SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged road rage and have made an arrest.

Just after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday , officers responded to an off-duty officer in trouble call at Kellogg and Meridian, according to officer Charley Davidson.

&nbsp; Officers received information of a large physical disturbance on Kellogg and an off-duty officer being on the scene.

Through the investigation, it was learned a road rage incident occurred between 51-year-old Tyrone Inkelaar who was driving a black pickup and a 63-year-old man driving a white pickup.&nbsp;

Inkelaar stopped in front of the white truck on Kellogg, exited his vehicle, and ran toward the other driver.&nbsp; A physical disturbance then ensued.&nbsp;

An off-duty community service officer observed the incident, stopped, and alerted witnesses to call 911. Officers arrested Inkelaar without incident and booked him into jail on a charge of simple battery, according to Davidson.&nbsp; Inkelaar and the other driver only sustained minor injuries.

The case will be presented to the City of Wichita Prosecutor's Office

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619005267341.png" alt=" Inkelaar photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption> Inkelaar photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged road rage and have made an arrest.Just after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday , officers responded to an off-duty officer in trouble call at Kellogg and Meridian, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Officers received information of a large physical disturbance on Kellogg and an off-duty officer being on the scene.Through the investigation, it was learned a road rage incident occurred between 51-year-old Tyrone Inkelaar who was driving a black pickup and a 63-year-old man driving a white pickup.&nbsp;Inkelaar stopped in front of the white truck on Kellogg, exited his vehicle, and ran toward the other driver.&nbsp; A physical disturbance then ensued.&nbsp;An off-duty community service officer observed the incident, stopped, and alerted witnesses to call 911. Officers arrested Inkelaar without incident and booked him into jail on a charge of simple battery, according to Davidson.&nbsp; Inkelaar and the other driver only sustained minor injuries.The case will be presented to the City of Wichita Prosecutor's Office

Road rage: Kan. man accused of attack on driver

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials on Tuesday issued a new, more optimistic fiscal forecast for state government and projected healthy cash reserves through June 2022, giving Republican lawmakers new ammunition in pushing for state income tax cuts over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s objections.

The fiscal forecasters revised the state’s projections for tax collections during the current 2021 budget year, which ends June 30, upward by 3.9% or $304 million. They’re now predicting that Kansas will collect $8.15 billion in taxes, rather than the $7.8 billon predicted in the previous forecast issued in November.

The forecasters also made a small change in the projections for tax collections for the 2022 budget year, increasing the total by 0.5%, or $38 million, to almost $7.7 billion. The projection for 2022 is lower than for 2021 because a delay in last year’s income tax filing deadline to July 15 artificially inflated tax collections for 2021.

Legislative researchers also projected that, based on budget legislation drafted by the Republican-controlled Legislature, the state will have $1.15 billion in cash reserves on June 30 and a cushion of $821 million at the end of June 2022.

“The resulting balances show our state has more than enough resources to give Kansans the tax relief they have been entitled to since 2017,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in a statement.

Republicans passed a bill cutting taxes for individuals and businesses who are paying more to the state because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. It would have saved taxpayers roughly $95 million a year.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-legislature-kansas-topeka-2aea37a50e6e51ab194cd2d8824ff9d5">Kelly vetoed it</a>&nbsp;last week, saying it was fiscally irresponsible. GOP leaders immediately promised to try to override Kelly’s veto when lawmakers return May 3 from their annual spring break.

Kelly’s budget director, Adam Proffitt, sought to temper news of the more positive forecast with a warning that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t yet ended and tried to counter any suggestion that the state will be financially flush.

“The economy does look strong,” Proffitt said during a Statehouse news conference. “But we’re not out of the pandemic yet, so we need to make sure we’re proceeding cautiously and not getting over-exuberant here.”

The state’s tax collections had exceeded expectations for eight consecutive months through March and for all but four months during the past four years.

And the new forecast would have been even more optimistic were it not for a new tax break for businesses approved by Congress in December as part of a COVID-19 relief bill. That break is expected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-93296c2b4f70292e283a7d5be39b1cab">cost the state $360 million</a>&nbsp;in revenues from now through June 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606238567283.jpeg" alt="Last week Gov. Kelly vetoed bill cutting taxes for individuals and businesses who are paying more to the state because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. It would have saved taxpayers roughly $95 million a year." />
 <figcaption>Last week Gov. Kelly vetoed bill cutting taxes for individuals and businesses who are paying more to the state because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. It would have saved taxpayers roughly $95 million a year.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials on Tuesday issued a new, more optimistic fiscal forecast for state government and projected healthy cash reserves through June 2022, giving Republican lawmakers new ammunition in pushing for state income tax cuts over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s objections.The fiscal forecasters revised the state’s projections for tax collections during the current 2021 budget year, which ends June 30, upward by 3.9% or $304 million. They’re now predicting that Kansas will collect $8.15 billion in taxes, rather than the $7.8 billon predicted in the previous forecast issued in November.The forecasters also made a small change in the projections for tax collections for the 2022 budget year, increasing the total by 0.5%, or $38 million, to almost $7.7 billion. The projection for 2022 is lower than for 2021 because a delay in last year’s income tax filing deadline to July 15 artificially inflated tax collections for 2021.Legislative researchers also projected that, based on budget legislation drafted by the Republican-controlled Legislature, the state will have $1.15 billion in cash reserves on June 30 and a cushion of $821 million at the end of June 2022.“The resulting balances show our state has more than enough resources to give Kansans the tax relief they have been entitled to since 2017,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in a statement.Republicans passed a bill cutting taxes for individuals and businesses who are paying more to the state because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. It would have saved taxpayers roughly $95 million a year.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-legislature-kansas-topeka-2aea37a50e6e51ab194cd2d8824ff9d5">Kelly vetoed it</a>&nbsp;last week, saying it was fiscally irresponsible. GOP leaders immediately promised to try to override Kelly’s veto when lawmakers return May 3 from their annual spring break.Kelly’s budget director, Adam Proffitt, sought to temper news of the more positive forecast with a warning that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t yet ended and tried to counter any suggestion that the state will be financially flush.“The economy does look strong,” Proffitt said during a Statehouse news conference. “But we’re not out of the pandemic yet, so we need to make sure we’re proceeding cautiously and not getting over-exuberant here.”The state’s tax collections had exceeded expectations for eight consecutive months through March and for all but four months during the past four years.And the new forecast would have been even more optimistic were it not for a new tax break for businesses approved by Congress in December as part of a COVID-19 relief bill. That break is expected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-93296c2b4f70292e283a7d5be39b1cab">cost the state $360 million</a>&nbsp;in revenues from now through June 2023.___

New fiscal forecast for Kan. fuels GOP’s tax-cut dreams

ARMA, Kan. (AP) — A&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;man pleaded no contest Tuesday to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the stabbing death of his wife and the injuring of her grandmother.

Jeremy Delmarco, 34. of Arma, had been charged with killing 37-year-old Brandy Delmarco and injuring Dorma Lemaster, 84, at a home in Arma on Feb. 4, 2019.

The pleas were accepted by Crawford County District Judge M. Jennifer Brunetti. Sentencing was set for June 30, the Kansas Attorney General’s office said in a news release.

In 2019, Lemaster called police to report that Jeremy Delmarco was assaulting her granddaughter. When deputies arrived they found the two victims seriously injured. Brandy Delmarco died later at a hospital.

Jeremy Delmarco was arrested after struggling with a deputy despite being shot several times with a stun gun.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618963710073.png" alt="Delmarco photo Crawford Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Delmarco photo Crawford Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>ARMA, Kan. (AP) — A&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;man pleaded no contest Tuesday to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the stabbing death of his wife and the injuring of her grandmother.Jeremy Delmarco, 34. of Arma, had been charged with killing 37-year-old Brandy Delmarco and injuring Dorma Lemaster, 84, at a home in Arma on Feb. 4, 2019.The pleas were accepted by Crawford County District Judge M. Jennifer Brunetti. Sentencing was set for June 30, the Kansas Attorney General’s office said in a news release.In 2019, Lemaster called police to report that Jeremy Delmarco was assaulting her granddaughter. When deputies arrived they found the two victims seriously injured. Brandy Delmarco died later at a hospital.Jeremy Delmarco was arrested after struggling with a deputy despite being shot several times with a stun gun.

Kansas man enters plea in stabbing death of his wife

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism. But he declared that “it’s not enough.”

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4959612/president-biden-chauvin-verdict">Click here to watch</a> President Biden's comments

Biden spoke Tuesday from the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">hours after the verdict&nbsp;</a>alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, with the pair saying the country’s work is far from finished with the verdict.

“We can’t stop here,” Biden declared.

Biden and Harris called on Congress to act swiftly to address policing reform, including by approving a bill named for Floyd, who died with his neck under Chauvin’s knee last May. Beyond that, the president said, the entire country must confront hatred to “change hearts and minds as well as laws and policies.”

“‘I can’t breathe.’ Those were George Floyd’s last words,” Biden said. “We can’t let those words die with him. We have to keep hearing those words. We must not turn away. We can’t turn away.”

Harris, the first Black woman to serve as vice president, said racism was keeping the country from fulfilling its founding promise of “liberty and justice for all.”

“It is not just a Black America problem or a people of color problem. it is a problem for every American,” she said. “It is holding our nation back from reaching our full potential.”

“A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice,” she said.

Biden addressed the nation after telephoning Floyd’s family following the verdict, telling them, “We’re all so relieved.” He added later that he sought to comfort Floyd’s young daughter Gianna, telling her, “Daddy did change the world.”

After about 10 hours of deliberations over two days, the jury convicted Chauvin of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-charges-716fa235ecf6212f0ee4993110d959df">two counts of murder and one of manslaughte</a>&nbsp;r.

The verdict — and the aftermath — will be a continuing test for Biden. He has pledged to help combat racism in policing, helping African Americans who supported him in large numbers in last year’s election in the wake of protests that swept the nation after Floyd’s death and restarted a national conversation about race. But he also has long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.

Earlier Tuesday, Biden broke his administration’s silence on the trial, which has set the nation on edge for weeks, saying he was praying for “the right verdict.”

Speaking from the Oval Office while the jury was deliberating in Minneapolis, Biden said, “I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. I think it’s overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now.”

The president had repeatedly denounced Floyd’s death but had previously stopped short of weighing in on Chauvin’s trial, with White House officials saying it would be improper to speak out during active judicial proceedings. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki repeatedly refused to explain Biden’s comments, doing nothing to dispel the impression that he thought Chauvin should be found guilty.

The White House had been privately weighing how to handle the verdict, dispatching specially trained community facilitators from the Justice Department in anticipation of potential protests, officials said. With word that a verdict had been reached Tuesday afternoon, Biden postponed planned remarks at the White House on his infrastructure package.

On Monday, Judge Peter Cahill, who presided over the trial, admonished public officials about speaking out while the trial was ongoing.

“I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that’s disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch and our function,” he said shortly after sending the jury to begin deliberations.

Defense attorneys often cite remarks made by public officials as a reason to appeal a verdict, in part because they could poison the jury against the defendant.

Cahill delivered his rebuke after rejecting a defense request for a mistrial based in part on comments from California Rep. Maxine Waters, who said “we’ve got to get more confrontational” if Chauvin isn’t convicted of murder. He conceded to Chauvin’s attorneys that Waters’ comments could potentially be grounds for an appeal.

On Monday, Cahill ordered that jurors be sequestered in an undisclosed hotel during their deliberations and instructed them to avoid all news about the case.

Despite Cahill’s remarks, Brock Hunter, a criminal defense attorney and past president of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said he considered a successful appeal over remarks like Waters’ and Biden’s extremely unlikely.

“It’s inevitable that public officials are going to comment on a case and its impacts on communities,” he said. “Unless there is direct evidence that statements by a public official directly impacted a juror or jurors, I don’t think this even gets off the ground.”

On Capitol Hill, Republicans as well as Democrats said they were relived at the verdict and predicted it could give momentum to policing reform legislation that has been proposed in both the House and Senate.

“I think the verdict just reinforces that our justice system continues to become more just,” said Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican senator. “This is a monumental day in many ways, in my opinion.”

The Congressional Black Caucus watched the verdict together in the Capitol, and members hugged and fist pumped after the verdict was read.

“The room was filled with emotion and gratitude,” said Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson. “Black lives mattered to this jury. And I’m very gratified at the verdict, very happy at the swiftness of the verdict. ... It’s a vindication of justice in America.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the Black Caucus shortly afterward at a news conference outside, where she said she had spoken to Floyd’s family just before the verdict. She said she called “to say to them, ‘Thank you, God bless you, for your grace and your dignity, for the model that you are appealing for justice in the most dignified way.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619000270759.png" alt="President Biden spoke after telephoning&nbsp; George Floyd’s family, telling them, “We’re all so relieved.” -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke after telephoning&nbsp; George Floyd’s family, telling them, “We’re all so relieved.” -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism. But he declared that “it’s not enough.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4959612/president-biden-chauvin-verdict">Click here to watch</a> President Biden's commentsBiden spoke Tuesday from the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">hours after the verdict&nbsp;</a>alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, with the pair saying the country’s work is far from finished with the verdict.“We can’t stop here,” Biden declared.Biden and Harris called on Congress to act swiftly to address policing reform, including by approving a bill named for Floyd, who died with his neck under Chauvin’s knee last May. Beyond that, the president said, the entire country must confront hatred to “change hearts and minds as well as laws and policies.”“‘I can’t breathe.’ Those were George Floyd’s last words,” Biden said. “We can’t let those words die with him. We have to keep hearing those words. We must not turn away. We can’t turn away.”Harris, the first Black woman to serve as vice president, said racism was keeping the country from fulfilling its founding promise of “liberty and justice for all.”“It is not just a Black America problem or a people of color problem. it is a problem for every American,” she said. “It is holding our nation back from reaching our full potential.”“A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice,” she said.Biden addressed the nation after telephoning Floyd’s family following the verdict, telling them, “We’re all so relieved.” He added later that he sought to comfort Floyd’s young daughter Gianna, telling her, “Daddy did change the world.”After about 10 hours of deliberations over two days, the jury convicted Chauvin of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-charges-716fa235ecf6212f0ee4993110d959df">two counts of murder and one of manslaughte</a>&nbsp;r.The verdict — and the aftermath — will be a continuing test for Biden. He has pledged to help combat racism in policing, helping African Americans who supported him in large numbers in last year’s election in the wake of protests that swept the nation after Floyd’s death and restarted a national conversation about race. But he also has long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.Earlier Tuesday, Biden broke his administration’s silence on the trial, which has set the nation on edge for weeks, saying he was praying for “the right verdict.”Speaking from the Oval Office while the jury was deliberating in Minneapolis, Biden said, “I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. I think it’s overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now.”The president had repeatedly denounced Floyd’s death but had previously stopped short of weighing in on Chauvin’s trial, with White House officials saying it would be improper to speak out during active judicial proceedings. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki repeatedly refused to explain Biden’s comments, doing nothing to dispel the impression that he thought Chauvin should be found guilty.The White House had been privately weighing how to handle the verdict, dispatching specially trained community facilitators from the Justice Department in anticipation of potential protests, officials said. With word that a verdict had been reached Tuesday afternoon, Biden postponed planned remarks at the White House on his infrastructure package.On Monday, Judge Peter Cahill, who presided over the trial, admonished public officials about speaking out while the trial was ongoing.“I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that’s disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch and our function,” he said shortly after sending the jury to begin deliberations.Defense attorneys often cite remarks made by public officials as a reason to appeal a verdict, in part because they could poison the jury against the defendant.Cahill delivered his rebuke after rejecting a defense request for a mistrial based in part on comments from California Rep. Maxine Waters, who said “we’ve got to get more confrontational” if Chauvin isn’t convicted of murder. He conceded to Chauvin’s attorneys that Waters’ comments could potentially be grounds for an appeal.On Monday, Cahill ordered that jurors be sequestered in an undisclosed hotel during their deliberations and instructed them to avoid all news about the case.Despite Cahill’s remarks, Brock Hunter, a criminal defense attorney and past president of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said he considered a successful appeal over remarks like Waters’ and Biden’s extremely unlikely.“It’s inevitable that public officials are going to comment on a case and its impacts on communities,” he said. “Unless there is direct evidence that statements by a public official directly impacted a juror or jurors, I don’t think this even gets off the ground.”On Capitol Hill, Republicans as well as Democrats said they were relived at the verdict and predicted it could give momentum to policing reform legislation that has been proposed in both the House and Senate.“I think the verdict just reinforces that our justice system continues to become more just,” said Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican senator. “This is a monumental day in many ways, in my opinion.”The Congressional Black Caucus watched the verdict together in the Capitol, and members hugged and fist pumped after the verdict was read.“The room was filled with emotion and gratitude,” said Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson. “Black lives mattered to this jury. And I’m very gratified at the verdict, very happy at the swiftness of the verdict. ... It’s a vindication of justice in America.”House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the Black Caucus shortly afterward at a news conference outside, where she said she had spoken to Floyd’s family just before the verdict. She said she called “to say to them, ‘Thank you, God bless you, for your grace and your dignity, for the model that you are appealing for justice in the most dignified way.’”___

🎥  Biden calls on Congress to act swiftly on police reforms

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The number of coronavirus variants in Kansas has risen sharply, even as parents in some schools push to drop masking requirements and vaccine appointments go unfilled.

In the past week, the state had a 32% increase in the total number of confirmed variant coronavirus cases as all five variants of concern have now been identified in the state.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 175 total variant cases on Monday, up from 133 one week ago. Most of the increase was due to 35 new cases of the variant strain first identified in the United Kingdom.

Despite the spread, more parents are challenging mask requirements in schools, with the Mulvane district becoming the latest in the Wichita area to reject a complaint about school rules for COVID-19 control.

Parents are raising the challenges under a new state law that requires school boards to use the least restrictive means possible to control the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In rejecting the complaint, school board president Jeff Ellis criticized the new law, which also requires districts to hold a hearing within 72 hours of a complaint being filed. He said it has “continued to divide the community, divide teachers, divide students, divide board members.”

About a dozen parents and students who signed on to the complaint were present in the audience. Most went unmasked in defiance of the district rules.

“They’re not actually protecting the kids from anything as far as I’m concerned,” said parent Lacy Collins. “To actually protect yourself from the small particles of COVID you’d have to wear a HazMat suit or something. I just don’t feel like there’s any purpose.”

It was the third loss in a row for former Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau, who has emerged in recent weeks as a leading opponent of masks in schools countywide. He’s been shot down twice in Valley Center where he brought a complaint as a parent himself and then represented another parent who filed her own complaint but couldn’t attend her hearing.

The challenges come as appointments for vaccines begin to go unfilled, even though state data shows that just 36.4% of residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose as of Monday.

The health department in Johnson County, which is the state’s largest county, said it plans to shift away from mass vaccination clinics where thousands of people receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a single day.

“We are going to be working with churches, going to be working with other organizations in the community and ensuring that those who need to be vaccinated are vaccinated. We are asking schools, junior colleges, colleges,” Dr. Sanmi Areola, Director of the Johnson County Health Department, said during a Facebook Live Monday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615472969732.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The number of coronavirus variants in Kansas has risen sharply, even as parents in some schools push to drop masking requirements and vaccine appointments go unfilled.In the past week, the state had a 32% increase in the total number of confirmed variant coronavirus cases as all five variants of concern have now been identified in the state.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 175 total variant cases on Monday, up from 133 one week ago. Most of the increase was due to 35 new cases of the variant strain first identified in the United Kingdom.Despite the spread, more parents are challenging mask requirements in schools, with the Mulvane district becoming the latest in the Wichita area to reject a complaint about school rules for COVID-19 control.Parents are raising the challenges under a new state law that requires school boards to use the least restrictive means possible to control the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.In rejecting the complaint, school board president Jeff Ellis criticized the new law, which also requires districts to hold a hearing within 72 hours of a complaint being filed. He said it has “continued to divide the community, divide teachers, divide students, divide board members.”About a dozen parents and students who signed on to the complaint were present in the audience. Most went unmasked in defiance of the district rules.“They’re not actually protecting the kids from anything as far as I’m concerned,” said parent Lacy Collins. “To actually protect yourself from the small particles of COVID you’d have to wear a HazMat suit or something. I just don’t feel like there’s any purpose.”It was the third loss in a row for former Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau, who has emerged in recent weeks as a leading opponent of masks in schools countywide. He’s been shot down twice in Valley Center where he brought a complaint as a parent himself and then represented another parent who filed her own complaint but couldn’t attend her hearing.The challenges come as appointments for vaccines begin to go unfilled, even though state data shows that just 36.4% of residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose as of Monday.The health department in Johnson County, which is the state’s largest county, said it plans to shift away from mass vaccination clinics where thousands of people receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a single day.“We are going to be working with churches, going to be working with other organizations in the community and ensuring that those who need to be vaccinated are vaccinated. We are asking schools, junior colleges, colleges,” Dr. Sanmi Areola, Director of the Johnson County Health Department, said during a Facebook Live Monday afternoon.

Variants increase in Kansas as parents challenge mask rules

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — A former counselor who is already in prison for abusing children at a Christian camp near Branson has been sued by another person alleging he was abused while attending the camp.

A lawsuit filed April 8 by an anonymous plaintiff accuses Peter Newman of sexual abuse numerous times beginning in 1999, while Newman was a counselor at the Kanakuk camp.

Newman is serving two life sentences, plus 30 years, in state prison after his 2010 sentencing on seven felony counts of sexually abusing boys while he was a Kanaku counselor.

The latest lawsuit does not name Kanakuk as a defendant. It seeks $5 million in damages from Newman. A similar lawsuit, also seeking $5 million, was filed by another anonymous plaintiff on Feb. 4.

Craig Heidemann, attorney for the plaintiffs, declined to comment on the lawsuits Monday.

Online court records do not name an attorney for Newman in the latest cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618945209431.png" alt="Newman photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Newman photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — A former counselor who is already in prison for abusing children at a Christian camp near Branson has been sued by another person alleging he was abused while attending the camp.A lawsuit filed April 8 by an anonymous plaintiff accuses Peter Newman of sexual abuse numerous times beginning in 1999, while Newman was a counselor at the Kanakuk camp.Newman is serving two life sentences, plus 30 years, in state prison after his 2010 sentencing on seven felony counts of sexually abusing boys while he was a Kanaku counselor.The latest lawsuit does not name Kanakuk as a defendant. It seeks $5 million in damages from Newman. A similar lawsuit, also seeking $5 million, was filed by another anonymous plaintiff on Feb. 4.Craig Heidemann, attorney for the plaintiffs, declined to comment on the lawsuits Monday.Online court records do not name an attorney for Newman in the latest cases.

Abuse lawsuit filed against former Christian camp counselor

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Fayette woman has been charged with second-degree murder after an 8-month-old girl she was babysitting died, police said.

Jennifer Johnson, 44, was also charged Monday with child abuse and child endangerment after the baby died at a Columbia hospital Sunday morning.

The child suffered several bruises on her head, face and abdomen and apparent cuts on her chin and nose, according to court documents.

Johnson was caring for the girl and her siblings. When the parents arrived home Sunday morning, they found the infant unresponsive and rushed her to the hospital.

Johnson told police she last saw the baby alive about 2:15 a.m. Sunday while giving her a bottle, according to the documents.

Johnson was being held in the Boone County Jail with no bond. Online court records don't name an attorney for her.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618857208883.png" alt="Johnson photo Boone County" />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo Boone County</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Fayette woman has been charged with second-degree murder after an 8-month-old girl she was babysitting died, police said.Jennifer Johnson, 44, was also charged Monday with child abuse and child endangerment after the baby died at a Columbia hospital Sunday morning.The child suffered several bruises on her head, face and abdomen and apparent cuts on her chin and nose, according to court documents.Johnson was caring for the girl and her siblings. When the parents arrived home Sunday morning, they found the infant unresponsive and rushed her to the hospital.Johnson told police she last saw the baby alive about 2:15 a.m. Sunday while giving her a bottle, according to the documents.Johnson was being held in the Boone County Jail with no bond. Online court records don't name an attorney for her.

Babysitter charged with murder in child's death

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?510906-1/jury-reaches-verdict-derek-chauvin-trial">Click here </a>to watch a replay of the jury verdict&nbsp;

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.

Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades.

The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial ones came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

His face was obscured by a COVID-19 mask, and little reaction could be seen beyond his eyes darting around the courtroom.

His bail was immediately revoked and he was led away with his hands cuffed behind his back.

The verdict was read in a courthouse ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire and patrolled by National Guard troops, in a city on edge against another round of unrest — not just because of the Chauvin case but because of the deadly police shooting of a young Black man, Daunte Wright, in a Minneapolis suburb April 11.

The jurors identities were kept secret and will not be released until the judge decides it is safe to do so.

Three other former Minneapolis officers charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death will stand trial in August.

Floyd, 46, died May 25 after being arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes at a corner market. He panicked, pleaded that he was claustrophobic and struggled with police when they tried to put him in a squad car. They put him on the ground instead.

The centerpiece of the case was the excruciating bystander video of Floyd gasping repeatedly, “I can’t breathe” and onlookers yelling at Chauvin to stop as the officer pressed his knee on or close to Floyd’s neck for what authorities say was 9 1/2 minutes. Floyd slowly went silent and limp.

Prosecutors played the footage at the earliest opportunity, during opening statements, with Jerry Blackwell telling the jury: “Believe your eyes.” And it was shown over and over, analyzed one frame at a time by witnesses on both sides.

In the wake of Floyd’s death, demonstrations and scattered violence broke out in Minneapolis, around the country and beyond. The furor also led to the removal of Confederate statues and other offensive symbols such as Aunt Jemima.

In the months that followed, numerous states and cities restricted the use of force by police, revamped disciplinary systems or subjected police departments to closer oversight.

The “Blue Wall of Silence” that often protects police accused of wrongdoing crumbled after Floyd’s death: The Minneapolis police chief quickly called it “murder” and fired all four officers, and the city reached a staggering $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family as jury selection was underway.

Police-procedure experts and law enforcement veterans inside and outside the Minneapolis department, including the chief, testified for the prosecution that Chauvin used excessive force and went against his training.

Medical experts for the prosecution said Floyd died of asphyxia, or lack of oxygen, because his breathing was constricted by the way he was held down on his stomach, his hands cuffed behind him, a knee on his neck and his face jammed against the ground.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson called a police use-of-force expert and a forensic pathologist to help make the case that Chauvin acted reasonably against a struggling suspect and that Floyd died because of an underlying heart condition and his illegal drug use.

Floyd had high blood pressure, an enlarged heart and narrowed arteries, and fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in his system.

Under the law, police have certain leeway to use force and are judged according to whether their actions were “reasonable” under the circumstances.

The defense also tried to make the case that Chauvin and the other officers were hindered in their duties by what they perceived as a growing, hostile crowd.

Chauvin did not testify, and all that the jury or the public ever heard by way of an explanation from him came from a police body-camera video after an ambulance had taken the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Floyd away. Chauvin told a bystander: “We gotta control this guy ’cause he’s a sizable guy … and it looks like he’s probably on something.”

The prosecution’s case also included tearful testimony from onlookers who said the police kept them back when they protested what was happening. Eighteen-year-old Darnella Frazier, who shot the crucial video, said Chauvin just gave the bystanders a “cold” and “heartless” stare.

She and others said they felt a sense of helplessness and lingering guilt from witnessing Floyd’s slow-motion death.

“It’s been nights I stayed up, apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more, and not physically interacting and not saving his life,” Frazier testified, while the 19-year-old cashier at the neighborhood market, Christopher Martin, lamented that “this could have been avoided” if only he had rejected the suspect $20 bill.

To make Floyd more than a crime statistic in the eyes of the jury, the prosecution called to the stand his girlfriend, who told the story of how they met and how they struggled with addiction to opioids, and his younger brother Philonise. He recalled how Floyd helped teach him to catch a football and made “the best banana mayonnaise sandwiches.”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The jury reached a verdict Tuesday at the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, the Black man who was pinned to the pavement with a knee on his neck in a case that set off a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.

The verdict, arrived at after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days, was to be read late in the afternoon in a city on edge against the possibility of more unrest like that that erupted last spring.

The courthouse was ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire, and thousands of National Guard troops and law enforcement officers were brought in ahead of the verdict. Some businesses boarded up with plywood.

Floyd died last May after Chauvin, a 45-year-old now-fired white officer, pinned his knee on or close to the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for about 9 1/2 minutes as Floyd gasped that he couldn’t breathe and onlookers yelled at Chauvin to get off.

The jury, made up of six white people and six Black or multiracial people, weighed charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, with convictions on some, none or all of the charges possible. The most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison.

The city has been on edge in recent days — not just over the Chauvin case but over the deadly police shooting of a 20-year-old Black man, Daunte Wright, in the nearby Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center on April 11.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, President Joe Biden weighed in by saying he believes the case is “overwhelming.”

He said that he had spoken to Floyd’s family on Monday and “can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they’re feeling.”

“They’re a good family and they’re calling for peace and tranquility no matter what that verdict is,” Biden said. “I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. I think it’s overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now.”

The president has repeatedly denounced Floyd’s death but previously stopped short of commenting on the trial itself.

Other politicians and ordinary citizens also offered their opinion as the jury was deliberating.

“It shouldn’t be really even questioned whether there will be an acquittal or a verdict that doesn’t meet the scale of the crime that was committed,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, said in Brooklyn Center. The congresswoman said the Chauvin case looks open-and-shut.

Guilty verdicts could mark a turning point in the fight for racial equality, she said.

“We are holding on to one another for support. Hopefully this verdict will come soon and the community will start the process of healing,” Omar said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618953264612.png" alt="Ex-officer Derek Chauvin is handcuffed moments after the judge read the guilty verdict-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Ex-officer Derek Chauvin is handcuffed moments after the judge read the guilty verdict-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?510906-1/jury-reaches-verdict-derek-chauvin-trial">Click here </a>to watch a replay of the jury verdict&nbsp;MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades.The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial ones came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.His face was obscured by a COVID-19 mask, and little reaction could be seen beyond his eyes darting around the courtroom.His bail was immediately revoked and he was led away with his hands cuffed behind his back.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618954035360.png" alt="A court officer leads Chauvin from the courtroom- photo courtesy CSPAN " />
 <figcaption>A court officer leads Chauvin from the courtroom- photo courtesy CSPAN </figcaption>
 </figure>The verdict was read in a courthouse ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire and patrolled by National Guard troops, in a city on edge against another round of unrest — not just because of the Chauvin case but because of the deadly police shooting of a young Black man, Daunte Wright, in a Minneapolis suburb April 11.The jurors identities were kept secret and will not be released until the judge decides it is safe to do so.Three other former Minneapolis officers charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death will stand trial in August.Floyd, 46, died May 25 after being arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes at a corner market. He panicked, pleaded that he was claustrophobic and struggled with police when they tried to put him in a squad car. They put him on the ground instead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618952880785.png" alt="Derek Chauvin listens to the guilty verdicts in court Tuesday afternoon - photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Derek Chauvin listens to the guilty verdicts in court Tuesday afternoon - photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The centerpiece of the case was the excruciating bystander video of Floyd gasping repeatedly, “I can’t breathe” and onlookers yelling at Chauvin to stop as the officer pressed his knee on or close to Floyd’s neck for what authorities say was 9 1/2 minutes. Floyd slowly went silent and limp.Prosecutors played the footage at the earliest opportunity, during opening statements, with Jerry Blackwell telling the jury: “Believe your eyes.” And it was shown over and over, analyzed one frame at a time by witnesses on both sides.In the wake of Floyd’s death, demonstrations and scattered violence broke out in Minneapolis, around the country and beyond. The furor also led to the removal of Confederate statues and other offensive symbols such as Aunt Jemima.In the months that followed, numerous states and cities restricted the use of force by police, revamped disciplinary systems or subjected police departments to closer oversight.The “Blue Wall of Silence” that often protects police accused of wrongdoing crumbled after Floyd’s death: The Minneapolis police chief quickly called it “murder” and fired all four officers, and the city reached a staggering $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family as jury selection was underway.Police-procedure experts and law enforcement veterans inside and outside the Minneapolis department, including the chief, testified for the prosecution that Chauvin used excessive force and went against his training.Medical experts for the prosecution said Floyd died of asphyxia, or lack of oxygen, because his breathing was constricted by the way he was held down on his stomach, his hands cuffed behind him, a knee on his neck and his face jammed against the ground.Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson called a police use-of-force expert and a forensic pathologist to help make the case that Chauvin acted reasonably against a struggling suspect and that Floyd died because of an underlying heart condition and his illegal drug use.Floyd had high blood pressure, an enlarged heart and narrowed arteries, and fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in his system.Under the law, police have certain leeway to use force and are judged according to whether their actions were “reasonable” under the circumstances.The defense also tried to make the case that Chauvin and the other officers were hindered in their duties by what they perceived as a growing, hostile crowd.Chauvin did not testify, and all that the jury or the public ever heard by way of an explanation from him came from a police body-camera video after an ambulance had taken the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Floyd away. Chauvin told a bystander: “We gotta control this guy ’cause he’s a sizable guy … and it looks like he’s probably on something.”The prosecution’s case also included tearful testimony from onlookers who said the police kept them back when they protested what was happening. Eighteen-year-old Darnella Frazier, who shot the crucial video, said Chauvin just gave the bystanders a “cold” and “heartless” stare.She and others said they felt a sense of helplessness and lingering guilt from witnessing Floyd’s slow-motion death.“It’s been nights I stayed up, apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more, and not physically interacting and not saving his life,” Frazier testified, while the 19-year-old cashier at the neighborhood market, Christopher Martin, lamented that “this could have been avoided” if only he had rejected the suspect $20 bill.To make Floyd more than a crime statistic in the eyes of the jury, the prosecution called to the stand his girlfriend, who told the story of how they met and how they struggled with addiction to opioids, and his younger brother Philonise. He recalled how Floyd helped teach him to catch a football and made “the best banana mayonnaise sandwiches.”---------MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The jury reached a verdict Tuesday at the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, the Black man who was pinned to the pavement with a knee on his neck in a case that set off a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.The verdict, arrived at after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days, was to be read late in the afternoon in a city on edge against the possibility of more unrest like that that erupted last spring.The courthouse was ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire, and thousands of National Guard troops and law enforcement officers were brought in ahead of the verdict. Some businesses boarded up with plywood.Floyd died last May after Chauvin, a 45-year-old now-fired white officer, pinned his knee on or close to the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for about 9 1/2 minutes as Floyd gasped that he couldn’t breathe and onlookers yelled at Chauvin to get off.The jury, made up of six white people and six Black or multiracial people, weighed charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, with convictions on some, none or all of the charges possible. The most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison.The city has been on edge in recent days — not just over the Chauvin case but over the deadly police shooting of a 20-year-old Black man, Daunte Wright, in the nearby Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center on April 11.Earlier in the day Tuesday, President Joe Biden weighed in by saying he believes the case is “overwhelming.”He said that he had spoken to Floyd’s family on Monday and “can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they’re feeling.”“They’re a good family and they’re calling for peace and tranquility no matter what that verdict is,” Biden said. “I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. I think it’s overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now.”The president has repeatedly denounced Floyd’s death but previously stopped short of commenting on the trial itself.Other politicians and ordinary citizens also offered their opinion as the jury was deliberating.“It shouldn’t be really even questioned whether there will be an acquittal or a verdict that doesn’t meet the scale of the crime that was committed,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, said in Brooklyn Center. The congresswoman said the Chauvin case looks open-and-shut.Guilty verdicts could mark a turning point in the fight for racial equality, she said.“We are holding on to one another for support. Hopefully this verdict will come soon and the community will start the process of healing,” Omar said.___

🎥 Jury: Chauvin guilty of murder, manslaughter in George Floyd death

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported kidnapping and robbery and have made an arrest.

Just after 11:30p.m. April 17, police began an investigation after responding to a report of shots fired in the area of 4th and M Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 The investigation led officers to an 18-year-old male victim who reported that he was approached by a suspect in the 700 block M Street, was forced by gunpoint to get into the suspect's vehicle and was driven several blocks to the area of 4th of M Street where he and the suspect got out of the vehicle. 

The suspect took cash from the teen victim and who was then struck in the head with a gun, according to Wilson.

 The suspect fired several rounds into a nearby grassy area as the victim was forced to lay in the street. The suspect then fled the area. The victim sustained a head injury but was not hospitalized. The victim’s vehicle was found by officers in the 700 block M Street and had been damaged by gunfire.

The investigation continued throughout Sunday and Monday . Just before 7p.m. Monday, police took 21-year-old Gary D. Brown into custody at his residence in Atchison.&nbsp;

Brown is being held on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal damage to property.&nbsp;

Police also continue to search for a second person that was in the suspect’s vehicle, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618931024682.png" alt="Brown photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported kidnapping and robbery and have made an arrest.Just after 11:30p.m. April 17, police began an investigation after responding to a report of shots fired in the area of 4th and M Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The investigation led officers to an 18-year-old male victim who reported that he was approached by a suspect in the 700 block M Street, was forced by gunpoint to get into the suspect's vehicle and was driven several blocks to the area of 4th of M Street where he and the suspect got out of the vehicle. The suspect took cash from the teen victim and who was then struck in the head with a gun, according to Wilson. The suspect fired several rounds into a nearby grassy area as the victim was forced to lay in the street. The suspect then fled the area. The victim sustained a head injury but was not hospitalized. The victim’s vehicle was found by officers in the 700 block M Street and had been damaged by gunfire.The investigation continued throughout Sunday and Monday . Just before 7p.m. Monday, police took 21-year-old Gary D. Brown into custody at his residence in Atchison.&nbsp;Brown is being held on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal damage to property.&nbsp;Police also continue to search for a second person that was in the suspect’s vehicle, according to Wilson.

Police: Kansas man jailed for alleged kidnapping, robbery

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district named after a 1920s Ku Klux Klan leader has voted to pay an advisory group to help with discussions on changing the name.

The Seaman School District’s Board of Education voted Monday to make a base payment of $30,000 to the Kansas Leadership Council to help with the discussions.

The district is named after Fred Seaman, a former Kansas leader of the KKK. Students, teachers and some community groups have pushed to have the name changed.

The school board had already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-education-topeka-beb1260392297d01a2375a9dc1d80e3b">appointed an advisory task force</a>&nbsp;— comprised of teachers, business owners, community members and a student — to provide a report on the issue. The board will make the final decision.

Ed O’Malley, CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center, said his group will “advise the advisory group."

School board President James Adams said the board decided it needed to work with people who have previous experience leading discussions on complex issues.

He said the board doesn’t have a time frame for making a decision.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district named after a 1920s Ku Klux Klan leader has voted to pay an advisory group to help with discussions on changing the name.The Seaman School District’s Board of Education voted Monday to make a base payment of $30,000 to the Kansas Leadership Council to help with the discussions.The district is named after Fred Seaman, a former Kansas leader of the KKK. Students, teachers and some community groups have pushed to have the name changed.The school board had already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-education-topeka-beb1260392297d01a2375a9dc1d80e3b">appointed an advisory task force</a>&nbsp;— comprised of teachers, business owners, community members and a student — to provide a report on the issue. The board will make the final decision.Ed O’Malley, CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center, said his group will “advise the advisory group."School board President James Adams said the board decided it needed to work with people who have previous experience leading discussions on complex issues.He said the board doesn’t have a time frame for making a decision.

Kansas district hires advisors to help with name change

KANSAS CITY (AP) –Marie Watson wanted to be among the first in line when she and other essential workers became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine — and with good reason.

The maintenance parts buyer for a Mission Foods tortilla plant in Pueblo, Colorado, had lost her father to COVID-19 in the fall and was told by a doctor last year that she&nbsp; herself almost certainly had the virus.

So when her union, the United Food Workers and Commercial Workers, secured appointments for the plant's 200 workers, she jumped in her car and drove to a nearby drive-thru clinic for the first of two doses.

“There was this sense of relief," Watson said. "This was more confirmation that I’m on my way to being normal.”

A growing number of labor unions and companies are securing shots for their employees as eligibility widens. Some large companies such as Amazon are offering workplace vaccinations through licensed health care providers, while smaller outfits are booking appointments for workers at outside locations.

For employers, the vaccines are a critical step toward restoring normalcy at a time when they expect a spike in demand for their services as more people get inoculated. They are also betting that employees who did not initially trust the vaccine will have a change of heart when they see co-workers receiving it.

For workers, employer assistance with the vaccine eliminates hurdles, including transportation issues or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-delays-grocery-workers-1103aa7b46cf6ee22ad7a5120fe2eac0">maneuvering through a patchwork of websites</a>&nbsp;to find appointments. That access could help to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-health-coronavirus-pandemic-hispanics-d0746b028cf56231dbcdeda0fba24314">narrow the racial and socioeconomic gaps</a>&nbsp;that have opened in the country’s vaccination drive.

While many essential workers have spent weeks trying to get time slots, Watson got her shot days after Colorado extended eligibility to food workers.

Iliana de la Vega, owner of the Mexican restaurant El Naranjo in Austin, Texas, said she secured appointments for all 12 of her employees out of gratitude that they stuck with her through shutdown orders and capacity restrictions that ate into their pay.

Some workers hesitated at first but were quickly persuaded with the promise of a day off, De la Vega said.

“A couple of them said, ‘We are not sure.' I said, 'That's not an option. Take it or leave it. Who knows when you will be able to get it again?'" de la Vega said.

Despite the growing number of companies offering on-site vaccinations, there are signs that some may have lost interest. In March, when vaccine eligibility was widening and distribution efforts improving in the U.S., a survey by the consulting firm Gartner found 30% of companies planned to bring vaccines to their employees. That was down from 42% in January, when distribution was still spotty and obtaining appointments was still extremely difficult for most people.

“The speed of the rollout has exceeded their expectations so companies are realizing they can take a back seat,” said Brian Kropp, chief of research at Gartner's human resources practice.

Vaccinating employees is also less urgent for a growing number of companies that are adopting permanent remote-work policies, Kropp said. While nearly two-thirds of companies plan to reopen their workplaces by the end of this year, the majority say they will allow many employees to keep working from home at least some days, according to Gartner, which surveyed 300 companies.

Nonetheless, prominent companies continue to join the list of those offering on-site vaccinations.

Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers opened up on-site vaccinations Monday in Michigan, Kansas and Ohio. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine had initially put a stop to workplace clinics out of concern they would tie up supply, but he allowed them to resume last week as demand dropped at the state's mass vaccination sites.

Amazon launched its long-anticipated on-site vaccinations last month in Kansas, Missouri and Nevada. Warehouse and other front-line workers can sign up for shots at kiosks or through Amazon’s employee app.

Yogurt maker Chobani, which employs 2,200 people in the U.S., partnered with a local pharmacy to vaccinate hundreds of its employees at its Twin Falls, Idaho, plant, according to the company’s chief People and Culture Officer Grace Zuncic.

American Airlines, Subaru, chicken producer Mountaire Farms, and agricultural equipment maker Vermeer are among 40 companies that brought vaccines to their employees through partnerships with Premise Health, a direct health care provider. American Airlines is administering vaccines at airports in Chicago, Charlotte, Tulsa and Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the company.

At least 25,000 people have been vaccinated through the partnerships, said Premise President Jami Doucette. He expects that number to climb into the millions.

Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food companies, said it has vaccinated nearly 40,000 employees — nearly one-third of its workforce — at vaccination events in 16 states. Tyson also expanded its on-site event last week to include eligible family members of employees.

Bob Reinhard, who is leading Tyson’s vaccination effort, said a minority of employees have refused to get vaccinated while some others are interested but want more information and don’t want to go first.

“That secondary group is now coming around,” Reinhard said.

Employer-organized vaccination events, along with incentives such as bonuses or paid time off, allow companies to keep track of how many employees get vaccinated. Employer are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/can-employers-covid-19-vaccine-mandatory-ba22c99f01f24ea3be7631ff751f0d82">legally allowed</a>&nbsp;to require the vaccine, but the vast majority have shied away from doing so; some say it doesn't make sense to do so until everyone is eligible and there is sufficient supply.

Still, the idea is gaining some traction. While Gartner's March survey showed just 8% of companies planned to require employees to show proof of vaccinations, that number was up from 2% in January.

Chobani, which says it has avoided outbreaks at its plants and has seen few positive cases among employees, has not ruled out requiring the vaccines, Zuncic said. The company plans to assess how many of its workers have been vaccinated by midyear.

“It's a discussion that continues,” Zuncic said. “We want to get a pulse and sense of how far along we are.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618924071042.png" alt="Tyson Foods team members who want it receive vaccinations at work -photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Tyson Foods team members who want it receive vaccinations at work -photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) –Marie Watson wanted to be among the first in line when she and other essential workers became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine — and with good reason.The maintenance parts buyer for a Mission Foods tortilla plant in Pueblo, Colorado, had lost her father to COVID-19 in the fall and was told by a doctor last year that she&nbsp; herself almost certainly had the virus.So when her union, the United Food Workers and Commercial Workers, secured appointments for the plant's 200 workers, she jumped in her car and drove to a nearby drive-thru clinic for the first of two doses.“There was this sense of relief," Watson said. "This was more confirmation that I’m on my way to being normal.”A growing number of labor unions and companies are securing shots for their employees as eligibility widens. Some large companies such as Amazon are offering workplace vaccinations through licensed health care providers, while smaller outfits are booking appointments for workers at outside locations.For employers, the vaccines are a critical step toward restoring normalcy at a time when they expect a spike in demand for their services as more people get inoculated. They are also betting that employees who did not initially trust the vaccine will have a change of heart when they see co-workers receiving it.For workers, employer assistance with the vaccine eliminates hurdles, including transportation issues or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-delays-grocery-workers-1103aa7b46cf6ee22ad7a5120fe2eac0">maneuvering through a patchwork of websites</a>&nbsp;to find appointments. That access could help to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-health-coronavirus-pandemic-hispanics-d0746b028cf56231dbcdeda0fba24314">narrow the racial and socioeconomic gaps</a>&nbsp;that have opened in the country’s vaccination drive.While many essential workers have spent weeks trying to get time slots, Watson got her shot days after Colorado extended eligibility to food workers.Iliana de la Vega, owner of the Mexican restaurant El Naranjo in Austin, Texas, said she secured appointments for all 12 of her employees out of gratitude that they stuck with her through shutdown orders and capacity restrictions that ate into their pay.Some workers hesitated at first but were quickly persuaded with the promise of a day off, De la Vega said.“A couple of them said, ‘We are not sure.' I said, 'That's not an option. Take it or leave it. Who knows when you will be able to get it again?'" de la Vega said.Despite the growing number of companies offering on-site vaccinations, there are signs that some may have lost interest. In March, when vaccine eligibility was widening and distribution efforts improving in the U.S., a survey by the consulting firm Gartner found 30% of companies planned to bring vaccines to their employees. That was down from 42% in January, when distribution was still spotty and obtaining appointments was still extremely difficult for most people.“The speed of the rollout has exceeded their expectations so companies are realizing they can take a back seat,” said Brian Kropp, chief of research at Gartner's human resources practice.Vaccinating employees is also less urgent for a growing number of companies that are adopting permanent remote-work policies, Kropp said. While nearly two-thirds of companies plan to reopen their workplaces by the end of this year, the majority say they will allow many employees to keep working from home at least some days, according to Gartner, which surveyed 300 companies.Nonetheless, prominent companies continue to join the list of those offering on-site vaccinations.Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers opened up on-site vaccinations Monday in Michigan, Kansas and Ohio. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine had initially put a stop to workplace clinics out of concern they would tie up supply, but he allowed them to resume last week as demand dropped at the state's mass vaccination sites.Amazon launched its long-anticipated on-site vaccinations last month in Kansas, Missouri and Nevada. Warehouse and other front-line workers can sign up for shots at kiosks or through Amazon’s employee app.Yogurt maker Chobani, which employs 2,200 people in the U.S., partnered with a local pharmacy to vaccinate hundreds of its employees at its Twin Falls, Idaho, plant, according to the company’s chief People and Culture Officer Grace Zuncic.American Airlines, Subaru, chicken producer Mountaire Farms, and agricultural equipment maker Vermeer are among 40 companies that brought vaccines to their employees through partnerships with Premise Health, a direct health care provider. American Airlines is administering vaccines at airports in Chicago, Charlotte, Tulsa and Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the company.At least 25,000 people have been vaccinated through the partnerships, said Premise President Jami Doucette. He expects that number to climb into the millions.Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food companies, said it has vaccinated nearly 40,000 employees — nearly one-third of its workforce — at vaccination events in 16 states. Tyson also expanded its on-site event last week to include eligible family members of employees.Bob Reinhard, who is leading Tyson’s vaccination effort, said a minority of employees have refused to get vaccinated while some others are interested but want more information and don’t want to go first.“That secondary group is now coming around,” Reinhard said.Employer-organized vaccination events, along with incentives such as bonuses or paid time off, allow companies to keep track of how many employees get vaccinated. Employer are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/can-employers-covid-19-vaccine-mandatory-ba22c99f01f24ea3be7631ff751f0d82">legally allowed</a>&nbsp;to require the vaccine, but the vast majority have shied away from doing so; some say it doesn't make sense to do so until everyone is eligible and there is sufficient supply.Still, the idea is gaining some traction. While Gartner's March survey showed just 8% of companies planned to require employees to show proof of vaccinations, that number was up from 2% in January.Chobani, which says it has avoided outbreaks at its plants and has seen few positive cases among employees, has not ruled out requiring the vaccines, Zuncic said. The company plans to assess how many of its workers have been vaccinated by midyear.“It's a discussion that continues,” Zuncic said. “We want to get a pulse and sense of how far along we are.”

A jab on the job: Companies, unions offer COVID vaccine

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a Kansas home.

Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to the fire at a two-story residence at 924 NW Jackson Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;

Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the first floor the structure.&nbsp; Firefighters conducted a primary search of the structure and found that all occupants had escaped unharmed. Multiple pets including dogs were rescued from the structure and firefighters rendered first aid to the pets, but a few pets succumb to their injuries due to the fire, according to Harrison.

A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of fire as Undetermined, pending further investigation The estimated dollar loss – $22,000.00; of which $17,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $5,000.00 associated with contents loss, according to Harrison.

&nbsp;Working smoke detectors were not located within the residence, according to Harrison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618937914024.png" alt="Fire crews work a fire early Tuesday in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews work a fire early Tuesday in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a Kansas home.Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to the fire at a two-story residence at 924 NW Jackson Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the first floor the structure.&nbsp; Firefighters conducted a primary search of the structure and found that all occupants had escaped unharmed. Multiple pets including dogs were rescued from the structure and firefighters rendered first aid to the pets, but a few pets succumb to their injuries due to the fire, according to Harrison.A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of fire as Undetermined, pending further investigation The estimated dollar loss – $22,000.00; of which $17,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $5,000.00 associated with contents loss, according to Harrison.&nbsp;Working smoke detectors were not located within the residence, according to Harrison.

Fire Marshal: Several pets died in Kan. house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he is “praying the verdict is the right verdict” in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin and that he believes the case to be “overwhelming.” 

Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he was only weighing in on the trial into the death of George Floyd because the jury in the case had been sequestered. 

He confirmed that he called Floyd’s family on Monday and said he “can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they’re feeling.” The jury is now deliberating the case against Chauvin.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is privately weighing how to handle the upcoming verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, including considering whether President Joe Biden should address the nation and dispatching specially trained community facilitators from the Justice Department, aides and officials told The Associated Press.

Closing arguments began Monday in Chauvin’s trial with a prosecutor telling jurors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-e1d714c68ab5b067b101af7c6d486c6c">that the officer “had to know” he was squeezing the life out of George Floyd</a>&nbsp;as he cried over and over that he couldn’t breathe and finally fell silent. Chauvin faces murder and manslaughter charges

The plans for possible presidential remarks are still fluid, with the timing, venue and nature of the remarks still being considered, in part depending on the timing of the verdict, according to two White House aides who were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The White House has been warily watching the trial proceed in Minneapolis — and then another shooting of a Black man by a white police officer last week — and are preparing for the possibility of unrest if a guilty verdict is not reached in the trial. Biden may also speak after a guilty verdict, the White House aides said.

The verdict — and the aftermath —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-police-5b60aafc871e642a3f1a491b5e934b91">will be a test for Biden,</a>&nbsp;who has pledged to help combat racism in policing, helping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-virus-outbreak-georgia-7a843bbce00713cfde6c3fdbc2e31eb7">African Americans who supported him in large numbers last year</a>&nbsp;in the wake of protests that swept the nation after Floyd’s death and restarted a national conversation about race. But he also has long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.

Press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the White House has had a “range of conversations” about preparations for the upcoming verdict and added, “Our objective is to ensure there is space for peaceful protest.”

“Of course we’ll let the jury deliberate and we’ll wait for the verdict to come out before we say more about our engagements,” Psaki said.

Psaki said administration officials have been in contact with leaders in Minnesota and in other cities and states that saw unrest after Floyd’s death last year.

She declined to answer if Biden would be “disappointed” if a not guilty verdict was reached.

Meanwhile, the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota have been working with local officials to support law enforcement as they prepare for the possibility of unrest after the verdict, officials said.

And the Justice Department has also dispatched specially trained community facilitators ahead of a verdict, according to a senior Justice Department official. The official could not discuss the plans publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The officials, part of the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service, tout themselves as “America’s Peacemaker” by mediating disputes in communities and holding listening sessions to help prevent future conflicts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618935352618.png" alt="President Biden confirmed that he called Floyd’s family on Monday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden confirmed that he called Floyd’s family on Monday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he is “praying the verdict is the right verdict” in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin and that he believes the case to be “overwhelming.” Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he was only weighing in on the trial into the death of George Floyd because the jury in the case had been sequestered. He confirmed that he called Floyd’s family on Monday and said he “can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they’re feeling.” The jury is now deliberating the case against Chauvin.------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is privately weighing how to handle the upcoming verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, including considering whether President Joe Biden should address the nation and dispatching specially trained community facilitators from the Justice Department, aides and officials told The Associated Press.Closing arguments began Monday in Chauvin’s trial with a prosecutor telling jurors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-e1d714c68ab5b067b101af7c6d486c6c">that the officer “had to know” he was squeezing the life out of George Floyd</a>&nbsp;as he cried over and over that he couldn’t breathe and finally fell silent. Chauvin faces murder and manslaughter charges<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618882803416.png" alt="President Biden on Monday held the latest in a series of meetings on the American Jobs Plan. He brought together a bipartisan group of Members of Congress–all former governors or mayors–to discuss the need for federal investment in rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden on Monday held the latest in a series of meetings on the American Jobs Plan. He brought together a bipartisan group of Members of Congress–all former governors or mayors–to discuss the need for federal investment in rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The plans for possible presidential remarks are still fluid, with the timing, venue and nature of the remarks still being considered, in part depending on the timing of the verdict, according to two White House aides who were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.The White House has been warily watching the trial proceed in Minneapolis — and then another shooting of a Black man by a white police officer last week — and are preparing for the possibility of unrest if a guilty verdict is not reached in the trial. Biden may also speak after a guilty verdict, the White House aides said.The verdict — and the aftermath —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-police-5b60aafc871e642a3f1a491b5e934b91">will be a test for Biden,</a>&nbsp;who has pledged to help combat racism in policing, helping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-virus-outbreak-georgia-7a843bbce00713cfde6c3fdbc2e31eb7">African Americans who supported him in large numbers last year</a>&nbsp;in the wake of protests that swept the nation after Floyd’s death and restarted a national conversation about race. But he also has long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.Press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the White House has had a “range of conversations” about preparations for the upcoming verdict and added, “Our objective is to ensure there is space for peaceful protest.”“Of course we’ll let the jury deliberate and we’ll wait for the verdict to come out before we say more about our engagements,” Psaki said.Psaki said administration officials have been in contact with leaders in Minnesota and in other cities and states that saw unrest after Floyd’s death last year.She declined to answer if Biden would be “disappointed” if a not guilty verdict was reached.Meanwhile, the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota have been working with local officials to support law enforcement as they prepare for the possibility of unrest after the verdict, officials said.And the Justice Department has also dispatched specially trained community facilitators ahead of a verdict, according to a senior Justice Department official. The official could not discuss the plans publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.The officials, part of the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service, tout themselves as “America’s Peacemaker” by mediating disputes in communities and holding listening sessions to help prevent future conflicts.A federal civil rights investigation, separate from the trial, remains ongoing. Several witnesses were subpoenaed earlier this year to appear before a federal grand jury considering charges against Chauvin.The Justice Department’s civil rights investigation has been focused on Chauvin and some of the witnesses, including other officers who worked with Chauvin, people familiar with the matter have told the AP.Chauvin was prepared to plead guilty to third-degree murder in George Floyd’s death before then-Attorney General William Barr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-george-floyd-third-degree-2deefbc803665f808676fbbb8a131390">personally blocked the plea deal last year</a>. Barr rejected the deal in part because he felt it was too soon, as the investigation into Floyd’s death was still in its relative infancy, law enforcement officials said.Across the country, police departments are also preparing for the possibility of rioting or other unrest, with some canceling vacation time and increasing the number of officers available for shifts. The federal government hasn’t detailed its plan in the event of widespread or sustained civil unrest.Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that there has been a request from officials in Washington, D.C., for D.C. National Guard forces in the event there is civil unrest in the nation’s capital, and it is currently being reviewed by the Army. He said the Army secretary has the authority to approve any request for D.C. National Guard but did not have details on the request.__