COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas high school teacher on sex crime allegations.

On Dec. 15, USD 470/ Arkansas City High School administration contacted the police regarding an alleged incident reported by a student, according to a media release from police.

 An 18-year-old female student reported to the administration and later to the police that a teacher at the high school had touched her inappropriately without her consent. 

Arkansas City police conducted a complete investigation, that included numerous interviews and presented the case to the Cowley County Attorney’s office for review.

The county attorney charged <a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">38-year old Jacob Sumpter</a> with Sexual Battery regarding the reported incident. Sumpter is an Ag teacher and is now on paid leave, according to a statement from USD 470. The school district has assigned a long-term substitute teacher for Sumpter's classes.

<a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">Sumpter</a> is scheduled to have a court appearance on January 30 at 9 a.m. in the Arkansas City District Court, according to the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672944710940.png" alt="Sumpter-photo USD 470" />
 <figcaption>Sumpter-photo USD 470</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas high school teacher on sex crime allegations.On Dec. 15, USD 470/ Arkansas City High School administration contacted the police regarding an alleged incident reported by a student, according to a media release from police. An 18-year-old female student reported to the administration and later to the police that a teacher at the high school had touched her inappropriately without her consent. Arkansas City police conducted a complete investigation, that included numerous interviews and presented the case to the Cowley County Attorney’s office for review.The county attorney charged <a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">38-year old Jacob Sumpter</a> with Sexual Battery regarding the reported incident. Sumpter is an Ag teacher and is now on paid leave, according to a statement from USD 470. The school district has assigned a long-term substitute teacher for Sumpter's classes.<a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">Sumpter</a> is scheduled to have a court appearance on January 30 at 9 a.m. in the Arkansas City District Court, according to the release.

Kansas teacher placed on leave after charged with sexual battery

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/05/derek-schmidt-reflects-on-his-12-years-as-kansas-attorney-general-in-farewell-letter/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt lists suing the national 
government, fighting vaccine mandates and advocating against illegal 
immigration as notable accomplishments in the position he held for more 
than a decade.

In <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2022/12/14/a-farewell-letter-from-kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt">a farewell letter reflecting on</a>
 his 12 years as the state’s top legal officer, Schmidt said he helped 
shape the role of the attorney general by protecting modern federalism 
and challenging illegal federal actions. The attorney general provides 
legal service to state agencies and boards over four-year terms.

Schmidt chose to run for governor instead of seeking another term. 
The Republican lost to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in November.

In his letter, Schmidt said his list of accomplishments “includes 
successful challenges to parts of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”),
 the Waters of the United States rule, various emissions regulations 
that would have increased energy costs for working families, 
‘jab-or-job’ vaccine mandates that threatened the livelihood of 
thousands of Kansans.”

His administration also successfully argued eight cases before the 
U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Kansas, increased the office’s capacity 
to investigate and prosecute elder abuse and prosecuted more child sex 
abusers than any previous administration, according to the letter. Under
 his guidance, the office also created a youth-orientated suicide 
prevention app, and increased appellate capacity.

Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita 
Democrat, said he had mixed feelings about Schmidt’s legacy. Carmichael 
said Schmidt was competent in running the day-to-day administration of 
the office but had become more radicalized over the years.

“He did a workmanlike job as attorney
 general,” Carmichael said. “He served Kansas citizens well. However, he
 did become distracted by the political fray of the day. And that 
resulted in him, during the Trump administration in particular, moving 
farther and farther to the right.”

Carmichael said he didn’t support many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, such as Schmidt’s support of a controversial lawsuit initiated by the Texas attorney general with the U.S. Supreme Court contesting administration of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/23/legal-advocacy-group-files-ethics-complaint-against-schmidt-tied-to-2020-election-lawsuit/">2020 presidential election</a>.&nbsp;

“The example that I was thinking of 
that probably most disturbs me during his term was him joining in 
lawsuits trying to affect the outcome of the presidential election two 
years ago in which Donald Trump was defeated,” Carmichael said. “And 
that is a step that he didn’t need, to challenge the electors or the 
counting of votes from states like Georgia. He did that gratuitously.”

During the pandemic,&nbsp;Schmidt was a 
vocal opponent of federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates, authoring 
legislation that allowed Kansas workers to opt out of vaccine 
requirements for philosophical or religious reasons.

During his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/22/derek-schmidt-says-no-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-kansas-kids-not-on-my-watch/">he emphasized</a>
 he wouldn’t require Kansas students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, though
 the authority to do so lies with the state health secretary, not the 
governor.

“As governor,” Schmidt <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/30/schmidt-challenges-kellys-disruption-of-in-person-instruction-early-in-covid-19-pandemic/">said in August</a>,
 “I pledge I will never again lock our children out of their schools, 
and I hope that Governor Kelly will take that same pledge. I think our 
families and our kids deserve to know they don’t need to worry about a 
repeat of this terrible error.”&nbsp;

In March 2022, he gave a general opinion to the Kansas Legislature <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/ag-opinions/2022/2022-004.pdf?sfvrsn=65a2a71a_6">on ivermectin and&nbsp; hydroxychloroquine</a>,
 saying Kansas law didn’t prevent physicians or other prescribers from 
using these controversial drugs in COVID-19 treatment as long as a 
certain standard of care and conduct was met.

The FDA cautioned against using these
 drugs in COVID-19 treatment, and peer-reviewed clinical trials have 
shown the drugs provide no benefit in the prevention or treatment of 
COVID-19.

In his farewell letter, Schmidt also 
mentioned his efforts to limit illegal immigration, saying he took 
“numerous actions related to the federal government’s failure to secure 
our southern border.” He was part of a coalition of attorneys general 
who demanded Trump terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,
 or DACA, established by Obama.

Schmidt has spoken in favor of 
tightening border control multiple times, including on the gubernatorial
 campaign trail, saying that illegal immigration was driving an increase
 in Kansas crime rates and drugs.

He was also known for filing several 
lawsuits against the Biden administration, including challenging the 
administration’s student loan cancellation program and guidance on 
transgender student sport policies.

Other topics mentioned in Schmidt’s 
farewell letter included the modernization of information technology, 
prosecution of child abusers, anti-human trafficking laws and handling 
of county criminal appeals.&nbsp;

Carmichael said while he didn’t 
approve of many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, he was more 
concerned over the future of the office, which Republican Kris Kobach 
will take over on Monday. He said Kobach, unlike his predecessors, is 
unqualified for the position.

“They were the types of leaders in 
that office that qualified lawyers would want to work for,” Carmichael 
said. “And that’s not the case with Kris Kobach. Kris Kobach is an 
embarrassment as a lawyer. He’s an embarrassment as a Kansan. He’s an 
embarrassment to his party.” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672944139100.png" alt="Derek Schmidt said he was proud of blocking federal actions that he considered to be illegal during his 12-year AG career. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Derek Schmidt said he was proud of blocking federal actions that he considered to be illegal during his 12-year AG career. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/05/derek-schmidt-reflects-on-his-12-years-as-kansas-attorney-general-in-farewell-letter/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt lists suing the national 
government, fighting vaccine mandates and advocating against illegal 
immigration as notable accomplishments in the position he held for more 
than a decade.In <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2022/12/14/a-farewell-letter-from-kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt">a farewell letter reflecting on</a>
 his 12 years as the state’s top legal officer, Schmidt said he helped 
shape the role of the attorney general by protecting modern federalism 
and challenging illegal federal actions. The attorney general provides 
legal service to state agencies and boards over four-year terms.Schmidt chose to run for governor instead of seeking another term. 
The Republican lost to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in November.In his letter, Schmidt said his list of accomplishments “includes 
successful challenges to parts of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”),
 the Waters of the United States rule, various emissions regulations 
that would have increased energy costs for working families, 
‘jab-or-job’ vaccine mandates that threatened the livelihood of 
thousands of Kansans.”His administration also successfully argued eight cases before the 
U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Kansas, increased the office’s capacity 
to investigate and prosecute elder abuse and prosecuted more child sex 
abusers than any previous administration, according to the letter. Under
 his guidance, the office also created a youth-orientated suicide 
prevention app, and increased appellate capacity.Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita 
Democrat, said he had mixed feelings about Schmidt’s legacy. Carmichael 
said Schmidt was competent in running the day-to-day administration of 
the office but had become more radicalized over the years.“He did a workmanlike job as attorney
 general,” Carmichael said. “He served Kansas citizens well. However, he
 did become distracted by the political fray of the day. And that 
resulted in him, during the Trump administration in particular, moving 
farther and farther to the right.”Carmichael said he didn’t support many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, such as Schmidt’s support of a controversial lawsuit initiated by the Texas attorney general with the U.S. Supreme Court contesting administration of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/23/legal-advocacy-group-files-ethics-complaint-against-schmidt-tied-to-2020-election-lawsuit/">2020 presidential election</a>.&nbsp;“The example that I was thinking of 
that probably most disturbs me during his term was him joining in 
lawsuits trying to affect the outcome of the presidential election two 
years ago in which Donald Trump was defeated,” Carmichael said. “And 
that is a step that he didn’t need, to challenge the electors or the 
counting of votes from states like Georgia. He did that gratuitously.”During the pandemic,&nbsp;Schmidt was a 
vocal opponent of federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates, authoring 
legislation that allowed Kansas workers to opt out of vaccine 
requirements for philosophical or religious reasons.During his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/22/derek-schmidt-says-no-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-kansas-kids-not-on-my-watch/">he emphasized</a>
 he wouldn’t require Kansas students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, though
 the authority to do so lies with the state health secretary, not the 
governor.“As governor,” Schmidt <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/30/schmidt-challenges-kellys-disruption-of-in-person-instruction-early-in-covid-19-pandemic/">said in August</a>,
 “I pledge I will never again lock our children out of their schools, 
and I hope that Governor Kelly will take that same pledge. I think our 
families and our kids deserve to know they don’t need to worry about a 
repeat of this terrible error.”&nbsp;In March 2022, he gave a general opinion to the Kansas Legislature <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/ag-opinions/2022/2022-004.pdf?sfvrsn=65a2a71a_6">on ivermectin and&nbsp; hydroxychloroquine</a>,
 saying Kansas law didn’t prevent physicians or other prescribers from 
using these controversial drugs in COVID-19 treatment as long as a 
certain standard of care and conduct was met.The FDA cautioned against using these
 drugs in COVID-19 treatment, and peer-reviewed clinical trials have 
shown the drugs provide no benefit in the prevention or treatment of 
COVID-19.In his farewell letter, Schmidt also 
mentioned his efforts to limit illegal immigration, saying he took 
“numerous actions related to the federal government’s failure to secure 
our southern border.” He was part of a coalition of attorneys general 
who demanded Trump terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,
 or DACA, established by Obama.Schmidt has spoken in favor of 
tightening border control multiple times, including on the gubernatorial
 campaign trail, saying that illegal immigration was driving an increase
 in Kansas crime rates and drugs.He was also known for filing several 
lawsuits against the Biden administration, including challenging the 
administration’s student loan cancellation program and guidance on 
transgender student sport policies.Other topics mentioned in Schmidt’s 
farewell letter included the modernization of information technology, 
prosecution of child abusers, anti-human trafficking laws and handling 
of county criminal appeals.&nbsp;Carmichael said while he didn’t 
approve of many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, he was more 
concerned over the future of the office, which Republican Kris Kobach 
will take over on Monday. He said Kobach, unlike his predecessors, is 
unqualified for the position.“They were the types of leaders in 
that office that qualified lawyers would want to work for,” Carmichael 
said. “And that’s not the case with Kris Kobach. Kris Kobach is an 
embarrassment as a lawyer. He’s an embarrassment as a Kansan. He’s an 
embarrassment to his party.”

Schmidt reflects on his 12 years as Kansas AG in farewell letter

The Kansas Lottery kicked off the new year with a bang this week, as not only was the winning <a href="https://kslottery.com/news-releases/hmr-2022-final-numbers/">Holiday Millionaire Raffle</a>
 number announced, but the winner of the $92 million Powerball jackpot 
hit in Kansas on November 19 has come forward to claim their prize as 
well.

The winning numbers in the November 19 Powerball drawing were 7 – 28 –
 62 – 63 – 64 Powerball 10. The winner has chosen to take the lump sum 
payment of $47,309,601.39.&nbsp;

The Johnson County resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said
 they waited until the new year to claim their prize and have been 
working with a financial advisor for several weeks preparing for their 
new wealth.&nbsp;

“We have taken a lot of time to make sure that the winnings will go 
to the right places so that it doesn’t get wasted,” the winner said. “We
 know exactly what we’re going to do with most of the money, which is 
why we’ve waited to come in to claim it.”&nbsp;

The winner said they plan to donate some of the winnings to some 
charities that they have worked with in the past, as well as set aside 
some for family. 

“I want to make sure that we allocate some to my 
family, for things like houses, college tuition, etc. This is a win for 
all of us, not just me,” the winner added.&nbsp;

It isn’t all investment accounts and savings for the winner, however. They are ready to have some long overdue fun as well!&nbsp;

“We haven’t decided where our first trip will be but it’s being 
discussed. It has been a dream of mine to travel, but obviously my 
options were limited. I know I want to go to Europe and Central 
America,” the winner said. “We’re also considering investing in a 
vacation home in the mountains somewhere. This is all crazy to be 
talking about, but it is a dream come true!”&nbsp;

The winning ticket was sold at Cosentino’s Price Chopper 119 at 7418 119th Street in Overland Park. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer is eligible for a selling bonus.&nbsp;

Kansas LotteryThe Kansas Lottery kicked off the new year with a bang this week, as not only was the winning <a href="https://kslottery.com/news-releases/hmr-2022-final-numbers/">Holiday Millionaire Raffle</a>
 number announced, but the winner of the $92 million Powerball jackpot 
hit in Kansas on November 19 has come forward to claim their prize as 
well.The winning numbers in the November 19 Powerball drawing were 7 – 28 –
 62 – 63 – 64 Powerball 10. The winner has chosen to take the lump sum 
payment of $47,309,601.39.&nbsp;The Johnson County resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said
 they waited until the new year to claim their prize and have been 
working with a financial advisor for several weeks preparing for their 
new wealth.&nbsp;“We have taken a lot of time to make sure that the winnings will go 
to the right places so that it doesn’t get wasted,” the winner said. “We
 know exactly what we’re going to do with most of the money, which is 
why we’ve waited to come in to claim it.”&nbsp;The winner said they plan to donate some of the winnings to some 
charities that they have worked with in the past, as well as set aside 
some for family. “I want to make sure that we allocate some to my 
family, for things like houses, college tuition, etc. This is a win for 
all of us, not just me,” the winner added.&nbsp;It isn’t all investment accounts and savings for the winner, however. They are ready to have some long overdue fun as well!&nbsp;“We haven’t decided where our first trip will be but it’s being 
discussed. It has been a dream of mine to travel, but obviously my 
options were limited. I know I want to go to Europe and Central 
America,” the winner said. “We’re also considering investing in a 
vacation home in the mountains somewhere. This is all crazy to be 
talking about, but it is a dream come true!”&nbsp;The winning ticket was sold at Cosentino’s Price Chopper 119 at 7418 119th Street in Overland Park. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer is eligible for a selling bonus.&nbsp;

$92M Powerball jackpot claimed in Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling Bed Bath &amp; Beyond warned on Thursday that the home goods retailer may need to file for bankruptcy as sales continue to drop and it struggles to attract shoppers.

The company, with 8 stores in Kansas and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/locations/state/MO">12 in Missouri,</a>&nbsp;said that it’s looking at several options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court, but it acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful. Shares lost a quarter of their value on the news to trade at $1.82, their lowest level since November 1992.

“There is substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the retailer said in a statement.

The company’s assessment came as its dismal performance continued through the holiday season.

Bed Bath &amp; Beyond expects to report net sales of $1.26 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 26. That would be a 32% drop from a year earlier. It also anticipates a net loss of roughly $385.8 million for the third quarter, wider than its loss of $276.4 million in the year-earlier period.

The company’s recently-appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-cbbc4dbc9bcef6a17a8016df9a1e08a4">CEO and president, Sue Gove,</a>&nbsp;blamed the poor performance on inventory constraints and reduced credit limits that resulted in shortages of merchandise on the shelves.

In August, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-offerings-chewy-inc-6af2d83aec7cde2cd7b0706b892a4c0c">shutter stores and lay off workers</a>&nbsp;in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business. It closed about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company’s current fiscal year. It also said in August that it had lined up more than $500 million of new financing.

Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced back in August that it would revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels.

That reversed a strategy embraced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/33fa91f0e8114f4536dd0d1271ae1d2b">former CEO Mark Tritton</a>, who was ousted last June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so. Besides Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, the company also runs the buybuy Baby and Harmon chains.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, wrote in a report Thursday that Bed Bath &amp; Beyond is “too far gone to be saved in its present form.” He noted that the company could restructure under Chapter 11, but it would still need to come up with a credible plan to reinvent the business, and that is going to be challenging, particularly in a weakening economic environment.

“A catalogue of missteps has run the company into the ground and has made it increasingly irrelevant,” he wrote. “Only very radical action will allow it to survive and even if it does, it will be a shadow of its former self.”

The company is set to release final third-quarter results on Tuesday.

Bed Bath &amp; Beyond locations in Kansas include Manhattan, Lawrence, Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee, Overland Park and two in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672935113513.png" alt="Bed Bath and Beyond in Olathe -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Bed Bath and Beyond in Olathe -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling Bed Bath &amp; Beyond warned on Thursday that the home goods retailer may need to file for bankruptcy as sales continue to drop and it struggles to attract shoppers.The company, with 8 stores in Kansas and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/locations/state/MO">12 in Missouri,</a>&nbsp;said that it’s looking at several options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court, but it acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful. Shares lost a quarter of their value on the news to trade at $1.82, their lowest level since November 1992.“There is substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the retailer said in a statement.The company’s assessment came as its dismal performance continued through the holiday season.Bed Bath &amp; Beyond expects to report net sales of $1.26 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 26. That would be a 32% drop from a year earlier. It also anticipates a net loss of roughly $385.8 million for the third quarter, wider than its loss of $276.4 million in the year-earlier period.The company’s recently-appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-cbbc4dbc9bcef6a17a8016df9a1e08a4">CEO and president, Sue Gove,</a>&nbsp;blamed the poor performance on inventory constraints and reduced credit limits that resulted in shortages of merchandise on the shelves.In August, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-offerings-chewy-inc-6af2d83aec7cde2cd7b0706b892a4c0c">shutter stores and lay off workers</a>&nbsp;in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business. It closed about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company’s current fiscal year. It also said in August that it had lined up more than $500 million of new financing.Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced back in August that it would revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels.That reversed a strategy embraced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/33fa91f0e8114f4536dd0d1271ae1d2b">former CEO Mark Tritton</a>, who was ousted last June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so. Besides Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, the company also runs the buybuy Baby and Harmon chains.Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, wrote in a report Thursday that Bed Bath &amp; Beyond is “too far gone to be saved in its present form.” He noted that the company could restructure under Chapter 11, but it would still need to come up with a credible plan to reinvent the business, and that is going to be challenging, particularly in a weakening economic environment.“A catalogue of missteps has run the company into the ground and has made it increasingly irrelevant,” he wrote. “Only very radical action will allow it to survive and even if it does, it will be a shadow of its former self.”The company is set to release final third-quarter results on Tuesday.Bed Bath &amp; Beyond locations in Kansas include Manhattan, Lawrence, Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee, Overland Park and two in Wichita.

Bed Bath & Beyond warns of potential bankruptcy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged kidnappings involving juveniles near a Kansas elementary school.

Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

 The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.

Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.

A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..

While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took him into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.

Police believe strongly that the person they have in custody is the suspect in these cases, according to Ditch.&nbsp; Police did not release the suspect's name or additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged kidnappings involving juveniles near a Kansas elementary school.Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took him into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.Police believe strongly that the person they have in custody is the suspect in these cases, according to Ditch.&nbsp; Police did not release the suspect's name or additional details.

3 juveniles kidnapped, assaulted near Kan. elementary school

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have identified the victim who has died as 41-year-old Jennifer Christine Rodriguez of Belton, Missouri, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.

Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of 299th Street and Sumerset Road in rural&nbsp; Paola, according to Kelly.

First responders found a woman in a ditch with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Late Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported her death.

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have identified the victim who has died as 41-year-old Jennifer Christine Rodriguez of Belton, Missouri, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of 299th Street and Sumerset Road in rural&nbsp; Paola, according to Kelly.First responders found a woman in a ditch with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Late Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported her death.

Sheriff: Woman shot, found in Kansas ditch has died

BARTON COUNTY—A Kansas man found a live grenade in his garage on Wednesday.

Just after 10:30 a.m., the Hoisington Police Department was notified about a hand grenade located in a garage in the 500 block of East 1st Street in Hoisington, according to a media release.

The man advised law enforcement he was cleaning out the garage and located the grenade. When officer arrived, it was confirmed the hand grenade was live with the pin still in it. Police contacted the McConnell Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. They collected the grenade, which was then transported to the City of Hoisington compost site where it was properly destroyed. There were no injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;

BARTON COUNTY—A Kansas man found a live grenade in his garage on Wednesday.Just after 10:30 a.m., the Hoisington Police Department was notified about a hand grenade located in a garage in the 500 block of East 1st Street in Hoisington, according to a media release.The man advised law enforcement he was cleaning out the garage and located the grenade. When officer arrived, it was confirmed the hand grenade was live with the pin still in it. Police contacted the McConnell Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. They collected the grenade, which was then transported to the City of Hoisington compost site where it was properly destroyed. There were no injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Police: Kansas man found live grenade in garage

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's has begun to communicate in writing with his family and others who have been at his bedside since he went into cardiac arrest Monday — and his first question was “Did we win?” his doctors said Thursday.

“The answer is yes, Demar, you won. You’ve won the game of life." Dr. Timothy Pritts said in a conference call with reporters from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin was rushed after collapsing and being resuscitated on the field during the Bills' game against the Bengals on Monday night.

Hamlin remains critically ill and in the hospital's intensive care unit, but he began to wake up Wednesday night, and it appears his neurological function is intact, meaning he can follow commands and move, Pritts said.

"He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care,” the doctor said.

“His first question that he wrote when he started to awaken was, 'Did we win?′" Pritts said. “So we know that it’s not only that the lights are on. We know that he’s home. And it appears that all the cylinders are firing within his brain, which is greatly gratifying for all of us.”

Dr. William Knight IV said doctors had not yet determined the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and that testing is ongoing.

It’s also too early to say whether Hamlin could return to football after undergoing rehabilitation, Knight said.

The developments came as the Bills returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed when his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle during the game's first quarter.

The game was suspended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-cincinnati-bengals-sports-nfl-football-damar-hamlin-6fae43906c6c26ccb349ea3044c44ca7">and will not be resumed,</a>&nbsp;two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league is still figuring out how to determine playoff seedings and scheduling. The NFL Players Association must approve changes.

Hamlin, a second-year player from the Pittsburgh area, spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.

Pritts said in the conference call that neurological signs of improvement began Wednesday night as Hamlin gradually woke up, with the rest of his body healing. Hamlin still cannot speak because of a breathing tube in his throat.

Knight credited the quick medical response with saving Hamlin's life.

He said a physician was within Hamlin’s side within a minute of him collapsing and recognized that the defensive back did not have a pulse. Knight said Hamlin required CPR and resuscitation on the field.

“It’s been a long and difficult road for the last three days ... he has made a pretty remarkable improvement,” Knight said.

“Great news,” President Joe Biden said in a tweet. “Damar, like I told your mom and dad yesterday, Jill and I – along with all of America – are praying for you and your family.”

Along with being able to write, his doctors said Hamlin was able to hold the hands of family and members of the Bills’ administrative and medical teams at his bedside.

Although Hamlin is following commands, doctors have not yet fully assessed his speech and other functions, in part because he is under sedation to accommodate the breathing tube.

“When we talk about neurologically intact, it’s a very gross term of big motor movements and following commands. When we talk about the finer things that make us human — cognition, emotion, speech, language, etc., we’re looking forward to learning more about that,” Knight said.

Over the past days, numerous players across the league — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what unfolded in front of a North American TV audience.

Colts safety Rodney Thomas made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday just to be by the side of his former high school teammate.

“He’s a fighter. I know he’s a fighter and there’s no other thought in my mind other than him walking out under his own power,” Thomas said Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who spent the previous four seasons playing for Buffalo, had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.

Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.

Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/damar-hamlin-fundraiser-toy-drive-gofundme-bills-cd61ceed517af7c53637ba23644801c9">donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation</a>, which had raised more than $7.4 million by Thursday afternoon.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the team announced Thursday, three days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field.

“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact,” the Bills said in a statement. “His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”

Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam also posted a message on his Twitter account that said Hamlin “is doing better, awake and showing signs of improvement.”

The developments came as the Bills were scheduled to return to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed after his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle and was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Bengals on Monday night.

The second-year player has spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.

The Bills' announcement comes as they prepare to play a home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, and with the team still dealing with the shock of seeing their teammate collapse on the field, his heart not beating.

After returning home early Tuesday once the game was suspended, the Bills held meetings and a walkthrough practice without any media availability on Wednesday. On Thursday, players were spotted arriving at the facility, though the team has not yet released a practice schedule.

The chilling sight of Hamlin collapsing, which was broadcast to a North American TV audience on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football," has led to an outpouring of support from fans and players from across the league.

Numerous players — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what happened.

Hamlin’s marketing representative Jordon Rooney said Wednesday that the player’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness.

“They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.”

What remains unclear is whether the NFL will reschedule the Bills’ game against the Bengals, which has major implications in determining the top spot in the AFC. The playoffs are set to open on Jan. 14.

The Chiefs (13-3) have a half-game lead over Buffalo (12-3), with the Bills owning the tiebreaker after beating Kansas City this season. The Bengals (11-4) are currently the third seed and have also defeated the Chiefs.

Hamlin was hurt in the first quarter when he was struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be routine tackle of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-joe-burrow-chicago-bears-dallas-cowboys-cincinnati-bengals-9875968d091a1188a31431348cf1c1b5">Bengals receiver Tee Higgins</a>. Hamlin briefly got up and adjusted his facemask before collapsing backward.

Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which had raised more than $7 million by Thursday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672714269393.png" alt="Damar Hamlin photo courtesy Buffalo Bills" />
 <figcaption>Damar Hamlin photo courtesy Buffalo Bills</figcaption>
 </figure>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's has begun to communicate in writing with his family and others who have been at his bedside since he went into cardiac arrest Monday — and his first question was “Did we win?” his doctors said Thursday.“The answer is yes, Demar, you won. You’ve won the game of life." Dr. Timothy Pritts said in a conference call with reporters from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin was rushed after collapsing and being resuscitated on the field during the Bills' game against the Bengals on Monday night.Hamlin remains critically ill and in the hospital's intensive care unit, but he began to wake up Wednesday night, and it appears his neurological function is intact, meaning he can follow commands and move, Pritts said."He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care,” the doctor said.“His first question that he wrote when he started to awaken was, 'Did we win?′" Pritts said. “So we know that it’s not only that the lights are on. We know that he’s home. And it appears that all the cylinders are firing within his brain, which is greatly gratifying for all of us.”Dr. William Knight IV said doctors had not yet determined the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and that testing is ongoing.It’s also too early to say whether Hamlin could return to football after undergoing rehabilitation, Knight said.The developments came as the Bills returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed when his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle during the game's first quarter.The game was suspended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-cincinnati-bengals-sports-nfl-football-damar-hamlin-6fae43906c6c26ccb349ea3044c44ca7">and will not be resumed,</a>&nbsp;two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league is still figuring out how to determine playoff seedings and scheduling. The NFL Players Association must approve changes.Hamlin, a second-year player from the Pittsburgh area, spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.Pritts said in the conference call that neurological signs of improvement began Wednesday night as Hamlin gradually woke up, with the rest of his body healing. Hamlin still cannot speak because of a breathing tube in his throat.Knight credited the quick medical response with saving Hamlin's life.He said a physician was within Hamlin’s side within a minute of him collapsing and recognized that the defensive back did not have a pulse. Knight said Hamlin required CPR and resuscitation on the field.“It’s been a long and difficult road for the last three days ... he has made a pretty remarkable improvement,” Knight said.“Great news,” President Joe Biden said in a tweet. “Damar, like I told your mom and dad yesterday, Jill and I – along with all of America – are praying for you and your family.”Along with being able to write, his doctors said Hamlin was able to hold the hands of family and members of the Bills’ administrative and medical teams at his bedside.Although Hamlin is following commands, doctors have not yet fully assessed his speech and other functions, in part because he is under sedation to accommodate the breathing tube.“When we talk about neurologically intact, it’s a very gross term of big motor movements and following commands. When we talk about the finer things that make us human — cognition, emotion, speech, language, etc., we’re looking forward to learning more about that,” Knight said.Over the past days, numerous players across the league — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what unfolded in front of a North American TV audience.Colts safety Rodney Thomas made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday just to be by the side of his former high school teammate.“He’s a fighter. I know he’s a fighter and there’s no other thought in my mind other than him walking out under his own power,” Thomas said Wednesday.Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who spent the previous four seasons playing for Buffalo, had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/damar-hamlin-fundraiser-toy-drive-gofundme-bills-cd61ceed517af7c53637ba23644801c9">donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation</a>, which had raised more than $7.4 million by Thursday afternoon.___ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the team announced Thursday, three days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/4Fyd2JZVLb">pic.twitter.com/4Fyd2JZVLb</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1611021908849352704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact,” the Bills said in a statement. “His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam also posted a message on his Twitter account that said Hamlin “is doing better, awake and showing signs of improvement.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming please. All love 3!&mdash; Kaiir Elam (@kaiirelam5) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaiirelam5/status/1611019806651867137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The developments came as the Bills were scheduled to return to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed after his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle and was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Bengals on Monday night.The second-year player has spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.The Bills' announcement comes as they prepare to play a home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, and with the team still dealing with the shock of seeing their teammate collapse on the field, his heart not beating.After returning home early Tuesday once the game was suspended, the Bills held meetings and a walkthrough practice without any media availability on Wednesday. On Thursday, players were spotted arriving at the facility, though the team has not yet released a practice schedule.The chilling sight of Hamlin collapsing, which was broadcast to a North American TV audience on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football," has led to an outpouring of support from fans and players from across the league.Numerous players — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what happened.Colts safety Rodney Thomas made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday just to be by the side of his former high school teammate.“He’s a fighter. I know he’s a fighter and there’s no other thought in my mind other than him walking out under his own power,” Thomas said Wednesday.Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who spent the previous four seasons playing for Buffalo, had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.Hamlin’s marketing representative Jordon Rooney said Wednesday that the player’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness.“They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.”What remains unclear is whether the NFL will reschedule the Bills’ game against the Bengals, which has major implications in determining the top spot in the AFC. The playoffs are set to open on Jan. 14.The Chiefs (13-3) have a half-game lead over Buffalo (12-3), with the Bills owning the tiebreaker after beating Kansas City this season. The Bengals (11-4) are currently the third seed and have also defeated the Chiefs.Hamlin was hurt in the first quarter when he was struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be routine tackle of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-joe-burrow-chicago-bears-dallas-cowboys-cincinnati-bengals-9875968d091a1188a31431348cf1c1b5">Bengals receiver Tee Higgins</a>. Hamlin briefly got up and adjusted his facemask before collapsing backward.Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which had raised more than $7 million by Thursday morning.___

Doctors: Damar Hamlin communicating, showing improvement

BARTON COUNTY—A police officer is being credited with helping save a family from a fire at their home.

Just before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire crews responded to the report of a fire a a home in the 900 block of Jefferson Street in Great Bend, according to a media release.

Crews found a detached garage and a full size pickup fully involved in fire under a carport which was also on fire. The fire was also spreading to another vehicle in the drive and was approaching the residence.

Prior to the fire department's arrival, Great Bend Police Department Officer Taylor Reed arrived on scene, forced entry into the residence waking up the occupants and successfully removed them from the residence.

&nbsp;The garage, carport and both vehicles are considered a total loss.

Due to the freezing temperatures at the time of the fire, off-duty crews were called to the scene to assist with the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Great Bend Fire Department and the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672929670685.jpeg" alt="The Great Bend Fire Department gave special recognition to Officer Taylor Reed for going above and beyond in removing the occupants from the residence. Photo Great Bend Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>The Great Bend Fire Department gave special recognition to Officer Taylor Reed for going above and beyond in removing the occupants from the residence. Photo Great Bend Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—A police officer is being credited with helping save a family from a fire at their home.Just before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire crews responded to the report of a fire a a home in the 900 block of Jefferson Street in Great Bend, according to a media release.Crews found a detached garage and a full size pickup fully involved in fire under a carport which was also on fire. The fire was also spreading to another vehicle in the drive and was approaching the residence.Prior to the fire department's arrival, Great Bend Police Department Officer Taylor Reed arrived on scene, forced entry into the residence waking up the occupants and successfully removed them from the residence.&nbsp;The garage, carport and both vehicles are considered a total loss.Due to the freezing temperatures at the time of the fire, off-duty crews were called to the scene to assist with the fire.The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Great Bend Fire Department and the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office.&nbsp;

Police officer alerts residents to fire at their Kansas home

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a shooting have charged on suspect and have another in custody.

Just after 4p.m. Monday, the Brown County law enforcement dispatch received a call of a possible shooting and battery in the vicinity of U.S. 36 Highway near Timber, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; 

Deputies responded and located a woman who suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the lower leg.&nbsp; Town and Country Ambulance transported her&nbsp; to Amberwell Hospital in Hiawatha.

Investigators learned that the suspect had fled the scene before deputies arrived and an Attempt To Locate was immediately issued by Brown County Dispatch to surrounding areas.

A short time later deputies learned the suspect had been located in St Joseph, Missouri and was arrested. His name has not been released.

During the investigation, deputies arrested 55-year-old Shane Meggison&nbsp; on charges of Child Endangerment,&nbsp; Felony Obstruction, Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and&nbsp; No Drug Tax Stamp. His bond issued Wednesday is $25,000, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672861101652.png" alt="Meggison -photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Meggison -photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a shooting have charged on suspect and have another in custody.Just after 4p.m. Monday, the Brown County law enforcement dispatch received a call of a possible shooting and battery in the vicinity of U.S. 36 Highway near Timber, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; Deputies responded and located a woman who suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the lower leg.&nbsp; Town and Country Ambulance transported her&nbsp; to Amberwell Hospital in Hiawatha.Investigators learned that the suspect had fled the scene before deputies arrived and an Attempt To Locate was immediately issued by Brown County Dispatch to surrounding areas. A short time later deputies learned the suspect had been located in St Joseph, Missouri and was arrested. His name has not been released.During the investigation, deputies arrested 55-year-old Shane Meggison&nbsp; on charges of Child Endangerment,&nbsp; Felony Obstruction, Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and&nbsp; No Drug Tax Stamp. His bond issued Wednesday is $25,000, according to Merchant.

Kansas man charged after woman found with gunshot wound

WASHINGTON (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-vote-updates-669e23dc963da9579ab10e4b3da78911?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Republicans continue to squabble</a>&nbsp;over who will be the next speaker, there are essentially no members in the U.S. House of Representatives — only members-elect.

Without a speaker, none of the them can be sworn in, and the 118th Congress can’t convene or vote on any rules. Parliamentary procedure has been jettisoned in favor of controlled chaos. Members of both parties are unsure whether they can call votes or make motions on the floor because there is no speaker to rule on their requests. Committees can't be formed and legislation can't be passed.

“I don’t know what my status is,” said Democrat Ted Lieu of California. “I don’t know if I have health care, I don’t know if my staff get paid. We’re looking at all of that now because this hasn’t happened for 100 years.”

Former Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, who just retired, has been tweeting about what he calls “Bizaroland.” At one point he openly wondered in his Twitter bio whether he was still a congressman (he isn't).

The rule-less, member-less House may only be a blip in history if Republicans are able to find a way forward this week and elect a new speaker. While that remains a strong possibility, a resolution to the standoff seemed distant on Wednesday, as Republican Kevin McCarthy of California lost a second day of roll call votes on the floor.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-mccarthy-hard-right-foes-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Supporters and opponents all appeared dug in.</a>

The uncertainty added to the surreal, looser-than usual atmosphere on the House floor Wednesday as members sat in their seats for vote after vote, hour after hour, negotiating, gossiping and wondering what comes next. Some relaxed with books or newspapers, or scrolled their phones. Some took photos and selfies, a practice that is usually forbidden by the rules.

Others still had children with them in the chamber, a holdover from Tuesday’s proceedings when family often accompany members to watch them be sworn in. Only they weren’t sworn in on the first day of the new Congress -- the first time that had happened in a century.

In 1923, the process of selecting a speaker lasted for three days. In 1855, it dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots.

“It’s a very strange limbo,” said Democrat Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, who had hoped her visiting grandchildren would get to see her sworn in on Tuesday. “We are operating by precedent.”

On the House floor, clerk Cheryl Johnson is holding the gavel, not the Republican majority.

“Madam speaker,” Republican Chip Roy of Texas said at one point, addressing the rostrum as members usually do, before correcting himself. “Madam clerk,” he amended.

Off the floor, members are operating under the rules for the last Congress — they think. No one really seems to know, and there are concerns about what would happen if the stalemate were to last until mid-January, when paychecks are expected. Some staff are in limbo — only provisionally employed if they are new hires or switching jobs.

Republican Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the incoming chairman of the House Rules Committee, said that members-elect were operating under the rules of the previous Congress, when Democrats were in control. But he added: “I don’t know if that’s written down.”

Without a speaker, “there’s a lot we can’t do,” Cole said. Staff and members will be paid, he said, “but at some point it shuts off.”

As the hours ticked by, members started to ponder what-if scenarios. Lieu said he worried that lawmakers aren’t able to look at classified documents important to national security, and wouldn’t be able to respond to a world crisis. Could websites be updated? Would emails continue to work?

“Who can legally help any and all of our citizens with issues we normally handle everyday?” tweeted Long, the former Missouri congressman. “Passports, IRS, #Veteran’s issues, SBA, Post Office, Immigration issues, Corps of Engineers, etc. who’s getting paid?”

“This brings up a ton of legitimate questions,” wrote Long.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672882073686.png" alt="Lawmakers in the well of the House chamber shouting as votes were counted to adjourn late Wednesday night -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Lawmakers in the well of the House chamber shouting as votes were counted to adjourn late Wednesday night -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-vote-updates-669e23dc963da9579ab10e4b3da78911?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Republicans continue to squabble</a>&nbsp;over who will be the next speaker, there are essentially no members in the U.S. House of Representatives — only members-elect.Without a speaker, none of the them can be sworn in, and the 118th Congress can’t convene or vote on any rules. Parliamentary procedure has been jettisoned in favor of controlled chaos. Members of both parties are unsure whether they can call votes or make motions on the floor because there is no speaker to rule on their requests. Committees can't be formed and legislation can't be passed.“I don’t know what my status is,” said Democrat Ted Lieu of California. “I don’t know if I have health care, I don’t know if my staff get paid. We’re looking at all of that now because this hasn’t happened for 100 years.”Former Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, who just retired, has been tweeting about what he calls “Bizaroland.” At one point he openly wondered in his Twitter bio whether he was still a congressman (he isn't).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672856507291.png" alt="Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes on the House floor ahead of the fifth vote for Speaker on Wednesday afternoon -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes on the House floor ahead of the fifth vote for Speaker on Wednesday afternoon -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The rule-less, member-less House may only be a blip in history if Republicans are able to find a way forward this week and elect a new speaker. While that remains a strong possibility, a resolution to the standoff seemed distant on Wednesday, as Republican Kevin McCarthy of California lost a second day of roll call votes on the floor.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-mccarthy-hard-right-foes-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Supporters and opponents all appeared dug in.</a>The uncertainty added to the surreal, looser-than usual atmosphere on the House floor Wednesday as members sat in their seats for vote after vote, hour after hour, negotiating, gossiping and wondering what comes next. Some relaxed with books or newspapers, or scrolled their phones. Some took photos and selfies, a practice that is usually forbidden by the rules.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672856599990.png" alt="McCarthy consoled by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green following a fifth vote on Tuesday-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>McCarthy consoled by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green following a fifth vote on Tuesday-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Others still had children with them in the chamber, a holdover from Tuesday’s proceedings when family often accompany members to watch them be sworn in. Only they weren’t sworn in on the first day of the new Congress -- the first time that had happened in a century.In 1923, the process of selecting a speaker lasted for three days. In 1855, it dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots.“It’s a very strange limbo,” said Democrat Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, who had hoped her visiting grandchildren would get to see her sworn in on Tuesday. “We are operating by precedent.”On the House floor, clerk Cheryl Johnson is holding the gavel, not the Republican majority.“Madam speaker,” Republican Chip Roy of Texas said at one point, addressing the rostrum as members usually do, before correcting himself. “Madam clerk,” he amended.Off the floor, members are operating under the rules for the last Congress — they think. No one really seems to know, and there are concerns about what would happen if the stalemate were to last until mid-January, when paychecks are expected. Some staff are in limbo — only provisionally employed if they are new hires or switching jobs.Republican Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the incoming chairman of the House Rules Committee, said that members-elect were operating under the rules of the previous Congress, when Democrats were in control. But he added: “I don’t know if that’s written down.”Without a speaker, “there’s a lot we can’t do,” Cole said. Staff and members will be paid, he said, “but at some point it shuts off.”As the hours ticked by, members started to ponder what-if scenarios. Lieu said he worried that lawmakers aren’t able to look at classified documents important to national security, and wouldn’t be able to respond to a world crisis. Could websites be updated? Would emails continue to work?“Who can legally help any and all of our citizens with issues we normally handle everyday?” tweeted Long, the former Missouri congressman. “Passports, IRS, #Veteran’s issues, SBA, Post Office, Immigration issues, Corps of Engineers, etc. who’s getting paid?”“This brings up a ton of legitimate questions,” wrote Long.-----------

US House has no members, no rules as speaker race drags on

BROWN COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford F150 driven by Efrain  Perez-Ordonez, 58, Hood, Texas, was stopped at the stop sign on Eastbound 260th Road at U.S. 75 one half mile east of Sabetha.

The driver failed to yield right of way and entered the intersection. A southbound 2011 Nissan Rogue driven by&nbsp; Rodney G. Sanner, 61, Sabetha, struck the drivers side of the pickup. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch at the southeast corner of the intersection.

Sanner and a passenger in the Nissan Robin G. Sanner, 53, Sabetha, were pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perez-Ordonez was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

BROWN COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford F150 driven by Efrain Perez-Ordonez, 58, Hood, Texas, was stopped at the stop sign on Eastbound 260th Road at U.S. 75 one half mile east of Sabetha.The driver failed to yield right of way and entered the intersection. A southbound 2011 Nissan Rogue driven by&nbsp; Rodney G. Sanner, 61, Sabetha, struck the drivers side of the pickup. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch at the southeast corner of the intersection.Sanner and a passenger in the Nissan Robin G. Sanner, 53, Sabetha, were pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perez-Ordonez was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

Kansas couple killed after SUV, pickup crash

VATICAN CITY (AP) — With bells tolling, tens of thousands of faithful, political leaders and the pope himself&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-benedict-xvi">mourned Benedict XVI</a>, the German theologian who made history by resigning the papacy, at a rare requiem Mass Thursday for a dead pontiff presided over by a living one.

The crowd applauded as pallbearers carried Benedict's cypress coffin out of the fog-shrouded St. Peter's Basilica and rested it before the altar in the vast square outside. Pope Francis, wearing the crimson vestments typical of papal funerals, opened the service with a prayer and closed it an hour later by solemnly blessing the simple casket — decorated only with the former pope’s coat of arms.

Heads of state and royalty, clergy from around the world and regular people flocked to the ceremony, despite Benedict’s requests for simplicity and official efforts to keep the first funeral for an pope emeritus in modern times low-key.

The event was also significant for what it lacked: the feeling of uncertainty that would normally accompany the passing of a pope before a new one is elected. With Francis very much in charge, Benedict’s death marked the end of an unusual decade in which a reigning pope lived alongside a retired one.

“Benedict has been the bridge between (St. John Paul II) and Francis,” said Alessandra Aprea, a 56-year-old from Meta di Sorrento near Naples. “We could not have Francis without him."

Ignoring exhortations for decorum at the end, some in the crowd held banners or shouted “Santo Subito!” — “Sainthood Now!” — echoing the spontaneous chants that erupted during John Paul's 2005 funeral.

The former Joseph Ratzinger,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-benedict-xvi-dead-9d486fd9b12eab1177b9eb8ab7be22f4">who died Dec. 31 at age 95</a>, is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest theologians and spent his lifetime upholding church doctrine. But he will go down in history for a singular, revolutionary act that changed the future of the papacy:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/99d97bf69b8d1b3b16e919183d0a551c">He retired</a>, the first pope in six centuries to do so.

Francis has praised Benedict’s courage to step aside, saying it “opened the door” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-rome-vatican-city-italy-795f46ba0456fb63543b90d44290ba2d">other popes to do the same</a>.

The Vatican said some 50,000 people attended the Mass, after some 200,000 paid their respects during the three days of public viewing.

Only Italy and Germany were invited to send official delegations, but other leaders took the Vatican up on its offer and come in their “private capacity.” They included several heads of state, at least four prime ministers and two delegations of royal representatives. In addition, a host of patriarchs joined 125 cardinals in the seats to the side of the altar, and the Russian Orthodox Church sent its foreign envoy.

Many mourners hailed from Benedict’s native Bavaria and donned traditional dress, including boiled wool coats to guard against the morning chill.

“We came to pay homage to Benedict and wanted to be here today to say goodbye,” said Raymond Mainar, who traveled from a small village east of Munich for the funeral. “He was a very good pope.”

Among those attending was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-vatican-city-china-religion-government-9e90d5ddd42fd781571088e677cb446c">Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen</a>, who was given special court permission to attend the funeral. Zen was detained in May on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a China's national security law after he fell afoul of authorities over his participation in a now-silenced democracy movement. His&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hong-kong-religion-vatican-city-1935fe912dd0747b028a4753aac65bf0">passport was revoked</a>&nbsp;when he was detained.

Benedict’s close confidants were also in attendance, and the former pope’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, bent down and kissed a book of the Gospels that was left open on the coffin before the ceremony began.

Matteo Colonna, a 20-year-old seminarian from Teramo, Italy, said he came in part because of the historic nature of the funeral — but also because it had personal resonance for him.

“The first spark of my vocation started under the pontificate of Benedict, but then it became even stronger under Pope Francis,” Colonna said, while sitting in prayer in St. Peter’s Square at dawn. “I see a continuity between these two popes and the fact that today Francis is celebrating the funeral in Benedict’s memory is an historical event."

Early Thursday the Vatican released the official history of Benedict's life, a short document in Latin that was placed in a metal cylinder in his coffin before it was sealed, along with the coins and medallions minted during his papacy and his pallium stoles.

The document gave ample attention to Benedict's historic resignation and referred to him as “pope emeritus,” citing verbatim the Latin words he uttered on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced he would retire.

The document, known as a “rogito” or deed, also cited his theological and papal legacy, including his outreach to Anglicans and Jews and his efforts to combat clergy sexual abuse “continually calling the church to conversion, prayer, penance and purification.”

Francis didn’t mention Benedict’s specific legacy in his homily and only uttered his name once, in the final line, delivering instead a meditation on Jesus’ willingness to entrust himself to God’s will.

“Holding fast to the Lord’s last words and to the witness of his entire life, we too, as an ecclesial community, want to follow in his steps and to commend our brother into the hands of the Father,” Francis said at the end.

During St. John Paul II’s quarter-century as pope, Ratzinger spearheaded a crackdown on dissent as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, taking action against the left-leaning liberation theology that spread in Latin America in the 1970s and against dissenting theologians and nuns who didn’t toe the Vatican’s hard line on matters like sexual morals.

His legacy was marred by the clergy sexual abuse scandal, even though he recognized earlier than most the “filth” of priests who raped children, and actually laid the groundwork for the Holy See to punish them.

As cardinal and pope, he passed sweeping church legislation that resulted in 848 priests being defrocked from 2004 to 2014, roughly his pontificate with a year on either end. But abuse survivors still held him responsible for the crisis, for failing to sanction any bishop who moved abusers around, refusing to mandate the reporting of sex crimes to police and identifying him as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-vatican-city-sexual-abuse-fbd12ab979717ec2dec0781c017b79e0">embodying the clerical system</a>&nbsp;that long protected the institution over victims.

A group representing German clergy abuse survivors called on German officials attending Benedict’s funeral to demand more action from the Vatican on sexual abuse. Eckiger Tisch asked German leaders to demand that Francis issue a “universal church law” stipulating zero tolerance in dealing with abuse by clergy.

“Any celebration that marks the life of abuse enablers like Benedict must end,” added the main U.S. abuse survivor group SNAP.

The funeral&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-vatican-city-f3379c1258ff558b156c45ec9be16050">ritual itself is modeled on the code</a>&nbsp;used for dead popes but with some modifications given Benedict was not a reigning pontiff when he died.

After the Mass, Benedict’s cypress coffin was being placed inside a zinc one, then an outer oak casket before being entombed in the crypt in the grottoes underneath St. Peter’s Basilica that once held the tomb of St. John Paul II before it was moved upstairs.

While Thursday's Mass was unusual, it does have some precedent: In 1802, Pope Pius VII presided over the funeral in St. Peter’s of his predecessor, Pius VI, who had died in exile in France in 1799 as a prisoner of Napoleon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672917652715.jpeg" alt="Heads of state and royalty, clergy from around the world and regular people flocked to the ceremony, despite Benedict’s requests for simplicity and official efforts to keep the first funeral for an pope emeritus in modern times low-key-photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Heads of state and royalty, clergy from around the world and regular people flocked to the ceremony, despite Benedict’s requests for simplicity and official efforts to keep the first funeral for an pope emeritus in modern times low-key-photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — With bells tolling, tens of thousands of faithful, political leaders and the pope himself&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-benedict-xvi">mourned Benedict XVI</a>, the German theologian who made history by resigning the papacy, at a rare requiem Mass Thursday for a dead pontiff presided over by a living one.The crowd applauded as pallbearers carried Benedict's cypress coffin out of the fog-shrouded St. Peter's Basilica and rested it before the altar in the vast square outside. Pope Francis, wearing the crimson vestments typical of papal funerals, opened the service with a prayer and closed it an hour later by solemnly blessing the simple casket — decorated only with the former pope’s coat of arms.Heads of state and royalty, clergy from around the world and regular people flocked to the ceremony, despite Benedict’s requests for simplicity and official efforts to keep the first funeral for an pope emeritus in modern times low-key.The event was also significant for what it lacked: the feeling of uncertainty that would normally accompany the passing of a pope before a new one is elected. With Francis very much in charge, Benedict’s death marked the end of an unusual decade in which a reigning pope lived alongside a retired one.“Benedict has been the bridge between (St. John Paul II) and Francis,” said Alessandra Aprea, a 56-year-old from Meta di Sorrento near Naples. “We could not have Francis without him."Ignoring exhortations for decorum at the end, some in the crowd held banners or shouted “Santo Subito!” — “Sainthood Now!” — echoing the spontaneous chants that erupted during John Paul's 2005 funeral.The former Joseph Ratzinger,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-benedict-xvi-dead-9d486fd9b12eab1177b9eb8ab7be22f4">who died Dec. 31 at age 95</a>, is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest theologians and spent his lifetime upholding church doctrine. But he will go down in history for a singular, revolutionary act that changed the future of the papacy:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/99d97bf69b8d1b3b16e919183d0a551c">He retired</a>, the first pope in six centuries to do so.Francis has praised Benedict’s courage to step aside, saying it “opened the door” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-rome-vatican-city-italy-795f46ba0456fb63543b90d44290ba2d">other popes to do the same</a>.The Vatican said some 50,000 people attended the Mass, after some 200,000 paid their respects during the three days of public viewing.Only Italy and Germany were invited to send official delegations, but other leaders took the Vatican up on its offer and come in their “private capacity.” They included several heads of state, at least four prime ministers and two delegations of royal representatives. In addition, a host of patriarchs joined 125 cardinals in the seats to the side of the altar, and the Russian Orthodox Church sent its foreign envoy.Many mourners hailed from Benedict’s native Bavaria and donned traditional dress, including boiled wool coats to guard against the morning chill.“We came to pay homage to Benedict and wanted to be here today to say goodbye,” said Raymond Mainar, who traveled from a small village east of Munich for the funeral. “He was a very good pope.”Among those attending was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-vatican-city-china-religion-government-9e90d5ddd42fd781571088e677cb446c">Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen</a>, who was given special court permission to attend the funeral. Zen was detained in May on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a China's national security law after he fell afoul of authorities over his participation in a now-silenced democracy movement. His&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hong-kong-religion-vatican-city-1935fe912dd0747b028a4753aac65bf0">passport was revoked</a>&nbsp;when he was detained.Benedict’s close confidants were also in attendance, and the former pope’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, bent down and kissed a book of the Gospels that was left open on the coffin before the ceremony began.Matteo Colonna, a 20-year-old seminarian from Teramo, Italy, said he came in part because of the historic nature of the funeral — but also because it had personal resonance for him.“The first spark of my vocation started under the pontificate of Benedict, but then it became even stronger under Pope Francis,” Colonna said, while sitting in prayer in St. Peter’s Square at dawn. “I see a continuity between these two popes and the fact that today Francis is celebrating the funeral in Benedict’s memory is an historical event."Early Thursday the Vatican released the official history of Benedict's life, a short document in Latin that was placed in a metal cylinder in his coffin before it was sealed, along with the coins and medallions minted during his papacy and his pallium stoles.The document gave ample attention to Benedict's historic resignation and referred to him as “pope emeritus,” citing verbatim the Latin words he uttered on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced he would retire.The document, known as a “rogito” or deed, also cited his theological and papal legacy, including his outreach to Anglicans and Jews and his efforts to combat clergy sexual abuse “continually calling the church to conversion, prayer, penance and purification.”Francis didn’t mention Benedict’s specific legacy in his homily and only uttered his name once, in the final line, delivering instead a meditation on Jesus’ willingness to entrust himself to God’s will.“Holding fast to the Lord’s last words and to the witness of his entire life, we too, as an ecclesial community, want to follow in his steps and to commend our brother into the hands of the Father,” Francis said at the end.During St. John Paul II’s quarter-century as pope, Ratzinger spearheaded a crackdown on dissent as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, taking action against the left-leaning liberation theology that spread in Latin America in the 1970s and against dissenting theologians and nuns who didn’t toe the Vatican’s hard line on matters like sexual morals.His legacy was marred by the clergy sexual abuse scandal, even though he recognized earlier than most the “filth” of priests who raped children, and actually laid the groundwork for the Holy See to punish them.As cardinal and pope, he passed sweeping church legislation that resulted in 848 priests being defrocked from 2004 to 2014, roughly his pontificate with a year on either end. But abuse survivors still held him responsible for the crisis, for failing to sanction any bishop who moved abusers around, refusing to mandate the reporting of sex crimes to police and identifying him as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-vatican-city-sexual-abuse-fbd12ab979717ec2dec0781c017b79e0">embodying the clerical system</a>&nbsp;that long protected the institution over victims.A group representing German clergy abuse survivors called on German officials attending Benedict’s funeral to demand more action from the Vatican on sexual abuse. Eckiger Tisch asked German leaders to demand that Francis issue a “universal church law” stipulating zero tolerance in dealing with abuse by clergy.“Any celebration that marks the life of abuse enablers like Benedict must end,” added the main U.S. abuse survivor group SNAP.The funeral&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-vatican-city-f3379c1258ff558b156c45ec9be16050">ritual itself is modeled on the code</a>&nbsp;used for dead popes but with some modifications given Benedict was not a reigning pontiff when he died.After the Mass, Benedict’s cypress coffin was being placed inside a zinc one, then an outer oak casket before being entombed in the crypt in the grottoes underneath St. Peter’s Basilica that once held the tomb of St. John Paul II before it was moved upstairs.While Thursday's Mass was unusual, it does have some precedent: In 1802, Pope Pius VII presided over the funeral in St. Peter’s of his predecessor, Pius VI, who had died in exile in France in 1799 as a prisoner of Napoleon.___

Faithful mourn Benedict XVI at funeral presided over by pope

By ALI SWENSON, DAVID KLEPPER and SOPHIA TULP Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Unfounded claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines proliferated in the hours and days after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday's game, revealing how pervasive vaccine misinformation remains three years after the pandemic began.

Even before Hamlin was carried off the field in Cincinnati, posts amassing thousands of shares and millions of views began circulating online claiming without evidence that complications from COVID-19 vaccines caused his health emergency.

While cardiac specialists say it's too soon to know what caused Hamlin's heart to stop, they've offered a rare type of trauma called commotio cordis as among the possible culprits. Physicians interviewed by The Associated Press say there's no indication Hamlin's vaccine status played a role, and said there's no evidence to support claims that a number of young athletes have died as a result of COVID vaccinations.

Peter McCullough, a Dallas cardiologist and outspoken vaccine critic, amplified the theories on a Fox News segment hosted by Tucker Carlson on Tuesday, speculating that "vaccine-induced myocarditis," may have caused Hamlin's episode. While the Bills have not said whether Hamlin was vaccinated, about 95% of NFL players have received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the league.

In his Tuesday segment, Carlson claimed McCullough and another researcher found that "more than 1,500 total cardiac arrests" have occurred among European athletes "since the vax campaign began."

But Carlson was citing a letter in which the authors' evidence was a dubious blog that lists news reports of people all over the world, of all ages, dying or experiencing medical emergencies. The blog proves no relationship between the incidents and COVID-19 vaccines; it also includes in its count reported deaths from cancer and emergencies of unknown causes.

"It's not real research, but he quotes it as if it's real research," said Dr. Matthew Martinez, director of sports cardiology at Atlantic Health System in Morristown Medical Center. "Anybody can write a letter to the editor and then quote an article that has no academic rigor."

Many social media users have also shared deceptive videos that purport to show athletes collapsing on-field because of COVID-19 vaccines. However, several of the cases shown have been proven to be from other causes.

Though anti-vaccine influencers have insisted that sudden cardiac arrests during sports games are unprecedented, cardiologists say they've observed these traumatic events throughout their careers, and long before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There have always been cases of athletes having sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrest," said Dr. Lawrence Phillips, sports health expert and cardiologist at NYU Langone Health. "I have not seen a change in the prevalence of them over the last couple of years versus earlier in my career."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672714269393.png" alt="Damar Hamlin. Photo courtesy Buffalo Bills" />
 <figcaption>Damar Hamlin. Photo courtesy Buffalo Bills</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALI SWENSON, DAVID KLEPPER and SOPHIA TULP Associated PressWASHINGTON — Unfounded claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines proliferated in the hours and days after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday's game, revealing how pervasive vaccine misinformation remains three years after the pandemic began.Even before Hamlin was carried off the field in Cincinnati, posts amassing thousands of shares and millions of views began circulating online claiming without evidence that complications from COVID-19 vaccines caused his health emergency.While cardiac specialists say it's too soon to know what caused Hamlin's heart to stop, they've offered a rare type of trauma called commotio cordis as among the possible culprits. Physicians interviewed by The Associated Press say there's no indication Hamlin's vaccine status played a role, and said there's no evidence to support claims that a number of young athletes have died as a result of COVID vaccinations.Peter McCullough, a Dallas cardiologist and outspoken vaccine critic, amplified the theories on a Fox News segment hosted by Tucker Carlson on Tuesday, speculating that "vaccine-induced myocarditis," may have caused Hamlin's episode. While the Bills have not said whether Hamlin was vaccinated, about 95% of NFL players have received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the league.In his Tuesday segment, Carlson claimed McCullough and another researcher found that "more than 1,500 total cardiac arrests" have occurred among European athletes "since the vax campaign began."But Carlson was citing a letter in which the authors' evidence was a dubious blog that lists news reports of people all over the world, of all ages, dying or experiencing medical emergencies. The blog proves no relationship between the incidents and COVID-19 vaccines; it also includes in its count reported deaths from cancer and emergencies of unknown causes."It's not real research, but he quotes it as if it's real research," said Dr. Matthew Martinez, director of sports cardiology at Atlantic Health System in Morristown Medical Center. "Anybody can write a letter to the editor and then quote an article that has no academic rigor."Many social media users have also shared deceptive videos that purport to show athletes collapsing on-field because of COVID-19 vaccines. However, several of the cases shown have been proven to be from other causes.Though anti-vaccine influencers have insisted that sudden cardiac arrests during sports games are unprecedented, cardiologists say they've observed these traumatic events throughout their careers, and long before the COVID-19 pandemic."There have always been cases of athletes having sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrest," said Dr. Lawrence Phillips, sports health expert and cardiologist at NYU Langone Health. "I have not seen a change in the prevalence of them over the last couple of years versus earlier in my career."In fact, Phillips said, these rare medical emergencies are the main reason that doctors and activists have spent years campaigning for defibrillators to be on standby at sporting events.That push, and the implementation of emergency action plans, has improved outcomes after cardiac events on the playing field, even as the number of such events has remained "remarkably stable," Martinez said.Martinez, who has worked for the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Soccer, said he has investigated but not seen any signal that COVID-19 or vaccines are causing an increased incidence of cardiac events among athletes.His research shows that among professional athletes who have had COVID-19, rates of inflammatory heart disease were about 0.6% — showing no increased risk compared to other viruses.Online posts mentioning Hamlin and vaccines soared into the thousands within one hour of Hamlin's collapse, according to an analysis conducted for the AP by Zignal Labs, a San Francisco-based media intelligence company.It's not surprising that misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines surged following Hamlin's cardiac arrest, given how much vaccine misinformation has spread since the pandemic began, said Jeanine Guidry, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor who researches health misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.High-profile public events like Hamlin's collapse often create new waves of misinformation as people grasp for explanations. For people concerned about vaccine safety, Hamlin's sudden collapse served to affirm and justify their beliefs, Guidry said."This happened to a person in the prime of their life, on primetime television, and the people watching didn't immediately know why," she said. "We like to have clear answers that make us feel safer. Especially after the last three years, I think this is coming from fear and uncertainty."Similarly unfounded claims about vaccine injuries surged last month following the death of sports journalist Grant Wahl, who died of a ruptured blood vessel in his heart while covering the World Cup in Qatar. His death was not related to vaccines.