COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A man who spent nearly two decades in prison after the murder of a Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor has been freed, his lawyer said.

Charles Erickson, 38, was released from the Booneville Correctional Center Monday, attorney Landon Magnusson said in a post on Twitter.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreeCharlesE">The Free Charles Erickson page on Facebook posted</a> a photo of Erickson with the caption, “Charlie’s on his way home!”

Erickson, 38, was convicted in 2005 after he initially confessed to the killing of sports editor Kent Heitholt in 2001. He later claimed he was coerced into confessing by police, the prosecutor and his own attorney.

Erickson implicated his friend Ryan Ferguson, who was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Erickson later said recanted his statement that Ferguson helped kill Heitholt. Ferguson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3e1aa3f56e5249b7822498791203af74">was released in 2013</a>, after an appeals court ruled that he didn’t receive a fair trial because the prosecutor’s office withheld evidence. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/611463f6c52b4080adafe0941bb0f0e8">won millions of dollars</a>&nbsp;in the settlement of a lawsuit he filed alleging detectives fabricated evidence, coerced witnesses and failed to investigate other possible suspects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673376585865.png" alt="Erickson photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Erickson photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A man who spent nearly two decades in prison after the murder of a Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor has been freed, his lawyer said.Charles Erickson, 38, was released from the Booneville Correctional Center Monday, attorney Landon Magnusson said in a post on Twitter.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreeCharlesE">The Free Charles Erickson page on Facebook posted</a> a photo of Erickson with the caption, “Charlie’s on his way home!”Erickson, 38, was convicted in 2005 after he initially confessed to the killing of sports editor Kent Heitholt in 2001. He later claimed he was coerced into confessing by police, the prosecutor and his own attorney.Erickson implicated his friend Ryan Ferguson, who was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to 40 years in prison.Erickson later said recanted his statement that Ferguson helped kill Heitholt. Ferguson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3e1aa3f56e5249b7822498791203af74">was released in 2013</a>, after an appeals court ruled that he didn’t receive a fair trial because the prosecutor’s office withheld evidence. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/611463f6c52b4080adafe0941bb0f0e8">won millions of dollars</a>&nbsp;in the settlement of a lawsuit he filed alleging detectives fabricated evidence, coerced witnesses and failed to investigate other possible suspects.

Man convicted in Missouri sport editor's death is out of prison

TOPEKA —On Tuesday morning, Governor Laura Kelly tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from her office.

"She is fully vaccinated and is experiencing minor symptoms. This is the first day she has experienced symptoms. She is following the guidance of public health officials to self-isolate as she continues to work.”

“The Governor’s Office has informed Inaugural Ball attendees, participants in the Inauguration ceremony, and attendees of the Executive Order signing this morning and encourages them all to test immediately as a precautionary measure.”

“This should not delay normal government functions. The State of the State will be postponed to Tuesday, January 24, at 6:30pm. The Governor’s Budget will still be released Thursday to the legislature as planned.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673381691929.png" alt="Members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi nation presented a gift to Gov Kelly during the inauguration ceremony on Monday-courtesy Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi nation presented a gift to Gov Kelly during the inauguration ceremony on Monday-courtesy Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —On Tuesday morning, Governor Laura Kelly tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from her office."She is fully vaccinated and is experiencing minor symptoms. This is the first day she has experienced symptoms. She is following the guidance of public health officials to self-isolate as she continues to work.”“The Governor’s Office has informed Inaugural Ball attendees, participants in the Inauguration ceremony, and attendees of the Executive Order signing this morning and encourages them all to test immediately as a precautionary measure.”“This should not delay normal government functions. The State of the State will be postponed to Tuesday, January 24, at 6:30pm. The Governor’s Budget will still be released Thursday to the legislature as planned.”

Gov. tests positive for COVID; State of the State address postponed 

NEW YORK (AP) —Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s fiscal third-quarter sales fell by a third as the home goods company struggles to strike the right balance with its shoppers, a sign of its worsening outlook.

The company, which has already been cutting costs, said Tuesday it will slash an additional $80 million to $100 million across the company, including an unspecified number of layoffs. The retailer also added locations to the list of stores that will close. The store at 425 3rd Place in Manhattan and 3106 Iowa Street in Lawrence are on this list.

Last week, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond cautioned that it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bankruptcy-875189eb9c27eac251670f80357c8ca3">may need to file for bankruptcy</a>&nbsp;protection as it struggles to attract shoppers. It then said that it’s considering options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court. But the chain acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful.

Sales slid 33% to $1.26 billion for the three months ended Nov. 26 from $1.88 billion a year earlier. Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, dropped 32%.

Analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research expected higher revenue of $1.43 billion.

The company is also burning through cash. It reported roughly $153 million in cash and cash equivalents in the latest quarter, a steep drop from $509 million in the year-ago period.

While the quarterly performance was not a surprise given Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s update on its results last week, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in statement that it’s still a bit of a shock and only adds to concerns about Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s survival.

“A third of revenue has vanished, plunging an already beleaguered company into the depths of chaos,” he said.

President and CEO Sue Gove said in a prepared statement on Tuesday that the company is working on adjusting its merchandise and strategy, which has moved away from shoppers’ preferences.

“We want our customers to know that we hear them and are charging ahead every day to meet their needs,” she said.

The retailer lost $393 million, or $4.33 per share, in the quarter. That compares with a loss of $276.4 million, or $2.78 a year earlier.

Stripping out certain items, its adjusted loss was $3.65 per share. Wall Street was calling for a loss of $2.36 per share.

Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced in August that it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-offerings-chewy-inc-6af2d83aec7cde2cd7b0706b892a4c0c">close stores and lay off workers</a>&nbsp;in a bid to turn around its business. It announced it would close about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. The company said Tuesday that it was on track to close the stores.

Saunders is not optimistic about the future of the retailer.

“In our view, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond has completely lost control and is in a tailspin; and with the ground fast approaching, survival now looks unlikely,” he said.

Shares of the Union, New Jersey-based company jumped 24% to $2.02 in afternoon trading.

NEW YORK (AP) —Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s fiscal third-quarter sales fell by a third as the home goods company struggles to strike the right balance with its shoppers, a sign of its worsening outlook.The company, which has already been cutting costs, said Tuesday it will slash an additional $80 million to $100 million across the company, including an unspecified number of layoffs. The retailer also added locations to the list of stores that will close. The store at 425 3rd Place in Manhattan and 3106 Iowa Street in Lawrence are on this list.Last week, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond cautioned that it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bankruptcy-875189eb9c27eac251670f80357c8ca3">may need to file for bankruptcy</a>&nbsp;protection as it struggles to attract shoppers. It then said that it’s considering options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court. But the chain acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful.Sales slid 33% to $1.26 billion for the three months ended Nov. 26 from $1.88 billion a year earlier. Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, dropped 32%.Analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research expected higher revenue of $1.43 billion.The company is also burning through cash. It reported roughly $153 million in cash and cash equivalents in the latest quarter, a steep drop from $509 million in the year-ago period.While the quarterly performance was not a surprise given Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s update on its results last week, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in statement that it’s still a bit of a shock and only adds to concerns about Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s survival.“A third of revenue has vanished, plunging an already beleaguered company into the depths of chaos,” he said.President and CEO Sue Gove said in a prepared statement on Tuesday that the company is working on adjusting its merchandise and strategy, which has moved away from shoppers’ preferences.“We want our customers to know that we hear them and are charging ahead every day to meet their needs,” she said.The retailer lost $393 million, or $4.33 per share, in the quarter. That compares with a loss of $276.4 million, or $2.78 a year earlier.Stripping out certain items, its adjusted loss was $3.65 per share. Wall Street was calling for a loss of $2.36 per share.Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced in August that it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-offerings-chewy-inc-6af2d83aec7cde2cd7b0706b892a4c0c">close stores and lay off workers</a>&nbsp;in a bid to turn around its business. It announced it would close about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. The company said Tuesday that it was on track to close the stores.Saunders is not optimistic about the future of the retailer.“In our view, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond has completely lost control and is in a tailspin; and with the ground fast approaching, survival now looks unlikely,” he said.Shares of the Union, New Jersey-based company jumped 24% to $2.02 in afternoon trading.

Bed Bath & Beyond eyes more layoffs, will close 2 stores in Kansas

WASHINGTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after seven deer were left to lay dead in a field in Washington County.

On January 4, a landowner reported at least five whitetail deer that had been shot with a small caliber rifle and left to lay in crop fields near Hanover Avenue and Yankee Road in Washington County, according to a social media report from Kansas Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.

During their investigation, Game Wardens located two additional deer that had been shot and left lay. 

The deer were killed just outside the town of Hanover, with one of the deer less than 250 yards from two separate residences.

 It is believed the deer were killed the evening of January 2 or 3.

 If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Lieutenant Alexander at 785-230-7148 or Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843. Callers may remain anonymous.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673314846487.png" alt="photo courtesy KDWP Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KDWP Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after seven deer were left to lay dead in a field in Washington County.On January 4, a landowner reported at least five whitetail deer that had been shot with a small caliber rifle and left to lay in crop fields near Hanover Avenue and Yankee Road in Washington County, according to a social media report from Kansas Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.During their investigation, Game Wardens located two additional deer that had been shot and left lay. The deer were killed just outside the town of Hanover, with one of the deer less than 250 yards from two separate residences. It is believed the deer were killed the evening of January 2 or 3. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Lieutenant Alexander at 785-230-7148 or Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843. Callers may remain anonymous.

Game Warden: 7 deer left dead in Kansas fields

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is moving forward with a proposal that would lower student debt payments for millions of Americans now and in the future, offering a new route to repay federal loans under far more generous terms.

President Joe Biden announced the repayment plan in August, but it was overshadowed by his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">sweeping plan to slash or eliminate student debt</a>&nbsp;for 40 million Americans. Despite the low profile of the payment plan, however, some education experts see it as a more powerful tool to make college affordable, especially for those with lower incomes.

<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-proposed-regulations-would-transform-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-loan-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation?fbclid=IwAR1n8gOvJhy7Jzzw99EdI1gJAlJpFFWSE-iZqq7M3S109-UzxXFzIllM1x4">Education Department officials on Tuesday called the new</a> plan a “student loan safety net" that will prevent borrowers from getting overloaded with debt.

“Student debt has become a dream killer,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. “This is a promise to the American people that, at long last, we will fix a broken system and make student loans affordable.”

Biden, a Democrat, is moving forward with the repayment plan even as his one-time debt cancellation faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-student-loan-cancellation-79f7530363c7f15166d8c9cda3a6cddb">an uncertain fate before the Supreme Court</a>. The White House has asked the court to uphold the plan and reject two legal challenges from conservative opponents. The Biden administration submitted its brief last week, with oral arguments slated for Feb. 28.

The Education Department formally proposed the new repayment plan on Tuesday by publishing it in the Federal Register, starting a public comment period that often takes months to navigate.

If it's finalized, the proposal would give a major overhaul to income-driven repayment plans — one of several payment options offered by the federal government. The resulting plan would have lower monthly payments, an easier path to forgiveness and a promise that unpaid interest will not be added to a borrower’s loan balance.

The federal government now offers four types of income-driven plans, but the proposal would mostly phase out three of them while focusing on one simplified option, scaling back the confusing array of options borrowers now face.

Under existing plans, monthly payments are capped at 10% of a borrower’s discretionary income, and those earning less than $20,400 a year aren’t required to make payments. The new proposal would cap payments for undergraduate loans at 5% of borrowers’ discretionary pay, cutting their bills in half, and require payments only for those who earn more than about $30,000 a year.

As long as borrowers make their monthly payments, any unpaid interest would not be charged. The change is meant to prevent borrowers from having unpaid interest added to their loan balance, a practice that can cause debt to snowball even as borrowers make payments.

Significantly, the proposal would also make it easier to get debt erased after making several years of payments. Existing plans promise to cancel any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years of payments. The new plan would erase all remaining debt after 10 years for those who took out $12,000 or less in loans. For every $1,000 borrowed beyond that, a year would be added.

Typical graduates of a four-year university would save about $2,000 a year compared with today’s plans, the Biden administration says, while 85% of community college borrowers would be debt-free within 10 years.

Supporters see the proposal as a significant stride toward college affordability. Some say it’s so generous that it approaches free community college — a campaign promise that Biden has pushed but failed to deliver.

The Institute for College Access and Success, a nonprofit organization that promotes college affordability, praised the proposal as a significant improvement over existing plans.

“The changes proposed today would provide meaningful financial relief to millions of borrowers and help shield students from debt that has not paid off, including those who start college but do not complete a degree,” said Sameer Gadkaree, the group's president.

Opponents on the right blast the revamped plan as an unfair handout with a steep price tag. The Biden administration estimates the repayment plan would cost nearly $138 billion over the decade, and some critics have put it closer to $200 billion.

Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said the proposal turns the federal loan program into "an untargeted grant with complete disregard for the taxpayers that fund it.”

“Because President Biden couldn’t get his radical free college agenda through Congress, he has resorted to doing it through the backdoor by executive fiat,” Foxx said in a statement.

Even some on the left have questioned the prudence of the idea, saying it's so generous that it effectively turns student loans into grants that don’t need to be repaid. That could lead more students to borrow, they warn, and it could spur colleges to raise tuition prices if they know students won’t be on the hook.

Still others have urged the administration to abandon income-driven payment plans entirely, calling them a failed policy. Critics cite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">a federal report from last year</a>&nbsp;finding that sloppy oversight of the program left thousands of borrowers stuck with debt that should have been forgiven.

Cardona said his agency is working on other proposals that would hold colleges accountable if their students get overburdened with debt. One idea promoted by Biden is to warn the public about programs that leave graduates saddled with debt.

The Education Department on Tuesday began the process to deliver that goal, asking the public about the best way to identify “low-value” programs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661367707782.png" alt="-President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced the repayment plan in August, but it was overshadowed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">sweeping plan to slash or eliminate student debt</a>&nbsp;for 40 million Americans.- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>-President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced the repayment plan in August, but it was overshadowed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">sweeping plan to slash or eliminate student debt</a>&nbsp;for 40 million Americans.- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is moving forward with a proposal that would lower student debt payments for millions of Americans now and in the future, offering a new route to repay federal loans under far more generous terms.President Joe Biden announced the repayment plan in August, but it was overshadowed by his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">sweeping plan to slash or eliminate student debt</a>&nbsp;for 40 million Americans. Despite the low profile of the payment plan, however, some education experts see it as a more powerful tool to make college affordable, especially for those with lower incomes.<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-proposed-regulations-would-transform-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-loan-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation?fbclid=IwAR1n8gOvJhy7Jzzw99EdI1gJAlJpFFWSE-iZqq7M3S109-UzxXFzIllM1x4">Education Department officials on Tuesday called the new</a> plan a “student loan safety net" that will prevent borrowers from getting overloaded with debt.“Student debt has become a dream killer,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. “This is a promise to the American people that, at long last, we will fix a broken system and make student loans affordable.”Biden, a Democrat, is moving forward with the repayment plan even as his one-time debt cancellation faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-student-loan-cancellation-79f7530363c7f15166d8c9cda3a6cddb">an uncertain fate before the Supreme Court</a>. The White House has asked the court to uphold the plan and reject two legal challenges from conservative opponents. The Biden administration submitted its brief last week, with oral arguments slated for Feb. 28.The Education Department formally proposed the new repayment plan on Tuesday by publishing it in the Federal Register, starting a public comment period that often takes months to navigate.If it's finalized, the proposal would give a major overhaul to income-driven repayment plans — one of several payment options offered by the federal government. The resulting plan would have lower monthly payments, an easier path to forgiveness and a promise that unpaid interest will not be added to a borrower’s loan balance.The federal government now offers four types of income-driven plans, but the proposal would mostly phase out three of them while focusing on one simplified option, scaling back the confusing array of options borrowers now face.Under existing plans, monthly payments are capped at 10% of a borrower’s discretionary income, and those earning less than $20,400 a year aren’t required to make payments. The new proposal would cap payments for undergraduate loans at 5% of borrowers’ discretionary pay, cutting their bills in half, and require payments only for those who earn more than about $30,000 a year.As long as borrowers make their monthly payments, any unpaid interest would not be charged. The change is meant to prevent borrowers from having unpaid interest added to their loan balance, a practice that can cause debt to snowball even as borrowers make payments.Significantly, the proposal would also make it easier to get debt erased after making several years of payments. Existing plans promise to cancel any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years of payments. The new plan would erase all remaining debt after 10 years for those who took out $12,000 or less in loans. For every $1,000 borrowed beyond that, a year would be added.Typical graduates of a four-year university would save about $2,000 a year compared with today’s plans, the Biden administration says, while 85% of community college borrowers would be debt-free within 10 years.Supporters see the proposal as a significant stride toward college affordability. Some say it’s so generous that it approaches free community college — a campaign promise that Biden has pushed but failed to deliver.The Institute for College Access and Success, a nonprofit organization that promotes college affordability, praised the proposal as a significant improvement over existing plans.“The changes proposed today would provide meaningful financial relief to millions of borrowers and help shield students from debt that has not paid off, including those who start college but do not complete a degree,” said Sameer Gadkaree, the group's president.Opponents on the right blast the revamped plan as an unfair handout with a steep price tag. The Biden administration estimates the repayment plan would cost nearly $138 billion over the decade, and some critics have put it closer to $200 billion.Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said the proposal turns the federal loan program into "an untargeted grant with complete disregard for the taxpayers that fund it.”“Because President Biden couldn’t get his radical free college agenda through Congress, he has resorted to doing it through the backdoor by executive fiat,” Foxx said in a statement.Even some on the left have questioned the prudence of the idea, saying it's so generous that it effectively turns student loans into grants that don’t need to be repaid. That could lead more students to borrow, they warn, and it could spur colleges to raise tuition prices if they know students won’t be on the hook.Still others have urged the administration to abandon income-driven payment plans entirely, calling them a failed policy. Critics cite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">a federal report from last year</a>&nbsp;finding that sloppy oversight of the program left thousands of borrowers stuck with debt that should have been forgiven.Cardona said his agency is working on other proposals that would hold colleges accountable if their students get overburdened with debt. One idea promoted by Biden is to warn the public about programs that leave graduates saddled with debt.The Education Department on Tuesday began the process to deliver that goal, asking the public about the best way to identify “low-value” programs.___

Feds propose 'student loan safety net' alongside forgiveness

OKLAHOMA COUNTY —Oklahoma City Police have made an arrest in the New Year's Day shooting that left a Fort Hays State University student-athlete dead.

J'Coal Glover, 30, was taken into custody Jan. 7 after a review of security camera footage at the scene of the shooting, which left Daniel Howard, 20, fatally injured and five others with gunshot wounds.

The shooting occurred after a fight that had broken out inside the Sunset Patio Lounge spilled into the parking lot outside.

According to the probable cause affidavit, security footage showed Glover leaving the scene, retrieving an item from a vehicle and returning. A second suspect, using Glover as concealment, was then seen firing multiple rounds at the victims. Records indicate Glover did not fire the weapon.

Glover and the second unidentified suspect then fled the scene, according to records.

Glover was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and denied bail, according to the Oklahoma County Detention Center admissions document.

Howard played two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M before transferring to FHSU in the spring of 2022. Howard, a defensive back, played in all 11 games last season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673372993423.jpeg" alt="Glover / Oklahoma County Detention Center" />
 <figcaption>Glover / Oklahoma County Detention Center</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA COUNTY —Oklahoma City Police have made an arrest in the New Year's Day shooting that left a Fort Hays State University student-athlete dead.J'Coal Glover, 30, was taken into custody Jan. 7 after a review of security camera footage at the scene of the shooting, which left Daniel Howard, 20, fatally injured and five others with gunshot wounds.The shooting occurred after a fight that had broken out inside the Sunset Patio Lounge spilled into the parking lot outside.According to the probable cause affidavit, security footage showed Glover leaving the scene, retrieving an item from a vehicle and returning. A second suspect, using Glover as concealment, was then seen firing multiple rounds at the victims. Records indicate Glover did not fire the weapon.Glover and the second unidentified suspect then fled the scene, according to records.Glover was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and denied bail, according to the Oklahoma County Detention Center admissions document.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672768574845.jpeg" alt="Howard-photo courtesy FHSU" />
 <figcaption>Howard-photo courtesy FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>Howard played two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M before transferring to FHSU in the spring of 2022. Howard, a defensive back, played in all 11 games last season.

Suspect arrested in shooting that killed FHSU player

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal gunfight and have made two arrests.

Just after noon January 5, police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 2300 block of North Piatt in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Officers arrived on the scene and located 43-year-old Mareo Dupree with a gunshot wound to his torso and he was conscious and breathing. 

While officers were investigating, 47-year-old Jamar White arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper body. EMS transported Dupree was to an area hospital where he later died, according to Ditch.

The investigation revealed that there had been a feud over a drug debt between White and the occupants of the residence including Dupree and&nbsp;30-year-old Darries Mitchell.

White drove by the residence a couple of times firing rounds at the house before an exchange of gunfire occurred between Mitchell and White.

Police arrested Mitchell on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery and White on a requested charge of 1st Degree Murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673361937461.png" alt="White-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>White-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal gunfight and have made two arrests.Just after noon January 5, police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 2300 block of North Piatt in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Officers arrived on the scene and located 43-year-old Mareo Dupree with a gunshot wound to his torso and he was conscious and breathing. While officers were investigating, 47-year-old Jamar White arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper body. EMS transported Dupree was to an area hospital where he later died, according to Ditch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673362007556.png" alt="Mitchell-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Mitchell-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation revealed that there had been a feud over a drug debt between White and the occupants of the residence including Dupree and&nbsp;30-year-old Darries Mitchell.White drove by the residence a couple of times firing rounds at the house before an exchange of gunfire occurred between Mitchell and White.Police arrested Mitchell on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery and White on a requested charge of 1st Degree Murder.

Police: 2 jailed after fatal Kansas drug debt gunfight

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">House Republicans</a>&nbsp;began their tenure in the majority Monday by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS, fulfilling a campaign promise even though the legislation is unlikely to advance further.

Democrats had beefed up the IRS over the next decade to help offset the cost of top health and environmental priorities they passed last year and to replenish an agency struggling to provide basic services to taxpayers and ensure fairness in tax compliance.

The money is on top of what Congress provides the IRS annually through the appropriations process and immediately became a magnet for GOP campaign ads in the fall claiming that the boost would lead to an army of IRS agents harassing hard-working Americans.

The bill to rescind the money passed the House on a party-line vote of 221-210. The Democratic-controlled Senate has vowed to ignore it.

Shortly before the vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that rescinding the extra IRS funding would increase deficits over the coming decade by more than $114 billion. That created an awkward moment for Republicans, who have been saying that addressing deficits would be one of their top concerns in the majority. It offered an early example of how the GOP's bold promises on the campaign trail could get tangled in the messy reality of governing.

Still, the CBO's projection didn't appear to dampen Republican support. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said the extra IRS funding Democrats provided last year was for one purpose.

“To go after small businesses, hard-working Americans to try to raise money for reckless spending, reckless spending that has caused $31 trillion in debt in this nation," Duncan said.

Duncan and other GOP lawmakers routinely say the extra funding will be used to hire 87,000 new agents to target Americans, but that's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-irs-agents-inflation-reduction-act-871970314297">misleading</a>. The number is based on a Treasury Department plan saying that many IRS employees would be hired over the next decade if it got the money. But those employees will not all be hired at the same time, they will not all be auditors and many will be replacing some 50,000 employees who are expected to quit or retire in coming years.

“This debate about IRS lends itself to be the most dishonest, demagogic rhetoric that I have seen in the Congress at any point in time," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Charles Rettig, the former commissioner of the IRS, said in a final message to the agency in November that the additional money would help in many areas, not just beefing up tax enforcement. He said the investments would make it “even less likely for honest taxpayers to hear from the IRS or receive an audit letter.”

Additional funding for the agency has been politically controversial since 2013, when the IRS under the Obama administration was found to have used inappropriate criteria to review tea party groups and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status.

In the ensuing years, the IRS was mostly on the losing end of congressional funding fights, even as a subsequent 2017 report found that both conservative and liberal groups were chosen for scrutiny.

In April, Rettig told lawmakers the agency’s budget has decreased by more than 15% over the past decade when accounting for inflation and said the number of full-time employees — 79,000 in the last fiscal year — was close to 1974 levels.

But Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and other Republicans weren't buying the argument that the funding would be focused on auditing the wealthy.

“This is meant to nickel-and-dime, audit and harass America's small businesses and families, who they know cannot afford the legal fees to fight this army," Malliotakis said.

Sen. Ron Wyden, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said a decade of Republican-led budget cuts gutted the IRS.

“The only way that House Republicans could make it any more obvious that they’re doing a favor for wealthy tax cheats is by coming out and saying it in exactly those words," Wyden said. “This bill is going nowhere in the Senate.”

And the White House said President Joe Biden would veto the bill if it gets to his desk, saying that the wealthiest 1% of Americans hide about 20% of their income so they don't have to pay taxes on it, shifting more of the tax burden to the middle class.

"With their first economic legislation of the new Congress, House Republicans are making clear that their top economic priority is to allow the rich and multibillion-dollar corporations to skip out on their taxes, while making life harder for ordinary, middle-class families that pay the taxes they owe," the White House said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">House Republicans</a>&nbsp;began their tenure in the majority Monday by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS, fulfilling a campaign promise even though the legislation is unlikely to advance further.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 House Republicans just voted unanimously to repeal the Democrats&#39; army of 87,000 IRS agents 🚨 This was our very first act of the new Congress, because government should work for you, not against you. Promises made. Promises kept.&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1612640200081002496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democrats had beefed up the IRS over the next decade to help offset the cost of top health and environmental priorities they passed last year and to replenish an agency struggling to provide basic services to taxpayers and ensure fairness in tax compliance.The money is on top of what Congress provides the IRS annually through the appropriations process and immediately became a magnet for GOP campaign ads in the fall claiming that the boost would lead to an army of IRS agents harassing hard-working Americans.The bill to rescind the money passed the House on a party-line vote of 221-210. The Democratic-controlled Senate has vowed to ignore it.Shortly before the vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that rescinding the extra IRS funding would increase deficits over the coming decade by more than $114 billion. That created an awkward moment for Republicans, who have been saying that addressing deficits would be one of their top concerns in the majority. It offered an early example of how the GOP's bold promises on the campaign trail could get tangled in the messy reality of governing.Still, the CBO's projection didn't appear to dampen Republican support. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said the extra IRS funding Democrats provided last year was for one purpose.“To go after small businesses, hard-working Americans to try to raise money for reckless spending, reckless spending that has caused $31 trillion in debt in this nation," Duncan said.Duncan and other GOP lawmakers routinely say the extra funding will be used to hire 87,000 new agents to target Americans, but that's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-irs-agents-inflation-reduction-act-871970314297">misleading</a>. The number is based on a Treasury Department plan saying that many IRS employees would be hired over the next decade if it got the money. But those employees will not all be hired at the same time, they will not all be auditors and many will be replacing some 50,000 employees who are expected to quit or retire in coming years.“This debate about IRS lends itself to be the most dishonest, demagogic rhetoric that I have seen in the Congress at any point in time," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.Charles Rettig, the former commissioner of the IRS, said in a final message to the agency in November that the additional money would help in many areas, not just beefing up tax enforcement. He said the investments would make it “even less likely for honest taxpayers to hear from the IRS or receive an audit letter.”Additional funding for the agency has been politically controversial since 2013, when the IRS under the Obama administration was found to have used inappropriate criteria to review tea party groups and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status.In the ensuing years, the IRS was mostly on the losing end of congressional funding fights, even as a subsequent 2017 report found that both conservative and liberal groups were chosen for scrutiny.In April, Rettig told lawmakers the agency’s budget has decreased by more than 15% over the past decade when accounting for inflation and said the number of full-time employees — 79,000 in the last fiscal year — was close to 1974 levels.But Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and other Republicans weren't buying the argument that the funding would be focused on auditing the wealthy.“This is meant to nickel-and-dime, audit and harass America's small businesses and families, who they know cannot afford the legal fees to fight this army," Malliotakis said.Sen. Ron Wyden, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said a decade of Republican-led budget cuts gutted the IRS.“The only way that House Republicans could make it any more obvious that they’re doing a favor for wealthy tax cheats is by coming out and saying it in exactly those words," Wyden said. “This bill is going nowhere in the Senate.”And the White House said President Joe Biden would veto the bill if it gets to his desk, saying that the wealthiest 1% of Americans hide about 20% of their income so they don't have to pay taxes on it, shifting more of the tax burden to the middle class."With their first economic legislation of the new Congress, House Republicans are making clear that their top economic priority is to allow the rich and multibillion-dollar corporations to skip out on their taxes, while making life harder for ordinary, middle-class families that pay the taxes they owe," the White House said.

House GOP kicks off majority with vote to slash IRS funding

TOPEKA (AP) —Governor Laura Kelly and other statewide elected officials took their oaths of office Monday. The ceremony caps a big political comeback for new Attorney General Kris Kobach. He has built a national reputation by advocating strict immigration and election laws

Kobach and his family marked his return to public office in what, as a former law professor, he called “a role that will suit me well.”

Kobach lost a congressional race in 2004 before winning the first of two terms as Kansas secretary of state in 2010. He was the first prominent Kansas elected official to endorse Donald Trump's bid for president in 2016 and served as vice chairman of a short-lived Trump commission on voter fraud.

His unsuccessful 2018 and 2020 races crashed his political career and left many Republicans believing that he couldn't win a statewide race. But many GOP leaders and activists said his 2022 campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-voting-rights-presidential-immigration-3ec99db94c0d772465d3a7ccf015ccc6">was better organized and more focused,</a>&nbsp;generating less drama or outrage.

The more combative Kobach could return: He's promised to file lawsuits to challenge Biden administration policies.

He's already identified as potential targets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-texas-new-mexico-wildlife-birds-1dba73f652f3e454774d6799d09a257a">a listing of the lesser prairie chicken</a>&nbsp;as a threatened species and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">an expansion of waters covered</a>&nbsp;by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

Kobach said Monday that the attorney general's office also will examine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-medication-d5fc3d5990dced69b0bf93a4760250fe">a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule</a>&nbsp;allowing more pharmacies to dispense abortion medications. Kobach is a strong abortion opponent, while Kelly supports abortion rights.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673288617339.png" alt="&nbsp;Kris Kobach and his family are introducted at the ceremony Monday at the Capitol-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kris Kobach and his family are introducted at the ceremony Monday at the Capitol-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA (AP) —Governor Laura Kelly and other statewide elected officials took their oaths of office Monday. The ceremony caps a big political comeback for new Attorney General Kris Kobach. He has built a national reputation by advocating strict immigration and election lawsKobach and his family marked his return to public office in what, as a former law professor, he called “a role that will suit me well.”Kobach lost a congressional race in 2004 before winning the first of two terms as Kansas secretary of state in 2010. He was the first prominent Kansas elected official to endorse Donald Trump's bid for president in 2016 and served as vice chairman of a short-lived Trump commission on voter fraud.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673290599543.png" alt="Kobach during the oath of office on Monday afternoon-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Kobach during the oath of office on Monday afternoon-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>His unsuccessful 2018 and 2020 races crashed his political career and left many Republicans believing that he couldn't win a statewide race. But many GOP leaders and activists said his 2022 campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-voting-rights-presidential-immigration-3ec99db94c0d772465d3a7ccf015ccc6">was better organized and more focused,</a>&nbsp;generating less drama or outrage.The more combative Kobach could return: He's promised to file lawsuits to challenge Biden administration policies.He's already identified as potential targets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-texas-new-mexico-wildlife-birds-1dba73f652f3e454774d6799d09a257a">a listing of the lesser prairie chicken</a>&nbsp;as a threatened species and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">an expansion of waters covered</a>&nbsp;by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.Kobach said Monday that the attorney general's office also will examine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-medication-d5fc3d5990dced69b0bf93a4760250fe">a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule</a>&nbsp;allowing more pharmacies to dispense abortion medications. Kobach is a strong abortion opponent, while Kelly supports abortion rights.

More combative Kris Kobach takes over as Kan. attorney general

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 384 are investigating alleged theft in Riley County.

On Friday, officers filed a report for theft at Randolph Middle School, 2 Ram Way, in Randolph, according to the Riley County County Police Department activity report. 

The Blue Valley School District and Thermal Comfort Air reported a known male suspect stole a check the school had written to Thermal Comfort Air and cashed it. The estimated total loss is approximately $45,300. Police released no additional information early Monday.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 384 are investigating alleged theft in Riley County.On Friday, officers filed a report for theft at Randolph Middle School, 2 Ram Way, in Randolph, according to the Riley County County Police Department activity report. The Blue Valley School District and Thermal Comfort Air reported a known male suspect stole a check the school had written to Thermal Comfort Air and cashed it. The estimated total loss is approximately $45,300. Police released no additional information early Monday.

Police: Suspect stole $45,000 check written by Kan. school district

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/new-order-puts-keystone-pipeline-cleanup-under-epa-oversight/">Kansas Reflector</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/">Owners of the Keystone oil pipeline</a>&nbsp;must
 complete their cleanup of a massive spill in northern Kansas under 
oversight of the federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency
 announced Monday.

The EPA and TC Energy, which operates the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/20/drone-no-fly-zone-issued-over-keystone-oil-spill-site-in-kansas/">Keystone pipeline</a>, signed a cleanup agreement last week, according to a news release from the EPA.

It requires TC Energy to “recover oil and oil-contaminated soil and 
vegetation and contain the further spread of oil in Mill Creek.”

“All work required under the order … will be completed under EPA oversight,” the release said.

In a statement, the company said it appreciated the EPA’s “willingness to work cooperatively.”

“We share the EPA’s prioritization of safety and mitigating risk to 
the environment, and we are committed to complying with the agreement as
 we progress our response, recovery and remediation,” the company said.

The Keystone pipeline, which carries oil from Canada to Illinois and 
Texas, spilled 14,000 barrels — or 588,000 gallons —&nbsp;of oil near 
Washington, a small town along the Kansas-Nebraska border. The spill, 
which took place in December, is the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">largest in the pipeline’s history of numerous spills and violations</a>.

As of Jan. 2, TC Energy reported it had recovered almost 12,000 
barrels of oil from Mill Creek and surrounding areas. Crews responding 
to the spill will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/03/crews-will-reroute-mill-creek-after-massive-keystone-pipeline-spill-in-kansas/">temporarily reroute Mill Creek</a>&nbsp;to accommodate cleanup.

In its release, the EPA said the spill “resulted in vegetation 
staining near the pipeline rupture, caused a visible sheen on the water 
and significantly affected fish and wildlife.”

In the hours after the spill, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/09/regulators-order-keystone-pipeline-to-investigate-after-14000-barrels-spill-in-kansas/">ordered TC Energy to shut down the pipeline and investigate the cause of the rupture</a>. The branch of the pipeline that was affected resumed operations in late December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673362197220.png" alt="Efforts are underway to clean up the largest spill in the Keystone pipeline’s history, which happened near Washington, Kansas. The pipeline’s owner announced Mill Creek will be temporarily rerouted to help with cleanup (TC Energy)." />
 <figcaption>Efforts are underway to clean up the largest spill in the Keystone pipeline’s history, which happened near Washington, Kansas. The pipeline’s owner announced Mill Creek will be temporarily rerouted to help with cleanup (TC Energy).</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/new-order-puts-keystone-pipeline-cleanup-under-epa-oversight/">Kansas Reflector</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/">Owners of the Keystone oil pipeline</a>&nbsp;must
 complete their cleanup of a massive spill in northern Kansas under 
oversight of the federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency
 announced Monday.The EPA and TC Energy, which operates the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/20/drone-no-fly-zone-issued-over-keystone-oil-spill-site-in-kansas/">Keystone pipeline</a>, signed a cleanup agreement last week, according to a news release from the EPA.It requires TC Energy to “recover oil and oil-contaminated soil and 
vegetation and contain the further spread of oil in Mill Creek.”“All work required under the order … will be completed under EPA oversight,” the release said.In a statement, the company said it appreciated the EPA’s “willingness to work cooperatively.”“We share the EPA’s prioritization of safety and mitigating risk to 
the environment, and we are committed to complying with the agreement as
 we progress our response, recovery and remediation,” the company said.The Keystone pipeline, which carries oil from Canada to Illinois and 
Texas, spilled 14,000 barrels — or 588,000 gallons —&nbsp;of oil near 
Washington, a small town along the Kansas-Nebraska border. The spill, 
which took place in December, is the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">largest in the pipeline’s history of numerous spills and violations</a>.As of Jan. 2, TC Energy reported it had recovered almost 12,000 
barrels of oil from Mill Creek and surrounding areas. Crews responding 
to the spill will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/03/crews-will-reroute-mill-creek-after-massive-keystone-pipeline-spill-in-kansas/">temporarily reroute Mill Creek</a>&nbsp;to accommodate cleanup.In its release, the EPA said the spill “resulted in vegetation 
staining near the pipeline rupture, caused a visible sheen on the water 
and significantly affected fish and wildlife.”In the hours after the spill, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/09/regulators-order-keystone-pipeline-to-investigate-after-14000-barrels-spill-in-kansas/">ordered TC Energy to shut down the pipeline and investigate the cause of the rupture</a>. The branch of the pipeline that was affected resumed operations in late December..

New order puts Keystone pipeline cleanup under EPA oversight

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly and Lieutenant Governor David Toland were sworn into office in a ceremony outside the Kansas State Capitol on Monday. The Kelly Administration now begins its second term in office.&nbsp;

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Inaugural-Address-FINAL-FOR-PRESS.pdf">Click here to read</a> Gov. Kelly's&nbsp;Inaugural Address

Governor Kelly first became the 48th&nbsp;governor of Kansas on January 14, 2019, pledging to rebuild Kansas by reaching across the aisle. Since then, she has worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to fully fund schools, axe the sales tax on food, close the Bank of KDOT, and recruit the largest economic development project in state history.&nbsp;

Governor Kelly began her second term by celebrating the Kansas spirit of “neighbor-helping-neighbor” and calling on the state’s elected leaders to embody the same civility and unity.&nbsp;

“We’re often told that there’s&nbsp;‘a fork in the road’&nbsp;and you&nbsp;have to&nbsp;make a choice - you can either go right or you can go left. I believe that’s a false choice.  I believe the best&nbsp;choice&nbsp;is right down&nbsp;the middle of that road,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“Because the middle of the road&nbsp;is&nbsp;where left and right come together; where well-intentioned people who hold different positions find common ground.  Nobody gets everything they&nbsp;want,&nbsp;everyone gets something they want, and progress is made.&nbsp;That’s how life works. It’s how government should work too.”&nbsp;

Governor Kelly also shared her vision for her second term.&nbsp;

“Our North Star is this: To make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Where you can see opportunity for yourself, for your children, and for your grandchildren.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673298695086.png" alt="Photo courtesy Governor Kelly's office" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Governor Kelly's office</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly and Lieutenant Governor David Toland were sworn into office in a ceremony outside the Kansas State Capitol on Monday. The Kelly Administration now begins its second term in office.&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Inaugural-Address-FINAL-FOR-PRESS.pdf">Click here to read</a> Gov. Kelly's&nbsp;Inaugural AddressGovernor Kelly first became the 48th&nbsp;governor of Kansas on January 14, 2019, pledging to rebuild Kansas by reaching across the aisle. Since then, she has worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to fully fund schools, axe the sales tax on food, close the Bank of KDOT, and recruit the largest economic development project in state history.&nbsp;Governor Kelly began her second term by celebrating the Kansas spirit of “neighbor-helping-neighbor” and calling on the state’s elected leaders to embody the same civility and unity.&nbsp;“We’re often told that there’s&nbsp;‘a fork in the road’&nbsp;and you&nbsp;have to&nbsp;make a choice - you can either go right or you can go left. I believe that’s a false choice.  I believe the best&nbsp;choice&nbsp;is right down&nbsp;the middle of that road,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Because the middle of the road&nbsp;is&nbsp;where left and right come together; where well-intentioned people who hold different positions find common ground.  Nobody gets everything they&nbsp;want,&nbsp;everyone gets something they want, and progress is made.&nbsp;That’s how life works. It’s how government should work too.”&nbsp;Governor Kelly also shared her vision for her second term.&nbsp;“Our North Star is this: To make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Where you can see opportunity for yourself, for your children, and for your grandchildren.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas Gov. urges civility: Read Kelly's 2023 inaugural address

RUSSELL COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking for help to locate a suspect.

Just before 2:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to the shooting call in the 1300 block of North Fossil Street in Russell, according to a media release.&nbsp;

First responders found a 45-year-old man suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. EMS transported the victim to Russel Regional Hospital, He was later airlifted to a trauma center in Wichita.

Police are attempting to locate a suspect identified as 47-year-old Shane Slack. He is described as a white male, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with blue eyes. 

He was last seen wearing black jeans, black shirt, and a leather vest with patches and possibly driving a 1999 Toyota Tacoma bearing Kansas 725 RMV. 

Slack is believed to be armed and dangerous.&nbsp; If you see him please do not approach and call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673350929533.png" alt="Slack -photo Russell Police" />
 <figcaption>Slack -photo Russell Police</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking for help to locate a suspect.Just before 2:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to the shooting call in the 1300 block of North Fossil Street in Russell, according to a media release.&nbsp;First responders found a 45-year-old man suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. EMS transported the victim to Russel Regional Hospital, He was later airlifted to a trauma center in Wichita.Police are attempting to locate a suspect identified as 47-year-old Shane Slack. He is described as a white male, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with blue eyes. He was last seen wearing black jeans, black shirt, and a leather vest with patches and possibly driving a 1999 Toyota Tacoma bearing Kansas 725 RMV. Slack is believed to be armed and dangerous.&nbsp; If you see him please do not approach and call 911.

Man airlifted to hospital, Russell police search for shooting suspect

GEARY COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 7p.m. Monday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chevy Cruze driven by Kelly E. Clements, 32, Fort Riley, was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 just outside of Marshall Army Airfield and struck a 2017 Hyundai Elantra driven by Gary T. May, 76, Milford, head-on.

Clements was pronounced dead at the scene and she was transported to Johnson's Funeral Home. EMS transported May and a passenger in the Hyundai Donna E. May, 72, Milford, to the Stormont Flint Hills where she died. Clements was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

All westbound traffic on Interstate 70 near Fort Riley in Geary county were shut down for several hours due to the to the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673318786501.png" alt="First responders on the scene Monday night -image courtesy KanDrive" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene Monday night -image courtesy KanDrive</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 7p.m. Monday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chevy Cruze driven by Kelly E. Clements, 32, Fort Riley, was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 just outside of Marshall Army Airfield and struck a 2017 Hyundai Elantra driven by Gary T. May, 76, Milford, head-on.Clements was pronounced dead at the scene and she was transported to Johnson's Funeral Home. EMS transported May and a passenger in the Hyundai Donna E. May, 72, Milford, to the Stormont Flint Hills where she died. Clements was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.All westbound traffic on Interstate 70 near Fort Riley in Geary county were shut down for several hours due to the to the crash.

2 Kan. women dead after wrong-way, head-on I-70 crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and on Monday, released security camera images asking for help to ID a suspect.

Just before 2a.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022, deputies were dispatched to a business inmthe 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard for a disturbance, according to deputy Abigail Christian.

A physical altercation began near the entrance of the business and continued into the parking lot. During the fight, multiple gunshots were fired and one person was struck. That person was taken to a local hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.

Anyone with information on the individual pictured is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office (785-251-2200) or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers (785-234-0007 www.p3tips.com)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673301016811.png" alt="image Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>image Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and on Monday, released security camera images asking for help to ID a suspect.Just before 2a.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022, deputies were dispatched to a business inmthe 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard for a disturbance, according to deputy Abigail Christian.A physical altercation began near the entrance of the business and continued into the parking lot. During the fight, multiple gunshots were fired and one person was struck. That person was taken to a local hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.Anyone with information on the individual pictured is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office (785-251-2200) or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers (785-234-0007 www.p3tips.com)

Sheriff asks for help to ID New Year's Eve shooting suspect

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is reviewing a batch of potentially classified documents found in the Washington office space of President Joe Biden's former institute, the White House said Monday.

Special counsel to the president Richard Sauber said “a small number of documents with classified markings” were discovered as Biden's personal attorneys were clearing out the offices of the Penn Biden Center, where the president kept an office after he left the vice presidency in 2017 until shortly before he launched his 2020 presidential campaign in 2019. The documents were found on Nov. 2, 2022, in a “locked closet” in the office, Sauber said.

Sauber said the attorneys immediately alerted the White House Counsel's office, who notified the National Archives and Records Administration — which took custody of the documents the next day.

“Since that discovery, the President’s personal attorneys have cooperated with the Archives and the Department of Justice in a process to ensure that any Obama-Biden Administration records are appropriately in the possession of the Archives,” Sauber said.

A person who is familiar with the matter but not authorized to discuss it publicly said Attorney General Merrick Garland asked U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to review the matter after the Archives referred the issue to the department. Lausch is one of the few U.S. attorneys to be held over from former President Donald Trump's administration.

Irrespective of the Justice Department review, the revelation that Biden potentially mishandled classified or presidential records could prove to be a political headache for the president, who called Trump's decision to keep hundreds of such records at his private club in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-taiwan-biden-government-and-politics-mar-a-lago-2474104aa0fd9ffaa8de33538813c84e">“irresponsible."</a>

Trump weighed in Monday on his social media site, asking, “When is the FBI going to raid the many homes of Joe Biden, perhaps even the White House?”

The revelation comes as Republicans have taken control of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">House of Representatives</a>&nbsp;and are promising to launch widespread investigations of Biden's administration.

It also may complicate the Justice Department's consideration on whether to bring charges against Trump, who has launched a repeat bid for the White House in 2024 and has repeatedly claimed that the department's inquiry of his own conduct amounted to “corruption."

The National Archives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Spokespeople for Garland and Lausch declined to comment.

Rep. James Comer, the new GOP chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Monday that the revelation raised questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Trump probe.

“Is the White House going to be raided tonight? Are they going to raid the Bidens?” he asked reporters. “This is further concern that there’s a two-tier justice system within the DOJ with how they treat Republicans versus Democrats, certainly how they treat the former president versus the current president.”

His Democratic counterpart, Rep. Jamie Raskin, said Biden's attorneys “appear to have taken immediate and proper action.”

“I have confidence that the Attorney General took the appropriate steps to ensure the careful review of the circumstances surrounding the possession and discovery of these documents and make an impartial decision about any further action that may be needed,” he added.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said Monday that the American public deserved to know earlier about the revelation of classified documents.

“They knew about this a week before the election, maybe the American people should have known that,” Jordan told reporters. “They certainly knew about the the raid on Mar-a-Lago 91 days before this election, but nice if on November 2, the country would have known that there were classified documents at the Biden Center.”

Jordan is among House Republicans pushing for the creation of a “select subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal government” within the Judiciary Committee.

Votes on creating that committee are expected as soon as this week, setting up a showdown between Republicans and the prosecutors leading various federal investigations, including the ones into Trump.

It wasn't immediately clear why the White House didn't disclose the discovery of the documents or the DOJ review sooner. CBS was first to report Monday on the discovery of the potentially classified documents.

The Justice Department for months has been investigating the retention of roughly 300 documents that were marked as classified and were recovered from the Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mar-a-lago">Florida estate.</a>&nbsp;In that instance, prosecutors say, representatives of Trump resisted requests to give back the full stash of classified documents and failed to fully comply with a subpoena that sought their return.

FBI agents in August served a search warrant at the Mar-a-Lago property, removing 15 boxes of records.

That investigation is being led by special counsel Jack Smith. Prosecutors have interviewed an array of Trump associates and have been using a grand jury to hear evidence.

It is not clear when a decision when will be made on whether Trump, or anyone else, should be charged.

The think tank, formally known as the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and continues to operate independently of the Biden administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673315316984.png" alt="The revelation comes as Republicans have taken control of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">House of Representatives</a>&nbsp;and are promising to launch widespread investigations of Biden's administration-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The revelation comes as Republicans have taken control of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">House of Representatives</a>&nbsp;and are promising to launch widespread investigations of Biden's administration-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is reviewing a batch of potentially classified documents found in the Washington office space of President Joe Biden's former institute, the White House said Monday.Special counsel to the president Richard Sauber said “a small number of documents with classified markings” were discovered as Biden's personal attorneys were clearing out the offices of the Penn Biden Center, where the president kept an office after he left the vice presidency in 2017 until shortly before he launched his 2020 presidential campaign in 2019. The documents were found on Nov. 2, 2022, in a “locked closet” in the office, Sauber said.Sauber said the attorneys immediately alerted the White House Counsel's office, who notified the National Archives and Records Administration — which took custody of the documents the next day.“Since that discovery, the President’s personal attorneys have cooperated with the Archives and the Department of Justice in a process to ensure that any Obama-Biden Administration records are appropriately in the possession of the Archives,” Sauber said.A person who is familiar with the matter but not authorized to discuss it publicly said Attorney General Merrick Garland asked U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to review the matter after the Archives referred the issue to the department. Lausch is one of the few U.S. attorneys to be held over from former President Donald Trump's administration.Irrespective of the Justice Department review, the revelation that Biden potentially mishandled classified or presidential records could prove to be a political headache for the president, who called Trump's decision to keep hundreds of such records at his private club in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-taiwan-biden-government-and-politics-mar-a-lago-2474104aa0fd9ffaa8de33538813c84e">“irresponsible."</a>Trump weighed in Monday on his social media site, asking, “When is the FBI going to raid the many homes of Joe Biden, perhaps even the White House?”The revelation comes as Republicans have taken control of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">House of Representatives</a>&nbsp;and are promising to launch widespread investigations of Biden's administration.It also may complicate the Justice Department's consideration on whether to bring charges against Trump, who has launched a repeat bid for the White House in 2024 and has repeatedly claimed that the department's inquiry of his own conduct amounted to “corruption."The National Archives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Spokespeople for Garland and Lausch declined to comment.Rep. James Comer, the new GOP chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Monday that the revelation raised questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Trump probe.“Is the White House going to be raided tonight? Are they going to raid the Bidens?” he asked reporters. “This is further concern that there’s a two-tier justice system within the DOJ with how they treat Republicans versus Democrats, certainly how they treat the former president versus the current president.”His Democratic counterpart, Rep. Jamie Raskin, said Biden's attorneys “appear to have taken immediate and proper action.”“I have confidence that the Attorney General took the appropriate steps to ensure the careful review of the circumstances surrounding the possession and discovery of these documents and make an impartial decision about any further action that may be needed,” he added.Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said Monday that the American public deserved to know earlier about the revelation of classified documents.“They knew about this a week before the election, maybe the American people should have known that,” Jordan told reporters. “They certainly knew about the the raid on Mar-a-Lago 91 days before this election, but nice if on November 2, the country would have known that there were classified documents at the Biden Center.”Jordan is among House Republicans pushing for the creation of a “select subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal government” within the Judiciary Committee.Votes on creating that committee are expected as soon as this week, setting up a showdown between Republicans and the prosecutors leading various federal investigations, including the ones into Trump.It wasn't immediately clear why the White House didn't disclose the discovery of the documents or the DOJ review sooner. CBS was first to report Monday on the discovery of the potentially classified documents.The Justice Department for months has been investigating the retention of roughly 300 documents that were marked as classified and were recovered from the Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mar-a-lago">Florida estate.</a>&nbsp;In that instance, prosecutors say, representatives of Trump resisted requests to give back the full stash of classified documents and failed to fully comply with a subpoena that sought their return.FBI agents in August served a search warrant at the Mar-a-Lago property, removing 15 boxes of records.That investigation is being led by special counsel Jack Smith. Prosecutors have interviewed an array of Trump associates and have been using a grand jury to hear evidence.It is not clear when a decision when will be made on whether Trump, or anyone else, should be charged.The think tank, formally known as the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and continues to operate independently of the Biden administration.--------------

Classified docs from Biden's time as vice president discovered 

MARION COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating missing and injured Alpacas.

According to a statement from the Marion County Sheriff, on Sunday night, several Alpacas were shot in the 800 block of Old Mill Road north of Peabody.&nbsp; Five Alpacas are still missing. 

If you have any information regarding this incident, please call Deputy Miles at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 620-382-2144

MARION COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating missing and injured Alpacas.According to a statement from the Marion County Sheriff, on Sunday night, several Alpacas were shot in the 800 block of Old Mill Road north of Peabody.&nbsp; Five Alpacas are still missing. If you have any information regarding this incident, please call Deputy Miles at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 620-382-2144

Marion County Sheriff: Alpacas shot, several animals missing

KANSAS CITY —A &nbsp;Jackson County judge Thursday ordered Issac Fisher to serve consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole after he was convicted of multiple felonies in connection with three fatal shootings and the wounding of a 4-year-old child in 2018, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

The judge ordered Fisher to serve two life without the possibility of parole sentences and a third life sentence. The judge set those sentences to run consecutively. The prosecutor had asked that setting the sentences to run consecutively would recognize each victim separately.

In addition, the judge set other sentences for other convictions -- six Armed Criminal Actions, three Burglary 1st Degrees, three Unlawful Use of Weapon and two Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Those were set to run concurrently to the life sentences. &nbsp;A Jackson County jury convicted Fisher, dob: 3/16/1983, of those charges.

According to court records, police were first called to the 9000 block of Kentucky Avenue in Kansas City about 9:24 a.m. on a reported shooting. A woman reported her daughter-in-law had been shot by her son, the defendant. Witnesses at the residence told police that the defendant had arrived there and had argued with the first victim. Then the witness stated she heard four to five gunshots and found the victim on the bathroom floor suffering from gunshot wounds. The defendant was seen leaving the room holding a handgun. A short time later, police in Raytown located a vehicle reportedly taken from the first crime scene on Kentucky Avenue. A witness on Laurel Avenue in Raytown told police that her finance's brother was the defendant. He had come to the residence and kicked in the door before taking a second vehicle, a white Chevrolet Traverse. About 9:37 a.m. Sunday, police in Raytown responded to the 5700 block of Elm, where they found another victim suffering from gunshot wounds. That victim was reported to be the step-brother of the defendant. A 4-year-old girl also had been shot, while a 1-year-old was present but did not sustain injuries. A witness stated the suspect in the shooting was seen leaving the residence carrying a rifle over his shoulder. He fled in a white Traverse. And at 10;28 a.m., Kansas City police responded to a shooting near 112th and Eastern. The victim found there by police was reportedly a cousin of the defendant. While still alive, the victim told a witness that a man named "Big" had shot him. The defendant goes by the nickname "Big." &nbsp;Police located the white Traverse behind a nearby residence. Ballistics of shell casings at three homicide scenes matched.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666807024992.png" alt="Fisher-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Fisher-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A &nbsp;Jackson County judge Thursday ordered Issac Fisher to serve consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole after he was convicted of multiple felonies in connection with three fatal shootings and the wounding of a 4-year-old child in 2018, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.The judge ordered Fisher to serve two life without the possibility of parole sentences and a third life sentence. The judge set those sentences to run consecutively. The prosecutor had asked that setting the sentences to run consecutively would recognize each victim separately.In addition, the judge set other sentences for other convictions -- six Armed Criminal Actions, three Burglary 1st Degrees, three Unlawful Use of Weapon and two Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Those were set to run concurrently to the life sentences. &nbsp;A Jackson County jury convicted Fisher, dob: 3/16/1983, of those charges.According to court records, police were first called to the 9000 block of Kentucky Avenue in Kansas City about 9:24 a.m. on a reported shooting. A woman reported her daughter-in-law had been shot by her son, the defendant. Witnesses at the residence told police that the defendant had arrived there and had argued with the first victim. Then the witness stated she heard four to five gunshots and found the victim on the bathroom floor suffering from gunshot wounds. The defendant was seen leaving the room holding a handgun. A short time later, police in Raytown located a vehicle reportedly taken from the first crime scene on Kentucky Avenue. A witness on Laurel Avenue in Raytown told police that her finance's brother was the defendant. He had come to the residence and kicked in the door before taking a second vehicle, a white Chevrolet Traverse. About 9:37 a.m. Sunday, police in Raytown responded to the 5700 block of Elm, where they found another victim suffering from gunshot wounds. That victim was reported to be the step-brother of the defendant. A 4-year-old girl also had been shot, while a 1-year-old was present but did not sustain injuries. A witness stated the suspect in the shooting was seen leaving the residence carrying a rifle over his shoulder. He fled in a white Traverse. And at 10;28 a.m., Kansas City police responded to a shooting near 112th and Eastern. The victim found there by police was reportedly a cousin of the defendant. While still alive, the victim told a witness that a man named "Big" had shot him. The defendant goes by the nickname "Big." &nbsp;Police located the white Traverse behind a nearby residence. Ballistics of shell casings at three homicide scenes matched.&nbsp;

Kansas City man sentenced for murder of 3 family members

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/09/kansas-chambers-legislative-script-dives-into-tax-regulation-workforce-and-legal-issues/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber’s wish list for the legislative session that opened Monday&nbsp; features corporate and individual income tax cuts, a 
blockade on local government bans on plastic bags and regulatory changes
 to deliver regionally competitive energy costs.

The organization proposed lawmakers help fill gaps in the state’s 
workforce with a tax credit for companies hiring apprentices. If the 
Kansas Chamber could wave a magic wand, it would eliminate a state ban 
on retailers passing credit card fees to consumers, slash the state’s 
general sales tax of 6.5% and declare the legislative branch — not the 
judicial branch — the final authority on funding of K-12 education.

Other policy goals: support reforms to help people with criminal 
records land a job, amend the workers’ compensation system to limit 
pain-and-suffering damage awards to injured workers and give parents 
more opportunity to direct state tax dollars to private school education
 of their children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673281651332.png" alt="Kansas Chamber president Alan Cobb, right, and Kansas Chamber lobbyist Eric Stafford outline for a Kansas Reflector podcast key pieces of the business organization’s 2023 agenda ahead of the new session of the Kansas Legislature starting Monday. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Chamber president Alan Cobb, right, and Kansas Chamber lobbyist Eric Stafford outline for a Kansas Reflector podcast key pieces of the business organization’s 2023 agenda ahead of the new session of the Kansas Legislature starting Monday. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/09/kansas-chambers-legislative-script-dives-into-tax-regulation-workforce-and-legal-issues/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber’s wish list for the legislative session that opened Monday&nbsp; features corporate and individual income tax cuts, a 
blockade on local government bans on plastic bags and regulatory changes
 to deliver regionally competitive energy costs.The organization proposed lawmakers help fill gaps in the state’s 
workforce with a tax credit for companies hiring apprentices. If the 
Kansas Chamber could wave a magic wand, it would eliminate a state ban 
on retailers passing credit card fees to consumers, slash the state’s 
general sales tax of 6.5% and declare the legislative branch — not the 
judicial branch — the final authority on funding of K-12 education.Other policy goals: support reforms to help people with criminal 
records land a job, amend the workers’ compensation system to limit 
pain-and-suffering damage awards to injured workers and give parents 
more opportunity to direct state tax dollars to private school education
 of their children.“Our regulatory climate has improved and our employment laws are 
among the best in the nation,” said Alan Cobb, president of the Kansas 
Chamber. “Unfortunately, the work is not done. Actions taken by other 
states have made them more attractive to investment and to workers. We 
must act to become competitive.”The Kansas Chamber, which has a political action committee that 
invests primarily in conservative Republican candidates, maintains a 
steady presence in the Capitol. The objective is to provide traction for
 “pro-business” legislation through direct lobbying, testimony on bills,
 drafting of legislation and behind-the-scenes negotiation on public 
policy. Generally, the organization embraces principles of free 
enterprise, small government, economic development and job creation. The
 bottom line: Lower the cost of doing business in Kansas.Cobb and Eric Stafford, the Kansas Chamber’s top lobbyist, sat down 
with the Kansas Reflector podcast to walk through key elements of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansaschamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-Legislative-Agenda.pdf">the organization’s 2023 legislative agenda</a>.“We need to become more competitive. We need to grow. We need to 
attract more business investment. We need to attract individuals here. 
And, it’s not just necessarily income taxes. We’re the sixth highest 
cellphone tax burden in the nation?” Stafford said.<h2>Taxation theme</h2>Polling by the Kansas Chamber showed seven of 10 chief executive 
officers of businesses believed the property tax burden in Kansas was 
too high.Some states made use of large state revenue surpluses by lowering 
income tax rates, but Kansas has not taken that step. The organization 
intends to pressure the Legislature to curtail both the individual 
income tax burden on Kansans by adopting a flat rate. The Kansas Chamber
 is working on legislation would earmark projected growth in state 
revenue for buying down state income taxes.In addition, the Kansas Chamber proposed an across-the-board 
reduction of the state’s 6.5% sales tax. On Jan. 1, a law adopted by the
 2022 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly reduced the state sales tax on 
groceries from 6.5% to 4%. General purchases of goods is still tied to 
the 6.5% state rate and whatever percentage was imposed by cities or 
counties. The average total sales tax in Kansas is 8.4%, but in some 
jurisdictions it tops 10%.“We are either seventh or eighth highest in combined … state and 
local tax rate in the country. I mean, it’s good to be in the top 10 
generally. That’s not one of them,” Cobb said.Stafford said there was reason to be optimistic about the Legislature
 and Kelly reaching compromise on a broad tax bill that included the 
immediate elimination of sales tax on food.“It’s a very realistic possibility it could happen,” he said, “but I 
also think it’ll be part of the bigger tax conversation. You know, 
Governor Kelly ran on commercials that she’s in the middle of the road. 
Well, you know, there’s going to be a time where&nbsp;the art of compromise 
isn’t getting only what you want. It’s giving up some things that you 
might not be crazy about.”Stafford said there would likely be bipartisan support for adopting 
tax credits for businesses that participated in registered 
apprenticeship programs in traditional trades as well as education, 
information technology or health care. Under the Kansas Chamber’s 
proposal, the state would offer tax credits of $1,250 per apprentice up 
to 10 at each company.<h2>K-12 education</h2>The Kansas Chamber’s policy agenda waded into K-12 public education 
to include deploying state tax dollars for schools operating outside of 
the public education system. It’s controversial because some lawmakers 
believe a voucher-like system drained the best students and more 
resources from public schools, while proponents point to the need for 
educational alternatives best suited for the student.“We need better students,” Cobb said. “We don’t care whether they’re 
homeschooled, private schools,&nbsp;parochial schools, religious schools or 
public schools. We need all of them to succeed. Competition works 
everywhere. We’re all of the above. It’s not terribly complicated.”In addition, the Kansas Chamber would like the Legislature to be the 
final authority on determining appropriate levels of state funding of 
K-12 schools. In the past, the Kansas Supreme Court has found state aid 
to schools unconstitutional. Rulings have prompted increases in state 
aid to public education.Stafford said the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision to strike down caps
 on pain-and-suffering awards to injured workers was bad public policy. 
The constitution ought to be amended to allow the Legislature to adopt 
award limits for noneconomic damages, he said.“The Legislature felt it was the best public policy for the state to 
have that in place. And our Supreme Court came in and said, ‘Nope, those
 are unconstitutional. You can’t do that.’ We do support reinstating 
caps on economic damages. About the only approach that we have left at 
this point is a constitutional amendment.”Cobb said the Kansas Chamber would support legislative efforts to do 
away with the penalty of five days in jail for a first offense for 
driving a vehicle on a suspended license.“Driving while suspended. Five days in jail. We got to change that. I
 mean, five days in jail if you’re convicted of&nbsp;driving while 
suspended?” he said.Stafford said the organization had long opposed a patchwork of 
regulations by cities and counties regarding use of plastic bags 
commonly used in retail stores. This year, however, the agenda was 
widened to include opposition to local units of government forbidding 
sale of dogs and cats at retail stores, he said.