HEBRON, Ky. (AP) — President Joe Biden intends to visit the U.S.-Mexico border — his first trip there since taking office — in connection with his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-covid-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-89e4dba4bd8c3be25eb1041e97d25bdf">meeting next week</a>&nbsp;in Mexico City with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.

“That’s my intention, we’re working out the details now,” Biden told reporters Wednesday during a trip to Kentucky.

Biden said upon his return to the White House that he hoped to see “what’s going on” at the border and also planned to make remarks about border security on Thursday.

There have been large increases in the number of migrants at the border even as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-42-immigration-limits-supreme-court-updates-0494c30834fad66ce9c6057ea1605d89">U.S. public health law remains in place</a>&nbsp;that allows American authorities to turn away many people seeking asylum in the United States.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">Republican leaders have criticized the president</a>&nbsp;for policies that they say are ineffective on border security and they have questioned why he has not made a trip there yet.

The increased focus from Biden on the border also comes as the president prepares for a 2024 reelection bid. His sole declared potential rival, Donald Trump, rose to the top of the GOP ranks by animating the party’s base voters with his hardline stances on immigration.

But there was some praise Wednesday after the news.

“I’m pleased President Biden will finally visit our southern border - which has been completely surrendered to the cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers,” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has been a critic of administration policies.

Among the complaints&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-opioids-synthetic-government-and-politics-8f64b776b82d6e8bc2e324b732e4b6e2">on border security by Republicans</a>&nbsp;is the amount of fentanyl coming into the U.S. via Mexico. A 2022 report from a bipartisan federal commission found that fentanyl and similar drugs are being made mostly in labs in Mexico from chemicals shipped primarily from China.

And fentanyl and other lab-produced synthetic opioids now are driving an overdose crisis deadlier than any the U.S. has ever seen. But drug control advocates and experts say an anti-drug policy that relies on tighter border security is dangerous and likely futile. The drugs are too easy to move in small, hard-to-detect quantities.

Drug trafficking and immigration are expected to be among the top talking points at the summit Monday and Tuesday when Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are hosted by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Early in his presidency, Biden put&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-lead-migrant-crisis-response-joe-biden-3400f56255e000547d1ca3ce1aa6b8e9">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;in charge of the White House effort to tackle the migration challenge by working with Central American nations to address central causes of the problem.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-2c5747617f9c60b2b3be4ce99895a0b8">She visited El Paso, Texas, in June 2021</a>&nbsp;and was criticized for choosing a location too far from the epicenter of border crossings that are straining federal resources. The number of migrants crossing the border has only risen.

For now, the Supreme Court has kept in place Trump-era restrictions, often known as Title 42 in reference to a 1944 public health law, after Biden acted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-health-mexico-united-states-e9c70f098e0ec0ed7d2403f7cce4a30f">to end them and Republicans sued in response.</a>&nbsp;Title 42 was invoked to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but there has always been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by Trump to seal off the border.

Biden has yet to lay out any systemic changes to manage an expected increase of migrants should the health restrictions end. And the president is limited in what he can do without immigration law changes. But in Congress, a bipartisan immigration bill was buried shortly before Republicans assumed control of the House.

Biden made his comment about the upcoming border visit during a stop in Kentucky at a highway bridge that is to receive federal dollars under the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Trump visited the U.S. side of the border as president several times, including one trip to McAllen, Texas, where he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-global-trade-mexico-de7391226f50445dbbc235f6fff5b08b">claimed Mexico would pay for the border wall</a>.

American taxpayers ended up covering the costs. Mexican leaders had flatly rejected the idea when Trump pressed them early on. “NO,” Enrique Peña Nieto, then Mexico’s president, tweeted in May 2018. “Mexico will NEVER pay for a wall. Not now, not ever. Sincerely, Mexico (all of us).”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672919198939.png" alt="President Biden said that he hoped to see “what’s going on” at the border and also planned to make remarks about border security.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden said that he hoped to see “what’s going on” at the border and also planned to make remarks about border security.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HEBRON, Ky. (AP) — President Joe Biden intends to visit the U.S.-Mexico border — his first trip there since taking office — in connection with his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-covid-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-89e4dba4bd8c3be25eb1041e97d25bdf">meeting next week</a>&nbsp;in Mexico City with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.“That’s my intention, we’re working out the details now,” Biden told reporters Wednesday during a trip to Kentucky.Biden said upon his return to the White House that he hoped to see “what’s going on” at the border and also planned to make remarks about border security on Thursday.There have been large increases in the number of migrants at the border even as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-42-immigration-limits-supreme-court-updates-0494c30834fad66ce9c6057ea1605d89">U.S. public health law remains in place</a>&nbsp;that allows American authorities to turn away many people seeking asylum in the United States.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">Republican leaders have criticized the president</a>&nbsp;for policies that they say are ineffective on border security and they have questioned why he has not made a trip there yet.The increased focus from Biden on the border also comes as the president prepares for a 2024 reelection bid. His sole declared potential rival, Donald Trump, rose to the top of the GOP ranks by animating the party’s base voters with his hardline stances on immigration.But there was some praise Wednesday after the news.“I’m pleased President Biden will finally visit our southern border - which has been completely surrendered to the cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers,” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has been a critic of administration policies.Among the complaints&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-opioids-synthetic-government-and-politics-8f64b776b82d6e8bc2e324b732e4b6e2">on border security by Republicans</a>&nbsp;is the amount of fentanyl coming into the U.S. via Mexico. A 2022 report from a bipartisan federal commission found that fentanyl and similar drugs are being made mostly in labs in Mexico from chemicals shipped primarily from China.And fentanyl and other lab-produced synthetic opioids now are driving an overdose crisis deadlier than any the U.S. has ever seen. But drug control advocates and experts say an anti-drug policy that relies on tighter border security is dangerous and likely futile. The drugs are too easy to move in small, hard-to-detect quantities.Drug trafficking and immigration are expected to be among the top talking points at the summit Monday and Tuesday when Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are hosted by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Early in his presidency, Biden put&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-lead-migrant-crisis-response-joe-biden-3400f56255e000547d1ca3ce1aa6b8e9">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;in charge of the White House effort to tackle the migration challenge by working with Central American nations to address central causes of the problem.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-2c5747617f9c60b2b3be4ce99895a0b8">She visited El Paso, Texas, in June 2021</a>&nbsp;and was criticized for choosing a location too far from the epicenter of border crossings that are straining federal resources. The number of migrants crossing the border has only risen.For now, the Supreme Court has kept in place Trump-era restrictions, often known as Title 42 in reference to a 1944 public health law, after Biden acted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-health-mexico-united-states-e9c70f098e0ec0ed7d2403f7cce4a30f">to end them and Republicans sued in response.</a>&nbsp;Title 42 was invoked to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but there has always been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by Trump to seal off the border.Biden has yet to lay out any systemic changes to manage an expected increase of migrants should the health restrictions end. And the president is limited in what he can do without immigration law changes. But in Congress, a bipartisan immigration bill was buried shortly before Republicans assumed control of the House.Biden made his comment about the upcoming border visit during a stop in Kentucky at a highway bridge that is to receive federal dollars under the bipartisan infrastructure law.Trump visited the U.S. side of the border as president several times, including one trip to McAllen, Texas, where he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-global-trade-mexico-de7391226f50445dbbc235f6fff5b08b">claimed Mexico would pay for the border wall</a>.American taxpayers ended up covering the costs. Mexican leaders had flatly rejected the idea when Trump pressed them early on. “NO,” Enrique Peña Nieto, then Mexico’s president, tweeted in May 2018. “Mexico will NEVER pay for a wall. Not now, not ever. Sincerely, Mexico (all of us).”

Biden will visit US-Mexico border to see “what’s going on” 

JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Just after 3p.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Accent for a traffic infraction near 150th and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.  Deputies seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during the search and arrested the driver, Gina Kay Harrison, 50, of Fort Myer’s Florida.

  Harrison was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672831196240.png" alt="Harrison-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Harrison-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after 3p.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Accent for a traffic infraction near 150th and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Deputies seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during the search and arrested the driver, Gina Kay Harrison, 50, of Fort Myer’s Florida. Harrison was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Florida woman caught transporting meth in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man accused in a violent, fatal crime spree made his first court appearance on Tuesday.

Kenneth Jackson, 39 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd&nbsp;degree murder, attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 10p.m. Dec. 23, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 block of South Mission in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo

At the scene, police located two victims,&nbsp;a 22-year-0ld man and a 42-year-old man, with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

During the initial contact, officers learned that two additional victims were inside an apartment near where the two men had been shot. Officers entered the apartment and located a man and woman later identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Jose Alvarez and 22-year-old Neosha Allen unconscious and not breathing. They were pronounced deceased on the scene.

Due to the lack of cooperation from some of the victims and witnesses, investigators were not initially able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp;

Police reported Jackson's arrest on Dec. 28.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">Jackson is being held&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;on a bond of one-million-500-thousand dollars and is due back in court January 23, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671918579268.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man accused in a violent, fatal crime spree made his first court appearance on Tuesday.Kenneth Jackson, 39 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd&nbsp;degree murder, attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 10p.m. Dec. 23, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 block of South Mission in Wichita, according to Officer Juan RebolledoAt the scene, police located two victims,&nbsp;a 22-year-0ld man and a 42-year-old man, with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672319423009.png" alt="In June, police arrested Jackson on requested charges for flee or attempt to elude, driving without a valid license, reckless driving and for drugs, according to Sedgwick Co. booking records." />
 <figcaption>In June, police arrested Jackson on requested charges for flee or attempt to elude, driving without a valid license, reckless driving and for drugs, according to Sedgwick Co. booking records.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the initial contact, officers learned that two additional victims were inside an apartment near where the two men had been shot. Officers entered the apartment and located a man and woman later identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Jose Alvarez and 22-year-old Neosha Allen unconscious and not breathing. They were pronounced deceased on the scene.Due to the lack of cooperation from some of the victims and witnesses, investigators were not initially able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp;Police reported Jackson's arrest on Dec. 28.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">Jackson is being held&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;on a bond of one-million-500-thousand dollars and is due back in court January 23, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas man charged in Christmas week double-murder

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans flailed through a long second day of fruitless balloting Wednesday, unable to either elect their leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-house-of-representatives-us-republican-party-billy-long-5dc5377382e010d1071c7afbfb694f3b">the political chaos</a>&nbsp;that has tarnished the start of their new majority.

Yet McCarthy wasn’t giving up, even after the fourth, fifth and sixth votes produced no better outcome and he was left trying to call off a nighttime session. Even that was controversial, as the House voted 216-214 — amid shouting and crowding — to adjourn for the night.

“No deal yet,” McCarthy said shortly before that as he left a lengthy closed-door dinnertime meeting with key holdouts and his own allies. “But a lot of progress.”

No progress at all was evident though the day of vote after vote after vote as Republicans tried to elevate McCarthy into the top job. The ballots produced almost the same outcome, 20&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-united-states-government-house-of-representatives-us-republican-party-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23">conservative holdouts</a>&nbsp;still refusing to support him and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel.

In fact, McCarthy saw his support slip to 201, as one fellow Republican switched to vote simply present.

Seeing no quick way out of the political standoff, Republicans voted abruptly late in the day to adjourn for a few hours as they desperately searched for an endgame to the chaos of their own making. They were due back in the evening, but McCarthy wanted to take a break until Thursday.

“I think people need to work a little more,” McCarthy said. "I don’t think a vote tonight would make any difference. But a vote in the future could.”

McCarthy, the California Republican, vowed to fight to the finish for the speaker's job despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult for the first days of the new Congress. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor and in huddled meetings throughout the Capitol between McCarthy supporters and detractors.

“Well, it’s Groundhog Day,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot.

She said, “To all Americans watching right now, We hear you. And we will get through this — no matter how messy.”

But the right-flank conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump, appeared emboldened by the standoff — though Trump publicly backed McCarthy,

“This is actually an invigorating day for America,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-florida-byron-donalds-us-republican-party-kevin-mccarthy-4df9a1bfc27bea5fb6081275af465dee">Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.</a>, who was nominated three times by his conservative colleagues as an alternative. “There’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”

No other work could be done — swearing in new House members, forming committees, tackling legislation, investigating the Biden administration — until the speaker was elected.

As the hours churned, the dynamic proved no different from Day One, as Democrats re-upped their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker, and Donalds offered his challenge to McCarthy in another history-making moment. Both Jeffries and Donalds are Black.

“This country needs leadership,” said Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican noting the first time in history two African Americans were nominated for the high office. Lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud.

It was the first time in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kentucky-kevin-mccarthy-e177c4405ef9b8a7b38641a15855764c">100 years</a>&nbsp;that no nominee for House speaker could take the gavel on the first vote.

The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House, much the way that some past Republican speakers, including John Boehner, had trouble leading a rebellious right flank and ended up with government shutdowns, standoffs and early retirement.

Democratic President Joe Biden, departing the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said “the rest of the world is looking” at the scene on the House floor.

“I just think it’s really embarrassing it’s taking so long," Biden said. “I have no idea” who will prevail.

Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises of competent leadership stalled out. Not since 1923 had a speaker's election gone to multiple ballots. The longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.

A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stopping McCarthy’s rise without concessions to their priorities.

But even Trump's strongest supporters disagreed on this issue. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firm Colorado conservative who nominated Donalds the second time, called on the former president to tell McCarthy, “Sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.'”

Earlier Wednesday, Trump had done the opposite, urging Republicans to vote for McCarthy. “Close the deal, take the victory," he wrote on his social media site, using all capital letters. “Do not turn a great triumph into a giant &amp; embarrassing defeat.”

As the spectacle dragged on, McCarthy's backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican.

“I do think members on both sides of this are getting a lot of pressure now,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “So I think the message from home is, ‘Hey, sort this stuff out.'”

The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections, eager to end the past two years of Democratic control of Washington. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing he’s neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats.

To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of Freedom Caucus members, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file members more influence.

And a McCarthy-aligned campaign group, the Conservative Leadership Fund, offered another concession, saying it would no longer spend money on elections “in any open-seat primaries in safe Republican districts." The far-right lawmakers complained their preferred candidates for the House were being treated unfairly as the campaign fund put its resources elsewhere.

But those opposing McCarthy do not all have the same complaints, and he may never be able to win some over.

“I'm ready to vote all night, all week, all month and never for that person,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

Such staunch opposition carried echoes of McCarthy's earlier bid for the job, when he dropped out of the speaker’s race in 2015 because he could not win over conservatives.

Democrats enthusiastically nominated and renominated their House leader, Jeffries, on all six ballots for speaker over the two days. He repeatedly won the most votes overall, 212.

If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority.

It's a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Boehner, had used when they confronted opposition, winning with fewer than 218 votes.

One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present on Wednesday's rounds, but it only ended up lowering McCarthy's total.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans flailed through a second day of multiple balloting Wednesday, unable to elect their leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority.

For a fourth, fifth and sixth time, Republicans tried to vote McCarthy into the top job as the House plunged deeper into disarray. But the votes were producing almost the same outcome, 20&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-united-states-government-house-of-representatives-us-republican-party-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23">conservative holdouts</a>&nbsp;still refusing to support him, and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel.

In fact, McCarthy saw his tally slip to 201, as one fellow Republican switched to vote simply present.

Three members of the Kansas delegation, Tracy Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner voted for McCarthy in each round again Wednesday. Kansas Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Members of the Missouri delegation also continued to vote along party lines for McCarthy and Jeffries.

“Well, it's Groundhog Day,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot.

“This is actually an invigorating day for America,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was nominated three times by his conservative colleagues as an alternative. “There’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”

McCarthy, the California Republican vowed to keep fighting despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult a day earlier. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor between McCarthy supporters and detractors searching for an endgame.

The House gaveled in at noon, but no other work could be done — swearing in new members, forming committees, tackling legislation, investigating the Biden administration — until the speaker was elected.

“I still have the most votes,” McCarthy said at the start of the session. “At the end of the day, we’ll be able to get there.”

But the dynamic proved no different from Day One, as Democrats re-upped their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker, and Donalds offered his challenge to McCarthy in another history making moment. Both Jeffries and Donalds are Black.

“This country needs leadership,” said Rep. Chip Roy, the Texas Republican noting the first time in history two Black Americans were nominated for the high office, and lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud.

It was the first time in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kentucky-kevin-mccarthy-e177c4405ef9b8a7b38641a15855764c">100 years</a>&nbsp;that a nominee for House speaker could not take the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy appeared undeterred. Instead, he vowed to fight to the finish.

The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House.

President Joe Biden, departing the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said “the rest of the world is looking” at the scene on the House floor.

Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises stalled out. Not since 1923 has a speaker's election gone to multiple ballots, and the longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged out for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.

But even Trump's strongest supporters disagreed on this issue. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firm Colorado conservative who nominated Donalds the second time, called on the former president to tell McCarthy, “`Sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.”

As the spectacle of voting dragged on, McCarthy's backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican.

“I do think members on both sides of this are getting a lot of pressure now,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “So I think the message from home is, ‘Hey, sort this stuff out, we don’t have time for the small stuff and the egos.’”

The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront Biden after two years of the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing he’s neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats.

To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of the Freedom Caucus, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file members more influence in the legislative process. He has been here before, having bowed out of the speakers race in 2015 when he failed to win over conservatives.

"Everything’s on the table," said ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. — except, he said, having McCarthy step aside. “Not at all. That is not on the table.”

Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker. He won the most votes overall, 212.

It's a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner had used when they confronted opposition, winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes.

One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present in the fourth and fifth rounds, but it made no difference in the immediate outcome.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672856507291.png" alt="Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes on the House floor ahead of the fifth vote for Speaker on Wednesday afternoon -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes on the House floor ahead of the fifth vote for Speaker on Wednesday afternoon -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans flailed through a long second day of fruitless balloting Wednesday, unable to either elect their leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-house-of-representatives-us-republican-party-billy-long-5dc5377382e010d1071c7afbfb694f3b">the political chaos</a>&nbsp;that has tarnished the start of their new majority.Yet McCarthy wasn’t giving up, even after the fourth, fifth and sixth votes produced no better outcome and he was left trying to call off a nighttime session. Even that was controversial, as the House voted 216-214 — amid shouting and crowding — to adjourn for the night.“No deal yet,” McCarthy said shortly before that as he left a lengthy closed-door dinnertime meeting with key holdouts and his own allies. “But a lot of progress.”No progress at all was evident though the day of vote after vote after vote as Republicans tried to elevate McCarthy into the top job. The ballots produced almost the same outcome, 20&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-united-states-government-house-of-representatives-us-republican-party-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23">conservative holdouts</a>&nbsp;still refusing to support him and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel.In fact, McCarthy saw his support slip to 201, as one fellow Republican switched to vote simply present.Seeing no quick way out of the political standoff, Republicans voted abruptly late in the day to adjourn for a few hours as they desperately searched for an endgame to the chaos of their own making. They were due back in the evening, but McCarthy wanted to take a break until Thursday.“I think people need to work a little more,” McCarthy said. "I don’t think a vote tonight would make any difference. But a vote in the future could.”McCarthy, the California Republican, vowed to fight to the finish for the speaker's job despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult for the first days of the new Congress. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor and in huddled meetings throughout the Capitol between McCarthy supporters and detractors.“Well, it’s Groundhog Day,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot.She said, “To all Americans watching right now, We hear you. And we will get through this — no matter how messy.”But the right-flank conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump, appeared emboldened by the standoff — though Trump publicly backed McCarthy,“This is actually an invigorating day for America,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-florida-byron-donalds-us-republican-party-kevin-mccarthy-4df9a1bfc27bea5fb6081275af465dee">Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.</a>, who was nominated three times by his conservative colleagues as an alternative. “There’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”No other work could be done — swearing in new House members, forming committees, tackling legislation, investigating the Biden administration — until the speaker was elected.As the hours churned, the dynamic proved no different from Day One, as Democrats re-upped their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker, and Donalds offered his challenge to McCarthy in another history-making moment. Both Jeffries and Donalds are Black.“This country needs leadership,” said Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican noting the first time in history two African Americans were nominated for the high office. Lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud.It was the first time in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kentucky-kevin-mccarthy-e177c4405ef9b8a7b38641a15855764c">100 years</a>&nbsp;that no nominee for House speaker could take the gavel on the first vote.The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House, much the way that some past Republican speakers, including John Boehner, had trouble leading a rebellious right flank and ended up with government shutdowns, standoffs and early retirement.Democratic President Joe Biden, departing the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said “the rest of the world is looking” at the scene on the House floor.“I just think it’s really embarrassing it’s taking so long," Biden said. “I have no idea” who will prevail.Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises of competent leadership stalled out. Not since 1923 had a speaker's election gone to multiple ballots. The longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stopping McCarthy’s rise without concessions to their priorities.But even Trump's strongest supporters disagreed on this issue. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firm Colorado conservative who nominated Donalds the second time, called on the former president to tell McCarthy, “Sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.'”Earlier Wednesday, Trump had done the opposite, urging Republicans to vote for McCarthy. “Close the deal, take the victory," he wrote on his social media site, using all capital letters. “Do not turn a great triumph into a giant &amp; embarrassing defeat.”As the spectacle dragged on, McCarthy's backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican.“I do think members on both sides of this are getting a lot of pressure now,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “So I think the message from home is, ‘Hey, sort this stuff out.'”The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections, eager to end the past two years of Democratic control of Washington. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing he’s neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats.To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of Freedom Caucus members, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file members more influence.And a McCarthy-aligned campaign group, the Conservative Leadership Fund, offered another concession, saying it would no longer spend money on elections “in any open-seat primaries in safe Republican districts." The far-right lawmakers complained their preferred candidates for the House were being treated unfairly as the campaign fund put its resources elsewhere.But those opposing McCarthy do not all have the same complaints, and he may never be able to win some over.“I'm ready to vote all night, all week, all month and never for that person,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.Such staunch opposition carried echoes of McCarthy's earlier bid for the job, when he dropped out of the speaker’s race in 2015 because he could not win over conservatives.Democrats enthusiastically nominated and renominated their House leader, Jeffries, on all six ballots for speaker over the two days. He repeatedly won the most votes overall, 212.If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority.It's a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Boehner, had used when they confronted opposition, winning with fewer than 218 votes.One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present on Wednesday's rounds, but it only ended up lowering McCarthy's total.----------WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans flailed through a second day of multiple balloting Wednesday, unable to elect their leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority.For a fourth, fifth and sixth time, Republicans tried to vote McCarthy into the top job as the House plunged deeper into disarray. But the votes were producing almost the same outcome, 20&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-united-states-government-house-of-representatives-us-republican-party-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23">conservative holdouts</a>&nbsp;still refusing to support him, and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672853567919.png" alt="Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican vowed to keep fighting despite the grueling spectacle-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican vowed to keep fighting despite the grueling spectacle-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>In fact, McCarthy saw his tally slip to 201, as one fellow Republican switched to vote simply present.Three members of the Kansas delegation, Tracy Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner voted for McCarthy in each round again Wednesday. Kansas Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Members of the Missouri delegation also continued to vote along party lines for McCarthy and Jeffries.“Well, it's Groundhog Day,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot.She said, “To all Americans watching right now, We hear you. And we will get through this — no matter how messy.”But the right-flank conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump, appeared emboldened by the standoff — though Trump publicly backed McCarthy,“This is actually an invigorating day for America,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was nominated three times by his conservative colleagues as an alternative. “There’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”McCarthy, the California Republican vowed to keep fighting despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult a day earlier. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor between McCarthy supporters and detractors searching for an endgame.The House gaveled in at noon, but no other work could be done — swearing in new members, forming committees, tackling legislation, investigating the Biden administration — until the speaker was elected.“I still have the most votes,” McCarthy said at the start of the session. “At the end of the day, we’ll be able to get there.”But the dynamic proved no different from Day One, as Democrats re-upped their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker, and Donalds offered his challenge to McCarthy in another history making moment. Both Jeffries and Donalds are Black.“This country needs leadership,” said Rep. Chip Roy, the Texas Republican noting the first time in history two Black Americans were nominated for the high office, and lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud.It was the first time in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kentucky-kevin-mccarthy-e177c4405ef9b8a7b38641a15855764c">100 years</a>&nbsp;that a nominee for House speaker could not take the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy appeared undeterred. Instead, he vowed to fight to the finish.The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House.President Joe Biden, departing the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said “the rest of the world is looking” at the scene on the House floor.“I just think it’s really embarrassing it’s taking so long," Biden said. “I have no idea” who will prevail.Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises stalled out. Not since 1923 has a speaker's election gone to multiple ballots, and the longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged out for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stopping McCarthy’s rise without concessions to their priorities.But even Trump's strongest supporters disagreed on this issue. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firm Colorado conservative who nominated Donalds the second time, called on the former president to tell McCarthy, “`Sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.”Earlier Wednesday, Trump had done the opposite, urging Republicans to vote for McCarthy. “Close the deal, take the victory," he wrote on his social media site, using all capital letters. “Do not turn a great triumph into a giant &amp; embarrassing defeat.”As the spectacle of voting dragged on, McCarthy's backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican.“I do think members on both sides of this are getting a lot of pressure now,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “So I think the message from home is, ‘Hey, sort this stuff out, we don’t have time for the small stuff and the egos.’”The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront Biden after two years of the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing he’s neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats.To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of the Freedom Caucus, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file members more influence in the legislative process. He has been here before, having bowed out of the speakers race in 2015 when he failed to win over conservatives."Everything’s on the table," said ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. — except, he said, having McCarthy step aside. “Not at all. That is not on the table.”Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker. He won the most votes overall, 212.If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority.It's a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner had used when they confronted opposition, winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes.One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present in the fourth and fifth rounds, but it made no difference in the immediate outcome.

GOP in disarray: Historic standoff over speaker of the House

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on visitors from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations.

“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday.

“We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity,” she said. Mao did not specify what steps China might take.

The comments were China's sharpest to date on the issue. Australia and Canada this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-covid-19-pandemic-china-disease-outbreaks-b737daff7bc8da5a79c8b306395d1995?ref=biztoc.com">joined a growing list of countries</a>&nbsp;requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic.

Other countries including the U.S., U.K., India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on travelers from China amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-disease-outbreaks-covid-19-pandemic-guangzhou-01318eb4fc58a0515d8e8bd1577e385d">concerns over a lack of data</a>&nbsp;on infections in China and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-china-covid-306b688d84e31a9462f82d0ead1f4584">fears of the possibility that new variants</a>&nbsp;may emerge.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “there’s no cause for retaliation” by Beijing for countries “taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens” with COVID-related restrictions on travelers coming from China. She added that restrictions were “based on public health and science.”

“This is something that all of us, (and) other countries are doing to make sure that we are protecting our citizens here,” Jean-Pierre said.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne defended the tests. Starting Wednesday, anyone flying from China to France will have to present a negative virus test taken within the previous 48 hours and be subject to random testing on arrival.

“We are in our role, my government is in its role, protecting the French,” Borne said Tuesday on France-Info radio.

The U.K. will require that passengers from China take a COVID test before boarding the plane from Thursday. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the requirement is for “collecting information” because Beijing isn't sharing coronavirus data.

Health officials will test a sample of passengers when they arrive in the U.K., but no quarantine is required for those who test positive, he said.

“The policy for arrivals from China is primarily about collecting information that the Chinese government is not sharing with the international community,” Harper told the LBC radio station on Tuesday.

Sweden’s Public Health Agency said Tuesday that it had urged the government to require travelers from China to present a recent negative COVID-19 test.

The statement from the agency comes as Sweden, which has taken over EU’s rotating presidency, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-china-europe-european-union-efc7a23f79beea4ac2dc313b18df45f2">called a meeting of the EU’s crisis management mechanism</a>&nbsp;for Wednesday to try to agree on a common European line.

The Swedish government “is preparing to be able to introduce travel restrictions. At the same time, we are conducting a dialogue with our European colleagues to get the same rules as possible in the EU,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said in a statement.

Austria, too, plans to test the wastewater of all planes arriving from China for new variants of the coronavirus, the Austria Press Agency reported Tuesday, following a similar announcement by Belgium a day earlier.

Chinese health officials said last week that they had submitted data to GISAID, a global platform for sharing coronavirus data.

The versions of the virus fueling infections in China “closely resemble” those that have been seen in different parts of the world between July and December, GISAID said Monday.

Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies viruses in the Christian Medical College of Vellore in India, said that the information from China, albeit limited, seemed to suggest that “the pattern was holding” and that there wasn’t any sign of a worrisome variant emerging.

Mao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that health authorities had recently held a video conference with the WHO to exchange views on the current COVID situation, medical treatment, vaccination and other technical issues, and agreed to continue technical exchanges to help end the pandemic as soon as possible.

A senior Hong Kong official also criticized the steps taken by some other countries. Some countries have applied the requirements to passengers from Hong Kong and Macao, both semiautonomous Chinese territories, as well as mainland China.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan said in a Facebook post that the government had written to various consulates on Monday to express its concerns over the “unnecessary and inappropriate” rules.

Some Canadian experts have questioned the effectiveness of the testing. Kerry Bowman, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said that people can test positive long after entering the country.

The requirement is “not based on science at this point,” he said after Canada announced measures last weekend.

China, which for most of the pandemic adopted a “zero-COVID” strategy that imposed harsh restrictions aimed at stamping out the virus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-covid-economy-e5559f6062cf052a71ad6ba1ceece693">abruptly eased those measures</a>&nbsp;in December.

Chinese authorities previously said that from Jan. 8, overseas travelers would no longer need to quarantine upon arriving in China, paving the way for Chinese residents to travel.

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing blasted COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on passengers from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations.

“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday.

“We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity," she said.

Australia and Canada this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-covid-19-pandemic-china-disease-outbreaks-b737daff7bc8da5a79c8b306395d1995?ref=biztoc.com">joined a growing list of countries</a>&nbsp;requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic.

Other countries including the U.S., U.K., India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on Chinese travelers amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-disease-outbreaks-covid-19-pandemic-guangzhou-01318eb4fc58a0515d8e8bd1577e385d">concerns over a lack of data</a>&nbsp;on infections in China and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-china-covid-306b688d84e31a9462f82d0ead1f4584">fears of the possibility that new variants</a>&nbsp;may spread.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672859603246.png" alt="White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “there’s no cause for retaliation” by Beijing for countries “taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens”" />
 <figcaption>White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “there’s no cause for retaliation” by Beijing for countries “taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens”</figcaption>
 </figure>BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on visitors from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations.“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday.“We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity,” she said. Mao did not specify what steps China might take.The comments were China's sharpest to date on the issue. Australia and Canada this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-covid-19-pandemic-china-disease-outbreaks-b737daff7bc8da5a79c8b306395d1995?ref=biztoc.com">joined a growing list of countries</a>&nbsp;requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic.Other countries including the U.S., U.K., India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on travelers from China amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-disease-outbreaks-covid-19-pandemic-guangzhou-01318eb4fc58a0515d8e8bd1577e385d">concerns over a lack of data</a>&nbsp;on infections in China and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-china-covid-306b688d84e31a9462f82d0ead1f4584">fears of the possibility that new variants</a>&nbsp;may emerge.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “there’s no cause for retaliation” by Beijing for countries “taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens” with COVID-related restrictions on travelers coming from China. She added that restrictions were “based on public health and science.”“This is something that all of us, (and) other countries are doing to make sure that we are protecting our citizens here,” Jean-Pierre said.French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne defended the tests. Starting Wednesday, anyone flying from China to France will have to present a negative virus test taken within the previous 48 hours and be subject to random testing on arrival.“We are in our role, my government is in its role, protecting the French,” Borne said Tuesday on France-Info radio.The U.K. will require that passengers from China take a COVID test before boarding the plane from Thursday. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the requirement is for “collecting information” because Beijing isn't sharing coronavirus data.Health officials will test a sample of passengers when they arrive in the U.K., but no quarantine is required for those who test positive, he said.“The policy for arrivals from China is primarily about collecting information that the Chinese government is not sharing with the international community,” Harper told the LBC radio station on Tuesday.Sweden’s Public Health Agency said Tuesday that it had urged the government to require travelers from China to present a recent negative COVID-19 test.The statement from the agency comes as Sweden, which has taken over EU’s rotating presidency, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-china-europe-european-union-efc7a23f79beea4ac2dc313b18df45f2">called a meeting of the EU’s crisis management mechanism</a>&nbsp;for Wednesday to try to agree on a common European line.The Swedish government “is preparing to be able to introduce travel restrictions. At the same time, we are conducting a dialogue with our European colleagues to get the same rules as possible in the EU,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said in a statement.Austria, too, plans to test the wastewater of all planes arriving from China for new variants of the coronavirus, the Austria Press Agency reported Tuesday, following a similar announcement by Belgium a day earlier.Chinese health officials said last week that they had submitted data to GISAID, a global platform for sharing coronavirus data.The versions of the virus fueling infections in China “closely resemble” those that have been seen in different parts of the world between July and December, GISAID said Monday.Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies viruses in the Christian Medical College of Vellore in India, said that the information from China, albeit limited, seemed to suggest that “the pattern was holding” and that there wasn’t any sign of a worrisome variant emerging.Mao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that health authorities had recently held a video conference with the WHO to exchange views on the current COVID situation, medical treatment, vaccination and other technical issues, and agreed to continue technical exchanges to help end the pandemic as soon as possible.A senior Hong Kong official also criticized the steps taken by some other countries. Some countries have applied the requirements to passengers from Hong Kong and Macao, both semiautonomous Chinese territories, as well as mainland China.Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan said in a Facebook post that the government had written to various consulates on Monday to express its concerns over the “unnecessary and inappropriate” rules.Some Canadian experts have questioned the effectiveness of the testing. Kerry Bowman, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said that people can test positive long after entering the country.The requirement is “not based on science at this point,” he said after Canada announced measures last weekend.China, which for most of the pandemic adopted a “zero-COVID” strategy that imposed harsh restrictions aimed at stamping out the virus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-covid-economy-e5559f6062cf052a71ad6ba1ceece693">abruptly eased those measures</a>&nbsp;in December.Chinese authorities previously said that from Jan. 8, overseas travelers would no longer need to quarantine upon arriving in China, paving the way for Chinese residents to travel.___BEIJING (AP) — Beijing blasted COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on passengers from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations.“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday.“We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity," she said.Australia and Canada this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-covid-19-pandemic-china-disease-outbreaks-b737daff7bc8da5a79c8b306395d1995?ref=biztoc.com">joined a growing list of countries</a>&nbsp;requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic.Other countries including the U.S., U.K., India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on Chinese travelers amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-disease-outbreaks-covid-19-pandemic-guangzhou-01318eb4fc58a0515d8e8bd1577e385d">concerns over a lack of data</a>&nbsp;on infections in China and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-china-covid-306b688d84e31a9462f82d0ead1f4584">fears of the possibility that new variants</a>&nbsp;may spread.China, which for most of the pandemic adopted a “zero-COVID” strategy that imposed harsh restrictions aimed at stamping out the virus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-covid-economy-e5559f6062cf052a71ad6ba1ceece693">abruptly eased those measures</a>&nbsp;in December.Chinese authorities previously said that from Jan. 8, overseas travelers would no longer need to quarantine upon arriving in China, paving the way for Chinese residents to travel.

White House defends COVID restrictions after threats from China 

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday announced that&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;home&nbsp;serving Northeast Kansas will be built&nbsp;in&nbsp;Topeka&nbsp;adjacent to the&nbsp;Colmery-O’Neill&nbsp;United States Department of&nbsp;Veterans&nbsp;Affairs (VA)&nbsp;Medical Center.&nbsp;

“As the daughter of a&nbsp;Purple Heart recipient, I&nbsp;am&nbsp;committed to honoring the service of Kansas’ veterans and their families,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Kansas increased our investment&nbsp;in&nbsp;and relentlessly pursued federal funding for this project, and we&nbsp;are&nbsp;now one&nbsp;step closer to ensuring&nbsp;service members across the region&nbsp;have&nbsp;the&nbsp;support and care they&nbsp;deserve.”&nbsp;

This&nbsp;home will include 72 private rooms, divided into “households” and “neighborhoods” to&nbsp;increase community and&nbsp;to&nbsp;provide essential resources and amenities, including therapy,&nbsp;medical care, and a chapel and meditation room.&nbsp;One of the households, consisting of 18 beds,&nbsp;will be a dedicated unit for memory care.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Construction of the home is dependent on funding from the federal VA.&nbsp;It is anticipated that the VA will announce the priority list of the projects to be funded through the grant program for the next fiscal year in Spring 2023, at which time Kansas will learn if its project has been selected for a construction grant in fiscal year 2024.&nbsp;

The Topeka location was chosen among six properties submitted for consideration.&nbsp;The decision was made after a stakeholder engagement process, including representatives from Veterans Service Organizations. Feedback was reviewed and potential properties&nbsp;were&nbsp;then scored for a final selection.&nbsp;

“After much deliberation, our panel chose Topeka foremost because of its centralized location to better support our Veteran population in NE Kansas, but also because of its proximity to VA services, medical care, and local amenities that will help Kansas veterans feel at home,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Director Brigadier General&nbsp;(Retired)&nbsp;Turner.&nbsp;“We’re looking forward to continuing to move these plans forward and see this project come to fruition.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;home&nbsp;is estimated to cost $49 million, with bipartisan state leaders already securing the $17.2 million in matching funds required by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672861940956.png" alt="Construction of the home is dependent on funding from the federal VA.-google image" />
 <figcaption>Construction of the home is dependent on funding from the federal VA.-google image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday announced that&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;home&nbsp;serving Northeast Kansas will be built&nbsp;in&nbsp;Topeka&nbsp;adjacent to the&nbsp;Colmery-O’Neill&nbsp;United States Department of&nbsp;Veterans&nbsp;Affairs (VA)&nbsp;Medical Center.&nbsp;“As the daughter of a&nbsp;Purple Heart recipient, I&nbsp;am&nbsp;committed to honoring the service of Kansas’ veterans and their families,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Kansas increased our investment&nbsp;in&nbsp;and relentlessly pursued federal funding for this project, and we&nbsp;are&nbsp;now one&nbsp;step closer to ensuring&nbsp;service members across the region&nbsp;have&nbsp;the&nbsp;support and care they&nbsp;deserve.”&nbsp;This&nbsp;home will include 72 private rooms, divided into “households” and “neighborhoods” to&nbsp;increase community and&nbsp;to&nbsp;provide essential resources and amenities, including therapy,&nbsp;medical care, and a chapel and meditation room.&nbsp;One of the households, consisting of 18 beds,&nbsp;will be a dedicated unit for memory care.&nbsp;&nbsp;Construction of the home is dependent on funding from the federal VA.&nbsp;It is anticipated that the VA will announce the priority list of the projects to be funded through the grant program for the next fiscal year in Spring 2023, at which time Kansas will learn if its project has been selected for a construction grant in fiscal year 2024.&nbsp;The Topeka location was chosen among six properties submitted for consideration.&nbsp;The decision was made after a stakeholder engagement process, including representatives from Veterans Service Organizations. Feedback was reviewed and potential properties&nbsp;were&nbsp;then scored for a final selection.&nbsp;“After much deliberation, our panel chose Topeka foremost because of its centralized location to better support our Veteran population in NE Kansas, but also because of its proximity to VA services, medical care, and local amenities that will help Kansas veterans feel at home,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Director Brigadier General&nbsp;(Retired)&nbsp;Turner.&nbsp;“We’re looking forward to continuing to move these plans forward and see this project come to fruition.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;home&nbsp;is estimated to cost $49 million, with bipartisan state leaders already securing the $17.2 million in matching funds required by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor: New Kansas veterans home to be built in Topeka

By CLARA BATES <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/04/some-missourians-could-lose-medicaid-coverage-as-eligibility-renewals-restart-april-1/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri’s
 social services department will resume conducting Medicaid eligibility 
renewals on April 1 — allowing the state to once again remove people 
from its rolls after a three-year pause during the COVID-19 state of 
emergency.

Since March 2020, states have been 
barred from removing enrollees from Medicaid during the 
federally-declared public health emergency in exchange for enhanced 
federal funds, except in narrow instances, such as in the case the 
participant moved out of state or requested their coverage be 
terminated.

Previously, states had been required to renew the eligibility of each participant, typically annually.&nbsp;

A provision in the federal spending 
package passed last month set the April 1, 2023, date for states to 
begin conducting redeterminations, regardless of when the public health 
emergency ends. Missouri will conduct renewals over the course of a 
year.

The enhanced federal funds will be 
gradually phased down, with several standards states must meet in the 
process of conducting eligibility redeterminations.

Medicaid participants in the state 
should “keep an eye out for an official letter from the Family Support 
Division” acting Department of Social Services Director Robert Knodell 
said in a press release last week, adding: “We cannot stress enough how 
imperative it is to make sure your address is up to date before April 
1.”

States are required to attempt to 
renew participants’ eligibility automatically, which are called ex-parte
 renewals, before contacting enrollees to complete forms or 
documentation themselves. Ex-parte renewals use existing databases to 
confirm details like participants’ income and assets.

Missouri has generally used this 
streamlined renewal process at a low rate, which has placed increased 
importance on families receiving the mailed letters and returning 
required materials before their deadlines. In January 2020, Missouri was
 one of seven states that processed <a target="_blank" href="https://files.kff.org/attachment/Table-10-Medicaid-and-CHIP-Eligibility-as-of-Jan-2020.pdf">fewer than 25% of renewals automatically</a>.&nbsp;

In January 2022, Missouri was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-renewal-processes/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D">one of just eight states</a>
 that was not processing ex-parte renewals — many states processed them 
during the pandemic even though they couldn’t remove anyone, so as to 
reduce the backlog when verifications would resume.&nbsp;

Social services leadership has said 
the department is working on expanding data sources to provide the 
necessary information to staff to allow for more ex-parte renewals.

In an email to the Independent, Department of Social Services spokesperson Heather Dolce said Family Support Division is “currently
 in development to automate access to electronic data that will be used 
in the ex-parte process” and that it “should be complete by April 1.”

Director of Family Support Division 
Kim Evans said in an August MO Healthnet meeting that the number of 
people who fall on and off Medicaid due to procedural issues, referred 
to as churn, will decline once they introduce more automated 
verification.

“A lot of churn happens because individuals do not get the information back to us,” she said.

It is not yet clear what portion of renewals the social services 
department expects to be completed on this streamlined, automated basis.

National studies have found that many
 of those who lose Medicaid coverage during the unwind period will 
remain eligible but will be dropped off the rolls due to administrative 
issues. A federal <a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2022/08/22/millions-of-eligible-children-could-lose-medicaid-due-to-administrative-churn-during-the-unwinding/">projection</a>
 released last summer estimated around 45% of those disenrolled from 
Medicaid once the continuous coverage provision is lifted will still be 
eligible but will be disenrolled because of procedural reasons, such as 
missing documents or forms.&nbsp;

Missouri has been singled-out for its bureaucratic hurdles to renewal in years past.&nbsp;

In 2019, the state came under scrutiny for significant enrollment declines. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mobudget.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MO_Medicaid_Decline_Sept2019.pdf">Missouri Budget Project</a>, a liberal public policy think tank, determined that
 families were often kicked off Medicaid despite being eligible for 
coverage because of challenges with the renewal process, including that 
they did not receive the proper paperwork or submitted the paperwork 
only for it to be lost or not processed.&nbsp;

A Georgetown<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Kids-PHE-FINAL-2-17.pdf"> study</a>
 last year warned Missouri was among the six states most likely to 
erroneously strip children of coverage during the unwind of the 
continuous coverage policy because of factors like the state’s low rate 
of automated renewals.&nbsp;

The state says it will send a letter 
to every Missourian enrolled in Medicaid between May 2023 and April 
2024. The letter could be a form and/or request for documentation, or, 
in the instance that the state has automatically completed the 
determination through existing data, the letter could be an immediate 
renewal or rejection.&nbsp;

Participants will likely receive the 
letter around the anniversary of when they originally enrolled in 
Medicaid, according to the department’s newly-posted <a target="_blank" href="https://mydss.mo.gov/media/pdf/medicaid-annual-renewal-faqs">frequently asked questions</a>
 page. For instance, if they enrolled in May 2020, they’d likely receive
 renewal paperwork in May 2023. But there are “some exceptions” so the 
“best thing participants can do is watch their mail,” per the new site.

Participants will be able to submit 
the form and any verification documents by mail, fax, in-person, online,
 or over the phone to a dedicated line, Dolce said by email.&nbsp;

Dolce said the Department of Social 
Services does not have an estimate of the portion of their Medicaid 
participants they project could be deemed ineligible once renewals 
resume.&nbsp;

In March 2020, there were just over <a target="_blank" href="https://publichealth.wustl.edu/items/missouri-medicaid-enrollment-tracking-dashboard/">900,000 Missourians</a> enrolled in Medicaid. As of November 2022, the Medicaid population had swelled to more than <a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/">1.4 million enrollees</a>. The adult expansion population, the group
 of qualifying low-income adults who were allowed to enroll after the 
voter-approved initiative went into effect in late 2021, is now around<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/"> 287,000</a>.

“There are a lot of Missourians who 
qualified for Medicaid coverage for the first time during the public 
health emergency or through adult expansion who have never had to 
complete an annual renewal before,” Kim Evans, director of the Family 
Support Division, said in the press release.&nbsp;

Evans added that the department 
“want[s] to ensure that everyone who is still eligible for…MO HealthNet 
can keep that coverage” and to “make sure participants understand how 
this process works and what is required of them.”

Nationally, most adults in Medicaid-enrolled families are not aware their services will be renewed again soon, an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/most-adults-medicaid-enrolled-families-are-unaware-medicaid-renewals-resuming">Urban Institute study</a> last November found, posing challenges to states to reliably communicate the coming shift.&nbsp;

Missouri’s social services department
 is working with managed care providers to update patients’ contact 
information in their eligibility system, as well as performing outreach 
with community partners and online to encourage enrollees to update their contact information, Dolce said.&nbsp;

Last summer, the state adopted several <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/09/federal-government-steps-in-to-help-pull-missouri-out-of-medicaid-backlog/">federal flexibilities</a>
 designed to reduce their Medicaid application backlog in advance of 
needing to renew the entire caseload, which could ease verification 
hurdles during the unwinding period. One measure, which focuses on 
applications received through the federal marketplace, allows the state 
to accept the federal information rather than needing to re-verify it. 
The state has also <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/31/missouri-medicaid-application-wait-times-average-41-days-the-lowest-in-nearly-a-year/">said</a> it will continue to offer overtime to Family Support Division staff on an as-needed basis.&nbsp;

By CLARA BATES <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/04/some-missourians-could-lose-medicaid-coverage-as-eligibility-renewals-restart-april-1/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s
 social services department will resume conducting Medicaid eligibility 
renewals on April 1 — allowing the state to once again remove people 
from its rolls after a three-year pause during the COVID-19 state of 
emergency.Since March 2020, states have been 
barred from removing enrollees from Medicaid during the 
federally-declared public health emergency in exchange for enhanced 
federal funds, except in narrow instances, such as in the case the 
participant moved out of state or requested their coverage be 
terminated.Previously, states had been required to renew the eligibility of each participant, typically annually.&nbsp;A provision in the federal spending 
package passed last month set the April 1, 2023, date for states to 
begin conducting redeterminations, regardless of when the public health 
emergency ends. Missouri will conduct renewals over the course of a 
year.The enhanced federal funds will be 
gradually phased down, with several standards states must meet in the 
process of conducting eligibility redeterminations.Medicaid participants in the state 
should “keep an eye out for an official letter from the Family Support 
Division” acting Department of Social Services Director Robert Knodell 
said in a press release last week, adding: “We cannot stress enough how 
imperative it is to make sure your address is up to date before April 
1.”States are required to attempt to 
renew participants’ eligibility automatically, which are called ex-parte
 renewals, before contacting enrollees to complete forms or 
documentation themselves. Ex-parte renewals use existing databases to 
confirm details like participants’ income and assets.Missouri has generally used this 
streamlined renewal process at a low rate, which has placed increased 
importance on families receiving the mailed letters and returning 
required materials before their deadlines. In January 2020, Missouri was
 one of seven states that processed <a target="_blank" href="https://files.kff.org/attachment/Table-10-Medicaid-and-CHIP-Eligibility-as-of-Jan-2020.pdf">fewer than 25% of renewals automatically</a>.&nbsp;In January 2022, Missouri was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-renewal-processes/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D">one of just eight states</a>
 that was not processing ex-parte renewals — many states processed them 
during the pandemic even though they couldn’t remove anyone, so as to 
reduce the backlog when verifications would resume.&nbsp;Social services leadership has said 
the department is working on expanding data sources to provide the 
necessary information to staff to allow for more ex-parte renewals.In an email to the Independent, Department of Social Services spokesperson Heather Dolce said Family Support Division is “currently
 in development to automate access to electronic data that will be used 
in the ex-parte process” and that it “should be complete by April 1.”Director of Family Support Division 
Kim Evans said in an August MO Healthnet meeting that the number of 
people who fall on and off Medicaid due to procedural issues, referred 
to as churn, will decline once they introduce more automated 
verification.“A lot of churn happens because individuals do not get the information back to us,” she said.It is not yet clear what portion of renewals the social services 
department expects to be completed on this streamlined, automated basis.National studies have found that many
 of those who lose Medicaid coverage during the unwind period will 
remain eligible but will be dropped off the rolls due to administrative 
issues. A federal <a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2022/08/22/millions-of-eligible-children-could-lose-medicaid-due-to-administrative-churn-during-the-unwinding/">projection</a>
 released last summer estimated around 45% of those disenrolled from 
Medicaid once the continuous coverage provision is lifted will still be 
eligible but will be disenrolled because of procedural reasons, such as 
missing documents or forms.&nbsp;Missouri has been singled-out for its bureaucratic hurdles to renewal in years past.&nbsp;In 2019, the state came under scrutiny for significant enrollment declines. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mobudget.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MO_Medicaid_Decline_Sept2019.pdf">Missouri Budget Project</a>, a liberal public policy think tank, determined that
 families were often kicked off Medicaid despite being eligible for 
coverage because of challenges with the renewal process, including that 
they did not receive the proper paperwork or submitted the paperwork 
only for it to be lost or not processed.&nbsp;A Georgetown<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Kids-PHE-FINAL-2-17.pdf"> study</a>
 last year warned Missouri was among the six states most likely to 
erroneously strip children of coverage during the unwind of the 
continuous coverage policy because of factors like the state’s low rate 
of automated renewals.&nbsp;The state says it will send a letter 
to every Missourian enrolled in Medicaid between May 2023 and April 
2024. The letter could be a form and/or request for documentation, or, 
in the instance that the state has automatically completed the 
determination through existing data, the letter could be an immediate 
renewal or rejection.&nbsp;Participants will likely receive the 
letter around the anniversary of when they originally enrolled in 
Medicaid, according to the department’s newly-posted <a target="_blank" href="https://mydss.mo.gov/media/pdf/medicaid-annual-renewal-faqs">frequently asked questions</a>
 page. For instance, if they enrolled in May 2020, they’d likely receive
 renewal paperwork in May 2023. But there are “some exceptions” so the 
“best thing participants can do is watch their mail,” per the new site.Participants will be able to submit 
the form and any verification documents by mail, fax, in-person, online,
 or over the phone to a dedicated line, Dolce said by email.&nbsp;Dolce said the Department of Social 
Services does not have an estimate of the portion of their Medicaid 
participants they project could be deemed ineligible once renewals 
resume.&nbsp;In March 2020, there were just over <a target="_blank" href="https://publichealth.wustl.edu/items/missouri-medicaid-enrollment-tracking-dashboard/">900,000 Missourians</a> enrolled in Medicaid. As of November 2022, the Medicaid population had swelled to more than <a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/">1.4 million enrollees</a>. The adult expansion population, the group
 of qualifying low-income adults who were allowed to enroll after the 
voter-approved initiative went into effect in late 2021, is now around<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/"> 287,000</a>.“There are a lot of Missourians who 
qualified for Medicaid coverage for the first time during the public 
health emergency or through adult expansion who have never had to 
complete an annual renewal before,” Kim Evans, director of the Family 
Support Division, said in the press release.&nbsp;Evans added that the department 
“want[s] to ensure that everyone who is still eligible for…MO HealthNet 
can keep that coverage” and to “make sure participants understand how 
this process works and what is required of them.”Nationally, most adults in Medicaid-enrolled families are not aware their services will be renewed again soon, an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/most-adults-medicaid-enrolled-families-are-unaware-medicaid-renewals-resuming">Urban Institute study</a> last November found, posing challenges to states to reliably communicate the coming shift.&nbsp;Missouri’s social services department
 is working with managed care providers to update patients’ contact 
information in their eligibility system, as well as performing outreach 
with community partners and online to encourage enrollees to update their contact information, Dolce said.&nbsp;Last summer, the state adopted several <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/09/federal-government-steps-in-to-help-pull-missouri-out-of-medicaid-backlog/">federal flexibilities</a>
 designed to reduce their Medicaid application backlog in advance of 
needing to renew the entire caseload, which could ease verification 
hurdles during the unwinding period. One measure, which focuses on 
applications received through the federal marketplace, allows the state 
to accept the federal information rather than needing to re-verify it. 
The state has also <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/31/missouri-medicaid-application-wait-times-average-41-days-the-lowest-in-nearly-a-year/">said</a> it will continue to offer overtime to Family Support Division staff on an as-needed basis.&nbsp;

Medicaid coverage is peril for some Missourians

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/creighton-universitys-latest-economic-conditions-survey-shows-rising-risk-of-recession/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Creighton University’s latest
 survey of manufacturing supply managers in a region including Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri signals a rising risk this year of a recession.

“Not since April and May of 2020, the
 middle of the 2020 recession, has the overall index fallen below growth
 neutral for two straight months,” said economist Ernie Goss, director 
of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group. “Things are not 
looking good.”

Each month since 1994, the Creighton 
group has surveyed manufacturing supply managers in a nine-state region,
 using findings as the basis of its Mid-America Business Conditions 
Index. The index is considered a barometer of economic health for the 
region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas.

Overall for that area, the December 
business conditions index that was released Tuesday showed a decline in 
seven of the past nine months.

Goss said about 60% of supply managers surveyed expect the economy to slump into a recession this year.

As the economy slows, he expects 
long-term interest rates to drop. Short-term interest rates, on the 
other hand, are being pushed up by Federal Reserve actions, Goss said.

Negative conditions in the regional housing sector are spilling into the manufacturing sector, Goss said. And he predicts gas prices to rise in 2023 as a result of increases in the tax rate on gasoline and refineries going offline for maintenance.&nbsp;

For Nebraska specifically, the 
state’s business conditions index climbed from a score of 42.8 in 
November to 49.9 in December but remained below growth neutral for a 
fourth consecutive month.

Using a range of zero to 100, a reading of 50 represents neutral growth.

Of the Mid-America states, Goss said 
that Nebraska is among four (along with South Dakota, Missouri and 
Arkansas) that saw employment numbers above pre-pandemic levels.

Among other highlights of the 
December report was a 2022 review showing South Dakota as top economic 
performer of the region’s nine states. Minnesota was second, followed by Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and Arkansas.

Looking forward six months, economic 
optimism as captured by the index’s confidence category sank to a 
reading of 23, compared to 25 for the region in November.

&nbsp;“Confidence indices for each month 
in 2022, all below growth neutral, are the worst sting of readings since
 the 2008-09 recession,” Goss said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672840164248.png" alt="December Mid-America Business Conditions Index “flashing recession warnings” for 2023, says economist Ernie Goss of Creighton University. (Courtesy of Creighton University)" />
 <figcaption>December Mid-America Business Conditions Index “flashing recession warnings” for 2023, says economist Ernie Goss of Creighton University. (Courtesy of Creighton University)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/creighton-universitys-latest-economic-conditions-survey-shows-rising-risk-of-recession/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Creighton University’s latest
 survey of manufacturing supply managers in a region including Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri signals a rising risk this year of a recession.“Not since April and May of 2020, the
 middle of the 2020 recession, has the overall index fallen below growth
 neutral for two straight months,” said economist Ernie Goss, director 
of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group. “Things are not 
looking good.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622642233344.jpeg" alt="Economist Ernie Goss (Courtesy of Creighton University)" />
 <figcaption>Economist Ernie Goss (Courtesy of Creighton University)</figcaption>
 </figure>Each month since 1994, the Creighton 
group has surveyed manufacturing supply managers in a nine-state region,
 using findings as the basis of its Mid-America Business Conditions 
Index. The index is considered a barometer of economic health for the 
region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas.<h2>Housing woes spill into manufacturing</h2>Overall for that area, the December 
business conditions index that was released Tuesday showed a decline in 
seven of the past nine months.Goss said about 60% of supply managers surveyed expect the economy to slump into a recession this year.As the economy slows, he expects 
long-term interest rates to drop. Short-term interest rates, on the 
other hand, are being pushed up by Federal Reserve actions, Goss said.Negative conditions in the regional housing sector are spilling into the manufacturing sector, Goss said. And he predicts gas prices to rise in 2023 as a result of increases in the tax rate on gasoline and refineries going offline for maintenance.&nbsp;For Nebraska specifically, the 
state’s business conditions index climbed from a score of 42.8 in 
November to 49.9 in December but remained below growth neutral for a 
fourth consecutive month.Using a range of zero to 100, a reading of 50 represents neutral growth.<h2>South Dakota shines </h2>Of the Mid-America states, Goss said 
that Nebraska is among four (along with South Dakota, Missouri and 
Arkansas) that saw employment numbers above pre-pandemic levels.Among other highlights of the 
December report was a 2022 review showing South Dakota as top economic 
performer of the region’s nine states. Minnesota was second, followed by Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and Arkansas.Looking forward six months, economic 
optimism as captured by the index’s confidence category sank to a 
reading of 23, compared to 25 for the region in November.&nbsp;“Confidence indices for each month 
in 2022, all below growth neutral, are the worst sting of readings since
 the 2008-09 recession,” Goss said.

University’s latest survey shows rising risk of recession

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,842 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, for a total of&nbsp; 919,598 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 2,709 the previous week.

On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported</a>&nbsp;37 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on Dec. 21, for a total of 9,753.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,842 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, for a total of&nbsp; 919,598 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 2,709 the previous week.On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported</a>&nbsp;37 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on Dec. 21, for a total of 9,753.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672852935753.png" alt="January 4, 2023-KDHE image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>January 4, 2023-KDHE image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE reports increase in COVID cases; 37 more deaths

DES
 MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions jackpot increased to an estimated
 $940 million after another drawing resulted in plenty of losers but not
 a single grand prize winner.

The numbers drawn late Tuesday were: 25, 29, 33, 41, 44 and gold Mega Ball 18.

The next drawing is scheduled to be held Friday night.

The
 new $940 million jackpot is for a winner who chooses to be paid through
 an annuity over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for a cash payout, 
which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $483.5 million.

In
 Tuesday’s drawing, there were more than 2.9 million winning tickets of 
various amounts including three $4 million tickets sold in Arizona, 
Mississippi and South Dakota, Mega Millions said in a statement.

The
 lack of a winner of an estimated $785 million jackpot Tuesday means 
there have been 23 straight drawings without anyone taking the top 
prize.

The new jackpot will remain <a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-lotteries-490f479fa200c10ceb97547b648f9483">the sixth-largest jackpot in U.S. history</a>.

The jackpot-winning drought isn’t surprising given the daunting odds of one in 302.6 million of winning the top prize.

The jackpot is the largest since someone in California <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">won a record $2.04 billion Powerball prize on Nov. 8</a>. There still has not been an announced winner of that prize.

DES
 MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions jackpot increased to an estimated
 $940 million after another drawing resulted in plenty of losers but not
 a single grand prize winner.The numbers drawn late Tuesday were: 25, 29, 33, 41, 44 and gold Mega Ball 18.The next drawing is scheduled to be held Friday night.The
 new $940 million jackpot is for a winner who chooses to be paid through
 an annuity over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for a cash payout, 
which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $483.5 million.In
 Tuesday’s drawing, there were more than 2.9 million winning tickets of 
various amounts including three $4 million tickets sold in Arizona, 
Mississippi and South Dakota, Mega Millions said in a statement.The
 lack of a winner of an estimated $785 million jackpot Tuesday means 
there have been 23 straight drawings without anyone taking the top 
prize.The new jackpot will remain <a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-lotteries-490f479fa200c10ceb97547b648f9483">the sixth-largest jackpot in U.S. history</a>.The jackpot-winning drought isn’t surprising given the daunting odds of one in 302.6 million of winning the top prize.The jackpot is the largest since someone in California <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">won a record $2.04 billion Powerball prize on Nov. 8</a>. There still has not been an announced winner of that prize.There
 have been only three larger Mega Millions jackpots than Friday’s 
estimated prize in the game's 20 years, including $1.53 billion in 2018,
 $1.05 billion in 2021 and $1.33 billion in July, Mega Millions said.Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.