WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service joined today with several 
leading nonprofit groups to highlight a special tax provision that 
allows more people to deduct donations to qualifying charities on their 
2021 federal income tax return.

The Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits joined with
 the IRS to highlight this pandemic-related provision where married 
couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and 
individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations.

Under the temporary law, taxpayers don't need to itemize deductions 
on their tax returns to take advantage of this, which creates 
tax-favorable donation options not normally available to about 90 
percent of tax filers. Ordinarily, people who choose to take the 
standard deduction cannot claim a deduction for their charitable 
contributions. But this special provision permits them to claim a 
limited deduction on their 2021 federal income tax returns for cash 
contributions made to qualifying charitable organizations by year's end,
 December 31, 2021.

At a time when many charitable groups are struggling during the 
pandemic, the IRS highlights the new provision and urges people to make 
sure they donate to a qualifying charity. The special <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool on IRS.gov can help people make sure they donate to a qualified charity.

"The pandemic has created unique challenges for tax-exempt 
organizations, and we want to make sure people don't overlook this 
special tax deduction that's available this year," said Sunita Lough, 
IRS Commissioner of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. 
"Donations to qualifying charities can reduce people's tax bill when 
they file in 2022."

Leaders from the National Council of Nonprofits and the Independent 
Sector, two prominent organizations representing the nation's charitable
 groups, highlighted that the special tax provision can provide 
additional assistance to organizations hit hard by the pandemic. Some 
groups have seen reduced charitable donations and others have seen 
increased demand for their services during this unprecedented period.

"At a time when nonprofits continue to see immense demand for 
services, are facing significant challenges hiring and retaining staff 
to deliver those services--every donation counts," said David L. 
Thompson, Vice President of Public Policy at National Council of 
Nonprofits. "We're thankful that the universal (or non-itemizer) 
deduction is available through the end of the year to encourage every 
taxpayer give a little bit more to the missions they care about."

"Over the past two years, charities have helped America confront 
generational health, economic and social crises. They have answered the 
call to serve their communities despite facing lost revenue, disrupted 
operations and dramatically increased need," said Daniel J. Cardinali, 
president and CEO of Independent Sector. "Congress has sent a powerful 
message that everyone – not just those who itemize on their taxes – has a
 role to play in helping meet this moment, and we know people in America
 will respond in kind. We hope charitable contributions and deductions 
will increase in the coming years."

Included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act, enacted in March 2020, a more limited version of this 
temporary tax benefit originally only applied to tax-year 2020. The 
Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted last 
December, generally extended it through the end of 2021.

Nearly nine in 10 taxpayers now take the standard deduction and could
 potentially qualify. Under this provision, tax year 2021 individual tax
 filers, including married individuals filing separate returns, can 
claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made to 
qualifying charities during 2021. The maximum deduction is increased to 
$600 for married individuals filing joint returns.

Cash contributions include those made by check, credit card or debit 
card as well as amounts incurred by an individual for unreimbursed 
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their volunteer services to a 
qualifying charitable organization. Cash contributions don't include the
 value of volunteer services, securities, household items or other 
property.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that to receive a deduction, they must 
donate to a qualified charity. To check the status of a charity, they 
can use the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool.

Cash contributions to most charitable organizations qualify for a 
deduction. But contributions made either to supporting organizations or 
to establish or maintain a donor advised fund do not. Contributions 
carried forward from prior years do not qualify, nor do contributions to
 most private foundations and most cash contributions to charitable 
remainder trusts.

In general, a donor-advised fund is a fund or account maintained by a
 charity in which a donor can, because of their donor status, advise the
 fund on how to distribute or invest amounts contributed by the donor 
and held in the fund. A supporting organization is a charity that 
carries out its exempt purposes by supporting other exempt 
organizations, usually other public charities.

The IRS encourages all donors to be wary of scams masked as 
charitable solicitations. Criminals create fake charities to take 
advantage of the public's generosity. Fake charities once again made the
 IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-dirty-dozen-list-warns-people-to-watch-out-for-tax-related-scams-involving-fake-charities-ghost-preparers-and-other-schemes">Dirty Dozen</a>&nbsp;list of tax scams for 2021. In October, the IRS also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-joins-international-organizations-in-fighting-charity-fraud-during-special-awareness-week">joined international organizations</a> and other regulators in highlighting the fight against charity fraud.

Special recordkeeping rules apply to any taxpayer claiming a 
charitable contribution deduction. Usually, this includes obtaining an 
acknowledgment letter from the charity before filing a return and 
retaining a cancelled check or credit card receipt for contributions of 
cash.

For details on the recordkeeping rules for substantiating gifts to charity, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-526">Publication 526, Charitable Contributions</a>, available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service joined today with several 
leading nonprofit groups to highlight a special tax provision that 
allows more people to deduct donations to qualifying charities on their 
2021 federal income tax return.The Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits joined with
 the IRS to highlight this pandemic-related provision where married 
couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and 
individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations.Under the temporary law, taxpayers don't need to itemize deductions 
on their tax returns to take advantage of this, which creates 
tax-favorable donation options not normally available to about 90 
percent of tax filers. Ordinarily, people who choose to take the 
standard deduction cannot claim a deduction for their charitable 
contributions. But this special provision permits them to claim a 
limited deduction on their 2021 federal income tax returns for cash 
contributions made to qualifying charitable organizations by year's end,
 December 31, 2021.At a time when many charitable groups are struggling during the 
pandemic, the IRS highlights the new provision and urges people to make 
sure they donate to a qualifying charity. The special <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool on IRS.gov can help people make sure they donate to a qualified charity."The pandemic has created unique challenges for tax-exempt 
organizations, and we want to make sure people don't overlook this 
special tax deduction that's available this year," said Sunita Lough, 
IRS Commissioner of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. 
"Donations to qualifying charities can reduce people's tax bill when 
they file in 2022."Leaders from the National Council of Nonprofits and the Independent 
Sector, two prominent organizations representing the nation's charitable
 groups, highlighted that the special tax provision can provide 
additional assistance to organizations hit hard by the pandemic. Some 
groups have seen reduced charitable donations and others have seen 
increased demand for their services during this unprecedented period."At a time when nonprofits continue to see immense demand for 
services, are facing significant challenges hiring and retaining staff 
to deliver those services--every donation counts," said David L. 
Thompson, Vice President of Public Policy at National Council of 
Nonprofits. "We're thankful that the universal (or non-itemizer) 
deduction is available through the end of the year to encourage every 
taxpayer give a little bit more to the missions they care about.""Over the past two years, charities have helped America confront 
generational health, economic and social crises. They have answered the 
call to serve their communities despite facing lost revenue, disrupted 
operations and dramatically increased need," said Daniel J. Cardinali, 
president and CEO of Independent Sector. "Congress has sent a powerful 
message that everyone – not just those who itemize on their taxes – has a
 role to play in helping meet this moment, and we know people in America
 will respond in kind. We hope charitable contributions and deductions 
will increase in the coming years."Included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act, enacted in March 2020, a more limited version of this 
temporary tax benefit originally only applied to tax-year 2020. The 
Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted last 
December, generally extended it through the end of 2021.Nearly nine in 10 taxpayers now take the standard deduction and could
 potentially qualify. Under this provision, tax year 2021 individual tax
 filers, including married individuals filing separate returns, can 
claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made to 
qualifying charities during 2021. The maximum deduction is increased to 
$600 for married individuals filing joint returns.Cash contributions include those made by check, credit card or debit 
card as well as amounts incurred by an individual for unreimbursed 
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their volunteer services to a 
qualifying charitable organization. Cash contributions don't include the
 value of volunteer services, securities, household items or other 
property.The IRS reminds taxpayers that to receive a deduction, they must 
donate to a qualified charity. To check the status of a charity, they 
can use the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool.Cash contributions to most charitable organizations qualify for a 
deduction. But contributions made either to supporting organizations or 
to establish or maintain a donor advised fund do not. Contributions 
carried forward from prior years do not qualify, nor do contributions to
 most private foundations and most cash contributions to charitable 
remainder trusts.In general, a donor-advised fund is a fund or account maintained by a
 charity in which a donor can, because of their donor status, advise the
 fund on how to distribute or invest amounts contributed by the donor 
and held in the fund. A supporting organization is a charity that 
carries out its exempt purposes by supporting other exempt 
organizations, usually other public charities.The IRS encourages all donors to be wary of scams masked as 
charitable solicitations. Criminals create fake charities to take 
advantage of the public's generosity. Fake charities once again made the
 IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-dirty-dozen-list-warns-people-to-watch-out-for-tax-related-scams-involving-fake-charities-ghost-preparers-and-other-schemes">Dirty Dozen</a>&nbsp;list of tax scams for 2021. In October, the IRS also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-joins-international-organizations-in-fighting-charity-fraud-during-special-awareness-week">joined international organizations</a> and other regulators in highlighting the fight against charity fraud.<h2>Keep good records</h2>Special recordkeeping rules apply to any taxpayer claiming a 
charitable contribution deduction. Usually, this includes obtaining an 
acknowledgment letter from the charity before filing a return and 
retaining a cancelled check or credit card receipt for contributions of 
cash.For details on the recordkeeping rules for substantiating gifts to charity, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-526">Publication 526, Charitable Contributions</a>, available on IRS.gov.

Special tax benefit will allow for additional tax-deductible gifts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Government reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latest-inflation-numbers-consumer-prices-616055db3bf67691b4fdc0015fc00783">rising inflation</a>&nbsp;and the potential costs of President Joe Biden’s social and environment legislation raised fresh questions about the bill’s fate, with both sides hoping the new numbers would influence pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin.

The moderate Manchin, D-W.Va., has spent months forcing Democrats to trim&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-congress-161b5e35f8db33bb664b55cd7a74a681">the 10-year, $2 trillion package</a>, arguing it’s too expensive and at times citing growing inflation as a reason to slow work on the bill. On Friday, the Labor Department said consumer prices grew last month at an annual rate of 6.8%, the highest in 39 years.

A separate report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that if many of the bill’s temporary spending boosts and tax cuts were made permanent, it would add $3 trillion to the price tag. That would more than double its 10-year cost to around $5 trillion. Democrats called the projections from the Republican-requested report fictitious.

On Monday, Manchin said in a brief interview that he wanted to know “where we are in inflation and where we are on the true price” of the bill, adding he was “very concerned.” He said he expects to meet with Biden late Monday.

The latest inflation figures prompted Biden to use some of his strongest language yet, telling reporters at the White House on Friday, “I think this is the peak of the crisis.” While the numbers illustrate a clear political danger for the administration, the recent performance of financial markets suggests investors don’t see inflation as a long-term problem.

Friday’s reports popped out two weeks before Christmas, by when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hopes to end months of talks among Democrats and finally push a compromise bill through the Senate. The House approved an initial version last month.

With Manchin still seeking cuts in a measure that originally cost $3.5 trillion, the day’s reports at the least increased his leverage in a tortuous process that’s already seen several near-death moments caused by Democratic infighting. At worst, the numbers fueled worries that Manchin might abandon the package, sinking it.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Biden said at the White House when asked if he could win Manchin’s support.

Every Democrat in the 50-50 chamber will have to back the bill so Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote to approve it.

The political sensitivity of inflation and its impact on the Democratic bill, a collection of family services, health care and climate change priorities, was illustrated as leaders of both parties tried to spin the numbers to their advantage.

Democrats argued that the inflation report intensified the need to approve the measure. They said the legislation’s spending and tax credits for health care, children’s costs, education and other programs would help families cope with rising prices. Most of the bill is paid for with tax boosts on the wealthy and big corporations.

The legislation’s impact will be “reducing costs for ordinary people,” Biden said.

Republicans said the legislation’s expenditures would further feed inflation, which has been driven by supply chain delays making products less available and spending prompted by a strong underlying economy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said inflation means “the average American has gotten a pay cut,” adding, “It is unthinkable that Senate Democrats would try to respond to this inflation report by ramming through another massive socialist spending package in a matter of days.”

Possibly mitigating the political impact of Friday’s inflation numbers was that they were expected and represented a modest rise from October’s 6.2%.

Adding any additional juice to the economy might worsen inflation. But the extra fiscal stimulus over the next several years in Democrats’ bill would be less than 1% the size of the entire U.S. economy, making its likely inflationary impact mild, said the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Democrats limited the duration of many initiatives in their package to help contain the bill’s price tag. That includes extending enhancements to the child tax credit for just one year and free, universal pre-school for only six years.

It’s an accounting move both parties have used to make their budget plans seem more affordable — even though they would like their proposals to be permanent and some may be extended because they are popular. Republicans used such phaseouts robustly for their big tax cuts in 2001 and 2017.

“If you believe these programs go away after one, two or three years, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who requested the CBO estimates. He said the bill’s higher price tag and rising inflation meant Democrats’ legislation would be “lethal to the economy and lethal to your paycheck.”

Democrats argued the estimated added $3 trillion cost was bogus because if they decided to seek any future extensions of their initiatives, they would propose savings to pay for them.

As if sharing a script, Psaki called the GOP claims “fundamentally dishonest” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans were using “fake scores based on mistruths.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the numbers “a phony score of an imaginary bill.”

Outside groups have produced similar estimates about the legislation’s cost if its programs were permanent. CBO numbers usually have more clout in Congress because the agency’s impartiality is respected.

Much about the legislation remains in play. Manchin still wants to remove a paid family leave program and curb or eliminate some tax breaks aimed at encouraging a shift to cleaner energy. Moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has also pushed to trim the measure.

Democrats have also had differences over how to ease limits on federal tax deductions that people can take on state and local taxes. In addition, the Senate parliamentarian must decide whether some provisions — including a top party priority of letting millions of migrants remain in the U.S. — violate the chamber’s rules and should be removed.

That’s left it unclear whether Schumer will be able to meet his Christmas deadline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639015686812.png" alt="President Biden spent a day in Kansas City last week to sell his his $2Trillion plan and said, "the legislation’s impact will be reducing costs for ordinary people." -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spent a day in Kansas City last week to sell his his $2Trillion plan and said, "the legislation’s impact will be reducing costs for ordinary people." -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Government reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latest-inflation-numbers-consumer-prices-616055db3bf67691b4fdc0015fc00783">rising inflation</a>&nbsp;and the potential costs of President Joe Biden’s social and environment legislation raised fresh questions about the bill’s fate, with both sides hoping the new numbers would influence pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin.The moderate Manchin, D-W.Va., has spent months forcing Democrats to trim&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-congress-161b5e35f8db33bb664b55cd7a74a681">the 10-year, $2 trillion package</a>, arguing it’s too expensive and at times citing growing inflation as a reason to slow work on the bill. On Friday, the Labor Department said consumer prices grew last month at an annual rate of 6.8%, the highest in 39 years.A separate report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that if many of the bill’s temporary spending boosts and tax cuts were made permanent, it would add $3 trillion to the price tag. That would more than double its 10-year cost to around $5 trillion. Democrats called the projections from the Republican-requested report fictitious.On Monday, Manchin said in a brief interview that he wanted to know “where we are in inflation and where we are on the true price” of the bill, adding he was “very concerned.” He said he expects to meet with Biden late Monday.The latest inflation figures prompted Biden to use some of his strongest language yet, telling reporters at the White House on Friday, “I think this is the peak of the crisis.” While the numbers illustrate a clear political danger for the administration, the recent performance of financial markets suggests investors don’t see inflation as a long-term problem.Friday’s reports popped out two weeks before Christmas, by when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hopes to end months of talks among Democrats and finally push a compromise bill through the Senate. The House approved an initial version last month.With Manchin still seeking cuts in a measure that originally cost $3.5 trillion, the day’s reports at the least increased his leverage in a tortuous process that’s already seen several near-death moments caused by Democratic infighting. At worst, the numbers fueled worries that Manchin might abandon the package, sinking it.“I don’t know the answer to that,” Biden said at the White House when asked if he could win Manchin’s support.Every Democrat in the 50-50 chamber will have to back the bill so Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote to approve it.The political sensitivity of inflation and its impact on the Democratic bill, a collection of family services, health care and climate change priorities, was illustrated as leaders of both parties tried to spin the numbers to their advantage.Democrats argued that the inflation report intensified the need to approve the measure. They said the legislation’s spending and tax credits for health care, children’s costs, education and other programs would help families cope with rising prices. Most of the bill is paid for with tax boosts on the wealthy and big corporations.The legislation’s impact will be “reducing costs for ordinary people,” Biden said.Republicans said the legislation’s expenditures would further feed inflation, which has been driven by supply chain delays making products less available and spending prompted by a strong underlying economy.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said inflation means “the average American has gotten a pay cut,” adding, “It is unthinkable that Senate Democrats would try to respond to this inflation report by ramming through another massive socialist spending package in a matter of days.”Possibly mitigating the political impact of Friday’s inflation numbers was that they were expected and represented a modest rise from October’s 6.2%.Adding any additional juice to the economy might worsen inflation. But the extra fiscal stimulus over the next several years in Democrats’ bill would be less than 1% the size of the entire U.S. economy, making its likely inflationary impact mild, said the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.Democrats limited the duration of many initiatives in their package to help contain the bill’s price tag. That includes extending enhancements to the child tax credit for just one year and free, universal pre-school for only six years.It’s an accounting move both parties have used to make their budget plans seem more affordable — even though they would like their proposals to be permanent and some may be extended because they are popular. Republicans used such phaseouts robustly for their big tax cuts in 2001 and 2017.“If you believe these programs go away after one, two or three years, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who requested the CBO estimates. He said the bill’s higher price tag and rising inflation meant Democrats’ legislation would be “lethal to the economy and lethal to your paycheck.”Democrats argued the estimated added $3 trillion cost was bogus because if they decided to seek any future extensions of their initiatives, they would propose savings to pay for them.As if sharing a script, Psaki called the GOP claims “fundamentally dishonest” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans were using “fake scores based on mistruths.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the numbers “a phony score of an imaginary bill.”Outside groups have produced similar estimates about the legislation’s cost if its programs were permanent. CBO numbers usually have more clout in Congress because the agency’s impartiality is respected.Much about the legislation remains in play. Manchin still wants to remove a paid family leave program and curb or eliminate some tax breaks aimed at encouraging a shift to cleaner energy. Moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has also pushed to trim the measure.Democrats have also had differences over how to ease limits on federal tax deductions that people can take on state and local taxes. In addition, the Senate parliamentarian must decide whether some provisions — including a top party priority of letting millions of migrants remain in the U.S. — violate the chamber’s rules and should be removed.That’s left it unclear whether Schumer will be able to meet his Christmas deadline.

Rising inflation places Biden's $2T spending bill in jeopardy


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Dr. Rex Degner, Chief Medical Officer at Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System believes getting a COVID-19 booster is a good idea for those who have already been vaccinated.

"I do believe that boosters are a very reasonable thing," Degner said. "I received my booster in October, as have the rest of my family. I think that they are very safe. I think that they do help the overall situation, both personally and as a community."

Degner strongly encourages boosters if it has been more than six months since your second COVID-19 shot, if you had a two-shot series, or more than two months if you received the one shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

"Omicron, the jury is still out on that," Degner said. "It appears initially, right now, that it may be a little bit more infectious, more people may get it than the other variants but it appears to be less virulent and they may not be getting as sick. That's the good news."

Viruses attempt to become more diverse in an effort to stay alive, and Degner expects that with COVID-19, as well. 

"I believe that we're switching from a pandemic, which was the initial big push of all of the COVID, to COVID now being what we call endemic," Degner said. "It's in the community. It's in the world. It's in the state and it probably is never going to completely go away, so the idea will be to mitigate it as much as possible, so as people get vaccinated, as people get natural immunity, it will help knock down the spread, so it won't be as severe."

Degner expects there may be booster recommendations in future years, just like people are encouraged to get their flu shot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604662016880.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Dr. Rex Degner, Chief Medical Officer at Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System believes getting a COVID-19 booster is a good idea for those who have already been vaccinated."I do believe that boosters are a very reasonable thing," Degner said. "I received my booster in October, as have the rest of my family. I think that they are very safe. I think that they do help the overall situation, both personally and as a community."Degner strongly encourages boosters if it has been more than six months since your second COVID-19 shot, if you had a two-shot series, or more than two months if you received the one shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine."Omicron, the jury is still out on that," Degner said. "It appears initially, right now, that it may be a little bit more infectious, more people may get it than the other variants but it appears to be less virulent and they may not be getting as sick. That's the good news."Viruses attempt to become more diverse in an effort to stay alive, and Degner expects that with COVID-19, as well. "I believe that we're switching from a pandemic, which was the initial big push of all of the COVID, to COVID now being what we call endemic," Degner said. "It's in the community. It's in the world. It's in the state and it probably is never going to completely go away, so the idea will be to mitigate it as much as possible, so as people get vaccinated, as people get natural immunity, it will help knock down the spread, so it won't be as severe."Degner expects there may be booster recommendations in future years, just like people are encouraged to get their flu shot.

Hutchinson doctor recommends COVID-19 boosters 

By MATT O'BRIEN and FRANK BAJAK, Associated Press

Robotic vacuum cleaners wouldn’t start. Doorbell cameras stopped watching for package thieves, though some of those deliveries were canceled anyway. Netflix and Disney movies got interrupted and The Associated Press had trouble publishing the news.

A major outage in Amazon’s cloud computing network Tuesday severely disrupted services at a wide range of U.S. companies for hours, raising questions about the vulnerability of the internet and its concentration in the hands of a few firms.

Amazon has still said nothing about what, exactly, went wrong. The company limited its communications Tuesday to terse technical explanations on an Amazon Web Services dashboard and a brief statement delivered via spokesperson Richard Rocha that acknowledged the outage had affected Amazon’s own warehouse and delivery operations but said the company was “working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.” It didn’t immediately respond to further questions Wednesday.

The incident at Amazon Web Services mostly affected the eastern U.S., but still impacted everything from airline reservations and auto dealerships to payment apps and video streaming services to Amazon’s own massive e-commerce operation.

Amazon Web Services is a cloud-service operation — it stores its customers’ data, runs their online activities and more — and a huge profit center for Amazon. It holds roughly 40% of the $64 billion global cloud infrastructure market, a larger share than its closest rivals Microsoft, Alibaba and Google, combined, according to research firm Gartner.

It was formerly run by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who succeeded founder Jeff Bezos in July.

Some cybersecurity experts have warned for years about the potentially ugly consequences of allowing a handful of big tech companies to dominate key internet operations.

“The latest AWS outage is a prime example of the danger of centralized network infrastructure,” said Sean O’Brien, a visiting lecturer in cybersecurity at Yale Law School. “Though most people browsing the internet or using an app don’t know it, Amazon is baked into most of the apps and websites they use each day.” O’Brien said it’s important to build a new network model that resembles the peer-to-peer roots of the early internet. Big outages have already knocked huge swaths of the world offline, as happened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-outage-global-reaction-281fded63f1478193d7e5e3e799833fc">during an October Facebook incident</a>.

Even under the current model, companies do have some options to split their services between different cloud providers, although it can be complicated, or to at least make sure they can move their services to a different region run by the same provider. Tuesday’s outage mostly affected Amazon’s “US East 1” region.

“Which means if you had critical systems only available in that region, you were in trouble,” said Servaas Verbiest, lead cloud evangelist at Sungard Availability Services. “If you heavily embraced the AWS ecosystem and are locked into using solely their services and functions, you must ensure you balance your workloads between regions.”

Yes. The last major AWS outage was in November 2020. There have been been numerous other disruptive and lengthy internet outages involving other providers. In June, the behind-the-scenes content distributor Fastly suffered a failure that briefly took down dozens of major internet sites including CNN, The New York Times and Britain’s government home page. Another that month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-b372a6796f95a3f51fbbb2bc8f6b40bf">affected provider Akamai</a>&nbsp;during peak business hours in Asia in June.

In the October outage, Facebook — now known as Meta Platforms — blamed a “faulty configuration change” for an hours-long worldwide outage that took down Instagram and WhatsApp in addition to its titular platform.

It was unclear how, or whether, Tuesday’s outage affected governments, but many of them also rely on Amazon and its rivals.

Among the most influential organizations to rethink its approach of depending on a single cloud provider was the Pentagon, which in July canceled a disputed cloud-computing contract with Microsoft that could eventually have been worth $10 billion. It will instead pursue a deal with both Microsoft and Amazon and possibly other cloud service providers such as Google, Oracle and IBM.

The National Security Agency earlier this year awarded Amazon a contract with a potential estimated value of $10 billion to be the sole manager of the NSA’s own migration to cloud computing. The contract is known by its agency code name “Wild and Stormy.” The General Accountability Office in October sustained a bid protest by Microsoft, finding that certain parts of the NSA’s decision were “unreasonable,” although the full decision is classified.

By MATT O'BRIEN and FRANK BAJAK, Associated PressRobotic vacuum cleaners wouldn’t start. Doorbell cameras stopped watching for package thieves, though some of those deliveries were canceled anyway. Netflix and Disney movies got interrupted and The Associated Press had trouble publishing the news.A major outage in Amazon’s cloud computing network Tuesday severely disrupted services at a wide range of U.S. companies for hours, raising questions about the vulnerability of the internet and its concentration in the hands of a few firms.HOW DID IT HAPPEN?Amazon has still said nothing about what, exactly, went wrong. The company limited its communications Tuesday to terse technical explanations on an Amazon Web Services dashboard and a brief statement delivered via spokesperson Richard Rocha that acknowledged the outage had affected Amazon’s own warehouse and delivery operations but said the company was “working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.” It didn’t immediately respond to further questions Wednesday.The incident at Amazon Web Services mostly affected the eastern U.S., but still impacted everything from airline reservations and auto dealerships to payment apps and video streaming services to Amazon’s own massive e-commerce operation.Amazon Web Services is a cloud-service operation — it stores its customers’ data, runs their online activities and more — and a huge profit center for Amazon. It holds roughly 40% of the $64 billion global cloud infrastructure market, a larger share than its closest rivals Microsoft, Alibaba and Google, combined, according to research firm Gartner.It was formerly run by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who succeeded founder Jeff Bezos in July.TOO MANY EGGS IN ONE BASKET?Some cybersecurity experts have warned for years about the potentially ugly consequences of allowing a handful of big tech companies to dominate key internet operations.“The latest AWS outage is a prime example of the danger of centralized network infrastructure,” said Sean O’Brien, a visiting lecturer in cybersecurity at Yale Law School. “Though most people browsing the internet or using an app don’t know it, Amazon is baked into most of the apps and websites they use each day.” O’Brien said it’s important to build a new network model that resembles the peer-to-peer roots of the early internet. Big outages have already knocked huge swaths of the world offline, as happened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-outage-global-reaction-281fded63f1478193d7e5e3e799833fc">during an October Facebook incident</a>.Even under the current model, companies do have some options to split their services between different cloud providers, although it can be complicated, or to at least make sure they can move their services to a different region run by the same provider. Tuesday’s outage mostly affected Amazon’s “US East 1” region.“Which means if you had critical systems only available in that region, you were in trouble,” said Servaas Verbiest, lead cloud evangelist at Sungard Availability Services. “If you heavily embraced the AWS ecosystem and are locked into using solely their services and functions, you must ensure you balance your workloads between regions.”HASN’T THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?Yes. The last major AWS outage was in November 2020. There have been been numerous other disruptive and lengthy internet outages involving other providers. In June, the behind-the-scenes content distributor Fastly suffered a failure that briefly took down dozens of major internet sites including CNN, The New York Times and Britain’s government home page. Another that month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-b372a6796f95a3f51fbbb2bc8f6b40bf">affected provider Akamai</a>&nbsp;during peak business hours in Asia in June.In the October outage, Facebook — now known as Meta Platforms — blamed a “faulty configuration change” for an hours-long worldwide outage that took down Instagram and WhatsApp in addition to its titular platform.WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT?It was unclear how, or whether, Tuesday’s outage affected governments, but many of them also rely on Amazon and its rivals.Among the most influential organizations to rethink its approach of depending on a single cloud provider was the Pentagon, which in July canceled a disputed cloud-computing contract with Microsoft that could eventually have been worth $10 billion. It will instead pursue a deal with both Microsoft and Amazon and possibly other cloud service providers such as Google, Oracle and IBM.The National Security Agency earlier this year awarded Amazon a contract with a potential estimated value of $10 billion to be the sole manager of the NSA’s own migration to cloud computing. The contract is known by its agency code name “Wild and Stormy.” The General Accountability Office in October sustained a bid protest by Microsoft, finding that certain parts of the NSA’s decision were “unreasonable,” although the full decision is classified.——

What caused Amazon's outage? Will there be more?

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

"We're at the finish line of the application for the Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID)&nbsp; application for the Frontier Apartments," Kim Rupp, Hays finance director, announced at the beginning of Thursday night's public hearing during the city commission meeting.

The commission previously adopted a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/90c93372-2fbd-46d9-9156-f1b1352c38cf">resolution </a>with findings of the need for middle-income housing. The Kansas Secretary of Commerce approved of the RHID creation in mid-October.&nbsp;The process is detailed, with many steps required by state law and the city's economic development policy.

Atchison developer Justin Pregont, Frontier Apartments, LLC, plans to rehab the former St. Joseph School, 210 W. 13th Street, into high quality apartments for moderate income renters.&nbsp;

"The last remaining domino for us to really kick it into high gear is figure out whether or not we've received a moderate-income housing award through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation," Pregont said, "... and whether this is going to go forward immediately or whether we're going to push the pause button and try again next year to receive that same pot of money."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Frontier Apartments has applied for a state $360,000 Moderate-Income Housing Grant (MIHG) from the state. Applications have also been made for state and federal historic tax credits for the limestone structure built in 1908 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.&nbsp;

Pregont told commissioners he has "some level of optimism" that there seems to some bipartisan momentum in the state legislature for expanding the moderate housing program.&nbsp;

SEE RELATED STORY: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2af8b5d6-38a3-4da4-b591-f944eecf52bc">State housing survey: State needs to add housing stock at all levels</a>

"The city of Hays and Ellis County have never received an award through the (MIHG) program.

"I think we put together a great application. I hope we can get that award."

If that doesn't happen by the end of the year, Pregont pledged to resubmit the application for 2022 funding.

"I am anticipating positive news, but in the event that we don't, don't be disappointed. We'll be back next time around. If it doesn't come to be this time, I'm really confident that it would be next time."

The developer estimates that approximately $1.78 million of the total&nbsp;$2.18 million project costs are RHID-eligible expenses under state law and the city’s economic development policy. The RHID would generate approximately $450,000 in incremental property tax revenues over the 20-year term of the RHID.

"Our design plan is about 40 percent finished." Pregont said. "We've developed a really good relationship with Paul-Wertenberger Construction of Hays to be the contractor on that project and we went and visited Horizon Appliances this afternoon to get that process going."

The development encompasses an adaptive reuse and historic preservation project in downtown Hays featuring eight one-bedroom units averaging 770 square feet, and four two-bedroom units averaging 1,000 square feet.

"We're just excited at this prospect," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor. "Thank you for your collaboration," Pregont added.&nbsp;

After closing the public hearing, commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the Frontier Apartments RHID, adopting the development plan and authorizing execution of the development agreement.

The RHID will be created unless the Hays USD 489 Board of
Education or the Ellis County Commission adopts a resolution
in opposition within 30 days after the public hearing.

A $147,984 construction engineering agreement was approved with Kirkham Michael Engineers, Ellsworth, related to reconstruction of south Vine Street from just south of 13th Street to the south city limit.

In July 2019, Hays received a $1 million Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) grant for the project .

The KDOT project is estimated to cost nearly $4 million with construction to begin in the spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After input from residents and the Hays Police Department, commissioners approved five speed limit changes as recommended by city staff.

They are located on 32nd/33rd Street, south Main Street,
east and west 8th Street, and east 13th Street.&nbsp;The school zone speed limit in front of Hays High School will also change from 20 to 25 mph.

Commissioner Shaun Musil voted against the ordinance citing disapproval of the speed increase on south Main.

"I know you say it's wide enough." Musil said. "I'm just conscious of all the housing down there and us wanting to increase it, along with the pool and a kid-related business that's going to be down there. I just don't think it's a good idea."

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he'd had no feedback from local drivers about the changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

* Approved a pool reimbursement request of $42,497 from the Hays Recreation Commission for the 2021 municipal pool operating loss. * Approved minor updates to the Comprehensive Financial Management Policy adopted in * Approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager Toby Dougherty to execute agreements related to the recent national opioid settlement action. Cities in Kansas will receive 25 percent of any settlement funds the state receives. * Heard a progress report of recent activities by city departments. * Were advised of upcoming community events during December.

Commissioner Ron Mellick was absent from the meeting. The other commissioners thanked Mellick for his 12 years of service as a city commissioner, with Jacobs calling him "one of the best public servants I've been around in terms of being informed, making sure he's connected with all the projects that the city is doing."&nbsp;

A 15-minute executive session was called at the end of the meeting by City Manager Toby Dougherty to discuss property acquisition. No action was taken.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626378684098.jpeg" alt="Hays city commissioners approved an ordinance Thursday establishing a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) at the former St. Joseph School/Parish Center, 210 W. 13th Street. (Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>Hays city commissioners approved an ordinance Thursday establishing a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) at the former St. Joseph School/Parish Center, 210 W. 13th Street. (Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays Post"We're at the finish line of the application for the Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID)&nbsp; application for the Frontier Apartments," Kim Rupp, Hays finance director, announced at the beginning of Thursday night's public hearing during the city commission meeting.The commission previously adopted a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/90c93372-2fbd-46d9-9156-f1b1352c38cf">resolution </a>with findings of the need for middle-income housing. The Kansas Secretary of Commerce approved of the RHID creation in mid-October.&nbsp;The process is detailed, with many steps required by state law and the city's economic development policy.Atchison developer Justin Pregont, Frontier Apartments, LLC, plans to rehab the former St. Joseph School, 210 W. 13th Street, into high quality apartments for moderate income renters.&nbsp;"The last remaining domino for us to really kick it into high gear is figure out whether or not we've received a moderate-income housing award through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation," Pregont said, "... and whether this is going to go forward immediately or whether we're going to push the pause button and try again next year to receive that same pot of money."&nbsp;&nbsp;Frontier Apartments has applied for a state $360,000 Moderate-Income Housing Grant (MIHG) from the state. Applications have also been made for state and federal historic tax credits for the limestone structure built in 1908 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OmBuG114ncM"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Pregont told commissioners he has "some level of optimism" that there seems to some bipartisan momentum in the state legislature for expanding the moderate housing program.&nbsp;SEE RELATED STORY: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2af8b5d6-38a3-4da4-b591-f944eecf52bc">State housing survey: State needs to add housing stock at all levels</a>"The city of Hays and Ellis County have never received an award through the (MIHG) program."I think we put together a great application. I hope we can get that award."If that doesn't happen by the end of the year, Pregont pledged to resubmit the application for 2022 funding."I am anticipating positive news, but in the event that we don't, don't be disappointed. We'll be back next time around. If it doesn't come to be this time, I'm really confident that it would be next time."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632449003881.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The developer estimates that approximately $1.78 million of the total&nbsp;$2.18 million project costs are RHID-eligible expenses under state law and the city’s economic development policy. The RHID would generate approximately $450,000 in incremental property tax revenues over the 20-year term of the RHID."Our design plan is about 40 percent finished." Pregont said. "We've developed a really good relationship with Paul-Wertenberger Construction of Hays to be the contractor on that project and we went and visited Horizon Appliances this afternoon to get that process going."The development encompasses an adaptive reuse and historic preservation project in downtown Hays featuring eight one-bedroom units averaging 770 square feet, and four two-bedroom units averaging 1,000 square feet."We're just excited at this prospect," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor. "Thank you for your collaboration," Pregont added.&nbsp;After closing the public hearing, commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the Frontier Apartments RHID, adopting the development plan and authorizing execution of the development agreement.The RHID will be created unless the Hays USD 489 Board of
Education or the Ellis County Commission adopts a resolution
in opposition within 30 days after the public hearing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639119698465.jpeg" alt="Reconstruction of South Vine Street will begin in the spring of 2022." />
 <figcaption>Reconstruction of South Vine Street will begin in the spring of 2022.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>South Vine Street Reconstruction</h2>A $147,984 construction engineering agreement was approved with Kirkham Michael Engineers, Ellsworth, related to reconstruction of south Vine Street from just south of 13th Street to the south city limit.In July 2019, Hays received a $1 million Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) grant for the project .The KDOT project is estimated to cost nearly $4 million with construction to begin in the spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639120779468.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Speed Limit Changes</h2>After input from residents and the Hays Police Department, commissioners approved five speed limit changes as recommended by city staff.They are located on 32nd/33rd Street, south Main Street,
east and west 8th Street, and east 13th Street.&nbsp;The school zone speed limit in front of Hays High School will also change from 20 to 25 mph.Commissioner Shaun Musil voted against the ordinance citing disapproval of the speed increase on south Main."I know you say it's wide enough." Musil said. "I'm just conscious of all the housing down there and us wanting to increase it, along with the pool and a kid-related business that's going to be down there. I just don't think it's a good idea."Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he'd had no feedback from local drivers about the changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Other Business</h2>In other business, commissioners:* Approved a pool reimbursement request of $42,497 from the Hays Recreation Commission for the 2021 municipal pool operating loss. * Approved minor updates to the Comprehensive Financial Management Policy adopted in * Approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager Toby Dougherty to execute agreements related to the recent national opioid settlement action. Cities in Kansas will receive 25 percent of any settlement funds the state receives. * Heard a progress report of recent activities by city departments. * Were advised of upcoming community events during December.Commissioner Ron Mellick was absent from the meeting. The other commissioners thanked Mellick for his 12 years of service as a city commissioner, with Jacobs calling him "one of the best public servants I've been around in terms of being informed, making sure he's connected with all the projects that the city is doing."&nbsp;A 15-minute executive session was called at the end of the meeting by City Manager Toby Dougherty to discuss property acquisition. No action was taken.

🎥 Ordinance establishes new Frontier Apartments RHID in historic building

Football star and TV celebrity Michael Strahan caught a ride to space with Jeff Bezos’ rocket-launching company Saturday, sharing the trip with the daughter of America’s first astronaut.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket blasted off from West Texas, sending the capsule on a 10-minute flight with the two VIP guests and four paying customers. Their automated capsule soared to an altitude of about 66 miles (106 kilometers), providing a few minutes of weightlessness before parachuting into the desert. The booster also came back to land successfully.

It was five minutes and 50 miles shorter than Alan Shepard’s Mercury flight from Cape Canaveral on May 5, 1961. His eldest daughter, Laura Shepard Churchley, took along a tiny piece of his Freedom 7 capsule as well as mementos from his Apollo 14 moonshot. She also packed some golf balls; her dad hit a couple on the lunar surface.

A co-host of ABC's “Good Morning America," Strahan bubbled over with excitement in updates for the show all week. He took along his Super Bowl ring and retired New York Giants jersey No. 92. Bezos stashed a football on board that will go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“It was unreal," Strahan said after emerging from the capsule.

He said he wants to go again — but Bezos joked he'd have to buy his own ticket next time.

Bezos, who flew to space in the same capsule, accompanied the six passengers to the launch pad near Van Horn and greeted them afterward. He had “Light this candle” painted on the launch tower’s bridge, borrowing from Alan Shepard's famous gripe from inside Freedom 7 as the delays mounted: “Why don’t you fix your little problem and light this candle?”

This time, “Laura yelled, let’s light this candle,” Strahan said, mimicking the growling voice of her father. They had to wait two extra days to fly because of high wind.

Shepard Churchley, who volunteered for Blue Origin’s third passenger flight, said she practiced her late father's phrase every time they went into the capsule. She heads the board of trustees for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

“I thought about Daddy coming down and thought, gosh he didn’t even get to enjoy any of what I’m getting to enjoy," Shepard Churchley said following touchdown. “He was working. He had to do it himself. I went up for the ride!”

Bezos, who founded Amazon six years before Blue Origin, was on the debut launch in July. The second, in October, included actor William Shatner — Captain James Kirk of TV’s original “Star Trek.” The late Leonard Nimoy’s daughter sent up a necklace with a “Vulcan Salute” charm on this flight, in honor of the show's original Mr. Spock.

Among the the four space tourists paying unspecified millions each were the first father-son combo: financier Lane Bess and his son Cameron. Also flying: Voyager Space chairman and CEO Dylan Taylor and investor Evan Dick.

Blue Origin dedicated Saturday’s launch to Glen de Vries, who launched into space with Shatner in October, but died one month later in a plane crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639241980104.png" alt="Michael Strahan visits with Jeff Bezos after the successful launch and return to earth-photo courtesy Blue Origin" />
 <figcaption>Michael Strahan visits with Jeff Bezos after the successful launch and return to earth-photo courtesy Blue Origin</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace WriterFootball star and TV celebrity Michael Strahan caught a ride to space with Jeff Bezos’ rocket-launching company Saturday, sharing the trip with the daughter of America’s first astronaut.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MpaiuDg_DN4?start=6774" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket blasted off from West Texas, sending the capsule on a 10-minute flight with the two VIP guests and four paying customers. Their automated capsule soared to an altitude of about 66 miles (106 kilometers), providing a few minutes of weightlessness before parachuting into the desert. The booster also came back to land successfully.It was five minutes and 50 miles shorter than Alan Shepard’s Mercury flight from Cape Canaveral on May 5, 1961. His eldest daughter, Laura Shepard Churchley, took along a tiny piece of his Freedom 7 capsule as well as mementos from his Apollo 14 moonshot. She also packed some golf balls; her dad hit a couple on the lunar surface.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639241532727.png" alt=" Astronaut Michael Strahan during training for the NS-19 Mission on Monday. Photo courtesy Blue Origin" />
 <figcaption> Astronaut Michael Strahan during training for the NS-19 Mission on Monday. Photo courtesy Blue Origin</figcaption>
 </figure>A co-host of ABC's “Good Morning America," Strahan bubbled over with excitement in updates for the show all week. He took along his Super Bowl ring and retired New York Giants jersey No. 92. Bezos stashed a football on board that will go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.“It was unreal," Strahan said after emerging from the capsule.He said he wants to go again — but Bezos joked he'd have to buy his own ticket next time.Bezos, who flew to space in the same capsule, accompanied the six passengers to the launch pad near Van Horn and greeted them afterward. He had “Light this candle” painted on the launch tower’s bridge, borrowing from Alan Shepard's famous gripe from inside Freedom 7 as the delays mounted: “Why don’t you fix your little problem and light this candle?”This time, “Laura yelled, let’s light this candle,” Strahan said, mimicking the growling voice of her father. They had to wait two extra days to fly because of high wind.Shepard Churchley, who volunteered for Blue Origin’s third passenger flight, said she practiced her late father's phrase every time they went into the capsule. She heads the board of trustees for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.“I thought about Daddy coming down and thought, gosh he didn’t even get to enjoy any of what I’m getting to enjoy," Shepard Churchley said following touchdown. “He was working. He had to do it himself. I went up for the ride!”Bezos, who founded Amazon six years before Blue Origin, was on the debut launch in July. The second, in October, included actor William Shatner — Captain James Kirk of TV’s original “Star Trek.” The late Leonard Nimoy’s daughter sent up a necklace with a “Vulcan Salute” charm on this flight, in honor of the show's original Mr. Spock.Among the the four space tourists paying unspecified millions each were the first father-son combo: financier Lane Bess and his son Cameron. Also flying: Voyager Space chairman and CEO Dylan Taylor and investor Evan Dick.Blue Origin dedicated Saturday’s launch to Glen de Vries, who launched into space with Shatner in October, but died one month later in a plane crash.___

🎥 NFL, TV's Strahan flies in space with astronaut's daughter

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/12/09/kansas-classroom-safety-panel-grows-increasingly-concerned-as-students-mental-health-issues-rise/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A rise in youth suicide rates, accompanied by increased 
reports of anxiety and depression among school-age children, has a 
Kansas panel focused on pandemic safety in the classroom concerned as 
the pandemic drags on.

Kelli Netson, a neuropsychologist, kicked off a panel discussion on 
pandemic-related mental health issues in Kansas by noting statistics 
that suggest upward of 50% of youths are reporting increased distress 
levels. This has manifested itself in anxiety and depression, so while 
they may not have a diagnosis, they are reporting much higher levels of 
stress than in years past.

While the holidays and winter break may provide an outlet for some to
 relieve stress, Netson said, for some going home can be just as 
difficult.

“I have concerns about what the next six weeks look like,” Netson 
said. “We as parents should be listening to what our kids are seeking, 
listening to what kids are experiencing, validating those experiences 
and then just letting your kids talk.”

The Safer Classrooms Workgroup’s discussion on Wednesday came after the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/science/pandemic-adolescents-depression-anxiety.html">nation’s top physician reported</a>
 young people are facing “devastating” mental health effects as a result
 of the pandemic. The 53-page report noted emergency room visits from 
youths suffering from mental health issues are on the rise.

Emergency room visits for suicide attempts increased by 51% for 
adolescent girls and 4% for boys in early 2021 compared with the same 
period in 2019.

Stephanie Kuhlmann, a panel member and pediatric hospitalist division
 director at Wesley Children’s Hospital, said the mental health issues 
extend to hospital staff treating these students and teachers working to
 educate them.

“The resurgence of COVID numbers in our rural communities, and even 
here in our higher-populated communities, which comes at the time of the
 holidays, continues to put a stress and burden on our already burnt-out
 workers,” Kuhlmann said.

In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy 
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital 
Association joined to declare “a national emergency” in youth mental 
health. One issue is an increase in deaths from overdoses because of 
self-medication.

Kimber Kasitz, director of health for Wichita Public Schools, also 
has been working with the School Mental Health Advisory Council, which 
is considering both ongoing and future issues that could arise.

“We’re really empowering the school districts to not just identify 
kids with these issues, but what happens after they go into an inpatient
 hospital setting for psychiatric treatment,” Kasitz said. “What does 
that process look like while still maintaining confidentiality for that 
child, while also communicating with the parents and the hospital, the 
clinic, whoever, so that we can develop a safety plan.”

The frequently changing dynamics of the pandemic has led to increased
 stressors for youths and teachers, said Kansas education commissioner 
Randy Watson. Currently there are 49 active outbreaks in schools across 
the state, down from 53 last week.

Watson acknowledged the uncertainty ahead. Wednesday’s meeting of the safer classrooms panel is the last one scheduled.

“We’re in a constant churn of kids being quarantined or being taken 
out because of viral load,” Watson said. “And a teacher every day 
doesn’t know what they are going to have to plan for. Sometimes when 
you’re in the daily fight, as all of us are, you lose sight of where 
we’ve been since (the beginning of the pandemic) and the different ways 
in which we’ve all had to respond to this crisis.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639077370810.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/12/09/kansas-classroom-safety-panel-grows-increasingly-concerned-as-students-mental-health-issues-rise/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A rise in youth suicide rates, accompanied by increased 
reports of anxiety and depression among school-age children, has a 
Kansas panel focused on pandemic safety in the classroom concerned as 
the pandemic drags on.Kelli Netson, a neuropsychologist, kicked off a panel discussion on 
pandemic-related mental health issues in Kansas by noting statistics 
that suggest upward of 50% of youths are reporting increased distress 
levels. This has manifested itself in anxiety and depression, so while 
they may not have a diagnosis, they are reporting much higher levels of 
stress than in years past.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639077434541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While the holidays and winter break may provide an outlet for some to
 relieve stress, Netson said, for some going home can be just as 
difficult.“I have concerns about what the next six weeks look like,” Netson 
said. “We as parents should be listening to what our kids are seeking, 
listening to what kids are experiencing, validating those experiences 
and then just letting your kids talk.”The Safer Classrooms Workgroup’s discussion on Wednesday came after the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/science/pandemic-adolescents-depression-anxiety.html">nation’s top physician reported</a>
 young people are facing “devastating” mental health effects as a result
 of the pandemic. The 53-page report noted emergency room visits from 
youths suffering from mental health issues are on the rise.Emergency room visits for suicide attempts increased by 51% for 
adolescent girls and 4% for boys in early 2021 compared with the same 
period in 2019.Stephanie Kuhlmann, a panel member and pediatric hospitalist division
 director at Wesley Children’s Hospital, said the mental health issues 
extend to hospital staff treating these students and teachers working to
 educate them.“The resurgence of COVID numbers in our rural communities, and even 
here in our higher-populated communities, which comes at the time of the
 holidays, continues to put a stress and burden on our already burnt-out
 workers,” Kuhlmann said.In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy 
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital 
Association joined to declare “a national emergency” in youth mental 
health. One issue is an increase in deaths from overdoses because of 
self-medication.Kimber Kasitz, director of health for Wichita Public Schools, also 
has been working with the School Mental Health Advisory Council, which 
is considering both ongoing and future issues that could arise.“We’re really empowering the school districts to not just identify 
kids with these issues, but what happens after they go into an inpatient
 hospital setting for psychiatric treatment,” Kasitz said. “What does 
that process look like while still maintaining confidentiality for that 
child, while also communicating with the parents and the hospital, the 
clinic, whoever, so that we can develop a safety plan.”The frequently changing dynamics of the pandemic has led to increased
 stressors for youths and teachers, said Kansas education commissioner 
Randy Watson. Currently there are 49 active outbreaks in schools across 
the state, down from 53 last week.Watson acknowledged the uncertainty ahead. Wednesday’s meeting of the safer classrooms panel is the last one scheduled.“We’re in a constant churn of kids being quarantined or being taken 
out because of viral load,” Watson said. “And a teacher every day 
doesn’t know what they are going to have to plan for. Sometimes when 
you’re in the daily fight, as all of us are, you lose sight of where 
we’ve been since (the beginning of the pandemic) and the different ways 
in which we’ve all had to respond to this crisis.”

Rise of student mental health issues the focus of Kan. school safety panel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate moved ahead Thursday with legislation that would create a one-time, fast-track process for raising the debt limit, overcoming a Republican filibuster and likely averting another last-minute rush to avoid a devastating federal default.

The bill fits the two goals that Republican leader Mitch McConnell had set months ago for the politically difficult vote to increase the country’s borrowing authority: Democrats probably will have to pass the debt ceiling increase on their own, without GOP support, and they will have to increase it by a specific amount.

McConnell was able to deliver enough Republican votes to advance the bill Thursday when 14 Republicans sided with Democrats to end debate.&nbsp;GOP Sens.&nbsp;John Barrasso&nbsp;(Wyo.),&nbsp;Roy Blunt&nbsp;(R-Mo.),&nbsp;Richard Burr&nbsp;(N.C.),&nbsp;Shelley Moore Capito&nbsp;(W.Va.),&nbsp;Susan Collins&nbsp;(Maine),&nbsp;John Cornyn&nbsp;(Texas),&nbsp;Joni Ernst&nbsp;(Iowa)&nbsp;Lisa Murkowski&nbsp;(Alaska),&nbsp;Rob Portman&nbsp;(Ohio),&nbsp;Mitt Romney&nbsp;(Utah),&nbsp;Thom Tillis&nbsp;(N.C.),&nbsp;John Thune&nbsp;(S.D.) and&nbsp;Roger Wicker&nbsp;(Miss.) helped advance the bill.

Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the bill.

 That was the most precarious and unpredictable vote in the process. That support largely held with the vote on final passage of the measure later in the evening. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

Now that it’s been cleared, Democrats can use their majority to pass the debt ceiling increase itself — likely next week — without having to worry about gaining the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster.

“This is the responsible path forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “No brinksmanship, no default on the debt, no risk of another recession.”

Still, it wasn’t an easy lift for McConnell. Republicans complained privately and on the Senate floor about the deal. While they will not have to vote for the debt limit increase, they had to facilitate getting the Senate to the final vote.

“A deal has been made to give us — some of us see it this way anyway — a choice between voting for a heart attack or cancer,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who voted against advancing the plan.

But some Republicans said the United States should not send signals to the rest of the world that cast doubt on its creditworthiness.

“It was the right thing to do because the last thing in the world that this country needs is a default,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

The bill establishes a one-time, expedited process for the Senate to pass a debt ceiling increase by a specific amount with a simple majority. It was combined with unrelated Medicare legislation that will prevent payment cuts to doctors and other health care providers.

Key to the agreement is that Democrats will have to vote on a specific amount by which the debt ceiling will be lifted. The amount has not yet been disclosed, but it is sure to be a staggering sum. Republicans want to try to blame Democrats for the nation’s rising debt load and link it to Biden’s roughly $2 trillion social and environmental bill.

But that argument ignores that the debt ceiling will have to be increased in the coming days or weeks even though the big spending package is still making its way through Congress. The increase is needed to meet financial obligations incurred over numerous presidential administrations and sessions of Congresses — decades of deficit-financed spending, already approved, that stretch years into the future.

That was also the case when Congress approved a $480 billion increase in the nation’s debt limit in October, which was enough for the Treasury Department to finance the government’s operations through Dec. 15, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

A failure to suspend or lift the debt ceiling would lead to an unprecedented default that would allow the government to pay its bills only with the cash that comes into into the Treasury. The U.S. credit rating would likely be downgraded, interest rates on loans would soar and a recession would likely ensue. In addition, payments to seniors, veterans and others could be delayed or even stopped.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate moved ahead Thursday with legislation that would create a one-time, fast-track process for raising the debt limit, overcoming a Republican filibuster and likely averting another last-minute rush to avoid a devastating federal default.The bill fits the two goals that Republican leader Mitch McConnell had set months ago for the politically difficult vote to increase the country’s borrowing authority: Democrats probably will have to pass the debt ceiling increase on their own, without GOP support, and they will have to increase it by a specific amount.McConnell was able to deliver enough Republican votes to advance the bill Thursday when 14 Republicans sided with Democrats to end debate.&nbsp;GOP Sens.&nbsp;John Barrasso&nbsp;(Wyo.),&nbsp;Roy Blunt&nbsp;(R-Mo.),&nbsp;Richard Burr&nbsp;(N.C.),&nbsp;Shelley Moore Capito&nbsp;(W.Va.),&nbsp;Susan Collins&nbsp;(Maine),&nbsp;John Cornyn&nbsp;(Texas),&nbsp;Joni Ernst&nbsp;(Iowa)&nbsp;Lisa Murkowski&nbsp;(Alaska),&nbsp;Rob Portman&nbsp;(Ohio),&nbsp;Mitt Romney&nbsp;(Utah),&nbsp;Thom Tillis&nbsp;(N.C.),&nbsp;John Thune&nbsp;(S.D.) and&nbsp;Roger Wicker&nbsp;(Miss.) helped advance the bill.Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the bill. That was the most precarious and unpredictable vote in the process. That support largely held with the vote on final passage of the measure later in the evening. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.Now that it’s been cleared, Democrats can use their majority to pass the debt ceiling increase itself — likely next week — without having to worry about gaining the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster.“This is the responsible path forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “No brinksmanship, no default on the debt, no risk of another recession.”Still, it wasn’t an easy lift for McConnell. Republicans complained privately and on the Senate floor about the deal. While they will not have to vote for the debt limit increase, they had to facilitate getting the Senate to the final vote.“A deal has been made to give us — some of us see it this way anyway — a choice between voting for a heart attack or cancer,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who voted against advancing the plan.But some Republicans said the United States should not send signals to the rest of the world that cast doubt on its creditworthiness.“It was the right thing to do because the last thing in the world that this country needs is a default,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.The bill establishes a one-time, expedited process for the Senate to pass a debt ceiling increase by a specific amount with a simple majority. It was combined with unrelated Medicare legislation that will prevent payment cuts to doctors and other health care providers.Key to the agreement is that Democrats will have to vote on a specific amount by which the debt ceiling will be lifted. The amount has not yet been disclosed, but it is sure to be a staggering sum. Republicans want to try to blame Democrats for the nation’s rising debt load and link it to Biden’s roughly $2 trillion social and environmental bill.But that argument ignores that the debt ceiling will have to be increased in the coming days or weeks even though the big spending package is still making its way through Congress. The increase is needed to meet financial obligations incurred over numerous presidential administrations and sessions of Congresses — decades of deficit-financed spending, already approved, that stretch years into the future.That was also the case when Congress approved a $480 billion increase in the nation’s debt limit in October, which was enough for the Treasury Department to finance the government’s operations through Dec. 15, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.A failure to suspend or lift the debt ceiling would lead to an unprecedented default that would allow the government to pay its bills only with the cash that comes into into the Treasury. The U.S. credit rating would likely be downgraded, interest rates on loans would soar and a recession would likely ensue. In addition, payments to seniors, veterans and others could be delayed or even stopped.

Moran, Marshall vote no; bill to increase debt limit closer to Biden

Charles Oscar McIntosh, 88, passed away December 8, 2021, at the 
University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus. He was born on 
December 22, 1932, to George and Olivia (Rupp) McIntosh, at Hyacinth, 
Kan. He married Leona Leiker on October 19, 1953, at Liebenthal. She 
died January 22, 2020.

A long-time Great Bend resident, Charles was an Appraiser for Barton 
and Rush Counties. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. 
Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and he was a former VFW 
member in Hays. His faith was very important to him and he ushered at 
church for many years. Oscar loved all of his children’s dogs as if they
 were his own grandchildren, but he loved the most his and Leona’s 
cherished Rottweiler Sasha. He taught his children how to “mechanic”: 
how to fix lawn mowers and cars. Oscar, or Charlie as his friends called
 him, was an avid bowler, starting his career, as a pin setter, in Hays.
 This job helped him to spend hours bowling and he soon became manager. 
He also enjoyed football, his favorite, rooting for the Dallas Cowboys 
and Kansas City Chiefs always, as well as tennis and basketball. Oscar 
was also a Golden Gloves Recipient in boxing. He loved watching tennis, 
boxing and the Olympics. Charles was a veteran of the United States 
Army, having served during the Korean War Conflict, earning the rank of 
SP3. In 2017, Oscar was presented with his Quilt of Valor.

Survivors include his six children, Geralyn Engelken and husband Dave
 of Wichita, Marilyn Reifschneider and husband Jon of Arlington, Charles
 "Chuck" McIntosh and wife Chela of Great Bend, Tammy Romine and husband
 Kevin of Great Bend, Timothy McIntosh and wife Loretta of Great Bend, 
and Craig McIntosh of Wichita; several siblings including Wilma Jean 
Berger and husband Fred of Great Bend; nine grandchildren; and seventeen
 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife,
 Leona; and a grandson, Joseph Gunn.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 14,
 2021 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil service and Knights of Columbus
 rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 
a.m., Wednesday, December 15, 2021, with Father Aneesh Parappanattu at 
St. Patrick Catholic Church. Interment will be in the Great Bend 
Cemetery, with Military Rites conducted by the Army Honor Guard. 
Memorials have been designated to the American Cancer Society, Wounded 
Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of 
Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639147404407.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Charles Oscar McIntosh, 88, passed away December 8, 2021, at the 
University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus. He was born on 
December 22, 1932, to George and Olivia (Rupp) McIntosh, at Hyacinth, 
Kan. He married Leona Leiker on October 19, 1953, at Liebenthal. She 
died January 22, 2020.A long-time Great Bend resident, Charles was an Appraiser for Barton 
and Rush Counties. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. 
Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and he was a former VFW 
member in Hays. His faith was very important to him and he ushered at 
church for many years. Oscar loved all of his children’s dogs as if they
 were his own grandchildren, but he loved the most his and Leona’s 
cherished Rottweiler Sasha. He taught his children how to “mechanic”: 
how to fix lawn mowers and cars. Oscar, or Charlie as his friends called
 him, was an avid bowler, starting his career, as a pin setter, in Hays.
 This job helped him to spend hours bowling and he soon became manager. 
He also enjoyed football, his favorite, rooting for the Dallas Cowboys 
and Kansas City Chiefs always, as well as tennis and basketball. Oscar 
was also a Golden Gloves Recipient in boxing. He loved watching tennis, 
boxing and the Olympics. Charles was a veteran of the United States 
Army, having served during the Korean War Conflict, earning the rank of 
SP3. In 2017, Oscar was presented with his Quilt of Valor.Survivors include his six children, Geralyn Engelken and husband Dave
 of Wichita, Marilyn Reifschneider and husband Jon of Arlington, Charles
 "Chuck" McIntosh and wife Chela of Great Bend, Tammy Romine and husband
 Kevin of Great Bend, Timothy McIntosh and wife Loretta of Great Bend, 
and Craig McIntosh of Wichita; several siblings including Wilma Jean 
Berger and husband Fred of Great Bend; nine grandchildren; and seventeen
 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife,
 Leona; and a grandson, Joseph Gunn.Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 14,
 2021 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil service and Knights of Columbus
 rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 
a.m., Wednesday, December 15, 2021, with Father Aneesh Parappanattu at 
St. Patrick Catholic Church. Interment will be in the Great Bend 
Cemetery, with Military Rites conducted by the Army Honor Guard. 
Memorials have been designated to the American Cancer Society, Wounded 
Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of 
Bryant Funeral Home.

Charles Oscar McIntosh

Linda Kay Crane, 69, died December 3, 2021, at her home in Lenexa.&nbsp; 
She was born on October 7, 1952, in Dodge City, daughter of Robert Eugene
 and Marilyn Kay (Kennedy) Crane.

Linda grew up in Dodge City, graduating from Dodge City High School. 
After high school, she attended Kansas State University where she 
received her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. &nbsp;Linda had spent the 
last several years of her life working as an executive administrator 
assistant for Sprint as well as T-Mobile.

Linda was an avid collector, having many different types of things 
she collected. She also loved spending time her Samoyed dogs. Linda also
 volunteered over the last ten years at Harvesters, Alzheimer’s 
Association, KCPREP, and Wayside Waifs. She enjoyed gardening, 
traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by his sister, Jana Mathes and husband Dr. John 
Mathes of Pratt; two brothers, Jon Crane and wife Anne of Scott City, 
and Mark Crane and wife Debra of Aurora, Colorado; as well as several 
nieces and nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Robert 
and Marilyn Crane; and her significant other, Ron Walters.

Memorial service will be held in the Wesley Chapel at the United 
Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 23720 Roe Ave Leawood, Kansas 
66224 on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 4:00 PM.&nbsp; 

Memorials are suggested
 to Lemon Park Lights of Pratt.&nbsp; Thoughts and memories may be shared in 
the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639146538364.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Linda Kay Crane, 69, died December 3, 2021, at her home in Lenexa.&nbsp; 
She was born on October 7, 1952, in Dodge City, daughter of Robert Eugene
 and Marilyn Kay (Kennedy) Crane.Linda grew up in Dodge City, graduating from Dodge City High School. 
After high school, she attended Kansas State University where she 
received her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. &nbsp;Linda had spent the 
last several years of her life working as an executive administrator 
assistant for Sprint as well as T-Mobile.Linda was an avid collector, having many different types of things 
she collected. She also loved spending time her Samoyed dogs. Linda also
 volunteered over the last ten years at Harvesters, Alzheimer’s 
Association, KCPREP, and Wayside Waifs. She enjoyed gardening, 
traveling, and spending time with family and friends.She is survived by his sister, Jana Mathes and husband Dr. John 
Mathes of Pratt; two brothers, Jon Crane and wife Anne of Scott City, 
and Mark Crane and wife Debra of Aurora, Colorado; as well as several 
nieces and nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Robert 
and Marilyn Crane; and her significant other, Ron Walters.Memorial service will be held in the Wesley Chapel at the United 
Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 23720 Roe Ave Leawood, Kansas 
66224 on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 4:00 PM.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested
 to Lemon Park Lights of Pratt.&nbsp; Thoughts and memories may be shared in 
the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.&nbsp;

Linda Kay Crane

SALINE COUNTY —Christmas came early for the Rolling Hills Zoo family with the birth of the Zoo’s first southern white rhino calf Thursday.

The calf and Evey, the calf’s mother, are doing well and bonding as animal care staff monitors the pair from a distance. The sex of the calf not been confirmed at this time.

Evey had been part of a 15 member white rhino herd (or “crash”) at The Wilds Safari Park and Conservation Center at Cumberland, Ohio, prior to her arrival at RHZ. Since she had been with males within the herd, RHZ staff were hopeful that she was pregnant when she arrived in October 2020 and have been monitoring her pregnancy ever since. White rhino gestation can last 16 to 18 months.

“The Rolling Hills Zoo staff and I are over the moon for Evey and the first baby rhino birth at the Zoo,” said Ryan VanZant, RHZ executive director. “This a truly wonderful gift right before the holidays.”

Born at The Wilds Safari Park and Conservation Center, Evey was named for her birth date - December 31st. She will turn fifteen at the end of the month. While her parents have moved to other zoos as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), Evey remained at The Wilds Safari Park as part of their white rhino herd which is managed as one large social group, and the only rhinos that were not born there are two adult breeding males. Evey made the move to Rolling Hills Zoo on a breeding recommendation by the SSP of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), of which Rolling Hills Zoo is an accredited member.

Evey is an experienced mother, successfully giving birth to three offspring: Jaycambo, a male born in 2011; Agnes, a female born in 2014; and Gordon, a male born in 2017, and has been a great mother to all three. While Jaycambo is no longer at The Wilds, Agnes and Gordon have remained as part of the herd.

At this time, the rhino barn is closed for public viewing. The zoo asks for the public’s patience and understanding as they allow time for the mother and calf to bond. For now, animal care staff are entering the building as necessary and the pair is being monitored via cameras.

The white rhino, the second largest land mammal after the elephant, is a major conservation success story after having been brought back from the very brink of extinction. But the current surge in poaching for their horns, particularly in South Africa, has seen record numbers killed in recent years and urgent efforts are now underway to stop the poaching and end the illegal trade. In Africa today, more than 20,000 southern white rhinos now thrive in protected sanctuaries and are classified as near threatened.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639089538189.jpeg" alt="The rhino calf was born Thursday&nbsp;Photos courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>The rhino calf was born Thursday&nbsp;Photos courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Christmas came early for the Rolling Hills Zoo family with the birth of the Zoo’s first southern white rhino calf Thursday.The calf and Evey, the calf’s mother, are doing well and bonding as animal care staff monitors the pair from a distance. The sex of the calf not been confirmed at this time.Evey had been part of a 15 member white rhino herd (or “crash”) at The Wilds Safari Park and Conservation Center at Cumberland, Ohio, prior to her arrival at RHZ. Since she had been with males within the herd, RHZ staff were hopeful that she was pregnant when she arrived in October 2020 and have been monitoring her pregnancy ever since. White rhino gestation can last 16 to 18 months.“The Rolling Hills Zoo staff and I are over the moon for Evey and the first baby rhino birth at the Zoo,” said Ryan VanZant, RHZ executive director. “This a truly wonderful gift right before the holidays.”Born at The Wilds Safari Park and Conservation Center, Evey was named for her birth date - December 31st. She will turn fifteen at the end of the month. While her parents have moved to other zoos as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), Evey remained at The Wilds Safari Park as part of their white rhino herd which is managed as one large social group, and the only rhinos that were not born there are two adult breeding males. Evey made the move to Rolling Hills Zoo on a breeding recommendation by the SSP of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), of which Rolling Hills Zoo is an accredited member.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639089719931.jpeg" alt="Evey, right, and her calf." />
 <figcaption>Evey, right, and her calf.</figcaption>
 </figure>Evey is an experienced mother, successfully giving birth to three offspring: Jaycambo, a male born in 2011; Agnes, a female born in 2014; and Gordon, a male born in 2017, and has been a great mother to all three. While Jaycambo is no longer at The Wilds, Agnes and Gordon have remained as part of the herd.At this time, the rhino barn is closed for public viewing. The zoo asks for the public’s patience and understanding as they allow time for the mother and calf to bond. For now, animal care staff are entering the building as necessary and the pair is being monitored via cameras.The white rhino, the second largest land mammal after the elephant, is a major conservation success story after having been brought back from the very brink of extinction. But the current surge in poaching for their horns, particularly in South Africa, has seen record numbers killed in recent years and urgent efforts are now underway to stop the poaching and end the illegal trade. In Africa today, more than 20,000 southern white rhinos now thrive in protected sanctuaries and are classified as near threatened.

Early Christmas present at Kan. zoo: White rhino calf

Ruth B. (Sheil) Murray, 97, passed away, Wednesday, December 8, 2021,
 at the University of Kansas Health Systems – Great Bend Campus, Great 
Bend, Kansas. She was born on December 22, 1923, in an oil camp in Salt 
Springs, Wyoming, to Edward and Pauline (Driscoll) Sheil.

A long-time resident of Great Bend, she did spend some of her 
childhood on a farm near Cherryvale and later Lyons, Kansas. She 
graduated from Great Bend High School in 1941. She then attended Salt 
City Business College in Hutchinson. Paying her way through school by 
doing various jobs including house cleaning and baby sitting while 
walking the length of Hutchinson. Finally, she secured a job as a 
“Harvey House Girl” at the Bisonte Hotel and Restaurant, where she 
helped serve meals to the troop trains passing through Hutchinson during
 World War II.

On January 24, 1946, she married John C. Murray, a former B-29 
crewmember, who had been stationed at the Great Bend Army Airfield prior
 to going overseas. In January of 1958, Ruth and John co-founded Murray 
Casing Crews, Inc., an oilfield service company which still exists after
 65 years and three-generations later. She was a charter member of St. 
Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

Having survived the Depression, the Dust Bowl and World War II, she 
also raised three sons: John (Steve) and wife Jan of Great Bend, Kansas,
 Thomas (Tom) and wife Jana of Great Bend, and Philip and wife Linda of 
Hays, Kansas. They survive. She has four grandchildren: John (Chris) 
Murray and Brett Murray of Great Bend, Kansas, Derek Murray, Michigan, 
and Caitlyn Murray of Casper, Wyoming; one great-grandchild; one sister 
Nita of Spokane, Washington; numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband John, an infant daughter 
that she lost in October 1954: Janice Marie, her parents, sister Teresa 
Haag, and brothers Michael, James, and John Sheil.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, December
 13, 2021, with Altar Society rosary at 4:00 p.m., and Vigil and rosary 
at 7 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. A&nbsp;Mass of Christian Burial will 
be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at St. Rose of Lima 
Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father Aneesh Parappanattu 
presiding.&nbsp;Interment will be in the&nbsp;Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. 


Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment Fund, in care of
 Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639077169803.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ruth B. (Sheil) Murray, 97, passed away, Wednesday, December 8, 2021,
 at the University of Kansas Health Systems – Great Bend Campus, Great 
Bend, Kansas. She was born on December 22, 1923, in an oil camp in Salt 
Springs, Wyoming, to Edward and Pauline (Driscoll) Sheil.A long-time resident of Great Bend, she did spend some of her 
childhood on a farm near Cherryvale and later Lyons, Kansas. She 
graduated from Great Bend High School in 1941. She then attended Salt 
City Business College in Hutchinson. Paying her way through school by 
doing various jobs including house cleaning and baby sitting while 
walking the length of Hutchinson. Finally, she secured a job as a 
“Harvey House Girl” at the Bisonte Hotel and Restaurant, where she 
helped serve meals to the troop trains passing through Hutchinson during
 World War II.On January 24, 1946, she married John C. Murray, a former B-29 
crewmember, who had been stationed at the Great Bend Army Airfield prior
 to going overseas. In January of 1958, Ruth and John co-founded Murray 
Casing Crews, Inc., an oilfield service company which still exists after
 65 years and three-generations later. She was a charter member of St. 
Rose of Lima Catholic Church.Having survived the Depression, the Dust Bowl and World War II, she 
also raised three sons: John (Steve) and wife Jan of Great Bend, Kansas,
 Thomas (Tom) and wife Jana of Great Bend, and Philip and wife Linda of 
Hays, Kansas. They survive. She has four grandchildren: John (Chris) 
Murray and Brett Murray of Great Bend, Kansas, Derek Murray, Michigan, 
and Caitlyn Murray of Casper, Wyoming; one great-grandchild; one sister 
Nita of Spokane, Washington; numerous nieces and nephews.Ruth was preceded in death by her husband John, an infant daughter 
that she lost in October 1954: Janice Marie, her parents, sister Teresa 
Haag, and brothers Michael, James, and John Sheil.Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, December
 13, 2021, with Altar Society rosary at 4:00 p.m., and Vigil and rosary 
at 7 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. A&nbsp;Mass of Christian Burial will 
be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at St. Rose of Lima 
Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father Aneesh Parappanattu 
presiding.&nbsp;Interment will be in the&nbsp;Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. 
Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment Fund, in care of
 Bryant Funeral Home.

Ruth B. (Sheil) Murray

Carole J. Boor, 81, passed away December 8, 2021, at Almost Home, 
Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born June 7, 1940, in Ellsworth, Kansas, to
 Stephen and Blanche Jiricek. She grew up in the Black Wolf Kansas area,
 attended South Exselsior country grade school and graduated from 
Ellsworth High School in 1958.

On October 7, 1958, she was married to Bernard J. Boor and they made their life in and around the Hoisington/Claflin area.

Carole was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, where she was
 the organist and choir director for 24 years and a member of the Altar 
Society. A homemaker and farm wife, Carole was also an avid reader and 
gardener.

She is survived by five children; Stephen Boor of Sylvan Grove, 
Connie Boor of Hoisington, Mark Boor of Odin, Christopher Boor of 
Olmitz, and Patrick Boor and wife Lori of Macksville. As well as seven 
grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and one more great 
grandchild on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three infant sisters, husband, Bernard, and grandson, Jordan Boor.

Vistitation will be Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family to greet 
friends from 6 to 8 p.m.. Vigil with Rosary will begin at 7 p.m., all at
 Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 11, 
2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, celebrated by Father Prakash
 Kola. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Kans for Kids or Hoisington Public Library 
in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 
67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639065348486.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carole J. Boor, 81, passed away December 8, 2021, at Almost Home, 
Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born June 7, 1940, in Ellsworth, Kansas, to
 Stephen and Blanche Jiricek. She grew up in the Black Wolf Kansas area,
 attended South Exselsior country grade school and graduated from 
Ellsworth High School in 1958.On October 7, 1958, she was married to Bernard J. Boor and they made their life in and around the Hoisington/Claflin area.Carole was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, where she was
 the organist and choir director for 24 years and a member of the Altar 
Society. A homemaker and farm wife, Carole was also an avid reader and 
gardener.She is survived by five children; Stephen Boor of Sylvan Grove, 
Connie Boor of Hoisington, Mark Boor of Odin, Christopher Boor of 
Olmitz, and Patrick Boor and wife Lori of Macksville. As well as seven 
grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and one more great 
grandchild on the way.She was preceded in death by her parents, three infant sisters, husband, Bernard, and grandson, Jordan Boor.Vistitation will be Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family to greet 
friends from 6 to 8 p.m.. Vigil with Rosary will begin at 7 p.m., all at
 Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 11, 
2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, celebrated by Father Prakash
 Kola. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.Memorials may be made to Kans for Kids or Hoisington Public Library 
in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 
67544.

Carole J. Boor

Kansas State High School Activities Association

As a 1965 graduate, Bill Kimble is easily the most decorated athlete 
to graduate from Hoisington High School. Bill Kimble earned 12 gold 
medals from the KSHSAA State Track Meets in 1963, 1964 and 1965.  In 
each of those three years, he won the gold in the 100-yard and 220-yard 
dashes, the 180-yard hurdles, and the 880-yard relay. He also helped his
 track team win two state titles. Kimble holds the record for the 
100-yard dash with a time of 9.6 seconds (or converted to meters is 10.5
 seconds).  Bill continues to hold the state records for the 100-yard 
and 220-yard dashes.  Bill was also an accomplished football athlete and
 intended to compete for Texas when he experienced some bad luck with 
his trip and therefore returned to Kansas to participate in track and 
football at a junior college before being drafted to Vietnam.

***The
 USD 431 Hoisington Board of Education approved a motion in October to 
rename the track at HHS to “Bill Kimble Track." The Hoisington 
Invitational in April will be renamed the “Bill Kimble Invitational” 
going forward.

Charles "Chuck" Fessenden spent 43 years 
teaching, coaching and inspiring students at Northern Valley High School
 in Almena, Kansas. He served as the head football coach his entire 
career, charting 292 wins and 142 losses, the most all-time 8-player 
football coaching wins in Kansas. During his tenure, his team made the 
state championships seven times and brought home the championship crown 
in three of those games. At one time, his football program had 41 
consecutive wins. Chuck was one of the initial founders of the "Kansas 
8-Man Football Association" and the "8-Man All Star Game."&nbsp; Coach 
Fessenden was also responsible for coaching one state basketball 
championship and winning three state track championships. He was honored
 with multiple awards and recognitions over the course of four decades 
for his coaching of football, basketball, and track. The football field 
at Northern Valley has been named Fessenden Field in his honor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639061563441.jpeg" alt="Bill Kimble" />
 <figcaption>Bill Kimble</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State High School Activities AssociationAs a 1965 graduate, Bill Kimble is easily the most decorated athlete 
to graduate from Hoisington High School. Bill Kimble earned 12 gold 
medals from the KSHSAA State Track Meets in 1963, 1964 and 1965. In 
each of those three years, he won the gold in the 100-yard and 220-yard 
dashes, the 180-yard hurdles, and the 880-yard relay. He also helped his
 track team win two state titles. Kimble holds the record for the 
100-yard dash with a time of 9.6 seconds (or converted to meters is 10.5
 seconds). Bill continues to hold the state records for the 100-yard 
and 220-yard dashes. Bill was also an accomplished football athlete and
 intended to compete for Texas when he experienced some bad luck with 
his trip and therefore returned to Kansas to participate in track and 
football at a junior college before being drafted to Vietnam.***The
 USD 431 Hoisington Board of Education approved a motion in October to 
rename the track at HHS to “Bill Kimble Track." The Hoisington 
Invitational in April will be renamed the “Bill Kimble Invitational” 
going forward.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639061723739.png" alt="Charles 'Chuck' Fessenden" />
 <figcaption>Charles 'Chuck' Fessenden</figcaption>
 </figure>Charles "Chuck" Fessenden spent 43 years 
teaching, coaching and inspiring students at Northern Valley High School
 in Almena, Kansas. He served as the head football coach his entire 
career, charting 292 wins and 142 losses, the most all-time 8-player 
football coaching wins in Kansas. During his tenure, his team made the 
state championships seven times and brought home the championship crown 
in three of those games. At one time, his football program had 41 
consecutive wins. Chuck was one of the initial founders of the "Kansas 
8-Man Football Association" and the "8-Man All Star Game."&nbsp; Coach 
Fessenden was also responsible for coaching one state basketball 
championship and winning three state track championships. He was honored
 with multiple awards and recognitions over the course of four decades 
for his coaching of football, basketball, and track. The football field 
at Northern Valley has been named Fessenden Field in his honor. Cheryl
 Gleason is synonymous with the Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) 
organization as it is built upon service and leadership. Cheryl served 
the students, coaches, sponsors, administrators, and schools of Kansas 
through her leadership as an Assistant Executive Director at the Kansas 
State High School Activities Association from 1989 until her retirement 
in 2021. Although she was the administrator for activities such as 
gymnastics, volleyball, bowling, tennis, swimming and diving and golf, 
what she will always be most remembered for are her years as the KAY 
State Director. Cheryl is the only KAY alum to have served 50 years at 
the KAY Leadership Camp. In 2012, she helped launch KAYAN, the Kansas 
Association for Youth Alumni Network, as an organization that would 
continue the beliefs and mission of the KAY organization. During her 
career, Cheryl served on numerous national committees and was recognized
 for her service with many Hall of Fame inductions. Pam 
McComas spent 40 years in the Topeka 501 School District, instilling a 
passion for speech, debate and forensics in her students.&nbsp; She coached 
over 170 students to Nationals for 33 consecutive years, coaching five 
national champions and 15 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) 
All-Americans.&nbsp; In 1999 she was awarded the National Coach of the Year 
by Pi Kappa Delta/Bruno E. Jacob Award and in 2016 McComas received the 
National Federation State High School Association's (NFHS) Citation 
Award for Speech, Debate and Theatre Directors.&nbsp; Her involvement with 
the KSHSAA includes serving on the Board of Directors and Executive 
Board.&nbsp; Beyond the state of Kansas, she has served the NFHS on various 
committees and has co-authored National debate topic papers, in which 
her topic,&nbsp;Water&nbsp;Resources, was selected for the 2021-2022 school year. 
Through the NSDA, McComas has received multiple Chapter Awards and other
 numerous honors. Barry Mellen spent 34 years as a teacher
 and coach, 29 of those years at Kismet-Southwestern Heights. During his
 girls basketball coaching career, he acquired a record of 785 wins and 
178 losses, a winning percentage of .815. In 1992, his girls' basketball
 team had an undefeated season which led to a state championship. His 
teams won state championship titles twice and were runner ups seven 
times. Barry was a successful volleyball coach as well, making it to the
 state tournament seven years and a girls/boys track coach with three 
state championships. With his years of success came many recognitions 
such as "Coach of the Year" by numerous news outlets and associations 
and even a "Coach of the Decade." At the National Federation State High 
School Association (NFHS) level, Coach Mellen was awarded the "National 
Girls Coach of the Year" for District 5 in 2009. --The 
honorees were chosen from nominations reviewed by a selection committee.
 To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, an individual must have made an 
unusually outstanding contribution in interscholastic activities, either
 as a student with exceptional talent, or as an adult working with youth
 (such as an activity coach, director or sponsor, an administrator, an 
official or a contributor). Hall of Fame inductees may no longer be 
active in the field for which they are nominated (exception: contributor
 with over 30 years of outstanding service).Each year schools and
 communities throughout Kansas submit many nominations of individuals 
who have made tremendous contributions in the field of interscholastic 
activities. Hall of Fame information is available on the KSHSAA website 
at www.kshsaa.org. Nomination forms are available by contacting the 
KSHSAA. Any nominations to be considered for induction in 2023 must be 
submitted prior to November 1, 2022.