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Similar tragedies have occurred repeatedly in several states this month, as families that had been celebrating a new school year and the start of football season are instead confronted with a nightmare.

The White House has stayed away from TikTok because of national security concerns related to its Chinese parent company. But Biden's campaign has now jumped in because that's where young voters are.

Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie said he would vote to oust Mike Johnson as House speaker if it came to the floor. He told Johnson in a closed-door meeting that he should resign.

The Earworm Eraser is a 40-second audio track specifically designed to banish "Jingle Bells," "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and other much-too-catchy seasonal tunes.

Sadiqa Reynolds, president of the Louisville Urban League, says the protests — which have been peaceful and diverse in her city — are "changing the way the criminal justice system has to respond."

Here's the latest Kansas and regional news from the Associated Press and KPR newsroom.

The Smithsonian's museums and zoo are now closed due to the government shut down. Tours of historic Washington, D.C. sites have been suspended and the National Gallery of Art is also closed.

Escaped Sex Offender Recaptured in LawrenceLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A convicted sex offender who escaped in Lawrence while being driven from Virginia to Colorado is back in custody. Police captured 22-year-old Deon Gregory Routt shortly after 3pm yesterday (TUE) after a chase near Memorial Stadium at the University of Kansas. A private security firm was transporting Routt when the van stopped in Lawrence around 5:30pm Monday so officers could check on a prisoner. Routt to the opportunity to bolt. Routt is a registered sex offender. He was convicted last year of sexually assaulting a child in Colorado. Authorities were uncertain if Routt was shackled or handcuffed when he made his escape. ==============================Salina Food Bank Reports Low SuppliesSALINA, Kan. (AP) — Officials at a Salina food bank say a marked increase in demand for services has cut into their supplies. The Salina Journal reports the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank normally serves 20 to 30 people a day. But the food bank has been seeing those numbers go up and recently set a one-day record when 40 people came for meals. Executive director Kathy Jackson says there have also been days when the number of people seeking food has topped 35. Jackson says the food bank has had to ration provisions to stretch its dwindling supplies. The organization is hoping a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday will help alleviate the shortage.==============================Burglary Ring with KS Connection Busted in SW MissouriJOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A burglary ring with a Kansas connection has been busted in southwest Missouri. Three suspects are in custody after authorities say they operated a burglary ring in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. So far, investigators in Jasper County, Missouri have identified 16 victims after discovering the stolen property last weekend in a Joplin house and in a storage unit.==============================KU Proposes Room and Board Increase for Next YearLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas is seeking an increase of about 2.54 percent for room and board, starting next fall. The university says the proposed rate would increase the cost of a traditional residence hall double room to $3,902 per academic year. The cost of the dining plan would be $3,540. University officials are also proposing a $260 fee for Internet data service for each student, rather than having students pay the Internet provider. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that university housing officials say if the increases are approved, KU's housing and dining rates would remain below Big 12 and national averages. The Kansas Board of Regents will consider the request, along with those of five other universities, at its monthly meeting in November.==============================Parade Turns into Vigil after Kansas Teen DiesMULVANE, Kan. (AP) — A parade planned in a southern Kansas town turned instead into a vigil after a 15-year-old girl died before she could return home. Residents in Mulvane decorated Main Street yesterday (TUE) to welcome home Taylor Heersche, who had battled leukemia. The town rallied for four years to support Taylor and her family. But Taylor died at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City just hours before she was scheduled to go home. Taylor, a sophomore at Mulvane High School, was diagnosed with the leukemia in May 2008, when she was 10 years-old. Her mother, DeAnne Heersche, told The Wichita Eagle that the disease returned last December in a genetic mutation that couldn't be cured. Services are Sunday at Central Community Church in Wichita, with a private burial Monday.==============================Kansas State Researchers Study High-Speed RailMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State is conducting research that could help high-speed rail systems better handle winter conditions. The university is leading a three-year study that looks at the freeze-thaw durability of concrete railroad ties. The school says the work is essential in efforts to develop safe and durable high-speed rail systems. Assistant civil engineering professor Kyle Riding is collaborating with researchers from the university's Institute of Environmental Research, the United Arab Emirates and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The commercial partners are the Canadian National Railroad and CXT Concrete Ties Incorporated. The Federal Railroad Association recently awarded Riding more than $1.2 million to study the materials and fabrication process.==============================Four KS Inmates Treated for Medical EmergenciesHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Officials at a Kansas prison are investigating a medical problem that sent two inmates to Wichita-area hospitals and two others to the prison clinic. The Hutchinson News reports the four were taken from Hutchinson Correctional Facility's administrative segregation unit yesterday (TUE) afternoon for what were described as "unknown medical issues." Prison spokesman Dirk Moss said in a news release that one inmate was evaluated and released from the clinic, while the other was held for observation. A third was flown to a hospital in the Wichita area. The fourth was transported by ambulance.==============================Olathe's Berry Named Kansas Superintendent of the YearOLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The leader of a northeast Kansas school district has been named Kansas superintendent of the year. The Kansas City Star reports that Olathe's Marlin Berry is the recipient of the award from the Kansas School Superintendents' Association. The award was announced this week. It also allows Berry to select a high school senior for a $1,000 scholarship. The association says the award is based on "professionalism, communication, community involvement and leadership in meeting the needs of students." Berry has been an administrator with Olathe Public Schools since 2007 and superintendent since 2010. He has also been superintendent of the Smoky Valley and Abilene districts. ==============================Dems Outspend GOP Foes in Key KS Senate RacesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New campaign finance reports show Democrats in hotly contested Kansas Senate races outspending their Republican opponents over the past three months. Reports filed this week with the secretary of state's office show the widest gap between Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley and GOP challenger Casey Moore. Both are from Topeka and running in the 19th Senate District. Hensley reported spending nearly $113,000 on his re-election campaign from July 27 through October 25, compared with the roughly $12,000 spent by Moore. Another closely watched race is in the 5th District in the Kansas City area. Democratic incumbent Kelly Kultala of Kansas City reported spending more than $56,000 over the past three months. Republican Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth spent about $51,000.==============================Democrat Spends Slightly More in KCK State Senate RaceKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Democratic candidate for a Kansas Senate seat from the Kansas City area has slightly outspent the party-switching Republican incumbent over the past three months. A finance report filed this week by Democratic challenger Pat Pettey of Kansas City shows that she spent more than $39,000 on her campaign from July 27 through October 25. She had about $43,000 to spend after raising $31,000 during the period. Pettey is running in the 6th District against Republican Senator Chris Steineger of Kansas City. Steineger raised almost $30,000 during the period, giving him about $61,000 in his campaign fund. He spent about $35,000. Steineger won his Senate seat as a Democrat in 1996 but switched parties after losing the Democratic primary for secretary of state in 2010.==============================Kansas Cold Weather Rule Takes Effect ThursdayTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Thursday marks the start of the cold weather rule period in Kansas, restricting utility cutoffs for nonpayment of bills. The rule is in effect from November 1 to March 31. It prohibits shutoffs of residential electricity or natural gas service when temperatures are expected to be at or below 35 degrees over the following 24 hours. Utilities also must contact a customer 24 hours before a disconnection, and offer a 12-month payment plan for the customer to maintain or re-establish service. The Kansas Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities, says residents can help control heating costs by keeping furnaces maintained, weather-stripping and caulking doors and windows and setting thermostats at reasonable levels.==============================KS Parties Make Last Election PushTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican and Democratic volunteers are fanning out through Kansas neighborhoods and staffing telephone banks in a final push to urge voters to cast ballots in Tuesday's elections. Many voters will do so before Election Day. Advance voting in person continues through Monday in Kansas. Officials of the two parties said Wednesday they're poring over daily updates from the secretary of state on voters who have requested advance ballots and those who have yet to return them. There are no statewide races on this year's ballot, but all 125 seats in the Kansas House and all state Senate seats are being contested. Two of the state's four U.S. House seats also have contested races.==============================State School Board Member has Most Expensive RaceTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Democratic incumbent is waging the most expensive fall campaign for Kansas' state school board as she tries to hold off a Republican with ties to a Topeka church known for picketing military funerals. But GOP challenger Jack Wu said Wednesday that he plans to spend no money in his race against Democratic incumbent Carolyn Campbell in the 4th State Board of Education District. Campbell filed a finance report this week showing her campaign spent about $12,000 from July 27 through Oct. 25. Most of the money went for cable TV spots pointing out Wu's affiliation with Westboro Baptist Church. The church has gained national attention over its funeral protests. Wu is not a member, but he attends services and has described the congregation as friends.==============================Feds Charge Wichita Firm for Hiring Illegal ImmigrantWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged a Wichita firm for knowingly hiring an illegal immigrant as manager of one of its McDonald's restaurants. A criminal information filed Wednesday in federal court charges McCalla Corp. with aiding and abetting the use of a false document. The firm operates six McDonald's restaurants. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom says a tentative plea agreement has been reached in which the company will pay $400,000 in fines and forfeitures. He says the company was charged with only one count, but that the investigation revealed numerous illegal immigrants. Roy McCalla, the firm's president, says in a statement released through his attorney that the charge is based on the actions of one employee, who no longer works for the company. McCalla says the incident does not reflect the company's policies.==============================Judge Orders Newspaper to Reveal Name of CommenterTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas judge has ordered a newspaper to identify an online commenter who is accused of accessing a news story during a first-degree murder trial in which he was a juror. Shawnee County District Judge Steven Ebberts last week denied a request by The Topeka Capital-Journal to quash a subpoena for the information. The case involves a commenter on CJOnline.com using the pseudonym of "BePrepared" who accessed a news story in July about the trial of Anceo Stovall and posted a comment. A man believed to be "BePrepared" asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at a September hearing when asked if he was a juror during the Stovall trial and posted under the identity of "BePrepared." The newspaper says it will comply with the order.==============================Kansas Proposes Room and Board Increase Next YearLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas is seeking an increase of about 2.54 percent for room and board, starting next fall. The university says the proposed rate would increase the cost of a traditional residence hall double room to about $3,900 per academic year. The cost of the dining plan would be more than $3,500. University officials are also proposing a $260 fee for Internet data service for each student, rather than having students pay the Internet provider. The Lawrence Journal-World reports university housing officials say if the increases are approved, Kansas' housing and dining rates would remain below Big 12 and national averages. The Kansas Board of Regents will consider the request, along with those of five other universities, at its monthly meeting in November.

Kansas Senate President Could Wield More Power over Committee ChoicesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republicans in the Kansas Senate are considering a proposal to concentrate the power over committee assignments in the chamber's president. And the idea has bipartisan support. Incoming Majority Leader Terry Bruce of Hutchinson said Thursday that some fellow Republicans view the Senate's current method of handling committee assignments as cumbersome. A nine-member, all-GOP panel makes the assignments. The practice is a legacy of Republican infighting decades ago and voters electing Democratic lieutenant governors in the past to preside over a Republican-controlled Senate. Meanwhile, the House gives its speaker control over committee assignments. Bruce and Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita take over when lawmakers convene their 2013 session January 14th. Abolishing the all-GOP appointments group has the support of Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka.================ Kansas Senate Hopes to Fill Committees Next WeekTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate's new Republican leaders hope to finish making committee assignments early next week. Incoming Senate President Susan Wagle already has named the chairmen and vice chairmen of the chamber's 13 standing committees. But an all-GOP leadership panel headed by the Wichita Republican has yet to finish its assigned task of filling out each panel. The panel will also appoint Democratic committee members from a list of recommendations from Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka. Wagle will become Senate president when lawmakers convene their 2013 session on Jan. 14, and committee assignments will start on that date. In the House, incoming Speaker Ray Merrick will make the committee assignments. His chief of staff said the Stilwell Republican doesn't have a timetable for finishing the job.================ Kansas State of the State Address Set for January 15TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has chosen January 15 as the date to deliver his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature. The Republican governor will outline his legislative agenda for 2013 one day after lawmakers begin the annual session. Brownback goes into the new year with sizeable GOP majorities in both chambers. Republicans outnumber Democrats 92-33 in the House and 32-8 in the Senate.================Study: Fiscal Cliff May Cost Kansas 40,400 JobsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An economic consulting firm predicts Kansas would lose nearly 40,400 jobs next year if no deal is struck on the so-called fiscal cliff. A state-by-state analysis posted Wednesday by Regional Economic Models Inc. says the private sector in Kansas would take the biggest hit, with nearly 35,000 jobs at risk. The firm says retailers would suffer the most as consumers cut spending. The fiscal cliff refers to automatic tax increases and cuts in government spending that would effect January 1st unless Congress and the White House reach a deal to avert them. For Kansas, Regional Economic Models projects a loss of $2.75 billion to $3 billion in gross domestic product unless an agreement is reached in Washington.================ Settlement Reached for Salina Contamination Cleanup PlansSALINA, Kan. (AP) — Salina officials and the federal government reached a financial settlement to cover another step in cleaning up contaminated groundwater and soil at a former Air Force base. Officials announced Thursday that the federal government will pay 90 percent of an estimated $9.3 million needed to investigate the contamination, prepare a feasibility study and agree to a final plan for cleaning up the industrial solvent TCE at the former Schilling Air Force Base. The city of Salina will pay the remaining 10 percent. KSAL reports the federal share is about $8.4 million and the local share is $936,000. The deal must be approved by the Salina City Commission, the Salina School District, the Salina Airport Authority and Kansas State University, as well as the U.S. District Court and Justice Department.================Kansas Lottery Executive Director NamedTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has picked Secretary of Administration Dennis Taylor to be the new executive director of the Kansas Lottery. The Republican governor announced the appointment Friday. Taylor will replace Dennis Wilson, who resigned December 3 from the lottery for health reasons. Taylor has served as administration secretary for two years, overseeing state purchasing, upkeep of state office buildings and computer and phone services for state agencies. Brownback also put him in charge of a new office of state repealer, which sought to remove outdated and burdensome laws and regulations. Brownback is expected to name an acting secretary of administration in the coming days. Taylor's appointment takes effect on January 13. He has 35 years of public service experience and served as a cabinet member for former Governor Mike Hayden.================Outgoing State Representative Joins Hays City CommissionHAYS, Kan. (AP) — A longtime Kansas legislator who lost his re-election bid in November is getting right back into public service. The Hays Daily News reports that eight-term House Democrat Eber Phelps has been appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Hays City Commission. Phelps was one of three applicants to replace Barbara Wasinger, who's resigning to take a seat on the Ellis County Commission. He was appointed Thursday night on a 3-0 vote. Phelps will serve until April of next year in his second stint on the city commission. He spent six years on the commission before resigning in 1996 following his first election to the Kansas House. Phelps was defeated by Republican Sue Boldra in last month's election from the northwest Kansas House district.================ Death of Shawnee County Jail Inmate Prompts LawsuitTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The family of a man who died while in custody of Shawnee County authorities is suing several county and Topeka officials and prison employees. The family of 35-year-old Julio Aguirre is suing 30 defendants including the city of Topeka, Police Chief Ron Miller and other officers and health care providers. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Aguirre was mentally unstable throughout his eight days in jail after being arrested in December 2010. The lawsuit alleges the family repeatedly asked that he be sent to a hospital but that request was ignored for days. He was eventually was sent to Osawatomie State Hospital and then to an Overland Park hospital. He died December 12. An attorney says the county denies any negligence, and city officials say they are studying the lawsuit.================ KU Medical Center Cited for Death of Goat in LabKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Federal regulators have cited the University of Kansas Medical Center for violations in its animal research facilities, one that led to the death of a goat. After an inspection in January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited the medical center for inadequate veterinary care, improper reporting and improper supervision of experimentation. A medical center spokeswoman says medical center lost an appeal of the citation for the goat's death but the USDA has not indicated it will conduct further investigations. The USDA says some citations are corrected quickly and do not prompt further investigations. The Kansas City Star reports that the agriculture department is conducting another inspection of possible failure to provide adequate veterinary care and adequate laboratory oversight. The medical center says that investigation involves four relatively minor issues.================ 2-Year-Old Topeka Girl Dies After Pit Bull AttackTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka officials say a 2-year-old girl died after she was attacked by a pit bull mix at a relative's home. The child was attacked Thursday afternoon while she and her mother were visiting the relative. Her name has not been released. Shawnee County Sheriff Lieutenant Danny Lotridge says the girl died after being taken to a Topeka hospital. Officers did not release information on circumstances surrounding the attack. The dog, a 6-year-old male, was taken away by animal control officers. Its fate was not immediately known.================Feds Charge Kansas Feedlot Worker for Alleged TheftsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A central Kansas woman faces federal charges of stealing more than $211,000 from a Lyons livestock feeder to pay off losses from her own cattle business. The U.S. attorney's office on Friday charged 37-year-old Carrie L. Frederick of Sterling with three counts of wire fraud. The government says Frederick owed Golden Belt Feeders near St. John more than $150,000. The debt stems from losses in cattle transactions she financed while serving on Golden Belt's board. Prosecutors allege that after Frederick began working in 2007 at Sellers Farms' feeding operation in Lyons, she sent fraudulent faxes to banks for money transfers to cover personal expenses and repay her former employer. Frederick's lawyer did not return a call Friday. A phone number for her could not be found. Frederick was summoned to appear in court January 4.================Kansas Regulators Approve $33M Rate Hike for KCP&LTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Power & Light has been granted a $33 million rate increase that will add about $74 a year to electric bills for its 242,000 Kansas customers. The increase was approved Thursday by the Kansas Corporation Commission, which says it will boost the average residential customer's costs by $6.20 a month. The Kansas City, Missouri-based utility had sought a nearly $64 million increase for its Kansas customers. KCP&L officials said they needed additional revenue to maintain generating plants and cover new costs of complying with federal environmental regulations. The company also sought to earn a 10.4 percent profit on its operations, but the three-member KCC scaled that figure back to 9.5 percent.================ Kansas Homeowner Finds Burglar in Garage, Shoots HimMULVANE, Kan. (AP) — A burglary suspect is in a Wichita hospital after being shot in the middle of the night by a rural Sumner County homeowner. Sumner County sheriff's Captain Mike Yoder the 31-year-old suspect is expected to survive. He was in stable condition Thursday at Wesley Medical Center recovering from a gunshot wound in the torso. Neither the suspect nor the Mulvane homeowner has been publicly identified. Investigators say the homeowner awoke to noises around 3:30 am Wednesday and found a man in his garage apparently trying to steal his Harley Davidson motorcycle. The homeowner reportedly told the man to freeze, but the burglar charged him and punched him in the jaw. The homeowner told investigators he then shot the man in the upper left torso.================ Report: Sumner County Led Kansas in Wheat ProductionWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows that Sumner County was Kansas' top 2012 winter wheat producer. Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Thursday that Sumner County growers cut 17.9 million bushels this year. McPherson County was second with 11.3 million bushels, followed by Reno County with 10.8 million bushels. Sumner County, in south-central Kansas, also had the most harvested acres with 375,500 total acres. Reno County was second with 246,000 acres, and McPherson County came in third with 225,600 harvested acres. But the highest yields were in Crawford County. Farmers there averaged 61.6 bushels of wheat per acre, breaking the record 50 bushels per acre set in 2003 and 1997. Miami County had the second highest yield with 59.6 bushels per acre. Wilson County was third with 57.9 bushels.================Body Found in Washington State Identified as Kansas ManLONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — The body found in the Columbia River a year ago at Longvie, Washington has been identified as a 57-year-old Kansas man, Charles A. Farley of Hiawatha. Cowlitz County (Washington) Coroner Tim Davidson said Thursday the identification was made after Farley's DNA profile was plugged into a national missing persons database. The Daily News reports that Farley was reported missing in April of last year in Kansas. His pickup truck was found in June 2011 at a truck stop at Halsey, Oregon. The body was found December 15, 2011, at a bulk terminal on the river. The death remains under investigation.

Four day school weeks? More school districts are saying yes. Plus, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and others hatch a plan to cut food waster in half... auto workers expand their strike to 38 locations in 20 states... and the Kansas City Chiefs clobber the lowly Chicago Bears. Those headlines and more stories inside.