WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-ae5200310e3d3c0390d9e1cbb3c5a964">the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve</a>&nbsp;for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.

“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”

(click below to listen to Pres. Biden's statement to producers)

The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.

Tapping the stockpile would create pressures that could reduce oil prices, though Biden has twice ordered releases from the reserves without causing a meaningful shift in oil markets. Biden said Thursday he expects gasoline prices could drop “fairly significantly.”

Part of Biden’s concern is that high prices have not so far coaxed a meaningful jump in oil production. The planned release is a way to increase supplies as a bridge until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-da75f38d60c1e820b5147fa9e25feca2">oil companies ramp up their own production,</a>&nbsp;with administration officials estimating that domestic production will grow by 1 million barrels daily this year and an additional 700,000 barrels daily in 2023.

The markets reacted quickly with crude oil prices dropping about 4% in Thursday trading to under $104 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago, with supplies failing to keep up with demand as the world economy has begun to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. That inflationary problem was compounded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which created new uncertainties about oil and natural gas supplies and led to retaliatory sanctions from the U.S. and its allies.

Stewart Glickman, an oil analyst for CFRA Research, said the release would bring short-term relief on prices and would be akin to “taking some Advil for a headache.” But markets would ultimately look to see whether, after the releases stop, the underlying problems that led to Biden’s decisions remain.

“The root cause of the headache is probably still going to be there after the medicine wears off,” Glickman said.

Biden has been in talks with allies and partners to join in additional releases of oil, such that the world market will get more than the 180 million barrels total being pledged by the U.S.

Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of that devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That total accounts for about one-fifth of total global consumption of oil.

Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of U.S. usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.

Republican lawmakers have said the problem results from the administration being hostile to oil permits and the construction of new pipelines such as the Keystone XL. Democrats say the country needs to move to renewable energy such as wind and solar that could reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and Putin’s leverage.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., blasted Biden’s action to tap the reserve without first taking steps to increase American energy production, calling it “a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.″

Daines called Biden’s actions “desperate moves″ that avoid what he called the real solution: ”investing in American energy production,″ and getting “oil and gas leases going again.”

The administration says increasing oil output is a gradual process and the release would provide time to ramp up production. It also wants to incentivize greater production by putting fees on unused leases on government lands, something that would require congressional approval.

Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.

In his remarks Thursday, Biden tried to shame oil companies that he said are focused on profits instead of putting out more barrels, saying that adding to the oil supply was a patriotic obligation.

“This is not the time to sit on record profits: It’s time to step up for the good of your country,” the president said.

The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.

Still, the politics of oil are complicated with industry advocates and environmentalists both criticizing the planned release. Groups such as the American Petroleum Institute want to make drilling easier, while environmental organizations say energy companies should be forced to pay a special tax on windfall profits instead.

The administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.

According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25. After the release, the government would begin to replenish the reserve once prices have sufficiently fallen.

News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648749907890.png" alt="The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-ae5200310e3d3c0390d9e1cbb3c5a964">the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve</a>&nbsp;for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F300434728721015%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=36" 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 president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”(click below to listen to Pres. Biden's statement to producers)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F300434728721015%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=246" 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 president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.Tapping the stockpile would create pressures that could reduce oil prices, though Biden has twice ordered releases from the reserves without causing a meaningful shift in oil markets. Biden said Thursday he expects gasoline prices could drop “fairly significantly.”Part of Biden’s concern is that high prices have not so far coaxed a meaningful jump in oil production. The planned release is a way to increase supplies as a bridge until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-da75f38d60c1e820b5147fa9e25feca2">oil companies ramp up their own production,</a>&nbsp;with administration officials estimating that domestic production will grow by 1 million barrels daily this year and an additional 700,000 barrels daily in 2023.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648751491285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The markets reacted quickly with crude oil prices dropping about 4% in Thursday trading to under $104 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago, with supplies failing to keep up with demand as the world economy has begun to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. That inflationary problem was compounded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which created new uncertainties about oil and natural gas supplies and led to retaliatory sanctions from the U.S. and its allies.Stewart Glickman, an oil analyst for CFRA Research, said the release would bring short-term relief on prices and would be akin to “taking some Advil for a headache.” But markets would ultimately look to see whether, after the releases stop, the underlying problems that led to Biden’s decisions remain.“The root cause of the headache is probably still going to be there after the medicine wears off,” Glickman said.Biden has been in talks with allies and partners to join in additional releases of oil, such that the world market will get more than the 180 million barrels total being pledged by the U.S.Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of that devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That total accounts for about one-fifth of total global consumption of oil.Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of U.S. usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.Republican lawmakers have said the problem results from the administration being hostile to oil permits and the construction of new pipelines such as the Keystone XL. Democrats say the country needs to move to renewable energy such as wind and solar that could reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and Putin’s leverage.Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., blasted Biden’s action to tap the reserve without first taking steps to increase American energy production, calling it “a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.″Daines called Biden’s actions “desperate moves″ that avoid what he called the real solution: ”investing in American energy production,″ and getting “oil and gas leases going again.”The administration says increasing oil output is a gradual process and the release would provide time to ramp up production. It also wants to incentivize greater production by putting fees on unused leases on government lands, something that would require congressional approval.Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.In his remarks Thursday, Biden tried to shame oil companies that he said are focused on profits instead of putting out more barrels, saying that adding to the oil supply was a patriotic obligation.“This is not the time to sit on record profits: It’s time to step up for the good of your country,” the president said.The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.Still, the politics of oil are complicated with industry advocates and environmentalists both criticizing the planned release. Groups such as the American Petroleum Institute want to make drilling easier, while environmental organizations say energy companies should be forced to pay a special tax on windfall profits instead.The administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25. After the release, the government would begin to replenish the reserve once prices have sufficiently fallen.News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.___

🎥Biden threatens some oil, gas producers in plan to lower gas prices

STAFFORD COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Thursday in Stafford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 GMC Sierra driven by Itzel&nbsp;Guillen, 19, St. John, was&nbsp;northbound on U.S. 281 three miles north of St. John. A 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Claudio&nbsp;Sanchez Molina, 52, Great Bend, was southbound. 

Guillen lost control of the GMC on the icy bridge. The pickup traveled left of center. Both vehicles collided on the bridge causing the Chevy to strike the cement railing on the west side of the highway. 

Sanchez Molina was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Minnis Chapel.

EMS transported Guillen and one passenger in the Chevy 41-year-old Jose S.&nbsp;Garcia-Hernandez of Great Bend to the hospital in Great Bend. EMS transported a second passenger in the Chevy Carlos P. Castro, 25, Great Bend, to Wesley Medical Center. The occupants in the Chevy were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

STAFFORD COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Thursday in Stafford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 GMC Sierra driven by Itzel&nbsp;Guillen, 19, St. John, was&nbsp;northbound on U.S. 281 three miles north of St. John. A 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Claudio&nbsp;Sanchez Molina, 52, Great Bend, was southbound. Guillen lost control of the GMC on the icy bridge. The pickup traveled left of center. Both vehicles collided on the bridge causing the Chevy to strike the cement railing on the west side of the highway. Sanchez Molina was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Minnis Chapel.EMS transported Guillen and one passenger in the Chevy 41-year-old Jose S.&nbsp;Garcia-Hernandez of Great Bend to the hospital in Great Bend. EMS transported a second passenger in the Chevy Carlos P. Castro, 25, Great Bend, to Wesley Medical Center. The occupants in the Chevy were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dead, 3 injured after pickups collide on icy bridge

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Thursday announced their continued efforts to shift to the next chapter of the COVID-19 response, pivoting from emergency pandemic response to endemic normalcy. 

On April 1, KDHE will make changes to continue the transition from emergency response to our ‘new normal,’ which includes life with COVID-19—similar to how we deal with other recurring diseases like the flu. Using the lessons learned over the past two years, KDHE will continue to ensure the State is prepared for potential surges or other needs that might arise in the future.

"Kansas is continuing the transition to a new phase of understanding and living with COVID-19,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We know the pandemic is not over, however we now have the tools and knowledge obtained over the past two years to prevent or reduce the spread of the virus. We are normalizing our COVID-19 response and incorporating these lessons into our larger efforts at improving health outcomes for all Kansans, which includes work on multiple diseases and an awareness of differing risk factors.”

This decision comes as current COVID-19 metrics are moving in the right direction. Over the last two years, KDHE has made significant progress in keeping Kansas communities safe with the help of partners throughout the State: over 7 million tests have been given, over 4 million vaccines have been administered, and over 78% of eligible Kansans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

“In our new normal, we will continue to ensure that Kansans have equitable access to life-saving vaccines, tests, and treatments. This shift does not mean that COVID is over, but rather we are working to manage the disease in a way that allows us to maintain a more normal life that is once again filled with friends, families and other loved ones,”&nbsp;said KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek.

Working with Local Health Departments (LHDs) and stakeholders, KDHE’s endemic plan addresses six key areas that are designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Kansans:

Across each of the above areas, KDHE will remain prepared to ramp up capacity to quickly respond to a surge and keep Kansans safe should the need arise.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Thursday announced their continued efforts to shift to the next chapter of the COVID-19 response, pivoting from emergency pandemic response to endemic normalcy. On April 1, KDHE will make changes to continue the transition from emergency response to our ‘new normal,’ which includes life with COVID-19—similar to how we deal with other recurring diseases like the flu. Using the lessons learned over the past two years, KDHE will continue to ensure the State is prepared for potential surges or other needs that might arise in the future."Kansas is continuing the transition to a new phase of understanding and living with COVID-19,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We know the pandemic is not over, however we now have the tools and knowledge obtained over the past two years to prevent or reduce the spread of the virus. We are normalizing our COVID-19 response and incorporating these lessons into our larger efforts at improving health outcomes for all Kansans, which includes work on multiple diseases and an awareness of differing risk factors.”This decision comes as current COVID-19 metrics are moving in the right direction. Over the last two years, KDHE has made significant progress in keeping Kansas communities safe with the help of partners throughout the State: over 7 million tests have been given, over 4 million vaccines have been administered, and over 78% of eligible Kansans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.“In our new normal, we will continue to ensure that Kansans have equitable access to life-saving vaccines, tests, and treatments. This shift does not mean that COVID is over, but rather we are working to manage the disease in a way that allows us to maintain a more normal life that is once again filled with friends, families and other loved ones,”&nbsp;said KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek.Working with Local Health Departments (LHDs) and stakeholders, KDHE’s endemic plan addresses six key areas that are designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Kansans:<ul>
 <li>Intervention:&nbsp;KDHE will continue to provide comprehensive guidance, while continuing to offer additional assistance to underserved and/or vulnerable populations.</li><li>Vaccination:&nbsp;KDHE will focus on making sure vulnerable populations have access to the COVID-19 vaccine while existing vaccine providers, including health care providers, pharmacists, hospitals, and LHDs, will continue to serve the broader population.</li><li>Treatment:&nbsp;KDHE will continue to ensure Kansans will be able to receive COVID-19 treatment across the State, as treatment distribution shifts away from public health entities and back to local health care providers.</li><li>Testing:&nbsp;KDHE will continue to support access to free testing across the state through community testing sites, LHDs, and K-12 schools as long as federal funding is available. In addition, the federal government provides direct testing support to Federally Qualified Health Centers and pharmacies around the state. To find a free testing location near you, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAzMzEuNTU3NDY5ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292LzI4MC9DT1ZJRC0xOS1UZXN0aW5nIn0.GfHL9b4jMqHPXXa-raViSl3-9DLuVjAXv4mI1BPx2bo/s/1303160919/br/128948992477-l" target="_blank">knowbeforeyougoKS.com</a>. KDHE testing support for Long Term Care Facilities will be phased out&nbsp;on May 15, 2022,&nbsp;and testing support for employers&nbsp;ends on June 30, 2022.&nbsp;</li><li>Monitoring:&nbsp;KDHE will continue to monitor data as reported by organizations and facilities across the state to understand the status of COVID-19 and proactively identify at-risk groups. Public reporting will be reduced to once a week.</li><li>Communications:&nbsp;KDHE will continue to provide essential and accessible COVID information to keep Kansans safe and aware of any subsequent changes to COVID-19 response efforts.</li>
 </ul>Across each of the above areas, KDHE will remain prepared to ramp up capacity to quickly respond to a surge and keep Kansans safe should the need arise.

Gov.: Pandemic not over; Kan. moves to endemic phase of COVID response

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;lawmakers have given final approval to a redistricting measure that's likely to preserve Republican supermajorities in the Legislature while possibly moving the state school board to the right.

The state Senate on Wednesday night approved, 29-11, a single bill containing plans for its members, the House and the State Board of Education, shortly after the House approved it, 83-40. The measure goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, and Republican leaders appear to have the two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override a veto.

Top Republicans largely drew the new political boundaries, but the lines had bipartisan support in both chambers. Some Democratic senators liked their new districts, and most House members were pleased with theirs.

The new State Board of Education map drew an unusual amount of attention this year. The board had a rival plan likely to retain its current centrist majority, while Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, hopes to elect more conservatives.

Kelly hasn't weighed in publicly on the state school board map, but she said in an interview earlier this week that the House and Senate maps seemed “as fair to the incumbents as the numbers would allow.”

“I actually think they did a pretty good job on that,” she said.

The Kansas Constitution requires the Legislature to redraw districts once every decade to make them as equal in population as possible after population shifts. Southeast, central and parts of western Kansas lost population over the last 10 years, while the Wichita area and northeast Kansas saw gains.

If Kelly signs the measure, the Kansas Supreme Court automatically will review the maps.

Republicans expect the new maps to allow them to keep roughly the same majorities of 29-11 in the Senate and 86-39 in the House.

While the State Board of Education has a 6-4 Republican majority, it's controlled by Democrats and GOP moderates.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are pushing a redistricting plan that the state Senate’s top GOP leader hopes will move the state school board to the right and give conservatives more say over what’s taught in public schools.

The Senate on Tuesday approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Redistricting/2022-Plans/Board-of-Education/Apple-7-Packet.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that would redraw the districts for the 10-member elected State Board of Education so that districts are as equal in population as possible after a decade of shifts across Kansas. The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220329165047_314472/" target="_blank">31-8 vote</a>&nbsp;sent the measure to the House, and lawmakers expect to give final approval to new lines for board districts and for their own districts before the Republican-controlled Legislature begins its annual spring break Saturday.

Republicans hold a 6-4 majority on the state school board, but it has become far less conservative than the Legislature. The board sets curriculum guidelines for public schools, and from 1999 until 2007, Kansas endured international ridicule over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/389385" target="_blank">debates about teaching evolution</a>&nbsp;in its public schools as the board adopted five sets of science standards in eight years and its majority seesawed between conservatives and a Democratic-moderate GOP coalition.

Senate President Ty Masterson, a conservative Andover Republican and the redistricting plan’s architect, said he’s hoping for “more vibrant conversation” among board members about education policy “instead of one monolithic vision.”

“It would be good if there were more conservatives on the board,” Masterson said during an interview. “You have these offices that need more attention because we need more discussion on that, so the result is the State Board of Education doesn’t reflect Kansas.”

Conservative lawmakers are frustrated that the board hasn’t moved on its own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-kansas-topeka-d9684fdec9ad74c621d7a51977c58f7d">to limit what can be taught about race</a>&nbsp;and the role of racism in U.S. history or to make it easier to remove materials from classrooms and libraries.

“Their responses to parents’ concerns have not been as robust as I would probably have hoped,” said Rep. Kristey Williams, a conservative Augusta Republican and chair of a House committee on education spending. “Kansans are generally to the right of many of our board members.”

Redrawing state board districts traditionally has been an afterthought for lawmakers, with plans attached to state House and Senate maps just before they clear the Legislature. Each board district is four state Senate districts, so top House Republicans plan to defer to GOP senators’ wishes.

Board members have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Redistricting/2022-Plans/Board-of-Education/Little-Jerusalem-Badlands_Packet.pdf" target="_blank">their own map,</a>&nbsp;one more likely to preserve the political status quo. That proposal avoided putting two incumbents in any district.

Board member Ann Mah, a Topeka Democrat, said the board’s plan would ensure that it continues to “stand up” to the Legislature.

As for Masterson, Mah said, “If he could mess it up and have a weak board that the Legislature could control, that would be, you know, right up his alley.”

GOP lawmakers’ plan would pair Republican board members Ben Jones, of Sterling, and Deena Horst, of Salina, in a central Kansas district. In the Kansas City area, Democratic board members Janet Waugh, of Kansas City, and Melanie Haas, of Overland Park, would share a district.

The measure also would carve up the Kansas City, Kansas, area among three board districts, while the board’s plan would split it between two. The area is in a single district now, represented by Waugh.

“Carving it up with what appears to be a more partisan divide is a little unsettling,” said Democratic state Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, adding that minority communities could lack “a clear voice” in board debates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648723358554.png" alt="State board of education district map" />
 <figcaption>State board of education district map</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;lawmakers have given final approval to a redistricting measure that's likely to preserve Republican supermajorities in the Legislature while possibly moving the state school board to the right.The state Senate on Wednesday night approved, 29-11, a single bill containing plans for its members, the House and the State Board of Education, shortly after the House approved it, 83-40. The measure goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, and Republican leaders appear to have the two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override a veto.Top Republicans largely drew the new political boundaries, but the lines had bipartisan support in both chambers. Some Democratic senators liked their new districts, and most House members were pleased with theirs.The new State Board of Education map drew an unusual amount of attention this year. The board had a rival plan likely to retain its current centrist majority, while Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, hopes to elect more conservatives.Kelly hasn't weighed in publicly on the state school board map, but she said in an interview earlier this week that the House and Senate maps seemed “as fair to the incumbents as the numbers would allow.”“I actually think they did a pretty good job on that,” she said.The Kansas Constitution requires the Legislature to redraw districts once every decade to make them as equal in population as possible after population shifts. Southeast, central and parts of western Kansas lost population over the last 10 years, while the Wichita area and northeast Kansas saw gains.If Kelly signs the measure, the Kansas Supreme Court automatically will review the maps.Republicans expect the new maps to allow them to keep roughly the same majorities of 29-11 in the Senate and 86-39 in the House.While the State Board of Education has a 6-4 Republican majority, it's controlled by Democrats and GOP moderates.---------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are pushing a redistricting plan that the state Senate’s top GOP leader hopes will move the state school board to the right and give conservatives more say over what’s taught in public schools.The Senate on Tuesday approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Redistricting/2022-Plans/Board-of-Education/Apple-7-Packet.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that would redraw the districts for the 10-member elected State Board of Education so that districts are as equal in population as possible after a decade of shifts across Kansas. The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220329165047_314472/" target="_blank">31-8 vote</a>&nbsp;sent the measure to the House, and lawmakers expect to give final approval to new lines for board districts and for their own districts before the Republican-controlled Legislature begins its annual spring break Saturday.Republicans hold a 6-4 majority on the state school board, but it has become far less conservative than the Legislature. The board sets curriculum guidelines for public schools, and from 1999 until 2007, Kansas endured international ridicule over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/389385" target="_blank">debates about teaching evolution</a>&nbsp;in its public schools as the board adopted five sets of science standards in eight years and its majority seesawed between conservatives and a Democratic-moderate GOP coalition.Senate President Ty Masterson, a conservative Andover Republican and the redistricting plan’s architect, said he’s hoping for “more vibrant conversation” among board members about education policy “instead of one monolithic vision.”“It would be good if there were more conservatives on the board,” Masterson said during an interview. “You have these offices that need more attention because we need more discussion on that, so the result is the State Board of Education doesn’t reflect Kansas.”Conservative lawmakers are frustrated that the board hasn’t moved on its own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-kansas-topeka-d9684fdec9ad74c621d7a51977c58f7d">to limit what can be taught about race</a>&nbsp;and the role of racism in U.S. history or to make it easier to remove materials from classrooms and libraries.“Their responses to parents’ concerns have not been as robust as I would probably have hoped,” said Rep. Kristey Williams, a conservative Augusta Republican and chair of a House committee on education spending. “Kansans are generally to the right of many of our board members.”Redrawing state board districts traditionally has been an afterthought for lawmakers, with plans attached to state House and Senate maps just before they clear the Legislature. Each board district is four state Senate districts, so top House Republicans plan to defer to GOP senators’ wishes.Board members have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Redistricting/2022-Plans/Board-of-Education/Little-Jerusalem-Badlands_Packet.pdf" target="_blank">their own map,</a>&nbsp;one more likely to preserve the political status quo. That proposal avoided putting two incumbents in any district.Board member Ann Mah, a Topeka Democrat, said the board’s plan would ensure that it continues to “stand up” to the Legislature.As for Masterson, Mah said, “If he could mess it up and have a weak board that the Legislature could control, that would be, you know, right up his alley.”GOP lawmakers’ plan would pair Republican board members Ben Jones, of Sterling, and Deena Horst, of Salina, in a central Kansas district. In the Kansas City area, Democratic board members Janet Waugh, of Kansas City, and Melanie Haas, of Overland Park, would share a district.The measure also would carve up the Kansas City, Kansas, area among three board districts, while the board’s plan would split it between two. The area is in a single district now, represented by Waugh.“Carving it up with what appears to be a more partisan divide is a little unsettling,” said Democratic state Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, adding that minority communities could lack “a clear voice” in board debates.___

Kansas lawmakers approve their new districts, ed board map

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 8a.m. Thursday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Ellaina M.&nbsp;Brightbill, 42, Salina, was eastbound on Interstate 70 near the N. Ninth Street exit.

She lost control of the vehicle due to the icy roadway.

The SUV veered into the median and struck a guardrail on the westbound side, crossed the westbound lanes, rolled and came to rest on the north side of Interstate 70 off the roadway.

EMS transported Brightbill to Salina Regional Health Center where she was pronounced dead. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 8a.m. Thursday in Saline County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Ellaina M.&nbsp;Brightbill, 42, Salina, was eastbound on Interstate 70 near the N. Ninth Street exit.She lost control of the vehicle due to the icy roadway.The SUV veered into the median and struck a guardrail on the westbound side, crossed the westbound lanes, rolled and came to rest on the north side of Interstate 70 off the roadway.EMS transported Brightbill to Salina Regional Health Center where she was pronounced dead. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after SUV rolls on icy Interstate 70 

MANHATTAN —&nbsp;Robert "Bob" Campbell was a self-made man who took advantage of opportunities others may have missed. Through his Kansas State University education, tenacity and self-taught start in the oil business, he was able to build a lucrative career, according to a media release. As part of his estate plan, Campbell, who died in March 2021, established a $17 million scholarship and recognition fund to help the next generation of K-State students launch their own successful careers and inspire others to support the university. The Robert E. Campbell Opportunity Scholarship and Robert E. Campbell Opportunity Scholars Recognition Fund is in addition to a $1 million gift Campbell made to the College of Business Administration in 2018. "Because Bob started from scratch, he cared about others and wanted to help kids," said Kent Sedlacek, senior director of gift, estate and trust planning at the KSU Foundation. "His gift to K-State was how he could make a difference in students' lives and in the university. He delighted in both being generous and doing things his own way." Campbell was a first-generation student who studied business administration at K-State via the GI Bill after serving in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps, a precursor to the U.S. Air Force. After his 1950 graduation from K-State, he sold bonds before eventually researching how the oil business worked. In 1963, he launched his own company, Robert E. Campbell Oil and Gas Operations in&nbsp;Wichita, which he operated for 56 years. At his 2016 induction into K-State's College of Business Administration Distinguished Business Leaders Hall of Fame, Campbell said, "Kansas State University is where I grew intellectually and as a person." Then he encouraged students to apply themselves and nurture their ideas toward their own goals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648735860410.jpeg" alt="Robert "Bob" Campbell courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Robert "Bob" Campbell courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN —&nbsp;Robert "Bob" Campbell was a self-made man who took advantage of opportunities others may have missed. Through his Kansas State University education, tenacity and self-taught start in the oil business, he was able to build a lucrative career, according to a media release. As part of his estate plan, Campbell, who died in March 2021, established a $17 million scholarship and recognition fund to help the next generation of K-State students launch their own successful careers and inspire others to support the university. The Robert E. Campbell Opportunity Scholarship and Robert E. Campbell Opportunity Scholars Recognition Fund is in addition to a $1 million gift Campbell made to the College of Business Administration in 2018. "Because Bob started from scratch, he cared about others and wanted to help kids," said Kent Sedlacek, senior director of gift, estate and trust planning at the KSU Foundation. "His gift to K-State was how he could make a difference in students' lives and in the university. He delighted in both being generous and doing things his own way." Campbell was a first-generation student who studied business administration at K-State via the GI Bill after serving in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps, a precursor to the U.S. Air Force. After his 1950 graduation from K-State, he sold bonds before eventually researching how the oil business worked. In 1963, he launched his own company, Robert E. Campbell Oil and Gas Operations in&nbsp;Wichita, which he operated for 56 years. At his 2016 induction into K-State's College of Business Administration Distinguished Business Leaders Hall of Fame, Campbell said, "Kansas State University is where I grew intellectually and as a person." Then he encouraged students to apply themselves and nurture their ideas toward their own goals.

Businessman's $17M gift to benefit thousands of KSU students

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers on Wednesday passed a measure to overturn three communities' policies that could help immigrants stay in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;illegally, highlighting an issue the GOP is likely to push in the governor's race.

The bill is a response to an ordinance enacted last month by Wyandotte County, a Democratic stronghold. The ordinance provides local identification cards for immigrants and other residents and declares that the county won't help the federal government enforce immigration laws absent a threat to public safety. Lawrence and Roeland Park in northeast Kansas also have such immigration enforcement policies.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the presumed Republican nominee for governor, decried Wyandotte County's “sanctuary" policy and urged lawmakers to intervene. Their bill would nullify existing ordinances and bar future ones restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill also would say a local ID isn't valid for voting.

The Senate approved the measure Wednesday, 29-10, after the House passed it last week, 84-38. It goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Republicans have criticized her for weeks for not taking a public stand against Wyandotte County's policy.

Schmidt called the measure “commonsense legislation" that prevents “a patchwork of local rules.” He also suggested local ID cards “lack basic anti-fraud protections.”

State Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, a Baxter Springs Republican, said when local officials promote violating federal law, "There is no place for local control there.”

Supporters had the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a potential veto.

While Kelly hasn't taken a formal position on the bill, she told reporters last week, “I have been a staunch supporter, whenever possible, of allowing local units of government to make decisions that they feel are the best interest of their community.”

Meanwhile, critics of the bill questioned whether it violates a provision of the Kansas Constitution that says cities are “empowered to determine their local affairs.”

They also said Wyandotte County's ordinance makes sense for one of the most racially and ethnically diverse counties in Kansas. According to the 2020 census, non-Hispanic white residents make up 37% of its population, while Hispanic residents are 33%.

Finally, critics suggested that Schmidt was engaging in political theater in pushing for a bill after Wyandotte County enacted its policy, rather than doing it earlier, when Lawrence or Roeland Park did.

“Why do we have a target on our back for the attorney general?” asked state Rep. Louis Ruiz, a Kansas City Democrat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633457915278.png" alt="State Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, a Baxter Springs Republican, said when local officials promote violating federal law, "There is no place for local control there.” photo by Sherman Smith" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, a Baxter Springs Republican, said when local officials promote violating federal law, "There is no place for local control there.” photo by Sherman Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA, AP Political WriterTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers on Wednesday passed a measure to overturn three communities' policies that could help immigrants stay in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;illegally, highlighting an issue the GOP is likely to push in the governor's race.The bill is a response to an ordinance enacted last month by Wyandotte County, a Democratic stronghold. The ordinance provides local identification cards for immigrants and other residents and declares that the county won't help the federal government enforce immigration laws absent a threat to public safety. Lawrence and Roeland Park in northeast Kansas also have such immigration enforcement policies.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the presumed Republican nominee for governor, decried Wyandotte County's “sanctuary" policy and urged lawmakers to intervene. Their bill would nullify existing ordinances and bar future ones restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill also would say a local ID isn't valid for voting.The Senate approved the measure Wednesday, 29-10, after the House passed it last week, 84-38. It goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Republicans have criticized her for weeks for not taking a public stand against Wyandotte County's policy.Schmidt called the measure “commonsense legislation" that prevents “a patchwork of local rules.” He also suggested local ID cards “lack basic anti-fraud protections.”State Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, a Baxter Springs Republican, said when local officials promote violating federal law, "There is no place for local control there.”Supporters had the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a potential veto.While Kelly hasn't taken a formal position on the bill, she told reporters last week, “I have been a staunch supporter, whenever possible, of allowing local units of government to make decisions that they feel are the best interest of their community.”Meanwhile, critics of the bill questioned whether it violates a provision of the Kansas Constitution that says cities are “empowered to determine their local affairs.”They also said Wyandotte County's ordinance makes sense for one of the most racially and ethnically diverse counties in Kansas. According to the 2020 census, non-Hispanic white residents make up 37% of its population, while Hispanic residents are 33%.Finally, critics suggested that Schmidt was engaging in political theater in pushing for a bill after Wyandotte County enacted its policy, rather than doing it earlier, when Lawrence or Roeland Park did.“Why do we have a target on our back for the attorney general?” asked state Rep. Louis Ruiz, a Kansas City Democrat.

Kansas lawmakers send 'sanctuary city' bill to governor

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a child sex crime and have made an arrest.

Just after 7:p.m. Tuesday., police were dispatched to the north part of Garden City, where a man was reported to be exposing himself to small children, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, Officers spoke with the reporting party, who told Officers that an 11-year-old child said a man was showing them his&nbsp;genitalia.

The investigation revealed the child was walking in a parking lot when a man sitting in a vehicle revved the engine to get the child’s attention. As the child approached the vehicle, the man was allegedly exposing himself and tried soliciting the child. The child ran from the area looking for help before finding the reporting party. 

Through further investigation, police identified 19-year-old Robert Lozano of Garden City, as the suspect and took him into custody. 

Lozano was booked on requested charges of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior. He is no longer in custody, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648687471138.png" alt="Lozano photo Finney Col" />
 <figcaption>Lozano photo Finney Col</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a child sex crime and have made an arrest.Just after 7:p.m. Tuesday., police were dispatched to the north part of Garden City, where a man was reported to be exposing himself to small children, according to a media release.Upon arrival, Officers spoke with the reporting party, who told Officers that an 11-year-old child said a man was showing them his&nbsp;genitalia.The investigation revealed the child was walking in a parking lot when a man sitting in a vehicle revved the engine to get the child’s attention. As the child approached the vehicle, the man was allegedly exposing himself and tried soliciting the child. The child ran from the area looking for help before finding the reporting party. Through further investigation, police identified 19-year-old Robert Lozano of Garden City, as the suspect and took him into custody. Lozano was booked on requested charges of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior. He is no longer in custody, according to online records.

Man accused of exposing himself to child in SW Kansas

WASHINGTON– Over one month since the beginning of Putin’s unjust war on Ukraine, and following a bipartisan Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-marshall-moran-visit-with-fort-riley-troops-and-kansans-deployed-to-germany/" target="_blank">delegation visit to Poland and Germany</a>, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall joined Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in leading a bipartisan group of senators&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">requesting</a>&nbsp;answers from President Biden’s national security advisor (NSA), Jake Sullivan, on the speed, specifics, and supply of lethal aid provided to Ukraine, according to a statement from Marshall's office.

In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>, the Senators said in part,

“In light of Ukraine’s continued resistance against Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion of Ukraine, we request you commit to a military support plan to enable Ukraine to win this unlawful war of aggression against their sovereign nation… America’s commitments to Ukraine and to our NATO allies demand we expedite the delivery of weapons and capabilities to our allies and partners; Ukraine can win this fight if we help them win this fight. Above all else, our commitment to our allies and partners keeps Americans prosperous and keeps our families safe.”

While in Poland, Senators Marshall and Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-marshall-the-ukrainian-people-dont-need-words-they-need-action/" target="_blank">heard directly</a>&nbsp;from members of the Ukrainian civil society who passionately stated the lethal aid is flowing too slowly and that the sovereign country needs more specific lethal aid to win the war. Following the bipartisan trip, the Senators are pushing the administration for answers on what they have provided thus far and what more America and our allies can provide to Ukraine to win the war.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to NSA Sullivan, the senators write: “We request a timely response to these questions detailing your provisions, risk assessments, and strategy to enable Ukraine to defeat Vladimir Putin and return to sovereignty and freedom.

The Senators conclude by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">writing</a>:

“The U.S. mission in Ukraine must go beyond ensuring the country merely has the means to defend itself against Russian aggression. The strategy must deliver Ukraine necessary weapons to defend itself, counter the Russian forces' advance, and give the Ukrainian people a chance to win this war. Success cannot be a Russian-occupied Ukraine - it must be a free, independent, and sovereign Ukraine. Authoritarianism cannot prevail in this conflict. Defending freedom in Ukraine is defending freedom everywhere. We anxiously await your response.”

To read the full letter, click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

For more on the bipartisan CODEL to Poland and Germany, click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-marshall-on-ukraine-aid-get-them-the-damn-weapons/" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647785693574.png" alt="Senators Moran and Marshall during their stop to eastern Europe-courtesy photos" />
 <figcaption>Senators Moran and Marshall during their stop to eastern Europe-courtesy photos</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON– Over one month since the beginning of Putin’s unjust war on Ukraine, and following a bipartisan Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-marshall-moran-visit-with-fort-riley-troops-and-kansans-deployed-to-germany/" target="_blank">delegation visit to Poland and Germany</a>, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall joined Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in leading a bipartisan group of senators&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">requesting</a>&nbsp;answers from President Biden’s national security advisor (NSA), Jake Sullivan, on the speed, specifics, and supply of lethal aid provided to Ukraine, according to a statement from Marshall's office. In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>, the Senators said in part,“In light of Ukraine’s continued resistance against Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion of Ukraine, we request you commit to a military support plan to enable Ukraine to win this unlawful war of aggression against their sovereign nation… America’s commitments to Ukraine and to our NATO allies demand we expedite the delivery of weapons and capabilities to our allies and partners; Ukraine can win this fight if we help them win this fight. Above all else, our commitment to our allies and partners keeps Americans prosperous and keeps our families safe.”While in Poland, Senators Marshall and Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-marshall-the-ukrainian-people-dont-need-words-they-need-action/" target="_blank">heard directly</a>&nbsp;from members of the Ukrainian civil society who passionately stated the lethal aid is flowing too slowly and that the sovereign country needs more specific lethal aid to win the war. Following the bipartisan trip, the Senators are pushing the administration for answers on what they have provided thus far and what more America and our allies can provide to Ukraine to win the war.&nbsp;&nbsp;In their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to NSA Sullivan, the senators write: “We request a timely response to these questions detailing your provisions, risk assessments, and strategy to enable Ukraine to defeat Vladimir Putin and return to sovereignty and freedom.<ol>
 <li>A list of all lethal and nonlethal aid provided to date and status of delivery or estimated delivery to Ukraine.</li><li>A list of all equipment purchased or allocated for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund that remains within U.S. stocks or control, and an assessment of the feasibility to provide such equipment to Ukraine.</li><li>A complete list of all Army Pre-positioned Stock (APS) or Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) stocks in Europe by item and location.</li><li>An analysis of available equipment within allied and partner nations that could be procured or transferred to Ukraine and subsequently backfilled with NATO equipment.</li><li>A list of equipment, production capacity, and war reserve inventories the United States is capable of delivering to backfill to NATO members who have provided capabilities to Ukraine.”</li>
 </ol>The Senators conclude by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">writing</a>:“The U.S. mission in Ukraine must go beyond ensuring the country merely has the means to defend itself against Russian aggression. The strategy must deliver Ukraine necessary weapons to defend itself, counter the Russian forces' advance, and give the Ukrainian people a chance to win this war. Success cannot be a Russian-occupied Ukraine - it must be a free, independent, and sovereign Ukraine. Authoritarianism cannot prevail in this conflict. Defending freedom in Ukraine is defending freedom everywhere. We anxiously await your response.”To read the full letter, click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4999eda7-2331-4768-bf14-10a653549a83/362369F200B12B8E6FF0A607139F5E73.ernst-gillibrand-letter-to-nsa-sullivan.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.For more on the bipartisan CODEL to Poland and Germany, click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-marshall-on-ukraine-aid-get-them-the-damn-weapons/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Moran, Marshall demand White House provide answers on aid to Ukraine

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a baby and have made an arrest.

Just after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 1400 block of SW Byron on a report of an assault, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz. 

&nbsp;Officers located an infant suffering from life threatening injuries and also found the child's mother suffering from non-life threating injuries. Both the were transported to a local hospital where the baby later died, according to Munoz. 

Officers and Detectives transported several individuals to the Law Enforcement Center for further questioning.&nbsp; As a result of the investigation, police transported 21-year-old&nbsp; Trayvonne Damont Jones, of Topeka to Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Murder in the First Degree, Abuse of a Child, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Aggravated Battery. Both the victims and suspect are known to each other, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648722249337.png" alt="Trayvonne Jones-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Trayvonne Jones-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a baby and have made an arrest.Just after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 1400 block of SW Byron on a report of an assault, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz. &nbsp;Officers located an infant suffering from life threatening injuries and also found the child's mother suffering from non-life threating injuries. Both the were transported to a local hospital where the baby later died, according to Munoz. The mother was treated and released.Officers and Detectives transported several individuals to the Law Enforcement Center for further questioning.&nbsp; As a result of the investigation, police transported 21-year-old&nbsp; Trayvonne Damont Jones, of Topeka to Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Murder in the First Degree, Abuse of a Child, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Aggravated Battery. Both the victims and suspect are known to each other, according to Munoz.

Kan. man accused of battering woman, killing her baby

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Washburn University President Jerry Farley said he does not support the message an anti-transgender speaker is scheduled to deliver at the university on Thursday. 

The speaker, Michael Knowles, will give a speech titled “Banning Transgenderism” on Thursday, hosted by the school's College Republicans group. Thursday is International Transgender Day of Visibility. Farley said in an email to the campus that he supports free speech rights but Washburn does not condone Knowles' beliefs.

Knowles responded with a tweet challenging Farley to show specific incidents of hate or misinformation in his speeches. A demonstration in support of Washburn's LGBTQ community is planned before Knowles' speech.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Washburn University President Jerry Farley said he does not support the message an anti-transgender speaker is scheduled to deliver at the university on Thursday. The speaker, Michael Knowles, will give a speech titled “Banning Transgenderism” on Thursday, hosted by the school's College Republicans group. Thursday is International Transgender Day of Visibility. Farley said in an email to the campus that he supports free speech rights but Washburn does not condone Knowles' beliefs.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Washburn president Jerry Farley, who personally signed the contract inviting me to come speak, just sent a campus-wide email condemning me for spreading &quot;hate and misinformation&quot;—two days before my speech is scheduled to take place. 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/U8cXRItLQb">https://t.co/U8cXRItLQb</a>&mdash; Michael Knowles, Biological (And Spiritual) Male (@michaeljknowles) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaeljknowles/status/1509182737479045121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Knowles responded with a tweet challenging Farley to show specific incidents of hate or misinformation in his speeches. A demonstration in support of Washburn's LGBTQ community is planned before Knowles' speech.

Anti-transgender speaker causes controversy at Washburn

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as he received a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine a day after federal regulators approved a fourth shot for those aged 50 and older.

Biden spoke as his administration rolled out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/" target="_blank">COVID.gov</a>, designed to be a one-stop website to help people in the United States access COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments, along with status updates on infection rates where they live. Biden pressed lawmakers to provide additional funding “immediately” to ensure continued supply of the tools that have helped the nation begin to emerge from the pandemic.

“Congress, we need to secure additional supply now,” he said, warning of shortages of vaccines, tests and treatments. “This isn’t partisan, it’s medicine.”

Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit.

“It didn’t hurt a bit,” Biden said.

The additional booster is meant to beef up the body’s protection against COVID-19 in populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 975,000 people in the U.S.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way for another shot for anyone 50 and older, who can get the additional booster at least four months after their last vaccination. Severely immune-compromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, as young as 12, are also eligible.

“We have enough supply to give booster shots, but if Congress fails to act we won’t have the supplies we need this Fall,” Biden warned, noting the possibility that regulators will approve a fourth shot for all Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, have been negotiating in hopes of reviving the COVID-19 package.

If an agreement emerges, participants say they expect it to be similar to the $15.6 billion bipartisan version that congressional leaders crafted earlier this month. The original compromise collapsed after rank-and-file Democrats rebelled against cuts in unspent pandemic aid for states that would have helped pay for it.

The two parties’ continuing disagreements are over how to find savings to offset the measure’s cost, not the new spending itself.

Leaders would like Congress to approve the assistance before lawmakers leave for a spring recess after next week.

“We are not yet at the finish line, but we will keep working throughout the day,” Schumer said Wednesday. He said if a new COVID variant emerges that “extends its nasty tentacles across the country and we don’t have the tools to respond, then woe is us.”

Romney said Tuesday that bargainers were discussing savings options. “But we’re making progress and hopefully we’ll get there soon,” he said.

A subvariant of the highly transmissible omicron that scientists call BA.2 is now the dominant coronavirus mutant in the United States. It accounted for nearly 55% of new infections across the nation last week and an even greater proportion in the Northeast, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientists say one reason BA.2 has gained ground is that it’s about 30% more contagious than the original omicron. In rare cases, research shows it can sicken people even if they’ve already had an omicron infection. But it doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease than the original, and vaccines appear just as effective against it.

The unvaccinated, though, are at a far greater risk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648688148561.png" alt="Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as he received a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine a day after federal regulators approved a fourth shot for those aged 50 and older.Biden spoke as his administration rolled out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/" target="_blank">COVID.gov</a>, designed to be a one-stop website to help people in the United States access COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments, along with status updates on infection rates where they live. Biden pressed lawmakers to provide additional funding “immediately” to ensure continued supply of the tools that have helped the nation begin to emerge from the pandemic.“Congress, we need to secure additional supply now,” he said, warning of shortages of vaccines, tests and treatments. “This isn’t partisan, it’s medicine.”Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit.“It didn’t hurt a bit,” Biden said.The additional booster is meant to beef up the body’s protection against COVID-19 in populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 975,000 people in the U.S.On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way for another shot for anyone 50 and older, who can get the additional booster at least four months after their last vaccination. Severely immune-compromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, as young as 12, are also eligible.“We have enough supply to give booster shots, but if Congress fails to act we won’t have the supplies we need this Fall,” Biden warned, noting the possibility that regulators will approve a fourth shot for all Americans.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, have been negotiating in hopes of reviving the COVID-19 package.If an agreement emerges, participants say they expect it to be similar to the $15.6 billion bipartisan version that congressional leaders crafted earlier this month. The original compromise collapsed after rank-and-file Democrats rebelled against cuts in unspent pandemic aid for states that would have helped pay for it.The two parties’ continuing disagreements are over how to find savings to offset the measure’s cost, not the new spending itself.Leaders would like Congress to approve the assistance before lawmakers leave for a spring recess after next week.“We are not yet at the finish line, but we will keep working throughout the day,” Schumer said Wednesday. He said if a new COVID variant emerges that “extends its nasty tentacles across the country and we don’t have the tools to respond, then woe is us.”Romney said Tuesday that bargainers were discussing savings options. “But we’re making progress and hopefully we’ll get there soon,” he said.A subvariant of the highly transmissible omicron that scientists call BA.2 is now the dominant coronavirus mutant in the United States. It accounted for nearly 55% of new infections across the nation last week and an even greater proportion in the Northeast, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scientists say one reason BA.2 has gained ground is that it’s about 30% more contagious than the original omicron. In rare cases, research shows it can sicken people even if they’ve already had an omicron infection. But it doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease than the original, and vaccines appear just as effective against it.The unvaccinated, though, are at a far greater risk.—

Biden receives 2nd booster, presses Congress for more virus funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies have imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-congress-a187eb7dcbb8e8c7224adb518392bab2">steep sanctions on Russia</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-united-states-nato-5863ad1d740cdd04ba42a25de0d31449">its invasion of Ukraine</a>.

The announcement could come as soon as Thursday, when the White House says Biden is planning to deliver remarks on his administration’s plans to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-record-high-russia-ukraine-ac7fcc350ad1f1c71db4185b99fef112">rising gas prices</a>. The duration of the release hasn’t been finalized but could last for several months. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the decision.

High oil prices have not coaxed more production, creating a challenge for Biden. The Democratic president has seen his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-inflation-6b6b0abfef867fc405e9f358ce2c3a09">popularity sink</a>&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-soars-776c03520c90083894fedf31f1a7db00">inflation reached a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;in February and the cost of petroleum and gasoline climbed after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>.

The markets reacted quickly to the likely release from the strategic reserve with crude oil prices dropping 6% on Thursday morning to roughly $101 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago as supplies have not kept up with demand as the world economy began to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of the country’s usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.

The Biden administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.

According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646659156352.png" alt="Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.-google image" />
 <figcaption>Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.-google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies have imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-congress-a187eb7dcbb8e8c7224adb518392bab2">steep sanctions on Russia</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-united-states-nato-5863ad1d740cdd04ba42a25de0d31449">its invasion of Ukraine</a>.The announcement could come as soon as Thursday, when the White House says Biden is planning to deliver remarks on his administration’s plans to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-record-high-russia-ukraine-ac7fcc350ad1f1c71db4185b99fef112">rising gas prices</a>. The duration of the release hasn’t been finalized but could last for several months. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the decision.High oil prices have not coaxed more production, creating a challenge for Biden. The Democratic president has seen his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-inflation-6b6b0abfef867fc405e9f358ce2c3a09">popularity sink</a>&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-soars-776c03520c90083894fedf31f1a7db00">inflation reached a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;in February and the cost of petroleum and gasoline climbed after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>.The markets reacted quickly to the likely release from the strategic reserve with crude oil prices dropping 6% on Thursday morning to roughly $101 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago as supplies have not kept up with demand as the world economy began to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of the country’s usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.The Biden administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25.News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.___

Biden considers plan to tap oil reserve to control gas prices

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Black Kansas City teenager will receive a $325,000 settlement after three white police officers hit him more than 10 times and used a stun gun on him, according to an excessive force lawsuit.

It is the third settlement this year against Kansas City police in cases involving Black teenagers, with a total payout of $1.3 million, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article259897090.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.

The lawsuit alleged the 17-year-old was sitting in his car in a parking lot waiting for friends after homecoming at Hogan Preparatory Academy on Oct. 12, 2019.

Two officers approached the car and ordered him to get out. When the teen got out of the car, he was thrown to the ground, punched, knelt on by two officers and hit with a stun gun by a third, according to the lawsuit.

Video filed with the lawsuit includes the teenager calling for help and saying he was not resisting, The Star reported.

The teenager had not committed any traffic violations. He was arrested but never charged with a crime.

The Kansas City Police Department declined to comment on the settlement.

The police department has paid more than $10.8 million in excessive force and wrongful arrest claims since 2014.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Black Kansas City teenager will receive a $325,000 settlement after three white police officers hit him more than 10 times and used a stun gun on him, according to an excessive force lawsuit.It is the third settlement this year against Kansas City police in cases involving Black teenagers, with a total payout of $1.3 million, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article259897090.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.The lawsuit alleged the 17-year-old was sitting in his car in a parking lot waiting for friends after homecoming at Hogan Preparatory Academy on Oct. 12, 2019.Two officers approached the car and ordered him to get out. When the teen got out of the car, he was thrown to the ground, punched, knelt on by two officers and hit with a stun gun by a third, according to the lawsuit.Video filed with the lawsuit includes the teenager calling for help and saying he was not resisting, The Star reported.The teenager had not committed any traffic violations. He was arrested but never charged with a crime.The Kansas City Police Department declined to comment on the settlement.The police department has paid more than $10.8 million in excessive force and wrongful arrest claims since 2014.

KCPD to pay $325,000 to Black teen after violent arrest

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia. The condition causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech. 

Willis' family announced the news in a statement Wednesday on Willis' Instagram page. The 67-year-old actor's family said Willis was recently diagnosed with aphasia and that it is impacting his cognitive abilities. 

The statement was signed by Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648673313450.png" alt=" Bruce Willis speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gage">Photo by Gage Skidmore</a>" />
 <figcaption> Bruce Willis speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gage">Photo by Gage Skidmore</a></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia. The condition causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech. Willis' family announced the news in a statement Wednesday on Willis' Instagram page. The 67-year-old actor's family said Willis was recently diagnosed with aphasia and that it is impacting his cognitive abilities. The statement was signed by Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

Bruce Willis steps away from acting after diagnosis

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials say Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine's capital and another city overnight. 

The attacks come hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the war. Russia did not spell out what exactly it planned to do differently. 

While the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward peace was coming into view, Ukraine's president and others cautioned that the remarks could merely be bluster. Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling hit "civilian infrastructure" in the northern city of Chernihiv and on the outskirts of Kyiv. 

Moscow, meanwhile, reacted coolly Wednesday to Kyiv's proposed framework for a peace deal.

Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials say Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine's capital and another city overnight. The attacks come hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the war. Russia did not spell out what exactly it planned to do differently. While the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward peace was coming into view, Ukraine's president and others cautioned that the remarks could merely be bluster. Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling hit "civilian infrastructure" in the northern city of Chernihiv and on the outskirts of Kyiv. Moscow, meanwhile, reacted coolly Wednesday to Kyiv's proposed framework for a peace deal.

Russia bombards areas of Ukraine where it pledged to scale back

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly says Kansas won't enforce a federal mandate that nursing home workers get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

She acknowledged Wednesday that the mandate conflicts with a state law she signed four months ago. Kelly's move won't allow nursing home employees to avoid the vaccination mandate. 

The federal government informed the state last week that it will charge Kansas nearly $349,000 for the year to have federal teams survey nursing homes for compliance. 

The law enacted in November makes it easy for workers to claim a religious exemption from vaccine mandates. Meanwhile, Republican legislators want to limit the restrictions officials can impose during future outbreaks.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly says Kansas won't enforce a federal mandate that nursing home workers get vaccinated against COVID-19. She acknowledged Wednesday that the mandate conflicts with a state law she signed four months ago. Kelly's move won't allow nursing home employees to avoid the vaccination mandate. The federal government informed the state last week that it will charge Kansas nearly $349,000 for the year to have federal teams survey nursing homes for compliance. The law enacted in November makes it easy for workers to claim a religious exemption from vaccine mandates. Meanwhile, Republican legislators want to limit the restrictions officials can impose during future outbreaks.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Kansas won't enforce vaccine rule for nursing home workers

BURR OAK — In the midst of a red flag 
warning for fire danger Tuesday afternoon, a hot spot on radar was the 
first indication of a grassland fire in northwestern Jewell County.

At
 approximately 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, an employee of the National Weather 
Service in Hastings, Neb., alerted Jewell County dispatch that a hot 
spot had been seen on radar approximately three miles west of Burr Oak, 
the Jewell County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release issued 
late this morning.

The National Weather Service's Hastings, Neb., office's coverage area includes Jewell County.

Burr
 Oak volunteer fire fighters responded to the blaze, which spread 
quickly because of the high winds. Winds from the south to southwest at 
20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, and relative humidity as low as 
14 percent were forecast for the area Tuesday afternoon.

A view of the smoke plume on the National Weather Service's Hastings, Neb., radar as the fire moved to the north of Burr Oak:

Because the fire was growing rapidly due to the windy conditions, the
 Burr Oak volunteer firefighters requested assistance and numerous other
 fire departments from Kansas and Nebraska responded.

"There were 
no fatalities, 1 minor injury," the Jewell County Sheriff's Office noted
 in the release. "It is unknown at this time of the amount of personal 
property that has been damaged."

The origin of the fire is currently is unknown, according to the release.

"Jewell
 County Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Peroutek would like to 
thank all the fire departments that assisted and to the Burr Oak 
Community who prepared and donated food and water," the sheriff's office
 reported in the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648663861492.jpeg" alt="A 
view looking toward Guide Rock, Neb., of smoke from the grassland fire 
further south near Burr Oak, Kan. The Guide Rock water tower can be seen
 near the center of the photo. Photo courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSHastings">U.S. National Weather Service Hastings Nebraska Facebook page</a>" />
 <figcaption>A 
view looking toward Guide Rock, Neb., of smoke from the grassland fire 
further south near Burr Oak, Kan. The Guide Rock water tower can be seen
 near the center of the photo. Photo courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSHastings">U.S. National Weather Service Hastings Nebraska Facebook page</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By Salina PostBURR OAK — In the midst of a red flag 
warning for fire danger Tuesday afternoon, a hot spot on radar was the 
first indication of a grassland fire in northwestern Jewell County.At
 approximately 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, an employee of the National Weather 
Service in Hastings, Neb., alerted Jewell County dispatch that a hot 
spot had been seen on radar approximately three miles west of Burr Oak, 
the Jewell County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release issued 
late this morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648664560751.png" alt="Burr Oak locator map / courtesy Google maps" />
 <figcaption>Burr Oak locator map / courtesy Google maps</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service's Hastings, Neb., office's coverage area includes Jewell County.Burr
 Oak volunteer fire fighters responded to the blaze, which spread 
quickly because of the high winds. Winds from the south to southwest at 
20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, and relative humidity as low as 
14 percent were forecast for the area Tuesday afternoon.A view of the smoke plume on the National Weather Service's Hastings, Neb., radar as the fire moved to the north of Burr Oak:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSHastings%2Fvideos%2F1020598275222197%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="427" 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>Because the fire was growing rapidly due to the windy conditions, the
 Burr Oak volunteer firefighters requested assistance and numerous other
 fire departments from Kansas and Nebraska responded."There were 
no fatalities, 1 minor injury," the Jewell County Sheriff's Office noted
 in the release. "It is unknown at this time of the amount of personal 
property that has been damaged."The origin of the fire is currently is unknown, according to the release."Jewell
 County Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Peroutek would like to 
thank all the fire departments that assisted and to the Burr Oak 
Community who prepared and donated food and water," the sheriff's office
 reported in the release.

NWS radar hot spot first sign of Jewell County wildfire

TOPEKA — Kansas Department of Corrections inmate Alexis Wolfgeher has been placed on escape status. KDOC Enforcement Apprehension &amp; Investigation Special Agents and local law enforcement are conducting a search for&nbsp; Wolfgeher.

Wolfgeher, a 23-year-old while female, has black hair currently dyed red, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inch tall and weighs 112 pounds.

Wolfgeher is currently serving a sentence for a conviction in Johnson County for possession of opiates. She is serving that sentence at the Johnson County Department of Corrections Adult Residential Center from which she walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC to promote their successful reintegration back into the community.

Anyone with information on Wolfgeher can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911. Or contact EAI via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov">KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov</a>

The escape is currently being investigated.&nbsp; New information will be released as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648669263343.png" alt="Wolfgeher / Johnson County photo" />
 <figcaption>Wolfgeher / Johnson County photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Kansas Department of Corrections inmate Alexis Wolfgeher has been placed on escape status. KDOC Enforcement Apprehension &amp; Investigation Special Agents and local law enforcement are conducting a search for&nbsp; Wolfgeher.Wolfgeher, a 23-year-old while female, has black hair currently dyed red, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inch tall and weighs 112 pounds.Wolfgeher is currently serving a sentence for a conviction in Johnson County for possession of opiates. She is serving that sentence at the Johnson County Department of Corrections Adult Residential Center from which she walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC to promote their successful reintegration back into the community.Anyone with information on Wolfgeher can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911. Or contact EAI via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov">KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov</a>The escape is currently being investigated.&nbsp; New information will be released as it becomes available.

Authorities search for inmate who walked away from Kan. custody

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-30/one-in-six-kansans-live-in-a-food-desert-some-in-central-topeka-insist-they-can-build-an-oasis">Kansas News Service</a>

For nine decades, generations of neighbors ran into each other at the corner of Huntoon and Lane streets in central Topeka.

Much
 like local schools or a public library, the intersection throbbed with 
the community’s pulse. It was the site of a grocery store.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648658246717.png" alt="Today, this one-acre plot of land in central Topeka is unused. But Janet Cathcart, left, and Marge Ahrens are among local residents working to establish a grocery store here. Dylan Lysen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Today, this one-acre plot of land in central Topeka is unused. But Janet Cathcart, left, and Marge Ahrens are among local residents working to establish a grocery store here. Dylan Lysen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-30/one-in-six-kansans-live-in-a-food-desert-some-in-central-topeka-insist-they-can-build-an-oasis">Kansas News Service</a>For nine decades, generations of neighbors ran into each other at the corner of Huntoon and Lane streets in central Topeka.Much
 like local schools or a public library, the intersection throbbed with 
the community’s pulse. It was the site of a grocery store.“I’d 
see people from the neighborhood … see people from school,” said Janet 
Cathcart, who grew up in the area and raised her children there. “It was
 a nice place to just interact.”But <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2016/02/01/frustration-disappointment-expressed-meeting-dillons-store-closure/16602524007/" target="_blank">in 2016</a>, Kroger Co. closed the Dillons-branded neighborhood grocery, saying it hadn’t turned a profit since 2004.RELATED: Hays Post's series on food deserts <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8qsHIo-72AhVIDzQIHWxBCfMQFnoECAgQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fhayspost.com%2Fposts%2F5c441fe1-a349-4de5-9be0-9cc87704ab70&amp;usg=AOvVaw2tADCTkeT4O2sUJD0vcqrC">In a land of plenty, food deserts prevalent in western Kansas</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8qsHIo-72AhVIDzQIHWxBCfMQFnoECAwQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fhayspost.com%2Fposts%2Fe1b64463-c2bc-4cfe-8371-b1b140eaac76&amp;usg=AOvVaw1N1yYieRv3886Hn_jWGSM0">As population shrinks, Morland finds a new way to provide groceries</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8qsHIo-72AhVIDzQIHWxBCfMQFnoECAoQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fhayspost.com%2Fposts%2F44bebdce-614d-40e6-8d28-de0885eea101&amp;usg=AOvVaw1FNQCJU3LN2AIlTNV6oKAp">Grow local, eat local: Luray fills food void with farmers market</a> When the federal government next updated its list of low-income areas hurting for grocery stores — also known as <a href="https://gisportal.ers.usda.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=a53ebd7396cd4ac3a3ed09137676fd40" target="_blank">food deserts</a> — it added three central Topeka census tracts.And though six years have passed, no independent grocer or major chain has stepped in to fill the gap.“What
 has happened to Topeka — and it has happened in a number of other 
medium and larger cities as well — is that grocery stores are 
increasingly being concentrated on the periphery,” said Michael Bell, 
president of the neighborhood improvement association for the city 
center’s Tennessee Town area.Now a resident-led movement to 
restore a full-service grocery is gaining momentum. The vision includes 
fresh foods, postal and financial services for shoppers, and fair pay 
for employees.Organizers say they have new market research 
showing a grocery store can thrive in the neighborhood, and they’re 
taking steps to make it happen. They hope to sign a lease soon. And 
nonprofit foundations are providing funds for the legal and 
administrative work.<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/state-level-estimates-of-low-income-and-low-access-populations/" target="_blank">Half a million Kansans</a>
 live in nearly 140 census tracts with limited or no grocery stores, the
 U.S. Department of Agriculture says. The vast majority of these 
low-income tracts are urban areas where residents commonly travel a mile
 or more to reach the store. Some of the tracts are rural areas without a
 grocery within 10 miles.Local dollar stores offer little in the way of fresh or healthy foods, and lean heavily toward high-salt and high-sugar options.Kroger’s
 closure of the central Topeka Dillons grocery store affected residents 
of historically African American Tennessee Town and several adjacent 
neighborhoods.The 13,000 people living in the area have an 
average family income of $31,000 a year. Nearly a third of the 
households fall below the federal poverty line. About half of residents 
are people of color, primarily Black and Hispanic.“Having a 
full-service grocery store (in your neighborhood) seems to be less tied 
to the potential number of clients,” Bell said, “and more tied to 
socioeconomic standing. And part of that, of course … is ethnicity.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648658327806.png" alt="This map, produced by the Kansas Health Institute, shows food insecurity rates by zip code. Two of the zip codes affected by losing the grocery store in central Topeka have the county’s highest rate of people struggling to stock their pantries — nearly a third of the population." />
 <figcaption>This map, produced by the Kansas Health Institute, shows food insecurity rates by zip code. Two of the zip codes affected by losing the grocery store in central Topeka have the county’s highest rate of people struggling to stock their pantries — nearly a third of the population.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kroger Co. said in an email that its central Topeka market was unsustainable.“To
 maintain healthy operations overall … unfortunately decisions have to 
be reached when stores are not profitable,” the company said, citing the
 need to keep down prices and pay employees.The company says it 
has invested tens of millions of dollars in grocery stores and gas 
stations across Topeka since 2008, offering jobs and benefiting the 
local economy.<h2>Putting food on tables</h2>Cathcart
 and Bell are board members for the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis, a 
nonprofit group founded by residents of the area’s neighborhoods that 
want to re-establish a grocery store in Tennessee Town.“It would 
give (residents) some independence,” said Cathcart, who lives just a few
 blocks from where the store closed. “Why shouldn’t the people in this 
area have access to the same things that everyone else has access to?”Losing
 their local Dillons made it harder for those with tight budgets to run 
everyday errands vital to their health and finances.The Dillons had been a place to shop for the week’s meals, pick up prescriptions and pay utility bills.Now,
 the one quarter of residents without access to cars have to wait until 
their relatives or friends can offer a lift. Or wait on buses, which 
takes more time and more trips, since public transport doesn’t offer the
 luxury of hauling home a car trunk’s worth of groceries.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f5jCZdSdkrM"></iframe>
 <figcaption>In this video, Donna Rae Pearson, the history librarian at the Topeka
 and Shawnee County Public Library, explains the effects of redlining 
policies and infrastructure projects that harmed neighborhoods of color 
and dramatically reduced Black ownership of houses and businesses.</figcaption>
 </figure>The affected neighborhoods include swaths of zip codes 66603 and 66612, which have the highest poverty rates in Shawnee County.Compared
 to the city’s wealthier suburbs to the city’s north, south and west, 
people in this urban core are four times as likely not to have enough 
food, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/Food-Insecurity-SNCo" target="_blank">Kansas Health Institute</a>* and commissioned by the Shawnee County Health Department.The roots of poverty in central Topeka relate to the city’s history.As
 in other American cities, white-controlled public and private 
institutions undermined the accrual of wealth by Black and Hispanic 
Topekans by throwing up barriers to loans, good-paying jobs, home 
ownership and business ownership.In the 1900s, this dealt one blow after another to their growing middle class — including descendants of the <a href="https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/exodusters/17162" target="_blank">Exodusters</a> who settled Tennessee Town — and wiped out the city’s Black-owned business district.<h2>Not waiting around</h2>Regional
 and national grocery chains, some of which specialize in suburbs with 
higher incomes where they can sell more expensive foods, have so far 
shown little interest in central Topeka.So residents from nine neighborhoods created the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis group in 2018.Local community groups and foundations awarded grants and offered logistical aid.The not-for-profit group aims to lease land for a new neighborhood market and raise upward of $5 million to build it.The
 group has begun researching co-op and nonprofit business models, and 
talking informally with food distributors and for-profit grocers.“We
 would like anybody who works at our store to earn a living wage,” said 
Marge Ahrens, another board member who lives just blocks from the closed
 Dillons.Central Topeka Grocery Oasis paid business consultants 
for a study that concluded a new grocery story could turn a profit. The 
resulting report suggested a 14,000-square-foot premise, about the size 
of a Walgreens.The group may soon gain access to enough land for that and a parking lot, just yards away from the former Dillons.Community
 health clinic GraceMed owns an unused one-acre lot there. GraceMed also
 bought the empty grocery store building and now offers medical and 
dental services there.The two not-for-profit groups are discussing lease details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648658404967.png" alt="This USDA map shows areas of Kansas with low incomes and long distances to walk or drive to buy fresh food. The vast majority of the census tracts are urban. A smaller number are rural, though those stand out visually because they are geographically larger." />
 <figcaption>This USDA map shows areas of Kansas with low incomes and long distances to walk or drive to buy fresh food. The vast majority of the census tracts are urban. A smaller number are rural, though those stand out visually because they are geographically larger.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>County goals</h2>Several
 years ago, Shawnee County set goals to fight hunger, reduce the number 
of local food deserts and make sure children and adults have healthy 
meals.Children without this typically suffer poorer health long term and do worse in school.“Prior
 to the COVID-19 pandemic, there had been a lot of groundswell and a lot
 of momentum,” said Craig Barnes, who leads the agency’s community 
outreach efforts.The department commissioned the Kansas Health Institute’s recent deep-dive into local food access.The report found that the percentage of people without consistent access to meals decreased in the two years before COVID-19 hit.The
 most recent statistics, from 2019, show about 12% of Shawnee County 
residents lack enough food to lead healthy, active lives.The 
pandemic paused some of the county health department’s efforts, forcing 
it to close a satellite office that helped low-income mothers sign up 
for assistance with food for themselves and their children.Many Shawnee County residents who qualify for <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program" target="_blank">food stamps</a> ($2.38 a meal) and <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic" target="_blank">similar help</a> don’t get it.“One of the big key findings from the report is (that) about half of all people eligible … are signing up,” Barnes said.*The Kansas Health Institute receives funding from the Kansas Health Foundation, a funder of the Kansas News Service.Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.