WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. agriculture officials proposed changes Thursday to the federal program that helps pay the grocery bills for low-income pregnant women, babies and young children, including extending a bump in payments for fresh fruits and vegetables allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The update also adds more whole grains, canned fish and non-dairy options to their shopping carts. The effort is aimed at expanding the number and type of healthy foods available to families who get assistance from the Agriculture Department's program known as WIC, officials said.

“These proposals will promote healthier lifestyles and brighter futures for millions of children,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services.

The revisions would make permanent payments authorized by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic that increased vouchers for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month for children ages 1 to 5 and to $49 a month for breastfeeding women.

“This increase in fruits and vegetables has really made it attractive for families to have their children in the program longer,” said Geraldine Henchy, director of nutrition policy for the nonprofit Food Research &amp; Action Center, who applauded the changes. “Kids really love fruit.”

At the same time, the plan would reduce the amounts of some foods, for example reducing or eliminating juice allowed for some recipients. It also reduces the amount of milk and cheese covered under the program, a move that drew immediate criticism from the dairy industry.

“It is unfortunate for WIC participants that the proposed rule would decrease access to dairy products and the unique nutrient profile they provide," the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation said in a statement.

More than 6.2 million pregnant women, mothers, babies and young children participate in the program annually. The federal government currently pays about $5 billion a year to run the program, which is administered through states and other jurisdictions. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides vouchers to mothers and children who qualify and specifically lists the amount and types of food they can buy.

The proposed changes to WIC would also expand access to whole grains, encompassing foods from different cultures, including quinoa, blue cornmeal and teff, an ancient East African cereal grass. The plan also allows more non-dairy options, including soy-based yogurts and cheeses, and requires lactose-free milk to be included.

“It reflects the fact that different people have different capacities to tolerate different kinds of food,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said.

More canned fish, such as tuna, would be available as well as easy-to-prepare canned beans, in addition to dried beans, officials said. The plan would also change the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed babies.

Increasing the voucher for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month during the pandemic has allowed Elizabeth Loya, 28, of Los Angeles, to encourage her 4-year-old daughter, Gisselle, to sample new foods.

“She tried Brussels sprouts and, two weeks ago, she tried asparagus,” Loya said. “She liked them.”

The proposed changes are based on a 2017 report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and the national Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They'll be evaluated after a three-month public comment period. ___

By JONEL ALECCIA&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. agriculture officials proposed changes Thursday to the federal program that helps pay the grocery bills for low-income pregnant women, babies and young children, including extending a bump in payments for fresh fruits and vegetables allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSDA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid023X4gEgg8sjMEELnomVfVDZBtQ7MFGZdbYbpecwvbW4kXkzjoKZZT99ivS2wVmBvwl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="619" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The update also adds more whole grains, canned fish and non-dairy options to their shopping carts. The effort is aimed at expanding the number and type of healthy foods available to families who get assistance from the Agriculture Department's program known as WIC, officials said.“These proposals will promote healthier lifestyles and brighter futures for millions of children,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services.The revisions would make permanent payments authorized by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic that increased vouchers for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month for children ages 1 to 5 and to $49 a month for breastfeeding women.“This increase in fruits and vegetables has really made it attractive for families to have their children in the program longer,” said Geraldine Henchy, director of nutrition policy for the nonprofit Food Research &amp; Action Center, who applauded the changes. “Kids really love fruit.”At the same time, the plan would reduce the amounts of some foods, for example reducing or eliminating juice allowed for some recipients. It also reduces the amount of milk and cheese covered under the program, a move that drew immediate criticism from the dairy industry.“It is unfortunate for WIC participants that the proposed rule would decrease access to dairy products and the unique nutrient profile they provide," the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation said in a statement.More than 6.2 million pregnant women, mothers, babies and young children participate in the program annually. The federal government currently pays about $5 billion a year to run the program, which is administered through states and other jurisdictions. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides vouchers to mothers and children who qualify and specifically lists the amount and types of food they can buy.The proposed changes to WIC would also expand access to whole grains, encompassing foods from different cultures, including quinoa, blue cornmeal and teff, an ancient East African cereal grass. The plan also allows more non-dairy options, including soy-based yogurts and cheeses, and requires lactose-free milk to be included.“It reflects the fact that different people have different capacities to tolerate different kinds of food,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said.More canned fish, such as tuna, would be available as well as easy-to-prepare canned beans, in addition to dried beans, officials said. The plan would also change the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed babies.Increasing the voucher for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month during the pandemic has allowed Elizabeth Loya, 28, of Los Angeles, to encourage her 4-year-old daughter, Gisselle, to sample new foods.“She tried Brussels sprouts and, two weeks ago, she tried asparagus,” Loya said. “She liked them.”The proposed changes are based on a 2017 report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and the national Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They'll be evaluated after a three-month public comment period. ___

USDA program keeps extra COVID-era money for fruits, veggies

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed near Japanese waters Friday in its second major weapons test this month that showed a potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on all of the U.S. mainland.

While it's unclear whether North Korea possesses functioning nuclear-armed missiles, some experts say Friday’s launch involved its longest-range missile, which is still under development and is designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to overcome U.S. missile defense systems.

North Korea’s recent torrid run of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in future diplomacy. It comes as China and Russia have opposed U.S. moves to toughen U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear program.

The United States quickly condemned the launch and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to guarantee the safety of its territory and its allies South Korea and Japan.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g-20-summit-health-business-china-canada-daa03c57c21d4b2b61fac0061b00321b">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;met with the leaders of those countries and of Australia, Canada and New Zealand who are attending a regional forum in Bangkok to discuss the launch.

“We again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilizing acts. On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances,” Harris said at the start of the meeting. “Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy.”

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea’s capital region around 10:15 a.m. Japan said it appeared to fly on a high trajectory and land west of its island of Hokkaido.

According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew 6,000-6,100 kilometers (3,600-3,790 miles) at a maximum altitude of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that depending on the weight of a potential warhead, the missile had a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States.”

Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea, said he believes North Korea tested a developmental Hwasong-17 missile, which he said can carry three to five nuclear warheads and fly as far as 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles).

North Korea has two other ICBMs — Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 — and their test launches in 2017 showed they could potentially reach parts or all of the U.S. homeland, respectively. But Kwon said North Korea needs a longer-range missile like the Hwasong-17 capable of flying a lengthier route to the American mainland to evade current U.S. missile defense systems.

The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear and missile technologies is shrouded in secrecy.

Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said North Korea has shown that its missiles have ICBM-class flight ranges but has yet to publicly prove that warheads will be able to survive the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry. Some experts believe North Korea has likely acquired such technologies.

Chang said Friday's launch was successful and that the flight details indicated it was the same type of missile that North Korea tested in March, when North Korea claimed to have launched a Hwasong-17, but South Korea insisted it was a Hwasong-15.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the launch “needlessly raises tensions" and shows that North Korea is prioritizing unlawful weapons programs over the wellbeing of its people. “Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” Watson said.

In his opening comments at the meeting in Bangkok, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launch “utterly unacceptable," saying the missile fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone west of Hokkaido. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the international community must work together to get North Korea to realize that each of its provocations only deepens its international isolation and economic hardship.

Later Friday, South Korea's military said its F-35 fighter jets conducted drills simulating aerial strikes on North Korean mobile missile launchers at a firing range near its land border with North Korea. It said a group of eight South Korean and U.S. fighter jets separately performed flight training off the Korean Peninsula's east coast.

The exercises “showed we have a strong resolve to sternly deal with an ICBM launch and any other provocations and threats posed by North Korea, and the allies' overwhelming capacity and readiness to launch precision strikes on the enemy,” South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier ordered officials to boost security cooperation with the United States and Japan and push for strong international condemnations and sanctions on North Korea, according to his office.

In recent months, North Korea has performed dozens of shorter-range missile tests that it called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-seoul-south-korea-nuclear-weapons-north-6ce0a8da47f8eb9228d4b33223ebfa3b">simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets</a>. On Nov. 3, North Korea also launched a suspected Hwasong-17 missile, but experts say that weapon failed to fly its intended flight and fell into the ocean after a stage separation.

North Korea halted weapons launches for about a week before it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Thursday. Before that launch, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui threatened to launch “fiercer” military responses to steps by the U.S. to bolster its security commitment to South Korea and Japan.

Choe was referring to President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Yoon and Kishida on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Cambodia. In their joint statement, the three leaders strongly condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests and agreed to work together to strengthen deterrence. Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and Japan with a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

Choe didn’t describe what steps North Korea could take but said that “the U.S. will be well aware that it is gambling, for which it will certainly regret.”

North Korea sees the U.S. military presence in South Korea and Japan as proof of American hostility. It has said its recent series of weapons launches were a response to what it called provocative military drills between the United States and South Korea.

There have been concerns that North Korea might conduct its first nuclear test in five years as its next major step in strengthening its military capability against the United States and its allies.

North Korea has been under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions over its previous nuclear and missile tests. But no new sanctions have been applied this year as it has conducted dozens of ballistic missile launches, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China and Russia, two of the Security Council’s veto-wielding members, oppose new U.N. sanctions. Washington is locked in a strategic competition with Beijing and in a confrontation with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1664842519726.png" alt="&nbsp;This photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sept. 8, 2022.&nbsp; (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) (Uncredited/KCNA via KNS)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;This photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sept. 8, 2022.&nbsp; (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) (Uncredited/KCNA via KNS)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed near Japanese waters Friday in its second major weapons test this month that showed a potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on all of the U.S. mainland.While it's unclear whether North Korea possesses functioning nuclear-armed missiles, some experts say Friday’s launch involved its longest-range missile, which is still under development and is designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to overcome U.S. missile defense systems.North Korea’s recent torrid run of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in future diplomacy. It comes as China and Russia have opposed U.S. moves to toughen U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear program.The United States quickly condemned the launch and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to guarantee the safety of its territory and its allies South Korea and Japan.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g-20-summit-health-business-china-canada-daa03c57c21d4b2b61fac0061b00321b">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;met with the leaders of those countries and of Australia, Canada and New Zealand who are attending a regional forum in Bangkok to discuss the launch.“We again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilizing acts. On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances,” Harris said at the start of the meeting. “Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy.”South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea’s capital region around 10:15 a.m. Japan said it appeared to fly on a high trajectory and land west of its island of Hokkaido.According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew 6,000-6,100 kilometers (3,600-3,790 miles) at a maximum altitude of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that depending on the weight of a potential warhead, the missile had a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States.”Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea, said he believes North Korea tested a developmental Hwasong-17 missile, which he said can carry three to five nuclear warheads and fly as far as 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles).North Korea has two other ICBMs — Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 — and their test launches in 2017 showed they could potentially reach parts or all of the U.S. homeland, respectively. But Kwon said North Korea needs a longer-range missile like the Hwasong-17 capable of flying a lengthier route to the American mainland to evade current U.S. missile defense systems.The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear and missile technologies is shrouded in secrecy.Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said North Korea has shown that its missiles have ICBM-class flight ranges but has yet to publicly prove that warheads will be able to survive the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry. Some experts believe North Korea has likely acquired such technologies.Chang said Friday's launch was successful and that the flight details indicated it was the same type of missile that North Korea tested in March, when North Korea claimed to have launched a Hwasong-17, but South Korea insisted it was a Hwasong-15.U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the launch “needlessly raises tensions" and shows that North Korea is prioritizing unlawful weapons programs over the wellbeing of its people. “Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” Watson said.In his opening comments at the meeting in Bangkok, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launch “utterly unacceptable," saying the missile fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone west of Hokkaido. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the international community must work together to get North Korea to realize that each of its provocations only deepens its international isolation and economic hardship.Later Friday, South Korea's military said its F-35 fighter jets conducted drills simulating aerial strikes on North Korean mobile missile launchers at a firing range near its land border with North Korea. It said a group of eight South Korean and U.S. fighter jets separately performed flight training off the Korean Peninsula's east coast.The exercises “showed we have a strong resolve to sternly deal with an ICBM launch and any other provocations and threats posed by North Korea, and the allies' overwhelming capacity and readiness to launch precision strikes on the enemy,” South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier ordered officials to boost security cooperation with the United States and Japan and push for strong international condemnations and sanctions on North Korea, according to his office.In recent months, North Korea has performed dozens of shorter-range missile tests that it called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-seoul-south-korea-nuclear-weapons-north-6ce0a8da47f8eb9228d4b33223ebfa3b">simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets</a>. On Nov. 3, North Korea also launched a suspected Hwasong-17 missile, but experts say that weapon failed to fly its intended flight and fell into the ocean after a stage separation.North Korea halted weapons launches for about a week before it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Thursday. Before that launch, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui threatened to launch “fiercer” military responses to steps by the U.S. to bolster its security commitment to South Korea and Japan.Choe was referring to President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Yoon and Kishida on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Cambodia. In their joint statement, the three leaders strongly condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests and agreed to work together to strengthen deterrence. Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and Japan with a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons.Choe didn’t describe what steps North Korea could take but said that “the U.S. will be well aware that it is gambling, for which it will certainly regret.”North Korea sees the U.S. military presence in South Korea and Japan as proof of American hostility. It has said its recent series of weapons launches were a response to what it called provocative military drills between the United States and South Korea.There have been concerns that North Korea might conduct its first nuclear test in five years as its next major step in strengthening its military capability against the United States and its allies.North Korea has been under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions over its previous nuclear and missile tests. But no new sanctions have been applied this year as it has conducted dozens of ballistic missile launches, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions.China and Russia, two of the Security Council’s veto-wielding members, oppose new U.N. sanctions. Washington is locked in a strategic competition with Beijing and in a confrontation with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.-----------

North Korea test-fires ICBM with range to strike entire US

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Several fires led to significant monetary damage to a Kansas print shop and ultimately, investigators tracked down a suspected serial arsonist.

Just after 9p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; Lawrence Police and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical were called to the fire at 725 N 2nd Street, according to police spokesperson Laure McCabe.&nbsp; This report came amidst multiple reports of dumpster fires along North Second and Third Streets.

Fire Investigators and Police were able to determine four fires were all connected. Within two hours, the teams identified, located, and arrested the suspect. The 19-year-old woman was taken into custody in the 100 block of Maple Street just before 11pm and transported her to jail.&nbsp;

LDCFM Division Chief Kevin Joles says crews performed an offensive attack to contain the flames with the help of sprinkler systems. “Sprinkler systems continually prove their value through incidents like this and one and we believe the system significantly reduced potential damage to nearby businesses last night,” says Joles.

LKPD Sgt. Drew Fennelly oversaw the Police Department’s efforts saying, “This investigation is a great example of multi-agency cooperation. We worked together to provide a swift resolution to a potentially life-threatening series of crimes that caused&nbsp; significant damage, but thankfully no injury.”

Damage was also found, and fire extinguished at 1010 N 3rd Street; 100 Riverfront Road; 725 N 2nd Street and 401 N 2nd Street, according to McCabe.&nbsp;Police have not released the suspect's name or the requested charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668717138518.png" alt="&nbsp;Lawrence Police and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical on the scene of the arson fires-photos courtesy Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Lawrence Police and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical on the scene of the arson fires-photos courtesy Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Several fires led to significant monetary damage to a Kansas print shop and ultimately, investigators tracked down a suspected serial arsonist.Just after 9p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; Lawrence Police and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical were called to the fire at 725 N 2nd Street, according to police spokesperson Laure McCabe.&nbsp; This report came amidst multiple reports of dumpster fires along North Second and Third Streets.Fire Investigators and Police were able to determine four fires were all connected. Within two hours, the teams identified, located, and arrested the suspect. The 19-year-old woman was taken into custody in the 100 block of Maple Street just before 11pm and transported her to jail.&nbsp;LDCFM Division Chief Kevin Joles says crews performed an offensive attack to contain the flames with the help of sprinkler systems. “Sprinkler systems continually prove their value through incidents like this and one and we believe the system significantly reduced potential damage to nearby businesses last night,” says Joles.LKPD Sgt. Drew Fennelly oversaw the Police Department’s efforts saying, “This investigation is a great example of multi-agency cooperation. We worked together to provide a swift resolution to a potentially life-threatening series of crimes that caused&nbsp; significant damage, but thankfully no injury.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668769926318.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Damage was also found, and fire extinguished at 1010 N 3rd Street; 100 Riverfront Road; 725 N 2nd Street and 401 N 2nd Street, according to McCabe.&nbsp;Police have not released the suspect's name or the requested charges.

Police arrest 19-year-old woman for series of Kansas arson fires

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, along with state tax 
agencies and the nation's tax industry, today announced a special week 
focusing attention on empowering taxpayers to protect sensitive 
financial information against identity thieves as the holidays and the 
2023 tax season get closer.

Now in its seventh year, the annual National Tax Security Awareness 
Week takes place from November 28 - December 2. The event is part of a 
larger effort that continues by the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>,
 the coalition of the IRS, the states and the nation's tax software and 
tax professional community. The group formed in 2015 to combat 
tax-related identity theft by strengthening protections against fraud 
and raising security awareness.

With the holidays and tax season approaching, the Summit partners 
warned taxpayers and tax professionals to take extra steps to protect 
their financial and tax information. People face a heightened risk in 
coming months as fraudsters take advantage of the holiday season to 
trick people into sharing sensitive personal information by email, text 
message and online. Identity thieves use that information to try to file
 tax returns and steal refunds.

To help combat this, the Summit partner's National Tax Security 
Awareness Week will feature a week-long series of educational materials 
to help protect individuals, businesses and tax professionals from 
identity theft. The effort will include a November 29 webinar titled <a href="https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/47098">Deeper Dive Into Emerging Cyber Crimes and Crypto Tax Compliance</a>, special informational graphics and a social media effort on Twitter and Instagram through @IRSnews and #TaxSecurity.

"Taxpayers and tax professionals need to remain vigilant for 
increasingly sophisticated scams that look to steal sensitive financial 
information," said IRS&nbsp;Acting Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "The Security
 Summit effort focuses on highlighting simple steps that small 
businesses and people in all walks of life can take to protect their 
information, helping them avoid problems at tax time."

The IRS and Summit partners continue to see constantly evolving 
threats and scams. They mimic IRS and others in the tax community 
through fake emails, texts and online scams. These schemes frequently 
use recent tragedies or charitable groups to coax people into sharing 
sensitive financial data.

"The heightened risk to taxpayers poses a real threat. The criminals 
continue to evolve and are always looking for opportunities to 
fraudulently obtain this information," said Neena Savage, President of 
the Board of Trustees for the Federation of Tax Administrators and Tax 
Administrator for Rhode Island. "We urge everyone to take the steps 
necessary to protect their sensitive information, which simultaneously 
helps strengthen the joint work conducted by the states, the IRS and the
 tax industry through the Security Summit partnership."

As Security Summit partners increased their joint defenses against 
identity theft in recent years, including through the Identity Theft 
Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), fraudsters have 
increasingly looked for ways to obtain sensitive personal financial 
information to help slip past common defenses. That has made tax 
professionals – who hold valuable tax information for their clients – a 
tempting target for scam artists.

"The innovative Summit partnership between the public and private 
sectors has created important protections against tax-related identity 
theft,'&nbsp;said Julie Magee, Tax Regulatory Lead at Cash App Taxes and an 
original member of the Security Summit who currently serves as the 
group's communications co-chair.&nbsp;"This collaborative effort continues to
 thwart identity thieves, helping protect taxpayers and tax 
professionals while also safeguarding the federal and state tax systems 
essential to running our nation."

With International Fraud Awareness Week underway through November 19 
this year, the Security Summit offers a preview of the upcoming National
 Tax Security Awareness Week that begins November 28.

National Tax Security Awareness Week 2022 highlights

Cyber Monday: Protect personal and financial information online

The IRS and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a> partners remind people to take these basic steps when shopping online:

Tax professionals should review their security protocols

As identity thieves continue targeting tax professionals, the IRS and the Summit partners urge practitioners to review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/tax-security-2-point-0-the-taxes-security-together-checklist">"Taxes-Security-Together" Checklist</a>, including:

Taxpayers who can verify their identities online may opt into the IRS
 IP PIN program – a tool taxpayers can use to protect themselves – and 
their tax refund. Here's what taxpayers need to know:

Businesses should watch out for tax-related scams and implement safeguards

Most cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Some details from this segment include:

Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/protect-your-clients-protect-yourself-summer-2022">Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself</a>&nbsp;campaign
 encouraged tax professionals to focus on fundamentals and to watch out 
for emerging vulnerabilities for those practitioners using cloud-based 
services for their practice.

In addition to reviewing IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data</a>PDF, tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing <a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals</a>PDF&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.

The IRS and Security Summit partners also share YouTube videos on 
security steps for taxpayers. The videos can be viewed or downloaded at <a href="https://youtu.be/V3hdiCtKj5s">Easy Steps to Protect Your Computer and Phone</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJYQL89qMfI">Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft</a>.

Employers can share <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4524.pdf">Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers</a>PDF, with their employees and customers and tax professionals can share with clients.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, along with state tax 
agencies and the nation's tax industry, today announced a special week 
focusing attention on empowering taxpayers to protect sensitive 
financial information against identity thieves as the holidays and the 
2023 tax season get closer.Now in its seventh year, the annual National Tax Security Awareness 
Week takes place from November 28 - December 2. The event is part of a 
larger effort that continues by the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>,
 the coalition of the IRS, the states and the nation's tax software and 
tax professional community. The group formed in 2015 to combat 
tax-related identity theft by strengthening protections against fraud 
and raising security awareness.With the holidays and tax season approaching, the Summit partners 
warned taxpayers and tax professionals to take extra steps to protect 
their financial and tax information. People face a heightened risk in 
coming months as fraudsters take advantage of the holiday season to 
trick people into sharing sensitive personal information by email, text 
message and online. Identity thieves use that information to try to file
 tax returns and steal refunds.To help combat this, the Summit partner's National Tax Security 
Awareness Week will feature a week-long series of educational materials 
to help protect individuals, businesses and tax professionals from 
identity theft. The effort will include a November 29 webinar titled <a href="https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/47098">Deeper Dive Into Emerging Cyber Crimes and Crypto Tax Compliance</a>, special informational graphics and a social media effort on Twitter and Instagram through @IRSnews and #TaxSecurity."Taxpayers and tax professionals need to remain vigilant for 
increasingly sophisticated scams that look to steal sensitive financial 
information," said IRS&nbsp;Acting Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "The Security
 Summit effort focuses on highlighting simple steps that small 
businesses and people in all walks of life can take to protect their 
information, helping them avoid problems at tax time."The IRS and Summit partners continue to see constantly evolving 
threats and scams. They mimic IRS and others in the tax community 
through fake emails, texts and online scams. These schemes frequently 
use recent tragedies or charitable groups to coax people into sharing 
sensitive financial data."The heightened risk to taxpayers poses a real threat. The criminals 
continue to evolve and are always looking for opportunities to 
fraudulently obtain this information," said Neena Savage, President of 
the Board of Trustees for the Federation of Tax Administrators and Tax 
Administrator for Rhode Island. "We urge everyone to take the steps 
necessary to protect their sensitive information, which simultaneously 
helps strengthen the joint work conducted by the states, the IRS and the
 tax industry through the Security Summit partnership."As Security Summit partners increased their joint defenses against 
identity theft in recent years, including through the Identity Theft 
Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), fraudsters have 
increasingly looked for ways to obtain sensitive personal financial 
information to help slip past common defenses. That has made tax 
professionals – who hold valuable tax information for their clients – a 
tempting target for scam artists."The innovative Summit partnership between the public and private 
sectors has created important protections against tax-related identity 
theft,'&nbsp;said Julie Magee, Tax Regulatory Lead at Cash App Taxes and an 
original member of the Security Summit who currently serves as the 
group's communications co-chair.&nbsp;"This collaborative effort continues to
 thwart identity thieves, helping protect taxpayers and tax 
professionals while also safeguarding the federal and state tax systems 
essential to running our nation."With International Fraud Awareness Week underway through November 19 
this year, the Security Summit offers a preview of the upcoming National
 Tax Security Awareness Week that begins November 28.<h2>National Tax Security Awareness Week 2022 highlights</h2><h2>Cyber Monday: Protect personal and financial information online</h2>The IRS and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a> partners remind people to take these basic steps when shopping online:<ul>
 <li>Use security software for computers and mobile phones – and keep it updated.</li><li>Make sure anti-virus software for computers has a feature to stop 
malware, and that there is a firewall enabled that can prevent 
intrusions.</li><li>Use strong and unique passwords for all accounts.</li><li>Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.</li><li>Shop only secure websites; look for the "https" in web addresses 
and the padlock icon; avoid shopping on unsecured and public Wi-Fi in 
places like coffee shops, malls or restaurants.</li>
 </ul><h2>Tax professionals should review their security protocols</h2>As identity thieves continue targeting tax professionals, the IRS and the Summit partners urge practitioners to review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/tax-security-2-point-0-the-taxes-security-together-checklist">"Taxes-Security-Together" Checklist</a>, including:<ul>
 <li>Deploy basic security measures.</li><li>Use multi-factor authentication to protect tax software accounts.</li><li>Create a Virtual Private Network if working remotely.</li><li>Create a written data security plan as required by federal law.</li><li>Know about phishing and phone scams.</li><li>Create data security and data theft recovery plans.</li>
 </ul><h2>Get an Identity Protection PIN</h2>Taxpayers who can verify their identities online may opt into the IRS
 IP PIN program – a tool taxpayers can use to protect themselves – and 
their tax refund. Here's what taxpayers need to know:<ul>
 <li>The Identity Protection PIN or IP PIN is a six-digit code known 
only to the individual and the IRS. It provides another layer of 
protection for taxpayers' Social Security numbers on tax returns.</li><li>Use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/the-identity-protection-pin-ip-pin">Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)</a> tool at IRS.gov/IPPIN to immediately get an IP PIN.</li><li>Never share the IP PIN with anyone but a trusted tax provider.</li>
 </ul><h2>Businesses should watch out for tax-related scams and implement safeguards</h2>Most cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Some details from this segment include:<ul>
 <li>Learn about best security practices for small businesses.</li><li>IRS continues protective masking of sensitive information on business transcripts.</li><li>A Business Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039-B, is available for businesses to report theft to the IRS.</li><li>Beware of various scams, especially the W-2 scam that attempts to steal employee income information.</li><li>Check out the "Business" section on IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a>.</li>
 </ul>Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/protect-your-clients-protect-yourself-summer-2022">Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself</a>&nbsp;campaign
 encouraged tax professionals to focus on fundamentals and to watch out 
for emerging vulnerabilities for those practitioners using cloud-based 
services for their practice.<h2>Additional resources</h2>In addition to reviewing IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data</a>PDF, tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing <a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals</a>PDF&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.The IRS and Security Summit partners also share YouTube videos on 
security steps for taxpayers. The videos can be viewed or downloaded at <a href="https://youtu.be/V3hdiCtKj5s">Easy Steps to Protect Your Computer and Phone</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJYQL89qMfI">Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft</a>.Employers can share <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4524.pdf">Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers</a>PDF, with their employees and customers and tax professionals can share with clients.

Summit focuses on security and identity theft as holiday, tax season nears

BBB is warning Facebook users that sharing a certain kind of 
attention-grabbing post might put their friends at risk of falling 
victim to a scam.

You
 are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an 
injured, lost pet or a missing child grabs your attention. You want to 
help, so you share the post on your own profile.

After you share the post, a scammer 
changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad or sometimes to a 
link pointing to a survey that "guarantees" a cash prize. Now, your 
friends think you have recommended that content. These bait-and-switch 
ads aim to either get a deposit for a rental property before the user 
gets a chance to see the home- or get your personal information, which 
could lead to identity theft.

This scheme has many variations, but 
the commonality is the emotionality or urgency of the message that 
encourages concerned people to share the news with their friends.&nbsp;

We have seen multiple variations of these shared on local buy-and-sell Facebook groups across Canada and the U.S. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/10/20/fact-check-identical-injured-dog-posts-viral-scam/10480235002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>&nbsp;also reported about it in October.

These posts are shared in local 
buy-and-sell groups because there is already a sense of community and 
trust within these crowds, and people may not realize that scammers are 
targeting members. Scammers sometimes also turn comments off on the 
posts so other group members can't oust them.&nbsp;

BBB offers these tips to avoid being scammed by a bait-and-switch Facebook ad:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBBBB is warning Facebook users that sharing a certain kind of 
attention-grabbing post might put their friends at risk of falling 
victim to a scam.<h2>How the scam works</h2>You
 are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an 
injured, lost pet or a missing child grabs your attention. You want to 
help, so you share the post on your own profile.After you share the post, a scammer 
changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad or sometimes to a 
link pointing to a survey that "guarantees" a cash prize. Now, your 
friends think you have recommended that content. These bait-and-switch 
ads aim to either get a deposit for a rental property before the user 
gets a chance to see the home- or get your personal information, which 
could lead to identity theft.This scheme has many variations, but 
the commonality is the emotionality or urgency of the message that 
encourages concerned people to share the news with their friends.&nbsp;We have seen multiple variations of these shared on local buy-and-sell Facebook groups across Canada and the U.S. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/10/20/fact-check-identical-injured-dog-posts-viral-scam/10480235002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>&nbsp;also reported about it in October.These posts are shared in local 
buy-and-sell groups because there is already a sense of community and 
trust within these crowds, and people may not realize that scammers are 
targeting members. Scammers sometimes also turn comments off on the 
posts so other group members can't oust them.&nbsp;<h2>BBB offers these tips to avoid being scammed by a bait-and-switch Facebook ad:</h2><ul>
 <li>Do a bit of digging before resharing a post on your profile. Read
 the information carefully and look at the profile of the person who 
created and shared the original post. If the profile is from Florida but
 shared the post in a Canadian group, it may be a red flag of a 
bait-and-switch publication.</li><li>Find out when the poster created the Facebook profile. Scammers
 always create profiles when their old one gets banned. If you click on 
their profile, it will tell you how long they have been a member of the 
group. You can also find additional information on their public profile.</li><li>You should see it in the news. If a 
child goes missing or a tragedy occurs, you'll most likely see it on 
different news outlets or shared by law enforcement, not on a random 
post.&nbsp;</li><li>Do a reverse image search on Google. That will allow you to find out if the pictures you saw were used on other ads or websites in different cities.&nbsp;</li><li>Find similar posts. Copy and paste 
the text from the post into Facebook's search tool to see if other posts
 with the same text and different pictures show up.</li><li>If you suspect a post is a scam, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/263149623790594" target="_blank">report it to Facebook</a>.</li>
 </ul>

Facebook alert: Local buy-and-sell group scams on the rise

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;The U.S. government says it will protect two populations of a rare prairie bird that’s found in parts of the Midwest, including one of the country’s most prolific oil and gas fields. The lesser prairie chicken’s range covers a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin along the New Mexico-Texas line, and extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. The bird's habitat has diminished about 90% from historical levels. Officials say the prairies where the birds live are in peril as they get broken up and developed.

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall M.D. and Congressman Tracey Mann on Thursday condemned the Biden administration’s decision to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the&nbsp;Endangered Species Act. “This decision threatens to place unnecessary restrictions on farmers, ranchers, and energy producers,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Kansas and surrounding states are committed to preserving the lesser prairie-chicken and its habitat area and have contributed millions of public and private dollars to conservation efforts. This work has resulted in successfully conserving habitat area and increasing the population of the bird. The choice to list the lesser prairie-chicken as threatened despite voluntary, locally-driven conservation efforts will negatively impact critical industries in Kansas and will remove any incentive for similar local efforts for wildlife conservation in the future.” “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s announcement is disappointing and a reminder that this Administration favors government micromanagement of agriculture and heavy handed regulation in their war against energy producers instead of working with landowners to promote continued voluntary conservation efforts,”&nbsp;said Sen. Marshall.&nbsp;“Listing the lesser prairie chicken will hurt our state’s economy, hinder our oil and gas independence, increase utility costs, and prevent the development of renewable energy in prime Western Kansas locations.” “In their final rule, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first commended landowners’ voluntary efforts to increase lesser prairie-chicken populations in Kansas, and then unilaterally decided that the federal government is better equipped to address these local areas,”&nbsp;said Rep. Mann.&nbsp;“This ruling is more than another example of federal overreach - it is a proxy war on American agriculture and energy sectors that are vital to our economy. Farmers, ranchers, and landowners are the original conservationists, and the federal government should get out of their way to let them do what they do best.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668724869307.png" alt="Lesser prairie chickens have lost most of their habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service" />
 <figcaption>Lesser prairie chickens have lost most of their habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON –&nbsp;The U.S. government says it will protect two populations of a rare prairie bird that’s found in parts of the Midwest, including one of the country’s most prolific oil and gas fields. The lesser prairie chicken’s range covers a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin along the New Mexico-Texas line, and extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. The bird's habitat has diminished about 90% from historical levels. Officials say the prairies where the birds live are in peril as they get broken up and developed.U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall M.D. and Congressman Tracey Mann on Thursday condemned the Biden administration’s decision to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the&nbsp;Endangered Species Act. “This decision threatens to place unnecessary restrictions on farmers, ranchers, and energy producers,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Kansas and surrounding states are committed to preserving the lesser prairie-chicken and its habitat area and have contributed millions of public and private dollars to conservation efforts. This work has resulted in successfully conserving habitat area and increasing the population of the bird. The choice to list the lesser prairie-chicken as threatened despite voluntary, locally-driven conservation efforts will negatively impact critical industries in Kansas and will remove any incentive for similar local efforts for wildlife conservation in the future.” “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s announcement is disappointing and a reminder that this Administration favors government micromanagement of agriculture and heavy handed regulation in their war against energy producers instead of working with landowners to promote continued voluntary conservation efforts,”&nbsp;said Sen. Marshall.&nbsp;“Listing the lesser prairie chicken will hurt our state’s economy, hinder our oil and gas independence, increase utility costs, and prevent the development of renewable energy in prime Western Kansas locations.” “In their final rule, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first commended landowners’ voluntary efforts to increase lesser prairie-chicken populations in Kansas, and then unilaterally decided that the federal government is better equipped to address these local areas,”&nbsp;said Rep. Mann.&nbsp;“This ruling is more than another example of federal overreach - it is a proxy war on American agriculture and energy sectors that are vital to our economy. Farmers, ranchers, and landowners are the original conservationists, and the federal government should get out of their way to let them do what they do best.”

Moran, Marshall and Mann condemn 'threatened' status of lesser prairie chicken

KANSAS CITY —The mother and father of a 10-week old child have been charged with Child Abuse after the child was found dead from malnutrition, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Austen M. Taub Hack, 19, and Sarah Stone, 20, each face a felony charge of Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death.

According to court records, Independence Police Department officers were dispatched on Nov. 14, 2022, to an apartment. Officers found a 10-week-old child who was not breathing and cold. Detectives observed the child was extremely malnourished.

The Medical Examiner advised that the child suffered from severe malnutrition and dehydration.

Prosecutors requested a $150,000 cash bond for each defendant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668721662333.png" alt="Taub-Hack-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Taub-Hack-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The mother and father of a 10-week old child have been charged with Child Abuse after the child was found dead from malnutrition, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Austen M. Taub Hack, 19, and Sarah Stone, 20, each face a felony charge of Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death.According to court records, Independence Police Department officers were dispatched on Nov. 14, 2022, to an apartment. Officers found a 10-week-old child who was not breathing and cold. Detectives observed the child was extremely malnourished.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668721587635.png" alt="Stone-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Stone-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>The Medical Examiner advised that the child suffered from severe malnutrition and dehydration.Prosecutors requested a $150,000 cash bond for each defendant.

KC-area couple charged after their infant died from malnutrition

RUSSELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Thursday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2022 Peterbilt straight truck driven by Anthony Joseph Moshier, 23, Hoisington, was northbound on 181st Street 3.9 miles west of the U.S. 40 and U.S. 281 Junction and stopped at the railroad crossing.

As the truck began moving forward, the driver did not see the westbound train.&nbsp; The train collided with the truck.&nbsp; The truck came to rest in the southwest corner of the crossing where it caught fire and was completely destroyed.

EMS transported Moshier to Russell Regional Medical Center.  There were no injuries on the train. Moshier was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668735431538.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Thursday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2022 Peterbilt straight truck driven by Anthony Joseph Moshier, 23, Hoisington, was northbound on 181st Street 3.9 miles west of the U.S. 40 and U.S. 281 Junction and stopped at the railroad crossing.As the truck began moving forward, the driver did not see the westbound train.&nbsp; The train collided with the truck.&nbsp; The truck came to rest in the southwest corner of the crossing where it caught fire and was completely destroyed.EMS transported Moshier to Russell Regional Medical Center. There were no injuries on the train. Moshier was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after train, truck crash and fire

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — A man who killed a police officer still faces execution later this month after a judge denied a special prosecutor's request to halt the death sentence.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-executions-missouri-3c5c00c2e09cc3d4639b827e374e45a1">Kevin Johnson is scheduled to die</a>&nbsp;by injection on Nov. 29. The 37-year-old killed Kirkwood, Missouri, Police Officer William McEntee in 2005.

Last month, St. Louis Circuit Judge Mary Elizabeth Ott appointed a special prosecutor to review the case. The special prosecutor, E.E. Keenan, filed a motion Tuesday night to vacate the death sentence, stating that race played a “decisive factor” in the death sentence. Johnson is Black and the slain officer was white.

But in a ruling Wednesday, Ott denied the request. The two-sentence order didn't state why.

“We are analyzing our options and intend to appeal if we cannot obtain relief in the circuit court,” Keenan said in an email on Thursday. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these horrible events, particularly the family of Sgt. McEntee and the law enforcement community.”

Keenan's court filing said former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch's office handled five cases involving the deaths of police officers during his 28 years in office. McCulloch sought the death penalty in the four cases involving Black defendants, but did not seek death in the one case where the defendant was white, the file said.

“The Special Prosecutor’s investigation and motion to vacate raise serious concerns about whether Mr. Johnson received the death penalty because he is Black,” Shawn Nolan, Johnson’s attorney, said in a statement.

McCulloch does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment.

Johnson’s lawyers have cited racism concerns previously. An earlier court petition stated that if not for racial comments by two white jurors at his trial, Johnson could have been convicted of second-degree murder instead of first-degree, and been spared the death penalty.

Johnson's lawyers also have asked the courts to intervene for other reasons, including a history of mental illness and his age — 19 — at the time of the crime. Courts have increasingly moved away from sentencing teen offenders to death since the Supreme Court in 2005&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/explore/locked-up-for-life/Roper-v-Simmons">banned the execution of offenders who were younger than 18</a>&nbsp;at the time of their crime.

The Supreme Court also is weighing a request for a stay of execution. In a response filed Wednesday, the Missouri Attorney General's Office stated there were no grounds for court intervention.

“The surviving victims of Johnson’s crimes have waited long enough for justice, and every day longer that they must wait is a day they are denied the chance to finally make peace with their loss,” the state petition stated.

McEntee, a husband and father of three, was among the police officers sent to Johnson’s home on July 5, 2005, to serve a warrant for his arrest. Johnson was on probation for assaulting his girlfriend, and police believed he had violated probation.

Johnson saw officers arrive and awoke his 12-year-old brother, Joseph “Bam Bam” Long, who ran next door to their grandmother’s house. Once there, the boy, who suffered from a congenital heart defect, collapsed and began having a seizure.

Johnson testified at trial that McEntee kept his mother from entering the house to aid his brother, who died a short time later at a hospital.

Later that evening, McEntee returned to the neighborhood to check on unrelated reports of fireworks being shot off. That’s when he encountered Johnson.

Johnson pulled a gun and shot the officer. He then approached the wounded, kneeling officer and shot him again, killing him.

The execution would be the first of three in the coming months in Missouri. The state plans to execute convicted killers Scott McLaughlin on Jan. 3 and Leonard Taylor on Feb. 7.

Executions have become far less common in recent years. The nation's 16th execution was carried out Thursday in Oklahoma when convicted killer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-mcalester-6a797ea579034b71f59cda8bc375d6ea">Richard Fairchild was put to death</a>&nbsp;for killing a 3-year-old boy. The number of executions nationally peaked at 98 in 1999.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661445268889.png" alt="Johnson photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — A man who killed a police officer still faces execution later this month after a judge denied a special prosecutor's request to halt the death sentence.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-executions-missouri-3c5c00c2e09cc3d4639b827e374e45a1">Kevin Johnson is scheduled to die</a>&nbsp;by injection on Nov. 29. The 37-year-old killed Kirkwood, Missouri, Police Officer William McEntee in 2005.Last month, St. Louis Circuit Judge Mary Elizabeth Ott appointed a special prosecutor to review the case. The special prosecutor, E.E. Keenan, filed a motion Tuesday night to vacate the death sentence, stating that race played a “decisive factor” in the death sentence. Johnson is Black and the slain officer was white.But in a ruling Wednesday, Ott denied the request. The two-sentence order didn't state why.“We are analyzing our options and intend to appeal if we cannot obtain relief in the circuit court,” Keenan said in an email on Thursday. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these horrible events, particularly the family of Sgt. McEntee and the law enforcement community.”Keenan's court filing said former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch's office handled five cases involving the deaths of police officers during his 28 years in office. McCulloch sought the death penalty in the four cases involving Black defendants, but did not seek death in the one case where the defendant was white, the file said.“The Special Prosecutor’s investigation and motion to vacate raise serious concerns about whether Mr. Johnson received the death penalty because he is Black,” Shawn Nolan, Johnson’s attorney, said in a statement.McCulloch does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment.Johnson’s lawyers have cited racism concerns previously. An earlier court petition stated that if not for racial comments by two white jurors at his trial, Johnson could have been convicted of second-degree murder instead of first-degree, and been spared the death penalty.Johnson's lawyers also have asked the courts to intervene for other reasons, including a history of mental illness and his age — 19 — at the time of the crime. Courts have increasingly moved away from sentencing teen offenders to death since the Supreme Court in 2005&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/explore/locked-up-for-life/Roper-v-Simmons">banned the execution of offenders who were younger than 18</a>&nbsp;at the time of their crime.The Supreme Court also is weighing a request for a stay of execution. In a response filed Wednesday, the Missouri Attorney General's Office stated there were no grounds for court intervention.“The surviving victims of Johnson’s crimes have waited long enough for justice, and every day longer that they must wait is a day they are denied the chance to finally make peace with their loss,” the state petition stated.McEntee, a husband and father of three, was among the police officers sent to Johnson’s home on July 5, 2005, to serve a warrant for his arrest. Johnson was on probation for assaulting his girlfriend, and police believed he had violated probation.Johnson saw officers arrive and awoke his 12-year-old brother, Joseph “Bam Bam” Long, who ran next door to their grandmother’s house. Once there, the boy, who suffered from a congenital heart defect, collapsed and began having a seizure.Johnson testified at trial that McEntee kept his mother from entering the house to aid his brother, who died a short time later at a hospital.Later that evening, McEntee returned to the neighborhood to check on unrelated reports of fireworks being shot off. That’s when he encountered Johnson.Johnson pulled a gun and shot the officer. He then approached the wounded, kneeling officer and shot him again, killing him.The execution would be the first of three in the coming months in Missouri. The state plans to execute convicted killers Scott McLaughlin on Jan. 3 and Leonard Taylor on Feb. 7.Executions have become far less common in recent years. The nation's 16th execution was carried out Thursday in Oklahoma when convicted killer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-mcalester-6a797ea579034b71f59cda8bc375d6ea">Richard Fairchild was put to death</a>&nbsp;for killing a 3-year-old boy. The number of executions nationally peaked at 98 in 1999.

Judge denies request to halt cop killer's execution

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate the president's student debt cancellation plan, according to a Thursday legal filing warning that Americans will face financial strain if the plan remains stalled in court when loan payments are scheduled to restart in January.

The Justice Department is fighting to keep Biden's plan alive after it was halted by two federal courts in recent weeks. On Thursday it asked a federal appeals court in New Orleans to suspend a decision striking down Biden's plan, and in the same filing it announced plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a St. Louis appeals court that halted the plan.

Biden’s plan promises $10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional $10,000 in relief.

Keeping the debt relief on hold would leave the government with an “unnecessarily perilous choice,” the administration argued in its filing Thursday. If it restarts student loan payments as planned on Jan. 1, millions of Americans will get billed for debt that was promised to be canceled. But if the government extends the payment pause, it will cost billions of dollars in lost revenue.

It builds on arguments the administration made in other filings this week, warning that many Americans won't be able to pay their student debt bills in January if the cancellation plan remains halted.

For typical borrowers, monthly payments would be $200 to $300 higher than they would be if Biden’s plan goes through, the Education Department said. The strain could lead to soaring default rates, which have increased by an average of twentyfold in the wake of other natural disasters.

“We anticipate there could be an historically large increase in the amount of federal student loan delinquency and defaults as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Education Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a Tuesday filing. “This could result in one of the harms that the one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid.”

Biden's plan has drawn a flurry of legal challenges, which have seen mixed results. Opponents of debt forgiveness have asked the Supreme Court to intervene at least twice after their cases failed in lower courts. The Supreme Court rejected both requests.

In its new filing, the Justice Department asks an appeals court to lift a decision from U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">striking down</a>&nbsp;Biden’s plan. Pittman, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and is based in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled last week that Biden's plan oversteps his presidential authority and usurps Congress' powers to make laws.

It stemmed from a lawsuit brought by two borrowers who are not eligible for relief under the parameters of Biden’s plan. The program was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-st-louis-student-loans-cf8136bfc75bd70839e9326cabbbf029">separately halted</a>&nbsp;by a St. Louis court after six Republican-led states said it would harm financial institutions.

Almost 26 million people already have applied for the relief, with 16 million approved, but the Education Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-student-loans-government-and-politics-06a1160237717b16091ec864b2a56e4d">stopped accepting and processing applications</a>&nbsp;last week after the plan was ruled illegal.

The White House says it will prevail in court, but the barrage of lawsuits has thrown Biden’s plan into jeopardy. It’s now uncertain whether 40 million borrowers who were promised debt relief will have to start making payments on that debt in January.

The biggest risk is for 18 million borrowers who were told their entire loan balance would be canceled. Even if payments restart, those borrowers might think they’re in the clear and ignore the bills, the Education Department has warned.

Borrowers who fall behind on payments can face heavy consequences, including damage to their credit scores and the withholding of wages and tax refunds.

Advocates and some Democrats in Congress are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-government-and-politics-3f7971456f690281326a2f27b3772b30">pressuring Biden to extend the payment pause</a>&nbsp;until all legal challenges are resolved, despite his previous assurance that the freeze would end after Dec. 31.

In a Tuesday filing, the Education Department said it’s “examining all available options.” But it warned that extending the pause could cost the federal government “several billion dollars a month in unrecovered loan revenue.”

The freeze already has cost the federal government more than $100 billion in revenue, according to a July report by the Government Accountability Office. Critics caution that another extension could worsen inflation and increase the risk of economic recession.

In a separate action targeting student debt, the Education and Justice departments announced a new policy aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get student loans canceled in bankruptcy court.

When borrowers in bankruptcy try to get their federal student loans canceled, lawyers for the government have typically moved to block it.

Advocates have long complained that only a tiny fraction of borrowers in bankruptcy succeed in getting their student loans erased, and many lawyers won't even take those cases on. As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to fix the problem.

The Justice Department on Thursday sent new guidance to its attorneys clarifying when they can support a borrower's request for student debt forgiveness. Judges still have the final say, but the department said its guidance will lead to “fairer, more consistent results.”

Separately, a federal judge on Wednesday approved an Education Department settlement that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-lawsuits-student-loans-17ee728e5141bf0b02c96ee7def4910e">cancel $6 billion in student debt</a>&nbsp;for borrowers who say they were defrauded by for-profit colleges. The deal was proposed in June but was delayed amid a challenge by several schools.

A federal judge in San Francisco concluded that the settlement is fair. Advocates and the Biden administration applauded the approval, while a for-profit college industry group promised to appeal the decision.

Under the settlement, the Education Department agreed to cancel loans for about 200,000 borrowers who went to one of more than 150 for-profit colleges and later applied for cancellation because of misconduct by their schools.

It stems from a 2019 lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of intentionally stalling the loan relief program while it rewrote the rules.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668197313548.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate the president's student debt cancellation plan, according to a Thursday legal filing warning that Americans will face financial strain if the plan remains stalled in court when loan payments are scheduled to restart in January.The Justice Department is fighting to keep Biden's plan alive after it was halted by two federal courts in recent weeks. On Thursday it asked a federal appeals court in New Orleans to suspend a decision striking down Biden's plan, and in the same filing it announced plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a St. Louis appeals court that halted the plan.Biden’s plan promises $10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional $10,000 in relief.Keeping the debt relief on hold would leave the government with an “unnecessarily perilous choice,” the administration argued in its filing Thursday. If it restarts student loan payments as planned on Jan. 1, millions of Americans will get billed for debt that was promised to be canceled. But if the government extends the payment pause, it will cost billions of dollars in lost revenue.It builds on arguments the administration made in other filings this week, warning that many Americans won't be able to pay their student debt bills in January if the cancellation plan remains halted.For typical borrowers, monthly payments would be $200 to $300 higher than they would be if Biden’s plan goes through, the Education Department said. The strain could lead to soaring default rates, which have increased by an average of twentyfold in the wake of other natural disasters.“We anticipate there could be an historically large increase in the amount of federal student loan delinquency and defaults as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Education Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a Tuesday filing. “This could result in one of the harms that the one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid.”Biden's plan has drawn a flurry of legal challenges, which have seen mixed results. Opponents of debt forgiveness have asked the Supreme Court to intervene at least twice after their cases failed in lower courts. The Supreme Court rejected both requests.In its new filing, the Justice Department asks an appeals court to lift a decision from U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">striking down</a>&nbsp;Biden’s plan. Pittman, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and is based in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled last week that Biden's plan oversteps his presidential authority and usurps Congress' powers to make laws.It stemmed from a lawsuit brought by two borrowers who are not eligible for relief under the parameters of Biden’s plan. The program was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-st-louis-student-loans-cf8136bfc75bd70839e9326cabbbf029">separately halted</a>&nbsp;by a St. Louis court after six Republican-led states said it would harm financial institutions.Almost 26 million people already have applied for the relief, with 16 million approved, but the Education Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-student-loans-government-and-politics-06a1160237717b16091ec864b2a56e4d">stopped accepting and processing applications</a>&nbsp;last week after the plan was ruled illegal.The White House says it will prevail in court, but the barrage of lawsuits has thrown Biden’s plan into jeopardy. It’s now uncertain whether 40 million borrowers who were promised debt relief will have to start making payments on that debt in January.The biggest risk is for 18 million borrowers who were told their entire loan balance would be canceled. Even if payments restart, those borrowers might think they’re in the clear and ignore the bills, the Education Department has warned.Borrowers who fall behind on payments can face heavy consequences, including damage to their credit scores and the withholding of wages and tax refunds.Advocates and some Democrats in Congress are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-government-and-politics-3f7971456f690281326a2f27b3772b30">pressuring Biden to extend the payment pause</a>&nbsp;until all legal challenges are resolved, despite his previous assurance that the freeze would end after Dec. 31.In a Tuesday filing, the Education Department said it’s “examining all available options.” But it warned that extending the pause could cost the federal government “several billion dollars a month in unrecovered loan revenue.”The freeze already has cost the federal government more than $100 billion in revenue, according to a July report by the Government Accountability Office. Critics caution that another extension could worsen inflation and increase the risk of economic recession.In a separate action targeting student debt, the Education and Justice departments announced a new policy aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get student loans canceled in bankruptcy court.When borrowers in bankruptcy try to get their federal student loans canceled, lawyers for the government have typically moved to block it.Advocates have long complained that only a tiny fraction of borrowers in bankruptcy succeed in getting their student loans erased, and many lawyers won't even take those cases on. As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to fix the problem.The Justice Department on Thursday sent new guidance to its attorneys clarifying when they can support a borrower's request for student debt forgiveness. Judges still have the final say, but the department said its guidance will lead to “fairer, more consistent results.”Separately, a federal judge on Wednesday approved an Education Department settlement that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-lawsuits-student-loans-17ee728e5141bf0b02c96ee7def4910e">cancel $6 billion in student debt</a>&nbsp;for borrowers who say they were defrauded by for-profit colleges. The deal was proposed in June but was delayed amid a challenge by several schools.A federal judge in San Francisco concluded that the settlement is fair. Advocates and the Biden administration applauded the approval, while a for-profit college industry group promised to appeal the decision.Under the settlement, the Education Department agreed to cancel loans for about 200,000 borrowers who went to one of more than 150 for-profit colleges and later applied for cancellation because of misconduct by their schools.It stems from a 2019 lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of intentionally stalling the loan relief program while it rewrote the rules.

Student debt cancellation battle may go to Supreme Court

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused hitting and killing two people who were changing a tire on an SUV November 10, made his first court appearance on Wednesday.

Travis Mock, 26 of Wichita, is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ram pickup driven by Mock&nbsp; was northbound on the ramp from Interstate 135 to eastbound Kansas 96 in north central Wichita.

The pickup left the roadway and struck and killed two people changing a driver side tire on a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer.

The victims were identified as 20-year-old&nbsp; Christian L.&nbsp;Evans of Elk City, Kansas and 18-year-old Emily M. Stein of Wichita. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Attorneys in the case are scheduled to discuss it on November 28. Mock&nbsp; remains in jail on a $250,000 bond, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668129627770.png" alt="First responders on the scene of fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused hitting and killing two people who were changing a tire on an SUV November 10, made his first court appearance on Wednesday.Travis Mock, 26 of Wichita, is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ram pickup driven by Mock&nbsp; was northbound on the ramp from Interstate 135 to eastbound Kansas 96 in north central Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668629657672.png" alt="Mock-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Mock-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The pickup left the roadway and struck and killed two people changing a driver side tire on a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer.The victims were identified as 20-year-old&nbsp; Christian L.&nbsp;Evans of Elk City, Kansas and 18-year-old Emily M. Stein of Wichita. They were pronounced dead at the scene.Attorneys in the case are scheduled to discuss it on November 28. Mock&nbsp; remains in jail on a $250,000 bond, according to the district attorney.

Kan. man charged for crash that killed 2 who were changing a tire

Two Ellis County residents face rape and other charges related to an incident in March 2021.&nbsp;

According to court records, Michael Patrick Schmidt, 22, and Casey Ray Robben, 22, appeared in Ellis County District Court this week after an arrest warrant was issued for both men on Nov. 7.

In the filed criminal complaints, Robben was charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and breach of privacy.

Schmidt was charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy.

The charges stem from an incident alleged to have occurred on March 17, 2021.

During the incident, the unidentified victim was said to have been assaulted by both men while intoxicated and unable to offer consent, according to court documents.

Robben also allegedly filmed the victim in a state of undress and is accused of sharing that video without consent.

Schmidt was also charged on suspicion of rape in a second incident reported to have occurred with a separate unidentified victim on August 12, 2021.

Bond for Schmidt was set at $100,000, and he was no longer listed as being held in the Ellis County jail as of Thursday morning.

A hearing to reduce a $250,000 bond for Robben was set for 10 a.m. Thursday. The motion was presented through his attorney Andrew Walter and sought his release without a bond but under the supervision of a court services officer.

By JAMES BELL Hays PostTwo Ellis County residents face rape and other charges related to an incident in March 2021.&nbsp;According to court records, Michael Patrick Schmidt, 22, and Casey Ray Robben, 22, appeared in Ellis County District Court this week after an arrest warrant was issued for both men on Nov. 7.In the filed criminal complaints, Robben was charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and breach of privacy.Schmidt was charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy.The charges stem from an incident alleged to have occurred on March 17, 2021.During the incident, the unidentified victim was said to have been assaulted by both men while intoxicated and unable to offer consent, according to court documents.Robben also allegedly filmed the victim in a state of undress and is accused of sharing that video without consent.Schmidt was also charged on suspicion of rape in a second incident reported to have occurred with a separate unidentified victim on August 12, 2021.Bond for Schmidt was set at $100,000, and he was no longer listed as being held in the Ellis County jail as of Thursday morning.A hearing to reduce a $250,000 bond for Robben was set for 10 a.m. Thursday. The motion was presented through his attorney Andrew Walter and sought his release without a bond but under the supervision of a court services officer.

Two Kansas men accused of rape, sharing video of victim

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ticketmaster says <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticketmaster/status/1593333211769106433">it is canceling Friday's planned general public sale</a> for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour because it doesn't have enough tickets.

The decision came two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">left many fans without tickets</a>. The ticketing company <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/the-taylor-swift-on-sale-explained-2/">said in a statement Thursday</a>
 two million tickets to The Eras tour next year were sold during 
presales on Tuesday, the most tickets ever sold on the platform in a 
single day.

Ticketmaster cited "extraordinarily high demands on 
ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet 
that demand" as a reason for calling off Friday's sale.

Questions 
remain about how remaining tickets — and how many — would be sold. But 
Ticketmaster said about 1.5 million fans who had gone through an early 
verification process — called Verified Fan — were invited to purchase 
tickets and the remaining 2 million were placed on a waiting list.

A company representative said Ticketmaster is not involved in ticket resales for Swift's shows.

It's been a record year for Swift after releasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-930a204fbbfccea45f6012f0da4feef6">her latest album “Midnights," which also broke a Billboard record.</a>

The
 52-date Eras Tour kicks off March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, and wraps up
 with five shows in Los Angeles ending Aug. 9. International dates will 
be announced as well. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018.

But fans and families around the country <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">battled it out with long queues and error messages</a> to try to race to the checkout cart.

Ticketmaster
 said that the site was overwhelmed both by real people and bot attacks 
resulting in unprecedented traffic on their site. The statement said 
about 15 percent of interactions with the site had problems, including 
errors that caused people to lose tickets after they had waited in an 
online queue.

"While it’s impossible for everyone to get tickets 
to these shows, we know we can do more to improve the experience and 
that’s what we’re focused on," the company statement said.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ticketmaster says <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticketmaster/status/1593333211769106433">it is canceling Friday's planned general public sale</a> for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour because it doesn't have enough tickets.The decision came two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">left many fans without tickets</a>. The ticketing company <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/the-taylor-swift-on-sale-explained-2/">said in a statement Thursday</a>
 two million tickets to The Eras tour next year were sold during 
presales on Tuesday, the most tickets ever sold on the platform in a 
single day.Ticketmaster cited "extraordinarily high demands on 
ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet 
that demand" as a reason for calling off Friday's sale.Questions 
remain about how remaining tickets — and how many — would be sold. But 
Ticketmaster said about 1.5 million fans who had gone through an early 
verification process — called Verified Fan — were invited to purchase 
tickets and the remaining 2 million were placed on a waiting list.A company representative said Ticketmaster is not involved in ticket resales for Swift's shows.It's been a record year for Swift after releasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-930a204fbbfccea45f6012f0da4feef6">her latest album “Midnights," which also broke a Billboard record.</a>The
 52-date Eras Tour kicks off March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, and wraps up
 with five shows in Los Angeles ending Aug. 9. International dates will 
be announced as well. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018.But fans and families around the country <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">battled it out with long queues and error messages</a> to try to race to the checkout cart.Ticketmaster
 said that the site was overwhelmed both by real people and bot attacks 
resulting in unprecedented traffic on their site. The statement said 
about 15 percent of interactions with the site had problems, including 
errors that caused people to lose tickets after they had waited in an 
online queue."While it’s impossible for everyone to get tickets 
to these shows, we know we can do more to improve the experience and 
that’s what we’re focused on," the company statement said.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Ticketmaster canceling next Taylor Swift concert ticket sale

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a house fire Thursday in Topeka.

Just before 4:30a.m., crews responded to the report of a house fire at 1814 SW Randolph Street, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.

 While fire crews were on their way to the fire, they were notified of the possibility of occupants still being in the home.

&nbsp;Firefighters made an attack on the fire and quickly extinguished it. During a search of the one story home, investigators found one victim identified as 68-year-old Kenneth L. Lindeen, 68, of Topeka.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead.

The total damage is estimated to be $90,000, with $55,000 associated with structural loss and $35,000 associated with content loss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668717497568.png" alt="The total damage is estimated to be $90,000, with $55,000 associated with structural loss and $35,000 associated with content loss-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The total damage is estimated to be $90,000, with $55,000 associated with structural loss and $35,000 associated with content loss-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a house fire Thursday in Topeka.Just before 4:30a.m., crews responded to the report of a house fire at 1814 SW Randolph Street, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl. While fire crews were on their way to the fire, they were notified of the possibility of occupants still being in the home.&nbsp;Firefighters made an attack on the fire and quickly extinguished it. During a search of the one story home, investigators found one victim identified as 68-year-old Kenneth L. Lindeen, 68, of Topeka.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668702628928.png" alt="Photo WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The total damage is estimated to be $90,000, with $55,000 associated with structural loss and $35,000 associated with content loss.

Fire Marshal IDs Kansas man who died in house fire

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-17/kansas-is-adding-court-programs-that-help-veterans-struggling-with-trauma-and-addiction">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Corey Schramm had been on probation twice because of legal troubles, but it didn’t help. His life before recovery was not great.

“Every day, I was either stoned, or drunk or probably both,” Schramm said.

His
 relationship with his kids suffered and he bounced from job to job. But
 his life changed when he was enrolled in veterans court, a special type
 of court exclusively for military members tailored to deal with mental 
health issues and other challenges they face.

Schramm said after 
going through the court, his marriage is as strong as it has ever been 
and his relationship with his children has improved. He is even trying 
to become an addiction counselor.

“There’s a lot more happiness 
and a lot more stuff going forward instead of backward.” said Schramm, 
who served in the Army from 2003-2012.

More people in Kansas could
 be receiving that type of help soon because $3.1 million in grants will
 establish programs in Shawnee, Sedgwick and Leavenworth counties. The 
funding will be paid out over four years.

These three courts join 
the two specialty programs that already exist in Johnson County and 
Wyandotte County. All five veterans courts could be launched by January 
2023.

The money will also create a statewide specialty court 
coordinator position. This position will first focus on the veterans 
program before overseeing other courts.

These courts work by 
building a support group around veterans, including parole officers, 
rehab specialists and others who served in the military. Mental health 
and substance abuse courts exist for members of the general public, 
though it depends county by county if they are available.

Schramm said there is a special bond between service members that this type of court leverages.

“The
 staff in veterans court kind of understood what made you tick,” he 
said. “I don’t think (civilians will) ever understand unless you 
actually go through it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668694220881.png" alt="Corey Schramm (middle) graduates from a veterans court in Johnson County next to U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (right). Courtesy Corey Schramm" />
 <figcaption>Corey Schramm (middle) graduates from a veterans court in Johnson County next to U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (right). Courtesy Corey Schramm</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-17/kansas-is-adding-court-programs-that-help-veterans-struggling-with-trauma-and-addiction">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Corey Schramm had been on probation twice because of legal troubles, but it didn’t help. His life before recovery was not great.“Every day, I was either stoned, or drunk or probably both,” Schramm said.His
 relationship with his kids suffered and he bounced from job to job. But
 his life changed when he was enrolled in veterans court, a special type
 of court exclusively for military members tailored to deal with mental 
health issues and other challenges they face.Schramm said after 
going through the court, his marriage is as strong as it has ever been 
and his relationship with his children has improved. He is even trying 
to become an addiction counselor.“There’s a lot more happiness 
and a lot more stuff going forward instead of backward.” said Schramm, 
who served in the Army from 2003-2012.More people in Kansas could
 be receiving that type of help soon because $3.1 million in grants will
 establish programs in Shawnee, Sedgwick and Leavenworth counties. The 
funding will be paid out over four years.These three courts join 
the two specialty programs that already exist in Johnson County and 
Wyandotte County. All five veterans courts could be launched by January 
2023.The money will also create a statewide specialty court 
coordinator position. This position will first focus on the veterans 
program before overseeing other courts.These courts work by 
building a support group around veterans, including parole officers, 
rehab specialists and others who served in the military. Mental health 
and substance abuse courts exist for members of the general public, 
though it depends county by county if they are available.Schramm said there is a special bond between service members that this type of court leverages.“The
 staff in veterans court kind of understood what made you tick,” he 
said. “I don’t think (civilians will) ever understand unless you 
actually go through it.”One in four active duty members show 
signs of mental health conditions, a 2014 study from JAMA Psychiatry 
found. Those issues might also be specific to veterans, like PTSD from 
being deployed, which is why a court specifically focusing on that 
population can help.Veterans courts, like all specialty courts, 
are no walk in the park. They could involve regular supervision, 
counseling and even drug tests – which for Schramm sometimes came five 
times a week.Johnson County Judge Timothy McCarthy said service 
members likely need a combination of mental health and substance abuse 
services, something these specialty courts combine.About 10 
people graduate from the Johnson County veterans court each year, and 
that program has graduated about 60 people since its inception in 2016. 
Another 20 are currently in the program.McCarthy said these 
courts save taxpayers money because the services can keep people out of 
jail or prison, which are far more expensive. He said about 95% of the 
people who graduate from the court avoid future legal troubles, a better
 rate than other court programs.Veterans courts are starting to 
boom across the country. Johnson County’s court was the 287th in the 
country, but now there are over 600. The first court was launched in 
2008 by now-retired judge Robert Russell in Buffalo, New York.Russell said on a <a href="https://bja.ojp.gov/podcast/story-of-veterans-treatment-courts" target="_blank">Department of Justice podcast</a>
 that military members were coming to his court often with substance use
 and mental health issues. He remembers one instance of a veteran being 
unresponsive to treatment and when Russell asked him why, he barely got a
 response. The person didn’t even make eye contact with the judge.It
 wasn’t until two veterans who were also in court that day talked to the
 person and convinced them to engage more with treatment.Bill 
Turner, director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office, 
said these programs also help connect people with service in the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.Northeast Kansas has a large swath
 of veterans, and Topeka, Wichita and Leavenworth have the three VA 
medical centers in the state – though plenty of outpatient clinics are 
scattered throughout Kansas.Turner, a retired brigadier general, 
said the courts could provide a more comfortable way to engage in VA 
services. Having court personnel and other service members also adds an 
extra layer of accountability.“This is a proactive program,” Turner said. “It's a proactive way to get veterans to … (get) this help.”