SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Kansas Geological Survey says an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 2.6 rattled parts of Wichita just before 9a.m. Wednesday.

It is the fifth earthquake of 2.0 magnitude or more reported in the Wichita area in the last two weeks.&nbsp; No serious damage or injuries were reported after Tuesday's 3.3 magnitude quake.&nbsp;

The U.S. Geological Survey said Tuesday's quake hit in east Wichita, about 1.86 miles northeast of Eastborough&nbsp;near 21st and Rock Road.&nbsp; The Wednesday quake was centered just south of that location.

Other earthquakes were reported in the Wichita area on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 and Nov. 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607529261534.png" alt="Location of Wednesday's quake -KSGS image" />
 <figcaption>Location of Wednesday's quake -KSGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Kansas Geological Survey says an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 2.6 rattled parts of Wichita just before 9a.m. Wednesday.It is the fifth earthquake of 2.0 magnitude or more reported in the Wichita area in the last two weeks.&nbsp; No serious damage or injuries were reported after Tuesday's 3.3 magnitude quake.&nbsp;The U.S. Geological Survey said Tuesday's quake hit in east Wichita, about 1.86 miles northeast of Eastborough&nbsp;near 21st and Rock Road.&nbsp; The Wednesday quake was centered just south of that location.Other earthquakes were reported in the Wichita area on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 and Nov. 30.

Fifth minor earthquake in 2 weeks shakes Wichita

LONDON (AP) — British regulators warned Wednesday that people who have a history of serious allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program.

The U.K.’s Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is looking into whether the reactions were linked to the vaccine. The two people affected were staff members with the National Health Service who had a history of allergies, and both are recovering. Authorities have not specified what their reactions were.

In the meantime, the regulator has issued the warning for anyone who has had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food. That includes anyone who has been told to carry an adrenaline shot or others who have had potentially fatal allergic reactions.

“As is common with new vaccines the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday,” Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England, said in a statement. “Both are recovering well.”

The medical regulatory agency also said vaccinations should not be carried out in facilities that don’t have resuscitation equipment.

Pfizer and BioNTech said they were working with investigators “to better understand each case and its causes.″

Late-stage trials of the vaccine found “no serious safety concerns,” the companies said. More than 42,000 people have received two doses of the shot during those trials.

“In the pivotal phase three clinical trial, this vaccine was generally well tolerated with no serious safety concerns reported by the independent Data Monitoring Committee,” the companies said.

Documents published by the two companies showed that people with a history of severe allergic reactions were excluded from the trials, and doctors were advised to look out for such reactions in trial participants who weren’t previously known to have severe allergies.

Even in non-emergency situations, health authorities must closely monitor new vaccines and medications because studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect a rare risk that would affect 1 in 1 million.

Dr. Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said there is a “very small” chance of an allergic reaction to any vaccine.

The MHRA last week gave emergency authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making Britain the first country to allow its widespread use.

The U.K. began its mass vaccination program on Tuesday, offering the shot to people over 80, nursing home staff and some NHS workers. It’s not clear how many people have received the jab so far.

As part of its emergency authorization for the vaccine, the MHRA required healthcare workers to report any adverse reactions to help regulators gather more information about safety and effectiveness.

The agency is monitoring the vaccine rollout closely and “will now investigate these cases in more detail to understand if the allergic reactions were linked to the vaccine or were incidental,” he said. “The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well.”

Dr. June Raine, head of the medical regulatory agency, informed a Parliamentary committee about the reactions during previously scheduled testimony on the pandemic.

“We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn’t a feature” of the vaccine, she said. “But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we have had this experience in the vulnerable populations, the groups who have been selected as a priority, we get that advice to the field immediately.”

LONDON (AP) — British regulators warned Wednesday that people who have a history of serious allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program.The U.K.’s Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is looking into whether the reactions were linked to the vaccine. The two people affected were staff members with the National Health Service who had a history of allergies, and both are recovering. Authorities have not specified what their reactions were.In the meantime, the regulator has issued the warning for anyone who has had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food. That includes anyone who has been told to carry an adrenaline shot or others who have had potentially fatal allergic reactions.“As is common with new vaccines the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday,” Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England, said in a statement. “Both are recovering well.”The medical regulatory agency also said vaccinations should not be carried out in facilities that don’t have resuscitation equipment.Pfizer and BioNTech said they were working with investigators “to better understand each case and its causes.″Late-stage trials of the vaccine found “no serious safety concerns,” the companies said. More than 42,000 people have received two doses of the shot during those trials.“In the pivotal phase three clinical trial, this vaccine was generally well tolerated with no serious safety concerns reported by the independent Data Monitoring Committee,” the companies said.Documents published by the two companies showed that people with a history of severe allergic reactions were excluded from the trials, and doctors were advised to look out for such reactions in trial participants who weren’t previously known to have severe allergies.Even in non-emergency situations, health authorities must closely monitor new vaccines and medications because studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect a rare risk that would affect 1 in 1 million.Dr. Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said there is a “very small” chance of an allergic reaction to any vaccine.The MHRA last week gave emergency authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making Britain the first country to allow its widespread use.The U.K. began its mass vaccination program on Tuesday, offering the shot to people over 80, nursing home staff and some NHS workers. It’s not clear how many people have received the jab so far.As part of its emergency authorization for the vaccine, the MHRA required healthcare workers to report any adverse reactions to help regulators gather more information about safety and effectiveness.The agency is monitoring the vaccine rollout closely and “will now investigate these cases in more detail to understand if the allergic reactions were linked to the vaccine or were incidental,” he said. “The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well.”Dr. June Raine, head of the medical regulatory agency, informed a Parliamentary committee about the reactions during previously scheduled testimony on the pandemic.“We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn’t a feature” of the vaccine, she said. “But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we have had this experience in the vulnerable populations, the groups who have been selected as a priority, we get that advice to the field immediately.”___

Warning issued about Pfizer virus vaccine after patients fall ill

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — Investigators say DNA testing has identified a Missouri toddler whose body was found on a riverbank in Mississippi in 1982.

The child long known only as “Baby Jane” or “Delta Dawn” has been identified as 18-month-old Alisha Ann Heinrich. The sheriff of Jackson County, Mississippi, announced the child’s identity at a news conference Friday.

Sheriff Mike Ezell said a deputy found the girl's body on the bank of coastal Mississippi's Escatawpa River on Dec. 5, 1982.

Her mother, Gwendolyn Mae Clemons — sometimes also known as Gwendolyn Mae Clemons Heinrich — was a 23-year-old resident of Joplin, Missouri. She left home on Thanksgiving 1982 along with her baby daughter and a boyfriend, telling relatives that they planned to start a new life in Florida, Ezell said.

Clemons hasn’t been heard from since 1982, Ezell said. The man she was dating later returned to Missouri and is now deceased, he said. The sheriff did not release his name.

Not long after authorities found Baby Jane, former Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Virgil Moore and his wife asked to give her a proper burial since no one had claimed her body. The baby's body was exhumed from a cemetery in the county in 2009 so investigators could obtain DNA.

Authorities said the break came when the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received information needed to identify the child and her mother with the aid of Othram Inc., a Texas-based company specializing in DNA technology.

Orthrom determined the baby’s lineage through DNA testing and tracked down the child’s aunt and others relatives, which ultimately helped find her identity. Investigators traveled to speak with the mother’s family.

“They were still under the assumption that Alisha was alive and living somewhere but they were very thankful that after 38 years, the case was still being investigated,” FBI agent Joe Bignell said.

On Dec. 3, 1982, witnesses reported seeing a woman carrying a toddler along Mississippi Highway 63 and Interstate 10 in Jackson County. One person told investigators she was monitoring the CB radio that night when there was chatter about a woman with a child walking down the interstate in distress but refusing to let anyone help her.

Two days later, a truck driver called police to report seeing a woman's body in the Escatawpa River. A deputy responded and, while searching for the woman, found the baby's body.

Though authorities dredged for the woman's body, it was never found.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607514985706.png" alt="Image courtesy Jackson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Jackson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — Investigators say DNA testing has identified a Missouri toddler whose body was found on a riverbank in Mississippi in 1982.The child long known only as “Baby Jane” or “Delta Dawn” has been identified as 18-month-old Alisha Ann Heinrich. The sheriff of Jackson County, Mississippi, announced the child’s identity at a news conference Friday.Sheriff Mike Ezell said a deputy found the girl's body on the bank of coastal Mississippi's Escatawpa River on Dec. 5, 1982.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607515115624.png" alt="Alisha Ann Heinrich-photo Jackson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Alisha Ann Heinrich-photo Jackson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Her mother, Gwendolyn Mae Clemons — sometimes also known as Gwendolyn Mae Clemons Heinrich — was a 23-year-old resident of Joplin, Missouri. She left home on Thanksgiving 1982 along with her baby daughter and a boyfriend, telling relatives that they planned to start a new life in Florida, Ezell said.Clemons hasn’t been heard from since 1982, Ezell said. The man she was dating later returned to Missouri and is now deceased, he said. The sheriff did not release his name.Not long after authorities found Baby Jane, former Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Virgil Moore and his wife asked to give her a proper burial since no one had claimed her body. The baby's body was exhumed from a cemetery in the county in 2009 so investigators could obtain DNA.Authorities said the break came when the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received information needed to identify the child and her mother with the aid of Othram Inc., a Texas-based company specializing in DNA technology.Orthrom determined the baby’s lineage through DNA testing and tracked down the child’s aunt and others relatives, which ultimately helped find her identity. Investigators traveled to speak with the mother’s family.“They were still under the assumption that Alisha was alive and living somewhere but they were very thankful that after 38 years, the case was still being investigated,” FBI agent Joe Bignell said.On Dec. 3, 1982, witnesses reported seeing a woman carrying a toddler along Mississippi Highway 63 and Interstate 10 in Jackson County. One person told investigators she was monitoring the CB radio that night when there was chatter about a woman with a child walking down the interstate in distress but refusing to let anyone help her.Two days later, a truck driver called police to report seeing a woman's body in the Escatawpa River. A deputy responded and, while searching for the woman, found the baby's body.Though authorities dredged for the woman's body, it was never found.

DNA identifies Missouri toddler found in 1982

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Bar owners in Kansas’ largest city are challenging rules designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, hoping to use the courts to overturn a mask mandate, limits on public gatherings and an 11 p.m. closing time for bars and restaurants.

If the bar owners and others suing officials in Wichita and its home of Sedgwick County are successful, they would take the county back to business as it was before the coronavirus pandemic reached Kansas in early March.

The lawsuit is <a href="https://unmaskthetruths.org/?fbclid=IwAR0WnbX6M5ri0i5caaJe8Bjme6SdLq-9pCmFRBIPHDWQGSPKCwprfBbybA0">partially crowd-funded</a> by<a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnmasktheTruth7/?ref=page_internal"> “Unmask the Truths,”</a> a Facebook and web-based group of mask opponents. It was first filed in state district court in late November, but attorneys for both sides had it moved to federal court this month because the lawsuit alleges that pandemic rules violate the business owners’ rights to free speech and due legal process under the U.S. Constitution.

“A face mask has become a symbol of an attempt by the government to gain control of its citizenry,” the lawsuit claims. “Forcing them to wear face masks is forcing them to convey a message with which they disagree.”

The lawsuit was filed by 10 businesses, their owners and two other Sedgwick County residents who allege that their rights as citizens are violated.

Sedgwick County has the most reported confirmed and probable coronavirus cases of any of the state’s 105 counties, according the state Department of Health and Environment. It had nearly 31,000 cases for the pandemic as of Monday, or 60 for every 1,000 residents, with 172 reported COVID-19 deaths. It had more than 5,700 new cases during the two weeks ending Monday.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said the business owners are worried about their families and employees, “so I get it.”

“But the other thing too is we’ve got to be thinking mid- and long-term where stopping and slowing down the spread of COVID is vital to getting our economy back to normal again,” he said.

Kansas also has reported about 60 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases for every 1,000 residents since the pandemic began, for a total of more than 174,000 cases. It also has reported more than 5,500 hospitalizations and 1,856 deaths as of Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607513381435.png" alt="Photo courtesy <a href="https://unmaskthetruths.org/?fbclid=IwAR0WnbX6M5ri0i5caaJe8Bjme6SdLq-9pCmFRBIPHDWQGSPKCwprfBbybA0">Unmask the Truth</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy <a href="https://unmaskthetruths.org/?fbclid=IwAR0WnbX6M5ri0i5caaJe8Bjme6SdLq-9pCmFRBIPHDWQGSPKCwprfBbybA0">Unmask the Truth</a></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Bar owners in Kansas’ largest city are challenging rules designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, hoping to use the courts to overturn a mask mandate, limits on public gatherings and an 11 p.m. closing time for bars and restaurants.If the bar owners and others suing officials in Wichita and its home of Sedgwick County are successful, they would take the county back to business as it was before the coronavirus pandemic reached Kansas in early March.The lawsuit is <a href="https://unmaskthetruths.org/?fbclid=IwAR0WnbX6M5ri0i5caaJe8Bjme6SdLq-9pCmFRBIPHDWQGSPKCwprfBbybA0">partially crowd-funded</a> by<a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnmasktheTruth7/?ref=page_internal"> “Unmask the Truths,”</a> a Facebook and web-based group of mask opponents. It was first filed in state district court in late November, but attorneys for both sides had it moved to federal court this month because the lawsuit alleges that pandemic rules violate the business owners’ rights to free speech and due legal process under the U.S. Constitution.“A face mask has become a symbol of an attempt by the government to gain control of its citizenry,” the lawsuit claims. “Forcing them to wear face masks is forcing them to convey a message with which they disagree.”The lawsuit was filed by 10 businesses, their owners and two other Sedgwick County residents who allege that their rights as citizens are violated.Sedgwick County has the most reported confirmed and probable coronavirus cases of any of the state’s 105 counties, according the state Department of Health and Environment. It had nearly 31,000 cases for the pandemic as of Monday, or 60 for every 1,000 residents, with 172 reported COVID-19 deaths. It had more than 5,700 new cases during the two weeks ending Monday.Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said the business owners are worried about their families and employees, “so I get it.”“But the other thing too is we’ve got to be thinking mid- and long-term where stopping and slowing down the spread of COVID is vital to getting our economy back to normal again,” he said.Kansas also has reported about 60 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases for every 1,000 residents since the pandemic began, for a total of more than 174,000 cases. It also has reported more than 5,500 hospitalizations and 1,856 deaths as of Monday.

Bar owners seek return to pre-pandemic rules in Kansas

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman in connection with alleged child endangerment in Great Bend.

Just before noon Tuesday, deputies were at a home at 1212 Baker in Great Bend attempting to contact 36-year-old Audra Cross in reference to harboring a runaway case they were investigating, according to a media release.

Deputies were unable to make contact with anyone inside the residence. While on scene, another juvenile who had been reported as a runaway through the Great Bend Police Department, called his mother on the phone. The juvenile told his mother he was in the house and the police were outside. The mother of the juvenile contacted the Police Department and stated she was told by the juvenile he had a firearm and would use it. Officers with the Great Bend Police Department responded to assist.

Deputies were able to contact Cross over the phone and got her to come out of the residence. She advised law enforcement that Horacio Carrasco-Olivias, age 21, was also inside the residence. Carrasco-Olivias eventually exited the residence. Cross along with Carrasco-Olivias stated there was no one else inside the residence. Cross and Carrasco-Olivias were interviewed and left the area.

Officers were able to make contact by phone with the juvenile, who later came out of the residence. Officers learned the juvenile had been staying at the residence for several nights.

A short time later, deputies located Cross and Carrasco-Olivias in the area. Cross and Carrasco-Olivias were arrested for contributing to a child's misconduct. A search warrant was later obtained for the residence. Items belonging to the juvenile were located inside the residence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607514169350.png" alt="In November, police arrested Audra M. Cross on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and child endangerment, according to the Barton Co. Sheriff's Department." />
 <figcaption>In November, police arrested Audra M. Cross on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and child endangerment, according to the Barton Co. Sheriff's Department.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman in connection with alleged child endangerment in Great Bend.Just before noon Tuesday, deputies were at a home at 1212 Baker in Great Bend attempting to contact 36-year-old Audra Cross in reference to harboring a runaway case they were investigating, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607469372650.jpeg" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff Tuesday -photo Great Bend Police" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff Tuesday -photo Great Bend Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies were unable to make contact with anyone inside the residence. While on scene, another juvenile who had been reported as a runaway through the Great Bend Police Department, called his mother on the phone. The juvenile told his mother he was in the house and the police were outside. The mother of the juvenile contacted the Police Department and stated she was told by the juvenile he had a firearm and would use it. Officers with the Great Bend Police Department responded to assist.Deputies were able to contact Cross over the phone and got her to come out of the residence. She advised law enforcement that Horacio Carrasco-Olivias, age 21, was also inside the residence. Carrasco-Olivias eventually exited the residence. Cross along with Carrasco-Olivias stated there was no one else inside the residence. Cross and Carrasco-Olivias were interviewed and left the area.Officers were able to make contact by phone with the juvenile, who later came out of the residence. Officers learned the juvenile had been staying at the residence for several nights.A short time later, deputies located Cross and Carrasco-Olivias in the area. Cross and Carrasco-Olivias were arrested for contributing to a child's misconduct. A search warrant was later obtained for the residence. Items belonging to the juvenile were located inside the residence.

Kansas woman arrested after standoff in Great Bend

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration dived back into Capitol Hill’s confusing COVID-19 negotiations, offering a $916 billion package to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made the offer to Pelosi late Tuesday afternoon, he said in a statement. He offered few details, though House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy said it proposes the $600 direct payment for individuals and $1,200 for couples, which is half&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/61b3d38360745d64a98a2ab813501b13">the payment delivered by the March pandemic relief bill</a>.

Mnuchin reached out to Pelosi after a call with top congressional GOP leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who remains at odds with Democratic leaders over COVID-19 relief. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded to Mnuchin’s entreaty with a statement that said they would prefer to let a bipartisan group take the lead.

The bipartisan group, led by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, among others, is seeking to rally lawmakers in both parties behind a $908 billion framework that includes a $300-per-week pandemic jobless benefit and $160 billion for states and local governments. It is more generous than a GOP plan that’s been filibustered twice already but far smaller than a wish list assembled by House Democrats.

McConnell had earlier proposed shelving a top Democratic priority — aid to state and local governments — in exchange for dropping his own pet provision, a shield against lawsuits for COVID-related negligence. Democrats angrily rejected the idea, saying McConnell was undermining the efforts of a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators and reneging on earlier statements that state and local aid would likely have to be an element of a COVID-19 relief agreement given Democratic control of the House.

The $916 billion Mnuchin offer, the separate ongoing talks among key rank-and-file senators, and the shifting demands by the White House all add up to muddled, confusing prospects for a long-delayed COVID-19 aid package. The pressure to deliver is intense — all sides say failure isn’t an option.

The Mnuchin plan resurrects direct payments that are popular with Trump and the public but that are disliked by many Republican lawmakers who say they are costly and send too much aid to people who do not need it. Democrats generally embrace the idea.

“Right now we’re targeting struggling families, failing businesses, health care workers and we don’t have a stimulus check to every single person, regardless of need,” said Collins.

McConnell said Congress will not adjourn without providing the long-overdue COVID-19 relief. He had previously said he would not put any pandemic relief bill on the floor that does not include the liability shield, which is being sought by businesses, universities, nonprofits, and others that are reopening during the pandemic.

“Leaving here without a COVID relief package cannot happen,” McConnell said. “Why don’t we set aside the two obviously most contentious issues. We know we’re going to be confronted with another request after the first of the year. We’ll live to fight those another day.”

Top Senate Democrat Schumer immediately rejected the entreaty, saying the state and local relief is sought by many Republicans, too, including some conservatives like Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah. Pelosi blasted McConnell’s offer as an attempt to undercut the bipartisan group whose framework she supports as a foundation for the negotiations.

Pelosi initially demanded more than $900 billion for state and local governments this spring, but the fiscal situation in the states hasn’t been as bad as feared and Democratic leaders could be willing to accept a $160 billion proposal by the moderate group.

Already, Capitol Hill leaders are moving a government shutdown deadline to the end of next week, but progress is slow and key decisions are yet to be made. The House has scheduled a vote on a one-week temporary government funding bill for Wednesday. Without the measure, the government would shut down this weekend.

Separately, Pelosi and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., spoke by phone on Monday to try to kick start talks on a separate $1.4 trillion government-wide spending bill. That measure is held up over issues like protections for the sage grouse, the Census and accounting maneuvers being employed by lawmakers to squeeze $12 billion more into the legislation.

McConnell initially proposed a sweeping five-year liability shield, retroactive to December 2019, to protect companies and organizations from COVID-19-related lawsuits. Democrats, along with their allies in labor and civil rights groups, roundly dismissed that approach as a danger to workers. And there hasn’t been a wave of lawsuits.

“Contrary to the majority leader’s dire predictions, there has been no flood of COVID lawsuits. In fact, quite the opposite,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. “Far from the pandemic of lawsuits, there’s barely been a trickle.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601548046725.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with House Speaker Nancy&nbsp; Pelosi again Tuesday." />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with House Speaker Nancy&nbsp; Pelosi again Tuesday.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration dived back into Capitol Hill’s confusing COVID-19 negotiations, offering a $916 billion package to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made the offer to Pelosi late Tuesday afternoon, he said in a statement. He offered few details, though House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy said it proposes the $600 direct payment for individuals and $1,200 for couples, which is half&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/61b3d38360745d64a98a2ab813501b13">the payment delivered by the March pandemic relief bill</a>.Mnuchin reached out to Pelosi after a call with top congressional GOP leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who remains at odds with Democratic leaders over COVID-19 relief. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded to Mnuchin’s entreaty with a statement that said they would prefer to let a bipartisan group take the lead.The bipartisan group, led by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, among others, is seeking to rally lawmakers in both parties behind a $908 billion framework that includes a $300-per-week pandemic jobless benefit and $160 billion for states and local governments. It is more generous than a GOP plan that’s been filibustered twice already but far smaller than a wish list assembled by House Democrats.McConnell had earlier proposed shelving a top Democratic priority — aid to state and local governments — in exchange for dropping his own pet provision, a shield against lawsuits for COVID-related negligence. Democrats angrily rejected the idea, saying McConnell was undermining the efforts of a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators and reneging on earlier statements that state and local aid would likely have to be an element of a COVID-19 relief agreement given Democratic control of the House.The $916 billion Mnuchin offer, the separate ongoing talks among key rank-and-file senators, and the shifting demands by the White House all add up to muddled, confusing prospects for a long-delayed COVID-19 aid package. The pressure to deliver is intense — all sides say failure isn’t an option.The Mnuchin plan resurrects direct payments that are popular with Trump and the public but that are disliked by many Republican lawmakers who say they are costly and send too much aid to people who do not need it. Democrats generally embrace the idea.“Right now we’re targeting struggling families, failing businesses, health care workers and we don’t have a stimulus check to every single person, regardless of need,” said Collins.McConnell said Congress will not adjourn without providing the long-overdue COVID-19 relief. He had previously said he would not put any pandemic relief bill on the floor that does not include the liability shield, which is being sought by businesses, universities, nonprofits, and others that are reopening during the pandemic.“Leaving here without a COVID relief package cannot happen,” McConnell said. “Why don’t we set aside the two obviously most contentious issues. We know we’re going to be confronted with another request after the first of the year. We’ll live to fight those another day.”Top Senate Democrat Schumer immediately rejected the entreaty, saying the state and local relief is sought by many Republicans, too, including some conservatives like Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah. Pelosi blasted McConnell’s offer as an attempt to undercut the bipartisan group whose framework she supports as a foundation for the negotiations.Pelosi initially demanded more than $900 billion for state and local governments this spring, but the fiscal situation in the states hasn’t been as bad as feared and Democratic leaders could be willing to accept a $160 billion proposal by the moderate group.Already, Capitol Hill leaders are moving a government shutdown deadline to the end of next week, but progress is slow and key decisions are yet to be made. The House has scheduled a vote on a one-week temporary government funding bill for Wednesday. Without the measure, the government would shut down this weekend.Separately, Pelosi and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., spoke by phone on Monday to try to kick start talks on a separate $1.4 trillion government-wide spending bill. That measure is held up over issues like protections for the sage grouse, the Census and accounting maneuvers being employed by lawmakers to squeeze $12 billion more into the legislation.McConnell initially proposed a sweeping five-year liability shield, retroactive to December 2019, to protect companies and organizations from COVID-19-related lawsuits. Democrats, along with their allies in labor and civil rights groups, roundly dismissed that approach as a danger to workers. And there hasn’t been a wave of lawsuits.“Contrary to the majority leader’s dire predictions, there has been no flood of COVID lawsuits. In fact, quite the opposite,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. “Far from the pandemic of lawsuits, there’s barely been a trickle.”

Latest virus relief plan offers direct payments, jobless benefit

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies and have a third suspect in custody.

Just before 9p.m. Dec. 3, police responded to an armed robbery call at the Jumpstart, 3805 W. 21st&nbsp;Street North in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a store employee who reported two suspects entering the store and demanding cash while one suspect was armed with a rifle.

Cash was taken by the suspects, who then fled the store on foot.&nbsp; No one was injured.

Through the investigation of the Jumpstart robbery, investigators learned that Johnny Washington, 28; Antonio Martin, 26, and Cameron Burns, 28, were involved.&nbsp;

Police arrested Martin and Burns last week. On Monday police arrested Washington in Derby with the assistance of the Derby Police Department, according to Davidson.

Through further investigation, investigators learned Washington was involved in four additional armed robberies.

Washington is being held on requested charges that include five counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated assault, stemming from robbery investigations beginning in July.&nbsp; &nbsp;Washington is also accused of aggravated battery domestic violence (DV) strangulation regarding an ongoing DV investigation and outstanding warrants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607432018405.png" alt="Washington -photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Washington -photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies and have a third suspect in custody.Just before 9p.m. Dec. 3, police responded to an armed robbery call at the Jumpstart, 3805 W. 21st&nbsp;Street North in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers contacted a store employee who reported two suspects entering the store and demanding cash while one suspect was armed with a rifle.Cash was taken by the suspects, who then fled the store on foot.&nbsp; No one was injured.Through the investigation of the Jumpstart robbery, investigators learned that Johnny Washington, 28; Antonio Martin, 26, and Cameron Burns, 28, were involved.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607177871108.png" alt="Martin photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Martin photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested Martin and Burns last week. On Monday police arrested Washington in Derby with the assistance of the Derby Police Department, according to Davidson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607177814900.png" alt="Burns-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Burns-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Through further investigation, investigators learned Washington was involved in four additional armed robberies.Washington is being held on requested charges that include five counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated assault, stemming from robbery investigations beginning in July.&nbsp; &nbsp;Washington is also accused of aggravated battery domestic violence (DV) strangulation regarding an ongoing DV investigation and outstanding warrants.

Kan. man jailed for 5 armed robberies over 6-months

By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/tricky-who-how-and-when-getting-kansans-covid-19-vaccinations">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — The first of potentially several COVID-19 vaccines could get emergency approval by the end of the week.

But
 that major milestone is just the beginning of the work for local and 
state health departments in Kansas that will have to get the 
pandemic-stalling shots to people — and decide who gets it first, when 
and how.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said 
trucks full of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine will ship this week to the 
five ultra-cold storage locations, including at the University of Kansas
 Health System hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Which may mean we can begin vaccinating as early as Friday,” said Health System Chief Medical Officer Steve Stites.

But the logistic problems get more complicated from there.

Vaccinations
 might begin at the end of this week, but the state only expects to get 
23,750 doses in the first deliveries. That’s not enough to even 
vaccinate all of the people considered to be in Phase 1a of the 
distribution plan — doctors, nurses and other staff in direct contact 
with COVID patients. The state estimates that's about 35,000-40,000 
people, each needing two doses.

That means hospitals and clinics will have to make tough decisions about who is first in line.

“We’ve
 spent hours and hours and hours and hours and hours looking at how 
we’ll distribute the vaccine here internally and how we start 
identifying people,” Stites said.

In the state’s latest <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/284/COVID-19-Vaccine" target="_blank">vaccine plan</a>, Phase 1 will also include other highly vulnerable people, including nursing home residents.

As
 more vaccines become available, distribution will expand to other 
essential workers and at-risk populations in Phase 2, likely next 
spring. Then, as production ramps up more, the state will move to Phase 3
 sometime next summer and provide the vaccine to everybody.

But the exact order of who gets it and when remains still vague and an advisory group is hashing out those standards.

Some of those decisions could be politically fraught, especially when it comes to serving vulnerable populations.

Statistics
 show that the coronavirus hit prisons particularly hard — after all, it
 can be hard to socially distance and hand sanitizer is banned because 
it’s made of alcohol. And there's a risk of the disease bouncing in and 
out of the prison, to the community and back. That makes inmates and 
guards good candidates to get the shots early.

“But one could 
easily anticipate that there will be pushback if a state announces it’s 
going to focus one of its earliest phases of vaccination on prisons 
before it makes it available for the general population,” said R. Alta 
Charo, professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin.

That’s just among the first challenges. The<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20201201_04.pdf" target="_blank"> logistics of getting the vaccine</a> from manufacturer to patient present another hurdle.

The
 first two likely approved vaccines need to be stored at temperatures 
ranging from -15 to -80 degrees Celsius. While the state doesn’t need to
 purchase extra or special freezers, getting the vaccine from storage 
into the hands of hospitals and clinics across the state, and ultimately
 into Kansans, is extremely complex.

The Pfizer vaccine, for 
example, can be stored for up to six months at one of the state’s five 
ultra-cold freezer storage locations.

But to leave the ultra-cold
 storage facility and get to individual clinics, it will need to be 
packed in special containers filled with dry ice. Those thermal 
containers can keep the vaccine at a safe temperature for up to five 
days.

When a clinic is ready to administer the vaccine, workers 
will thaw it, dilute it and place it in a syringe, which has to be used 
within six hours.

Get any of those steps wrong and the vaccine becomes ineffective and has to be thrown out.

Phil
 Griffin, KDHE’s deputy director of disease control and prevention, said
 the state has lots of experience with vaccines and is confident it can 
safely and effectively distribute COVID vaccines much like it does with 
so many others.

But even once the state knows who should get it, when, and how, there are still more hurdles.

“A vaccine is only a vaccine," Griffin said. “It’s the vaccination that really matters.”

So,
 how do you convince millions of people, spread out over the whole 
state, with varying access to information, to go get a vaccine?

“One
 of the things we talk a lot about is how we can really push the vaccine
 out versus trying to pull people to a vaccine location,” said Alice 
Weingartner, the chief strategy officer with the <a href="https://www.communitycareks.org/overview/#" target="_blank">Community Care Network of Kansas</a> — more than 40 clinics serving vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

In
 addition to COVID vaccine-specific events, the clinics will also push 
for patients to get the vaccine at normal routine visits to the office.

Weingartner
 said it will require a lot of effort and communication from public 
health officials to convince those skeptical of the vaccine of its 
usefulness and that it’s the best tool to beat the pandemic.

“Once
 the ball gets rolling, we’ll be in good shape,” she said. “And we’ll 
see people become very positive and accepting of this.”

Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607453817117.png" alt=" Medical students and staff from the University of Missouri-Kansas City administer flu shots. Carlos Moreno / KCUR" />
 <figcaption> Medical students and staff from the University of Missouri-Kansas City administer flu shots. Carlos Moreno / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/tricky-who-how-and-when-getting-kansans-covid-19-vaccinations">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — The first of potentially several COVID-19 vaccines could get emergency approval by the end of the week.But
 that major milestone is just the beginning of the work for local and 
state health departments in Kansas that will have to get the 
pandemic-stalling shots to people — and decide who gets it first, when 
and how.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said 
trucks full of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine will ship this week to the 
five ultra-cold storage locations, including at the University of Kansas
 Health System hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.“Which may mean we can begin vaccinating as early as Friday,” said Health System Chief Medical Officer Steve Stites.But the logistic problems get more complicated from there.Vaccinations
 might begin at the end of this week, but the state only expects to get 
23,750 doses in the first deliveries. That’s not enough to even 
vaccinate all of the people considered to be in Phase 1a of the 
distribution plan — doctors, nurses and other staff in direct contact 
with COVID patients. The state estimates that's about 35,000-40,000 
people, each needing two doses.That means hospitals and clinics will have to make tough decisions about who is first in line.“We’ve
 spent hours and hours and hours and hours and hours looking at how 
we’ll distribute the vaccine here internally and how we start 
identifying people,” Stites said.In the state’s latest <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/284/COVID-19-Vaccine" target="_blank">vaccine plan</a>, Phase 1 will also include other highly vulnerable people, including nursing home residents.As
 more vaccines become available, distribution will expand to other 
essential workers and at-risk populations in Phase 2, likely next 
spring. Then, as production ramps up more, the state will move to Phase 3
 sometime next summer and provide the vaccine to everybody.But the exact order of who gets it and when remains still vague and an advisory group is hashing out those standards.Some of those decisions could be politically fraught, especially when it comes to serving vulnerable populations.Statistics
 show that the coronavirus hit prisons particularly hard — after all, it
 can be hard to socially distance and hand sanitizer is banned because 
it’s made of alcohol. And there's a risk of the disease bouncing in and 
out of the prison, to the community and back. That makes inmates and 
guards good candidates to get the shots early.“But one could 
easily anticipate that there will be pushback if a state announces it’s 
going to focus one of its earliest phases of vaccination on prisons 
before it makes it available for the general population,” said R. Alta 
Charo, professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin.That’s just among the first challenges. The<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20201201_04.pdf" target="_blank"> logistics of getting the vaccine</a> from manufacturer to patient present another hurdle.The
 first two likely approved vaccines need to be stored at temperatures 
ranging from -15 to -80 degrees Celsius. While the state doesn’t need to
 purchase extra or special freezers, getting the vaccine from storage 
into the hands of hospitals and clinics across the state, and ultimately
 into Kansans, is extremely complex.The Pfizer vaccine, for 
example, can be stored for up to six months at one of the state’s five 
ultra-cold freezer storage locations.But to leave the ultra-cold
 storage facility and get to individual clinics, it will need to be 
packed in special containers filled with dry ice. Those thermal 
containers can keep the vaccine at a safe temperature for up to five 
days.When a clinic is ready to administer the vaccine, workers 
will thaw it, dilute it and place it in a syringe, which has to be used 
within six hours.Get any of those steps wrong and the vaccine becomes ineffective and has to be thrown out.Phil
 Griffin, KDHE’s deputy director of disease control and prevention, said
 the state has lots of experience with vaccines and is confident it can 
safely and effectively distribute COVID vaccines much like it does with 
so many others.But even once the state knows who should get it, when, and how, there are still more hurdles.“A vaccine is only a vaccine," Griffin said. “It’s the vaccination that really matters.”So,
 how do you convince millions of people, spread out over the whole 
state, with varying access to information, to go get a vaccine?“One
 of the things we talk a lot about is how we can really push the vaccine
 out versus trying to pull people to a vaccine location,” said Alice 
Weingartner, the chief strategy officer with the <a href="https://www.communitycareks.org/overview/#" target="_blank">Community Care Network of Kansas</a> — more than 40 clinics serving vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.In
 addition to COVID vaccine-specific events, the clinics will also push 
for patients to get the vaccine at normal routine visits to the office.Weingartner
 said it will require a lot of effort and communication from public 
health officials to convince those skeptical of the vaccine of its 
usefulness and that it’s the best tool to beat the pandemic.“Once
 the ball gets rolling, we’ll be in good shape,” she said. “And we’ll 
see people become very positive and accepting of this.”Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org.

Tricky who, how and when of getting Kansans COVID-19 vaccinations 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police are warning residents that drugs laced with fentanyl are contributing to a doubling of suspected drug overdoses since last year.

So far this year, the city has had 41 suspected overdoses and nine deaths, including 16 overdoses and two deaths of minors in the last 30 days, Capt. Richard Harris said in a news release.

The city had 23 overdoses in all of last year, the department said.

The department is warning people not to purchase fentanyl, or any opioid, including OxyContin, Vicodin and morphine, which might have been cut or laced with fentanyl to increase their potency.

“We have amateur pharmacists out on the street who clearly don’t know what they are doing, because they are creating lethal doses in a single pill,” Harris said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581438940073.png" alt="Counterfeit Oxycodone -photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Counterfeit Oxycodone -photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police are warning residents that drugs laced with fentanyl are contributing to a doubling of suspected drug overdoses since last year.So far this year, the city has had 41 suspected overdoses and nine deaths, including 16 overdoses and two deaths of minors in the last 30 days, Capt. Richard Harris said in a news release.The city had 23 overdoses in all of last year, the department said.The department is warning people not to purchase fentanyl, or any opioid, including OxyContin, Vicodin and morphine, which might have been cut or laced with fentanyl to increase their potency.“We have amateur pharmacists out on the street who clearly don’t know what they are doing, because they are creating lethal doses in a single pill,” Harris said.

Police warn about fentanyl overdoses in Kansas

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/08/kansas-ambulance-agencies-slammed-by-covid-19-grapple-with-staff-shortages-patient-volume/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — In the words of a
 Kansas ambulance service director, surging demand from COVID-19 
patients and a shortage of EMS personnel to handle calls “is about to 
get critical.”

Another responding to a 
statewide EMS survey said this of the pandemic in Kansas: “Very 
concerned if there are serious trauma events or patients with critical 
time-sensitive illness, there will be no options for these patients to 
receive critically needed care.”

And, one more piece of 
insight: “I am concerned that we will be in situations very soon where 
we will not be able to find a receiving hospital for our patients. ”

Dave Johnston, president 
of the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association, said these 
statements were included in survey responses from 85 of 160 ambulance 
agencies in the state. He said answers affirmed growing anxiety about 
sustaining ambulance services as COVID-19 cut a wider path through the 
population. In the four months between Aug. 7 and Dec. 7, Kansas 
infections have risen from 30,600 to 174,000, deaths in the state have 
grown from 380 to 1,856 and hospitalizations have expanded from 1,875 to
 5,509.

If ambulance services 
become overwhelmed by routine and extraordinary demands, he said, it 
could compromise their ability of function at the level expected by the 
public. In terms of COVID-19, the situation would complicate movement of
 coronavirus patients to urban hospitals with greater capacity to handle
 complex cases. He said the greater distances required to transfer 
patients from hospital to hospital would consume more of each ambulance 
crew’s shift, especially at services serving rural areas in Kansas.

“As the increase in 
transfers occurs, the increase in call volume occurs, we’re concerned we
 will have more staff out,” said Johnston, who is chief of Reno County 
EMS.

Keeping ambulance services
 on a pandemic footing has proven to be costly and a prescription for 
burnout, the survey said. Kansas has a combination of ambulance services
 that include those in private hands and those based at fire 
departments, hospitals or with local government. The weight of COVID-19 
is a defining issue whether the ambulance operation depends on paid 
staff or volunteer crews, the survey said.

“The big deal is making 
sure we continue having funding for personal protective equipment. 
That’s incredibly important. And, the state helping us with staffing,” 
Johnston said.

He said a rule requiring 
two certified persons on board an ambulance was creating problems in the
 field. Some agencies have been forced to dispatch one EMT to the call 
with an ambulance driver, but limit the first EMT on the scene to 
stabilizing the patient and waiting for transport backup. That second 
EMT might have to be drawn from a neighboring county.

The Kansas survey 
indicated 61% of the ambulance agencies in Kansas had staff who were 
unable to work due to the coronavirus. One-third said they had employees
 who had been compelled to quarantine or isolate. One-third reported 
handling an average of two or three COVID-19 patients a day, but 8% said
 they averaged four to six daily and 2% worked with more than 10 daily.

“We are a very small 
service that serves our entire county. We do not have a hospital and all
 of our patients have to be transferred out of county for medical care 
if urgent. When our ambulance leaves to take a patient, our county is 
not protected with medical coverage,” an ambulance director wrote in 
response to the survey.

The consequence was 
summarized by a peer: “When it is necessary to transport someone post 
fall to a hospital 30 to 60 miles away simply because our local hospital
 being at capacity … not good for the patient or their family.”

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607453972021.png" alt="A survey of 85 ambulance services in Kansas confirms a growing problem with maintenance of operations in the COVID-19 pandemic due to a surge in patients, infection of EMS personnel and growing distances required to transfer people to hospitals. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A survey of 85 ambulance services in Kansas confirms a growing problem with maintenance of operations in the COVID-19 pandemic due to a surge in patients, infection of EMS personnel and growing distances required to transfer people to hospitals. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/08/kansas-ambulance-agencies-slammed-by-covid-19-grapple-with-staff-shortages-patient-volume/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — In the words of a
 Kansas ambulance service director, surging demand from COVID-19 
patients and a shortage of EMS personnel to handle calls “is about to 
get critical.”Another responding to a 
statewide EMS survey said this of the pandemic in Kansas: “Very 
concerned if there are serious trauma events or patients with critical 
time-sensitive illness, there will be no options for these patients to 
receive critically needed care.”And, one more piece of 
insight: “I am concerned that we will be in situations very soon where 
we will not be able to find a receiving hospital for our patients. ”Dave Johnston, president 
of the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association, said these 
statements were included in survey responses from 85 of 160 ambulance 
agencies in the state. He said answers affirmed growing anxiety about 
sustaining ambulance services as COVID-19 cut a wider path through the 
population. In the four months between Aug. 7 and Dec. 7, Kansas 
infections have risen from 30,600 to 174,000, deaths in the state have 
grown from 380 to 1,856 and hospitalizations have expanded from 1,875 to
 5,509.If ambulance services 
become overwhelmed by routine and extraordinary demands, he said, it 
could compromise their ability of function at the level expected by the 
public. In terms of COVID-19, the situation would complicate movement of
 coronavirus patients to urban hospitals with greater capacity to handle
 complex cases. He said the greater distances required to transfer 
patients from hospital to hospital would consume more of each ambulance 
crew’s shift, especially at services serving rural areas in Kansas.“As the increase in 
transfers occurs, the increase in call volume occurs, we’re concerned we
 will have more staff out,” said Johnston, who is chief of Reno County 
EMS.Keeping ambulance services
 on a pandemic footing has proven to be costly and a prescription for 
burnout, the survey said. Kansas has a combination of ambulance services
 that include those in private hands and those based at fire 
departments, hospitals or with local government. The weight of COVID-19 
is a defining issue whether the ambulance operation depends on paid 
staff or volunteer crews, the survey said.“The big deal is making 
sure we continue having funding for personal protective equipment. 
That’s incredibly important. And, the state helping us with staffing,” 
Johnston said.He said a rule requiring 
two certified persons on board an ambulance was creating problems in the
 field. Some agencies have been forced to dispatch one EMT to the call 
with an ambulance driver, but limit the first EMT on the scene to 
stabilizing the patient and waiting for transport backup. That second 
EMT might have to be drawn from a neighboring county.The Kansas survey 
indicated 61% of the ambulance agencies in Kansas had staff who were 
unable to work due to the coronavirus. One-third said they had employees
 who had been compelled to quarantine or isolate. One-third reported 
handling an average of two or three COVID-19 patients a day, but 8% said
 they averaged four to six daily and 2% worked with more than 10 daily.“We are a very small 
service that serves our entire county. We do not have a hospital and all
 of our patients have to be transferred out of county for medical care 
if urgent. When our ambulance leaves to take a patient, our county is 
not protected with medical coverage,” an ambulance director wrote in 
response to the survey.The consequence was 
summarized by a peer: “When it is necessary to transport someone post 
fall to a hospital 30 to 60 miles away simply because our local hospital
 being at capacity … not good for the patient or their family.”Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

Kan. ambulance agencies suffer staff shortages, heavy patient load

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged case of child sexual assault in Manhattan and have made a third arrest arrest.

On November 24, officers filed a report for rape and aggravated criminal sodomy in Manhattan involving a 12-year-old girl as the victim and a 20-year-old male known to her as the suspect, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Just after 11a.m. Tuesday, police arrested Brian Griffith, 20, of Ft. Riley in connection with the crime on requested charges c of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. Griffith was issued a total bond of $250,000.00 and is confined in the Riley County Jail.

On Dec. 4,&nbsp;police arrested Zelond Benymon, 19, of Ft. Riley in connection with the case on requested charges that included 3 counts of rape and two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.

On Nov. 30, police arrested Tavian Garrett, 23, of Manhattan in connection with the investigation on on requested charges that include five counts of rape and five counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged case of child sexual assault in Manhattan and have made a third arrest arrest.On November 24, officers filed a report for rape and aggravated criminal sodomy in Manhattan involving a 12-year-old girl as the victim and a 20-year-old male known to her as the suspect, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Just after 11a.m. Tuesday, police arrested Brian Griffith, 20, of Ft. Riley in connection with the crime on requested charges c of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. Griffith was issued a total bond of $250,000.00 and is confined in the Riley County Jail.On Dec. 4,&nbsp;police arrested Zelond Benymon, 19, of Ft. Riley in connection with the case on requested charges that included 3 counts of rape and two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.On Nov. 30, police arrested Tavian Garrett, 23, of Manhattan in connection with the investigation on on requested charges that include five counts of rape and five counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.&nbsp;Police released no additional details.-----

Police: 3rd arrest for alleged rape of 12-year-old in Manhattan

TOPEKA —By a vote of 54-24 Tuesday afternoon, the&nbsp;KSHSAA Board voted to allow&nbsp; for attendance of up to 2 parents/guardians per participants family as allowed by local board of education or health department restrictions starting Dec. 10- Jan. 28th 2021

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9iKWidJRpQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —By a vote of 54-24 Tuesday afternoon, the&nbsp;KSHSAA Board voted to allow&nbsp; for attendance of up to 2 parents/guardians per participants family as allowed by local board of education or health department restrictions starting Dec. 10- Jan. 28th 2021

🎥  KSHSAA lifts ban on spectators at high school sports

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a man.

Just before 8p.m. Monday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 1300 Block of North Terrace in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

At the scene, police found a 59-year-old victim in a Jeep SUV who had been shot and was was in critical condition.&nbsp; EMS transported the man to a local hospital were he remains, according to Davidson.

Investigators learned that the victim and an acquaintance had gone to a home in the 1300 Block of North Terrace regarding a&nbsp; prearranged property transaction.&nbsp; There was a disturbance during the transaction. A suspect fired shots a the vehicle as they were leaving that struck the victim.

This was not a random incident, according to Davidson. He did not release the victim's name or report an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607444633419.png" alt="Police on the scene of Monday's investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of Monday's investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a man.Just before 8p.m. Monday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 1300 Block of North Terrace in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.At the scene, police found a 59-year-old victim in a Jeep SUV who had been shot and was was in critical condition.&nbsp; EMS transported the man to a local hospital were he remains, according to Davidson.Investigators learned that the victim and an acquaintance had gone to a home in the 1300 Block of North Terrace regarding a&nbsp; prearranged property transaction.&nbsp; There was a disturbance during the transaction. A suspect fired shots a the vehicle as they were leaving that struck the victim.This was not a random incident, according to Davidson. He did not release the victim's name or report an arrest.

Police: Kansas man in critical condition after shooting

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Tina Morton recently faced a choice: Pay bills — or buy a birthday gift for a child? Derrisa Green is falling further behind on rent. Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off.

Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of Americans and their families in the face of a rampaging viral pandemic that has closed shops and restaurants, paralyzed travel and left millions jobless for months. Now, their predicaments stand to grow bleaker yet if Congress fails to extend two unemployment programs that are set to expire the day after Christmas.

If no agreement is reached in negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/momentum-growing-covid-19-relief-392eb300276f9df7303c64cc4e45cf0e">taking place on Capitol Hill,</a>&nbsp;more than 9 million people will lose federal jobless aid that averages about $320 a week and that typically serves as their only source of income.

Green, 39, and her husband are among them. An end to their unemployment benefits would force them to keep missing rent payments on their home in Dyer, Indiana, near Chicago. The couple have eight children. Green's husband is a self-employed truck driver whose business disappeared when the pandemic erupted in the spring. Only in October did he start to pick up occasional work.

He now receives about $235 a week in unemployment aid. Even so, “all of our bills are late,” Green said. They’ve received several shutoff notices from utilities before managing to pay just before service was to be cut off.

“That’s really scary," Green said, "because what are we going to do when we lose the unemployment money?”

The end of jobless aid is approaching at an especially perilous time. Job growth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-17b58d8673d61754b5a85da3e53d5a07">slowed sharply in November,&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-nevada-2308b917aa4466845c1ad123fa34561f">the resurgence of viral cases&nbsp;</a>appears to be out of control across the country.

Even with the prospect of an effective vaccine being widely distributed in coming months, economists say the picture will worsen before it improves. Many foresee a net loss of jobs in December for the first time since April.

On Friday, President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-health-coronavirus-pandemic-holiday-travel-51cac6ad45b2f7093984c7eae7c43529">called on Congress</a>&nbsp;to quickly approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-bills-mitch-mcconnell-197485a0ec4c80a18409c2cef99dd998">a bipartisan $908 billion package</a>&nbsp;that would establish a $300-a-week jobless benefit as well as send aid to states and localities, help schools and universities, revive subsidies for businesses and support transit systems and airlines. Details are still being worked out, but the outlines of a final bill could emerge soon.

More than 20 million people are now receiving unemployment benefits. More than half are beneficiaries of two programs that were part of rescue aid legislation Congress enacted in March. One program made self-employed and contract workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time and provided 39 weeks of support. The other program supplied 13 weeks of extended benefits to the 26 weeks that most states provide.

About 9.1 million who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-jobless-claims-unemployment-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-a9abee07cc3eb7246e7e3c8603430a49">receiving aid from those programs</a>&nbsp;will be cut off Dec. 26, according to a report from the Century Foundation. An additional 4.4 million are expected to exhaust all 39 weeks by year's end. If Congress agrees to provide more weeks of aid and to revive both programs, those beneficiaries could keep receiving aid next year.

That would be a life-saver for Sylvia Soliz who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soliz, 36, who still owes part of her rent for November and December, has received an eviction notice. She's also just had her electricity cut off.

Back in March, Soliz was laid off from her job as a nurse's assistant at a senior living facility. She's now receiving $414 in jobless aid every two weeks. With four children, it doesn't go very far.

“The day I get it, it’s already gone because my kids need so many things,” Soliz said. “Of course, I have to pay a portion to whatever bill I have, so that way I can stretch it out. But every time another check comes in, it’s another bill.”

Soliz is applying for a new job, and she checks in with her old employer. So far, no luck. She also worries about contracting COVID-19. Soliz is hopeful that Congress will agree to provide more aid, but she feels “they are basically gambling with us."

A cutoff of jobless benefits now, with so many millions of Americans still receiving the aid, would be unusually early compared with previous recessions. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the government extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, and the additional aid lasted through 2013. When that program ended, about 1.3 million people lost benefits — a small fraction of the number who would lose jobless aid this time.

Other government protections will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-education-student-loans-e287c7fe6d44de94e08981899d973a91">also expire at the end of this year</a>, including a federal moratorium on evictions for renters. A suspension of payments on federal student loans will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-coronavirus-pandemic-student-loans-fdba50ad8d575b627284563a62aa6a5e">expire at the end of January.</a>

“I am very afraid of people facing homelessness — that’s our top concern," said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “It’s a terrible unforced policy error to make. It will slow the recovery that we’re having by cutting off these benefits so early.”

About one in six renters in the United States are behind on their rent, according to a survey from the Census Bureau. And 12% of adults say their families didn't have enough to eat at some point in the past week, the survey found. That's up from just 3.7% in 2019, according to the left-leaning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-recessions-effects-on-food-housing-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</a>

A wrenching set of choices has confronted Keli Paaske, who lives in the Kansas City area. Since being furloughed in the spring from her sales job at a company that makes fire doors, Paaske, 56, has cut back her grocery budget. She thought she'd be called back once the virus waned. But when her boss phoned in August, it was with a different message: Her job had been eliminated.

Paaske had hesitated to spend $360 needed to euthanize her 15-year old dog, who had a brain tumor, before going through with it. Without unemployment aid, Paaske isn't sure how she would manage. She may seek financial help from her parents, who are in their 80s, something she has resisted doing. If she doesn't find a job by March, she said, she'll stop leasing her car.

Across the country, a cutoff of jobless aid would disproportionately affect Black Americans, according to data from the Century Foundation. About 18% of unemployment aid recipients are Black, the Foundation said, though Black Americans make up just 12% of the workforce. More than 57% of recipients are white. Nearly 13% are Latino. (There is no demographic data on about one-fifth of recipients.)

Tina Morton used to clean houses near where she lives in Winchester, Kentucky. But there’s been little work since the pandemic struck. Like many other single mothers, she has struggled with the need to find another job while simultaneously caring for children — a son and two nephews she has custody of — who are attending school online at home.

“Single parents cannot go out here and ... just find any job," said Morton, 39. “We’ve got our kids here that are stuck at home.”

Last week, Morton had to choose between paying a phone bill and buying one of her nephews a birthday present. (She got him a present). If her jobless aid ends, she expects to face painful decisions.

She's particularly worried about her two nephews.

“That’s what hurts me the most,” she said. “My job is to give them more — give them better than where they came from.”

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Tina Morton recently faced a choice: Pay bills — or buy a birthday gift for a child? Derrisa Green is falling further behind on rent. Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off.Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of Americans and their families in the face of a rampaging viral pandemic that has closed shops and restaurants, paralyzed travel and left millions jobless for months. Now, their predicaments stand to grow bleaker yet if Congress fails to extend two unemployment programs that are set to expire the day after Christmas.If no agreement is reached in negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/momentum-growing-covid-19-relief-392eb300276f9df7303c64cc4e45cf0e">taking place on Capitol Hill,</a>&nbsp;more than 9 million people will lose federal jobless aid that averages about $320 a week and that typically serves as their only source of income.Green, 39, and her husband are among them. An end to their unemployment benefits would force them to keep missing rent payments on their home in Dyer, Indiana, near Chicago. The couple have eight children. Green's husband is a self-employed truck driver whose business disappeared when the pandemic erupted in the spring. Only in October did he start to pick up occasional work.He now receives about $235 a week in unemployment aid. Even so, “all of our bills are late,” Green said. They’ve received several shutoff notices from utilities before managing to pay just before service was to be cut off.“That’s really scary," Green said, "because what are we going to do when we lose the unemployment money?”The end of jobless aid is approaching at an especially perilous time. Job growth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-17b58d8673d61754b5a85da3e53d5a07">slowed sharply in November,&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-nevada-2308b917aa4466845c1ad123fa34561f">the resurgence of viral cases&nbsp;</a>appears to be out of control across the country.Even with the prospect of an effective vaccine being widely distributed in coming months, economists say the picture will worsen before it improves. Many foresee a net loss of jobs in December for the first time since April.On Friday, President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-health-coronavirus-pandemic-holiday-travel-51cac6ad45b2f7093984c7eae7c43529">called on Congress</a>&nbsp;to quickly approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-bills-mitch-mcconnell-197485a0ec4c80a18409c2cef99dd998">a bipartisan $908 billion package</a>&nbsp;that would establish a $300-a-week jobless benefit as well as send aid to states and localities, help schools and universities, revive subsidies for businesses and support transit systems and airlines. Details are still being worked out, but the outlines of a final bill could emerge soon.More than 20 million people are now receiving unemployment benefits. More than half are beneficiaries of two programs that were part of rescue aid legislation Congress enacted in March. One program made self-employed and contract workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time and provided 39 weeks of support. The other program supplied 13 weeks of extended benefits to the 26 weeks that most states provide.About 9.1 million who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-jobless-claims-unemployment-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-a9abee07cc3eb7246e7e3c8603430a49">receiving aid from those programs</a>&nbsp;will be cut off Dec. 26, according to a report from the Century Foundation. An additional 4.4 million are expected to exhaust all 39 weeks by year's end. If Congress agrees to provide more weeks of aid and to revive both programs, those beneficiaries could keep receiving aid next year.That would be a life-saver for Sylvia Soliz who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soliz, 36, who still owes part of her rent for November and December, has received an eviction notice. She's also just had her electricity cut off.Back in March, Soliz was laid off from her job as a nurse's assistant at a senior living facility. She's now receiving $414 in jobless aid every two weeks. With four children, it doesn't go very far.“The day I get it, it’s already gone because my kids need so many things,” Soliz said. “Of course, I have to pay a portion to whatever bill I have, so that way I can stretch it out. But every time another check comes in, it’s another bill.”Soliz is applying for a new job, and she checks in with her old employer. So far, no luck. She also worries about contracting COVID-19. Soliz is hopeful that Congress will agree to provide more aid, but she feels “they are basically gambling with us."A cutoff of jobless benefits now, with so many millions of Americans still receiving the aid, would be unusually early compared with previous recessions. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the government extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, and the additional aid lasted through 2013. When that program ended, about 1.3 million people lost benefits — a small fraction of the number who would lose jobless aid this time.Other government protections will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-education-student-loans-e287c7fe6d44de94e08981899d973a91">also expire at the end of this year</a>, including a federal moratorium on evictions for renters. A suspension of payments on federal student loans will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-coronavirus-pandemic-student-loans-fdba50ad8d575b627284563a62aa6a5e">expire at the end of January.</a>“I am very afraid of people facing homelessness — that’s our top concern," said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “It’s a terrible unforced policy error to make. It will slow the recovery that we’re having by cutting off these benefits so early.”About one in six renters in the United States are behind on their rent, according to a survey from the Census Bureau. And 12% of adults say their families didn't have enough to eat at some point in the past week, the survey found. That's up from just 3.7% in 2019, according to the left-leaning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-recessions-effects-on-food-housing-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</a>A wrenching set of choices has confronted Keli Paaske, who lives in the Kansas City area. Since being furloughed in the spring from her sales job at a company that makes fire doors, Paaske, 56, has cut back her grocery budget. She thought she'd be called back once the virus waned. But when her boss phoned in August, it was with a different message: Her job had been eliminated.Paaske had hesitated to spend $360 needed to euthanize her 15-year old dog, who had a brain tumor, before going through with it. Without unemployment aid, Paaske isn't sure how she would manage. She may seek financial help from her parents, who are in their 80s, something she has resisted doing. If she doesn't find a job by March, she said, she'll stop leasing her car.Across the country, a cutoff of jobless aid would disproportionately affect Black Americans, according to data from the Century Foundation. About 18% of unemployment aid recipients are Black, the Foundation said, though Black Americans make up just 12% of the workforce. More than 57% of recipients are white. Nearly 13% are Latino. (There is no demographic data on about one-fifth of recipients.)Tina Morton used to clean houses near where she lives in Winchester, Kentucky. But there’s been little work since the pandemic struck. Like many other single mothers, she has struggled with the need to find another job while simultaneously caring for children — a son and two nephews she has custody of — who are attending school online at home.“Single parents cannot go out here and ... just find any job," said Morton, 39. “We’ve got our kids here that are stuck at home.”Last week, Morton had to choose between paying a phone bill and buying one of her nephews a birthday present. (She got him a present). If her jobless aid ends, she expects to face painful decisions.She's particularly worried about her two nephews.“That’s what hurts me the most,” she said. “My job is to give them more — give them better than where they came from.”

A bleak outlook for millions facing cutoff of US jobless aid

KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering up to a $5000 reward for information leading to arrest and or recovery of guns stolen from DrumMagzines, 4015 Sterling, KCMO Tuesday morning.S

Callers remain anonymous Call 888-ATF-TIPS or <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> 816-474-TIPS or text ATFKC to 63975

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607449713739.png" alt="Suspect vehicle photo ATF" />
 <figcaption>Suspect vehicle photo ATF</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering up to a $5000 reward for information leading to arrest and or recovery of guns stolen from DrumMagzines, 4015 Sterling, KCMO Tuesday morning.S<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607449642701.png" alt="Suspect photo ATF" />
 <figcaption>Suspect photo ATF</figcaption>
 </figure>Callers remain anonymous Call 888-ATF-TIPS or <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> 816-474-TIPS or text ATFKC to 63975 <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607449846563.png" alt="Suspect photo ATF" />
 <figcaption>Suspect photo ATF</figcaption>
 </figure>

ATF Kansas City: Reward to ID gun theft suspects

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Another earthquake rattled the Wichita area just before 11a.m. Tuesday.

The temblor measured a magnitude 3.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and was centered northeast of Eastborough, near 21st and Rock Road in Sedgwick County. The Kansas Geological Survey reported the quake measured<a href="https://chasm.kgs.ku.edu/ords/elog.quake3.SelectQuakes?f_30=1"> a magnitude 3.3.</a>

Tuesday's quake follow a series of 3 quakes over 5 days Nov. 26-30 in the same area that measured from 2.4-2.7, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.

WICHITA&nbsp; — Small earthquakes continue to rattle Wichita. At 9:11 a.m. Monday, a 2.4 magnitude quake shook residents, according <a href="http://maps.kgs.ku.edu/earthquake_mini_viewer/index.html?type=quake&amp;id=1001466143">to the Kansas Geological Survey.</a> This is the third quake since Thanksgiving Day.

The trembler on Thursday measured 2.7 on the Richter scale, while one on Friday had a magnitude of 2.6. 

The threshold for damage usually starts at 4.0.United States Geological Survey geophysicists Paul Caruso said 26 people “in and around Wichita” reported to the USGS feeling Friday’s earthquake. 

The earthquake on Thursday hasn’t yet been reported to the USGS. Both had epicenters in the eastern part of the Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607447838014.png" alt="Location of Tuesday's quake -USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Location of Tuesday's quake -USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Another earthquake rattled the Wichita area just before 11a.m. Tuesday.The temblor measured a magnitude 3.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and was centered northeast of Eastborough, near 21st and Rock Road in Sedgwick County. The Kansas Geological Survey reported the quake measured<a href="https://chasm.kgs.ku.edu/ords/elog.quake3.SelectQuakes?f_30=1"> a magnitude 3.3.</a>Tuesday's quake follow a series of 3 quakes over 5 days Nov. 26-30 in the same area that measured from 2.4-2.7, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.----------WICHITA&nbsp; — Small earthquakes continue to rattle Wichita. At 9:11 a.m. Monday, a 2.4 magnitude quake shook residents, according <a href="http://maps.kgs.ku.edu/earthquake_mini_viewer/index.html?type=quake&amp;id=1001466143">to the Kansas Geological Survey.</a> This is the third quake since Thanksgiving Day.The trembler on Thursday measured 2.7 on the Richter scale, while one on Friday had a magnitude of 2.6. The threshold for damage usually starts at 4.0.United States Geological Survey geophysicists Paul Caruso said 26 people “in and around Wichita” reported to the USGS feeling Friday’s earthquake. The earthquake on Thursday hasn’t yet been reported to the USGS. Both had epicenters in the eastern part of the Wichita.-------------

USGS: Another earthquake shakes Wichita area

BROOKVILLE - A mobile home was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning in Saline County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607443849005.jpeg" alt="RFD No. 3 firefighters battle the blaze early Tuesday -Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>RFD No. 3 firefighters battle the blaze early Tuesday -Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>BROOKVILLE - A mobile home was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning in Saline County.Just after 1a.m.,&nbsp; deputies and firefighters from Rural Fire District No. 3 were sent to 126 East Anderson Street in Brookville for report of a mobile home fire, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.The residents, John Goracke, 59, and Brenda Freeman, 52, had been burning something in their wood-burning stove and threw in some paper towels, according to Soldan. It is believed that the ashes from the paper towels blew onto the roof and set the mobile home ablaze.$3,000 worth of damage was done to items in the residence. Authorities did not have a loss estimate for the mobile home early Tuesday.