SEDGWICK COUNTY —Dr. Garold Minns, Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer (LHO), signed a new local health order Monday that opens the community and removes gathering restrictions and curfews. 

The order requires people must still be masked and maintain 6 feet of social distancing.

This order will be in effect from 12:01 a.m., Sunday March 21 through Friday, April 30.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/local-orders/emergency-public-health-order-march-15-2021/"> Click here to</a> view the order.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Dr. Garold Minns, Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer (LHO), signed a new local health order Monday that opens the community and removes gathering restrictions and curfews. The order requires people must still be masked and maintain 6 feet of social distancing.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsedgwickcounty%2Fvideos%2F236053781548032%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>This order will be in effect from 12:01 a.m., Sunday March 21 through Friday, April 30.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/local-orders/emergency-public-health-order-march-15-2021/"> Click here to</a> view the order.

New health order opens Sedgwick Co., keeps masks, distancing

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly joined Congresswoman Sharice Davids, KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz, and local officials to commemorate the completion of the re-opening of westbound I-70 as part of the multi-phase Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct project. 

The Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct is comprised of a series of bridges that carry eastbound and westbound I-70 over the Kansas River, providing a vital connection between Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.

“Since day one, my administration has prioritized pragmatic investments to rebuild our state’s foundation,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct reconstruction project demonstrates this priority -- and the power of federal, state and local partnerships to deliver more for Kansans. By working together, we can restore our aging infrastructure and make transformational investments to make travel safer, create jobs, and propel our economy forward.”

“Thanks to the collaborative work of our federal, state, and local partners, the completed Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct project will help keep our families safe, our communities connected, and our economy running,”&nbsp;said Representative Sharice Davids. “I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Kelly, Secretary Lorenz, and our local stakeholders as we push for a transformational infrastructure package in Congress that restores our aging infrastructure and creates good paying jobs here in Kansas to fuel our economy for years to come.”

Governor Kelly noted the 59-year-old westbound I-70 bridge had deteriorated significantly, which was requiring nearly a million dollars in maintenance costs each year to keep the structure safe and operable.&nbsp;

Speakers at today’s event included Governor Kelly, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Julie Lorenz, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids and Unified Government of Wyandotte County Mayor David Alvey. The observance took place in the shadow of I-70 at Kaw Point Park at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers and where the Lewis &amp; Clark Expedition landed in 1804.

“I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of Kansas infrastructure,” said Sec. Julie Lorenz.&nbsp;“We have the IKE program, federal investments may allow us to make innovative investments – and most importantly, we have local, state and federal leaders who all want to work together to make infrastructure work better.”

The Lewis &amp; Clark Project partners various government and private entities from across the Kansas City Metro-area, including KDOT, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, the Missouri Department of Transportation, KC Scout, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Mid-America Regional Council.

Reconstruction the westbound I-70 bridge – originally built in 1962 – began in early 2018. The expected two-year construction was delayed an additional year because of heavy flooding in 2019 when high waters prevented crews from accessing pier sites for several months. The westbound I-70 closure dramatically impacted local and regional traffic flow, requiring the implementation of traffic maintenance and detours to prevent major traffic issues.

Westbound I-70 at the Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct reopened to traffic on January 23. Total construction cost was $65 million of which $58.4 million was Federal and $6.5 million was state. The half-mile, 20-span bridge required approximately 8.8 million pounds of new structural steel, 5,400 lineal feet of new concrete girders, 21,000 cubic yards of concrete and 3.1 million pounds of reinforcing steel. Phase 2 of the project is expected to replace the eastbound bridge, and a subsequent Phase 3 will add flyover ramps to carry westbound I-70 over the river.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615837840208.png" alt="Speakers at Monday's event included Governor Kelly, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Julie Lorenz, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids and Unified Government of Wyandotte County Mayor David Alvey.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Speakers at Monday's event included Governor Kelly, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Julie Lorenz, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids and Unified Government of Wyandotte County Mayor David Alvey.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly joined Congresswoman Sharice Davids, KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz, and local officials to commemorate the completion of the re-opening of westbound I-70 as part of the multi-phase Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct project. The Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct is comprised of a series of bridges that carry eastbound and westbound I-70 over the Kansas River, providing a vital connection between Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.“Since day one, my administration has prioritized pragmatic investments to rebuild our state’s foundation,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct reconstruction project demonstrates this priority -- and the power of federal, state and local partnerships to deliver more for Kansans. By working together, we can restore our aging infrastructure and make transformational investments to make travel safer, create jobs, and propel our economy forward.”“Thanks to the collaborative work of our federal, state, and local partners, the completed Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct project will help keep our families safe, our communities connected, and our economy running,”&nbsp;said Representative Sharice Davids. “I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Kelly, Secretary Lorenz, and our local stakeholders as we push for a transformational infrastructure package in Congress that restores our aging infrastructure and creates good paying jobs here in Kansas to fuel our economy for years to come.”Governor Kelly noted the 59-year-old westbound I-70 bridge had deteriorated significantly, which was requiring nearly a million dollars in maintenance costs each year to keep the structure safe and operable.&nbsp;Speakers at today’s event included Governor Kelly, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Julie Lorenz, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids and Unified Government of Wyandotte County Mayor David Alvey. The observance took place in the shadow of I-70 at Kaw Point Park at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers and where the Lewis &amp; Clark Expedition landed in 1804.“I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of Kansas infrastructure,” said Sec. Julie Lorenz.&nbsp;“We have the IKE program, federal investments may allow us to make innovative investments – and most importantly, we have local, state and federal leaders who all want to work together to make infrastructure work better.”The Lewis &amp; Clark Project partners various government and private entities from across the Kansas City Metro-area, including KDOT, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, the Missouri Department of Transportation, KC Scout, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Mid-America Regional Council.Reconstruction the westbound I-70 bridge – originally built in 1962 – began in early 2018. The expected two-year construction was delayed an additional year because of heavy flooding in 2019 when high waters prevented crews from accessing pier sites for several months. The westbound I-70 closure dramatically impacted local and regional traffic flow, requiring the implementation of traffic maintenance and detours to prevent major traffic issues.Westbound I-70 at the Lewis &amp; Clark Viaduct reopened to traffic on January 23. Total construction cost was $65 million of which $58.4 million was Federal and $6.5 million was state. The half-mile, 20-span bridge required approximately 8.8 million pounds of new structural steel, 5,400 lineal feet of new concrete girders, 21,000 cubic yards of concrete and 3.1 million pounds of reinforcing steel. Phase 2 of the project is expected to replace the eastbound bridge, and a subsequent Phase 3 will add flyover ramps to carry westbound I-70 over the river.

Gov. announces completion of $65M transportation project

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in Kansas City have identified a man found shot to death inside a north Kansas City home at the start of the weekend.

Officers were called around 5:30 p.m. Friday to the home near the Jefferson Highlands neighborhood for a welfare check that was upgraded to a report of a shooting as the officers were on their way to the home, police said.

Arriving officers found 29-year-old Caleb Meroney with gunshot injuries. He was declared dead at the scene.

Detectives gathered evidence at the scene and canvassed the area for any witnesses, but had not announced any arrests or named any suspects in the case by Monday morning.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in Kansas City have identified a man found shot to death inside a north Kansas City home at the start of the weekend.Officers were called around 5:30 p.m. Friday to the home near the Jefferson Highlands neighborhood for a welfare check that was upgraded to a report of a shooting as the officers were on their way to the home, police said.Arriving officers found 29-year-old Caleb Meroney with gunshot injuries. He was declared dead at the scene.Detectives gathered evidence at the scene and canvassed the area for any witnesses, but had not announced any arrests or named any suspects in the case by Monday morning.

Police ID man found fatally shot in Kansas City home

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. effort in World War II was off the charts. Battles spread over three continents and four years, 16 million served in uniform and the government shoved levers of the economy full force into defeating Nazi Germany and imperial Japan.

All of that was cheaper for American taxpayers than this pandemic.

The $1,400 federal payments going into millions of people’s bank accounts are but one slice of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-inside-covid-19-bill-relief-package-52fa93ac75d38eae4cd3dbb6402e7eba">nearly $2 trillion relief package made law</a>&nbsp;this past week. With that, the United States has spent or committed to spend nearly $6 trillion to crush the coronavirus, recover economically and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-relief-bill-social-safety-net-3bff45f1be9d5f7eb8cd7c14a51c6732">take a bite out of child poverty.</a>

Set in motion over one year, that’s warp-speed spending in a capital known for gridlock, ugly argument and now an episode of violent insurrection.

For a year now, Americans have grappled with numbers beyond ordinary comprehension: some 30 million infected, more than half a million dead, millions of jobs lost, vast sums of money sloshing through government pipelines to try to set things right.

How high can you count? At one turn after another, that may be the rhetorical question of these COVID-19 times.

Once, the attack on Pearl Harbor was the modern marker for national trauma. About 2,400 Americans died in the assault on the naval base in Hawaii that drew the United States into the Pacific war. The nearly 3,000 dead from the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, became the new point of comparison as the ravages of COVID-19 grew.

The U.S. reached a total of 3,000 COVID-19 deaths even before March 2020 was out. By December, the country was experiencing the toll of 9/11 day after day after day. In that time, COVID-19 was killing more Americans than any other disease, any other single cause.

“COVID-19 now is the leading cause of death, surpassing heart disease,” Dr. Robert Redfield, then leading the Centers for Disease and Prevention,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/event/conversation-robert-redfield" target="_blank">said Dec. 10</a>. Looking to the weeks ahead, he said “it’s going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.”

So it was, even with the vaccine rollout five days later.

With deaths now moderating — so that a 9/11 toll comes cumulatively every few days — the U.S. death toll now has surpassed 530,000,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf" target="_blank">exceeding U.S. combat deaths</a>&nbsp;of all of the last century’s wars.

A new marker looms: the estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html" target="_blank">675,000 Americans who died in the 1918-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;misnamed the Spanish flu.

That milestone may not be reached, if worst-case scenarios are avoided. Yet this much is clear — the United States has taken a proportionally worse hit in this pandemic.

The U.S. has experienced 1 in 5 deaths worldwide, compared with 1 in 75 deaths globally by the rough estimates of the pandemic a century ago.

The blame game is on, exacerbated by the record of a president, Donald Trump, who rarely acknowledged the gravity of the crisis and routinely distorted it. He told Americans in March 2020 the country would be “just raring to go by Easter” and declared on the cusp of soaring infections that the U.S. was “rounding the final turn” on the virus.

“We were hit with a virus that was met with silence and spread unchecked,” President Joe Biden said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-religion-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-holidays-e01c6d13db6a28a06fe770e1c6d46122">in his prime-time address</a>&nbsp;Thursday. “Denials for days, weeks, then months.”

But while Trump persisted in sunny side up, he also opened the coffers on vaccine development and pandemic relief, backing $4 trillion in aid, equal to 20% of the U.S. economy.

And he pulled together a Star Wars-sounding effort that pretty much lived up to the hyperbole of its name. By the usual yearslong lag in coming up with a vaccine, the authorization to release two vaccines — now three — proved something of an Operation Warp Speed.

The Trump administration’s striking success in backing the invention of coronavirus vaccines through direct spending or advance purchase commitments has been followed by the Biden administration’s nascent success in spurring the production and delivery of those shots.

On this Trump-Biden continuum, shots have risen from 48,757 the first day, Dec. 15, to an average of 1.5 million to 2 million per day the first week of March, raising hope that a persistent bottleneck and vaccine shortages can be overcome. More than 100 million doses have been administered; 35 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Back in February 2020, when the financial markets showed strain from the pandemic and oil prices started to plunge, many economists began to predict that the U.S. government would need to borrow sums unimaginable to older generations.

Biden’s $1.9 trillion package follows five others in the past year, altogether worth almost $6 trillion. That’s about $1 trillion more than U.S military expenditures in World War II, all in today’s dollars. It’s more than the government’s entire budget just two years ago, $4.4 trillion.

About two-thirds of the money in Biden’s plan is to be spent in one year, a hefty infusion that has some economists worried about inflation.

The cost of servicing the debt last year was only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-12/56780-Net-Interest-Primer.pdf" target="_blank">1.6% of the gross domestic product</a>&nbsp;— a bargain compared with the 1990s, when the total debt was much lower. Back then, the federal government spent about 3% of GDP on net interest costs.

Bargain, of course, is relative. Debt is historically high, up 130% over 10 years even before the latest relief package, a burden made manageable by historically low interest rates.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-coronavirus-relief-infrastructure-66f5f5a3de700941aa41f675157f8748">Big-ticket plans on infrastructure&nbsp;</a>and more are still to come.

And they are bound to come with 12 zeroes. It’s a world of trillions now.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608071469793.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. effort in World War II was off the charts. Battles spread over three continents and four years, 16 million served in uniform and the government shoved levers of the economy full force into defeating Nazi Germany and imperial Japan.All of that was cheaper for American taxpayers than this pandemic.The $1,400 federal payments going into millions of people’s bank accounts are but one slice of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-inside-covid-19-bill-relief-package-52fa93ac75d38eae4cd3dbb6402e7eba">nearly $2 trillion relief package made law</a>&nbsp;this past week. With that, the United States has spent or committed to spend nearly $6 trillion to crush the coronavirus, recover economically and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-relief-bill-social-safety-net-3bff45f1be9d5f7eb8cd7c14a51c6732">take a bite out of child poverty.</a>Set in motion over one year, that’s warp-speed spending in a capital known for gridlock, ugly argument and now an episode of violent insurrection.For a year now, Americans have grappled with numbers beyond ordinary comprehension: some 30 million infected, more than half a million dead, millions of jobs lost, vast sums of money sloshing through government pipelines to try to set things right.How high can you count? At one turn after another, that may be the rhetorical question of these COVID-19 times.THE TOLLOnce, the attack on Pearl Harbor was the modern marker for national trauma. About 2,400 Americans died in the assault on the naval base in Hawaii that drew the United States into the Pacific war. The nearly 3,000 dead from the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, became the new point of comparison as the ravages of COVID-19 grew.The U.S. reached a total of 3,000 COVID-19 deaths even before March 2020 was out. By December, the country was experiencing the toll of 9/11 day after day after day. In that time, COVID-19 was killing more Americans than any other disease, any other single cause.“COVID-19 now is the leading cause of death, surpassing heart disease,” Dr. Robert Redfield, then leading the Centers for Disease and Prevention,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/event/conversation-robert-redfield" target="_blank">said Dec. 10</a>. Looking to the weeks ahead, he said “it’s going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.”So it was, even with the vaccine rollout five days later.With deaths now moderating — so that a 9/11 toll comes cumulatively every few days — the U.S. death toll now has surpassed 530,000,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf" target="_blank">exceeding U.S. combat deaths</a>&nbsp;of all of the last century’s wars.A new marker looms: the estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html" target="_blank">675,000 Americans who died in the 1918-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;misnamed the Spanish flu.That milestone may not be reached, if worst-case scenarios are avoided. Yet this much is clear — the United States has taken a proportionally worse hit in this pandemic.The U.S. has experienced 1 in 5 deaths worldwide, compared with 1 in 75 deaths globally by the rough estimates of the pandemic a century ago.___THE RESPONSEThe blame game is on, exacerbated by the record of a president, Donald Trump, who rarely acknowledged the gravity of the crisis and routinely distorted it. He told Americans in March 2020 the country would be “just raring to go by Easter” and declared on the cusp of soaring infections that the U.S. was “rounding the final turn” on the virus.“We were hit with a virus that was met with silence and spread unchecked,” President Joe Biden said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-religion-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-holidays-e01c6d13db6a28a06fe770e1c6d46122">in his prime-time address</a>&nbsp;Thursday. “Denials for days, weeks, then months.”But while Trump persisted in sunny side up, he also opened the coffers on vaccine development and pandemic relief, backing $4 trillion in aid, equal to 20% of the U.S. economy.And he pulled together a Star Wars-sounding effort that pretty much lived up to the hyperbole of its name. By the usual yearslong lag in coming up with a vaccine, the authorization to release two vaccines — now three — proved something of an Operation Warp Speed.The Trump administration’s striking success in backing the invention of coronavirus vaccines through direct spending or advance purchase commitments has been followed by the Biden administration’s nascent success in spurring the production and delivery of those shots.On this Trump-Biden continuum, shots have risen from 48,757 the first day, Dec. 15, to an average of 1.5 million to 2 million per day the first week of March, raising hope that a persistent bottleneck and vaccine shortages can be overcome. More than 100 million doses have been administered; 35 million people have been fully vaccinated.The bill for it all is stratospheric.Back in February 2020, when the financial markets showed strain from the pandemic and oil prices started to plunge, many economists began to predict that the U.S. government would need to borrow sums unimaginable to older generations.Now that’s reality.Biden’s $1.9 trillion package follows five others in the past year, altogether worth almost $6 trillion. That’s about $1 trillion more than U.S military expenditures in World War II, all in today’s dollars. It’s more than the government’s entire budget just two years ago, $4.4 trillion.About two-thirds of the money in Biden’s plan is to be spent in one year, a hefty infusion that has some economists worried about inflation.How can the U.S. possibly afford this?At least for now, debt is cheap.The cost of servicing the debt last year was only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-12/56780-Net-Interest-Primer.pdf" target="_blank">1.6% of the gross domestic product</a>&nbsp;— a bargain compared with the 1990s, when the total debt was much lower. Back then, the federal government spent about 3% of GDP on net interest costs.Bargain, of course, is relative. Debt is historically high, up 130% over 10 years even before the latest relief package, a burden made manageable by historically low interest rates.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-coronavirus-relief-infrastructure-66f5f5a3de700941aa41f675157f8748">Big-ticket plans on infrastructure&nbsp;</a>and more are still to come.And they are bound to come with 12 zeroes. It’s a world of trillions now.___

How high can you count? Surreal stats of COVID times

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 470 to a total of 297,748, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4835, an increase of 11

<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 470 to a total of 297,748, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4835, an increase of 11<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/2021/3/1615828960161.png" alt="Monday March 15, 2021" />
 <figcaption>Monday March 15, 2021</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of business burglaries in Wichita and the surrounding area have made an arrest, according to officer Charley Davidson.

In the burglaries, the suspect took credit cards, cash, personal information, tools and electronics.

On Friday, police arrested&nbsp; 42-year-old Robert J. Anderson III of Wichita, in the 3400 block of East Orchard without incident. Investigators also recovered stolen property from multiple burglaries and a rifle.

Police booked Anderson was on requested charges that include 19 counts to burglary; Two counts of aggravated burglary; Ten counts of attempted burglary; 13 counts of theft; 13 counts of criminal damage to property; One count of criminal possession of a firearm and Unlawful possession of marijuana, according to Davidson. Anderson has multiple previous felony convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody.

The cases will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615644191234.png" alt="Anderson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Anderson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of business burglaries in Wichita and the surrounding area have made an arrest, according to officer Charley Davidson.In the burglaries, the suspect took credit cards, cash, personal information, tools and electronics.On Friday, police arrested&nbsp; 42-year-old Robert J. Anderson III of Wichita, in the 3400 block of East Orchard without incident. Investigators also recovered stolen property from multiple burglaries and a rifle.Police booked Anderson was on requested charges that include 19 counts to burglary; Two counts of aggravated burglary; Ten counts of attempted burglary; 13 counts of theft; 13 counts of criminal damage to property; One count of criminal possession of a firearm and Unlawful possession of marijuana, according to Davidson. Anderson has multiple previous felony convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody.The cases will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Police catch man wanted for 19 Kan. business burglaries

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon from Manhattan on multiple charges after a high-speed chase through Saline County and crash.

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, a Saline County sheriff's deputy attempted to stop a 2011 Ford Taurus for speeding near the intersection of North Fifth Street and Stimmel Road, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan. The Taurus driven by a suspect later identified as 22-year-old Curtis Minick of Manhattan fled east on Stimmel Road and a chase ensued on to East Old Highway 40.

 The chase continued across the county for over 12-minutes at speeds of over 110 miles per hour until Minick, driving without headlights&nbsp; failed to negotiate a left turn onto West Otis Avenue.

The Taurus crashed into the rock wall just west of the entrance to Saint Francis Ministries, 110 Otis Avenue.

Minick then fled onto the Saint Francis Ministries campus on foot, but was apprehended after a couple of minutes by a Salina Police Department officer, according to Soldan.

Minick, who had a failure to appear warrant out of Riley County, was arrested requested charges that include Felony flee and elude, Reckless driving, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Driving with a suspended license, Transporting an open container and No proof of insurance.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615729781397.jpeg" alt="Minick has nearly a dozen previous convictions that include theft, obstruction, battery, aggravated failure to appear, burglary, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. - photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Minick has nearly a dozen previous convictions that include theft, obstruction, battery, aggravated failure to appear, burglary, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. - photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon from Manhattan on multiple charges after a high-speed chase through Saline County and crash.Just before 1a.m. Saturday, a Saline County sheriff's deputy attempted to stop a 2011 Ford Taurus for speeding near the intersection of North Fifth Street and Stimmel Road, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan. The Taurus driven by a suspect later identified as 22-year-old Curtis Minick of Manhattan fled east on Stimmel Road and a chase ensued on to East Old Highway 40. The chase continued across the county for over 12-minutes at speeds of over 110 miles per hour until Minick, driving without headlights&nbsp; failed to negotiate a left turn onto West Otis Avenue.The Taurus crashed into the rock wall just west of the entrance to Saint Francis Ministries, 110 Otis Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615821961049.jpeg" alt="Crash scene photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Crash scene photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Minick then fled onto the Saint Francis Ministries campus on foot, but was apprehended after a couple of minutes by a Salina Police Department officer, according to Soldan.Minick, who had a failure to appear warrant out of Riley County, was arrested requested charges that include Felony flee and elude, Reckless driving, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Driving with a suspended license, Transporting an open container and No proof of insurance.&nbsp;

Wanted Kan. felon jailed after 110 mph chase, crash

MCallen, Texas -&nbsp;The number of migrant children and families seeking to cross the southwest border of the U.S. has surged to levels not seen since before the pandemic. 

Senator Roger Marshall was on the southern border of Texas this weekend to observe the humanitarian crisis "our biggest, most immediate national security threat. Amidst the COVID-19 battle this has now turned into a public health crisis as well, as he described it.

Statistics released March 10 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection show the number of children and families increasing by more than 100% between January and February. The number of kids crossing by themselves has risen 60% to more than 9,400, forcing the government to look for new places to hold them temporarily amid the pandemic.

"There is nothing humane about what we have going on right now at our southern border," Marshall wrote on social media. "We have such big masses of people and we can’t handle the volume. Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our nation’s safety, period."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615805180158.png" alt="Families cross the border Sunday -Images courtesy Senator Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Families cross the border Sunday -Images courtesy Senator Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>MCallen, Texas -&nbsp;The number of migrant children and families seeking to cross the southwest border of the U.S. has surged to levels not seen since before the pandemic. Senator Roger Marshall was on the southern border of Texas this weekend to observe the humanitarian crisis "our biggest, most immediate national security threat. Amidst the COVID-19 battle this has now turned into a public health crisis as well, as he described it.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There is nothing humane about what we have going on right now at our southern border. We have such big masses of people and we can’t handle the volume. Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our nation’s safety, period. <a href="https://t.co/aW3dhY4j4O">pic.twitter.com/aW3dhY4j4O</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1371263913661186048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Statistics released March 10 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection show the number of children and families increasing by more than 100% between January and February. The number of kids crossing by themselves has risen 60% to more than 9,400, forcing the government to look for new places to hold them temporarily amid the pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615805147594.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"There is nothing humane about what we have going on right now at our southern border," Marshall wrote on social media. "We have such big masses of people and we can’t handle the volume. Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our nation’s safety, period."

🎥  Sen. Marshall visits crisis on the U.S. southern border

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A series of earthquakes shook Wichita&nbsp; Sunday and continued early Monday including the largest quake in five year in the city. At 6:08p.m. Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake measuring a magnitude 3.9 on the richter scale was centered in the Eastborough section of Wichita, near 13th and Rock Road.

The agency reported two additional quakes Monday morning and four additional quakes on Sunday in the same east central portion of the city. The first measured a magnitude 3.4 just before 6:30a.m. Sunday.

Three additional quakes including two just after 7a.m.&nbsp; measured a magnitude 3.5 and 3 on the richter scale and a 2.2 magnitude quake at 8:30a.m.

The quakes just before 9a.m. Monday measured 3.1 and 3.2, according to the USGS.

On December 30, an earthquake measuring a magnitude 3.8 and a 3.7 magnitude temblor on December 19, shook the same area. All the Sunday and Monday quakes are considered relatively small, according to the U.SGS.&nbsp;The threshold for damage usually starts at 4.0.

Based on an investigation, the Kansas Corporation Commission does not believe the seismicity in Wichita is tied to any oil and gas activities in the area.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A series of earthquakes shook central Kansas early Sunday.

The first measured a magnitude 3.4 just before 6:30a.m. and it was centered in the Eastborough section of Wichita, near 13th Street and Rock Road, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The agency reported two additional quakes just after 7a.m. that measured a magnitude 3.5 and 3 on the richter scale.

On December 30 , an earthquake measuring a magnitude 3.8 shook the same area. It was the largest quake in Wichita in five years, according to the USGS and is considered relatively small.

There are no reports of damage or injury from the series of quakes on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615776086272.png" alt="&nbsp;The USGS has recorded over two dozen small quakes in the Wichita area since late November.-USGS image" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The USGS has recorded over two dozen small quakes in the Wichita area since late November.-USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A series of earthquakes shook Wichita&nbsp; Sunday and continued early Monday including the largest quake in five year in the city. At 6:08p.m. Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake measuring a magnitude 3.9 on the richter scale was centered in the Eastborough section of Wichita, near 13th and Rock Road.The agency reported two additional quakes Monday morning and four additional quakes on Sunday in the same east central portion of the city. The first measured a magnitude 3.4 just before 6:30a.m. Sunday.Three additional quakes including two just after 7a.m.&nbsp; measured a magnitude 3.5 and 3 on the richter scale and a 2.2 magnitude quake at 8:30a.m.The quakes just before 9a.m. Monday measured 3.1 and 3.2, according to the USGS.On December 30, an earthquake measuring a magnitude 3.8 and a 3.7 magnitude temblor on December 19, shook the same area. All the Sunday and Monday quakes are considered relatively small, according to the U.SGS.&nbsp;The threshold for damage usually starts at 4.0.Based on an investigation, the Kansas Corporation Commission does not believe the seismicity in Wichita is tied to any oil and gas activities in the area.-----------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A series of earthquakes shook central Kansas early Sunday.The first measured a magnitude 3.4 just before 6:30a.m. and it was centered in the Eastborough section of Wichita, near 13th Street and Rock Road, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.The agency reported two additional quakes just after 7a.m. that measured a magnitude 3.5 and 3 on the richter scale.On December 30 , an earthquake measuring a magnitude 3.8 shook the same area. It was the largest quake in Wichita in five years, according to the USGS and is considered relatively small.Based on an investigation, the Kansas Corporation Commission does not believe the seismicity in Wichita is tied to any oil and gas activities in the area.There are no reports of damage or injury from the series of quakes on Sunday.

Update: Small earthquakes continue to shake Wichita

ROME (AP) — The Vatican decreed Monday that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.”

The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions.

The answer, contained in a two-page explanation published in seven languages and approved by Pope Francis, was “negative.”

The decree distinguished between the church’s welcoming and blessing of gay people, which it upheld, but not their unions.

The Vatican holds that gays much be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is “intrinsically disordered.” Catholic teaching holds that marriage between a man and woman is part of God’s plan and is intended for the sake of creating new life.

Since gay unions are not intended to be part of that plan, they cannot be blessed by the church, the document said.

“The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creator’s plan,” the response said.

God “does not and cannot bless sin: He blesses sinful man, so that he may recognize that he is part of his plan of love and allow himself to be changed by him,” it said.

Francis has endorsed providing gay couples with legal protections in same-sex unions, but that is in reference to the civil sphere, not within the church. His comments were made during an interview with a Mexican television station, Televisa, in 2019, but were cut by the Vatican until they appeared in a documentary last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603292366279.png" alt="Pope Francis enters the House chamber ahead of an address to a joint session of Congress in 2015- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis enters the House chamber ahead of an address to a joint session of Congress in 2015- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — The Vatican decreed Monday that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.”The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions.The answer, contained in a two-page explanation published in seven languages and approved by Pope Francis, was “negative.”The decree distinguished between the church’s welcoming and blessing of gay people, which it upheld, but not their unions.The Vatican holds that gays much be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is “intrinsically disordered.” Catholic teaching holds that marriage between a man and woman is part of God’s plan and is intended for the sake of creating new life.Since gay unions are not intended to be part of that plan, they cannot be blessed by the church, the document said.“The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creator’s plan,” the response said.God “does not and cannot bless sin: He blesses sinful man, so that he may recognize that he is part of his plan of love and allow himself to be changed by him,” it said.Francis has endorsed providing gay couples with legal protections in same-sex unions, but that is in reference to the civil sphere, not within the church. His comments were made during an interview with a Mexican television station, Televisa, in 2019, but were cut by the Vatican until they appeared in a documentary last year.

Vatican issues new statement on Catholic church, same-sex unions

TIFF CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Highway Patrol and local emergency responders on Saturday rescued two people stranded after their vehicles were swept away in high waters in southwest Missouri.

The two vehicles were driving on State Highway 43 near Oklahoma’s border when they hit the high waters of Buffalo Creek. The creek’s waters were about 15 feet high over the highway. Both vehicles were swept downstream.

One driver escaped to the top of his truck, and the other grabbed a tree as his vehicle sank below him.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tiff City Fire Department and McDonald County’s emergency management team rescued one via boat. Crew members tied to a tree downstream saved the other man. Neither suffered significant injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615802729403.png" alt="Both victims were checked out by EMS and released shortly after.-photo courtesy McDonald County Emergency Manaagement.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Both victims were checked out by EMS and released shortly after.-photo courtesy McDonald County Emergency Manaagement.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TIFF CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Highway Patrol and local emergency responders on Saturday rescued two people stranded after their vehicles were swept away in high waters in southwest Missouri.The two vehicles were driving on State Highway 43 near Oklahoma’s border when they hit the high waters of Buffalo Creek. The creek’s waters were about 15 feet high over the highway. Both vehicles were swept downstream.One driver escaped to the top of his truck, and the other grabbed a tree as his vehicle sank below him.The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tiff City Fire Department and McDonald County’s emergency management team rescued one via boat. Crew members tied to a tree downstream saved the other man. Neither suffered significant injuries.

Drivers caught on flooded highway saved

WASHINGTON (AP) — Let the sales push begin.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-first-prime-time-speech-next-phase-pandemic-85d1ae52bc61abffd3ae91c324e58308">the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan</a>&nbsp;to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy.

The road show — dubbed the “Help is Here” tour by the White House — begins Monday with Harris heading to a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school.

The president will have more to say about the plan Monday at the White House, and he plans to visit a small business in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. He and Harris are slated to appear together in Atlanta on Friday.

Harris will meet with small-business owners in Denver on Tuesday. Wednesday sees Jill Biden in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The stops at vaccination sites, businesses, schools and more are meant to educate the public about different aspects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-personal-taxes-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-e828c92fbdd7f4fa1e35d9ab95fe705e">the giant American Rescue Plan</a>&nbsp;and how it will help people get to the other side of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

Biden has said President Barack Obama’s administration, in which Biden was vice president, failed to adequately educate the public about the benefits of its economic recovery plan. He said he wants to do a better sales job this time around on the details of his first big legislative victory.

One of the plan’s key features is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-virus-relief-checks-3eed6a4659f1fb7d36b4ced0eba58f86">direct payments of $1,400 for a single taxpayer</a>, or $2,800 for a married couple filing their taxes jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — for a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children. The payments phase out for those with higher incomes.

An extension of federal unemployment benefits will continue through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. There’s $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments, $130 billion for K-12 schools and about $50 billion to expand COVID-19 testing, among other measures.

Restaurants and bars that were forced to close or limit service will take advantage of a new multibillion-dollar grant program, and the plan also has tens of billions of dollars to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and mortgage payments.

The bill cleared Congress without any backing from Republicans, despite polling that found broad public support for the plan. Republicans argued the bill was too expensive. Democrats provided the votes and Biden signed it into law last week.

The “Help is Here” tour is taking Harris on her first domestic trip as vice president. She’ll be accompanied by her husband, the nation’s first “second gentleman,” who plans to break off for separate events in Las Vegas on Monday and New Mexico on Wednesday.

Since taking office, Harris has presided over swearing-in ceremonies for members of Biden’s Cabinet. She has stood with the president at his speeches, delivered remarks of her own, spoken by telephone with assorted world leaders and made appearances in the Washington area, including at funeral services for Washington power broker Vernon Jordan.

Harris also cast three tie-breaking votes in the 50-50 Senate in her role as president of the Senate.

Jill Biden will be joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she is expected to talk about how the plan will help families and communities, and highlight steps the school took to reopen.

The first lady has kept a robust schedule focused on education, military families and cancer research since stepping into her new role. Earlier this month, she and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited Connecticut and Pennsylvania public schools that reopened during the pandemic.

Emhoff, an entertainment lawyer, also has made a few appearances in the Washington area in between his stint teaching at Georgetown Law. He plans to visit a food relief organization Monday in Las Vegas and participate in a listening session with the organization’s partners.

In addition to the president, vice president and their spouses, Cabinet secretaries will also be out on the tour. Hundreds of mayors and governors, including Republicans, are being lined up to give interviews to discuss what the plan means for their communities.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was set Monday to tour a UPS distribution center in Landover, Maryland, that also delivers vaccines in the Washington area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615804276114.png" alt="Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden during a Rose Garden event to discuss the $1.9T America Rescue Plan Act.-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden during a Rose Garden event to discuss the $1.9T America Rescue Plan Act.-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Let the sales push begin.President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-first-prime-time-speech-next-phase-pandemic-85d1ae52bc61abffd3ae91c324e58308">the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan</a>&nbsp;to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy.The road show — dubbed the “Help is Here” tour by the White House — begins Monday with Harris heading to a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school.The president will have more to say about the plan Monday at the White House, and he plans to visit a small business in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. He and Harris are slated to appear together in Atlanta on Friday.Harris will meet with small-business owners in Denver on Tuesday. Wednesday sees Jill Biden in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The stops at vaccination sites, businesses, schools and more are meant to educate the public about different aspects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-personal-taxes-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-e828c92fbdd7f4fa1e35d9ab95fe705e">the giant American Rescue Plan</a>&nbsp;and how it will help people get to the other side of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.Biden has said President Barack Obama’s administration, in which Biden was vice president, failed to adequately educate the public about the benefits of its economic recovery plan. He said he wants to do a better sales job this time around on the details of his first big legislative victory.One of the plan’s key features is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-virus-relief-checks-3eed6a4659f1fb7d36b4ced0eba58f86">direct payments of $1,400 for a single taxpayer</a>, or $2,800 for a married couple filing their taxes jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — for a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children. The payments phase out for those with higher incomes.An extension of federal unemployment benefits will continue through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. There’s $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments, $130 billion for K-12 schools and about $50 billion to expand COVID-19 testing, among other measures.Restaurants and bars that were forced to close or limit service will take advantage of a new multibillion-dollar grant program, and the plan also has tens of billions of dollars to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and mortgage payments.The bill cleared Congress without any backing from Republicans, despite polling that found broad public support for the plan. Republicans argued the bill was too expensive. Democrats provided the votes and Biden signed it into law last week.The “Help is Here” tour is taking Harris on her first domestic trip as vice president. She’ll be accompanied by her husband, the nation’s first “second gentleman,” who plans to break off for separate events in Las Vegas on Monday and New Mexico on Wednesday.Since taking office, Harris has presided over swearing-in ceremonies for members of Biden’s Cabinet. She has stood with the president at his speeches, delivered remarks of her own, spoken by telephone with assorted world leaders and made appearances in the Washington area, including at funeral services for Washington power broker Vernon Jordan.Harris also cast three tie-breaking votes in the 50-50 Senate in her role as president of the Senate.Jill Biden will be joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she is expected to talk about how the plan will help families and communities, and highlight steps the school took to reopen.The first lady has kept a robust schedule focused on education, military families and cancer research since stepping into her new role. Earlier this month, she and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited Connecticut and Pennsylvania public schools that reopened during the pandemic.Emhoff, an entertainment lawyer, also has made a few appearances in the Washington area in between his stint teaching at Georgetown Law. He plans to visit a food relief organization Monday in Las Vegas and participate in a listening session with the organization’s partners.In addition to the president, vice president and their spouses, Cabinet secretaries will also be out on the tour. Hundreds of mayors and governors, including Republicans, are being lined up to give interviews to discuss what the plan means for their communities.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was set Monday to tour a UPS distribution center in Landover, Maryland, that also delivers vaccines in the Washington area.

Road show: Biden, Harris to promote relief plan's benefits

Corrected 11:50 a.m. Tuesday to correct name of the organization.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to restore 500 jobs that were cut last year in the Kansas City region.

The agency, which processes immigration-related paperwork, including international adoptions, laid off 800 workers last year because of a sharp drop in immigration activity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

USCIS has a National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas. It is funded by fees on immigration applications and does not receive direct funding from Congress.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas, both applauded the agency’s decision to restore the jobs.

“This will not only be a boon to workers in Kansas City, but will also help to address the agency’s backlog in immigration applications,” Cleaver said in a statement.

“Restoring these critical jobs at the National Benefits Center in the Kansas City region will help support the local economy and the nation, as these employees work to process immigration applications,” Moran said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615803311665.png" alt="USCIS Field Office in Overland Park, Kansas -google image" />
 <figcaption>USCIS Field Office in Overland Park, Kansas -google image</figcaption>
 </figure>Corrected 11:50 a.m. Tuesday to correct name of the organization.KANSAS CITY (AP) — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to restore 500 jobs that were cut last year in the Kansas City region.The agency, which processes immigration-related paperwork, including international adoptions, laid off 800 workers last year because of a sharp drop in immigration activity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.USCIS has a National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas. It is funded by fees on immigration applications and does not receive direct funding from Congress.U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas, both applauded the agency’s decision to restore the jobs.“This will not only be a boon to workers in Kansas City, but will also help to address the agency’s backlog in immigration applications,” Cleaver said in a statement.“Restoring these critical jobs at the National Benefits Center in the Kansas City region will help support the local economy and the nation, as these employees work to process immigration applications,” Moran said.

500 U.S. immigration agency jobs to return to Kansas City

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of victim investors.

Matthew R. Peterson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to eight years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Peterson to pay $2,516,010 in restitution to his victims.

On Sept. 10, 2020, Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.

Peterson admitted that he operated an investment fraud scheme from 2012 to November 2016. During this scheme, Peterson persuaded at least 37 victims to invest approximately $6 million into sporting wagers.

Peterson lied to prospective investors about being an expert in sports betting in order to carry out his investment fraud scheme. Peterson created fictitious spreadsheets, financial statements and betting reports that indicated the investments were yielding large returns. Peterson, for the most part, did not invest funds on behalf of the investors. Instead, Peterson perpetrated a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme through which he fraudulently transferred new investor money to earlier investors, falsely representing these payments as profits earned on their funds invested with him. Peterson used about $3.3 million of the approximately $6 million obtained from investors to make Ponzi-type payments to existing investors.&nbsp;

Peterson spent approximately $565,000 of investor funds on luxury vacations for himself and his family, personal gambling, retail, automobiles, credit card payments, a house, and made cash withdrawals of more than $90,000 of investor money.

Peterson’s widespread criminal activity caused significant financial harm to numerous victims, who invested amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. One of the investors, identified in court documents as T.C., went into business with Peterson. T.C. liquated his 401(k) retirement account and gave the net proceeds to Peterson. Peterson used T.C.’s personal identifiable information without T.C.’s knowledge or consent to obtain an American Express card. Peterson also made additional charges to the card, charging over $248,862 on this card without T.C.’s knowledge. Due to his scheme, financial institutions and credit card companies also incurred a loss of approximately $461,000.

According to court documents, Peterson also used his business to establish credibility within his church community as someone with great connections.

Peterson owned and operated AIS Travel, which attempted to find discounted deals for people who wanted to travel. Peterson approached his pastors about helping the church save money with his travel business. Peterson requested the church staff promote his business to church members and, in return, he would donate a portion of the profits to the church.&nbsp;

The pastors declined Peterson’s proposal, but told him they would consider using his business for church staff travel. In November 2016, Peterson approached church staff with a proposal that they should hold their staff retreat in Cancun, Mexico. The cost for approximately 20 people would be $18,000. The church paid Peterson over $16,000 for the airline tickets and room reservations before the date of travel. However, upon arrival at the airport, the church group learned that the tickets had never been purchased, and no reservations were made.

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of victim investors.Matthew R. Peterson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to eight years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Peterson to pay $2,516,010 in restitution to his victims.On Sept. 10, 2020, Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.Sports Wagering Investment FraudPeterson admitted that he operated an investment fraud scheme from 2012 to November 2016. During this scheme, Peterson persuaded at least 37 victims to invest approximately $6 million into sporting wagers.Peterson lied to prospective investors about being an expert in sports betting in order to carry out his investment fraud scheme. Peterson created fictitious spreadsheets, financial statements and betting reports that indicated the investments were yielding large returns. Peterson, for the most part, did not invest funds on behalf of the investors. Instead, Peterson perpetrated a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme through which he fraudulently transferred new investor money to earlier investors, falsely representing these payments as profits earned on their funds invested with him. Peterson used about $3.3 million of the approximately $6 million obtained from investors to make Ponzi-type payments to existing investors.&nbsp;Peterson spent approximately $565,000 of investor funds on luxury vacations for himself and his family, personal gambling, retail, automobiles, credit card payments, a house, and made cash withdrawals of more than $90,000 of investor money.Peterson’s widespread criminal activity caused significant financial harm to numerous victims, who invested amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. One of the investors, identified in court documents as T.C., went into business with Peterson. T.C. liquated his 401(k) retirement account and gave the net proceeds to Peterson. Peterson used T.C.’s personal identifiable information without T.C.’s knowledge or consent to obtain an American Express card. Peterson also made additional charges to the card, charging over $248,862 on this card without T.C.’s knowledge. Due to his scheme, financial institutions and credit card companies also incurred a loss of approximately $461,000.Church Travel Fraud SchemeAccording to court documents, Peterson also used his business to establish credibility within his church community as someone with great connections.Peterson owned and operated AIS Travel, which attempted to find discounted deals for people who wanted to travel. Peterson approached his pastors about helping the church save money with his travel business. Peterson requested the church staff promote his business to church members and, in return, he would donate a portion of the profits to the church.&nbsp;The pastors declined Peterson’s proposal, but told him they would consider using his business for church staff travel. In November 2016, Peterson approached church staff with a proposal that they should hold their staff retreat in Cancun, Mexico. The cost for approximately 20 people would be $18,000. The church paid Peterson over $16,000 for the airline tickets and room reservations before the date of travel. However, upon arrival at the airport, the church group learned that the tickets had never been purchased, and no reservations were made.

KC man sentenced for $6 million Ponzi scheme

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender accused in a downtown Wichita rape made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Anthony Douglas, 47 of Wichita, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, rape, and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 8:30a.m. March 7, police responded to a disturbance at the Royal Lodge motel, 320 East Kellogg Street in Wichita, according to police Lt. Christian Cory.

A 23-year-old woman at the scene told police she left a business downtown when a suspect approached and walked her to the motel where she was sexually assaulted.

Investigators later learned of the involvement of Douglas who is a registered sex offender.

On Sunday afternoon, police located Douglas at the business in the 100 Block of North Mosley. He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20065193">jailed on a bond of</a> $150,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615568352286.png" alt="Douglas is listed as a sexual predator, according the offender registry. His victim was 12 and he was 31 at the time of the original crime in Dupage County, Illinois" />
 <figcaption>Douglas is listed as a sexual predator, according the offender registry. His victim was 12 and he was 31 at the time of the original crime in Dupage County, Illinois</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender accused in a downtown Wichita rape made his first court appearance Wednesday.Anthony Douglas, 47 of Wichita, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, rape, and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just before 8:30a.m. March 7, police responded to a disturbance at the Royal Lodge motel, 320 East Kellogg Street in Wichita, according to police Lt. Christian Cory.A 23-year-old woman at the scene told police she left a business downtown when a suspect approached and walked her to the motel where she was sexually assaulted.Investigators later learned of the involvement of Douglas who is a registered sex offender.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615236375927.png" alt="Douglas photo Sedgwick County jail." />
 <figcaption>Douglas photo Sedgwick County jail.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Sunday afternoon, police located Douglas at the business in the 100 Block of North Mosley. He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20065193">jailed on a bond of</a> $150,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.

Illinois sex offender charged with rape at Kan. motel

By ANNE M. PETERSON, Associated Press

More than 500 college athletes have signed a letter to the NCAA Board of Governors asking the organization to refuse to schedule championships in states that have banned transgender participation in sports.

The move follows a wave of legislative efforts across the country aimed at transgender athletes. Idaho banned transgender women from taking part in women’s and girls’ sports last year, although that law has been challenged in court. State legislatures in North Dakota and Mississippi have recently passed similar measures.

The letter to the NCAA asks the board to uphold the organization’s nondiscrimination policy, citing the decision to move championships out of North Carolina in 2016 in response to House Bill 2, which legislated transgender use of public restrooms.

“We call upon you to ensure that the NCAA lives up to the guidelines and standards that they claim to uphold by making a firm statement that you will uphold the NCAA Anti-Discrimination Policy and only operate championships and events in states that promote an inclusive atmosphere,” the letter says.

The NCAA has had policies in place since 2011 that allow for transgender participation in sports.

The letter was the idea of track and field athletes Aliya Schenck and Alana Bojar of Washington University in St. Louis, who work with Athlete Ally. Athletes from across the different college sports signed on to the effort.

“All student-athletes should be safe and protected when competing in NCAA championships,” the two said in a statement. “Your silence on this issue is only allowing more states to pass these bills. We urge you to act now and make a strong statement against these bills, saying that the NCAA will not host championships in states that openly discriminate against LGBTQI+ athletes.”

Athlete Ally is a nonprofit group that advocates for LGBTQI+ athletes. Last year it was part of an effort on behalf of 200 current and former athletes —— including Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King and Candace Parker — who filed an amicus brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in opposition to the Idaho law.

“Though the NCAA has continued to monitor the bills and has spoken out in support of trans athletes, the time is now for the NCAA to listen to hundreds of student athletes calling on them to clearly and unequivocally put the health and safety of all student-athletes first and condemn these horrific bills,” said Anne Lieberman, Athlete Ally’s director of policy and programs.

The NCAA issued a statement to The Associated Press saying it continues to monitor legislation that affects transgender athletes.

“The NCAA believes in fair and respectful student-athlete participation at all levels of sport. The Association’s transgender student-athlete participation policy and other diversity policies are designed to facilitate and support inclusion,” the statement said. “The NCAA believes diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment and it encourages its member colleges and universities to support the well-being of all student-athletes.”

By ANNE M. PETERSON, Associated PressMore than 500 college athletes have signed a letter to the NCAA Board of Governors asking the organization to refuse to schedule championships in states that have banned transgender participation in sports.The move follows a wave of legislative efforts across the country aimed at transgender athletes. Idaho banned transgender women from taking part in women’s and girls’ sports last year, although that law has been challenged in court. State legislatures in North Dakota and Mississippi have recently passed similar measures.The letter to the NCAA asks the board to uphold the organization’s nondiscrimination policy, citing the decision to move championships out of North Carolina in 2016 in response to House Bill 2, which legislated transgender use of public restrooms.“We call upon you to ensure that the NCAA lives up to the guidelines and standards that they claim to uphold by making a firm statement that you will uphold the NCAA Anti-Discrimination Policy and only operate championships and events in states that promote an inclusive atmosphere,” the letter says.The NCAA has had policies in place since 2011 that allow for transgender participation in sports.The letter was the idea of track and field athletes Aliya Schenck and Alana Bojar of Washington University in St. Louis, who work with Athlete Ally. Athletes from across the different college sports signed on to the effort.“All student-athletes should be safe and protected when competing in NCAA championships,” the two said in a statement. “Your silence on this issue is only allowing more states to pass these bills. We urge you to act now and make a strong statement against these bills, saying that the NCAA will not host championships in states that openly discriminate against LGBTQI+ athletes.”Athlete Ally is a nonprofit group that advocates for LGBTQI+ athletes. Last year it was part of an effort on behalf of 200 current and former athletes —— including Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King and Candace Parker — who filed an amicus brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in opposition to the Idaho law.“Though the NCAA has continued to monitor the bills and has spoken out in support of trans athletes, the time is now for the NCAA to listen to hundreds of student athletes calling on them to clearly and unequivocally put the health and safety of all student-athletes first and condemn these horrific bills,” said Anne Lieberman, Athlete Ally’s director of policy and programs.The NCAA issued a statement to The Associated Press saying it continues to monitor legislation that affects transgender athletes.“The NCAA believes in fair and respectful student-athlete participation at all levels of sport. The Association’s transgender student-athlete participation policy and other diversity policies are designed to facilitate and support inclusion,” the statement said. “The NCAA believes diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment and it encourages its member colleges and universities to support the well-being of all student-athletes.”

Athletes appeal to NCAA in protest of anti-transgender laws

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is stockpiling tens of millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine whose authorization in the U.S. remains uncertain, frustrating U.S. allies who say those doses should be used now to save lives overseas.

The standoff is part of a growing global debate over who should have access to hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine that pharmaceutical companies are churning out in the U.S. Besides generating ill will, Biden’s insistence on an excess supply for America is potentially creating new openings for geopolitical rivals Russia and China.

A two-dose vaccine from AstraZeneca has received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-authorizes-astrazeneca-vaccine-adults-18b545dd51ea56f422ff28cdeb2dd08b">emergency clearance&nbsp;</a>from the European Union and World Health Organization but not from the U.S. Now America’s partners are prodding Biden to release his supply, noting that the administration has lined up enough doses of three already-authorized vaccines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-4de42d355f18b8a1352f1206b5253814">to cover every American adult by the end of May&nbsp;</a>and the entire U.S. population by the end of July.

AstraZeneca says that the U.S.-produced vaccines are “owned” by the U.S. government and that sending them overseas would require White House approval.

“We understand other governments may have reached out to the U.S. government about donation of AstraZeneca doses, and we’ve asked the U.S. government to give thoughtful consideration to these requests,” Gonzalo Viña, a spokesman for AstraZeneca, said in a statement.

Even though the 27-nation European Union is eager to relaunch a more fruitful trans-Atlantic relationship after the bruising Trump presidency, the vaccine issue is proving to be a thorny topic, with some in Europe seeing it as a continuation of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” focus.

EU member states’ ambassadors discussed the challenge this week. The German government said on Friday it was in contact with U.S. officials about vaccine supplies but stressed that the European Commission has the lead when it comes to procuring shots for member states.

Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have directed representatives to discuss supply chains in the vaccine production.

“Hopefully, we will be in a position on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that sufficient quantities of vaccine doses are distributed out in line with the schedule so as to complete the vaccination campaigns,” EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said.

Well over 10 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine are stockpiled in the U.S. for use here.

“We want to be oversupplied and overprepared,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday, so Americans can still be swiftly vaccinated in the event of unforeseen issues with the existing production timeline.

“We have not provided doses from the U.S. government to anyone,” she said.

Asked about the stockpiled vaccine, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said, “We have a small inventory of AstraZeneca so, if approved, we can g&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-rochelle-walensky-coronavirus-pandemic-fcec736ac8474e121bfc3b2fd41718b2">et that inventory out to the American people&nbsp;</a>as quickly as possible.” He said the U.S. was following the same procedure it used for the already-authorized vaccines.

Drug manufacturers that received federal assistance in developing or expanding vaccine manufacturing were required to sell their first doses to the U.S. In the case of AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was initially expected to be the first to receive federal emergency authorization, the government ordered 300 million doses — enough for 150 million Americans — before issues with the vaccine’s clinical trial held up clearance..

The company said this month it believes it will have roughly 30 million doses available to the U.S. government by the end of March, and an additional 20 million by the end of April.

As foreign regulators have moved ahead with the shot, the U.S. has not dropped its contractual claim on the initial doses produced in America.

That policy has also come under criticism from U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico, which have been forced to seek vaccine manufactured on a different continent, rather than across the border. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has purchased enough doses of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson to inoculate 150 million more people than the U.S. population by the end of the year.

The U.S. has also ordered 110 million doses of vaccine from Novavax, which is expected to file for emergency authorization as soon as next month.

AstraZeneca’s 30,000-person U.S. trial didn’t complete enrollment until January. The company hasn’t given any hints of when initial results might be ready beyond an executive telling Congress last month he expected it would be “soon.”

The European Union, amid its own stumbling vaccine rollout, appears increasingly resigned to the Biden administration retaining control of the U.S. doses.

The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca, too, because the company is delivering far fewer doses to the bloc than it had promised. Of the initial order for 80 million in the first quarter this year, the company will be struggling to deliver half.

Despite shortages at home and often being accused of vaccine protectionism itself, the 27-nation bloc has allowed the export of well over 34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in past weeks, including 953,723 to the United States.

Meanwhile, Russia and China have used their domestically produced vaccines for strategic leverage.

China has pledged roughly half a billion doses to more than 45 countries, according to a country-by-country tally by The Associated Press. Four of China’s many vaccine makers are claiming they will be able to produce at least 2.6 billion doses this year.

Russia has sent millions of doses of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-italy-coronavirus-pandemic-russia-1c9bac0105f04e297e51f04859f304a9">Sputnik V vaccine</a>&nbsp;to countries around the world, even as it vaccinates its own population. Analysts say a goal of this vaccine diplomacy is to bolster Russia’s image as a scientific, technological and benevolent power, especially as other countries encounter shortages of COVID-19 vaccines because richer nations are scooping up the Western-made versions.

Israel, which has vaccinated more than half of its population with Pfizer vaccines produced in Europe, has also attempted to use vaccine diplomacy to reward allies.

Biden did move to have the U.S. contribute financially to the United Nations- and World Health Organization-backed COVAX alliance, which will help share vaccine with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations, but the U.S. has yet to commit to sharing any doses.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is stockpiling tens of millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine whose authorization in the U.S. remains uncertain, frustrating U.S. allies who say those doses should be used now to save lives overseas.The standoff is part of a growing global debate over who should have access to hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine that pharmaceutical companies are churning out in the U.S. Besides generating ill will, Biden’s insistence on an excess supply for America is potentially creating new openings for geopolitical rivals Russia and China.A two-dose vaccine from AstraZeneca has received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-authorizes-astrazeneca-vaccine-adults-18b545dd51ea56f422ff28cdeb2dd08b">emergency clearance&nbsp;</a>from the European Union and World Health Organization but not from the U.S. Now America’s partners are prodding Biden to release his supply, noting that the administration has lined up enough doses of three already-authorized vaccines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-4de42d355f18b8a1352f1206b5253814">to cover every American adult by the end of May&nbsp;</a>and the entire U.S. population by the end of July.AstraZeneca says that the U.S.-produced vaccines are “owned” by the U.S. government and that sending them overseas would require White House approval.“We understand other governments may have reached out to the U.S. government about donation of AstraZeneca doses, and we’ve asked the U.S. government to give thoughtful consideration to these requests,” Gonzalo Viña, a spokesman for AstraZeneca, said in a statement.Even though the 27-nation European Union is eager to relaunch a more fruitful trans-Atlantic relationship after the bruising Trump presidency, the vaccine issue is proving to be a thorny topic, with some in Europe seeing it as a continuation of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” focus.EU member states’ ambassadors discussed the challenge this week. The German government said on Friday it was in contact with U.S. officials about vaccine supplies but stressed that the European Commission has the lead when it comes to procuring shots for member states.Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have directed representatives to discuss supply chains in the vaccine production.“Hopefully, we will be in a position on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that sufficient quantities of vaccine doses are distributed out in line with the schedule so as to complete the vaccination campaigns,” EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said.Well over 10 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine are stockpiled in the U.S. for use here.“We want to be oversupplied and overprepared,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday, so Americans can still be swiftly vaccinated in the event of unforeseen issues with the existing production timeline.“We have not provided doses from the U.S. government to anyone,” she said.Asked about the stockpiled vaccine, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said, “We have a small inventory of AstraZeneca so, if approved, we can g&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-rochelle-walensky-coronavirus-pandemic-fcec736ac8474e121bfc3b2fd41718b2">et that inventory out to the American people&nbsp;</a>as quickly as possible.” He said the U.S. was following the same procedure it used for the already-authorized vaccines.Drug manufacturers that received federal assistance in developing or expanding vaccine manufacturing were required to sell their first doses to the U.S. In the case of AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was initially expected to be the first to receive federal emergency authorization, the government ordered 300 million doses — enough for 150 million Americans — before issues with the vaccine’s clinical trial held up clearance..The company said this month it believes it will have roughly 30 million doses available to the U.S. government by the end of March, and an additional 20 million by the end of April.As foreign regulators have moved ahead with the shot, the U.S. has not dropped its contractual claim on the initial doses produced in America.That policy has also come under criticism from U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico, which have been forced to seek vaccine manufactured on a different continent, rather than across the border. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has purchased enough doses of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson to inoculate 150 million more people than the U.S. population by the end of the year.The U.S. has also ordered 110 million doses of vaccine from Novavax, which is expected to file for emergency authorization as soon as next month.AstraZeneca’s 30,000-person U.S. trial didn’t complete enrollment until January. The company hasn’t given any hints of when initial results might be ready beyond an executive telling Congress last month he expected it would be “soon.”The European Union, amid its own stumbling vaccine rollout, appears increasingly resigned to the Biden administration retaining control of the U.S. doses.The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca, too, because the company is delivering far fewer doses to the bloc than it had promised. Of the initial order for 80 million in the first quarter this year, the company will be struggling to deliver half.Despite shortages at home and often being accused of vaccine protectionism itself, the 27-nation bloc has allowed the export of well over 34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in past weeks, including 953,723 to the United States.Meanwhile, Russia and China have used their domestically produced vaccines for strategic leverage.China has pledged roughly half a billion doses to more than 45 countries, according to a country-by-country tally by The Associated Press. Four of China’s many vaccine makers are claiming they will be able to produce at least 2.6 billion doses this year.Russia has sent millions of doses of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-italy-coronavirus-pandemic-russia-1c9bac0105f04e297e51f04859f304a9">Sputnik V vaccine</a>&nbsp;to countries around the world, even as it vaccinates its own population. Analysts say a goal of this vaccine diplomacy is to bolster Russia’s image as a scientific, technological and benevolent power, especially as other countries encounter shortages of COVID-19 vaccines because richer nations are scooping up the Western-made versions.Israel, which has vaccinated more than half of its population with Pfizer vaccines produced in Europe, has also attempted to use vaccine diplomacy to reward allies.Biden did move to have the U.S. contribute financially to the United Nations- and World Health Organization-backed COVAX alliance, which will help share vaccine with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations, but the U.S. has yet to commit to sharing any doses.