JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.&nbsp;—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 11a.m. August 15, a deputy stopped a southbound Nissan&nbsp; passenger vehicle near 110th&nbsp;and U.S. Highway 75 after the driver of the vehicle was identified as having outstanding warrants, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies arrested the driver, Sklyer Thomas Tosspon, 40, of Hiawatha and passenger Elizabeth Marie Bruning, 40, of Robinson.

&nbsp;Tosspon had a Nebraska warrant for drug violations and a Jackson County District Court warrant, according to Morse.

Tosspon and Bruning were booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660675865788.png" alt="Tosspon-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Tosspon-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.&nbsp;—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a traffic stop.Just before 11a.m. August 15, a deputy stopped a southbound Nissan&nbsp; passenger vehicle near 110th&nbsp;and U.S. Highway 75 after the driver of the vehicle was identified as having outstanding warrants, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies arrested the driver, Sklyer Thomas Tosspon, 40, of Hiawatha and passenger Elizabeth Marie Bruning, 40, of Robinson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660675840723.png" alt="Bruning -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bruning -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Tosspon had a Nebraska warrant for drug violations and a Jackson County District Court warrant, according to Morse.Tosspon and Bruning were booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Suspect wanted in 2 states captured in Kansas 

HARVEY COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a homemade golf cart driven by&nbsp; Cale M. Lasiter, 22, Newton was eastbound at 1701 James Court in Newton.

The driver fell off the vehicle. The golf car left the roadway to the left, overturned and came to rest in a driveway.

EMS transported&nbsp; Lasiter to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

HARVEY COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Harvey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a homemade golf cart driven by&nbsp; Cale M. Lasiter, 22, Newton was eastbound at 1701 James Court in Newton.The driver fell off the vehicle. The golf car left the roadway to the left, overturned and came to rest in a driveway.EMS transported&nbsp; Lasiter to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man injured after fall from homemade golf cart

ROOKS COUNTY — A northwest Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for second-degree intentional murder in the 2020 death of a woman in northwest Kansas, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Thomas S. Wojtczuk, 42, Woodston, was sentenced late Tuesday in Rooks County District Court by Judge Thomas J. Drees. Wojtczuk was sentenced to 285 months in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility for one count of second-degree intentional murder and eight months for one count of a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentences are to be served consecutively. Wojtczuk was also ordered to register as a violent offender for 15 years and serve 36 months of post-release supervision.

A Rooks County jury convicted&nbsp;Wojtczuk in June&nbsp;after a seven-day trial for the April 8, 2020, death of Charity Northrop in Woodston.&nbsp;

Wojtczuk has been registered as a violent sex offender since 2020 for an aggravated criminal sexual abuse conviction in 2014 in Illinois, according to the KBI offender registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587157905240.png" alt="Wojtczuk-photo Rooks Co." />
 <figcaption>Wojtczuk-photo Rooks Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ROOKS COUNTY — A northwest Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for second-degree intentional murder in the 2020 death of a woman in northwest Kansas, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Thomas S. Wojtczuk, 42, Woodston, was sentenced late Tuesday in Rooks County District Court by Judge Thomas J. Drees. Wojtczuk was sentenced to 285 months in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility for one count of second-degree intentional murder and eight months for one count of a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentences are to be served consecutively. Wojtczuk was also ordered to register as a violent offender for 15 years and serve 36 months of post-release supervision.A Rooks County jury convicted&nbsp;Wojtczuk in June&nbsp;after a seven-day trial for the April 8, 2020, death of Charity Northrop in Woodston.&nbsp;Wojtczuk has been registered as a violent sex offender since 2020 for an aggravated criminal sexual abuse conviction in 2014 in Illinois, according to the KBI offender registry.

Sex offender sentenced for murder of woman in NW Kansas

RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a former Hutchinson police officer for serial sexual assault.

Todd Wade Allen, 51, is being held in the Reno County Correctional Facility on a bond of $250,000.

The requested charges filed with the Reno Co. District Attorney include five counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, nine counts of aggravated sexual battery and five counts of breach of privacy that date back to 2012.

The arrest is connected to a string of sexual assaults and prowler calls including several sexual assaults in Carey Park. According to Chief Jeff Hooper the attacks happened while Allen was with the force.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660773528862.png" alt="Allen-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a former Hutchinson police officer for serial sexual assault.Todd Wade Allen, 51, is being held in the Reno County Correctional Facility on a bond of $250,000.The requested charges filed with the Reno Co. District Attorney include five counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, nine counts of aggravated sexual battery and five counts of breach of privacy that date back to 2012.The arrest is connected to a string of sexual assaults and prowler calls including several sexual assaults in Carey Park. According to Chief Jeff Hooper the attacks happened while Allen was with the force.

Former Kansas  police officer accused of serial sexual assault

WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation raging near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-july-report-ec477624de30115dd49f35009b2659c0">its highest level in four decades</a>, President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon signed into law his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Its title raises a tantalizing question: Will the measure actually tame the price spikes that have inflicted hardships on American households?

Economic&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">analyses of the proposal</a>&nbsp;suggest that the likely answer is no — not anytime soon, anyway.

The legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">which was approved by Congress last week</a>, won't directly address some of the main drivers of surging prices — from gas and food to rents and restaurant meals.

Still, the law could save money for some Americans by lessening the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly, extending health insurance subsidies and reducing energy prices. It would also modestly cut the government's budget deficit, which might slightly lower inflation by the end of this decade.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58357">concluded this month</a>&nbsp;that the changes would have a “negligible” impact on inflation this year and next. And the University of Pennsylvania's&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">Penn Wharton Budget Model concluded that,</a>&nbsp;over the next decade, "the impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.”

Such forecasts also undercut the arguments that some Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have made, that the bill would “cause inflation,” as McCarthy said in a speech on the House floor.

Biden himself, in speaking of the legislation's effect on inflation, has referred to potentially lower prices in individual categories rather than to lower inflation as a whole. The president said the bill would “bring down the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance premiums and energy costs.”

At the same time, the White House has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22124998-letter-from-economists-to-congressional-leadership">trumpeted a letter</a>&nbsp;signed by more than 120 economists, including several Novel Prize winners and former Treasury secretaries, that asserts that the law's reduction in the government's budget deficit — by an estimated $300 billion over the next decade, according to the CBO — would put “downward pressure on inflation.”

In theory, lower deficits can reduce inflation. That's because reduced government spending or higher taxes, both of which help shrink the deficit, drive down demand in the economy, thereby easing pressure on companies to raise prices.

Jason Furman, a Harvard economist who served as a top economic adviser in the Obama administration, wrote in an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal: “Deficit reduction is almost always inflation-reducing.”

Yet Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush and later a director of the CBO, noted that the lower deficits won't kick in until five years from now and won't be very large over the next decade considering the size of the economy.

“$30 billion a year in a $21 trillion economy isn’t going to move the needle,” Holtz-Eakin said, referring to the estimated amount of deficit reduction spread over 10 years.

He also noted that Congress has recently passed other legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-technology-united-states-economy-2fa651c540c9869890dfe670bcdcb7ea">subsidize semiconductor production</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. and expand veterans' health care, and said that those laws will spend more than the Inflation Reduction Act will save.

In addition, Kent Smetters, director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, said the law's health care subsidies could send inflation higher. The legislation would spend $70 billion over a decade to extend tax credits to help 13 million Americans pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Those subsidies would free up money for recipients to spend elsewhere, potentially increasing inflation, although Smetters said the effect would likely be very small.

Though the measure could have the benefit of increasing the savings of millions of households on pharmaceutical and energy costs, those items typically constitute relatively small portions of household budgets. Prescription drugs account for only 1% of the spending in the U.S. consumer price index; spending on electricity and natural gas makes up just 3.6%.

Starting in 2025, the act will cap the amount Medicare recipients would pay for their prescription drugs at $2,000 a year. It will authorize Medicare to negotiate the cost of some high-priced pharmaceuticals — a long-sought goal that President Donald Trump had also floated. It would also limit Medicare recipients' out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month. Insulin prescriptions averaged $54 in 2020, according&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/insulin-out-of-pocket-costs-in-medicare-part-d/">to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.

“This is a historic change,” said Leigh Purvis, director of health care costs at the AARP Public Policy Institute. “This is allowing Medicare to protect beneficiaries from high drug prices in a way that was not there before.”

A study by Kaiser found that in 2019, 1.2 million Medicare recipients spent an average of $3,216 on drug prescriptions. Purvis said recipients who use the most expensive drugs can spend as much as $10,000 or $15,000 a year.

The legislation authorizes Medicare to negotiate prices of 10 expensive pharmaceuticals, starting next year, though the results won't take effect until 2026. Up to 60 drugs could be subject to negotiation by 2029.

Holtz-Eakin argued that while the provision may lower the cost of some Medicare drugs, it would discourage the development of new drugs or reduce new venture capital investment in start-up pharmaceutical companies.

The Inflation Reduction Act's energy provisions could also create savings, though the amounts are likely to be much smaller.

The bill will provide a $7,500 tax credit for new purchases of electric vehicles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicles-tax-credit-cfd3d9322230446f65d629b05c2ae551">though most EVs won't qualify</a>&nbsp;because the legislation requires them to include batteries with U.S. materials.

And the legislation also significantly expands a tax credit for homeowners who invest in energy-efficient equipment, from a one-time $500 credit to $1,200 that a homeowner could claim each year. Vincent Barnes, senior vice president for policy at the Alliance to Save Energy, said this would allow homeowners to make new energy-efficient investments over several years.

But for all Americans, including those who aren't homeowners, the impact will likely be limited. The Rhodium Group estimates that by 2030 the bill's provisions will save households an average of up to $112 a year as gas and electricity becomes cheaper as more Americans drive EVs and houses become more energy- efficient.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660679447127.png" alt="President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrate during Tuesday's signing ceremony-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrate during Tuesday's signing ceremony-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation raging near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-july-report-ec477624de30115dd49f35009b2659c0">its highest level in four decades</a>, President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon signed into law his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Its title raises a tantalizing question: Will the measure actually tame the price spikes that have inflicted hardships on American households?<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3VWauAOR-gw?start=2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Economic&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">analyses of the proposal</a>&nbsp;suggest that the likely answer is no — not anytime soon, anyway.The legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">which was approved by Congress last week</a>, won't directly address some of the main drivers of surging prices — from gas and food to rents and restaurant meals.Still, the law could save money for some Americans by lessening the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly, extending health insurance subsidies and reducing energy prices. It would also modestly cut the government's budget deficit, which might slightly lower inflation by the end of this decade.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660769479347.png" alt="President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law – lowering costs for families, combatting the climate crisis, reducing the deficit, and making the largest corporations finally pay their fair share." />
 <figcaption>President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law – lowering costs for families, combatting the climate crisis, reducing the deficit, and making the largest corporations finally pay their fair share.</figcaption>
 </figure>The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58357">concluded this month</a>&nbsp;that the changes would have a “negligible” impact on inflation this year and next. And the University of Pennsylvania's&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">Penn Wharton Budget Model concluded that,</a>&nbsp;over the next decade, "the impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.”Such forecasts also undercut the arguments that some Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have made, that the bill would “cause inflation,” as McCarthy said in a speech on the House floor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660680943615.png" alt="Biden signed the bill into law during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon-White House phto" />
 <figcaption>Biden signed the bill into law during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon-White House phto</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden himself, in speaking of the legislation's effect on inflation, has referred to potentially lower prices in individual categories rather than to lower inflation as a whole. The president said the bill would “bring down the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance premiums and energy costs.”At the same time, the White House has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22124998-letter-from-economists-to-congressional-leadership">trumpeted a letter</a>&nbsp;signed by more than 120 economists, including several Novel Prize winners and former Treasury secretaries, that asserts that the law's reduction in the government's budget deficit — by an estimated $300 billion over the next decade, according to the CBO — would put “downward pressure on inflation.”In theory, lower deficits can reduce inflation. That's because reduced government spending or higher taxes, both of which help shrink the deficit, drive down demand in the economy, thereby easing pressure on companies to raise prices.Jason Furman, a Harvard economist who served as a top economic adviser in the Obama administration, wrote in an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal: “Deficit reduction is almost always inflation-reducing.”Yet Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush and later a director of the CBO, noted that the lower deficits won't kick in until five years from now and won't be very large over the next decade considering the size of the economy.“$30 billion a year in a $21 trillion economy isn’t going to move the needle,” Holtz-Eakin said, referring to the estimated amount of deficit reduction spread over 10 years.He also noted that Congress has recently passed other legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-technology-united-states-economy-2fa651c540c9869890dfe670bcdcb7ea">subsidize semiconductor production</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. and expand veterans' health care, and said that those laws will spend more than the Inflation Reduction Act will save.In addition, Kent Smetters, director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, said the law's health care subsidies could send inflation higher. The legislation would spend $70 billion over a decade to extend tax credits to help 13 million Americans pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.Those subsidies would free up money for recipients to spend elsewhere, potentially increasing inflation, although Smetters said the effect would likely be very small.Though the measure could have the benefit of increasing the savings of millions of households on pharmaceutical and energy costs, those items typically constitute relatively small portions of household budgets. Prescription drugs account for only 1% of the spending in the U.S. consumer price index; spending on electricity and natural gas makes up just 3.6%.Starting in 2025, the act will cap the amount Medicare recipients would pay for their prescription drugs at $2,000 a year. It will authorize Medicare to negotiate the cost of some high-priced pharmaceuticals — a long-sought goal that President Donald Trump had also floated. It would also limit Medicare recipients' out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month. Insulin prescriptions averaged $54 in 2020, according&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/insulin-out-of-pocket-costs-in-medicare-part-d/">to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.“This is a historic change,” said Leigh Purvis, director of health care costs at the AARP Public Policy Institute. “This is allowing Medicare to protect beneficiaries from high drug prices in a way that was not there before.”A study by Kaiser found that in 2019, 1.2 million Medicare recipients spent an average of $3,216 on drug prescriptions. Purvis said recipients who use the most expensive drugs can spend as much as $10,000 or $15,000 a year.The legislation authorizes Medicare to negotiate prices of 10 expensive pharmaceuticals, starting next year, though the results won't take effect until 2026. Up to 60 drugs could be subject to negotiation by 2029.Holtz-Eakin argued that while the provision may lower the cost of some Medicare drugs, it would discourage the development of new drugs or reduce new venture capital investment in start-up pharmaceutical companies.The Inflation Reduction Act's energy provisions could also create savings, though the amounts are likely to be much smaller.The bill will provide a $7,500 tax credit for new purchases of electric vehicles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicles-tax-credit-cfd3d9322230446f65d629b05c2ae551">though most EVs won't qualify</a>&nbsp;because the legislation requires them to include batteries with U.S. materials.And the legislation also significantly expands a tax credit for homeowners who invest in energy-efficient equipment, from a one-time $500 credit to $1,200 that a homeowner could claim each year. Vincent Barnes, senior vice president for policy at the Alliance to Save Energy, said this would allow homeowners to make new energy-efficient investments over several years.But for all Americans, including those who aren't homeowners, the impact will likely be limited. The Rhodium Group estimates that by 2030 the bill's provisions will save households an average of up to $112 a year as gas and electricity becomes cheaper as more Americans drive EVs and houses become more energy- efficient.

🎥Inflation Reduction Act may have little impact on inflation

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/17/schmidt-proposes-construction-of-four-lane-highway-linking-pittsburg-to-garden-city-liberal/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Republican governor 
candidate Derek Schmidt proposed Wednesday construction of four-lane 
highway connecting southwest and southeast Kansas by way of Wichita to 
promote the kind of economic return on investment Interstate 70 
delivered for decades to the state’s northern tier.

Schmidt, who is challenging Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in November, 
said significant portions of the project existed or were planned, 
budgeted or under construction. The idea would be to connect U.S. 54 at 
Liberal and U.S. 400 in Dodge City with the four-lane highway extending 
west to Kingman from Wichita, link to the Kellogg corridor and an 
extension to Andover, before following U.S. 400 through Parsons to U.S. 
69 near Pittsburg.

His campaign statement didn’t include a preliminary cost for the 
transportation initiative, but Schmidt vowed to make a priority of 
pulling together each of the components and closing gaps necessary to 
complete the vision.

It would be modeled after President Dwight Eisenhower’s commitment 70
 years ago to creating I-70 as an east-to-west connector in the northern
 tier of Kansas, he said.

“In my view, the construction of Interstate 70 across northern Kansas
 continues to provide perhaps the biggest economic return on capital 
investment of taxpayer dollars in Kansas history,” Schmidt said. 
“Southern Kansas needs and deserves that same opportunity because in the
 21st century, four-lane access is essential for economic growth, 
particularly in manufacturing and agriculture, which are staples of the 
region.”

In addition, Schmidt proposed an amendment to the Kansas Constitution
 that would prohibit lawmakers from diverting state highway money to 
other government priorities.

Former Gov. Sam Brownback, while struggling to maintain an agenda 
devoted to slashing state income taxes, seized hundreds of millions of 
dollars annually from the Kansas Department of Transportation to balance
 his budgets. Other Kansas governors have relied on highway funds, but 
not to the level perfected by Brownback.

In 2022, Kelly and the Legislature completed a multiyear process of 
weaning the state budget off highway funding in a move to close the 
“Bank of KDOT.”

On Monday, Kelly was in Andover to outline 11 major 
highway projects with a total investment of $520 million. The package 
was part of the bipartisan transportation program named in honor of 
Eisenhower. Adding this batch to the construction pipeline brought to 
$1.3 billion the Kelly administration’s commitment to highway 
modernization and expansion.

The highest priority in south-central Kansas in this 
round of projects was the $230 million upgrade of east Kellogg along 
U.S. 54 and U.S. 400 from the Kansas 96 interchange to the 159th Street 
interchange. This piece would fit into the four-lane highway concept 
raised by Schmidt.

“Expanding and modernizing our highways will improve 
roadway safety, create good jobs and deliver more economic opportunities
 across Kansas, both now and in the future,” Kelly said. “These 11 
projects demonstrate that investing in transportation benefits 
our communities, taxpayers and businesses.”

Another of the 11 projects of the governor’s list was 
the $124 million widening to four lanes of a seven-mile stretch on 
Kansas 10 in Douglas County. Additional transportation projects were 
announced for Ellis, Geary, Franklin, Miami, Morris, Osborne, Saline, 
Sheridan and Wabaunsee counties.

Bob Totten, former executive vice president of the Kansas Contractors
 Association, said in July that Brownback inappropriately relied on 
revenue earmarked for roads and bridges as a slush fund to pay for his 
unsuccessful “tax experiement.” Cash transfers from KDOT decimated the 
state’s highway construction fund and left the state without sufficient 
resources to complete essential infrastructure jobs, he said.

He said that since 1989 a series of Republican and Democratic 
governors had understood a robust transportation program was necessary 
for the state to grow economically.

“Unfortunately, the only governor in that time frame that I didn’t 
mention was Governor Brownback and unfortunately he had a different idea
 about how we were supposed to go in regards to transportation,” Totten 
said. “His budget leadership took a million dollars a day from KDOT, which hurt the economic benefits derived from the transportation program.”

Andy Sanchez, executive secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO in Kansas,
 said Brownback caused the delay of $500 million in construction 
projects, triggered job losses and unnecessarily placed motorists at 
greater risk.

“As our bridges and roads went without maintenance and routine 
upkeep, it was all caused by Sam Brownback, with Derek Schmidt at his 
side,” he said.

Schmidt, who is from Independence, said development of four-lane 
highway across the southern part of the state was generations overdue.

“It’s time to be bold in this corridor so we can get the maximum 
economic benefit from the power of a four-lane highway in attracting new
 investment and career opportunities in southern Kansas and expanding 
existing operations,” he said.

He said adoption in 2020 of the state’s&nbsp; Eisenhower highway program 
and passage last year of federal funding for infrastructure investments 
would make billions of dollars available for transportation initiatives 
in Kansas.

The state’s five Republican members of Congress — U.S. Sens. Jerry 
Moran of Manhattan and Roger Marshall of Great Bend and U.S. Reps. Jake 
LaTurner of Topeka, Ron Estes of Wichita and Tracey Mann of Salina — 
voted against that $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill. It was 
supported by U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas City.

“Expanding and enhancing roads like U.S. 400 is an economic
 win for rural and urban parts of our state,” said Estes, who endorsed 
Schmidt’s infrastructure proposal. “As someone who grew up on a Kansas 
farm and now lives in the state’s largest city, I can say with certainty
 that having better connectivity along this critical corridor will 
provide benefits well beyond just a smooth drive between communities.”

LaTurner, who serves the 2nd District that includes 
southeast Kansas, said Schmidt’s plan would improve roads, bridges and 
other infrastructure while boosting local economies. He said eastern 
Kansas was “in desperate need of real infrastructure reform and 
investment.”

Jim Zaleski, economic director in Parsons, said a four-lane
 highway through that city would open up opportunity for economic 
development. Highway access is ranked among the top criteria job 
creators looked for when deciding where to invest, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660759732267.png" alt="Derek Schmidt, a Republican candidate for governor, proposed construction of a four-lane highway linking southwest Kansas to southeast Kansas via Wichita to promote economic development in that broad region. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Derek Schmidt, a Republican candidate for governor, proposed construction of a four-lane highway linking southwest Kansas to southeast Kansas via Wichita to promote economic development in that broad region. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/17/schmidt-proposes-construction-of-four-lane-highway-linking-pittsburg-to-garden-city-liberal/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Republican governor 
candidate Derek Schmidt proposed Wednesday construction of four-lane 
highway connecting southwest and southeast Kansas by way of Wichita to 
promote the kind of economic return on investment Interstate 70 
delivered for decades to the state’s northern tier.Schmidt, who is challenging Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in November, 
said significant portions of the project existed or were planned, 
budgeted or under construction. The idea would be to connect U.S. 54 at 
Liberal and U.S. 400 in Dodge City with the four-lane highway extending 
west to Kingman from Wichita, link to the Kellogg corridor and an 
extension to Andover, before following U.S. 400 through Parsons to U.S. 
69 near Pittsburg.His campaign statement didn’t include a preliminary cost for the 
transportation initiative, but Schmidt vowed to make a priority of 
pulling together each of the components and closing gaps necessary to 
complete the vision.It would be modeled after President Dwight Eisenhower’s commitment 70
 years ago to creating I-70 as an east-to-west connector in the northern
 tier of Kansas, he said.“In my view, the construction of Interstate 70 across northern Kansas
 continues to provide perhaps the biggest economic return on capital 
investment of taxpayer dollars in Kansas history,” Schmidt said. 
“Southern Kansas needs and deserves that same opportunity because in the
 21st century, four-lane access is essential for economic growth, 
particularly in manufacturing and agriculture, which are staples of the 
region.”In addition, Schmidt proposed an amendment to the Kansas Constitution
 that would prohibit lawmakers from diverting state highway money to 
other government priorities.Former Gov. Sam Brownback, while struggling to maintain an agenda 
devoted to slashing state income taxes, seized hundreds of millions of 
dollars annually from the Kansas Department of Transportation to balance
 his budgets. Other Kansas governors have relied on highway funds, but 
not to the level perfected by Brownback.In 2022, Kelly and the Legislature completed a multiyear process of 
weaning the state budget off highway funding in a move to close the 
“Bank of KDOT.”<h2>Kelly’s $520M package</h2>On Monday, Kelly was in Andover to outline 11 major 
highway projects with a total investment of $520 million. The package 
was part of the bipartisan transportation program named in honor of 
Eisenhower. Adding this batch to the construction pipeline brought to 
$1.3 billion the Kelly administration’s commitment to highway 
modernization and expansion.The highest priority in south-central Kansas in this 
round of projects was the $230 million upgrade of east Kellogg along 
U.S. 54 and U.S. 400 from the Kansas 96 interchange to the 159th Street 
interchange. This piece would fit into the four-lane highway concept 
raised by Schmidt.“Expanding and modernizing our highways will improve 
roadway safety, create good jobs and deliver more economic opportunities
 across Kansas, both now and in the future,” Kelly said. “These 11 
projects demonstrate that investing in transportation benefits 
our communities, taxpayers and businesses.”Another of the 11 projects of the governor’s list was 
the $124 million widening to four lanes of a seven-mile stretch on 
Kansas 10 in Douglas County. Additional transportation projects were 
announced for Ellis, Geary, Franklin, Miami, Morris, Osborne, Saline, 
Sheridan and Wabaunsee counties.Bob Totten, former executive vice president of the Kansas Contractors
 Association, said in July that Brownback inappropriately relied on 
revenue earmarked for roads and bridges as a slush fund to pay for his 
unsuccessful “tax experiement.” Cash transfers from KDOT decimated the 
state’s highway construction fund and left the state without sufficient 
resources to complete essential infrastructure jobs, he said.He said that since 1989 a series of Republican and Democratic 
governors had understood a robust transportation program was necessary 
for the state to grow economically.“Unfortunately, the only governor in that time frame that I didn’t 
mention was Governor Brownback and unfortunately he had a different idea
 about how we were supposed to go in regards to transportation,” Totten 
said. “His budget leadership took a million dollars a day from KDOT, which hurt the economic benefits derived from the transportation program.”Andy Sanchez, executive secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO in Kansas,
 said Brownback caused the delay of $500 million in construction 
projects, triggered job losses and unnecessarily placed motorists at 
greater risk.“As our bridges and roads went without maintenance and routine 
upkeep, it was all caused by Sam Brownback, with Derek Schmidt at his 
side,” he said.<h2>‘Economic win’</h2>Schmidt, who is from Independence, said development of four-lane 
highway across the southern part of the state was generations overdue.“It’s time to be bold in this corridor so we can get the maximum 
economic benefit from the power of a four-lane highway in attracting new
 investment and career opportunities in southern Kansas and expanding 
existing operations,” he said.He said adoption in 2020 of the state’s&nbsp; Eisenhower highway program 
and passage last year of federal funding for infrastructure investments 
would make billions of dollars available for transportation initiatives 
in Kansas.The state’s five Republican members of Congress — U.S. Sens. Jerry 
Moran of Manhattan and Roger Marshall of Great Bend and U.S. Reps. Jake 
LaTurner of Topeka, Ron Estes of Wichita and Tracey Mann of Salina — 
voted against that $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill. It was 
supported by U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas City.“Expanding and enhancing roads like U.S. 400 is an economic
 win for rural and urban parts of our state,” said Estes, who endorsed 
Schmidt’s infrastructure proposal. “As someone who grew up on a Kansas 
farm and now lives in the state’s largest city, I can say with certainty
 that having better connectivity along this critical corridor will 
provide benefits well beyond just a smooth drive between communities.”LaTurner, who serves the 2nd District that includes 
southeast Kansas, said Schmidt’s plan would improve roads, bridges and 
other infrastructure while boosting local economies. He said eastern 
Kansas was “in desperate need of real infrastructure reform and 
investment.”Jim Zaleski, economic director in Parsons, said a four-lane
 highway through that city would open up opportunity for economic 
development. Highway access is ranked among the top criteria job 
creators looked for when deciding where to invest, he said.

Schmidt proposes 4-lane highway linking Pittsburg to Garden City, Liberal

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri could become the first state to pass a voter-led effort to require courts to automatically forgive past marijuana crimes as part of a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational pot on November's ballot.

Of the 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal, only seven states require some sort of judicial forgiveness for those punished for committing crimes that have since been decriminalized, according to the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

It was lawmakers in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3b9e25266e1c4fb1800f84f7a70eccbb">California</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ct-state-wire-connecticut-bills-philanthropy-290534f6f3c0f6c857754ae3e1e2ecc5">Connecticut</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-burlington-health-4b617addc2f14a58acc05575f9212025">Vermont</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-marijuana-crime-6aebb02cc0c725bd7579fbbacbd727fb">Illinois</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-new-york-recreational-marijuana-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-491b71aa6d90c480cc4f36e868580fea">New York</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recreational-marijuana-new-jersey-legislation-marijuana-laws-3425c46d73e951b9663e38c1e5aee29d">New Jersey</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-rhode-island-marijuana-recreational-3c8ce18ece73d871d9a3003dbeabc59a">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;who took action to provide amnesty for past marijuana crimes.

Missouri voters would be the first to spearhead what's called automatic expungement on their own, said John Payne, the campaign manager for the push to legalize recreational marijuana.

Payne said the goal is to allow people with pot-related convictions to “reclaim their lives.”

“This is going to allow those people to live more full and complete lives,” he said. “That also helps society at large, because they’re essentially being somewhat locked out of the economy and productive lives by that burden. We’re going to remove that for them.”

Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature for years resisted addressing marijuana policies, prompting voters to lead a successful effort in 2018 to amend the state constitution to allow medical marijuana.

Thanks to another advocate-led ballot initiative, Missouri voters in November will decide whether to allow those age 21 and older to buy and grow weed for personal consumption and whether to grant automatic expungement to past marijuana-related crimes.

Recreational legalization proposals are also on the ballot this fall in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-sd-state-wire-south-dakota-marijuana-legalization-recreational-9426bf3208b9b53aa5804fb2b33b9bb9">South Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-hogan-maryland-marijuana-constitutional-amendments-constitutions-1f60d69c21e364499b81b0e76caf65ed">Maryland</a>. The Maryland measure would similarly require automatic expungements, although that proposal was referred to the ballot by state lawmakers.

The Missouri proposal would erase past marijuana-related convictions for nonviolent offenders and those whose convictions didn’t include selling to minors or driving while high.

Under current Missouri law, it’s up to past offenders to request a clean slate. Missouri lawmakers in 2016 passed legislation that allowed people to apply to expunge two misdemeanor or ordinance violations that carry jail time and one felony. Certain felonies, such as sex offenses and dangerous felonies, are not eligible for expungement.

Leslie Corbett, executive director of the low-income legal aid group Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, said she's concerned an Illinois law that's described as automatic expungement but requires past offenders to take action has been underused because it's confusing.

Corbett said the law, which has been described by supporters as automatic expungement because police records are immediately wiped, requires the majority of past offenders to request to also have their court records cleared.

“Folks don't realize that they still need to take action, even if it was auto-expunged,” she said.

In most cases, Payne said the Missouri amendment puts the responsibility on courts, not past offenders, to wipe records, although prisoners would need to petition courts for early release on marijuana charges.

The amendment gives courts six months to expunge past misdemeanors and a year for eligible felonies.

Marijuana sales would be taxed at 6% under the Missouri amendment, which the state Auditor's Office&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1341">estimated</a>&nbsp;would bring in at least $41 million a year. Funding is earmarked to pay for oversight, administration and the expungement process. Remaining funds would go to veterans' homes, public defenders and drug addiction treatment services.

Municipalities could tax marijuana sales at an additional 3%, or as much as $14 million a year.

Cost estimates compiled by the Missouri state auditor do not include expenses for administrative court costs related to clearing past marijuana convictions.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri could become the first state to pass a voter-led effort to require courts to automatically forgive past marijuana crimes as part of a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational pot on November's ballot.Of the 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal, only seven states require some sort of judicial forgiveness for those punished for committing crimes that have since been decriminalized, according to the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s time for Missouri to legalize marijuana. It&#39;s also time for Missouri to expunge records for those convicted of past non-violent marijuana offenses. I am still reviewing the Constitutional amendment, but appreciate progress in an end to nonsensical weed prohibition.&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1557121308541976576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was lawmakers in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3b9e25266e1c4fb1800f84f7a70eccbb">California</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ct-state-wire-connecticut-bills-philanthropy-290534f6f3c0f6c857754ae3e1e2ecc5">Connecticut</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-burlington-health-4b617addc2f14a58acc05575f9212025">Vermont</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-marijuana-crime-6aebb02cc0c725bd7579fbbacbd727fb">Illinois</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-new-york-recreational-marijuana-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-491b71aa6d90c480cc4f36e868580fea">New York</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recreational-marijuana-new-jersey-legislation-marijuana-laws-3425c46d73e951b9663e38c1e5aee29d">New Jersey</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-rhode-island-marijuana-recreational-3c8ce18ece73d871d9a3003dbeabc59a">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;who took action to provide amnesty for past marijuana crimes.Missouri voters would be the first to spearhead what's called automatic expungement on their own, said John Payne, the campaign manager for the push to legalize recreational marijuana.Payne said the goal is to allow people with pot-related convictions to “reclaim their lives.”“This is going to allow those people to live more full and complete lives,” he said. “That also helps society at large, because they’re essentially being somewhat locked out of the economy and productive lives by that burden. We’re going to remove that for them.”Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature for years resisted addressing marijuana policies, prompting voters to lead a successful effort in 2018 to amend the state constitution to allow medical marijuana.Thanks to another advocate-led ballot initiative, Missouri voters in November will decide whether to allow those age 21 and older to buy and grow weed for personal consumption and whether to grant automatic expungement to past marijuana-related crimes.Recreational legalization proposals are also on the ballot this fall in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-sd-state-wire-south-dakota-marijuana-legalization-recreational-9426bf3208b9b53aa5804fb2b33b9bb9">South Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-hogan-maryland-marijuana-constitutional-amendments-constitutions-1f60d69c21e364499b81b0e76caf65ed">Maryland</a>. The Maryland measure would similarly require automatic expungements, although that proposal was referred to the ballot by state lawmakers.The Missouri proposal would erase past marijuana-related convictions for nonviolent offenders and those whose convictions didn’t include selling to minors or driving while high.Under current Missouri law, it’s up to past offenders to request a clean slate. Missouri lawmakers in 2016 passed legislation that allowed people to apply to expunge two misdemeanor or ordinance violations that carry jail time and one felony. Certain felonies, such as sex offenses and dangerous felonies, are not eligible for expungement.Leslie Corbett, executive director of the low-income legal aid group Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, said she's concerned an Illinois law that's described as automatic expungement but requires past offenders to take action has been underused because it's confusing.Corbett said the law, which has been described by supporters as automatic expungement because police records are immediately wiped, requires the majority of past offenders to request to also have their court records cleared.“Folks don't realize that they still need to take action, even if it was auto-expunged,” she said.In most cases, Payne said the Missouri amendment puts the responsibility on courts, not past offenders, to wipe records, although prisoners would need to petition courts for early release on marijuana charges.The amendment gives courts six months to expunge past misdemeanors and a year for eligible felonies.Marijuana sales would be taxed at 6% under the Missouri amendment, which the state Auditor's Office&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1341">estimated</a>&nbsp;would bring in at least $41 million a year. Funding is earmarked to pay for oversight, administration and the expungement process. Remaining funds would go to veterans' homes, public defenders and drug addiction treatment services.Municipalities could tax marijuana sales at an additional 3%, or as much as $14 million a year.Cost estimates compiled by the Missouri state auditor do not include expenses for administrative court costs related to clearing past marijuana convictions.

Missouri voters to weigh forgiveness for past weed crimes

RENO COUNTY — Advance voting is underway for residents in two more Kansas school districts with major bond proposals on the ballot.

Ballots went out last week in Hesston USD 460 for a $33.8 million bond proposal. If approved by voters, the money would be used to fund a major expansion at the current high school and move the middle school students to that location. It also calls for a new gymnasium, a new auditorium, major renovations to the current fine arts area and improved infrastructure.

Advance voting is underway at the Harvey County Clerk's office in Newton during regular business hours with the general vote on the bond issue set for Aug. 30.

In Pretty Prairie USD 311 ballots are being being mailed for voters on a $10.4 million bond proposal.&nbsp; The funds would go to make major renovations to the Middle School gymnasium making it the major sporting venue. It also includes expanded locker rooms, a concession area and more space. The funds would also make major repairs and provide maintenance to all of the district's facilities.&nbsp;Advance voting in person begins Monday, Aug. 22 at the Reno County Clerk’s office at the annex.&nbsp; The general election for the bond issue is Tuesday, Sept. 6.

In May, voters in Hays USD 489 approved a $143.5 million school bond&nbsp;&nbsp; to build a new high school, renovate the current high school into a middle school and renovate the current middle school into an elementary school.&nbsp; The district had unsuccessful bond attempts in 2016 and 2017.

RENO COUNTY — Advance voting is underway for residents in two more Kansas school districts with major bond proposals on the ballot.Ballots went out last week in Hesston USD 460 for a $33.8 million bond proposal. If approved by voters, the money would be used to fund a major expansion at the current high school and move the middle school students to that location. It also calls for a new gymnasium, a new auditorium, major renovations to the current fine arts area and improved infrastructure.Advance voting is underway at the Harvey County Clerk's office in Newton during regular business hours with the general vote on the bond issue set for Aug. 30.In Pretty Prairie USD 311 ballots are being being mailed for voters on a $10.4 million bond proposal.&nbsp; The funds would go to make major renovations to the Middle School gymnasium making it the major sporting venue. It also includes expanded locker rooms, a concession area and more space. The funds would also make major repairs and provide maintenance to all of the district's facilities.&nbsp;Advance voting in person begins Monday, Aug. 22 at the Reno County Clerk’s office at the annex.&nbsp; The general election for the bond issue is Tuesday, Sept. 6.In May, voters in Hays USD 489 approved a $143.5 million school bond&nbsp;&nbsp; to build a new high school, renovate the current high school into a middle school and renovate the current middle school into an elementary school.&nbsp; The district had unsuccessful bond attempts in 2016 and 2017.

Voting underway on two more Kan. school bond proposals

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;5,399&nbsp;new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday August 10 to Wednesday August 17, for a total of&nbsp; 853,538 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;12 COVID-19 deaths for a total of 8,947. The large <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">net negative </a>in COVID deaths is due to the death verification process, <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">according to the KDHE.&nbsp;</a>

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

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

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

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

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;5,399&nbsp;new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday August 10 to Wednesday August 17, for a total of&nbsp; 853,538 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;12 COVID-19 deaths for a total of 8,947. The large <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">net negative </a>in COVID deaths is due to the death verification process, <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">according to the KDHE.&nbsp;</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660755266136.png" alt="Screen Shot 2022-08-17 at 11.54.11 AM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2022-08-17 at 11.54.11 AM.png</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE: 12 additional COVID death reported since August 10

Correction: Due to an error posted on the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log, according to Trooper Michael Racy. The story has been corrected.

PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Pawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Clifton Wade&nbsp;Rodriguez, 35 Larned, was southbound on Kansas 19 two miles south of the K19 East junction. 

The SUV traveled into the west ditch. The driver overcorrected, traveled into the east ditch and the SUV struck a tree.

EMS transported Rodriguez to the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital for treatment of serious injures. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Correction: Due to an error posted on the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log, according to Trooper Michael Racy. The story has been corrected.PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Pawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Clifton Wade&nbsp;Rodriguez, 35 Larned, was southbound on Kansas 19 two miles south of the K19 East junction. The SUV traveled into the west ditch. The driver overcorrected, traveled into the east ditch and the SUV struck a tree.EMS transported Rodriguez to the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital for treatment of serious injures. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Correction: Kansas man injured after SUV strikes a tree

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

The Saline County Sheriff's Office is looking for the person who stole a $12,000 boat and trailer from a property northwest of Salina earlier this month.

Sometime between Aug. 8 and Sunday, someone stole a 2000 Fisher Freedom pontoon boat and the trailer it was on from a property in the 3000 block of N. Lightville Road, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. 

The boat and trailer were the property of a 59-year-old Salina man. Total loss was estimated at $12,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660750545710.jpeg" alt="The stolen pontoon boat. Photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>The stolen pontoon boat. Photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThe Saline County Sheriff's Office is looking for the person who stole a $12,000 boat and trailer from a property northwest of Salina earlier this month.Sometime between Aug. 8 and Sunday, someone stole a 2000 Fisher Freedom pontoon boat and the trailer it was on from a property in the 3000 block of N. Lightville Road, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. The boat and trailer were the property of a 59-year-old Salina man. Total loss was estimated at $12,000.

Sheriff: $12,000 pontoon boat, trailer stolen in central Kansas 

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling more than 484,000 large SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem that can cause the third-row seat belts to malfunction.

The recall covers Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, Cadillac Escalades and GMC Yukons from the 2021 and 2022 model years.

The automaker says in documents posted Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators that rivets that hold the buckle to the mounting bracket on the left- and right side third-row seats may have been formed improperly. The belts may not properly restrain a passenger in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.

Dealers will inspect the rivet heads and replace buckle assemblies if needed. Owners will be notified starting Sept. 26.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling more than 484,000 large SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem that can cause the third-row seat belts to malfunction.The recall covers Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, Cadillac Escalades and GMC Yukons from the 2021 and 2022 model years.The automaker says in documents posted Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators that rivets that hold the buckle to the mounting bracket on the left- and right side third-row seats may have been formed improperly. The belts may not properly restrain a passenger in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.Dealers will inspect the rivet heads and replace buckle assemblies if needed. Owners will be notified starting Sept. 26.

GM recalls big SUVs to fix problem third row seat belts

FINNNEY COUNTY—Law&nbsp; enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent attack on a woman.

Just after 11p.m. Aug. 14,&nbsp; police were dispatched to an incident in the west part of Garden City. A woman with visible injuries met the arriving officers and reported she had been in a physical altercation with a man known to her later identified as 38-year-old Roberson Sully of Dodge City.

The investigation revealed the woman was asleep in her residence when she woke up to Sully allegedly yelling at her and strangling her. Sully allegedly pulled the woman out of bed and continued to batter her throughout the residence and prevented her from leaving. 

During the alleged altercation, the woman was able to break free from Sully before he fled the scene. 

The woman received treatment for her injuries from Finney County EMS. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate Sully. 

The Dodge City Police Department was advised of the incident and responded to Sully's residence but did not locate him.

Just after 7p.m. Monday, Sully was arrested at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center on requested charges of Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660673709824.png" alt="Sully-photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Sully-photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNNEY COUNTY—Law&nbsp; enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent attack on a woman.Just after 11p.m. Aug. 14,&nbsp; police were dispatched to an incident in the west part of Garden City. A woman with visible injuries met the arriving officers and reported she had been in a physical altercation with a man known to her later identified as 38-year-old Roberson Sully of Dodge City.The investigation revealed the woman was asleep in her residence when she woke up to Sully allegedly yelling at her and strangling her. Sully allegedly pulled the woman out of bed and continued to batter her throughout the residence and prevented her from leaving. During the alleged altercation, the woman was able to break free from Sully before he fled the scene. The woman received treatment for her injuries from Finney County EMS. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate Sully. The Dodge City Police Department was advised of the incident and responded to Sully's residence but did not locate him.Just after 7p.m. Monday, Sully was arrested at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center on requested charges of Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Damage.

SW Kan. man jailed for alleged home-invasion attack on woman

By JOHN HANNA, HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and NICK RICCARDI&nbsp;

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas on Tuesday began a partial hand recount of this month’s decisive statewide vote in favor of abortion rights, a move forced by two Republican activists even though the margin was so large that the recount won’t change the outcome.

Nine of the state’s 105 counties are doing the recount at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-to-recount-abortion-vote-by-hand-despite-big-margin-d303e1d4275ce6dc8730b9102ab820a9">the request</a>&nbsp;of Melissa Leavitt, of Colby, in far northwestern Kansas, who has pushed for tighter election laws. A longtime anti-abortion activist, Mark Gietzen, of Wichita, is covering most of the costs.

A larger than expected turnout of voters on Aug. 2&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">rejected a ballot measure</a>&nbsp;that would have removed protections for abortion rights from the Kansas Constitution and given to the Legislature the right to further restrict abortion or ban it. It failed by 18 percentage points, or 165,000 votes statewide.

It drew broad attention because it was the first state referendum on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.

WHY DO A RECOUNT IF IT WON'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME?

Gietzen and Leavitt have both suggested there might have been problems without pointing to any actual examples or evidence. Gietzen acknowledged in an interview that he would be surprised if the Kansas recount changed the results, but that he wants “the system fixed.” He pointed to potential things that could have gone wrong, such as malicious software, inaccurate voter rolls and voting law violations, even though there is no evidence that happened.

Recounts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-primary-losers-claim-fraud-parroting-trump-7730988a009dfa0873e8133e19232562">increasingly are tools</a>&nbsp;to encourage supporters of a candidate or cause to believe an election was stolen rather than lost. A wave of candidates who have echoed former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-donald-trump-ap-fact-check-election-2020-10bf58cd37e30c51478ad8bdc5a0a2e2">President Donald Trump’s lie</a>&nbsp;that the 2020 election was rigged have called for recounts after losing their own Republican primaries.

In Nevada, attorney Joey Gilbert raised money to pay for a $190,000 recount that still showed him losing the GOP nomination for governor by 26,000 votes. In Colorado, county clerk Tina Peters raised $256,000 to pay for a recount that showed she gained 13 votes total in her bid for the party nomination for secretary of state, but still lost by more than 88,000 votes. Both candidates continued to claim they had actually won the election even as recounts showed they came nowhere close.

The refusal of candidates or campaigns to believe they could ever be defeated in an election is a dangerous development for American democracy, said Tammy Patrick, a former Arizona voting official who is now a senior adviser to Democracy Fund.

“What we see now is people just don’t believe they lost because they’re constantly being fed these lies about the legitimacy of the process,” Patrick said. The call for recounts “keeps their base engaged, ginned up and donating,” she added.

Deb Otis of the <a href="https://www.fairvote.org/">nonprofit group Fair Vote</a> wrote a report that found about two recounts occurred a year in statewide elections between 2000 and 2019, and in only three did the results change after the recounts uncovered tiny but significant flaws in the initial count.

“Voters will start losing track of when these claims are legitimate and when a state should pay for a recount,” Otis said.

Kansas law requires a recount if those who ask for it prove they can cover the counties’ costs. The counties pay only if the outcome changes.

Kansas law says counties have five days following a request to complete a recount. The clock for the recount on the abortion measure started Monday, when the Kansas secretary of state's office concluded Gietzen and Leavitt could cover the costs.

All nine counties expected to finish by Saturday. Four started recounting by Tuesday, and one of those, Lyon County, planned to finish by day's end. The other five planned to start Wednesday.

Leavitt and Gietzen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-abortion-2022-midterm-elections-health-election-recounts-04c36f6ccf6bf5b5a5fa038634511927">provided credit cards</a>&nbsp;to pay for the nearly $120,000 cost, according to the secretary of state's office. Leavitt has an online fundraising page that had raised more than $47,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. Gietzen also said he is getting donations from a network built over three decades in the anti-abortion movement, but he declined to be more specific.

The two initially wanted the vote recounted in all 105 Kansas counties, but they couldn't raise the required $229,000. Gietzen said the nine counties were chosen based in part on their population and cost.

Votes are being recounted in Douglas County, home to the University of Kansas' main campus; Johnson County, in suburban Kansas City; Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, Shawnee County, home to Topeka; and Crawford, Harvey, Jefferson, Lyon and Thomas counties. Abortion opponents lost all of those counties except Thomas.

Gietzen has been active in the anti-abortion movement and frequently protests outside a clinic providing abortions in Wichita. He leads his own group, the <a href="https://www.kcfl.net/">Kansas Coalition for Life,</a> which is separate from the larger and more influential Kansans for Life that wields significant power at the Statehouse. He has pushed legislation to ban most abortions at about the sixth week of pregnancy. Kansas law doesn't do that until the 22nd week.

He also leads the Kansas Republican Assembly, which had some clout among the GOP's conservative activists more than a decade ago before they solidified their hold over the state party organization. He is retired from aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

He's run repeatedly and unsuccessfully for the Legislature, and he has been an activist against cities adding fluoride to their drinking water, something Wichita rejected in 2012.

“He’s so far, right, he's coming around the other side,” said former Republican state Rep. John Whitmer, host of a Wichita radio talk show. “There’s just not a lot of wiggle room with Mark.”

Leavitt owns a hobby and craft store in Colby. She has questioned how Thomas County is handling its elections. She served on a local election advisory group.

Voters in the nine counties cast roughly 59% of the more than 922,000 ballots on the Aug. 2 ballot question. They rejected the abortion opponents' measure by 31 percentage points — significantly larger than the statewide total.

Recounts almost never reverse the outcome of elections, even in the closest races. Since the Florida recount for the 2000 presidential race, more than 30 statewide elections across the U.S. have been the subject of recounts. The three that were overturned were decided by hundreds of votes — not thousands.

The largest lead erased by a statewide recount was 261 votes in Washington state’s 2004 election for governor. There is no precedent in U.S. history of a recount reversing the outcome of an election decided by more than 165,000 votes.

Even some strong abortion opponents see the recount as a waste of time and money. Whitmer said the money could be much better spent on GOP efforts to unseat Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly or on competitive legislative seats.

By JOHN HANNA, HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and NICK RICCARDI&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas on Tuesday began a partial hand recount of this month’s decisive statewide vote in favor of abortion rights, a move forced by two Republican activists even though the margin was so large that the recount won’t change the outcome.Nine of the state’s 105 counties are doing the recount at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-to-recount-abortion-vote-by-hand-despite-big-margin-d303e1d4275ce6dc8730b9102ab820a9">the request</a>&nbsp;of Melissa Leavitt, of Colby, in far northwestern Kansas, who has pushed for tighter election laws. A longtime anti-abortion activist, Mark Gietzen, of Wichita, is covering most of the costs.A larger than expected turnout of voters on Aug. 2&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">rejected a ballot measure</a>&nbsp;that would have removed protections for abortion rights from the Kansas Constitution and given to the Legislature the right to further restrict abortion or ban it. It failed by 18 percentage points, or 165,000 votes statewide.It drew broad attention because it was the first state referendum on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.WHY DO A RECOUNT IF IT WON'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME?Gietzen and Leavitt have both suggested there might have been problems without pointing to any actual examples or evidence. Gietzen acknowledged in an interview that he would be surprised if the Kansas recount changed the results, but that he wants “the system fixed.” He pointed to potential things that could have gone wrong, such as malicious software, inaccurate voter rolls and voting law violations, even though there is no evidence that happened.Recounts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-primary-losers-claim-fraud-parroting-trump-7730988a009dfa0873e8133e19232562">increasingly are tools</a>&nbsp;to encourage supporters of a candidate or cause to believe an election was stolen rather than lost. A wave of candidates who have echoed former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-donald-trump-ap-fact-check-election-2020-10bf58cd37e30c51478ad8bdc5a0a2e2">President Donald Trump’s lie</a>&nbsp;that the 2020 election was rigged have called for recounts after losing their own Republican primaries.In Nevada, attorney Joey Gilbert raised money to pay for a $190,000 recount that still showed him losing the GOP nomination for governor by 26,000 votes. In Colorado, county clerk Tina Peters raised $256,000 to pay for a recount that showed she gained 13 votes total in her bid for the party nomination for secretary of state, but still lost by more than 88,000 votes. Both candidates continued to claim they had actually won the election even as recounts showed they came nowhere close.The refusal of candidates or campaigns to believe they could ever be defeated in an election is a dangerous development for American democracy, said Tammy Patrick, a former Arizona voting official who is now a senior adviser to Democracy Fund.“What we see now is people just don’t believe they lost because they’re constantly being fed these lies about the legitimacy of the process,” Patrick said. The call for recounts “keeps their base engaged, ginned up and donating,” she added.Deb Otis of the <a href="https://www.fairvote.org/">nonprofit group Fair Vote</a> wrote a report that found about two recounts occurred a year in statewide elections between 2000 and 2019, and in only three did the results change after the recounts uncovered tiny but significant flaws in the initial count.“Voters will start losing track of when these claims are legitimate and when a state should pay for a recount,” Otis said.Kansas law requires a recount if those who ask for it prove they can cover the counties’ costs. The counties pay only if the outcome changes.WHAT'S THE PROCESS?Kansas law says counties have five days following a request to complete a recount. The clock for the recount on the abortion measure started Monday, when the Kansas secretary of state's office concluded Gietzen and Leavitt could cover the costs.All nine counties expected to finish by Saturday. Four started recounting by Tuesday, and one of those, Lyon County, planned to finish by day's end. The other five planned to start Wednesday.WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?Leavitt and Gietzen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-abortion-2022-midterm-elections-health-election-recounts-04c36f6ccf6bf5b5a5fa038634511927">provided credit cards</a>&nbsp;to pay for the nearly $120,000 cost, according to the secretary of state's office. Leavitt has an online fundraising page that had raised more than $47,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. Gietzen also said he is getting donations from a network built over three decades in the anti-abortion movement, but he declined to be more specific.The two initially wanted the vote recounted in all 105 Kansas counties, but they couldn't raise the required $229,000. Gietzen said the nine counties were chosen based in part on their population and cost.Votes are being recounted in Douglas County, home to the University of Kansas' main campus; Johnson County, in suburban Kansas City; Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, Shawnee County, home to Topeka; and Crawford, Harvey, Jefferson, Lyon and Thomas counties. Abortion opponents lost all of those counties except Thomas.WHO IS BEHIND THIS?Gietzen has been active in the anti-abortion movement and frequently protests outside a clinic providing abortions in Wichita. He leads his own group, the <a href="https://www.kcfl.net/">Kansas Coalition for Life,</a> which is separate from the larger and more influential Kansans for Life that wields significant power at the Statehouse. He has pushed legislation to ban most abortions at about the sixth week of pregnancy. Kansas law doesn't do that until the 22nd week.He also leads the Kansas Republican Assembly, which had some clout among the GOP's conservative activists more than a decade ago before they solidified their hold over the state party organization. He is retired from aircraft manufacturer Boeing.He's run repeatedly and unsuccessfully for the Legislature, and he has been an activist against cities adding fluoride to their drinking water, something Wichita rejected in 2012.“He’s so far, right, he's coming around the other side,” said former Republican state Rep. John Whitmer, host of a Wichita radio talk show. “There’s just not a lot of wiggle room with Mark.”Leavitt owns a hobby and craft store in Colby. She has questioned how Thomas County is handling its elections. She served on a local election advisory group.WHY IS THE RESULT NOT GOING TO CHANGE?Voters in the nine counties cast roughly 59% of the more than 922,000 ballots on the Aug. 2 ballot question. They rejected the abortion opponents' measure by 31 percentage points — significantly larger than the statewide total.Recounts almost never reverse the outcome of elections, even in the closest races. Since the Florida recount for the 2000 presidential race, more than 30 statewide elections across the U.S. have been the subject of recounts. The three that were overturned were decided by hundreds of votes — not thousands.The largest lead erased by a statewide recount was 261 votes in Washington state’s 2004 election for governor. There is no precedent in U.S. history of a recount reversing the outcome of an election decided by more than 165,000 votes.Even some strong abortion opponents see the recount as a waste of time and money. Whitmer said the money could be much better spent on GOP efforts to unseat Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly or on competitive legislative seats.___

Kansas abortion vote: Why recount with such a large margin?

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man arrested July 30 in connection with the death of his 1-year-old son made his first court appearance this week.

Kentrell Willingham, 25, was charged with first-degree murder and an alternative count of first-degree murder, child abuse and aggravated child endangerment, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On August 2, Willigham's girlfriend&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069445">Xjohnna Hannah,</a>&nbsp;25,&nbsp;Wichita, was also charged with one count of 1st degree murder, abuse of a child and aggravated endangering a child, according to the District Attorney's office.

On July 30, police responded to a child abuse report at a Wichita area hospital, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp;

When officers arrived at the hospital, they were told a family member and guardian of 1-year-old Lasiah Williams brought him to the hospital unresponsive. Doctors pronounced the boy deceased.

Investigators learned Lasisah had been with his Father 25-year-old Kentrell Willingham and girlfriend&nbsp;Xjohnna Hannah,&nbsp;for a few days. A family member of the child met Kentrell, Thursday in the 1600 hundred block of South Oliver to exchange custody.

The family member left with Lasiah and a short time later would realize the child was unresponsive. The family member and Lasiah’s legal guardian immediately drove to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Police arrested Willingham and his girlfriend&nbsp;&nbsp;Hannah,&nbsp;both of Wichita. Willingham has bonded out of jail and will appear in court August 15, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp;

Hannah remains jailed on a $250,000 bond and will return to court August 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659123355817.png" alt="Willingham-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Willingham-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man arrested July 30 in connection with the death of his 1-year-old son made his first court appearance this week.Kentrell Willingham, 25, was charged with first-degree murder and an alternative count of first-degree murder, child abuse and aggravated child endangerment, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On August 2, Willigham's girlfriend&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069445">Xjohnna Hannah,</a>&nbsp;25,&nbsp;Wichita, was also charged with one count of 1st degree murder, abuse of a child and aggravated endangering a child, according to the District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659123012533.png" alt="Hannah-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hannah-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>On July 30, police responded to a child abuse report at a Wichita area hospital, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp;When officers arrived at the hospital, they were told a family member and guardian of 1-year-old Lasiah Williams brought him to the hospital unresponsive. Doctors pronounced the boy deceased.Investigators learned Lasisah had been with his Father 25-year-old Kentrell Willingham and girlfriend&nbsp;Xjohnna Hannah,&nbsp;for a few days. A family member of the child met Kentrell, Thursday in the 1600 hundred block of South Oliver to exchange custody.The family member left with Lasiah and a short time later would realize the child was unresponsive. The family member and Lasiah’s legal guardian immediately drove to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Police arrested Willingham and his girlfriend&nbsp;&nbsp;Hannah,&nbsp;both of Wichita. Willingham has bonded out of jail and will appear in court August 15, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp;Hannah remains jailed on a $250,000 bond and will return to court August 15.

Kansas man charged with murder for 1-year-old son's death

MCDONALD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue asking the public to help them locate 49-year-old Dawn Wynn.&nbsp;She is accused of murder and armed criminal action in the November 2021 shooting of her husband in southwest Missouri, according to McDonald County Missouri Sheriff&nbsp;Rob Evenson. She is charged with shooting her husband in the back of the head while he slept.

&nbsp;She should be considered dangerous and could be armed. She is described as 5-foot-2, 150-170 pounds with short black hair.

  Due to a recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling, over objections from the prosecuting attorney, Wynn was out on bond and on pre-trial release where she had to check in by telephone, according to Evenson.

&nbsp;If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please call the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office at 417-223-4318 or your local law enforcement agency. Exercise caution and do not approach. McDonald County is approximately 49 miles southeast of Baxter Springs, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660566034274.png" alt="Wynn-photo McDonald Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Wynn-photo McDonald Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MCDONALD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue asking the public to help them locate 49-year-old Dawn Wynn.&nbsp;She is accused of murder and armed criminal action in the November 2021 shooting of her husband in southwest Missouri, according to McDonald County Missouri Sheriff&nbsp;Rob Evenson. She is charged with shooting her husband in the back of the head while he slept.&nbsp;She should be considered dangerous and could be armed. She is described as 5-foot-2, 150-170 pounds with short black hair. Due to a recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling, over objections from the prosecuting attorney, Wynn was out on bond and on pre-trial release where she had to check in by telephone, according to Evenson.&nbsp;If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please call the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office at 417-223-4318 or your local law enforcement agency. Exercise caution and do not approach. McDonald County is approximately 49 miles southeast of Baxter Springs, Kansas.

Sheriff: Woman charged with husband's murder still missing

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/liz-cheney">Liz Cheney</a>, Donald Trump’s fiercest Republican adversary in&nbsp;Congress, <a href="https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2022/Results/Primary/2022_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf">was defeated in a GOP</a> primary Tuesday, falling to a rival backed by the former president in a rout that reinforced his grip on the party’s base.

The third-term congresswoman and her allies entered the day downbeat about her prospects, aware that Trump’s backing gave Harriet Hageman considerable lift in the state where he won by the largest margin during the 2020 campaign. Cheney was already looking ahead to a political future beyond Capitol Hill that could include a 2024 presidential run, potentially putting her on another collision course with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>.

Cheney described her loss as the beginning of a new chapter in her political career as she addressed a small collection of supporters, including her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, on the edge of a vast field flanked by mountains and bales of hay.

“Our work is far from over,” she said Tuesday evening, evoking Abraham Lincoln, who also lost congressional elections before ascending to the presidency and preserving the union.

The results — and the roughly 30-point margin — were a powerful reminder of the GOP’s rapid shift to the right. A party once dominated by national security-oriented, business-friendly conservatives like her father now belongs to Trump, animated by his populist appeal and, above all, his denial of defeat in the 2020 election.

Such lies, which have been roundly rejected by federal and state election officials along with Trump’s own attorney general and judges he appointed, transformed Cheney from an occasional critic of the former president to the clearest voice inside the GOP warning that he represents a threat to democratic norms. She's the top Republican on the House panel investigating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, an attack she referenced in nodding to her political future.

“I have said since Jan. 6 that I will do whatever it takes to ensure Donald Trump is never again anywhere near the Oval Office — and I mean it," she said.

Four hundred miles to the east of Cheney’s concession speech, festive Hageman supporters gathered at a sprawling outdoor rodeo and Western culture festival in Cheyenne, many wearing cowboy boots, hats and blue jeans.

“Obviously we’re all very grateful to President Trump, who recognizes that Wyoming has only one congressional representative and we have to make it count,” said Hageman, a ranching industry attorney who had finished third in a previous bid for governor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660730933829.png" alt="In May of 2021, Rep. Liz Cheney said&nbsp;he would do whatever is necessary to keep Trump from getting close to the Oval Office ever again." />
 <figcaption>In May of 2021, Rep. Liz Cheney said&nbsp;he would do whatever is necessary to keep Trump from getting close to the Oval Office ever again.</figcaption>
 </figure>CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/liz-cheney">Liz Cheney</a>, Donald Trump’s fiercest Republican adversary in&nbsp;Congress, <a href="https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2022/Results/Primary/2022_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf">was defeated in a GOP</a> primary Tuesday, falling to a rival backed by the former president in a rout that reinforced his grip on the party’s base.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-apADgOr4U?start=32" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The third-term congresswoman and her allies entered the day downbeat about her prospects, aware that Trump’s backing gave Harriet Hageman considerable lift in the state where he won by the largest margin during the 2020 campaign. Cheney was already looking ahead to a political future beyond Capitol Hill that could include a 2024 presidential run, potentially putting her on another collision course with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>.Cheney described her loss as the beginning of a new chapter in her political career as she addressed a small collection of supporters, including her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, on the edge of a vast field flanked by mountains and bales of hay.“Our work is far from over,” she said Tuesday evening, evoking Abraham Lincoln, who also lost congressional elections before ascending to the presidency and preserving the union.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Proud to cast my ballot today. The challenges we are facing require serious leaders who will abide by their oath and uphold the Constitution- no matter what. <a href="https://t.co/PcTXUR6Aw1">pic.twitter.com/PcTXUR6Aw1</a>&mdash; Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liz_Cheney/status/1559639844053168128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The results — and the roughly 30-point margin — were a powerful reminder of the GOP’s rapid shift to the right. A party once dominated by national security-oriented, business-friendly conservatives like her father now belongs to Trump, animated by his populist appeal and, above all, his denial of defeat in the 2020 election.Such lies, which have been roundly rejected by federal and state election officials along with Trump’s own attorney general and judges he appointed, transformed Cheney from an occasional critic of the former president to the clearest voice inside the GOP warning that he represents a threat to democratic norms. She's the top Republican on the House panel investigating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, an attack she referenced in nodding to her political future.“I have said since Jan. 6 that I will do whatever it takes to ensure Donald Trump is never again anywhere near the Oval Office — and I mean it," she said.Four hundred miles to the east of Cheney’s concession speech, festive Hageman supporters gathered at a sprawling outdoor rodeo and Western culture festival in Cheyenne, many wearing cowboy boots, hats and blue jeans.“Obviously we’re all very grateful to President Trump, who recognizes that Wyoming has only one congressional representative and we have to make it count,” said Hageman, a ranching industry attorney who had finished third in a previous bid for governor.Echoing Trump’s conspiracy theories, she falsely claimed the 2020 election was “rigged” as she courted his loyalists in the runup to the election.Trump and his team celebrated Cheney’s loss, which may represent his biggest political victory in a primary season full of them. The former president called the results “a complete rebuke” of the Jan. 6 committee.“Liz Cheney should be ashamed of herself, the way she acted, and her spiteful, sanctimonious words and actions towards others,” he wrote on his social media platform. “Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion where, I am sure, she will be much happier than she is right now. Thank you WYOMING!”The news offered a welcome break from Trump's focus on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-f63c018b600e1539ff3660a896a132d0">growing legal entanglements</a>. Just eight days earlier, federal agents executing a search warrant recovered 11 sets of classified records from the former president’s Florida estate.Cheney’s defeat would have been unthinkable just two years ago. The daughter of a former vice president, she hails from one of the most prominent political families in Wyoming. And in Washington, she was the No. 3 House Republican, an influential voice in GOP politics and policy with a sterling conservative voting record.Cheney will now be forced from Congress at the end of her third and final term in January. She is not expected to leave Capitol Hill quietly.She will continue in her leadership role on the congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack until it dissolves at the end of the year. And she is actively considering a 2024 White House bid -- as a Republican or independent -- having vowed to do everything in her power to fight Trump’s influence in her party.With Cheney’s loss, Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are going extinct.In all, seven Republican senators and 10 Republican House members backed Trump’s impeachment in the days after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress tried to certify President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;victory. Just two of those 10 House members have won their primaries this year. After two Senate retirements, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is the only such Senate Republican on this year’s ballot.Cheney was forced to seek assistance from the state’s tiny Democratic minority in her bid to pull off a victory. But Democrats across America, major donors among them, took notice. She raised at least $15 million for her election, a stunning figure for a Wyoming political contest.Voters responded to the interest in the race. With a little more than half of the vote counted, turnout ran about 50% higher than in the 2018 Republican primary for governor.If Cheney does ultimately run for president — either as a Republican or an independent — don’t expect her to win Wyoming’s three electoral votes.“We like Trump. She tried to impeach Trump,” Cheyenne voter Chester Barkell said of Cheney on Tuesday. “I don’t trust Liz Cheney.”And in Jackson, Republican voter Dan Winder said he felt betrayed by his congresswoman.“Over 70% of the state of Wyoming voted Republican in the last presidential election and she turned right around and voted against us,” said Winder, a hotel manager. “She was our representative, not her own.”CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/liz-cheney">Liz Cheney,</a>&nbsp;a leader in the Republican resistance to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, is fighting to save her seat in the U.S. House on Tuesday as voters weigh in on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-alaska-donald-trump-presidential-wyoming-2afce991bf0129d27727664753742d33">direction of the GOP</a>&nbsp;in two deep-red states.Cheney's team is bracing for a loss against a Trump-backed challenger in the state in which he won by the largest of margins during the 2020 campaign.Win or lose, the 56-year-old daughter of a vice president is vowing to remain in national politics as she contemplates a 2024 presidential bid. But in the short term, Cheney is facing a dire threat from Republican opponent Harriet Hageman, a Cheyenne ranching industry attorney who has harnessed the full fury of the Trump movement in her bid to expel Cheney from the House.“We like Trump. She tried to impeach Trump,” Cheyenne voter Chester Barkell said of Cheney. “I don’t trust Liz Cheney.”Cheney's allies were struggling not to lose hope in the hours before polls closed.“I’m still hopeful that the polling numbers are wrong,” said Landon Brown, a Wyoming state representative and vocal Cheney ally. “It’ll be a crying shame really if she does lose. It shows just how much of a stranglehold that Donald Trump has on the Republican Party.”Tuesday's contests in Wyoming and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-sarah-palin-steve-bannon-voting-special-a25a0845d165e8ba0edfd532e9bff31b">Alaska</a>&nbsp;offer one of the final tests for Trump and his brand of hard-line politics ahead of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">November general election</a>. So far, the former president has largely dominated the fight to shape the GOP in his image, having helped install loyalists in key general election matchups from Arizona to Georgia to Pennsylvania.This week's contests come just eight days after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump's Florida estate, recovering 11 sets of classified records. Some were marked “sensitive compartmented information,” a special category meant to protect the nation’s most important secrets. The Republican Party initially rallied behind the former president, although the reaction turned somewhat mixed as more details emerged.In Alaska,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/da4b2054db6649e04c864973612d32dc">a recent change to state election law</a>&nbsp;gives a periodic Trump critic, U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-murkowski">Lisa Murkowski</a>, an opportunity to survive the former president's wrath, even after she voted to convict him in his second impeachment trial.The top four primary Senate candidates in Alaska, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election, where voters will rank them in order of preference.In all, seven Republican senators and 10 Republican House members joined every Democrat in supporting Trump's impeachment in the days after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress tried to certify President Joe Biden's victory.Just two of those 10 House members have won their GOP primaries this year. The rest have lost or declined to seek reelection. Cheney would be just the third to return to Congress if she defies expectations on Tuesday.And Murkowski is the only pro-impeachment senator running for reelection this year.She is facing 18 opponents — the most prominent of which is Republican Kelly Tshibaka, who has been endorsed by Trump — in her push to preserve a seat she has held for nearly 20 years. In contrast to vulnerable Republican candidates who cozied up to Trump in other states this summer, Murkowski continues to promote her bipartisan credentials.“When you get the ideas from both sides coming together, little bit of compromise in the middle, this is what lasts beyond administrations, beyond changes in leadership,” the Republican senator said in a video posted on social media over the weekend. “This is what allows for stability and certainty. And it comes through bipartisanship.”On the other side of the GOP's tent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sarah-palin">Sarah Palin</a>, the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential nominee, hopes to spark a political comeback on Tuesday.Endorsed by Trump, she finished first among 48 candidates to qualify for a special election seeking to replace Rep. Don Young, who died in March at age 88, after 49 years as Alaska’s lone House member. Palin is actually on Tuesday's ballot twice: once in a special election to complete Young’s term and another for a full two-year House term starting in January. She's running against Republican Nick Begich and Democrat Mary Peltola in the special election and a larger field in the primary.Back in Wyoming, Cheney’s political survival may depend upon persuading enough Democrats to cast ballots in her Republican primary election. While some Democrats have rallied behind her, it's unclear whether there are enough in the state to make a difference. Biden earned just 26% of Wyoming's vote in 2020.Ardath Junge, of Cheyenne, said she recently changed her registration from Democratic to Republican.“I did it just to vote for Cheney because I believe in what she’s doing,” said Junge, a retired schoolteacher.Many Republicans in the state — and in the country — have essentially excommunicated Cheney because of her outspoken criticism of Trump. The House GOP ousted her as the No. 3 House leader last year. And more recently, the Wyoming GOP and Republican National Committee censured her.Anti-Trump groups such as U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger's Country First PAC and the Republican Accountability Project have worked to encourage independents and Democrats to support Cheney in recent weeks. They are clearly disappointed by the expected outcome of Tuesday's election, although some are hopeful about her political future.“What's remarkable is that in the face of almost certain defeat she’s never once wavered,” said Sarah Longwell, executive director of the Republican Accountability Project. “We’ve been watching a national American figure be forged. It’s funny how small the election feels — the Wyoming election — because she feels bigger than it now.”Cheney has seemingly welcomed defeat by devoting almost every resource at her disposal to ending Trump’s political career since the insurrection.She emerged as a leader in the congressional committee investigating Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack, giving the Democrat-led panel genuine bipartisan credibility. She has also devoted the vast majority of her time to the committee instead of the campaign trail back home, a decision that still fuels murmurs of disapproval among some Wyoming allies. And she has closed out the primary campaign with an unflinching anti-Trump message.“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump," former Vice President Dick Cheney said in a recent ad produced by his daughter's campaign.He continued, “There is nothing more important she will ever do than lead the effort to make sure Donald Trump is never again near the Oval Office.”___