SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged kidnappings involving three juveniles near a Kansas elementary school have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Manasseh Ward of Wichita.

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

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

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

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

While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; He is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20063339">on requested charges</a> of&nbsp;aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated indecent liberties, aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to online jail records.

In September, police arrested Ward on requested charges of of aggravated domestic battery, according to Sedgwick County booking report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673010286685.png" alt="Ward-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ward-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged kidnappings involving three juveniles near a Kansas elementary school have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Manasseh Ward of Wichita.Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; He is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20063339">on requested charges</a> of&nbsp;aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated indecent liberties, aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to online jail records.In September, police arrested Ward on requested charges of of aggravated domestic battery, according to Sedgwick County booking report.

Kan. man accused of kidnapping, assault of children near school

<a href="https://www.melbymortuary.com/obituary/larry-williams">Obituary | Larry Williams of Austin, Texas | Melby Mortuary</a>

Larry G. Williams, age 73, formerly of Mankato, KS, passed away on Monday, January 2, 2023 at St. Gabriel's Hospice, Austin, TX.&nbsp; 

The second born of twin boys, Larry Gene Williams, was born on January 6, 1949, to Orville and Luzella (Gutscher) Williams in Superior, Nebraska.

He grew up on the farm near Burr Oak, Kansas, where he attended school. 

Larry graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 1969. Following graduation, he attended North Central Kansas Vocational Technical School in Beloit, Kansas, studying production agriculture.

Larry worked various jobs including farming, Mid-America Cheese plant, and Dubuque Packing Company, before leaving Kansas in the late 1970s. He lived and worked in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas, working construction jobs as long as his health permitted.

He passed away four days before his 74th&nbsp;birthday on January 2, 2023, at Park Manor Bee Cave in Austin, Texas. St. Gabriel’s Hospice of Austin have been helping with his care for the last six months.

He is preceded in death by his father Orville, mother Luzella, grandparents Walter and Olive Gutscher and Walter and Ellen Williams, twin brother Terry, and nephew Joel Hobbs.

He is survived by his brother Darcy Williams and his wife Cheryl of El Dorado, Kansas, sister Rita Hobbs and her husband Dan, Jr., of Beloit, Kansas, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Graveside memorial services will be Friday, January 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at the Burr Oak Cemetery, rural Burr Oak, Kansas. Friends may sign Larry’s book on Thursday, January 12, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., at Melby Mortuary in Mankato.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to St. Gabriel’s Hospice and may be sent to St. Gabriel’s Hospice, 3415 Greystone Drive, Suite 310, Austin, Texas, 78731, or they may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Melby Mortuary is assisting the Williams family with these arrangements, www.melbymortuary.com.

<h2>Larry Williams, Austin, TX&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673010175124.jpeg" alt="Larry G. Williams" />
 <figcaption>Larry G. Williams</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.melbymortuary.com/obituary/larry-williams">Obituary | Larry Williams of Austin, Texas | Melby Mortuary</a>January 6, 1949 - January 2, 2023Larry G. Williams, age 73, formerly of Mankato, KS, passed away on Monday, January 2, 2023 at St. Gabriel's Hospice, Austin, TX.&nbsp; The second born of twin boys, Larry Gene Williams, was born on January 6, 1949, to Orville and Luzella (Gutscher) Williams in Superior, Nebraska.He grew up on the farm near Burr Oak, Kansas, where he attended school. Larry graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 1969. Following graduation, he attended North Central Kansas Vocational Technical School in Beloit, Kansas, studying production agriculture.Larry worked various jobs including farming, Mid-America Cheese plant, and Dubuque Packing Company, before leaving Kansas in the late 1970s. He lived and worked in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas, working construction jobs as long as his health permitted.He passed away four days before his 74th&nbsp;birthday on January 2, 2023, at Park Manor Bee Cave in Austin, Texas. St. Gabriel’s Hospice of Austin have been helping with his care for the last six months.He is preceded in death by his father Orville, mother Luzella, grandparents Walter and Olive Gutscher and Walter and Ellen Williams, twin brother Terry, and nephew Joel Hobbs.He is survived by his brother Darcy Williams and his wife Cheryl of El Dorado, Kansas, sister Rita Hobbs and her husband Dan, Jr., of Beloit, Kansas, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.Graveside memorial services will be Friday, January 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at the Burr Oak Cemetery, rural Burr Oak, Kansas. Friends may sign Larry’s book on Thursday, January 12, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., at Melby Mortuary in Mankato.In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to St. Gabriel’s Hospice and may be sent to St. Gabriel’s Hospice, 3415 Greystone Drive, Suite 310, Austin, Texas, 78731, or they may be sent in care of the funeral home.Melby Mortuary is assisting the Williams family with these arrangements, www.melbymortuary.com.

 Larry Williams

Today is Friday, Jan. 6, the sixth day of 2023. There are 359 days left in the year.

On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump, fueled by his false claims of a stolen election, assaulted police and smashed their way into the Capitol to interrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory, forcing lawmakers into hiding; most of the rioters had come from a nearby rally where Trump urged them to "fight like hell." A Trump supporter, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by a police officer as she tried to breach a barricaded doorway inside the Capitol. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, injured while confronting the rioters, suffered a stroke the next day and died from natural causes, the Washington, D.C., medical examiner's office said. (In the weeks that followed, four of the officers who responded to the riot took their own lives.) Congress reconvened hours later to finish certifying the election result.

In 1412, tradition holds that Joan of Arc was born this day in Domremy.

In 1838, Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail gave the first successful public demonstration of their telegraph in Morristown, New Jersey.

In 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state.

In 1919, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, died in Oyster Bay, New York, at age 60.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, outlined a goal of "Four Freedoms": Freedom of speech and expression; the freedom of people to worship God in their own way; freedom from want; freedom from fear.

In 1974, year-round daylight saving time began in the United States on a trial basis as a fuel-saving measure in response to the OPEC oil embargo.

In 1982, truck driver William G. Bonin was convicted in Los Angeles of 10 of the "Freeway Killer" slayings of young men and boys. (Bonin was later convicted of four other killings; he was executed in 1996.)

In 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the leg by an assailant at Detroit's Cobo Arena; four men, including the ex-husband of Kerrigan's rival, Tonya Harding, went to prison for their roles in the attack. (Harding pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution, but denied any advance knowledge about the assault.)

In 2001, with Vice President Al Gore presiding in his capacity as president of the Senate, Congress formally certified George W. Bush the winner of the bitterly contested 2000 presidential election.

In 2005, former Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen was arrested on murder charges 41 years after three civil rights workers were slain in Mississippi. (Killen was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 60 years in prison; he died in prison in 2018.)

In 2006, velvet-voiced singer Lou Rawls died in Los Angeles at age 72.

In 2020, throngs of Iranians attended the funeral of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who'd been killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq; Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept while praying over the casket. Former White House national security adviser John Bolton said he was "prepared to testify" if subpoenaed by the Senate in its impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. (The Senate voted against calling witnesses.)

Ten years ago: In a video posted on the Internet, al-Qaida's American-born spokesman, Adam Gadahn, urged fighters to meet President George W. Bush with bombs during his upcoming Mideast visit. Mikhail Saakashvili was declared winner of a second term as Georgia's president.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama returned to Washington after a winter vacation in Hawaii that was interrupted by the "fiscal cliff" crisis. In his first public speech in six months, a defiant Syrian President Bashar Assad rallied a cheering crowd to fight the uprising against his authoritarian rule, dismissing any chance of dialogue with what he called "murderous criminals." The NHL and the players' association agreed on a tentative pact to end a 113-day lockout.

One year ago: On the anniversary of the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol, President Joe Biden forcefully blamed Donald Trump and his supporters for holding a "dagger at the throat of democracy" with election lies that sparked the attack; Biden spoke in the Capitol's ornate Statuary Hall, where rioters had laid siege, and called on Americans to remember what they saw on Jan. 6 with their own eyes, amid what he said were efforts of Trump supporters to "rewrite history." Actor Sidney Poitier died at his Los Angeles home at 94; he was the first Black actor to win an Oscar for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw. Peter Bogdanovich, director of 1970s black-and-white classics including "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon," died in Los Angeles at 82.

Today's Birthdays: Country musician Joey Miskulin (Riders in the Sky) is 74. Former FBI director Louis Freeh is 73. Rock singer-musician Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds) is 72. Singer Jett Williams is 70. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson is 68. World Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez is 66. Actor Scott Bryce is 65. R&amp;B singer Kathy Sledge is 64. TV chef Nigella Lawson is 63. R&amp;B singer Eric Williams (BLACKstreet) is 63. Actor Norman Reedus is 54. Food writer and blogger Ree Drummond is 54. TV personality Julie Chen is 53. Actor Danny Pintauro (TV: "Who's the Boss?") is 47. Actor Cristela Alonzo is 44. Actor Rinko Kikuchi is 42. Actor Eddie Redmayne is 41. Retired NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is 41. Actor-comedian Kate McKinnon is 39. Actor Diona Reasonover is 39. Rock singer Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) is 37.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Friday, Jan. 6, the sixth day of 2023. There are 359 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump, fueled by his false claims of a stolen election, assaulted police and smashed their way into the Capitol to interrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory, forcing lawmakers into hiding; most of the rioters had come from a nearby rally where Trump urged them to "fight like hell." A Trump supporter, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by a police officer as she tried to breach a barricaded doorway inside the Capitol. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, injured while confronting the rioters, suffered a stroke the next day and died from natural causes, the Washington, D.C., medical examiner's office said. (In the weeks that followed, four of the officers who responded to the riot took their own lives.) Congress reconvened hours later to finish certifying the election result.On this date:In 1412, tradition holds that Joan of Arc was born this day in Domremy.In 1838, Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail gave the first successful public demonstration of their telegraph in Morristown, New Jersey.In 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state.In 1919, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, died in Oyster Bay, New York, at age 60.In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, outlined a goal of "Four Freedoms": Freedom of speech and expression; the freedom of people to worship God in their own way; freedom from want; freedom from fear.In 1974, year-round daylight saving time began in the United States on a trial basis as a fuel-saving measure in response to the OPEC oil embargo.In 1982, truck driver William G. Bonin was convicted in Los Angeles of 10 of the "Freeway Killer" slayings of young men and boys. (Bonin was later convicted of four other killings; he was executed in 1996.)In 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the leg by an assailant at Detroit's Cobo Arena; four men, including the ex-husband of Kerrigan's rival, Tonya Harding, went to prison for their roles in the attack. (Harding pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution, but denied any advance knowledge about the assault.)In 2001, with Vice President Al Gore presiding in his capacity as president of the Senate, Congress formally certified George W. Bush the winner of the bitterly contested 2000 presidential election.In 2005, former Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen was arrested on murder charges 41 years after three civil rights workers were slain in Mississippi. (Killen was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 60 years in prison; he died in prison in 2018.)In 2006, velvet-voiced singer Lou Rawls died in Los Angeles at age 72.In 2020, throngs of Iranians attended the funeral of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who'd been killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq; Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept while praying over the casket. Former White House national security adviser John Bolton said he was "prepared to testify" if subpoenaed by the Senate in its impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. (The Senate voted against calling witnesses.)Ten years ago: In a video posted on the Internet, al-Qaida's American-born spokesman, Adam Gadahn, urged fighters to meet President George W. Bush with bombs during his upcoming Mideast visit. Mikhail Saakashvili was declared winner of a second term as Georgia's president.Five years ago: President Barack Obama returned to Washington after a winter vacation in Hawaii that was interrupted by the "fiscal cliff" crisis. In his first public speech in six months, a defiant Syrian President Bashar Assad rallied a cheering crowd to fight the uprising against his authoritarian rule, dismissing any chance of dialogue with what he called "murderous criminals." The NHL and the players' association agreed on a tentative pact to end a 113-day lockout.One year ago: On the anniversary of the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol, President Joe Biden forcefully blamed Donald Trump and his supporters for holding a "dagger at the throat of democracy" with election lies that sparked the attack; Biden spoke in the Capitol's ornate Statuary Hall, where rioters had laid siege, and called on Americans to remember what they saw on Jan. 6 with their own eyes, amid what he said were efforts of Trump supporters to "rewrite history." Actor Sidney Poitier died at his Los Angeles home at 94; he was the first Black actor to win an Oscar for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw. Peter Bogdanovich, director of 1970s black-and-white classics including "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon," died in Los Angeles at 82.Today's Birthdays: Country musician Joey Miskulin (Riders in the Sky) is 74. Former FBI director Louis Freeh is 73. Rock singer-musician Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds) is 72. Singer Jett Williams is 70. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson is 68. World Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez is 66. Actor Scott Bryce is 65. R&amp;B singer Kathy Sledge is 64. TV chef Nigella Lawson is 63. R&amp;B singer Eric Williams (BLACKstreet) is 63. Actor Norman Reedus is 54. Food writer and blogger Ree Drummond is 54. TV personality Julie Chen is 53. Actor Danny Pintauro (TV: "Who's the Boss?") is 47. Actor Cristela Alonzo is 44. Actor Rinko Kikuchi is 42. Actor Eddie Redmayne is 41. Retired NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is 41. Actor-comedian Kate McKinnon is 39. Actor Diona Reasonover is 39. Rock singer Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) is 37.

Today in History - Jan. 6

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the Roller City incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, officers working an off-duty job at Roller City in the 3200 block of S. Meridian in Wichita were requested by the business to remove a disruptive guest from the facility, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Management reported a 15-year-old girl had become upset and threatened staff at the business. Officers asked the girl to collect her belongings and leave. Still, she continued yelling threats toward employees and officers and refused to leave as a crowd gathered inside the business.

Officers repeatedly asked the girl to leave the business, and she attempted to strike an officer but missed. The officer then tried to take her into custody, and a physical altercation ensued.

During the altercation, as another officer assisted with attempting to take her into custody, a 16-year-old boy intervened by striking the second officer in the back of the head.

That officer then attempted to take the 16-year-old into custody, which resulted in an additional physical altercation. Officers requested additional patrol units to respond.

The 15-year-old and 16-year-old were both taken into custody and transported to Juvenile intake and assessment center.

The 15-year-old was booked on a requested charge of assault and one count of battery of a law enforcement officer, and one ordinance violation for aggressive and harassing contact. The 16- year-old was booked on a requested charge of battery of a law enforcement officer and two counts of obstruction, according to Macy.

The Wichita Police Department approached the Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance to avoid any perceived conflict.

After a preliminary review of the evidence, including the phone recording, the sheriff's investigators determined several witnesses to the incident didn’t provide a statement to law enforcement, according to Blick.&nbsp;

Investigators are asking that any individual who witnessed the incident, or citizen who knows of someone who witnessed the incident please contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office at 316 660-5300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672660262307.png" alt="Image of the altercation from a video posted online" />
 <figcaption>Image of the altercation from a video posted online</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the Roller City incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, officers working an off-duty job at Roller City in the 3200 block of S. Meridian in Wichita were requested by the business to remove a disruptive guest from the facility, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Management reported a 15-year-old girl had become upset and threatened staff at the business. Officers asked the girl to collect her belongings and leave. Still, she continued yelling threats toward employees and officers and refused to leave as a crowd gathered inside the business.Officers repeatedly asked the girl to leave the business, and she attempted to strike an officer but missed. The officer then tried to take her into custody, and a physical altercation ensued.During the altercation, as another officer assisted with attempting to take her into custody, a 16-year-old boy intervened by striking the second officer in the back of the head.That officer then attempted to take the 16-year-old into custody, which resulted in an additional physical altercation. Officers requested additional patrol units to respond.The 15-year-old and 16-year-old were both taken into custody and transported to Juvenile intake and assessment center.The 15-year-old was booked on a requested charge of assault and one count of battery of a law enforcement officer, and one ordinance violation for aggressive and harassing contact. The 16- year-old was booked on a requested charge of battery of a law enforcement officer and two counts of obstruction, according to Macy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Wichita! If you have any information on the incident that occurred at Roller City on New Year&#39;s Eve please contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff&#39;s Officer at 316-660-5300.&mdash; Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaPolice/status/1611070155702038529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Wichita Police Department approached the Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance to avoid any perceived conflict.After a preliminary review of the evidence, including the phone recording, the sheriff's investigators determined several witnesses to the incident didn’t provide a statement to law enforcement, according to Blick.&nbsp;Investigators are asking that any individual who witnessed the incident, or citizen who knows of someone who witnessed the incident please contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office at 316 660-5300.-------------

Sheriff's office investigates Kan. teen altercation with officers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today is Thursday, Jan. 5, the fifth day of 2023. There are 360 days left in the year.

On Jan. 5, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed assistance to countries to help them resist Communist aggression in what became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine.

In 1896, an Austrian newspaper, Wiener Presse, reported the discovery by German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen of a type of radiation that came to be known as X-rays.

In 1914, auto industrialist Henry Ford announced he was going to pay workers $5 for an 8-hour day, as opposed to $2.34 for a 9-hour day. (Employees still worked six days a week; the 5-day work week was instituted in 1926.)

In 1925, Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America's first female governor, succeeding her late husband, William, following a special election.

In 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge. (Work was completed four years later.)

In 1943, educator and scientist George Washington Carver, who was born into slavery, died in Tuskegee, Alabama, at about age 80.

In 1949, in his State of the Union address, President Harry S. Truman labeled his administration the Fair Deal.

In 1953, Samuel Beckett's two-act tragicomedy "Waiting for Godot," considered a classic of the Theater of the Absurd, premiered in Paris.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon announced that he had ordered development of the space shuttle.

In 1994, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, former speaker of the House of Representatives, died in Boston at age 81.

In 1998, Sonny Bono, the 1960s pop star-turned-politician, was killed when he struck a tree while skiing at the Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nevada-California state line; he was 62.

In 2004, foreigners arriving at U.S. airports were photographed and had their fingerprints scanned in the start of a government effort to keep terrorists out of the country.

In 2011, John Boehner was elected speaker as Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives on the first day of the new Congress.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama hailed a last-minute deal with Congress that pulled the country back from the "fiscal cliff," but warned in his Saturday radio and Internet address that he would not compromise over his insistence that lawmakers lift the federal debt ceiling.

Five years ago: Former Fox News Channel anchor and 1989 Miss America Gretchen Carlson was named chairwoman of the Miss America Organization's board of directors, with three other past pageant winners joining her on the board. In the first Rose Bowl to go into overtime, Georgia advanced to college football's national championship game with a 54-48 win over Oklahoma. Alabama advanced by beating top-ranked Clemson, 24-6, in the Sugar Bowl. Peter Martins, the longtime leader of the New York City Ballet, announced his retirement in the midst of an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct. California launched legal sales of recreational marijuana, with customers linking up early for ribbon cuttings and promotions.

One year ago: Australia denied entry to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was seeking to play for a 10th Australian Open title later in the month; authorities canceled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination rules. (Djokovic, a vocal skeptic of vaccines, would be confined to an immigration detention hotel as he began a court fight that eventually proved unsuccessful.) After being held out of the team's first 35 games because he refused to get vaccinated, Kyrie Irving scored 22 points for the Brooklyn Nets in his first game of the season as the team beat the Indiana Pacers 129-121 on the road; he was still unable to play in New York because of his vaccination status. The Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, scheduled for Jan. 31, was postponed due to what organizers called "too many risks" from the omicron variant of the coronavirus. (It would be rescheduled for early April in Las Vegas.)

Today's Birthdays: Actor Robert Duvall is 92. Juan Carlos, former King of Spain, is 85. Singer-musician Athol Guy (The Seekers) is 83. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 81. Actor-director Diane Keaton is 77. Actor Ted Lange is 75. R&amp;B musician George "Funky" Brown (Kool and the Gang) is 74. Rock musician Chris Stein (Blondie) is 73. Former CIA Director George Tenet is 70. Actor Pamela Sue Martin is 70. Actor Clancy Brown is 64. Singer Iris Dement is 62. Actor Suzy Amis is 61. Actor Ricky Paull Goldin is 58. Actor Vinnie Jones is 58. Rock musician Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson) is 57. Actor Joe Flanigan is 56. Talk show host/dancer-choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba is 55. Rock musician Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age) is 55. Actor Heather Paige Kent is 54. Rock singer Marilyn Manson is 54. Actor Shea Whigham is 54. Actor Derek Cecil is 50. Actor-comedian Jessica Chaffin is 49. Actor Bradley Cooper is 48. Actor January Jones is 45. Actor Brooklyn Sudano is 42. Actor Franz Drameh is 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Thursday, Jan. 5, the fifth day of 2023. There are 360 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Jan. 5, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed assistance to countries to help them resist Communist aggression in what became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine.On this date:In 1896, an Austrian newspaper, Wiener Presse, reported the discovery by German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen of a type of radiation that came to be known as X-rays.In 1914, auto industrialist Henry Ford announced he was going to pay workers $5 for an 8-hour day, as opposed to $2.34 for a 9-hour day. (Employees still worked six days a week; the 5-day work week was instituted in 1926.)In 1925, Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America's first female governor, succeeding her late husband, William, following a special election.In 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge. (Work was completed four years later.)In 1943, educator and scientist George Washington Carver, who was born into slavery, died in Tuskegee, Alabama, at about age 80.In 1949, in his State of the Union address, President Harry S. Truman labeled his administration the Fair Deal.In 1953, Samuel Beckett's two-act tragicomedy "Waiting for Godot," considered a classic of the Theater of the Absurd, premiered in Paris.In 1972, President Richard Nixon announced that he had ordered development of the space shuttle.In 1994, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, former speaker of the House of Representatives, died in Boston at age 81.In 1998, Sonny Bono, the 1960s pop star-turned-politician, was killed when he struck a tree while skiing at the Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nevada-California state line; he was 62.In 2004, foreigners arriving at U.S. airports were photographed and had their fingerprints scanned in the start of a government effort to keep terrorists out of the country.In 2011, John Boehner was elected speaker as Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives on the first day of the new Congress.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama hailed a last-minute deal with Congress that pulled the country back from the "fiscal cliff," but warned in his Saturday radio and Internet address that he would not compromise over his insistence that lawmakers lift the federal debt ceiling.Five years ago: Former Fox News Channel anchor and 1989 Miss America Gretchen Carlson was named chairwoman of the Miss America Organization's board of directors, with three other past pageant winners joining her on the board. In the first Rose Bowl to go into overtime, Georgia advanced to college football's national championship game with a 54-48 win over Oklahoma. Alabama advanced by beating top-ranked Clemson, 24-6, in the Sugar Bowl. Peter Martins, the longtime leader of the New York City Ballet, announced his retirement in the midst of an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct. California launched legal sales of recreational marijuana, with customers linking up early for ribbon cuttings and promotions.One year ago: Australia denied entry to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was seeking to play for a 10th Australian Open title later in the month; authorities canceled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination rules. (Djokovic, a vocal skeptic of vaccines, would be confined to an immigration detention hotel as he began a court fight that eventually proved unsuccessful.) After being held out of the team's first 35 games because he refused to get vaccinated, Kyrie Irving scored 22 points for the Brooklyn Nets in his first game of the season as the team beat the Indiana Pacers 129-121 on the road; he was still unable to play in New York because of his vaccination status. The Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, scheduled for Jan. 31, was postponed due to what organizers called "too many risks" from the omicron variant of the coronavirus. (It would be rescheduled for early April in Las Vegas.)Today's Birthdays: Actor Robert Duvall is 92. Juan Carlos, former King of Spain, is 85. Singer-musician Athol Guy (The Seekers) is 83. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 81. Actor-director Diane Keaton is 77. Actor Ted Lange is 75. R&amp;B musician George "Funky" Brown (Kool and the Gang) is 74. Rock musician Chris Stein (Blondie) is 73. Former CIA Director George Tenet is 70. Actor Pamela Sue Martin is 70. Actor Clancy Brown is 64. Singer Iris Dement is 62. Actor Suzy Amis is 61. Actor Ricky Paull Goldin is 58. Actor Vinnie Jones is 58. Rock musician Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson) is 57. Actor Joe Flanigan is 56. Talk show host/dancer-choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba is 55. Rock musician Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age) is 55. Actor Heather Paige Kent is 54. Rock singer Marilyn Manson is 54. Actor Shea Whigham is 54. Actor Derek Cecil is 50. Actor-comedian Jessica Chaffin is 49. Actor Bradley Cooper is 48. Actor January Jones is 45. Actor Brooklyn Sudano is 42. Actor Franz Drameh is 30.

Today in History - Jan. 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Faithful mourn Benedict XVI at funeral presided over by pope

JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Just after 3p.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Accent for a traffic infraction near 150th and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.  Deputies seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during the search and arrested the driver, Gina Kay Harrison, 50, of Fort Myer’s Florida.

  Harrison was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672831196240.png" alt="Harrison-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Harrison-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after 3p.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Accent for a traffic infraction near 150th and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Deputies seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during the search and arrested the driver, Gina Kay Harrison, 50, of Fort Myer’s Florida. Harrison was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Florida woman caught transporting meth in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man accused in a violent, fatal crime spree made his first court appearance on Tuesday.

Kenneth Jackson, 39 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd&nbsp;degree murder, attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 10p.m. Dec. 23, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 block of South Mission in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo

At the scene, police located two victims,&nbsp;a 22-year-0ld man and a 42-year-old man, with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

During the initial contact, officers learned that two additional victims were inside an apartment near where the two men had been shot. Officers entered the apartment and located a man and woman later identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Jose Alvarez and 22-year-old Neosha Allen unconscious and not breathing. They were pronounced deceased on the scene.

Due to the lack of cooperation from some of the victims and witnesses, investigators were not initially able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp;

Police reported Jackson's arrest on Dec. 28.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">Jackson is being held&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;on a bond of one-million-500-thousand dollars and is due back in court January 23, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671918579268.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man accused in a violent, fatal crime spree made his first court appearance on Tuesday.Kenneth Jackson, 39 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd&nbsp;degree murder, attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 10p.m. Dec. 23, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 block of South Mission in Wichita, according to Officer Juan RebolledoAt the scene, police located two victims,&nbsp;a 22-year-0ld man and a 42-year-old man, with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported them to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672319423009.png" alt="In June, police arrested Jackson on requested charges for flee or attempt to elude, driving without a valid license, reckless driving and for drugs, according to Sedgwick Co. booking records." />
 <figcaption>In June, police arrested Jackson on requested charges for flee or attempt to elude, driving without a valid license, reckless driving and for drugs, according to Sedgwick Co. booking records.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the initial contact, officers learned that two additional victims were inside an apartment near where the two men had been shot. Officers entered the apartment and located a man and woman later identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Jose Alvarez and 22-year-old Neosha Allen unconscious and not breathing. They were pronounced deceased on the scene.Due to the lack of cooperation from some of the victims and witnesses, investigators were not initially able to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp;Police reported Jackson's arrest on Dec. 28.&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=90813">Jackson is being held&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;on a bond of one-million-500-thousand dollars and is due back in court January 23, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas man charged in Christmas week double-murder

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal&nbsp; crash have made an arrest.

Just after 2a.m Monday, an&nbsp;officer on patrol observed a 2002 Mini Cooper driven recklessly by 22-year-old Brandon Mann of Atchison at 6th and U.S.59 Highway, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 The officer attempted to stop the vehicle and it fled north on 4th Street. The officer lost sight of the vehicle but subsequently located the vehicle which had left the road and landed on its top in a residential yard in 900 block North 4th Street.

One passenger identified as&nbsp; Jacey Paris, 20, Atchison, died in the accident, according to Wilson.&nbsp; EMS transported Mann and and two passengers, age 15 and 16, to an area hospital for treatment.

Just before 12:30p.m. Wednesday, Mann&nbsp;turned himself in at the Atchison Police Department to investigators with Kansas Highway Patrol and police.

He was booked on a&nbsp;District Court warrant charging him with murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child (2 counts), fleeing and attempting to elude, and reckless driving. He is being held on a bond of $750,000, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672860183672.png" alt="Mann-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Mann-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal&nbsp; crash have made an arrest.Just after 2a.m Monday, an&nbsp;officer on patrol observed a 2002 Mini Cooper driven recklessly by 22-year-old Brandon Mann of Atchison at 6th and U.S.59 Highway, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle and it fled north on 4th Street. The officer lost sight of the vehicle but subsequently located the vehicle which had left the road and landed on its top in a residential yard in 900 block North 4th Street.One passenger identified as&nbsp; Jacey Paris, 20, Atchison, died in the accident, according to Wilson.&nbsp; EMS transported Mann and and two passengers, age 15 and 16, to an area hospital for treatment.Just before 12:30p.m. Wednesday, Mann&nbsp;turned himself in at the Atchison Police Department to investigators with Kansas Highway Patrol and police.He was booked on a&nbsp;District Court warrant charging him with murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child (2 counts), fleeing and attempting to elude, and reckless driving. He is being held on a bond of $750,000, according to Wilson.

Driver in fatal crash turns himself in to KHP investigators

LINDSBORG – Music by Stravinsky, Elgar, and Schubert will be featured during the upcoming Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley (COSV) concert.

The concert is scheduled for 4 p.m. Jan. 15 in Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg. The concert is open to the public at no charge.

Supported by Bethany College and the Lindsborg Arts Council, the COSV is an auditioned regional ensemble of professional musicians that includes not only Bethany faculty members but players from Wichita, Manhattan, Salina, and Kansas City as well. Under the musical direction of Keith Dodson, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental studies, and led by concertmaster Ann Samuelson, the ensemble seeks to educate and engage audience members through the performance of orchestral masterworks.

While there are a number of symphonic orchestras in the central Kansas area, this ensemble is unique in terms of its smaller size and that it consistently maintains accomplished principal musicians from all over the region.

“As a musician and connoisseur of classical music, I believe it is essential to support the COSV as it brings a high-quality performance and people to our local area together through their appreciation of music. Represented is a diverse host of faculty from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University. Alongside these players are members of the Salina Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Kansas City Civic, and Kansas City Symphony, as well as our Lindsborg musicians and Bethany College faculty. Keith Dodson has programmed a season of music that will provoke your thoughts, inspire your creativity, and, most importantly, bring us closer as a community that cherishes decorating our communal time with the sounds of music,” said Bethany College President Elizabeth Mauch.

Members of the chamber orchestra include the following.

Ann Samuelson is a recently retired instructor of music in violin/viola and piano proficiency at Bethany College. She is a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and maintains a private studio of violin and viola students. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree and Kodaly certification from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Connecticut.

Nancy Johnson has been the principal second violin of the Wichita Symphony since 2000. She is also on the faculties of Bethel College and Hesston College, teaching private violin students. Johnson holds degrees in violin performance from The University of Kansas and Virginia Commonwealth University with post-graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado.

Ricardo Cavalcante de Oliveira started his musical career as a violist at Pernambuco Conservatory in Brazil at the age of 13. Cavalcante de Oliveira graduated from The University of Kansas with a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in viola performance in 2022.

Meagan Dodson is currently the instructor of cello at Bethany College and a student in the Masters of String Pedagogy program at the University of Kansas, studying under Hannah Collins. She was recently appointed to the cello faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.

Andrew Book&nbsp;is a 5th-12th grade orchestra teacher of 12 years in the Blue Valley West area of Overland Park. Book graduated from Wichita State University with degrees in music education and double bass, and completed his Master of Music Education degree, with an emphasis in string pedagogy.

Colleen White is an assistant professor of flute at Kansas State University. She has coordinated performance events for Grammy Award winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Guggenheim Fellows for the Colorado Flute Association and Spoleto Festival USA. White regularly performs in a wide variety of solo, orchestral, and chamber music settings across North America, including performances with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and at Carnegie Hall.

Margaret Marco is the professor of oboe at the University of Kansas and principal oboist of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University, a Master of Music Education degree from The University of Iowa, and a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the University of Illinois.

Susan Gustavson Maxwell is a teacher, performer, and reed maker. She currently, teaches bassoon, history of rock, aural skills, and introduction to music at Kansas State University and performs regularly with the Konza Wind Quintet and the Tallgrass Trio. Maxwell is the only named bassoon tool maker for her Bassoon Reed Profiler. This tool is in use at all major music schools around the country. Another area of expertise is the art of playing high notes on the bassoon. This has resulted in a High Note Studies published with three retailers.

Meri Jenkins completed her baccalaureate degree in music performance in her hometown at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and completed her master’s degree in music performance at Wichita State University. She owns and operates Intrepid Brass Wichita LLC, which creates work and opportunities for brass players through chamber brass gigs and the newly created community ensemble, Intrepid Brass Band. Jenkins teaches adjunct brass lessons at Bethel College and maintains a private studio of middle and high school students across Wichita.

Andrew Bishop holds a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Missouri and studied trumpet performance at Wichita State University. In the spring of 2019, Bishop won the principal trumpet chair with the Des Moines Symphony. In the fall of 2021, Bishop was named lecturer of trumpet at Iowa State University.

Dan Hinman is an instructor at Kansas State University where he teaches applied trombone, the KSU Trombone Choir, and other academic music courses. Hinman holds a music education degree from North Dakota State University, a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trombone performance from the University of North Texas.

Bethany CollegeLINDSBORG – Music by Stravinsky, Elgar, and Schubert will be featured during the upcoming Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley (COSV) concert.The concert is scheduled for 4 p.m. Jan. 15 in Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg. The concert is open to the public at no charge.Supported by Bethany College and the Lindsborg Arts Council, the COSV is an auditioned regional ensemble of professional musicians that includes not only Bethany faculty members but players from Wichita, Manhattan, Salina, and Kansas City as well. Under the musical direction of Keith Dodson, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental studies, and led by concertmaster Ann Samuelson, the ensemble seeks to educate and engage audience members through the performance of orchestral masterworks.While there are a number of symphonic orchestras in the central Kansas area, this ensemble is unique in terms of its smaller size and that it consistently maintains accomplished principal musicians from all over the region.“As a musician and connoisseur of classical music, I believe it is essential to support the COSV as it brings a high-quality performance and people to our local area together through their appreciation of music. Represented is a diverse host of faculty from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University. Alongside these players are members of the Salina Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Kansas City Civic, and Kansas City Symphony, as well as our Lindsborg musicians and Bethany College faculty. Keith Dodson has programmed a season of music that will provoke your thoughts, inspire your creativity, and, most importantly, bring us closer as a community that cherishes decorating our communal time with the sounds of music,” said Bethany College President Elizabeth Mauch.Members of the chamber orchestra include the following.Ann Samuelson is a recently retired instructor of music in violin/viola and piano proficiency at Bethany College. She is a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and maintains a private studio of violin and viola students. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree and Kodaly certification from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Connecticut.Nancy Johnson has been the principal second violin of the Wichita Symphony since 2000. She is also on the faculties of Bethel College and Hesston College, teaching private violin students. Johnson holds degrees in violin performance from The University of Kansas and Virginia Commonwealth University with post-graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado.Ricardo Cavalcante de Oliveira started his musical career as a violist at Pernambuco Conservatory in Brazil at the age of 13. Cavalcante de Oliveira graduated from The University of Kansas with a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in viola performance in 2022.Meagan Dodson is currently the instructor of cello at Bethany College and a student in the Masters of String Pedagogy program at the University of Kansas, studying under Hannah Collins. She was recently appointed to the cello faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.Andrew Book&nbsp;is a 5th-12th grade orchestra teacher of 12 years in the Blue Valley West area of Overland Park. Book graduated from Wichita State University with degrees in music education and double bass, and completed his Master of Music Education degree, with an emphasis in string pedagogy.Colleen White is an assistant professor of flute at Kansas State University. She has coordinated performance events for Grammy Award winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Guggenheim Fellows for the Colorado Flute Association and Spoleto Festival USA. White regularly performs in a wide variety of solo, orchestral, and chamber music settings across North America, including performances with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and at Carnegie Hall.Margaret Marco is the professor of oboe at the University of Kansas and principal oboist of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University, a Master of Music Education degree from The University of Iowa, and a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the University of Illinois.Susan Gustavson Maxwell is a teacher, performer, and reed maker. She currently, teaches bassoon, history of rock, aural skills, and introduction to music at Kansas State University and performs regularly with the Konza Wind Quintet and the Tallgrass Trio. Maxwell is the only named bassoon tool maker for her Bassoon Reed Profiler. This tool is in use at all major music schools around the country. Another area of expertise is the art of playing high notes on the bassoon. This has resulted in a High Note Studies published with three retailers.Meri Jenkins completed her baccalaureate degree in music performance in her hometown at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and completed her master’s degree in music performance at Wichita State University. She owns and operates Intrepid Brass Wichita LLC, which creates work and opportunities for brass players through chamber brass gigs and the newly created community ensemble, Intrepid Brass Band. Jenkins teaches adjunct brass lessons at Bethel College and maintains a private studio of middle and high school students across Wichita.Andrew Bishop holds a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Missouri and studied trumpet performance at Wichita State University. In the spring of 2019, Bishop won the principal trumpet chair with the Des Moines Symphony. In the fall of 2021, Bishop was named lecturer of trumpet at Iowa State University.Dan Hinman is an instructor at Kansas State University where he teaches applied trombone, the KSU Trombone Choir, and other academic music courses. Hinman holds a music education degree from North Dakota State University, a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trombone performance from the University of North Texas.

Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley concert Jan. 15

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher We’ve arrived at another intersection of old and new. A time where we say goodbye to one year while also welcoming another. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” has been sung, well-wishes have been said, and new goals have been declared. This is also a traditional time of reflection. Whether it’s looking back at the best movies watched, the total number of books read, the overall amount of rainfall measured or the number of acres acquired, we all have something to reflect on from the past year.&nbsp; So many of these reflections tend to gravitate toward numbers as the form of official measurement. Understandably, it’s a fairly easy way to look at a specific period of time and determine the wins and losses; the things that worked and the things we learned from during a year. On our farm, we take many numbers and create many charts and graphs to measure a variety of aspects from the year. From fuel prices, household expenditures, rainfall totals, market changes, sales, purchases and so much more. We can and do create visual measurements throughout the year, which allow us to reflect on a variety of areas.&nbsp; To be honest, the visual measurements, while appreciated, sometimes only provide a small glimpse into the overall area being measured and reflected upon. Some of the things we reflect on might highlight one’s strengths or weaknesses or areas for improvement, while other reflections remind us that we have minimal control. If anything, 2022 has reminded me that measurements and assessments don’t always tell a complete story when it comes to reflecting on one’s declared victories or admitted defeats at the end of a year. Numbers might look good and the means of measurement at a given point might suggest an anticipated positive outcome. But if the rain doesn’t fall, or if it falls all at once, or a windstorm blows through, or hail hits, those numbers and outcomes change in an instant. While I generally declare goals at the start of a new year, I have learned over time I won’t have a hard start and stop time with a straight line in between for the sake of measurement. If needed, adjustments will be made along the way based on routine reflections to help me get to where I want to be.&nbsp; And yes, while we have arrived at another intersection of an old year and a new year, we must recognize that there’s traffic coming from multiple directions. In reality, it is how we react and adjust while mindfully reflecting throughout the year which will allow us the opportunity to continue to move forward, getting closer to our ultimate goals.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2023 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher We’ve arrived at another intersection of old and new. A time where we say goodbye to one year while also welcoming another. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” has been sung, well-wishes have been said, and new goals have been declared. This is also a traditional time of reflection. Whether it’s looking back at the best movies watched, the total number of books read, the overall amount of rainfall measured or the number of acres acquired, we all have something to reflect on from the past year.&nbsp; So many of these reflections tend to gravitate toward numbers as the form of official measurement. Understandably, it’s a fairly easy way to look at a specific period of time and determine the wins and losses; the things that worked and the things we learned from during a year. On our farm, we take many numbers and create many charts and graphs to measure a variety of aspects from the year. From fuel prices, household expenditures, rainfall totals, market changes, sales, purchases and so much more. We can and do create visual measurements throughout the year, which allow us to reflect on a variety of areas.&nbsp; To be honest, the visual measurements, while appreciated, sometimes only provide a small glimpse into the overall area being measured and reflected upon. Some of the things we reflect on might highlight one’s strengths or weaknesses or areas for improvement, while other reflections remind us that we have minimal control. If anything, 2022 has reminded me that measurements and assessments don’t always tell a complete story when it comes to reflecting on one’s declared victories or admitted defeats at the end of a year. Numbers might look good and the means of measurement at a given point might suggest an anticipated positive outcome. But if the rain doesn’t fall, or if it falls all at once, or a windstorm blows through, or hail hits, those numbers and outcomes change in an instant. While I generally declare goals at the start of a new year, I have learned over time I won’t have a hard start and stop time with a straight line in between for the sake of measurement. If needed, adjustments will be made along the way based on routine reflections to help me get to where I want to be.&nbsp; And yes, while we have arrived at another intersection of an old year and a new year, we must recognize that there’s traffic coming from multiple directions. In reality, it is how we react and adjust while mindfully reflecting throughout the year which will allow us the opportunity to continue to move forward, getting closer to our ultimate goals."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2023 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: Routine reflections

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 4, the fourth day of 2023. There are 361 days left in the year.

On Jan. 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected the first female speaker of the House as Democrats took control of Congress.

In 1821, the first native-born American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, died in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, called for legislation to provide assistance for the jobless, elderly, impoverished children and the disabled.

In 1948, Burma (now called Myanmar) became independent of British rule.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI began a visit to the Holy Land, the first papal pilgrimage of its kind

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his "Great Society."

In 1974, President Richard Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.

In 1987, 16 people were killed when an Amtrak train bound from Washington, D.C., to Boston collided with Conrail locomotives that had crossed into its path from a side track in Chase, Maryland.

In 1990, Charles Stuart, who'd claimed that he'd been wounded and his pregnant wife fatally shot by a robber, leapt to his death off a Boston bridge after he himself became a suspect.

In 1999, Europe's new currency, the euro, got off to a strong start on its first trading day, rising against the dollar on world currency markets. Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura took the oath of office as Minnesota's governor.

In 2002, Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, was killed by small-arms fire during an ambush in eastern Afghanistan; he was the first American military death from enemy fire in the war against terrorism.

In 2006, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a significant stroke; his official powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert. (Sharon remained in a coma until his death in January 2014.)

In 2015, Pope Francis named 156 new cardinals, selecting them from 14 countries, including far-flung corners of the world, to reflect the diversity of the Roman Catholic church and its growth in places like Asia and Africa.

Ten years ago: The new Congress passed a $9.7 billion bill to help pay flood insurance claims to homeowners, renters and businesses damaged by Superstorm Sandy. No. 10 Texas A&amp;M beat No. 12 Oklahoma, 41-13, in the Cotton Bowl.

Five years ago: The Trump administration moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a five-year plan that would open up federal waters off of California for the first time in decades and possibly open new areas of oil and gas exploration along the East Coast. A massive winter storm roared into the East Coast, dumping as much as 17 inches of snow in some areas. The Dow Jones Industrial Average burst through the 25,000 mark, closing at 25,075.13 just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Ray Thomas, a founding member of the British rock group the Moody Blues, died at his home south of London at the age of 76, months before the band would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

One year ago: Nearly a year after the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a poll by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only about 4 in 10 Republicans recalled the attack by supporters of Donald Trump as violent or extremely violent; just 22% of Republicans said Trump bore significant responsibility for the riot. The government reported that a record 4.5 million Americans had quit their jobs in November, more evidence that the U.S. job market was bouncing back strongly from the coronavirus recession.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Barbara Rush is 96. Opera singer Grace Bumbry is 86. Actor Dyan Cannon is 84. Author-historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is 80. Country singer Kathy Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 69. Actor Ann Magnuson is 68. Rock musician Bernard Sumner (New Order, Joy Division) is 68. Country singer Patty Loveless is 66. Actor Julian Sands is 65. Rock singer Michael Stipe is 63. Actor Patrick Cassidy is 61. Actor Dave Foley is 60. Actor Dot Jones is 59. Actor Rick Hearst is 58. Singer-musician Cait O'Riordan is 58. Actor Julia Ormond is 58. Former tennis player Guy Forget is 58. Country singer Deana Carter is 57. Rock musician Benjamin Darvill (Crash Test Dummies) is 56. Actor Josh Stamberg is 53. Actor Damon Gupton is 50. Actor-singer Jill Marie Jones is 48. Actor D'Arcy Carden is 43. Christian rock singer Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) is 40. Actor Lenora Crichlow is 38. Comedian-actor Charlyne Yi is 37. MLB All-Star Kris Bryant is 30. Actor-singer Coco Jones is 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Wednesday, Jan. 4, the fourth day of 2023. There are 361 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Jan. 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected the first female speaker of the House as Democrats took control of Congress.On this date:In 1821, the first native-born American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, died in Emmitsburg, Maryland.In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, called for legislation to provide assistance for the jobless, elderly, impoverished children and the disabled.In 1948, Burma (now called Myanmar) became independent of British rule.In 1964, Pope Paul VI began a visit to the Holy Land, the first papal pilgrimage of its kindIn 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his "Great Society."In 1974, President Richard Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.In 1987, 16 people were killed when an Amtrak train bound from Washington, D.C., to Boston collided with Conrail locomotives that had crossed into its path from a side track in Chase, Maryland.In 1990, Charles Stuart, who'd claimed that he'd been wounded and his pregnant wife fatally shot by a robber, leapt to his death off a Boston bridge after he himself became a suspect.In 1999, Europe's new currency, the euro, got off to a strong start on its first trading day, rising against the dollar on world currency markets. Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura took the oath of office as Minnesota's governor.In 2002, Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, was killed by small-arms fire during an ambush in eastern Afghanistan; he was the first American military death from enemy fire in the war against terrorism.In 2006, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a significant stroke; his official powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert. (Sharon remained in a coma until his death in January 2014.)In 2015, Pope Francis named 156 new cardinals, selecting them from 14 countries, including far-flung corners of the world, to reflect the diversity of the Roman Catholic church and its growth in places like Asia and Africa.Ten years ago: The new Congress passed a $9.7 billion bill to help pay flood insurance claims to homeowners, renters and businesses damaged by Superstorm Sandy. No. 10 Texas A&amp;M beat No. 12 Oklahoma, 41-13, in the Cotton Bowl.Five years ago: The Trump administration moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a five-year plan that would open up federal waters off of California for the first time in decades and possibly open new areas of oil and gas exploration along the East Coast. A massive winter storm roared into the East Coast, dumping as much as 17 inches of snow in some areas. The Dow Jones Industrial Average burst through the 25,000 mark, closing at 25,075.13 just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Ray Thomas, a founding member of the British rock group the Moody Blues, died at his home south of London at the age of 76, months before the band would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.One year ago: Nearly a year after the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a poll by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only about 4 in 10 Republicans recalled the attack by supporters of Donald Trump as violent or extremely violent; just 22% of Republicans said Trump bore significant responsibility for the riot. The government reported that a record 4.5 million Americans had quit their jobs in November, more evidence that the U.S. job market was bouncing back strongly from the coronavirus recession.Today's Birthdays: Actor Barbara Rush is 96. Opera singer Grace Bumbry is 86. Actor Dyan Cannon is 84. Author-historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is 80. Country singer Kathy Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 69. Actor Ann Magnuson is 68. Rock musician Bernard Sumner (New Order, Joy Division) is 68. Country singer Patty Loveless is 66. Actor Julian Sands is 65. Rock singer Michael Stipe is 63. Actor Patrick Cassidy is 61. Actor Dave Foley is 60. Actor Dot Jones is 59. Actor Rick Hearst is 58. Singer-musician Cait O'Riordan is 58. Actor Julia Ormond is 58. Former tennis player Guy Forget is 58. Country singer Deana Carter is 57. Rock musician Benjamin Darvill (Crash Test Dummies) is 56. Actor Josh Stamberg is 53. Actor Damon Gupton is 50. Actor-singer Jill Marie Jones is 48. Actor D'Arcy Carden is 43. Christian rock singer Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) is 40. Actor Lenora Crichlow is 38. Comedian-actor Charlyne Yi is 37. MLB All-Star Kris Bryant is 30. Actor-singer Coco Jones is 25.

Today in History - Jan. 4

<a href="https://www.chaputbuoy.com/obituary/ann-barnett">Obituary | Ann Barnett of Concordia, Kansas | Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home (chaputbuoy.com)</a>

Ann Barnett, age 78, of Concordia, KS, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Sunset Nursing Home, Concordia, KS. 

Carol “Ann” Barnett, age 78, of Concordia, KS passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Sunset Nursing Home, Concordia.&nbsp; She was born on March 2, 1944 in Superior, NE to Delbert and J. &amp; E. Carol (Gridley) Jeppesen.

She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1963.&nbsp; She married Ben “Gene” Barnett on August 20, 1967 and he preceded her on October 14, 2016.&nbsp; To this union were born three children.

Ann operated a daycare in her home for several years and later worked in housekeeping for the Sisters of St. Joseph.&nbsp; She was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church and enjoyed spending time at Neighbor to Neighbor.&nbsp; Ann was especially proud of her grandchildren and attended all their games and activities.

Gene and Ann were active square dancers; they joined the Starlighters of Concordia, Kansas in 1981 and were 29-year members when the club disbanded in 2010 and then members of Salina Twirlers.&nbsp; They were both very active in the Kansas Square Dance Association, holding several offices and volunteering their time whenever it was needed.&nbsp; They were inducted into the KSDA Hall of Fame in 2017.&nbsp;

She is survived by her daughter Linda Conyac (Phillip), Stockton, KS; daughter-in-law April Barnett, Concordia, KS; grandchildren Alyssa, Emily Pearson (Sam), Cayden aqnd Gage Conyac; sister-in-law Anne Wamsley, Arkansas; brother-in-law Walter Bohaty, Bellwood, NE and a host of friends.

She was preceded by her husband Gene; a daughter, Jenny Barnett; a son, Darrel Barnett; her parents; sisters Nancy Bohaty and brother and sister-in-law Warren Jeppesen (JoAnn).

The family selected cremation and memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023 at the Concordia Lutheran Church, Concordia, KS with Jim Winter, PMA officiating.&nbsp; Burial of the cremains will be in the National Bohemian Cemetery, Cuba, KS.&nbsp; Friends may sign the register book from Friday, January 6, 2023 from 1-8 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, KS.

<h2>Ann Barnett, Concordia</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672906783630.jpeg" alt="Ann Barnett" />
 <figcaption>Ann Barnett</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.chaputbuoy.com/obituary/ann-barnett">Obituary | Ann Barnett of Concordia, Kansas | Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home (chaputbuoy.com)</a>Ann Barnett, age 78, of Concordia, KS, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Sunset Nursing Home, Concordia, KS. Carol “Ann” Barnett, age 78, of Concordia, KS passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Sunset Nursing Home, Concordia.&nbsp; She was born on March 2, 1944 in Superior, NE to Delbert and J. &amp; E. Carol (Gridley) Jeppesen.She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1963.&nbsp; She married Ben “Gene” Barnett on August 20, 1967 and he preceded her on October 14, 2016.&nbsp; To this union were born three children.Ann operated a daycare in her home for several years and later worked in housekeeping for the Sisters of St. Joseph.&nbsp; She was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church and enjoyed spending time at Neighbor to Neighbor.&nbsp; Ann was especially proud of her grandchildren and attended all their games and activities.Gene and Ann were active square dancers; they joined the Starlighters of Concordia, Kansas in 1981 and were 29-year members when the club disbanded in 2010 and then members of Salina Twirlers.&nbsp; They were both very active in the Kansas Square Dance Association, holding several offices and volunteering their time whenever it was needed.&nbsp; They were inducted into the KSDA Hall of Fame in 2017.&nbsp;She is survived by her daughter Linda Conyac (Phillip), Stockton, KS; daughter-in-law April Barnett, Concordia, KS; grandchildren Alyssa, Emily Pearson (Sam), Cayden aqnd Gage Conyac; sister-in-law Anne Wamsley, Arkansas; brother-in-law Walter Bohaty, Bellwood, NE and a host of friends.She was preceded by her husband Gene; a daughter, Jenny Barnett; a son, Darrel Barnett; her parents; sisters Nancy Bohaty and brother and sister-in-law Warren Jeppesen (JoAnn).The family selected cremation and memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023 at the Concordia Lutheran Church, Concordia, KS with Jim Winter, PMA officiating.&nbsp; Burial of the cremains will be in the National Bohemian Cemetery, Cuba, KS.&nbsp; Friends may sign the register book from Friday, January 6, 2023 from 1-8 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, KS.Memorial contributions may be given to Concordia Lutheran Church or Neighbor to Neighbor in care of Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home,&nbsp;P.O. Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901. For online condolences please visit,&nbsp;www.chaputbuoy.com.To plant Memorial Trees in memory of&nbsp;Ann Barnett, please&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.chaputbuoy.com/obituary/ann-barnett/gifts?campaign=obituaryThemed-gifts-textLink-obitText">click here to visit our Sympathy Store</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;