marijuana but rather proceeds from its sale and given that the 
dispensaries whose money was seized are licensed under Missouri’s 
medical cannabis program.

During the Obama administration, the 
Department of Justice issued a memorandum stating that federal 
prosecutors would not enforce the federal prohibition against marijuana 
in states that had legalized it. And federal legislation enacted in 2014
 prohibits the Justice Department from spending funds to interfere with 
the implementation of state medical cannabis laws.

The 
legislation, known as the Rohrbacher-Farr amendment, must be renewed 
every year. It was renewed last year and remains effective through Feb. 
18.

In its lawsuit, Empyreal says it has been forced to suspend 
its operations in San Bernardino, County, California, has stopped 
transporting cash through Kansas, has lost customers and has been unable
 to roll out new services in multiple states because of concerns about 
the stops and seizures.

“If these incidents continue to occur — 
and there is every indication they will — it will threaten Empyreal’s 
business model and its ability to continue providing financial 
infrastructure for the state-legal medical cannabis industry by safely 
moving cash from business premises into the legal banking system for 
greater transparency,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit names as 
defendants the U.S. Department of Justice; Attorney General Merrick 
Garland; the FBI; FBI Director Christopher Wray; an assistant FBI 
director overseeing the bureau’s Los Angeles field office; the DEA; DEA 
Administrator Anne Milgram; and San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon D.
 Dicus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642629586838.png" alt="A complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas seeks the forfeiture of $165,620 found in a van that was transporting the money to a credit union in Colorado. Carlos Moreno / KCUR " />
 <figcaption>A complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas seeks the forfeiture of $165,620 found in a van that was transporting the money to a credit union in Colorado. Carlos Moreno / KCUR </figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-19/an-armored-car-company-busted-for-hauling-legal-weed-money-across-kansas-is-now-suing-the-feds">Kansas News Service</a>An armored car company used by licensed marijuana dispensaries in 
Missouri and other states is suing the federal government, claiming law 
enforcement agents have illegally seized dispensary cash the company was
 transporting.The federal lawsuit, filed in California last week 
by Empyreal Logistics, comes after a sheriff’s deputy in Dickinson 
County, Kansas, stopped one of Empyreal’s vehicles last year on 
Interstate 70 for an unspecified traffic violation and <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-10-26/feds-seized-a-van-carrying-166-000-from-legal-marijuana-sales-in-kansas-city-and-no-one-knows-why" target="_blank">seized nearly $166,000 in cash</a> it was transporting from marijuana dispensaries in Kansas City, Missouri, to a credit union in Colorado.The
 U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas subsequently filed a civil forfeiture 
action against Empyreal, arguing the seized cash was traceable to sales 
that violated the federal Controlled Substances Act. (Cannabis is 
classified as a Schedule I drug under the act.) That case is pending.In
 October, KCUR sought records related to the stop from the Dickinson 
County Sheriff’s Office under the Kansas Open Records Act. Doug 
Thompson, the Dickinson County counselor, responded by saying that the 
records were in the hands of the Drug Enforcement Administration.KCUR
 then sought the records from the DEA in November under the federal 
Freedom of Information Act. The DEA has yet to respond to KCUR’s 
request.Empyreal's lawsuit, however, alleges that Dickinson 
County Sheriff’s Deputy Kalen Robinson pulled over Empyreal’s vehicle, a
 Ford Transit van, as it was heading east on I-70 because the Colorado 
license plate tag was slightly covered by the license plate holder. 
Robinson stopped the vehicle a second time the next day as it was 
heading west toward Colorado and seized the cash.Empyreal’s 
lawsuit accuses Robinson as well as sheriff’s deputies in California of 
acting in concert with the DEA to conduct "pretextual stops" of 
Empyreal’s vehicles, “searching them, and seizing the cash contents — 
covering up their surveillance cameras and sometimes damaging Empyreal’s
 vehicles to access the cash in their secured vaults — and are then 
turning the seized cash over to federal law-enforcement for forfeiture 
proceedings under the federal equitable sharing program.”Under 
the federal equitable sharing program, the federal government shares 
assets seized in civil forfeitures with state and local law enforcement 
agencies.Empyreal says that not a single traffic citation was 
issued to an Empyreal driver during any of the five traffic stops 
mentioned in its complaint.It says federal and state law 
enforcement agencies are targeting its armored cars “because it is very 
profitable for those law enforcement agencies to seize the cash proceeds
 that Empyreal is transporting and keep that money using civil 
forfeiture.”Dan Alban, an attorney with the Institute of Justice,
 which represents Empyreal, said Empyreal had initially viewed the 
Dickinson County stop as a one-off event. But since then, its vehicles 
have been stopped four more times in California, three of them in the 
last two months alone. The vehicles were transporting cash from 
state-licensed cannabis businesses in California.“I think they 
began to become very concerned that this was an ongoing pattern of 
activity and that they were being targeted. And so they wanted not just 
to have to defend against these forfeiture actions after the fact” but 
to seek legal relief preventing future seizures, Alban said.In 
addition to alleging violations of the Fourth Amendment and due process,
 the lawsuit seeks to block future stops, searches and seizures of 
Empyreal’s vehicles “based solely on the actual or suspected presence of
 cash earned by state-legal cannabis dispensaries without reasonable 
suspicion or probable cause.”<h2>'Writing on the wall' </h2>“Empyreal
 could see the writing on the wall,” Alban said. “They could tell they 
were being targeted — all of these stops and searches — five in total so
 far. And so in order to continue operating their armored car business, 
they needed not to be targeted by the feds or local sheriffs for these 
continued stops, searches and seizures.”Empyreal is still seeking
 to recover the money that was seized in Kansas in the pending civil 
forfeiture proceeding. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has declined to 
comment on the case.The forfeiture action is being prosecuted by 
Colin D. Wood, a retired KBI senior special agent who now serves as a 
federal contractor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the title of 
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He did not respond to a request for 
comment.The traffic stop in Dickinson County took place last May.
 The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed the civil forfeiture action three 
months later.Attorneys not involved in the case have questioned 
why it was brought, given that it doesn’t involve the seizure of 
marijuana but rather proceeds from its sale and given that the 
dispensaries whose money was seized are licensed under Missouri’s 
medical cannabis program.During the Obama administration, the 
Department of Justice issued a memorandum stating that federal 
prosecutors would not enforce the federal prohibition against marijuana 
in states that had legalized it. And federal legislation enacted in 2014
 prohibits the Justice Department from spending funds to interfere with 
the implementation of state medical cannabis laws.The 
legislation, known as the Rohrbacher-Farr amendment, must be renewed 
every year. It was renewed last year and remains effective through Feb. 
18.In its lawsuit, Empyreal says it has been forced to suspend 
its operations in San Bernardino, County, California, has stopped 
transporting cash through Kansas, has lost customers and has been unable
 to roll out new services in multiple states because of concerns about 
the stops and seizures.“If these incidents continue to occur — 
and there is every indication they will — it will threaten Empyreal’s 
business model and its ability to continue providing financial 
infrastructure for the state-legal medical cannabis industry by safely 
moving cash from business premises into the legal banking system for 
greater transparency,” the lawsuit states.The lawsuit names as 
defendants the U.S. Department of Justice; Attorney General Merrick 
Garland; the FBI; FBI Director Christopher Wray; an assistant FBI 
director overseeing the bureau’s Los Angeles field office; the DEA; DEA 
Administrator Anne Milgram; and San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon D.
 Dicus.

Armored car company, busted for hauling legal weed money across Kan., is suing feds 

Stephanie JoLynn Kaiser, 35, passed away on January 19, 2022, at The 
University of Kansas Med Center, Kansas City, Kansas. She was born on 
April 20, 1986, at Great Bend, Kansas, to Steve &amp; Lynn (Larson) 
Kaiser. Stephanie was married to Brandyn Kilgore on October 17, 2019, in
 Wichita, Kansas.

Stephanie, a lifetime resident of Great Bend, was a 2005 graduate of 
Great Bend High School, where she excelled in volleyball, later 
attending Barton Community College, earning her RN degree. She enjoyed 
playing rec league softball for many years, where she first met Brandyn 
and he would later ask her out at the ballfield.&nbsp; Her compassionate 
nature and nursing skills were exhibited through her employment at Great
 Bend Regional Hospital, Larned Correctional Facility, and currently 
UKHS-Great Bend Campus.&nbsp; Stephanie enjoyed the Fourth of July, 
Halloween, crocheting, shooting her Glock pistol, cats (often taking in 
strays), reading, gardening, and the solitude of country living.&nbsp; 
According to Max, she was known to bake the world’s best sugar cookies.&nbsp;
 Above all, she cherished her time with family, taking pride in never 
missing any of Max’s sports or activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Survivors include her husband Brandyn and son Max Stephan Trujillo 
both of the home; her parents; two brothers, Cory (Erica) Kaiser of 
Castle Rock, Colorado, and Kelly (Sarah) Kaiser of Andale, Kansas; 
godparents, JoLetta Woolwine of Westwood Hills, Kansas, and Stan Kaiser 
of Great Bend, Kansas; nieces and nephews, Crawford, Kellan, Kerrington,
 Bo, Cruz, Hayes, and Nash Kaiser; and her son’s father, Tom Trujillo. 
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Melvin and Frankie Kaiser,
 and Bob and Dorothy Larson.

In honoring Stephanie’s wishes, there will be no viewing as cremation
 has taken place and no service. Friends are welcome to sign her 
register book from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday, January 24, and Tuesday, January
 25, 2022, as well as on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, from 9:00 to 8:00 
with the family greeting guests from 5:00 to 7:00, all at Bryant Funeral
 Home. A private family interment will take place at Great Bend 
Cemetery. 

Memorials can be made to the Max Trujillo Education Fund, in 
care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642803697155.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Stephanie JoLynn Kaiser, 35, passed away on January 19, 2022, at The 
University of Kansas Med Center, Kansas City, Kansas. She was born on 
April 20, 1986, at Great Bend, Kansas, to Steve &amp; Lynn (Larson) 
Kaiser. Stephanie was married to Brandyn Kilgore on October 17, 2019, in
 Wichita, Kansas.Stephanie, a lifetime resident of Great Bend, was a 2005 graduate of 
Great Bend High School, where she excelled in volleyball, later 
attending Barton Community College, earning her RN degree. She enjoyed 
playing rec league softball for many years, where she first met Brandyn 
and he would later ask her out at the ballfield.&nbsp; Her compassionate 
nature and nursing skills were exhibited through her employment at Great
 Bend Regional Hospital, Larned Correctional Facility, and currently 
UKHS-Great Bend Campus.&nbsp; Stephanie enjoyed the Fourth of July, 
Halloween, crocheting, shooting her Glock pistol, cats (often taking in 
strays), reading, gardening, and the solitude of country living.&nbsp; 
According to Max, she was known to bake the world’s best sugar cookies.&nbsp;
 Above all, she cherished her time with family, taking pride in never 
missing any of Max’s sports or activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Survivors include her husband Brandyn and son Max Stephan Trujillo 
both of the home; her parents; two brothers, Cory (Erica) Kaiser of 
Castle Rock, Colorado, and Kelly (Sarah) Kaiser of Andale, Kansas; 
godparents, JoLetta Woolwine of Westwood Hills, Kansas, and Stan Kaiser 
of Great Bend, Kansas; nieces and nephews, Crawford, Kellan, Kerrington,
 Bo, Cruz, Hayes, and Nash Kaiser; and her son’s father, Tom Trujillo. 
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Melvin and Frankie Kaiser,
 and Bob and Dorothy Larson.In honoring Stephanie’s wishes, there will be no viewing as cremation
 has taken place and no service. Friends are welcome to sign her 
register book from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday, January 24, and Tuesday, January
 25, 2022, as well as on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, from 9:00 to 8:00 
with the family greeting guests from 5:00 to 7:00, all at Bryant Funeral
 Home. A private family interment will take place at Great Bend 
Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Max Trujillo Education Fund, in 
care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Stephanie JoLynn Kaiser

On this episode of the Post Podcast Downtown Hays Development Corporation executive director Sara Bloom and director of events and operations Allie Glidewell shares updates from downtown Hays.

The Downtown Hays Development Corporation is getting ready for a busy spring season. Executive Director Sarah bloom and director of events and operations, Allie Glidewell stops by to talk to us about that on this episode of the post podcast.

What are you talking about? First? We got a whole list?

Well, yeah, I thought it was kind of a slower time a year. But then I'm here. I know you guys actually are getting prepared for a lot of things going on. I think we got to do this chronologically. Right Valentine's Day. That's the first thing coming up.

Sure. Well, it's kind of something new and different that we're trying to do just a promotional thing for businesses. But know that a lot of people spend money downtown, spend gifts, spend money for guessing their loved ones. So what we've done is we put together three baskets. And when you spend money in downtown, you can bring your receipts into us, whether that's paper or you know, I know a lot of square receipts go virtual. But bring that to us will stamp it and you can enter to win a basket will draw it on Valentine's Day. And there's all sorts of I mean, almost every single store is represented in those baskets. We

had so much fun shopping, we picked, what Tuesday when it was 60 degrees outside, we walked all over downtown. And we're talking from like reds all the way down to Indigo and breathe and all the things in between.

Yeah, super awesome. So we spent a little bit of money in every store to put together different baskets. We got stuff from even like the baskets themselves, or from the ark. We went everywhere. There. I mean, there's great things we put together a little men's basket that's got Gosh, soaps and goodies and all sorts of Thai

and mugs and coffee and trees and all sorts of stuff. Yeah, that's and that's just that. That's just the men's baskets, toothbrush and a really nice electric toothbrush for my smile. Yeah, yeah. So if you give love to our downtown businesses, you could have the opportunity to get the so we'll be posting pictures of those baskets later today along with that promotion. But essentially, starting next week, if you shop downtown, bring in a receipt, and it doesn't matter if it's for a $3 coffee from breeze or a $3,000 couch from furniture, luck. Bring your receipts in and you can enter to win one of these baskets and we'll draw Valentine's.

Yeah. Because we love you. Yes, amazing. Well, it's fun.

So you can the interim all the way up until Valentine's Day, so that Friday before Friday before okay.

Or like bringing in your receipts from the weekend on that Monday. Valentine's is on a Monday and we could draw

That means you have all weekend to spoil your love. That's what that means. I suppose that's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah, maybe we do Monday at the end of the day. That way you can bring in your seats. Have coffee yet.

It is still pretty early in the morning. It's especially talking about like Valentine's Day and all the craziness that comes along with that.

And it's not that far away. We are at the end of January already.

It's sneaking up on us only 22 It's it's firmly here.

Well, it's pretty cool Valentine's I would watch our Facebook page and other downtown business Facebook pages because I know there are a lot of Valentine dinners and events being planned right now and you have to make reservations right now specifically the strand and the Paisley pair are already booking very quickly for their Valentine

audience always has really great deals around this time too. And they book out so

far. The new Brickhouse Spa has some ones going on. So be watching. We'll try and share as much as we can, of course, but just be aware that there's some really wonderful stuff happening in downtown makes it easy. And Halo it is a partnership going on. All sorts of stuff.

Awesome. Yeah, you support your loved ones. Or shows love to your loved ones, I guess and support downtown Hayes at the same time. Exactly. I love that. Very cool.

Yeah. Also happening this weekend is the winter sidewalk sale. We did not go chronologically, but there are several businesses that have their winter sidewalk sale going on. Specifically couture has like 75% off simply refine, are all participating so check that out.

And I think we're gonna have decent weather this weekend. So it'd be a nice day to walk around and I think I'm gonna check a hole 35 today. Yeah, not nice today. Today is nothing better than the last two days it is currently eight degree by the way. Yeah, no, it looks like Saturday. Well, not not great, but mid 40s so decent weather is gonna be nice and sunny anyway

there's no wind that's what a beautiful day that's walkable.

actually buildings will block anyone that might be Oh

yeah, you always get that that nice buffer down there. But you know I already do this Saturday morning. You guys know this, but pretty much I take my kids in this what we do we walk down to On Hayes, we go when we hit different shops, they've got their little favorite hit spots they like to hit and we get some lunch at one of the restaurants down there. And it's a great time. And you see so many people down there even when there's no events going on. There's always people walking around and it's it's it's just a fun, energetic time to do it. And a third, some sidewalk sales on top of that, and it's just over the moon over the moon. That's what we're

saying. Believe it or not, I did not know that you walk downtown every Saturday though. I'm not down there every I usually at a basketball tournament or a baseball tournament.

So to be fair, we're walking around downtown all the time.

Their weekend is his community theaters. It's showtime. It's a fun new thing that they're putting on that'll air on Friday and on Saturday, but the community theater has all sorts of Valentine's things coming up too. So if you want to support a really, really fun cause, go give them a show. They're always exciting.

Yeah. Yeah, we had the director for this one. Cheryl Glassman come in earlier this week, I think. Yeah. Sounds like a really fun show. And I last time I talked to him. I don't know for sure. But they still had some tickets available. So if you're interested, well, it's Friday. I guess you probably need to get him today anyway, but but don't wait because they might sell out. So get them if you're interested.

That's rodeo. She's a former country, right? Yeah, rodeo. Yeah, I don't know what I saw. It's, uh, yeah. It's really good. But it's kind of a little bit genre bending, I

think, Oh, 20? Is that what you're saying? Yeah, yeah, you

might say that genre bending sounds way cooler. And I just came up with it. I like that. That's why you're good at the job, James.

What else is on your list? What else do we want to talk about?

Easter, you got to do some Easter stuff, too. I mean, that's a little bit down the road. But

like your face, you can't see your face. But we're very excited for

Easter. Easter is going to be very fun. We're hoping to incorporate a lot of different stores and just put something on for the kids. We don't have all the details yet, which includes, you know, the full format or a date. But we had a great brainstorming session yesterday. So look out for marketing on that something was eggs and something with candy. Yes, candy and children come downtown. It's gonna be a good time.

Really, you get those two things together, and you're gonna have a good time no matter what.

Maybe even cupcakes, I don't know, there's a lot of brainstorming happening. But something will be happening in downtown for Easter. So be watching our Facebook page for that. And then Allie had a great another great brainstorming session last night with our downtown Hayes market vendor. Yeah, we had

our little end of year meeting to talk about everything that went really great or things that need tweaking, and we want to kind of vision board in 2022. We're really excited, they're all very passionate about what they do. All of our market vendors are very excited to come back already. They were working their calendars for day one and figuring out you know, different promotions, especially for some of the bigger days like National honeybee day or what to do during Oktoberfest weekend. So it was really, really great. The markets gonna kick off October 28. And then go every single Saturday, maybe? Yep, May 28. So sorry. I was thinking October 20.

<div><iframe title="DHDC kicks off year with upcoming downtown events" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2qyp3-11863ed-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Downtown Hays Development Corporation executive director Sara Bloom and director of events and operations Allie Glidewell shares updates from downtown Hays.<h2>Transcript</h2>James Bell&nbsp;The Downtown Hays Development Corporation is getting ready for a busy spring season. Executive Director Sarah bloom and director of events and operations, Allie Glidewell stops by to talk to us about that on this episode of the post podcast.Sara Bloom&nbsp;What are you talking about? First? We got a whole list?James Bell&nbsp;Well, yeah, I thought it was kind of a slower time a year. But then I'm here. I know you guys actually are getting prepared for a lot of things going on. I think we got to do this chronologically. Right Valentine's Day. That's the first thing coming up.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Yeah, sure is.James Bell&nbsp;What are you guys going on for that?Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Sure. Well, it's kind of something new and different that we're trying to do just a promotional thing for businesses. But know that a lot of people spend money downtown, spend gifts, spend money for guessing their loved ones. So what we've done is we put together three baskets. And when you spend money in downtown, you can bring your receipts into us, whether that's paper or you know, I know a lot of square receipts go virtual. But bring that to us will stamp it and you can enter to win a basket will draw it on Valentine's Day. And there's all sorts of I mean, almost every single store is represented in those baskets. WeSara Bloom&nbsp;had so much fun shopping, we picked, what Tuesday when it was 60 degrees outside, we walked all over downtown. And we're talking from like reds all the way down to Indigo and breathe and all the things in between.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Yeah, super awesome. So we spent a little bit of money in every store to put together different baskets. We got stuff from even like the baskets themselves, or from the ark. We went everywhere. There. I mean, there's great things we put together a little men's basket that's got Gosh, soaps and goodies and all sorts of ThaiSara Bloom&nbsp;and mugs and coffee and trees and all sorts of stuff. Yeah, that's and that's just that. That's just the men's baskets, toothbrush and a really nice electric toothbrush for my smile. Yeah, yeah. So if you give love to our downtown businesses, you could have the opportunity to get the so we'll be posting pictures of those baskets later today along with that promotion. But essentially, starting next week, if you shop downtown, bring in a receipt, and it doesn't matter if it's for a $3 coffee from breeze or a $3,000 couch from furniture, luck. Bring your receipts in and you can enter to win one of these baskets and we'll draw Valentine's.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Yeah. Because we love you. Yes, amazing. Well, it's fun.James Bell&nbsp;So you can the interim all the way up until Valentine's Day, so that Friday before Friday before okay.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Or like bringing in your receipts from the weekend on that Monday. Valentine's is on a Monday and we could drawJames Bell&nbsp;on a Monday this year. It isAllie Glidewell&nbsp;okay that Monday, we love Monday.Sara Bloom&nbsp;That means you have all weekend to spoil your love. That's what that means. I suppose that's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah, maybe we do Monday at the end of the day. That way you can bring in your seats. Have coffee yet.James Bell&nbsp;It is still pretty early in the morning. It's especially talking about like Valentine's Day and all the craziness that comes along with that.Sara Bloom&nbsp;And it's not that far away. We are at the end of January already.James Bell&nbsp;It's sneaking up on us only 22 It's it's firmly here.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Well, it's pretty cool Valentine's I would watch our Facebook page and other downtown business Facebook pages because I know there are a lot of Valentine dinners and events being planned right now and you have to make reservations right now specifically the strand and the Paisley pair are already booking very quickly for their ValentineAllie Glidewell&nbsp;audience always has really great deals around this time too. And they book out soSara Bloom&nbsp;far. The new Brickhouse Spa has some ones going on. So be watching. We'll try and share as much as we can, of course, but just be aware that there's some really wonderful stuff happening in downtown makes it easy. And Halo it is a partnership going on. All sorts of stuff.James Bell&nbsp;Awesome. Yeah, you support your loved ones. Or shows love to your loved ones, I guess and support downtown Hayes at the same time. Exactly. I love that. Very cool.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Yeah. Also happening this weekend is the winter sidewalk sale. We did not go chronologically, but there are several businesses that have their winter sidewalk sale going on. Specifically couture has like 75% off simply refine, are all participating so check that out.James Bell&nbsp;And I think we're gonna have decent weather this weekend. So it'd be a nice day to walk around and I think I'm gonna check a hole 35 today. Yeah, not nice today. Today is nothing better than the last two days it is currently eight degree by the way. Yeah, no, it looks like Saturday. Well, not not great, but mid 40s so decent weather is gonna be nice and sunny anywaySara Bloom&nbsp;there's no wind that's what a beautiful day that's walkable.James Bell&nbsp;five mile an hour winds. That's doable.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;It's great down there.James Bell&nbsp;You know andSara Bloom&nbsp;actually buildings will block anyone that might be OhJames Bell&nbsp;yeah, you always get that that nice buffer down there. But you know I already do this Saturday morning. You guys know this, but pretty much I take my kids in this what we do we walk down to On Hayes, we go when we hit different shops, they've got their little favorite hit spots they like to hit and we get some lunch at one of the restaurants down there. And it's a great time. And you see so many people down there even when there's no events going on. There's always people walking around and it's it's it's just a fun, energetic time to do it. And a third, some sidewalk sales on top of that, and it's just over the moon over the moon. That's what we'reSara Bloom&nbsp;saying. Believe it or not, I did not know that you walk downtown every Saturday though. I'm not down there every I usually at a basketball tournament or a baseball tournament.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;So to be fair, we're walking around downtown all the time.Sara Bloom&nbsp;It's true. Time down Saturday morning.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Their weekend is his community theaters. It's showtime. It's a fun new thing that they're putting on that'll air on Friday and on Saturday, but the community theater has all sorts of Valentine's things coming up too. So if you want to support a really, really fun cause, go give them a show. They're always exciting.Sara Bloom&nbsp;ks.com Yeah. For tickets.James Bell&nbsp;Yeah. Yeah, we had the director for this one. Cheryl Glassman come in earlier this week, I think. Yeah. Sounds like a really fun show. And I last time I talked to him. I don't know for sure. But they still had some tickets available. So if you're interested, well, it's Friday. I guess you probably need to get him today anyway, but but don't wait because they might sell out. So get them if you're interested.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Yeah. And Kylie Frey at the fox.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Kylie Frey at the fox. Yeah.James Bell&nbsp;That's rodeo. She's a former country, right? Yeah, rodeo. Yeah, I don't know what I saw. It's, uh, yeah. It's really good. But it's kind of a little bit genre bending, ISara Bloom&nbsp;think, Oh, 20? Is that what you're saying? Yeah, yeah, youAllie Glidewell&nbsp;might say that genre bending sounds way cooler. And I just came up with it. I like that. That's why you're good at the job, James.Sara Bloom&nbsp;What else is on your list? What else do we want to talk about?James Bell&nbsp;Easter, you got to do some Easter stuff, too. I mean, that's a little bit down the road. ButSara Bloom&nbsp;like your face, you can't see your face. But we're very excited forAllie Glidewell&nbsp;Easter. Easter is going to be very fun. We're hoping to incorporate a lot of different stores and just put something on for the kids. We don't have all the details yet, which includes, you know, the full format or a date. But we had a great brainstorming session yesterday. So look out for marketing on that something was eggs and something with candy. Yes, candy and children come downtown. It's gonna be a good time.James Bell&nbsp;Really, you get those two things together, and you're gonna have a good time no matter what.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Maybe even cupcakes, I don't know, there's a lot of brainstorming happening. But something will be happening in downtown for Easter. So be watching our Facebook page for that. And then Allie had a great another great brainstorming session last night with our downtown Hayes market vendor. Yeah, we hadAllie Glidewell&nbsp;our little end of year meeting to talk about everything that went really great or things that need tweaking, and we want to kind of vision board in 2022. We're really excited, they're all very passionate about what they do. All of our market vendors are very excited to come back already. They were working their calendars for day one and figuring out you know, different promotions, especially for some of the bigger days like National honeybee day or what to do during Oktoberfest weekend. So it was really, really great. The markets gonna kick off October 28. And then go every single Saturday, maybe? Yep, May 28. So sorry. I was thinking October 20.James Bell&nbsp;Of course, October.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Definitely the last Saturday of MayAllie Glidewell&nbsp;springtime. Yes. And it'll still run 730 to 11. Every day. We're gonna have all sorts of fun things going on all the time. But stay tuned to our Facebook page for that as well.James Bell&nbsp;Very cool. Yeah. And you mentioned a couple times now. But absolutely. If you want to stay tuned into what's going on to downtown Hayes, you guys do a really fantastic job of keeping that Facebook page updated. It's an easy and efficient way to do it on the website as well. You guys have the calendar. And it's all right there in handy. And yeah,Sara Bloom&nbsp;yeah. And we kind of mentioned it too. Even if it's not an event organized by the DHDC. Office, we would love to promote it for you. Let us know anything happening in downtown. If it's if it's a benefit to downtown, it's bringing foot traffic and attention to downtown. Let us know we'll try and get it on our Facebook page. We'll get it in our weekly newsletter, we'll get it on the website, at least the events calendar, let us know how we can help promote what's happening in downtown Hayes, whether it's out of our office or not, because I support the community. But that's kind of it. We're working on a lot of things, but those are the most pressing.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;It is a slow time of year, but it just leads a lot of room for game planning.James Bell&nbsp;Yes, and that's you know, that's what I love about this time of year. It's all the ideas it's the energy it's thinking about, you know, all the stuff that is going to be going on and you know, as we as we warm up in the spring, and I love it because just the planning bit and then the excitement starts to build and you get to talk about things like the Farmers Market, which is going to beSara Bloom&nbsp;a next month we'll be telling you in brews tickets go on sale.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;There's all sorts there's all sorts of things all the time.Sara Bloom&nbsp;But yeah, always check the Facebook page. Always check downtown, he's calm. We've got a great Instagram. Lots of new businesses are opening it downtown. We just celebrated the fort opening. We're going to be celebrating the bloomin barber lounge opening soon. Lots of changes, and it's all very exciting. Yeah.James Bell&nbsp;Absolutely. And, you know, and this is part of what we were talking about before we went on air downtown. It's it's full. I mean, it's not you know, if you remember if you're if you're listening, I can't imagine a lot of people that are listening haven't been in downtown Hays in the last couple years. But if you haven't, like come and check it out, because it is the the the energy is just so incredible. And there's this this attitude of just building and fixing and, and driving business and I love it. I don't know what else to say.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Thanks for getting excited about it. We're excited. It's great.James Bell&nbsp;Truly. Alrighty, guys. Well, any last thoughts when we go?Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Downtown hayes.com Thanks for supportingSara Bloom&nbsp;local shop downtown. Downtown. Downtown.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Love downtown. Stay on the lookout for the Valentine. Yes.Sara Bloom&nbsp;Yeah, we're very excited. We're like, well, maybe we can change our names on.Allie Glidewell&nbsp;Yeah, maybe we can when we will give ourselves basket but they're really great and we want them to. We want to win. We picked out everything. They're very curated.

🎙Post Podcast: DHDC kicks off year with upcoming downtown events

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the latest setback for abortion rights in Texas, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to speed up the ongoing court case over the state’s ban on most abortions.

Over dissents from the three liberal justices, the court declined to order a federal appeals court to return the case to a federal judge who had temporarily blocked the law’s enforcement. The court offered no explanation for its action.

The Texas ban is thus likely to remain in effect for the foreseeable future, following a decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to send the case to the Texas Supreme Court, which is entirely controlled by Republican justices and does not have to act immediately.

Abortion providers had asked the high court to countermand the appellate order, which they said in court papers has no purpose other than to delay legal proceedings and prevent clinics from offering abortions beyond around six weeks of pregnancy.

The law has devastated abortion care in Texas, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote. “Instead of stopping a Fifth Circuit panel from indulging Texas’ newest delay tactics, the Court allows the State yet again to extend the deprivation of the federal constitutional rights of its citizens through procedural manipulation,” Sotomayor wrote, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan. “The Court may look the other way, but I cannot.”

Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberals in December in a dissent that called for allowing a broader challenge to the law and a quick return to the lower federal court. Roberts did not note his position on Thursday.

Clinics fear that their challenge to the law might not be resolved before the justices rule in a Mississippi case that could roll back abortion rights across the country. That decision, which could overrule the landmark Roe v. Wade case from 1973, is expected by late June.

The Texas law that bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected — usually around six weeks, before some women know they are pregnant — has been in effect since September. Last month, the high court kept the law in place and allowed only a narrow challenge against the restrictions to proceed.

The providers thought their best chance for a favorable outcome was before U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin. Pitman issued an order in October blocking the law, though the appeals court put his ruling on hold just a couple of days later.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638369620989.png" alt="Abortion protesters outside the Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Abortion protesters outside the Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In the latest setback for abortion rights in Texas, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to speed up the ongoing court case over the state’s ban on most abortions.Over dissents from the three liberal justices, the court declined to order a federal appeals court to return the case to a federal judge who had temporarily blocked the law’s enforcement. The court offered no explanation for its action.The Texas ban is thus likely to remain in effect for the foreseeable future, following a decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to send the case to the Texas Supreme Court, which is entirely controlled by Republican justices and does not have to act immediately.Abortion providers had asked the high court to countermand the appellate order, which they said in court papers has no purpose other than to delay legal proceedings and prevent clinics from offering abortions beyond around six weeks of pregnancy.The law has devastated abortion care in Texas, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote. “Instead of stopping a Fifth Circuit panel from indulging Texas’ newest delay tactics, the Court allows the State yet again to extend the deprivation of the federal constitutional rights of its citizens through procedural manipulation,” Sotomayor wrote, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan. “The Court may look the other way, but I cannot.”Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberals in December in a dissent that called for allowing a broader challenge to the law and a quick return to the lower federal court. Roberts did not note his position on Thursday.Clinics fear that their challenge to the law might not be resolved before the justices rule in a Mississippi case that could roll back abortion rights across the country. That decision, which could overrule the landmark Roe v. Wade case from 1973, is expected by late June.The Texas law that bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected — usually around six weeks, before some women know they are pregnant — has been in effect since September. Last month, the high court kept the law in place and allowed only a narrow challenge against the restrictions to proceed.The providers thought their best chance for a favorable outcome was before U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin. Pitman issued an order in October blocking the law, though the appeals court put his ruling on hold just a couple of days later.

Court rejects attempt to block nation's most restrictive abortion law

The
 Federal Trade Commission ordered more than 20 marketers nationwide to 
immediately stop making baseless claims that their products and supposed
 therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19. In cease-and-desist demands 
sent to these marketers, the agency noted that violators could be hit 
with monetary penalties under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act 
passed by Congress last year.

The cease-and-desist demands are the latest action in the FTC’s 
continued fight against fraudsters attempting to take advantage of 
ongoing coronavirus concerns, including those related to the Omicron 
variant.

“Americans are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
scammers are still taking advantage of them by making false claims about
 cures and treatments,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau
 of Consumer Protection. “Our efforts to stamp out those claims will 
continue in 2022, and any marketers not heeding our cease-and-desist 
demands can expect to face consequences, including civil penalties”

This is the eleventh set of warning letters issued by the FTC. The Commission has previously sent <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/enforcement/warning-letters">similar health-related letters to 405 companies and individuals</a>.
 Most of the demands announced today were sent to companies using social
 media platforms to sell their products, and in those instances the 
agency also notified the platform of its demand.

Several of the letters announced today call out products and 
“treatments” the FTC has warned companies about previously, including 
peptide therapy, herbal remedies, ivermectin, and supplements. Others 
concern less-common products and therapies deceptively promoted to 
prevent or treat COVID-19. For example, letters went to companies 
claiming that “imprinted filtered water,” nasal irrigation, and even 
seaweed extract can fight coronavirus. However, currently there is no 
scientific evidence that any of these products can prevent or treat 
COVID-19 generally or any specific variant.

In the health-related letters, the FTC states that one or more of the
 efficacy claims made by the marketers are unsubstantiated because they 
are not supported by scientific evidence, and therefore violate the FTC 
Act. The demands order the recipients to immediately stop making all 
claims that their products can prevent or treat COVID-19, and to notify 
the Commission within 48 hours about the specific actions they have 
taken to address the agency’s concerns.

The letters warn the recipients of the FTC’s authority to seek civil 
penalties under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act. Violators who make
 deceptive claims related to the treatment, cure, or prevention of 
COVID-19 are subject to penalties of up to $43,792 per violation.

The actions announced today involved the companies and individuals 
listed below. Marketers are grouped based on the type of therapy, 
product, or service they pitched related to COVID-19.

Peptide Therapies/Vitamin Drips and Injections/Skin Care Therapies:

Supplements, Vitamins, Botanicals, Protease Inhibitors, Ivermectin, and Seaweed Extract:

The Commission also sent cease-and-desist demands to four multi-level
 marketing companies, advising them to them to remove and address claims
 that they or their participants are making about their products’ 
ability to treat or prevent coronavirus disease or about the earnings 
people who have recently lost income can make.

This is the third set of letters to MLMs the FTC has announced as part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers from COVID-19 scams. The letters refer the companies to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/business-guidance-concerning-multi-level-marketing">agency’s guidance for MLMs</a>,
 remind them that they are responsible for the claims made by their 
participants and representatives, advise the recipients that they and 
their participants must immediately cease making all claims that are 
false or misleading, and inform them that they must notify
 the Commission within 48 hours about the specific actions they have 
taken to address the agency’s concerns.

The FTC sent the letters to the four companies listed below. The recipients are grouped based on the types of claims made.

Other COVID-related FTC Enforcement Actions

In October 2021, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/10/ftc-sues-utah-based-company-falsely-claiming-its-nasal-sprays-can">the FTC sued Xlear, Inc., a Utah-based company, for violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act,</a>
 alleging that it falsely pitched its saline nasal sprays as an 
effective way to prevent and treat COVID-19. In its lawsuit against 
Xlear, Inc. and its owner, the FTC is asking a federal court to impose 
monetary penalties on the defendants and bar them from continuing to 
make such false and unsupported claims.

In April 2021, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-directed-30-more-marketers-stop-making-unsupported-claims">the FTC announced that 30 marketers nationwide had stopped making unsubstantiated claims</a>
 that their products and therapies can prevent or treat COVID-19. The 
marketers removed these claims after receiving FTC warning letters 
citing the agency’s new civil penalty authority under the COVID-19 
Consumer Protection Act.

Also that month, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/first-action-under-covid-19-consumer-protection-act-ftc-seeks">FTC charged St. Louis-based chiropractor Eric Anthony Nepute and his company Quickwork LLC</a>
 with violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the FTC Act, by
 deceptively marketing products containing vitamin D and zinc as 
scientifically proven to treat or prevent COVID-19. It was the first 
case the agency has brought under the new law.

In November 2020, a federal court in Ohio has issued a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/ftc_v_unknown_-_tro_with_attachment_a.pdf">temporary restraining order</a> against
 25 counterfeit websites that allegedly have been playing on consumers’ 
COVID-19 pandemic fears to trick them into paying for Clorox and Lysol 
products that the defendants never deliver.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission ordered more than 20 marketers nationwide to 
immediately stop making baseless claims that their products and supposed
 therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19. In cease-and-desist demands 
sent to these marketers, the agency noted that violators could be hit 
with monetary penalties under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act 
passed by Congress last year.The cease-and-desist demands are the latest action in the FTC’s 
continued fight against fraudsters attempting to take advantage of 
ongoing coronavirus concerns, including those related to the Omicron 
variant.“Americans are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
scammers are still taking advantage of them by making false claims about
 cures and treatments,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau
 of Consumer Protection. “Our efforts to stamp out those claims will 
continue in 2022, and any marketers not heeding our cease-and-desist 
demands can expect to face consequences, including civil penalties”This is the eleventh set of warning letters issued by the FTC. The Commission has previously sent <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/enforcement/warning-letters">similar health-related letters to 405 companies and individuals</a>.
 Most of the demands announced today were sent to companies using social
 media platforms to sell their products, and in those instances the 
agency also notified the platform of its demand.Several of the letters announced today call out products and 
“treatments” the FTC has warned companies about previously, including 
peptide therapy, herbal remedies, ivermectin, and supplements. Others 
concern less-common products and therapies deceptively promoted to 
prevent or treat COVID-19. For example, letters went to companies 
claiming that “imprinted filtered water,” nasal irrigation, and even 
seaweed extract can fight coronavirus. However, currently there is no 
scientific evidence that any of these products can prevent or treat 
COVID-19 generally or any specific variant.In the health-related letters, the FTC states that one or more of the
 efficacy claims made by the marketers are unsubstantiated because they 
are not supported by scientific evidence, and therefore violate the FTC 
Act. The demands order the recipients to immediately stop making all 
claims that their products can prevent or treat COVID-19, and to notify 
the Commission within 48 hours about the specific actions they have 
taken to address the agency’s concerns.The letters warn the recipients of the FTC’s authority to seek civil 
penalties under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act. Violators who make
 deceptive claims related to the treatment, cure, or prevention of 
COVID-19 are subject to penalties of up to $43,792 per violation.The actions announced today involved the companies and individuals 
listed below. Marketers are grouped based on the type of therapy, 
product, or service they pitched related to COVID-19.Infoceuticals, Imprinted Filtered Water:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-ashnu-technologies">AshNu Technologies Inc.</a> (infopathy.com) (North York, Ontario, Canada)</li>
 </ul>IV Ozone and Vitamin C and D Therapy:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-pretty-healthy">Pretty Healthy</a> (New York, New York)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-ivita-drip">Vita Drip Therapy</a>, ivitadriptherapy.com (Rock Springs, Wyoming; Liberal, Kansas)</li>
 </ul>Low-dose Immunotherapy Treatments:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letters-peine-osteopathic">Peine Osteopathic</a> (Boise, Idaho)</li>
 </ul>Nasal Irrigation Therapy:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-rhinosystems">Martin R. Hoke, RhinoSystems, Inc.</a> (Brooklyn, Ohio)</li>
 </ul>Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-integrative-pain-wellness-center">Integrative Pain and Wellness Center</a> (Southlake, Texas)</li>
 </ul>Peptide Therapies/Vitamin Drips and Injections/Skin Care Therapies:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-gapin-institute">Dr. Tracy Gapin and Gapin Institute</a> (Sarasota, Florida)</li>
 </ul>Supplements, Vitamins, Botanicals, Protease Inhibitors, Ivermectin, and Seaweed Extract:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-krystal-anesthesia">Krystal Anesthesia &amp; Pain Specialists</a> (Arlington, Texas and Holly Lake Ranch, Texas)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-todos-medical">Todos Medical</a> (Rehovot, Israel) and Alchemist's Kitchen (New York, New York)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-seaweed-co">Seaweed &amp; Co.</a> (Whitley Bay, United Kingdom)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-foraged-faith">Foraged with Faith</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-green-star-products">Green Star Products</a> (Victor, Montana)&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-armored-nutrition">Armored Nutrition</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-sava-holistic-health">Sava Holistic Health</a> (East Hampton, Connecticut)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-sunshine-health-food">Sunshine Health Foods &amp; Wellness Center</a> (Titusville, Florida)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-terramune-health-llc">TerraMune Health, LLC</a> (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-austin-compounding-pharmacy">Austin Compounding Pharmacy</a> (Austin, Texas)</li>
 </ul>Herbal Remedies, Teas, and Juices: <ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-wei-fast-patch-hawaii">Wei FAST Patch Hawaii</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-angelica-kokkalis-han-institute">Dr. Angelica Kokkalis, The Han Institute</a> (West Lafayette, Indiana)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-wei-laboratories-inc">Wei Laboratories, Inc.</a> (Santa Clara, California)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-goodstuff-juices">Good Stuff Juices</a> (Greenville, North Carolina)</li>
 </ul>Multi-Level Marketing Companies:The Commission also sent cease-and-desist demands to four multi-level
 marketing companies, advising them to them to remove and address claims
 that they or their participants are making about their products’ 
ability to treat or prevent coronavirus disease or about the earnings 
people who have recently lost income can make.This is the third set of letters to MLMs the FTC has announced as part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers from COVID-19 scams. The letters refer the companies to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/business-guidance-concerning-multi-level-marketing">agency’s guidance for MLMs</a>,
 remind them that they are responsible for the claims made by their 
participants and representatives, advise the recipients that they and 
their participants must immediately cease making all claims that are 
false or misleading, and inform them that they must notify
 the Commission within 48 hours about the specific actions they have 
taken to address the agency’s concerns.The FTC sent the letters to the four companies listed below. The recipients are grouped based on the types of claims made.Product Claims:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-amplifei">AmpLIFEi</a> (Greenwood, Indiana)</li><li><a href="https://edit.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-blackoxygen-organics-usa">BlackOxygen Organics USA</a> (Sheridan, Wyoming)</li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-enagic-usa-inc">Enagic USA, Inc.</a> (Torrance, California)</li>
 </ul>Earnings Claims:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/letter-family-first-life-llc">Family First Life, LLC</a> (Uncasville, Connecticut)</li>
 </ul>Other COVID-related FTC Enforcement ActionsIn October 2021, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/10/ftc-sues-utah-based-company-falsely-claiming-its-nasal-sprays-can">the FTC sued Xlear, Inc., a Utah-based company, for violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act,</a>
 alleging that it falsely pitched its saline nasal sprays as an 
effective way to prevent and treat COVID-19. In its lawsuit against 
Xlear, Inc. and its owner, the FTC is asking a federal court to impose 
monetary penalties on the defendants and bar them from continuing to 
make such false and unsupported claims.In April 2021, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-directed-30-more-marketers-stop-making-unsupported-claims">the FTC announced that 30 marketers nationwide had stopped making unsubstantiated claims</a>
 that their products and therapies can prevent or treat COVID-19. The 
marketers removed these claims after receiving FTC warning letters 
citing the agency’s new civil penalty authority under the COVID-19 
Consumer Protection Act. Also that month, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/first-action-under-covid-19-consumer-protection-act-ftc-seeks">FTC charged St. Louis-based chiropractor Eric Anthony Nepute and his company Quickwork LLC</a>
 with violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the FTC Act, by
 deceptively marketing products containing vitamin D and zinc as 
scientifically proven to treat or prevent COVID-19. It was the first 
case the agency has brought under the new law.In November 2020, a federal court in Ohio has issued a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/ftc_v_unknown_-_tro_with_attachment_a.pdf">temporary restraining order</a> against
 25 counterfeit websites that allegedly have been playing on consumers’ 
COVID-19 pandemic fears to trick them into paying for Clorox and Lysol 
products that the defendants never deliver.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC sends cease-and-desist demands to 400+ claiming to treat COVID

KANSAS CITY (AP) — For the first time in half a year, families on Friday are going without a monthly deposit from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-child-tax-credits-work-fa15590a2c60fc665ddc59ced78dacfe">the child tax credit</a>&nbsp;— a program that was intended to be part of President Joe Biden’s legacy but has emerged instead as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-lifestyle-colorado-michael-bennet-23fe6fc6c742eea078134a367be7544a">a flash point</a>&nbsp;over who is worthy of government support.

Retiree Andy Roberts, from St. Albans, West Virginia, relied on the checks to help raise his two young grandchildren, whom he and his wife adopted because the birth parents are recovering from drug addiction.

The Robertses are now out $550 a month. That money helped pay for Girl Scouts, ballet and acting lessons and kids’ shoes, which Roberts noted are more expensive than adult shoes. The tax credit, he said, was a “godsend.”

“It’ll make you tighten up your belt, if you’ve got anything to tighten,” Roberts said about losing the payments.

The monthly tax credits were part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package</a>&nbsp;— and the president had proposed extending them for another full year as part of a separate measure focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-congress-voting-rights-9a1930700762a4a37ad78a496c9f9050">economic and social programs</a>.

But Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-joe-manchin-congress-937bac56b09dfda5be2ed70748b5cd01">Sen. Joe Manchin</a>, from Roberts’ home state of West Virginia, objected to extending the credit out of concern that the money would discourage people from working and that any additional federal spending would fuel inflation that has already climbed to a nearly 40-year high.

<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/131/Advance-CTC-Payments-Disbursed-December-2021-by-State-12152021.pdf." target="_blank">According to IRS data</a>, 305,000 West Virginia children benefited from the expanded credit last month.

Manchin’s opposition in the evenly split Senate derailed Biden’s social spending package and caused the expanded tax credits that were going out in the middle of every month to expire in January. This is whittling down family incomes at the precise moment when people are grappling with higher prices.

However, families only received half of their 2021 credit on a monthly basis and the other half will be received once they file their taxes in the coming months. The size of the credit will be cut in 2022, with full payments only going to families that earned enough income to owe taxes, a policy choice that will limit the benefits for the poorest households. And the credits for 2022 will come only once people file their taxes at the start of the following year.

West Virginia families interviewed by The Associated Press highlighted how their grocery and gasoline bills have risen and said they’ll need to get by with less of a financial cushion than a few months ago.

“You’re going to have to learn to adapt,” said Roberts, who worked as an auto dealer for five decades. “You never really dreamed that everything would all of a sudden explode. You go down and get a package of hamburger and it’s $7-8 a pound.”

By the Biden administration’s math, the expanded child tax credit and its monthly payments were a policy success that paid out $93 billion over six months. More than 36 million families received the payments in December. The payments were $300 monthly for each child who was five and younger, and $250 monthly for children between the ages of six and 17.

The Treasury Department declined to address questions about the expiration of the expanded child tax credit, which has become a politically sensitive issue as part of Biden’s nearly $2 trillion economic package that has stalled in the Senate.

Manchin has supported some form of a work requirement for people receiving the payment, out of concern that automatic government aid could cause people to quit their jobs. Yet his primary objection, in a written statement last month, sidestepped that issue as he expressed concerns about inflation and that a one-year extension masked the true costs of a tax credit that could become permanent.

“My Democratic colleagues in Washington are determined to dramatically reshape our society in a way that leaves our country even more vulnerable to the threats we face,” Manchin said. He added that he was worried about inflation and the size of the national debt.

But Joanna Vance of Beckley, who works for a nonprofit social justice group, said Manchin needs to learn more about his constituents, especially southern communities where thousands of coal mining jobs were lost over the past decade as companies and utilities explore using other energy sources such as natural gas, solar and wind.

“Take a drive through there,” Vance said Friday. “Now they’re just ghost towns. There’s no jobs there. There’s no child care there. There’s no transportation there. And it’s that way for 20 miles in either direction.

“So I understand wanting to have a work requirement. You can’t have a work requirement when it’s not even viable.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/10/nearly-a-third-of-parents-spent-child-tax-credit-on-school-expenses.html" target="_blank">Census Bureau surveyed&nbsp;</a>the spending patterns of recipients during September and October. Nearly a third used the credit to pay for school expenses, while about 25% of families with young children spent it on child care. About 40% of recipients said they mostly relied on the money to pay off debt.

There are separate benefits in terms of improving the outcomes for impoverished children, whose families could not previously access the full tax credit because their earnings were too low. An analysis by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/104743/expanding-the-child-tax-credit-could-lift-millions-of-children-out-of-poverty_0.pdf" target="_blank">Urban Institute</a>&nbsp;estimated that extending the credit as developed by the Biden administration would cut child poverty by 40%.

The tax credits did not cause an immediate exodus from the workforce, as some lawmakers had feared. The&nbsp;<a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/EMRATIO" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics reported</a>&nbsp;that the percentage of people with jobs increased from 58% the month before the monthly payments began to 59.5% last month. That same trend occurred in West Virginia, where the employment-population ratio rose to the pre-pandemic level of 52.9%.

There’s an academic debate over whether the credit could suppress employment in the long term, with most studies suggesting that the impact would be statistically negligible.

Academics who study the tax credit are torn on how a permanent program would affect the economy and child welfare.

Katherine Michelmore, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, and two other researchers estimated that roughly 350,000 parents would exit the workforce, a figure that is not all that significant in an economy with roughly 150 million jobs.

Michelmore said the long-term effects of a permanent tax credit would have a positive impact on the economy, as children who grow up in families with higher incomes “tend to do better in school, they’re more likely to graduate from high school. It might be 15 years down the road but there will be more cost savings in the future.”

One of the key questions for policymakers is whether bureaucracies or parents are better at spending money on children. Manchin has proposed a 10-year, funded version of Biden’s economic proposal that would scrap the child tax credits focus and instead finance programs such as universal pre-kindergarten, to avoid sending money directly to families.

“It’s a moral question of do you trust families to make their own decisions,” Michelmore said.

Hairdresser Chelsea Woody is a single mother from Charleston, West Virginia, who works six days a week to make ends meet. The extended child tax credit payments had helped pay for her son’s daycare, as well as letting her splurge on clothes for him.

“It truly helps out a lot. It’s an extra cushion, instead of me worrying how I’m going to pay a bill or if anything comes up,” Woody said as she loaded groceries into her car. “It’s helpful for a lot of people. It helps working families out because we struggle the most. I’m hardly home with my kid because I work all the time.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — For the first time in half a year, families on Friday are going without a monthly deposit from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-child-tax-credits-work-fa15590a2c60fc665ddc59ced78dacfe">the child tax credit</a>&nbsp;— a program that was intended to be part of President Joe Biden’s legacy but has emerged instead as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-lifestyle-colorado-michael-bennet-23fe6fc6c742eea078134a367be7544a">a flash point</a>&nbsp;over who is worthy of government support.Retiree Andy Roberts, from St. Albans, West Virginia, relied on the checks to help raise his two young grandchildren, whom he and his wife adopted because the birth parents are recovering from drug addiction.The Robertses are now out $550 a month. That money helped pay for Girl Scouts, ballet and acting lessons and kids’ shoes, which Roberts noted are more expensive than adult shoes. The tax credit, he said, was a “godsend.”“It’ll make you tighten up your belt, if you’ve got anything to tighten,” Roberts said about losing the payments.The monthly tax credits were part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package</a>&nbsp;— and the president had proposed extending them for another full year as part of a separate measure focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-congress-voting-rights-9a1930700762a4a37ad78a496c9f9050">economic and social programs</a>.But Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-joe-manchin-congress-937bac56b09dfda5be2ed70748b5cd01">Sen. Joe Manchin</a>, from Roberts’ home state of West Virginia, objected to extending the credit out of concern that the money would discourage people from working and that any additional federal spending would fuel inflation that has already climbed to a nearly 40-year high.<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/131/Advance-CTC-Payments-Disbursed-December-2021-by-State-12152021.pdf." target="_blank">According to IRS data</a>, 305,000 West Virginia children benefited from the expanded credit last month.Manchin’s opposition in the evenly split Senate derailed Biden’s social spending package and caused the expanded tax credits that were going out in the middle of every month to expire in January. This is whittling down family incomes at the precise moment when people are grappling with higher prices.However, families only received half of their 2021 credit on a monthly basis and the other half will be received once they file their taxes in the coming months. The size of the credit will be cut in 2022, with full payments only going to families that earned enough income to owe taxes, a policy choice that will limit the benefits for the poorest households. And the credits for 2022 will come only once people file their taxes at the start of the following year.West Virginia families interviewed by The Associated Press highlighted how their grocery and gasoline bills have risen and said they’ll need to get by with less of a financial cushion than a few months ago.“You’re going to have to learn to adapt,” said Roberts, who worked as an auto dealer for five decades. “You never really dreamed that everything would all of a sudden explode. You go down and get a package of hamburger and it’s $7-8 a pound.”By the Biden administration’s math, the expanded child tax credit and its monthly payments were a policy success that paid out $93 billion over six months. More than 36 million families received the payments in December. The payments were $300 monthly for each child who was five and younger, and $250 monthly for children between the ages of six and 17.The Treasury Department declined to address questions about the expiration of the expanded child tax credit, which has become a politically sensitive issue as part of Biden’s nearly $2 trillion economic package that has stalled in the Senate.Manchin has supported some form of a work requirement for people receiving the payment, out of concern that automatic government aid could cause people to quit their jobs. Yet his primary objection, in a written statement last month, sidestepped that issue as he expressed concerns about inflation and that a one-year extension masked the true costs of a tax credit that could become permanent.“My Democratic colleagues in Washington are determined to dramatically reshape our society in a way that leaves our country even more vulnerable to the threats we face,” Manchin said. He added that he was worried about inflation and the size of the national debt.But Joanna Vance of Beckley, who works for a nonprofit social justice group, said Manchin needs to learn more about his constituents, especially southern communities where thousands of coal mining jobs were lost over the past decade as companies and utilities explore using other energy sources such as natural gas, solar and wind.“Take a drive through there,” Vance said Friday. “Now they’re just ghost towns. There’s no jobs there. There’s no child care there. There’s no transportation there. And it’s that way for 20 miles in either direction.“So I understand wanting to have a work requirement. You can’t have a work requirement when it’s not even viable.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/10/nearly-a-third-of-parents-spent-child-tax-credit-on-school-expenses.html" target="_blank">Census Bureau surveyed&nbsp;</a>the spending patterns of recipients during September and October. Nearly a third used the credit to pay for school expenses, while about 25% of families with young children spent it on child care. About 40% of recipients said they mostly relied on the money to pay off debt.There are separate benefits in terms of improving the outcomes for impoverished children, whose families could not previously access the full tax credit because their earnings were too low. An analysis by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/104743/expanding-the-child-tax-credit-could-lift-millions-of-children-out-of-poverty_0.pdf" target="_blank">Urban Institute</a>&nbsp;estimated that extending the credit as developed by the Biden administration would cut child poverty by 40%.The tax credits did not cause an immediate exodus from the workforce, as some lawmakers had feared. The&nbsp;<a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/EMRATIO" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics reported</a>&nbsp;that the percentage of people with jobs increased from 58% the month before the monthly payments began to 59.5% last month. That same trend occurred in West Virginia, where the employment-population ratio rose to the pre-pandemic level of 52.9%.There’s an academic debate over whether the credit could suppress employment in the long term, with most studies suggesting that the impact would be statistically negligible.Academics who study the tax credit are torn on how a permanent program would affect the economy and child welfare.Katherine Michelmore, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, and two other researchers estimated that roughly 350,000 parents would exit the workforce, a figure that is not all that significant in an economy with roughly 150 million jobs.Michelmore said the long-term effects of a permanent tax credit would have a positive impact on the economy, as children who grow up in families with higher incomes “tend to do better in school, they’re more likely to graduate from high school. It might be 15 years down the road but there will be more cost savings in the future.”One of the key questions for policymakers is whether bureaucracies or parents are better at spending money on children. Manchin has proposed a 10-year, funded version of Biden’s economic proposal that would scrap the child tax credits focus and instead finance programs such as universal pre-kindergarten, to avoid sending money directly to families.“It’s a moral question of do you trust families to make their own decisions,” Michelmore said.Hairdresser Chelsea Woody is a single mother from Charleston, West Virginia, who works six days a week to make ends meet. The extended child tax credit payments had helped pay for her son’s daycare, as well as letting her splurge on clothes for him.“It truly helps out a lot. It’s an extra cushion, instead of me worrying how I’m going to pay a bill or if anything comes up,” Woody said as she loaded groceries into her car. “It’s helpful for a lot of people. It helps working families out because we struggle the most. I’m hardly home with my kid because I work all the time.”

Goodbye 'godsend': Expiration of child tax credits hits home

Joseph David "J.D." Farr, 89, was surrounded by his family when he 
passed away on Wednesday December 29, 2021, at his home in Garden City, 
Kansas. J.D. was born June 6, 1932, in Scott City, Kansas, to Clara Bell 
(Brundige) and Thomas Wardlaw Farr. J.D. married Elva Lena Mills on 
October 24, 1948, in Colorado. 
J.D. owned and operated Farr Construction and Rentals. Building many 
residential homes in Garden City and Holcomb, Kansas. J.D. and Elva 
belonged to a bowling team in their earlier years and were avid bridge 
players. J.D. would enjoy an afternoon at the racetrack occasionally. 
Traveling overseas to England, Ireland, and visiting Hawaii was fun 
family travel. Together they were supporters of the local YMCA and 
enjoyed going to events and games of his grandchildren. J.D. was a 
dedicated husband, Elva and J.D. celebrated their 70th wedding 
Anniversary in October of 2018. J.D. was a believer in the Bible and 
enjoyed daily devotions. Elva is his prayer warrior. 
J.D. is survived by his son, Jerry D. Farr and wife Cindy from Florence,
 Colorado, a daughter Diana L. Farr and husband Joseph Darif of Garden 
City, Kansas. Grandchildren: Jenny and Jim Waddle of Colorado Springs, 
Colorado, David and Kelly Farr of Kansas City, Kansas, Jeremy Farr of 
Garden City, Kansas, Augustine and Maria Prieto of Dallas, Texas, Scott 
and Lisa Farr of Denver, Colorado, Laura Farr of Denver, Colorado, Jacob
 Farr of Holcomb, Kansas, Jacquelyn Farr-Porter and Jason Porter of 
Garden City, Kansas, and Jentrey Farr Gill of Holcomb, Kansas. 23 Great 
Grandchildren and 5 Great Great Grandchildren. 
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Clara Farr, wife
 Elva Lena Farr, Sons, Larry Farr and Gary Farr, brothers Ralph Farr, 
George Farr, Hamilton Farr, Melvin Farr, Garold Farr, Royal Farr, Paul 
Farr, and Ernie Farr, sisters Opal Barber, Sarah Jameson, Isabelle 
Sager, and Violet France. 
Services will be held January 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Turning Point 
Church of the Nazarene, 2720 Campus Dr., Garden City, Kansas with Pastor
 Nathan Haeck officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery 
with an invitation for all for a meal at the Nazarene Church following.


Memorial contributions are suggested to Turning Point Church of the 
Nazarene in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 North 7th Street, Garden 
City, Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642601201272.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Joseph David "J.D." Farr, 89, was surrounded by his family when he 
passed away on Wednesday December 29, 2021, at his home in Garden City, 
Kansas. J.D. was born June 6, 1932, in Scott City, Kansas, to Clara Bell 
(Brundige) and Thomas Wardlaw Farr. J.D. married Elva Lena Mills on 
October 24, 1948, in Colorado. 
J.D. owned and operated Farr Construction and Rentals. Building many 
residential homes in Garden City and Holcomb, Kansas. J.D. and Elva 
belonged to a bowling team in their earlier years and were avid bridge 
players. J.D. would enjoy an afternoon at the racetrack occasionally. 
Traveling overseas to England, Ireland, and visiting Hawaii was fun 
family travel. Together they were supporters of the local YMCA and 
enjoyed going to events and games of his grandchildren. J.D. was a 
dedicated husband, Elva and J.D. celebrated their 70th wedding 
Anniversary in October of 2018. J.D. was a believer in the Bible and 
enjoyed daily devotions. Elva is his prayer warrior. 
J.D. is survived by his son, Jerry D. Farr and wife Cindy from Florence,
 Colorado, a daughter Diana L. Farr and husband Joseph Darif of Garden 
City, Kansas. Grandchildren: Jenny and Jim Waddle of Colorado Springs, 
Colorado, David and Kelly Farr of Kansas City, Kansas, Jeremy Farr of 
Garden City, Kansas, Augustine and Maria Prieto of Dallas, Texas, Scott 
and Lisa Farr of Denver, Colorado, Laura Farr of Denver, Colorado, Jacob
 Farr of Holcomb, Kansas, Jacquelyn Farr-Porter and Jason Porter of 
Garden City, Kansas, and Jentrey Farr Gill of Holcomb, Kansas. 23 Great 
Grandchildren and 5 Great Great Grandchildren. 
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Clara Farr, wife
 Elva Lena Farr, Sons, Larry Farr and Gary Farr, brothers Ralph Farr, 
George Farr, Hamilton Farr, Melvin Farr, Garold Farr, Royal Farr, Paul 
Farr, and Ernie Farr, sisters Opal Barber, Sarah Jameson, Isabelle 
Sager, and Violet France. 
Services will be held January 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Turning Point 
Church of the Nazarene, 2720 Campus Dr., Garden City, Kansas with Pastor
 Nathan Haeck officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery 
with an invitation for all for a meal at the Nazarene Church following. 
Memorial contributions are suggested to Turning Point Church of the 
Nazarene in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 North 7th Street, Garden 
City, Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Joseph David 'J.D.' Farr

Maverick Archie Paul Way, 26, passed away on January 14, 2022, in Denver, Colorado.

Maverick was born on January 20, 1995, in Corry, PA, to Kevin Way and Christi Kubich. He was the youngest of three.

On October 17, 2015, he married his best friend Erika Fyfe of 
Goodland, Kansas at the Bellamy Ranch. All though, no children to this 
union, they have three fur babies: Copenhagen, Dixie, and Tinker.

Raised in and around Georgia. Through their moves, it was quickly 
noticed that Maverick was a good friend. He didn’t know a stranger, and 
if you started off as one it wasn’t long before he was considering you a
 friend. Throughout his high school career, he found a love for sports, 
especially wrestling, being a state placer. He graduated from Alexander 
High school in 2013 and brought his wrestling to Northwest Kansas 
Technical College in Goodland, KS. While at the college he earned his 
Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Technology, graduating in 2015.

When Maverick wasn’t being a diesel mechanic or working on a project 
of his own, he could be found spending time with his family and friends.
 He loved spending quality time with the people that loved him, doing 
the things he loved most like hunting, fishing, working with livestock, 
and riding horses. His smile, light, and laugh were contagious, and once
 he considered you a friend, he would do anything for you, but he 
wouldn’t leave you without one of his big hugs. In his quiet time, he 
could be found reading the Word and increasing his love for Jesus, 
playing Xbox with friends, or dabbling in his newest found love of 
drawing. Maverick was a good-hearted man that just loved to be loved and
 would do his all for the ones he loved.

Preceding him in death was his brother-in-law, Lee Fyfe.

Survivors include: his wife of the home, Erika, their dogs, parents: 
Kevin Way and Christi Kubich, Dennis and Dulci Fyfe, siblings: Ethan 
(Bethany) Way, Gabryelle (Ryan) Snow, and Jordan Englebrecht, nieces and
 nephews and countless life-long friends.

Click <a href="https://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/obituary/Maverick-Way">HERE</a> for service details.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642543351044.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Maverick Archie Paul Way, 26, passed away on January 14, 2022, in Denver, Colorado.Maverick was born on January 20, 1995, in Corry, PA, to Kevin Way and Christi Kubich. He was the youngest of three.On October 17, 2015, he married his best friend Erika Fyfe of 
Goodland, Kansas at the Bellamy Ranch. All though, no children to this 
union, they have three fur babies: Copenhagen, Dixie, and Tinker.Raised in and around Georgia. Through their moves, it was quickly 
noticed that Maverick was a good friend. He didn’t know a stranger, and 
if you started off as one it wasn’t long before he was considering you a
 friend. Throughout his high school career, he found a love for sports, 
especially wrestling, being a state placer. He graduated from Alexander 
High school in 2013 and brought his wrestling to Northwest Kansas 
Technical College in Goodland, KS. While at the college he earned his 
Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Technology, graduating in 2015.When Maverick wasn’t being a diesel mechanic or working on a project 
of his own, he could be found spending time with his family and friends.
 He loved spending quality time with the people that loved him, doing 
the things he loved most like hunting, fishing, working with livestock, 
and riding horses. His smile, light, and laugh were contagious, and once
 he considered you a friend, he would do anything for you, but he 
wouldn’t leave you without one of his big hugs. In his quiet time, he 
could be found reading the Word and increasing his love for Jesus, 
playing Xbox with friends, or dabbling in his newest found love of 
drawing. Maverick was a good-hearted man that just loved to be loved and
 would do his all for the ones he loved.Preceding him in death was his brother-in-law, Lee Fyfe.Survivors include: his wife of the home, Erika, their dogs, parents: 
Kevin Way and Christi Kubich, Dennis and Dulci Fyfe, siblings: Ethan 
(Bethany) Way, Gabryelle (Ryan) Snow, and Jordan Englebrecht, nieces and
 nephews and countless life-long friends.Click <a href="https://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/obituary/Maverick-Way">HERE</a> for service details.&nbsp;

Maverick Archie Paul Way

Soleda “Shirlee” Hernandez, 67, passed away January 16, 2022, at 
Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born on October 23, 1954 at
 Brownfield, Texas, to Jose &amp; Lydia (Flores) Garza. She married Jose
 Hernandez on February 27, 2016, at Great Bend.

Coming from Dodge City in 2000, Shirlee was a Great Bend resident. 
She was a receptionist at the University of Kansas Health System Great 
Bend Campus. She enjoyed casinos, garage sales, bingo and fishing. 
Shirlee also enjoyed making tamales but especially loved spending time 
with her family, friends and her dogs Benji and Charlie.

Survivors include, her husband, Jose Hernandez of the home; five 
sons, Paul Rios, Leon Rios, Jesse Rios, Adam Rios and Pablo Rios; two 
brothers, Victor Garza and Richard Garza; a sister, Caroline Garza; many
 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death 
by her parents; two daughters, Vicki Rios and Amanda Rios; and three 
brothers, Joe Garza, Carlos Garza and Elias Garza.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, 
January 20, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home and 9:00 a.m. to Noon, Friday, 
January 21, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 
at 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2022, at Heartland Community Church in
 Great Bend with Pastor Troy Miller presiding. A private family 
inurnment will be held at a later date in the Ulysses Cemetery. 


Memorials have been designated to the Shirlee Hernandez Memorial Fund, 
in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642543245307.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Soleda “Shirlee” Hernandez, 67, passed away January 16, 2022, at 
Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born on October 23, 1954 at
 Brownfield, Texas, to Jose &amp; Lydia (Flores) Garza. She married Jose
 Hernandez on February 27, 2016, at Great Bend.Coming from Dodge City in 2000, Shirlee was a Great Bend resident. 
She was a receptionist at the University of Kansas Health System Great 
Bend Campus. She enjoyed casinos, garage sales, bingo and fishing. 
Shirlee also enjoyed making tamales but especially loved spending time 
with her family, friends and her dogs Benji and Charlie.Survivors include, her husband, Jose Hernandez of the home; five 
sons, Paul Rios, Leon Rios, Jesse Rios, Adam Rios and Pablo Rios; two 
brothers, Victor Garza and Richard Garza; a sister, Caroline Garza; many
 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death 
by her parents; two daughters, Vicki Rios and Amanda Rios; and three 
brothers, Joe Garza, Carlos Garza and Elias Garza.Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, 
January 20, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home and 9:00 a.m. to Noon, Friday, 
January 21, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 
at 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2022, at Heartland Community Church in
 Great Bend with Pastor Troy Miller presiding. A private family 
inurnment will be held at a later date in the Ulysses Cemetery. 
Memorials have been designated to the Shirlee Hernandez Memorial Fund, 
in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Soleda 'Shirlee' Hernandez

Roderic E. Deines, 90, of Russell, Kansas died on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Pioneer Ridge Nursing Home in Lawrence, Kansas.

Rod was born on October 18th, 1931, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Herman and Marcella (O’Grady)

Deines. He spent most of his younger years in Russell but for a short
 time lived in Chicago, Illinois.&nbsp; Growing up he worked the family 
business at the Deines Furniture Store. He worked for a brief time in 
the oil field but decided to join the Army and served from February 
15,1952 to January 27, 1954, during the Korean War. After serving his 
country, he returned to Russell to work and met who would be his first 
wife Marilyn Krueger. &nbsp;They were united in marriage in August of 1956, 
during this time they both attended Kansas University where he was a 
member of the Delta Chi fraternity. They moved to Dallas, Texas, where 
he attended and graduated from the Dallas Institute Gupton Jones College
 of Mortuary Science and achieved Summa Cum Laude honors. They moved 
back to Russell to raise their two children, Michelle and Phillip. Once 
again, he worked the family business as a mortician at the Deines 
Funeral Home and Ambulance Service.&nbsp; He and Marilyn eventually divorced 
and later he married his second wife, Dorothy (Steinert) Nuss in 1966.&nbsp; 
From this union they were blessed with two children Bonny and Mike. 

Rod 
worked selling insurance through various companies such as Interstate 
Insurance and Franklin Life Insurance. They were members of Trinity 
United Methodist Church and active in various roles within the church. 
He served as Lay Leader and was part of the Methodist Mens group. &nbsp;He 
enjoyed church volleyball, and they played a major part in founding the 
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that are available to the community. 
He played a convincing Santa Clause as well on Christmas eve for the 
children at the Christmas eve celebration.&nbsp; Rod also served on the board
 of the Russell Regional Hospital. He repeatedly achieved high ranking 
recognition in his sales with the Franklin Life Insurance Company. In 
his spare time he loved gardening, coaching little league baseball and 
enjoyed drawing or as he called it doodling.&nbsp; After 19 years of marriage
 Rod and Dorothy divorced which led to Rod moving to the small town of 
Baldwin City, Kansas and started the Legionnaire Baseball Team for young
 men that wanted to play baseball. Eventually he decided to move a few 
miles north to his beloved Lawrence, Kansas and Alma Mater KU.&nbsp; Here he 
continued a career in money management seminars and in his later years 
dabbled in Real Estate Opportunities. His favorite pass time included 
enjoying time with his two Brittany dogs, Torrie and Missy. His final 
few years after changes in his health were spent at Pioneer Ridge 
Nursing Home until his final destination to live life eternal with his 
Lord Jesus Christ.

Surviving family include his daughter Bonny Deines, companion Tim Ball of Lawrence; son Mike

Deines and wife Wendy of Basehor, Kansas; step siblings Mary Ann 
(Deines)Hogan, companion Glenn Kyle; Wanda (Deines) Brown and husband 
Dennis Brown and their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in 
death by his parents; sister June Deines; Ex-wife Marilyn Krueger; 
Ex-wife Dorothy Nielsen.

A celebration of Roderic’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Friday, 
January 21, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, 
Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, 
Kansas. &nbsp;Military rites will be presented by the Russell V.F.W. Post 
#6240. &nbsp;Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Thursday, January 20, 
2022, at the mortuary with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to
 7 P.M. Thursday evening.&nbsp; 

Memorials may be given to Trinity United 
Methodist Church and sent to the mortuary.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler 
Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service 
arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642543156744.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Roderic E. Deines, 90, of Russell, Kansas died on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Pioneer Ridge Nursing Home in Lawrence, Kansas.Rod was born on October 18th, 1931, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Herman and Marcella (O’Grady)Deines. He spent most of his younger years in Russell but for a short
 time lived in Chicago, Illinois.&nbsp; Growing up he worked the family 
business at the Deines Furniture Store. He worked for a brief time in 
the oil field but decided to join the Army and served from February 
15,1952 to January 27, 1954, during the Korean War. After serving his 
country, he returned to Russell to work and met who would be his first 
wife Marilyn Krueger. &nbsp;They were united in marriage in August of 1956, 
during this time they both attended Kansas University where he was a 
member of the Delta Chi fraternity. They moved to Dallas, Texas, where 
he attended and graduated from the Dallas Institute Gupton Jones College
 of Mortuary Science and achieved Summa Cum Laude honors. They moved 
back to Russell to raise their two children, Michelle and Phillip. Once 
again, he worked the family business as a mortician at the Deines 
Funeral Home and Ambulance Service.&nbsp; He and Marilyn eventually divorced 
and later he married his second wife, Dorothy (Steinert) Nuss in 1966.&nbsp; 
From this union they were blessed with two children Bonny and Mike. Rod 
worked selling insurance through various companies such as Interstate 
Insurance and Franklin Life Insurance. They were members of Trinity 
United Methodist Church and active in various roles within the church. 
He served as Lay Leader and was part of the Methodist Mens group. &nbsp;He 
enjoyed church volleyball, and they played a major part in founding the 
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that are available to the community. 
He played a convincing Santa Clause as well on Christmas eve for the 
children at the Christmas eve celebration.&nbsp; Rod also served on the board
 of the Russell Regional Hospital. He repeatedly achieved high ranking 
recognition in his sales with the Franklin Life Insurance Company. In 
his spare time he loved gardening, coaching little league baseball and 
enjoyed drawing or as he called it doodling.&nbsp; After 19 years of marriage
 Rod and Dorothy divorced which led to Rod moving to the small town of 
Baldwin City, Kansas and started the Legionnaire Baseball Team for young
 men that wanted to play baseball. Eventually he decided to move a few 
miles north to his beloved Lawrence, Kansas and Alma Mater KU.&nbsp; Here he 
continued a career in money management seminars and in his later years 
dabbled in Real Estate Opportunities. His favorite pass time included 
enjoying time with his two Brittany dogs, Torrie and Missy. His final 
few years after changes in his health were spent at Pioneer Ridge 
Nursing Home until his final destination to live life eternal with his 
Lord Jesus Christ.Surviving family include his daughter Bonny Deines, companion Tim Ball of Lawrence; son MikeDeines and wife Wendy of Basehor, Kansas; step siblings Mary Ann 
(Deines)Hogan, companion Glenn Kyle; Wanda (Deines) Brown and husband 
Dennis Brown and their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in 
death by his parents; sister June Deines; Ex-wife Marilyn Krueger; 
Ex-wife Dorothy Nielsen.A celebration of Roderic’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Friday, 
January 21, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, 
Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, 
Kansas. &nbsp;Military rites will be presented by the Russell V.F.W. Post 
#6240. &nbsp;Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Thursday, January 20, 
2022, at the mortuary with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to
 7 P.M. Thursday evening.&nbsp; Memorials may be given to Trinity United 
Methodist Church and sent to the mortuary.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler 
Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service 
arrangements.

Roderic E. Deines

Carl William Henkle, 93, passed away January 16, 2022, at Sandstone 
Heights Nursing Home in Little River. He was born on January 31, 1928 at
 Fredonia, Kansas, to Clarence &amp; Freida (Christiansen) Henkle. He 
married Mary Elizabeth Reynolds on February 12, 1950, at Holyrood.&nbsp; She 
died October 21, 2014.

Carl hauled propane for A-A Propane for many years, he also was a 
chicken and pig farmer. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in 
Great Bend. Carl enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family, 
especially his grandchildren. Carl was a United States Navy Veteran 
obtaining the rank of Seaman Second Class and served during World War 
II.

Survivors include, two daughters, Carlon White and Sandy Berges and 
husband Reen all of Great Bend; a son, Bob Henkle and wife Cheryl of 
Seward eleven grandchildren, Richelle Wellman (Sam), Patrick White 
(Joanna), Jim Henkle (Angela), Lee Wilburn (Shannon), Shonda Caskey, 
Bill Crawford (Megan), Joe Crawford (Karla), Christy Meyer (Jeff), 
Melissa Mead, Jeff Berges (Casey) and Shawndra Harbaugh (Mike); 
thirty-five great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren. He 
was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mary Henkle; a daughter, 
Linda Lyman; a sister, Fern Klameth; a grandson, Chad Henkle; a great 
grandson, Wyatt Henkle and a great granddaughter, Sarah Kemp.

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2022, 
at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Adam Wutka presiding and Military 
Rites conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard. A Private Family 
Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery North at a later date. 


Memorials have been designated to the Carl Henkle Expense Fund, in care 
of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642533322806.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carl William Henkle, 93, passed away January 16, 2022, at Sandstone 
Heights Nursing Home in Little River. He was born on January 31, 1928 at
 Fredonia, Kansas, to Clarence &amp; Freida (Christiansen) Henkle. He 
married Mary Elizabeth Reynolds on February 12, 1950, at Holyrood.&nbsp; She 
died October 21, 2014.Carl hauled propane for A-A Propane for many years, he also was a 
chicken and pig farmer. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in 
Great Bend. Carl enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family, 
especially his grandchildren. Carl was a United States Navy Veteran 
obtaining the rank of Seaman Second Class and served during World War 
II.Survivors include, two daughters, Carlon White and Sandy Berges and 
husband Reen all of Great Bend; a son, Bob Henkle and wife Cheryl of 
Seward eleven grandchildren, Richelle Wellman (Sam), Patrick White 
(Joanna), Jim Henkle (Angela), Lee Wilburn (Shannon), Shonda Caskey, 
Bill Crawford (Megan), Joe Crawford (Karla), Christy Meyer (Jeff), 
Melissa Mead, Jeff Berges (Casey) and Shawndra Harbaugh (Mike); 
thirty-five great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren. He 
was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mary Henkle; a daughter, 
Linda Lyman; a sister, Fern Klameth; a grandson, Chad Henkle; a great 
grandson, Wyatt Henkle and a great granddaughter, Sarah Kemp.Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2022, 
at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Adam Wutka presiding and Military 
Rites conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard. A Private Family 
Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery North at a later date. 
Memorials have been designated to the Carl Henkle Expense Fund, in care 
of Bryant Funeral Home.

Carl William Henkle

Shirley I. Huey, 86, of Manhattan, KS, formerly of Bogue, Kansas, passed
 away on Tuesday, January 11th, 2022, at her home in Manhattan. &nbsp;She was 
retired from KSU Vet Science as an Animal Care Intake.
 Shirley was born in Natoma, KS on October 15, 1935, the daughter of 
the late Victor and Rosa Lillie (Strutt) Hayes. She attended school at 
the Natoma Schools and received her GED. &nbsp;On May 2, 1954, she and Art 
Huey were united in marriage in Stockton, Kansas and he proceeds her in 
death. &nbsp;She was a member of the &nbsp;First United Methodist Church in 
Manhattan and had been a cook in the dormitories and a housekeeper at 
KSU. &nbsp;
 Shirley is survived by three daughters, Susan Kent, of Manhattan; 
Ruth Huey, of Manhattan; Renee (Jim) Hubner, of Manhattan; three sons 
Leland Huey, of Manhattan; &nbsp;James (Sondra) Huey, of Bella Vista, AR; 
Dale (Dana Kay) Huey, of Overland Park; &nbsp;17 grandchildren, many 
great-grandchildren. &nbsp;Shirley is also preceded in death by her son, 
Daniel and 2 brothers, and 1 sister.
 A funeral service was held Friday, January 14th, at
 Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home &amp; Cremation in Manhattan, 
with Daneal White officiating. &nbsp;Graveside Services were held in the Wildhorse Cemetery at Bogue, Kansas. &nbsp;
 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the 
Alzheimer's Association 3625 SW 29th St #102 Topeka, KS 66614., 
 To send an email condolence to the family visit the funeral home 
website, www.irvnparkview.com &nbsp;Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home 
&amp; Cremation, Manhattan.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642528647446.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Shirley I. Huey, 86, of Manhattan, KS, formerly of Bogue, Kansas, passed
 away on Tuesday, January 11th, 2022, at her home in Manhattan. &nbsp;She was 
retired from KSU Vet Science as an Animal Care Intake.
 Shirley was born in Natoma, KS on October 15, 1935, the daughter of 
the late Victor and Rosa Lillie (Strutt) Hayes. She attended school at 
the Natoma Schools and received her GED. &nbsp;On May 2, 1954, she and Art 
Huey were united in marriage in Stockton, Kansas and he proceeds her in 
death. &nbsp;She was a member of the &nbsp;First United Methodist Church in 
Manhattan and had been a cook in the dormitories and a housekeeper at 
KSU. &nbsp;
 Shirley is survived by three daughters, Susan Kent, of Manhattan; 
Ruth Huey, of Manhattan; Renee (Jim) Hubner, of Manhattan; three sons 
Leland Huey, of Manhattan; &nbsp;James (Sondra) Huey, of Bella Vista, AR; 
Dale (Dana Kay) Huey, of Overland Park; &nbsp;17 grandchildren, many 
great-grandchildren. &nbsp;Shirley is also preceded in death by her son, 
Daniel and 2 brothers, and 1 sister.
 A funeral service was held Friday, January 14th, at
 Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home &amp; Cremation in Manhattan, 
with Daneal White officiating. &nbsp;Graveside Services were held in the Wildhorse Cemetery at Bogue, Kansas. &nbsp;
 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the 
Alzheimer's Association 3625 SW 29th St #102 Topeka, KS 66614., 
 To send an email condolence to the family visit the funeral home 
website, www.irvnparkview.com &nbsp;Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home 
&amp; Cremation, Manhattan.&nbsp;