Topeka — Governor Sam Brownback today issued the following statement in honor of Christmas and the upcoming New Year’s holiday.

“Christmas is a joyous time of year when both young and old enjoy the wonders of the season. It is a time to renew our faith and share the spirit of Christmas fully with others. At this time of year in particular, as we gather with friends and family, take a moment to remember those who are without their families as they serve our nation in far-off places. Remember that to those in need, even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference. And remember that this season of peace offers an opportunity for reconciliation and renewal in our relationships.

“As the new year draws near, it holds the promise of challenges well met and blessings gratefully acknowledged. It reminds us that Kansans have always aimed high – to the stars – and that despite the difficulties we may encounter, we continue to aspire, achieve and believe in greater possibilities.
“May God bless you and your family.

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Islamic State militants have captured a Jordanian pilot after his warplane crashed in Syria while carrying out airstrikes today.

Activists say the plane went down near the city of Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital. The Raqqa Media Center has published a photograph said to be of the pilot being pulled by gunmen out of what appears to be a lake.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Jordan’s military said only that the warplane went down in Syria. A coalition official told The Associated Press that there were no immediate indications it was shot down.

Jordan’s information minister had said his country believed the plane was shot down, but added that it was “difficult to confirm.”

The Jordanian pilot is the first foreign military member to fall into the extremists’ hands since U.S.-led coalition launched its bombing campaign against the group months ago.

By KHI NEWS SERVICE

TOPEKA — Kansas health officials on Tuesday urged flu vaccinations for all residents over 6 months of age, as surveillance programs showed influenza spreading throughout the state.

Kansas clinics in the surveillance program reported that more than 10 percent of their patients last week were being seen for flu-like symptoms. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said there is “widespread” influenza activity throughout the state and reported that 333 Kansans died of flu or pneumonia between Sept. 1 and Dec. 20.

People at high risk of dying from the flu include those over 65, those who are immune-compromised and those who have underlying health conditions.

Most cases of this year’s flu have been caused by a strain that the vaccine does not protect against as well as others. But vaccination still can prevent flu or lessen its severity, so state and federal officials have continued promoting the flu shot and nasal mist, while also urging health care providers to dole out flu treatment drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza to high-risk patients as soon as they display symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation.

“Even though some circulating viruses may differ from the vaccine strain during the current season, influenza vaccination is still an important way to reduce the risk of serious complications and death,” said Charlie Hunt, the state epidemiologist. “If you have not had your flu vaccination for this season, I encourage you to get one now.”

According to KDHE, the influenza vaccination coverage rate was approximately 47 percent in Kansas last flu season, leaving more than half the population unprotected.

In addition to getting vaccinated, KDHE said Kansans can help prevent spread of the flu by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands and staying home when sick.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sony is making “The Interview” available on a variety of digital platforms this afternoon.

Streaming partners include Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and a separate Sony website.

The film about a plot to assassinate North Korea leader Kim Jong Un generated threats from hackers to attack theaters screening the movie. That prompted Sony to cancel the theatrical release, as major chains dropped plans to show the film.

The studio reversed course yesterday, after much criticism, announcing a limited release in about 300 independently owned theaters.

In announcing the digital on demand release, Sony Pictures chair and CEO Michael Lynton says it was “essential” for the studio to release “The Interview” after what he describes as “an assault” on the company and its employees “by those who wanted to stop free speech.”

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has released $4.6 million to give state employees a 1 percent raise.

Nixon on Wednesday announced the raises will kick in Jan. 1, and that he’s also freeing $2 million to boost the state’s tourism efforts.

The governor is using some of the money set aside for Capitol repairs to pay for the moves. He’s restricting $1.8 million of the $4.2 million set aside to spruce up the building and $4 million from a facilities maintenance fund.

Nixon cited concerns about declining revenues when he first froze the money for tourism and pay increases.

He and lawmakers recently scaled back predictions of how much money the state will make by the end of the fiscal year.

The governor hasn’t released about $700 million in restricted funds.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Melody McKenzie headed to the Lawrence Wal-Mart this week planning to remove an item from layaway that she had intended to purchase for her 12-year-old daughter before money got too tight for that to happen.

The Lawrence woman thought she stilled owed $87 on the karaoke machine after paying $15 to have it put on layaway, but when she told the clerk to put the toy back on Monday, she was shocked when informed that she owed only one penny.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the clerk told her a good Samaritan had paid off the rest.

Wal-Mart Supercenter manager Shawn Jacobson says that since Thanksgiving about 10 people had come in to pay off strangers’ layaway balances, amounting to between $2,500 and $3,000 in payment

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Bill Nelson have sent letters to the CEOs of ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft, raising concerns about the companies’ privacy policies and demanding answers on current privacy and data security practices.

“Some media reports have suggested that Uber lacks responsible data-security practices and potentially disregards the protections articulated in its privacy policy,” the Senators, both senior members of the Commerce Committee, wrote in their letter to Uber. “For example, the press has reported that the general manager of Uber’s New York operations tracked and accessed a reporter’s travel logs on multiple occasions, though the reporter never consented to being tracked or having her data accessed. According to another press report, an individual interviewing for a job at Uber reportedly had access to the company’s database of customer records, including actual travel records of Uber riders. Such allegations, if true, appear contrary to Uber’s claim that it has a ‘strict policy prohibiting all employees at every level from accessing a rider of driver’s data’ with exceptions for a ‘limited set of legitimate business purposes,’ and the allegations raise questions about Uber’s enforcement of its own policies.”

The Senators also expressed concern with media reports that Uber’s “God View” of customer’s geolocation and other data is easily accessible to staff across the company, as well as media reports that a Lyft spokeswoman had access to customers’ travel logs.

McCaskill, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, and Nelson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science and Space, requested Uber and Lyft provide companies of all public and internal polices pertaining to their practices on privacy policies, third party data sharing, consumer data retention and notification, data breach protections, and other policies.

The Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over the Federal Trade Commission, which since 2002 has brought more than 50 enforcement actions against companies that have put consumers’ data at risk or failed to honor the terms of their privacy policies.

The Senators’ letters to Uber and Lyft can be found HERE and HERE.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The cost of security for protests in Ferguson and the St. Louis area following the fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old by a white police officer is estimated to be more than $12.5 million.

State budget director Linda Luebbering on Wednesday released updated cost estimates for the Missouri National Guard and State Highway Patrol’s work.

Nixon activated the guard and increased the highway patrol’s presence in the St. Louis area ahead of a grand jury’s Nov. 24 decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

State figures show the guard had $7.1 million in costs, including for salaries, meals, fuel and supplies as of Wednesday.

The patrol had more than $5.3 million in expenses.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are tossing around plenty of proposals for raising new revenues to help close the state’s budget shortfalls.

They’re not confining themselves to rethinking personal income tax cuts that represent GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s legacy.

But many lawmakers floating the ideas also aren’t expressing much enthusiasm for them.

Several Republican leaders said the GOP-dominated Legislature also must make significant spending cuts in addressing shortfalls totaling more than $710 million in the current and next budgets.

The tax proposals from senators include delaying future promised cuts in personal income tax rates and accelerating the elimination of income tax deductions already being phased out as rates drop.

Legislators also have mentioned eliminating exemptions to the state sales tax and increasing gasoline, liquor and tobacco taxes.