By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/24/kansas-house-speaker-ron-ryckman-other-reps-join-list-of-retiring-lawmakers/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — House Speaker Ron Ryckman confirmed Monday he would not seek
 reelection, along with nearly a dozen other representatives who 
announced plans to step away from the Legislature.

The decision confirmed speculation the Olathe Republican would not 
run again. Ryckman was first elected to the House in 2012 and served an 
unprecedented three terms as speaker.

While Ryckman did not say what would come next, he did tell reporters
 he wouldn’t be running alongside Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the 
presumptive Republican nominee for governor, as his lieutenant governor.
 In his farewell speech, Ryckman said serving three terms as speaker and
 the work accomplished during that time were an honor he would cherish.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose, to every 
work,” Ryckman said. “I know our state will be in good hands. Thank you 
for the seasons we’ve had together.”

In addition to Ryckman, nine other House members announced they would not be seeking reelection, bringing the total number of <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/01/until-we-meet-again-kansas-representatives-say-goodbye-as-they-prepare-to-exit-legislature/">departing representatives</a> past a dozen. All 125 seats in the House are up for reelection in the November general election.

Also departing from Republican House leadership is Speaker Pro Tem 
Blaine Finch. The Ottawa Republican has served alongside Ryckman since 
they both entered Legislature in 2012.

“Make every moment here count,” Finch told his House colleagues. “Always be about your work.”

Joining them in retirement is Rep. Jim Gartner, a Topeka Democrat who
 has served since 2016. Gartner said he enjoyed the first two years in 
Topeka when cooperation across the aisle seemed a reasonable thing.

But in recent years, Gartner lamented, he did not have as much fun. 
He has repeatedly taken issue with the bundling of bills, and in his 
farewell speech, he urged colleagues to do better.

“You have the power to change things,” Gartner said. “All I would 
urge you is to utilize the power and use it the right way. Let’s get 
back to the roots of the process that we normally follow.”

Gartner served as a prominent Democratic voice on the House Taxation 
Committee. He joins Topeka-area Reps. Anne Kuether and Ron Highland, who
 previously announced their retirement.

Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-Kansas City, is stepping back from Legislature,
 where he has served since 1997. He was joined by fellow Kansas City 
Democrat Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, who has been in office since 2011.

Rep. Lonnie Clark, R-Junction City, Rep. David French, R-Lansing, 
Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, Rep. Marty Long, R-Ulysses, and 
Rep. Jim Kelly, R-Independence, all announced their decisions not to 
seek reelection Monday. Reps. Megan Lynn, R-Olathe, and Rep. Richard 
Proehl, R-Parsons, announced their retirements from the House earlier 
this year.

Also retiring from the House, although seeking office elsewhere, are 
Rep. Jesse Burris, R-Mulvane, and Rep. Stephen Johnson, R-Assaria. 
Burris is running for a Sedgwick County magistrate judgeship, and 
Johnson is running for state treasurer.

“I live on a river near Assaria,” Johnson said. “There’s always just a
 bit of excitement and anticipation about whatever is around that next 
bend. All the best as each of you continue your journey beyond the next 
bend.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653419108433.png" alt="More than a dozen Kansas lawmakers have announced they will not be seeking reelection following their terms in the Legislature, including House Speaker Ron Ryckman. (Noah Taborda/Kansas reflector)" />
 <figcaption>More than a dozen Kansas lawmakers have announced they will not be seeking reelection following their terms in the Legislature, including House Speaker Ron Ryckman. (Noah Taborda/Kansas reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/24/kansas-house-speaker-ron-ryckman-other-reps-join-list-of-retiring-lawmakers/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — House Speaker Ron Ryckman confirmed Monday he would not seek
 reelection, along with nearly a dozen other representatives who 
announced plans to step away from the Legislature.The decision confirmed speculation the Olathe Republican would not 
run again. Ryckman was first elected to the House in 2012 and served an 
unprecedented three terms as speaker.While Ryckman did not say what would come next, he did tell reporters
 he wouldn’t be running alongside Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the 
presumptive Republican nominee for governor, as his lieutenant governor.
 In his farewell speech, Ryckman said serving three terms as speaker and
 the work accomplished during that time were an honor he would cherish.“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose, to every 
work,” Ryckman said. “I know our state will be in good hands. Thank you 
for the seasons we’ve had together.”In addition to Ryckman, nine other House members announced they would not be seeking reelection, bringing the total number of <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/01/until-we-meet-again-kansas-representatives-say-goodbye-as-they-prepare-to-exit-legislature/">departing representatives</a> past a dozen. All 125 seats in the House are up for reelection in the November general election.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653419166788.png" alt="House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, right, entered the Legislature in 2012 alongside House Speaker Ron Ryckman. Both announced on Monday they would not seek reelection. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, right, entered the Legislature in 2012 alongside House Speaker Ron Ryckman. Both announced on Monday they would not seek reelection. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Also departing from Republican House leadership is Speaker Pro Tem 
Blaine Finch. The Ottawa Republican has served alongside Ryckman since 
they both entered Legislature in 2012.“Make every moment here count,” Finch told his House colleagues. “Always be about your work.”Joining them in retirement is Rep. Jim Gartner, a Topeka Democrat who
 has served since 2016. Gartner said he enjoyed the first two years in 
Topeka when cooperation across the aisle seemed a reasonable thing.But in recent years, Gartner lamented, he did not have as much fun. 
He has repeatedly taken issue with the bundling of bills, and in his 
farewell speech, he urged colleagues to do better.“You have the power to change things,” Gartner said. “All I would 
urge you is to utilize the power and use it the right way. Let’s get 
back to the roots of the process that we normally follow.”Gartner served as a prominent Democratic voice on the House Taxation 
Committee. He joins Topeka-area Reps. Anne Kuether and Ron Highland, who
 previously announced their retirement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653419198886.png" alt="Rep. Jim Gartner joins Topeka-area Reps. Annie Kuether and Ron Highland in retirement from the Kansas House. Gartner served in the Legislature since 2016. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jim Gartner joins Topeka-area Reps. Annie Kuether and Ron Highland in retirement from the Kansas House. Gartner served in the Legislature since 2016. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-Kansas City, is stepping back from Legislature,
 where he has served since 1997. He was joined by fellow Kansas City 
Democrat Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, who has been in office since 2011.Rep. Lonnie Clark, R-Junction City, Rep. David French, R-Lansing, 
Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, Rep. Marty Long, R-Ulysses, and 
Rep. Jim Kelly, R-Independence, all announced their decisions not to 
seek reelection Monday. Reps. Megan Lynn, R-Olathe, and Rep. Richard 
Proehl, R-Parsons, announced their retirements from the House earlier 
this year.Also retiring from the House, although seeking office elsewhere, are 
Rep. Jesse Burris, R-Mulvane, and Rep. Stephen Johnson, R-Assaria. 
Burris is running for a Sedgwick County magistrate judgeship, and 
Johnson is running for state treasurer.“I live on a river near Assaria,” Johnson said. “There’s always just a
 bit of excitement and anticipation about whatever is around that next 
bend. All the best as each of you continue your journey beyond the next 
bend.”

Kansas House speaker joins growing list of retiring lawmakers

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a hit and run accident that killed a 9-year-old Kansas girl. Authorities in Douglas County have not reported an arrest or that they identified the driver.

On May 16, the sheriff's office reported they located a vehicle in the Kansas City area they suspect to be the transit van involved in the crash, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff's office.

Brooklyn Brouhard, 9, of Eudora died from injuries suffered in the crash that occurred just after 5p.m. on May 14. She was passenger on a motorcycle driven by her grandfather 54-year-old Barry Larson who was also injured.

Larson was driving a motorcycle northbound on East 1900 Road with Brooklyn as a passenger. As the motorcycle approached the overpass, the transit van moved forward from the stop sign and the top of the eastbound off ramp from K-10 and into the intersection and struck the motorcycle.

Witnesses reported that after the collision, the driver of the white van proceeded down the ramp leaving its black front bumper cover behind and returned to eastbound K-10.&nbsp;

EMS transported Larson and his granddaughter to an area hospital where she died.&nbsp; The Douglas County sheriff's office released no new details over the past week.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run accident and asking the public for help to locate a van and driver that fled the scene.

Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the 1300 Block of East 1900 Road on the ramp over Kansas 10 Highway between Lawrence and Eudora, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.

According to a preliminary investigation, a 54-year-old man was driving a motorcycle northbound on East 1900 Road with a 9-year-old girl as passenger. As the approached the overpass, an unknown possibly a 2013-19 white Ford Transit van moved forward from the stop sign and the top of the eastbound off ramp from K-10 and into the intersection.

The van struck the motorcycle which overturned. EMS transported the man and the girl to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He had serious but non life threatening injuries. The girl, who was wearing a helmet suffered critical injuries and died Sunday morning, according the sheriff's department.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas Co. Sheriff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652731134056.png" alt="Image Douglas Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image Douglas Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a hit and run accident that killed a 9-year-old Kansas girl. Authorities in Douglas County have not reported an arrest or that they identified the driver.On May 16, the sheriff's office reported they located a vehicle in the Kansas City area they suspect to be the transit van involved in the crash, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff's office.Brooklyn Brouhard, 9, of Eudora died from injuries suffered in the crash that occurred just after 5p.m. on May 14. She was passenger on a motorcycle driven by her grandfather 54-year-old Barry Larson who was also injured.Larson was driving a motorcycle northbound on East 1900 Road with Brooklyn as a passenger. As the motorcycle approached the overpass, the transit van moved forward from the stop sign and the top of the eastbound off ramp from K-10 and into the intersection and struck the motorcycle.Witnesses reported that after the collision, the driver of the white van proceeded down the ramp leaving its black front bumper cover behind and returned to eastbound K-10.&nbsp;EMS transported Larson and his granddaughter to an area hospital where she died.&nbsp; The Douglas County sheriff's office released no new details over the past week.-------------DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run accident and asking the public for help to locate a van and driver that fled the scene.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">EAST 1900 Road Fatality Accident After further investigation, Sheriff&#39;s Office detectives now believe the vehicle that left the scene yesterday was a Ford Transit Connect XL Model 2013-2019, more likely a 2018-19. Anyone with info is asked to call the DGSO, 785-843-0250. <a href="https://t.co/NazzZWkS2O">pic.twitter.com/NazzZWkS2O</a>&mdash; Douglas Co. Sheriff (@DGSOSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGSOSheriff/status/1525963802629505037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the 1300 Block of East 1900 Road on the ramp over Kansas 10 Highway between Lawrence and Eudora, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.According to a preliminary investigation, a 54-year-old man was driving a motorcycle northbound on East 1900 Road with a 9-year-old girl as passenger. As the approached the overpass, an unknown possibly a 2013-19 white Ford Transit van moved forward from the stop sign and the top of the eastbound off ramp from K-10 and into the intersection.The van struck the motorcycle which overturned. EMS transported the man and the girl to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He had serious but non life threatening injuries. The girl, who was wearing a helmet suffered critical injuries and died Sunday morning, according the sheriff's department.Witnesses reported that after the collision, the driver of the white van proceeded down the ramp leaving its black front bumper cover behind and returned to eastbound K-10.&nbsp;Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas Co. Sheriff.

Hit-and-run crash that killed Kan. girl still under investigation

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury accident that occurred just after 1:30a.m. Monday in the 900 block of Jenny Avenue in Garden City.

Officers observed a Honda CR-V driven by 23-year-old Alex Ortiz had struck the west side of a residence. 

First responders found Ortiz sitting in the vehicle. EMS transported him to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment of injuries. The vehicle was removed from inside the residence and towed from the scene. The homeowner was inside the residence at the time of the accident but was not injured.

Through further investigation, it was determined that Ortiz was suspected of driving under the influence. After he was released from the hospital, police arrested Ortiz and booked him into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of DUI, Transportation of an Open Container, Possession of Marijuana and Tampering with Ignition Interlock.

The west side of the residence was assessed for damage and deemed unlivable, with total estimated damage at $30,000.00.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653335314461.png" alt="Ortiz photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Ortiz photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury accident that occurred just after 1:30a.m. Monday in the 900 block of Jenny Avenue in Garden City.Officers observed a Honda CR-V driven by 23-year-old Alex Ortiz had struck the west side of a residence. First responders found Ortiz sitting in the vehicle. EMS transported him to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment of injuries. The vehicle was removed from inside the residence and towed from the scene. The homeowner was inside the residence at the time of the accident but was not injured.Through further investigation, it was determined that Ortiz was suspected of driving under the influence. After he was released from the hospital, police arrested Ortiz and booked him into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of DUI, Transportation of an Open Container, Possession of Marijuana and Tampering with Ignition Interlock.The west side of the residence was assessed for damage and deemed unlivable, with total estimated damage at $30,000.00.

Kan. man jailed for alleged DUI crash into home

MCALLEN, Texas– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Kansas Sheriffs Calvin Hayden (Johnson County), Brian Hill (Shawnee County), Roger Soldan (Saline County), Jeff Richards (Franklin County), and Tim Morse (Jackson County) toured the southern border last weekend for briefings, tours, and meetings with border patrol officials, within DHS and the state of Texas.

The trip came amid the growing fentanyl crisis that is wreaking havoc in Kansas and across the nation. Following the trip, Marshall wrote, “After visiting the southern border with Sheriffs Hayden, Hill, Soldan, Richards, and Morse, it’s clear that what is going on is a human tragedy in every sense of the word. 

At nighttime, it even looks like a war zone and there is a humanitarian crisis here that is lived out every day.

“Border patrol officers are simply overwhelmed and this is an unsustainable situation. President Biden needs to get down to the southern border and see this crisis for himself. He needs to spend time on the Rio Grande River helping save migrants who have traveled thousands of miles. He needs to go up the interstate and pick up people who have been traveling for two or three days without water.

He needs to go talk the farmers and ranchers who are finding dead bodies on their property almost every day. And he need to meet face to face with Border Patrol officials who are doing everything in their power to stop the drug cartels and the flow of fentanyl from the border to Kansas.”

MCALLEN, Texas– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Kansas Sheriffs Calvin Hayden (Johnson County), Brian Hill (Shawnee County), Roger Soldan (Saline County), Jeff Richards (Franklin County), and Tim Morse (Jackson County) toured the southern border last weekend for briefings, tours, and meetings with border patrol officials, within DHS and the state of Texas.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T-JPV-qtKWA?start=2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The trip came amid the growing fentanyl crisis that is wreaking havoc in Kansas and across the nation. Following the trip, Marshall wrote, “After visiting the southern border with Sheriffs Hayden, Hill, Soldan, Richards, and Morse, it’s clear that what is going on is a human tragedy in every sense of the word. At nighttime, it even looks like a war zone and there is a humanitarian crisis here that is lived out every day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653415106396.png" alt="Sen. Marshall and Kansas Sheriffs receive a night tour with Brooks County Sheriffs on the Border Crisis and Human Smuggling Efforts they deal with daily" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Marshall and Kansas Sheriffs receive a night tour with Brooks County Sheriffs on the Border Crisis and Human Smuggling Efforts they deal with daily</figcaption>
 </figure>“Border patrol officers are simply overwhelmed and this is an unsustainable situation. President Biden needs to get down to the southern border and see this crisis for himself. He needs to spend time on the Rio Grande River helping save migrants who have traveled thousands of miles. He needs to go up the interstate and pick up people who have been traveling for two or three days without water.He needs to go talk the farmers and ranchers who are finding dead bodies on their property almost every day. And he need to meet face to face with Border Patrol officials who are doing everything in their power to stop the drug cartels and the flow of fentanyl from the border to Kansas.”

🎥 Amid crisis, Sen. Marshall, Kan. sheriffs visit southern border

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hyundai is recalling 239,000 cars in the U.S. because the seat belt pretensioners can explode and injure vehicle occupants. Three injuries have been reported, two in the U.S. and one in Singapore.

In a letter to the Korean automaker, government regulators said that the driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt pretensioners can explode upon deployment and send shrapnel throughout the vehicle. Pretensioners tighten the belts in preparation for a crash.

The recall, which expands and replaces three previous recalls, includes 2019-2022 Accents, 2021-2023 Elantras and 2021-2022 Elantra HEVs, or hybrid electric vehicles. Vehicles repaired under the previous recalls will need to be brought to dealerships again for the new remedy.

Owners will be able to take their recalled vehicles to dealerships where the seat belt pretensioners will be fit with a cap at no cost. Hyundai is expected to notify owners by July 15, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said.

For more information, owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and reference recall number 229. They can also call the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hyundai is recalling 239,000 cars in the U.S. because the seat belt pretensioners can explode and injure vehicle occupants. Three injuries have been reported, two in the U.S. and one in Singapore.In a letter to the Korean automaker, government regulators said that the driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt pretensioners can explode upon deployment and send shrapnel throughout the vehicle. Pretensioners tighten the belts in preparation for a crash.The recall, which expands and replaces three previous recalls, includes 2019-2022 Accents, 2021-2023 Elantras and 2021-2022 Elantra HEVs, or hybrid electric vehicles. Vehicles repaired under the previous recalls will need to be brought to dealerships again for the new remedy.Owners will be able to take their recalled vehicles to dealerships where the seat belt pretensioners will be fit with a cap at no cost. Hyundai is expected to notify owners by July 15, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said.For more information, owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and reference recall number 229. They can also call the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Hyundai recalls 239,000 cars for exploding seat belt parts

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and made an arrest.

Just before 10p.m. May 19, sheriff's deputies responded to Lion’s Den, located at 2349 Fair Road in Dickinson County, for a commercial business alarm, according to a social media report.

 Deputies discovered a man had entered the occupied business and removed property without permission, valued at more than $2,000. 

 After seeking assistance from the public through a Facebook post to help identify the suspect, Deputies were led to Washington, Kansas where the Washington County Sheriff’s Office located and detained 43-year-old Kenneth L. Riddle of Washington, Kansas and a vehicle. 

Dickinson County deputies took Riddle into custody and booked him on requested charges of Aggravated Burglary and Felony Theft. 

On Monday, with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 300 West 1st Street in Washington, Kansas and recovered the stolen property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653399806537.png" alt="Riddle-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Riddle-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and made an arrest.Just before 10p.m. May 19, sheriff's deputies responded to Lion’s Den, located at 2349 Fair Road in Dickinson County, for a commercial business alarm, according to a social media report. Deputies discovered a man had entered the occupied business and removed property without permission, valued at more than $2,000. After seeking assistance from the public through a Facebook post to help identify the suspect, Deputies were led to Washington, Kansas where the Washington County Sheriff’s Office located and detained 43-year-old Kenneth L. Riddle of Washington, Kansas and a vehicle. Dickinson County deputies took Riddle into custody and booked him on requested charges of Aggravated Burglary and Felony Theft. On Monday, with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 300 West 1st Street in Washington, Kansas and recovered the stolen property.

Sheriff: Kan. man arrested for burglary from porn store

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 50 defense leaders from around the world met Monday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-kharkiv-2fb1355f5c0b5724adfc5b4367807335">agreed to send more advanced weapons to Ukraine</a>, including a harpoon launcher and missiles to protect its coast, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters.

And Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that “low-level” discussion is underway on how the U.S. may need to adjust its training of Ukrainian forces and on whether some U.S. troops should be based in Ukraine.

The U.S. withdrew its few troops in Ukraine before the war and has no plans to send in combat forces. Milley’s comments left open the possibility troops could return for embassy security or another non-combat role.

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has partially reopened and is staffing up again, and there have been questions about whether the U.S. will send a Marine security force back in to help protect the embassy or if other options should be considered.

Asked if U.S. special operations forces may go into Ukraine, which officials have insisted they are not doing yet, Milley said that “any reintroduction of U.S. forces into Ukraine would require a presidential decision. So we’re a ways away from anything like that.”

Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Austin declined to say if the U.S. will send Ukraine high-tech mobile rocket launchers, which it has requested. But Austin said that some 20 nations announced Monday that they will send new packages of security assistance to Ukraine, as its war with Russia reaches the three-month mark.

In particular, he said that Denmark has agreed to send a harpoon launcher and missiles to Ukraine to help Ukraine defend its coast. Russia has ships in the Black Sea and has used them to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. The Russian ships have also stopped all commercial ship traffic from entering Ukraine ports.

“We’ve gained a sharper, shared sense of Ukraine’s priority requirements and the situation on the battlefield,” Austin told reporters at the close of the virtual meeting with the defense leaders. “Many countries are donating critically needed artillery ammunition, coastal defense systems and tanks and other armored vehicles. Others came forward with new commitments for training.”

The U.S. and other countries have been training Ukrainian forces in nearby European countries.

Austin added that the Czech Republic recently donated attack helicopters, tanks and rockets, and that Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland announced new donations Monday of artillery systems and ammunition.

“The nature of the fight, as you’ve heard us describe a number of times is ... really shaped by artillery in this phase,” said Austin. “And we’ve seen serious exchanges of artillery fires over the last several weeks.”

Austin said that during the virtual meeting, Ukraine officials made clear their security needs. And he said those are consistent with what has been identified in recent weeks — long-range artillery and rocket systems, armored personnel carriers and drones.

Milley provided the greatest detail to date on the increased U.S. presence in Europe since Russia invaded in late February. Last fall. there were roughly 78,000 U.S. troops in the region, and that has gone up to 102,000 — including 24 surface ships, four submarines, 12 fighter jet squadrons, two combat aviation units, and six Army brigade combat teams, along with their division and corps leaderships.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 50 defense leaders from around the world met Monday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-kharkiv-2fb1355f5c0b5724adfc5b4367807335">agreed to send more advanced weapons to Ukraine</a>, including a harpoon launcher and missiles to protect its coast, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters.And Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that “low-level” discussion is underway on how the U.S. may need to adjust its training of Ukrainian forces and on whether some U.S. troops should be based in Ukraine.The U.S. withdrew its few troops in Ukraine before the war and has no plans to send in combat forces. Milley’s comments left open the possibility troops could return for embassy security or another non-combat role.The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has partially reopened and is staffing up again, and there have been questions about whether the U.S. will send a Marine security force back in to help protect the embassy or if other options should be considered.Asked if U.S. special operations forces may go into Ukraine, which officials have insisted they are not doing yet, Milley said that “any reintroduction of U.S. forces into Ukraine would require a presidential decision. So we’re a ways away from anything like that.”Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Austin declined to say if the U.S. will send Ukraine high-tech mobile rocket launchers, which it has requested. But Austin said that some 20 nations announced Monday that they will send new packages of security assistance to Ukraine, as its war with Russia reaches the three-month mark.In particular, he said that Denmark has agreed to send a harpoon launcher and missiles to Ukraine to help Ukraine defend its coast. Russia has ships in the Black Sea and has used them to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. The Russian ships have also stopped all commercial ship traffic from entering Ukraine ports.“We’ve gained a sharper, shared sense of Ukraine’s priority requirements and the situation on the battlefield,” Austin told reporters at the close of the virtual meeting with the defense leaders. “Many countries are donating critically needed artillery ammunition, coastal defense systems and tanks and other armored vehicles. Others came forward with new commitments for training.”The U.S. and other countries have been training Ukrainian forces in nearby European countries.Austin added that the Czech Republic recently donated attack helicopters, tanks and rockets, and that Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland announced new donations Monday of artillery systems and ammunition.“The nature of the fight, as you’ve heard us describe a number of times is ... really shaped by artillery in this phase,” said Austin. “And we’ve seen serious exchanges of artillery fires over the last several weeks.”Austin said that during the virtual meeting, Ukraine officials made clear their security needs. And he said those are consistent with what has been identified in recent weeks — long-range artillery and rocket systems, armored personnel carriers and drones.Milley provided the greatest detail to date on the increased U.S. presence in Europe since Russia invaded in late February. Last fall. there were roughly 78,000 U.S. troops in the region, and that has gone up to 102,000 — including 24 surface ships, four submarines, 12 fighter jet squadrons, two combat aviation units, and six Army brigade combat teams, along with their division and corps leaderships.

Pentagon considers sending U.S. troops back into Ukraine

NEOSHO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a house explosion in Neosho County.

Just after 7a.m. on May 21, fire crews responded to report of a fire at a home at 1420 South Evergreen in Chanute, according to a media release.

At the scene fire officials determined the house was not on fire and there had been an explosion. The south wall of the home had been blown out and there was significant damage to the other outside walls and roof.

Crews installed struts and were able to shore up the home to make it safe for firefighters to enter. 

During a search, fire crews found a body. The Kansas State Fire Marshal, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms responded to collect evidence. Authorities have not released additional details.&nbsp;

NEOSHO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a house explosion in Neosho County.Just after 7a.m. on May 21, fire crews responded to report of a fire at a home at 1420 South Evergreen in Chanute, according to a media release.At the scene fire officials determined the house was not on fire and there had been an explosion. The south wall of the home had been blown out and there was significant damage to the other outside walls and roof.Crews installed struts and were able to shore up the home to make it safe for firefighters to enter. During a search, fire crews found a body. The Kansas State Fire Marshal, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms responded to collect evidence. Authorities have not released additional details.&nbsp;

Body found after explosion at Kansas home

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted this week to seek comment on a proposal to provide additional universal service support to certain rural carriers in exchange for increasing deployment to more locations at higher speeds.  The proposal would make changes to the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) program, with the goal of achieving widespread deployment of faster 100/20 Mbps broadband service throughout the rural areas served by rural carriers currently receiving A-CAM support.  

The ACAM Broadband Coalition submitted a proposal to create an Enhanced A-CAM program, which is the impetus for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today.  Enhanced A-CAM, as proposed, would raise the broadband speeds required by the A-CAM programs to those generally required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, while minimizing duplicative support across different federal broadband programs.  The Notice also proposes targeted modifications to the high-cost program rules to improve efficiency and efficacy in the program, including further streamlining of the annual reporting rules.  

The Notice seeks comment on whether and how the Commission could: 

· Offer additional A-CAM support in exchange for increased broadband deployment obligations to additional locations and at higher speeds under an Enhanced A-CAM program.

· Use the new Broadband DATA Act maps to determine any new deployment obligations.

· Calculate support for an Enhanced A-CAM program, including whether the existing A-CAM framework continues to be appropriate.

· Align specific proposals with Congressional intent, as well as programs at other agencies.

· Improve the administration of the high-cost program and better safeguard the Universal Service Fund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted this week to seek comment on a proposal to provide additional universal service support to certain rural carriers in exchange for increasing deployment to more locations at higher speeds. The proposal would make changes to the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) program, with the goal of achieving widespread deployment of faster 100/20 Mbps broadband service throughout the rural areas served by rural carriers currently receiving A-CAM support. The ACAM Broadband Coalition submitted a proposal to create an Enhanced A-CAM program, which is the impetus for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today. Enhanced A-CAM, as proposed, would raise the broadband speeds required by the A-CAM programs to those generally required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, while minimizing duplicative support across different federal broadband programs. The Notice also proposes targeted modifications to the high-cost program rules to improve efficiency and efficacy in the program, including further streamlining of the annual reporting rules. The Notice seeks comment on whether and how the Commission could: · Offer additional A-CAM support in exchange for increased broadband deployment obligations to additional locations and at higher speeds under an Enhanced A-CAM program.· Use the new Broadband DATA Act maps to determine any new deployment obligations.· Calculate support for an Enhanced A-CAM program, including whether the existing A-CAM framework continues to be appropriate.· Align specific proposals with Congressional intent, as well as programs at other agencies.· Improve the administration of the high-cost program and better safeguard the Universal Service Fund.

FCC proposes higher speed goals for small rural broadband providers

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging an Oklahoma man with two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Darrell E. Black, 28, of Midwest City allegedly committed armed robberies at the Extended Stay America hotel in Wichita on May 27, 2017, and at the Days Inn and Suites hotel in Wichita on May 29, 2017.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Black is currently in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for burglary and drug convictions, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653135835370.png" alt="Black-photo Oklahoma Dpt. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Black-photo Oklahoma Dpt. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging an Oklahoma man with two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Darrell E. Black, 28, of Midwest City allegedly committed armed robberies at the Extended Stay America hotel in Wichita on May 27, 2017, and at the Days Inn and Suites hotel in Wichita on May 29, 2017.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Black is currently in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for burglary and drug convictions, according to online jail records.

Inmate indicted for hotel robberies in Kansas

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A scammer used a Saline County man's money against him, and now the local man is out $60,500.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that a 69-year-old Saline County man reported that on Friday he received an email allegedly from Geek Squad telling him that they were renewing his membership. In the email was the amount of the renewal fee and a phone number to call.

The man called the number to cancel his alleged membership and talked to someone who told him that he needed access to the man's computer to cancel the alleged membership. The Saline County man gave the scammer access to his computer and some coding appeared on the screen.

The man was then told to type "$260" into the box that appeared on the screen. When he did, the amount changed to $26,000. The scammer told the man that something was done incorrectly and that $26,000 had accidently been deposited in the man's checking account. The Saline County man looked into his checking account and it showed that $26,000 was, indeed, there.

The scammer told the man that he needed to return the money by purchasing $26,000 in gift cards and supplying the scammer with the card codes. The man complied.

This ruse continued two additional times: once in the amount of $25,000 and another time in the amount of $9,500, Soldan said.

Each of the three times, the man purchased gift cards in increments of $500 for a total loss of $60,500, Soldan said.

As it turned out, the scammer had gained access to the man's bank accounts and was transferring money from a savings type of account to the man's checking account to make it look like $26,000, $25,000, and $9,500 had been accidently transfered to it, Soldan said.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA scammer used a Saline County man's money against him, and now the local man is out $60,500.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that a 69-year-old Saline County man reported that on Friday he received an email allegedly from Geek Squad telling him that they were renewing his membership. In the email was the amount of the renewal fee and a phone number to call.The man called the number to cancel his alleged membership and talked to someone who told him that he needed access to the man's computer to cancel the alleged membership. The Saline County man gave the scammer access to his computer and some coding appeared on the screen.The man was then told to type "$260" into the box that appeared on the screen. When he did, the amount changed to $26,000. The scammer told the man that something was done incorrectly and that $26,000 had accidently been deposited in the man's checking account. The Saline County man looked into his checking account and it showed that $26,000 was, indeed, there.The scammer told the man that he needed to return the money by purchasing $26,000 in gift cards and supplying the scammer with the card codes. The man complied.This ruse continued two additional times: once in the amount of $25,000 and another time in the amount of $9,500, Soldan said.Each of the three times, the man purchased gift cards in increments of $500 for a total loss of $60,500, Soldan said.As it turned out, the scammer had gained access to the man's bank accounts and was transferring money from a savings type of account to the man's checking account to make it look like $26,000, $25,000, and $9,500 had been accidently transfered to it, Soldan said.

Sheriff: Kansas man out $60,500 in reported email scam

MONTGOMERY COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;A man has been arrested for murder following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Coffeyville Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, according to a media release.

On Monday, officer arrested David A. Jackson, 61, of Coffeyville, on requested charges of first-degree murder related to the death of 47-year-old Melvin Simpson Jr. Jackson is also being held on requested charges of criminal possession of a weapon, felony obstruction of justice, and unlawful discharge of a weapon.

Just before 10:30a.m. May 16, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department contacted the Coffeyville Police Department when they received a crime line tip indicating that a dead body could be found at 1301 W. 7th&nbsp;St. in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Officers from the Coffeyville Police Department responded to the area. They began observing the residence until a male subject, David A. Jackson, 61, of Coffeyville, exited the duplex. The officers briefly questioned Jackson, and then entered the residence. Once inside, officers located the body of 47-year-old Melvin Simpson Jr., of Coffeyville. Simpson had been shot, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Jackson was initially arrested and detained on unrelated charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653346693888.png" alt="Jackson-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Jackson-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;A man has been arrested for murder following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Coffeyville Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, according to a media release.On Monday, officer arrested David A. Jackson, 61, of Coffeyville, on requested charges of first-degree murder related to the death of 47-year-old Melvin Simpson Jr. Jackson is also being held on requested charges of criminal possession of a weapon, felony obstruction of justice, and unlawful discharge of a weapon.Just before 10:30a.m. May 16, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department contacted the Coffeyville Police Department when they received a crime line tip indicating that a dead body could be found at 1301 W. 7th&nbsp;St. in Coffeyville, Kansas.Officers from the Coffeyville Police Department responded to the area. They began observing the residence until a male subject, David A. Jackson, 61, of Coffeyville, exited the duplex. The officers briefly questioned Jackson, and then entered the residence. Once inside, officers located the body of 47-year-old Melvin Simpson Jr., of Coffeyville. Simpson had been shot, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.Jackson was initially arrested and detained on unrelated charges.-------------

KBI: Crime line tip leads to Kansas homicide investigation

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;is moving to provide $50 million in relief to businesses such as bars, gyms and hair salons that were forced by state or local officials to shut down or restrict their operations during the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Republican-controlled Legislature on Monday approved a bill setting up the new program, sending it to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on lawmakers' last scheduled day in session this year. The measure is aimed at small businesses and would allow them to receive up to $5,000 for 2020 and 2021 if state and local officials imposed COVID-19 restrictions, though many were lifted by the summer of 2020.

The proposal had strong bipartisan support, clearing the Senate, 35-0, and the House, 120-1, but the short debates included a few notes of bitterness. A key Republican senator criticized Kelly over actions she took two years ago to check the spread of COVID-19, and the House's top Democrat argued that lawmakers should be doing more for working-class families.

Republicans have pushed for a relief program since the start of 2021, partly in response to a still-pending lawsuit in Sedgwick County filed in December 2020 by a Wichita fitness studio and its owner. Kelly last year vetoed a measure setting aside hundreds of millions of federal coronavirus relief dollars for businesses, saying it was “well-intentioned” but likely violated federal law. The new, smaller program would be financed with federal funds as well.

“It was more aimed at like your hair-dressers, book stores, people that were shut down that are on Main Street of small-town Kansas, even the large urban areas' mom-and-pop operations,” said Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican.

Also Monday, Republicans overrode two Kelly vetoes. One was a measure that will require the Legislature to sign off on settlements of lawsuits against state agencies over election laws. The other was a bill that will prevent Kelly from pursuing new contracts this year with private companies managing the state's Medicaid program.

During the Senate's short debate on business relief, Tyson irritated Democrats by suggesting Kelly will try to claim undeserved credit. She blamed Kelly for the need to provide relief because Kelly ordered many businesses shut down for five weeks in the spring of 2020, with some state restrictions remaining in place another few weeks.

Democratic Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, said Kelly's actions were prudent in the weeks after the first reported COVID-19 cases and deaths in Kansas.

And voting after Tyson, Democratic Sen. Mary Ware, of Wichita, said: “As much as I think that ‘aye’ is the appropriate vote for me on this, the rant of the senator that spoke ahead of me almost made me reconsider.”

In the House, Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, another Wichita Democrat, lamented that a new law phasing out the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries over three years didn't eliminate the entire tax on July 1, as Kelly proposed. He also suggested that because of high inflation, legislators should consider suspending the state's gasoline tax.

“We've got a lot of citizens out there that are hurting right now,” Sawyer said.

The business relief would offset up to 33% of the rent or local property taxes they still had to pay despite COVID-19 restrictions cutting into their sales, with a cap of $5,000 per year. Some businesses that were able to stay open, such as groceries, hardware stores and liquor stores, would not be eligible. Businesses would have to file claims for relief by April 15, 2023, with the state Department of Revenue.

By JOHN HANNA, AP Political WriterTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;is moving to provide $50 million in relief to businesses such as bars, gyms and hair salons that were forced by state or local officials to shut down or restrict their operations during the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VvmLC5nsKyI?start=5858" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Republican-controlled Legislature on Monday approved a bill setting up the new program, sending it to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on lawmakers' last scheduled day in session this year. The measure is aimed at small businesses and would allow them to receive up to $5,000 for 2020 and 2021 if state and local officials imposed COVID-19 restrictions, though many were lifted by the summer of 2020.The proposal had strong bipartisan support, clearing the Senate, 35-0, and the House, 120-1, but the short debates included a few notes of bitterness. A key Republican senator criticized Kelly over actions she took two years ago to check the spread of COVID-19, and the House's top Democrat argued that lawmakers should be doing more for working-class families.Republicans have pushed for a relief program since the start of 2021, partly in response to a still-pending lawsuit in Sedgwick County filed in December 2020 by a Wichita fitness studio and its owner. Kelly last year vetoed a measure setting aside hundreds of millions of federal coronavirus relief dollars for businesses, saying it was “well-intentioned” but likely violated federal law. The new, smaller program would be financed with federal funds as well.“It was more aimed at like your hair-dressers, book stores, people that were shut down that are on Main Street of small-town Kansas, even the large urban areas' mom-and-pop operations,” said Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican.Also Monday, Republicans overrode two Kelly vetoes. One was a measure that will require the Legislature to sign off on settlements of lawsuits against state agencies over election laws. The other was a bill that will prevent Kelly from pursuing new contracts this year with private companies managing the state's Medicaid program.During the Senate's short debate on business relief, Tyson irritated Democrats by suggesting Kelly will try to claim undeserved credit. She blamed Kelly for the need to provide relief because Kelly ordered many businesses shut down for five weeks in the spring of 2020, with some state restrictions remaining in place another few weeks.Democratic Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, said Kelly's actions were prudent in the weeks after the first reported COVID-19 cases and deaths in Kansas.And voting after Tyson, Democratic Sen. Mary Ware, of Wichita, said: “As much as I think that ‘aye’ is the appropriate vote for me on this, the rant of the senator that spoke ahead of me almost made me reconsider.”In the House, Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, another Wichita Democrat, lamented that a new law phasing out the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries over three years didn't eliminate the entire tax on July 1, as Kelly proposed. He also suggested that because of high inflation, legislators should consider suspending the state's gasoline tax.“We've got a lot of citizens out there that are hurting right now,” Sawyer said.The business relief would offset up to 33% of the rent or local property taxes they still had to pay despite COVID-19 restrictions cutting into their sales, with a cap of $5,000 per year. Some businesses that were able to stay open, such as groceries, hardware stores and liquor stores, would not be eligible. Businesses would have to file claims for relief by April 15, 2023, with the state Department of Revenue.

🎥Kansas looking at $50M for businesses restricted over COVID

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan, declaring the commitment to protect the island is “even stronger” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=featured">Russia’s invasion of Ukraine</a>. It was one of the most forceful presidential statements in support of Taiwan’s self-governing in decades.

Biden, at a news conference in Tokyo, said “yes” when asked if he was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China invaded. “That’s the commitment we made,” he added.

The U.S. traditionally has avoided making such an explicit security guarantee to Taiwan, with which it no longer has a mutual defense treaty, instead maintaining a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about how far it would be willing to go. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-china-united-states-beijing-united-nations-0f27ca946b9fa97487af1ba8e80c3682">U.S. relations with the island</a>, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

A White House official said Biden’s comments did not reflect a policy shift for the United States, a point echoed more firmly by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asked by reporters if Biden’s answer indicated the U.S. would do more to help Taiwan than it has done to help Ukraine and whether the U.S. was making a commitment to send troops to help Taiwan in the event of an invasion.

“As the president said our One China policy has not changed,” Austin said at the Pentagon. “He reiterated that policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also highlighted our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to help provide Taiwan the means to defend itself. So, again, our policy is not changed.”

But Biden’s words drew a sharp response from mainland China, which has claimed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taiwan">Taiwan</a>&nbsp;to be a rogue province.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to Biden’s comments. “China has no room for compromise or concessions on issues involving China’s core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He added, “China will take firm action to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, and we will do what we say.”

Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden said any effort by China to use force against Taiwan would “just not be appropriate,” adding that it would “dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-army-taiwan-air-force-df5ce025994309b138a015c8e0526a1f">China has stepped up its military provocations</a>&nbsp;against democratic Taiwan in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijing’s demands to unify with the communist mainland.

“They’re already flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the maneuvers that are undertaken,” Biden said of China.

Under the “one China” policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the government of China and doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the U.S. maintains unofficial contacts including a de facto embassy in Taipei, the capital, and supplies military equipment for the island’s defense.

Biden said it was his “expectation” that China would not try to seize Taiwan by force, but he also said that “depends upon just how strong the world makes clear that that kind of action is going to result in long-term disapprobation by the rest of the community.”

He added that deterring China from attacking Taiwan was one reason why it’s important that Russian President Vladimir Putin “pay a dear price for his barbarism in Ukraine,” lest China and other nations get the idea that such action is acceptable.

Wanting no escalation with nuclear-armed Russia, Biden quickly ruled out putting U.S. forces into direct conflict with Russia. But the U.S. has shipped billions of dollars in military assistance that has helped Ukraine put up a stiffer-than-expected resistance to Russia’s onslaught.

Taipei cheered Biden’s remarks, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanne Ou expressing “sincere welcome and gratitude.”

“The challenge posed by China to the security of the Taiwan Strait has drawn great concern in the international community,” said Ou. “Taiwan will continue to improve its self-defense capabilities, and deepen cooperation with the United States and Japan and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the security of the Taiwan Strait and the rules-based international order, while promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”

It’s not the first time Biden has pledged to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, followed by administration officials contending there had been no change to American policy. In a CNN town hall in October, Biden was asked about using the U.S. military to defend Taiwan and replied, “Yes, we have a commitment to do that.”

Taiwan isn’t the only foreign policy issue on which the White House has clarified or walked back Biden’s comments. When he declared in March that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-united-nations-jen-psaki-40e21508055f7ff65424afe2d8e406d8">Putin was a war criminal, J</a>&nbsp;en Psaki, then the press secretary, said the president was “speaking from his heart” even though a legal conclusion hadn’t been reached on the issue.

During a March speech in Poland, Biden said of Putin: “This man cannot remain in power.” White House officials raced to say that Biden was not calling for regime change in Russia.

Biden’s latest comments on Taiwan came just before he formally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-asia-united-states-c6878c7d14112e45a870a3e8735f7e71">launched a long-anticipated Indo-Pacific trade pact</a>&nbsp;that excludes Taiwan.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed Sunday that Taiwan isn’t among the governments signed up for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which is meant to allow the U.S. to work more closely with key Asian economies on issues like supply chains, digital trade, clean energy and anticorruption.

Inclusion of Taiwan would have irked China.

Sullivan said the U.S. wants to deepen its economic partnership with Taiwan on a one-to-one basis.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653334090110.png" alt="President Biden’s words drew a sharp response from mainland China, which has claimed&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to be a rogue province-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden’s words drew a sharp response from mainland China, which has claimed&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to be a rogue province-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan, declaring the commitment to protect the island is “even stronger” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=featured">Russia’s invasion of Ukraine</a>. It was one of the most forceful presidential statements in support of Taiwan’s self-governing in decades.Biden, at a news conference in Tokyo, said “yes” when asked if he was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China invaded. “That’s the commitment we made,” he added.The U.S. traditionally has avoided making such an explicit security guarantee to Taiwan, with which it no longer has a mutual defense treaty, instead maintaining a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about how far it would be willing to go. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-china-united-states-beijing-united-nations-0f27ca946b9fa97487af1ba8e80c3682">U.S. relations with the island</a>, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.A White House official said Biden’s comments did not reflect a policy shift for the United States, a point echoed more firmly by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asked by reporters if Biden’s answer indicated the U.S. would do more to help Taiwan than it has done to help Ukraine and whether the U.S. was making a commitment to send troops to help Taiwan in the event of an invasion.“As the president said our One China policy has not changed,” Austin said at the Pentagon. “He reiterated that policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also highlighted our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to help provide Taiwan the means to defend itself. So, again, our policy is not changed.”But Biden’s words drew a sharp response from mainland China, which has claimed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taiwan">Taiwan</a>&nbsp;to be a rogue province.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to Biden’s comments. “China has no room for compromise or concessions on issues involving China’s core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity.”He added, “China will take firm action to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, and we will do what we say.”Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden said any effort by China to use force against Taiwan would “just not be appropriate,” adding that it would “dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-army-taiwan-air-force-df5ce025994309b138a015c8e0526a1f">China has stepped up its military provocations</a>&nbsp;against democratic Taiwan in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijing’s demands to unify with the communist mainland.“They’re already flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the maneuvers that are undertaken,” Biden said of China.Under the “one China” policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the government of China and doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the U.S. maintains unofficial contacts including a de facto embassy in Taipei, the capital, and supplies military equipment for the island’s defense.Biden said it was his “expectation” that China would not try to seize Taiwan by force, but he also said that “depends upon just how strong the world makes clear that that kind of action is going to result in long-term disapprobation by the rest of the community.”He added that deterring China from attacking Taiwan was one reason why it’s important that Russian President Vladimir Putin “pay a dear price for his barbarism in Ukraine,” lest China and other nations get the idea that such action is acceptable.Wanting no escalation with nuclear-armed Russia, Biden quickly ruled out putting U.S. forces into direct conflict with Russia. But the U.S. has shipped billions of dollars in military assistance that has helped Ukraine put up a stiffer-than-expected resistance to Russia’s onslaught.Taipei cheered Biden’s remarks, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanne Ou expressing “sincere welcome and gratitude.”“The challenge posed by China to the security of the Taiwan Strait has drawn great concern in the international community,” said Ou. “Taiwan will continue to improve its self-defense capabilities, and deepen cooperation with the United States and Japan and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the security of the Taiwan Strait and the rules-based international order, while promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”It’s not the first time Biden has pledged to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, followed by administration officials contending there had been no change to American policy. In a CNN town hall in October, Biden was asked about using the U.S. military to defend Taiwan and replied, “Yes, we have a commitment to do that.”Taiwan isn’t the only foreign policy issue on which the White House has clarified or walked back Biden’s comments. When he declared in March that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-united-nations-jen-psaki-40e21508055f7ff65424afe2d8e406d8">Putin was a war criminal, J</a>&nbsp;en Psaki, then the press secretary, said the president was “speaking from his heart” even though a legal conclusion hadn’t been reached on the issue.During a March speech in Poland, Biden said of Putin: “This man cannot remain in power.” White House officials raced to say that Biden was not calling for regime change in Russia.Biden’s latest comments on Taiwan came just before he formally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-asia-united-states-c6878c7d14112e45a870a3e8735f7e71">launched a long-anticipated Indo-Pacific trade pact</a>&nbsp;that excludes Taiwan.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed Sunday that Taiwan isn’t among the governments signed up for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which is meant to allow the U.S. to work more closely with key Asian economies on issues like supply chains, digital trade, clean energy and anticorruption.Inclusion of Taiwan would have irked China.Sullivan said the U.S. wants to deepen its economic partnership with Taiwan on a one-to-one basis.___

Biden threatens China with military action to defend Taiwan

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor&nbsp;Laura Kelly welcomed the Kansas State University Classy Cats to the Statehouse to recognize the team’s 1A Pom National Championship title.

Governor Kelly <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220523142126009.pdf">signed a proclamation</a> declaring May 23, 2022, as "Kansas State Classy Cats Victory Day.”&nbsp;

"It is my great pleasure to welcome our very own K-State Classy Cats to the Statehouse to celebrate their first national title in the program’s history,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “After an incredible year, this talented group of young women became national champions thanks to their hard work and determination. They’ve made Kansas proud and have inspired so many young dancers across the state."

The K-State Classy Cats were named national champions for Division 1A last month at the College Classic National Invitational in Orlando, Florida, where they defeated runner-up Arizona State by 0.3 points in the final.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653335783159.png" alt="Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220523142126009.pdf">signed a proclamation</a>&nbsp;declaring May 23, 2022, as "Kansas State Classy Cats Victory Day.” -courtesy photos" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220523142126009.pdf">signed a proclamation</a>&nbsp;declaring May 23, 2022, as "Kansas State Classy Cats Victory Day.” -courtesy photos</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor&nbsp;Laura Kelly welcomed the Kansas State University Classy Cats to the Statehouse to recognize the team’s 1A Pom National Championship title. Governor Kelly <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220523142126009.pdf">signed a proclamation</a> declaring May 23, 2022, as "Kansas State Classy Cats Victory Day.”&nbsp;"It is my great pleasure to welcome our very own K-State Classy Cats to the Statehouse to celebrate their first national title in the program’s history,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “After an incredible year, this talented group of young women became national champions thanks to their hard work and determination. They’ve made Kansas proud and have inspired so many young dancers across the state."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653335820323.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The K-State Classy Cats were named national champions for Division 1A last month at the College Classic National Invitational in Orlando, Florida, where they defeated runner-up Arizona State by 0.3 points in the final.&nbsp;

Governor honors national champion K-State Classy Cats 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating an accident that took the life of a 17-year-old boy that occurred early Sunday in Topeka

A preliminary autopsy report indicated the death to be a suicide, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to 28th and Adams for a report of a single vehicle traffic accident, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.

First responders found a 17-year-old boy from Topeka, unresponsive in the roadway. American Medical Response arrived and declared the boy deceased at 4:33 a.m. Police did not release the teen's name.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 4:30 a.m. Sunday in Topeka.

Police responded to&nbsp;28th and Adams for a report of a single vehicle traffic accident, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.

First responders found a 17-year-old boy from Topeka, unresponsive in the roadway. American Medical Response arrived and declared the boy deceased at 4:33 a.m.

Police have not reported the boy's name or additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating an accident that took the life of a 17-year-old boy that occurred early Sunday in TopekaA preliminary autopsy report indicated the death to be a suicide, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to 28th and Adams for a report of a single vehicle traffic accident, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.First responders found a 17-year-old boy from Topeka, unresponsive in the roadway. American Medical Response arrived and declared the boy deceased at 4:33 a.m. Police did not release the teen's name.-------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 4:30 a.m. Sunday in Topeka.Police responded to&nbsp;28th and Adams for a report of a single vehicle traffic accident, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.First responders found a 17-year-old boy from Topeka, unresponsive in the roadway. American Medical Response arrived and declared the boy deceased at 4:33 a.m.Police have not reported the boy's name or additional details.

Update: Police investigate crash that killed Kansas teen

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-05-23/how-one-airline-leaving-small-kansas-airports-could-deal-a-blow-to-the-states-rural-economy">Kansas News Service</a>

The COVID-19 pandemic hit air travel hard.

The number of 
canceled flights skyrocketed, airlines hemorrhaged billions in losses 
and a lack of passengers turned once-bustling airports into ghost towns.

For rural airports like the one in Hays — not bustling, but critical in their own way — the shutdowns hurt that much more.

At
 the height of 2020’s stay-at-home orders, just 29 people flew out of 
Hays Regional Airport in the entire month of April. Time and again, 
airport director Jamie Salter said, some planes would take off with no 
passengers at all.

“There were some times they’d come and they’d have nobody on,” Salter said. “I hope that’s something we will never see again.”

The good news: Air travel is bouncing back. 

Around
 900 monthly passengers have taken off from Hays in 2021 and 2022 — back
 to roughly 75% of the 1,236 monthly passengers the airport saw the year
 before the pandemic.

As demand for flights rises in response to falling COVID-19 case rates, airlines nationwide <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-05-11/report-airlines-not-adapting-well-to-increased-passenger-traffic" target="_blank">struggle</a>
 to keep up with the jump in traffic. Now, Hays and more than two dozen 
other regional airports across the country face the danger of losing 
their only commercial airline, SkyWest.

The only thing preventing 
that is the federal government. Because the airline has accepted heavy 
tax subsidies for running flights through smaller airports, the company 
needs the U.S. Department of Transportation’s OK to pull out.

The situation is a local symptom of a broader challenge: a national <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Small-markets-pay-price-pilot-shortage" target="_blank">pilot shortage</a>
 caused by a wave of early retirements during the pandemic and a lack of
 new pilots with the training and certification to replace them.

“They
 truly don’t have the staff to do it,” Salter said. “Nobody, I don’t 
think, anticipated travel to come back in a roar like it did.”

The
 same way smaller towns face a challenge competing with big cities to 
recruit skilled workers, smaller airlines like SkyWest have to compete 
with big ones like Delta and Southwest for pilots. And because larger 
airlines flying more passengers to bigger cities can pay pilots more 
money, smaller airports like Hays often get left in the back of the 
line.

SkyWest <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/349480c6-6e76-4e69-b11c-60bd8a239018" target="_blank">filed paperwork</a> with the federal government this spring giving a 90-day notice of its plan to end service at 29 of its 49 airports.

The
 state with the most towns facing this predicament is Kansas, where four
 of the state’s eight commercial airports — Hays, Liberal, Dodge City 
and Salina — now have to scramble to secure the future of their local 
flights.

That <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-partner-skywest-dropping-29-cities-2022-3" target="_blank">group of 29</a>
 also includes airports in neighboring states Missouri (Joplin, Fort 
Leonard Wood and Cape Girardeau), Colorado (Pueblo and Alamosa) and 
Nebraska (Scottsbluff, Kearney and North Platte).

Eli Svaty, executive director of Liberal-based economic development 
group Seward County Development Corporation, said this isn’t the first 
time there have been rumblings about commercial air service potentially 
leaving towns like his in western Kansas.

“Every other time, it 
seems like it would work itself out before any major disruption. And 
then this time, it seems to be a little bit more real,” Svaty said. 
“It’s been a tumultuous few months to say the least.”

Without 
local flights, Hays residents might have to drive 275 miles to Kansas 
City or 334 miles to Denver to board a plane. Those drives to big 
airports are even farther for people in Liberal.

“Because we’re so
 far from Denver (and) from Kansas City, we have to have some sort of 
travel that is more convenient than just getting on Highway 54 and 
driving,” Svaty said, “This really is our lifeline to the rest of the 
world.”

The uncertainty that has followed in the wake of SkyWest’s
 announcement has revealed the precarious nature of air travel in rural 
places like western Kansas, where airports offer just one or two flights
 on a good day.

But Svaty said it also illustrates just how vital having those one or two flights are for small towns’ survival.

“Not
 to say that you lose the airport, you lose the town,” Svaty said. “But 
it is critical that … we find something that can assure people that, 
‘It’s OK to live out here in rural Kansas because we still have great 
air service.’”

While
 the total number of passengers flying out of rural airports like Hays 
and Liberal might not seem like much, having commercial air service 
still provides a big boost to local economies.

A 2017 <a href="https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/divAviation/pdf/2016EISFinalReport.pdf" target="_blank">study commissioned</a>
 by the Kansas Department of Transportation says that Hays Regional 
Airport contributes an annual economic impact of nearly $18 million 
dollars. Liberal’s airport injects more than $38 million into the local 
economy.

So SkyWest’s announcement in March sent shockwaves through these communities.

Hays Chamber of Commerce director Sarah Wasinger said that air 
service is vital for a town like Hays to be able to recruit, attract and
 retain good talent for critical jobs like doctors, nurses and 
educators.

“Without Hays Regional Airport, there would be quite a 
few people who wouldn't even look at Hays as an option for employment,” 
Wasinger said, “just because they consider that a necessary quality of 
life item for them to relocate.”

Wasinger said dependable air 
travel matters to the town’s current businesses too, like retailers who 
have to fly out on seasonal buying trips.

But the pilot shortage has already caused some upheaval, even if SkyWest hasn’t officially left.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653312865507.png" alt="Hays Regional Airport, along with three others in western and central Kansas, face the possibility of losing their only commercial airline if the federal government doesn't continue to intervene. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Hays Regional Airport, along with three others in western and central Kansas, face the possibility of losing their only commercial airline if the federal government doesn't continue to intervene. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-05-23/how-one-airline-leaving-small-kansas-airports-could-deal-a-blow-to-the-states-rural-economy">Kansas News Service</a>The COVID-19 pandemic hit air travel hard.The number of 
canceled flights skyrocketed, airlines hemorrhaged billions in losses 
and a lack of passengers turned once-bustling airports into ghost towns.For rural airports like the one in Hays — not bustling, but critical in their own way — the shutdowns hurt that much more.At
 the height of 2020’s stay-at-home orders, just 29 people flew out of 
Hays Regional Airport in the entire month of April. Time and again, 
airport director Jamie Salter said, some planes would take off with no 
passengers at all.“There were some times they’d come and they’d have nobody on,” Salter said. “I hope that’s something we will never see again.”The good news: Air travel is bouncing back. Around
 900 monthly passengers have taken off from Hays in 2021 and 2022 — back
 to roughly 75% of the 1,236 monthly passengers the airport saw the year
 before the pandemic.Then there’s the bad news.As demand for flights rises in response to falling COVID-19 case rates, airlines nationwide <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-05-11/report-airlines-not-adapting-well-to-increased-passenger-traffic" target="_blank">struggle</a>
 to keep up with the jump in traffic. Now, Hays and more than two dozen 
other regional airports across the country face the danger of losing 
their only commercial airline, SkyWest.The only thing preventing 
that is the federal government. Because the airline has accepted heavy 
tax subsidies for running flights through smaller airports, the company 
needs the U.S. Department of Transportation’s OK to pull out.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653312922014.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The situation is a local symptom of a broader challenge: a national <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Small-markets-pay-price-pilot-shortage" target="_blank">pilot shortage</a>
 caused by a wave of early retirements during the pandemic and a lack of
 new pilots with the training and certification to replace them.“They
 truly don’t have the staff to do it,” Salter said. “Nobody, I don’t 
think, anticipated travel to come back in a roar like it did.”The
 same way smaller towns face a challenge competing with big cities to 
recruit skilled workers, smaller airlines like SkyWest have to compete 
with big ones like Delta and Southwest for pilots. And because larger 
airlines flying more passengers to bigger cities can pay pilots more 
money, smaller airports like Hays often get left in the back of the 
line.SkyWest <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/349480c6-6e76-4e69-b11c-60bd8a239018" target="_blank">filed paperwork</a> with the federal government this spring giving a 90-day notice of its plan to end service at 29 of its 49 airports. The
 state with the most towns facing this predicament is Kansas, where four
 of the state’s eight commercial airports — Hays, Liberal, Dodge City 
and Salina — now have to scramble to secure the future of their local 
flights.That <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-partner-skywest-dropping-29-cities-2022-3" target="_blank">group of 29</a>
 also includes airports in neighboring states Missouri (Joplin, Fort 
Leonard Wood and Cape Girardeau), Colorado (Pueblo and Alamosa) and 
Nebraska (Scottsbluff, Kearney and North Platte).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653312965950.png" alt="As demand for flights soars nationwide, there might not be enough pilots to keep service running at smaller airports like Hays. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>As demand for flights soars nationwide, there might not be enough pilots to keep service running at smaller airports like Hays. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Eli Svaty, executive director of Liberal-based economic development 
group Seward County Development Corporation, said this isn’t the first 
time there have been rumblings about commercial air service potentially 
leaving towns like his in western Kansas.“Every other time, it 
seems like it would work itself out before any major disruption. And 
then this time, it seems to be a little bit more real,” Svaty said. 
“It’s been a tumultuous few months to say the least.”Without 
local flights, Hays residents might have to drive 275 miles to Kansas 
City or 334 miles to Denver to board a plane. Those drives to big 
airports are even farther for people in Liberal.“Because we’re so
 far from Denver (and) from Kansas City, we have to have some sort of 
travel that is more convenient than just getting on Highway 54 and 
driving,” Svaty said, “This really is our lifeline to the rest of the 
world.”The uncertainty that has followed in the wake of SkyWest’s
 announcement has revealed the precarious nature of air travel in rural 
places like western Kansas, where airports offer just one or two flights
 on a good day.But Svaty said it also illustrates just how vital having those one or two flights are for small towns’ survival.“Not
 to say that you lose the airport, you lose the town,” Svaty said. “But 
it is critical that … we find something that can assure people that, 
‘It’s OK to live out here in rural Kansas because we still have great 
air service.’”<h2>‘Gut shot’</h2>While
 the total number of passengers flying out of rural airports like Hays 
and Liberal might not seem like much, having commercial air service 
still provides a big boost to local economies.A 2017 <a href="https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/divAviation/pdf/2016EISFinalReport.pdf" target="_blank">study commissioned</a>
 by the Kansas Department of Transportation says that Hays Regional 
Airport contributes an annual economic impact of nearly $18 million 
dollars. Liberal’s airport injects more than $38 million into the local 
economy.So SkyWest’s announcement in March sent shockwaves through these communities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653312991790.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Chamber of Commerce director Sarah Wasinger said that air 
service is vital for a town like Hays to be able to recruit, attract and
 retain good talent for critical jobs like doctors, nurses and 
educators.“Without Hays Regional Airport, there would be quite a 
few people who wouldn't even look at Hays as an option for employment,” 
Wasinger said, “just because they consider that a necessary quality of 
life item for them to relocate.”Wasinger said dependable air 
travel matters to the town’s current businesses too, like retailers who 
have to fly out on seasonal buying trips.But the pilot shortage has already caused some upheaval, even if SkyWest hasn’t officially left.Many
 airlines, including SkyWest, have begun pairing regional airport routes
 together — Liberal and Dodge City, Hays and Salina. The plan allows the
 same pilots to serve multiple towns at the same time but cuts the 
number of direct flights for each town roughly in half.Svaty said
 that there’s a big difference between boarding a 45-minute direct 
flight from Liberal to Denver and boarding a flight that stops in Dodge 
City on its way. And that change in flight schedules has already made 
his job of attracting new businesses and workers to Liberal that much 
more challenging.For example, an agricultural company was 
scheduled to fly to Liberal from California to consider moving its 
operations to southwest Kansas. But after SkyWest’s announcement, the 
company scrapped its travel plans. They’re still on hold.“I sold 
this place on the ability for them to be able to make it from California
 to here in two quick flights,” Svaty said. “Now all of a sudden … it’s 
going to be a totally different situation than what I had sold them on. 
And so from my perspective, that was just a gut shot.”Here’s 
another example: During the pandemic, Liberal hosted a handful of tech 
workers from Seattle who wanted to see what it would be like to work 
remotely from southwest Kansas. Svaty had planned on making a push to 
attract more remote workers like that by marketing Liberal as a place 
where they could enjoy a low cost of living and more space, but still be
 able to get back to the West Coast in two easy flights.Now those plans are in a holding pattern.“We
 have plenty of great jobs, we just don't have the people,” Svaty said. 
“So when you lose those nuggets of quality of life, it makes it even 
more challenging to get them to move out here.”<h2>Hurry up and wait</h2>The long-term future for airports like Hays and Liberal is still uncertain.Salter
 with the Hays airport hopes that the federal government, the airport 
and SkyWest might still find a solution that keeps SkyWest in Hays, even
 if it means having fewer flights per week.That’s because, she 
said, SkyWest remains the best option available to serve a smaller 
airport like Hays through the federal Essential Air Service program — 
which subsidizes airlines’ flights to regional airports.She said 
the dependability of Hays’ flights has greatly improved since SkyWest 
came on board here in 2014. And as soon as the airline announced it was 
trying to leave, she got a flood of concerned comments from the 
community urging her to try to keep the airline.To that end, 
Salter and a delegation of other western Kansas community leaders met 
with Department of Transportation officials in Washington, D.C., earlier
 this month.But she said that an airline trying to exit 29 
airports at once is unprecedented, so government officials were likely 
as dumbfounded by SkyWest’s announcement as were people in Hays.Federal
 transportation officials have “never seen anything like this before,” 
Salter said. “So it really is all of us trying to figure this out as we 
go.”For now, the federal government is forcing SkyWest to 
continue some service to these airports until the towns get a 
replacement airline up and running. And she said that both SkyWest and 
the DOT have shown a willingness to be flexible.But the odds of finding another airline to fill SkyWest’s place on the tarmac right now don’t look promising.Hays’ airport just held a 60-day application period to see if any 
other airlines are interested in coming to town. But it received just 
one proposal. That came from a boutique commuter air service company in 
California whose airplanes only have room for about 10 people.Now
 that Hays’ passenger traffic has ticked back up toward what it was in 
pre-pandemic times, Salter said, those small planes wouldn’t cut it. 
SkyWest’s planes hold around 50 people.“We don't have any 
intention of recommending to go with the bid that we received,” Salter 
said. “The capacity just doesn't meet our needs.”So it appears 
increasingly likely that the federal government will continue to make 
SkyWest fly to these airports long after the airline’s proposed exit 
date, June 10.If no suitable replacement airline steps forward, 
it’s possible SkyWest could be forced to continue some service to places
 like Hays until the end of its current contract in August of 2024.“Everything
 is so up in the air right now as far as what that looks like in the 
future," Salter said. “Hurry up and wait, it seems is where we're at.” David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank"> @davidcondos</a>.