By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/21/kcc-oil-and-gas-associations-push-bill-to-accelerate-plugging-abandoned-wells-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Legislation heard
 Wednesday would clarify legal responsibility and make it easier to fund
 plugging thousands of abandoned gas and oil wells across Kansas, 
advocates of the bill say.

Estimates indicate there 
are currently about 5,600 wells that require plugging and 10,000 wells 
plugged to date in the state. Last year, 349 were plugged, but there was
 only a net of 21 wells total plugged.

The proposed bill would 
combine two funds used to pay to plug the wells, making access to the 
money easier. It would also clarify who is legally responsible for 
plugging a well and authorize reimbursement in certain cases.

Dwight Keen, chairman of 
the Kansas Corporation Commission, which worked directly on the bill 
language, said the measure is a “win-win-win” for stakeholders.

“It’s a win for the 
environment, a win for the regulatory process and a win for the 
regulated oil and gas industry,” Kenn said. “Simply stated, it provides 
greater regulatory clarity, stability and certainty for the regulator, 
the regulated industry and for the public. In every respect, this bill 
advances the cause of good government.”

Representatives of the KCC
 and multiple oil and gas associations testified before the House 
Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill,
 saying the bill would provide the sense of certainty they have been 
working for decades to accomplish. The single opponent of the bill 
expressed concern the legislation does not include the environmental 
imperative to ensure the wells are taken care of.

The legislation is nearly 
identical to a bill that passed through committee last year before the 
measure died when COVID-19 cut the session short.

Currently, Kansas has two 
pools it can pull funds from to manage the abandoned wells — one for 
wells drilled before 1996 and one for those drilled after. Waymaster 
said the post-1996 fund has barely been touched since its creation two 
decades ago.

Under the proposed law, 
the funds would be combined into one pool for all abandoned wells. Ryan 
Hoffman, director of KCC’s conservation division, said combined, the 
funds would total $6.73 million.

“We’ve already have almost
 $3 million in projects lined up for taking care of them,” Hoffman said,
 “so having access to that additional money is key.”

Hoffman said additional 
funding would be needed to fully address the issue, but that the KCC 
would take a phased approach to ensure the necessary money is available.

The bill would 
also clarify who KCC can assign responsibility to for plugging wells, 
which would accelerate the process and allow landowners to be reimbursed
 if they take the initiative to cap wells — as long as the landowner is 
not determined to be the party responsible for the wells.

While those who testified 
were largely supportive of the proposed changes to the law, Zack 
Pistora, a lobbyist for the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club, expressed
 concern with the removal of a clause that dictates that any well that 
has been abandoned or not plugged properly will be deemed likely to 
cause pollution of any useable water.

“That is the only 
statutory language in actual law that provides the imperative for the 
state to continue to plug abandoned wells because it is likely to cause 
pollution,” Pistora said.

Pistora said if that language were to be added back, the Sierra Club would be neutral or in favor of the bill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611267031984.png" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and members of the House Appropriations Committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill advocates say would clarify years of work to address abandoned wells in Kansas. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and members of the House Appropriations Committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill advocates say would clarify years of work to address abandoned wells in Kansas. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/21/kcc-oil-and-gas-associations-push-bill-to-accelerate-plugging-abandoned-wells-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Legislation heard
 Wednesday would clarify legal responsibility and make it easier to fund
 plugging thousands of abandoned gas and oil wells across Kansas, 
advocates of the bill say.Estimates indicate there 
are currently about 5,600 wells that require plugging and 10,000 wells 
plugged to date in the state. Last year, 349 were plugged, but there was
 only a net of 21 wells total plugged.The proposed bill would 
combine two funds used to pay to plug the wells, making access to the 
money easier. It would also clarify who is legally responsible for 
plugging a well and authorize reimbursement in certain cases.Dwight Keen, chairman of 
the Kansas Corporation Commission, which worked directly on the bill 
language, said the measure is a “win-win-win” for stakeholders.“It’s a win for the 
environment, a win for the regulatory process and a win for the 
regulated oil and gas industry,” Kenn said. “Simply stated, it provides 
greater regulatory clarity, stability and certainty for the regulator, 
the regulated industry and for the public. In every respect, this bill 
advances the cause of good government.”Representatives of the KCC
 and multiple oil and gas associations testified before the House 
Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill,
 saying the bill would provide the sense of certainty they have been 
working for decades to accomplish. The single opponent of the bill 
expressed concern the legislation does not include the environmental 
imperative to ensure the wells are taken care of.The legislation is nearly 
identical to a bill that passed through committee last year before the 
measure died when COVID-19 cut the session short.Currently, Kansas has two 
pools it can pull funds from to manage the abandoned wells — one for 
wells drilled before 1996 and one for those drilled after. Waymaster 
said the post-1996 fund has barely been touched since its creation two 
decades ago.Under the proposed law, 
the funds would be combined into one pool for all abandoned wells. Ryan 
Hoffman, director of KCC’s conservation division, said combined, the 
funds would total $6.73 million.“We’ve already have almost
 $3 million in projects lined up for taking care of them,” Hoffman said,
 “so having access to that additional money is key.”Hoffman said additional 
funding would be needed to fully address the issue, but that the KCC 
would take a phased approach to ensure the necessary money is available.The bill would 
also clarify who KCC can assign responsibility to for plugging wells, 
which would accelerate the process and allow landowners to be reimbursed
 if they take the initiative to cap wells — as long as the landowner is 
not determined to be the party responsible for the wells.While those who testified 
were largely supportive of the proposed changes to the law, Zack 
Pistora, a lobbyist for the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club, expressed
 concern with the removal of a clause that dictates that any well that 
has been abandoned or not plugged properly will be deemed likely to 
cause pollution of any useable water.“That is the only 
statutory language in actual law that provides the imperative for the 
state to continue to plug abandoned wells because it is likely to cause 
pollution,” Pistora said.Pistora said if that language were to be added back, the Sierra Club would be neutral or in favor of the bill.

Bill would accelerate plugging of abandoned gas, oil wells in Kan.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly held a press conference&nbsp; Thursday to give an update regarding Kansas’s current phase within her administration’s COVID-19 vaccination framework, and other virus information for the state of Kansas. She reminded residents the state has a new vaccine information web site.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/">Click here </a>to access the web site.

The Republican-led state House on Thursday approved a bill that would extend the state’s pandemic emergency declaration. The 119-3 vote sends the bill to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has until Jan. 26 to act before the declaration expires. It expands the use of telemedicine and adds flexibility in health care licensing through March 31. But it also limits Kelly’s ability to close businesses and allows counties to opt out of mask mandates and other health orders she issues.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3590 to a total of 263,412, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3575 an increase of 50

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly held a press conference&nbsp; Thursday to give an update regarding Kansas’s current phase within her administration’s COVID-19 vaccination framework, and other virus information for the state of Kansas. She reminded residents the state has a new vaccine information web site.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/">Click here </a>to access the web site.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F3948694321829209%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Republican-led state House on Thursday approved a bill that would extend the state’s pandemic emergency declaration. The 119-3 vote sends the bill to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has until Jan. 26 to act before the declaration expires. It expands the use of telemedicine and adds flexibility in health care licensing through March 31. But it also limits Kelly’s ability to close businesses and allows counties to opt out of mask mandates and other health orders she issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3590 to a total of 263,412, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3575 an increase of 50<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611166114849.png" alt="Wednesday Jan. 20, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Jan. 20, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

Governor updates COVID-19 vaccination plan in Kansas 

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect&nbsp;following the recovery of a stolen vehicle.

Just after midnight Wednesday, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office noticed a white Ford Crown Victoria parked at a business in the 2000 block of NW Tyler Street, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

The deputy recognized the vehicle as matching the description of a Crown Victoria reported stolen from Topeka. 

The deputy confirmed the vehicle was&nbsp;stolen and he placed the driver Michael-Don A. Vincent, 30, Topeka into custody.

He is being held on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as misdemeanor warrants out of Shawnee County. The Topeka Police Department assisted at the scene with the arrest, according to Anderson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611193974218.png" alt="Vincent photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Vincent photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect&nbsp;following the recovery of a stolen vehicle.Just after midnight Wednesday, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office noticed a white Ford Crown Victoria parked at a business in the 2000 block of NW Tyler Street, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.The deputy recognized the vehicle as matching the description of a Crown Victoria reported stolen from Topeka. The deputy confirmed the vehicle was&nbsp;stolen and he placed the driver Michael-Don A. Vincent, 30, Topeka into custody.He is being held on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as misdemeanor warrants out of Shawnee County. The Topeka Police Department assisted at the scene with the arrest, according to Anderson.

Kan. deputies recover stolen vehicle, make arrest

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Joe Biden revoked a recent Trump <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">administration report </a>that aimed to promote “patriotic education” in schools but that historians mocked and rejected as political propaganda.

In an executive order signed on Wednesday in his first day in office, Biden disbanded&nbsp;Donald Trump’s <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">presidential 1776 Commission&nbsp;</a>and withdrew a report it released Monday. Trump established the group in September to rally support from white voters and as a response to The New York Times’ “1619 Project,” which highlights the lasting consequences of slavery in America.

<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">In its report, </a>which Trump hoped would be used in classrooms across the nation, the commission glorifies the country’s founders, plays down America’s role in slavery, condemns the rise of progressive politics and argues that the civil rights movement ran afoul of the “lofty ideals” espoused by the Founding Fathers.

The panel, which included no professional historians of the United States, complained of “false and fashionable ideologies” that depict the country’s story as one of “oppression and victimhood.” Instead, it called for renewed efforts to foster “a brave and honest love for our country.”

Historians widely panned the report, saying it offers a false and outdated version of American history that ignores decades of research.

“It’s an insult to the whole enterprise of education. Education is supposed to help young people learn to think critically,” said David Blight, a Civil War historian at Yale University. “That report is a piece of right-wing propaganda.”

Trump officials heralded the report as “a definitive chronicle of the American founding,” but scholars say it disregards the most basic rules of scholarship. It offers no citations, for example, or a list of its source materials.

It also includes several passages copied directly from other writings by members of the panel, as one professor found after running the report through software that’s used to detect plagiarism.

Matthew Spalding, the panel’s executive director and a vice president at the conservative Hillsdale College, denied any wrongdoing, saying the panel’s members “contributed our own work and writing, under our own names, to the 1776 Report, which was an advisory report to the president.”

Spalding and other commission leaders did not immediately respond to other criticism leveled against the report.

In his order dissolving the panel, Biden said it “sought to erase America’s history of racial injustice.”

The American Historical Association condemned the document, saying it glorifies the founders while ignoring the histories and contributions of enslaved people, Indigenous communities and women. In a statement also signed by 13 other academic groups, the organization says the report seeks “government indoctrination of American students.”

The sharpest criticism of the report was directed at its presentation of slavery and race. The report attempts to undermine allegations of hypocrisy against Founding Fathers who owned slaves even as they espoused equality. It also attempts to soften America’s role in slavery and explain it as a product of the times.

“Many Americans labor under the illusion that slavery was somehow a uniquely American evil,” the panel wrote in the 20-page report. “The unfortunate fact is that the institution of slavery has been more the rule than the exception throughout human history.”

Blight, at Yale, compared it to “a sixth or seventh grade kind of approach to history — to make the children feel good.” He added: “But it’s worse than that, because it comes out of an agenda of political propaganda.”

The authors argue that the civil rights movement was distorted to advance programs promoting inequality and “group privilege.” It complains, for example, about affirmative action and other forms of “preferential treatment.”

Ibram X. Kendi, a scholar and historian of racism at Boston University, called the report “the last great lie from a Trump administration of great lies.”

“If we have commonly been given preferential treatment, then why do Black people remain on the lower and dying end of nearly every racial disparity?” Kendi said on Twitter. “Whenever they answer this question, they express racist ideas of Black inferiority while claiming they are ‘not racist.’”

Other scholars underscored what was left out. The report includes nothing of Native American history, and its only reference to Indigenous people is a racial slur quoted from the Declaration of Independence.

In one passage jeered by historians, the authors draw a comparison between the progressive movement in America and fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, said the report is intended to discredit contemporary public policies rooted in America’s progressive reform movement. He worries that, even after Biden dissolved the commission, its report could end up in some classrooms.

“Historians need to be paying attention to curriculum conversations in localities and at the state level,” Grossman said. “The nonsense that’s in this report will be used to legitimate similar nonsense.”

In a public meeting of the commission this month, some members held out hope that Biden would keep the commission alive. But others said they needed to push the report to state and local education officials.

“It’s really going to be up to governors and state legislators and school board members and parents and higher education commissioners even students to take this charge and carry this work forward,” said Doug Hoelscher, a White House assistant under Trump.

The report ultimately demands a shift in teaching at schools and at U.S. universities, which the panel describes as “hotbeds of anti-Americanism.” It denounces any teaching that breeds contempt for American ideals, blaming that kind of “destructive scholarship” for the nation’s divisions and for “so much of the violence in our cities.”

“To restore our society,” the report says, “academics must return to their vocation of relentlessly pursuing the truth and engaging in honest scholarship that seeks to understand the world and America’s place in it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611233837065.png" alt="<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">Click here t</a>o read Donald Trump's 1776 Report" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">Click here t</a>o read Donald Trump's 1776 Report</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President Joe Biden revoked a recent Trump <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">administration report </a>that aimed to promote “patriotic education” in schools but that historians mocked and rejected as political propaganda.In an executive order signed on Wednesday in his first day in office, Biden disbanded&nbsp;Donald Trump’s <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">presidential 1776 Commission&nbsp;</a>and withdrew a report it released Monday. Trump established the group in September to rally support from white voters and as a response to The New York Times’ “1619 Project,” which highlights the lasting consequences of slavery in America.<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Presidents-Advisory-1776-Commission-Final-Report.pdf">In its report, </a>which Trump hoped would be used in classrooms across the nation, the commission glorifies the country’s founders, plays down America’s role in slavery, condemns the rise of progressive politics and argues that the civil rights movement ran afoul of the “lofty ideals” espoused by the Founding Fathers.The panel, which included no professional historians of the United States, complained of “false and fashionable ideologies” that depict the country’s story as one of “oppression and victimhood.” Instead, it called for renewed efforts to foster “a brave and honest love for our country.”Historians widely panned the report, saying it offers a false and outdated version of American history that ignores decades of research.“It’s an insult to the whole enterprise of education. Education is supposed to help young people learn to think critically,” said David Blight, a Civil War historian at Yale University. “That report is a piece of right-wing propaganda.”Trump officials heralded the report as “a definitive chronicle of the American founding,” but scholars say it disregards the most basic rules of scholarship. It offers no citations, for example, or a list of its source materials.It also includes several passages copied directly from other writings by members of the panel, as one professor found after running the report through software that’s used to detect plagiarism.Matthew Spalding, the panel’s executive director and a vice president at the conservative Hillsdale College, denied any wrongdoing, saying the panel’s members “contributed our own work and writing, under our own names, to the 1776 Report, which was an advisory report to the president.”Spalding and other commission leaders did not immediately respond to other criticism leveled against the report.In his order dissolving the panel, Biden said it “sought to erase America’s history of racial injustice.”The American Historical Association condemned the document, saying it glorifies the founders while ignoring the histories and contributions of enslaved people, Indigenous communities and women. In a statement also signed by 13 other academic groups, the organization says the report seeks “government indoctrination of American students.”The sharpest criticism of the report was directed at its presentation of slavery and race. The report attempts to undermine allegations of hypocrisy against Founding Fathers who owned slaves even as they espoused equality. It also attempts to soften America’s role in slavery and explain it as a product of the times.“Many Americans labor under the illusion that slavery was somehow a uniquely American evil,” the panel wrote in the 20-page report. “The unfortunate fact is that the institution of slavery has been more the rule than the exception throughout human history.”Blight, at Yale, compared it to “a sixth or seventh grade kind of approach to history — to make the children feel good.” He added: “But it’s worse than that, because it comes out of an agenda of political propaganda.”The authors argue that the civil rights movement was distorted to advance programs promoting inequality and “group privilege.” It complains, for example, about affirmative action and other forms of “preferential treatment.”Ibram X. Kendi, a scholar and historian of racism at Boston University, called the report “the last great lie from a Trump administration of great lies.”“If we have commonly been given preferential treatment, then why do Black people remain on the lower and dying end of nearly every racial disparity?” Kendi said on Twitter. “Whenever they answer this question, they express racist ideas of Black inferiority while claiming they are ‘not racist.’”Other scholars underscored what was left out. The report includes nothing of Native American history, and its only reference to Indigenous people is a racial slur quoted from the Declaration of Independence.In one passage jeered by historians, the authors draw a comparison between the progressive movement in America and fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, said the report is intended to discredit contemporary public policies rooted in America’s progressive reform movement. He worries that, even after Biden dissolved the commission, its report could end up in some classrooms.“Historians need to be paying attention to curriculum conversations in localities and at the state level,” Grossman said. “The nonsense that’s in this report will be used to legitimate similar nonsense.”In a public meeting of the commission this month, some members held out hope that Biden would keep the commission alive. But others said they needed to push the report to state and local education officials.“It’s really going to be up to governors and state legislators and school board members and parents and higher education commissioners even students to take this charge and carry this work forward,” said Doug Hoelscher, a White House assistant under Trump.The report ultimately demands a shift in teaching at schools and at U.S. universities, which the panel describes as “hotbeds of anti-Americanism.” It denounces any teaching that breeds contempt for American ideals, blaming that kind of “destructive scholarship” for the nation’s divisions and for “so much of the violence in our cities.”“To restore our society,” the report says, “academics must return to their vocation of relentlessly pursuing the truth and engaging in honest scholarship that seeks to understand the world and America’s place in it.”

Pres. Biden revokes report promoting 'patriotic education'

COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help to locate a woman and her infant.

On Wednesday, three-month-old Isabella Consul-Pierce was entered into National Crime Information Center as an endangered-missing person, according to a media release from Arkansas City, Kansas police.

She is believed to be in the custody of her mother 34-year-old Melissa Ingram-Perdue, who resides in Arkansas City with ties to the Lawrence, Kansas area. She is 5-foot-7 and weighs approximately 175 pounds.

Numerous efforts are underway to locate Isabella and the public's assistance is also being requested.  Melissa potentially is driving a dark grey 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Kansas license plate 602NMH.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Should you come into contact with the vehicle, victim or Mrs. Ingram-Perdue, please contact your local area law enforcement agency immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611254457773.png" alt="Ingram-Perdue-photo Arkansas City PD" />
 <figcaption>Ingram-Perdue-photo Arkansas City PD</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help to locate a woman and her infant.On Wednesday, three-month-old Isabella Consul-Pierce was entered into National Crime Information Center as an endangered-missing person, according to a media release from Arkansas City, Kansas police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611254548509.png" alt="IsabellaConsul-Pierce" />
 <figcaption>IsabellaConsul-Pierce</figcaption>
 </figure>She is believed to be in the custody of her mother 34-year-old Melissa Ingram-Perdue, who resides in Arkansas City with ties to the Lawrence, Kansas area. She is 5-foot-7 and weighs approximately 175 pounds.Numerous efforts are underway to locate Isabella and the public's assistance is also being requested. Melissa potentially is driving a dark grey 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Kansas license plate 602NMH.&nbsp;&nbsp;Should you come into contact with the vehicle, victim or Mrs. Ingram-Perdue, please contact your local area law enforcement agency immediately.

Police: 3-month-old Kan. girl on endangered person list

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on felony charges after a traffic stop.

Just before midnight January 19, a sheriff's deputy&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop on a silver 2009 Dodge Charger near SW Montara Parkway and SW Towerview Lane, according to&nbsp; During the investigation, firearms and drugs were located inside the vehicle, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

Deputies arrested 25-year-old Melvin C. Avery, 28-year-old Terrance J. Wright and 23-year-old Jaquan D.J. Bridges-Alberty all of Topeka, and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

&nbsp;Avery is being held on requested charges of Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, Multiple felony drug charges and Traffic violations

Wright is being held on requested charges of Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and Multiple felony drug charges.

Bridges-Alberty is jailed on requested on Multiple felony drug charges. He also had a misdemeanor warrant out of the City of Topeka, according to Anderson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611194279124.png" alt="BRIDGES-ALBERTY" />
 <figcaption>BRIDGES-ALBERTY</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on felony charges after a traffic stop.Just before midnight January 19, a sheriff's deputy&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop on a silver 2009 Dodge Charger near SW Montara Parkway and SW Towerview Lane, according to&nbsp; During the investigation, firearms and drugs were located inside the vehicle, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611194181339.png" alt="Avery-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Avery-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested 25-year-old Melvin C. Avery, 28-year-old Terrance J. Wright and 23-year-old Jaquan D.J. Bridges-Alberty all of Topeka, and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp;Avery is being held on requested charges of Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, Multiple felony drug charges and Traffic violationsWright is being held on requested charges of Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and Multiple felony drug charges.Bridges-Alberty is jailed on requested on Multiple felony drug charges. He also had a misdemeanor warrant out of the City of Topeka, according to Anderson.

Sheriff: 3 jailed on felony charges after Kan. traffic stop

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — A North Platte man is being held in the Lincoln County Detention Center, accused of robbing a local business.

According
 to North Platte police, on Jan. 18, at 11:20 p.m., officers 
responded to a business in the 1600 block of East Fourth for a robbery that had just occurred. 

Police say upon arrival, officers made contact 
with an employee who stated the suspect had departed on foot prior to 
officers arrival. 

According to police, the employee stated that 
the male suspect had entered the business and approached the front 
counter.  The male suspect then demanded money from the employee and 
made movements that led the employee to believe the suspect had a 
weapon. 

Police say the employee reached under the counter and 
then sprayed the suspect with bear mace, which encouraged the suspect to
 leave the store empty handed. 

 Officers were able to obtain security footage of the incident and identified the suspect as 34-year-old Steven Gastineau. 

Police
 say after further investigation, officers were able to develop probable
 cause, and contact was made with Gastineau on January 20.  

Gastineau
 was placed under arrest at that time and a subsequent search of 
Gastineau's person was conducted where officers located suspected 
methamphetamine. 

 Gastineau was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center on suspicion of robbery and possession of methamphetamine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611247115968.jpeg" alt="Gastineau-photo Lincoln County" />
 <figcaption>Gastineau-photo Lincoln County</figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — A North Platte man is being held in the Lincoln County Detention Center, accused of robbing a local business.According
 to North Platte police, on Jan. 18, at 11:20 p.m., officers 
responded to a business in the 1600 block of East Fourth for a robbery that had just occurred. Police say upon arrival, officers made contact 
with an employee who stated the suspect had departed on foot prior to 
officers arrival. According to police, the employee stated that 
the male suspect had entered the business and approached the front 
counter. The male suspect then demanded money from the employee and 
made movements that led the employee to believe the suspect had a 
weapon. Police say the employee reached under the counter and 
then sprayed the suspect with bear mace, which encouraged the suspect to
 leave the store empty handed. Officers were able to obtain security footage of the incident and identified the suspect as 34-year-old Steven Gastineau. Police
 say after further investigation, officers were able to develop probable
 cause, and contact was made with Gastineau on January 20. Gastineau
 was placed under arrest at that time and a subsequent search of 
Gastineau's person was conducted where officers located suspected 
methamphetamine. Gastineau was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center on suspicion of robbery and possession of methamphetamine.Police did not identify the business.

Employee at Neb. business uses bear mace to thwart robbery

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The co-owner of a one-time Kansas City payday lending company has pleaded guilty to a bankruptcy fraud count related to his 2015 personal bankruptcy, in which prosecutors say he hid more than $1 million in assets.

Del Kimball, 53, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court and faces up to five years in prison when he’s sentenced on June 2. Kimball will remain free on bond until his sentencing.

Prosecutors said Kimball and the payday loan company he co-owned, LTS Management, were forced into bankruptcy by creditors who said they were owed millions. Two years later, a bankruptcy trustee accused Kimball of concealing assets, bank accounts and income from his bankruptcy disclosures. Those included the sale of a warehouse for nearly $1 million, the sale of three cars for more than $120,000, eight wristwatches worth more than $29,000 and a painting by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

Kimball was charged with failing to disclose the transfer of money to a relative and the existence of a company he owned that was formed to conceal income from creditors.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The co-owner of a one-time Kansas City payday lending company has pleaded guilty to a bankruptcy fraud count related to his 2015 personal bankruptcy, in which prosecutors say he hid more than $1 million in assets.Del Kimball, 53, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court and faces up to five years in prison when he’s sentenced on June 2. Kimball will remain free on bond until his sentencing.Prosecutors said Kimball and the payday loan company he co-owned, LTS Management, were forced into bankruptcy by creditors who said they were owed millions. Two years later, a bankruptcy trustee accused Kimball of concealing assets, bank accounts and income from his bankruptcy disclosures. Those included the sale of a warehouse for nearly $1 million, the sale of three cars for more than $120,000, eight wristwatches worth more than $29,000 and a painting by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.Kimball was charged with failing to disclose the transfer of money to a relative and the existence of a company he owned that was formed to conceal income from creditors.

KC payday lender pleads guilty to bankruptcy fraud

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and local officials in southwestern Kansas are investigating after a body was found inside a rail grain car near Dodge City.

The body of a man was found in the grain car Wednesday morning in the unincorporated community of Wright, just northeast of Dodge City, television station KAKE&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kake.com/story/43206495/body-found-in-grain-car-in-southwestern-kansas" target="_blank">reported</a>. The KBI and Ford County Sheriff’s Office are working to identify the man.

Authorities said a preliminary investigation does not show any foul play in the case.

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and local officials in southwestern Kansas are investigating after a body was found inside a rail grain car near Dodge City.The body of a man was found in the grain car Wednesday morning in the unincorporated community of Wright, just northeast of Dodge City, television station KAKE&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kake.com/story/43206495/body-found-in-grain-car-in-southwestern-kansas" target="_blank">reported</a>. The KBI and Ford County Sheriff’s Office are working to identify the man.Authorities said a preliminary investigation does not show any foul play in the case.

Authorities: Body found in rail grain car in SW Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden moved swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump’s legacy on his first day in office, signing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pandemics-climate-climate-change-health-b5b409da08e42414b9a12e2c67ee2df6">a series of executive actions</a>&nbsp;that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new president signed the orders just hours after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda. With the stroke of a pen, Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0cafd1e56b124f5b9cf17ace7031d6d0">the Paris Climate Accord</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9dc4077f95d183649ca24a32a18abf01">the World Health Organization</a>&nbsp;and revoked the approval of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/keystone-pipeline">the Keystone XL oil pipeline</a>, aides said.

The 15 executive actions, and two directives, amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office — and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">coronavirus pandemic, a damaged economy and a riven electorate</a>, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his Republican predecessor.

“There’s no time to start like today,” Biden said in his first comments to reporters as president.

Biden wore a mask as he signed the orders in the Oval Office — a marked departure from Trump, who rarely wore a face covering in public and never during events in the Oval Office. But virus precautions are now required in the building. Among the executive actions signed Wednesday was one requiring masks and physical distancing on federal property and by federal employees. Biden’s order also extended the federal eviction freeze to aid those struggling from the pandemic economic fallout, created a new federal office to coordinate a national response to the virus and restored the White House’s National Security Council directorate for global health security and defense, an office his predecessor had closed.

The actions reflected the new president’s top policy priority — getting a handle on a debilitating pandemic. In his inaugural address, Biden paused for what he called his first act as president — a moment of a silent prayer for the victims of the nation’s worst public health crisis in more than a century.

He declared that he would “press forward with speed and urgency” in coming weeks. “For we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities — much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,” he said in the speech.

But Biden’s blitz of executive actions went beyond the pandemic. He targeted Trump’s environmental record, calling for a review of all regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health, aides said Tuesday as they previewed the moves.

Another order instructs federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reinforce systemic racism. Biden revoked two Trump orders related to the 2020 census. The first attempted to discern the citizenship status of every U.S. resident, and the second sought to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from the numbers used for apportioning congressional seats among the states.”

He also ordered federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

The president also revoked the just-issued report of Trump’s “1776 Commission” that promotes “patriotic education.”

Those moves and others will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, the president’s aides said, as Biden looks to redirect the country without having to go through a Senate that Democrats control by the narrowest margin and will soon turn to the impeachment trial of Trump, who is charged by the House with inciting the insurrection at the Capitol.

Republicans signaled that Biden will face fierce opposition on some parts of his agenda.

One of his orders seeks to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort of the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship. That’s part of a broader immigration plan Biden sent to Congress on Wednesday that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status.

The plan would lead to “a permanent cycle of illegal immigration and amnesty that would hurt hard-working Americans and the millions of legal immigrants working their way through the legal immigration process,” said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Even that familiar criticism seemed a return to the normalcy Biden has promised after years of disruptive and overheated politics. Hewing to tradition, Biden started his day by attending church with both Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress. His press secretary, Jen Psaki, held a briefing for reporters, a practice the Trump White House had all but abandoned in the final two months of the presidency. Psaki said she intended to restore regular briefings as part of the White House’s commitment to transparency.

“I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy and for the role all of you play,” she said.

Biden took other steps to try to signal his priorities and set the tone in his White House. As he swore in dozens of political appointees in a virtual ceremony, he declared he expected “honesty and decency” from all that worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others “on the spot.”

“Everyone is entitled to human decency and dignity,” Biden said. “That’s been missing in a big way for the last four years.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611228674924.png" alt="President Joe Biden wore a mask as he signed the orders in the Oval Office Wednesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden wore a mask as he signed the orders in the Oval Office Wednesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden moved swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump’s legacy on his first day in office, signing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pandemics-climate-climate-change-health-b5b409da08e42414b9a12e2c67ee2df6">a series of executive actions</a>&nbsp;that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.The new president signed the orders just hours after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda. With the stroke of a pen, Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0cafd1e56b124f5b9cf17ace7031d6d0">the Paris Climate Accord</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9dc4077f95d183649ca24a32a18abf01">the World Health Organization</a>&nbsp;and revoked the approval of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/keystone-pipeline">the Keystone XL oil pipeline</a>, aides said.The 15 executive actions, and two directives, amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office — and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">coronavirus pandemic, a damaged economy and a riven electorate</a>, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his Republican predecessor.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> issued a mask mandate on federal property, launching his “100 Day Masking Challenge” as part of our efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. <a href="https://t.co/NLGr6JHB0h">pic.twitter.com/NLGr6JHB0h</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1352086017822650368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“There’s no time to start like today,” Biden said in his first comments to reporters as president.Biden wore a mask as he signed the orders in the Oval Office — a marked departure from Trump, who rarely wore a face covering in public and never during events in the Oval Office. But virus precautions are now required in the building. Among the executive actions signed Wednesday was one requiring masks and physical distancing on federal property and by federal employees. Biden’s order also extended the federal eviction freeze to aid those struggling from the pandemic economic fallout, created a new federal office to coordinate a national response to the virus and restored the White House’s National Security Council directorate for global health security and defense, an office his predecessor had closed.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. <a href="https://t.co/V4fVV2i2jZ">pic.twitter.com/V4fVV2i2jZ</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1352076100764127237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The actions reflected the new president’s top policy priority — getting a handle on a debilitating pandemic. In his inaugural address, Biden paused for what he called his first act as president — a moment of a silent prayer for the victims of the nation’s worst public health crisis in more than a century.He declared that he would “press forward with speed and urgency” in coming weeks. “For we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities — much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,” he said in the speech.But Biden’s blitz of executive actions went beyond the pandemic. He targeted Trump’s environmental record, calling for a review of all regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health, aides said Tuesday as they previewed the moves.Another order instructs federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reinforce systemic racism. Biden revoked two Trump orders related to the 2020 census. The first attempted to discern the citizenship status of every U.S. resident, and the second sought to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from the numbers used for apportioning congressional seats among the states.”He also ordered federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.The president also revoked the just-issued report of Trump’s “1776 Commission” that promotes “patriotic education.”Those moves and others will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, the president’s aides said, as Biden looks to redirect the country without having to go through a Senate that Democrats control by the narrowest margin and will soon turn to the impeachment trial of Trump, who is charged by the House with inciting the insurrection at the Capitol.Republicans signaled that Biden will face fierce opposition on some parts of his agenda.One of his orders seeks to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort of the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship. That’s part of a broader immigration plan Biden sent to Congress on Wednesday that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status.The plan would lead to “a permanent cycle of illegal immigration and amnesty that would hurt hard-working Americans and the millions of legal immigrants working their way through the legal immigration process,” said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.Even that familiar criticism seemed a return to the normalcy Biden has promised after years of disruptive and overheated politics. Hewing to tradition, Biden started his day by attending church with both Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress. His press secretary, Jen Psaki, held a briefing for reporters, a practice the Trump White House had all but abandoned in the final two months of the presidency. Psaki said she intended to restore regular briefings as part of the White House’s commitment to transparency.“I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy and for the role all of you play,” she said.Biden took other steps to try to signal his priorities and set the tone in his White House. As he swore in dozens of political appointees in a virtual ceremony, he declared he expected “honesty and decency” from all that worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others “on the spot.”“Everyone is entitled to human decency and dignity,” Biden said. “That’s been missing in a big way for the last four years.”

Biden signs orders on immigration, racial equality, masks and more

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The top health official in Kansas has told lawmakers that the state will likely see a small uptick in immediate supply of the COVID-19 vaccine with the change in presidential administrations as&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly is set to announce the statewide move to Phase 2 of Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan.&nbsp;

In a joint hearing Tuesday before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8e40fZ3T5w" target="_blank">Senate and House health panels</a>, Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said he has been told the state will probably get a 1% or 2% increase in its vaccine supply in the short run.

“The shortages are going to be something we are going to have to live with,” Norman said.

The federal government allocates vaccines to states based on population. Kansas, with its population of 3 million, receives 1% of the nation’s allocated vaccines, he said, adding that the state has at times been shorted as much as half of its anticipated supply.

The state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout prioritizes health care workers and nursing homes in its first phase. About a third of the state’s population will be covered in the second phase, which covers people ages 65 and older, those in congregate settings such as prisons, and high-contact critical workers.

“The problem is there is not enough (vaccine) — and that has been the thing we have not been able to slay yet,” Norman told lawmakers.

Norman also questioned whether it makes sense to open more vaccination sites if there is not enough vaccine being supplied.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">reported Wednesday&nbsp;</a>that 111,905 people, or about 3.8% of the state’s population, have received the COVID-19 vaccine to date. Kansas has received about 202,225 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines so far and administered at least 129,349, including 17,712 second doses, according to the agency’s website.

Norman told lawmakers that the state has been administering about 60% of the vaccine it receives, far above the 39% average for the nation.

Kansas counties do not have to move “in lockstep” into phase two, and can do so once everyone in the first phase who wants the vaccine has received it, Norman told the joint panel.

Sedgwick County health officials said Tuesday that the COVID-19 vaccine is in such short supply in the Wichita area that the county health department plans to initially limit its second phase of vaccinations to those aged 90 or older.

Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to announce a move into the second phase later this week, expanding eligibility to the vaccine to anyone 65 or older. But it could be weeks or months before the youngest in that age group are vaccinated in the Wichita area, the Wichita Eagle reported.

Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman told Sedgwick County commissioners Tuesday that instead of opening vaccinations up to the entire 65-plus population, the county will “focus on people that are most likely to be negatively impacted by coronavirus and the folks that are most likely to die from coronavirus.”

In Johnson County, thousands of residents trying to complete a coronavirus vaccine survey overwhelmed the online system, prompting the local health department to boost its server capacity.

Kansas health officials also added another 3,590 COVID-19 cases from Monday to Wednesday, pushing the tally in the state to 263,412 since since the start of the pandemic. It reported 50 more coronavirus-related deaths since Monday, bringing the state’s death toll to at least 3,575.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610637104552.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman told lawmakers, “The problem is there is not enough (vaccine) — and that has been the thing we have not been able to slay yet."" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman told lawmakers, “The problem is there is not enough (vaccine) — and that has been the thing we have not been able to slay yet."</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The top health official in Kansas has told lawmakers that the state will likely see a small uptick in immediate supply of the COVID-19 vaccine with the change in presidential administrations as&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly is set to announce the statewide move to Phase 2 of Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610104544544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In a joint hearing Tuesday before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8e40fZ3T5w" target="_blank">Senate and House health panels</a>, Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said he has been told the state will probably get a 1% or 2% increase in its vaccine supply in the short run.“The shortages are going to be something we are going to have to live with,” Norman said.The federal government allocates vaccines to states based on population. Kansas, with its population of 3 million, receives 1% of the nation’s allocated vaccines, he said, adding that the state has at times been shorted as much as half of its anticipated supply.The state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout prioritizes health care workers and nursing homes in its first phase. About a third of the state’s population will be covered in the second phase, which covers people ages 65 and older, those in congregate settings such as prisons, and high-contact critical workers.“The problem is there is not enough (vaccine) — and that has been the thing we have not been able to slay yet,” Norman told lawmakers.Norman also questioned whether it makes sense to open more vaccination sites if there is not enough vaccine being supplied.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611166114849.png" alt="Wednesday Jan. 20, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Jan. 20, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">reported Wednesday&nbsp;</a>that 111,905 people, or about 3.8% of the state’s population, have received the COVID-19 vaccine to date. Kansas has received about 202,225 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines so far and administered at least 129,349, including 17,712 second doses, according to the agency’s website.Norman told lawmakers that the state has been administering about 60% of the vaccine it receives, far above the 39% average for the nation.Kansas counties do not have to move “in lockstep” into phase two, and can do so once everyone in the first phase who wants the vaccine has received it, Norman told the joint panel.Sedgwick County health officials said Tuesday that the COVID-19 vaccine is in such short supply in the Wichita area that the county health department plans to initially limit its second phase of vaccinations to those aged 90 or older.Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to announce a move into the second phase later this week, expanding eligibility to the vaccine to anyone 65 or older. But it could be weeks or months before the youngest in that age group are vaccinated in the Wichita area, the Wichita Eagle reported.Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman told Sedgwick County commissioners Tuesday that instead of opening vaccinations up to the entire 65-plus population, the county will “focus on people that are most likely to be negatively impacted by coronavirus and the folks that are most likely to die from coronavirus.”In Johnson County, thousands of residents trying to complete a coronavirus vaccine survey overwhelmed the online system, prompting the local health department to boost its server capacity.Kansas health officials also added another 3,590 COVID-19 cases from Monday to Wednesday, pushing the tally in the state to 263,412 since since the start of the pandemic. It reported 50 more coronavirus-related deaths since Monday, bringing the state’s death toll to at least 3,575.

Kan. moves to vaccine Plan Phase 2 amid vaccine shortage

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A wanted Kansas man died in an accident during a police chase just before 1a.m. Wednesday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Pontiac G8 driven by Juan Carlos Marquez, 22, Lawrence, was eastbound on Loring Lane at Stillwell Road at a high rate of speed while eluding Bonner Springs Police Department.&nbsp; Police said the car reached speeds up to 114 mph in a 45 mph zone before losing control of the car.

&nbsp;The vehicle went into a spin and struck a speed limit sign. After impact the vehicle continued in a backwards direction and struck a tree.

EMS transported&nbsp;Marquez to KU Medical Center where he died.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger Alejandra Diaz, 18, Bonner Springs, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611169773523.png" alt="Marquez had a previous conviction for aggravated assault and was listed as an absconder, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Marquez had a previous conviction for aggravated assault and was listed as an absconder, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A wanted Kansas man died in an accident during a police chase just before 1a.m. Wednesday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Pontiac G8 driven by Juan Carlos Marquez, 22, Lawrence, was eastbound on Loring Lane at Stillwell Road at a high rate of speed while eluding Bonner Springs Police Department.&nbsp; Police said the car reached speeds up to 114 mph in a 45 mph zone before losing control of the car.&nbsp;The vehicle went into a spin and struck a speed limit sign. After impact the vehicle continued in a backwards direction and struck a tree.EMS transported&nbsp;Marquez to KU Medical Center where he died.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger Alejandra Diaz, 18, Bonner Springs, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Wanted Kansas man dies after crash during police chase

Topeka (AP) — Normally quiet streets around U.S. state capitol buildings have looked more like battlegrounds recently, putting those who live and work there on edge.

More than most people, these Americans will have front-row seats on whether the change of leadership Wednesday in the White House will lead to a lessening of tension that has been afflicting the nation. They’ll be watching what the next chapter brings from storefronts and the porches and stoops of their own homes.

Their sense of foreboding was lightened, just a little, by Wednesday’s inauguration. As President Joe Biden was sworn into office, demonstrations at state capitols were scant, with only a few protesters showing up, and in some cities, none at all.

Some expect Biden’s focus on unity — a word he used eight times in his inaugural address — will have an effect, but they say how the people react will be key.

Jonathan Jones’ front-row seat to what happens next is his restaurant that is decorated with Black Lives Matter signs and art near the Oregon State Capitol. Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails has been vandalized by a white supremacist. One day, police showed up as Jones, who is Black, and his friends were being accosted by neo-fascist Proud Boys. The police at first confronted Jones’ group as if they were the threat.

“There’s not a person who stood with me that day who didn’t think that they might die,” Jones said. “And the most awful part was not knowing if it was going to come from the police or from the Proud Boys.”

Jones watched Biden’s inauguration on TV, and in the afterglow called it “a beautiful moment.”

“It was fantastic to see the president of the United States denounce and repudiate white supremacy multiple times and to acknowledge that we’re long overdue as a country to actually achieve some form of racial justice,” Jones said. “My hope is that things are dealt with quickly, but my expectation is that it will take quite some time to see any actual change.”

Brian Henderson, minister of First Baptist Church of Denver that sits across an avenue from the shuttered Colorado Capitol, was so close to the upheavals of 2020 that he was struck in the left knee with a pepper ball. Henderson had been handing out water from the front steps of his small brick church as thousands battled police during riots over George Floyd’s killing.

Many neighboring businesses and state government buildings have boarded up their windows and doors in anticipation of possible violence but the church has not, to avoid giving the wrong message.

“We can’t let fear stop us from doing what we have to do,” Henderson said.

Henderson watched the inaugural with church staff and then stepped outside to reflect and bask in the historic moment.

“There was this strong breeze. The sun was warm. The sky was blue. The air felt fresh. It’s a new day. We have a new president,” Henderson said.

In Washington state, a neighborhood next to the Capitol in Olympia boasts mid-century and 100-year-old homes. On normal days, the tranquil scene is one that Norman Rockwell could have depicted in idyllic portraits of American life, residents say.

But in recent weeks, frequent protests involving people in tactical gear and armed with guns have created a climate of fear. People shout into megaphones, loud trucks drive down narrow streets, residents are called names or harassed, media helicopters and police planes fly overhead.

“There’s no retreat, because it’s your house, it’s where you live. It’s been a little jolting, and exhausting,” said the woman, who is so afraid for the safety of herself and her family that she spoke to a reporter only on condition she not be identified.

She said she is optimistic that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to accomplish many things.

“But I’m not sure that will change the real divisions we’ve all seen,” she said. ”People are behaving so differently, openly, that I don’t know — moving forward as a country — if we’ll be able to find each other again.”

Near the gold-domed Statehouse in Boston, Catya Kurban said Wednesday she’s looking forward to more stability under Biden but worries about backlash and violence from supporters of former President Donald Trump.

“I’m also trying to be realistic about changes,” she said. “I know they won’t happen overnight.”

Isaac Smith, a 21-year-old Harvard University junior walking across the street, said he voted for Biden and was excited for what’s to come.

“No matter which way you look at it, it’s historic. Things are going to change,” he said. “The previous administration harmed American democracy, and I think I’m with a lot of my fellow Americans in that I hope this administration can start to repair some of the relationships with our allies and the damage he’s done in terms of climate change and immigration.”

In Washington, D.C., a restaurant named We, the Pizza is located just one block from barricades surrounding the U.S. Capitol, where Biden was sworn in. The pizzeria has been feeding thousands of National Guard troops and other security and first responders, using donations from around the nation.

Manager Rob Earley said a girl around 6 years old brought in a check for $1,000 on Tuesday — money she had raised to feed the soldiers.

“I had tears in my eyes,” Earley said. “It’s good to see people that young that are wanting to be so involved in what’s going on and wanting to be part of making change.”

He believes Biden’s new tone “will help ease tensions and make things a little bit better. It will help mellow things out a little bit.”

Back in Oregon, Jones has been buoyed by people coming out in support of his restaurant, as customers and guardians. On Sunday, Robert Fox, a glass-blowing artist, sat in his sedan parked in front of the restaurant, keeping watch before Jones and his wife, Maura Ryan, showed up to prepare meals, available only for takeout during coronavirus shutdowns.

“I’m just making sure nothing happens,” Fox said as a dozen gun-toting, far-right protesters stood outside the Capitol, three blocks away.

Jones said actions like that give him hope.

“I think that in spite of how loud the far right is, I think the bulk of the country is not that,” Jones said. “And I think that the more that we can embolden people to show that solidarity and be willing to stand up and stand next to everybody and present that unified front, then I think the quicker we’ll get to the end of this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610659131053.png" alt="Photo Kansas Capitol Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Capitol Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka (AP) — Normally quiet streets around U.S. state capitol buildings have looked more like battlegrounds recently, putting those who live and work there on edge.More than most people, these Americans will have front-row seats on whether the change of leadership Wednesday in the White House will lead to a lessening of tension that has been afflicting the nation. They’ll be watching what the next chapter brings from storefronts and the porches and stoops of their own homes.Their sense of foreboding was lightened, just a little, by Wednesday’s inauguration. As President Joe Biden was sworn into office, demonstrations at state capitols were scant, with only a few protesters showing up, and in some cities, none at all.Some expect Biden’s focus on unity — a word he used eight times in his inaugural address — will have an effect, but they say how the people react will be key.Jonathan Jones’ front-row seat to what happens next is his restaurant that is decorated with Black Lives Matter signs and art near the Oregon State Capitol. Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails has been vandalized by a white supremacist. One day, police showed up as Jones, who is Black, and his friends were being accosted by neo-fascist Proud Boys. The police at first confronted Jones’ group as if they were the threat.“There’s not a person who stood with me that day who didn’t think that they might die,” Jones said. “And the most awful part was not knowing if it was going to come from the police or from the Proud Boys.”Jones watched Biden’s inauguration on TV, and in the afterglow called it “a beautiful moment.”“It was fantastic to see the president of the United States denounce and repudiate white supremacy multiple times and to acknowledge that we’re long overdue as a country to actually achieve some form of racial justice,” Jones said. “My hope is that things are dealt with quickly, but my expectation is that it will take quite some time to see any actual change.”Brian Henderson, minister of First Baptist Church of Denver that sits across an avenue from the shuttered Colorado Capitol, was so close to the upheavals of 2020 that he was struck in the left knee with a pepper ball. Henderson had been handing out water from the front steps of his small brick church as thousands battled police during riots over George Floyd’s killing.Many neighboring businesses and state government buildings have boarded up their windows and doors in anticipation of possible violence but the church has not, to avoid giving the wrong message.“We can’t let fear stop us from doing what we have to do,” Henderson said.Henderson watched the inaugural with church staff and then stepped outside to reflect and bask in the historic moment.“There was this strong breeze. The sun was warm. The sky was blue. The air felt fresh. It’s a new day. We have a new president,” Henderson said.In Washington state, a neighborhood next to the Capitol in Olympia boasts mid-century and 100-year-old homes. On normal days, the tranquil scene is one that Norman Rockwell could have depicted in idyllic portraits of American life, residents say.But in recent weeks, frequent protests involving people in tactical gear and armed with guns have created a climate of fear. People shout into megaphones, loud trucks drive down narrow streets, residents are called names or harassed, media helicopters and police planes fly overhead.“There’s no retreat, because it’s your house, it’s where you live. It’s been a little jolting, and exhausting,” said the woman, who is so afraid for the safety of herself and her family that she spoke to a reporter only on condition she not be identified.She said she is optimistic that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to accomplish many things.“But I’m not sure that will change the real divisions we’ve all seen,” she said. ”People are behaving so differently, openly, that I don’t know — moving forward as a country — if we’ll be able to find each other again.”Near the gold-domed Statehouse in Boston, Catya Kurban said Wednesday she’s looking forward to more stability under Biden but worries about backlash and violence from supporters of former President Donald Trump.“I’m also trying to be realistic about changes,” she said. “I know they won’t happen overnight.”Isaac Smith, a 21-year-old Harvard University junior walking across the street, said he voted for Biden and was excited for what’s to come.“No matter which way you look at it, it’s historic. Things are going to change,” he said. “The previous administration harmed American democracy, and I think I’m with a lot of my fellow Americans in that I hope this administration can start to repair some of the relationships with our allies and the damage he’s done in terms of climate change and immigration.”In Washington, D.C., a restaurant named We, the Pizza is located just one block from barricades surrounding the U.S. Capitol, where Biden was sworn in. The pizzeria has been feeding thousands of National Guard troops and other security and first responders, using donations from around the nation.Manager Rob Earley said a girl around 6 years old brought in a check for $1,000 on Tuesday — money she had raised to feed the soldiers.“I had tears in my eyes,” Earley said. “It’s good to see people that young that are wanting to be so involved in what’s going on and wanting to be part of making change.”He believes Biden’s new tone “will help ease tensions and make things a little bit better. It will help mellow things out a little bit.”Back in Oregon, Jones has been buoyed by people coming out in support of his restaurant, as customers and guardians. On Sunday, Robert Fox, a glass-blowing artist, sat in his sedan parked in front of the restaurant, keeping watch before Jones and his wife, Maura Ryan, showed up to prepare meals, available only for takeout during coronavirus shutdowns.“I’m just making sure nothing happens,” Fox said as a dozen gun-toting, far-right protesters stood outside the Capitol, three blocks away.Jones said actions like that give him hope.“I think that in spite of how loud the far right is, I think the bulk of the country is not that,” Jones said. “And I think that the more that we can embolden people to show that solidarity and be willing to stand up and stand next to everybody and present that unified front, then I think the quicker we’ll get to the end of this.”______

Americans who live, work near capitols see peace, new hope

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after police served a search warrant on a Kansas home.

On Wednesday, police served a search warrant in the 3800 Block of SW Topeka Blvd, related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

 While conducting the search warrant, two individuals wanted for Shawnee County warrants were located, James Epps, 37 years of age, and Tia Blackford, 25 years of age, both of Topeka.

Police arrested Epps and Blackford and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

&nbsp;Epps is being held for the Felony Shawnee County Warrant and requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Battery LEO, and Obstruction.&nbsp;Blackford is being held on the Felony Shawnee County Warrant and requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Narcotics, Felony Obstruction and&nbsp; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent, according to Monasmith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611194949473.png" alt="Blackford-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Blackford-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after police served a search warrant on a Kansas home.On Wednesday, police served a search warrant in the 3800 Block of SW Topeka Blvd, related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith. While conducting the search warrant, two individuals wanted for Shawnee County warrants were located, James Epps, 37 years of age, and Tia Blackford, 25 years of age, both of Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611194628008.png" alt="Epps-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Epps-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested Epps and Blackford and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp;Epps is being held for the Felony Shawnee County Warrant and requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Battery LEO, and Obstruction.&nbsp;Blackford is being held on the Felony Shawnee County Warrant and requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Narcotics, Felony Obstruction and&nbsp; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent, according to Monasmith.

Couple arrested following drug investigation at Kan. home

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, summoning American resilience to confront a historic confluence of crises and urging people to come together to end an “uncivil war” in a nation deeply divided after four tumultuous years

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507998-1/presidential-inauguration&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of the inauguration.

Declaring that “democracy has prevailed,” Biden took the oath at a U.S. Capitol that had been battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks earlier.

On a chilly Washington morning dotted with snow flurries, the quadrennial ceremony unfolded within a circle of security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, Biden gazed out over 200,000 American flags planted on the National Mall to symbolize those who could not attend in person.

“The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We’ve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,” Biden said. “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.”

Biden never mentioned his predecessor, who defied tradition and left town ahead of the ceremony, but his speech was an implicit rebuke of Donald Trump. The new president denounced “lies told for power and for profit” and was blunt about the challenges ahead.

Central among them: the surging virus that has&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">claimed more than 400,000 lives</a>&nbsp;in the United States, as well as economic strains and a national reckoning over race.

“We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,” Biden said. “Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now.”

Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, he planned a series of executive actions to roll back Trump administration initiatives and also planned to send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

The absence of Biden’s predecessor from the inaugural ceremony, a break from tradition, underscored the rift to be healed.

But a bipartisan trio of three former presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — were there to witness the ceremonial transfer of power. Trump, awaiting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">his second impeachment trial</a>, was at his Florida resort by the time the swearing-in took place.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Biden did not mention Trump by name but alluded to the rifts his predecessor had helped create.

“I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality of racism, nativism, fear, demonization that have long torn us apart,” Biden said. “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America.”

Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he was the oldest president inaugurated.

More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/urn:publicid:ap.org:5ac8fff8bbe1c70479604e3ff62ecb10">the first woman to be vice president</a>. The former U.S. senator from California is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/46ef207f32a089b2b54ed35d57c9413f">the first Black person</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0dc9ab1834475308435b7175bf0288d1">the first person of South Asian descent</a>&nbsp;elected to the vice presidency and the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

The two were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels. Tens of thousands of troops were on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Biden’s victory.

“Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people,” Biden said. “To stop the work of our democracy. To drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.”

The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelt’s inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.

But Washington, all but deserted downtown and in its federal areas, was quiet. And calm also prevailed outside heavily fortified state Capitol buildings across nation after the FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration.

The day began with a reach across the political aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles under Trump. At Biden’s invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service just a few blocks from the White House.

Biden was sworn in by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-inauguration-joe-biden-donald-trump-barack-obama-health-3e80a8e8224e973fd71295939c9e67d9">Chief Justice John Roberts</a>; Harris by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for Trump, sat nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a golden microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.