WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris, embracing her role as one of the administration’s most outspoken defenders of abortion rights, spoke Thursday with abortion providers in Kansas, Missouri and other states with some of the country’s strictest restrictions, saying they are “on the front lines of this war on women’s rights.”

The virtual conversation, which Harris hosted from the White House complex, came weeks after the leak of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-07439f9fc4542f1500ab78dfd34036b1">draft Supreme Court opinion</a>&nbsp;suggesting that justices are on the brink of overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

Justices are expected to issue their final ruling in the next six weeks, but some states with Republican leaders are already laying the groundwork to ban abortion outright if the court allows individual states to set their own rules for the procedure.

Shortly before Harris began her meeting,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-texas-legislature-a43f7f21c1b8e07a383b120d1bdbc695">Oklahoma lawmakers passed</a>&nbsp;what might be the most restrictive abortion ban in the country, preventing the procedure in all cases except to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement.

“It’s outrageous, and it’s just the latest in a series of extreme laws from around the country,” Harris said. She said the rules were designed to “punish and control women.”

In addition to Kansas and Missouri the abortion providers who participated in the meeting were from Texas and Montana. Other states with less restrictive laws are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-travel-132127dcb999cc350408e391dcbf8f3b">preparing for a potential influx of patients</a>&nbsp;if more bans going into effect.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-religion-32fbfb858d7d3314427e5cdd88308b8b">Much as President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has done, Harris said other court rulings that allowed access to contraception and legalized same sex marriage could also be at risk.

“It would be a direct assault on the fundamental right of self determination, to live and love without interference from the government,” she said.

The Biden administration has few options available to protect abortion, especially since legislation to safeguard access&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-filibusters-congress-759beeba80ac56aa95271711a8e915da">failed in the Senate last week.</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris, embracing her role as one of the administration’s most outspoken defenders of abortion rights, spoke Thursday with abortion providers in Kansas, Missouri and other states with some of the country’s strictest restrictions, saying they are “on the front lines of this war on women’s rights.”<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FVicePresident%2Fvideos%2F745715176447480%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The virtual conversation, which Harris hosted from the White House complex, came weeks after the leak of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-07439f9fc4542f1500ab78dfd34036b1">draft Supreme Court opinion</a>&nbsp;suggesting that justices are on the brink of overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.Justices are expected to issue their final ruling in the next six weeks, but some states with Republican leaders are already laying the groundwork to ban abortion outright if the court allows individual states to set their own rules for the procedure.Shortly before Harris began her meeting,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-texas-legislature-a43f7f21c1b8e07a383b120d1bdbc695">Oklahoma lawmakers passed</a>&nbsp;what might be the most restrictive abortion ban in the country, preventing the procedure in all cases except to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement.“It’s outrageous, and it’s just the latest in a series of extreme laws from around the country,” Harris said. She said the rules were designed to “punish and control women.”In addition to Kansas and Missouri the abortion providers who participated in the meeting were from Texas and Montana. Other states with less restrictive laws are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-travel-132127dcb999cc350408e391dcbf8f3b">preparing for a potential influx of patients</a>&nbsp;if more bans going into effect.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-religion-32fbfb858d7d3314427e5cdd88308b8b">Much as President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has done, Harris said other court rulings that allowed access to contraception and legalized same sex marriage could also be at risk.“It would be a direct assault on the fundamental right of self determination, to live and love without interference from the government,” she said.The Biden administration has few options available to protect abortion, especially since legislation to safeguard access&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-filibusters-congress-759beeba80ac56aa95271711a8e915da">failed in the Senate last week.</a>

🎥What VP Harris told abortion providers in Kansas

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a wanted Kansas man on multiple charges in Missouri.

On Wednesday, police arrested 25-year-old Alexzander S. Green of Atchison, on a Boone County Missouri warrant, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

He is being held without bond for alleged terroristic threat, felony harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police arrested Green on May 4 for failure to appear, according to online jail records. Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652971947190.png" alt="Green-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Green-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a wanted Kansas man on multiple charges in Missouri.On Wednesday, police arrested 25-year-old Alexzander S. Green of Atchison, on a Boone County Missouri warrant, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.He is being held without bond for alleged terroristic threat, felony harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.Police arrested Green on May 4 for failure to appear, according to online jail records. Police released no additional details.

Kan. man accused of terroristic threat in Missouri

WASHINGTON (AP) —Kids ages 5 to 11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, advisers to the U.S. government said Thursday.

If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, as expected, it would open a third COVID-19 shot to healthy elementary-age kids -- just like it is already recommended for everybody 12 and older.

The hope is that an extra shot will shore up protection for kids ages 5 to 11 as infections once again are on the rise.

Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s kid-sized booster, to be offered at least five months after the youngsters’ last shot.

But the CDC takes the next step of recommending who actually needs vaccinations. Its advisers debated if all otherwise healthy 5- to 11-year-olds need an extra dose, especially since so many children were infected during the huge winter surge of the omicron variant.

Ultimately, the committee pointed to growing evidence from older kids and adults that two primary vaccinations plus a booster are providing the best protection against the newest coronavirus variants.

“This always perhaps should have been a three-dose vaccine,” said Dr. Grace Lee of Stanford University, who chairs the CDC’s advisory panel.

The booster question isn’t the hottest vaccine topic: Parents still are anxiously awaiting a chance to vaccinate even younger tots, those under 5 -- the only group not yet eligible in the U.S. Both Pfizer and rival Moderna hope to offer vaccines for those youngest children soon; the FDA is expected to evaluate data from one or both companies sometime next month.

But for the 5- to 11-year-olds, it’s not clear how much booster demand there will be. Only about 30% of that age group have had the initial two Pfizer doses since vaccinations opened to them in November.

CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University said health authorities must put more effort into getting more of those youngsters their initial shots

“That needs to be a priority,” she said.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech make the only COVID-19 vaccine available for children of any age in the U.S. Those ages 5 to 11 receive a kid-sized dose that’s one-third the amount given to everyone 12 and older.

In a small study, Pfizer found a booster revved up those kids’ levels of virus-fighting antibodies -- including those able to fight the super-contagious omicron variant -- the same kind of jump adults get from an extra shot.

Vaccines may not always prevent milder infections -- and omicron especially proved able to slip past their defenses. But CDC cited data during the omicron surge that showed unvaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds had twice the rate of hospitalization as youngsters who got their first two doses.

Health authorities say for all ages, the vaccines are still offering strong protection against COVID-19′s worst outcomes, especially after a third dose.

But some especially high-risk people, including those 50 and older, have been offered the choice of a second booster, or fourth shot. And still to be decided is whether everyone will need additional shots in the fall, possibly reformulated to offer better protection against newer coronavirus variants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11-photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11-photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Kids ages 5 to 11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, advisers to the U.S. government said Thursday.If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, as expected, it would open a third COVID-19 shot to healthy elementary-age kids -- just like it is already recommended for everybody 12 and older.The hope is that an extra shot will shore up protection for kids ages 5 to 11 as infections once again are on the rise.Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s kid-sized booster, to be offered at least five months after the youngsters’ last shot.But the CDC takes the next step of recommending who actually needs vaccinations. Its advisers debated if all otherwise healthy 5- to 11-year-olds need an extra dose, especially since so many children were infected during the huge winter surge of the omicron variant.Ultimately, the committee pointed to growing evidence from older kids and adults that two primary vaccinations plus a booster are providing the best protection against the newest coronavirus variants.“This always perhaps should have been a three-dose vaccine,” said Dr. Grace Lee of Stanford University, who chairs the CDC’s advisory panel.The booster question isn’t the hottest vaccine topic: Parents still are anxiously awaiting a chance to vaccinate even younger tots, those under 5 -- the only group not yet eligible in the U.S. Both Pfizer and rival Moderna hope to offer vaccines for those youngest children soon; the FDA is expected to evaluate data from one or both companies sometime next month.But for the 5- to 11-year-olds, it’s not clear how much booster demand there will be. Only about 30% of that age group have had the initial two Pfizer doses since vaccinations opened to them in November.CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University said health authorities must put more effort into getting more of those youngsters their initial shots“That needs to be a priority,” she said.Pfizer and its partner BioNTech make the only COVID-19 vaccine available for children of any age in the U.S. Those ages 5 to 11 receive a kid-sized dose that’s one-third the amount given to everyone 12 and older.In a small study, Pfizer found a booster revved up those kids’ levels of virus-fighting antibodies -- including those able to fight the super-contagious omicron variant -- the same kind of jump adults get from an extra shot.Vaccines may not always prevent milder infections -- and omicron especially proved able to slip past their defenses. But CDC cited data during the omicron surge that showed unvaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds had twice the rate of hospitalization as youngsters who got their first two doses.Health authorities say for all ages, the vaccines are still offering strong protection against COVID-19′s worst outcomes, especially after a third dose.But some especially high-risk people, including those 50 and older, have been offered the choice of a second booster, or fourth shot. And still to be decided is whether everyone will need additional shots in the fall, possibly reformulated to offer better protection against newer coronavirus variants.___

CDC advisers urge Pfizer booster for children ages 5 to 11

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the suspects have been arrested and the child recovered by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. 5-year-old Brixton Sisk is safe.

The public's assistance in this matter was outstanding. Several of the tips provided led investigators to the location.&nbsp;

Authorities released no additional details.

BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have issued an Amber Alert for a missing&nbsp; 5-year-old boy.

At 2:40p.m. Thursday, a woman entered a school day care in Rose Hill, Kansas posing as a Social Worker. The woman gained access to 5-year-old Brixton Sisk, exited the school, entered a black Suburban with a paper-30 day tag and departed the location.

The woman was identified as Brixton's mother, Danielle Banzet, who had her parental rights severed by the court. Actions taken by Banzet prior to the abduction, including threats of violence, indicate that Brixton is in imminent danger.

KBI reported just after 6:45p.m. Banzet, a male counterpart and child have switched vehicles to a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, Kansas license 461NWF and may be fleeing the immediate area.&nbsp; The KBI reported just before 9:30p.m. authorities found the Jetta abandoned in rural Cowley County.

Call 911 immediately if you have seen a missing child, suspect, or suspect’s vehicle. If you have other information on a missing child, call the Butler County Sheriff's Office at 316-320-1294 if you have information about Brixton or Banzet.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653001318069.png" alt=" Brixton-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption> Brixton-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the suspects have been arrested and the child recovered by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. 5-year-old Brixton Sisk is safe.The public's assistance in this matter was outstanding. Several of the tips provided led investigators to the location.&nbsp;Authorities released no additional details.--------BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have issued an Amber Alert for a missing&nbsp; 5-year-old boy.At 2:40p.m. Thursday, a woman entered a school day care in Rose Hill, Kansas posing as a Social Worker. The woman gained access to 5-year-old Brixton Sisk, exited the school, entered a black Suburban with a paper-30 day tag and departed the location.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653001181087.png" alt="Danielle Banzet-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Danielle Banzet-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>The woman was identified as Brixton's mother, Danielle Banzet, who had her parental rights severed by the court. Actions taken by Banzet prior to the abduction, including threats of violence, indicate that Brixton is in imminent danger.KBI reported just after 6:45p.m. Banzet, a male counterpart and child have switched vehicles to a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, Kansas license 461NWF and may be fleeing the immediate area.&nbsp; The KBI reported just before 9:30p.m. authorities found the Jetta abandoned in rural Cowley County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653005713044.png" alt="photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653001488867.png" alt="Vehicle originally involved -photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Vehicle originally involved -photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Call 911 immediately if you have seen a missing child, suspect, or suspect’s vehicle. If you have other information on a missing child, call the Butler County Sheriff's Office at 316-320-1294 if you have information about Brixton or Banzet.

KBI: Suspects in Amber Alert captured in Okla.; boy found safe

KANSAS CITY (AP) —In the five months that Jennifer Anne Hall was a respiratory therapist at Hedrick Medical Center, the rural Missouri hospital experienced 18 “code blue” incidents — an alarming increase in sudden cardiac arrest events for a hospital that historically averaged one of them a year, according to a police investigator.

Nine of those patients died, and nine recovered. Twenty years later, Hall was charged this month with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-franco-missouri-e1b5b5d9b9341349bc921776c169c1ab">first-degree murder</a>&nbsp;in one of the deaths — that of 75-year-old Fern Franco.

Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren, who launched an investigation 10 years ago, said Franco died of lethal doses of succinylcholine — a relaxant that paralyzes the respiratory muscles — and the pain reliever morphine. The prosecutor did not disclose a possible motive or say why the investigation took a decade.

Hall's attorney, Matt O’Connor, said she is innocent and that as a respiratory therapist, she didn’t have access to succinylcholine, morphine or any other drugs. He said Hall became a scapegoat for the deaths at Hedrick because of an arson conviction that she was cleared of in 2005.

It’s unclear if Hall will face additional murder charges in the 2002 deaths at Hedrick. Warren declined interview requests, and Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.

Franco's granddaughter, Aprille Franco hopes investigators get to the bottom of the other deaths.

“Just for the other families’ sake," Franco, 44, of Kansas City, Missouri, said. "They’ve been waiting 20 years for answers. It’s up to my grandma’s case to find answers for them."

Hall, 41, is jailed without bond. O'Connor said he will seek bond so Hall can get chemotherapy treatment for leukemia.

She began working at Hedrick in December 2001. The small hospital is in Chillicothe, a town of 9,100 residents 90 miles northeast of Kansas City.

A probable cause statement from Chillicothe Officer Brian Schmidt said that during Hall’s brief time at Hedrick, sudden cardiac collapse incidents — code blues — “rose alarmingly.”

Hospital officials were alerted to the concerns about Hall but “did everything in the world to cover it up” to avoid bad publicity, said Scott Lindley, the county coroner. No criminal investigation was launched at the time.

A wrongful-death lawsuit naming the hospital and the company that now operates it, St. Luke's Health System, was filed in 2010 on behalf of relatives of five patients who died. The Missouri Supreme Court tossed the lawsuit in 2019, ruling it was filed after the statute of limitations had run out.

St. Luke's Health System noted in a statement that it took over operation of Hedrick more than a year after the deaths.

“We, too, are only interested in the truth, and look forward to a final resolution of the investigation,” the statement read.

Warren, who was elected prosecutor in 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">opened the investigation in 2012</a>, saying he didn’t believe that a “thorough investigation has ever been completed.”

The deaths involved people of varying ages and levels of health.

World War II veteran Charles O'Hara, 88, was admitted for evaluation of a high temperatures, vomiting and agitation on Feb. 2, 2002, and died two days later. Retired conservation agent Coval Gann was 82.

But David Harper was just 37. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia, but the lawsuit said he was so much better that he was about to be discharged. He died on March 20, 2002.

Similarly, 49-year-old Shirley Eller was a day away from going home after being treated for pneumonia when she collapsed and died on March 9, 2002.

The lawsuit said Eller's death was attributed to “natural causes,” the same as the others who died. Eller's sister, Helen Pittman, found that puzzling. Eller smoked but was otherwise healthy and active.

“It was a shock,” Pittman said. “It just seems really suspicious. Shirley was doing good.”

Franco also had been hospitalized with pneumonia. Hall and another staff member identified only as “J.A.” in the probable cause statement found her dead on May 18, 2002.

“Hall’s vicim was a sick, defenseless, elderly woman who was depending on Hall to care for physical ailment within a medical facility,” Schmidt wrote. He said the succinylcholine caused a “ghastly death from suffocation” while Franco was fully conscious.

Hall was placed on administrative leave three days after Franco's death and the code blue incidents “returned to historical frequency,” Schmidt's report stated.

Hall was fired months later, but not because of the patient deaths. O'Connor said she was fired after hospital officials learned she had been convicted of an arson fire at another small Missouri hospital, Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville, where she previously worked. She was free on appeal when she took the job in Chillicothe and later spent a year behind bars before being acquitted at a retrial.

O’Connor called it unfathomable that Hall would again be singled out for a crime she didn’t commit.

“To go through it once is terrible,” O’Connor said. “To go through it twice is a recurring nightmare.”

He said Hall’s proximity to the patients shouldn’t be unexpected since it’s a small hospital with a small staff.

Twenty years after the death of her younger sister, Pittman, 79, wasn't ready to pass judgment, but she does want investigators to keep looking into Shirley Eller's death.

“It’s hard for me to believe people can be that mean," Pittman said. "But I guess they can.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652449498878.png" alt="Authorities arrested Hall last week in Kansas-Photo Livingston Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Authorities arrested Hall last week in Kansas-Photo Livingston Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —In the five months that Jennifer Anne Hall was a respiratory therapist at Hedrick Medical Center, the rural Missouri hospital experienced 18 “code blue” incidents — an alarming increase in sudden cardiac arrest events for a hospital that historically averaged one of them a year, according to a police investigator.Nine of those patients died, and nine recovered. Twenty years later, Hall was charged this month with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-franco-missouri-e1b5b5d9b9341349bc921776c169c1ab">first-degree murder</a>&nbsp;in one of the deaths — that of 75-year-old Fern Franco.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653007502545.png" alt="Hall is being held in Livingston County" />
 <figcaption>Hall is being held in Livingston County</figcaption>
 </figure>Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren, who launched an investigation 10 years ago, said Franco died of lethal doses of succinylcholine — a relaxant that paralyzes the respiratory muscles — and the pain reliever morphine. The prosecutor did not disclose a possible motive or say why the investigation took a decade.Hall's attorney, Matt O’Connor, said she is innocent and that as a respiratory therapist, she didn’t have access to succinylcholine, morphine or any other drugs. He said Hall became a scapegoat for the deaths at Hedrick because of an arson conviction that she was cleared of in 2005.It’s unclear if Hall will face additional murder charges in the 2002 deaths at Hedrick. Warren declined interview requests, and Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.Franco's granddaughter, Aprille Franco hopes investigators get to the bottom of the other deaths.“Just for the other families’ sake," Franco, 44, of Kansas City, Missouri, said. "They’ve been waiting 20 years for answers. It’s up to my grandma’s case to find answers for them."Hall, 41, is jailed without bond. O'Connor said he will seek bond so Hall can get chemotherapy treatment for leukemia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652204964045.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>She began working at Hedrick in December 2001. The small hospital is in Chillicothe, a town of 9,100 residents 90 miles northeast of Kansas City.A probable cause statement from Chillicothe Officer Brian Schmidt said that during Hall’s brief time at Hedrick, sudden cardiac collapse incidents — code blues — “rose alarmingly.”Hospital officials were alerted to the concerns about Hall but “did everything in the world to cover it up” to avoid bad publicity, said Scott Lindley, the county coroner. No criminal investigation was launched at the time.A wrongful-death lawsuit naming the hospital and the company that now operates it, St. Luke's Health System, was filed in 2010 on behalf of relatives of five patients who died. The Missouri Supreme Court tossed the lawsuit in 2019, ruling it was filed after the statute of limitations had run out.St. Luke's Health System noted in a statement that it took over operation of Hedrick more than a year after the deaths.“We, too, are only interested in the truth, and look forward to a final resolution of the investigation,” the statement read.Warren, who was elected prosecutor in 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">opened the investigation in 2012</a>, saying he didn’t believe that a “thorough investigation has ever been completed.”The deaths involved people of varying ages and levels of health.World War II veteran Charles O'Hara, 88, was admitted for evaluation of a high temperatures, vomiting and agitation on Feb. 2, 2002, and died two days later. Retired conservation agent Coval Gann was 82.But David Harper was just 37. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia, but the lawsuit said he was so much better that he was about to be discharged. He died on March 20, 2002.Similarly, 49-year-old Shirley Eller was a day away from going home after being treated for pneumonia when she collapsed and died on March 9, 2002.The lawsuit said Eller's death was attributed to “natural causes,” the same as the others who died. Eller's sister, Helen Pittman, found that puzzling. Eller smoked but was otherwise healthy and active.“It was a shock,” Pittman said. “It just seems really suspicious. Shirley was doing good.”Franco also had been hospitalized with pneumonia. Hall and another staff member identified only as “J.A.” in the probable cause statement found her dead on May 18, 2002.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652474493585.png" alt="U.S. Marshals arrested Hall in Kansas on May 12 -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Marshals arrested Hall in Kansas on May 12 -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>“Hall’s vicim was a sick, defenseless, elderly woman who was depending on Hall to care for physical ailment within a medical facility,” Schmidt wrote. He said the succinylcholine caused a “ghastly death from suffocation” while Franco was fully conscious.Hall was placed on administrative leave three days after Franco's death and the code blue incidents “returned to historical frequency,” Schmidt's report stated.Hall was fired months later, but not because of the patient deaths. O'Connor said she was fired after hospital officials learned she had been convicted of an arson fire at another small Missouri hospital, Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville, where she previously worked. She was free on appeal when she took the job in Chillicothe and later spent a year behind bars before being acquitted at a retrial.O’Connor called it unfathomable that Hall would again be singled out for a crime she didn’t commit.“To go through it once is terrible,” O’Connor said. “To go through it twice is a recurring nightmare.”He said Hall’s proximity to the patients shouldn’t be unexpected since it’s a small hospital with a small staff.Twenty years after the death of her younger sister, Pittman, 79, wasn't ready to pass judgment, but she does want investigators to keep looking into Shirley Eller's death.“It’s hard for me to believe people can be that mean," Pittman said. "But I guess they can.”

20 years after hospital deaths, ex-worker accused

By IMTIAZ RANGWALA <a href="https://theconversation.com/grim-2022-drought-outlook-for-western-us-offers-warnings-for-the-future-as-climate-change-brings-a-hotter-thirstier-atmosphere-182640">The Conversation</a>

Much of the western U.S. has been in the grip of an <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/noaa-led-drought-task-force-concludes-current-southwest-drought-preview">unrelenting drought</a> since early 2020. The dryness has coincided with record-breaking <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/01/us-new-mexico-drought-wildfire-southwest">wildfires</a>, intense and long-lasting <a href="https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/western-north-american-extreme-heat-virtually-impossible-without-human-caused-climate-change/">heat waves</a>, <a href="https://phys.org/news/2022-04-drought-western-scrambling.html">low stream flows</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/climate/lake-powell-mead-water-drought.html">dwindling water supplies in reservoirs</a> that millions of people across the region rely on.

Heading into summer, the <a href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php">outlook</a> is pretty grim. The National Weather Service’s <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464284/original/file-20220519-11-igtk3o.png">latest seasonal outlook</a>, issued May 19, 2022, described drought persisting across most of the West and parts of the Great Plains.

One driver of the Western drought has been <a href="https://www.pe.com/2021/09/24/la-nina-is-about-to-take-the-southwest-drought-from-bad-to-worse/">persistent La Niña conditions</a> in the tropical Pacific since the <a href="https://psl.noaa.gov/enso/mei/">summer of 2020</a>. During La Niña, cooler tropical Pacific waters help nudge the jet stream northward. That tends to bring <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/el-ni%C3%B1o-and-la-ni%C3%B1a-frequently-asked-questions">fewer storms to the southern tier of the U.S.</a> and produce pronounced drought impacts in the Southwest.

The <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/the-drought-in-the-western-us-could-last-until-2030">other</a> and perhaps more important part of the story is the <a href="https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/warming-is-making-the-west-thirstier-researchers-say-and-its-stressing-water-supplies-%EF%BF%BC">hotter and thirstier atmosphere, caused by a rapidly warming climate</a>.

As a <a href="https://cires.colorado.edu/researcher/imtiaz-rangwala">climate scientist</a>,
 I’ve watched how climate change is making drought conditions 
increasingly worse – particularly in the western and central U.S. The 
last two years have been more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius) 
warmer than normal in these regions. Large swaths of the Southwest have 
been even hotter, with temperatures more than 3 F (1.7 C) higher. <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/western-megadrought-is-the-worst-in-1-200-years/">Studies suggest the Southwest’s ongoing 20-year drought</a> is the most severe in at least 1,200 years, based on how dry the soils are.

A hotter atmosphere sucks more moisture from the soil

A thristier atmosphere tends to extract more water out of the land. It exacerbates <a href="https://www.drought.gov/data-maps-tools/evaporative-stress-index-esi">evaporative stress</a>
 on the land, particularly when a region is experiencing below-normal 
precipitation. High evaporative stress can rapidly deplete soil moisture
 and lead to hotter temperatures, as the <a href="https://coolcalifornia.arb.ca.gov/how-cool-vegetation-works">evaporative cooling effect</a> is diminished. All this creates hydroclimatic stress for plants, causing restricted growth, drying and even death.

As a consequence of a warming climate, the U.S. Southwest has seen an
 8% increase in this evaporative demand since the 1980s. This trend is 
generally <a href="https://cpo.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/7875/ArticleID/2523/NIDIS-Funded-Project-Finds-That-Evaporative-Demand-Increase-Across-Lower-48-Means-Less-Water-Supplies-Drier-Vegetation-and-Higher-Fire-Risk">happening across other parts of the country</a>.

The <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/feed/evaporative-demand-increase-across-lower-48-means-less-water-supplies-drier">thistier atmosphere</a>
 is turning what would otherwise be near-normal or moderately dry 
conditions into droughts that are more severe or extreme. As the climate
 heats up further, the increasing atmospheric thirst will continue to 
intensify drought stress, with consequences for water availability, 
long-lasting and intense heat stress, and large-scale ecosystem 
transformation.

Climate models project ominous prospects of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006323117">a more arid climate and more severe droughts</a> in the Southwest and southern Great Plains in the coming decades.

In addition to direct impacts of increasing temperatures on future droughts, these regions are also expected to see <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0001-8">fewer storms</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-21-0017.1">more days without precipitation</a>. Climate models consistently project a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0001-8">poleward shift in the midlatitude storm tracks</a> during this century as the planet heats up, which is expected to result in fewer storms in the southern tier of the country.

Expect flash droughts even in wetter areas

The changing nature of droughts is a concern <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/">even in parts of the U.S. that are expected to have a net increase</a>
 in annual precipitation during the 21st century. In a hotter future, 
because of the high evaporative demand on the land, prolonged periods 
with weeks to months of below normal precipitation in these areas can 
lead to significant drought, even if the overall trend is for more 
precipitation.

Large parts of the northern Plains, for example, have seen precipitation <a href="https://toolkit.climate.gov/regions/northern-great-plains">increase by 10% or more</a> in the last three decades. However, the region is not immune to severe drought conditions in a hotter climate.

At the tail end of what was the <a href="https://www.drought.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/NorthernPlains_2017DroughtEvolution.pdf">wettest decade</a> on record in the region, the northern Plains experienced <a href="https://www.drought.gov/news/flash-drought-new-reports-examine-2017-northern-plains-drought">an intense flash drought in the summer of 2017</a> that resulted in agricultural losses in excess of $2.6 billion and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/07/flash-drought-north-dakota-montana-wildfires">wildfires</a> across millions of acres. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815998-9.00025-7">Record evaporative demand</a>
 contributed to the severity of the flash drought, in addition to a 
severe short-term precipitation deficit. A flash drought is a drought 
that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-17-0149.1">intensifies rapidly over a period of a few weeks</a> and often catches forecasters by surprise. The likelihood of flash droughts that can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26692-z/07/flash-drought-north-dakota-montana-wildfires">cause severe impacts to agriculture and ecosystems and promote large wildfires</a> is expected to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28752-4">increase</a> with a warmer and thirstier atmosphere.

Flash droughts are also emerging as a growing concern in the Northeast. In 2020, much of New England experienced an <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2020/1148/ofr20201148.pdf">extreme hydrologic drought</a>,
 with low stream flows and groundwater levels and widespread crop losses
 between May and September. Aided by very warm and dry atmospheric 
conditions, the drought developed very rapidly over that period from 
what had been above-normal wet conditions.

As humanity enters a hotter future, prolonged periods of weeks to 
months of below-normal precipitation are going to be of a greater 
concern almost everywhere. 

Other forms of droughts are also emerging.

Atmospheric heating is causing <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/snow-droughts-coming-to-winters-western-us-california-water">snow droughts</a>
 as more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow and snow melts 
earlier. Shorter snow seasons and longer growing seasons because of 
warmer temperatures are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13727">changing the timing of ecological responses</a>.

Land is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13224">greening up earlier</a> and causing an earlier loss of water from the land surface through <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/evapotranspiration-and-water-cycle">evapotranspiration</a>
 – the loss of water from plants and soil. This could result in drier 
soils in the latter half of the growing season. As a result, parts of 
the central and western U.S. could see <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0213.1">both increased greening and drying in the future</a> that are seasonally separated across the growing season.

With a rapidly changing climate, we are entering <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.08.019">unfamiliar territory</a>. The world will need new ways <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.08.019">to better anticipate future droughts</a> that could transform <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj6777">natural</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/transformational-change-is-coming-to-how-people-live-on-earth-un-climate-adaptation-report-warns-which-path-will-humanity-choose-177604">human</a> systems.

Imtiaz Rangwala is a Research Scientist in Climate at the Cooperative Institute for Research 
in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder.

<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/182640/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1"></iframe></div>By IMTIAZ RANGWALA <a href="https://theconversation.com/grim-2022-drought-outlook-for-western-us-offers-warnings-for-the-future-as-climate-change-brings-a-hotter-thirstier-atmosphere-182640">The Conversation</a>Much of the western U.S. has been in the grip of an <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/noaa-led-drought-task-force-concludes-current-southwest-drought-preview">unrelenting drought</a> since early 2020. The dryness has coincided with record-breaking <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/01/us-new-mexico-drought-wildfire-southwest">wildfires</a>, intense and long-lasting <a href="https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/western-north-american-extreme-heat-virtually-impossible-without-human-caused-climate-change/">heat waves</a>, <a href="https://phys.org/news/2022-04-drought-western-scrambling.html">low stream flows</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/climate/lake-powell-mead-water-drought.html">dwindling water supplies in reservoirs</a> that millions of people across the region rely on. Heading into summer, the <a href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php">outlook</a> is pretty grim. The National Weather Service’s <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464284/original/file-20220519-11-igtk3o.png">latest seasonal outlook</a>, issued May 19, 2022, described drought persisting across most of the West and parts of the Great Plains. One driver of the Western drought has been <a href="https://www.pe.com/2021/09/24/la-nina-is-about-to-take-the-southwest-drought-from-bad-to-worse/">persistent La Niña conditions</a> in the tropical Pacific since the <a href="https://psl.noaa.gov/enso/mei/">summer of 2020</a>. During La Niña, cooler tropical Pacific waters help nudge the jet stream northward. That tends to bring <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/el-ni%C3%B1o-and-la-ni%C3%B1a-frequently-asked-questions">fewer storms to the southern tier of the U.S.</a> and produce pronounced drought impacts in the Southwest.The <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/the-drought-in-the-western-us-could-last-until-2030">other</a> and perhaps more important part of the story is the <a href="https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/warming-is-making-the-west-thirstier-researchers-say-and-its-stressing-water-supplies-%EF%BF%BC">hotter and thirstier atmosphere, caused by a rapidly warming climate</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652996192218.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As a <a href="https://cires.colorado.edu/researcher/imtiaz-rangwala">climate scientist</a>,
 I’ve watched how climate change is making drought conditions 
increasingly worse – particularly in the western and central U.S. The 
last two years have been more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius) 
warmer than normal in these regions. Large swaths of the Southwest have 
been even hotter, with temperatures more than 3 F (1.7 C) higher. <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/western-megadrought-is-the-worst-in-1-200-years/">Studies suggest the Southwest’s ongoing 20-year drought</a> is the most severe in at least 1,200 years, based on how dry the soils are.<h2>A hotter atmosphere sucks more moisture from the soil</h2>A thristier atmosphere tends to extract more water out of the land. It exacerbates <a href="https://www.drought.gov/data-maps-tools/evaporative-stress-index-esi">evaporative stress</a>
 on the land, particularly when a region is experiencing below-normal 
precipitation. High evaporative stress can rapidly deplete soil moisture
 and lead to hotter temperatures, as the <a href="https://coolcalifornia.arb.ca.gov/how-cool-vegetation-works">evaporative cooling effect</a> is diminished. All this creates hydroclimatic stress for plants, causing restricted growth, drying and even death.As a consequence of a warming climate, the U.S. Southwest has seen an
 8% increase in this evaporative demand since the 1980s. This trend is 
generally <a href="https://cpo.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/7875/ArticleID/2523/NIDIS-Funded-Project-Finds-That-Evaporative-Demand-Increase-Across-Lower-48-Means-Less-Water-Supplies-Drier-Vegetation-and-Higher-Fire-Risk">happening across other parts of the country</a>.The <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/feed/evaporative-demand-increase-across-lower-48-means-less-water-supplies-drier">thistier atmosphere</a>
 is turning what would otherwise be near-normal or moderately dry 
conditions into droughts that are more severe or extreme. As the climate
 heats up further, the increasing atmospheric thirst will continue to 
intensify drought stress, with consequences for water availability, 
long-lasting and intense heat stress, and large-scale ecosystem 
transformation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652996232299.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Climate models project ominous prospects of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006323117">a more arid climate and more severe droughts</a> in the Southwest and southern Great Plains in the coming decades.In addition to direct impacts of increasing temperatures on future droughts, these regions are also expected to see <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0001-8">fewer storms</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-21-0017.1">more days without precipitation</a>. Climate models consistently project a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0001-8">poleward shift in the midlatitude storm tracks</a> during this century as the planet heats up, which is expected to result in fewer storms in the southern tier of the country.<h2>Expect flash droughts even in wetter areas</h2>The changing nature of droughts is a concern <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/">even in parts of the U.S. that are expected to have a net increase</a>
 in annual precipitation during the 21st century. In a hotter future, 
because of the high evaporative demand on the land, prolonged periods 
with weeks to months of below normal precipitation in these areas can 
lead to significant drought, even if the overall trend is for more 
precipitation.Large parts of the northern Plains, for example, have seen precipitation <a href="https://toolkit.climate.gov/regions/northern-great-plains">increase by 10% or more</a> in the last three decades. However, the region is not immune to severe drought conditions in a hotter climate.At the tail end of what was the <a href="https://www.drought.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/NorthernPlains_2017DroughtEvolution.pdf">wettest decade</a> on record in the region, the northern Plains experienced <a href="https://www.drought.gov/news/flash-drought-new-reports-examine-2017-northern-plains-drought">an intense flash drought in the summer of 2017</a> that resulted in agricultural losses in excess of $2.6 billion and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/07/flash-drought-north-dakota-montana-wildfires">wildfires</a> across millions of acres. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815998-9.00025-7">Record evaporative demand</a>
 contributed to the severity of the flash drought, in addition to a 
severe short-term precipitation deficit. A flash drought is a drought 
that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-17-0149.1">intensifies rapidly over a period of a few weeks</a> and often catches forecasters by surprise. The likelihood of flash droughts that can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26692-z/07/flash-drought-north-dakota-montana-wildfires">cause severe impacts to agriculture and ecosystems and promote large wildfires</a> is expected to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28752-4">increase</a> with a warmer and thirstier atmosphere.Flash droughts are also emerging as a growing concern in the Northeast. In 2020, much of New England experienced an <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2020/1148/ofr20201148.pdf">extreme hydrologic drought</a>,
 with low stream flows and groundwater levels and widespread crop losses
 between May and September. Aided by very warm and dry atmospheric 
conditions, the drought developed very rapidly over that period from 
what had been above-normal wet conditions.As humanity enters a hotter future, prolonged periods of weeks to 
months of below-normal precipitation are going to be of a greater 
concern almost everywhere. <h2>Heading into unfamiliar territory</h2>Other forms of droughts are also emerging.Atmospheric heating is causing <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/snow-droughts-coming-to-winters-western-us-california-water">snow droughts</a>
 as more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow and snow melts 
earlier. Shorter snow seasons and longer growing seasons because of 
warmer temperatures are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13727">changing the timing of ecological responses</a>.Land is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13224">greening up earlier</a> and causing an earlier loss of water from the land surface through <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/evapotranspiration-and-water-cycle">evapotranspiration</a>
 – the loss of water from plants and soil. This could result in drier 
soils in the latter half of the growing season. As a result, parts of 
the central and western U.S. could see <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0213.1">both increased greening and drying in the future</a> that are seasonally separated across the growing season.With a rapidly changing climate, we are entering <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.08.019">unfamiliar territory</a>. The world will need new ways <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.08.019">to better anticipate future droughts</a> that could transform <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj6777">natural</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/transformational-change-is-coming-to-how-people-live-on-earth-un-climate-adaptation-report-warns-which-path-will-humanity-choose-177604">human</a> systems.Imtiaz Rangwala is a Research Scientist in Climate at the Cooperative Institute for Research 
in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder.

Grim drought outlook for Western US offers warnings

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/19/kansas-prepares-to-distribute-69-million-in-federal-small-business-economic-aid/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas is in line to 
receive as much as $69 million in additional federal support for small 
business development and entrepreneurship through a U.S. Treasury 
Department program used to support companies through the pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan expanded the State Small Business Credit 
Initiative, or SSBCI, established in 2010 to assist businesses following
 the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. The goal is to improve access to
 capital in rural and other traditionally underserved communities.

States participating in SSBCI operate under the expectation each 
would generate business lending at least 10 times the amount of federal 
aid.

“Treasury will continue working with Kansas to help make sure that 
this funding is having the maximum impact across the state to promote 
economic growth,” said Wally Adeyemo, deputy secretary of the federal 
agency.

The federal legislation provided about $10 billion to states, the 
District of Columbia, tribal governments and U.S. territories in support
 of businesses emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasury officials 
said Thursday that Kansas was among five states in the latest round of 
allocations.

Under the federal legislation, Kansas’ neighboring states would 
receive from $64 million to $104 million to support small businesses. 
The amounts: Colorado, $104 million; Missouri, $94 million; Oklahoma, 
$81 million; and Nebraska, $64 million.

The American Rescue Plan narrowly passed the House and Senate in 
2021. Kansas House Republicans Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner 
voted against the bill, while House Democrat Sharice Davids support it. 
In the Senate, Republicans Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted “no” on 
the bill.

Treasury department officials recommended states support industries 
important to the U.S. economy, including companies involved with 
manufacturing, supply chains and renewable energy. In addition, the 
federal agency urged recipients to support businesses providing 
living-wage jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652968724073.png" alt="Kansas is set to receive $69 million in small business investment aid through the federal American Rescue Plan. Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, left, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, right, voted against the bill. Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, center, voted for it. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas is set to receive $69 million in small business investment aid through the federal American Rescue Plan. Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, left, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, right, voted against the bill. Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, center, voted for it. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/19/kansas-prepares-to-distribute-69-million-in-federal-small-business-economic-aid/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas is in line to 
receive as much as $69 million in additional federal support for small 
business development and entrepreneurship through a U.S. Treasury 
Department program used to support companies through the pandemic.The American Rescue Plan expanded the State Small Business Credit 
Initiative, or SSBCI, established in 2010 to assist businesses following
 the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. The goal is to improve access to
 capital in rural and other traditionally underserved communities.States participating in SSBCI operate under the expectation each 
would generate business lending at least 10 times the amount of federal 
aid.“Treasury will continue working with Kansas to help make sure that 
this funding is having the maximum impact across the state to promote 
economic growth,” said Wally Adeyemo, deputy secretary of the federal 
agency.The federal legislation provided about $10 billion to states, the 
District of Columbia, tribal governments and U.S. territories in support
 of businesses emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasury officials 
said Thursday that Kansas was among five states in the latest round of 
allocations.Under the federal legislation, Kansas’ neighboring states would 
receive from $64 million to $104 million to support small businesses. 
The amounts: Colorado, $104 million; Missouri, $94 million; Oklahoma, 
$81 million; and Nebraska, $64 million.The American Rescue Plan narrowly passed the House and Senate in 
2021. Kansas House Republicans Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner 
voted against the bill, while House Democrat Sharice Davids support it. 
In the Senate, Republicans Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted “no” on 
the bill.Treasury department officials recommended states support industries 
important to the U.S. economy, including companies involved with 
manufacturing, supply chains and renewable energy. In addition, the 
federal agency urged recipients to support businesses providing 
living-wage jobs.

Kansas set to distribute $69M in federal small business economic aid

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a woman's stabbing and asking the public for help to find him have made an arrest. Just after 3:30p.m. Thursday the Riley County Police Department reported they had 44-year-old Jarman Morgan in custody.

Police want to speak to Morgan after a 27-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck in the 1000 block of Moro Street just after midnight on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an alleged violent attack on a woman in Manhattan are asking the public for help to locate 44-year-old Jarman Morgan, according to a social media report from the Riley County Police Department.

Police want to speak to Morgan after a 27-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck in the 1000 block of Moro Street just after midnight on Wednesday night.&nbsp; Police warned the public not to approach or attempt to apprehend Morgan.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged violent attack on a woman in Manhattan.

Just after 12:30a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1000 block of Moro Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 27-year-old woman reported a known 44-year-old man stabbed her with a knife.&nbsp;

Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652988351619.png" alt="Morgan-photo RCPD" />
 <figcaption>Morgan-photo RCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a woman's stabbing and asking the public for help to find him have made an arrest. Just after 3:30p.m. Thursday the Riley County Police Department reported they had 44-year-old Jarman Morgan in custody.Police want to speak to Morgan after a 27-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck in the 1000 block of Moro Street just after midnight on Wednesday night.&nbsp;------------RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an alleged violent attack on a woman in Manhattan are asking the public for help to locate 44-year-old Jarman Morgan, according to a social media report from the Riley County Police Department.Police want to speak to Morgan after a 27-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck in the 1000 block of Moro Street just after midnight on Wednesday night.&nbsp; Police warned the public not to approach or attempt to apprehend Morgan.-------RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged violent attack on a woman in Manhattan.Just after 12:30a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1000 block of Moro Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 27-year-old woman reported a known 44-year-old man stabbed her with a knife.&nbsp;Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Update: Suspect in Kan. woman's stabbing is in custody

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government website for people to request free COVID-19 at-home tests from the U.S. government is now accepting a third round of orders.

The White House announced this week that U.S. households can request an additional eight free at-home tests to be shipped by the U.S. Postal Service.

The announcement comes as coronavirus cases are rising again in some areas of the country.

President Joe Biden committed in January to making 1 billion tests available to the public free of charge, including 500 million available through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests" target="_blank">covidtests.gov.</a>&nbsp;But just 350 million of the amount available for ordering online have been shipped to date to addresses across the continental U.S., its territories and overseas military bases, the White House said.

People who have difficulty getting online or need help placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 for assistance,

The third round brings to 16 the total number of free tests available to each U.S. household since the program started earlier this year. Households were eligible to receive four tests during each of two earlier rounds of ordering through the website.

Biden has requested an additional $22 billion from Congress to buy vaccines and therapeutics to prepare for a fall spike in COVID-19 cases, but lawmakers have balked at the price tag.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642104330616.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The government website for people to request free COVID-19 at-home tests from the U.S. government is now accepting a third round of orders.The White House announced this week that U.S. households can request an additional eight free at-home tests to be shipped by the U.S. Postal Service.The announcement comes as coronavirus cases are rising again in some areas of the country.President Joe Biden committed in January to making 1 billion tests available to the public free of charge, including 500 million available through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests" target="_blank">covidtests.gov.</a>&nbsp;But just 350 million of the amount available for ordering online have been shipped to date to addresses across the continental U.S., its territories and overseas military bases, the White House said.People who have difficulty getting online or need help placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 for assistance,The third round brings to 16 the total number of free tests available to each U.S. household since the program started earlier this year. Households were eligible to receive four tests during each of two earlier rounds of ordering through the website.Biden has requested an additional $22 billion from Congress to buy vaccines and therapeutics to prepare for a fall spike in COVID-19 cases, but lawmakers have balked at the price tag.

Biden offering to send you additional 8 free COVID-19 tests 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate overwhelmingly approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2">a $40 billion infusion of military and economic aid for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and its allies on Thursday as both parties rallied behind America’s latest, and quite possibly not last, financial salvo against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-government-and-politics-turkey-middle-east-f12a77ed2842d9fa25f7f7f80b2a7a2f">Russia’s invasion.</a>

The 86-11 vote gave final congressional approval to the package, three weeks after President Joe Biden requested a smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-economy-5656f58ae48cb3cf37da0d0c431a15b8">$33 billion version</a>&nbsp;and after a lone Republican opponent delayed Senate passage for a week. Every Democrat and all but 11 Republicans backed the measure including Roger Marshall of Kansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and retiring Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted for the bill.

Rand Paul of Kentucky, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama also voted against the funding package.

Biden’s quick signature was certain as Russia’s attack, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crimes-schools-d1e52368aced8b3359f4436ca7180811">mauled Ukraine’s forces and cities</a>, slogs into a fourth month with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-western-nato-a990adcad47a34764d64b03bdcd69f7b">no obvious end ahead.</a>&nbsp;That means more casualties and destruction in Ukraine, which has relied heavily on U.S. and Western assistance for its survival, especially advanced arms, with requests for more aid potentially looming.

“Help is on the way, really significant help. Help that could make sure that the Ukrainians are victorious,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., underscoring a goal by Ukraine and its allies that seemed nearly unthinkable when Russia launched its brutal assault three months ago.

The vote was a glaring exception to the partisan divisions that have hindered work on other issues under Biden and that promise to become only less bridgeable as November’s elections for control of Congress draw closer. That includes Republicans blocking Democrats from including billions to combat the relentless pandemic in the measure, leaving their efforts to battle COVID-19 in limbo.

Last week the House approved the Ukraine bill 368-57, with all of those opposed Republicans. Though support in both chambers was unmistakably bipartisan, the GOP defections were noteworthy after Trump, still a potent force in the party, complained that such sums should first be targeted at domestic problems.

Schumer called it “beyond troubling” that Republicans were opposing the Ukraine assistance. “It appears more and more that MAGA Republicans are on the same soft-on-Putin playbook that we saw used by former President Trump,” said Schumer, using the Make America Great Again acronym Democrats have been using to cast those Republicans as extremists.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a strong backer of the measure, addressed concerns by his GOP colleagues. He said Ukraine’s defeat would jeopardize America’s European trading partners, increase U.S. security costs there and embolden autocrats in China and elsewhere to grab territory in their regions.

“The most expensive and painful thing America could possibly do in the long run would be to stop investing in sovereignty, stability and deterrence before it’s too late,” McConnell said.

On Wednesday, Schumer said he was not confident this would be the final measure to help Ukraine. “They’re doing the fighting, they’re the ones getting killed, they’re the ones struggling and suffering. The least we can do is give them the weaponry they need,” he said.

The legislation contains around $24 billion for weapons, equipment and military financing for Ukraine, restoring Pentagon stocks of arms sent to the region and paying for U.S. reinforcements sent there. The rest includes economic aid to keep Zelenskyy’s government functioning,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-canada-turkey-middle-east-0ccf0b942ba0f199f4730f3e84a69626">food programs</a>&nbsp;for countries that rely on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-canada-lifestyle-middle-east-1c8918d4734f0974eefe09121d2090ed">Ukraine’s diminished crop production</a>, refugee assistance and funds for Kyiv to investigate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-moscow-war-crimes-61c89e6c73541f3fa2364dde1498df72">Russian war crimes</a>.

Congress approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-sports-elections-c6797784424afd3d597410cc388f206f">an initial $13.6 billion measure</a>&nbsp;in March. The combined price tag of nearly $54 billion exceeds what the U.S. spent on all its foreign and military aid in 2019, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who’s long had non-interventionist views, used procedural tactics last week to thwart Schumer and McConnell from moving the measure through the Senate then, citing Ukraine’s urgent need for the assistance.

In a personal criticism seen seldom on the Senate floor, Schumer on Wednesday called Paul’s move “repugnant” and said the delay, with passage inevitable, would “strengthen Putin’s hand.” McConnell, who last Saturday met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a surprise visit to Kyiv, did not speak up in his fellow Kentucky Republican’s defense.

In a brief interview, Paul responded that it would be “repugnant” to disparage “the democratic process” as embodied in Senate rules that he was using.

That spending concerned some Trump-friendly Republicans in Congress on Wednesday.

“It’s, you know, the world’s going to end if you don’t do anything here,” Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., who said he would oppose the Ukraine measure. “I’m more worried about the trust fund going broke” that finances Medicare and another that pays for Social Security.

Braun said he’s long pushed for bills that pay for themselves. Asked why saving $40 billion in this instance outweighed stopping Russia, he said, “Number one, it’s going to pass.”

Another conservative, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said that as costly as the measure is, the aid will protect U.S. national security and said, “If Putin wins, the consequences for America and American taxpayers will be hundreds of billions of dollars.”

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, a moderate who has clashed with Trump, said in an interview that helping Ukraine defend itself ”is about as smart an investment as we could possibly make.” He added, “What does America First mean? It means that we should first be concerned about the interests of America. I totally agree.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652792332905.png" alt="Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong backer of the measure, addressed concerns by his GOP colleagues. He said Ukraine’s defeat would jeopardize America’s European trading partners, increase U.S. security costs there and embolden autocrats in China and elsewhere to grab territory in their regions - The photo shows McConnell and Senate leaders during last weekend's meeting with&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy- courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong backer of the measure, addressed concerns by his GOP colleagues. He said Ukraine’s defeat would jeopardize America’s European trading partners, increase U.S. security costs there and embolden autocrats in China and elsewhere to grab territory in their regions - The photo shows McConnell and Senate leaders during last weekend's meeting with&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy- courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate overwhelmingly approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2">a $40 billion infusion of military and economic aid for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and its allies on Thursday as both parties rallied behind America’s latest, and quite possibly not last, financial salvo against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-government-and-politics-turkey-middle-east-f12a77ed2842d9fa25f7f7f80b2a7a2f">Russia’s invasion.</a>The 86-11 vote gave final congressional approval to the package, three weeks after President Joe Biden requested a smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-economy-5656f58ae48cb3cf37da0d0c431a15b8">$33 billion version</a>&nbsp;and after a lone Republican opponent delayed Senate passage for a week. Every Democrat and all but 11 Republicans backed the measure including Roger Marshall of Kansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri.Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and retiring Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted for the bill.Rand Paul of Kentucky, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama also voted against the funding package.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Providing weapons, valuable intelligence, medical supplies and humanitarian assistance will bolster Ukraine and send a message to authoritarian regimes that attacks against democracy will not go unanswered. My full statement:&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1527342642308476929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden’s quick signature was certain as Russia’s attack, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crimes-schools-d1e52368aced8b3359f4436ca7180811">mauled Ukraine’s forces and cities</a>, slogs into a fourth month with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-western-nato-a990adcad47a34764d64b03bdcd69f7b">no obvious end ahead.</a>&nbsp;That means more casualties and destruction in Ukraine, which has relied heavily on U.S. and Western assistance for its survival, especially advanced arms, with requests for more aid potentially looming.“Help is on the way, really significant help. Help that could make sure that the Ukrainians are victorious,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., underscoring a goal by Ukraine and its allies that seemed nearly unthinkable when Russia launched its brutal assault three months ago.The vote was a glaring exception to the partisan divisions that have hindered work on other issues under Biden and that promise to become only less bridgeable as November’s elections for control of Congress draw closer. That includes Republicans blocking Democrats from including billions to combat the relentless pandemic in the measure, leaving their efforts to battle COVID-19 in limbo.Last week the House approved the Ukraine bill 368-57, with all of those opposed Republicans. Though support in both chambers was unmistakably bipartisan, the GOP defections were noteworthy after Trump, still a potent force in the party, complained that such sums should first be targeted at domestic problems.Schumer called it “beyond troubling” that Republicans were opposing the Ukraine assistance. “It appears more and more that MAGA Republicans are on the same soft-on-Putin playbook that we saw used by former President Trump,” said Schumer, using the Make America Great Again acronym Democrats have been using to cast those Republicans as extremists.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a strong backer of the measure, addressed concerns by his GOP colleagues. He said Ukraine’s defeat would jeopardize America’s European trading partners, increase U.S. security costs there and embolden autocrats in China and elsewhere to grab territory in their regions.“The most expensive and painful thing America could possibly do in the long run would be to stop investing in sovereignty, stability and deterrence before it’s too late,” McConnell said.On Wednesday, Schumer said he was not confident this would be the final measure to help Ukraine. “They’re doing the fighting, they’re the ones getting killed, they’re the ones struggling and suffering. The least we can do is give them the weaponry they need,” he said.The legislation contains around $24 billion for weapons, equipment and military financing for Ukraine, restoring Pentagon stocks of arms sent to the region and paying for U.S. reinforcements sent there. The rest includes economic aid to keep Zelenskyy’s government functioning,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-canada-turkey-middle-east-0ccf0b942ba0f199f4730f3e84a69626">food programs</a>&nbsp;for countries that rely on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-canada-lifestyle-middle-east-1c8918d4734f0974eefe09121d2090ed">Ukraine’s diminished crop production</a>, refugee assistance and funds for Kyiv to investigate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-moscow-war-crimes-61c89e6c73541f3fa2364dde1498df72">Russian war crimes</a>.Congress approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-sports-elections-c6797784424afd3d597410cc388f206f">an initial $13.6 billion measure</a>&nbsp;in March. The combined price tag of nearly $54 billion exceeds what the U.S. spent on all its foreign and military aid in 2019, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who’s long had non-interventionist views, used procedural tactics last week to thwart Schumer and McConnell from moving the measure through the Senate then, citing Ukraine’s urgent need for the assistance.In a personal criticism seen seldom on the Senate floor, Schumer on Wednesday called Paul’s move “repugnant” and said the delay, with passage inevitable, would “strengthen Putin’s hand.” McConnell, who last Saturday met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a surprise visit to Kyiv, did not speak up in his fellow Kentucky Republican’s defense.In a brief interview, Paul responded that it would be “repugnant” to disparage “the democratic process” as embodied in Senate rules that he was using.That spending concerned some Trump-friendly Republicans in Congress on Wednesday.“It’s, you know, the world’s going to end if you don’t do anything here,” Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., who said he would oppose the Ukraine measure. “I’m more worried about the trust fund going broke” that finances Medicare and another that pays for Social Security.Braun said he’s long pushed for bills that pay for themselves. Asked why saving $40 billion in this instance outweighed stopping Russia, he said, “Number one, it’s going to pass.”Another conservative, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said that as costly as the measure is, the aid will protect U.S. national security and said, “If Putin wins, the consequences for America and American taxpayers will be hundreds of billions of dollars.”Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, a moderate who has clashed with Trump, said in an interview that helping Ukraine defend itself ”is about as smart an investment as we could possibly make.” He added, “What does America First mean? It means that we should first be concerned about the interests of America. I totally agree.”

Moran Yes, Marshall No: Senate OKs another $40B for Ukraine

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced on Thursday actions her administration has taken to ease the burden on Kansas families affected by the nationwide infant formula shortage, according to a statement from her office.

Since February, the Kelly Administration has been working with state agencies and federal partners to address the issue.&nbsp;

“I have directed all state agencies to do everything in their power to help Kansans access vital infant formula,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“From increasing flexibility to helping eliminate barriers at check-out, my Administration is doing what is within our power to ease the impact of the national infant formula shortage on Kansas Families.”&nbsp;

Governor Kelly has instructed agencies to work with their federal counterparts to expedite relief. To that end, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has taken a leading role in working with the White House, the National Governors Association, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Association, and private industry to help coordinate efforts and eliminate red tape.&nbsp;

KDHE has implemented a series of waivers to provide the maximum flexibility in making more infant formula products – including Ready to Feed (RTF) formulas – available to Kansans and has approved additional formula products for use by Kansas WIC families. The agency is also working with the Kansas Department for Children and Families on increased communication efforts to inform the public of possible alternatives.&nbsp;

The Kelly Administration, including KDHE, recommends the following to families struggling to find the formula they need to feed their child:&nbsp;&nbsp;

“KDHE is committed to ensuring infants in Kansas have access to formula,” Secretary Janet Stanek said. “Since February, we have been working to do what is possible, within our authority, to provide relief for Kansans. We urge all impacted families to follow these recommendations and stay up-to-date with information to care for their family’s needs.”&nbsp;

Families are strongly encouraged not to unnecessarily stockpile formula in such a way that would cause further strain on the supply chain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KDHE strongly discourages the use of toddler formula to feed infants or watering down formula or trying to make infant formula at home.&nbsp;

The Kelly Administration will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as they become available. For more information about WIC eligibility, visit the <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTkuNTgxNDMzODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi8xMDE3L0luZm9ybWF0aW9uLWZvci1GYW1pbGllcyJ9.tgH-V4OSWri7lJZ0EUdA9QknPq80AiAuaiq3_ukgDUo/s/1303160919/br/131574045721-l" target="_blank">KDHE WIC website</a>. Find the approved substitution formula list for WIC families&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTkuNTgxNDMzODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi9Eb2N1bWVudENlbnRlci9WaWV3LzIzMjIzIn0.aTjKXGqrwDLgQu0hGknd3kQ67_MJ4N5XdC0JPsWy_a4/s/1303160919/br/131574045721-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164055231.png" alt="In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image" />
 <figcaption>In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced on Thursday actions her administration has taken to ease the burden on Kansas families affected by the nationwide infant formula shortage, according to a statement from her office.Since February, the Kelly Administration has been working with state agencies and federal partners to address the issue.&nbsp;“I have directed all state agencies to do everything in their power to help Kansans access vital infant formula,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“From increasing flexibility to helping eliminate barriers at check-out, my Administration is doing what is within our power to ease the impact of the national infant formula shortage on Kansas Families.”&nbsp;Governor Kelly has instructed agencies to work with their federal counterparts to expedite relief. To that end, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has taken a leading role in working with the White House, the National Governors Association, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Association, and private industry to help coordinate efforts and eliminate red tape.&nbsp;KDHE has implemented a series of waivers to provide the maximum flexibility in making more infant formula products – including Ready to Feed (RTF) formulas – available to Kansans and has approved additional formula products for use by Kansas WIC families. The agency is also working with the Kansas Department for Children and Families on increased communication efforts to inform the public of possible alternatives.&nbsp;The Kelly Administration, including KDHE, recommends the following to families struggling to find the formula they need to feed their child:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Call your OBGYN or pediatrician to see if they can provide any resources to access formula or for suggestions on an alternative formula to meet their infant's health needs.&nbsp;</li><li>Switch to another brand or type of formula that is available if recommended by the infant's physician.&nbsp;</li><li>Contact their <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTkuNTgxNDMzODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi9CdXNpbmVzc0RpcmVjdG9yeUlJLmFzcHg_bG5nQnVzaW5lc3NDYXRlZ29yeUlEPTQyIn0.V8PBL62me4yy6ypSqopkLhbZ459PPFmpGPeF1wdrV_k/s/1303160919/br/131574045721-l" target="_blank">local WIC agency</a> to see if the infant is eligible for WIC benefits.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Contact smaller stores and drugstores that carry formula to see if they have products in stock.&nbsp;</li><li>Kansas WIC families should contact their <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTkuNTgxNDMzODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi9CdXNpbmVzc0RpcmVjdG9yeUlJLmFzcHg_bG5nQnVzaW5lc3NDYXRlZ29yeUlEPTQyIn0.l5XOxnTBQxO3ckEsebfhISdZtT9vLkcVdRqtu3LoxXw/s/1303160919/br/131574045721-l" target="_blank">local health department or health agency for assistance</a> in receiving substitute products when needed.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“KDHE is committed to ensuring infants in Kansas have access to formula,” Secretary Janet Stanek said. “Since February, we have been working to do what is possible, within our authority, to provide relief for Kansans. We urge all impacted families to follow these recommendations and stay up-to-date with information to care for their family’s needs.”&nbsp;Families are strongly encouraged not to unnecessarily stockpile formula in such a way that would cause further strain on the supply chain.&nbsp;&nbsp;KDHE strongly discourages the use of toddler formula to feed infants or watering down formula or trying to make infant formula at home.&nbsp;The Kelly Administration will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as they become available. For more information about WIC eligibility, visit the <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTkuNTgxNDMzODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi8xMDE3L0luZm9ybWF0aW9uLWZvci1GYW1pbGllcyJ9.tgH-V4OSWri7lJZ0EUdA9QknPq80AiAuaiq3_ukgDUo/s/1303160919/br/131574045721-l" target="_blank">KDHE WIC website</a>. Find the approved substitution formula list for WIC families&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTkuNTgxNDMzODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi9Eb2N1bWVudENlbnRlci9WaWV3LzIzMjIzIn0.aTjKXGqrwDLgQu0hGknd3kQ67_MJ4N5XdC0JPsWy_a4/s/1303160919/br/131574045721-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

Gov. takes actions to assist Kansans affected by baby formula shortage

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Administrators at a Kansas City-area school district that is the subject of a federal civil rights investigation failed to protect a Black teen from repeated racial taunts that culminated with him being threatened with a lynching, a lawsuit alleges.

The suit filed this month in state court described what happened as “outrageous” and sought unspecified damages against the 3,500-student Kearney school district, which is just north of Kansas City. The situation got so bad that the teen, identified as K.W., called his parents in tears, saying the white students were trying to “incite violence against him" and that he “could not take it anymore.” The teen's parents pulled him from the school.

The district said in a statement that it doesn’t respond to pending litigation but is committed to “fully to ensuring that every student can learn in an environment free of discrimination in any form.”

Online U.S. Department of Education records show there are two open racial harassment investigations involving the district. The department's Office for Civil Rights does not discuss the details of its pending investigations. Dozens of other districts around the country also are under investigation, the records show.

The lawsuit alleges that issues arose during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school year when the student was attending Kearney High School. The suit says fewer than 2% of its students are Black and 92% are white.

When K.W. joined the swim team, white swimmers told him that he needed to “shave his hair short and dye it blonde," the suit said. The student's sister, who according to the suit also had been tormented when she was in junior high, reported what had happened to the coach.

In one instance, she went to a teacher and a principal to report that she had been called a racial slur in class and was told the situation would be dealt with at a “future date” because the student had a football game and his dad was a coach, the suit said.

Another time, a white high school classmate took a picture of K.W. and superimposed a racial slur over the top of it. The situation was reported to administrators.

In January of 2019, two white Kearney high school students began to send K.W. pictures of themselves posing with a confederate flag, with messages such as “Heritage but mostly hate brotha.” The teen's mother told administrators.

The suit said that one of K.W.'s harassers was a girl, who told him that he couldn't do “nothing about" the racist comments she made on social media because if he tried she would have all the white people in town beat him. An algebra teacher who overheard the conversation escorted K.W. to the office, where the principal told him to ignore the girl because she was poorer than he was, the suit said.

The situation only got worse, with white students tormenting him with monkey sounds, the suit said.

K.W. also received anonymous messages condemning him for the way he treated the white girl. One message said: “I hope I see your black ass in tree. Alabama wind chime style.” The messages to K.W. continued: “I hope you and your monkey family gets jumped by all the whites in Kearney.”

The suit described the harassment as “terrifying at times” and said the district “tacitly condoned and tolerated” what happened because it was was slow to act and then took only “ineffective remedial action.”

The family's attorney, Dan Curry, said in a statement that K.W., transferred to a different area district, where he “thrived and graduated."

“But," Curry added, “no child should have to experience sustained racial harassment at school, and it affected my client immediately and viscerally."

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated PressKANSAS CITY (AP) —Administrators at a Kansas City-area school district that is the subject of a federal civil rights investigation failed to protect a Black teen from repeated racial taunts that culminated with him being threatened with a lynching, a lawsuit alleges.The suit filed this month in state court described what happened as “outrageous” and sought unspecified damages against the 3,500-student Kearney school district, which is just north of Kansas City. The situation got so bad that the teen, identified as K.W., called his parents in tears, saying the white students were trying to “incite violence against him" and that he “could not take it anymore.” The teen's parents pulled him from the school.The district said in a statement that it doesn’t respond to pending litigation but is committed to “fully to ensuring that every student can learn in an environment free of discrimination in any form.”Online U.S. Department of Education records show there are two open racial harassment investigations involving the district. The department's Office for Civil Rights does not discuss the details of its pending investigations. Dozens of other districts around the country also are under investigation, the records show.The lawsuit alleges that issues arose during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school year when the student was attending Kearney High School. The suit says fewer than 2% of its students are Black and 92% are white.When K.W. joined the swim team, white swimmers told him that he needed to “shave his hair short and dye it blonde," the suit said. The student's sister, who according to the suit also had been tormented when she was in junior high, reported what had happened to the coach.In one instance, she went to a teacher and a principal to report that she had been called a racial slur in class and was told the situation would be dealt with at a “future date” because the student had a football game and his dad was a coach, the suit said.Another time, a white high school classmate took a picture of K.W. and superimposed a racial slur over the top of it. The situation was reported to administrators.In January of 2019, two white Kearney high school students began to send K.W. pictures of themselves posing with a confederate flag, with messages such as “Heritage but mostly hate brotha.” The teen's mother told administrators.The suit said that one of K.W.'s harassers was a girl, who told him that he couldn't do “nothing about" the racist comments she made on social media because if he tried she would have all the white people in town beat him. An algebra teacher who overheard the conversation escorted K.W. to the office, where the principal told him to ignore the girl because she was poorer than he was, the suit said.The situation only got worse, with white students tormenting him with monkey sounds, the suit said.K.W. also received anonymous messages condemning him for the way he treated the white girl. One message said: “I hope I see your black ass in tree. Alabama wind chime style.” The messages to K.W. continued: “I hope you and your monkey family gets jumped by all the whites in Kearney.”The suit described the harassment as “terrifying at times” and said the district “tacitly condoned and tolerated” what happened because it was was slow to act and then took only “ineffective remedial action.”The family's attorney, Dan Curry, said in a statement that K.W., transferred to a different area district, where he “thrived and graduated."“But," Curry added, “no child should have to experience sustained racial harassment at school, and it affected my client immediately and viscerally."

Lawsuit: Students at KC-area school taunted black student, threatened lynching

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-05-18/kansas-is-taking-a-nationally-unprecedented-move-to-let-foster-teens-pick-their-families">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas will be the first state to let foster 
children pick their foster parents. The goal of the one-of-a-kind 
program is to let older foster children create strong connections that 
could help them as they age out of the state’s care.

Foster 
children can find permanent homes either through adoption, being 
reunited with family or guardianship, but this new option gives foster 
youth more say.

Foster children age 16 and older would be able to 
pick up to two adults to serve as their legal, permanent family. Those 
people could include caregivers or people close to the child.

“It 
would be an unprecedented change,” said Scott Henricks, director of 
permanency at the Kansas Department for Children and Families. “It would
 be a change of direction on really how the system works.”

This program doesn’t cut ties with children’s biological parents unlike other placement options, Henricks said.

It’s
 designed to connect youth with a strong support system that’ll help 
them from teenage years to early adulthood. It also recognizes that 
family is not just about who you’re related to, Henricks said.

DCF couldn’t yet say how people will be eligible to become these guardians.

The
 Annie E. Casey Foundation estimates 20,000 people age out of foster 
care each year without a permanent family supporting them, and those 
children need help finding stable housing, getting a job or finishing 
college.

“Just imagine if you or I didn't have anyone at that 
age,” Henricks said. “We all need those supports. We all need some 
connections and this would legally recognize that.”

The Annie E. 
Casey Foundation selected Kansas as the first state to launch this 
program because of its “active and robust Kansas Youth Advisory Council”
 and commitment to expanding placement options for older children.

Patricia Duh, a permanency consultant for <a href="https://www.aecf.org/blog/soul-family-permanency-option-for-older-youth-in-foster-care" target="_blank">SOUL Fam­i­ly</a>, said in a blog post announcing the partnership that some children’s needs just aren’t met with the current options.

Duh
 was responsible for her basic needs once her time in extended foster 
care ran out, and she said having a program like SOUL would have made it
 easier to become self-sufficient.

“There is no one shoe, one size, that fits all youth when they age out," Duh said. "We have to begin to develop other options."

It
 isn’t clear when this program could start because details about it 
still need to be figured out. State law also needs to be updated to 
reflect the new placement option. The state Legislature is still 
technically in session, but any bills on the topic would likely wait 
until the 2023 session to be considered.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652892215321.png" alt="The SOUL Family discusses the new program that promises "unprecedented change." Kansas Department for Children and Families" />
 <figcaption>The SOUL Family discusses the new program that promises "unprecedented change." Kansas Department for Children and Families</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-05-18/kansas-is-taking-a-nationally-unprecedented-move-to-let-foster-teens-pick-their-families">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Kansas will be the first state to let foster 
children pick their foster parents. The goal of the one-of-a-kind 
program is to let older foster children create strong connections that 
could help them as they age out of the state’s care.Foster 
children can find permanent homes either through adoption, being 
reunited with family or guardianship, but this new option gives foster 
youth more say.Foster children age 16 and older would be able to 
pick up to two adults to serve as their legal, permanent family. Those 
people could include caregivers or people close to the child.“It 
would be an unprecedented change,” said Scott Henricks, director of 
permanency at the Kansas Department for Children and Families. “It would
 be a change of direction on really how the system works.”This program doesn’t cut ties with children’s biological parents unlike other placement options, Henricks said.It’s
 designed to connect youth with a strong support system that’ll help 
them from teenage years to early adulthood. It also recognizes that 
family is not just about who you’re related to, Henricks said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652892272349.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DCF couldn’t yet say how people will be eligible to become these guardians.The
 Annie E. Casey Foundation estimates 20,000 people age out of foster 
care each year without a permanent family supporting them, and those 
children need help finding stable housing, getting a job or finishing 
college.“Just imagine if you or I didn't have anyone at that 
age,” Henricks said. “We all need those supports. We all need some 
connections and this would legally recognize that.”The Annie E. 
Casey Foundation selected Kansas as the first state to launch this 
program because of its “active and robust Kansas Youth Advisory Council”
 and commitment to expanding placement options for older children.Patricia Duh, a permanency consultant for <a href="https://www.aecf.org/blog/soul-family-permanency-option-for-older-youth-in-foster-care" target="_blank">SOUL Fam­i­ly</a>, said in a blog post announcing the partnership that some children’s needs just aren’t met with the current options.Duh
 was responsible for her basic needs once her time in extended foster 
care ran out, and she said having a program like SOUL would have made it
 easier to become self-sufficient.“There is no one shoe, one size, that fits all youth when they age out," Duh said. "We have to begin to develop other options."It
 isn’t clear when this program could start because details about it 
still need to be figured out. State law also needs to be updated to 
reflect the new placement option. The state Legislature is still 
technically in session, but any bills on the topic would likely wait 
until the 2023 session to be considered.Henricks is excited by 
the change because he said too many children are aging out of Kansas 
foster care without a support system to help them succeed as adults. In 
March, 583 children are about to age out of care with none of the other 
placement options available. Letting a person pick their foster parent lets them make an important choice that could impact their lives for years.“That
 could really change the trajectory of a young person's life,” Henricks 
said. “But more so, it will legally recognize their own voice.”Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.