SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman both from Wichita.

Just before 6a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1100 block of North Harding in Wichita, according to officer Juan Rebolledo.

 Upon arrival, officers located the two victims with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. They underwent surgery and are in critical condition.

Investigators have not been able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting. This was not a random incident, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672172478823.png" alt="Scene of the shooting investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the shooting investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman both from Wichita.Just before 6a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1100 block of North Harding in Wichita, according to officer Juan Rebolledo. Upon arrival, officers located the two victims with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. They underwent surgery and are in critical condition.Investigators have not been able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting. This was not a random incident, according to Rebolledo.

Police: Kansas man, teen girl critically injured in shooting

JACKSON COUNTY— A Kansas City man charged in the October double-murder of Chantell Gipson and Austin Scott is still at large.

Glenn A. Pulluaim II, 28, faces two Murder 1st Degree charges and two Armed Criminal Action charges, according to Jackson County. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

According to court records, on Oct. 17, Kansas City police&nbsp; were dispatched to the 8700 block of Chestnut Circle to check on the welfare of an individual. 

Inside an apartment, police officers found the body of Chantell Gipson. She had been shot. In another bedroom they found the second victim, Austin Scott, Gipson's cousin. 

Witnesses helped identify Pulluaiam. His DNA profile was founnd&nbsp; on spent shells found at the crime scene.

Pulluaim fled the scene im the victim's vehicle. Police recovered the vehicle and have exhausted all leads in an attempted to find him.&nbsp;

Pulluaim is described as 6-foot,&nbsp;&nbsp;thin build with&nbsp; shoulder length dreadlocks. He should be considered armed and dangerous. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671103315937.png" alt="Pulluaim-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Pulluaim-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY— A Kansas City man charged in the October double-murder of Chantell Gipson and Austin Scott is still at large.Glenn A. Pulluaim II, 28, faces two Murder 1st Degree charges and two Armed Criminal Action charges, according to Jackson County. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.According to court records, on Oct. 17, Kansas City police&nbsp; were dispatched to the 8700 block of Chestnut Circle to check on the welfare of an individual. Inside an apartment, police officers found the body of Chantell Gipson. She had been shot. In another bedroom they found the second victim, Austin Scott, Gipson's cousin. Witnesses helped identify Pulluaiam. His DNA profile was founnd&nbsp; on spent shells found at the crime scene.Pulluaim fled the scene im the victim's vehicle. Police recovered the vehicle and have exhausted all leads in an attempted to find him.&nbsp;Pulluaim is described as 6-foot,&nbsp;&nbsp;thin build with&nbsp; shoulder length dreadlocks. He should be considered armed and dangerous. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

Kansas City double-murder suspect is sill at large

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan issued an apology on social media.

A day after most U.S. airlines had recovered from the storm, Southwest called off about 2,600 more flights on the East Coast by late afternoon. Those flights accounted for more than 80% of the 3,000 trips that got canceled nationwide Tuesday, according to tracking service FlightAware.

And the chaos seemed certain to continue. The airline also scrubbed 2,500 flights for Wednesday and nearly 1,400 for Thursday as it tried to restore order to its mangled schedule.

At airports with major Southwest operations, customers stood in long lines hoping to find a seat on another flight. They described waiting hours on hold for help, only to be cut off. Some tried to rent cars to get to their destinations sooner. Others found spots to sleep on the floor. Luggage piled up in huge heaps.

Conrad Stoll, a 66-year-old retired construction worker in Missouri, planned to fly from Kansas City to Los Angeles for his father's 90th birthday party until his Southwest flight was canceled early Tuesday. He said he won't get to see his 88-year-old mother either.

"I went there in 2019, and she looked at me and said, 'I'm not going to see you again.'" Stoll said. "My sister has been taking care of them, and she's just like, 'They're really losing it really quick.'"

Stoll hopes to get another chance to see his parents in the spring, when the weather is warmer.

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."

Jordan blamed the winter storm for snarling the airline's "highly complex" network. He said Southwest's tools for recovering from disruptions work "99% of the time, but clearly we need to double down" on upgrading systems to avoid a repeat of this 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."

The problems began over the weekend and snowballed Monday, when Southwest called off more than 70% of its flights.

That was after the worst of the storm had passed. The airline said many pilots and flight attendants were out of position to work their flights. Leaders of unions representing Southwest pilots and flight attendants blamed antiquated crew-scheduling software and criticized company management.

Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said the airline failed to fix problems that caused a similar meltdown in October 2021.

"There is a lot of frustration because this is so preventable," Murray said. "The airline cannot connect crews to airplanes. The airline didn't even know where pilots were at."

Murray said managers resorted this week to asking pilots at some airports to report to a central location, where they wrote down the names of pilots who were present and forwarded the lists to headquarters.

Lyn Montgomery, president of the Transport Workers Union representing Southwest flight attendants, said she and other labor leaders have repeatedly told management that the airline's scheduling technology is not good enough.

"This has been something we have seen coming," she said. "This is a very catastrophic event."

The airline is now drawing unwanted attention from Washington.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions, said his agency would examine the causes of Southwest's widespread cancellations and whether the airline was meeting its legal obligations to stranded customers.

"While we all understand that you can't control the weather, this has clearly crossed the line from what is an uncontrollable weather situation to something that is the airline's direct responsibility," Buttigieg told "NBC Nightly News." He said Southwest should at least pay cash refunds for canceled flights and cover stranded passengers' hotel and meal costs.

In Congress, the Senate Commerce Committee also promised an investigation. Two Senate Democrats called on Southwest to provide "significant" compensation for stranded travelers, saying that the airline has the money because it plans to pay $428 million in dividends next month.

Bryce Burger and his family were supposed to be on a cruise to Mexico departing from San Diego on Dec. 24, but their flight from Denver was canceled without warning. The flight was rebooked through Burbank, California, but that flight was canceled while they sat at the gate.

"It's horrible," Burger said Tuesday by phone from Salt Lake City, where the family decided to drive after giving up the cruise.

The family's luggage is still at the Denver airport, and Burger doesn't know if he can get a refund for the cruise because the flight to California was booked separately.

The size and severity of the storm created havoc for many airlines, although the largest number of canceled flights Tuesday were at airports where Southwest is a major carrier, including Denver, Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Baltimore and Dallas.

Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines both canceled about 10% of their flights, with much smaller cancellation percentages at American, Delta, United and JetBlue.

Kristie Smiley planned to return home to Los Angeles until Southwest canceled her Tuesday flight, so she waited at the Kansas City airport for her mother to pick her up. Southwest can't put her on another plane until Sunday, New Year's Day.

Smiley said the airline kept blaming the weather after the storm passed and didn't tell passengers why planes couldn't take off.

"They like acted like (Tuesday's flight) was going to go until they started saying, 'Oh, five more minutes. Oh, 10 more minutes.' I'm not sure what's up with them. It seems a little off," she said.

Danielle Zanin vowed never to fly Southwest again after it took four days, several canceled flights and sleeping in the airport before she, her husband and their two young children got home to Illinois from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They made stops at airports in Denver and Phoenix and reached Chicago only after ditching Southwest and paying $1,400 for four one-way tickets on American Airlines.

"I remember saying, 'Oh my God, we're getting on a plane!' I was honestly shocked because I thought we were stuck in airports forever," she said.

Zanin plans to ask Southwest to be reimbursed for part of their original tickets plus the new ones on American, and extra spending on rental cars, parking, an Uber ride and food — about $2,000 in all.

"I don't have good faith that they will do much of anything," she said.

Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, Thalia Beaty in New York and Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672191058148.png" alt="Denver International Airport on Tuesday- photo courtesy KMGH" />
 <figcaption>Denver International Airport on Tuesday- photo courtesy KMGH</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines WriterDALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan issued an apology on social media.<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>A day after most U.S. airlines had recovered from the storm, Southwest called off about 2,600 more flights on the East Coast by late afternoon. Those flights accounted for more than 80% of the 3,000 trips that got canceled nationwide Tuesday, according to tracking service FlightAware.And the chaos seemed certain to continue. The airline also scrubbed 2,500 flights for Wednesday and nearly 1,400 for Thursday as it tried to restore order to its mangled schedule.At airports with major Southwest operations, customers stood in long lines hoping to find a seat on another flight. They described waiting hours on hold for help, only to be cut off. Some tried to rent cars to get to their destinations sooner. Others found spots to sleep on the floor. Luggage piled up in huge heaps.Conrad Stoll, a 66-year-old retired construction worker in Missouri, planned to fly from Kansas City to Los Angeles for his father's 90th birthday party until his Southwest flight was canceled early Tuesday. He said he won't get to see his 88-year-old mother either."I went there in 2019, and she looked at me and said, 'I'm not going to see you again.'" Stoll said. "My sister has been taking care of them, and she's just like, 'They're really losing it really quick.'"Stoll hopes to get another chance to see his parents in the spring, when the weather is warmer.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."Jordan blamed the winter storm for snarling the airline's "highly complex" network. He said Southwest's tools for recovering from disruptions work "99% of the time, but clearly we need to double down" on upgrading systems to avoid a repeat of this 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."The problems began over the weekend and snowballed Monday, when Southwest called off more than 70% of its flights.That was after the worst of the storm had passed. The airline said many pilots and flight attendants were out of position to work their flights. Leaders of unions representing Southwest pilots and flight attendants blamed antiquated crew-scheduling software and criticized company management.Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said the airline failed to fix problems that caused a similar meltdown in October 2021."There is a lot of frustration because this is so preventable," Murray said. "The airline cannot connect crews to airplanes. The airline didn't even know where pilots were at."Murray said managers resorted this week to asking pilots at some airports to report to a central location, where they wrote down the names of pilots who were present and forwarded the lists to headquarters.Lyn Montgomery, president of the Transport Workers Union representing Southwest flight attendants, said she and other labor leaders have repeatedly told management that the airline's scheduling technology is not good enough."This has been something we have seen coming," she said. "This is a very catastrophic event."The airline is now drawing unwanted attention from Washington.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions, said his agency would examine the causes of Southwest's widespread cancellations and whether the airline was meeting its legal obligations to stranded customers."While we all understand that you can't control the weather, this has clearly crossed the line from what is an uncontrollable weather situation to something that is the airline's direct responsibility," Buttigieg told "NBC Nightly News." He said Southwest should at least pay cash refunds for canceled flights and cover stranded passengers' hotel and meal costs.In Congress, the Senate Commerce Committee also promised an investigation. Two Senate Democrats called on Southwest to provide "significant" compensation for stranded travelers, saying that the airline has the money because it plans to pay $428 million in dividends next month.Bryce Burger and his family were supposed to be on a cruise to Mexico departing from San Diego on Dec. 24, but their flight from Denver was canceled without warning. The flight was rebooked through Burbank, California, but that flight was canceled while they sat at the gate."It's horrible," Burger said Tuesday by phone from Salt Lake City, where the family decided to drive after giving up the cruise.The family's luggage is still at the Denver airport, and Burger doesn't know if he can get a refund for the cruise because the flight to California was booked separately.The size and severity of the storm created havoc for many airlines, although the largest number of canceled flights Tuesday were at airports where Southwest is a major carrier, including Denver, Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Baltimore and Dallas.Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines both canceled about 10% of their flights, with much smaller cancellation percentages at American, Delta, United and JetBlue.Kristie Smiley planned to return home to Los Angeles until Southwest canceled her Tuesday flight, so she waited at the Kansas City airport for her mother to pick her up. Southwest can't put her on another plane until Sunday, New Year's Day.Smiley said the airline kept blaming the weather after the storm passed and didn't tell passengers why planes couldn't take off."They like acted like (Tuesday's flight) was going to go until they started saying, 'Oh, five more minutes. Oh, 10 more minutes.' I'm not sure what's up with them. It seems a little off," she said.Danielle Zanin vowed never to fly Southwest again after it took four days, several canceled flights and sleeping in the airport before she, her husband and their two young children got home to Illinois from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They made stops at airports in Denver and Phoenix and reached Chicago only after ditching Southwest and paying $1,400 for four one-way tickets on American Airlines."I remember saying, 'Oh my God, we're getting on a plane!' I was honestly shocked because I thought we were stuck in airports forever," she said.Zanin plans to ask Southwest to be reimbursed for part of their original tickets plus the new ones on American, and extra spending on rental cars, parking, an Uber ride and food — about $2,000 in all."I don't have good faith that they will do much of anything," she said.___Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, Thalia Beaty in New York and Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, contributed to this story.

🎥 Southwest Airlines apologizes as travel nightmare continues

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged financial crimes.

On Monday, police arrested 29-year-old Colton J. Dunaway of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 He remains in custody on a Jackson County Kansas warrant on requested charges of forgery and theft.&nbsp;

Dunaway was jailed for a series of crimes from 2016-2018 including failure to appear, giving worthless checks and driving with a suspended license, according ton online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672150302369.png" alt="Dunaway-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Dunaway-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged financial crimes.On Monday, police arrested 29-year-old Colton J. Dunaway of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. He remains in custody on a Jackson County Kansas warrant on requested charges of forgery and theft.&nbsp;Dunaway was jailed for a series of crimes from 2016-2018 including failure to appear, giving worthless checks and driving with a suspended license, according ton online jail records.

Kansas man accused of forgery and theft

KANSAS CITY —A man faces multiple felony charges in connection with the September 2021 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Gabriel Williams outside a south Kansas City residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Darrell E. Thompson, 18, faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, Kansas City police found the juvenile victim the evening of Sept. 24, 2021 on a driveway in the 9500 block of James A. Reed Road. 

Police found a stolen handgun next to the victim with two spent shell casings. Surveillance video captured the victim with his hands up seemingly in confrontation with a white Malibu and shots are fired from the vehicle. Shell casings were found in the area. Phone records show the defendant's phone in the area of the shooting.

Two other defendants have been charged in connection with Williams' homicide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671679059617.png" alt="Thompson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Thompson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man faces multiple felony charges in connection with the September 2021 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Gabriel Williams outside a south Kansas City residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Darrell E. Thompson, 18, faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, Kansas City police found the juvenile victim the evening of Sept. 24, 2021 on a driveway in the 9500 block of James A. Reed Road. Police found a stolen handgun next to the victim with two spent shell casings. Surveillance video captured the victim with his hands up seemingly in confrontation with a white Malibu and shots are fired from the vehicle. Shell casings were found in the area. Phone records show the defendant's phone in the area of the shooting.Two other defendants have been charged in connection with Williams' homicide.

KCPD found stolen handgun next to 14-year-old shooting victim

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a 3-vehicle crash on December 20, reported one of the drivers identified as 30-year-old Jonson Shaad of Wichita remains hospitalized in grave condition.

Just before noon December 20, a 2014 Toyota Camry driven by Shaad was northbound in the 19th Block of North Rock Road in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebelledo.

He lost control of the car. It traveled over the median and collided head-on with a southbound 2014 Nissan Aldima and a 2022 Lincoln Continental.&nbsp;

First responders located Shaad unconscious. EMS transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. The accident remains under investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672162805338.png" alt="Fatal Dec. 20 crash scene-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Fatal Dec. 20 crash scene-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a 3-vehicle crash on December 20, reported one of the drivers identified as 30-year-old Jonson Shaad of Wichita remains hospitalized in grave condition.Just before noon December 20, a 2014 Toyota Camry driven by Shaad was northbound in the 19th Block of North Rock Road in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebelledo.He lost control of the car. It traveled over the median and collided head-on with a southbound 2014 Nissan Aldima and a 2022 Lincoln Continental.&nbsp;First responders located Shaad unconscious. EMS transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. The accident remains under investigation.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas man in grave condition a week after 3-vehicle crash

An opinion piece printed in the Wichita Eagle on Dec. 24&nbsp;told the tale of a man with inoperable terminal cancer being the victim of three cold-hearted Hays Police Department officers&nbsp;raiding his hospital room to confiscate the cannabis he was using to find some relief from his symptoms.

That opinion piece was later printed as news in outlets across the U.S. and beyond.

But while countless news outlets painted a picture of Hays officers citing a sick man for criminal activity and forcing him to go before the Hays Municipal Court for what would not be a crime in most of the country, they did so without any attempt to secure accurate information.

Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler said while officers did cite an individual being treated at HaysMed on suspicion of drug possession on Dec. 16, a request to pull the ticket was made the same day. The opinion piece was not published until eight days later on Dec 24.

He said he likely saw the report during an end-of-shift summary but became aware of the details only after the opinion piece was published.

“I wasn't really aware of the incident until I saw an opinion [piece] out of a Wichita paper talking about the Hays Police Department raiding a hospital room and an individual with cancer being arrested,” Scheibler said.

After looking into the case, he described the response captured on the officers' audio recorders.

“The hospital staff had reported they discovered a patient who was vaping with an electronic device with a controlled substance in the vape machine, and they were concerned,” Scheibler said.

He said the staff was concerned about the fire risk caused by using a vaping device and the effects of its use on the staff, so they called the police department.

Two–not three as reported–HPD officers responded to the call, Scheibler said.

“The staff already had the items,” Scheibler said. “So, they collected the items from the staff.”

“They just can't take those illegal drugs and throw them in a drawer and keep them,” he said.

From there he said the officers spoke with the individual.

“We were in the room just a little over eight minutes,” Scheibler said. “I've listened to the audio recording. The officers were polite, courteous and showed the individual empathy. He expressed some frustration about the whole incident, and they were sympathetic to that.”

But they did write him a ticket for the drug violations in accordance with Hays Municipal Code.

The misdemeanor offense used in the citation would result in a fine if he was convicted in Hays Municipal Court.

However, that process was stopped shortly after the ticket was issued and long before any story had been written.

“They immediately drove back to the office, spoke to the supervisor and that day sent an email to the prosecutor recommending they dismiss the ticket,” Scheibler said. “Based on that recommendation, we pulled that ticket.”

He said the officer, in an effort to enforce the laws as written, initially made a judgment call to follow procedure to the letter, a decision that, with guidance from a more seasoned, officer, was adjusted.

“The officers weren't perfect that day,” Scheibler said. “They tried to be, and at the end of the day, they got where they needed to be. But I can't stress enough the problem is not what they did. It's how we're supposed to enforce the law in this situation.”

He said it is also important to note HaysMed staff were also operating under their policy and state law.

“I think that the hospital did everything required to them by law,” Scheibler said. “The officer did everything in accordance with Kansas state law. They didn't violate any department policy or procedure.”

“We put law enforcement officers in a very difficult position," he said. "We want to say this is a law but don't enforce it. That's gonna be a challenge for us.”

And while the goal of the original opinion piece was likely to spur a conversation about medical cannabis use in Kansas, even as regional, national and international news agencies published the story, no one spoke with a member of the police department, leading to the inaccuracies being spread.

“Accuracy wasn't a priority,” Scheibler said. “They didn't do any investigation into it. They just tried to create discussion.”

And that lack of accuracy has led to threats against HaysMed staff and HPD officers.

“I recognize an opinion editor that's his job is to create discussion in this community,” he said. “When we fail to investigate things and actually get important facts, that's when it gets tricky. The hospital did exactly what it needed to do in accordance with Kansas law. The police officers were also acting within the law and city policy and procedure. They didn't do anything wrong.”

He acknowledged a call from the opinion editor had been logged, but as it referenced only a misdemeanor crime and with the timing right before the holiday, the call had not yet been returned.

But while the inaccuracies in the media are problematic, Scheibler said the expectation that police officers are expected to equally enforce the law while at the same time being expected to make judgment calls that not everyone may agree with is also a concern.

“We continue to try and expect police officers to be perfect in an imperfect world,” he said. “We're ultimately disappointed. At the end of the day, those kids went out there and did the best they could, based on the laws of the state of Kansas and the city of Hays and tried to use their best judgment and show compassion for this individual.”

“We encourage them to use good judgment,” he said. “We've hired them, and we empower them to use good officer discretion. And we want them to do that. … They did everything in accordance with the law, that's the problem. But at the end of the day, they got where we want them to be.”

“They want to enforce the law equally and hold everybody to the same standard, which I think is important,” Scheibler said. “And I admire them for that.”

“I support what they did," he said. "I support their decisions trying to follow the law of&nbsp; Kansas and Hays, but also show some compassion and empathy, and they did that. They didn't feel comfortable writing that ticket, [they] didn't think it was necessary. So, they made that recommendation [to pull the ticket.]

While standing by the actions of the officers, he said he was sorry the patient was caught up in the situation.

“It's important that we have these discussions,” Scheibler said. “It's important that we have clear laws for law enforcement to enforce. And we need to do what we think is best for all of Kansas. Again, the only thing I'm sorry about that day was that man's got to deal with one of the most private things in his life. And that's no longer possible now. For that, I'm sorry.”

By JAMES BELL Hays PostAn opinion piece printed in the Wichita Eagle on Dec. 24&nbsp;told the tale of a man with inoperable terminal cancer being the victim of three cold-hearted Hays Police Department officers&nbsp;raiding his hospital room to confiscate the cannabis he was using to find some relief from his symptoms.That opinion piece was later printed as news in outlets across the U.S. and beyond.But while countless news outlets painted a picture of Hays officers citing a sick man for criminal activity and forcing him to go before the Hays Municipal Court for what would not be a crime in most of the country, they did so without any attempt to secure accurate information.Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler said while officers did cite an individual being treated at HaysMed on suspicion of drug possession on Dec. 16, a request to pull the ticket was made the same day. The opinion piece was not published until eight days later on Dec 24. He said he likely saw the report during an end-of-shift summary but became aware of the details only after the opinion piece was published.“I wasn't really aware of the incident until I saw an opinion [piece] out of a Wichita paper talking about the Hays Police Department raiding a hospital room and an individual with cancer being arrested,” Scheibler said.After looking into the case, he described the response captured on the officers' audio recorders.“The hospital staff had reported they discovered a patient who was vaping with an electronic device with a controlled substance in the vape machine, and they were concerned,” Scheibler said.He said the staff was concerned about the fire risk caused by using a vaping device and the effects of its use on the staff, so they called the police department.Two–not three as reported–HPD officers responded to the call, Scheibler said.“The staff already had the items,” Scheibler said. “So, they collected the items from the staff.”“They just can't take those illegal drugs and throw them in a drawer and keep them,” he said.From there he said the officers spoke with the individual.“We were in the room just a little over eight minutes,” Scheibler said. “I've listened to the audio recording. The officers were polite, courteous and showed the individual empathy. He expressed some frustration about the whole incident, and they were sympathetic to that.”But they did write him a ticket for the drug violations in accordance with Hays Municipal Code.The misdemeanor offense used in the citation would result in a fine if he was convicted in Hays Municipal Court.However, that process was stopped shortly after the ticket was issued and long before any story had been written.“They immediately drove back to the office, spoke to the supervisor and that day sent an email to the prosecutor recommending they dismiss the ticket,” Scheibler said. “Based on that recommendation, we pulled that ticket.”He said the officer, in an effort to enforce the laws as written, initially made a judgment call to follow procedure to the letter, a decision that, with guidance from a more seasoned, officer, was adjusted.“The officers weren't perfect that day,” Scheibler said. “They tried to be, and at the end of the day, they got where they needed to be. But I can't stress enough the problem is not what they did. It's how we're supposed to enforce the law in this situation.”He said it is also important to note HaysMed staff were also operating under their policy and state law.“I think that the hospital did everything required to them by law,” Scheibler said. “The officer did everything in accordance with Kansas state law. They didn't violate any department policy or procedure.”“We put law enforcement officers in a very difficult position," he said. "We want to say this is a law but don't enforce it. That's gonna be a challenge for us.”And while the goal of the original opinion piece was likely to spur a conversation about medical cannabis use in Kansas, even as regional, national and international news agencies published the story, no one spoke with a member of the police department, leading to the inaccuracies being spread.“Accuracy wasn't a priority,” Scheibler said. “They didn't do any investigation into it. They just tried to create discussion.”And that lack of accuracy has led to threats against HaysMed staff and HPD officers.“I recognize an opinion editor that's his job is to create discussion in this community,” he said. “When we fail to investigate things and actually get important facts, that's when it gets tricky. The hospital did exactly what it needed to do in accordance with Kansas law. The police officers were also acting within the law and city policy and procedure. They didn't do anything wrong.”He acknowledged a call from the opinion editor had been logged, but as it referenced only a misdemeanor crime and with the timing right before the holiday, the call had not yet been returned.But while the inaccuracies in the media are problematic, Scheibler said the expectation that police officers are expected to equally enforce the law while at the same time being expected to make judgment calls that not everyone may agree with is also a concern.“We continue to try and expect police officers to be perfect in an imperfect world,” he said. “We're ultimately disappointed. At the end of the day, those kids went out there and did the best they could, based on the laws of the state of Kansas and the city of Hays and tried to use their best judgment and show compassion for this individual.”“We encourage them to use good judgment,” he said. “We've hired them, and we empower them to use good officer discretion. And we want them to do that. … They did everything in accordance with the law, that's the problem. But at the end of the day, they got where we want them to be.”He said he supported their decisions.“They want to enforce the law equally and hold everybody to the same standard, which I think is important,” Scheibler said. “And I admire them for that.”“I support what they did," he said. "I support their decisions trying to follow the law of&nbsp; Kansas and Hays, but also show some compassion and empathy, and they did that. They didn't feel comfortable writing that ticket, [they] didn't think it was necessary. So, they made that recommendation [to pull the ticket.]While standing by the actions of the officers, he said he was sorry the patient was caught up in the situation.“It's important that we have these discussions,” Scheibler said. “It's important that we have clear laws for law enforcement to enforce. And we need to do what we think is best for all of Kansas. Again, the only thing I'm sorry about that day was that man's got to deal with one of the most private things in his life. And that's no longer possible now. For that, I'm sorry.”

Inaccurate report of dismissed ticket issued to cancer patient leads to threats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is keeping pandemic-era limits on immigration in place indefinitely, dashing hopes of immigration advocates who had been anticipating their end this week.

In a ruling Tuesday, the Supreme Court extended a temporary stay that Chief Justice John Roberts issued last week. Under the court’s order, the case will be argued in February and the stay will be maintained until the justices decide the case.

The limits were put in place under then-President Donald Trump at the beginning of the pandemic. Under the restrictions, officials have expelled asylum-seekers inside the United States 2.5 million times and turned away most people who requested asylum at the border on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions are often referred to as Title 42 in reference to a 1944 public health law.

“We are deeply disappointed for all the desperate asylum seekers who will continue to suffer because of Title 42, but we will continue fighting to eventually end the policy,” said Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union which had been arguing to end Title 42′s use.

Immigration advocates sued to end the use of Title 42, saying the policy goes against American and international obligations to people fleeing to the U.S. to escape persecution. They’ve also argued that the policy is outdated as coronavirus treatments improve.

A federal judge sided with them in November and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mexico-2d6872921b9d21347175b50f30d31539">set a Dec. 21 deadline</a>&nbsp;to end the policy. Conservative-leaning states appealed to the Supreme Court, warning that an increase in migration would take a toll on public services and cause an “unprecedented calamity” that they said the federal government had no plan to deal with.

Roberts, who handles emergency matters that come from federal courts in the nation’s capital, issued a stay to give the court time to more fully consider both sides’ arguments.

The federal government asked the Supreme Court to reject the states’ effort while also acknowledging that ending the restrictions abruptly would likely lead to “disruption and a temporary increase in unlawful border crossings.”

The Supreme Court’s decision comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-violence-28e943bc1a387b0320ce16211eaf58f5">thousands of migrants have gathered</a>&nbsp;on the Mexican side of the border, filling shelters and worrying advocates who are scrambling to figure out how to care for them.

The precise issue before the court is a complicated, largely procedural question of whether the states should be allowed to intervene in the lawsuit, which had pitted advocates for the migrants against the federal government. A similar group of states won a lower court order in a different court district preventing the end of the restrictions after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in April that it was ending use of the policy.

Until the judge’s November order in the advocates’ lawsuit, the states had not sought to take part in that case. But they say that the administration has essentially abandoned its defense of the Title 42 policy and they should be able to step in. The administration has appealed the ruling, though it has not tried to keep Title 42 in place while the legal case plays out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671577993523.png" alt="The Supreme Court’s decision comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-violence-28e943bc1a387b0320ce16211eaf58f5">thousands of migrants have gathered</a>&nbsp;on the Mexican side of the border, filling shelters and worrying advocates who are scrambling to figure out how to care for them.&nbsp;photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>The Supreme Court’s decision comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-violence-28e943bc1a387b0320ce16211eaf58f5">thousands of migrants have gathered</a>&nbsp;on the Mexican side of the border, filling shelters and worrying advocates who are scrambling to figure out how to care for them.&nbsp;photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is keeping pandemic-era limits on immigration in place indefinitely, dashing hopes of immigration advocates who had been anticipating their end this week.In a ruling Tuesday, the Supreme Court extended a temporary stay that Chief Justice John Roberts issued last week. Under the court’s order, the case will be argued in February and the stay will be maintained until the justices decide the case.The limits were put in place under then-President Donald Trump at the beginning of the pandemic. Under the restrictions, officials have expelled asylum-seekers inside the United States 2.5 million times and turned away most people who requested asylum at the border on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions are often referred to as Title 42 in reference to a 1944 public health law.“We are deeply disappointed for all the desperate asylum seekers who will continue to suffer because of Title 42, but we will continue fighting to eventually end the policy,” said Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union which had been arguing to end Title 42′s use.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: Supreme Court orders Title 42 border restriction to be kept in effect.&mdash; Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1607846987646533632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Immigration advocates sued to end the use of Title 42, saying the policy goes against American and international obligations to people fleeing to the U.S. to escape persecution. They’ve also argued that the policy is outdated as coronavirus treatments improve.A federal judge sided with them in November and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mexico-2d6872921b9d21347175b50f30d31539">set a Dec. 21 deadline</a>&nbsp;to end the policy. Conservative-leaning states appealed to the Supreme Court, warning that an increase in migration would take a toll on public services and cause an “unprecedented calamity” that they said the federal government had no plan to deal with.Roberts, who handles emergency matters that come from federal courts in the nation’s capital, issued a stay to give the court time to more fully consider both sides’ arguments.The federal government asked the Supreme Court to reject the states’ effort while also acknowledging that ending the restrictions abruptly would likely lead to “disruption and a temporary increase in unlawful border crossings.”The Supreme Court’s decision comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-violence-28e943bc1a387b0320ce16211eaf58f5">thousands of migrants have gathered</a>&nbsp;on the Mexican side of the border, filling shelters and worrying advocates who are scrambling to figure out how to care for them.The precise issue before the court is a complicated, largely procedural question of whether the states should be allowed to intervene in the lawsuit, which had pitted advocates for the migrants against the federal government. A similar group of states won a lower court order in a different court district preventing the end of the restrictions after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in April that it was ending use of the policy.Until the judge’s November order in the advocates’ lawsuit, the states had not sought to take part in that case. But they say that the administration has essentially abandoned its defense of the Title 42 policy and they should be able to step in. The administration has appealed the ruling, though it has not tried to keep Title 42 in place while the legal case plays out.___

Supreme Court keeps immigration limits in place indefinitely

TOPEKA —Minimum-custody inmate who walked away from the Wichita Work Release Facility Monday is back in custody.

According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, 28-year-old Zachary H. Leis turned himself in just before the noon hour Tuesday.

Leis is serving a sentence for a convictions of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and two counts of domestic battery out of Sedgwick County. He is listed a a registered Kansas offender for an aggravated assault conviction in 2017.

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after minimum-custody inmate Zachary H. Leis walked away from Wichita Work Release Facility, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Leis, a 28-year-old white male, was reported missing when he did not return to the facility after work.

Leis is serving a sentence for a convictions of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and two counts of domestic battery out of Sedgwick County. He is listed a a registered Kansas offender for aggravated assault conviction in 2017.

Leis is 6 feet 3 inches tall, 202 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on Leis can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 316-779-5814, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672138795560.png" alt="Leis is listed a a registered Kansas offender for an aggravated assault conviction in 2017-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Leis is listed a a registered Kansas offender for an aggravated assault conviction in 2017-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Minimum-custody inmate who walked away from the Wichita Work Release Facility Monday is back in custody.According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, 28-year-old Zachary H. Leis turned himself in just before the noon hour Tuesday.Leis is serving a sentence for a convictions of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and two counts of domestic battery out of Sedgwick County. He is listed a a registered Kansas offender for an aggravated assault conviction in 2017.-----------TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after minimum-custody inmate Zachary H. Leis walked away from Wichita Work Release Facility, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.Leis, a 28-year-old white male, was reported missing when he did not return to the facility after work.Leis is serving a sentence for a convictions of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and two counts of domestic battery out of Sedgwick County. He is listed a a registered Kansas offender for aggravated assault conviction in 2017.Leis is 6 feet 3 inches tall, 202 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.Anyone with information on Leis can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 316-779-5814, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

Kan. offender who walked away from work release turns himself in

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Two people were injured in a house fire on Monday in Shawnee County.

Just after 6p.m. crews&nbsp;responded to the fire in a two-story house at 1278 SW Lincoln Avenue, according to Topeka Fire Dept. spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp;

During their initial search, firefighters located a woman trapped on the second floor of the home. Firefighters rescued her and treated her on the scene. She was then transported to a local hospital by American Medical Response (AMR) with life threatening injuries. 

All other occupants were able to escape before the fire department arrived.&nbsp; Emergency crews also transported a man to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

After a preliminary investigation the fire cause remains undetermined. The origin of the fire was determined to have been in a bedroom on the second floor.

The total damage is estimated to be $30,000, with $20,000 associated with structural loss and $10,000 associated with content loss. Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the home, according to Nichols.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672141248354.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Two people were injured in a house fire on Monday in Shawnee County.Just after 6p.m. crews&nbsp;responded to the fire in a two-story house at 1278 SW Lincoln Avenue, according to Topeka Fire Dept. spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp;During their initial search, firefighters located a woman trapped on the second floor of the home. Firefighters rescued her and treated her on the scene. She was then transported to a local hospital by American Medical Response (AMR) with life threatening injuries. All other occupants were able to escape before the fire department arrived.&nbsp; Emergency crews also transported a man to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.After a preliminary investigation the fire cause remains undetermined. The origin of the fire was determined to have been in a bedroom on the second floor.The total damage is estimated to be $30,000, with $20,000 associated with structural loss and $10,000 associated with content loss. Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the home, according to Nichols.

Woman critically injured in Kansas house fire

LANE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug allegations following a traffic stop and arrest.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Monday, a Lane County sheriff's sergeant observed a vehicle driving through the city of Dighton with its high beams activated. The vehicle failed to dim its lights as it passed the sergeant and a traffic stop was initiated.

During the stop, the sergeant noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the truck. There was also a loaded rifle tucked in between the seats, within reach of all four occupants. He also recognized two of the occupants from a previous law enforcement contact that resulted in criminal charges earlier in the year. All four occupants were ordered to exit the truck.

Several of the occupants became argumentative and refused to comply with orders. A Use of Force incident occurred when the sergeant attempted to detain a passenger, identified as 39-year-old Zachariah Dittrick, in handcuffs. 

The sergeant and Dittrick sustained minor injuries during the incident. With additional deputies arriving to assist, the other three individuals were detained without further incident.

Further investigation inside the vehicle revealed several more firearms, various amounts of methamphetamine in various forms, marijuana, and identity documents belonging to two people unknown to any of the four occupants.

Dittrick was arrested and taken to the Scott County Jail on requested charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, battery on a law enforcement officer, and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Shawn Lee Colton, 37, was arrested and transported to the Scott County Jail on requested charges of unlawful possession and distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal use of Weapons.

Clayton Lawrence Hines, 41, was arrested on requested charges of criminal deprivation of property, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Jesse James Biggs, 40, was released on scene with charges being forwarded to the Lane County Attorney's Office for possession of marijuana.

Dittrick has previous convictions that include battery against a judge who was performing his duties, arson and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672156999251.jpeg" alt="Photo Lane Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lane Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LANE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug allegations following a traffic stop and arrest.Just before 9:30 p.m. Monday, a Lane County sheriff's sergeant observed a vehicle driving through the city of Dighton with its high beams activated. The vehicle failed to dim its lights as it passed the sergeant and a traffic stop was initiated.During the stop, the sergeant noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the truck. There was also a loaded rifle tucked in between the seats, within reach of all four occupants. He also recognized two of the occupants from a previous law enforcement contact that resulted in criminal charges earlier in the year. All four occupants were ordered to exit the truck.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672159100493.png" alt="Dittrick has previous convictions that include battery against a judge who was performing his duties, arson and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Dittrick has previous convictions that include battery against a judge who was performing his duties, arson and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>Several of the occupants became argumentative and refused to comply with orders. A Use of Force incident occurred when the sergeant attempted to detain a passenger, identified as 39-year-old Zachariah Dittrick, in handcuffs. The sergeant and Dittrick sustained minor injuries during the incident. With additional deputies arriving to assist, the other three individuals were detained without further incident.Further investigation inside the vehicle revealed several more firearms, various amounts of methamphetamine in various forms, marijuana, and identity documents belonging to two people unknown to any of the four occupants.Dittrick was arrested and taken to the Scott County Jail on requested charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, battery on a law enforcement officer, and interference with a law enforcement officer.Shawn Lee Colton, 37, was arrested and transported to the Scott County Jail on requested charges of unlawful possession and distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal use of Weapons.Clayton Lawrence Hines, 41, was arrested on requested charges of criminal deprivation of property, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Jesse James Biggs, 40, was released on scene with charges being forwarded to the Lane County Attorney's Office for possession of marijuana.Dittrick has previous convictions that include battery against a judge who was performing his duties, arson and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Sheriff's sergeant injured during arrest of 3 Kansas men

SALINE COUNTY—Southbound Interstate 135 at Mentor Road/Smolan Road in Saline county is now open. It was shutdown for several hours due to cattle truck rollover on Tuesday morning, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Officials were diverting traffic to Water Well Road. There are no reports of injuries.&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672163379471.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Southbound Interstate 135 at Mentor Road/Smolan Road in Saline county is now open. It was shutdown for several hours due to cattle truck rollover on Tuesday morning, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672151431489.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>Officials were diverting traffic to Water Well Road. There are no reports of injuries.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

KHP: Southbound I-135 reopened after cattle truck rollover

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help with the case.

Just before 4:30a.m. Christmas Day, police responded to St. Catherine Hospital for a report of a gunshot wound victim, according to a media release.

Investigators learned the victim, a 16-year-old boy was at a party in the 600 block of N. 8th Street when he was shot.

Due to the extent of his injuries, the boy was later flown to Colorado for additional treatment. 

The Garden City Police Department is requesting assistance from the community. If you witnessed this incident, or have information related to this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department at (620) 276-1300. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers (620) 275-7807, or text your tip to Garden City PD, text GCTIP and your tip to Tip411 (847411).

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help with the case.Just before 4:30a.m. Christmas Day, police responded to St. Catherine Hospital for a report of a gunshot wound victim, according to a media release.Investigators learned the victim, a 16-year-old boy was at a party in the 600 block of N. 8th Street when he was shot.Due to the extent of his injuries, the boy was later flown to Colorado for additional treatment. The Garden City Police Department is requesting assistance from the community. If you witnessed this incident, or have information related to this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department at (620) 276-1300. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers (620) 275-7807, or text your tip to Garden City PD, text GCTIP and your tip to Tip411 (847411).

SW Kan. boy hospitalized after shooting at Christmas party

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/weather-canada-business-storms-winter-f1efe43064cdae9eb2042db45491b56f">massive winter storm</a>&nbsp;that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.

A day after most U.S. airlines had recovered from the storm, Southwest called off about 2,600 more flights on the East Coast by midafternoon. Those flights accounted for more than 80 percent of the 3,000 trips that got canceled nationwide Tuesday, according to tracking service FlightAware.

And the chaos seemed certain to continue. The airline also scrubbed 2,500 flights for Wednesday and nearly 1,200 for Thursday as it tried to restore order to its mangled schedule.

At airports with major Southwest operations, customers stood in long lines hoping to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-business-climate-and-environment-e02dbf272a560ee7d9e23d0cf3e15d62">find a seat on another flight</a>. Some tried to rent cars to get to their destinations sooner. Others found spots to sleep on the floor. Luggage piled up in huge heaps.

Conrad Stoll, a 66-year-old retired construction worker in Missouri, planned to fly from Kansas City to Los Angeles for his father’s 90th birthday party until his Southwest flight was canceled early Tuesday. He said he won't get to see his 88-year-old mother either.

“I went there in 2019, and she looked at me and said, ‘I’m not going to see you again.’" Stoll said. “My sister has been taking care of them, and she’s just like, ‘They’re really losing it really quick.’”

The Dallas-based airline had little new to say about its woes. The company did not offer any updates on Tuesday morning, and information on the cancellations was last updated on the company’s website Monday.

“There is a lot of frustration because this is so preventable,” Murray said. “The airline cannot connect crews to airplanes. The airline didn't even know where pilots were at."

Lyn Montgomery, president of the Transport Workers Union representing Southwest flight attendants, was scheduled to talk later Tuesday with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions and is now taking an interest in Southwest's woes.

“I'm taking it to the highest level — that is how done we are,” said the frustrated Montgomery. “This is a very catastrophic event.”

Buttigieg's office confirmed that he planned to speak with Montgomery, but declined further comment on the mess at Southwest.

Late Monday, the Transportation Department tweeted that it would examine “Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations” and whether the airline was meeting its legal obligation to help stranded customers.

Southwest spokesman Jay McVay said the cancellations snowballed as storm systems moved across the country, leaving flight crews and planes out of place.

“So we’ve been chasing our tails, trying to catch up and get back to normal safely, which is our number one priority, as quickly as we could,” he told a news conference late Monday in Houston. "And that’s exactly how we ended up where we are today.”

“Just like my kids’ Christmas sucks. It’s horrible,” Burger said Tuesday by phone from Salt Lake City, where the family decided to drive after giving up the cruise.

Burger's call logs show dozens of unsuccessful attempts to reach Southwest over two days. The company did respond to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/baseballburger/status/1607458100956770304">a tweet he sent</a>. He said they offered him and his family each a $250 voucher.

In upstate New York, Buffalo Niagara International Airport — close to the epicenter of the storm — remained closed Tuesday.

Kristie Smiley planned to return home to Los Angeles until Southwest canceled her Tuesday flight, so she waited at the Kansas City airport for her mother to pick her up. Southwest can’t put her on another plane until Sunday, New Year’s Day. She called other airlines, but the cheapest flight she could find was $4,000.

“Now they are, like, on it, you know — capitalizing on it,” Smiley said. She still doesn’t know what to think of Southwest.

“They like acted like (Tuesday’s flight) was going to go until they started saying, 'Oh, five more minutes. Oh, 10 more minutes.’ I’m not sure what’s up with them. It seems a little off.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Department of Transportation said it will look into flight cancellations by Southwest Airlines that have left travelers stranded at airports across the country&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/weather-canada-business-storms-winter-f1efe43064cdae9eb2042db45491b56f">amid an intense winter storm</a>&nbsp;that has killed dozens of people.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-weather-storm-updates-c0d9d7a04fa48359a0a40a7b9ff1b970">Many airlines were forced to cancel flights due to the weather</a>, but Southwest was by far the leader in canceled flights. About 4,000 domestic U.S. flights were cancelled Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware, and 2,900 of those were Southwest's.

Problems at Southwest continued Tuesday, and the airline warns it will be operating at a reduced scheduled for days.

Other major airlines, including American, United, Delta and JetBlue, suffered cancellations rates of between none and 2% Tuesday. The cancellation rate at Southwest Airlines was 62%, according to FlightAware, after the airline cancelled more that 70% of its flights Monday.

Southwest spokesman Jay McVay said at a press conference in Houston that cancellations snowballed as storm systems moved across the country, leaving flight crews and planes out of place

“So we’ve been chasing our tails, trying to catch up and get back to normal safely, which is our number one priority as quickly as we could,” he said. "And that’s exactly how we ended up where we are today.”

More than 2,800 more flights had already been canceled in the U.S. as of 7 a.m. Tuesday and problems are likely to carry over at least into Wednesday.

Passengers stood in long lines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-business-climate-and-environment-e02dbf272a560ee7d9e23d0cf3e15d62">trying to rebook their flights</a>. The Department of Transportation said on Twitter that it was “concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays &amp; reports of lack of prompt customer service.” The tweet said the department would look into whether Southwest could have done anything about the cancellations and whether the airline was complying with its customer service plan.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the airline would operate just over a third of its usual schedule to allow crews to get back to where they needed to be.

“We had a tough day today. In all likelihood we’ll have another tough day tomorrow as we work our way out of this,” he said Monday evening. “This is the largest scale event that I’ve ever seen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672146945290.png" alt="Long lines at Denver International Airport Monday -photo courtesy KMGH TV" />
 <figcaption>Long lines at Denver International Airport Monday -photo courtesy KMGH TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/weather-canada-business-storms-winter-f1efe43064cdae9eb2042db45491b56f">massive winter storm</a>&nbsp;that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thousands of flights nationwide have been canceled around the holidays. Our Administration is working to ensure airlines are held accountable. If you’ve been affected by cancellations, go to <a href="https://twitter.com/USDOT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USDOT</a>’s dashboard to see if you’re entitled to compensation. <a href="https://t.co/r0YBCPyKes">https://t.co/r0YBCPyKes</a> <a href="https://t.co/1ZdqhBOAoL">https://t.co/1ZdqhBOAoL</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1607792173923041283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A day after most U.S. airlines had recovered from the storm, Southwest called off about 2,600 more flights on the East Coast by midafternoon. Those flights accounted for more than 80 percent of the 3,000 trips that got canceled nationwide Tuesday, according to tracking service FlightAware.And the chaos seemed certain to continue. The airline also scrubbed 2,500 flights for Wednesday and nearly 1,200 for Thursday as it tried to restore order to its mangled schedule.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We continue to experience high call and social inquiry volumes. Please check your flight status and explore self-service options here: <a href="https://t.co/WIFDwb9epE">https://t.co/WIFDwb9epE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PCMDOYGHON">pic.twitter.com/PCMDOYGHON</a>&mdash; Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1607408194820755457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At airports with major Southwest operations, customers stood in long lines hoping to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-business-climate-and-environment-e02dbf272a560ee7d9e23d0cf3e15d62">find a seat on another flight</a>. Some tried to rent cars to get to their destinations sooner. Others found spots to sleep on the floor. Luggage piled up in huge heaps.Conrad Stoll, a 66-year-old retired construction worker in Missouri, planned to fly from Kansas City to Los Angeles for his father’s 90th birthday party until his Southwest flight was canceled early Tuesday. He said he won't get to see his 88-year-old mother either.“I went there in 2019, and she looked at me and said, ‘I’m not going to see you again.’" Stoll said. “My sister has been taking care of them, and she’s just like, ‘They’re really losing it really quick.’”Stoll hopes to get another chance to see his parents in the spring, when the weather is warmer.The Dallas-based airline had little new to say about its woes. The company did not offer any updates on Tuesday morning, and information on the cancellations was last updated on the company’s website Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672148363194.png" alt="Screenshot 2022-12-27 at 7.38.59 AM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screenshot 2022-12-27 at 7.38.59 AM.png</figcaption>
 </figure>The problems began over the weekend and snowballed Monday, when Southwest called off more than 70% of its flights.That was after the worst of the storm had passed. The airline said many pilots and flight attendants were out of position to work their flights. Leaders of unions representing Southwest pilots and flight attendants blamed antiquated crew-scheduling software and criticized company management.Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said the airline failed to fix problems that caused a similar meltdown in October 2021.“There is a lot of frustration because this is so preventable,” Murray said. “The airline cannot connect crews to airplanes. The airline didn't even know where pilots were at."Murray said managers resorted this week to asking pilots at some airports to report to a central location, where they wrote down the names of pilots who were present and forwarded the lists to headquarters.Lyn Montgomery, president of the Transport Workers Union representing Southwest flight attendants, was scheduled to talk later Tuesday with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions and is now taking an interest in Southwest's woes.“I'm taking it to the highest level — that is how done we are,” said the frustrated Montgomery. “This is a very catastrophic event.”Buttigieg's office confirmed that he planned to speak with Montgomery, but declined further comment on the mess at Southwest.Late Monday, the Transportation Department tweeted that it would examine “Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations” and whether the airline was meeting its legal obligation to help stranded customers.Southwest spokesman Jay McVay said the cancellations snowballed as storm systems moved across the country, leaving flight crews and planes out of place.“So we’ve been chasing our tails, trying to catch up and get back to normal safely, which is our number one priority, as quickly as we could,” he told a news conference late Monday in Houston. "And that’s exactly how we ended up where we are today.”Bryce Burger and his family were supposed to be on a cruise to Mexico departing from San Diego on Dec. 24, but their flight from Denver was canceled without warning. The flight was rebooked through Burbank, California, but that flight was canceled while they sat at the gate.“Just like my kids’ Christmas sucks. It’s horrible,” Burger said Tuesday by phone from Salt Lake City, where the family decided to drive after giving up the cruise.The family's luggage is still at the Denver airport, and Burger doesn't know if he can get a refund for the cruise because the flight to California was booked separately.Burger's call logs show dozens of unsuccessful attempts to reach Southwest over two days. The company did respond to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/baseballburger/status/1607458100956770304">a tweet he sent</a>. He said they offered him and his family each a $250 voucher.The size and severity of the storm created havoc for many airlines, although the largest number of canceled flights Tuesday were at airports where Southwest is a major carrier, including Denver, Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Baltimore and Dallas.Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines both canceled about 10% of their flights, with much smaller cancellation percentages at American, Delta, United and JetBlue.In upstate New York, Buffalo Niagara International Airport — close to the epicenter of the storm — remained closed Tuesday.Kristie Smiley planned to return home to Los Angeles until Southwest canceled her Tuesday flight, so she waited at the Kansas City airport for her mother to pick her up. Southwest can’t put her on another plane until Sunday, New Year’s Day. She called other airlines, but the cheapest flight she could find was $4,000.“Now they are, like, on it, you know — capitalizing on it,” Smiley said. She still doesn’t know what to think of Southwest.“They like acted like (Tuesday’s flight) was going to go until they started saying, 'Oh, five more minutes. Oh, 10 more minutes.’ I’m not sure what’s up with them. It seems a little off.”___WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Department of Transportation said it will look into flight cancellations by Southwest Airlines that have left travelers stranded at airports across the country&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/weather-canada-business-storms-winter-f1efe43064cdae9eb2042db45491b56f">amid an intense winter storm</a>&nbsp;that has killed dozens of people.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We continue to experience high call and social inquiry volumes. Please check your flight status and explore self-service options here: <a href="https://t.co/WIFDwb9epE">https://t.co/WIFDwb9epE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PCMDOYGHON">pic.twitter.com/PCMDOYGHON</a>&mdash; Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1607408194820755457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-weather-storm-updates-c0d9d7a04fa48359a0a40a7b9ff1b970">Many airlines were forced to cancel flights due to the weather</a>, but Southwest was by far the leader in canceled flights. About 4,000 domestic U.S. flights were cancelled Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware, and 2,900 of those were Southwest's.Problems at Southwest continued Tuesday, and the airline warns it will be operating at a reduced scheduled for days.Other major airlines, including American, United, Delta and JetBlue, suffered cancellations rates of between none and 2% Tuesday. The cancellation rate at Southwest Airlines was 62%, according to FlightAware, after the airline cancelled more that 70% of its flights Monday.Southwest spokesman Jay McVay said at a press conference in Houston that cancellations snowballed as storm systems moved across the country, leaving flight crews and planes out of place“So we’ve been chasing our tails, trying to catch up and get back to normal safely, which is our number one priority as quickly as we could,” he said. "And that’s exactly how we ended up where we are today.”<figure>
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 </figure>More than 2,800 more flights had already been canceled in the U.S. as of 7 a.m. Tuesday and problems are likely to carry over at least into Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">USDOT is concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays &amp; reports of lack of prompt customer service. The Department will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan.&mdash; TransportationGov (@USDOT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USDOT/status/1607558478859759616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Passengers stood in long lines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-business-climate-and-environment-e02dbf272a560ee7d9e23d0cf3e15d62">trying to rebook their flights</a>. The Department of Transportation said on Twitter that it was “concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays &amp; reports of lack of prompt customer service.” The tweet said the department would look into whether Southwest could have done anything about the cancellations and whether the airline was complying with its customer service plan.Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the airline would operate just over a third of its usual schedule to allow crews to get back to where they needed to be.“We had a tough day today. In all likelihood we’ll have another tough day tomorrow as we work our way out of this,” he said Monday evening. “This is the largest scale event that I’ve ever seen.”

Southwest cancels more flights, draws federal investigation

SCOTT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attempted burglary in Scott City.

Sometime between 7:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 8:00 a.m. Christmas morning the St. Joseph Catholic Church at 1002 Main Street in Scott City was broken into, according to the police department.

There was an obvious attempt to steal the offerings but unlucky for the thieves, they left empty handed.&nbsp; However, there was damage done to the church during their attempt.

If you have any information regarding this crime we urge you to contact the Police Department at (620) 872-2133.

SCOTT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attempted burglary in Scott City.Sometime between 7:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 8:00 a.m. Christmas morning the St. Joseph Catholic Church at 1002 Main Street in Scott City was broken into, according to the police department.There was an obvious attempt to steal the offerings but unlucky for the thieves, they left empty handed.&nbsp; However, there was damage done to the church during their attempt.If you have any information regarding this crime we urge you to contact the Police Department at (620) 872-2133.