WASHINGTON (AP) — Days after marking a solemn milestone in the pandemic, President Joe Biden is celebrating the pace of his efforts to end it.

On Thursday, Biden marked the administration of the 50 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine since his swearing-in. The moment came days after the nation reached the devastating milestone of 500,000 coronavirus deaths and ahead of a meeting with the nation’s governors on plans to speed the distribution even further.

“The more people get vaccinated, the faster we’re going to beat this pandemic,” Biden said at the White House ceremony, noting that his administration is on course to exceed his promise to deliver 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office.

“We’re halfway there: 50 million shots in 37 days,” Biden said. “That’s weeks ahead of schedule.”

All told, more than 45 million Americans have been administered at least one dose of the approved vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna since they received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in December, with more than 20 million receiving both required doses.

As part of the ceremony, four front-line workers — a pair of emergency medical technicians, a school counselor and a grocery store worker — received vaccine doses on live television, part of the White House’s efforts to build confidence in the vaccination program.

Biden predictions that by late spring there will be enough vaccine to administer to anyone that wants it, but that hesitance of the vaccine will limit the number of people who want it. “We’ll have the vaccine waiting,” Biden said, predicting that point could come within 60 to 90 days.

He promised a “massive campaign to educate people” about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, in hopes of stimulating demand as the nation aims to vaccinate about 80% of adults to reach herd immunity and end the pandemic.

Biden said he planned to tour a U.S. military-run mass vaccination site in Houston on Friday, one of several ways his administration is aiming to speed injections, particularly once supply increases.

Biden noted the promise of a third vaccine receiving approval as soon as this weekend, as Johnson &amp; Johnson’s single-dose candidate undergoes review by the FDA.

“We have a plan to roll it out as quickly as Johnson &amp; Johnson can make it,” Biden said.

Meeting with governors, Biden appealed for their help in passing his $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” which provides funding to expand vaccination and testing as well as economic relief for people struggling during the pandemic.

“The economic toll of this pandemic continues to tear through our country as brutally as the virus itself,” Biden said.

Biden also warned that variants could continue to spread, leading to more cases and hospitalizations. He appealed to Americans to keep up with social distancing measures and wear face coverings.

“This is not the time to relax,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614292595179.png" alt="President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci look on as DC firefighter and EMT Gerald Burn receives a vaccination, during an event to commemorate the 50 millionth COVID-19 shot -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci look on as DC firefighter and EMT Gerald Burn receives a vaccination, during an event to commemorate the 50 millionth COVID-19 shot -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Days after marking a solemn milestone in the pandemic, President Joe Biden is celebrating the pace of his efforts to end it.On Thursday, Biden marked the administration of the 50 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine since his swearing-in. The moment came days after the nation reached the devastating milestone of 500,000 coronavirus deaths and ahead of a meeting with the nation’s governors on plans to speed the distribution even further.“The more people get vaccinated, the faster we’re going to beat this pandemic,” Biden said at the White House ceremony, noting that his administration is on course to exceed his promise to deliver 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office.“We’re halfway there: 50 million shots in 37 days,” Biden said. “That’s weeks ahead of schedule.”All told, more than 45 million Americans have been administered at least one dose of the approved vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna since they received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in December, with more than 20 million receiving both required doses.As part of the ceremony, four front-line workers — a pair of emergency medical technicians, a school counselor and a grocery store worker — received vaccine doses on live television, part of the White House’s efforts to build confidence in the vaccination program.Biden predictions that by late spring there will be enough vaccine to administer to anyone that wants it, but that hesitance of the vaccine will limit the number of people who want it. “We’ll have the vaccine waiting,” Biden said, predicting that point could come within 60 to 90 days.He promised a “massive campaign to educate people” about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, in hopes of stimulating demand as the nation aims to vaccinate about 80% of adults to reach herd immunity and end the pandemic.Biden said he planned to tour a U.S. military-run mass vaccination site in Houston on Friday, one of several ways his administration is aiming to speed injections, particularly once supply increases.Biden noted the promise of a third vaccine receiving approval as soon as this weekend, as Johnson &amp; Johnson’s single-dose candidate undergoes review by the FDA.“We have a plan to roll it out as quickly as Johnson &amp; Johnson can make it,” Biden said.Meeting with governors, Biden appealed for their help in passing his $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” which provides funding to expand vaccination and testing as well as economic relief for people struggling during the pandemic.“The economic toll of this pandemic continues to tear through our country as brutally as the virus itself,” Biden said.Biden also warned that variants could continue to spread, leading to more cases and hospitalizations. He appealed to Americans to keep up with social distancing measures and wear face coverings.“This is not the time to relax,” he said.

US marks 50M COVID-19 vaccine doses since Biden took office

PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man arrested on February 18, in connection with an ongoing sex crimes investigation with the assistance of MotorCity Justice made his first court appearance Thursday in Pawnee County, according to District Attorney Doug McNett.

Jason Leigh Cavender, 44 of Larned, appeared before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell Thursday morning via Zoom in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff.

The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department made a probable cause arrest of Cavender following the execution search warrant at his home in Larned. The law enforcement investigation was prompted by a tip from MotorCity Justice whose goal is to educate parents on the issue of online predators and to expose people that want to meet with children.

Cavender was charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child at least 14, but less than 16 years of age, Promoting Obscenity to a Minor, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to McNett.

Under Kansas law, Electronic Solicitation of a Child is “by means of communication conducted through the telephone, internet or by other electronic means, enticing or soliciting a person, whom the offender believes to be a child, to commit or submit to an unlawful sexual act.”

A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for March 11, 2021. The defendant is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $75,000 bond, according to McNett.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614291131835.png" alt="Cavender photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cavender photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man arrested on February 18, in connection with an ongoing sex crimes investigation with the assistance of MotorCity Justice made his first court appearance Thursday in Pawnee County, according to District Attorney Doug McNett.Jason Leigh Cavender, 44 of Larned, appeared before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell Thursday morning via Zoom in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff.The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department made a probable cause arrest of Cavender following the execution search warrant at his home in Larned. The law enforcement investigation was prompted by a tip from MotorCity Justice whose goal is to educate parents on the issue of online predators and to expose people that want to meet with children.Cavender was charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child at least 14, but less than 16 years of age, Promoting Obscenity to a Minor, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to McNett.Under Kansas law, Electronic Solicitation of a Child is “by means of communication conducted through the telephone, internet or by other electronic means, enticing or soliciting a person, whom the offender believes to be a child, to commit or submit to an unlawful sexual act.”A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for March 11, 2021. The defendant is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $75,000 bond, according to McNett.

Kansas man jailed after online tip charged with child sex crime

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities&nbsp; have announced that a man already in prison for a separate crime has been charged in the 2018 killing of a Kansas City woman whose body was found in rural wooded area months after she disappeared.

Kenneth Wilson Jr., 32, of Cameron, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Vernece Brown.

Brown’s remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6a2c258203df444391a5cc1d1f05136f">were found</a>&nbsp;by mushroom hunters in May 2018 in a wooded area near Harrisonville, about 35 miles south of Kansas City. She had been missing since Valentine’s Day of that year. An autopsy showed she had been fatally shot.

Cellphone data shows Brown had been communicating with Wilson and that their cellphones were in the same location about the time she disappeared, police said.

Wilson is already in custody at the Western Missouri Correctional Center serving a sentence for a separate crime. Court records show he was arrested in 2018 while driving a stolen vehicle that was carjacked from a woman in Columbia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614281700279.png" alt="Wilson photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities&nbsp; have announced that a man already in prison for a separate crime has been charged in the 2018 killing of a Kansas City woman whose body was found in rural wooded area months after she disappeared.Kenneth Wilson Jr., 32, of Cameron, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Vernece Brown.Brown’s remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6a2c258203df444391a5cc1d1f05136f">were found</a>&nbsp;by mushroom hunters in May 2018 in a wooded area near Harrisonville, about 35 miles south of Kansas City. She had been missing since Valentine’s Day of that year. An autopsy showed she had been fatally shot.Cellphone data shows Brown had been communicating with Wilson and that their cellphones were in the same location about the time she disappeared, police said.Wilson is already in custody at the Western Missouri Correctional Center serving a sentence for a separate crime. Court records show he was arrested in 2018 while driving a stolen vehicle that was carjacked from a woman in Columbia.

Inmate charged in 2018 death of Kansas City woman

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Four men from Mississippi have been banned from hunting anywhere in the world and fined a total of $48,000 for violating wildlife laws in Kansas.

Kenneth R. Britt Jr., 51; Tony Grant Smith, 26; Barney Leon Bairfield III, 28; and Dustin Corey Treadway, 28, were also sentenced to several years of probation, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Wednesday.

They pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill wild turkeys in excess of the legal limit and illegally transporting the birds across state lines, prosecutors said in a news release.

The men are from two neighboring towns — Wesson and Brookhaven — in Mississippi.

In 2017 and 2018, they traveled to Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska for spring hunting trip without the required hunting licenses, prosecutors said

During one eight-day trip in 2018, the men bagged at least 26 wild turkeys. Kansas limits hunters to two wild turkey kills per hunter per season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614295511825.png" alt="During one eight-day trip in 2018, the men bagged at least 26 wild turkeys Photo courtesy KDWP&amp;T game wardens" />
 <figcaption>During one eight-day trip in 2018, the men bagged at least 26 wild turkeys Photo courtesy KDWP&amp;T game wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Four men from Mississippi have been banned from hunting anywhere in the world and fined a total of $48,000 for violating wildlife laws in Kansas.Kenneth R. Britt Jr., 51; Tony Grant Smith, 26; Barney Leon Bairfield III, 28; and Dustin Corey Treadway, 28, were also sentenced to several years of probation, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Wednesday.They pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill wild turkeys in excess of the legal limit and illegally transporting the birds across state lines, prosecutors said in a news release.The men are from two neighboring towns — Wesson and Brookhaven — in Mississippi.In 2017 and 2018, they traveled to Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska for spring hunting trip without the required hunting licenses, prosecutors saidDuring one eight-day trip in 2018, the men bagged at least 26 wild turkeys. Kansas limits hunters to two wild turkey kills per hunter per season.

4 banned from hunting anywhere, fined for violations in Kansas

The U.S. Army has announced that Fort Riley will deploy an additional task force as part of the Department of Defense’s support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Approximately 120 Soldiers from the 2nd&nbsp;Armored&nbsp;Brigade Combat Team, 1st&nbsp;Infantry Division,&nbsp;will&nbsp;deploy to Miami, Florida,&nbsp;beginning Friday. The task force will support a state-run, federally supported Community Vaccination Center to increase the number of Americans being vaccinated.

The Soldiers include medical personnel and support staff. These Soldiers are&nbsp;prepared to administer vaccines, care for patients, and offer other organizational support. Teams such as this are capable of administering 3,000 vaccinations per day.

A similar team deployed Feb. 19 from Fort Riley to Dallas, Texas. This team is supporting the Community Vaccination Center at Fair Park Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.

“Our Soldiers are playing vital roles in providing lifesaving vaccines to the ones we swore to protect, the American people,” said Col. Brandon Smith, Commander, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “I am honored we have the opportunity to help our fellow citizens and to help put an end to this pandemic.”

Additionally, the 1st Sustainment Brigade has 44 Soldiers supporting FEMA vaccination efforts in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Dallas, Houston, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These Forward Assessment and Sustainment Teams provide the contracting and logistical support necessary to integrate civilian and military medical personnel. Their capabilities include medical screening, personnel accountability, commodity management, and contracting support.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614298655971.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Army has announced that Fort Riley will deploy an additional task force as part of the Department of Defense’s support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Approximately 120 Soldiers from the 2nd&nbsp;Armored&nbsp;Brigade Combat Team, 1st&nbsp;Infantry Division,&nbsp;will&nbsp;deploy to Miami, Florida,&nbsp;beginning Friday. The task force will support a state-run, federally supported Community Vaccination Center to increase the number of Americans being vaccinated.The Soldiers include medical personnel and support staff. These Soldiers are&nbsp;prepared to administer vaccines, care for patients, and offer other organizational support. Teams such as this are capable of administering 3,000 vaccinations per day.A similar team deployed Feb. 19 from Fort Riley to Dallas, Texas. This team is supporting the Community Vaccination Center at Fair Park Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.“Our Soldiers are playing vital roles in providing lifesaving vaccines to the ones we swore to protect, the American people,” said Col. Brandon Smith, Commander, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “I am honored we have the opportunity to help our fellow citizens and to help put an end to this pandemic.”Additionally, the 1st Sustainment Brigade has 44 Soldiers supporting FEMA vaccination efforts in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Dallas, Houston, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These Forward Assessment and Sustainment Teams provide the contracting and logistical support necessary to integrate civilian and military medical personnel. Their capabilities include medical screening, personnel accountability, commodity management, and contracting support.

Fort Riley soldiers deploy in support of vaccination effort

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on numerous drug charges after a late-night traffic stop.

Just before 4a.m. Thursday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 2013 Chrysler 200 in the 5600 block of W. 10th Street in Great Bend for speeding, according to sheriff Brian Bellendir.

During the course of the traffic stop, deputies determined the driver later identified as Andrew Decoudres age 32 of Larned, was driving under the influence of alcohol/or drugs. 

Deputies also located what is believed to be LSD, a substantial amount of methamphetamine and prescription drugs as well as paraphernalia during the course of the investigation.

Deputies arrested Decoudres and booked him on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessions of a hallucinogenic substance with intent to distribute, possession of prescription drugs, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as interference with law enforcement officer and DUI as well as various other traffic charges. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614275210999.png" alt="Decoudres-photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>Decoudres-photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on numerous drug charges after a late-night traffic stop.Just before 4a.m. Thursday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 2013 Chrysler 200 in the 5600 block of W. 10th Street in Great Bend for speeding, according to sheriff Brian Bellendir.During the course of the traffic stop, deputies determined the driver later identified as Andrew Decoudres age 32 of Larned, was driving under the influence of alcohol/or drugs. Deputies also located what is believed to be LSD, a substantial amount of methamphetamine and prescription drugs as well as paraphernalia during the course of the investigation.Deputies arrested Decoudres and booked him on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessions of a hallucinogenic substance with intent to distribute, possession of prescription drugs, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as interference with law enforcement officer and DUI as well as various other traffic charges. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

Sheriff: Deputies find LSD during Kansas traffic stop

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities canceled the Silver Alert for a missing 74-year-old woman on Thursday afternoon. Authorities located Janice Gaug, according to Wichita Police spokesperson Trevor Macy.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; needs&nbsp; have issued a Silver Alert for 74-year-old Janice Gaug, according to Wichita Police.

She was last seen in the Wichita area on Monday and is believed to be driving a black 2014 Ford Focus with South Dakota tag 7A5227.

If you know her whereabouts, contact the Wichita Police Department at 316-268-4659 or call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614189663811.png" alt="Janice Gaug photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Janice Gaug photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities canceled the Silver Alert for a missing 74-year-old woman on Thursday afternoon. Authorities located Janice Gaug, according to Wichita Police spokesperson Trevor Macy.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.----------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; needs&nbsp; have issued a Silver Alert for 74-year-old Janice Gaug, according to Wichita Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614189526707.png" alt="Screen Shot 2021-02-24 at 11.57.59 AM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2021-02-24 at 11.57.59 AM.png</figcaption>
 </figure>She was last seen in the Wichita area on Monday and is believed to be driving a black 2014 Ford Focus with South Dakota tag 7A5227.If you know her whereabouts, contact the Wichita Police Department at 316-268-4659 or call 911.

Silver Alert canceled for woman reported missing in Kansas

SAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday lifted a freeze on green cards issued by his predecessor during the pandemic that lawyers said was blocking most legal immigration to the United States.

Former President Donald Trump last spring halted the issuance of green cards until the end of 2020 in the name of protecting the coronavirus-wracked job market — a reason that Trump gave to achieve many of the cuts to legal immigration that had eluded him before the pandemic.

Trump on Dec. 31 extended those orders until the end of March.

Trump had deemed immigrants a “risk to the U.S. labor market” and blocked their entry to the United States in issuing Proclamation 10014 and Proclamation 10052.

Biden stated in his proclamation Wednesday that shutting the door on legal immigrants “does not advance the interests of the United States.”

“To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world,” Biden stated in his proclamation.

Most immigrant visas were blocked by the orders, according to immigration lawyers.

As many as 120,000 family-based preference visas were lost largely because of the pandemic-related freeze in the 2020 budget year, according to the American Immigrant Lawyers Association. Immigrants could not bring over family members unless they were U.S. citizens applying for visas for their spouses or children under the age of 21.

It also barred entry to immigrants with employment-based visas unless they were considered beneficial to the national interest such as health care professionals.

And it slammed the door on thousands of visa lottery winners who were randomly chosen from a pool of about 14 million applicants to be given green cards that would let them live permanently in the United States.

The blocked visas add to a growing backlog that has reached 437,000 for family-based visas alone, said California immigration lawyer Curtis Morrison, who represented thousands of people blocked by the freeze.

“I’m thrilled for my clients who are now in a position that they can now enter the U.S.,” he said. “But that backlog will take years if the administration does not take ambitious measures.”

A federal judge last year issued a ruling that all but lifted Proclamation 10052 by allowing temporary foreign workers to enter the United States if their employers are members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or several other large organizations that represent much of the U.S. economy.

But Proclamation 10014 continued to block thousands of immigrants.

Immigration lawyers said they were surprised Biden did not immediately lift the freeze like he did with Trump’s travel ban imposed against people from mostly Muslim-majority countries. As a result, some immigrants blocked by the travel ban found they still could not come to the United States because of the freeze.

Biden’s actions come only days after thousands of visa lottery winners at risk of having their visas expire won a court order that put their visas on hold by the judge in the case. Now they will be allowed to use their visas to enter the country.

The United States makes available up to 55,000 visas a year for immigrants whose nationalities are underrepresented in the U.S. population. The visas must be used within six months of being obtained.

Meanwhile, Biden has proposed legislation that would limit presidential authority to issue future bans against immigrants.

The president has not said whether there will be any redress for visa lottery winners who lost out because of the pandemic-era policies. But he is calling for the U.S. to increase the number of diversity visas available via the lottery each year from 55,000 to 80,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614257784463.png" alt="President Biden and Vice President Harris during a Wednesday signing ceremony -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Vice President Harris during a Wednesday signing ceremony -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday lifted a freeze on green cards issued by his predecessor during the pandemic that lawyers said was blocking most legal immigration to the United States.Former President Donald Trump last spring halted the issuance of green cards until the end of 2020 in the name of protecting the coronavirus-wracked job market — a reason that Trump gave to achieve many of the cuts to legal immigration that had eluded him before the pandemic.Trump on Dec. 31 extended those orders until the end of March.Trump had deemed immigrants a “risk to the U.S. labor market” and blocked their entry to the United States in issuing Proclamation 10014 and Proclamation 10052.Biden stated in his proclamation Wednesday that shutting the door on legal immigrants “does not advance the interests of the United States.”“To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world,” Biden stated in his proclamation.Most immigrant visas were blocked by the orders, according to immigration lawyers.As many as 120,000 family-based preference visas were lost largely because of the pandemic-related freeze in the 2020 budget year, according to the American Immigrant Lawyers Association. Immigrants could not bring over family members unless they were U.S. citizens applying for visas for their spouses or children under the age of 21.It also barred entry to immigrants with employment-based visas unless they were considered beneficial to the national interest such as health care professionals.And it slammed the door on thousands of visa lottery winners who were randomly chosen from a pool of about 14 million applicants to be given green cards that would let them live permanently in the United States.The blocked visas add to a growing backlog that has reached 437,000 for family-based visas alone, said California immigration lawyer Curtis Morrison, who represented thousands of people blocked by the freeze.“I’m thrilled for my clients who are now in a position that they can now enter the U.S.,” he said. “But that backlog will take years if the administration does not take ambitious measures.”A federal judge last year issued a ruling that all but lifted Proclamation 10052 by allowing temporary foreign workers to enter the United States if their employers are members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or several other large organizations that represent much of the U.S. economy.But Proclamation 10014 continued to block thousands of immigrants.Immigration lawyers said they were surprised Biden did not immediately lift the freeze like he did with Trump’s travel ban imposed against people from mostly Muslim-majority countries. As a result, some immigrants blocked by the travel ban found they still could not come to the United States because of the freeze.Biden’s actions come only days after thousands of visa lottery winners at risk of having their visas expire won a court order that put their visas on hold by the judge in the case. Now they will be allowed to use their visas to enter the country.The United States makes available up to 55,000 visas a year for immigrants whose nationalities are underrepresented in the U.S. population. The visas must be used within six months of being obtained.Meanwhile, Biden has proposed legislation that would limit presidential authority to issue future bans against immigrants.The president has not said whether there will be any redress for visa lottery winners who lost out because of the pandemic-era policies. But he is calling for the U.S. to increase the number of diversity visas available via the lottery each year from 55,000 to 80,000.

President Biden lifts ban blocking legal immigration to US

CHEROKEE COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the drowning death of two men in Kansas.

On Tuesday night, authorities began searching strip mining pits in Cherokee County for two men from Joplin, according to a media release from the Sheriff's Department.

&nbsp;The men's families reported they didn't return home following a day of fishing.

Early Wednesday, a deputy sheriff located the vehicle they had been in at Mined Wildlife Land #40, northwest of Columbus Kansas, near Northwest 70th and StarValley Road.

Officials recovered the bodies of 70-year-old Robert Sleep and 71-year-old Stephen LeMasters from the water. The initial investigation indicates both men fell through ice and drowned. Although no foul play is suspected, autopsies will be conducted in Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614272962304.png" alt="Location of the drowning in Southeast Kansas -Google map" />
 <figcaption>Location of the drowning in Southeast Kansas -Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>CHEROKEE COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the drowning death of two men in Kansas.On Tuesday night, authorities began searching strip mining pits in Cherokee County for two men from Joplin, according to a media release from the Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;The men's families reported they didn't return home following a day of fishing.Early Wednesday, a deputy sheriff located the vehicle they had been in at Mined Wildlife Land #40, northwest of Columbus Kansas, near Northwest 70th and StarValley Road.Officials recovered the bodies of 70-year-old Robert Sleep and 71-year-old Stephen LeMasters from the water. The initial investigation indicates both men fell through ice and drowned. Although no foul play is suspected, autopsies will be conducted in Kansas City.

Sheriff: 2 men fishing in Kansas fell through ice, drowned

NEW YORK (AP) — A public service ad<a href="https://getvaccineanswers.org/"> campaign </a>unveiled Thursday aims to convince Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, telling them “It’s Up to You.”

<a href="https://getvaccineanswers.org/">The campaign</a> by the Ad Council and its partners is focused on those who may be hesitant to get the shots. One print ad reads: “Getting back to hugs starts with getting informed,” and directs readers to a website with information about vaccines in seven languages.

“Our goal is to move them from being hesitant to being confident” in vaccines, said Lisa Sherman, the Ad Council’s president.

As many as 1 in 3 Americans say they definitely or probably won’t get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Some scientists estimate that more than 2 in 3 Americans will need to get vaccinated to stop the epidemic that has killed more than 500,000 people in the U.S.

The large, national campaign is producing an array of English and Spanish ads for TV, billboards, bus shelters, social media and publications that will be rolled out over the next few months. A few of the ads are expected to feature celebrities like the actors Angela Bassett and John Leguizamo, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and the government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The spots are expected to run throughout the year.

The effort includes materials specifically for church leaders, doctors, pharmacists and others in Black and Hispanic communities

The new campaign was funded by $52 million in donations — supplemented with donated labor and resources, said Sherman. The advertising industry-backed group calls it one of the largest public education efforts in U.S. history. It’s famous for many iconic public service campaigns that include “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love” campaign for the Peace Corps.

Print versions show an adhesive bandage framing the words “It’s Up to You.” One video spot shows a series of illustrated arms of different colors and one robotic, all with a bandage on the upper arm, blending in to a mosaic of the U.S. map. “You’ve got questions. And that’s normal” reads another ad. It invites viewers to go to a website,&nbsp;<a href="https://getvaccineanswers.org/" target="_blank">GetVaccineAnswers.org</a>, to get more information.

Although vaccines have been available — in limited supplies — in the U.S. since mid-December, the timing of the ad campaign is actually good, said Jay Winsten, a Harvard University public health communications expert.

It takes a while for people who question the effectiveness or safety of vaccines to gain faith in shots, said Winsten, who is known as the architect of a national designated driver campaign that aimed to reduce drunk driving injuries and deaths.

But it also helps that millions of Americans have already gotten shots, and they did not suffer serious side effects, he added.

“People will be more open to the messaging now” because of that, he said.

The federal government is involved in the Ad Council’s campaign, but also has its own in the works. A $300 million U.S. Department of Health and Human Services campaign was put on pause late in the Trump administration. Biden administration officials have picked it up but have not said when it will launch.

NEW YORK (AP) — A public service ad<a href="https://getvaccineanswers.org/"> campaign </a>unveiled Thursday aims to convince Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, telling them “It’s Up to You.”<a href="https://getvaccineanswers.org/">The campaign</a> by the Ad Council and its partners is focused on those who may be hesitant to get the shots. One print ad reads: “Getting back to hugs starts with getting informed,” and directs readers to a website with information about vaccines in seven languages.“Our goal is to move them from being hesitant to being confident” in vaccines, said Lisa Sherman, the Ad Council’s president.As many as 1 in 3 Americans say they definitely or probably won’t get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Some scientists estimate that more than 2 in 3 Americans will need to get vaccinated to stop the epidemic that has killed more than 500,000 people in the U.S.The large, national campaign is producing an array of English and Spanish ads for TV, billboards, bus shelters, social media and publications that will be rolled out over the next few months. A few of the ads are expected to feature celebrities like the actors Angela Bassett and John Leguizamo, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and the government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci.The spots are expected to run throughout the year.The effort includes materials specifically for church leaders, doctors, pharmacists and others in Black and Hispanic communitiesThe new campaign was funded by $52 million in donations — supplemented with donated labor and resources, said Sherman. The advertising industry-backed group calls it one of the largest public education efforts in U.S. history. It’s famous for many iconic public service campaigns that include “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love” campaign for the Peace Corps.Print versions show an adhesive bandage framing the words “It’s Up to You.” One video spot shows a series of illustrated arms of different colors and one robotic, all with a bandage on the upper arm, blending in to a mosaic of the U.S. map. “You’ve got questions. And that’s normal” reads another ad. It invites viewers to go to a website,&nbsp;<a href="https://getvaccineanswers.org/" target="_blank">GetVaccineAnswers.org</a>, to get more information.Although vaccines have been available — in limited supplies — in the U.S. since mid-December, the timing of the ad campaign is actually good, said Jay Winsten, a Harvard University public health communications expert.It takes a while for people who question the effectiveness or safety of vaccines to gain faith in shots, said Winsten, who is known as the architect of a national designated driver campaign that aimed to reduce drunk driving injuries and deaths.But it also helps that millions of Americans have already gotten shots, and they did not suffer serious side effects, he added.“People will be more open to the messaging now” because of that, he said.The federal government is involved in the Ad Council’s campaign, but also has its own in the works. A $300 million U.S. Department of Health and Human Services campaign was put on pause late in the Trump administration. Biden administration officials have picked it up but have not said when it will launch.___

Ad campaign launches to build public trust in COVID-19 shots

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal accident found on Wednesday believe the victim actually died in the crash on Sunday.

Just after 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 6100 Block of Riverview after report of an accident involving a vehicle in a creek bed, according to police department spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.&nbsp;

First responders found the sole occupant, a man in his 60s, was dead.&nbsp; 

Investigators determined the vehicle was westbound Sunday evening on Riverview when it left the road, struck an embankment and landed in a semi-frozen creek bed. 

The location of the crash in a wooded area and the position in which&nbsp; the vehicle came to rest made it extremely difficult for passing motorists to have seen, according to Chartrand.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name or additional details.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal accident found on Wednesday believe the victim actually died in the crash on Sunday.Just after 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 6100 Block of Riverview after report of an accident involving a vehicle in a creek bed, according to police department spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.&nbsp;First responders found the sole occupant, a man in his 60s, was dead.&nbsp; Investigators determined the vehicle was westbound Sunday evening on Riverview when it left the road, struck an embankment and landed in a semi-frozen creek bed. The location of the crash in a wooded area and the position in which&nbsp; the vehicle came to rest made it extremely difficult for passing motorists to have seen, according to Chartrand.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name or additional details.

Man who died Sunday in crash into Kan. creek found Wednesday

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas may have paid $600 million worth of bogus claims for unemployment benefits last year, a legislative audit said Wednesday, more than double an estimate from the state Department of Labor.

<a href="https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/evaluating-the-kansas-department-of-labors-response-to-covid-19-unemployment-claims-part-1/" target="_blank">The report</a>&nbsp;from the Republican-controlled Legislature’s nonpartisan auditing division suggested that nearly 1 in 4 unemployment claims paid last year could have been fraudulent amid a surge in filings during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the Department of Labor’s own data. The department on Tuesday estimated last year’s fraudulent claims as worth $290 million.

The department strongly disputed the audit’s figure and said in a written response that the report was “rife” with “factual errors.” The department took the uncommon step of asking the auditing division to withdraw its estimate, but Justin Stowe, the division’s director, immediately stood by its work, calling its estimate not precise but “reasonable.”

(Advance player to 17:40 to hear the governor's comments on the audit)

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who’s faced intensifying criticism from GOP lawmakers over the department’s problems, defended the department’s figure. But she added that she has ordered a separate, outside audit to determine the amount of fraud. Kelly said that with the legislative audit, “There are questions that people have.”

“We want to answer those questions,” Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference.

For Republican lawmakers, the legislative audit Wednesday confirmed their view that problems with unemployment fraud and distributing legitimate benefits to jobless workers represents a major failure of Kelly’s administration.

“The fraud has been there for a long time, and they’ve mismanaged it,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chair Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, who called the fraud problem “a disgrace.”

Kelly has said her administration is doing “everything in our power” to combat fraud and resolve problems with distributing benefits during the pandemic. She and department officials also have said the problems are nationwide.

Deputy Labor Secretary Brett Flachsbarth told the legislative committee overseeing auditors’ work that Republican lawmakers’ repeated suggestions that fraud in Kansas is worse than in other states is a misleading “preconceived narrative.”

“Any sort of assertion — that we have had publicly made and numerous times — that Kansas is somehow the only state or an outlier or No. 1 in fraud is categorically false,” Flachsbarth said.

Republican lawmakers said their assertions that Kansas’ fraud problems are unusually bad are based on information from companies with operations in multiple states and data indicating unusual spikes in claims.

“From what we can tell, Kansas was a much bigger problem,” said House commerce committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican.

Olson renewed his call&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-d859fffe8b2a110ac8c1e47dbf873108">to strip the governor of control</a>&nbsp;over the department and create an independent board to oversee its day-to-day operations, similar to the board that oversees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kpers.org/about/board.html#members" target="_blank">the state pension system</a>&nbsp;for teachers and government workers. Olson said he’s holding off on a committee vote on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb177_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;aimed at overhauling the unemployment system so that he can develop a proposal.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-topeka-74ac0a21fa8c04ac74e62602605c471d">Republican legislators&nbsp;</a>have expressed concerns that employers, who pay taxes to finance benefits, could be on the hook for covering the costs of bogus claims.

Kelly and the department have blamed the problems on decades-old computer technology. They’ve said that system wasn’t equipped to handle the surge of 4 million claims that came after restrictions imposed to check the spread of COVID-19, including a statewide stay-at-home order imposed by Kelly last spring. Kelly has included $37.5 million in her proposed budget to upgrade the department’s technology.

The Department of Labor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-f79ed0b839ad8501cf50650ca51dcbb1">shut down</a>&nbsp;the Kansas unemployment system from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 to install new security protocols. It said it has blocked about 5 million fraudulent log-in attempts by scammers or internet bots, or roughly three every second. The department said it has referred more than 50,000 cases to federal law enforcement officials.

The governor also sees much of the criticism as Republicans “just laying the groundwork” to try to prevent her reelection in 2022.

Acting Labor Secretary Amber Schultz on Tuesday also blamed Congress for some of the problems when it created several new programs to provide additional benefits to jobless workers. She said congressional measures handcuffed states’ efforts to limit fraud until the most recent COVID-19 relief package in December.

The audit agreed that how Congress structured a program aimed at providing benefits for the first time to self-employed workers and independent contractors made it a big and early target for scammers. It also said scammers have relied on “large scale identity theft.”

But the auditors also said that the department relied on “manual” methods to detect fraud that were “ineffective” amid a flood of claims.

“I want to know when we’re going to stop blaming other people,” said Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican and chair of the legislative audit committee. “Somebody has to be responsible.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614257985849.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during a Wednesday news conference said she has ordered a separate, outside audit to determine the amount of fraud." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during a Wednesday news conference said she has ordered a separate, outside audit to determine the amount of fraud.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas may have paid $600 million worth of bogus claims for unemployment benefits last year, a legislative audit said Wednesday, more than double an estimate from the state Department of Labor.<a href="https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/evaluating-the-kansas-department-of-labors-response-to-covid-19-unemployment-claims-part-1/" target="_blank">The report</a>&nbsp;from the Republican-controlled Legislature’s nonpartisan auditing division suggested that nearly 1 in 4 unemployment claims paid last year could have been fraudulent amid a surge in filings during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the Department of Labor’s own data. The department on Tuesday estimated last year’s fraudulent claims as worth $290 million.The department strongly disputed the audit’s figure and said in a written response that the report was “rife” with “factual errors.” The department took the uncommon step of asking the auditing division to withdraw its estimate, but Justin Stowe, the division’s director, immediately stood by its work, calling its estimate not precise but “reasonable.”(Advance player to 17:40 to hear the governor's comments on the audit)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F167433801857085%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who’s faced intensifying criticism from GOP lawmakers over the department’s problems, defended the department’s figure. But she added that she has ordered a separate, outside audit to determine the amount of fraud. Kelly said that with the legislative audit, “There are questions that people have.”“We want to answer those questions,” Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference.For Republican lawmakers, the legislative audit Wednesday confirmed their view that problems with unemployment fraud and distributing legitimate benefits to jobless workers represents a major failure of Kelly’s administration.“The fraud has been there for a long time, and they’ve mismanaged it,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chair Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, who called the fraud problem “a disgrace.”Kelly has said her administration is doing “everything in our power” to combat fraud and resolve problems with distributing benefits during the pandemic. She and department officials also have said the problems are nationwide.Deputy Labor Secretary Brett Flachsbarth told the legislative committee overseeing auditors’ work that Republican lawmakers’ repeated suggestions that fraud in Kansas is worse than in other states is a misleading “preconceived narrative.”“Any sort of assertion — that we have had publicly made and numerous times — that Kansas is somehow the only state or an outlier or No. 1 in fraud is categorically false,” Flachsbarth said.Republican lawmakers said their assertions that Kansas’ fraud problems are unusually bad are based on information from companies with operations in multiple states and data indicating unusual spikes in claims.“From what we can tell, Kansas was a much bigger problem,” said House commerce committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican.Olson renewed his call&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-d859fffe8b2a110ac8c1e47dbf873108">to strip the governor of control</a>&nbsp;over the department and create an independent board to oversee its day-to-day operations, similar to the board that oversees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kpers.org/about/board.html#members" target="_blank">the state pension system</a>&nbsp;for teachers and government workers. Olson said he’s holding off on a committee vote on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb177_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;aimed at overhauling the unemployment system so that he can develop a proposal.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-topeka-74ac0a21fa8c04ac74e62602605c471d">Republican legislators&nbsp;</a>have expressed concerns that employers, who pay taxes to finance benefits, could be on the hook for covering the costs of bogus claims.Kelly and the department have blamed the problems on decades-old computer technology. They’ve said that system wasn’t equipped to handle the surge of 4 million claims that came after restrictions imposed to check the spread of COVID-19, including a statewide stay-at-home order imposed by Kelly last spring. Kelly has included $37.5 million in her proposed budget to upgrade the department’s technology.The Department of Labor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-f79ed0b839ad8501cf50650ca51dcbb1">shut down</a>&nbsp;the Kansas unemployment system from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 to install new security protocols. It said it has blocked about 5 million fraudulent log-in attempts by scammers or internet bots, or roughly three every second. The department said it has referred more than 50,000 cases to federal law enforcement officials.The governor also sees much of the criticism as Republicans “just laying the groundwork” to try to prevent her reelection in 2022.Acting Labor Secretary Amber Schultz on Tuesday also blamed Congress for some of the problems when it created several new programs to provide additional benefits to jobless workers. She said congressional measures handcuffed states’ efforts to limit fraud until the most recent COVID-19 relief package in December.The audit agreed that how Congress structured a program aimed at providing benefits for the first time to self-employed workers and independent contractors made it a big and early target for scammers. It also said scammers have relied on “large scale identity theft.”But the auditors also said that the department relied on “manual” methods to detect fraud that were “ineffective” amid a flood of claims.“I want to know when we’re going to stop blaming other people,” said Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican and chair of the legislative audit committee. “Somebody has to be responsible.”

🎥  Bogus unemployment claims may have cost Kan. more than first reported

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rallied solidly Wednesday against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8893a3f95038cac51ba66066554bcd20" target="_blank">the Senate’s parliamentarian&nbsp;</a>that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage.

Despite their paper-thin congressional majorities, Democratic leaders were poised to push the sweeping package through the House on Friday. They were hoping the Senate, where changes seem likely, would follow quickly enough to have legislation on President Joe Biden’s desk by mid-March.

By late Wednesday, not one Republican in either chamber had publicly said he or she would back the legislation. GOP leaders were honing attacks on the package as a job killer that does too little to reopen schools or businesses shuttered for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b08eb8f76932cc71049732ddd60a035d" target="_blank">the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and that was not only wasteful but also even unscrupulous.

“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “I think all Republicans believe in three simple things: They want a bill that puts us back to work, back to school and back to health. This bill is too costly, too corrupt and too liberal.”

The hardening opposition suggested that Biden’s first major legislative initiative could encounter unanimous GOP opposition. That was a counterpoint to the new president’s refrain during his campaign about bringing the country together and a replay of the Republican wall that new President Barack Obama encountered in 2009 and most of his administration.

Democrats showed no signs of backing down, citing the assistance the measure would spread to people, businesses and state and local governments.

“If congressional Republicans want to oppose all that, my response is: Good luck,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.

By Wednesday evening, the most suspense was over a decision anticipated from Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan arbiter of its rules, that promised enormous political and legislative consequences.

The relief bill includes a provision that over five years would hike the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The parliamentarian is involved because Democrats are pushing the overall $1.9 trillion measure through Congress under special rules that will let them avoid a Senate filibuster by Republicans.

Those same rules prohibit provisions with only an “incidental” impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. The parliamentarian decides if a provision passes that test.

With Republicans strongly against a minimum wage increase, the only way for it to survive is by including it in a filibuster-proof bill like the COVID-19 relief measure. To end a filibuster, Democrats would need 60 votes, an impossibility for them in the evenly divided 50-50 Senate.

If the parliamentarian decides the minimum wage provision can remain in the bill, it would be a major boost for its proponents. But there would be no guarantee the measure would survive because some moderates oppose it or want it dialed back. That suggests grueling bargaining on its final form would lie ahead.

A decision by the parliamentarian that the minimum wage hike must fall from the bill could be fatal, but not necessarily. Democrats could employ a rarely used procedural move to muscle the minimum wage provision into the bill with just 51 votes anyway, but it was unclear if they could muster enough support to do that.

The minimum wage has stood at $7.25 since 2009. Winning the increase is a top priority for progressives at a time when Democrats control Congress and the White House.

The overall bill would provide millions of Americans with $1,400 direct payments to help them weather the pandemic that’s stalled much of the economy for a year and killed half a million people. It contains billions of dollars for vaccines and COVID-19 testing, schools, state and local governments and emergency jobless benefits while providing tax cuts or payments for many families with children.

In a sign of hardball politics ahead, top Republicans suggested that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer squeezed money into the bill for their own states.

McCarthy said the bill had $100 million to help extend the San Francisco area’s BART commuter rail system south to San Jose. That project was approved previously by the Trump administration and is not in Pelosi’s San Francisco district, a top Democratic aide said.

McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested Schumer had won money for a bridge connecting upstate New York to Canada. A senior Democratic aide said the bill contains $1.5 million for the bridge, which is in the district of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. The aide said it was requested in 2020 by the Trump administration’s Transportation Department, which was headed by Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614216931503.png" alt="“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy&nbsp;(R-CA) -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy&nbsp;(R-CA) -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rallied solidly Wednesday against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8893a3f95038cac51ba66066554bcd20" target="_blank">the Senate’s parliamentarian&nbsp;</a>that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage.Despite their paper-thin congressional majorities, Democratic leaders were poised to push the sweeping package through the House on Friday. They were hoping the Senate, where changes seem likely, would follow quickly enough to have legislation on President Joe Biden’s desk by mid-March.By late Wednesday, not one Republican in either chamber had publicly said he or she would back the legislation. GOP leaders were honing attacks on the package as a job killer that does too little to reopen schools or businesses shuttered for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b08eb8f76932cc71049732ddd60a035d" target="_blank">the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and that was not only wasteful but also even unscrupulous.“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “I think all Republicans believe in three simple things: They want a bill that puts us back to work, back to school and back to health. This bill is too costly, too corrupt and too liberal.”The hardening opposition suggested that Biden’s first major legislative initiative could encounter unanimous GOP opposition. That was a counterpoint to the new president’s refrain during his campaign about bringing the country together and a replay of the Republican wall that new President Barack Obama encountered in 2009 and most of his administration.Democrats showed no signs of backing down, citing the assistance the measure would spread to people, businesses and state and local governments.“If congressional Republicans want to oppose all that, my response is: Good luck,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.By Wednesday evening, the most suspense was over a decision anticipated from Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan arbiter of its rules, that promised enormous political and legislative consequences.The relief bill includes a provision that over five years would hike the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The parliamentarian is involved because Democrats are pushing the overall $1.9 trillion measure through Congress under special rules that will let them avoid a Senate filibuster by Republicans.Those same rules prohibit provisions with only an “incidental” impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. The parliamentarian decides if a provision passes that test.With Republicans strongly against a minimum wage increase, the only way for it to survive is by including it in a filibuster-proof bill like the COVID-19 relief measure. To end a filibuster, Democrats would need 60 votes, an impossibility for them in the evenly divided 50-50 Senate.If the parliamentarian decides the minimum wage provision can remain in the bill, it would be a major boost for its proponents. But there would be no guarantee the measure would survive because some moderates oppose it or want it dialed back. That suggests grueling bargaining on its final form would lie ahead.A decision by the parliamentarian that the minimum wage hike must fall from the bill could be fatal, but not necessarily. Democrats could employ a rarely used procedural move to muscle the minimum wage provision into the bill with just 51 votes anyway, but it was unclear if they could muster enough support to do that.The minimum wage has stood at $7.25 since 2009. Winning the increase is a top priority for progressives at a time when Democrats control Congress and the White House.The overall bill would provide millions of Americans with $1,400 direct payments to help them weather the pandemic that’s stalled much of the economy for a year and killed half a million people. It contains billions of dollars for vaccines and COVID-19 testing, schools, state and local governments and emergency jobless benefits while providing tax cuts or payments for many families with children.In a sign of hardball politics ahead, top Republicans suggested that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer squeezed money into the bill for their own states.McCarthy said the bill had $100 million to help extend the San Francisco area’s BART commuter rail system south to San Jose. That project was approved previously by the Trump administration and is not in Pelosi’s San Francisco district, a top Democratic aide said.McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested Schumer had won money for a bridge connecting upstate New York to Canada. A senior Democratic aide said the bill contains $1.5 million for the bridge, which is in the district of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. The aide said it was requested in 2020 by the Trump administration’s Transportation Department, which was headed by Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife.

GOP rallies against $1.9T virus relief package ahead of vote

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp; Jesse C. Vannoy, 38, Knob Noster, Missouri, was eastbound on Interstate 70 in the inside lane just east of SW Topeka Boulevard. The semi lost its load of large, metal pipes. The pipes traveled over the concrete barrier wall and into the westbound lanes of traffic.

One metal pipe struck the driver's side rear quarter panel and window of a 2014 Ford Expedition driven by Amy M. Mitchell, 47, Sabetha, then landed on top of a 2020 Kia Forte driven by Brooke N. Rees, 29, Manhattan. 

A 2011 Ford F250 driven by Robert W. Torrey, 60, Axtel, was unable to stop and rear-ended the Kia. The impacted forced the Kia to rotate counterclockwise and strike the outside concrete bridge rail. 

A 1996 Chevy 1500 driven by Jeffery Munz, 66, Great Bend, struck another metal pipe. This forced the pickup to travel to the inside lane and then back across the outside lane and become disabled. 

A 2008 Toyota Camry driven by Bruce L. Bowers, 54,&nbsp;Harveyville, struck a metal pipe and became disabled in the inside lane. 

A metal pipe also struck the front end of a 2019 Freightline semi driven by Timothy S. Hess, 53, Atkins, Virginia, as it traveled across the westbound lanes. 

Another metal pipe that was struck traveled into a KDOT guardrail, destroying a section of it. Due to the severity of the collision with the pipe, Rees was pronounced deceased at the scene and was transported to First Call.

Vannoy, Mitchell, 3 passengers in the Expedition,&nbsp;Torrey and 3 passengers in the Ford, Munz, Bowers and Hess, were not injured. All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614251650388.png" alt="KHP on the scene of Wednesday's 7-vehicle crash on I-70 near Topeka photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>KHP on the scene of Wednesday's 7-vehicle crash on I-70 near Topeka photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Shawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp; Jesse C. Vannoy, 38, Knob Noster, Missouri, was eastbound on Interstate 70 in the inside lane just east of SW Topeka Boulevard. The semi lost its load of large, metal pipes. The pipes traveled over the concrete barrier wall and into the westbound lanes of traffic.One metal pipe struck the driver's side rear quarter panel and window of a 2014 Ford Expedition driven by Amy M. Mitchell, 47, Sabetha, then landed on top of a 2020 Kia Forte driven by Brooke N. Rees, 29, Manhattan. A 2011 Ford F250 driven by Robert W. Torrey, 60, Axtel, was unable to stop and rear-ended the Kia. The impacted forced the Kia to rotate counterclockwise and strike the outside concrete bridge rail. A 1996 Chevy 1500 driven by Jeffery Munz, 66, Great Bend, struck another metal pipe. This forced the pickup to travel to the inside lane and then back across the outside lane and become disabled. A 2008 Toyota Camry driven by Bruce L. Bowers, 54,&nbsp;Harveyville, struck a metal pipe and became disabled in the inside lane. A metal pipe also struck the front end of a 2019 Freightline semi driven by Timothy S. Hess, 53, Atkins, Virginia, as it traveled across the westbound lanes. Another metal pipe that was struck traveled into a KDOT guardrail, destroying a section of it. Due to the severity of the collision with the pipe, Rees was pronounced deceased at the scene and was transported to First Call.Vannoy, Mitchell, 3 passengers in the Expedition,&nbsp;Torrey and 3 passengers in the Ford, Munz, Bowers and Hess, were not injured. All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies in crash after semi lost load of pipes on I-70

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. (AP) — After 3 1/2 years living inside a Missouri church to avoid deportation, Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia finally stepped outside Wednesday, following a promise from President Joe Biden’s administration to let him be.

Garcia, a married father of five, was slated for removal from the U.S. in 2017, the first year of President Donald Trump’s administration. Days before he would have been deported, Christ Church United Church of Christ in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood offered sanctuary.

Sara John of the St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America said Garcia’s decision to leave the church came after Immigration and Customs Enforcement declared that he was no longer a deportation priority and that the agency would not pursue his detention or removal.

Garcia, braced by a hand on his shoulder from a son and fighting back tears, told a cheering crowd of about 100 people that he was separated from living with his family for 1,252 days.

“Hi everyone,” Garcia said. “Thank you everyone for showing support for me and my family. Today is the day I’m going to get out of sanctuary after three years and a half.”

“We are not done yet,” Garcia said, reading from a written statement. “There is still so much work that has to be done,” he added, nothing that he will be fighting for “permanent protection.

In his first weeks as president, Biden has signed several executive orders on immigration issues that undo his predecessor’s policies, though several Republican members of Congress are pushing legal challenges.

Myrna Orozco, organizing coordinator at Church World Service said 33&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-churches-sanctuary-biden-9904b23125e3db6fa0844be34982438c">immigrants remain inside churches</a>&nbsp;across the U.S. and that number should continue to drop.

“We expect it to change in the next couple of weeks as we get more clarity from ICE or (immigrants) get a decision on their cases,” Orozco said.

Others who have emerged from sanctuary since Biden took office include Jose Chicas, a 55-year-old El Salvador native, who left a church-owned house in Durham, North Carolina, on Jan. 22. Saheeda Nadeem, a 65-year-old from Pakistan, left a Kalamazoo, Michigan, church this month. Edith Espinal, a native of Mexico, left an Ohio church after more than three years.

In Maplewood, emotion spilled out during a brief ceremony marking Garcia’s departure. The church’s bell tolled. Mayor Barry Greenberg’s voice broke as he told Garcia he couldn’t grant him U.S. citizenship, but he could make him an honorary citizen of Maplewood. He presented a key to the city that Garcia’s young daughter immediately took out of the box to play with.

“Oh God, we want to burst into song!” Pastor Becky Turner said during a prayer, but noting that prayer “isn’t enough. We have to do the work that we pray for.”

Garcia’s exit came just two days after U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, announced she was sponsoring a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-st-louis-legislation-immigration-alex-garcia-2e7a3248904e51ae02ab8b9ef4f2c7a5">private bill seeking permanent residency for Garcia</a>. Bush said Wednesday that she will still push the bill forward.

“ICE has promised not to deport Alex, and we will stop at nothing to ensure that they keep their promise,” Bush said in a statement.

Garcia fled extreme poverty and violence in Honduras, his advocates have said. After entering the U.S. in 2004, he hopped a train that he thought was headed for Houston, but instead ended up in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, a town of about 17,000 residents in the southeastern corner of the state.

He landed a job and met his wife, Carly, a U.S. citizen, and for more than a decade they lived quietly with their blended family.

In 2015, Garcia accompanied his sister to an immigration office for a check-in in Kansas City&nbsp; where officials realized Garcia was in the country illegally. He received two one-year reprieves during Barack Obama’s administration.

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. (AP) — After 3 1/2 years living inside a Missouri church to avoid deportation, Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia finally stepped outside Wednesday, following a promise from President Joe Biden’s administration to let him be.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMaplewoodUCC%2Fvideos%2F746769525974556%2F&show_text=false&width=267" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Garcia, a married father of five, was slated for removal from the U.S. in 2017, the first year of President Donald Trump’s administration. Days before he would have been deported, Christ Church United Church of Christ in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood offered sanctuary.Sara John of the St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America said Garcia’s decision to leave the church came after Immigration and Customs Enforcement declared that he was no longer a deportation priority and that the agency would not pursue his detention or removal.Garcia, braced by a hand on his shoulder from a son and fighting back tears, told a cheering crowd of about 100 people that he was separated from living with his family for 1,252 days.“Hi everyone,” Garcia said. “Thank you everyone for showing support for me and my family. Today is the day I’m going to get out of sanctuary after three years and a half.”“We are not done yet,” Garcia said, reading from a written statement. “There is still so much work that has to be done,” he added, nothing that he will be fighting for “permanent protection.In his first weeks as president, Biden has signed several executive orders on immigration issues that undo his predecessor’s policies, though several Republican members of Congress are pushing legal challenges.Myrna Orozco, organizing coordinator at Church World Service said 33&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-churches-sanctuary-biden-9904b23125e3db6fa0844be34982438c">immigrants remain inside churches</a>&nbsp;across the U.S. and that number should continue to drop.“We expect it to change in the next couple of weeks as we get more clarity from ICE or (immigrants) get a decision on their cases,” Orozco said.Others who have emerged from sanctuary since Biden took office include Jose Chicas, a 55-year-old El Salvador native, who left a church-owned house in Durham, North Carolina, on Jan. 22. Saheeda Nadeem, a 65-year-old from Pakistan, left a Kalamazoo, Michigan, church this month. Edith Espinal, a native of Mexico, left an Ohio church after more than three years.In Maplewood, emotion spilled out during a brief ceremony marking Garcia’s departure. The church’s bell tolled. Mayor Barry Greenberg’s voice broke as he told Garcia he couldn’t grant him U.S. citizenship, but he could make him an honorary citizen of Maplewood. He presented a key to the city that Garcia’s young daughter immediately took out of the box to play with.“Oh God, we want to burst into song!” Pastor Becky Turner said during a prayer, but noting that prayer “isn’t enough. We have to do the work that we pray for.”Garcia’s exit came just two days after U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, announced she was sponsoring a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-st-louis-legislation-immigration-alex-garcia-2e7a3248904e51ae02ab8b9ef4f2c7a5">private bill seeking permanent residency for Garcia</a>. Bush said Wednesday that she will still push the bill forward.“ICE has promised not to deport Alex, and we will stop at nothing to ensure that they keep their promise,” Bush said in a statement.Garcia fled extreme poverty and violence in Honduras, his advocates have said. After entering the U.S. in 2004, he hopped a train that he thought was headed for Houston, but instead ended up in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, a town of about 17,000 residents in the southeastern corner of the state.He landed a job and met his wife, Carly, a U.S. citizen, and for more than a decade they lived quietly with their blended family.In 2015, Garcia accompanied his sister to an immigration office for a check-in in Kansas City&nbsp; where officials realized Garcia was in the country illegally. He received two one-year reprieves during Barack Obama’s administration.

🎥  Man exits Missouri church after years in sanctuary from deportation

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 7:30 a.m. Monday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Ford Explorer at NW Menninger Road and NW Alice Drive, according to deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, deputies located narcotics and drug paraphernalia. They arrested Hope E. Thommen, 38, of Topeka on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, driving with a suspended license, driving when view is obstructed and defective tag lamps, according to Christian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614184813195.png" alt="Thommen has 7 previous forgery convictions in addition to convictions for identity theft and for drugs." />
 <figcaption>Thommen has 7 previous forgery convictions in addition to convictions for identity theft and for drugs.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.Just before 7:30 a.m. Monday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Ford Explorer at NW Menninger Road and NW Alice Drive, according to deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, deputies located narcotics and drug paraphernalia. They arrested Hope E. Thommen, 38, of Topeka on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, driving with a suspended license, driving when view is obstructed and defective tag lamps, according to Christian.

 Deputies catch Kan. felon driving with drugs, suspended license

WICHITA, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Sedgwick County’s top prosecutor has cleared five Wichita officers and county sheriff’s deputies of wrongdoing in the fatal 2019 shooting of a Wichita man outside his home.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Tuesday in a news conference that a toxicology report found evidence of methamphetamine, amphetamine and PCP use by 49-year-old Robert Sabater, who was shot and killed by police on May 27, 2019.

Police say Sabater twice called police to his home in the hours before he was killed, claiming people were outside. Bennett said officers returned a third time on a report of shots fired inside Sabater's home. When officers and deputies arrived, Sabater fired shots at them from his front door, police said.

Sabater later ran into the street with a gun and pointed it at police when he was ordered to drop it, Bennett said. The investigation showed officers fired fired 46 rounds at Sabater.

“Based upon the totality of the circumstances, what I had found here in this report is that these officers and these deputies are immune from prosecution under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;law,” Bennett said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614176804717.png" alt="Police on the scene of the May 2019 investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the May 2019 investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Sedgwick County’s top prosecutor has cleared five Wichita officers and county sheriff’s deputies of wrongdoing in the fatal 2019 shooting of a Wichita man outside his home.Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Tuesday in a news conference that a toxicology report found evidence of methamphetamine, amphetamine and PCP use by 49-year-old Robert Sabater, who was shot and killed by police on May 27, 2019.Police say Sabater twice called police to his home in the hours before he was killed, claiming people were outside. Bennett said officers returned a third time on a report of shots fired inside Sabater's home. When officers and deputies arrived, Sabater fired shots at them from his front door, police said.Sabater later ran into the street with a gun and pointed it at police when he was ordered to drop it, Bennett said. The investigation showed officers fired fired 46 rounds at Sabater.“Based upon the totality of the circumstances, what I had found here in this report is that these officers and these deputies are immune from prosecution under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;law,” Bennett said.

Kan. officers, deputies cleared in killing of man outside his home

TOPEKA —A woman seriously injured in a Sunday night fire in Topeka has died.

Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday crews responded to a fire at 625 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;

Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the single story masonry commercial structure that is used by Inward Faith Outreach Ministries, according to online records. The structure was believed to be vacant at the time of the fire. 

However, during a primary search of the structure, firefighters located 30-year-old Rashawn Brooks. Firefighters rescued her from from the fire and began life saving measures.&nbsp; American Medical Response transported her to Stormont Vail Health with life threatening injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614005332959.png" alt="Crews on the scene of Sunday's fire at Inward Faith Outreach Ministries in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of Sunday's fire at Inward Faith Outreach Ministries in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —A woman seriously injured in a Sunday night fire in Topeka has died.Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday crews responded to a fire at 625 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the single story masonry commercial structure that is used by Inward Faith Outreach Ministries, according to online records. The structure was believed to be vacant at the time of the fire. However, during a primary search of the structure, firefighters located 30-year-old Rashawn Brooks. Firefighters rescued her from from the fire and began life saving measures.&nbsp; American Medical Response transported her to Stormont Vail Health with life threatening injuries.On Thursday, fire officials were notified that she died.A preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be incendiary, more likely than not associated with a warming fire.The estimated dollar loss – $50,000.00; all of which is associated with structural loss. Working smoke detectors were not located in the building, according to Harrison.----------TOPEKA —A woman was seriously injured in a Sunday night fire in Topeka.Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday crews responded to a fire at 625 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the single story masonry commercial structure that is used by Inward Faith Outreach Ministries, according to online records. The structure was believed to be vacant at the time of the fire. However, during a primary search of the structure, firefighters located one unresponsive adult female victim. Firefighters rescued her from from the fire and began life saving measures.&nbsp; American Medical Response transported her to Stormont Vail Health with life threatening injuries.A preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be incendiary, more likely than not associated with a warming fire.The estimated dollar loss – $50,000.00; all of which is associated with structural loss. Working smoke detectors were not located in the building, according to Harrison.