As a pro-life Kansan with a strongly pro-life voting record throughout my twelve years in the Kansas House of Representatives, I want to address the controversy surrounding the proposal to amend the Kansas constitution to limit and regulate abortion.&nbsp; Kansans for Life (KFL) is taking the position that the current proposal must appear on the August primary ballot rather than the November general election ballot.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; What is their objection to voting in November?

They will tell you that it has a much better chance of passing in August than in November.&nbsp; That much ought to be obvious.&nbsp; Due to the makeup of the Kansas electorate, passage of the measure in the August primary election is nearly a sure thing.&nbsp; Consider that Republican voters, who are solidly pro-life, outnumber Democrat voters, a significant number of which are pro-choice.&nbsp; Consider also that Kansas Democrats rarely have contested primary elections, so they don’t show up as frequently as Republicans for the August election.&nbsp; And finally consider that nearly a third of Kansas registered voters are unaffiliated who can only vote on special questions in the August primary, so they don’t show up in large numbers either.&nbsp; These are the reasons why turnout is always so much lower for the August primary than for the November general election.&nbsp; Doesn’t it reveal a disregard for truly representational government when KFL insists the vote must be held in August?

But would the amendment to limit and regulate abortion fail in November?&nbsp; KFL’s own polling numbers don’t support that conclusion.&nbsp; In a statewide poll commissioned by KFL and conducted last fall, 48% of respondents indicated they would vote yes on the amendment if it were held in the November general election.&nbsp; Only 27% said they would vote no, and 25% indicated they were currently undecided.&nbsp; So pro-life advocates would only need to pick up another 3% of the voters to prevail, while the opponents of the amendment would have to convince another 24%.&nbsp; Does that look like a lost cause to you?&nbsp; Me neither.

This makes two things abundantly clear.&nbsp; First is that the people at KFL are lazy.&nbsp; They don’t want to do the work to assure passage in November, and they prefer the much easier near slam-dunk of an August election.&nbsp; They claim to be worried that abortion opponents will spend a huge amount of money to defeat the measure in November.&nbsp; That might be true.&nbsp; But the pro-life advocates are starting with a significant advantage, and the history of similar measures in other states tell us it won’t make a difference.&nbsp; It appears that KFL has less faith in the people of Kansas than I do that they will make the right choice.&nbsp; Secondly, it reveals quite vividly what some have long suspected.&nbsp; For KFL it is as much about the politics as it is about the policy.&nbsp; They want their policy when and as they want it, but they also want legislators who will compliantly give them whatever they wish.&nbsp; We have seen this in the past when KFL has actively worked against incumbent legislators with strong pro-life voting records.

It is time for KFL to adjust to the reality that the votes are not there in the legislature to put the measure on the August ballot.&nbsp; I recently provided an alternative by introducing a new resolution which would place the measure on the November general election ballot.&nbsp; When the legislature returns in late April, I urge KFL to support that alternative and put their faith in the Kansas voters. &nbsp;

It is my honor and privilege to represent the citizens of the 118th District in the Kansas House.

Representative Don Hineman, <a href="mailto:don.hineman@house.ks.gov">don.hineman@house.ks.gov</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578581434585.png" alt="State Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton" />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton</figcaption>
 </figure>As a pro-life Kansan with a strongly pro-life voting record throughout my twelve years in the Kansas House of Representatives, I want to address the controversy surrounding the proposal to amend the Kansas constitution to limit and regulate abortion.&nbsp; Kansans for Life (KFL) is taking the position that the current proposal must appear on the August primary ballot rather than the November general election ballot.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; What is their objection to voting in November?They will tell you that it has a much better chance of passing in August than in November.&nbsp; That much ought to be obvious.&nbsp; Due to the makeup of the Kansas electorate, passage of the measure in the August primary election is nearly a sure thing.&nbsp; Consider that Republican voters, who are solidly pro-life, outnumber Democrat voters, a significant number of which are pro-choice.&nbsp; Consider also that Kansas Democrats rarely have contested primary elections, so they don’t show up as frequently as Republicans for the August election.&nbsp; And finally consider that nearly a third of Kansas registered voters are unaffiliated who can only vote on special questions in the August primary, so they don’t show up in large numbers either.&nbsp; These are the reasons why turnout is always so much lower for the August primary than for the November general election.&nbsp; Doesn’t it reveal a disregard for truly representational government when KFL insists the vote must be held in August?But would the amendment to limit and regulate abortion fail in November?&nbsp; KFL’s own polling numbers don’t support that conclusion.&nbsp; In a statewide poll commissioned by KFL and conducted last fall, 48% of respondents indicated they would vote yes on the amendment if it were held in the November general election.&nbsp; Only 27% said they would vote no, and 25% indicated they were currently undecided.&nbsp; So pro-life advocates would only need to pick up another 3% of the voters to prevail, while the opponents of the amendment would have to convince another 24%.&nbsp; Does that look like a lost cause to you?&nbsp; Me neither.This makes two things abundantly clear.&nbsp; First is that the people at KFL are lazy.&nbsp; They don’t want to do the work to assure passage in November, and they prefer the much easier near slam-dunk of an August election.&nbsp; They claim to be worried that abortion opponents will spend a huge amount of money to defeat the measure in November.&nbsp; That might be true.&nbsp; But the pro-life advocates are starting with a significant advantage, and the history of similar measures in other states tell us it won’t make a difference.&nbsp; It appears that KFL has less faith in the people of Kansas than I do that they will make the right choice.&nbsp; Secondly, it reveals quite vividly what some have long suspected.&nbsp; For KFL it is as much about the politics as it is about the policy.&nbsp; They want their policy when and as they want it, but they also want legislators who will compliantly give them whatever they wish.&nbsp; We have seen this in the past when KFL has actively worked against incumbent legislators with strong pro-life voting records.It is time for KFL to adjust to the reality that the votes are not there in the legislature to put the measure on the August ballot.&nbsp; I recently provided an alternative by introducing a new resolution which would place the measure on the November general election ballot.&nbsp; When the legislature returns in late April, I urge KFL to support that alternative and put their faith in the Kansas voters. &nbsp;It is my honor and privilege to represent the citizens of the 118th District in the Kansas House.Representative Don Hineman, <a href="mailto:don.hineman@house.ks.gov">don.hineman@house.ks.gov</a>&nbsp;

HINEMAN: Kansans for Life should have faith in Kan. voters

LOGAN COUNTY— Three people were injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Sunday in Logan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota passenger vehicle driven by Christie R. Lacey , 27, Chicago, was eastbound on U.S. 40 five miles west of U.S. 83.

The driver&nbsp; lost control of the vehicle, entered the south ditch, overcorrected back onto the roadway and struck a&nbsp; 2012 Mazda passenger vehicle driven by Mary Kathleen Magley, 60, Monument head-on.

EMS transported&nbsp;Lacey, Magley and a passenger in the Mazda Wayne F. Magley, 61, Oakley, to the Logan County Hospital. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

LOGAN COUNTY— Three people were injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Sunday in Logan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota passenger vehicle driven by Christie R. Lacey , 27, Chicago, was eastbound on U.S. 40 five miles west of U.S. 83.The driver&nbsp; lost control of the vehicle, entered the south ditch, overcorrected back onto the roadway and struck a&nbsp; 2012 Mazda passenger vehicle driven by Mary Kathleen Magley, 60, Monument head-on.EMS transported&nbsp;Lacey, Magley and a passenger in the Mazda Wayne F. Magley, 61, Oakley, to the Logan County Hospital. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

3 hospitalized after head-on crash in NW Kansas

Pursuant to Executive Order 20-16 as of March 30th at 1201 am Ellis County and all of Kansas will be subject to a Stay at Home order.  Ellis County Health Department encourages all Kansans to read and understand this order. Executive Order 20-16 define the limitations and exemptions for all Kansans.  Ellis County Health Department encourages all Kansans to follow this order. 

  
All Kansans are directed to stay in their homes unless you are performing an essential function. Activities that are permitted are obtaining food, medicine or other household necessities, and seeking medical care.  Performing an essential function as defined in the KEFF framework EO-20-16.  Caring for children, family members or pets and care of a vulnerable person at another location.  Engaging in outdoor activities provided that social distancing of greater than 6 ft and group sizes of 10 people or less are maintained.  Families are still permitted to gather privately.


The KEFF framework as defined in EO-20-16 contains the necessary functions that are exempt from the prohibitions in this order.  No prior approval is required for individuals or entities to perform essential functions listed in the KEFF framework.  Individuals or entities who are uncertain whether they perform functions exempted from the prohibitions of this may email KEFF@ks.gov to determine whether their functions are deemed essential. Please do not call 911 or the dispatch center to determine work requirements or limitations. 

ECHD encourages all residents to utilize this order and all guidance from the CDC and KDHE to keep themselves and loved ones safe in this tumultuous time. Please remember to take basic precautions like washing your hands, covering your cough and avoiding any non-essential time outside of your home. 
Stay informed as information changes frequently. For more information,&nbsp; visit www.kdheks.gov or www.cdc.gov/COVID19. We encourage you to access EO-20-16 at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/executive-orders/">https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/executive-orders/</a>.

Ellis County Health DepartmentPursuant to Executive Order 20-16 as of March 30th at 1201 am Ellis County and all of Kansas will be subject to a Stay at Home order. Ellis County Health Department encourages all Kansans to read and understand this order. Executive Order 20-16 define the limitations and exemptions for all Kansans. Ellis County Health Department encourages all Kansans to follow this order. 
All Kansans are directed to stay in their homes unless you are performing an essential function. Activities that are permitted are obtaining food, medicine or other household necessities, and seeking medical care. Performing an essential function as defined in the KEFF framework EO-20-16. Caring for children, family members or pets and care of a vulnerable person at another location. Engaging in outdoor activities provided that social distancing of greater than 6 ft and group sizes of 10 people or less are maintained. Families are still permitted to gather privately.
The KEFF framework as defined in EO-20-16 contains the necessary functions that are exempt from the prohibitions in this order. No prior approval is required for individuals or entities to perform essential functions listed in the KEFF framework. Individuals or entities who are uncertain whether they perform functions exempted from the prohibitions of this may email KEFF@ks.gov to determine whether their functions are deemed essential. Please do not call 911 or the dispatch center to determine work requirements or limitations. 
ECHD encourages all residents to utilize this order and all guidance from the CDC and KDHE to keep themselves and loved ones safe in this tumultuous time. Please remember to take basic precautions like washing your hands, covering your cough and avoiding any non-essential time outside of your home. 
Stay informed as information changes frequently. For more information,&nbsp; visit www.kdheks.gov or www.cdc.gov/COVID19. We encourage you to access EO-20-16 at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/executive-orders/">https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/executive-orders/</a>.

Ellis Co Health Department's statement on stay-at-home order

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-governor-issues-statewide-stay-home-order-which-starts-monday#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">A stay-at-home order for the entire state of Kansas </a>will take effect 
at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 30, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Saturday, 
making it one of at least 20 states to ask its residents to conduct only
 essential business.&nbsp;

The executive order, which will last at 
least until April 19, is meant to slow the spread of coronavirus. Kansas
 has surpassed 250 cases of COVID-19 — including two military personnel,
 one from Fort Riley and one from Fort Leavenworth — and has five 
deaths.&nbsp;

Kelly said the order became necessary once projections 
showed confirmed cases of coronavirus could jump to as many as 900 over 
the next week.&nbsp;

“I can’t tell you how much I wish it weren’t 
necessary, but this is our window to ensure Kansas does not suffer the 
terrible fate of other hard-hit states like New York and Missouri,” she 
said at a Statehouse news conference.&nbsp;

More than a dozen counties
 already had stay-at-home orders, covering a large swath of Kansas’ 
population. But Kelly said the “difficult but unavoidable” decision for a
 statewide order was needed to keep from having a network of them, and 
the state order supersedes county orders.&nbsp;

“I left these 
decisions to local health departments for as long as possible,” she 
said. “But the reality is that a patchwork approach is a recipe for 
confusion in our statewide fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”

Stay-at-home
 orders mean people by and large should not leave their homes except for
 essential business — work, grocery shopping, seeking medical care or 
taking care of family or friends who are in need. People are allowed to 
exercise outside, but cannot gather in groups larger than 10.

“You can leave your home,” Kelly said. “You can go outside. You’re not under house arrest.”

Kansas’
 neighbors vary when it comes to statewide orders: Colorado’s took 
effect Thursday, while Missouri has left it up to its cities and 
counties, and Nebraska has nothing.&nbsp;

The center of the outbreak 
in Kansas is in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, while so far, the 
western half is largely unaffected. But Kansas officials have said the 
state’s peak in cases may not come until mid- to late April.&nbsp;

Kelly
 said President Donald Trump’s suggestion that life should be allowed to
 return to normal soon in sections of the country where cases remain 
relatively low runs counter to the advice she is receiving from public 
health experts.&nbsp;

“We are making this move now because of what 
we’re seeing here in Kansas and any guidelines from the federal 
government that don’t model this we quite honestly will ignore,” she 
said.&nbsp;

Kelly has been one of the more aggressive governors across the U.S. 
in responding to coronarvirus and was the first to close all K-12 
schools through the end of the 2019-20 school year, moving instruction 
largely online.

Kansas House Republican leadership issued a 
statement Saturday after Kelly’s news conference, saying the Legislative
 Coordinating Council will “carefully assess this executive order and 
the reasons for it.”

“There are no easy decisions in a time like 
this,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and 
Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said in a statement, “and we must 
diligently work together to strike a balance that is in the best 
interests of all Kansans.”

The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, 
however, said it worked with Kelly’s office to “develop this more 
uniform approach,” which says will help “flatten the curve” and provide 
“consistent supply chain operations for the delivery of groceries, 
medical supplies and other vital products.”

Testing has ramped up
 in Kansas, with the state lab handling 175 samples a day and expecting 
to get up to between 700 and 1,000 daily soon, according to Kansas 
health secretary Lee Norman. State testing is only for high-risk groups,
 like nursing home residents and health care workers; many commercial 
labs and hospitals in Kansas now have the capacity to test now, too.&nbsp;

Kansas
 will soon use up its share of the federally provided personal 
protection equipment for health care workers, like gloves, masks and 
gowns.&nbsp;

“The strategic national stockpile is not an endless 
stockpile, unfortunately,” Norman said Friday. “And again, it’s 
something that we don’t control but we try to make sure we get our 
share.”

Kansas has mandated that people who, as of Friday, 
returned from Colorado (which has more than 1,000 cases) or Louisiana 
(more than 2,700 cases) must self-quarantine for 14 days. Illinois, New 
Jersey, California, Florida, New York state and Washington were already 
on the list, as well as cruises and international locations.

The 
majority of people who get coronavirus have mild or moderate symptoms, 
like a fever, cough and shortness of breath; some report losing their 
sense of smell and taste. These people tend to recover in two weeks. 
More severe cases can have up to six weeks’ recovery time, require 
hospitalization and can lead to death.&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">HERE</a> to see the order in its entirety.

Kansas News Service reporters Celia Llopis-Jepsen and Daniel Caudill contributed to this report.&nbsp;

Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585442211571.jpeg" alt="Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly explains her decision to mandate a statewide stay-at-home order on Saturday. The map shows the counties that have confirmed coronavirus cases.&nbsp; Jim McLean / Kansas News Service &nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly explains her decision to mandate a statewide stay-at-home order on Saturday. The map shows the counties that have confirmed coronavirus cases.&nbsp; Jim McLean / Kansas News Service &nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-governor-issues-statewide-stay-home-order-which-starts-monday#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a><a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">A stay-at-home order for the entire state of Kansas </a>will take effect 
at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 30, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Saturday, 
making it one of at least 20 states to ask its residents to conduct only
 essential business.&nbsp;The executive order, which will last at 
least until April 19, is meant to slow the spread of coronavirus. Kansas
 has surpassed 250 cases of COVID-19 — including two military personnel,
 one from Fort Riley and one from Fort Leavenworth — and has five 
deaths.&nbsp;Kelly said the order became necessary once projections 
showed confirmed cases of coronavirus could jump to as many as 900 over 
the next week.&nbsp;“I can’t tell you how much I wish it weren’t 
necessary, but this is our window to ensure Kansas does not suffer the 
terrible fate of other hard-hit states like New York and Missouri,” she 
said at a Statehouse news conference.&nbsp;More than a dozen counties
 already had stay-at-home orders, covering a large swath of Kansas’ 
population. But Kelly said the “difficult but unavoidable” decision for a
 statewide order was needed to keep from having a network of them, and 
the state order supersedes county orders.&nbsp;“I left these 
decisions to local health departments for as long as possible,” she 
said. “But the reality is that a patchwork approach is a recipe for 
confusion in our statewide fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”Stay-at-home
 orders mean people by and large should not leave their homes except for
 essential business — work, grocery shopping, seeking medical care or 
taking care of family or friends who are in need. People are allowed to 
exercise outside, but cannot gather in groups larger than 10.“You can leave your home,” Kelly said. “You can go outside. You’re not under house arrest.”Kansas’
 neighbors vary when it comes to statewide orders: Colorado’s took 
effect Thursday, while Missouri has left it up to its cities and 
counties, and Nebraska has nothing.&nbsp;The center of the outbreak 
in Kansas is in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, while so far, the 
western half is largely unaffected. But Kansas officials have said the 
state’s peak in cases may not come until mid- to late April.&nbsp;Kelly
 said President Donald Trump’s suggestion that life should be allowed to
 return to normal soon in sections of the country where cases remain 
relatively low runs counter to the advice she is receiving from public 
health experts.&nbsp;“We are making this move now because of what 
we’re seeing here in Kansas and any guidelines from the federal 
government that don’t model this we quite honestly will ignore,” she 
said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585442294485.jpeg" alt=" The governor's office is limiting the number of reporters allowed at state briefings. This is what it looked like on Saturday, when the statewide stay-at-home order was announced. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The governor's office is limiting the number of reporters allowed at state briefings. This is what it looked like on Saturday, when the statewide stay-at-home order was announced. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Kelly has been one of the more aggressive governors across the U.S. 
in responding to coronarvirus and was the first to close all K-12 
schools through the end of the 2019-20 school year, moving instruction 
largely online.Kansas House Republican leadership issued a 
statement Saturday after Kelly’s news conference, saying the Legislative
 Coordinating Council will “carefully assess this executive order and 
the reasons for it.”“There are no easy decisions in a time like 
this,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and 
Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said in a statement, “and we must 
diligently work together to strike a balance that is in the best 
interests of all Kansans.”The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, 
however, said it worked with Kelly’s office to “develop this more 
uniform approach,” which says will help “flatten the curve” and provide 
“consistent supply chain operations for the delivery of groceries, 
medical supplies and other vital products.”Testing has ramped up
 in Kansas, with the state lab handling 175 samples a day and expecting 
to get up to between 700 and 1,000 daily soon, according to Kansas 
health secretary Lee Norman. State testing is only for high-risk groups,
 like nursing home residents and health care workers; many commercial 
labs and hospitals in Kansas now have the capacity to test now, too.&nbsp;Kansas
 will soon use up its share of the federally provided personal 
protection equipment for health care workers, like gloves, masks and 
gowns.&nbsp;“The strategic national stockpile is not an endless 
stockpile, unfortunately,” Norman said Friday. “And again, it’s 
something that we don’t control but we try to make sure we get our 
share.”Kansas has mandated that people who, as of Friday, 
returned from Colorado (which has more than 1,000 cases) or Louisiana 
(more than 2,700 cases) must self-quarantine for 14 days. Illinois, New 
Jersey, California, Florida, New York state and Washington were already 
on the list, as well as cruises and international locations.The 
majority of people who get coronavirus have mild or moderate symptoms, 
like a fever, cough and shortness of breath; some report losing their 
sense of smell and taste. These people tend to recover in two weeks. 
More severe cases can have up to six weeks’ recovery time, require 
hospitalization and can lead to death.&nbsp;Click <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">HERE</a> to see the order in its entirety.Kansas News Service reporters Celia Llopis-Jepsen and Daniel Caudill contributed to this report.&nbsp;Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

Kansas governor issues statewide stay-at-home order

Editor's note: This story was written before Gov. Kelly announced the statewide stay-at-home order on Saturday. That order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e7f75e2afae0f4d5f5e6660">SEE RELATED STORY: Kelly issues stay-at-home order for state of Kansas</a>

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Local communities are finding ways to help kids stay engaged and maybe have a little fun with scavenger hunts.

Hunts for bears, usually the stuffed kind, placed in shop windows or on home window sills, was sparked by a popular children's book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," written in 1989 by Michael Rosen.

In the book, a family and their dog set out on a bear hunt but encounter such obstacles as mud, a river and a snowstorm.

The book inspired a children's song and animated Youtube videos.

Downtown Hays Development Corp. director Sara Bloom, who has four children at home, said she has both bears and rainbows in her windows.

Downtown businesses like the Paisley Pear also have placed teddy bears in their windows for children to count.

"It is something to do and a way to be connected when we can't be in the same room," Bloom said.

The Hays Public Library launched a sidewalk chalk challenge. The library has been closed to the public since the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S.

However, members of the library staff have continued to provide some offering online, including a video story hour for young children. Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary/">HPL's Facebook page</a>.

Participants in the chalk challenge are encouraged to color a picture with chalk or write an encouraging message on the sidewalk. Snap a photo, post it and nominate two friends. You can use the hashtag&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hplchalkchallenge?source=feed_text&amp;epa=HASHTAG&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBNUUziCnM_xFg16k4bXzeuQDSYfH7yik3T6HN7xfzt_YFdBUKt0J1sjA1U9QwmztZELC6IF2XyjyqtrYlhcQ7Jrvv2Mi_JmJ2IVT0DBdnfVT6_qL-A-oQwYHU5iFqgxGoZpK_UvFtFgf1UZ8UDagVb2r3RptuNt7WvfZ5O_GvN0y5C9BC__wlQ4-pVJzRXijlbGxIMLWACVMMVCFgbXfikPbzb4PySAcdSOAmLFxxjHYQEHjr9gWHfnhGSCS4r6Vchv4_rLLh1A7ZMwIXgZ75GC7RiYFRdnpzdkSosF98kZjITjoiewEjvdM2gkVbE3Oyo-ANP65Nf9iMoMA9eMpXc6iyaXIwnvZ_fiA&amp;__tn__=%2ANK-R">#HPLchalkchallenge</a>.

Nicole Thibodeau in the Young Adult Department came up with the idea, Callie&nbsp;Kolacny, HPL communications coordinator, said.

"Nicole is an amazing artist, and she used that background to find a fun way to engage children and adults throughout the community,"&nbsp;Kolacny said.

"Since we need to not physically provide programs at the library right now, we still want to find safe ways to reach out and provide ideas and services to the community," she said.

Local Girl Scouts are getting in on the chalk challenge as well.

Kris Bradley, Hays resident, took her daughter outside to chalk Thursday.&nbsp;Bradley, a Girl Scout leader, encouraged other Scouts to join in the challenge.

"Hey, it is fun and the outdoors combined, right?" she said in an online message.

Ellis with some promotion from the Ellis Recreation Commission has been promoting the bear hunt for about a week.

The Ellis Rec wanted to continue the fun, so they have launched a second hunt for Easter eggs. Residents are encouraged to create and place large wooden or cardboard Easter eggs in their yards for children to "hunt."

The Ellis Chamber usually conducts a traditional Easter egg hunt on the Saturday before Easter, but that event had to be canceled in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Children are also encouraged to color pictures of eggs and hang them in their windows, Dan Pyle, Ellis Rec superintendent, said.

The rec is making eggs for the front of its office, and Pyle said his family will be making some to post at their home as well.

"It is a good way to break up the monotony," he said. "You can still go walking and still practice social distancing in the community."

The Ellis Rec also issued a Family Karoke Challenge on Friday on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellisrec.org/">Facebook page</a>. Post your videos on the Rec Facebook page with the has tag #EllisRecFFChallenge for a chance to win a prize.

WaKeeney also launched a bear hunt last week, according to Cathy Albert, director of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GetWaKeeney/">WaKeeney Travel and Tourism</a>.

"Families can walk around with the weather being so nice," she said earlier this week. "It is a chance to get some fresh air."

The Trego County Junior High KAY Club launched a weekly scavenger hunt on Wednesday that will run through April 15. The theme is pillars of education.&nbsp;

Community members will display items in their windows for children to find. There will be a family prize pack as a reward. To enter to win a prize pack, text 785-769-3297 or post a photo to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stacie.edgettminson">Stacie Minson's&nbsp; Facebook page</a>, the KAY sponsor.

The first week's theme was respect and carrying and people were asked to post hearts in their windows.

"I have been really impressed&nbsp; how different communities have come up with things on the spur of the moment, especially for kids and families," Albert said. ... "something to do and a chance to get outside, especially with the nice weather."

Send us your positive news stories. Email admin@hayspost.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585336989938.jpeg" alt="A bear in the front window of the Paisley Pear in downtown Hays. Many communities have created bear or other scavenger hunts for kids during this time of social distancing." />
 <figcaption>A bear in the front window of the Paisley Pear in downtown Hays. Many communities have created bear or other scavenger hunts for kids during this time of social distancing.</figcaption>
 </figure>Editor's note: This story was written before Gov. Kelly announced the statewide stay-at-home order on Saturday. That order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e7f75e2afae0f4d5f5e6660">SEE RELATED STORY: Kelly issues stay-at-home order for state of Kansas</a>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostLocal communities are finding ways to help kids stay engaged and maybe have a little fun with scavenger hunts.Hunts for bears, usually the stuffed kind, placed in shop windows or on home window sills, was sparked by a popular children's book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," written in 1989 by Michael Rosen.In the book, a family and their dog set out on a bear hunt but encounter such obstacles as mud, a river and a snowstorm.The book inspired a children's song and animated Youtube videos.Downtown Hays Development Corp. director Sara Bloom, who has four children at home, said she has both bears and rainbows in her windows.Downtown businesses like the Paisley Pear also have placed teddy bears in their windows for children to count."It is something to do and a way to be connected when we can't be in the same room," Bloom said.<h2>HPL Chalk Challenge</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585337124077.png" alt="HPL Chalk Challenge" />
 <figcaption>HPL Chalk Challenge</figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Public Library launched a sidewalk chalk challenge. The library has been closed to the public since the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S.However, members of the library staff have continued to provide some offering online, including a video story hour for young children. Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary/">HPL's Facebook page</a>.Participants in the chalk challenge are encouraged to color a picture with chalk or write an encouraging message on the sidewalk. Snap a photo, post it and nominate two friends. You can use the hashtag&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hplchalkchallenge?source=feed_text&amp;epa=HASHTAG&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBNUUziCnM_xFg16k4bXzeuQDSYfH7yik3T6HN7xfzt_YFdBUKt0J1sjA1U9QwmztZELC6IF2XyjyqtrYlhcQ7Jrvv2Mi_JmJ2IVT0DBdnfVT6_qL-A-oQwYHU5iFqgxGoZpK_UvFtFgf1UZ8UDagVb2r3RptuNt7WvfZ5O_GvN0y5C9BC__wlQ4-pVJzRXijlbGxIMLWACVMMVCFgbXfikPbzb4PySAcdSOAmLFxxjHYQEHjr9gWHfnhGSCS4r6Vchv4_rLLh1A7ZMwIXgZ75GC7RiYFRdnpzdkSosF98kZjITjoiewEjvdM2gkVbE3Oyo-ANP65Nf9iMoMA9eMpXc6iyaXIwnvZ_fiA&amp;__tn__=%2ANK-R">#HPLchalkchallenge</a>.Nicole Thibodeau in the Young Adult Department came up with the idea, Callie&nbsp;Kolacny, HPL communications coordinator, said."Nicole is an amazing artist, and she used that background to find a fun way to engage children and adults throughout the community,"&nbsp;Kolacny said."Since we need to not physically provide programs at the library right now, we still want to find safe ways to reach out and provide ideas and services to the community," she said.Local Girl Scouts are getting in on the chalk challenge as well.Kris Bradley, Hays resident, took her daughter outside to chalk Thursday.&nbsp;Bradley, a Girl Scout leader, encouraged other Scouts to join in the challenge."Hey, it is fun and the outdoors combined, right?" she said in an online message.<h2>Ellis eggs</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585337314480.png" alt="Ellis Recreation Commission Egg Hunt" />
 <figcaption>Ellis Recreation Commission Egg Hunt</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis with some promotion from the Ellis Recreation Commission has been promoting the bear hunt for about a week.The Ellis Rec wanted to continue the fun, so they have launched a second hunt for Easter eggs. Residents are encouraged to create and place large wooden or cardboard Easter eggs in their yards for children to "hunt."The Ellis Chamber usually conducts a traditional Easter egg hunt on the Saturday before Easter, but that event had to be canceled in light of the coronavirus outbreak.Children are also encouraged to color pictures of eggs and hang them in their windows, Dan Pyle, Ellis Rec superintendent, said.The rec is making eggs for the front of its office, and Pyle said his family will be making some to post at their home as well."It is a good way to break up the monotony," he said. "You can still go walking and still practice social distancing in the community."The Ellis Rec also issued a Family Karoke Challenge on Friday on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellisrec.org/">Facebook page</a>. Post your videos on the Rec Facebook page with the has tag #EllisRecFFChallenge for a chance to win a prize.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585337473872.png" alt="Elis Karoke Challenge" />
 <figcaption>Elis Karoke Challenge</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>WaKeeney bears and scavenger hunt</h2>WaKeeney also launched a bear hunt last week, according to Cathy Albert, director of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GetWaKeeney/">WaKeeney Travel and Tourism</a>."Families can walk around with the weather being so nice," she said earlier this week. "It is a chance to get some fresh air."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585337938437.png" alt="WaKeeney bear hunt&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>WaKeeney bear hunt&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Trego County Junior High KAY Club launched a weekly scavenger hunt on Wednesday that will run through April 15. The theme is pillars of education.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585338008460.png" alt="TCJH scavenger hunt" />
 <figcaption>TCJH scavenger hunt</figcaption>
 </figure>Community members will display items in their windows for children to find. There will be a family prize pack as a reward. To enter to win a prize pack, text 785-769-3297 or post a photo to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stacie.edgettminson">Stacie Minson's&nbsp; Facebook page</a>, the KAY sponsor.The first week's theme was respect and carrying and people were asked to post hearts in their windows.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585338339172.jpeg" alt="Hearts posted in the window of TJ's Alignment and Repair for the TCJH Kay Club scavenger hunt in WaKeeney." />
 <figcaption>Hearts posted in the window of TJ's Alignment and Repair for the TCJH Kay Club scavenger hunt in WaKeeney.</figcaption>
 </figure>"I have been really impressed&nbsp; how different communities have come up with things on the spur of the moment, especially for kids and families," Albert said. ... "something to do and a chance to get outside, especially with the nice weather."Send us your positive news stories. Email admin@hayspost.com.

Going on a bear hunt while keeping your social distance

Update: 5:07 p.m. Saturday, March 28&nbsp;

With the stay-at-home order in effect Monday, this program will be more important than ever to our community, according to Sara Bloom, DHDC director.

**There will be a $1,000 per customer limit on purchase.

**All customers will be given the option of keeping their bonus cards or donating them to a local food bank.

The Downtown Hays Development Corp. in cooperation with Astra Bank is offering a bonus for people who buy gift cards from participating downtown Hays businesses April 1 through May 31.

For every $25 purchased in gift cards, buyers will receive a $10 gift certificate to Dillons or Walmart.

Sara Bloom, DHDC director, said there is currently no limit on the amount of gift cards that can be purchased.

"This is a way to help get cash to downtown businesses through gift cards and back into stores plus offset grocery costs and support families," Bloom said.&nbsp;

The program has been dubbed Stronger Than Ever Working Together .

All of the gift card purchases will be handled through the DHDC office. A special webpage on the <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/">DHDC website</a> is being created where buyers can select and purchase their gift cards.&nbsp;

The gift cards will be mailed to purchasers. Bloom said there are two reasons for this process. The first is that not all downtown businesses have gift card systems or websites in place.

The second is to promote social distancing.

Although some of the downtown businesses are temporarily closed to honor coronavirus precautions, the gift cards can be used when the businesses reopen.

Walmart has also been a generous donor for this program, Bloom said, and has agreed to donate the first $1,000 worth of gift cards.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585341227728.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Update: 5:07 p.m. Saturday, March 28&nbsp;With the stay-at-home order in effect Monday, this program will be more important than ever to our community, according to Sara Bloom, DHDC director.**There will be a $1,000 per customer limit on purchase.**All customers will be given the option of keeping their bonus cards or donating them to a local food bank.By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Downtown Hays Development Corp. in cooperation with Astra Bank is offering a bonus for people who buy gift cards from participating downtown Hays businesses April 1 through May 31.For every $25 purchased in gift cards, buyers will receive a $10 gift certificate to Dillons or Walmart.Sara Bloom, DHDC director, said there is currently no limit on the amount of gift cards that can be purchased."This is a way to help get cash to downtown businesses through gift cards and back into stores plus offset grocery costs and support families," Bloom said.&nbsp;The program has been dubbed Stronger Than Ever Working Together .All of the gift card purchases will be handled through the DHDC office. A special webpage on the <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/">DHDC website</a> is being created where buyers can select and purchase their gift cards.&nbsp;The gift cards will be mailed to purchasers. Bloom said there are two reasons for this process. The first is that not all downtown businesses have gift card systems or websites in place.The second is to promote social distancing.Although some of the downtown businesses are temporarily closed to honor coronavirus precautions, the gift cards can be used when the businesses reopen.Walmart has also been a generous donor for this program, Bloom said, and has agreed to donate the first $1,000 worth of gift cards.

DHDC to launch bonus program for gift card purchases

Gov. Laura Kelly appointed John Bottenberg to the Kansas State Fair Board, and reappointed Harmon Bliss, Nick Ketzner and Robert Atkisson.

The purpose of the Board is to promote and showcase Kansas agriculture, industry and culture; to create opportunity for commercial activity; and to provide an educational and entertaining experience that is the pride of all Kansans.

“The Fair provides tremendous opportunities for commerce, entertainment and education in Kansas each year,” Kelly said. “I feel confident that these appointees will ensure the success of the Fair through their service on the Board.”

Bottenberg, Topeka, served on the board previously and was appointed to an at-large seat. He is a former state representative.

Bliss, Jetmore, is the current Board president and was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the southwest agriculture extension district.

Ketzner, Bird City, was reappointed to the northwest agriculture extension district seat.

Atkisson, Stockton, was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the Kansas Fairs Association.

Office of the GovernorGov. Laura Kelly appointed John Bottenberg to the Kansas State Fair Board, and reappointed Harmon Bliss, Nick Ketzner and Robert Atkisson.The purpose of the Board is to promote and showcase Kansas agriculture, industry and culture; to create opportunity for commercial activity; and to provide an educational and entertaining experience that is the pride of all Kansans.“The Fair provides tremendous opportunities for commerce, entertainment and education in Kansas each year,” Kelly said. “I feel confident that these appointees will ensure the success of the Fair through their service on the Board.”Bottenberg, Topeka, served on the board previously and was appointed to an at-large seat. He is a former state representative.Bliss, Jetmore, is the current Board president and was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the southwest agriculture extension district.Ketzner, Bird City, was reappointed to the northwest agriculture extension district seat.Atkisson, Stockton, was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the Kansas Fairs Association.

NW Kansans reappointed to Kansas State Fair Board

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/even-40-kansans-getting-covid-19-six-months-would-overwhelm-states-hospitals#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

Dr. Joe Meier’s hospital in Wilson County has 15 beds, no intensive 
care unit and one ventilator. Two of his neighboring counties in 
southeast Kansas have no hospital at all, and another two have no ICU 
either.

So Meier has a plea to the residents of his region: Stay home.

"It's not a matter of 'if' (COVID-19) is going to hit here,' he said. "It’s a matter of when."

Harvard University researchers looked at&nbsp;<a href="https://globalepidemics.org/2020/03/17/caring-for-covid-19-patients/" target="_blank">nine scenarios</a>&nbsp;for
 how many Americans could catch COVID-19, and how fast. Kansas, it 
turned out, could only handle the milder scenarios. More moderate or 
severe situations would overload the state’s hospitals without dramatic 
steps — such as clearing hospitals of other patients and convincing the 
public to shelter in place.

As of Thursday afternoon, Kansas had 
about 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, though the true number of people 
carrying the bug is unknown. State officials have said at times that 
they expect to see cases double every three or four days.

Staff at Wilson Medical Center are preparing to run an ad hoc ICU and 
convert spaces used for other purposes into coronavirus wards. The 
hospital is ordering more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/how-ventilators-work-and-why-they-are-so-important-in-saving-people-with-coronavirus" target="_blank">ventilators</a>, which are needed to help severely ill COVID-19 patients breathe, but those could take a month or more to arrive.

“If Wichita becomes full and Topeka becomes full and Kansas City is 
full,” Meier said, “we're going to have to take care of them whether we 
have ICU beds or not.”

While most cases of the new coronavirus are mild, about <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/methodology-how-propublica-mapped-hospital-capacity-for-coronavirus" target="_blank">one in five</a>
 people become sick enough for hospitalization. If too many need that 
level of care at once, Kansas would need field hospitals. Facilities 
could have to ration ventilators and other equipment, as has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/15/coronavirus-rationing-us/" target="_blank">happened elsewhere</a>.

“Everybody
 has a role to play in terms of slowing the spread,” said Thomas Tsai, a
 professor at the Harvard Global Health Institute, which produced the 
study.

But the country’s window of opportunity is closing, he 
added. Strict social distancing is needed to avoid the worst-case 
scenarios and buy time for hospitals that are waiting on equipment and 
protective gear, and training staff on handling COVID-19 patients.

There’s
 a big difference, for example, between 20% of the U.S. catching 
COVID-19 over the next 18 months versus 40% in a year or 60% in half a 
year.

Harvard’s scenarios took into account likely hospitalization rates and how full hospitals already were.

Health
 care facilities in the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas that 
depend on it — what’s known as a hospital referral region — could handle
 only the mildest of Harvard’s scenarios.

That’s a situation in 
which the disease hits 20% of the 2.6 million people over the next 
year-and-a-half. Anything beyond that, and the region’s hospitals would 
overflow.

The vast Wichita referral region (population 1.3 
million, including west and southeast Kansas) could handle up to a 40% 
infection rate over a year-and-a-half. The Topeka referral region 
(population 460,000) could handle a 20% infection rate over a year or 
year-and-a-half.

Kansas didn’t appear ready, according to the researchers’ findings, 
for higher infection rates and swifter spread. Even if hospitals had no 
other patients, there wouldn’t be enough beds in the state for a 40% 
infection rate over six months.

Hospitals have tapered down or shuttered <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/most-kansas-city-area-hospitals-put-elective-surgeries-prepare-covid-19" target="_blank">non-emergency care</a>
 to make space and the state’s main population centers are under 
stay-home orders. Kansas health secretary Lee Norman urges the rest of 
the state to shelter in place, too.

Kansas has asked the federal government for 100 more ventilators from
 a national stockpile, Norman said Wednesday, and may turn to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/ventilator-supply-mitigation-strategies-letter-health-care-providers" target="_blank">machines meant for sleep apnea</a>
 to help COVID-19 patients breathe. To address a looming shortage of 
face masks, it’s trying to get ultraviolet lights that would let health 
workers sterilize and reuse the items several times.

The state is also scouring options for <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/03/23/coronavirus-and-the-states-governors-plan-field-hospitals-heartland-unemployment-spikes" target="_blank">temporary bed space</a>; in other parts of the U.S., officials are turning to everything from <a href="https://mynorthwest.com/1775827/king-county-field-hospitals-coronavirus/" target="_blank">soccer fields</a> to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-closed-hospitals-college-dorms-meet-coronavirus-demands/story?id=69683447" target="_blank">closed hospitals</a>.

Norman
 expected to know more soon about the state’s risks for running out of 
bed space and its options to repurpose existing buildings if needed.

“As
 much as it seems like ‘Oh, well, we’ll call in the National Guard and 
set up tents,” he said, “that's hard. We would much rather move into a 
built environment that was built for patient care, that has (ventilator)
 gases and all the safety features.”

In Topeka, Stormont Vail 
Health swiftly renovated 16 rooms, adding to 31 that were already 
equipped with the right air systems to handle COVID-19 patients. It may 
renovate another 16 rooms, CEO and physician Robert Kenagy said.

His
 hospital is also turning one of its clinics into an acute respiratory 
location to screen and care for suspected COVID-19 patients more 
efficiently and safely.

“We believe that we will be able to 
handle what's coming,” Kenagy said, if Kansans take social distancing 
seriously. “It is vitally important. This is our one opportunity to 
dampen the effect of the pandemic.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585421658372.png" alt="Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/even-40-kansans-getting-covid-19-six-months-would-overwhelm-states-hospitals#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>Dr. Joe Meier’s hospital in Wilson County has 15 beds, no intensive 
care unit and one ventilator. Two of his neighboring counties in 
southeast Kansas have no hospital at all, and another two have no ICU 
either.So Meier has a plea to the residents of his region: Stay home."It's not a matter of 'if' (COVID-19) is going to hit here,' he said. "It’s a matter of when."Harvard University researchers looked at&nbsp;<a href="https://globalepidemics.org/2020/03/17/caring-for-covid-19-patients/" target="_blank">nine scenarios</a>&nbsp;for
 how many Americans could catch COVID-19, and how fast. Kansas, it 
turned out, could only handle the milder scenarios. More moderate or 
severe situations would overload the state’s hospitals without dramatic 
steps — such as clearing hospitals of other patients and convincing the 
public to shelter in place.As of Thursday afternoon, Kansas had 
about 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, though the true number of people 
carrying the bug is unknown. State officials have said at times that 
they expect to see cases double every three or four days.Staff at Wilson Medical Center are preparing to run an ad hoc ICU and 
convert spaces used for other purposes into coronavirus wards. The 
hospital is ordering more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/how-ventilators-work-and-why-they-are-so-important-in-saving-people-with-coronavirus" target="_blank">ventilators</a>, which are needed to help severely ill COVID-19 patients breathe, but those could take a month or more to arrive.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585421697296.jpeg" alt=" Hospitals have tapered off non-emergency care to free up beds. That could help Kansas weather a storm of COVID-19 infections, but experts say only if Kansans also practice social distancing. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Hospitals have tapered off non-emergency care to free up beds. That could help Kansas weather a storm of COVID-19 infections, but experts say only if Kansans also practice social distancing. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“If Wichita becomes full and Topeka becomes full and Kansas City is 
full,” Meier said, “we're going to have to take care of them whether we 
have ICU beds or not.”While most cases of the new coronavirus are mild, about <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/methodology-how-propublica-mapped-hospital-capacity-for-coronavirus" target="_blank">one in five</a>
 people become sick enough for hospitalization. If too many need that 
level of care at once, Kansas would need field hospitals. Facilities 
could have to ration ventilators and other equipment, as has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/15/coronavirus-rationing-us/" target="_blank">happened elsewhere</a>.“Everybody
 has a role to play in terms of slowing the spread,” said Thomas Tsai, a
 professor at the Harvard Global Health Institute, which produced the 
study.But the country’s window of opportunity is closing, he 
added. Strict social distancing is needed to avoid the worst-case 
scenarios and buy time for hospitals that are waiting on equipment and 
protective gear, and training staff on handling COVID-19 patients.There’s
 a big difference, for example, between 20% of the U.S. catching 
COVID-19 over the next 18 months versus 40% in a year or 60% in half a 
year.Harvard’s scenarios took into account likely hospitalization rates and how full hospitals already were.Health
 care facilities in the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas that 
depend on it — what’s known as a hospital referral region — could handle
 only the mildest of Harvard’s scenarios.That’s a situation in 
which the disease hits 20% of the 2.6 million people over the next 
year-and-a-half. Anything beyond that, and the region’s hospitals would 
overflow.The vast Wichita referral region (population 1.3 
million, including west and southeast Kansas) could handle up to a 40% 
infection rate over a year-and-a-half. The Topeka referral region 
(population 460,000) could handle a 20% infection rate over a year or 
year-and-a-half.Kansas didn’t appear ready, according to the researchers’ findings, 
for higher infection rates and swifter spread. Even if hospitals had no 
other patients, there wouldn’t be enough beds in the state for a 40% 
infection rate over six months.Hospitals have tapered down or shuttered <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/most-kansas-city-area-hospitals-put-elective-surgeries-prepare-covid-19" target="_blank">non-emergency care</a>
 to make space and the state’s main population centers are under 
stay-home orders. Kansas health secretary Lee Norman urges the rest of 
the state to shelter in place, too.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585421732792.jpeg" alt=" Health secretary Lee Norman talks to reporters about COVID-19. (Press briefings are now less crowded and follow social distancing rules.) Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Health secretary Lee Norman talks to reporters about COVID-19. (Press briefings are now less crowded and follow social distancing rules.) Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas has asked the federal government for 100 more ventilators from
 a national stockpile, Norman said Wednesday, and may turn to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/ventilator-supply-mitigation-strategies-letter-health-care-providers" target="_blank">machines meant for sleep apnea</a>
 to help COVID-19 patients breathe. To address a looming shortage of 
face masks, it’s trying to get ultraviolet lights that would let health 
workers sterilize and reuse the items several times.The state is also scouring options for <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/03/23/coronavirus-and-the-states-governors-plan-field-hospitals-heartland-unemployment-spikes" target="_blank">temporary bed space</a>; in other parts of the U.S., officials are turning to everything from <a href="https://mynorthwest.com/1775827/king-county-field-hospitals-coronavirus/" target="_blank">soccer fields</a> to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-closed-hospitals-college-dorms-meet-coronavirus-demands/story?id=69683447" target="_blank">closed hospitals</a>.Norman
 expected to know more soon about the state’s risks for running out of 
bed space and its options to repurpose existing buildings if needed.“As
 much as it seems like ‘Oh, well, we’ll call in the National Guard and 
set up tents,” he said, “that's hard. We would much rather move into a 
built environment that was built for patient care, that has (ventilator)
 gases and all the safety features.”In Topeka, Stormont Vail 
Health swiftly renovated 16 rooms, adding to 31 that were already 
equipped with the right air systems to handle COVID-19 patients. It may 
renovate another 16 rooms, CEO and physician Robert Kenagy said.His
 hospital is also turning one of its clinics into an acute respiratory 
location to screen and care for suspected COVID-19 patients more 
efficiently and safely.“We believe that we will be able to 
handle what's coming,” Kenagy said, if Kansans take social distancing 
seriously. “It is vitally important. This is our one opportunity to 
dampen the effect of the pandemic.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Even 40% of Kansans getting COVID-19 in 6 months would overwhelm hospitals 

<a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575929617735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585442341456.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Three-day weather outlook

As a child, I attended weekend classes at our local synagogue to 
learn about Judaism. I remember one lesson above all from those years: 
past Jewish experience of pogroms and the Holocaust demands that Jews 
speak out against authoritarianism in the present and future.

Government interference in Jewish religious life represents one 
common sign of creeping authoritarianism. Historically, when governments
 prohibited Jews from exercising their religious rights, arrests and 
death soon followed. But how should we respond when the government 
imposes restrictions on religion in order to protect life?

That is the question that ran through my head when I saw a video on <a href="https://twitter.com/YiddishNews/status/1240472711249494016" target="_blank">Twitter</a>
 last week of New York City police officers dispersing a crowd of Jews 
in Crown Heights at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters who were gathered 
for evening prayers. Dissenters were <a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nypd-fdny-disperse-orthodox-jewish-groups-amid-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">threatened</a> with arrest. Again I considered the question when I saw <a href="https://collive.com/fdny-disbands-crowd-filled-jewish-wedding-in-williamsburg/" target="_blank">pictures</a> of the New York City Fire Department <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/nyregion/coronavirus-hasidic-weddings-brooklyn.html" target="_blank">disbanding</a> a Jewish wedding in Williamsburg.

Despite the negative visceral reaction I have to those images, and 
despite the reservations I would otherwise have as a religious liberty 
advocate who is grounded in Jewish history, I fully support the 
government’s decision to limit religious gatherings to mitigate the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

Around the world, governments are implementing measures that enforce 
social distancing in order to reduce the spread of the novel 
coronavirus. For example, last week the New York government banned all 
gatherings of 50 or more people. The measure applies to all gatherings, 
religious or not.

Some religious communities have reacted with anger and defiance to 
action taken by towns, states and the federal government. Last week, 
three plaintiffs <a href="https://onenewsnow.com/ap/religion/new-hampshire-ban-on-large-gatherings-challenged-in-court" target="_blank">sued</a>
 New Hampshire’s governor for issuing an order prohibiting gatherings of
 50 people or more. In their complaint, the plaintiffs list disrupted 
activities in which they want to participate in person, including 
Baptist church services and Sunday school. Other religious leaders have 
openly defied state bans on large gatherings. On Twitter, a <a href="https://twitter.com/rhowardbrowne/status/1239295863173910529" target="_blank">video</a> shows Rodney Howard-Browne,
 pastor of The River at Tampa Bay church in Florida, inviting 
congregants to shake hands with one another. “This church will never 
close,” he declared. And in Louisiana, the Rev. Tony Spell brought together hundreds of people in Life Tabernacle Church, <a href="https://apnews.com/21cb04e62aba8144ee0672883dc6eddb" target="_blank">saying</a>, “We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.”

But religious freedom — like all freedoms — is not absolute. As my colleague Lata Nott <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2020/03/19/in-crisis-times-balancing-safety-and-freedom/" target="_blank">wrote</a>
 last week, rights and government interests must be balanced. The 
government can enact laws that disrupt the free exercise of religion if 
the government can demonstrate a “compelling interest” for doing so. In 
this case, the government has a compelling interest to protect public 
safety and health in the midst of a pandemic by limiting large 
gatherings. The limits apply equally to religious and non-religious 
groups, so they are neutrally applicable — another key religious freedom
 test by courts. And the laws against gatherings are the least 
restrictive option available to the government to ensure public health.

Importantly, the government has not prohibited other types of 
religious activities that do not involve large public gatherings. Many 
houses of worship have chosen to live stream their services so that 
their members can still participate in religious life. For example, last
 week more than 25,000 people watched a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/15/dc-churches-open-sunday-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">live stream</a> of a service at the Washington National Cathedral. And religious groups around the country, including <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/churches-overcome-social-distancing-to-continue-outreach" target="_blank">Methodists</a> and <a href="https://www.jta.org/2020/03/11/united-states/preparing-for-the-worst-case-scenario-jewish-aid-groups-scramble-amid-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">Jews</a>, continue to provide critical social services like meal deliveries to the elderly and the food insecure.

In addition, despite handwringing by some religious leaders about 
government restrictions that disrupt gatherings, some religious 
institutions have elected to cancel their own services to protect the 
most vulnerable in their communities. Numerous Catholic dioceses chose 
to <a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/19/masses-cancelled-how-can-catholics-practice-their-faith-home" target="_blank">suspend</a> celebrations of the Mass. The ADAMS Center in Virginia — the second-biggest mosque in the country — decided to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/13/dilemma-facing-religious-leaders-when-close-doors-during-pandemic/" target="_blank">cancel</a> Friday prayer services. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church, <a href="https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/3/12/21177623/mormon-church-lds-meetings-canceled-worldwide-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">canceled</a> all meetings and activities worldwide. And many Jewish leaders have <a href="https://forward.com/news/441834/at-least-100-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-hasidic-brooklyn/" target="_blank">called for</a> synagogues and yeshivas to close — and thankfully, communities have begun to <a href="https://thecity.nyc/2020/03/hasidic-leaders-sound-the-alarm-a-fire-is-burning.html" target="_blank">take heed</a>.

Religious liberty advocates should nevertheless pay close attention 
to government action in the coming weeks and months. A pandemic does not
 give the government carte blanche to abridge fundamental rights. 
Thankfully, a number of governmental and civil society organizations are
 serving as watchdogs to ensure that governments do not cross any bright
 lines. For example, the U.S. Commission on International Religious 
Freedom has published a <a href="https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20Factsheet%20Covid-19%20and%20FoRB.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a> about the global pandemic and its impact on religious practice and freedom. And a multi-national research group called <a href="https://diresom.net/" target="_blank">DiReSom</a> — Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali, or Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies — is tracking legal regulations on religion during the COVID-19 outbreak.

But the best way to guard our rights, now as always, is for every 
person to read or watch the news, contact their representatives when 
necessary, and insist that we responsibly balance our individual rights 
and responsibilities to others. COVID-19 will be with us for a long 
time. Religious freedom will survive this pandemic if we are vigilant.

Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the 
Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. His email 
address is: <a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576172304708.png" alt="Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute." />
 <figcaption>Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a child, I attended weekend classes at our local synagogue to 
learn about Judaism. I remember one lesson above all from those years: 
past Jewish experience of pogroms and the Holocaust demands that Jews 
speak out against authoritarianism in the present and future.Government interference in Jewish religious life represents one 
common sign of creeping authoritarianism. Historically, when governments
 prohibited Jews from exercising their religious rights, arrests and 
death soon followed. But how should we respond when the government 
imposes restrictions on religion in order to protect life?That is the question that ran through my head when I saw a video on <a href="https://twitter.com/YiddishNews/status/1240472711249494016" target="_blank">Twitter</a>
 last week of New York City police officers dispersing a crowd of Jews 
in Crown Heights at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters who were gathered 
for evening prayers. Dissenters were <a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nypd-fdny-disperse-orthodox-jewish-groups-amid-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">threatened</a> with arrest. Again I considered the question when I saw <a href="https://collive.com/fdny-disbands-crowd-filled-jewish-wedding-in-williamsburg/" target="_blank">pictures</a> of the New York City Fire Department <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/nyregion/coronavirus-hasidic-weddings-brooklyn.html" target="_blank">disbanding</a> a Jewish wedding in Williamsburg.Despite the negative visceral reaction I have to those images, and 
despite the reservations I would otherwise have as a religious liberty 
advocate who is grounded in Jewish history, I fully support the 
government’s decision to limit religious gatherings to mitigate the 
COVID-19 pandemic.Around the world, governments are implementing measures that enforce 
social distancing in order to reduce the spread of the novel 
coronavirus. For example, last week the New York government banned all 
gatherings of 50 or more people. The measure applies to all gatherings, 
religious or not.Some religious communities have reacted with anger and defiance to 
action taken by towns, states and the federal government. Last week, 
three plaintiffs <a href="https://onenewsnow.com/ap/religion/new-hampshire-ban-on-large-gatherings-challenged-in-court" target="_blank">sued</a>
 New Hampshire’s governor for issuing an order prohibiting gatherings of
 50 people or more. In their complaint, the plaintiffs list disrupted 
activities in which they want to participate in person, including 
Baptist church services and Sunday school. Other religious leaders have 
openly defied state bans on large gatherings. On Twitter, a <a href="https://twitter.com/rhowardbrowne/status/1239295863173910529" target="_blank">video</a> shows Rodney Howard-Browne,
 pastor of The River at Tampa Bay church in Florida, inviting 
congregants to shake hands with one another. “This church will never 
close,” he declared. And in Louisiana, the Rev. Tony Spell brought together hundreds of people in Life Tabernacle Church, <a href="https://apnews.com/21cb04e62aba8144ee0672883dc6eddb" target="_blank">saying</a>, “We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.”But religious freedom — like all freedoms — is not absolute. As my colleague Lata Nott <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2020/03/19/in-crisis-times-balancing-safety-and-freedom/" target="_blank">wrote</a>
 last week, rights and government interests must be balanced. The 
government can enact laws that disrupt the free exercise of religion if 
the government can demonstrate a “compelling interest” for doing so. In 
this case, the government has a compelling interest to protect public 
safety and health in the midst of a pandemic by limiting large 
gatherings. The limits apply equally to religious and non-religious 
groups, so they are neutrally applicable — another key religious freedom
 test by courts. And the laws against gatherings are the least 
restrictive option available to the government to ensure public health.Importantly, the government has not prohibited other types of 
religious activities that do not involve large public gatherings. Many 
houses of worship have chosen to live stream their services so that 
their members can still participate in religious life. For example, last
 week more than 25,000 people watched a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/15/dc-churches-open-sunday-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">live stream</a> of a service at the Washington National Cathedral. And religious groups around the country, including <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/churches-overcome-social-distancing-to-continue-outreach" target="_blank">Methodists</a> and <a href="https://www.jta.org/2020/03/11/united-states/preparing-for-the-worst-case-scenario-jewish-aid-groups-scramble-amid-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">Jews</a>, continue to provide critical social services like meal deliveries to the elderly and the food insecure.In addition, despite handwringing by some religious leaders about 
government restrictions that disrupt gatherings, some religious 
institutions have elected to cancel their own services to protect the 
most vulnerable in their communities. Numerous Catholic dioceses chose 
to <a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/19/masses-cancelled-how-can-catholics-practice-their-faith-home" target="_blank">suspend</a> celebrations of the Mass. The ADAMS Center in Virginia — the second-biggest mosque in the country — decided to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/13/dilemma-facing-religious-leaders-when-close-doors-during-pandemic/" target="_blank">cancel</a> Friday prayer services. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church, <a href="https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/3/12/21177623/mormon-church-lds-meetings-canceled-worldwide-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">canceled</a> all meetings and activities worldwide. And many Jewish leaders have <a href="https://forward.com/news/441834/at-least-100-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-hasidic-brooklyn/" target="_blank">called for</a> synagogues and yeshivas to close — and thankfully, communities have begun to <a href="https://thecity.nyc/2020/03/hasidic-leaders-sound-the-alarm-a-fire-is-burning.html" target="_blank">take heed</a>.Religious liberty advocates should nevertheless pay close attention 
to government action in the coming weeks and months. A pandemic does not
 give the government carte blanche to abridge fundamental rights. 
Thankfully, a number of governmental and civil society organizations are
 serving as watchdogs to ensure that governments do not cross any bright
 lines. For example, the U.S. Commission on International Religious 
Freedom has published a <a href="https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20Factsheet%20Covid-19%20and%20FoRB.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a> about the global pandemic and its impact on religious practice and freedom. And a multi-national research group called <a href="https://diresom.net/" target="_blank">DiReSom</a> — Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali, or Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies — is tracking legal regulations on religion during the COVID-19 outbreak.But the best way to guard our rights, now as always, is for every 
person to read or watch the news, contact their representatives when 
necessary, and insist that we responsibly balance our individual rights 
and responsibilities to others. COVID-19 will be with us for a long 
time. Religious freedom will survive this pandemic if we are vigilant.Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the 
Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. His email 
address is: <a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

FIRST FIVE: Can religious freedom survive COVID-19?

Today, Kansas became the 25th state to enter a statewide “stay at home” order. Most Kansans are already living under a local stay at home order and locally we are already doing this to a large extent. Twenty-two Kansas counties have done this and there are now cases in 31 counties across the state. This statewide order begins at 12:01 am on Monday, March 30, 2020 and is in effect until April 19, 2020. It replaces the patchwork of local orders around the state. &nbsp; 

The order can also be amended, allowing some flexibility to adapt as new information about the impact of coronavirus in Kansas emerges.&nbsp; Here is the link:&nbsp; <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf</a>

People will still be able to get outside and go to the grocery store, the doctor or pharmacy, and to work if their job is considered essential. Restaurants can continue to do drive-thru, carry-out and delivery services, and our supply chains for essentials will remain open and fully functional. &nbsp; As more details come available I will share them as they are released.&nbsp; The link that you can reference:&nbsp;

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf</a>

I voted for HCR 5025, the House Concurrent Resolution that keeps legislative oversight over decisions like these. The members of the committee that keeps check on these decisions is taking careful review to make sure this new order is not overly restrictive and yet does what our medical experts and disaster professionals believe is needed to protect the health of all of Kansas -our families, friends and neighbors.

This decision by the governor can be reviewed and it will be. It may be the right decision, and if it is, I will support it. However, if it goes too far in places or is too limiting, then I will work with other legislators and the executive branch to fix those areas.&nbsp;

My first priority is to keep Kansans safe and healthy. My second priority is to keep our economy strong and allow our businesses and employers to make it through this pandemic. For some, that will be staying open and for others that will be opening up as soon as possible. I will continue to work for that balance that keeps us safe and allows us to come back as soon as danger has passed.&nbsp;

I already supported extending unemployment benefits to help those suffering from layoffs.&nbsp; Kansas has made $5 million available for those businesses in the hospitality industry, and new Small Business Administration disaster loans are making credit available to businesses who need it to get through. I support these measures and encourage you to check out KansasTogether.com for more information about the assistance available to workers and businesses.&nbsp; I am also posting all of this on social media.

I firmly believe that Kansas is stronger than any virus. We are more resilient than any temporary shutdown. We are experienced at getting through troubles, picking each other up and getting back to work. &nbsp; We can do this – we will survive.&nbsp; Follow me on Instagram and twitter @barbwasinger for up-to-date information or on Facebook at Barb for Kanas.&nbsp; Please message me with questions and I will do my best to get answers for you as soon as possible.

Barb Wasinger, Representative, 111th District

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578522379850.jpeg" alt="State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays" />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>Today, Kansas became the 25th state to enter a statewide “stay at home” order. Most Kansans are already living under a local stay at home order and locally we are already doing this to a large extent. Twenty-two Kansas counties have done this and there are now cases in 31 counties across the state. This statewide order begins at 12:01 am on Monday, March 30, 2020 and is in effect until April 19, 2020. It replaces the patchwork of local orders around the state. &nbsp; The order can also be amended, allowing some flexibility to adapt as new information about the impact of coronavirus in Kansas emerges.&nbsp; Here is the link:&nbsp; <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf</a>People will still be able to get outside and go to the grocery store, the doctor or pharmacy, and to work if their job is considered essential. Restaurants can continue to do drive-thru, carry-out and delivery services, and our supply chains for essentials will remain open and fully functional. &nbsp; As more details come available I will share them as they are released.&nbsp; The link that you can reference:&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf">https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf</a>I voted for HCR 5025, the House Concurrent Resolution that keeps legislative oversight over decisions like these. The members of the committee that keeps check on these decisions is taking careful review to make sure this new order is not overly restrictive and yet does what our medical experts and disaster professionals believe is needed to protect the health of all of Kansas -our families, friends and neighbors.This decision by the governor can be reviewed and it will be. It may be the right decision, and if it is, I will support it. However, if it goes too far in places or is too limiting, then I will work with other legislators and the executive branch to fix those areas.&nbsp;My first priority is to keep Kansans safe and healthy. My second priority is to keep our economy strong and allow our businesses and employers to make it through this pandemic. For some, that will be staying open and for others that will be opening up as soon as possible. I will continue to work for that balance that keeps us safe and allows us to come back as soon as danger has passed.&nbsp;I already supported extending unemployment benefits to help those suffering from layoffs.&nbsp; Kansas has made $5 million available for those businesses in the hospitality industry, and new Small Business Administration disaster loans are making credit available to businesses who need it to get through. I support these measures and encourage you to check out KansasTogether.com for more information about the assistance available to workers and businesses.&nbsp; I am also posting all of this on social media.I firmly believe that Kansas is stronger than any virus. We are more resilient than any temporary shutdown. We are experienced at getting through troubles, picking each other up and getting back to work. &nbsp; We can do this – we will survive.&nbsp; Follow me on Instagram and twitter @barbwasinger for up-to-date information or on Facebook at Barb for Kanas.&nbsp; Please message me with questions and I will do my best to get answers for you as soon as possible.Proud to serve,Barb Wasinger, Representative, 111th District

Wasinger: Facing the COVID-19 crisis

Hundreds of area residents turned out for the Cruise Night on Friday in downtown Hays.

The event was organized as a way to socialize while maintaining social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 — a throwback to when cruising Main was common on weekend nights.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e7bab05afae0f4d5f5e222b">Interest in the event started when Patrick Toepfer posted the idea on Facebook and it took off from there.</a>

Watch the video above or view the pictures below to see all the fun from Cruisin' Main.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S4l8CPbDwCU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Video by Jordan Schaeffer</div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostHundreds of area residents turned out for the Cruise Night on Friday in downtown Hays.The event was organized as a way to socialize while maintaining social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 — a throwback to when cruising Main was common on weekend nights.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e7bab05afae0f4d5f5e222b">Interest in the event started when Patrick Toepfer posted the idea on Facebook and it took off from there.</a>Watch the video above or view the pictures below to see all the fun from Cruisin' Main.<figure>
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🎥 Hays turns out for Cruise Night

By RON WILSON, Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Do you like raspberry pie? I do. Today we’ll learn about a different kind of raspberry pie – the kind spelled P-I, as in the mathematical symbol. In this case, Raspberry Pi is the name of a type of computer used by students who are learning to do computer coding.&nbsp;&nbsp;This high-tech project is an initiative of an innovative economic development director in rural Kansas.

Nick Poels is executive director of economic development in Phillips County. He works to build partnerships in various ways to benefit the county as a whole. Phillips County includes the rural communities of Phillipsburg, Logan, Agra, Kirwin, Long Island, Prairie View, Glade, population 86, and Speed, population 35 people. Now, that’s rural.

Nick uses various programs to benefit the county, such as rural opportunity zones, Network Kansas, a commercial revitalization program, and more. In 2018, Nick was in a site council meeting with the Phillipsburg school district when there was discussion about the need to integrate more computer science into education. Forward-looking educators recognized the need for students to have high-tech skills for future careers.

Thanks to Nex-Tech, the local rural telephone company, the community has access to high capacity fiber-optic cable. “Phillipsburg had the benefit of fiber-to-the-premise infrastructure before it reached places like Topeka and Olathe,” Nick said.

He recognized an opportunity to use this capacity and to help students learn high-tech skills. He proposed to his county economic development board that Phillips County Economic Development would partner with the school in a student initiative on computer coding. With the board’s support, PCED bought equipment and online curricula for this project.

At the Fischer Building in downtown Phillipsburg, PCED set up a facility called TechSpace with 25 computer work stations. Nick worked with the school to offer one curriculum for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and another, more advanced, curriculum for kids in sixth grade through high school.

Among other things, the younger kids were to work with introductory equipment such as Sphero robots and Lego Mindstorm kits. The older kids were to use training computer modules called Raspberry Pi and Arduino, an&nbsp;open-source electronic prototyping software with which users can create interactive electronic devices such as robots.

The program started with the 2019 academic year. “I expected 25 or 30 students,” Nick said. “Now we have 351 students using TechSpace each week.” The school provides busses to take the kids to and from the Fischer Building.

The younger kids are exposed to the basics of computer coding, which is essentially creating digital instructions to direct a computer to carry out a specific task. The older kids’ class time alternates between online classes and hands-on robotics work.

Some kids practice by writing lines of code to direct robots through a maze. Others are building computer games.

Nick’s ultimate goal is to enhance the students’ skills and benefit the workforce and the families of Philips County. He has reached out to people such as Scott DeLoach, head of K-State’s Computer Science department, who has encouraged the project.

“Research from K-State suggests that last year, 600,000 computer science jobs were available in the U.S., with 1 million projected in 2020,” Nick said. “However, the U.S. is only graduating 49,000 computer science graduates a year.”&nbsp;

“This is something totally new for (the students, and they love the challenge,” one teacher said.

“This project has worked so much better than we could have ever expected,” Nick said.&nbsp;

Other communities have expressed interest in this initiative also. “It is with small steps such as this, that we could collectively work toward positioning the state of Kansas as the most computer-literate state in the union,” Nick said.

For more information on Phillips County, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.phillipscountyks.org/">www.phillipscountyks.org</a>.

Do you like raspberry pie? I like the kind from the kitchen. I’m also glad that these students in rural Kansas are using the electronic version. We commend Nick Poels and all those involved with Phillips County Economic Development for making a difference with this futuristic initiative to build high-tech skills. I think the results are delicious.

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 </figure>By RON WILSON, Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentDo you like raspberry pie? I do. Today we’ll learn about a different kind of raspberry pie – the kind spelled P-I, as in the mathematical symbol. In this case, Raspberry Pi is the name of a type of computer used by students who are learning to do computer coding.&nbsp;&nbsp;This high-tech project is an initiative of an innovative economic development director in rural Kansas.Nick Poels is executive director of economic development in Phillips County. He works to build partnerships in various ways to benefit the county as a whole. Phillips County includes the rural communities of Phillipsburg, Logan, Agra, Kirwin, Long Island, Prairie View, Glade, population 86, and Speed, population 35 people. Now, that’s rural.Nick uses various programs to benefit the county, such as rural opportunity zones, Network Kansas, a commercial revitalization program, and more. In 2018, Nick was in a site council meeting with the Phillipsburg school district when there was discussion about the need to integrate more computer science into education. Forward-looking educators recognized the need for students to have high-tech skills for future careers.Thanks to Nex-Tech, the local rural telephone company, the community has access to high capacity fiber-optic cable. “Phillipsburg had the benefit of fiber-to-the-premise infrastructure before it reached places like Topeka and Olathe,” Nick said.He recognized an opportunity to use this capacity and to help students learn high-tech skills. He proposed to his county economic development board that Phillips County Economic Development would partner with the school in a student initiative on computer coding. With the board’s support, PCED bought equipment and online curricula for this project.At the Fischer Building in downtown Phillipsburg, PCED set up a facility called TechSpace with 25 computer work stations. Nick worked with the school to offer one curriculum for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and another, more advanced, curriculum for kids in sixth grade through high school.Among other things, the younger kids were to work with introductory equipment such as Sphero robots and Lego Mindstorm kits. The older kids were to use training computer modules called Raspberry Pi and Arduino, an&nbsp;open-source electronic prototyping software with which users can create interactive electronic devices such as robots.The program started with the 2019 academic year. “I expected 25 or 30 students,” Nick said. “Now we have 351 students using TechSpace each week.” The school provides busses to take the kids to and from the Fischer Building.The younger kids are exposed to the basics of computer coding, which is essentially creating digital instructions to direct a computer to carry out a specific task. The older kids’ class time alternates between online classes and hands-on robotics work.Some kids practice by writing lines of code to direct robots through a maze. Others are building computer games.Nick’s ultimate goal is to enhance the students’ skills and benefit the workforce and the families of Philips County. He has reached out to people such as Scott DeLoach, head of K-State’s Computer Science department, who has encouraged the project.“Research from K-State suggests that last year, 600,000 computer science jobs were available in the U.S., with 1 million projected in 2020,” Nick said. “However, the U.S. is only graduating 49,000 computer science graduates a year.”&nbsp;“This is something totally new for (the students, and they love the challenge,” one teacher said.“This project has worked so much better than we could have ever expected,” Nick said.&nbsp;Other communities have expressed interest in this initiative also. “It is with small steps such as this, that we could collectively work toward positioning the state of Kansas as the most computer-literate state in the union,” Nick said.For more information on Phillips County, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.phillipscountyks.org/">www.phillipscountyks.org</a>.Do you like raspberry pie? I like the kind from the kitchen. I’m also glad that these students in rural Kansas are using the electronic version. We commend Nick Poels and all those involved with Phillips County Economic Development for making a difference with this futuristic initiative to build high-tech skills. I think the results are delicious.

Now That’s Rural: Nick Poels, Phillips County coding

Kansas needs to start voting by mail immediately. Our democracy may hang in the balance.

With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of subsiding, elections may become very complicated this August and November. Turnout may be low. Seven states have already responded to the pandemic by postponing their Presidential primaries, while others are making changes such as abolishing in-person caucusing. The Kansas primary election is scheduled for August 4. The general election will be held November 3. Both should be held by mail. This will require a change to Kansas law, initiated by the Legislature immediately.

Kansas Democrats decided earlier to make voting by mail an option in their Presidential primary this year. On the other hand, Kansas Republicans are not holding a Presidential primary this year—a deeply troubling precedent which we must not follow. Not to be confused with the Presidential primary, the primary election is held in August. It is the one in which voters choose party nominees for other offices. Those include this year’s hotly contested races for Congress, U.S. Senate, and the balance of power in both houses of the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp;

Washington, Oregon, and Colorado already hold elections by mail. Kansans can study the lessons learned by trial-and-error from these early adopters. In general, those three states have experienced few problems and little in the way of voter fraud, due to their strict signature verification requirements. They also have higher turnout. Drop boxes are available for those who prefer to hand-deliver their ballots instead of mailing them. Ballots meeting all other requirements are considered valid if postmarked or placed in an official drop box by Election Day. The non-rushed quality of ballot counting promises more accurate results, and there is always a paper trail if a recount is necessary. The contemporary design of these ballots further ensures that there will be none of the notorious chads—hanging, pregnant, and so forth—that created so many headaches in the 2000 Florida recount.

Downsides are few. Because ballots are still arriving and being counted for several days afterwards, close races cannot be “called” on election night. This infuriates reporters and pundits, but most Kansans probably do not mind. Political campaigns have to adapt because many voters will have already voted long before last-week “ad blitzes” and Election Day canvassing, but the popularity of early voting has already been forcing them to do this.&nbsp;

If voting can be done by mail, why not online? In a word, the answer is security. The Mueller Report and impeachment process hardly settled disagreements about the Trump Presidency, but they have shown us conclusively that the Russian government interfered with the 2016 Presidential Election. It is unlikely that this changed the results, but the simple fact that interference occurred, in and of itself, should be a compelling reason to avoid connecting any voting equipment to the Internet. It is fine to post instructions for voters, a link for requesting a ballot, unofficial election results, and analysis online. Machinery like optical scan readers can be used to count paper ballots, just not online. However, voting and vote-counting themselves need to be Internet-free. No matter how seemingly secure, any connection creates a window for others to alter our elections data.

The Kansas Legislature, Governor Kelly, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, and county elections officials must act immediately to ensure that our democracy stays intact during troubled times.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579108824567.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas needs to start voting by mail immediately. Our democracy may hang in the balance.With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of subsiding, elections may become very complicated this August and November. Turnout may be low. Seven states have already responded to the pandemic by postponing their Presidential primaries, while others are making changes such as abolishing in-person caucusing. The Kansas primary election is scheduled for August 4. The general election will be held November 3. Both should be held by mail. This will require a change to Kansas law, initiated by the Legislature immediately.Kansas Democrats decided earlier to make voting by mail an option in their Presidential primary this year. On the other hand, Kansas Republicans are not holding a Presidential primary this year—a deeply troubling precedent which we must not follow. Not to be confused with the Presidential primary, the primary election is held in August. It is the one in which voters choose party nominees for other offices. Those include this year’s hotly contested races for Congress, U.S. Senate, and the balance of power in both houses of the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp;Washington, Oregon, and Colorado already hold elections by mail. Kansans can study the lessons learned by trial-and-error from these early adopters. In general, those three states have experienced few problems and little in the way of voter fraud, due to their strict signature verification requirements. They also have higher turnout. Drop boxes are available for those who prefer to hand-deliver their ballots instead of mailing them. Ballots meeting all other requirements are considered valid if postmarked or placed in an official drop box by Election Day. The non-rushed quality of ballot counting promises more accurate results, and there is always a paper trail if a recount is necessary. The contemporary design of these ballots further ensures that there will be none of the notorious chads—hanging, pregnant, and so forth—that created so many headaches in the 2000 Florida recount.Downsides are few. Because ballots are still arriving and being counted for several days afterwards, close races cannot be “called” on election night. This infuriates reporters and pundits, but most Kansans probably do not mind. Political campaigns have to adapt because many voters will have already voted long before last-week “ad blitzes” and Election Day canvassing, but the popularity of early voting has already been forcing them to do this.&nbsp;If voting can be done by mail, why not online? In a word, the answer is security. The Mueller Report and impeachment process hardly settled disagreements about the Trump Presidency, but they have shown us conclusively that the Russian government interfered with the 2016 Presidential Election. It is unlikely that this changed the results, but the simple fact that interference occurred, in and of itself, should be a compelling reason to avoid connecting any voting equipment to the Internet. It is fine to post instructions for voters, a link for requesting a ballot, unofficial election results, and analysis online. Machinery like optical scan readers can be used to count paper ballots, just not online. However, voting and vote-counting themselves need to be Internet-free. No matter how seemingly secure, any connection creates a window for others to alter our elections data.The Kansas Legislature, Governor Kelly, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, and county elections officials must act immediately to ensure that our democracy stays intact during troubled times.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.