AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Chris Beard, who coached Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and was hired away by Texas with expectations he’d elevate his alma mater to the same elite level, was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge after a woman told police he strangled and bit her.

The school suspended Beard without pay “until further notice” and said assistant Rodney Terry would coach the No. 7 Longhorns against Rice on Monday night.

Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at the Travis County jail at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.

According to the arrest affidavit first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, the woman told police she is his fiance and they have been in a relationship for six years. She said they had been in an argument where she broke his glasses before he “just snapped on me and became super violent.”

According to the affidavit, the woman told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.”

She told police Beard choked her from behind with his arm around her neck and she couldn’t breathe for about five seconds. Police say she she had a bite mark on her right arm and an abrasion to her right temple among other visible injuries.

When questioned by police, Beard said he had audio recordings of the incident that would show he was not the primary aggressor. But he refused to share them with officers, police said.

Beard went before a magistrate judge for his bond hearing, wearing jailhouse black-and-grey stripes and his hands cuffed in front at his waist. Beard was told he could communicate with the woman but not in a threatening manner, was ordered to stay 200 yards away from the residence where police were called and was told he is barred from possessing a firearm.

Beard nodded his head and answered “yes, sir” several times when addressing the judge. Jail records show Beard posted $10,000 bond. He didn’t answer questions when he left the jail with his attorney Perry Minton.

Minton declined comment but earlier told the American-Statesman the coach is innocent.

“He should never have been arrested,” Minton told the newspaper. “The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”

It wasn’t immediately known if the woman has an attorney. She was identified in the affidavit, but The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of extreme violence without their consent.

“The university takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously,” the school said in announcing Beard’s suspension. It did not commit to Terry as the acting coach beyond Monday night. Terry was a head coach at UTEP (2018-21) and Fresno State (2011-18).

Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before that, he was 112-55 in five seasons with the Red Raiders. He was named The Associated Press coach of the year in 2019 as he guided Texas Tech to a 31-7 finish and lost in an overtime thriller to Virginia in the national championship game.

His departure for Texas — a deal reached after a meeting with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that included a McDonald’s breakfast an hour’s drive north of Lubbock — left Texas Tech officials frustrated.

Beard said it was a difficult move, but he could not turn down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-texas-longhorns-mens-basketball-texas-tech-red-raiders-mens-basketball-chris-beard-texas-a65e56eee131de24a128b0f9f9cb4d2c">a chance to coach at his alma mater, where he was a student assistant three decades ago.</a>&nbsp;Earlier this year, he led Texas to a first-round victory over Virginia Tech that was the Longhorns’ first NCAA Tournament win since 2014.

Beard’s contract includes a provision under which he can be fired for cause for conduct the administration reasonably determines reflects poorly on the coach, program, school or university system. That includes being charged with a felony. University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife did not return a message seeking comment.

Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend.</a>&nbsp;He faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.

Morris, a top national recruit, has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney, Justin Moore, has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge, according to Travis County Jail records.&nbsp;

Just after midnight, police responded to a 911 call for a disturbance at a home in the 1900 Block of Vista Lane, according to a media release from Austin Police. The caller reported the disturbance was no longer ongoing and one of the individuals had left the house.&nbsp;

Police responded and found a woman a woman who stated she had been assaulted and strangled by Chris Beard.

The county Sheriff’s Office said the 49-year-old Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking, in common terms.

The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison. The jail records showed Beard had not yet posted bond as of Monday morning and did not indicate when he would be making an initial court appearance. No attorney for him was listed.

“The university is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process,” the school said in a statement.

The Longhorns (7-1), who have been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 this season, host Rice on Monday night.

Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before coming to Texas, he Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA Tournament championship game.

Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">also faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend</a>&nbsp;and faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.

Morris was a top national recruit out of Dallas and has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney Justin Moore has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670872672542.png" alt="Beard-photo Travis County" />
 <figcaption>Beard-photo Travis County</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Chris Beard, who coached Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and was hired away by Texas with expectations he’d elevate his alma mater to the same elite level, was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge after a woman told police he strangled and bit her.The school suspended Beard without pay “until further notice” and said assistant Rodney Terry would coach the No. 7 Longhorns against Rice on Monday night.Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at the Travis County jail at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.According to the arrest affidavit first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, the woman told police she is his fiance and they have been in a relationship for six years. She said they had been in an argument where she broke his glasses before he “just snapped on me and became super violent.”According to the affidavit, the woman told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.”She told police Beard choked her from behind with his arm around her neck and she couldn’t breathe for about five seconds. Police say she she had a bite mark on her right arm and an abrasion to her right temple among other visible injuries.When questioned by police, Beard said he had audio recordings of the incident that would show he was not the primary aggressor. But he refused to share them with officers, police said.Beard went before a magistrate judge for his bond hearing, wearing jailhouse black-and-grey stripes and his hands cuffed in front at his waist. Beard was told he could communicate with the woman but not in a threatening manner, was ordered to stay 200 yards away from the residence where police were called and was told he is barred from possessing a firearm.Beard nodded his head and answered “yes, sir” several times when addressing the judge. Jail records show Beard posted $10,000 bond. He didn’t answer questions when he left the jail with his attorney Perry Minton.Minton declined comment but earlier told the American-Statesman the coach is innocent.“He should never have been arrested,” Minton told the newspaper. “The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”It wasn’t immediately known if the woman has an attorney. She was identified in the affidavit, but The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of extreme violence without their consent.“The university takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously,” the school said in announcing Beard’s suspension. It did not commit to Terry as the acting coach beyond Monday night. Terry was a head coach at UTEP (2018-21) and Fresno State (2011-18).Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before that, he was 112-55 in five seasons with the Red Raiders. He was named The Associated Press coach of the year in 2019 as he guided Texas Tech to a 31-7 finish and lost in an overtime thriller to Virginia in the national championship game.His departure for Texas — a deal reached after a meeting with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that included a McDonald’s breakfast an hour’s drive north of Lubbock — left Texas Tech officials frustrated.Beard said it was a difficult move, but he could not turn down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-texas-longhorns-mens-basketball-texas-tech-red-raiders-mens-basketball-chris-beard-texas-a65e56eee131de24a128b0f9f9cb4d2c">a chance to coach at his alma mater, where he was a student assistant three decades ago.</a>&nbsp;Earlier this year, he led Texas to a first-round victory over Virginia Tech that was the Longhorns’ first NCAA Tournament win since 2014.Beard’s contract includes a provision under which he can be fired for cause for conduct the administration reasonably determines reflects poorly on the coach, program, school or university system. That includes being charged with a felony. University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife did not return a message seeking comment.Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend.</a>&nbsp;He faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.Morris, a top national recruit, has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney, Justin Moore, has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.-------------AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge, according to Travis County Jail records.&nbsp;Just after midnight, police responded to a 911 call for a disturbance at a home in the 1900 Block of Vista Lane, according to a media release from Austin Police. The caller reported the disturbance was no longer ongoing and one of the individuals had left the house.&nbsp;Police responded and found a woman a woman who stated she had been assaulted and strangled by Chris Beard.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670863360648.png" alt="Travis County jail records" />
 <figcaption>Travis County jail records</figcaption>
 </figure>The county Sheriff’s Office said the 49-year-old Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking, in common terms.The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison. The jail records showed Beard had not yet posted bond as of Monday morning and did not indicate when he would be making an initial court appearance. No attorney for him was listed.“The university is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process,” the school said in a statement.The Longhorns (7-1), who have been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 this season, host Rice on Monday night.Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before coming to Texas, he Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA Tournament championship game.Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">also faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend</a>&nbsp;and faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.Morris was a top national recruit out of Dallas and has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney Justin Moore has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.

Univ. of Texas suspends coach over family violence charge

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Monday announced that approximately 189,000 Kansas children are eligible to receive a supplemental benefit through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT) totaling $56 million, according to a media release from her office.

The program provides a one-time benefit of $391 on a Kansas Benefits Card for each school-aged child who was eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at a school through the National School Lunch Program during the 2020-2021 school year.&nbsp;

The P-EBT program is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Food insecurity should be the last thing Kansas children face right now, especially during the holiday season,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Thanks to the partnership of DCF and KSDE the state will be able to expedite payments to many eligible families to help ensure they have food on the table over the winter break.”&nbsp;

Children eligible for free and reduced priced lunches during the school year 2021-2022 will also receive the $391 benefit. The program also provides a benefit to eligible Kansas children for the summer months of June, July, and August of 2022.&nbsp;

Children who attend a Head Start program and were enrolled in free or reduced-price meals program for the 2021-2022 school year also are eligible.&nbsp;

Nearly 80 percent, or 144,000 children, eligible for the Supplemental P-EBT benefit will be auto-issued their payment beginning December 12. Auto-issuance is staggered based on the last name of the child and will be completed by December 21.&nbsp;

In some cases, auto-issuance is not possible. Parents and guardians who believe their children are eligible are encouraged to apply for the Supplemental P-EBT through the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTIuNjgwNzk5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Nzc3Aua2Vlcy5rcy5nb3YvYXBzcHNzcC9zc3BOb25NZWQucG9ydGFsIn0.0o6EC7Afy0180_esgLD6kj0zRazrEvITs6fipHx6rPg/s/1303160919/br/150237212261-l" target="_blank">DCF Self-Service Portal</a>&nbsp;from January 1 – 31, 2023.&nbsp;

More detailed information and a list of frequently asked questions can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTIuNjgwNzk5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmRjZi5rcy5nb3YvUGFnZXMvUC1FQlQuYXNweCJ9.oLcJ2uMSmk5ejzNDWcwSH10JTRjnWRNv4M_HVu6GQZw/s/1303160919/br/150237212261-l" target="_blank">www.dcf.ks.gov/Pages/P-EBT.aspx</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Monday announced that approximately 189,000 Kansas children are eligible to receive a supplemental benefit through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT) totaling $56 million, according to a media release from her office.The program provides a one-time benefit of $391 on a Kansas Benefits Card for each school-aged child who was eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at a school through the National School Lunch Program during the 2020-2021 school year.&nbsp;The P-EBT program is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Food insecurity should be the last thing Kansas children face right now, especially during the holiday season,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Thanks to the partnership of DCF and KSDE the state will be able to expedite payments to many eligible families to help ensure they have food on the table over the winter break.”&nbsp;Children eligible for free and reduced priced lunches during the school year 2021-2022 will also receive the $391 benefit. The program also provides a benefit to eligible Kansas children for the summer months of June, July, and August of 2022.&nbsp;Children who attend a Head Start program and were enrolled in free or reduced-price meals program for the 2021-2022 school year also are eligible.&nbsp;Nearly 80 percent, or 144,000 children, eligible for the Supplemental P-EBT benefit will be auto-issued their payment beginning December 12. Auto-issuance is staggered based on the last name of the child and will be completed by December 21.&nbsp;In some cases, auto-issuance is not possible. Parents and guardians who believe their children are eligible are encouraged to apply for the Supplemental P-EBT through the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTIuNjgwNzk5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Nzc3Aua2Vlcy5rcy5nb3YvYXBzcHNzcC9zc3BOb25NZWQucG9ydGFsIn0.0o6EC7Afy0180_esgLD6kj0zRazrEvITs6fipHx6rPg/s/1303160919/br/150237212261-l" target="_blank">DCF Self-Service Portal</a>&nbsp;from January 1 – 31, 2023.&nbsp;More detailed information and a list of frequently asked questions can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTIuNjgwNzk5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmRjZi5rcy5nb3YvUGFnZXMvUC1FQlQuYXNweCJ9.oLcJ2uMSmk5ejzNDWcwSH10JTRjnWRNv4M_HVu6GQZw/s/1303160919/br/150237212261-l" target="_blank">www.dcf.ks.gov/Pages/P-EBT.aspx</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp;

$56M in food assistance available for 189,000 Kan. children

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and LAURA UNGAR&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Coronavirus-related hospital admissions are climbing again in the United States, with older adults a growing share of U.S. deaths and&nbsp;<a href="https://data.cms.gov/covid-19/covid-19-nursing-home-data">less than half of nursing home residents up to date</a>&nbsp;on COVID-19 vaccinations.

These alarming signs portend a difficult winter for seniors, which worries 81-year-old nursing home resident Bartley O'Hara, who said he is “vaccinated up to the eyeballs” and tracks coronavirus hospital trends as they "zoom up” for older adults, but remain flat for younger folks.

“The sense of urgency is not universal," said O'Hara of Washington, D.C. But "if you're 21, you probably should worry about your granny. We’re all in this together.”

One troubling indicator for seniors:&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions">Hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 rose</a>&nbsp;by more than 30% in two weeks. Much of the increase is driven by older people and those with existing health problems, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers include everyone testing positive, no matter why they are admitted.

When it comes to protecting seniors, “we’re doing a terrible job of that in this country,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute.

As nursing home leaders redouble efforts to get staff and residents boosted with the new vaccine version,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-covid-us-food-and-drug-administration-4e23cb1532f66bbb62318a461203095b">now recommended for those 6 months and older,</a>&nbsp;they face complacency, misinformation and COVID-19 fatigue. They are calling on the White House for help with an “all hands on deck” approach.

Clear messages about what the vaccine can do — and what it can’t — are needed, said Katie Smith Sloan, president of LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit nursing homes.

Breakthrough infections do not mean the vaccine has failed, she said, but that false perception has been hard to fight.

“We need to change our messaging to be accurate about what it does, which is prevent serious illness and hospitalization and death,” Sloan said. “This virus is insidious, and it just keeps popping up everywhere. We just need to be real about that.”

Problems include unwarranted hesitance to prescribe the antiviral pill Paxlovid quickly in the elderly, which prompted five major medical societies to hold a web-based educational session for doctors, “Vax &amp; Pax: How to Keep Your Patients Safe This Winter.”

Easing restrictions, broader immunity in the general population and mixed messages about whether the pandemic is over have softened the sense of threat felt by younger adults. That may be a welcome development for most, but the attitude has seeped into nursing homes in troubling ways.

Getting family consent for vaccinating nursing home residents has become more difficult, nursing home leaders say. Some residents who can give their own consent are declining the shots. Only 23% of nursing home staff are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Cissy Sanders of Austin, Texas, met multiple obstacles trying to get a booster for her 73-year-old mother, who is in a nursing home. No booster clinic was scheduled. The facility told her they couldn’t find a vaccinator. So she made plans to take her mom to Walgreens later this month.

“I’m concerned about the uptick in hospitalizations and deaths among seniors, and concerned about the lack of urgency at my mother’s nursing home in getting the residents and staff vaccinated" with the latest booster, she said.

Staff and visitors are potential entry points to nursing homes for the virus. The best facilities use a multi-layered approach, protecting residents with masks, screening questions, temperature checks and enhanced infection control.

“What we’ve learned during COVID is that the rate of spread is dependent on the community rate of spread,” said Tina Sandri, CEO of Forest Hills of D.C., a nursing home in the nation’s capital. “I feel safer in my building than anywhere else, including the grocery store.”

Meanwhile, hospitals across the country are seeing an influx of senior patients that Topol calls “pretty alarming.” Nationally, the rate of daily hospital admissions for those 70 and older with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose from 8.8 per 100,000 people on Nov. 15, to 12.1 per 100,000 people on Dec. 6, according to statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services. In California and New York, Topol said, hospitalizations for seniors with COVID-19 have already surpassed those during spring and summer omicron waves.

At NYU Langone Health, chief hospital epidemiologist Dr. Michael Phillips said a growing number of seniors are being admitted to his hospital with COVID-19. But the biggest increase he’s seen is in the emergency department, “which is very, very busy” with COVID-19, as well as flu patients.

Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas, said his hospital has also seen an increase in COVID-19 admissions over the last couple of weeks — and many of the patients are seniors with other health problems. Some are admitted for different illnesses and test positive for COVID-19 in the hospital. The good news? “We haven’t seen an increase in ICU admissions,” he said.

The new combination booster shot, which targets both omicron and the original coronavirus, provides protection against one of the main omicron variants pushing up cases lately: BQ.1.1, which is especially adept at escaping immunity.

“But our booster rates among seniors are pathetically low,” Topol said, with only about a third getting the shot.

Long said health care providers at Houston Methodist promote the booster “every chance we get.” But they don’t administer it to people hospitalized with COVID-19, who are generally told to wait three months after being infected to get it.

Phillips also urges people to get their boosters, especially if they are at risk of serious illness or planning to spend time with someone who is. He said they see many more hospitalizations among people who are unvaccinated.

Deaths, like hospitalizations, are now rising.

The ultimate worry is that more seniors will die. Last spring and summer, death rates declined overall as more people gained protection from vaccination and prior infection. But the share of COVID-19–related deaths for the oldest old — adults 85 and older, who make up 2% of the population —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/data-review/index.html">grew to 40%.</a>

Over the course of the pandemic, 1 in 5 COVID-19 deaths was among those who were in a long-term care facility.

Dr. Walid Michelen, chief medical officer for seven nonprofit nursing homes operated by the Archdiocese of New York, said Americans need to continue taking the pandemic seriously.

“It’s not going away. It’s here to stay,” he said. “We’re going to get a new variant, and who knows how aggressive that variant is going to be? That keeps me up at night.”

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and LAURA UNGAR&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) —Coronavirus-related hospital admissions are climbing again in the United States, with older adults a growing share of U.S. deaths and&nbsp;<a href="https://data.cms.gov/covid-19/covid-19-nursing-home-data">less than half of nursing home residents up to date</a>&nbsp;on COVID-19 vaccinations.These alarming signs portend a difficult winter for seniors, which worries 81-year-old nursing home resident Bartley O'Hara, who said he is “vaccinated up to the eyeballs” and tracks coronavirus hospital trends as they "zoom up” for older adults, but remain flat for younger folks.“The sense of urgency is not universal," said O'Hara of Washington, D.C. But "if you're 21, you probably should worry about your granny. We’re all in this together.”One troubling indicator for seniors:&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions">Hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 rose</a>&nbsp;by more than 30% in two weeks. Much of the increase is driven by older people and those with existing health problems, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers include everyone testing positive, no matter why they are admitted.When it comes to protecting seniors, “we’re doing a terrible job of that in this country,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute.As nursing home leaders redouble efforts to get staff and residents boosted with the new vaccine version,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-covid-us-food-and-drug-administration-4e23cb1532f66bbb62318a461203095b">now recommended for those 6 months and older,</a>&nbsp;they face complacency, misinformation and COVID-19 fatigue. They are calling on the White House for help with an “all hands on deck” approach.Clear messages about what the vaccine can do — and what it can’t — are needed, said Katie Smith Sloan, president of LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit nursing homes.Breakthrough infections do not mean the vaccine has failed, she said, but that false perception has been hard to fight.“We need to change our messaging to be accurate about what it does, which is prevent serious illness and hospitalization and death,” Sloan said. “This virus is insidious, and it just keeps popping up everywhere. We just need to be real about that.”Problems include unwarranted hesitance to prescribe the antiviral pill Paxlovid quickly in the elderly, which prompted five major medical societies to hold a web-based educational session for doctors, “Vax &amp; Pax: How to Keep Your Patients Safe This Winter.”Easing restrictions, broader immunity in the general population and mixed messages about whether the pandemic is over have softened the sense of threat felt by younger adults. That may be a welcome development for most, but the attitude has seeped into nursing homes in troubling ways.Getting family consent for vaccinating nursing home residents has become more difficult, nursing home leaders say. Some residents who can give their own consent are declining the shots. Only 23% of nursing home staff are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.Cissy Sanders of Austin, Texas, met multiple obstacles trying to get a booster for her 73-year-old mother, who is in a nursing home. No booster clinic was scheduled. The facility told her they couldn’t find a vaccinator. So she made plans to take her mom to Walgreens later this month.“I’m concerned about the uptick in hospitalizations and deaths among seniors, and concerned about the lack of urgency at my mother’s nursing home in getting the residents and staff vaccinated" with the latest booster, she said.Staff and visitors are potential entry points to nursing homes for the virus. The best facilities use a multi-layered approach, protecting residents with masks, screening questions, temperature checks and enhanced infection control.“What we’ve learned during COVID is that the rate of spread is dependent on the community rate of spread,” said Tina Sandri, CEO of Forest Hills of D.C., a nursing home in the nation’s capital. “I feel safer in my building than anywhere else, including the grocery store.”Meanwhile, hospitals across the country are seeing an influx of senior patients that Topol calls “pretty alarming.” Nationally, the rate of daily hospital admissions for those 70 and older with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose from 8.8 per 100,000 people on Nov. 15, to 12.1 per 100,000 people on Dec. 6, according to statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services. In California and New York, Topol said, hospitalizations for seniors with COVID-19 have already surpassed those during spring and summer omicron waves.At NYU Langone Health, chief hospital epidemiologist Dr. Michael Phillips said a growing number of seniors are being admitted to his hospital with COVID-19. But the biggest increase he’s seen is in the emergency department, “which is very, very busy” with COVID-19, as well as flu patients.Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas, said his hospital has also seen an increase in COVID-19 admissions over the last couple of weeks — and many of the patients are seniors with other health problems. Some are admitted for different illnesses and test positive for COVID-19 in the hospital. The good news? “We haven’t seen an increase in ICU admissions,” he said.The new combination booster shot, which targets both omicron and the original coronavirus, provides protection against one of the main omicron variants pushing up cases lately: BQ.1.1, which is especially adept at escaping immunity.“But our booster rates among seniors are pathetically low,” Topol said, with only about a third getting the shot.Long said health care providers at Houston Methodist promote the booster “every chance we get.” But they don’t administer it to people hospitalized with COVID-19, who are generally told to wait three months after being infected to get it.Phillips also urges people to get their boosters, especially if they are at risk of serious illness or planning to spend time with someone who is. He said they see many more hospitalizations among people who are unvaccinated.Deaths, like hospitalizations, are now rising.The ultimate worry is that more seniors will die. Last spring and summer, death rates declined overall as more people gained protection from vaccination and prior infection. But the share of COVID-19–related deaths for the oldest old — adults 85 and older, who make up 2% of the population —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/data-review/index.html">grew to 40%.</a>Over the course of the pandemic, 1 in 5 COVID-19 deaths was among those who were in a long-term care facility.Dr. Walid Michelen, chief medical officer for seven nonprofit nursing homes operated by the Archdiocese of New York, said Americans need to continue taking the pandemic seriously.“It’s not going away. It’s here to stay,” he said. “We’re going to get a new variant, and who knows how aggressive that variant is going to be? That keeps me up at night.”

Hospitalizations signal rising COVID-19 risk for US seniors

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/11/lawmakers-plan-to-introduce-medical-marijuana-legislation-at-start-of-session/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — After months of meetings, 
compiling data and listening to research, lawmakers say they’re ready to
 take another shot at legalizing medical marijuana.

Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, and chair 
of the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana, said he planned to 
introduce a medical marijuana bill at the beginning of the January 
legislative session. Olson said passing legislation out of committee 
would be too difficult, and he planned to introduce it in the Senate as 
an alternative approach.

“I think what I’m going to do is — 
and any member is more than welcome — is to take this information and 
create the bill,” Olson said. “And I’m going to work on a bill with a 
couple members and then if anybody wants to sign on in the Senate, 
they’ll be more than able to sign onto that bill, and introduce it at 
the beginning of session.”

He encouraged lawmakers in the House to introduce similar legislation.

“I think that’s probably the best way forward,” Olson said.

The road to legalizing medical 
marijuana has been a long and rocky one, with Kansans and lawmakers 
divided. During Friday’s committee meeting, several members of the 
audience wore stickers reading, “Kansas says ‘No,’ ” to register their 
disapproval of limited legalization.

“Opening up that window leads to all 
kinds of corruption,” Wichita resident Denise Meirowsky said. She said 
her experiences with her 19-year-old son, who uses marijuana as 
self-medication for mental and emotional issues, showed her the negative
 influence of marijuana.

“It causes him not to have any 
ambition, not want to work, not want to do anything because of the abuse
 of marijuana. I haven’t been convinced yet of the medical benefits. 
I’ve seen personally what it’s done to my own son,” Meirowsky said.

On the other side of the room, 
Wichita State University senior Laura Cunningham, who was there as part 
of a school assignment, said she supported legalization of medical 
marijuana as a step forward for Kansas.

“I feel like a lot of people who do 
smoke marijuana are very productive members of society, and actually 
function better because of it. I think a lot of people have found this 
balance that is appropriate for them as an individual, and that’s what 
really matters. I don’t think that legalizing marijuana is going to 
necessarily cause this huge influx of people not having the motivation 
to participate in society,” Cunningham said.

During the meeting, lawmakers were 
given overviews of research on marijuana product packaging and labeling,
 limitations to amounts of medical marijuana that one person can 
possess, local taxation for marijuana and procedures for allowing 
medical marijuana access for incarcerated people. The feeling in the 
room seemed to be that the lawmakers had been given all the necessary 
information, with the meeting ending about three hours earlier than 
expected.

“You’ve had eight state agencies 
visit with you, you’ve had nine or 10 research memos by the legislative 
research department, you’ve had over 60 conferees that have testified in
 two days before this committee and you have reviewed a couple of bills 
that were alive last session and so on. In other words, you’ve been 
inundated with information,” said Mike Heim, a staff member in the&nbsp; 
Office of Revisor of Statutes, while giving his overview to lawmakers.

In 2021, the Kansas House approved medical marijuana legalization, but <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb560/">Senate Bill 560</a>,
 which would have allowed for the cultivation, distribution, processing,
 dispensing and purchase of marijuana and paraphernalia, died in 
committee during the last days of the legislative session.

Senate President Ty Masterson said budget and school funding legislation were a higher priority to him than medical marijuana.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park,
 said she hoped medical marijuana legalization legislation would pass 
the Senate this time, but she remembered of last year’s failure.

“The whole issue is last year, we had
 a very strong bill that passed the House, and Senate President Ty 
Masterson wouldn’t allow it to move forward. So I know there are 
different parties who have been reaching out to him to remind him of how
 important an issue this is to a lot of different people. So time will 
tell,” Holscher said.

The last meeting of the medical 
marijuana committee will be held Nov. 16, with committee proposals 
expected to be finalized then. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670780372422.png" alt="Sen. Rob Olson said a medical marijuana bill should be ready to go at the start of the Kansas legislative session. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rob Olson said a medical marijuana bill should be ready to go at the start of the Kansas legislative session. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/11/lawmakers-plan-to-introduce-medical-marijuana-legislation-at-start-of-session/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — After months of meetings, 
compiling data and listening to research, lawmakers say they’re ready to
 take another shot at legalizing medical marijuana.Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, and chair 
of the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana, said he planned to 
introduce a medical marijuana bill at the beginning of the January 
legislative session. Olson said passing legislation out of committee 
would be too difficult, and he planned to introduce it in the Senate as 
an alternative approach.“I think what I’m going to do is — 
and any member is more than welcome — is to take this information and 
create the bill,” Olson said. “And I’m going to work on a bill with a 
couple members and then if anybody wants to sign on in the Senate, 
they’ll be more than able to sign onto that bill, and introduce it at 
the beginning of session.”He encouraged lawmakers in the House to introduce similar legislation.“I think that’s probably the best way forward,” Olson said.The road to legalizing medical 
marijuana has been a long and rocky one, with Kansans and lawmakers 
divided. During Friday’s committee meeting, several members of the 
audience wore stickers reading, “Kansas says ‘No,’ ” to register their 
disapproval of limited legalization.“Opening up that window leads to all 
kinds of corruption,” Wichita resident Denise Meirowsky said. She said 
her experiences with her 19-year-old son, who uses marijuana as 
self-medication for mental and emotional issues, showed her the negative
 influence of marijuana.“It causes him not to have any 
ambition, not want to work, not want to do anything because of the abuse
 of marijuana. I haven’t been convinced yet of the medical benefits. 
I’ve seen personally what it’s done to my own son,” Meirowsky said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670780460994.png" alt="Wichita State seniors Laura Cunningham and Dallas Grimes said their generation has a different view about marijuana than previous ones. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Wichita State seniors Laura Cunningham and Dallas Grimes said their generation has a different view about marijuana than previous ones. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>On the other side of the room, 
Wichita State University senior Laura Cunningham, who was there as part 
of a school assignment, said she supported legalization of medical 
marijuana as a step forward for Kansas.“I feel like a lot of people who do 
smoke marijuana are very productive members of society, and actually 
function better because of it. I think a lot of people have found this 
balance that is appropriate for them as an individual, and that’s what 
really matters. I don’t think that legalizing marijuana is going to 
necessarily cause this huge influx of people not having the motivation 
to participate in society,” Cunningham said.During the meeting, lawmakers were 
given overviews of research on marijuana product packaging and labeling,
 limitations to amounts of medical marijuana that one person can 
possess, local taxation for marijuana and procedures for allowing 
medical marijuana access for incarcerated people. The feeling in the 
room seemed to be that the lawmakers had been given all the necessary 
information, with the meeting ending about three hours earlier than 
expected.“You’ve had eight state agencies 
visit with you, you’ve had nine or 10 research memos by the legislative 
research department, you’ve had over 60 conferees that have testified in
 two days before this committee and you have reviewed a couple of bills 
that were alive last session and so on. In other words, you’ve been 
inundated with information,” said Mike Heim, a staff member in the&nbsp; 
Office of Revisor of Statutes, while giving his overview to lawmakers.In 2021, the Kansas House approved medical marijuana legalization, but <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb560/">Senate Bill 560</a>,
 which would have allowed for the cultivation, distribution, processing,
 dispensing and purchase of marijuana and paraphernalia, died in 
committee during the last days of the legislative session.Senate President Ty Masterson said budget and school funding legislation were a higher priority to him than medical marijuana.Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park,
 said she hoped medical marijuana legalization legislation would pass 
the Senate this time, but she remembered of last year’s failure.“The whole issue is last year, we had
 a very strong bill that passed the House, and Senate President Ty 
Masterson wouldn’t allow it to move forward. So I know there are 
different parties who have been reaching out to him to remind him of how
 important an issue this is to a lot of different people. So time will 
tell,” Holscher said.The last meeting of the medical 
marijuana committee will be held Nov. 16, with committee proposals 
expected to be finalized then.

Medical marijuana proposal expected in Kansas Legislature

SUMNER COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities investigating a dead body found in rural Sumner County, believed to be connected to an ongoing investigation in Wichita, continue to search for a second suspect.

On November 29, police were contacted by a 69-year-old man who reported 41-year-old Brent Boone, of Wichita, missing under unusual circumstances, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Boone was last seen on November 24, 2022, at 9:30 pm at his residence in the 1300 block of N. Pershing in Wichita before leaving in a vehicle with two individuals – identified as 31-year-old Saul Chavez Valenciana and 19- year-old Tehya Turner, both of Wichita.

It is believed that an altercation occurred inside the car, during which Boone was killed.

On Wednesday, November 30, follow-up investigation led officers to a crime scene in the 9300 block of S. Pattie in Haysville, where they began processing evidence.

Police located the vehicle on December 1, near 21st and Ridge, abandoned, according to Ditch.

Further investigation led officers to a rural area Southwest of Clearwater, one mile west of N Clearwater Road and 140th Ave N, where a body was located. Investigators with WPD and members of the Sumner County Sheriff's Office are working to confirm the body's identity, but at this time, it is believed to be Boone.

Police took Turner into custody Dec. 2 and she is being held on a $1 million dollar bond charged with first degree murder, burglary and possession of marijuana, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

If anyone has information regarding Valenciana's location, please call 911. Additionally, should you wish to remain anonymous, you can submit tips to Crime Stoppers by calling 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670023341610.png" alt="-Valenciana-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>-Valenciana-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities investigating a dead body found in rural Sumner County, believed to be connected to an ongoing investigation in Wichita, continue to search for a second suspect.On November 29, police were contacted by a 69-year-old man who reported 41-year-old Brent Boone, of Wichita, missing under unusual circumstances, according to Officer Chad Ditch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670173983028.png" alt="-Turner-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>-Turner-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Boone was last seen on November 24, 2022, at 9:30 pm at his residence in the 1300 block of N. Pershing in Wichita before leaving in a vehicle with two individuals – identified as 31-year-old Saul Chavez Valenciana and 19- year-old Tehya Turner, both of Wichita.It is believed that an altercation occurred inside the car, during which Boone was killed.On Wednesday, November 30, follow-up investigation led officers to a crime scene in the 9300 block of S. Pattie in Haysville, where they began processing evidence.Police located the vehicle on December 1, near 21st and Ridge, abandoned, according to Ditch.Further investigation led officers to a rural area Southwest of Clearwater, one mile west of N Clearwater Road and 140th Ave N, where a body was located. Investigators with WPD and members of the Sumner County Sheriff's Office are working to confirm the body's identity, but at this time, it is believed to be Boone.Police took Turner into custody Dec. 2 and she is being held on a $1 million dollar bond charged with first degree murder, burglary and possession of marijuana, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.If anyone has information regarding Valenciana's location, please call 911. Additionally, should you wish to remain anonymous, you can submit tips to Crime Stoppers by calling 316-267-2111.

Police continue search for suspect in rural Kan. murder

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/12/bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-push-to-restrict-foreign-ownership-of-missouri-farmland/">Missouri Independent</a>

Citing concerns about the environment, food security and the fate of family farmers, Missouri legislators have <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44592">filed several bills that would restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land</a>.

Both Democratic and Republican 
senators have pre-filed bills ahead of the January start of the 2023 
Missouri General Assembly session to halt foreign purchases of Missouri 
farmland.&nbsp;

“Just at the basic level, I think 
it’s the question of, ‘Do you think somebody who’s not American should 
own Missouri ground?’” said Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring. “And, for 
me, I think that answer is no.”&nbsp;

Missouri lawmakers voted in 2013 to 
allow up to 1% of the state’s farmland to be held by foreign entities. 
Soon thereafter, a Chinese company purchased Smithfield Foods, which 
operates Missouri’s largest industrial hog farms, and its 40,000 acres 
of Missouri farmland.&nbsp;

Since then, the politics surrounding 
America’s relationship with China have shifted dramatically. While 
nearly every Republican in the legislature supported the measure at the 
time, it is now regularly used as a political cudgel in Missouri GOP 
primaries.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, during his run for attorney general in 2016, <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/czJkER7BZXw">hammered a GOP rival over the vote</a>,
 and Missouri Attorney General Eric’s Schmitt’s support for the 2013 
bill was featured in attack ads during his successful run for U.S. 
Senate this year.

Opposition to foreign ownership of Missouri farmland creates unlikely allies.&nbsp;

Environmental groups argue foreign-owned industrial agricultural operations, like <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/01/smithfield-withdraws-request-for-cafo-permits-environmentalists-criticized-as-too-lax/">cattle and hog feedlots</a>, can harm waterways while some conservative legislators simply oppose the idea wholecloth.&nbsp;

Groups that support small farmers say
 they’re concerned foreign ownership can artificially drive up property 
values and price Missourians out of farming in their own state.&nbsp;

“They’re not looking at it saying, 
‘I’m going to plant a crop and how much money of the profit do I have to
 return to capital for land purchases?’” said Joe Maxwell, president of 
Farm Action and former Democratic lieutenant governor of Missouri. 
“Rather, theirs is long-term investment…and that artificially elevates 
that land value.”

Eigel has a bill that would prohibit new sales of farmland to foreign entities.&nbsp;

“I don’t want to open up our 
agricultural ground or really any of our ground to foreign owners or 
foreign actors that we may not know or really understand the real 
intentions of,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

His Democratic colleague, Sen. Doug Beck of Afton, has proposed something similar to Eigel’s bill for several years.

“Our farmland is a finite, precious resource,” Beck said.

Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, said
 foreign ownership of Missouri farmland has become politicized in recent
 years, though it has not had dire consequences across the state. He 
noted Smithfield is still operated by local employees.&nbsp;

“Smithfield is largely the same as 
before,” Black said. “Smithfield has the local management, same 
employees and contributes nearly $2 billion in economic activity to the 
state of Missouri.”

Black is sponsoring a bill that would
 eliminate the 1% threshold, which he says would mean “no new foreign 
business ownership of agriculture land in Missouri would be 
authorized.”&nbsp;

The Missouri Department of 
Agriculture’s latest report shows that as of March 2021, about 0.36% of 
the state’s farmland is owned by foreign entities with only 0.16% of 
that counting toward the 1% cap. The other 0.2% is either not used for 
farmland, was owned before 1978, amounts to less than five acres or is 
owned by a non-citizen who resides in the U.S.

The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/PDF/2020_afida_annual_report.pdf">U.S. Department of Agriculture, however, estimates</a> that 1.1% of Missouri agricultural land is held by foreign owners, meaning the state has already passed its 1% cap.&nbsp;

Investigate Midwest, a nonprofit newsroom covering agriculture, <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/11/citing-concerns-about-china-states-mull-limits-on-foreign-ownership-of-farmland/">found even USDA’s data are not complete</a>. The agency largely relies on voluntary reporting, and its database doesn’t list owners for more than 3.1 million acres.&nbsp;

Beck said he felt his bill was 
reasonable because it would halt foreign sales so the state can get a 
better handle on tracking land ownership.&nbsp;

Tim Gibbons, communications director 
for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, said foreign ownership of Missouri
 farmland “is a symptom of an even larger problem —&nbsp;the corporate, 
multinational takeover of our farm and food system,” noting that 50% of 
U.S. pork production is controlled by two foreign companies.&nbsp;

“In one generation, 90% of Missouri hog producers were put out of business,” Gibbons said in a statement.&nbsp;

He added: “We need our elected 
representatives to pass laws that support family farmers and consumers, 
our rural communities and economies, and a safe, decentralized food 
system.”

Critics of foreign farm ownership 
often say there’s danger in having large swaths of the food supply 
controlled by foreign entities.&nbsp;

They typically cite China, which owns
 more than 40% of the foreign-owned acreage in Missouri reported in the 
state’s data. In USDA’s data, Italy is the leading owner of Missouri 
farmland with twice as many acres as any other country.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670859211146.png" alt="A Soil and Water Conservation District technician consults with a farmer in a cover crop field of rye grass. Cover crops are used to restore soil nutrients and prevent erosion (Photo by Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE)." />
 <figcaption>A Soil and Water Conservation District technician consults with a farmer in a cover crop field of rye grass. Cover crops are used to restore soil nutrients and prevent erosion (Photo by Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE).</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/12/bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-push-to-restrict-foreign-ownership-of-missouri-farmland/">Missouri Independent</a>Citing concerns about the environment, food security and the fate of family farmers, Missouri legislators have <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44592">filed several bills that would restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land</a>.Both Democratic and Republican 
senators have pre-filed bills ahead of the January start of the 2023 
Missouri General Assembly session to halt foreign purchases of Missouri 
farmland.&nbsp;“Just at the basic level, I think 
it’s the question of, ‘Do you think somebody who’s not American should 
own Missouri ground?’” said Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring. “And, for 
me, I think that answer is no.”&nbsp;Missouri lawmakers voted in 2013 to 
allow up to 1% of the state’s farmland to be held by foreign entities. 
Soon thereafter, a Chinese company purchased Smithfield Foods, which 
operates Missouri’s largest industrial hog farms, and its 40,000 acres 
of Missouri farmland.&nbsp;Since then, the politics surrounding 
America’s relationship with China have shifted dramatically. While 
nearly every Republican in the legislature supported the measure at the 
time, it is now regularly used as a political cudgel in Missouri GOP 
primaries.U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, during his run for attorney general in 2016, <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/czJkER7BZXw">hammered a GOP rival over the vote</a>,
 and Missouri Attorney General Eric’s Schmitt’s support for the 2013 
bill was featured in attack ads during his successful run for U.S. 
Senate this year.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/czJkER7BZXw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Opposition to foreign ownership of Missouri farmland creates unlikely allies.&nbsp;Environmental groups argue foreign-owned industrial agricultural operations, like <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/01/smithfield-withdraws-request-for-cafo-permits-environmentalists-criticized-as-too-lax/">cattle and hog feedlots</a>, can harm waterways while some conservative legislators simply oppose the idea wholecloth.&nbsp;Groups that support small farmers say
 they’re concerned foreign ownership can artificially drive up property 
values and price Missourians out of farming in their own state.&nbsp;“They’re not looking at it saying, 
‘I’m going to plant a crop and how much money of the profit do I have to
 return to capital for land purchases?’” said Joe Maxwell, president of 
Farm Action and former Democratic lieutenant governor of Missouri. 
“Rather, theirs is long-term investment…and that artificially elevates 
that land value.”Eigel has a bill that would prohibit new sales of farmland to foreign entities.&nbsp;“I don’t want to open up our 
agricultural ground or really any of our ground to foreign owners or 
foreign actors that we may not know or really understand the real 
intentions of,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;His Democratic colleague, Sen. Doug Beck of Afton, has proposed something similar to Eigel’s bill for several years.“Our farmland is a finite, precious resource,” Beck said.Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, said
 foreign ownership of Missouri farmland has become politicized in recent
 years, though it has not had dire consequences across the state. He 
noted Smithfield is still operated by local employees.&nbsp;“Smithfield is largely the same as 
before,” Black said. “Smithfield has the local management, same 
employees and contributes nearly $2 billion in economic activity to the 
state of Missouri.”Black is sponsoring a bill that would
 eliminate the 1% threshold, which he says would mean “no new foreign 
business ownership of agriculture land in Missouri would be 
authorized.”&nbsp;The Missouri Department of 
Agriculture’s latest report shows that as of March 2021, about 0.36% of 
the state’s farmland is owned by foreign entities with only 0.16% of 
that counting toward the 1% cap. The other 0.2% is either not used for 
farmland, was owned before 1978, amounts to less than five acres or is 
owned by a non-citizen who resides in the U.S.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/PDF/2020_afida_annual_report.pdf">U.S. Department of Agriculture, however, estimates</a> that 1.1% of Missouri agricultural land is held by foreign owners, meaning the state has already passed its 1% cap.&nbsp;Investigate Midwest, a nonprofit newsroom covering agriculture, <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/11/citing-concerns-about-china-states-mull-limits-on-foreign-ownership-of-farmland/">found even USDA’s data are not complete</a>. The agency largely relies on voluntary reporting, and its database doesn’t list owners for more than 3.1 million acres.&nbsp;Beck said he felt his bill was 
reasonable because it would halt foreign sales so the state can get a 
better handle on tracking land ownership.&nbsp;Tim Gibbons, communications director 
for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, said foreign ownership of Missouri
 farmland “is a symptom of an even larger problem —&nbsp;the corporate, 
multinational takeover of our farm and food system,” noting that 50% of 
U.S. pork production is controlled by two foreign companies.&nbsp;“In one generation, 90% of Missouri hog producers were put out of business,” Gibbons said in a statement.&nbsp;He added: “We need our elected 
representatives to pass laws that support family farmers and consumers, 
our rural communities and economies, and a safe, decentralized food 
system.”Critics of foreign farm ownership 
often say there’s danger in having large swaths of the food supply 
controlled by foreign entities.&nbsp;They typically cite China, which owns
 more than 40% of the foreign-owned acreage in Missouri reported in the 
state’s data. In USDA’s data, Italy is the leading owner of Missouri 
farmland with twice as many acres as any other country.&nbsp;

Lawmakers push to restrict foreign ownership of Mo. farmland

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/05/ahead-of-the-kansas-legislative-session-abortion-rights-once-again-under-discussion/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans haven’t 
discussed new abortion legislation yet, but they do plan to address the 
subject when the legislative session starts in January.

During a GOP caucus meeting on Tuesday&nbsp; to nominate new House of Representatives leadership, House Majority 
Leader Dan Hawkins said he hadn’t had any discussions about a potential 
15-week abortion ban that some anti-abortion activist groups have been 
advocating ahead of the legislative session.&nbsp;

The newly nominated leadership has 
shifted further to the right, and Hawkins said he anticipates more 
conservative proposals than usual this session.&nbsp;

Hawkins said that he knew groups like
 Kansans For Life were pushing for legislation similar to the “Born 
Alive” bill, a which has been rejected in other states for being too 
restrictive. The legislation essentially requires medical providers to 
attempt to save any children born prematurely or born alive after an 
attempted abortion. Critics have called this bill unnecessary and 
potentially harmful for medical providers.&nbsp;

“I have talked with, certainly with 
KFL. And the coalition that really worked on Value Them Both, they 
certainly would like to see the ‘Born Alive’ bill attempted, bring that 
out. To say that there’s not going to be any other abortion bills is 
wrong. Everybody’s free to bring whatever they want when it comes to 
bills. So we’ll see those,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said legislation involving funding crisis pregnancy centers might also come up.&nbsp;

“That’s certainly something that we 
will probably look at. Certainly, you know, you want to prevent unwanted
 pregnancies versus abortion. So that’s certainly someplace we can look 
at,” Hawkins said.&nbsp;

Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, said he 
didn’t know what anti-abortion legislation Republicans were planning to 
introduce in the upcoming legislative session, but said he was prepared 
to fight it.&nbsp;

“I think the people spoke very 
clearly in August about what they wanted to do on that subject, and it 
was not a ban. It was an absolute vote rejecting a ban,” Miller said.&nbsp;

Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, 
said she expected to see anti-abortion legislation such as a 15-week 
abortion ban or restrictions on physician licenses. Winn plans on 
working with her community to fight restrictive abortion measures.&nbsp;

&nbsp;“We work through our constituents and those communities that voted down that amendment,” Winn said.&nbsp;

Debate about abortion has been 
constant since the August amendment was shot down by Kansas voters, but 
discussions have ramped up as the legislative session approaches. 
Outside the House of Representatives during the Tuesday caucus meeting, 
anti-abortion advocates stood holding signs and made appearances with 
their children on the balcony inside the House.&nbsp;

One of the anti-abortion advocates, Kaitlin Keeling, said she was there to ask legislators to support a total ban on abortion.&nbsp;

“We’re letting people know that 
abortion is unconstitutional, that all people have the right to life 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Right now the pre-born in Kansas 
are being slaughtered and they’re not given equal protection under the 
law and the Constitution, which they rightfully have,” Keeling said.&nbsp;

A Kansas judge has blocked a 2011 law
 preventing women from accessing abortion medication via telemedicine, 
in a move abortion providers called a step in the right direction. The 
state still has many other abortion restrictions in place.&nbsp;

Kansas abortion laws have been 
criticized by abortion-rights advocates as unnecessarily restrictive. 
State law requires patients to undergo an ultrasound before the abortion
 procedure, with the provider instructed to offer to show the image to 
the patient.&nbsp;

Among other restrictions, abortions 
are illegal 22 weeks after gestation, except when a mother’s health is 
excessively compromised. Minors need parental consent to have an 
abortion, and private health insurance policies — along with public 
employee insurance and Medicaid — don’t cover abortion services unless 
the patient’s life is in danger.

Judge Teresa Watson reinstated a temporary injunction to prohibit enforcement of the 2011 law on Nov. 23.

Before the ruling, using telemedicine
 to prescribe abortion medication was prohibited by a law that required 
women seeking abortions to have an in-person visit with a doctor. The 
ruling was a result of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive 
Rights on behalf of Trust Women, an organization dedicated to providing 
abortion care to underserved communities.&nbsp;

The decision allows Kansas clinics to provide telemedicine abortion services, though the legal battle will likely continue.&nbsp;

&nbsp;With Kansas’ overall workforce 
shortage and a lack of medical workers across the state, abortion-rights
 organizations said the law was an obstacle for women living in rural 
areas, where medical care has been especially strained. Zack 
Gingrich-Gaylord, communications director for Trust Women, said 
providing telemedicine visits would help address the shortage of 
in-person medical care.&nbsp;

“We very much view the telehealth 
ruling as the right thing to do. And it brings Kansas back in line with 
national best practices, with scientific standards, medical standards, 
and so we feel that that’s a step in the right direction. And we will 
definitely be moving forward thoughtfully and deliberately with any kind
 of programming around telehealth that we do,” Gingrich-Gaylord said.&nbsp;

The anti-abortion group Kansans For 
Life condemned the telemedicine visits, saying that doctors would not be
 able to determine how old the fetus was. Jeanne Gawdun, the 
organization’s director of government relations, said she was concerned 
women would be able to skirt the legal abortion limits with the visits.&nbsp;

“Of course the abortionist has to be 
able to date the pregnancy to make sure that the woman is not further 
along than the 10 weeks recommendation that these chemical abortion 
pills are supposed to be used. So how do they do that when they’re not 
actually in the same room with the woman and being able to verify how 
far along she is?” Gawdun said.&nbsp;

Gingrich-Gaylord said telemedicine 
prescription of abortion pills was safe, effective and long supported by
 medical professionals and research. Gingrich-Gaylord said anti-abortion
 activists didn’t have the same knowledge as people working in the 
field.&nbsp;

“I would just say don’t believe them. They don’t know what they’re talking about,” Gingrich-Gaylord said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670340379393.png" alt="Anti-abortion protestors appear Dec. 5, 2022, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Anti-abortion protestors appear Dec. 5, 2022, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/05/ahead-of-the-kansas-legislative-session-abortion-rights-once-again-under-discussion/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans haven’t 
discussed new abortion legislation yet, but they do plan to address the 
subject when the legislative session starts in January.During a GOP caucus meeting on Tuesday&nbsp; to nominate new House of Representatives leadership, House Majority 
Leader Dan Hawkins said he hadn’t had any discussions about a potential 
15-week abortion ban that some anti-abortion activist groups have been 
advocating ahead of the legislative session.&nbsp;The newly nominated leadership has 
shifted further to the right, and Hawkins said he anticipates more 
conservative proposals than usual this session.&nbsp;Hawkins said that he knew groups like
 Kansans For Life were pushing for legislation similar to the “Born 
Alive” bill, a which has been rejected in other states for being too 
restrictive. The legislation essentially requires medical providers to 
attempt to save any children born prematurely or born alive after an 
attempted abortion. Critics have called this bill unnecessary and 
potentially harmful for medical providers.&nbsp;“I have talked with, certainly with 
KFL. And the coalition that really worked on Value Them Both, they 
certainly would like to see the ‘Born Alive’ bill attempted, bring that 
out. To say that there’s not going to be any other abortion bills is 
wrong. Everybody’s free to bring whatever they want when it comes to 
bills. So we’ll see those,” Hawkins said.Hawkins said legislation involving funding crisis pregnancy centers might also come up.&nbsp;“That’s certainly something that we 
will probably look at. Certainly, you know, you want to prevent unwanted
 pregnancies versus abortion. So that’s certainly someplace we can look 
at,” Hawkins said.&nbsp;Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, said he 
didn’t know what anti-abortion legislation Republicans were planning to 
introduce in the upcoming legislative session, but said he was prepared 
to fight it.&nbsp;“I think the people spoke very 
clearly in August about what they wanted to do on that subject, and it 
was not a ban. It was an absolute vote rejecting a ban,” Miller said.&nbsp;Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, 
said she expected to see anti-abortion legislation such as a 15-week 
abortion ban or restrictions on physician licenses. Winn plans on 
working with her community to fight restrictive abortion measures.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We work through our constituents and those communities that voted down that amendment,” Winn said.&nbsp;Debate about abortion has been 
constant since the August amendment was shot down by Kansas voters, but 
discussions have ramped up as the legislative session approaches. 
Outside the House of Representatives during the Tuesday caucus meeting, 
anti-abortion advocates stood holding signs and made appearances with 
their children on the balcony inside the House.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670340457154.png" alt="Anti-abortion advocate Kaitlin Keeling said she was there to ask legislators to push for a complete ban on abortion. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Anti-abortion advocate Kaitlin Keeling said she was there to ask legislators to push for a complete ban on abortion. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the anti-abortion advocates, Kaitlin Keeling, said she was there to ask legislators to support a total ban on abortion.&nbsp;“We’re letting people know that 
abortion is unconstitutional, that all people have the right to life 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Right now the pre-born in Kansas 
are being slaughtered and they’re not given equal protection under the 
law and the Constitution, which they rightfully have,” Keeling said.&nbsp;A Kansas judge has blocked a 2011 law
 preventing women from accessing abortion medication via telemedicine, 
in a move abortion providers called a step in the right direction. The 
state still has many other abortion restrictions in place.&nbsp;Kansas abortion laws have been 
criticized by abortion-rights advocates as unnecessarily restrictive. 
State law requires patients to undergo an ultrasound before the abortion
 procedure, with the provider instructed to offer to show the image to 
the patient.&nbsp;Among other restrictions, abortions 
are illegal 22 weeks after gestation, except when a mother’s health is 
excessively compromised. Minors need parental consent to have an 
abortion, and private health insurance policies — along with public 
employee insurance and Medicaid — don’t cover abortion services unless 
the patient’s life is in danger.Judge Teresa Watson reinstated a temporary injunction to prohibit enforcement of the 2011 law on Nov. 23.Before the ruling, using telemedicine
 to prescribe abortion medication was prohibited by a law that required 
women seeking abortions to have an in-person visit with a doctor. The 
ruling was a result of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive 
Rights on behalf of Trust Women, an organization dedicated to providing 
abortion care to underserved communities.&nbsp;The decision allows Kansas clinics to provide telemedicine abortion services, though the legal battle will likely continue.&nbsp;&nbsp;With Kansas’ overall workforce 
shortage and a lack of medical workers across the state, abortion-rights
 organizations said the law was an obstacle for women living in rural 
areas, where medical care has been especially strained. Zack 
Gingrich-Gaylord, communications director for Trust Women, said 
providing telemedicine visits would help address the shortage of 
in-person medical care.&nbsp;“We very much view the telehealth 
ruling as the right thing to do. And it brings Kansas back in line with 
national best practices, with scientific standards, medical standards, 
and so we feel that that’s a step in the right direction. And we will 
definitely be moving forward thoughtfully and deliberately with any kind
 of programming around telehealth that we do,” Gingrich-Gaylord said.&nbsp;The anti-abortion group Kansans For 
Life condemned the telemedicine visits, saying that doctors would not be
 able to determine how old the fetus was. Jeanne Gawdun, the 
organization’s director of government relations, said she was concerned 
women would be able to skirt the legal abortion limits with the visits.&nbsp;“Of course the abortionist has to be 
able to date the pregnancy to make sure that the woman is not further 
along than the 10 weeks recommendation that these chemical abortion 
pills are supposed to be used. So how do they do that when they’re not 
actually in the same room with the woman and being able to verify how 
far along she is?” Gawdun said.&nbsp;Gingrich-Gaylord said telemedicine 
prescription of abortion pills was safe, effective and long supported by
 medical professionals and research. Gingrich-Gaylord said anti-abortion
 activists didn’t have the same knowledge as people working in the 
field.&nbsp;“I would just say don’t believe them. They don’t know what they’re talking about,” Gingrich-Gaylord said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Abortion rights on the table ahead of Kan. legislative session

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in a three-vehicle crash just after 11:30p.m. Sunday in Johnson County.

A vehicle was westbound on Interstate 435 in the eastbound lanes approaching Quivira Road, according to Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy. 

The vehicle struck an eastbound vehicle driven by Karl Wurtenberger of Independence, Missouri, head-on.&nbsp; The first vehicle continued westbound and struck a second eastbound vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wurtenberger was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the third vehicle was not injured. Police released no additional details early Monday. The crash remains under investigation by Overland Park Police, according to Lacy.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in a three-vehicle crash just after 11:30p.m. Sunday in Johnson County.A vehicle was westbound on Interstate 435 in the eastbound lanes approaching Quivira Road, according to Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy. The vehicle struck an eastbound vehicle driven by Karl Wurtenberger of Independence, Missouri, head-on.&nbsp; The first vehicle continued westbound and struck a second eastbound vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wurtenberger was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the third vehicle was not injured. Police released no additional details early Monday. The crash remains under investigation by Overland Park Police, according to Lacy.&nbsp;

Police: 1 dead after wrong-way crash on Kansas highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — A decade ago, then-Vice President Joe Biden shocked the political world and preempted his boss by suddenly declaring his support for gay marriage on national television. But not everyone was surprised.

A small group had attended a private fundraiser with Biden weeks earlier in Los Angeles, where he disclosed not only his approval but his firm conclusion about a positive future for same-sex marriage.

He predicted, “Things are changing so rapidly, it’s going to become a political liability in the near term for someone to say, ‘I oppose gay marriage.'"

"Mark my words. And my job — our job — is to keep this momentum rolling to the inevitable.”

The day that Biden envisioned may have arrived. He plans on Tuesday to sign legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-gay-interracial-marriage-what-to-know-ad3988c74c639f79112befa18065d4b3">passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress</a>, to protect gay unions — even if the Supreme Court should revisit its ruling supporting a nationwide right of same-sex couples to marry.

Biden's signature will burnish his legacy as a champion of equality at a time when the LGBTQ community is anxious to safeguard legal changes from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-legislature-gay-rights-raleigh-government-and-politics-84892bee21af98cfd80d56481ca05458">a backlash on the right</a>&nbsp;that has used incendiary rhetoric, particularly against transgender people.

The politics were far different a decade ago, when gay rights activists were frustrated with President Barack Obama. He had made some changes, such as eliminating the “don't ask, don't tell” rule that prevented gay people from serving openly in the military, but stopped short of embracing marriage equality.

As Obama's vice president, Biden shared the same stance. So there was some tension in April 2012 when Biden attended the fundraiser at the Los Angeles home of a married gay couple and their children.

Chad Griffin, an activist who had also helped organize the event, decided to ask Biden about it.

“When you came in tonight, you met Michael and Sonny and their two beautiful kids," he said to Biden. "And I wonder if you can just sort of talk in a frank, honest way about your own personal views as it relates to marriage equality.”

Biden responded, “All you got to do is look in the eyes of those kids. And no one can wonder, no one can wonder whether or not they are cared for and nurtured and loved and reinforced. And folks, what’s happening is, everybody is beginning to see it."

Just over two weeks later, Biden was on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyjYg3ZYFfQ">NBC's “Meet the Press,”</a>&nbsp;and host David Gregory asked whether he supported gay marriage.

Biden said the issue came down to "will you be loyal to the person you love? And that's what people are finding out is what all marriages, at their root, are about, whether they're marriages of lesbians, or gay men, or heterosexuals.”

Biden said the president, not him, “sets the policies.” But he said gay couples should have “all the civil rights, all the civil liberties."

It was an unusually unscripted moment in carefully choreographed Washington.

For Biden, "all politics is personal," said Bruce Reed, the White House deputy chief of staff who also was chief of staff in Biden's vice presidential office. “And I think that’s what prompted him to speak his mind."

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-barack-obama-election-2020-marriage-d73965f26aa54d0fab2e9eca7830ef76">Not everyone was pleased.</a>&nbsp;Obama was left trailing a step behind his vice president, and three days later did an interview to disclose his own support for gay marriage. He said Biden had gotten “a little over his skis" but there were no hard feelings.

The following year, the Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, and Jim Obergefell proposed to his partner, John Arthur.

They married in Maryland, where it was legal, but their home state of Ohio would not recognize their union. Although Arthur died, their legal battle continued to the Supreme Court. Obergefell met Biden for the first time in 2015.

“I just remember walking up to him and he hugged me and the first words out of his mouth were condolences for the loss of my husband," he said.

The Supreme Court soon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-courts-marriage-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-9e1933cd1e1a4e969ab45f5952bbb45f">legalized gay marriage nationwide</a>&nbsp;in a decision known as Obergefell v. Hodges.

The issue resurfaced in June when the court's conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973. In a concurring opinion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-gun-politics-gay-rights-marriage-b9062feb4f80c49de088c36b0f17aa7c">Justice Clarence Thomas</a>&nbsp;wrote that the court “should reconsider” other precedents as well, including the Obergefell ruling.

Supporters believed they could rally enough Republican votes to sidestep a filibuster in the Senate and safeguard gay marriages. They were right.

Obergefell, however, is not experiencing a sense of satisfaction.

“We now know that rights that people counted on and expected are no longer safe,” he said.

It's a common sentiment right now in the face of political attacks over LGBTQ issues.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., signed legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">limiting teachers' ability</a>&nbsp;to talk about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. In Texas, GOP Gov. Greg Abbott wants state child welfare investigators to consider gender-affirming care as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-child-abuse-child-welfare-greg-abbott-ken-paxton-65c054b6ccd9040e81ad1a4be11403b9">a form of abuse.</a>

Protesters, sometimes armed, have shown up at events where drag queens read to children. Five people were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-colorado-springs-e098d88261db6bcfc0774434abbb7a8f">shot to death</a>&nbsp;at a gay club in Colorado last month. The suspect has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-hate-crimes-springs-b9be567920a55986c57af59535ac9f61">charged with hate crimes.</a>

Biden has taken steps to safeguard rights for transgender people, such as reinstating anti-discrimination provisions eliminated by Donald Trump. He also ended the ban on transgender people serving in the military.

Sarah McBride, a transgender state senator from Biden's home state of Delaware, said it’s a comfort “for so many of us, who feel frightened or vulnerable or alone, to know that the leader of this country, the leader of the free world, not only sees us but embraces us."

McBride worked for Biden's eldest son, Beau, during his campaigns for Delaware attorney general. Before Beau died from brain cancer in 2015, he helped pass Delaware laws that legalized gay marriage and banned discrimination over gender identity. McBride said the experience deepened the elder Biden's own commitment to these issues and “he's carrying on Beau’s legacy."

As last month's midterm elections approached, the White House played host to Dylan Mulvaney, a Broadway performer who has chronicled her gender transition on TikTok, to talk about transgender issues with Biden.

Asked by Mulvaney how leaders can better advocate for transgender people, Biden responded that it was important to be “seen with people like you.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670697376443.png" alt="FILE - People gather in Washington's Lafayette Park to see the White House illuminated with rainbow colors to mark the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to legalize same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015. President Joe Biden plans to sign legislation this coming week that will protect gay unions even if the Supreme Court revisits its ruling supporting a nationwide right of same-sex couples to marry. It's the latest part of Biden's legacy on gay rights, which includes his unexpected endorsement of marriage equality on national television a decade ago when he was vice president. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - People gather in Washington's Lafayette Park to see the White House illuminated with rainbow colors to mark the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to legalize same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015. President Joe Biden plans to sign legislation this coming week that will protect gay unions even if the Supreme Court revisits its ruling supporting a nationwide right of same-sex couples to marry. It's the latest part of Biden's legacy on gay rights, which includes his unexpected endorsement of marriage equality on national television a decade ago when he was vice president. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A decade ago, then-Vice President Joe Biden shocked the political world and preempted his boss by suddenly declaring his support for gay marriage on national television. But not everyone was surprised.A small group had attended a private fundraiser with Biden weeks earlier in Los Angeles, where he disclosed not only his approval but his firm conclusion about a positive future for same-sex marriage.He predicted, “Things are changing so rapidly, it’s going to become a political liability in the near term for someone to say, ‘I oppose gay marriage.'""Mark my words. And my job — our job — is to keep this momentum rolling to the inevitable.”The day that Biden envisioned may have arrived. He plans on Tuesday to sign legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-gay-interracial-marriage-what-to-know-ad3988c74c639f79112befa18065d4b3">passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress</a>, to protect gay unions — even if the Supreme Court should revisit its ruling supporting a nationwide right of same-sex couples to marry.Biden's signature will burnish his legacy as a champion of equality at a time when the LGBTQ community is anxious to safeguard legal changes from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-legislature-gay-rights-raleigh-government-and-politics-84892bee21af98cfd80d56481ca05458">a backlash on the right</a>&nbsp;that has used incendiary rhetoric, particularly against transgender people.___The politics were far different a decade ago, when gay rights activists were frustrated with President Barack Obama. He had made some changes, such as eliminating the “don't ask, don't tell” rule that prevented gay people from serving openly in the military, but stopped short of embracing marriage equality.As Obama's vice president, Biden shared the same stance. So there was some tension in April 2012 when Biden attended the fundraiser at the Los Angeles home of a married gay couple and their children.Chad Griffin, an activist who had also helped organize the event, decided to ask Biden about it.“When you came in tonight, you met Michael and Sonny and their two beautiful kids," he said to Biden. "And I wonder if you can just sort of talk in a frank, honest way about your own personal views as it relates to marriage equality.”Biden responded, “All you got to do is look in the eyes of those kids. And no one can wonder, no one can wonder whether or not they are cared for and nurtured and loved and reinforced. And folks, what’s happening is, everybody is beginning to see it."Just over two weeks later, Biden was on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyjYg3ZYFfQ">NBC's “Meet the Press,”</a>&nbsp;and host David Gregory asked whether he supported gay marriage.Biden said the issue came down to "will you be loyal to the person you love? And that's what people are finding out is what all marriages, at their root, are about, whether they're marriages of lesbians, or gay men, or heterosexuals.”Biden said the president, not him, “sets the policies.” But he said gay couples should have “all the civil rights, all the civil liberties."It was an unusually unscripted moment in carefully choreographed Washington.For Biden, "all politics is personal," said Bruce Reed, the White House deputy chief of staff who also was chief of staff in Biden's vice presidential office. “And I think that’s what prompted him to speak his mind."<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-barack-obama-election-2020-marriage-d73965f26aa54d0fab2e9eca7830ef76">Not everyone was pleased.</a>&nbsp;Obama was left trailing a step behind his vice president, and three days later did an interview to disclose his own support for gay marriage. He said Biden had gotten “a little over his skis" but there were no hard feelings.___The following year, the Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, and Jim Obergefell proposed to his partner, John Arthur.They married in Maryland, where it was legal, but their home state of Ohio would not recognize their union. Although Arthur died, their legal battle continued to the Supreme Court. Obergefell met Biden for the first time in 2015.“I just remember walking up to him and he hugged me and the first words out of his mouth were condolences for the loss of my husband," he said.The Supreme Court soon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-courts-marriage-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-9e1933cd1e1a4e969ab45f5952bbb45f">legalized gay marriage nationwide</a>&nbsp;in a decision known as Obergefell v. Hodges.The issue resurfaced in June when the court's conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973. In a concurring opinion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-gun-politics-gay-rights-marriage-b9062feb4f80c49de088c36b0f17aa7c">Justice Clarence Thomas</a>&nbsp;wrote that the court “should reconsider” other precedents as well, including the Obergefell ruling.Supporters believed they could rally enough Republican votes to sidestep a filibuster in the Senate and safeguard gay marriages. They were right.Obergefell, however, is not experiencing a sense of satisfaction.“We now know that rights that people counted on and expected are no longer safe,” he said.___It's a common sentiment right now in the face of political attacks over LGBTQ issues.Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., signed legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">limiting teachers' ability</a>&nbsp;to talk about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. In Texas, GOP Gov. Greg Abbott wants state child welfare investigators to consider gender-affirming care as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-child-abuse-child-welfare-greg-abbott-ken-paxton-65c054b6ccd9040e81ad1a4be11403b9">a form of abuse.</a>Protesters, sometimes armed, have shown up at events where drag queens read to children. Five people were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-colorado-springs-e098d88261db6bcfc0774434abbb7a8f">shot to death</a>&nbsp;at a gay club in Colorado last month. The suspect has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-hate-crimes-springs-b9be567920a55986c57af59535ac9f61">charged with hate crimes.</a>Biden has taken steps to safeguard rights for transgender people, such as reinstating anti-discrimination provisions eliminated by Donald Trump. He also ended the ban on transgender people serving in the military.Sarah McBride, a transgender state senator from Biden's home state of Delaware, said it’s a comfort “for so many of us, who feel frightened or vulnerable or alone, to know that the leader of this country, the leader of the free world, not only sees us but embraces us."McBride worked for Biden's eldest son, Beau, during his campaigns for Delaware attorney general. Before Beau died from brain cancer in 2015, he helped pass Delaware laws that legalized gay marriage and banned discrimination over gender identity. McBride said the experience deepened the elder Biden's own commitment to these issues and “he's carrying on Beau’s legacy."As last month's midterm elections approached, the White House played host to Dylan Mulvaney, a Broadway performer who has chronicled her gender transition on TikTok, to talk about transgender issues with Biden.Asked by Mulvaney how leaders can better advocate for transgender people, Biden responded that it was important to be “seen with people like you.”“People fear what they don’t know. They fear what they don’t know,” he said. “And when people realize, individuals realize, ‘Oh, this is what they’re telling me to be frightened of, this is the problem.’ I mean, people change their minds.”