KANSAS CITY (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and two state library associations are suing over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-entertainment-education-biology-missouri-0fdae848f82c26b67751662801dfe7c9">a new state law</a>&nbsp;that bans sexually explicit material from schools, saying it violates the rights of librarians and students.

The lawsuit filed Thursday contends that the Republican-backed law, which took effect in August, has caused Missouri school districts to remove hundreds of books from their shelves.

The ACLU, the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association are asking the Circuit Court in Kansas City to find the law unconstitutional or clarify how and when it applies.

The law was passed as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/book-banning">challenges to the content of library books</a>&nbsp;— both in schools and public libraries — have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/libraries-american-library-association-book-banning-af7c9f312266b572c3dc189b1d109de4">increased across the country over the last two years.</a>

Missouri's Republican secretary of state, Jay Ashcroft, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-columbia-government-and-politics-libraries-9902e50714e3ba7501829b628a88cc2d">proposed a rule</a>&nbsp;that would block public funding for libraries that make “inappropriate” books available to minors. The proposal has been widely condemned by librarians and free speech advocates.

In the latest lawsuit, the ACLU sued Jean Peters Baker in her role as the Jackson County prosecutor and on behalf of all county prosecutors in Missouri.

Michael Mansur, a spokesman for Baker's office, said Friday that they had not seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment.

Librarians and other school officials face up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine for violating the policy, which makes it a crime to provide minors with sexually explicit visual material. Exceptions are provided for works of art, science classes and other educational courses.

The lawsuit also contends that librarians and others could violate the law regardless of whether the material is provided inside or outside of a school building or school hours.

As of November, about 300 titles had been banned from school libraries across the state, according to the lawsuit. Many of those books were written by or about minority or LGBTQ individuals, but they also include graphic novels, human anatomy books and Holocaust history books.

The law endangers not only school librarians but public and academic librarians who work with K-12 schools, Joe Kohlburn of the Missouri Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee said in a statement.

“Librarians have been undermined politically in this state for long enough, and the fear of prosecution is an ongoing issue for keeping qualified professionals in Missouri, as well as bringing new people into the profession,” he said.

The ACLU argues that the law violates educators' due process rights because it is unconstitutionally vague and allows government overreach. It also argues that the suit violates students' First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit notes that federal and state law already prohibits providing obscene and pornographic materials to minors, and that school boards approve procedures for choosing appropriate library materials.

“Extreme politicians in Jefferson City are using the government-knows-best model for legislation — in this case telling parents what their children can and can’t read at school and, in some cases, at home, while imposing criminal penalties on those who might disagree,” said Gillian Wilcox, deputy director for litigation for the ACLU of Missouri.

Melissa Corey, president of the Missouri Association of School Librarians, said one of the group's major concerns is not only removing books currently on the shelves, but the potential for “a chilling effect” on what books are purchased in the future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674149937229.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and two state library associations are suing over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-entertainment-education-biology-missouri-0fdae848f82c26b67751662801dfe7c9">a new state law</a>&nbsp;that bans sexually explicit material from schools, saying it violates the rights of librarians and students.The lawsuit filed Thursday contends that the Republican-backed law, which took effect in August, has caused Missouri school districts to remove hundreds of books from their shelves.The ACLU, the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association are asking the Circuit Court in Kansas City to find the law unconstitutional or clarify how and when it applies.The law was passed as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/book-banning">challenges to the content of library books</a>&nbsp;— both in schools and public libraries — have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/libraries-american-library-association-book-banning-af7c9f312266b572c3dc189b1d109de4">increased across the country over the last two years.</a>Missouri's Republican secretary of state, Jay Ashcroft, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-columbia-government-and-politics-libraries-9902e50714e3ba7501829b628a88cc2d">proposed a rule</a>&nbsp;that would block public funding for libraries that make “inappropriate” books available to minors. The proposal has been widely condemned by librarians and free speech advocates.In the latest lawsuit, the ACLU sued Jean Peters Baker in her role as the Jackson County prosecutor and on behalf of all county prosecutors in Missouri.Michael Mansur, a spokesman for Baker's office, said Friday that they had not seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment.Librarians and other school officials face up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine for violating the policy, which makes it a crime to provide minors with sexually explicit visual material. Exceptions are provided for works of art, science classes and other educational courses.The lawsuit also contends that librarians and others could violate the law regardless of whether the material is provided inside or outside of a school building or school hours.As of November, about 300 titles had been banned from school libraries across the state, according to the lawsuit. Many of those books were written by or about minority or LGBTQ individuals, but they also include graphic novels, human anatomy books and Holocaust history books.The law endangers not only school librarians but public and academic librarians who work with K-12 schools, Joe Kohlburn of the Missouri Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee said in a statement.“Librarians have been undermined politically in this state for long enough, and the fear of prosecution is an ongoing issue for keeping qualified professionals in Missouri, as well as bringing new people into the profession,” he said.The ACLU argues that the law violates educators' due process rights because it is unconstitutionally vague and allows government overreach. It also argues that the suit violates students' First Amendment rights.The lawsuit notes that federal and state law already prohibits providing obscene and pornographic materials to minors, and that school boards approve procedures for choosing appropriate library materials.“Extreme politicians in Jefferson City are using the government-knows-best model for legislation — in this case telling parents what their children can and can’t read at school and, in some cases, at home, while imposing criminal penalties on those who might disagree,” said Gillian Wilcox, deputy director for litigation for the ACLU of Missouri.Melissa Corey, president of the Missouri Association of School Librarians, said one of the group's major concerns is not only removing books currently on the shelves, but the potential for “a chilling effect” on what books are purchased in the future.

ACLU, library groups sue over new school book law

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) —A Kansas man who claimed a disgraced police detective helped convict him of a 1997 murder he didn't commit will be released on parole in four months.

KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-25/a-kansas-man-wins-parole-25-years-after-being-allegedly-set-up-by-indicted-kckpd-detective">reports</a>&nbsp;that Brian Betts learned the news Friday and called his sister, Violet Martin, and their mother, Ellen Betts, to share. Martin said they screamed and thanked God.

“I know my brother. He was smiling,” Martin said. “He was like, ‘June 1! June 1 I’m coming home!’”

Betts, 46, and his cousin, Celester McKinney, 52, alleged that former Kansas City, Kansas, detective Roger Golubski and another detective coerced their uncle into identifying them as the shooters in the death of 17-year-old Gregory Miller.

They sought a new trial but Judge Gunnar Sundby ruled in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-indictments-c84e4b6c29649993571a8f6e0f6edb53">December</a>&nbsp;that the men did not prove their case, despite a “cloud of doubt” over Golubski.

Golubski, 70, now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/337f9df63faf6c5ff8d3d50623b902c2">faces</a>&nbsp;federal charges of kidnapping, sexual assault and sex trafficking.

McKinney had a parole hearing on February 16 and was told he’ll learn if he’s paroled within a month of that day, Martin said.

McKinney’s attorney, Sarah Swain, said she hopes Betts winning parole means that McKinney could be next.

“Either way, this is great news for Brian Betts,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671662017570.png" alt="Betts-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Betts-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) —A Kansas man who claimed a disgraced police detective helped convict him of a 1997 murder he didn't commit will be released on parole in four months.KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-25/a-kansas-man-wins-parole-25-years-after-being-allegedly-set-up-by-indicted-kckpd-detective">reports</a>&nbsp;that Brian Betts learned the news Friday and called his sister, Violet Martin, and their mother, Ellen Betts, to share. Martin said they screamed and thanked God.“I know my brother. He was smiling,” Martin said. “He was like, ‘June 1! June 1 I’m coming home!’”Betts, 46, and his cousin, Celester McKinney, 52, alleged that former Kansas City, Kansas, detective Roger Golubski and another detective coerced their uncle into identifying them as the shooters in the death of 17-year-old Gregory Miller.They sought a new trial but Judge Gunnar Sundby ruled in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-indictments-c84e4b6c29649993571a8f6e0f6edb53">December</a>&nbsp;that the men did not prove their case, despite a “cloud of doubt” over Golubski.Golubski, 70, now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/337f9df63faf6c5ff8d3d50623b902c2">faces</a>&nbsp;federal charges of kidnapping, sexual assault and sex trafficking.McKinney had a parole hearing on February 16 and was told he’ll learn if he’s paroled within a month of that day, Martin said.McKinney’s attorney, Sarah Swain, said she hopes Betts winning parole means that McKinney could be next.“Either way, this is great news for Brian Betts,” she said.

Kan. man who claims he was set up to be released on parole soon

WASHINGTON (AP) — If you get health care coverage through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/index.html">Medicaid</a>, you might be at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-304d921beee43d29f1862cd4d6ab5297">risk of losing that coverage</a>&nbsp;over the next year.

Roughly 84 million people are covered by the government-sponsored program, which has grown by 20 million people since January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

But as states begin checking everyone's eligibility for Medicaid for the first time in three years, as many as 14 million people could lose access to that health care coverage.

A look at why so many people may no longer qualify for the Medicaid program over the next year and what you need to know if you're one of those people who relies on the program.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government prohibited states from kicking people off Medicaid, even if they were no longer eligible. Before the pandemic, people would regularly lose their Medicaid coverage if they started making too much money to qualify for the program, gained health care coverage through their employer or moved into a new state.

That all stopped once COVID-19 started spreading across the country.

Over the next year, states will be required to start checking the eligibility again of every person who is on Medicaid. People will have to fill out forms to verify their personal information, including address, income and household size.

That will vary depending on which state you live in; some states are moving faster than others to check eligibility. Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia are among the states that will begin removing ineligible Medicaid recipients as early as April.

Other states will start taking that step in May, June or July.

Not everyone will be removed from the program all at once. States plan to verify all recipients’ eligibility over periods of nine months to one year.

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF I’M LOSING COVERAGE?

If you rely on Medicaid for care, it’s important to update your contact information, including home address, phone number and email with the state from which you receive benefits.

States will mail a renewal form to your home. The federal government also requires states to contact you in another way -– by phone, text message or email –- to remind you to fill out the form.

Even if mailed notices reach the right address, they can be set aside and forgotten, said Kate McEvoy, executive director of the nonprofit National Association of Medicaid Directors.

“A text might just grab someone’s attention in a way that would be more accessible,” she said, noting that a quick message also may be less intimidating than a mailed notice.

Most states have already used texting for things such as reminding patients to get a COVID-19 vaccine or about upcoming doctor’s visits. But sending mass texts on Medicaid eligibility will be new, McEvoy said.

You will have at least 30 days to fill out the form. If you do not fill out the form, states will be able to remove you from Medicaid.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I’M KICKED OFF MEDICAID?

Many people who will no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage can turn to the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace for coverage, where they’ll find health care coverage options that may cost less than $10 a month.

But the coverage available on the marketplace will still be vastly different from what’s offered through Medicaid. Out-of-pocket expenses and co-pays are often higher. Also, people will need to check if the insurance plans offered through the marketplace will still cover their doctors.

A special enrollment period will open for people who are unenrolled from Medicaid that will start on March 31 and last through July 31, 2024. People who lose Medicaid coverage will have up to 60 days to enroll after losing coverage, according to guidance the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent to states last month.

MY CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN MEDICAID. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEIR COVERAGE?

More than half of U.S. children receive health care coverage through Medicaid or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/childrens-health-insurance-program/">Children’s Health Insurance Program</a>.

Even if you receive a notice that you’re no longer eligible for Medicaid, it’s likely that your child still qualifies for the program or for health care coverage through CHIP, which covers children whose families make too much money qualify for Medicaid but don’t earn enough to afford private health insurance.

Between 80% and 90% percent of children will still be eligible for those programs, according to estimates from the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute’s Center for Children and Families.

“When a parent receives a message that they aren’t eligible anymore, they often assume their child is no longer eligible either,” said Joan Alker, the center’s executive director. “It’s more common to find that the parent is no longer eligible for Medicaid, but the child still is.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — If you get health care coverage through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/index.html">Medicaid</a>, you might be at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-304d921beee43d29f1862cd4d6ab5297">risk of losing that coverage</a>&nbsp;over the next year.Roughly 84 million people are covered by the government-sponsored program, which has grown by 20 million people since January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.But as states begin checking everyone's eligibility for Medicaid for the first time in three years, as many as 14 million people could lose access to that health care coverage.A look at why so many people may no longer qualify for the Medicaid program over the next year and what you need to know if you're one of those people who relies on the program.WHAT’S HAPPENING TO MEDICAID?At the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government prohibited states from kicking people off Medicaid, even if they were no longer eligible. Before the pandemic, people would regularly lose their Medicaid coverage if they started making too much money to qualify for the program, gained health care coverage through their employer or moved into a new state.That all stopped once COVID-19 started spreading across the country.Over the next year, states will be required to start checking the eligibility again of every person who is on Medicaid. People will have to fill out forms to verify their personal information, including address, income and household size.___WHEN MIGHT I LOSE MY COVERAGE?That will vary depending on which state you live in; some states are moving faster than others to check eligibility. Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia are among the states that will begin removing ineligible Medicaid recipients as early as April.Other states will start taking that step in May, June or July.Not everyone will be removed from the program all at once. States plan to verify all recipients’ eligibility over periods of nine months to one year.___HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF I’M LOSING COVERAGE?If you rely on Medicaid for care, it’s important to update your contact information, including home address, phone number and email with the state from which you receive benefits.States will mail a renewal form to your home. The federal government also requires states to contact you in another way -– by phone, text message or email –- to remind you to fill out the form.Even if mailed notices reach the right address, they can be set aside and forgotten, said Kate McEvoy, executive director of the nonprofit National Association of Medicaid Directors.“A text might just grab someone’s attention in a way that would be more accessible,” she said, noting that a quick message also may be less intimidating than a mailed notice.Most states have already used texting for things such as reminding patients to get a COVID-19 vaccine or about upcoming doctor’s visits. But sending mass texts on Medicaid eligibility will be new, McEvoy said.You will have at least 30 days to fill out the form. If you do not fill out the form, states will be able to remove you from Medicaid.___WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I’M KICKED OFF MEDICAID?Many people who will no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage can turn to the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace for coverage, where they’ll find health care coverage options that may cost less than $10 a month.But the coverage available on the marketplace will still be vastly different from what’s offered through Medicaid. Out-of-pocket expenses and co-pays are often higher. Also, people will need to check if the insurance plans offered through the marketplace will still cover their doctors.A special enrollment period will open for people who are unenrolled from Medicaid that will start on March 31 and last through July 31, 2024. People who lose Medicaid coverage will have up to 60 days to enroll after losing coverage, according to guidance the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent to states last month.___MY CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN MEDICAID. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEIR COVERAGE?More than half of U.S. children receive health care coverage through Medicaid or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/childrens-health-insurance-program/">Children’s Health Insurance Program</a>.Even if you receive a notice that you’re no longer eligible for Medicaid, it’s likely that your child still qualifies for the program or for health care coverage through CHIP, which covers children whose families make too much money qualify for Medicaid but don’t earn enough to afford private health insurance.Between 80% and 90% percent of children will still be eligible for those programs, according to estimates from the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute’s Center for Children and Families.“When a parent receives a message that they aren’t eligible anymore, they often assume their child is no longer eligible either,” said Joan Alker, the center’s executive director. “It’s more common to find that the parent is no longer eligible for Medicaid, but the child still is.”___

Millions who rely on Medicaid may be booted from program

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/house-passes-kansas-bill-creating-method-of-anonymously-surrendering-an-infant/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Elective politics newcomer Jeanna Repass won the race Saturday to take over as chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party in a close contest against former state Treasurer Lynn Rogers.

Repass, of Overland Park, stepped into the political arena in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/johnson-county-democrat-running-for-kansas-secretary-of-state/">2022 with an unsuccessful campaign for Kansas secretary of state</a>. She lost the general election showdown in November by nearly 200,000 votes to incumbent Secretary of State Scott Schwab. There was subsequent criticism of Repass regarding an allegation she didn’t properly compensate one of her campaign workers.

Repass won the top party post by leveraging endorsements from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes and House Minority Leader Vic Miller to secure 122 votes to Rogers’ 107. The recommendation by Kelly was particularly striking, because Rogers was elected lieutenant governor on the 2018 ticket with Kelly.

The written endorsement by the four elected officials pointed to Repass’ “electric energy and bold optimism” and an ability to engage a new generation of&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Democrats. They lauded Repass’&nbsp;commitment to building relationships among Democrats statewide.

“I’m a lifelong Democrat,” Repass told delegates. “I believe that we need to communicate with each other openly. We need to have transparency in everything we do. As your chair, nothing will be done in the dark. You will be a part of this every step of the way.”

Repass, who has worked as a radio station executive, said reelection of Kelly to a second term gave her hope in the future of Kansas politics. She said work of Democrats in the Legislature, which has a supermajority of Republicans, also inspired her. But division among Democrats across the state served to undermine the party’s potential, she said, because “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

“We don’t have to like each other. I get that,” Repass said, “The people of Kansas need us to be allied and to stand firm for them.”

Repass’ mother was a civil rights activist and her father a veteran of the Vietnam war who worked in law enforcement after his military career. She said her parents instilled in her a belief that the right to vote shouldn’t be manipulated in a partisan manner to divide people.

Vicki Hiatt, who had served as party chair since 2019, decided against seeking another term when Repass disclosed her candidacy. Hiatt made her decision public after state Democratic Party executive director Ben Meers resigned in January amid allegations by former colleagues that he fostered a toxic work environment at the party’s Topeka office.

Rogers, the former state treasurer, lieutenant governor, senator and Wichita school board member, said he was well-equipped to take a leadership roll in the Democratic Party. He was appointed state treasurer by Kelly in 2021. In the November election, he lost a campaign to retain the post by 120,000 votes to Republican Steven Johnson.

“I have stepped up every time the Kansas Democrats have asked me to,” Rogers said. “I have heard from Kansans all over the state. They have the same message. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.”

He said his candidacy wasn’t about himself or Repass, who he said he “highly respected.” He said it was about preparing Democrats for the 2024 election cycle and the elections that would follow.

“Kansans deserve an alternative to the far-right extremists and cultural warriors who continue to take rights away and harm our future,” Rogers said. “I want a strong Democratic Party in all 105 counties.”

Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/11/kansas-republicans-select-2020-election-conspiracy-theorist-to-serve-as-party-chairman/">the Kansas Republican Party selected a new chairman</a>. Mike Brown, a former Johnson County Commission member who lost to Schwab in last year’s GOP primary for secretary of state, was chosen over Helen Van Etten, a former Republican national committewoman. Brown prevailed with 90 votes to Van Etten’s 88.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jeanna-Repass-chair-1024x768.jpg" alt="-Jeanna Repass, of Overland Park, was elected chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party on Saturday in a showdown with former state Treasurer Lynn Rogers. The vote: Repass, 122; Rogers, 107. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>-Jeanna Repass, of Overland Park, was elected chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party on Saturday in a showdown with former state Treasurer Lynn Rogers. The vote: Repass, 122; Rogers, 107. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/house-passes-kansas-bill-creating-method-of-anonymously-surrendering-an-infant/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Elective politics newcomer Jeanna Repass won the race Saturday to take over as chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party in a close contest against former state Treasurer Lynn Rogers.Repass, of Overland Park, stepped into the political arena in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/johnson-county-democrat-running-for-kansas-secretary-of-state/">2022 with an unsuccessful campaign for Kansas secretary of state</a>. She lost the general election showdown in November by nearly 200,000 votes to incumbent Secretary of State Scott Schwab. There was subsequent criticism of Repass regarding an allegation she didn’t properly compensate one of her campaign workers.Repass won the top party post by leveraging endorsements from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes and House Minority Leader Vic Miller to secure 122 votes to Rogers’ 107. The recommendation by Kelly was particularly striking, because Rogers was elected lieutenant governor on the 2018 ticket with Kelly.The written endorsement by the four elected officials pointed to Repass’ “electric energy and bold optimism” and an ability to engage a new generation of&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Democrats. They lauded Repass’&nbsp;commitment to building relationships among Democrats statewide.“I’m a lifelong Democrat,” Repass told delegates. “I believe that we need to communicate with each other openly. We need to have transparency in everything we do. As your chair, nothing will be done in the dark. You will be a part of this every step of the way.”Repass, who has worked as a radio station executive, said reelection of Kelly to a second term gave her hope in the future of Kansas politics. She said work of Democrats in the Legislature, which has a supermajority of Republicans, also inspired her. But division among Democrats across the state served to undermine the party’s potential, she said, because “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”“We don’t have to like each other. I get that,” Repass said, “The people of Kansas need us to be allied and to stand firm for them.”Repass’ mother was a civil rights activist and her father a veteran of the Vietnam war who worked in law enforcement after his military career. She said her parents instilled in her a belief that the right to vote shouldn’t be manipulated in a partisan manner to divide people.Vicki Hiatt, who had served as party chair since 2019, decided against seeking another term when Repass disclosed her candidacy. Hiatt made her decision public after state Democratic Party executive director Ben Meers resigned in January amid allegations by former colleagues that he fostered a toxic work environment at the party’s Topeka office.Rogers, the former state treasurer, lieutenant governor, senator and Wichita school board member, said he was well-equipped to take a leadership roll in the Democratic Party. He was appointed state treasurer by Kelly in 2021. In the November election, he lost a campaign to retain the post by 120,000 votes to Republican Steven Johnson.“I have stepped up every time the Kansas Democrats have asked me to,” Rogers said. “I have heard from Kansans all over the state. They have the same message. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.”He said his candidacy wasn’t about himself or Repass, who he said he “highly respected.” He said it was about preparing Democrats for the 2024 election cycle and the elections that would follow.“Kansans deserve an alternative to the far-right extremists and cultural warriors who continue to take rights away and harm our future,” Rogers said. “I want a strong Democratic Party in all 105 counties.”Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/11/kansas-republicans-select-2020-election-conspiracy-theorist-to-serve-as-party-chairman/">the Kansas Republican Party selected a new chairman</a>. Mike Brown, a former Johnson County Commission member who lost to Schwab in last year’s GOP primary for secretary of state, was chosen over Helen Van Etten, a former Republican national committewoman. Brown prevailed with 90 votes to Van Etten’s 88.

Kansas Dems choose Repass over Rogers for new state party chair

KANSAS CITY —A judge on sentenced a 29-year-old woman to 15 years in prison for the fatal shooting in Febtuary 2021 of Zachary Jewell in Blue Summit, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Sahara Devera, 29, pleaded guilty on Thursday to Voluntary Manslaughter, a Class B felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors requested the judge sentence the defendant to 15 years and the defense asked for a sentence up to 8 years. The judge sentenced the defendant to 15 years.

According to court records, family members of the victim told sheriff's deputies that they were at Inner City Fire on Blue Ridge Boulevard in Kansas City when they heard someone banging on the door. They saw the Devera was outside. She screamed, "I shot him. I shot him." Deputies found the victim, Zachary Jewell, outside Inner City Fire. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate the victim. He had been shot and was pronounced deceased later at a hospital. 

Witnesses and video surveillance confirmed the shooting took place near the 1800 block of Tilden in Blue Summit. A witness stated a man and woman were arguing before a gunshot was fired. Video surveillance showed the Jewell and Devera leaving a residence when the she can be heard saying "Be over it..." and gunshot rings out. She then tells Jewell to get in the truck and it leaves. The defendant told sheriff's deputies that she shot him because she believed he was going to shoot her.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677204347289.png" alt="Devera-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Devera-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A judge on sentenced a 29-year-old woman to 15 years in prison for the fatal shooting in Febtuary 2021 of Zachary Jewell in Blue Summit, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Sahara Devera, 29, pleaded guilty on Thursday to Voluntary Manslaughter, a Class B felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors requested the judge sentence the defendant to 15 years and the defense asked for a sentence up to 8 years. The judge sentenced the defendant to 15 years.According to court records, family members of the victim told sheriff's deputies that they were at Inner City Fire on Blue Ridge Boulevard in Kansas City when they heard someone banging on the door. They saw the Devera was outside. She screamed, "I shot him. I shot him." Deputies found the victim, Zachary Jewell, outside Inner City Fire. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate the victim. He had been shot and was pronounced deceased later at a hospital. Witnesses and video surveillance confirmed the shooting took place near the 1800 block of Tilden in Blue Summit. A witness stated a man and woman were arguing before a gunshot was fired. Video surveillance showed the Jewell and Devera leaving a residence when the she can be heard saying "Be over it..." and gunshot rings out. She then tells Jewell to get in the truck and it leaves. The defendant told sheriff's deputies that she shot him because she believed he was going to shoot her.&nbsp;-------

Woman sentenced for killing man she left at KC fire station

OSAGE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged drug sales.

Just after 11p.m. Feb. 21, a sheriff’s office K9 unit conducted a traffic stop at 137th and Prost Road in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. 

During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

The driver of the vehicle, David W. Cunningham, 59, of Carbondale, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and&nbsp;Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677187525666.png" alt="Cunningham-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Cunningham-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged drug sales.Just after 11p.m. Feb. 21, a sheriff’s office K9 unit conducted a traffic stop at 137th and Prost Road in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.The driver of the vehicle, David W. Cunningham, 59, of Carbondale, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and&nbsp;Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

Kansas man accused of selling meth, marijuana

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes.

&nbsp;Following an investigation that began in November, sheriff's deputies arrested 41-year-old&nbsp; Barry L. Maddux of Topeka on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. 

The alleged crimes involve a non-family member.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677268321575.png" alt="Maddux-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Maddux-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes.&nbsp;Following an investigation that began in November, sheriff's deputies arrested 41-year-old&nbsp; Barry L. Maddux of Topeka on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The alleged crimes involve a non-family member.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Sheriff: Kansas man jailed for alleged child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration moved Friday to require patients see a doctor in person before getting attention deficit disorder medication or addictive painkillers, toughening access to the drugs against the backdrop of a deepening opioid crisis.

The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions after three years of relying on telehealth for doctor’s appointments by computer or phone during the pandemic.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said late Friday it plans to reinstate once longstanding federal requirements for powerful drugs that were waived once COVID-19 hit, enabling doctors to write millions of prescriptions for drugs such as OxyContin or Adderall without ever meeting patients in person.

Patients will need to see a doctor in person at least once to get an initial prescription for drugs that the federal government says have the the most potential to be abused — Vicodin, OxyContin, Adderall and Ritalin, for example. Refills could be prescribed over telehealth appointments.

The agency will also clamp down on how doctors can prescribe other, less addictive drugs to patients they've never physically met. Substances like codeine, taken to alleviate pain or coughing, Xanax, used to treat anxiety, Ambien, a sleep aid, and buprenorphine, a narcotic used to treat opioid addiction, can be prescribed over telehealth for an initial 30-day dose. Patients would need to see a doctor at least once in person to get a refill.

Patients will still be able to get common prescriptions like antibiotics, skin creams, birth control and insulin prescribed through telehealth visits.

The new rule seeks to keep expanded access to telehealth that's important for patients like those in rural areas while also balancing safety, an approach DEA Administrator Anne Milgram referred to as “expansion of telemedicine with guardrails.”

The ease with each Americans have accessed certain medications during the pandemic has helped many get needed treatment, but concerns have also mounted that some companies may take advantage of the lax rules and be overprescribing medications to people who don’t need them, said David Herzberg, a historian of drugs at the University of Buffalo.

“Both sides of this tension have really good points,” said Herzberg. “You don’t want barriers in the way of getting people prescriptions they need. But anytime you remove those barriers it’s also an opportunity for profit seekers to exploit the lax rules and sell the medicines to people who may not need them.”

U.S. overdose deaths hit a record in 2021, about three-quarters of those from opioids during a crisis that was first spun into the making by drug makers, pharmacies and doctors that pushed the drugs to patients decades ago. But the grim toll from synthetic opioids like fentanyl far outstripped deaths related to prescription drugs that year, according to Centers for Disease Control Data. Fentanyl is increasingly appearing on the illicit market, pressed into fake prescription pills or mixed into other drugs.

The proposed rules deliver a major blow to a booming telehealth industry, with tech startups launching in recent years to treat and prescribe medications for mental health or attention deficit disorders. The industry has largely benefitted from the reprieve on in-person visits for drugs brought on by the pandemic, although some national retailers stopped filling drug orders generated by some telehealth apps over the last year.

The DEA has grown increasingly concerned over the last two years that some of those startup telehealth companies are improperly prescribing addictive substances like opioids or attention deficit disorder medication, putting patients in danger, a DEA official told The Associated Press on Friday.

The official said the agency plans to have the new rule in place before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-covid-public-health-2a80b547f6d55706a6986debc343b9fe">the COVID-19 public health emergency expires</a>&nbsp;on May 11, which will effectively end the loosened rules. That could mean people who may seeking treatment from a doctor who is hundreds of miles away need to start developing plans for in-person visits with their doctors now, pointed out Boston-based attorney Jeremy Sherer, who represents telehealth companies. Patients will have six months to visit their doctor in person when the regulation is enacted.

“Providers and their patients need to know what that treatment is going to look like moving forward and whether, once the public health emergency ends in May, if they’re going to need to figure out a way to have a visit in person before continuing treatment, and that can be a real challenge," he said.

Many states have already moved to restore limitations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-covid-cancer-56deaf3a9ff108775dc36e3bd767175e">telehealth care across state lines</a>. By October, nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C., had ended emergency declarations that made it easier for doctors to see patients in other states.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration moved Friday to require patients see a doctor in person before getting attention deficit disorder medication or addictive painkillers, toughening access to the drugs against the backdrop of a deepening opioid crisis.The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions after three years of relying on telehealth for doctor’s appointments by computer or phone during the pandemic.The Drug Enforcement Administration said late Friday it plans to reinstate once longstanding federal requirements for powerful drugs that were waived once COVID-19 hit, enabling doctors to write millions of prescriptions for drugs such as OxyContin or Adderall without ever meeting patients in person.Patients will need to see a doctor in person at least once to get an initial prescription for drugs that the federal government says have the the most potential to be abused — Vicodin, OxyContin, Adderall and Ritalin, for example. Refills could be prescribed over telehealth appointments.The agency will also clamp down on how doctors can prescribe other, less addictive drugs to patients they've never physically met. Substances like codeine, taken to alleviate pain or coughing, Xanax, used to treat anxiety, Ambien, a sleep aid, and buprenorphine, a narcotic used to treat opioid addiction, can be prescribed over telehealth for an initial 30-day dose. Patients would need to see a doctor at least once in person to get a refill.Patients will still be able to get common prescriptions like antibiotics, skin creams, birth control and insulin prescribed through telehealth visits.The new rule seeks to keep expanded access to telehealth that's important for patients like those in rural areas while also balancing safety, an approach DEA Administrator Anne Milgram referred to as “expansion of telemedicine with guardrails.”The ease with each Americans have accessed certain medications during the pandemic has helped many get needed treatment, but concerns have also mounted that some companies may take advantage of the lax rules and be overprescribing medications to people who don’t need them, said David Herzberg, a historian of drugs at the University of Buffalo.“Both sides of this tension have really good points,” said Herzberg. “You don’t want barriers in the way of getting people prescriptions they need. But anytime you remove those barriers it’s also an opportunity for profit seekers to exploit the lax rules and sell the medicines to people who may not need them.”U.S. overdose deaths hit a record in 2021, about three-quarters of those from opioids during a crisis that was first spun into the making by drug makers, pharmacies and doctors that pushed the drugs to patients decades ago. But the grim toll from synthetic opioids like fentanyl far outstripped deaths related to prescription drugs that year, according to Centers for Disease Control Data. Fentanyl is increasingly appearing on the illicit market, pressed into fake prescription pills or mixed into other drugs.The proposed rules deliver a major blow to a booming telehealth industry, with tech startups launching in recent years to treat and prescribe medications for mental health or attention deficit disorders. The industry has largely benefitted from the reprieve on in-person visits for drugs brought on by the pandemic, although some national retailers stopped filling drug orders generated by some telehealth apps over the last year.The DEA has grown increasingly concerned over the last two years that some of those startup telehealth companies are improperly prescribing addictive substances like opioids or attention deficit disorder medication, putting patients in danger, a DEA official told The Associated Press on Friday.The official said the agency plans to have the new rule in place before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-covid-public-health-2a80b547f6d55706a6986debc343b9fe">the COVID-19 public health emergency expires</a>&nbsp;on May 11, which will effectively end the loosened rules. That could mean people who may seeking treatment from a doctor who is hundreds of miles away need to start developing plans for in-person visits with their doctors now, pointed out Boston-based attorney Jeremy Sherer, who represents telehealth companies. Patients will have six months to visit their doctor in person when the regulation is enacted.“Providers and their patients need to know what that treatment is going to look like moving forward and whether, once the public health emergency ends in May, if they’re going to need to figure out a way to have a visit in person before continuing treatment, and that can be a real challenge," he said.Many states have already moved to restore limitations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-covid-cancer-56deaf3a9ff108775dc36e3bd767175e">telehealth care across state lines</a>. By October, nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C., had ended emergency declarations that made it easier for doctors to see patients in other states.

Feds seek to limit telehealth prescriptions for some drugs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would allow people with concealed carry permits to bring firearms on West Virginia public college and university campuses is heading to the desk of Republican Gov. Jim Justice after passing the final hurdle in the GOP-dominated Legislature.

The state House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation this week. Justice has not said publicly whether he will sign the bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-west-virginia-949edba92ea851c11617afcdb7f4b776">passed last month by the Senate</a>, where half of the entire chamber — all Republicans — were listed as sponsors.

At the House session, a lawmaker who supported the measure shared an emotional story about responding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-us-news-ap-top-news-va-state-wire-virginia-aa4caffe30834994b57a789500773b7b">2007 shooting at Virginia Tech</a>&nbsp;as a state trooper.

Republican Del. Mike Honaker, who represents a county near the Virginia border, said he will never forget the sight of the blood that covered the floor of Norris Hall, nor the sound of cell phones ringing as people frantically tried to reach loved ones who could not answer.

Honaker and other officers were responsible for the harrowing task of notifying parents their children had been killed. The massacre, in which 32 people were killed, remains the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

"Please hear me: Years ago, I sat on the foot of my bed with Windex and paper towels and I washed the blood of almost 30 kids off of my shoes because of an active shooter on a college campus," he said.

“I fear that if I do not support this legislation, and it happens again, washing their blood off my shoes will not compare to trying to wash the blood off of my hands," he continued.

The bill strictly prohibits the open carry of a firearm on a college or university campus and allows institutions of higher learning to implement exceptions. It also prohibits people from bringing guns into areas with a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators — stadiums for football games, for example — or to on-campus daycare centers.

Similar legislation has already passed in 11 other states, including Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho and Oregon. If signed into law, West Virginia's bill would go into effect in July 2024.

Honaker said he understands the concerns of people opposed to the bill, but that he feels people should have the right to defend themselves. He said he hopes no one at a West Virginia college or university ever has to.

“What makes this issue even more weighty for me is this isn’t just a policy issue, even though it is a policy issue,” he said. “What makes it even more weighty is it is in fact a constitutional issue. We cannot escape that.”

As the bill moved through the legislative process, the presidents of West Virginia's largest institutions of higher learning urged lawmakers to reconsider. They said decisions about whether or not to allow guns on campus should be left to the institutions to decide and voiced concerns about students struggling with mental health challenges.

Before the legislation advanced to the House floor, around 40 people — many of them West Virginia higher education students or faculty members — came to speak at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-colleges-and-universities-michigan-west-virginia-7ce4a3aa6afe3ac474f35da9909f100b">public hearing against the proposal last week</a>. The two people who spoke in support both represented organizations that advocate for gun-owner rights.

Republican Del. Larry Kump said Tuesday he's heard critics of the bill say as Republicans, he and his colleagues should support the university's right to local control. He said the best local control is the individual rights protected under the U.S. Constitution.

“The Second Amendment is my gun permit and that's all I have to say about that,” he said.

But Minority Leader Doug Skaff said lawmakers should be spending more time and attention on legislation to provide mental health support to university students — not guns. He said he's introduced legislation to help address the mental health of higher education students and "it hasn’t seen the light of day.”

“Just because we have a supermajority here, just because you can pass whatever you want, doesn't mean you should," he said.

Democratic Del. John Williams said people carrying guns on campus with good intentions could make law enforcements' work more difficult. He said it takes a lot of training to respond to and de-escalate a violent situation involving a deadly weapon, something most college students don't have.

“A false assumption that I think we’re making is that every single one of these folks that’s going to be carrying a gun on campus is going to be Clint Eastwood, ready to fight,” he said.

The bill would allow exceptions in rooms where a student or employee disciplinary proceeding is being held, and says guns can be restricted in specifically designated areas where patient care or mental health counseling is being provided.

Schools would be permitted to regulate firearms in residence halls, but not in common areas, including lounges, dining areas and study areas. The bill requires colleges and universities to provide a secure location for storage of a pistol or revolver in at least one on-campus residence hall — or to make safes available in residence rooms, which could come with a fee.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would allow people with concealed carry permits to bring firearms on West Virginia public college and university campuses is heading to the desk of Republican Gov. Jim Justice after passing the final hurdle in the GOP-dominated Legislature.The state House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation this week. Justice has not said publicly whether he will sign the bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-west-virginia-949edba92ea851c11617afcdb7f4b776">passed last month by the Senate</a>, where half of the entire chamber — all Republicans — were listed as sponsors.At the House session, a lawmaker who supported the measure shared an emotional story about responding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-us-news-ap-top-news-va-state-wire-virginia-aa4caffe30834994b57a789500773b7b">2007 shooting at Virginia Tech</a>&nbsp;as a state trooper.Republican Del. Mike Honaker, who represents a county near the Virginia border, said he will never forget the sight of the blood that covered the floor of Norris Hall, nor the sound of cell phones ringing as people frantically tried to reach loved ones who could not answer.Honaker and other officers were responsible for the harrowing task of notifying parents their children had been killed. The massacre, in which 32 people were killed, remains the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history."Please hear me: Years ago, I sat on the foot of my bed with Windex and paper towels and I washed the blood of almost 30 kids off of my shoes because of an active shooter on a college campus," he said.“I fear that if I do not support this legislation, and it happens again, washing their blood off my shoes will not compare to trying to wash the blood off of my hands," he continued.The bill strictly prohibits the open carry of a firearm on a college or university campus and allows institutions of higher learning to implement exceptions. It also prohibits people from bringing guns into areas with a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators — stadiums for football games, for example — or to on-campus daycare centers.Similar legislation has already passed in 11 other states, including Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho and Oregon. If signed into law, West Virginia's bill would go into effect in July 2024.Honaker said he understands the concerns of people opposed to the bill, but that he feels people should have the right to defend themselves. He said he hopes no one at a West Virginia college or university ever has to.“What makes this issue even more weighty for me is this isn’t just a policy issue, even though it is a policy issue,” he said. “What makes it even more weighty is it is in fact a constitutional issue. We cannot escape that.”As the bill moved through the legislative process, the presidents of West Virginia's largest institutions of higher learning urged lawmakers to reconsider. They said decisions about whether or not to allow guns on campus should be left to the institutions to decide and voiced concerns about students struggling with mental health challenges.Before the legislation advanced to the House floor, around 40 people — many of them West Virginia higher education students or faculty members — came to speak at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-colleges-and-universities-michigan-west-virginia-7ce4a3aa6afe3ac474f35da9909f100b">public hearing against the proposal last week</a>. The two people who spoke in support both represented organizations that advocate for gun-owner rights.Republican Del. Larry Kump said Tuesday he's heard critics of the bill say as Republicans, he and his colleagues should support the university's right to local control. He said the best local control is the individual rights protected under the U.S. Constitution.“The Second Amendment is my gun permit and that's all I have to say about that,” he said.But Minority Leader Doug Skaff said lawmakers should be spending more time and attention on legislation to provide mental health support to university students — not guns. He said he's introduced legislation to help address the mental health of higher education students and "it hasn’t seen the light of day.”“Just because we have a supermajority here, just because you can pass whatever you want, doesn't mean you should," he said.Democratic Del. John Williams said people carrying guns on campus with good intentions could make law enforcements' work more difficult. He said it takes a lot of training to respond to and de-escalate a violent situation involving a deadly weapon, something most college students don't have.“A false assumption that I think we’re making is that every single one of these folks that’s going to be carrying a gun on campus is going to be Clint Eastwood, ready to fight,” he said.The bill would allow exceptions in rooms where a student or employee disciplinary proceeding is being held, and says guns can be restricted in specifically designated areas where patient care or mental health counseling is being provided.Schools would be permitted to regulate firearms in residence halls, but not in common areas, including lounges, dining areas and study areas. The bill requires colleges and universities to provide a secure location for storage of a pistol or revolver in at least one on-campus residence hall — or to make safes available in residence rooms, which could come with a fee.

Another state follows Kansas, passes campus carry legislation

KANSAS CITY (AP) — An organization that provides services for troubled youth and foster children in Missouri has agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine and to implement several compliance measures after admitting it made false claims about the services it provided, federal and state officials said Friday.

Great Circle, based in Webster Groves, admitted that it made false statements in billing the state for services to young people at its residential treatment facility, Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Reiter said in a statement.

Great Circle will not be criminally prosecuted and will continue to operate because it cooperated with the investigation and to avoid jeopardizing access to resident treatment services for its clients, she said.

Great Circle provides behavioral health services to children with special needs in the custody of the Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division.

As part of the agreement, Great Circle admitted falsely claiming to have provided enhanced services for six residents between 2019 and 2020.

Great Circle also has agreed to implement a compliance and ethics program and to improve internal controls, compliance, policies and procedures.

The agreement came after a multiyear investigation involving federal, state, Webster Groves and Phelps County officials.

KVC Missouri, based in Kansas City, said it will take over Great Circle on April 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677293596364.png" alt="KVC Missouri, based in Kansas City, said it will take over Great Circle on April 1." />
 <figcaption>KVC Missouri, based in Kansas City, said it will take over Great Circle on April 1.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — An organization that provides services for troubled youth and foster children in Missouri has agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine and to implement several compliance measures after admitting it made false claims about the services it provided, federal and state officials said Friday.Great Circle, based in Webster Groves, admitted that it made false statements in billing the state for services to young people at its residential treatment facility, Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Reiter said in a statement.Great Circle will not be criminally prosecuted and will continue to operate because it cooperated with the investigation and to avoid jeopardizing access to resident treatment services for its clients, she said.Great Circle provides behavioral health services to children with special needs in the custody of the Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division.As part of the agreement, Great Circle admitted falsely claiming to have provided enhanced services for six residents between 2019 and 2020.Great Circle also has agreed to implement a compliance and ethics program and to improve internal controls, compliance, policies and procedures.The agreement came after a multiyear investigation involving federal, state, Webster Groves and Phelps County officials.KVC Missouri, based in Kansas City, said it will take over Great Circle on April 1.

Child welfare agency to pay $1.8 million for overbilling

JOHNSON COUNTY — A man has been found guilty of murdering a teen in Overland Park in 2019.

A Kansas jury found 28-year-old Raymond Traevon Cherry guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and firearm possession by a felon.

The charges came after 17-year-old Benjamen Workman-Greco was killed in January of 2019 in his Overland Park apartment. He had just moved into the apartment two weeks earlier. Cherry is set of be sentenced on April 6, 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677204070419.png" alt="Cherry-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Cherry-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — A man has been found guilty of murdering a teen in Overland Park in 2019.A Kansas jury found 28-year-old Raymond Traevon Cherry guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and firearm possession by a felon.The charges came after 17-year-old Benjamen Workman-Greco was killed in January of 2019 in his Overland Park apartment. He had just moved into the apartment two weeks earlier. Cherry is set of be sentenced on April 6, 2023.

Jury: Man guilty in the murder of Kansas teen

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — U.S. first lady Jill Biden gave one of the clearest indications yet that President Joe Biden will run for a second term, telling The Associated Press in an exclusive interview on Friday that there's “pretty much” nothing left to do but figure out the time and place for the announcement.

Although Biden has long said that it's his intention to seek reelection, he has yet to make it official, and he's struggled to dispel questions about whether he's too old to continue serving as president. Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term.

“How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?” the first lady said in Nairobi, the second and final stop of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-droughts-united-states-government-jill-066f51bc0043efb57b6584ad9503e629">her five-day trip to Africa.</a>

She added, “He says he’s not done. He’s not finished what he’s started. And that’s what’s important.”

Granddaughter Naomi Biden, who is on the trip, cheered the first lady's comments after the interview.

“Preach nana,” she said on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiBiden/status/1629190339327041536">Twitter.</a>

The president himself was asked about his wife's comments just hours later in an interview with ABC News, and laughed when told of her remarks, adding, "God love her. Look, I meant what I said, I’ve got other things to finish before I get into a full-blown campaign.”

Biden aides have said an announcement is likely to come in April, after the first fundraising quarter ends, which is around the time that President Barack Obama officially launched his reelection campaign.

The first lady has long been described as a key figure in Biden's orbit as he plans his future.

She brushed off the question about whether she has the deciding vote on whether the president runs for reelection.

“Of course he'll listen to me, because we're a married couple," she said. But, she added later, “he makes up his own mind, believe me.”

The wide-ranging interview took place on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-one-year-index-dc5ee4b342ce80742c471e19258a2046?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">the anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Jill Biden recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-jill-biden-migration-slovakia-d22b406bd735c1899a55ba656cbbc317">her trip into the country last May</a>&nbsp;to meet the besieged country's first lady, Olena Zelenska.

They visited a school that was being used to help migrants who fled the fighting. Some of the families, Jill Biden said, had hid underground for weeks before making their escape.

“We thought then, how long can this go on? And here we are, a year later,” she said. “And look at what the Ukrainian people have done. I mean, they are so strong and resilient, and they are fighting for their country.”

“We're all hoping that this war is over soon, because we see, every day, the damage, the violence, the horror on our televisions,” the first lady added. “And we just can't believe it.”

Jill Biden also spoke extensively for the first time about her skin cancer diagnosis, which led doctors to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-maryland-mexico-city-surgery-545cac7c3ddca1f095e84383fdf8cd2d">remove multiple basal cell lesions</a>&nbsp;in January.

“I thought, oh, it’s just something on my eye, you know," she said. "But then they said, no, we think it’s basal cell.”

Then doctors checked her chest, she said, and they said “that's definitely basal cell."

“So I’m lucky,” the first lady said. "Believe me, I am so lucky that they caught it, they removed it, and I’m healthy.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-cancer-skin-brain-5a441b53e825895d029d0255c10816d3">Raising awareness about cancer screening</a>&nbsp;has been a cornerstone of her advocacy efforts for years, even before her son, Beau, died from a brain tumor almost a decade ago. She often says the worst three words anyone can hear are “you have cancer.”

When it was her turn to hear a doctor say that, Jill Biden said, “it was a little harder than I thought.”

Now, she said, she's “extra careful” about sunscreen, especially when she's at the beach, which she described as "one of my favorite places in the world."

Jill Biden is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-jill-biden-6a025ecc48cd6efed9c99ce578fb7fb4">the only first lady to continue her career</a>&nbsp;in addition to her ceremonial duties, teaching writing and English to community college students. At 71 years old, she said she's not ready to think about retirement.

“I know that I will know when it’s enough," she said. "But it’s not yet.”

She said she left detailed lesson plans for a substitute teacher while she was on her trip, and she's been texting with students as she was traveling. She plans to be back in the classroom at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, after arriving home from Africa around 3 a.m. Monday.

Education has been a flashpoint in American politics, especially with conservative activists and politicians trying to limit discussion of race and sexuality in classrooms.

“I don't believe in banning books,” she said.

She added: “I think the teachers and the parents can work together and decide what the kids should be taught.”

During the interview, Jill Biden reflected on the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-gerald-ford-ronald-reagan-hospice-care-f4e26c10a7b366f14e62f690da403b0a">who recently began home hospice care.</a>&nbsp;The Carter Center, which the former president founded after leaving the White House, was key in helping to eliminate the Guinea worm parasite in African countries.

“That's the perfect example,” she said. “He's such a humble man. He didn't go out and shout, 'Look what I've done.' He just did the work.”

Jill Biden recalled Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, reaching out on the eve of Joe Biden's inauguration two years ago.

“They called and said congratulations," she said. "And it meant so much to me and to Joe.”

She also talked about visiting the Carters at their home in Plains, Georgia, early in Biden's presidency.

"It’s not just that here are two presidents. It’s here are two friends," she said. "Actually four friends, who have really supported one another over the years.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677113898453.png" alt="The president himself was asked about his wife's comments just hours later in an interview with ABC News, and laughed when told of her remarks, adding, "God love her. Look, I meant what I said, I’ve got other things to finish before I get into a full-blown campaign.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The president himself was asked about his wife's comments just hours later in an interview with ABC News, and laughed when told of her remarks, adding, "God love her. Look, I meant what I said, I’ve got other things to finish before I get into a full-blown campaign.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DARLENE SUPERVILLE&nbsp;NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — U.S. first lady Jill Biden gave one of the clearest indications yet that President Joe Biden will run for a second term, telling The Associated Press in an exclusive interview on Friday that there's “pretty much” nothing left to do but figure out the time and place for the announcement.Although Biden has long said that it's his intention to seek reelection, he has yet to make it official, and he's struggled to dispel questions about whether he's too old to continue serving as president. Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term.“How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?” the first lady said in Nairobi, the second and final stop of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-droughts-united-states-government-jill-066f51bc0043efb57b6584ad9503e629">her five-day trip to Africa.</a>She added, “He says he’s not done. He’s not finished what he’s started. And that’s what’s important.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Preach nana <a href="https://t.co/dIHeD1XH8d">https://t.co/dIHeD1XH8d</a>&mdash; Naomi Biden (@NaomiBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiBiden/status/1629190339327041536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Granddaughter Naomi Biden, who is on the trip, cheered the first lady's comments after the interview.“Preach nana,” she said on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiBiden/status/1629190339327041536">Twitter.</a>The president himself was asked about his wife's comments just hours later in an interview with ABC News, and laughed when told of her remarks, adding, "God love her. Look, I meant what I said, I’ve got other things to finish before I get into a full-blown campaign.”Biden aides have said an announcement is likely to come in April, after the first fundraising quarter ends, which is around the time that President Barack Obama officially launched his reelection campaign.The first lady has long been described as a key figure in Biden's orbit as he plans his future.“Because I'm his wife,” she laughed.She brushed off the question about whether she has the deciding vote on whether the president runs for reelection.“Of course he'll listen to me, because we're a married couple," she said. But, she added later, “he makes up his own mind, believe me.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">To all the people I met in Namibia — I leave inspired by your determination and optimism. Your light illuminates a brighter world for us all. 💕 <a href="https://t.co/PnM2i37tQw">pic.twitter.com/PnM2i37tQw</a>&mdash; Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1629124798612664321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The wide-ranging interview took place on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-one-year-index-dc5ee4b342ce80742c471e19258a2046?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">the anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Jill Biden recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-jill-biden-migration-slovakia-d22b406bd735c1899a55ba656cbbc317">her trip into the country last May</a>&nbsp;to meet the besieged country's first lady, Olena Zelenska.They visited a school that was being used to help migrants who fled the fighting. Some of the families, Jill Biden said, had hid underground for weeks before making their escape.“We thought then, how long can this go on? And here we are, a year later,” she said. “And look at what the Ukrainian people have done. I mean, they are so strong and resilient, and they are fighting for their country.”“We're all hoping that this war is over soon, because we see, every day, the damage, the violence, the horror on our televisions,” the first lady added. “And we just can't believe it.”Jill Biden also spoke extensively for the first time about her skin cancer diagnosis, which led doctors to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-maryland-mexico-city-surgery-545cac7c3ddca1f095e84383fdf8cd2d">remove multiple basal cell lesions</a>&nbsp;in January.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673893202587.png" alt="A lesion that doctors had found above her right eye during a routine screening late last year was removed on mid January and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-maryland-mexico-city-surgery-545cac7c3ddca1f095e84383fdf8cd2d">confirmed to be basal cell carcinoma</a>&nbsp;— a highly treatable form of skin cancer.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>A lesion that doctors had found above her right eye during a routine screening late last year was removed on mid January and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-maryland-mexico-city-surgery-545cac7c3ddca1f095e84383fdf8cd2d">confirmed to be basal cell carcinoma</a>&nbsp;— a highly treatable form of skin cancer.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“I thought, oh, it’s just something on my eye, you know," she said. "But then they said, no, we think it’s basal cell.”Then doctors checked her chest, she said, and they said “that's definitely basal cell."“So I’m lucky,” the first lady said. "Believe me, I am so lucky that they caught it, they removed it, and I’m healthy.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-cancer-skin-brain-5a441b53e825895d029d0255c10816d3">Raising awareness about cancer screening</a>&nbsp;has been a cornerstone of her advocacy efforts for years, even before her son, Beau, died from a brain tumor almost a decade ago. She often says the worst three words anyone can hear are “you have cancer.”When it was her turn to hear a doctor say that, Jill Biden said, “it was a little harder than I thought.”Now, she said, she's “extra careful” about sunscreen, especially when she's at the beach, which she described as "one of my favorite places in the world."Jill Biden is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-jill-biden-6a025ecc48cd6efed9c99ce578fb7fb4">the only first lady to continue her career</a>&nbsp;in addition to her ceremonial duties, teaching writing and English to community college students. At 71 years old, she said she's not ready to think about retirement.“I know that I will know when it’s enough," she said. "But it’s not yet.”She said she left detailed lesson plans for a substitute teacher while she was on her trip, and she's been texting with students as she was traveling. She plans to be back in the classroom at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, after arriving home from Africa around 3 a.m. Monday.Education has been a flashpoint in American politics, especially with conservative activists and politicians trying to limit discussion of race and sexuality in classrooms.“I don't believe in banning books,” she said.She added: “I think the teachers and the parents can work together and decide what the kids should be taught.”During the interview, Jill Biden reflected on the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-gerald-ford-ronald-reagan-hospice-care-f4e26c10a7b366f14e62f690da403b0a">who recently began home hospice care.</a>&nbsp;The Carter Center, which the former president founded after leaving the White House, was key in helping to eliminate the Guinea worm parasite in African countries.“That's the perfect example,” she said. “He's such a humble man. He didn't go out and shout, 'Look what I've done.' He just did the work.”Jill Biden recalled Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, reaching out on the eve of Joe Biden's inauguration two years ago.“They called and said congratulations," she said. "And it meant so much to me and to Joe.”She also talked about visiting the Carters at their home in Plains, Georgia, early in Biden's presidency."It’s not just that here are two presidents. It’s here are two friends," she said. "Actually four friends, who have really supported one another over the years.”______

 First lady says President Biden ready to run for second term

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/21/foster-care-legislation-would-cap-social-worker-caseloads-change-foster-parent-adoption-process/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate voted to remove all&nbsp;state and local sales taxes on food next year, in a last-minute reversal of an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/20/kansas-senate-president-roll-back-food-tax-relief-so-state-can-afford-flat-tax-plan/">earlier proposal</a>&nbsp;to curtail sales tax reductions for unhealthy food.&nbsp;

Senators voted to eliminate the food sales tax Thursday during a Senate debate, advancing an amended version of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb248/">Senate Bill 248</a>&nbsp;by a 22-16 vote. The original form of the bill would have rolled back tax relief on food, except for staples deemed healthy by legislators.&nbsp;

Senate President Ty Masterson originally proposed the legislation as a way to pay for other tax cuts. The idea was to leave the food sales tax partly in place, which is currently set to be fully eliminated in 2025,&nbsp;so that the state could afford a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/23/kansas-senators-pass-sweeping-4-75-flat-income-tax/">massive flat tax proposal</a>, one that would benefit Kansas’ wealthiest residents.&nbsp;

But senators on both sides of the aisle voted to change the bill and eliminate the food sales tax, despite concern that getting rid of the local food sales tax would hurt local economies.&nbsp;

Proponents of the change said the elimination would help Kansans statewide and do more good than Gov. Laura Kelly’s “ax the tax,” plan, which originally proposed the gradual elimination of the state food sales tax.

Sen. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican, said getting rid of both taxes would bring in revenue from other states and create widespread, positive change.&nbsp;

“We swing a big ax, we’re not going to have just a little hatchet,” Peck said. “We gotta swing a big ax that takes two hands.”&nbsp;

The financial effect of the revised bill is unknown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Pres-Ty-Masterson-1024x768.jpg" alt="Senate President Ty Masterson originally supported rolling back food sales tax relief for foods deemed unhealthy. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Senate President Ty Masterson originally supported rolling back food sales tax relief for foods deemed unhealthy. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/21/foster-care-legislation-would-cap-social-worker-caseloads-change-foster-parent-adoption-process/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate voted to remove all&nbsp;state and local sales taxes on food next year, in a last-minute reversal of an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/20/kansas-senate-president-roll-back-food-tax-relief-so-state-can-afford-flat-tax-plan/">earlier proposal</a>&nbsp;to curtail sales tax reductions for unhealthy food.&nbsp;Senators voted to eliminate the food sales tax Thursday during a Senate debate, advancing an amended version of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb248/">Senate Bill 248</a>&nbsp;by a 22-16 vote. The original form of the bill would have rolled back tax relief on food, except for staples deemed healthy by legislators.&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson originally proposed the legislation as a way to pay for other tax cuts. The idea was to leave the food sales tax partly in place, which is currently set to be fully eliminated in 2025,&nbsp;so that the state could afford a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/23/kansas-senators-pass-sweeping-4-75-flat-income-tax/">massive flat tax proposal</a>, one that would benefit Kansas’ wealthiest residents.&nbsp;But senators on both sides of the aisle voted to change the bill and eliminate the food sales tax, despite concern that getting rid of the local food sales tax would hurt local economies.&nbsp;Proponents of the change said the elimination would help Kansans statewide and do more good than Gov. Laura Kelly’s “ax the tax,” plan, which originally proposed the gradual elimination of the state food sales tax.Sen. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican, said getting rid of both taxes would bring in revenue from other states and create widespread, positive change.&nbsp;“We swing a big ax, we’re not going to have just a little hatchet,” Peck said. “We gotta swing a big ax that takes two hands.”&nbsp;The financial effect of the revised bill is unknown.

Kansas Senate supports elimination of state, local food sales tax

CASS COUNTY —The search for one of two inmates who escaped Dec. 5 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City continues.

Authorities took 33-year-0ld Trevor Sparks of Kansas City into custody Dec. 30, in the 400 Block of Olive Street, according to the FBI.

The U.S. Marshals Service continues to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads directly to the capture of 43-year-old Sergio Perez- Martinez of Panorama City, Calif.&nbsp; The FBI is also offering $10k for anyone who can provide information leading to his capture.&nbsp;

Perez Mertinez&nbsp; was being held for possession of dangerous drugs. Sparks was jailed on money laundering charges, according to the Cass County sheriff's office.

A third individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, has been charged&nbsp; with aiding or assisting in the escape.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (816) 380-5200, or call 911.&nbsp; Submit a tip to the Marshals<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2np8V0SoqQyr6Znkz_ykiw2FsK7SY3PkQN_uuUCJz41bCD_XDGusIXZJw"> here</a>&nbsp; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at <a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670539649262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —The search for one of two inmates who escaped Dec. 5 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City continues.Authorities took 33-year-0ld Trevor Sparks of Kansas City into custody Dec. 30, in the 400 Block of Olive Street, according to the FBI.The U.S. Marshals Service continues to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads directly to the capture of 43-year-old Sergio Perez- Martinez of Panorama City, Calif.&nbsp; The FBI is also offering $10k for anyone who can provide information leading to his capture.&nbsp;Perez Mertinez&nbsp; was being held for possession of dangerous drugs. Sparks was jailed on money laundering charges, according to the Cass County sheriff's office.A third individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, has been charged&nbsp; with aiding or assisting in the escape. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (816) 380-5200, or call 911.&nbsp; Submit a tip to the Marshals<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2np8V0SoqQyr6Znkz_ykiw2FsK7SY3PkQN_uuUCJz41bCD_XDGusIXZJw"> here</a>&nbsp; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at <a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;