REPUBLIC COUNTY —U.S. 36 in both directions between milepost 225 and 226 in Republic County is back open following a train, semi accident, according to the Jewell County Sheriff.

Many train cars were derailed and upright train cars were blocking the highway. Authorities have not reported any injuries.

JEWELL COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and other first responders are on the scene of a train derailment at the Jewell County, Republic County line approximately 14 miles east of Mankato, according to the Jewell County Sheriff.&nbsp; 

The train derailment involved an injury accident with a semi.&nbsp;Multiple train cars are derailed and upright train cars are blocking U.S. 36.

The Kansas Department of Transportation closed U.S. 36 in both directions just west of Kansas 199. The railroad crossing is also closed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The road is expected to remain closed until approximately 6:00p.m. according to the sheriff's department.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650561986159.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>REPUBLIC COUNTY —U.S. 36 in both directions between milepost 225 and 226 in Republic County is back open following a train, semi accident, according to the Jewell County Sheriff.Many train cars were derailed and upright train cars were blocking the highway. Authorities have not reported any injuries.----------JEWELL COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and other first responders are on the scene of a train derailment at the Jewell County, Republic County line approximately 14 miles east of Mankato, according to the Jewell County Sheriff.&nbsp; The train derailment involved an injury accident with a semi.&nbsp;Multiple train cars are derailed and upright train cars are blocking U.S. 36.The Kansas Department of Transportation closed U.S. 36 in both directions just west of Kansas 199. The railroad crossing is also closed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The road is expected to remain closed until approximately 6:00p.m. according to the sheriff's department.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Update: U.S. 36  open following train derailment 

GEARY COUNTY —A Geary County jury returned a guilty verdict for 22-year-old Willie Powell Jr., Grandview Plaza on one count of Intentional Second Degree Murder. 

According to County Attorney Krista Blaisdell,&nbsp; the jury deliberated for nearly three hours Wednesday afternoon before returning the guilty verdict.

Powell had been charged in the fatal June 2021 shooting death of LaVincent Perdue, 23, Grandview Plaza in the parking lot outside of a barbershop in the 700 block of West 6th Street in Junction City. Perdue was a&nbsp;a Specialist with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley.

Following the shooting incident, Perdue was transported from the scene by EMS to Geary Community Hospital where he died. Powell turned himself in to police in Topeka the next day.

Sentencing for Powell has been scheduled on May 21st at 10 a.m. in Geary County District Court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650549193756.png" alt="Powell following his June 2021 arrest-photo Geary County" />
 <figcaption>Powell following his June 2021 arrest-photo Geary County</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostGEARY COUNTY —A Geary County jury returned a guilty verdict for 22-year-old Willie Powell Jr., Grandview Plaza on one count of Intentional Second Degree Murder. According to County Attorney Krista Blaisdell,&nbsp; the jury deliberated for nearly three hours Wednesday afternoon before returning the guilty verdict.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623457133412.jpeg" alt="Location of the June 11, 2021 shooting" />
 <figcaption>Location of the June 11, 2021 shooting</figcaption>
 </figure>Powell had been charged in the fatal June 2021 shooting death of LaVincent Perdue, 23, Grandview Plaza in the parking lot outside of a barbershop in the 700 block of West 6th Street in Junction City. Perdue was a&nbsp;a Specialist with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley.Following the shooting incident, Perdue was transported from the scene by EMS to Geary Community Hospital where he died. Powell turned himself in to police in Topeka the next day.Sentencing for Powell has been scheduled on May 21st at 10 a.m. in Geary County District Court.

Jury: Man guilty in the 2021 killing of Fort Riley soldier

MIAMI COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Miami County.

The sheriff's office reported a 2018 Dodge Charger was eastbound on 223rd Street at 3rd Street in Bucyrus.

The driver lost control as the car traveled over the railroad tracks and into the south ditch. The car went airborne across 3rd Street, struck a tree and the roof of home at 101 South 3rd Street. The car landed on its side in the backyard of the home and the driver was trapped inside.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Two people were inside the home, but were uninjured. The sheriff's office reported the driver may have been speeding.&nbsp; Officials have not released the driver's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650558191981.png" alt="Two people were inside the home were not injured -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Two people were inside the home were not injured -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Miami County.The sheriff's office reported a 2018 Dodge Charger was eastbound on 223rd Street at 3rd Street in Bucyrus.The driver lost control as the car traveled over the railroad tracks and into the south ditch. The car went airborne across 3rd Street, struck a tree and the roof of home at 101 South 3rd Street. The car landed on its side in the backyard of the home and the driver was trapped inside.The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Two people were inside the home, but were uninjured. The sheriff's office reported the driver may have been speeding.&nbsp; Officials have not released the driver's name.

Sheriff: One dead after car strikes tree, roof of Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced he has approved an additional $800 million in military aid to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion, but warned Congress will need to approve additional assistance. 

The new military assistance package includes much needed heavy artillery, 144,000 rounds of ammunition, and drones for Ukrainian forces in the escalating battle for the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine , and builds on roughly $2.6 billion in military assistance that Biden had previously approved for Ukraine. 

Biden said that $13.6 billion approved last month by Congress for military and humanitarian assistance is “almost exhausted.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced he has approved an additional $800 million in military aid to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion, but warned Congress will need to approve additional assistance. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F511651257089093%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=31" 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 new military assistance package includes much needed heavy artillery, 144,000 rounds of ammunition, and drones for Ukrainian forces in the escalating battle for the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine , and builds on roughly $2.6 billion in military assistance that Biden had previously approved for Ukraine. Biden said that $13.6 billion approved last month by Congress for military and humanitarian assistance is “almost exhausted.”

🎥 Biden sending another $800M in military assistance to Ukraine

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — One of two former Sedgwick County sheriff's employees accused of stealing cash, drugs and weapons from the department's evidence unit has been sentenced to a suspended jail term and one year of probation. 

The Wichita Eagle reports that 47-year-old Marc Gordon was sentenced after pleading guilty earlier this month to one count of official misconduct and three counts of theft, all misdemeanors. 

Prosecutors say Gordon was a property and evidence technician with the agency when he and a supervisor stole more than $7,700 in cash, several pounds of cocaine, meth and other drugs and several Samurai-style swords. 

The missing evidence led the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office to dismiss or review dozens of drug cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593632950182.png" alt="Gordon-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Gordon-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — One of two former Sedgwick County sheriff's employees accused of stealing cash, drugs and weapons from the department's evidence unit has been sentenced to a suspended jail term and one year of probation. The Wichita Eagle reports that 47-year-old Marc Gordon was sentenced after pleading guilty earlier this month to one count of official misconduct and three counts of theft, all misdemeanors. Prosecutors say Gordon was a property and evidence technician with the agency when he and a supervisor stole more than $7,700 in cash, several pounds of cocaine, meth and other drugs and several Samurai-style swords. The missing evidence led the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office to dismiss or review dozens of drug cases.

Employee charged in Kan. sheriff's evidence room theft is sentenced

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers who 
missed Monday's April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as 
possible. While taxpayers due a refund receive no penalty for filing 
late, those who owe and missed the deadline without requesting an 
extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest.

Families who don't owe taxes to the IRS can still file their 2021 tax
 return and claim the Child Tax Credit for the 2021 tax year at any 
point until April 15, 2025, without any penalty. This year also marks 
the first time in history that many families with children in Puerto 
Rico will be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit, which has been 
expanded to provide up to $3,600 per child.

Some taxpayers automatically qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, including:

Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn't 
earn enough money to be required to file. But they may miss out on 
receiving a refund. The only way to get a refund is to file a tax 
return. There's no penalty for filing after the April 18 deadline if a 
refund is due. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing options
 including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> which is available on IRS.gov through October 17 to prepare and file 2021 tax returns electronically.

While most tax credits can be used to reduce the tax owed, there are a
 few credits that allow taxpayers to receive money beyond what they owe.
 The most common examples of these refundable credits are the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>.
 Those who don't usually file and didn't qualify for a third-round 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible
 to claim the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 when they file their 2021 tax return. Taxpayers often fail to file a 
tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which 
they may be eligible.

Generally, the IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days
 for taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit. However, it's 
possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> or take longer. The IRS processes paper tax returns in the order they are received.

Taxpayers can track their refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> or by calling the automated refund hotline at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The refund status 
information updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to
 check more frequently.

Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as 
soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file 
is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional 
six months with a new filing deadline of October 17. Penalties and 
interest apply to taxes owed after April 18 and interest is charged on 
tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.

Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.

Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of
 taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible 
delayed filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>.

Usually, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each 
month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five months, 
reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where both 
penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the due 
date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less.

The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see 
the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">Penalties</a> page on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid 
timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, 
including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, 
see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.

Pay taxes due electronically on IRS.gov/payments

Those who owe taxes can pay quickly and securely via their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or they can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. Taxpayers paying electronically receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can receive email notifications about their payments.

The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tips-to-help-people-choose-a-reputable-tax-preparer">choose a Tax Professional</a> to assist in tax return preparation.

The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed IRS requirements 
for the Annual Filing Season Program.

Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers who 
missed Monday's April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as 
possible. While taxpayers due a refund receive no penalty for filing 
late, those who owe and missed the deadline without requesting an 
extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest.Families who don't owe taxes to the IRS can still file their 2021 tax
 return and claim the Child Tax Credit for the 2021 tax year at any 
point until April 15, 2025, without any penalty. This year also marks 
the first time in history that many families with children in Puerto 
Rico will be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit, which has been 
expanded to provide up to $3,600 per child.Some taxpayers automatically qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, including:<ul>
 <li>Members of the military who served or are currently serving in a combat zone. They may qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p3#en_US_2021_publink100050111">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes.</li><li>Support personnel in combat zones or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces. They may also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">qualify for a filing and payment extension</a> of at least 180 days.</li><li>Taxpayers outside the United States. U.S. citizens
 and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico,
 including military members on duty who don't qualify for the combat 
zone extension, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">may qualify for a 2-month filing and payment extension</a>.</li><li>Some disaster victims. Those who qualify have <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">more time to file and pay</a> what they owe.</li>
 </ul><h2>File without penalty to get a tax refund</h2>Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn't 
earn enough money to be required to file. But they may miss out on 
receiving a refund. The only way to get a refund is to file a tax 
return. There's no penalty for filing after the April 18 deadline if a 
refund is due. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing options
 including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> which is available on IRS.gov through October 17 to prepare and file 2021 tax returns electronically.While most tax credits can be used to reduce the tax owed, there are a
 few credits that allow taxpayers to receive money beyond what they owe.
 The most common examples of these refundable credits are the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>.
 Those who don't usually file and didn't qualify for a third-round 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible
 to claim the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 when they file their 2021 tax return. Taxpayers often fail to file a 
tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which 
they may be eligible.Generally, the IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days
 for taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit. However, it's 
possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> or take longer. The IRS processes paper tax returns in the order they are received.Taxpayers can track their refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> or by calling the automated refund hotline at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The refund status 
information updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to
 check more frequently.<h2>File to reduce penalties and interest</h2>Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as 
soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file 
is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional 
six months with a new filing deadline of October 17. Penalties and 
interest apply to taxes owed after April 18 and interest is charged on 
tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of
 taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible 
delayed filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>.Usually, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each 
month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five months, 
reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where both 
penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the due 
date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less.The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see 
the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">Penalties</a> page on IRS.gov.Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid 
timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, 
including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, 
see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.<h2>Pay taxes due electronically on IRS.gov/payments</h2>Those who owe taxes can pay quickly and securely via their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or they can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. Taxpayers paying electronically receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can receive email notifications about their payments.<h2>Selecting a tax professional</h2>The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tips-to-help-people-choose-a-reputable-tax-preparer">choose a Tax Professional</a> to assist in tax return preparation.The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed IRS requirements 
for the Annual Filing Season Program.<h2>Taxpayer Bill of Rights</h2>Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

Missed the tax deadline? File now to limit penalties, claim Child Tax Credit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.

The notice came minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision handed down by a federal judge in Florida earlier this week.

A notice of appeal was filed in federal court in Tampa.

The CDC said in a statement Wednesday that it is its “continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”

It remained unclear whether the Biden administration would ask the appeals court to grant an emergency stay to immediately reimpose the mask mandate on public transit. An emergency stay of the lower court’s ruling would be a whiplash moment for travelers and transit workers. Most airlines and airports, many public transit systems and even ride-sharing company Uber lifted their mask-wearing requirements in the hours following Monday’s ruling.

A federal judge in Florida had struck down the national mask mandate for mass transit on Monday, leading airlines and airports to swiftly repeal their requirements that passengers wear face coverings. The Transportation Security Administration said Monday that it would it will no longer enforce the mask requirement.

The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant, which is now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court ruling Monday had put that decision on hold.

The CDC said it will continue to monitor public health conditions to determine if a mandate would remain necessary. It said it believes the mandate is “a lawful order, well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health.”

Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said Wednesday night that the department was filing the appeal “in light of today’s assessment by the CDC that an order requiring masking in the transportation corridor remains necessary to protect the public health.”

Biden’s administration has offered mixed messages in the wake of the Monday ruling. While officials said Americans should heed the CDC’s guidance even if it was no longer a requirement, Biden himself suggested they had more flexibility on masking-up during transit.

“That’s up to them,” Biden declared during a Tuesday visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The White House nonetheless continues to require face coverings for those traveling with him on Air Force One, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that Biden still is encouraging Americans to wear masks when traveling and that he had been “answering the question quite literally” a day before.

“People are not legally bound to wear masks,” she said, after the court order. “So, it is a point in time where it is up to people — it is their choice, in that regard.

After a winter surge fueled by the omicron variant that prompted record hospitalizations, the U.S. has seen a significant drop in virus spread in recent months, leading most states and cities to drop mask mandates.

But several Northeast cities have seen a rise in hospitalizations in recent weeks, leading Philadelphia to bring back its mask mandate.

The appeal drew criticism from the U.S. Travel Association, which along with other industry groups had been pressuring the Biden administration for months to end the mask mandate for travel.

“Masks were critically important during the height of the pandemic,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, the group’s executive vice president of public affairs and policy, “but with low hospitalization rates and multiple effective health tools now widely available, from boosters to therapies to high-quality air ventilation aboard aircraft, required masking on public transportation is simply out of step with the current public health landscape.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632163961062.png" alt="It remained unclear whether the Biden administration would ask the appeals court to grant an emergency stay to immediately reimpose the mask mandate on public transit-photo U.S. Dept. of Transportation" />
 <figcaption>It remained unclear whether the Biden administration would ask the appeals court to grant an emergency stay to immediately reimpose the mask mandate on public transit-photo U.S. Dept. of Transportation</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.The notice came minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision handed down by a federal judge in Florida earlier this week.A notice of appeal was filed in federal court in Tampa.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in all indoor public transportation settings. See full CDC statement: <a href="https://t.co/xY9YcSlSxr">https://t.co/xY9YcSlSxr</a>&mdash; CDC (@CDCgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1516908579470684164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The CDC said in a statement Wednesday that it is its “continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”It remained unclear whether the Biden administration would ask the appeals court to grant an emergency stay to immediately reimpose the mask mandate on public transit. An emergency stay of the lower court’s ruling would be a whiplash moment for travelers and transit workers. Most airlines and airports, many public transit systems and even ride-sharing company Uber lifted their mask-wearing requirements in the hours following Monday’s ruling.A federal judge in Florida had struck down the national mask mandate for mass transit on Monday, leading airlines and airports to swiftly repeal their requirements that passengers wear face coverings. The Transportation Security Administration said Monday that it would it will no longer enforce the mask requirement.The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant, which is now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court ruling Monday had put that decision on hold.The CDC said it will continue to monitor public health conditions to determine if a mandate would remain necessary. It said it believes the mandate is “a lawful order, well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health.”Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said Wednesday night that the department was filing the appeal “in light of today’s assessment by the CDC that an order requiring masking in the transportation corridor remains necessary to protect the public health.”Biden’s administration has offered mixed messages in the wake of the Monday ruling. While officials said Americans should heed the CDC’s guidance even if it was no longer a requirement, Biden himself suggested they had more flexibility on masking-up during transit.“That’s up to them,” Biden declared during a Tuesday visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The White House nonetheless continues to require face coverings for those traveling with him on Air Force One, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that Biden still is encouraging Americans to wear masks when traveling and that he had been “answering the question quite literally” a day before.“People are not legally bound to wear masks,” she said, after the court order. “So, it is a point in time where it is up to people — it is their choice, in that regard.After a winter surge fueled by the omicron variant that prompted record hospitalizations, the U.S. has seen a significant drop in virus spread in recent months, leading most states and cities to drop mask mandates.But several Northeast cities have seen a rise in hospitalizations in recent weeks, leading Philadelphia to bring back its mask mandate.The appeal drew criticism from the U.S. Travel Association, which along with other industry groups had been pressuring the Biden administration for months to end the mask mandate for travel.“Masks were critically important during the height of the pandemic,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, the group’s executive vice president of public affairs and policy, “but with low hospitalization rates and multiple effective health tools now widely available, from boosters to therapies to high-quality air ventilation aboard aircraft, required masking on public transportation is simply out of step with the current public health landscape.”

Court battle over US mask rules for planes, other travel

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

Sidney M. Darrenkamp, 22, Atchison, was charged on Tuesday by District Court warrants for fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, and other traffic violations in connection to incidents on April 16 and April 17, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Officers had attempted to stop a vehicle she was driving.&nbsp;

She has previous convictions for theft and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650538012177.png" alt="Darrenkamp has previous convictions for theft and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Darrenkamp has previous convictions for theft and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on new charges after an arrest.Sidney M. Darrenkamp, 22, Atchison, was charged on Tuesday by District Court warrants for fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, and other traffic violations in connection to incidents on April 16 and April 17, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.Officers had attempted to stop a vehicle she was driving.&nbsp;She has previous convictions for theft and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kan. woman charged with fleeing, attempting to elude police

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will set aside $500 million to deal with future financial problems, give state employees a pay raise and increase spending across state government under budget legislation Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law Wednesday.

The measure contains the bulk of the state’s $22 billion-plus budget for the 12 months beginning July 1, aside from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9e6030076f59fc7173e8596f0154af34">money for the state’s public K-12 schools.</a>&nbsp;Kelly signed the measure ahead of a meeting Wednesday of state officials and university economists to draft a new forecast for state tax collections through June 2023.

The new forecast was expected to me more optimistic than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-state-governments-0317bd2622cae9f317d5a002ec3469ea">the previous forecast,</a>&nbsp;issued in November and used in budgeting decisions until now. Tax collections for the past nine months have been almost 5% more than anticipated, creating a surplus of more than $300 million.

The new forecast is likely to intensify the debate between the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-personal-taxes-legislature-090092b19f2e7de084f5b48cdcb7acaf">eliminating the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries,</a>&nbsp;among the highest in the nation. Kelly argues that the state’s finances are strong enough that it can eliminate the tax this year, while Republicans have proposed eliminating it over three years while pursuing other tax cuts as well. Lawmakers expect to settle the issue when they return April 25 from their annual spring break.

Kelly said Kansas can “confidently make critical investments in our state,” saying the 2022-23 budget “allows us to continue to improve core services while investing in our future and setting the stage for additional economic growth.”

The Legislature opened its annual session in January with its researchers forecasting that the state would end June 2023 with nearly $3.8 billion in cash reserves. The state’s tax collections expectations for 20 months in a row through March.

Kelly proposed setting aside $600 million for future emergencies, while GOP lawmakers pursued a proposal to use $1 billion in surplus funds to bolster the state pension fund for teachers and government workers.

Lawmakers are still working on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_sb421_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a pensions bill</a>&nbsp;that would put more than $1.1 billion in surplus funds into the pension system.

The measure Kelly signed provides a 5% pay increase for state workers, their first bump since 2018. It would allow the state to increase its payments to providers of in-home services to elderly and disabled Kansas residents and provide $95 million for higher education programs meant to train students for the workforce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650472319635.png" alt="The measure Kelly signed provides a 5% pay increase for state workers, their first bump since 2018.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The measure Kelly signed provides a 5% pay increase for state workers, their first bump since 2018.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will set aside $500 million to deal with future financial problems, give state employees a pay raise and increase spending across state government under budget legislation Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law Wednesday.The measure contains the bulk of the state’s $22 billion-plus budget for the 12 months beginning July 1, aside from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9e6030076f59fc7173e8596f0154af34">money for the state’s public K-12 schools.</a>&nbsp;Kelly signed the measure ahead of a meeting Wednesday of state officials and university economists to draft a new forecast for state tax collections through June 2023.The new forecast was expected to me more optimistic than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-state-governments-0317bd2622cae9f317d5a002ec3469ea">the previous forecast,</a>&nbsp;issued in November and used in budgeting decisions until now. Tax collections for the past nine months have been almost 5% more than anticipated, creating a surplus of more than $300 million.The new forecast is likely to intensify the debate between the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-personal-taxes-legislature-090092b19f2e7de084f5b48cdcb7acaf">eliminating the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries,</a>&nbsp;among the highest in the nation. Kelly argues that the state’s finances are strong enough that it can eliminate the tax this year, while Republicans have proposed eliminating it over three years while pursuing other tax cuts as well. Lawmakers expect to settle the issue when they return April 25 from their annual spring break.Kelly said Kansas can “confidently make critical investments in our state,” saying the 2022-23 budget “allows us to continue to improve core services while investing in our future and setting the stage for additional economic growth.”The Legislature opened its annual session in January with its researchers forecasting that the state would end June 2023 with nearly $3.8 billion in cash reserves. The state’s tax collections expectations for 20 months in a row through March.Kelly proposed setting aside $600 million for future emergencies, while GOP lawmakers pursued a proposal to use $1 billion in surplus funds to bolster the state pension fund for teachers and government workers.Lawmakers are still working on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_sb421_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a pensions bill</a>&nbsp;that would put more than $1.1 billion in surplus funds into the pension system.The measure Kelly signed provides a 5% pay increase for state workers, their first bump since 2018. It would allow the state to increase its payments to providers of in-home services to elderly and disabled Kansas residents and provide $95 million for higher education programs meant to train students for the workforce.___

Ahead of new forecast, Kansas banks $500M for emergencies

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City woman has been charged in the fatal shooting of Jenna Nava inside a Kansas City apartment, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Makayla R. Smith, 30, faces Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges

According to court records, on January 25, police were dispatched to the 8800 block of Crystal Lane in Kansas City on a reported shooting. 

Officers found a female victim in a third floor apartment. Police also found a live 9 mm round and a large kitchen knife. Police noted several reports related to domestic violence incidents that included the victim and her wife, including a current ex-parte order of protection. 

Witnesses told police that the defendant told them or they saw the defendant shoot the victim after a tussle over the knife. A second suspect had a text conversation with the defendant not long before the shooting. The defendant met the victim and messaged the second suspect, stating "I got the gun to her head right now."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650365460236.png" alt="Smith-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City woman has been charged in the fatal shooting of Jenna Nava inside a Kansas City apartment, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Makayla R. Smith, 30, faces Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action chargesAccording to court records, on January 25, police were dispatched to the 8800 block of Crystal Lane in Kansas City on a reported shooting. Officers found a female victim in a third floor apartment. Police also found a live 9 mm round and a large kitchen knife. Police noted several reports related to domestic violence incidents that included the victim and her wife, including a current ex-parte order of protection. Witnesses told police that the defendant told them or they saw the defendant shoot the victim after a tussle over the knife. A second suspect had a text conversation with the defendant not long before the shooting. The defendant met the victim and messaged the second suspect, stating "I got the gun to her head right now."Smith is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Kansas City woman accused of killing her wife during knife fight

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Wednesday morning homicide in Salina have reported an arrest.

Police issued an arrest warrant for Anthony Quentin Lopez-Garcia by Saline County District Court, for the charges of First Degree Murder and Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, according to a media release from Salina Police.

On Wednesday afternoon, a Kansas City, Missouri resident recognized Lopez-Garcia apparently due to the previous media release.  KCPD was contacted and Lopez-Garcia was taken into custody on unrelated local Kansas City charges.  Lopez-Garcia will be extradited back to Kansas for the homicide upon completion of the extradition process. 

The victim has been identified but presently, the next of kin resides in another state and the notification is forthcoming.  Once that is done, the victim’s name will be released.

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Salina and asking the public for help to locate a person-of-interest.

Just before 12:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the area of Front Street and Gypsum Avenue for a possible injury motor vehicle accident, according to a media release from Salina Police.

Officers responded and located a white male deceased in the passenger seat of a green 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis. 

The victim appeared to have been shot and no one else was in the vehicle. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed at this time.

The Salina Police Department is actively investigating this case as a homicide and has developed Anthony Quentin Lopez-Garcia a person of interest in the case. 

 He is a 27-year old Hispanic male, 5-foot-8, weighs 170 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.&nbsp; Lopez-Garcia may be in a Maroon 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup with Kansas disabled tag B5702. Lopez-Garcia should be considered armed and dangerous. 

If you have information about his location or come into contact with him, do not approach or make contact with him, call 911 with the location or information.If you have any information referencing this case or the identification of the individual(s) involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950&amp;fbclid=IwAR2oQLMO1PIStio-2O0inINDAbyxn3YjMA6P-AqLuUtAwVMOiN-vXQmDJ6E" target="_blank">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950</a> to submit a web tip.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650503224275.png" alt="Lopez-Garcia-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Lopez-Garcia-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Wednesday morning homicide in Salina have reported an arrest.Police issued an arrest warrant for Anthony Quentin Lopez-Garcia by Saline County District Court, for the charges of First Degree Murder and Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, according to a media release from Salina Police.On Wednesday afternoon, a Kansas City, Missouri resident recognized Lopez-Garcia apparently due to the previous media release. KCPD was contacted and Lopez-Garcia was taken into custody on unrelated local Kansas City charges. Lopez-Garcia will be extradited back to Kansas for the homicide upon completion of the extradition process. The victim has been identified but presently, the next of kin resides in another state and the notification is forthcoming. Once that is done, the victim’s name will be released.----------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650468864122.png" alt="Lopez-Garcia -photo Salina Police" />
 <figcaption>Lopez-Garcia -photo Salina Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Salina and asking the public for help to locate a person-of-interest.Just before 12:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the area of Front Street and Gypsum Avenue for a possible injury motor vehicle accident, according to a media release from Salina Police.Officers responded and located a white male deceased in the passenger seat of a green 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis. The victim appeared to have been shot and no one else was in the vehicle. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed at this time.The Salina Police Department is actively investigating this case as a homicide and has developed Anthony Quentin Lopez-Garcia a person of interest in the case. He is a 27-year old Hispanic male, 5-foot-8, weighs 170 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.&nbsp; Lopez-Garcia may be in a Maroon 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup with Kansas disabled tag B5702. Lopez-Garcia should be considered armed and dangerous. If you have information about his location or come into contact with him, do not approach or make contact with him, call 911 with the location or information.If you have any information referencing this case or the identification of the individual(s) involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950&amp;fbclid=IwAR2oQLMO1PIStio-2O0inINDAbyxn3YjMA6P-AqLuUtAwVMOiN-vXQmDJ6E" target="_blank">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950</a> to submit a web tip.

Police: Suspect wanted for Salina murder captured in Kansas City

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a measure tucked into a budget measure that would have allowed Kansas legislators to reconsider a decision not to join the state pension system for teachers and government workers. 

The state constitution gives governors the power to veto individual items in spending bills even while signing them. Kelly used it Wednesday to strike what she called “an exclusive opportunity” for members of the Republican-controlled Legislature that’s not available to other public employees. 

State law currently gives lawmakers one chance to decide whether they will participate in the state pension system. The vetoed provision would allow them to reverse course before their 2023 session starts.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a measure tucked into a budget measure that would have allowed Kansas legislators to reconsider a decision not to join the state pension system for teachers and government workers. The state constitution gives governors the power to veto individual items in spending bills even while signing them. Kelly used it Wednesday to strike what she called “an exclusive opportunity” for members of the Republican-controlled Legislature that’s not available to other public employees. State law currently gives lawmakers one chance to decide whether they will participate in the state pension system. The vetoed provision would allow them to reverse course before their 2023 session starts.

Governor vetoes special pension measure for Kan. lawmakers

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating domestic incident and have made an arrest.&nbsp;

On April 15, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's office was notified that a man had been shot at 15979 Cattleman Road in rural Wabaunsee County, according to Sheriff Rob Hoskins.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Investigators learned a 59-year-old had been shot inside his residence during an alleged domestic quarrel.&nbsp; EMS transported the victim to a Topeka hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies have arrested 54-year-old Renee Lynn Larson on a requested charge of aggravated battery, knowingly use of a weapon to cause great bodily harm. attempted murder in the second degree. She is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650473479389.png" alt="Larson-photo Wabaunsee County" />
 <figcaption>Larson-photo Wabaunsee County</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating domestic incident and have made an arrest.&nbsp;On April 15, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's office was notified that a man had been shot at 15979 Cattleman Road in rural Wabaunsee County, according to Sheriff Rob Hoskins.&nbsp;&nbsp;Investigators learned a 59-year-old had been shot inside his residence during an alleged domestic quarrel.&nbsp; EMS transported the victim to a Topeka hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.Deputies have arrested 54-year-old Renee Lynn Larson on a requested charge of aggravated battery, knowingly use of a weapon to cause great bodily harm. attempted murder in the second degree. She is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kan. woman held on $100K bond for allegedly shooting husband

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration has been working for months to prepare people to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-travel-business-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-d3fc45424ea07d0ce54be755285296e7">rethink their personal risk calculations&nbsp;</a>as the nation gets used to the idea of living with an endemic COVID-19.

But that measured approach disappeared abruptly when a federal judge on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/judge-strikes-down-mask-mandates-1fccaa750b6d42b6b609ef75d3c14c26">threw out the federal requirement&nbsp;</a>to mask up when using mass transit. The ruling added to the urgency of the messaging challenge as the administration tries to move past the virus in the lead-up to midterm elections.

After the government last month eased indoor mask-wearing guidelines for the vast majority of Americans – even in schools — masking on planes was one of the last redoubts of the national COVID-19 restrictions. Now, as the policy falls, the administration turns to accelerating its efforts to provide the best advice for millions making their own personal safety decisions in the still-dangerous pandemic.

It’s both a public health imperative and an important shift in emphasis for Biden’s political future.

“There is an opportunity now, instead of saying this is a disappointing ruling, they could say this is a good time to have a conversation about how we move forward in this pandemic about risk calculation,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja an infectious disease physician and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

“With COVID-19, I think we’re at a point with immunity from prior infections, vaccines, home tests and treatments that we can start to manage this the way we manage other infectious diseases,” he said.

Biden himself went all-in on flexibility Tuesday when asked if Americans should mask up on planes.

“That’s up to them,” Biden declared during a visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But his own White House nonetheless continues to require face coverings for those traveling with him on Air Force One, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The shift toward less formal regulation was actually previewed in a 100-page plan released by the White House coronavirus response team in February. Back then, administration officials had hoped that children under 5 would be eligible for vaccination by now — a move that would have eased the concern of millions of parents and provided the umbrella of protection to nearly everyone in the U.S. who wanted it.

Monday’s court order lifting the mask mandate came at a crossroads in the nation’s pandemic response, just shy of a year to the day from when all American adults were eligible for vaccination against COVID-19. The ruling sent government agencies and the White House scrambling to comply, but that didn’t stop momentary confusion among travelers as airlines and airports dropped their mask requirements — in some cases mid-flight.

The administration stressed that Americans should still comply with CDC recommendations to wear face coverings, even in the absence of the mandate. Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, said as much just an hour before his “up to them” comment.

“The CDC continues to advise and recommend masks on airplanes. We’re abiding by the CDC recommendations, the president is, and we would advise all Americans to do that,” she said.

On Tuesday, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said officials believe that the federal mask order was “a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health.” He said it was “an important authority the Department will continue to work to preserve.”

But he said the department would only appeal the ruling if the CDC determined that the mask mandate was still necessary for public health. As of Tuesday evening, the agency hadn’t made a determination, officials said.

Psaki on Tuesday indicated that while the administration was disappointed with the ruling, it didn’t rank with Congress’ inability to reach a compromise on additional COVID funding to purchase booster shots and antiviral treatments.

“Those are our biggest concerns,” she said.

Face-covering requirements, which have proven to lower the risks of infection, have grown increasingly political in the U.S. over the last year, particularly as cases and severe outcomes have fallen.

The lingering mandate for public transit and air travel served as a daily reminder for many people that the pandemic they badly wanted to be over was still affecting their lives, even if vaccinations and antiviral treatments had dramatically lowered their risk. For others who are still fearful of the virus, each roll-back of pandemic restrictions has sparked fresh disquiet — and in some cases criticism of the Biden administration.

“There are still a lot of people in this country who still want to have masks in place — either they have immunocompromised relatives, they have kids under 5, whatever it may be,” said Psaki.

Monday’s court ruling hastened an outcome that was likely coming in weeks anyway. Many administration officials believed that last week’s 15-day extension of the mask order to May 3 would be the last. The public health agency had asked for the additional time to monitor whether a recent rise in infections would result in increased hospitalizations or deaths. So far it hasn’t.

The court’s order caught the administration by surprise and left it struggling to grasp its impact — both on the requirement’s end and on CDC’s authorities going forward.

“CDC scientists had asked for 15 days to make a more data-driven durable decision,” Dr. Aashish Jha, the new White House COVID-19 coordinator, tweeted on Tuesday. “We should have given it to them.”

The uptick in cases and a recent spate of positive cases in Biden’s orbit — including second gentleman Doug Emhoff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — was a potent reminder that the virus isn’t going away.

Biden, 79, was never identified as a “close contact” under CDC guidelines, the White House said, and officials emphasized that he is strongly protected against the virus by being vaccinated and twice-boosted.

Controlling the virus that has killed 986,000 Americans has been a priority for Biden since taking office. The U.S. now averages about 35,000 confirmed cases per day, down from a high of more than 806,000 during January’s omicron surge, but up slightly from lows of about 26,000 a month ago. Those figures are surely an undercount since many people don’t report the results of at-home tests to public health authorities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650418667824.png" alt="On Tuesday afternoon, President Biden visited Portsmouth Harbor — a site that’s receiving funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accommodate larger ships and more cargo. It’s just one example of how we’re modernizing our nation’s infrastructure and lowering costs for consumers." />
 <figcaption>On Tuesday afternoon, President Biden visited Portsmouth Harbor — a site that’s receiving funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accommodate larger ships and more cargo. It’s just one example of how we’re modernizing our nation’s infrastructure and lowering costs for consumers.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration has been working for months to prepare people to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-travel-business-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-d3fc45424ea07d0ce54be755285296e7">rethink their personal risk calculations&nbsp;</a>as the nation gets used to the idea of living with an endemic COVID-19.But that measured approach disappeared abruptly when a federal judge on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/judge-strikes-down-mask-mandates-1fccaa750b6d42b6b609ef75d3c14c26">threw out the federal requirement&nbsp;</a>to mask up when using mass transit. The ruling added to the urgency of the messaging challenge as the administration tries to move past the virus in the lead-up to midterm elections.After the government last month eased indoor mask-wearing guidelines for the vast majority of Americans – even in schools — masking on planes was one of the last redoubts of the national COVID-19 restrictions. Now, as the policy falls, the administration turns to accelerating its efforts to provide the best advice for millions making their own personal safety decisions in the still-dangerous pandemic.It’s both a public health imperative and an important shift in emphasis for Biden’s political future.“There is an opportunity now, instead of saying this is a disappointing ruling, they could say this is a good time to have a conversation about how we move forward in this pandemic about risk calculation,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja an infectious disease physician and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.“With COVID-19, I think we’re at a point with immunity from prior infections, vaccines, home tests and treatments that we can start to manage this the way we manage other infectious diseases,” he said.Biden himself went all-in on flexibility Tuesday when asked if Americans should mask up on planes.“That’s up to them,” Biden declared during a visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But his own White House nonetheless continues to require face coverings for those traveling with him on Air Force One, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The shift toward less formal regulation was actually previewed in a 100-page plan released by the White House coronavirus response team in February. Back then, administration officials had hoped that children under 5 would be eligible for vaccination by now — a move that would have eased the concern of millions of parents and provided the umbrella of protection to nearly everyone in the U.S. who wanted it.Monday’s court order lifting the mask mandate came at a crossroads in the nation’s pandemic response, just shy of a year to the day from when all American adults were eligible for vaccination against COVID-19. The ruling sent government agencies and the White House scrambling to comply, but that didn’t stop momentary confusion among travelers as airlines and airports dropped their mask requirements — in some cases mid-flight.The administration stressed that Americans should still comply with CDC recommendations to wear face coverings, even in the absence of the mandate. Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, said as much just an hour before his “up to them” comment.“The CDC continues to advise and recommend masks on airplanes. We’re abiding by the CDC recommendations, the president is, and we would advise all Americans to do that,” she said.On Tuesday, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said officials believe that the federal mask order was “a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health.” He said it was “an important authority the Department will continue to work to preserve.”But he said the department would only appeal the ruling if the CDC determined that the mask mandate was still necessary for public health. As of Tuesday evening, the agency hadn’t made a determination, officials said.Psaki on Tuesday indicated that while the administration was disappointed with the ruling, it didn’t rank with Congress’ inability to reach a compromise on additional COVID funding to purchase booster shots and antiviral treatments.“Those are our biggest concerns,” she said.Face-covering requirements, which have proven to lower the risks of infection, have grown increasingly political in the U.S. over the last year, particularly as cases and severe outcomes have fallen.The lingering mandate for public transit and air travel served as a daily reminder for many people that the pandemic they badly wanted to be over was still affecting their lives, even if vaccinations and antiviral treatments had dramatically lowered their risk. For others who are still fearful of the virus, each roll-back of pandemic restrictions has sparked fresh disquiet — and in some cases criticism of the Biden administration.“There are still a lot of people in this country who still want to have masks in place — either they have immunocompromised relatives, they have kids under 5, whatever it may be,” said Psaki.Monday’s court ruling hastened an outcome that was likely coming in weeks anyway. Many administration officials believed that last week’s 15-day extension of the mask order to May 3 would be the last. The public health agency had asked for the additional time to monitor whether a recent rise in infections would result in increased hospitalizations or deaths. So far it hasn’t.The court’s order caught the administration by surprise and left it struggling to grasp its impact — both on the requirement’s end and on CDC’s authorities going forward.“CDC scientists had asked for 15 days to make a more data-driven durable decision,” Dr. Aashish Jha, the new White House COVID-19 coordinator, tweeted on Tuesday. “We should have given it to them.”The uptick in cases and a recent spate of positive cases in Biden’s orbit — including second gentleman Doug Emhoff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — was a potent reminder that the virus isn’t going away.Biden, 79, was never identified as a “close contact” under CDC guidelines, the White House said, and officials emphasized that he is strongly protected against the virus by being vaccinated and twice-boosted.Controlling the virus that has killed 986,000 Americans has been a priority for Biden since taking office. The U.S. now averages about 35,000 confirmed cases per day, down from a high of more than 806,000 during January’s omicron surge, but up slightly from lows of about 26,000 a month ago. Those figures are surely an undercount since many people don’t report the results of at-home tests to public health authorities.

Moving beyond masks: Biden toils to put pandemic behind him

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 32-year-old Kansas man has been sentenced to two years of probation for participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Mark Roger Rebegila, of St. Marys, Kansas, was also sentenced Wednesday to 30 days of home detention, a $2,000 fine and 60 hours of community service. 

The Kansas City Star reports federal prosecutors said Rebegila went into the U.S. Capitol twice that day and entered two offices. He was not accused of any violence or property destruction while in the Capitol. Rebegila apologized for his actions. 

He is the third of eight Kansans charged after the riot to be sentenced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650481193895.png" alt="Rebegila photo Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Rebegila photo Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 32-year-old Kansas man has been sentenced to two years of probation for participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Mark Roger Rebegila, of St. Marys, Kansas, was also sentenced Wednesday to 30 days of home detention, a $2,000 fine and 60 hours of community service. The Kansas City Star reports federal prosecutors said Rebegila went into the U.S. Capitol twice that day and entered two offices. He was not accused of any violence or property destruction while in the Capitol. Rebegila apologized for his actions. He is the third of eight Kansans charged after the riot to be sentenced.

Kansas man sentenced for role in Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes, trains and travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.

It came minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision handed down by a federal judge in Florida earlier this week.

The CDC said in a statement on Wednesday that it is its “continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622894132711.png" alt="The CDC said in a statement on Wednesday that it is its “continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”-photo Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>The CDC said in a statement on Wednesday that it is its “continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”-photo Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes, trains and travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.It came minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision handed down by a federal judge in Florida earlier this week.A notice of appeal was filed in federal court in Tampa.The CDC said in a statement on Wednesday that it is its “continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”The CDC said it will continue to monitor public health conditions to determine if a mandate would remain necessary. It said it believes the mandate is “a lawful order, well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health.”

Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate

MOSCOW (AP)— The Russian Defense Ministry reported the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00963402.2022.2038907?needAccess=true">first launch</a> of its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. President Vladimir Putin said this weapon is unique and will make those who threaten Russia “think twice.”

The ministry said said the missile was launched Wednesday from the Plesetsk launch facility in northern Russia and its practice warheads hit designated targets at the Kura firing range on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Sarmat is a heavy missile, intended to replace the Soviet-made Voyevoda missile which was code-named Satan by the West. Putin and his officials said it's capable of penetrating any prospective missile defense.

Putin called this “a big, significant event” for Russia’s defense industry. He said the Sarmat will ensure Russia’s security from external threats and make those who, in the heat of frantic, aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country, think twice.”

Russia relies on land-based ICBMs as the core of its nuclear deterrent, and is counting on the Sarmat for decades to come.

The U.S. has its own ICBMs, but postponed and then called off an intercontinental nuclear-capable missile test to avoid escalating tensions with Russia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645673092575.png" alt="President Vladimir Putin called this “a big, significant event” for Russia’s defense industry. photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Vladimir Putin called this “a big, significant event” for Russia’s defense industry. photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP)— The Russian Defense Ministry reported the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00963402.2022.2038907?needAccess=true">first launch</a> of its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. President Vladimir Putin said this weapon is unique and will make those who threaten Russia “think twice.”The ministry said said the missile was launched Wednesday from the Plesetsk launch facility in northern Russia and its practice warheads hit designated targets at the Kura firing range on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.The Sarmat is a heavy missile, intended to replace the Soviet-made Voyevoda missile which was code-named Satan by the West. Putin and his officials said it's capable of penetrating any prospective missile defense.Putin called this “a big, significant event” for Russia’s defense industry. He said the Sarmat will ensure Russia’s security from external threats and make those who, in the heat of frantic, aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country, think twice.”Russia relies on land-based ICBMs as the core of its nuclear deterrent, and is counting on the Sarmat for decades to come.The U.S. has its own ICBMs, but postponed and then called off an intercontinental nuclear-capable missile test to avoid escalating tensions with Russia.

Threat: Russia tests new intercontinental nuclear missile

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of wire fraud and filing a false tax return related to a scheme to embezzle money from the Johnson County District Court in Olathe, Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Dawna Kellogg, 61, of Williamsburg—while employed in the accounting department at the Johnson County District Court—stole at least $776,691.50 in cash from her employer between January 2010 and June 2017. Kellogg’s legal name was Dawna Brandt at the time.

As the Accounting Supervisor for the Court, Kellogg managed the accounting department, collected funds from each separate county system, recorded funds collected, processed daily reports, and deposited the collected funds into the Court’s bank account. The Court utilized a case management system named the Justice Information Management System (JIMS), which had an accounting function to maintain the Court’s financial transactions.

Kellogg stole cash that the Court received, such as bail bond payments, and either spent or deposited the embezzled proceeds into her personal accounts. Kellogg concealed the stolen cash by two primary means: (1) manipulating an unclaimed property account and (2) creating an open payable in the JIMS system and then issuing a check that was both drawn on and deposited into the Court’s bank account, which created a corresponding debit and credit and thus no increase or decrease in the amount under deposit.

Kellogg pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. As part of her plea agreement, Kellogg agreed to not contest that the total loss resulting from the scheme to defraud was $1,135,988.13, which consists of $359,296.63 from 2007 through 2009 and $776,691.50 from 2010 through June 2017. &nbsp;

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for August 16 at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Holly L. Teeter. &nbsp;

“The defendant knowingly defrauded the public for personal financial gain over a prolonged period of time. &nbsp;When someone in a position of public trust redirects incoming cash payments for city bonds, fines, and court costs to their personal bank account it threatens the very core of our government institutions. Today’s agreement underscores the importance of holding those whose criminal actions degrade the public’s trust accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub, FBI Kansas City.

“Ms. Kellogg’s attempt to conceal her embezzlement by making fraudulent accounting entries and filing false tax returns was no match for IRS Criminal Investigation”, said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. &nbsp;“IRS-CI will aggressively pursue those who threaten to defraud the very court system which provides justice to all.”

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of wire fraud and filing a false tax return related to a scheme to embezzle money from the Johnson County District Court in Olathe, Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Dawna Kellogg, 61, of Williamsburg—while employed in the accounting department at the Johnson County District Court—stole at least $776,691.50 in cash from her employer between January 2010 and June 2017. Kellogg’s legal name was Dawna Brandt at the time.As the Accounting Supervisor for the Court, Kellogg managed the accounting department, collected funds from each separate county system, recorded funds collected, processed daily reports, and deposited the collected funds into the Court’s bank account. The Court utilized a case management system named the Justice Information Management System (JIMS), which had an accounting function to maintain the Court’s financial transactions.Kellogg stole cash that the Court received, such as bail bond payments, and either spent or deposited the embezzled proceeds into her personal accounts. Kellogg concealed the stolen cash by two primary means: (1) manipulating an unclaimed property account and (2) creating an open payable in the JIMS system and then issuing a check that was both drawn on and deposited into the Court’s bank account, which created a corresponding debit and credit and thus no increase or decrease in the amount under deposit. Kellogg pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. As part of her plea agreement, Kellogg agreed to not contest that the total loss resulting from the scheme to defraud was $1,135,988.13, which consists of $359,296.63 from 2007 through 2009 and $776,691.50 from 2010 through June 2017. &nbsp;A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for August 16 at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Holly L. Teeter. &nbsp;“The defendant knowingly defrauded the public for personal financial gain over a prolonged period of time. &nbsp;When someone in a position of public trust redirects incoming cash payments for city bonds, fines, and court costs to their personal bank account it threatens the very core of our government institutions. Today’s agreement underscores the importance of holding those whose criminal actions degrade the public’s trust accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub, FBI Kansas City.“Ms. Kellogg’s attempt to conceal her embezzlement by making fraudulent accounting entries and filing false tax returns was no match for IRS Criminal Investigation”, said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. &nbsp;“IRS-CI will aggressively pursue those who threaten to defraud the very court system which provides justice to all.”

Accountant admits embezzling $700K from Kansas court

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri bill passed by the state House on Tuesday would put restrictions on how race is talked about in public K-12 schools.

The GOP-led House on Tuesday voted 85-59 in favor of the bill, with some Republicans opposing the measure. It now goes to the Republican-led Senate.&nbsp; In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed similar legislation last week.

The legislation would ban schools from compelling students or teaching from saying “that individuals, by virtue of their race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?year=2022&amp;code=R%20&amp;bill=HB%201858">measure</a>&nbsp;also bans schools from compelling students and teachers to affirm that “individuals of any race, ethnicity, color, or national origin are inherently superior or inferior.”

Students, parents or teachers could file complaints alleging violations of those bans with the state education department or Missouri attorney general.

Supporters argued that the bill is needed to prevent classrooms from being used to indoctrinate children. But critics said the measure could have a chilling effect and might scare educators away from having difficult discussions about race and American history.

“America’s history is not squeaky clean," Democratic Rep. LaKeySha Bosley said. “We need to be open-minded about that and have the hard conversations and not be scared to talk it through.”

Similar language has been advanced in Republican-led legislatures in states including&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mississippi.

The Missouri bill comes as Republicans across the country have been raising money by saying critical race theory is a threat.

Critical race theory is an academic framework that examines how racism has shaped public policy and institutions such as the legal system, and how those have perpetuated the dominance of white people in society.

The Missouri legislation doesn't mention critical race theory but alludes to the concept.

The measure also includes a number of provisions aimed at forcing schools to open their doors more widely to parents or face the threat of funding restrictions or lawsuits.

“Parents’ Bill of Rights Act of 2022" and would require school boards to “recognize and affirm the protected right of parents to direct the education of their minor child,” among other parental privileges in public schools including the right to visit their child in school.

Republican Rep. Mike Stephens said he’s “deeply afraid" the provision on parents' controlling their children's education could hamper public education.

“This language can wreak havoc in the classroom,” Republican Rep. Mike Stephens said. “Even though we want schools to be more open and we want the institutions of the public schools to be more open, we still have to have a system that is functional and that is not hamstrung by overkill and overzealous regulations.”

“I have no problem whatsoever with tipping the scales in favor of the parents, because that's how we communicate that we will work to regain your trust,” Republican Rep. Doug Richey said.

Under the measure, schools would be required to notify parents of misdemeanors or felonies committed by teachers and staff. Students could not participate in extracurriculars or field trips without parent permission.

Another section requires schools to publicly share class curricula, teacher salaries and documents used for professional development.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri bill passed by the state House on Tuesday would put restrictions on how race is talked about in public K-12 schools.The GOP-led House on Tuesday voted 85-59 in favor of the bill, with some Republicans opposing the measure. It now goes to the Republican-led Senate.&nbsp; In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed similar legislation last week.The legislation would ban schools from compelling students or teaching from saying “that individuals, by virtue of their race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?year=2022&amp;code=R%20&amp;bill=HB%201858">measure</a>&nbsp;also bans schools from compelling students and teachers to affirm that “individuals of any race, ethnicity, color, or national origin are inherently superior or inferior.”Students, parents or teachers could file complaints alleging violations of those bans with the state education department or Missouri attorney general.Supporters argued that the bill is needed to prevent classrooms from being used to indoctrinate children. But critics said the measure could have a chilling effect and might scare educators away from having difficult discussions about race and American history.“America’s history is not squeaky clean," Democratic Rep. LaKeySha Bosley said. “We need to be open-minded about that and have the hard conversations and not be scared to talk it through.”Similar language has been advanced in Republican-led legislatures in states including&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mississippi.The Missouri bill comes as Republicans across the country have been raising money by saying critical race theory is a threat.Critical race theory is an academic framework that examines how racism has shaped public policy and institutions such as the legal system, and how those have perpetuated the dominance of white people in society.The Missouri legislation doesn't mention critical race theory but alludes to the concept.The measure also includes a number of provisions aimed at forcing schools to open their doors more widely to parents or face the threat of funding restrictions or lawsuits.“Parents’ Bill of Rights Act of 2022" and would require school boards to “recognize and affirm the protected right of parents to direct the education of their minor child,” among other parental privileges in public schools including the right to visit their child in school.Republican Rep. Mike Stephens said he’s “deeply afraid" the provision on parents' controlling their children's education could hamper public education.“This language can wreak havoc in the classroom,” Republican Rep. Mike Stephens said. “Even though we want schools to be more open and we want the institutions of the public schools to be more open, we still have to have a system that is functional and that is not hamstrung by overkill and overzealous regulations.”Other Republicans disagreed.“I have no problem whatsoever with tipping the scales in favor of the parents, because that's how we communicate that we will work to regain your trust,” Republican Rep. Doug Richey said.Under the measure, schools would be required to notify parents of misdemeanors or felonies committed by teachers and staff. Students could not participate in extracurriculars or field trips without parent permission.Another section requires schools to publicly share class curricula, teacher salaries and documents used for professional development.

Missouri closer to approval of 'parents bill of rights' legislation

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an altercation that included gunshots.

Just before 5:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 1800 block of SE Massachusetts Avenue in reference a possible shooting, according to Lt. Michael Hren.

Upon arrival officers learned several subjects were involved in a physical altercation when one began firing shots in the area. 

One subject ran from the area and it was unknown if he had been injured or not. Police ultimately made contact with him by phone and he advised he was uninjured but refused to talk to officers.

Police detained several subjects due to some of the rounds striking houses and cars.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an altercation that included gunshots.Just before 5:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 1800 block of SE Massachusetts Avenue in reference a possible shooting, according to Lt. Michael Hren.Upon arrival officers learned several subjects were involved in a physical altercation when one began firing shots in the area. One subject ran from the area and it was unknown if he had been injured or not. Police ultimately made contact with him by phone and he advised he was uninjured but refused to talk to officers.Police detained several subjects due to some of the rounds striking houses and cars.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.