By DAVID MEDNICOFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970">The Conversation</a>

With the start of the World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, soccer teams <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar">from 32 countries</a> and <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2022-fans/">tens of thousands of fans</a>
 have converged on Qatar, a tiny Arab country on a peninsula in the 
Persian Gulf. But search “Qatar 2022” online, and the first nonsport 
results are about <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/14/qatar-rights-abuses-stain-fifa-world-cup">the country’s human rights issues</a>.

Like its fellow oil-rich Arab countries, Qatar has enjoyed immense 
wealth that nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth among rulers and
 citizens alike. Qatar and its neighbors, including Bahrain and the 
United Arab Emirates, have brought <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/areasofwork/labour-migration/lang--en/index.htm">in millions</a> of workers from other countries to support their fast-growing cities and businesses over the <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/QAT/qatar/immigration-statistics">past few decades</a>.

In particular, about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042">30,000 workers</a>
 came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to construct the World Cup 
stadiums. At least 37 died, according to official Qatari counts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html">while building</a> the US$220 billion infrastructure for the games.

I am <a href="https://www.umass.edu/jne/member/david-mednicoff">a political scientist and legal scholar of the Middle East</a> who has lived and <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/middle-east-expert-mednicoff-named-lead-investigator-for-1-million-research-study?channel=">worked</a>
 in Qatar. Given the sudden media focus on the country, I think it 
helpful for both World Cup fans and people who don’t know a soccer ball 
from a hockey puck to understand four aspects of Qatar’s politics that 
relate to its human rights challenges.

A sparsely populated country in a desert, Qatar gained independence from Great Britain in 1971. With its large <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gas/qatar-natural-gas/">oil and natural gas</a> reserves, Qatar has the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=QA">highest income per citizen</a> in the world.

Qatar’s ruler is <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/01/tamim-the-glorious-portrait-goes-viral.html">popular</a> among <a href="https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/QAT">citizens</a>. <a href="https://www.diwan.gov.qa/hh-the-amir?sc_lang=en#data---">Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</a>
 is part a family dynasty that has run the area’s politics since the 
1800s, even under Ottoman and British control. This makes Qatar one of 
eight Arab countries governed by hereditary kings.

Hereditary ruling monarchies <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315203195-10/contemporary-kingship-muslim-arab-societies-comparative-context-david-mednicoff">may seem archaic</a> to people living in societies with elected leaders. Yet these systems <a href="https://theconversation.com/middle-eastern-monarchies-how-do-arab-ruling-families-hold-on-to-power-159952">have held onto power, outlasting the Arab uprisings of 2011</a>. The lack of democracy in Arab countries is also part of a broader trend, as <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule">autocratic governments are generally on the rise globally</a>.

2. Yes – workers’ rights have been a problem 

Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a major <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/">media</a>, <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city">educational</a>, <a href="https://raiagroup.org/qatars-tamim-is-leading-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east">diplomatic</a>
 and recreational hub over the past few decades. Its breakneck 
development also required workers from all over the world. As a result, 
foreign workers make up <a href="https://www.onlineqatar.com/visiting/tourist-information/qatar-population-and-expat-nationalities">about 85% of the country’s total population</a>, but they <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar">do not have the same rights</a> as Qatari citizens. Qatari natives have been reluctant to share their <a href="https://qatarofw.com/qatar-social-security/">extraordinary social welfare benefits</a>,
 like free medical care, with millions of workers from abroad. This 
makes for a system that gives many more rights to Qatari nationals than 
the millions of others who live there.

Unusual, rapid growth like Qatar’s is a magnet for foreign contract 
workers worldwide. I enjoyed my opportunity to work there myself as a 
visiting professor and Fulbright scholar 15 years ago. Yet less 
privileged foreign workers can fare badly.

In Qatar and its oil-rich peers, control by a minority of citizens over millions of workers with fewer rights leads to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/15/migrant-workers-in-qatar-face-structural-racism-says-un-report">discrimination and abuse</a>. Human rights groups, journalists and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/migrant-workers-recount-abuse-while-building-stadiums-for-world-cup-in-qatar">migrant workers</a> themselves have <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/02/reality-check-migrant-workers-rights-with-two-years-to-qatar-2022-world-cup/">sought to change harmful workplace practices</a>, such as withholding wages and forbidding unions.

Qatar’s summer heat, <a href="https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/doha-climate">averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit</a>
 (41 degrees Celsius), can make working conditions especially dangerous 
for outside construction workers. Since it is hard to know whether the 
alleged worker deaths are due specifically to bad working conditions, 
work-related issues, or something else, exact mortality numbers have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-many-people-have-died-for-the-qatar-world-cup/a-63763713">been disputed and may be prone to exaggeration</a>. Yet no one doubts that <a href="https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/thousands-migrant-workers-died-qatars-extreme-heat-world-cup-forced-reckoning">conditions have been terrible</a> for many of Qatar’s most vulnerable workers.

Other rights issues in Qatar have also <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/19/world-cup-lgbtq-fans-athletes-safety/">attracted global attention</a>. The conservative form of Islam that is part of Qatar’s identity allows little tolerance for LGBTQ rights. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/qatar-security-forces-arrest-abuse-lgbt-people">Human rights groups have documented</a> detentions and other routine discrimination against LGBTQ people.

While workers’ rights have received appropriate Western media attention, Qatar’s direct efforts to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3836101/2022/11/17/how-ngos-responded-to-world-cup/">respond to local and international activism</a> are less known. Qatar <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/24/qatar-significant-labor-and-kafala-reforms">enacted the most significant labor rights reforms in the Arab world</a> in 2021.

<a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm">Working with the International Labor Organization</a>,
 a United Nations agency that promotes fair and decent work worldwide, 
Qatar instituted a minimum wage of $275 per month, along with allowances
 for food and lodging. It also prohibited outdoor work during the peak 
of summer heat and eliminated many of the laws that gave employers 
control over their workers’ basic freedoms to leave their job or the 
country.

Because the reforms are recent, it is hard to know whether they represent <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/qatar">important steps forward</a> or <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/qatar-labour-reform-unfinished-and-compensation-still-owed-as-world-cup-looms/">incremental steps that will change little</a>.

In any case, legislation in and of itself cannot remedy a complicated
 challenge involving a wide range of companies and other organizations 
that Qatar’s government does not control. Whether Qatar can and will 
enforce the new regulations consistently is one concern. 

Most foreign migrants arrive in Qatar through foreign-based recruitment companies, which charge them to secure jobs. So even if <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/1/qatar-made-progress-in-labour-reforms-ilo">Qatar tries to curb labor abuses</a>, <a href="https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Country-Focus/world-cup-qatar#domestic">recruitment companies</a>
 based in migrants’ countries of origin would still profit by charging 
workers expensive placement fees, for example. Such recruiters often 
work with <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/de/von-uns/briefings/wake-up-call-exploitative-recruitment-risk-to-migrant-workers-in-qatars-world-cup-hotels/">multinational companies within Qatar</a> to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2022/10/28/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/?sh=6cb0b28c2062">blunt the force</a> of the kingdom’s recent reforms.

4. And Western critiques may conceal other agendas 

<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/15/qatari-minister-slams-western-media-coverage-of-world-cup-record">Qatari officials have suggested</a>
 that international attention to foreign workers’ conditions is part of a
 broader pattern of Westerners belittling Arabs and Muslims. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/qatar-world-cup-team-depicted-terrorists-cartoon-sparks-outrage-1758928">One blatant example</a>
 is an October issue of the French right-wing satirical magazine “Le 
Canard enchaîné,” which depicted Qatari soccer players as terrorists.

Calls in some parts of Europe for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/17/qatar-world-cup-broadcasting-boycotts-france">a widespread World Cup boycott</a> add fuel to this and <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">other arguments</a> that the European and American impression of Qatar is <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221119-fifa-president-blasts-hypocrisy-of-western-critics-of-world-cup-host-qatar">hypocritical</a> and possibly <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221010-qatar-says-french-objections-to-fifa-world-cup-stem-from-islamophobia/">Islamophobic</a>.
 Though hardly a neutral observer, Gianni Infantino, the president of 
FIFA, which carries out the World Cup, reflected many Gulf Arabs’ views 
when he argued that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-chief-accuses-critics-of-qatar-of-hypocrisy-ahead-of-world-cup.html">Europe’s history of exploiting Middle Easterners and others</a> gives it little moral high ground on issues of non-Western rights.

Because no Middle Eastern or Muslim-majority country had hosted the World Cup before 2022, Qatar’s achievement is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/opinion/qatar-world-cup-arab-football.html">significant</a>. The Economist <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">argues that</a>
 Qatar’s responsiveness to pressures to improve its human rights climate
 may make it a more appropriate host for a global sporting event than 
other countries with poor human rights records, such as China or Russia.

Yet genuine global concern about rights in countries like Qatar and 
mistrust between the Middle East and the West will persist. Can new 
global awareness of Qatar lead to more nuanced understanding of both 
cross-cultural similarities and differences between Arab Islamic 
countries and the rest of the world? For the moment, this is as hard to 
know as which country will win the World Cup.

David Mednicoff, Chair, Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and 
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass 
Amherst

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669227517151.jpeg" alt="Young girls and a woman watch a fireworks display as part of the World Cup soccer tournament FIFA fan festival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" />
 <figcaption>Young girls and a woman watch a fireworks display as part of the World Cup soccer tournament FIFA fan festival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID MEDNICOFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970">The Conversation</a>With the start of the World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, soccer teams <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar">from 32 countries</a> and <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2022-fans/">tens of thousands of fans</a>
 have converged on Qatar, a tiny Arab country on a peninsula in the 
Persian Gulf. But search “Qatar 2022” online, and the first nonsport 
results are about <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/14/qatar-rights-abuses-stain-fifa-world-cup">the country’s human rights issues</a>.Like its fellow oil-rich Arab countries, Qatar has enjoyed immense 
wealth that nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth among rulers and
 citizens alike. Qatar and its neighbors, including Bahrain and the 
United Arab Emirates, have brought <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/areasofwork/labour-migration/lang--en/index.htm">in millions</a> of workers from other countries to support their fast-growing cities and businesses over the <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/QAT/qatar/immigration-statistics">past few decades</a>.In particular, about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042">30,000 workers</a>
 came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to construct the World Cup 
stadiums. At least 37 died, according to official Qatari counts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html">while building</a> the US$220 billion infrastructure for the games. I am <a href="https://www.umass.edu/jne/member/david-mednicoff">a political scientist and legal scholar of the Middle East</a> who has lived and <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/middle-east-expert-mednicoff-named-lead-investigator-for-1-million-research-study?channel=">worked</a>
 in Qatar. Given the sudden media focus on the country, I think it 
helpful for both World Cup fans and people who don’t know a soccer ball 
from a hockey puck to understand four aspects of Qatar’s politics that 
relate to its human rights challenges.<h2>1. Qatar is ruled by a popular king</h2>A sparsely populated country in a desert, Qatar gained independence from Great Britain in 1971. With its large <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gas/qatar-natural-gas/">oil and natural gas</a> reserves, Qatar has the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=QA">highest income per citizen</a> in the world. Qatar’s ruler is <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/01/tamim-the-glorious-portrait-goes-viral.html">popular</a> among <a href="https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/QAT">citizens</a>. <a href="https://www.diwan.gov.qa/hh-the-amir?sc_lang=en#data---">Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</a>
 is part a family dynasty that has run the area’s politics since the 
1800s, even under Ottoman and British control. This makes Qatar one of 
eight Arab countries governed by hereditary kings.Hereditary ruling monarchies <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315203195-10/contemporary-kingship-muslim-arab-societies-comparative-context-david-mednicoff">may seem archaic</a> to people living in societies with elected leaders. Yet these systems <a href="https://theconversation.com/middle-eastern-monarchies-how-do-arab-ruling-families-hold-on-to-power-159952">have held onto power, outlasting the Arab uprisings of 2011</a>. The lack of democracy in Arab countries is also part of a broader trend, as <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule">autocratic governments are generally on the rise globally</a>. <h2>2. Yes – workers’ rights have been a problem </h2>Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a major <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/">media</a>, <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city">educational</a>, <a href="https://raiagroup.org/qatars-tamim-is-leading-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east">diplomatic</a>
 and recreational hub over the past few decades. Its breakneck 
development also required workers from all over the world. As a result, 
foreign workers make up <a href="https://www.onlineqatar.com/visiting/tourist-information/qatar-population-and-expat-nationalities">about 85% of the country’s total population</a>, but they <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar">do not have the same rights</a> as Qatari citizens. Qatari natives have been reluctant to share their <a href="https://qatarofw.com/qatar-social-security/">extraordinary social welfare benefits</a>,
 like free medical care, with millions of workers from abroad. This 
makes for a system that gives many more rights to Qatari nationals than 
the millions of others who live there.Unusual, rapid growth like Qatar’s is a magnet for foreign contract 
workers worldwide. I enjoyed my opportunity to work there myself as a 
visiting professor and Fulbright scholar 15 years ago. Yet less 
privileged foreign workers can fare badly.In Qatar and its oil-rich peers, control by a minority of citizens over millions of workers with fewer rights leads to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/15/migrant-workers-in-qatar-face-structural-racism-says-un-report">discrimination and abuse</a>. Human rights groups, journalists and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/migrant-workers-recount-abuse-while-building-stadiums-for-world-cup-in-qatar">migrant workers</a> themselves have <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/02/reality-check-migrant-workers-rights-with-two-years-to-qatar-2022-world-cup/">sought to change harmful workplace practices</a>, such as withholding wages and forbidding unions. Qatar’s summer heat, <a href="https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/doha-climate">averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit</a>
 (41 degrees Celsius), can make working conditions especially dangerous 
for outside construction workers. Since it is hard to know whether the 
alleged worker deaths are due specifically to bad working conditions, 
work-related issues, or something else, exact mortality numbers have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-many-people-have-died-for-the-qatar-world-cup/a-63763713">been disputed and may be prone to exaggeration</a>. Yet no one doubts that <a href="https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/thousands-migrant-workers-died-qatars-extreme-heat-world-cup-forced-reckoning">conditions have been terrible</a> for many of Qatar’s most vulnerable workers.Other rights issues in Qatar have also <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/19/world-cup-lgbtq-fans-athletes-safety/">attracted global attention</a>. The conservative form of Islam that is part of Qatar’s identity allows little tolerance for LGBTQ rights. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/qatar-security-forces-arrest-abuse-lgbt-people">Human rights groups have documented</a> detentions and other routine discrimination against LGBTQ people.<h2>3. Yet Qatar has made major reforms</h2>While workers’ rights have received appropriate Western media attention, Qatar’s direct efforts to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3836101/2022/11/17/how-ngos-responded-to-world-cup/">respond to local and international activism</a> are less known. Qatar <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/24/qatar-significant-labor-and-kafala-reforms">enacted the most significant labor rights reforms in the Arab world</a> in 2021. <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm">Working with the International Labor Organization</a>,
 a United Nations agency that promotes fair and decent work worldwide, 
Qatar instituted a minimum wage of $275 per month, along with allowances
 for food and lodging. It also prohibited outdoor work during the peak 
of summer heat and eliminated many of the laws that gave employers 
control over their workers’ basic freedoms to leave their job or the 
country.Because the reforms are recent, it is hard to know whether they represent <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/qatar">important steps forward</a> or <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/qatar-labour-reform-unfinished-and-compensation-still-owed-as-world-cup-looms/">incremental steps that will change little</a>. In any case, legislation in and of itself cannot remedy a complicated
 challenge involving a wide range of companies and other organizations 
that Qatar’s government does not control. Whether Qatar can and will 
enforce the new regulations consistently is one concern. Most foreign migrants arrive in Qatar through foreign-based recruitment companies, which charge them to secure jobs. So even if <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/1/qatar-made-progress-in-labour-reforms-ilo">Qatar tries to curb labor abuses</a>, <a href="https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Country-Focus/world-cup-qatar#domestic">recruitment companies</a>
 based in migrants’ countries of origin would still profit by charging 
workers expensive placement fees, for example. Such recruiters often 
work with <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/de/von-uns/briefings/wake-up-call-exploitative-recruitment-risk-to-migrant-workers-in-qatars-world-cup-hotels/">multinational companies within Qatar</a> to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2022/10/28/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/?sh=6cb0b28c2062">blunt the force</a> of the kingdom’s recent reforms. <h2>4. And Western critiques may conceal other agendas </h2><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/15/qatari-minister-slams-western-media-coverage-of-world-cup-record">Qatari officials have suggested</a>
 that international attention to foreign workers’ conditions is part of a
 broader pattern of Westerners belittling Arabs and Muslims. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/qatar-world-cup-team-depicted-terrorists-cartoon-sparks-outrage-1758928">One blatant example</a>
 is an October issue of the French right-wing satirical magazine “Le 
Canard enchaîné,” which depicted Qatari soccer players as terrorists.Calls in some parts of Europe for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/17/qatar-world-cup-broadcasting-boycotts-france">a widespread World Cup boycott</a> add fuel to this and <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">other arguments</a> that the European and American impression of Qatar is <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221119-fifa-president-blasts-hypocrisy-of-western-critics-of-world-cup-host-qatar">hypocritical</a> and possibly <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221010-qatar-says-french-objections-to-fifa-world-cup-stem-from-islamophobia/">Islamophobic</a>.
 Though hardly a neutral observer, Gianni Infantino, the president of 
FIFA, which carries out the World Cup, reflected many Gulf Arabs’ views 
when he argued that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-chief-accuses-critics-of-qatar-of-hypocrisy-ahead-of-world-cup.html">Europe’s history of exploiting Middle Easterners and others</a> gives it little moral high ground on issues of non-Western rights. Because no Middle Eastern or Muslim-majority country had hosted the World Cup before 2022, Qatar’s achievement is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/opinion/qatar-world-cup-arab-football.html">significant</a>. The Economist <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">argues that</a>
 Qatar’s responsiveness to pressures to improve its human rights climate
 may make it a more appropriate host for a global sporting event than 
other countries with poor human rights records, such as China or Russia.
 Yet genuine global concern about rights in countries like Qatar and 
mistrust between the Middle East and the West will persist. Can new 
global awareness of Qatar lead to more nuanced understanding of both 
cross-cultural similarities and differences between Arab Islamic 
countries and the rest of the world? For the moment, this is as hard to 
know as which country will win the World Cup.David Mednicoff, Chair, Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and 
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass 
Amherst<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194970/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

World Cup puts spotlight on Qatar — and its human rights record 

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-22/the-cost-of-talking-to-family-from-prison-strains-ties-that-help-inmates-thrive-after-release">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Trish Gaston spends $50 a week talking to her two sons at the Lansing Correctional Facility.

Gaston has tried cutting back to save some money, but she said “I need to hear their voice every day.”

“That’s their only contact to the outside world and to feel somewhat normal,” she said.

Even convicted felons, Gaston said, deserve to talk to their family.

That
 desire for connection with friends and family grows more urgent around 
the holidays. The buzz of Christmas gatherings or Thanksgiving feasts 
feels emptier without every loved one around, but inmates and their 
families make do with phone calls or messages.

Families of 
prisoners in Kansas say the phone calls, emails or even postcards that 
keep inmates in touch with loved ones come with unreasonable hassle and 
cost — barriers that could leave them isolated and less likely blend 
into a law-abiding world when they finally get paroled.

The people
 who run Kansas prisons argue they do what they can to balance the need 
of inmates to communicate with the outside against ways those contacts 
can channel the smuggling of drugs into prison or accommodate schemes 
that could put people in danger inside and outside prison.

So 
they’ve devised ways that give wardens more control of how prisoners can
 communicate with the outside — ways that leave inmates and their 
families increasingly frustrated.

That holiday card the family 
sent? It might get caught up in the mailroom for weeks. And the prisoner
 might only get a photocopy because prison officials worry about drugs 
that might get soaked into the paperboard.

Electronic messages can
 get delayed, and sometimes denied, with explanations that families say 
can feel contrived — or without any explanation.

From
 July 2016 to July 2021, 5,238 inmates got released from Kansas prisons 
on indigent status. That means someone had less than $12 in their inmate
 bank account.

At 25 cents a message, around $10 per video call 
and 14 cents a minute for a phone call, parents and inmates say people 
who make a few dozen dollars a month can’t afford to talk. Phone calls 
also come with hefty fees. Adding $20 of phone time buys just under two 
hours of phone time.

Abigail Reed, an inmate at the Topeka 
Correctional Facility, is not able to work any kind of job because she 
is seven months pregnant. She would feel better if she could talk more 
with her mother, but medical bills make it hard for her mother to add 
money to talk.

Her mother will take her child once it’s born, but 
Reed worries she won’t be able to keep in touch with her mother because 
of cost.

“I would feel better if I could see (and) talk to her more regularly,” she said. “She does what she can for me.”

Inmates
 with financial backing, either from their prison jobs or from their 
families, may not struggle to pay. But those with tight budgets say the 
costs run too high.

The Kansas Department of Corrections says it 
does provide low-income inmates up to four free letters a month so they 
can keep in touch with the outside.

The department does have to 
balance safety with open communication. A message is delayed because it 
needs to be reviewed before being approved, and mail might move slow 
because it was flagged as a safety concern.

In September 2021, the
 Ellsworth Correctional Facility began a pilot program that photocopied 
mail because officials there said drugs were getting into the prison 
through the postal system. Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a 
letter to inmates and families that mailed drugs led to two deaths in 
the prison system.

“This threatens not only the lives of these 
residents, but the health and safety of other residents and staff who 
come into contact with the substance or with second-hand exposures,” he 
said.

California and Connecticut have made calls from prison free, and more sweeping changes could be coming.

The
 Federal Communications Commission has looked into lowering rates 
before, but courts said they lack authority to do so and can only lower 
rates of phone calls between states. A bill in the U.S. Senate would 
give the agency power to adjust rates for in-state calls and video 
visits.

“This is a complicated problem, but it is one we have got to solve,” FCC Chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/23/1130782415/incarcerated-people-pay-about-5-dollars-for-a-30-minute-phone-call-a-new-bill-wa" target="_blank">told NPR in late October</a>.
 “You and I make a phone call — if we don't like a provider, we just 
choose someone else. A jail or prison develops an exclusive contract 
with one provider.”

Rosenworcel said that 2.7 million U.S. 
children have parents in jail or prison and that constant communication 
with loved ones can reduce recidivism.

Gaston, the mother with 
children in Lansing, knows keeping in touch with her children will only 
help them in the long run, but she said the prison doesn’t make it easy.

It may not seem like much, but she said holiday cards and regular phone calls let someone know they are loved.

“It’s
 got to lift your spirits somewhat, they have very little in there to 
lift their spirits,” she said. “Something simple like that does make a 
difference.”

Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the 
Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter 
@Blaise_Mesa or email him at blaise@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669147177266.png" alt="Phone calls cost 14 cents a minute while in prison. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Phone calls cost 14 cents a minute while in prison. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-22/the-cost-of-talking-to-family-from-prison-strains-ties-that-help-inmates-thrive-after-release">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Trish Gaston spends $50 a week talking to her two sons at the Lansing Correctional Facility.Gaston has tried cutting back to save some money, but she said “I need to hear their voice every day.”“That’s their only contact to the outside world and to feel somewhat normal,” she said.Even convicted felons, Gaston said, deserve to talk to their family.That
 desire for connection with friends and family grows more urgent around 
the holidays. The buzz of Christmas gatherings or Thanksgiving feasts 
feels emptier without every loved one around, but inmates and their 
families make do with phone calls or messages.Families of 
prisoners in Kansas say the phone calls, emails or even postcards that 
keep inmates in touch with loved ones come with unreasonable hassle and 
cost — barriers that could leave them isolated and less likely blend 
into a law-abiding world when they finally get paroled.The people
 who run Kansas prisons argue they do what they can to balance the need 
of inmates to communicate with the outside against ways those contacts 
can channel the smuggling of drugs into prison or accommodate schemes 
that could put people in danger inside and outside prison.So 
they’ve devised ways that give wardens more control of how prisoners can
 communicate with the outside — ways that leave inmates and their 
families increasingly frustrated.That holiday card the family 
sent? It might get caught up in the mailroom for weeks. And the prisoner
 might only get a photocopy because prison officials worry about drugs 
that might get soaked into the paperboard.Electronic messages can
 get delayed, and sometimes denied, with explanations that families say 
can feel contrived — or without any explanation.Then comes the cost.From
 July 2016 to July 2021, 5,238 inmates got released from Kansas prisons 
on indigent status. That means someone had less than $12 in their inmate
 bank account.At 25 cents a message, around $10 per video call 
and 14 cents a minute for a phone call, parents and inmates say people 
who make a few dozen dollars a month can’t afford to talk. Phone calls 
also come with hefty fees. Adding $20 of phone time buys just under two 
hours of phone time.Abigail Reed, an inmate at the Topeka 
Correctional Facility, is not able to work any kind of job because she 
is seven months pregnant. She would feel better if she could talk more 
with her mother, but medical bills make it hard for her mother to add 
money to talk.Her mother will take her child once it’s born, but 
Reed worries she won’t be able to keep in touch with her mother because 
of cost.“I would feel better if I could see (and) talk to her more regularly,” she said. “She does what she can for me.”Inmates
 with financial backing, either from their prison jobs or from their 
families, may not struggle to pay. But those with tight budgets say the 
costs run too high.The Kansas Department of Corrections says it 
does provide low-income inmates up to four free letters a month so they 
can keep in touch with the outside.The department does have to 
balance safety with open communication. A message is delayed because it 
needs to be reviewed before being approved, and mail might move slow 
because it was flagged as a safety concern.In September 2021, the
 Ellsworth Correctional Facility began a pilot program that photocopied 
mail because officials there said drugs were getting into the prison 
through the postal system. Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a 
letter to inmates and families that mailed drugs led to two deaths in 
the prison system.“This threatens not only the lives of these 
residents, but the health and safety of other residents and staff who 
come into contact with the substance or with second-hand exposures,” he 
said.California and Connecticut have made calls from prison free, and more sweeping changes could be coming.The
 Federal Communications Commission has looked into lowering rates 
before, but courts said they lack authority to do so and can only lower 
rates of phone calls between states. A bill in the U.S. Senate would 
give the agency power to adjust rates for in-state calls and video 
visits.“This is a complicated problem, but it is one we have got to solve,” FCC Chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/23/1130782415/incarcerated-people-pay-about-5-dollars-for-a-30-minute-phone-call-a-new-bill-wa" target="_blank">told NPR in late October</a>.
 “You and I make a phone call — if we don't like a provider, we just 
choose someone else. A jail or prison develops an exclusive contract 
with one provider.”Rosenworcel said that 2.7 million U.S. 
children have parents in jail or prison and that constant communication 
with loved ones can reduce recidivism.Gaston, the mother with 
children in Lansing, knows keeping in touch with her children will only 
help them in the long run, but she said the prison doesn’t make it easy.It may not seem like much, but she said holiday cards and regular phone calls let someone know they are loved.“It’s
 got to lift your spirits somewhat, they have very little in there to 
lift their spirits,” she said. “Something simple like that does make a 
difference.”Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the 
Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter 
@Blaise_Mesa or email him at blaise@kcur.org.

Cost of talking to family from prison strains inmates' ties

WASHINGTON
 (AP) — Most Federal Reserve officials at their last meeting favored 
reducing the size of their interest rate hikes “soon’’— just before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-jerome-powell-government-and-politics-875599570f2b3bfc132963010a404f09">raising their benchmark rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point</a> for a fourth straight time.

The
 central bank's policymakers saw “very few signs that inflation 
pressures were abating." Still, a “substantial majority" of the 
officials felt that smaller rate hikes “would likely soon be 
appropriate," according to <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcminutes20221102.htm">the minutes of their Nov. 1-2 meeting</a> released Wednesday.

The
 Fed is widely expected to raise its key short-term rate, which affects 
many consumer and business loans, by a half-point when it next meets in 
mid-December.

“Slowing the pace would give the (Fed) the ability 
to assess the economic landscape and see where they’re at, ‘’ Jennifer 
Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a research 
report. “Short of some wild inflation report before the next meeting, (a
 half percentage point hike) sounds very reasonable in December. But the
 Fed is clearly not finished yet.’'

Rising wages, the result of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-government-and-politics-42dbebe9d9e3f94a0f51e5b693931e16">a strong job market</a>,
 combined with weak productivity growth, were “inconsistent" with the 
Fed’s ability to meet its 2% target for annual inflation, the 
policymakers concluded, according to the minutes.

At that meeting,
 the Fed officials also expressed uncertainty about how long it might 
take for their rate hikes to slow the economy enough to tame inflation. 
Chair Jerome Powell stressed at a news conference after the meeting that
 the Fed wasn’t even close to declaring victory in its fight to curb 
high inflation.

Still, some of the policymakers expressed hope 
that falling commodity prices and the unsnarling of supply chain 
bottlenecks “should contribute to lower inflation in the medium term.’’ 
Indeed, the government reported earlier this month that price increases 
moderated in October in a sign that the inflation pressures might be 
starting to ease. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-united-states-economy-business-consumer-prices-039d829b874be6237041e5f0ab032ad1">Consumer inflation reached 7.7% from a year earlier</a>
 and 0.4% from September. The year-over-year increase, though painfully 
high by any standard, was the smallest rise since January.

Wednesday’s
 minutes revealed that Fed officials thought that ongoing rate increases
 would be “essential’’ to keep Americans from expecting inflation to 
continue indefinitely. When people expect further high inflation, they 
act in ways that can make those expectations self-fulfilling — by, for 
example, demanding higher wages and spending vigorously before prices 
can further accelerate.

The Fed officials noted that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-2a0f9402d03450bd97e4fdc310549afd">most employers were resisting layoffs</a> even as the economy slowed, apparently “keen″ to hold onto workers after a year and a half of severe labor shortages. The U.S. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-government-and-politics-42dbebe9d9e3f94a0f51e5b693931e16">unemployment rate is 3.7%</a>, just above a half-century low.

WASHINGTON
 (AP) — Most Federal Reserve officials at their last meeting favored 
reducing the size of their interest rate hikes “soon’’— just before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-jerome-powell-government-and-politics-875599570f2b3bfc132963010a404f09">raising their benchmark rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point</a> for a fourth straight time.The
 central bank's policymakers saw “very few signs that inflation 
pressures were abating." Still, a “substantial majority" of the 
officials felt that smaller rate hikes “would likely soon be 
appropriate," according to <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcminutes20221102.htm">the minutes of their Nov. 1-2 meeting</a> released Wednesday.The
 Fed is widely expected to raise its key short-term rate, which affects 
many consumer and business loans, by a half-point when it next meets in 
mid-December.“Slowing the pace would give the (Fed) the ability 
to assess the economic landscape and see where they’re at, ‘’ Jennifer 
Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a research 
report. “Short of some wild inflation report before the next meeting, (a
 half percentage point hike) sounds very reasonable in December. But the
 Fed is clearly not finished yet.’'Rising wages, the result of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-government-and-politics-42dbebe9d9e3f94a0f51e5b693931e16">a strong job market</a>,
 combined with weak productivity growth, were “inconsistent" with the 
Fed’s ability to meet its 2% target for annual inflation, the 
policymakers concluded, according to the minutes.At that meeting,
 the Fed officials also expressed uncertainty about how long it might 
take for their rate hikes to slow the economy enough to tame inflation. 
Chair Jerome Powell stressed at a news conference after the meeting that
 the Fed wasn’t even close to declaring victory in its fight to curb 
high inflation.Still, some of the policymakers expressed hope 
that falling commodity prices and the unsnarling of supply chain 
bottlenecks “should contribute to lower inflation in the medium term.’’ 
Indeed, the government reported earlier this month that price increases 
moderated in October in a sign that the inflation pressures might be 
starting to ease. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-united-states-economy-business-consumer-prices-039d829b874be6237041e5f0ab032ad1">Consumer inflation reached 7.7% from a year earlier</a>
 and 0.4% from September. The year-over-year increase, though painfully 
high by any standard, was the smallest rise since January.Wednesday’s
 minutes revealed that Fed officials thought that ongoing rate increases
 would be “essential’’ to keep Americans from expecting inflation to 
continue indefinitely. When people expect further high inflation, they 
act in ways that can make those expectations self-fulfilling — by, for 
example, demanding higher wages and spending vigorously before prices 
can further accelerate.The Fed officials noted that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-2a0f9402d03450bd97e4fdc310549afd">most employers were resisting layoffs</a> even as the economy slowed, apparently “keen″ to hold onto workers after a year and a half of severe labor shortages. The U.S. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-government-and-politics-42dbebe9d9e3f94a0f51e5b693931e16">unemployment rate is 3.7%</a>, just above a half-century low.

Most Fed officials at last meeting backed slower rate hikes

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Education announced on Tuesday an extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections, according to a media release from the agency.

 The extension will alleviate uncertainty for borrowers as the Biden-Harris Administration asks the Supreme Court to review the lower-court orders that are preventing the Department from providing debt relief for tens of millions of Americans.

Payments will resume 60 days after the Department is permitted to implement the program or the litigation is resolved, which will give the Supreme Court an opportunity to resolve the case during its current Term. If the program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023 – payments will resume 60 days after that.

“Callous efforts to block student debt relief in the courts have caused tremendous financial uncertainty for millions of borrowers who cannot set their family budgets or even plan for the holidays without a clear picture of their student debt obligations, and it’s just plain wrong,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “I want borrowers to know that the Biden-Harris Administration has their backs and we’re as committed as ever to fighting to deliver essential student debt relief to tens of millions of Americans. We’re extending the payment pause because it would be deeply unfair to ask borrowers to pay a debt that they wouldn’t have to pay, were it not for the baseless lawsuits brought by Republican officials and special interests.”&nbsp;

On August 24, President Biden and Secretary Cardona announced plans to provide targeted student debt relief to borrowers with loans held by the Department of Education. Borrowers with annual income during the pandemic of under $125,000 (for individuals) or under $250,000 (for married couples or heads of households) who received a Pell Grant in college would be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation. Targeted student debt relief addresses the financial harms of the pandemic, provides borrowers with smooth transition back to repayment and helps borrowers at highest risk of delinquencies or default once payments resume.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To date, over 26 million people have provided the Department with the necessary information to be considered for debt relief, and 16 million borrowers have been approved. But court orders are blocking the Department from discharging student loan debt and accepting additional applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Last week, the Department of Justice requested that the Supreme Court lift the lower court’s injunction against the program and suggested that if the Court does not do so, it could take up the student debt relief case, to provide borrowers the clarity and relief they are depending on.

Borrowers can use the additional time to ensure their contact information is up to date with their loan servicers and consider enrolling in electronic debit and income-driven repayment plans to support a smooth transition to repayment. More information can be found at StudentAid.gov.&nbsp;

In addition to providing relief specifically targeted to alleviating the continuing economic effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden-Harris Administration has also taken other steps to support students and borrowers, make higher education more affordable, and improve student loan servicing, including providing nearly $48 billion in targeted loan relief to over 1.8 million borrowers. Actions within that include:&nbsp;

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Education announced on Tuesday an extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections, according to a media release from the agency.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;m confident that our student debt relief plan is legal. But it’s on hold because Republican officials want to block it. That&#39;s why <a href="https://twitter.com/SecCardona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecCardona</a> is extending the payment pause to no later than June 30, 2023, giving the Supreme Court time to hear the case in its current term. <a href="https://t.co/873CurlHFZ">pic.twitter.com/873CurlHFZ</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1595150070285885440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> The extension will alleviate uncertainty for borrowers as the Biden-Harris Administration asks the Supreme Court to review the lower-court orders that are preventing the Department from providing debt relief for tens of millions of Americans.Payments will resume 60 days after the Department is permitted to implement the program or the litigation is resolved, which will give the Supreme Court an opportunity to resolve the case during its current Term. If the program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023 – payments will resume 60 days after that. “Callous efforts to block student debt relief in the courts have caused tremendous financial uncertainty for millions of borrowers who cannot set their family budgets or even plan for the holidays without a clear picture of their student debt obligations, and it’s just plain wrong,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “I want borrowers to know that the Biden-Harris Administration has their backs and we’re as committed as ever to fighting to deliver essential student debt relief to tens of millions of Americans. We’re extending the payment pause because it would be deeply unfair to ask borrowers to pay a debt that they wouldn’t have to pay, were it not for the baseless lawsuits brought by Republican officials and special interests.”&nbsp;On August 24, President Biden and Secretary Cardona announced plans to provide targeted student debt relief to borrowers with loans held by the Department of Education. Borrowers with annual income during the pandemic of under $125,000 (for individuals) or under $250,000 (for married couples or heads of households) who received a Pell Grant in college would be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation. Targeted student debt relief addresses the financial harms of the pandemic, provides borrowers with smooth transition back to repayment and helps borrowers at highest risk of delinquencies or default once payments resume.&nbsp;&nbsp;To date, over 26 million people have provided the Department with the necessary information to be considered for debt relief, and 16 million borrowers have been approved. But court orders are blocking the Department from discharging student loan debt and accepting additional applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;Last week, the Department of Justice requested that the Supreme Court lift the lower court’s injunction against the program and suggested that if the Court does not do so, it could take up the student debt relief case, to provide borrowers the clarity and relief they are depending on.Borrowers can use the additional time to ensure their contact information is up to date with their loan servicers and consider enrolling in electronic debit and income-driven repayment plans to support a smooth transition to repayment. More information can be found at StudentAid.gov.&nbsp;In addition to providing relief specifically targeted to alleviating the continuing economic effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden-Harris Administration has also taken other steps to support students and borrowers, make higher education more affordable, and improve student loan servicing, including providing nearly $48 billion in targeted loan relief to over 1.8 million borrowers. Actions within that include:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Revamping the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in October, which has provided $24 billion in loan relief to 360,000 borrowers. The Department’s Limited PSLF Waiver helped eligible borrower count all prior payments made by student borrowers toward PSLF, regardless of the loan program.</li><li>Giving borrowers with Direct Loans or Department-managed Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) more credit toward forgiveness. The Department’s one-time account adjustment counts for all months spent in repayment, including payments prior to consolidation and regardless of whether they made partial or late payments or are on a repayment plan toward income-driven repayment (IDR) and PSLF forgiveness.</li><li>Establishing a fair and accessible bankruptcy discharge process to help struggling borrowers discharge their student loans.</li><li>Providing $9.1 billion in relief for 425,000 borrowers who have a total and permanent disability.</li><li>Approving $14.5 billion in borrower defense claims to nearly 1.1 million borrowers, including extending full relief to approved claims and approving new types of claims.&nbsp;</li><li>Providing $1.26 billion in closed school discharges to 107,000 borrowers who attended the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute.</li><li>Restoring eligibility for financial student aid to almost 7.5 million borrowers to help them complete their credential or degree.</li>
 </ul>

🎥Biden extends pause on federal student loan repayments 

By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the imminent handover of <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump's</a> tax returns to a congressional committee after a three-year legal fight.

The
 court, without comment, rejected Trump's plea for an order that would 
have prevented the Treasury Department from giving six years of tax 
returns for Trump and some of his businesses to the 
Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee.

It was Trump's second loss at the Supreme Court in as many months, and third this year. In October, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-14a7106b99130bb6e3ffaafc845e268f">court refused to step into the legal fight surrounding the FBI search of Trump's Florida estate</a> that turned up classified documents.

In
 January, the court refused to stop the National Archives from turning 
over documents to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 
insurrection at the Capitol. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only vote 
in Trump's favor.

In the dispute over his tax returns, the 
Treasury Department had refused to provide the records during Trump's 
presidency. But the Biden administration said federal law is clear that 
the committee has the right to examine any taxpayer's return, including 
the president's.

Lower courts agreed that the committee has broad 
authority to obtain tax returns and rejected Trump’s claims that it was 
overstepping and only wanted the documents so they could be made public.

Chief
 Justice John Roberts imposed a temporary freeze on Nov. 1 to allow the 
court to weigh the legal issues raised by Trump's lawyers and the 
counter arguments of the administration and the House of 
Representatives.

Just over three weeks later, the court lifted Roberts' order with no noted dissents.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The
 House contended an order preventing the IRS from providing the tax 
returns would leave lawmakers “little or no time to complete their 
legislative work during this Congress, which is quickly approaching its 
end.”

Had Trump persuaded the nation’s highest court to intervene,
 he could have run out the clock on the committee, with Republicans 
ready to take control of the House in January. They almost certainly 
would have dropped the records request if the issue had not been 
resolved by then.

The House Ways and Means panel and its chairman,
 Democrat Richard Neal of Massachusetts, first requested Trump’s tax 
returns in 2019 as part of an investigation into the Internal Revenue 
Service’s audit program and tax law compliance by the former president. A
 federal law says the Internal Revenue Service “shall furnish” the 
returns of any taxpayer to a handful of top lawmakers.

The Justice
 Department under the Trump administration had defended a decision by 
then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to withhold the tax returns from 
Congress. Mnuchin argued that he could withhold the documents because he
 concluded they were being sought by Democrats for partisan reasons. A 
lawsuit ensued.

After President Joe Biden took office, the 
committee renewed the request, seeking Trump’s tax returns and 
additional information from 2015-2020. The White House took the position
 that the request was a valid one and that the Treasury Department had 
no choice but to comply. Trump then attempted to halt the handover in 
court.

Then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. obtained 
copies of Trump’s personal and business tax records as part of a 
criminal investigation. That case, too, went to the Supreme Court, which
 rejected Trump’s argument that he had broad immunity as president.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668907251214.jpeg" alt="Former President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 18 in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 18 in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK SHERMAN Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the imminent handover of <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump's</a> tax returns to a congressional committee after a three-year legal fight.The
 court, without comment, rejected Trump's plea for an order that would 
have prevented the Treasury Department from giving six years of tax 
returns for Trump and some of his businesses to the 
Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee.It was Trump's second loss at the Supreme Court in as many months, and third this year. In October, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-14a7106b99130bb6e3ffaafc845e268f">court refused to step into the legal fight surrounding the FBI search of Trump's Florida estate</a> that turned up classified documents.In
 January, the court refused to stop the National Archives from turning 
over documents to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 
insurrection at the Capitol. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only vote 
in Trump's favor.In the dispute over his tax returns, the 
Treasury Department had refused to provide the records during Trump's 
presidency. But the Biden administration said federal law is clear that 
the committee has the right to examine any taxpayer's return, including 
the president's.Lower courts agreed that the committee has broad 
authority to obtain tax returns and rejected Trump’s claims that it was 
overstepping and only wanted the documents so they could be made public.Chief
 Justice John Roberts imposed a temporary freeze on Nov. 1 to allow the 
court to weigh the legal issues raised by Trump's lawyers and the 
counter arguments of the administration and the House of 
Representatives.Just over three weeks later, the court lifted Roberts' order with no noted dissents.The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The
 House contended an order preventing the IRS from providing the tax 
returns would leave lawmakers “little or no time to complete their 
legislative work during this Congress, which is quickly approaching its 
end.”Had Trump persuaded the nation’s highest court to intervene,
 he could have run out the clock on the committee, with Republicans 
ready to take control of the House in January. They almost certainly 
would have dropped the records request if the issue had not been 
resolved by then.The House Ways and Means panel and its chairman,
 Democrat Richard Neal of Massachusetts, first requested Trump’s tax 
returns in 2019 as part of an investigation into the Internal Revenue 
Service’s audit program and tax law compliance by the former president. A
 federal law says the Internal Revenue Service “shall furnish” the 
returns of any taxpayer to a handful of top lawmakers.The Justice
 Department under the Trump administration had defended a decision by 
then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to withhold the tax returns from 
Congress. Mnuchin argued that he could withhold the documents because he
 concluded they were being sought by Democrats for partisan reasons. A 
lawsuit ensued.After President Joe Biden took office, the 
committee renewed the request, seeking Trump’s tax returns and 
additional information from 2015-2020. The White House took the position
 that the request was a valid one and that the Treasury Department had 
no choice but to comply. Trump then attempted to halt the handover in 
court.Then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. obtained 
copies of Trump’s personal and business tax records as part of a 
criminal investigation. That case, too, went to the Supreme Court, which
 rejected Trump’s argument that he had broad immunity as president.

Supreme Court OKs handover of Trump tax returns to Congress

Helen L. Delay, age 83, passed away on 
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at the Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, 
Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on November 9, 1939, in Kinsley, Kansas, the 
daughter of Theodore &amp; Elsie Spears Bernatski.&nbsp; A resident of Scott 
City, Kansas since 2016 moving from Lewis, Kansas, she was a homemaker.

On October 13, 1956, she married Dale Delay in Clayton, New Mexico.&nbsp; He passed away on November 29, 2015, in Scott City, Kansas.

Survivors include her One Son - Joe &amp; Jody Delay of Schaumburg, 
Illinois, Two Daughters - Leatrice &amp; Mike DiLoreto of Longmont, 
Colorado, Dawn &amp; Devin Hutchins of Scott City, Kansas, One Sister - 
Audrey Huffman of Sioux City, Iowa, Eight Grandchildren, and Five Great 
Grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband - Dale Delay, Two 
Sisters - Dorothy Danler and Ruth Domme, and One Brother - Robert 
Bernatski.

Graveside Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helen Delay
 Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 553, 
Scott City, Kansas, 67871.

Inurnment will be in the Lewis Cemetery in Lewis, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669143250275.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Helen L. Delay, age 83, passed away on 
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at the Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, 
Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on November 9, 1939, in Kinsley, Kansas, the 
daughter of Theodore &amp; Elsie Spears Bernatski.&nbsp; A resident of Scott 
City, Kansas since 2016 moving from Lewis, Kansas, she was a homemaker.On October 13, 1956, she married Dale Delay in Clayton, New Mexico.&nbsp; He passed away on November 29, 2015, in Scott City, Kansas.Survivors include her One Son - Joe &amp; Jody Delay of Schaumburg, 
Illinois, Two Daughters - Leatrice &amp; Mike DiLoreto of Longmont, 
Colorado, Dawn &amp; Devin Hutchins of Scott City, Kansas, One Sister - 
Audrey Huffman of Sioux City, Iowa, Eight Grandchildren, and Five Great 
Grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband - Dale Delay, Two 
Sisters - Dorothy Danler and Ruth Domme, and One Brother - Robert 
Bernatski.Graveside Memorial Services will be held at a later date.In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helen Delay
 Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 553, 
Scott City, Kansas, 67871.There will be no visitation times.Inurnment will be in the Lewis Cemetery in Lewis, Kansas.

Helen L. Delay

Tracey Allen West, 83, died November 10, 2022, in Colorado. Tracey was 
born January 3, 1939, in Scott City, Kansas, the second of three sons, to
 Wilson and Bessie Ellen (Sharp) West. 
Tracey attended the Amy grade school, Grades 1-8. He graduated from the 
Community High School of Lane County (1957) and the University of 
Kansas, with a BA in International Relations, Army ROTC (1961). 
Commissioned as a 2nd Lt., US Army (1961) and honorably discharged as a 
1st Lt. (1963), he served as an Area Intelligence Officer, stationed in 
Korea. Following his discharge from the Army, Tracey became a civilian 
contractor with the Defense Intelligence Agency and returned to Korea 
until his retirement in 1994. 
In his retirement years, he lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Long 
Beach, California until October 2021, when he moved to the Good 
Samaritan Society - Loveland Village, Loveland, Colorado, to be near his
 younger brother, Gary West. Tracy battled valiantly against the ravages
 of Parkinson’s disease through the last year of his life, finally 
succumbing to the effects of a massive stroke suffered November 1, 2022.
 
He passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus while under hospice care at 
the Good Sam’s Care Center. He will be interred at the Dighton Memorial 
Cemetery, Dighton, Kansas, in the family plot. At his request, there 
will be no Memorial Services.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669137439911.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tracey Allen West, 83, died November 10, 2022, in Colorado. Tracey was 
born January 3, 1939, in Scott City, Kansas, the second of three sons, to
 Wilson and Bessie Ellen (Sharp) West. 
Tracey attended the Amy grade school, Grades 1-8. He graduated from the 
Community High School of Lane County (1957) and the University of 
Kansas, with a BA in International Relations, Army ROTC (1961). 
Commissioned as a 2nd Lt., US Army (1961) and honorably discharged as a 
1st Lt. (1963), he served as an Area Intelligence Officer, stationed in 
Korea. Following his discharge from the Army, Tracey became a civilian 
contractor with the Defense Intelligence Agency and returned to Korea 
until his retirement in 1994. 
In his retirement years, he lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Long 
Beach, California until October 2021, when he moved to the Good 
Samaritan Society - Loveland Village, Loveland, Colorado, to be near his
 younger brother, Gary West. Tracy battled valiantly against the ravages
 of Parkinson’s disease through the last year of his life, finally 
succumbing to the effects of a massive stroke suffered November 1, 2022.
 
He passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus while under hospice care at 
the Good Sam’s Care Center. He will be interred at the Dighton Memorial 
Cemetery, Dighton, Kansas, in the family plot. At his request, there 
will be no Memorial Services.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Tracey Allen West

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted killing a teen and her boyfriend was sentenced Friday.

Dontenize L. Kelly, 24, of Wichita, was sentenced to 48 years and 10 months, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He was also sentenced to 35 months for a parole violation.

&nbsp;In October Kelly admitting to two counts of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Kaylah Blackmon and 17-year-old Michael Beasley.

Beasley’s body was found Feb. 1, 2021, outside an abandoned church. At the time, authorities said Blackmon might be in danger and launched a search. Her body later was found inside her SUV at a Wichita apartment complex.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement&nbsp;authorities investigating the murder of two Kansas teens have arrested of&nbsp;22-year-old Dontenize Kelly of Wichita, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.

On Tuesday, police alerted the public that 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.

As part of the the investigation police learned of Kelly's involvement and arrested him without incident Friday evening.

Both teens were victims of gunshot wounds and killed in Blackmon's Ford Escape, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Hardy. Police have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive as they continue to investigate.&nbsp;

Kelly is being held&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20045382">on requested charges</a>&nbsp;of capital murder and a probation violation, according to Ramsey. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon and for attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612284535821.png" alt="In Feb. of 2021, Officer Charley Davidson reported police found Blackmon's SUV" />
 <figcaption>In Feb. of 2021, Officer Charley Davidson reported police found Blackmon's SUV</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted killing a teen and her boyfriend was sentenced Friday.Dontenize L. Kelly, 24, of Wichita, was sentenced to 48 years and 10 months, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He was also sentenced to 35 months for a parole violation.&nbsp;In October Kelly admitting to two counts of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Kaylah Blackmon and 17-year-old Michael Beasley.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665229579077.png" alt="Kelly-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Kelly-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Beasley’s body was found Feb. 1, 2021, outside an abandoned church. At the time, authorities said Blackmon might be in danger and launched a search. Her body later was found inside her SUV at a Wichita apartment complex.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement&nbsp;authorities investigating the murder of two Kansas teens have arrested of&nbsp;22-year-old Dontenize Kelly of Wichita, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.On Tuesday, police alerted the public that 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.As part of the the investigation police learned of Kelly's involvement and arrested him without incident Friday evening.Both teens were victims of gunshot wounds and killed in Blackmon's Ford Escape, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Hardy. Police have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive as they continue to investigate.&nbsp;Kelly is being held&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20045382">on requested charges</a>&nbsp;of capital murder and a probation violation, according to Ramsey. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon and for attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.--------

Kansas man sentenced for death of teen and her boyfriend

Leon John Fellhoelter, 52, of Brewster, KS, died Saturday, November 19, 
2022. He was born October 11, 1970, in Hoxie, KS, to Boniface and Daisy 
(Heier) Fellhoelter. In 1989, Leon graduated from Grinnell High School 
where he was a member of the Student Council and National Honor Society.
 He then attended and graduated from the Northwest Kansas Area 
Vocational Technical School in Goodland, KS. Leon had worked for Grant 
Ostmeyer, Fellhoelter Farms, Victor Schwarz and Carpenter Cattle 
Company. 
On February 26, 2000, Leon married Lee Ann Green, in Scott City, KS. The
 couple had seven children. Leon enjoyed being active in his kids’ lives
 and doing 4-H as a family. He also served as an Ambassador for the 
Northwest Kansas Technical College and had been part of the governing 
board for the Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center. Leon was an 
active member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Angelus and later Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church in Colby. He taught CCD, was a lector and 
Eucharistic Minister. He was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of 
Columbus, where he served in many different offices. 
Leon was preceded in death by his father Boniface and in-laws Hubert and Jeanette Green. 
He is survived by his wife Lee Ann; children, Latasha, Lyndzee, 
Lizabeth, Libertee, Leigha, Lucille and Lakeen; mother Daisy; siblings, 
Charles (Penny) Fellhoelter, Marilyn (Dreux) Schwaiger, Patricia (Leon) 
Heinen, Stephen (Laura) Fellhoelter and Linda (Kurt) Spachek and many 
nieces and nephews. 
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m., with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 
22, 2022, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. 
Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Angelus, with
 burial in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to The L Kids, St.
 Paul Catholic Church or Sacred Heart Catholic Church and sent in care 
of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.

For information or 
condolences, visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669038723849.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leon John Fellhoelter, 52, of Brewster, KS, died Saturday, November 19, 
2022. He was born October 11, 1970, in Hoxie, KS, to Boniface and Daisy 
(Heier) Fellhoelter. In 1989, Leon graduated from Grinnell High School 
where he was a member of the Student Council and National Honor Society.
 He then attended and graduated from the Northwest Kansas Area 
Vocational Technical School in Goodland, KS. Leon had worked for Grant 
Ostmeyer, Fellhoelter Farms, Victor Schwarz and Carpenter Cattle 
Company. 
On February 26, 2000, Leon married Lee Ann Green, in Scott City, KS. The
 couple had seven children. Leon enjoyed being active in his kids’ lives
 and doing 4-H as a family. He also served as an Ambassador for the 
Northwest Kansas Technical College and had been part of the governing 
board for the Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center. Leon was an 
active member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Angelus and later Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church in Colby. He taught CCD, was a lector and 
Eucharistic Minister. He was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of 
Columbus, where he served in many different offices. 
Leon was preceded in death by his father Boniface and in-laws Hubert and Jeanette Green. 
He is survived by his wife Lee Ann; children, Latasha, Lyndzee, 
Lizabeth, Libertee, Leigha, Lucille and Lakeen; mother Daisy; siblings, 
Charles (Penny) Fellhoelter, Marilyn (Dreux) Schwaiger, Patricia (Leon) 
Heinen, Stephen (Laura) Fellhoelter and Linda (Kurt) Spachek and many 
nieces and nephews. 
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m., with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 
22, 2022, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. 
Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Angelus, with
 burial in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to The L Kids, St.
 Paul Catholic Church or Sacred Heart Catholic Church and sent in care 
of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or 
condolences, visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Leon John Fellhoelter

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Elon Musk reinstated Donald Trump’s account on Twitter on Saturday, reversing a ban that has kept the former president off the social media site since a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was poised to certify Joe Biden’s election victory.

Musk made the announcement in the evening after holding a poll that asked Twitter users to click “yes” or “no” on whether Trump's account should be restored. The “yes” vote won, with 51.8%.

“The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted, using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”

Shortly afterward Trump's account, which had earlier appeared as suspended, reappeared on the platform complete with his former tweets, more than 59,000 of them. However his followers were gone, at least initially.

It is not clear whether Trump would actually return to Twitter. An irrepressible tweeter before he was banned, Trump has said in the past that he would not rejoin even if his account was reinstated. He has been relying on his own, much smaller social media site, Truth Social, which he launched after being blocked from Twitter.

And on Saturday, during a video speech to a Republican Jewish group meeting in Las Vegas, Trump said that he was aware of Musk’s poll but that he saw “a lot of problems at Twitter,” according to Bloomberg.

“I hear we’re getting a big vote to also go back on Twitter. I don’t see it because I don’t see any reason for it,” Trump was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. “It may make it, it may not make it,” he added, apparently referring to Twitter's recent internal upheavals.

The prospect of restoring Trump's presence to the platform follows Musk's purchase last month of Twitter — an acquisition that has fanned widespread concern that the billionaire owner will allow purveyors of lies and misinformation to flourish on the site. Musk has frequently expressed his belief that Twitter had become too restrictive of freewheeling speech.

His efforts to reshape the site have been both swift and chaotic. Musk has fired many of the company’s 7,500 full-time workers and an untold number of contractors who are responsible for content moderation and other crucial responsibilities. His demand that remaining employees pledge to “extremely hardcore” work triggered a wave of resignations, including hundreds of software engineers.

Users have reported seeing increased spam and scams on their feeds and in their direct messages, among other glitches, in the aftermath of the mass layoffs and worker exodus. Some programmers who were fired or resigned this week warned that Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-sports-d9217e91f876794bd7816013fbbc8cbb">may soon fray so badly it could actually crash.</a>

Musk's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1593767953706921985">online survey</a>, which ran for 24 hours before ending Saturday evening, concluded with 51.8% of more than 15 million votes favoring the restoration of Trump's Twitter' account. It comes four days after Trump announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2024.

Trump lost his access to Twitter two days after his supporters stormed the Capitol, soon after the former president had exhorted them to “fight like hell." Twitter dropped his account after Trump wrote a pair of tweets that the company said cast further doubts on the legitimacy of the presidential election and raised risks for the Biden presidential inauguration.

After the Jan. 6 attack, Trump was also kicked off Facebook and Instagram, which are owned by Meta Platforms, and Snapchat. His ability to post videos to his YouTube channel was also suspended. Facebook is set to reconsider Trump’s account suspension in January.

Throughout his tenure as president, Trump’s use of social media posed a significant challenge to major social media platforms that sought to balance the public’s interest in hearing from public officials with worries about misinformation, bigotry, harassment and incitement of violence.

But in a speech at an auto conference in May, Musk asserted that Twitter's ban of Trump was a “morally bad decision” and “foolish in the extreme.”

Earlier this month, Musk, who completed the $44 billion takeover of Twitter in late October, declared that the company wouldn't let anyone who had been kicked off the site return until Twitter had established procedures on how to do so, including forming a “content moderation council.”

On Friday, Musk tweeted that the suspended Twitter accounts for the comedian Kathy Griffin, the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson and the conservative Christian news satire website Babylon Bee had been reinstated. He added that a decision on Trump had not yet been made. He also responded “no” when someone on Twitter asked him to reinstate the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ account.

In a tweet Friday, the Tesla CEO described the company’s new content policy as “freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.”

He explained that a tweet deemed to be “negative” or to include “hate” would be allowed on the site but would be visible only to users who specifically searched for it. Such tweets also would be “demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter,” Musk said.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Elon Musk reinstated Donald Trump’s account on Twitter on Saturday, reversing a ban that has kept the former president off the social media site since a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was poised to certify Joe Biden’s election victory.Musk made the announcement in the evening after holding a poll that asked Twitter users to click “yes” or “no” on whether Trump's account should be restored. The “yes” vote won, with 51.8%.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei. <a href="https://t.co/jmkhFuyfkv">https://t.co/jmkhFuyfkv</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1594131768298315777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted, using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”Shortly afterward Trump's account, which had earlier appeared as suspended, reappeared on the platform complete with his former tweets, more than 59,000 of them. However his followers were gone, at least initially.It is not clear whether Trump would actually return to Twitter. An irrepressible tweeter before he was banned, Trump has said in the past that he would not rejoin even if his account was reinstated. He has been relying on his own, much smaller social media site, Truth Social, which he launched after being blocked from Twitter.And on Saturday, during a video speech to a Republican Jewish group meeting in Las Vegas, Trump said that he was aware of Musk’s poll but that he saw “a lot of problems at Twitter,” according to Bloomberg.“I hear we’re getting a big vote to also go back on Twitter. I don’t see it because I don’t see any reason for it,” Trump was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. “It may make it, it may not make it,” he added, apparently referring to Twitter's recent internal upheavals.The prospect of restoring Trump's presence to the platform follows Musk's purchase last month of Twitter — an acquisition that has fanned widespread concern that the billionaire owner will allow purveyors of lies and misinformation to flourish on the site. Musk has frequently expressed his belief that Twitter had become too restrictive of freewheeling speech.His efforts to reshape the site have been both swift and chaotic. Musk has fired many of the company’s 7,500 full-time workers and an untold number of contractors who are responsible for content moderation and other crucial responsibilities. His demand that remaining employees pledge to “extremely hardcore” work triggered a wave of resignations, including hundreds of software engineers.Users have reported seeing increased spam and scams on their feeds and in their direct messages, among other glitches, in the aftermath of the mass layoffs and worker exodus. Some programmers who were fired or resigned this week warned that Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-sports-d9217e91f876794bd7816013fbbc8cbb">may soon fray so badly it could actually crash.</a>Musk's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1593767953706921985">online survey</a>, which ran for 24 hours before ending Saturday evening, concluded with 51.8% of more than 15 million votes favoring the restoration of Trump's Twitter' account. It comes four days after Trump announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2024.Trump lost his access to Twitter two days after his supporters stormed the Capitol, soon after the former president had exhorted them to “fight like hell." Twitter dropped his account after Trump wrote a pair of tweets that the company said cast further doubts on the legitimacy of the presidential election and raised risks for the Biden presidential inauguration.After the Jan. 6 attack, Trump was also kicked off Facebook and Instagram, which are owned by Meta Platforms, and Snapchat. His ability to post videos to his YouTube channel was also suspended. Facebook is set to reconsider Trump’s account suspension in January.Throughout his tenure as president, Trump’s use of social media posed a significant challenge to major social media platforms that sought to balance the public’s interest in hearing from public officials with worries about misinformation, bigotry, harassment and incitement of violence.But in a speech at an auto conference in May, Musk asserted that Twitter's ban of Trump was a “morally bad decision” and “foolish in the extreme.”Earlier this month, Musk, who completed the $44 billion takeover of Twitter in late October, declared that the company wouldn't let anyone who had been kicked off the site return until Twitter had established procedures on how to do so, including forming a “content moderation council.”On Friday, Musk tweeted that the suspended Twitter accounts for the comedian Kathy Griffin, the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson and the conservative Christian news satire website Babylon Bee had been reinstated. He added that a decision on Trump had not yet been made. He also responded “no” when someone on Twitter asked him to reinstate the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ account.In a tweet Friday, the Tesla CEO described the company’s new content policy as “freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.”He explained that a tweet deemed to be “negative” or to include “hate” would be allowed on the site but would be visible only to users who specifically searched for it. Such tweets also would be “demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter,” Musk said.

Musk restores Trump's Twitter account after online poll

NCK Tech Foundation has announced its first two Hall of Fame awards at our Beloit and Hays Campuses that were bestowed during Founders’ Week (Nov. 14 to 18). NCK Tech honored a former instructor and administrator who was one of the first employees of the College in Beloit and honored a key benefactor who helped establish our NCK Tech Hays Campus in 1980.

The roots of North Central Kansas Technical College and all other vocational-technical schools in Kansas were established when Senate Bill 438 passed the Kansas&nbsp;legislature in 1963.&nbsp;In November 1963, Beloit was authorized as one of only six&nbsp;vocational-technical schools in the state at that time, the&nbsp;smallest community to receive such a school.

The start of 1964 saw the city of Beloit with the foundation&nbsp;of a vocational school, but what appeared to be the impossible&nbsp;task of preparing to offer classes in only a few short months.&nbsp;By mid-April, 1964 the first step had been taken to remedy this situation when the first of four instructors committed to join the&nbsp;faculty.&nbsp;Bob Severance, a young vocational agriculture teacher at Simpson High School, was the first person to sign a contract.

Although recruited as a vocational agriculture and welding instructor during the tech school's first days, Severance soon&nbsp;found himself with different duties. Besides teaching production&nbsp;ag and welding, Severance devoted much of his time to public&nbsp;relations during the formative years of the school.&nbsp;His appointment as director (president) in 1967 would span the next quarter-&nbsp;century of the school's existence, and his vision and guidance are&nbsp;evident in nearly every phase of its growth.&nbsp;Bob&nbsp;served in that capacity until his retirement in 1992.

“As a strong supporter of NCK Tech from day one, Bob Severance has paved the way for other Trailblazers over the years. Education and the development of skills in our future workforce has truly been his passion in life and NCK Tech and the community of Beloit have benefitted from years of Bob’s leadership,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks.

In 1980,&nbsp;St. Anthony's Hospital donated 25 acres for use of the Hays NCK Technical College campus of which Leo J. and Albina Dreiling were instrumental in securing this donation. A few months later, in October 1980, Leo J. and&nbsp;Albina Dreiling made a gift to the school of&nbsp;$100,000 to be used specifically for bringing sewer, electrical,&nbsp;gas and water hook-ups to the newly-established campus. At the same time the campus layout for the Hays satellite location was accepted.&nbsp;

The Leo J. and Albina Dreiling Charitable Trust was&nbsp;instrumental in the success of the expansion of technical programs on the Hays Campus by providing a&nbsp;$25,000 donation in 1985 to pay the cost of remodeling the former carpentry building for use by the licensed practical nursing and&nbsp;applied data processing departments. The&nbsp;Dreiling’s&nbsp;were also influential in a variety of fundraising campaigns for the College as well.

“During their lifetimes, Leo J. and Albina Dreiling were gracious and benevolent people. They would be extremely proud to know that their tradition of supporting important community projects is being continued by the current Trustees of the Dreiling Charitable Trust. The names Leo J. and Albina Dreiling adorn many buildings and programs in this area. Their kind and sincere involvement with projects&nbsp;havemade Hays a better place to learn, work and live,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks.

Kraig Gross accepted the award in honor of his grandparents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668797816874.png" alt="Kraig Gross and Eric Burks" />
 <figcaption>Kraig Gross and Eric Burks</figcaption>
 </figure>NCK TechNCK Tech Foundation has announced its first two Hall of Fame awards at our Beloit and Hays Campuses that were bestowed during Founders’ Week (Nov. 14 to 18). NCK Tech honored a former instructor and administrator who was one of the first employees of the College in Beloit and honored a key benefactor who helped establish our NCK Tech Hays Campus in 1980.The roots of North Central Kansas Technical College and all other vocational-technical schools in Kansas were established when Senate Bill 438 passed the Kansas&nbsp;legislature in 1963.&nbsp;In November 1963, Beloit was authorized as one of only six&nbsp;vocational-technical schools in the state at that time, the&nbsp;smallest community to receive such a school.The start of 1964 saw the city of Beloit with the foundation&nbsp;of a vocational school, but what appeared to be the impossible&nbsp;task of preparing to offer classes in only a few short months.&nbsp;By mid-April, 1964 the first step had been taken to remedy this situation when the first of four instructors committed to join the&nbsp;faculty.&nbsp;Bob Severance, a young vocational agriculture teacher at Simpson High School, was the first person to sign a contract.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668797922187.jpeg" alt="Severance and Burks" />
 <figcaption>Severance and Burks</figcaption>
 </figure>Although recruited as a vocational agriculture and welding instructor during the tech school's first days, Severance soon&nbsp;found himself with different duties. Besides teaching production&nbsp;ag and welding, Severance devoted much of his time to public&nbsp;relations during the formative years of the school.&nbsp;His appointment as director (president) in 1967 would span the next quarter-&nbsp;century of the school's existence, and his vision and guidance are&nbsp;evident in nearly every phase of its growth.&nbsp;Bob&nbsp;served in that capacity until his retirement in 1992.“As a strong supporter of NCK Tech from day one, Bob Severance has paved the way for other Trailblazers over the years. Education and the development of skills in our future workforce has truly been his passion in life and NCK Tech and the community of Beloit have benefitted from years of Bob’s leadership,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668797938621.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In 1980,&nbsp;St. Anthony's Hospital donated 25 acres for use of the Hays NCK Technical College campus of which Leo J. and Albina Dreiling were instrumental in securing this donation. A few months later, in October 1980, Leo J. and&nbsp;Albina Dreiling made a gift to the school of&nbsp;$100,000 to be used specifically for bringing sewer, electrical,&nbsp;gas and water hook-ups to the newly-established campus. At the same time the campus layout for the Hays satellite location was accepted.&nbsp;The Leo J. and Albina Dreiling Charitable Trust was&nbsp;instrumental in the success of the expansion of technical programs on the Hays Campus by providing a&nbsp;$25,000 donation in 1985 to pay the cost of remodeling the former carpentry building for use by the licensed practical nursing and&nbsp;applied data processing departments. The&nbsp;Dreiling’s&nbsp;were also influential in a variety of fundraising campaigns for the College as well.“During their lifetimes, Leo J. and Albina Dreiling were gracious and benevolent people. They would be extremely proud to know that their tradition of supporting important community projects is being continued by the current Trustees of the Dreiling Charitable Trust. The names Leo J. and Albina Dreiling adorn many buildings and programs in this area. Their kind and sincere involvement with projects&nbsp;havemade Hays a better place to learn, work and live,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks.Kraig Gross accepted the award in honor of his grandparents.

Dreilings among inaugural NCK Tech Hall of Fame class

Darrell Allen Jones, 88, passed away on November 15, 2022, in Colby, 
Kansas. He was born on October 2, 1934, in WaKeeney, Kansas, in Trego 
County. He was the son of William Jennings Jones and Ethyl Belle 
(Gordon) Jones.

Darrell Jones married Mary Kayleene Pierce on July 19, 1958, at the Catholic Church in Hill City, Kansas.

Darrell
 served in the United States Army as a paratrooper. Mr. Jones graduated 
from Hill City Memorial High School in Hill City, Kansas. He received 
his associate of science degree from Garden City Community College in 
Garden City, Kansas. Also, Darrell received his bachelor’s and master’s 
degrees from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

Mr. Jones
 worked as a shoeshine boy, service station attendant, roofer, farm 
laborer, tire repair technician, policeman, deputy sheriff, teacher, 
principal, superintendent of schools and as an athletic coach.

Surviving
 family members are two sons, Barton Allen Jones of Bladen, Nebraska and
 Charles Curtis Jones of Phoenix, Arizona; and one daughter Colette 
Wahlmeier of Kansas City, Kansas; five grandchildren: Christopher Andrew
 Jones, Simon Alexander Jones, Michael Aaron Jones, Mary Tessa 
Wahlmeier, Walter Keegan Wahlmeier, and one great grandchild.

Darrell
 was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary Kayleene Jones; six 
brothers: James W., Leslie M., Arthur R., Leonard W., Francis E., and an
 infant brother, Lester M.; five sisters: Mary E. Lofstead, Maude E. 
Staples, Ada B. Tomanek, Arbutus L. Persinger, and an infant sister, 
Wanda Mae Jones.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 
from 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kansas.  
Graveside service will be Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 11am. at the 
Mount Allen Cemetery in Hays, Kansas. 

Memorial contributions may be made
 to the Oberlin Elementary School.  Condolences can be left at 
www.paulsfh.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668806834516.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Darrell Allen Jones, 88, passed away on November 15, 2022, in Colby, 
Kansas. He was born on October 2, 1934, in WaKeeney, Kansas, in Trego 
County. He was the son of William Jennings Jones and Ethyl Belle 
(Gordon) Jones.Darrell Jones married Mary Kayleene Pierce on July 19, 1958, at the Catholic Church in Hill City, Kansas.Darrell
 served in the United States Army as a paratrooper. Mr. Jones graduated 
from Hill City Memorial High School in Hill City, Kansas. He received 
his associate of science degree from Garden City Community College in 
Garden City, Kansas. Also, Darrell received his bachelor’s and master’s 
degrees from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.Mr. Jones
 worked as a shoeshine boy, service station attendant, roofer, farm 
laborer, tire repair technician, policeman, deputy sheriff, teacher, 
principal, superintendent of schools and as an athletic coach.Surviving
 family members are two sons, Barton Allen Jones of Bladen, Nebraska and
 Charles Curtis Jones of Phoenix, Arizona; and one daughter Colette 
Wahlmeier of Kansas City, Kansas; five grandchildren: Christopher Andrew
 Jones, Simon Alexander Jones, Michael Aaron Jones, Mary Tessa 
Wahlmeier, Walter Keegan Wahlmeier, and one great grandchild.Darrell
 was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary Kayleene Jones; six 
brothers: James W., Leslie M., Arthur R., Leonard W., Francis E., and an
 infant brother, Lester M.; five sisters: Mary E. Lofstead, Maude E. 
Staples, Ada B. Tomanek, Arbutus L. Persinger, and an infant sister, 
Wanda Mae Jones.Visitation will be Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 
from 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kansas. 
Graveside service will be Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 11am. at the 
Mount Allen Cemetery in Hays, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made
 to the Oberlin Elementary School. Condolences can be left at 
www.paulsfh.com.

Darrell Allen Jones

Milton J. Dinges, 85, Hays, died Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at Miles Memory Care in Papillion, Nebraska.

He was born January 2, 1937, in 
Schoenchen the son of Isidore “Issy” and Loretta (Werth) Dinges.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 
1955, he graduated from Schoenchen High School.&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 18, 1958, he
 was united in marriage to Gladys M. Werth in Schoenchen, and they 
celebrated 64 years of marriage.&nbsp;&nbsp;Milton served in the U.S. Army from 
1959 to 1962. &nbsp;He was a part-time farmer and traveling salesman.&nbsp;&nbsp;Milt 
and Gladys owned a commercial lighting business for most of his 
career.&nbsp;&nbsp;His memberships included St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 
the Schoenchen Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #4166, and the 
Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly #282.&nbsp;&nbsp;Milton was a fun-loving,
 kind man who didn’t know a stranger and had the biggest heart.&nbsp;&nbsp;He 
loved golf, playing cards, dancing, scotch, and his family.&nbsp;

Survivors include his wife Gladys of 
Hays, a son: Dale Dinges of Hays, a daughter: Deanna Hanquist and 
husband Brant of Papillion, NE, a brother: Thomas Dinges and wife Susan 
of Schoenchen, a sister: Pam Basgall and significant other Vern Dreiling
 of Schoenchen, a grandson: Dalen Hanquist and wife Bernadette of 
Ottawa, Canada, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his 
parents, his sister: Rosanne Bieker and husband Kenny, and three young 
sisters, Bernita, Thelma, and Mary Jane Dinges.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Friday, December 2, 2022, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic 
Church in Hays, with Fr. Damian Richards officiating.&nbsp;&nbsp;Inurnment with 
military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will follow in 
St. Anthony Cemetery in Schoenchen.&nbsp;&nbsp;Visitation will be from 5:00 pm 
until 8:00 on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral
 Home and from 9:00 am until service time on Friday at the church.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 
St. Anthony Altar Society Christian Mothers rosary will be at 5:30 pm, a
 vigil service will be at 6:00 pm, followed by a combined Third and 
Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus rosary, all on Thursday, December 1 at
 the funeral home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Memorials are suggested to the Schoenchen&nbsp;Knights of
 Columbus Council #4166 Tootsie Roll Drive.&nbsp;&nbsp;Condolences and memories of
 Milton may be shared with his family at <a href="http://www.haysmemorial.com">www.haysmemorial.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668803852485.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Milton J. Dinges, 85, Hays, died Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at Miles Memory Care in Papillion, Nebraska.He was born January 2, 1937, in 
Schoenchen the son of Isidore “Issy” and Loretta (Werth) Dinges.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 
1955, he graduated from Schoenchen High School.&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 18, 1958, he
 was united in marriage to Gladys M. Werth in Schoenchen, and they 
celebrated 64 years of marriage.&nbsp;&nbsp;Milton served in the U.S. Army from 
1959 to 1962. &nbsp;He was a part-time farmer and traveling salesman.&nbsp;&nbsp;Milt 
and Gladys owned a commercial lighting business for most of his 
career.&nbsp;&nbsp;His memberships included St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 
the Schoenchen Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #4166, and the 
Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly #282.&nbsp;&nbsp;Milton was a fun-loving,
 kind man who didn’t know a stranger and had the biggest heart.&nbsp;&nbsp;He 
loved golf, playing cards, dancing, scotch, and his family.&nbsp;Survivors include his wife Gladys of 
Hays, a son: Dale Dinges of Hays, a daughter: Deanna Hanquist and 
husband Brant of Papillion, NE, a brother: Thomas Dinges and wife Susan 
of Schoenchen, a sister: Pam Basgall and significant other Vern Dreiling
 of Schoenchen, a grandson: Dalen Hanquist and wife Bernadette of 
Ottawa, Canada, and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his 
parents, his sister: Rosanne Bieker and husband Kenny, and three young 
sisters, Bernita, Thelma, and Mary Jane Dinges.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Friday, December 2, 2022, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic 
Church in Hays, with Fr. Damian Richards officiating.&nbsp;&nbsp;Inurnment with 
military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will follow in 
St. Anthony Cemetery in Schoenchen.&nbsp;&nbsp;Visitation will be from 5:00 pm 
until 8:00 on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral
 Home and from 9:00 am until service time on Friday at the church.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 
St. Anthony Altar Society Christian Mothers rosary will be at 5:30 pm, a
 vigil service will be at 6:00 pm, followed by a combined Third and 
Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus rosary, all on Thursday, December 1 at
 the funeral home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Memorials are suggested to the Schoenchen&nbsp;Knights of
 Columbus Council #4166 Tootsie Roll Drive.&nbsp;&nbsp;Condolences and memories of
 Milton may be shared with his family at <a href="http://www.haysmemorial.com">www.haysmemorial.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Milton J. Dinges

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a&nbsp;seasonally adjusted unemployment rate&nbsp;of 2.8 percent in October. This was an increase from 2.6% in September and a decrease from 2.9 percent in October 2021.

“The Kansas unemployment rate increased to 2.8 percent in October,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. "Even with this increase, the unemployment rate remains below pre-pandemic levels."

The jobless rate in Ellis County rose slightly, from 1.9 percent in September to 2 percent in October. Every county in northwest Kansas posted an unemployment rate below 3 percent, with several below 2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 8,500 from September. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.&nbsp;Private sector jobs&nbsp;increased by 8,000 over the month, while government increased by 500.

“Kansas private sector job estimates showed strong growth over the month adding 8,000 jobs,” said Labor Economist Nathan Kessler. “The industries leading this growth include leisure and hospitality and professional and business services, both contributing 2,000 jobs. Over the year private sector jobs have increased by 3.4 percent.”

Since October 2021 Kansas'&nbsp;seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs&nbsp;have increased by 40,500. This change is due to an increase of 38,700 private sector jobs and an increase of 1,800 government jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668790962396.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a&nbsp;seasonally adjusted unemployment rate&nbsp;of 2.8 percent in October. This was an increase from 2.6% in September and a decrease from 2.9 percent in October 2021.“The Kansas unemployment rate increased to 2.8 percent in October,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. "Even with this increase, the unemployment rate remains below pre-pandemic levels."The jobless rate in Ellis County rose slightly, from 1.9 percent in September to 2 percent in October. Every county in northwest Kansas posted an unemployment rate below 3 percent, with several below 2 percent.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 8,500 from September. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.&nbsp;Private sector jobs&nbsp;increased by 8,000 over the month, while government increased by 500.“Kansas private sector job estimates showed strong growth over the month adding 8,000 jobs,” said Labor Economist Nathan Kessler. “The industries leading this growth include leisure and hospitality and professional and business services, both contributing 2,000 jobs. Over the year private sector jobs have increased by 3.4 percent.”Since October 2021 Kansas'&nbsp;seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs&nbsp;have increased by 40,500. This change is due to an increase of 38,700 private sector jobs and an increase of 1,800 government jobs.

Ellis County unemployment rate 2 percent in October

RILEY COUNTY—A Riley County teen arrested in connection with a burglary has&nbsp; been charged with an additional count each of criminal damage to property and burglary, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Just after 2a.m. Thursday, officers responded to a business alarm at Casey's in the 300 block of Riley Avenue in Ogden, according to police.

&nbsp;A window was broken out, around $1,200 loss, and approximately $1,800 worth of tobacco products were stolen.&nbsp; Police used a K9 to help them catch 16-year-old Estevan Rochin of Ogden in the 200 block of 16th Street in Ogden.

Rochin is also charged with an additional count each of criminal damage to property and burglary in connection to an October 27, 2022 break-in at the convenience store where a window was broken out, around $1,200 and $1,500 worth of tobacco products were stolen.

 He is also charged with an additional count each of criminal damage to property and attempted burglary in connection to an October 26, 2022 attempted break-in at the Ogden Valero. A window and door were damaged in an attempt to enter the business, this resulted in an approximate total loss of $1,750. 

After Thursday's arrest, Rochin was processed by juvenile intake and released to a guardian.

RILEY COUNTY—A Riley County teen arrested in connection with a burglary has&nbsp; been charged with an additional count each of criminal damage to property and burglary, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Just after 2a.m. Thursday, officers responded to a business alarm at Casey's in the 300 block of Riley Avenue in Ogden, according to police.&nbsp;A window was broken out, around $1,200 loss, and approximately $1,800 worth of tobacco products were stolen.&nbsp; Police used a K9 to help them catch 16-year-old Estevan Rochin of Ogden in the 200 block of 16th Street in Ogden.Rochin is also charged with an additional count each of criminal damage to property and burglary in connection to an October 27, 2022 break-in at the convenience store where a window was broken out, around $1,200 and $1,500 worth of tobacco products were stolen. He is also charged with an additional count each of criminal damage to property and attempted burglary in connection to an October 26, 2022 attempted break-in at the Ogden Valero. A window and door were damaged in an attempt to enter the business, this resulted in an approximate total loss of $1,750. After Thursday's arrest, Rochin was processed by juvenile intake and released to a guardian.----------

Kan. teen captured after burglary is linked to additional crimes

By ELIZABETH SCALA <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-i-teach-a-course-connecting-taylor-swifts-songs-to-the-works-of-shakespeare-hitchcock-and-plath-194120">The Conversation</a>

Unusual Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

This class is part of a group of introductory English offerings that 
focus on basic methods of literary analysis and research. It fulfills 
different requirements for potential English majors and the general 
student population, so I am always looking for news ways to engage them.

For a few years, I taught it as a Harry Potter course. I introduced 
students to classic British literature by exploring the Romantic and 
medieval literary traditions present in the novel. 

But earlier this year, I realized I was bored. I had been listening 
to a lot of Taylor Swift with my college-aged daughter, who had been 
home for a year during the pandemic. Swift had recently released “<a href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version/">Red (Taylor’s Version)</a>.”

Listening to her track “<a href="https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-reacts-to-all-too-well-song-of-the-year-grammy-nomination/">All Too Well</a>”
 was my epiphany. Swift’s vivid imagery and emotionally gripping detail 
had all the markings of a great narrative poem. She writes the song in a
 way that mirrors the recursions of memory. Her verses become 
increasingly strong and build upon each other once she starts 
remembering the past. At the same time, the song’s imagery moves from 
fall to winter as she reflects upon the relationship’s beginning and 
frosty end.

This course pairs Taylor Swift songs with a number of poems, along with a play, a novel and a film.

The semester began with the pairing of Swift’s songs with Renaissance
 love poetry. One class analyzing the metaphors, similes and colors in 
the song “Red” turned, a week or so later, into an exploration of 
Shakespeare’s use of similar colors in his famous sonnet 73: “<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45099/sonnet-73-that-time-of-year-thou-mayst-in-me-behold">That time of year thou mayst in me behold</a>.”

Shakespeare, meanwhile, begins his sonnet 73 with “That time of year 
thou mayst in me behold / When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang,”
 before pointing to the oranges of autumn’s “sunset [that] fadeth in the
 west” and “the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth 
doth lie.”

Where Swift moves from cool tones to “burning red,” Shakespeare moves
 through increasingly warm tones: from yellow, to orange, to red. But 
both move toward an intensity of color and heat.

By ELIZABETH SCALA <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-i-teach-a-course-connecting-taylor-swifts-songs-to-the-works-of-shakespeare-hitchcock-and-plath-194120">The Conversation</a>Unusual Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching. <h2>Title of course:</h2>“The Taylor Swift Songbook”<h2>What prompted the idea for the course?</h2>This class is part of a group of introductory English offerings that 
focus on basic methods of literary analysis and research. It fulfills 
different requirements for potential English majors and the general 
student population, so I am always looking for news ways to engage them.For a few years, I taught it as a Harry Potter course. I introduced 
students to classic British literature by exploring the Romantic and 
medieval literary traditions present in the novel. But earlier this year, I realized I was bored. I had been listening 
to a lot of Taylor Swift with my college-aged daughter, who had been 
home for a year during the pandemic. Swift had recently released “<a href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version/">Red (Taylor’s Version)</a>.” Listening to her track “<a href="https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-reacts-to-all-too-well-song-of-the-year-grammy-nomination/">All Too Well</a>”
 was my epiphany. Swift’s vivid imagery and emotionally gripping detail 
had all the markings of a great narrative poem. She writes the song in a
 way that mirrors the recursions of memory. Her verses become 
increasingly strong and build upon each other once she starts 
remembering the past. At the same time, the song’s imagery moves from 
fall to winter as she reflects upon the relationship’s beginning and 
frosty end. <h2>What does the course explore?</h2>This course pairs Taylor Swift songs with a number of poems, along with a play, a novel and a film.The semester began with the pairing of Swift’s songs with Renaissance
 love poetry. One class analyzing the metaphors, similes and colors in 
the song “Red” turned, a week or so later, into an exploration of 
Shakespeare’s use of similar colors in his famous sonnet 73: “<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45099/sonnet-73-that-time-of-year-thou-mayst-in-me-behold">That time of year thou mayst in me behold</a>.”From “Red”:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668787433536.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Shakespeare, meanwhile, begins his sonnet 73 with “That time of year 
thou mayst in me behold / When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang,”
 before pointing to the oranges of autumn’s “sunset [that] fadeth in the
 west” and “the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth 
doth lie.”Where Swift moves from cool tones to “burning red,” Shakespeare moves
 through increasingly warm tones: from yellow, to orange, to red. But 
both move toward an intensity of color and heat.Some couplings are obvious. For instance, Swift’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzVF3XeS8M">Love Story</a>” mentions the title characters of Shakespeare’s “<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1513/1513-h/1513-h.htm">Romeo and Juliet</a>” – “Romeo save me, I’ve been feeling so alone.” Others might come as more of a surprise: I paired Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/23/olivia-laing-on-daphne-du-mauriers-rebecca-80-years-on">Rebecca</a>,” which Alfred Hitchcock <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/">adapted for the silver screen</a> in 1940, with Swift’s song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s5xdY6MCeI">the last great american dynasty</a>.” Centering on a scandalous woman named Rebecca – or Rebekah, in 
Swift’s song – the song, novel and film explore the relations of mad 
women and madwomen, the tenuous line between anger and craziness. It’s a
 theme Swift hits on in a number of songs, from her 2019 track “<a href="https://genius.com/Taylor-swift-the-man-lyrics">The Man</a>” to 2020’s “<a href="https://genius.com/Taylor-swift-mad-woman-lyrics">mad woman</a>,” which I paired with Sylvia Plath’s poem “<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49000/lady-lazarus">Lady Lazarus</a>.” <h2>Why is this course relevant now?</h2>I think this course tapped into the zeitgeist in ways I couldn’t have
 imagined when I first dreamed it up. Of course, Swift’s music is 
popular, and she has long had a devoted following. But the October 2022 
release of her <a href="https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-midnights-breaks-records-streaming-sales-charts">record-breaking</a> album “<a href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/">Midnights</a>”
 has only made the course seem more relevant to students’ interests. As a
 class, we spent time exploring the ways tracks on “Midnights” revisited
 themes and writing strategies that appeared in Swift’s earlier songs.<h2>What’s a critical lesson from the course?</h2>Analyzing Swift’s writing will hopefully help my students recognize 
how certain poetic and literary devices operate in older texts – as much
 as those same books and poems from the past help them appreciate 
Swift’s art at a deeper level. They seem especially eager to engage with
 older materials, like Renaissance seduction poetry and black and white 
film, when they can see traces of the same artistic techniques in the 
music videos and songs they watch and listen to today.Swift’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Taylor_Swift">award-winning songwriting</a> is attached to an English and American literary past in both obvious and more subtle ways. <a href="https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/taylor-swift-is-new-face-of-reading/">An avid reader herself</a>,
 Swift deploys forms – like metaphors, conceits and structures – that 
are part of a shared literary heritage that students might otherwise 
find old-fashioned and irrelevant. Far from diminishing the value of Swift’s writing, tracing its 
connection to the literary greats shores up her authority as a creative 
artist. Swift, like all artists, is part of a <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-bob-dylan-used-the-ancient-practice-of-imitatio-to-craft-some-of-the-most-original-songs-of-his-time-187052">great tradition</a>, and she calls upon it to create new works.<h2>What materials does the course feature?</h2>Adam Bradley, “<a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300248326/the-poetry-of-pop/">The Poetry of Pop</a>,” 2019 Alfred Hitchcock, “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/">Rebecca</a>,” 1940 Taylor Swift, “<a href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-folklore/">folkore</a>,” 2020 <h2>What will the course prepare students to do?</h2>This course has rather modest ambitions. It prepares careful and 
critical readers, as well as articulate writers and researchers. It pays attention to what language denotes at the surface and what it
 carries around with it in its connotations and associations. It teaches
 students about those features, using the Oxford English Dictionary as a
 research tool to probe linguistic origin, register and usage beyond 
what a term literally means.While delivering New York University’s 2022 commencement speech, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBG50aoUwlI">Swift urged the graduating seniors</a> to embrace their enthusiasms and be unafraid to explore their interests. Finding a way to tap into students’ enthusiasm for Swift, and tie her
 songwriting to literary methodologies, is my version of following her 
lead.Elizabeth Scala is a Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194120/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>