TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is asking CVS to follow Walgreens’ lead. After receiving a letter from Kobach outlining Kansas law, Walgreens agreed not to dispense Mifepristone within the state of Kansas and not to mail the medical abortion pill into the state.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/abortion-pill-letter.pdf?sfvrsn=ec26bd1a_2">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;Kobach's letter to Walgreens

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/dg-mifepristone-letter-to-ks-ag.pdf?sfvrsn=bc6bd1a_2">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>Walgreen's response

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/kobach-letter-to-cvs.pdf?sfvrsn=d1febd1a_2">Click here to read</a> Kobach's letter to CVS

CVS and Walgreens are among a handful of pharmaceutical retailers that recently announced they would provide abortifacients through their mail-order pharmacies.

“As the chief law enforcement officer in Kansas, I am writing to advise you that this plan is illegal, and Kansas will not hesitate to enforce the law,” Kobach wrote in a letter to Tom Moriarity, chief counsel for CVS Health.

Kansas law requires that a physician be present in the room when administering the medical abortion pill, and federal law makes it illegal to knowingly mail any drug intended to produce an abortion.

Kobach sent the letter to Walgreens and another one to CVS on the heels of a Biden administration opinion that attempts to rewrite federal law to allow the mail-order dispensing of medical abortions.

“I recognize that an ends-justify-the means administration in the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice has gone to great lengths to obscure the issue, but the law is straightforward,” Kobach’s letter to CVS reads.

After receiving a similar letter earlier this month, Walgreens announced it does not intend to dispense Mifepristone in Kansas stores nor does the pharmacy intend to mail the drug to Kansas.

“I would greatly appreciate it if you would let me know if CVS will do the same,” Kobach wrote in the letter.

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is asking CVS to follow Walgreens’ lead. After receiving a letter from Kobach outlining Kansas law, Walgreens agreed not to dispense Mifepristone within the state of Kansas and not to mail the medical abortion pill into the state.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/abortion-pill-letter.pdf?sfvrsn=ec26bd1a_2">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;Kobach's letter to Walgreens<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/dg-mifepristone-letter-to-ks-ag.pdf?sfvrsn=bc6bd1a_2">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>Walgreen's response<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/kobach-letter-to-cvs.pdf?sfvrsn=d1febd1a_2">Click here to read</a> Kobach's letter to CVSCVS and Walgreens are among a handful of pharmaceutical retailers that recently announced they would provide abortifacients through their mail-order pharmacies.“As the chief law enforcement officer in Kansas, I am writing to advise you that this plan is illegal, and Kansas will not hesitate to enforce the law,” Kobach wrote in a letter to Tom Moriarity, chief counsel for CVS Health.Kansas law requires that a physician be present in the room when administering the medical abortion pill, and federal law makes it illegal to knowingly mail any drug intended to produce an abortion.Kobach sent the letter to Walgreens and another one to CVS on the heels of a Biden administration opinion that attempts to rewrite federal law to allow the mail-order dispensing of medical abortions.“I recognize that an ends-justify-the means administration in the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice has gone to great lengths to obscure the issue, but the law is straightforward,” Kobach’s letter to CVS reads.After receiving a similar letter earlier this month, Walgreens announced it does not intend to dispense Mifepristone in Kansas stores nor does the pharmacy intend to mail the drug to Kansas.“I would greatly appreciate it if you would let me know if CVS will do the same,” Kobach wrote in the letter.

Kan. AG asks CVS to follow Walgreens lead on abortion pills 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff's office is investigating a fatal Kansas police officer-involved shooting.

Just before 10a.m. Monday, an officer with the Goddard Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Michael James Trask of the Lake Afton area, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. 

Trask refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The Officer disregarded the pursuit due to excessive speeds but continued to follow Trask. The Officer reinitiated the pursuit and during the interaction Trask brandished what appeared to be a handgun.

A short time later, the vehicle came to a stop in the area of 63rd Street South and 183rd Street West. Trask exited his vehicle and approached the Officer with the weapon in his hand. The Officer issued multiple commands to Trask who did not comply. The Officer discharged his duty weapon killing Trask.

The Goddard Police officer has been placed on administrative leave.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677020566486.png" alt="The weapon in Trask's hand.-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>The weapon in Trask's hand.-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff's office is investigating a fatal Kansas police officer-involved shooting.Just before 10a.m. Monday, an officer with the Goddard Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Michael James Trask of the Lake Afton area, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. Trask refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The Officer disregarded the pursuit due to excessive speeds but continued to follow Trask. The Officer reinitiated the pursuit and during the interaction Trask brandished what appeared to be a handgun.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677020546119.png" alt="Police dash camera image- Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Police dash camera image- Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>A short time later, the vehicle came to a stop in the area of 63rd Street South and 183rd Street West. Trask exited his vehicle and approached the Officer with the weapon in his hand. The Officer issued multiple commands to Trask who did not comply. The Officer discharged his duty weapon killing Trask.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677020588118.png" alt="Police dash camera image- Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Police dash camera image- Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The Goddard Police officer has been placed on administrative leave.-----------

Sheriff: Man pulled gun, died in Kansas-officer shooting

WARSAW, Poland (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday warned of “hard and bitter days ahead" as Russia's invasion of Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-ukraine-a-year-of-war-ap-pkg-dc5ee4b342ce80742c471e19258a2046">nears the one-year mark</a>, but vowed that no matter what, the United States and allies “will not waver” in supporting the Ukrainians.

(Click below to watch President's Biden's address)

A day after his surprise visit to Kyiv, Biden used a strongly worded address in neighboring Poland to praise allies in Europe for stepping up over the past year and to send a clear message to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-arms-control-treaty-48e7bfc8ff41c46c1f7797a941129ab3">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;that "NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire.”

“One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv,” Biden said before a crowd of thousands outside Warsaw’s Royal Castle. “I can report: Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall and, most important, it stands free."

With Russia and Ukraine each preparing spring offensives, Biden insisted there will be no backing down from what he’s portrayed as a global struggle between democracy and autocracy — though polling suggests American support for ongoing military assistance appears to be softening.

“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever," Biden declared. The U.S. and allies will “have Ukraine's back.”

Biden's speech came a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-biden-f00af220669457d5ba07127c7e57a27b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_04">his unannounced trip to Kyiv</a>, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and walked the city streets as an air raid siren blared.

Last year, weeks after Russian forces began their attacks on Ukraine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">Biden delivered a harsh condemnation</a>&nbsp;of Putin from the gardens of the castle. Speaking Tuesday to a crowd that included Polish citizens and Ukrainian refugees — and millions more following in Ukraine, Russia and around the world — he made his case that Putin's war has been a failure.

“When President Putin ordered his tanks to roll into Ukraine, he thought we would roll over. He was wrong,” Biden said.

The president also declared “the democracies of the world have grown stronger" while the world's autocrats — including Putin — have become weaker.

“Autocrats only understand one word — no, no, no,” Biden said. “No, you will not take my country. No, you will not take my freedom. No, you will not take my future.”

Biden was using the trip to prepare allies for an ever-more-complicated stage of the war and to reassure allies in the region that the U.S. was committed for the long haul. He met Tuesday with Moldovan President Maia Sandu — who last week claimed Moscow was behind a plot to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-politics-government-maia-sandu-152d2353f4c18bb84348f5d1656edb98">overthrow her country’s government</a>&nbsp;using external saboteurs — and with his host Polish President Andrzej Duda.

“We have to have security in Europe,” Biden said at the presidential palace. “It's that basic, that simple, that consequential.”

He described NATO as “maybe the most consequential alliance in history," and he said it's “stronger than it's ever been” despite the Russian leader's hopes that it would fracture over the war in Ukraine.

Duda praised the American president’s visit to Kyiv as “spectacular,” saying it “boosted morale of Ukraine’s defenders.”

He said the trip was “a sign that the free world, and its biggest leader, the president of the United States, stands by them.”

On Wednesday, Biden will meet again with Duda along with other leaders of the Bucharest Nine, the easternmost members of the NATO military alliance. Ukraine is not a member.

While Biden was in Poland, Putin announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-de0af48be7ea480ccb0175f55a065363?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=featuredcard&amp;utm_campaign=leadsubstory_01">Moscow would suspend its participation</a>&nbsp;in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States.

The New START Treaty caps the number of long-range nuclear warheads countries may deploy and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons.

Despite his criticisms of Putin, Biden did not mention the START suspension during his speech. And the Russian Foreign Ministry later said that, despite Putin's announcement, it would continue abiding by the treaty's caps.

The conflict in Ukraine — the most significant war in Europe since World War II — has already left tens of thousands of people dead, devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure system and damaged the global economy.

While Biden is looking to use his whirlwind trip to Europe as a moment of affirmation for Ukraine and allies, the White House has also acknowledged that there is no clear endgame to the war in the near term, and the situation on the ground has become increasingly complex.

The administration on Sunday said it has new intelligence suggesting that China, which has generally remained on the sidelines of the conflict,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-antony-blinken-xi-jinping-4501b49359d73b6efbac87b2af54f189">is now considering sending Moscow lethal aid.</a>&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it could become a “serious problem” if Beijing follows through.

Biden and Zelenskyy discussed capabilities that Ukraine needs “to be able to succeed on the battlefield” in the months ahead, said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Zelenskyy has been pushing the U.S. and European allies to provide fighter jets and long-range missile systems known as ATACMS — which Biden has declined to provide so far. Sullivan declined to comment on whether there was any movement on that during the leaders' talk.

With no quick end in sight for the war,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-zelenskyy-biden-kyiv-15095c5e2fb8a9f9c0a235ffe0a161d0">the anniversary is a critical moment for Biden</a>&nbsp;to try to bolster European unity and reiterate the West's position that Putin's invasion was a frontal attack on the post-World War II international order. The White House hopes the president's visit to Kyiv and Warsaw will help bolster American and global resolve.

In the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-politics-poland-33095abf76875b60ebab3ddf4eede188">a poll published last week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed</a>&nbsp;that support for providing Ukraine with weapons and direct economic assistance is softening. And earlier this month, 11 House Republicans introduced what they called the “Ukraine fatigue” resolution urging Biden to end military and financial aid to Ukraine, while pushing Ukraine and Russia to come to a peace agreement.

Biden dismissed the notion of waning American support during his visit to Kyiv.

“For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine,” he said. He described the conflict as "about freedom of democracy at large.”

Biden had high praise for Poland's efforts to assist Ukraine. More than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees have settled in Poland since the start of the war, and millions more have crossed through Poland on their way to other countries. Poland has also provided Ukraine with $3.8 billion in military and humanitarian aid, according to the White House.

The Biden administration announced last summer that it was establishing a permanent U.S. garrison in Poland, creating an enduring American foothold on NATO's eastern flank.

“The truth of the matter is the United States needs Poland and NATO as much as NATO needs the United States,” Biden told Duda on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677005040093.png" alt="White House photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>White House photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WARSAW, Poland (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday warned of “hard and bitter days ahead" as Russia's invasion of Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-ukraine-a-year-of-war-ap-pkg-dc5ee4b342ce80742c471e19258a2046">nears the one-year mark</a>, but vowed that no matter what, the United States and allies “will not waver” in supporting the Ukrainians.(Click below to watch President's Biden's address)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F580215907487870%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1301" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>A day after his surprise visit to Kyiv, Biden used a strongly worded address in neighboring Poland to praise allies in Europe for stepping up over the past year and to send a clear message to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-arms-control-treaty-48e7bfc8ff41c46c1f7797a941129ab3">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;that "NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire.”“One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv,” Biden said before a crowd of thousands outside Warsaw’s Royal Castle. “I can report: Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall and, most important, it stands free."With Russia and Ukraine each preparing spring offensives, Biden insisted there will be no backing down from what he’s portrayed as a global struggle between democracy and autocracy — though polling suggests American support for ongoing military assistance appears to be softening.“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever," Biden declared. The U.S. and allies will “have Ukraine's back.”Biden's speech came a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-biden-f00af220669457d5ba07127c7e57a27b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_04">his unannounced trip to Kyiv</a>, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and walked the city streets as an air raid siren blared.Last year, weeks after Russian forces began their attacks on Ukraine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">Biden delivered a harsh condemnation</a>&nbsp;of Putin from the gardens of the castle. Speaking Tuesday to a crowd that included Polish citizens and Ukrainian refugees — and millions more following in Ukraine, Russia and around the world — he made his case that Putin's war has been a failure.“When President Putin ordered his tanks to roll into Ukraine, he thought we would roll over. He was wrong,” Biden said.The president also declared “the democracies of the world have grown stronger" while the world's autocrats — including Putin — have become weaker.“Autocrats only understand one word — no, no, no,” Biden said. “No, you will not take my country. No, you will not take my freedom. No, you will not take my future.”Biden was using the trip to prepare allies for an ever-more-complicated stage of the war and to reassure allies in the region that the U.S. was committed for the long haul. He met Tuesday with Moldovan President Maia Sandu — who last week claimed Moscow was behind a plot to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-politics-government-maia-sandu-152d2353f4c18bb84348f5d1656edb98">overthrow her country’s government</a>&nbsp;using external saboteurs — and with his host Polish President Andrzej Duda.“We have to have security in Europe,” Biden said at the presidential palace. “It's that basic, that simple, that consequential.”He described NATO as “maybe the most consequential alliance in history," and he said it's “stronger than it's ever been” despite the Russian leader's hopes that it would fracture over the war in Ukraine.Duda praised the American president’s visit to Kyiv as “spectacular,” saying it “boosted morale of Ukraine’s defenders.”He said the trip was “a sign that the free world, and its biggest leader, the president of the United States, stands by them.”On Wednesday, Biden will meet again with Duda along with other leaders of the Bucharest Nine, the easternmost members of the NATO military alliance. Ukraine is not a member.While Biden was in Poland, Putin announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-de0af48be7ea480ccb0175f55a065363?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=featuredcard&amp;utm_campaign=leadsubstory_01">Moscow would suspend its participation</a>&nbsp;in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States.The New START Treaty caps the number of long-range nuclear warheads countries may deploy and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons.Despite his criticisms of Putin, Biden did not mention the START suspension during his speech. And the Russian Foreign Ministry later said that, despite Putin's announcement, it would continue abiding by the treaty's caps.The conflict in Ukraine — the most significant war in Europe since World War II — has already left tens of thousands of people dead, devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure system and damaged the global economy.While Biden is looking to use his whirlwind trip to Europe as a moment of affirmation for Ukraine and allies, the White House has also acknowledged that there is no clear endgame to the war in the near term, and the situation on the ground has become increasingly complex.The administration on Sunday said it has new intelligence suggesting that China, which has generally remained on the sidelines of the conflict,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-antony-blinken-xi-jinping-4501b49359d73b6efbac87b2af54f189">is now considering sending Moscow lethal aid.</a>&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it could become a “serious problem” if Beijing follows through.Biden and Zelenskyy discussed capabilities that Ukraine needs “to be able to succeed on the battlefield” in the months ahead, said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Zelenskyy has been pushing the U.S. and European allies to provide fighter jets and long-range missile systems known as ATACMS — which Biden has declined to provide so far. Sullivan declined to comment on whether there was any movement on that during the leaders' talk.With no quick end in sight for the war,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-zelenskyy-biden-kyiv-15095c5e2fb8a9f9c0a235ffe0a161d0">the anniversary is a critical moment for Biden</a>&nbsp;to try to bolster European unity and reiterate the West's position that Putin's invasion was a frontal attack on the post-World War II international order. The White House hopes the president's visit to Kyiv and Warsaw will help bolster American and global resolve.In the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-politics-poland-33095abf76875b60ebab3ddf4eede188">a poll published last week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed</a>&nbsp;that support for providing Ukraine with weapons and direct economic assistance is softening. And earlier this month, 11 House Republicans introduced what they called the “Ukraine fatigue” resolution urging Biden to end military and financial aid to Ukraine, while pushing Ukraine and Russia to come to a peace agreement.Biden dismissed the notion of waning American support during his visit to Kyiv.“For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine,” he said. He described the conflict as "about freedom of democracy at large.”Biden had high praise for Poland's efforts to assist Ukraine. More than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees have settled in Poland since the start of the war, and millions more have crossed through Poland on their way to other countries. Poland has also provided Ukraine with $3.8 billion in military and humanitarian aid, according to the White House.The Biden administration announced last summer that it was establishing a permanent U.S. garrison in Poland, creating an enduring American foothold on NATO's eastern flank.“The truth of the matter is the United States needs Poland and NATO as much as NATO needs the United States,” Biden told Duda on Tuesday.___

🎥Biden in Poland: No higher aspiration than freedom

By RUDI KELLER <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Since 2009, it has been illegal in Missouri for anyone under 21 to <a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.820&amp;bid=16276&amp;hl=">send a text message from a hand-held device</a> while driving.

Under bipartisan legislation approved
 Monday in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety 
Committee, the ban would be expanded to cover all drivers.&nbsp;

“It has been past time to extend it to everyone,” said Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City and sponsor of one of the bills <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/SCSfromResearch/SB56.pdf">combined into a proposal sent to the Senate floor</a>. “This is a bad habit everyone has been guilty of.”

Razer’s bill was joined to a similar 
bill proposed by Sen. Jason Bean, R-Holcomb. The combined bill would 
make a first offense an infraction, with a fine of up to $50, and <a target="_blank" href="https://dor.mo.gov/faq/driver-license/tickets-points.html">two points on the driver’s record</a>. The penalty would increase with subsequent offenses within a two-year period.

Bean said he’s been guilty of sending
 messages while driving and has employed strategies that include 
silencing the ringer to keep his phone from distracting him.

“It is time we don’t do that anymore,” Bean said.

From 2007 through 2020, fewer than 1,000 people died in traffic crashes in Missouri, a significant decrease from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.modot.org/about-highway-safety">record 1,257 fatalities recorded in 2005</a>.
 But over the past two years, fatalities have been on the rise, with 
1,016 road deaths in 2021 and 1,048 in 2022, according to Missouri State
 Highway Patrol statistics.

Precise statistics aren’t available, 
but the Missouri Department of Transportation estimates that two-thirds 
of those killed were not wearing seat belts and that drivers using a 
cellphone were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.modot.org/node/24910">involved in more than 2,200 crashes in 2021</a>.

To encourage motorists to ignore their phones, MoDOT has for several years engaged in its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.modot.org/safety-commitment-buckle-phone-down">“Buckle Up, Phone Down”</a> campaign.&nbsp;

Under the legislation approved by the
 committee, the definition of a device is expanded from cell phones to 
include computers, tablets and devices capable of displaying or sending 
video signals. Only hands-free use of those devices, in limited 
situations, is permitted.

Along with texts, drivers would be 
barred from watching movies or streaming video from in-car devices. And 
anyone under 18 would be banned from using any electronic communication 
device at all while driving, even if the use is hands-free.

The bans would not apply to law 
enforcement and would not be applied to devices like citizens’ band or 
short-wave radio transmitters.

Before sending the bill to the full 
Senate, the committee added provisions requiring a warrant for an 
officer to review the contents of a device and stating that a traffic 
stop for a violation does not establish probable cause for other 
violations.

The bill also would block local governments from enacting texting bans that are stricter than state law.

While the MoDOT promotional campaign is a good effort, a law would make many motorists more aware of the danger, Razer said.

Statistics he’s seen show an estimated 7% of drivers would obey a law to stop texting, Razer said.

“If that saves a few lives,” Razer said, “that is worth it.”

By RUDI KELLER <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Since 2009, it has been illegal in Missouri for anyone under 21 to <a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.820&amp;bid=16276&amp;hl=">send a text message from a hand-held device</a> while driving.Under bipartisan legislation approved
 Monday in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety 
Committee, the ban would be expanded to cover all drivers.&nbsp;“It has been past time to extend it to everyone,” said Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City and sponsor of one of the bills <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/SCSfromResearch/SB56.pdf">combined into a proposal sent to the Senate floor</a>. “This is a bad habit everyone has been guilty of.”Razer’s bill was joined to a similar 
bill proposed by Sen. Jason Bean, R-Holcomb. The combined bill would 
make a first offense an infraction, with a fine of up to $50, and <a target="_blank" href="https://dor.mo.gov/faq/driver-license/tickets-points.html">two points on the driver’s record</a>. The penalty would increase with subsequent offenses within a two-year period.Bean said he’s been guilty of sending
 messages while driving and has employed strategies that include 
silencing the ringer to keep his phone from distracting him.“It is time we don’t do that anymore,” Bean said.From 2007 through 2020, fewer than 1,000 people died in traffic crashes in Missouri, a significant decrease from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.modot.org/about-highway-safety">record 1,257 fatalities recorded in 2005</a>.
 But over the past two years, fatalities have been on the rise, with 
1,016 road deaths in 2021 and 1,048 in 2022, according to Missouri State
 Highway Patrol statistics.Precise statistics aren’t available, 
but the Missouri Department of Transportation estimates that two-thirds 
of those killed were not wearing seat belts and that drivers using a 
cellphone were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.modot.org/node/24910">involved in more than 2,200 crashes in 2021</a>.To encourage motorists to ignore their phones, MoDOT has for several years engaged in its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.modot.org/safety-commitment-buckle-phone-down">“Buckle Up, Phone Down”</a> campaign.&nbsp;Under the legislation approved by the
 committee, the definition of a device is expanded from cell phones to 
include computers, tablets and devices capable of displaying or sending 
video signals. Only hands-free use of those devices, in limited 
situations, is permitted.Along with texts, drivers would be 
barred from watching movies or streaming video from in-car devices. And 
anyone under 18 would be banned from using any electronic communication 
device at all while driving, even if the use is hands-free.The bans would not apply to law 
enforcement and would not be applied to devices like citizens’ band or 
short-wave radio transmitters.Before sending the bill to the full 
Senate, the committee added provisions requiring a warrant for an 
officer to review the contents of a device and stating that a traffic 
stop for a violation does not establish probable cause for other 
violations.The bill also would block local governments from enacting texting bans that are stricter than state law.While the MoDOT promotional campaign is a good effort, a law would make many motorists more aware of the danger, Razer said.Statistics he’s seen show an estimated 7% of drivers would obey a law to stop texting, Razer said.“If that saves a few lives,” Razer said, “that is worth it.”

Mo. Senate panel advances bill to ban texting while driving

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall questioned witnesses last week during the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, &amp; Forestry's hearing on the nutrition programs funded by the Farm Bill. Senator Marshall used his time to point out the disparity between the national 20% inflation on food and the roughly 50% increase to the SNAP program.

(Click below to watch the Senator's comments)

Senator Marshall began his remarks by emphasizing that while he wants every person in need to be fed, the increases to SNAP are outpacing inflation, asking in part,

"… I don't want kids going hungry. Nutrition is so important… Food inflation since January 2021 is up 20%, but the SNAP benefits have gone up 50%... Why are SNAP benefits outpacing inflation? And where was the Congressional authority to increase spending beyond inflation?..."

Senator Marshall then pivoted to SNAP work requirements, saying in part,&nbsp;

"...Some of the states are not following… the working requirements to get SNAP. Eighteen states are currently using waivers despite their unemployment being below six percent. Ten percent of SNAP recipients are able-bodied adults without dependents. So why isn't the USDA enforcing the law?... Why are we letting these states get away with this waiver when they don’t qualify for it?..."

"I don't want anyone to go hungry, but when we have 7 million able-bodied men between the ages of 25 and 45 that aren't working potentially qualifying for SNAP benefits, it just doesn't seem fair. There are many other people at the other end of the spectrum that truly need the help when there are so many open jobs in this nation. I think that it is time to get rid of the waivers."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571410354379.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall questioned witnesses last week during the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, &amp; Forestry's hearing on the nutrition programs funded by the Farm Bill. Senator Marshall used his time to point out the disparity between the national 20% inflation on food and the roughly 50% increase to the SNAP program.(Click below to watch the Senator's comments)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6kFXbHe8VN0?start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Senator Marshall began his remarks by emphasizing that while he wants every person in need to be fed, the increases to SNAP are outpacing inflation, asking in part,"… I don't want kids going hungry. Nutrition is so important… Food inflation since January 2021 is up 20%, but the SNAP benefits have gone up 50%... Why are SNAP benefits outpacing inflation? And where was the Congressional authority to increase spending beyond inflation?..."Senator Marshall then pivoted to SNAP work requirements, saying in part,&nbsp;"...Some of the states are not following… the working requirements to get SNAP. Eighteen states are currently using waivers despite their unemployment being below six percent. Ten percent of SNAP recipients are able-bodied adults without dependents. So why isn't the USDA enforcing the law?... Why are we letting these states get away with this waiver when they don’t qualify for it?..."Marshall concluded by saying,"I don't want anyone to go hungry, but when we have 7 million able-bodied men between the ages of 25 and 45 that aren't working potentially qualifying for SNAP benefits, it just doesn't seem fair. There are many other people at the other end of the spectrum that truly need the help when there are so many open jobs in this nation. I think that it is time to get rid of the waivers."

🎥Marshall: SNAP program needs accountability

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN - On Tuesday afternoon, three women entered G. Thomas Jewelers in the 400 block of Poyntz Avenue, posing as customers.

The three women allegedly stole $10,000 worth of merchandise before leaving the business in an unknown direction of travel.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/gthomasjewelers">G. Thomas Jewelers</a> provided a quick cell phone video of the security camera footage of the three women entering the shop.

A report has been filed with the Riley County Police Department about the incident, more details will be added as they are released.

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostMANHATTAN - On Tuesday afternoon, three women entered G. Thomas Jewelers in the 400 block of Poyntz Avenue, posing as customers.<div><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1125.856266444738!2d-96.56262812292496!3d39.17925067313303!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x87bdd26223b1a20b%3A0x54b4e216a15edbef!2sG.%20Thomas%20Jewelers!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1677021703496!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>The three women allegedly stole $10,000 worth of merchandise before leaving the business in an unknown direction of travel.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/gthomasjewelers">G. Thomas Jewelers</a> provided a quick cell phone video of the security camera footage of the three women entering the shop.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/I0e37vbv-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Gthomas022123" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>A report has been filed with the Riley County Police Department about the incident, more details will be added as they are released.

🎥: $10K in merchandise stolen from Kan. jewelry store

LOWRY CITY, Mo. (AP) — At Truman Lake Manor in rural Missouri, every day begins the same way for every employee entering the nursing home's doors — with a swab up the nose, a swirl of testing solution and a brief wait to see whether a thin red line appears indicating a positive COVID-19 case.

Only the healthy are allowed in to care for virus-free residents.

Despite those precautions, a coronavirus outbreak swept through the facility late last year. An inspector subsequently cited it for violating the federal government's COVID-19 vaccination requirement for health care facilities.

Truman Lake Manor is one of about 750 nursing homes and 110 hospitals nationwide written up for violating federal staff vaccination rules during the past year, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services. Most were given a bureaucratic nudge to do better — though some nursing homes also received fines, especially when they had multiple other problems.

One year after it began being enforced nationwide on Feb. 20, 2022, the vaccination requirement affecting an estimated 10 million health care workers is the last remaining major mandate from President Joe Biden's sweeping attempt to boost national vaccination rates. Similar requirements for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-vaccine-mandate-eb5899ae1fe5b62b6f4d51f54a3cd375">large employers</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-immunizations-lloyd-austin-covid-64752e91abbc3d707ee46373a3ce757e">military members</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-georgia-860fa72a878c6d0cb24bfea66c9fcf59">federal contractors</a>&nbsp;all have been struck down, repealed or partially blocked.

The health care vaccination mandate is scheduled to run until November 2024. But some contend it’s time to stop now, citing fewer severe COVID-19 cases, health care staffing shortages and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-covid-public-health-2a80b547f6d55706a6986debc343b9fe">the impending May 11 expiration</a>&nbsp;of a national public health emergency that has been in place since January 2020.

“Their regulations are making it harder to give care – not easier," said Tim Corbin, the administrator of Truman Lake Manor who also doubles as a nurse, adding that "the mandates need to end.”

CMS said in a statement to the AP that “the requirement for staff to be fully vaccinated has been a critical step in responding to the pandemic” and “has saved Americans from countless infections, hospitalizations, and death.”

The policy requires workers, contractors and volunteers at facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid payments to have the full primary dosage of an original COVID-19 vaccine, with exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Though nursing homes can be fined for violations, CMS generally gave violating facilities additional time to update their policies and come into compliance.

The Republican-led U.S. House recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/497/actions">passed legislation</a>&nbsp;that would halt the mandate, but the bill is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-led Senate.

Meanwhile, the requirement continues with mixed results and — in some cases — widespread exceptions.

When a state inspector visited Truman Lake Manor in December, a coronavirus outbreak had infected 26 of the 60 residents and about a quarter of the staff within the previous few weeks. Corbin said the outbreak originated from an unvaccinated employee with a religious exemption who tested negative for COVID-19 before working a shift and wore a mask. The employee didn't feel well and tested positive after arriving home.

The inspector found that more than 40% of staff had been granted religious exemptions from getting vaccinated. But the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services does not scrutinize the rationale for such exemptions. The reason the facility was cited for a vaccination deficiency was because three employees had failed to receive their second dose of the vaccine and had no exemption on record. After the citation, they each got the second shot, and regulators OK'd the corrections in January.

It's hard to find workers willing to be vaccinated, Corbin said, because many local residents remain opposed to the vaccine or doubt its effectiveness. Just 42% of adults in St. Clair County are vaccinated against COVID-19 — a rate barely half the national average.

Workforce shortages are causing more than half of nursing homes nationally to limit resident admissions, according to the American Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities. Though most other health care sectors have rebounded, nursing home employment was down 13% in 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/LTC-Jobs-Report-Jan2023.pdf">compared</a><a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/LTC-Jobs-Report-Jan2023.pdf">to pre-pandemic levels</a>&nbsp;and reached lows not seen since the 1990s.

LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit nursing homes and other aging service providers, originally supported the mandate and still encourages vaccinations. But it now says a federal requirement no longer is needed.

Though deaths are down significantly from their&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00">peak in January 2021</a>, older adults and people with underlying health problems remain more susceptible to serious cases of COVID-19. Because of that, some medical professionals believe the vaccine mandate should continue at nursing homes and hospitals.

“This is an important requirement,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “Not only does it protect the health care worker themself, but it also protects the patients.”

Nationwide, about 5% of the over 15,000 nursing homes caring for Medicare or Medicaid patients have been cited for violating the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and about 2% of the 4,900 hospitals, according to the AP's analysis. But those citations haven't been evenly spread among states and occurred less often during the latter half of 2022.

Twenty-four states cited no hospitals for COVID-19 vaccination violations.

Texas, which has the most nursing homes nationally participating in Medicare or Medicaid, had just one nursing home cited for violating the vaccination rule.

Kansas, Florida and Texas each declined to check for vaccination violations, instead leaving that process to CMS, which hired contractors. As a result, CMS said Texas was docked more than $2.5 million in federal funding, Florida more than $1.2 million and Kansas nearly $350,000.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat who faced reelection in a Republican-leaning state,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-kansas-topeka-1f8b0b327403adbef0dbff961b1bfe98">said last year that the vaccine mandate conflicted with state law</a>&nbsp;and could worsen workforce shortages.

Nationally, the number of nursing homes cited for vaccination violations declined noticeably after CMS last June stopped requiring state inspectors to check for compliance when responding to complaints about unrelated allegations, such as neglect of patients. CMS cited substantial compliance with the vaccination requirement while making the change.

Harjai reported from Los Angeles and is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658932277534.png" alt="A COVID-19 test kit shows a negative result-White House photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A COVID-19 test kit shows a negative result-White House photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LOWRY CITY, Mo. (AP) — At Truman Lake Manor in rural Missouri, every day begins the same way for every employee entering the nursing home's doors — with a swab up the nose, a swirl of testing solution and a brief wait to see whether a thin red line appears indicating a positive COVID-19 case.Only the healthy are allowed in to care for virus-free residents.Despite those precautions, a coronavirus outbreak swept through the facility late last year. An inspector subsequently cited it for violating the federal government's COVID-19 vaccination requirement for health care facilities.Truman Lake Manor is one of about 750 nursing homes and 110 hospitals nationwide written up for violating federal staff vaccination rules during the past year, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services. Most were given a bureaucratic nudge to do better — though some nursing homes also received fines, especially when they had multiple other problems.One year after it began being enforced nationwide on Feb. 20, 2022, the vaccination requirement affecting an estimated 10 million health care workers is the last remaining major mandate from President Joe Biden's sweeping attempt to boost national vaccination rates. Similar requirements for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-vaccine-mandate-eb5899ae1fe5b62b6f4d51f54a3cd375">large employers</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-immunizations-lloyd-austin-covid-64752e91abbc3d707ee46373a3ce757e">military members</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-georgia-860fa72a878c6d0cb24bfea66c9fcf59">federal contractors</a>&nbsp;all have been struck down, repealed or partially blocked.The health care vaccination mandate is scheduled to run until November 2024. But some contend it’s time to stop now, citing fewer severe COVID-19 cases, health care staffing shortages and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-covid-public-health-2a80b547f6d55706a6986debc343b9fe">the impending May 11 expiration</a>&nbsp;of a national public health emergency that has been in place since January 2020.“Their regulations are making it harder to give care – not easier," said Tim Corbin, the administrator of Truman Lake Manor who also doubles as a nurse, adding that "the mandates need to end.”CMS said in a statement to the AP that “the requirement for staff to be fully vaccinated has been a critical step in responding to the pandemic” and “has saved Americans from countless infections, hospitalizations, and death.”The policy requires workers, contractors and volunteers at facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid payments to have the full primary dosage of an original COVID-19 vaccine, with exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Though nursing homes can be fined for violations, CMS generally gave violating facilities additional time to update their policies and come into compliance.The Republican-led U.S. House recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/497/actions">passed legislation</a>&nbsp;that would halt the mandate, but the bill is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-led Senate.Meanwhile, the requirement continues with mixed results and — in some cases — widespread exceptions.When a state inspector visited Truman Lake Manor in December, a coronavirus outbreak had infected 26 of the 60 residents and about a quarter of the staff within the previous few weeks. Corbin said the outbreak originated from an unvaccinated employee with a religious exemption who tested negative for COVID-19 before working a shift and wore a mask. The employee didn't feel well and tested positive after arriving home.The inspector found that more than 40% of staff had been granted religious exemptions from getting vaccinated. But the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services does not scrutinize the rationale for such exemptions. The reason the facility was cited for a vaccination deficiency was because three employees had failed to receive their second dose of the vaccine and had no exemption on record. After the citation, they each got the second shot, and regulators OK'd the corrections in January.It's hard to find workers willing to be vaccinated, Corbin said, because many local residents remain opposed to the vaccine or doubt its effectiveness. Just 42% of adults in St. Clair County are vaccinated against COVID-19 — a rate barely half the national average.Workforce shortages are causing more than half of nursing homes nationally to limit resident admissions, according to the American Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities. Though most other health care sectors have rebounded, nursing home employment was down 13% in 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/LTC-Jobs-Report-Jan2023.pdf">compared</a><a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/FactSheets/LTC-Jobs-Report-Jan2023.pdf">to pre-pandemic levels</a>&nbsp;and reached lows not seen since the 1990s.LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit nursing homes and other aging service providers, originally supported the mandate and still encourages vaccinations. But it now says a federal requirement no longer is needed.Though deaths are down significantly from their&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00">peak in January 2021</a>, older adults and people with underlying health problems remain more susceptible to serious cases of COVID-19. Because of that, some medical professionals believe the vaccine mandate should continue at nursing homes and hospitals.“This is an important requirement,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “Not only does it protect the health care worker themself, but it also protects the patients.”Nationwide, about 5% of the over 15,000 nursing homes caring for Medicare or Medicaid patients have been cited for violating the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and about 2% of the 4,900 hospitals, according to the AP's analysis. But those citations haven't been evenly spread among states and occurred less often during the latter half of 2022.Twenty-four states cited no hospitals for COVID-19 vaccination violations.Texas, which has the most nursing homes nationally participating in Medicare or Medicaid, had just one nursing home cited for violating the vaccination rule.Kansas, Florida and Texas each declined to check for vaccination violations, instead leaving that process to CMS, which hired contractors. As a result, CMS said Texas was docked more than $2.5 million in federal funding, Florida more than $1.2 million and Kansas nearly $350,000.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat who faced reelection in a Republican-leaning state,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-kansas-topeka-1f8b0b327403adbef0dbff961b1bfe98">said last year that the vaccine mandate conflicted with state law</a>&nbsp;and could worsen workforce shortages.Nationally, the number of nursing homes cited for vaccination violations declined noticeably after CMS last June stopped requiring state inspectors to check for compliance when responding to complaints about unrelated allegations, such as neglect of patients. CMS cited substantial compliance with the vaccination requirement while making the change.__Harjai reported from Los Angeles and is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Healthcare vaxx mandate to run through Nov. 2024

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States, announcing the move Tuesday in a bitter speech where he made clear he would not change his strategy in the war in Ukraine.

Putin emphasized, however, that Russia isn’t withdrawing from the pact yet, and hours after his address the Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respect the caps on nuclear weapons under the treaty. The ministry also said Russia will continue to exchange information about test launches of ballistic missiles per earlier agreements with the United States.

In his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address, Putin cast his country — and Ukraine — as victims of Western double-dealing and said it was Russia, not Ukraine, fighting for its very existence.

“We aren’t fighting the Ukrainian people,” Putin said ahead of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-one-year-ba61809330c132929a6da34fe99ddab2">war’s first anniversary Friday</a>. “The Ukrainian people have become hostages of the Kyiv regime and its Western masters, which have effectively occupied the country.”

The speech reiterated a litany of grievances he has frequently offered as justification for the widely condemned military campaign, while vowing no military letup in a conflict that has reawakened Cold War fears.

The 2010 New START treaty envisages caps on the number of nuclear weapons, and broad inspections of nuclear sites. Putin also said Russia should stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. does so, a move that would end a global ban on such tests in place since the Cold War era.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Moscow’s decision to suspend its participation in the treaty as “really unfortunate and very irresponsible."

"We’ll be watching carefully to see what Russia actually does,” he said while visiting Greece.

U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland a day after his surprise visit to Ukraine, did not mention the START suspension but blasted Putin for the invasion. He pledged continued support for Ukraine despite “hard and bitter days ahead.”

“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever,” he said at Warsaw's landmark Royal Castle before a cheering crowd of Polish citizens and Ukrainian refugees.

Putin's announcement about the START Treaty was the second time in recent days the Ukraine war showed it could spread into perilous new terrain, after Blinken told China over the weekend that it would be a “serious problem” if Beijing provided arms and ammunition to Russia.

China and Russia have aligned their foreign policies to oppose Washington. Beijing has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion or atrocities against civilians in Ukraine, while strongly criticizing Western economic sanctions on Moscow. Late last year, Russia and China held joint naval drills.

The deputy head of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Vadym Skibitskyi, told The Associated Press that his agency hasn’t seen any signs so far that China is providing weapons to Moscow.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and made a dash toward Kyiv, apparently expecting to overrun the capital quickly. But stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces — supported by Western weapons — turned back Moscow's troops. While Ukraine has reclaimed many areas initially seized by Russia, the sides have become bogged down elsewhere.

The war has revived the divide between Russia and the West, reinvigorated the NATO alliance, and created the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-one-year-anniversary-df699dc348444c878bb4041158ccb84c">biggest threat to Putin's rule of more than two decades</a>.

Much of Tuesday's speech covered old ground, as Putin offered his own version of recent history, discounting Ukraine's arguments that it needed Western help to thwart a Russian military takeover.

“Western elites aren’t trying to conceal their goals, to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ to Russia,” Putin said in the speech broadcast on all state TV channels. “They intend to transform the local conflict into a global confrontation."

He has repeatedly depicted NATO’s expansion to include countries close to Russia as an existential threat to his country.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was in Ukraine on Tuesday, said she wished Putin had taken a different approach.

“What we heard this morning was propaganda that we already know,” Meloni said in English. “He says (Russia) worked on diplomacy to avoid the conflict, but the truth is that there is somebody who is the invader and somebody who is defending itself.”

Also meeting with Zelenskyy on Tuesday was the newly appointed chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, who led a delegation for the first time since the start of the war and since Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.

Chairman Mike McCaul and a handful of other GOP lawmakers said they had a productive meeting about what Zelenskyy needs for winning the war. He provided them with a list of weapons, including longer-range artillery and air-to-surface systems.

The meeting comes as a growing number of hard-right Republicans are vowing to block future U.S. aid to Ukraine. “We have seen time and again the majority of Republicans and Democrats support our assistance to Ukraine,” McCaul said in a statement. “But the Biden administration needs to lay out their long-term strategy.”

Putin began his speech Tuesday with strong words for countries that provided Kyiv with military support and warned them against supplying any longer-range weapons.

“It’s they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it,” Putin said before an audience of lawmakers, state officials and soldiers.

He also accused the West of taking aim at Russian culture, religion and values because "it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield." Likewise, he said Western sanctions hadn't “achieved anything and will not achieve anything."

Putin denied any wrongdoing in Ukraine, even after Kremlin forces struck civilian targets, including hospitals, and are widely accused of war crimes.

Ukraine’s military reported Tuesday that Russian forces shelled the southern cities of Kherson and Ochakiv while Putin spoke, killing six. Zelenskyy lamented that Russian forces were “again mercilessly killing the civilian population.”

While Russia’s Constitution mandates that the president deliver the state-of-the-nation speech annually, Putin never gave one in 2022, as his troops suffered repeated setbacks. Last year, the Kremlin also canceled two other big annual events — Putin’s news conference and a highly scripted phone-in marathon taking questions from the public.

Reflecting the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-changed-lives-0fb016f9eb055b189b2b46e282867168">Kremlin's clampdown on free speech and press</a>, it barred in-person coverage of the address by media from “unfriendly” countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and those in the European Union.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow Sept. 2022 (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow Sept. 2022 (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States, announcing the move Tuesday in a bitter speech where he made clear he would not change his strategy in the war in Ukraine.Putin emphasized, however, that Russia isn’t withdrawing from the pact yet, and hours after his address the Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respect the caps on nuclear weapons under the treaty. The ministry also said Russia will continue to exchange information about test launches of ballistic missiles per earlier agreements with the United States.In his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address, Putin cast his country — and Ukraine — as victims of Western double-dealing and said it was Russia, not Ukraine, fighting for its very existence.“We aren’t fighting the Ukrainian people,” Putin said ahead of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-one-year-ba61809330c132929a6da34fe99ddab2">war’s first anniversary Friday</a>. “The Ukrainian people have become hostages of the Kyiv regime and its Western masters, which have effectively occupied the country.”The speech reiterated a litany of grievances he has frequently offered as justification for the widely condemned military campaign, while vowing no military letup in a conflict that has reawakened Cold War fears.The 2010 New START treaty envisages caps on the number of nuclear weapons, and broad inspections of nuclear sites. Putin also said Russia should stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. does so, a move that would end a global ban on such tests in place since the Cold War era.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Moscow’s decision to suspend its participation in the treaty as “really unfortunate and very irresponsible.""We’ll be watching carefully to see what Russia actually does,” he said while visiting Greece.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">One year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud. Kyiv stands tall. Kyiv stands free. <a href="https://t.co/ySrDSAHQy7">pic.twitter.com/ySrDSAHQy7</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1628098714186154002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland a day after his surprise visit to Ukraine, did not mention the START suspension but blasted Putin for the invasion. He pledged continued support for Ukraine despite “hard and bitter days ahead.”“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever,” he said at Warsaw's landmark Royal Castle before a cheering crowd of Polish citizens and Ukrainian refugees.Putin's announcement about the START Treaty was the second time in recent days the Ukraine war showed it could spread into perilous new terrain, after Blinken told China over the weekend that it would be a “serious problem” if Beijing provided arms and ammunition to Russia.China and Russia have aligned their foreign policies to oppose Washington. Beijing has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion or atrocities against civilians in Ukraine, while strongly criticizing Western economic sanctions on Moscow. Late last year, Russia and China held joint naval drills.The deputy head of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Vadym Skibitskyi, told The Associated Press that his agency hasn’t seen any signs so far that China is providing weapons to Moscow.Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and made a dash toward Kyiv, apparently expecting to overrun the capital quickly. But stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces — supported by Western weapons — turned back Moscow's troops. While Ukraine has reclaimed many areas initially seized by Russia, the sides have become bogged down elsewhere.The war has revived the divide between Russia and the West, reinvigorated the NATO alliance, and created the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-one-year-anniversary-df699dc348444c878bb4041158ccb84c">biggest threat to Putin's rule of more than two decades</a>.Much of Tuesday's speech covered old ground, as Putin offered his own version of recent history, discounting Ukraine's arguments that it needed Western help to thwart a Russian military takeover.“Western elites aren’t trying to conceal their goals, to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ to Russia,” Putin said in the speech broadcast on all state TV channels. “They intend to transform the local conflict into a global confrontation."He has repeatedly depicted NATO’s expansion to include countries close to Russia as an existential threat to his country.Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was in Ukraine on Tuesday, said she wished Putin had taken a different approach.“What we heard this morning was propaganda that we already know,” Meloni said in English. “He says (Russia) worked on diplomacy to avoid the conflict, but the truth is that there is somebody who is the invader and somebody who is defending itself.”Also meeting with Zelenskyy on Tuesday was the newly appointed chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, who led a delegation for the first time since the start of the war and since Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.Chairman Mike McCaul and a handful of other GOP lawmakers said they had a productive meeting about what Zelenskyy needs for winning the war. He provided them with a list of weapons, including longer-range artillery and air-to-surface systems.The meeting comes as a growing number of hard-right Republicans are vowing to block future U.S. aid to Ukraine. “We have seen time and again the majority of Republicans and Democrats support our assistance to Ukraine,” McCaul said in a statement. “But the Biden administration needs to lay out their long-term strategy.”Putin began his speech Tuesday with strong words for countries that provided Kyiv with military support and warned them against supplying any longer-range weapons.“It’s they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it,” Putin said before an audience of lawmakers, state officials and soldiers.He also accused the West of taking aim at Russian culture, religion and values because "it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield." Likewise, he said Western sanctions hadn't “achieved anything and will not achieve anything."Putin denied any wrongdoing in Ukraine, even after Kremlin forces struck civilian targets, including hospitals, and are widely accused of war crimes.Ukraine’s military reported Tuesday that Russian forces shelled the southern cities of Kherson and Ochakiv while Putin spoke, killing six. Zelenskyy lamented that Russian forces were “again mercilessly killing the civilian population.”While Russia’s Constitution mandates that the president deliver the state-of-the-nation speech annually, Putin never gave one in 2022, as his troops suffered repeated setbacks. Last year, the Kremlin also canceled two other big annual events — Putin’s news conference and a highly scripted phone-in marathon taking questions from the public.Reflecting the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-changed-lives-0fb016f9eb055b189b2b46e282867168">Kremlin's clampdown on free speech and press</a>, it barred in-person coverage of the address by media from “unfriendly” countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and those in the European Union.___

Russia suspends nuke treaty with U.S., warns of global war 

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Police have made an arrest in connection to at least one of the recent daytime residential burglaries in west-central Salina, as well as other alleged thefts.

On Feb. 7, officers were sent to the Shell gas station at 1717 W. Crawford Street for the report of a person who allegedly stole $34 worth of cigarettes, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.

Then, on Friday, officers were sent to the 700 block of Commanche Avenue for the report of a residential burglary. In that case, the resident reported that while she was gone during the day, someone stole two debit cards from her phone case. Also missing were a Sony Playstation, an Xbox 1, a Sony Playstation VR headset, and some controllers, Forrester said. Loss, in addition to the missing debit cards, was estimated at $900.

Later on Friday, one of the woman's debit cards was used twice for just under $30 at the 24/7 Travel Store at 671 Westport Boulevard, Forrester said. Surveillance video showed a 5'11" person wearing a black hoodie with the word "Crenshaw" on the front using the card. A short time later, an officer spotted a person wearing the hoodie in the 600 block of Westport Boulevard. That person, identified as Jermaine Cooper, 25, of Salina, was detained for questioning, Forrester said.

Police believe Cooper was the person in the above thefts and burglaries. Additionally, Cooper also was recognized from surveillance video from the neighborhood near a daytime residential burglary in the 800 block of W. Republic Avenue on Wednesday, Forrester said.

Police arrested Cooper on requested charges of Two counts of burglary, Theft of a firearm, Felony theft by deception, Three counts of misdemeanor theft, Two counts of criminal use of a financial card and Criminal damage to property

According to Forrester, police continue to check for surveillance video near the locations of the other daytime burglaries to see whether Cooper might be connected to those as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676727012344.jpeg" alt="Jermaine Cooper&nbsp;Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Jermaine Cooper&nbsp;Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostPolice have made an arrest in connection to at least one of the recent daytime residential burglaries in west-central Salina, as well as other alleged thefts.On Feb. 7, officers were sent to the Shell gas station at 1717 W. Crawford Street for the report of a person who allegedly stole $34 worth of cigarettes, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.Then, on Friday, officers were sent to the 700 block of Commanche Avenue for the report of a residential burglary. In that case, the resident reported that while she was gone during the day, someone stole two debit cards from her phone case. Also missing were a Sony Playstation, an Xbox 1, a Sony Playstation VR headset, and some controllers, Forrester said. Loss, in addition to the missing debit cards, was estimated at $900.Later on Friday, one of the woman's debit cards was used twice for just under $30 at the 24/7 Travel Store at 671 Westport Boulevard, Forrester said. Surveillance video showed a 5'11" person wearing a black hoodie with the word "Crenshaw" on the front using the card. A short time later, an officer spotted a person wearing the hoodie in the 600 block of Westport Boulevard. That person, identified as Jermaine Cooper, 25, of Salina, was detained for questioning, Forrester said.Police believe Cooper was the person in the above thefts and burglaries. Additionally, Cooper also was recognized from surveillance video from the neighborhood near a daytime residential burglary in the 800 block of W. Republic Avenue on Wednesday, Forrester said.Police arrested Cooper on requested charges of Two counts of burglary, Theft of a firearm, Felony theft by deception, Three counts of misdemeanor theft, Two counts of criminal use of a financial card and Criminal damage to propertyAccording to Forrester, police continue to check for surveillance video near the locations of the other daytime burglaries to see whether Cooper might be connected to those as well.

Video helps police ID alleged suspect in Kan. home burglary

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal. pedestrian accident have identified the victim&nbsp;as Dennis L. Hower, 57, of Topeka. 

Just after 6:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an accident where a vehicle struck a man at the intersection of SW 19th St. and SW Gage Blvd in Topeka, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

An ambulance transported Hower to&nbsp;a local hospital. He later died of his injuries.

The Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Unit is asking anyone who witnessed the accident to email them at telltpd@topeka.org, or by calling the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 785-368- 9400.

Anonymous tips can also be made by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007. You can also make anonymous tips online at www.p3tips.com/128.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676893193944.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal. pedestrian accident have identified the victim&nbsp;as Dennis L. Hower, 57, of Topeka. Just after 6:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an accident where a vehicle struck a man at the intersection of SW 19th St. and SW Gage Blvd in Topeka, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.An ambulance transported Hower to&nbsp;a local hospital. He later died of his injuries.The Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Unit is asking anyone who witnessed the accident to email them at telltpd@topeka.org, or by calling the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 785-368- 9400.Anonymous tips can also be made by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007. You can also make anonymous tips online at www.p3tips.com/128.

Police working to find witnesses in fatal Kan. pedestrian crash

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government roughly $661 million and added to consumers' pain at the grocery store after more than 58 million birds were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-bird-flu-flu-animals-189a7c08d848047f00b3f7b5bec39e67">slaughtered</a>&nbsp;to limit the spread of the virus.

In addition to the cost of the government response and rising prices for eggs, chicken and turkey, farmers who raise those animals have easily lost more than $1 billion, said an agricultural economist, though no one has calculated the total cost to the industry yet.

The bad news is that with the outbreak entering its second year and the spring migratory season looming, there is no end in sight. And there is little&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-and-nature-iowa-agriculture-9245d97453568576bd0b564f9c52c343">farmers</a>&nbsp;can do beyond&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-iowa-agriculture-f5a5c6fbf1d6b551413fb249086fdbec">the steps they have already taken</a>&nbsp;to try to keep the virus out.

Unlike past years,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-flu-prices-animals-1ec0f5a8e5485300fe117f87f8470f06">the virus that causes</a>&nbsp;highly pathogenic avian influenza found a way to survive through the heat of last summer, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-minnesota-animals-flu-animal-2f02b2d35e82feb05273d9a72e898170">rise in cases</a>&nbsp;reported in the fall.

The outbreak is already more widespread than the last major bird flu outbreak in 2015, but it hasn't proven as costly yet partly because the government and industry applied lessons learned eight years ago.

“The past year has been devastating for the turkey industry as we experience, unequivocally, the worst HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) outbreak in the industry’s history,” National Turkey Federation spokeswoman Shelby Newman said.

In the current outbreak, 58.4 million birds have been slaughtered on more than 300 commercial farms in 47 states. That is because any time the virus is detected, the entire flock on that farm — which can number in the millions — must be killed to limit the spread of the disease. Only Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia have yet to report a case of bird flu. Iowa — the nation's biggest egg producer —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-iowa-bird-flu-4c49e56a8c84c425c308e97617e31066">leads the nation</a>&nbsp;with nearly 16 million birds slaughtered.

In 2015, about 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered on more than 200 farms in 15 states.

That previous outbreak remains the most expensive animal health disaster in U.S. history. The federal government spent nearly $1 billion to deal with infected birds, clean up barns and compensate farmers. It cost the industry roughly $3 billion as farmers incurred additional costs and lost money when they didn’t have any birds on their farms.

This bills continue to pile up this year as cases spread, and that includes the cost to consumers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-business-213d845ae92814bf3189eec9c1ccf902">Egg prices shot up</a>&nbsp;to $4.82 a dozen in January from $1.93 a year earlier, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/resource-library/average-food-prices/">latest government figures</a>. That spike prompted calls for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-commodity-markets-jack-reed-business-1b32cb587f20a8d44eaf707f72635e70">price-gouging investigation</a>&nbsp;although the industry maintains that the combination of bird flu and significantly higher feed, fuel and labor costs is what’s driving prices so high.

The price for a pound of chicken breast was $4.32 in January. That’s down slightly from last fall when the price peaked at $4.75, but it is up significantly from the year before when chicken breasts were selling for $3.73 per pound.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track retail turkey prices the same way as part of its inflation data, but the Agriculture Department says the wholesale price of turkey went from $1.29 per pound last January just before the bird flu outbreak began to $1.72 per pound last month.

The number of birds slaughtered peaked last spring at almost 21 million in March, leaving farmers leery of what they must face in the months ahead. University of Georgia virus researcher David Stallknecht said there is some hope that this spring might not be quite as bad because turkeys and chickens may have developed some immunity to the virus.

The key problem with bird flu is that the highly contagious virus is spread easily by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-minnesota-environment-0ec6d3f11b09ddd023d7d5d50ab7f8c1">wild birds</a>&nbsp;through their droppings and nasal discharges. Despite the best efforts of farmers, it is hard to keep the virus out.

Farmers have gone to great lengths by requiring workers to shower and change clothes before entering barns, sanitizing trucks that enter a farm and investing in separate sets of tools for every barn. Some farms have even upgraded barn ventilation and installed laser systems to discourage wild birds from congregating.

“We recommend all producers redouble their efforts to protect their birds through good biosecurity practices,” said Lyndsay Cole, a spokeswoman for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that's leading the government's response.

Farmers began following those steps after the 2015 outbreak, and this outbreak has only reinforced the need to tighten biosecurity.

“America’s egg farmers continue to double-down on biosecurity protocols to protect our flocks and maintain a stable egg supply. We are grateful that there has been little to no farm-to-farm spread in this current outbreak,” said Oscar Garrison, senior vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs at the United Egg Producers trade group.

Poultry and egg producers, partnering with the government, are parsing this outbreak for new lessons in keeping birds healthy.

“That’s really the key – early detection. It’s kind of like a forest fire - the earlier you detect it, the easier it is to contain and eradicate,” National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super said.

Officials say bird flu doesn’t represent a significant threat to human health. Human cases are extremely rare and none of the infected birds are allowed into the nation’s food supply. And properly cooking poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses.

There has only been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">one human case</a>&nbsp;of bird flu confirmed during this outbreak and that was a man who had been helping slaughter and remove infected birds from a Colorado farm. He recovered from the illness after a few days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666346539753.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government roughly $661 million and added to consumers' pain at the grocery store after more than 58 million birds were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-bird-flu-flu-animals-189a7c08d848047f00b3f7b5bec39e67">slaughtered</a>&nbsp;to limit the spread of the virus.In addition to the cost of the government response and rising prices for eggs, chicken and turkey, farmers who raise those animals have easily lost more than $1 billion, said an agricultural economist, though no one has calculated the total cost to the industry yet.The bad news is that with the outbreak entering its second year and the spring migratory season looming, there is no end in sight. And there is little&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-and-nature-iowa-agriculture-9245d97453568576bd0b564f9c52c343">farmers</a>&nbsp;can do beyond&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-iowa-agriculture-f5a5c6fbf1d6b551413fb249086fdbec">the steps they have already taken</a>&nbsp;to try to keep the virus out.Unlike past years,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-flu-prices-animals-1ec0f5a8e5485300fe117f87f8470f06">the virus that causes</a>&nbsp;highly pathogenic avian influenza found a way to survive through the heat of last summer, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-minnesota-animals-flu-animal-2f02b2d35e82feb05273d9a72e898170">rise in cases</a>&nbsp;reported in the fall.The outbreak is already more widespread than the last major bird flu outbreak in 2015, but it hasn't proven as costly yet partly because the government and industry applied lessons learned eight years ago.“The past year has been devastating for the turkey industry as we experience, unequivocally, the worst HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) outbreak in the industry’s history,” National Turkey Federation spokeswoman Shelby Newman said.In the current outbreak, 58.4 million birds have been slaughtered on more than 300 commercial farms in 47 states. That is because any time the virus is detected, the entire flock on that farm — which can number in the millions — must be killed to limit the spread of the disease. Only Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia have yet to report a case of bird flu. Iowa — the nation's biggest egg producer —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-iowa-bird-flu-4c49e56a8c84c425c308e97617e31066">leads the nation</a>&nbsp;with nearly 16 million birds slaughtered.In 2015, about 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered on more than 200 farms in 15 states.That previous outbreak remains the most expensive animal health disaster in U.S. history. The federal government spent nearly $1 billion to deal with infected birds, clean up barns and compensate farmers. It cost the industry roughly $3 billion as farmers incurred additional costs and lost money when they didn’t have any birds on their farms.This bills continue to pile up this year as cases spread, and that includes the cost to consumers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-business-213d845ae92814bf3189eec9c1ccf902">Egg prices shot up</a>&nbsp;to $4.82 a dozen in January from $1.93 a year earlier, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/resource-library/average-food-prices/">latest government figures</a>. That spike prompted calls for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-commodity-markets-jack-reed-business-1b32cb587f20a8d44eaf707f72635e70">price-gouging investigation</a>&nbsp;although the industry maintains that the combination of bird flu and significantly higher feed, fuel and labor costs is what’s driving prices so high.The price for a pound of chicken breast was $4.32 in January. That’s down slightly from last fall when the price peaked at $4.75, but it is up significantly from the year before when chicken breasts were selling for $3.73 per pound.The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track retail turkey prices the same way as part of its inflation data, but the Agriculture Department says the wholesale price of turkey went from $1.29 per pound last January just before the bird flu outbreak began to $1.72 per pound last month.The number of birds slaughtered peaked last spring at almost 21 million in March, leaving farmers leery of what they must face in the months ahead. University of Georgia virus researcher David Stallknecht said there is some hope that this spring might not be quite as bad because turkeys and chickens may have developed some immunity to the virus.The key problem with bird flu is that the highly contagious virus is spread easily by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-minnesota-environment-0ec6d3f11b09ddd023d7d5d50ab7f8c1">wild birds</a>&nbsp;through their droppings and nasal discharges. Despite the best efforts of farmers, it is hard to keep the virus out.Farmers have gone to great lengths by requiring workers to shower and change clothes before entering barns, sanitizing trucks that enter a farm and investing in separate sets of tools for every barn. Some farms have even upgraded barn ventilation and installed laser systems to discourage wild birds from congregating.“We recommend all producers redouble their efforts to protect their birds through good biosecurity practices,” said Lyndsay Cole, a spokeswoman for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that's leading the government's response.Farmers began following those steps after the 2015 outbreak, and this outbreak has only reinforced the need to tighten biosecurity.“America’s egg farmers continue to double-down on biosecurity protocols to protect our flocks and maintain a stable egg supply. We are grateful that there has been little to no farm-to-farm spread in this current outbreak,” said Oscar Garrison, senior vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs at the United Egg Producers trade group.Poultry and egg producers, partnering with the government, are parsing this outbreak for new lessons in keeping birds healthy.“That’s really the key – early detection. It’s kind of like a forest fire - the earlier you detect it, the easier it is to contain and eradicate,” National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super said.Officials say bird flu doesn’t represent a significant threat to human health. Human cases are extremely rare and none of the infected birds are allowed into the nation’s food supply. And properly cooking poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses.There has only been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">one human case</a>&nbsp;of bird flu confirmed during this outbreak and that was a man who had been helping slaughter and remove infected birds from a Colorado farm. He recovered from the illness after a few days.

Bird flu costs pile up as outbreak enters second year

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement were able to safely arrest a Kansas man after witnesses say he went to his former place of employment and brandished a weapon.

Just before 1p.m. Feb. 17,&nbsp; police were called to a business in the 1100 block of Horizon Drive in Lawrence, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabae.&nbsp; 

The suspect, employees say, was recently terminated and came in making threatening remarks, showed them he had a gun, and left after seeing that the woman he believed was responsible for his termination wasn’t there.

Officers with the Lawrence Police Department and dispatchers attempted to make phone contact with the suspect, but the line disconnected or went to voicemail.&nbsp; Officers learned where the man was and attempted to arrest him in the hallway of the apartment complex.&nbsp; The man physically resisted arrest and attempted to retreat back inside the apartment.

To deter further escalation, or injury to the officers or innocent occupants, one officer deployed his taser and the team was able to detain him and make a safe arrest.&nbsp; Officers were able to recover the weapon suspected in the incident.&nbsp; The man was taken to the hospital to be checked out then booked into the Douglas County Jail. Police have not released his name or place of employment.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement were able to safely arrest a Kansas man after witnesses say he went to his former place of employment and brandished a weapon.Just before 1p.m. Feb. 17,&nbsp; police were called to a business in the 1100 block of Horizon Drive in Lawrence, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabae.&nbsp; The suspect, employees say, was recently terminated and came in making threatening remarks, showed them he had a gun, and left after seeing that the woman he believed was responsible for his termination wasn’t there.Officers with the Lawrence Police Department and dispatchers attempted to make phone contact with the suspect, but the line disconnected or went to voicemail.&nbsp; Officers learned where the man was and attempted to arrest him in the hallway of the apartment complex.&nbsp; The man physically resisted arrest and attempted to retreat back inside the apartment.To deter further escalation, or injury to the officers or innocent occupants, one officer deployed his taser and the team was able to detain him and make a safe arrest.&nbsp; Officers were able to recover the weapon suspected in the incident.&nbsp; The man was taken to the hospital to be checked out then booked into the Douglas County Jail. Police have not released his name or place of employment.

Kan. man arrested after alleged threat at former place of employment

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/20/kansas-senate-president-roll-back-food-tax-relief-so-state-can-afford-flat-tax-plan/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Senate President Ty Masterson’s “broader picture” for tax 
policy changes came into focus Monday with a plan that involves rolling 
back tax relief on food so the state can afford to cut income taxes for 
the highest wage earners.

The Senate tax committee passed a flat tax plan that would lower the 
income tax rate for all wage brackets to 4.75% at an estimated cost of 
about $566 million in the next calendar year. The impact on state 
revenue would be lessened by applying the sales tax on food to just 
“healthy” items.

Masterson appeared before the committee to promote the two pieces of legislation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676932634208.png" alt="Senate President Ty Masterson appears Jan. 20, 2023, before the Senate tax committee to urge lawmakers to support plans to limit tax relief on food to “healthy” items in order to afford a lower income tax rate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Senate President Ty Masterson appears Jan. 20, 2023, before the Senate tax committee to urge lawmakers to support plans to limit tax relief on food to “healthy” items in order to afford a lower income tax rate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/20/kansas-senate-president-roll-back-food-tax-relief-so-state-can-afford-flat-tax-plan/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Senate President Ty Masterson’s “broader picture” for tax 
policy changes came into focus Monday with a plan that involves rolling 
back tax relief on food so the state can afford to cut income taxes for 
the highest wage earners.The Senate tax committee passed a flat tax plan that would lower the 
income tax rate for all wage brackets to 4.75% at an estimated cost of 
about $566 million in the next calendar year. The impact on state 
revenue would be lessened by applying the sales tax on food to just 
“healthy” items.Masterson appeared before the committee to promote the two pieces of legislation.“Is this meant to only help those less fortunate? I think the answer 
is no,” Masterson said. “They’re to be helped, but it’s to help all 
Kansans, not just those less fortunate, because the structure’s there. 
The best thing for them is a job. We can’t keep on the train of buying 
economic development. You have to put a tax structure in place where 
those jobs remain. And so that helps everybody.”He praised Gov. Laura Kelly for effectively using her “axe the tax” 
line during last year’s gubernatorial campaign, where she touted passage
 of legislation to gradually eliminate the 6.5% state sales tax on food.
 But he urged lawmakers to consider the “broader picture.”Masterson’s proposal would repeal the gradual elimination of state 
sales tax on food, which would reduce annual revenues by about $450 
million when fully implemented on Jan. 1, 2025. Instead, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb248/">Senate Bill 248</a>
 would exempt select food items from both state and local sales tax, 
reducing state revenues by about $284 million in the next fiscal year.The goal, Masterson said, is not to incentivize healthy food choices. The plan is to afford tax cuts elsewhere, he said.“You can do things in an overall package, like take tax off Social 
Security, and if you’re truly interested in helping those in their 
golden years, you want to look at stuff like that,” Masterson said. “The
 other thing we need to do is look at the structure that we’re under. 
The states that are doing the best are the zero income tax states. And 
this is not even an attempt to get there. The second tier are those with
 the single rate flat tax. So the structure is actually the most 
important thing to get to. And this would allow you to get to a 
structure with a lower rate.”Opponents of the “healthy foods” legislation include grocers and 
family advocates who say the change would be confusing, difficult to 
implement, and reduce revenue for local governments. They also raised 
concerns about which items qualify as “healthy.”The list of healthy items is based on foods that qualify for the 
federal Women, Infants and Children nutrition program. The legislation 
specifies fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; eggs, milk, 
cheese and yogurt; infant formula; whole wheat or whole grain bread; 
corn or flour tortillas; pasta; brown rice, bulgur, oatmeal and whole 
grain barley; breakfast cereals; beans and nuts; and peanut butter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676932717720.png" alt="Jami Reever, executive director of Kansas Appleseed, says struggling families need more relief from high grocery bills, not less. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Jami Reever, executive director of Kansas Appleseed, says struggling families need more relief from high grocery bills, not less. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Jami Reever, executive director of Kansas Appleseed, said one in four
 Kansas kids lives in a household that cannot afford to eat nutritious 
meals.Additionally, Reever said, one in six Kansans lives in a food desert,
 which means they don’t have access to a grocery store. Those who get 
their food from a convenience store, for example, might have to choose 
white rice over brown rice because that is what is available.“Families have to make really tough choices every single day about 
what they feed their families,” Reever said. “I think it’s better that 
kids go to bed with a full tummy than with no food at all. And I’m 
worried that by just adding on to the food bill, they’ll have to make 
some really impossible choices.”Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican who chairs the tax committee, 
took issue with mailers sent by Kansas Appleseed that urged support for 
eliminating the sales tax on food. Tyson’s complaint: The sales tax 
reduction passed last year applied to “groceries,” not “food.”Tyson: “Your fliers were absolutely misleading, then, because you said remove it on food.”Reever:&nbsp;“We called it the food sales tax.”Tyson: “Yeah, which is misleading.”Reever: “I thank you for pointing that out.”The committee concluded the hearing on the sales tax bill in the 
morning, then met again over the lunch hour to consider other proposals.
 They included <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb169/">Senate Bill 169</a>, an alternative to the Kansas Chamber’s proposed flat tax plan.Under current law, the income tax rate is 3.1% for income under 
$15,000, 5.25% for income between $15,000 and $30,000, and 5.7% for 
income above $30,000. The dollar amounts are doubled for couples filing 
jointly.SB 169 would eliminate the income tax for those earning less than $5,225 annually and apply a 4.75% rate to all others.Critics of the flat tax compare it to former Gov. Sam Brownback’s 
“tax experiment” because it involves a dramatic sudden reduction in 
state revenue and disproportionately favors the highest wage earners.“For the life of me, I don’t understand why the committee is going 
down this path,” said Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City. “We tried 
something very similar with the Brownback tax experiment. My concern is 
not only is it a more aggressive tax, once again, it’s really 
effectively reducing the tax rate for the wealthiest Kansans. The second
 thing is that we simply can’t afford this.”Sen. Virgil Peck, R-Havana, said he wanted to “make sure it’s on the 
record” that the flat tax is different from legislation passed in 2012, 
which cut the rate for top earners and eliminated the income tax for 
businesses.Peck said he supported the 2012 plan and believes it would have worked if the Legislature had controlled spending.“That’s ancient history — or at least history, not ancient,” Peck 
said. “And so I just thought that I would mention that this is not the 
Brownback tax plan. This is the Legislature’s attempt to do some things 
to make our state more competitive for our workers, for bringing 
business and citizens to our state.”The committee passed the flat tax bill on a party line vote, sending it to the full Senate for consideration.