CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State’s board of trustees have placed president F. King Alexander on probation for his role in handling sexual misconduct complaints while he was at LSU.

After a seven-hour meeting Wednesday night, the board ordered Alexander to come up with an “action plan” to regain the trust of his campus.

A report commissioned by the LSU board found there was a “serious institutional failure” in the school’s handling of Title IX cases, including allegations against football coach Les Miles during Alexander’s tenure. 

Alexander served at LSU from July 2013 through 2019 and took the same position at Oregon State in 2020.

A number of Oregon State faculty and students testified in a public hearing earlier in the day, calling for Alexander’s firing.

The board considered firing Alexander,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/03/17/oregon-states-puts-former-lsu-president-f-king-alexander-probation/4741812001/" target="_blank">USA Today reported.</a>

“Questions were raised about whether we had all of the pertinent information that we need to make a sound, well-informed judgment,” trustee Paul Kelly told the newspaper, explaining the board’s thinking.

Les Miles resigned earlier this month as the University of Kansas head football coach just days after he was placed on administrative leave amid sexual misconduct allegations from his tenure at LSU.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two days later KU Athletic Director Jeff Long resigned.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602186466103.png" alt="On March 8, KU mutually parted with coach Les Miles amid sexual misconduct allegations dating to the football coach’s time at LSU.&nbsp;Kansas athletic director Jeff Long resigned two days later." />
 <figcaption>On March 8, KU mutually parted with coach Les Miles amid sexual misconduct allegations dating to the football coach’s time at LSU.&nbsp;Kansas athletic director Jeff Long resigned two days later.</figcaption>
 </figure>CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State’s board of trustees have placed president F. King Alexander on probation for his role in handling sexual misconduct complaints while he was at LSU.After a seven-hour meeting Wednesday night, the board ordered Alexander to come up with an “action plan” to regain the trust of his campus.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dear Members of the OSU Community, I share this message providing my commitment to evaluate and improve Title IX reporting and survivor support services within OSU; address concerns regarding my leadership of the university; and rebuild relationships and trust. 1/2&mdash; Oregon State University (@OregonState) <a href="https://twitter.com/OregonState/status/1372420099517288449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A report commissioned by the LSU board found there was a “serious institutional failure” in the school’s handling of Title IX cases, including allegations against football coach Les Miles during Alexander’s tenure. Alexander served at LSU from July 2013 through 2019 and took the same position at Oregon State in 2020.A number of Oregon State faculty and students testified in a public hearing earlier in the day, calling for Alexander’s firing.The board considered firing Alexander,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/03/17/oregon-states-puts-former-lsu-president-f-king-alexander-probation/4741812001/" target="_blank">USA Today reported.</a>“Questions were raised about whether we had all of the pertinent information that we need to make a sound, well-informed judgment,” trustee Paul Kelly told the newspaper, explaining the board’s thinking.Les Miles resigned earlier this month as the University of Kansas head football coach just days after he was placed on administrative leave amid sexual misconduct allegations from his tenure at LSU.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two days later KU Athletic Director Jeff Long resigned.&nbsp;

More fallout from allegations against former KU coach

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of rape made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.

Arden Vanhorn, 32, Wichita, was charged with&nbsp;11 crimes, two of which are misdemeanors, four counts of aggravated battery, rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping, criminal damage to property (misdemeanor), criminal threat, theft (misdemeanor), and attempted aggravated escape from custody, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Just after 4 p.m. on March 14, police responded to check the welfare of a citizen at Harry and Poplar, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; 

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 47-year-old woman who had injuries and learned an unknown suspect entered the business she was working at in the 1500 block of East Harry in Wichita, held a knife to her, strangled and battered her, and sexually assaulted her.&nbsp; She was able to flee the business and call the police.

Through the investigation, investigators learned of Vanhorn’s involvement in the case. They learned he had been arrested and booked into jail stemming from an aggravated battery and theft investigation on Sunday evening.

His bond is $325,000, according to the district attorney.  His next court appearance is March 25.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615913023670.png" alt="Vanhorn has previous felony convictions that include theft, burglary, aggravated assault and criminal use of a financial card, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections - photo Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Vanhorn has previous felony convictions that include theft, burglary, aggravated assault and criminal use of a financial card, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections - photo Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of rape made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.Arden Vanhorn, 32, Wichita, was charged with&nbsp;11 crimes, two of which are misdemeanors, four counts of aggravated battery, rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping, criminal damage to property (misdemeanor), criminal threat, theft (misdemeanor), and attempted aggravated escape from custody, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.Just after 4 p.m. on March 14, police responded to check the welfare of a citizen at Harry and Poplar, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers contacted a 47-year-old woman who had injuries and learned an unknown suspect entered the business she was working at in the 1500 block of East Harry in Wichita, held a knife to her, strangled and battered her, and sexually assaulted her.&nbsp; She was able to flee the business and call the police.Through the investigation, investigators learned of Vanhorn’s involvement in the case. They learned he had been arrested and booked into jail stemming from an aggravated battery and theft investigation on Sunday evening.His bond is $325,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.&nbsp;

Kan. man accused of violent sex assault charged with 11 crimes

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Attorneys general from 21 states on Wednesday sued to to overturn President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.

<a href="https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/tx-and-mt-v-biden-complaint6e0db0e103df4720bfd10092d018af6d.pdf?sfvrsn=9c2e3f35_2">Click here to read</a> the lawsuit documents

Led by Ken Paxton of Texas and Austin Knudsen of Montana, the states said Biden had overstepped his authority when he revoked the permit for the Keystone pipeline on his first day in office.

Because the line would run through multiple U.S. states, Congress should have the final say over whether it’s built, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Texas.

Construction on the 1,200-mile pipeline began last year when former President Donald Trump revived the long-delayed project after it had stalled under the Obama administration.

It would move up to 830,000 barrels (35 million gallons) of crude daily from the oil sand fields of western Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, where it would connect to other pipelines that feed oil refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Biden cancelled its permit over longstanding concerns that burning oil sands crude would make climate change worse.

Some moderate Democratic lawmakers also have urged Biden to reverse his decision, including Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616084357111.png" alt="From the lawsuit" />
 <figcaption>From the lawsuit</figcaption>
 </figure>BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Attorneys general from 21 states on Wednesday sued to to overturn President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.<a href="https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/tx-and-mt-v-biden-complaint6e0db0e103df4720bfd10092d018af6d.pdf?sfvrsn=9c2e3f35_2">Click here to read</a> the lawsuit documentsLed by Ken Paxton of Texas and Austin Knudsen of Montana, the states said Biden had overstepped his authority when he revoked the permit for the Keystone pipeline on his first day in office.Because the line would run through multiple U.S. states, Congress should have the final say over whether it’s built, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Texas.Construction on the 1,200-mile pipeline began last year when former President Donald Trump revived the long-delayed project after it had stalled under the Obama administration.It would move up to 830,000 barrels (35 million gallons) of crude daily from the oil sand fields of western Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, where it would connect to other pipelines that feed oil refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.Biden cancelled its permit over longstanding concerns that burning oil sands crude would make climate change worse.Some moderate Democratic lawmakers also have urged Biden to reverse his decision, including Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana.

Kan., 20 other states sue Biden to revive Keystone XL pipeline

CRAWFORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1a.m. Thursday in Crawford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Michael J. Brogoto, 60, Independence, MO., was southbound on Kansas 7 approaching E. 630th Avenue.

The vehicle struck a westbound 2002 Ford F150 driven by Gregory A.&nbsp;Puffinbarger, 57, Girard, that was had stopped at the stop sign at the intersection and then proceeded to cross the intersection.

Puffinbarger was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; Brogoto was not injured.&nbsp; Puffinbarger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

CRAWFORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1a.m. Thursday in Crawford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Michael J. Brogoto, 60, Independence, MO., was southbound on Kansas 7 approaching E. 630th Avenue.The vehicle struck a westbound 2002 Ford F150 driven by Gregory A.&nbsp;Puffinbarger, 57, Girard, that was had stopped at the stop sign at the intersection and then proceeded to cross the intersection.Puffinbarger was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; Brogoto was not injured.&nbsp; Puffinbarger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup, semi crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigatating a shooting that sent a woman to the hospital.

Just before 10p.m.&nbsp; Tuesday, police responded to the 2600 block of S Topeka in Wichita after report that a woman had been shot and left in a vehicle at that location, according to officer Trevor Macey.&nbsp;

Police stopped the vehicle in the 1500 block of Pawnee and located a 21-year-old woman&nbsp;inside with a gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital in serious condition, according to Macey. She is expected to recover.

Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigatating a shooting that sent a woman to the hospital.Just before 10p.m.&nbsp; Tuesday, police responded to the 2600 block of S Topeka in Wichita after report that a woman had been shot and left in a vehicle at that location, according to officer Trevor Macey.&nbsp;Police stopped the vehicle in the 1500 block of Pawnee and located a 21-year-old woman&nbsp;inside with a gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital in serious condition, according to Macey. She is expected to recover.Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police: Kan. woman found in car with gunshot wound

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators on Wednesday traded sometimes-bitter accusations of misogyny as conservative Republicans advanced a proposal to ban transgender students from girls’ and women’s school sports that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly labeled “regressive.”

(Click below to watch Wednesday night's debate on the bill)

The GOP-controlled state Senate approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb208_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that would enact the ban on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20210317203940_351043/" target="_blank">a 24-10 vote,</a>&nbsp;sending the measure to the Republican-controlled House. Kelly predicted ahead of Wednesday’s two-hour debate that the policy would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to the state, but supporters of the measure dismissed her criticism.

Top Republicans in the Senate made the bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-topeka-kansas-wichita-coronavirus-pandemic-e174bf500007ef461f0caa58666558d0">a priority,</a>&nbsp;joining Republicans in Congress and more than 20 state legislatures who are pushing for similar bans.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boise-lawsuits-politics-gender-identity-courts-89b70fd5f82812c9368f985e389c485d">Idaho enacted</a>&nbsp;a similar law last year that’s being challenged in federal court, and Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mississippi-discrimination-gender-identity-tate-reeves-9dfa2829f12e5f7efbb1653aaf468941">signed a measure&nbsp;</a>into law last week. South Dakota lawmakers passed a ban earlier this month, and GOP Gov. Kristi Noem&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-school-athletics-south-dakota-kristi-noem-courts-636ce23aad050114f2fde800b5bdd9c7">has promised</a>&nbsp;to sign it.

Like their counterparts across the U.S., supporters of the Kansas proposal said it would preserve fair competition in girl’s and women’s sports, though backers of such bans largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawmakers-unable-to-cite-local-trans-girls-sports-914a982545e943ecc1e265e8c41042e7">haven’t been able to cite local examples</a>&nbsp;of transgender students’ participation causing problems. In Wednesday’s debate, they repeatedly referred to transgender girls as “biological boys” and argued that without the bill, women would be robbed of college scholarships and other life-changing opportunities available after decades of struggle.

“Do we want to set women’s rights back 50 years?” said Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and former college basketball point guard, who led the debate for supporters.

However, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Kansas City-area Democrat, called the measure “hateful” and “rooted in bigotry.” And she grew irritated during the debate with a key message from supporters of the bill, that natural differences mean that men are naturally the superior athletes in almost every sport.

“I appreciate several of my male colleagues telling me how they want to protect the underdog, how men are superior. I actually find that rather misogynistic and rude,” she said. “Excluding women who are trans hurts all women.”

Erickson called Sykes’ arguments “incredibly insulting” and suggested that critics were “insulted by facts, by trying to provide a level playing field.”

The state association that oversees middle and high school activities in Kansas has said it knows of only five transgender students currently active in K-12 activities, and there’s no record of any transgender school sports champions. But supporters repeatedly point to the 15 championships won between 2017 and 2019 by two transgender high school runners in Connecticut, which prompted a federal lawsuit.

Sen. Mark Steffen, a Republican from south-central Kansas and an anesthesiologist, said the bill was based on “indisputable physiological facts” that demonstrate “the male as a genetically and time-engineered superior machine.” Sen. Virgil Peck, a southeast Kansas Republican, said he backed the bill because he believes in ”old-fashioned chivalry” and wants to take a stand for “young ladies, natural-born females.”

“Have we — men — given away our manpower to the snowflakes? Are we going to allow someone to carry around our manhood in their fanny pack or in their purse?” Peck said. “Are there no longer any alpha males who will stand and defend our young ladies, our wives, our daughters, our granddaughters, our neighbors’ wives, daughters, and granddaughters?”

Kelly stopped short Wednesday of promising to veto the Kansas measure if it passes. She pointed to a past executive order on LGBTQ rights as signaling her position. A day after taking office in 2019, Kelly prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state hiring or employment decisions.

“We know from lots of experience in other states that when you implement these kinds of regressive social policies that you significantly decrease the ability to attract businesses here,” Kelly said. “Businesses want us to be inclusive.”

LGBTQ-rights advocates see the bill as an attack on transgender kids that is likely to increase bullying of them, and they argue that the debate itself is damaging their mental health.

“They’ve gotten some affirmation, and now they’re seeing that being stripped and being stripped by a governmental organization,” said first-term state Rep. Stephanie Byers, a Wichita Democrat and Kansas’ first transgender lawmaker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616068900162.png" alt="GOP State Senator Renee Erickson&nbsp; said,“Do we want to set women’s rights back 50 years?”" />
 <figcaption>GOP State Senator Renee Erickson&nbsp; said,“Do we want to set women’s rights back 50 years?”</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators on Wednesday traded sometimes-bitter accusations of misogyny as conservative Republicans advanced a proposal to ban transgender students from girls’ and women’s school sports that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly labeled “regressive.”(Click below to watch Wednesday night's debate on the bill)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wiFDJXtKwQc?start=12834" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The GOP-controlled state Senate approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb208_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that would enact the ban on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20210317203940_351043/" target="_blank">a 24-10 vote,</a>&nbsp;sending the measure to the Republican-controlled House. Kelly predicted ahead of Wednesday’s two-hour debate that the policy would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to the state, but supporters of the measure dismissed her criticism.Top Republicans in the Senate made the bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-topeka-kansas-wichita-coronavirus-pandemic-e174bf500007ef461f0caa58666558d0">a priority,</a>&nbsp;joining Republicans in Congress and more than 20 state legislatures who are pushing for similar bans.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boise-lawsuits-politics-gender-identity-courts-89b70fd5f82812c9368f985e389c485d">Idaho enacted</a>&nbsp;a similar law last year that’s being challenged in federal court, and Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mississippi-discrimination-gender-identity-tate-reeves-9dfa2829f12e5f7efbb1653aaf468941">signed a measure&nbsp;</a>into law last week. South Dakota lawmakers passed a ban earlier this month, and GOP Gov. Kristi Noem&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-school-athletics-south-dakota-kristi-noem-courts-636ce23aad050114f2fde800b5bdd9c7">has promised</a>&nbsp;to sign it.Like their counterparts across the U.S., supporters of the Kansas proposal said it would preserve fair competition in girl’s and women’s sports, though backers of such bans largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawmakers-unable-to-cite-local-trans-girls-sports-914a982545e943ecc1e265e8c41042e7">haven’t been able to cite local examples</a>&nbsp;of transgender students’ participation causing problems. In Wednesday’s debate, they repeatedly referred to transgender girls as “biological boys” and argued that without the bill, women would be robbed of college scholarships and other life-changing opportunities available after decades of struggle.“Do we want to set women’s rights back 50 years?” said Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and former college basketball point guard, who led the debate for supporters.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616069152124.png" alt="Senator Dinah Sykes called the measure hateful." />
 <figcaption>Senator Dinah Sykes called the measure hateful.</figcaption>
 </figure>However, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Kansas City-area Democrat, called the measure “hateful” and “rooted in bigotry.” And she grew irritated during the debate with a key message from supporters of the bill, that natural differences mean that men are naturally the superior athletes in almost every sport.“I appreciate several of my male colleagues telling me how they want to protect the underdog, how men are superior. I actually find that rather misogynistic and rude,” she said. “Excluding women who are trans hurts all women.”Erickson called Sykes’ arguments “incredibly insulting” and suggested that critics were “insulted by facts, by trying to provide a level playing field.”The state association that oversees middle and high school activities in Kansas has said it knows of only five transgender students currently active in K-12 activities, and there’s no record of any transgender school sports champions. But supporters repeatedly point to the 15 championships won between 2017 and 2019 by two transgender high school runners in Connecticut, which prompted a federal lawsuit.Sen. Mark Steffen, a Republican from south-central Kansas and an anesthesiologist, said the bill was based on “indisputable physiological facts” that demonstrate “the male as a genetically and time-engineered superior machine.” Sen. Virgil Peck, a southeast Kansas Republican, said he backed the bill because he believes in ”old-fashioned chivalry” and wants to take a stand for “young ladies, natural-born females.”“Have we — men — given away our manpower to the snowflakes? Are we going to allow someone to carry around our manhood in their fanny pack or in their purse?” Peck said. “Are there no longer any alpha males who will stand and defend our young ladies, our wives, our daughters, our granddaughters, our neighbors’ wives, daughters, and granddaughters?”Kelly stopped short Wednesday of promising to veto the Kansas measure if it passes. She pointed to a past executive order on LGBTQ rights as signaling her position. A day after taking office in 2019, Kelly prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state hiring or employment decisions.“We know from lots of experience in other states that when you implement these kinds of regressive social policies that you significantly decrease the ability to attract businesses here,” Kelly said. “Businesses want us to be inclusive.”LGBTQ-rights advocates see the bill as an attack on transgender kids that is likely to increase bullying of them, and they argue that the debate itself is damaging their mental health.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614129442761.png" alt="Rep. Stephanie Bryers" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Stephanie Bryers</figcaption>
 </figure>“They’ve gotten some affirmation, and now they’re seeing that being stripped and being stripped by a governmental organization,” said first-term state Rep. Stephanie Byers, a Wichita Democrat and Kansas’ first transgender lawmaker.____

🎥  Watch Kansas Senate debate, pass transgender sports ban   

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Highway Patrol official said Wednesday that basic information won’t be available for more than a week on its arrest early Tuesday of a top legislative leader on suspicion of driving under the influence and attempting to flee from law enforcement while driving the wrong way on a highway in Topeka.

The disclosure from Luther Ganieany, the patrol’s general counsel, came shortly before Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop announced that he was stepping away from most of his office’s duties until matters related to his arrest are resolved. Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, is the Senate’s No. 2 leader, and the majority leader sets the chamber’s daily debate calendar.

The patrol’s Capitol Police division&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-arrests-topeka-driving-under-the-influence-7380a7e3e4fbe335536f78e0a5bf719d">arrested Suellentrop</a>&nbsp;on Interstate 70 near downtown Topeka after his SUV was reported traveling east in the highway’s westbound lanes. He was booked into the Shawnee County jail, but a judge ordered him released hours later, saying there was not sufficient evidence to support his arrest.

The Associated Press and other news organizations filed open records requests seeking the public, front page of the report on the arrest, as well as copies of any patrol car dash-camera or officer body-camera video.

Ganieany told The AP in an email that the videos are investigative records and the patrol is not required to disclose them. He said the public portion of the arrest report would be available “on or before” March 26.

The judge who released Suellentrop from jail was not specific about what evidence she lacked to support his arrest. While Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly declined to comment about Suellentrop, she described his first court hearing as “pretty typical” and said people are released “if the paperwork is not simply completed.”

“If you look at the timeframe, I don’t think there was enough time to get all of it taken care of,” Kelly told reporters after touring an east Topeka childcare center. The patrol reports to her.

Suellentrop was at the Statehouse on Wednesday and attended a meeting of Republican senators to discuss the day’s agenda. A GOP staffer handed out a written statement from Suellentrop after the meeting, and Suellentrop did not answer questions as he left.

His statement said most of his duties will be handled by Assistant Majority Leader Larry Alley, a Winfield Republican, and that Suellentrop regretted that “this incident” had caused “a distraction” for colleagues and from the Senate’s business.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616027734246.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Highway Patrol official said Wednesday that basic information won’t be available for more than a week on its arrest early Tuesday of a top legislative leader on suspicion of driving under the influence and attempting to flee from law enforcement while driving the wrong way on a highway in Topeka.The disclosure from Luther Ganieany, the patrol’s general counsel, came shortly before Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop announced that he was stepping away from most of his office’s duties until matters related to his arrest are resolved. Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, is the Senate’s No. 2 leader, and the majority leader sets the chamber’s daily debate calendar.The patrol’s Capitol Police division&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-arrests-topeka-driving-under-the-influence-7380a7e3e4fbe335536f78e0a5bf719d">arrested Suellentrop</a>&nbsp;on Interstate 70 near downtown Topeka after his SUV was reported traveling east in the highway’s westbound lanes. He was booked into the Shawnee County jail, but a judge ordered him released hours later, saying there was not sufficient evidence to support his arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615906870531.png" alt="Sullentrop photo Shawnee Co. Detention Center" />
 <figcaption>Sullentrop photo Shawnee Co. Detention Center</figcaption>
 </figure>The Associated Press and other news organizations filed open records requests seeking the public, front page of the report on the arrest, as well as copies of any patrol car dash-camera or officer body-camera video.Ganieany told The AP in an email that the videos are investigative records and the patrol is not required to disclose them. He said the public portion of the arrest report would be available “on or before” March 26.The judge who released Suellentrop from jail was not specific about what evidence she lacked to support his arrest. While Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly declined to comment about Suellentrop, she described his first court hearing as “pretty typical” and said people are released “if the paperwork is not simply completed.”“If you look at the timeframe, I don’t think there was enough time to get all of it taken care of,” Kelly told reporters after touring an east Topeka childcare center. The patrol reports to her.Suellentrop was at the Statehouse on Wednesday and attended a meeting of Republican senators to discuss the day’s agenda. A GOP staffer handed out a written statement from Suellentrop after the meeting, and Suellentrop did not answer questions as he left.His statement said most of his duties will be handled by Assistant Majority Leader Larry Alley, a Winfield Republican, and that Suellentrop regretted that “this incident” had caused “a distraction” for colleagues and from the Senate’s business.___

Kan. legislative leader turns over some duties after arrest

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating multiple incidents of theft from ATMs in Wichita and asking the public for help in identifying suspects.

Just before 4.a.m. March 3, two unknown suspects damaged an ATM in the 4000 block of W Maple and stole money from inside, according to officer Trevor Macey.

At 3a.m. March 16, two unknown suspects used a stolen vehicle to drag an ATM off its base in the 8000 block of E Harry. They succeeded in removing the ATM and taking money from the machine.

&nbsp;Anyone with information on these crimes to should contact the Wichita Police Department investigations division.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615991511893.png" alt="Suspect security camera images from Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Suspect security camera images from Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating multiple incidents of theft from ATMs in Wichita and asking the public for help in identifying suspects.Just before 4.a.m. March 3, two unknown suspects damaged an ATM in the 4000 block of W Maple and stole money from inside, according to officer Trevor Macey.At 3a.m. March 16, two unknown suspects used a stolen vehicle to drag an ATM off its base in the 8000 block of E Harry. They succeeded in removing the ATM and taking money from the machine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615991752888.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Anyone with information on these crimes to should contact the Wichita Police Department investigations division.

Police work to ID suspects in Kansas ATM thefts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities in Washington, D.C., have arrested a Texas man near the vice president’s official residence on a weapons charge. Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet moved into the home, which is undergoing renovations. 

The Metropolitan Police Department says in a statement issued Wednesday that the man was seen on Massachusetts Avenue and then detained by Secret Service stationed near the residence following an intelligence bulletin from Texas. 

Police say Paul Murray of San Antonio is being on held charges that he carried a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device, a dangerous weapon, a rifle and unregistered ammunition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616070087656.png" alt="Paul Murray from an alert by the College Station, Texas police" />
 <figcaption>Paul Murray from an alert by the College Station, Texas police</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities in Washington, D.C., have arrested a Texas man near the vice president’s official residence on a weapons charge. Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet moved into the home, which is undergoing renovations. The Metropolitan Police Department says in a statement issued Wednesday that the man was seen on Massachusetts Avenue and then detained by Secret Service stationed near the residence following an intelligence bulletin from Texas. Police say Paul Murray of San Antonio is being on held charges that he carried a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device, a dangerous weapon, a rifle and unregistered ammunition.

Man arrested on weapons charge near vice president's home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday derided a proposed Kansas ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s school sports as “regressive” as conservative Republicans prepared to advance it in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Kelly predicted ahead of a state Senate debate on the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb208_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">bill&nbsp;</a>that the policy would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to the state. But supporters dismissed her criticism, and the measure was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-topeka-kansas-wichita-coronavirus-pandemic-e174bf500007ef461f0caa58666558d0">a priority&nbsp;</a>for top Republicans in the Senate, where the GOP has a supermajority.

Republicans in Congress and more than 20 state legislatures are pushing for similar bans, though supporters largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawmakers-unable-to-cite-local-trans-girls-sports-914a982545e943ecc1e265e8c41042e7">haven’t been able to cite examples</a>&nbsp;of transgender students’ participation causing problems.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boise-lawsuits-politics-gender-identity-courts-89b70fd5f82812c9368f985e389c485d">Idaho enacted</a>&nbsp;a similar law last year that’s being challenged in federal court, and Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mississippi-discrimination-gender-identity-tate-reeves-9dfa2829f12e5f7efbb1653aaf468941">signed a measure&nbsp;</a>into law last week.

Kelly stopped short Wednesday of promising to veto the Kansas measure that passed the Senate and is headed to the the House. However, she pointed to a past executive order on LGBTQ rights as signaling her position. A day after taking office in 2019, Kelly prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state hiring or employment decisions.

The state association that oversees middle and high school activities in Kansas has said it knows of only five transgender students currently active in K-12 activities, and there’s no record of any transgender school sports champions. Supporters argue that a ban would promote fairness in girls’ and women’s sports and repeatedly point to the 15 championships won between 2017 and 2019 by two transgender high school runners in Connecticut, which prompted a federal lawsuit.

Supporters of the Kansas bill also said they’re protecting the hard-won opportunities in sports and other activities since federal civil rights laws in the 1970s.

“It’s a very positive step for girls in Kansas,” said Brittany Jones, advocacy director for the conservative Family Policy Alliance of Kansas.

State Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said it’s fairer for Kansas to impose the ban before transgender athletes participate widely in girls’ and women’s sports. She said Kelly “put money over what’s best for our women” by worrying about business recruiting.

“It simply requires an equal and level playing field for women and girls, what we’ve had in place,” said Erickson, a former college basketball player.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616028076289.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly predicted ahead of a state Senate debate on the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb208_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">bill&nbsp;</a>that the policy would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to the state-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly predicted ahead of a state Senate debate on the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb208_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">bill&nbsp;</a>that the policy would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to the state-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday derided a proposed Kansas ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s school sports as “regressive” as conservative Republicans prepared to advance it in the GOP-controlled Legislature.Kelly predicted ahead of a state Senate debate on the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb208_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">bill&nbsp;</a>that the policy would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to the state. But supporters dismissed her criticism, and the measure was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-topeka-kansas-wichita-coronavirus-pandemic-e174bf500007ef461f0caa58666558d0">a priority&nbsp;</a>for top Republicans in the Senate, where the GOP has a supermajority.Republicans in Congress and more than 20 state legislatures are pushing for similar bans, though supporters largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawmakers-unable-to-cite-local-trans-girls-sports-914a982545e943ecc1e265e8c41042e7">haven’t been able to cite examples</a>&nbsp;of transgender students’ participation causing problems.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boise-lawsuits-politics-gender-identity-courts-89b70fd5f82812c9368f985e389c485d">Idaho enacted</a>&nbsp;a similar law last year that’s being challenged in federal court, and Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mississippi-discrimination-gender-identity-tate-reeves-9dfa2829f12e5f7efbb1653aaf468941">signed a measure&nbsp;</a>into law last week.Kelly stopped short Wednesday of promising to veto the Kansas measure that passed the Senate and is headed to the the House. However, she pointed to a past executive order on LGBTQ rights as signaling her position. A day after taking office in 2019, Kelly prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state hiring or employment decisions.“We know from lots of experience in other states that when you implement these kinds of regressive social policies that you significantly decrease the ability to attract businesses here,” Kelly said. “Businesses want us to be inclusive.”The state association that oversees middle and high school activities in Kansas has said it knows of only five transgender students currently active in K-12 activities, and there’s no record of any transgender school sports champions. Supporters argue that a ban would promote fairness in girls’ and women’s sports and repeatedly point to the 15 championships won between 2017 and 2019 by two transgender high school runners in Connecticut, which prompted a federal lawsuit.Supporters of the Kansas bill also said they’re protecting the hard-won opportunities in sports and other activities since federal civil rights laws in the 1970s.“It’s a very positive step for girls in Kansas,” said Brittany Jones, advocacy director for the conservative Family Policy Alliance of Kansas.State Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said it’s fairer for Kansas to impose the ban before transgender athletes participate widely in girls’ and women’s sports. She said Kelly “put money over what’s best for our women” by worrying about business recruiting.“It simply requires an equal and level playing field for women and girls, what we’ve had in place,” said Erickson, a former college basketball player.LGBTQ-rights advocates see the bill as an attack on transgender kids that is likely to increase bullying of them, and they argue that the debate itself is damaging their mental health.“They’ve gotten some affirmation, and now they’re seeing that being stripped and being stripped by a governmental organization,” said first-term state Rep. Stephanie Byers, a Wichita Democrat and Kansas’ first transgender lawmaker.

Gov. critical of proposed Kan. ban on transgender athletes

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A woman has been sentenced to jail but may be able to avoid time behind bars for helping her daughter dump her car after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian.

Kimberly Cowell, 52,&nbsp; Lincoln, Nebraska, said at her sentencing Tuesday that she responded "in the worst way possible" after the Oct. 18 crash that left Tina Mortensen dead.

Court documents said police found the car that was involved in the crash partially submerged in a creek. Surveillance video showed a car belonging to her daughter, Casey Maxfield, and another car that police said was Cowell's pulling in a parking lot in the area.

"I mistakenly thought what I could do to help my daughter instead of thinking about the person she hit," she said.

Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte sentenced Cowell to 360 days in the county jail but allowed her to get into a program that will allow her to stay out of jail and be monitored.

She has custody of her two grandchildren after their mother began serving a prison term of a little more than two years.

Otte said if Cowell screws up, she will have to serve the remainder of her sentence in jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615941680386.png" alt="Cowell photo Lancaster County" />
 <figcaption>Cowell photo Lancaster County</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A woman has been sentenced to jail but may be able to avoid time behind bars for helping her daughter dump her car after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian.Kimberly Cowell, 52,&nbsp; Lincoln, Nebraska, said at her sentencing Tuesday that she responded "in the worst way possible" after the Oct. 18 crash that left Tina Mortensen dead.Court documents said police found the car that was involved in the crash partially submerged in a creek. Surveillance video showed a car belonging to her daughter, Casey Maxfield, and another car that police said was Cowell's pulling in a parking lot in the area."I mistakenly thought what I could do to help my daughter instead of thinking about the person she hit," she said.Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte sentenced Cowell to 360 days in the county jail but allowed her to get into a program that will allow her to stay out of jail and be monitored.She has custody of her two grandchildren after their mother began serving a prison term of a little more than two years.Otte said if Cowell screws up, she will have to serve the remainder of her sentence in jail.

Mom sentenced for helping daughter after deadly hit-and-run

WASHINGTON (AP) —The IRS will delay the traditional April 15 tax filing due date until May 17 to cope with added duties and provide Americans more flexibility. 

The IRS announced the decision Wednesday and said it would provide further guidance in coming days. The move provides more breathing room for taxpayers and the IRS alike to cope with changes brought on by the pandemic. 

The decision postpones when individual taxpayers must file their return and when their payment is due. The IRS said taxpayers who owe money would not face any further penalties or interest if they pay by May 17.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579706571729.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The IRS will delay the traditional April 15 tax filing due date until May 17 to cope with added duties and provide Americans more flexibility. The IRS announced the decision Wednesday and said it would provide further guidance in coming days. The move provides more breathing room for taxpayers and the IRS alike to cope with changes brought on by the pandemic. The decision postpones when individual taxpayers must file their return and when their payment is due. The IRS said taxpayers who owe money would not face any further penalties or interest if they pay by May 17.

IRS will delay tax filing due date until May 17

KANSAS CITY - The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has released its annual report. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">2020 Internet Crime Report</a>&nbsp;includes information from 791,790 complaints of suspected internet crime—an increase of more than 300,000 complaints from 2019—and reported losses exceeding $4.2 billion. State-specific statistics have also been released and can be found within the&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;and in the accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020State/StateReport.aspx" target="_blank">2020 State Reports</a>.

Click <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020State/StateReport.aspx#?s=19">here</a> for Kansas statistics.&nbsp;

The top three crimes reported by victims in 2020 were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and extortion. Victims lost the most money to business email compromise scams, romance and confidence schemes, and investment fraud. Notably, 2020 saw the emergence of scams exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic. The IC3 received over 28,500 complaints related to COVID-19, with fraudsters targeting both businesses and individuals.

In addition to statistics, the IC3’s&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;contains information about the most prevalent internet scams affecting the public and offers guidance for prevention and protection. It also highlights the FBI’s work combating internet crime, including recent case examples. Finally, the&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;explains the IC3, its mission, and functions.

The IC3 gives the public a reliable and convenient mechanism to report suspected internet crime to the FBI. The FBI analyzes and shares information from submitted complaints for investigative and intelligence purposes, for law enforcement, and for public awareness.

With the release of the&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report, the FBI wants to remind the public to immediately report suspected criminal internet activity to the IC3 at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/" target="_blank">ic3.gov</a>. By reporting internet crime, victims are not only alerting law enforcement to the activity, but aiding in the overall fight against cybercrime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://www.fbi.gov/image-repository/2020-ic3-report-infographic.jpg/@@images/image/high" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY - The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has released its annual report. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">2020 Internet Crime Report</a>&nbsp;includes information from 791,790 complaints of suspected internet crime—an increase of more than 300,000 complaints from 2019—and reported losses exceeding $4.2 billion. State-specific statistics have also been released and can be found within the&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;and in the accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020State/StateReport.aspx" target="_blank">2020 State Reports</a>.Click <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020State/StateReport.aspx#?s=19">here</a> for Kansas statistics.&nbsp;The top three crimes reported by victims in 2020 were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and extortion. Victims lost the most money to business email compromise scams, romance and confidence schemes, and investment fraud. Notably, 2020 saw the emergence of scams exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic. The IC3 received over 28,500 complaints related to COVID-19, with fraudsters targeting both businesses and individuals.In addition to statistics, the IC3’s&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;contains information about the most prevalent internet scams affecting the public and offers guidance for prevention and protection. It also highlights the FBI’s work combating internet crime, including recent case examples. Finally, the&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;explains the IC3, its mission, and functions.The IC3 gives the public a reliable and convenient mechanism to report suspected internet crime to the FBI. The FBI analyzes and shares information from submitted complaints for investigative and intelligence purposes, for law enforcement, and for public awareness.With the release of the&nbsp;2020 Internet Crime Report, the FBI wants to remind the public to immediately report suspected criminal internet activity to the IC3 at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/" target="_blank">ic3.gov</a>. By reporting internet crime, victims are not only alerting law enforcement to the activity, but aiding in the overall fight against cybercrime.Resources: <ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">2020 Internet Crime Report&nbsp;(pdf)</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020State/StateReport.aspx" target="_blank">2020 State Reports (pdf)</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Home/AnnualReports" target="_blank">More IC3 annual reports</a></li>
 </ul>

Ages 40 and older top FBI internet victims list in Kansas 

A Hays resident is facing attempted rape charges following allegations of a home invasion and the sexual assault of a resident.

At around 3:41 a.m. Sunday, Hays Police were dispatched to the 400 block of West Sixth for a report of a male that had entered the home, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.

But before officers arrived, the suspect had been subdued, he said.

"Officers arrived on scene and found the suspect lying down on the porch," Scheibler said.&nbsp;

Upon investigation, officers found the suspect had been pacified by an acquaintance of the person in the home who had been sexually assaulted by the suspect, he said.

The suspect — later identified as Bryan Alberto&nbsp;Chihuahua, 22, Hays — resisted arrest, leading to additional charges, according to Scheibler.

Chihuahua was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, aggravated burglary, battery, felony interference with law enforcement and theft.

Formal charges from the Ellis County Attorney's office are pending.

Chihuahua was seen by a District Court on Monday, according to Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson, and was released on a $75,000 bond.

While on bond, Chihuahua has been ordered to refrain from illegal activity and drug or alcohol consumption, reside with his parents, consent to GPS monitoring, maintain contact with his attorney, and be present at scheduled hearings, he said.

"The Ellis County Attorney is in the process of reviewing the matter for formal charging decisions," Anderson said. "The court has given the state a deadline of March 22 to file charges.

"Arrests and subsequent charges should be viewed merely as an accusation," he added. "All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616022414770.png" alt="Chihuahua photo Ellis Co." />
 <figcaption>Chihuahua photo Ellis Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostA Hays resident is facing attempted rape charges following allegations of a home invasion and the sexual assault of a resident.At around 3:41 a.m. Sunday, Hays Police were dispatched to the 400 block of West Sixth for a report of a male that had entered the home, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.But before officers arrived, the suspect had been subdued, he said."Officers arrived on scene and found the suspect lying down on the porch," Scheibler said.&nbsp;Upon investigation, officers found the suspect had been pacified by an acquaintance of the person in the home who had been sexually assaulted by the suspect, he said.The suspect — later identified as Bryan Alberto&nbsp;Chihuahua, 22, Hays — resisted arrest, leading to additional charges, according to Scheibler.Chihuahua was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, aggravated burglary, battery, felony interference with law enforcement and theft.Formal charges from the Ellis County Attorney's office are pending.Chihuahua was seen by a District Court on Monday, according to Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson, and was released on a $75,000 bond.While on bond, Chihuahua has been ordered to refrain from illegal activity and drug or alcohol consumption, reside with his parents, consent to GPS monitoring, maintain contact with his attorney, and be present at scheduled hearings, he said."The Ellis County Attorney is in the process of reviewing the matter for formal charging decisions," Anderson said. "The court has given the state a deadline of March 22 to file charges."Arrests and subsequent charges should be viewed merely as an accusation," he added. "All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Suspect arrested following burglary, sexual assault in Hays

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man arrested in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol told the FBI that an officer shrugged his shoulders when he asked whether he could join the throngs streaming into the building and that he then filmed himself walking around inside, according to court records.

Mark Roger Rebegila, of St. Mary’s, was taken into custody Monday in Topeka on charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

He is among five people from Kansas and dozens nationwide who have been charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential race.

Rebegila was interviewed at his home in January after a tipster reported seeing a video of Rebegila inside the Capitol, an FBI task force officer wrote in the complaint.

Rebegila told the FBI that by the time he entered the Capitol, crowds were already streaming into the building. More than 800 supporters of then-President Donald Trump are believed to have made it inside during the siege. Five people died in the melee, including a Capitol police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher who later died of an unrelated medical condition.&nbsp;Clarified, 1:20 p.m. March 24

Rebegila also said that he also used his phone to film himself walking through the building but later deleted it because he did not want to get into trouble, the complaint said. He also is seen on video surveillance inside the building, apparently shooting pictures and videos.

The complaint said an investigation also is underway into reports that Rebegila sat in a lawmaker’s chair and stole a bottle of liquor from an office in the Capitol. The complaint said Rebegila denied stealing property, assaulting law enforcement officers or damaging property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614042711157.png" alt="Mark Roger Rebegila was interviewed at his home in January after a tipster reported seeing a video of him inside the Capitol- photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Mark Roger Rebegila was interviewed at his home in January after a tipster reported seeing a video of him inside the Capitol- photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man arrested in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol told the FBI that an officer shrugged his shoulders when he asked whether he could join the throngs streaming into the building and that he then filmed himself walking around inside, according to court records.Mark Roger Rebegila, of St. Mary’s, was taken into custody Monday in Topeka on charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.He is among five people from Kansas and dozens nationwide who have been charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential race.Rebegila was interviewed at his home in January after a tipster reported seeing a video of Rebegila inside the Capitol, an FBI task force officer wrote in the complaint.Rebegila told the FBI that by the time he entered the Capitol, crowds were already streaming into the building. More than 800 supporters of then-President Donald Trump are believed to have made it inside during the siege. Five people died in the melee, including a Capitol police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher who later died of an unrelated medical condition.&nbsp;Clarified, 1:20 p.m. March 24Rebegila also said that he also used his phone to film himself walking through the building but later deleted it because he did not want to get into trouble, the complaint said. He also is seen on video surveillance inside the building, apparently shooting pictures and videos.The complaint said an investigation also is underway into reports that Rebegila sat in a lawmaker’s chair and stole a bottle of liquor from an office in the Capitol. The complaint said Rebegila denied stealing property, assaulting law enforcement officers or damaging property.

FBI: Kan. man said he asked officer if he could enter Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Department of Homeland Security pushed back Wednesday against Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies, refusing to say that the surge of migrant children entering the United States is a “crisis.”

As GOP members of Congress argued that President Joe Biden had wrongly rolled back immigration policies enacted by former President Donald Trump, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pointed to another Trump policy that was widely reviled: the separation of immigrant families under a “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings.

“A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a 9-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration,” Mayorkas told the House Homeland Security Committee. “That, to me, is a humanitarian crisis.”

The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising since last April, and the administration is still rapidly sending back most single adults and families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-mexico-health-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-74eba36e8cd2f842987c0e6e57bcfae1">under a public health order&nbsp;</a>issued by Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the U.S. is now allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers. Border agents have also been prevented from expelling families with young children from Texas’ Rio Grande Valley because of changes in Mexican policy.

More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official. The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss figures not yet publicly released.

The rise has left Biden in a difficult spot. He is criticized by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossings and by some Democrats over the prolonged detention of minors.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., referenced a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words “Biden, please let us in” that circulated widely on social media in recent days.

“I look at two months ago, and we had a certain situation. We were under control,” Van Drew said. “And I look now with people crossing the border illegally in much larger numbers with shirts with our president’s name on it. That means something under anybody’s standard.”

The situation is also a challenge to Biden’s effort to overhaul broader Trump policies intended to curtail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-nations-mexico-d613e1e5093857cef10221f0e906e225">both legal and illegal immigration</a>.

“I can say quite clearly: Don’t come over,” Biden said in an ABC News interview that aired Wednesday.

The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since March 2019. Mayorkas on Tuesday said it was on pace to hit a 20-year peak.

“The situation at the southwest border is difficult,” Mayorkas said in his most extensive remarks to date on the subject. “We are working around the clock to manage it and we will continue to do so. That is our job.”

Under questioning Wednesday, Mayorkas and some Democrats also highlighted nonimmigration issues, including the threat of domestic extremism following the violent insurrection at the Capitol, while Republicans focused primarily on the border.

Several Republicans argued that Biden’s rescinding of the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy was a mistake. Small numbers of immigrants — far from the more than 70,000 people barred from entry under the policy — have been allowed into the U.S. during the first weeks of the new administration after they pass a COVID-19 screening. Human rights groups and lawyers have documented kidnappings, rapes and attacks in border cities against many migrants forced to wait in Mexico.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas defended Trump’s agreements to send people from Central America to other countries in the region instead of letting them seek asylum under American law.

“The Trump administration, in my judgment, did a masterful job in negotiating the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and the asylum cooperative agreements with Central America,” McCaul said. “It was actually a foreign policy achievement.”

Biden has moved to roll back those policies and restore a program allowing Central American children to seek asylum while in their home countries. Said Mayorkas, “Sometimes the tools of deterrence defy values and principles for which we all stand.”

The Health and Human Services Department plans to open shelter facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco and in Pecos, Texas, to handle the flow. It is also looking to expand a facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, to hold 2,000 people.

Also, the Dallas Convention Center was to begin holding children as early as Wednesday, with plans to accommodate up to 3,000. A makeshift holding center in Midland, Texas, that opened last weekend for 700 children had 485 on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615805147594.png" alt="Migrants on Sunday near the Texas-Mexico border -photo courtesy Senator Roger Marshall." />
 <figcaption>Migrants on Sunday near the Texas-Mexico border -photo courtesy Senator Roger Marshall.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Department of Homeland Security pushed back Wednesday against Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies, refusing to say that the surge of migrant children entering the United States is a “crisis.”As GOP members of Congress argued that President Joe Biden had wrongly rolled back immigration policies enacted by former President Donald Trump, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pointed to another Trump policy that was widely reviled: the separation of immigrant families under a “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings.“A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a 9-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration,” Mayorkas told the House Homeland Security Committee. “That, to me, is a humanitarian crisis.”The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising since last April, and the administration is still rapidly sending back most single adults and families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-mexico-health-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-74eba36e8cd2f842987c0e6e57bcfae1">under a public health order&nbsp;</a>issued by Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the U.S. is now allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers. Border agents have also been prevented from expelling families with young children from Texas’ Rio Grande Valley because of changes in Mexican policy.More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official. The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss figures not yet publicly released.The rise has left Biden in a difficult spot. He is criticized by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossings and by some Democrats over the prolonged detention of minors.Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., referenced a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words “Biden, please let us in” that circulated widely on social media in recent days.“I look at two months ago, and we had a certain situation. We were under control,” Van Drew said. “And I look now with people crossing the border illegally in much larger numbers with shirts with our president’s name on it. That means something under anybody’s standard.”The situation is also a challenge to Biden’s effort to overhaul broader Trump policies intended to curtail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-nations-mexico-d613e1e5093857cef10221f0e906e225">both legal and illegal immigration</a>.“I can say quite clearly: Don’t come over,” Biden said in an ABC News interview that aired Wednesday.The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since March 2019. Mayorkas on Tuesday said it was on pace to hit a 20-year peak.“The situation at the southwest border is difficult,” Mayorkas said in his most extensive remarks to date on the subject. “We are working around the clock to manage it and we will continue to do so. That is our job.”Under questioning Wednesday, Mayorkas and some Democrats also highlighted nonimmigration issues, including the threat of domestic extremism following the violent insurrection at the Capitol, while Republicans focused primarily on the border.Several Republicans argued that Biden’s rescinding of the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy was a mistake. Small numbers of immigrants — far from the more than 70,000 people barred from entry under the policy — have been allowed into the U.S. during the first weeks of the new administration after they pass a COVID-19 screening. Human rights groups and lawyers have documented kidnappings, rapes and attacks in border cities against many migrants forced to wait in Mexico.Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas defended Trump’s agreements to send people from Central America to other countries in the region instead of letting them seek asylum under American law.“The Trump administration, in my judgment, did a masterful job in negotiating the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and the asylum cooperative agreements with Central America,” McCaul said. “It was actually a foreign policy achievement.”Biden has moved to roll back those policies and restore a program allowing Central American children to seek asylum while in their home countries. Said Mayorkas, “Sometimes the tools of deterrence defy values and principles for which we all stand.”The Health and Human Services Department plans to open shelter facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco and in Pecos, Texas, to handle the flow. It is also looking to expand a facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, to hold 2,000 people.Also, the Dallas Convention Center was to begin holding children as early as Wednesday, with plans to accommodate up to 3,000. A makeshift holding center in Midland, Texas, that opened last weekend for 700 children had 485 on Monday.___

Crisis: Child border crossings surge; DHS chief defends policy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday that a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_sb40_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">measure&nbsp;</a>approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature to rewrite Kansas’ emergency management laws while limiting her authority during the coronavirus pandemic is “reasonable.”

Legislators sent her the bill Tuesday and she said she’s inclined to sign it, “given what I know.”

The measure would preserve the control that legislators gave county officials last year over mandating masks and restricting businesses and public gatherings, and it would allow legislative leaders to block the governor’s executive orders starting in April. It also would strip appointed local health officers of their power to impose restrictions, leaving decisions to elected county commissions.

But the bill also would extend the current state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic until May 28, instead of allowing it to expire March 31.

“I asked all the Democrats to support it,” Kelly told reporters after touring an east Topeka childcare center. “The emergency management act that we’ve had in place was put in place in, like, the 70s, and it did not anticipate something like a pandemic that could last over a year and would require governors to issue as many executives as we do.”

Her comments come as the number of new cases drops to levels not seen since the summer. The state added just 686 new coronavirus cases from Monday to Wednesday, bringing the total to 298,904. The number of deaths increased by two to 4,837.

The state health department also reported Wednesday that about 596,162 of the state’s 2.9 million residents or 20.5% had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The department said Kansas sites have administered 70% of the nearly 1.3 million doses the state has received.

Amid the decline in new cases and the growing number of vaccinated residents, restrictions have been dropping.

In the Wichita area, Sedgwick County commissioners overruled their health officer Tuesday and ditched the county’s COVID-19 mask mandate for public and private schools, leaving the decision on whether to require them to schools leaders, The Wichita Eagle reports.

The effect will be limited, though, because the bulk of the county’s educational system, the 47,000-student Wichita district, will continue to require masks for students and staff for the foreseeable future, a spokeswoman said.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday that a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_sb40_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">measure&nbsp;</a>approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature to rewrite Kansas’ emergency management laws while limiting her authority during the coronavirus pandemic is “reasonable.”Legislators sent her the bill Tuesday and she said she’s inclined to sign it, “given what I know.”The measure would preserve the control that legislators gave county officials last year over mandating masks and restricting businesses and public gatherings, and it would allow legislative leaders to block the governor’s executive orders starting in April. It also would strip appointed local health officers of their power to impose restrictions, leaving decisions to elected county commissions.But the bill also would extend the current state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic until May 28, instead of allowing it to expire March 31.“I asked all the Democrats to support it,” Kelly told reporters after touring an east Topeka childcare center. “The emergency management act that we’ve had in place was put in place in, like, the 70s, and it did not anticipate something like a pandemic that could last over a year and would require governors to issue as many executives as we do.”Her comments come as the number of new cases drops to levels not seen since the summer. The state added just 686 new coronavirus cases from Monday to Wednesday, bringing the total to 298,904. The number of deaths increased by two to 4,837.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616000815083.png" alt="Wednesday March 17, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday March 17, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The state health department also reported Wednesday that about 596,162 of the state’s 2.9 million residents or 20.5% had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The department said Kansas sites have administered 70% of the nearly 1.3 million doses the state has received.Amid the decline in new cases and the growing number of vaccinated residents, restrictions have been dropping.In the Wichita area, Sedgwick County commissioners overruled their health officer Tuesday and ditched the county’s COVID-19 mask mandate for public and private schools, leaving the decision on whether to require them to schools leaders, The Wichita Eagle reports.The effect will be limited, though, because the bulk of the county’s educational system, the 47,000-student Wichita district, will continue to require masks for students and staff for the foreseeable future, a spokeswoman said.

Kan. governor says she intends to sign emergency extension

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal accident have identified the victim as 54-year-old&nbsp; Michelle Truong of Wichita.

Just after 9 pm Tuesday, police responded to the area of Pawnee and Hillside in Wichita for an injury accident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to officer Trevor Macey.

Through their investigation, officers learned that Truong was involved in a minor accident just east of the intersection. As Truong exited her vehicle to contact the other driver and exchange information, she was struck by another vehicle as she crossed to the opposite side of the street.

Truong was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver who struck her remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation, according to Macey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615992236470.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation on Tuesday evening -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation on Tuesday evening -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal accident have identified the victim as 54-year-old&nbsp; Michelle Truong of Wichita.Just after 9 pm Tuesday, police responded to the area of Pawnee and Hillside in Wichita for an injury accident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to officer Trevor Macey.Through their investigation, officers learned that Truong was involved in a minor accident just east of the intersection. As Truong exited her vehicle to contact the other driver and exchange information, she was struck by another vehicle as she crossed to the opposite side of the street.Truong was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver who struck her remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation, according to Macey.

Police: Kan. woman hit, killed by truck after crash

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 686 to a total of 298,904, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4837, an increase of 2.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 686 to a total of 298,904, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4837, an increase of 2.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616000815083.png" alt="Wednesday March 17, 2021" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday March 17, 2021</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

BY SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/16/kansas-legislature-passes-rewrite-of-emergency-management-powers/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers 
on Tuesday passed a bipartisan reform of the state’s emergency 
management law, installing new checks on powers of the governor, health 
officers and school boards to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and future 
disasters.

The Senate adopted the 
legislation by a 31-8 vote hours after it won approval in the House by a
 118-5 vote. The measure now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly for consideration.

In addition to modifying 
the decades old Kansas Emergency Management Act, the new legislation 
extends the current disaster declaration from March 31 to May 28. The 
changes to KEMA were inserted into <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb40/">Senate Bill 40</a> — which previously dealt with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation.

Republicans furious with 
the governor’s decisions to close schools, businesses and churches and 
require face coverings wanted additional limits on her powers. Competing
 plans emerged in the House and Senate before a compromise was reached.

“It strikes a balance 
between government response and individual liberties, individual 
freedoms,” said Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood. “It’s not perfect. 
Neither side of the debate got everything that side wanted. But again, 
it’s a good resolution to provide balance.”

The new law would allow 
anyone who is aggrieved by a governor’s executive order, school board 
policy, or directive from a county health official to file civil action 
in district court and receive a hearing within 72 hours. The court is 
required to make a decision within seven days, and must side with the 
individual who filed the complaint unless the government action is 
narrowly tailored to respond to a disaster and uses the “least 
restrictive means” to do so.

The State Finance Council,
 which is chaired by the governor, no longer has the authority to 
override a governor’s executive order. That duty instead falls to the 
Legislative Coordinating Council, which expands from seven to eight 
members to ensure a 6-2 GOP majority.

All of the governor’s 
existing orders would be nullified under the law. She could reissue them
 with the blessing of Republican leadership.

“Were the governor, 
frankly, a Republican, we wouldn’t be going through this exercise and 
finding concessions and finding ways to compromise to have one person 
who can oversee and help us get through a pandemic,” said Sen. David 
Haley, a Kansas City Democrat who joined seven Senate Republicans in 
voting against the bill. “It just comes down to pure politics.”

The law specifies that 
local school boards alone have the power to limit in-person attendance 
in public schools because of the threat of COVID-19. County commissions 
have the authority to amend any statewide order regarding public health 
to make the order less stringent.

County health officers 
will have to seek approval from county commissions before issuing orders
 that involve a mask mandate or restrictions on the size of gatherings, 
movement of the population, business operations, or religious 
gatherings.

Also included in the package: The governor can’t take away the right to buy or own a gun or ammunition.

“I think what we’ve done 
is come together to try to bridge our differences,” said Sen. Ethan 
Corson, D-Prairie Village. “Ultimately, the end product has been a good 
workable framework that I think is going to work for Kansans.”

Sen. Mike Thompson, 
R-Shawnee, expressed concerns that the bill didn’t go further. No unit 
of government should be allowed to impose a lockdown or mask mandate, he
 said.

“Since the beginning of 
this pandemic, we’ve seen an escalating and prolonged suspension and 
abridgement of many constitutional rights,” Thompson said. “True 
scientific evidence was overlooked in favor of public health edicts that
 shifted a number of times during this pandemic, based partially on the 
whims of unelected officials.”

As of Monday, 4,835 
Kansans have died from COVID-19 and at least 298,000 have tested 
positive for the disease. When the virus first arrived a year ago, the 
governor ordered schools to engage in remote learning, banned large 
public gatherings, imposed a statewide stay-at-home order, closed 
non-essential businesses where social distancing could be problematic, 
and attempted to close churches. She also banned evictions and issued 
other protections for Kansans suffering from the economic damage of the 
pandemic.

She twice issued mask 
mandates to try to stow the spread before the pandemic ravaged hospitals
 late last year. During the worst weeks, COVID-19 killed 50-100 Kansans 
per day.

Sen. Mark Steffen, 
R-Huthinson, said the governor’s orders last year were unnecessary. A 
failure to learn from that experience, he said, would be “a sad 
testament to the nature of human beings.”

“<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/31/kansas-senator-believes-political-propaganda-fearmongering-impairs-covid-19-response/">We lost individual freedoms</a>
 that we shouldn’t have lost because we had the wrong people, from 
unelected officials making decisions to administrations who flat did not
 know what they were doing, and then tried to con us into following 
along,” Steffen said. “So bottom line, this is an individual rights 
situation for me.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615998480529.png" alt="Sen. Kellie Warren says an overhaul of the Kansas Emergency Management Act strikes a balance between government authority and individual liberties. (Jan. 14, 2021, photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Kellie Warren says an overhaul of the Kansas Emergency Management Act strikes a balance between government authority and individual liberties. (Jan. 14, 2021, photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/16/kansas-legislature-passes-rewrite-of-emergency-management-powers/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers 
on Tuesday passed a bipartisan reform of the state’s emergency 
management law, installing new checks on powers of the governor, health 
officers and school boards to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and future 
disasters.The Senate adopted the 
legislation by a 31-8 vote hours after it won approval in the House by a
 118-5 vote. The measure now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly for consideration.In addition to modifying 
the decades old Kansas Emergency Management Act, the new legislation 
extends the current disaster declaration from March 31 to May 28. The 
changes to KEMA were inserted into <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb40/">Senate Bill 40</a> — which previously dealt with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation.Republicans furious with 
the governor’s decisions to close schools, businesses and churches and 
require face coverings wanted additional limits on her powers. Competing
 plans emerged in the House and Senate before a compromise was reached.“It strikes a balance 
between government response and individual liberties, individual 
freedoms,” said Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood. “It’s not perfect. 
Neither side of the debate got everything that side wanted. But again, 
it’s a good resolution to provide balance.”The new law would allow 
anyone who is aggrieved by a governor’s executive order, school board 
policy, or directive from a county health official to file civil action 
in district court and receive a hearing within 72 hours. The court is 
required to make a decision within seven days, and must side with the 
individual who filed the complaint unless the government action is 
narrowly tailored to respond to a disaster and uses the “least 
restrictive means” to do so.The State Finance Council,
 which is chaired by the governor, no longer has the authority to 
override a governor’s executive order. That duty instead falls to the 
Legislative Coordinating Council, which expands from seven to eight 
members to ensure a 6-2 GOP majority.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615998556149.png" alt="Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, says the Legislature wouldn’t be concerned with rewriting the governor’s authority if the governor were a Republican. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, says the Legislature wouldn’t be concerned with rewriting the governor’s authority if the governor were a Republican. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>All of the governor’s 
existing orders would be nullified under the law. She could reissue them
 with the blessing of Republican leadership.“Were the governor, 
frankly, a Republican, we wouldn’t be going through this exercise and 
finding concessions and finding ways to compromise to have one person 
who can oversee and help us get through a pandemic,” said Sen. David 
Haley, a Kansas City Democrat who joined seven Senate Republicans in 
voting against the bill. “It just comes down to pure politics.”The law specifies that 
local school boards alone have the power to limit in-person attendance 
in public schools because of the threat of COVID-19. County commissions 
have the authority to amend any statewide order regarding public health 
to make the order less stringent.County health officers 
will have to seek approval from county commissions before issuing orders
 that involve a mask mandate or restrictions on the size of gatherings, 
movement of the population, business operations, or religious 
gatherings.Also included in the package: The governor can’t take away the right to buy or own a gun or ammunition.“I think what we’ve done 
is come together to try to bridge our differences,” said Sen. Ethan 
Corson, D-Prairie Village. “Ultimately, the end product has been a good 
workable framework that I think is going to work for Kansans.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615998610288.png" alt="Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, says no government unit should be allowed to impose a lockdown or mask mandate. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, says no government unit should be allowed to impose a lockdown or mask mandate. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sen. Mike Thompson, 
R-Shawnee, expressed concerns that the bill didn’t go further. No unit 
of government should be allowed to impose a lockdown or mask mandate, he
 said.“Since the beginning of 
this pandemic, we’ve seen an escalating and prolonged suspension and 
abridgement of many constitutional rights,” Thompson said. “True 
scientific evidence was overlooked in favor of public health edicts that
 shifted a number of times during this pandemic, based partially on the 
whims of unelected officials.”As of Monday, 4,835 
Kansans have died from COVID-19 and at least 298,000 have tested 
positive for the disease. When the virus first arrived a year ago, the 
governor ordered schools to engage in remote learning, banned large 
public gatherings, imposed a statewide stay-at-home order, closed 
non-essential businesses where social distancing could be problematic, 
and attempted to close churches. She also banned evictions and issued 
other protections for Kansans suffering from the economic damage of the 
pandemic.She twice issued mask 
mandates to try to stow the spread before the pandemic ravaged hospitals
 late last year. During the worst weeks, COVID-19 killed 50-100 Kansans 
per day.Sen. Mark Steffen, 
R-Huthinson, said the governor’s orders last year were unnecessary. A 
failure to learn from that experience, he said, would be “a sad 
testament to the nature of human beings.”“<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/31/kansas-senator-believes-political-propaganda-fearmongering-impairs-covid-19-response/">We lost individual freedoms</a>
 that we shouldn’t have lost because we had the wrong people, from 
unelected officials making decisions to administrations who flat did not
 know what they were doing, and then tried to con us into following 
along,” Steffen said. “So bottom line, this is an individual rights 
situation for me.”Sherman Smith has written award-winning news stories about the instability of the Kansas foster care system, misconduct by government officials, sexual abuse, technology, education, and the Legislature.