MCPHERSON — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget plan was released this past week and education, including early childhood,&nbsp; remains a priority. The plan includes full funding of K-12 education with appropriate inflationary adjustments, as well as a five-year plan to phase in additional Special Education dollars. John Wilson with Kansas Action for Children is in support of those ideas.

"We've been advocating for increasing funding for special education," Wilson said. "Kansas is very fortunate right now to have a strong budget surplus, in addition to strong reserves. This is the time that we need to invest those dollars into education. We've done that in response to lawsuits in public education. Who we've left behind so far have been special education students. We are joining with other education partners to make sure that the Governor's recommendation of phased in funding to meet those obligations for special education happens."

Also a priority for KAC this session is fixing the wording of the state's CHIP legislation for kids who are low income, but do not qualify for Medicaid. The eligibility wording needs updated to account for inflation.

That has political problems for those who don't want to see Medicaid expanded, because an amendment to a CHIP bill that actually sought Medicaid expansion would end up in what is called a germaneness challenge, where the body would have to take a vote on whether or not such an amendment applied to the statute at hand and leadership can't necessarily control how a vote goes on that and process has been the way that Medicaid expansion has been held up for the last several sessions.

"Kansas is one of just 11 states that still hasn't expanded their health insurance programs to support families," Wilson said. "That's not to say there aren't paths forward, they are just a little more narrow path to get this CHIP issue resolved."

In addition, KAC is interested in what comes out of the newly created early childhood task force, as the governor attempts to create the framework for a new cabinet-level position in that arena.

"There are, I think, four state agencies with touchpoints with early childhood programs in Kansas," Wilson said. "You have the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Environment, the Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Children's Cabinet. I think, currently, those agencies do a nice job collaborating, given the various funding streams that they are working with and programs that they have oversight of, but I think we can have an even stronger early childhood system in Kansas if there was a single agency to bring that all together."

For more information on Kansas Action for Children and their priorities for this legislative session, go online to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kac.org/lawmakers_can_make_the_2023_session_a_win_for_kids">kac.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673435553935.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday signed the first executive order of her second term to establish the Early Childhood Transition Task Force-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday signed the first executive order of her second term to establish the Early Childhood Transition Task Force-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostMCPHERSON — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget plan was released this past week and education, including early childhood,&nbsp; remains a priority. The plan includes full funding of K-12 education with appropriate inflationary adjustments, as well as a five-year plan to phase in additional Special Education dollars. John Wilson with Kansas Action for Children is in support of those ideas."We've been advocating for increasing funding for special education," Wilson said. "Kansas is very fortunate right now to have a strong budget surplus, in addition to strong reserves. This is the time that we need to invest those dollars into education. We've done that in response to lawsuits in public education. Who we've left behind so far have been special education students. We are joining with other education partners to make sure that the Governor's recommendation of phased in funding to meet those obligations for special education happens."Also a priority for KAC this session is fixing the wording of the state's CHIP legislation for kids who are low income, but do not qualify for Medicaid. The eligibility wording needs updated to account for inflation.That has political problems for those who don't want to see Medicaid expanded, because an amendment to a CHIP bill that actually sought Medicaid expansion would end up in what is called a germaneness challenge, where the body would have to take a vote on whether or not such an amendment applied to the statute at hand and leadership can't necessarily control how a vote goes on that and process has been the way that Medicaid expansion has been held up for the last several sessions."Kansas is one of just 11 states that still hasn't expanded their health insurance programs to support families," Wilson said. "That's not to say there aren't paths forward, they are just a little more narrow path to get this CHIP issue resolved."In addition, KAC is interested in what comes out of the newly created early childhood task force, as the governor attempts to create the framework for a new cabinet-level position in that arena."There are, I think, four state agencies with touchpoints with early childhood programs in Kansas," Wilson said. "You have the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Environment, the Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Children's Cabinet. I think, currently, those agencies do a nice job collaborating, given the various funding streams that they are working with and programs that they have oversight of, but I think we can have an even stronger early childhood system in Kansas if there was a single agency to bring that all together."For more information on Kansas Action for Children and their priorities for this legislative session, go online to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kac.org/lawmakers_can_make_the_2023_session_a_win_for_kids">kac.org</a>.

Kan. Action for Children supports Kelly budget priorities in education

ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges

Just after 7&nbsp;p.m. Sunday, police were alerted to a possible erratic driver that was reported to be driving at high rates of speed through residential areas in the city of Ellis, according to a media release.

Officers located the vehicle in question, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, driving northbound in the 1500 block of Monroe Street and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver, later identified as Clinton Evans, 40, of Ellis failed to yield to law enforcement and a pursuit ensued.

Evans led officers on a brief pursuit that lasted approximately 8 minutes. An Ellis County Sheriff’s Deputy was successful in deploying a tire deflation device that deflated all four tires on the suspect vehicle, ultimately bringing it to a stop in the 900 block of Old Highway 40.

A felony stop was initiated where officers attempted to take Evans into custody. He further failed to comply with lawful orders from Law Enforcement and a standoff occurred.

Law Enforcement attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution but negotiations failed. Making use of an armored vehicle as cover, officers were able to force entry into the suspect vehicle and deploy a chemical agent to attempt to gain compliance.

When that failed, Law Enforcement formed an arrest team that was successful in taking Evans into custody without further incident.

Evans is being held in the Ellis County Jail on requested charges of Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Criminal Carrying of a Weapon, and numerous traffic offenses. Clinton is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Evans has previous convictions that include burglary, theft, aggravated assault, battery against city/county Corrections officer/employee and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673878386830.png" alt="Evans has previous convictions that include burglary, theft, aggravated assault, battery against city/county Corrections officer/employee and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Evans has previous convictions that include burglary, theft, aggravated assault, battery against city/county Corrections officer/employee and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new chargesJust after 7&nbsp;p.m. Sunday, police were alerted to a possible erratic driver that was reported to be driving at high rates of speed through residential areas in the city of Ellis, according to a media release.Officers located the vehicle in question, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, driving northbound in the 1500 block of Monroe Street and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver, later identified as Clinton Evans, 40, of Ellis failed to yield to law enforcement and a pursuit ensued.Evans led officers on a brief pursuit that lasted approximately 8 minutes. An Ellis County Sheriff’s Deputy was successful in deploying a tire deflation device that deflated all four tires on the suspect vehicle, ultimately bringing it to a stop in the 900 block of Old Highway 40.A felony stop was initiated where officers attempted to take Evans into custody. He further failed to comply with lawful orders from Law Enforcement and a standoff occurred.Law Enforcement attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution but negotiations failed. Making use of an armored vehicle as cover, officers were able to force entry into the suspect vehicle and deploy a chemical agent to attempt to gain compliance.When that failed, Law Enforcement formed an arrest team that was successful in taking Evans into custody without further incident.Evans is being held in the Ellis County Jail on requested charges of Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Criminal Carrying of a Weapon, and numerous traffic offenses. Clinton is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.Evans has previous convictions that include burglary, theft, aggravated assault, battery against city/county Corrections officer/employee and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kansas felon jailed after chase, standoff in western Kansas

ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden made a historical pilgrimage Sunday to “America's freedom church” to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/district-of-columbia-boston-united-states-government-atlanta-civil-rights-cb6609246b1817bbe6ce1e6dcf2f01a6">Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday</a>, saying democracy was at a perilous moment and that the civil rights leader's life and legacy "show us the way and we should pay attention.”

(Click below to watch the President's sermon)

As the first sitting president to deliver a Sunday morning sermon at King's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-georgia-senate-2563753b703f7a46af9a0e75565b84db">Ebenezer Baptist Church</a>, Biden cited the telling question that King himself once asked of the nation.

“He said, 'Where do we go from here?’” Biden said from the pulpit. ”Well, my message to this nation on this day is we go forward, we go together, when we choose democracy over autocracy, a beloved community over chaos, when we choose believers and the dreams, to be doers, to be unafraid, always keeping the faith.”

In a divided country only two years removed from a violent insurrection, Biden told congregants, elected officials and dignitaries that “the battle for the soul of this nation is perennial. It’s a constant struggle ... between hope and fear, kindness and cruelty, justice and injustice."

He spoke out against those who “traffic in racism, extremism, insurrection” and said the struggle to safeguard democracy was playing out in courthouses and ballot boxes, protests and other ways. ”At our best, the American promise wins out. … But I don’t need to tell you that we’re not always at our best. We’re fallible. We fail and fall.’’

The stop at Ebenezer came at a delicate moment for Biden after Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday announced the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-biden-home-wilmington-33479d12c7cf0a822adb2f44c32b88fd">appointment of a special counsel</a>&nbsp;to investigate how the president handled classified documents after leaving the vice presidency in 2017.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-0574fd762159e8cb5f31c85205df3dc0">The White House on Saturday</a>&nbsp;revealed that additional classified records were found at&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Biden's%20home%20near%20Wilmington,%20Delaware.">Biden’s home near Wilmington, Delaware</a>.

In introducing Biden, the church's senior pastor, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock noted that the president was “a devout Catholic” for whom "this Baptist service might be a little bit rambunctious and animated. But I saw him over there clapping his hands.”

King, “the greatest American prophet of the 20th century," as Warnock put it, served as co-pastor from 1960 until he was assassinated in 1968.

Warnock, like many battleground state Democrats who won reelection in 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rev-raphael-warnock-biden-voting-rights-politics-georgia-state-government-4ab203d49a120aae1eb07d248c0579a4">kept his distance during the campaign from Biden</a>&nbsp;as the president's approval rating lagged and the inflation rate climbed.

But with the election behind him and a full six-year term ahead, Warnock fully embraced Biden at the service. Near the close, he asked Biden to come to the front of the church and asked Ebenezer's congregants to pray for the president as he listed several of Biden's legislative achievements.

“That, my friends, is God’s work,” said Warnock, adding that Biden “had a little something to do with it.”

As Biden begins to turn his attention toward an expected 2024 reelection effort, Georgia is going to get plenty of his attention.

In 2020, Biden managed to win Georgia as well as closely contested Michigan and Pennsylvania, where Black votes made up a disproportionate share of the Democratic electorate. Turning out Black voters in those states will be essential to Biden's 2024 hopes.

The White House has tried to promote Biden's agenda in minority communities. The White House has cited efforts to encourage states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-transportation-pete-buttigieg-48e09f253781c89359d875f19fc70f9d">to take equity into account for public works projects</a>&nbsp;as they spend money from the administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">$1 trillion infrastructure bill.</a>&nbsp;The administration also has acted to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/merrick-garland-5d6ca72c3620e0ef3ecd55ec60f590a4">sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses</a>, scrapping a policy widely seen as racist.

The administration also highlights Biden's work to diversify the federal judiciary, including his appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-swearing-in-5a5115f58e163789dfda5a8af0b14221">the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;and the confirmation of 11 Black women judges to federal appeals courts —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-politics-wisconsin-state-government-united-states-8e2e4f826096e431fcc7b1605426ec0a">more than those installed to those powerful courts under all previous presidents combined.</a>

Biden’s failure to win passage of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-voting-rights-bill-collapses-27c888b4f9bf876520913d7036a942b0">measure that would have bolstered voting right protections</a>, a central campaign pledge, is one of his biggest disappointments of his first two years in office. The task is even steeper now that Republicans control the House.

In his remarks, the president said that for all the progress the United States has made, the country had now reached a critical point in its history. He said democracies can backslide, noting the collapse of the institutional structures of democracy in places such as Brazil.

"Progress is never easy, but it’s always possible and things do get better in our march to a more perfect union,” he said. “But at this inflection point, we know a lot of work that has to continue on economic justice civil rights, voting rights, protecting our democracy. And I’m remembering our job is to redeem the soul of America.”

This moment, he said, “is the time of choosing. … Are we a people who will choose democracy over autocracy? Couldn't ask that question 15 years ago because everybody thought democracy was settled. ... But it's not." Americans, he said, " have to choose a community over chaos. ... These are the vital questions of our time and the reason why I’m here as your president. I believe Dr. King’s life and legacy show us the way and we should pay attention.”

King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1929, was killed at age 39. He helped drive passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. Members of King's family attended the service, including his 95-year-old sister, Christine King Farris.

``I’ve spoken before parliaments, kings, queens, leaders of the world ... but this is intimidating,” Biden said in opening his sermon.

The president plans to be in Washington on Monday to speak at the National Action Network’s annual breakfast on the King holiday.

ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden made a historical pilgrimage Sunday to “America's freedom church” to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/district-of-columbia-boston-united-states-government-atlanta-civil-rights-cb6609246b1817bbe6ce1e6dcf2f01a6">Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday</a>, saying democracy was at a perilous moment and that the civil rights leader's life and legacy "show us the way and we should pay attention.” (Click below to watch the President's sermon)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tune in as I deliver remarks at Ebenezer Baptist Church, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. <a href="https://t.co/ffRVfHTjsU">https://t.co/ffRVfHTjsU</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1614665198086008835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As the first sitting president to deliver a Sunday morning sermon at King's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-georgia-senate-2563753b703f7a46af9a0e75565b84db">Ebenezer Baptist Church</a>, Biden cited the telling question that King himself once asked of the nation.“He said, 'Where do we go from here?’” Biden said from the pulpit. ”Well, my message to this nation on this day is we go forward, we go together, when we choose democracy over autocracy, a beloved community over chaos, when we choose believers and the dreams, to be doers, to be unafraid, always keeping the faith.”In a divided country only two years removed from a violent insurrection, Biden told congregants, elected officials and dignitaries that “the battle for the soul of this nation is perennial. It’s a constant struggle ... between hope and fear, kindness and cruelty, justice and injustice."He spoke out against those who “traffic in racism, extremism, insurrection” and said the struggle to safeguard democracy was playing out in courthouses and ballot boxes, protests and other ways. ”At our best, the American promise wins out. … But I don’t need to tell you that we’re not always at our best. We’re fallible. We fail and fall.’’The stop at Ebenezer came at a delicate moment for Biden after Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday announced the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-biden-home-wilmington-33479d12c7cf0a822adb2f44c32b88fd">appointment of a special counsel</a>&nbsp;to investigate how the president handled classified documents after leaving the vice presidency in 2017.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-0574fd762159e8cb5f31c85205df3dc0">The White House on Saturday</a>&nbsp;revealed that additional classified records were found at&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Biden's%20home%20near%20Wilmington,%20Delaware.">Biden’s home near Wilmington, Delaware</a>.In introducing Biden, the church's senior pastor, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock noted that the president was “a devout Catholic” for whom "this Baptist service might be a little bit rambunctious and animated. But I saw him over there clapping his hands.”King, “the greatest American prophet of the 20th century," as Warnock put it, served as co-pastor from 1960 until he was assassinated in 1968.Warnock, like many battleground state Democrats who won reelection in 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rev-raphael-warnock-biden-voting-rights-politics-georgia-state-government-4ab203d49a120aae1eb07d248c0579a4">kept his distance during the campaign from Biden</a>&nbsp;as the president's approval rating lagged and the inflation rate climbed.But with the election behind him and a full six-year term ahead, Warnock fully embraced Biden at the service. Near the close, he asked Biden to come to the front of the church and asked Ebenezer's congregants to pray for the president as he listed several of Biden's legislative achievements.“That, my friends, is God’s work,” said Warnock, adding that Biden “had a little something to do with it.”As Biden begins to turn his attention toward an expected 2024 reelection effort, Georgia is going to get plenty of his attention.In 2020, Biden managed to win Georgia as well as closely contested Michigan and Pennsylvania, where Black votes made up a disproportionate share of the Democratic electorate. Turning out Black voters in those states will be essential to Biden's 2024 hopes.The White House has tried to promote Biden's agenda in minority communities. The White House has cited efforts to encourage states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-transportation-pete-buttigieg-48e09f253781c89359d875f19fc70f9d">to take equity into account for public works projects</a>&nbsp;as they spend money from the administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">$1 trillion infrastructure bill.</a>&nbsp;The administration also has acted to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/merrick-garland-5d6ca72c3620e0ef3ecd55ec60f590a4">sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses</a>, scrapping a policy widely seen as racist.The administration also highlights Biden's work to diversify the federal judiciary, including his appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-swearing-in-5a5115f58e163789dfda5a8af0b14221">the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;and the confirmation of 11 Black women judges to federal appeals courts —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-politics-wisconsin-state-government-united-states-8e2e4f826096e431fcc7b1605426ec0a">more than those installed to those powerful courts under all previous presidents combined.</a>Biden’s failure to win passage of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-voting-rights-bill-collapses-27c888b4f9bf876520913d7036a942b0">measure that would have bolstered voting right protections</a>, a central campaign pledge, is one of his biggest disappointments of his first two years in office. The task is even steeper now that Republicans control the House.In his remarks, the president said that for all the progress the United States has made, the country had now reached a critical point in its history. He said democracies can backslide, noting the collapse of the institutional structures of democracy in places such as Brazil."Progress is never easy, but it’s always possible and things do get better in our march to a more perfect union,” he said. “But at this inflection point, we know a lot of work that has to continue on economic justice civil rights, voting rights, protecting our democracy. And I’m remembering our job is to redeem the soul of America.”This moment, he said, “is the time of choosing. … Are we a people who will choose democracy over autocracy? Couldn't ask that question 15 years ago because everybody thought democracy was settled. ... But it's not." Americans, he said, " have to choose a community over chaos. ... These are the vital questions of our time and the reason why I’m here as your president. I believe Dr. King’s life and legacy show us the way and we should pay attention.”King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1929, was killed at age 39. He helped drive passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. Members of King's family attended the service, including his 95-year-old sister, Christine King Farris.``I’ve spoken before parliaments, kings, queens, leaders of the world ... but this is intimidating,” Biden said in opening his sermon.The president plans to be in Washington on Monday to speak at the National Action Network’s annual breakfast on the King holiday.

🎥Biden: Americans should 'pay attention' to MLK's legacy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting involving teens.

Just after&nbsp;8:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at the 2200 block of South Millwood Street in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers located&nbsp; 16-year-old Seaquori Smith of Wichita inside the residence with a single gunshot wound to his upper body.&nbsp; EMS transported the boy to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The investigation revealed Smith was hanging out inside the residence with a 15-year-old boy. The 15-year-old was recklessly manipulating a firearm when a single shot was fired striking Smith in the upper body.

The 15-year-old called 911 and reported the incident. This is not a random incident, according to police. The boys are not related but did know each other, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp; Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673721077526.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the shooting" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the shooting</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting involving teens.Just after&nbsp;8:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at the 2200 block of South Millwood Street in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Officers located&nbsp; 16-year-old Seaquori Smith of Wichita inside the residence with a single gunshot wound to his upper body.&nbsp; EMS transported the boy to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.The investigation revealed Smith was hanging out inside the residence with a 15-year-old boy. The 15-year-old was recklessly manipulating a firearm when a single shot was fired striking Smith in the upper body.The 15-year-old called 911 and reported the incident. This is not a random incident, according to police. The boys are not related but did know each other, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp; Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.

Police: Kan. teen recklessly handled a firearm, killed a friend

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress on Friday that the U.S. is projected to reach its debt limit on Thursday and will then resort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-the-treasury-business-84ef9d1c5803bd25e8e9cc3538cd0ab2">“extraordinary measures”</a>&nbsp;to avoid default.

In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Yellen said her actions will buy time until Congress can pass legislation that will either raise the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority or suspend it again for a period of time. But she said it's “critical that Congress act in a timely manner."

“Failure to meet the government’s obligations would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy, the livelihoods of all Americans, and global financial stability,” she said.

“In the past, even threats that the U.S. government might fail to meet its obligations have caused real harms, including the only credit rating downgrade in the history of our nation in 2011,” she said. Yellen was referring to the debt ceiling impasse during Barack Obama's presidency, when Republicans had also just won a House majority.

In this new Congress, the debt ceiling debate will almost certainly trigger a political showdown between newly empowered GOP lawmakers who now control the House and want to cut spending and President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers, who had enjoyed one-party control of Washington for the past two years.

The White House has insisted that it won’t allow the nation’s credit to be held captive to the demands of GOP lawmakers.

“We have seen both Republicans and Democrats come together to deal with this issue," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday. “It is one of the basic items that Congress has to deal with and it should be done without conditions.”

House Republican leaders liken the debt ceiling to a credit card limit and have said they would only raise the statutory ceiling if doing so also secures a spending overhaul.

New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters in his first press conference that he had a “very good conversation” with Biden about the coming debt ceiling debate. “We don’t want to put any fiscal problems to our economy and we won’t, but fiscal problems would be continuing to do business as usual,” he said.

“We’ve got to change the way we are spending money.”

McCarthy has floated the kind of budget-cap deal that was engineered in the last go around on the debt ceiling during the Trump administration, which would involve capping federal spending levels in return for the House votes needed to raise the debt limit.

But any effort to compromise with House Republicans could force Biden to bend on his own priorities, whether that’s money for the IRS to ensure that wealthier Americans pay what they owe or domestic programs for children and the poor.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and new House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a joint statement Friday that “a default forced by extreme MAGA Republicans could plunge the country into a deep recession and lead to even higher costs for America’s working families on everything from mortgages and car loans to credit card interest rates.”

They said the two parties worked together to increase the debt limit three times when Trump was president and Republicans had majorities in the House and Senate. "This time should be no different,” the Democratic leaders said.

Yellen said that while Treasury can’t estimate how long the extraordinary measures will allow the U.S. to continue to pay the government’s obligations, “it is unlikely that cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted before early June.”

Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told reporters Friday that “this is not the time for panic, but it's certainly a time for policymakers to begin negotiations in earnest.”

“Most policymakers agree that we have a major fiscal challenge as a country, our debt is unsustainable," he said, and "there’s no reason why we couldn’t agree on measures to improve our fiscal outcome, and also ensure that we are paying all of our bills in full and on time.”

Treasury first used extraordinary measures in 1985 and has used them at least 16 times since, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog.

Those measures include divesting some payments, such as contributions to federal employees’ retirement plans, in order to provide some headroom to make other payments that are deemed essential, including those for Social Security and debt instrument

Past forecasts suggest a default could instantly bury the country in a deep recession, right at a moment of slowing global growth as the U.S. and much of the world face high inflation because of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The financial markets could crash and several million workers could be laid off.

The aftershocks could be felt for years. Moody’s Analytics called this risk “cataclysmic” in a 2021 forecast before the previous debt ceiling increase, suggesting that the resulting chaos would be due to government dysfunction, rather than the underlying condition of the U.S. economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress on Friday that the U.S. is projected to reach its debt limit on Thursday and will then resort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-the-treasury-business-84ef9d1c5803bd25e8e9cc3538cd0ab2">“extraordinary measures”</a>&nbsp;to avoid default.In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Yellen said her actions will buy time until Congress can pass legislation that will either raise the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority or suspend it again for a period of time. But she said it's “critical that Congress act in a timely manner."“Failure to meet the government’s obligations would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy, the livelihoods of all Americans, and global financial stability,” she said.“In the past, even threats that the U.S. government might fail to meet its obligations have caused real harms, including the only credit rating downgrade in the history of our nation in 2011,” she said. Yellen was referring to the debt ceiling impasse during Barack Obama's presidency, when Republicans had also just won a House majority.In this new Congress, the debt ceiling debate will almost certainly trigger a political showdown between newly empowered GOP lawmakers who now control the House and want to cut spending and President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers, who had enjoyed one-party control of Washington for the past two years.The White House has insisted that it won’t allow the nation’s credit to be held captive to the demands of GOP lawmakers.“We have seen both Republicans and Democrats come together to deal with this issue," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday. “It is one of the basic items that Congress has to deal with and it should be done without conditions.”House Republican leaders liken the debt ceiling to a credit card limit and have said they would only raise the statutory ceiling if doing so also secures a spending overhaul.New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters in his first press conference that he had a “very good conversation” with Biden about the coming debt ceiling debate. “We don’t want to put any fiscal problems to our economy and we won’t, but fiscal problems would be continuing to do business as usual,” he said.“We’ve got to change the way we are spending money.”McCarthy has floated the kind of budget-cap deal that was engineered in the last go around on the debt ceiling during the Trump administration, which would involve capping federal spending levels in return for the House votes needed to raise the debt limit.But any effort to compromise with House Republicans could force Biden to bend on his own priorities, whether that’s money for the IRS to ensure that wealthier Americans pay what they owe or domestic programs for children and the poor.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and new House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a joint statement Friday that “a default forced by extreme MAGA Republicans could plunge the country into a deep recession and lead to even higher costs for America’s working families on everything from mortgages and car loans to credit card interest rates.”They said the two parties worked together to increase the debt limit three times when Trump was president and Republicans had majorities in the House and Senate. "This time should be no different,” the Democratic leaders said.Yellen said that while Treasury can’t estimate how long the extraordinary measures will allow the U.S. to continue to pay the government’s obligations, “it is unlikely that cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted before early June.”Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told reporters Friday that “this is not the time for panic, but it's certainly a time for policymakers to begin negotiations in earnest.”“Most policymakers agree that we have a major fiscal challenge as a country, our debt is unsustainable," he said, and "there’s no reason why we couldn’t agree on measures to improve our fiscal outcome, and also ensure that we are paying all of our bills in full and on time.”Treasury first used extraordinary measures in 1985 and has used them at least 16 times since, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog.Those measures include divesting some payments, such as contributions to federal employees’ retirement plans, in order to provide some headroom to make other payments that are deemed essential, including those for Social Security and debt instrumentPast forecasts suggest a default could instantly bury the country in a deep recession, right at a moment of slowing global growth as the U.S. and much of the world face high inflation because of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The financial markets could crash and several million workers could be laid off.The aftershocks could be felt for years. Moody’s Analytics called this risk “cataclysmic” in a 2021 forecast before the previous debt ceiling increase, suggesting that the resulting chaos would be due to government dysfunction, rather than the underlying condition of the U.S. economy.

US to max out on debt limit this week setting up political fight

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

According to Garden City Police, just after 12:30a.m. Saturday, 39-year-old Joel Chanez of Shallow Water, Kansas, allegedly stabbed a 35-year-old victim during a verbal altercation at Gol Latino, 1524 North Taylor Plaza in Garden City.

Chanez fled the scene before police arrived. He was last seen wearing a red plaid shirt with black vest, blue jeans, and cowboy boots. Chanez is approximately 5-foot-8, 220 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Chanez, is asked call the Garden City Police Department at (620) 276-1300. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (620) 275-7807, or text your tip to Garden City PD, text GCTIP and your tip to Tip411 (847411). ***Never attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself**

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673717276805.png" alt="Chanez-photo Garden City Police" />
 <figcaption>Chanez-photo Garden City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.According to Garden City Police, just after 12:30a.m. Saturday, 39-year-old Joel Chanez of Shallow Water, Kansas, allegedly stabbed a 35-year-old victim during a verbal altercation at Gol Latino, 1524 North Taylor Plaza in Garden City.Chanez fled the scene before police arrived. He was last seen wearing a red plaid shirt with black vest, blue jeans, and cowboy boots. Chanez is approximately 5-foot-8, 220 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information on Chanez, is asked call the Garden City Police Department at (620) 276-1300. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (620) 275-7807, or text your tip to Garden City PD, text GCTIP and your tip to Tip411 (847411). ***Never attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself**

Police continue search for alleged SW Kan. stabbing suspect

BEIJING (AP) — The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-425a5de577126b042d4eea915c174bc0">after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;since early December following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-covid19-data-sharing-77a28c2fc02f4c01774db8836762b608">weeks of complaints</a>&nbsp;it was failing to tell the world what was happening.

The announcement Saturday was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party abruptly dropped anti-virus restrictions in December despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-d0718b53ded7fb1a70c2db8e564ed072">a surge in infections that flooded hospitals.</a>&nbsp;That left the WHO and other governments appealing for information, while the United States, South Korea and others imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-business-covid-adef59403f10ba60b1a4cc9deb014a0f">controls on visitors from China.</a>

The government said 5,503 people died of respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and there were 54,435 fatalities from cancer, heart disease and other ailments combined with COVID-19 between Dec. 8 and Jan. 12.

The announcement “allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation,” said a WHO statement. It said the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, talked by phone with Health Minister Ma Xiaowei.

“WHO requested that this type of detailed information continued to be shared with us and the public,” the agency said.

The National Health Commission said only deaths in hospitals were counted, which means anyone who died at home wouldn’t be included. It gave no indication when or whether it might release updated numbers.

A health official said the “national emergency peak has passed” based on an 83% decline in the daily number of people going to fever clinics from a Dec. 23 high.

The report would more than double China’s official COVID-19 death toll to 10,775 since the disease was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019. China has counted only deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official toll, which excludes many fatalities that might be attributed to the virus in other countries.

Meanwhile, high-speed train service resumed Sunday between China's mainland and Hong Kong under restrictions that allow 5,000 passengers from each side to make the trip daily and require a negative virus test within the previous 48 hours.

The two sides are reopening travel links that were suspended under Beijing's “zero-COVID” strategy, which aimed to keep the virus out of China. Hong Kong imposed different but similarly severe restrictions that blocked most international travel.

Candice Zhong, a resident of the neighboring mainland city of Shenzhen who arrived in Hong Kong, said she planned to visit the city’s two major theme parks.

“I want to come to Hong Kong to see what it’s like now," Zhong said at the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway terminal. "I will go to Disneyland and Ocean Park.”

BEIJING (AP) — The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-425a5de577126b042d4eea915c174bc0">after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;since early December following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-covid19-data-sharing-77a28c2fc02f4c01774db8836762b608">weeks of complaints</a>&nbsp;it was failing to tell the world what was happening.The announcement Saturday was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party abruptly dropped anti-virus restrictions in December despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-beijing-covid-d0718b53ded7fb1a70c2db8e564ed072">a surge in infections that flooded hospitals.</a>&nbsp;That left the WHO and other governments appealing for information, while the United States, South Korea and others imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-business-covid-adef59403f10ba60b1a4cc9deb014a0f">controls on visitors from China.</a>The government said 5,503 people died of respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and there were 54,435 fatalities from cancer, heart disease and other ailments combined with COVID-19 between Dec. 8 and Jan. 12.The announcement “allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation,” said a WHO statement. It said the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, talked by phone with Health Minister Ma Xiaowei.“WHO requested that this type of detailed information continued to be shared with us and the public,” the agency said.The National Health Commission said only deaths in hospitals were counted, which means anyone who died at home wouldn’t be included. It gave no indication when or whether it might release updated numbers.A health official said the “national emergency peak has passed” based on an 83% decline in the daily number of people going to fever clinics from a Dec. 23 high.The report would more than double China’s official COVID-19 death toll to 10,775 since the disease was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019. China has counted only deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official toll, which excludes many fatalities that might be attributed to the virus in other countries.Meanwhile, high-speed train service resumed Sunday between China's mainland and Hong Kong under restrictions that allow 5,000 passengers from each side to make the trip daily and require a negative virus test within the previous 48 hours.The two sides are reopening travel links that were suspended under Beijing's “zero-COVID” strategy, which aimed to keep the virus out of China. Hong Kong imposed different but similarly severe restrictions that blocked most international travel.Candice Zhong, a resident of the neighboring mainland city of Shenzhen who arrived in Hong Kong, said she planned to visit the city’s two major theme parks.“I want to come to Hong Kong to see what it’s like now," Zhong said at the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway terminal. "I will go to Disneyland and Ocean Park.”___

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a multi-vehicle crash that injured seven people including a 5-year-old and have made an arrest.

Just before 4p.m. October 23, deputies were dispatched to an injury accident at 143rd Street East and US-54 in Sedgwick County involving eight vehicles, according to Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

Upon their arrival, deputies located several individuals with varying severities of injuries. Seven citizens including a 5-year-old passenger of a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Paloma Adame&nbsp; of Wichita were transported to local hospitals. 

All were treated and released from the hospital. Through the investigation it was found the 5-year-old was not properly restrained and Adame’s vehicle had been traveling at excessive speeds, according to Gibbs.

&nbsp;On January 12, detectives arrested Adame. She <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18716433">remains in custody</a> on requested charges of Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree and 11 counts of Aggravated Battery, according to online jail records.

Deputies will present the case to the District Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673629872866.png" alt="Adame-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Adame-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a multi-vehicle crash that injured seven people including a 5-year-old and have made an arrest.Just before 4p.m. October 23, deputies were dispatched to an injury accident at 143rd Street East and US-54 in Sedgwick County involving eight vehicles, according to Lt. Nathan Gibbs.Upon their arrival, deputies located several individuals with varying severities of injuries. Seven citizens including a 5-year-old passenger of a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Paloma Adame&nbsp; of Wichita were transported to local hospitals. All were treated and released from the hospital. Through the investigation it was found the 5-year-old was not properly restrained and Adame’s vehicle had been traveling at excessive speeds, according to Gibbs.&nbsp;On January 12, detectives arrested Adame. She <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18716433">remains in custody</a> on requested charges of Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree and 11 counts of Aggravated Battery, according to online jail records.Deputies will present the case to the District Attorney’s Office.

Kan. woman jailed for 8-vehicle crash that injured 5-year-old

HAMILTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Arizona men after locating approximately 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Aurora, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Jan. 12, a trooper observed an eastbound Toyota Tacoma improperly pass a semi.&nbsp;

During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. A search of the vehicle then revealed several bags of suspected fentanyl pills located inside the tailgate of the pickup. The total number of pills was approximately 50,000, weighing more than 11 pounds. Troopers also found small amounts of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine.

The driver, Jesus Quinones, 27, and passenger, Daniel Alvillar, 44, both of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested on requested charges of possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. Both remain in the Hamilton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673702815746.jpeg" alt="Nebraska troopers seized 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills in a stop on I-80 photo NSP" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska troopers seized 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills in a stop on I-80 photo NSP</figcaption>
 </figure>HAMILTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Arizona men after locating approximately 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Aurora, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.Just after 8:30 a.m. Jan. 12, a trooper observed an eastbound Toyota Tacoma improperly pass a semi.&nbsp;During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. A search of the vehicle then revealed several bags of suspected fentanyl pills located inside the tailgate of the pickup. The total number of pills was approximately 50,000, weighing more than 11 pounds. Troopers also found small amounts of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine.The driver, Jesus Quinones, 27, and passenger, Daniel Alvillar, 44, both of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested on requested charges of possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. Both remain in the Hamilton County Jail.

Troopers seize 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills during traffic stop

RENO COUNTY— Two people died in a house fire on Saturday in Reno County.&nbsp;

Just before 10p.m.&nbsp; Saturday, fire crews were dispatched to a house fire in the 200 block of north Broadway Street in Arlington, according to a release from Reno County Fire Administrator Travis Vogt.

When they arrived, fire crews were told of two possible occupants that were still in the house. Firefighters encountered heavy fire with the fire venting through the roof before they got there.

Crews made entry into the home and located the two occupants and were able to remove them. Lifesaving efforts were made, however both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The fire was brought under control around 1 a.m. Sunday with crews remaining on scene for several hours conducting overhaul.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal and ATF responded and investigated.

The fire has been classified as undetermined but is not suspicious in nature. Officials have not released he names of the two victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673838091073.png" alt="Fatal weekend house fire photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Fatal weekend house fire photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY— Two people died in a house fire on Saturday in Reno County.&nbsp;Just before 10p.m.&nbsp; Saturday, fire crews were dispatched to a house fire in the 200 block of north Broadway Street in Arlington, according to a release from Reno County Fire Administrator Travis Vogt.When they arrived, fire crews were told of two possible occupants that were still in the house. Firefighters encountered heavy fire with the fire venting through the roof before they got there.Crews made entry into the home and located the two occupants and were able to remove them. Lifesaving efforts were made, however both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene.The fire was brought under control around 1 a.m. Sunday with crews remaining on scene for several hours conducting overhaul.The Office of the State Fire Marshal and ATF responded and investigated.The fire has been classified as undetermined but is not suspicious in nature. Officials have not released he names of the two victims.

Two dead in Kansas house fire

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When Jamieson Brill answers a crisis call from a Spanish speaker on the newly launched national 988 mental health helpline, he rarely mentions the word suicide, or “suicidio”

Brill, whose family hails from Puerto Rico, knows that just discussing the term in some Spanish-speaking cultures is so frowned upon that many callers are too scared to even admit that they’re calling for themselves.

“However strong stigma around mental health concerns is in English-speaking cultures, in Spanish-speaking cultures it is triple that,” said Brill, who helps people navigate mental health crises from a tiny brick building tucked away in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Brill works in one of more than 200 call centers fanned out around the country tasked with answering an uptick in calls day and night from people considering suicide or experiencing a mental health emergency.

With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-business-mental-health-90a9d04a8c027a3abbd231d234ed0adf">bipartisan congressional support and just under $1 billion in federal funds</a>, the 988 mental health helpline has quickly expanded its reach in the six months since it launched — raking in over 2 million calls, texts and chat messages.

The number of centers answering calls in Spanish grew from three to seven last year. A pilot line dedicated to LGBTQ youth started taking calls in September. And plans are underway to keep the momentum going, with the federal government adding Spanish language chat and text options later this year and aiming to expand those services to a 24/7 operation for the LGBTQ line.

When the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mental-health-hotline-988-ac50f02b74b8b89be5592be3f3605ff5">around-the-clock phone launched last summer</a>, it built on the existing network that staffed the old national lifeline, 1-800-273-8255. The new 988 number is designed to be as easy to remember as 911.

It couldn’t have come at a more needed time:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ca-state-wire-health-ny-state-wire-ap-top-news-208872f1d9fa3a3f3b50a4a902132124">Depression rates in U.S. adults</a>, overdose deaths and suicide rates have been on the rise.

“The call volume is, in some instances, well beyond what we anticipated,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use in the Department of Health and Human Services. “It does let us know that people are struggling, people are having a hard time. Where I feel heartened is that people are getting connected to services and supports, as oppose to struggling on their own.”

The 988 helpline registered 154,585 more calls, texts and chat messages during November 2022 compared to the old national lifeline in November 2021, according to the latest data available.

Texting has been particularly popular, with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration noting a 1,227% increase in texts to the line during that same time.

The Veterans Crisis Line — callers can press “1” after texting or calling 988 to reach it — has fielded 450,000 calls, texts and chat messages, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. By the end of the year, the line had handled a nearly 10% increase compared to 2021.

Calls show no signs of slowing into this year, with counselors answering 3,869 calls on New Year's Eve and the first day of 2023 — a 30 percent increase compared to the previous holiday. The Spanish language line saw an increase of 3,800 calls year over year from November 2021 to November 2022.

Meanwhile, some states are considering unveiling their own lines dedicated to certain communities.

In November, Washington became the first state to launch a mental health crisis line dedicated to American Indian and Alaska Native people. Callers in Washington can reach the line by calling 988 then pressing “4” to be greeted by one of the 13 counselors — all Indigenous people — who staff the phones.

Having fellow American Indians answer those calls is crucial, because those familiar with the culture can immediately decode some terms that others cannot, said Rochelle Williams, the tribal operations manager for Volunteers of America Western Washington, which oversees the call center. For example, she said, when a caller says that a relative is “bothering me,” that sends up an immediate red flag: The person is likely signaling that they’re the victim of a sexual assault.

“Who has a better understanding of native people than native people?” Williams said. “We don’t trust in a lot of government programs. Knowing you’re talking to another Indigenous person is really important.”

Williams wants to add chat and text options next. She hopes Washington’s 988 line for Native Americans becomes a model for others. She’s already given presentations in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana and in Canada, which is set to launch its own national 988 this year.

States are expected to receive more money to fund the line from t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-ukraine-government-us-republican-party-health-care-costs-13f3f7bfed22bda0cbf73002d9fec273">he $1.7 trillion end-of-the year spending package</a>, which set aside another half-billion dollars for the project.

Still, long-term funding for the 988 helpline is in jeopardy in some states, which have yet to figure out a permanent funding plan for it. While the federal government has poured millions of dollars into the project, states are expected to take over the operation and funding of the 988 line — just as they do with 911 emergency call services.

So far, fewer than 20 states&nbsp;<a href="https://reimaginecrisis.org/map/">have passed legislation to permanently fund their 988 line</a>, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness.

In Ohio, for example, advocates are pushing for the state legislature to sign off on a 50-cent fee that would be tacked onto cellphone bills, raising roughly $50 million to $55 million every year to operate the line, said Tony Coder of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.

“Quite frankly, lives depend on it,” Coder said. “The need for 988 services is more crucial than ever, simply because of the aftermath and the mental health issues from COVID.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When Jamieson Brill answers a crisis call from a Spanish speaker on the newly launched national 988 mental health helpline, he rarely mentions the word suicide, or “suicidio”Brill, whose family hails from Puerto Rico, knows that just discussing the term in some Spanish-speaking cultures is so frowned upon that many callers are too scared to even admit that they’re calling for themselves.“However strong stigma around mental health concerns is in English-speaking cultures, in Spanish-speaking cultures it is triple that,” said Brill, who helps people navigate mental health crises from a tiny brick building tucked away in Hyattsville, Maryland.Brill works in one of more than 200 call centers fanned out around the country tasked with answering an uptick in calls day and night from people considering suicide or experiencing a mental health emergency.With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-business-mental-health-90a9d04a8c027a3abbd231d234ed0adf">bipartisan congressional support and just under $1 billion in federal funds</a>, the 988 mental health helpline has quickly expanded its reach in the six months since it launched — raking in over 2 million calls, texts and chat messages.The number of centers answering calls in Spanish grew from three to seven last year. A pilot line dedicated to LGBTQ youth started taking calls in September. And plans are underway to keep the momentum going, with the federal government adding Spanish language chat and text options later this year and aiming to expand those services to a 24/7 operation for the LGBTQ line.When the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mental-health-hotline-988-ac50f02b74b8b89be5592be3f3605ff5">around-the-clock phone launched last summer</a>, it built on the existing network that staffed the old national lifeline, 1-800-273-8255. The new 988 number is designed to be as easy to remember as 911.It couldn’t have come at a more needed time:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ca-state-wire-health-ny-state-wire-ap-top-news-208872f1d9fa3a3f3b50a4a902132124">Depression rates in U.S. adults</a>, overdose deaths and suicide rates have been on the rise.“The call volume is, in some instances, well beyond what we anticipated,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use in the Department of Health and Human Services. “It does let us know that people are struggling, people are having a hard time. Where I feel heartened is that people are getting connected to services and supports, as oppose to struggling on their own.”The 988 helpline registered 154,585 more calls, texts and chat messages during November 2022 compared to the old national lifeline in November 2021, according to the latest data available.Texting has been particularly popular, with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration noting a 1,227% increase in texts to the line during that same time.The Veterans Crisis Line — callers can press “1” after texting or calling 988 to reach it — has fielded 450,000 calls, texts and chat messages, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. By the end of the year, the line had handled a nearly 10% increase compared to 2021.Calls show no signs of slowing into this year, with counselors answering 3,869 calls on New Year's Eve and the first day of 2023 — a 30 percent increase compared to the previous holiday. The Spanish language line saw an increase of 3,800 calls year over year from November 2021 to November 2022.Meanwhile, some states are considering unveiling their own lines dedicated to certain communities.In November, Washington became the first state to launch a mental health crisis line dedicated to American Indian and Alaska Native people. Callers in Washington can reach the line by calling 988 then pressing “4” to be greeted by one of the 13 counselors — all Indigenous people — who staff the phones.Having fellow American Indians answer those calls is crucial, because those familiar with the culture can immediately decode some terms that others cannot, said Rochelle Williams, the tribal operations manager for Volunteers of America Western Washington, which oversees the call center. For example, she said, when a caller says that a relative is “bothering me,” that sends up an immediate red flag: The person is likely signaling that they’re the victim of a sexual assault.“Who has a better understanding of native people than native people?” Williams said. “We don’t trust in a lot of government programs. Knowing you’re talking to another Indigenous person is really important.”Williams wants to add chat and text options next. She hopes Washington’s 988 line for Native Americans becomes a model for others. She’s already given presentations in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana and in Canada, which is set to launch its own national 988 this year.States are expected to receive more money to fund the line from t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-ukraine-government-us-republican-party-health-care-costs-13f3f7bfed22bda0cbf73002d9fec273">he $1.7 trillion end-of-the year spending package</a>, which set aside another half-billion dollars for the project.Still, long-term funding for the 988 helpline is in jeopardy in some states, which have yet to figure out a permanent funding plan for it. While the federal government has poured millions of dollars into the project, states are expected to take over the operation and funding of the 988 line — just as they do with 911 emergency call services.So far, fewer than 20 states&nbsp;<a href="https://reimaginecrisis.org/map/">have passed legislation to permanently fund their 988 line</a>, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness.In Ohio, for example, advocates are pushing for the state legislature to sign off on a 50-cent fee that would be tacked onto cellphone bills, raising roughly $50 million to $55 million every year to operate the line, said Tony Coder of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.“Quite frankly, lives depend on it,” Coder said. “The need for 988 services is more crucial than ever, simply because of the aftermath and the mental health issues from COVID.”

Callers keep flooding 988 mental health, suicide helpline

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/11/ku-researchers-assert-fcc-map-of-high-speed-broadband-access-in-kansas-highly-inaccurate/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Federal 
Communications Commission’s state-by-state map of broadband availability
 didn’t capture the potential of 1 million Kansans living in regions 
without adequate high-speed service, University of Kansas researchers 
said.

The findings were significant because the federal government plans to
 distribute $42.5 billion in broadband expansion funding to states based
 on the FCC’s map. In November, the FCC released maps showing broadband 
was available across Kansas and more than three-fourths of the state’s 
residents had access to reliable service. The deadline for states to 
challenge the map is Friday.

“Kansans learned the hard way during the COVID-19 pandemic that broadband
 was necessary for work and education,” said Donna Ginther, a professor 
of economics and director of the Institute for Policy and Social 
Research at the University of Kansas. “Our results show that the FCC map showing that 85% of Kansans have access to reliable broadband is highly inaccurate.”

KU researchers said the current&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbroadbandmap.fcc.gov%2Fhome&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C78ae72eb92c64bb84c3308daf3460022%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638089779213074759%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ZndiPg1GfIOzdX8S1i%2BiaO0QGVHQfLqCioG%2BUj82t%2F0%3D&amp;reserved=0">FCC National&nbsp;Broadband&nbsp;Map</a>
 of high-speed internet reflected a provider’s maximum advertised speed,
 which wasn’t the same as the level of service available to customers in
 a given location. Average download speeds were substantially higher for
 Kansans living within city limits compared to speeds available for 
Kansans outside city limits, the researchers said.

Researchers at KU concluded there was little reliable data on 
broadband access in Kansas and decided to create a survey with an 
embedded speed test. They interviewed constituents, residents and internet providers to develop a more complete picture of broadband issues in the state.

Internet service has become a more valuable quality-of-life tool 
among Kansans, but KU researchers indicated 44% of people responding to 
the survey reported dissatisfaction with their broadband service.

Respondents pointed to slow speeds, data caps, unreliable internet
 access and lack of options for service. Shortcomings in rural and 
frontier communities created challenges for people trying to perform 
their jobs, keep up with technological advancements and create future 
business opportunities.

Research collaborator Germaine Halegoua, a University of Michigan professor, said speed and access of internet
 connections at a particular address were important to measure, but so 
was how people experienced speed, quality of connections and cost of 
access on a daily basis.

“That’s one of the reasons our survey results are informative,” Halegoua said. “They pair reported internet
 connection with information about what it means to have that sort of 
connection — the challenges, constraints and uneven availability 
experienced across the state as well as the gratitude some rural 
communities felt toward the independent internet service providers who 
made the effort to serve their regions.”

An executive summary of the KU analysis can be viewed at <a target="_blank" href="https://ipsr.ku.edu/broadband/">the Institute for Policy and Social Research’s website</a>. Information about opportunities for the public to submit feedback on the FCC map can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascommerce.gov%2Fprogram%2Fchallenge%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C78ae72eb92c64bb84c3308daf3460022%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638089779213074759%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fAqNQRtEK9xnlS9nuhT%2Bdzqhg6RSZqfJvL4YTKZMG0A%3D&amp;reserved=0">Kansas Department of Commerce’s</a>&nbsp;website.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat from the Kansas City area, said 
accurate maps of broadband service in Kansas was essential. She said the
 state could be in line for as much as $100 million in broadband 
funding.

“If we want to improve access to high-speed internet in Kansas, we 
need an accurate understanding of where the gaps are,” Davids said. 
“That’s why I’m asking all Kansans to take a couple minutes out of their
 day to participate in this mapping project.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, previously urged 
Kansans to submit information to the FCC regarding broadband coverage 
issues not revealed by the map. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly had agreed 
to signed a letter with 14 other governors to ask for a 60-day extension
 to time to respond to the map.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673476798899.png" alt="Donna Ginther, director of the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas, said the Federal Communications Commission’s map of broadband access in Kansas was inaccurate She estimated 1 million Kansans lack access to quality high-speed internet services. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Donna Ginther, director of the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas, said the Federal Communications Commission’s map of broadband access in Kansas was inaccurate She estimated 1 million Kansans lack access to quality high-speed internet services. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/11/ku-researchers-assert-fcc-map-of-high-speed-broadband-access-in-kansas-highly-inaccurate/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Federal 
Communications Commission’s state-by-state map of broadband availability
 didn’t capture the potential of 1 million Kansans living in regions 
without adequate high-speed service, University of Kansas researchers 
said.The findings were significant because the federal government plans to
 distribute $42.5 billion in broadband expansion funding to states based
 on the FCC’s map. In November, the FCC released maps showing broadband 
was available across Kansas and more than three-fourths of the state’s 
residents had access to reliable service. The deadline for states to 
challenge the map is Friday.“Kansans learned the hard way during the COVID-19 pandemic that broadband
 was necessary for work and education,” said Donna Ginther, a professor 
of economics and director of the Institute for Policy and Social 
Research at the University of Kansas. “Our results show that the FCC map showing that 85% of Kansans have access to reliable broadband is highly inaccurate.”KU researchers said the current&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbroadbandmap.fcc.gov%2Fhome&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C78ae72eb92c64bb84c3308daf3460022%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638089779213074759%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ZndiPg1GfIOzdX8S1i%2BiaO0QGVHQfLqCioG%2BUj82t%2F0%3D&amp;reserved=0">FCC National&nbsp;Broadband&nbsp;Map</a>
 of high-speed internet reflected a provider’s maximum advertised speed,
 which wasn’t the same as the level of service available to customers in
 a given location. Average download speeds were substantially higher for
 Kansans living within city limits compared to speeds available for 
Kansans outside city limits, the researchers said.Researchers at KU concluded there was little reliable data on 
broadband access in Kansas and decided to create a survey with an 
embedded speed test. They interviewed constituents, residents and internet providers to develop a more complete picture of broadband issues in the state.Internet service has become a more valuable quality-of-life tool 
among Kansans, but KU researchers indicated 44% of people responding to 
the survey reported dissatisfaction with their broadband service.Respondents pointed to slow speeds, data caps, unreliable internet
 access and lack of options for service. Shortcomings in rural and 
frontier communities created challenges for people trying to perform 
their jobs, keep up with technological advancements and create future 
business opportunities.Research collaborator Germaine Halegoua, a University of Michigan professor, said speed and access of internet
 connections at a particular address were important to measure, but so 
was how people experienced speed, quality of connections and cost of 
access on a daily basis.“That’s one of the reasons our survey results are informative,” Halegoua said. “They pair reported internet
 connection with information about what it means to have that sort of 
connection — the challenges, constraints and uneven availability 
experienced across the state as well as the gratitude some rural 
communities felt toward the independent internet service providers who 
made the effort to serve their regions.”An executive summary of the KU analysis can be viewed at <a target="_blank" href="https://ipsr.ku.edu/broadband/">the Institute for Policy and Social Research’s website</a>. Information about opportunities for the public to submit feedback on the FCC map can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascommerce.gov%2Fprogram%2Fchallenge%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C78ae72eb92c64bb84c3308daf3460022%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638089779213074759%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fAqNQRtEK9xnlS9nuhT%2Bdzqhg6RSZqfJvL4YTKZMG0A%3D&amp;reserved=0">Kansas Department of Commerce’s</a>&nbsp;website.U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat from the Kansas City area, said 
accurate maps of broadband service in Kansas was essential. She said the
 state could be in line for as much as $100 million in broadband 
funding.“If we want to improve access to high-speed internet in Kansas, we 
need an accurate understanding of where the gaps are,” Davids said. 
“That’s why I’m asking all Kansans to take a couple minutes out of their
 day to participate in this mapping project.”U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, previously urged 
Kansans to submit information to the FCC regarding broadband coverage 
issues not revealed by the map. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly had agreed 
to signed a letter with 14 other governors to ask for a 60-day extension
 to time to respond to the map.

KU: FCC map of Kan. high-speed broadband access ‘highly inaccurate’

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Four survivors of childhood sexual abuse revealed details 
about the worst moments of their lives in a public rebuke of state law 
that protects pedophiles from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits.

Backed by a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, the women 
emphasized that it can take years before a survivor accepts what 
happened and is willing to talk about it. Most people who are victimized
 as children won’t share their experiences until they are over age 50.

Kansas state law requires requires survivors to file a civil lawsuit 
by age 21. Proposed legislation would remove the statute of limitations 
for both civil and criminal cases, and open the door to retroactive 
litigation dating to 1984. The Legislature eliminated the statute of 
limitations for criminal cases in 2013, but didn’t make the law 
retroactive.

State law fell under renewed scrutiny last week when <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report into abuse by Catholic clergy</a>
 was made public. The four-year inquiry found 188 clergy members at four
 dioceses in Kansas were suspected of criminal acts dating to 1950.

The KBI referred 30 cases involving 14 clergy members to district 
attorneys, but no criminal charges were filed — primarily because of the
 statute of limitations.

In a news conference Thursday at the Statehouse, Rep. Bob Lewis, a 
Republican from Garden City and attorney who has worked with sexual 
abuse survivors, emphasized that the problem isn’t contained to the 
Catholic church. Lewis said childhood sexual abuse happens in every 
institution where there are children.

Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray 
shared their stories of abuse in a news conference at the Statehouse. 
Kansas Reflector doesn’t identify survivors of sexual abuse without 
their consent, and the women granted permission to use their names.

Bergman sat in her car in the parking lot of a Lawrence gym operated 
by her former coach, who had abused her at a camp when she was 12.

She was afraid he would hurt other girls. She was right.

“I wanted desperately to walk into the lobby and announce to everyone
 that David Byrd is a pedophile and should not be trusted, then froze,” 
Bergman said. “To this day, I feel horrible that I wasn’t strong enough 
to do more.”

Bergman said she had been vulnerable as a child because of 
difficulties at home, and Byrd took advantage of her. She described her 
attempt to make him stop touching her while watching TV in a hotel room.

“I was terrified,” she said. “I finally got up and sat behind him to 
try to get away. Instead, David turned and glared at me and asked in a 
way that I’ll never forget, ‘Why did you move?’ ”

He proceeded to abuse her further. She felt trapped.

When she got home, she told her best friend about her coach’s 
actions. At age 12, she said, “neither one of us could understand the 
magnitude of what happened.”

Later, her therapist reported the abuse, and she was interviewed by 
police. By the time she was strong enough to talk about what happened, 
but she was told time had run out.

“I knew there would be future victims, and that they would have to 
face David on their own because of a ridiculous rule that stated my 
abuse no longer counted,” Bergman said.

A decade after he abused Bergman, he did <a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/aug/29/coach_charged_molesting_teen_girl/">the same to Ramirez</a>.

Ramirez said she was in shock when she told her best friend about the
 abuse. Her friend told her, “that’s not a secret that gets to be kept.”
 If not for her, Ramirez said, “my story would have a different ending.”

Byrd pleaded guilty in 2009 to indecent liberties with a child and received a 30-month sentence.

Ramirez said the harm Byrd caused her and other girls could have been
 prevented if earlier victims had been allowed to expose his actions in 
court after they turned 21.

“A survivor has to accept what’s happened to them, be comfortable 
talking about it publicly, and have the means to file a lawsuit before 
they turn 21,” Ramirez said. “Now, it may be hard to tell because I’m 
standing in a room full of incredibly brave people, but talking about 
the worst thing that’s ever happened to you is incredibly difficult.”

Ramirez said she is 29 and only recently became comfortable talking about her abuse publicly.

As she looked up at the row of cameras pointed at her in the crowded room, she added: “And I wouldn’t say this is comfortable.”

Cheray grew up in a small, predominantly Catholic town in Kansas.

She went to live with her grandparents at age 5, and her grandfather 
began sexually abusing her at the age of 10. She tried to run away and 
twice tried to kill herself.

In a moment of despair, she turned to her priest.

“The only advice he told me was to go back home and pray that the 
situation gets better,” Cheray said. “How could anyone tell a child to 
go back to being sexually abused and pray that it gets better? I knew 
that was really code for, ‘Your grandfather is president of the altar 
guild and a significant financial contributor to the church.’ ”

Patterson-Kinsey spent her childhood trying to avoid her abusive father.

“It was extremely confusing,” she said. “I didn’t like it. He told me
 not to tell anybody, and I didn’t know who I would tell. I wanted to 
pretend like it didn’t happen.”

For years, she was reluctant to say anything because she wanted to 
protect her mother and sister, who were also victimized by her father. 
The story of her abuse “wasn’t just my story,” she said. In a small 
town, everybody would know about the family.

By the time she could talk about it, she was about 40 years old.

“My time ran out,” Patterson-Kinsey said. “My time ran out when I was in college.”

She added:&nbsp;“Passage of this bill will give other survivors time to hold their abusers accountable.”

Senate Republicans didn’t give a hearing to a similar bill that was introduced last year, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-call-for-elimination-of-kansas-statute-of-limitations/">despite pleading from Bergman and others</a>.

Lewis, the Republican House member, said childhood sexual assault is 
an “extraordinarily important issue that our state is finally beginning 
to take seriously.”

“There is a common element in all of their stories,” Lewis said. 
“That element is that the child sex abuse has robbed them of agency. 
It’s robbed them of their voice. They’ve been shut down and told to go 
away, ignored.”

Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, said there is 
more interest in the issue following the release of the KBI report on 
clergy abuse.

Holscher said some people in the past wanted to dismiss concerns 
because they thought the abuse was the result of just three or four 
priests. The implication of 188 clergy members in the KBI report “woke 
some people up,” she said.

“Phones are ringing off the hook from people out there across Kansas 
calling into the KBI, calling to us as legislators, talking about the 
situation,” Holscher said.

Passage of proposed legislation would open the door to lawsuits 
against the Catholic church and other institutions. Holscher said she 
doesn’t anticipate the state would be flooded with cases, but she 
acknowledged there could be resistance to changing the law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673640794286.png" alt="Kim Bergman speaks at a Jan. 12, 2023, news conference on childhood sexual assault at the Statehouse in Topeka. Bergman and other survivors shared their stories and called on lawmakers to remove a statute of limitations on civil and criminal cases. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kim Bergman speaks at a Jan. 12, 2023, news conference on childhood sexual assault at the Statehouse in Topeka. Bergman and other survivors shared their stories and called on lawmakers to remove a statute of limitations on civil and criminal cases. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Four survivors of childhood sexual abuse revealed details 
about the worst moments of their lives in a public rebuke of state law 
that protects pedophiles from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits.Backed by a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, the women 
emphasized that it can take years before a survivor accepts what 
happened and is willing to talk about it. Most people who are victimized
 as children won’t share their experiences until they are over age 50.Kansas state law requires requires survivors to file a civil lawsuit 
by age 21. Proposed legislation would remove the statute of limitations 
for both civil and criminal cases, and open the door to retroactive 
litigation dating to 1984. The Legislature eliminated the statute of 
limitations for criminal cases in 2013, but didn’t make the law 
retroactive.State law fell under renewed scrutiny last week when <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report into abuse by Catholic clergy</a>
 was made public. The four-year inquiry found 188 clergy members at four
 dioceses in Kansas were suspected of criminal acts dating to 1950.The KBI referred 30 cases involving 14 clergy members to district 
attorneys, but no criminal charges were filed — primarily because of the
 statute of limitations.In a news conference Thursday at the Statehouse, Rep. Bob Lewis, a 
Republican from Garden City and attorney who has worked with sexual 
abuse survivors, emphasized that the problem isn’t contained to the 
Catholic church. Lewis said childhood sexual abuse happens in every 
institution where there are children.Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray 
shared their stories of abuse in a news conference at the Statehouse. 
Kansas Reflector doesn’t identify survivors of sexual abuse without 
their consent, and the women granted permission to use their names.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673640874573.png" alt="Tess Ramirez says it is difficult talk about the worst thing that ever happened to her. Most survivors of sexual assault disclose the abuse after the age of 50. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Tess Ramirez says it is difficult talk about the worst thing that ever happened to her. Most survivors of sexual assault disclose the abuse after the age of 50. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A ridiculous rule</h2>Bergman sat in her car in the parking lot of a Lawrence gym operated 
by her former coach, who had abused her at a camp when she was 12.She was afraid he would hurt other girls. She was right.“I wanted desperately to walk into the lobby and announce to everyone
 that David Byrd is a pedophile and should not be trusted, then froze,” 
Bergman said. “To this day, I feel horrible that I wasn’t strong enough 
to do more.”Bergman said she had been vulnerable as a child because of 
difficulties at home, and Byrd took advantage of her. She described her 
attempt to make him stop touching her while watching TV in a hotel room.“I was terrified,” she said. “I finally got up and sat behind him to 
try to get away. Instead, David turned and glared at me and asked in a 
way that I’ll never forget, ‘Why did you move?’ ”He proceeded to abuse her further. She felt trapped.When she got home, she told her best friend about her coach’s 
actions. At age 12, she said, “neither one of us could understand the 
magnitude of what happened.”Later, her therapist reported the abuse, and she was interviewed by 
police. By the time she was strong enough to talk about what happened, 
but she was told time had run out.“I knew there would be future victims, and that they would have to 
face David on their own because of a ridiculous rule that stated my 
abuse no longer counted,” Bergman said.A decade after he abused Bergman, he did <a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/aug/29/coach_charged_molesting_teen_girl/">the same to Ramirez</a>.Ramirez said she was in shock when she told her best friend about the
 abuse. Her friend told her, “that’s not a secret that gets to be kept.”
 If not for her, Ramirez said, “my story would have a different ending.”Byrd pleaded guilty in 2009 to indecent liberties with a child and received a 30-month sentence.Ramirez said the harm Byrd caused her and other girls could have been
 prevented if earlier victims had been allowed to expose his actions in 
court after they turned 21.“A survivor has to accept what’s happened to them, be comfortable 
talking about it publicly, and have the means to file a lawsuit before 
they turn 21,” Ramirez said. “Now, it may be hard to tell because I’m 
standing in a room full of incredibly brave people, but talking about 
the worst thing that’s ever happened to you is incredibly difficult.”Ramirez said she is 29 and only recently became comfortable talking about her abuse publicly.As she looked up at the row of cameras pointed at her in the crowded room, she added: “And I wouldn’t say this is comfortable.”<h2>Pray for relief</h2>Cheray grew up in a small, predominantly Catholic town in Kansas.She went to live with her grandparents at age 5, and her grandfather 
began sexually abusing her at the age of 10. She tried to run away and 
twice tried to kill herself.In a moment of despair, she turned to her priest.“The only advice he told me was to go back home and pray that the 
situation gets better,” Cheray said. “How could anyone tell a child to 
go back to being sexually abused and pray that it gets better? I knew 
that was really code for, ‘Your grandfather is president of the altar 
guild and a significant financial contributor to the church.’ ”Patterson-Kinsey spent her childhood trying to avoid her abusive father.“It was extremely confusing,” she said. “I didn’t like it. He told me
 not to tell anybody, and I didn’t know who I would tell. I wanted to 
pretend like it didn’t happen.”For years, she was reluctant to say anything because she wanted to 
protect her mother and sister, who were also victimized by her father. 
The story of her abuse “wasn’t just my story,” she said. In a small 
town, everybody would know about the family.By the time she could talk about it, she was about 40 years old.“My time ran out,” Patterson-Kinsey said. “My time ran out when I was in college.”She added:&nbsp;“Passage of this bill will give other survivors time to hold their abusers accountable.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673640934424.png" alt="Sen. Cindy Holscher, left, says people were surprised to learn the extent of clergy abuse in Kansas. Joe Cheray, right, says her priest told her to pray that abuse would stop. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Cindy Holscher, left, says people were surprised to learn the extent of clergy abuse in Kansas. Joe Cheray, right, says her priest told her to pray that abuse would stop. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Waking up</h2>Senate Republicans didn’t give a hearing to a similar bill that was introduced last year, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-call-for-elimination-of-kansas-statute-of-limitations/">despite pleading from Bergman and others</a>.Lewis, the Republican House member, said childhood sexual assault is 
an “extraordinarily important issue that our state is finally beginning 
to take seriously.”“There is a common element in all of their stories,” Lewis said. 
“That element is that the child sex abuse has robbed them of agency. 
It’s robbed them of their voice. They’ve been shut down and told to go 
away, ignored.”Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, said there is 
more interest in the issue following the release of the KBI report on 
clergy abuse.Holscher said some people in the past wanted to dismiss concerns 
because they thought the abuse was the result of just three or four 
priests. The implication of 188 clergy members in the KBI report “woke 
some people up,” she said.“Phones are ringing off the hook from people out there across Kansas 
calling into the KBI, calling to us as legislators, talking about the 
situation,” Holscher said.Passage of proposed legislation would open the door to lawsuits 
against the Catholic church and other institutions. Holscher said she 
doesn’t anticipate the state would be flooded with cases, but she 
acknowledged there could be resistance to changing the law.“The pushback could be the fact that when people bring civil cases, we’re talking money,” Holscher said.