SEDGWICK COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and seeking information to help identify a suspect.

Just before 9:00 p.m. on February 12, an unknown man entered the Dollar Tree in 2400 block of S. George Washington Boulevard in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

The suspect waited for other customers to leave. After he was the last customer inside the store, he produced a firearm and demanded money from a register. He then demanded an employee take him to the safe for additional money before leaving the store on foot.

The suspect is described as an 18-20 year old black male with a dark complexion, black joggers, and a black sweatshirt with a zipper.

Anyone with information regarding this crime , or any crime that occurred in Sedgwick County, is eligible to receive a reward by submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling 316- 267-2111 or online at www.stopcrime316.com. Tipsters are always anonymous – Crime

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645885552959.png" alt="Image courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and seeking information to help identify a suspect.Just before 9:00 p.m. on February 12, an unknown man entered the Dollar Tree in 2400 block of S. George Washington Boulevard in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.The suspect waited for other customers to leave. After he was the last customer inside the store, he produced a firearm and demanded money from a register. He then demanded an employee take him to the safe for additional money before leaving the store on foot.The suspect is described as an 18-20 year old black male with a dark complexion, black joggers, and a black sweatshirt with a zipper.Anyone with information regarding this crime , or any crime that occurred in Sedgwick County, is eligible to receive a reward by submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling 316- 267-2111 or online at www.stopcrime316.com. Tipsters are always anonymous – Crime

Police ask for help to ID suspect in Kan. store armed robbery

&nbsp;GRAHAM COUNTY—A Kansas State Trooper was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Graham County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a trooper identified as Michael L. Tucker, 33, Lebanon, was actively pursuing a suspect vehicle on a dirt road when he lost control of his 2021 Dodge Charger on a curve at the Intersection of EE Road and 330 Avenue six miles east of U.S. 283.

The Dodge Charger left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.&nbsp; EMS transported Tucker for treatment of serious injuries.

&nbsp;GRAHAM COUNTY—A Kansas State Trooper was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Graham County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a trooper identified as Michael L. Tucker, 33, Lebanon, was actively pursuing a suspect vehicle on a dirt road when he lost control of his 2021 Dodge Charger on a curve at the Intersection of EE Road and 330 Avenue six miles east of U.S. 283.The Dodge Charger left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.&nbsp; EMS transported Tucker for treatment of serious injuries.

Kansas Trooper hospitalized after crash during chase

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County woman faces charges related to a house fire that killed a baby in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas.

The Kansas City Star reported that 28-year-old Karlie Phelps was arrested Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The child was born on 2020, court records show.

She is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The case involves the death of an baby who died in a deadly house fire Feb. 13 in Shawnee, Kansas, television station FOX4 reported. Firefighters battling the flames found the child's body inside the home.

Police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker, the father of the child, on charges of with first-degree murder, aggravated arson and other crimes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645917595368.png" alt="Phelps-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Phelps-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County woman faces charges related to a house fire that killed a baby in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas.The Kansas City Star reported that 28-year-old Karlie Phelps was arrested Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The child was born on 2020, court records show.She is scheduled to appear in court Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644924205485.png" alt="Ecker-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ecker-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The case involves the death of an baby who died in a deadly house fire Feb. 13 in Shawnee, Kansas, television station FOX4 reported. Firefighters battling the flames found the child's body inside the home.Police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker, the father of the child, on charges of with first-degree murder, aggravated arson and other crimes.

Kan. woman faces charges in house fire that killed a baby

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after noon Saturday in Montgomery County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Katie C.&nbsp;Michels, 31, Kansas City, Mo., was eastbound on County Road 2800. The driver failed to yield at the stop sign at County Road 5700.

The Ford struck a southbound 2004 Chevy Impala driven by Tony L. Hood, 52, Cherryvale.

Michels was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported&nbsp; to First Call. EMS transported Hood to a hospital in Tulsa. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after noon Saturday in Montgomery County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Katie C.&nbsp;Michels, 31, Kansas City, Mo., was eastbound on County Road 2800. The driver failed to yield at the stop sign at County Road 5700.The Ford struck a southbound 2004 Chevy Impala driven by Tony L. Hood, 52, Cherryvale.Michels was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported&nbsp; to First Call. EMS transported Hood to a hospital in Tulsa. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Woman dead after 2-vehicle crash on Kansas highway

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/critics-say-the-kansas-criminal-justice-systems-fees-and-fines-trap-people-in-a-cycle-of-poverty">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — After Tyler Williams spent much of his 
teenage years locked up in the juvenile jail system, he found himself at
 19 owing more than $1,000 to the state of Kansas — including an $840 
fee for hauling him from Oklahoma to face charges in Junction City.

Working
 a minimum wage job, it took Williams two years of his young adulthood 
to wipe out all the fees and fines from his crimes as a kid.

“It 
was a sigh of relief,” he said. “Having that burden gone definitely 
helped me get into a better mindset and take control of my life.”

Fines
 and fees are commonly used to punish offenders and fund the court 
system, but critics argue they mostly make it harder for people to get 
their lives on track.

That’s fueled a push to make the courts less
 reliant on ringing up revenue from people convicted of crimes. 
Advocates for tossing aside many of those fees and fines say lawmakers 
should consider dumping them if they want people to escape from cycles 
of poverty and crime that tend to land people back in jail.

So 
far, one committee in the Kansas House has discussed ditching the 
charges in the juvenile system. But there’s no legislation pending yet 
that would put that change into law.

A survey by the Alabama 
Appleseed Center for Law and Justice found that 38% of the almost 1,000 
people it talked to turned to crime to be able to pay off their court 
debts. Others surveyed gave up essentials like groceries to make 
payments or took out loans.

Unpaid costs in Kansas could also cause someone to lose their driver’s license, which makes it harder for them to get to work.

“There’s
 a lot of unintended consequences with it,” Williams said. “You’re just 
throwing them into society expecting them to fly when everything says 
that they're going to sink.”

Ed Klumpp, who represents multiple 
law enforcement advocacy groups in Kansas, said fines are one of the 
most reasonable tools in dissuading someone from committing a crime. 
Some crimes, like speeding, aren’t serious enough to warrant jail time 
but do need some type of negative consequence.

Without penalties, 
Klumpp said, people are less likely to follow the law. But he said that 
fines hit people differently based on their incomes. Courts can adjust 
monetary penalties so they aren’t too onerous to low-income people.

Williams,
 a community leader with youth justice advocacy group Progeny, said 
fines wouldn't have deterred him from the crime that got him locked up 
in his early teens. But finding himself with $1,000-plus debt at 19 made
 it harder to get his life in order after his release.

Proponents 
of the changes said helping someone avoid crime, especially children, 
requires investment in education, family life and neighborhoods. And 
they say there’s little evidence that fees and fines deter crime.

While
 they sound similar, fines and fees are two different things. Fines are 
used to punish someone for a crime, like paying for a speeding ticket. 
Fees help cover the cost of expenses in the court system, like a fee to 
file court documents.

In Kansas, fees for court-appointed 
attorneys and getting past convictions expunged off someone's case can 
cost hundreds of dollars.

Fees are also an unpredictable revenue source. The COVID-19 pandemic 
closed down courts and kept more people at home. That led to a $7.3 
million budget shortfall and a hiring freeze for Kansas courts last 
year. The courts usually receive $28 million in fees to fund core 
operations, but that total has been lower the past two years because of 
the pandemic. Some courthouses might have closed if not for the 
additional money approved by the state Legislature.

In a 2021 
report, the Fines and Fees Justice Center found $27.9 billion worth of 
uncollected fines and fees nationwide. Joanna Weiss, co-director at the 
Fines and Fees Justice Center, says that number severely undercounts the
 real total because most states either reported partial data or had no 
data on uncollected fines and fees.

Kansas did not provide data for the study.

“(Fees)
 have no place in the criminal legal system,” Weiss said. “The justice 
system is meant to serve everyone, and so it needs to be funded by 
everyone.”

Klumpp said fees should never be used to punish someone
 for a crime, but said it isn’t unreasonable for someone who created the
 court cost to have to pay for it themselves, as long as they aren’t 
unrealistic. Some fees can, and regularly are, waived when someone is 
unable to pay.

Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert 
has proposed shifting away from fees. Luckert urged lawmakers earlier 
this year to pass legislation that would send fees to the state’s 
general fund rather than direct them just to the court system. In turn, 
the Legislature would direct a steadier stream of funding to the 
judicial system.

The bill would not reduce any fines or fees associated with the criminal justice system.

Luckert
 said the state’s much larger budget is better equipped to handle 
shortfalls from fee collection. The courts currently rely on fines and 
fees to fund 20% of their operations.

Rep. Troy Waymaster, who 
chairs the House appropriations committee, said the current funding 
model is limiting how the courts can function.

“The executive 
branch and the legislative branch, we are funded through the state 
general fund,” Waymaster said. “The judicial branch is a third form of 
government. … Perhaps they should be funded through the state general 
fund as well.”

Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice and 
social services for the Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can follow 
him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email him at <a href="mailto:blaise@kcur.org" target="_blank">blaise@kcur.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645633389060.png" alt="There was $27.9 billion worth of uncollected fines and fees nationwide. Joanna Weiss with the Fines and Fees Justice Center wants states to reconsider their usefulness. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>There was $27.9 billion worth of uncollected fines and fees nationwide. Joanna Weiss with the Fines and Fees Justice Center wants states to reconsider their usefulness. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/critics-say-the-kansas-criminal-justice-systems-fees-and-fines-trap-people-in-a-cycle-of-poverty">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — After Tyler Williams spent much of his 
teenage years locked up in the juvenile jail system, he found himself at
 19 owing more than $1,000 to the state of Kansas — including an $840 
fee for hauling him from Oklahoma to face charges in Junction City.Working
 a minimum wage job, it took Williams two years of his young adulthood 
to wipe out all the fees and fines from his crimes as a kid.“It 
was a sigh of relief,” he said. “Having that burden gone definitely 
helped me get into a better mindset and take control of my life.”Fines
 and fees are commonly used to punish offenders and fund the court 
system, but critics argue they mostly make it harder for people to get 
their lives on track.That’s fueled a push to make the courts less
 reliant on ringing up revenue from people convicted of crimes. 
Advocates for tossing aside many of those fees and fines say lawmakers 
should consider dumping them if they want people to escape from cycles 
of poverty and crime that tend to land people back in jail.So 
far, one committee in the Kansas House has discussed ditching the 
charges in the juvenile system. But there’s no legislation pending yet 
that would put that change into law.A survey by the Alabama 
Appleseed Center for Law and Justice found that 38% of the almost 1,000 
people it talked to turned to crime to be able to pay off their court 
debts. Others surveyed gave up essentials like groceries to make 
payments or took out loans.Unpaid costs in Kansas could also cause someone to lose their driver’s license, which makes it harder for them to get to work.“There’s
 a lot of unintended consequences with it,” Williams said. “You’re just 
throwing them into society expecting them to fly when everything says 
that they're going to sink.”Ed Klumpp, who represents multiple 
law enforcement advocacy groups in Kansas, said fines are one of the 
most reasonable tools in dissuading someone from committing a crime. 
Some crimes, like speeding, aren’t serious enough to warrant jail time 
but do need some type of negative consequence.Without penalties, 
Klumpp said, people are less likely to follow the law. But he said that 
fines hit people differently based on their incomes. Courts can adjust 
monetary penalties so they aren’t too onerous to low-income people.Williams,
 a community leader with youth justice advocacy group Progeny, said 
fines wouldn't have deterred him from the crime that got him locked up 
in his early teens. But finding himself with $1,000-plus debt at 19 made
 it harder to get his life in order after his release.Proponents 
of the changes said helping someone avoid crime, especially children, 
requires investment in education, family life and neighborhoods. And 
they say there’s little evidence that fees and fines deter crime.While
 they sound similar, fines and fees are two different things. Fines are 
used to punish someone for a crime, like paying for a speeding ticket. 
Fees help cover the cost of expenses in the court system, like a fee to 
file court documents.In Kansas, fees for court-appointed 
attorneys and getting past convictions expunged off someone's case can 
cost hundreds of dollars.Fees are also an unpredictable revenue source. The COVID-19 pandemic 
closed down courts and kept more people at home. That led to a $7.3 
million budget shortfall and a hiring freeze for Kansas courts last 
year. The courts usually receive $28 million in fees to fund core 
operations, but that total has been lower the past two years because of 
the pandemic. Some courthouses might have closed if not for the 
additional money approved by the state Legislature.In a 2021 
report, the Fines and Fees Justice Center found $27.9 billion worth of 
uncollected fines and fees nationwide. Joanna Weiss, co-director at the 
Fines and Fees Justice Center, says that number severely undercounts the
 real total because most states either reported partial data or had no 
data on uncollected fines and fees.Kansas did not provide data for the study.“(Fees)
 have no place in the criminal legal system,” Weiss said. “The justice 
system is meant to serve everyone, and so it needs to be funded by 
everyone.”Klumpp said fees should never be used to punish someone
 for a crime, but said it isn’t unreasonable for someone who created the
 court cost to have to pay for it themselves, as long as they aren’t 
unrealistic. Some fees can, and regularly are, waived when someone is 
unable to pay.Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert 
has proposed shifting away from fees. Luckert urged lawmakers earlier 
this year to pass legislation that would send fees to the state’s 
general fund rather than direct them just to the court system. In turn, 
the Legislature would direct a steadier stream of funding to the 
judicial system.The bill would not reduce any fines or fees associated with the criminal justice system.Luckert
 said the state’s much larger budget is better equipped to handle 
shortfalls from fee collection. The courts currently rely on fines and 
fees to fund 20% of their operations.Rep. Troy Waymaster, who 
chairs the House appropriations committee, said the current funding 
model is limiting how the courts can function.“The executive 
branch and the legislative branch, we are funded through the state 
general fund,” Waymaster said. “The judicial branch is a third form of 
government. … Perhaps they should be funded through the state general 
fund as well.”Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice and 
social services for the Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can follow 
him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email him at <a href="mailto:blaise@kcur.org" target="_blank">blaise@kcur.org</a>.

Critics: Kan. criminal justice system's fees, fines trap people in cycle of poverty

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A handwritten log kept by nurses tells the story of the losing battle to get more people vaccinated against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;in this corner of Alabama: Just 14 people showed up at the Marion County Health Department for their initial shot during the first six weeks of the year.

That was true even as hospitals in and around the county of roughly 30,000 people filled with virus patients and the death toll climbed. On many days, no one got a first shot at all, while a Mexican restaurant up the street, Los Amigos, was full of unmasked diners at lunchtime.

The vaccination drive in the U.S. is grinding to a halt, and demand has all but collapsed in places like this deeply conservative manufacturing town where many weren’t interested in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-347bc79469ffed5f5b163ca41cf0f1c0">the shots</a>&nbsp;to begin with.

The average number of Americans getting their first shot is down to about 90,000 a day, the lowest point since the first few days of the U.S. vaccination campaign, in December 2020. And hopes of any substantial improvement in the immediate future have largely evaporated.

About 76% of the U.S. population has received at least one shot. Less than 65% of all Americans are fully vaccinated.

Vaccination incentive programs that gave away cash, sports tickets, beer and other prizes have largely gone away. Government and employer vaccine mandates have faced court challenges and may have gone as far as they ever will.

And with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-public-health-c64f8ba0e7885e4686e13a4d76ff49b9">COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths subsiding</a>&nbsp;across the U.S., people who are against getting vaccinated don’t see much reason to change their minds.

“People are just over it. They’re tired of it,” said Judy Smith, administrator for a 12-county public health district in northwestern Alabama.

The bottoming-out of demand for the first round of vaccinations is especially evident in conservative areas around the country.

On most days in Idaho, the number of people statewide getting their first shot rarely surpasses 500.

In Wyoming, a total of about 280 people statewide got their first shot in the past week, and the waiting area at the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department stood empty Tuesday morning. The head of the department fondly recalled just a few months ago, when the lobby was bustling on Friday afternoons after school with children getting their doses. But they aren’t showing up anymore either.

“People heard more stories about, well, the omicron’s not that bad,” Executive Director Kathy Emmons said. “I think a lot of people just kind of rolled the dice and decided, ‘Well, if it’s not that bad, I’m just going to kind of wait it out and see what happens.’”

Marion County, along the Mississippi line, is part of a band of Alabama counties where most people aren’t fully vaccinated more than a year after shots were rolled out. Just to the east, Winston County has the state’s lowest share of fully vaccinated residents, at 26%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 42% are fully immunized in Marion County.

The digital sign outside First National Bank flashes Bible verses along with the temperature, and many Marion County residents work in small plants that make mobile homes and components for prefab housing. Most area jobs are blue-collar, and TVs are typically turned to Fox News. A conservative, working-class ethic runs deep.

The area went heavily for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. And yet resistance to the vaccine is so strong that two counties over, in Cullman, some booed Trump when he encouraged vaccinations during a rally that drew thousands last summer.

COVID-19 has killed almost 18,000 people in Alabama, giving the state the nation’s fourth-highest rate of deaths relative to population. Marion County’s rate exceeds the state average at 1.78%, with more than 140 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Health officials expected to have a hard time persuading Black people to get government-sponsored vaccines in Alabama, home of the infamous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-skepticism-us-eae3315d2dfecd6443b56a2dc7bcb887">Tuskegee syphilis study</a>&nbsp;and a place where distrust of Washington runs deep. They started work on public education campaigns weeks early in mostly Black areas, which now have some of the state’s highest vaccination rates, at 60% or more.

But they didn’t expect the stiff resistance among rural whites that has kept vaccination numbers stubbornly low in places like Marion County, which is 94% white. While rural transportation difficulties, confusion over vaccine costs — they’re free — and a lack of health care access have also been factors, the partisan divide in America killed the vaccine drive for some before it really got started, officials said.

“Rural white men who identify as conservative are just not interested in this. That caught us off guard,” said Dr. Scott Harris, head of the Alabama Department of Public Health. “By the first or second month of the vaccine campaign, it became clear that those folks just weren’t going to come in.”

Richard Kitchens is among that group. The owner of a clothing and sports shoe shop on the square in Hamilton, Kitchens said he isn’t interested in the vaccine after getting COVID-19 in 2020 before vaccines were available and having relatives who contracted the illness, developed only minor symptoms and recovered.

Short of a proven guarantee against illness — which no vaccine provides — he doesn’t see the point.

“I guess if I knew I could go out and get a shot and wouldn’t get it or spread it, I would go get it, and they say it helps,” Kitchens said. “But I think that will be determined sometime down the road maybe.”

Doris Peterson is fully vaccinated, but she said she didn’t get a booster on the advice of her two adult daughters, neither of whom is vaccinated. Peterson said she is used to being one of the few people around still wearing a mask in public.

“Most of the time I am it,” she said.

Kelly Moore, a former Tennessee health official who now heads a CDC-funded vaccination advocacy organization named Immunize.org, recalled seeing data from a recent survey that hit her like a punch to the gut.

The results were presented at a CDC meeting of vaccine experts earlier this month. The January survey of about 1,000 adults asked unvaccinated participants what, if anything, would change their mind and persuade them to get a shot. Half said “nothing.”

“It was quite demoralizing to see those results, frankly,” Moore said.

With the pandemic still a mortal threat, public health workers haven’t given up on getting more people vaccinated, even if it feels like an uphill slog.

Jordan Ledbetter, a nurse who works at the Marion County Health Department, was thrilled when two people came in for first-time shots on the same day recently.

“That was exciting,” she said. “There are days when I haven’t given any vaccines.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637329411498.png" alt="Drive through vaccination drive-photo courtesy Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department" />
 <figcaption>Drive through vaccination drive-photo courtesy Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A handwritten log kept by nurses tells the story of the losing battle to get more people vaccinated against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;in this corner of Alabama: Just 14 people showed up at the Marion County Health Department for their initial shot during the first six weeks of the year.That was true even as hospitals in and around the county of roughly 30,000 people filled with virus patients and the death toll climbed. On many days, no one got a first shot at all, while a Mexican restaurant up the street, Los Amigos, was full of unmasked diners at lunchtime.The vaccination drive in the U.S. is grinding to a halt, and demand has all but collapsed in places like this deeply conservative manufacturing town where many weren’t interested in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-347bc79469ffed5f5b163ca41cf0f1c0">the shots</a>&nbsp;to begin with.The average number of Americans getting their first shot is down to about 90,000 a day, the lowest point since the first few days of the U.S. vaccination campaign, in December 2020. And hopes of any substantial improvement in the immediate future have largely evaporated.About 76% of the U.S. population has received at least one shot. Less than 65% of all Americans are fully vaccinated.Vaccination incentive programs that gave away cash, sports tickets, beer and other prizes have largely gone away. Government and employer vaccine mandates have faced court challenges and may have gone as far as they ever will.And with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-public-health-c64f8ba0e7885e4686e13a4d76ff49b9">COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths subsiding</a>&nbsp;across the U.S., people who are against getting vaccinated don’t see much reason to change their minds.“People are just over it. They’re tired of it,” said Judy Smith, administrator for a 12-county public health district in northwestern Alabama.The bottoming-out of demand for the first round of vaccinations is especially evident in conservative areas around the country.On most days in Idaho, the number of people statewide getting their first shot rarely surpasses 500.In Wyoming, a total of about 280 people statewide got their first shot in the past week, and the waiting area at the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department stood empty Tuesday morning. The head of the department fondly recalled just a few months ago, when the lobby was bustling on Friday afternoons after school with children getting their doses. But they aren’t showing up anymore either.“People heard more stories about, well, the omicron’s not that bad,” Executive Director Kathy Emmons said. “I think a lot of people just kind of rolled the dice and decided, ‘Well, if it’s not that bad, I’m just going to kind of wait it out and see what happens.’”Marion County, along the Mississippi line, is part of a band of Alabama counties where most people aren’t fully vaccinated more than a year after shots were rolled out. Just to the east, Winston County has the state’s lowest share of fully vaccinated residents, at 26%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 42% are fully immunized in Marion County.The digital sign outside First National Bank flashes Bible verses along with the temperature, and many Marion County residents work in small plants that make mobile homes and components for prefab housing. Most area jobs are blue-collar, and TVs are typically turned to Fox News. A conservative, working-class ethic runs deep.The area went heavily for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. And yet resistance to the vaccine is so strong that two counties over, in Cullman, some booed Trump when he encouraged vaccinations during a rally that drew thousands last summer.COVID-19 has killed almost 18,000 people in Alabama, giving the state the nation’s fourth-highest rate of deaths relative to population. Marion County’s rate exceeds the state average at 1.78%, with more than 140 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Health officials expected to have a hard time persuading Black people to get government-sponsored vaccines in Alabama, home of the infamous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-skepticism-us-eae3315d2dfecd6443b56a2dc7bcb887">Tuskegee syphilis study</a>&nbsp;and a place where distrust of Washington runs deep. They started work on public education campaigns weeks early in mostly Black areas, which now have some of the state’s highest vaccination rates, at 60% or more.But they didn’t expect the stiff resistance among rural whites that has kept vaccination numbers stubbornly low in places like Marion County, which is 94% white. While rural transportation difficulties, confusion over vaccine costs — they’re free — and a lack of health care access have also been factors, the partisan divide in America killed the vaccine drive for some before it really got started, officials said.“Rural white men who identify as conservative are just not interested in this. That caught us off guard,” said Dr. Scott Harris, head of the Alabama Department of Public Health. “By the first or second month of the vaccine campaign, it became clear that those folks just weren’t going to come in.”Richard Kitchens is among that group. The owner of a clothing and sports shoe shop on the square in Hamilton, Kitchens said he isn’t interested in the vaccine after getting COVID-19 in 2020 before vaccines were available and having relatives who contracted the illness, developed only minor symptoms and recovered.Short of a proven guarantee against illness — which no vaccine provides — he doesn’t see the point.“I guess if I knew I could go out and get a shot and wouldn’t get it or spread it, I would go get it, and they say it helps,” Kitchens said. “But I think that will be determined sometime down the road maybe.”Doris Peterson is fully vaccinated, but she said she didn’t get a booster on the advice of her two adult daughters, neither of whom is vaccinated. Peterson said she is used to being one of the few people around still wearing a mask in public.“Most of the time I am it,” she said.Kelly Moore, a former Tennessee health official who now heads a CDC-funded vaccination advocacy organization named Immunize.org, recalled seeing data from a recent survey that hit her like a punch to the gut.The results were presented at a CDC meeting of vaccine experts earlier this month. The January survey of about 1,000 adults asked unvaccinated participants what, if anything, would change their mind and persuade them to get a shot. Half said “nothing.”“It was quite demoralizing to see those results, frankly,” Moore said.With the pandemic still a mortal threat, public health workers haven’t given up on getting more people vaccinated, even if it feels like an uphill slog.Jordan Ledbetter, a nurse who works at the Marion County Health Department, was thrilled when two people came in for first-time shots on the same day recently.“That was exciting,” she said. “There are days when I haven’t given any vaccines.”___

US vaccination drive is bottoming out as omicron subsides

Online ranker Only In Your State has compiled an odd list of local laws you probably were not aware of.

Click <a href="https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kansas/illegal-kansas/">HERE</a> to read the entire list. And make sure not to spit on the sidewalk if you are in Dodge City.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638911449771.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Online ranker Only In Your State has compiled an odd list of local laws you probably were not aware of.Click <a href="https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kansas/illegal-kansas/">HERE</a> to read the entire list. And make sure not to spit on the sidewalk if you are in Dodge City.&nbsp;

14 things you probably didn't realize were illegal in Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

Just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 800 Block of Saline in Topeka after report of a domestic disturbance, according to Police LT Donna Eubanks.

Officers located an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. All parties involved were known to each other and have been accounted for, according to Eubanks.&nbsp; 

Police released no additional detail early Saturday.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.Just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 800 Block of Saline in Topeka after report of a domestic disturbance, according to Police LT Donna Eubanks.Officers located an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. All parties involved were known to each other and have been accounted for, according to Eubanks.&nbsp; Police released no additional detail early Saturday.

Police: Kan. man critically injured in domestic disturbance

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press

Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html" target="_blank">outlined</a>&nbsp;the new set of measures for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on what’s happening at hospitals.

The new system greatly changes the look of the CDC’s risk map and puts more than 70% of the U.S. population in counties where the coronavirus is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals. Those are the people who can stop wearing masks, the agency said.

The agency is still advising people, including schoolchildren, to wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high. That’s the situation in about 37% of U.S. counties, where about 28% of Americans live.

The new recommendations do not change the requirement to wear masks on public transportation and indoors in airports, train stations and bus stations. The CDC guidelines for other indoor spaces aren’t binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules. And the agency says people with COVID-19 symptoms or who test positive shouldn’t stop wearing masks.

But with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-united-states-3e7ab3f74080bac8480aa6de3e65ecce">protection from immunity</a>&nbsp;rising — both from vaccination and infection — the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower, the CDC said.

“Anybody is certainly welcome to wear a mask at any time if they feel safer wearing a mask,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a news briefing. “We want to make sure our hospitals are OK and people are not coming in with severe disease. ... Anyone can go to the CDC website, find out the volume of disease in their community and make that decision.”

Some states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, are at low to medium risk while others such as West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Arizona still have wide areas at high levels of concern.

CDC’s previous transmission-prevention guidance to communities focused on two measures — the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive test results over the previous week.

Based on those measures, agency officials advised people to wear masks indoors in counties where spread of the virus was deemed substantial or high. As of this week, more than 3,000 of the nation’s more than 3,200 counties — greater than 95% — were listed as having substantial or high transmission under those measures.

That guidance has increasingly been ignored, however, with states, cities, counties and school districts across the U.S. announcing plans to drop mask mandates amid declining COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

With many Americans already taking off their masks, the CDC’s shift won’t make much practical difference for now, said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. But it will help when the next wave of infection — a likelihood in the fall or winter — starts threatening hospital capacity again, he said.

“There will be more waves of COVID. And so I think it makes sense to give people a break from masking,” Noymer said. “If we have continual masking orders, they might become a total joke by the time we really need them again.”

The CDC is offering a color-coded map — with counties designated as orange, yellow or green — to help guide local officials and residents. In green counties, local officials can drop any indoor masking rules. Yellow means people at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. Orange designates places where the CDC suggests masking should be universal.

How a county comes to be designated green, yellow or orange will depend on its rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions, the share of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and the rate of new cases in the community.

Taking hospital data into account has turned some counties — such as Boulder County, Colorado — from high risk to low.

Mask requirements already have ended in most of the U.S. in recent weeks. Los Angeles on Friday began allowing people to remove their masks while indoors if they are vaccinated, and indoor mask mandates in Washington state and Oregon will be lifted in late March.

In a sign of the political divisions over masks, Florida’s governor on Thursday announced new recommendations called “Buck the CDC” that actually discourage mask wearing.

In Pennsylvania, acting health secretary Keara Klinepeter urged “patience and grace” for people who choose to continue masking in public, including those with weakened immune systems. She said she’ll keep wearing a mask because she’s pregnant.

State health officials are generally pleased with the new guidance and “excited with how this is being rolled out,” said Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

“This is the way we need to go. I think this is taking us forward with a new direction going on in the pandemic,” Plescia said. “But we’re still focusing on safety. We’re still focusing on preventing death and illness.”

The CDC said the new system will be useful in predicting future surges and urged communities with wastewater surveillance systems to use that data too.

“If or when new variants emerge or the virus surges, we have more ways to protect ourselves and our communities than ever before,” Walensky said.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and MIKE STOBBE, Associated PressMost Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html" target="_blank">outlined</a>&nbsp;the new set of measures for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on what’s happening at hospitals.The new system greatly changes the look of the CDC’s risk map and puts more than 70% of the U.S. population in counties where the coronavirus is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals. Those are the people who can stop wearing masks, the agency said.The agency is still advising people, including schoolchildren, to wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high. That’s the situation in about 37% of U.S. counties, where about 28% of Americans live.The new recommendations do not change the requirement to wear masks on public transportation and indoors in airports, train stations and bus stations. The CDC guidelines for other indoor spaces aren’t binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules. And the agency says people with COVID-19 symptoms or who test positive shouldn’t stop wearing masks.But with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-united-states-3e7ab3f74080bac8480aa6de3e65ecce">protection from immunity</a>&nbsp;rising — both from vaccination and infection — the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower, the CDC said.“Anybody is certainly welcome to wear a mask at any time if they feel safer wearing a mask,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a news briefing. “We want to make sure our hospitals are OK and people are not coming in with severe disease. ... Anyone can go to the CDC website, find out the volume of disease in their community and make that decision.”Some states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, are at low to medium risk while others such as West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Arizona still have wide areas at high levels of concern.CDC’s previous transmission-prevention guidance to communities focused on two measures — the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive test results over the previous week.Based on those measures, agency officials advised people to wear masks indoors in counties where spread of the virus was deemed substantial or high. As of this week, more than 3,000 of the nation’s more than 3,200 counties — greater than 95% — were listed as having substantial or high transmission under those measures.That guidance has increasingly been ignored, however, with states, cities, counties and school districts across the U.S. announcing plans to drop mask mandates amid declining COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.With many Americans already taking off their masks, the CDC’s shift won’t make much practical difference for now, said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. But it will help when the next wave of infection — a likelihood in the fall or winter — starts threatening hospital capacity again, he said.“There will be more waves of COVID. And so I think it makes sense to give people a break from masking,” Noymer said. “If we have continual masking orders, they might become a total joke by the time we really need them again.”The CDC is offering a color-coded map — with counties designated as orange, yellow or green — to help guide local officials and residents. In green counties, local officials can drop any indoor masking rules. Yellow means people at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. Orange designates places where the CDC suggests masking should be universal.How a county comes to be designated green, yellow or orange will depend on its rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions, the share of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and the rate of new cases in the community.Taking hospital data into account has turned some counties — such as Boulder County, Colorado — from high risk to low.Mask requirements already have ended in most of the U.S. in recent weeks. Los Angeles on Friday began allowing people to remove their masks while indoors if they are vaccinated, and indoor mask mandates in Washington state and Oregon will be lifted in late March.In a sign of the political divisions over masks, Florida’s governor on Thursday announced new recommendations called “Buck the CDC” that actually discourage mask wearing.In Pennsylvania, acting health secretary Keara Klinepeter urged “patience and grace” for people who choose to continue masking in public, including those with weakened immune systems. She said she’ll keep wearing a mask because she’s pregnant.State health officials are generally pleased with the new guidance and “excited with how this is being rolled out,” said Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.“This is the way we need to go. I think this is taking us forward with a new direction going on in the pandemic,” Plescia said. “But we’re still focusing on safety. We’re still focusing on preventing death and illness.”The CDC said the new system will be useful in predicting future surges and urged communities with wastewater surveillance systems to use that data too.“If or when new variants emerge or the virus surges, we have more ways to protect ourselves and our communities than ever before,” Walensky said.___

CDC: Many healthy Americans can take a break from masks

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City-area man who killed four family members and burned their bodies was sentenced Friday to four life sentences without parole plus 115 years, Platte County authorities said.

Grayden Denham, 30, was convicted in December of shooting and killing his grandfather, his grandmother, his sister and her 3-month-old son at their home near Edgerton on Feb. 19, 2016.

He was arrested two days later when he was found walking naked near Seligman, Arizona, police said.

Firefighters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e7079be18f184ac9accd09010ae1c489">found the bodies</a>&nbsp;of Russell Denham, 82; Shirley Denham, 81; Heather Ager, 31; and her son, Mason Schiavoni, all of whom had been shot and set on fire, Platte County prosecutors said. A family dog was also killed and burned, authorities said.

Denham stole his grandparents' car and drove to Arizona.

Witnesses testified during the trial about increased tension between Denham and his family before the murders. He was seen arguing with his grandfather the day before the killings and evidence also showed he was using methamphetamine, the Platte County Prosecutor's office said in a news release.

The jury convicted Denham of four counts of first degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, animal abuse, second degree arson, and stealing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639604794631.png" alt="Denham-photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Denham-photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City-area man who killed four family members and burned their bodies was sentenced Friday to four life sentences without parole plus 115 years, Platte County authorities said.Grayden Denham, 30, was convicted in December of shooting and killing his grandfather, his grandmother, his sister and her 3-month-old son at their home near Edgerton on Feb. 19, 2016.He was arrested two days later when he was found walking naked near Seligman, Arizona, police said.Firefighters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e7079be18f184ac9accd09010ae1c489">found the bodies</a>&nbsp;of Russell Denham, 82; Shirley Denham, 81; Heather Ager, 31; and her son, Mason Schiavoni, all of whom had been shot and set on fire, Platte County prosecutors said. A family dog was also killed and burned, authorities said.Denham stole his grandparents' car and drove to Arizona.Witnesses testified during the trial about increased tension between Denham and his family before the murders. He was seen arguing with his grandfather the day before the killings and evidence also showed he was using methamphetamine, the Platte County Prosecutor's office said in a news release.The jury convicted Denham of four counts of first degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, animal abuse, second degree arson, and stealing.

KC-area man sentenced in death of grandparents, sister and her infant son

Manhattan —Fire Department investigators determined the cause of the house fire at 2087 College View Road in Manhattan on Thursday night to be overloaded electrical circuits, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes.

 Multiple space heaters were plugged in which caused an overload on the electrical system.  No injuries were reported on scene.&nbsp;

Manhattan— Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Manhattan.

Just after 9 p.m. on Thursday, fire crews were dispatched to 2087 College View Road for a report of a house fire, according to&nbsp;Assistant Chief Mike Kaus.

Upon arrival, crews found the home had smoke coming from the front and roof. Crews completed a search and controlled the fire within 20 minutes.&nbsp; The occupants safely exited the structure prior to fire department arrival.&nbsp; No injuries were reported on scene.&nbsp; &nbsp; The house is a one-story house that had two occupants. Loss is estimated at $10,000 to contents and $40,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Mike Lowe of Manhattan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645838639743.png" alt="photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>Manhattan —Fire Department investigators determined the cause of the house fire at 2087 College View Road in Manhattan on Thursday night to be overloaded electrical circuits, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes. Multiple space heaters were plugged in which caused an overload on the electrical system. No injuries were reported on scene.&nbsp;------------Manhattan— Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Manhattan.Just after 9 p.m. on Thursday, fire crews were dispatched to 2087 College View Road for a report of a house fire, according to&nbsp;Assistant Chief Mike Kaus.Upon arrival, crews found the home had smoke coming from the front and roof. Crews completed a search and controlled the fire within 20 minutes.&nbsp; The occupants safely exited the structure prior to fire department arrival.&nbsp; No injuries were reported on scene.&nbsp; &nbsp; The house is a one-story house that had two occupants. Loss is estimated at $10,000 to contents and $40,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Mike Lowe of Manhattan.

Kan. house fire: Multiple space heaters overloaded electrical system

By DEREK SCHMIDT Kansas Attorney General

Every year during the first week of March the Federal Trade Commission observes National Consumer Protection Week. The Kansas Attorney General’s office with our&nbsp;In Your Corner Kansas&nbsp;campaign focuses year-round on protecting consumers from scams and rip-offs, but during this week in particular we remind Kansans to be diligent and to keep yourself and your personal information safe.

One of the ways we do that is to share some of the most common scams reported to our office over the past year. This year’s list is punctuated by the prominence of two classic scams that unfortunately have appeared on our lists all-too frequently over the past decade. These, of course, are those scams where crooks and fraudsters attempt to steal the finances and or identities of Kansans by offering unsolicited help in securing a government benefit or navigating bureaucratic red tape.

Here are the top five scams ranked in order&nbsp;for 2021 based on the number of complaints filed with our Consumer Protection Division, with the most-frequent listed first:

Consumers have reported receiving calls from insurance companies and government agencies offering to help them navigate the process to receive health care coverage. The callers say they need certain pieces of personal data, such as bank account information or Social Security numbers, to get you enrolled in a coverage plan. Or they will need the information because the insurance company no longer takes checks and needs to arrange for an automatic bank draft. Remember, never give your bank account information over the phone, because you don’t know who is on the other end of the line.

The scam artist may even “spoof” the caller ID so that it looks like it’s coming from a legitimate insurance company. Even if you think the call might be coming from your insurance company, it’s wise to tell them you’ll call back and hang up the phone. Then go look at your last bill and call the phone number printed on the statement. That way you’ll know you’re talking to your insurance company, not an imposter. Other scammers pretending to be from government health programs focusing on senior citizens are not trying to steal money but rather personal information that can be used to file for other government benefits, such as a false tax return. These government agencies will never ask you for personal information over the phone or by email. If Medicare or Medicaid really needs to get information from you, they will send you a letter requesting information. If you do receive a call, and think it might be from a legitimate agency, ask them to send you a letter detailing what information they need.

This one is a twist on the government imposter scam involving a robocall claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing you that your benefits are about to end if you don’t take action. Rest assured, the real SSA will never call you to cut off your benefits and will never ask you to wire money, make payments via gift card, or send cash payments in order to continue your benefits. If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Do not “press 1,” or any other number the robocall asks you to press. Like with all robocall scams, these scammers are after information. If you press anything on your phone, that lets the scammer know they have reached a working number and you’ll get more calls. Our best advice on this or any other robocall scam is to not answer calls from numbers you do not know. If you do answer, once you know it’s not someone you know, just hang up.

In this scam, the caller claims to be from a well-known computer company telling you they’ve detected a virus on your computer and offers to help you remove it by connecting remotely to your computer. But instead of trying to fix it, the scam artist is actually trying to install a virus to give them access to all your files and your personal information saved on the computer. The scammer may also be trying to hack into your machine to use it to send out spam emails from your account, or even to take over the camera and microphone to spy on you and try to obtain additional personal information. If your computer really does have a problem, take it to a reputable, local computer repair shop or call your computer manufacturer’s customer service number directly. Never give a stranger access to your computer over the phone.

The scam works like this: An individual makes a connection online through a social media site with their victim. Often the scammers are targeting those individuals who are new singles or individuals who have recently lost a spouse or partner. The scammer cultivates a relationship and then begins making overtures about wanting to come to Kansas to see their new companion. As the scammers develop more trust and deeper connections, they begin asking for items from the victims, such as money for airline tickets to travel to Kansas, funds to pay for customs for items for the victim, or other sums of money related to travel plans. In reality, the gifts do not exist and the scammer has no intention of coming to Kansas, just gaining access to the victim’s money, and perhaps even personal information that could result in identity theft and other serious issues.

Whether it’s a foreign lottery, sweepstakes or a government grant, scammers are still luring people to send money with the promise of a future “prize,” if only they will send in the money to pay for the taxes or processing fees now. We always remind consumers that the Kansas Lottery is the only legitimate, legally operating lottery in Kansas, and you should never have to pay money upfront to claim a prize.

More information on how to protect yourself from these and other scams is available on our consumer protection website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling our consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583409290272.jpeg" alt="Kansas AG Derek Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Kansas AG Derek Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>By DEREK SCHMIDT Kansas Attorney GeneralEvery year during the first week of March the Federal Trade Commission observes National Consumer Protection Week. The Kansas Attorney General’s office with our&nbsp;In Your Corner Kansas&nbsp;campaign focuses year-round on protecting consumers from scams and rip-offs, but during this week in particular we remind Kansans to be diligent and to keep yourself and your personal information safe.One of the ways we do that is to share some of the most common scams reported to our office over the past year. This year’s list is punctuated by the prominence of two classic scams that unfortunately have appeared on our lists all-too frequently over the past decade. These, of course, are those scams where crooks and fraudsters attempt to steal the finances and or identities of Kansans by offering unsolicited help in securing a government benefit or navigating bureaucratic red tape.Here are the top five scams ranked in order&nbsp;for 2021 based on the number of complaints filed with our Consumer Protection Division, with the most-frequent listed first:Medical Health Insurance ScamsConsumers have reported receiving calls from insurance companies and government agencies offering to help them navigate the process to receive health care coverage. The callers say they need certain pieces of personal data, such as bank account information or Social Security numbers, to get you enrolled in a coverage plan. Or they will need the information because the insurance company no longer takes checks and needs to arrange for an automatic bank draft. Remember, never give your bank account information over the phone, because you don’t know who is on the other end of the line.The scam artist may even “spoof” the caller ID so that it looks like it’s coming from a legitimate insurance company. Even if you think the call might be coming from your insurance company, it’s wise to tell them you’ll call back and hang up the phone. Then go look at your last bill and call the phone number printed on the statement. That way you’ll know you’re talking to your insurance company, not an imposter. Other scammers pretending to be from government health programs focusing on senior citizens are not trying to steal money but rather personal information that can be used to file for other government benefits, such as a false tax return. These government agencies will never ask you for personal information over the phone or by email. If Medicare or Medicaid really needs to get information from you, they will send you a letter requesting information. If you do receive a call, and think it might be from a legitimate agency, ask them to send you a letter detailing what information they need.Social Security ScamsThis one is a twist on the government imposter scam involving a robocall claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing you that your benefits are about to end if you don’t take action. Rest assured, the real SSA will never call you to cut off your benefits and will never ask you to wire money, make payments via gift card, or send cash payments in order to continue your benefits. If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Do not “press 1,” or any other number the robocall asks you to press. Like with all robocall scams, these scammers are after information. If you press anything on your phone, that lets the scammer know they have reached a working number and you’ll get more calls. Our best advice on this or any other robocall scam is to not answer calls from numbers you do not know. If you do answer, once you know it’s not someone you know, just hang up.Computer Repair ScamsIn this scam, the caller claims to be from a well-known computer company telling you they’ve detected a virus on your computer and offers to help you remove it by connecting remotely to your computer. But instead of trying to fix it, the scam artist is actually trying to install a virus to give them access to all your files and your personal information saved on the computer. The scammer may also be trying to hack into your machine to use it to send out spam emails from your account, or even to take over the camera and microphone to spy on you and try to obtain additional personal information. If your computer really does have a problem, take it to a reputable, local computer repair shop or call your computer manufacturer’s customer service number directly. Never give a stranger access to your computer over the phone.Sweetheart ScamsThe scam works like this: An individual makes a connection online through a social media site with their victim. Often the scammers are targeting those individuals who are new singles or individuals who have recently lost a spouse or partner. The scammer cultivates a relationship and then begins making overtures about wanting to come to Kansas to see their new companion. As the scammers develop more trust and deeper connections, they begin asking for items from the victims, such as money for airline tickets to travel to Kansas, funds to pay for customs for items for the victim, or other sums of money related to travel plans. In reality, the gifts do not exist and the scammer has no intention of coming to Kansas, just gaining access to the victim’s money, and perhaps even personal information that could result in identity theft and other serious issues.Lottery ScamsWhether it’s a foreign lottery, sweepstakes or a government grant, scammers are still luring people to send money with the promise of a future “prize,” if only they will send in the money to pay for the taxes or processing fees now. We always remind consumers that the Kansas Lottery is the only legitimate, legally operating lottery in Kansas, and you should never have to pay money upfront to claim a prize.More information on how to protect yourself from these and other scams is available on our consumer protection website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling our consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.&nbsp;

SCHMIDT: Avoid these most-common scams of 2021

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,327 to a total of 765,566, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The state reported seven additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,937.

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

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

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection&nbsp;(e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020, and July 29, 2021, were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,327 to a total of 765,566, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;The state reported seven additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,937.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645830712136.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection&nbsp;(e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020, and July 29, 2021, were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 1,300 new COVID cases, 8 deaths in Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two men are charged with second-degree murder in the fatal beating of a homeless man in Wichita. 

Sixty-three-year-old David Chandler and 31-year-old Abel Molina made their first appearances in court Friday. Their bonds were set at $500,000 and their next court appearances are scheduled for March 7.

Police say Chandler and Molina, who are also homeless, assaulted 30-year-old Blake Barnes on Feb. 22 at a bridge near the Mid-America All-Indian Museum near downtown Wichita. 

Police said witnesses reported Barnes was hit several times with a metal pipe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645644547356.png" alt="Chandler-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Chandler-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two men are charged with second-degree murder in the fatal beating of a homeless man in Wichita. Sixty-three-year-old David Chandler and 31-year-old Abel Molina made their first appearances in court Friday. Their bonds were set at $500,000 and their next court appearances are scheduled for March 7.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645644748402.png" alt="Molina" />
 <figcaption>Molina</figcaption>
 </figure>Police say Chandler and Molina, who are also homeless, assaulted 30-year-old Blake Barnes on Feb. 22 at a bridge near the Mid-America All-Indian Museum near downtown Wichita. Police said witnesses reported Barnes was hit several times with a metal pipe.

Two charged in fatal beating of homeless man in Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say the deaths of a man and woman at a recreational vehicle park appear to be a murder-suicide. 

Officers found the bodies of 56-year-old Jay Shrum and 59-year-old Marni Shrum late Thursday at the All Seasons RV Park. Officers went to the area after someone called 911 to report not being able to get ahold of them. 

Police spokesman Trevor Macy said the Shrums died of apparent gunshot wounds. Macy said the deaths appear to be a domestic violence murder-suicide but the investigation continues.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say the deaths of a man and woman at a recreational vehicle park appear to be a murder-suicide. Officers found the bodies of 56-year-old Jay Shrum and 59-year-old Marni Shrum late Thursday at the All Seasons RV Park. Officers went to the area after someone called 911 to report not being able to get ahold of them. Police spokesman Trevor Macy said the Shrums died of apparent gunshot wounds. Macy said the deaths appear to be a domestic violence murder-suicide but the investigation continues.

Wichita police: Two deaths appear to be murder-suicide

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/25/kansas-commissioner-of-education-resigns-after-offensive-american-indian-comment/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education rejected the resignation
 Friday of the state education commissioner following evidence he said 
during a video conference that during his youth he tried to persuade 
children to fear for their safety among American Indians.

The state Board of Education reconvened after a closed executive 
session to unanimously approve a one-month suspension without pay of 
commissioner Randy Watson. Board members appointed Craig Neuenswander, 
the department’s deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative 
affairs, to serve as acting commissioner in Watson’s absence.

Board of Education chairman Jim Porter said the board decided remarks
 by Watson weren’t “career ending” and the board was committed to 
“restorative justice.”

Three state legislators with American Indian heritage and Gov. Laura 
Kelly had called for Watson to step down from the administrative job. In
 response, Watson submitted the letter of resignation that was rejected 
by the 10 elected members of the state board. The boards general 
counsel, Mark Ferguson, said the department viewed Watson’s letter as a 
personnel record and wouldn’t be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act.

Members of the state Board of Education adjourned for a one-hour 
executive session to discuss the Watson controversy and weigh options. 
During that meeting, Watson went behind closed doors with the board 
members.

Porter said Watson’s letter of resignation was brought on by a 
statement “that was offensive and even considered racist by many who 
heard it.”

“We are not here to excuse or justify the statement in any way,” 
Porter said. “It should not have been said, and that fact was 
immediately recognized by the commissioner, who has made multiple 
apologies.”

Porter expressed concern that people in “positions of state 
leadership” publicly called for Watson’s resignation despite reality of 
the state Board of Education holding sole responsibility for personnel 
decisions related to executive leadership of the Kansas Department of 
Education.

“There are a number of people in this state in elected and executive 
positions who have actually been arrested for various illegal activities
 who have some things in common,” Porter said. “All were given the 
opportunity to participate in due process and had the opportunity to be 
heard in the appropriate forum.”

“It seems ironic to me that commissioner Watson, who owned and did 
take responsibility for his statement, which was not illegal, feels 
obligated or feels forced to resign by outside forces,” Porter said.

Video of Watson’s remarks received through an Kansas Open Records 
Request showed what he said during a Kansas Virtual Learning Conference 
in mid-February while speaking to people attending the Andover Center 
for Advanced Professional Studies.

He was talking about a 1991 tornado when he shifted to his memory of 
trying to convince relatives they should be more fearful of American 
Indians than of violent storms.

Here is what he said: &nbsp;“I had some cousins from California. They were
 petrified of tornadoes. They’d come visit us, you know, in the summer. 
They were like, ‘Are we going to get killed by a tornado?’ And I’d say, 
‘Don’t worry about that, but you got to worry about the Indians raiding 
the town at any time.’ And they really thought that. Grow up in 
California, I guess you don’t know much of the history of Kansas.”

Watson, a former school administrator in McPherson, was hired by the state Board of Education as the commissioner in 2014.

The state’s commissioner of education has responsibility for the 
Department of Education and oversees agency functions that include 
communications, legal services and human resources. The office of the 
commissioner provides leadership to schools and the state Board of 
Education in complying with all state and federal laws, regulations and 
requirements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645807190734.png" alt="The Kansas State Board of Education announced Friday commissioner Randy Watson submitted a letter of resignation. In the board meeting room, his seat sat empty. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas State Board of Education announced Friday commissioner Randy Watson submitted a letter of resignation. In the board meeting room, his seat sat empty. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/25/kansas-commissioner-of-education-resigns-after-offensive-american-indian-comment/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education rejected the resignation
 Friday of the state education commissioner following evidence he said 
during a video conference that during his youth he tried to persuade 
children to fear for their safety among American Indians.The state Board of Education reconvened after a closed executive 
session to unanimously approve a one-month suspension without pay of 
commissioner Randy Watson. Board members appointed Craig Neuenswander, 
the department’s deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative 
affairs, to serve as acting commissioner in Watson’s absence.Board of Education chairman Jim Porter said the board decided remarks
 by Watson weren’t “career ending” and the board was committed to 
“restorative justice.”Three state legislators with American Indian heritage and Gov. Laura 
Kelly had called for Watson to step down from the administrative job. In
 response, Watson submitted the letter of resignation that was rejected 
by the 10 elected members of the state board. The boards general 
counsel, Mark Ferguson, said the department viewed Watson’s letter as a 
personnel record and wouldn’t be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act.Members of the state Board of Education adjourned for a one-hour 
executive session to discuss the Watson controversy and weigh options. 
During that meeting, Watson went behind closed doors with the board 
members.Porter said Watson’s letter of resignation was brought on by a 
statement “that was offensive and even considered racist by many who 
heard it.”“We are not here to excuse or justify the statement in any way,” 
Porter said. “It should not have been said, and that fact was 
immediately recognized by the commissioner, who has made multiple 
apologies.”Porter expressed concern that people in “positions of state 
leadership” publicly called for Watson’s resignation despite reality of 
the state Board of Education holding sole responsibility for personnel 
decisions related to executive leadership of the Kansas Department of 
Education.“There are a number of people in this state in elected and executive 
positions who have actually been arrested for various illegal activities
 who have some things in common,” Porter said. “All were given the 
opportunity to participate in due process and had the opportunity to be 
heard in the appropriate forum.”“It seems ironic to me that commissioner Watson, who owned and did 
take responsibility for his statement, which was not illegal, feels 
obligated or feels forced to resign by outside forces,” Porter said.Video of Watson’s remarks received through an Kansas Open Records 
Request showed what he said during a Kansas Virtual Learning Conference 
in mid-February while speaking to people attending the Andover Center 
for Advanced Professional Studies.He was talking about a 1991 tornado when he shifted to his memory of 
trying to convince relatives they should be more fearful of American 
Indians than of violent storms.Here is what he said: &nbsp;“I had some cousins from California. They were
 petrified of tornadoes. They’d come visit us, you know, in the summer. 
They were like, ‘Are we going to get killed by a tornado?’ And I’d say, 
‘Don’t worry about that, but you got to worry about the Indians raiding 
the town at any time.’ And they really thought that. Grow up in 
California, I guess you don’t know much of the history of Kansas.”Watson, a former school administrator in McPherson, was hired by the state Board of Education as the commissioner in 2014.The state’s commissioner of education has responsibility for the 
Department of Education and oversees agency functions that include 
communications, legal services and human resources. The office of the 
commissioner provides leadership to schools and the state Board of 
Education in complying with all state and federal laws, regulations and 
requirements.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Tp9DHJhIk8"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

UPDATE: Kan. BOE rejects resignation of education commissioner

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press

CAMDEN, N.J. — Drugmaker Johnson &amp; Johnson and three major distributors have finalized a nationwide settlement over their role in the opioid addiction crisis. 

The announcement Friday clears the way for $26 billion to flow to nearly every state and local government in the U.S. It's the largest settlement to date among the many opioid-related cases that have been playing out across the country and is expected to provide a significant boost to programs aimed at reversing the crisis in places that have been devastated by it. 

That includes many parts of rural America. The money is to be delivered over 18 years, and most of it must be used to fight the epidemic.

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated PressCAMDEN, N.J. — Drugmaker Johnson &amp; Johnson and three major distributors have finalized a nationwide settlement over their role in the opioid addiction crisis. The announcement Friday clears the way for $26 billion to flow to nearly every state and local government in the U.S. It's the largest settlement to date among the many opioid-related cases that have been playing out across the country and is expected to provide a significant boost to programs aimed at reversing the crisis in places that have been devastated by it. That includes many parts of rural America. The money is to be delivered over 18 years, and most of it must be used to fight the epidemic.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

J&J, distributors finalize $26B landmark opioid settlement

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/25/house-sidelines-controversial-bills-on-15-year-old-drivers-right-of-way-pipelines/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas House 
postponed action on a pair of surprisingly complex bills wading into 
driving privileges of teenagers and regulation of agricultural pipelines
 on the right-of-way of county roads.

Objections led GOP leadership to withdraw from the House debate 
calendar a bill granting restricted driver’s licenses to 15-year-olds to
 operate vehicles to and from worship services conducted by religious 
organizations. Current law allows 16-year-old holders of restricted 
licenses or farm permits to drive to church.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman said more than a decade of tinkering with 
Kansas statutes on driving privileges created a quagmire that proved 
puzzling to teenagers and adults. The religious exception bill could be 
woven into a broader review by a House committee aimed at simplifying 
state law, he said.

“It’s very complicated on how you get a driver’s license now,” said 
Ryckman, a Republican from Olathe. “That triggered the conversation of 
how difficult it is and how confusing (it is) for parents who are trying
 to do the right thing.”

Rep. Charlotte Esau, an Olathe Republican who sponsored House Bill 
2609, said state government shouldn’t inhibit the right of people to 
gather for religious expression.

“The good that comes from our youth attending worship or religious 
education is at least of equal value than what they learn at school or 
the experiences they gain from employment,” Esau said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645801522809.png" alt="Rep. Charlotte Esau, R-Olathe, sponsored a bill allowing 15-year-olds with restricted licenses to drive to and from church services. The bill was returned to a committee by House leadership to accommodate wider review of the convoluted set of teen driving statutes. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Charlotte Esau, R-Olathe, sponsored a bill allowing 15-year-olds with restricted licenses to drive to and from church services. The bill was returned to a committee by House leadership to accommodate wider review of the convoluted set of teen driving statutes. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/25/house-sidelines-controversial-bills-on-15-year-old-drivers-right-of-way-pipelines/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House 
postponed action on a pair of surprisingly complex bills wading into 
driving privileges of teenagers and regulation of agricultural pipelines
 on the right-of-way of county roads.Objections led GOP leadership to withdraw from the House debate 
calendar a bill granting restricted driver’s licenses to 15-year-olds to
 operate vehicles to and from worship services conducted by religious 
organizations. Current law allows 16-year-old holders of restricted 
licenses or farm permits to drive to church.House Speaker Ron Ryckman said more than a decade of tinkering with 
Kansas statutes on driving privileges created a quagmire that proved 
puzzling to teenagers and adults. The religious exception bill could be 
woven into a broader review by a House committee aimed at simplifying 
state law, he said.“It’s very complicated on how you get a driver’s license now,” said 
Ryckman, a Republican from Olathe. “That triggered the conversation of 
how difficult it is and how confusing (it is) for parents who are trying
 to do the right thing.”Rep. Charlotte Esau, an Olathe Republican who sponsored House Bill 
2609, said state government shouldn’t inhibit the right of people to 
gather for religious expression.“The good that comes from our youth attending worship or religious 
education is at least of equal value than what they learn at school or 
the experiences they gain from employment,” Esau said.Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said he supported the legislation 
because he recalled that upon turning 15 in 2005 he was able to drive to
 and from school and to work mowing lawns in Topeka but not to church 
events.Meanwhile, House leadership also took a step back Wednesday on the pipeline bill before adjourning for a six-day break.The pipeline measure emerged after a Phillips County jury determined 
placement by northern Kansas hog farmer Terry Nelson of a 
manure-and-urine waste pipeline through the right-of-way of a neighbor’s
 property without permission amounted to trespassing. The plaintiff in 
that case was awarded $134,000 in actual damages leveled against Nelson.The verdict caught rural interests off guard because many pipelines 
have been buried along county or township roads in the right-of-way.Rep. Boyd Orr, R-Fowler, said House Bill 2531 would enable a person 
engaged in agriculture activities to construct and operate pipelines on 
the right-of-way in conformity with state laws and county regulations. 
He said there was “no consensus” among landowners, county commissioners 
and other groups about how to amend state law to deal with pipeline 
controversies driven by landowner and pipeline interests.Unresolved questions about what happened when pipelines changed 
ownership, when pipelines were abandoned or when compensation should be 
paid to nearby landowners led to referral of the bill back to a 
committee for additional work.“I’ve got some real concerns about it,” said Rep. Leo Delperdang, R-Wichita.Orr said pipeline applications would be submitted to county clerks 
and that county commissions would have 90 days to evaluate project 
proposals. If not acted upon by the commission within that three-month 
period, the pipeline proposal would be considered approved.“This could be done in two or three days if all the parties come to 
the table. If there are no objections, obviously the county commission’s
 decision is very simple,” Orr said.The House bill would mandate that county governments notify property 
owners within one-fourth mile of a proposed pipeline. Applicants would 
be required to identify other pipes within the area where construction 
would occur. Owners of the pipeline would be responsible for maintenance
 and repair of the line as well as damage to roads and private property 
during construction.The bill was supported by the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas 
Farm Bureau, Kansas Pork Association and two Phillips County 
commissioners. It was opposed by the Sierra Club of Kansas, a law firm 
representing private landowners and a Thomas County commissioner.