SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide at a home in Topeka.

Just before 9:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a medical emergency in the 400 Block of SW Tyler Street, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.

First responders found one victim, later identified as 48-year-old Jeremy Neal of Topeka, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Police released no additional details Sunday and have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675030639545.png" alt="Police tape at the scene of the homicide investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police tape at the scene of the homicide investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide at a home in Topeka.Just before 9:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a medical emergency in the 400 Block of SW Tyler Street, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.First responders found one victim, later identified as 48-year-old Jeremy Neal of Topeka, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Police released no additional details Sunday and have not reported an arrest.

Homicide investigation: 48-year-old dead at Kan. home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Sunday in Sedgwick County.

A 2012 Honda Accord driven by a 22-year-old woman from Wichita was westbound on Kellogg near Washington Street, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

The car struck the concrete wall, traveled over the wall and landed on Washington Street.

First responders found the driver unconscious and not breathing inside the car. She pronounced her deceased at the sene, according to Ditch.

The accident remains under investigation. There were no other vehicles or people involved.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Sunday in Sedgwick County.A 2012 Honda Accord driven by a 22-year-old woman from Wichita was westbound on Kellogg near Washington Street, according to Officer Chad Ditch.The car struck the concrete wall, traveled over the wall and landed on Washington Street.First responders found the driver unconscious and not breathing inside the car. She pronounced her deceased at the sene, according to Ditch.The accident remains under investigation. There were no other vehicles or people involved.

Kan. woman dead after car strikes, vaults concrete wall

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug and theft allegations.

Just before 10a.m. Friday, a sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Ford Fusion for a traffic infraction near 142nd&nbsp;and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The driver was found to have a suspended license and was subsequently arrested. The passenger, Saleena Rae Masquat, 37, of Mayetta, also had a warrant through Topeka Police Department. 

A third occupant was identified and later released. During the traffic stop, a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 was deployed and indicated to the presence of narcotics.

 A search of the vehicle revealed both methamphetamine and marijuana as well as paraphernalia indicating the distribution of methamphetamine. 

Also located in the vehicle was electronic equipment that belonged to a Topeka Walmart store that was confirmed to be stolen. 

Masquat was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property. She is being held on a&nbsp;$50,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674934923409.png" alt="Masquat-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Masquat-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug and theft allegations.Just before 10a.m. Friday, a sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Ford Fusion for a traffic infraction near 142nd&nbsp;and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver was found to have a suspended license and was subsequently arrested. The passenger, Saleena Rae Masquat, 37, of Mayetta, also had a warrant through Topeka Police Department. A third occupant was identified and later released. During the traffic stop, a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 was deployed and indicated to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle revealed both methamphetamine and marijuana as well as paraphernalia indicating the distribution of methamphetamine. Also located in the vehicle was electronic equipment that belonged to a Topeka Walmart store that was confirmed to be stolen. Masquat was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property. She is being held on a&nbsp;$50,000 bond.

Sheriff: Kan. woman was selling meth, had stolen property in car

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas couple accused in connection with a shooting involving a toddler made their first court appearance on Friday.

Kianna Nweji, 22, and Marlon M. Jones, 25,&nbsp; were charged with aggravated endangering a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

Just after 11:30a.m. Jan. 12, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a shooting in the 1200 block of North Lorraine in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

 While Officers were en route to the scene, a suspect identified as Jones fled on foot to a residence in the 3000 block of East 11th Street. As officers arrived, they saw Jones walking back from the area of that residence.

Officers then located Nweji inside her residence on North Lorraine with a gunshot wound to her foot. EMS transported her&nbsp; to a local hospital for treatment.

The investigation revealed that Nweji and Jones were both lying in bed when their 2-year-old child found a gun and accidentally shot Nweji. Jones took the gun to the 11th Street address where an acquaintance of his lives, according to Ditch. Investigators located the gun and found an AR-15 that belonged to nobody in the residence and the individuals in the house did not know how it got there.

&nbsp;Nweji and Jones posted the requirement to meet a $25,000 bond and are no longer in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673627717579.png" alt="Jones-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Jones-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas couple accused in connection with a shooting involving a toddler made their first court appearance on Friday.Kianna Nweji, 22, and Marlon M. Jones, 25,&nbsp; were charged with aggravated endangering a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Just after 11:30a.m. Jan. 12, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a shooting in the 1200 block of North Lorraine in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. While Officers were en route to the scene, a suspect identified as Jones fled on foot to a residence in the 3000 block of East 11th Street. As officers arrived, they saw Jones walking back from the area of that residence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673627653047.png" alt="Nweji photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Nweji photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers then located Nweji inside her residence on North Lorraine with a gunshot wound to her foot. EMS transported her&nbsp; to a local hospital for treatment.The investigation revealed that Nweji and Jones were both lying in bed when their 2-year-old child found a gun and accidentally shot Nweji. Jones took the gun to the 11th Street address where an acquaintance of his lives, according to Ditch. Investigators located the gun and found an AR-15 that belonged to nobody in the residence and the individuals in the house did not know how it got there.&nbsp;Nweji and Jones posted the requirement to meet a $25,000 bond and are no longer in custody.

Couple charged after 2-year-old shot mother in the foot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Family members and a forensic expert are questioning why Kansas City police didn't find a man's body in the cargo area of his own SUV until after they towed it to a Missouri police station earlier this month.

Adam “A.J.” Blackstock Jr.'s death is being investigated as a homicide, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article271764607.html#subtopper">The Kansas City Star.</a>

The newspaper reported that police defended how they initially handled the situation because they didn't have a search warrant when they had the vehicle towed on Jan. 17 and Blackstock had yet to be officially reported missing.

One forensic expert told the newspaper that police should have looked inside the vehicle before they moved it.

“The idea of taking a vehicle into custody without searching inside a vehicle or opening the trunk is just negligent,” said Brent Turvey, a forensic scientist and criminologist with the Forensic Criminology Institute in Sitka, Alaska.

Family members said they want answers about what happened to Blackstock, 24, who left behind an 18-month-old son.

“We really are asking for justice," Danielle Blackstock, his older sister, told the newspaper. "We can’t have him back. But we need justice.”

The paper quoted Kansas City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina as saying last week that detectives were making headway toward identifying persons of interest in the case, but charges had yet to be filed.

Adam Blackstock Sr. said he called police after being unable to reach his son when the family returned from a trip to Disneyland. He used GPS to locate what he believed was his son's vehicle in a driveway in the Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhood of Oak Park Southwest. The SUV was covered by a gray tarp.

When officers arrived, the homeowner said the vehicle belonged to her uncle and provided the phone number of a man who said it was his.

Blackstock Sr. convinced police otherwise, in part by using a remote starter to turn on the vehicle. Officers persuaded the woman at the home to let them remove it. They noticed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the driver's seat and blood on the floorboards, but didn't immediately investigate further.

They saw the lifeless body in the back only after towing the SUV.

Becchina said that the officers showed “very creative thinking to talk the homeowner into allowing the vehicle to be towed based on consent at that time, when there was no other legal standing to enter onto the property, much less process the car on the property.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Family members and a forensic expert are questioning why Kansas City police didn't find a man's body in the cargo area of his own SUV until after they towed it to a Missouri police station earlier this month.Adam “A.J.” Blackstock Jr.'s death is being investigated as a homicide, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article271764607.html#subtopper">The Kansas City Star.</a>The newspaper reported that police defended how they initially handled the situation because they didn't have a search warrant when they had the vehicle towed on Jan. 17 and Blackstock had yet to be officially reported missing.One forensic expert told the newspaper that police should have looked inside the vehicle before they moved it.“The idea of taking a vehicle into custody without searching inside a vehicle or opening the trunk is just negligent,” said Brent Turvey, a forensic scientist and criminologist with the Forensic Criminology Institute in Sitka, Alaska.Family members said they want answers about what happened to Blackstock, 24, who left behind an 18-month-old son.“We really are asking for justice," Danielle Blackstock, his older sister, told the newspaper. "We can’t have him back. But we need justice.”The paper quoted Kansas City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina as saying last week that detectives were making headway toward identifying persons of interest in the case, but charges had yet to be filed.Adam Blackstock Sr. said he called police after being unable to reach his son when the family returned from a trip to Disneyland. He used GPS to locate what he believed was his son's vehicle in a driveway in the Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhood of Oak Park Southwest. The SUV was covered by a gray tarp.When officers arrived, the homeowner said the vehicle belonged to her uncle and provided the phone number of a man who said it was his.Blackstock Sr. convinced police otherwise, in part by using a remote starter to turn on the vehicle. Officers persuaded the woman at the home to let them remove it. They noticed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the driver's seat and blood on the floorboards, but didn't immediately investigate further.They saw the lifeless body in the back only after towing the SUV.Becchina said that the officers showed “very creative thinking to talk the homeowner into allowing the vehicle to be towed based on consent at that time, when there was no other legal standing to enter onto the property, much less process the car on the property.”

Kansas City police find body in man's car after towing it

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/27/fbi-special-agents-take-on-national-cybersecurity-threats-i-have-a-hard-time-going-to-sleep/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE, Kan. — FBI supervisory 
special agent George Schultzel pulled hundreds of people to the edge of 
their seat Friday during a gathering at the University of Kansas 
exploring how government, industry and researchers could work together 
to improve cybersecurity in the United States.

He was part of a panel discussion with executives from Garmin, 
T-Mobile and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City who grapple with 
technological challenges of raising the bar on cybersecurity.

“Now we’ll get at the part of the panel where I scare the living, uh, stuffing out of you,” Schultzel said.

He brought up ramifications of deploying the malicious computer worm 
Stuxnet, which targeted supervisory control and data acquisition systems
 to damage Iran’s nuclear program. News reports indicated the 
cyberweapon was built by the United States and Israel during the 
administrations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. 
Stuxnet infected an estimated 200,000 computers and ruined 20% of Iran’s
 centrifuges relied on to refine nuclear fuel. Iran responded by 
dedicating itself to a cyberattack program.

“Iran took that as, ‘All right, we’re going to start recruiting and 
we’re going to start causing havoc.’ Fast forward and Saudi Aramco goes 
down. It has a huge impact on the oil production across the globe,” 
Schultzel said. “We kind of move into the future and countries realize 
that they can affect world events, they can affect their adversaries, 
they can adversely acquire technology.”

“All those things, I think, change how we look at the world and how 
we have to be in a position to get ourselves going forward. That, I 
would say, is cybersecurity’s biggest national security challenge. I 
have a hard time going to sleep thinking about it,” he said.

KU hosts a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense 
and Research designated by the U.S. National Security Agency and U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security.

Less than 1% of the global gross domestic product was dedicated to 
stopping computer breaches, said Jason Rogers, chief executive officer 
of Invary. The startup emerged from the university’s Innovation Park and
 is dedicated to identifying hidden malware in operating systems. Invary
 made advances by relying on expertise at the KU School of Engineering 
and technology developed by the NSA.

“We need more experts,” said Rogers, who recommended broadening 
collaboration among government, education and business. “Are we 
cooperating more than our adversaries?”

Currently, he said, the average length of time between identifying a 
breach and containing a breach stood at 304 days. The average cost of a 
data breach was $4.3 million. But the average cost of a mega-breach of 
more than 50 million records topped $400 million.

Lyle Paczkowski, senior technology strategist at T-Mobile’s advanced 
and emerging technology division, said improving cybersecurity in the 
United States required a much larger workforce.

He said 4.7 million people worked in the field of cybersecurity in 
the United States, but 3.4 million more would be needed to cover the 
bases. The supply of personnel cannot keep pace with existing demand for
 expertise much less create a reservoir of talent for the future, he 
said.

“Honestly, theres a lot of scary things to contemplate,” Paczkowski 
said. “Particularly around digital twins and things that can replicate 
you as a person or a machine on the network.”

Dan Hein, security architect at Garman International, said 
cybersecurity obstacles required involvement of interdisciplinary 
researchers. The work should include insight of people outside the 
traditional cybersecurity realm of computer science and computer 
engineering, he said.

“Appreciate what you don’t know,” said Hein, who has a doctorate. “We
 know the basic blocking and tackling, to some degree, of cybersecurity.
 Where do we need to go next?”

Mark Schmidtberger, information security manager at the Federal 
Reserve in Kansas City, said the rapid pace of technological evolution 
meant future cyberattacks would come in forms difficult to image at the 
moment. People involved in cybersecurity must focus on shrinking the 
window between the point a cyberattack was identified and the point at 
which someone exploited that threat, he said.

“We should be aware, just accept it as concrete, that there’s going 
to be new technologies out there. And every time there’s a new 
technology there’s probably going to be some threats,” he said.

The threats of cybersecurity wouldn’t be resolved exclusively by law 
enforcement agencies, said Schultzel, the FBI special agent.

He said the FBI demonstrated nearly a century ago a keen ability to 
track down notoriously violent bank robbers. However, he said, killing 
or throwing in prison those men and women didn’t end bank robbery as a 
profitable occupation. That was accomplished when banks collectively 
raised investments in security with armed guards, timed vault doors and 
bullet-resistant glass.

The same could be said of the problem with ransomware crime, 
Schultzel said. The FBI and European law enforcement agencies shut down 
Hive, but not before the ransomware operation allegedly extorted more 
than $100 million. Hive purportedly collaborted with independent hackers
 to encrypt the target’s computer system and demand payments to provide a
 key to unlock them.

Mothballing Hive certainly didn’t eliminate ransomware as a criminal activity.

“We’re good at going after these guys and bringing them to justice, 
but that’s not going to satisfy the cybersecurity problem as a whole,” 
Schultzel said. “It is us as individuals, as companies, as educational 
institutions taking that extra step to educate and provide that extra 
security.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674928121529.png" alt="The FBI, private sector cybersecurity executives and University of Kansas researchers convened to search for ways to deepen collaboration to meet growing challenges of hackers, intellectual property thieves and rogue governments damaging IT infrastructure in the United States. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The FBI, private sector cybersecurity executives and University of Kansas researchers convened to search for ways to deepen collaboration to meet growing challenges of hackers, intellectual property thieves and rogue governments damaging IT infrastructure in the United States. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/27/fbi-special-agents-take-on-national-cybersecurity-threats-i-have-a-hard-time-going-to-sleep/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE, Kan. — FBI supervisory 
special agent George Schultzel pulled hundreds of people to the edge of 
their seat Friday during a gathering at the University of Kansas 
exploring how government, industry and researchers could work together 
to improve cybersecurity in the United States.He was part of a panel discussion with executives from Garmin, 
T-Mobile and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City who grapple with 
technological challenges of raising the bar on cybersecurity.“Now we’ll get at the part of the panel where I scare the living, uh, stuffing out of you,” Schultzel said.He brought up ramifications of deploying the malicious computer worm 
Stuxnet, which targeted supervisory control and data acquisition systems
 to damage Iran’s nuclear program. News reports indicated the 
cyberweapon was built by the United States and Israel during the 
administrations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. 
Stuxnet infected an estimated 200,000 computers and ruined 20% of Iran’s
 centrifuges relied on to refine nuclear fuel. Iran responded by 
dedicating itself to a cyberattack program.“Iran took that as, ‘All right, we’re going to start recruiting and 
we’re going to start causing havoc.’ Fast forward and Saudi Aramco goes 
down. It has a huge impact on the oil production across the globe,” 
Schultzel said. “We kind of move into the future and countries realize 
that they can affect world events, they can affect their adversaries, 
they can adversely acquire technology.”“All those things, I think, change how we look at the world and how 
we have to be in a position to get ourselves going forward. That, I 
would say, is cybersecurity’s biggest national security challenge. I 
have a hard time going to sleep thinking about it,” he said.KU hosts a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense 
and Research designated by the U.S. National Security Agency and U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security.<h2>‘We need more experts’</h2>Less than 1% of the global gross domestic product was dedicated to 
stopping computer breaches, said Jason Rogers, chief executive officer 
of Invary. The startup emerged from the university’s Innovation Park and
 is dedicated to identifying hidden malware in operating systems. Invary
 made advances by relying on expertise at the KU School of Engineering 
and technology developed by the NSA.“We need more experts,” said Rogers, who recommended broadening 
collaboration among government, education and business. “Are we 
cooperating more than our adversaries?”Currently, he said, the average length of time between identifying a 
breach and containing a breach stood at 304 days. The average cost of a 
data breach was $4.3 million. But the average cost of a mega-breach of 
more than 50 million records topped $400 million.Lyle Paczkowski, senior technology strategist at T-Mobile’s advanced 
and emerging technology division, said improving cybersecurity in the 
United States required a much larger workforce.He said 4.7 million people worked in the field of cybersecurity in 
the United States, but 3.4 million more would be needed to cover the 
bases. The supply of personnel cannot keep pace with existing demand for
 expertise much less create a reservoir of talent for the future, he 
said.“Honestly, theres a lot of scary things to contemplate,” Paczkowski 
said. “Particularly around digital twins and things that can replicate 
you as a person or a machine on the network.”Dan Hein, security architect at Garman International, said 
cybersecurity obstacles required involvement of interdisciplinary 
researchers. The work should include insight of people outside the 
traditional cybersecurity realm of computer science and computer 
engineering, he said.“Appreciate what you don’t know,” said Hein, who has a doctorate. “We
 know the basic blocking and tackling, to some degree, of cybersecurity.
 Where do we need to go next?”<h2>New tech, new threat</h2>Mark Schmidtberger, information security manager at the Federal 
Reserve in Kansas City, said the rapid pace of technological evolution 
meant future cyberattacks would come in forms difficult to image at the 
moment. People involved in cybersecurity must focus on shrinking the 
window between the point a cyberattack was identified and the point at 
which someone exploited that threat, he said.“We should be aware, just accept it as concrete, that there’s going 
to be new technologies out there. And every time there’s a new 
technology there’s probably going to be some threats,” he said.The threats of cybersecurity wouldn’t be resolved exclusively by law 
enforcement agencies, said Schultzel, the FBI special agent.He said the FBI demonstrated nearly a century ago a keen ability to 
track down notoriously violent bank robbers. However, he said, killing 
or throwing in prison those men and women didn’t end bank robbery as a 
profitable occupation. That was accomplished when banks collectively 
raised investments in security with armed guards, timed vault doors and 
bullet-resistant glass.The same could be said of the problem with ransomware crime, 
Schultzel said. The FBI and European law enforcement agencies shut down 
Hive, but not before the ransomware operation allegedly extorted more 
than $100 million. Hive purportedly collaborted with independent hackers
 to encrypt the target’s computer system and demand payments to provide a
 key to unlock them.Mothballing Hive certainly didn’t eliminate ransomware as a criminal activity.“We’re good at going after these guys and bringing them to justice, 
but that’s not going to satisfy the cybersecurity problem as a whole,” 
Schultzel said. “It is us as individuals, as companies, as educational 
institutions taking that extra step to educate and provide that extra 
security.”

FBI agent on cyber threats: ‘I have a hard time going to sleep’

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series stolen vehicles and have two suspects in custody.

Just after 7:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to numerous reports of stolen vehicles across the city of Topeka, including a van from <a href="https://engroffcatering.com/">Engroff Catering,</a> 2127 SW Westport Drive, according to Police Lt. Ron Ekis.

Throughout the course of the investigation, officers were able to locate the van, unoccupied, near SW 37th Street and Fairlawn Road in Topeka as well as a stolen motorcycle.

 Investigators later located an additional stolen vehicle in the area and two suspects, identified as Cody B. Sanchez, 27, of Topeka, and Taylor Reed, 28, of Topeka, who were believed to be involved. 

As a result of the investigation, police arrested Sanchez and Reed and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Auto Theft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674830549286.png" alt="Reed-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Reed-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series stolen vehicles and have two suspects in custody.Just after 7:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to numerous reports of stolen vehicles across the city of Topeka, including a van from <a href="https://engroffcatering.com/">Engroff Catering,</a> 2127 SW Westport Drive, according to Police Lt. Ron Ekis.Throughout the course of the investigation, officers were able to locate the van, unoccupied, near SW 37th Street and Fairlawn Road in Topeka as well as a stolen motorcycle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674830414068.png" alt="Sanchez-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Sanchez-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure> Investigators later located an additional stolen vehicle in the area and two suspects, identified as Cody B. Sanchez, 27, of Topeka, and Taylor Reed, 28, of Topeka, who were believed to be involved. As a result of the investigation, police arrested Sanchez and Reed and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Auto Theft.

Police recover van stolen from Kansas catering business

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Groups advocating for professional social workers and abortion rights said they have succeeded in forcing a small Ohio city to significantly narrow its ban on conducting or recommending abortions and so have ended their legal challenge.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-ohio-lawsuits-municipal-governments-d0e9ae5c7eb2d534000f093d3a62c39d">The lawsuit</a>&nbsp;by the National Association of Social Workers and the Abortion Fund of Ohio argued that the law,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oh-state-wire-ohio-662522a23c763baad9a46fadbf858035">passed in May 2021</a>, represented an “extraordinarily broad” infringement on the constitutional rights of due process and free speech. The groups' lawyers at the ACLU of Ohio and Democracy Forward further alleged the ban violated Ohio’s home-rule provisions.

The city of Lebanon, in southwest Ohio, opted to revise the law rather than defend it in court. Enforcement had been placed on hold while that work took place.

Opponents said they dropped their lawsuit Jan. 12 after provisions were removed that made aiding and abetting an abortion a crime, and the law was further clarified to assure providing transportation, instructions, money or “abortion doula” services, including counseling, were still allowed.

Lebanon’s ban was one of four that cropped up around Ohio in 2021, part of a national effort to ban abortion “one city at a time” by the Texas-based Sanctuary Cities of the Unborn organization overseen by Mark Lee Dickson.

It was the first local ban to be challenged nationally after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-07439f9fc4542f1500ab78dfd34036b1">a leak</a>&nbsp;revealed the U.S. Supreme Court planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion</a>.

“This litigation exposes local ordinance bans as dangerous acts of political theater, and our lawsuit demanded accountability for the logistical and legal nightmare Lebanon’s City Council created," Maggie Scotece, interim executive director of the abortion fund, formerly Women Have Options-Ohio, said in a statement. "This win is so unique in the context of our post-Dobbs legal landscape, establishing a strong, united front against these heinous attacks.”

Right to Life East Texas director Mark Lee Dickson, a Southern Baptist minister leading a national effort to pass local abortion restrictions, said the revisions were of little consequence to the underlying goal of the law: outlawing abortion in Lebanon from conception.

“Abortion remains illegal in Lebanon, so this is a great victory for Ohio,” Dickson said. “It’s worth pointing out that the opposition claims that we were doing more than we were actually doing. The fact that we clarified our position does not take away from the abortion ban.”

The Ohio opponent groups argued that, despite Lebanon having no abortion clinics, the sweeping ban appeared to require social workers not to discuss abortion when counseling pregnant clients, in “conflict with social workers’ ethical obligation to promote the client’s self-determination.”

The social workers’ association took the position that reproductive freedom is a human right.

According to the Texas anti-abortion group’s website, 64 cities and two counties across the U.S. have so far passed similar abortion bans. Dickson said the group will continue its work in New Mexico, where the Democratic attorney general has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-new-mexico-state-government-texas-cdbaa34b159c31f8c72fd10be3fc84ca">moved to nullify abortion bans</a>, this year, and attempt new inroads in Nebraska, Kansas and California.

“There is still a lot to do, even though Roe has been overturned, to promote abortion-free communities,” he said.

A federal judge has placed Ohio's statewide ban on most abortions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-ohio-government-and-politics-d4dd3a0c4816ccb9f56df30163f58b9e">on hold</a>&nbsp;as a constitutional challenge is heard. Republican Attorney General Dave Yost has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-ohio-state-government-902064a2061a6c3a7ccc55917a954c5c">appealed to the Republican-controlled Ohio Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to block the federal judge's order.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Groups advocating for professional social workers and abortion rights said they have succeeded in forcing a small Ohio city to significantly narrow its ban on conducting or recommending abortions and so have ended their legal challenge.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-ohio-lawsuits-municipal-governments-d0e9ae5c7eb2d534000f093d3a62c39d">The lawsuit</a>&nbsp;by the National Association of Social Workers and the Abortion Fund of Ohio argued that the law,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oh-state-wire-ohio-662522a23c763baad9a46fadbf858035">passed in May 2021</a>, represented an “extraordinarily broad” infringement on the constitutional rights of due process and free speech. The groups' lawyers at the ACLU of Ohio and Democracy Forward further alleged the ban violated Ohio’s home-rule provisions.The city of Lebanon, in southwest Ohio, opted to revise the law rather than defend it in court. Enforcement had been placed on hold while that work took place.Opponents said they dropped their lawsuit Jan. 12 after provisions were removed that made aiding and abetting an abortion a crime, and the law was further clarified to assure providing transportation, instructions, money or “abortion doula” services, including counseling, were still allowed.Lebanon’s ban was one of four that cropped up around Ohio in 2021, part of a national effort to ban abortion “one city at a time” by the Texas-based Sanctuary Cities of the Unborn organization overseen by Mark Lee Dickson.It was the first local ban to be challenged nationally after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-07439f9fc4542f1500ab78dfd34036b1">a leak</a>&nbsp;revealed the U.S. Supreme Court planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion</a>.“This litigation exposes local ordinance bans as dangerous acts of political theater, and our lawsuit demanded accountability for the logistical and legal nightmare Lebanon’s City Council created," Maggie Scotece, interim executive director of the abortion fund, formerly Women Have Options-Ohio, said in a statement. "This win is so unique in the context of our post-Dobbs legal landscape, establishing a strong, united front against these heinous attacks.”Right to Life East Texas director Mark Lee Dickson, a Southern Baptist minister leading a national effort to pass local abortion restrictions, said the revisions were of little consequence to the underlying goal of the law: outlawing abortion in Lebanon from conception.“Abortion remains illegal in Lebanon, so this is a great victory for Ohio,” Dickson said. “It’s worth pointing out that the opposition claims that we were doing more than we were actually doing. The fact that we clarified our position does not take away from the abortion ban.”The Ohio opponent groups argued that, despite Lebanon having no abortion clinics, the sweeping ban appeared to require social workers not to discuss abortion when counseling pregnant clients, in “conflict with social workers’ ethical obligation to promote the client’s self-determination.”The social workers’ association took the position that reproductive freedom is a human right.According to the Texas anti-abortion group’s website, 64 cities and two counties across the U.S. have so far passed similar abortion bans. Dickson said the group will continue its work in New Mexico, where the Democratic attorney general has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-new-mexico-state-government-texas-cdbaa34b159c31f8c72fd10be3fc84ca">moved to nullify abortion bans</a>, this year, and attempt new inroads in Nebraska, Kansas and California.“There is still a lot to do, even though Roe has been overturned, to promote abortion-free communities,” he said.A federal judge has placed Ohio's statewide ban on most abortions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-ohio-government-and-politics-d4dd3a0c4816ccb9f56df30163f58b9e">on hold</a>&nbsp;as a constitutional challenge is heard. Republican Attorney General Dave Yost has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-ohio-state-government-902064a2061a6c3a7ccc55917a954c5c">appealed to the Republican-controlled Ohio Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to block the federal judge's order.

City rewrites abortion ban, advocacy groups end lawsuit

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fire that sent a man to the hospital in Topeka.

Just after 8p.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to reports of a fire in a bathroom in the Walmart Neighborhood Market, 335 SW MacVicar Avenue in Topeka, according to city of Topeka spokesperson Gretchen Spiker. First responders located a man on fire in a bathroom and they immediately worked to get the fire out, and rendered aid to the man. American Medical Response (AMR) responded to the scene and transported&nbsp; him to a local hospital with serious injuries. Authorities reported no other injuries. &nbsp;The cause and circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation. Authorities did not released the man's name or his condition late Saturday.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fire that sent a man to the hospital in Topeka.Just after 8p.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to reports of a fire in a bathroom in the Walmart Neighborhood Market, 335 SW MacVicar Avenue in Topeka, according to city of Topeka spokesperson Gretchen Spiker. First responders located a man on fire in a bathroom and they immediately worked to get the fire out, and rendered aid to the man. American Medical Response (AMR) responded to the scene and transported&nbsp; him to a local hospital with serious injuries. Authorities reported no other injuries. &nbsp;The cause and circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation. Authorities did not released the man's name or his condition late Saturday.

Man was on fire in Kansas Walmart bathroom

By ADAM GOLDSTEIN <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/27/teachers-would-get-60k-minimum-salary-under-bill-in-congress-making-grants-to-states/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON – A panel of 
policymakers and educators, including author Dave Eggers and former U.S.
 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, gathered at the U.S. Capitol on 
Wednesday to promote the American Teacher Act.

The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create
 four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher
 salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in 
fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises.

“We’re here today to advocate for our teachers, our educators, our 
saving grace that rescues families and our children every day,” said 
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, sponsor of the bill and a former 
school teacher. “We want our teachers to be paid a livable wage. A wage 
that is fair, a wage that is commensurate with today’s economy.”

Rep. Wilson introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9566/text?r=1&amp;s=1">American Teacher Act&nbsp;</a>in
 the House of Representatives on Dec. 14, and is expected to 
re-introduce it in this Congress, though it’s likely to run into 
opposition from Republicans who control the chamber.

The legislation states that 15% of the four-year federal grants could
 support state-level educational agencies, while the remaining 85% must 
go directly to a state’s local school districts.

The bill includes a cost-of-living adjustment that would peg teacher 
salaries to inflation, along with a clause allowing for a national 
awareness campaign on the importance and work of teachers.

Phelton Moss, a senior policy adviser to Wilson, said that the bill 
also incorporates a maintenance-of-effort provision that requires states
 not to pull back on their commitment to a $60,000 minimum salary, if 
they are to keep their funding. Additional language inside the bill 
would ensure states prioritize Title I schools and districts in 
distributing funds.

In the 2020-2021 school year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_13_2022.asp#:~:text=In%20the%202020%2D21%20school%20year%2C%20regular%20full%2Dtime,in%20private%20schools%20(%2446%2C400).&amp;text=and%20%2465%2C400%2C%20respectively)-,About%2017%20percent%20each%20of%20public%20and%20private%20K%2D12,system%20during%20the%20school%20year.">public school teachers made $61,600</a>&nbsp;while working 52 hours per week, on average. Yet there is significant variation in teacher salary between states.

Mississippi, the lowest-paying state for teachers in the 2020-2021 school year, paid an average of $46,862,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nea.org/research-publications">according to the National Education Association</a>. Meanwhile, in New York, the average teacher salary sat at $90,222.

Wilson commended the dedication of school teachers during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, who taught online or went door-to-door to instruct 
students who lacked access to technology.

”It was during this time that the world finally saw what we’d known 
for years, that teachers are heroes,” she said. “They deserve a livable,
 competitive salary that accurately reflects the importance of their 
role in society.”

Wilson said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/7353e3fe9219415786a765aa4f9331c9">1 in 5 teachers across the country currently works a second job</a>&nbsp;to supplement their income, and over 9,000 districts across the country pay teachers less than $40,000 per year.

She said this lack of adequate pay is largely contributing to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-education-birmingham-0785042a3da15bcbcc58922c747fd961">some reports of a teacher shortage&nbsp;</a>affecting school districts.

“We should be embarrassed,” Wilson said. “The teacher shortage is 
among the most pressing threats to education access today. And we must 
address it. Our classrooms are at stake, our children are at stake, and 
the future of our country is at stake.”

As Missouri has struggled with teacher retention issues, Missouri 
Gov. Mike Parson hopes to continue a program that pays 70% of the cost 
for schools to pay every teacher at least $38,000 a year. The statewide 
average pay for teachers is $51,557 – 47th in the nation.

Ellen Sherratt of the Teacher Salary Project said that over her 20 
years of experience as an economist analyzing teacher salaries and 
shortages, the pay gap and morale of teachers is the worst it has ever 
been.

Last fall, the Economic Policy Institute performed an analysis of teacher pay trends from 1970 to 2021, and found that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-2022/">teachers earn 23.5% less on average</a>&nbsp;compared to their peers of similar educational backgrounds.

Sherratt also said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pdkpoll.org/2022-pdk-poll-results/">62% of parents surveyed&nbsp;</a>in
 a PDK poll on public schools last year said they did not want their 
child to go into teaching, with low pay the top-listed reason.

Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, estimated 
that roughly 50% of the Ubers and Lyfts he takes during the week are 
driven by schoolteachers. The Richmond, Virginia resident added that one
 of these Uber drivers was a former teacher in Alabama. The driver was 
studying to be a principal, and had to quit his job as a teacher to pay 
for school.

“We really need to re-examine what we are doing as a country,” 
Robinson said. “If teachers — who are our most prized possessions, who 
raise the next generation — have to quit or take on another job just to 
make ends meet.”

Nicholas Ferroni, a history teacher at Union High School in Union, 
New Jersey, added that teaching is one of the few jobs in which people 
can have the greatest impact on the greatest number of people. Ferroni 
lamented the fact that teachers have to use GoFundMe to “beg for 
supplies.”

“I’m just here because I don’t want to marry rich, become an 
administrator, or switch jobs,” Ferroni said. “I do want to stay in the 
classroom.”

Duncan, the former education secretary, said the impacts of a good 
teacher are not just test scores and graduation rates, but financial 
security. He said that<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.104.9.2633">&nbsp;an economic analysis from Raj Chetty</a>&nbsp;showed that one good middle-school teacher raised the lifetime earnings of a given class by $250,000.

“So you think about putting two good teachers back-to-back, or three 
good teachers back-to-back,” Duncan said. “What does that do for young 
people in perpetuity?”

Duncan also spoke to the institutional barriers to socioeconomic equity that high-quality education can surmount.

“No kid grows up wanting to be poor,” Duncan said. “The only way I 
know how to break the cycles of poverty and create upward mobility is to
 create opportunity. Getting great teachers where we need them most is 
critically important.”

Robinson said the bill could reduce barriers for people of color in 
entering the profession, and eroding the national achievement gap.

“People don’t understand the extra burden for people of color to take
 on more student loan debt,” Robinson said. “We know having educators of
 color, teachers that look like their students, is the most important 
thing to lowering that achievement gap and increasing graduation rates.”

“By increasing teacher salaries, we can make a dedication to increasing diversity in the teacher workforce.”

Moss said that there are still details yet to be finalized in the 
teacher salary bill, including the concrete definition of “teacher” and 
provisions for veteran educators.

Robinson added that he sees this bill inevitably facing resistance, yet that blowback should not deter its supporters.

“You know, pious D.C.,” Robinson said. “‘How are we gonna pay for this? How are we gonna do this?’”

“How can we afford not to pay for this? This is an issue of national security.”

Duncan challenged&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/it-will-take-more-than-60k-salaries-to-improve-morale-teachers-say/2022/12#:~:text=The%20bill%2C%20titled%20the%20American,%2460%2C000%20base%20salary%20for%20teachers.">claims from some teachers</a>&nbsp;that
 the American Teachers Act represents federal overreach. “Education is 
the ultimate bipartisan issue,” Duncan said. “This is nation-building. 
Our teacher workforce in our country is the best offense for our 
nation.”

Robinson added that the bill will put pressure on states to raise and
 maintain wages even after the grant is over, as they face competition 
from other states paying teachers more, who leave to work in a 
higher-paying community.

After the roundtable, Eggers talked about the “uninterrupted string 
of extraordinary teachers” in his education during an interview with 
States Newsroom. The author said that he still sends his books in 
manuscript form to a former high school English teacher, Peter Ferry, 
who is one of his first readers.

“Every single study that has ever tested what’s the most important 
thing in a student’s education —&nbsp; it’s not the color of the paint on the
 walls, or the facilities,” Eggers said. “The very most important thing 
is the teachers. It’s a school. It has to be teachers first.”

The author emphasized that if the pay schedule for teachers rises, 
talent will enter and stay in the profession, and the nation will grow 
to recognize the value of what teachers bring to the table.

“We know there’s a crisis,” Eggers said. “ We have hundreds of 
thousands of empty classrooms.&nbsp; We have schools that only have one or 
two qualified teachers. This is maybe the most urgent moment in the last
 150 years. And so there isn’t any other option. We have to start 
somewhere.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674859589412.jpg" alt="The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ADAM GOLDSTEIN <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/27/teachers-would-get-60k-minimum-salary-under-bill-in-congress-making-grants-to-states/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON – A panel of 
policymakers and educators, including author Dave Eggers and former U.S.
 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, gathered at the U.S. Capitol on 
Wednesday to promote the American Teacher Act.The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create
 four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher
 salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in 
fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises.“We’re here today to advocate for our teachers, our educators, our 
saving grace that rescues families and our children every day,” said 
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, sponsor of the bill and a former 
school teacher. “We want our teachers to be paid a livable wage. A wage 
that is fair, a wage that is commensurate with today’s economy.”Rep. Wilson introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9566/text?r=1&amp;s=1">American Teacher Act&nbsp;</a>in
 the House of Representatives on Dec. 14, and is expected to 
re-introduce it in this Congress, though it’s likely to run into 
opposition from Republicans who control the chamber.The legislation states that 15% of the four-year federal grants could
 support state-level educational agencies, while the remaining 85% must 
go directly to a state’s local school districts.The bill includes a cost-of-living adjustment that would peg teacher 
salaries to inflation, along with a clause allowing for a national 
awareness campaign on the importance and work of teachers.Phelton Moss, a senior policy adviser to Wilson, said that the bill 
also incorporates a maintenance-of-effort provision that requires states
 not to pull back on their commitment to a $60,000 minimum salary, if 
they are to keep their funding. Additional language inside the bill 
would ensure states prioritize Title I schools and districts in 
distributing funds.In the 2020-2021 school year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_13_2022.asp#:~:text=In%20the%202020%2D21%20school%20year%2C%20regular%20full%2Dtime,in%20private%20schools%20(%2446%2C400).&amp;text=and%20%2465%2C400%2C%20respectively)-,About%2017%20percent%20each%20of%20public%20and%20private%20K%2D12,system%20during%20the%20school%20year.">public school teachers made $61,600</a>&nbsp;while working 52 hours per week, on average. Yet there is significant variation in teacher salary between states.Mississippi, the lowest-paying state for teachers in the 2020-2021 school year, paid an average of $46,862,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nea.org/research-publications">according to the National Education Association</a>. Meanwhile, in New York, the average teacher salary sat at $90,222.<h2>‘Heroes’ struggle to stay afloat</h2>Wilson commended the dedication of school teachers during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, who taught online or went door-to-door to instruct 
students who lacked access to technology.”It was during this time that the world finally saw what we’d known 
for years, that teachers are heroes,” she said. “They deserve a livable,
 competitive salary that accurately reflects the importance of their 
role in society.”Wilson said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/7353e3fe9219415786a765aa4f9331c9">1 in 5 teachers across the country currently works a second job</a>&nbsp;to supplement their income, and over 9,000 districts across the country pay teachers less than $40,000 per year.She said this lack of adequate pay is largely contributing to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-education-birmingham-0785042a3da15bcbcc58922c747fd961">some reports of a teacher shortage&nbsp;</a>affecting school districts.“We should be embarrassed,” Wilson said. “The teacher shortage is 
among the most pressing threats to education access today. And we must 
address it. Our classrooms are at stake, our children are at stake, and 
the future of our country is at stake.”As Missouri has struggled with teacher retention issues, Missouri 
Gov. Mike Parson hopes to continue a program that pays 70% of the cost 
for schools to pay every teacher at least $38,000 a year. The statewide 
average pay for teachers is $51,557 – 47th in the nation.Ellen Sherratt of the Teacher Salary Project said that over her 20 
years of experience as an economist analyzing teacher salaries and 
shortages, the pay gap and morale of teachers is the worst it has ever 
been.Last fall, the Economic Policy Institute performed an analysis of teacher pay trends from 1970 to 2021, and found that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-2022/">teachers earn 23.5% less on average</a>&nbsp;compared to their peers of similar educational backgrounds.Sherratt also said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pdkpoll.org/2022-pdk-poll-results/">62% of parents surveyed&nbsp;</a>in
 a PDK poll on public schools last year said they did not want their 
child to go into teaching, with low pay the top-listed reason.Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, estimated 
that roughly 50% of the Ubers and Lyfts he takes during the week are 
driven by schoolteachers. The Richmond, Virginia resident added that one
 of these Uber drivers was a former teacher in Alabama. The driver was 
studying to be a principal, and had to quit his job as a teacher to pay 
for school.“We really need to re-examine what we are doing as a country,” 
Robinson said. “If teachers — who are our most prized possessions, who 
raise the next generation — have to quit or take on another job just to 
make ends meet.”Nicholas Ferroni, a history teacher at Union High School in Union, 
New Jersey, added that teaching is one of the few jobs in which people 
can have the greatest impact on the greatest number of people. Ferroni 
lamented the fact that teachers have to use GoFundMe to “beg for 
supplies.”“I’m just here because I don’t want to marry rich, become an 
administrator, or switch jobs,” Ferroni said. “I do want to stay in the 
classroom.”<h2>Teachers and students’ futures</h2>Duncan, the former education secretary, said the impacts of a good 
teacher are not just test scores and graduation rates, but financial 
security. He said that<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.104.9.2633">&nbsp;an economic analysis from Raj Chetty</a>&nbsp;showed that one good middle-school teacher raised the lifetime earnings of a given class by $250,000.“So you think about putting two good teachers back-to-back, or three 
good teachers back-to-back,” Duncan said. “What does that do for young 
people in perpetuity?”Duncan also spoke to the institutional barriers to socioeconomic equity that high-quality education can surmount.“No kid grows up wanting to be poor,” Duncan said. “The only way I 
know how to break the cycles of poverty and create upward mobility is to
 create opportunity. Getting great teachers where we need them most is 
critically important.”Robinson said the bill could reduce barriers for people of color in 
entering the profession, and eroding the national achievement gap.“People don’t understand the extra burden for people of color to take
 on more student loan debt,” Robinson said. “We know having educators of
 color, teachers that look like their students, is the most important 
thing to lowering that achievement gap and increasing graduation rates.”“By increasing teacher salaries, we can make a dedication to increasing diversity in the teacher workforce.”<h2>Blowback predicted&nbsp;</h2>Moss said that there are still details yet to be finalized in the 
teacher salary bill, including the concrete definition of “teacher” and 
provisions for veteran educators.Robinson added that he sees this bill inevitably facing resistance, yet that blowback should not deter its supporters.“You know, pious D.C.,” Robinson said. “‘How are we gonna pay for this? How are we gonna do this?’”“How can we afford not to pay for this? This is an issue of national security.”Duncan challenged&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/it-will-take-more-than-60k-salaries-to-improve-morale-teachers-say/2022/12#:~:text=The%20bill%2C%20titled%20the%20American,%2460%2C000%20base%20salary%20for%20teachers.">claims from some teachers</a>&nbsp;that
 the American Teachers Act represents federal overreach. “Education is 
the ultimate bipartisan issue,” Duncan said. “This is nation-building. 
Our teacher workforce in our country is the best offense for our 
nation.”Robinson added that the bill will put pressure on states to raise and
 maintain wages even after the grant is over, as they face competition 
from other states paying teachers more, who leave to work in a 
higher-paying community.<h2>Eggers praises his teachers&nbsp;</h2>After the roundtable, Eggers talked about the “uninterrupted string 
of extraordinary teachers” in his education during an interview with 
States Newsroom. The author said that he still sends his books in 
manuscript form to a former high school English teacher, Peter Ferry, 
who is one of his first readers.“Every single study that has ever tested what’s the most important 
thing in a student’s education —&nbsp; it’s not the color of the paint on the
 walls, or the facilities,” Eggers said. “The very most important thing 
is the teachers. It’s a school. It has to be teachers first.”The author emphasized that if the pay schedule for teachers rises, 
talent will enter and stay in the profession, and the nation will grow 
to recognize the value of what teachers bring to the table.“We know there’s a crisis,” Eggers said. “ We have hundreds of 
thousands of empty classrooms.&nbsp; We have schools that only have one or 
two qualified teachers. This is maybe the most urgent moment in the last
 150 years. And so there isn’t any other option. We have to start 
somewhere.”

U.S. teachers would get $60K minimum salary if bill passes

WASHINGTON — To help taxpayers navigate the beginning of the tax 
filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today offered a checklist of
 reminders for people as they prepare to file their 2022 tax returns.

From gathering paperwork to filing a tax return, these easy steps will make tax preparation smoother in 2023:

1.&nbsp;Gather tax paperwork and records for accuracy to avoid missing a deduction or credit. 

Taxpayers should have all their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">important and necessary documents</a> before preparing their return. This helps people file a complete and accurate tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/easy-steps-to-avoid-tax-return-errors-that-can-delay-processing-or-adjust-refunds">Errors and omissions</a> slow down tax processing, including refund times.

Some information taxpayers need before they begin includes:

​​​​​​​2.&nbsp;Remember to report all types of income on the tax return. 

This is important to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS. Don't forget to include income from:

3. File electronically with direct deposit to avoid delays in receiving a refund. 

Avoid paper returns. Tax software helps individuals avoid mistakes by
 doing the math. It guides people through each section of their tax 
return using a question-and-answer format.

For those waiting on their 2021 tax return to be processed, here's a 
special tip to ensure their 2022 tax return is accepted by the IRS for 
processing. Make sure to enter $0 (zero dollars) for last year's 
adjusted gross income (AGI) on the 2022 tax return. Everyone else should
 enter their prior year's AGI from last year's return.

4. Free resources are available to help eligible taxpayers file online. Free help may also be available to qualified taxpayers. 

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 provides a free online alternative to filing a paper tax return. IRS 
Free File is available to any individual or family who earned $73,000 or
 less in 2022.

With IRS Free File, leading tax software providers make their online 
products available for free as part of a 21-year partnership with the 
IRS. This year, there are seven products in English and one in Spanish. 
Taxpayers must access these products through the IRS website.

People who make over $73,000 can use the IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>.
 These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is 
best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes.

Qualified taxpayers can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs</a>.

Most tax return preparers are professional, honest and provide 
excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return 
preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. The IRS has a <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a> and more on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choosing a tax pro</a> on IRS.gov.

6. Avoid phone delays; use online resources before calling the IRS. 

To avoid waiting on hold, the IRS urges people to use IRS.gov to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">check a refund status</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay taxes</a>. There's no wait time or appointment needed — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tools</a> and resources are available 24 hours a day. The IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant tool</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> resources are especially helpful.

Additionally, the IRS suggests taxpayers stay up to date on important tax information online by:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869881583.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — To help taxpayers navigate the beginning of the tax 
filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today offered a checklist of
 reminders for people as they prepare to file their 2022 tax returns.From gathering paperwork to filing a tax return, these easy steps will make tax preparation smoother in 2023:<h2>1.&nbsp;Gather tax paperwork and records for accuracy to avoid missing a deduction or credit. </h2>Taxpayers should have all their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">important and necessary documents</a> before preparing their return. This helps people file a complete and accurate tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/easy-steps-to-avoid-tax-return-errors-that-can-delay-processing-or-adjust-refunds">Errors and omissions</a> slow down tax processing, including refund times.Some information taxpayers need before they begin includes:<ul>
 <li>Social Security numbers for everyone listed on the tax return,</li><li>Bank account and routing numbers,</li><li>Various tax forms such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s and other income documents or records of digital asset transactions,</li><li>Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace statement,</li><li>Any IRS letters citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction or credit.</li>
 </ul><h2>​​​​​​​2.&nbsp;Remember to report all types of income on the tax return. </h2>This is important to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS. Don't forget to include income from:<ul>
 <li>Goods created and sold on online platforms,</li><li>Investment income,</li><li>Part-time or seasonal work,</li><li>Self-employment or other business activities,</li><li>Services provided through mobile apps.</li>
 </ul><h2>3. File electronically with direct deposit to avoid delays in receiving a refund. </h2>Avoid paper returns. Tax software helps individuals avoid mistakes by
 doing the math. It guides people through each section of their tax 
return using a question-and-answer format.For those waiting on their 2021 tax return to be processed, here's a 
special tip to ensure their 2022 tax return is accepted by the IRS for 
processing. Make sure to enter $0 (zero dollars) for last year's 
adjusted gross income (AGI) on the 2022 tax return. Everyone else should
 enter their prior year's AGI from last year's return.<h2>4. Free resources are available to help eligible taxpayers file online. Free help may also be available to qualified taxpayers. </h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 provides a free online alternative to filing a paper tax return. IRS 
Free File is available to any individual or family who earned $73,000 or
 less in 2022.With IRS Free File, leading tax software providers make their online 
products available for free as part of a 21-year partnership with the 
IRS. This year, there are seven products in English and one in Spanish. 
Taxpayers must access these products through the IRS website.People who make over $73,000 can use the IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>.
 These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is 
best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes.Qualified taxpayers can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs</a>.<h2>5. Choose a tax professional carefully. </h2>Most tax return preparers are professional, honest and provide 
excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return 
preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. The IRS has a <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a> and more on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choosing a tax pro</a> on IRS.gov.<h2>6. Avoid phone delays; use online resources before calling the IRS. </h2>To avoid waiting on hold, the IRS urges people to use IRS.gov to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">check a refund status</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay taxes</a>. There's no wait time or appointment needed — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tools</a> and resources are available 24 hours a day. The IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant tool</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> resources are especially helpful.Additionally, the IRS suggests taxpayers stay up to date on important tax information online by:<ul>
 <li>Following the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">IRS' official social media accounts</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/e-news-subscriptions">email subscription lists</a> to stay current on the latest tax topics and alerts.</li><li>Downloading the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go mobile app</a>, watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/irsvideos">IRS YouTube videos</a>,
 or following the IRS on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for 
the latest updates on tax changes, scam alerts, initiatives, products 
and services.</li>
 </ul>

Key points to keep in mind when filing 2022 tax returns

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for the armed robbery of a Mound City, Mo., bank.

Marvin J. McWhorter III, 41, Ottawa, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. McWhorter is charged with one count of bank robbery and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

The indictment alleges that McWhorter, brandishing a firearm, stole $4,445 from Citizens Bank &amp; Trust, 904 State Street in Mound City, on Dec. 21, 2022.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674662479150.png" alt="McWhorter-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>McWhorter-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for the armed robbery of a Mound City, Mo., bank.Marvin J. McWhorter III, 41, Ottawa, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. McWhorter is charged with one count of bank robbery and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.The indictment alleges that McWhorter, brandishing a firearm, stole $4,445 from Citizens Bank &amp; Trust, 904 State Street in Mound City, on Dec. 21, 2022.The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Kan. man indicted for armed robbery of Missouri bank

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that&nbsp;

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were on patrol in the Old Town area of Wichita when they heard multiple gunshots coming from inside Rock Island Live at 101 N. Rock Island Ave, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

As officers arrived, they were met by a large crowd exiting the business.

 A 22-year-old woman ran out with a gunshot wound to her upper arm. Officers took her to safety, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

Other officers made entry to the business and located a 22-year-old man conscious and breathing with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Officers began providing life-saving measures and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.&nbsp; Late Saturday morning, he was reported in stable condition, according to Ditch.&nbsp; 

While on scene at the hospital a 22- year-old woman arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her foot.

The investigation revealed that 22-year-old Tyra Adair was involved in a physical disturbance with several other women inside the business. Adair then brandished a gun and fire several rounds. 

At this point, police believed that the victims who were struck by gunfire were not the individuals involved in the physical altercation, but innocent bystanders, according to Ditch.

Police located Adair nearby and took her into custody without incident and she was in possession of a gun.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20055026">She is being held on</a> requested charges of aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674927039626.png" alt="Adair-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Adair-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that&nbsp;Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were on patrol in the Old Town area of Wichita when they heard multiple gunshots coming from inside Rock Island Live at 101 N. Rock Island Ave, according to Officer Chad Ditch.As officers arrived, they were met by a large crowd exiting the business. A 22-year-old woman ran out with a gunshot wound to her upper arm. Officers took her to safety, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Other officers made entry to the business and located a 22-year-old man conscious and breathing with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Officers began providing life-saving measures and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.&nbsp; Late Saturday morning, he was reported in stable condition, according to Ditch.&nbsp; While on scene at the hospital a 22- year-old woman arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her foot.The investigation revealed that 22-year-old Tyra Adair was involved in a physical disturbance with several other women inside the business. Adair then brandished a gun and fire several rounds. At this point, police believed that the victims who were struck by gunfire were not the individuals involved in the physical altercation, but innocent bystanders, according to Ditch.Police located Adair nearby and took her into custody without incident and she was in possession of a gun.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20055026">She is being held on</a> requested charges of aggravated battery.

Police: Kan. woman shot 3 innocent bystanders during bar fight

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.

On Thursday,&nbsp;&nbsp;members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 2800 Block SE Virginia Avenue related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

As a result, Jason Smith, 47, and Rhiannon Dickens, 31, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute within 1000’ of a school, Drug tax stamp,&nbsp;Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction and Possession of marijuana.

Smith also faces charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and Possession of stolen property and is being held on three arrest warrants, according to Connell.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674831408057.png" alt="Smith-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.On Thursday,&nbsp;&nbsp;members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 2800 Block SE Virginia Avenue related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.As a result, Jason Smith, 47, and Rhiannon Dickens, 31, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute within 1000’ of a school, Drug tax stamp,&nbsp;Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction and Possession of marijuana.Smith also faces charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and Possession of stolen property and is being held on three arrest warrants, according to Connell.

Police: Kan. man, woman accused of selling meth near a school

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-d2ae4d3aecb27f176418518d977e69e1">contract imposed</a>&nbsp;on railroad workers last fall didn't resolve their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality-of-life issues</a>, but already this year there are indications the major freight railroads are starting to address some of their concerns about demanding schedules that keep many of them on call 24-7 without paid sick time.

Still, most workers and their unions remain skeptical of the railroads because they say they have yet to see meaningful actions toward improving their lives on the job.

“I hope that they’re serious about putting their employees first. But the track record is less than stellar,” longtime Union Pacific engineer Ross Grooters said while on his way to work in Iowa earlier this week. Grooters is a leader with the Railroad Workers United coalition that tries to help workers in all 12 rail unions fight for better conditions.

The early signs of progress include a Union Pacific pilot program in the Kansas City area that's testing out a new schedule for engineers that lets them plan on having four days off in a row after working 11 days straight. In addition, CSX made a set of changes to its attendance policy this month that allows workers to take time off for medical appointments without being penalized and eases the formula for docking workers points when they miss shifts.

There are other negotiations about these quality-of-life issues going on at all the major railroads. Those talks started after Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-pete-buttigieg-strikes-congress-c95510555dcd4cdc2d839e61d1195b06">blocked 115,000 rail workers</a>&nbsp;from going on strike last month and forced them to accept a five-year deal that included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't address these other concerns. Lawmakers and President Joe Biden said they had to intervene because the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-climate-and-environment-government-politics-92ea7632a29f807ccc0e2658c50d731e">dire economic consequences</a>&nbsp;of a rail strike would be too great.

It's still too soon for those new talks to yield any significant changes. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-and-shipping-jacksonville-business-0c6a21925d5b8df2206994d823829047">said this week</a>&nbsp;that he's encouraged by the progress his railroad is making in those conversations with its unions, but he wouldn't go into any detail about what is being considered or predict how quickly changes might be made.

There are some railroad jobs that have fairly regular schedules, but many do not. Train crews, in particular, are largely forced to be on call all the time. Workers and their unions say those unpredictable schedules, combined with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-omaha-b78421c68440ad22587b3d1e5a126e26">strict attendance rules</a>&nbsp;railroads put in place after eliminating roughly one-third of all their jobs in recent years while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauling their operations</a>, make it hard to take time off for any reason.

Engineer Travis Dye said the new schedules Union Pacific has been testing out with about 60 workers on a run between Kansas City, Missouri, and Coffeyville, Kansas, since November got him to stop thinking about leaving the railroad. Even if it meant taking a pay cut, Dye said he was seriously considering getting another job with a better schedule.

“It just got to the point where if something hadn’t changed, it just wasn’t worth staying," Dye said. "I think a lot of guys feel that way too — not just me. I know there’s a lot of guys who are still actively looking.”

Dye said being able to make definite plans with his family or knowing he can tackle a project around the house like installing the new hot water heater he just put in without being interrupted with a call to work is amazing. All too often, he said he has had to cancel plans he’s made with his 16-year-old daughter after she’d already circled something on the calendar she wanted to do with him.

“That’s huge for me not to have to break her heart,” said Dye, 40.

Another experienced engineer involved in the pilot project, Tyler Ray, said not being able to know when he'll be off has clearly taken a toll on his own personal life and that of other railroaders.

“I’ve already been through one divorce," Ray said. "I don’t think that was all of it, but the unpredictability and not being around for a lot of things didn’t help.”

That’s why the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s First Vice President Mark Wallace hopes UP will agree to expand this new scheduling model, or something similar to it, across the railroad quickly.

Wallace said he remembers all too well growing up as the son of a railroader and spending many Christmas mornings without his dad there. He later had to miss several Christmases with his own kids while he was away operating a train.

“I’m trying to put pressure on UP to do this sooner rather than later,” Wallace said. And he said having more regular schedules would help railroads recruit the new workers they need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-omaha-7824a3d4042a757755ea76f55e51f641">handle all the freight</a>&nbsp;companies want them to deliver.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-d2ae4d3aecb27f176418518d977e69e1">contract imposed</a>&nbsp;on railroad workers last fall didn't resolve their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality-of-life issues</a>, but already this year there are indications the major freight railroads are starting to address some of their concerns about demanding schedules that keep many of them on call 24-7 without paid sick time.Still, most workers and their unions remain skeptical of the railroads because they say they have yet to see meaningful actions toward improving their lives on the job.“I hope that they’re serious about putting their employees first. But the track record is less than stellar,” longtime Union Pacific engineer Ross Grooters said while on his way to work in Iowa earlier this week. Grooters is a leader with the Railroad Workers United coalition that tries to help workers in all 12 rail unions fight for better conditions.The early signs of progress include a Union Pacific pilot program in the Kansas City area that's testing out a new schedule for engineers that lets them plan on having four days off in a row after working 11 days straight. In addition, CSX made a set of changes to its attendance policy this month that allows workers to take time off for medical appointments without being penalized and eases the formula for docking workers points when they miss shifts.There are other negotiations about these quality-of-life issues going on at all the major railroads. Those talks started after Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-pete-buttigieg-strikes-congress-c95510555dcd4cdc2d839e61d1195b06">blocked 115,000 rail workers</a>&nbsp;from going on strike last month and forced them to accept a five-year deal that included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't address these other concerns. Lawmakers and President Joe Biden said they had to intervene because the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-climate-and-environment-government-politics-92ea7632a29f807ccc0e2658c50d731e">dire economic consequences</a>&nbsp;of a rail strike would be too great.It's still too soon for those new talks to yield any significant changes. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-and-shipping-jacksonville-business-0c6a21925d5b8df2206994d823829047">said this week</a>&nbsp;that he's encouraged by the progress his railroad is making in those conversations with its unions, but he wouldn't go into any detail about what is being considered or predict how quickly changes might be made.There are some railroad jobs that have fairly regular schedules, but many do not. Train crews, in particular, are largely forced to be on call all the time. Workers and their unions say those unpredictable schedules, combined with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-omaha-b78421c68440ad22587b3d1e5a126e26">strict attendance rules</a>&nbsp;railroads put in place after eliminating roughly one-third of all their jobs in recent years while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauling their operations</a>, make it hard to take time off for any reason.Engineer Travis Dye said the new schedules Union Pacific has been testing out with about 60 workers on a run between Kansas City, Missouri, and Coffeyville, Kansas, since November got him to stop thinking about leaving the railroad. Even if it meant taking a pay cut, Dye said he was seriously considering getting another job with a better schedule.“It just got to the point where if something hadn’t changed, it just wasn’t worth staying," Dye said. "I think a lot of guys feel that way too — not just me. I know there’s a lot of guys who are still actively looking.”Dye said being able to make definite plans with his family or knowing he can tackle a project around the house like installing the new hot water heater he just put in without being interrupted with a call to work is amazing. All too often, he said he has had to cancel plans he’s made with his 16-year-old daughter after she’d already circled something on the calendar she wanted to do with him.“That’s huge for me not to have to break her heart,” said Dye, 40.Another experienced engineer involved in the pilot project, Tyler Ray, said not being able to know when he'll be off has clearly taken a toll on his own personal life and that of other railroaders.“I’ve already been through one divorce," Ray said. "I don’t think that was all of it, but the unpredictability and not being around for a lot of things didn’t help.”That’s why the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s First Vice President Mark Wallace hopes UP will agree to expand this new scheduling model, or something similar to it, across the railroad quickly.Wallace said he remembers all too well growing up as the son of a railroader and spending many Christmas mornings without his dad there. He later had to miss several Christmases with his own kids while he was away operating a train.“I’m trying to put pressure on UP to do this sooner rather than later,” Wallace said. And he said having more regular schedules would help railroads recruit the new workers they need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-omaha-7824a3d4042a757755ea76f55e51f641">handle all the freight</a>&nbsp;companies want them to deliver.Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said he likes the new schedule concept, but the railroad still needs to analyze it more before expanding it to verify that it helps ensure workers are more consistently available when they’re scheduled to work while also giving engineers the ability to know when they’ll be off. The railroad has yet to test out any new scheduling models for the conductors who work alongside engineers when operating trains.Fritz has also said publicly that he wants to work this year on providing workers with the paid sick leave railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">refused to give them</a>&nbsp;in the negotiations last fall, but he said Tuesday that's a complicated question and “our employees tell us that predictable schedules is the most important thing to work on first.”Even though track maintenance workers in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union aren't on call the way train crews are, they are increasingly being sent on the road for days at a time to tackle construction projects and repairs, prompting many to reconsider whether the job is worth the sacrifice, union spokesman Clark Ballew said.“To date, we haven’t seen genuine concern from management about these quality-of-life decisions that our members increasingly wrestle with,” Ballew said. “Their focus continues to be honed on operations and ... the bottom line.”