By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

When Emily Ryan was in second grade in Claflin, the
elementary school put together a talent show. Emily chose to showcase basketball
ball handling as her talent in front of the school. 
 
“I could just kick myself because we didn’t take video of it,” joked Lisa Ryan,
Emily’s mother. “At the time, I didn’t think a lot about it, but now looking
back…yeah.” 
 
A second-grade talent show performance might have been a good sign for what was
to come. Emily is now using those ball handling skills as a sophomore with the
Iowa State University’s basketball team. Ryan and the Cyclones will compete in the
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Friday night against Creighton University in Greensboro,
North Carolina. 
 
Through 34 games this year, Emily is averaging 13 points per game, 7 assists and 4
rebounds. Her 243 assists so far has broken the Iowa State school record for
assists in a season. 
 
That success comes from what her mom refers to as a “good addiction.” 
 
“She is addicted to being in the gym and working out,” said Lisa Ryan. “Just
going on family vacations where she couldn’t be in the gym for a couple of
days would drive her nuts.” 
 
In Ames, Iowa, Emily will show up to the gym at 6:30 a.m. each day and usually
returns to the gym in the evenings in addition to going to practice. Her
freshman year on campus, was the COVID-19 year, and access to the gym was a
little more difficult but that did not slow down Ryan. 
 
“Josh Carper is the Director of Basketball Operations at Iowa State and Emily
would always contact him last year to let her in the gym,” said Lisa Ryan. “He jokes
that he got so sick of Emily because he would always have to let her in the
gym.” 
 
Those work habits were similar to her playing days at Central Plains where she
helped the Oilers go 106-0 with three state championships and a “Final
Four” appearance in 2020 after the tournament was cancelled because of the
pandemic. 
 
The success she has had in her first two years in college would probably
translate to any university, but it wasn’t always sure that it would be taking place
at Iowa State. Ryan had her mind made up on another university in the Midwest
until she was convinced to take a visit to Ames. 
 
“She was set on this other university,” said Lisa Ryan. “Her AAU coach, Keith
Ferguson, said to take at least two official visits so you have something to
compare. She didn’t want to. He asked what her second choice was and she said
probably Iowa State. She did and she changed her mind.” 
 
Emily was named to the 2022 All-Big 12 First Team while helping the 
Cyclones to a 28-6 record. The Sweet 16 matchup against Creighton will 
be a game, like many
others, the Ryan family will be attending in person. The Ryans left 
Wednesday
afternoon to make the 18-hour road trip to North Carolina. 
 
“We’ve gone somewhere to watch Emily almost every weekend this basketball
season,” said Lisa Ryan. “We didn’t travel sub-state basketball weekend or the
St. John Tournament weekend with our son in high school, but we have the route
to Ames, Iowa pretty much memorized.” 
 
For the rest of the Barton County area and Ryan supporters across the state, Iowa
State tips off against Creighton at 8:30 p.m. Friday and can be watched on ESPN
2. 
 
“The support in the entire state has been amazing over the past two years,”
said Lisa Ryan. “We’ll be somewhere else in the state and someone will come up
to us and say something about Emily and how they follow her. We don’t even know
who they are…it’s amazing.” 
 
From demonstrating ball handling skills in a second-grade talent show to
competing in the NCAA Sweet 16, there will be plenty of supporters in Kansas cheering
Friday for Iowa State and the girl with a “good addiction” from Claflin. 
 
“As a parent, I hope she’ll keep enjoying it and it doesn’t become a big stress
or anxiety type of thing,” said Lisa Ryan. “It hasn’t and I keep hoping it
stays that way. She loves basketball.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648214805668.jpeg" alt="The Ryan family posed for a photo following an NCAA Tournament game in 2022." />
 <figcaption>The Ryan family posed for a photo following an NCAA Tournament game in 2022.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>When Emily Ryan was in second grade in Claflin, the
elementary school put together a talent show. Emily chose to showcase basketball
ball handling as her talent in front of the school. 
 
“I could just kick myself because we didn’t take video of it,” joked Lisa Ryan,
Emily’s mother. “At the time, I didn’t think a lot about it, but now looking
back…yeah.” 
 
A second-grade talent show performance might have been a good sign for what was
to come. Emily is now using those ball handling skills as a sophomore with the
Iowa State University’s basketball team. Ryan and the Cyclones will compete in the
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Friday night against Creighton University in Greensboro,
North Carolina. 
 
Through 34 games this year, Emily is averaging 13 points per game, 7 assists and 4
rebounds. Her 243 assists so far has broken the Iowa State school record for
assists in a season. 
 
That success comes from what her mom refers to as a “good addiction.” 
 
“She is addicted to being in the gym and working out,” said Lisa Ryan. “Just
going on family vacations where she couldn’t be in the gym for a couple of
days would drive her nuts.” 
 
In Ames, Iowa, Emily will show up to the gym at 6:30 a.m. each day and usually
returns to the gym in the evenings in addition to going to practice. Her
freshman year on campus, was the COVID-19 year, and access to the gym was a
little more difficult but that did not slow down Ryan. 
 
“Josh Carper is the Director of Basketball Operations at Iowa State and Emily
would always contact him last year to let her in the gym,” said Lisa Ryan. “He jokes
that he got so sick of Emily because he would always have to let her in the
gym.” 
 
Those work habits were similar to her playing days at Central Plains where she
helped the Oilers go 106-0 with three state championships and a “Final
Four” appearance in 2020 after the tournament was cancelled because of the
pandemic. 
 
The success she has had in her first two years in college would probably
translate to any university, but it wasn’t always sure that it would be taking place
at Iowa State. Ryan had her mind made up on another university in the Midwest
until she was convinced to take a visit to Ames. 
 
“She was set on this other university,” said Lisa Ryan. “Her AAU coach, Keith
Ferguson, said to take at least two official visits so you have something to
compare. She didn’t want to. He asked what her second choice was and she said
probably Iowa State. She did and she changed her mind.” 
 
Emily was named to the 2022 All-Big 12 First Team while helping the 
Cyclones to a 28-6 record. The Sweet 16 matchup against Creighton will 
be a game, like many
others, the Ryan family will be attending in person. The Ryans left 
Wednesday
afternoon to make the 18-hour road trip to North Carolina. 
 
“We’ve gone somewhere to watch Emily almost every weekend this basketball
season,” said Lisa Ryan. “We didn’t travel sub-state basketball weekend or the
St. John Tournament weekend with our son in high school, but we have the route
to Ames, Iowa pretty much memorized.” 
 
For the rest of the Barton County area and Ryan supporters across the state, Iowa
State tips off against Creighton at 8:30 p.m. Friday and can be watched on ESPN
2. 
 
“The support in the entire state has been amazing over the past two years,”
said Lisa Ryan. “We’ll be somewhere else in the state and someone will come up
to us and say something about Emily and how they follow her. We don’t even know
who they are…it’s amazing.” 
 
From demonstrating ball handling skills in a second-grade talent show to
competing in the NCAA Sweet 16, there will be plenty of supporters in Kansas cheering
Friday for Iowa State and the girl with a “good addiction” from Claflin. 
 
“As a parent, I hope she’ll keep enjoying it and it doesn’t become a big stress
or anxiety type of thing,” said Lisa Ryan. “It hasn’t and I keep hoping it
stays that way. She loves basketball.”

'Good addiction' fuels Kan. support for Claflin native at Iowa State

PAWNEE COUNTY —A Pawnee County Judge sentenced a Kansas man to life in prison Thursday for an incident involving a 13-year-old in February 2019.

Judge Bruce Gatterman sentenced Roy Gene Hill, 59 of Osage, to life in prison with a requirement he serve a minimum of 40 years prior to becoming eligible for parole, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. He received an additional 18-month sentence due to the failure to register conviction.

In January, a Pawnee County Jury found Hill Guilty of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child Under the Age of 14 following a three-day trial.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of February 10, 2019, at a residence in Garfield, Kansas involving a 13 year old.&nbsp; Hill was arrested at the scene without incident following a call to 911. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation handled the follow-up investigation. Testimony was presented at trial that Hill was a house guest of the family.

At the time of the incident, Hill was subject to life-time registration due to a previous Aggravated Indecent Liberties conviction for an incident in Neosho County in 2002. Hill previously entered a No Contest plea on December 16, 2021, to Count 2 in the case to a charge of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender with the Pawnee County Sheriff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642114839130.png" alt="Hill-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hill-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A Pawnee County Judge sentenced a Kansas man to life in prison Thursday for an incident involving a 13-year-old in February 2019.Judge Bruce Gatterman sentenced Roy Gene Hill, 59 of Osage, to life in prison with a requirement he serve a minimum of 40 years prior to becoming eligible for parole, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. He received an additional 18-month sentence due to the failure to register conviction.In January, a Pawnee County Jury found Hill Guilty of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child Under the Age of 14 following a three-day trial.The conviction stems from an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of February 10, 2019, at a residence in Garfield, Kansas involving a 13 year old.&nbsp; Hill was arrested at the scene without incident following a call to 911. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation handled the follow-up investigation. Testimony was presented at trial that Hill was a house guest of the family.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642115281720.png" alt="Hill-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Hill-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>At the time of the incident, Hill was subject to life-time registration due to a previous Aggravated Indecent Liberties conviction for an incident in Neosho County in 2002. Hill previously entered a No Contest plea on December 16, 2021, to Count 2 in the case to a charge of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender with the Pawnee County Sheriff.

Kan. sex offender sentenced for crime involving 13-year-old

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and European Union on Friday announced a new partnership to reduce the continent’s reliance on Russian energy, a step top officials characterized as the start of a years-long initiative to further isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to “coerce and manipulate his neighbors” and uses the profits from its sale to “drive his war machine.”

Biden said the partnership he announced jointly with a top European Union official will turn that dynamic on its head by reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources, as well as the continent’s demand for gas overall.

The president said such a step is not “only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint” but “it’s going to put us on a stronger strategic footing.”

Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.

At the same time, they will try to keep their climate goals on track by powering gas infrastructure with clean energy and reducing methane leaks that can worsen global warming.

Although the initiative will likely require new facilities for importing liquified natural gas, the partnership is also geared toward reducing reliance on fossil fuels in the long run through energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy, according to the White House.

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive arm, said it is important for Europe to shift away from Russia and toward energy suppliers that are trustworthy, friendly and reliable.

“We aim to reduce this dependence on Russian fossil fuels and get rid of it,” she said.

Russian energy is a key source of income and political leverage for Moscow. Almost 40% of the European Union’s natural gas comes from Russia to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry.

Biden was leaving Brussels after the announcement and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-warsaw-europe-c905f43858e7966afb3b6cbfbed82b46">heading to Rzeszów in Poland</a>, where U.S. troops are based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border.

He will be briefed on the humanitarian response to the refugees streaming out of Ukraine and those still suffering inside the country. He also will meet with U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who serve alongside Polish troops.

Biden is then expected to fly to Warsaw for talks Saturday with Polish President Andrzej Duda and an address to the Polish people before he departs for Washington.

While in Brussels, Biden participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-g-7-summit-9f6705e72533496f513c3540881d348e">a trio of summits</a>&nbsp;hosted by NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union, all on Thursday. The extraordinary series of meetings reflects heightened concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has entered its second month.

Although Ukraine has resisted the Russian invasion much more successfully than initially expected, the conflict has become a grueling and bloody affair, with thousands of casualties on each side and millions of refugees fleeing the country.

Western leaders are also concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use chemical or even nuclear weapons to regain momentum in the war.

Getting more liquefied natural gas to Europe could be difficult, even though the U.S. has been dramatically increasing its exports in recent years. Many export facilities are already operating at capacity, and most new terminals are still only in the planning stages.

Most U.S. shipments already go to Europe, according to the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an industry lobbying group. Although much of the supply is already contracted out to buyers, there are still opportunities to shift its destination.

“The U.S. is in a unique position because it has flexible LNG that can be rerouted to Europe or to Asia, depending on who’s willing to pay that price,” said Emily McClain, gas markets analyst at Rystad.

Even if the U.S. can ship more gas to Europe, the continent may struggle to receive it. Import terminals are located in coastal areas, where there are fewer pipeline connections for distributing it.

Even if all Europe’s facilities were operating at capacity, the amount of gas would likely be only about two-thirds of what Russia delivers through pipelines.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648203885524.png" alt="Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and European Union on Friday announced a new partnership to reduce the continent’s reliance on Russian energy, a step top officials characterized as the start of a years-long initiative to further isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The transatlantic partnership stands stronger than ever. In a world faced with disorder, our unity upholds fundamental values and rules that our citizens believe in. And we are determined to stand up against Russia’s brutal war. <a href="https://t.co/EbO9c3R7Mt">https://t.co/EbO9c3R7Mt</a>&mdash; Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1507282881772765201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to “coerce and manipulate his neighbors” and uses the profits from its sale to “drive his war machine.”Biden said the partnership he announced jointly with a top European Union official will turn that dynamic on its head by reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources, as well as the continent’s demand for gas overall.The president said such a step is not “only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint” but “it’s going to put us on a stronger strategic footing.”Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.At the same time, they will try to keep their climate goals on track by powering gas infrastructure with clean energy and reducing methane leaks that can worsen global warming.Although the initiative will likely require new facilities for importing liquified natural gas, the partnership is also geared toward reducing reliance on fossil fuels in the long run through energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy, according to the White House.Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive arm, said it is important for Europe to shift away from Russia and toward energy suppliers that are trustworthy, friendly and reliable.“We aim to reduce this dependence on Russian fossil fuels and get rid of it,” she said.Russian energy is a key source of income and political leverage for Moscow. Almost 40% of the European Union’s natural gas comes from Russia to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry.Biden was leaving Brussels after the announcement and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-warsaw-europe-c905f43858e7966afb3b6cbfbed82b46">heading to Rzeszów in Poland</a>, where U.S. troops are based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border.He will be briefed on the humanitarian response to the refugees streaming out of Ukraine and those still suffering inside the country. He also will meet with U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who serve alongside Polish troops.Biden is then expected to fly to Warsaw for talks Saturday with Polish President Andrzej Duda and an address to the Polish people before he departs for Washington.While in Brussels, Biden participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-g-7-summit-9f6705e72533496f513c3540881d348e">a trio of summits</a>&nbsp;hosted by NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union, all on Thursday. The extraordinary series of meetings reflects heightened concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has entered its second month.Although Ukraine has resisted the Russian invasion much more successfully than initially expected, the conflict has become a grueling and bloody affair, with thousands of casualties on each side and millions of refugees fleeing the country.Western leaders are also concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use chemical or even nuclear weapons to regain momentum in the war.Getting more liquefied natural gas to Europe could be difficult, even though the U.S. has been dramatically increasing its exports in recent years. Many export facilities are already operating at capacity, and most new terminals are still only in the planning stages.Most U.S. shipments already go to Europe, according to the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an industry lobbying group. Although much of the supply is already contracted out to buyers, there are still opportunities to shift its destination.“The U.S. is in a unique position because it has flexible LNG that can be rerouted to Europe or to Asia, depending on who’s willing to pay that price,” said Emily McClain, gas markets analyst at Rystad.Even if the U.S. can ship more gas to Europe, the continent may struggle to receive it. Import terminals are located in coastal areas, where there are fewer pipeline connections for distributing it.Even if all Europe’s facilities were operating at capacity, the amount of gas would likely be only about two-thirds of what Russia delivers through pipelines.___

🎥US, EU announce new partnership to undercut Russian energy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue asking the public to help locate an inmate who was released from jail by mistake.

Just after 11:30 a.m. Monday, inmate Elijah Nehemiah Reed was released from the Sedgwick County Detention Facility in error, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

 Reed was in custody on two writs to detain through the Juvenile District Court and a criminal possession of a firearm charge through the Adult District Court. After the adult case was dismissed by the District Court a paperwork error in the Sheriff’s Office was made concerning the sentencing status of the two juvenile cases and Reed was released from custody in error.

Reed is a 20 year old African-American who was last known to live in Wichita. He is 6-foot -2,&nbsp; weighs approximately 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Reed could be dangerous and possibly armed.

If you know of Reed’s whereabouts please call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648080074670.png" alt="Reed-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Reed-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue asking the public to help locate an inmate who was released from jail by mistake.Just after 11:30 a.m. Monday, inmate Elijah Nehemiah Reed was released from the Sedgwick County Detention Facility in error, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. Reed was in custody on two writs to detain through the Juvenile District Court and a criminal possession of a firearm charge through the Adult District Court. After the adult case was dismissed by the District Court a paperwork error in the Sheriff’s Office was made concerning the sentencing status of the two juvenile cases and Reed was released from custody in error.Reed is a 20 year old African-American who was last known to live in Wichita. He is 6-foot -2,&nbsp; weighs approximately 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Reed could be dangerous and possibly armed.If you know of Reed’s whereabouts please call 911.

Search continues for dangerous Kan. inmate released by mistake

WASHINGTON — Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.5 
billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did 
not file a 2018 Form 1040 federal income tax return, but people must act
 before the April tax deadline, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service.

"The IRS wants to help people who are due refunds but haven't filed 
their 2018 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "But 
people need to act quickly. By law, there's only a three-year window to 
claim these refunds, which closes with this year's April tax deadline. 
We want to help people get these refunds, but they need to file a 2018 
tax return before this critical deadline."

The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2018 to 
be $813 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $813 and half are 
less.

In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law 
provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim
 a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the 
money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2018 tax returns, 
the window closes April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. Taxpayers living 
in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022. The law requires 
taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is 
postmarked by that date.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2018 tax refund that their checks
 may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. In 
addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the 
IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support
 or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just 
their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2018. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2018, the credit was worth as much as $6,431. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:

Tax year 2018 returns must be filed with the IRS center listed on the last page of the current <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">Form 1040 instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2018 Form 1040, 
1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the IRS.gov <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms and Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (<a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>). However, taxpayers can e-file tax year 2019 and later returns.

Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years
 2018, 2019 or 2020 should request copies from their employer, bank or 
other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their 
employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at 
IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a> tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and income transcript.

A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns 
received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA 
contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the 
transcript to file their tax return.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.5 
billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did 
not file a 2018 Form 1040 federal income tax return, but people must act
 before the April tax deadline, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service."The IRS wants to help people who are due refunds but haven't filed 
their 2018 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "But 
people need to act quickly. By law, there's only a three-year window to 
claim these refunds, which closes with this year's April tax deadline. 
We want to help people get these refunds, but they need to file a 2018 
tax return before this critical deadline."The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2018 to 
be $813 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $813 and half are 
less.In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law 
provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim
 a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the 
money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2018 tax returns, 
the window closes April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. Taxpayers living 
in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022. The law requires 
taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is 
postmarked by that date.The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2018 tax refund that their checks
 may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. In 
addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the 
IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support
 or past due federal debts, such as student loans.By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just 
their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2018. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2018, the credit was worth as much as $6,431. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:<ul>
 <li>$49,194 ($54,884 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children;</li><li>$45,802 ($51,492 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;</li><li>$40,320 ($46,010 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child; and</li><li>$15,270 ($20,950 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.</li>
 </ul>Tax year 2018 returns must be filed with the IRS center listed on the last page of the current <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">Form 1040 instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2018 Form 1040, 
1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the IRS.gov <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms and Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (<a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>). However, taxpayers can e-file tax year 2019 and later returns.Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years
 2018, 2019 or 2020 should request copies from their employer, bank or 
other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their 
employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at 
IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a> tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and income transcript.A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns 
received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA 
contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the 
transcript to file their tax return.

Didn't file a return in 2018? IRS has $1.5B in refunds, but deadline nears

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man is accused of smuggling more than 1,700 reptiles — including baby crocodiles and Mexican beaded lizards — into the U.S. since 2016, authorities said Thursday.

Jose Manuel Perez, also known as “Julio Rodriguez,” who had a home in Missouri was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-oddities-lizards-snakes-california-06dd6da23ce434019c5905a81e76bbd4">taken into custody</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 25 at the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico.

Border patrol agents found about 60 lizards and snakes tied up in small bags, “which were concealed in the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin area,” authorities said last month. Perez allegedly told the agents that the animals were his pets.

Perez, 30, of Oxnard, has been in federal custody since then and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles on Thursday announced additional charges on a superseding indictment that also includes Perez's sister as a defendant.

Perez is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles on Monday. His federal attorney in San Diego declined to comment Thursday. Some of the smuggled reptiles were protected and endangered species, authorities said.

Beginning January 2016, Perez and his sister, as well as others, are accused of using social media to buy and sell wildlife in the U.S. The animals, including Yucatan and Mexican box turtles, were allegedly imported from Mexico and Hong Kong without permits.

The reptiles were initially taken to Perez's home in Missouri but later shipped to Oxnard when he moved to California, authorities said. His sister assisted him in the smuggling business, prosecutors alleged, especially during times when Perez was incarcerated in the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164271375.png" alt="Agents found 52 live reptiles tied up in small bags “which were concealed in the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin area.&nbsp;-Photo U.S. Customs and Border Protection" />
 <figcaption>Agents found 52 live reptiles tied up in small bags “which were concealed in the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin area.&nbsp;-Photo U.S. Customs and Border Protection</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man is accused of smuggling more than 1,700 reptiles — including baby crocodiles and Mexican beaded lizards — into the U.S. since 2016, authorities said Thursday.Jose Manuel Perez, also known as “Julio Rodriguez,” who had a home in Missouri was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-oddities-lizards-snakes-california-06dd6da23ce434019c5905a81e76bbd4">taken into custody</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 25 at the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico.Border patrol agents found about 60 lizards and snakes tied up in small bags, “which were concealed in the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin area,” authorities said last month. Perez allegedly told the agents that the animals were his pets.Perez, 30, of Oxnard, has been in federal custody since then and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles on Thursday announced additional charges on a superseding indictment that also includes Perez's sister as a defendant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164285696.png" alt="The reptiles were initially taken to Perez's home in Missouri -Photo&nbsp; U.S. Customs and Border Protection" />
 <figcaption>The reptiles were initially taken to Perez's home in Missouri -Photo&nbsp; U.S. Customs and Border Protection</figcaption>
 </figure>Perez is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles on Monday. His federal attorney in San Diego declined to comment Thursday. Some of the smuggled reptiles were protected and endangered species, authorities said.Beginning January 2016, Perez and his sister, as well as others, are accused of using social media to buy and sell wildlife in the U.S. The animals, including Yucatan and Mexican box turtles, were allegedly imported from Mexico and Hong Kong without permits.The reptiles were initially taken to Perez's home in Missouri but later shipped to Oxnard when he moved to California, authorities said. His sister assisted him in the smuggling business, prosecutors alleged, especially during times when Perez was incarcerated in the U.S.

Feds: Man smuggled 1,700 reptiles from Mexico, Hong Kong

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old Kansas legislator has agreed to undergo mental health counseling and a domestic violence assessment to avoid being prosecuted on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. 

The charge against freshman Democratic Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City in Johnson County stemmed from a fight in October with his younger brother. Coleman also agreed to submit to drug or alcohol testing if asked. 

Coleman signed the diversion agreement with the Johnson County district attorney’s office last week, and it was filed in district court Monday. In a separate case over a November traffic stop in Douglas County, records say Coleman pleaded no contest last month to a traffic charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635804497310.png" alt="Coleman's booking photo from Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Coleman's booking photo from Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old Kansas legislator has agreed to undergo mental health counseling and a domestic violence assessment to avoid being prosecuted on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. The charge against freshman Democratic Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City in Johnson County stemmed from a fight in October with his younger brother. Coleman also agreed to submit to drug or alcohol testing if asked. Coleman signed the diversion agreement with the Johnson County district attorney’s office last week, and it was filed in district court Monday. In a separate case over a November traffic stop in Douglas County, records say Coleman pleaded no contest last month to a traffic charge.

Kansas lawmaker agrees to counseling to avoid battery charge

By SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-24/federal-officials-say-russian-spies-tried-to-hack-into-a-kansas-nuclear-power-plant">Kansas News Service</a>

A federal indictment made public Thursday accuses four men with ties 
to Russian spy outfits of trying to gain control of U.S. nuclear power 
plants — including one in Kansas — through cyber sabotage.

Prosecutors
 contend the defendants targeted both software and hardware to cripple 
critical infrastructure in the U.S., including the Wolf Creek nuclear 
plant near Burlington, Kansas.

The U.S. Justice Department 
describes a pair of concerted attacks that involved, among other 
tactics, planting malware on more than 17,000 devices.

That 
alleged hacking, the indictment says, had some success that gave 
saboteurs unauthorized access to networks and computers across the 
energy sector.

All of the men are Russian nationals accused of 
working for their Ministry of Defense to wreck parts of the global 
energy sector between 2012 and 2018. Justice officials say the hacking 
campaigns sought to infiltrate thousands of computers at hundreds of 
private companies and government agencies across roughly 135 countries.

“Russian
 state-sponsored hackers pose a serious and persistent threat to 
critical infrastructure both in the United States and around the world,”
 Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in a news release. 
“The criminal charges unsealed today … make crystal clear the urgent 
ongoing need for American businesses to harden their defenses and remain
 vigilant.”

Although the indictments were unsealed Thursday — amid
 rising U.S.-Russia tensions — they were first filed in secret in U.S. 
District Court in Washington, D.C., and Kansas City, Kan., in 2018.

Prosecutors
 said in a news release that Wolf Creek and its owners, Evergy and the 
Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, worked with investigators and 
“provided invaluable assistance.”

The Justice Department contends 
Wolf Creek fell target to attack in a second phase of attacks known as 
“Dragonfly 2.0” focused on specific energy facilities, including 
engineers at the plant. The indictment says the Russian operatives 
targeted more than 3,300 people at 500 U.S. and foreign companies and 
government agencies.

Part of the alleged scheme banked on 
spearfishing hacks that use email to draw people to seemingly legitimate
 websites that were actually traps designed to steal passwords, plant 
malware or otherwise gain ways to bypass cybersecurity defenses.

“When
 the engineers browsed to a compromised website, the conspirators’ 
hidden scripts deployed malware designed to capture login credentials 
onto their computers,” according to the Justice Department.

Officials at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission were also targets of the alleged attacks.

Pavel
 Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat 
Valeryevich Tyukov are charged with conspiracy to cause damage to the 
property of an energy facility and commit computer fraud and abuse, in 
an indictment in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas. A second 
indictment from the D.C. court alleged that Russian national Evgeny 
Viktorovich Gladkikh and unnamed co-conspirators targeted a foreign oil 
facility and a U.S. energy company between 2017 and 2018.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said in a news release that Moscow was responsible for the attacks.

“We will continue,” he said, “to identify and quickly direct response assets to victims of Russian cyber activity.”

News website Politico cited an unnamed Justice official saying <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/russian-spies-indicted-hack-nuclear-plant-00020217" target="_blank">more action</a>
 on the issue could come from the federal government in coming days. The
 same source told Politico that the defendants are unlikely to be 
extradited.

Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News 
Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High 
Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health
 and their connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648165136249.png" alt="The Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington, Kansas. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission " />
 <figcaption>The Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington, Kansas. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission </figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-24/federal-officials-say-russian-spies-tried-to-hack-into-a-kansas-nuclear-power-plant">Kansas News Service</a>A federal indictment made public Thursday accuses four men with ties 
to Russian spy outfits of trying to gain control of U.S. nuclear power 
plants — including one in Kansas — through cyber sabotage.Prosecutors
 contend the defendants targeted both software and hardware to cripple 
critical infrastructure in the U.S., including the Wolf Creek nuclear 
plant near Burlington, Kansas.The U.S. Justice Department 
describes a pair of concerted attacks that involved, among other 
tactics, planting malware on more than 17,000 devices.That 
alleged hacking, the indictment says, had some success that gave 
saboteurs unauthorized access to networks and computers across the 
energy sector.All of the men are Russian nationals accused of 
working for their Ministry of Defense to wreck parts of the global 
energy sector between 2012 and 2018. Justice officials say the hacking 
campaigns sought to infiltrate thousands of computers at hundreds of 
private companies and government agencies across roughly 135 countries.“Russian
 state-sponsored hackers pose a serious and persistent threat to 
critical infrastructure both in the United States and around the world,”
 Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in a news release. 
“The criminal charges unsealed today … make crystal clear the urgent 
ongoing need for American businesses to harden their defenses and remain
 vigilant.”Although the indictments were unsealed Thursday — amid
 rising U.S.-Russia tensions — they were first filed in secret in U.S. 
District Court in Washington, D.C., and Kansas City, Kan., in 2018.Prosecutors
 said in a news release that Wolf Creek and its owners, Evergy and the 
Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, worked with investigators and 
“provided invaluable assistance.”The Justice Department contends 
Wolf Creek fell target to attack in a second phase of attacks known as 
“Dragonfly 2.0” focused on specific energy facilities, including 
engineers at the plant. The indictment says the Russian operatives 
targeted more than 3,300 people at 500 U.S. and foreign companies and 
government agencies.Part of the alleged scheme banked on 
spearfishing hacks that use email to draw people to seemingly legitimate
 websites that were actually traps designed to steal passwords, plant 
malware or otherwise gain ways to bypass cybersecurity defenses.“When
 the engineers browsed to a compromised website, the conspirators’ 
hidden scripts deployed malware designed to capture login credentials 
onto their computers,” according to the Justice Department.Officials at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission were also targets of the alleged attacks.Pavel
 Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat 
Valeryevich Tyukov are charged with conspiracy to cause damage to the 
property of an energy facility and commit computer fraud and abuse, in 
an indictment in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas. A second 
indictment from the D.C. court alleged that Russian national Evgeny 
Viktorovich Gladkikh and unnamed co-conspirators targeted a foreign oil 
facility and a U.S. energy company between 2017 and 2018.FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said in a news release that Moscow was responsible for the attacks.“We will continue,” he said, “to identify and quickly direct response assets to victims of Russian cyber activity.”News website Politico cited an unnamed Justice official saying <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/russian-spies-indicted-hack-nuclear-plant-00020217" target="_blank">more action</a>
 on the issue could come from the federal government in coming days. The
 same source told Politico that the defendants are unlikely to be 
extradited.Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News 
Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High 
Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health
 and their connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.

Feds: Russian spies tried to hack into Kan. nuclear power plant 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and have made an arrest.

Just before 8p.m. Monday,&nbsp;officers were dispatched to the 900 Block of S Kansas Avenue in Topeka, after multiple burglaries were discovered at the Cyrus Hotel, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

Through investigation a suspect was developed and was transported to the law enforcement center to be interviewed.

As a result of the investigation, Justin Byron-Edgar Sims, 21 years of age was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include 4 counts of Burglary and Theft &gt; 1, 500 &lt; 25,000 (3 counts)Theft &lt; 1,000, according to Eubanks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648118351531.png" alt="Sims-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Sims-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and have made an arrest.Just before 8p.m. Monday,&nbsp;officers were dispatched to the 900 Block of S Kansas Avenue in Topeka, after multiple burglaries were discovered at the Cyrus Hotel, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.Through investigation a suspect was developed and was transported to the law enforcement center to be interviewed.As a result of the investigation, Justin Byron-Edgar Sims, 21 years of age was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include 4 counts of Burglary and Theft &gt; 1, 500 &lt; 25,000 (3 counts)Theft &lt; 1,000, according to Eubanks.

Man accused in series of burglaries at  Kansas hotel

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House member has apologized after he asked a Native American lawmaker whether she used a tomahawk rather than a gavel to quiet the House. Rep. John Wheeler, a Republican from Garden City, made the comment Wednesday to Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad, a Democrat from Wichita.

When Victors-Cozad used a gavel to quiet the House, Wheeler turned around and said he was “checking to see if that was a tomahawk.” 

Wheeler said he was joking but immediately apologized when some lawmakers voiced disapproval. He said he would apologize personally to Victors-Cozad and two other Native American members of the Legislature.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648146327897.png" alt="Rep. John Wheeler-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. John Wheeler-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House member has apologized after he asked a Native American lawmaker whether she used a tomahawk rather than a gavel to quiet the House. Rep. John Wheeler, a Republican from Garden City, made the comment Wednesday to Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad, a Democrat from Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648146245285.png" alt="Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad</figcaption>
 </figure>When Victors-Cozad used a gavel to quiet the House, Wheeler turned around and said he was “checking to see if that was a tomahawk.” Wheeler said he was joking but immediately apologized when some lawmakers voiced disapproval. He said he would apologize personally to Victors-Cozad and two other Native American members of the Legislature.

Kansas lawmaker apologizes for equating gavel with tomahawk

FINNEY COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Thursday in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chrysler 300 driven by&nbsp; Brittany Marie Garcia, 32, Garden City, was traveling in the 2500 block of West Maple just west of VFW Road.&nbsp;

The car rear-ended a 2017 Blue Bird- USD 457 -Garden City School bus driven by Nicholas Ray Neathery, 30, Garden City, who was stopped on the roadway with the stop sign out and flashers on preparing to pick up a student.

EMS transported Garcia and a 9-year-old in the car to St. Catherine Hospital.&nbsp; Neathery, 6 passengers on the bus were and the student waiting for the bus were not injured. 

The 9-year-old and an 8-year-old in the Chrysler were not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

FINNEY COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Thursday in Finney County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chrysler 300 driven by&nbsp; Brittany Marie Garcia, 32, Garden City, was traveling in the 2500 block of West Maple just west of VFW Road.&nbsp;The car rear-ended a 2017 Blue Bird- USD 457 -Garden City School bus driven by Nicholas Ray Neathery, 30, Garden City, who was stopped on the roadway with the stop sign out and flashers on preparing to pick up a student.EMS transported Garcia and a 9-year-old in the car to St. Catherine Hospital.&nbsp; Neathery, 6 passengers on the bus were and the student waiting for the bus were not injured. The 9-year-old and an 8-year-old in the Chrysler were not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan woman, 9-year-old injured after rear-end school bus crash

The Sedgwick County Emergency Management’s K9 Search and Rescue Team deployed to Nebraska Wednesday afternoon to support an effort conducted by the&nbsp;Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp; in the disappearance of Linda Dillard who went missing last June in southeast Nebraska

Along with their handlers, K9 Bella Luna, K9 Rusty, and K9 Jinx will search the Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area for Dillard over the next 3 to 4 days. 

The team wanted to highlight their positive working relationship and the continued inter-state cooperation between Kansas and Nebraska.

Dillard was last seen on June 16, 2021, in the rural Table Rock, Neb., area. As part of the investigation, NSP and assisting agencies have conducted multiple searches in the area where Dillard was last seen. Investigators believe Dillard may have been the victim of a crime, which led to her disappearance. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black DKNY boxer brief shorts, and brown Birkenstock-type sandals. Dillard is described as a white female, 5’0”, 130 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair (possibly dyed or wearing a wig).

Sedgwick County has one of the larger organized K9 search teams in Kansas. It’s not only a vital resource for us but for our neighbors as well. Sedgwick County’s K9 Search and Rescue team provides services including live find, trailing, air scent, water search and human remains detection.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647621696110.jpeg" alt="Linda Dillard -photo Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Linda Dillard -photo Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sedgwick County Emergency Management’s K9 Search and Rescue Team deployed to Nebraska Wednesday afternoon to support an effort conducted by the&nbsp;Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp; in the disappearance of Linda Dillard who went missing last June in southeast Nebraska<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648153611035.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Along with their handlers, K9 Bella Luna, K9 Rusty, and K9 Jinx will search the Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area for Dillard over the next 3 to 4 days. The team wanted to highlight their positive working relationship and the continued inter-state cooperation between Kansas and Nebraska.Dillard was last seen on June 16, 2021, in the rural Table Rock, Neb., area. As part of the investigation, NSP and assisting agencies have conducted multiple searches in the area where Dillard was last seen. Investigators believe Dillard may have been the victim of a crime, which led to her disappearance. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black DKNY boxer brief shorts, and brown Birkenstock-type sandals. Dillard is described as a white female, 5’0”, 130 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair (possibly dyed or wearing a wig).Sedgwick County has one of the larger organized K9 search teams in Kansas. It’s not only a vital resource for us but for our neighbors as well. Sedgwick County’s K9 Search and Rescue team provides services including live find, trailing, air scent, water search and human remains detection.

Kansas K9 team aids in search for woman missing since June

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It began as a lark. Then, it caught fire.

The Peterson Farm Brothers might just be farm kids from
central Kansas, but they have become social media sensations with their
farm-based parodies of popular songs drawing millions of views.

Greg Peterson, a Kansas State University communications
graduate, says these videos might seem light-hearted, but they have a serious
mission.

“Well, it’s kind of two-fold,” Peterson tells KFEQ Ag Director
Dionne Bertling. “Reaching people outside of agriculture and hoping to make a
difference there, but also hopefully providing some inspiration for younger
kids who want to be farmers some day; anyone who’s in agriculture who our
videos give them a sense of pride in what they do.”

Greg and his brother, Nathan, spoke recently to a large crowd
at the 18th Annual Farm City Breakfast in St. Joseph. 

Nathan Peterson says he’s been shocked and pleased by the
success of the videos.

“Seeing other people enjoy the finished product and seeing
some of the comments,” Nathan Peterson says has been the highlight for him. “(Comments)
like, I’ve seen more farming in this video than I’ve have my whole life or
something like that; seeing them actually make a difference and seeing kids
really enjoy them, kids really into farming, because they can go to YouTube and
watch all sorts of different farmers.”

The Peterson Brothers parody of Katie Perry’s Roar, called
Chore, has been seen by more than five million YouTube viewers. Their parody of
AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, called Tractor Struck, has nearly four million views.

Greg Peterson says it does take time to produce the videos.

“Obviously, it varies quite a bit depending on the complexity
of the video,” according to Peterson. “Anywhere from a week to a month, I
guess. We don’t spend full days on the videos.”

That’s because their main job is farming and raising cattle in
central Kansas between Salina and McPherson, where they call Lindsborg and
Assaria, Kansas. They are 5th generation farmers who have become
famous, thanks to music video parodies.

Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PetersonFarmBros">here</a> for the Peterson Farm Brothers YouTube page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648133168539.png" alt="Two of the Peterson Farm Brothers speak to a packed crowd at the Farm-City Breakfast in St. Joseph / Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Two of the Peterson Farm Brothers speak to a packed crowd at the Farm-City Breakfast in St. Joseph / Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It began as a lark. Then, it caught fire.The Peterson Farm Brothers might just be farm kids from
central Kansas, but they have become social media sensations with their
farm-based parodies of popular songs drawing millions of views.Greg Peterson, a Kansas State University communications
graduate, says these videos might seem light-hearted, but they have a serious
mission.“Well, it’s kind of two-fold,” Peterson tells KFEQ Ag Director
Dionne Bertling. “Reaching people outside of agriculture and hoping to make a
difference there, but also hopefully providing some inspiration for younger
kids who want to be farmers some day; anyone who’s in agriculture who our
videos give them a sense of pride in what they do.”Greg and his brother, Nathan, spoke recently to a large crowd
at the 18th Annual Farm City Breakfast in St. Joseph. Nathan Peterson says he’s been shocked and pleased by the
success of the videos.“Seeing other people enjoy the finished product and seeing
some of the comments,” Nathan Peterson says has been the highlight for him. “(Comments)
like, I’ve seen more farming in this video than I’ve have my whole life or
something like that; seeing them actually make a difference and seeing kids
really enjoy them, kids really into farming, because they can go to YouTube and
watch all sorts of different farmers.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648133221915.png" alt="The Peterson Farm Brothers perform some of their parodies during the Farm-City Breakfast / Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>The Peterson Farm Brothers perform some of their parodies during the Farm-City Breakfast / Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The Peterson Brothers parody of Katie Perry’s Roar, called
Chore, has been seen by more than five million YouTube viewers. Their parody of
AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, called Tractor Struck, has nearly four million views.Greg Peterson says it does take time to produce the videos.“Obviously, it varies quite a bit depending on the complexity
of the video,” according to Peterson. “Anywhere from a week to a month, I
guess. We don’t spend full days on the videos.”That’s because their main job is farming and raising cattle in
central Kansas between Salina and McPherson, where they call Lindsborg and
Assaria, Kansas. They are 5th generation farmers who have become
famous, thanks to music video parodies.Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PetersonFarmBros">here</a> for the Peterson Farm Brothers YouTube page.

Petersons: Just some Kansas farm kids with a message ... and it's funny!

LECOMPTON, Kan. (AP) — Holes in the sidewalk outside Lecompton City Hall are a reminder that voters can drop their ballots in a box bolted there during elections. But as Republicans question the security of drop boxes, this small northeast Kansas town — and plenty of others — stands to lose them.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2056_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">A proposal</a>&nbsp;approved early Thursday by the GOP-controlled Kansas Senate would cut the number of drop boxes statewide by more than 40% from the 2020 elections. It’s part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-georgia-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-gubernatorial-elections-c083f5e0af7855c9dbb5a1659840c4a9">a national Republican effort&nbsp;</a>to tighten election laws and roll back voter conveniences adopted during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.

The measure would likely hit small towns like Lecompton on the outskirts of more populated places and some villages dotting rural vistas miles from the county courthouse.

With mid-term elections approaching, Republicans are appealing to supporters of former President Donald Trump, who falsely blames his 2020 election loss on widespread voter fraud.

“That would probably be ironic, that they might end up hurting some of their own base,” said Davis Hammet, leader of Loud Light, a Kansas voting-rights group. “It’s about making sure that citizens who want to vote can easily vote.”

The Kansas Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220324020114_831514/" target="_blank">passed its bill 22-17,</a>&nbsp;sending it to the state House for consideration next week. Counties could have no more than one box for every 30,000 registered voters — and all but 10 of the state’s 105 counties don’t have that many. Forty-eight of the state’s counties — almost half — would have to cut back on their drop boxes. They would lose 80 of the 191 boxes deployed in 2020.

During Wednesday’s debate, senators added a provision to require counties to staff each box — something that could further discourage their use. Drop boxes would have to remain locked when the county elections office is closed; many were unlocked around-the-clock in 2020.

Supporters argued they are addressing people’s doubts about the 2020 elections. And Sen. Dennis Pyle, a conservative Republican from rural northeast Kansas, said he worried about boxes being burned or wrenched away by trucks with chains.

“You know, I’ve seen some crazy things happen on YouTube,” Pyle said.

Even in liberal California, drop boxes are only allowed inside government buildings and are guarded. Georgia sets a 100,000 active-voter threshold for additional drop boxes; Iowa limits them to one per county, and Idaho lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-donald-trump-elections-idaho-aae184ab764b0ebce3d4f6cc77c15150">are considering a ban</a>.

But Colorado, New Jersey and Washington have set minimum numbers of drop boxes rather than limiting them, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-9-ballot-drop-box-definitions-design-features-location-and-number.aspx" target="_blank">the National Conference of State Legislatures.</a>&nbsp;Democrats in Congress pushed to require a drop box&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-georgia-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-gubernatorial-elections-c083f5e0af7855c9dbb5a1659840c4a9">for every 20,000&nbsp;</a>registered voters.

Kansas — currently without limits — averaged one box for about every 10,000 registered voters in 2020, according to data compiled by the secretary of state’s office. Nineteen counties with fewer than 5,000 registered voters had two or more in 2020.

Wabaunsee County, west of Topeka, had four drop boxes in 2020 for about 5,200 registered voters, including one outside city hall in Harveyville, population 178. By the shortest route, over three state highways twisting through the hills, it’s 40 minutes from there to the county courthouse.

“We do have people that will call, you know, the last day and say, ‘I didn’t get my ballot in the mail,’” said Abby Amick, the elected Republican county clerk.

More than a dozen Kansas counties — including its most populous one, Johnson County in the Kansas City area — wouldn’t have hit their box limits in 2020 under the bill. Thirteen, most with fewer than 3,000 registered voters, had no drop boxes.

In Cherokee County in far southeastern Kansas, County Clerk Rebecca Brassart, an elected Republican, is skeptical that drop boxes can be secure. With about 14,000 registered voters, her county was the most populous without a drop box in 2020.

She said most voters who ask for absentee ballots bring them to the county courthouse in Columbus.

“We live in small communities, but thieving is getting bad,” she said. “If somebody wants to break into something, they’re going to break into it, right?”

But Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a conservative Republican, said Wednesday that drop boxes are more secure than using the U.S. mail, which for Kansas communities is processed outside the state.

As for stuffing the boxes, local elections officials said, each ballot has a county code and requires a secure envelope that must have a voter’s signature that will be checked. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew showed in a recent tour of his warehouse how it takes two people — each with a separate key at the same time — to unlock a box to collect ballots.

“The argument around it doesn’t hold up — against drop boxes,” Schwab said.

The counties set to lose drop boxes include liberal-for-Kansas bastion Douglas County in northeast Kansas, home to the main University of Kansas campus and Lecompton, population 588. Shew, an elected Democrat, had nine deployed, including Lecompton’s, which collected 95 ballots in the November 2020 election. His county would be allowed only two.

“It really hurts the outlying communities in our county,” he said.

Heavily Democratic Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area would lose four of its six boxes. Its appointed election commissioner said only about 3% of the county’s registered voters used them in the 2020 general election.

But local voting-rights activist Connie Brown Collins argues that the county ought to have even more drop boxes because they help shift workers and people who can’t easily get to a polling place.

“We need to have greater representation, not less, in terms of voting,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605037521150.png" alt="photo by Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>photo by Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNALECOMPTON, Kan. (AP) — Holes in the sidewalk outside Lecompton City Hall are a reminder that voters can drop their ballots in a box bolted there during elections. But as Republicans question the security of drop boxes, this small northeast Kansas town — and plenty of others — stands to lose them.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2056_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">A proposal</a>&nbsp;approved early Thursday by the GOP-controlled Kansas Senate would cut the number of drop boxes statewide by more than 40% from the 2020 elections. It’s part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-georgia-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-gubernatorial-elections-c083f5e0af7855c9dbb5a1659840c4a9">a national Republican effort&nbsp;</a>to tighten election laws and roll back voter conveniences adopted during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.The measure would likely hit small towns like Lecompton on the outskirts of more populated places and some villages dotting rural vistas miles from the county courthouse.With mid-term elections approaching, Republicans are appealing to supporters of former President Donald Trump, who falsely blames his 2020 election loss on widespread voter fraud.“That would probably be ironic, that they might end up hurting some of their own base,” said Davis Hammet, leader of Loud Light, a Kansas voting-rights group. “It’s about making sure that citizens who want to vote can easily vote.”The Kansas Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220324020114_831514/" target="_blank">passed its bill 22-17,</a>&nbsp;sending it to the state House for consideration next week. Counties could have no more than one box for every 30,000 registered voters — and all but 10 of the state’s 105 counties don’t have that many. Forty-eight of the state’s counties — almost half — would have to cut back on their drop boxes. They would lose 80 of the 191 boxes deployed in 2020.During Wednesday’s debate, senators added a provision to require counties to staff each box — something that could further discourage their use. Drop boxes would have to remain locked when the county elections office is closed; many were unlocked around-the-clock in 2020.Supporters argued they are addressing people’s doubts about the 2020 elections. And Sen. Dennis Pyle, a conservative Republican from rural northeast Kansas, said he worried about boxes being burned or wrenched away by trucks with chains.“You know, I’ve seen some crazy things happen on YouTube,” Pyle said.Even in liberal California, drop boxes are only allowed inside government buildings and are guarded. Georgia sets a 100,000 active-voter threshold for additional drop boxes; Iowa limits them to one per county, and Idaho lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-donald-trump-elections-idaho-aae184ab764b0ebce3d4f6cc77c15150">are considering a ban</a>.But Colorado, New Jersey and Washington have set minimum numbers of drop boxes rather than limiting them, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-9-ballot-drop-box-definitions-design-features-location-and-number.aspx" target="_blank">the National Conference of State Legislatures.</a>&nbsp;Democrats in Congress pushed to require a drop box&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-georgia-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-gubernatorial-elections-c083f5e0af7855c9dbb5a1659840c4a9">for every 20,000&nbsp;</a>registered voters.Kansas — currently without limits — averaged one box for about every 10,000 registered voters in 2020, according to data compiled by the secretary of state’s office. Nineteen counties with fewer than 5,000 registered voters had two or more in 2020.Wabaunsee County, west of Topeka, had four drop boxes in 2020 for about 5,200 registered voters, including one outside city hall in Harveyville, population 178. By the shortest route, over three state highways twisting through the hills, it’s 40 minutes from there to the county courthouse.“We do have people that will call, you know, the last day and say, ‘I didn’t get my ballot in the mail,’” said Abby Amick, the elected Republican county clerk.More than a dozen Kansas counties — including its most populous one, Johnson County in the Kansas City area — wouldn’t have hit their box limits in 2020 under the bill. Thirteen, most with fewer than 3,000 registered voters, had no drop boxes.In Cherokee County in far southeastern Kansas, County Clerk Rebecca Brassart, an elected Republican, is skeptical that drop boxes can be secure. With about 14,000 registered voters, her county was the most populous without a drop box in 2020.She said most voters who ask for absentee ballots bring them to the county courthouse in Columbus.“We live in small communities, but thieving is getting bad,” she said. “If somebody wants to break into something, they’re going to break into it, right?”But Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a conservative Republican, said Wednesday that drop boxes are more secure than using the U.S. mail, which for Kansas communities is processed outside the state.As for stuffing the boxes, local elections officials said, each ballot has a county code and requires a secure envelope that must have a voter’s signature that will be checked. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew showed in a recent tour of his warehouse how it takes two people — each with a separate key at the same time — to unlock a box to collect ballots.“The argument around it doesn’t hold up — against drop boxes,” Schwab said.The counties set to lose drop boxes include liberal-for-Kansas bastion Douglas County in northeast Kansas, home to the main University of Kansas campus and Lecompton, population 588. Shew, an elected Democrat, had nine deployed, including Lecompton’s, which collected 95 ballots in the November 2020 election. His county would be allowed only two.“It really hurts the outlying communities in our county,” he said.Heavily Democratic Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area would lose four of its six boxes. Its appointed election commissioner said only about 3% of the county’s registered voters used them in the 2020 general election.But local voting-rights activist Connie Brown Collins argues that the county ought to have even more drop boxes because they help shift workers and people who can’t easily get to a polling place.“We need to have greater representation, not less, in terms of voting,” she said.

GOP push against ballot drop boxes hits rural places, too

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States will expand its sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, targeting members of the country’s parliament and the central bank’s gold reserves, the White House announced Thursday and President Biden confirmed during a news conference.

At the same time, Washington will increase its humanitarian assistance by welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and providing an additional $1 billion in food, medicine, water and other supplies.

The White House announced the initiatives as U.S. President Joe Biden and world leaders gathered in Brussels for a trio of summits in response to the Russian invasion, seeking new ways to limit the economic and security fallout from the conflict.

During the news conference,&nbsp; Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong to assume NATO would be divided over Ukraine.

Biden said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has built greater unity within NATO, the European Union and the Group of Seven economies.

Biden says of Putin, “He didn’t think we could sustain this cohesion,” adding that NATO has “never been more united than it is today.”

NATO countries and other allies have imposed harsh sanctions against Russia, crippling that country’s economy. Still, the EU has refrained from taking the same steps as the U.S. by banning oil and natural gas from Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the day’s first meeting, an emergency NATO summit, where he called for “military assistance without limitations.” He pleaded for anti-air and anti-ship weapons, asking “is it possible to survive in such a war without this?”

“It feels like we’re in a gray area, between the West and Russia, defending our common values,” Zelenskyy said during the video address. “This is the scariest thing during a war — not to have clear answers to requests for help!”

A U.S. official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Western nations are discussing the possibility of providing anti-ship weapons amid concerns that Russia will launch amphibious assaults along the Black Sea coast.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg opened the closed-door summit with a sober warning that the alliance must boost its defenses and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”

“We gather at a critical time for our security,” he said, addressing the leaders seated at a large round table. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”

In addition to the NATO summit, Brussels is also hosting separate summits of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and if the European Union. Biden is attending all three meetings and will hold a news conference afterward.

While the West has been largely unified in confronting Russia after it invaded Ukraine, there’s wide acknowledgement that unity will be tested as the costs of war chip at the global economy.

The bolstering of forces along NATO’s eastern flank, almost certainly for at least the next five to 10 years if Russia is to be effectively dissuaded, will also put pressure on national budgets.

“We need to do more, and therefore we need to invest more. There is a new sense of urgency and I expect that the leaders will agree to accelerate the investments in defense,” Stoltenberg said before the summit.

Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the U.S. wants to hear “that the resolve and unity that we’ve seen for the past month will endure for as long as it takes.”

The energy crisis exacerbated by the war will be a particularly hot topic at the European Council summit, where leaders from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are hoping for an urgent, coordinated bloc-wide response. EU officials have said they will seek U.S. help on a plan to top up natural gas storage facilities for next winter, and they also want the bloc to jointly purchase gas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed calls to boycott Russian energy supplies, saying it would cause significant damage to his country’s economy. Scholz is facing pressure from environmental activists to quickly wean Germany off Russian energy, but he said the process will have to be gradual.

“To do so from one day to the next would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into recession,” Scholz said Wednesday.

Poland and other eastern flank NATO countries will also be looking for clarity on how the United States and fellow European nations can assist in dealing with their growing concerns about Russian aggression as well as a spiraling refugee crisis. More than 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine in recent weeks, including more than 2 million to Poland.

Biden is scheduled to visit Poland on Friday, where both issues are expected to be at the center of talks with President Andrzej Duda. Another significant moment could come shortly before Biden returns to Washington on Saturday. The White House said he plans to “deliver remarks on the united efforts of the free world to support the people of Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and defend a future that is rooted in democratic principles.”

Sullivan said Biden and fellow leaders would aim to “set out a longer-term game plan” for what forces and capabilities are going to be required for the alliance’s eastern flank countries.

Four new NATO battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000-1,500 troops, are being set up in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

All the while, national security officials from Washington to Warsaw are increasingly worried that Putin might deploy chemical, biological or even nuclear weaponry. Sullivan said the allies would consult on how to respond to “potential contingencies” of that sort.

Biden said this week that the possibility of chemical weapons use by Russia was a “real threat.”

Stoltenberg declined Thursday to discuss whether such a strike is a red line that would draw the alliance into war with Russia. “I will not speculate beyond the fact that NATO is always ready to defend, to protect and to react to any type of attack on a NATO allied country,” he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a CNN interview this week said that Russia could consider using its nuclear weapons if it felt there was “an existential threat for our country.”

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, said before Biden’s visit that she wants to discuss the possibility of securing extra deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States for the 27-nation bloc “for the next two winters.”

The EU imports 90% of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. The bloc is looking at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian gas by diversifying suppliers.

Sullivan said the United States was looking for ways to “surge” LNG supplies to Europe to help.

One new sanctions option that Biden is weighing is to target members of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The new sanctions would be rolled out in coordination with Western allies.

Biden arrived in Brussels with Americans increasingly accepting of the need for the U.S. to help stop Putin, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

But even as concern among Americans has swelled and and support for a major U.S. role in the conflict strengthened in the last month, Biden’s negative approval rating has not budged, the AP-NORC poll found. Few are very confident that he can handle a crisis, and a majority thinks he lacks toughness in dealing with Russia.

Biden promised voters that he had the experience to navigate a complicated international emergency like the one unfolding in Europe and his trip will be the latest test of that proposition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648129667368.png" alt="President Biden met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Thursday to address Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Thursday to address Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States will expand its sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, targeting members of the country’s parliament and the central bank’s gold reserves, the White House announced Thursday and President Biden confirmed during a news conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F3161092110827503%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=32" 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>At the same time, Washington will increase its humanitarian assistance by welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and providing an additional $1 billion in food, medicine, water and other supplies.The White House announced the initiatives as U.S. President Joe Biden and world leaders gathered in Brussels for a trio of summits in response to the Russian invasion, seeking new ways to limit the economic and security fallout from the conflict.During the news conference,&nbsp; Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong to assume NATO would be divided over Ukraine.Biden said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has built greater unity within NATO, the European Union and the Group of Seven economies.Biden says of Putin, “He didn’t think we could sustain this cohesion,” adding that NATO has “never been more united than it is today.”NATO countries and other allies have imposed harsh sanctions against Russia, crippling that country’s economy. Still, the EU has refrained from taking the same steps as the U.S. by banning oil and natural gas from Russia.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the day’s first meeting, an emergency NATO summit, where he called for “military assistance without limitations.” He pleaded for anti-air and anti-ship weapons, asking “is it possible to survive in such a war without this?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648143875128.png" alt="President Biden held a press conference about his meetings in Europe with Allies and partners on our response to Russia’s war on Ukraine." />
 <figcaption>President Biden held a press conference about his meetings in Europe with Allies and partners on our response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.</figcaption>
 </figure>“It feels like we’re in a gray area, between the West and Russia, defending our common values,” Zelenskyy said during the video address. “This is the scariest thing during a war — not to have clear answers to requests for help!”A U.S. official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Western nations are discussing the possibility of providing anti-ship weapons amid concerns that Russia will launch amphibious assaults along the Black Sea coast.Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg opened the closed-door summit with a sober warning that the alliance must boost its defenses and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”“We gather at a critical time for our security,” he said, addressing the leaders seated at a large round table. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”In addition to the NATO summit, Brussels is also hosting separate summits of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and if the European Union. Biden is attending all three meetings and will hold a news conference afterward.While the West has been largely unified in confronting Russia after it invaded Ukraine, there’s wide acknowledgement that unity will be tested as the costs of war chip at the global economy.The bolstering of forces along NATO’s eastern flank, almost certainly for at least the next five to 10 years if Russia is to be effectively dissuaded, will also put pressure on national budgets.“We need to do more, and therefore we need to invest more. There is a new sense of urgency and I expect that the leaders will agree to accelerate the investments in defense,” Stoltenberg said before the summit.Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the U.S. wants to hear “that the resolve and unity that we’ve seen for the past month will endure for as long as it takes.”The energy crisis exacerbated by the war will be a particularly hot topic at the European Council summit, where leaders from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are hoping for an urgent, coordinated bloc-wide response. EU officials have said they will seek U.S. help on a plan to top up natural gas storage facilities for next winter, and they also want the bloc to jointly purchase gas.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed calls to boycott Russian energy supplies, saying it would cause significant damage to his country’s economy. Scholz is facing pressure from environmental activists to quickly wean Germany off Russian energy, but he said the process will have to be gradual.“To do so from one day to the next would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into recession,” Scholz said Wednesday.Poland and other eastern flank NATO countries will also be looking for clarity on how the United States and fellow European nations can assist in dealing with their growing concerns about Russian aggression as well as a spiraling refugee crisis. More than 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine in recent weeks, including more than 2 million to Poland.Biden is scheduled to visit Poland on Friday, where both issues are expected to be at the center of talks with President Andrzej Duda. Another significant moment could come shortly before Biden returns to Washington on Saturday. The White House said he plans to “deliver remarks on the united efforts of the free world to support the people of Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and defend a future that is rooted in democratic principles.”Sullivan said Biden and fellow leaders would aim to “set out a longer-term game plan” for what forces and capabilities are going to be required for the alliance’s eastern flank countries.Four new NATO battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000-1,500 troops, are being set up in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.All the while, national security officials from Washington to Warsaw are increasingly worried that Putin might deploy chemical, biological or even nuclear weaponry. Sullivan said the allies would consult on how to respond to “potential contingencies” of that sort.Biden said this week that the possibility of chemical weapons use by Russia was a “real threat.”Stoltenberg declined Thursday to discuss whether such a strike is a red line that would draw the alliance into war with Russia. “I will not speculate beyond the fact that NATO is always ready to defend, to protect and to react to any type of attack on a NATO allied country,” he said.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a CNN interview this week said that Russia could consider using its nuclear weapons if it felt there was “an existential threat for our country.”Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, said before Biden’s visit that she wants to discuss the possibility of securing extra deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States for the 27-nation bloc “for the next two winters.”The EU imports 90% of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. The bloc is looking at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian gas by diversifying suppliers.Sullivan said the United States was looking for ways to “surge” LNG supplies to Europe to help.One new sanctions option that Biden is weighing is to target members of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The new sanctions would be rolled out in coordination with Western allies.Biden arrived in Brussels with Americans increasingly accepting of the need for the U.S. to help stop Putin, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.But even as concern among Americans has swelled and and support for a major U.S. role in the conflict strengthened in the last month, Biden’s negative approval rating has not budged, the AP-NORC poll found. Few are very confident that he can handle a crisis, and a majority thinks he lacks toughness in dealing with Russia.Biden promised voters that he had the experience to navigate a complicated international emergency like the one unfolding in Europe and his trip will be the latest test of that proposition.___

🎥 US to welcome Ukraine refugees, provide $1 billion in food, medicine

The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thinkkc.com/">Kansas City Area Development Council</a>&nbsp;and its partners announced Thursday that&nbsp;<a href="https://about.facebook.com/meta/">Meta</a>&nbsp;selected the Kansas City region for its new hyperscale data center, according to a media release from the organization. Locating in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.diodeventures.com/projects/gptp">Golden Plains Technology Park</a>, a 5.5 million-square-foot data center campus in Kansas City, Missouri, Meta will invest more than $800 million over the next several years to build out its nearly 1 million-square-foot facility. “Meta is excited to call Kansas City our new home. It stands out with so much to offer - good access to infrastructure and fiber, a strong pool of talent for both construction and operations, and more than anything, great community partners,” said&nbsp;Darcy Nothnagle, director of community and economic development, Meta. “Meta is committed to being a good neighbor and investing in the long-term vitality of the region for years to come.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The development will boost the local economy, supporting up to 100 operational jobs and more than 1,300 jobs at peak construction. The tech company is starting construction and plans to be operational in 2024.

“We’re proud to welcome Meta to Kansas City for this historic, cutting-edge development that will positively impact our state’s economy for years to come,” said&nbsp;Missouri Governor Mike Parson. “The Show-Me State stands out as a rising technology hub due to our strategic location, skilled workforce, and prime business climate. This unprecedented investment signals Missouri is open for business, and that our state is a prime destination for high-tech leaders and innovators alike.”&nbsp;

Meta’s Kansas City location will be one of the most sustainable data centers in the world and will add additional renewable energy to the region’s local grid. The facility will achieve net-zero carbon emissions and will aim to be LEED® Gold level certified. Meta’s Kansas City data center will use 32% less energy and will be 80% more water-efficient on average than the industry standard. “It’s an exciting day in Kansas City as we celebrate Meta’s investment in our community — yet another example of Kansas City’s growing influence in the technology sector. We look forward to growing this partnership and creating new jobs,” said&nbsp;Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

“Kansas City is a wonderful place to live and work, and I’m glad to see new investment and job growth coming to the area. With our central location and first rate colleges and universities, Missouri is well positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the tech sector. I look forward to seeing Meta’s data center anchor new partnerships with schools and local organizations and become part of a great community,” said&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.)

As a central U.S. location, Kansas City is a midpoint that provides improved network connectivity between coastal data centers. Additionally, the region offers more security with less risk of natural disasters and other threats. The Midwest offers competitive energy prices and more options to power facilities using renewable energy resources.

“Meta’s data center at Golden Plains Technology Park is a significant economic development investment and win for the Kansas City region. We know the company had a choice regarding where to site this major project, and we’re proud to be an essential partner to help make this a reality,” said&nbsp;David Campbell, president and CEO, Evergy. “We look forward to delivering clean, safe and reliable energy to Meta’s facility, supporting one of the most sustainable data centers in the world.”

The Kansas City area is the third fastest-growing tech market in the U.S., and among the top large metros for its number of tech jobs per capita. In addition to being ranked one of the best startup cities in the U.S., the KC region has 102,000+ technology jobs and 3,900+ established tech firms. The pool of available talent within IT (67,800+) is strong due to the concentration of financial services, telecommunications, data processing, software and engineering firms in the Kansas City area.

“KC is the most connected region in the U.S. with more than 5.5 million miles of fiber deployed. This infrastructure, coupled with a dynamic and robust talent pool, provides Meta the resources it needs for long-term success in our market, said&nbsp;Tim Cowden, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. “Meta’s selection of KC, joining many other global tech brands in our region, puts a spotlight on our thriving tech industry. The region’s new state-of-the-art single terminal airport opening in March 2023 and our collaborative business community make KC a top location of choice for other tech companies seeking growth.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648138430746.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo courtesy Kansas City Area Development Council&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy Kansas City Area Development Council&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thinkkc.com/">Kansas City Area Development Council</a>&nbsp;and its partners announced Thursday that&nbsp;<a href="https://about.facebook.com/meta/">Meta</a>&nbsp;selected the Kansas City region for its new hyperscale data center, according to a media release from the organization. Locating in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.diodeventures.com/projects/gptp">Golden Plains Technology Park</a>, a 5.5 million-square-foot data center campus in Kansas City, Missouri, Meta will invest more than $800 million over the next several years to build out its nearly 1 million-square-foot facility. “Meta is excited to call Kansas City our new home. It stands out with so much to offer - good access to infrastructure and fiber, a strong pool of talent for both construction and operations, and more than anything, great community partners,” said&nbsp;Darcy Nothnagle, director of community and economic development, Meta. “Meta is committed to being a good neighbor and investing in the long-term vitality of the region for years to come.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a>&#39;s nearly 1 million-square-foot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KC</a> hyperscale data center will be located in Golden Plains Technology Park, supporting up to 100 operational employees and more than 1,300 jobs at peak construction. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hyperscaledatacenter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hyperscaledatacenter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/datacenter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#datacenter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/meta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#meta</a> <a href="https://t.co/Pbzh8ggrY2">pic.twitter.com/Pbzh8ggrY2</a>&mdash; KCADC (@ithinkKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ithinkKC/status/1507010436054409218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The development will boost the local economy, supporting up to 100 operational jobs and more than 1,300 jobs at peak construction. The tech company is starting construction and plans to be operational in 2024.“We’re proud to welcome Meta to Kansas City for this historic, cutting-edge development that will positively impact our state’s economy for years to come,” said&nbsp;Missouri Governor Mike Parson. “The Show-Me State stands out as a rising technology hub due to our strategic location, skilled workforce, and prime business climate. This unprecedented investment signals Missouri is open for business, and that our state is a prime destination for high-tech leaders and innovators alike.”&nbsp;Meta’s Kansas City location will be one of the most sustainable data centers in the world and will add additional renewable energy to the region’s local grid. The facility will achieve net-zero carbon emissions and will aim to be LEED® Gold level certified. Meta’s Kansas City data center will use 32% less energy and will be 80% more water-efficient on average than the industry standard. “It’s an exciting day in Kansas City as we celebrate Meta’s investment in our community — yet another example of Kansas City’s growing influence in the technology sector. We look forward to growing this partnership and creating new jobs,” said&nbsp;Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kansas City: the third fastest-growing tech market in the country. 👏&mdash; Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorLucasKC/status/1506997891931463688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Kansas City is a wonderful place to live and work, and I’m glad to see new investment and job growth coming to the area. With our central location and first rate colleges and universities, Missouri is well positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the tech sector. I look forward to seeing Meta’s data center anchor new partnerships with schools and local organizations and become part of a great community,” said&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.)As a central U.S. location, Kansas City is a midpoint that provides improved network connectivity between coastal data centers. Additionally, the region offers more security with less risk of natural disasters and other threats. The Midwest offers competitive energy prices and more options to power facilities using renewable energy resources.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648138538395.png" alt="Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Missouri Governor Mike Parson participated in the ground breaking on Thursday morning." />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Missouri Governor Mike Parson participated in the ground breaking on Thursday morning.</figcaption>
 </figure>“Meta’s data center at Golden Plains Technology Park is a significant economic development investment and win for the Kansas City region. We know the company had a choice regarding where to site this major project, and we’re proud to be an essential partner to help make this a reality,” said&nbsp;David Campbell, president and CEO, Evergy. “We look forward to delivering clean, safe and reliable energy to Meta’s facility, supporting one of the most sustainable data centers in the world.”The Kansas City area is the third fastest-growing tech market in the U.S., and among the top large metros for its number of tech jobs per capita. In addition to being ranked one of the best startup cities in the U.S., the KC region has 102,000+ technology jobs and 3,900+ established tech firms. The pool of available talent within IT (67,800+) is strong due to the concentration of financial services, telecommunications, data processing, software and engineering firms in the Kansas City area.“KC is the most connected region in the U.S. with more than 5.5 million miles of fiber deployed. This infrastructure, coupled with a dynamic and robust talent pool, provides Meta the resources it needs for long-term success in our market, said&nbsp;Tim Cowden, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. “Meta’s selection of KC, joining many other global tech brands in our region, puts a spotlight on our thriving tech industry. The region’s new state-of-the-art single terminal airport opening in March 2023 and our collaborative business community make KC a top location of choice for other tech companies seeking growth.”&nbsp;The following organizations helped bring Meta to Kansas City: State of Missouri; Missouri Partnership; Missouri Department of Economic Development; City of Kansas City, Missouri; Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Missouri; Port KC; Evergy; Diode Ventures; Platte County; Clay County; Turner Construction; Burns &amp; McDonnell; Kimley-Horn; Black &amp; Veatch; BNIM; Olsson; Husch Blackwell; Rouse, Frets, White, Goss, P.C.; Spire; KC Tech Council; Metropolitan Community College; North Kansas City School District; Platte County R-3 School District; Smithville School District; Greater KC Building &amp; Construction Trades Council; Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council; Union Station.