FINNEY COUNTY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a grass fire in southwest Kansas.

At approximately 2p.m. Sunday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50. 

Upon arrival, fire personnel confirmed there was a large grass fire on the south side of US Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. Wildland Task Force 7, Holcomb, Garfield Township, Kansas Forestry Service, and Pierceville Township were all dispatched for mutual aid assistance. 

Finney County EMS was on scene for standby and firefighter rehab, Finney County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched for traffic control, and Wheatland Electric was dispatched to replace a damaged power pole. 

U.S. Highway 50 was closed at Farmland Road to Towns Road from approximately 2:15 p.m. to 5:09 p.m. The fire was determined to be 98% contained at approximately 6:40 p.m. and agencies providing mutual aid started to be released.

In total, seven homes were evacuated. Preliminary estimates indicate 500-600 acres were burned, and 33 personnel were on scene fighting the fire. Two Garden City firefighters were transported to St. Catherine Hospital for evaluation where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released. One fire apparatus, Brush 4 (Ford F350), sustained damage and is a total loss. At this time, the cause of the fire is undetermined and there is no damage estimate available. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666561630686.png" alt="SW Kansas fire on Sunday-photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>SW Kansas fire on Sunday-photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a grass fire in southwest Kansas.At approximately 2p.m. Sunday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50. Upon arrival, fire personnel confirmed there was a large grass fire on the south side of US Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. Wildland Task Force 7, Holcomb, Garfield Township, Kansas Forestry Service, and Pierceville Township were all dispatched for mutual aid assistance. Finney County EMS was on scene for standby and firefighter rehab, Finney County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched for traffic control, and Wheatland Electric was dispatched to replace a damaged power pole. U.S. Highway 50 was closed at Farmland Road to Towns Road from approximately 2:15 p.m. to 5:09 p.m. The fire was determined to be 98% contained at approximately 6:40 p.m. and agencies providing mutual aid started to be released.In total, seven homes were evacuated. Preliminary estimates indicate 500-600 acres were burned, and 33 personnel were on scene fighting the fire. Two Garden City firefighters were transported to St. Catherine Hospital for evaluation where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released. One fire apparatus, Brush 4 (Ford F350), sustained damage and is a total loss. At this time, the cause of the fire is undetermined and there is no damage estimate available.

2 firefighters injured, 600 acres burned in SW Kansas fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic spared no state or region as it caused historic learning setbacks for America’s children, erasing decades of academic progress and widening racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis.

Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best.

Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress — known as the “nation’s report card” — which tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and it’s seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic’s impact on learning.

“It is a serious wakeup call for us all,” Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview. “In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we’re talking about it as a significant impact on a student’s achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point decline — historic for this assessment.”

Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning.

It’s no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended every facet of life and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_09">left millions learning from home</a>&nbsp;for months or more. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks, and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it’s a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-cdd7728bc85968866d9c8eca23ce5034">billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover</a>.

“Let me be very clear: these results are not acceptable,” Cardona said.

The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nation’s largest school districts. Scores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/betsy-devos-us-news-ap-top-news-education-ms-state-wire-565be54d26354e72b02a813593923fef">had been stalling even before the pandemic</a>, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before.

In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969.

Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed “below basic” — a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if they’re given the other two. That’s worse than 2019, when 31% of eighth graders scored below that level.

No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject.

Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessee’s Shelby County also saw precipitous declines.

“This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard,” said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring.

“I’m not concerned that they can’t or won’t recover,” Gordon said. “I’m concerned that the country won’t stay focused on getting kids caught up.”

The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this year’s relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992.

Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students.

Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened during the pandemic. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades.

Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers.

Surveys done as part of this year’s test illustrate the divide.

When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found.

The results make clear that schools must address the “long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system,” said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test.

“While the pandemic was a blow to schools and communities, we cannot use it as an excuse,” he said. “We have to stay committed to high standards and expectations and help every child succeed.”

Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities — which were more likely to stay remote longer — actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts, according to the results.

Los Angeles can claim one of the few bright spots in the results. The nation’s second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida’s Hillsborough County.

Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in exams like NAEP, but there’s no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found. And eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math, science and technology careers.

For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills.

“We&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-race-and-ethnicity-milwaukee-5ab5394b2513e7136b9b854355770a1a">want our students to be prepared</a>&nbsp;globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering,” she said. “This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and it’s not going to go away on its own.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624370595340.png" alt=" Students at a summer school program in Wichita-photo by Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Students at a summer school program in Wichita-photo by Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic spared no state or region as it caused historic learning setbacks for America’s children, erasing decades of academic progress and widening racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis.Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best.Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress — known as the “nation’s report card” — which tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and it’s seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic’s impact on learning.“It is a serious wakeup call for us all,” Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview. “In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we’re talking about it as a significant impact on a student’s achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point decline — historic for this assessment.”Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning.It’s no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended every facet of life and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_09">left millions learning from home</a>&nbsp;for months or more. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks, and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up.Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it’s a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-cdd7728bc85968866d9c8eca23ce5034">billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover</a>.“Let me be very clear: these results are not acceptable,” Cardona said.The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nation’s largest school districts. Scores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/betsy-devos-us-news-ap-top-news-education-ms-state-wire-565be54d26354e72b02a813593923fef">had been stalling even before the pandemic</a>, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before.In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969.Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed “below basic” — a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if they’re given the other two. That’s worse than 2019, when 31% of eighth graders scored below that level.No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject.Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessee’s Shelby County also saw precipitous declines.“This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard,” said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring.“I’m not concerned that they can’t or won’t recover,” Gordon said. “I’m concerned that the country won’t stay focused on getting kids caught up.”The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this year’s relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992.Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students.Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened during the pandemic. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades.Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers.Surveys done as part of this year’s test illustrate the divide.When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found.The results make clear that schools must address the “long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system,” said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test.“While the pandemic was a blow to schools and communities, we cannot use it as an excuse,” he said. “We have to stay committed to high standards and expectations and help every child succeed.”Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities — which were more likely to stay remote longer — actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts, according to the results.Los Angeles can claim one of the few bright spots in the results. The nation’s second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida’s Hillsborough County.Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in exams like NAEP, but there’s no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found. And eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math, science and technology careers.For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills.“We&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-race-and-ethnicity-milwaukee-5ab5394b2513e7136b9b854355770a1a">want our students to be prepared</a>&nbsp;globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering,” she said. “This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and it’s not going to go away on its own.”

Test scores show historic COVID setbacks for kids across US

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The year-end numbers reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in some countries, the relative strength of the U.S. economy and uneven enforcement of Trump-era asylum restrictions.

Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the U.S. border with Mexico, the third-highest month of Joe Biden's presidency. It was up 11.5% from 204,087 times in August and 18.5% from 192,001 times in September 2021.

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-september-2022-monthly-operational-update-0">according to figures</a>&nbsp;released late Friday night. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump's presidency in 2019.

Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-yuma-immigration-128e7440b334cc8fcbd3a629b78c3879">remarkable geographic shift</a>&nbsp;is at least partly a result of Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to see asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Due to strained diplomatic relations, the U.S. cannot expel migrants to Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua. As a result, they are largely released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.

Title 42 authority has been applied 2.4 million times since it began in March 2020 but has fallen disproportionately on migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

U.S. officials say Venezuelan migration to the United States has plunged more than 85% since Oct. 12, when the U.S. began expelling Venezuelans to Mexico under Title 42. At the same time, the Biden administration pledged to admit up to 24,000 Venezuelans to the United States on humanitarian parole if they apply online with a financial sponsor and enter through an airport, similar to how tens of thousands of Ukrainians have come since Russia invaded their country.

The first four Venezuelans paroled into the United States arrived Saturday — two from Mexico, one from Guatemala, one from Peru — and hundreds more have been approved to fly, the Homeland Security Department said.

“While this early data is not reflected in the (September) report, it confirms what we’ve said all along: When there is a lawful and orderly way to enter the country, individuals will be less likely to put their lives in the hands of smugglers and try to cross the border unlawfully,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus.

The expansion of Title 42 for Venezuelans to be expelled to Mexico came despite the administration’s attempt to end the public health authority in May, which was blocked by a federal judge.

Venezuelans represented the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mexico-venezuela-texas-caribbean-ede57e313f6334a019db86b25c785971">second-largest nationality</a>&nbsp;at the border after Mexicans for the second straight month, being stopped 33,804 times in September, up 33% from 25,361 times in August.

Cubans, who are participating in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-miami-united-states-immigration-4568de1226ea37ab2799c9b2c1af4aac">largest exodus</a>&nbsp;from the Caribbean island to the United States since 1980, were stopped 26,178 times at the border in September, up 37% from 19,060 in August.

Nicaraguans were stopped 18,199 times in September, up 55% from 7,298 times in August.

The report is the last monthly reading of migration flows before U.S. midterm elections, an issue that many Republicans have emphasized in campaigns to capture control of the House and Senate. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee released a one-sentence statement Saturday in response to the numbers: "You’ve got to be kidding.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617909066947.png" alt="Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.-photo Sen. Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.-photo Sen. Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN DIEGO (AP) — A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.The year-end numbers reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in some countries, the relative strength of the U.S. economy and uneven enforcement of Trump-era asylum restrictions.Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the U.S. border with Mexico, the third-highest month of Joe Biden's presidency. It was up 11.5% from 204,087 times in August and 18.5% from 192,001 times in September 2021.In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-september-2022-monthly-operational-update-0">according to figures</a>&nbsp;released late Friday night. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump's presidency in 2019.Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-yuma-immigration-128e7440b334cc8fcbd3a629b78c3879">remarkable geographic shift</a>&nbsp;is at least partly a result of Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to see asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.Due to strained diplomatic relations, the U.S. cannot expel migrants to Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua. As a result, they are largely released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.Title 42 authority has been applied 2.4 million times since it began in March 2020 but has fallen disproportionately on migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.U.S. officials say Venezuelan migration to the United States has plunged more than 85% since Oct. 12, when the U.S. began expelling Venezuelans to Mexico under Title 42. At the same time, the Biden administration pledged to admit up to 24,000 Venezuelans to the United States on humanitarian parole if they apply online with a financial sponsor and enter through an airport, similar to how tens of thousands of Ukrainians have come since Russia invaded their country.The first four Venezuelans paroled into the United States arrived Saturday — two from Mexico, one from Guatemala, one from Peru — and hundreds more have been approved to fly, the Homeland Security Department said.“While this early data is not reflected in the (September) report, it confirms what we’ve said all along: When there is a lawful and orderly way to enter the country, individuals will be less likely to put their lives in the hands of smugglers and try to cross the border unlawfully,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus.The expansion of Title 42 for Venezuelans to be expelled to Mexico came despite the administration’s attempt to end the public health authority in May, which was blocked by a federal judge.Venezuelans represented the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mexico-venezuela-texas-caribbean-ede57e313f6334a019db86b25c785971">second-largest nationality</a>&nbsp;at the border after Mexicans for the second straight month, being stopped 33,804 times in September, up 33% from 25,361 times in August.Cubans, who are participating in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-miami-united-states-immigration-4568de1226ea37ab2799c9b2c1af4aac">largest exodus</a>&nbsp;from the Caribbean island to the United States since 1980, were stopped 26,178 times at the border in September, up 37% from 19,060 in August.Nicaraguans were stopped 18,199 times in September, up 55% from 7,298 times in August.The report is the last monthly reading of migration flows before U.S. midterm elections, an issue that many Republicans have emphasized in campaigns to capture control of the House and Senate. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee released a one-sentence statement Saturday in response to the numbers: "You’ve got to be kidding.”

Illegal border crossings to US from Mexico hit annual high

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have captured a suspect.

Just after 10a.m. Monday,&nbsp;Lyon County Crimestoppers received a tip that 37-year-old Logan Casteel was located at 1217 Exchange Apartment #3, according to Undersheriff John Koelsch.

Emporia Police, ESU Police, and Lyon County Deputies responded to the location and took Casteel into custody on a Lyon County Arrest Warrant without incident.

Just after 7:30p.m. Oct. 17, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.&nbsp;&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .

Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries and the sheriff's office asked for help to find Casteel.

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a man and asking the public for help to locate a suspect considered armed and dangerous.

Just after 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.

&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as 37-year-old Logan Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .

Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries.

Casteel is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous.

If anyone knows Casteel’s whereabouts or information about the crime, they should report it to the Lyon Co. Sheriff’s Office at 620-341-3205 or Lyon Co. Crime Stoppers at 620-342-2273.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666347549374.png" alt="Casteel-photo Lyon Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Casteel-photo Lyon Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have captured a suspect.Just after 10a.m. Monday,&nbsp;Lyon County Crimestoppers received a tip that 37-year-old Logan Casteel was located at 1217 Exchange Apartment #3, according to Undersheriff John Koelsch.Emporia Police, ESU Police, and Lyon County Deputies responded to the location and took Casteel into custody on a Lyon County Arrest Warrant without incident.Just after 7:30p.m. Oct. 17, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.&nbsp;&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries and the sheriff's office asked for help to find Casteel.----------LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a man and asking the public for help to locate a suspect considered armed and dangerous.Just after 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as 37-year-old Logan Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries.Casteel is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous.If anyone knows Casteel’s whereabouts or information about the crime, they should report it to the Lyon Co. Sheriff’s Office at 620-341-3205 or Lyon Co. Crime Stoppers at 620-342-2273.

Sheriff: Wanted Kansas shooting suspect captured

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 800 block of SE 15 Street on a report of a burglary alarm to a business, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

When officers arrived on scene, they observed a subject fleeing from the property. Officers took the suspect identified as a juvenile into custody.

Police also recovered items taken from the business from the juvenile and returned them to the business.

The juvenile was booked on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Obstruction, according to Connell.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 800 block of SE 15 Street on a report of a burglary alarm to a business, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.When officers arrived on scene, they observed a subject fleeing from the property. Officers took the suspect identified as a juvenile into custody.Police also recovered items taken from the business from the juvenile and returned them to the business.The juvenile was booked on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Obstruction, according to Connell.

Police catch juvenile during Kansas business burglary 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court late Friday issued an administrative stay temporarily blocking President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in federal student loans, throwing the program into limbo just days after people began applying for loan forgiveness.

The White House responded to the court's ruling. "The temporary order does not prevent borrowers from applying for student debt relief at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/">studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;and in the section on student loan debt relief, click “Apply Now.”&nbsp;

"We encourage eligible borrowers to join the nearly 22 million Americans whose information the Department of Education already has. It also does not prevent us from reviewing these applications and preparing them for transmission to loan servicers," according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "It is also important to note that the order does not reverse the trial court’s dismissal of the case, or suggest that the case has merit.&nbsp; It merely prevents debt from being discharged until the court makes a decision." "We will continue to move full speed ahead in our preparations in compliance with this order. And, the Administration will continue to fight Republican&nbsp;officials suing to block our efforts to provide relief to working families."

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay while it considers a motion from Kansas, Missouri and four other Republican-led states to block the program. The stay ordered the Biden administration not to act on the program while it considers the appeal.

It’s unclear what the decision means for the 22 million borrowers who already applied for the relief. The Biden administration had promised not to clear any debt before Oct. 23 as it battled the legal challenges, but the soonest it was expected to begin erasing debt was mid-November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666046738612.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court late Friday issued an administrative stay temporarily blocking President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in federal student loans, throwing the program into limbo just days after people began applying for loan forgiveness.The White House responded to the court's ruling. "The temporary order does not prevent borrowers from applying for student debt relief at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/">studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;and in the section on student loan debt relief, click “Apply Now.”&nbsp; "We encourage eligible borrowers to join the nearly 22 million Americans whose information the Department of Education already has. It also does not prevent us from reviewing these applications and preparing them for transmission to loan servicers," according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "It is also important to note that the order does not reverse the trial court’s dismissal of the case, or suggest that the case has merit.&nbsp; It merely prevents debt from being discharged until the court makes a decision." "We will continue to move full speed ahead in our preparations in compliance with this order. And, the Administration will continue to fight Republican&nbsp;officials suing to block our efforts to provide relief to working families."The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay while it considers a motion from Kansas, Missouri and four other Republican-led states to block the program. The stay ordered the Biden administration not to act on the program while it considers the appeal.It’s unclear what the decision means for the 22 million borrowers who already applied for the relief. The Biden administration had promised not to clear any debt before Oct. 23 as it battled the legal challenges, but the soonest it was expected to begin erasing debt was mid-November.

White House: 22 million have applied for student loan forgiveness

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — An undersheriff in rural Kansas faces a manslaughter trial Monday for fatally shooting an unarmed man with a homemade beanbag round out of his personal shotgun, a case that comes amid a national reckoning on police violence.

Jury selection will start in the trial of Virgil Brewer, who was with the Barber County Sheriff's Office at the time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">the deadly encounter with Steven Myers</a>&nbsp;in October 2017 outside a shed in Sun City, about 300 miles (555 kilometers) from the Kansas City, Kansas.

A civil lawsuit brought by Myers’ family against Brewer and then-Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small was settled in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8480d5726b3275a28130abeeea1faae0">county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million</a>.

Brewer’s criminal trial is expected to focus on whether his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03fbce83f90a495ba80be7f80a5ce4b2">lack of knowledge and training</a>&nbsp;with the less-lethal munitions amounted to reckless involuntary manslaughter.

Defense attorney David Harger did not respond to messages seeking comment on the case. Brewer has been on unpaid leave since his 2018 arrest. He has been free pending trial.

“The fact of the matter is that it is not going to be a good outcome for anybody, no matter whether or not he gets convicted," Steven Myers' widow, Kristina Myers, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "Yes, it will be over in that sense, but this one bad decision has ruined the lives of so many people.”

On the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, Brewer was carrying his personal weapon when he, along with the sheriff and a sheriff’s deputy, responded to a call about a man holding a rifle on a street after an altercation at a local bar.

About five minutes before the fatal shooting, Small said: “A little luck and he’ll just pass out and die,” a remark captured on the sheriff’s body camera as they searched for Myers. They eventually found him hiding in a shed.

Both Brewer and the deputy later told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that they could clearly see that Myers was not armed when they confronted him outside the shed, according to the probable cause affidavit obtained by AP.

Body camera footage reviewed by investigators shows Brewer repeatedly told Myers to “get on the ground” before shooting him, while Deputy Mark Suchy gave conflicting commands to “put your hands up now.” Seconds later, Brewer shot Myers with one round.

Brewer told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation during an interview that he was in fear for his and the deputy’s lives when Myers continued to walk toward them, adding that he did not expect the beanbag round to penetrate Myers’ chest.

The deputy’s body camera video showed Myers was not making any aggressive movement at the time Brewer shot him, according to Bureau Agent Brian Carroll in an affidavit in support of the criminal charge against the undersheriff.

“Myers was never told he was under arrest, Myers was never warned that his failure to comply with commands would result in the use of the impending force,” Carroll wrote.

Brewer then discharged his personal weapon at too close of a distance and shot Myers in the chest, a lethal force zone.

Carroll’s affidavit contends that Brewer’s lack of knowledge and training regarding the proper use of less-lethal beanbag munitions recklessly caused Myer’s death. Proper training would have provided critical information about the proper distance to deploy the round and the proper target zone on a person.

Such training would have also informed Brewer about past problems with rectangular-shaped bean bags like the one he used, Carroll wrote. Those are known to penetrate subjects shot with them, and their use has been discontinued for years. The rounds used today are rounded, balloon-shaped bean bags, according to the affidavit.

Before coming to Kansas, Brewer worked in Texas where he was given the beanbag ammunition used the evening of Myers’ death. The affidavit revealed that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation interviewed Travis Martin, the deputy at the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in Texas who gave Brewer the ammunition.

Martin, who is expected to testify, told the agency that after speaking with the beanbag maker, that type of ammunition would no longer be carried and should not be fired on a person.

Martin told investigators that he “thought he had talked with Brewer about not using the ammunition on a person,” according to the affidavit.

Medical Examiner Timothy Gorrill is also expected to take the witness stand. His autopsy found the cause of death to be a penetrating shotgun bag wound to the trunk with the manner of death ruled a homicide.

Kristina Myers said she has been subpoenaed, adding she hopes to be allowed to watch the trial after her testimony.

“It doesn’t bring him back, but it does give us a sense of justice,” she said. “Everyone, no matter their occupation, should be held responsible for their actions. All actions have consequences.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591026923971.png" alt="Brewer booking photo Barber County" />
 <figcaption>Brewer booking photo Barber County</figcaption>
 </figure>BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — An undersheriff in rural Kansas faces a manslaughter trial Monday for fatally shooting an unarmed man with a homemade beanbag round out of his personal shotgun, a case that comes amid a national reckoning on police violence.Jury selection will start in the trial of Virgil Brewer, who was with the Barber County Sheriff's Office at the time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">the deadly encounter with Steven Myers</a>&nbsp;in October 2017 outside a shed in Sun City, about 300 miles (555 kilometers) from the Kansas City, Kansas.A civil lawsuit brought by Myers’ family against Brewer and then-Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small was settled in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8480d5726b3275a28130abeeea1faae0">county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million</a>.Brewer’s criminal trial is expected to focus on whether his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03fbce83f90a495ba80be7f80a5ce4b2">lack of knowledge and training</a>&nbsp;with the less-lethal munitions amounted to reckless involuntary manslaughter.Defense attorney David Harger did not respond to messages seeking comment on the case. Brewer has been on unpaid leave since his 2018 arrest. He has been free pending trial.“The fact of the matter is that it is not going to be a good outcome for anybody, no matter whether or not he gets convicted," Steven Myers' widow, Kristina Myers, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "Yes, it will be over in that sense, but this one bad decision has ruined the lives of so many people.”On the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, Brewer was carrying his personal weapon when he, along with the sheriff and a sheriff’s deputy, responded to a call about a man holding a rifle on a street after an altercation at a local bar.About five minutes before the fatal shooting, Small said: “A little luck and he’ll just pass out and die,” a remark captured on the sheriff’s body camera as they searched for Myers. They eventually found him hiding in a shed.Both Brewer and the deputy later told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that they could clearly see that Myers was not armed when they confronted him outside the shed, according to the probable cause affidavit obtained by AP.Body camera footage reviewed by investigators shows Brewer repeatedly told Myers to “get on the ground” before shooting him, while Deputy Mark Suchy gave conflicting commands to “put your hands up now.” Seconds later, Brewer shot Myers with one round.Brewer told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation during an interview that he was in fear for his and the deputy’s lives when Myers continued to walk toward them, adding that he did not expect the beanbag round to penetrate Myers’ chest.The deputy’s body camera video showed Myers was not making any aggressive movement at the time Brewer shot him, according to Bureau Agent Brian Carroll in an affidavit in support of the criminal charge against the undersheriff.“Myers was never told he was under arrest, Myers was never warned that his failure to comply with commands would result in the use of the impending force,” Carroll wrote.Brewer then discharged his personal weapon at too close of a distance and shot Myers in the chest, a lethal force zone.Carroll’s affidavit contends that Brewer’s lack of knowledge and training regarding the proper use of less-lethal beanbag munitions recklessly caused Myer’s death. Proper training would have provided critical information about the proper distance to deploy the round and the proper target zone on a person.Such training would have also informed Brewer about past problems with rectangular-shaped bean bags like the one he used, Carroll wrote. Those are known to penetrate subjects shot with them, and their use has been discontinued for years. The rounds used today are rounded, balloon-shaped bean bags, according to the affidavit.Before coming to Kansas, Brewer worked in Texas where he was given the beanbag ammunition used the evening of Myers’ death. The affidavit revealed that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation interviewed Travis Martin, the deputy at the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in Texas who gave Brewer the ammunition.Martin, who is expected to testify, told the agency that after speaking with the beanbag maker, that type of ammunition would no longer be carried and should not be fired on a person.Martin told investigators that he “thought he had talked with Brewer about not using the ammunition on a person,” according to the affidavit.Medical Examiner Timothy Gorrill is also expected to take the witness stand. His autopsy found the cause of death to be a penetrating shotgun bag wound to the trunk with the manner of death ruled a homicide.Kristina Myers said she has been subpoenaed, adding she hopes to be allowed to watch the trial after her testimony.“It doesn’t bring him back, but it does give us a sense of justice,” she said. “Everyone, no matter their occupation, should be held responsible for their actions. All actions have consequences.”

Kansas undersheriff faces trial in fatal beanbag shooting

TOPEKA —Just over two weeks before the general election, Derek Schmidt,&nbsp; the Republican candidate for Kansas governor and three-term attorney general, shared a&nbsp; video from President Trump to Kansans.

Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-health-d67531f2dd6856ac167ce48b3ec890ab">Gov. Laura Kelly</a>&nbsp;is the only Democratic governor running for reelection in a state carried by former President Donald Trump in 2020. Kelly won the office in 2018 against a fiery conservative after running as a moderate who promoted bipartisanship.

Trump's Vice President Mike Pence came to Wichita Friday to campaign for Schmidt.&nbsp;&nbsp;"It really comes down, right now, to the failed policies of the Biden administration, which Laura Kelly has supported every step of the way," Pence said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.racetothewh.com/governor">Polls suggest the race </a>between Kelly and Schmidt is very close. As of Sunday evening, The "Race to the WH" <a href="https://www.racetothewh.com/governor">website</a> gave both candidates a 50-50 chance of winning.

TOPEKA —Just over two weeks before the general election, Derek Schmidt,&nbsp; the Republican candidate for Kansas governor and three-term attorney general, shared a&nbsp; video from President Trump to Kansans.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸BRAND NEW: A video from President Trump to Kansans. Thank you, Mr. President! <a href="https://t.co/0Hl730Rcex">pic.twitter.com/0Hl730Rcex</a>&mdash; Derek Schmidt (@DerekSchmidtKS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekSchmidtKS/status/1584299522133741569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-health-d67531f2dd6856ac167ce48b3ec890ab">Gov. Laura Kelly</a>&nbsp;is the only Democratic governor running for reelection in a state carried by former President Donald Trump in 2020. Kelly won the office in 2018 against a fiery conservative after running as a moderate who promoted bipartisanship.Trump's Vice President Mike Pence came to Wichita Friday to campaign for Schmidt.&nbsp;&nbsp;"It really comes down, right now, to the failed policies of the Biden administration, which Laura Kelly has supported every step of the way," Pence said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666609052861.png" alt="Race to WH poll as of Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022" />
 <figcaption>Race to WH poll as of Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.racetothewh.com/governor">Polls suggest the race </a>between Kelly and Schmidt is very close. As of Sunday evening, The "Race to the WH" <a href="https://www.racetothewh.com/governor">website</a> gave both candidates a 50-50 chance of winning.

🎥 Trump issues statement on the race for Kansas governor

TOPEKA, Kansas —Law enforcement and Kansas Dept. of Correction officials are investigating after minimum-custody inmate Joshua W. Renfro walked away walked away from Lansing Correctional Facility on Sunday evening, according to a statement from the KDOC.

Just after 9p.m., Renfro, a 39-year-old white male, was reported missing when the resident could not be located at the minimum-security unit. This walkaway does not impact the security or operations of the medium-maximum secure compound.

Renfro is serving a 30-month sentence for a 2020 Violation of an extended protection order conviction in Allen County. Renfro has four prior convictions dating back to 2001 that include forgery, theft and drugs.

Renfro is 6 feet 1 inches tall, 175 pounds with Hazel eyes and brown hair. He has tattoos on his torso, neck, hands, arms and legs.

Anyone with information on Stroede can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 913-727-3235 ext. 58224, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666605494187.png" alt="Renfro-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Renfro-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kansas —Law enforcement and Kansas Dept. of Correction officials are investigating after minimum-custody inmate Joshua W. Renfro walked away walked away from Lansing Correctional Facility on Sunday evening, according to a statement from the KDOC.Just after 9p.m., Renfro, a 39-year-old white male, was reported missing when the resident could not be located at the minimum-security unit. This walkaway does not impact the security or operations of the medium-maximum secure compound.Renfro is serving a 30-month sentence for a 2020 Violation of an extended protection order conviction in Allen County. Renfro has four prior convictions dating back to 2001 that include forgery, theft and drugs.Renfro is 6 feet 1 inches tall, 175 pounds with Hazel eyes and brown hair. He has tattoos on his torso, neck, hands, arms and legs.Anyone with information on Stroede can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 913-727-3235 ext. 58224, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

Search underway for inmate who escaped from Kansas prison

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the 
amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 has 
increased to $22,500, up from $20,500 for 2022. The IRS today also 
issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost-of-living 
adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other 
retirement-related items for tax year 2023 in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-55.pdf">Notice 2022-55</a>PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.

The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 
403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan
 is increased to $22,500, up from $20,500.

The limit on annual contributions to an IRA increased to $6,500, up 
from $6,000. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50
 and over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and 
remains $1,000.

The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who 
participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal 
government's Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $7,500, up from $6,500.
 Therefore, participants in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the 
federal government's Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older can 
contribute up to $30,000, starting in 2023. The catch-up contribution 
limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in SIMPLE plans is 
increased to $3,500, up from $3,000.

The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible 
contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), 
to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the Saver's Credit all 
increased for 2023.

Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet 
certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the 
taxpayer's spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the 
deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, 
depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the 
spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the 
deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase-out ranges for 2023:

The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to
 a Roth IRA is increased to between $138,000 and $153,000 for singles 
and heads of household, up from between $129,000 and $144,000. For 
married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is increased 
to between $218,000 and $228,000, up from between $204,000 and $214,000.
 The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return 
who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual 
cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.

The income limit for the Saver's Credit (also known as the Retirement
 Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is 
$73,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $68,000; $54,750 for
 heads of household, up from $51,000; and $36,500 for singles and 
married individuals filing separately, up from $34,000.

The amount individuals can contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $15,500, up from $14,000.

Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2023 are in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-55.pdf">Notice 2022-55</a>PDF, available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the 
amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 has 
increased to $22,500, up from $20,500 for 2022. The IRS today also 
issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost-of-living 
adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other 
retirement-related items for tax year 2023 in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-55.pdf">Notice 2022-55</a>PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.<h2>Highlights of changes for 2023</h2>The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 
403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan
 is increased to $22,500, up from $20,500.The limit on annual contributions to an IRA increased to $6,500, up 
from $6,000. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50
 and over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and 
remains $1,000.The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who 
participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal 
government's Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $7,500, up from $6,500.
 Therefore, participants in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the 
federal government's Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older can 
contribute up to $30,000, starting in 2023. The catch-up contribution 
limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in SIMPLE plans is 
increased to $3,500, up from $3,000.The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible 
contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), 
to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the Saver's Credit all 
increased for 2023.Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet 
certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the 
taxpayer's spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the 
deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, 
depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the 
spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the 
deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase-out ranges for 2023:<ul>
 <li>For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the
 phase-out range is increased to between $73,000 and $83,000, up from 
between $68,000 and $78,000.</li><li>For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA 
contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out 
range is increased to between $116,000 and $136,000, up from between 
$109,000 and $129,000.</li><li>For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement
 plan and is married to someone who is covered, the phase-out range is 
increased to between $218,000 and $228,000, up from between $204,000 and
 $214,000.</li><li>For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by
 a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an 
annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.</li>
 </ul>The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to
 a Roth IRA is increased to between $138,000 and $153,000 for singles 
and heads of household, up from between $129,000 and $144,000. For 
married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is increased 
to between $218,000 and $228,000, up from between $204,000 and $214,000.
 The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return 
who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual 
cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.The income limit for the Saver's Credit (also known as the Retirement
 Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is 
$73,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $68,000; $54,750 for
 heads of household, up from $51,000; and $36,500 for singles and 
married individuals filing separately, up from $34,000.The amount individuals can contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $15,500, up from $14,000.Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2023 are in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-55.pdf">Notice 2022-55</a>PDF, available on IRS.gov.

401(k), IRA contribution limits increase for 2023

FINNEY COUNTY — Crews across Kansas were busy fighting Sunday afternoon grass fires in wind gusts up to and over 50mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Just after 2p.m., the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50, according to the Kansas Forest Service.

Crews were fighting a large grass fire on the south side of U.S. Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. 

Just after 7:30p.m. the fire was 98 percent contained.&nbsp;&nbsp;US Highway 50 is now open.&nbsp;

Crews contained a fire Sunday along the Chase and Marion County Line. There are no injuries reported.

K27 highway south at County Road 27 in Hamilton County was temporarily shut down due to a hay fire.&nbsp;

Firefighters were also working multiple grass fires in Trego, Ellis and Ness&nbsp; counties Sunday evening.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

FINNEY COUNTY — Crews across Kansas are busy fighting Sunday afternoon grass fires in wind gusts up to and over 50mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Just before 4p.m. the fire was 70 percent contained, according to the Garden City Fire Department. Personnel from Wildland Task Force 7, Kearny County, Holcomb, Garfield Township, Kansas Forestry Service, Pierceville Township were on scene actively working the fire.

The Finney County Sheriff Department was on scene diverting traffic while US Highway 50 was closed from Farmland Road to Towns Road.

Check the Post for updates as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666561630686.png" alt="Fire near Garden City on Sunday -photo Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>Fire near Garden City on Sunday -photo Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY — Crews across Kansas were busy fighting Sunday afternoon grass fires in wind gusts up to and over 50mph, according to the National Weather Service.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHalsteadFEMS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02yUMdmAjyfy8qrZA4qCy3U3BkUrVfDEjuH67YNbsmDuvPGvMFZSkiDz1vEpA9ArAVl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="194" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Just after 2p.m., the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50, according to the Kansas Forest Service.Crews were fighting a large grass fire on the south side of U.S. Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. Just after 7:30p.m. the fire was 98 percent contained.&nbsp;&nbsp;US Highway 50 is now open.&nbsp;Crews contained a fire Sunday along the Chase and Marion County Line. There are no injuries reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666607072575.png" alt="Portion of K27 was closed Sunday due to a fire -Photo Hamilton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Portion of K27 was closed Sunday due to a fire -Photo Hamilton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>K27 highway south at County Road 27 in Hamilton County was temporarily shut down due to a hay fire.&nbsp;Firefighters were also working multiple grass fires in Trego, Ellis and Ness&nbsp; counties Sunday evening.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.-------------FINNEY COUNTY — Crews across Kansas are busy fighting Sunday afternoon grass fires in wind gusts up to and over 50mph, according to the National Weather Service.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHalsteadFEMS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02yUMdmAjyfy8qrZA4qCy3U3BkUrVfDEjuH67YNbsmDuvPGvMFZSkiDz1vEpA9ArAVl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="194" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Just after 2p.m., the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50, according to the Kansas Forest Service.Crews were fighting a large grass fire on the south side of U.S. Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. Just before 4p.m. the fire was 70 percent contained, according to the Garden City Fire Department. Personnel from Wildland Task Force 7, Kearny County, Holcomb, Garfield Township, Kansas Forestry Service, Pierceville Township were on scene actively working the fire.The Finney County Sheriff Department was on scene diverting traffic while US Highway 50 was closed from Farmland Road to Towns Road.Check the Post for updates as they become available.

UPDATE: Crews battle wildfires in strong winds across Kansas

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man and&nbsp; woman were both sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for committing sexual crimes against children after prosecutors requested the statutory maximum for each count, to run consecutive to each other, according to the United State's Attorney.

In June 2022, Dustin Strom, 26, of Parsons pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child (production of child pornography).

In July 2022, Thommie-Lyn Stansky, 28, of Parsons pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child (production of child pornography).

According to court documents, Strom and Stansky admitted that while living together as a romantic couple in February 2021, Strom expressed to Stansky his sexual interest in children. 

Stansky then created an image of herself sexually abusing a four-year-old victim and another image of herself sexually abusing a two-year-old victim. She shared these images with Strom. Strom also created images of himself sexually abusing the two-year-old and the four-year-old victims.

In August 2021, a social media platform reported Strom to law enforcement after some images were sent to other people via the Internet. Federal agents examining Stansky and Strom’s cell phones and social media accounts found communications between them in which they discussed the sexual abuse of children and child pornography.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666385836272.png" alt="Strom is being held in Butler County" />
 <figcaption>Strom is being held in Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man and&nbsp; woman were both sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for committing sexual crimes against children after prosecutors requested the statutory maximum for each count, to run consecutive to each other, according to the United State's Attorney.In June 2022, Dustin Strom, 26, of Parsons pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child (production of child pornography).In July 2022, Thommie-Lyn Stansky, 28, of Parsons pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child (production of child pornography).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666384268432.png" alt="Stansky-photo Harvey Co." />
 <figcaption>Stansky-photo Harvey Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court documents, Strom and Stansky admitted that while living together as a romantic couple in February 2021, Strom expressed to Stansky his sexual interest in children. Stansky then created an image of herself sexually abusing a four-year-old victim and another image of herself sexually abusing a two-year-old victim. She shared these images with Strom. Strom also created images of himself sexually abusing the two-year-old and the four-year-old victims.In August 2021, a social media platform reported Strom to law enforcement after some images were sent to other people via the Internet. Federal agents examining Stansky and Strom’s cell phones and social media accounts found communications between them in which they discussed the sexual abuse of children and child pornography.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigated the case.

Kan. man, woman sentenced for using children to make   porn

KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas teens have been charged through criminal complaint in Kansas City, Kansas, on charges related to alleged firearms thefts, according to the United State's Attorney.

Deldrick Bryant, 19, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Benjamin Custis, 19, are charged with two counts of burglary of a licensed firearms dealer.

According to a criminal complaint, on October 16, 2022, the Basehor Police Department responded to a commercial burglary at Free State Gun Company. The business owners told officers an estimated 50 firearms were missing including rifle platforms, shotguns, and pistols.

Also according to the complaint, on October 17, 2022, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at Up In Arms, a gun shop in De Soto. After reviewing their inventory, the owners estimated 25 pistols were taken.

Surveillance videos from both scenes show a white Ford pickup was used to breach the businesses by ramming the front doors. On October 18, the pickup truck was spotted in Kansas City, Kansas and investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) began tailing the vehicle. 

When law enforcement officers attempted to make contact, the driver hit a parked car and fled into Kansas City, Missouri where Kansas City, Missouri police officers were able to apprehend the occupants in the vehicle. Several firearms reported stolen from the businesses were recovered inside the pickup.

ATF agents searched the home where Bryant resides and recovered more stolen weapons.

The Basehor Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666285542776.png" alt="Custis-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Custis-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas teens have been charged through criminal complaint in Kansas City, Kansas, on charges related to alleged firearms thefts, according to the United State's Attorney.Deldrick Bryant, 19, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Benjamin Custis, 19, are charged with two counts of burglary of a licensed firearms dealer.According to a criminal complaint, on October 16, 2022, the Basehor Police Department responded to a commercial burglary at Free State Gun Company. The business owners told officers an estimated 50 firearms were missing including rifle platforms, shotguns, and pistols.Also according to the complaint, on October 17, 2022, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at Up In Arms, a gun shop in De Soto. After reviewing their inventory, the owners estimated 25 pistols were taken.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666285927506.png" alt="Bryant-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Bryant-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Surveillance videos from both scenes show a white Ford pickup was used to breach the businesses by ramming the front doors. On October 18, the pickup truck was spotted in Kansas City, Kansas and investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) began tailing the vehicle. When law enforcement officers attempted to make contact, the driver hit a parked car and fled into Kansas City, Missouri where Kansas City, Missouri police officers were able to apprehend the occupants in the vehicle. Several firearms reported stolen from the businesses were recovered inside the pickup.ATF agents searched the home where Bryant resides and recovered more stolen weapons.The Basehor Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department are investigating the case.

Two Kansas teens charged with theft of dozen of firearms

One of scammers' favorite tactics is impersonating a person or 
organization you know and trust. That's the premise of this new text 
message scam, which has been popping up in recent <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a> reports. This time, con artists are impersonating your bank.

You receive a text message that looks like a fraud alert from your 
bank. It claims there is some unusual activity in your account. It may 
read: "Bank Fraud Alert – Did you approve a transaction for $1,000? 
Reply YES or NO." If you reply to the text, the scammer now knows they 
have an active number – and a person to scam.

The scam doesn't end there. The scammer will call you to follow up, 
and the number will appear in the caller ID as coming from your bank. 
When you answer, the caller claims to be a bank representative who can 
help stop the fraudulent charges. To do so, you need to send money to 
yourself using Zelle or another <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13038-how-to-avoid-digital-wallet-scams-on-paypal-venmo-and-other-services" target="_blank">digital wallet app</a>.
 The caller walks you through the process of connecting the app to your 
bank account. Then, they ask you to verify the connection by sharing the
 code your bank sent.

Don't do it! If you give the scammer your verification code, the 
scammer can set up an account with your phone number and email – but 
their bank account information. If that happens, when you send money to 
"yourself," you're actually sending money to the scammer. Disputing the 
charges will be difficult because the scammer has tricked you into 
approving the transaction. Sending money through a digital wallet app is
 like using cash, making it very hard to get your money back.

One consumer reported this experience to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>:
 "I received two texts stating it was the Wells Fargo Fraud Department 
wanting to know if I had made a Zelle transfer… I responded no and 
immediately got another text stating, 'Thank you, no further action is 
needed, a representative will call you from 800-869-3556.' Within a few 
minutes, I got a call from an individual stating they were with the 
Wells Fargo fraud department. The caller ID on my phone said Wells 
Fargo, and the person said they could reverse the transaction if I sign 
into my online account and open the Zelle app. I did this and the caller
 asked if I saw my name. I told him I saw my name in two places. It 
looked like I would be sending money to myself. The caller said 
everything was fine and the money would come back to my account. After 
the call ended, I got two texts stating funds for $2,500 and $1,000 
would be deposited in my Wells Fargo account. I went back into my 
account and there was no evidence of any deposits. What I did see was 
$3,500 taken out of my account and a zero account balance."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBOne of scammers' favorite tactics is impersonating a person or 
organization you know and trust. That's the premise of this new text 
message scam, which has been popping up in recent <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a> reports. This time, con artists are impersonating your bank.<h2>How the scam works&nbsp;</h2>You receive a text message that looks like a fraud alert from your 
bank. It claims there is some unusual activity in your account. It may 
read: "Bank Fraud Alert – Did you approve a transaction for $1,000? 
Reply YES or NO." If you reply to the text, the scammer now knows they 
have an active number – and a person to scam.The scam doesn't end there. The scammer will call you to follow up, 
and the number will appear in the caller ID as coming from your bank. 
When you answer, the caller claims to be a bank representative who can 
help stop the fraudulent charges. To do so, you need to send money to 
yourself using Zelle or another <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13038-how-to-avoid-digital-wallet-scams-on-paypal-venmo-and-other-services" target="_blank">digital wallet app</a>.
 The caller walks you through the process of connecting the app to your 
bank account. Then, they ask you to verify the connection by sharing the
 code your bank sent.Don't do it! If you give the scammer your verification code, the 
scammer can set up an account with your phone number and email – but 
their bank account information. If that happens, when you send money to 
"yourself," you're actually sending money to the scammer. Disputing the 
charges will be difficult because the scammer has tricked you into 
approving the transaction. Sending money through a digital wallet app is
 like using cash, making it very hard to get your money back.One consumer reported this experience to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>:
 "I received two texts stating it was the Wells Fargo Fraud Department 
wanting to know if I had made a Zelle transfer… I responded no and 
immediately got another text stating, 'Thank you, no further action is 
needed, a representative will call you from 800-869-3556.' Within a few 
minutes, I got a call from an individual stating they were with the 
Wells Fargo fraud department. The caller ID on my phone said Wells 
Fargo, and the person said they could reverse the transaction if I sign 
into my online account and open the Zelle app. I did this and the caller
 asked if I saw my name. I told him I saw my name in two places. It 
looked like I would be sending money to myself. The caller said 
everything was fine and the money would come back to my account. After 
the call ended, I got two texts stating funds for $2,500 and $1,000 
would be deposited in my Wells Fargo account. I went back into my 
account and there was no evidence of any deposits. What I did see was 
$3,500 taken out of my account and a zero account balance."<h2>How to avoid bank fraud scams</h2><ul>
 <li>Understand your bank's policies. Know that your bank will never ask you to send money to yourself. If someone tries to convince you otherwise, it's a scam. </li><li>Watch out for fake caller IDs. Scammers can <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16670-a-new-kind-of-phone-scam-neighbor-spoofing" target="_blank">spoof</a>
 caller ID names and numbers to make you think you are receiving a call 
from a reputable source. If you weren't expecting to be contacted by 
your bank, it's best to avoid answering. Instead, call the number on the
 back of your ATM card to confirm that there is an issue. </li><li>Never share one-time passcodes. Scammers can use one-time passcodes from your bank or any other company&nbsp;to access your accounts and change information. Don't share them with anyone, no exceptions. </li><li>Contact your bank if you suspect a scam. If you receive an unsolicited call, text, or email that you suspect is a scam, contact your bank immediately and let them know. </li><li>Don't reply to suspicious texts. Ignore any 
instructions to reply yes or no if you receive an unsolicited, 
suspicious text message. If you reply to a scammer, they could save your
 number as "active" and target you with future scams.</li>
 </ul>

Scam: Responding to phony bank text message could cost you thousands

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/21/kansas-disability-waitlist-study-could-take-two-years-as-needs-mount/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas health department officials said a study addressing the long 
wait times disabled Kansans face to receive government assistance will 
take two years to conduct.

The study will focus on physically 
and mentally disabled Kansans waiting to receive state resources, either
 through the Physical Disability Waiver Program or the Intellectual/Developmental Disability Waiver Program.&nbsp;

The study is conducted by Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services
 in partnership with the Kansas University Center on Developmental 
Disabilities, and is meant to find a more efficient waitlist process.&nbsp;Many
 have said the situation needs to be addressed immediately. During open 
testimony in late September to a Kansas committee on health care, 
several families said they were out of desperately needed resources.&nbsp;

Tera Jackson, a Lansing resident, 
said her 8-year-old daughter was on the waitlist, and with changing 
insurance and increasing costs, her family struggled to provide her with
 everything she needed.

“Since we are on the IDD Waitlist, we
 are unable to get any help with getting something simple like diapers,”
 Jackson wrote in her submitted September testimony. “We have no 
guidance to get help with where we can even purchase some. Not having 
Medicaid coverage holds our child back and makes our parts of our home 
unsafe for her, because we cannot get the help we so desperately need.”

Across the state, 9,039 Kansas are 
enrolled in the I/DD waiver program according to August 2022 data. 
Approximately 4,814 Kansans are on a waitlist to be enrolled, with the 
longest wait time of an individual on the list being about a decade.

The Physical Disability Waiver 
Program provides support for Kansans between 16 and 65 who qualify for 
placement into a nursing facility because of physical disabilities. To 
meet the criteria, Kansans have to meet Social Security standards for 
disability and be eligible for Medicaid. About 2,414 people are 
waitlisted for that program, and 6,138 are enrolled, according to August
 data. The longest wait time for the program was two years, according to
 KDADS testimony.&nbsp;

The Disability Rights Center of 
Kansas recommended that the state also do more to identify Kansans who 
have disabilities, telling the committee that the state had identified 
less than half of Kansans who have intellectual or developmental 
disabilities.

The center also recommended that 
funding be provided to relieve some people on the waitlist. The state 
could create 1,000 new slots in the I/DD waiver program, with the 
long-term goal of getting rid of the waiting list entirely.

Officials have said people on the 
waitlist should be better monitored, with a system created to understand
 their needs. The center said the system needed to address the immediate
 needs of Kansans on the waitlist.

“This process must be prioritized and
 finalized ASAP. This is low hanging-fruit can and must be addressed 
quickly,” the center’s submitted testimony read.

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/21/kansas-disability-waitlist-study-could-take-two-years-as-needs-mount/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas health department officials said a study addressing the long 
wait times disabled Kansans face to receive government assistance will 
take two years to conduct.The study will focus on physically 
and mentally disabled Kansans waiting to receive state resources, either
 through the Physical Disability Waiver Program or the Intellectual/Developmental Disability Waiver Program.&nbsp;The study is conducted by Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services
 in partnership with the Kansas University Center on Developmental 
Disabilities, and is meant to find a more efficient waitlist process.&nbsp;Many
 have said the situation needs to be addressed immediately. During open 
testimony in late September to a Kansas committee on health care, 
several families said they were out of desperately needed resources.&nbsp;Tera Jackson, a Lansing resident, 
said her 8-year-old daughter was on the waitlist, and with changing 
insurance and increasing costs, her family struggled to provide her with
 everything she needed.“Since we are on the IDD Waitlist, we
 are unable to get any help with getting something simple like diapers,”
 Jackson wrote in her submitted September testimony. “We have no 
guidance to get help with where we can even purchase some. Not having 
Medicaid coverage holds our child back and makes our parts of our home 
unsafe for her, because we cannot get the help we so desperately need.”Across the state, 9,039 Kansas are 
enrolled in the I/DD waiver program according to August 2022 data. 
Approximately 4,814 Kansans are on a waitlist to be enrolled, with the 
longest wait time of an individual on the list being about a decade.The Physical Disability Waiver 
Program provides support for Kansans between 16 and 65 who qualify for 
placement into a nursing facility because of physical disabilities. To 
meet the criteria, Kansans have to meet Social Security standards for 
disability and be eligible for Medicaid. About 2,414 people are 
waitlisted for that program, and 6,138 are enrolled, according to August
 data. The longest wait time for the program was two years, according to
 KDADS testimony.&nbsp;The Disability Rights Center of 
Kansas recommended that the state also do more to identify Kansans who 
have disabilities, telling the committee that the state had identified 
less than half of Kansans who have intellectual or developmental 
disabilities.The center also recommended that 
funding be provided to relieve some people on the waitlist. The state 
could create 1,000 new slots in the I/DD waiver program, with the 
long-term goal of getting rid of the waiting list entirely.Officials have said people on the 
waitlist should be better monitored, with a system created to understand
 their needs. The center said the system needed to address the immediate
 needs of Kansans on the waitlist.“This process must be prioritized and
 finalized ASAP. This is low hanging-fruit can and must be addressed 
quickly,” the center’s submitted testimony read.

Kansas disability waitlist study could take two years as needs mount

By DAM HEE KIM, ANJANA SASARLA and SCOTT SHACKELFORD <a href="https://theconversation.com/experts-grade-facebook-tiktok-twitter-youtube-on-readiness-to-handle-midterm-election-misinformation-191249">The Conversation</a>

The 2016 U.S. election was a wake-up call about the dangers of 
political misinformation on social media. With two more election cycles 
rife with misinformation under their belts, social media companies have 
experience identifying and countering misinformation. However, the 
nature of the threat misinformation poses to society continues to shift 
in form and targets. The big lie about the 2020 presidential election 
has become a major theme, and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/business/media/midterms-foreign-language-misinformation.html">immigrant communities are increasingly in the crosshairs</a> of disinformation campaigns – deliberate efforts to spread misinformation.

Social media companies have announced plans to deal with misinformation in the 2022 midterm elections, but the companies <a href="https://techpolicy.press/looking-to-the-midterms-the-state-of-platform-policies-on-u-s-political-speech/">vary in their approaches and effectiveness</a>. We asked experts on social media to grade how ready Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube are to handle the task.

Dam Hee Kim, Assistant Professor of Communication, University of Arizona

Social media are <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/">important sources of news for most Americans</a> in 2022, but they also could be a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820943878">fertile ground for spreading misinformation</a>.
 Major social media platforms announced plans for dealing with 
misinformation in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, but experts noted 
that they are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/technology/midterms-misinformation-tiktok-facebook.html">not very different from their 2020 plans</a>.

One important consideration: Users are not constrained to using just one platform. One company’s intervention may backfire and <a href="https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/twitter-flagged-donald-trumps-tweets-with-election-misinformation-they-continued-to-spread-both-on-and-off-the-platform/">promote cross-platform diffusion of misinformation</a>. Major social media platforms may need to coordinate efforts to combat misinformation.

Facebook was largely blamed for its failure to combat misinformation 
during the 2016 presidential election campaign. Although engagement – 
likes, shares and comments – with misinformation on Facebook peaked with
 160 million per month during the 2016 presidential election, the level 
in July 2018, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168019848554">60 million per month</a>, was still at high levels.

More recent evidence shows that Facebook’s approach still needs work 
when it comes to managing accounts that spread misinformation, flagging 
misinformation posts and reducing the reach of those accounts and posts.
 In April 2020, fact-checkers notified Facebook about 59 accounts that 
spread misinformation about COVID-19. As of November 2021, <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/november-2021/">31 of them were still active</a>. Also, Chinese state-run Facebook accounts have been <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/april-2022/">spreading misinformation about the war in Ukraine</a> in English to their hundreds of millions of followers.

While Twitter has generally not been treated as the biggest culprit 
of misinformation since 2016, it is unclear if its misinformation 
measures are sufficient. In fact, shares of misinformation on Twitter 
increased from about 3 million per month during the 2016 presidential 
election <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168019848554">to about 5 million per month in July 2018</a>.

This pattern seems to have continued as over 300,000 Tweets – excluding retweets – included links that were <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">flagged as false after fact checks</a>
 between April 2019 and February 2021. Fewer than 3% of these tweets 
were presented with warning labels or pop-up boxes. Among tweets that 
shared the same link to misinformation, only a minority displayed these 
warnings, suggesting that the process of putting warnings on 
misinformation is not automatic, uniform or efficient. Twitter did 
announce that it <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/technology/midterms-misinformation-tiktok-facebook.html">redesigned labels</a> to hinder further interactions and facilitate clicks for additional information.

As the fastest-growing social media platform, TikTok has two notable characteristics: Its predominantly young adult user base <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/">regularly consumes news on the platform</a>,
 and its short videos often come with attention-grabbing images and 
sounds. While these videos are more difficult to review than text-based 
content, they are more likely to be recalled, evoke emotion and persuade
 people.

TikTok’s approach to misinformation needs major improvements. A 
search for prominent news topics in September 2022 turned up 
user-generated videos, <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/september-2022/">20% of which included misinformation</a>,
 and videos containing misinformation were often in the first five 
results. When neutral phrases were used as search terms, for example 
“2022 elections,” TikTok’s search bar suggested more phrases that were 
charged, for example “January 6 FBI.” Also, TikTok presents reliable 
sources <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/march-2022/">alongside accounts that spread misinformation</a>.

Between April 2019 and February 2021, 170 YouTube videos were flagged
 as false by a fact-checking organization. Just over half of them were <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">presented with “learn more” information panels</a>, though without being flagged as false. YouTube seems to have added information panels mostly <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">by automatically detecting certain keywords</a> involving controversial topics like COVID-19, not necessarily after checking the content of the video for misinformation.

YouTube could recommend more content by reliable sources to mitigate 
the challenge of reviewing all uploaded videos for misinformation. One 
experiment collected the list of recommended videos after a user with an
 empty viewing history watched one video that was marked as false after 
fact checks. Of the recommended videos, 18.4% <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">were misleading or hyperpartisan</a> and three of the top 10 recommended channels had <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">a mixed or low factual reporting score</a> from <a href="https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/">Media Bias/Fact Check</a>.

Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666032519814.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAM HEE KIM, ANJANA SASARLA and SCOTT SHACKELFORD <a href="https://theconversation.com/experts-grade-facebook-tiktok-twitter-youtube-on-readiness-to-handle-midterm-election-misinformation-191249">The Conversation</a>The 2016 U.S. election was a wake-up call about the dangers of 
political misinformation on social media. With two more election cycles 
rife with misinformation under their belts, social media companies have 
experience identifying and countering misinformation. However, the 
nature of the threat misinformation poses to society continues to shift 
in form and targets. The big lie about the 2020 presidential election 
has become a major theme, and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/business/media/midterms-foreign-language-misinformation.html">immigrant communities are increasingly in the crosshairs</a> of disinformation campaigns – deliberate efforts to spread misinformation.Social media companies have announced plans to deal with misinformation in the 2022 midterm elections, but the companies <a href="https://techpolicy.press/looking-to-the-midterms-the-state-of-platform-policies-on-u-s-political-speech/">vary in their approaches and effectiveness</a>. We asked experts on social media to grade how ready Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube are to handle the task.
<h2>2022 is looking like 2020</h2>Dam Hee Kim, Assistant Professor of Communication, University of ArizonaSocial media are <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/">important sources of news for most Americans</a> in 2022, but they also could be a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820943878">fertile ground for spreading misinformation</a>.
 Major social media platforms announced plans for dealing with 
misinformation in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, but experts noted 
that they are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/technology/midterms-misinformation-tiktok-facebook.html">not very different from their 2020 plans</a>.One important consideration: Users are not constrained to using just one platform. One company’s intervention may backfire and <a href="https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/twitter-flagged-donald-trumps-tweets-with-election-misinformation-they-continued-to-spread-both-on-and-off-the-platform/">promote cross-platform diffusion of misinformation</a>. Major social media platforms may need to coordinate efforts to combat misinformation. Facebook/Meta: CFacebook was largely blamed for its failure to combat misinformation 
during the 2016 presidential election campaign. Although engagement – 
likes, shares and comments – with misinformation on Facebook peaked with
 160 million per month during the 2016 presidential election, the level 
in July 2018, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168019848554">60 million per month</a>, was still at high levels. More recent evidence shows that Facebook’s approach still needs work 
when it comes to managing accounts that spread misinformation, flagging 
misinformation posts and reducing the reach of those accounts and posts.
 In April 2020, fact-checkers notified Facebook about 59 accounts that 
spread misinformation about COVID-19. As of November 2021, <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/november-2021/">31 of them were still active</a>. Also, Chinese state-run Facebook accounts have been <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/april-2022/">spreading misinformation about the war in Ukraine</a> in English to their hundreds of millions of followers.Twitter: BWhile Twitter has generally not been treated as the biggest culprit 
of misinformation since 2016, it is unclear if its misinformation 
measures are sufficient. In fact, shares of misinformation on Twitter 
increased from about 3 million per month during the 2016 presidential 
election <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168019848554">to about 5 million per month in July 2018</a>. This pattern seems to have continued as over 300,000 Tweets – excluding retweets – included links that were <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">flagged as false after fact checks</a>
 between April 2019 and February 2021. Fewer than 3% of these tweets 
were presented with warning labels or pop-up boxes. Among tweets that 
shared the same link to misinformation, only a minority displayed these 
warnings, suggesting that the process of putting warnings on 
misinformation is not automatic, uniform or efficient. Twitter did 
announce that it <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/technology/midterms-misinformation-tiktok-facebook.html">redesigned labels</a> to hinder further interactions and facilitate clicks for additional information.TikTok: DAs the fastest-growing social media platform, TikTok has two notable characteristics: Its predominantly young adult user base <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/">regularly consumes news on the platform</a>,
 and its short videos often come with attention-grabbing images and 
sounds. While these videos are more difficult to review than text-based 
content, they are more likely to be recalled, evoke emotion and persuade
 people. TikTok’s approach to misinformation needs major improvements. A 
search for prominent news topics in September 2022 turned up 
user-generated videos, <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/september-2022/">20% of which included misinformation</a>,
 and videos containing misinformation were often in the first five 
results. When neutral phrases were used as search terms, for example 
“2022 elections,” TikTok’s search bar suggested more phrases that were 
charged, for example “January 6 FBI.” Also, TikTok presents reliable 
sources <a href="https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor/march-2022/">alongside accounts that spread misinformation</a>.YouTube: B-Between April 2019 and February 2021, 170 YouTube videos were flagged
 as false by a fact-checking organization. Just over half of them were <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">presented with “learn more” information panels</a>, though without being flagged as false. YouTube seems to have added information panels mostly <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">by automatically detecting certain keywords</a> involving controversial topics like COVID-19, not necessarily after checking the content of the video for misinformation. YouTube could recommend more content by reliable sources to mitigate 
the challenge of reviewing all uploaded videos for misinformation. One 
experiment collected the list of recommended videos after a user with an
 empty viewing history watched one video that was marked as false after 
fact checks. Of the recommended videos, 18.4% <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">were misleading or hyperpartisan</a> and three of the top 10 recommended channels had <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03662191/document">a mixed or low factual reporting score</a> from <a href="https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/">Media Bias/Fact Check</a>.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z3N5y7OLhmE"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The big lie</h2>Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State UniversityA major concern for misinformation researchers as the 2022 midterms 
approach is the prevalence of false narratives about the 2020 election. A
 team of misinformation experts at the <a href="https://shorensteincenter.org/programs/technology-social-change/">Technology and Social Change</a> project studied a group of <a href="https://mediamanipulation.org/research/deplatforming-index-research-brief">online influencers</a> across platforms who amassed large followings from the “<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-ivanka-trump-biden-presidential-56da6a3963ee91021b4a52a0b4b00e62">big lie</a>,”
 the false claim that there was widespread election fraud in the 2020 
election. The Washington Post published an analysis on Sept. 20, 2022, 
that found that most of the 77 accounts the newspaper identified as the 
biggest spreaders of disinformation about the 2020 election <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/20/social-media-influencers-election-fraud/">were still active </a> on all four social media platforms. Overall, I believe that none of the platforms have addressed these issues very effectively. Facebook/Meta: B-Meta, Facebook’s parent company, exempts politicians from 
fact-checking rules. They also do not ban political ads, unlike Twitter 
or TikTok. Meta has not released any policies publicly about how its 
rules specifically protect against misinformation, which has left <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/19/facebook-midterm-misinformation-strategy/">observers questioning its readiness</a> to deal with disinformation during the midterms. Of particular concern are politicians benefiting from microtargeting –
 targeting narrow demographics – through election misinformation, such 
as a congressional candidate <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/19/facebook-midterm-misinformation-strategy/">who ran an ad campaign on Facebook</a> alleging a cover-up of “ballot harvesting” during the 2020 election. Election disinformation <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23329139/latino-voters-misinformation-2022">targeted at minority communities</a>,
 especially Hispanic and Latino communities, on messaging apps such as 
WhatsApp is another major enforcement challenge for Meta when the 
company’s content moderation resources are primarily allocated to 
English-language media. Twitter: BTwitter does not allow political advertising and has made the most 
effort at reducing election-related misinformation. Twitter has 
highlighted its <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/19/election-misinformation-social-media-big-lie-report">use of “prebunking</a>,” the process of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/misinformation-desk/202108/what-is-prebunking">educating people about disinformation tactics</a>, as an effective way of reducing the spread of misinformation. However, Twitter has also been inconsistent in enforcing its 
policies. For example, Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake asked 
her followers on Twitter if they would be <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/22/midterms-elections-social-media-civil-rights/">willing to monitor the polls</a> for cases of voter fraud, which led civil rights advocates to warn of potential intimidation at polling stations.TikTok: DTikTok does not allow political advertising, which makes 
microtargeting from election-related misinformation less of a problem on
 this platform. Many researchers have highlighted <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/14/business/media/on-tiktok-election-misinformation.html">TikTok’s lack of transparency</a>,
 unlike platforms such as Twitter and Facebook that have been more 
amenable to efforts from researchers, including sharing data. TikTok’s 
stated content moderation approach has been that “questionable content” 
will not be amplified through recommendations. However, video and audio content may be harder to moderate than 
textual content. The danger on platforms such as TikTok is that once a 
misleading video is taken down by the platform, a manipulated and 
republished version could easily circulate on the platform. Facebook, 
for example, employs AI-assisted methods to <a href="https://ai.facebook.com/blog/heres-how-were-using-ai-to-help-detect-misinformation/">detect what it calls “near-duplications</a>
 of known misinformation at scale.” TikTok has not released details of 
how it will address near-duplications of election-related 
misinformation. Internationally, TikTok has faced immense criticism for its inability
 to tamp down election-related misinformation. TikTok accounts <a href="https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/campaigns/tiktok-german-election-2021/">impersonated prominent political figures</a> during Germany’s last national election. YouTube: B-YouTube’s policy is to remove “violative” narratives and terminate channels that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/20/social-media-influencers-election-fraud/">receive three strikes in a 90-day period</a>.
 While this may be effective in controlling some types of 
misinformation, YouTube has been vulnerable to fairly insidious 
election-related content, including disinformation about ballot 
trafficking. A disinformation movie titled “<a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/19/election-misinformation-social-media-big-lie-report">2000 mules</a>” is still circulating on the platform. Observers have faulted YouTube for not doing enough internationally 
to address election-related misinformation. In Brazil, for example, <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/brazils-far-right-plots-its-own-january-6-insurrection/">sharing YouTube videos on the messaging app Telegram</a>
 has become a popular way to spread misinformation related to elections.
 This suggests that YouTube may be vulnerable to organized 
election-related disinformation in the U.S. as well. <h2>A range of readiness</h2>Scott Shackelford, Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana UniversityMany of the threats to American democracy have stemmed from internal 
divisions fed by inequality, injustice and racism. These fissures have 
been, from time to time, purposefully widened and deepened by foreign 
nations wishing to distract and destabilize the U.S. government. The 
advent of cyberspace has put the disinformation process into overdrive, 
both speeding the viral spread of stories across national boundaries and
 platforms and causing a proliferation in the types of traditional and 
social media willing to run with fake stories. Some social media 
networks have proved more able than others at meeting the moment. <h2>Facebook/Meta: C</h2>Despite moves to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/meta-says-removes-china-based-propaganda-operation-targeting-us-midterms-2022-09-27/">limit</a>
 the spread of Chinese propaganda on Facebook, there seems to be a 
bipartisan consensus that Facebook has not learned its lessons from the 
2016 election cycle. Indeed, it still allows political ads, including 
one from Republican congressional candidate Joe Kent <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/19/facebook-midterm-misinformation-strategy/">claiming “rampant voter fraud</a>” in the 2020 elections. Though it has taken some steps toward transparency, as seen in its <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2022/08/17/midterms-research-facebook-political-ads/?sh=6f2258df7974">Ad Library</a>, it has a long way to go to win back consumer confidence and uphold its <a href="https://theconversation.com/facebooks-social-responsibility-should-include-privacy-protection-94549">social responsibility</a>.<h2>Twitter: B*</h2>Twitter came out before other leading social media firms in banning 
political ads on its platform, though it has faced criticism for 
inconsistent enforcement. The Indiana University Observatory on Social 
Media, for example, has a tool called <a href="https://hoaxy.osome.iu.edu/#query=2022%20elections&amp;sort=mixed&amp;type=Twitter&amp;lang=">Hoaxy</a> that enables real-time searches for a wide array of disinformation. The * for this grade lies in the concern for Twitter’s future efforts to fight disinformation <a href="https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-is-wrong-research-shows-content-rules-on-twitter-help-preserve-free-speech-from-bots-and-other-manipulation-182317">given its potential acquisition by Elon Musk</a>, who has been <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-free-speech-twitter-global-censorship/">vocal</a> about his desire to permit uninhibited speech.<h2>TikTok: F</h2>The fact that TikTok does not allow political advertising on the 
surface bodes well for its ability to root out disinformation, but it 
has been apparent that its ability to do so in practice <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/14/business/media/on-tiktok-election-misinformation.html">is very limited</a>. AI-enabled deep fakes in particular are <a href="https://theconversation.com/celebrity-deepfakes-are-all-over-tiktok-heres-why-theyre-becoming-common-and-how-you-can-spot-them-187079">a growing problem on TikTok</a>, something that the other social media networks have been able to monitor to greater effect.Its <a href="https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/our-commitment-to-election-integrity">efforts</a> at standing up an <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/17/tiktok-launches-an-in-app-u-s-midterms-elections-center-shares-plan-to-fight-misinformation/">election center</a>,
 ban deep fakes and flag disinformation are welcome but are reactive and
 coming too late, with voting already underway in some states.<h2>YouTube: C+</h2>Google has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/01/tech/google-youtube-election-misinformation/index.html">announced</a>
 new steps to crack down on misinformation across its platforms, 
including YouTube, such as by highlighting local and regional 
journalism, but as we’re seeing in the “Stop the Steal” narrative from 
the <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/youtube-meta-pushing-bolsonaro-stop-050000780.html">Brazilian election</a>, so far misinformation continues to flow freely.Dam Hee Kim&nbsp; is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Arizona. Anjana Susarla is a Professor of Information Systems at Michigan State University. Scott Shackelford is a Professor of Business Law and Ethics at Indiana University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/191249/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>