The Federal Trade Commission is sending full refunds totaling more than $11 million to consumers who lost money to a bogus credit card interest rate reduction scheme operated by E.M. Systems &amp; Services.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfv9AX6pdQUbPwOIbxNJ3lkQL-2FSRM73p7sdjPQ-2Fa2RhuxcOc7r95y5dkNU0bW1RnvieQzA6jbTbK4HZYiW-2FoMYYQ-3D-3Dw2O3_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjbE33JMV-2B-2FHFPIVUNtI5wvr-2F35r3Iic8jH2LP6g0NBmDXjq1PTifMr7F59ZsaMSpf1C4tzT5TQxu88IrPg4tL0bAXWL02ygrAGBEX8jDFKWB53ln-2BdXzvszcKyanFW1yQ69K1ZPHjGA1GR-2BaGpJ8Y0g-3D">FTC and the State of Florida alleged</a>&nbsp;that the company’s owners, Steven D. Short and Karissa L. Dyar, used a variety of phony business names with associated websites, cold-called consumers with credit card debt and falsely promised to save them thousands of dollars by reducing their credit card interest rates. The FTC says that the defendants charged an up-front fee between $695 and $1,495, and falsely promised to provide refunds to consumers if they failed to reduce the interest rates.

According to the complaint, the telemarketers identified themselves as “card services,” “credit services,” and “card member services,” or used one of the defendants’ phony business names. To win consumers’ trust, they said they knew the amount of consumers’ credit card debt, provided the caller’s license or badge number, mentioned the Internet domain name of the phony business, and falsely claimed they had a business relationship with consumers’ lenders.

More than 11,000 consumers are receiving full refunds, averaging $995 each. Consumers who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.&nbsp;The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

Recipients who have questions about the redress payments, or who did not receive a payment but believe they are eligible should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-239-6082.

The funds for this refund program come from the FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfBxL2XL4hOPBqaNkXOJ4pesUvE8SZNtd7XwaHuxAIkPv8IYCmhzMlhHONY2ByONo7hVV38AsLUXEC1oYkCIinnuiXCi1fHONu-2F1YqMx3acJA-3DkKDD_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjQDvxrSfMk7S8TNFv56hahyTLIv2A2cd1jbE8MH-2BMFH2AvZ8m0ROwBCellwDOoYFZsO8kyHFMjmm7omesnLIjR-2BnLyy25t6Q1CKm-2FuNDAjZ0dFXFiXMXMOJUhmvRMo7yS6XqAC9XW1C46HDEN1QeuK4-3D">case against First Data Merchant Services</a>, the company that processed credit card payments for the defendants in this case. According to the FTC, First Data allegedly ignored repeated warnings from employees, banks, and others that they were processing payments for companies that were breaking the law. First Data agreed to pay $40 million to settle the FTC’s charges. The FTC plans to use the remaining money to provide additional refunds to consumers in two other related cases.

The FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcUmZLSH0xJ2WtBwbqiniakaGlt4YIn0B6CxtRLKddhzP4GoZfisp1lGzNgGgqlRzTDuaaeFlUh8frMSmtxmdTk-2FXAdpnv6Nw6UkQu7dC5YkuPz41qsllLLO5JBfQT1Q8mGVx1W8QCVNHzFqPi9meq4-3D3PTL_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjV2Kfb2tlRFzbvL5FNVBwN-2FQK5PTY7VYwRItNq-2B0xlXRMDvTMe4XEIyL-2Fi7mhchI4OesebOALZy-2BWuEERUGoQDM-2BJgWZbiFvJzwUm4l6JFQC2GvQURRSLDy7GXHcv1aRKIwudMeatc-2F-2B6L9jmnQVgvg-3D">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>&nbsp;provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds.&nbsp;FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the country in 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission is sending full refunds totaling more than $11 million to consumers who lost money to a bogus credit card interest rate reduction scheme operated by E.M. Systems &amp; Services.The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfv9AX6pdQUbPwOIbxNJ3lkQL-2FSRM73p7sdjPQ-2Fa2RhuxcOc7r95y5dkNU0bW1RnvieQzA6jbTbK4HZYiW-2FoMYYQ-3D-3Dw2O3_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjbE33JMV-2B-2FHFPIVUNtI5wvr-2F35r3Iic8jH2LP6g0NBmDXjq1PTifMr7F59ZsaMSpf1C4tzT5TQxu88IrPg4tL0bAXWL02ygrAGBEX8jDFKWB53ln-2BdXzvszcKyanFW1yQ69K1ZPHjGA1GR-2BaGpJ8Y0g-3D">FTC and the State of Florida alleged</a>&nbsp;that the company’s owners, Steven D. Short and Karissa L. Dyar, used a variety of phony business names with associated websites, cold-called consumers with credit card debt and falsely promised to save them thousands of dollars by reducing their credit card interest rates. The FTC says that the defendants charged an up-front fee between $695 and $1,495, and falsely promised to provide refunds to consumers if they failed to reduce the interest rates.According to the complaint, the telemarketers identified themselves as “card services,” “credit services,” and “card member services,” or used one of the defendants’ phony business names. To win consumers’ trust, they said they knew the amount of consumers’ credit card debt, provided the caller’s license or badge number, mentioned the Internet domain name of the phony business, and falsely claimed they had a business relationship with consumers’ lenders.More than 11,000 consumers are receiving full refunds, averaging $995 each. Consumers who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.&nbsp;The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.Recipients who have questions about the redress payments, or who did not receive a payment but believe they are eligible should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-239-6082.The funds for this refund program come from the FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfBxL2XL4hOPBqaNkXOJ4pesUvE8SZNtd7XwaHuxAIkPv8IYCmhzMlhHONY2ByONo7hVV38AsLUXEC1oYkCIinnuiXCi1fHONu-2F1YqMx3acJA-3DkKDD_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjQDvxrSfMk7S8TNFv56hahyTLIv2A2cd1jbE8MH-2BMFH2AvZ8m0ROwBCellwDOoYFZsO8kyHFMjmm7omesnLIjR-2BnLyy25t6Q1CKm-2FuNDAjZ0dFXFiXMXMOJUhmvRMo7yS6XqAC9XW1C46HDEN1QeuK4-3D">case against First Data Merchant Services</a>, the company that processed credit card payments for the defendants in this case. According to the FTC, First Data allegedly ignored repeated warnings from employees, banks, and others that they were processing payments for companies that were breaking the law. First Data agreed to pay $40 million to settle the FTC’s charges. The FTC plans to use the remaining money to provide additional refunds to consumers in two other related cases.The FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcUmZLSH0xJ2WtBwbqiniakaGlt4YIn0B6CxtRLKddhzP4GoZfisp1lGzNgGgqlRzTDuaaeFlUh8frMSmtxmdTk-2FXAdpnv6Nw6UkQu7dC5YkuPz41qsllLLO5JBfQT1Q8mGVx1W8QCVNHzFqPi9meq4-3D3PTL_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7DAeMn3JzMWxefIB5LtfKekboS18zd4J7v1CEnb8xTEw0XhLQn0NP3I4cVJ1enQyMVEvPUaFu84h0-2FWq-2BkwXd5mjeIHVoxQoRnSxiqtARtrjV2Kfb2tlRFzbvL5FNVBwN-2FQK5PTY7VYwRItNq-2B0xlXRMDvTMe4XEIyL-2Fi7mhchI4OesebOALZy-2BWuEERUGoQDM-2BJgWZbiFvJzwUm4l6JFQC2GvQURRSLDy7GXHcv1aRKIwudMeatc-2F-2B6L9jmnQVgvg-3D">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>&nbsp;provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds.&nbsp;FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the country in 2020.

FTC sends $11M+ in refunds to consumers affected by credit card interest rate scam

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A group of faith leaders is seeking the resignation of Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez because of the department's response to the fatal shooting of a teenager in 2018. 

The organization, called MORE2, on Monday said Donchez has misled the public since 17-year-old John Albers was shot by an officer in his family's driveway.

Albers' parents have criticized the department's lack of transparency in their son's shooting and in actions the department has taken since then. The department says it will release a redacted report this week that explains the investigation into the officer’s actions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601028395769.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal 2018 shooting -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal 2018 shooting -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A group of faith leaders is seeking the resignation of Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez because of the department's response to the fatal shooting of a teenager in 2018. The organization, called MORE2, on Monday said Donchez has misled the public since 17-year-old John Albers was shot by an officer in his family's driveway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601028453799.png" alt="Albers-photo courtesy McGilley Memorial Chapel" />
 <figcaption>Albers-photo courtesy McGilley Memorial Chapel</figcaption>
 </figure>Albers' parents have criticized the department's lack of transparency in their son's shooting and in actions the department has taken since then. The department says it will release a redacted report this week that explains the investigation into the officer’s actions.

Faith leaders urge police chief to resign over Kan. teen's death

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

The owner of Blue Line Remodeling, 1014 E. Prescott Road in Salina told police that when he arrived at the business Monday morning, he found that it had been burglarized, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Video surveillance showed that at approximately 11:50 p.m. Sunday, a black male wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it and glasses was seen entering the business.&nbsp; The business owner reported a black coat and numerous business checks were taken along with numerous sets of keys. Additionally, an Acer computer monitor and a handheld digital thermometer (total loss $540) were damaged.

Upon checking business vehicles, the keys were all found in a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup and a key was in the ignition, but was the wrong key for the vehicle, according to Forrester noted. The pickup was valued at $3,000.

An officer recognized the suspect on the video as Malique Powell, 23, of Salina, and police issued an attempt to locate.

At 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, an officer spotted Powell sitting on a bench in the 100 block of N. Santa Fe Avenue. Powell was wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it. He allegedly had several of the reported stolen checks and a methamphetamine pipe in his possession.

Police arrested Powell on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Damage to Property, Attempted theft, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619530243870.jpeg" alt="Powell photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Powell photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.The owner of Blue Line Remodeling, 1014 E. Prescott Road in Salina told police that when he arrived at the business Monday morning, he found that it had been burglarized, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Video surveillance showed that at approximately 11:50 p.m. Sunday, a black male wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it and glasses was seen entering the business.&nbsp; The business owner reported a black coat and numerous business checks were taken along with numerous sets of keys. Additionally, an Acer computer monitor and a handheld digital thermometer (total loss $540) were damaged.Upon checking business vehicles, the keys were all found in a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup and a key was in the ignition, but was the wrong key for the vehicle, according to Forrester noted. The pickup was valued at $3,000.An officer recognized the suspect on the video as Malique Powell, 23, of Salina, and police issued an attempt to locate.At 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, an officer spotted Powell sitting on a bench in the 100 block of N. Santa Fe Avenue. Powell was wearing a maroon hoodie with “100” on it. He allegedly had several of the reported stolen checks and a methamphetamine pipe in his possession.Police arrested Powell on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Damage to Property, Attempted theft, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Suspect seen on security camera arrested for Kan. business burglary

By ABIGAIL CENSKY &amp; STEPHEN KORANDA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-04-27/from-taxes-to-trans-athletes-republicans-in-kansas-legislature-look-to-override-governors-vetoes">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas lawmakers return to the Statehouse 
next week for a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over issues at
 the heart of both culture wars and taxes.

While legislators took a
 break, Kelly vetoed a range of high-profile bills. Now the conservative
 Republicans who control the Legislature face the challenge of overrides
 with slim margins to pull that off.

Republican Senate President 
Ty Masterson blasted the governor for striking down bills ranging from 
tax cuts to restrictions on transgender athletes.

“Republicans 
will respond to the governor’s veto-a-rama with a veto-override-a-rama 
when we return in May,” Masterson said in a statement.

Here are four of the top policies that lawmakers may clash over.

Echoing a<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank">wave of bills</a> in more than 30 states, Kansas Republicans passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.”<a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank">The bill</a>
 would ban people identified as male at birth from playing on women’s or
 girls’ teams. The bill doesn’t address people identified as female at 
birth playing on men’s or boys’ teams.

The proposed law was 
swiftly vetoed by Kelly. She deemed the legislation a “devastating 
message that Kansas is not welcoming to all children and their families”
 and said that it may harm the state’s ability to “attract and retain 
businesses.”

Following her veto, Republican leaders in the Legislature issued their own<a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank">statement</a>
 lambasting the veto. They said the bill is only about fairness and “not
 about anything else other than that” and pledged to continue to fight 
“until this bill becomes law.”

However, Republicans face an uphill
 battle in whipping enough votes to override Kelly’s veto. It takes 84 
votes in the House and 27 in the Senate to overturn her veto.

Lawmakers need eight more votes in the House and one additional vote in the Senate.

Whether Republicans dig their heels in during the veto session remains to be seen. A recent NPR/PBS Newshour/ Marist<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank">poll</a>
 reported that just 29% of Republicans nationally said they would 
support a bill banning transgender athletes from playing on a team that 
matches their gender identity.

However, while a majority of adults
 surveyed said they oppose legislating a ban on transgender athletes 
playing on teams that match their gender identity, there is a stark 
partisan divide between the opinions of Democrats and Republicans on the
 matter.

The poll reports three quarters of Democrats would be in 
favor of transgender athletes playing on teams that match their gender 
identity in high school while 81% of Republicans are against it.

After the session adjourned, Kelly also vetoed a<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">bill</a>
 that would let people from other states with permits to carry a 
concealed weapon have those permits honored in Kansas. More notably, it <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2058/" target="_blank">lowers the age</a> of eligibility for a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18.

In
 a statement explaining her veto Kelly said, “Legislation that allows 
more guns on campus is neither safe nor effective, and it will drive 
prospective students away from our schools.”

Kansas already allows
 most people over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, but 
the bill would allow younger people to carry concealed guns if they get a
 state license.

Critics of the bill including gun-violence prevention group Moms Demand Action,<a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank">praised</a> Kelly’s veto. But Masterson said Kelly vetoed Second Amendment rights.

To
 override Kelly’s veto, Republicans need to pick up four votes in the 
House and could lose three in the Senate while still overriding.

Republicans took another swing at tax cuts this year. Their<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb50/" target="_blank"> plan</a>
 would benefit businesses with international divisions and help 
individual filers with changes like a larger standard deduction. But 
doing so would cost the state tax revenue.

Just like in <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/gov-kelly-vetoes-2nd-gop-tax-relief-plan" target="_blank">past attempts</a>,
 Kelly knocked the bill down with her veto pen. She raised concerns 
about the cost, pegged at several hundred million dollars in the coming 
years, and hinted at budget deficits the state saw after tax cuts in 
2012 when Republican Sam Brownback was governor.

“We cannot return to the era of perennial, self-inflicted budget crises,” Kelly said in a statement announcing her veto.

But
 lawmakers in the conservative GOP Statehouse majority think this year 
they may have the votes to override the governor’s action after <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-05/republican-gains-in-the-kansas-legislature-will-affect-vetoes-new-political-maps-and-more" target="_blank">picking up seats</a> in the 2020 election.

The tax plan passed the Senate with enough votes to override a veto, but would need three additional supporters in the House.

Conservative lawmakers <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb175/" target="_blank">tied billions of dollars</a> in school funding to a proposal that would let some struggling students use state funding to attend a private school.

Critics
 of the idea said that would hold school funding hostage to get leverage
 for the policy proposals. Voting against the private school provisions 
would also mean voting against the budget for Kansas schools.

Ultimately, that’s exactly what happened. The bill narrowly failed in the House.

But
 conservatives argued it makes sense to mix policy changes with funding 
for public schools if it gives some students access to more educational 
options.

In the final days of the session, lawmakers will either 
have to craft a new bill that mixes policy proposals with funding, or 
simplify the equation and propose a bill that just funds Kansas 
education without policy changes.

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">@AbigailCensky</a> or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.&nbsp;Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter and news editor for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Stephen_Koranda" target="_blank">@Stephen_Koranda</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619557382396.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly struck down multiple bills with her veto pen, and Republicans are aiming to overturn those vetoes as soon as next week. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly struck down multiple bills with her veto pen, and Republicans are aiming to overturn those vetoes as soon as next week. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ABIGAIL CENSKY &amp; STEPHEN KORANDA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-04-27/from-taxes-to-trans-athletes-republicans-in-kansas-legislature-look-to-override-governors-vetoes">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas lawmakers return to the Statehouse 
next week for a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over issues at
 the heart of both culture wars and taxes.While legislators took a
 break, Kelly vetoed a range of high-profile bills. Now the conservative
 Republicans who control the Legislature face the challenge of overrides
 with slim margins to pull that off.Republican Senate President 
Ty Masterson blasted the governor for striking down bills ranging from 
tax cuts to restrictions on transgender athletes.“Republicans 
will respond to the governor’s veto-a-rama with a veto-override-a-rama 
when we return in May,” Masterson said in a statement.Here are four of the top policies that lawmakers may clash over.<h2>A tidal wave of trans athlete bans</h2>Echoing a<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-crisis-advocates-warn-unprecedented-wave-anti-lgbtq-bills-n1265132" target="_blank">wave of bills</a> in more than 30 states, Kansas Republicans passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.”<a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SB55/2021" target="_blank">The bill</a>
 would ban people identified as male at birth from playing on women’s or
 girls’ teams. The bill doesn’t address people identified as female at 
birth playing on men’s or boys’ teams.The proposed law was 
swiftly vetoed by Kelly. She deemed the legislation a “devastating 
message that Kansas is not welcoming to all children and their families”
 and said that it may harm the state’s ability to “attract and retain 
businesses.”Following her veto, Republican leaders in the Legislature issued their own<a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Masterson--Erickson-Respond-to-Veto-of-Fairness-in-Women-s-Sports-Act.html?soid=1135102872589&amp;aid=5HMwG6L8cMs" target="_blank">statement</a>
 lambasting the veto. They said the bill is only about fairness and “not
 about anything else other than that” and pledged to continue to fight 
“until this bill becomes law.”However, Republicans face an uphill
 battle in whipping enough votes to override Kelly’s veto. It takes 84 
votes in the House and 27 in the Senate to overturn her veto.Lawmakers need eight more votes in the House and one additional vote in the Senate.Whether Republicans dig their heels in during the veto session remains to be seen. A recent NPR/PBS Newshour/ Marist<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987765777/republicans-and-democrats-largely-oppose-transgender-sports-legislation-poll-sho" target="_blank">poll</a>
 reported that just 29% of Republicans nationally said they would 
support a bill banning transgender athletes from playing on a team that 
matches their gender identity.However, while a majority of adults
 surveyed said they oppose legislating a ban on transgender athletes 
playing on teams that match their gender identity, there is a stark 
partisan divide between the opinions of Democrats and Republicans on the
 matter.The poll reports three quarters of Democrats would be in 
favor of transgender athletes playing on teams that match their gender 
identity in high school while 81% of Republicans are against it.<h2>Concealed carry for teens</h2>After the session adjourned, Kelly also vetoed a<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2058_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">bill</a>
 that would let people from other states with permits to carry a 
concealed weapon have those permits honored in Kansas. More notably, it <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2058/" target="_blank">lowers the age</a> of eligibility for a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18.In
 a statement explaining her veto Kelly said, “Legislation that allows 
more guns on campus is neither safe nor effective, and it will drive 
prospective students away from our schools.”Kansas already allows
 most people over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, but 
the bill would allow younger people to carry concealed guns if they get a
 state license.Critics of the bill including gun-violence prevention group Moms Demand Action,<a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/kansas-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-applaud-gov-kelly-for-vetoing-dangerous-bill-to-let-teenagers-people-from-other-states-carry-hidden-loaded-guns-in-public/" target="_blank">praised</a> Kelly’s veto. But Masterson said Kelly vetoed Second Amendment rights.To
 override Kelly’s veto, Republicans need to pick up four votes in the 
House and could lose three in the Senate while still overriding.<h2>Tackling tax cuts</h2>Republicans took another swing at tax cuts this year. Their<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb50/" target="_blank"> plan</a>
 would benefit businesses with international divisions and help 
individual filers with changes like a larger standard deduction. But 
doing so would cost the state tax revenue.Just like in <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/gov-kelly-vetoes-2nd-gop-tax-relief-plan" target="_blank">past attempts</a>,
 Kelly knocked the bill down with her veto pen. She raised concerns 
about the cost, pegged at several hundred million dollars in the coming 
years, and hinted at budget deficits the state saw after tax cuts in 
2012 when Republican Sam Brownback was governor.“We cannot return to the era of perennial, self-inflicted budget crises,” Kelly said in a statement announcing her veto.But
 lawmakers in the conservative GOP Statehouse majority think this year 
they may have the votes to override the governor’s action after <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-05/republican-gains-in-the-kansas-legislature-will-affect-vetoes-new-political-maps-and-more" target="_blank">picking up seats</a> in the 2020 election.The tax plan passed the Senate with enough votes to override a veto, but would need three additional supporters in the House.<h2>K-12 funding arithmetic</h2>Conservative lawmakers <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb175/" target="_blank">tied billions of dollars</a> in school funding to a proposal that would let some struggling students use state funding to attend a private school.Critics
 of the idea said that would hold school funding hostage to get leverage
 for the policy proposals. Voting against the private school provisions 
would also mean voting against the budget for Kansas schools.Ultimately, that’s exactly what happened. The bill narrowly failed in the House.But
 conservatives argued it makes sense to mix policy changes with funding 
for public schools if it gives some students access to more educational 
options.In the final days of the session, lawmakers will either 
have to craft a new bill that mixes policy proposals with funding, or 
simplify the equation and propose a bill that just funds Kansas 
education without policy changes.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">@AbigailCensky</a> or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.&nbsp;Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter and news editor for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Stephen_Koranda" target="_blank">@Stephen_Koranda</a>.

Republicans in Kan. Legislature look to override governor's vetoes

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident involving a bicyclist who struck the side of a semi tractor-trailer and later died of his injuries.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 200 block of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166 in Arkansas City for a report of an injury accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle, according to a media release.

Police arrived at the scene and made contact with the bicycle rider later identified as Kevin Scotty Thompson, 64, of Arkansas City, who was lying in the roadway. 

Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department transported him to South Central Kansas Medical Center in serious condition.

He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital due to the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Witnesses at the scene reported Thompson had struck the side of a westbound semi tractor-trailer.

Police interviewed the driver of the semi, Ricky Morgan, 49, of Big Cabin, Oklahoma. Morgan said he saw Thompson proceed through the stop sign at First Street and Madison Avenue without stopping.

Morgan said he tried to swerve to miss Thompson’s bicycle but was unable to do so, even though he crossed the yellow center line into the eastbound lane of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166.

This report was confirmed by another witness at the scene, according to police.&nbsp;

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident involving a bicyclist who struck the side of a semi tractor-trailer and later died of his injuries.Just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 200 block of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166 in Arkansas City for a report of an injury accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle, according to a media release.Police arrived at the scene and made contact with the bicycle rider later identified as Kevin Scotty Thompson, 64, of Arkansas City, who was lying in the roadway. Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department transported him to South Central Kansas Medical Center in serious condition.He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital due to the injuries he sustained in the accident.Witnesses at the scene reported Thompson had struck the side of a westbound semi tractor-trailer.Police interviewed the driver of the semi, Ricky Morgan, 49, of Big Cabin, Oklahoma. Morgan said he saw Thompson proceed through the stop sign at First Street and Madison Avenue without stopping.Morgan said he tried to swerve to miss Thompson’s bicycle but was unable to do so, even though he crossed the yellow center line into the eastbound lane of West Madison Avenue/U.S. 166.This report was confirmed by another witness at the scene, according to police.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. bicyclist dies of injuries after striking tractor-trailer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead and are asking the public for help to ID suspects.

Just before 7p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.

When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.

EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.

Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.

f you know the identity of these individuals or know where they are, please call 911, WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead.

EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy was transported to a local hospital, treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.

Police reported 267 calls to incidents in the area of Sunday's shooting in 2019, 465 in 2020 and 188 so far in 2021, according to officer Charley Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619547988764.png" alt="Through the investigation, detectives have determined the two pictured suspects to be involved in the incident. " />
 <figcaption>Through the investigation, detectives have determined the two pictured suspects to be involved in the incident. </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead and are asking the public for help to ID suspects.Just before 7p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.f you know the identity of these individuals or know where they are, please call 911, WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a teen dead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619468099880.png" alt="Wichita police vehicle at the scene of the apartment complex shooting investigation on Sunday-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Wichita police vehicle at the scene of the apartment complex shooting investigation on Sunday-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 7p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy was transported to a local hospital, treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.Police reported 267 calls to incidents in the area of Sunday's shooting in 2019, 465 in 2020 and 188 so far in 2021, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Police ask for help to ID suspects in fatal Kan. apartment shooting

The first batch of once-every-decade&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-health-census-2020-business-government-and-politics-7a9a1cb38b0cfeca8b3e9b3bc42ce383">data from the U.S. Census Bureau</a>&nbsp;shows a United States that is growing less quickly but still seeing its population shift to the South and the West.

The data released Monday was relatively basic — containing national and state-level population figures and details of how they affect states’ representation in Congress. Still, it contained some surprises and pointed to some consequential trends.

The U.S. population grew to 331 million, a 7.4% growth rate from the last time the Census Bureau counted every person in the country, in 2010. Those may sound like big numbers, but it’s actually the second slowest rate of population growth the census has ever recorded, just behind the 7.3% growth in the 1930s.

That decade’s slowed growth was rooted in the Great Depression. Our past decade’s sluggish rate had similar beginnings in the long shadow of the Great Recession. The drawn-out recovery saw many young adults struggling to enter the job market, delaying marriage and starting a family. That dealt a blow to the nation’s birthrate. Then the pandemic hit last year and made matters worse.

But while U.S. population growth recovered after the Great Depression, demographers are not optimistic it will pick up anytime soon. Most forecast even slower population growth in the decades to come. Americans are getting older — the median age in the U.S. is 38, up one year from 37 in 2010. Immigration had been dropping even before the pandemic effectively shut it down. And many Republicans have largely turned against the idea of immigration, legal or illegal, a new political barrier to the country adding more population quickly.

“Unlike the Great Depression, it’s part of a process where we’re likely to keep having slow growth,” said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

That has potentially grim consequences for the nation’s future. “The big demographic advantage the U.S. once enjoyed over other rich nations has evaporated,” John Lettieri, president of the Economic Innovation Group, tweeted after the census data release. “Now there are more Americans 80 and older than 2 or younger.”

The U.S. population may be growing more slowly, but it continued its 80-year-long trend of shifting to the South and the West.

Florida, Montana and North Carolina each saw enough growth to add a congressional seat, while booming Texas gained two. Colorado and Oregon also gained new seats, while Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania lost seats.

The snapshot tells a familiar story: Americans have moved out of the industrial Midwest and Northeast, chasing jobs, more affordable housing, growing new suburbs and vibrant cities.

But, strikingly, the longtime symbol of Americans’ search for the new and the next wasn’t part of that story. California’s growth rate wasn’t enough to retain its 53-seat delegation in the House. The nation’s most populous state lost a congressional seat for the first time in its history, a fact that is already forcing debate over whether Democrats’ control of state government is to blame.

Those population changes will be quickly translated into political shifts. The census data officially kicked off the redistricting process, in which states will redraw congressional and statehouse districts to adjust for the new headcounts.

The news Monday was generally good for Republicans. They control the redistricting process in Florida, North Carolina and Texas, which account for four of the seven new seats.

The two Democratic states that gain seats — Colorado and Oregon — won’t give that power to their Democratically controlled legislatures. In Oregon, Democrats have agreed to give GOP lawmakers equal say in exchange for a pledge not to hold up other legislation. And Colorado’s voters took the drawing of district lines away from state lawmakers and gave it to a nonpartisan commission.

The new seats are only part of the often cutthroat redistricting fight. As soon as August, the Census Bureau is expected to release detailed information showing, down to the block, where almost every person lives. New legislative maps will be redrawn in each state to ensure equal representation. But one party can gain advantage by packing rivals into a single district, or spreading them out so that they can never win an election.

Right now, the GOP controls more statehouses overall and has an edge in growing states. Republicans only need to net a handful of seats to win control of the U.S. House.

“I think Republicans, when all this is done, will be in great shape to retake the House majority in 2022,” said Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, which is coordinating the GOP redistricting push.

But there will be limits. Many of the new residents of those states are young and voters of color, groups that lean strongly Democratic. It may be hard for Republicans to maintain their edge for much of the decade, regardless of how they draw their lines.

In fact, the process was expected to go even better for the GOP. Texas had been predicted to gain three seats, Florida two and Arizona one. Those shortfalls were a shocker for demographers, and there were so few details in the data it was hard to understand what happened.

One possibility is that Latinos weren’t properly counted. Latinos make up a large segment of the population in the three states that didn’t gain expected seats. Trump unsuccessfully pushed to add a citizenship question to the census, sparking allegations that he hoped to intimidate immigrants or people in the country illegally from participating in the process. The actual count started during the coronavirus pandemic when it was especially hard to reach certain populations.

It may be that the gap between expected gains and actual ones is the first sign of a Hispanic undercount. But it’s too soon to tell without the more detailed data due out in the fall.

“The initial results are surprising enough that once more details are released, we will be able to better determine to what extent the Latino population was fairly and accurately counted,” said Arturo Vargas, president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said he wasn’t ready to “sound the alarm” about an undercount yet, noting that growth among Latinos may have helped New York avoid losing a second House seat.

This census count was a tough one for New York. Growth has been slowing for years and there’s been a particular exodus of people from its upstate region north and west of New York City. But, during a Monday news conference, Census Bureau officials revealed the state was 89 people short of dodging the demographic bullet of losing a congressional seat.

Congressional reapportionment is a zero-sum game, with states divvying up the 435 House seats based on population. Minnesota barely edged out New York to avoid being the last state to lose a seat. If New York had counted 89 more residents, and all other states stayed the same, the state would have kept its seat and Minnesota would have lost one.

Minnesota, which had the nation’s highest self-response rate, also secured the last House seat in 2010.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. population growth has slowed to the lowest rate since the Great Depression, the Census Bureau said, as Americans continued their march to the South and West and one-time engines of growth, New York and California, lost political influence.

Altogether, the U.S. population rose to 331,449,281 last year, the Census Bureau said Monday, a 7.4% increase over the previous decade that was the second slowest ever. Experts say that paltry pace reflects the combination of an aging population, slowing immigration and the scars of the Great Recession more than a decade ago, which led many young adults to delay marriage and families.

The new allocation of congressional seats comes in the first release of data from last year’s headcount. The numbers generally chart familiar American migration patterns: Texas and Florida, two Republican Sunbelt giants, added enough population to gain congressional seats as chillier climes like New York and Ohio saw slow growth and lost political muscle.

The report also confirms one historic marker: For the first time in 170 years of statehood,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-census-2020-government-and-politics-5d518db43b3d53cb9241789628c88521">California is losing a congressional seat</a>, a result of slowed migration to the nation’s most populous state, which was once a symbol of the country’s expansive frontier.

The state population figures, known as the apportionment count, determine distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending each year. They also mark the official beginning of once-a-decade redistricting battles. The numbers released Monday, along with more detailed data expected later this year, will be used by state legislatures or independent commissions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electoral-college-census-2020-government-and-politics-politics-86e1a31aeeea02004a3c71abd58097ee">to redraw political maps to account for shifts in population</a>.

It’s been a bumpy road getting this far. The 2020 census faced a once-in-a-century coronavirus pandemic, wildfires, hurricanes, allegations of political interference with the Trump administration’s failed effort to add a citizenship question, fluctuating deadlines and lawsuits.

Texas was the biggest winner — the second-most populous state added two congressional seats, while Florida and North Carolina each gained one. Colorado, Montana and Oregon all added residents and gained a seat each. States losing seats included Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The new numbers contain some surprises. Though Texas and Florida grew, the final census count had them each gaining one fewer seat than expected. Arizona, another fast-growing state that demographers considered a sure bet to pick up a new seat, failed to get one. All three states have large Latino populations that represent about half their growth, and this could be an early sign that Hispanics shied away from the Trump administration’s count.

Still, Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said he wasn’t ready to “sound the alarm” over the underperformance of states with large Hispanic populations. He noted that he believes Hispanic growth helped states like Colorado and Oregon each gain seats and prevented states like New York and Illinois from losing more.

Congressional reapportionment is a zero sum game, with states divvying up the 435 House seats based on population advantages that can be strikingly small. If New York had counted 89 more residents, the state would have kept its seat and Minnesota would have lost one, officials said. Minnesota, which had the nation’s highest self-response rate, also secured the last House seat in 2010.

The reshuffling of the congressional map moved seats from blue states to red ones, giving Republicans a clear, immediate advantage. The party will have complete control of drawing the congressional maps in Texas, Florida and North Carolina — states that are adding four seats.

In contrast, though Democrats control the process in Oregon, Democratic lawmakers there have agreed to give Republicans an equal say in redistricting in exchange for a commitment to stop blocking bills. In Democratic Colorado, a nonpartisan commission will draw the lines, meaning the party won’t have total control in a single expanding state’s redistricting.

The overall numbers confirm what demographers have long warned — that the country’s growth is stalling. Many had expected growth to come in even below the 1930s levels given the long hangover of the Great Recession and the drying up of immigration, which came to a virtual halt during last year’s pandemic.

William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., warned that even a recovering economy may not change the trend with the population aging rapidly and immigration contentious. “Unlike the Great Depression, it’s part of a process where we’re likely to keep having slow growth,” Frey said.

Meanwhile, Americans continue to move to GOP-run states. For now, that shift provides the Republicans with the opportunity to shape new congressional districts to maximize the influence of their voters and have a major advantage in upcoming elections — possibly enough to win back control of the U.S. House.

But in the long term, it’s not clear the migration is good news for Republicans. Many of the fastest growing states are increasingly competitive political battlegrounds where the new arrivals —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-census-2020-business-government-and-politics-immigration-cbc10b35e47a331515cce18abc9dcddc">including many young people</a>&nbsp;and people of color — could at some point give Democrats an edge.

“What’s happening is growth in Sunbelt states that are trending Democratic or will soon trend Democratic,” Frey said.

That means Republicans may be limited in how many favorable seats they can draw as Democrats move to their territory.

“It’s going to be harder and harder for the Texas Legislature to gerrymander advantageous congressional districts” for Republicans, said William Fulton, director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University in Houston. “Texas hasn’t flipped blue yet as a state, but the blue population centers are growing really fast.”

Fulton, who moved to Texas from California, said his new home has become “the new California — the big state that’s adding a lot of population.” He believes California risks becoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-redistricting-andrew-cuomo-wrestling-elections-f13d214732a948d88418b005dd9131de">the new Northeast — which he characterized as a stagnant, crowded area</a>&nbsp;that retains wealth and intellectual clout but loses innovators to more promising places.

Despite California’s slow growth, the state still has 10 million more residents than Texas.

North Carolina and Texas, Fulton said, are positioned to become the intellectual powerhouses of the new economy, as the South has snatched away major manufacturing industries like automobiles from the Rust Belt. “We are 10-20 years away from the South and the West being truly dominant in American culture and American society,” Fulton said.

But population booms also bring new burdens, like increased traffic, rising home prices and strains on an infrastructure already grappling with climate change — vividly illustrated when the Texas power grid failed in the winter storms of February.

The pattern outlined in the the Census data was one started in the 1930s with the development of modern air-conditioning and has been steady since then. The change in the pattern this time was California.

Home prices have soared in California, contributing to a stream of residents leaving for other Western states. Those relocations helped turn Colorado and Nevada into Democratic states and made Arizona competitive.

“That’s the California exodus, blue state immigrants,” Frey said. “Californians are taking their votes and moving to other places.”

The power shift is also being driven by Hispanics. Over the decade, Hispanics accounted for around half of the growth in Arizona, Florida and Texas, according to figures from the American Community Survey, a Census Bureau program separate from the decennial census.

The legal deadline for turning in the apportionment numbers was Dec. 31, but the Census Bureau pushed back that date to April because of challenges caused by the pandemic and the need for more time to correct not-unexpected irregularities.

More detailed figures will be released later this year showing populations by race, Hispanic origin, gender and housing at geographic levels as small as neighborhoods. This redistricting data will be used for redrawing precise congressional and legislative districts.

President Joe Biden sent Monday’s numbers to the Capitol, where the House clerk has 15 days to notify governors.

TEXAS — The Longhorn State is the big winner, adding two congressional seats courtesy of 4 million new residents. Demographers say people moving from other states like California have contributed a significant chunk of the growth. The nation’s second most populous state will now have 38 congressional representatives, behind only California.

FLORIDA — The nation’s third most populous state adds one congressional seat because of a population gain of more than 2.7 million. This boosts its House delegation to 28 and Electoral College votes to 30, furthering the Sunshine State’s importance in presidential elections.

COLORADO — Population growth around Denver helped Colorado gain an extra seat, its first new House seat in 20 years. The mostly college-educated transplants have helped Colorado go from being a solidly Republican state to a competitive swing state to, now, a solidly Democratic one — though the state’s districts will be drawn by a nonpartisan commission.

MONTANA — By gaining a congressional seat, Montana goes from having a single House representative to having two. The gain marks a rebound for Montana, which had two congressional seats for most of the 20th century but lost one after the 1990 census.

NORTH CAROLINA — Fueled by retirees and job seekers, North Carolina’s population boom is earning it an extra seat, raising its House count to 14. The gains have been concentrated in the Charlotte and Raleigh areas.

OREGON — Oregon is getting a new congressional seat for the first time in 40 years, going from five House members to six. Although Democrats control state government, they have agreed to give up their advantage in redrawing the state’s political districts for the next 10 years in exchange for a commitment from Republicans to stop blocking bills.

CALIFORNIA — While California is still the nation’s most populous state, its stagnant growth over the past decade causes it to lose a single seat for the first time in 170 years of statehood. Its number of House members goes from 53 to 52 for a state that has been a symbol of limitless growth and endless possibilities since the Gold Rush of the 1800s.

ILLINOIS — Illinois goes from 18 to 17 House members, continuing a 40-year streak of losing congressional seats.

MICHIGAN — The number of House members representing Michigan drops from 14 to 13, particularly because of population losses in the Upper Peninsula.

NEW YORK — There was no question New York was going to lose a congressional seat, but the suspense lay in whether it would be one or two seats. The Census Bureau says New York lost its seat by a mere 89 people. The loss of one seat reduces its House delegation from 27 to 26 members.

OHIO — Sluggish population growth over the past decade causes Ohio to lose a single congressional seat, continuing its streak of losses every decade since 1960. The adjustment reduces the Buckeye State’s House seats from 16 to 15.

PENNSYLVANIA — Although Pennsylvania remains an important presidential battleground, its influence will be diminished by the loss of one Electoral College vote. Its House delegation drops from 18 to 17 members.

WEST VIRGINIA — A decadeslong exodus of residents finally causes West Virginia to lose a congressional seat, reducing its representation in the House from three to two members.

Census: What's behind the slowest US population growth since the Depression

NEW YORK (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines Tuesday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511290-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-covid-19-pandemic-response&amp;live">Click here to watch</a> President Biden's remarks

And those who are unvaccinated can go outside without masks in some situations, too.

The new guidance represents another carefully calibrated step on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-3d38206bc38f012b9598154b59d27d1f">the road back to normal</a>&nbsp;from the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 570,000 people in U.S.

For most of the past year, the CDC had been advising Americans to wear masks outdoors if they are within 6 feet of one another.

“Today, I hope, is a day when we can take another step back to the normalcy of before,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “Over the past year, we have spent a lot of time telling Americans what you can’t do. Today, I am going to tell you some of the things you can do, if you are fully vaccinated.”

The change comes as more than half of U.S. adults have gotten at least one dose of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-long-covid-19-vaccine-protection-last-49340b077e271a750ad804128dbb5f53">coronavirus vaccine</a>, and more than a third have been fully vaccinated.

Walensky said the decision was driven by rising vaccination numbers; declines in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths; and research showing that less than 10% of documented instances of transmission of the virus happened outdoors.

Dr. Mike Saag, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, welcomed the change in guidance.

“It’s the return of freedom,” Saag said. “It’s the return of us being able to do normal activities again. We’re not there yet, but we’re on the exit ramp. And that’s a beautiful thing.”

More people need to be vaccinated, and concerns persist about variants and other possible shifts in the epidemic. But Saag said the new guidance is a sensible reward following the development and distribution of effective vaccines and about 140 million Americans stepping forward to get their shots.

The CDC, which has been cautious in its guidance during the crisis, essentially endorsed what many Americans have already been doing over the past several weeks.

The CDC says that fully vaccinated or not, people do not have to wear masks outdoors when they walk, bike or run alone or with members of their household. They can also go maskless in small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated people.

But from there, the CDC has differing guidance for people who are fully vaccinated and those who are not.

Unvaccinated people — defined by the CDC as those who have yet to receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson formula — should wear masks at outdoor gatherings that include other unvaccinated people. They also should keep using masks at outdoor restaurants.

Fully vaccinated people do not need to cover up in those situations, the CDC says.

However, everyone should keep wearing masks at crowded outdoor events such as concerts or sporting events, the CDC says.

And the agency continues to recommend masks at indoor public places, such as hair salons, restaurants, shopping centers, gyms, museums and movie theaters, saying that is still the safer course even for vaccinated people.

“Right now it’s very hard to tease apart who is vaccinated,” Walensky explained.

She said the CDC guidance should be a model for states in setting their mask-wearing requirements.

Dr. Babak Javid, a physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco, said the new CDC guidance is sensible.

“In the vast majority of outdoor scenarios, transmission risk is low,” Javid said.

Javid has favored outdoor mask-wearing requirements because he believes they increase indoor mask-wearing, but he said Americans can understand the relative risks and make good decisions.

He added: “I’m looking forward to mask-free existence.”

“The timing is right because we now have a fair amount of data about the scenarios where transmission occurs,” said Mercedes Carnethon, a professor and vice chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

What’s more, she said, “the additional freedoms may serve as a motivator” for people to get vaccinated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619546632702.png" alt="President Biden delivered remarks on masks and vaccinations Tuesday afternoon-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden delivered remarks on masks and vaccinations Tuesday afternoon-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines Tuesday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511290-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-covid-19-pandemic-response&amp;live">Click here to watch</a> President Biden's remarksAnd those who are unvaccinated can go outside without masks in some situations, too.The new guidance represents another carefully calibrated step on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-3d38206bc38f012b9598154b59d27d1f">the road back to normal</a>&nbsp;from the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 570,000 people in U.S.For most of the past year, the CDC had been advising Americans to wear masks outdoors if they are within 6 feet of one another.“Today, I hope, is a day when we can take another step back to the normalcy of before,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “Over the past year, we have spent a lot of time telling Americans what you can’t do. Today, I am going to tell you some of the things you can do, if you are fully vaccinated.”The change comes as more than half of U.S. adults have gotten at least one dose of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-long-covid-19-vaccine-protection-last-49340b077e271a750ad804128dbb5f53">coronavirus vaccine</a>, and more than a third have been fully vaccinated.Walensky said the decision was driven by rising vaccination numbers; declines in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths; and research showing that less than 10% of documented instances of transmission of the virus happened outdoors.Dr. Mike Saag, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, welcomed the change in guidance.“It’s the return of freedom,” Saag said. “It’s the return of us being able to do normal activities again. We’re not there yet, but we’re on the exit ramp. And that’s a beautiful thing.”More people need to be vaccinated, and concerns persist about variants and other possible shifts in the epidemic. But Saag said the new guidance is a sensible reward following the development and distribution of effective vaccines and about 140 million Americans stepping forward to get their shots.The CDC, which has been cautious in its guidance during the crisis, essentially endorsed what many Americans have already been doing over the past several weeks.The CDC says that fully vaccinated or not, people do not have to wear masks outdoors when they walk, bike or run alone or with members of their household. They can also go maskless in small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated people.But from there, the CDC has differing guidance for people who are fully vaccinated and those who are not.Unvaccinated people — defined by the CDC as those who have yet to receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson formula — should wear masks at outdoor gatherings that include other unvaccinated people. They also should keep using masks at outdoor restaurants.Fully vaccinated people do not need to cover up in those situations, the CDC says.However, everyone should keep wearing masks at crowded outdoor events such as concerts or sporting events, the CDC says.And the agency continues to recommend masks at indoor public places, such as hair salons, restaurants, shopping centers, gyms, museums and movie theaters, saying that is still the safer course even for vaccinated people.“Right now it’s very hard to tease apart who is vaccinated,” Walensky explained.She said the CDC guidance should be a model for states in setting their mask-wearing requirements.Dr. Babak Javid, a physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco, said the new CDC guidance is sensible.“In the vast majority of outdoor scenarios, transmission risk is low,” Javid said.Javid has favored outdoor mask-wearing requirements because he believes they increase indoor mask-wearing, but he said Americans can understand the relative risks and make good decisions.He added: “I’m looking forward to mask-free existence.”“The timing is right because we now have a fair amount of data about the scenarios where transmission occurs,” said Mercedes Carnethon, a professor and vice chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.What’s more, she said, “the additional freedoms may serve as a motivator” for people to get vaccinated.

🎥 Biden: Many Americans can now go outside without a mask

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the suspicious weekend death 46-year-old&nbsp; Hester Workman of Topeka in her home have made an arrest.

As a result of the investigation, Workman's death is now classified as a homicide and a 16-year-old Topeka juvenile has been arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections requested charges of First degree murder, Felony murder, Aggravated burglary, Theft and Obstruction, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

Just after&nbsp; 7p.m. Saturday, police responded to a home in the 2800 block of SW James in Topeka after a 911 call requesting medical personnel, according to police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

At the scene first responders located Workman who was deceased. Police released no additional details early Tuesday including the gender of the teen in custody.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspicious weekend death and have identified the victim as Hester Workman, 46, of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

At the scene first responders located Workman who was deceased.

Officers and Detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are a suspicious death.

At the scene first responders located a woman who was deceased.

Officers and Detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.&nbsp; Police did not release the victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619363984890.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Saturday photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Saturday photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the suspicious weekend death 46-year-old&nbsp; Hester Workman of Topeka in her home have made an arrest.As a result of the investigation, Workman's death is now classified as a homicide and a 16-year-old Topeka juvenile has been arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections requested charges of First degree murder, Felony murder, Aggravated burglary, Theft and Obstruction, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Just after&nbsp; 7p.m. Saturday, police responded to a home in the 2800 block of SW James in Topeka after a 911 call requesting medical personnel, according to police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.At the scene first responders located Workman who was deceased. Police released no additional details early Tuesday including the gender of the teen in custody.---------------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspicious weekend death and have identified the victim as Hester Workman, 46, of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Just after&nbsp; 7p.m. Saturday, police responded to a home in the 2800 block of SW James in Topeka after a 911 call requesting medical personnel, according to police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.At the scene first responders located Workman who was deceased.Officers and Detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.------------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are a suspicious death.Just after&nbsp; 7p.m. Saturday, police responded to a home in the 2800 block of SW James in Topeka after a 911 call requesting medical personnel, according to police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.At the scene first responders located a woman who was deceased.Officers and Detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.&nbsp; Police did not release the victim's name.

Homicide: 16-year-old arrested for death of Kansas woman 

WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. along with a group of Republican doctors and other health care providers in Congress launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7PB1-66ues" target="_blank">public service campaign</a>&nbsp;Tuesday to boost COVID-19 vaccine participation saying in part, “Operation Warp Speed brought us safe and effective vaccines in record time.

The FDA did not skip any steps. Instead, they cut bureaucratic red tape – not corners – and they got the job done in record time… So it’s obvious to me from a medical standpoint, the only way to protect yourself and your loved ones, and to end the government’s restrictions on our freedoms is to take action and get the vaccine. 

The beauty of living in this great nation is however, that we have the option to choose whether or not we get vaccinated. When the time comes for you to make that decision, talk it over with your doctor or your pharmacist and consider their recommendation.

I hope you’ll join me, along with over 100 million Americans, in choosing to receive the vaccine so we can throw away our masks and live life as free as we did before.”

Members participating include Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS), John Barrasso, M.D. (WY), John Boozman, O.D. (AR), and Representatives Brian Babin, D.D.S (TX), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN), Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX), Buddy Carter RPh (GA), Andy Harris, M.D. (MD), John Joyce, M.D. (PA), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC).

WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. along with a group of Republican doctors and other health care providers in Congress launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7PB1-66ues" target="_blank">public service campaign</a>&nbsp;Tuesday to boost COVID-19 vaccine participation saying in part, “Operation Warp Speed brought us safe and effective vaccines in record time. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h7PB1-66ues" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The FDA did not skip any steps. Instead, they cut bureaucratic red tape – not corners – and they got the job done in record time… So it’s obvious to me from a medical standpoint, the only way to protect yourself and your loved ones, and to end the government’s restrictions on our freedoms is to take action and get the vaccine. The beauty of living in this great nation is however, that we have the option to choose whether or not we get vaccinated. When the time comes for you to make that decision, talk it over with your doctor or your pharmacist and consider their recommendation.I hope you’ll join me, along with over 100 million Americans, in choosing to receive the vaccine so we can throw away our masks and live life as free as we did before.”Members participating include Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS), John Barrasso, M.D. (WY), John Boozman, O.D. (AR), and Representatives Brian Babin, D.D.S (TX), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN), Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX), Buddy Carter RPh (GA), Andy Harris, M.D. (MD), John Joyce, M.D. (PA), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC).

🎥 Doctors in Congress launch campaign encouraging vaccines 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a ban on the use of state dollars to enforce mask mandates and 17 other budget provisions amid ongoing strain between the first-term Democrat and the GOP-dominated Legislature.

Kelly said in a statement Monday that she supported the majority of the budget but that some pieces were unnecessary, had been resolved in other bills or should have been vetted more thoroughly.

Other provisions that were vetoed included one that would give legislative committees more power over how to allocate federal relief funds.

The rejections come after Kelly last week vetoed a ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-321b19c681fe78be837bde945c0f6aa4">transgender school athletes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-topeka-bills-kansas-5d4ce7f2bff65fb3cbc34aada2b64edf">civics and financial literacy requirements</a>&nbsp;for high schoolers and gun safety education for students using National Rifle Association materials.

The eight non-budget bills she has said no to are more than any Kansas governor in the past 17 years and come after Kelly issued just seven total during her first two years in office.

The strain between Kelly and the Legislature has largely centered over how to handle the pandemic, with both sides repeatedly clashing over gathering restrictions and mask mandates.

The weeks ahead will bring high-stakes fights over whether GOP lawmakers can override her vetoes and enact changes to taxes, public school curriculum and transgender rights. All of it comes amid early positioning in the 2022 governor’s race.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619115491204.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly during a stop last week in Barton County as part of her Back to Work, Back to School Tour" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly during a stop last week in Barton County as part of her Back to Work, Back to School Tour</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a ban on the use of state dollars to enforce mask mandates and 17 other budget provisions amid ongoing strain between the first-term Democrat and the GOP-dominated Legislature.Kelly said in a statement Monday that she supported the majority of the budget but that some pieces were unnecessary, had been resolved in other bills or should have been vetted more thoroughly.Other provisions that were vetoed included one that would give legislative committees more power over how to allocate federal relief funds.The rejections come after Kelly last week vetoed a ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-321b19c681fe78be837bde945c0f6aa4">transgender school athletes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-topeka-bills-kansas-5d4ce7f2bff65fb3cbc34aada2b64edf">civics and financial literacy requirements</a>&nbsp;for high schoolers and gun safety education for students using National Rifle Association materials.The eight non-budget bills she has said no to are more than any Kansas governor in the past 17 years and come after Kelly issued just seven total during her first two years in office.The strain between Kelly and the Legislature has largely centered over how to handle the pandemic, with both sides repeatedly clashing over gathering restrictions and mask mandates.The weeks ahead will bring high-stakes fights over whether GOP lawmakers can override her vetoes and enact changes to taxes, public school curriculum and transgender rights. All of it comes amid early positioning in the 2022 governor’s race.Republicans are working to build their case against Kelly, who is the only incumbent Democratic governor up for re-election in a state lost by President Joe Biden.“I think that the governor’s making hard choices and that’s what we hired her to do. I think this to me is the most conservative group of Republicans I’ve seen in my five years in the Legislature,” said Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, a Prairie Village Democrat.Republicans, meanwhile, believe they can paint the vetoes as obstructionist and out of touch as they foment opposition to Kelly ahead of the election.“When the right people get elected we see the kind of legislation coming out of Topeka that we saw last session that Gov. Kelly had to get out a stamp and just think how tired her arms are — that is your success,” said Republican Party Chairman Mike Kuckleman.