At Tuesday&nbsp;night's&nbsp;meeting,&nbsp;the Manhattan&nbsp;City Commission&nbsp;enacted a&nbsp;new set of rules&nbsp;regulating building and development.&nbsp;

Commissioners voted 4-1&nbsp;to approve&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;Manhattan&nbsp;Development&nbsp;Code.&nbsp;

Prior to open discussion and Commission action,&nbsp;Chad Bunger, assistant director for community development&nbsp;tried to&nbsp;clear up some “misinformation and confusion”&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;the new MDC.&nbsp;

City administrators and staffers toiled to craft&nbsp;rules&nbsp;tailored&nbsp;to&nbsp;Manhattan specifically, rather than a&nbsp;set of boilerplate regulations&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bunger&nbsp;said that the&nbsp;proposed&nbsp;changes&nbsp;are&nbsp;based&nbsp;in large part on existing structures and&nbsp;circumstances. According to city data,&nbsp;since&nbsp;2003,&nbsp;a&nbsp;substantial portion of&nbsp;work&nbsp;permits&nbsp;in the Traditional Neighborhood Overlay&nbsp;have been&nbsp;for&nbsp;remodeling&nbsp;and renovating existing structures, indicating that residents&nbsp;are not clamoring for broad changes to land-use and building regulations.&nbsp;

“We crafted our tweaked set of regulations based on around the notion that people are remodeling rather than building new homes,”&nbsp;Bunger said.&nbsp;

City officials&nbsp;say they&nbsp;created language that allows for less-restricted new construction in older neighborhoods, while maintaining the existing&nbsp;character&nbsp;and appearance of the area.&nbsp;

According to Bunger,&nbsp;city staffers regularly&nbsp;hear residents’&nbsp;concerns that the ordinances handcuff homeowners from making&nbsp;certain&nbsp;improvements to their property.&nbsp;In just the last three years, zoning authorities have seen 74&nbsp;exception requests, of which nearly 25 percent were for properties in the TNO – which is an exceptionally&nbsp;large proportion considering&nbsp;the TNO makes up just four percent of Manhattan’s total land area.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;exception&nbsp;requests&nbsp;are&nbsp;often&nbsp;for&nbsp;minor&nbsp;renovations&nbsp;such as&nbsp;a&nbsp;front porches,&nbsp;garages,&nbsp;or fences&nbsp;that would not&nbsp;be out of place or&nbsp;significantly alter the&nbsp;character of the neighborhood, but would not conform to current setback or footprint limitations.&nbsp;

City officials say their&nbsp;efforts are aimed at curtailing an obligatory, ponderous process to&nbsp;override what ultimately amount to&nbsp;superfluous&nbsp;restrictions.&nbsp;

“The rules we have today&nbsp;are&nbsp;forcing&nbsp;people to seek exceptions and go through a bureaucratic process,” Bunger said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;City&nbsp;renamed and&nbsp;combined&nbsp;zones&nbsp;for clarity and efficiency, but&nbsp;the actual function&nbsp;and underlying usage&nbsp;of the zoning codes would by-and-large remain the same, according to Bunger.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We’re not up-zoning or down-zoning anything,” Bunger said.&nbsp;“Land use will stay the same.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

While&nbsp;one of the&nbsp;purposes&nbsp;of the new&nbsp;MDC&nbsp;is&nbsp;to alleviate&nbsp;tedious bureaucratic steps&nbsp;for&nbsp;property-use&nbsp;exception&nbsp;requests that are most often granted anyway,&nbsp;residents&nbsp;countered&nbsp;that those same tedious steps&nbsp;represented a&nbsp;legitimate review process and&nbsp;created&nbsp;accountability.&nbsp;They&nbsp;felt requiring&nbsp;a property owner&nbsp;to&nbsp;present&nbsp;a good case for&nbsp;experts to review prior to&nbsp;an&nbsp;exception&nbsp;was more than reasonable.&nbsp;

They insist the&nbsp;regulations were&nbsp;their&nbsp;only&nbsp;assurance&nbsp;that&nbsp;they would&nbsp;be able to&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;their neighborhood’s&nbsp;appearance and personality.&nbsp;With&nbsp;the passage of the&nbsp;ordinance,&nbsp;they feel&nbsp;those exceptions are now the rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Officials noted&nbsp;there are multiple checks to any building or usage permit.&nbsp;MDC&nbsp;language&nbsp;tries to maintain&nbsp;general neighborhood characteristics by&nbsp;addressing&nbsp;setback distances and&nbsp;total&nbsp;lot coverage&nbsp;to&nbsp;prevent&nbsp;oversized buildings. General zoning restrictions,&nbsp;subdivision regulations,&nbsp;and&nbsp;public works guidelines&nbsp;would prevent&nbsp;a&nbsp;truck stop&nbsp;or&nbsp;mega-mart&nbsp;in&nbsp;the middle of&nbsp;small, prewar family homes.&nbsp;

The commission voted to approve the&nbsp;new&nbsp;building codes and then immediately voted to direct the Planning Board to review much of the new ordinance.&nbsp;

The consensus&nbsp;reflected&nbsp;Mayor Wynn Butler’s concern about&nbsp;outsized new&nbsp;mansions&nbsp;driving&nbsp;away owners of older, smaller homes. Commissioner Usha Reddi said&nbsp;homeowners deserve&nbsp;more information and&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;needs to&nbsp;ensure people “know what’s going on in&nbsp;their&nbsp;own&nbsp;neighborhood,&nbsp;for communication and trust.”&nbsp;

Commissioner Linda Morse&nbsp;echoed&nbsp; concerns about working to&nbsp;facilitate&nbsp;better public access&nbsp;to&nbsp;plans for&nbsp;any&nbsp;development&nbsp;or building requests&nbsp;with potential to affect&nbsp;their home and neighborhood.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I&nbsp;don’t want the&nbsp;public part of the process to disappear just because we’re changing these rules,” she said.&nbsp;

New building code approved

During a meeting with Geary County Commissioners this week, State Senator Jeff Longbine noted that there is a policy for memorials on the Capital grounds in Topeka. "For some reason Gold Star mothers have never been there and the Governor's Military Council felt strongly that we need to establish a memorial on the capital grounds, said Longbine. " There's a process for that which requires some approvals through the Capitol Preservation Committee, and then it requires legislation and it requires fundraising so that private dollars pay for it."

Longbine indicated there were a substantial number of sponsors for the needed legislation in the Senate and House.

&nbsp; Gold Star Mothers organization membership consists of those who have lost a son or daughter in active service in the U. S. military.&nbsp;

Legislators are expected to try and make a policy addition

Riley County health officials have identified 106 new COVID-19 cases and 59 additional recoveries since the last report on Wednesday, December 1. There are currently 147 active cases in Riley County. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 10 COVID-positive patients at this time, 4 of whom are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with 3 on ventilators. One patient in the ICU is fully vaccinated.&nbsp; “We are seeing quite a bit of spread in our young school-aged children, and I highly encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “Vaccine doses are widely available through the health department, doctor’s offices, and local pharmacies." Influenza, MMR, and other immunizations are also available through Riley County Health Department for children and adults. "Local doctors also report that the flu is spreading right now," said Gibbs.&nbsp;"Vaccines are our best weapons against disease, so staying on track with regular and yearly vaccinations, and getting a COVID vaccine, will do a lot to help people stay healthy.”

New COVID-19 cases are reported in Riley County

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas4-h.org/" target="_blank">Kansas 4-H</a>&nbsp;international exchange program that has been on hold since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been given the go-ahead to restart next summer.&nbsp;

Mary Kay Munson of Geary County, who helps to coordinate 4-H exchange programs in Kansas, said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas4-h.org/events-activities/global-citizenship/states-4h-international-exchange-program/index.html" target="_blank">States’ 4-H International Exchange program</a>&nbsp;offers a chance to experience cultures in several European, Asian or Latin American countries for 3-8 weeks. She said six Kansas teens have been approved to participate in summer 2022.&nbsp;

“The youth that are selected have an opportunity to understand themselves better,” Munson said. “Because they are away from their normal culture, they have to figure out what their values are and what they want to be as they mature into fully active citizenship. And they have to work on their communication skills whether or not they speak a language other than English.”&nbsp;

Six Kansas 4-H members will be notified in January of the country they will be placed in. Those six, and their country of choice, include:&nbsp;

Exchange visits in many other countries are available to Kansas youth through other programs that Kansas 4-H supports, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://ifyeusa.org/welcome.html" target="_blank">IFYE Association of the USA</a>.&nbsp;

Munson said the States’ 4-H International Exchange program pairs youth with a host family for 2-3 weeks, except in Japan where the four-week exchange can be combined with a language and culture immersion experience.&nbsp;

“We had planned a new program in Argentina last year, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic,” Munson said. “That was an opportunity where U.S. youth would spend time in a low income area in Cordoba, Argentina; participate in soccer and orchestra; and study Spanish with the Argentine kids.”&nbsp;

The exchange with Argentina is planned to begin in summer, 2022.&nbsp;

“Most countries we interact with have a program similar to 4-H,” Munson said. “So the individuals they interact with are in programs with values similar to Kansas 4-H.”&nbsp;

The Kansas contingent that will go abroad in summer 2022 will be finalized in January, according to Munson. Participating youth will have to complete the full series of vaccinations for COVID-19, as well as receive a negative PCR test within 72 hours of boarding a flight for their destination country.&nbsp;

Munson encouraged all Kansas youth to think well in advance about taking part in an international exchange. Applications for 2023 normally are expected to be due by Nov. 1, 2022.&nbsp;

“For those youth who are thinking of going, but not yet ready to apply, we have a pen pal program that starts in January and goes through the spring,” she said. “Pen pals communicate by email, messaging and frequently by audio and video technology and the Internet.”&nbsp;

In addition, host families for exchange students coming from the partner countries are needed in Kansas. Munson said the deadline to apply to be a host family is March 1

4-H international exchange program set to restart in 2022 

Getting legal entry into the United States has never been an easy or quick process, and it seems to be getting harder, according to the latest data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (via a great article from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/11/19/the-backlog-in-americas-immigration-courts-keeps-growing" target="_blank">The Economist</a>).&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://trac.syr.edu/phptools/immigration/court_backlog/" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;shows there are almost&nbsp;1.5 million immigration cases&nbsp;currently pending in the U.S.&nbsp;— exactly&nbsp;5x&nbsp;the number that were pending a decade ago — with the average wait time to get through the system now up to&nbsp;930 days&nbsp;(roughly&nbsp;2 ½&nbsp;years).&nbsp; Some of the more recent backlog can safely be blamed on the pandemic, but policy over the last&nbsp;10-15 years&nbsp;across multiple administrations and governments has undoubtedly been the longer-term driver. Stricter enforcement, a surge in encounters at the borders and only limited increases in resourcing for the courts, have all added up.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Chart of the Day: Immigration cases clogging courts

Thanks to the generosity and leadership of K-Staters worldwide, Kansas State will officially move forward and break ground on the indoor practice facility, Morgan Family Arena and Olympic training facility on Wednesday prior the Marquette men's basketball game.&nbsp; &nbsp; The ceremonial shovel turning, featuring President Richard Myers, Athletics Director&nbsp;Gene Taylor, and other special guests, will begin Wednesday at 3 p.m.&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Morgan Family Center and Olympic training center and wrap up with the ceremony for the indoor practice facility.&nbsp;Both ceremonies are open to the public.&nbsp; &nbsp; The new indoor football center, which will include an accompanying outdoor practice field, will provide an enormous recruiting and operational advantage for the football program and allow it to operate in a more efficient manner throughout the year. This new facility will feature a full outdoor turf practice field, 130-yard indoor turf practice field, accessibility to the Vanier Family Football Complex and a limestone exterior to match stadium and campus architecture.&nbsp; &nbsp; The volleyball arena will dramatically enhance the student-athlete and fan experience at K-State volleyball matches. The arena will include a seating capacity of approximately 3,100, two practice courts with retractable seating, two video boards, team meeting rooms, locker room, team theater and coaching offices.&nbsp; &nbsp; Attached to the new volleyball arena will be the new Olympic performance center, which will improve the student-athlete experience, training and strength and conditioning opportunities of multiple Wildcat teams. The facility will feature a 14,000 square foot strength and conditioning center, 8,000 square foot second level multi-use turf area, plyometric ramp, sports medicine rehab space, hydrotherapy recovery area, nutrition and refueling station, office space for athletic training and strength staffs along with a state-of-the-art Mental Health and Wellness space which will house all of the necessary tools for overall wellness and performance enhancement.&nbsp;

--from Kansas State University&nbsp;

Public invited to K-State groundbreaking ceremonies 

Megan York’s nighttime photo of the “Old Trooper” statue on Fort Riley’s Cavalry Parade Field was picked as the November winner in the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley photo of the month contest. Megan’s photo is currently on display in Victory Hall, the 1st&nbsp;Infantry Division Headquarters build

December’s photo contest is underway, with entries due by 5 p.m., Dec. 27. December’s theme is “Pets with Personality” and residents of Fort Riley and surrounding communities should submit a photo that captures the family pet’s personality.

To enter a photo in the contest, follow the 1st Infantry Division on Instagram, like the competition announcement and submit your photo via direct message to the 1 ID Instagram page. The contest is open to all residents of the Flint Hills region.

Each month’s winning photo will be featured on the 1 ID Instagram page on the first Friday of the following month. A print of the winning photo will be displayed in Victory Hall for the remainder of that month. The monthly contest will continue through February.

This contest is not sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. The winning photo does not imply U.S. Army endorsement. Entrants must be 13 years and older, submit their own creative work, and that work must be in keeping with Army values and the monthly theme.

1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley name "Photo of the Month" winner for November

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Recent obituaries and service times

MARSHALL COUNTY – The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office reported that 72-year-old Jim Knecht was located tonight in Nebraska. He is now safe.

MARSHALL COUNTY –The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has issued a statewide Silver Alert for a missing 72-year-old Marysville man.

The whereabouts of James “Jim” W. Knecht, 72, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him, according to a media release from the KBI.

Knecht left his home Tuesday morning, Dec.7, at around 8:30 a.m., and was last seen at approximately 10 a.m. at the C.J. East gas station along Highway 36 in Marysville, Kansas. Knecht is driving a blue 2002 Buick Century with Kansas tag 240NEX. He may be traveling toward Iowa.

Knecht has dementia, and takes medication that he does not have with him.

Knecht is a white male, approximately 6 foot-1, and weighing 280 pounds. He has blue eyes and is bald. He has a red birthmark on his forehead. Knecht was last known wearing a black zip-up jacket and blue jeans.

If you see Jim Knecht, or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office at 785-562-3141.

Silver Alert canceled, missing Marysville man found safe

MANHATTAN —On Tuesday, a federal judge in Georgia blocked President Joe Biden's executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/09/09/executive-order-on-ensuring-adequate-covid-safety-protocols-for-federal-contractors/" target="_blank">requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for federal employees, contractors and others</a>. The judge's action puts a hiatus on the mandate for all states, including Kansas.

Effective immediately, Kansas State University will pause its COVID-19 vaccine requirement. At this time, employees do not need to take any further action related to the vaccine requirement, according to University President Richard Myers.

The university will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the vaccine requirement through K-State Today and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/" target="_blank">COVID-19 website.</a>

The health and safety of our faculty, staff and students remains our top priority. I wish to thank everyone in the K-State community who is vaccinated. We encourage people to get vaccinated if they have not done so already. Vaccines are free and widely available. They have been proven safe after millions of inoculations and continue to offer strong protection against COVID-19.

To get vaccinated, students, faculty and staff can contact Lafene Health Center, their local health department, local pharmacies or private physicians.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/vaccine/how-to-find/index.html" target="_blank">Learn about other ways to find a COVID-19 vaccine</a>.

Kansas State University pauses COVID-19 vaccine requirement

MANHATTAN — Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) recognized members and supporters at its 103rd annual meeting, Dec. 5-6 in Manhattan. KFB presented two Kansans with Distinguished Service awards for their exemplary contributions to agriculture in the state.

The organization also presented 12 Friends of Agriculture awards. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture. They are: &nbsp;

Ray and Susan Flickner, McPherson County,&nbsp;received the Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award, which goes to the farm family who exemplifies good land stewardship. At the Flickner Innovation Farm, the goal is to preserve and improve the natural resources like soil, water, trees and wildlife so they can provide for the next generation. Water quality is central to the Flickners’ conservation efforts. They moved away from anhydrous applications in the early 1980s and have implemented minimum and conservation tillage for the past four years. Experimentation with subsurface drip irrigation and precision mobile drip irrigation also has led to more efficient water use, which goes to the farm’s motto of “Growing for the future.” Mitch Messner,&nbsp;Agency Manager for Farm Bureau Financial Services, received KFB’s Partnership Award. This award recognizes someone from Farm Bureau Financial Services who has gone above and beyond for the state’s largest farm organization. In his role he works closely with agents and has done a tremendous job connecting with county Farm Bureaus in his area. Agents, volunteers and members know he can be counted on when help is needed or a problem arises.

KFB honored members, friends at 103rd annual meeting

Wednesday, December 8 -&nbsp; 8:05 p.m. CT - Bramlage Coliseum&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fans are encouraged to wear lavender attire to match the Wildcats’ all-lavender uniforms, which date back to the school’s two-tone lavender uniforms wore from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s by teams coached by legendary head coach Jack Hartman.

<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>

Big Game Mini-Plan: $199 (Marquette is the first of 5 games in the mini plan package)

Bramlage Bundle: $35 (Bundles include a reserve Cat Cushion ticket, a $10 concession voucher and a $10 credit to the K-State Super Store)

In BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle: Marquette leads 1-0 [2019]

Last Meeting: L, 65-73 [12/7/2019 in Manhattan, Kan.]

K-STATE HOSTS MARQUETTE IN BIG EAST/BIG 12 BATTLE

K-State hosts Marquette Wednesday evening

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji scored 23 points, Christian Braun added 20 and eighth-ranked Kansas tuned up for this weekend’s return of the Border War with a 78-52 blowout of UTEP on Tuesday night. David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot added eight points apiece for the Jayhawks (7-1), who led by 21 at halftime and weren't threatened the rest of the way. Souley Boom had 18 points and Keonte Kennedy 11 for UTEP (4-4). Now, the Jayhawks turn their attention to Saturday’s showdown with Missouri. The bitter rivals haven't played a regular-season game since the Tigers bolted for the SEC nearly a decade ago.

Jayhawks cruise past UTEP

Flint Hills Christian 52, Newton Christian 43

Kapaun Mount Carmel 45, Wichita Heights 43

Marais des Cygnes Valley 59, Peabody-Burns 55

Topeka Heritage Christian 50, Central Heights 42

Wichita South 67, Wichita Bishop Carroll 37

Medicine Valley, Neb. 74, Oberlin-Decatur 15

Boys basketball results

Christ Preparatory Academy 44, Cair Paravel 40

Maur Hill - Mount Academy 36, Jefferson North 33

Girls basketball results

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Markquis Nowell scored seven of his 16 points in the final 1:35 and Kansas State used a late surge to defeat Wichita State 65-59 in the renewal of an in-state rivalry. Just after Ricky Council IV knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 52 with 2:02 to play, Nowell answered with a deep 3. Following a Shockers miss, Nowell made two free throws with a minute to go. Nowell’s two free throws made it 64-58 lead with 14 seconds to play. Morris Udeze scored 19 points for Wichita State.

Wildcats defeat the Shockers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The resurgent Kansas City defense shut down Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos and the Chiefs beat Denver 22-9 on Sunday night for their fifth straight win. Daniel Sorenson returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown for Kansas City Patrick Mahomes had 184 yards passing with a touchdown run and an interception for the Chiefs, who now lead the Chargers by a game and the Broncos and Raiders by two in their race for a sixth straight AFC West championship. Javonte Williams started in place of the injured Melvin Gordon III and had 102 yards rushing along with a late touchdown catch for the Broncos. They have lost 12 straight to Kansas City.

Chiefs top the Broncos

Cornerstone Family 44, Blue Ridge Christian, Mo. 21

Flint Hills Christian 50, Topeka Heritage Christian 17

Montverde Academy, Fla. 53, Wichita Sunrise 44

Saturday boys basketball results

Blue Ridge Christian, Mo. 49, Cornerstone Family 13

Saturday girls basketball results

Flint Hills Christian 49, Hutchinson Central Christian 19

Metro Academy 53, Lee's Summit Community Christian, Mo. 43

Wichita Sunrise 64, Oak Hill Academy, Va. 61

Friday night boys high school basketball results

Christ Preparatory Academy 49, Heartland Christian 46

Hutchinson Central Christian 66, Wichita Classical 15

Friday night girls basketball scores

BLUE RAPIDS, Kan. (AP) — A civil rights group says a Kansas town has dropped all charges against a man prosecuted for flying a flag outside his home with a profanity against President Joe Biden. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said Wednesday it got involved after the city of Blue Rapids charged David Sain in August with promoting obscenity. 

The ACLU says in a news release that Sain has a constitutionally protected right to free speech. Blue Rapids officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sain says he is grateful that he can express himself without fear of prosecution.

Charges dropped against Kan. man flying flag with profanity against Biden

Pfizer said Wednesday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine may offer important protection against the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-omicron-variant-c4e5662a36708a594c454b171ab93bd0">new omicron variant</a>&nbsp;even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said that while two doses may not be protective enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of virus-fighting antibodies against the omicron variant.

Blood samples taken a month after a booster showed people harbored levels of omicron-neutralizing antibodies that were similar to amounts proven protective against earlier variants after two doses.

Scientists don’t yet know how big a threat the omicron variant really is. Currently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-southern-africa-pandemics-2a445501cff8d0354fabcf493418365e">the extra-contagious delta variant&nbsp;</a>is responsible for most of the COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and other countries.

But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-pandemics-ec296f982f7342c29fa89f96e09db93a">omicron variant</a>, discovered late last month, carries an unusually large number of mutations and scientists are racing to learn how easily it spreads, whether it causes illness that is more serious or milder than other coronavirus types — and how much it might evade the protection of prior vaccinations.

Pfizer’s findings, announced in a press release, are preliminary and haven’t yet undergone scientific review. But they’re the first from a vaccine maker examining whether the booster doses that health authorities are urging people to get may indeed make an important difference.

Scientists have speculated that the high jump in antibodies that comes with a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines might be enough to counter any decrease in effectiveness.

Pfizer and BioNTech already are working to create an omicron-specific vaccine in case it’s needed.

Antibody levels predict how well a vaccine may prevent infection with the coronavirus but they are just one layer of the immune system’s defenses. Pfizer said two doses of the vaccine should still protect against severe disease, because the mutations in omicron don’t appear to hamper one of those other defenses, T cells that fight the virus after infection sets in.

“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is maximized with a third dose of our vaccine,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.

Pfizer’s announcement had an immediate impact on U.S. markets. Futures that had pointed to a lower open reversed course in seconds and swung solidly to the positive with the Dow jumping almost 200 points.

Pfizer: COVID booster may offer protection against omicron

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Move over, BIF and BBB. Now there's BBA.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516606-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-missouri-infrastructure-law&amp;live">Click here to watch t</a>he President's comments while in Kansas City.

President Joe Biden, trying to rebound from sagging poll numbers, is rebranding his bipartisan infrastructure package as “Building a Better America” as part of a trip Wednesday to Kansas City, Missouri, to promote the deal.

The economy has roared back during Biden's tenure, but high inflation, political polarization and the inability to fully break free of the coronavirus pandemic has hurt his popularity. The new slogan tied to the $1 trillion infrastructure package is an effort to say that the president's bipartisan deal will improve the country in ways well beyond simply repairing its aging roads and bridges.

The new slogan replaces past informal references to BIF, the bipartisan infrastructure framework. And it also hews closely to Biden’s separate “Build Back Better” agenda of tax hikes on the wealthy and an expansion of education, family and environmental programs still pending in the Senate. That broad slogan has made it challenging for people to easily grasp all that’s in the package.

The White House launched a site Wednesday that asks Americans to record videos about how the infrastructure spending will help their communities, part of a search for grassroots support as the administration seeks greater recognition for its achievements ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

The infrastructure law will fund upgrades and repairs to roads, bridges, and mass transit and water systems nationwide, along with a shift to electrical vehicles to help ease the effects of climate change.

Biden on Wednesday headed to Missouri which has nearly 2,200 bridges and more than 7,570 miles of highway deemed in poor condition. Under the law, Missouri would expect to receive $7 billion for highways and bridges, a nearly 30% increase in federal funding, the White House said.

The Buck O'Neil Bridge in Kansas City is among bridges in the state in need of repair.

Construction on a replacement bridge began in the fall, before Biden signed the infrastructure bill, and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, at an estimated cost of close to $220 million borne by the state and the city.

The 65-year-old bridge is a key route connecting downtown Kansas City with northern Kansas City and growing suburbs across the Missouri River, and carries about 50,000 vehicles a day, according to the state Department of Transportation. It opened in 1956 and had required frequent upgrades and repairs in recent years.

The bridge is named for Buck O'Neil, a two-time All-Star first baseman in baseball's Negro Leagues and the first Black coach in the National or American leagues. O'Neil was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Biden kicked off the infrastructure tour last week at a technical college in Rosemount, Minnesota.

🎥 Biden in Kansas City reveals new brand for infrastructure deal 

MOSCOW (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow will face a severe economic pain if it tries to attack Ukraine, but promised prospective talks to address Russia's concerns about NATO's expansion.

Biden said he was “very straightforward” with Putin during their call Tuesday, warning the Russian leader that he will pay a heavy price if he invades Ukraine.

“There were no minced words," Biden said at the White House before departing for Kanzas City. "It was polite, but I made it very clear. If in fact he invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences, severe consequences. Economic consequences like you’ve never seen. I am absolutely confident he got the message.”

Asked by reporters if he’d ruled out U.S. troops on the ground to stop Russia, Biden said “that’s not on the table," saying that a U.S. obligation to protect NATO allies if they come under attack doesn't extend to Ukraine, which is not in the Atlantic military alliance.

"The idea that the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia for invading Ukraine is not in the cards right now,” Biden said.

At the same time, he said that the U.S., its allies and Russia could sit down for talks to discuss Moscow's grievances about NATO's expansion.

“We hope by Friday we’re gonna be able to say, announce to you we’re having meetings at a higher level, not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies, and Russia to discuss the future of Russia’s concern relative to NATO writ large and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature along the eastern front (in Ukraine)," Biden said.

Putin, for his part, promised that Moscow will submit its proposals for a security dialogue with the U.S. in a few days. He reaffirmed his denial of planning to attack Ukraine, but said that Moscow can’t remain indifferent to NATO’s possible expansion to its neighbor.

Putin, who entered Tuesday's call with Biden looking for Western guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine, countered Western arguments that Russia has no say in the alliance expansion by arguing that security in Europe can only be mutual.

“Every country certainly has the right to choose the most acceptable way of ensuring its security, but it must be done in a way that doesn't infringe on the interests and undermine security of other countries, in this case Russia," Putin said. “Security must be global and equally cover everyone.”

“We can’t fail to be concerned about the prospect of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, because that will undoubtedly lead to the deployment of military contingents, bases and weapons that would threaten us,” he told reporters after talks in Sochi with visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

He described the two-hour conversation with Biden as “very open, specific and, I would say constructive,” adding that he and Biden have agreed to ask experts to conduct talks on security in Europe.

“Russia will prepare its arguments literally in a few days, within a week, and we will submit it to the American side for consideration,” he said.

“We proceed from the assumption that this time are concerns will be heard,” he said, noting that the West ignored Moscow's complaints in the past about NATO's expansion eastward to incorporate former Soviet allies in Central and Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics in the Baltics.

Asked Wednesday if Russia was going to attack Ukraine, Putin called the question provocative, saying that “Russia is conducting a peaceful foreign policy, but it has the right to ensure its security in the mid- and long-term perspective.”

The leader-to-leader conversation — Biden speaking from the White House Situation Room, Putin from his residence in Sochi — was one of the most important of Biden’s presidency and came at a perilous time.

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russia has moved 70,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has made preparations for a possible invasion early next year. Moscow has denied any plans to attack Ukraine, rejecting Western concerns as part of a campaign to smear Russia.

White House officials made clear that Biden is not interested in putting U.S. troops in harm’s way defending Ukraine. But U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan noted that Biden said the U.S. would also “provide additional defensive material to the Ukrainians … and we would fortify our NATO allies on the eastern flank with additional capabilities in response to such an escalation.”

Sullivan said the U.S. believes that Putin hasn’t yet made a final decision to invade. Biden was vice president in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 14,000 people and is still an active conflict.

Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Putin countered Biden’s expressions of concern about the Russian troop buildup near Ukraine by snapping: “You Americans are worried about Russian battalions on Russian territory thousands of miles away from the United States, while we are really worried about our security.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that “it was positive that the U.S. president spoke to the Russian president,” adding that he would comment in detail on Thursday, after his own phone call with Biden.

With no immediate breakthrough&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1170930d07c3b41d227dbf44b062aa26">on the Ukraine question</a>, the U.S. emphasized a need for diplomacy and de-escalation, while issuing stern threats to Russia about the high costs of a military incursion.

A top U.S. envoy, Victoria Nuland, said a Russian invasion of Ukraine would also jeopardize a controversial pipeline between Russia and Germany known as Nord Stream 2. She told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that if Russia invaded, “our expectation is that the pipeline will be suspended.”

On another matter, Putin proposed to lift all mutual restrictions on diplomatic missions and help normalize other aspects of bilateral relations, according to the Kremlin. Sullivan said the leaders would direct their staff to continue negotiations on that.

There was at least one area where the two leaders found common ground. Sullivan said Biden and Putin had a “good discussion” on efforts to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power and called it an area where the two countries could cooperate.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to appoint envoys to continue talks on security in Europe in light of escalating tensions over Russia’s massing tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine, but the Kremlin said Wednesday it was unclear when the talks would happen.

Biden and Putin spoke for over two hours during a video call on Tuesday. The conversation seemed to have yielded little progress on Ukraine and the Russian troop buildup apart from the two leaders agreeing to name envoys to keep the discussion going.

“It’s impossible to tell at this point when exactly this would happen, but the presidents meant that it should happen rather promptly,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to a question about the next steps for Washington and Moscow after the much-anticipated call between Putin and Biden.

Biden delivered a simple message to during his call with Putin: invade Ukraine again and face painful sanctions that will do resounding harm to your economy. The Russian president had his own blunt take, telling Biden that “the Russian troops are on their own territory, and they don’t threaten anyone,” according to Putin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he would comment in detail on Thursday, after his own scheduled phone call with Biden. “Overall,...it was positive that the U.S. president spoke to the Russian president,” Zelenskyy said.

With no immediate breakthrough on the Ukraine question, the U.S. emphasized a need for diplomacy and de-escalation, while issuing stern threats to Russia about the high costs of a military incursion.

Biden “told President Putin directly that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States and our European allies would respond with strong economic measures,” U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said. He added that Biden said the U.S. would also “provide additional defensive material to the Ukrainians … and we would fortify our NATO allies on the eastern flank with additional capabilities in response to such an escalation.”

White House officials made clear that Biden is not interested in putting U.S. troops in harm’s way defending Ukraine. But Sullivan added that potential efforts to bolster regional allies could lead to additional deployments of U.S. troops to eastern European NATO allies.

Kremlin spokesman Peskov insisted Wednesday that Nord Stream 2 wasn't even mentioned during the call between Putin and Biden.

Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser, dismissed the sanctions threat, telling reporters following the presidents' video call: “Sanctions aren’t something new. They have been in place for a long time and will not have any effect.”

He described the presidents’ video conference as “candid and businesslike,” adding that they also exchanged occasional jokes.

The two leaders spoke on the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a defining moment that led to the U.S. entry in World War II. They commiserated about the cost of that conflict to their own families, Ushakov noted. Hours before the high-stakes call, Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited a war memorial in Washington to commemorate the anniversary.

In a brief snippet of the start of their meeting broadcasted by Russian state television, the two leaders offered friendly greetings to each other.

“I welcome you, Mr. President,” Putin said, with a Russian flag behind him and a video monitor showing Biden in front of him.

At the White House, Sullivan called it “a useful meeting,” allowing Biden to lay out in candid terms where America stands.

But as the U.S. and Russian presidents conferred, Ukraine grew only more anxious about the tens of thousands of Russian troops that have been deployed near its border.

Ukrainian officials said Russia had further escalated the crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire” and lay a pretext for a potential invasion.

U.S. intelligence officials haven't been able to independently verify that accusation, according to an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

But the official said that the White House has directly raised concerns with the Russians about “resorting to their old playbook” by trying to provoke the Ukrainians.

Putin entered the call looking for guarantees from Biden that an expansion of the NATO military alliance would never include Ukraine, a demand that was a non-starter for the U.S. and its NATO allies.

The Kremlin, in a post-call statement, said NATO had been “making dangerous attempts to expand its presence on the Ukrainian territory and has been expanding its military potential near Russian borders.”

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russia has moved 70,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has made preparations for a possible invasion early next year.

Sullivan said the U.S. believes that Putin hasn't yet made a final decision to invade. Biden was vice president in 2014 when Russian troops strode into the Black Sea's Crimean Peninsula and annexed it from Ukraine.

Aides say the Crimea episode — one of the darker moments for then President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks at the smoldering current crisis.

Biden’s Republican opponents in Washington are framing this moment as a key test of the president’s leadership on the global stage. Biden vowed as a candidate to reassert American leadership after President Donald Trump’s emphasis on an “America First” foreign policy.

“I will look you in the eye and tell you as President Biden looked President Putin in the eye and told him today that things we did not do in 2014, we are prepared to do now,” Sullivan told reporters after the leaders’ video call.

But there was at least one area where the two leaders found common ground during Tuesday’s call.

Sullivan said Biden and Putin had a “good discussion” on efforts to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power and called it an area where the two countries could cooperate.

In Russia, the talks were seen as acceptable overall, said Pavel Sharikov, senior research fellow at the Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences.

“The impression of the (call) is satisfactory. It was held in a pragmatic manner. There was an intense dialogue, an exchange of opinions,” Sharikov told The Associated Press.

Biden on Tuesday spoke for the second straight day with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy to coordinate messaging and potential sanctions. Biden is also expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.

Kremlin, White House differ on result of Putin-Biden call

BARTON COUNTY — A Kansas teen died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday in Barton County.

According to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, a 2013 Chevy Malibu driven by 15-year-old Murphy Woodmansee of Great Bend&nbsp;was southbound on U.S. 281 near the 4-H building between Hoisington and Great Bend.

The vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2021 Kenworth semi loaded with sand and driven by Sean Guesnier, a, 62, Great Bend

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