WICHITA —For the first-time ever, the National Hockey League is headed to Wichita.

The Arizona Coyotes and St Louis Blues will face off at Intrust Bank Arena on September 24 for an NHL preseason matchup, according to a social media report from the arena.

For the current season, the Blues are in second place&nbsp;in the NHL's Central division with a record of 46-20 and the Coyotes are in last place in that division with a record of 22-48.

Tickets for the G1 Sports &amp; Entertainment "Frozen Face Off" go on sale Friday at 10:00 AM through Select-A-Seat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650298803174.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —For the first-time ever, the National Hockey League is headed to Wichita.The Arizona Coyotes and St Louis Blues will face off at Intrust Bank Arena on September 24 for an NHL preseason matchup, according to a social media report from the arena.For the current season, the Blues are in second place&nbsp;in the NHL's Central division with a record of 46-20 and the Coyotes are in last place in that division with a record of 22-48.Tickets for the G1 Sports &amp; Entertainment "Frozen Face Off" go on sale Friday at 10:00 AM through Select-A-Seat.

National Hockey League will play a game in Wichita

MANHATTAN—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged fraud in Manhattan.

Just before 5:30p.m. Friday, officers filed a report for making false information and criminal use of a financial card in the 100 block of Manhattan Town Center, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Banter by Piercing Pagoda in the mall reported two unknown female suspects used a fraudulent financial card to purchase multiple jewelry items.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $9,142.

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

MANHATTAN—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged fraud in Manhattan.Just before 5:30p.m. Friday, officers filed a report for making false information and criminal use of a financial card in the 100 block of Manhattan Town Center, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Banter by Piercing Pagoda in the mall reported two unknown female suspects used a fraudulent financial card to purchase multiple jewelry items.The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $9,142.Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: $9,000 in purchases made with fraud financial card

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after an arrest. Shortly before 2p.m. Friday, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to locate a subject wanted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The search led them to a residence in the 2100 block of North Kansas Avenue in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Deputies took 60-year-old Richard L. Niedfeldt of Topeka into custody. During the arrest, illegal narcotics were located. Niedfeldt was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for two warrants and requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650232037428.png" alt="Niedfeldt photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Niedfeldt photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after an arrest. Shortly before 2p.m. Friday, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to locate a subject wanted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The search led them to a residence in the 2100 block of North Kansas Avenue in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Deputies took 60-year-old Richard L. Niedfeldt of Topeka into custody. During the arrest, illegal narcotics were located. Niedfeldt was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for two warrants and requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputies find 60-year-old with drugs at Kansas home

MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/nabc/">National Agricultural Biosecurity Center</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University is receiving a more than $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to protect the nation's food supply, according to a media release from from the university. With the grant from DHS's Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Division, the center will seek ways to support the production and economic health of the food and agricultural sectors and sustain human health through a stable and resilient food and agricultural supply chain. "A robust defense of our nation's agriculture and food systems is as important as ever as supply chains and critical infrastructure incur heightened exposures to risk," said Adrian Self, operations research analyst at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, or NABC. "Enhancing the resiliency of the food and agricultural enterprise, especially in preharvest sectors, against disruption and providing producers, processors and government agencies tools to enhance situational awareness is essential," Self said. "This is the task that has been given to the NABC." The center will support the Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Division in its role to address vulnerabilities, threats and capabilities needed for food, agriculture and veterinary readiness, overall critical Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency sector resilience, and further aiding in efforts to secure the nation's food supply, agricultural, economic and human health. The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center has performed similar work on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Office of the Director for National Intelligence. The center also has collaborations with K-State colleges, departments and units, in addition to the federal National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. "This proposal continues previous exploratory and developmental work performed by NABC through prior DHS Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Division tasks and contracts," said Marty Vanier, center director. "NABC's established working relationships and prior collaborative projects with other academic institutions; diagnostic and research laboratories; federal, state, and local agency partners; pre- and post-harvest production, processing and supply chain associations; and private industry has prepared our program to be a dominant actor in driving progress on priorities key to the nation's security." The projects involved in these undertakings include assessing county-level readiness and capacity to respond to a high-consequence food or agricultural incident; updating animal disease response training; framework development for sharing food and agriculture information, data, and analysis; and assisting the integration and collaboration amongst federal, state, local, research and industry stakeholders. The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center supports applied scientific research to develop practical agro-security capabilities and programs addressing diverse threats to U.S. and world agricultural economies and food supply chains. It engages elements from local, county, state, and federal governments to enhance national food security.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650285028095.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/nabc/">National Agricultural Biosecurity Center</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University is receiving a more than $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to protect the nation's food supply, according to a media release from from the university. With the grant from DHS's Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Division, the center will seek ways to support the production and economic health of the food and agricultural sectors and sustain human health through a stable and resilient food and agricultural supply chain. "A robust defense of our nation's agriculture and food systems is as important as ever as supply chains and critical infrastructure incur heightened exposures to risk," said Adrian Self, operations research analyst at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, or NABC. "Enhancing the resiliency of the food and agricultural enterprise, especially in preharvest sectors, against disruption and providing producers, processors and government agencies tools to enhance situational awareness is essential," Self said. "This is the task that has been given to the NABC." The center will support the Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Division in its role to address vulnerabilities, threats and capabilities needed for food, agriculture and veterinary readiness, overall critical Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency sector resilience, and further aiding in efforts to secure the nation's food supply, agricultural, economic and human health. The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center has performed similar work on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Office of the Director for National Intelligence. The center also has collaborations with K-State colleges, departments and units, in addition to the federal National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. "This proposal continues previous exploratory and developmental work performed by NABC through prior DHS Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Division tasks and contracts," said Marty Vanier, center director. "NABC's established working relationships and prior collaborative projects with other academic institutions; diagnostic and research laboratories; federal, state, and local agency partners; pre- and post-harvest production, processing and supply chain associations; and private industry has prepared our program to be a dominant actor in driving progress on priorities key to the nation's security." The projects involved in these undertakings include assessing county-level readiness and capacity to respond to a high-consequence food or agricultural incident; updating animal disease response training; framework development for sharing food and agriculture information, data, and analysis; and assisting the integration and collaboration amongst federal, state, local, research and industry stakeholders. The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center supports applied scientific research to develop practical agro-security capabilities and programs addressing diverse threats to U.S. and world agricultural economies and food supply chains. It engages elements from local, county, state, and federal governments to enhance national food security.

KSU receives $1.5M grant to protect nation's food supply

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle and ultimately a suspect.

Just after 11p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the the 2400 block of SW Burnett in Topeka, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell. Upon arrival, officers found that an 11-year-old girl who qA suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

On Sunday, investigators released a security camera image of a vehicle identified as a vehicle of interest in the case.

Police have not released additional details on the girl's condition or reported an arrest. They asked anyone with information in the case to contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650285506930.png" alt="Security camera image of suspect vehicle -Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image of suspect vehicle -Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle and ultimately a suspect.Just after 11p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the the 2400 block of SW Burnett in Topeka, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell. Upon arrival, officers found that an 11-year-old girl who qA suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.On Sunday, investigators released a security camera image of a vehicle identified as a vehicle of interest in the case.Police have not released additional details on the girl's condition or reported an arrest. They asked anyone with information in the case to contact police.

Police ID vehicle of interest in shooting of 11-year-old Kan. girl

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Interior Department said it’s moving forward with the first onshore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-oil-gas-public-land-environment-4d2c446ee78f6ed172f28f0fa01c6826">sales of public oil and natural gas drilling leases&nbsp;</a>under President Joe Biden, but will sharply increase royalty rates for companies as federal officials weigh efforts to fight climate change against pressure to bring down high gasoline prices.

The royalty rate for new leases will increase to 18.75% from 12.5%. That’s a 50% jump and marks the first increase to royalties for the federal government since they were imposed in the 1920s.

Biden suspended new leasing just a week after taking office in January 2021. A federal judge in Louisiana ordered the sales to resume, saying Interior officials had offered no “rational explanation” for canceling them.

The government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-science-business-environment-and-nature-cc0deca6a28aab21cd4e0aa35ea7b6af">held an offshore lease auction</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Mexico in November, although a court later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-62adf1fd8d2731449df882e6709f3522">blocked that sale</a>&nbsp;before the leases were issued.

The announcement comes amid pressure for Biden to expand U.S. crude production as the pandemic and war in Ukraine roil the global economy and fuel prices have spiked. The Democrat faces calls from within his own party to do more to curb emissions from fossil fuels that are driving climate change.

Leases for 225 square miles (580 square kilometers) of federal lands primarily in the West will be offered for sale in a notice to be posted on Monday, officials said. The parcels represent about 30 % less land than officials had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-oil-gas-public-land-environment-4d2c446ee78f6ed172f28f0fa01c6826">proposed for sale&nbsp;</a>in November and 80% less than what was originally nominated by the industry.

The sales notices will cover leasing decisions in nine states — Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Alabama, Nevada, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Interior Department officials declined to specify which states would have parcels for sale or to give a breakdown of the amount of land by state, saying that information would be included in Monday’s sales notices. They said the reduced area being offered reflects a focus on leasing in locations near existing oil and gas development including pipelines.

Hundreds of parcels of public land that companies nominated for leasing had been previously dropped from the upcoming lease sale because of concerns about wildlife being harmed by drilling rigs.

At the time, officials said burning fuel from the remaining leases could cost billions of dollars in climate change impacts. Fossil fuels extracted from public lands account for about 20% of energy-related U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making them a prime target for climate activists who want to shut down leasing.

Republicans want more drilling, saying it would increase U.S. energy independence and help bring down the cost of crude. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-da75f38d60c1e820b5147fa9e25feca2">oil companies have been hesitant to expand drilling</a>&nbsp;because of uncertainty over how long high prices will continue.

Friday’s announcement comes after Interior officials had raised the prospect of higher royalty rates and less land available for drilling in a leasing reform report issued last year.

“For too long, the federal oil and gas leasing programs have prioritized the wants of extractive industries,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Today, we begin to reset how and what we consider to be the highest and best use of Americans’ resources.”

But the move brought condemnation from both ends of the political spectrum: Environmentalists derided the decision to hold the long-delayed sales, while oil industry representatives said the higher royalty rates would deter drilling.

Nicole Ghio with the environmental group Friends of the Earth said Biden was putting oil industry profits ahead of future generations that will have to deal with the worsening consequences of climate change.

“If Biden wants to be a climate leader, he must stop auctioning off our public lands to Big Oil,” Ghio said in an emailed statement.

American Petroleum Institute Vice President Frank Macchiarola said officials had removed some of the most significant parcels that companies wanted to drill while adding “new barriers” that would discourage companies from investing in drilling on public lands.

Lease sales and royalties that companies pay on extracted oil and gas brought in more than $83 billion in revenue over the past decade. Half the money from onshore drilling goes to the state where it occurred.

Most states and many private landowners require companies to pay royalty rates higher than 12.5%, with some states charging 20% or more, according to federal officials.

The royalty rate for oil produced from federal reserves in deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico is 18.75%. In the November auction that was later canceled, energy companies including Shell, BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil offered a combined $192 million for offshore drilling rights in the Gulf.

New leases that are developed could keep producing crude long past 2030, when Biden has set a goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%, compared with 2005 levels. Scientists say the world needs to be well on the way to that goal over the next decade to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Economists say a higher royalty rate would have a relatively small effect on global emissions, because any reductions in oil and gas from federal lands would be largely offset by fuel from other sources.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Interior Department said it’s moving forward with the first onshore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-oil-gas-public-land-environment-4d2c446ee78f6ed172f28f0fa01c6826">sales of public oil and natural gas drilling leases&nbsp;</a>under President Joe Biden, but will sharply increase royalty rates for companies as federal officials weigh efforts to fight climate change against pressure to bring down high gasoline prices.The royalty rate for new leases will increase to 18.75% from 12.5%. That’s a 50% jump and marks the first increase to royalties for the federal government since they were imposed in the 1920s.Biden suspended new leasing just a week after taking office in January 2021. A federal judge in Louisiana ordered the sales to resume, saying Interior officials had offered no “rational explanation” for canceling them.The government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-science-business-environment-and-nature-cc0deca6a28aab21cd4e0aa35ea7b6af">held an offshore lease auction</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Mexico in November, although a court later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-62adf1fd8d2731449df882e6709f3522">blocked that sale</a>&nbsp;before the leases were issued.The announcement comes amid pressure for Biden to expand U.S. crude production as the pandemic and war in Ukraine roil the global economy and fuel prices have spiked. The Democrat faces calls from within his own party to do more to curb emissions from fossil fuels that are driving climate change.Leases for 225 square miles (580 square kilometers) of federal lands primarily in the West will be offered for sale in a notice to be posted on Monday, officials said. The parcels represent about 30 % less land than officials had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-oil-gas-public-land-environment-4d2c446ee78f6ed172f28f0fa01c6826">proposed for sale&nbsp;</a>in November and 80% less than what was originally nominated by the industry.The sales notices will cover leasing decisions in nine states — Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Alabama, Nevada, North Dakota and Oklahoma.Interior Department officials declined to specify which states would have parcels for sale or to give a breakdown of the amount of land by state, saying that information would be included in Monday’s sales notices. They said the reduced area being offered reflects a focus on leasing in locations near existing oil and gas development including pipelines.Hundreds of parcels of public land that companies nominated for leasing had been previously dropped from the upcoming lease sale because of concerns about wildlife being harmed by drilling rigs.At the time, officials said burning fuel from the remaining leases could cost billions of dollars in climate change impacts. Fossil fuels extracted from public lands account for about 20% of energy-related U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making them a prime target for climate activists who want to shut down leasing.Republicans want more drilling, saying it would increase U.S. energy independence and help bring down the cost of crude. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-da75f38d60c1e820b5147fa9e25feca2">oil companies have been hesitant to expand drilling</a>&nbsp;because of uncertainty over how long high prices will continue.Friday’s announcement comes after Interior officials had raised the prospect of higher royalty rates and less land available for drilling in a leasing reform report issued last year.“For too long, the federal oil and gas leasing programs have prioritized the wants of extractive industries,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Today, we begin to reset how and what we consider to be the highest and best use of Americans’ resources.”But the move brought condemnation from both ends of the political spectrum: Environmentalists derided the decision to hold the long-delayed sales, while oil industry representatives said the higher royalty rates would deter drilling.Nicole Ghio with the environmental group Friends of the Earth said Biden was putting oil industry profits ahead of future generations that will have to deal with the worsening consequences of climate change.“If Biden wants to be a climate leader, he must stop auctioning off our public lands to Big Oil,” Ghio said in an emailed statement.American Petroleum Institute Vice President Frank Macchiarola said officials had removed some of the most significant parcels that companies wanted to drill while adding “new barriers” that would discourage companies from investing in drilling on public lands.Lease sales and royalties that companies pay on extracted oil and gas brought in more than $83 billion in revenue over the past decade. Half the money from onshore drilling goes to the state where it occurred.Most states and many private landowners require companies to pay royalty rates higher than 12.5%, with some states charging 20% or more, according to federal officials.The royalty rate for oil produced from federal reserves in deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico is 18.75%. In the November auction that was later canceled, energy companies including Shell, BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil offered a combined $192 million for offshore drilling rights in the Gulf.New leases that are developed could keep producing crude long past 2030, when Biden has set a goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%, compared with 2005 levels. Scientists say the world needs to be well on the way to that goal over the next decade to avoid catastrophic climate change.Economists say a higher royalty rate would have a relatively small effect on global emissions, because any reductions in oil and gas from federal lands would be largely offset by fuel from other sources.

White House restarting federal oil, gas lease sales this week

KANSAS CITY —A jury found a man guilty in the fatal shooting of a woman in her vehicle near Downtown Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

On Friday, the jury convicted 28-year-old Dakkota Siders, Independence, of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

According to court records, at approximately 3a.m. January 16, 2019, Kansas City police responded to Interstate 70 West near the Interstate 35 entrance ramp on a reported injury accident.

 Police found the victim, Barbra J. Harper, 71, deceased. She had suffered a gunshot wound. Holes in the headrest of the passenger's seat appeared to be from gunfire. 

The driver's side window was broken, as well as a passenger side window. Spent shell casings were found in the roadway nearby. Police detectives obtained surveillance video from city cameras and showed another vehicle speeding behind the victim's vehicle before the victim's vehicle swerves and strikes the guard rail. 

The vehicle speeding behind her vehicle exited onto Harrison Street from Interstate 70. Other video detected the sounds of two gunshots and showed the subject vehicle. 

Police determined the license plate number on the suspect vehicle and conducted surveillance on the residence associated with the plate. The defendant pulled into the driveway of that residence in what appeared to be the same vehicle. While he was arrested, police found a 9 mm handgun in his waistband, another 9 mm under his armpit, a large amount of cash and an I-phone. 

Another handgun was found inside as well as three pounds of marijuana with scales and sandwich baggies. During the investigation, detectives also learned of a disturbance and shots being fired near the Shady Lady on East 12th Street shortly before the homicide. 

Analysis of spent shell casing revealed they and those found near the homicide scene were fired from the same gun. Detectives believe the victim's vehicle may have been mistakenly targeted by the defendant after the Shady Lady incident.&nbsp;

Siders will be sentenced at a July 15 hearing, according to the prosecutor's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650207566443.png" alt="Siders-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Siders-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A jury found a man guilty in the fatal shooting of a woman in her vehicle near Downtown Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.On Friday, the jury convicted 28-year-old Dakkota Siders, Independence, of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;According to court records, at approximately 3a.m. January 16, 2019, Kansas City police responded to Interstate 70 West near the Interstate 35 entrance ramp on a reported injury accident. Police found the victim, Barbra J. Harper, 71, deceased. She had suffered a gunshot wound. Holes in the headrest of the passenger's seat appeared to be from gunfire. The driver's side window was broken, as well as a passenger side window. Spent shell casings were found in the roadway nearby. Police detectives obtained surveillance video from city cameras and showed another vehicle speeding behind the victim's vehicle before the victim's vehicle swerves and strikes the guard rail. The vehicle speeding behind her vehicle exited onto Harrison Street from Interstate 70. Other video detected the sounds of two gunshots and showed the subject vehicle. Police determined the license plate number on the suspect vehicle and conducted surveillance on the residence associated with the plate. The defendant pulled into the driveway of that residence in what appeared to be the same vehicle. While he was arrested, police found a 9 mm handgun in his waistband, another 9 mm under his armpit, a large amount of cash and an I-phone. Another handgun was found inside as well as three pounds of marijuana with scales and sandwich baggies. During the investigation, detectives also learned of a disturbance and shots being fired near the Shady Lady on East 12th Street shortly before the homicide. Analysis of spent shell casing revealed they and those found near the homicide scene were fired from the same gun. Detectives believe the victim's vehicle may have been mistakenly targeted by the defendant after the Shady Lady incident.&nbsp;Siders will be sentenced at a July 15 hearing, according to the prosecutor's office.

71-year-old KC-area woman killed in case of mistaken identity  

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers requesting an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">extension</a>
 will have until Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, to file a return. Not everyone 
has to ask for more time, however. Disaster victims, taxpayers serving 
in combat zones and those living abroad automatically have longer to 
file.

An extension of time to file will also automatically process when 
taxpayers pay all or part of their taxes electronically by this year's 
original due date of April 18, 2022. Although taxpayers can file up to 
six months later when they have an extension, taxes are still owed by 
the original due date.

Here's more about those who get automatic extensions:

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">Victims</a>
 of the December 2021 tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, 
Kentucky and Tennessee have until May 16, 2022, to file their 2021 
returns and pay any tax due, as do victims of Colorado wildfires and 
straight-line winds that began Dec. 30. In addition, victims of severe 
storms, flooding and landslides that began on Feb. 4 in Puerto Rico will
 have until June 15, 2022, to file and pay.

The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any 
taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in a federally declared 
disaster area when at least one area qualifies for FEMA's Individual 
Assistance program. Ordinarily, this means that taxpayers need not 
contact the IRS to get disaster tax relief.

This relief also includes more time for making 2021 contributions to 
IRAs and other plans and making 2022 estimated tax payments. In some 
cases, relief is also available to people living outside the disaster 
area if, for example, they have a business located in the disaster area,
 have tax records located in the disaster area or are assisting in 
disaster relief. For details on all available relief, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a> page on IRS.gov.

Military service members and eligible support personnel serving in a 
combat zone have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to 
file their tax returns and pay any tax due. This includes those serving 
in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones. A complete list of 
designated combat zone localities can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov.

Combat zone extensions also give affected taxpayers more time for a 
variety of other tax-related actions, including contributing to an IRA. 
Various circumstances affect the exact length of the extension available
 to taxpayers. Details, including examples illustrating how these 
extensions are calculated, are in the Extensions of Deadlines section in
 Publication 3.

U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. 
and Puerto Rico have until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns
 and pay any tax due.

The special June 15 deadline also applies to members of the military 
on duty outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the 
longer combat zone extension. Affected taxpayers should attach a 
statement to their return explaining which of these situations apply.

Though taxpayers abroad get more time to pay, interest — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/interest-rates-increase-for-the-second-quarter-of-2022">currently</a>
 at the rate of 4% per year, compounded daily — applies to any payment 
received after this year's April 18 deadline. For more information about
 the special tax rules for U.S. taxpayers abroad, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad</a>, on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers who don't qualify for any of these three special situations
 can still get more time to file by submitting a request for an 
automatic extension. This will extend their filing deadline until Oct. 
17, 2022. But because this is only a tax-filing extension, their 2021 
tax payments are still due by April 18.

An easy way to get the extra time is through IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-everyone-can-file-an-extension-for-free">request an extension</a> on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868</a>. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form.

Another option is to pay electronically and get a tax-filing 
extension. The IRS will automatically process an extension when a 
taxpayer selects Form 4868 and makes a full or partial federal tax 
payment by the April 18 due date using their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a> or a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit, credit card or digital wallet</a>.
 Under this option, there is no need to file a separate Form 4868. 
Taxpayers must register for EFTPS before using. Electronic payment 
options are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">Pay Online</a>.

The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Taxpayers requesting an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">extension</a>
 will have until Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, to file a return. Not everyone 
has to ask for more time, however. Disaster victims, taxpayers serving 
in combat zones and those living abroad automatically have longer to 
file.An extension of time to file will also automatically process when 
taxpayers pay all or part of their taxes electronically by this year's 
original due date of April 18, 2022. Although taxpayers can file up to 
six months later when they have an extension, taxes are still owed by 
the original due date.Here's more about those who get automatic extensions:<h2>Disaster victims</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">Victims</a>
 of the December 2021 tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, 
Kentucky and Tennessee have until May 16, 2022, to file their 2021 
returns and pay any tax due, as do victims of Colorado wildfires and 
straight-line winds that began Dec. 30. In addition, victims of severe 
storms, flooding and landslides that began on Feb. 4 in Puerto Rico will
 have until June 15, 2022, to file and pay.The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any 
taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in a federally declared 
disaster area when at least one area qualifies for FEMA's Individual 
Assistance program. Ordinarily, this means that taxpayers need not 
contact the IRS to get disaster tax relief.This relief also includes more time for making 2021 contributions to 
IRAs and other plans and making 2022 estimated tax payments. In some 
cases, relief is also available to people living outside the disaster 
area if, for example, they have a business located in the disaster area,
 have tax records located in the disaster area or are assisting in 
disaster relief. For details on all available relief, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a> page on IRS.gov.<h2>Combat zone taxpayers</h2>Military service members and eligible support personnel serving in a 
combat zone have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to 
file their tax returns and pay any tax due. This includes those serving 
in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones. A complete list of 
designated combat zone localities can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov.Combat zone extensions also give affected taxpayers more time for a 
variety of other tax-related actions, including contributing to an IRA. 
Various circumstances affect the exact length of the extension available
 to taxpayers. Details, including examples illustrating how these 
extensions are calculated, are in the Extensions of Deadlines section in
 Publication 3.<h2>Taxpayers outside the United States</h2>U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. 
and Puerto Rico have until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns
 and pay any tax due.The special June 15 deadline also applies to members of the military 
on duty outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the 
longer combat zone extension. Affected taxpayers should attach a 
statement to their return explaining which of these situations apply.Though taxpayers abroad get more time to pay, interest — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/interest-rates-increase-for-the-second-quarter-of-2022">currently</a>
 at the rate of 4% per year, compounded daily — applies to any payment 
received after this year's April 18 deadline. For more information about
 the special tax rules for U.S. taxpayers abroad, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad</a>, on IRS.gov.<h2>Everyone else</h2>Taxpayers who don't qualify for any of these three special situations
 can still get more time to file by submitting a request for an 
automatic extension. This will extend their filing deadline until Oct. 
17, 2022. But because this is only a tax-filing extension, their 2021 
tax payments are still due by April 18.An easy way to get the extra time is through IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-everyone-can-file-an-extension-for-free">request an extension</a> on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868</a>. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form.Another option is to pay electronically and get a tax-filing 
extension. The IRS will automatically process an extension when a 
taxpayer selects Form 4868 and makes a full or partial federal tax 
payment by the April 18 due date using their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a> or a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit, credit card or digital wallet</a>.
 Under this option, there is no need to file a separate Form 4868. 
Taxpayers must register for EFTPS before using. Electronic payment 
options are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">Pay Online</a>.The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.

Extensions of time to file tax returns; some taxpayers instantly qualify

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said he will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to approve&nbsp;the newly redrawn legislative district maps that were signed into law Friday, according to a statement from the AG's office.

The Kansas constitution requires legislators to reapportion all 40 Kansas Senate districts and 125 House of Representative districts to reflect population changes from the 2020 census. Legislators approved the new boundaries with large, bipartisan majorities and the governor today signed into law the bill creating the new district boundaries.

"The procedure for judicial review of state legislative districts differs significantly from that for review of congressional districts," Schmidt said. "Unlike congressional redistricting where the attorney general's role is to defend the redrawn boundaries against legal attacks brought by dissatisfied parties, the attorney general is required by the state constitution to proactively seek judicial review of new legislative district boundaries in the Kansas Supreme Court. I will do so promptly."

The redistricting bill next must be published in the Kansas Register. Within 15 days of publication, Schmidt must file a request for the Kansas Supreme Court to review the new legislative district boundaries. Schmidt said he will ask the court not only to review the boundaries but to approve them.

"The new legislative district boundaries appear to satisfy all legal requirements previously established by state constitutional, statutory or common law," Schmidt said. "So I will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to approve the new district boundaries as quickly as possible so candidate filing for this year's legislative elections can proceed without unnecessary disruption or delay."

In addition to handling the legislative maps, Schmidt’s office has been defending against legal challenges in Wyandotte County brought by parties dissatisfied with the recently enacted new boundaries for the four congressional districts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said he will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to approve&nbsp;the newly redrawn legislative district maps that were signed into law Friday, according to a statement from the AG's office.The Kansas constitution requires legislators to reapportion all 40 Kansas Senate districts and 125 House of Representative districts to reflect population changes from the 2020 census. Legislators approved the new boundaries with large, bipartisan majorities and the governor today signed into law the bill creating the new district boundaries."The procedure for judicial review of state legislative districts differs significantly from that for review of congressional districts," Schmidt said. "Unlike congressional redistricting where the attorney general's role is to defend the redrawn boundaries against legal attacks brought by dissatisfied parties, the attorney general is required by the state constitution to proactively seek judicial review of new legislative district boundaries in the Kansas Supreme Court. I will do so promptly."The redistricting bill next must be published in the Kansas Register. Within 15 days of publication, Schmidt must file a request for the Kansas Supreme Court to review the new legislative district boundaries. Schmidt said he will ask the court not only to review the boundaries but to approve them."The new legislative district boundaries appear to satisfy all legal requirements previously established by state constitutional, statutory or common law," Schmidt said. "So I will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to approve the new district boundaries as quickly as possible so candidate filing for this year's legislative elections can proceed without unnecessary disruption or delay."In addition to handling the legislative maps, Schmidt’s office has been defending against legal challenges in Wyandotte County brought by parties dissatisfied with the recently enacted new boundaries for the four congressional districts.

Kan. AG will ask State High Court to approve new legislative district maps

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man has been sentenced to prison for animal cruelty after killing his girlfriend's puppy and other crimes.&nbsp; &nbsp;Judge Eric Williams sentenced 46-year-old Jesse Powell to just over 2 and one half years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Powell pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal threat and a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In November of 2020,&nbsp; the Wichita police department Domestic Intervention Violence Reduction Team following up on a domestic violence threat case worked to locate Powell who was wanted on requested threat charges, Police learned Powell had fatally injured his girlfriend's puppy, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Police located Powell and arrested him at a home in the 4200 block of South Broadway in Wichita.

He has previous convictions for stalking, forgery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated criminal threat, battery of a law enforcement officer and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605892413255.png" alt="Powell-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Powell-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man has been sentenced to prison for animal cruelty after killing his girlfriend's puppy and other crimes.&nbsp; &nbsp;Judge Eric Williams sentenced 46-year-old Jesse Powell to just over 2 and one half years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Powell pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal threat and a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;In November of 2020,&nbsp; the Wichita police department Domestic Intervention Violence Reduction Team following up on a domestic violence threat case worked to locate Powell who was wanted on requested threat charges, Police learned Powell had fatally injured his girlfriend's puppy, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Police located Powell and arrested him at a home in the 4200 block of South Broadway in Wichita.He has previous convictions for stalking, forgery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated criminal threat, battery of a law enforcement officer and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;--------

Kansas felon who killed girlfriend's puppy is going back to prison

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after standoff at a Kansas home.

Just after 4 p.m. Friday, deputies were following up on a neighborhood complaint in the 1100 Block of SW Frazier in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

While the officers were conducting follow-up, 44-year-old Cooper Rothschild pointed a weapon at officers then barricaded himself inside his home. 

The Topeka Police Department's Response Team and Crisis Negotiators responded to the scene. At around 11:38 pm the subject was taken into custody without incident. Rothschild was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and later transported to the Shawnee County on requested charges of Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer , Aggravated Battery and Felony Interference.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650232107860.png" alt="Rothschild-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rothschild-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after standoff at a Kansas home.Just after 4 p.m. Friday, deputies were following up on a neighborhood complaint in the 1100 Block of SW Frazier in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.While the officers were conducting follow-up, 44-year-old Cooper Rothschild pointed a weapon at officers then barricaded himself inside his home. The Topeka Police Department's Response Team and Crisis Negotiators responded to the scene. At around 11:38 pm the subject was taken into custody without incident. Rothschild was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and later transported to the Shawnee County on requested charges of Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer , Aggravated Battery and Felony Interference.

Sheriff: Kansas man jailed after threatening officers with weapon

By DAN PARKS of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, via Associated Press

Last Mile Food Rescue in Cincinnati started shopping in November for a refrigerated box truck to move perishable donations from food retailers to distribution sites. The purchase would take some of the pressure off overstretched volunteers, who would have to make three or more runs in their cars to haul as much food as a single truckload.

But Last Mile is experiencing sticker shock. Prices for the kind of truck its leaders have in mind have soared thousands of dollars in recent months, to as much as $80,000. For an organization with an annual budget of $650,000, that’s too big a hit to absorb.

Frustrated, the charity started looking for used trucks, but the prices of used vehicles have shot up as well.

“We look every day,” says Julie Shifman, Last Mile’s executive director. “We hope that we will be able to afford it, or a major donor might be able to come in to help us.”

Last Mile is far from alone. Nonprofits of all kinds are getting hit hard by inflation, experts say. Price and wage increases are hurting nonprofits in multiple ways, making it harder to keep up with their own basic operational expenses while also forcing them to curtail the services they provide.

At the same time, there are early signs that the burst of generosity donors showed in the first year of the pandemic may be slowing considerably.

“It’s not a pretty equation,” says Shannon McCracken, chief executive of the Nonprofit Alliance, an advocacy group.

Nonprofits that provide annual cost-of-living increases for their workers, as many do, are getting hit with higher payroll costs of about 6% even without any increase based on merit or seniority, McCracken says.

David Lipsetz, CEO at the Housing Assistance Council, says inflation has eaten into the number of affordable-housing units his organization can provide.

The council underwrites loans for housing developments at below-market rates in some of the poorest regions of the country, and it strives to maximize the amount of housing it can build with limited resources. “We’re operating on extraordinarily thin margins,” says Lipsetz. “We are putting those loans out the door as cheaply as we can.”

When the price of building materials goes up 10%, says Lipsetz, there’s usually no room in the loan to accommodate that increase. Lipsetz says that sometimes his nonprofit can rework the terms of the loan or find additional sources of financing, but it doesn’t always work out.

“It’s stalled countless projects for us, right in the middle of a period of time when housing and shelter are the most important things needed to weather the storm of a pandemic,” says Lipsetz. “For us, a modest increase in costs can shut down a project in an area of the country where it’s needed the most.”

Jesse Tree, a nonprofit in Boise, Idaho, that pays rent for people who are on the verge of being evicted, has seen sharp increases in demand for assistance in recent years. Ali Rabe, the organization’s executive director, says research shows housing prices in her region shot up 75% from 2015 to 2020 at a time when local wages increased 18%.

The situation has only gotten worse since 2020, says Rabe. Work-at-home policies spurred by the pandemic allowed highly paid urban dwellers to relocate to rural areas, she says, and housing prices shot up another 40% or so last year.

Local courts in the Treasury Valley region of southwestern Idaho, which Jesse Tree serves, hold about 20 eviction hearings a week, says Rabe.

“We can only help about a quarter of people who apply for assistance,” she says.

A government grant provided through federal Covid assistance helped the nonprofit maintain operations, but that grant expires in September, says Rabe. The nonprofit is hoping donors will fill the gap, she says.

Nonprofits by their nature are in a poor position to adapt to rising costs, experts say. While McDonald’s can offset higher beef costs by raising the cost of a Big Mac, for many nonprofits the only options are to cut services or hope donors will come to the rescue.

Kelley Kuhn, CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, says nonprofits that provide basic goods and services, like food and housing, are being hit the hardest. At the same time, nonprofits are struggling to retain workers who are being lured away by businesses that are able to offer higher salaries, says Kuhn.

“That’s something any nonprofit is experiencing now, trying to keep up with the requests for higher salaries and wages,” Kuhn says. She added that a passion for the mission won’t keep nonprofit workers from seeking higher wages elsewhere if they can’t meet basic living expenses.

“That’s a lot of strain on human capital happening for nonprofits,” she says.

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recently took the sting of inflation away for some nonprofits with another round of major gifts. The Housing Assistance Council, for example, got $7 million. And Habitat for Humanity, which has had to scale back the number of houses it builds due to increased costs of lumber and land, got $439 million, which will allow it to reverse course and ramp up operations.

Corinne O’Connell, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, says the cost of replacing a roof on a row house shot up from $5,000 to $8,500 in a single year. And while her local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity received $5 million of Scott’s gift, she notes that most nonprofits can’t count on getting bailed out by a generous billionaire. “The screws just keep tightening on nonprofits who are working on the front lines,” O’Connell says.

Like Shifman at Last Mile, Diana Lara leads a charity that collects and distributes food that was otherwise headed for the garbage. Lara’s Southern California nonprofit Food Finders has three trucks and a van, all refrigerated, and the fuel costs are gobbling up a bigger share of its budget.

At the same time, grocery stores are hanging onto perishable food longer, she says. Food that previously would have been donated is getting marked down for a quick sale instead.

The group purchases some nonperishable food to supplement donated goods, and those costs are rising, says Lara. Meanwhile new hires are demanding higher starting pay.

In short, a wide array of expenses are over budget.

“So we’re starting to feel that in our pockets,” she says. “It’s just insane.”

By DAN PARKS of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, via Associated PressLast Mile Food Rescue in Cincinnati started shopping in November for a refrigerated box truck to move perishable donations from food retailers to distribution sites. The purchase would take some of the pressure off overstretched volunteers, who would have to make three or more runs in their cars to haul as much food as a single truckload.But Last Mile is experiencing sticker shock. Prices for the kind of truck its leaders have in mind have soared thousands of dollars in recent months, to as much as $80,000. For an organization with an annual budget of $650,000, that’s too big a hit to absorb.Frustrated, the charity started looking for used trucks, but the prices of used vehicles have shot up as well.“We look every day,” says Julie Shifman, Last Mile’s executive director. “We hope that we will be able to afford it, or a major donor might be able to come in to help us.”Last Mile is far from alone. Nonprofits of all kinds are getting hit hard by inflation, experts say. Price and wage increases are hurting nonprofits in multiple ways, making it harder to keep up with their own basic operational expenses while also forcing them to curtail the services they provide.At the same time, there are early signs that the burst of generosity donors showed in the first year of the pandemic may be slowing considerably.“It’s not a pretty equation,” says Shannon McCracken, chief executive of the Nonprofit Alliance, an advocacy group.Nonprofits that provide annual cost-of-living increases for their workers, as many do, are getting hit with higher payroll costs of about 6% even without any increase based on merit or seniority, McCracken says.David Lipsetz, CEO at the Housing Assistance Council, says inflation has eaten into the number of affordable-housing units his organization can provide.The council underwrites loans for housing developments at below-market rates in some of the poorest regions of the country, and it strives to maximize the amount of housing it can build with limited resources. “We’re operating on extraordinarily thin margins,” says Lipsetz. “We are putting those loans out the door as cheaply as we can.”When the price of building materials goes up 10%, says Lipsetz, there’s usually no room in the loan to accommodate that increase. Lipsetz says that sometimes his nonprofit can rework the terms of the loan or find additional sources of financing, but it doesn’t always work out.“It’s stalled countless projects for us, right in the middle of a period of time when housing and shelter are the most important things needed to weather the storm of a pandemic,” says Lipsetz. “For us, a modest increase in costs can shut down a project in an area of the country where it’s needed the most.”ADVERTISEMENTJesse Tree, a nonprofit in Boise, Idaho, that pays rent for people who are on the verge of being evicted, has seen sharp increases in demand for assistance in recent years. Ali Rabe, the organization’s executive director, says research shows housing prices in her region shot up 75% from 2015 to 2020 at a time when local wages increased 18%.The situation has only gotten worse since 2020, says Rabe. Work-at-home policies spurred by the pandemic allowed highly paid urban dwellers to relocate to rural areas, she says, and housing prices shot up another 40% or so last year.Local courts in the Treasury Valley region of southwestern Idaho, which Jesse Tree serves, hold about 20 eviction hearings a week, says Rabe.“We can only help about a quarter of people who apply for assistance,” she says.A government grant provided through federal Covid assistance helped the nonprofit maintain operations, but that grant expires in September, says Rabe. The nonprofit is hoping donors will fill the gap, she says.Nonprofits by their nature are in a poor position to adapt to rising costs, experts say. While McDonald’s can offset higher beef costs by raising the cost of a Big Mac, for many nonprofits the only options are to cut services or hope donors will come to the rescue.Kelley Kuhn, CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, says nonprofits that provide basic goods and services, like food and housing, are being hit the hardest. At the same time, nonprofits are struggling to retain workers who are being lured away by businesses that are able to offer higher salaries, says Kuhn.“That’s something any nonprofit is experiencing now, trying to keep up with the requests for higher salaries and wages,” Kuhn says. She added that a passion for the mission won’t keep nonprofit workers from seeking higher wages elsewhere if they can’t meet basic living expenses.“That’s a lot of strain on human capital happening for nonprofits,” she says.Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recently took the sting of inflation away for some nonprofits with another round of major gifts. The Housing Assistance Council, for example, got $7 million. And Habitat for Humanity, which has had to scale back the number of houses it builds due to increased costs of lumber and land, got $439 million, which will allow it to reverse course and ramp up operations.Corinne O’Connell, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, says the cost of replacing a roof on a row house shot up from $5,000 to $8,500 in a single year. And while her local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity received $5 million of Scott’s gift, she notes that most nonprofits can’t count on getting bailed out by a generous billionaire. “The screws just keep tightening on nonprofits who are working on the front lines,” O’Connell says.Like Shifman at Last Mile, Diana Lara leads a charity that collects and distributes food that was otherwise headed for the garbage. Lara’s Southern California nonprofit Food Finders has three trucks and a van, all refrigerated, and the fuel costs are gobbling up a bigger share of its budget.At the same time, grocery stores are hanging onto perishable food longer, she says. Food that previously would have been donated is getting marked down for a quick sale instead.The group purchases some nonperishable food to supplement donated goods, and those costs are rising, says Lara. Meanwhile new hires are demanding higher starting pay.In short, a wide array of expenses are over budget.“So we’re starting to feel that in our pockets,” she says. “It’s just insane.”

Inflation hits nonprofits' services, ability to fundraise

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas drug offender is going to prison for the repeated sexual assault of an underage girl.

District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced 40-year old Bryce Hanks to life in prison without the possibility of parole until after 25 years and 570 months which will run consecutive to the life sentence.

In February, Hanks pled guilty to ten crimes including rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated criminal sodomy.

Hanks began sexually assaulting the girl when she was nine years old, according to the district attorney's office. The victim is now 18.

Hanks has been a registered offender since May of 2010 for drug crimes, according to the KBI offender registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650050079587.png" alt="Hanks-photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Hanks-photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas drug offender is going to prison for the repeated sexual assault of an underage girl.District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced 40-year old Bryce Hanks to life in prison without the possibility of parole until after 25 years and 570 months which will run consecutive to the life sentence.In February, Hanks pled guilty to ten crimes including rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated criminal sodomy.Hanks began sexually assaulting the girl when she was nine years old, according to the district attorney's office. The victim is now 18.Hanks has been a registered offender since May of 2010 for drug crimes, according to the KBI offender registry.

Registered offender sentenced for repeated sex assault of Kan. girl

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/15/kansas-shortage-of-behavioral-health-experts-exacerbates-community-treatment-challenges/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Psychologist Shawna 
Wright said only four of the state’s 105 counties have enough behavioral
 health professionals to meet demands of the population, and that 
shortage contributes to looping of mentally ill people in and out of the
 criminal justice system.

“We need quality behavioral health care in Kansas regardless of geography,” she said. “We’re still very underserved.”

The Rural Health Information Hub, a statistical resource funded by a 
federal grant, indicated the cluster of Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and 
Shawnee counties in the northeast part of the state had sufficient 
personnel to serve community needs. In 2017, part of Sedgwick County was
 covered. Now, the entire county is considered underserved.

Wright, associate director of the University of Kansas Center for 
Telemedicine and Telehealth, told participants at the two-day Kansas 
Mental Health Summit in Topeka that telemedicine had potential to 
improve patient access to care, advance education of students and 
support continuing education of professionals. Telemedicine shouldn’t be
 viewed as a mental health panacea, she said, because it wouldn’t 
quickly change the workforce deficit.

The summit was organized to focus on judicial and community 
implications to the high percentage of mental illness among incarcerated
 individuals.

“Mental illness impacts all of our court dockets,” said Patti Tobias,
 a court management consultant with the National Center for State 
Courts. “It impacts all our communities. It impacts all our families. It
 impacts all our friends and neighbors. It is pervasive and we need to 
do better.”

Marc Bennett, district attorney in Sedgwick County, said stability in
 the life of someone with chronic mental illness was related to 
treatment, housing and employment. The court system can help with each 
of these factors by reducing the number of people with suspended Kansas 
driver’s licenses so they can work on these priorities, he said.

In addition, he said, the court system could improve outcomes by 
consolidating an individual’s cases to one jurisdiction. Someone with a 
mental health disorder will find it difficult to work with probation 
officers in a series of cities or counties, he said.

“A lot of people who are in trouble are in trouble in multiple 
places,” Bennett said. “When you’re on probation in three, four or five 
different places, you’re likelihood of being successful is going to be 
highly diminished.”

Wyandotte County District Court Judge Michael Russell said the 
county’s post-sentencing behavioral health court showed promise with 
people diagnosed with persistent mental illness.

The special court in Wyandotte County was established in 2017 and 
required collaboration with defense lawyers, prosecutors, mental health 
therapists and substance abuse counselors, he said.

“They are considered to be high risk, high needs,” said Russell, who 
said community partnerships were crucial to success of specialty courts.

He said the goal was to create individual treatment plans for adult 
residents of Wyandotte County placed on probation. Successful 
intervention through the special court can reduce time spent in the 
justice system, curtail recidivism and increase public safety, he said.

State Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said she was 
optimistic the Kansas Senate would follow the lead of the Kansas House 
by approving a 988 suicide prevention hotline. Another goal is to expand
 the number of crisis intervention units that can be dispatched with 
information drawn from hotline calls, she said.

Kansas will have to do more to increase the number of mental health 
personnel working across the state, Landwehr said. She said the state 
hadn’t recovered from departure of the renowned Menninger clinic from 
Topeka to Houston nearly 20 years ago.

“My goal is to put Kansas back on the map where it belongs,” the lawmaker said.

Wright, the psychologist with a background in rural service delivery,
 said cities and counties in Kansas should avoid reinventing the wheel 
when striving to enhance mental health services. She said the state’s 
experiment with placing counselors in public schools could be adopted to
 work in the justice system.

“If there is a passion and a desire to move forward, it’s about 
looking at systems that work and tailor them to your own community,” she
 said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650040694250.png" alt="Psychologist Shawna Wright, far right, recommended the judicial system reforms aimed at helping individuals with mental illness should avoid reinventing the wheel in favor of modifying proven ideas to the target city or county. She spoke at a mental health summit in Topeka. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Psychologist Shawna Wright, far right, recommended the judicial system reforms aimed at helping individuals with mental illness should avoid reinventing the wheel in favor of modifying proven ideas to the target city or county. She spoke at a mental health summit in Topeka. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/15/kansas-shortage-of-behavioral-health-experts-exacerbates-community-treatment-challenges/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Psychologist Shawna 
Wright said only four of the state’s 105 counties have enough behavioral
 health professionals to meet demands of the population, and that 
shortage contributes to looping of mentally ill people in and out of the
 criminal justice system.“We need quality behavioral health care in Kansas regardless of geography,” she said. “We’re still very underserved.”The Rural Health Information Hub, a statistical resource funded by a 
federal grant, indicated the cluster of Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and 
Shawnee counties in the northeast part of the state had sufficient 
personnel to serve community needs. In 2017, part of Sedgwick County was
 covered. Now, the entire county is considered underserved.Wright, associate director of the University of Kansas Center for 
Telemedicine and Telehealth, told participants at the two-day Kansas 
Mental Health Summit in Topeka that telemedicine had potential to 
improve patient access to care, advance education of students and 
support continuing education of professionals. Telemedicine shouldn’t be
 viewed as a mental health panacea, she said, because it wouldn’t 
quickly change the workforce deficit.The summit was organized to focus on judicial and community 
implications to the high percentage of mental illness among incarcerated
 individuals.“Mental illness impacts all of our court dockets,” said Patti Tobias,
 a court management consultant with the National Center for State 
Courts. “It impacts all our communities. It impacts all our families. It
 impacts all our friends and neighbors. It is pervasive and we need to 
do better.”Marc Bennett, district attorney in Sedgwick County, said stability in
 the life of someone with chronic mental illness was related to 
treatment, housing and employment. The court system can help with each 
of these factors by reducing the number of people with suspended Kansas 
driver’s licenses so they can work on these priorities, he said.In addition, he said, the court system could improve outcomes by 
consolidating an individual’s cases to one jurisdiction. Someone with a 
mental health disorder will find it difficult to work with probation 
officers in a series of cities or counties, he said.“A lot of people who are in trouble are in trouble in multiple 
places,” Bennett said. “When you’re on probation in three, four or five 
different places, you’re likelihood of being successful is going to be 
highly diminished.”Wyandotte County District Court Judge Michael Russell said the 
county’s post-sentencing behavioral health court showed promise with 
people diagnosed with persistent mental illness.The special court in Wyandotte County was established in 2017 and 
required collaboration with defense lawyers, prosecutors, mental health 
therapists and substance abuse counselors, he said.“They are considered to be high risk, high needs,” said Russell, who 
said community partnerships were crucial to success of specialty courts.He said the goal was to create individual treatment plans for adult 
residents of Wyandotte County placed on probation. Successful 
intervention through the special court can reduce time spent in the 
justice system, curtail recidivism and increase public safety, he said.State Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said she was 
optimistic the Kansas Senate would follow the lead of the Kansas House 
by approving a 988 suicide prevention hotline. Another goal is to expand
 the number of crisis intervention units that can be dispatched with 
information drawn from hotline calls, she said.Kansas will have to do more to increase the number of mental health 
personnel working across the state, Landwehr said. She said the state 
hadn’t recovered from departure of the renowned Menninger clinic from 
Topeka to Houston nearly 20 years ago.“My goal is to put Kansas back on the map where it belongs,” the lawmaker said.Wright, the psychologist with a background in rural service delivery,
 said cities and counties in Kansas should avoid reinventing the wheel 
when striving to enhance mental health services. She said the state’s 
experiment with placing counselors in public schools could be adopted to
 work in the justice system.“If there is a passion and a desire to move forward, it’s about 
looking at systems that work and tailor them to your own community,” she
 said.

Shortage of Kan. behavioral health experts exacerbates treatment challenges

RILEY COUNTY —A Kansas man was&nbsp; injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Saturday in Riley County during a pursuit by law enforcement.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2109 Honda passenger vehicle driven by Javius Raekwon Forbes, 26, Fort Riley, was westbound on Kansas 18 approximately 6 miles east of Interstate 70 in the passing lane fleeing law enforcement. 

The Honda traveled into the median, struck a delineator post, traveled back onto the roadway, crossed over the westbound lanes off the roadway to the right and came to a stop in a wooded area.

EMS transported&nbsp;Forbes to Via Christi. A 26-year-old passenger was not wearing a seat belt and not transported for treatment of a possible injury.&nbsp; The KHP did not report what prompted the chase.

Forbes is being held on a $3000 bond on requested charges of possession of marijuana, Fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer; 1st conviction and Reckless driving, according to the Riley County Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650196786279.png" alt="Forbes from an earlier arrest in Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Forbes from an earlier arrest in Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —A Kansas man was&nbsp; injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Saturday in Riley County during a pursuit by law enforcement.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2109 Honda passenger vehicle driven by Javius Raekwon Forbes, 26, Fort Riley, was westbound on Kansas 18 approximately 6 miles east of Interstate 70 in the passing lane fleeing law enforcement. The Honda traveled into the median, struck a delineator post, traveled back onto the roadway, crossed over the westbound lanes off the roadway to the right and came to a stop in a wooded area.EMS transported&nbsp;Forbes to Via Christi. A 26-year-old passenger was not wearing a seat belt and not transported for treatment of a possible injury.&nbsp; The KHP did not report what prompted the chase.Forbes is being held on a $3000 bond on requested charges of possession of marijuana, Fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer; 1st conviction and Reckless driving, according to the Riley County Police Department.

Kansas man hospitalized after crash during police chase

VATICAN CITY (AP) — On what is supposed to be Christianity’s most joyful day, Pope Francis made an anguished Easter Sunday plea for peace in the “senseless” war in Ukraine and in other armed conflicts raging in the world, and cited the “troubling” risk of nuclear warfare.

“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” Francis said, speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.

The pontiff had just finished celebrating Easter Mass in the square packed by faithful for the holiday for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020. Applause erupted from many of the 50,000 people in the square and on a nearby avenue when he mentioned Ukraine.

“Please, please, let us not get used to war,″ Francis pleaded, after denouncing ”the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.” Yet again, the pontiff decried the war in Ukraine without citing Russian President Vladimir Putin for the decision to launch the invasion and attack against Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,″ Francis said. ”May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.”

In a clear reference to the threat of nuclear warfare, Francis quoted from a declaration by scientists in 1955: “‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?’”

Francis also drew attention to other wars in the speech known by its Latin name “Urbi et Orbi” — to the city and to the world.

“May the conflict in Europe also make us more concerned about other situations of conflict, suffering and sorrow, situations that affect all too many areas of our world, situations that we cannot overlook and do not want to forget,″ Francis said.

Among the conflicts cited by the pope were those in the Middle East. He exhorted peace and reconciliation for the peoples of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

He also cited Libya as well as Yemen, “which suffers from a conflict forgotten by all.”

Earlier, the pontiff, who has a knee ligament problem, limped badly as he made his way to an altar set up in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The altar was shaded by a canopy against brilliant sunshine.

Right after the end of Mass, Francis shook hands with prelates, then got aboard the white popemobile for a whirl through the square to greet cheering well-wishers among the rank-and-file faithful. He waved and patted the head of a baby who was handed to him. His smiles while greeting the crowd were a rare departure of late for the pope, who has used many of his appearances in recent weeks to issue somber denunciations of the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for Russia to declare a cease-fire and withdraw from Ukraine. The leader of the Anglican church said Easter is a time for peace and not “blood and iron.”

Noting that in the Eastern Orthodox church followed by many in Russia and Ukraine Sunday marks the start of Holy Week — with Easter coming on April 24 — Welby exhorted Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and commit to talks.

In an unusually blunt political remark, Welby also condemned the British government’s recent plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda as going against God.

Warm weather and the easing of many pandemic restrictions — including what had been for most of the pandemic in Italy a mandatory outdoor mask requirement — have seen tourism boom in Rome, with many visitors flooding the city for Holy Week ceremonies that culminated on Easter.

In Spain, believers and secular enthusiasts flocked back in large numbers to Holy Week processions this week for the first time since the start of the pandemic after most health restrictions were lifted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615845367722.png" alt="Pope Francis-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — On what is supposed to be Christianity’s most joyful day, Pope Francis made an anguished Easter Sunday plea for peace in the “senseless” war in Ukraine and in other armed conflicts raging in the world, and cited the “troubling” risk of nuclear warfare.“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” Francis said, speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.The pontiff had just finished celebrating Easter Mass in the square packed by faithful for the holiday for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020. Applause erupted from many of the 50,000 people in the square and on a nearby avenue when he mentioned Ukraine.“Please, please, let us not get used to war,″ Francis pleaded, after denouncing ”the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.” Yet again, the pontiff decried the war in Ukraine without citing Russian President Vladimir Putin for the decision to launch the invasion and attack against Ukraine on Feb. 24.“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,″ Francis said. ”May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.”In a clear reference to the threat of nuclear warfare, Francis quoted from a declaration by scientists in 1955: “‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?’”Francis also drew attention to other wars in the speech known by its Latin name “Urbi et Orbi” — to the city and to the world.“May the conflict in Europe also make us more concerned about other situations of conflict, suffering and sorrow, situations that affect all too many areas of our world, situations that we cannot overlook and do not want to forget,″ Francis said.Among the conflicts cited by the pope were those in the Middle East. He exhorted peace and reconciliation for the peoples of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.He also cited Libya as well as Yemen, “which suffers from a conflict forgotten by all.”Earlier, the pontiff, who has a knee ligament problem, limped badly as he made his way to an altar set up in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The altar was shaded by a canopy against brilliant sunshine.Right after the end of Mass, Francis shook hands with prelates, then got aboard the white popemobile for a whirl through the square to greet cheering well-wishers among the rank-and-file faithful. He waved and patted the head of a baby who was handed to him. His smiles while greeting the crowd were a rare departure of late for the pope, who has used many of his appearances in recent weeks to issue somber denunciations of the war in Ukraine.Meanwhile, in London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for Russia to declare a cease-fire and withdraw from Ukraine. The leader of the Anglican church said Easter is a time for peace and not “blood and iron.”Noting that in the Eastern Orthodox church followed by many in Russia and Ukraine Sunday marks the start of Holy Week — with Easter coming on April 24 — Welby exhorted Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and commit to talks.In an unusually blunt political remark, Welby also condemned the British government’s recent plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda as going against God.Warm weather and the easing of many pandemic restrictions — including what had been for most of the pandemic in Italy a mandatory outdoor mask requirement — have seen tourism boom in Rome, with many visitors flooding the city for Holy Week ceremonies that culminated on Easter.In Spain, believers and secular enthusiasts flocked back in large numbers to Holy Week processions this week for the first time since the start of the pandemic after most health restrictions were lifted.___

Pope cites risk of nuclear war during Easter mass

NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad.

The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s work on death statistics.

The agency this month quietly updated its provisional death tally. It showed there were 3.465 million deaths last year, or about 80,000 more than 2020′s record-setting total.

Early last year, some experts were optimistic that 2021 would not be as bad as the first year of the pandemic — partly because effective COVID-19 vaccines had finally become available.

“We were wrong, unfortunately,” said Noreen Goldman, a Princeton University researcher.

COVID-19 deaths rose in 2021 — to more than 415,000, up from 351,000 the year before — as new coronavirus variants emerged and an unexpectedly large numbers of Americans refused to get vaccinated or were hesitant to wear masks, experts said.

The coronavirus is not solely to blame. Preliminary CDC data also shows the crude death rate for cancer rose slightly, and rates continued to increase for diabetes, chronic liver disease and stroke.

Drug overdose deaths also continued to rise. The CDC does not yet have a tally for 2021 overdose deaths, because it can take weeks of lab work and investigation to identify them. But provisional data through October suggests the nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before.

New research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds.

Adolescent overdose death counts were fairly constant for most of the last decade, at around 500 a year, according to the paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. They almost doubled in 2020, to 954, and the researchers estimated that the total hit nearly 1,150 last year.

Joseph Friedman, a UCLA researcher who was the paper’s lead author, called the spike “unprecedented.”

Those teen overdose deaths were only around 1% of the U.S. total. But adolescents experienced a greater relative increase than the overall population, even though surveys suggest drug use among teens is down.

Experts attributed the spike to fentanyl, a highly lethal drug that has been cut into heroin for several years. More recently it’s also been pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs that teens sometimes abuse.

The total number of U.S. deaths often increases year to year as the U.S. population grows. But 2020 and 2021 saw extraordinary jumps in death numbers and rates, due largely to the pandemic.

Those national death trends affect life expectancy — an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live.

With rare exceptions, U.S. life expectancy has reliably inched up year after year. But the CDC’s life expectancy estimate for 2020 was about 77 years — more than a year and a half lower than what it was in 2019.

The CDC has not yet reported its calculation for 2021. But Goldman and some other researchers have been making their own estimates, presented in papers that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.

NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad.The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s work on death statistics.The agency this month quietly updated its provisional death tally. It showed there were 3.465 million deaths last year, or about 80,000 more than 2020′s record-setting total.Early last year, some experts were optimistic that 2021 would not be as bad as the first year of the pandemic — partly because effective COVID-19 vaccines had finally become available.“We were wrong, unfortunately,” said Noreen Goldman, a Princeton University researcher.COVID-19 deaths rose in 2021 — to more than 415,000, up from 351,000 the year before — as new coronavirus variants emerged and an unexpectedly large numbers of Americans refused to get vaccinated or were hesitant to wear masks, experts said.The coronavirus is not solely to blame. Preliminary CDC data also shows the crude death rate for cancer rose slightly, and rates continued to increase for diabetes, chronic liver disease and stroke.Drug overdose deaths also continued to rise. The CDC does not yet have a tally for 2021 overdose deaths, because it can take weeks of lab work and investigation to identify them. But provisional data through October suggests the nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before.New research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds.Adolescent overdose death counts were fairly constant for most of the last decade, at around 500 a year, according to the paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. They almost doubled in 2020, to 954, and the researchers estimated that the total hit nearly 1,150 last year.Joseph Friedman, a UCLA researcher who was the paper’s lead author, called the spike “unprecedented.”Those teen overdose deaths were only around 1% of the U.S. total. But adolescents experienced a greater relative increase than the overall population, even though surveys suggest drug use among teens is down.Experts attributed the spike to fentanyl, a highly lethal drug that has been cut into heroin for several years. More recently it’s also been pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs that teens sometimes abuse.The total number of U.S. deaths often increases year to year as the U.S. population grows. But 2020 and 2021 saw extraordinary jumps in death numbers and rates, due largely to the pandemic.Those national death trends affect life expectancy — an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live.With rare exceptions, U.S. life expectancy has reliably inched up year after year. But the CDC’s life expectancy estimate for 2020 was about 77 years — more than a year and a half lower than what it was in 2019.The CDC has not yet reported its calculation for 2021. But Goldman and some other researchers have been making their own estimates, presented in papers that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.Those researchers think U.S. life expectancy dropped another five or six months in 2021 — putting it back to where it was 20 years ago.A loss of more than two years of life expectancy over the last two years “is mammoth,” Goldman said.One study looked at death data in the U.S. and 19 other high-income countries. The U.S. fared the worst.“What happened in the U.S. is less about the variants than the levels of resistance to vaccination and the public’s rejection of practices, such as masking and mandates, to reduce viral transmission,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement.Some experts are skeptical that life expectancy will quickly bounce back. They worry about long-term complications of COVID-19 that may hasten the deaths of people with chronic health problems.Preliminary — and incomplete — CDC data suggest there were at least 805,000 U.S. deaths in about the first three months of this year. That’s well below the same period last year, but higher than the comparable period in 2020.“We may end up with a ‘new normal’ that’s a little higher than it was before,” Anderson said.___