WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. military officer said Wednesday that he tried to reach out to his Russian counterpart in the aftermath of the missile explosions in Poland, but wasn't able to get through.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said his staff tried to get Russia's top-ranking military official Gen. Valery Gerasimov on the phone to discuss the incident with “no success.”

Milley didn’t elaborate on the efforts, but the lack of communications raises concerns about high-level U.S.-Russian communications in a crisis. A strike against Poland, a NATO member, could have risked a larger conflict if it turned out that Russia had launched the strike.

The U.S. and other top leaders now say they believe the strike was probably launched by Ukrainian air defenses to defend against a Russian missile bombardment. But uncertainty swirled for hours. Several U.S. defense officials said it isn't unusual for Gerasimov to not be available for a call.

The lack of communication is worrisome, especially given the potential implications of the strike, said John Tierney, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington.

Open lines of communication “are vital if we are to avoid the risk of conflict caused by misconception, miscalculations or mistake,” Tierney said. “It is unsettling to learn from General Milley that his counterpart was unreachable or not willing to engage when an explosion occurred in Poland.”

Milley did talk to his military counterparts in Ukraine and Poland as the governments worked quickly to assess whether the missile that killed two people in Poland had been launched by Russia or Ukraine.

The conversation came as Milley has said that Russia's recent defeat in the key southern city Kherson and the possible slowdown of military operations in the winter could provide an opportunity to negotiate.

“You want to negotiate at a time when you’re at your strength, and your opponent is at weakness,” Milley said at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday. “The Russian military is suffering tremendously," he said, citing large losses of Russian tanks, fighting vehicles, fighter jets and helicopters.

If fighting slows down, Milley said that may become “a window” for talks about a political solution.

Both he and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that they expect Ukraine to keep fighting through the winter, and the U.S. and its allies will continue to provide more support and weapons. And it will be up to Ukraine to determine any negotiation plans.

“We’ve said repeatedly that the Ukrainians are going to decide that and not us. And we will support them for as long as it takes,” said Austin, who was also at the briefing.

The missile that landed in Poland Tuesday was launched during the "largest wave of missiles that we’ve seen since the beginning of the war,” Austin said. On Tuesday Russia launched as many as 100 missiles at Ukraine as Moscow intensifies its airstrikes following significant ground losses.

Milley said it's unlikely that either side can gain a military victory quickly. He said the chance of Russia, which currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, overrunning the entire country “is close to zero.” And, he added, the “task of militarily kicking the Russians physically out of Ukraine is a very difficult task. And it’s not going to happen in the next couple of weeks unless the Russian army completely collapses, which is unlikely.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668685067328.png" alt="On Wednesday Milley said the lack of communications raises concerns about high-level U.S.-Russian communications in a crisis.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>On Wednesday Milley said the lack of communications raises concerns about high-level U.S.-Russian communications in a crisis.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. military officer said Wednesday that he tried to reach out to his Russian counterpart in the aftermath of the missile explosions in Poland, but wasn't able to get through.Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said his staff tried to get Russia's top-ranking military official Gen. Valery Gerasimov on the phone to discuss the incident with “no success.”Milley didn’t elaborate on the efforts, but the lack of communications raises concerns about high-level U.S.-Russian communications in a crisis. A strike against Poland, a NATO member, could have risked a larger conflict if it turned out that Russia had launched the strike.The U.S. and other top leaders now say they believe the strike was probably launched by Ukrainian air defenses to defend against a Russian missile bombardment. But uncertainty swirled for hours. Several U.S. defense officials said it isn't unusual for Gerasimov to not be available for a call.The lack of communication is worrisome, especially given the potential implications of the strike, said John Tierney, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington.Open lines of communication “are vital if we are to avoid the risk of conflict caused by misconception, miscalculations or mistake,” Tierney said. “It is unsettling to learn from General Milley that his counterpart was unreachable or not willing to engage when an explosion occurred in Poland.”Milley did talk to his military counterparts in Ukraine and Poland as the governments worked quickly to assess whether the missile that killed two people in Poland had been launched by Russia or Ukraine.The conversation came as Milley has said that Russia's recent defeat in the key southern city Kherson and the possible slowdown of military operations in the winter could provide an opportunity to negotiate.“You want to negotiate at a time when you’re at your strength, and your opponent is at weakness,” Milley said at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday. “The Russian military is suffering tremendously," he said, citing large losses of Russian tanks, fighting vehicles, fighter jets and helicopters.If fighting slows down, Milley said that may become “a window” for talks about a political solution.Both he and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that they expect Ukraine to keep fighting through the winter, and the U.S. and its allies will continue to provide more support and weapons. And it will be up to Ukraine to determine any negotiation plans.“We’ve said repeatedly that the Ukrainians are going to decide that and not us. And we will support them for as long as it takes,” said Austin, who was also at the briefing.The missile that landed in Poland Tuesday was launched during the "largest wave of missiles that we’ve seen since the beginning of the war,” Austin said. On Tuesday Russia launched as many as 100 missiles at Ukraine as Moscow intensifies its airstrikes following significant ground losses.Milley said it's unlikely that either side can gain a military victory quickly. He said the chance of Russia, which currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, overrunning the entire country “is close to zero.” And, he added, the “task of militarily kicking the Russians physically out of Ukraine is a very difficult task. And it’s not going to happen in the next couple of weeks unless the Russian army completely collapses, which is unlikely.”

Russia refused to take US phone call after Poland missile strike

GRANT COUNTY — A southwest Kansas man has been sentenced to life in prison in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 29, of Ulysses, was sentenced Tuesday in Grant County District Court by Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was sentenced to life in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility without the possibility of parole for 25 years for one count of first degree murder. In addition, he was sentenced to 110 months in a KDOC facility for one count of child abuse. 

The sentences are to be served consecutively, followed by lifetime post-release supervision.

Arredondo was convicted of the crimes in April following a bench trial. 

On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.

Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child.&nbsp;

The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.

The boy was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582652296671.png" alt=" Arredondo-Grant County" />
 <figcaption> Arredondo-Grant County</figcaption>
 </figure>GRANT COUNTY — A southwest Kansas man has been sentenced to life in prison in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 29, of Ulysses, was sentenced Tuesday in Grant County District Court by Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was sentenced to life in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility without the possibility of parole for 25 years for one count of first degree murder. In addition, he was sentenced to 110 months in a KDOC facility for one count of child abuse. The sentences are to be served consecutively, followed by lifetime post-release supervision.Arredondo was convicted of the crimes in April following a bench trial. On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child.&nbsp;The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.The boy was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.

SW Kan. man sentenced for abuse death of girlfriend's 3-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans won control of the U.S. House on Wednesday, returning the party to power in Washington and giving conservatives leverage to blunt President Joe Biden’s agenda and spur a flurry of investigations. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-takeaways-9381d3aaff26d19da95506e045fcd6e1">threadbare majority</a>&nbsp;will pose immediate challenges for GOP leaders and complicate the party’s ability to govern.

More than a week after Election Day, Republicans secured the 218th seat needed to flip the House from Democratic control. The full scope of the party’s majority may not be clear for several more days — or weeks — as votes in competitive races are still being counted.

But they are on track to cobble together what could be the party's narrowest majority of the 21st century, rivaling 2001, when Republicans had just a nine-seat majority, 221-212 with two independents. That’s far short of the sweeping victory the GOP predicted going into this year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm elections</a>, when the party hoped to reset the agenda on Capitol Hill by capitalizing on economic challenges and Biden’s lagging popularity.

Instead,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-results-nov-9-198d61bcafe31d96c0a966eae7492756">Democrats showed surprising resilience</a>, holding on to moderate, suburban districts from Virginia to Minnesota and Kansas. The results could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-congress-nov-9-0b3b0a547265e5bfa6fd4382b43e0e7f">complicate House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s plans</a>&nbsp;to become speaker as some conservative members have questioned whether to back him or have imposed conditions for their support.

McCarthy celebrated his party having “officially flipped” the House on Twitter on Wednesday night, writing, “Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver.”

President Joe Biden congratulated McCarthy, saying he is “ready to work with House Republicans to deliver results for working families.”

“Last week’s elections demonstrated the strength and resilience of American democracy. There was a strong rejection of election deniers, political violence, and intimidation,” Biden said in a statement. “There was an emphatic statement that, in America, the will of the people prevails.”

He added, that “the future is too promising to be trapped in political warfare."

The narrow margins have upended Republican politics and prompted finger-pointing about what went wrong. Some in the GOP have blamed Donald Trump for the worse-than-expected outcome. The former president, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">announced his third White House bid</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, lifted candidates during this year’s Republican primaries who often questioned the results of the 2020 election or downplayed the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol last year. Many of those struggled to win during the general election.

Despite the GOP’s underwhelming showing, the party will still have notable power. Republicans will take control of key committees, giving them the ability to shape legislation and launch probes of Biden, his family and his administration. There’s particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-2022-midterm-elections-biden-europe-elise-stefanik-0e782fc6486c2c625194622ae244e4ae">investigating the overseas business dealings</a>&nbsp;of the president’s son Hunter Biden. Some of the most conservative lawmakers have raised the prospect of impeaching Biden, though that will be much harder for the party to accomplish with a tight majority.

Any legislation that emerges from the House could face steep odds in the Senate, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-democrats-senate-control-dbc67e0af0e126c948076ae580b3d5ec">Democrats won the barest of majorities</a>&nbsp;Saturday. Both parties are looking to a Dec. 6 Senate runoff in Georgia as a last chance to pad their ranks.

With such a potentially slim House majority, there’s also potential for legislative chaos. The dynamic essentially gives an individual member enormous sway over shaping what happens in the chamber. That could lead to particularly tricky circumstances for GOP leaders as they try to win support for must-pass measures that keep the government funded or raise the debt ceiling.

The GOP’s failure to notch more wins — they needed a net gain of five seats to take the majority — was especially surprising because the party went into the election benefiting from congressional maps that were redrawn by Republican legislatures. History was also on Republicans’ side: The party that holds the White House had lost congressional seats during virtually every new president’s first midterm of the modern era.

The new majority will usher in a new group of leaders in Washington. If elected to succeed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the top post, McCarthy would lead what will likely be a rowdy conference of House Republicans, most of whom are aligned with Trump’s bare-knuckle brand of politics. Many Republicans in the incoming Congress rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election, even though claims of widespread fraud were refuted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-courts-election-results-e1297d874f45d2b14bc99c403abd0457">courts</a>, elections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-officials-elections-most-secure-66f9361084ccbc461e3bbf42861057a5">officials</a>&nbsp;and Trump’s own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d">attorney general</a>.

McCarthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-congress-government-and-politics-dc947aadd41de192e4d1f018d0eaf193">won the nomination for House speaker</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, with a formal vote to come when the new Congress convenes in January.

“I'm proud to announce the era of one-party Democrat rule in Washington is over,” McCarthy said after winning the nomination.

Republican candidates pledged on the campaign trail to cut taxes and tighten border security. GOP lawmakers also could withhold aid to Ukraine as it fights a war with Russia or use the threat of defaulting on the nation’s debt as leverage to extract cuts from social spending and entitlements — though all such pursuits will be tougher given how small the GOP majority may end up being.

As a senator and then vice president, Biden spent a career crafting legislative compromises with Republicans. But as president, he was clear about what he viewed as the threats posed by the current Republican Party.

Biden said the midterms show voters want Democrats and Republicans to find ways to cooperate and govern in a bipartisan manner, but also noted that Republicans didn’t achieve the electoral surge they’d been betting on and vowed, “I’m not going to change anything in any fundamental way.”

AP VoteCast, a broad survey of the national electorate, showed that high inflation and concerns about the fragility of democracy had heavily influenced voters. Half of voters said inflation factored significantly, with groceries, gasoline, housing, food and other costs that have shot up in the past year. Slightly fewer — 44% — said the future of democracy was their primary consideration.

Counter to the GOP’s expectations, Biden didn’t entirely shoulder the blame for inflation, with close to half of voters saying the higher-than-usual prices were more because of factors outside his control. And despite the president bearing criticism from a pessimistic electorate, some of those voters backed Democratic candidates.

Democrats also likely benefited from anger over the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision cementing a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion. Voters in Michigan voted to amend their state constitution to protect abortion rights while far more reliably Republican Kentucky rejected a constitutional amendment declaring no right to an abortion.

Overall, 7 in 10 voters said the high court’s ruling overturning the 1973 decision enshrining abortion rights was an important factor in their midterm decisions. VoteCast also showed the reversal was broadly unpopular. About 6 in 10 say they are angry or dissatisfied by it. And roughly 6 in 10 say they favor a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans won control of the U.S. House on Wednesday, returning the party to power in Washington and giving conservatives leverage to blunt President Joe Biden’s agenda and spur a flurry of investigations. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-takeaways-9381d3aaff26d19da95506e045fcd6e1">threadbare majority</a>&nbsp;will pose immediate challenges for GOP leaders and complicate the party’s ability to govern.More than a week after Election Day, Republicans secured the 218th seat needed to flip the House from Democratic control. The full scope of the party’s majority may not be clear for several more days — or weeks — as votes in competitive races are still being counted.But they are on track to cobble together what could be the party's narrowest majority of the 21st century, rivaling 2001, when Republicans had just a nine-seat majority, 221-212 with two independents. That’s far short of the sweeping victory the GOP predicted going into this year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm elections</a>, when the party hoped to reset the agenda on Capitol Hill by capitalizing on economic challenges and Biden’s lagging popularity.Instead,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-results-nov-9-198d61bcafe31d96c0a966eae7492756">Democrats showed surprising resilience</a>, holding on to moderate, suburban districts from Virginia to Minnesota and Kansas. The results could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-congress-nov-9-0b3b0a547265e5bfa6fd4382b43e0e7f">complicate House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s plans</a>&nbsp;to become speaker as some conservative members have questioned whether to back him or have imposed conditions for their support.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 BREAKING 🚨 Republicans have officially flipped the People&#39;s House! Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver. <a href="https://t.co/JIRrLEhKQe">pic.twitter.com/JIRrLEhKQe</a>&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1593031220300218368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>McCarthy celebrated his party having “officially flipped” the House on Twitter on Wednesday night, writing, “Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver.”President Joe Biden congratulated McCarthy, saying he is “ready to work with House Republicans to deliver results for working families.”“Last week’s elections demonstrated the strength and resilience of American democracy. There was a strong rejection of election deniers, political violence, and intimidation,” Biden said in a statement. “There was an emphatic statement that, in America, the will of the people prevails.”He added, that “the future is too promising to be trapped in political warfare."The narrow margins have upended Republican politics and prompted finger-pointing about what went wrong. Some in the GOP have blamed Donald Trump for the worse-than-expected outcome. The former president, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">announced his third White House bid</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, lifted candidates during this year’s Republican primaries who often questioned the results of the 2020 election or downplayed the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol last year. Many of those struggled to win during the general election.Despite the GOP’s underwhelming showing, the party will still have notable power. Republicans will take control of key committees, giving them the ability to shape legislation and launch probes of Biden, his family and his administration. There’s particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-2022-midterm-elections-biden-europe-elise-stefanik-0e782fc6486c2c625194622ae244e4ae">investigating the overseas business dealings</a>&nbsp;of the president’s son Hunter Biden. Some of the most conservative lawmakers have raised the prospect of impeaching Biden, though that will be much harder for the party to accomplish with a tight majority.Any legislation that emerges from the House could face steep odds in the Senate, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-democrats-senate-control-dbc67e0af0e126c948076ae580b3d5ec">Democrats won the barest of majorities</a>&nbsp;Saturday. Both parties are looking to a Dec. 6 Senate runoff in Georgia as a last chance to pad their ranks.With such a potentially slim House majority, there’s also potential for legislative chaos. The dynamic essentially gives an individual member enormous sway over shaping what happens in the chamber. That could lead to particularly tricky circumstances for GOP leaders as they try to win support for must-pass measures that keep the government funded or raise the debt ceiling.The GOP’s failure to notch more wins — they needed a net gain of five seats to take the majority — was especially surprising because the party went into the election benefiting from congressional maps that were redrawn by Republican legislatures. History was also on Republicans’ side: The party that holds the White House had lost congressional seats during virtually every new president’s first midterm of the modern era.The new majority will usher in a new group of leaders in Washington. If elected to succeed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the top post, McCarthy would lead what will likely be a rowdy conference of House Republicans, most of whom are aligned with Trump’s bare-knuckle brand of politics. Many Republicans in the incoming Congress rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election, even though claims of widespread fraud were refuted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-courts-election-results-e1297d874f45d2b14bc99c403abd0457">courts</a>, elections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-officials-elections-most-secure-66f9361084ccbc461e3bbf42861057a5">officials</a>&nbsp;and Trump’s own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d">attorney general</a>.McCarthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-congress-government-and-politics-dc947aadd41de192e4d1f018d0eaf193">won the nomination for House speaker</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, with a formal vote to come when the new Congress convenes in January.“I'm proud to announce the era of one-party Democrat rule in Washington is over,” McCarthy said after winning the nomination.Republican candidates pledged on the campaign trail to cut taxes and tighten border security. GOP lawmakers also could withhold aid to Ukraine as it fights a war with Russia or use the threat of defaulting on the nation’s debt as leverage to extract cuts from social spending and entitlements — though all such pursuits will be tougher given how small the GOP majority may end up being.As a senator and then vice president, Biden spent a career crafting legislative compromises with Republicans. But as president, he was clear about what he viewed as the threats posed by the current Republican Party.Biden said the midterms show voters want Democrats and Republicans to find ways to cooperate and govern in a bipartisan manner, but also noted that Republicans didn’t achieve the electoral surge they’d been betting on and vowed, “I’m not going to change anything in any fundamental way.”AP VoteCast, a broad survey of the national electorate, showed that high inflation and concerns about the fragility of democracy had heavily influenced voters. Half of voters said inflation factored significantly, with groceries, gasoline, housing, food and other costs that have shot up in the past year. Slightly fewer — 44% — said the future of democracy was their primary consideration.Counter to the GOP’s expectations, Biden didn’t entirely shoulder the blame for inflation, with close to half of voters saying the higher-than-usual prices were more because of factors outside his control. And despite the president bearing criticism from a pessimistic electorate, some of those voters backed Democratic candidates.Democrats also likely benefited from anger over the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision cementing a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion. Voters in Michigan voted to amend their state constitution to protect abortion rights while far more reliably Republican Kentucky rejected a constitutional amendment declaring no right to an abortion.Overall, 7 in 10 voters said the high court’s ruling overturning the 1973 decision enshrining abortion rights was an important factor in their midterm decisions. VoteCast also showed the reversal was broadly unpopular. About 6 in 10 say they are angry or dissatisfied by it. And roughly 6 in 10 say they favor a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.___

GOP celebrates slim House majority, return to power in Washington

NEW YORK (AP) — A host of Hollywood and sports celebrities including quarterback Tom Brady and comedian Larry David were named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arguing that their celebrity status made them culpable for promoting the firm's failed business model.

FTX has been in the public eye for more than a week, after the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange ended up with billions of dollars worth of losses and had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-crypto-bankruptcy-filing-ed0f06c5db468e285f58af2d8766b51a">seek bankruptcy protection</a>&nbsp;on Friday. The Bahamas-based company and its founder,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-downfall-a2eaec231027dfd9f18426ff8982bbf8">Sam Bankman-Fried,</a>&nbsp;are under investigation by state and federal authorities for allegedly investing depositors funds in ventures without their approval.

Lawmakers also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-congress-government-and-politics-4b39f7fc12aff633d32be758967752d4">announced plans to investigate</a>&nbsp;the failure of FTX, with the House Financial Services Committee saying it plans to hold a hearing on FTX in December.

Before its failure, FTX was known to use high-profile Hollywood and sports celebrities to promote its products. It had the naming rights to a Formula One racing team as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-nba-sports-business-f9667d11f7f4063c8eebb96ee1fbaf40">sports arena</a>&nbsp;in Miami. Its commercials featured “Seinfeld” creator David, as well as Brady, the star quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, basketball players Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry, and tennis star Naomi Osaka.

The lawsuit filed late Tuesday alleges that these sports and TV celebrities brought instant credibility to FTX, and should be held just as culpable as Bankman-Fried.

“Part of the scheme employed by the FTX Entities involved utilizing some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment—like these Defendants—to raise funds and drive American consumers to invest ... pouring billions of dollars into the deceptive FTX platform to keep the whole scheme afloat,” the lawsuit said.

Class-action attorney Adam Moskowitz pointed to previous cases where the U.S. government fined celebrities Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather for promoting crypto.

“The crypto industry needed celebrity endorsers to get any credibility,” Moskowitz said.

The plaintiff in the case is Pierce Robertson, who is also involved in a case involving Voyager Digital, another failed cryptocurrency company that was endorsed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Voyager Digital failed for bankruptcy protection this summer, but FTX had pledged to buy Voyager’s assets for $1.4 billion, which would have led to financial relief for Voyager’s depositors. FTX’s failure now puts its aid to Voyager in question.

The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida. Moskowitz is the attorney representing the victims in the collapse of a Florida residential tower in Surfside, Florida.

Well-known attorney David Boies, who represented the U.S. government against Microsoft in the 90s and Al Gore in the 2000 election, is also named as an attorney on the case.

The Miami Heat were starting a four-game road trip in Toronto on Wednesday. Forward Udonis Haslem, also named in the lawsuit, is away from the team for personal reasons.

NEW YORK (AP) — A host of Hollywood and sports celebrities including quarterback Tom Brady and comedian Larry David were named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arguing that their celebrity status made them culpable for promoting the firm's failed business model.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-FQqo46CJQ?start=4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>FTX has been in the public eye for more than a week, after the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange ended up with billions of dollars worth of losses and had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-crypto-bankruptcy-filing-ed0f06c5db468e285f58af2d8766b51a">seek bankruptcy protection</a>&nbsp;on Friday. The Bahamas-based company and its founder,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-downfall-a2eaec231027dfd9f18426ff8982bbf8">Sam Bankman-Fried,</a>&nbsp;are under investigation by state and federal authorities for allegedly investing depositors funds in ventures without their approval.Lawmakers also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-congress-government-and-politics-4b39f7fc12aff633d32be758967752d4">announced plans to investigate</a>&nbsp;the failure of FTX, with the House Financial Services Committee saying it plans to hold a hearing on FTX in December.Before its failure, FTX was known to use high-profile Hollywood and sports celebrities to promote its products. It had the naming rights to a Formula One racing team as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-nba-sports-business-f9667d11f7f4063c8eebb96ee1fbaf40">sports arena</a>&nbsp;in Miami. Its commercials featured “Seinfeld” creator David, as well as Brady, the star quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, basketball players Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry, and tennis star Naomi Osaka.The lawsuit filed late Tuesday alleges that these sports and TV celebrities brought instant credibility to FTX, and should be held just as culpable as Bankman-Fried.“Part of the scheme employed by the FTX Entities involved utilizing some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment—like these Defendants—to raise funds and drive American consumers to invest ... pouring billions of dollars into the deceptive FTX platform to keep the whole scheme afloat,” the lawsuit said.Class-action attorney Adam Moskowitz pointed to previous cases where the U.S. government fined celebrities Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather for promoting crypto.“The crypto industry needed celebrity endorsers to get any credibility,” Moskowitz said.The plaintiff in the case is Pierce Robertson, who is also involved in a case involving Voyager Digital, another failed cryptocurrency company that was endorsed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Voyager Digital failed for bankruptcy protection this summer, but FTX had pledged to buy Voyager’s assets for $1.4 billion, which would have led to financial relief for Voyager’s depositors. FTX’s failure now puts its aid to Voyager in question.The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida. Moskowitz is the attorney representing the victims in the collapse of a Florida residential tower in Surfside, Florida.Well-known attorney David Boies, who represented the U.S. government against Microsoft in the 90s and Al Gore in the 2000 election, is also named as an attorney on the case.The Miami Heat were starting a four-game road trip in Toronto on Wednesday. Forward Udonis Haslem, also named in the lawsuit, is away from the team for personal reasons.

Tom Brady among those named in suit after FTX lost billions of dollars

WASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service today reminded IRA owners 
age 70½ or over of their option to transfer up to $100,000 to charity 
tax-free each year.

These transfers, known as qualified charitable distributions or QCDs,
 offer eligible older Americans a great way to easily give to charity 
before the end of the year. Moreover, for those who are at least 72, 
QCDs count toward the IRA owner's required minimum distribution (RMD) 
for the year.

Any IRA owner who wishes to make a QCD for 2022 should contact their 
IRA trustee soon so the trustee will have time to complete the 
transaction before the end of the year.

Normally, distributions from a traditional individual retirement 
arrangement (IRA) are taxable when received. With a QCD, however, these 
distributions become tax-free as long as they're paid directly from the 
IRA to an eligible charitable organization.

QCDs can be made electronically, directly to the charity, or by check payable to the charity.

An IRA distribution, such as an electronic payment made directly to 
the IRA owner, does not count as a QCD. Likewise, a check made payable 
to the IRA owner is not a QCD.

Each year, an IRA owner age 70½ or over can exclude from gross income up to $100,000 of these QCDs. For a married couple, if both spouses are age 70½ or over and both have IRAs, each spouse can exclude up to $100,000 for a total of up to $200,000 per year.

The QCD option is available regardless of whether an eligible IRA owner itemizes deductions on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-a-form-1040">Schedule A</a>. Transferred amounts are not taxable, and no deduction is available for the transfer.

A 2022 QCD must be reported on the 2022 federal income tax return, normally filed during the 2023 tax filing season.

In early 2023, the IRA owner will receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-r">Form 1099-R</a>
 from their IRA trustee that shows any IRA distributions made during 
calendar year 2022, including both regular distributions and QCDs. The 
total distribution is in Box 1 on that form. There is no special code 
for a QCD.

Like other IRA distributions, QCDs are shown on Line 4 of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040">Form 1040</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-sr">Form 1040-SR</a>.
 If part or all of an IRA distribution is a QCD, enter the total amount 
of the IRA distribution on Line 4a. This is the amount shown in Box 1 on
 Form 1099-R.

Then, if the full amount of the distribution is a QCD, enter 0 on 
Line 4b. If only part of it is a QCD, the remaining taxable portion is 
normally entered on Line 4b.

Either way, be sure to enter "QCD" next to Line 4b. Further details will be in the final instructions to the 2022 Form 1040.

QCDs are not deductible as charitable contributions on Schedule A. 
But, as with deductible contributions, the donor must get a written 
acknowledgement of their contribution from the charitable organization, 
before filing their return.

In general, the acknowledgement must state the date and amount of the
 contribution and indicate whether the donor received anything of value 
in return. For details, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526#en_US_2021_publink1000229837">Acknowledgement section in Publication 526</a>, available on IRS.gov.

For more information about IRA distributions and QCDs, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b#en_US_2021_publink100090626">Publication 590-B</a>, also available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service today reminded IRA owners 
age 70½ or over of their option to transfer up to $100,000 to charity 
tax-free each year.These transfers, known as qualified charitable distributions or QCDs,
 offer eligible older Americans a great way to easily give to charity 
before the end of the year. Moreover, for those who are at least 72, 
QCDs count toward the IRA owner's required minimum distribution (RMD) 
for the year.<h2>How to set up a QCD</h2>Any IRA owner who wishes to make a QCD for 2022 should contact their 
IRA trustee soon so the trustee will have time to complete the 
transaction before the end of the year.Normally, distributions from a traditional individual retirement 
arrangement (IRA) are taxable when received. With a QCD, however, these 
distributions become tax-free as long as they're paid directly from the 
IRA to an eligible charitable organization.QCDs can be made electronically, directly to the charity, or by check payable to the charity.An IRA distribution, such as an electronic payment made directly to 
the IRA owner, does not count as a QCD. Likewise, a check made payable 
to the IRA owner is not a QCD.Each year, an IRA owner age 70½ or over can exclude from gross income up to $100,000 of these QCDs. For a married couple, if both spouses are age 70½ or over and both have IRAs, each spouse can exclude up to $100,000 for a total of up to $200,000 per year.The QCD option is available regardless of whether an eligible IRA owner itemizes deductions on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-a-form-1040">Schedule A</a>. Transferred amounts are not taxable, and no deduction is available for the transfer.<h2>Report correctly</h2>A 2022 QCD must be reported on the 2022 federal income tax return, normally filed during the 2023 tax filing season.In early 2023, the IRA owner will receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-r">Form 1099-R</a>
 from their IRA trustee that shows any IRA distributions made during 
calendar year 2022, including both regular distributions and QCDs. The 
total distribution is in Box 1 on that form. There is no special code 
for a QCD.Like other IRA distributions, QCDs are shown on Line 4 of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040">Form 1040</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-sr">Form 1040-SR</a>.
 If part or all of an IRA distribution is a QCD, enter the total amount 
of the IRA distribution on Line 4a. This is the amount shown in Box 1 on
 Form 1099-R.Then, if the full amount of the distribution is a QCD, enter 0 on 
Line 4b. If only part of it is a QCD, the remaining taxable portion is 
normally entered on Line 4b.Either way, be sure to enter "QCD" next to Line 4b. Further details will be in the final instructions to the 2022 Form 1040.<h2>Get a receipt</h2>QCDs are not deductible as charitable contributions on Schedule A. 
But, as with deductible contributions, the donor must get a written 
acknowledgement of their contribution from the charitable organization, 
before filing their return.In general, the acknowledgement must state the date and amount of the
 contribution and indicate whether the donor received anything of value 
in return. For details, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526#en_US_2021_publink1000229837">Acknowledgement section in Publication 526</a>, available on IRS.gov.For more information about IRA distributions and QCDs, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b#en_US_2021_publink100090626">Publication 590-B</a>, also available on IRS.gov.

IRS offers tax-saving reminders to some IRA owners

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A federal appeals court has rejected an appeal by several Kansas law enforcement officers who were seeking qualified immunity for their roles in the arrest and prosecution of a man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-a48b5f67c13f46beb3ecf124b56423e7">who was wrongfully convicted</a>&nbsp;of killing a young girl.

Floyd Bledsoe spent 16 years in prison after being convicted of killing 14-year-old Camille Arfmann in November 1999 in rural Jefferson County, Kansas.

Floyd Bledsoe's brother, Tom, was originally charged with murder after he confessed and led authorities to the body. But those charges were dropped and Floyd Bledsoe was arrested. He was convicted in 2000 of murder, kidnapping and indecent liberties with a child and sentenced to life in prison.

His brother committed suicide in 2015 after writing a note confessing to killing the girl. The charges against Floyd Bledsoe were dismissed and he was released from prison later that year after DNA evidence showed he could not have been the killer.

Bledsoe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d8e00f2ed6d24f40a954f56d3a8d944e">filed a federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in 2016 against 10 defendants, including Jefferson County law enforcement officers and Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents, alleging they violated his civil rights by fabricating and suppressing evidence that would have proved his innocence.

The defendants appealed a U.S. District Court judge’s decision allowing Bledsoe's lawsuit to proceed. They contended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-suicides-lawsuits-us-news-courts-ff56fc43b3e94d97bd3f4e374f4a9f77">they should have qualified immunity</a>&nbsp;in the case, and that Bledsoe had failed to show his rights were violated.

Qualified immunity generally protects public officials from personal liability if they acted on good faith at the time of their actions.

On Tuesday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the law officers' argument for qualified immunity and their motion to dismiss the case.

“We conclude that Bledsoe adequately alleged that each appellant participated in depriving him of his constitutional rights,” the appeals court’s decision said.

Ruth Brown, one of Bledsoe's attorneys, said in an email Wednesday that they are pleased with the appellate court's decision.

“We hope that the parties will now resume the fact-finding process of discovery without additional delay,” Brown said. “Mr. Bledsoe looks forward to getting a trial and holding Defendants accountable for causing his wrongful conviction.”

Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the ruling.

In 2019, the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/93cecdea95494971aa75d8729ff3ae53">agreed to pay</a>&nbsp;Bledsoe $1.03 million under a mistaken conviction law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668633834190.png" alt="Floyd Bledsoe -File photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Floyd Bledsoe -File photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGARET STAFFORDKANSAS CITY (AP) —A federal appeals court has rejected an appeal by several Kansas law enforcement officers who were seeking qualified immunity for their roles in the arrest and prosecution of a man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-a48b5f67c13f46beb3ecf124b56423e7">who was wrongfully convicted</a>&nbsp;of killing a young girl.Floyd Bledsoe spent 16 years in prison after being convicted of killing 14-year-old Camille Arfmann in November 1999 in rural Jefferson County, Kansas.Floyd Bledsoe's brother, Tom, was originally charged with murder after he confessed and led authorities to the body. But those charges were dropped and Floyd Bledsoe was arrested. He was convicted in 2000 of murder, kidnapping and indecent liberties with a child and sentenced to life in prison.His brother committed suicide in 2015 after writing a note confessing to killing the girl. The charges against Floyd Bledsoe were dismissed and he was released from prison later that year after DNA evidence showed he could not have been the killer.Bledsoe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d8e00f2ed6d24f40a954f56d3a8d944e">filed a federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in 2016 against 10 defendants, including Jefferson County law enforcement officers and Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents, alleging they violated his civil rights by fabricating and suppressing evidence that would have proved his innocence.The defendants appealed a U.S. District Court judge’s decision allowing Bledsoe's lawsuit to proceed. They contended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-suicides-lawsuits-us-news-courts-ff56fc43b3e94d97bd3f4e374f4a9f77">they should have qualified immunity</a>&nbsp;in the case, and that Bledsoe had failed to show his rights were violated.Qualified immunity generally protects public officials from personal liability if they acted on good faith at the time of their actions.On Tuesday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the law officers' argument for qualified immunity and their motion to dismiss the case.“We conclude that Bledsoe adequately alleged that each appellant participated in depriving him of his constitutional rights,” the appeals court’s decision said.Ruth Brown, one of Bledsoe's attorneys, said in an email Wednesday that they are pleased with the appellate court's decision.“We hope that the parties will now resume the fact-finding process of discovery without additional delay,” Brown said. “Mr. Bledsoe looks forward to getting a trial and holding Defendants accountable for causing his wrongful conviction.”Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the ruling.In 2019, the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/93cecdea95494971aa75d8729ff3ae53">agreed to pay</a>&nbsp;Bledsoe $1.03 million under a mistaken conviction law.

Court rules against officers in Kansas wrongful conviction

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on allegations.

On November 13, 2022, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop in a motel parking lot located at 115 S. Arizona Avenue in Holton on a 2004 Chevrolet Impala for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

During the traffic stop, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 was deployed and alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. 

A search of the vehicle revealed MDMA/ecstasy and marijuana. The driver, Fredrick Andrew Trimble, 53, of Wichita, was arrested on requested charges that include distribute certain hallucinogenic drugs, possession of marijuana and driving while a habitual violator.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668447749460.png" alt="Trimble-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Trimble-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on allegations.On November 13, 2022, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop in a motel parking lot located at 115 S. Arizona Avenue in Holton on a 2004 Chevrolet Impala for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.During the traffic stop, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 was deployed and alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed MDMA/ecstasy and marijuana. The driver, Fredrick Andrew Trimble, 53, of Wichita, was arrested on requested charges that include distribute certain hallucinogenic drugs, possession of marijuana and driving while a habitual violator.

Kan. sheriff's K9 finds MDMA/ecstasy in motel parking lot

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages crossed a major Senate hurdle Wednesday, putting Congress on track to take the historic step of ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law.

Twelve Republicans including retiring Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted with all Democrats to move forward on the legislation, meaning a final vote could come as soon as this week, or later this month. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the bill.

 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill ensuring the unions are legally recognized under the law is chance for the Senate to “live up to its highest ideals” and protect marriage equality for all people.

“It will make our country a better, fairer place to live,” Schumer said, noting that his own daughter and her wife are expecting a baby next year.

Senate Democrats are quickly moving to pass the bill while the party still controls the House. Republicans are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-nov15-0608a0c22be510cec983f605e6a305b3">on the verge of winning</a>&nbsp;the House majority and would be unlikely to take up the issue next year.

The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme Court’s June decision that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and the federal right to an abortion. An opinion at that time from Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that an earlier high court decision protecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-marriage-71af5f7862f8008299702f7b1a4147b5">same-sex marriage</a>&nbsp;could also come under threat.

The legislation would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act and require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. The new Respect for Marriage Act would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

Congress has been moving to protect same-sex marriage as support from the general public — and from Republicans in particular — has sharply grown in recent years, as the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalized gay marriage nationwide. Recent polling has found more than two-thirds of the public supports same-sex unions.

Still, many Republicans in Congress have been reluctant to support the legislation. Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-race-and-ethnicity-religion-4952c4766a6d48a1cc64c5876fd38eaa">delayed consideration</a>&nbsp;until after the midterm elections, hoping that would relieve political pressure on some GOP senators who might be wavering.

A proposed amendment to the bill, negotiated by supporters to bring more Republicans on board, would clarify that it does not affect rights of private individuals or businesses that are already enshrined in law. Another tweak would make clear that a marriage is between two people, an effort to ward off some far-right criticism that the legislation could endorse polygamy.

Three Republicans said early on that they would support the legislation and have lobbied their GOP colleagues to support it: Maine Sen. Susan Collins, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.

“Current federal law doesn’t reflect the will or beliefs of the American people in this regard,” Portman said ahead of the vote. “It’s time for the Senate to settle the issue.”

The growing GOP support for the issue is a sharp contrast from even a decade ago, when many Republicans vocally opposed same-sex marriages. The legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-race-and-ethnicity-gay-rights-marriage-social-issues-77ec6e2a60b5990ceaf7c396fee42016">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in a July vote with the support of 47 Republicans — a larger-than-expected number that gave the measure a boost in the Senate.

On Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-relationships-gay-rights-utah-07847f4b7e3e96d81c10a298a199b860">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>&nbsp;became the most recent conservative-leaning group to back the legislation. In a statement, the Utah-based faith said church doctrine would continue to consider same-sex relationships to be against God’s commandments, but it would support rights for same-sex couples as long as they didn’t infringe upon religious groups’ right to believe as they choose.

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat who is the first openly gay senator and has been working on gay rights issues for almost four decades, said the newfound openness from many Republicans on the subject reminds her “of the arc of the LBGTQ movement to begin with, in the early days when people weren’t out and people knew gay people by myths and stereotypes.”

Baldwin said that as more individuals and families have become visible, hearts and minds have changed.

“And slowly laws have followed,” she said. “It is history.”

Schumer said the issue is personal to him, as well.

“Passing the Respect for Marriage Act is as personal as it gets for many senators and their staffs, myself included,” Schumer said. “My daughter and her wife are actually expecting a little baby in February. So it matters a lot to so many of us to get this done.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668632835182.png" alt="Counting votes Wednesday afternoon in the U.S. Senate-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Counting votes Wednesday afternoon in the U.S. Senate-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages crossed a major Senate hurdle Wednesday, putting Congress on track to take the historic step of ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law.Twelve Republicans including retiring Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted with all Democrats to move forward on the legislation, meaning a final vote could come as soon as this week, or later this month. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill ensuring the unions are legally recognized under the law is chance for the Senate to “live up to its highest ideals” and protect marriage equality for all people.“It will make our country a better, fairer place to live,” Schumer said, noting that his own daughter and her wife are expecting a baby next year.Senate Democrats are quickly moving to pass the bill while the party still controls the House. Republicans are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-nov15-0608a0c22be510cec983f605e6a305b3">on the verge of winning</a>&nbsp;the House majority and would be unlikely to take up the issue next year.The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme Court’s June decision that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and the federal right to an abortion. An opinion at that time from Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that an earlier high court decision protecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-marriage-71af5f7862f8008299702f7b1a4147b5">same-sex marriage</a>&nbsp;could also come under threat.The legislation would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act and require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. The new Respect for Marriage Act would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”Congress has been moving to protect same-sex marriage as support from the general public — and from Republicans in particular — has sharply grown in recent years, as the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalized gay marriage nationwide. Recent polling has found more than two-thirds of the public supports same-sex unions.Still, many Republicans in Congress have been reluctant to support the legislation. Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-race-and-ethnicity-religion-4952c4766a6d48a1cc64c5876fd38eaa">delayed consideration</a>&nbsp;until after the midterm elections, hoping that would relieve political pressure on some GOP senators who might be wavering.A proposed amendment to the bill, negotiated by supporters to bring more Republicans on board, would clarify that it does not affect rights of private individuals or businesses that are already enshrined in law. Another tweak would make clear that a marriage is between two people, an effort to ward off some far-right criticism that the legislation could endorse polygamy.Three Republicans said early on that they would support the legislation and have lobbied their GOP colleagues to support it: Maine Sen. Susan Collins, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.“Current federal law doesn’t reflect the will or beliefs of the American people in this regard,” Portman said ahead of the vote. “It’s time for the Senate to settle the issue.”The growing GOP support for the issue is a sharp contrast from even a decade ago, when many Republicans vocally opposed same-sex marriages. The legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-race-and-ethnicity-gay-rights-marriage-social-issues-77ec6e2a60b5990ceaf7c396fee42016">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in a July vote with the support of 47 Republicans — a larger-than-expected number that gave the measure a boost in the Senate.On Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-relationships-gay-rights-utah-07847f4b7e3e96d81c10a298a199b860">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>&nbsp;became the most recent conservative-leaning group to back the legislation. In a statement, the Utah-based faith said church doctrine would continue to consider same-sex relationships to be against God’s commandments, but it would support rights for same-sex couples as long as they didn’t infringe upon religious groups’ right to believe as they choose.Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat who is the first openly gay senator and has been working on gay rights issues for almost four decades, said the newfound openness from many Republicans on the subject reminds her “of the arc of the LBGTQ movement to begin with, in the early days when people weren’t out and people knew gay people by myths and stereotypes.”Baldwin said that as more individuals and families have become visible, hearts and minds have changed.“And slowly laws have followed,” she said. “It is history.”Schumer said the issue is personal to him, as well.“Passing the Respect for Marriage Act is as personal as it gets for many senators and their staffs, myself included,” Schumer said. “My daughter and her wife are actually expecting a little baby in February. So it matters a lot to so many of us to get this done.”___

Moran, Marshall vote no: Same-sex marriage bill clears Senate hurdle

MORRIS COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an arrest.

On Nov. 10, police executed a search warrant at 124&nbsp; South 4th Street in Council Grove, according to a media release from police. Officers found meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia and arrested 61-year-old Scott A. Berry.&nbsp; In addition to the requested drug charges, additional charges are expected, according to police. The Morris County Sheriff's office assisted with the search and arrest.

Berry has previous convictions for burglary, theft and numerous convictions for DUI, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668527120902.png" alt="Berry-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Berry-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>MORRIS COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an arrest.On Nov. 10, police executed a search warrant at 124&nbsp; South 4th Street in Council Grove, according to a media release from police. Officers found meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia and arrested 61-year-old Scott A. Berry.&nbsp; In addition to the requested drug charges, additional charges are expected, according to police. The Morris County Sheriff's office assisted with the search and arrest.Berry has previous convictions for burglary, theft and numerous convictions for DUI, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Search finds meth, marijuana at home of Kansas felon

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the days and weeks before the midterm election, President Joe Biden trumpeted his plan to cancel billions in student loans as he rallied young people to support Democrats.

But now the entire initiative is in jeopardy because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-st-louis-student-loans-cf8136bfc75bd70839e9326cabbbf029">legal challenges</a>&nbsp;that could ensure no one receives a dollar of debt relief. The debacle is swiftly becoming a headache for the administration instead of an example of how the president keeps his promises to voters.

The White House insists it will ultimately prevail even though two federal courts blocked the program from taking effect. However, the setbacks have rattled supporters who fear that more than 40 million Americans who expected relief will instead start getting billed for their student debt in January, when a pandemic-era moratorium on payments is slated to expire.

“You cannot ask people to begin repaying on a debt that shouldn’t exist,” said Melissa Byrne, an advocate for loan cancellation. “We bear no blame in this broken system.”

The impasse has left the White House in a bind over whether to extend the moratorium if the legal battle drags on even though Biden has said the pandemic, the original reason for the pause in payments, “is over.”

The freeze has already cost the federal government more than $100 billion in lost revenue, according to the Government Accountability Office. Critics such as the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget are warning that another extension could worsen inflation and raise the risk of economic recession.

Republicans oppose cancellation as an unfair handout for the wealthy, arguing Americans who didn’t go to college will bear the cost as well. Conservatives have orchestrated a barrage of legal attacks against Biden’s plan, saying it overstepped the president’s authority.

In the meantime, borrowers across the nation yet again&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-explainer-1c2cf207454109894c6370ab3e7ad939">face uncertainty</a>. An estimated 20 million were eligible to get their federal student debt canceled entirely by Biden’s plan, which would cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households making less than $250,000. Those who receive Pell Grants, typically given to those with lower incomes, would get another $10,000 in forgiveness.

Now, it’s unclear if borrowers will be expected to make payments on that debt when the pause ends, and the political hazards are growing. At risk is support from 43 million borrowers who have been promised at least some debt relief, including millions of younger Americans, a demographic that helped deliver key wins for Democrats last week.

Adwoa Asante, who is eligible for $20,000 in cancellation, said it would be “destabilizing” if her payments restart in January. The 33-year-old Dallas attorney owes $163,000 in law school debt, with monthly bills of up to $2,000. Asante voted for Biden but criticizes him for reaping the benefits of his plan in the midterms only to have borrowers left out in the cold.

“Honestly, there’s a lot of frustration toward the Biden administration. I think that they anticipated that there would be legal challenges to the student loan cancellation,” she said, calling the court challenges “to be expected.”

Cedric Richmond, who worked in the White House before becoming a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee, doubted that Biden will face political fallout if the program is ultimately blocked.

If the program is ultimately blocked, he said, “the blowback should go exactly where it deserves, and that’s with this rogue Supreme Court.”

About 6 in 10 voters under 45 approve of Biden’s handling of student debt, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 94,000 voters nationwide. Voters as a whole were almost evenly divided on the issue, while Democrats were far more likely to show approval than Republicans.

Nearly 26 million people already have applied for the debt relief, out of an estimated 43 million eligible. The Education Department stopped accepting new applications Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">after a federal judge in Texas struck the plan down</a>.

Speaking in New Mexico on Nov. 3, Biden said he was on solid legal ground.

“We’re fighting them in court,” he said. We’re not letting them get away with it.”

Without the promised relief, advocates say many borrowers could quickly fall into default on their student loans. Nearly half of borrowers surveyed by the Student Debt Crisis Center say they will be unable to afford student debt payments within six months, according to a report released Tuesday.

“Borrowers do not feel that the pandemic is over, they do not feel that the economic impacts are over,” said Natalia Abrams, president of the center. “We need to pause payments until all legal hurdles are cleared.”

The legality of mass student debt forgiveness was in question from the start. After being elected, Biden said it would be best if the measure came from Congress. Soon before leaving office, the Trump administration released a memo concluding that the White House does not have authority for wide cancellation.

Supporters say they still have faith that Biden’s plan will survive, despite predictions that it could go before a Supreme Court that has shifted to the right and curbed Biden’s authority in other decisions. They argue that the Higher Education Act, a sprawling federal law, already gives the president wide power to cancel federal student debt.

Some groups say Biden should pursue other legal avenues to deliver his promise. The Debt Collective, a union of borrowers, is urging Biden to cancel debt immediately by invoking the Higher Education Act, the same legal authority initially suggested by supporters including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

“He has an ace up his sleeve and he hasn’t used it,” said Braxton Brewington, a spokesperson for the collective. “The Biden administration should simply sidestep these lawsuits.”

Some legal scholars say Biden should scrap the current plan and start over. Jed Shugerman, a law professor at Fordham University in New York, said he believes the White House made a mistake in its legal reasoning.

“The Biden administration has run into trouble that was clearly foreseeable,” he said. “They should go back to square one.”

Even though that would take time, Shugerman said, it’s better than waiting for a loss from the Supreme Court. The White House, he said, is “sticking to a sure loser” instead of “changing tracks to something that has a better chance.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668197313548.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In the days and weeks before the midterm election, President Joe Biden trumpeted his plan to cancel billions in student loans as he rallied young people to support Democrats.But now the entire initiative is in jeopardy because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-st-louis-student-loans-cf8136bfc75bd70839e9326cabbbf029">legal challenges</a>&nbsp;that could ensure no one receives a dollar of debt relief. The debacle is swiftly becoming a headache for the administration instead of an example of how the president keeps his promises to voters.The White House insists it will ultimately prevail even though two federal courts blocked the program from taking effect. However, the setbacks have rattled supporters who fear that more than 40 million Americans who expected relief will instead start getting billed for their student debt in January, when a pandemic-era moratorium on payments is slated to expire.“You cannot ask people to begin repaying on a debt that shouldn’t exist,” said Melissa Byrne, an advocate for loan cancellation. “We bear no blame in this broken system.”The impasse has left the White House in a bind over whether to extend the moratorium if the legal battle drags on even though Biden has said the pandemic, the original reason for the pause in payments, “is over.”The freeze has already cost the federal government more than $100 billion in lost revenue, according to the Government Accountability Office. Critics such as the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget are warning that another extension could worsen inflation and raise the risk of economic recession.Republicans oppose cancellation as an unfair handout for the wealthy, arguing Americans who didn’t go to college will bear the cost as well. Conservatives have orchestrated a barrage of legal attacks against Biden’s plan, saying it overstepped the president’s authority.In the meantime, borrowers across the nation yet again&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-explainer-1c2cf207454109894c6370ab3e7ad939">face uncertainty</a>. An estimated 20 million were eligible to get their federal student debt canceled entirely by Biden’s plan, which would cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households making less than $250,000. Those who receive Pell Grants, typically given to those with lower incomes, would get another $10,000 in forgiveness.Now, it’s unclear if borrowers will be expected to make payments on that debt when the pause ends, and the political hazards are growing. At risk is support from 43 million borrowers who have been promised at least some debt relief, including millions of younger Americans, a demographic that helped deliver key wins for Democrats last week.Adwoa Asante, who is eligible for $20,000 in cancellation, said it would be “destabilizing” if her payments restart in January. The 33-year-old Dallas attorney owes $163,000 in law school debt, with monthly bills of up to $2,000. Asante voted for Biden but criticizes him for reaping the benefits of his plan in the midterms only to have borrowers left out in the cold.“Honestly, there’s a lot of frustration toward the Biden administration. I think that they anticipated that there would be legal challenges to the student loan cancellation,” she said, calling the court challenges “to be expected.”Cedric Richmond, who worked in the White House before becoming a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee, doubted that Biden will face political fallout if the program is ultimately blocked.If the program is ultimately blocked, he said, “the blowback should go exactly where it deserves, and that’s with this rogue Supreme Court.”About 6 in 10 voters under 45 approve of Biden’s handling of student debt, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 94,000 voters nationwide. Voters as a whole were almost evenly divided on the issue, while Democrats were far more likely to show approval than Republicans.Nearly 26 million people already have applied for the debt relief, out of an estimated 43 million eligible. The Education Department stopped accepting new applications Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">after a federal judge in Texas struck the plan down</a>.Speaking in New Mexico on Nov. 3, Biden said he was on solid legal ground.“We’re fighting them in court,” he said. We’re not letting them get away with it.”Without the promised relief, advocates say many borrowers could quickly fall into default on their student loans. Nearly half of borrowers surveyed by the Student Debt Crisis Center say they will be unable to afford student debt payments within six months, according to a report released Tuesday.“Borrowers do not feel that the pandemic is over, they do not feel that the economic impacts are over,” said Natalia Abrams, president of the center. “We need to pause payments until all legal hurdles are cleared.”The legality of mass student debt forgiveness was in question from the start. After being elected, Biden said it would be best if the measure came from Congress. Soon before leaving office, the Trump administration released a memo concluding that the White House does not have authority for wide cancellation.Supporters say they still have faith that Biden’s plan will survive, despite predictions that it could go before a Supreme Court that has shifted to the right and curbed Biden’s authority in other decisions. They argue that the Higher Education Act, a sprawling federal law, already gives the president wide power to cancel federal student debt.Some groups say Biden should pursue other legal avenues to deliver his promise. The Debt Collective, a union of borrowers, is urging Biden to cancel debt immediately by invoking the Higher Education Act, the same legal authority initially suggested by supporters including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.“He has an ace up his sleeve and he hasn’t used it,” said Braxton Brewington, a spokesperson for the collective. “The Biden administration should simply sidestep these lawsuits.”Some legal scholars say Biden should scrap the current plan and start over. Jed Shugerman, a law professor at Fordham University in New York, said he believes the White House made a mistake in its legal reasoning.“The Biden administration has run into trouble that was clearly foreseeable,” he said. “They should go back to square one.”Even though that would take time, Shugerman said, it’s better than waiting for a loss from the Supreme Court. The White House, he said, is “sticking to a sure loser” instead of “changing tracks to something that has a better chance.”

Biden facing pressure to extend student loan payment pause

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Biden administration to lift Trump-era asylum restrictions that have been a cornerstone of border enforcement since the beginning of COVID-19.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in Washington that enforcement must end immediately for families and single adults, calling the ban “arbitrary and capricious.” The administration has not applied it to children traveling alone.

Within hours, the Justice Department asked the judge to let the order take effect Dec. 21, giving it five weeks to prepare. Plaintiffs including the American Civil Liberties Union didn't oppose the delay.

“This transition period is critical to ensuring that (the Department of Homeland Security) can continue to carry out its mission to secure the Nation’s borders and to conduct its border operations in an orderly fashion,” government attorneys wrote.

Sullivan, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, wrote in a 49-page ruling that authorities failed to consider the impact on migrants and possible alternatives.

The ruling appears to conflict with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-government-and-politics-mexico-texas-43976f307da98b3e800f884e87f244fe">another in May</a>&nbsp;by a federal judge in Louisiana that kept the asylum restrictions.

If Sullivan's ruling stands, it would upend border enforcement. Migrants have been expelled from the United States more than 2.4 million times since the rule took effect in March 2020, denying migrants rights to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The practice was authorized under Title 42 of a broader 1944 law covering public health.

Before the judge in Louisiana kept the ban in place in May, U.S. officials said they were planning for as many as 18,000 migrants a day under the most challenging scenario, a staggering number. In May, migrants were stopped an average of 7,800 times a day, the highest of Joe Biden's presidency.

Immigration advocacy groups have pressed hard to end Title 42, but more moderate Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, wanted it to stay when the administration tried to lift it in May.

The ban has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-yuma-immigration-128e7440b334cc8fcbd3a629b78c3879">unevenly enforced</a>&nbsp;by nationality, falling largely on migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — in addition to Mexicans — because Mexico allows them to be returned from the United States. Last month, Mexico began accepting Venezuelans who are expelled from the United States under Title 42, causing a sharp drop in Venezuelans seeking asylum at the U.S. border.

Nationalities that are less likely to be subject to Title 42 have become a growing presence at the border, confident they will be released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-colombia-caribbean-cuba-ec7a393f0e9e4bf5b8890a85c615b342">In October,</a>&nbsp;Cubans were the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, followed by Venezuelans and Nicaraguans.

The Homeland Security Department said it would use the next five weeks to “prepare for an orderly transition to new policies at the border.”

"We continue to work with countries throughout the Western Hemisphere to take enforcement actions against the smuggling networks that entice migrants to take the dangerous and often deadly journey to our land borders and to address the root causes of irregular migration that are challenging our hemisphere as a whole,” the department said.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said Sullivan's decision renders the Louisiana ruling moot.

“This is an enormous victory for desperate asylum seekers who have been barred from even getting a hearing because of the misuse of public laws," Gelernt said. "This ruling hopefully puts an end to this horrendous period in U.S. history in which we abandoned our solemn commitment to provide refuge to those facing persecution.”

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel for the American Immigration Council, an immigrant advocacy group, distinguished Sullivan's ruling from the one by U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays in Louisiana, an appointee of President Donald Trump, which applied only to how the Biden administration tried to end Title 42. Sullivan found the entire rule invalid.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in Washington that enforcement must end immediately for families and single adults -photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in Washington that enforcement must end immediately for families and single adults -photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Biden administration to lift Trump-era asylum restrictions that have been a cornerstone of border enforcement since the beginning of COVID-19.U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in Washington that enforcement must end immediately for families and single adults, calling the ban “arbitrary and capricious.” The administration has not applied it to children traveling alone.Within hours, the Justice Department asked the judge to let the order take effect Dec. 21, giving it five weeks to prepare. Plaintiffs including the American Civil Liberties Union didn't oppose the delay.“This transition period is critical to ensuring that (the Department of Homeland Security) can continue to carry out its mission to secure the Nation’s borders and to conduct its border operations in an orderly fashion,” government attorneys wrote.Sullivan, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, wrote in a 49-page ruling that authorities failed to consider the impact on migrants and possible alternatives.The ruling appears to conflict with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-government-and-politics-mexico-texas-43976f307da98b3e800f884e87f244fe">another in May</a>&nbsp;by a federal judge in Louisiana that kept the asylum restrictions.If Sullivan's ruling stands, it would upend border enforcement. Migrants have been expelled from the United States more than 2.4 million times since the rule took effect in March 2020, denying migrants rights to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.The practice was authorized under Title 42 of a broader 1944 law covering public health.Before the judge in Louisiana kept the ban in place in May, U.S. officials said they were planning for as many as 18,000 migrants a day under the most challenging scenario, a staggering number. In May, migrants were stopped an average of 7,800 times a day, the highest of Joe Biden's presidency.Immigration advocacy groups have pressed hard to end Title 42, but more moderate Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, wanted it to stay when the administration tried to lift it in May.The ban has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-yuma-immigration-128e7440b334cc8fcbd3a629b78c3879">unevenly enforced</a>&nbsp;by nationality, falling largely on migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — in addition to Mexicans — because Mexico allows them to be returned from the United States. Last month, Mexico began accepting Venezuelans who are expelled from the United States under Title 42, causing a sharp drop in Venezuelans seeking asylum at the U.S. border.Nationalities that are less likely to be subject to Title 42 have become a growing presence at the border, confident they will be released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-colombia-caribbean-cuba-ec7a393f0e9e4bf5b8890a85c615b342">In October,</a>&nbsp;Cubans were the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, followed by Venezuelans and Nicaraguans.The Homeland Security Department said it would use the next five weeks to “prepare for an orderly transition to new policies at the border.”"We continue to work with countries throughout the Western Hemisphere to take enforcement actions against the smuggling networks that entice migrants to take the dangerous and often deadly journey to our land borders and to address the root causes of irregular migration that are challenging our hemisphere as a whole,” the department said.ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said Sullivan's decision renders the Louisiana ruling moot.“This is an enormous victory for desperate asylum seekers who have been barred from even getting a hearing because of the misuse of public laws," Gelernt said. "This ruling hopefully puts an end to this horrendous period in U.S. history in which we abandoned our solemn commitment to provide refuge to those facing persecution.”Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel for the American Immigration Council, an immigrant advocacy group, distinguished Sullivan's ruling from the one by U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays in Louisiana, an appointee of President Donald Trump, which applied only to how the Biden administration tried to end Title 42. Sullivan found the entire rule invalid.

Migrant explosion fears as judge blocks asylum restrictions 

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The head of a Kansas legislative panel wants to end the state's contract with its largest foster care contractor, after two former executives were accused of scheming to defraud the organization out of at least $4.7 million.

The federal indictments this month against the Rev. Robert Smith, the former CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, and William Whymark, its former chief information officer, capped a string of problems with the group, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4803a32bffbc4f4c943b97fc0176fca8">children being forced to sleep in offices</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salina-kansas-topeka-1b3b0e420e470e18a7dec207441ad8f7">workers falsifying documents</a>&nbsp;to show visits with families that never took place.

“I am horrified at the level of devious behavior by Saint Francis,” state Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican and the chair of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight, said before a meeting Wednesday.

“The more we find out, the more we realize we don’t know! They do not deserve to continue a partnership with the state of Kansas in any capacity,” she said.

Saint Francis Ministries, which sued Smith, Whymark and its former chief counsel earlier this year in an attempt to recover money, said in a statement that it respects the criminal justice system to resolve the matter.

“We do not wish to interject any comments that might interfere with justice or the due process of the accused,” the group said.

Mike Deines, a spokesman with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, didn’t immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

Late last year, Nebraska did what Concannon proposed and announced that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-nebraska-child-welfare-omaha-fb7dfc8bb3f935f54006ebfc827d0208">terminating</a>&nbsp;its contract with Saint Francis to oversee the care of abused and neglected children in two Omaha-area counties.

Saint Francis had been exceeding Nebraska's caseload requirements and ultimately conceded that it had underbid its contract with the state. It had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/foster-care-kansas-nebraska-omaha-child-welfare-9917837d9c3cd8ec8398dffe780beac8">ask for more money</a>. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that it was a mutual decision to transition those management duties back to the state.

Saint Francis, which also operates in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas, has sought to distance itself from Smith and Whymark since they left in 2020 after a whistleblower came forward.

But the wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering charges have thrust past scandals back into the news. The charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.

In the indictment, prosecutors allege that Smith hired Whymark's company to help revamp Saint Francis’ IT systems and then approved inflated invoices.

Whymark, 50, of Mount Kisco, New York, is accused of using the the fraudulently obtained funds to help pay for a roughly $4 million home, luxury vehicles and jewelry, and to make cash withdrawals.

Smith, meanwhile, used company credit cards to withdraw cash and pay for clothing, jewelry and family trips, the indictment says.

Smith, 50, previously filed a counterclaim against Saint Francis officials alleging defamation. His attorney, Lance Sandage, didn’t immediately reply to a phone message seeking comment.

Smith has taken a leave of absence from Christ Cathedral in Salina, where he went to work after leaving Saint Francis. The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, which oversees Smith, had restricted his ability to serve as a priest for part of the time he was there. After the indictment, the diocese barred him from any ministerial duties or having any access to church funds.

Mark Cowell, who hired Smith and serves as the bishop of the western Kansas diocese, asked for prayer and “that justice be done.”

No attorney is listed for Whymark in online court records.

The Kansas foster care system has long been beset with problems. Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, has vowed to make changes to the system and called for an investigation into the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cj-lofton-mental-health-crisis-48a306275d2cbe19da6539e0a4eb6563">Cedric Lofton</a>, a 17-year-old who was restrained face down for more than 40 minutes in 2021 at a Wichita juvenile intake center after his foster father called begging for help because the teen was hallucinating. Saint Francis was among the agencies involved.

An independent evaluation released this fall showed that some improvements had been made to the system, with children moving between placements less frequently.

But all four of the state contractors continue to report that some children are sleeping in offices and caseloads remain too high, according to the assessment, which is a condition of the state’s settlement of a class-action federal lawsuit with the advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d86cb2d655dabd7c99f4ff49dd343d59">Kansas Appleseed</a>&nbsp;and others.

Republican state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, of Louisburg, described Smith as a “wolf in sheep’s clothes” and the allegations as “absolutely beyond abhorrent.”

Baumgardner, who also serves on the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight, said the head of DCF should resign and that the agency needs a leader who will hold contractors accountable.

“There has been no action by the governor or by the secretary to pull the plug on Saint Francis,” she complained, adding that it “failed Kansas kids miserably.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660235142998.png" alt="The federal indictments this month against the Rev. Robert Smith, the former CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, and William Whymark, its former chief information officer, capped a string of problems with the group.-Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>The federal indictments this month against the Rev. Robert Smith, the former CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, and William Whymark, its former chief information officer, capped a string of problems with the group.-Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHMISSION, Kan. (AP) — The head of a Kansas legislative panel wants to end the state's contract with its largest foster care contractor, after two former executives were accused of scheming to defraud the organization out of at least $4.7 million.The federal indictments this month against the Rev. Robert Smith, the former CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, and William Whymark, its former chief information officer, capped a string of problems with the group, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4803a32bffbc4f4c943b97fc0176fca8">children being forced to sleep in offices</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salina-kansas-topeka-1b3b0e420e470e18a7dec207441ad8f7">workers falsifying documents</a>&nbsp;to show visits with families that never took place.“I am horrified at the level of devious behavior by Saint Francis,” state Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican and the chair of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight, said before a meeting Wednesday.“The more we find out, the more we realize we don’t know! They do not deserve to continue a partnership with the state of Kansas in any capacity,” she said.Saint Francis Ministries, which sued Smith, Whymark and its former chief counsel earlier this year in an attempt to recover money, said in a statement that it respects the criminal justice system to resolve the matter.“We do not wish to interject any comments that might interfere with justice or the due process of the accused,” the group said.Mike Deines, a spokesman with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, didn’t immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.Late last year, Nebraska did what Concannon proposed and announced that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-nebraska-child-welfare-omaha-fb7dfc8bb3f935f54006ebfc827d0208">terminating</a>&nbsp;its contract with Saint Francis to oversee the care of abused and neglected children in two Omaha-area counties.Saint Francis had been exceeding Nebraska's caseload requirements and ultimately conceded that it had underbid its contract with the state. It had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/foster-care-kansas-nebraska-omaha-child-welfare-9917837d9c3cd8ec8398dffe780beac8">ask for more money</a>. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that it was a mutual decision to transition those management duties back to the state.Saint Francis, which also operates in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas, has sought to distance itself from Smith and Whymark since they left in 2020 after a whistleblower came forward.But the wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering charges have thrust past scandals back into the news. The charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.In the indictment, prosecutors allege that Smith hired Whymark's company to help revamp Saint Francis’ IT systems and then approved inflated invoices.Whymark, 50, of Mount Kisco, New York, is accused of using the the fraudulently obtained funds to help pay for a roughly $4 million home, luxury vehicles and jewelry, and to make cash withdrawals.Smith, meanwhile, used company credit cards to withdraw cash and pay for clothing, jewelry and family trips, the indictment says.Smith, 50, previously filed a counterclaim against Saint Francis officials alleging defamation. His attorney, Lance Sandage, didn’t immediately reply to a phone message seeking comment.Smith has taken a leave of absence from Christ Cathedral in Salina, where he went to work after leaving Saint Francis. The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, which oversees Smith, had restricted his ability to serve as a priest for part of the time he was there. After the indictment, the diocese barred him from any ministerial duties or having any access to church funds.Mark Cowell, who hired Smith and serves as the bishop of the western Kansas diocese, asked for prayer and “that justice be done.”No attorney is listed for Whymark in online court records.The Kansas foster care system has long been beset with problems. Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, has vowed to make changes to the system and called for an investigation into the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cj-lofton-mental-health-crisis-48a306275d2cbe19da6539e0a4eb6563">Cedric Lofton</a>, a 17-year-old who was restrained face down for more than 40 minutes in 2021 at a Wichita juvenile intake center after his foster father called begging for help because the teen was hallucinating. Saint Francis was among the agencies involved.An independent evaluation released this fall showed that some improvements had been made to the system, with children moving between placements less frequently.But all four of the state contractors continue to report that some children are sleeping in offices and caseloads remain too high, according to the assessment, which is a condition of the state’s settlement of a class-action federal lawsuit with the advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d86cb2d655dabd7c99f4ff49dd343d59">Kansas Appleseed</a>&nbsp;and others.Republican state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, of Louisburg, described Smith as a “wolf in sheep’s clothes” and the allegations as “absolutely beyond abhorrent.”Baumgardner, who also serves on the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight, said the head of DCF should resign and that the agency needs a leader who will hold contractors accountable.“There has been no action by the governor or by the secretary to pull the plug on Saint Francis,” she complained, adding that it “failed Kansas kids miserably.”