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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said he likes the new schedule concept, but the railroad still needs to analyze it more before expanding it to verify that it helps ensure workers are more consistently available when they’re scheduled to work while also giving engineers the ability to know when they’ll be off. The railroad has yet to test out any new scheduling models for the conductors who work alongside engineers when operating trains.

Fritz has also said publicly that he wants to work this year on providing workers with the paid sick leave railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">refused to give them</a>&nbsp;in the negotiations last fall, but he said Tuesday that's a complicated question and “our employees tell us that predictable schedules is the most important thing to work on first.”

Even though track maintenance workers in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union aren't on call the way train crews are, they are increasingly being sent on the road for days at a time to tackle construction projects and repairs, prompting many to reconsider whether the job is worth the sacrifice, union spokesman Clark Ballew said.

“To date, we haven’t seen genuine concern from management about these quality-of-life decisions that our members increasingly wrestle with,” Ballew said. “Their focus continues to be honed on operations and ... the bottom line.”

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

Amid gains, railroad workers seek quality-of-life improvements

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-25/salt-makes-icy-roads-less-dicey-but-it-poisons-the-land-heres-what-kansas-is-doing-about-it">Kansas News Service</a>

Rock salt saves lives by helping tires grip icy roads. It avoids 
broken bones when homeowners use it on slick sidewalks, driveways and 
parking lots.

And in Kansas, one of the country’s top salt producers, rock salt generates paychecks.

But it also <a href="https://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads" target="_blank">costs Americans billions</a> in corroding cars and bridges. It <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/press-release/road-salt-pollutes-drinking-water-wells-suburban-new-york-state" target="_blank">adds so much sodium</a>
 to drinking water in some places that it can affect people’s health. 
And in some places, toxic salt levels kill or harm plants, animals and 
crops.

Experts say we can take immediate steps to curb this toll without sacrificing road safety. (Read <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/feature/road-salt-tips-homeowners" target="_blank">tips for homeowners here</a> and <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/guide/road-salt-tips-municipalities-highway-departments-and-winter-maintenance-staff" target="_blank">winter maintenance crews here</a>.)

The
 Kansas Department of Transportation has already taken some of those 
measures, including spraying brine before winter storms, a practice that
 can fight slippery roads with less salt.

And at Wichita State 
University and Iowa State University, scientists are pursuing research 
that could change how we clear our pavement in the cold months.

Backed
 by a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation, they’re 
working on capturing some of the salt that pollutes our water — such as 
salt stemming from the nation’s burgeoning water softener industry — and
 converting it into an environmentally friendly deicing product.

“We
 save tremendous lives on the road” by deicing it, Wichita State 
mechanical engineering professor Shuang Gu said. “I appreciate this 
practice. (But over the decades,) we have exponentially applied road 
salt.”

Americans
 may like salty food, but we use far more sodium chloride on our roads 
than on our dinner plates. Its use increased at a steep clip last 
century when we built interstate highways for more vehicles to travel at
 faster speeds.

Today, the U.S. dumps about 160 pounds of salt per person on its roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots.

Groundwater
 and lakes in some places are ailing — especially in the country’s 
north. Since it takes time for salt to wind its way from our roads and 
ditches to streams, lakes, wells and aquifers, scientists at the <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report_road_salt.pdf" target="_blank">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a> say the salt levels in our fresh water could keep rising for years or decades even if we quit using road salt immediately.

Prospects for reversing this damage look dim, scientists say, fueling a mad dash to reduce our reliance on this deicer.

Yet
 salt is cheap. So although alternative substances already exist on the 
market, they come with higher price tags, logistical challenges or other
 limitations.

This means that salt — in particular, crushed rock salt — remains the No. 1 method for deicing pavement, the <a href="https://www.americangeosciences.org/sites/default/files/CI_Factsheet_2017_3_Deicing_170712.pdf" target="_blank">American Geosciences Institute</a> says.

For
 centuries, humans have told tales of conquerors sowing the fields of 
their enemies with salt. Those may be fables, but the fact that we’re 
salting our own watersheds today is not.

The Geological Survey <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/urban-stream-contamination-increasing-rapidly-due-road-salt" target="_blank">monitored the effects</a>
 over half a century on streams and other sites in eight states. At 
nearly one-third of their sites, chloride pollution reached toxic levels
 for, on average, a third of the year.

In New York, scientists sampled private <a href="https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2134/jeq2017.03.0124" target="_blank">drinking water wells</a> and found that most topped the EPA’s health standards for salt in water. High salt levels <a href="https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/view_finder/mirror-lake-dissolved-oxygen" target="_blank">endanger trout in New York</a> by hampering the natural circulation of lake water so that less oxygen reaches deeper depths.

The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads" target="_blank">Environmental Protection Agency</a>
 says road salt also necessitates about $5 billion in repairs to bridges
 and other infrastructure each year. And it’s a suspected cause of the 
lead pipe corrosion that poisoned the water in <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/q-a-what-really-happened-to-the-water-in-flint-michigan/" target="_blank">Flint, Michigan</a>.

Road
 salt also poses a concern for people with high blood pressure whose 
local drinking water has higher sodium levels, the EPA says. It kills 
roadside plants, harms crops, increases erosion and hurts frogs and 
insects, both of which play important roles in the food web.

Some 
northern states are taking action. A decade ago, New Hampshire launched a
 salt-reduction program because chloride pollution had become a problem 
in dozens of its water bodies. The state cut road salt application by 
one-fifth, the EPA says.

Hundreds of millions of years ago a shallow sea dried up. Today, <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic21/pic21_1.html" target="_blank">mines in central Kansas</a> turn those vast salt deposits into jobs and income.

Kansas ranks among the seven states that produce 95% of the nation’s salt, the <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-salt.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. Geological Survey</a> says. Nationwide, salt is a multibillion-dollar industry. <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-industry-kansas" target="_blank">Kansas</a> produces more than $200 million worth of the mineral per year.

The Kansas Department of Transportation spread 83,000 tons of rock salt to keep drivers safe on state highways during the <a href="https://www.ksdot.org/PDF_Files/SnowandIceEfforts.pdf" target="_blank">winter of 2021-2022</a>.

“Our
 crews feel very responsible when they’re out on the road,” said Clay 
Adams, director of field operations, “to make sure that the roads are as
 safe as possible.”

But the agency has also made changes to address salt pollution.

It
 moved its stockpiles of salt to facilities where it can prevent runoff 
and began cleaning its trucks in special wash bays, to capture the 
highly salty wastewater for treatment.

“We used to wash them outside, just out in the parking lot outside our shops,” Adams said.

The
 agency also takes pains to calibrate its trucks so they spread just the
 right amount of salt — another important control, the Cary Institute 
says.

And the agency increasingly leans on brine, one of the best 
tricks of the trade to prepare for storms — and one that can reduce the 
need for rock salt after snowfall.

State workers started experimenting with brine in central Kansas in the 1990s, mixing it in a stock tank in one of the garages.

Roger Alexander was a KDOT engineer in Salina back then with a penchant for trying new things.

So
 the agency had set him to work on a federal project designed to 
scrutinize different ways of clearing roads around the US and the world 
and to pin down which worked best in which conditions. Brine can work 
wonders.

“It would stick to the road better than anything else,” 
he said. “If it started snowing, instead of having the snow get packed 
on and freeze, it would melt and basically run off the road.”

<a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report_road_salt.pdf" target="_blank">The Cary Institute</a> says proper brine treatment may reduce overall salt use by as much as 75%.

Pre-treating with rock salt, by contrast, doesn’t work. As cars pass, it just bounces and scatters.

“Whatever you put down,” he said, “you just wasted.”

Today,
 Kansas uses brine treatment across the state. It draws on other tricks,
 too, like coating rock salt with brine to help it stay put, or spiking 
its road treatments with viscous byproducts from beet and corn 
processing. Those compounds can turn snow to a kind of oatmeal 
consistency that’s easier to plow.

Alexander says engineers and 
road crews have a long list of factors to consider anytime they weigh 
their options. Is the day super windy? Will a storm start with rain and 
end with snow? What kind of plows and how many do you have available? 
Sometimes rock salt is their best option.

Scientists in Kansas and Iowa envision a new way to keep us safe in winter by recycling salt found in urban wastewater.

They’re working on producing sodium formate, a noncorrosive deicer that airports and military facilities use.

Studies
 suggest bacteria break down sodium formate, and that the compound 
doesn’t harm the environment the way salt does. (Still, part of the 
four-year project includes further scrutinizing its effects.)

The 
substance has two notable disadvantages that the teams at Wichita State 
and Iowa State want to overcome. One, it’s too expensive for use on 
America’s vast system of roads and highways. Two, it’s made with natural
 gas, which raises other environmental concerns.

Lead researchers 
Gu and Wenzhen Li (a chemical and biological engineering professor at 
Iowa State) have homed in on a way to produce sodium formate without 
fossil fuels.

The process involves concentrating salt from 
wastewater — in particular, the highly concentrated salt released by 
increasingly common water softener systems — and using it in a chemical 
reaction that combines carbon dioxide and salt into sodium formate 
without needing natural gas.

That would produce chlorine as a byproduct, which could go toward sanitary purposes and swimming pools.

The
 EPA says scientists are exploring other approaches to the nation’s salt
 problem, too, such as using porous pavement that lets water seep 
through and reduces ice formation in the first place.

Gu calls 
himself a realist. Solutions will take time. His team’s work will take 
years. Yet with each winter that passes, more salt accumulates in U.S. 
waterways. The best tool available today is public buy-in.

“There 
are many challenges ahead of us,” he said. “We should somehow raise 
public awareness … Let people know that there is a problem and we need 
to use road salt more responsibly.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674662524314.png" alt="The Kansas Department of Transportation treats Interstate 70 with salt in winter to keep travelers safe. The practice saves lives by preventing accidents, but scientists are looking for alternatives that would reduce pollution in our waterways. KDOT" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Department of Transportation treats Interstate 70 with salt in winter to keep travelers safe. The practice saves lives by preventing accidents, but scientists are looking for alternatives that would reduce pollution in our waterways. KDOT</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-25/salt-makes-icy-roads-less-dicey-but-it-poisons-the-land-heres-what-kansas-is-doing-about-it">Kansas News Service</a>Rock salt saves lives by helping tires grip icy roads. It avoids 
broken bones when homeowners use it on slick sidewalks, driveways and 
parking lots.And in Kansas, one of the country’s top salt producers, rock salt generates paychecks.But it also <a href="https://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads" target="_blank">costs Americans billions</a> in corroding cars and bridges. It <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/press-release/road-salt-pollutes-drinking-water-wells-suburban-new-york-state" target="_blank">adds so much sodium</a>
 to drinking water in some places that it can affect people’s health. 
And in some places, toxic salt levels kill or harm plants, animals and 
crops.Experts say we can take immediate steps to curb this toll without sacrificing road safety. (Read <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/feature/road-salt-tips-homeowners" target="_blank">tips for homeowners here</a> and <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/guide/road-salt-tips-municipalities-highway-departments-and-winter-maintenance-staff" target="_blank">winter maintenance crews here</a>.)The
 Kansas Department of Transportation has already taken some of those 
measures, including spraying brine before winter storms, a practice that
 can fight slippery roads with less salt.And at Wichita State 
University and Iowa State University, scientists are pursuing research 
that could change how we clear our pavement in the cold months.Backed
 by a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation, they’re 
working on capturing some of the salt that pollutes our water — such as 
salt stemming from the nation’s burgeoning water softener industry — and
 converting it into an environmentally friendly deicing product.“We
 save tremendous lives on the road” by deicing it, Wichita State 
mechanical engineering professor Shuang Gu said. “I appreciate this 
practice. (But over the decades,) we have exponentially applied road 
salt.”<h2>The rise of road salt</h2>Americans
 may like salty food, but we use far more sodium chloride on our roads 
than on our dinner plates. Its use increased at a steep clip last 
century when we built interstate highways for more vehicles to travel at
 faster speeds.Today, the U.S. dumps about 160 pounds of salt per person on its roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots.Groundwater
 and lakes in some places are ailing — especially in the country’s 
north. Since it takes time for salt to wind its way from our roads and 
ditches to streams, lakes, wells and aquifers, scientists at the <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report_road_salt.pdf" target="_blank">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a> say the salt levels in our fresh water could keep rising for years or decades even if we quit using road salt immediately.Prospects for reversing this damage look dim, scientists say, fueling a mad dash to reduce our reliance on this deicer.Yet
 salt is cheap. So although alternative substances already exist on the 
market, they come with higher price tags, logistical challenges or other
 limitations.This means that salt — in particular, crushed rock salt — remains the No. 1 method for deicing pavement, the <a href="https://www.americangeosciences.org/sites/default/files/CI_Factsheet_2017_3_Deicing_170712.pdf" target="_blank">American Geosciences Institute</a> says.<h2>What’s the impact?</h2>For
 centuries, humans have told tales of conquerors sowing the fields of 
their enemies with salt. Those may be fables, but the fact that we’re 
salting our own watersheds today is not.The Geological Survey <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/urban-stream-contamination-increasing-rapidly-due-road-salt" target="_blank">monitored the effects</a>
 over half a century on streams and other sites in eight states. At 
nearly one-third of their sites, chloride pollution reached toxic levels
 for, on average, a third of the year.In New York, scientists sampled private <a href="https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2134/jeq2017.03.0124" target="_blank">drinking water wells</a> and found that most topped the EPA’s health standards for salt in water. High salt levels <a href="https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/view_finder/mirror-lake-dissolved-oxygen" target="_blank">endanger trout in New York</a> by hampering the natural circulation of lake water so that less oxygen reaches deeper depths.The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads" target="_blank">Environmental Protection Agency</a>
 says road salt also necessitates about $5 billion in repairs to bridges
 and other infrastructure each year. And it’s a suspected cause of the 
lead pipe corrosion that poisoned the water in <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/q-a-what-really-happened-to-the-water-in-flint-michigan/" target="_blank">Flint, Michigan</a>.Road
 salt also poses a concern for people with high blood pressure whose 
local drinking water has higher sodium levels, the EPA says. It kills 
roadside plants, harms crops, increases erosion and hurts frogs and 
insects, both of which play important roles in the food web.Some 
northern states are taking action. A decade ago, New Hampshire launched a
 salt-reduction program because chloride pollution had become a problem 
in dozens of its water bodies. The state cut road salt application by 
one-fifth, the EPA says.<h2>What’s happening in Kansas?</h2>Kansas sits on a sea of salt. Literally.Hundreds of millions of years ago a shallow sea dried up. Today, <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic21/pic21_1.html" target="_blank">mines in central Kansas</a> turn those vast salt deposits into jobs and income.Kansas ranks among the seven states that produce 95% of the nation’s salt, the <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-salt.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. Geological Survey</a> says. Nationwide, salt is a multibillion-dollar industry. <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-industry-kansas" target="_blank">Kansas</a> produces more than $200 million worth of the mineral per year.The Kansas Department of Transportation spread 83,000 tons of rock salt to keep drivers safe on state highways during the <a href="https://www.ksdot.org/PDF_Files/SnowandIceEfforts.pdf" target="_blank">winter of 2021-2022</a>.“Our
 crews feel very responsible when they’re out on the road,” said Clay 
Adams, director of field operations, “to make sure that the roads are as
 safe as possible.”But the agency has also made changes to address salt pollution.It
 moved its stockpiles of salt to facilities where it can prevent runoff 
and began cleaning its trucks in special wash bays, to capture the 
highly salty wastewater for treatment.“We used to wash them outside, just out in the parking lot outside our shops,” Adams said.The
 agency also takes pains to calibrate its trucks so they spread just the
 right amount of salt — another important control, the Cary Institute 
says.And the agency increasingly leans on brine, one of the best 
tricks of the trade to prepare for storms — and one that can reduce the 
need for rock salt after snowfall.State workers started experimenting with brine in central Kansas in the 1990s, mixing it in a stock tank in one of the garages.Roger Alexander was a KDOT engineer in Salina back then with a penchant for trying new things.So
 the agency had set him to work on a federal project designed to 
scrutinize different ways of clearing roads around the US and the world 
and to pin down which worked best in which conditions. Brine can work 
wonders.“It would stick to the road better than anything else,” 
he said. “If it started snowing, instead of having the snow get packed 
on and freeze, it would melt and basically run off the road.”<a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report_road_salt.pdf" target="_blank">The Cary Institute</a> says proper brine treatment may reduce overall salt use by as much as 75%.Pre-treating with rock salt, by contrast, doesn’t work. As cars pass, it just bounces and scatters.“Whatever you put down,” he said, “you just wasted.”Today,
 Kansas uses brine treatment across the state. It draws on other tricks,
 too, like coating rock salt with brine to help it stay put, or spiking 
its road treatments with viscous byproducts from beet and corn 
processing. Those compounds can turn snow to a kind of oatmeal 
consistency that’s easier to plow.Alexander says engineers and 
road crews have a long list of factors to consider anytime they weigh 
their options. Is the day super windy? Will a storm start with rain and 
end with snow? What kind of plows and how many do you have available? 
Sometimes rock salt is their best option.<h2>What are Midwest scientists doing?</h2>Scientists in Kansas and Iowa envision a new way to keep us safe in winter by recycling salt found in urban wastewater.They’re working on producing sodium formate, a noncorrosive deicer that airports and military facilities use.Studies
 suggest bacteria break down sodium formate, and that the compound 
doesn’t harm the environment the way salt does. (Still, part of the 
four-year project includes further scrutinizing its effects.)The 
substance has two notable disadvantages that the teams at Wichita State 
and Iowa State want to overcome. One, it’s too expensive for use on 
America’s vast system of roads and highways. Two, it’s made with natural
 gas, which raises other environmental concerns.Lead researchers 
Gu and Wenzhen Li (a chemical and biological engineering professor at 
Iowa State) have homed in on a way to produce sodium formate without 
fossil fuels.The process involves concentrating salt from 
wastewater — in particular, the highly concentrated salt released by 
increasingly common water softener systems — and using it in a chemical 
reaction that combines carbon dioxide and salt into sodium formate 
without needing natural gas.That would produce chlorine as a byproduct, which could go toward sanitary purposes and swimming pools.The
 EPA says scientists are exploring other approaches to the nation’s salt
 problem, too, such as using porous pavement that lets water seep 
through and reduces ice formation in the first place.Gu calls 
himself a realist. Solutions will take time. His team’s work will take 
years. Yet with each winter that passes, more salt accumulates in U.S. 
waterways. The best tool available today is public buy-in.“There 
are many challenges ahead of us,” he said. “We should somehow raise 
public awareness … Let people know that there is a problem and we need 
to use road salt more responsibly.”

Salt on roadways: Scientists look for a greener path on roads

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With egg prices more than doubling in the past year, calls are coming for an investigation into possible price gouging.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-asks-ftc-to-crack-down-on-possible-egg-price-gouging">sent a letter </a>&nbsp;asking for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether egg prices have been improperly manipulated by producers. A farmer-led advocacy group called Farm Action&nbsp;<a href="https://farmaction.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Farm-Action-Letter-to-FTC-Chair-Lina-Khan.pdf">made a similar request</a>&nbsp;last week arguing that there “appears to be a collusive scheme among industry leaders to turn inflationary conditions and an avian flu outbreak into an opportunity to extract egregious profits.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-business-213d845ae92814bf3189eec9c1ccf902">spike in egg prices</a>&nbsp;has been attributed to the millions of chickens that were slaughtered to limit the spread of bird flu and farmers having to compensate for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/december-2022-inflation-report-72bb938a443ab0500bd72d23f62214ad">inflation</a>&nbsp;driving up their costs.

But even though roughly 43 million of the 58 million birds slaughtered over the past year to help control bird flu have been egg-laying chickens, the size of the total flock has only been down 5% to 6% at any one time from its normal size of about 320 million hens.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/resource-library/average-food-prices/">national average retail price</a>&nbsp;of a dozen eggs hit $4.25 in December, up from $1.79 a year earlier, according to the latest government data.

“At a time when food prices are high and many Americans are struggling to afford their groceries, we must examine the industry’s role in perpetuating high prices and hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in his letter to the FTC.

But trade groups say egg prices are largely determined by commodity markets, and experts say the bird flu outbreak — combined with the skyrocketing cost of fuel, feed, labor and packaging and continued strong demand for eggs — is the real culprit for the price increases.

“Current egg prices reflect many factors, most of which are outside the control of an egg farmer," said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board trade group.

Purdue University agricultural economist Jayson Lusk said “in my view, the basic economics of the situation well explain the price rise.” He said small reductions in egg supply can result in large price increases because consumer demand for eggs doesn’t waiver much.

The FTC didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to questions about the egg price-gouging concerns, but the agency doesn’t generally comment on outside requests for investigations.

The largest U.S. producer of eggs, Cal-Maine Foods, was singled out by both Reed and the Farm Action group because it reported last month that its quarterly sales had jumped 110% to $801.7 million on the record egg prices, helping it generate a $198.6 million profit. up from just $1.1 million a year earlier.

The Ridgeland, Mississippi-based company said it “wants to assure its customers we are doing everything we can to maximize production and keep store shelves stocked" and the “domestic egg market has always been intensely competitive and highly volatile even under normal market circumstances.”

The prices Cal-Maine charges its customers are determined by negotiations with the grocery store chains, club stores and distributors it sells to. Cal-Maine said its prices averaged $2.71 a dozen in the most recent quarter. That's almost double the $1.37 it was getting a year earlier, but still much lower than the prices consumers are paying.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With egg prices more than doubling in the past year, calls are coming for an investigation into possible price gouging.U.S. Sen. Jack Reed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-asks-ftc-to-crack-down-on-possible-egg-price-gouging">sent a letter </a>&nbsp;asking for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether egg prices have been improperly manipulated by producers. A farmer-led advocacy group called Farm Action&nbsp;<a href="https://farmaction.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Farm-Action-Letter-to-FTC-Chair-Lina-Khan.pdf">made a similar request</a>&nbsp;last week arguing that there “appears to be a collusive scheme among industry leaders to turn inflationary conditions and an avian flu outbreak into an opportunity to extract egregious profits.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-business-213d845ae92814bf3189eec9c1ccf902">spike in egg prices</a>&nbsp;has been attributed to the millions of chickens that were slaughtered to limit the spread of bird flu and farmers having to compensate for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/december-2022-inflation-report-72bb938a443ab0500bd72d23f62214ad">inflation</a>&nbsp;driving up their costs.But even though roughly 43 million of the 58 million birds slaughtered over the past year to help control bird flu have been egg-laying chickens, the size of the total flock has only been down 5% to 6% at any one time from its normal size of about 320 million hens.The&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/resource-library/average-food-prices/">national average retail price</a>&nbsp;of a dozen eggs hit $4.25 in December, up from $1.79 a year earlier, according to the latest government data.“At a time when food prices are high and many Americans are struggling to afford their groceries, we must examine the industry’s role in perpetuating high prices and hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in his letter to the FTC.But trade groups say egg prices are largely determined by commodity markets, and experts say the bird flu outbreak — combined with the skyrocketing cost of fuel, feed, labor and packaging and continued strong demand for eggs — is the real culprit for the price increases.“Current egg prices reflect many factors, most of which are outside the control of an egg farmer," said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board trade group.Purdue University agricultural economist Jayson Lusk said “in my view, the basic economics of the situation well explain the price rise.” He said small reductions in egg supply can result in large price increases because consumer demand for eggs doesn’t waiver much.The FTC didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to questions about the egg price-gouging concerns, but the agency doesn’t generally comment on outside requests for investigations.The largest U.S. producer of eggs, Cal-Maine Foods, was singled out by both Reed and the Farm Action group because it reported last month that its quarterly sales had jumped 110% to $801.7 million on the record egg prices, helping it generate a $198.6 million profit. up from just $1.1 million a year earlier.The Ridgeland, Mississippi-based company said it “wants to assure its customers we are doing everything we can to maximize production and keep store shelves stocked" and the “domestic egg market has always been intensely competitive and highly volatile even under normal market circumstances.”The prices Cal-Maine charges its customers are determined by negotiations with the grocery store chains, club stores and distributors it sells to. Cal-Maine said its prices averaged $2.71 a dozen in the most recent quarter. That's almost double the $1.37 it was getting a year earlier, but still much lower than the prices consumers are paying.

Senator demands investigation of soaring egg prices 

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent altercation and have made an arrest.

Just before midnight Sunday, police responded to the Super 8 motel, 2207 North Buckeye Avenue, Abilene for the report of an earlier disturbance, according to a media release.

 Officers learned that a physical confrontation had occurred in a hotel room between a man and woman.

As a result of the investigation, officers arrested 32-year-old Jonathan Munoz Mateo of Kansas City, Missouri on requested charges that include attempted 2nd degree murder and aggravated battery. He is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to online jail records.

EMS transported the woman to the hospital for treatment of her injuries and she was released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674918639171.jpeg" alt="Mateo-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mateo-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent altercation and have made an arrest.Just before midnight Sunday, police responded to the Super 8 motel, 2207 North Buckeye Avenue, Abilene for the report of an earlier disturbance, according to a media release. Officers learned that a physical confrontation had occurred in a hotel room between a man and woman.As a result of the investigation, officers arrested 32-year-old Jonathan Munoz Mateo of Kansas City, Missouri on requested charges that include attempted 2nd degree murder and aggravated battery. He is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to online jail records.EMS transported the woman to the hospital for treatment of her injuries and she was released.

Man jailed for violent attack on woman at Kan. motel

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/25/young-kansas-lawmakers-say-pay-increase-is-needed-to-remain-in-office-attract-better-candidates/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp;When Rep. Tory Marie 
Blew first won election to the House in 2016, people told her she was 
losing money by going to Topeka.

She was 23 years old at the time, and her only expenses were rent and
 student loan repayment. As she has grown older — and married, with a 
mortgage — the financial implications of public service have come into 
focus. Lawmakers earn $88 per day during the legislative session.

Blew, a Great Bend Republican, and other millennials in the 
Legislature argued for increasing lawmakers’ pay during a meeting last 
week of the bipartisan Future Caucus. They said better pay would attract
 younger and more qualified candidates.

“That’s something we definitely need to address,” Blew said. “I’m tired of talking about it.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/07/retiring-kansas-senators-gift-to-colleagues-a-bill-proposing-overdue-raise-in-salary/">Proposed legislation</a>
 would raise the pay to $320 per day while maintaining the current level
 of $157 per day to cover meals, lodging and other expenses. Lawmakers 
also receive about $700 per month after the session ends in May. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb10/">Senate Bill 10</a> would increase total compensation to about $50,000 per year.

“If I was being paid a little bit more, I’d probably do this forever,
 if I could,” said Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat. “But right now, the
 reality of it is just like, I’m giving up a lot of prime income-earning
 years to do this. And it would make me sad to have to leave, but that’s
 something I have to think about at least. I would love to not have to 
make that choice. I don’t want to.”

Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat, said his previous employer 
told him he chose to put his career on hold the day he decided to run 
for office.

When he tries to recruit candidates to run for office, they aren’t willing to make the sacrifice.

“I have people, especially with the most recent election, saying, ‘I 
couldn’t justify leaving my job to do that or my spouse would laugh at 
me,’ ” Woodard said.

Sen. Kristen O’Shea, a Topeka Republican, initiated the discussion 
during a forum held at The Beacon, just west of the Statehouse. Rep. 
Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican, teased her about going on the 
record wanting to raise her own pay — and the political mailers that 
would follow.

“I’m just saying the conversation is going to happen,” O’Shea said.

Hoheisel agreed. He said there are lawmakers who can’t find work 
outside of the session because employers don’t want to hire someone for 
six months. Blew, who went to college to be a teacher, said she faced 
the same challenge.

The solution, Hoheisel said, should be bipartisan.

“That shouldn’t be a Republican and Democrat issue, and that 
shouldn’t be something that we use against the other side, or the other 
side uses against us, in the next election,” Hoheisel said. “But we need
 to be forward-thinking and remember this is a tool that will be used to
 get younger, more qualified folks in the Legislature” — he paused for a
 punchline — “which I think we all can agree the Senate definitely needs
 right now.”

The Future Caucus is an extension of the D.C.-based <a target="_blank" href="https://www.millennialaction.org/">Millennial Action Project</a>, which works to engage young policymakers and “create post-partisan political cooperation.”

Blew, Hoheisel, Woodard and Xu said they accomplish more through private discussions than they do in public debate.

At the Statehouse, Hoheisel said, “We’re all in this protection mode,
 let’s call it, because we think the other party or even the folks in 
our party are out to get us, pick us off, beat us in our next election 
or whatnot. But you get into these social events where you’re just 
casually hanging out, that’s where the conversation starts.”

Blew said she has learned that arguing is a tool for fundraising.

“When you’re in comfy clothes and you can be yourself, you have a genuine conversation,” Blew said.

Woodard said his only choice, as a member of the “superminority” in 
the Statehouse, is to work to build relationships with people across the
 aisle. The only way for Democrats to pass legislation in the House is 
to unite the party — and get at least 23 Republicans to join them.

Xu said the parallel between politics and sports presents a challenge.

“You have a team, probably rooted for that team most of your life, 
your entire life, and it will take a lot for you to change teams,” Xu 
said. “But what that does is it creates a system that thrives on 
conflict. Sports have always ben a proxy for war. And politics is not 
that. It should not be that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674662763069.png" alt="From left, Rep. Brandon Woodard, Rep. Tory Marie Blew, Rep. Rui Xu and Rep. Nick Hoheisel lead a forum discussion Jan. 18, 2023, at The Beacon in Topeka. The lawmakers are leaders of the Future Caucus. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>From left, Rep. Brandon Woodard, Rep. Tory Marie Blew, Rep. Rui Xu and Rep. Nick Hoheisel lead a forum discussion Jan. 18, 2023, at The Beacon in Topeka. The lawmakers are leaders of the Future Caucus. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/25/young-kansas-lawmakers-say-pay-increase-is-needed-to-remain-in-office-attract-better-candidates/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —&nbsp;When Rep. Tory Marie 
Blew first won election to the House in 2016, people told her she was 
losing money by going to Topeka.She was 23 years old at the time, and her only expenses were rent and
 student loan repayment. As she has grown older — and married, with a 
mortgage — the financial implications of public service have come into 
focus. Lawmakers earn $88 per day during the legislative session.Blew, a Great Bend Republican, and other millennials in the 
Legislature argued for increasing lawmakers’ pay during a meeting last 
week of the bipartisan Future Caucus. They said better pay would attract
 younger and more qualified candidates.“That’s something we definitely need to address,” Blew said. “I’m tired of talking about it.”<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/07/retiring-kansas-senators-gift-to-colleagues-a-bill-proposing-overdue-raise-in-salary/">Proposed legislation</a>
 would raise the pay to $320 per day while maintaining the current level
 of $157 per day to cover meals, lodging and other expenses. Lawmakers 
also receive about $700 per month after the session ends in May. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb10/">Senate Bill 10</a> would increase total compensation to about $50,000 per year.“If I was being paid a little bit more, I’d probably do this forever,
 if I could,” said Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat. “But right now, the
 reality of it is just like, I’m giving up a lot of prime income-earning
 years to do this. And it would make me sad to have to leave, but that’s
 something I have to think about at least. I would love to not have to 
make that choice. I don’t want to.”Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat, said his previous employer 
told him he chose to put his career on hold the day he decided to run 
for office.When he tries to recruit candidates to run for office, they aren’t willing to make the sacrifice.“I have people, especially with the most recent election, saying, ‘I 
couldn’t justify leaving my job to do that or my spouse would laugh at 
me,’ ” Woodard said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674662827799.png" alt="Sen. Kristen O’Shea says the conversation about legislative pay is going to happen. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Kristen O’Shea says the conversation about legislative pay is going to happen. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sen. Kristen O’Shea, a Topeka Republican, initiated the discussion 
during a forum held at The Beacon, just west of the Statehouse. Rep. 
Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican, teased her about going on the 
record wanting to raise her own pay — and the political mailers that 
would follow.“I’m just saying the conversation is going to happen,” O’Shea said.Hoheisel agreed. He said there are lawmakers who can’t find work 
outside of the session because employers don’t want to hire someone for 
six months. Blew, who went to college to be a teacher, said she faced 
the same challenge.The solution, Hoheisel said, should be bipartisan.“That shouldn’t be a Republican and Democrat issue, and that 
shouldn’t be something that we use against the other side, or the other 
side uses against us, in the next election,” Hoheisel said. “But we need
 to be forward-thinking and remember this is a tool that will be used to
 get younger, more qualified folks in the Legislature” — he paused for a
 punchline — “which I think we all can agree the Senate definitely needs
 right now.”The Future Caucus is an extension of the D.C.-based <a target="_blank" href="https://www.millennialaction.org/">Millennial Action Project</a>, which works to engage young policymakers and “create post-partisan political cooperation.”Blew, Hoheisel, Woodard and Xu said they accomplish more through private discussions than they do in public debate.At the Statehouse, Hoheisel said, “We’re all in this protection mode,
 let’s call it, because we think the other party or even the folks in 
our party are out to get us, pick us off, beat us in our next election 
or whatnot. But you get into these social events where you’re just 
casually hanging out, that’s where the conversation starts.”Blew said she has learned that arguing is a tool for fundraising.“When you’re in comfy clothes and you can be yourself, you have a genuine conversation,” Blew said.Woodard said his only choice, as a member of the “superminority” in 
the Statehouse, is to work to build relationships with people across the
 aisle. The only way for Democrats to pass legislation in the House is 
to unite the party — and get at least 23 Republicans to join them.Xu said the parallel between politics and sports presents a challenge.“You have a team, probably rooted for that team most of your life, 
your entire life, and it will take a lot for you to change teams,” Xu 
said. “But what that does is it creates a system that thrives on 
conflict. Sports have always ben a proxy for war. And politics is not 
that. It should not be that.”

Young Kan. lawmakers: Pay hike needed to remain in office, attract better candidates

The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday updated its list of medicines that should be stockpiled for radiological and nuclear emergencies, along with policy advice for their appropriate management, according to a statement on the organization's web site.

In October, President Joe Biden said that the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

 These stockpiles, referred to by the WHO include medicines that either prevent or reduce exposure to radiation, or treat injuries once exposure has occurred.

“In radiation emergencies, people may be exposed to radiation at doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. Governments need to make treatments available for those in need – fast,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Acting Assistant Director-General a.i, Healthier Populations Division. “It is essential that governments are prepared to protect the health of populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having ready supplies of lifesaving medicines that will reduce risks and treat injuries from radiation.”&nbsp;

“This<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">&nbsp;updated critical medicines list</a>&nbsp;will be a vital preparedness and readiness tool for our partners to identify, procure, stockpile and deliver effective countermeasures in a timely fashion to those at risk or exposed in these events,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

Typically, a national stockpile for all-hazards health emergencies would include generic supplies and materials used for any type of emergencies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), trauma kits, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers. This publication includes only specific drugs which are known and licensed today to prevent or treat human over-exposure to radiation.

Radiological and nuclear emergencies may result in exposure to radiation doses high enough to lead to severe health consequences or even death. It is therefore extremely important that governments respond rapidly to such threats. Many countries, however, still lack the essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies, according to annual reporting to the WHO Secretariat.

Potential scenarios considered in the publication include radiological or nuclear emergencies at nuclear power plants, medical or research facilities, or accidents during transport of radioactive materials, as well as intentional uses of radioactive materials with malicious intent.

Components of a pharmaceutical stockpile for radiation emergencies

This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>focuses on pharmaceuticals for treating radiation exposure and addresses the governance and management of such a stockpile. A typical radiation emergency stockpile will include the following medicines:

Emerging treatments and countermeasures also discussed in the report give insight to the future medical countermeasures that could be used for managing patients overexposed to radiation. In particular, studies identifying new cellular and molecular pathways and means of administrating drugs may be exploited for novel treatments and new products for use during a radiation emergency.

Emergency preparedness, response and recovery saves lives

Coordination of local, national and international responses is essential for a harmonized response to radiation emergencies. As the agency responsible for guiding healthcare interventions globally, WHO provides advice and ensures access to medicines and health services for countries that are developing national capacity for preparedness and response to radiation emergencies.&nbsp;

WHO’s global expert network,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.who.int/groups/rempan">REMPAN</a>&nbsp;(Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network), is an important asset of the Organization for implementing its work on providing technical guidance and tools for response, delivering activities for building capacity through education and training, and on promoting international cooperation and information-sharing between the members of the network and the professional community in the field of radiation emergency medicine.

WHO is a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaea.org/topics/international-arrangements" target="_blank">ICARNE</a>, the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies, which provides the coordination mechanism between 20 international organizations with relevant mandates. Members of IACRNE develop, maintain and co-sponsor the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations (<a href="https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/EPR-JPLAN-2017_web.pdf" target="_blank">JPlan 2017</a>). The JPlan describes a common understanding of each organization’s roles in making preparedness arrangements and during a response and recovery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674836041507.png" alt="Image courtesy WHO" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy WHO</figcaption>
 </figure>The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday updated its list of medicines that should be stockpiled for radiological and nuclear emergencies, along with policy advice for their appropriate management, according to a statement on the organization's web site.In October, President Joe Biden said that the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. These stockpiles, referred to by the WHO include medicines that either prevent or reduce exposure to radiation, or treat injuries once exposure has occurred.“In radiation emergencies, people may be exposed to radiation at doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. Governments need to make treatments available for those in need – fast,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Acting Assistant Director-General a.i, Healthier Populations Division. “It is essential that governments are prepared to protect the health of populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having ready supplies of lifesaving medicines that will reduce risks and treat injuries from radiation.”&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>supersedes the 2007 WHO&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/radiation/development-of-stockpiles-for-radiation-emergencies.pdf?sfvrsn=1c75f987_7">report&nbsp;</a>on the development of national stockpiles for radiation emergencies. It includes updated information on the stockpile formulary based on the developments in radiation emergency medicine in the last decade.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>It provides policy advice for acquisition of drugs which can prevent or reduce radionuclides uptake or increase elimination of radionuclides from the human body.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>It looks at the main elements required for developing, maintaining and managing the national stockpiles of specific medical supplies which will be required for radiological and nuclear emergencies.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">report&nbsp;</a>looks at the role of national health authorities in stockpile development as well as the role of WHO. As the leading international organization in public health with both the authority and responsibility to assist in health emergencies, WHO provides advice and guidance to countries on public health preparedness and response to radiation emergencies, including stockpile development. In health emergencies WHO may assist in procuring or sharing medical supplies among countries.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">report&nbsp;</a>includes a brief review of selected emerging technologies and drug formulations, including potential repurposing of products previously approved for other indications.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Finally, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>provides examples of practices in establishing and managing a national stockpile in selected countries, namely Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and USA.</li>
 </ul>“This<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">&nbsp;updated critical medicines list</a>&nbsp;will be a vital preparedness and readiness tool for our partners to identify, procure, stockpile and deliver effective countermeasures in a timely fashion to those at risk or exposed in these events,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.Typically, a national stockpile for all-hazards health emergencies would include generic supplies and materials used for any type of emergencies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), trauma kits, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers. This publication includes only specific drugs which are known and licensed today to prevent or treat human over-exposure to radiation.Radiological and nuclear emergencies may result in exposure to radiation doses high enough to lead to severe health consequences or even death. It is therefore extremely important that governments respond rapidly to such threats. Many countries, however, still lack the essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies, according to annual reporting to the WHO Secretariat.Potential scenarios considered in the publication include radiological or nuclear emergencies at nuclear power plants, medical or research facilities, or accidents during transport of radioactive materials, as well as intentional uses of radioactive materials with malicious intent.<h2>Components of a pharmaceutical stockpile for radiation emergencies</h2>This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>focuses on pharmaceuticals for treating radiation exposure and addresses the governance and management of such a stockpile. A typical radiation emergency stockpile will include the following medicines:<ul>
 <li>Stable iodine, administered to prevent or reduce the exposure of the thyroid to radioactive iodine;</li><li>Chelating sand decorporating agents (Prussian blue, applied to remove radioactive caesium from the body and calcium- / zinc-DTPA used to treat internal contamination with transuranium radionuclides);</li><li>Cytokines used for mitigation of damage to the bone marrow, in case of acute radiation syndrome (ARS); and</li><li>Other medicines used to treat vomiting, diarrhoea and infections.</li>
 </ul>Emerging treatments and countermeasures also discussed in the report give insight to the future medical countermeasures that could be used for managing patients overexposed to radiation. In particular, studies identifying new cellular and molecular pathways and means of administrating drugs may be exploited for novel treatments and new products for use during a radiation emergency.<h2>Emergency preparedness, response and recovery saves lives</h2>Coordination of local, national and international responses is essential for a harmonized response to radiation emergencies. As the agency responsible for guiding healthcare interventions globally, WHO provides advice and ensures access to medicines and health services for countries that are developing national capacity for preparedness and response to radiation emergencies.&nbsp;<h2>More information</h2><h2>WHO’s global expert network, REMPAN</h2>WHO’s global expert network,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.who.int/groups/rempan">REMPAN</a>&nbsp;(Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network), is an important asset of the Organization for implementing its work on providing technical guidance and tools for response, delivering activities for building capacity through education and training, and on promoting international cooperation and information-sharing between the members of the network and the professional community in the field of radiation emergency medicine.WHO is a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaea.org/topics/international-arrangements" target="_blank">ICARNE</a>, the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies, which provides the coordination mechanism between 20 international organizations with relevant mandates. Members of IACRNE develop, maintain and co-sponsor the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations (<a href="https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/EPR-JPLAN-2017_web.pdf" target="_blank">JPlan 2017</a>). The JPlan describes a common understanding of each organization’s roles in making preparedness arrangements and during a response and recovery.

World Health Organization urges stockpiling radiation meds 

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Protesters and police unions around the country are condemning Memphis police after the public release <a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis">of video</a> showing five officers savagely beating Tyre Nichols, who later died.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department released statement's condemning the violence.

Sullivan wrote, "By now I’m sure many of you have <a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis">seen the video </a>out of Memphis that shows the horrific beating of Mr. Tyre Nichols. I have seen it as well. Like many of you, I am shocked and sickened by the actions of those officers and I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Nichols family."

"I want to applaud Chief CJ Davis on her handling of this incident. I also want to ensure the citizens of Wichita that the Wichita Police Department stands by you in your anger, sadness, and frustration with this despicable act of violence committed by 5 human beings who disgraced the badge."&nbsp;

"I wish I could say in 40 years of Policing that this is the first time I have seen this type of case, but sadly it’s not. What I can say, is that the Wichita Police Department is not just here for you, we are here with you. We do not support nor defend officers who act like they are above the law and use excessive and unnecessary force against those they swore to protect and serve." The Sedgwick Sheriff’s office said in a statement they were "appalled by the atrocity that occurred to Tyre Nichols at the hands of the former Memphis Officers. This is an incredible violation of public trust and this office condemns their actions. The former Memphis Officers have tarnished the badge and betrayed their oath. It is the mission of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office to partner with the citizens of Sedgwick County providing effective public service to all in an impartial, ethical and professional manner. We continue to uphold these standards in trying times and fully support the prosecution of the former Memphis Officers."

Protesters gathered in a park near the White House, in Memphis and other cities as <a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis">the video </a>was released.

In Memphis, protesters chanted: “Say his name! Tyre Nichols!” and several dozen protesters blocked a heavily traveled bridge on Interstate 55 that is one of two main spans connecting Arkansas and Tennessee over the Mississippi River.

Unions in California and Hawaii issued a joint statement calling the actions of the officers “repugnant and the complete antithesis of how honorable law enforcement professionals conduct themselves.”

The Prosecutors Alliance of California calls the killing senseless and in California’s capitol of Sacramento, Mayor Darrell Steinberg said: “I am filled with anger, with sorrow and revulsion.”

— Memphis authorities have released more than an hour of footage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-video-memphis-police-e3ee8e6698faae16df3f41d09234b09f">the police beating</a>&nbsp;of Tyre Nichols, whose death resulted in murder charges and provoked outrage

— Family and friends remember&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-profile-memphis-3104f3cdbaf568daf6647eca080d4001">Tyre Nichols</a>&nbsp;as a generous, lovable man who worked hard to be a good father to his 4-year-old son

—&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-police-brutality-memphis-bde48465a79bb20bbb68473c0cc63b1e">Timeline of events</a>&nbsp;in the arrest, death of Tyre Nichols

MEMPHIS —<a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis"> Video showing</a> five Memphis police officers beating a Black man was made public Friday, one day after they were charged with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols.

The footage shows the Black officers savagely beating the 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes in an assault that the Nichols family’s legal team likened to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.

Cities across the country braced for large demonstrations. Nichols’ relatives urged supporters to protest peacefully. ___

WASHINGTON — The national president of the Fraternal Order of Police has issued a scathing statement over the actions of five former Memphis police officers involved in the arrest of Tyre Nichols.

Patrick Yoes says the officers’ encounter with Nichols “does not constitute legitimate police work or a traffic stop gone wrong.” Instead, Yoes called it a “criminal assault under the pretext of law.”

Nichols died three days after a Jan. 7 confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said he was “very concerned” about the prospect of violence, but called for protests over the death of Tyre Nichols to remain peaceful.

Speaking Friday at the White House before departing for Camp David, the president reflected on his call earlier with Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells.

“I’m obviously very concerned about it,” Biden said when asked if he was worried about violence, “but I think she has made a very strong plea. She’s obviously in enormous pain.”

Biden said that “innocent lives” were at stake Friday as the country awaited the release of police footage of depicting five Memphis officers beating Nichols during a traffic stop.

NEW YORK — In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, said he and other mayors across the country had been briefed by the White House in advance of the video’s release, which he said would “trigger pain and sadness in many of us. It will make us angry.”

He urged demonstrators to “respect the wishes of Mr. Nichols’ mother. If you need to express your anger and outrage, do so peacefully. My message to the NYPD has been, and will continue to be, to exercise restraint.”

Adams, who during his years as a New York Police Department officer co-founded an organization that advocated for diversity in policing and against abuses of power, said he “felt betrayed” by the officers charged in the Memphis death of Nichols.

“Any officer who engages in violence and brutality tarnishes all the work we have done to keep communities safe,” he said. He added: “They make it harder for the brothers and sisters in uniform to accomplish the incredible work they do, day in and day out.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674870163108.png" alt="Image from a pole camera video released Friday night by the city of Memphis" />
 <figcaption>Image from a pole camera video released Friday night by the city of Memphis</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Protesters and police unions around the country are condemning Memphis police after the public release <a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis">of video</a> showing five officers savagely beating Tyre Nichols, who later died.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Media Advisory: Thursday, January 27, 2023 Video footage of the incident between Tyre Nichols and the Memphis Police Department Video can be viewed at <a href="https://t.co/rsnlgakz63">https://t.co/rsnlgakz63</a>&mdash; CityofMem_Media (@CityofMem_Media) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofMem_Media/status/1619123186502889472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department released statement's condemning the violence.Sullivan wrote, "By now I’m sure many of you have <a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis">seen the video </a>out of Memphis that shows the horrific beating of Mr. Tyre Nichols. I have seen it as well. Like many of you, I am shocked and sickened by the actions of those officers and I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Nichols family.""I want to applaud Chief CJ Davis on her handling of this incident. I also want to ensure the citizens of Wichita that the Wichita Police Department stands by you in your anger, sadness, and frustration with this despicable act of violence committed by 5 human beings who disgraced the badge."&nbsp;"I wish I could say in 40 years of Policing that this is the first time I have seen this type of case, but sadly it’s not. What I can say, is that the Wichita Police Department is not just here for you, we are here with you. We do not support nor defend officers who act like they are above the law and use excessive and unnecessary force against those they swore to protect and serve." The Sedgwick Sheriff’s office said in a statement they were "appalled by the atrocity that occurred to Tyre Nichols at the hands of the former Memphis Officers. This is an incredible violation of public trust and this office condemns their actions. The former Memphis Officers have tarnished the badge and betrayed their oath. It is the mission of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office to partner with the citizens of Sedgwick County providing effective public service to all in an impartial, ethical and professional manner. We continue to uphold these standards in trying times and fully support the prosecution of the former Memphis Officers."Protesters gathered in a park near the White House, in Memphis and other cities as <a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis">the video </a>was released.In Memphis, protesters chanted: “Say his name! Tyre Nichols!” and several dozen protesters blocked a heavily traveled bridge on Interstate 55 that is one of two main spans connecting Arkansas and Tennessee over the Mississippi River.Unions in California and Hawaii issued a joint statement calling the actions of the officers “repugnant and the complete antithesis of how honorable law enforcement professionals conduct themselves.”The Prosecutors Alliance of California calls the killing senseless and in California’s capitol of Sacramento, Mayor Darrell Steinberg said: “I am filled with anger, with sorrow and revulsion.”KEY DEVELOPMENTS:— Memphis authorities have released more than an hour of footage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-video-memphis-police-e3ee8e6698faae16df3f41d09234b09f">the police beating</a>&nbsp;of Tyre Nichols, whose death resulted in murder charges and provoked outrage— Family and friends remember&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-profile-memphis-3104f3cdbaf568daf6647eca080d4001">Tyre Nichols</a>&nbsp;as a generous, lovable man who worked hard to be a good father to his 4-year-old son—&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-police-brutality-memphis-bde48465a79bb20bbb68473c0cc63b1e">Timeline of events</a>&nbsp;in the arrest, death of Tyre Nichols___MEMPHIS —<a href="https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis"> Video showing</a> five Memphis police officers beating a Black man was made public Friday, one day after they were charged with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols.The footage shows the Black officers savagely beating the 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes in an assault that the Nichols family’s legal team likened to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.Cities across the country braced for large demonstrations. Nichols’ relatives urged supporters to protest peacefully. ___WASHINGTON — The national president of the Fraternal Order of Police has issued a scathing statement over the actions of five former Memphis police officers involved in the arrest of Tyre Nichols.Patrick Yoes says the officers’ encounter with Nichols “does not constitute legitimate police work or a traffic stop gone wrong.” Instead, Yoes called it a “criminal assault under the pretext of law.”Nichols died three days after a Jan. 7 confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop.___WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said he was “very concerned” about the prospect of violence, but called for protests over the death of Tyre Nichols to remain peaceful.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My heart goes out to Tyre Nichols’ family and to Americans in Memphis and across the country who are grieving this tremendously painful loss. There are no words to describe the heartbreak and grief of losing a beloved child and young father.⁰⁰Here&#39;s my full statement. <a href="https://t.co/ghROhSGtao">pic.twitter.com/ghROhSGtao</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1619143234034491397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking Friday at the White House before departing for Camp David, the president reflected on his call earlier with Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells.“I’m obviously very concerned about it,” Biden said when asked if he was worried about violence, “but I think she has made a very strong plea. She’s obviously in enormous pain.”Biden said that “innocent lives” were at stake Friday as the country awaited the release of police footage of depicting five Memphis officers beating Nichols during a traffic stop.___NEW YORK — In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, said he and other mayors across the country had been briefed by the White House in advance of the video’s release, which he said would “trigger pain and sadness in many of us. It will make us angry.”He urged demonstrators to “respect the wishes of Mr. Nichols’ mother. If you need to express your anger and outrage, do so peacefully. My message to the NYPD has been, and will continue to be, to exercise restraint.”Adams, who during his years as a New York Police Department officer co-founded an organization that advocated for diversity in policing and against abuses of power, said he “felt betrayed” by the officers charged in the Memphis death of Nichols.“Any officer who engages in violence and brutality tarnishes all the work we have done to keep communities safe,” he said. He added: “They make it harder for the brothers and sisters in uniform to accomplish the incredible work they do, day in and day out.”

🎥Kan. law enforcement respond to police video that stuns the nation

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate an accident that sent a woman to the hospital just before 3:30a.m. Wednesday in Johnson County.

According to Leawood Police, a Kia compact vehicle driven by a 28-year-old woman traveled southbound through a red light at State Line Road just off Interstate 435.&nbsp;

The car struck the right rear of a westbound Freightliner semi driven by a 70-year-old Overland Park man. The truck continued to the on-ramp to westbound Interstate 435 and dragged the car underneath for the next eight miles. Both vehicles finally came to rest near Lackman Road in Lenexa.

EMS transported the woman to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to Leawood Police.

The truck driver is cooperating with the investigation. Anyone with knowledge of the event is asked to contact Leawood police at 913-642-7700 or tips@leawood.org

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674852927068.png" alt="The semi dragged the car eight miles on the interstate before the driver noticed -photo Leawood Police" />
 <figcaption>The semi dragged the car eight miles on the interstate before the driver noticed -photo Leawood Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate an accident that sent a woman to the hospital just before 3:30a.m. Wednesday in Johnson County. According to Leawood Police, a Kia compact vehicle driven by a 28-year-old woman traveled southbound through a red light at State Line Road just off Interstate 435.&nbsp;The car struck the right rear of a westbound Freightliner semi driven by a 70-year-old Overland Park man. The truck continued to the on-ramp to westbound Interstate 435 and dragged the car underneath for the next eight miles. Both vehicles finally came to rest near Lackman Road in Lenexa.EMS transported the woman to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to Leawood Police.The truck driver is cooperating with the investigation. Anyone with knowledge of the event is asked to contact Leawood police at 913-642-7700 or tips@leawood.org

Car dragged 8 miles on Kan. highway before the semi driver noticed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives has asked former U.S. presidents and vice presidents to recheck their personal records for any classified documents following the news that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-classified-documents-president-33df0355c72e9ae8fa4cb6ead13f6521">President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;had such documents in their possession.

The Archives sent a letter Thursday to representatives of former presidents and vice presidents extending back to Ronald Reagan to ensure compliance with the Presidential Records Act, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press. The act states that any records created or received by the president are the property of the U.S. government and will be managed by the Archives at the end of an administration.

The Archives sent the letter to representatives of former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and former Vice Presidents Pence, Biden, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle.

Responsibility to comply with the Presidential Records Act "does not diminish after the end of an administration,” the Archives wrote in the letter. “Therefore, we request that you conduct an assessment of any materials held outside of (the Archives) that relate to the administration for which you serve as a designated representative under the PRA, to determine whether bodies of materials previously assumed to be personal in nature might inadvertently contain Presidential or Vice Presidential records subject to the PRA, whether classified or unclassified.”

Spokespeople for former Presidents Trump, Obama, Clinton and former Vice Presidents Pence, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Freddy Ford, chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, suggested in his response to the Archives that Bush's office did not believe a search was necessary, saying, “Thank you for your note. We understand its purpose and remain confident that no such materials are in our possession.”

Biden’s lawyers came across classified documents from his time as vice president in a locked cabinet as they were packing up an office he no longer uses in November. Since then,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">subsequent searches by the FBI</a>&nbsp;and Biden’s lawyers have turned up more documents.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-classified-documents-791bba57abaf50377f0938f0d293f36e">Former Vice President Pence, too, this week,</a>&nbsp;discovered documents and turned them in after saying previously he did not believe he had any.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the searches by Biden’s attorneys and the FBI appear to fulfill the Archives’ request.

Handling of classified documents has been a problem off and on for decades, from presidents to Cabinet members and staff across multiple administrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-classified-documents-ronald-reagan-50e221ea424392b3582cd0d305cab0ee">stretching as far back as Jimmy Carter.</a>&nbsp;But the issue has taken on greater significance since former President Donald Trump willfully retained classified material at his Florida estate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-michael-pence-7e616d65db8a76a078d1ec9268c13a77">prompting the unprecedented FBI seizure of thousands of pages of records last year.</a>

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump’s handling of the documents, and also Biden’s.

It turns out that officials from all levels of government discover they are in possession of classified material and turn it over to authorities at least several times a year, according to another person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of classified documents.

Current and former officials involved in the handling of classified information say that while there are clear policies for how such information should be reviewed and stored, those policies are sometimes pushed aside at the highest levels. Teams of national security officials, secretaries and military aides who share responsibility for keeping top-level executives informed — and the executives themselves — may bend the rules for convenience, expediency or sometimes simple carelessness.

While much of the attention has been on classified information, the Presidential Records Act actually requires that, from the Reagan administration onward, all records must be transferred to the Archives regardless of classification.

It’s against federal law to have classified documents at an unauthorized location, but it's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">only a crime if it was done intentionally.</a>

Speaking Thursday at an unrelated news conference, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that though he could not discuss any specific ongoing investigation, “We have had for quite a number of years any number of mishandling investigations. That is unfortunately a regular part of our counterintelligence division’s and counterintelligence program’s work.”

He said there was a need for people to be conscious of laws and rules governing the handling of classified information. “Those rules,” he said, “are there for a reason.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674832670808.png" alt="George W. Bush during a campaign speech in 2000 -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>George W. Bush during a campaign speech in 2000 -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives has asked former U.S. presidents and vice presidents to recheck their personal records for any classified documents following the news that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-classified-documents-president-33df0355c72e9ae8fa4cb6ead13f6521">President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;had such documents in their possession.The Archives sent a letter Thursday to representatives of former presidents and vice presidents extending back to Ronald Reagan to ensure compliance with the Presidential Records Act, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press. The act states that any records created or received by the president are the property of the U.S. government and will be managed by the Archives at the end of an administration.The Archives sent the letter to representatives of former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and former Vice Presidents Pence, Biden, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle.Responsibility to comply with the Presidential Records Act "does not diminish after the end of an administration,” the Archives wrote in the letter. “Therefore, we request that you conduct an assessment of any materials held outside of (the Archives) that relate to the administration for which you serve as a designated representative under the PRA, to determine whether bodies of materials previously assumed to be personal in nature might inadvertently contain Presidential or Vice Presidential records subject to the PRA, whether classified or unclassified.”Spokespeople for former Presidents Trump, Obama, Clinton and former Vice Presidents Pence, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Freddy Ford, chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, suggested in his response to the Archives that Bush's office did not believe a search was necessary, saying, “Thank you for your note. We understand its purpose and remain confident that no such materials are in our possession.”Biden’s lawyers came across classified documents from his time as vice president in a locked cabinet as they were packing up an office he no longer uses in November. Since then,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">subsequent searches by the FBI</a>&nbsp;and Biden’s lawyers have turned up more documents.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-classified-documents-791bba57abaf50377f0938f0d293f36e">Former Vice President Pence, too, this week,</a>&nbsp;discovered documents and turned them in after saying previously he did not believe he had any.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the searches by Biden’s attorneys and the FBI appear to fulfill the Archives’ request.The Archives had no comment.Handling of classified documents has been a problem off and on for decades, from presidents to Cabinet members and staff across multiple administrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-classified-documents-ronald-reagan-50e221ea424392b3582cd0d305cab0ee">stretching as far back as Jimmy Carter.</a>&nbsp;But the issue has taken on greater significance since former President Donald Trump willfully retained classified material at his Florida estate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-michael-pence-7e616d65db8a76a078d1ec9268c13a77">prompting the unprecedented FBI seizure of thousands of pages of records last year.</a>Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump’s handling of the documents, and also Biden’s.It turns out that officials from all levels of government discover they are in possession of classified material and turn it over to authorities at least several times a year, according to another person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of classified documents.Current and former officials involved in the handling of classified information say that while there are clear policies for how such information should be reviewed and stored, those policies are sometimes pushed aside at the highest levels. Teams of national security officials, secretaries and military aides who share responsibility for keeping top-level executives informed — and the executives themselves — may bend the rules for convenience, expediency or sometimes simple carelessness.While much of the attention has been on classified information, the Presidential Records Act actually requires that, from the Reagan administration onward, all records must be transferred to the Archives regardless of classification.It’s against federal law to have classified documents at an unauthorized location, but it's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">only a crime if it was done intentionally.</a>Speaking Thursday at an unrelated news conference, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that though he could not discuss any specific ongoing investigation, “We have had for quite a number of years any number of mishandling investigations. That is unfortunately a regular part of our counterintelligence division’s and counterintelligence program’s work.”He said there was a need for people to be conscious of laws and rules governing the handling of classified information. “Those rules,” he said, “are there for a reason.”___

Past US presidents, VPs asked to recheck for classified docs

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A 74-year-old woman was able to escape with her dogs from a fire in her residence north of Salina Thursday afternoon.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies and Rural Fire District No. 7 personnel were sent to the 5800 block of N. Bartley Road at approximately 2:24 p.m. Thursday for the report of a structure fire.

The 74-year-old woman who lived in the residence noticed smoke coming into the house from the garage. She grabbed her dogs and was able to escape with them without injury, Soldan said. She also was able to get her vehicle out of the garage before it burned.

Soldan said the fire destroyed the attached garage and burned part of the kitchen and pantry. Additionally, there was smoke damage throughout the house. No damage estimate was available.

It appeared that the fire began in a garage wall, however, the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674838642469.jpeg" alt="Rural Fire District No. 7 firefighters work to extinguish the blaze. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Rural Fire District No. 7 firefighters work to extinguish the blaze. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA 74-year-old woman was able to escape with her dogs from a fire in her residence north of Salina Thursday afternoon.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies and Rural Fire District No. 7 personnel were sent to the 5800 block of N. Bartley Road at approximately 2:24 p.m. Thursday for the report of a structure fire.The 74-year-old woman who lived in the residence noticed smoke coming into the house from the garage. She grabbed her dogs and was able to escape with them without injury, Soldan said. She also was able to get her vehicle out of the garage before it burned.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674838814023.jpeg" alt="The fire is believed to have started in a garage wall." />
 <figcaption>The fire is believed to have started in a garage wall.</figcaption>
 </figure>Soldan said the fire destroyed the attached garage and burned part of the kitchen and pantry. Additionally, there was smoke damage throughout the house. No damage estimate was available.It appeared that the fire began in a garage wall, however, the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

Kan. woman, dogs escape fire that damaged rural home

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran– co-chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus and member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) introduced legislation this week to study and help prevent FAA system outages, according to a statement from his office.

On January 11, 2023, the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed, grounding flights nationwide. The senator’s legislation, the&nbsp;NOTAM Improvement Act,&nbsp;would require the FAA to establish a task force to strengthen the resiliency and cybersecurity of the NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of safety and location hazards on flight routes. U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this month.

“The FAA has a responsibility to make certain air travel in the U.S. is as safe and efficient as possible,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “The complete failure of the NOTAM system stranded millions of Americans and was a warning of the need to strengthen and modernize our air travel system. This legislation will help meet the demands of 21st century travel and help prevent a similar failure in the future.”

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran– co-chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus and member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) introduced legislation this week to study and help prevent FAA system outages, according to a statement from his office.On January 11, 2023, the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed, grounding flights nationwide. The senator’s legislation, the&nbsp;NOTAM Improvement Act,&nbsp;would require the FAA to establish a task force to strengthen the resiliency and cybersecurity of the NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of safety and location hazards on flight routes. U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this month.“The FAA has a responsibility to make certain air travel in the U.S. is as safe and efficient as possible,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “The complete failure of the NOTAM system stranded millions of Americans and was a warning of the need to strengthen and modernize our air travel system. This legislation will help meet the demands of 21st century travel and help prevent a similar failure in the future.”“Travelers in the United States deserve safe and dependable air travel service, not nationwide ground stops caused by system failures,”&nbsp;said Sen. Klobuchar.&nbsp;“By upgrading and modernizing the FAA’s NOTAM system, our bipartisan legislation would improve aviation safety and prevent system outages from derailing travel. As co-chair of the bipartisan Travel and Tourism Caucus, I look forward to working with Representative Stauber and my colleagues in the Senate to advance this bill and strengthen our air travel infrastructure.”“After the Notice to Air Missions system failure grounded air traffic in the United States on January 11th, it is imperative that a group of aviation experts be assembled to look at ways to improve this vital safety system,”&nbsp;said Sen. Capito.&nbsp;“That’s exactly what our legislation would do, and I am proud to help lead this effort that will help strengthen the NOTAM system for pilots and essential personnel. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill passed quickly and sent to the president’s desk.”The task force would be comprised of representatives from air carriers, airports, airline pilots, aircraft dispatchers, air traffic control specialists and FAA personnel unions, general and business aviation representatives, as well as aviation safety and cybersecurity experts.Earlier this month, Sens. Moran and Klobuchar&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2EE3818C-74BA-46CC-9E0D-1B36A4B9E9E8" target="_blank">spoke</a>&nbsp;with FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen following the NOTAM system failure to discuss his agency’s efforts to identify the factors behind the system outage and prevent similar breakdowns from happening again.