KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A judge found that a federal prosecutor in Kansas with a history of questionable conduct committed misconduct in a drug case, prompting a sharp reduction in the defendant’s sentence.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree ruled last week that Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead did not provide evidence to the defense attorney for Jay Giannukos, 49, who was convicted of drug and counterfeiting charges.

Morehead has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2a25b443c729439eb6678bbe87440f2e">previously accused</a>&nbsp;of concealing evidence and threatening witnesses. She was the prosecutor in Wyandotte County in 1994, when Lamonte McIntyre was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-kansas-city-ks-state-wire-3e379716ed9e4dba83412311eaadfd08">wrongly convicted</a>&nbsp;in a double murder and spent 23 years in prison before he was released.

Morehead was recently moved from criminal to civil cases in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas City, Kansas.

In the latest case, Morehead did not provide the defense with information about a witness’s full criminal history or a video that called into question the witness’s credibility, the judge found.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Morehead did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Crabtree wrote that Morehead had “failed in her duty to do justice,” and the misconduct was the reason he reduced Giannukos’ sentence from 20 years to nine years, according to a transcript of the May 10 federal court hearing.

During the trial, a key witness who survived a suicide attempt while in federal prison in Leavenworth told the jury he fell over a railing.

Morehead didn’t admit until the sentencing phase of the trial that there was a video showing the man tried to kill himself.

Crabtree said Morehead failed to be truthful about the witness’s attempt to take his life.

Morehead’s history of questionable conduct goes back decades.

A federal judge in 2017 found Morehead committed misconduct as a federal prosecutor during the Lamont McIntyre case when she threatened a witness and belatedly disclosed evidence.

And earlier this year, a man told The Star that Morehead pressured him into lying on the stand in a 2009 drug case. He said his testimony helped send an innocent woman to prison for eight years.

Morehead was also involved in wrongdoing in 2016 when federal prosecutors in Kansas City, Kansas, routinely accessed calls between defendants and their defense attorneys in violation of their rights. A federal judge held the office in contempt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621694735355.png" alt="Giannukos-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Giannukos-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A judge found that a federal prosecutor in Kansas with a history of questionable conduct committed misconduct in a drug case, prompting a sharp reduction in the defendant’s sentence.U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree ruled last week that Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead did not provide evidence to the defense attorney for Jay Giannukos, 49, who was convicted of drug and counterfeiting charges.Morehead has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2a25b443c729439eb6678bbe87440f2e">previously accused</a>&nbsp;of concealing evidence and threatening witnesses. She was the prosecutor in Wyandotte County in 1994, when Lamonte McIntyre was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-kansas-city-ks-state-wire-3e379716ed9e4dba83412311eaadfd08">wrongly convicted</a>&nbsp;in a double murder and spent 23 years in prison before he was released.Morehead was recently moved from criminal to civil cases in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas City, Kansas.In the latest case, Morehead did not provide the defense with information about a witness’s full criminal history or a video that called into question the witness’s credibility, the judge found.The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Morehead did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Crabtree wrote that Morehead had “failed in her duty to do justice,” and the misconduct was the reason he reduced Giannukos’ sentence from 20 years to nine years, according to a transcript of the May 10 federal court hearing.During the trial, a key witness who survived a suicide attempt while in federal prison in Leavenworth told the jury he fell over a railing.Morehead didn’t admit until the sentencing phase of the trial that there was a video showing the man tried to kill himself.Crabtree said Morehead failed to be truthful about the witness’s attempt to take his life.Morehead’s history of questionable conduct goes back decades.A federal judge in 2017 found Morehead committed misconduct as a federal prosecutor during the Lamont McIntyre case when she threatened a witness and belatedly disclosed evidence.And earlier this year, a man told The Star that Morehead pressured him into lying on the stand in a 2009 drug case. He said his testimony helped send an innocent woman to prison for eight years.Morehead was also involved in wrongdoing in 2016 when federal prosecutors in Kansas City, Kansas, routinely accessed calls between defendants and their defense attorneys in violation of their rights. A federal judge held the office in contempt.

Judge: Assistant U.S. Attorney in Kansas commits misconduct

KANSAS CITY (AP) —There’s a wild card in the push to return to pre-pandemic life: Many workers don’t want to go back to the jobs they once had.

Layoffs and lockdowns, combined with enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks, gave many Americans the time and the financial cushion to rethink their careers. Their former employers are hiring again — and some, like Uber and McDonald's,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">are offering higher pay</a>&nbsp;— but workers remain hesitant.

In March, U.S. job openings rose 8% to a record 8.1 million, but overall hiring rose less than 4%,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">according to government data</a>.

Nate Mullins quit his job as a bartender last November after clashing with managers over mask rules and worrying that he would spread the coronavirus to his immune-compromised sister.

Mullins’ unemployment checks don’t match what he was making at his Oak Harbor, Washington bar, but they’re enough to get by while he looks for jobs that would provide health care and retirement benefits.

“This opportunity to take a step back and really think about what you’re doing really changed my mind,” said Mullins, 36. “(It) made me think long-term for the first time.”

Workers like Mullins are one reason U.S. hiring slowed in April. Employers and business groups argue that the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement gives recipients&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-9a76a15cf9e7d37076c91e5abeb1137b">less incentive to look for work</a>. Several states have begun requiring those receiving the benefits&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-1f092b895c281c13c87ff3dfa6279f62">to show they are actively searching for work</a>, and a few will stop providing the supplement.

But Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist who researches low- and middle-income workers with the Economic Policy Institute, said health concerns and child care responsibilities seem to be the main reasons holding workers back.

In April, she said, at least 25% of U.S. schools weren't offering in-person learning, forcing many parents to stay home. And health concerns could gain new urgency for some workers now that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said fully vaccinated people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-a48e79a4e7a9445011999e91bb30135f">can stop wearing masks in most settings.</a>

Shierholz added that unemployment benefits are designed to give workers the time to find jobs that are better suited to their abilities.

“We want people well-matched to their skills and experience,” she said. “That’s what helps the economy run better.”

Higher pay for workers can push up inflation, which jumped in April as the economy struggled with widespread shortages of raw materials and parts amid a faster-than-expected reopening. If companies are forced to raise prices to cover the cost of higher wages, that could slow the recovery and reduce Americans’ purchasing power.

For now, most economists see labor shortages as likely to be temporary. As more Americans are vaccinated, fewer will worry about getting sick at work. Schools should reopen in September, freeing more parents to return to work, and the extra $300 in unemployment aid is also set to expire in early September. Those steps should bring more people into the job market.

Sarah Weitzel gave birth to her second child in February 2020. She was on leave from her job at a Victoria’s Secret store in St. Louis when the pandemic threw her life into chaos.

She got a text telling her she was furloughed. Then her husband lost his restaurant job. In financial straits, they sold their home, moved in with friends, survived on unemployment insurance and fell deeper into debt.

In the fall, Victoria’s Secret offered Weitzel part-time work that would pay $12 an hour, but she declined. She and her husband, who now works long hours at a new restaurant job, can't afford child care.

“Something just kind of broke, where I thought about how hard I was working for this job that paid about $32,000 a year,” Weitzel said.

Weitzel, 31, got accepted to Rung for Women, a St. Louis program that offers career coaching and training for jobs in high demand, including banking, health care, customer service and technology. In the fall, when her oldest daughter starts preschool, Weitzel hopes to get part-time work in a new career.

Mark Smithivas drove for Uber and Lyft for four years before he abruptly quit last spring out of concern for his health. He has spent the last year taking technology classes in a federal worker training program.

Smithivas, 52, just got his second vaccination, but he doesn’t want to go back to ride-hailing. He worries about carjackings and other crimes targeting drivers in Chicago, where he lives.

“I always viewed this job as temporary, and I really do want to find something that fits my career and background better,” he said.

Some workers say the pandemic helped them prioritize their mental and physical health.

After a lifelong career as a bartender, 57-year-old Ellen Booth was in constant pain from lifting ice buckets and beer kegs. But without a college degree, she felt she had limited options.

When the restaurant she worked for closed last year, she said it gave her “the kick I needed." Booth, of Coventry, Rhode Island, started a year-long class to learn to be a medical coder. When her unemployment benefits ran out two months ago, she started drawing on her retirement funds.

Shelly Ortiz, 25, used to love her career as a restaurant server. But things changed last June, when her Phoenix restaurant reopened its dining room. She wore two masks and glasses to protect herself, but still felt anxiety in a restaurant full of unmasked diners.

Sexual harassment also got worse, she said. Patrons would ask her to pull down her mask so they could see how cute she was before tipping her.

Ortiz quit in July after she learned that the restaurant didn’t deep-clean the bar after a bartender was potentially exposed. She and her partner, a teacher, curtailed their spending, and Ortiz returned to school full time. This month, she is graduating from Glendale Community College with a degree in film and a certificate in documentary directing.

Ortiz stopped getting unemployment benefits in November, when she did some part-time film work. Money is tight, she said, but she’s never been happier. And she doesn’t think she’ll ever be a restaurant server again.

“I don’t know if I could do it with a smile anymore,” she said. “I don’t think it should be an option for anyone to treat any worker the way that service industry workers are treated in America.”

In a tight labor market, some workers are also finding that if they hold out, they might get a better job than the one they left.

Taryn Henderson spent six years working at Best Buy before she was unexpectedly let go in February.

“They didn’t value the work I put in, the time I put in, because I got laid off,” said Henderson, 24, a college student who lives in Austin, Texas. “It was just really discouraging.”

At first she focused on her schoolwork, living on her unemployment checks and a severance payment that gave her 10 weeks’ worth of pay. But soon she was anxious to work again, and thought a new job that valued her more would make her feel better.

After a few months of searching, she found another job with a music streaming service. She’ll start later this month and will make $10 more per hour than the $17 she made at Best Buy.

“As long as I’m making enough money that I can support myself, the people that I love and I can get to travel every once in a while, I’m good,” said Henderson. “I think this job will afford me the opportunities to do that.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —There’s a wild card in the push to return to pre-pandemic life: Many workers don’t want to go back to the jobs they once had.Layoffs and lockdowns, combined with enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks, gave many Americans the time and the financial cushion to rethink their careers. Their former employers are hiring again — and some, like Uber and McDonald's,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">are offering higher pay</a>&nbsp;— but workers remain hesitant.In March, U.S. job openings rose 8% to a record 8.1 million, but overall hiring rose less than 4%,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">according to government data</a>.Nate Mullins quit his job as a bartender last November after clashing with managers over mask rules and worrying that he would spread the coronavirus to his immune-compromised sister.Mullins’ unemployment checks don’t match what he was making at his Oak Harbor, Washington bar, but they’re enough to get by while he looks for jobs that would provide health care and retirement benefits.“This opportunity to take a step back and really think about what you’re doing really changed my mind,” said Mullins, 36. “(It) made me think long-term for the first time.”Workers like Mullins are one reason U.S. hiring slowed in April. Employers and business groups argue that the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement gives recipients&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-9a76a15cf9e7d37076c91e5abeb1137b">less incentive to look for work</a>. Several states have begun requiring those receiving the benefits&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-1f092b895c281c13c87ff3dfa6279f62">to show they are actively searching for work</a>, and a few will stop providing the supplement.But Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist who researches low- and middle-income workers with the Economic Policy Institute, said health concerns and child care responsibilities seem to be the main reasons holding workers back.In April, she said, at least 25% of U.S. schools weren't offering in-person learning, forcing many parents to stay home. And health concerns could gain new urgency for some workers now that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said fully vaccinated people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-a48e79a4e7a9445011999e91bb30135f">can stop wearing masks in most settings.</a>Shierholz added that unemployment benefits are designed to give workers the time to find jobs that are better suited to their abilities.“We want people well-matched to their skills and experience,” she said. “That’s what helps the economy run better.”Higher pay for workers can push up inflation, which jumped in April as the economy struggled with widespread shortages of raw materials and parts amid a faster-than-expected reopening. If companies are forced to raise prices to cover the cost of higher wages, that could slow the recovery and reduce Americans’ purchasing power.For now, most economists see labor shortages as likely to be temporary. As more Americans are vaccinated, fewer will worry about getting sick at work. Schools should reopen in September, freeing more parents to return to work, and the extra $300 in unemployment aid is also set to expire in early September. Those steps should bring more people into the job market.Sarah Weitzel gave birth to her second child in February 2020. She was on leave from her job at a Victoria’s Secret store in St. Louis when the pandemic threw her life into chaos.She got a text telling her she was furloughed. Then her husband lost his restaurant job. In financial straits, they sold their home, moved in with friends, survived on unemployment insurance and fell deeper into debt.In the fall, Victoria’s Secret offered Weitzel part-time work that would pay $12 an hour, but she declined. She and her husband, who now works long hours at a new restaurant job, can't afford child care.“Something just kind of broke, where I thought about how hard I was working for this job that paid about $32,000 a year,” Weitzel said.Weitzel, 31, got accepted to Rung for Women, a St. Louis program that offers career coaching and training for jobs in high demand, including banking, health care, customer service and technology. In the fall, when her oldest daughter starts preschool, Weitzel hopes to get part-time work in a new career.Mark Smithivas drove for Uber and Lyft for four years before he abruptly quit last spring out of concern for his health. He has spent the last year taking technology classes in a federal worker training program.Smithivas, 52, just got his second vaccination, but he doesn’t want to go back to ride-hailing. He worries about carjackings and other crimes targeting drivers in Chicago, where he lives.“I always viewed this job as temporary, and I really do want to find something that fits my career and background better,” he said.Some workers say the pandemic helped them prioritize their mental and physical health.After a lifelong career as a bartender, 57-year-old Ellen Booth was in constant pain from lifting ice buckets and beer kegs. But without a college degree, she felt she had limited options.When the restaurant she worked for closed last year, she said it gave her “the kick I needed." Booth, of Coventry, Rhode Island, started a year-long class to learn to be a medical coder. When her unemployment benefits ran out two months ago, she started drawing on her retirement funds.Shelly Ortiz, 25, used to love her career as a restaurant server. But things changed last June, when her Phoenix restaurant reopened its dining room. She wore two masks and glasses to protect herself, but still felt anxiety in a restaurant full of unmasked diners.Sexual harassment also got worse, she said. Patrons would ask her to pull down her mask so they could see how cute she was before tipping her.Ortiz quit in July after she learned that the restaurant didn’t deep-clean the bar after a bartender was potentially exposed. She and her partner, a teacher, curtailed their spending, and Ortiz returned to school full time. This month, she is graduating from Glendale Community College with a degree in film and a certificate in documentary directing.Ortiz stopped getting unemployment benefits in November, when she did some part-time film work. Money is tight, she said, but she’s never been happier. And she doesn’t think she’ll ever be a restaurant server again.“I don’t know if I could do it with a smile anymore,” she said. “I don’t think it should be an option for anyone to treat any worker the way that service industry workers are treated in America.”In a tight labor market, some workers are also finding that if they hold out, they might get a better job than the one they left.Taryn Henderson spent six years working at Best Buy before she was unexpectedly let go in February.“They didn’t value the work I put in, the time I put in, because I got laid off,” said Henderson, 24, a college student who lives in Austin, Texas. “It was just really discouraging.”At first she focused on her schoolwork, living on her unemployment checks and a severance payment that gave her 10 weeks’ worth of pay. But soon she was anxious to work again, and thought a new job that valued her more would make her feel better.After a few months of searching, she found another job with a music streaming service. She’ll start later this month and will make $10 more per hour than the $17 she made at Best Buy.“As long as I’m making enough money that I can support myself, the people that I love and I can get to travel every once in a while, I’m good,” said Henderson. “I think this job will afford me the opportunities to do that.”___

Changed by pandemic, many workers won't return to old jobs

Evergy and the Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities’ shut-off moratorium has ended

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/21/i-have-to-go-out-and-beg-residents-grapple-with-utility-costs-as-shut-offs-resume/">Kansas Reflector</a>

The pandemic has been especially hard on Louise Lynch’s family.&nbsp;

Her
 daughter caught COVID-19 as the virus first took hold in Kansas City 
and nearly succumbed to it. Lynch lost one job at the start of the 
pandemic. She says she was fired from another because of health 
complications from getting the virus late last year. She’s been fighting
 to keep herself, her daughter and her disabled husband afloat with 
spotty unemployment payments, stimulus checks and community aid.&nbsp;

Now, she faces another hurdle: the electricity and water at her Kansas City, Kan., home could be cut off.&nbsp;

The Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities and <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/06/evergy-earnings-shot-up-following-february-cold-snap-that-forced-blackouts/">Evergy</a> have resumed shutting off customers’ power —&nbsp;and in BPU’s case, water —&nbsp;if they don’t pay their bills. Both organizations <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/10/is-cruelty-just-the-point-coalition-demands-end-to-utility-shutoffs/">had issued moratoria at various points during the pandemic</a>
 and the cold weather months. As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more 
readily available and life in the U.S. crawls back toward normalcy, the 
reprieve is ending.&nbsp;

And just because residents
 were under a moratorium doesn’t mean their bills are forgiven. The back
 balances some families incurred are now coming due.

Across Kansas and 
Missouri, federal rent and utility relief is available to help residents
 who may have fallen behind. But with the moratoria ending, they face a 
ticking clock and bureaucratic hoops to secure help or face having their
 utilities shut off.

Lynch
 has a balance of more than $500 with BPU. She said she’s behind on rent
 and her natural gas bill, too. She received help from Wyandotte County 
Mutual Aid only to get behind again when the next bill arrived.&nbsp;

“My full-time job is not just taking care of my family,” Lynch said. “I have to go out and beg.”

Lynch
 and her family have been waiting for assistance from the Kansas 
Emergency Rental Assistance program for nearly two months — even longer 
if you consider the weeks Lynch spent struggling with the application 
system. Though her family has received an initial letter indicating they
 are qualified, the state is still processing the application.&nbsp;

In the meantime, her BPU bill says she must pay her past due balance or face disconnection.

For
 their parts, Evergy and BPU both said they work with residents trapped 
in the KERA application process and can be flexible on shutoff dates.&nbsp;

“At
 that point, communication becomes the key on whether or not we would be
 able to modify that disconnection date,” said Gina Penzig, a 
spokeswoman for Evergy.&nbsp;

In
 Kansas, KERA, administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation,
 is charged with helping renters get assistance. The state received $200
 million in federal COVID response funding. Residents can also apply for
 the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;

Missouri
 received more than $320 million from the same program, administered 
through the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief. The state also
 has a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;

In both states, a patchwork of local and nonprofit groups are also providing assistance.

<a href="https://www.evergy.com/Manage-Account/Billing/Financial-Help#help">Evergy</a> and <a href="https://www.bpu.com/About/MediaNewsReleases/EmergencyRentalUtilityAssistanceProgramAvailableinKansas.aspx">BPU</a> customers can find more information about accessing those resources on the companies’ websites.&nbsp;

Dustin
 Hare, a community organizer working for Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, 
said Lynch isn’t the only Kansan he has helped while they struggled to 
get KERA. In the last year, he said Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, which 
launched with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, has doled out 
more than $10,200 —&nbsp;most of that since January.&nbsp;

Since
 BPU ended its moratorium a few weeks ago, he said he has heard from 
dozens of residents at risk of getting their utilities shut off. Under 
the moratorium, some built up massive balances. The largest, he said, 
was $4,000.&nbsp;

“Some
 of those people have been seeking assistance throughout the course that
 their electricity has been shut off or even before…and have been shut 
off while seeking assistance,” Hare said.&nbsp;

And
 while relief programs are helpful, he thinks the relief money should 
have gone straight to BPU to forgive residents’ debts rather than 
through an application process that requires substantial paperwork from 
families in need.

In
 one week, the fund, which is completely funded by community donations, 
provided aid to three households who had already lost their power.&nbsp;

Lynch
 has also pressured BPU to leave power on for residents with certain 
medical devices. She said her husband uses a CPAP machine and can’t 
breathe at night without it. But she has had little luck.&nbsp;

She
 said the utility providers made “so much money” during the February 
cold snap that forced rolling blackouts across the midwest, “but they 
can’t help somebody who is trying to breathe.”&nbsp;

“People’s lives are at stake,” Lynch said. “That has to be worth more than a dollar.”&nbsp;

David
 Mehlhaff, BPU’s chief communications officer, said the utility was 
initially supposed to end its moratorium at the beginning of March but 
waited until the end of the month so the KERA program would be off the 
ground.&nbsp;

A couple weeks after that, disconnections began.

Since mid April, he said about 1,200 households have had their service disconnected.&nbsp;

There’s “no way of knowing,” he said, “but the lion’s share of them are probably back on.”

Evergy’s
 moratorium ended May 2. The investor-owned utility did not say how many
 households’ power it had disconnected in the last couple of weeks.&nbsp;

In
 a statement, Penzig said Evergy was the first utility in the area to 
halt disconnections and outlined incentives the company offered to help 
customers catch up on their bills when it resumed shut-offs from July to
 November.&nbsp;

“In
 February we announced that our disconnect moratorium would end on May 
2, giving customers plenty of notice to contact us to learn about 
assistance options and payment plans,” Penzig said. “We have directly 
communicated with customers by phone, email and mail about payment 
options and available community assistance. In addition we have used 
media outreach and social media to raise awareness about available help 
in the community and encourage customers to find assistance.”

One of those customers is Brandy Granados, a Missouri resident who said she owes Evergy more than $600.&nbsp;

Granados
 said she has struggled to balance work and caring for her son with 
Autism, whose school has alternated between in-person and virtual 
learning over the course of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Now
 that her son is back in school, she can start working in-person, 
meaning she should be able to afford the necessities once her paychecks 
start rolling in.&nbsp;

But
 she exhausted her last stimulus check and her income tax refund. 
Without it, she said she likely would have been homeless by March. And 
though she’s nearly out of the woods, she doesn’t know how she’s going 
to make it.&nbsp;

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next month,” she said. “Hopefully I can find help one more time.”

Allison Kite is a data reporter for The Missouri Independent and Kansas Reflector, with a focus on the environment and agriculture.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621612302467.png" alt="Louise Lynch, a Wyandotte County resident, has struggled to get emergency rental assistance and faces the possibility the Board of Public Utilities will shut off her power and water. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector.)" />
 <figcaption>Louise Lynch, a Wyandotte County resident, has struggled to get emergency rental assistance and faces the possibility the Board of Public Utilities will shut off her power and water. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector.)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Evergy and the Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities’ shut-off moratorium has ended</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/21/i-have-to-go-out-and-beg-residents-grapple-with-utility-costs-as-shut-offs-resume/">Kansas Reflector</a>The pandemic has been especially hard on Louise Lynch’s family.&nbsp;Her
 daughter caught COVID-19 as the virus first took hold in Kansas City 
and nearly succumbed to it. Lynch lost one job at the start of the 
pandemic. She says she was fired from another because of health 
complications from getting the virus late last year. She’s been fighting
 to keep herself, her daughter and her disabled husband afloat with 
spotty unemployment payments, stimulus checks and community aid.&nbsp;Now, she faces another hurdle: the electricity and water at her Kansas City, Kan., home could be cut off.&nbsp;The Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities and <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/06/evergy-earnings-shot-up-following-february-cold-snap-that-forced-blackouts/">Evergy</a> have resumed shutting off customers’ power —&nbsp;and in BPU’s case, water —&nbsp;if they don’t pay their bills. Both organizations <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/10/is-cruelty-just-the-point-coalition-demands-end-to-utility-shutoffs/">had issued moratoria at various points during the pandemic</a>
 and the cold weather months. As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more 
readily available and life in the U.S. crawls back toward normalcy, the 
reprieve is ending.&nbsp;And just because residents
 were under a moratorium doesn’t mean their bills are forgiven. The back
 balances some families incurred are now coming due.Across Kansas and 
Missouri, federal rent and utility relief is available to help residents
 who may have fallen behind. But with the moratoria ending, they face a 
ticking clock and bureaucratic hoops to secure help or face having their
 utilities shut off.Lynch
 has a balance of more than $500 with BPU. She said she’s behind on rent
 and her natural gas bill, too. She received help from Wyandotte County 
Mutual Aid only to get behind again when the next bill arrived.&nbsp;“My full-time job is not just taking care of my family,” Lynch said. “I have to go out and beg.”Lynch
 and her family have been waiting for assistance from the Kansas 
Emergency Rental Assistance program for nearly two months — even longer 
if you consider the weeks Lynch spent struggling with the application 
system. Though her family has received an initial letter indicating they
 are qualified, the state is still processing the application.&nbsp;In the meantime, her BPU bill says she must pay her past due balance or face disconnection.For
 their parts, Evergy and BPU both said they work with residents trapped 
in the KERA application process and can be flexible on shutoff dates.&nbsp;“At
 that point, communication becomes the key on whether or not we would be
 able to modify that disconnection date,” said Gina Penzig, a 
spokeswoman for Evergy.&nbsp;In
 Kansas, KERA, administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation,
 is charged with helping renters get assistance. The state received $200
 million in federal COVID response funding. Residents can also apply for
 the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;Missouri
 received more than $320 million from the same program, administered 
through the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief. The state also
 has a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;In both states, a patchwork of local and nonprofit groups are also providing assistance.<a href="https://www.evergy.com/Manage-Account/Billing/Financial-Help#help">Evergy</a> and <a href="https://www.bpu.com/About/MediaNewsReleases/EmergencyRentalUtilityAssistanceProgramAvailableinKansas.aspx">BPU</a> customers can find more information about accessing those resources on the companies’ websites.&nbsp;Dustin
 Hare, a community organizer working for Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, 
said Lynch isn’t the only Kansan he has helped while they struggled to 
get KERA. In the last year, he said Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, which 
launched with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, has doled out 
more than $10,200 —&nbsp;most of that since January.&nbsp;Since
 BPU ended its moratorium a few weeks ago, he said he has heard from 
dozens of residents at risk of getting their utilities shut off. Under 
the moratorium, some built up massive balances. The largest, he said, 
was $4,000.&nbsp;“Some
 of those people have been seeking assistance throughout the course that
 their electricity has been shut off or even before…and have been shut 
off while seeking assistance,” Hare said.&nbsp;And
 while relief programs are helpful, he thinks the relief money should 
have gone straight to BPU to forgive residents’ debts rather than 
through an application process that requires substantial paperwork from 
families in need.In
 one week, the fund, which is completely funded by community donations, 
provided aid to three households who had already lost their power.&nbsp;Lynch
 has also pressured BPU to leave power on for residents with certain 
medical devices. She said her husband uses a CPAP machine and can’t 
breathe at night without it. But she has had little luck.&nbsp;She
 said the utility providers made “so much money” during the February 
cold snap that forced rolling blackouts across the midwest, “but they 
can’t help somebody who is trying to breathe.”&nbsp;“People’s lives are at stake,” Lynch said. “That has to be worth more than a dollar.”&nbsp;David
 Mehlhaff, BPU’s chief communications officer, said the utility was 
initially supposed to end its moratorium at the beginning of March but 
waited until the end of the month so the KERA program would be off the 
ground.&nbsp;A couple weeks after that, disconnections began.Since mid April, he said about 1,200 households have had their service disconnected.&nbsp;There’s “no way of knowing,” he said, “but the lion’s share of them are probably back on.”Evergy’s
 moratorium ended May 2. The investor-owned utility did not say how many
 households’ power it had disconnected in the last couple of weeks.&nbsp;In
 a statement, Penzig said Evergy was the first utility in the area to 
halt disconnections and outlined incentives the company offered to help 
customers catch up on their bills when it resumed shut-offs from July to
 November.&nbsp;“In
 February we announced that our disconnect moratorium would end on May 
2, giving customers plenty of notice to contact us to learn about 
assistance options and payment plans,” Penzig said. “We have directly 
communicated with customers by phone, email and mail about payment 
options and available community assistance. In addition we have used 
media outreach and social media to raise awareness about available help 
in the community and encourage customers to find assistance.”One of those customers is Brandy Granados, a Missouri resident who said she owes Evergy more than $600.&nbsp;Granados
 said she has struggled to balance work and caring for her son with 
Autism, whose school has alternated between in-person and virtual 
learning over the course of the pandemic.&nbsp;Now
 that her son is back in school, she can start working in-person, 
meaning she should be able to afford the necessities once her paychecks 
start rolling in.&nbsp;But
 she exhausted her last stimulus check and her income tax refund. 
Without it, she said she likely would have been homeless by March. And 
though she’s nearly out of the woods, she doesn’t know how she’s going 
to make it.&nbsp;“I don’t know what’s going to happen next month,” she said. “Hopefully I can find help one more time.”Allison Kite is a data reporter for The Missouri Independent and Kansas Reflector, with a focus on the environment and agriculture.

‘I have to go out and beg’: residents grapple with utility costs as shut-offs resume

KANSAS CITY (AP) —One man was killed and another was injured after both were struck Saturday by a pickup while walking the side of a roadway beneath the Lexington Bridge in Kansas City police said.

The Ford truck that hit the pedestrians then continued southbound before becoming involved in a collision with another vehicle, the Kansas City Police Department said in a news release.

Police identified the pedestrian who died at the scene only as a 43-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man. The other pedestrian was a 41-year-old man, also from Kansas City, who is listed in serious condition at a local hospital.

The 38-year-old man who was driving the Ford pickup was taken to an area hospital where he is listed as stable. The driver of the other vehicle was unhurt.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —One man was killed and another was injured after both were struck Saturday by a pickup while walking the side of a roadway beneath the Lexington Bridge in Kansas City police said.The Ford truck that hit the pedestrians then continued southbound before becoming involved in a collision with another vehicle, the Kansas City Police Department said in a news release.Police identified the pedestrian who died at the scene only as a 43-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man. The other pedestrian was a 41-year-old man, also from Kansas City, who is listed in serious condition at a local hospital.The 38-year-old man who was driving the Ford pickup was taken to an area hospital where he is listed as stable. The driver of the other vehicle was unhurt.

1 killed, another hurt while walking along road in Kansas City

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 71-year-old Cedar Point man is jailed on 155 counts after child pornography was found in his home. 

Leland Zachariah Taylor was charged last week with sexual exploitation of a child. The Chase County Sheriff's office said in an affidavit that deputies were called to Taylor's home on May 8 by Taylor's son and the son's girlfriend. 

They reported finding the child porn on his laptop and flash drive as they were cleaning his home. Taylor was hospitalized at the time recovering from injuries suffered in a car crash. He is currently jailed in Chase County. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621619700969.png" alt="Taylor photo Chase County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Taylor photo Chase County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 71-year-old Cedar Point man is jailed on 155 counts after child pornography was found in his home. Leland Zachariah Taylor was charged last week with sexual exploitation of a child. The Chase County Sheriff's office said in an affidavit that deputies were called to Taylor's home on May 8 by Taylor's son and the son's girlfriend. They reported finding the child porn on his laptop and flash drive as they were cleaning his home. Taylor was hospitalized at the time recovering from injuries suffered in a car crash. He is currently jailed in Chase County. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

Kan. man's son, girlfriend turn him in after finding child porn

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating parents following the report of a child walking alone Saturday in Topeka.

Just after 11:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the Likins Foster neighborhood after a young child was found walking alone, according to Topeka Police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

By mid afternoon, police located the parents. The child remains in Police Protective Custody, according to Spiker.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after the report of a child walking alone Saturday in Topeka.

The child is in Police Protective Custody. We are seeking the public’s help to identify the child and their family. Call 911 with info.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating parents following the report of a child walking alone Saturday in Topeka.Just after 11:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the Likins Foster neighborhood after a young child was found walking alone, according to Topeka Police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.By mid afternoon, police located the parents. The child remains in Police Protective Custody, according to Spiker.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details.-------------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after the report of a child walking alone Saturday in Topeka.Just after 11:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the Likins Foster neighborhood after a young child was found walking alone, according to Topeka Police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.The child is in Police Protective Custody. We are seeking the public’s help to identify the child and their family. Call 911 with info.

Update: Kan. toddler remains in protective custody after found walking alone

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas women on drug charges after a traffic stop.

On May 20, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Honda passenger car for a traffic infraction on 198th Road west of U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 A Police narcotics K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and deputies located contraband inside the vehicle. 

Deputies arrested the driver 41-year-old Rhonda Renee Nicanor-Salvado and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charge of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, driving while suspended and no insurance. 

They also arrested her passenger, Kendra Denise Parrish, 33, of Lawrence and and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charges of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621688602333.png" alt="Nicanor-Salvador" />
 <figcaption>Nicanor-Salvador</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas women on drug charges after a traffic stop.On May 20, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Honda passenger car for a traffic infraction on 198th Road west of U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. A Police narcotics K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and deputies located contraband inside the vehicle. Deputies arrested the driver 41-year-old Rhonda Renee Nicanor-Salvado and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charge of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, driving while suspended and no insurance. They also arrested her passenger, Kendra Denise Parrish, 33, of Lawrence and and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charges of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement.

Sheriff: Deputies found heroin during Kansas traffic stop

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who 
missed the recent tax-filing deadline who are due a refund that there is
 no penalty for filing late. Those who owe and missed the deadline 
without requesting an extension should file quickly to limit penalties 
and interest.

Extra time to file and pay any taxes due without penalties and interest is available for some taxpayers. Included are:

The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return. There is no 
penalty for filing after the deadline if a refund is due. Use electronic
 filing options including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> available on IRS.gov through October 15 to prepare and file returns electronically.

COVID-19 continues to cause delays in some IRS services. If a 
taxpayer filed a paper tax return, the IRS will process it in the order 
it was received. Taxpayers should not file a second tax return or call 
the IRS. The IRS issues more than nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21
 days. However, it's possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> and take longer.

Taxpayers can track a refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> and by phone at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The tool updates once 
daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more frequently. 
The Where's My Refund?&nbsp;tool cannot be used to track Economic Impact 
Payments.

Normally, taxpayers should file their tax return, or request an 
extension, and pay any taxes they owe by the deadline to avoid penalties
 and interest. An extension to file is not an extension to pay. 
Penalties and interest will apply to taxes owed after May 17.

Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the taxes they 
owe, they should still file a tax return as soon as possible to reduce 
possible penalties. The IRS has more information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS, but cannot afford to pay</a>.

Ordinarily, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for 
each month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five 
months, reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where
 both penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the 
due date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less. Filing and paying as much as possible is important 
because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.
 The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-penalties-and-interest">IRS.gov/penalties</a>.

Taxpayers who have a history of filing and paying on time often 
qualify for penalty relief. A taxpayer will usually qualify if they have
 filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other 
requirements. For more information, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.

Interest is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.

Those who owe taxes can pay with IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. For more electronic payment options visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.
 They are secure and easy to use. Taxpayers paying electronically 
receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With 
Direct Pay and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can opt in to receive email notifications about their payments.

The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers choose a tax return preparer wisely. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Choosing a Tax Professional</a> page has information about tax return preparer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/understanding-tax-return-preparer-credentials-and-qualifications">credentials and qualification</a>s and guidance on avoiding unscrupulous tax return preparers

The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed the requirements 
for the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/annual-filing-season-program">Annual Filing Season Program</a>.

Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect taxpayers when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who 
missed the recent tax-filing deadline who are due a refund that there is
 no penalty for filing late. Those who owe and missed the deadline 
without requesting an extension should file quickly to limit penalties 
and interest.<h2>Extra time to file and pay any taxes due without penalties and interest is available for some taxpayers. Included are:</h2><ul>
 <li>Members of the military who served or are currently in a combat zone. They may qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p3#idm139848472538848">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes.</li><li>Support personnel in combat zones or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces. They may also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">qualify for a filing and payment extension</a> of at least 180 days.</li><li>Some disaster victims. Those who qualify have <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/disaster-assistance-and-emergency-relief-for-individuals-and-businesses">more time to file and pay</a> what they owe.</li>
 </ul><h2>Here are some tips for late filers:</h2><h2>File to get a tax refund</h2>The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return. There is no 
penalty for filing after the deadline if a refund is due. Use electronic
 filing options including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> available on IRS.gov through October 15 to prepare and file returns electronically.COVID-19 continues to cause delays in some IRS services. If a 
taxpayer filed a paper tax return, the IRS will process it in the order 
it was received. Taxpayers should not file a second tax return or call 
the IRS. The IRS issues more than nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21
 days. However, it's possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> and take longer.Taxpayers can track a refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> and by phone at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The tool updates once 
daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more frequently. 
The Where's My Refund?&nbsp;tool cannot be used to track Economic Impact 
Payments.<h2>File to reduce penalties and interest</h2>Normally, taxpayers should file their tax return, or request an 
extension, and pay any taxes they owe by the deadline to avoid penalties
 and interest. An extension to file is not an extension to pay. 
Penalties and interest will apply to taxes owed after May 17.Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the taxes they 
owe, they should still file a tax return as soon as possible to reduce 
possible penalties. The IRS has more information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS, but cannot afford to pay</a>.Ordinarily, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for 
each month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five 
months, reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where
 both penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the 
due date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less. Filing and paying as much as possible is important 
because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.
 The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-penalties-and-interest">IRS.gov/penalties</a>.Taxpayers who have a history of filing and paying on time often 
qualify for penalty relief. A taxpayer will usually qualify if they have
 filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other 
requirements. For more information, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.Interest is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.<h2>Pay taxes due electronically</h2>Those who owe taxes can pay with IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. For more electronic payment options visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.
 They are secure and easy to use. Taxpayers paying electronically 
receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With 
Direct Pay and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can opt in to receive email notifications about their payments.<h2>Selecting a tax professional</h2>The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers choose a tax return preparer wisely. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Choosing a Tax Professional</a> page has information about tax return preparer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/understanding-tax-return-preparer-credentials-and-qualifications">credentials and qualification</a>s and guidance on avoiding unscrupulous tax return preparersThe <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed the requirements 
for the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/annual-filing-season-program">Annual Filing Season Program</a>.<h2>Taxpayer Bill of Rights</h2>Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect taxpayers when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

IRS: Despite May 17 deadline, still time to get refund, cut penalties

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ child welfare department and law enforcement officers soon will be required to visually observe a child when they’re investigating allegations of abuse or neglect under a bill Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law Friday.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2158_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The measure</a>&nbsp;is known as “Adrian’s Law,” and will take effect by mid-June. The new law is named for a 7-year-old Kansas City, Kansas boy, Adrian Jones, who was murdered in 2015.

The boy was tortured and starved before his remains were fed to pigs on his family’s rental property. His father and stepmother were sentenced to life in prison in connection with his death.

Department for Children and Families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7ad45aca09d6470bb8f854bd731322bc">records released in 2017</a>&nbsp;showed that the department did not had physical contact with Adrian after February 2012 despite an earlier report suggesting his mother might have abused him. His family moved frequently, according to the records.

The new law also will establish a 13-member joint legislative committee to provide oversight for the state’s child welfare system.

The measure passed both chambers earlier this month with no members voting against it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621684061464.png" alt="Adrian Jones-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Adrian Jones-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ child welfare department and law enforcement officers soon will be required to visually observe a child when they’re investigating allegations of abuse or neglect under a bill Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law Friday.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2158_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The measure</a>&nbsp;is known as “Adrian’s Law,” and will take effect by mid-June. The new law is named for a 7-year-old Kansas City, Kansas boy, Adrian Jones, who was murdered in 2015.The boy was tortured and starved before his remains were fed to pigs on his family’s rental property. His father and stepmother were sentenced to life in prison in connection with his death.Department for Children and Families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7ad45aca09d6470bb8f854bd731322bc">records released in 2017</a>&nbsp;showed that the department did not had physical contact with Adrian after February 2012 despite an earlier report suggesting his mother might have abused him. His family moved frequently, according to the records.The new law also will establish a 13-member joint legislative committee to provide oversight for the state’s child welfare system.The measure passed both chambers earlier this month with no members voting against it.

Welfare measure named for murdered Kan. boy becomes law

WASHINGTON (AP) — An FBI employee has been indicted on charges that she stored classified documents and other national security information at home over the course of more than a decade, the Justice Department said Friday.

Kendra Kingsbury, 48, who now lives in Dodge City, is accused of having unauthorized possession of a broad swath of sensitive government documents, including materials that describe FBI sources and methods and that contain information about operatives such as a suspected associate of Osama bin Laden.

Kingsbury worked as an intelligence analyst in the FBI's Kansas City office for 12 years until her suspension in December 2017.

The two-count indictment, filed in the Western District of Missouri, alleges that Kingsbury stored the materials at home between 2004 and 2017. It does not provide a reason for why Kingsbury mishandled the documents, and the Justice Department declined to elaborate beyond the indictment on Friday.

“The breadth and depth of classified national security information retained by the defendant for more than a decade is simply astonishing,” Alan E. Kohler Jr., the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, said in a statement.

The case underscores the risk to national security posed by “insider threats,” said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the Justice Department's top national security official.

Court documents do not identify a lawyer for Kingsbury. A message left at a phone number connected to her was not immediately returned.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586964970283.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — An FBI employee has been indicted on charges that she stored classified documents and other national security information at home over the course of more than a decade, the Justice Department said Friday.Kendra Kingsbury, 48, who now lives in Dodge City, is accused of having unauthorized possession of a broad swath of sensitive government documents, including materials that describe FBI sources and methods and that contain information about operatives such as a suspected associate of Osama bin Laden.Kingsbury worked as an intelligence analyst in the FBI's Kansas City office for 12 years until her suspension in December 2017.The two-count indictment, filed in the Western District of Missouri, alleges that Kingsbury stored the materials at home between 2004 and 2017. It does not provide a reason for why Kingsbury mishandled the documents, and the Justice Department declined to elaborate beyond the indictment on Friday.“The breadth and depth of classified national security information retained by the defendant for more than a decade is simply astonishing,” Alan E. Kohler Jr., the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, said in a statement.The case underscores the risk to national security posed by “insider threats,” said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the Justice Department's top national security official.Court documents do not identify a lawyer for Kingsbury. A message left at a phone number connected to her was not immediately returned.

FBI employee from Kan. accused of storing classified documents at home

KANSAS (AP) —An abrupt relaxation of mask policies has left workers at supermarkets and other stores reeling as they try to sort out what the new environment means for their own safety and relationship with customers.

Kroger, the country’s largest grocery chain, became one of the latest to announce that, starting Thursday, workers and customers can stop wearing masks in states where mandates are no longer in effect. Other companies that have adopted similar changes include Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Macy’s, Costco, Home Depot, Trader Joe’s and Target, following updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

Some workers have taken to social media to cheer, but many others protested. Some don’t trust customers — or their co-workers — to be truthful about their vaccination status since most companies are not requiring proof. Others fear they will be judged if they leave their own masks on, even though their reasons for doing so are varied.

William Stratford, 29, won’t be fully vaccinated until next month, but shoppers and co-workers at the home improvement store where he works had been coming in without a mask even before the CDC put out its latest guidance.

He has complained to management and eats lunch in his car to avoid mask-less people in the breakroom. He gets stares from shoppers and co-workers.

“I know for a fact people have a negative opinion of me,” said Stratford of Valley Center, California, who asked that the store where he works not be named out of fear of reprisal. “It’s become a divisive issue in the workplace.”

The CDC last week said fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-masks-cdc-guidelines-9d10c8b5f80a4ac720fa1df2a4fb93e5">can stop wearing masks</a>&nbsp;outdoors and in most indoor settings. The guidance still calls for people who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing masks indoors, and for everyone to wear them in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters.

That has left grocery stores, discount chains, restaurants and other employers scrambling to decide whether and how to adjust their own policies. Some companies, including Trader Joe’s and Macy’s, are allowing vaccinated customers to drop their masks but not employees. Meanwhile, some grocery chains like Safeway are leaving their mask requirements in place.

Some workers worry they have been left to bear the fallout of a confusing jumble of policies. John Bartlett, a meat manager at a Safeway in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, said he is personally relieved that, for now, his store is still requiring masks for everyone but he worries that the policy will make dealing with anti-mask customers even more difficult.

“We have customers who literally cuss at us,” said Bartlett, recalling an incident where a man stormed out of the store shouting obscenities after Bartlett pleaded with him to wear a mask. “The country should just have one policy. It would make it easier because we wouldn’t have deal with customers who are so rude and awful to us.”

The Biden administration had faced pressure to ease restrictions on vaccinated Americans, in part to show the benefits of getting the shot at a time when vaccine demand has started to plateau. Companies are also trying to incentivize their employees to get vaccinated with measures ranging from bonus payments to on-site vaccination drives.

It’s unclear if the relaxed mask restrictions will motivate unvaccinated workers to now get their shot. Some may feel more at risk of contracting COVID-19 but others may believe they can enjoy the same privileges as vaccinated workers because no one is checking.

Amazon is among the few companies requiring employees to show proof they got the shot before going mask-less, asking them to upload a picture of their vaccine card by mid-June. At Walmart, workers who don’t wear masks must confirm they are vaccinated by filling out a daily questionnaire, though it is not requiring proof. Still, the company will have some insight into who is vaccinated because workers must show documentation to get a $75 bonus offered to those who get the shots.

Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial International Union, said about 40% of workers who participated in a recent union survey said they were vaccinated. He acknowledged that some many never get the shots, but he said the CDC and companies should have waited a few months to give people more time before shifting the guidance for indoor settings.

Workplace experts warn that a two-tiered mask policy risks sowing resentment and suspicions if not properly implemented.

Kristin White, a workplace safety attorney at law firm Fisher &amp; Phillips LLP, in Denver, Colorado, believes employers should request workers to show proof of vaccination and says that many don’t realize they are legally permitted to do so.

“The honor system carries more risk,” said White, who has been advising companies on masks during the pandemic.

Interrogating workers on why they are or aren’t wearing masks raises privacy concerns.

“Some of those employees may be wearing a mask because they have a disability and they can’t get vaccinated; someone may be wearing a mask that is vaccinated but they feel more comfortable wearing a mask,” White said.

She is recommending that her clients have a written policy for employees to not ask their peers why they’re wearing a face covering. She also says that workers should be trained not tell on each other.

For Bill Easton, the concern is around customers. Easton has been working as a cashier at a Safeway in Aurora, Colorado, for 27 years and he already feels helpless when customers defy his store’s mask policy. He fears they will become more emboldened now that mask policies are being relaxed around the country, even though they remain in place in his store.

On the other hand, some of his friendlier, longtime customers announce to him that they are fully vaccinated and give him a big hug. Easton, too, is vaccinated and even though he appreciates the show of affection, it makes him nervous.

“You wonder, do they really have their COVID shot?” he said.

KANSAS (AP) —An abrupt relaxation of mask policies has left workers at supermarkets and other stores reeling as they try to sort out what the new environment means for their own safety and relationship with customers.Kroger, the country’s largest grocery chain, became one of the latest to announce that, starting Thursday, workers and customers can stop wearing masks in states where mandates are no longer in effect. Other companies that have adopted similar changes include Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Macy’s, Costco, Home Depot, Trader Joe’s and Target, following updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.Some workers have taken to social media to cheer, but many others protested. Some don’t trust customers — or their co-workers — to be truthful about their vaccination status since most companies are not requiring proof. Others fear they will be judged if they leave their own masks on, even though their reasons for doing so are varied.William Stratford, 29, won’t be fully vaccinated until next month, but shoppers and co-workers at the home improvement store where he works had been coming in without a mask even before the CDC put out its latest guidance.He has complained to management and eats lunch in his car to avoid mask-less people in the breakroom. He gets stares from shoppers and co-workers.“I know for a fact people have a negative opinion of me,” said Stratford of Valley Center, California, who asked that the store where he works not be named out of fear of reprisal. “It’s become a divisive issue in the workplace.”The CDC last week said fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-masks-cdc-guidelines-9d10c8b5f80a4ac720fa1df2a4fb93e5">can stop wearing masks</a>&nbsp;outdoors and in most indoor settings. The guidance still calls for people who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing masks indoors, and for everyone to wear them in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters.That has left grocery stores, discount chains, restaurants and other employers scrambling to decide whether and how to adjust their own policies. Some companies, including Trader Joe’s and Macy’s, are allowing vaccinated customers to drop their masks but not employees. Meanwhile, some grocery chains like Safeway are leaving their mask requirements in place.Some workers worry they have been left to bear the fallout of a confusing jumble of policies. John Bartlett, a meat manager at a Safeway in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, said he is personally relieved that, for now, his store is still requiring masks for everyone but he worries that the policy will make dealing with anti-mask customers even more difficult.“We have customers who literally cuss at us,” said Bartlett, recalling an incident where a man stormed out of the store shouting obscenities after Bartlett pleaded with him to wear a mask. “The country should just have one policy. It would make it easier because we wouldn’t have deal with customers who are so rude and awful to us.”The Biden administration had faced pressure to ease restrictions on vaccinated Americans, in part to show the benefits of getting the shot at a time when vaccine demand has started to plateau. Companies are also trying to incentivize their employees to get vaccinated with measures ranging from bonus payments to on-site vaccination drives.It’s unclear if the relaxed mask restrictions will motivate unvaccinated workers to now get their shot. Some may feel more at risk of contracting COVID-19 but others may believe they can enjoy the same privileges as vaccinated workers because no one is checking.Amazon is among the few companies requiring employees to show proof they got the shot before going mask-less, asking them to upload a picture of their vaccine card by mid-June. At Walmart, workers who don’t wear masks must confirm they are vaccinated by filling out a daily questionnaire, though it is not requiring proof. Still, the company will have some insight into who is vaccinated because workers must show documentation to get a $75 bonus offered to those who get the shots.Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial International Union, said about 40% of workers who participated in a recent union survey said they were vaccinated. He acknowledged that some many never get the shots, but he said the CDC and companies should have waited a few months to give people more time before shifting the guidance for indoor settings.Workplace experts warn that a two-tiered mask policy risks sowing resentment and suspicions if not properly implemented.Kristin White, a workplace safety attorney at law firm Fisher &amp; Phillips LLP, in Denver, Colorado, believes employers should request workers to show proof of vaccination and says that many don’t realize they are legally permitted to do so.“The honor system carries more risk,” said White, who has been advising companies on masks during the pandemic.Interrogating workers on why they are or aren’t wearing masks raises privacy concerns.“Some of those employees may be wearing a mask because they have a disability and they can’t get vaccinated; someone may be wearing a mask that is vaccinated but they feel more comfortable wearing a mask,” White said.She is recommending that her clients have a written policy for employees to not ask their peers why they’re wearing a face covering. She also says that workers should be trained not tell on each other.For Bill Easton, the concern is around customers. Easton has been working as a cashier at a Safeway in Aurora, Colorado, for 27 years and he already feels helpless when customers defy his store’s mask policy. He fears they will become more emboldened now that mask policies are being relaxed around the country, even though they remain in place in his store.On the other hand, some of his friendlier, longtime customers announce to him that they are fully vaccinated and give him a big hug. Easton, too, is vaccinated and even though he appreciates the show of affection, it makes him nervous.“You wonder, do they really have their COVID shot?” he said.

Nervous workers struggle to adjust to new mask policies

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced major bipartisan legislation to lift the Cuba trade embargo, according to a media release from&nbsp; Senator Moran's office.

The&nbsp;Freedom to Export to Cuba Act&nbsp;would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba and pave the way for new economic opportunities by boosting U.S. exports and allowing Cubans greater access to American goods. The legislation repeals key provisions of previous laws that block Americans from doing business in Cuba, but does not repeal portions of law that address human rights or property claims against the Cuban government.

“The unilateral trade embargo on Cuba blocks our own farmers, ranchers and manufacturers from selling into a market only 90 miles from our shoreline, while foreign competitors such as China benefit at our expense,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will expand market opportunities for U.S. producers by allowing them to compete on a level playing field with other countries. It is time to amend our own laws to give U.S. producers fair access to market to consumers in Cuba.”

“Instead of looking to the future, U.S.-Cuba policy has been defined for far too long by conflicts of the past,”&nbsp;said Sen. Klobuchar.&nbsp;“As we work to rebuild our economy following the pandemic, lifting the trade embargo will open the door to a large export market and create jobs in the U.S. It’s time to turn the page on the failed policy of isolation by passing our bipartisan legislation to end the embargo once and for all.”

“This bill would do away with a misguided, failed policy of unilateral sanctions that harms the Cuban people and shortchanges American companies and American workers,”&nbsp;said Sen. Leahy.&nbsp;“It would never pass Congress today, but a tiny, vocal minority stubbornly opposes its demise. The consequence, besides blocking U.S. exports and income for America’s farmers and manufacturers, is that our competitors are reaping the benefits of our shortsightedness. It should be debated and voted on in the Senate.”

Cuba relies on agriculture imports to feed the 11 million people who live in Cuba and the approximately four million tourists who visited in 2019, prior to the pandemic. The U.S. International Trade Commission found that if restrictions on trade with Cuba had been lifted, exports like wheat, rice, corn and soybeans could increase by 166 percent within five years to a total of about $800 million. The&nbsp;Freedom to Export to Cuba Act&nbsp;repeals the current legal restrictions against doing business with Cuba, including the original 1961 authorization for establishing the trade embargo; subsequent laws that required enforcement of the embargo; and other restrictive statutes that prohibit transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba and limitations on direct shipping between U.S. and Cuban ports.

The legislation has been endorsed by Engage Cuba, the Washington Office on Latin America, and the Latin America Working Group.

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced major bipartisan legislation to lift the Cuba trade embargo, according to a media release from&nbsp; Senator Moran's office.The&nbsp;Freedom to Export to Cuba Act&nbsp;would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba and pave the way for new economic opportunities by boosting U.S. exports and allowing Cubans greater access to American goods. The legislation repeals key provisions of previous laws that block Americans from doing business in Cuba, but does not repeal portions of law that address human rights or property claims against the Cuban government.“The unilateral trade embargo on Cuba blocks our own farmers, ranchers and manufacturers from selling into a market only 90 miles from our shoreline, while foreign competitors such as China benefit at our expense,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will expand market opportunities for U.S. producers by allowing them to compete on a level playing field with other countries. It is time to amend our own laws to give U.S. producers fair access to market to consumers in Cuba.”“Instead of looking to the future, U.S.-Cuba policy has been defined for far too long by conflicts of the past,”&nbsp;said Sen. Klobuchar.&nbsp;“As we work to rebuild our economy following the pandemic, lifting the trade embargo will open the door to a large export market and create jobs in the U.S. It’s time to turn the page on the failed policy of isolation by passing our bipartisan legislation to end the embargo once and for all.”“This bill would do away with a misguided, failed policy of unilateral sanctions that harms the Cuban people and shortchanges American companies and American workers,”&nbsp;said Sen. Leahy.&nbsp;“It would never pass Congress today, but a tiny, vocal minority stubbornly opposes its demise. The consequence, besides blocking U.S. exports and income for America’s farmers and manufacturers, is that our competitors are reaping the benefits of our shortsightedness. It should be debated and voted on in the Senate.”Cuba relies on agriculture imports to feed the 11 million people who live in Cuba and the approximately four million tourists who visited in 2019, prior to the pandemic. The U.S. International Trade Commission found that if restrictions on trade with Cuba had been lifted, exports like wheat, rice, corn and soybeans could increase by 166 percent within five years to a total of about $800 million. The&nbsp;Freedom to Export to Cuba Act&nbsp;repeals the current legal restrictions against doing business with Cuba, including the original 1961 authorization for establishing the trade embargo; subsequent laws that required enforcement of the embargo; and other restrictive statutes that prohibit transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba and limitations on direct shipping between U.S. and Cuban ports.The legislation has been endorsed by Engage Cuba, the Washington Office on Latin America, and the Latin America Working Group.

Sen. Moran hopes to lift embargo on Cuba to boost Kansas farmers 

By ABIGAIL CENSKY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/government/2021-05-21/republican-push-urging-kansas-governor-to-end-federal-unemployment-benefits-stumbled-this-week-but-isnt-over">Kansas News Service</a>

The push by Republicans to end the $300 dollar per week additional 
federal unemployment payment in Kansas reached a peak this week with a 
letter signed by 200 groups calling on the governor to eliminate the 
benefit.

But there was one problem: leaders of some of those groups say they never agreed to sign the letter.

It
 was a stumble in what has been a coordinated effort by Republicans to 
urge the Democratic governor to end the payments. The GOP and business 
groups argue the larger unemployment payments are keeping workers at 
home and making it harder to fill jobs.

“They’re on a mission to 
remove the weekly $300 enhanced unemployment benefit,” House Democratic 
Leader Tom Sawyer said in a statement.

The fight began in earnest two weeks ago when Governor Mike Parson from neighboring Missouri <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2021-05-11/missouri-joins-other-gop-states-in-ending-covid-19-unemployment-benefits" target="_blank">announced</a> the state would opt out of the additional unemployment insurance benefits beginning June 12th.

The same day, Kansas’ junior Senator Roger Marshall introduced <a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/GOE21561.pdf" target="_blank">a plan</a>
 to roll back federal unemployment benefits to $150 per week by the end 
of May and completely end the benefits by the end of June.

“I can guarantee you,” Marshall told <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1392275260175695873" target="_blank">Cheddar News</a>, “(Employees are) getting paid more to stay home than go back to work.”

Since then 22 states have announced they’ll end federal benefits by early July.

In a <a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/6/5/6551f9b6-a5ca-40bf-9163-e8d08629411b/53FDA916E112B434F7327594E834E3C5.5.17.21-ui-letter-to-gov-kelly-final.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 sent to Democratic Governor Laura Kelly this week, all of the 
Republicans in the Kansas congressional delegation argued that 
continuing federal benefits through September “provides a lucrative 
government incentive to stay home despite clear signs that the economy 
is recovering and life is trending toward normal.”

The coordinated
 attempt to cajole Kelly into dropping the benefits early ran into an 
unforced error Thursday when it was revealed a letter signed by nearly 
200 groups featured organizations that had unwittingly been added by 
lower-level employees, including a local library and Greater Wichita 
YMCA.

The letter had previously been touted in a statement by 
Republican leadership in the state House as evidence that Kelly 
“continues to hold Kansas back.”

But Kelly has, so far, demurred to the pleas from her Republican counterparts.

"We have not really made a final decision on that issue. It is something we are exploring," she said to reporters last week.

"There is conflicting anecdotal data right now,” she said, “and I need to just study the issue.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621628309707.png" alt="Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is the target of pressure from Republicans urging her to drop federal pandemic unemployment payments. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is the target of pressure from Republicans urging her to drop federal pandemic unemployment payments. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ABIGAIL CENSKY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/government/2021-05-21/republican-push-urging-kansas-governor-to-end-federal-unemployment-benefits-stumbled-this-week-but-isnt-over">Kansas News Service</a>The push by Republicans to end the $300 dollar per week additional 
federal unemployment payment in Kansas reached a peak this week with a 
letter signed by 200 groups calling on the governor to eliminate the 
benefit.But there was one problem: leaders of some of those groups say they never agreed to sign the letter.It
 was a stumble in what has been a coordinated effort by Republicans to 
urge the Democratic governor to end the payments. The GOP and business 
groups argue the larger unemployment payments are keeping workers at 
home and making it harder to fill jobs.“They’re on a mission to 
remove the weekly $300 enhanced unemployment benefit,” House Democratic 
Leader Tom Sawyer said in a statement.The fight began in earnest two weeks ago when Governor Mike Parson from neighboring Missouri <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2021-05-11/missouri-joins-other-gop-states-in-ending-covid-19-unemployment-benefits" target="_blank">announced</a> the state would opt out of the additional unemployment insurance benefits beginning June 12th.The same day, Kansas’ junior Senator Roger Marshall introduced <a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/GOE21561.pdf" target="_blank">a plan</a>
 to roll back federal unemployment benefits to $150 per week by the end 
of May and completely end the benefits by the end of June.“I can guarantee you,” Marshall told <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1392275260175695873" target="_blank">Cheddar News</a>, “(Employees are) getting paid more to stay home than go back to work.”Since then 22 states have announced they’ll end federal benefits by early July.In a <a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/6/5/6551f9b6-a5ca-40bf-9163-e8d08629411b/53FDA916E112B434F7327594E834E3C5.5.17.21-ui-letter-to-gov-kelly-final.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 sent to Democratic Governor Laura Kelly this week, all of the 
Republicans in the Kansas congressional delegation argued that 
continuing federal benefits through September “provides a lucrative 
government incentive to stay home despite clear signs that the economy 
is recovering and life is trending toward normal.”The coordinated
 attempt to cajole Kelly into dropping the benefits early ran into an 
unforced error Thursday when it was revealed a letter signed by nearly 
200 groups featured organizations that had unwittingly been added by 
lower-level employees, including a local library and Greater Wichita 
YMCA.The letter had previously been touted in a statement by 
Republican leadership in the state House as evidence that Kelly 
“continues to hold Kansas back.”But Kelly has, so far, demurred to the pleas from her Republican counterparts."We have not really made a final decision on that issue. It is something we are exploring," she said to reporters last week."There is conflicting anecdotal data right now,” she said, “and I need to just study the issue.”The
 April report from the Kansas Department of Labor shows unemployment in 
the state has gone down from 3.7% in March to 3.5% in April. That’s down
 from one year ago at the height of the pandemic when it was 12.6%.“Great
 progress is being made as we are approaching pre-pandemic unemployment 
rates,” Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Amber Schultz said in a 
statement,Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from Hutchinson, was 
called by the Wichita YMCA, the Hutchison library and a local roofing 
company who initially didn’t know how they were added to the letter 
asking the governor to roll back federal benefits.Probst said the
 letter from the congressional delegation, powerful business groups and 
the statement from House Republicans “seems like a very coordinated 
thing to me.”He called the push to roll back federal benefits “a red herring” turned into “a political football.”Probst
 said he doesn’t doubt some local businesses are having trouble finding 
workers, but he suspects that could be a direct result of low or 
stagnant wages.“I think that's the root of the problem,” he said. “I don't think it's federal benefits.”Jeremy
 Hill, the director of the Center for Economic Development and Business 
Research at Wichita State University, said Kansas does have a wage 
problem.“Kansas has had a problem over the last decade,” Hill 
said, “where wages on average were not increasing at the rate of the 
national level.”Hill said that caused some people to move out of 
state, and the base of available workers became smaller, which made for a
 tight labor market even before the COVID-19 pandemic.Now, there 
are multiple factors that complicate whether employers are able to fill 
jobs and whether employees are able to find a job that fits the demands 
and expenses of their lifestyle.Unlike the Great Recession, 
workers displaced from jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t 
returning to the same jobs. Even if they’re able to return to work, they
 may be limited by caretaking or lack of childcare.“We haven't 
added a lot of jobs from a year ago,” he said. “But we've added a lot 
more people in the labor market looking for a job than a year ago.”Abigail Censky is the political reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/AbigailCensky" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/AbigailCensky" target="_blank">@AbigailCensky</a> or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.