WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced new efforts Wednesday to stem a rising national tide of violent crime, declaring the federal government is “taking on the bad actors doing bad things to our communities.” But questions persist about how effective the efforts can be in what could be a turbulent summer.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512889-1/president-biden-attorney-general-garland-deliver-remarks-gun-crime-prevention">Click here to watch </a>the President's remarks

Crime rates have risen after plummeting during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, creating economic hardship and anxiety. Biden’s plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms.

“These merchants of death are breaking the law for profit,” Biden said. “If you willfully sell a gun to someone who’s prohibited, my message to you is this: We’ll find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns. We’ll make sure you can’t sell death and mayhem on our streets.”

But there are also tricky politics at play, and Biden's plan shows how few options the Democratic president has on the issue.

The steps he outlined are aimed at going hard after gun dealers who break federal law and establishing strike forces in several cities to help stop weapons trafficking. He also said he would seek more money for the agency that tracks the nation's guns.

But the rest of his new strategy boils down mostly to suggestions for beleaguered localities. He's encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers — often both targets and perpetrators of violence.

The president has been clear that he is opposed to the “defund the police” movement, which has been effectively used against other Democrats to cast them as anti-law enforcement.

“This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement," said Biden, who noted that "crime historically rises during the summer, and as we emerge from this pandemic the traditional summer spike may be even more pronounced than it usually would be.”

But he's also is trying to boost progressives' efforts to reform policing, following a year of demonstrations and public anguish sparked by the killing by police of George Floyd and other Black people across the country. While combating crime and overhauling the police don't have to be at odds, the two efforts are increasingly billed that way.

Biden will try to do both at once. But Republicans quickly tried to portray his measures as government overreach and linked them to efforts to rein in policing.

“I think a lot of it ties back to this whole ‘defund the police’ movement and some of the disruption we had in civil society last year,” Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said on Fox News. “And I think that’s part of, when you start undermining that basic foundation, you start breaking apart the bonds that hold us together and that’s why you see an increase in crime.”

Biden announced a “zero tolerance" policy that would give no leeway to gun dealers who fail to comply with federal law — their licenses to sell would be revoked on a first offense.

The president has already announced a half-dozen executive actions on gun control, including going after “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers for tracking and often are purchased without background checks.

A number of anti-crime and gun safety groups, including the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety, applauded the administration's efforts.

“The president is helping start a much-needed conversation about reducing violent crime. A greater investment in community interventions will help take a bite out of violent crime," said Paul DelPonte, head of the National Crime Prevention Council. "Strategies that increase public engagement in public safety are proven crime stoppers. Putting more police officers who are trained and certified in crime prevention on the streets of our communities makes sense.”

Legislation to expand background checks has so far stalled in the Senate after the House passed it in March, even though Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed then that the Senate would hold a vote on the bill.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has been negotiating for weeks with individual Republicans to see if there is legislation that could win enough votes for passage. One option is to narrow the scope of the House bill and expand background checks only to commercial sales like gun shows. Most Republicans oppose regulating private sales between individuals, as the House bill would do, but some have said they would support tougher regulation of gun shows.

Biden will seek increased transparency on gun data and better coordination among states, and he will push Congress for more money for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agency responsible for enforcing federal gun laws and regulating gun dealers. The Justice Department is also launching strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to help take down illegal gun traffickers.

Police officials have said they are struggling with increasing crime and continued tensions between police and communities; some say their calls for support aren't answered as they take the blame for the spike. Biden noted that $350 billion of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package can be used by cities to hire law enforcement officers, pay overtime, prosecute gun traffickers and invest in technology to make law enforcement more efficient.

While crime is rising — homicides and shootings are up from the same period last year in Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Houston — violent crime overall remains lower than it was a decade ago or even five years ago. Most violent crimes plummeted during the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic, as people stayed indoors and away from others, then started creeping up last summer.

It all comes against the backdrop of the national debate on policing and racism — and as a police reform bill is being crafted in Congress.

As a senator, Biden wrote several major anti-crime packages, including a 1994 bill that contained provisions now viewed by some as an overreaction to the crime spikes in the 1980s and 1990s. Critics say those bills helped lead to mass incarceration of Black Americans, and Biden’s involvement became an issue in his 2020 campaign.

Biden has expressed second thoughts about some aspects of the legislation. But he and his allies still point to the law’s provisions to address domestic violence, ban assault weapons and finance community policing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624486188733.png" alt="The President's plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The President's plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced new efforts Wednesday to stem a rising national tide of violent crime, declaring the federal government is “taking on the bad actors doing bad things to our communities.” But questions persist about how effective the efforts can be in what could be a turbulent summer.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512889-1/president-biden-attorney-general-garland-deliver-remarks-gun-crime-prevention">Click here to watch </a>the President's remarksCrime rates have risen after plummeting during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, creating economic hardship and anxiety. Biden’s plan focuses on providing money to cities that need more police, offering community support and most of all cracking down on gun violence and those supplying illegal firearms.“These merchants of death are breaking the law for profit,” Biden said. “If you willfully sell a gun to someone who’s prohibited, my message to you is this: We’ll find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns. We’ll make sure you can’t sell death and mayhem on our streets.”But there are also tricky politics at play, and Biden's plan shows how few options the Democratic president has on the issue.The steps he outlined are aimed at going hard after gun dealers who break federal law and establishing strike forces in several cities to help stop weapons trafficking. He also said he would seek more money for the agency that tracks the nation's guns.But the rest of his new strategy boils down mostly to suggestions for beleaguered localities. He's encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers — often both targets and perpetrators of violence.But it's voluntary.The president has been clear that he is opposed to the “defund the police” movement, which has been effectively used against other Democrats to cast them as anti-law enforcement.“This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement," said Biden, who noted that "crime historically rises during the summer, and as we emerge from this pandemic the traditional summer spike may be even more pronounced than it usually would be.”But he's also is trying to boost progressives' efforts to reform policing, following a year of demonstrations and public anguish sparked by the killing by police of George Floyd and other Black people across the country. While combating crime and overhauling the police don't have to be at odds, the two efforts are increasingly billed that way.Biden will try to do both at once. But Republicans quickly tried to portray his measures as government overreach and linked them to efforts to rein in policing.“I think a lot of it ties back to this whole ‘defund the police’ movement and some of the disruption we had in civil society last year,” Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said on Fox News. “And I think that’s part of, when you start undermining that basic foundation, you start breaking apart the bonds that hold us together and that’s why you see an increase in crime.”Biden announced a “zero tolerance" policy that would give no leeway to gun dealers who fail to comply with federal law — their licenses to sell would be revoked on a first offense.The president has already announced a half-dozen executive actions on gun control, including going after “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers for tracking and often are purchased without background checks.A number of anti-crime and gun safety groups, including the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety, applauded the administration's efforts.“The president is helping start a much-needed conversation about reducing violent crime. A greater investment in community interventions will help take a bite out of violent crime," said Paul DelPonte, head of the National Crime Prevention Council. "Strategies that increase public engagement in public safety are proven crime stoppers. Putting more police officers who are trained and certified in crime prevention on the streets of our communities makes sense.”Legislation to expand background checks has so far stalled in the Senate after the House passed it in March, even though Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed then that the Senate would hold a vote on the bill.Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has been negotiating for weeks with individual Republicans to see if there is legislation that could win enough votes for passage. One option is to narrow the scope of the House bill and expand background checks only to commercial sales like gun shows. Most Republicans oppose regulating private sales between individuals, as the House bill would do, but some have said they would support tougher regulation of gun shows.Biden will seek increased transparency on gun data and better coordination among states, and he will push Congress for more money for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agency responsible for enforcing federal gun laws and regulating gun dealers. The Justice Department is also launching strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to help take down illegal gun traffickers.Police officials have said they are struggling with increasing crime and continued tensions between police and communities; some say their calls for support aren't answered as they take the blame for the spike. Biden noted that $350 billion of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package can be used by cities to hire law enforcement officers, pay overtime, prosecute gun traffickers and invest in technology to make law enforcement more efficient.While crime is rising — homicides and shootings are up from the same period last year in Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Houston — violent crime overall remains lower than it was a decade ago or even five years ago. Most violent crimes plummeted during the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic, as people stayed indoors and away from others, then started creeping up last summer.It all comes against the backdrop of the national debate on policing and racism — and as a police reform bill is being crafted in Congress.As a senator, Biden wrote several major anti-crime packages, including a 1994 bill that contained provisions now viewed by some as an overreaction to the crime spikes in the 1980s and 1990s. Critics say those bills helped lead to mass incarceration of Black Americans, and Biden’s involvement became an issue in his 2020 campaign.Biden has expressed second thoughts about some aspects of the legislation. But he and his allies still point to the law’s provisions to address domestic violence, ban assault weapons and finance community policing.___

🎥 President Biden's plan to stem rising tide of violent crime

SHAWNEE COUNTY— The owner of a gun found in a Topeka home by toddlers, who then accidentally shot a 13-year-old girl is scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday.

&nbsp;Dejuan Thomas Yelverton, 22, Topeka, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child endangerment and criminal possession of a gun by a felon, according to&nbsp;Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.

Yelverton owned the gun that was found by toddlers on June 12. As the children were handling the gun, it fired, hitting 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the back of the head. DaMay was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. 

She died after being taken off life support June 15.&nbsp; Yelverton is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Prosecutors have charged the owner of a gun found in a Topeka home by toddlers, who then accidentally shot a 13-year-old girl.

Yelverton owned the gun that was found by toddlers Saturday morning. As the children were handling the gun, it fired, hitting 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the back of the head. DaMay was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. 

She died after being taken off life support Tuesday. Yelverton is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on $250,000 bond.&nbsp;Kagay requested a $1,000,000 bond. Yelverton is scheduled to appear at 3:30p.m. on June 24, 2021 for a scheduling conference in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623976671929.png" alt="Yelverton photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Yelverton photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— The owner of a gun found in a Topeka home by toddlers, who then accidentally shot a 13-year-old girl is scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday.&nbsp;Dejuan Thomas Yelverton, 22, Topeka, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child endangerment and criminal possession of a gun by a felon, according to&nbsp;Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.Yelverton owned the gun that was found by toddlers on June 12. As the children were handling the gun, it fired, hitting 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the back of the head. DaMay was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. She died after being taken off life support June 15.&nbsp; Yelverton is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on $250,000 bond.&nbsp;-------------SHAWNEE COUNTY— Prosecutors have charged the owner of a gun found in a Topeka home by toddlers, who then accidentally shot a 13-year-old girl.&nbsp;Dejuan Thomas Yelverton, 22, Topeka, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child endangerment and criminal possession of a gun by a felon, according to&nbsp;Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.Yelverton owned the gun that was found by toddlers Saturday morning. As the children were handling the gun, it fired, hitting 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the back of the head. DaMay was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. She died after being taken off life support Tuesday. Yelverton is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on $250,000 bond.&nbsp;Kagay requested a $1,000,000 bond. Yelverton is scheduled to appear at 3:30p.m. on June 24, 2021 for a scheduling conference in the case.

Kan. man in tragic accidental shooting death set for court

CREEK COUNTY —A Kansas man had a record setting fishing trip to Oklahoma. On Tuesday, Grant Rader of Wichita caught a world record 164-pound paddlefish at Keystone Lake, according to a social media report from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624530787485.png" alt="Grant Rader of Wichita, Jeremiah Mefford with Reel Good Time Guide Service, assisted Rader on his world-record fishing trip. Also present is former world- and state-record holder Corey Watters (right) of Ochelata. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation" />
 <figcaption>Grant Rader of Wichita, Jeremiah Mefford with Reel Good Time Guide Service, assisted Rader on his world-record fishing trip. Also present is former world- and state-record holder Corey Watters (right) of Ochelata. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation</figcaption>
 </figure>CREEK COUNTY —A Kansas man had a record setting fishing trip to Oklahoma. On Tuesday, Grant Rader of Wichita caught a world record 164-pound paddlefish at Keystone Lake, according to a social media report from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Kansas man catches world-record paddlefish 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — As the U.S. emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, Missouri is becoming a cautionary tale for the rest of the country: It is seeing an alarming rise in cases because of a combination of the fast-spreading delta variant and stubborn resistance among many people to getting vaccinated.

Intensive care beds are filling up with surprisingly young, unvaccinated patients, and staff members are getting burned out fighting a battle that was supposed to be in its final throes.

The hope among some health leaders is that the rest of the U.S. might at least learn something from Missouri's plight.

“If people elsewhere in the country are looking to us and saying, ‘No thanks' and they are getting vaccinated, that is good," said Erik Frederick, chief administrative officer at Mercy Hospital Springfield, which has been inundated with COVID-19 patients as the variant first identified in India rips through the largely non-immunized community. “We will be the canary.”

The state now leads the nation with the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections, and the surge is happening largely in a politically conservative farming region in the northern part of the state and in the southwestern corner, which includes Springfield and Branson, the country music mecca in the Ozark Mountains where big crowds are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-travel-b7fa3ff68bbf489c189be74f51d49299">gathering&nbsp;</a>again at the city's theaters and other attractions.

While over 53% of all Americans have received at least one shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most southern and northern Missouri counties are well short of 40%. One county is at just 13%.

Cases remain below their winter highs in southwestern Missouri, but the trajectory is steeper than in previous surges, Frederick said. As of Tuesday, 153 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Mercy and another Springfield hospital, Cox Health, up from 31 just over a month ago, county figures show.

These patients are also younger than earlier in the pandemic — 60% to 65% of those in the ICU over the weekend at Mercy were under 40, according to Frederick, who noted that younger adults are much less likely to be vaccinated — and some are pregnant.

He is hiring traveling nurses and respiratory therapists to help out his fatigued staff as the rest of the country tries to leave the pandemic behind.

“I feel like last year at this time it was health care heroes and everybody was celebrating and bringing food to the hospital and doing prayer vigils and stuff, and now everyone is like, ‘The lake is open. Let’s go.' We are still here doing this," he said.

There are also warning signs across the state line: Arkansas on Tuesday reported its biggest one-day jump in cases in more than three months. The state also has low vaccination rates.

Lagging rates — especially among young adults — are becoming an increasing source of concern elsewhere around the country, as is the delta variant.

The mutant version now accounts more than 20% of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S., doubling in just two weeks, the CDC said Tuesday. It is responsible for half of new cases across a swath that includes Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

“The delta variant is currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate COVID-19,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert. He said there is a “real danger” of local surges like the one in Missouri in places with deep vaccine resistance.

To help counter the threat, administration officials are stepping up efforts to vaccinate Americans ages 18 to 26, who have proved least likely to get the shot when it’s available to them.

Elsewhere around the world, Britain, with an even higher vaccination rate than the U.S., has postponed the lifting of remaining restrictions on socializing in England because of the rapid spread of the variant. Israel, another vaccination success story, is reacting by tightening rules on travelers.

In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson has taken the position that it is better to ask people to take “personal responsibility" than to enact restrictions.

Missouri never had a mask mandate, and Parson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-mo-state-wire-public-health-38c2ce41372aae89566f52fc845742d0">signed&nbsp;</a>a law last week placing limits on public health restrictions and barring governments from requiring proof of vaccination to use public facilities and transportation.

Missouri Health Department spokeswoman Lisa Cox said the agency is encouraging people to get vaccinated, but confessed: “This is the Show-Me State and Missourians are skeptical.”

Frederick said some people in the heavily Republican state are resistant because they feel as if Democrats are pushing the vaccine.

“I keep telling people, while we are busy fighting with each other, this thing is picking us off one by one,” he said. “It takes no sides. It has no political affiliation. It is not red. It is not blue. It is a virus. And if we don’t protect ourselves, we are going to do a lot of damage to our community.”

Steve Edwards, CEO of Cox Health, lamented in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SDECoxHealth/status/1407070731779911687">tweet</a>&nbsp;that while a number of major news organizations have contacted the hospital about the rise in cases, Fox News was not among them.

“Fox," he tweeted, “is the most popular cable news in our area — you can help educate on Delta, vaccines and can save lives."

Lisa Meeks, 49, of Springfield, is among those who haven't been vaccinated. She said that she is a Christian and that God gave her a strong immune system.

“As of right now, nobody knows anything long term or short term about these vaccines because they are brand new," she said, despite months of real-world evidence that the vaccines are highly safe and effective. “And so people are now basically the lab rats."

An offer of free beer from Mother's Brewing Co. in Springfield for those who get vaccinated drew a disappointing 20 to 50 people to each of the first three clinics.

“We keep trying,” said Jeff Schrag, owner and founder of Mother’s Brewing. “It is a game of inches.”

As immunizations slow, the delta variant has become the predominant form of the virus in the region. Aaron Schekorra, a spokesman for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, said it makes up 93% of the random sample of cases that the county is sending for analysis, up from 70% three weeks ago.

He said that unvaccinated people gathering for graduation celebrations and Memorial Day festivities also fueled the spread of the virus. The events came just as the community lifted its mask mandate.

“My concern," he said, “would be that this is a preview of what is to come in other parts of the country that don’t have higher vaccination rates."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — As the U.S. emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, Missouri is becoming a cautionary tale for the rest of the country: It is seeing an alarming rise in cases because of a combination of the fast-spreading delta variant and stubborn resistance among many people to getting vaccinated.Intensive care beds are filling up with surprisingly young, unvaccinated patients, and staff members are getting burned out fighting a battle that was supposed to be in its final throes.The hope among some health leaders is that the rest of the U.S. might at least learn something from Missouri's plight.“If people elsewhere in the country are looking to us and saying, ‘No thanks' and they are getting vaccinated, that is good," said Erik Frederick, chief administrative officer at Mercy Hospital Springfield, which has been inundated with COVID-19 patients as the variant first identified in India rips through the largely non-immunized community. “We will be the canary.”The state now leads the nation with the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections, and the surge is happening largely in a politically conservative farming region in the northern part of the state and in the southwestern corner, which includes Springfield and Branson, the country music mecca in the Ozark Mountains where big crowds are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-travel-b7fa3ff68bbf489c189be74f51d49299">gathering&nbsp;</a>again at the city's theaters and other attractions.While over 53% of all Americans have received at least one shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most southern and northern Missouri counties are well short of 40%. One county is at just 13%.Cases remain below their winter highs in southwestern Missouri, but the trajectory is steeper than in previous surges, Frederick said. As of Tuesday, 153 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Mercy and another Springfield hospital, Cox Health, up from 31 just over a month ago, county figures show.These patients are also younger than earlier in the pandemic — 60% to 65% of those in the ICU over the weekend at Mercy were under 40, according to Frederick, who noted that younger adults are much less likely to be vaccinated — and some are pregnant.He is hiring traveling nurses and respiratory therapists to help out his fatigued staff as the rest of the country tries to leave the pandemic behind.“I feel like last year at this time it was health care heroes and everybody was celebrating and bringing food to the hospital and doing prayer vigils and stuff, and now everyone is like, ‘The lake is open. Let’s go.' We are still here doing this," he said.There are also warning signs across the state line: Arkansas on Tuesday reported its biggest one-day jump in cases in more than three months. The state also has low vaccination rates.Lagging rates — especially among young adults — are becoming an increasing source of concern elsewhere around the country, as is the delta variant.The mutant version now accounts more than 20% of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S., doubling in just two weeks, the CDC said Tuesday. It is responsible for half of new cases across a swath that includes Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.“The delta variant is currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate COVID-19,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert. He said there is a “real danger” of local surges like the one in Missouri in places with deep vaccine resistance.To help counter the threat, administration officials are stepping up efforts to vaccinate Americans ages 18 to 26, who have proved least likely to get the shot when it’s available to them.Elsewhere around the world, Britain, with an even higher vaccination rate than the U.S., has postponed the lifting of remaining restrictions on socializing in England because of the rapid spread of the variant. Israel, another vaccination success story, is reacting by tightening rules on travelers.In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson has taken the position that it is better to ask people to take “personal responsibility" than to enact restrictions.Missouri never had a mask mandate, and Parson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-mo-state-wire-public-health-38c2ce41372aae89566f52fc845742d0">signed&nbsp;</a>a law last week placing limits on public health restrictions and barring governments from requiring proof of vaccination to use public facilities and transportation.Missouri Health Department spokeswoman Lisa Cox said the agency is encouraging people to get vaccinated, but confessed: “This is the Show-Me State and Missourians are skeptical.”Frederick said some people in the heavily Republican state are resistant because they feel as if Democrats are pushing the vaccine.“I keep telling people, while we are busy fighting with each other, this thing is picking us off one by one,” he said. “It takes no sides. It has no political affiliation. It is not red. It is not blue. It is a virus. And if we don’t protect ourselves, we are going to do a lot of damage to our community.”Steve Edwards, CEO of Cox Health, lamented in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SDECoxHealth/status/1407070731779911687">tweet</a>&nbsp;that while a number of major news organizations have contacted the hospital about the rise in cases, Fox News was not among them.“Fox," he tweeted, “is the most popular cable news in our area — you can help educate on Delta, vaccines and can save lives."Lisa Meeks, 49, of Springfield, is among those who haven't been vaccinated. She said that she is a Christian and that God gave her a strong immune system.“As of right now, nobody knows anything long term or short term about these vaccines because they are brand new," she said, despite months of real-world evidence that the vaccines are highly safe and effective. “And so people are now basically the lab rats."An offer of free beer from Mother's Brewing Co. in Springfield for those who get vaccinated drew a disappointing 20 to 50 people to each of the first three clinics.“We keep trying,” said Jeff Schrag, owner and founder of Mother’s Brewing. “It is a game of inches.”As immunizations slow, the delta variant has become the predominant form of the virus in the region. Aaron Schekorra, a spokesman for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, said it makes up 93% of the random sample of cases that the county is sending for analysis, up from 70% three weeks ago.He said that unvaccinated people gathering for graduation celebrations and Memorial Day festivities also fueled the spread of the virus. The events came just as the community lifted its mask mandate.“My concern," he said, “would be that this is a preview of what is to come in other parts of the country that don’t have higher vaccination rates."

Unvaccinated Missourians fuel COVID: 'We will be the canary'

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Michael Tae Kim Ahlers, 50, of Lenexa, Kansas, was sentenced to two years in prison after stealing more than $556,000 from his former employer, the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), as well as from KUMC Research Institute and from KU Endowment, according to the United State's Attorney.

In February, Ahlers pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return. The prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised released, and Ahlers is ordered to pay more than $680,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, from 2009 to August 2015, Ahlers abused his position as the administrative officer of the KUMC Occupational Therapy Education Department. While embezzling $526,000 from KUMC, he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on personal expenditures. Some of those expenditures include:

− approximately $81,000 on travel to locations such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, New York, Myrtle Beach and Caribbean cruises; approximately $81,000 in cash withdrawals; approximately $36,000 on golf memberships and fees; and approximately $36,000 on sports tickets and on license or donor fees.

To conceal the fraud, Ahlers used a KUMC Credit Union bank account over which he had exclusive control. He created fraudulent invoices to prevent the discovery that he was using the account for his personal gain. Ahlers stole approximately $30,000 from KUMC Research Institute and KU Endowment by submitting falsified invoices for which he was paid. 

He then willfully failed to include the stolen funds on his federal tax returns which resulted in a tax loss of more than $104,000 from 2009 to 2015.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.

“After multiple years of embezzling from the University of Kansas Medical Center and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on himself, Mr. Ahlers is now going to federal prison,” said Amanda Prestegard, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “Mr. Ahlers’ sentence further exhibits that IRS CI, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals that participate in abusive criminal activity, and are duty bound to protect the integrity of the U.S. tax administration.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612904961409.png" alt="Ahlers photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Ahlers photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Michael Tae Kim Ahlers, 50, of Lenexa, Kansas, was sentenced to two years in prison after stealing more than $556,000 from his former employer, the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), as well as from KUMC Research Institute and from KU Endowment, according to the United State's Attorney.In February, Ahlers pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return. The prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised released, and Ahlers is ordered to pay more than $680,000 in restitution.According to court documents, from 2009 to August 2015, Ahlers abused his position as the administrative officer of the KUMC Occupational Therapy Education Department. While embezzling $526,000 from KUMC, he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on personal expenditures. Some of those expenditures include:− approximately $87,000 on gambling;− approximately $81,000 on travel to locations such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, New York, Myrtle Beach and Caribbean cruises; approximately $81,000 in cash withdrawals; approximately $36,000 on golf memberships and fees; and approximately $36,000 on sports tickets and on license or donor fees.To conceal the fraud, Ahlers used a KUMC Credit Union bank account over which he had exclusive control. He created fraudulent invoices to prevent the discovery that he was using the account for his personal gain. Ahlers stole approximately $30,000 from KUMC Research Institute and KU Endowment by submitting falsified invoices for which he was paid. He then willfully failed to include the stolen funds on his federal tax returns which resulted in a tax loss of more than $104,000 from 2009 to 2015.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.“After multiple years of embezzling from the University of Kansas Medical Center and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on himself, Mr. Ahlers is now going to federal prison,” said Amanda Prestegard, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “Mr. Ahlers’ sentence further exhibits that IRS CI, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals that participate in abusive criminal activity, and are duty bound to protect the integrity of the U.S. tax administration.”

Former KUMC employee sentenced for stealing $556K

SEDGWICK COUNTY– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) continue to investigate cases of illness associated with Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, just west of Wichita, according to a media release from the state. The splash park remains closed.

Initially, there were three cases that were identified as linked to the park.&nbsp; These cases have tested positive for&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;bacteria. Additional testing is underway to determine if the bacteria from each person are related.&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;is a bacteria spread from person-to-person through exposure to contaminated stool (feces).

Shigella&nbsp;spreads easily; just a small number of bacteria can spread illness. Someone can become infected with&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;through swallowing contaminated recreational water, touching items that are contaminated and touching your mouth, or caring for someone who has&nbsp;Shigella, including cleaning up after the person uses the bathroom or changing diapers.

On June 20, KDHE and SCHD released a survey for people who had visited Tanganyika and experienced fever, diarrhea or vomiting. More than 200 people have responded to the survey. Further analysis of the survey results will determine which respondents may be connected to this investigation.

If you experienced symptoms of fever, diarrhea, or vomiting after visiting Tanganyika Wildlife Park on or after May 28, 2021 and have not completed the survey, please take the survey at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjMuNDIzMzIxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tL2tkaGVzcGxhc2g_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.r7tYzVFrFbPo-2qBor9qZUqrgD1aPHcBucMsHKJPjDA/s/1305913448/br/108340001091-l" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/kdhesplash</a>. If you visit a healthcare facility, ask the medical provider to test your stool (feces).

If you live in Sedgwick County, and do not have access to a computer to complete the survey, contact the Sedgwick County Health Department via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:DiseaseReporting@sedgwick.gov" target="_blank">DiseaseReporting@sedgwick.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 316-660-5558 and leave a message.

If you live outside of Sedgwick County and do not have access to a computer to complete the survey, please contact your local health department.

The Tanganyika Splash Park is served by a water line from the City of Goddard. At this time, records indicate that the City is supplying compliant drinking water based on their routine monitoring.&nbsp;

This investigation remains ongoing and KDHE and Sedgwick County Health Department will continue to provide updates to the public and patrons of the park

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624228385006.png" alt="Tanganyika Wildlife Park" />
 <figcaption>Tanganyika Wildlife Park</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) continue to investigate cases of illness associated with Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, just west of Wichita, according to a media release from the state. The splash park remains closed.Initially, there were three cases that were identified as linked to the park.&nbsp; These cases have tested positive for&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;bacteria. Additional testing is underway to determine if the bacteria from each person are related.&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;is a bacteria spread from person-to-person through exposure to contaminated stool (feces).Shigella&nbsp;spreads easily; just a small number of bacteria can spread illness. Someone can become infected with&nbsp;Shigella&nbsp;through swallowing contaminated recreational water, touching items that are contaminated and touching your mouth, or caring for someone who has&nbsp;Shigella, including cleaning up after the person uses the bathroom or changing diapers.On June 20, KDHE and SCHD released a survey for people who had visited Tanganyika and experienced fever, diarrhea or vomiting. More than 200 people have responded to the survey. Further analysis of the survey results will determine which respondents may be connected to this investigation.If you experienced symptoms of fever, diarrhea, or vomiting after visiting Tanganyika Wildlife Park on or after May 28, 2021 and have not completed the survey, please take the survey at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjMuNDIzMzIxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tL2tkaGVzcGxhc2g_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.r7tYzVFrFbPo-2qBor9qZUqrgD1aPHcBucMsHKJPjDA/s/1305913448/br/108340001091-l" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/kdhesplash</a>. If you visit a healthcare facility, ask the medical provider to test your stool (feces).If you live in Sedgwick County, and do not have access to a computer to complete the survey, contact the Sedgwick County Health Department via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:DiseaseReporting@sedgwick.gov" target="_blank">DiseaseReporting@sedgwick.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 316-660-5558 and leave a message.If you live outside of Sedgwick County and do not have access to a computer to complete the survey, please contact your local health department.The Tanganyika Splash Park is served by a water line from the City of Goddard. At this time, records indicate that the City is supplying compliant drinking water based on their routine monitoring.&nbsp;This investigation remains ongoing and KDHE and Sedgwick County Health Department will continue to provide updates to the public and patrons of the park

KDHE IDs bacteria in cases linked to Kansas splash park 

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accuses the TV pastor of falsely claiming a health supplement could cure the coronavirus.

Missouri court records show that a settlement agreement was filed Tuesday. It calls for refunds to people who paid money or gave contributions to obtain a product known as Silver Solution in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The settlement also prohibits Bakker and Morningside Church Productions Inc. from advertising or selling Silver Solution “to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure any disease or illness.” Bakker, in the agreement, does not admit wrongdoing.

Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/481a64c7ad7a463db06d078e8bd32ef6">sued Bakker</a>&nbsp;and Morningside in March 2020. Schmitt sought an injunction ordering Bakker to stop selling Silver Solution as a treatment for COVID-19 on his streaming TV program, The Jim Bakker Show. The lawsuit said Bakker and a guest made the cure claim during 11 episodes in February and March of 2020.

Schmitt said in a news release on Wednesday that Bakker has already made restitution to many consumers, and must pay back another $90,000 to others.

The hour-long Jim Bakker Show is filmed in southwestern Missouri. The consent agreement notes that during the program, Silver Solution was offered to those who agreed to contribute $80 to $125.

Bakker's attorneys — Derek Ankrom and former Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon — said in a joint statement that Bakker and Morningside Church Productions are pleased to put the matter behind them so they can “continue the important work of Morningside Church.” They noted that the agreement includes “no findings whatsoever that our clients violated any laws or misled” consumers.

Nixon had previously claimed that Bakker was being unfairly targeted “by those who want to crush his ministry and force his Christian television program off the air," and that Bakker did not claim that Silver Solution was a cure for COVID-19.

The lawsuit cited a discussion on the program on Feb. 12, 2020, in which Bakker spoke with Sherrill Sellman, referring to her as a “naturopathic doctor” and a “natural health expert."

“This influenza that is now circling the globe, you’re saying that Silver Solution would be effective?” Bakker asks. Sellman, according to the lawsuit, replies: “Well, let’s say it hasn’t been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it has been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours.”

“Totally eliminate it, kills it. Deactivates it,” Sellman replies, according to the lawsuit.

Also in March 2020, U.S. regulators warned Bakker’s company and six others to stop selling items using what the government called false claims that they could treat the coronavirus or keep people from catching it. Letters sent jointly by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission warned the companies that their products for treating COVID-19 were fraudulent, “pose significant risks to patient health and violate federal law.”

Silver Solution, a form of colloidal silver, consists of silver particles suspended in a liquid. The solution is often described by manufacturers as having the power to boost the immune system and cure diseases. But it has no known benefit in the body when ingested, according to officials with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a federal scientific research agency.

Experts say ingesting colloidal silver can have serious side effects. The NCCIH says it can turn skin blue when silver builds up in the body’s tissue.

Nixon, who served two terms as governor from 2009 to 2017 and is now a partner at the Dowd Bennett law firm in St. Louis, said Bakker immediately complied with orders to stop offering Silver Solution on his show and ministry website after receiving the warning letters from the FDA and FTC.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a1c54d3f49d796267702cb9f06af7471">Arkansas' attorney general</a>&nbsp;filed a lawsuit similar to Missouri's in June 2020. That case is still pending.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588705366986.png" alt="Jim Bakker courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jim Bakker courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accuses the TV pastor of falsely claiming a health supplement could cure the coronavirus.Missouri court records show that a settlement agreement was filed Tuesday. It calls for refunds to people who paid money or gave contributions to obtain a product known as Silver Solution in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.The settlement also prohibits Bakker and Morningside Church Productions Inc. from advertising or selling Silver Solution “to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure any disease or illness.” Bakker, in the agreement, does not admit wrongdoing.Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/481a64c7ad7a463db06d078e8bd32ef6">sued Bakker</a>&nbsp;and Morningside in March 2020. Schmitt sought an injunction ordering Bakker to stop selling Silver Solution as a treatment for COVID-19 on his streaming TV program, The Jim Bakker Show. The lawsuit said Bakker and a guest made the cure claim during 11 episodes in February and March of 2020.Schmitt said in a news release on Wednesday that Bakker has already made restitution to many consumers, and must pay back another $90,000 to others.The hour-long Jim Bakker Show is filmed in southwestern Missouri. The consent agreement notes that during the program, Silver Solution was offered to those who agreed to contribute $80 to $125.Bakker's attorneys — Derek Ankrom and former Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon — said in a joint statement that Bakker and Morningside Church Productions are pleased to put the matter behind them so they can “continue the important work of Morningside Church.” They noted that the agreement includes “no findings whatsoever that our clients violated any laws or misled” consumers.Nixon had previously claimed that Bakker was being unfairly targeted “by those who want to crush his ministry and force his Christian television program off the air," and that Bakker did not claim that Silver Solution was a cure for COVID-19.The lawsuit cited a discussion on the program on Feb. 12, 2020, in which Bakker spoke with Sherrill Sellman, referring to her as a “naturopathic doctor” and a “natural health expert."“This influenza that is now circling the globe, you’re saying that Silver Solution would be effective?” Bakker asks. Sellman, according to the lawsuit, replies: “Well, let’s say it hasn’t been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it has been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours.”“Yeah,” Bakker says.“Totally eliminate it, kills it. Deactivates it,” Sellman replies, according to the lawsuit.Also in March 2020, U.S. regulators warned Bakker’s company and six others to stop selling items using what the government called false claims that they could treat the coronavirus or keep people from catching it. Letters sent jointly by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission warned the companies that their products for treating COVID-19 were fraudulent, “pose significant risks to patient health and violate federal law.”Silver Solution, a form of colloidal silver, consists of silver particles suspended in a liquid. The solution is often described by manufacturers as having the power to boost the immune system and cure diseases. But it has no known benefit in the body when ingested, according to officials with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a federal scientific research agency.Experts say ingesting colloidal silver can have serious side effects. The NCCIH says it can turn skin blue when silver builds up in the body’s tissue.Nixon, who served two terms as governor from 2009 to 2017 and is now a partner at the Dowd Bennett law firm in St. Louis, said Bakker immediately complied with orders to stop offering Silver Solution on his show and ministry website after receiving the warning letters from the FDA and FTC.Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a1c54d3f49d796267702cb9f06af7471">Arkansas' attorney general</a>&nbsp;filed a lawsuit similar to Missouri's in June 2020. That case is still pending.

TV preacher, church settle lawsuit over COVID-19 claims

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the case of the cursing cheerleader, the Supreme Court notched a victory for the free speech rights of students Wednesday, siding with a high school student whose vulgar social media post got her kicked off the junior varsity squad.

The court voted 8-1 in favor of Brandi Levy, who was a 14-year-old freshman when she expressed her disappointment over not making the varsity cheerleading team with a string of curse words and a raised middle finger on Snapchat.

Levy, of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, was not at school when she made her post, but she was suspended from cheerleading activities for a year anyway. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20971151-mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l" target="_blank">an opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer</a>, the high court ruled that the suspension violated Levy’s First Amendment freedom of speech rights. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, noting he would have upheld the suspension.

The justices did not foreclose schools from disciplining students for what they say off campus, though they did not spell out when schools could act. An earlier federal appeals court ruling in this case would have barred public schools from punishing off-campus speech.

Despite ruling in Levy’s favor, Breyer wrote that “we do not believe the special characteristics that give schools additional license to regulate student speech always disappear when a school regulates speech that takes place off campus. The school’s regulatory interests remain significant in some off-campus circumstances.”

The case drew extra interest at a time of remote learning — because of the coronavirus pandemic — and a rising awareness of the harmful effects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f52ab056e47a4025ac8b10d67cca2949">online bullying</a>.

The decision was a strong endorsement of students’ right to speak freely, which the court first expressed more than a half century ago in defending armbands worn by high school students in protest of the Vietnam War, said Abner Greene, a constitutional law professor at the Fordham University School of Law in Manhattan.

“Students can engage in all kinds of critical or dissenting commentary, whether about the Vietnam War or the student cheerleading team, without losing their free speech rights. And it doesn’t matter where they say it,” Greene said.

The case arose from Levy’s posts, one of which pictured her and a friend with raised middle fingers and included the repeated use of a vulgarity to complain that she had been left off the varsity cheerleading squad.

“F——— school f——— softball f——— cheer f——— everything,” she wrote near the end of her freshman year, from a local convenience store, on a Saturday. Now 18, Levy recently finished her first year of college.

Levy’s parents filed a federal lawsuit after the cheerleading coach learned of the posts and suspended her from the junior varsity team for a year. Lower courts ruled in Levy’s favor, and she was reinstated.

The school district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-of-the-united-states-brett-kavanaugh-elena-kagan-religion-courts-a4cbdf8ef08ea427ef94ba8f426cb9ac">appealed to the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;after the broad appellate ruling that said off-campus student speech was beyond schools’ authority to punish.

The dispute is the latest in a line of a cases that began with Tinker v. Des Moines, the Vietnam-era case of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, that suspended armband-wearing students. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the students, declaring they don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

The court also held then that schools retained the authority to restrict speech that would disrupt the school environment.

Wednesday’s ruling basically adopted the reasoning of Judge Thomas Ambro of the 3rd U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Philadelphia. Ambro agreed with the other two judges who decided Levy’s case that the suspension was unwarranted, but only because what she did was not disruptive either to the cheerleading team or school.

Breyer wrote that Levy’s case seemed less serious than its Vietnam-era predecessor.

“It might be tempting to dismiss B. L.’s words as unworthy of the robust First Amendment protections discussed herein. But sometimes it is necessary to protect the superfluous in order to preserve the necessary,” he wrote, using Levy’s initials because that was how she was identified in the original lawsuit. Levy has granted numerous interviews allowing her name to be used.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578090484280.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In the case of the cursing cheerleader, the Supreme Court notched a victory for the free speech rights of students Wednesday, siding with a high school student whose vulgar social media post got her kicked off the junior varsity squad.The court voted 8-1 in favor of Brandi Levy, who was a 14-year-old freshman when she expressed her disappointment over not making the varsity cheerleading team with a string of curse words and a raised middle finger on Snapchat.Levy, of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, was not at school when she made her post, but she was suspended from cheerleading activities for a year anyway. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20971151-mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l" target="_blank">an opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer</a>, the high court ruled that the suspension violated Levy’s First Amendment freedom of speech rights. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, noting he would have upheld the suspension.The justices did not foreclose schools from disciplining students for what they say off campus, though they did not spell out when schools could act. An earlier federal appeals court ruling in this case would have barred public schools from punishing off-campus speech.Despite ruling in Levy’s favor, Breyer wrote that “we do not believe the special characteristics that give schools additional license to regulate student speech always disappear when a school regulates speech that takes place off campus. The school’s regulatory interests remain significant in some off-campus circumstances.”The case drew extra interest at a time of remote learning — because of the coronavirus pandemic — and a rising awareness of the harmful effects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f52ab056e47a4025ac8b10d67cca2949">online bullying</a>.The decision was a strong endorsement of students’ right to speak freely, which the court first expressed more than a half century ago in defending armbands worn by high school students in protest of the Vietnam War, said Abner Greene, a constitutional law professor at the Fordham University School of Law in Manhattan.“Students can engage in all kinds of critical or dissenting commentary, whether about the Vietnam War or the student cheerleading team, without losing their free speech rights. And it doesn’t matter where they say it,” Greene said.The case arose from Levy’s posts, one of which pictured her and a friend with raised middle fingers and included the repeated use of a vulgarity to complain that she had been left off the varsity cheerleading squad.“F——— school f——— softball f——— cheer f——— everything,” she wrote near the end of her freshman year, from a local convenience store, on a Saturday. Now 18, Levy recently finished her first year of college.Levy’s parents filed a federal lawsuit after the cheerleading coach learned of the posts and suspended her from the junior varsity team for a year. Lower courts ruled in Levy’s favor, and she was reinstated.The school district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-of-the-united-states-brett-kavanaugh-elena-kagan-religion-courts-a4cbdf8ef08ea427ef94ba8f426cb9ac">appealed to the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;after the broad appellate ruling that said off-campus student speech was beyond schools’ authority to punish.The dispute is the latest in a line of a cases that began with Tinker v. Des Moines, the Vietnam-era case of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, that suspended armband-wearing students. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the students, declaring they don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”The court also held then that schools retained the authority to restrict speech that would disrupt the school environment.Wednesday’s ruling basically adopted the reasoning of Judge Thomas Ambro of the 3rd U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Philadelphia. Ambro agreed with the other two judges who decided Levy’s case that the suspension was unwarranted, but only because what she did was not disruptive either to the cheerleading team or school.Breyer wrote that Levy’s case seemed less serious than its Vietnam-era predecessor.“It might be tempting to dismiss B. L.’s words as unworthy of the robust First Amendment protections discussed herein. But sometimes it is necessary to protect the superfluous in order to preserve the necessary,” he wrote, using Levy’s initials because that was how she was identified in the original lawsuit. Levy has granted numerous interviews allowing her name to be used.

Justices rule for foul-mouthed cheerleader in free speech case

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and have taken a man into custody&nbsp; who may have information in the case&nbsp;

Overland Park Police reported Tuesday they located 24-year-old Kyle Anthony Guiterres.

On May 24, police responded to the 8500 Block of West 85th Street in Overland Park in reference to a homicide, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.

Several witnesses heard a single gunshot two or three individuals running through a parking lot. The suspects entered a black sedan and a white sedan and left southbound through the parking lot onto west 85th Street.&nbsp; 

Police released no additional details or possible charges in the case.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and asking for help to locate a man who may have information in the case.

Kyle Anthony Guiterres, 24, is described as 5-foot-10, 170 pounds with brown hair and eyes, according to Overland Park Police.

Several witnesses heard a single gunshot two or three individuals running through a parking lot. The suspects entered a black sedan and a white sedan and left southbound through the parking lot onto west 85th Street.

Anyone with information on Guiterres is asked to contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624369220060.png" alt="Guiterres-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Guiterres-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and have taken a man into custody&nbsp; who may have information in the case&nbsp;Overland Park Police reported Tuesday they located 24-year-old Kyle Anthony Guiterres.On May 24, police responded to the 8500 Block of West 85th Street in Overland Park in reference to a homicide, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.Several witnesses heard a single gunshot two or three individuals running through a parking lot. The suspects entered a black sedan and a white sedan and left southbound through the parking lot onto west 85th Street.&nbsp; Police released no additional details or possible charges in the case.--------JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and asking for help to locate a man who may have information in the case.Kyle Anthony Guiterres, 24, is described as 5-foot-10, 170 pounds with brown hair and eyes, according to Overland Park Police.On May 24, police responded to the 8500 Block of West 85th Street in Overland Park in reference to a homicide, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.Several witnesses heard a single gunshot two or three individuals running through a parking lot. The suspects entered a black sedan and a white sedan and left southbound through the parking lot onto west 85th Street.Anyone with information on Guiterres is asked to contact police.

Police: Person of interest in Kan. homicide in custody

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge on Wednesday ruled that a voter-approved ballot measure to expand Medicaid is unconstitutional.

Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem said the amendment unconstitutionally sought to force lawmakers to set aside money for the expansion.

Under the Constitution, lawmakers can’t be forced to make appropriations unless the ballot measure includes a funding mechanism.

Voters passed the constitutional amendment last year. But Republican Gov. Mike Parson refused to implement it because lawmakers didn’t set aside any money for it.

Three low-income women sued to try to force the state to enact the program.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they will appeal Beetem’s decision.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge on Wednesday ruled that a voter-approved ballot measure to expand Medicaid is unconstitutional.Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem said the amendment unconstitutionally sought to force lawmakers to set aside money for the expansion.Under the Constitution, lawmakers can’t be forced to make appropriations unless the ballot measure includes a funding mechanism.Voters passed the constitutional amendment last year. But Republican Gov. Mike Parson refused to implement it because lawmakers didn’t set aside any money for it.Three low-income women sued to try to force the state to enact the program.Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they will appeal Beetem’s decision.

Missouri judge: Medicaid expansion unconstitutional

JOHNSON COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department are currently investigating human remains discovered Tuesday afternoon.

Just after 1p.m., police were dispatched to the 400 Block of South Bayard just north of Kansas Avenue and west of the 18th Street Expressway on a report of possible skeletal human remains found by a Kansas Department of Transportation employee.

The initial investigation indicates the remains were from a man who had been dead for several months and possibly much longer. The KCK Police Major Case Unit is in charge of the investigation.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department are currently investigating human remains discovered Tuesday afternoon.Just after 1p.m., police were dispatched to the 400 Block of South Bayard just north of Kansas Avenue and west of the 18th Street Expressway on a report of possible skeletal human remains found by a Kansas Department of Transportation employee.The initial investigation indicates the remains were from a man who had been dead for several months and possibly much longer. The KCK Police Major Case Unit is in charge of the investigation.

 Police: Human remains discovered in northeast Kansas

WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service is partnering with non-profit 
organizations, churches, community groups and others in 12 cities to 
help eligible families, particularly those who normally do not file a 
federal tax return, file a 2020 income tax return or register for the 
monthly Advance Child Tax Credit (AdvCTC) payments using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>.

This tool, an update of last year's IRS Non-Filers tool, is also 
designed to help eligible individuals who don't normally file tax 
returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments 
(also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for
 any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may
 have missed. Individuals do not need to have children in order to 
attend these events and sign up for Economic Impact Payments.

The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5532.pdf">special events&nbsp;PDF</a>
 by IRS and partner groups to help people quickly file income tax 
returns and register for the advance payments will take place over two 
weekends, June 25-26 and July 9-10, 2021. Events will be held in 
Atlanta; New York; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Miami; 
Milwaukee; Philadelphia; Phoenix; St. Louis; and Washington, DC.

"This important new tax change affects millions of families across 
the nation, and the IRS wants to do everything it can to help people get
 the payments," said IRS Wage &amp; Investment Commissioner Ken Corbin, 
who also serves as the agency's Chief Taxpayer Experience Officer. "Many
 people miss out on tax benefits simply because they don't file a tax 
return. Our work in these cities is designed to help people receive 
monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments."

People can check their eligibility for the AdvCTC payments by using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.

To make the sign-up process go quickly and smoothly, people are 
encouraged to have the following information when they come to one of 
these events:

As part of a wider effort to raise awareness of the expanded 
Child Tax Credit, the IRS also encourages its partners to use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive the AdvCTC.

Some tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC), are 
"refundable," meaning that even if taxpayers don't owe income tax, the 
IRS will issue them a refund if they're eligible; but they must file a 
tax return or register with the new Non-filer Sign-up Tool to receive 
it. Some people who haven't filed a 2020 tax return yet are also 
eligible for the $1,400 per person Economic Impact Payments and the 
Recovery Rebate Credit.

The first monthly payments of the expanded and newly-advanceable CTC 
from the American Rescue Plan will be made in July. Most families will 
begin receiving monthly payments without any additional action. Eligible
 families will receive a payment of up to $300 per month for each child 
under age 6, and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 to 17.

People who need to file a 2020 federal income tax return, but are 
unable to attend one of these events, may be able to prepare and file 
their own federal income tax online using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> if their income is $72,000 or less.

People who don't need to file a 2020 federal tax return can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a> to register to receive the advance CTC payments, the Third Round Economic Impact Payment, and the Recovery Rebate Credit.

The IRS encourages people to request payments via direct deposit, 
which is faster and more secure than other payment methods. People who 
don't have a bank account should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to locate an FDIC-insured bank.

Finally, <a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a> and <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that can open an account online. Veterans can see the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> for financial services at participating banks.

The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.

The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.

To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, August&nbsp;13, 
September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15, and December&nbsp;15.

To learn more about advance CTC payments, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a> or see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service is partnering with non-profit 
organizations, churches, community groups and others in 12 cities to 
help eligible families, particularly those who normally do not file a 
federal tax return, file a 2020 income tax return or register for the 
monthly Advance Child Tax Credit (AdvCTC) payments using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>.This tool, an update of last year's IRS Non-Filers tool, is also 
designed to help eligible individuals who don't normally file tax 
returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments 
(also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for
 any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may
 have missed. Individuals do not need to have children in order to 
attend these events and sign up for Economic Impact Payments.The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5532.pdf">special events&nbsp;PDF</a>
 by IRS and partner groups to help people quickly file income tax 
returns and register for the advance payments will take place over two 
weekends, June 25-26 and July 9-10, 2021. Events will be held in 
Atlanta; New York; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Miami; 
Milwaukee; Philadelphia; Phoenix; St. Louis; and Washington, DC."This important new tax change affects millions of families across 
the nation, and the IRS wants to do everything it can to help people get
 the payments," said IRS Wage &amp; Investment Commissioner Ken Corbin, 
who also serves as the agency's Chief Taxpayer Experience Officer. "Many
 people miss out on tax benefits simply because they don't file a tax 
return. Our work in these cities is designed to help people receive 
monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments."People can check their eligibility for the AdvCTC payments by using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.To make the sign-up process go quickly and smoothly, people are 
encouraged to have the following information when they come to one of 
these events:<ol>
 <li>Social Security numbers for their children,</li><li>Social Security numbers or Tax Identification Numbers for themselves and their spouse,</li><li>a reliable mailing address,</li><li>an email address, and</li><li>their bank account information if they want to receive their payment by direct deposit.</li>
 </ol>As part of a wider effort to raise awareness of the expanded 
Child Tax Credit, the IRS also encourages its partners to use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive the AdvCTC.Some tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC), are 
"refundable," meaning that even if taxpayers don't owe income tax, the 
IRS will issue them a refund if they're eligible; but they must file a 
tax return or register with the new Non-filer Sign-up Tool to receive 
it. Some people who haven't filed a 2020 tax return yet are also 
eligible for the $1,400 per person Economic Impact Payments and the 
Recovery Rebate Credit.The first monthly payments of the expanded and newly-advanceable CTC 
from the American Rescue Plan will be made in July. Most families will 
begin receiving monthly payments without any additional action. Eligible
 families will receive a payment of up to $300 per month for each child 
under age 6, and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 to 17.People who need to file a 2020 federal income tax return, but are 
unable to attend one of these events, may be able to prepare and file 
their own federal income tax online using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> if their income is $72,000 or less.People who don't need to file a 2020 federal tax return can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a> to register to receive the advance CTC payments, the Third Round Economic Impact Payment, and the Recovery Rebate Credit.The IRS encourages people to request payments via direct deposit, 
which is faster and more secure than other payment methods. People who 
don't have a bank account should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to locate an FDIC-insured bank.Finally, <a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a> and <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that can open an account online. Veterans can see the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> for financial services at participating banks.<h2>About the advance Child Tax Credit</h2>The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, August&nbsp;13, 
September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15, and December&nbsp;15.To learn more about advance CTC payments, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a> or see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

IRS: Free tax help for families to get Child Tax Credit, COVID relief payments

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/22/kansas-officials-boost-food-assistance-through-pandemic-relief-program/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas officials 
are extending and expanding access to a federal relief program for 
vulnerable families whose children were without school meals because of 
the pandemic.

Pandemic EBT program funds
 for the 2020-21 school year will be issued later this month to families
 of children that reported missed lunches because of school closures. 
The child must qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school 
must have been closed or operated at reduced attendance for at least 
five consecutive days due to the pandemic.

The program also will be 
extended to those who attended child care facilities last year. 
Previously, children younger than 6 did not qualify for this assistance.

“Expanding the P-EBT 
program to child care facilities will address food insecurity and make 
sure all Kansas children have reliable access to healthy foods as we 
overcome COVID-19,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “Keeping young Kansans safe 
and healthy is critical, and I’m glad to see this program reaching the 
families who need it most.”

The P-EBT program was a 
part of the first pandemic relief package passed by Congress in March 
2020 to aid families with food insecurity. After legislative leaders 
earlier this month cut off millions of dollars in food assistance by 
refusing to extend the COVID-19 emergency declaration, advocates hoped 
to see this program offer continued stability.

The program works 
similarly to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Families 
receive an electronic benefit transfer card — just like a debit card — 
preloaded with money they can use to buy groceries for their children 
who missed out on school meals.

Families already receiving
 public assistance through the Kansas Department for Children and 
Families will receive these benefits automatically, while all others 
must <a href="https://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal">apply on the department website</a>.

Last year, 170,760 Kansas 
children received an average of $291 in P-EBT benefits for a total of 
$49.7 million provided to families in four months, according to data 
provided by Kansas Appleseed.

Benefit amounts vary based
 on each child’s learning situation. Families are notified of the 
specific amount when approved for the program.

“This program is essential
 to families who are experiencing food insecurity and don’t always know 
where their next meal will come from,” said DCF secretary Laura Howard.

P-EBT for this summer will be issued in the fall.

Haley Kottler, a campaign 
director for Kansas Appleseed, said it is instrumental that these 
programs receive support as families lose access to other sources of 
food assistance.

Under the now-expired 
emergency declaration, average monthly payments through the SNAP program
 increased from $106 to $193 for 63,000 Kansas households. That boost 
was taken away when Republican leaders rejected the governor’s request 
to extend the emergency declaration through August.

Kottler said the loss of those funds makes the extension of the P-EBT program more important.

“We know through research 
that hunger in Kansas among all Kansans would have been so much more 
amplified if these programs didn’t exist,” Kottler said. “I can’t 
imagine if there wasn’t a pandemic EBT program how many more Kansas 
children would be going hungry throughout the pandemic.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624463058608.png" alt="Last year, 170,760 Kansas kids received $49.7 million in P-EBT benefits in four months. The program is being extended based on last year's attendance figures. (Submitted by Kansas Appleseed)" />
 <figcaption>Last year, 170,760 Kansas kids received $49.7 million in P-EBT benefits in four months. The program is being extended based on last year's attendance figures. (Submitted by Kansas Appleseed)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/22/kansas-officials-boost-food-assistance-through-pandemic-relief-program/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas officials 
are extending and expanding access to a federal relief program for 
vulnerable families whose children were without school meals because of 
the pandemic.Pandemic EBT program funds
 for the 2020-21 school year will be issued later this month to families
 of children that reported missed lunches because of school closures. 
The child must qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school 
must have been closed or operated at reduced attendance for at least 
five consecutive days due to the pandemic.The program also will be 
extended to those who attended child care facilities last year. 
Previously, children younger than 6 did not qualify for this assistance.“Expanding the P-EBT 
program to child care facilities will address food insecurity and make 
sure all Kansas children have reliable access to healthy foods as we 
overcome COVID-19,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “Keeping young Kansans safe 
and healthy is critical, and I’m glad to see this program reaching the 
families who need it most.”The P-EBT program was a 
part of the first pandemic relief package passed by Congress in March 
2020 to aid families with food insecurity. After legislative leaders 
earlier this month cut off millions of dollars in food assistance by 
refusing to extend the COVID-19 emergency declaration, advocates hoped 
to see this program offer continued stability.The program works 
similarly to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Families 
receive an electronic benefit transfer card — just like a debit card — 
preloaded with money they can use to buy groceries for their children 
who missed out on school meals.Families already receiving
 public assistance through the Kansas Department for Children and 
Families will receive these benefits automatically, while all others 
must <a href="https://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal">apply on the department website</a>.Last year, 170,760 Kansas 
children received an average of $291 in P-EBT benefits for a total of 
$49.7 million provided to families in four months, according to data 
provided by Kansas Appleseed.Benefit amounts vary based
 on each child’s learning situation. Families are notified of the 
specific amount when approved for the program.“This program is essential
 to families who are experiencing food insecurity and don’t always know 
where their next meal will come from,” said DCF secretary Laura Howard.P-EBT for this summer will be issued in the fall.Haley Kottler, a campaign 
director for Kansas Appleseed, said it is instrumental that these 
programs receive support as families lose access to other sources of 
food assistance.Under the now-expired 
emergency declaration, average monthly payments through the SNAP program
 increased from $106 to $193 for 63,000 Kansas households. That boost 
was taken away when Republican leaders rejected the governor’s request 
to extend the emergency declaration through August.Kottler said the loss of those funds makes the extension of the P-EBT program more important.“We know through research 
that hunger in Kansas among all Kansans would have been so much more 
amplified if these programs didn’t exist,” Kottler said. “I can’t 
imagine if there wasn’t a pandemic EBT program how many more Kansas 
children would be going hungry throughout the pandemic.”

Kan. officials boost food assistance through pandemic relief program

MANHATTAN—A suspect wanted in connection with a shooting in Manhattan is in custody.

Jamie Smith, 23, of Manhattan surrendered himself at the Riley County Law Enforcement Center Wednesday afternoon.

He was booked on a requested charge of attempted first-degree murder.

Just before 3p.m. Tuesday&nbsp; police responded to the 400 block of S. Juliette Ave. in Manhattan. Officers found 38-year-old woman shot multiple times. EMS transported her to a hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

Smith was observed leaving the scene of the shooting wearing  a white tank top and blue jeans and was last seen in the area of Walmart in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in Manhattan and looking for a suspect identified as 23-year-old Jamie Smith.&nbsp;

On Tuesday afternoon, police responded to the 400 block of S. Juliette in Manhattan after a report of an individual with gunshot wounds, according to a media release. EMS transported the victim identified as a 38-year-old woman to a local hospital in critical condition.

Smith was observed leaving the scene of the shooting wearing&nbsp; a white tank top and blue jeans and was last seen in the area of Walmart in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue. Police continue to believe he is possibly armed.

If you see Smith, do not attempt to apprehend. Call 911 immediately.

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and looking for a suspect identified as 23-year-old Jamie Smith.&nbsp;

On Tuesday afternoon, police responded to the 400 block of S. Juliette in Manhattan after a report of an individual with gunshot wounds, according to a media release. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624422124051.jpeg" alt="Jamie Smith leaving the scene of the shooting in the 400 block of Juliette in a white tank top and blue jeans." />
 <figcaption>Jamie Smith leaving the scene of the shooting in the 400 block of Juliette in a white tank top and blue jeans.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN—A suspect wanted in connection with a shooting in Manhattan is in custody.Jamie Smith, 23, of Manhattan surrendered himself at the Riley County Law Enforcement Center Wednesday afternoon.He was booked on a requested charge of attempted first-degree murder.Just before 3p.m. Tuesday&nbsp; police responded to the 400 block of S. Juliette Ave. in Manhattan. Officers found 38-year-old woman shot multiple times. EMS transported her to a hospital for treatment of critical injuries.Smith was observed leaving the scene of the shooting wearing a white tank top and blue jeans and was last seen in the area of Walmart in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue.&nbsp;---------MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in Manhattan and looking for a suspect identified as 23-year-old Jamie Smith.&nbsp; On Tuesday afternoon, police responded to the 400 block of S. Juliette in Manhattan after a report of an individual with gunshot wounds, according to a media release. EMS transported the victim identified as a 38-year-old woman to a local hospital in critical condition.Smith was observed leaving the scene of the shooting wearing&nbsp; a white tank top and blue jeans and was last seen in the area of Walmart in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue. Police continue to believe he is possibly armed.If you see Smith, do not attempt to apprehend. Call 911 immediately.---------MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and looking for a suspect identified as 23-year-old Jamie Smith.&nbsp; On Tuesday afternoon, police responded to the 400 block of S. Juliette in Manhattan after a report of an individual with gunshot wounds, according to a media release. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition.Smith was observed leaving the scene of the shooting wearing&nbsp; a white tank top and blue jeans and was last seen in the area of Walmart in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue. Police continue to believe he is possibly armed.If you see Smith, do not attempt to apprehend. Call 911 immediately.----