GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — A plumbing worker has died after a trench collapsed in western Missouri.

<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/1-killed-when-trench-collapses-in-grain-valley-missouri/38636397">KMBC-TV&nbsp;</a>reports that the accident happened Wednesday in Grain Valley, just east of Kansas City. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said crews with Preferred Plumbing Inc. of Kingsville were installing plumbing lines for homes under construction when the 10-foot-deep trench gave way.

The victim's name wasn't immediately released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640879825214.png" alt="Crews at the scene of the trench collapse -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews at the scene of the trench collapse -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — A plumbing worker has died after a trench collapsed in western Missouri.<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/1-killed-when-trench-collapses-in-grain-valley-missouri/38636397">KMBC-TV&nbsp;</a>reports that the accident happened Wednesday in Grain Valley, just east of Kansas City. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said crews with Preferred Plumbing Inc. of Kingsville were installing plumbing lines for homes under construction when the 10-foot-deep trench gave way.The victim's name wasn't immediately released.OSHA is investigating the accident.

Plumbing worker dies in Kansas City-area trench collapse

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A criminal charge has been dropped for an Omaha police officer who was accused of threatening teenagers with a gun after they allegedly pounded on the door of his home and his neighbors’ homes earlier this year.

 KETV-TV reports that a judge dismissed the case against Ja’Price Spears on Wednesday.

 Spears pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace in October and was directed to pay a fine and attend counseling sessions. 

A deputy district attorney said in court on Wednesday that Spears completed the terms, and the judge accepted his request to withdraw the plea. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A criminal charge has been dropped for an Omaha police officer who was accused of threatening teenagers with a gun after they allegedly pounded on the door of his home and his neighbors’ homes earlier this year. KETV-TV reports that a judge dismissed the case against Ja’Price Spears on Wednesday. Spears pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace in October and was directed to pay a fine and attend counseling sessions. A deputy district attorney said in court on Wednesday that Spears completed the terms, and the judge accepted his request to withdraw the plea. The incident happened in April.

Charge against Omaha police officer dismissed

WASHINGTON — President Biden committed $137 million to expanding the production of COVID-19 at-home tests using his military authority in order to meet demand, according to a statement from the White House.

On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $136.7 million contract to MilliporeSigma to establish nitrocellulose membrane production capacity in the United States.

Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests. This industrial base expansion effort will allow MilliporeSigma to establish a nitrocellulose manufacturing capability in its Sheboygan, Wisconsin facility to support more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.

The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597520864986.png" alt="photo courtesy Yale School of Public Health" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Yale School of Public Health</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Biden committed $137 million to expanding the production of COVID-19 at-home tests using his military authority in order to meet demand, according to a statement from the White House.On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $136.7 million contract to MilliporeSigma to establish nitrocellulose membrane production capacity in the United States.Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests. This industrial base expansion effort will allow MilliporeSigma to establish a nitrocellulose manufacturing capability in its Sheboygan, Wisconsin facility to support more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

Biden commits $137M to expand production of COVID at-home tests 

LAKEWOOD, Colorado-Police have identified the officer that was injured during a shooting rampage in suburban Denver.

On Monday, Dec. 27, the Lakewood and Denver communities faced an unimaginable tragedy when a gunman opened fire in both cities, killing five and injuring others. Among those injured was a Lakewood Police Agent. 

After shooting and killing 38-year-old Danny Scofield at the Lucky 13 tattoo shop, the 47-year old male suspect traveled to the Belmar shopping area where he gunned down 28-year-old Sarah Steck as she worked at the Hyatt House. At several points during this situation, the suspect exchanged gunfire with Lakewood and Denver Police. From there, the shooter headed to the area of Alaska and Vance when he encountered Lakewood Police Agent Ashley Ferris. Agent Ferris ordered him to drop his weapon as he approached her. The suspect ignored her commands and shot Agent Ferris, striking her in the abdomen. Agent Ferris, shot and wounded on the ground, was able to return fire on the suspect. The suspect was shot by Agent Ferris and died on scene. If not for the heroic efforts of Agent Ferris and other law enforcement, this incredibly violent tragedy could have been even worse. Two photos of Agent Ferris are included in this release.

Agent Ferris remains in a local hospital with her family by her side. Her family is asking for privacy during this time of healing. 

“All of us at the Lakewood Police Department are incredibly proud of Agent Ferris and the bravery shown by her and her fellow law enforcement officers during this active shooter situation. The entire Lakewood Police family will be here to support Agent Ferris and her family as she embarks on this recovery process.” says Lakewood Police Chief Dan McCasky, “Our hearts are incredibly heavy with the loss of life and injuries suffered by others during this rampage. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cardenas, Gunn-Maldonado, Scofield, Steck and Swinyard families, as well as the families of those injured.”

Donations to help support the victims, families &amp; survivors of Monday’s mass shooting incident in Lakewood &amp; Denver can be made through the Colorado Healing Fund at https://www.coloradohealingfund.org/.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640865907611.png" alt="Agent Ashley Ferris" />
 <figcaption>Agent Ashley Ferris</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Lakewood PoliceLAKEWOOD, Colorado-Police have identified the officer that was injured during a shooting rampage in suburban Denver.On Monday, Dec. 27, the Lakewood and Denver communities faced an unimaginable tragedy when a gunman opened fire in both cities, killing five and injuring others. Among those injured was a Lakewood Police Agent. After shooting and killing 38-year-old Danny Scofield at the Lucky 13 tattoo shop, the 47-year old male suspect traveled to the Belmar shopping area where he gunned down 28-year-old Sarah Steck as she worked at the Hyatt House. At several points during this situation, the suspect exchanged gunfire with Lakewood and Denver Police. From there, the shooter headed to the area of Alaska and Vance when he encountered Lakewood Police Agent Ashley Ferris. Agent Ferris ordered him to drop his weapon as he approached her. The suspect ignored her commands and shot Agent Ferris, striking her in the abdomen. Agent Ferris, shot and wounded on the ground, was able to return fire on the suspect. The suspect was shot by Agent Ferris and died on scene. If not for the heroic efforts of Agent Ferris and other law enforcement, this incredibly violent tragedy could have been even worse. Two photos of Agent Ferris are included in this release.Agent Ferris remains in a local hospital with her family by her side. Her family is asking for privacy during this time of healing. “All of us at the Lakewood Police Department are incredibly proud of Agent Ferris and the bravery shown by her and her fellow law enforcement officers during this active shooter situation. The entire Lakewood Police family will be here to support Agent Ferris and her family as she embarks on this recovery process.” says Lakewood Police Chief Dan McCasky, “Our hearts are incredibly heavy with the loss of life and injuries suffered by others during this rampage. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cardenas, Gunn-Maldonado, Scofield, Steck and Swinyard families, as well as the families of those injured.”Donations to help support the victims, families &amp; survivors of Monday’s mass shooting incident in Lakewood &amp; Denver can be made through the Colorado Healing Fund at https://www.coloradohealingfund.org/.

Lakewood police identify officer injured in shooting rampage

Everyone loves a good deal, and scammers know it. Counterfeit coupons
 are popular way for scammers to steal your identity and money. Motives 
and methods vary, but phony coupons often mean serious losses for 
retailers, consumers, or both.

You come across a website, either through a web search or an ad on 
social media, for coupons from major retailers. Usually, fake coupons 
are worth much more than real ones, offering steep discounts like 80% 
off. By using brands’ official logos, it's nearly impossible to tell if 
it’s fake or not.

In some cases, getting the “coupons” requires subscribing to a coupon
 service and paying a monthly membership fee. Once you sign up, the 
service promises to either send you digital coupons or paper coupons in 
the mail. You may never receive any coupons, or you might receive 
coupons that are fake. Plus, by signing up, you’ve handed over your 
personal details and possibly your credit card information to a 
dishonest stranger.

You may also come across coupons that offer deals in exchange for 
sharing a link on social media. Don’t do it! The link leads to a 
third-party website where visitors enter personal information in 
exchange for the coupon. In most cases, after signing up, you never 
receive any coupons. Instead, you’ve given your personal details to 
scammers.

Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams">phishing scams</a> to protect your personal information. Find other general tips at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/AvoidScams">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>.

If you’ve spotted a coupon scam, report it. Share your experience at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a> to help others recognize scams before it’s too late.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBEveryone loves a good deal, and scammers know it. Counterfeit coupons
 are popular way for scammers to steal your identity and money. Motives 
and methods vary, but phony coupons often mean serious losses for 
retailers, consumers, or both.<h2>How the scam works</h2>You come across a website, either through a web search or an ad on 
social media, for coupons from major retailers. Usually, fake coupons 
are worth much more than real ones, offering steep discounts like 80% 
off. By using brands’ official logos, it's nearly impossible to tell if 
it’s fake or not.In some cases, getting the “coupons” requires subscribing to a coupon
 service and paying a monthly membership fee. Once you sign up, the 
service promises to either send you digital coupons or paper coupons in 
the mail. You may never receive any coupons, or you might receive 
coupons that are fake. Plus, by signing up, you’ve handed over your 
personal details and possibly your credit card information to a 
dishonest stranger.You may also come across coupons that offer deals in exchange for 
sharing a link on social media. Don’t do it! The link leads to a 
third-party website where visitors enter personal information in 
exchange for the coupon. In most cases, after signing up, you never 
receive any coupons. Instead, you’ve given your personal details to 
scammers.<h2>How to avoid coupon scams </h2><ul>
 <li>Don’t fall for deals that are too good to be true. Be skeptical. If a coupon is valued near or above the retail price of an item, consider it a red flag. </li><li>Check the source of the coupon. If the coupon 
doesn’t come from a recognized coupon distributor, the manufacturer, or a
 specific store, be wary. If you aren’t sure about a coupon, visit the 
company’s website directly to look for the coupon on their official site
 or contact their customer service line to inquire. </li><li>Think before you click on links in emails. If you 
receive a coupon via email, hover your mouse over the link without 
clicking on it to see where it will take you. If the URL looks like a 
random assortment of letters and numbers, or if it is a shortened link 
that doesn’t reveal where it’s taking you, don’t click it. Only visit 
official websites to avoid downloading malware onto your computer. </li><li>Read coupons carefully. If a coupon doesn’t have an
 expiration date, if it looks photocopied, or if it contains spelling 
and grammar errors, you’re probably dealing with a fake. </li><li>Don’t trade personal information for perks. A real 
business will not ask for your personal information, such as your credit
 card number or bank account information, in exchange for a coupon or to
 enter a giveaway. Promotional offers that ask for personal information 
are usually scams. You shouldn’t have to pay to receive a coupon either. </li><li>Do a search for coupon scams. When in doubt, search
 the coupon offer along with the word “scam.” This will often bring up 
similar offers that are fake and can help you determine whether a coupon
 is real or not.</li>
 </ul><h2>For more information </h2>Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams">phishing scams</a> to protect your personal information. Find other general tips at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/AvoidScams">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>.If you’ve spotted a coupon scam, report it. Share your experience at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a> to help others recognize scams before it’s too late.

Scam alert: Watch out for fake coupons on social media

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russian troop buildup near Ukraine</a>&nbsp;during their second call in recent weeks amid little progress toward ending the smoldering crisis.

Ahead of Thursday’s call, the White House indicated that Biden would make clear to Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Putin has stepped up his demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">security guarantees</a>&nbsp;in Eastern Europe.

But Biden will reiterate to Putin that for there to be “real progress” in talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The call, which was requested by Russian officials, comes as senior U.S. and Russian officials are to hold talks on Jan. 10 in Geneva. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.

The official said Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, were not expected to take part in the coming talks. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month in which their conversation focused heavily on Russia’s troop movements that have unsettled Ukraine and other European allies.

In that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-sports-business-ap-top-news-3c17d207917eb90adeac03d5ccb31268">Dec. 7 video call</a>, the White House said Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.

Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet shortly after the upcoming Geneva talks as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.

As Biden prepared for talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”

Biden and administration officials also plan to consult with European allies after the president speaks with Putin to offer them a readout of the engagement.

Putin said earlier this week he would weigh a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.

In Thursday’s call, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, the administration official said.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current crisis.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington won’t go behind the backs of European allies in shaping policy that affects them.

The two leaders are also expected during Thursday’s call to discuss efforts to persuade Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, which was effectively scrapped by the Trump administration.

Despite differences on Ukraine and other issues, White House officials have said the Iran nuclear issue is one where they believe the U.S. and Russia can work cooperatively.

Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, is expected to participate in the call from his home near Wilmington.

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak Thursday as the Russian leader has stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe.

The two leaders will discuss “a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement announcing the call.

The talks come as the U.S. and Western allies have watched the buildup of Russian troops near the border of Ukraine, growing to an estimated 100,000 and fueling fears that Moscow is preparing to invade Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”

Price said the two discussed efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.

Putin said earlier this week he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns.

The U.S. and Russia are to hold high-level talks on Jan. 10. Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet that same week as well as Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

In Thursday’s call, which was requested by the Russians, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the upcoming call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month.

The official added that the White House sees the leader- to-leader engagement as important as the administration looks to find a way beyond this “moment of crisis” over growing worries of a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current smoldering crisis.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

“We’re approaching the broader question of diplomacy with Russia from the point of view that ... meaningful progress at the negotiating table, of course, will have to take place in a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” Sullivan said at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this month. He added “that it’s very difficult to see agreements getting consummated if we’re continuing to see an escalatory cycle.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638976547895.png" alt="Earlier this month, President Biden held a secure video call with Russian President Putin to discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including concerns about Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine, cyber security and other regional issues.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Earlier this month, President Biden held a secure video call with Russian President Putin to discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including concerns about Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine, cyber security and other regional issues.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russian troop buildup near Ukraine</a>&nbsp;during their second call in recent weeks amid little progress toward ending the smoldering crisis.Ahead of Thursday’s call, the White House indicated that Biden would make clear to Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Putin has stepped up his demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">security guarantees</a>&nbsp;in Eastern Europe.But Biden will reiterate to Putin that for there to be “real progress” in talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.The call, which was requested by Russian officials, comes as senior U.S. and Russian officials are to hold talks on Jan. 10 in Geneva. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.The official said Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, were not expected to take part in the coming talks. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month in which their conversation focused heavily on Russia’s troop movements that have unsettled Ukraine and other European allies.In that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-sports-business-ap-top-news-3c17d207917eb90adeac03d5ccb31268">Dec. 7 video call</a>, the White House said Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet shortly after the upcoming Geneva talks as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.As Biden prepared for talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”Biden and administration officials also plan to consult with European allies after the president speaks with Putin to offer them a readout of the engagement.Putin said earlier this week he would weigh a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.In Thursday’s call, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, the administration official said.In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current crisis.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington won’t go behind the backs of European allies in shaping policy that affects them.The two leaders are also expected during Thursday’s call to discuss efforts to persuade Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, which was effectively scrapped by the Trump administration.Despite differences on Ukraine and other issues, White House officials have said the Iran nuclear issue is one where they believe the U.S. and Russia can work cooperatively.Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, is expected to participate in the call from his home near Wilmington.---------REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak Thursday as the Russian leader has stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe.The two leaders will discuss “a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement announcing the call.The talks come as the U.S. and Western allies have watched the buildup of Russian troops near the border of Ukraine, growing to an estimated 100,000 and fueling fears that Moscow is preparing to invade Ukraine.Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”Price said the two discussed efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.Putin said earlier this week he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns.The U.S. and Russia are to hold high-level talks on Jan. 10. Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet that same week as well as Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.In Thursday’s call, which was requested by the Russians, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the upcoming call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month.The official added that the White House sees the leader- to-leader engagement as important as the administration looks to find a way beyond this “moment of crisis” over growing worries of a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current smoldering crisis.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.“We’re approaching the broader question of diplomacy with Russia from the point of view that ... meaningful progress at the negotiating table, of course, will have to take place in a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” Sullivan said at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this month. He added “that it’s very difficult to see agreements getting consummated if we’re continuing to see an escalatory cycle.”The two leaders are also expected during Thursday’s call to discuss efforts to persuade Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, which was effectively scrapped by the Trump administration.Despite differences on Ukraine and other issues, White House officials have said the Iran nuclear issue is one where they believe the U.S. and Russia can work cooperatively.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.

Biden, Putin to hold 2nd call this month as tension smolders

DENVER (AP) — Four of the people shot in a deadly rampage in Denver were attacked at tattoo shops, raising questions about why they were targeted. 

Police say 47-year-old Lyndon James McLeod knew most of the people he shot Monday at several locations around the metro area, through either business or personal relationships.

 They were still investigating his motive. 

McLeod once owned a business called Flat Black Ink Corp. at a Denver address that is now home to the World Tattoo Studio.

 The first shooting happened at a tattoo shop about a mile away. Two women were killed there, and a man was wounded.

DENVER (AP) — Four of the people shot in a deadly rampage in Denver were attacked at tattoo shops, raising questions about why they were targeted. Police say 47-year-old Lyndon James McLeod knew most of the people he shot Monday at several locations around the metro area, through either business or personal relationships. They were still investigating his motive. McLeod once owned a business called Flat Black Ink Corp. at a Denver address that is now home to the World Tattoo Studio. The first shooting happened at a tattoo shop about a mile away. Two women were killed there, and a man was wounded.

4 shot in Denver rampage attacked at tattoo shops

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of motor vehicle in connection with a crash that killed four people from Kansas earlier this year. 

Ronald Dubas of La Vista was charged in Cass County earlier this month.

 Dubas posted bail and is out of jail ahead of a Jan. 11 hearing, but court records don't list an attorney representing him. 

 Prosecutors said the 56-year-old Dubas’ pickup truck crossed the centerline and collided with a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt on U.S. Highway 75 just south of Union, Nebraska on Jan. 31. 

Four people in the car from Topeka, Kansas died in the crash. 

A 20-year-old woman who was riding in the front passenger seat survived the wreck.

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of motor vehicle in connection with a crash that killed four people from Kansas earlier this year. Ronald Dubas of La Vista was charged in Cass County earlier this month. Dubas posted bail and is out of jail ahead of a Jan. 11 hearing, but court records don't list an attorney representing him. Prosecutors said the 56-year-old Dubas’ pickup truck crossed the centerline and collided with a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt on U.S. Highway 75 just south of Union, Nebraska on Jan. 31. Four people in the car from Topeka, Kansas died in the crash. A 20-year-old woman who was riding in the front passenger seat survived the wreck.

Nebraska man charged in crash that killed 4 from Kansas

Lincoln – Powerball® and Mega Millions® are saying goodbye to 2021 with big jackpots, and the Nebraska Lottery reminds customers to play responsibly.

A string of drawings without a jackpot winner has grown the estimated Powerball jackpot to its highest level since October. There have been 36 consecutive drawings since October 6 without a jackpot winner. This run has grown the estimated jackpot for the Wednesday, December 29 drawing to $441 million or $317.5 million with the cash option selected.

Mega Millions has also seen its jackpot grow over the last few months. There have been 19 drawings since October 26 without a jackpot winner. The estimated jackpot for the Friday, December 31 drawing is $221 million or $159.6 million with the cash option selected.

The dual jackpot runs have produced some large Nebraska winners.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot on record occurred in October 2018 when one winner in South Carolina won a $1.537 billion jackpot. The largest Powerball jackpot on record occurred in January 2016 when three winners in California, Florida and Tennessee split a $1.586 billion jackpot.

Because of the high jackpots, the Nebraska Lottery encourages customers to play within their means. “It’s important for Nebraska Lottery players to remember that no matter how large the jackpot is, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million, and the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million,” said Lottery Director Brian Rockey. “Your odds of winning remain the same, regardless of how many tickets are purchased or how many people play.” If you or someone you know has a problem with compulsive gambling, free help is available at problemgambling.nebraska.gov.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $843 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Lincoln – Powerball® and Mega Millions® are saying goodbye to 2021 with big jackpots, and the Nebraska Lottery reminds customers to play responsibly.A string of drawings without a jackpot winner has grown the estimated Powerball jackpot to its highest level since October. There have been 36 consecutive drawings since October 6 without a jackpot winner. This run has grown the estimated jackpot for the Wednesday, December 29 drawing to $441 million or $317.5 million with the cash option selected.Mega Millions has also seen its jackpot grow over the last few months. There have been 19 drawings since October 26 without a jackpot winner. The estimated jackpot for the Friday, December 31 drawing is $221 million or $159.6 million with the cash option selected.The dual jackpot runs have produced some large Nebraska winners.<ul>
 <li>A $10,000 Mega Millions winning ticket for the November 12 drawing was sold at Pump &amp; Pantry #06, 3355 W Stolley Park Road in Grand Island.</li><li>A $30,000 Mega Millions with Megaplier winning ticket for the November 16 drawing was sold at Russ's Market #16, 4400 S 33rd Street Court in Lincoln.</li><li>A $20,000 Mega Millions with Megaplier winning ticket for the November 30 drawing was sold at Hy-Vee Food Store #1620, 2501 Cornhusker Plaza in South Sioux City.</li>
 </ul>The largest Mega Millions jackpot on record occurred in October 2018 when one winner in South Carolina won a $1.537 billion jackpot. The largest Powerball jackpot on record occurred in January 2016 when three winners in California, Florida and Tennessee split a $1.586 billion jackpot.Play ResponsiblyBecause of the high jackpots, the Nebraska Lottery encourages customers to play within their means. “It’s important for Nebraska Lottery players to remember that no matter how large the jackpot is, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million, and the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million,” said Lottery Director Brian Rockey. “Your odds of winning remain the same, regardless of how many tickets are purchased or how many people play.” If you or someone you know has a problem with compulsive gambling, free help is available at problemgambling.nebraska.gov.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $843 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Powerball, Mega Millions end 2021 with big jackpots

SEWARD, Neb. (AP) — Deputies in Seward County made a surprising find after stopping a tractor-trailer — 45 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a stolen vehicle being hauled by the semi. 

The incident happened Dec. 17 but was announced in a news release Tuesday. 

Deputies stopped the semi that was hauling eight vehicles on Interstate 80 near the Seward exit. 

The news release said deputies unloaded a 2021 Infiniti SUV for further inspection and found five pounds of methamphetamine in the speaker compartment and another 40 pounds in a spare tire.

 The street value of the drugs was estimated at $315,000. 

Further inspection revealed the Infiniti had been stolen in California. 

SEWARD, Neb. (AP) — Deputies in Seward County made a surprising find after stopping a tractor-trailer — 45 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a stolen vehicle being hauled by the semi. The incident happened Dec. 17 but was announced in a news release Tuesday. Deputies stopped the semi that was hauling eight vehicles on Interstate 80 near the Seward exit. The news release said deputies unloaded a 2021 Infiniti SUV for further inspection and found five pounds of methamphetamine in the speaker compartment and another 40 pounds in a spare tire. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $315,000. Further inspection revealed the Infiniti had been stolen in California. An investigation continues.

45 pounds of meth found in stolen car during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials’ decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-rochelle-walensky-d7d609c9c01e200d250df7ca7282c9d6">shorten the recommended COVID-19 isolation</a>&nbsp;and quarantine period from 10 days to five is drawing criticism from some medical experts and could create more confusion and fear among Americans.

To the dismay of some authorities, the new guidelines allow people to leave isolation without getting tested to see if they are still infectious.

The guidance has raised questions about how it was crafted and why it was changed now, in the middle of another wintertime spike in cases, this one driven largely by the highly contagious omicron variant.

Monday’s action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut in half the recommended isolation time for Americans who are infected with the coronavirus but have no symptoms. The CDC similarly shortened the amount of time people who have come into close contact with an infected person need to quarantine.

The CDC has been under pressure from the public and the private sector, including Delta Air Lines, to explore ways to shorten the isolation time and reduce the risk of severe staffing shortages amid the omicron surge. Thousands of airline flights have been canceled over the past few days in a mess blamed on omicron.

“Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact, many are going to be asymptomatic,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”

CDC officials said the guidance is in keeping with growing evidence that people with the virus are most infectious in the first few days.

Louis Mansky, director of the Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Minnesota, agreed there is a scientific basis to the CDC’s recommendations.

“When somebody gets infected, when are they most likely to transmit the virus to another person?” he said. “It’s usually in the earlier course of the illness, which is typically a day or two before they actually develop symptoms and then a couple of days to three days after that.”

Research, including a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine in August, backs that up, though medical experts cautioned that nearly all of the data predates omicron.

But other experts questioned why the CDC guidelines allow people to leave isolation without testing.

“It’s frankly reckless to proceed like this,” said Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. “Using a rapid test or some type of test to validate that the person isn’t infectious is vital.”

“There’s no evidence, no data to support this,” he added.

Mansky said CDC probably didn’t include exit testing in its guidelines for logistical reasons: There is a run on COVID-19 rapid tests amid the spike in cases and the busy holiday travel season. In many places, at-home tests are difficult or impossible to find.

The CDC is “driven by the science, but they also have to be cognizant of the fact of, you know, what are they going to tell the public that they’ll do,” Mansky said. “That would undermine CDC if they had guidance that everybody was ignoring.”

Qamara Edwards, director of business and events for Sojourn Philly, which owns four restaurants in Philadelphia, said about 15% of its employees are out sick with COVID-19, and staffing is tight.

The CDC changes are “great for businesses, they do allow people to return to work sooner than they’ve expected,” Edwards said, though she understands why workers might be resistant and worried about their safety.

In Los Angeles, King Holder, who runs the StretchLab Beverly fitness business, likewise said omicron has caused “caused ample” to his company, and he welcomed the more relaxed guidelines.

“The possibility of five days compared to 10-14 days is huge for our business and allows us to stay afloat,” he said.

But Dana Martin, a 38-year-old Philadelphia teacher and educational consultant, said: “The looser COVID guidelines make me nervous. I’m more hesitant to participate in holiday activities because of the omicron variant and the seemingly more lax protocols.”

Marshall Hatch, senior pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Church on Chicago’s West Side, said he is bracing for some confusion in his congregation. The church has been a strong advocate for testing, vaccinations and booster shots.

Hatch said the CDC’s latest guidance is confusing and “a little incongruous.”

“Either we’re in a surge that we need to take very seriously or are we winding down the pandemic and that’s why we’re shortening the isolation and quarantine times,” he said Tuesday. “They might want to give us a little more information to go with.”

Hatch said some members of the largely Black congregation, particularly senior citizens, are skeptical of information from government.

The CDC move follows global efforts to adjust isolation rules, with policies differing from country to country.

England last week trimmed its self-isolation period for vaccinated people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to seven days in many cases, provided two negative lateral flow tests are taken a day apart.

The French government said Monday that it will soon relax its isolation rules, although by exactly how much isn’t yet clear.

Health Minister Olivier Veran said the rule changes will be aimed at warding off “paralysis” of public and private services. By some estimates, France could be registering more than 250,000 new infections per day by January.

Italy, meanwhile, is considering doing away with a quarantine altogether for those who have had close contact with an infected person as long they have had a booster shot. Projections indicate as many as 2 million Italians could be put in quarantine over the next two weeks as the virus spreads.

The U.S. airline industry applauded the CDC move.

“The decision is the right one based upon science,” said the lobbying group Airlines for America.

But the head of a flight attendants union criticized the change, saying it could lead businesses to pressure sick employees to come back before they are well.

If that happens, “we will make clear it is an unsafe work environment, which will cause a much greater disruption than any ‘staffing shortages,’” warned Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635890433225.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday, “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday, “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials’ decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-rochelle-walensky-d7d609c9c01e200d250df7ca7282c9d6">shorten the recommended COVID-19 isolation</a>&nbsp;and quarantine period from 10 days to five is drawing criticism from some medical experts and could create more confusion and fear among Americans.To the dismay of some authorities, the new guidelines allow people to leave isolation without getting tested to see if they are still infectious.The guidance has raised questions about how it was crafted and why it was changed now, in the middle of another wintertime spike in cases, this one driven largely by the highly contagious omicron variant.Monday’s action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut in half the recommended isolation time for Americans who are infected with the coronavirus but have no symptoms. The CDC similarly shortened the amount of time people who have come into close contact with an infected person need to quarantine.The CDC has been under pressure from the public and the private sector, including Delta Air Lines, to explore ways to shorten the isolation time and reduce the risk of severe staffing shortages amid the omicron surge. Thousands of airline flights have been canceled over the past few days in a mess blamed on omicron.“Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact, many are going to be asymptomatic,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”CDC officials said the guidance is in keeping with growing evidence that people with the virus are most infectious in the first few days.Louis Mansky, director of the Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Minnesota, agreed there is a scientific basis to the CDC’s recommendations.“When somebody gets infected, when are they most likely to transmit the virus to another person?” he said. “It’s usually in the earlier course of the illness, which is typically a day or two before they actually develop symptoms and then a couple of days to three days after that.”Research, including a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine in August, backs that up, though medical experts cautioned that nearly all of the data predates omicron.But other experts questioned why the CDC guidelines allow people to leave isolation without testing.“It’s frankly reckless to proceed like this,” said Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. “Using a rapid test or some type of test to validate that the person isn’t infectious is vital.”“There’s no evidence, no data to support this,” he added.Mansky said CDC probably didn’t include exit testing in its guidelines for logistical reasons: There is a run on COVID-19 rapid tests amid the spike in cases and the busy holiday travel season. In many places, at-home tests are difficult or impossible to find.The CDC is “driven by the science, but they also have to be cognizant of the fact of, you know, what are they going to tell the public that they’ll do,” Mansky said. “That would undermine CDC if they had guidance that everybody was ignoring.”Qamara Edwards, director of business and events for Sojourn Philly, which owns four restaurants in Philadelphia, said about 15% of its employees are out sick with COVID-19, and staffing is tight.The CDC changes are “great for businesses, they do allow people to return to work sooner than they’ve expected,” Edwards said, though she understands why workers might be resistant and worried about their safety.In Los Angeles, King Holder, who runs the StretchLab Beverly fitness business, likewise said omicron has caused “caused ample” to his company, and he welcomed the more relaxed guidelines.“The possibility of five days compared to 10-14 days is huge for our business and allows us to stay afloat,” he said.But Dana Martin, a 38-year-old Philadelphia teacher and educational consultant, said: “The looser COVID guidelines make me nervous. I’m more hesitant to participate in holiday activities because of the omicron variant and the seemingly more lax protocols.”Marshall Hatch, senior pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Church on Chicago’s West Side, said he is bracing for some confusion in his congregation. The church has been a strong advocate for testing, vaccinations and booster shots.Hatch said the CDC’s latest guidance is confusing and “a little incongruous.”“Either we’re in a surge that we need to take very seriously or are we winding down the pandemic and that’s why we’re shortening the isolation and quarantine times,” he said Tuesday. “They might want to give us a little more information to go with.”Hatch said some members of the largely Black congregation, particularly senior citizens, are skeptical of information from government.The CDC move follows global efforts to adjust isolation rules, with policies differing from country to country.England last week trimmed its self-isolation period for vaccinated people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to seven days in many cases, provided two negative lateral flow tests are taken a day apart.The French government said Monday that it will soon relax its isolation rules, although by exactly how much isn’t yet clear.Health Minister Olivier Veran said the rule changes will be aimed at warding off “paralysis” of public and private services. By some estimates, France could be registering more than 250,000 new infections per day by January.Italy, meanwhile, is considering doing away with a quarantine altogether for those who have had close contact with an infected person as long they have had a booster shot. Projections indicate as many as 2 million Italians could be put in quarantine over the next two weeks as the virus spreads.The U.S. airline industry applauded the CDC move.“The decision is the right one based upon science,” said the lobbying group Airlines for America.But the head of a flight attendants union criticized the change, saying it could lead businesses to pressure sick employees to come back before they are well.If that happens, “we will make clear it is an unsafe work environment, which will cause a much greater disruption than any ‘staffing shortages,’” warned Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International.___

CDC confusion: Move to shorten COVID isolation draws criticism 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader and Nevada’s longest-serving member of Congress, has died. He was 82. Landra Reid says her husband died peacefully after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. 

The combative former boxer-turned-lawyer was widely-acknowledged as one of toughest dealmakers in Congress. Over a 34-year career in Washington, Reid thrived on behind-the-scenes wrangling and kept the Senate controlled by his party through two presidents, a crippling recession and the Republican takeover of the House after the 2010 elections. He retired in 2016 after an accident left him blind in one eye.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640742523815.png" alt="Sen. Harry Reid photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Harry Reid photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader and Nevada’s longest-serving member of Congress, has died. He was 82. Landra Reid says her husband died peacefully after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Harry Reid was one of the most amazing individuals I&#39;ve ever met He never forgot where he came from and used those boxing instincts to fearlessly fight those who were hurting the poor &amp; the middle class He’s gone but will walk by the sides of many of us in the Senate every day <a href="https://t.co/8T9PiD7vY4">pic.twitter.com/8T9PiD7vY4</a>&mdash; Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1475997288497565699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The combative former boxer-turned-lawyer was widely-acknowledged as one of toughest dealmakers in Congress. Over a 34-year career in Washington, Reid thrived on behind-the-scenes wrangling and kept the Senate controlled by his party through two presidents, a crippling recession and the Republican takeover of the House after the 2010 elections. He retired in 2016 after an accident left him blind in one eye.

Harry Reid, former Senate majority leader, dies at 82

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 20-year-old Lincoln man died Monday after crashing his car early Christmas morning while trying to flee a traffic stop. 

Lincoln police said Tuesday that Ahmad Gregory was critically injured in Saturday’s crash and died late Monday. 

The Nebraska State Patrol says it attempted to stop Gregory just before 1 a.m. Saturday as he was driving a Mercedes sedan without license plates.

 During a short chase, Gregory struck a parked car.

 The patrol says Gregory wasn't wearing a seat belt.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 20-year-old Lincoln man died Monday after crashing his car early Christmas morning while trying to flee a traffic stop. Lincoln police said Tuesday that Ahmad Gregory was critically injured in Saturday’s crash and died late Monday. An autopsy is planned. The Nebraska State Patrol says it attempted to stop Gregory just before 1 a.m. Saturday as he was driving a Mercedes sedan without license plates. During a short chase, Gregory struck a parked car. The patrol says Gregory wasn't wearing a seat belt.

Lincoln man dies after crashing car while fleeing police

Update 11:07 a.m. Dec. 28 LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — In a Dec. 27 story about a Lincoln man whose car crashed while he was fleeing from police, The Associated Press, based on information from the Nebraska State Patrol, erroneously reported that the man, 20-year-old Ahmad Gregory, had died. Lincoln police later said Gregory was critically injured and was on life support Monday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 20-year-old Lincoln man has died after crashing his car early Christmas morning while trying to flee a traffic stop.

 KFOR-AM reports that the Nebraska Highway Patrol says Ahmad Gregory died at a local hospital after being taken there following the crash. 

The patrol has asked Lincoln police to investigate the crash. 

The patrol said it attempted to stop Gregory just before 1 a.m. Saturday as he was driving a Mercedes sedan without license plates. 

During a short chase, Gregory struck a parked car. 

The patrol said Gregory was not wearing a seat belt.

Update 11:07 a.m. Dec. 28 LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — In a Dec. 27 story about a Lincoln man whose car crashed while he was fleeing from police, The Associated Press, based on information from the Nebraska State Patrol, erroneously reported that the man, 20-year-old Ahmad Gregory, had died. Lincoln police later said Gregory was critically injured and was on life support Monday.---LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 20-year-old Lincoln man has died after crashing his car early Christmas morning while trying to flee a traffic stop. KFOR-AM reports that the Nebraska Highway Patrol says Ahmad Gregory died at a local hospital after being taken there following the crash. The patrol has asked Lincoln police to investigate the crash. The patrol said it attempted to stop Gregory just before 1 a.m. Saturday as he was driving a Mercedes sedan without license plates. During a short chase, Gregory struck a parked car. The patrol said Gregory was not wearing a seat belt.

UPDATE: Lincoln man, 20, critically injured after crash while trying to flee stop

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha man who stabbed himself in the throat and was shot by police after allegedly charging at his mother and officers with a knife is now in fair condition.

 Police said Monday that 37-year-old Justin Michalak will be booked on several assault charges as soon as he is released from the hospital.

 Meanwhile, his 66-year-old mother was treated and released from a cut on the hand she suffered in the incident on Thursday. 

The officer who shot Michalak will be on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha man who stabbed himself in the throat and was shot by police after allegedly charging at his mother and officers with a knife is now in fair condition. Police said Monday that 37-year-old Justin Michalak will be booked on several assault charges as soon as he is released from the hospital. Meanwhile, his 66-year-old mother was treated and released from a cut on the hand she suffered in the incident on Thursday. The officer who shot Michalak will be on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

Man shot by police in Omaha now in fair condition

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, authorizing $768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7% pay raise for service members, for 2022.

The NDAA authorizes a 5% increase in military spending, and is the product of intense negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over issues ranging from reforms of the military justice system to COVID-19 vaccine requirements for soldiers.

“The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense,” Biden said Monday in a statement.

The $768.2 billion price tag marks $25 billion more than Biden initially requested from Congress, a prior proposal that was rejected by members of both parties out of concerns it would undermine U.S. efforts to keep pace militarily with China and Russia.

The new bill passed earlier this month with bipartisan support, with Democrats and Republicans touting wins in the final package.

Democrats applauded provisions in the bill overhauling how the military justice system handles sexual assault and other related crimes, effectively taking prosecutorial jurisdiction over such crimes out of the hands of military commanders.

Republicans, meanwhile, touted success in blocking an effort to add women to the draft, as well as the inclusion of a provision that bars dishonorable discharges for service members who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine.

The bill includes $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and a statement of congressional support for the defense of Taiwan, measures intended to counteract China’s influence in the region.

It also includes $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a show of support in the face of Russian aggression, as well as $4 billion for the European Defense Initiative.

In his statement, the president also outlined a number of provisions his administration opposes over what he characterized as “constitutional concerns or questions of construction.”

Those planks include provisions that restrict the use of funds to transfer or release individuals detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, which the Biden administration is moving to close. Biden’s statement said the provisions “unduly impair” the executive branch’s ability to decide when and where to prosecute detainees and where to send them when they’re released, and could constrain U.S. negotiations with foreign countries over the transfer of detainees in a way that could undermine national security.

The law also has provisions barring goods produced by forced Uyghur labor in China from entering the U.S., and it begins to lay out plans for the new Global War on Terror Memorial, which would be the latest addition to the National Mall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640700282700.png" alt="The new bill passed earlier this month with bipartisan support, with Democrats and Republicans touting wins in the final package-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The new bill passed earlier this month with bipartisan support, with Democrats and Republicans touting wins in the final package-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, authorizing $768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7% pay raise for service members, for 2022.The NDAA authorizes a 5% increase in military spending, and is the product of intense negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over issues ranging from reforms of the military justice system to COVID-19 vaccine requirements for soldiers.“The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense,” Biden said Monday in a statement.The $768.2 billion price tag marks $25 billion more than Biden initially requested from Congress, a prior proposal that was rejected by members of both parties out of concerns it would undermine U.S. efforts to keep pace militarily with China and Russia.The new bill passed earlier this month with bipartisan support, with Democrats and Republicans touting wins in the final package.Democrats applauded provisions in the bill overhauling how the military justice system handles sexual assault and other related crimes, effectively taking prosecutorial jurisdiction over such crimes out of the hands of military commanders.Republicans, meanwhile, touted success in blocking an effort to add women to the draft, as well as the inclusion of a provision that bars dishonorable discharges for service members who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine.The bill includes $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and a statement of congressional support for the defense of Taiwan, measures intended to counteract China’s influence in the region.It also includes $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a show of support in the face of Russian aggression, as well as $4 billion for the European Defense Initiative.In his statement, the president also outlined a number of provisions his administration opposes over what he characterized as “constitutional concerns or questions of construction.”Those planks include provisions that restrict the use of funds to transfer or release individuals detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, which the Biden administration is moving to close. Biden’s statement said the provisions “unduly impair” the executive branch’s ability to decide when and where to prosecute detainees and where to send them when they’re released, and could constrain U.S. negotiations with foreign countries over the transfer of detainees in a way that could undermine national security.The law also has provisions barring goods produced by forced Uyghur labor in China from entering the U.S., and it begins to lay out plans for the new Global War on Terror Memorial, which would be the latest addition to the National Mall.

Pay raise for service members: Biden signs $768B defense bill 

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hppr.org/people/david-condos">David Condos</a>, <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-12-22/kansas-ranchers-face-a-long-road-to-recovery-after-devastating-wildfires">Kansas News Service</a>

Extreme winds and drought fueled widespread grass fires across western and central Kansas earlier this month. Now, the ranchers, farmers and communities who lost so much begin to pick up the pieces.

PARADISE, Kansas&nbsp;— This time of year, rancher Rich Koester is normally busy caring for newborn calves or feeding his herd to get them ready for winter.

As he walked up to the edge of a freshly dug pit roughly the size of a backyard swimming pool, the charred stubble of prairie grass crunched beneath his feet.

Days after the wildfire that torched his pasture went out, the smell of smoke still hung in the air.

“It was burning so fast that it just went over the top of everything. … A lot of the cattle didn’t have a chance,” he said, fighting back tears. “I don’t know how any of mine survived.”

To his right, a construction excavator just finished lowering one more dead cow onto a pile of about 20 carcasses in this mass grave.

Koester said the fire killed more than a third of his 200-head herd and engulfed every bit of his roughly 800-acre pasture.

“As far as you can see around here, it’s burnt,” he said. “It took all of it.”

The unrelenting wind storm that tore across Kansas on Dec. 15 sparked widespread, devastating wildfires fueled by dry grass and up to 100 mph gusts. For ranchers like Koester, the days and nights since the storm have been long and filled with difficult choices. And this is just the start of a much longer road to recovery.

The land Koester has ranched in Russell County for three decades sat squarely in the path of a fire that tore through well over 100,000 acres following the storm.

Still, he considers himself luckier than most around here. The fire only burned his land and cattle. He said some of his neighbors lost a lot more — homes, barns, vehicles.

“So you can see how much it’s affected a lot of people, not just me,” he said. “I’m just a little drop in the bucket.”

Along the dirt roads near Koester’s ranch, other fields and rolling grassland hills have been charred black. Some that aren’t black are tan — the color of the wind-blown soot now covering them in rippled dunes that resemble a desert.

Ash gray tree stumps and scorched yucca stems poke out from mounds of dust. Half-burned wooden fence posts hang from barbed wire.

The blaze that covered this area has been dubbed the Four County Fire because it burned parts of Russell, Ellis, Osborne and Rooks Counties.

This Four County Fire alone incinerated more than 190 square miles. That’s an area larger than all of Wyandotte County (156 square miles) or the city of Wichita (166.5 square miles).

Courtesy Of Kansas Forest Service/This map from the Kansas Forest Service shows the locations of the 16 wildfires that burned parts of western and central Kansas on Dec. 15.

But it wasn’t the only wildfire that the wind storm sparked. In all, the Kansas Forest Service recorded 16 wildfires in western and central Kansas that day, singeing more than 160,000 acres across 13 counties.

Shawna Hartman, a Kansas Forest Service spokeswoman, said the destruction was so extensive that local fire suppression teams — which often travel to assist neighboring counties — were stretched thin.

“That storm was such a widespread storm that every county had something going on,” she said. “Or if they didn't, the storm was still on its way.”

And the extreme wind made it too dangerous for state firefighters and water-toting aircraft to arrive on the scene until the next day.

Hartman said the state’s usual wildfire season hits in the spring. But the abnormally dry conditions in western and central Kansas this fall — Kansas State University’s research center in Hays has recorded&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WKREC/status/1473664784054763528" target="_blank">no rainfall</a>&nbsp;in the area since November 3rd — left the region ripe for an earlier fire of this magnitude.

“It was definitely a perfect storm,” she said. “These fires ran for 20-plus miles in an afternoon. … It's very, very reminiscent of what you would see in California.”

The Kansas Forest Service knows all too well what those California fires look and feel like.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640356776322.png" alt="Russell County rancher Rich Koester sits on his four-wheeler with his dog, Gibbs. Koester estimates that all of his roughly 800-acre pasture burned in the Four County Fire.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Russell County rancher Rich Koester sits on his four-wheeler with his dog, Gibbs. Koester estimates that all of his roughly 800-acre pasture burned in the Four County Fire.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hppr.org/people/david-condos">David Condos</a>, <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-12-22/kansas-ranchers-face-a-long-road-to-recovery-after-devastating-wildfires">Kansas News Service</a><h2>Extreme winds and drought fueled widespread grass fires across western and central Kansas earlier this month. Now, the ranchers, farmers and communities who lost so much begin to pick up the pieces.</h2>PARADISE, Kansas&nbsp;— This time of year, rancher Rich Koester is normally busy caring for newborn calves or feeding his herd to get them ready for winter.Instead, he’s busy burying livestock.As he walked up to the edge of a freshly dug pit roughly the size of a backyard swimming pool, the charred stubble of prairie grass crunched beneath his feet.Days after the wildfire that torched his pasture went out, the smell of smoke still hung in the air.“It was burning so fast that it just went over the top of everything. … A lot of the cattle didn’t have a chance,” he said, fighting back tears. “I don’t know how any of mine survived.”<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fa3ca8b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4541x3070+0+0/resize/880x595!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffc%2Fd4%2Fe58bbdc84a40b2d420a963f3d22e%2Fimg-2291-2.JPG" alt="An excavator lowers cattle carcasses into a burial pit on Koester's ranch. He estimates he lost more than a third of his herd to the fire.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>An excavator lowers cattle carcasses into a burial pit on Koester's ranch. He estimates he lost more than a third of his herd to the fire.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>To his right, a construction excavator just finished lowering one more dead cow onto a pile of about 20 carcasses in this mass grave.Koester said the fire killed more than a third of his 200-head herd and engulfed every bit of his roughly 800-acre pasture.“As far as you can see around here, it’s burnt,” he said. “It took all of it.”The unrelenting wind storm that tore across Kansas on Dec. 15 sparked widespread, devastating wildfires fueled by dry grass and up to 100 mph gusts. For ranchers like Koester, the days and nights since the storm have been long and filled with difficult choices. And this is just the start of a much longer road to recovery.The land Koester has ranched in Russell County for three decades sat squarely in the path of a fire that tore through well over 100,000 acres following the storm.Still, he considers himself luckier than most around here. The fire only burned his land and cattle. He said some of his neighbors lost a lot more — homes, barns, vehicles.“So you can see how much it’s affected a lot of people, not just me,” he said. “I’m just a little drop in the bucket.”<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e803216/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fff%2F79%2Fff7595b64f6781791715f0eedc66%2Fimg-0497.jpg" alt="A half-burned wooden fence post hangs on barbed wire near Koester's ranch in Russell County. The wind covered the burned grass in this area with a layer of tan soot and dust.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A half-burned wooden fence post hangs on barbed wire near Koester's ranch in Russell County. The wind covered the burned grass in this area with a layer of tan soot and dust.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Dust, soot and ashAlong the dirt roads near Koester’s ranch, other fields and rolling grassland hills have been charred black. Some that aren’t black are tan — the color of the wind-blown soot now covering them in rippled dunes that resemble a desert.Ash gray tree stumps and scorched yucca stems poke out from mounds of dust. Half-burned wooden fence posts hang from barbed wire.The blaze that covered this area has been dubbed the Four County Fire because it burned parts of Russell, Ellis, Osborne and Rooks Counties.This Four County Fire alone incinerated more than 190 square miles. That’s an area larger than all of Wyandotte County (156 square miles) or the city of Wichita (166.5 square miles).<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d1254ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x1275+0+0/resize/880x680!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faa%2Fbb%2Fe78ce977401d95d529d29a1d1efa%2Fdecember-15th-final-perimeters-detail.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy Of Kansas Forest Service/This map from the Kansas Forest Service shows the locations of the 16 wildfires that burned parts of western and central Kansas on Dec. 15.But it wasn’t the only wildfire that the wind storm sparked. In all, the Kansas Forest Service recorded 16 wildfires in western and central Kansas that day, singeing more than 160,000 acres across 13 counties.Shawna Hartman, a Kansas Forest Service spokeswoman, said the destruction was so extensive that local fire suppression teams — which often travel to assist neighboring counties — were stretched thin.“That storm was such a widespread storm that every county had something going on,” she said. “Or if they didn't, the storm was still on its way.”And the extreme wind made it too dangerous for state firefighters and water-toting aircraft to arrive on the scene until the next day.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ef9a851/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x960+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2F06%2F46e5f9164af090e5766250c46fce%2F269838735-281227920701012-5213831715304699091-n.jpg" alt="Kansas Forest Service personnel work to control the Four County Fire- Chris Hanson/Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Forest Service personnel work to control the Four County Fire- Chris Hanson/Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Hartman said the state’s usual wildfire season hits in the spring. But the abnormally dry conditions in western and central Kansas this fall — Kansas State University’s research center in Hays has recorded&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WKREC/status/1473664784054763528" target="_blank">no rainfall</a>&nbsp;in the area since November 3rd — left the region ripe for an earlier fire of this magnitude.“It was definitely a perfect storm,” she said. “These fires ran for 20-plus miles in an afternoon. … It's very, very reminiscent of what you would see in California.”The Kansas Forest Service knows all too well what those California fires look and feel like.Its fire suppression team is often dispatched to fight wildfires all over the country. And its experience in the West prepared it for the fast-moving fires in Kansas.But Hartman said that seeing these types of fires so close to home hit firefighters in a way those far-off fires did not.“When it's at home, when it's your neighbors and your friends and your family,” she said, “it hits really hard emotionally on everybody.”<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/14408f3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5184x3456+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa3%2F4d%2Fc8b6e327417885fa1d404346cd0a%2Fimg-2371.JPG" alt="Burned tree stumps stick out of an ash-covered piece of pasture near Koester's ranch in Russell County.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Burned tree stumps stick out of an ash-covered piece of pasture near Koester's ranch in Russell County.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Long road backEven in the face of such widespread destruction, communities all over western and central Kansas quickly sprang into action to help those who were in the fire’s path.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RussellEMS/posts/1713347578861684" target="_blank">4-H building</a>&nbsp;in Russell was set up to collect donations, everything from barbed wire and hay bales to winter clothing and phone chargers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2021/12/17/ways-help-kansas-wildfire-victims/?fbclid=IwAR0Uuk68OQLGgLiF_sPoHD2WXd8f1RB5MwgbEmVBlXIL5bALk-Yhjuej2mA" target="_blank">GoFundMe pages</a>&nbsp;for Kansans who lost their farms, ranches and homes drew tens of thousands of dollars in donations from across the country.In the days following the fire at Koester’s ranch, he said people showed up with horses and four-wheelers to help round up his remaining live cattle, many of which escaped to neighboring land after the fences burned. Trucks arrived with hay to feed them because their grazing grass went up in smoke.On the day Koester buried some of his cattle, volunteers brought in Jeeps and ATVs from two counties away to help him gather carcasses from across his land.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc99ca4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5006x3012+0+0/resize/880x529!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2Fb7%2Fbc15789f4f60a8395a82ea2ddfed%2Fimg-2285-2.JPG" alt="One of Koester's dead cows lies in front of the burial pit.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>One of Koester's dead cows lies in front of the burial pit.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Matt McCune, a farmer and sales agronomist in Rooks County, said similar community initiatives have been popping up across the region. He has been one of the many people helping to organize local recovery efforts on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/ksufearless" target="_blank">social media</a>&nbsp;and get supplies distributed to people who need them.He said ranchers in the area have collectively seen thousands of cattle die the same way Koester’s did. Many people lost everything they had — homes, trucks, tractors, sheds — so it can be difficult for them to even know where to start.“Most people haven't wrapped their heads around what they need,” McCune said. “(Ranching is) all they put their heart and soul into, and a lot of these guys were completely wiped out and have nothing left.”He said most ranchers’ immediate needs include getting financial help to pay insurance deductibles and getting the materials and labor they need to rebuild their fences. But with so much demand for fence posts and wire in such a remote area, he said it’s nearly impossible to find the supplies to get started.And the long-term recovery — rebuilding their businesses and herds — hasn’t even begun. So he’s concerned this region’s critical needs will fall off the national radar long before they’re met.“Usually, a couple weeks from now, these events drop off of people's minds,” he said. “But this could take forever to get this stuff back built back up. … We’re probably talking two, three years.”<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d6265de/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4767x3376+0+0/resize/880x623!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2F29%2Fb554fc8c4680be5bd0ffbe45126d%2Fimg-2322-2.JPG" alt="Rancher Rich Koester looks over his roughly 800-acre pasture that was burned in the Four County Fire.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Rancher Rich Koester looks over his roughly 800-acre pasture that was burned in the Four County Fire.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>David Condos/Kansas News ServiceRancher Rich Koester looks over his roughly 800-acre pasture that was burned in the Four County Fire.As the sun dipped down at his pasture in Russell County, Rich Koester watched a bulldozer push the last pile of soil onto his cattle's burial site. It immediately blends in with the dust-covered ground that surrounds it.He paused for a moment to look down at the patch of dirt that now covers many of the animals he’s cared for since they were born. Then, he climbed onto his four-wheeler with his dog, Gibbs, and got back to work.“We pick up everything in pieces,” he said, “and try to put everything back together that we can and go on.”His biggest concern in the coming days will be deciding which of his remaining cattle need medicine for their burns and which ones should be put down.But first, he stopped to check in on his neighbor, who also lost his pasture to the fire, to ask if there was anything he could do to lend him a hand.“You help them, they'll help you, and you just pass it on,” Koester said. “That’s the way it is out here.”<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0568e4a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5184x3329+0+0/resize/880x565!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F15%2F0a%2Fbb206671458e8e4c3e1b061ca47a%2Fimg-2395.JPG" alt="Piles of dust and soot resembling desert sand dunes line the edge of a pasture in Russell County, with burned trees dotting the background.-David Condos/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Piles of dust and soot resembling desert sand dunes line the edge of a pasture in Russell County, with burned trees dotting the background.-David Condos/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>If you've been affected by Kansas wildfires or if you're looking for ways to help those who were affected, the Kansas Department of Agriculture has set up a&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021" target="_blank">recovery resources hub</a>.David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">&nbsp;@davidcondos</a>.The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.&nbsp;