TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;This week, Governor Laura Kelly signed the following three bills into law:

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.vdnC1wSiSD9aE0NilSyYpWOscgmACggvqyTzofuecU0/s/1303160919/br/99786397447-l" target="_blank">Senate Bill 27</a>

Senate Bill 27 extends and updates the Kansas Storage Act to ensure that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment can continue effectively managing the Storage Tanks Program in the coming years. The bill extends sunset dates for various programs to improve storage tank safety and increase the state’s ability to cover the cost of upgrading storage tank systems.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.cfhUHR5sjA2QHylZMdYD7oUXf_R2ecP5y4Ia8uoWrqg/s/1303160919/br/99786397447-l" target="_blank">Senate Bill 33</a>

Senate Bill 33 authorizes the Director of Vehicles for the Kansas Department of Revenue to issue a temporary display show license to a sponsor of a motor vehicle display show.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.bS0GMTKWLiWnmGMh3Fv_kb1LLVBTHoFYtxgRL5HIbBY/s/1303160919/br/99786397447-l" target="_blank">Sub. House Bill 2049</a>

Substitute for House Bill 2049 amends a statute related to the Legislative Post Audit Act. The bill adds a provision prohibiting a public agency that is the subject of an audit pursuant to the statute or any other law from charging a fee for copies of or access to certain records described in the statute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615497611380.png" alt="Laura Kelly " />
 <figcaption>Laura Kelly </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;This week, Governor Laura Kelly signed the following three bills into law:<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.vdnC1wSiSD9aE0NilSyYpWOscgmACggvqyTzofuecU0/s/1303160919/br/99786397447-l" target="_blank">Senate Bill 27</a>Senate Bill 27 extends and updates the Kansas Storage Act to ensure that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment can continue effectively managing the Storage Tanks Program in the coming years. The bill extends sunset dates for various programs to improve storage tank safety and increase the state’s ability to cover the cost of upgrading storage tank systems.<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.cfhUHR5sjA2QHylZMdYD7oUXf_R2ecP5y4Ia8uoWrqg/s/1303160919/br/99786397447-l" target="_blank">Senate Bill 33</a>Senate Bill 33 authorizes the Director of Vehicles for the Kansas Department of Revenue to issue a temporary display show license to a sponsor of a motor vehicle display show.<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.bS0GMTKWLiWnmGMh3Fv_kb1LLVBTHoFYtxgRL5HIbBY/s/1303160919/br/99786397447-l" target="_blank">Sub. House Bill 2049</a>Substitute for House Bill 2049 amends a statute related to the Legislative Post Audit Act. The bill adds a provision prohibiting a public agency that is the subject of an audit pursuant to the statute or any other law from charging a fee for copies of or access to certain records described in the statute.

Governor Kelly signs 3 bills into law this week

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A second man has been charged with second-degree murder in a shooting death of another man at a suburban Kansas City motel, authorities said.

Prosecutors charged Tyler Russell, 29, of Lee’s Summit, with the murder count, robbery and armed criminal action in the death of Tomas Galvan. Another man, 26-year-old Steven Decker of Independence, was charged with similar counts in the case earlier this week.

Police found Galvan suffering from a gunshot wound to the head early Monday at the Executive Inn and Suites in Independence. He died at area hospital. Court documents say Galvan was shot when he got into an argument with Decker and Russell, whom he had called to give him a ride home.

Investigators said the two men took Galvan’s shoes and cellphone before leaving, and surveillance video from the hotel showed the two men leaving in a vehicle belonging to Decker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615485088242.png" alt="Russell photo Independence PD" />
 <figcaption>Russell photo Independence PD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A second man has been charged with second-degree murder in a shooting death of another man at a suburban Kansas City motel, authorities said.Prosecutors charged Tyler Russell, 29, of Lee’s Summit, with the murder count, robbery and armed criminal action in the death of Tomas Galvan. Another man, 26-year-old Steven Decker of Independence, was charged with similar counts in the case earlier this week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615377745665.png" alt="Decker photo Independence PD" />
 <figcaption>Decker photo Independence PD</figcaption>
 </figure>Police found Galvan suffering from a gunshot wound to the head early Monday at the Executive Inn and Suites in Independence. He died at area hospital. Court documents say Galvan was shot when he got into an argument with Decker and Russell, whom he had called to give him a ride home.Investigators said the two men took Galvan’s shoes and cellphone before leaving, and surveillance video from the hotel showed the two men leaving in a vehicle belonging to Decker.

Suspects took victim's shoes after fatal KC shooting

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A complaint on Wednesday was filed against a Missouri lawmaker for describing COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus.”

Kansas City Democratic Rep. Emily Weber said in a statement said she filed a complaint with House human resources against Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican.

Seitz used the phrase during a House floor discussion Tuesday over state revenues and a bill that would allow the state to collect sales taxes from online retailers that don’t have a physical presence in the state.

“While the zombie apocalypse has seen a shortage of revenue for the state, I remind the body that the Chinese virus has not shut down one business,” Seitz said. “Government has shut down businesses and created this shortfall.”

Seitz did not immediately return an Associated Press request for comment Wednesday.

Weber said the term “denigrates, stigmatizes and dehumanizes people who look like me.” Weber was born in South Korea and adopted and raised in Kansas. She moved to Kansas City after college.

“Representative Seitz’ repeated use of the phrase ‘China virus’ in House proceedings perpetuates a singularly harmful new racial stereotype specifically designed to point blame for this crisis at a particular nation and community," Weber said.

She said she hopes the chamber's human resources department takes action against Seitz for using a phrase that "puts the lives and well-being of Missourians of Asian descent at risk.”

Seitz is not the first Missouri lawmaker to describe the virus as Chinese, and the term is also often used by Republicans in Congress.

Bigotry toward Asian Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-pandemics-wuhan-animals-4d25738ab49597d0de1517383a9108d2">spiked</a>&nbsp;as cases of the coronavirus spread in the U.S., fueled by the news that COVID-19 first appeared in China and former President Donald Trump's use of the term “China virus.”

Some initial evidence suggested the virus began in bats, which infected another animal that may have spread it to people at one of Wuhan, China’s “wet markets.” Such markets sell fresh meat, fish and vegetables, and some also sell live animals, such as chickens, that are butchered on site to ensure freshness for consumers.

The information quickly got distorted in the U.S., spurring racist memes on social media that portrayed Chinese people as bat eaters responsible for spreading the virus, and reviving century-old tropes about Asian food being dirty.

Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition of Asian American advocacy groups, issued a report in August stating that it had received more than 2,500 reports of hate and discrimination across the country since the group was founded in March, around the time the outbreak began to seriously worsen in the U.S. The group said it received data from 47 states, with 46% of the incidents taking place in California, followed by 14% in New York

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615462115759.png" alt="Rep. Emily Weber&nbsp; who was born in South Korea and adopted and raised in Kansas filed the complaint" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Emily Weber&nbsp; who was born in South Korea and adopted and raised in Kansas filed the complaint</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A complaint on Wednesday was filed against a Missouri lawmaker for describing COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus.”Kansas City Democratic Rep. Emily Weber said in a statement said she filed a complaint with House human resources against Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican.Seitz used the phrase during a House floor discussion Tuesday over state revenues and a bill that would allow the state to collect sales taxes from online retailers that don’t have a physical presence in the state.“While the zombie apocalypse has seen a shortage of revenue for the state, I remind the body that the Chinese virus has not shut down one business,” Seitz said. “Government has shut down businesses and created this shortfall.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615428325296.png" alt="Rep. Brian Seitz" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Brian Seitz</figcaption>
 </figure>Seitz did not immediately return an Associated Press request for comment Wednesday.Weber said the term “denigrates, stigmatizes and dehumanizes people who look like me.” Weber was born in South Korea and adopted and raised in Kansas. She moved to Kansas City after college.“Representative Seitz’ repeated use of the phrase ‘China virus’ in House proceedings perpetuates a singularly harmful new racial stereotype specifically designed to point blame for this crisis at a particular nation and community," Weber said.She said she hopes the chamber's human resources department takes action against Seitz for using a phrase that "puts the lives and well-being of Missourians of Asian descent at risk.”Seitz is not the first Missouri lawmaker to describe the virus as Chinese, and the term is also often used by Republicans in Congress.Bigotry toward Asian Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-pandemics-wuhan-animals-4d25738ab49597d0de1517383a9108d2">spiked</a>&nbsp;as cases of the coronavirus spread in the U.S., fueled by the news that COVID-19 first appeared in China and former President Donald Trump's use of the term “China virus.”Some initial evidence suggested the virus began in bats, which infected another animal that may have spread it to people at one of Wuhan, China’s “wet markets.” Such markets sell fresh meat, fish and vegetables, and some also sell live animals, such as chickens, that are butchered on site to ensure freshness for consumers.The information quickly got distorted in the U.S., spurring racist memes on social media that portrayed Chinese people as bat eaters responsible for spreading the virus, and reviving century-old tropes about Asian food being dirty.Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition of Asian American advocacy groups, issued a report in August stating that it had received more than 2,500 reports of hate and discrimination across the country since the group was founded in March, around the time the outbreak began to seriously worsen in the U.S. The group said it received data from 47 states, with 46% of the incidents taking place in California, followed by 14% in New York

Lawmaker faces complaint for saying 'China virus'

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an altercation that involved a gun at during a fight at a gas station.

Just before noon Thursday, police were dispatched to the 300 Block of South West Street for what was originally called a shooting, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Upon arrival and an investigation, police learned a victim had arrived to purchase gas at the Quick Trip.&nbsp; A suspect arrived at another gas pump. After they went inside the convenience store to pay, the two got into an argument and a physical altercation, according to Macy. 

During the altercation, the victim pulled a gun, it discharged and struck the concrete. It did not hit anyone and nobody was injured.&nbsp;Police believe the two men may know each other. Officers are reviewing security camera images as they continue their investigation, according to Macy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615499123066.png" alt="Location of the altercation Google image" />
 <figcaption>Location of the altercation Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an altercation that involved a gun at during a fight at a gas station.Just before noon Thursday, police were dispatched to the 300 Block of South West Street for what was originally called a shooting, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Upon arrival and an investigation, police learned a victim had arrived to purchase gas at the Quick Trip.&nbsp; A suspect arrived at another gas pump. After they went inside the convenience store to pay, the two got into an argument and a physical altercation, according to Macy. During the altercation, the victim pulled a gun, it discharged and struck the concrete. It did not hit anyone and nobody was injured.&nbsp;Police believe the two men may know each other. Officers are reviewing security camera images as they continue their investigation, according to Macy.

Police investigate fight, gunfire at Kansas gas station

Counties to refund property tax, state to settle claims with $100M fund

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/11/senate-building-case-for-county-state-payouts-to-businesses-undercut-by-covid-19-mandates/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Senate 
Republicans picked up the torch Thursday of an effort to force counties 
placing COVID-19 restrictions on businesses to reimburse owners for 
payment of local property taxes and to require the state to establish a 
$100 million claims fund for benefit of businesses shut down or 
curtailed by executive order during the public health disaster.

Two bills in hands of the 
Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee were characterized by 
supporters as essential to holding state and local governments 
accountable for zealous overreaches that damaged or destroyed 
businesses. These measures, <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb149_00_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 149</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb286_00_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 286</a>,
 could be viewed as part of a collective response by the Republican-led 
House and Senate to economic hardships arising from the pandemic. The 
GOP also views it as an opportunity to force Gov. Laura Kelly to accept 
income tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals she vetoed in
 the past.

Scott Schneider, who 
represents the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said the 
Senate bills reflected reality of pending and future lawsuits filed by 
businesses against county and state governments that relied on emergency
 powers to mandate the largest taking of its kind in state history. He 
said one of every six restaurants in Kansas wouldn’t survive the 
pandemic.

“If the government takes 
your business for its purpose, it owes you something,” Schneider said. 
“Government shouldn’t tax businesses that it also stands down. It’s a 
very basic concept.”

Since March 2020, nearly 5,000 residents of Kansas who contracted the coronavirus have died.

Senate Bill 149 would 
allow the owner of a building with a business on the premises to apply 
to the county commission for reimbursement of property taxes paid while 
under order to temporarily close, reduce occupancy levels or restrict 
hours of operation.

The bill would direct 
county treasurers to make repayment to property owners filing a valid 
application for tax year 2020 and beyond. A business that was shut down 
could qualify for 1/12th of total property taxes for each month ordered 
to close its doors. In regards to operational caps, a business could be 
repaid an amount that took into account capacity limitations.

Jay Hall, general counsel 
with the Kansas Association of Counties, said the organization was 
opposed to legislation that forced counties to issue property tax 
refunds. One consequence of that approach will be higher residential 
property taxes, he said.

The state would be held 
financially responsible for business issues in Senate Bill 286. It calls
 for a $100 million fund to pay court judgments or negotiated 
settlements with businesses undermined by Kelly’s executive orders 
during the COVID-19 crisis. The bill would create the unprecedented 
compensation account, but also deliver state income tax credits to 
businesses and extend loan forgiveness options through the Kansas 
Department of Commerce.

Eric Stafford, a lobbyist 
with the Kansas Chamber, said existing state law presented a path for 
business owners seeking compensation for government of orders leading to
 economic harm to their business. He pointed to the conclusions of 
Attorney General Derek Schmidt that actions by the Democratic governor 
would likely prompt a wave of lawsuits by owners of Kansas businesses. 
Schmidt is a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor and could 
face Kelly in the November 2022 general election.

He said the 2021 
Legislature had an opportunity to offer businesses in Kansas an 
equitable alternative to becoming a plaintiff in a lengthy court battle.

“If your business is used 
by the government, used to stop the spread of COVID, you have the right 
to compensation,” Stafford said.

Stafford, however, said 
the Kansas Chamber objected to Senate Bill 76 that would be known as the
 “golden years” property tax freeze act. He said the business lobbying 
organization was concerned the bill’s emphasis on residential property 
tax relief could result in more pressure on property taxes paid by 
commercial property owners.

Under this bill, a person 
qualifying for residential property tax relief would pay the assessed 
county property tax and then apply to the state for a rebate on that 
amount. This approach would require passage of a state law and avoid 
necessity of an amendment to the Kansas Constitution crafted to restrain
 authority of all 105 counties.

This tax benefit would be 
available to Kansas residents 65 years of age or older or disabled 
veterans who were honorably discharged and sustained a permanent 
disability on active duty. A qualifying person would have household 
income of less than $50,000 and a residential property valued below 
$350,000. The maximum benefit a taxpayer could claim under the 
legislation would be $2,500 annually.

The idea was raised 
several years ago by Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, based on
 recollections of a conversation with a 77-year-old man living east of 
the city. The elderly constituent was on a fixed income and shared 
concern about potentially being forced from his home due to rising 
property taxes.

“That has stuck with me 
forever,” Holland said. “It’s imperative that we provide&nbsp; … home 
security for our fixed-income seniors and our disabled veterans. This 
provides peace of mind.”

Sen. Virgil Peck, a 
Republican from Havana, said income, property value and annual benefit 
limits in the bill could be adjusted by the Legislature if necessary. He
 said a key element of the bill was the benefit to disabled veterans.

“If there’s anyone from America that is owed something by Americans, it is our veterans,” he said.

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615502156443.png" alt="Scott Schneider, a lobbyist with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said the 2021 Legislature needed to develop mechanisms for county and state governments to compensate businesses forced to close or reduce services during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Scott Schneider, a lobbyist with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said the 2021 Legislature needed to develop mechanisms for county and state governments to compensate businesses forced to close or reduce services during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Counties to refund property tax, state to settle claims with $100M fund</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/11/senate-building-case-for-county-state-payouts-to-businesses-undercut-by-covid-19-mandates/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Senate 
Republicans picked up the torch Thursday of an effort to force counties 
placing COVID-19 restrictions on businesses to reimburse owners for 
payment of local property taxes and to require the state to establish a 
$100 million claims fund for benefit of businesses shut down or 
curtailed by executive order during the public health disaster.Two bills in hands of the 
Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee were characterized by 
supporters as essential to holding state and local governments 
accountable for zealous overreaches that damaged or destroyed 
businesses. These measures, <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb149_00_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 149</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb286_00_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 286</a>,
 could be viewed as part of a collective response by the Republican-led 
House and Senate to economic hardships arising from the pandemic. The 
GOP also views it as an opportunity to force Gov. Laura Kelly to accept 
income tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals she vetoed in
 the past.Scott Schneider, who 
represents the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said the 
Senate bills reflected reality of pending and future lawsuits filed by 
businesses against county and state governments that relied on emergency
 powers to mandate the largest taking of its kind in state history. He 
said one of every six restaurants in Kansas wouldn’t survive the 
pandemic.“If the government takes 
your business for its purpose, it owes you something,” Schneider said. 
“Government shouldn’t tax businesses that it also stands down. It’s a 
very basic concept.”Since March 2020, nearly 5,000 residents of Kansas who contracted the coronavirus have died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615502222988.png" alt="Jay Hall, general counsel to the Kansas Association of Counties, said the Legislature needed to be wary of requiring counties to issue property tax rebates to businesses harmed by COVID-19 mandates because it could shift the tax burden more toward homeowners. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Jay Hall, general counsel to the Kansas Association of Counties, said the Legislature needed to be wary of requiring counties to issue property tax rebates to businesses harmed by COVID-19 mandates because it could shift the tax burden more toward homeowners. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Senate Bill 149 would 
allow the owner of a building with a business on the premises to apply 
to the county commission for reimbursement of property taxes paid while 
under order to temporarily close, reduce occupancy levels or restrict 
hours of operation.The bill would direct 
county treasurers to make repayment to property owners filing a valid 
application for tax year 2020 and beyond. A business that was shut down 
could qualify for 1/12th of total property taxes for each month ordered 
to close its doors. In regards to operational caps, a business could be 
repaid an amount that took into account capacity limitations.Jay Hall, general counsel 
with the Kansas Association of Counties, said the organization was 
opposed to legislation that forced counties to issue property tax 
refunds. One consequence of that approach will be higher residential 
property taxes, he said.The state would be held 
financially responsible for business issues in Senate Bill 286. It calls
 for a $100 million fund to pay court judgments or negotiated 
settlements with businesses undermined by Kelly’s executive orders 
during the COVID-19 crisis. The bill would create the unprecedented 
compensation account, but also deliver state income tax credits to 
businesses and extend loan forgiveness options through the Kansas 
Department of Commerce.Eric Stafford, a lobbyist 
with the Kansas Chamber, said existing state law presented a path for 
business owners seeking compensation for government of orders leading to
 economic harm to their business. He pointed to the conclusions of 
Attorney General Derek Schmidt that actions by the Democratic governor 
would likely prompt a wave of lawsuits by owners of Kansas businesses. 
Schmidt is a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor and could 
face Kelly in the November 2022 general election.He said the 2021 
Legislature had an opportunity to offer businesses in Kansas an 
equitable alternative to becoming a plaintiff in a lengthy court battle.“If your business is used 
by the government, used to stop the spread of COVID, you have the right 
to compensation,” Stafford said.Stafford, however, said 
the Kansas Chamber objected to Senate Bill 76 that would be known as the
 “golden years” property tax freeze act. He said the business lobbying 
organization was concerned the bill’s emphasis on residential property 
tax relief could result in more pressure on property taxes paid by 
commercial property owners.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615502248145.png" alt="Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said the state should adopt the equivalent of a local property tax freeze for benefit of homeowners 65 or older and disabled veterans. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said the state should adopt the equivalent of a local property tax freeze for benefit of homeowners 65 or older and disabled veterans. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Under this bill, a person 
qualifying for residential property tax relief would pay the assessed 
county property tax and then apply to the state for a rebate on that 
amount. This approach would require passage of a state law and avoid 
necessity of an amendment to the Kansas Constitution crafted to restrain
 authority of all 105 counties.This tax benefit would be 
available to Kansas residents 65 years of age or older or disabled 
veterans who were honorably discharged and sustained a permanent 
disability on active duty. A qualifying person would have household 
income of less than $50,000 and a residential property valued below 
$350,000. The maximum benefit a taxpayer could claim under the 
legislation would be $2,500 annually.The idea was raised 
several years ago by Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, based on
 recollections of a conversation with a 77-year-old man living east of 
the city. The elderly constituent was on a fixed income and shared 
concern about potentially being forced from his home due to rising 
property taxes.“That has stuck with me 
forever,” Holland said. “It’s imperative that we provide&nbsp; … home 
security for our fixed-income seniors and our disabled veterans. This 
provides peace of mind.”Sen. Virgil Peck, a 
Republican from Havana, said income, property value and annual benefit 
limits in the bill could be adjusted by the Legislature if necessary. He
 said a key element of the bill was the benefit to disabled veterans.“If there’s anyone from America that is owed something by Americans, it is our veterans,” he said.Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

Kan. Senate builds case for payouts to businesses undercut by COVID mandates

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The death of a 4-month-old Kansas City boy is being investigated as a homicide, police announced Thursday.

Officers went to a home early Tuesday after receiving a report that a child was not breathing. Officers and medical crews found no obvious signs of injuries, police said. The child died Wednesday night at a Kansas City hospital.

The medical examiner ruled the child’s death a homicide after finding evidence of internal injuries. No further information was released.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The death of a 4-month-old Kansas City boy is being investigated as a homicide, police announced Thursday.Officers went to a home early Tuesday after receiving a report that a child was not breathing. Officers and medical crews found no obvious signs of injuries, police said. The child died Wednesday night at a Kansas City hospital.The medical examiner ruled the child’s death a homicide after finding evidence of internal injuries. No further information was released.

Death of 4-month-old Kansas City boy ruled a homicide

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marking a year of loss and disruption, President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law the $1.9 trillion relief package that he said will help the U.S. defeat the coronavirus and nurse the economy back to health.

The $1,400 direct payments for most Americans funded by the American Rescue Plan will start showing up in bank accounts as early as this weekend.

The signing came hours before Biden delivers his first prime-time address since taking office. He’s aiming to steer the nation toward a hungered-for sentiment — hope — as he marks one year since the onset of the pandemic that has killed more than 529,000 Americans.

“This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country,” Biden said as he signed the bill in the Oval Office.

Biden originally planned to sign the bill on Friday, but it arrived at the White House more quickly than anticipated.

“We want to move as fast as possible,” tweeted White House chief of staff Ron Klain. He added, “We will hold our celebration of the signing on Friday, as planned, with congressional leaders!”

Previewing his remarks, Biden said he would “talk about what we’ve been through as a nation this past year, but more importantly, I’m going to talk about what comes next.”

Biden’s challenge Thursday night will be to honor the sacrifices made by Americans over the last year while encouraging them to remain vigilant despite “virus fatigue” and growing impatience to resume normal activities given the tantalizing promise of vaccines. Speaking on the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic, he’ll mourn the dead, but also project optimism about the future.

“This is a chance for him to really beam into everybody’s living rooms and to be both the mourner in chief and to explain how he’s leading the country out of this,” said presidential historian and Rice University professor Douglas Brinkley.

“This is a big moment,” Brinkley added. “He’s got to win over hearts and minds for people to stay masked and get vaccinated, but also recognize that after the last year, the federal government hasn’t forgotten you.”

Biden’s evening remarks in the East Room are central to a pivotal week for the president as he addresses the defining challenge of his term: shepherding the nation through the twin public health and economic storms brought about by the virus.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released initial guidance for how vaccinated people can resume some normal activities. On Wednesday, Congress approved the president’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” aimed at easing the economic impact of the virus on tens of millions of people. And the nation was on pace to administer its 100 millionth dose of vaccine as soon as Thursday.

Biden said he would focus his remarks on what his administration plans to deliver in the coming months, but also reiterate his call for Americans to continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings to hasten the end of the pandemic.

“I’m going to launch the next phase of the COVID response and explain what we will do as a government and what we will ask of the American people,” he said.

He added: “There is light at the end of this dark tunnel of the past year. There is real reason for hope."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615492502968.png" alt="President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in on Thursday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in on Thursday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Marking a year of loss and disruption, President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law the $1.9 trillion relief package that he said will help the U.S. defeat the coronavirus and nurse the economy back to health.The $1,400 direct payments for most Americans funded by the American Rescue Plan will start showing up in bank accounts as early as this weekend.The signing came hours before Biden delivers his first prime-time address since taking office. He’s aiming to steer the nation toward a hungered-for sentiment — hope — as he marks one year since the onset of the pandemic that has killed more than 529,000 Americans.“This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country,” Biden said as he signed the bill in the Oval Office.Biden originally planned to sign the bill on Friday, but it arrived at the White House more quickly than anticipated.“We want to move as fast as possible,” tweeted White House chief of staff Ron Klain. He added, “We will hold our celebration of the signing on Friday, as planned, with congressional leaders!”Previewing his remarks, Biden said he would “talk about what we’ve been through as a nation this past year, but more importantly, I’m going to talk about what comes next.”Biden’s challenge Thursday night will be to honor the sacrifices made by Americans over the last year while encouraging them to remain vigilant despite “virus fatigue” and growing impatience to resume normal activities given the tantalizing promise of vaccines. Speaking on the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic, he’ll mourn the dead, but also project optimism about the future.“This is a chance for him to really beam into everybody’s living rooms and to be both the mourner in chief and to explain how he’s leading the country out of this,” said presidential historian and Rice University professor Douglas Brinkley.“This is a big moment,” Brinkley added. “He’s got to win over hearts and minds for people to stay masked and get vaccinated, but also recognize that after the last year, the federal government hasn’t forgotten you.”Biden’s evening remarks in the East Room are central to a pivotal week for the president as he addresses the defining challenge of his term: shepherding the nation through the twin public health and economic storms brought about by the virus.On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released initial guidance for how vaccinated people can resume some normal activities. On Wednesday, Congress approved the president’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” aimed at easing the economic impact of the virus on tens of millions of people. And the nation was on pace to administer its 100 millionth dose of vaccine as soon as Thursday.Biden said he would focus his remarks on what his administration plans to deliver in the coming months, but also reiterate his call for Americans to continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings to hasten the end of the pandemic.“I’m going to launch the next phase of the COVID response and explain what we will do as a government and what we will ask of the American people,” he said.He added: “There is light at the end of this dark tunnel of the past year. There is real reason for hope."

Biden signs relief bill; $1,400 payments begin by weekend

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a home invasion sexual assault made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Antonio Riley, 38, from Oklahoma is charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated burglary, according to the Sedgwick County Attorney's office.

Just after 10:00 a.m. March 4, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help. The suspect was described as a black, male, 5-foot-10 inches tall, approximately 200 pounds and bald.

On March 7, police located and arrested Riley, according to police Lt. Christian Cory.&nbsp;He remains jailed on a bond of $200,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault case and asking the public for help to find a suspect.

Just after 10:00 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer&nbsp; Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614980294892.png" alt="Home video surveillance of the suspect&nbsp; -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Home video surveillance of the suspect&nbsp; -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a home invasion sexual assault made his first court appearance Wednesday.Antonio Riley, 38, from Oklahoma is charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated burglary, according to the Sedgwick County Attorney's office.Just after 10:00 a.m. March 4, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615214618758.png" alt="Riley photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Riley photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help. The suspect was described as a black, male, 5-foot-10 inches tall, approximately 200 pounds and bald.On March 7, police located and arrested Riley, according to police Lt. Christian Cory.&nbsp;He remains jailed on a bond of $200,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.--------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault case and asking the public for help to find a suspect.Just after 10:00 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer&nbsp; Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help.

Suspect seen on Kan. doorbell camera charged with rape

MARION COUNTY —Wednesday's fire in portions of rural Marion and Chase County destroyed 4-5,000 acres, according to Randy Frank, Emergency Management Director for Marion County.

The fire started just after 2p.m. when strong winds rekindled a week-old fire north of the small Marion County community of Burns. The winds pushed the blaze all the way to near Cedar Point in Chase County, according to Frank.

Fire crews were able to protect seven homes. Two homes were destroyed in the fire. Frank contacted the Kansas Forest Service and they sent an air tanker to make three drops on the blaze. "That was extremely helpful in stopping the fire since it is difficult for trucks to reach some of the areas in the Flint Hills that were on fire," he said.

Seven different fire crews from three counties helped fight the fire. There were no injures, according to Frank.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615478576635.png" alt="Wednesday fire destroyed nearly 5000 acres in portions of the Flint Hills" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday fire destroyed nearly 5000 acres in portions of the Flint Hills</figcaption>
 </figure>MARION COUNTY —Wednesday's fire in portions of rural Marion and Chase County destroyed 4-5,000 acres, according to Randy Frank, Emergency Management Director for Marion County.The fire started just after 2p.m. when strong winds rekindled a week-old fire north of the small Marion County community of Burns. The winds pushed the blaze all the way to near Cedar Point in Chase County, according to Frank.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615477880582.png" alt="Wednesday fire in Marion County / photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday fire in Marion County / photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Fire crews were able to protect seven homes. Two homes were destroyed in the fire. Frank contacted the Kansas Forest Service and they sent an air tanker to make three drops on the blaze. "That was extremely helpful in stopping the fire since it is difficult for trucks to reach some of the areas in the Flint Hills that were on fire," he said.Seven different fire crews from three counties helped fight the fire. There were no injures, according to Frank.

Rural Kan. grass fire burns 2 homes, 5,000 acres 

TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;A Winfield Correctional Facility (WCF) resident who died Tuesday had tested positive for COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

This is the second COVID-19 related resident death at WCF, and the 21st death related to COVID-19 for the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The resident tested positive for the virus on Feb. 3, 2021 and was admitted to the hospital Feb. 13, 2021.&nbsp; He was a 57-year old male serving a 130-month sentence for possession of drugs, possession of paraphernalia, and distribution of drugs. He had been imprisoned with KDOC since 2018.

TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;A Winfield Correctional Facility (WCF) resident who died Tuesday had tested positive for COVID-19, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.This is the second COVID-19 related resident death at WCF, and the 21st death related to COVID-19 for the Kansas Department of Corrections.The resident tested positive for the virus on Feb. 3, 2021 and was admitted to the hospital Feb. 13, 2021.&nbsp; He was a 57-year old male serving a 130-month sentence for possession of drugs, possession of paraphernalia, and distribution of drugs. He had been imprisoned with KDOC since 2018.

21st Kan. inmate dies after positive COVID-19 test

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Kansas outlined a measure Wednesday that would overturn Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s policy of withholding doses of COVID-19 vaccines from counties wanting to move to a new phase of inoculations before the rest of the state.

Senate health committee Chair Richard Hilderbrand, of Galena, called the policy “blackmail or extortion.” The state Department of Health and Environment calls withholding vaccine doses an “enforcement mechanism” and Kelly says the goal is to “keep the train running as smoothly as we possibly can.”

Hilderbrand’s bill would allow counties to set their own vaccination schedules. It follows several months of widespread criticism of Kelly from the GOP-controlled Legislature over what they view as a slow administration of shots.

“Counties that are doing it right and doing it the right way should be able to have some leeway,” Hilderbrand told The Associated Press.

Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said Kansas will be sending 15 National Guard personnel to Wichita, the state’s largest city, starting Thursday to help administer shots at a clinic at the Central Community Church.

“We will have Guard staff on hand along with public health department staff as long as is needed,” he said.

Some counties&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-ed23ec82c271cbab3a3777cd50a8100f">were upset&nbsp;</a>last week when the state wouldn’t let them start vaccinating people under 65 with chronic or serious medical conditions that would put them at risk of serious complications or death if they are infected with COVID-19. Those people are covered in the third phase of the vaccine distribution, and the state is still in the second phase.

As of Wednesday, about 491,431 Kansas residents or 16.9% of the state’s 2.9 million residents had received at least one vaccine shot, and 740,850 doses had been administered, the state health department reported. That’s 67% of the 1.1 million doses the state has received.

Kelly and state health officials say the state’s inoculation numbers have been underreported and are almost certainly higher.

She said the state was holding back doses to make sure healthcare systems in smaller counties are not overwhelmed by residents from larger counties that have yet to complete phase two. But House health committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said counties could limit shots to their own residents.

The governor said during a news conference Wednesday that Hilderbrand’s bill is unnecessary because the state should enter phase three within four weeks.

As for the policy of withholding vaccines she said, she would hope counties see it as “part of the greater good.”

“It’s not extortion. It’s not blackmail,” she said. “It’s just being good neighbors.”

Meanwhile, the state’s two Republican U.S. senators have taken different positions on how best to distribute the vaccines.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Monday that health officials should deliver a single dose of vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer as widely as possible rather than ensuring that their required second doses are administered on the established timetable.

Marshall’s recommendation runs contrary to the protocol established by the federal government. Asked about the editorial, Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran said: “I would defer to science and medicine.”

Republicans have signaled that they’ll make Kelly’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic an issue when she runs for reelection in 2022. They’ve criticized the stay-at-home order she imposed for five weeks last spring, her closing of all K-12 school buildings from mid-March 2020 to the end of that spring semester, and her unsuccessful attempt to limit indoor religious worship services.

But Kelly defended her actions Wednesday, saying officials didn’t know enough about the virus at the time and that it was safest to do what she did.

“It’s really easy to be a backseat driver,” she said.

Another 778 COVID-19 cases were recorded between Monday and Wednesday, raising the state’s total since the pandemic began to 297,229. Thirty-five new deaths were reported, raising the total death toll to 4,851.

The governor’s actions and local COVID-19 rules have prompted a push to set up a $100 million state fund with future federal COVID-19 relief dollars to pay claims from businesses claiming to be hurt by the restrictions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article249803338.html" target="_blank">The Wichita Eagle reports.</a>&nbsp;The attorney general would administer the fund and the governor and legislative leaders would review claims.

A Senate committee plans to have a hearing on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb286_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">the proposal&nbsp;</a>Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615472969732.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during Wednesday news conference" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during Wednesday news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Kansas outlined a measure Wednesday that would overturn Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s policy of withholding doses of COVID-19 vaccines from counties wanting to move to a new phase of inoculations before the rest of the state.Senate health committee Chair Richard Hilderbrand, of Galena, called the policy “blackmail or extortion.” The state Department of Health and Environment calls withholding vaccine doses an “enforcement mechanism” and Kelly says the goal is to “keep the train running as smoothly as we possibly can.”Hilderbrand’s bill would allow counties to set their own vaccination schedules. It follows several months of widespread criticism of Kelly from the GOP-controlled Legislature over what they view as a slow administration of shots.“Counties that are doing it right and doing it the right way should be able to have some leeway,” Hilderbrand told The Associated Press.Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said Kansas will be sending 15 National Guard personnel to Wichita, the state’s largest city, starting Thursday to help administer shots at a clinic at the Central Community Church.“We will have Guard staff on hand along with public health department staff as long as is needed,” he said.Some counties&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-ed23ec82c271cbab3a3777cd50a8100f">were upset&nbsp;</a>last week when the state wouldn’t let them start vaccinating people under 65 with chronic or serious medical conditions that would put them at risk of serious complications or death if they are infected with COVID-19. Those people are covered in the third phase of the vaccine distribution, and the state is still in the second phase.As of Wednesday, about 491,431 Kansas residents or 16.9% of the state’s 2.9 million residents had received at least one vaccine shot, and 740,850 doses had been administered, the state health department reported. That’s 67% of the 1.1 million doses the state has received.Kelly and state health officials say the state’s inoculation numbers have been underreported and are almost certainly higher.She said the state was holding back doses to make sure healthcare systems in smaller counties are not overwhelmed by residents from larger counties that have yet to complete phase two. But House health committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said counties could limit shots to their own residents.The governor said during a news conference Wednesday that Hilderbrand’s bill is unnecessary because the state should enter phase three within four weeks.As for the policy of withholding vaccines she said, she would hope counties see it as “part of the greater good.”“It’s not extortion. It’s not blackmail,” she said. “It’s just being good neighbors.”Meanwhile, the state’s two Republican U.S. senators have taken different positions on how best to distribute the vaccines.U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Monday that health officials should deliver a single dose of vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer as widely as possible rather than ensuring that their required second doses are administered on the established timetable.Marshall’s recommendation runs contrary to the protocol established by the federal government. Asked about the editorial, Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran said: “I would defer to science and medicine.”Republicans have signaled that they’ll make Kelly’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic an issue when she runs for reelection in 2022. They’ve criticized the stay-at-home order she imposed for five weeks last spring, her closing of all K-12 school buildings from mid-March 2020 to the end of that spring semester, and her unsuccessful attempt to limit indoor religious worship services.But Kelly defended her actions Wednesday, saying officials didn’t know enough about the virus at the time and that it was safest to do what she did.“It’s really easy to be a backseat driver,” she said.Another 778 COVID-19 cases were recorded between Monday and Wednesday, raising the state’s total since the pandemic began to 297,229. Thirty-five new deaths were reported, raising the total death toll to 4,851.The governor’s actions and local COVID-19 rules have prompted a push to set up a $100 million state fund with future federal COVID-19 relief dollars to pay claims from businesses claiming to be hurt by the restrictions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article249803338.html" target="_blank">The Wichita Eagle reports.</a>&nbsp;The attorney general would administer the fund and the governor and legislative leaders would review claims.A Senate committee plans to have a hearing on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb286_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">the proposal&nbsp;</a>Thursday.___

GOP lawmaker: Kansas policy on vaccines is blackmail or extortion

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of driving a vehicle in a fatal hit and run accident that killed a 4-year-old boy in Wichita made his first court appearance Tuesday. His family has scheduled a funeral for Saturday.

Fiends established <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-fund-for-hazadi-ashimwes-funeral">a GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;account to assist the family with the burial of&nbsp;Hazadi Ashimwe.

Downey was driving a pickup that struck the boy when he and his mother were crossing a street in downtown Wichita Monday morning. 

EMS transported Hazadi to a local hospital where he died, according to officer Charley Davidson&nbsp; The truck fled the scene but was found about 100 yards away. The boy's mother was not injured.

Marcus Downey, 36, of Wichita, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and misdemeanor driving while license is suspended or cancelled, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday at CGK Missionary Church in Wichita, according to the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-fund-for-hazadi-ashimwes-funeral">GoFundMe page.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615423499269.png" alt="Hazadi was born in Uganda and had only lived in the United States just over two years, according to GoFundMe page-&nbsp; courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hazadi was born in Uganda and had only lived in the United States just over two years, according to GoFundMe page-&nbsp; courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of driving a vehicle in a fatal hit and run accident that killed a 4-year-old boy in Wichita made his first court appearance Tuesday. His family has scheduled a funeral for Saturday.Fiends established <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-fund-for-hazadi-ashimwes-funeral">a GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;account to assist the family with the burial of&nbsp;Hazadi Ashimwe.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615254271840.png" alt="Downey photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Downey photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Downey was driving a pickup that struck the boy when he and his mother were crossing a street in downtown Wichita Monday morning. EMS transported Hazadi to a local hospital where he died, according to officer Charley Davidson&nbsp; The truck fled the scene but was found about 100 yards away. The boy's mother was not injured.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615252494342.png" alt="Police near the accident scene Monday photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police near the accident scene Monday photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Marcus Downey, 36, of Wichita, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and misdemeanor driving while license is suspended or cancelled, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday at CGK Missionary Church in Wichita, according to the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-fund-for-hazadi-ashimwes-funeral">GoFundMe page.</a>

Funeral set for boy who died in hit and run Kansas crash

Overland Park, KDOT exploring addition of two toll lanes on U.S. 69

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/10/house-pumps-brakes-on-tweak-to-kansas-law-allowing-toll-on-new-highway-express-lanes/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Johnson County 
transportation liaison Josh Powers can make public safety, economic 
development and convenience arguments for reliance on tolls to pay for 
construction of express lanes on what might be the busiest four-lane 
highway in Kansas.

He’s talking about U.S. 69
 that slices a north-to-south route through Overland Park. It routinely 
suffers congestion during rush hour. Overland Park officials approached 
the Kansas Department of Transportation about widening the highway to 
six lanes. New northbound and southbound lanes would be referred to as 
“managed” lanes, which would be a first for Kansas. The new lanes would 
be available to any motorist — at a cost — interested in avoiding 
clogged traffic. The older lanes in both directions of the U.S. 69 
corridor would remain toll free.

The debate is more weighty
 than dealing with aggravations of stop-and-go traffic, because 
transportation has served as a key determinant of economic change of 
Johnson County. <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_h_trnsprt_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_trnsprt_1_20210216_09_testimony.html">Eighty-four percent of new jobs in Kansas</a>
 between 2016 and 2019 were created in Johnson County. KDOT says 
commuters on U.S. 69 have become increasingly frustrated by rising 
travel times and the crash-a-day accident rate. As development continues
 in Johnson County, traffic volume on the highway is expected to double 
and travel times to triple by 2040.

“Access to jobs, education
 and health care are critical to our economy and success as a 
community,” Powers said. “Johnson County supports the regional priority 
of an efficient, effective multimodal transportation program that will 
increase employer access to our workforce and attract, retain and 
enhance businesses to our metropolitan area.”

Despite enthusiasm from 
officials in Johnson County and at KDOT for exploration of the tolling 
concept, a bill designed to create greater flexibility in state law on 
creation of toll roads hit a speed hump last week in the Kansas House. 
The legislation would have refined a 2019 statute making it legal to 
incorporate tolls on new highway construction. It would have allowed 
toll revenue to pay for investment in additional lanes, but also be 
earmarked funding for technology, interchange and access-point work 
within the same highway corridor.

Republican and Democratic 
members in the House shared skepticism about toll roads, which appeared 
to foster confusion about intent of <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2296_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2296</a>.
 After an unrelated debate on a Leavenworth County landowner’s feud with
 the Kansas Turnpike Authority, the House voted 50-72 to shelve KDOT’s 
proposed modification to the state tolling law.

Julie Lorenz, the state 
transportation secretary, said discussion about a tolling project for 
U.S. 69 would continue as long as Overland Park officials were drawn to 
the concept for improving travel time reliability, congestion and 
community quality of life. In Overland Park, she said, the idea was that
 toll revenue could be relied upon by Overland Park to pay the city’s 
share of construction costs under a collaborative arrangement with KDOT.

KDOT said one cost study 
indicated the addition of two express lanes from 103rd Street to 151st 
Street on the highway could run about $300 million. A second phase of 
the project from 151st Street to 179th Street might cost $200 million, 
KDOT said.

“We are not pushing this 
on Overland Park,” Lorenz said. “We’re trying to provide communities an 
option or another way to raise local match. With the projected decline 
in federal and state gas tax revenue due to electric vehicles, we really
 need to find new ways to pay for our infrastructure at the state and 
local level.”

Under the proposed 
express-lane tolling system, electronic K-TAG readers or cameras would 
be deployed to collect fees from motorists. Highway signs would display 
the current price of the express lane, because that amount would 
fluctuate depending on density of traffic. Lines would be painted on the
 highway to direct drivers entering or leaving the express lanes.

Integration of tolls on 
U.S. 69 is expected to produce long-range savings to the state and city 
because the typical strategy of continuing to build more and more 
outside lanes will be curtailed, Lorenz said.

On a personal level, she 
said, there were times when vehicles must slow to less than 20 mph on 
U.S. 69. The special lanes might allow participating motorists to travel
 about 50 mph through those areas, she said.

The House Transportation 
Committee amended the bill to allow public transportation vehicles 
access to express toll lanes at a reduced cost.

The <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_h_trnsprt_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_trnsprt_1_20210216_07_testimony.html">Kansas Motor Carriers Association</a>
 testified against an original provision of the bill that would let 
public transit vehicles on express lanes without paying a toll. The 
association also expressed doubt about diversion of toll revenue to 
support public transportation on the corridor.

“Those that pay tolls 
expect those dollars to be used on the toll project roadway and not used
 to subsidize other forms of transportation,” said Tom Whitaker, 
executive director of the state motor carriers organization.

The only toll highway in Kansas is maintained by KTA and covers 236 miles from the Oklahoma border to the Kansas City area.

Rep. Henry Helgerson, a 
Democrat from Wichita on the House Transportation Committee, said during
 the Kansas House debate on the toll reform bill that he relied on the 
turnpike when driving to Topeka. He also asserted that years ago 
promises were made to eventually make the Kansas Turnpike a toll-free 
highway.

“Every time I drive on the
 turnpike I keep remembering the promise that was made,” he said. “We’re
 going in the wrong direction in this whole thing.”

Rep. Sean Tarwater, 
R-Stilwell, said he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of getting stuck 
behind transit buses in toll lane of a highway. He speculated KDOT would
 attempt to dramatically expand tolling in Kansas. However, state law 
currently forbids tolling on existing highway lanes and KDOT cannot toll
 a roadway without local community support.

“How long before they decide to make all lanes on 69 highway or one of your local highways a toll?” Tarwater said.

In response, Rep. Shannon 
Francis, the Republican from Liberal, said tolling would not become a 
dominant feature of highways in the state because the population in many
 areas was insufficient.

“There’s only a few roads in the state that actually have the volumes necessary for any type of tolling at all,” Francis said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615401660667.png" alt="The Kansas House spiked a bill tweaking state law on placing tolls on new highway lanes after Overland Park and Kansas Department of Transportation officials expressed interest in adding toll lanes to U.S. 69. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas House spiked a bill tweaking state law on placing tolls on new highway lanes after Overland Park and Kansas Department of Transportation officials expressed interest in adding toll lanes to U.S. 69. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1003657696&color=ff5500"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast" title="Reflector Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Reflector Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast/030921-krpod-midsessionfullteam" title="Kansas Reflector staff legislative session roundtable" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Kansas Reflector staff legislative session roundtable</a></div></div><h2>Overland Park, KDOT exploring addition of two toll lanes on U.S. 69</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/10/house-pumps-brakes-on-tweak-to-kansas-law-allowing-toll-on-new-highway-express-lanes/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Johnson County 
transportation liaison Josh Powers can make public safety, economic 
development and convenience arguments for reliance on tolls to pay for 
construction of express lanes on what might be the busiest four-lane 
highway in Kansas.He’s talking about U.S. 69
 that slices a north-to-south route through Overland Park. It routinely 
suffers congestion during rush hour. Overland Park officials approached 
the Kansas Department of Transportation about widening the highway to 
six lanes. New northbound and southbound lanes would be referred to as 
“managed” lanes, which would be a first for Kansas. The new lanes would 
be available to any motorist — at a cost — interested in avoiding 
clogged traffic. The older lanes in both directions of the U.S. 69 
corridor would remain toll free.The debate is more weighty
 than dealing with aggravations of stop-and-go traffic, because 
transportation has served as a key determinant of economic change of 
Johnson County. <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_h_trnsprt_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_trnsprt_1_20210216_09_testimony.html">Eighty-four percent of new jobs in Kansas</a>
 between 2016 and 2019 were created in Johnson County. KDOT says 
commuters on U.S. 69 have become increasingly frustrated by rising 
travel times and the crash-a-day accident rate. As development continues
 in Johnson County, traffic volume on the highway is expected to double 
and travel times to triple by 2040.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615401713911.jpeg" alt="Julie Lorenz, right, secretary at the Kansas Department of Transportation, said Overland Park officials have discussed with KDOT making use of a 2019 state law to rely on tolling to finance a portion of constructing two express lanes on U.S. 69 in Johnson County. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Julie Lorenz, right, secretary at the Kansas Department of Transportation, said Overland Park officials have discussed with KDOT making use of a 2019 state law to rely on tolling to finance a portion of constructing two express lanes on U.S. 69 in Johnson County. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Access to jobs, education
 and health care are critical to our economy and success as a 
community,” Powers said. “Johnson County supports the regional priority 
of an efficient, effective multimodal transportation program that will 
increase employer access to our workforce and attract, retain and 
enhance businesses to our metropolitan area.”Despite enthusiasm from 
officials in Johnson County and at KDOT for exploration of the tolling 
concept, a bill designed to create greater flexibility in state law on 
creation of toll roads hit a speed hump last week in the Kansas House. 
The legislation would have refined a 2019 statute making it legal to 
incorporate tolls on new highway construction. It would have allowed 
toll revenue to pay for investment in additional lanes, but also be 
earmarked funding for technology, interchange and access-point work 
within the same highway corridor.Republican and Democratic 
members in the House shared skepticism about toll roads, which appeared 
to foster confusion about intent of <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2296_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2296</a>.
 After an unrelated debate on a Leavenworth County landowner’s feud with
 the Kansas Turnpike Authority, the House voted 50-72 to shelve KDOT’s 
proposed modification to the state tolling law.Julie Lorenz, the state 
transportation secretary, said discussion about a tolling project for 
U.S. 69 would continue as long as Overland Park officials were drawn to 
the concept for improving travel time reliability, congestion and 
community quality of life. In Overland Park, she said, the idea was that
 toll revenue could be relied upon by Overland Park to pay the city’s 
share of construction costs under a collaborative arrangement with KDOT.KDOT said one cost study 
indicated the addition of two express lanes from 103rd Street to 151st 
Street on the highway could run about $300 million. A second phase of 
the project from 151st Street to 179th Street might cost $200 million, 
KDOT said.“We are not pushing this 
on Overland Park,” Lorenz said. “We’re trying to provide communities an 
option or another way to raise local match. With the projected decline 
in federal and state gas tax revenue due to electric vehicles, we really
 need to find new ways to pay for our infrastructure at the state and 
local level.”Under the proposed 
express-lane tolling system, electronic K-TAG readers or cameras would 
be deployed to collect fees from motorists. Highway signs would display 
the current price of the express lane, because that amount would 
fluctuate depending on density of traffic. Lines would be painted on the
 highway to direct drivers entering or leaving the express lanes.Integration of tolls on 
U.S. 69 is expected to produce long-range savings to the state and city 
because the typical strategy of continuing to build more and more 
outside lanes will be curtailed, Lorenz said.On a personal level, she 
said, there were times when vehicles must slow to less than 20 mph on 
U.S. 69. The special lanes might allow participating motorists to travel
 about 50 mph through those areas, she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615401740040.jpeg" alt="Bipartisan opposition emerged in the Kansas House to block a bill that would modify a 2019 state law permitting the tolling of new highway lanes. It would allow toll revenue to pay for the original expansion and support subsequent projects in the same corridor. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Bipartisan opposition emerged in the Kansas House to block a bill that would modify a 2019 state law permitting the tolling of new highway lanes. It would allow toll revenue to pay for the original expansion and support subsequent projects in the same corridor. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The House Transportation 
Committee amended the bill to allow public transportation vehicles 
access to express toll lanes at a reduced cost.The <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_h_trnsprt_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_trnsprt_1_20210216_07_testimony.html">Kansas Motor Carriers Association</a>
 testified against an original provision of the bill that would let 
public transit vehicles on express lanes without paying a toll. The 
association also expressed doubt about diversion of toll revenue to 
support public transportation on the corridor.“Those that pay tolls 
expect those dollars to be used on the toll project roadway and not used
 to subsidize other forms of transportation,” said Tom Whitaker, 
executive director of the state motor carriers organization.The only toll highway in Kansas is maintained by KTA and covers 236 miles from the Oklahoma border to the Kansas City area.Rep. Henry Helgerson, a 
Democrat from Wichita on the House Transportation Committee, said during
 the Kansas House debate on the toll reform bill that he relied on the 
turnpike when driving to Topeka. He also asserted that years ago 
promises were made to eventually make the Kansas Turnpike a toll-free 
highway.“Every time I drive on the
 turnpike I keep remembering the promise that was made,” he said. “We’re
 going in the wrong direction in this whole thing.”Rep. Sean Tarwater, 
R-Stilwell, said he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of getting stuck 
behind transit buses in toll lane of a highway. He speculated KDOT would
 attempt to dramatically expand tolling in Kansas. However, state law 
currently forbids tolling on existing highway lanes and KDOT cannot toll
 a roadway without local community support.“How long before they decide to make all lanes on 69 highway or one of your local highways a toll?” Tarwater said.In response, Rep. Shannon 
Francis, the Republican from Liberal, said tolling would not become a 
dominant feature of highways in the state because the population in many
 areas was insufficient.“There’s only a few roads in the state that actually have the volumes necessary for any type of tolling at all,” Francis said.

House pumps brakes on tweak to Kan. law allowing new highway tolls

SUMNER COUNTY—Kansas Department of Transportation workers discovered the carcass of an American Alligator in the Ninnescah River while working on the riverbank in Sumner County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism game wardens.

Marty Capron, a local Herpetologist identified the alligator carcass as approximately three years old. "This was obviously someone’s pet since alligators are not native to Kansas."

The KDWP&amp;T wrote "This a reminder that even though they might be cute babies, they will grow up to be a dangerous predator. They grow a foot per year for their first ten years of life, after which the rate of growth slows. People never really think about the consequences of having an animal that is meant to live in the wild and trying to raise it as a pet. A captive raised alligator, even if it's for only a year or so, can never be released into the wild."

"Captive raised alligators, and other wild animals, quickly learn to associate food with people unlike wild animals who must hunt and forage for their next meal and tend to shy away from people. Most zoos do not accept unwanted pets, they simply don't have the time or space. When these animals are dumped in the wild it is detrimental to the animal and local wildlife similar to Florida’s problem with Burmese Pythons."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615428108168.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY—Kansas Department of Transportation workers discovered the carcass of an American Alligator in the Ninnescah River while working on the riverbank in Sumner County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism game wardens.Marty Capron, a local Herpetologist identified the alligator carcass as approximately three years old. "This was obviously someone’s pet since alligators are not native to Kansas."The KDWP&amp;T wrote "This a reminder that even though they might be cute babies, they will grow up to be a dangerous predator. They grow a foot per year for their first ten years of life, after which the rate of growth slows. People never really think about the consequences of having an animal that is meant to live in the wild and trying to raise it as a pet. A captive raised alligator, even if it's for only a year or so, can never be released into the wild.""Captive raised alligators, and other wild animals, quickly learn to associate food with people unlike wild animals who must hunt and forage for their next meal and tend to shy away from people. Most zoos do not accept unwanted pets, they simply don't have the time or space. When these animals are dumped in the wild it is detrimental to the animal and local wildlife similar to Florida’s problem with Burmese Pythons."

KDOT crews find alligator carcass on river in Kansas 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">sweeping pandemic relief package</a>&nbsp;awaiting President Joe Biden's signature aims to help the U.S. defeat the virus and nurse the economy back to health. Highlights of the legislation:

Expanded unemployment benefits from the federal government would be extended through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. That’s on top of what beneficiaries are getting through their state unemployment insurance program. The first $10,200 of jobless benefits accrued in 2020 would be non-taxable for households with incomes under $150,000.

Additionally, the measure provides a 100% subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums to ensure that laid-off workers can remain on their employer health plans at no cost through the end of September.

The legislation provides a direct payment of $1,400 for a single taxpayer, or $2,800 for a married couple that files jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent. Individuals earning up to $75,000 would get the full amount, as would married couples with incomes up to $150,000.

The size of the check would shrink for those making slightly more, with a hard cut-off at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married couples.

Most Americans will be getting the full amount. The median household income was $68,703 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Biden said payments would start going out this month.

The legislation would send $350 billion to state and local governments and tribal governments for costs incurred up until the end of 2024. The bill also requires that small states get at least the amount they received under virus legislation that Congress passed last March.

Many communities have taken hits to their tax base during the pandemic, but the impact varies from state to state and from town to town. Critics say the funding is not appropriately targeted and is far more than necessary with billions of dollars allocated last spring to states and communities still unspent.

The bill calls for about $130 billion in additional help to schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The money would be used to reduce class sizes and modify classrooms to enhance social distancing, install ventilation systems and purchase personal protective equipment. The money could also be used to hire more nurses, counselors and janitors, and to provide summer school.

Spending for colleges and universities would be boosted by about $40 billion, with the money used to defray an institution’s pandemic-related expenses and to provide emergency aid to students to cover expenses such as food and housing and computer equipment.

There's also about $39 billion for child care through an emergency fund to help child care providers pay for staffing, rent and supplies, and through a block grant program that subsidizes the cost of child care for low-income families.

A new program for restaurants and bars hurt by the pandemic would receive $28.6 billion. The grants provide up to $10 million per company with a limit of $5 million per physical location. The grants can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities and other operational expenses.

The bill also provides $7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, a tiny fraction of what was allocated in previous legislation. The bill also allows more nonprofits to apply for loans that are designed to help borrowers meet their payroll and operating costs and can potentially be forgiven.

The bill provides about $50 billion to expand testing for COVID-19 and to enhance contract tracing capabilities with new investments to expand laboratory capacity and set up mobile testing units. It also contains more than $15 billion to speed up the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the country. Another $1 billion would go to boost vaccine confidence. And $10 billion would be used to boost the supply of medical devices and equipment to combat the virus under the Defense Production Act.

Parts of the legislation advance longstanding Democratic priorities like increasing coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. Financial assistance for ACA premiums would become considerably more generous and a greater number of solid middle-class households would qualify. Though the sweetened subsidies last only through the end of 2022, they will lower the cost of coverage and are expected to boost the number of people enrolled.

The measure also dangles more money in front of a dozen states, mainly in the South, that have not yet taken up the Medicaid expansion that is available under the ACA to cover more low-income adults. Whether such a sweetener would be enough to start wearing down longstanding Republican opposition to Medicaid expansion is uncertain.

The bill would also provide abut $3 billion for states to help address mental health and substance use disorders, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. More than $14 billion is directed toward increased support for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

BIGGER TAX BREAKS FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH AND WITHOUT KIDS

Under current law, most taxpayers can reduce their federal income tax bill by up to $2,000 per child. In a significant change, the bill would increase the tax break to $3,000 for every child age 6 to 17 and $3,600 for every child under the age of 6.

The legislation also calls for the payments to be delivered monthly instead of in a lump sum. If the secretary of the treasury determines that isn’t feasible, then the payments are to be made as frequently as possible.

Families would get the full credit regardless of how little they make in a year, leading to criticism that the changes would serve as a disincentive to work. Add in the $1,400 checks and other items in the proposal, and the legislation would reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.

The bill also significantly expands the Earned Income Tax Credit for 2021 by making it available to people without children. The credit for low and moderate-income adults would be worth $543 to $1,502, depending on income and filing status.

The bill provides more than $30 billion to help low-income households pay their rent and to assist the homeless. States and tribes would receive an additional $10 billion for homeowners who are struggling with mortgage payments and other housing costs because of the pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615415105785.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during Wednesday's enrollment ceremony-photo courtesy office of House Speaker" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during Wednesday's enrollment ceremony-photo courtesy office of House Speaker</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">sweeping pandemic relief package</a>&nbsp;awaiting President Joe Biden's signature aims to help the U.S. defeat the virus and nurse the economy back to health. Highlights of the legislation:AID TO THE UNEMPLOYEDExpanded unemployment benefits from the federal government would be extended through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. That’s on top of what beneficiaries are getting through their state unemployment insurance program. The first $10,200 of jobless benefits accrued in 2020 would be non-taxable for households with incomes under $150,000.Additionally, the measure provides a 100% subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums to ensure that laid-off workers can remain on their employer health plans at no cost through the end of September.MORE CHECKSThe legislation provides a direct payment of $1,400 for a single taxpayer, or $2,800 for a married couple that files jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent. Individuals earning up to $75,000 would get the full amount, as would married couples with incomes up to $150,000.The size of the check would shrink for those making slightly more, with a hard cut-off at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married couples.Most Americans will be getting the full amount. The median household income was $68,703 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Biden said payments would start going out this month.MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTSThe legislation would send $350 billion to state and local governments and tribal governments for costs incurred up until the end of 2024. The bill also requires that small states get at least the amount they received under virus legislation that Congress passed last March.Many communities have taken hits to their tax base during the pandemic, but the impact varies from state to state and from town to town. Critics say the funding is not appropriately targeted and is far more than necessary with billions of dollars allocated last spring to states and communities still unspent.AID TO SCHOOLSThe bill calls for about $130 billion in additional help to schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The money would be used to reduce class sizes and modify classrooms to enhance social distancing, install ventilation systems and purchase personal protective equipment. The money could also be used to hire more nurses, counselors and janitors, and to provide summer school.Spending for colleges and universities would be boosted by about $40 billion, with the money used to defray an institution’s pandemic-related expenses and to provide emergency aid to students to cover expenses such as food and housing and computer equipment.There's also about $39 billion for child care through an emergency fund to help child care providers pay for staffing, rent and supplies, and through a block grant program that subsidizes the cost of child care for low-income families.AID TO BUSINESSESA new program for restaurants and bars hurt by the pandemic would receive $28.6 billion. The grants provide up to $10 million per company with a limit of $5 million per physical location. The grants can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities and other operational expenses.The bill also provides $7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, a tiny fraction of what was allocated in previous legislation. The bill also allows more nonprofits to apply for loans that are designed to help borrowers meet their payroll and operating costs and can potentially be forgiven.TESTING AND VACCINESThe bill provides about $50 billion to expand testing for COVID-19 and to enhance contract tracing capabilities with new investments to expand laboratory capacity and set up mobile testing units. It also contains more than $15 billion to speed up the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the country. Another $1 billion would go to boost vaccine confidence. And $10 billion would be used to boost the supply of medical devices and equipment to combat the virus under the Defense Production Act.HEALTH CAREParts of the legislation advance longstanding Democratic priorities like increasing coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. Financial assistance for ACA premiums would become considerably more generous and a greater number of solid middle-class households would qualify. Though the sweetened subsidies last only through the end of 2022, they will lower the cost of coverage and are expected to boost the number of people enrolled.The measure also dangles more money in front of a dozen states, mainly in the South, that have not yet taken up the Medicaid expansion that is available under the ACA to cover more low-income adults. Whether such a sweetener would be enough to start wearing down longstanding Republican opposition to Medicaid expansion is uncertain.The bill would also provide abut $3 billion for states to help address mental health and substance use disorders, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. More than $14 billion is directed toward increased support for the Department of Veterans Affairs.BIGGER TAX BREAKS FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH AND WITHOUT KIDSUnder current law, most taxpayers can reduce their federal income tax bill by up to $2,000 per child. In a significant change, the bill would increase the tax break to $3,000 for every child age 6 to 17 and $3,600 for every child under the age of 6.The legislation also calls for the payments to be delivered monthly instead of in a lump sum. If the secretary of the treasury determines that isn’t feasible, then the payments are to be made as frequently as possible.Families would get the full credit regardless of how little they make in a year, leading to criticism that the changes would serve as a disincentive to work. Add in the $1,400 checks and other items in the proposal, and the legislation would reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.The bill also significantly expands the Earned Income Tax Credit for 2021 by making it available to people without children. The credit for low and moderate-income adults would be worth $543 to $1,502, depending on income and filing status.RENTAL AND HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCEThe bill provides more than $30 billion to help low-income households pay their rent and to assist the homeless. States and tribes would receive an additional $10 billion for homeowners who are struggling with mortgage payments and other housing costs because of the pandemic.

What's in the $1.9T relief bill beyond your $1,400 check

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured in what was first reported as an industrial accident Wednesday in Topeka.

Just after 6a.m., fire crews responded to the report of an industrial accident involving a fall on an elevated cooler at the Resers Food plant 3215 SE 6th Avenue in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.

 Upon arrival, it was determined that one of the employees had been working on top of the catwalk surrounding the cooler. The patient somehow injured his back while on the catwalk and needed assistance being lowed to the ground level.

The Technical Rescue Team from fire station #11 was dispatched to the scene to assist with packaging the patient and lowering the patient to the ground, according to Harrison. The patient was then transferred to American Medical Response and transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Resers is one of the country’s largest family-owned and -operated prepared foods businesses, according to the company web site.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615408887527.png" alt="Ambulance at the scene of the rescue photo by Phil Anderson courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Ambulance at the scene of the rescue photo by Phil Anderson courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured in what was first reported as an industrial accident Wednesday in Topeka.Just after 6a.m., fire crews responded to the report of an industrial accident involving a fall on an elevated cooler at the Resers Food plant 3215 SE 6th Avenue in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison. Upon arrival, it was determined that one of the employees had been working on top of the catwalk surrounding the cooler. The patient somehow injured his back while on the catwalk and needed assistance being lowed to the ground level.The Technical Rescue Team from fire station #11 was dispatched to the scene to assist with packaging the patient and lowering the patient to the ground, according to Harrison. The patient was then transferred to American Medical Response and transported to a local hospital in stable condition.Resers is one of the country’s largest family-owned and -operated prepared foods businesses, according to the company web site.

Fire crews rescue man from roof of Kansas food plant

SALINA —Less than a year after purchasing El Dorado National in Salina, Forest River Inc.,&nbsp;notified its Salina employees and the State of Kansas that it is closing. The Indiana based firm is a manufacturer of RVs, pontoon boats, busses and cargo trailers.

According to the KansasWorks website, Forest River, Inc. filed a WARN Notice on Monday for its facility at 1655 Wall Street in Salina. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is a federal law that requires employers to provide advanced notification to workers when faced with a plant closing or mass layoff.

SALINA —Less than a year after purchasing El Dorado National in Salina, Forest River Inc.,&nbsp;notified its Salina employees and the State of Kansas that it is closing. The Indiana based firm is a manufacturer of RVs, pontoon boats, busses and cargo trailers.According to the KansasWorks website, Forest River, Inc. filed a WARN Notice on Monday for its facility at 1655 Wall Street in Salina. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is a federal law that requires employers to provide advanced notification to workers when faced with a plant closing or mass layoff.The move will affect 146 employees, according to the WARN notice. The closure is expected to occur in mid-May. Forest River purchased the former El Dorado bus facility from the REV Group in mid-May of 2020.Attempts to reach Forest River have not been successful.