TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court said Friday it would take no further action against a former county judge who shared nude photos of himself on an online dating site for swingers.

(Click below to watch the Oct. hearing on the case)

The court accepted a disciplinary panel's ruling that Russell County Magistrate Judge Marty Clark violated standards of judicial conduct. But the justices said they would take no further action because Clark resigned from the bench in May. 

An investigator with the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct said in March that Clark sent photos to the Club Foreplay site, and also sent “salacious” texts to a woman discussing a possible sexual encounter in the judge’s chamber.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court is considering whether a retired judge should be disciplined for sharing nude photos online.

 The court heard arguments Thursday involving retired Russell County Magistrate Judge Marty Clark, who sent the photos of himself to a website for swingers.

The Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded in May that Clark had violated ethical standards for judges. The commission's attorney argued Thursday that Clark should be barred from being a judge again unless he is educated on the integrity of the judicial branch. Clark's attorney argued Clark should not be disciplined for sending the photos to a private channel on his own time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643406859775.png" alt="Judge Marty Clark (lower right) during the virtual hearing on his conduct" />
 <figcaption>Judge Marty Clark (lower right) during the virtual hearing on his conduct</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court said Friday it would take no further action against a former county judge who shared nude photos of himself on an online dating site for swingers.(Click below to watch the Oct. hearing on the case)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yrJksnDEMQA?start=61" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The court accepted a disciplinary panel's ruling that Russell County Magistrate Judge Marty Clark violated standards of judicial conduct. But the justices said they would take no further action because Clark resigned from the bench in May. An investigator with the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct said in March that Clark sent photos to the Club Foreplay site, and also sent “salacious” texts to a woman discussing a possible sexual encounter in the judge’s chamber.------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court is considering whether a retired judge should be disciplined for sharing nude photos online. The court heard arguments Thursday involving retired Russell County Magistrate Judge Marty Clark, who sent the photos of himself to a website for swingers.The Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded in May that Clark had violated ethical standards for judges. The commission's attorney argued Thursday that Clark should be barred from being a judge again unless he is educated on the integrity of the judicial branch. Clark's attorney argued Clark should not be disciplined for sending the photos to a private channel on his own time.

🎥Court takes no action against Kan. judge who shared nude photos

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/28/wind-energy-proponent-says-senate-bills-would-kill-development-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Wind
 and solar farms would be banned in more than half of Kansas counties 
—&nbsp;and made nearly impossible in the rest — under a trio of bills heard 
by legislators this week.

One of the bills would require leases presented to landowners to come with a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb323/">message in 16-point font urging them to hire a lawyer</a>. One would <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb324/">deem projects “abandoned”</a> if construction doesn’t commence within three years. The last would <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb325/">ban wind and solar farms on any land not zoned for industrial use</a> —&nbsp;forcing 60 Kansas counties to consider zoning if they want to allow wind development.

And it would require wind developers 
to get a permit before they file signed leases with the county. But 
according to a renewable development attorney, a developer can’t get 
that permit until they’ve leased the ground.

“So there’s a bust here that I think 
is intentional,” said Alan Claus Anderson, vice chairman of Polsinelli’s
 energy practice group in Kansas City. “Maybe it’s accidental. Either 
way, it makes the person’s ability to lease the land impossible.”

The trio of bills, all offered by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/23/kansas-wind-energy-supporters-defend-local-control-economic-investments/">Sen. Mike Thompson</a>,
 a Shawnee Republican, were heard by two Senate committees this week. A 
handful of landowners in rural Kansas supported the bills while the 
renewable development industry urged lawmakers not to move forward.

“There’s a series of bills here, all taken together to do the same goal, which is to end renewable energy,” Anderson said.

Thompson told committee members 
Kansas needed more transparency around industrial wind and solar 
development, claiming wind energy developers target unzoned counties and
 use “tactics that are secretive” to obtain leases to build their wind 
turbines.

“We’re not saying we can’t do these 
facilities,” Thompson said. “We’re just saying these communities are 
being so severely impacted that they need to know about it and at least 
have a chance to negotiate or push back.”

He echoed a refrain commonly employed
 by critics of wind facilities — yes, landowners who want a turbine on 
their property have the right to do so, but nearby <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/30/as-kansas-missouri-keep-building-wind-some-communities-look-to-regulate/">landowners’ property rights are infringed by intrusive development</a>.

“It would be the same as saying, ‘I 
want to shoot my gun at your property, but the bullet just magically 
stops at the property line,’” Thompson said. “It’s a health and safety 
risk.”

The bill requiring that land be zoned
 for industrial use before a wind project is built would also allow 
adjoining landowners to stop that rezoning. If 10% of the contiguous 
landowners sign a petition, it would go on the next general election 
ballot.

If a project is deemed abandoned 
after three years, a developer would have to file a plan with the county
 for construction. Otherwise, landowners could terminate their leases.

But Anderson said it takes longer 
than three years to complete the necessary studies, including those 
required by the regional grid, the Southwest Power Pool, to start 
construction. Developers have to have control of the site to get that 
done.

“So it creates, by the nature of the 
terms of this, an impossibility,” Anderson said. “So what does that 
mean? That means that these people cannot contract because companies 
will say, ‘I can’t work in this regime. We’re out.’ ”

Kansas has seen an explosion of wind generation in recent decades. At the end of 2020, <a target="_blank" href="https://emp.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/land-based_wind_market_report_2021_edition_final.pdf">it had the fourth-largest capacity for wind generation</a>, with more than 7,000 megawatts. Wind makes up more than 40% of the state’s electrical generation.

To build wind farms, developers lease
 ground for turbines from farmers. They often tout the economic benefits
 of wind production for rural towns and counties and have offered 
additional funds for community projects.

But some rural neighbors who either 
aren’t offered leases or turn them down have regarded the turbines, 
often hundreds of feet tall with blades that extend even farther, as 
nuisances.

“Some people end up surrounded by these turbines with flashing lights, the noise, the health issues,” Thompson said.

Claims of adverse health effects are not widely supported by scientists.

Don Lueger, of Nemaha County, said 
there was ground leased in his community within a mile of St. Benedict 
where the historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church draws visitors.

He said the Soldier Creek wind farm 
nearby in the county was opposed by much of the community but forced on 
the area. His son plans to build a house on part of the family’s land 
but fears turbines could be placed nearby.

“To think that placing a turbine that
 close isn’t infringing on our property rights is ludicrous,” he said. 
“Something has got to change.”

Proponents of the bills, skeptics of 
industrial wind development, argue developers push projects on rural 
communities, signing up farmers’ ground before nonparticipating 
landowners know what’s happening.

“I believe (the bills) are absolutely
 mandatory to establish a broader scope of state regulations that 
protect landowners from lopsided tenant or industrial energy developer 
agreements that place excessive risk on trusting and again, if not 
naive, Kansas landowners,” said Bill Scopp, of Linn County.

Scopp said he has spent his career in
 equipment and leasing and reviewed a lease offered in Linn County that 
he believed unduly benefited the developer at the expense of landowners’
 rights. Scopp did not say whether he had ever been offered the 
opportunity to lease his land to a wind developer.

He complained that wind developers 
could tie up land for years with a sign-on bonus before farmers receive 
monthly payments from the wind farm.

Beverly Kavouras, of McPherson 
County, said developers “prey on” unzoned counties, though various 
developers attempted to establish five wind projects in McPherson 
County, which is zoned. McPherson County instituted a moratorium on wind
 development.

And while landowners without wind 
turbines say the projects infringe on their right to enjoy their rural 
property, restricting the ability for landowners who want to lease to 
developers is an assault on their freedom to contract.

Anderson called it a “pretty remarkable” one.

“The end result of this bill does end
 the ability for landowners to contract, use their property rights and 
participate in commerce as they deem fit with their land,” Anderson 
said.

The Kansas Association of Counties 
called the proposal to only allow wind farms on land zoned for 
industrial use an “assault on local control” because it would force 
unzoned counties that are interested in wind development to go through 
the expensive, time-consuming process of developing zoning. And the bill
 offers no funds for that.

Kimberly Gencur Svaty, public policy 
director for the Advanced Power Alliance, said she and her husband, 
former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Svaty, had purchased 
ground with a wind lease already on it. They also negotiated 
successfully over months with an energy company for a wind farm. On 
another piece of ground, they opted not to lease for wind.

She took “umbrage with an individual calling many landowners trusting and naive.”

“I am so proud of my land,” Gencur 
Svaty said. “It’s not something that I ever thought that I was going to 
get to own. … It’s really been one of the greatest joys of my life, so I
 don’t treat any interactions with my ground and my property lightly.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643395093240.png" alt="Evergy’s Flat Ridge Wind Farm, near Medicine Lodge, is one of the utility’s sources of renewable energy. Bills before the Kansas Senate would make developing wind energy impossible, the industry says. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Evergy’s Flat Ridge Wind Farm, near Medicine Lodge, is one of the utility’s sources of renewable energy. Bills before the Kansas Senate would make developing wind energy impossible, the industry says. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/28/wind-energy-proponent-says-senate-bills-would-kill-development-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>Wind
 and solar farms would be banned in more than half of Kansas counties 
—&nbsp;and made nearly impossible in the rest — under a trio of bills heard 
by legislators this week.One of the bills would require leases presented to landowners to come with a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb323/">message in 16-point font urging them to hire a lawyer</a>. One would <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb324/">deem projects “abandoned”</a> if construction doesn’t commence within three years. The last would <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb325/">ban wind and solar farms on any land not zoned for industrial use</a> —&nbsp;forcing 60 Kansas counties to consider zoning if they want to allow wind development.And it would require wind developers 
to get a permit before they file signed leases with the county. But 
according to a renewable development attorney, a developer can’t get 
that permit until they’ve leased the ground.“So there’s a bust here that I think 
is intentional,” said Alan Claus Anderson, vice chairman of Polsinelli’s
 energy practice group in Kansas City. “Maybe it’s accidental. Either 
way, it makes the person’s ability to lease the land impossible.”The trio of bills, all offered by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/23/kansas-wind-energy-supporters-defend-local-control-economic-investments/">Sen. Mike Thompson</a>,
 a Shawnee Republican, were heard by two Senate committees this week. A 
handful of landowners in rural Kansas supported the bills while the 
renewable development industry urged lawmakers not to move forward.“There’s a series of bills here, all taken together to do the same goal, which is to end renewable energy,” Anderson said.Thompson told committee members 
Kansas needed more transparency around industrial wind and solar 
development, claiming wind energy developers target unzoned counties and
 use “tactics that are secretive” to obtain leases to build their wind 
turbines.“We’re not saying we can’t do these 
facilities,” Thompson said. “We’re just saying these communities are 
being so severely impacted that they need to know about it and at least 
have a chance to negotiate or push back.”He echoed a refrain commonly employed
 by critics of wind facilities — yes, landowners who want a turbine on 
their property have the right to do so, but nearby <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/30/as-kansas-missouri-keep-building-wind-some-communities-look-to-regulate/">landowners’ property rights are infringed by intrusive development</a>.“It would be the same as saying, ‘I 
want to shoot my gun at your property, but the bullet just magically 
stops at the property line,’” Thompson said. “It’s a health and safety 
risk.”The bill requiring that land be zoned
 for industrial use before a wind project is built would also allow 
adjoining landowners to stop that rezoning. If 10% of the contiguous 
landowners sign a petition, it would go on the next general election 
ballot.If a project is deemed abandoned 
after three years, a developer would have to file a plan with the county
 for construction. Otherwise, landowners could terminate their leases.But Anderson said it takes longer 
than three years to complete the necessary studies, including those 
required by the regional grid, the Southwest Power Pool, to start 
construction. Developers have to have control of the site to get that 
done.“So it creates, by the nature of the 
terms of this, an impossibility,” Anderson said. “So what does that 
mean? That means that these people cannot contract because companies 
will say, ‘I can’t work in this regime. We’re out.’ ”Kansas has seen an explosion of wind generation in recent decades. At the end of 2020, <a target="_blank" href="https://emp.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/land-based_wind_market_report_2021_edition_final.pdf">it had the fourth-largest capacity for wind generation</a>, with more than 7,000 megawatts. Wind makes up more than 40% of the state’s electrical generation.To build wind farms, developers lease
 ground for turbines from farmers. They often tout the economic benefits
 of wind production for rural towns and counties and have offered 
additional funds for community projects.But some rural neighbors who either 
aren’t offered leases or turn them down have regarded the turbines, 
often hundreds of feet tall with blades that extend even farther, as 
nuisances.“Some people end up surrounded by these turbines with flashing lights, the noise, the health issues,” Thompson said.Claims of adverse health effects are not widely supported by scientists.Don Lueger, of Nemaha County, said 
there was ground leased in his community within a mile of St. Benedict 
where the historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church draws visitors.He said the Soldier Creek wind farm 
nearby in the county was opposed by much of the community but forced on 
the area. His son plans to build a house on part of the family’s land 
but fears turbines could be placed nearby.“To think that placing a turbine that
 close isn’t infringing on our property rights is ludicrous,” he said. 
“Something has got to change.”<h2>Property rights&nbsp;</h2>Proponents of the bills, skeptics of 
industrial wind development, argue developers push projects on rural 
communities, signing up farmers’ ground before nonparticipating 
landowners know what’s happening.“I believe (the bills) are absolutely
 mandatory to establish a broader scope of state regulations that 
protect landowners from lopsided tenant or industrial energy developer 
agreements that place excessive risk on trusting and again, if not 
naive, Kansas landowners,” said Bill Scopp, of Linn County.Scopp said he has spent his career in
 equipment and leasing and reviewed a lease offered in Linn County that 
he believed unduly benefited the developer at the expense of landowners’
 rights. Scopp did not say whether he had ever been offered the 
opportunity to lease his land to a wind developer.He complained that wind developers 
could tie up land for years with a sign-on bonus before farmers receive 
monthly payments from the wind farm.Beverly Kavouras, of McPherson 
County, said developers “prey on” unzoned counties, though various 
developers attempted to establish five wind projects in McPherson 
County, which is zoned. McPherson County instituted a moratorium on wind
 development.And while landowners without wind 
turbines say the projects infringe on their right to enjoy their rural 
property, restricting the ability for landowners who want to lease to 
developers is an assault on their freedom to contract.Anderson called it a “pretty remarkable” one.“The end result of this bill does end
 the ability for landowners to contract, use their property rights and 
participate in commerce as they deem fit with their land,” Anderson 
said.The Kansas Association of Counties 
called the proposal to only allow wind farms on land zoned for 
industrial use an “assault on local control” because it would force 
unzoned counties that are interested in wind development to go through 
the expensive, time-consuming process of developing zoning. And the bill
 offers no funds for that.Kimberly Gencur Svaty, public policy 
director for the Advanced Power Alliance, said she and her husband, 
former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Svaty, had purchased 
ground with a wind lease already on it. They also negotiated 
successfully over months with an energy company for a wind farm. On 
another piece of ground, they opted not to lease for wind.She took “umbrage with an individual calling many landowners trusting and naive.”“I am so proud of my land,” Gencur 
Svaty said. “It’s not something that I ever thought that I was going to 
get to own. … It’s really been one of the greatest joys of my life, so I
 don’t treat any interactions with my ground and my property lightly.”

Wind energy proponent: Kan. Senate bills would kill development

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state legislator has been charged with two traffic violations over his late November arrest on Interstate 70 in northeast&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;but not with driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, the potential crime initially listed by the Highway Patrol.

Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman, of Kansas City, also still faces a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in a separate criminal case in the Kansas City area over an Oct. 30 fight with his younger brother. Coleman pled not guilty, and a scheduling hearing in that case is set for Wednesday in Johnson County District Court.

In neighboring Douglas County, home to Lawrence and the main University of Kansas campus, Coleman faces charges of speeding and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle as required by law over a Nov. 27 stop. A complaint filed Jan. 21 by an assistant district attorney says Coleman was driving 92 mph when the post speed limit was 75 mph Together, the charges could result in several hundred dollars in fines.

Coleman is scheduled to have the charges formally read to him and enter a plea on April 15, during a break in the Kansas Legislature's annual session. His attorney did not respond to a telephone message and the lawmaker did not reply to a text seeking comment.

Coleman has been embroiled in controversy since he ran for the House in 2020, when he acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women. A legislative committee reprimanded Coleman in writing in February 2020 over those abuses. After his two arrests within a month, six female Democrats in the House filed a complaint against him with the House designed to lead to his ouster.

The Kansas Highway Patrol initially said he had been arrested in Douglas County on suspicion of DUI, but a decision on charges waited on the report to the district attorney's office from the patrol on the substances in Coleman's body at the time of the stop. Coleman has said he wasn't under the influence.

Jill Jess, a spokesperson for the Douglas County district attorney's office, said the charges were “based on evidence presented,” without elaborating. The Associated Press has requested a copy of the patrol's report.

“Mr. Coleman faces no further charges in Douglas County at this time,” she wrote.

Coleman is free on bond in both criminal cases. At the Statehouse, he's been pursuing a liberal agenda and earlier this month introduced a bill to reduce criminal penalties for possessing or distributing psychedelic mushrooms. But Democratic leaders have refused to give him any committee assignments.

The complaint filed against him by six fellow Democrats revived the committee of three Republicans and three Democrats that admonished him in writing last year. But its chairman has said it doesn't plan to meet again until Coleman's criminal cases are resolved.

In the Johnson County case, Coleman was ordered to undergo a mental health exam. Court documents said Coleman, who is Jewish, had a fight with his younger brother over the brother's plans for a Christian baptism.

A police sergeant wrote in an affidavit that Coleman was uncooperative and “extremely erratic,” and that he reported not sleeping for three days. Coleman tweeted Nov. 25 — two days before his arrest in Douglas County — that he's suffered from chronic insomnia “my whole adult life.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635804497310.png" alt="Coleman as shown in his October booking photo in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Coleman as shown in his October booking photo in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state legislator has been charged with two traffic violations over his late November arrest on Interstate 70 in northeast&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;but not with driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, the potential crime initially listed by the Highway Patrol.Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman, of Kansas City, also still faces a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in a separate criminal case in the Kansas City area over an Oct. 30 fight with his younger brother. Coleman pled not guilty, and a scheduling hearing in that case is set for Wednesday in Johnson County District Court.In neighboring Douglas County, home to Lawrence and the main University of Kansas campus, Coleman faces charges of speeding and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle as required by law over a Nov. 27 stop. A complaint filed Jan. 21 by an assistant district attorney says Coleman was driving 92 mph when the post speed limit was 75 mph Together, the charges could result in several hundred dollars in fines.Coleman is scheduled to have the charges formally read to him and enter a plea on April 15, during a break in the Kansas Legislature's annual session. His attorney did not respond to a telephone message and the lawmaker did not reply to a text seeking comment.Coleman has been embroiled in controversy since he ran for the House in 2020, when he acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women. A legislative committee reprimanded Coleman in writing in February 2020 over those abuses. After his two arrests within a month, six female Democrats in the House filed a complaint against him with the House designed to lead to his ouster.The Kansas Highway Patrol initially said he had been arrested in Douglas County on suspicion of DUI, but a decision on charges waited on the report to the district attorney's office from the patrol on the substances in Coleman's body at the time of the stop. Coleman has said he wasn't under the influence.Jill Jess, a spokesperson for the Douglas County district attorney's office, said the charges were “based on evidence presented,” without elaborating. The Associated Press has requested a copy of the patrol's report.“Mr. Coleman faces no further charges in Douglas County at this time,” she wrote.Coleman is free on bond in both criminal cases. At the Statehouse, he's been pursuing a liberal agenda and earlier this month introduced a bill to reduce criminal penalties for possessing or distributing psychedelic mushrooms. But Democratic leaders have refused to give him any committee assignments.The complaint filed against him by six fellow Democrats revived the committee of three Republicans and three Democrats that admonished him in writing last year. But its chairman has said it doesn't plan to meet again until Coleman's criminal cases are resolved.In the Johnson County case, Coleman was ordered to undergo a mental health exam. Court documents said Coleman, who is Jewish, had a fight with his younger brother over the brother's plans for a Christian baptism.A police sergeant wrote in an affidavit that Coleman was uncooperative and “extremely erratic,” and that he reported not sleeping for three days. Coleman tweeted Nov. 25 — two days before his arrest in Douglas County — that he's suffered from chronic insomnia “my whole adult life.”

Kansas lawmaker charged with traffic violations but not DUI

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/28/hope-springs-from-kansas-governors-proposal-to-restore-water-funding/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Connie Owen, director of Kansas Water Office, says the 
governor’s recommendation to restore funding for water projects has 
given her organization momentum as it considers a wide range of needs.

Legislators since 2008 have not allocated the full $8 million that is
 supposed to go toward a State Water Plan established in 1989. During 
the past 14 years, Owen said, the state has shorted the plan by $80 
million, jeopardizing efforts to address concerns with reservoirs, 
groundwater, and water quality across the state.

This year, Gov. Laura Kelly has proposed fully funding the water 
plan. If lawmakers agree, that would mean allocating $6 million from the
 state general fund and $2 million from an economic development fund.

Kelly told members of the Kansas Water Authority during a meeting 
Thursday in Topeka that she was excited about a budget surplus that 
would allow the state to meet its obligations.

“I know there are a lot of water projects,” Kelly said. “The eight 
million goes a long way, but not long enough for many of the things that
 need to get done.”

She said she also anticipates using federal money from the infrastructure package on “expense projects in the world of water.”

The water authority, which is part of the Water Office, develops the 
water plan and manages the available cash. Owen said the annual 
allotment figure hasn’t changed since the mid-1990s. If adjusted for 
inflation, she said, the state would have to pay closer to $20 million 
annually.

The issues are profound. In western Kansas, the depletion of the 
Ogallala Aquifer threatens the livelihood of agriculture producers.

“It’s already too far gone,” Owen said if the aquifer. “There are areas that are beyond use.”

She said the state could invest in innovative technologies that help 
agriculture producers make a living. For example: Farmers could use a 
soil moisture probe to determine whether they need to irrigate on a 
given day.

Producers in the Colby area who chose to voluntarily reduce water 
use, Owen said, have actually seen profitability increase because they 
are paying less for nutrients and power used for pumps. The water plan 
could help fund programs to help other producers make a similar 
transition in how they operate, Owen said.

In eastern Kansas,&nbsp; the biggest issue involves the silting of 
reservoirs. The accumulation of silt happens naturally as water flows 
into the reservoirs, presenting an array of challenges.

Tuttle Creek Lake, the flagship reservoir, has lost about 40% of its capacity, Owen said.

“When you have your silt filling up reservoirs and losing storage 
capacity, well, you’re going to lose the amount of water you had access 
to,” Owen said. “You will not have the flexibility to store water in a 
flood and help reduce flood damage. You will not have the capacity to 
store water when you can to prepare for a drought.

“Not to mention you just will not have enough supply to meet the 
needs of the people who live here. You want to turn on your tap and you 
want the water to come on. If the reservoirs can’t hold enough water, 
that’s going to be a problem.”

Michael Armstrong, who represents a water district in Johnson County,
 asked the governor to consider using a chunk of the state’s surplus to 
cover debt the state owes on federal reservoirs — Perry, Milford and 
Hillsdale. There are about $112 million in outstanding obligations that 
could be retired with a one-time payment.

Kelly said she was unaware of the debt or the interest that continues to accrue.

“That drives me absolutely insane,” the governor said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643387455587.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly addresses Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office, during a meeting of the Kansas Water Authority on Thursday at the Ramada Inn in downtown Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly addresses Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office, during a meeting of the Kansas Water Authority on Thursday at the Ramada Inn in downtown Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/28/hope-springs-from-kansas-governors-proposal-to-restore-water-funding/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Connie Owen, director of Kansas Water Office, says the 
governor’s recommendation to restore funding for water projects has 
given her organization momentum as it considers a wide range of needs.Legislators since 2008 have not allocated the full $8 million that is
 supposed to go toward a State Water Plan established in 1989. During 
the past 14 years, Owen said, the state has shorted the plan by $80 
million, jeopardizing efforts to address concerns with reservoirs, 
groundwater, and water quality across the state.This year, Gov. Laura Kelly has proposed fully funding the water 
plan. If lawmakers agree, that would mean allocating $6 million from the
 state general fund and $2 million from an economic development fund.Kelly told members of the Kansas Water Authority during a meeting 
Thursday in Topeka that she was excited about a budget surplus that 
would allow the state to meet its obligations.“I know there are a lot of water projects,” Kelly said. “The eight 
million goes a long way, but not long enough for many of the things that
 need to get done.”She said she also anticipates using federal money from the infrastructure package on “expense projects in the world of water.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643387510350.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly says the $8 million needed to fully fund the State Water Plan will go a long way, but not long enough. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly says the $8 million needed to fully fund the State Water Plan will go a long way, but not long enough. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The water authority, which is part of the Water Office, develops the 
water plan and manages the available cash. Owen said the annual 
allotment figure hasn’t changed since the mid-1990s. If adjusted for 
inflation, she said, the state would have to pay closer to $20 million 
annually.The issues are profound. In western Kansas, the depletion of the 
Ogallala Aquifer threatens the livelihood of agriculture producers.“It’s already too far gone,” Owen said if the aquifer. “There are areas that are beyond use.”She said the state could invest in innovative technologies that help 
agriculture producers make a living. For example: Farmers could use a 
soil moisture probe to determine whether they need to irrigate on a 
given day.Producers in the Colby area who chose to voluntarily reduce water 
use, Owen said, have actually seen profitability increase because they 
are paying less for nutrients and power used for pumps. The water plan 
could help fund programs to help other producers make a similar 
transition in how they operate, Owen said.In eastern Kansas,&nbsp; the biggest issue involves the silting of 
reservoirs. The accumulation of silt happens naturally as water flows 
into the reservoirs, presenting an array of challenges.Tuttle Creek Lake, the flagship reservoir, has lost about 40% of its capacity, Owen said.“When you have your silt filling up reservoirs and losing storage 
capacity, well, you’re going to lose the amount of water you had access 
to,” Owen said. “You will not have the flexibility to store water in a 
flood and help reduce flood damage. You will not have the capacity to 
store water when you can to prepare for a drought.“Not to mention you just will not have enough supply to meet the 
needs of the people who live here. You want to turn on your tap and you 
want the water to come on. If the reservoirs can’t hold enough water, 
that’s going to be a problem.”Michael Armstrong, who represents a water district in Johnson County,
 asked the governor to consider using a chunk of the state’s surplus to 
cover debt the state owes on federal reservoirs — Perry, Milford and 
Hillsdale. There are about $112 million in outstanding obligations that 
could be retired with a one-time payment.Kelly said she was unaware of the debt or the interest that continues to accrue.“That drives me absolutely insane,” the governor said.

Hope springs from Kan. governor’s proposal to restore water funding

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 12,986 to a total of 722,824, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state reported 134 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,522.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> 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 (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&nbsp;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 12,986 to a total of 722,824, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 134 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,522.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643392776971.png" alt="Friday January 28, 2022 -KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday January 28, 2022 -KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> 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 (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&nbsp;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 reports 134 more COVID-19 deaths

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A Kansas felon who asked to make a report to Salina police, then fled from officers at a high rate of speed, later called to report that he had crashed his vehicle.

Just after 9p.m. Thursday, officers at the Salina Police Department were asked to assist a citizen identified as Montreal Williams, 44, of Wichita, next door in the parking lot of the Salina Senior Center, 245 N. Ninth Street, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. 

Williams was sitting in the front seat of a 2013 Mazda 2. He told the officers that he wanted to make a report and that he wanted the patrol supervisor.

Williams handed an officer a citation from Wichita that was for driving on a suspended driver’s license, Forrester reported. The officers asked Williams for his driver’s license and he refused. The patrol supervisor arrived and also asked Williams for his license. At that point, Williams put his vehicle in drive and allegedly exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed, traveling eastbound on W. Elm Street.

Forrester reported that officers initially pursued Williams, but terminated the pursuit after only a few blocks. Williams was seen turning southbound on N. Ohio Street. Another officer, who was on S. Ohio Street, observed Williams’ vehicle allegedly traveling at approximately 95 mph on S. Ohio Street and running the stoplight at the E. Crawford Street/S. Ohio Street intersection.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Williams called and reported that he had crashed his vehicle at W. Magnolia Road and the Interstate 135 on-ramp. The right front tire of the Mazda had been shredded by an unknown object.

Police arrested Williams was arrested on requested charges of Felony flee and elude, Driving while suspended, Numerous traffic violations and Interference with law enforcement. He previous convictions for theft, burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643382933520.png" alt="Williams has previous convictions for theft, burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.-&nbsp;Photo Saline Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Williams has previous convictions for theft, burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.-&nbsp;Photo Saline Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Kansas felon who asked to make a report to Salina police, then fled from officers at a high rate of speed, later called to report that he had crashed his vehicle.Just after 9p.m. Thursday, officers at the Salina Police Department were asked to assist a citizen identified as Montreal Williams, 44, of Wichita, next door in the parking lot of the Salina Senior Center, 245 N. Ninth Street, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. Williams was sitting in the front seat of a 2013 Mazda 2. He told the officers that he wanted to make a report and that he wanted the patrol supervisor.Williams handed an officer a citation from Wichita that was for driving on a suspended driver’s license, Forrester reported. The officers asked Williams for his driver’s license and he refused. The patrol supervisor arrived and also asked Williams for his license. At that point, Williams put his vehicle in drive and allegedly exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed, traveling eastbound on W. Elm Street.Forrester reported that officers initially pursued Williams, but terminated the pursuit after only a few blocks. Williams was seen turning southbound on N. Ohio Street. Another officer, who was on S. Ohio Street, observed Williams’ vehicle allegedly traveling at approximately 95 mph on S. Ohio Street and running the stoplight at the E. Crawford Street/S. Ohio Street intersection.Approximately 30 minutes later, Williams called and reported that he had crashed his vehicle at W. Magnolia Road and the Interstate 135 on-ramp. The right front tire of the Mazda had been shredded by an unknown object.Police arrested Williams was arrested on requested charges of Felony flee and elude, Driving while suspended, Numerous traffic violations and Interference with law enforcement. He previous convictions for theft, burglary and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kansas felon jailed after he fled police, crashed his car

WASHINGTON – More people without children now qualify for the Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC), the federal government's largest refundable 
tax credit for low- to moderate-income families.

In addition, families can use pre-pandemic income levels to qualify 
if it results in a larger credit. The Internal Revenue Service and 
partners across the nation highlight those changes today as they mark 
the 16th annual EITC Awareness Day.

Enacted in 1975, EITC is regarded as one of the government's largest 
antipoverty programs helping millions of American families every year. 
The IRS and partners nationwide urge people to check to see if they 
qualify for this important credit, and also urge people who don't 
normally file a tax return to review whether they qualify for EITC and 
other valuable credits like the Child Tax Credit or the Recovery Rebate 
Credit, also referred to as stimulus payments.

"There are important changes to EITC that will help this credit reach
 more hard-working families this year," said IRS Commissioner Chuck 
Rettig. "We urge people potentially eligible for this valuable credit to
 review the guidelines; many people each year overlook this and leave 
money on the table. On this EITC Awareness Day, we want to make sure 
everyone who qualifies for the credit knows about it and has the 
information they need to get it."

The IRS began accepting 2021 tax returns on January 24, 2022. 
Taxpayers can ensure they're getting all the credits and deductions for 
which they qualify, including EITC, by filing their taxes 
electronically, using a trusted tax professional or using an <a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/filing-status">IRS Free File</a>
 partner's name-brand software. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income 
(or AGI) is $73,000 or less qualify for Free File partner offers.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax 
refund is by filing an accurate tax return electronically and choosing 
direct deposit for their refund. Tax software, tax professionals and 
other free options can help people see if they qualify for the EITC.

For 2021 only, more childless workers and couples can qualify for the
 EITC, and the maximum credit is nearly tripled for these taxpayers. For
 the first time, the credit is now available to both younger workers and
 senior citizens.

For 2021, the EITC is generally available to filers without 
qualifying children who are at least 19 years old with earned income 
below $21,430; $27,380 for spouses filing a joint return. The maximum 
EITC for filers with no qualifying children is $1,502, up from $538 in 
2020. There are also special exceptions for people who are 18 years old 
and were formerly in foster care or are experiencing homelessness. 
Full-time students under age 24 don't qualify. There is no upper age 
limit for claiming the credit if taxpayers have earned income. In the 
past, the EITC for those with no dependents was only available to people
 ages 25 to 64.

Another change for 2021 allows individuals to figure the EITC using 
their 2019 earned income if it was higher than their 2021 earned income.
 To qualify for the EITC, people must have earned income through 
employment or other sources, so this option may help workers get a 
larger credit if they earned less in 2021 or received unemployment 
income instead of their regular wages. See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27 c.

For 2021, the amount of the credit has been increased and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-and-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-tables">phaseout income limits</a>
 at which taxpayers can claim the credit have been expanded. For 
instance, the maximum EITC for a married couple filing jointly with 
three or more children is $6,728 and the upper-income level for that 
same family is $57,414. In 2020, the maximum EITC for a family in that 
situation was $6,660 and the upper-income level was $56,844.

Taxpayers should also note that any <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments or Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 received are not taxable or counted as income for purposes of claiming 
the EITC. Eligible individuals who did not receive the full amounts of 
their Economic Impact Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on 
their 2021 tax return. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> for more information.

New law changes expand the EITC for 2021 and future years. These changes include:

The EITC is the federal government's largest refundable federal 
income tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers. For those who 
qualify, and if the credit is larger than the amount of tax they owe, 
they will receive a refund for the difference. While the majority of 
those eligible claim the EITC every year, IRS estimates that one of five
 eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit.

Nationwide last year, almost 25 million eligible workers and families
 received over $60 billion in EITC allowing for the payment of 
necessities, housing, and educational training, with an average EITC 
nationwide of $2,411. For 2021, the EITC is worth as much as $6,728 for a
 family with three or more children or up to $1,502 for taxpayers who do
 not have a qualifying child.

Look for EITC Refunds by early March if no issues with tax return

By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax 
returns that claim the EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). 
The IRS must hold the entire refund − even the portion not associated 
with the EITC or ACTC and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 if applicable. This helps ensure taxpayers receive the refund they 
deserve and gives the agency more time to detect and prevent errors and 
fraud.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where’s My Refund?</a> on IRS.gov and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>
 will be updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC 
refund filers by February 19. Therefore, EITC/ACTC filers will not see 
an update to their refund status for several days after February 15. Due
 to weekends and other factors, the IRS expects most EITC or ACTC 
related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit 
cards by the first week of March, if they choose direct deposit and 
there are no other issues with their tax return.&nbsp;

Workers at risk for overlooking this important credit include taxpayers:

To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit.
 Eligible taxpayers should claim the credit even if their earnings were 
below the income requirement to file a tax return. Free tax preparation 
help is available online and through volunteer organizations.

Those eligible for the EITC have these options:

The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have valid Social 
Security numbers for themselves, their spouse if filing a joint return, 
and for each qualifying child claimed for the EITC. The SSNs must be 
issued before the due date of the return, including extensions. There 
are special rules for those in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/military-and-clergy-rules-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit">military</a> or those out of the country.

Taxpayers are responsible for the accuracy of their tax return even 
if someone else prepares it for them. Since the rules for claiming the 
EITC can be complex, the IRS urges taxpayers to understand all of them. 
People can find help to make sure they're eligible by visiting a free 
tax return preparation site, or using Free File software or by using a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc254">paid tax professional</a>.

Be sure to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a>
 wisely. Beware of scams that claim to increase the EITC refund. Scams 
that create fictitious qualifying children or inflate income levels to 
get the maximum EITC could leave taxpayers with a penalty.

IRS.gov is a valuable first stop to help taxpayers get it right this filing season. Information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">other tax credits</a>, such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>, is also available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – More people without children now qualify for the Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC), the federal government's largest refundable 
tax credit for low- to moderate-income families.In addition, families can use pre-pandemic income levels to qualify 
if it results in a larger credit. The Internal Revenue Service and 
partners across the nation highlight those changes today as they mark 
the 16th annual EITC Awareness Day.Enacted in 1975, EITC is regarded as one of the government's largest 
antipoverty programs helping millions of American families every year. 
The IRS and partners nationwide urge people to check to see if they 
qualify for this important credit, and also urge people who don't 
normally file a tax return to review whether they qualify for EITC and 
other valuable credits like the Child Tax Credit or the Recovery Rebate 
Credit, also referred to as stimulus payments."There are important changes to EITC that will help this credit reach
 more hard-working families this year," said IRS Commissioner Chuck 
Rettig. "We urge people potentially eligible for this valuable credit to
 review the guidelines; many people each year overlook this and leave 
money on the table. On this EITC Awareness Day, we want to make sure 
everyone who qualifies for the credit knows about it and has the 
information they need to get it."The IRS began accepting 2021 tax returns on January 24, 2022. 
Taxpayers can ensure they're getting all the credits and deductions for 
which they qualify, including EITC, by filing their taxes 
electronically, using a trusted tax professional or using an <a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/filing-status">IRS Free File</a>
 partner's name-brand software. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income 
(or AGI) is $73,000 or less qualify for Free File partner offers.The IRS also reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax 
refund is by filing an accurate tax return electronically and choosing 
direct deposit for their refund. Tax software, tax professionals and 
other free options can help people see if they qualify for the EITC.<h2>What's new?</h2><h2>Childless EITC expanded for 2021</h2>For 2021 only, more childless workers and couples can qualify for the
 EITC, and the maximum credit is nearly tripled for these taxpayers. For
 the first time, the credit is now available to both younger workers and
 senior citizens.For 2021, the EITC is generally available to filers without 
qualifying children who are at least 19 years old with earned income 
below $21,430; $27,380 for spouses filing a joint return. The maximum 
EITC for filers with no qualifying children is $1,502, up from $538 in 
2020. There are also special exceptions for people who are 18 years old 
and were formerly in foster care or are experiencing homelessness. 
Full-time students under age 24 don't qualify. There is no upper age 
limit for claiming the credit if taxpayers have earned income. In the 
past, the EITC for those with no dependents was only available to people
 ages 25 to 64.<h2>Income from 2019</h2>Another change for 2021 allows individuals to figure the EITC using 
their 2019 earned income if it was higher than their 2021 earned income.
 To qualify for the EITC, people must have earned income through 
employment or other sources, so this option may help workers get a 
larger credit if they earned less in 2021 or received unemployment 
income instead of their regular wages. See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27 c.<h2>Phase out and credit limits</h2>For 2021, the amount of the credit has been increased and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-and-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-tables">phaseout income limits</a>
 at which taxpayers can claim the credit have been expanded. For 
instance, the maximum EITC for a married couple filing jointly with 
three or more children is $6,728 and the upper-income level for that 
same family is $57,414. In 2020, the maximum EITC for a family in that 
situation was $6,660 and the upper-income level was $56,844.Taxpayers should also note that any <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments or Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 received are not taxable or counted as income for purposes of claiming 
the EITC. Eligible individuals who did not receive the full amounts of 
their Economic Impact Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on 
their 2021 tax return. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> for more information.<h2>2021 and beyond</h2>New law changes expand the EITC for 2021 and future years. These changes include:<ul>
 <li>More workers and working families who also have investment 
income can get the credit. Starting in 2021, the amount of investment 
income they can receive and still be eligible for the EITC increases to 
$10,000. In 2020, the limit was $3,650. After 2021, the $10,000 limit is
 indexed for inflation.</li><li>Married but separated spouses can choose to be treated as not 
married for EITC purposes. To qualify, the spouse claiming the credit 
cannot file jointly with the other spouse, must have a qualifying child 
living with them for more than half the year and either:
	Do not have the same principal residence as the other spouse for at least the last six months out of the year.Are legally separated according to their state law under a written
 separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and not live 
in the same household as their spouse at the end of the tax year for 
which the EITC is being claimed.
		Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a> and check the box showing them as married filing separately with a qualifying child.In the past, married taxpayers had to file with their spouse to claim the EITC.</li><li>Do not have the same principal residence as the other spouse for at least the last six months out of the year.</li><li>Are legally separated according to their state law under a written
 separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and not live 
in the same household as their spouse at the end of the tax year for 
which the EITC is being claimed.
		Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a> and check the box showing them as married filing separately with a qualifying child.In the past, married taxpayers had to file with their spouse to claim the EITC.</li><li>Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a> and check the box showing them as married filing separately with a qualifying child.</li><li>In the past, married taxpayers had to file with their spouse to claim the EITC.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Single people and couples with children who have Social 
Security numbers can claim the credit, even if their children do not 
have SSNs. In this instance, they would get the smaller credit available
 to childless workers. In the past, these filers didn't qualify for the 
credit.
	Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a>
 if they have a qualifying child. If they have at least one child who 
meets the conditions to be their qualifying child for purposes of 
claiming the EITC, they should complete and attach Schedule EIC to their
 Form 1040 or 1040-SR even if that child doesn't have a valid SSN. For 
more information, including how to complete Schedule EIC if your 
qualifying child doesn't have a valid SSN, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27a, and Schedule EIC.</li><li>Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a>
 if they have a qualifying child. If they have at least one child who 
meets the conditions to be their qualifying child for purposes of 
claiming the EITC, they should complete and attach Schedule EIC to their
 Form 1040 or 1040-SR even if that child doesn't have a valid SSN. For 
more information, including how to complete Schedule EIC if your 
qualifying child doesn't have a valid SSN, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27a, and Schedule EIC.</li>
 </ul><h2>Vital refund boost</h2>The EITC is the federal government's largest refundable federal 
income tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers. For those who 
qualify, and if the credit is larger than the amount of tax they owe, 
they will receive a refund for the difference. While the majority of 
those eligible claim the EITC every year, IRS estimates that one of five
 eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit.Nationwide last year, almost 25 million eligible workers and families
 received over $60 billion in EITC allowing for the payment of 
necessities, housing, and educational training, with an average EITC 
nationwide of $2,411. For 2021, the EITC is worth as much as $6,728 for a
 family with three or more children or up to $1,502 for taxpayers who do
 not have a qualifying child.<h2>Look for EITC Refunds by early March if no issues with tax return</h2>By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax 
returns that claim the EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). 
The IRS must hold the entire refund − even the portion not associated 
with the EITC or ACTC and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 if applicable. This helps ensure taxpayers receive the refund they 
deserve and gives the agency more time to detect and prevent errors and 
fraud.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where’s My Refund?</a> on IRS.gov and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>
 will be updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC 
refund filers by February 19. Therefore, EITC/ACTC filers will not see 
an update to their refund status for several days after February 15. Due
 to weekends and other factors, the IRS expects most EITC or ACTC 
related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit 
cards by the first week of March, if they choose direct deposit and 
there are no other issues with their tax return.&nbsp;<h2>Workers who can claim the EITC</h2>Workers at risk for overlooking this important credit include taxpayers:<ul>
 <li>Without children, including those workers who are at least 19 years old and older than 64</li><li>Living in non-traditional families, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild</li><li>Whose earnings declined or whose marital or parental status changed</li><li>With limited English language skills</li><li>Who are members of the armed forces</li><li>Living in rural areas</li><li>Who are Native Americans</li><li>With disabilities or who provide care for a disabled dependent</li>
 </ul><h2>How to claim the EITC</h2>To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit.
 Eligible taxpayers should claim the credit even if their earnings were 
below the income requirement to file a tax return. Free tax preparation 
help is available online and through volunteer organizations.Those eligible for the EITC have these options:<ul>
 <li>Find a trusted tax professional. The IRS also reminds taxpayers 
that a trusted tax professional can prepare their tax return and provide
 helpful information and advice. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Tips for choosing a return preparer</a>,
 including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and 
many others who don't have a professional credential, and details about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/irs-tax-pro-association-partners">national tax professional groups</a> are available on IRS.gov. EITC recipients should be careful not to be duped by an unscrupulous return preparer.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File on IRS.gov</a>.
 Free brand-name tax software is available that leads taxpayers through a
 question-and-answer format to help prepare the tax return and claim 
credits and deductions if they're eligible. Free File also provides 
online versions of IRS paper forms, an option called <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/before-starting-free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>, best suited for taxpayers comfortable preparing their own returns.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-free-tax-return-preparation-programs">Free tax preparation sites</a>.
 EITC-eligible workers can seek free tax preparation at thousands of 
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the 
Elderly (TCE) sites. To locate the nearest site, use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/find-a-location-for-free-tax-prep">search tool</a> on IRS.gov, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go smartphone application</a>, or call toll-free <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>. Taxpayers should bring all required documents and information.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have valid Social 
Security numbers for themselves, their spouse if filing a joint return, 
and for each qualifying child claimed for the EITC. The SSNs must be 
issued before the due date of the return, including extensions. There 
are special rules for those in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/military-and-clergy-rules-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit">military</a> or those out of the country.<h2>Avoid errors</h2>Taxpayers are responsible for the accuracy of their tax return even 
if someone else prepares it for them. Since the rules for claiming the 
EITC can be complex, the IRS urges taxpayers to understand all of them. 
People can find help to make sure they're eligible by visiting a free 
tax return preparation site, or using Free File software or by using a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc254">paid tax professional</a>.<h2>Beware of scams</h2>Be sure to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a>
 wisely. Beware of scams that claim to increase the EITC refund. Scams 
that create fictitious qualifying children or inflate income levels to 
get the maximum EITC could leave taxpayers with a penalty.<h2>Visit IRS online</h2>IRS.gov is a valuable first stop to help taxpayers get it right this filing season. Information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">other tax credits</a>, such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>, is also available.<h2>Related items</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.eitc.irs.gov/">EITC Central</a>, helpful resources for IRS partners and others.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-596">Publication 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC)</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals">Tax Professionals</a>, another place for valuable EITC resources and assistance.</li>
 </ul>

IRS: Changes mean more qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit 

EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — Officials in south-central Kansas have identified a woman killed in a house fire earlier this week. Television station KSNW reports that 71-year-old Rebecca Switzer, of El Dorado, died in the Tuesday fire. 

Officials say the fire was reported around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday on the south end of El Dorado, and arriving firefighters found Switzer already dead inside the burning home. An investigation found the cause of the fire to be accidental.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643383286210.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — Officials in south-central Kansas have identified a woman killed in a house fire earlier this week. Television station KSNW reports that 71-year-old Rebecca Switzer, of El Dorado, died in the Tuesday fire. Officials say the fire was reported around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday on the south end of El Dorado, and arriving firefighters found Switzer already dead inside the burning home. An investigation found the cause of the fire to be accidental.

Officials ID woman who died in Kansas house fire

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is moving quickly to offer $1 billion or more in tax breaks and other incentives in hopes of landing what officials promise is an investment of up to $4 billion in an undisclosed project by a still-unidentified company.

But supporters of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;that cleared the Republican-controlled state Senate on Thursday sought to undercut criticism of such a big package of incentives by also including an across-the-board cut in the state’s corporate income tax in each year that incentives go to the company doing the project and its major suppliers.

The Senate’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">32-7 vote&nbsp;</a>came after only 20 minutes of debate on the measure, which allows the Kansas Department of Commerce to provide the incentives. The measure had bipartisan support and even backing from Democrats who’ve often criticized the GOP for pushing tax breaks for big corporations. The only no votes came from conservative Republicans who derided it as “crony” capitalism.

The measure goes next to the Republican-controlled House. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is pushing the legislation, arguing that Kansas has a rare opportunity to attract a facility that the Department of Commerce claims will employ 4,000 people and create more than 16,000 jobs during construction. The department’s authority to offer the incentives expires at the end of March 2023.

A handful of lawmakers know the identity of the company and some details about the project but those who acknowledged knowing after the vote said they had signed agreements barring them from making the information public.

“I’m not a real big subsidies guy,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, who knows some details and voted for the bill. “But projects that could be of this magnitude — something that could change the state, you know, for generations, is a little different than your typical subsidy.”

Masterson said the company is expected to decide where to put its new facility within a few weeks.

He and other supporters argued that the new project would generate economic activity and tax revenues to offset the incentives and pay for the corporate income tax cut. Masterson said the incentives are at least $1 billion, but some lawmakers suggested they could be $1.5 billion. The Department of Commerce has not offered an estimate.

The GOP conservatives who opposed the bill were not assuaged by the corporate income tax cuts.

“One of the amendments should be to retitle the bill ‘Crony Capitalism, Kick Existing Kansas Businesses in the Face Bill,’” Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, said, quoting a note to her from a small business owner.

The incentives include an income tax credit worth up to 15% of the company’s annual investment in the project and a state reimbursement for up to 10% of its payroll.

Half of the value of any new headquarters or manufacturing property would also be exempt from local property taxes and the firm could keep up to 65% of the dollars normally withheld from its Kansas workers for income taxes for 10 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643380973408.png" alt="The Senate’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">32-7 vote&nbsp;</a>came after only 20 minutes of debate on the measure, which allows the Kansas Department of Commerce to provide the incentives-photo Kansas Senate YouTube" />
 <figcaption>The Senate’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">32-7 vote&nbsp;</a>came after only 20 minutes of debate on the measure, which allows the Kansas Department of Commerce to provide the incentives-photo Kansas Senate YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is moving quickly to offer $1 billion or more in tax breaks and other incentives in hopes of landing what officials promise is an investment of up to $4 billion in an undisclosed project by a still-unidentified company.But supporters of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;that cleared the Republican-controlled state Senate on Thursday sought to undercut criticism of such a big package of incentives by also including an across-the-board cut in the state’s corporate income tax in each year that incentives go to the company doing the project and its major suppliers.The Senate’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">32-7 vote&nbsp;</a>came after only 20 minutes of debate on the measure, which allows the Kansas Department of Commerce to provide the incentives. The measure had bipartisan support and even backing from Democrats who’ve often criticized the GOP for pushing tax breaks for big corporations. The only no votes came from conservative Republicans who derided it as “crony” capitalism.The measure goes next to the Republican-controlled House. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is pushing the legislation, arguing that Kansas has a rare opportunity to attract a facility that the Department of Commerce claims will employ 4,000 people and create more than 16,000 jobs during construction. The department’s authority to offer the incentives expires at the end of March 2023.A handful of lawmakers know the identity of the company and some details about the project but those who acknowledged knowing after the vote said they had signed agreements barring them from making the information public.“I’m not a real big subsidies guy,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, who knows some details and voted for the bill. “But projects that could be of this magnitude — something that could change the state, you know, for generations, is a little different than your typical subsidy.”Masterson said the company is expected to decide where to put its new facility within a few weeks.He and other supporters argued that the new project would generate economic activity and tax revenues to offset the incentives and pay for the corporate income tax cut. Masterson said the incentives are at least $1 billion, but some lawmakers suggested they could be $1.5 billion. The Department of Commerce has not offered an estimate.The GOP conservatives who opposed the bill were not assuaged by the corporate income tax cuts.“One of the amendments should be to retitle the bill ‘Crony Capitalism, Kick Existing Kansas Businesses in the Face Bill,’” Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, said, quoting a note to her from a small business owner.The incentives include an income tax credit worth up to 15% of the company’s annual investment in the project and a state reimbursement for up to 10% of its payroll.Half of the value of any new headquarters or manufacturing property would also be exempt from local property taxes and the firm could keep up to 65% of the dollars normally withheld from its Kansas workers for income taxes for 10 years.___

Kan. moves to offer $1B or more in breaks for undisclosed project

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who spent nearly 22 years in prison after six Kansas City firefighters died in an explosion in 1988 has been awarded more than $344,000 in legal fees from a lawsuit he filed against the federal government.

Bryan Sheppard sued the U.S. Justice Department in 2017, seeking records from a federal investigation into the Nov. 29, 1988, explosion at a construction site in south Kansas City, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article257754498.html">reported</a>.

Sheppard, one of five people convicted after the explosion, was 17 when the firefighters died. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/apnews.com/29b2f3ffd74a4e0a809b181fd7b9f762">released from prison</a>&nbsp;in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it violated the Constitution to impose mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles.

Sheppard and the other four defendants have always maintained they were innocent.

He filed a Freedom on Information request for records from a 2011 U.S. Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/c11fc19763484a259f6766ede49fffa0">review of the explosion,</a>&nbsp;which was prompted by an investigation in The Star. The federal investigation found no evidence the defendants were innocent but suggested others might have been involved.

U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey issued earlier rulings that the Justice Department improperly withheld documents requested by Sheppard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643378398426.png" alt="Photo courtesy Free Bryan Sheppard" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Free Bryan Sheppard</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who spent nearly 22 years in prison after six Kansas City firefighters died in an explosion in 1988 has been awarded more than $344,000 in legal fees from a lawsuit he filed against the federal government.Bryan Sheppard sued the U.S. Justice Department in 2017, seeking records from a federal investigation into the Nov. 29, 1988, explosion at a construction site in south Kansas City, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article257754498.html">reported</a>.Sheppard, one of five people convicted after the explosion, was 17 when the firefighters died. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/apnews.com/29b2f3ffd74a4e0a809b181fd7b9f762">released from prison</a>&nbsp;in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it violated the Constitution to impose mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles.Sheppard and the other four defendants have always maintained they were innocent.He filed a Freedom on Information request for records from a 2011 U.S. Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/c11fc19763484a259f6766ede49fffa0">review of the explosion,</a>&nbsp;which was prompted by an investigation in The Star. The federal investigation found no evidence the defendants were innocent but suggested others might have been involved.U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey issued earlier rulings that the Justice Department improperly withheld documents requested by Sheppard.

Man convicted in deaths of 6 Kansas City firefighters wins lawsuit

KANSAS CITY—U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be in Kansas City, Kansas Friday morning to highlight the bipartisan $1 trillion&nbsp; infrastructure law and the associated investment in the region.&nbsp;

Buttigieg will join U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, Kansas City, Kansas mayor Tyrone Garner and other local and state officials and labor leaders at a roundtable discussion of how the law will benefit Kansas, according to a statement from the Department of Transportation.

Buttigieg will then hold a news conference with Rep. Davids, Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz, Mayor Garner and others at the Rock Island Bridge.

During his trip, Buttigieg will also visit the Kansas City U.S. Department of Transportation Field office to thank staff for their work.

President Joe Biden signed the&nbsp;infrastructure law November 15, and said it would deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643238542238.png" alt="Secretary Pete Buttigieg-photo Dept. of Transportation" />
 <figcaption>Secretary Pete Buttigieg-photo Dept. of Transportation</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be in Kansas City, Kansas Friday morning to highlight the bipartisan $1 trillion&nbsp; infrastructure law and the associated investment in the region.&nbsp;Buttigieg will join U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, Kansas City, Kansas mayor Tyrone Garner and other local and state officials and labor leaders at a roundtable discussion of how the law will benefit Kansas, according to a statement from the Department of Transportation.Buttigieg will then hold a news conference with Rep. Davids, Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz, Mayor Garner and others at the Rock Island Bridge.During his trip, Buttigieg will also visit the Kansas City U.S. Department of Transportation Field office to thank staff for their work.President Joe Biden signed the&nbsp;infrastructure law November 15, and said it would deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future.

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to meet with Kansas officials

MOSCOW (AP) — The White House says President Joe Biden warned Ukraine’s president Thursday that there is a “distinct possibility” Russia could take military action against Ukraine in February. The Kremlin likewise sounded a grim note, saying it saw “little ground for optimism” in resolving the crisis after the U.S. this week again&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-72856781c3b92640d03c5e954488ba90">rejected Russia’s main demands.</a>

Russian officials said dialogue was still possible to end the crisis, but Biden again offered a stark warning amid growing concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin will give the go-ahead for a further invasion of Ukrainian territory in the not-so-distant future.

The White House said Biden’s comments to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call amplified concerns that administration officials have been making for some time.

“President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said. “He has said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months. ”

Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs — and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe.

But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscow’s main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable.

The U.S. did outline areas in which some of Russia’s concerns might be addressed, possibly offering a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past several weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, several senior U.S. officials said Thursday with certainty that Germany would not allow a newly constructed gas pipeline to begin operations in the event of an incursion.

All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could again be plunged into war.

In the meantime, Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid.

Biden warned Zelenskyy that the U.S. believed there was a high degree of likelihood that Russia could invade when the ground freezes and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kyiv, according to two people familiar with the conversation who were not authorized to comment publicly.

Military experts have said Russia may be waiting for optimal ground conditions to move heavy equipment into Kyiv as part of any invasion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in late February.

Zelenskyy tweeted that he and Biden also discussed the possibility of additional financial support for Ukraine.

The White House said Biden told Zelenskyy he was “exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine’s economy” as it comes under pressure as a result of Russia’s military buildup.

Meanwhile, the United States announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia’s “threatening behavior.” She said the deployment of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s border and other destabilizing acts pose “a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. — and a similar one from NATO — left “little ground for optimism.” But he added that “there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it’s in the interests of both us and the Americans.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was circumspect when asked whether the Biden administration saw a sliver of hope in that the Russians said they would keep communications open even as they said that they lacked optimism..

“We don’t know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy. We hope not,” Psaki said.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to “the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,” but emphasized that “the document contains no positive response on the main issue.” Those are Moscow’s demands that NATO not expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that might threaten Russia.

Lavrov said top officials will submit proposals to Putin. Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon.

The evasive official comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will single-handedly determine Russia’s next moves. He has warned of unspecified “military-technical measures” if the West refuses to heed the demands.

Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have another conversation following two calls last month.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was “important that the U.S. remains in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia.”

On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba emphasized his country’s need to strengthen its defenses.

“This crisis is a moment of truth, and this is why we speak about weapons,” he said. “This is why we speak about economic sanctions. This is why we speak about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that there are no weak links in our defensive chain.”

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany.

While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a series of military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus.

NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-tensions-live-updates-1c3eee4895926233aa85ad52ef09d102">ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert</a>&nbsp;for potential deployment to Europe.

As war fears mounted, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to stand up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag #UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook.

“No one will force Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum,” wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign.

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry has organized training on acting in emergency situations, with an emphasis on dealing with explosives.

Beyond concerns about a possible Russian offensive in Ukraine, there also has been speculation that Moscow’s response&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-caribbean-moscow-4c5c1a7ee35198415532f6ca12cd40e3">could include military deployments to the Western Hemisphere.</a>

While a senior Russian diplomat recently refused to rule out such deployments to Cuba and Venezuela, a top Putin associate expressed skepticism Thursday at that prospect.

“Cuba and Venezuela are aiming to come out of isolation and restore normal relations with the U.S. to a certain extent, so there can’t be any talk about setting up a base there as happened during the Soviet times,” Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, told Russian media.

While he charged that the West is using Ukraine as a way to contain Russia, he somberly acknowledged that a Russia-NATO conflict “would be the most dramatic and simply catastrophic scenario, and I hope it will never happen.”

While concerns about a possible Russian attack linger, a separatist conflict simmers in Ukraine. Following the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in the country’s eastern industrial heartland. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a settlement have stalled.

Since the conflict began, Russia has been accused of sending troops and weapons to the separatists, something it has denied. On Thursday, Peskov wouldn’t comment on a proposal from the Kremlin’s main political party, United Russia, which suggested that Moscow respond to the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine by sending arms to the rebels. He added that Putin is aware of the proposal but had no immediate reaction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643137294013.png" alt="President Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) — The White House says President Joe Biden warned Ukraine’s president Thursday that there is a “distinct possibility” Russia could take military action against Ukraine in February. The Kremlin likewise sounded a grim note, saying it saw “little ground for optimism” in resolving the crisis after the U.S. this week again&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-72856781c3b92640d03c5e954488ba90">rejected Russia’s main demands.</a>Russian officials said dialogue was still possible to end the crisis, but Biden again offered a stark warning amid growing concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin will give the go-ahead for a further invasion of Ukrainian territory in the not-so-distant future.The White House said Biden’s comments to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call amplified concerns that administration officials have been making for some time.“President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said. “He has said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months. ”Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs — and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe.But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscow’s main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable.The U.S. did outline areas in which some of Russia’s concerns might be addressed, possibly offering a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past several weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, several senior U.S. officials said Thursday with certainty that Germany would not allow a newly constructed gas pipeline to begin operations in the event of an incursion.All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could again be plunged into war.In the meantime, Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid.Biden warned Zelenskyy that the U.S. believed there was a high degree of likelihood that Russia could invade when the ground freezes and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kyiv, according to two people familiar with the conversation who were not authorized to comment publicly.Military experts have said Russia may be waiting for optimal ground conditions to move heavy equipment into Kyiv as part of any invasion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in late February.Zelenskyy tweeted that he and Biden also discussed the possibility of additional financial support for Ukraine.The White House said Biden told Zelenskyy he was “exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine’s economy” as it comes under pressure as a result of Russia’s military buildup.Meanwhile, the United States announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia’s “threatening behavior.” She said the deployment of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s border and other destabilizing acts pose “a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. — and a similar one from NATO — left “little ground for optimism.” But he added that “there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it’s in the interests of both us and the Americans.”White House press secretary Jen Psaki was circumspect when asked whether the Biden administration saw a sliver of hope in that the Russians said they would keep communications open even as they said that they lacked optimism..“We don’t know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy. We hope not,” Psaki said.Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to “the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,” but emphasized that “the document contains no positive response on the main issue.” Those are Moscow’s demands that NATO not expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that might threaten Russia.Lavrov said top officials will submit proposals to Putin. Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon.The evasive official comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will single-handedly determine Russia’s next moves. He has warned of unspecified “military-technical measures” if the West refuses to heed the demands.Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have another conversation following two calls last month.Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was “important that the U.S. remains in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia.”On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba emphasized his country’s need to strengthen its defenses.“This crisis is a moment of truth, and this is why we speak about weapons,” he said. “This is why we speak about economic sanctions. This is why we speak about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that there are no weak links in our defensive chain.”Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany.While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a series of military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus.NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-tensions-live-updates-1c3eee4895926233aa85ad52ef09d102">ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert</a>&nbsp;for potential deployment to Europe.As war fears mounted, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to stand up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag #UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook.“No one will force Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum,” wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign.Ukraine’s Interior Ministry has organized training on acting in emergency situations, with an emphasis on dealing with explosives.Beyond concerns about a possible Russian offensive in Ukraine, there also has been speculation that Moscow’s response&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-caribbean-moscow-4c5c1a7ee35198415532f6ca12cd40e3">could include military deployments to the Western Hemisphere.</a>While a senior Russian diplomat recently refused to rule out such deployments to Cuba and Venezuela, a top Putin associate expressed skepticism Thursday at that prospect.“Cuba and Venezuela are aiming to come out of isolation and restore normal relations with the U.S. to a certain extent, so there can’t be any talk about setting up a base there as happened during the Soviet times,” Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, told Russian media.While he charged that the West is using Ukraine as a way to contain Russia, he somberly acknowledged that a Russia-NATO conflict “would be the most dramatic and simply catastrophic scenario, and I hope it will never happen.”While concerns about a possible Russian attack linger, a separatist conflict simmers in Ukraine. Following the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in the country’s eastern industrial heartland. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a settlement have stalled.Since the conflict began, Russia has been accused of sending troops and weapons to the separatists, something it has denied. On Thursday, Peskov wouldn’t comment on a proposal from the Kremlin’s main political party, United Russia, which suggested that Moscow respond to the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine by sending arms to the rebels. He added that Putin is aware of the proposal but had no immediate reaction.___

Biden warns Ukraine: Russian invasion “distinct possibility” 

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Governor’s Council on Fitness (GCOF) presented the 2022 Kansas Health Champion Awards during the Community Health Promotion Summit today, Thursday, January 27.

The Governor’s Council on Fitness developed the Health Champion Award to recognize and promote exemplary contributions to fitness in Kansas. Those recognized include an individual and organization and honorable mentions in each category.

“The winners were selected for the exceptional efforts they have put forth to model, encourage and promote fitness in Kansas,” said Jody Hoener, GCOF Awards Chair. “Their efforts have made a positive impact on their communities and inspired others around them to get involved.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;“Congratulations&nbsp;to this year’s Health Champions,” said Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary. “We thank you for the work you have done across Kansas to promote the importance of fitness in your communities.”

Mike Goodwin&nbsp;of Topeka is a longtime volunteer and board member with Kansas Trails Council (KTC), an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to building and maintaining natural-surface trails for public use. However, Goodwin’s commitment to ensuring that every community has access to a safe place to walk, hike or bike far transcends even KTC’s laudable mission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643368667934.png" alt="Clyde Jones during the virtual honor ceremony&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Clyde Jones during the virtual honor ceremony&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Governor’s Council on Fitness (GCOF) presented the 2022 Kansas Health Champion Awards during the Community Health Promotion Summit today, Thursday, January 27.The Governor’s Council on Fitness developed the Health Champion Award to recognize and promote exemplary contributions to fitness in Kansas. Those recognized include an individual and organization and honorable mentions in each category.<ul>
 <li>Individual Health Champion: Mike Goodwin, Topeka</li><li>Organizational Health Champion: Salud + Bienestar, Wichita&nbsp;</li><li>Individual Honorable Mention: C. Clyde Jones, Manhattan</li><li>Organizational Honorable Mention: Colby United Methodist Church, Colby</li>
 </ul>“The winners were selected for the exceptional efforts they have put forth to model, encourage and promote fitness in Kansas,” said Jody Hoener, GCOF Awards Chair. “Their efforts have made a positive impact on their communities and inspired others around them to get involved.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Congratulations&nbsp;to this year’s Health Champions,” said Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary. “We thank you for the work you have done across Kansas to promote the importance of fitness in your communities.”Health ChampionsMike Goodwin&nbsp;of Topeka is a longtime volunteer and board member with Kansas Trails Council (KTC), an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to building and maintaining natural-surface trails for public use. However, Goodwin’s commitment to ensuring that every community has access to a safe place to walk, hike or bike far transcends even KTC’s laudable mission.Elizabeth Burger of Sunflower Foundation, who nominated Goodwin, said, “Our foundation has had the honor of working with Mike for the past nine years. During this time, I have witnessed how he has donated his time to travel the entire state of Kansas to personally mentor, guide and work along dozens of communities and nonprofits that want to build a trail in order to have a safe, accessible place to be physically active in the outdoors. Mike listens to each community and their specific needs and priorities regarding a trail and provides invaluable support and technical assistance every step of the way.”Salud + Bienestar’s mission is to provide information to empower, lead and connect community members to live a healthier life within the traditional Spanish-speaking cultures. They provide relevant health information and education to help Spanish-speaking individuals work through the barriers they face when addressing complex issues, such as navigating the health care system, gaining access to affordable fresh and nutritious foods and bringing community members closer together.Shelley Rich, who nominated Salud + Bienestar, said, “They are passionate about the health of residents in North Wichita and are a trusted source of information. Salud + Bienestar goes above and beyond to promote health and fitness to those they serve. Their work as a liaison between health and social services and the community has improved the access, quality control and cultural competence of the service delivery to the Spanish-speaking community.”&nbsp;Honorable Mentions&nbsp;Clyde Jones&nbsp;of Manhattan turned 99 years old in December 2021. For nearly a century, he has modeled, encouraged, and promoted health, fitness, and wellness in the broadest sense. Jones was the leading force in organizing the Community Health Council, bringing community partners (city, county hospital, school board, public health, etc.). In addition, Jones wrapped up his 10th Annual C. Clyde Run last fall, which raises funds each year for Shepherd’s Crossing, a local philanthropic organization.&nbsp;Connie Satzler, who nominated Jones, said, “Physical activity and fitness are a pillar of Clyde’s lifestyle and legacy. His efforts in developing coordination and collaboration among health care providers has had a lasting effect of making health more accessible to low-income populations and more efficiently delivered. He is always looking for new opportunities to get involved in the years ahead to better his community and to keep making new friends along the way.”&nbsp;Colby United Methodist Church&nbsp;(UMC)&nbsp;has participated in programs that seek to address food insecurity, such as partnering with the school district and other organizations to support the Summer Food Service Program for their community. They have worked with the Thomas County Coalition to start a community garden, plus Colby UMC has worked with additional partners in the community to support a free bike-share program.Katie Schoenhoff, who nominated Colby UMC, said, “Colby United Methodist Church has long demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment and service to the health and wellness of both congregation and community, going beyond expectations to address not only immediate needs but also the underlying social determinants of health. Their partnerships with local organizations have supported both the sustainability of their efforts and increased community engagement.”