TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed a bill that would prohibit government mask mandates in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;and curb the power of state and local health officials during outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The measure was the Republican-controlled Legislature's response to mask mandates and other restrictions that outraged many conservative constituents during the coronavirus pandemic. But the measure split GOP lawmakers enough when it passed last month that supporters were far short of the two-thirds majorities in both chambers needed to override a veto.

The bill would prohibit state and local officials from issuing mandates, except for hospitals, other medical facilities and nursing homes they operate. Officials couldn't require people to show proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19 to use public spaces.

The measure also would prohibit state and local health officials from ordering law enforcement agencies to help them enforce orders aimed at controlling infectious diseases.

Republican lawmakers saw the measure as protecting personal liberties, but Kelly said in her veto message that it would prevent adequate responses to outbreaks of diseases like measles, tuberculosis and even bird flu.

“This bill puts the safety of all Kansans and our economy at risk,” Kelly said in her message.

Lawmakers plan to reconvene May 23 for one or two days of work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619210947266.png" alt="“This bill puts the safety of all Kansans and our economy at risk,” Kelly said in her message." />
 <figcaption>“This bill puts the safety of all Kansans and our economy at risk,” Kelly said in her message.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed a bill that would prohibit government mask mandates in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;and curb the power of state and local health officials during outbreaks of infectious diseases.The measure was the Republican-controlled Legislature's response to mask mandates and other restrictions that outraged many conservative constituents during the coronavirus pandemic. But the measure split GOP lawmakers enough when it passed last month that supporters were far short of the two-thirds majorities in both chambers needed to override a veto.The bill would prohibit state and local officials from issuing mandates, except for hospitals, other medical facilities and nursing homes they operate. Officials couldn't require people to show proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19 to use public spaces.The measure also would prohibit state and local health officials from ordering law enforcement agencies to help them enforce orders aimed at controlling infectious diseases.Republican lawmakers saw the measure as protecting personal liberties, but Kelly said in her veto message that it would prevent adequate responses to outbreaks of diseases like measles, tuberculosis and even bird flu.“This bill puts the safety of all Kansans and our economy at risk,” Kelly said in her message.Lawmakers plan to reconvene May 23 for one or two days of work.

Kansas governor vetoes Republican plan to ban mask mandates

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated assault and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 5a.m. Friday, police responded to report of a stabbing in the 2200 Block of South 50th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

At the scene, police found a boy and an adult with apparent stab wounds. EMS transported both to an area hospital for treatment.

Just after 7:30a.m., police located a person-of-interest in the 2100 Block of South 49th Street and took them into custody.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated assault and have a suspect in custody.Just before 5a.m. Friday, police responded to report of a stabbing in the 2200 Block of South 50th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.At the scene, police found a boy and an adult with apparent stab wounds. EMS transported both to an area hospital for treatment.Just after 7:30a.m., police located a person-of-interest in the 2100 Block of South 49th Street and took them into custody.

KCPD: Child, adult hospitalized after stabbing 

Geary County Sheriff's Department authorities have recovered the remains of a man last seen swimming to shore in Milford Lake on April 30.

With help from Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Parks Division, members of the Geary County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit and Sheriff's Office / Junction City Fire Department dive team recovered&nbsp; the remains of Jesse Paul Sockness, 41, of Lawrence. The recovery occurred after boaters saw his body floating in the water about 300 yards north of where Sockness was suspected of entering the water. The location was in the Curtis Creek area on the west side of Milford Lake.

Deputies had responded to Eagle Ridge Campground in Milford State Park at 3:29 p.m. on April 30 for a woman who had drifted into shoreline in a homemade water vessel.&nbsp;

According to the Sheriff's Department, the woman said at that time that she and a man ( Sockness ) were walking the shoreline near Curtis Creek when they located a water vessel made from 55 gallon drums and 2x4 lumber. The couple entered the water in the vessel when they were caught by the wind and were being pulled toward the main body of the lake. The man jumped into the water to swim to shore to call for help. He was last seen in the water as the woman drifted away in the vessel.

The incident is being investigated as an accidental drowning, pending autopsy results.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652493453045.png" alt="The incident is being investigated as an accidental drowning, pending autopsy results -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The incident is being investigated as an accidental drowning, pending autopsy results -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Geary County Sheriff's Department authorities have recovered the remains of a man last seen swimming to shore in Milford Lake on April 30.With help from Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Parks Division, members of the Geary County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit and Sheriff's Office / Junction City Fire Department dive team recovered&nbsp; the remains of Jesse Paul Sockness, 41, of Lawrence. The recovery occurred after boaters saw his body floating in the water about 300 yards north of where Sockness was suspected of entering the water. The location was in the Curtis Creek area on the west side of Milford Lake.Deputies had responded to Eagle Ridge Campground in Milford State Park at 3:29 p.m. on April 30 for a woman who had drifted into shoreline in a homemade water vessel.&nbsp;According to the Sheriff's Department, the woman said at that time that she and a man ( Sockness ) were walking the shoreline near Curtis Creek when they located a water vessel made from 55 gallon drums and 2x4 lumber. The couple entered the water in the vessel when they were caught by the wind and were being pulled toward the main body of the lake. The man jumped into the water to swim to shore to call for help. He was last seen in the water as the woman drifted away in the vessel.The incident is being investigated as an accidental drowning, pending autopsy results.

Authorities locate remains of a drowning victim at Kansas lake

FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident sometime between 1:30p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Friday in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Charger driven by Ralph E.&nbsp;Vanatta, 85, Holcomb, was southbound in the 2400 Block of Holcomb Lane. 

The car traveled left of center and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle left the roadway to the right and overturned.&nbsp;

Vanatta was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Garnand Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident sometime between 1:30p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Friday in Finney County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Charger driven by Ralph E.&nbsp;Vanatta, 85, Holcomb, was southbound in the 2400 Block of Holcomb Lane. The car traveled left of center and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle left the roadway to the right and overturned.&nbsp;Vanatta was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Garnand Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

85-year-old driver dies after car overturns in SW Kansas

CHILLICOTHE, Mo. (AP) — A former respiratory therapist charged with first-degree murder in the death of a patient in Missouri 20 years ago has been arrested in northeastern Kansas, authorities said.

Jennifer Hall, 41, was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thursday evening under the name Jennifer Semaboye, of Overland Park, Kansas, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said. The discrepancy in her last name wasn't immediately clear, but a worker with the Johnson County jail said booking documents showed she was divorced and that she also went by the name Jennifer Hall. Online records indicate she is being held without bond.

She was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-franco-missouri-e1b5b5d9b9341349bc921776c169c1ab">charged this month in the 2002 death</a>&nbsp;of Fern Franco — one of nine people who died at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe over several months in 2002 amid a series of “medically suspicious” events at the hospital, according to court documents in Hall’s case.

Hall worked as a respiratory therapist at the hospital when the patients all died from cardiac collapse, officials have said. Matthew O’Connor, who has represented Hall in the past, said earlier this week that no evidence exists to connect Hall to the deaths. Hall has previously denied any involvement.

The case was revived after an analysis of Franco’s tissue samples found morphine and a powerful muscle relaxant used in anesthesia in her system. Neither drug was prescribed or ordered for her by her doctors, investigators said.

Some staff at the hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">believed Hall was responsible</a>&nbsp;because of her proximity to the stricken patients, her access to deadly pharmaceuticals, and because she notified staff of every patient’s cardiac emergency, according to court documents.

Hall was placed on administrative leave three days after Franco’s death.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Missouri—Law enforcement authorities in Kansas have arrested a former respiratory therapist who worked at a hospital in Missouri where nine people died under suspicions circumstances twenty years ago.

According to a social media report from the Livingston County Sheriff's office, Jennifer Anne Hall, 41, was arrested by authorities in Kansas on a Livingston County arrest warrant for alleged 1st degree Murder. Extradition process will begin at the earliest opportunity, according to the report.

&nbsp;Hall was charged last week with first-degree murder in the 2002 death of Fern Franco, who was one of nine people who died of cardiac collapse between Dec. 16, 2001, and May 18, 2002, at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, Missouri.

The Livingston County Sheriff's office said Tuesday authorities were&nbsp; searching for Hall, who might be using the name Semaboye.

Hall worked as a respiratory therapist at the 49-bed hospital when the patients died. Doctors and nurses at the hospital viewed the numbers of deaths as “medically suspicious,” according to a law enforcement record supporting the probable cause for her arrest.

The case was revived after an analysis of Franco’s tissue samples found succinylcholine and morphine, which were not prescribed or ordered for her by her doctors, according to a probable cause statement by Chillicothe Police Officer Brian Schmidt.

Some staff at the hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">believed Hall was responsible&nbsp;</a>because of her proximity to the stricken patients, her access to deadly pharmaceuticals, and because she notified staff of every patient's cardiac emergency, according to the probable cause.

She was placed on administrative leave on May 21, 2002, three days after Franco’s death.

An overdose of succinylcholine causes slow suffocation. At least nine suspicious deaths and 18 suspicious medical emergencies at Hedrick Medical Center during that time period were suspected overdoses of succinylcholine or other drugs.

Hall denied involvement in the deaths during an interview with the Kansas City Star in 2015.

Matthew O’Connor, a Kansas City attorney who represented Hall in the past, said the murder charge was based on “conjecture and speculation.”

“This isn’t lawyer talk — there aren’t facts in support of it because Ms. Hall did not commit these acts,” he said.

Before she worked at Hedrick Medical Center, Hall was convicted of setting fire to Cass Medical Center in Harrisonville, Missouri, where she was hired as a respiratory therapist. She spent a year in prison before an appeals court vacated her conviction because she received ineffective counsel at trial. A jury acquitted her at a subsequent retrial.

The families of five of the nine patients who died during that period filed wrongful death lawsuits against the hospital in 2010, claiming the hospital covered up possible foul play in their relatives' deaths. An appeal filed in 2013 alleged that employees at the hospital believed they would be fired if they raised suspicions about the deaths.

In 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/statutes-missouri-b55d384d0cac46919c3734c855354da6">threw out the lawsuits</a>, ruling that the families had filed their actions after the statute of limitations had run out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652474493585.png" alt="Jennifer Hall, 41, was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thursday evening under the name Jennifer Semaboye, of Overland Park, Kansas-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jennifer Hall, 41, was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thursday evening under the name Jennifer Semaboye, of Overland Park, Kansas-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>CHILLICOTHE, Mo. (AP) — A former respiratory therapist charged with first-degree murder in the death of a patient in Missouri 20 years ago has been arrested in northeastern Kansas, authorities said.Jennifer Hall, 41, was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thursday evening under the name Jennifer Semaboye, of Overland Park, Kansas, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said. The discrepancy in her last name wasn't immediately clear, but a worker with the Johnson County jail said booking documents showed she was divorced and that she also went by the name Jennifer Hall. Online records indicate she is being held without bond.She was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-franco-missouri-e1b5b5d9b9341349bc921776c169c1ab">charged this month in the 2002 death</a>&nbsp;of Fern Franco — one of nine people who died at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe over several months in 2002 amid a series of “medically suspicious” events at the hospital, according to court documents in Hall’s case.Hall worked as a respiratory therapist at the hospital when the patients all died from cardiac collapse, officials have said. Matthew O’Connor, who has represented Hall in the past, said earlier this week that no evidence exists to connect Hall to the deaths. Hall has previously denied any involvement.The case was revived after an analysis of Franco’s tissue samples found morphine and a powerful muscle relaxant used in anesthesia in her system. Neither drug was prescribed or ordered for her by her doctors, investigators said.Some staff at the hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">believed Hall was responsible</a>&nbsp;because of her proximity to the stricken patients, her access to deadly pharmaceuticals, and because she notified staff of every patient’s cardiac emergency, according to court documents.Hall was placed on administrative leave three days after Franco’s death.---------LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Missouri—Law enforcement authorities in Kansas have arrested a former respiratory therapist who worked at a hospital in Missouri where nine people died under suspicions circumstances twenty years ago.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652449498878.png" alt="Hall-photo Livingston Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Hall-photo Livingston Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>According to a social media report from the Livingston County Sheriff's office, Jennifer Anne Hall, 41, was arrested by authorities in Kansas on a Livingston County arrest warrant for alleged 1st degree Murder. Extradition process will begin at the earliest opportunity, according to the report.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652204964045.png" alt="Hall-photo Livingston Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall-photo Livingston Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Hall was charged last week with first-degree murder in the 2002 death of Fern Franco, who was one of nine people who died of cardiac collapse between Dec. 16, 2001, and May 18, 2002, at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, Missouri.The Livingston County Sheriff's office said Tuesday authorities were&nbsp; searching for Hall, who might be using the name Semaboye.Hall worked as a respiratory therapist at the 49-bed hospital when the patients died. Doctors and nurses at the hospital viewed the numbers of deaths as “medically suspicious,” according to a law enforcement record supporting the probable cause for her arrest.The case was revived after an analysis of Franco’s tissue samples found succinylcholine and morphine, which were not prescribed or ordered for her by her doctors, according to a probable cause statement by Chillicothe Police Officer Brian Schmidt.Some staff at the hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-missouri-eb1f83b41c6749218dc02ecad99a295a">believed Hall was responsible&nbsp;</a>because of her proximity to the stricken patients, her access to deadly pharmaceuticals, and because she notified staff of every patient's cardiac emergency, according to the probable cause.She was placed on administrative leave on May 21, 2002, three days after Franco’s death.An overdose of succinylcholine causes slow suffocation. At least nine suspicious deaths and 18 suspicious medical emergencies at Hedrick Medical Center during that time period were suspected overdoses of succinylcholine or other drugs.Hall denied involvement in the deaths during an interview with the Kansas City Star in 2015.Matthew O’Connor, a Kansas City attorney who represented Hall in the past, said the murder charge was based on “conjecture and speculation.”“This isn’t lawyer talk — there aren’t facts in support of it because Ms. Hall did not commit these acts,” he said.Before she worked at Hedrick Medical Center, Hall was convicted of setting fire to Cass Medical Center in Harrisonville, Missouri, where she was hired as a respiratory therapist. She spent a year in prison before an appeals court vacated her conviction because she received ineffective counsel at trial. A jury acquitted her at a subsequent retrial.The families of five of the nine patients who died during that period filed wrongful death lawsuits against the hospital in 2010, claiming the hospital covered up possible foul play in their relatives' deaths. An appeal filed in 2013 alleged that employees at the hospital believed they would be fired if they raised suspicions about the deaths.In 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/statutes-missouri-b55d384d0cac46919c3734c855354da6">threw out the lawsuits</a>, ruling that the families had filed their actions after the statute of limitations had run out.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Therapist charged in hospital death held without bond in Kansas

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—A Manhattan woman died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Friday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Abby&nbsp;Stous, 38, Manhattan, was northbound on Flush Road two miles west of St. George.

The driver failed to yield at the stop sign at U.S. 24. An eastbound 2007 International truck driven by&nbsp;Duncan, Micheal Lynn Duncan, 55, Westmoreland, struck the Chevy on the driver's side.

Stous was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. A private vehicle transported Duncan to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—A Manhattan woman died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Friday in Pottawatomie County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Abby&nbsp;Stous, 38, Manhattan, was northbound on Flush Road two miles west of St. George.The driver failed to yield at the stop sign at U.S. 24. An eastbound 2007 International truck driven by&nbsp;Duncan, Micheal Lynn Duncan, 55, Westmoreland, struck the Chevy on the driver's side.Stous was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. A private vehicle transported Duncan to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies in 2-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police say a man has been charged in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred last year outside of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Thomas Weyer, 19, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with one count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-kansas-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-72d5a6584b0f292a72e44be0e2b05886">Oct. 10 death of 66-year-old Steven Hickle</a>, of Wichita,&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/man-charged-in-fatal-hit-and-run-outside-arrowhead-stadium/">television station WDAF reported</a>. Investigators have said Hickle left the stadium during a rain delay of a Chiefs game and was crossing a street when he was hit by two vehicles that left the scene.

Court documents say detectives received an anonymous tip nearly two months after the crash regarding a conversation overheard between Weyer and his mother about running over someone outside of Arrowhead Stadium.

Both Weyer and his mother denied having that conversation, police said, and Weyer denied running over anyone. Police said he later admitted hitting Hickle after being told that license plate recognition equipment recorded Weyer’s vehicle at the scene of the fatality at the time of the hit-and-run crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637589620835.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the accident-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the accident-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police say a man has been charged in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred last year outside of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.Thomas Weyer, 19, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with one count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-kansas-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-72d5a6584b0f292a72e44be0e2b05886">Oct. 10 death of 66-year-old Steven Hickle</a>, of Wichita,&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/man-charged-in-fatal-hit-and-run-outside-arrowhead-stadium/">television station WDAF reported</a>. Investigators have said Hickle left the stadium during a rain delay of a Chiefs game and was crossing a street when he was hit by two vehicles that left the scene.Court documents say detectives received an anonymous tip nearly two months after the crash regarding a conversation overheard between Weyer and his mother about running over someone outside of Arrowhead Stadium.Both Weyer and his mother denied having that conversation, police said, and Weyer denied running over anyone. Police said he later admitted hitting Hickle after being told that license plate recognition equipment recorded Weyer’s vehicle at the scene of the fatality at the time of the hit-and-run crash.

Man charged in fatal hit-and-run outside Arrowhead Stadium

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many parents are hunting for infant formula because of a combination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-business-health-d3e32ba9e2381f77c299391e762abe21">short- and long-term problems</a>&nbsp;that has hit most of the biggest U.S. brands.

(Click the video listen watch the White House statement on the formula shortage)

Millions of babies in the U.S. rely on formula, which is the only source of nutrition recommended for infants who aren’t exclusively breastfed.

Here’s a look at what’s behind the problem and what parents can do:

Ongoing supply disruptions have combined with a recent safety recall to leave many pharmacy and supermarket shelves bare.

The problems began last year as the COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in labor, transportation and raw materials — economy-wide issues that didn’t spare the formula industry. Inventory was further squeezed by parents stockpiling during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Then in February, Abbott Nutrition&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-sturgis-a44d06262482d776ae465e0d22382d2d">recalled several major brands</a>&nbsp;of powdered formula and shut down its Sturgis, Michigan, factory when federal officials began investigating four babies who suffered bacterial infections after consuming formula from the facility.

Abbott is one of only a handful of companies that produce the vast majority of the U.S. formula supply, so their recall wiped out a large segment of the market.

Most formulas contain protein from cow’s milk that’s been altered to be easier to digest and enhanced with extra nutrients needed for growth and development. The Food and Drug Administration sets specific nutritional requirements, including minimum amounts of protein, fat, calcium and a number of vitamins. Formula makers achieve those levels by adding various sugars, oils and minerals.

The formulas are designed to mimic breast milk, though studies have repeatedly shown better health outcomes for babies who are breastfed.

WHY CAN’T ALL MOTHERS RELY ON BREAST MILK?

Health professionals recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies until they are 6 months old. But federal figures show that only 1 in 4 are relying solely on breast milk at that age.

Mothers face a number of challenges to long-term breastfeeding, including returning to work and finding the time and equipment needed to pump breast milk. About 60% of mothers stop breastfeeding sooner than they had planned, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/breastfeeding-cdcs-work-508.pdf" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</a>

State and federal laws have been enacted to encourage breastfeeding by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/supporting-nursing-moms-work/what-law-says-about-breastfeeding-and-work" target="_blank">requiring&nbsp;</a>break time and accommodations for mothers of infants.

Rates of breastfeeding have consistently been lower among Black babies than other groups. About three quarters of Black babies are breast fed in infancy, below the national average of 84%, according to the CDC.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO IF THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING FORMULA?

Talk with your pediatrician or call a local food bank to see if they can help locate some options. Experts also recommend checking with smaller stores and pharmacies, which may still have supplies when larger stores run out.

Most regular baby formulas contain the same basic ingredients and nutrients, so parents shouldn’t hesitate to buy a different brand if they’re having trouble finding their regular one.

Some infants require specialty formulas due to allergies, digestive problems and other medical conditions. Parents should talk to their doctor if they can’t find those products, which manufacturers usually distribute through pharmacies and clinics.

Families that qualify for WIC — a federal program similar to food stamps that pays for about half the formula used in the U.S. — can also contact their local agency.

Health officials also warn against buying formula via social media websites or outside of conventional retailers because they could be counterfeit.

WHY ARE PARENTS TOLD NOT TO USE MAKE-YOUR-OWN FORMULA RECIPES ONLINE?

Many do-it-yourself formula recipes are made from cow’s milk and granular sugar that may be difficult for young babies to digest. They also lack the specific vitamins and proteins found in breastmilk and FDA-approved formulas that are needed for basic nutrition.

“Particularly for small babies, many of these formulas and mixtures that are found online don’t contain even the most basic nutrient mixes that babies need to survive,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, a pediatrician at the University of Texas, Austin.

Abrams also stressed that parents should never dilute infant formula.

WHAT ARE RETAILERS DOING TO KEEP FORMULA IN STOCK?

Several national chains have limited the number of containers customers can purchase in stores and online. For CVS and Walgreens, the limit is three per customer. Target limits purchases to four per person when buying online.

Amazon said Thursday it is working to keep the products available on its website and monitoring third-party sellers for price-gouging.

“If we identify a price that violates our policy, we remove the offer and take appropriate action with the seller,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

Health regulators recently announced several steps designed to boost supply, including allowing faster importation of formula made overseas. Typically, 98% of baby formula consumed in the U.S. is made domestically, according to federal officials.

The FDA is working with Abbott to fix the violations that triggered the shutdown of its Michigan plant, which produces Similac, EleCare and several other leading powdered formulas.

The company says its products have not been directly linked to the bacterial infections in children, pointing out that genetic samples collected from its factory did not match those found in several infants who got sick.

The Chicago-based company said this week that, pending FDA approval, it could restart manufacturing at its plant within two weeks. After that it would take another six to eight weeks before new products hit store shelves.

But even then, experts caution that many of the industrywide issues will continue to restrain supplies.

“This is going to be a problem and it’s not going away for at least a period of several months,” Abrams said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652447550275.png" alt="&nbsp;On Thursday, President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers to discuss ways we can all work together to do more to help families access infant formula." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;On Thursday, President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers to discuss ways we can all work together to do more to help families access infant formula.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Many parents are hunting for infant formula because of a combination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-business-health-d3e32ba9e2381f77c299391e762abe21">short- and long-term problems</a>&nbsp;that has hit most of the biggest U.S. brands.(Click the video listen watch the White House statement on the formula shortage)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1514977988918412%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=2" 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>Millions of babies in the U.S. rely on formula, which is the only source of nutrition recommended for infants who aren’t exclusively breastfed.Here’s a look at what’s behind the problem and what parents can do:WHY IS THERE A SHORTAGE?Ongoing supply disruptions have combined with a recent safety recall to leave many pharmacy and supermarket shelves bare.The problems began last year as the COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in labor, transportation and raw materials — economy-wide issues that didn’t spare the formula industry. Inventory was further squeezed by parents stockpiling during COVID-19 lockdowns.<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>Then in February, Abbott Nutrition&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-sturgis-a44d06262482d776ae465e0d22382d2d">recalled several major brands</a>&nbsp;of powdered formula and shut down its Sturgis, Michigan, factory when federal officials began investigating four babies who suffered bacterial infections after consuming formula from the facility.Abbott is one of only a handful of companies that produce the vast majority of the U.S. formula supply, so their recall wiped out a large segment of the market.WHAT IS IN BABY FORMULA?Most formulas contain protein from cow’s milk that’s been altered to be easier to digest and enhanced with extra nutrients needed for growth and development. The Food and Drug Administration sets specific nutritional requirements, including minimum amounts of protein, fat, calcium and a number of vitamins. Formula makers achieve those levels by adding various sugars, oils and minerals.The formulas are designed to mimic breast milk, though studies have repeatedly shown better health outcomes for babies who are breastfed.WHY CAN’T ALL MOTHERS RELY ON BREAST MILK?Health professionals recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies until they are 6 months old. But federal figures show that only 1 in 4 are relying solely on breast milk at that age.Mothers face a number of challenges to long-term breastfeeding, including returning to work and finding the time and equipment needed to pump breast milk. About 60% of mothers stop breastfeeding sooner than they had planned, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/breastfeeding-cdcs-work-508.pdf" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</a>State and federal laws have been enacted to encourage breastfeeding by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/supporting-nursing-moms-work/what-law-says-about-breastfeeding-and-work" target="_blank">requiring&nbsp;</a>break time and accommodations for mothers of infants.Rates of breastfeeding have consistently been lower among Black babies than other groups. About three quarters of Black babies are breast fed in infancy, below the national average of 84%, according to the CDC.WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO IF THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING FORMULA?Talk with your pediatrician or call a local food bank to see if they can help locate some options. Experts also recommend checking with smaller stores and pharmacies, which may still have supplies when larger stores run out.Most regular baby formulas contain the same basic ingredients and nutrients, so parents shouldn’t hesitate to buy a different brand if they’re having trouble finding their regular one.Some infants require specialty formulas due to allergies, digestive problems and other medical conditions. Parents should talk to their doctor if they can’t find those products, which manufacturers usually distribute through pharmacies and clinics.Families that qualify for WIC — a federal program similar to food stamps that pays for about half the formula used in the U.S. — can also contact their local agency.Health officials also warn against buying formula via social media websites or outside of conventional retailers because they could be counterfeit.WHY ARE PARENTS TOLD NOT TO USE MAKE-YOUR-OWN FORMULA RECIPES ONLINE?Many do-it-yourself formula recipes are made from cow’s milk and granular sugar that may be difficult for young babies to digest. They also lack the specific vitamins and proteins found in breastmilk and FDA-approved formulas that are needed for basic nutrition.“Particularly for small babies, many of these formulas and mixtures that are found online don’t contain even the most basic nutrient mixes that babies need to survive,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, a pediatrician at the University of Texas, Austin.Abrams also stressed that parents should never dilute infant formula.WHAT ARE RETAILERS DOING TO KEEP FORMULA IN STOCK?Several national chains have limited the number of containers customers can purchase in stores and online. For CVS and Walgreens, the limit is three per customer. Target limits purchases to four per person when buying online.Amazon said Thursday it is working to keep the products available on its website and monitoring third-party sellers for price-gouging.“If we identify a price that violates our policy, we remove the offer and take appropriate action with the seller,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.WHEN ARE SUPPLIES LIKELY TO IMPROVE?Health regulators recently announced several steps designed to boost supply, including allowing faster importation of formula made overseas. Typically, 98% of baby formula consumed in the U.S. is made domestically, according to federal officials.The FDA is working with Abbott to fix the violations that triggered the shutdown of its Michigan plant, which produces Similac, EleCare and several other leading powdered formulas.The company says its products have not been directly linked to the bacterial infections in children, pointing out that genetic samples collected from its factory did not match those found in several infants who got sick.The Chicago-based company said this week that, pending FDA approval, it could restart manufacturing at its plant within two weeks. After that it would take another six to eight weeks before new products hit store shelves.But even then, experts caution that many of the industrywide issues will continue to restrain supplies.“This is going to be a problem and it’s not going away for at least a period of several months,” Abrams said.

🎥White House takes action to address baby formula shortage

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,847 new coronavirus cases in Kansas since Friday, May 6, for a total of 780,892 cases.

The state reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,720.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.

The state will continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Friday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,847 new coronavirus cases in Kansas since Friday, May 6, for a total of 780,892 cases.The state reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,720.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652461531381.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.The state will continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Friday.

KDHE: 29 additional COVID deaths and 2,847 new cases

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a standoff in Topeka.

Just after 9 a.m., Thursday detectives with the Topeka Police Department went to 1286 SW Lane on an attempt to locate 33-year-old Bruce A. Teel of Topeka, on an original charge of Aggravated Assault, according to Police Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Teel was wanted from an incident on March 23.

Upon arrival, detectives determined that Teel was in the residence and had gone up to a room in the attic. Detectives made verbal contact through the door with Teel who refused to open the door and barricaded himself. 

Detectives contacted the Response Team and Negotiators to try to get Teel to surrender. After several hours of negotiations, Teel surrendered without further incident.

Teel was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the original requested charge of Aggravated Assault. He was also booked in for an additional requested charge of Felony Obstruction, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652439062192.png" alt="Teel-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Teel-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a standoff in Topeka.Just after 9 a.m., Thursday detectives with the Topeka Police Department went to 1286 SW Lane on an attempt to locate 33-year-old Bruce A. Teel of Topeka, on an original charge of Aggravated Assault, according to Police Lt. Manuel Munoz.Teel was wanted from an incident on March 23.Upon arrival, detectives determined that Teel was in the residence and had gone up to a room in the attic. Detectives made verbal contact through the door with Teel who refused to open the door and barricaded himself. Detectives contacted the Response Team and Negotiators to try to get Teel to surrender. After several hours of negotiations, Teel surrendered without further incident.Teel was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the original requested charge of Aggravated Assault. He was also booked in for an additional requested charge of Felony Obstruction, according to Munoz.

Police arrest wanted assault suspect after standoff at Kan. home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legalized sports betting Thursday, only to be sued almost immediately by the operator of a state-owned casino that could offer the new wagering over an unrelated part of the law designed to revive a long-closed greyhound track in its area.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_84_2022" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that the Republican-controlled Legislature passed with bipartisan support. State officials and others weren’t sure ahead of her action when sports fans actually would be able to start making their wagers.

The new law will allow people in the state to use cellphone or computer apps to bet on sporting events and to place bets at each of four state-owned casinos or up to 50 other locations chosen by each casino. Betting in fantasy sports leagues already was legal.

The lawsuit was filed was filed by the Kansas Star Casino in Shawnee County District Court in the state capital of Topeka. The casino is about 15 miles south of Wichita and operated by Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming under a contract with the Kansas Lottery that runs until December 2026.

The casino argues that the state is breaching its contract, which says the lottery will not permit competition from similar facilities in the Wichita area. The dispute is over a provision allowing new gambling devices at Wichita Greyhound Park. The dog park first opened in 1989 — more than two decades before the casino — but had a financially troubled history and closed in 2007. The casino opened in 2011.

The devices in dispute are known as historic horse racing machines, and the new law allows 1,000 of them at the dog park. The devices replay snippets of past horse races, with results determining what a bettor wins, and the new law calls them machines for betting on races, not slots. But they look like slot machines, and Boyd argues that the two types of devices are “indistinguishable,” so that the state isn’t allowed to let the dog park have them.

“Boyd has lived up to its obligations, successfully operated the Kansas Star and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Kansas Star based on the State’s contractual promise,” the company said in a statement.

Boyd said it supports legalized sports betting in Kansas. The company is seeking to force the state to pay a $25 million penalty specified by the contract, plus interest, though the law says the dog park will reimburse Kansas if it gets its new gambling devices.

The lawsuit’s defendants are the state, the lottery and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, which regulates the state casinos.

Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell said he wasn’t aware of the lawsuit and couldn’t respond. The racing commission, the governor’s office and the company that owns Wichita Greyhound Park did not immediately return telephone or email messages seeking comment.

But state Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican who helped draft the final version of the law, said there’s a difference of opinion over whether the historic horse racing machines are slots and, “I guess we will not know for sure” until the Kansas Supreme Court rules.

“It’s a separate part of that bill, so I would think maybe the sports betting could go forward,” he said.

Then, Barker noted that Boyd’s contract expires near the end of 2026, and, “They’ve got a few things to lose, too.”

Kelly signing of the sports betting legislation came four years after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nv-state-wire-north-america-courts-supreme-courts-gambling-industry-f3fa1f71b8f44378a7e2c51d321b13b4">struck down a federal ban&nbsp;</a>on sports betting in most states.

The new law dedicates most of the the state’s share of revenues from the new gambling — perhaps $5 million a year — to efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-sports-business-missouri-a63ac882393132ab2fa70bfd98bab169">lure the Kansas City Chiefs</a>&nbsp;from Missouri to Kansas.

Penn National Gaming plans to launch mobile sports betting and to have a retail sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino, which it operates for the lottery at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Spokesman Jeff Morris said that he hopes people in Kansas would be able to begin legally betting by the National Football League season.

“Our intention will be to launch the first day we are able to do so in the state,” Morris said.

Twenty-nine have authorized commercial sports betting, while another six allow Native American tribes to provide it, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/march-madness-fuels-sports-betting-trend-magazine2022.aspx" target="_blank">the National Conference of State Legislatures.</a>

Joseph Bryden, a 25-year-old University of Kansas law student, said he listens to an out-of-state podcast with hosts who often discuss sports betting.

“It’s my money. If I want to be able to bet on the (Dallas) Cowboys, I feel like I should be able to,” Bryden said.

By ANDY TSUBASA FIELD and JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legalized sports betting Thursday, only to be sued almost immediately by the operator of a state-owned casino that could offer the new wagering over an unrelated part of the law designed to revive a long-closed greyhound track in its area.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_84_2022" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that the Republican-controlled Legislature passed with bipartisan support. State officials and others weren’t sure ahead of her action when sports fans actually would be able to start making their wagers.The new law will allow people in the state to use cellphone or computer apps to bet on sporting events and to place bets at each of four state-owned casinos or up to 50 other locations chosen by each casino. Betting in fantasy sports leagues already was legal.The lawsuit was filed was filed by the Kansas Star Casino in Shawnee County District Court in the state capital of Topeka. The casino is about 15 miles south of Wichita and operated by Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming under a contract with the Kansas Lottery that runs until December 2026.The casino argues that the state is breaching its contract, which says the lottery will not permit competition from similar facilities in the Wichita area. The dispute is over a provision allowing new gambling devices at Wichita Greyhound Park. The dog park first opened in 1989 — more than two decades before the casino — but had a financially troubled history and closed in 2007. The casino opened in 2011.The devices in dispute are known as historic horse racing machines, and the new law allows 1,000 of them at the dog park. The devices replay snippets of past horse races, with results determining what a bettor wins, and the new law calls them machines for betting on races, not slots. But they look like slot machines, and Boyd argues that the two types of devices are “indistinguishable,” so that the state isn’t allowed to let the dog park have them.“Boyd has lived up to its obligations, successfully operated the Kansas Star and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Kansas Star based on the State’s contractual promise,” the company said in a statement.Boyd said it supports legalized sports betting in Kansas. The company is seeking to force the state to pay a $25 million penalty specified by the contract, plus interest, though the law says the dog park will reimburse Kansas if it gets its new gambling devices.The lawsuit’s defendants are the state, the lottery and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, which regulates the state casinos.Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell said he wasn’t aware of the lawsuit and couldn’t respond. The racing commission, the governor’s office and the company that owns Wichita Greyhound Park did not immediately return telephone or email messages seeking comment.But state Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican who helped draft the final version of the law, said there’s a difference of opinion over whether the historic horse racing machines are slots and, “I guess we will not know for sure” until the Kansas Supreme Court rules.“It’s a separate part of that bill, so I would think maybe the sports betting could go forward,” he said.Then, Barker noted that Boyd’s contract expires near the end of 2026, and, “They’ve got a few things to lose, too.”Kelly signing of the sports betting legislation came four years after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nv-state-wire-north-america-courts-supreme-courts-gambling-industry-f3fa1f71b8f44378a7e2c51d321b13b4">struck down a federal ban&nbsp;</a>on sports betting in most states.The new law dedicates most of the the state’s share of revenues from the new gambling — perhaps $5 million a year — to efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-sports-business-missouri-a63ac882393132ab2fa70bfd98bab169">lure the Kansas City Chiefs</a>&nbsp;from Missouri to Kansas.Penn National Gaming plans to launch mobile sports betting and to have a retail sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino, which it operates for the lottery at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Spokesman Jeff Morris said that he hopes people in Kansas would be able to begin legally betting by the National Football League season.“Our intention will be to launch the first day we are able to do so in the state,” Morris said.Twenty-nine have authorized commercial sports betting, while another six allow Native American tribes to provide it, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/march-madness-fuels-sports-betting-trend-magazine2022.aspx" target="_blank">the National Conference of State Legislatures.</a>Joseph Bryden, a 25-year-old University of Kansas law student, said he listens to an out-of-state podcast with hosts who often discuss sports betting.“It’s my money. If I want to be able to bet on the (Dallas) Cowboys, I feel like I should be able to,” Bryden said.___

Casino sues Kan. after governor signs bill to legalize sports betting 

LONDON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e6b0f2c2f70fdd07f853169e3515e3b">Elon Musk&nbsp;</a>said Friday that his plan to buy Twitter for $44 billion is “temporarily on hold” as he tries to pinpoint the exact number of spam and fake accounts on the social media platform, another twist amid signs of internal turmoil over the proposed acquisition.

Musk, who has been vocal about his desire to clean up Twitter’s problem with “spam bots” that mimic real people, appeared to question whether the company was underreporting them.

In a tweet, the Tesla billionaire linked to a Reuters story from May 2 about a quarterly report from Twitter that estimated false or spam accounts made up fewer than 5% of the company’s “monetizable daily active users” in the first quarter.

“Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1525049369552048129" target="_blank">deal temporarily on hold</a>&nbsp;pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users,” Musk said, indicating he’s skeptical that the number of inauthentic accounts is that low.

It wasn’t clear whether the issue could scuttle the deal.

Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment early Friday.

Stock in both Twitter and Tesla swung sharply in opposite directions, with Twitter’s stock tumbling 14%, and shares of Tesla, which Musk had proposed using to help fund the Twitter deal, jumping 7%.

Investors have had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-social-media-7e8f53143e510cdd7171b5ecc2486863">weigh legal troubles</a>&nbsp;for Musk, as well as the possibility that acquiring Twitter could be a distraction from running the world’s most valuable automaker. The proposed deal continued to pressure shares of Tesla, which had already fallen 16% this week.

The sharp jump in the price of Tesla shares before the opening bell Friday singled rising doubts that the acquisition of Twitter will take place.

Musk has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-tesla-inc-0a3c8696433b41ff40e22bc104a8b0ed#:~:text=In%20the%20three%20days%20after,to%20help%20fund%20the%20purchase.">sold off more than $8 billion</a>&nbsp;worth of his Tesla shares to finance the purchase.

Originally Musk had committed to borrowing $12.5 billion with Tesla stock as collateral to buy Twitter. He also would borrow $13 billion from banks and put up $21 billion in Tesla equity.

Last week, Musk strengthened the equity stake in his offer for Twitter with commitments of more than $7 billion from a diverse group of investors including Silicon Valley heavy hitters like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Money from the new investors cuts the amount borrowed on the value of Tesla stock to $6.25 billion, according to the filing. The Tesla equity share could go from $21 billion to $27.25 billion.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who follows both Tesla and Twitter, said Musk’s “bizarre” tweet will lead Wall Street to either think the deal is likely falling apart, Musk is attempting to negotiate a lower deal price, or he is simply walking away from the deal with a $1 billion penalty.

“Many will view this as Musk using this Twitter filing/spam accounts as a way to get out of this deal in a vastly changing market,” Ives wrote.

He added that the Musk’s use of Twitter rather than a financial filing to make the announcement was troubling and “sends this whole deal into a circus show with many questions and no concrete answers as to the path of this deal going forward.”

Musk’s tweet comes a day after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-f0548a0078f10582283c2fa735fd883e">social media company fired two of its top managers</a>. Twitter said the company is pausing most hiring, except for critical roles, and is “pulling back on non-labor costs to ensure we are being responsible and efficient.”

In a memo sent to employees and confirmed by Twitter, CEO Parag Agrawal said the company has not hit growth and revenue milestones after the company began to invest “aggressively” to expand its user base and revenue.

LONDON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e6b0f2c2f70fdd07f853169e3515e3b">Elon Musk&nbsp;</a>said Friday that his plan to buy Twitter for $44 billion is “temporarily on hold” as he tries to pinpoint the exact number of spam and fake accounts on the social media platform, another twist amid signs of internal turmoil over the proposed acquisition.Musk, who has been vocal about his desire to clean up Twitter’s problem with “spam bots” that mimic real people, appeared to question whether the company was underreporting them.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Still committed to acquisition&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1525080945274998785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a tweet, the Tesla billionaire linked to a Reuters story from May 2 about a quarterly report from Twitter that estimated false or spam accounts made up fewer than 5% of the company’s “monetizable daily active users” in the first quarter.“Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1525049369552048129" target="_blank">deal temporarily on hold</a>&nbsp;pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users,” Musk said, indicating he’s skeptical that the number of inauthentic accounts is that low.It wasn’t clear whether the issue could scuttle the deal.Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment early Friday.Stock in both Twitter and Tesla swung sharply in opposite directions, with Twitter’s stock tumbling 14%, and shares of Tesla, which Musk had proposed using to help fund the Twitter deal, jumping 7%.Investors have had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-social-media-7e8f53143e510cdd7171b5ecc2486863">weigh legal troubles</a>&nbsp;for Musk, as well as the possibility that acquiring Twitter could be a distraction from running the world’s most valuable automaker. The proposed deal continued to pressure shares of Tesla, which had already fallen 16% this week.The sharp jump in the price of Tesla shares before the opening bell Friday singled rising doubts that the acquisition of Twitter will take place.Musk has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-tesla-inc-0a3c8696433b41ff40e22bc104a8b0ed#:~:text=In%20the%20three%20days%20after,to%20help%20fund%20the%20purchase.">sold off more than $8 billion</a>&nbsp;worth of his Tesla shares to finance the purchase.Originally Musk had committed to borrowing $12.5 billion with Tesla stock as collateral to buy Twitter. He also would borrow $13 billion from banks and put up $21 billion in Tesla equity.Last week, Musk strengthened the equity stake in his offer for Twitter with commitments of more than $7 billion from a diverse group of investors including Silicon Valley heavy hitters like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.Money from the new investors cuts the amount borrowed on the value of Tesla stock to $6.25 billion, according to the filing. The Tesla equity share could go from $21 billion to $27.25 billion.Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who follows both Tesla and Twitter, said Musk’s “bizarre” tweet will lead Wall Street to either think the deal is likely falling apart, Musk is attempting to negotiate a lower deal price, or he is simply walking away from the deal with a $1 billion penalty.“Many will view this as Musk using this Twitter filing/spam accounts as a way to get out of this deal in a vastly changing market,” Ives wrote.He added that the Musk’s use of Twitter rather than a financial filing to make the announcement was troubling and “sends this whole deal into a circus show with many questions and no concrete answers as to the path of this deal going forward.”Musk’s tweet comes a day after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-f0548a0078f10582283c2fa735fd883e">social media company fired two of its top managers</a>. Twitter said the company is pausing most hiring, except for critical roles, and is “pulling back on non-labor costs to ensure we are being responsible and efficient.”In a memo sent to employees and confirmed by Twitter, CEO Parag Agrawal said the company has not hit growth and revenue milestones after the company began to invest “aggressively” to expand its user base and revenue.

Elon Musk: Twitter deal 'temporarily on hold' over fake accounts

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders on Thursday for a renewed international commitment to attacking COVID-19 as he led the U.S. in marking the approaching “tragic milestone” of 1 million deaths at home from the virus. He ordered flags lowered to half-staff and warned against “complacency” around the globe.

(Click below to watch the President's comments.)

“This pandemic isn’t over,” Biden told the second global pandemic summit. “Today, we mark a tragic milestone here in the United States, 1 million COVID deaths — 1 million empty chairs around the family dinner table.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">The coronavirus</a>&nbsp;has killed more than 999,000 people in the U.S. and at least 6.2 million people globally since it emerged in late 2019, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6" target="_blank">figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University</a>. Biden issued a proclamation Thursday directing that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff through sunset on Monday to honor those who lost their lives to the virus.

The president called on Congress to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-congress-e5b411a879b2becf3e342fea3b0df981">more funding</a>&nbsp;for testing, vaccines and treatments, something lawmakers have been unwilling to deliver so far.

The lack of funding — Biden has requested another $22.5 billion of what he calls critically needed money — is a reflection of faltering resolve at home that jeopardizes the global response to the pandemic.

Eight months after he used the first such summit to announce an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-general-assembly-joe-biden-pandemics-business-united-nations-e7c09c1f896d83c0ed80513082787bd3">ambitious pledge to donate 1.2 billion vaccine doses</a>&nbsp;to the world, the urgency of the U.S. and other nations to respond has waned.

Momentum on vaccinations and treatments has faded even as more infectious variants rise and billions of people across the globe remain unprotected.

Biden addressed the opening of the virtual summit Thursday morning with prerecorded remarks and made the case that tackling COVID-19 “must remain an international priority.” The U.S. is co-hosting the summit along with Germany, Indonesia, Senegal and Belize.

“This summit is an opportunity to renew our efforts to keep our foot on the gas when it comes to getting this pandemic under control and preventing future health crises,” Biden said.

The U.S. has shipped nearly 540 million vaccine doses to more than 110 countries and territories, according to the State Department — by far more than any other donor nation.

After the delivery of more than 1 billion vaccines to the developing world, the problem is no longer that there aren’t enough shots but a lack of logistical support to get doses into arms. According to government data, more than 680 million donated vaccine doses have been left unused in developing countries because they were set to expire soon and couldn’t be administered quickly enough. As of March, 32 poorer countries had used fewer than half of the COVID-19 vaccines they were sent.

U.S. assistance to promote and facilitate vaccinations overseas dried up earlier this year, and Biden has requested about $5 billion for the effort through the rest of the year.

“We have tens of millions of unclaimed doses because countries lack the resources to build out their cold chains, which basically is the refrigeration systems; to fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/31fd688936caec29ff082412ef23e30a">disinformation;</a>&nbsp;and to hire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/42fee2eeeb1848988a9b74a4e77a1045">vaccinators</a>,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week. She added that the summit is “going to be an opportunity to elevate the fact that we need additional funding to continue to be a part of this effort around the world.”

“We’re going to continue to fight for more funding here,” Psaki said. “But we will continue to press other countries to do more to help the world make progress as well.”

Congress has balked at the price tag for COVID-19 relief and has thus far refused to take up the package because of political opposition to the impending end of pandemic-era migration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border. Even after a consensus for virus funding briefly emerged in March, lawmakers decided to strip out the global aid funding and solely focus the assistance on shoring up U.S. supplies of vaccine booster shots and therapeutics.

Biden has warned that without Congress acting, the U.S. could lose out on access to the next generation of vaccines and treatments, and that the nation won’t have enough supply of booster doses or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-medication-fa6cd0dcc9dec4d1076b14a521e9a6e5">the antiviral drug Paxlovid</a>&nbsp;for later this year. He’s also sounding the alarm that more variants will spring up if the U.S. and the world don’t do more to contain the virus globally.

“To beat the pandemic here, we need to beat it everywhere,” Biden said last September during the first global summit.

Demand for COVID-19 vaccines has dropped in some countries as infections and deaths have declined globally in recent months, particularly as the omicron variant has proved to be less severe than earlier versions of the disease. For the first time since it was created, the U.N.-backed COVAX effort has “enough supply to enable countries to meet their national vaccination targets,” according to vaccines alliance Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley, which fronts COVAX.

Still, despite more than 65% of the world’s population receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, fewer than 16% of people in poor countries have been immunized. It is highly unlikely countries will hit the World Health Organization target of vaccinating 70% of all people by June.

In countries including Cameroon, Uganda and the Ivory Coast, officials have struggled to get enough refrigerators to transport vaccines, send enough syringes for mass campaigns and get enough health workers to inject the shots. Experts also point out that more than half of the health workers needed to administer the vaccines in poorer countries are either underpaid or not paid at all.

Donating more vaccines, critics say, would miss the point entirely.

“It’s like donating a bunch of fire trucks to countries that are on fire, but they have no water,” said Ritu Sharma, a vice president at the charity CARE, which has helped immunize people in more than 30 countries, including India, South Sudan and Bangladesh.

“We can’t be giving countries all these vaccines but no way to use them,” she said, adding that the same infrastructure that got the shots administered in the U.S. is now needed elsewhere. “We had to tackle this problem in the U.S., so why are we not now using that knowledge to get vaccines into the people who need them most?”

Sharma said greater investment was needed to counter vaccine hesitancy in developing countries where there are entrenched beliefs about the potential dangers of Western-made medicines.

“Leaders must agree to pursue a coherent strategy to end the pandemic instead of a fragmented approach that will extend the lifespan of this crisis,” said Gayle Smith, CEO of The ONE Campaign.

GAVI’s Berkley also said that countries are increasingly asking for the pricier messenger RNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, which are not as easily available as the AstraZeneca vaccine, which made up the bulk of COVAX’s supply last year.

The emergence of variants like delta and omicron has led many countries to switch to mRNA vaccines, which seem to provide more protection and are in greater demand globally than traditionally made vaccines like those from China and Russia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652366641765.png" alt="President Biden addressed the opening of the virtual Global Pandemic summit on Thursday -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden addressed the opening of the virtual Global Pandemic summit on Thursday -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders on Thursday for a renewed international commitment to attacking COVID-19 as he led the U.S. in marking the approaching “tragic milestone” of 1 million deaths at home from the virus. He ordered flags lowered to half-staff and warned against “complacency” around the globe.(Click below to watch the President's comments.)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rIba4zXGm8o?start=1880" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“This pandemic isn’t over,” Biden told the second global pandemic summit. “Today, we mark a tragic milestone here in the United States, 1 million COVID deaths — 1 million empty chairs around the family dinner table.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">The coronavirus</a>&nbsp;has killed more than 999,000 people in the U.S. and at least 6.2 million people globally since it emerged in late 2019, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6" target="_blank">figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University</a>. Biden issued a proclamation Thursday directing that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff through sunset on Monday to honor those who lost their lives to the virus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652366613851.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The president called on Congress to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-congress-e5b411a879b2becf3e342fea3b0df981">more funding</a>&nbsp;for testing, vaccines and treatments, something lawmakers have been unwilling to deliver so far.The lack of funding — Biden has requested another $22.5 billion of what he calls critically needed money — is a reflection of faltering resolve at home that jeopardizes the global response to the pandemic.Eight months after he used the first such summit to announce an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-general-assembly-joe-biden-pandemics-business-united-nations-e7c09c1f896d83c0ed80513082787bd3">ambitious pledge to donate 1.2 billion vaccine doses</a>&nbsp;to the world, the urgency of the U.S. and other nations to respond has waned.Momentum on vaccinations and treatments has faded even as more infectious variants rise and billions of people across the globe remain unprotected.Biden addressed the opening of the virtual summit Thursday morning with prerecorded remarks and made the case that tackling COVID-19 “must remain an international priority.” The U.S. is co-hosting the summit along with Germany, Indonesia, Senegal and Belize.“This summit is an opportunity to renew our efforts to keep our foot on the gas when it comes to getting this pandemic under control and preventing future health crises,” Biden said.The U.S. has shipped nearly 540 million vaccine doses to more than 110 countries and territories, according to the State Department — by far more than any other donor nation.After the delivery of more than 1 billion vaccines to the developing world, the problem is no longer that there aren’t enough shots but a lack of logistical support to get doses into arms. According to government data, more than 680 million donated vaccine doses have been left unused in developing countries because they were set to expire soon and couldn’t be administered quickly enough. As of March, 32 poorer countries had used fewer than half of the COVID-19 vaccines they were sent.U.S. assistance to promote and facilitate vaccinations overseas dried up earlier this year, and Biden has requested about $5 billion for the effort through the rest of the year.“We have tens of millions of unclaimed doses because countries lack the resources to build out their cold chains, which basically is the refrigeration systems; to fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/31fd688936caec29ff082412ef23e30a">disinformation;</a>&nbsp;and to hire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/42fee2eeeb1848988a9b74a4e77a1045">vaccinators</a>,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week. She added that the summit is “going to be an opportunity to elevate the fact that we need additional funding to continue to be a part of this effort around the world.”“We’re going to continue to fight for more funding here,” Psaki said. “But we will continue to press other countries to do more to help the world make progress as well.”Congress has balked at the price tag for COVID-19 relief and has thus far refused to take up the package because of political opposition to the impending end of pandemic-era migration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border. Even after a consensus for virus funding briefly emerged in March, lawmakers decided to strip out the global aid funding and solely focus the assistance on shoring up U.S. supplies of vaccine booster shots and therapeutics.Biden has warned that without Congress acting, the U.S. could lose out on access to the next generation of vaccines and treatments, and that the nation won’t have enough supply of booster doses or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-medication-fa6cd0dcc9dec4d1076b14a521e9a6e5">the antiviral drug Paxlovid</a>&nbsp;for later this year. He’s also sounding the alarm that more variants will spring up if the U.S. and the world don’t do more to contain the virus globally.“To beat the pandemic here, we need to beat it everywhere,” Biden said last September during the first global summit.Demand for COVID-19 vaccines has dropped in some countries as infections and deaths have declined globally in recent months, particularly as the omicron variant has proved to be less severe than earlier versions of the disease. For the first time since it was created, the U.N.-backed COVAX effort has “enough supply to enable countries to meet their national vaccination targets,” according to vaccines alliance Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley, which fronts COVAX.Still, despite more than 65% of the world’s population receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, fewer than 16% of people in poor countries have been immunized. It is highly unlikely countries will hit the World Health Organization target of vaccinating 70% of all people by June.In countries including Cameroon, Uganda and the Ivory Coast, officials have struggled to get enough refrigerators to transport vaccines, send enough syringes for mass campaigns and get enough health workers to inject the shots. Experts also point out that more than half of the health workers needed to administer the vaccines in poorer countries are either underpaid or not paid at all.Donating more vaccines, critics say, would miss the point entirely.“It’s like donating a bunch of fire trucks to countries that are on fire, but they have no water,” said Ritu Sharma, a vice president at the charity CARE, which has helped immunize people in more than 30 countries, including India, South Sudan and Bangladesh.“We can’t be giving countries all these vaccines but no way to use them,” she said, adding that the same infrastructure that got the shots administered in the U.S. is now needed elsewhere. “We had to tackle this problem in the U.S., so why are we not now using that knowledge to get vaccines into the people who need them most?”Sharma said greater investment was needed to counter vaccine hesitancy in developing countries where there are entrenched beliefs about the potential dangers of Western-made medicines.“Leaders must agree to pursue a coherent strategy to end the pandemic instead of a fragmented approach that will extend the lifespan of this crisis,” said Gayle Smith, CEO of The ONE Campaign.GAVI’s Berkley also said that countries are increasingly asking for the pricier messenger RNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, which are not as easily available as the AstraZeneca vaccine, which made up the bulk of COVAX’s supply last year.The emergence of variants like delta and omicron has led many countries to switch to mRNA vaccines, which seem to provide more protection and are in greater demand globally than traditionally made vaccines like those from China and Russia.___

🎥Biden says pandemic not over, asks Congress for more COVID money

JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on drug charges after a traffic stop in northeast Kansas.

Just after 9:30p.m. Wednesday, a&nbsp; Jackson County Sheriff deputies stopped 37-year-old Theresa Marie Ross-Hetrick driving a 2007 Saturn SUV near 6th&nbsp;and Colorado in Holton for a traffic voilation, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;Deputies arrested Ross-Hetrick and transported her to the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652381275699.png" alt="Ross-Hetrick- photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ross-Hetrick- photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on drug charges after a traffic stop in northeast Kansas.Just after 9:30p.m. Wednesday, a&nbsp; Jackson County Sheriff deputies stopped 37-year-old Theresa Marie Ross-Hetrick driving a 2007 Saturn SUV near 6th&nbsp;and Colorado in Holton for a traffic voilation, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;Deputies arrested Ross-Hetrick and transported her to the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas woman jailed for allegedly transporting meth

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Thursday that transfers more than $1 billion from the State General Fund to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), according to a media release from her office.

Senate Bill 421 will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the state by eliminating debt from the state’s balance sheets and reducing future employer contributions.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTIuNTc4MDMzMjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtzbGVnaXNsYXR1cmUub3JnL2xpL2IyMDIxXzIyL21lYXN1cmVzL3NiNDIxLyJ9.CIUtuop8b_ItADNnAlA_2suJhuamC1l7z5_sySkY3qs/s/1303160919/br/131211135450-l" target="_blank">Click here for more details on Senate Bill 421</a>

“Balancing the budget, paying off debt, and providing financial relief for Kansans has always been my top priority – and today we delivered on that promise,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’re fixing the damage done to KPERS because our public service employees and retirees deserve their retirement fund to be replenished after the previous administration skipped payments to cover reckless tax policy.”

SB 421 will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the state by reducing the debt owed to the fund and further enhancing the state’s historic financial strength.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Thursday that transfers more than $1 billion from the State General Fund to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), according to a media release from her office.Senate Bill 421 will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the state by eliminating debt from the state’s balance sheets and reducing future employer contributions.<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA1MTIuNTc4MDMzMjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtzbGVnaXNsYXR1cmUub3JnL2xpL2IyMDIxXzIyL21lYXN1cmVzL3NiNDIxLyJ9.CIUtuop8b_ItADNnAlA_2suJhuamC1l7z5_sySkY3qs/s/1303160919/br/131211135450-l" target="_blank">Click here for more details on Senate Bill 421</a>“Balancing the budget, paying off debt, and providing financial relief for Kansans has always been my top priority – and today we delivered on that promise,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’re fixing the damage done to KPERS because our public service employees and retirees deserve their retirement fund to be replenished after the previous administration skipped payments to cover reckless tax policy.”SB 421 will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the state by reducing the debt owed to the fund and further enhancing the state’s historic financial strength.Payment of this debt builds on Governor Kelly’s exceptional record of reducing debt obligations that the previous administration was content to pass on to future generations of Kansans to pay for reckless tax policy.“This legislation repays all the delayed KPERS contributions, which is&nbsp;a great relief to KPERS members and their beneficiaries,”&nbsp;State Treasurer Lynn Rogers said.&nbsp;“Governor Kelly's&nbsp;record of paying off significant debt&nbsp;allows us&nbsp;to&nbsp;have the capacity to better serve the people of Kansas and focus on investing in our future.”In addition to funding KPERS, the state is set to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in bonded debt as recommended by the Governor in January. The Governor also paid off a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Board two years ahead schedule.“Since before she was elected Governor, Laura Kelly has demonstrated her steadfast support for improving the strength and financial resilience of our state’s public employee retirement system.”&nbsp;Alan D. Conroy, Executive Director of KPERS, said.&nbsp;“SB 421 not only makes significant progress in reducing our long-term unfunded actuarial liability, it also takes long-term KPERS debt completely off the books. Taken together, this infusion of one-time funding will provide immediate savings to the state, it will lead to a significant reduction in long-term KPERS payments, and it will further affirm for our retirees that they will receive the full pension benefit they have earned from their public service within Kansas to the State, cities and counties, and local school districts.”