TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to give $304 million in taxpayer-funded incentives to a semiconductor company in its largest city to build a huge new factory, but the project won't go forward without funds the U.S. government has promised for rebuilding the nation's chip-making capacity.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that Kansas has an agreement with Integra Technologies, based in Wichita, for a 10-year package of tax breaks and reimbursement of expenses. State officials said the new, $1.8 billion plant would cover 1 million square feet, have 2,000 employees and create 3,000 additional jobs among suppliers and other local businesses.

The announcement comes with the U.S. trying to reverse a loss of capacity for making the chips that are vital to smartphones, laptops and other modern-day conveniences, as well as automobiles and life-saving medical devices.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-technology-united-states-economy-2fa651c540c9869890dfe670bcdcb7ea">Congress last year approved</a>&nbsp;a measure that provides more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry.

Kelly told reporters during a Statehouse news conference that the state's incentives are crucial to attracting the federal funds and "making Kansas an essential part of our country's national security efforts.”

“This advanced manufacturing facility is part of a national push to restore our semiconductor industry so that U.S. workers and businesses can compete and win in the race for the 21st Century," Kelly said.

Integra CEO Brett Robinson would not say how much federal funding the company needs, only that there is “no commercially viable way” to do the project without it. He and state officials said other states were trying to attract the project, though they did not disclose the competitors.

“It's not just critical to the United States and to security, but it's critical to the supply chain,” said Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican.

President Joe Biden pushed Congress last year to boost the U.S. semiconductor industry, because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-congress-asia-economy-2868a5c494e99a2050a3f9495ba2b544">a shortage of chips</a>&nbsp;made worse by the global coronavirus pandemic and concerns about competing with international rivals, particularly China. There’s been a decades-long shift to cheaper-to-operate Asian chip plants, and the industry is now dependent on Taiwan, which China has long claimed as its own.

“If we were ever to lose, for a sustainable amount of time, access to the southeast Asian supply chain, what we just went through would pale in comparison,” Robinson said.

Integra, founded in 1983, has about 500 employees in Wichita and Silicon Valley and describes itself as the largest U.S. provider of the last two major assembly and testing steps in the chip manufacturing process. The new factory is expected to pay an average annual wage of $51,000, about 46% higher than the state's average of roughly $35,000.

For Integra to receive its incentives, it must invest at least $1.5 billion in the new factory in the next five years and consistently provide the equivalent of 1,600 full-time jobs for 10 consecutive years.

The incentives are part of a program Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-037f833f5cd40ee94dcfe5003e955eeb">created last year</a>&nbsp;to ramp up its efforts to compete with other states for new, large factories. Under that program, the state was allowed to offer up to $1 billion in incentives to a single company each in 2022 and 2023.

In July 2022, Kelly and other state officials announced that Panasonic Corp.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-legislature-oklahoma-kansas-topeka-a6a50dea941774e9a1f3bdba6c49df06">plans to build a mega-factory to produce electric vehicle batteries</a>&nbsp;for Tesla and other carmakers. The state lured the Japanese electronics giant's project to the edge of the Kansas City area with incentives worth $829 million over 10 years, the most the state has ever offered.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_347_2022">The law</a>&nbsp;allowing the incentives required top leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature to sign off any deal between a company and the state Department of Commerce, which is led by Lt. Gov. David Toland, a Democrat like Kelly. The legislative leaders gave their approval just minutes ahead of the announcement, after meeting in private with Kelly for half an hour to review the agreement, with no opportunity for public review or input.

The law also requires Kansas to drop its corporate income tax rates by half a percentage point for each mega-deal. If the Integra project goes forward, the top rate would decline to 6% from 7%, saving all corporations roughly $100 million a year.

While both mega-projects have had bipartisan support, some lawmakers are critical of promising such big taxpayer-funded incentives to a single firm.

“We have not written the checks for this first project and they’re starting the second one without even knowing that it works,” state Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, a conservative Republican from eastern Kansas, said before Thursday's announcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675382569101.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to give $304 million in taxpayer-funded incentives to a semiconductor company in its largest city to build a huge new factory, but the project won't go forward without funds the U.S. government has promised for rebuilding the nation's chip-making capacity.Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that Kansas has an agreement with Integra Technologies, based in Wichita, for a 10-year package of tax breaks and reimbursement of expenses. State officials said the new, $1.8 billion plant would cover 1 million square feet, have 2,000 employees and create 3,000 additional jobs among suppliers and other local businesses.The announcement comes with the U.S. trying to reverse a loss of capacity for making the chips that are vital to smartphones, laptops and other modern-day conveniences, as well as automobiles and life-saving medical devices.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-technology-united-states-economy-2fa651c540c9869890dfe670bcdcb7ea">Congress last year approved</a>&nbsp;a measure that provides more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry.Kelly told reporters during a Statehouse news conference that the state's incentives are crucial to attracting the federal funds and "making Kansas an essential part of our country's national security efforts.”“This advanced manufacturing facility is part of a national push to restore our semiconductor industry so that U.S. workers and businesses can compete and win in the race for the 21st Century," Kelly said.Integra CEO Brett Robinson would not say how much federal funding the company needs, only that there is “no commercially viable way” to do the project without it. He and state officials said other states were trying to attract the project, though they did not disclose the competitors.“It's not just critical to the United States and to security, but it's critical to the supply chain,” said Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican.President Joe Biden pushed Congress last year to boost the U.S. semiconductor industry, because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-congress-asia-economy-2868a5c494e99a2050a3f9495ba2b544">a shortage of chips</a>&nbsp;made worse by the global coronavirus pandemic and concerns about competing with international rivals, particularly China. There’s been a decades-long shift to cheaper-to-operate Asian chip plants, and the industry is now dependent on Taiwan, which China has long claimed as its own.“If we were ever to lose, for a sustainable amount of time, access to the southeast Asian supply chain, what we just went through would pale in comparison,” Robinson said.Integra, founded in 1983, has about 500 employees in Wichita and Silicon Valley and describes itself as the largest U.S. provider of the last two major assembly and testing steps in the chip manufacturing process. The new factory is expected to pay an average annual wage of $51,000, about 46% higher than the state's average of roughly $35,000.For Integra to receive its incentives, it must invest at least $1.5 billion in the new factory in the next five years and consistently provide the equivalent of 1,600 full-time jobs for 10 consecutive years.The incentives are part of a program Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-037f833f5cd40ee94dcfe5003e955eeb">created last year</a>&nbsp;to ramp up its efforts to compete with other states for new, large factories. Under that program, the state was allowed to offer up to $1 billion in incentives to a single company each in 2022 and 2023.In July 2022, Kelly and other state officials announced that Panasonic Corp.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-legislature-oklahoma-kansas-topeka-a6a50dea941774e9a1f3bdba6c49df06">plans to build a mega-factory to produce electric vehicle batteries</a>&nbsp;for Tesla and other carmakers. The state lured the Japanese electronics giant's project to the edge of the Kansas City area with incentives worth $829 million over 10 years, the most the state has ever offered.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_347_2022">The law</a>&nbsp;allowing the incentives required top leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature to sign off any deal between a company and the state Department of Commerce, which is led by Lt. Gov. David Toland, a Democrat like Kelly. The legislative leaders gave their approval just minutes ahead of the announcement, after meeting in private with Kelly for half an hour to review the agreement, with no opportunity for public review or input.The law also requires Kansas to drop its corporate income tax rates by half a percentage point for each mega-deal. If the Integra project goes forward, the top rate would decline to 6% from 7%, saving all corporations roughly $100 million a year.While both mega-projects have had bipartisan support, some lawmakers are critical of promising such big taxpayer-funded incentives to a single firm.“We have not written the checks for this first project and they’re starting the second one without even knowing that it works,” state Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, a conservative Republican from eastern Kansas, said before Thursday's announcement.

Kansas commits $304M to chip plant to lure federal funds

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

On Wednesday, a family contacted the Garden City Police Department and reported their 15-year-old child was involved in a relationship with a 22-year-old man from South Carolina, according to a media release.

Officers were told that the individuals had shared explicit photographs with each other. During the investigation, it was learned that the man, identified as Justin Raines, had traveled to Garden City and was staying at&nbsp; the AmericInn, 3020 E. Kansas Avenue in Garden City. 

Raines had barricaded himself in his room and was making suicidal comments while he was in possession of a knife.

Officers responded to the hotel and attempted to negotiate with Raines.&nbsp; He refused to exit the room and surrender to police. 

After a search warrant was obtained, Raines was arrested and taken into custody. He is being held on requested charges that include 9 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Possession)&nbsp; and 9 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Transmission).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675394221837.png" alt="Raines-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Raines-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.On Wednesday, a family contacted the Garden City Police Department and reported their 15-year-old child was involved in a relationship with a 22-year-old man from South Carolina, according to a media release.Officers were told that the individuals had shared explicit photographs with each other. During the investigation, it was learned that the man, identified as Justin Raines, had traveled to Garden City and was staying at&nbsp; the AmericInn, 3020 E. Kansas Avenue in Garden City. Raines had barricaded himself in his room and was making suicidal comments while he was in possession of a knife.Officers responded to the hotel and attempted to negotiate with Raines.&nbsp; He refused to exit the room and surrender to police. After a search warrant was obtained, Raines was arrested and taken into custody. He is being held on requested charges that include 9 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Possession)&nbsp; and 9 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Transmission).

Man from So. Carolina jailed after trip to meet 15-year-old in SW Kan.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of agonizing, the U.S has agreed to send longer-range bombs to Ukraine as it prepares to launch a spring offensive to retake territory Russia captured last year, U.S. officials said Thursday, confirming that the new weapons will have roughly double the range of any other offensive weapon provided by America.

The U.S. will provide ground-launched small diameter bombs as part of a $2.17 billion aid package it is expected to announce Friday, several U.S. officials said. The package also for the first time includes equipment to connect all the different air defense systems Western allies have rushed to the battlefield and integrate them into Ukraine's own air defenses, to help it better defend against Russia's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-politics-government-european-union-30925e2a28638d1fb971b64d10acd6f8">missile attacks.</a>

For months, U.S. officials have hesitated to send longer-range systems to Ukraine out of concern that they would be used to target inside Russia, escalating the conflict and drawing the U.S. deeper in. The longer-range bombs are the latest advanced system, such as Abrams tanks and the Patriot missile defense system, that the U.S. has eventually agreed to provide Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-germany-7b63726a3935da3f03424e98e52a85b2">after initially saying no.</a>&nbsp;U.S. officials, though, have continued to reject Ukraine’s requests for fighter jets.

Ukrainian leaders have urgently pressed for longer-range munitions, and on Thursday officials said the U.S. will send an undisclosed number of the ground-launched, small diameter bombs, which have a range of about 95 miles (150 kilometers). The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the aid package not yet made public.

To date, the longest-range missile provided by the U.S. is about 50 miles (80 kilometers). The funding in the aid package is for longer-term purchases, so it wasn't clear Thursday how long it will take to get the bomb to the battlefield in Ukraine.

Ukraine's defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said Thursday the country is prepared to offer guarantees to its Western partners that their weapons won’t be used to strike inside Russian territory, adding that Kyiv needs weapons with a range of up to 300 kilometers ( about 185 miles) to expel the Russian forces.

“If we could strike at a distance of up to 300 kilometers, the Russian army wouldn’t be able to mount a defense and will have to withdraw,” Reznikov said at a meeting with EU officials. “Ukraine is ready to provide any guarantees that your weapons will not be involved in attacks on the Russian territory. We have enough targets in the occupied areas of Ukraine, and we’re prepared to coordinate on (these) targets with our partners."

The U.S. aid package includes $425 million in ammunition and support equipment that will be pulled from existing Pentagon stockpiles and $1.75 billion in new funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to purchase new weapons from industry.

The assistance initiative, which will pay for the longer-range bombs and the air defense system integration, also funds two HAWK air defense systems, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, and counter-drone systems.

Since Russia's invasion last February, Western allies have pledged a myriad of air defense systems to Ukraine to bolster its own Soviet-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems, and the latest aid package aims to provide the capability to integrate them all, which could improve Ukraine's ability to protect itself against incoming Russian attacks.

The U.S. has pledged medium- to long-range National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and truck-launched short-range Avenger air defense systems; the Netherlands, Germany and the U.S. are sending Patriot missile defense systems; Germany is sending medium-range IRIS-T air defense systems; and Spain is sending Aspide anti-aircraft air defense systems.

The addition of longer-range bombs to the latest aid package was first reported by Reuters.

Ukraine is still seeking F-16 fighter jets, which U.S. President Joe Biden has opposed sending since the beginning of the war. Asked Monday if his administration was considering sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Biden responded, “No.”

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian defense minister was asked if Biden’s ’’no” to F-16s was the final word.

“All types of help first passed through the ‘no’ stage,” Reznikov said. “Which only means ‘no’ at today’s given moment. The second stage is, ‘Let’s talk and study technical possibilities.’ The third stage is, ‘Let’s get your personnel trained.’ And the fourth stage is the transfer (of equipment).”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671662635298.png" alt="-The U.S. aid package includes $425 million in ammunition and support equipment that will be pulled from existing Pentagon stockpiles and $1.75 billion in new funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to purchase new weapons from industry.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>-The U.S. aid package includes $425 million in ammunition and support equipment that will be pulled from existing Pentagon stockpiles and $1.75 billion in new funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to purchase new weapons from industry.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of agonizing, the U.S has agreed to send longer-range bombs to Ukraine as it prepares to launch a spring offensive to retake territory Russia captured last year, U.S. officials said Thursday, confirming that the new weapons will have roughly double the range of any other offensive weapon provided by America.The U.S. will provide ground-launched small diameter bombs as part of a $2.17 billion aid package it is expected to announce Friday, several U.S. officials said. The package also for the first time includes equipment to connect all the different air defense systems Western allies have rushed to the battlefield and integrate them into Ukraine's own air defenses, to help it better defend against Russia's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-politics-government-european-union-30925e2a28638d1fb971b64d10acd6f8">missile attacks.</a>For months, U.S. officials have hesitated to send longer-range systems to Ukraine out of concern that they would be used to target inside Russia, escalating the conflict and drawing the U.S. deeper in. The longer-range bombs are the latest advanced system, such as Abrams tanks and the Patriot missile defense system, that the U.S. has eventually agreed to provide Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-germany-7b63726a3935da3f03424e98e52a85b2">after initially saying no.</a>&nbsp;U.S. officials, though, have continued to reject Ukraine’s requests for fighter jets.Ukrainian leaders have urgently pressed for longer-range munitions, and on Thursday officials said the U.S. will send an undisclosed number of the ground-launched, small diameter bombs, which have a range of about 95 miles (150 kilometers). The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the aid package not yet made public.To date, the longest-range missile provided by the U.S. is about 50 miles (80 kilometers). The funding in the aid package is for longer-term purchases, so it wasn't clear Thursday how long it will take to get the bomb to the battlefield in Ukraine.Ukraine's defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said Thursday the country is prepared to offer guarantees to its Western partners that their weapons won’t be used to strike inside Russian territory, adding that Kyiv needs weapons with a range of up to 300 kilometers ( about 185 miles) to expel the Russian forces.“If we could strike at a distance of up to 300 kilometers, the Russian army wouldn’t be able to mount a defense and will have to withdraw,” Reznikov said at a meeting with EU officials. “Ukraine is ready to provide any guarantees that your weapons will not be involved in attacks on the Russian territory. We have enough targets in the occupied areas of Ukraine, and we’re prepared to coordinate on (these) targets with our partners."The U.S. aid package includes $425 million in ammunition and support equipment that will be pulled from existing Pentagon stockpiles and $1.75 billion in new funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to purchase new weapons from industry.The assistance initiative, which will pay for the longer-range bombs and the air defense system integration, also funds two HAWK air defense systems, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, and counter-drone systems.Since Russia's invasion last February, Western allies have pledged a myriad of air defense systems to Ukraine to bolster its own Soviet-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems, and the latest aid package aims to provide the capability to integrate them all, which could improve Ukraine's ability to protect itself against incoming Russian attacks.The U.S. has pledged medium- to long-range National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and truck-launched short-range Avenger air defense systems; the Netherlands, Germany and the U.S. are sending Patriot missile defense systems; Germany is sending medium-range IRIS-T air defense systems; and Spain is sending Aspide anti-aircraft air defense systems.The addition of longer-range bombs to the latest aid package was first reported by Reuters.Ukraine is still seeking F-16 fighter jets, which U.S. President Joe Biden has opposed sending since the beginning of the war. Asked Monday if his administration was considering sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Biden responded, “No.”On Tuesday, the Ukrainian defense minister was asked if Biden’s ’’no” to F-16s was the final word.“All types of help first passed through the ‘no’ stage,” Reznikov said. “Which only means ‘no’ at today’s given moment. The second stage is, ‘Let’s talk and study technical possibilities.’ The third stage is, ‘Let’s get your personnel trained.’ And the fourth stage is the transfer (of equipment).”—-

US to send Ukraine longer-range bombs in new $2 billion package

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) – members on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) –&nbsp; introduced the&nbsp;Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, according to a statement Moran's office.&nbsp;

This legislation would expand community-based services for aging veterans as well as improve VA support for veterans and caregivers of all ages.

The&nbsp;Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act&nbsp;exemplifies Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s passion for supporting veterans and their caregivers by expanding access to home and community-based care programs for veterans, increasing support for noninstitutional care, assessing VA’s caregiver and long-term care programs and more.

“Senator Elizabeth Dole represents the millions of caregivers who have worked behind the scenes to care for our nation’s veterans who are impacted by advanced age or catastrophic injuries,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran, ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Caregivers help veterans maintain their independence and stay in their own homes in their own communities for as long as possible as they age. The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act expands access to home and community-based services. It is fitting we name this legislation after an honorary Kansan – Elizabeth Dole – who has worked as an advocate to honor and recognize our veterans and their caregivers.”

“Caregivers provide invaluable support to veterans – helping to ensure that they can maintain their independence and stay active in our communities,”&nbsp;said Sen. Hassan. “The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act helps recognize the vital work of caregivers, while also expanding home and community-based services for our country’s veterans. This bipartisan bill is an important way to support veterans so that they can live healthy and dignified lives and recognizes the extraordinary sacrifices that they and their families have made to keep us safe, secure, and free.”

“Senators Moran and Tester are longstanding champions of military caregivers and have brought caregiver issues to the forefront as leaders of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee over the last decade,”&nbsp;said Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “We are heartened by the 118th&nbsp;Congress's dedication to this critical population and continue to urge Congress to provide caregivers with the support and relief they deserve.”

Sens. Moran, Tester and Hassan also introduced this legislation in the 117th Congress.

The&nbsp;Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act:

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) – members on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) –&nbsp; introduced the&nbsp;Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, according to a statement Moran's office.&nbsp;This legislation would expand community-based services for aging veterans as well as improve VA support for veterans and caregivers of all ages.The&nbsp;Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act&nbsp;exemplifies Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s passion for supporting veterans and their caregivers by expanding access to home and community-based care programs for veterans, increasing support for noninstitutional care, assessing VA’s caregiver and long-term care programs and more.“Senator Elizabeth Dole represents the millions of caregivers who have worked behind the scenes to care for our nation’s veterans who are impacted by advanced age or catastrophic injuries,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran, ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Caregivers help veterans maintain their independence and stay in their own homes in their own communities for as long as possible as they age. The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act expands access to home and community-based services. It is fitting we name this legislation after an honorary Kansan – Elizabeth Dole – who has worked as an advocate to honor and recognize our veterans and their caregivers.”“Caregivers provide invaluable support to veterans – helping to ensure that they can maintain their independence and stay active in our communities,”&nbsp;said Sen. Hassan. “The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act helps recognize the vital work of caregivers, while also expanding home and community-based services for our country’s veterans. This bipartisan bill is an important way to support veterans so that they can live healthy and dignified lives and recognizes the extraordinary sacrifices that they and their families have made to keep us safe, secure, and free.”“Senators Moran and Tester are longstanding champions of military caregivers and have brought caregiver issues to the forefront as leaders of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee over the last decade,”&nbsp;said Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “We are heartened by the 118th&nbsp;Congress's dedication to this critical population and continue to urge Congress to provide caregivers with the support and relief they deserve.”Sens. Moran, Tester and Hassan also introduced this legislation in the 117th Congress.The&nbsp;Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act:<ul>
 <li>Increases the expenditure cap for noninstitutional care alternative programs from 65 percent to 100 percent of nursing home care costs;</li><li>Expands access to home and community-based alternative care programs to veterans at all VA medical facilities, as well as to veterans living in U.S. territories and Native veterans enrolled in IHS or tribal health programs;</li><li>Requires the creation of a centralized website to disseminate information and resources related to home and community-based programs and help veterans and caregivers determine their eligibility;</li><li>Requires VA to review staffing and resource needs, accessibility, and other aspects of the Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care and Caregiver Support Program Office to make certain they are appropriately serving veterans and caregivers;</li><li>Creates a pilot program to provide home health aide services for veterans that reside in communities with a shortage of home health aides; and</li><li>Requires VA to establish a warm handoff process for veterans and caregivers who are discharged from or ineligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.</li>
 </ul>

Moran introduce Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A southwestern Missouri man was killed by police officers after pointing a handgun at them at a park, police said.

Springfield police were called Wednesday afternoon to Tom Watkins Park after reports of a man making suicidal statements. Officers were talking to 33-year-old Justin M. Barker of Springfield, who said he had a gun and began to draw it from his waistband, according to a news release from police.

Officers ordered Barker to drop the gun but instead, he pointed it at officers, who shot him several times, police said.

The four officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675422525609.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A southwestern Missouri man was killed by police officers after pointing a handgun at them at a park, police said.Springfield police were called Wednesday afternoon to Tom Watkins Park after reports of a man making suicidal statements. Officers were talking to 33-year-old Justin M. Barker of Springfield, who said he had a gun and began to draw it from his waistband, according to a news release from police.Officers ordered Barker to drop the gun but instead, he pointed it at officers, who shot him several times, police said.The four officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Police ID southwest Mo. man killed after pulling gun on officers

BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday that a balloon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-surveillance-balloon-united-states-montana-47248b0ef2b085620fcd866c105054be">spotted over American airspace</a>&nbsp;was used for weather research and was blown off course, despite U.S. suspicion it was spying. The discovery further strained already tense relations between Beijing and Washington.

The Pentagon decided not to shoot down the balloon, which was potentially flying over sensitive sites, because of concerns of hurting people on the ground.

The news came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to make his first trip to Beijing this weekend. The visit has not been formally announced, and it was not immediately clear if the balloon's discovery would affect his travel plans. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she had no information on the trip.

Blinken would be the highest-ranking member of President Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, on a mission to mitigate a sharp downturn in relations between the countries amid trade disputes and concerns about Beijing’s increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

In a statement late Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the balloon a was civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research. The ministry said the airship has limited steering capabilities and “deviated far from its planned course” because of winds.

“The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace due to force majeure,” the statement said, citing a legal term used to refer to events beyond one's control.

On Thursday, a senior American defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” that the object spotted over U.S. airspace in recent days was a Chinese high-altitude balloon and that it was flying over sensitive sites to collect information. One of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The defense official said the U.S. has assessed that the balloon has “limited” value in terms of providing intelligence that couldn’t be obtained by other technologies, such as spy satellites.

It was not clear what will happen with the balloon if it isn’t brought down.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said Thursday that similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years and the government has taken steps to ensure no sensitive information was stolen.

He said the balloon was traveling well above the height commercial aircraft fly at and didn't present a threat to people on the ground.

Biden was briefed and asked the military to present options, according to a senior administration official, who was also not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive information. The senior defense official said the U.S. prepared fighter jets, including F-22s, to shoot down the balloon if ordered.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised against taking “kinetic action” because of risks to the safety of people on the ground. Biden accepted that recommendation.

Even though the balloon was over a sparsely populated area of Montana, its size would create a debris field large enough that it could have put people at risk.

The defense official would not specify the size of the balloon but said commercial pilots could spot it from their cockpits.

The balloon was first reported by NBC News.

A photograph of a large white balloon lingering over the area was captured by The Billings Gazette. It could be seen drifting in and out of clouds and had what appeared to be a solar array hanging from the bottom, said Gazette photographer Larry Mayer.

The balloon's appearance adds to national security concerns among American lawmakers over China's influence in the U.S., ranging from the prevalence of the hugely popular smartphone app TikTok to purchases of American farmland.

“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed,” Republican Party House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted.

Tensions with China are particularly high on numerous issues, ranging from Taiwan and the South China Sea to human rights in China’s western Xinjiang region and the clampdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong. Not least on that list of irritants are China’s tacit support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its refusal to rein in North Korea’s expanding ballistic missile program and ongoing disputes over trade and technology.

On Tuesday, Taiwan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-politics-government-china-3aa7802d440440aaf4544aca7f5463d2">scrambled fighter jets</a>, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.

Twenty of those aircraft crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that has long been an unofficial buffer zone between the two sides, which separated during a civil war in 1949.

Beijing has also increased preparations for a potential blockade or military action against Taiwan, which has stirred increasing concern among military leaders, diplomats and elected officials in the U.S., Taiwan’s key ally.

BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday it is looking into reports that a Chinese spy balloon has been flying in U.S. airspace and urged calm, adding that it has “no intention of violating the territory and airspace of any sovereign country."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also said she had no information about whether a trip to China by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned for next week will proceed as scheduled.

At a daily briefing, Mao said that politicians and the public should withhold judgment “before we have a clear understanding of the facts” about the spy balloon reports.

Blinken would be the highest-ranking member of President Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, arriving amid efforts to mitigate a sharp downturn in relations between Beijing and Washington over trade, Taiwan, human rights and China’s claims in the South China Sea.

“China is a responsible country and has always strictly abided by international laws, and China has no intention of violating the territory and airspace of any sovereign country. As for the balloon, as I’ve mentioned just now, we are looking into and verifying the situation and hope that both sides can handle this together calmly and carefully," Mao said.

“As for Blinken’s visit to China, I have no information," she said.

A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” that the object was a Chinese high-altitude balloon and was flying over sensitive sites to collect information.

One of the places the balloon was spotted was over the state of Montana, which is home to one of America's three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is “currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”

Ryder said similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years and the government has taken steps to ensure no sensitive information was stolen.

President Biden was briefed and asked the military to present options, according to a senior administration official, who was also not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive information.

The defense official said the U.S. has “engaged” Chinese officials through multiple channels and communicated the seriousness of the matter.

Blinken's visit was expected to start this Sunday in an effort to try to find common ground on issues from trade policy to climate change. Although the trip has not been formally announced, both Beijing and Washington have been talking about his imminent arrival.

The senior defense official said the U.S. prepared fighter jets, including F-22s, to shoot down the balloon if ordered. The Pentagon ultimately recommended against it, noting that even as the balloon was over a sparsely populated area of Montana, its size would create a debris field large enough that it could have put people at risk.

The defense official said the spy balloon was trying to fly over the Montana missile fields, but the U.S. has assessed that it has “limited” value in terms of providing intelligence it couldn’t obtain by other technologies, such as spy satellites.

The official would not specify the size of the balloon but said commercial pilots could spot it from their cockpits. All air traffic was halted at Montana’s Billings Logan International Airport from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, as the military provided options to the White House.

A photograph of a large white balloon lingering over the area was captured by The Billings Gazette. The balloon could be seen drifting in and out of clouds and had what appeared to be a solar array hanging from the bottom, said Gazette photographer Larry Mayer.

The balloon's appearance adds to national security concerns among lawmakers over China's influence in the U.S., ranging from the prevalence of the hugely popular smartphone app TikTok to purchases of American farmland.

On Tuesday, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.

The surveillance balloon was first reported by NBC News.

From an office window in Billings, Montana, Chase Doak said he saw a “big white circle in the sky” that he said was too small to be the moon.

“I thought maybe it was a legitimate UFO,” Doak said. “So I wanted to make sure I documented it and took as many photos as I could.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground, officials said Thursday. The discovery of the balloon puts a further strain on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-beijing-north-korea-china-9f9432c118f297fc27a9be01c460316e">U.S.-China relations</a>&nbsp;at a time of heightened tensions.

A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” it is a Chinese high-altitude balloon and it was flying over sensitive sites to collect information. One of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, provided a brief statement on the issue, saying the government continues to track the balloon. He said it is “currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”

He said similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years. He added that the U.S. took steps to ensure it did not collect sensitive information.

The incident comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken was supposed to make his first trip to Beijing, expected this weekend, to try to find some common ground. Although the trip has not been formally announced, both Beijing and Washington have been talking about his imminent arrival.

It was not immediately clear if the discovery of the balloon would impact Blinken’s travel plans.

The senior defense official said the U.S. did get fighter jets, including F-22s, ready to shoot down the balloon if ordered to by the White House. The Pentagon ultimately recommended against it, noting that even as the balloon was over a sparsely populated area of Montana, its size would create a debris field large enough that it could have put people at risk.

It was not clear what the military was doing to prevent it from collecting sensitive information or what will happen with the balloon if it isn’t shot down.

The defense official said the spy balloon was trying to fly over the Montana missile fields, but the U.S. has assessed that the balloon has “limited” value in terms of providing China intelligence it couldn’t already collect by other means, such through spy satellites.

The official would not specify the size of the balloon, but said it was large enough that despite its high altitude, commercial pilots could see it. All air traffic was halted at Montana's Billings Logan International Airport from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, as the military provided options to the White House. A photograph of a large white balloon lingering over the area was captured by the Billings Gazette, but the Pentagon would not confirm if that was the surveillance balloon.

The defense official said what concerned them about this launch was the altitude the balloon was flying at and the length of time it lingered over a location, without providing specifics.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said he was briefed Wednesday about the situation after the Montana National Guard was notified of an ongoing military operation taking place in Montana airspace, according to a statement from the Republican governor and spokesperson Brooke Stroyke.

“From the spy balloon to the Chinese Communist Party spying on Americans through TikTok to CCP-linked companies buying American farmland, I’m deeply troubled by the constant stream of alarming developments for our national security,” Gianforte said in a statement.

On Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-politics-government-china-3aa7802d440440aaf4544aca7f5463d2">Taiwan scrambled fighter jets,</a>&nbsp;put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.

Some Montana residents reported seeing an unusual object in the sky during the airport shutdown Wednesday, but it’s not clear that what they were seeing was the balloon.

From an office window in Billings, Chase Doak said he saw a “big white circle in the sky” that he said was too small to be the moon.

He took some photos, then ran home to get a camera with a stronger lens and took more photos and video. He could see it for about 45 minutes and it appeared stationary, but Doak said the video suggested it was slowly moving.

“I thought maybe it was a legitimate UFO,” he said. “So I wanted to make sure I documented it and took as many photos as I could."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666293855614.png" alt="Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, provided a brief statement on the issue, saying the government continues to track the balloon-photo U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, provided a brief statement on the issue, saying the government continues to track the balloon-photo U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday that a balloon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-surveillance-balloon-united-states-montana-47248b0ef2b085620fcd866c105054be">spotted over American airspace</a>&nbsp;was used for weather research and was blown off course, despite U.S. suspicion it was spying. The discovery further strained already tense relations between Beijing and Washington.The Pentagon decided not to shoot down the balloon, which was potentially flying over sensitive sites, because of concerns of hurting people on the ground.The news came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to make his first trip to Beijing this weekend. The visit has not been formally announced, and it was not immediately clear if the balloon's discovery would affect his travel plans. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she had no information on the trip.Blinken would be the highest-ranking member of President Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, on a mission to mitigate a sharp downturn in relations between the countries amid trade disputes and concerns about Beijing’s increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea.In a statement late Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the balloon a was civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research. The ministry said the airship has limited steering capabilities and “deviated far from its planned course” because of winds.“The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace due to force majeure,” the statement said, citing a legal term used to refer to events beyond one's control.On Thursday, a senior American defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” that the object spotted over U.S. airspace in recent days was a Chinese high-altitude balloon and that it was flying over sensitive sites to collect information. One of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.The defense official said the U.S. has assessed that the balloon has “limited” value in terms of providing intelligence that couldn’t be obtained by other technologies, such as spy satellites.It was not clear what will happen with the balloon if it isn’t brought down.Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said Thursday that similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years and the government has taken steps to ensure no sensitive information was stolen.He said the balloon was traveling well above the height commercial aircraft fly at and didn't present a threat to people on the ground.Biden was briefed and asked the military to present options, according to a senior administration official, who was also not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive information. The senior defense official said the U.S. prepared fighter jets, including F-22s, to shoot down the balloon if ordered.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised against taking “kinetic action” because of risks to the safety of people on the ground. Biden accepted that recommendation.Even though the balloon was over a sparsely populated area of Montana, its size would create a debris field large enough that it could have put people at risk.The defense official would not specify the size of the balloon but said commercial pilots could spot it from their cockpits.The balloon was first reported by NBC News.A photograph of a large white balloon lingering over the area was captured by The Billings Gazette. It could be seen drifting in and out of clouds and had what appeared to be a solar array hanging from the bottom, said Gazette photographer Larry Mayer.The balloon's appearance adds to national security concerns among American lawmakers over China's influence in the U.S., ranging from the prevalence of the hugely popular smartphone app TikTok to purchases of American farmland.“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed,” Republican Party House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted.Tensions with China are particularly high on numerous issues, ranging from Taiwan and the South China Sea to human rights in China’s western Xinjiang region and the clampdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong. Not least on that list of irritants are China’s tacit support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its refusal to rein in North Korea’s expanding ballistic missile program and ongoing disputes over trade and technology.On Tuesday, Taiwan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-politics-government-china-3aa7802d440440aaf4544aca7f5463d2">scrambled fighter jets</a>, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.Twenty of those aircraft crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that has long been an unofficial buffer zone between the two sides, which separated during a civil war in 1949.Beijing has also increased preparations for a potential blockade or military action against Taiwan, which has stirred increasing concern among military leaders, diplomats and elected officials in the U.S., Taiwan’s key ally.----------BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday it is looking into reports that a Chinese spy balloon has been flying in U.S. airspace and urged calm, adding that it has “no intention of violating the territory and airspace of any sovereign country."Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also said she had no information about whether a trip to China by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned for next week will proceed as scheduled.At a daily briefing, Mao said that politicians and the public should withhold judgment “before we have a clear understanding of the facts” about the spy balloon reports.Blinken would be the highest-ranking member of President Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, arriving amid efforts to mitigate a sharp downturn in relations between Beijing and Washington over trade, Taiwan, human rights and China’s claims in the South China Sea.“China is a responsible country and has always strictly abided by international laws, and China has no intention of violating the territory and airspace of any sovereign country. As for the balloon, as I’ve mentioned just now, we are looking into and verifying the situation and hope that both sides can handle this together calmly and carefully," Mao said.“As for Blinken’s visit to China, I have no information," she said.A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” that the object was a Chinese high-altitude balloon and was flying over sensitive sites to collect information.One of the places the balloon was spotted was over the state of Montana, which is home to one of America's three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is “currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”Ryder said similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years and the government has taken steps to ensure no sensitive information was stolen.President Biden was briefed and asked the military to present options, according to a senior administration official, who was also not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive information.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised against taking “kinetic action” because of risks to the safety of people on the ground. Biden accepted that recommendation.The defense official said the U.S. has “engaged” Chinese officials through multiple channels and communicated the seriousness of the matter.Blinken's visit was expected to start this Sunday in an effort to try to find common ground on issues from trade policy to climate change. Although the trip has not been formally announced, both Beijing and Washington have been talking about his imminent arrival.The senior defense official said the U.S. prepared fighter jets, including F-22s, to shoot down the balloon if ordered. The Pentagon ultimately recommended against it, noting that even as the balloon was over a sparsely populated area of Montana, its size would create a debris field large enough that it could have put people at risk.It was not clear what will happen with the balloon if it isn’t brought down.The defense official said the spy balloon was trying to fly over the Montana missile fields, but the U.S. has assessed that it has “limited” value in terms of providing intelligence it couldn’t obtain by other technologies, such as spy satellites.The official would not specify the size of the balloon but said commercial pilots could spot it from their cockpits. All air traffic was halted at Montana’s Billings Logan International Airport from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, as the military provided options to the White House.A photograph of a large white balloon lingering over the area was captured by The Billings Gazette. The balloon could be seen drifting in and out of clouds and had what appeared to be a solar array hanging from the bottom, said Gazette photographer Larry Mayer.The balloon's appearance adds to national security concerns among lawmakers over China's influence in the U.S., ranging from the prevalence of the hugely popular smartphone app TikTok to purchases of American farmland.“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed,” Republican Party House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted.Tensions with China are particularly high on numerous issues, ranging from Taiwan and the South China Sea to human rights in China’s western Xinjiang region and the clampdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong. Not least on that list of irritants are China’s tacit support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its refusal to rein in North Korea’s expanding ballistic missile program and ongoing disputes over trade and technology.On Tuesday, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.Twenty of those aircraft crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that has long been an unofficial buffer zone between the two sides, which separated during a civil war in 1949.Beijing has also increased preparations for a potential blockade or military action against Taiwan, which has stirred increasing concern among military leaders, diplomats and elected officials in the U.S., Taiwan’s key ally.The surveillance balloon was first reported by NBC News.From an office window in Billings, Montana, Chase Doak said he saw a “big white circle in the sky” that he said was too small to be the moon.“I thought maybe it was a legitimate UFO,” Doak said. “So I wanted to make sure I documented it and took as many photos as I could.”--------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground, officials said Thursday. The discovery of the balloon puts a further strain on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-beijing-north-korea-china-9f9432c118f297fc27a9be01c460316e">U.S.-China relations</a>&nbsp;at a time of heightened tensions.A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” it is a Chinese high-altitude balloon and it was flying over sensitive sites to collect information. One of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, provided a brief statement on the issue, saying the government continues to track the balloon. He said it is “currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”He said similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years. He added that the U.S. took steps to ensure it did not collect sensitive information.The defense official said the U.S. has “engaged” Chinese officials through multiple channels and communicated the seriousness of the matter.The incident comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken was supposed to make his first trip to Beijing, expected this weekend, to try to find some common ground. Although the trip has not been formally announced, both Beijing and Washington have been talking about his imminent arrival.It was not immediately clear if the discovery of the balloon would impact Blinken’s travel plans.The senior defense official said the U.S. did get fighter jets, including F-22s, ready to shoot down the balloon if ordered to by the White House. The Pentagon ultimately recommended against it, noting that even as the balloon was over a sparsely populated area of Montana, its size would create a debris field large enough that it could have put people at risk.It was not clear what the military was doing to prevent it from collecting sensitive information or what will happen with the balloon if it isn’t shot down.The defense official said the spy balloon was trying to fly over the Montana missile fields, but the U.S. has assessed that the balloon has “limited” value in terms of providing China intelligence it couldn’t already collect by other means, such through spy satellites.The official would not specify the size of the balloon, but said it was large enough that despite its high altitude, commercial pilots could see it. All air traffic was halted at Montana's Billings Logan International Airport from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, as the military provided options to the White House. A photograph of a large white balloon lingering over the area was captured by the Billings Gazette, but the Pentagon would not confirm if that was the surveillance balloon.The defense official said what concerned them about this launch was the altitude the balloon was flying at and the length of time it lingered over a location, without providing specifics.Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said he was briefed Wednesday about the situation after the Montana National Guard was notified of an ongoing military operation taking place in Montana airspace, according to a statement from the Republican governor and spokesperson Brooke Stroyke.“From the spy balloon to the Chinese Communist Party spying on Americans through TikTok to CCP-linked companies buying American farmland, I’m deeply troubled by the constant stream of alarming developments for our national security,” Gianforte said in a statement.Tensions with China are particularly high on numerous issues, ranging from Taiwan and the South China Sea to human rights in China’s western Xinjiang region and the clampdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong. Not least on that list of irritants are China’s tacit support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its refusal to rein in North Korea’s expanding ballistic missile program and ongoing disputes over trade and technology.On Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-politics-government-china-3aa7802d440440aaf4544aca7f5463d2">Taiwan scrambled fighter jets,</a>&nbsp;put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.Twenty of those aircraft crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that has long been an unofficial buffer zone between the two sides, which separated during a civil war in 1949.Beijing has also increased preparations for a potential blockade or military action against Taiwan, which has stirred increasing concern among military leaders, diplomats and elected officials in the U.S., Taiwan’s key ally.The surveillance balloon was first reported by NBC News.Some Montana residents reported seeing an unusual object in the sky during the airport shutdown Wednesday, but it’s not clear that what they were seeing was the balloon.From an office window in Billings, Chase Doak said he saw a “big white circle in the sky” that he said was too small to be the moon.He took some photos, then ran home to get a camera with a stronger lens and took more photos and video. He could see it for about 45 minutes and it appeared stationary, but Doak said the video suggested it was slowly moving.“I thought maybe it was a legitimate UFO,” he said. “So I wanted to make sure I documented it and took as many photos as I could."---------

 China responds to report of spy balloon over Western US

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas teen accused in connection with a fatal shooting Sept. 15 made another court appearance Jan. 27.

Laquavion Bentley, 19 of Wichita, is now charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, 2 counts of aggravated assault, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

He was originally booked on a requested charge of 2nd degree murder, according to Wichita Police.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after 1:30 a.m. Sept. 15, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 4500 block of South Hydraulic. Upon arrival, Officers located 21-year-old Devin Bills unconscious and not breathing with two gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Officer Juan&nbsp;Rebolledo.

Officers began life-saving measures. EMS pronounced Bills deceased on the scene.

The investigation revealed that Bills and several other people were outside the residence hanging out when a verbal argument ensued, and shots were fired. Bentley fled the scene in a vehicle. 

Bentley is due back in court February 9, according to the district attorneys' offie.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20075063"> He remains in jail</a> on a $250,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663353219108.png" alt="Bentley-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Bentley-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas teen accused in connection with a fatal shooting Sept. 15 made another court appearance Jan. 27.Laquavion Bentley, 19 of Wichita, is now charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, 2 counts of aggravated assault, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.He was originally booked on a requested charge of 2nd degree murder, according to Wichita Police.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after 1:30 a.m. Sept. 15, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 4500 block of South Hydraulic. Upon arrival, Officers located 21-year-old Devin Bills unconscious and not breathing with two gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Officer Juan&nbsp;Rebolledo.Officers began life-saving measures. EMS pronounced Bills deceased on the scene.The investigation revealed that Bills and several other people were outside the residence hanging out when a verbal argument ensued, and shots were fired. Bentley fled the scene in a vehicle. Bentley is due back in court February 9, according to the district attorneys' offie.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20075063"> He remains in jail</a> on a $250,000 bond.

Kansas teen won't face murder charge in Sept. shooting

MACON COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just before 3:30 Wednesday in Macon County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Robert E. Ives, 58, Nevada, Mo., was eastbound on U.S. 36 two miles west of Callo.

The semi struck an eastbound 2018 Massey Furguson tractor driven by Nels Magnuson, 62, Callo.&nbsp;

After impact, both vehicles traveled off the road, struck a guardrail and overturned. Magnuson was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Macon County EMS transported Ives to Samaritan Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

MACON COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just before 3:30 Wednesday in Macon County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Robert E. Ives, 58, Nevada, Mo., was eastbound on U.S. 36 two miles west of Callo.The semi struck an eastbound 2018 Massey Furguson tractor driven by Nels Magnuson, 62, Callo.&nbsp;After impact, both vehicles traveled off the road, struck a guardrail and overturned. Magnuson was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Macon County EMS transported Ives to Samaritan Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after semi strikes a farm tractor

TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Thursday evening, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas-based&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbnRlZ3JhLXRlY2guY29tLyJ9.iAexDtxSHlwJjO88ZHdHGUfr8w5SKD6Kzae-D8Wrv1c/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">Integra Technologies</a>&nbsp;plans to invest $1.8 billion in a large-scale semiconductor facility in Wichita. This is the second-largest private investment in Kansas history. The facility will establish Wichita as integral to a national effort to reshore semiconductor manufacturing capacity and strengthen national security.

Employee-owned Integra is a&nbsp;fully integrated provider of semiconductor packaging, testing, qualification, and other services.&nbsp;The 1 million square-foot plant and headquarters facility will create nearly 2,000 high-paying jobs averaging $51,000 in wages. A Wichita State University economic impact study estimates an additional 3,161 jobs will be generated by suppliers, construction labor, and other service positions.

“As the second-largest private investment in Kansas history, this project will be transformative for our state’s economy, providing over 5,000 high-paying jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “Integra’s investment is further proof that we have put Kansas on the map, establishing our state on the forefront of innovation and national security.”

Integra has been approved as the 2023 recipient of Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) incentives, paving the way for the company to apply to the U.S. Department of Commerce for CHIPS and Science Act funding. Integra’s expansion plans are designed to address recent risks identified in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, support domestic semiconductor production, and strengthen advanced manufacturing in the State of Kansas.

“The semiconductors we work on are in multiple space applications, such as the Mars Rover and Hubble Telescope; more than 100 Department of Defense programs of record; as well as commercial applications that power everyday life,”&nbsp;Integra Technologies President and CEO Brett Robinson said. “On behalf of our employee-owners, we are especially grateful for Governor Kelly, Lt. Governor Toland, and Kansas legislative leadership on the State Finance Council for supporting Integra with its premier economic development program, positioning us to transform domestic Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test services while expanding in our home state.”

“Kansas is doubling down on its commitment to be at the forefront of this emerging and innovative industry,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Integra’s plans matched perfectly with the state’s push to diversify our economy and we couldn’t be happier they chose to make this investment right in their backyard.”

The federal bipartisan CHIPS Act was passed in 2022 to boost U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and national security in the semiconductor industry. As part of the $52.7 billion legislation, $39 billion will be awarded to U.S. companies through competitive grants to finance construction, expansion and modernization of facilities and equipment.

In February 2022, Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3N0YWdpbmctZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi9nb3Zlcm5vci1sYXVyYS1rZWxseS1qb2lucy1iaXBhcnRpc2FuLWNvYWxpdGlvbi1vZi1nb3Zlcm5vcnMtdXJnaW5nLWNvbmdyZXNzLXRvLXRha2UtcXVpY2stYWN0aW9uLXRvLXJlY29uY2lsZS1sZWdpc2xhdGlvbi1zdHJlbmd0aGVuaW5nLXRoZS1zZW1pY29uZHVjdG9yLXN1cHBseS1jaGFpbi8ifQ.CROFJ-dAyU1v63fAuXj_dpwJBhW1Y2IE0fXsNpOsXVA/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">joined</a>&nbsp;a bipartisan group of governors urging Congressional leadership to take action to get the CHIPS Act signed into law.

“The CHIPS Act invests in businesses around the country to produce key technologies, such as semiconductors, here at home,”&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said. “Integra has shown Kansas will be an integral part of the solution to keep our national supply chains safe.”

A state and local incentive package is needed to apply for CHIPS funding. The bipartisan State Finance Council approved Integra’s Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) incentive agreement this afternoon. According to the Wichita State University economic impact study, each $1 of APEX incentives for Integra will generate $218 of private investment.

“APEX exists to promote unique large-scale opportunities for economic and job growth, and there is no better way to do that than having a Kansas company step up and fulfill our commitment to boost the Kansas economy and grow the Kansas workforce,”&nbsp;Senate President Senator Ty Masterson said.&nbsp;“Wichita is increasingly the epicenter of critical global industries, and this exciting megaproject continues that proud tradition.”

“As a long-time resident of Wichita, I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity with Integra. Our region hasn’t seen something this transformative in years. By bringing the new sector of chip testing to our area and adding 2,000 new, high-paying jobs, the possibilities are endless. I’m thrilled to be a part of helping make this happen for our residents,”&nbsp;Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins said.

The Integra megaproject is the latest economic development win recently announced by the state:

To learn more about the project, its economic impact, and incentives package, read&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9pbnRlZ3JhIn0.e6fePp2AsDi7JIRv7gU94yE2AQLv1tOiPzKkAGdzxbE/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675382569101.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Thursday evening, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas-based&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbnRlZ3JhLXRlY2guY29tLyJ9.iAexDtxSHlwJjO88ZHdHGUfr8w5SKD6Kzae-D8Wrv1c/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">Integra Technologies</a>&nbsp;plans to invest $1.8 billion in a large-scale semiconductor facility in Wichita. This is the second-largest private investment in Kansas history. The facility will establish Wichita as integral to a national effort to reshore semiconductor manufacturing capacity and strengthen national security.Employee-owned Integra is a&nbsp;fully integrated provider of semiconductor packaging, testing, qualification, and other services.&nbsp;The 1 million square-foot plant and headquarters facility will create nearly 2,000 high-paying jobs averaging $51,000 in wages. A Wichita State University economic impact study estimates an additional 3,161 jobs will be generated by suppliers, construction labor, and other service positions.“As the second-largest private investment in Kansas history, this project will be transformative for our state’s economy, providing over 5,000 high-paying jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “Integra’s investment is further proof that we have put Kansas on the map, establishing our state on the forefront of innovation and national security.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675382594132.png" alt="Governor Kelly following Thursday's announcement-photo Kan. Dept. of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly following Thursday's announcement-photo Kan. Dept. of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>Integra has been approved as the 2023 recipient of Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) incentives, paving the way for the company to apply to the U.S. Department of Commerce for CHIPS and Science Act funding. Integra’s expansion plans are designed to address recent risks identified in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, support domestic semiconductor production, and strengthen advanced manufacturing in the State of Kansas.“The semiconductors we work on are in multiple space applications, such as the Mars Rover and Hubble Telescope; more than 100 Department of Defense programs of record; as well as commercial applications that power everyday life,”&nbsp;Integra Technologies President and CEO Brett Robinson said. “On behalf of our employee-owners, we are especially grateful for Governor Kelly, Lt. Governor Toland, and Kansas legislative leadership on the State Finance Council for supporting Integra with its premier economic development program, positioning us to transform domestic Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test services while expanding in our home state.”“Kansas is doubling down on its commitment to be at the forefront of this emerging and innovative industry,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Integra’s plans matched perfectly with the state’s push to diversify our economy and we couldn’t be happier they chose to make this investment right in their backyard.”The federal bipartisan CHIPS Act was passed in 2022 to boost U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and national security in the semiconductor industry. As part of the $52.7 billion legislation, $39 billion will be awarded to U.S. companies through competitive grants to finance construction, expansion and modernization of facilities and equipment.In February 2022, Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3N0YWdpbmctZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi9nb3Zlcm5vci1sYXVyYS1rZWxseS1qb2lucy1iaXBhcnRpc2FuLWNvYWxpdGlvbi1vZi1nb3Zlcm5vcnMtdXJnaW5nLWNvbmdyZXNzLXRvLXRha2UtcXVpY2stYWN0aW9uLXRvLXJlY29uY2lsZS1sZWdpc2xhdGlvbi1zdHJlbmd0aGVuaW5nLXRoZS1zZW1pY29uZHVjdG9yLXN1cHBseS1jaGFpbi8ifQ.CROFJ-dAyU1v63fAuXj_dpwJBhW1Y2IE0fXsNpOsXVA/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">joined</a>&nbsp;a bipartisan group of governors urging Congressional leadership to take action to get the CHIPS Act signed into law.“The CHIPS Act invests in businesses around the country to produce key technologies, such as semiconductors, here at home,”&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said. “Integra has shown Kansas will be an integral part of the solution to keep our national supply chains safe.”A state and local incentive package is needed to apply for CHIPS funding. The bipartisan State Finance Council approved Integra’s Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) incentive agreement this afternoon. According to the Wichita State University economic impact study, each $1 of APEX incentives for Integra will generate $218 of private investment.“APEX exists to promote unique large-scale opportunities for economic and job growth, and there is no better way to do that than having a Kansas company step up and fulfill our commitment to boost the Kansas economy and grow the Kansas workforce,”&nbsp;Senate President Senator Ty Masterson said.&nbsp;“Wichita is increasingly the epicenter of critical global industries, and this exciting megaproject continues that proud tradition.”“As a long-time resident of Wichita, I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity with Integra. Our region hasn’t seen something this transformative in years. By bringing the new sector of chip testing to our area and adding 2,000 new, high-paying jobs, the possibilities are endless. I’m thrilled to be a part of helping make this happen for our residents,”&nbsp;Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins said.The Integra megaproject is the latest economic development win recently announced by the state:<ul>
 <li>In December 2022, Governor Kelly<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3YvZ292ZXJub3Ita2VsbHktYW5ub3VuY2VzLWthbnNhcy10b3BzLTE1Yi1pbi1wcml2YXRlLXNlY3Rvci1pbnZlc3RtZW50cy1zaW5jZS0yMDE5LyJ9.eoYIpFVaiCqmzbQnbpwSrzFAv3TF4IeBV94yCVp4i7k/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;announced</a>&nbsp;the state has surpassed $15 billion in private sector investment since the start of her administration.</li><li>In July 2022, Governor Kelly announced Panasonic Energy’s plans to build a $4 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in De Soto, the largest economic development project in Kansas history.</li><li>In June 2022, Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.I6JBpu4Kda6zHAGi_FEi_h-43nGSoiwX5Itu6a9mx1g/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">was awarded</a>&nbsp;Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel Award for the second year in a row. The back-to-back wins are unprecedented in state history.</li><li>In March 2022, Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3YvaWN5bWktdW5kZXItZ292ZXJub3ItbGF1cmEta2VsbHkta2Fuc2FzLXdpbnMtZmlyc3QtZ292ZXJub3JzLWN1cC8ifQ.ah56xm-RcxkMQVsj-Bba9Ocg029_jRT0ErRGYgqNQBw/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">won</a>&nbsp;the Governor’s Cup from Site Selection Magazine for having the country's most economic development investment per capita.</li>
 </ul>To learn more about the project, its economic impact, and incentives package, read&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MjQ4MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9pbnRlZ3JhIn0.e6fePp2AsDi7JIRv7gU94yE2AQLv1tOiPzKkAGdzxbE/s/1303160919/br/153928473511-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

Governor: 2nd largest economic development project in Kan. history 

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/02/attorney-general-kobach-to-request-1-million-budget-increase-to-fill-prosecutor-vacancies/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General 
Kris Kobach plans to request Friday restoration of $650,000 cut from the
 office’s budget two years ago and approval of a $375,000 increase to 
hire attorneys to handle crimes related to unauthorized sports gambling.

Kobach, a Republican sworn into office in January, said he would 
propose the House General Government Budget Committee make use of a 
portion of the state’s revenue surplus to rescind the 10% 
across-the-board reduction implemented by Gov. Laura Kelly in July 2021.

He said the attorney general’s office experienced difficulty 
retaining and recruiting attorneys due to erosion of salary 
competitiveness with county prosecutor offices and private law firms. 
Twenty-three of the 33 unfilled positions in the Kansas attorney 
general’s office were designated for lawyers. In other words, he said, 
one-third of 65 full-time equivalent attorney positions in his office 
were not filled.

In the past year, Kobach said, the criminal division lost seven 
prosecutors and was operating with only three. His office was compelled 
to limit the divison’s scope of cases to murders and the most serious 
child sex offenses. In the past six months, the attorney general’s 
office turned down more than 20 cases.

“That is hurting the state,” Kobach said. “I am not in any way 
blaming the previous attorney geneal for this. The attorney general 
cannot solve this problem alone. It is a systemic problem that will take
 both the Legislature and the attorney general working together to solve
 it.”

Kobach replaced Derek Schmidt as the state’s top law enforcement 
officer. Schmidt was an unsuccessful GOP candidate for governor in 2022.

Kobach said the starting wage for a prosecutor in the attorney 
general’s office in Kansas begins at about $80,000. Here are 
over-the-border starting salaries for assistant attorneys general: 
Colorado, $176,000; Oklahoma, $112,000; and Missouri, $105,000. A new, 
not-yet-licensed attorney could accept a position at a large Kansas City
 law firm for a salary of $180,000, he said.

“Missouri and Kansas are in direct competition for the same pool of 
talent,” Kobach said. “If we are not able to even come close to their 
starting salaries, this office will continue to be understaffed.”

The $375,000 in Kobach budget appeal would go to the office’s fraud 
and abuse litigation division. It would support hiring of four attorneys
 to handle investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses related to
 legalized sports wagering in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675368837218.png" alt="Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach plans to request a $1 million budget increase from the Legislature in response to challenges filling 23 attorney vacanices in the office, including seven criminal prosecution positions. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach plans to request a $1 million budget increase from the Legislature in response to challenges filling 23 attorney vacanices in the office, including seven criminal prosecution positions. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/02/attorney-general-kobach-to-request-1-million-budget-increase-to-fill-prosecutor-vacancies/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General 
Kris Kobach plans to request Friday restoration of $650,000 cut from the
 office’s budget two years ago and approval of a $375,000 increase to 
hire attorneys to handle crimes related to unauthorized sports gambling.Kobach, a Republican sworn into office in January, said he would 
propose the House General Government Budget Committee make use of a 
portion of the state’s revenue surplus to rescind the 10% 
across-the-board reduction implemented by Gov. Laura Kelly in July 2021.He said the attorney general’s office experienced difficulty 
retaining and recruiting attorneys due to erosion of salary 
competitiveness with county prosecutor offices and private law firms. 
Twenty-three of the 33 unfilled positions in the Kansas attorney 
general’s office were designated for lawyers. In other words, he said, 
one-third of 65 full-time equivalent attorney positions in his office 
were not filled.In the past year, Kobach said, the criminal division lost seven 
prosecutors and was operating with only three. His office was compelled 
to limit the divison’s scope of cases to murders and the most serious 
child sex offenses. In the past six months, the attorney general’s 
office turned down more than 20 cases.“That is hurting the state,” Kobach said. “I am not in any way 
blaming the previous attorney geneal for this. The attorney general 
cannot solve this problem alone. It is a systemic problem that will take
 both the Legislature and the attorney general working together to solve
 it.”Kobach replaced Derek Schmidt as the state’s top law enforcement 
officer. Schmidt was an unsuccessful GOP candidate for governor in 2022.Kobach said the starting wage for a prosecutor in the attorney 
general’s office in Kansas begins at about $80,000. Here are 
over-the-border starting salaries for assistant attorneys general: 
Colorado, $176,000; Oklahoma, $112,000; and Missouri, $105,000. A new, 
not-yet-licensed attorney could accept a position at a large Kansas City
 law firm for a salary of $180,000, he said.“Missouri and Kansas are in direct competition for the same pool of 
talent,” Kobach said. “If we are not able to even come close to their 
starting salaries, this office will continue to be understaffed.”The $375,000 in Kobach budget appeal would go to the office’s fraud 
and abuse litigation division. It would support hiring of four attorneys
 to handle investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses related to
 legalized sports wagering in Kansas.

Kobach to request $1M budget increase to fill prosecutor vacancies

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are advising people to stop using <a href="https://ezricare-info.com/">over-the-counter eye drops</a> that have been linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/CRPA-artificial-tears.html">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> on Wednesday night sent a health alert to physicians, saying the outbreak includes at least 55 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/CRPA-artificial-tears.html#anchor_1674746879046">people in 12 states</a>. One died.

Disease investigators have linked the infections, including some found in blood, urine and lungs, to EzriCare Artificial Tears. Many of the patients said they had used the product, which is a lubricant used to treat irritation and dryness.

The infections were all caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Investigators detected that kind of bacteria in open EzriCare bottles, but further testing was underway to see if the strains matched.

EzriCare said it is not aware of any evidence definitively linking the outbreak to the product, but that it has stopped distributing the eye drops. It also has a notice on its&nbsp;<a href="https://ezricare.com/">website</a>&nbsp;urging consumers to stop using the drops.

“To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product. We also immediately reached out to both CDC and FDA and indicated our willingness to cooperate with any requests they may have of us,” the company said.

Two weeks ago, the CDC warned medical professional societies about the possible connection between the drops and the infections. The Wednesday alert was a broader, more public warning.

Infections were diagnosed in patients in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. One patient — in Washington — died with a blood infection. At least five others suffered permanent vision loss.

The outbreak is considered particularly worrisome because the bacteria driving it are resistant to standard antibiotics.

Investigators found the bacteria were not susceptible to any antibiotics routinely tested at public health laboratories. However, a newer antibiotic named cefiderocol did seem to work.

How could eye drops cause infections in the blood or lungs? The eye connects to the nasal cavity through the tear ducts. Bacteria can move from the nasal cavity into the lungs. Also, bacteria in these parts of the body can seed infections at other sites such as in the blood or wounds, CDC officials said.

The product is manufactured in India by Global Pharma Healthcare Pvt Ltd., EzriCare said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675357768410.png" alt="Image -Ezri care" />
 <figcaption>Image -Ezri care</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are advising people to stop using <a href="https://ezricare-info.com/">over-the-counter eye drops</a> that have been linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/CRPA-artificial-tears.html">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> on Wednesday night sent a health alert to physicians, saying the outbreak includes at least 55 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/CRPA-artificial-tears.html#anchor_1674746879046">people in 12 states</a>. One died.Disease investigators have linked the infections, including some found in blood, urine and lungs, to EzriCare Artificial Tears. Many of the patients said they had used the product, which is a lubricant used to treat irritation and dryness.The infections were all caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Investigators detected that kind of bacteria in open EzriCare bottles, but further testing was underway to see if the strains matched.EzriCare said it is not aware of any evidence definitively linking the outbreak to the product, but that it has stopped distributing the eye drops. It also has a notice on its&nbsp;<a href="https://ezricare.com/">website</a>&nbsp;urging consumers to stop using the drops.“To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product. We also immediately reached out to both CDC and FDA and indicated our willingness to cooperate with any requests they may have of us,” the company said.Two weeks ago, the CDC warned medical professional societies about the possible connection between the drops and the infections. The Wednesday alert was a broader, more public warning.Infections were diagnosed in patients in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. One patient — in Washington — died with a blood infection. At least five others suffered permanent vision loss.The outbreak is considered particularly worrisome because the bacteria driving it are resistant to standard antibiotics.Investigators found the bacteria were not susceptible to any antibiotics routinely tested at public health laboratories. However, a newer antibiotic named cefiderocol did seem to work.How could eye drops cause infections in the blood or lungs? The eye connects to the nasal cavity through the tear ducts. Bacteria can move from the nasal cavity into the lungs. Also, bacteria in these parts of the body can seed infections at other sites such as in the blood or wounds, CDC officials said.The product is manufactured in India by Global Pharma Healthcare Pvt Ltd., EzriCare said.

Eye drops linked to US drug-resistant bacteria outbreak

DENVER (AP) — Every Colorado school district, like many across the country, began 2023 understaffed. That's caused classes to be crammed together, school bus routes to shrink, Spanish language courses to get cut from curriculums, and field trips to be nixed.

This has prompted lawmakers in Colorado and other states to suggest legislation that would get rid of relicensing requirements for teachers when they move across state lines — an oftentimes cumbersome and costly process of waiting periods, licensing fees, and expensive exams.

The idea for an Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact was first proposed by the U.S. Department of Defense and is designed, in part, to support military spouses. It would effectively allow teaching licenses to be viable across members of the compact, cutting through the current 50-state patchwork of disparate requirements.

Colorado’s House education committee voted nine to two on Wednesday to send the legislation forward in a hearing.

Nine other statehouses are considering joining the compact, including Hawaii, Washington, Kansas, Georgia and Mississippi. For the compact to take effect, 10 states must approve it.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-education-birmingham-0785042a3da15bcbcc58922c747fd961">national teacher shortage,</a>&nbsp;exacerbated by deep losses during the pandemic, has left states scrambling to hire and retain educators. It's pushed school districts across the South to accept candidates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-texas-alabama-race-and-ethnicity-0d83fcc256ec2efef37b0d5c24f418a5">without teaching certificates or formal training</a>&nbsp;to staunch the losses.

“The idea of this bill is that it removes a barrier for moving into the state,” said Colorado Democratic Rep. Meghan Lukens, one of the bill’s sponsors. “By participating in this compact we will allow the seamless transfer of teachers to our state while maintaining the integrity of our teacher licensing.”

Some worry the change won't make significant difference as long as teachers are underpaid in a state with sky-high housing costs.

In 2020, Colorado paid teachers an estimated average of just over $60,000 annually, below the national average of about $65,000, according the National Center for Education Statistics, even though it's one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-travel-health-colorado-covid-1e19343774ffafab38131e19869888cb">most expensive states</a>&nbsp;to live&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-travel-health-colorado-covid-1e19343774ffafab38131e19869888cb"></a>in. On those salaries, only about 20% of available homes in Colorado are affordable to teachers, according to a study by the Keystone Policy Center.

“I think this is another example of a solution that isn’t meeting the problem,” said Philip Qualman, superintendent at Eagle County School District, which includes the ski town of Vail west of Denver.

Qualman said the district is struggling with about 90 vacant positions — the most they’ve ever had — including custodians, teachers and bus drivers. Applicants who receive a job offer often end up turning it down when they can’t find housing within their budget, he said.

“I think it’s great to reduce the barriers to licensure for those who want to come here. But in reality, who’s going to want to come here when our compensation is so horrible?” Qualman said.

Adam Diersing, a policy analyst for the Council of State Governments which is working with the Department of Defense in developing and spreading the compact, said “in past compacts we have not seen evidence that accessibility of a license is an impetus for somebody to move to a new state.”

Still, Diersing added that teachers move for a plethora of reasons, including caring for aging relatives or joining their military spouse, and that state licensing barriers can push them to leave the field altogether.

“This can be an effective tool to keep folks in the profession when they want to,” said Diersing.

Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Education Association, pointed to underfunding as principle cause of teacher shortages. Baca-Oehlert did testify in support of the bill at Wednesday’s hearing, arguing that “it certainly opens the door to addressing the bigger issue.”

“We need something that attracts them to our state,” Baca-Oehlert said in an interview after the hearing, adding that Colorado must also focus on retaining teachers.

Agreeing that underfunding is a key problem, Democratic Rep. Mary Young said “We have to continue to recognize that this is a destination state, we’ve seen the number of people moving here and we want to make their experiences positive.”

Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis declined to say whether he supports the measure or not.

DENVER (AP) — Every Colorado school district, like many across the country, began 2023 understaffed. That's caused classes to be crammed together, school bus routes to shrink, Spanish language courses to get cut from curriculums, and field trips to be nixed.This has prompted lawmakers in Colorado and other states to suggest legislation that would get rid of relicensing requirements for teachers when they move across state lines — an oftentimes cumbersome and costly process of waiting periods, licensing fees, and expensive exams.The idea for an Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact was first proposed by the U.S. Department of Defense and is designed, in part, to support military spouses. It would effectively allow teaching licenses to be viable across members of the compact, cutting through the current 50-state patchwork of disparate requirements.Colorado’s House education committee voted nine to two on Wednesday to send the legislation forward in a hearing.Nine other statehouses are considering joining the compact, including Hawaii, Washington, Kansas, Georgia and Mississippi. For the compact to take effect, 10 states must approve it.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-education-birmingham-0785042a3da15bcbcc58922c747fd961">national teacher shortage,</a>&nbsp;exacerbated by deep losses during the pandemic, has left states scrambling to hire and retain educators. It's pushed school districts across the South to accept candidates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-texas-alabama-race-and-ethnicity-0d83fcc256ec2efef37b0d5c24f418a5">without teaching certificates or formal training</a>&nbsp;to staunch the losses.“The idea of this bill is that it removes a barrier for moving into the state,” said Colorado Democratic Rep. Meghan Lukens, one of the bill’s sponsors. “By participating in this compact we will allow the seamless transfer of teachers to our state while maintaining the integrity of our teacher licensing.”Some worry the change won't make significant difference as long as teachers are underpaid in a state with sky-high housing costs.In 2020, Colorado paid teachers an estimated average of just over $60,000 annually, below the national average of about $65,000, according the National Center for Education Statistics, even though it's one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-travel-health-colorado-covid-1e19343774ffafab38131e19869888cb">most expensive states</a>&nbsp;to live&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-travel-health-colorado-covid-1e19343774ffafab38131e19869888cb"></a>in. On those salaries, only about 20% of available homes in Colorado are affordable to teachers, according to a study by the Keystone Policy Center.“I think this is another example of a solution that isn’t meeting the problem,” said Philip Qualman, superintendent at Eagle County School District, which includes the ski town of Vail west of Denver.Qualman said the district is struggling with about 90 vacant positions — the most they’ve ever had — including custodians, teachers and bus drivers. Applicants who receive a job offer often end up turning it down when they can’t find housing within their budget, he said.“I think it’s great to reduce the barriers to licensure for those who want to come here. But in reality, who’s going to want to come here when our compensation is so horrible?” Qualman said.Adam Diersing, a policy analyst for the Council of State Governments which is working with the Department of Defense in developing and spreading the compact, said “in past compacts we have not seen evidence that accessibility of a license is an impetus for somebody to move to a new state.”Still, Diersing added that teachers move for a plethora of reasons, including caring for aging relatives or joining their military spouse, and that state licensing barriers can push them to leave the field altogether.“This can be an effective tool to keep folks in the profession when they want to,” said Diersing.Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Education Association, pointed to underfunding as principle cause of teacher shortages. Baca-Oehlert did testify in support of the bill at Wednesday’s hearing, arguing that “it certainly opens the door to addressing the bigger issue.”“We need something that attracts them to our state,” Baca-Oehlert said in an interview after the hearing, adding that Colorado must also focus on retaining teachers.Agreeing that underfunding is a key problem, Democratic Rep. Mary Young said “We have to continue to recognize that this is a destination state, we’ve seen the number of people moving here and we want to make their experiences positive.”Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis declined to say whether he supports the measure or not.The legislation is receiving tentative bipartisan support in Colorado, along with other states where the bill is pending. But Diersing, the policy analyst, was unsure whether enough legislatures will sign on to the compact in 2023 to launch it.He did point to the Nurse Licensing Compact, which passed in 2000 and now has 39 members states as of last year. As for the proposed teacher compact: “It’s tough to say.”