OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have released body and dash camera videos of the fatal shooting of a Black man during a Nebraska traffic shop. 

The Omaha World-Herald report that the three videos provided Friday to reporters were reviewed last month by grand jurors who declined to issue indictments in the Nov. 19 shooting of Kenneth Jones, 35. 

Two of the videos are from the body cameras of Officers Dan Faulkner and Richard Martier, while the third is from their cruiser camera. Both officers can be heard in the video repeatedly yelling “hands up,” and one officer says to “stop reaching” and “he’s got a gun” before shots ring out.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have released body and dash camera videos of the fatal shooting of a Black man during a Nebraska traffic shop. The Omaha World-Herald report that the three videos provided Friday to reporters were reviewed last month by grand jurors who declined to issue indictments in the Nov. 19 shooting of Kenneth Jones, 35. The shooting led to protests. Two of the videos are from the body cameras of Officers Dan Faulkner and Richard Martier, while the third is from their cruiser camera. Both officers can be heard in the video repeatedly yelling “hands up,” and one officer says to “stop reaching” and “he’s got a gun” before shots ring out.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jPSNJ0K3HGw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Watch: Police release dash, body camera video of deadly shooting

Washington (AP) —The Biden administration has taken the first step toward ending an emergency exception that allowed hospitals to ration and reuse N95 medical masks, the first line of defense between frontline workers and the deadly coronavirus.

Thousands of medical providers have died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the COVID-19 pandemic</a>, many exposed and infected while caring for patients without adequate protection.

Critical shortages of masks, gowns, swabs, and other medical supplies prompted the Trump administration to issue guidelines for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hospitals-ration-n95-masks-coronavirus-b40b902991b75d8ae4000a20bccd6af4">providers to ration</a>, clean, and reuse disposable equipment. Thus, throughout the pandemic, once a week many doctors and nurses were issued an N95 mask, which is normally designed to be tossed after each patient.

Now U.S. manufacturers say they have vast surpluses for sale, and hospitals say they have three to 12 month stockpiles.

In response, the government says hospitals and healthcare providers should try to return to one mask per patient.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending health care personnel and facilities transition away from crisis capacity conservation strategies,” said the agency in a letter to healthcare personnel and facilities earlier this month.

The letter is not an order: hospitals are still legally permitted to sterilize and reuse N95s. But in the coming weeks or months, the FDA will issue updated guidance and, eventually, require hospitals to revert to single-use, said Suzanne Schwartz, director of the FDA’s office of strategic partnerships and technology innovation.

“The ability to decontaminate was purely a last resort, an extreme measure,” Schwartz said. “From the FDA’s perspective, there is a need for us to move back towards contingency and conventional strategies, which is, you use the respirator for the interaction, and then you dispose of it and get a new one. We are in unison, in sync, with both NIOSH and OSHA in that position.”

The National Nurses Union, the largest professional association of registered nurses in the country, calls the new guidance “a tiny step in the right direction.” But the organization, representing 170,000 nurses, said the direction “ultimately fails” to protect nurses because it allows employers to use their discretion about what normal N95 supply is.

“But we know the reality— there is ample N95 supply,” said the union in a statement urging the administration to update their standards and enforce them.

ICU nurse Mike Hill, who works at a Northern California Sutter Hospital and is a member of the California Nurses Association, said he and his colleagues still don’t have unlimited access to N95 masks.

“I think it’s ridiculous for Sutter to want to do extended use when the masks are inexpensive, like a dollar apiece. They should want to make sure to protect the nurses, we’re the frontline workers,” he said. “It puts the patients and us at risk for infection. They were never intended for extended use.”

Hill’s colleague, Sutter nurse Janine Paiste-Ponder, 59, was among hundreds of medical caregivers who died after exposure to COVID-19 at the workplace in the past year. Following her July 2020 death, a California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigation at Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center led to nearly $300,000 in fines for numerous COVID-related workplace safety violations.

Prestige Ameritech Executive Vice President Mike Bowen, whose Fort Worth, Texas, factory is the largest U.S.-manufacturer of surgical masks, said the devices were designed to be used only once, not reused from one patient to the next.

He said he has millions of unsold masks, as do other U.S. manufacturers which invested and ramped up during the pandemic.

“While nurses pleaded for clean masks, American N95 makers were filling their warehouses with N95s that hospitals weren’t buying. Starting today, America’s healthcare workers can and should demand clean, new N95 masks,” he said. “The N95 mask shortage is over,” he said.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo said the deadly shortages were “a national embarrassment and should never happen again.”

“This is welcome news and demonstrates our progress toward crushing COVID-19,” said the California Democrat. “We must make sure this type of shortage never happens again by reinvesting in a sustainable supply of high-quality, American-made PPE.”

Washington (AP) —The Biden administration has taken the first step toward ending an emergency exception that allowed hospitals to ration and reuse N95 medical masks, the first line of defense between frontline workers and the deadly coronavirus.Thousands of medical providers have died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the COVID-19 pandemic</a>, many exposed and infected while caring for patients without adequate protection.Critical shortages of masks, gowns, swabs, and other medical supplies prompted the Trump administration to issue guidelines for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hospitals-ration-n95-masks-coronavirus-b40b902991b75d8ae4000a20bccd6af4">providers to ration</a>, clean, and reuse disposable equipment. Thus, throughout the pandemic, once a week many doctors and nurses were issued an N95 mask, which is normally designed to be tossed after each patient.Now U.S. manufacturers say they have vast surpluses for sale, and hospitals say they have three to 12 month stockpiles.In response, the government says hospitals and healthcare providers should try to return to one mask per patient.“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending health care personnel and facilities transition away from crisis capacity conservation strategies,” said the agency in a letter to healthcare personnel and facilities earlier this month.The letter is not an order: hospitals are still legally permitted to sterilize and reuse N95s. But in the coming weeks or months, the FDA will issue updated guidance and, eventually, require hospitals to revert to single-use, said Suzanne Schwartz, director of the FDA’s office of strategic partnerships and technology innovation.“The ability to decontaminate was purely a last resort, an extreme measure,” Schwartz said. “From the FDA’s perspective, there is a need for us to move back towards contingency and conventional strategies, which is, you use the respirator for the interaction, and then you dispose of it and get a new one. We are in unison, in sync, with both NIOSH and OSHA in that position.”The National Nurses Union, the largest professional association of registered nurses in the country, calls the new guidance “a tiny step in the right direction.” But the organization, representing 170,000 nurses, said the direction “ultimately fails” to protect nurses because it allows employers to use their discretion about what normal N95 supply is.“But we know the reality— there is ample N95 supply,” said the union in a statement urging the administration to update their standards and enforce them.ICU nurse Mike Hill, who works at a Northern California Sutter Hospital and is a member of the California Nurses Association, said he and his colleagues still don’t have unlimited access to N95 masks.“I think it’s ridiculous for Sutter to want to do extended use when the masks are inexpensive, like a dollar apiece. They should want to make sure to protect the nurses, we’re the frontline workers,” he said. “It puts the patients and us at risk for infection. They were never intended for extended use.”Hill’s colleague, Sutter nurse Janine Paiste-Ponder, 59, was among hundreds of medical caregivers who died after exposure to COVID-19 at the workplace in the past year. Following her July 2020 death, a California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigation at Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center led to nearly $300,000 in fines for numerous COVID-related workplace safety violations.Prestige Ameritech Executive Vice President Mike Bowen, whose Fort Worth, Texas, factory is the largest U.S.-manufacturer of surgical masks, said the devices were designed to be used only once, not reused from one patient to the next.He said he has millions of unsold masks, as do other U.S. manufacturers which invested and ramped up during the pandemic.“While nurses pleaded for clean masks, American N95 makers were filling their warehouses with N95s that hospitals weren’t buying. Starting today, America’s healthcare workers can and should demand clean, new N95 masks,” he said. “The N95 mask shortage is over,” he said.Congresswoman Anna Eshoo said the deadly shortages were “a national embarrassment and should never happen again.”“This is welcome news and demonstrates our progress toward crushing COVID-19,” said the California Democrat. “We must make sure this type of shortage never happens again by reinvesting in a sustainable supply of high-quality, American-made PPE.”——

FDA: N95 masks, now plentiful, should no longer be reused

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Police were justified in fatally shooting a man during a chase and gun battle in east central Indiana, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Jonathan Levi Allen, 28, a former Muncie resident who was living in Wichita, Kansas, died March 10 , one week after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-police-kansas-wichita-crime-6fc9cd6ceea69d48ff9d1e5b55dc9353">March 3 shooting</a>, Indiana State Police said. Allen was shot in the head by a Muncie officer and crashed his SUV into a parked vehicle, police said.

The officer who shot Allen and a second officer who also fired upon the suspect “unquestionably and without a doubt did so in self-defense and in the defense of others,” Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said in a report.

When confronted by officers, Allen “chose to open fire at the police officers and civilians,” Hoffman said.

Muncie officers responding to a report of a suspect in an SUV firing gunshots tried to pull the vehicle over but Allen didn’t stop and a short pursuit ensued before police ended it because school buses were nearby, authorities said. The chase resumed when authorities learned Allen was holding a female passenger against her will in his vehicle, state police said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617377519398.png" alt="Allen had two previous drug convictions in Kansas, according to the Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Allen had two previous drug convictions in Kansas, according to the Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Police were justified in fatally shooting a man during a chase and gun battle in east central Indiana, a prosecutor said Wednesday.Jonathan Levi Allen, 28, a former Muncie resident who was living in Wichita, Kansas, died March 10 , one week after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-police-kansas-wichita-crime-6fc9cd6ceea69d48ff9d1e5b55dc9353">March 3 shooting</a>, Indiana State Police said. Allen was shot in the head by a Muncie officer and crashed his SUV into a parked vehicle, police said.The officer who shot Allen and a second officer who also fired upon the suspect “unquestionably and without a doubt did so in self-defense and in the defense of others,” Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said in a report.When confronted by officers, Allen “chose to open fire at the police officers and civilians,” Hoffman said.Muncie officers responding to a report of a suspect in an SUV firing gunshots tried to pull the vehicle over but Allen didn’t stop and a short pursuit ensued before police ended it because school buses were nearby, authorities said. The chase resumed when authorities learned Allen was holding a female passenger against her will in his vehicle, state police said.

Prosecutor: Police justified in fatal shooting of Kan. man during chase

WASHINGTON — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that pregnant people receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Agency Director Rochelle Walensky announced the recommendation during an update on the pandemic at a White House briefing. 

She noted that a CDC study published this week found no safety concerns with Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations given during the third trimester of pregnancy.

‘’We know that this is a deeply personal decision, and I encourage people to talk to their doctors or primary care providers to determine what is best for them and for their baby,’’ Walensky said.

Her recommendation seems to go farther than advice on CDC’s website, which says the vaccines are unlikely to pose a safety risk during pregnancy but doesn’t flat-out recommend the shots.

The new study is based on reports from pregnant women who got shots soon after the vaccines became available. The researchers called for more data, including from vaccination earlier in pregnancy.

COVID-19 can be dangerous in pregnancy, raising risks for complications and even death.

Pregnant women were excluded from COVID-19 vaccination studies although there is limited safety data on some who became pregnant after enrolling.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613699035300.png" alt="Dr. Rachel Walensky " />
 <figcaption>Dr. Rachel Walensky </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that pregnant people receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Agency Director Rochelle Walensky announced the recommendation during an update on the pandemic at a White House briefing. She noted that a CDC study published this week found no safety concerns with Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations given during the third trimester of pregnancy.‘’We know that this is a deeply personal decision, and I encourage people to talk to their doctors or primary care providers to determine what is best for them and for their baby,’’ Walensky said.Her recommendation seems to go farther than advice on CDC’s website, which says the vaccines are unlikely to pose a safety risk during pregnancy but doesn’t flat-out recommend the shots.The new study is based on reports from pregnant women who got shots soon after the vaccines became available. The researchers called for more data, including from vaccination earlier in pregnancy.COVID-19 can be dangerous in pregnancy, raising risks for complications and even death.Pregnant women were excluded from COVID-19 vaccination studies although there is limited safety data on some who became pregnant after enrolling.

CDC: COVID vaccines now recommended for pregnant women

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The International Space Station's population has swelled to 11 with the arrival of SpaceX's third crew capsule in less than a year. 

It's the biggest crowd up there in more than a decade. A recycled SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts arrived at the space station on Saturday, a day after launching from Florida. 

The new arrivals _ representing the U.S., France and Japan _ will spend six months at the space station. 

They'll replace four astronauts who will return to Earth in their own Dragon capsule Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619274488671.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The International Space Station's population has swelled to 11 with the arrival of SpaceX's third crew capsule in less than a year. It's the biggest crowd up there in more than a decade. A recycled SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts arrived at the space station on Saturday, a day after launching from Florida. The new arrivals _ representing the U.S., France and Japan _ will spend six months at the space station. They'll replace four astronauts who will return to Earth in their own Dragon capsule Wednesday.

Biggest space station crowd in decade after SpaceX arrival

(AP)-At least six people were fatally shot by officers across the United States in the 24 hours after jurors reached a verdict in the murder case against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. 

The deaths in some cases sparked new cries for justice. Some people say the shootings reflect an urgent need for radical changes to American policing, and a need that the Chauvin verdict can't paper over. 

For other people, the shootings are a tragic reminder of the difficult and dangerous decisions law enforcement face daily. 

There's hope that the Chauvin verdict might be a crucial juncture in the national conversation about race, policing and the use of force.

From the Associated Press(AP)-At least six people were fatally shot by officers across the United States in the 24 hours after jurors reached a verdict in the murder case against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The deaths in some cases sparked new cries for justice. Some people say the shootings reflect an urgent need for radical changes to American policing, and a need that the Chauvin verdict can't paper over. For other people, the shootings are a tragic reminder of the difficult and dangerous decisions law enforcement face daily. There's hope that the Chauvin verdict might be a crucial juncture in the national conversation about race, policing and the use of force.

1 verdict, then 6 police killings across America in 24 hours

ATCHISON COUNTY— The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Atchison Police Department assisted Atchison County Sherriff's Deputies to take 20-year-old Taggart Lee into custody shortly after 2:00a.m. Saturday. morning.&nbsp;

The sheriff's department released no additional details.

ATCHISON COUNTY —Authorities&nbsp; continue their search for aggravated robbery suspect 20-year-old Taggart Darnell Lee who is accused of threatening an officer with a piece of lumber after escaping from the jail in Atchison Kansas on Thursday.&nbsp; At 5a.m. Friday, authorities at the jail reported Lee was still missing.

ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are searching for an aggravated robbery suspect who is accused of threatening an officer with piece of lumber after escaping from a Kansas jail. 

The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that 20-year-old Taggart Darnell Lee was able to manipulate a door lock and make his way into an unsecured area of the Atchison County Jail around 1:30 a.m. Thursday after staff failed to follow several security procedures. 

From there he made his made outside, where an officer chased him for several blocks. The post said Lee, who had been in custody since January, got away after picking up the 2x4 foot piece of lumber and using it to threaten the unarmed officer. The post said the sheriff’s office considers Lee dangerous and that he has a history of being armed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619114059788.jpeg" alt="Lee photo Atchison County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Lee photo Atchison County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY— The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Atchison Police Department assisted Atchison County Sherriff's Deputies to take 20-year-old Taggart Lee into custody shortly after 2:00a.m. Saturday. morning.&nbsp;The sheriff's department released no additional details.---------ATCHISON COUNTY —Authorities&nbsp; continue their search for aggravated robbery suspect 20-year-old Taggart Darnell Lee who is accused of threatening an officer with a piece of lumber after escaping from the jail in Atchison Kansas on Thursday.&nbsp; At 5a.m. Friday, authorities at the jail reported Lee was still missing.----------ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are searching for an aggravated robbery suspect who is accused of threatening an officer with piece of lumber after escaping from a Kansas jail. The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that 20-year-old Taggart Darnell Lee was able to manipulate a door lock and make his way into an unsecured area of the Atchison County Jail around 1:30 a.m. Thursday after staff failed to follow several security procedures. From there he made his made outside, where an officer chased him for several blocks. The post said Lee, who had been in custody since January, got away after picking up the 2x4 foot piece of lumber and using it to threaten the unarmed officer. The post said the sheriff’s office considers Lee dangerous and that he has a history of being armed.

Inmate who escaped Kansas jail captured

By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/20/pushback-against-vaccine-passports-puts-colleges-in-a-quandary/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON
 — Florida’s Nova Southeastern University joined a small group of U.S. 
colleges on April 1 when the private research university announced that 
it would require all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated 
against COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall.

In <a href="https://news.nova.edu/news-releases/nsu-planning-to-return-to-in-person-on-campus-instruction-for-fall-2021/">a message posted on the university’s website</a>,
 NSU president and CEO George Hanbury wrote that the vaccination 
requirement “will enable us to return to a ‘partial pre-pandemic’ 
environment.”

But the next day, Gov. Ron DeSantis scrambled those plans. The Republican governor <a href="https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/04/02/gov-desantis-bans-vaccine-passports-in-fl-citing-the-the-fundamental-rights-and-privacies-of-floridians/">issued an executive order</a>
 barring any state or local government agency from issuing, or any 
private business from requiring, a “vaccine passport” — a broad term 
being used to describe documentation of an individual’s COVID-19 
vaccination status.

The
 order left NSU in limbo over whether it can proceed with plans to 
require vaccinations. The South Florida school isn’t alone in its 
uncertainty over how to balance politics and public health concerns as 
colleges and universities that have already weathered a difficult year 
look ahead to the fall semester.

Along
 with NSU, at least 33 colleges across the country have announced plans 
to require a COVID-19 shot for the fall semester, according to <a href="https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/live-coronavirus-updates/heres-a-list-of-colleges-that-will-require-students-to-be-vaccinated-against-covid-19?bc_nonce=y3c2chqovp93swv762q2j&amp;cid=reg_wall_signup">a tally by the Chronicle of Higher Education</a>.
 That list includes large universities like Rutgers and Cornell, as well
 as smaller schools like Iowa’s Grinnell College, in states with both 
Democratic and Republican governors.

Other
 colleges so far have sought to encourage, rather than mandate, that 
students receive a vaccine, with varying degrees of success.&nbsp;

Universities
 have hosted vaccination clinics on their campuses, but also have 
struggled to find doses. Many are racing to vaccinate students — most in
 age groups that only recently became eligible — before the spring 
semester ends.

There’s
 legal precedent suggesting that colleges — which already require 
students to receive other vaccinations — are within their bounds to 
require a COVID-19 shot, allowing for limited exemptions. But there are 
also a number of reasons that schools might not require the new vaccine,
 including hesitancy among certain groups and questions about 
availability for international students.

Meanwhile, <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/16/vaccine-passports-that-show-youre-inoculated-are-on-the-way/">the federal government has offered little guidance</a> to states and colleges navigating increasingly controversial terrain.

At
 Nova Southeastern, college officials hadn’t yet detailed how exactly 
the requirement would work when DeSantis issued his executive order, and
 school officials said they are reviewing it.

“Our
 priority has always been to save lives, to prevent the spread of 
COVID-19, to deliver the best educational experience, and to protect our
 students and employees to the best of our ability,” Hanbury said in an 
April 8 statement.

The
 possibility that Americans will be required to prove they’ve received a
 COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to their office, school or 
entertainment venues has sparked a politically polarizing response.&nbsp;

Conservatives
 in D.C. and state capitals have seized on the idea of vaccination 
passports, blasting them as violating health privacy.&nbsp;

Several governors, including <a href="https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/04/02/gov-desantis-bans-vaccine-passports-in-fl-citing-the-the-fundamental-rights-and-privacies-of-floridians/">DeSantis</a> and <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/04/07/reynolds-vows-to-prohibit-vaccine-passports-in-iowa/">Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds</a>,
 either have banned vaccine passports or vowed to support bills doing 
so. (DeSantis’ office did not respond to questions about whether his ban
 was intended to prohibit colleges from vaccination requirements.)

Meanwhile,
 Democratic-run New York has forged ahead with a free digital app to 
prove you’ve been vaccinated or recently received a negative coronavirus
 test result. Designed by IBM, New York’s Excelsior Pass gives a special
 code that businesses can scan, allowing people to leave their paper 
vaccination cards at home.&nbsp;

Democratic
 officials in Hawaii, a state that relies deeply on tourists and 
business owners feeling safe about in-person dining and entertainment, 
also have said they’re considering a passport system.

President
 Joe Biden’s administration has largely sidestepped the issue, saying 
they believe it’s not the government’s role to create a centralized 
database on which Americans have and have not been vaccinated.&nbsp;

Federal
 officials have deferred to the range of private-sector companies that 
are attempting to build vaccination apps, advising only that the apps 
must ensure data is kept secure and that there are non-digital options 
available so no one is excluded from traveling or entering businesses.

That’s
 offered little support for colleges weighing a requirement, or clarity 
on the type of exemptions that they might need to allow.

The
 lack of guidance has left states — and the colleges within those states
 — on their own to consider both public health and personal freedoms.

In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ administration is not looking at creating a state-run passport system.&nbsp;

But
 his spokeswoman, Shelby Wieman, also said in an emailed statement that 
state officials are considering how to make immunization records 
“available digitally to Coloradans,” an option that would make it easier
 for those who lose their vaccination card to replace that record.

As
 for colleges, Wieman said Polis “has made returning to in-person 
education a priority, and is actively discussing how to ensure herd 
immunity on college campuses this fall.”

Colorado’s
 Fort Lewis College is among the handful of U.S. colleges that already 
have announced a vaccination requirement for students this fall.

For
 faculty and staff, vaccinations are “strongly encouraged,” and school 
officials say that “many” have already received at least one shot.

“COVID-19
 has made it very clear just how impactful and necessary it is for us to
 have an educational experience in person, and vaccines are our way of 
ensuring that we can be together for a normal fall semester,” Tom 
Stritikus, president of Fort Lewis College, wrote in a letter posted 
online about the requirement.

Students at the school <a href="https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/health-safety/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-requirements#139741593-are-faculty-and-staff-required-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine">are instructed to upload a copy of their vaccination card</a> to a secure document portal or the Fort Lewis app.

It’s not yet clear if the policies at Fort Lewis will be the exception or the rule when the fall semester begins.

The
 American College Health Association was working on guidance to campuses
 about vaccine mandates when federal officials last week paused use of 
Johnson &amp; Johnson’s one-shot vaccine — which had been seen as an 
ideal option allowing colleges to quickly vaccinate students before they
 depart for the summer.

The
 organization intends to offer a statement on vaccination requirements 
within the next week or so, said Gerri Taylor, co-chair of the American 
College Health Association’s COVID-19 Task Force. She said schools are 
on a tight timeline to make decisions on their rules for the fall, and 
she credited the schools that have done so already.

“I
 do think it’s very important for colleges to be clear, consistent and 
communicate what their requirements are for the fall to families as soon
 as possible,” Taylor said. Students will need notice to make 
vaccination appointments or determine if they still plan to attend.

Characterizing
 the debate over vaccine passports as “emotionally charged,” Taylor said
 schools have used electronic health records to track vaccines for 
measles, mumps and rubella in case of an outbreak requiring that 
unvaccinated students be contacted.&nbsp;

Decisions
 on mandating COVID-19 shots will be made at the state level for public 
schools, while the private schools are able to decide for themselves.

Colleges
 and their legal teams will make decisions internally about vaccine 
requirements, Taylor said. They’ll have to weigh any state regulations, 
the availability of doses both domestically and internationally and 
timing challenges for those who get the two-shot versions, as well as 
work on dispelling rumors about the vaccines.

<a href="https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-III_Fall_2020_Reference_Group_Data_Report.pdf">According to ACHA-National College Health Assessment data</a>
 gathered last fall, before any COVID-19 vaccines had been federally 
authorized, 77% of undergraduate and graduate students said they were 
very or somewhat likely to get vaccinated, and 23% were somewhat 
unlikely or very unlikely to be vaccinated.

Colleges already have outlined a range of options for how they’ll handle vaccination mandates.&nbsp;

For example, Cleveland State University <a href="http://newsletter.csuohio.edu/president/210192/index.html?_ga=2.234255582.1934664053.1618854215-421741356.1618706330">recently announced</a> that vaccinations will be required for all students living on campus.&nbsp;

In
 a message to students, CSU President Harlan Sands said the school will 
“do our best to ensure all faculty, staff and students are vaccinated,” 
adding that school officials will “continue to adjust plans based upon 
what transpires with COVID-19 spread in the coming months.”

Florida’s Saint Leo University <a href="https://www.saintleo.edu/news-events/its-family-time-as-saint-leo-university-begins-vaccinating-students-their-families">has reached out beyond just enrolled students</a>, inviting both students and members of their households to be vaccinated on campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In <a href="https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Issue-Brief-COVID-Vaccines-March-2021.pdf">an issue brief for college officials</a>,
 the American Council on Education offered some approaches to consider, 
including encouraging students who opt out of a vaccine to enroll in 
online classes instead.&nbsp;

Another
 idea? Telling students that a COVID-19 vaccine is required, but instead
 of requiring a copy of their vaccine cards, allowing students to simply
 agree as part of a broader honor code that they have in fact complied.

Laura covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618940922609.png" alt="A Department of Health and Human Services employee holds a COVID-19 vaccine record card Nov. 13, 2020, at Operation Warp Speed headquarters in Washington, D.C.. The cards were sent out as part of vaccination kits. (EJ Hersom/U.S. Department of Defense)" />
 <figcaption>A Department of Health and Human Services employee holds a COVID-19 vaccine record card Nov. 13, 2020, at Operation Warp Speed headquarters in Washington, D.C.. The cards were sent out as part of vaccination kits. (EJ Hersom/U.S. Department of Defense)</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/20/pushback-against-vaccine-passports-puts-colleges-in-a-quandary/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON
 — Florida’s Nova Southeastern University joined a small group of U.S. 
colleges on April 1 when the private research university announced that 
it would require all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated 
against COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall.In <a href="https://news.nova.edu/news-releases/nsu-planning-to-return-to-in-person-on-campus-instruction-for-fall-2021/">a message posted on the university’s website</a>,
 NSU president and CEO George Hanbury wrote that the vaccination 
requirement “will enable us to return to a ‘partial pre-pandemic’ 
environment.”But the next day, Gov. Ron DeSantis scrambled those plans. The Republican governor <a href="https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/04/02/gov-desantis-bans-vaccine-passports-in-fl-citing-the-the-fundamental-rights-and-privacies-of-floridians/">issued an executive order</a>
 barring any state or local government agency from issuing, or any 
private business from requiring, a “vaccine passport” — a broad term 
being used to describe documentation of an individual’s COVID-19 
vaccination status.The
 order left NSU in limbo over whether it can proceed with plans to 
require vaccinations. The South Florida school isn’t alone in its 
uncertainty over how to balance politics and public health concerns as 
colleges and universities that have already weathered a difficult year 
look ahead to the fall semester.Along
 with NSU, at least 33 colleges across the country have announced plans 
to require a COVID-19 shot for the fall semester, according to <a href="https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/live-coronavirus-updates/heres-a-list-of-colleges-that-will-require-students-to-be-vaccinated-against-covid-19?bc_nonce=y3c2chqovp93swv762q2j&amp;cid=reg_wall_signup">a tally by the Chronicle of Higher Education</a>.
 That list includes large universities like Rutgers and Cornell, as well
 as smaller schools like Iowa’s Grinnell College, in states with both 
Democratic and Republican governors.Other
 colleges so far have sought to encourage, rather than mandate, that 
students receive a vaccine, with varying degrees of success.&nbsp;Universities
 have hosted vaccination clinics on their campuses, but also have 
struggled to find doses. Many are racing to vaccinate students — most in
 age groups that only recently became eligible — before the spring 
semester ends.There’s
 legal precedent suggesting that colleges — which already require 
students to receive other vaccinations — are within their bounds to 
require a COVID-19 shot, allowing for limited exemptions. But there are 
also a number of reasons that schools might not require the new vaccine,
 including hesitancy among certain groups and questions about 
availability for international students.Meanwhile, <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/16/vaccine-passports-that-show-youre-inoculated-are-on-the-way/">the federal government has offered little guidance</a> to states and colleges navigating increasingly controversial terrain.At
 Nova Southeastern, college officials hadn’t yet detailed how exactly 
the requirement would work when DeSantis issued his executive order, and
 school officials said they are reviewing it.“Our
 priority has always been to save lives, to prevent the spread of 
COVID-19, to deliver the best educational experience, and to protect our
 students and employees to the best of our ability,” Hanbury said in an 
April 8 statement.<h2>Partisan divide</h2>The
 possibility that Americans will be required to prove they’ve received a
 COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to their office, school or 
entertainment venues has sparked a politically polarizing response.&nbsp;Conservatives
 in D.C. and state capitals have seized on the idea of vaccination 
passports, blasting them as violating health privacy.&nbsp;Several governors, including <a href="https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/04/02/gov-desantis-bans-vaccine-passports-in-fl-citing-the-the-fundamental-rights-and-privacies-of-floridians/">DeSantis</a> and <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/04/07/reynolds-vows-to-prohibit-vaccine-passports-in-iowa/">Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds</a>,
 either have banned vaccine passports or vowed to support bills doing 
so. (DeSantis’ office did not respond to questions about whether his ban
 was intended to prohibit colleges from vaccination requirements.)Meanwhile,
 Democratic-run New York has forged ahead with a free digital app to 
prove you’ve been vaccinated or recently received a negative coronavirus
 test result. Designed by IBM, New York’s Excelsior Pass gives a special
 code that businesses can scan, allowing people to leave their paper 
vaccination cards at home.&nbsp;Democratic
 officials in Hawaii, a state that relies deeply on tourists and 
business owners feeling safe about in-person dining and entertainment, 
also have said they’re considering a passport system.President
 Joe Biden’s administration has largely sidestepped the issue, saying 
they believe it’s not the government’s role to create a centralized 
database on which Americans have and have not been vaccinated.&nbsp;Federal
 officials have deferred to the range of private-sector companies that 
are attempting to build vaccination apps, advising only that the apps 
must ensure data is kept secure and that there are non-digital options 
available so no one is excluded from traveling or entering businesses.That’s
 offered little support for colleges weighing a requirement, or clarity 
on the type of exemptions that they might need to allow.<h2>On their own</h2>The
 lack of guidance has left states — and the colleges within those states
 — on their own to consider both public health and personal freedoms.In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ administration is not looking at creating a state-run passport system.&nbsp;But
 his spokeswoman, Shelby Wieman, also said in an emailed statement that 
state officials are considering how to make immunization records 
“available digitally to Coloradans,” an option that would make it easier
 for those who lose their vaccination card to replace that record.As
 for colleges, Wieman said Polis “has made returning to in-person 
education a priority, and is actively discussing how to ensure herd 
immunity on college campuses this fall.”Colorado’s
 Fort Lewis College is among the handful of U.S. colleges that already 
have announced a vaccination requirement for students this fall.For
 faculty and staff, vaccinations are “strongly encouraged,” and school 
officials say that “many” have already received at least one shot.“COVID-19
 has made it very clear just how impactful and necessary it is for us to
 have an educational experience in person, and vaccines are our way of 
ensuring that we can be together for a normal fall semester,” Tom 
Stritikus, president of Fort Lewis College, wrote in a letter posted 
online about the requirement.Students at the school <a href="https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/health-safety/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-requirements#139741593-are-faculty-and-staff-required-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine">are instructed to upload a copy of their vaccination card</a> to a secure document portal or the Fort Lewis app.It’s not yet clear if the policies at Fort Lewis will be the exception or the rule when the fall semester begins.The
 American College Health Association was working on guidance to campuses
 about vaccine mandates when federal officials last week paused use of 
Johnson &amp; Johnson’s one-shot vaccine — which had been seen as an 
ideal option allowing colleges to quickly vaccinate students before they
 depart for the summer.The
 organization intends to offer a statement on vaccination requirements 
within the next week or so, said Gerri Taylor, co-chair of the American 
College Health Association’s COVID-19 Task Force. She said schools are 
on a tight timeline to make decisions on their rules for the fall, and 
she credited the schools that have done so already.“I
 do think it’s very important for colleges to be clear, consistent and 
communicate what their requirements are for the fall to families as soon
 as possible,” Taylor said. Students will need notice to make 
vaccination appointments or determine if they still plan to attend.Characterizing
 the debate over vaccine passports as “emotionally charged,” Taylor said
 schools have used electronic health records to track vaccines for 
measles, mumps and rubella in case of an outbreak requiring that 
unvaccinated students be contacted.&nbsp;Decisions
 on mandating COVID-19 shots will be made at the state level for public 
schools, while the private schools are able to decide for themselves.Colleges
 and their legal teams will make decisions internally about vaccine 
requirements, Taylor said. They’ll have to weigh any state regulations, 
the availability of doses both domestically and internationally and 
timing challenges for those who get the two-shot versions, as well as 
work on dispelling rumors about the vaccines.<a href="https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-III_Fall_2020_Reference_Group_Data_Report.pdf">According to ACHA-National College Health Assessment data</a>
 gathered last fall, before any COVID-19 vaccines had been federally 
authorized, 77% of undergraduate and graduate students said they were 
very or somewhat likely to get vaccinated, and 23% were somewhat 
unlikely or very unlikely to be vaccinated.<h2>Other options</h2>Colleges already have outlined a range of options for how they’ll handle vaccination mandates.&nbsp;For example, Cleveland State University <a href="http://newsletter.csuohio.edu/president/210192/index.html?_ga=2.234255582.1934664053.1618854215-421741356.1618706330">recently announced</a> that vaccinations will be required for all students living on campus.&nbsp;In
 a message to students, CSU President Harlan Sands said the school will 
“do our best to ensure all faculty, staff and students are vaccinated,” 
adding that school officials will “continue to adjust plans based upon 
what transpires with COVID-19 spread in the coming months.”Florida’s Saint Leo University <a href="https://www.saintleo.edu/news-events/its-family-time-as-saint-leo-university-begins-vaccinating-students-their-families">has reached out beyond just enrolled students</a>, inviting both students and members of their households to be vaccinated on campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;In <a href="https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Issue-Brief-COVID-Vaccines-March-2021.pdf">an issue brief for college officials</a>,
 the American Council on Education offered some approaches to consider, 
including encouraging students who opt out of a vaccine to enroll in 
online classes instead.&nbsp;Another
 idea? Telling students that a COVID-19 vaccine is required, but instead
 of requiring a copy of their vaccine cards, allowing students to simply
 agree as part of a broader honor code that they have in fact complied.Laura covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

Pushback against ‘vaccine passports’ puts colleges in a quandary

WASHINGTON (AP) –U.S. health officials have lifted an 11-day pause on Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccinations following a recommendation by an expert panel. 

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the benefits of the single-dose COVID-19 shot outweigh a rare risk of blood clots. Panel members said it’s critical that younger women be told about that risk so they can decide if they’d rather choose another vaccine. The CDC and Food and Drug Administration agreed. 

European regulators earlier this week made a similar decision, deciding the clot risk was small enough to allow the rollout of J&amp;J’s shot.

WASHINGTON (AP) – A U.S. health panel says it’s time to resume use of Johnson &amp; Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, despite a very rare risk of blood clots.

Out of nearly 8 million people vaccinated before the U.S. suspended J&amp;J’s shot, health officials uncovered 15 cases of a highly unusual kind of blood clot, three of them fatal.

All were women, most younger than 50. But advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the vaccine’s benefits outweigh that serious but small risk — especially against a virus that’s still infecting tens of thousands of Americans every day.

The government will rapidly weigh that recommendation in deciding next steps.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602590971875.png" alt="Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) –U.S. health officials have lifted an 11-day pause on Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccinations following a recommendation by an expert panel. Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the benefits of the single-dose COVID-19 shot outweigh a rare risk of blood clots. Panel members said it’s critical that younger women be told about that risk so they can decide if they’d rather choose another vaccine. The CDC and Food and Drug Administration agreed. European regulators earlier this week made a similar decision, deciding the clot risk was small enough to allow the rollout of J&amp;J’s shot.------WASHINGTON (AP) – A U.S. health panel says it’s time to resume use of Johnson &amp; Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, despite a very rare risk of blood clots.Out of nearly 8 million people vaccinated before the U.S. suspended J&amp;J’s shot, health officials uncovered 15 cases of a highly unusual kind of blood clot, three of them fatal.All were women, most younger than 50. But advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the vaccine’s benefits outweigh that serious but small risk — especially against a virus that’s still infecting tens of thousands of Americans every day.The government will rapidly weigh that recommendation in deciding next steps.

US to resume J&J COVID vaccinations despite rare clot risk

SHOSHONI, Wyo. (AP) — Two men died in an explosion in a rail car tanker at a repair facility in central Wyoming. 

Shoshoni Police Chief Chris Konja said the explosion was reported at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday at Wasatch Railcar Repair.

 Two men were unresponsive in an oil tanker.

 Because of noxious gases, a specialized confined quarters team from the Casper Fire Department responded. 

The bodies of the men, ages 18 and 28, were recovered from the tanker.

 Police say the cause of the explosion is still being investigated in coordination with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration.

SHOSHONI, Wyo. (AP) — Two men died in an explosion in a rail car tanker at a repair facility in central Wyoming. Shoshoni Police Chief Chris Konja said the explosion was reported at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday at Wasatch Railcar Repair. Two men were unresponsive in an oil tanker. Because of noxious gases, a specialized confined quarters team from the Casper Fire Department responded. The bodies of the men, ages 18 and 28, were recovered from the tanker. Police say the cause of the explosion is still being investigated in coordination with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration.

2 men killed in tanker explosion at WY railcar repair facility

GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — A small chain of restaurants in eastern Nebraska will pay $85,000 and issue an apology to a former teenage worker to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against it by a federal equal employment agency. 

The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Friday that the five-year consent decree takes El Vallarta's Gretna restaurant to task for allowing a supervisor and workers to sexually harass the teenage girl from 2016 to 2017. 

The EEOC's lawsuit says the girl was subjected to groping from a male manager and repeated, inappropriate comments about her body from the manager and other male employees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619203477061.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — A small chain of restaurants in eastern Nebraska will pay $85,000 and issue an apology to a former teenage worker to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against it by a federal equal employment agency. The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Friday that the five-year consent decree takes El Vallarta's Gretna restaurant to task for allowing a supervisor and workers to sexually harass the teenage girl from 2016 to 2017. The EEOC's lawsuit says the girl was subjected to groping from a male manager and repeated, inappropriate comments about her body from the manager and other male employees.

Nebraska restaurant chain to pay $85K for sex harassment

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former suburban Omaha firefighter has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of sexual assault in a case involving a 13-year-old boy. 

Prosecutors say 24-year-old Tyler Davidson entered the pleas Tuesday to three counts of sexual abuse. He was a Waterloo firefighter when he was arrested last year and initially charged with four felony counts of child abuse. 

Investigators say Davidson purchased sex toys for the boy and encouraged the boy to use them. Documents said he also tried to use a video camera to record the boy. Davidson's sentencing has been set for May 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619203230302.png" alt="Davidson" />
 <figcaption>Davidson</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former suburban Omaha firefighter has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of sexual assault in a case involving a 13-year-old boy. Prosecutors say 24-year-old Tyler Davidson entered the pleas Tuesday to three counts of sexual abuse. He was a Waterloo firefighter when he was arrested last year and initially charged with four felony counts of child abuse. Investigators say Davidson purchased sex toys for the boy and encouraged the boy to use them. Documents said he also tried to use a video camera to record the boy. Davidson's sentencing has been set for May 21.

Ex-Waterloo firefighter pleads no contest to sex assault

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say an apparently coordinated effort sent bomb and shooter threats to schools and businesses across Omaha on Friday morning, sending some schools into lockdown and leading at least one business to evacuate its headquarters. 

Police spokesman, Lt. Neal Bonacci, said Friday that the threats did not appear to be credible. 

Elkhorn Public Schools sent a message to parents announcing districtwide lockdowns in the wake of the threat, which were soon lifted. 

Union Pacific's high-rise headquarters in downtown Omaha was evacuated and its employees sent home for the day following the threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565131813378.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say an apparently coordinated effort sent bomb and shooter threats to schools and businesses across Omaha on Friday morning, sending some schools into lockdown and leading at least one business to evacuate its headquarters. Police spokesman, Lt. Neal Bonacci, said Friday that the threats did not appear to be credible. Elkhorn Public Schools sent a message to parents announcing districtwide lockdowns in the wake of the threat, which were soon lifted. Union Pacific's high-rise headquarters in downtown Omaha was evacuated and its employees sent home for the day following the threat.

Police: Bomb threats target schools, businesses across Omaha

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — The Kansas City police department has unveiled several new policies designed to improve community relationships after months of complaints arising from confrontations during last summer's racial injustice protests but some community activists immediately rejected the changes as insufficient and demanded stronger action.

The department's First Amendment policy emphasizes that officers should protect citizens' rights to gather and protest. It lays out the chain of command for determining how officers should respond to the gatherings, and encourages efforts to communicate with organizers of the demonstrations.

As part of the initiative, the department announced Thursday that about 900 of its patrol, tactical and traffic officers are now equipped with body cameras, which community groups have been demanding for years.

That announcement came after Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith met privately Wednesday with some community activists to discuss the new policies and how the city could respond if more protests are held.

The effort to improve relationships did not impress several of the civil rights organizations that had demanded changes, particularly that Smith either resign or be fired.

On Thursday, seven groups sent a letter to Lucas, Smith, and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker saying they would not attend the meetings, which they called “performative politics.” They said the police department remains a racist organization that disregards the humanity of Black people.

The letter from Black Rainbow, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Council-Greater Kansas City, Urban League, National Black United Front, Operation Liberation, and Urban Summit said Lucas had not met one of their demands and had engaged in “political posturing” since May 2020.

“Furthermore, the recent reforms announced by KCPD are miniscule, ineffective, inadequate, and don’t produce structural change,” the letter said. “Moreover, they do nothing to dismantle systemic racism in the execution of policies, practices and procedures.”

Henry Service, an attorney and community activist who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said in an interview that any progress that has been made was only because of protests and other actions of activists.

He remains skeptical of city and police leaders’ determination to follow through with changes, although he will continue to attend the monthly gatherings.

“My complaint is that they are now saying they are doing things that they are required (by law) to do in the first place,” Service said. “I just don’t believe the police are going to change unless they are forced to. It’s going to take legislation, it’s going to take media exposure. They won’t do it because they want to.”

Lucas said Thursday he was optimistic the city is making progress in healing its divisions. He said those who attended the meeting talked openly about their concerns, with one participant frankly telling Smith why she wanted him fired. He noted the groups who sent the letter were invited to participate in the meeting but chose not to do so.

“I'm not going to stop meeting with people,” Lucas said.

The mayor said Kansas City compares favorably with any other city in positive changes, citing the decriminalization of most marijuana possession laws, which disproportionately affect Black citizens. He also said he agrees the city needs an independent office for citizen complaints in the police department and local control of its police force.

During a news conference Thursday announcing progress on the body cameras, Smith said the body cameras were a “win-win” for the public and police.

“The community wanted it, our officers wanted it. ... Everyone is trying to get to the truth and the camera will help provide that,” said Smith, who has said repeatedly that he does not intend to resign.

Private donations allowed the city to purchase the cameras, which will cost about $4 million annually. The department has received a federal grant to add cameras for about 400 more detectives.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd, who was on the committee setting policy for the cameras, said the cameras would help police and prosecutors secure justice. But he explained that under Missouri law, video evidence from the cameras will not be released for the public to see in a criminal case until the case is concluded, unless a judge orders the videos' release.

The department's other policies require police to refrain from deploying less-lethal weapons, munitions or chemical agents unless there is an immediate need to protect themselves or others from injury. Less-lethal weapons — such as rubber bullets — will not be used to disperse crowds, although chemical agents such as tear gas can be used for dispersal.

Other changes made by the department include having outside law enforcement agencies investigate police shootings, and requiring officers to intervene if another officer is using excessive force.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606271500828.png" alt="Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith met privately Wednesday with some community activists to discuss the new policies and how the city could respond if more protests are held-photo courtesy KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith met privately Wednesday with some community activists to discuss the new policies and how the city could respond if more protests are held-photo courtesy KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGARET STAFFORDKANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — The Kansas City police department has unveiled several new policies designed to improve community relationships after months of complaints arising from confrontations during last summer's racial injustice protests but some community activists immediately rejected the changes as insufficient and demanded stronger action.The department's First Amendment policy emphasizes that officers should protect citizens' rights to gather and protest. It lays out the chain of command for determining how officers should respond to the gatherings, and encourages efforts to communicate with organizers of the demonstrations.As part of the initiative, the department announced Thursday that about 900 of its patrol, tactical and traffic officers are now equipped with body cameras, which community groups have been demanding for years.That announcement came after Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith met privately Wednesday with some community activists to discuss the new policies and how the city could respond if more protests are held.The effort to improve relationships did not impress several of the civil rights organizations that had demanded changes, particularly that Smith either resign or be fired.On Thursday, seven groups sent a letter to Lucas, Smith, and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker saying they would not attend the meetings, which they called “performative politics.” They said the police department remains a racist organization that disregards the humanity of Black people.The letter from Black Rainbow, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Council-Greater Kansas City, Urban League, National Black United Front, Operation Liberation, and Urban Summit said Lucas had not met one of their demands and had engaged in “political posturing” since May 2020.“Furthermore, the recent reforms announced by KCPD are miniscule, ineffective, inadequate, and don’t produce structural change,” the letter said. “Moreover, they do nothing to dismantle systemic racism in the execution of policies, practices and procedures.”Henry Service, an attorney and community activist who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said in an interview that any progress that has been made was only because of protests and other actions of activists.He remains skeptical of city and police leaders’ determination to follow through with changes, although he will continue to attend the monthly gatherings.“My complaint is that they are now saying they are doing things that they are required (by law) to do in the first place,” Service said. “I just don’t believe the police are going to change unless they are forced to. It’s going to take legislation, it’s going to take media exposure. They won’t do it because they want to.”Lucas said Thursday he was optimistic the city is making progress in healing its divisions. He said those who attended the meeting talked openly about their concerns, with one participant frankly telling Smith why she wanted him fired. He noted the groups who sent the letter were invited to participate in the meeting but chose not to do so.“I'm not going to stop meeting with people,” Lucas said.The mayor said Kansas City compares favorably with any other city in positive changes, citing the decriminalization of most marijuana possession laws, which disproportionately affect Black citizens. He also said he agrees the city needs an independent office for citizen complaints in the police department and local control of its police force.During a news conference Thursday announcing progress on the body cameras, Smith said the body cameras were a “win-win” for the public and police.“The community wanted it, our officers wanted it. ... Everyone is trying to get to the truth and the camera will help provide that,” said Smith, who has said repeatedly that he does not intend to resign.Private donations allowed the city to purchase the cameras, which will cost about $4 million annually. The department has received a federal grant to add cameras for about 400 more detectives.Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd, who was on the committee setting policy for the cameras, said the cameras would help police and prosecutors secure justice. But he explained that under Missouri law, video evidence from the cameras will not be released for the public to see in a criminal case until the case is concluded, unless a judge orders the videos' release.The department's other policies require police to refrain from deploying less-lethal weapons, munitions or chemical agents unless there is an immediate need to protect themselves or others from injury. Less-lethal weapons — such as rubber bullets — will not be used to disperse crowds, although chemical agents such as tear gas can be used for dispersal.Other changes made by the department include having outside law enforcement agencies investigate police shootings, and requiring officers to intervene if another officer is using excessive force.

Kansas City police set new policies to improve interactions

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating vandalism at Wichita's Cow Town museum and asking the public for help to identify them.

Around midnight on April 16, several individuals were captured on surveillance video inside the museum causing damage to windows and buildings, according to a social media report from police.

They are also believed to be responsible for damages that occurred at Botanica on the same night.

If anyone has information about these individuals, or this case, please contact Detective Meier at 316-268-4254 or dmeier@wichita.gov

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619174296501.png" alt="Image of suspects captured on surveillance cameras from Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image of suspects captured on surveillance cameras from Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating vandalism at Wichita's Cow Town museum and asking the public for help to identify them.Around midnight on April 16, several individuals were captured on surveillance video inside the museum causing damage to windows and buildings, according to a social media report from police.They are also believed to be responsible for damages that occurred at Botanica on the same night.If anyone has information about these individuals, or this case, please contact Detective Meier at 316-268-4254 or dmeier@wichita.gov

Police: Suspects vandalized Kansas museum

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX has launched its third crew in under a year for NASA, this time using a recycled rocket and capsule. 

A Falcon rocket carrying four astronauts blasted toward orbit early Friday morning from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. 

The Dragon capsule should reach the International Space Station on Saturday. 

It’s the same capsule that carried up the first SpaceX crew last May. And the rocket hoisted the second crew in November. 

SpaceX founder Elon Musk met briefly with the U.S., French and Japanese astronauts before they headed to the launch pad.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619173229288.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX has launched its third crew in under a year for NASA, this time using a recycled rocket and capsule. A Falcon rocket carrying four astronauts blasted toward orbit early Friday morning from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon capsule should reach the International Space Station on Saturday. It’s the same capsule that carried up the first SpaceX crew last May. And the rocket hoisted the second crew in November. SpaceX founder Elon Musk met briefly with the U.S., French and Japanese astronauts before they headed to the launch pad.

SpaceX launches 3rd crew in under year, fly on reused rocket

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon health authorities say federal officials are investigating the death of a woman in her 50s who developed a blood clot and low platelets within two weeks of receiving the Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Oregon Health Authority learned of the probe on Tuesday, two days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating. 

The woman received the dose before the CDC ordered a pause on the vaccine amid concerns it could cause clotting. 

Federal officials already were examining six reports of clots, including a death, out of more than 6.8 million Americans given the shot.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon health authorities say federal officials are investigating the death of a woman in her 50s who developed a blood clot and low platelets within two weeks of receiving the Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The Oregon Health Authority learned of the probe on Tuesday, two days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating. The woman received the dose before the CDC ordered a pause on the vaccine amid concerns it could cause clotting. Federal officials already were examining six reports of clots, including a death, out of more than 6.8 million Americans given the shot.

Oregon: CDC investigating woman's death after J&J vaccine

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A second Lincoln police officer is alleging sexual harassment and discrimination in a lawsuit. 

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that the lawsuit Melissa Ripley filed in Lancaster County District Court comes four months after Sarah Williams, another officer, leveled a similar accusation. 

Ripley’s attorney Kelly Brandon described the discrimination as “pervasive” in an interview Wednesday and said female officers are leaving the department to the detriment of the community because of the failure to address it. 

Williams, for instance, has taken a job with the Omaha Police Department. 

Acting Police Chief Brian Jackson announced in March that the department had pledged to improve recruitment and retention of female officers. He declined to comment on the lawsuit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561658843712.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A second Lincoln police officer is alleging sexual harassment and discrimination in a lawsuit. The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that the lawsuit Melissa Ripley filed in Lancaster County District Court comes four months after Sarah Williams, another officer, leveled a similar accusation. Ripley’s attorney Kelly Brandon described the discrimination as “pervasive” in an interview Wednesday and said female officers are leaving the department to the detriment of the community because of the failure to address it. Williams, for instance, has taken a job with the Omaha Police Department. Acting Police Chief Brian Jackson announced in March that the department had pledged to improve recruitment and retention of female officers. He declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Second female Lincoln officer sues, alleging discrimination

WICHITA – A Kansas woman was sentenced Wednesday for breaking into a Wichita home and killing her ex-boyfriend's dog&nbsp; with a baseball bat, reportedly in a jealous rage. 

A Sedgwick County District Judge sentenced 32-year-old Hilda Noordhoek of Wichita, to 24 months of probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

On April 22, 2018, a man who lives in southeast Wichita told police someone used a brick to smash a window and enter his house. The thief took a computer along with headphones and the suspect killed his bulldog.&nbsp;A witness told police that Noordhoek killed the pet because she was mad that the man — with whom she was romantically involved — was seeing another woman.

Wichita Police used a license plate reader program and found Noordhoek’s car matched security footage outside the victim’s house. The victim and Noordhoek knew each other.

Last month, Noordhoek pled no contest to burglary, theft, and cruelty to animals. As part of the sentence, the judge ordered Noordhoek to pay $3236.99 in restitution to the victim. The Judge also ordered her to serve a 30-day jail sanction immediately before she begins her probation, which the Judge is required to do under Kansas law as a condition of probation on the cruelty to animals. Noordhoek was ordered to obtain a substance abuse and mental health evaluation and follow the recommendations of the psychological evaluation.

The judge also ordered Noordhoek to have no contact with any pets except those she already owns and no unsupervised contact with other people’s pets.

Noordhoek's lack of criminal history placed her most serious charge, burglary, in the "presumptive probation" category under Kansas law. The court ruled that if she violated her probation she would serve 13 months in prison for the burglary with an additional 12 months in jail for the cruelty to animals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619039450167.png" alt="Nordhoek photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Nordhoek photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A Kansas woman was sentenced Wednesday for breaking into a Wichita home and killing her ex-boyfriend's dog&nbsp; with a baseball bat, reportedly in a jealous rage. A Sedgwick County District Judge sentenced 32-year-old Hilda Noordhoek of Wichita, to 24 months of probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.On April 22, 2018, a man who lives in southeast Wichita told police someone used a brick to smash a window and enter his house. The thief took a computer along with headphones and the suspect killed his bulldog.&nbsp;A witness told police that Noordhoek killed the pet because she was mad that the man — with whom she was romantically involved — was seeing another woman.Wichita Police used a license plate reader program and found Noordhoek’s car matched security footage outside the victim’s house. The victim and Noordhoek knew each other.Last month, Noordhoek pled no contest to burglary, theft, and cruelty to animals. As part of the sentence, the judge ordered Noordhoek to pay $3236.99 in restitution to the victim. The Judge also ordered her to serve a 30-day jail sanction immediately before she begins her probation, which the Judge is required to do under Kansas law as a condition of probation on the cruelty to animals. Noordhoek was ordered to obtain a substance abuse and mental health evaluation and follow the recommendations of the psychological evaluation.The judge also ordered Noordhoek to have no contact with any pets except those she already owns and no unsupervised contact with other people’s pets.Noordhoek's lack of criminal history placed her most serious charge, burglary, in the "presumptive probation" category under Kansas law. The court ruled that if she violated her probation she would serve 13 months in prison for the burglary with an additional 12 months in jail for the cruelty to animals.

Kansas woman beat ex's dog to death with baseball bat

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-Sleepy Eyes Todd is back in Grand Island for the 46th running of the $75,000 Bosselman Pump-Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes Saturday, April 24th at Fonner Park.

Sleepy Eyes Todd, who drew the ninth post position Thursday morning, is one of a full field of 10 horses entered in the 1 1/16th mile race.

The defending champion cruised to a 6 1/2 length win in last year’s Bosselman. That was just the beginning of a big run for Sleepy Eyes Todd. He went on from there to win stake races at Charles Town, Keeneland and Gulfstream before taking his act overseas.

Sleepy Eyes Todd, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Paddy O’Prado and Pledge Mom, finished fifth in the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and then was 10th in the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 27.

“It’s always special when the defending champion returns, but it’s next to unthinkable that the same horse, Sleepy Eyes Todd, returns having run against arguably some of the best horses in the world in his last three races,” Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said.

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 </figure>News Release Fonner ParkGRAND ISLAND, Neb.-Sleepy Eyes Todd is back in Grand Island for the 46th running of the $75,000 Bosselman Pump-Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes Saturday, April 24th at Fonner Park.Sleepy Eyes Todd, who drew the ninth post position Thursday morning, is one of a full field of 10 horses entered in the 1 1/16th mile race.The defending champion cruised to a 6 1/2 length win in last year’s Bosselman. That was just the beginning of a big run for Sleepy Eyes Todd. He went on from there to win stake races at Charles Town, Keeneland and Gulfstream before taking his act overseas.Sleepy Eyes Todd, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Paddy O’Prado and Pledge Mom, finished fifth in the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and then was 10th in the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 27.“It’s always special when the defending champion returns, but it’s next to unthinkable that the same horse, Sleepy Eyes Todd, returns having run against arguably some of the best horses in the world in his last three races,” Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said.Since winning the Bosselman, Sleepy Eyes Todd has gone on to earn over $1.5 million. He now has eight wins in 18 career starts and has earned a total of $1,889,825 for trainer Miguel Silva and owner Thumbs Up Racing.Kotulak said Having Sleepy Eyes Todd back at Fonner will draw even more attention to Fonner Park.“This is quite a treat for our fans to come see, but our off-track mutuel handle has quadrupled since all of the world watched Fonner Park last year,” Kotulak said. “But you can bet that thousands of eyes across the nation will be watching and wagering on Sleepy Eyes Todd again this Saturday.”Sleepy Eyes Todd, who will be ridden by six-time Fonner Park champion jockey Jake Olesiak, has been installed as a 1-1 morning-line favorite, but he will be challenged by nine others who also have their eyes on winning the Bosselman. That field includes shippers Box Seat (5-1), Downtowner (5-1) Mo Mosa (5-1) and Minecraft Maniac (10-1)Shades of Victory, the winner of the Dowd Mile at Fonner Park on April 10, is 15-1. Poderoso Equis, who was second in the Dowd, is 25-1.Trainer Marissa Black has her duo of Blue Harbor and Mr. Tickle entered for the second straight year. Blue Harbor, second in the Bosselman last year is 12-1 and Mr. Tickle, third a year ago, is 25-1. Most Amusing, trained by Nebraska Hall of Fame trainer David C. Anderson, is also 25-1.The giant Saturday also features a mandatory payout in the Dinsdale Auto Late Pick 5 Jackpot wager. There is a carryover into the Friday, April 23rd racing of over $110,000. First post Saturday is 1:30 p.m. CT. The Late Pick 5 Jackpot involves the final five races on the card.