SAO PAULO (AP) — Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82.

The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalized for the last month with multiple ailments.

Widely regarded as one of soccer’s greatest players, Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.

His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport — a samba-like flair that personified his country’s elegance on the field.

He carried Brazil to soccer’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.

In the conversation about soccer’s greatest players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside Pelé.

Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pelé’s goal totals anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against low-level competition.)

The player who would be dubbed “The King” was introduced to the world at 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the youngest player ever at the tournament. He was carried off the field on teammates’ shoulders after scoring two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.

Injury limited him to just two games when Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pelé was the emblem of his country’s World Cup triumph of 1970 in Mexico. He scored in the final and set up Carlos Alberto with a nonchalant pass for the last goal in a 4-1 victory over Italy.

The image of Pelé in a bright, yellow Brazil jersey, with the No. 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with soccer fans everywhere. As does his trademark goal celebration -- a leap with a right fist thrust high above his head.

Pelé’s fame was such that in 1967 factions of a civil war in Nigeria agreed to a brief cease-fire so he could play an exhibition match in the country. He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. When he visited Washington to help popularize the game in North America, it was the U.S. president who stuck out his hand first.

“My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the president of the United States of America,” the host said to his visitor. “But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pelé is.”

Pelé was Brazil’s first modern Black national hero but rarely spoke about racism in a country where the rich and powerful tend to hail from the white minority.

Opposing fans taunted Pelé with monkey chants at home and all over the world.

“He said that he would never play if he had to stop every time he heard those chants,” said Angelica Basthi, one of Pelé’s biographers. “He is key for Black people’s pride in Brazil, but never wanted to be a flagbearer.”

Pelé’s life after soccer took many forms. He was a politician -- Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport -- a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.

He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.

As his health deteriorated, his travels and appearances became less frequent. He was often seen in a wheelchair during his final years and did not attend a ceremony to unveil a statue of him representing Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team. Pelé spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at a beach home.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small city of Tres Coracoes in the interior of Minas Gerais state on Oct. 23, 1940, Pelé grew up shining shoes to buy his modest soccer gear.

Pelé’s talent drew attention when he was 11, and a local professional player brought him to Santos’ youth squads. It didn’t take long for him to make it to the senior squad.

Despite his youth and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against grown men with the same ease he displayed against friends back home. He debuted with the Brazilian club at 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide recognition.

The name Pelé came from him&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.comment9">mispronouncing the name of a player called Bilé</a>.

He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a key player for his country’s championship team. His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around him to volley it home, was voted as one of the best in World Cup history.

The 1966 World Cup in England -- won by the hosts -- was a bitter one for Pelé, by then already considered the world’s top player. Brazil was knocked out in the group stage and Pelé, angry at the rough treatment, swore it was his last World Cup.

He changed his mind and was rejuvenated in the 1970 World Cup. In a game against England, he struck a header for a certain score, but the great goalkeeper Gordon Banks flipped the ball over the bar in an astonishing move. Pelé likened the save — one of the best in World Cup history — to a “salmon climbing up a waterfall.” Later, he scored the opening goal in the final against Italy, his last World Cup match.

In all, Pelé played 114 matches with Brazil, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77 in official matches.

His run with Santos stretched over three decades until he went into semi-retirement after the 1972 season. Wealthy European clubs tried to sign him, but the Brazilian government intervened to keep him from being sold, declaring him a national treasure.

On the field, Pelé’s energy, vision and imagination drove a gifted Brazilian national team with a fast, fluid style of play that exemplified “O Jogo Bonito” -- Portuguese for “The Beautiful Game.” His 1977 autobiography, “My Life and the Beautiful Game,” made the phrase part of soccer’s lexicon.

In 1975, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. Although 34 and past his prime, Pelé gave soccer a higher profile in North America. He led the Cosmos to the 1977 league title and scored 64 goals in three seasons.

Pelé ended his career on Oct. 1, 1977, in an exhibition between the Cosmos and Santos before a crowd in New Jersey of some 77,000. He played half the game with each club. Among the dignitaries on hand was perhaps the only other athlete whose renown spanned the globe — Muhammad Ali.

Pelé would endure difficult times in his personal life, especially when his son Edinho was arrested on drug-related charges. Pelé had two daughters out of wedlock and five children from his first two marriages, to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi and Assiria Seixas Lemos. He later married businesswoman Marcia Cibele Aoki.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672340523769.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SAO PAULO (AP) — Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82.The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalized for the last month with multiple ailments.His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death.Widely regarded as one of soccer’s greatest players, Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport — a samba-like flair that personified his country’s elegance on the field.He carried Brazil to soccer’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.In the conversation about soccer’s greatest players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside Pelé.Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pelé’s goal totals anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against low-level competition.)The player who would be dubbed “The King” was introduced to the world at 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the youngest player ever at the tournament. He was carried off the field on teammates’ shoulders after scoring two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.Injury limited him to just two games when Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pelé was the emblem of his country’s World Cup triumph of 1970 in Mexico. He scored in the final and set up Carlos Alberto with a nonchalant pass for the last goal in a 4-1 victory over Italy.The image of Pelé in a bright, yellow Brazil jersey, with the No. 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with soccer fans everywhere. As does his trademark goal celebration -- a leap with a right fist thrust high above his head.Pelé’s fame was such that in 1967 factions of a civil war in Nigeria agreed to a brief cease-fire so he could play an exhibition match in the country. He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. When he visited Washington to help popularize the game in North America, it was the U.S. president who stuck out his hand first.“My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the president of the United States of America,” the host said to his visitor. “But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pelé is.”Pelé was Brazil’s first modern Black national hero but rarely spoke about racism in a country where the rich and powerful tend to hail from the white minority.Opposing fans taunted Pelé with monkey chants at home and all over the world.“He said that he would never play if he had to stop every time he heard those chants,” said Angelica Basthi, one of Pelé’s biographers. “He is key for Black people’s pride in Brazil, but never wanted to be a flagbearer.”Pelé’s life after soccer took many forms. He was a politician -- Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport -- a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.As his health deteriorated, his travels and appearances became less frequent. He was often seen in a wheelchair during his final years and did not attend a ceremony to unveil a statue of him representing Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team. Pelé spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at a beach home.Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small city of Tres Coracoes in the interior of Minas Gerais state on Oct. 23, 1940, Pelé grew up shining shoes to buy his modest soccer gear.Pelé’s talent drew attention when he was 11, and a local professional player brought him to Santos’ youth squads. It didn’t take long for him to make it to the senior squad.Despite his youth and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against grown men with the same ease he displayed against friends back home. He debuted with the Brazilian club at 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide recognition.The name Pelé came from him&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.comment9">mispronouncing the name of a player called Bilé</a>.He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a key player for his country’s championship team. His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around him to volley it home, was voted as one of the best in World Cup history.The 1966 World Cup in England -- won by the hosts -- was a bitter one for Pelé, by then already considered the world’s top player. Brazil was knocked out in the group stage and Pelé, angry at the rough treatment, swore it was his last World Cup.He changed his mind and was rejuvenated in the 1970 World Cup. In a game against England, he struck a header for a certain score, but the great goalkeeper Gordon Banks flipped the ball over the bar in an astonishing move. Pelé likened the save — one of the best in World Cup history — to a “salmon climbing up a waterfall.” Later, he scored the opening goal in the final against Italy, his last World Cup match.In all, Pelé played 114 matches with Brazil, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77 in official matches.His run with Santos stretched over three decades until he went into semi-retirement after the 1972 season. Wealthy European clubs tried to sign him, but the Brazilian government intervened to keep him from being sold, declaring him a national treasure.On the field, Pelé’s energy, vision and imagination drove a gifted Brazilian national team with a fast, fluid style of play that exemplified “O Jogo Bonito” -- Portuguese for “The Beautiful Game.” His 1977 autobiography, “My Life and the Beautiful Game,” made the phrase part of soccer’s lexicon.In 1975, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. Although 34 and past his prime, Pelé gave soccer a higher profile in North America. He led the Cosmos to the 1977 league title and scored 64 goals in three seasons.Pelé ended his career on Oct. 1, 1977, in an exhibition between the Cosmos and Santos before a crowd in New Jersey of some 77,000. He played half the game with each club. Among the dignitaries on hand was perhaps the only other athlete whose renown spanned the globe — Muhammad Ali.Pelé would endure difficult times in his personal life, especially when his son Edinho was arrested on drug-related charges. Pelé had two daughters out of wedlock and five children from his first two marriages, to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi and Assiria Seixas Lemos. He later married businesswoman Marcia Cibele Aoki.

Soccer legend Pelé, winner of 3 World Cups, has died

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are looking for a Kansas felon who escaped custody early this morning after a multi-county chase in Saline County.

Just after 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, a Saline County Sheriff's deputy near the intersection of N. Broadway Boulevard and State Street noticed a 1992 GMC Sierra pickup with an expired license plate, according to Saline County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Hughes. 

The deputy attempted to stop the pickup, but it took off and a pursuit ensued that involved multiple law enforcement agencies, a number of Salina neighborhoods, and four counties.

At one point during the pursuit, the pickup stopped at the intersection of N. Brookville Road and Ottawa Road in northwestern Saline County at the Ottawa County line, and deputies attempted a traffic stop. 

The driver of the pickup, identified as Steven Moss, 37, of Salina, instead allegedly backed the pickup into one of the Saline County Sheriff's Office's patrol SUVs and took off again, Hughes said.

The pursuit continued into parts of Ottawa County and Lincoln County, where Moss allegedly swerved at a Lincoln County Sheriff's patrol vehicle coming from the opposite direction, Hughes said. The pursuit ended near the intersection of Old Highway 40 and 11th Road west of Ellsworth, where Lincoln County Sheriff's personnel and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers were able to apprehend Moss and a passenger in the pickup, Shaylynn Koch, 27, of Salina.

Deputies brought both back to the Saline County Jail, however, Moss was able to slip out of a handcuff and escape from the back of a Saline County Sheriff's vehicle while it was at the sallyport of the jail. 

A foot chase ensued, but Moss was able to elude law enforcement personnel and escaped.

Hughes said that if you know where Moss is or have information about him, you are asked to call Salina/Saline County Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit <a href="http://www.pd.salina.org">www.pd.salina.org</a> and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name. You also can call 911.

Once Moss is apprehended, he will face the following requested charges Felony flee and elude, Reckless driving, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, Aggravated escape from custody and a vehicle registration violation, according to Hughes. He has previous convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damagae to property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

Koch was booked into the Saline County Jail for an outstanding warrant from Salina Municipal Court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672334302050.jpeg" alt="Steven Moss has previous convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. Photo-Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Steven Moss has previous convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. Photo-Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are looking for a Kansas felon who escaped custody early this morning after a multi-county chase in Saline County.Just after 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, a Saline County Sheriff's deputy near the intersection of N. Broadway Boulevard and State Street noticed a 1992 GMC Sierra pickup with an expired license plate, according to Saline County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Hughes. The deputy attempted to stop the pickup, but it took off and a pursuit ensued that involved multiple law enforcement agencies, a number of Salina neighborhoods, and four counties.At one point during the pursuit, the pickup stopped at the intersection of N. Brookville Road and Ottawa Road in northwestern Saline County at the Ottawa County line, and deputies attempted a traffic stop. The driver of the pickup, identified as Steven Moss, 37, of Salina, instead allegedly backed the pickup into one of the Saline County Sheriff's Office's patrol SUVs and took off again, Hughes said.The pursuit continued into parts of Ottawa County and Lincoln County, where Moss allegedly swerved at a Lincoln County Sheriff's patrol vehicle coming from the opposite direction, Hughes said. The pursuit ended near the intersection of Old Highway 40 and 11th Road west of Ellsworth, where Lincoln County Sheriff's personnel and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers were able to apprehend Moss and a passenger in the pickup, Shaylynn Koch, 27, of Salina.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672334663170.jpeg" alt="Shaylynn Koch-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Shaylynn Koch-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies brought both back to the Saline County Jail, however, Moss was able to slip out of a handcuff and escape from the back of a Saline County Sheriff's vehicle while it was at the sallyport of the jail. A foot chase ensued, but Moss was able to elude law enforcement personnel and escaped.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584553268286.jpeg" alt="The jail sallyport (large gray door to the left of the sign) can be seen in this Salina Post file photo from 2020." />
 <figcaption>The jail sallyport (large gray door to the left of the sign) can be seen in this Salina Post file photo from 2020.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hughes said that if you know where Moss is or have information about him, you are asked to call Salina/Saline County Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit <a href="http://www.pd.salina.org">www.pd.salina.org</a> and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name. You also can call 911.Once Moss is apprehended, he will face the following requested charges Felony flee and elude, Reckless driving, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, Aggravated escape from custody and a vehicle registration violation, according to Hughes. He has previous convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damagae to property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of CorrectionsKoch was booked into the Saline County Jail for an outstanding warrant from Salina Municipal Court.

Kansas felon escapes custody after 4-county chase

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged financial crime in Manhattan.

Just before 10a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for forgery in the 700 block of Poyntz Ave. Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

USD 383 -Manhattan-Odgen schools reported a $10,832 check they wrote to Thermal Comfort Air, Inc. was altered by a 25-year-old woman who attempted to cash it at Landmark National Bank in Manhattan.

Police released no additional details early Thursday.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged financial crime in Manhattan.Just before 10a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for forgery in the 700 block of Poyntz Ave. Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.USD 383 -Manhattan-Odgen schools reported a $10,832 check they wrote to Thermal Comfort Air, Inc. was altered by a 25-year-old woman who attempted to cash it at Landmark National Bank in Manhattan.Police released no additional details early Thursday.

Woman allegedly forged $10K check written by Kan. school district

FINNEY COUNTY —Lee Richardson Zoo received a late Christmas present and is happy to announce the arrival of a reticulated giraffe calf. 

 Born at 11:15 a.m. Dec. 26, this is the third calf for mom, Cleo, age 9, and dad, Juani, age 13, according to a media release from the zoo.

 Zoo staff performed a well-baby check on Tuesday after giving mom and baby some time to bond.  Mom and baby are doing fine. 

 Zoo staff had been monitoring Cleo closely for the last week.  Keepers found Cleo in the early stages of giving birth during a morning check. 

 The male calf weighed 185 pounds and was nursing within the next few hours after birth.The birth is the result of a breeding recommendation from the Giraffe Species Survival Plan Program which coordinates population management for the species within member institutions of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and works to enhance conservation of the species in the wild.  In the wild, giraffe populations have decreased by 40% over the last thirty years due to poaching and habitat destruction.

 Together AZA members and their partners are working to help save giraffes through education, scientific research, field work, public awareness and action.The calf was born in the indoor quarters.  Mom and calf will remain inside for a few days for some bonding time and then outside access will be based on outdoor temperatures. 

Public viewing inside the giraffe barn may be limited to allow mom and calf privacy. Juani will remain separated from the mother and baby until the newborn is a bit older and steadier on its feet. Public will have a chance to help select the calf’s name next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672265307126.png" alt="Photos courtesy Lee Richardson Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Lee Richardson Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Lee Richardson Zoo received a late Christmas present and is happy to announce the arrival of a reticulated giraffe calf. Born at 11:15 a.m. Dec. 26, this is the third calf for mom, Cleo, age 9, and dad, Juani, age 13, according to a media release from the zoo. Zoo staff performed a well-baby check on Tuesday after giving mom and baby some time to bond. Mom and baby are doing fine. Zoo staff had been monitoring Cleo closely for the last week. Keepers found Cleo in the early stages of giving birth during a morning check. The male calf weighed 185 pounds and was nursing within the next few hours after birth.The birth is the result of a breeding recommendation from the Giraffe Species Survival Plan Program which coordinates population management for the species within member institutions of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and works to enhance conservation of the species in the wild. In the wild, giraffe populations have decreased by 40% over the last thirty years due to poaching and habitat destruction.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672263522629.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Together AZA members and their partners are working to help save giraffes through education, scientific research, field work, public awareness and action.The calf was born in the indoor quarters. Mom and calf will remain inside for a few days for some bonding time and then outside access will be based on outdoor temperatures. Public viewing inside the giraffe barn may be limited to allow mom and calf privacy. Juani will remain separated from the mother and baby until the newborn is a bit older and steadier on its feet. Public will have a chance to help select the calf’s name next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Late Christmas present arrives at Kansas zoo

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas-based economist and former State Treasurer candidate Michael Austin is going to be working with the&nbsp;State Financial Officers Foundation in a research capacity.

"It's a membership organization of state treasurers, state auditors, state financial officers from all across the country," Austin said. "As a fellow, I'll provide research and counsel on pension reform, budget transparency and how to fight ESG to state financial officers all across the country."

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing refers to a set of standards that socially conscious investors use to screen investments.

"ESG is a far left political scorecard for investing," Austin said. "It's a coercion tactic in the business community. The problem, of course, is that it uses your investment dollars to push this left-wing agenda, all without your approval."

Of particular concern to SFOF is the use of funds like those in public pension systems to push what conservative economists see as an agenda that seeks to fundamentally change how we feed and fuel the world.

"There are many people out here in the midwest, in Kansas, that are tied to oil and gas," Austin said. "Because of ESG, there is a concerted effort to remove investment dollars away from oil and natural gas companies, when we most certainly know natural gas is the best way for us to gain heat and that there are so many jobs tied to fossil fuel production and extraction from the ground."

SFOF, as a free-market organization, believes that the states in the U.S. with the soundest financial condition and with the highest credit ratings are generally those that have been managed conservatively with small government, pro-growth policies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672323528466.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas-based economist and former State Treasurer candidate Michael Austin is going to be working with the&nbsp;State Financial Officers Foundation in a research capacity."It's a membership organization of state treasurers, state auditors, state financial officers from all across the country," Austin said. "As a fellow, I'll provide research and counsel on pension reform, budget transparency and how to fight ESG to state financial officers all across the country."Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing refers to a set of standards that socially conscious investors use to screen investments."ESG is a far left political scorecard for investing," Austin said. "It's a coercion tactic in the business community. The problem, of course, is that it uses your investment dollars to push this left-wing agenda, all without your approval."Of particular concern to SFOF is the use of funds like those in public pension systems to push what conservative economists see as an agenda that seeks to fundamentally change how we feed and fuel the world."There are many people out here in the midwest, in Kansas, that are tied to oil and gas," Austin said. "Because of ESG, there is a concerted effort to remove investment dollars away from oil and natural gas companies, when we most certainly know natural gas is the best way for us to gain heat and that there are so many jobs tied to fossil fuel production and extraction from the ground."SFOF, as a free-market organization, believes that the states in the U.S. with the soundest financial condition and with the highest credit ratings are generally those that have been managed conservatively with small government, pro-growth policies.

Austin to work with SFOF; research ESG dangers

DALLAS (AP) — Travelers who counted on Southwest Airlines to get them home suffered another wave of canceled flights Thursday, and pressure grows on the federal government to help customers get reimbursed for unexpected expenses they incurred because of the airline’s meltdown.

Exhausted Southwest travelers tried finding seats on other airlines or renting cars to get to their destination, but many remained stranded. The airline’s CEO said it could be next week before the flight schedule returns to normal.

Southwest Airlines has opened a self-service tool to help travelers impacted by their travel disruptions.

If your flight has been significantly delayed or canceled, <a href="https://www.southwest.com/traveldisruption/?clk=CALLVOLUME_HPHERO_221227&amp;fbclid=IwAR0SKcCpcT6GdozvyXMNGoSsL0whMtEGvrkElL-G4dZYjrwheCbUTZuAbuI">click here </a>to request a refund and other services you are entitled to.

Adontis Barber, a 34-year-old jazz pianist from Kansas City had camped out in the city’s airport since his Southwest flight was canceled Saturday, hoping to reach a New Year's gig in Washington, D.C.

He left his airport vigil Wednesday. “I give up,” he said. “I’m starting to feel homeless.”

By early afternoon on the East Coast, about 90% of all canceled flights Wednesday in the U.S. were on Southwest, according to the FlightAware tracking service.

Other airlines recovered from ferocious winter storms that hit large swaths of the country over the weekend, but not Southwest, which scrubbed 2,500 flights Wednesday and 2,300 more on Thursday.

The Dallas airline was undone by a combination of factors including an antiquated crew-scheduling system and a network design that allows cancellations in one region to cascade throughout the country rapidly. Those weaknesses are not new — they helped cause a similar failure by Southwest in October 2021.

The U.S. Transportation Department is now investigating what happened at Southwest, which carries more passengers within the United States than any other airline. A Senate committee promises to investigate too.

In a video that Southwest posted late Tuesday, CEO Robert Jordan said Southwest would operate a reduced schedule for several days but hoped to be “back on track before next week.”

“We have some real work to do in making this right,” said Jordan, a 34-year Southwest veteran who became CEO in February. “For now, I want you to know that we are committed to that.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions, said that “meltdown” was the only word he could think of to describe this week’s events at Southwest. He noted that while cancellations across the rest of the industry declined to about 4% of scheduled flights, they remained above 60% at Southwest.

From the high rate of cancellations to customers’ inability to reach Southwest on the phone, the airline’s performance has been unacceptable, Buttigieg said. He vowed to hold the airline accountable and push it to reimburse travelers.

“They need to make sure that those stranded passengers get to where they need to go and that they are provided adequate compensation,” including for missed flights, hotels and meals, he said Wednesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Robert Mann, an aviation consultant and former airline executive, said the Transportation Department could force Southwest to pay refunds for all flights that were canceled for reasons within the airline’s control, such as lack of crews. He estimated that could total 6,000 cancellations affecting 1 million customers and adding up to $300 million.

Since Southwest plans to pay $428 million in shareholder dividends next month, “the numbers are not life-threatening, although brand damage has been done,” Mann said.

Some consumer advocates are skeptical the government will punish Southwest.

William McGee, a travel expert at the American Economic Liberties Project, noted that the Transportation Department fined Frontier Airlines and several foreign carriers for slow refunds early in the pandemic but didn't touch the four biggest U.S. airlines.

“What Pete Buttigieg should do and what he will do are probably two different things,” McGee said. His group wants a change in federal law that would make it easier for states and private parties to sue airlines for harming consumers.

On its website, Southwest told customers affected by canceled or delayed flights between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2 to submit receipts. The airline said, "We will honor reasonable requests for reimbursement for meals, hotel, and alternate transportation.”

Navy physician Lt. Cmdr. Manoj Mathew said after spending hours on hold over two days Southwest reimbursed him for the first leg of his family's trip from Washington to Houston — they drove through terrible weather after the Dec. 23 flight was canceled. Now he is worried whether Southwest will operate the return flight Sunday.

“I’m trying to reach other airlines,” he said. “There are no flights, plus it’s very expensive for us.”

Delta Air Lines said it was capping last-minute fares in Southwest markets through the weekend, and American Airlines said it too was limiting fares in “select” cities. Neither provided figures.

Leaders of Southwest labor unions have warned for years that the airline’s crew-scheduling system, which dates to the 1990s, was not keeping up as the route map grew more complicated.

“The fact is this is not the same airline that (Southwest co-founder) Herb Kelleher built where planes went point-to-point,” Randy Barnes, president of the union that represents Southwest ground workers, said Wednesday. “If airline managers had planned better, the meltdown we’ve witnessed in recent days could have been lessened or averted.”

The other large U.S. airlines use “hub and spoke” networks in which flights radiate out from a few major or hub airports. That helps limit the reach of disruptions caused by bad weather in part of the country.

Southwest, however, has a “point-to-point” network in which planes crisscross the country during the day. This can increase the utilization and efficiency of each plane, but problems in one place can ripple across the country and leave crews trapped out of position. (Crews can be stranded at hub-and-spoke airlines too.)

Those issues don't explain all the complaints that stranded travelers made about Southwest, including no ability to reach the airline on the phone and a lack of help with hotels and meals.

Teal Williams, a 48-year-old active-duty Army reservist from Utah, was stuck at the Denver airport with her husband and two teenage kids on Christmas Day after their flight to Des Moines, Iowa, was canceled. She said Southwest employees had no information about flights and didn’t offer food vouchers while elderly passengers sat in wheelchairs for hours and mothers ran out of formula for their infants.

“It was just imploding, and no one could tell you anything,” Williams said. The airline employees “were desperately trying to help, but you could tell they were just as clueless as everybody else... it was scary.”

Unable to find plane, train or bus seats, Williams and her family felt lucky to score a rental car. They drove 12 hours to Iowa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672320886223.png" alt="The U.S. Transportation Department is now investigating what happened at Southwest, which carries more passengers within the United States than any other airline.-photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Transportation Department is now investigating what happened at Southwest, which carries more passengers within the United States than any other airline.-photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Travelers who counted on Southwest Airlines to get them home suffered another wave of canceled flights Thursday, and pressure grows on the federal government to help customers get reimbursed for unexpected expenses they incurred because of the airline’s meltdown.Exhausted Southwest travelers tried finding seats on other airlines or renting cars to get to their destination, but many remained stranded. The airline’s CEO said it could be next week before the flight schedule returns to normal.Southwest Airlines has opened a self-service tool to help travelers impacted by their travel disruptions.If your flight has been significantly delayed or canceled, <a href="https://www.southwest.com/traveldisruption/?clk=CALLVOLUME_HPHERO_221227&amp;fbclid=IwAR0SKcCpcT6GdozvyXMNGoSsL0whMtEGvrkElL-G4dZYjrwheCbUTZuAbuI">click here </a>to request a refund and other services you are entitled to.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’ve let our Customers and Employees down, and we pledge to do everything we can to make it right. If you still need assistance rearranging your travel, getting a refund, or tracking down your luggage, please visit <a href="https://t.co/II3YgdPy7J">https://t.co/II3YgdPy7J</a>. <a href="https://t.co/64Fdt8jJPn">pic.twitter.com/64Fdt8jJPn</a>&mdash; Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1608303039181647873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Adontis Barber, a 34-year-old jazz pianist from Kansas City had camped out in the city’s airport since his Southwest flight was canceled Saturday, hoping to reach a New Year's gig in Washington, D.C.He left his airport vigil Wednesday. “I give up,” he said. “I’m starting to feel homeless.”By early afternoon on the East Coast, about 90% of all canceled flights Wednesday in the U.S. were on Southwest, according to the FlightAware tracking service.Other airlines recovered from ferocious winter storms that hit large swaths of the country over the weekend, but not Southwest, which scrubbed 2,500 flights Wednesday and 2,300 more on Thursday.The Dallas airline was undone by a combination of factors including an antiquated crew-scheduling system and a network design that allows cancellations in one region to cascade throughout the country rapidly. Those weaknesses are not new — they helped cause a similar failure by Southwest in October 2021.The U.S. Transportation Department is now investigating what happened at Southwest, which carries more passengers within the United States than any other airline. A Senate committee promises to investigate too.In a video that Southwest posted late Tuesday, CEO Robert Jordan said Southwest would operate a reduced schedule for several days but hoped to be “back on track before next week.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the heels of wide-scale disruptions, we&#39;re working diligently to Safely recover our operation &amp; accommodate displaced Customers &amp; Crews. We know this is unacceptable &amp; sincerely apologize. If your travel was impacted, explore self-service options here: <a href="https://t.co/B6L8HR9Yqc">https://t.co/B6L8HR9Yqc</a> <a href="https://t.co/mLWndYMned">pic.twitter.com/mLWndYMned</a>&mdash; Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1607905087074013185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We have some real work to do in making this right,” said Jordan, a 34-year Southwest veteran who became CEO in February. “For now, I want you to know that we are committed to that.”Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions, said that “meltdown” was the only word he could think of to describe this week’s events at Southwest. He noted that while cancellations across the rest of the industry declined to about 4% of scheduled flights, they remained above 60% at Southwest.From the high rate of cancellations to customers’ inability to reach Southwest on the phone, the airline’s performance has been unacceptable, Buttigieg said. He vowed to hold the airline accountable and push it to reimburse travelers.“They need to make sure that those stranded passengers get to where they need to go and that they are provided adequate compensation,” including for missed flights, hotels and meals, he said Wednesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”Robert Mann, an aviation consultant and former airline executive, said the Transportation Department could force Southwest to pay refunds for all flights that were canceled for reasons within the airline’s control, such as lack of crews. He estimated that could total 6,000 cancellations affecting 1 million customers and adding up to $300 million.Since Southwest plans to pay $428 million in shareholder dividends next month, “the numbers are not life-threatening, although brand damage has been done,” Mann said.Some consumer advocates are skeptical the government will punish Southwest.William McGee, a travel expert at the American Economic Liberties Project, noted that the Transportation Department fined Frontier Airlines and several foreign carriers for slow refunds early in the pandemic but didn't touch the four biggest U.S. airlines.“What Pete Buttigieg should do and what he will do are probably two different things,” McGee said. His group wants a change in federal law that would make it easier for states and private parties to sue airlines for harming consumers.On its website, Southwest told customers affected by canceled or delayed flights between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2 to submit receipts. The airline said, "We will honor reasonable requests for reimbursement for meals, hotel, and alternate transportation.”Navy physician Lt. Cmdr. Manoj Mathew said after spending hours on hold over two days Southwest reimbursed him for the first leg of his family's trip from Washington to Houston — they drove through terrible weather after the Dec. 23 flight was canceled. Now he is worried whether Southwest will operate the return flight Sunday.“I’m trying to reach other airlines,” he said. “There are no flights, plus it’s very expensive for us.”Delta Air Lines said it was capping last-minute fares in Southwest markets through the weekend, and American Airlines said it too was limiting fares in “select” cities. Neither provided figures.Leaders of Southwest labor unions have warned for years that the airline’s crew-scheduling system, which dates to the 1990s, was not keeping up as the route map grew more complicated.“The fact is this is not the same airline that (Southwest co-founder) Herb Kelleher built where planes went point-to-point,” Randy Barnes, president of the union that represents Southwest ground workers, said Wednesday. “If airline managers had planned better, the meltdown we’ve witnessed in recent days could have been lessened or averted.”The other large U.S. airlines use “hub and spoke” networks in which flights radiate out from a few major or hub airports. That helps limit the reach of disruptions caused by bad weather in part of the country.Southwest, however, has a “point-to-point” network in which planes crisscross the country during the day. This can increase the utilization and efficiency of each plane, but problems in one place can ripple across the country and leave crews trapped out of position. (Crews can be stranded at hub-and-spoke airlines too.)Those issues don't explain all the complaints that stranded travelers made about Southwest, including no ability to reach the airline on the phone and a lack of help with hotels and meals.Teal Williams, a 48-year-old active-duty Army reservist from Utah, was stuck at the Denver airport with her husband and two teenage kids on Christmas Day after their flight to Des Moines, Iowa, was canceled. She said Southwest employees had no information about flights and didn’t offer food vouchers while elderly passengers sat in wheelchairs for hours and mothers ran out of formula for their infants.“It was just imploding, and no one could tell you anything,” Williams said. The airline employees “were desperately trying to help, but you could tell they were just as clueless as everybody else... it was scary.”Unable to find plane, train or bus seats, Williams and her family felt lucky to score a rental car. They drove 12 hours to Iowa.

🎥 Airline offers self-service tool as travel nightmare continues

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that fatally injured a man and woman and critically injured two other men all from Wichita have arrested&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">39-year-old Kenneth Jackson</a> of Wichita.

Just before 10p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 block of South Mission in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo

At the scene, police located two victims,&nbsp;a 22-year-0ld man and a 42-year-old man, with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The victims underwent surgery and on Saturday afternoon, police reported they were reported in stable condition.

During the initial contact, officers learned that two additional victims were inside an apartment near where the two men had been shot. Officers entered the apartment and located a man and woman later identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Jose Alvarez and 22-year-old Neosha Allen unconscious and not breathing. They were pronounced deceased on the scene.

Due to the lack of cooperation from some of the victims and witnesses, investigators were not initially able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp;

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">Jackson is being held </a>on requested charges of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery, according to Rebelledo.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671918579268.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that fatally injured a man and woman and critically injured two other men all from Wichita have arrested&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">39-year-old Kenneth Jackson</a> of Wichita.Just before 10p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 block of South Mission in Wichita, according to Officer Juan RebolledoAt the scene, police located two victims,&nbsp;a 22-year-0ld man and a 42-year-old man, with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The victims underwent surgery and on Saturday afternoon, police reported they were reported in stable condition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672319423009.png" alt="In June, police arrested Jackson on requested charges for flee or attempt to elude, driving without a valid license, reckless driving and for drugs, according to Sedgwick Co. booking records." />
 <figcaption>In June, police arrested Jackson on requested charges for flee or attempt to elude, driving without a valid license, reckless driving and for drugs, according to Sedgwick Co. booking records.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the initial contact, officers learned that two additional victims were inside an apartment near where the two men had been shot. Officers entered the apartment and located a man and woman later identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Jose Alvarez and 22-year-old Neosha Allen unconscious and not breathing. They were pronounced deceased on the scene.Due to the lack of cooperation from some of the victims and witnesses, investigators were not initially able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">Jackson is being held </a>on requested charges of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery, according to Rebelledo.&nbsp;

Police capture suspect in Kansas double-murder 

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. announced new COVID-19 testing requirements Wednesday for all travelers from China, joining other nations imposing restrictions because of a surge of infections.

The increase in cases across China follows the rollback of the nation's strict anti-virus controls. China's “zero COVID” policies had kept the country's infection rate low but fueled public frustration and crushed economic growth.

The new U.S. requirements, which start Jan. 5, apply to travelers regardless of their nationality and vaccination status.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1228-COVID-china.html">statement explaining the testing</a>, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of adequate and transparent information from China, including genomic sequencing on the viral strains circulating in the country.

“These data are critical to monitor the case surge effectively and decrease the chance for entry of a novel variant of concern,” the CDC said.

Some scientists are worried&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-china-covid-306b688d84e31a9462f82d0ead1f4584">the COVID-19 surge in China could unleash a new coronavirus variant</a>&nbsp;on the world that may or may not be similar to the ones circulating now. That’s because every infection is another chance for the virus to mutate.

“What we want to avoid is having a variant enter into the U.S. and spread like we saw with delta or omicron,” said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

But the CDC's action may be less about stopping a new variant from crossing U.S. borders and more about increasing pressure on China to share more information, said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, adding he hopes the restrictions "aren’t kept in place longer than they need to be.”

“I don’t think it’s going to have a major impact in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Dowdy said. “We have a whole lot of transmission of COVID-19 here within our borders already.”

Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University, agreed China isn't sharing enough genomic sequencing information. But he also said the U.S. has become a little complacent about sequencing and needs to redouble its own efforts. The CDC also announced the expansion of an early warning program that tests volunteers at select airports for new and rare variants of the coronavirus. That program will expand to airports in Seattle and Los Angeles.

Under the new U.S. rules, travelers to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong and Macau, will be required to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before boarding their flight. The testing applies to anyone 2 years and older, including U.S. citizens.

It will apply to people traveling from China via a third country and to people connecting through the U.S. as they go on to other destinations. Anyone testing positive more than 10 days before the flight can provide documentation showing they’ve recovered from COVID-19 instead of a negative test result.

It will be up to the airlines to confirm negative tests and documentation of recovery before passengers board.

Other countries have taken similar steps in an effort to keep infections from spreading beyond China's borders. Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travelers from China, and Malaysia announced new tracking and surveillance measures. India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan are requiring virus tests for visitors from China.

Lunar New Year, which begins Jan. 22, is usually China's busiest travel season, and China announced Tuesday it will resume issuing passports for tourism for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

“We look forward to welcoming Chinese travelers back to the United States,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement. He called the U.S. approach to testing inbound travelers “reasonable and appreciated.”

The U.S. action is a return to testing requirements for some international travelers. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-travel-government-and-politics-air-af509c58df1c931caac6ecf957ea1aed">Biden administration lifted the last of such mandates in June</a>. At that time, the CDC continued to recommend that people boarding flights to the U.S. get tested close to departure time and not travel if they are sick.

“We’ve done this before. We can do it again,” Dowdy said.

Early in the pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-9e22f8aabe2f454593b9f9b4c67eb31f">the U.S. barred entry to foreigners traveling from China,</a>&nbsp;weeks after the virus first emerged there three years ago, and dozens of other countries were added to the list. The country started lifting travel bans late last year, but required travelers to the U.S. to be vaccinated and tested.&nbsp;

BEIJING (AP) — China says it will resume issuing passports for tourism in another big step away from anti-virus controls that isolated the country for almost three years, setting up a potential flood of Chinese going abroad for next month’s Lunar New Year holiday.

The announcement Tuesday adds to abrupt changes that are rolling back some of the world’s strictest anti-virus controls as President Xi Jinping's government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/floods-health-business-beijing-covid-f0253b7a9a888a56835cb9bb09364b2d">tries to reverse an economic slump.</a>&nbsp;Rules that confined millions of people to their homes kept China’s infection rate low but fueled public frustration and crushed economic growth.

The latest decision could send free-spending Chinese tourists to revenue-starved destinations in Asia and Europe for Lunar New Year, which begins Jan. 22 and usually is the country's busiest travel season. But it also presents a danger they might spread COVID-19 as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-d0718b53ded7fb1a70c2db8e564ed072">infections surge in China.</a>

Travel services companies Trip.com and Qunar said international ticket bookings and searches for visa information on their websites rose five to eight times after Tuesday's announcement. Top destinations included Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, Britain and Australia.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-japan-covid-0935f496eea6a5be28ae0fc5f8a44ea7">Japan, India, South Korea and Taiwan</a>&nbsp;have responded to the Chinese wave of infections by requiring virus tests for visitors from China.

China stopped issuing visas to foreigners and passports to its own people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

The National Immigration Administration of China said it will start taking applications Jan. 8 for passports for tourists to go abroad.

The agency said it will take applications to extend, renew or reissue visas but gave no indication when they might be issued to first-time applicants.

China will “gradually resume” admitting foreign visitors, the agency said. It gave no indication when tourist travel from abroad might resume.

The changes will “create better conditions for orderly cross-border travel" and "bring more benefits to global economic development,” said a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin.

China will “work with all countries” to “restore safety and stability to global industrial and supply chains and promote world economic recovery,” Wang said.

Health experts and economists expect the ruling Communist Party to keep limits on travel into China until at least mid-2023 while it carries out a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-0ad4ad8851cb1cea47a67abd16024c15">campaign to vaccinate millions of elderly people.</a>&nbsp;Experts say that is necessary to prevent a public health crisis.

During the pandemic, Chinese with family emergencies or work travel deemed important could obtain passports, but some students and businesspeople with visas to go to foreign countries were blocked by border guards from leaving. The handful of foreign businesspeople and others who were allowed into China were quarantined for up to one week.

Before the pandemic, China was the biggest source of foreign tourists for most of its Asian neighbors and an important market for Europe and the United States.

The government has dropped or eased most quarantine, testing and other restrictions within China, joining the United States, Japan and other governments in trying to live with the virus instead of stamping out transmission.

Japan and India have begun requiring virus tests for travelers from China. South Korea tests all visitors with elevated temperatures. South Korea says anyone who tests positive will be quarantined at home or in a hotel for a week.

South Korean officials said possible additional measures for arrivals from China will be announced Friday.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to relate internal discussions, said Washington is considering taking similar steps.

Taiwan on Wednesday announced visitors from China will be tested starting Jan. 1.

Hong Kong authorities said Wednesday they would scrap some of the city's COVID-19 restrictions, including PCR tests for all inbound travelers and vaccination requirements to enter certain venues. The easing comes as the southern city prepares for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-china-beijing-xi-jinping-ec64078ae99587e02ff5e91c5f0cf490">reopening of borders with mainland China next month.</a>

On Monday, the Chinese government said it would remove&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-covid-ce7061b5d5c1782eefc1f05c79ddd835">quarantine requirements for travelers arriving from abroad,</a>&nbsp;also effective Jan. 8. Foreign companies welcomed the change as an important step to revive slumping business activity.

Business groups have warned global companies were shifting investment away from China because foreign executives were blocked from visiting.

The American Chamber of Commerce in China says more than 70% of companies that responded to a poll this month expect the impact of the latest wave of outbreaks to last no more than three months, ending in early 2023.

The government has stopped reporting nationwide case numbers but announcements by some cities indicate at least tens and possibly hundreds of millions of people might have been infected since the surge began in early October.

Experts have forecast 1 million to 2 million deaths in China through the end of 2023.

Also Monday, the government downgraded the official seriousness of COVID-19 and removed it from a list of illnesses that require quarantine. It said authorities would stop tracking close contacts and designating areas as being at high or low risk of infection.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. announced new COVID-19 testing requirements Wednesday for all travelers from China, joining other nations imposing restrictions because of a surge of infections.The increase in cases across China follows the rollback of the nation's strict anti-virus controls. China's “zero COVID” policies had kept the country's infection rate low but fueled public frustration and crushed economic growth.The new U.S. requirements, which start Jan. 5, apply to travelers regardless of their nationality and vaccination status.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1228-COVID-china.html">statement explaining the testing</a>, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of adequate and transparent information from China, including genomic sequencing on the viral strains circulating in the country.“These data are critical to monitor the case surge effectively and decrease the chance for entry of a novel variant of concern,” the CDC said.Some scientists are worried&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-china-covid-306b688d84e31a9462f82d0ead1f4584">the COVID-19 surge in China could unleash a new coronavirus variant</a>&nbsp;on the world that may or may not be similar to the ones circulating now. That’s because every infection is another chance for the virus to mutate.“What we want to avoid is having a variant enter into the U.S. and spread like we saw with delta or omicron,” said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.But the CDC's action may be less about stopping a new variant from crossing U.S. borders and more about increasing pressure on China to share more information, said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, adding he hopes the restrictions "aren’t kept in place longer than they need to be.”“I don’t think it’s going to have a major impact in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Dowdy said. “We have a whole lot of transmission of COVID-19 here within our borders already.”Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University, agreed China isn't sharing enough genomic sequencing information. But he also said the U.S. has become a little complacent about sequencing and needs to redouble its own efforts. The CDC also announced the expansion of an early warning program that tests volunteers at select airports for new and rare variants of the coronavirus. That program will expand to airports in Seattle and Los Angeles.Under the new U.S. rules, travelers to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong and Macau, will be required to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before boarding their flight. The testing applies to anyone 2 years and older, including U.S. citizens.It will apply to people traveling from China via a third country and to people connecting through the U.S. as they go on to other destinations. Anyone testing positive more than 10 days before the flight can provide documentation showing they’ve recovered from COVID-19 instead of a negative test result.It will be up to the airlines to confirm negative tests and documentation of recovery before passengers board.Other countries have taken similar steps in an effort to keep infections from spreading beyond China's borders. Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travelers from China, and Malaysia announced new tracking and surveillance measures. India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan are requiring virus tests for visitors from China.Lunar New Year, which begins Jan. 22, is usually China's busiest travel season, and China announced Tuesday it will resume issuing passports for tourism for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020.“We look forward to welcoming Chinese travelers back to the United States,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement. He called the U.S. approach to testing inbound travelers “reasonable and appreciated.”The U.S. action is a return to testing requirements for some international travelers. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-travel-government-and-politics-air-af509c58df1c931caac6ecf957ea1aed">Biden administration lifted the last of such mandates in June</a>. At that time, the CDC continued to recommend that people boarding flights to the U.S. get tested close to departure time and not travel if they are sick.“We’ve done this before. We can do it again,” Dowdy said.Early in the pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-9e22f8aabe2f454593b9f9b4c67eb31f">the U.S. barred entry to foreigners traveling from China,</a>&nbsp;weeks after the virus first emerged there three years ago, and dozens of other countries were added to the list. The country started lifting travel bans late last year, but required travelers to the U.S. to be vaccinated and tested.&nbsp;------------BEIJING (AP) — China says it will resume issuing passports for tourism in another big step away from anti-virus controls that isolated the country for almost three years, setting up a potential flood of Chinese going abroad for next month’s Lunar New Year holiday.The announcement Tuesday adds to abrupt changes that are rolling back some of the world’s strictest anti-virus controls as President Xi Jinping's government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/floods-health-business-beijing-covid-f0253b7a9a888a56835cb9bb09364b2d">tries to reverse an economic slump.</a>&nbsp;Rules that confined millions of people to their homes kept China’s infection rate low but fueled public frustration and crushed economic growth.The latest decision could send free-spending Chinese tourists to revenue-starved destinations in Asia and Europe for Lunar New Year, which begins Jan. 22 and usually is the country's busiest travel season. But it also presents a danger they might spread COVID-19 as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-d0718b53ded7fb1a70c2db8e564ed072">infections surge in China.</a>Travel services companies Trip.com and Qunar said international ticket bookings and searches for visa information on their websites rose five to eight times after Tuesday's announcement. Top destinations included Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, Britain and Australia.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-japan-covid-0935f496eea6a5be28ae0fc5f8a44ea7">Japan, India, South Korea and Taiwan</a>&nbsp;have responded to the Chinese wave of infections by requiring virus tests for visitors from China.China stopped issuing visas to foreigners and passports to its own people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.The National Immigration Administration of China said it will start taking applications Jan. 8 for passports for tourists to go abroad.The agency said it will take applications to extend, renew or reissue visas but gave no indication when they might be issued to first-time applicants.China will “gradually resume” admitting foreign visitors, the agency said. It gave no indication when tourist travel from abroad might resume.The changes will “create better conditions for orderly cross-border travel" and "bring more benefits to global economic development,” said a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin.China will “work with all countries” to “restore safety and stability to global industrial and supply chains and promote world economic recovery,” Wang said.Health experts and economists expect the ruling Communist Party to keep limits on travel into China until at least mid-2023 while it carries out a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-0ad4ad8851cb1cea47a67abd16024c15">campaign to vaccinate millions of elderly people.</a>&nbsp;Experts say that is necessary to prevent a public health crisis.During the pandemic, Chinese with family emergencies or work travel deemed important could obtain passports, but some students and businesspeople with visas to go to foreign countries were blocked by border guards from leaving. The handful of foreign businesspeople and others who were allowed into China were quarantined for up to one week.Before the pandemic, China was the biggest source of foreign tourists for most of its Asian neighbors and an important market for Europe and the United States.The government has dropped or eased most quarantine, testing and other restrictions within China, joining the United States, Japan and other governments in trying to live with the virus instead of stamping out transmission.Japan and India have begun requiring virus tests for travelers from China. South Korea tests all visitors with elevated temperatures. South Korea says anyone who tests positive will be quarantined at home or in a hotel for a week.South Korean officials said possible additional measures for arrivals from China will be announced Friday.U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to relate internal discussions, said Washington is considering taking similar steps.Taiwan on Wednesday announced visitors from China will be tested starting Jan. 1.Hong Kong authorities said Wednesday they would scrap some of the city's COVID-19 restrictions, including PCR tests for all inbound travelers and vaccination requirements to enter certain venues. The easing comes as the southern city prepares for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-china-beijing-xi-jinping-ec64078ae99587e02ff5e91c5f0cf490">reopening of borders with mainland China next month.</a>On Monday, the Chinese government said it would remove&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-covid-ce7061b5d5c1782eefc1f05c79ddd835">quarantine requirements for travelers arriving from abroad,</a>&nbsp;also effective Jan. 8. Foreign companies welcomed the change as an important step to revive slumping business activity.Business groups have warned global companies were shifting investment away from China because foreign executives were blocked from visiting.The American Chamber of Commerce in China says more than 70% of companies that responded to a poll this month expect the impact of the latest wave of outbreaks to last no more than three months, ending in early 2023.The government has stopped reporting nationwide case numbers but announcements by some cities indicate at least tens and possibly hundreds of millions of people might have been infected since the surge began in early October.Experts have forecast 1 million to 2 million deaths in China through the end of 2023.Also Monday, the government downgraded the official seriousness of COVID-19 and removed it from a list of illnesses that require quarantine. It said authorities would stop tracking close contacts and designating areas as being at high or low risk of infection.___

US set to again require COVID tests for travelers from China  

CASS COUNTY —Two inmates who escaped Dec. 12 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City are still missing, according to the FBI.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 each for information that leads directly to the capture of 33-year-old Trevor Sparks and 43-year-old Sergio Perez- Martinez. The FBI is offering $10k each to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of&nbsp; Martinez or Sparks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Perez-Martinez of Panorama City, California and Sparks of Kansas City escaped on Monay. Authorities did not know they were missing until Tuesday.

Perez Mertinez&nbsp; was being held for possession of dangerous drugs. Sparks was jailed on money laundering charges, according to the sheriff's office.

A third individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, has been charged&nbsp; with aiding or assisting in the escape.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (816) 380-5200, or call 911.&nbsp; Submit a tip to the Marshals<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2np8V0SoqQyr6Znkz_ykiw2FsK7SY3PkQN_uuUCJz41bCD_XDGusIXZJw"> here</a>&nbsp; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at <a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670539649262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —Two inmates who escaped Dec. 12 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City are still missing, according to the FBI.The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 each for information that leads directly to the capture of 33-year-old Trevor Sparks and 43-year-old Sergio Perez- Martinez. The FBI is offering $10k each to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of&nbsp; Martinez or Sparks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670539680558.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Perez-Martinez of Panorama City, California and Sparks of Kansas City escaped on Monay. Authorities did not know they were missing until Tuesday.Perez Mertinez&nbsp; was being held for possession of dangerous drugs. Sparks was jailed on money laundering charges, according to the sheriff's office.A third individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, has been charged&nbsp; with aiding or assisting in the escape. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (816) 380-5200, or call 911.&nbsp; Submit a tip to the Marshals<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2np8V0SoqQyr6Znkz_ykiw2FsK7SY3PkQN_uuUCJz41bCD_XDGusIXZJw"> here</a>&nbsp; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at <a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Search continues, reward offered for 2 KC-area fugitives

OTTAWA COUNTY —The Ottawa County Sheriff's office is warning residents of a property scam. On the department's social media page,&nbsp; Sheriff Russ Thorton wrote, "Citizens Of Ottawa County, it has been brought to our attention that several of you have received a letter from “Tekoa Da Silva” wanting to buy your land. I did some research on Mr. Da Silva on the internet and he has done the same thing in many different counties in Kansas where citizens have been warned about doing business with him."

'I called and spoke with Mr. Da Silva or someone claiming to be him, regarding the letters. I notified Edmond City PD about Mr. Da Silva and the activity we are dealing with here in our County."

"First, Mr. Da Silva does not have the funds to purchase your ground at the low offer he gave or any offer to be honest. He admitted this to me over the phone.  Second, the “Purchase Agreement Form” does not appear to be a legitimate document and would not be legally binding.  Third, the address that he has on the letter and the purchase agreement is only a PO Box in Edmond OK, it is not an actual business address."

"Regardless of whether the document is legal or not Mr. Da Silva is asking for personal information that you should never give freely to people.  The world we live in today is not as honest as it once was.  This is not how normal business is conducted, why would someone want to purchase something sight unseen.  We will do everything we can at our office to protect our citizens who aren’t as familiar with these scams. We are asking for family and friends who can help educate and protect others from this kind of activity to do so."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672287275206.jpeg" alt="Tekoa Da Silva-Photo&nbsp;Ottawa County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Tekoa Da Silva-Photo&nbsp;Ottawa County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>OTTAWA COUNTY —The Ottawa County Sheriff's office is warning residents of a property scam. On the department's social media page,&nbsp; Sheriff Russ Thorton wrote, "Citizens Of Ottawa County, it has been brought to our attention that several of you have received a letter from “Tekoa Da Silva” wanting to buy your land. I did some research on Mr. Da Silva on the internet and he has done the same thing in many different counties in Kansas where citizens have been warned about doing business with him." 'I called and spoke with Mr. Da Silva or someone claiming to be him, regarding the letters. I notified Edmond City PD about Mr. Da Silva and the activity we are dealing with here in our County." "First, Mr. Da Silva does not have the funds to purchase your ground at the low offer he gave or any offer to be honest. He admitted this to me over the phone. Second, the “Purchase Agreement Form” does not appear to be a legitimate document and would not be legally binding. Third, the address that he has on the letter and the purchase agreement is only a PO Box in Edmond OK, it is not an actual business address.""Regardless of whether the document is legal or not Mr. Da Silva is asking for personal information that you should never give freely to people. The world we live in today is not as honest as it once was. This is not how normal business is conducted, why would someone want to purchase something sight unseen. We will do everything we can at our office to protect our citizens who aren’t as familiar with these scams. We are asking for family and friends who can help educate and protect others from this kind of activity to do so."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672287516932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kansas sheriff warns residents of land purchase scam

NEOSHO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a woman's death in Neosho County have made an arrest.

On Dec. 6, deputies from the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a welfare check at 6845 160th&nbsp;Road in Chanute, according to a media release from the KBI.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, in North Carolina contacted Kansas officials that prompted concern for a woman who lived at the residence.

Deputies searched the property and located the deceased body of Elaina M. Asprea, 47, of Chanute. She was found next to a field, near the residence. Asprea was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators developed a person of interest in the case as Asprea’s boyfriend 37-year-old Joseph R. Deluca who was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Dec. 5, on a Robeson County warrant for charges unrelated to this case. .

On Dec. 28, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of Deluca on requested charges of second-degree murder in the death of Asprea.

The arrest warrant was served at the Cumberland County Detention Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina where Deluca is being held on unrelated charges.

NEOSHO COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a woman was found dead at a rural residence in Chanute, Kansas.

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, at approximately 5 p.m., deputies from the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a welfare check at 6845 160th&nbsp;Road in Chanute, according to a media release from the KBI.

A person of interest has been developed in this case. Asprea’s boyfriend, Joseph R. Deluca, 37, was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Dec. 5, on a Robeson County warrant for charges unrelated to this case. He is currently in police custody at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Dec. 9.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670451415359.png" alt="Deluca-photo Robeson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Deluca-photo Robeson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>NEOSHO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a woman's death in Neosho County have made an arrest.On Dec. 6, deputies from the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a welfare check at 6845 160th&nbsp;Road in Chanute, according to a media release from the KBI.The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, in North Carolina contacted Kansas officials that prompted concern for a woman who lived at the residence.Deputies searched the property and located the deceased body of Elaina M. Asprea, 47, of Chanute. She was found next to a field, near the residence. Asprea was pronounced dead at the scene.Investigators developed a person of interest in the case as Asprea’s boyfriend 37-year-old Joseph R. Deluca who was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Dec. 5, on a Robeson County warrant for charges unrelated to this case. .On Dec. 28, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of Deluca on requested charges of second-degree murder in the death of Asprea.The arrest warrant was served at the Cumberland County Detention Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina where Deluca is being held on unrelated charges.------------NEOSHO COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a woman was found dead at a rural residence in Chanute, Kansas.On Tuesday, Dec. 6, at approximately 5 p.m., deputies from the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a welfare check at 6845 160th&nbsp;Road in Chanute, according to a media release from the KBI.The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, in North Carolina contacted Kansas officials that prompted concern for a woman who lived at the residence.Deputies searched the property and located the deceased body of Elaina M. Asprea, 47, of Chanute. She was found next to a field, near the residence. Asprea was pronounced dead at the scene.A person of interest has been developed in this case. Asprea’s boyfriend, Joseph R. Deluca, 37, was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Dec. 5, on a Robeson County warrant for charges unrelated to this case. He is currently in police custody at the Cumberland County Detention Center.An autopsy has been scheduled for Dec. 9.

Man jailed in No. Carolina accused of Kan. girlfriend's murder

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Veterinarians at the Sedgwick County zoo reported late Wednesday that a necropsy revealed the cause of a popular baby chimp's death was head trauma.

According to the Sedgwick County Zoo, "Our team is still trying to make sense of it all, but the reality of the situation is that we will simply never know what led to chimp's injuries."

"Based on the family social dynamics and what we know of each individual chimp, we believe that whatever happened that night was an accident."

"We do not believe that is an example of infanticide, which is the intentional killing of infants and is known to happen in wild chimpanzee populations."

"The family had been together without incident for two weeks, and his injuries were not characteristic of injuries associated with infanticide."

"The baby chimp, Kucheza (koo-CHAY-zuh) which means “play” in Swahili, left a huge imprint on our world in his short time here, and we thank each one of our friends for your love and support during this very difficult time."

When the chimp was born, he had to be put on oxygen for a few days. Click below to watch the video, that received national attention, of the moment mother and baby were reunited.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — "Everyone is doing well and working through the healing process following the death on Thursday of popular baby chimp&nbsp;Kucheza born in November, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Zoo.

"The chimp family has been quiet and subdued, but have started vocally greeting keepers again which is a good sign."

"Sukari, one of the zoo's other female chimps, has been giving&nbsp;Kucheza's mother Mahale lots of extra attention and grooming. The chimps are all staying close together and nesting near each other."

The zoo reports they have been utilizing extra enrichment to keep the family distracted and provide comfort as they heal and process the week’s events.&nbsp; The zoo veterinarians have performed a necropsy now waiting on results to determine the cause of Kucheza’s death.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A popular baby chimp born in mid-November at The Sedgwick County Zoo died Thursday morning.

According to a statement from the zoo, "Friends, our hearts are broken. It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Kucheza, 5-week-old chimpanzee."

Keepers found Kucheza (koo-CHAY-zuh) which means “play” in Swahili, deceased, and cradled in his mother Mahale’s arms, when they arrived at the zoo Thursday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668771125682.png" alt="photo courtesy Sedgwick County zoo" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Sedgwick County zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Veterinarians at the Sedgwick County zoo reported late Wednesday that a necropsy revealed the cause of a popular baby chimp's death was head trauma.According to the Sedgwick County Zoo, "Our team is still trying to make sense of it all, but the reality of the situation is that we will simply never know what led to chimp's injuries.""Based on the family social dynamics and what we know of each individual chimp, we believe that whatever happened that night was an accident.""We do not believe that is an example of infanticide, which is the intentional killing of infants and is known to happen in wild chimpanzee populations.""The family had been together without incident for two weeks, and his injuries were not characteristic of injuries associated with infanticide.""The baby chimp, Kucheza (koo-CHAY-zuh) which means “play” in Swahili, left a huge imprint on our world in his short time here, and we thank each one of our friends for your love and support during this very difficult time."When the chimp was born, he had to be put on oxygen for a few days. Click below to watch the video, that received national attention, of the moment mother and baby were reunited.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=322&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSedgwickCountyZoo%2Fvideos%2F492332559533758%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="322" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>----------------SEDGWICK COUNTY — "Everyone is doing well and working through the healing process following the death on Thursday of popular baby chimp&nbsp;Kucheza born in November, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Zoo."The chimp family has been quiet and subdued, but have started vocally greeting keepers again which is a good sign.""Sukari, one of the zoo's other female chimps, has been giving&nbsp;Kucheza's mother Mahale lots of extra attention and grooming. The chimps are all staying close together and nesting near each other."The zoo reports they have been utilizing extra enrichment to keep the family distracted and provide comfort as they heal and process the week’s events.&nbsp; The zoo veterinarians have performed a necropsy now waiting on results to determine the cause of Kucheza’s death.&nbsp; ----------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A popular baby chimp born in mid-November at The Sedgwick County Zoo died Thursday morning.According to a statement from the zoo, "Friends, our hearts are broken. It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Kucheza, 5-week-old chimpanzee."Keepers found Kucheza (koo-CHAY-zuh) which means “play” in Swahili, deceased, and cradled in his mother Mahale’s arms, when they arrived at the zoo Thursday morning."Mahale is not quite ready to part with him, but when our team is able, a full medical assessment will be done to determine the cause of death."When the chimp was born, he had to be put on oxygen for a few days. Click below to watch the video, that received national attention, of the moment mother and baby were reunited.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=322&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSedgwickCountyZoo%2Fvideos%2F492332559533758%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="322" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>"Mahale’s love for Kucheza was and will continue to be felt by billions of people around the world. In his few short weeks of life, Kucheza brought joy and light to so many, and sparked an opportunity to educate the world about chimpanzees, the dangers they face in the wild, and most importantly - why we should care.""We’ll continue to share these messages and inspire respect and conservation for Kucheza’s wild counterparts in his honor."