TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials have certified election results showing President Donald Trump won the heavily Republican state to claim the state’s six electoral votes. The Kansas State Board of Canvassers said on Monday that over 56% of Kansas votes were cast for Trump. 

The hotly contested U.S. Senate race was certified with Republican Roger Marshall chalking up over 53% of the vote against Democrat Barbara Bollier. The election drew historic turnout despite the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 71% of registered voters cast ballots. In the 2016 general election slightly more than 67% voted.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials have certified election results showing President Donald Trump won the heavily Republican state to claim the state’s six electoral votes. The Kansas State Board of Canvassers said on Monday that over 56% of Kansas votes were cast for Trump. The hotly contested U.S. Senate race was certified with Republican Roger Marshall chalking up over 53% of the vote against Democrat Barbara Bollier. The election drew historic turnout despite the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 71% of registered voters cast ballots. In the 2016 general election slightly more than 67% voted.

Kan. certifies election results showing Trump, Marshall win

By JODI FORTINO <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-30/kansas-citys-demand-for-coronavirus-tests-doubles-as-case-numbers-surge-across-the-region">Kansas News Service</a>

Coronavirus testing numbers have more than doubled since COVID-19 
cases began rising again in the Kansas City area, officials said Monday,
 even as they fear a need for more testing following the Thanksgiving 
holiday.

Hospitalization numbers were back up after stabilizing 
over the holiday weekend, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease 
expert at the University of Kansas Health System, said at the KU daily 
briefing on Monday. The hospital is now treating 102 active cases, of 
which 46 are in the intensive care unit and 30 are on ventilators.

“It
 looks like social gatherings, not so much school, but those other 
places where people are getting together where they aren't really 
necessarily wearing masks as they should be, distancing as they should 
be, is really a concern,” said Hawkinson.

The increase in new cases and hospitalizations were reflected in the <a href="https://marc2.org/covidhub/" target="_blank">Kansas City Region COVID-19 Data Hub,</a> created by the Mid-America Regional Council. Deaths stand at 1,019, according the MARC data.

While
 it’s too soon to see how Thanksgiving gatherings have impacted these 
numbers, Hawkinson said he expects to see another rise in 
hospitalizations in 10 to 14 days once people begin showing symptoms.

He
 also recommended that anyone who traveled or celebrated in a group for 
the holiday should act as if they are infected by quarantining and 
getting tested.

“We know that people have gone through 
Thanksgiving now, they probably want to see friends again from that time
 until Christmas so I think we are really heading for further 
infections,” said Hawkinson.

Hawkinson recommended that those who need to be tested wait five to seven days after any potential exposure.

As
 a result, he predicts testing numbers to go back up after reducing over
 the holiday weekend. The University of Kansas Health System’s lab team 
said it expects its number of tests to continue to rise like it has for 
the last month.

“In the last four weeks or so, we've probably 
doubled the average number of tests that we're doing. A month ago we 
were doing six, seven, 800 a day and we're well over a thousand these 
days,” said Rachael Liesman, the system’s director of clinical 
microbiology.

The hospital is also trying to increase the number 
of those tested by partnering with the state of Kansas, said Rick 
Couldry, KU's vice president of Pharmacy and Health Professions.

Couldry said the state is using federal funds to assign different testing regions to labs across the state.

“Our
 lab was assigned a group of five counties in the central Kansas area, 
really focused on long-term care facilities and retirement communities 
that don't necessarily have the testing that they need to help treat 
their guests,” said Couldry.

The health system is now focusing on a
 potential vaccine that could be ready to administer before the end of 
December, Hawkinson said. The Pfizer vaccine could be ready to roll out 
after gaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which
 is expected on Dec. 10.

Couldry said the hospital is now making 
sure that it has the capacity to accommodate the vaccine, which needs to
 be housed at minus 70 degrees Celsius.

“It turns out that storing
 things at a negative 80 degrees Celsius, isn’t a normal thing to do for
 most of the rest of the world, but it is pretty normal in the 
healthcare world. The lab has several of these freezers and I think 
we're ever going to end up purchasing one more just to make sure that we
 have enough frozen storage on hand,” said Couldry.

The next 
challenge will be getting the drug administered before it reaches room 
temperature, after which it will begin to deteriorate, said Couldry. He 
said the hospital is working with its clinical team on how to best 
administer the vaccine without wasting any vials.

Jodi Fortino is a newsroom intern for KCUR.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606762532009.png" alt="Workers at Truman Medical Center Lakewood attend to a long line of traffic that has been growing over recent weeks as more people show up for COVID testing. Hospital officials are concerned for staffing shortages as coronavirus cases continue to climb. Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Workers at Truman Medical Center Lakewood attend to a long line of traffic that has been growing over recent weeks as more people show up for COVID testing. Hospital officials are concerned for staffing shortages as coronavirus cases continue to climb. Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By JODI FORTINO <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-30/kansas-citys-demand-for-coronavirus-tests-doubles-as-case-numbers-surge-across-the-region">Kansas News Service</a>Coronavirus testing numbers have more than doubled since COVID-19 
cases began rising again in the Kansas City area, officials said Monday,
 even as they fear a need for more testing following the Thanksgiving 
holiday.Hospitalization numbers were back up after stabilizing 
over the holiday weekend, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease 
expert at the University of Kansas Health System, said at the KU daily 
briefing on Monday. The hospital is now treating 102 active cases, of 
which 46 are in the intensive care unit and 30 are on ventilators.“It
 looks like social gatherings, not so much school, but those other 
places where people are getting together where they aren't really 
necessarily wearing masks as they should be, distancing as they should 
be, is really a concern,” said Hawkinson.The increase in new cases and hospitalizations were reflected in the <a href="https://marc2.org/covidhub/" target="_blank">Kansas City Region COVID-19 Data Hub,</a> created by the Mid-America Regional Council. Deaths stand at 1,019, according the MARC data. While
 it’s too soon to see how Thanksgiving gatherings have impacted these 
numbers, Hawkinson said he expects to see another rise in 
hospitalizations in 10 to 14 days once people begin showing symptoms.He
 also recommended that anyone who traveled or celebrated in a group for 
the holiday should act as if they are infected by quarantining and 
getting tested.“We know that people have gone through 
Thanksgiving now, they probably want to see friends again from that time
 until Christmas so I think we are really heading for further 
infections,” said Hawkinson.Hawkinson recommended that those who need to be tested wait five to seven days after any potential exposure.As
 a result, he predicts testing numbers to go back up after reducing over
 the holiday weekend. The University of Kansas Health System’s lab team 
said it expects its number of tests to continue to rise like it has for 
the last month.“In the last four weeks or so, we've probably 
doubled the average number of tests that we're doing. A month ago we 
were doing six, seven, 800 a day and we're well over a thousand these 
days,” said Rachael Liesman, the system’s director of clinical 
microbiology.The hospital is also trying to increase the number 
of those tested by partnering with the state of Kansas, said Rick 
Couldry, KU's vice president of Pharmacy and Health Professions.Couldry said the state is using federal funds to assign different testing regions to labs across the state.“Our
 lab was assigned a group of five counties in the central Kansas area, 
really focused on long-term care facilities and retirement communities 
that don't necessarily have the testing that they need to help treat 
their guests,” said Couldry.The health system is now focusing on a
 potential vaccine that could be ready to administer before the end of 
December, Hawkinson said. The Pfizer vaccine could be ready to roll out 
after gaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which
 is expected on Dec. 10.Couldry said the hospital is now making 
sure that it has the capacity to accommodate the vaccine, which needs to
 be housed at minus 70 degrees Celsius.“It turns out that storing
 things at a negative 80 degrees Celsius, isn’t a normal thing to do for
 most of the rest of the world, but it is pretty normal in the 
healthcare world. The lab has several of these freezers and I think 
we're ever going to end up purchasing one more just to make sure that we
 have enough frozen storage on hand,” said Couldry.The next 
challenge will be getting the drug administered before it reaches room 
temperature, after which it will begin to deteriorate, said Couldry. He 
said the hospital is working with its clinical team on how to best 
administer the vaccine without wasting any vials.Jodi Fortino is a newsroom intern for KCUR.&nbsp;

KC's demand for virus tests doubles as case numbers surge 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged criminal use of a financial card and theft.

On Sunday, the Credit Union of America and Elliot Jewelers, 402 Poyntz in Manhattan reported an unknown suspect used stolen financial cards to purchase a gold Figaro style necklace, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,558.00.

Police released no additional details Monday.

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged criminal use of a financial card and theft.On Sunday, the Credit Union of America and Elliot Jewelers, 402 Poyntz in Manhattan reported an unknown suspect used stolen financial cards to purchase a gold Figaro style necklace, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,558.00.Police released no additional details Monday.Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

Police: Suspect used stolen financial cards to buy $1,500 necklace

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday appointed Melissa Taylor Standridge to the Kansas Supreme Court. Standridge will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Carol Beier.

“As governor, the process of appointing justices to the Kansas Supreme Court is one I take very seriously,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Not only must justices have knowledge of the law, but also a complex and nuanced understanding of the world and the people the law is intended to govern.”

“There’s no question that Melissa has gathered a wealth of legal expertise that makes her more than prepared to join the Supreme Court. But there’s more to her unique career trajectory and life experience that makes her a perfect fit for our state’s highest court.

“As a foster and adoptive parent, she has firsthand experience navigating the system both as a judge, and as a foster parent to numerous youngsters, doing her best to provide security, stability and love to kids who sorely needed it.&nbsp;

“The totality of her life and career experience makes her preeminently qualified to sit on the Kansas Supreme Court.”

Standridge has been a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals since 2008, where she has heard thousands of cases and authored nearly one thousand opinions. Previously, from 1999 to 2008, she served as chambers counsel to U.S. District Magistrate Judge David Waxse. Before her tenure as chambers counsel to Judge Waxse, Standridge worked as an associate attorney for Shook, Hardy, and Bacon – one of the premier Kansas City firms – and was a founding member of the firm’s award-winning diversity and inclusion initiative.&nbsp;

The anti-abortion group Kansans for Life opposed Standridge because she sided in a 2016 ruling with other judges who said the state constitution protects abortion rights. The appeals court split 7-7 on the case, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year that access to abortion is a “fundamental” right under the state’s Bill of Rights.

Standridge received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas in 1984, going on to pursue her law degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. During her tenure at UMKC, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and the student leader of the Moot Court program, graduating in 1993.

Standridge has received numerous awards for her performance, including the Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas Bar Association, the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service from the American Inns of Court, and in 2006 she was selected as Kansas City Leader of the Year by “The Daily Record.”

Additionally, in 2007, her work enriching the lives of children earned her the Angel in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

“To serve on our state’s highest court is the honor of a lifetime – but I don't view joining the Supreme Court as just a capstone to my career,”&nbsp;Standridge said.&nbsp;“The justices of our Supreme Court have difficult jobs. So I am keenly aware that my appointment is more than just moving my office from the second floor of the judicial center to the third floor.

“But I believe that my years as a judge on the Court of Appeals, my extensive experience working with judges and lawyers from across our state, and my broad life experiences outside the law have prepared me for this challenge.”

Kansas Supreme Court Justices are appointed through a merit-based nomination process. When there is a vacancy on the court, the Supreme Court Nominating Commission submits the names of three nominees to the Governor, and the Governor then has 60 days to make the appointment.  &nbsp;

To be eligible, a nominee must be at least 30 years old and admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least 10 years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school.  &nbsp;

Every justice must stand for a retention vote in the general election following their first year of service on the court. If retained by voters at that time, they then face retention votes every six years for as long as they serve on the bench.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606765475095.png" alt="Melissa Taylor Standridge-photo Kansas Judicial Branch" />
 <figcaption>Melissa Taylor Standridge-photo Kansas Judicial Branch</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday appointed Melissa Taylor Standridge to the Kansas Supreme Court. Standridge will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Carol Beier.“As governor, the process of appointing justices to the Kansas Supreme Court is one I take very seriously,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Not only must justices have knowledge of the law, but also a complex and nuanced understanding of the world and the people the law is intended to govern.”“There’s no question that Melissa has gathered a wealth of legal expertise that makes her more than prepared to join the Supreme Court. But there’s more to her unique career trajectory and life experience that makes her a perfect fit for our state’s highest court.“As a foster and adoptive parent, she has firsthand experience navigating the system both as a judge, and as a foster parent to numerous youngsters, doing her best to provide security, stability and love to kids who sorely needed it.&nbsp;“The totality of her life and career experience makes her preeminently qualified to sit on the Kansas Supreme Court.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606770541953.png" alt="Governor Kelly signed the order Monday in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly signed the order Monday in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>Standridge has been a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals since 2008, where she has heard thousands of cases and authored nearly one thousand opinions. Previously, from 1999 to 2008, she served as chambers counsel to U.S. District Magistrate Judge David Waxse. Before her tenure as chambers counsel to Judge Waxse, Standridge worked as an associate attorney for Shook, Hardy, and Bacon – one of the premier Kansas City firms – and was a founding member of the firm’s award-winning diversity and inclusion initiative.&nbsp;The anti-abortion group Kansans for Life opposed Standridge because she sided in a 2016 ruling with other judges who said the state constitution protects abortion rights. The appeals court split 7-7 on the case, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year that access to abortion is a “fundamental” right under the state’s Bill of Rights.Standridge received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas in 1984, going on to pursue her law degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. During her tenure at UMKC, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and the student leader of the Moot Court program, graduating in 1993.Standridge has received numerous awards for her performance, including the Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas Bar Association, the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service from the American Inns of Court, and in 2006 she was selected as Kansas City Leader of the Year by “The Daily Record.”Additionally, in 2007, her work enriching the lives of children earned her the Angel in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.“To serve on our state’s highest court is the honor of a lifetime – but I don't view joining the Supreme Court as just a capstone to my career,”&nbsp;Standridge said.&nbsp;“The justices of our Supreme Court have difficult jobs. So I am keenly aware that my appointment is more than just moving my office from the second floor of the judicial center to the third floor.“But I believe that my years as a judge on the Court of Appeals, my extensive experience working with judges and lawyers from across our state, and my broad life experiences outside the law have prepared me for this challenge.”Kansas Supreme Court Justices are appointed through a merit-based nomination process. When there is a vacancy on the court, the Supreme Court Nominating Commission submits the names of three nominees to the Governor, and the Governor then has 60 days to make the appointment.  &nbsp;To be eligible, a nominee must be at least 30 years old and admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least 10 years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school.  &nbsp;Every justice must stand for a retention vote in the general election following their first year of service on the court. If retained by voters at that time, they then face retention votes every six years for as long as they serve on the bench.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor makes 3rd appointment to Kan. Supreme Court

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have identified the victim as 32-year-old Rickey Mason of Wichita.

Just before 4:00 p.m., Sunday, police responded to a stabbing at a residence in the 1000 block of South Richmond in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. 

Upon arrival, officers located Mason, who had been stabbed in the chest and later died of his injuries.

The investigation revealed a disturbance occurred between Mason and a known suspect over property. During the disturbance the suspect produced a knife and stabbed Mason.

This was not a random incident, according to Cruz.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the stabbing death of a man inside a Wichita home on Sunday afternoon.

Just after 4p.m., a witness to the stabbing flagged down firefighters in the 1000 block of south Richmond. Firefighters then called police, who found a 32-year-old man fatally wounded inside the home.

Witnesses told police the stabbing followed a fight involving the victim and another person over property.

Police have not released the victim’s name and had not reported an arrests early Monday.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have identified the victim as 32-year-old Rickey Mason of Wichita.Just before 4:00 p.m., Sunday, police responded to a stabbing at a residence in the 1000 block of South Richmond in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arrival, officers located Mason, who had been stabbed in the chest and later died of his injuries.The investigation revealed a disturbance occurred between Mason and a known suspect over property. During the disturbance the suspect produced a knife and stabbed Mason.This was not a random incident, according to Cruz.&nbsp;-----------SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the stabbing death of a man inside a Wichita home on Sunday afternoon.Just after 4p.m., a witness to the stabbing flagged down firefighters in the 1000 block of south Richmond. Firefighters then called police, who found a 32-year-old man fatally wounded inside the home.Witnesses told police the stabbing followed a fight involving the victim and another person over property.Police have not released the victim’s name and had not reported an arrests early Monday.

Update: Police investigate stabbing death at Kan. home

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4,425 to a total of 157,446 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1,560 an increase of 31.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4,425 to a total of 157,446 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1,560 an increase of 31.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606759816304.png" alt="Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have identified a man whose body was found over the weekend in a Kansas City neighborhood.

The body of Martez Brock, 34, was found near a residential area Friday night by officers responding to a report of “suspicious party,” authorities said. Police spokesman Capt. David Jackson said Brock’s injuries were consistent with foul play, but police have not said what the cause of death was.

The Kansas City killing marked the city’s 174th homicide this year, up sharply from 2019. By the same time last year, there had been 139 killings.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have identified a man whose body was found over the weekend in a Kansas City neighborhood.The body of Martez Brock, 34, was found near a residential area Friday night by officers responding to a report of “suspicious party,” authorities said. Police spokesman Capt. David Jackson said Brock’s injuries were consistent with foul play, but police have not said what the cause of death was.The Kansas City killing marked the city’s 174th homicide this year, up sharply from 2019. By the same time last year, there had been 139 killings.

Police ID body found in Kansas City neighborhood

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.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Small earthquakes have rattled Wichita for two straight days. 

A 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 city.

“People generally if they felt it would be close to the epicenter and they would experience a little bit of vibration. Maybe they would see their chandelier swinging back and forth. We certainly wouldn’t expect any damage to be caused by anything that small.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606586334604.png" alt="Location of Friday's quake -Image courtesy Kansas Geological Survey" />
 <figcaption>Location of Friday's quake -Image courtesy Kansas Geological Survey</figcaption>
 </figure>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.-------------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Small earthquakes have rattled Wichita for two straight days. A 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 city.“People generally if they felt it would be close to the epicenter and they would experience a little bit of vibration. Maybe they would see their chandelier swinging back and forth. We certainly wouldn’t expect any damage to be caused by anything that small.”

3rd earthquake in 5 days rattles Wichita 

Washington (AP) —Moderna Inc. said it would ask U.S. and European regulators Monday to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine as new study results confirm the shots offer strong protection — ramping up the race to begin limited vaccinations as the coronavirus rampage worsens.

Multiple vaccine candidates must succeed for the world to stamp out the pandemic, which has been on the upswing in the U.S. and Europe. U.S. hospitals have been stretched to the limit as the nation has seen more than 160,000 new cases per day and more than 1,400 daily deaths. Since first emerging nearly a year ago in China, the virus has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide.

Moderna is just behind Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech in seeking to begin vaccinations in the U.S. in December. Across the Atlantic, British regulators also are assessing the Pfizer shot and another from AstraZeneca.

Moderna created its shots with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and already had a hint they were working, but said it got the final needed results over the weekend that suggest the vaccine is more than 94% effective.

Of 196 COVID-19 cases so far in its huge U.S. study, 185 were trial participants who received the placebo and 11 who got the real vaccine. The only people who got severely ill — 30 participants, including one who died — had received dummy shots, said Dr. Tal Zaks, the Cambridge, Massachusetts, company’s chief medical officer.

When he learned the results, “I allowed myself to cry for the first time,” Zaks told The Associated Press. “We have already, just in the trial, have already saved lives. Just imagine the impact then multiplied to the people who can get this vaccine.”

Moderna said the shots’ effectiveness and a good safety record so far — with only temporary, flu-like side effects — mean they meet requirements set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use before the final-stage testing is complete. The European Medicines Agency, Europe’s version of FDA, has signaled it also is open to faster, emergency clearance.

The FDA has pledged that before it decides to roll out any COVID-19 vaccines, its scientific advisers will publicly debate whether there’s enough evidence behind each candidate.

First up on Dec. 10, Pfizer and BioNTech will present data suggesting their vaccine candidate is 95% effective. Moderna said its turn at this “science court” is expected exactly a week later, on Dec. 17.

If the FDA allows emergency use, Moderna expects to have 20 million doses ready for the U.S. by year’s end. Recipients will need two doses, so that’s enough for 10 million people.

Pfizer expects to have 50 million doses globally in December. Half of them — or enough for 12.5 million people — are earmarked for the U.S.

This week, a different panel of U.S. experts, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will meet to decide how initial supplies will be given out. They’re expected to reserve scarce first doses for health care workers and, if the shots work well enough in the frail elderly, for residents of long-term care facilities. As more vaccine gradually becomes available in coming months, other essential workers and people at highest risk from the coronavirus would get in line. But enough for the general population isn’t expected until at least spring.

Outside the U.S., Zaks said significant supplies from Moderna would be available later, “in the first quarter” of next year.

“Obviously we are doing everything in our power to increase the capacity and accelerate the timelines,” he said.

Both Moderna’s and Pfizer’s vaccines are made with the same technology, using a piece of genetic code for the “spike” protein that studs the virus. That messenger RNA, or mRNA, instructs the body to make some harmless spike protein, training immune cells to recognize it if the real virus eventually comes along.

AstraZeneca last week announced confusing early results of its vaccine candidate from research in Britain and Brazil

That vaccine appears 62% effective when tested as originally intended, with recipients given two full doses. But because of a manufacturing error, a small number of volunteers got a lower first dose — and AstraZeneca said in that group, the vaccine appeared to be 90% effective.

Experts say it’s unclear why the lower-dose approach would work better and that it may just be a statistical quirk.

A larger U.S. study of the AstraZeneca candidate still is underway that should eventually give the FDA a better picture of how well it works. The FDA has said any COVID-19 vaccine would have to be at least 50% effective.

Meanwhile Britain’s government will have to decide whether its U.K. data is sufficient for an early rollout there.

Johnson &amp; Johnson also is in final-stage testing in the U.S. and several other countries to see if its vaccine candidate could work with just one dose.

Both the J&amp;J and AstraZeneca vaccines work by using harmless cold viruses to carry the spike protein gene into the body and prime the immune system.

The different technologies have ramifications for how easily different vaccines could be distributed globally. The AstraZeneca shots won’t require freezer storage like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Candidates made with still other technologies are in late-stage testing, too. Another U.S. company, Novavax Inc., announced Monday that it has finished enrolling 15,000 people in a late-stage study in Britain and plans to begin recruiting even more volunteers for final testing in the U.S. and Mexico “in the coming weeks.”

Vaccines made by three Chinese companies and a Russian candidate also are being tested in thousands of people in countries around the world.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605532144900.png" alt="Photo courtesy Moderna" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Moderna</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington (AP) —Moderna Inc. said it would ask U.S. and European regulators Monday to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine as new study results confirm the shots offer strong protection — ramping up the race to begin limited vaccinations as the coronavirus rampage worsens.Multiple vaccine candidates must succeed for the world to stamp out the pandemic, which has been on the upswing in the U.S. and Europe. U.S. hospitals have been stretched to the limit as the nation has seen more than 160,000 new cases per day and more than 1,400 daily deaths. Since first emerging nearly a year ago in China, the virus has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide.Moderna is just behind Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech in seeking to begin vaccinations in the U.S. in December. Across the Atlantic, British regulators also are assessing the Pfizer shot and another from AstraZeneca.Moderna created its shots with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and already had a hint they were working, but said it got the final needed results over the weekend that suggest the vaccine is more than 94% effective.Of 196 COVID-19 cases so far in its huge U.S. study, 185 were trial participants who received the placebo and 11 who got the real vaccine. The only people who got severely ill — 30 participants, including one who died — had received dummy shots, said Dr. Tal Zaks, the Cambridge, Massachusetts, company’s chief medical officer.When he learned the results, “I allowed myself to cry for the first time,” Zaks told The Associated Press. “We have already, just in the trial, have already saved lives. Just imagine the impact then multiplied to the people who can get this vaccine.”Moderna said the shots’ effectiveness and a good safety record so far — with only temporary, flu-like side effects — mean they meet requirements set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use before the final-stage testing is complete. The European Medicines Agency, Europe’s version of FDA, has signaled it also is open to faster, emergency clearance.WHAT COMES NEXTThe FDA has pledged that before it decides to roll out any COVID-19 vaccines, its scientific advisers will publicly debate whether there’s enough evidence behind each candidate.First up on Dec. 10, Pfizer and BioNTech will present data suggesting their vaccine candidate is 95% effective. Moderna said its turn at this “science court” is expected exactly a week later, on Dec. 17.RATIONING INITIAL DOSESIf the FDA allows emergency use, Moderna expects to have 20 million doses ready for the U.S. by year’s end. Recipients will need two doses, so that’s enough for 10 million people.Pfizer expects to have 50 million doses globally in December. Half of them — or enough for 12.5 million people — are earmarked for the U.S.This week, a different panel of U.S. experts, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will meet to decide how initial supplies will be given out. They’re expected to reserve scarce first doses for health care workers and, if the shots work well enough in the frail elderly, for residents of long-term care facilities. As more vaccine gradually becomes available in coming months, other essential workers and people at highest risk from the coronavirus would get in line. But enough for the general population isn’t expected until at least spring.Outside the U.S., Zaks said significant supplies from Moderna would be available later, “in the first quarter” of next year.“Obviously we are doing everything in our power to increase the capacity and accelerate the timelines,” he said.Both Moderna’s and Pfizer’s vaccines are made with the same technology, using a piece of genetic code for the “spike” protein that studs the virus. That messenger RNA, or mRNA, instructs the body to make some harmless spike protein, training immune cells to recognize it if the real virus eventually comes along.ASTRAZENECA CONFUSIONAstraZeneca last week announced confusing early results of its vaccine candidate from research in Britain and BrazilThat vaccine appears 62% effective when tested as originally intended, with recipients given two full doses. But because of a manufacturing error, a small number of volunteers got a lower first dose — and AstraZeneca said in that group, the vaccine appeared to be 90% effective.Experts say it’s unclear why the lower-dose approach would work better and that it may just be a statistical quirk.A larger U.S. study of the AstraZeneca candidate still is underway that should eventually give the FDA a better picture of how well it works. The FDA has said any COVID-19 vaccine would have to be at least 50% effective.Meanwhile Britain’s government will have to decide whether its U.K. data is sufficient for an early rollout there.STILL IN THE PIPELINEJohnson &amp; Johnson also is in final-stage testing in the U.S. and several other countries to see if its vaccine candidate could work with just one dose.Both the J&amp;J and AstraZeneca vaccines work by using harmless cold viruses to carry the spike protein gene into the body and prime the immune system.The different technologies have ramifications for how easily different vaccines could be distributed globally. The AstraZeneca shots won’t require freezer storage like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.Candidates made with still other technologies are in late-stage testing, too. Another U.S. company, Novavax Inc., announced Monday that it has finished enrolling 15,000 people in a late-stage study in Britain and plans to begin recruiting even more volunteers for final testing in the U.S. and Mexico “in the coming weeks.”Vaccines made by three Chinese companies and a Russian candidate also are being tested in thousands of people in countries around the world.____

2nd virus vaccine ready for emergency approval

WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of shadowboxing amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2020">a tense and toxic campaign</a>, Capitol Hill’s main players are returning for one final, perhaps futile, attempt at deal-making on a challenging menu of year-end business.

COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy — and a final burst of judicial nominees — dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;rockets out of control in President Donald Trump’s final weeks in office.

The only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11. The route preferred by top lawmakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is to agree upon and pass an omnibus spending bill for the government. But it may be difficult to overcome bitter divisions regarding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-virus-outbreak-legislation-f95b57c64aacb4f2fbfd148a301ab45d">a long-delayed COVID-19 relief package</a>&nbsp;that’s a top priority of business, state and local governments, educators and others.

Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitol’s emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. The House has truncated its schedule, and Senate Republicans are joining Democrats in forgoing the in-person lunch meetings that usually anchor their workweeks. It’ll take serious, good-faith conversations among top players to determine what’s possible, but those haven’t transpired yet.

Top items for December’s lame-duck session:

At a bare minimum, lawmakers need to keep the government running by passing a stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution, which would punt $1.4 trillion worth of unfinished agency spending into next year.

That’s a typical way to deal with a handoff to a new administration, but McConnell and Pelosi are two veterans of the Capitol’s appropriations culture and are pressing hard for a catchall spending package. A battle over using budget sleight of hand to add a 2 percentage point, $12 billion increase to domestic programs to accommodate rapidly growing veterans health care spending is an issue, as are Trump’s demands for U.S-Mexico border wall funding.

Getting Trump to sign the measure is another challenge. Two years ago he sparked a lengthy partial government shutdown over the border wall, but both sides would like to clear away the pile of unfinished legislation to give the Biden administration a fresh start. The changeover in administrations probably wouldn’t affect an omnibus deal very much.

At issue are the 12 annual spending bills comprising the portion of the government’s budget that passes through Congress each year on a bipartisan basis. Whatever approach passes, it’s likely to contain a batch of unfinished leftovers such as extending expiring health care policies and tax provisions and continuing the authorization for the government’s flood insurance program.

Democrats have battled with Republicans and the White House for months over a fresh installment of COVID-19 relief that all sides say they want. But a lack of good faith and an unwillingness to embark on compromises that might lead either side out of their political comfort zones have helped keep another rescue package on ice.

The aid remains out of reach despite a fragile economy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doctors-better-equipped-virus-surge-743c0448c3ada001d327d73a6f2ed9d7">out-of-control increases in coronavirus cases</a>, especially in Midwest GOP strongholds. McConnell is a potent force for a smaller — but still sizable — package and has supplanted Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as the most important Republican force in the negotiations.

Pelosi seems to have overplayed her hand as she held out for $2 trillion-plus right up until the election. The results of the election, which saw Democrats lose seats in the House, appear to have significantly undercut her position, but she is holding firm on another round of aid to state and local governments.

Before the election, Trump seemed to be focused on a provision that would send another round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/61b3d38360745d64a98a2ab813501b13">$1,200 payments</a>&nbsp;to most Americans. He hasn’t shown a lot of interest in the topic since, apart from stray tweets. But the chief obstacles now appear to be Pelosi’s demand for state and local government aid and McConnell’s demand for a liability shield for businesses reopening during the pandemic.

At stake is funding for vaccines and testing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-health-ap-fact-check-public-health-9acd2a3f7af12421a4f39572afe5baac">reopening schools</a>, various economic “stimulus” ideas like another round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0d2a36521f39010273317fa3562c2e4">“paycheck protection” subsidies</a>&nbsp;for businesses especially hard hit by the pandemic. Failure to pass a measure now would vault the topic to the top of Biden’s legislative agenda next year.

A spat over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-defense-policy-f2cebbd1b90f866b224c9873bac9bed0">military bases named for Confederate officers</a>&nbsp;is threatening the annual passage of a defense policy measure that has passed for 59 years in a row on a bipartisan basis. The measure is critical in the defense policy world, guiding Pentagon policy and cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals.

Both the House and Senate measures would require the Pentagon to rename bases such as Fort Benning and Fort Hood, but Trump opposes the idea and has threatened a veto over it. The battle erupted this summer amid widespread racial protests, and Trump used the debate to appeal to white Southern voters nostalgic about the Confederacy. It’s a live issue in two Senate runoff elections in Georgia that will determine control of the chamber during the first two years of Biden’s tenure.

Democrats are insisting on changing the names and it’s not obvious how it’ll all end up.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of shadowboxing amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2020">a tense and toxic campaign</a>, Capitol Hill’s main players are returning for one final, perhaps futile, attempt at deal-making on a challenging menu of year-end business.COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy — and a final burst of judicial nominees — dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;rockets out of control in President Donald Trump’s final weeks in office.The only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11. The route preferred by top lawmakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is to agree upon and pass an omnibus spending bill for the government. But it may be difficult to overcome bitter divisions regarding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-virus-outbreak-legislation-f95b57c64aacb4f2fbfd148a301ab45d">a long-delayed COVID-19 relief package</a>&nbsp;that’s a top priority of business, state and local governments, educators and others.Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitol’s emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. The House has truncated its schedule, and Senate Republicans are joining Democrats in forgoing the in-person lunch meetings that usually anchor their workweeks. It’ll take serious, good-faith conversations among top players to determine what’s possible, but those haven’t transpired yet.Top items for December’s lame-duck session:___KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT OPENAt a bare minimum, lawmakers need to keep the government running by passing a stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution, which would punt $1.4 trillion worth of unfinished agency spending into next year.That’s a typical way to deal with a handoff to a new administration, but McConnell and Pelosi are two veterans of the Capitol’s appropriations culture and are pressing hard for a catchall spending package. A battle over using budget sleight of hand to add a 2 percentage point, $12 billion increase to domestic programs to accommodate rapidly growing veterans health care spending is an issue, as are Trump’s demands for U.S-Mexico border wall funding.Getting Trump to sign the measure is another challenge. Two years ago he sparked a lengthy partial government shutdown over the border wall, but both sides would like to clear away the pile of unfinished legislation to give the Biden administration a fresh start. The changeover in administrations probably wouldn’t affect an omnibus deal very much.At issue are the 12 annual spending bills comprising the portion of the government’s budget that passes through Congress each year on a bipartisan basis. Whatever approach passes, it’s likely to contain a batch of unfinished leftovers such as extending expiring health care policies and tax provisions and continuing the authorization for the government’s flood insurance program.___COVID-19 RELIEFDemocrats have battled with Republicans and the White House for months over a fresh installment of COVID-19 relief that all sides say they want. But a lack of good faith and an unwillingness to embark on compromises that might lead either side out of their political comfort zones have helped keep another rescue package on ice.The aid remains out of reach despite a fragile economy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doctors-better-equipped-virus-surge-743c0448c3ada001d327d73a6f2ed9d7">out-of-control increases in coronavirus cases</a>, especially in Midwest GOP strongholds. McConnell is a potent force for a smaller — but still sizable — package and has supplanted Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as the most important Republican force in the negotiations.Pelosi seems to have overplayed her hand as she held out for $2 trillion-plus right up until the election. The results of the election, which saw Democrats lose seats in the House, appear to have significantly undercut her position, but she is holding firm on another round of aid to state and local governments.Before the election, Trump seemed to be focused on a provision that would send another round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/61b3d38360745d64a98a2ab813501b13">$1,200 payments</a>&nbsp;to most Americans. He hasn’t shown a lot of interest in the topic since, apart from stray tweets. But the chief obstacles now appear to be Pelosi’s demand for state and local government aid and McConnell’s demand for a liability shield for businesses reopening during the pandemic.At stake is funding for vaccines and testing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-health-ap-fact-check-public-health-9acd2a3f7af12421a4f39572afe5baac">reopening schools</a>, various economic “stimulus” ideas like another round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0d2a36521f39010273317fa3562c2e4">“paycheck protection” subsidies</a>&nbsp;for businesses especially hard hit by the pandemic. Failure to pass a measure now would vault the topic to the top of Biden’s legislative agenda next year.___DEFENSE POLICYA spat over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-defense-policy-f2cebbd1b90f866b224c9873bac9bed0">military bases named for Confederate officers</a>&nbsp;is threatening the annual passage of a defense policy measure that has passed for 59 years in a row on a bipartisan basis. The measure is critical in the defense policy world, guiding Pentagon policy and cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals.Both the House and Senate measures would require the Pentagon to rename bases such as Fort Benning and Fort Hood, but Trump opposes the idea and has threatened a veto over it. The battle erupted this summer amid widespread racial protests, and Trump used the debate to appeal to white Southern voters nostalgic about the Confederacy. It’s a live issue in two Senate runoff elections in Georgia that will determine control of the chamber during the first two years of Biden’s tenure.Democrats are insisting on changing the names and it’s not obvious how it’ll all end up.

Congress returns with battle over virus relief ahead

WASHINGTON (AP) —The nation’s top infectious disease expert said Sunday that the U.S. may see “surge upon a surge” of the coronavirus in the weeks after Thanksgiving, and he does not expect current recommendations around social distancing to be relaxed before Christmas.

Meanwhile, in a major reversal, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio said the nation’s largest school system will reopen to in-person learning and increase the number of days a week many children attend class. The announcement came just 11 days after the Democratic mayor said schools would shut down because of rising COVID-19 cases.

“We feel confident that we can keep schools safe,” he said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told ABC’s “This Week” that the level of infection in the U.S. would not “all of a sudden turn around.”

“So clearly in the next few weeks, we’re going to have the same sort of thing. And perhaps even two or three weeks down the line ... we may see a surge upon a surge,” he said.

Fauci addressed the school issue, saying that spread “among children and from children is not really very big at all, not like one would have suspected. So let’s try to get the kids back, but let’s try to mitigate the things that maintain and just push the kind of community spread that we’re trying to avoid,” he said.

Fauci also appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he made similar remarks, adding that it’s “not too late” for people traveling home after Thanksgiving to help curb the virus by wearing masks, staying distant from others and avoiding large groups of people.

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States topped 200,000 for the first time Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Since January, when the first infections were reported in the U.S., the nation’s total number of cases has surpassed 13 million. More than 265,000 people have died.

Fauci said the arrival of vaccines offers a “light at the end of the tunnel.” This coming week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss a rollout of the vaccine, he said.

He added that President-elect Joe Biden should focus on distributing vaccines in an “efficient and equitable way.” Fauci also said he planned to push the new administration for a rigorous testing program.

Health care workers will likely be among the first to get the vaccine, with the first vaccinations happening before the end of December, followed by many more in January, February and March, he said.

“So if we can hang together as a country and do these kinds of things to blunt these surges until we get a substantial proportion of the population vaccinated, we can get through this,” Fauci said.

Other experts agreed that the coming weeks would be difficult, especially since so many traveled over the holiday and held in-person dinners indoors.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Americans who traveled this past week should try to avoid people over 65. She said that those who were around others for Thanksgiving “have to assume that you were exposed and you became infected and you really need to get tested in the next week.”

Meanwhile, a busy travel weekend continued, despite warnings for Americans to stay close to home and limit their holiday gatherings.

Aside from the Thanksgiving holiday itself, anywhere from 800,000 to more than 1 million travelers made their way through U.S. airport checkpoints on any day during the past week, according to Transportation Security Administration statistics. That’s a far cry from the 2.3 to 2.6 million seen daily last year. But it far surpasses the number of travelers early in the pandemic, when daily totals fell below 100,000 on some spring days.

More COVID-19 restrictions were in store for California starting Monday. Los Angeles County will impose a lockdown calling for its 10 million residents to stay home. Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, is banning all high school, collegiate and professional sports and imposing a quarantine for anyone traveling into the region from more than 150 miles away.

Back in New York, some elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs will resume classes Dec. 7, a week from Monday, the mayor said. Others will take longer to reopen.

The plan for reopening middle and high schools is still being developed, de Blasio said.

About 190,000 students will be eligible to return to classrooms in the first round of reopening, just a fraction of the more than 1 million total pupils in the system. The great majority of parents have opted to have their kids learn remotely by computer.

De Blasio said that many of those returning in person will be able to attend five days of class a week, up from one to three days previously.

Elementary school students attending in person will be required to undergo frequent testing for the virus. Previously, the city set a target of testing 20% of teachers and students in each school building once a month. Now the testing will be weekly.

The mayor said the city was doing away with its previous trigger for closing schools, which was when 3% or more of the virus tests conducted in the city over a seven-day period came back positive.

New York exceeded that threshold early in November, and infections have slightly worsened since then. More than 9,300 residents have tested positive for the virus over the past seven days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592928665531.png" alt="Fauci addressed a congressional committee in July -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Fauci addressed a congressional committee in July -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The nation’s top infectious disease expert said Sunday that the U.S. may see “surge upon a surge” of the coronavirus in the weeks after Thanksgiving, and he does not expect current recommendations around social distancing to be relaxed before Christmas.Meanwhile, in a major reversal, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio said the nation’s largest school system will reopen to in-person learning and increase the number of days a week many children attend class. The announcement came just 11 days after the Democratic mayor said schools would shut down because of rising COVID-19 cases.“We feel confident that we can keep schools safe,” he said.Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told ABC’s “This Week” that the level of infection in the U.S. would not “all of a sudden turn around.”“So clearly in the next few weeks, we’re going to have the same sort of thing. And perhaps even two or three weeks down the line ... we may see a surge upon a surge,” he said.Fauci addressed the school issue, saying that spread “among children and from children is not really very big at all, not like one would have suspected. So let’s try to get the kids back, but let’s try to mitigate the things that maintain and just push the kind of community spread that we’re trying to avoid,” he said.Fauci also appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he made similar remarks, adding that it’s “not too late” for people traveling home after Thanksgiving to help curb the virus by wearing masks, staying distant from others and avoiding large groups of people.The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States topped 200,000 for the first time Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Since January, when the first infections were reported in the U.S., the nation’s total number of cases has surpassed 13 million. More than 265,000 people have died.Fauci said the arrival of vaccines offers a “light at the end of the tunnel.” This coming week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss a rollout of the vaccine, he said.He added that President-elect Joe Biden should focus on distributing vaccines in an “efficient and equitable way.” Fauci also said he planned to push the new administration for a rigorous testing program.Health care workers will likely be among the first to get the vaccine, with the first vaccinations happening before the end of December, followed by many more in January, February and March, he said.“So if we can hang together as a country and do these kinds of things to blunt these surges until we get a substantial proportion of the population vaccinated, we can get through this,” Fauci said.Other experts agreed that the coming weeks would be difficult, especially since so many traveled over the holiday and held in-person dinners indoors.Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Americans who traveled this past week should try to avoid people over 65. She said that those who were around others for Thanksgiving “have to assume that you were exposed and you became infected and you really need to get tested in the next week.”Meanwhile, a busy travel weekend continued, despite warnings for Americans to stay close to home and limit their holiday gatherings.Aside from the Thanksgiving holiday itself, anywhere from 800,000 to more than 1 million travelers made their way through U.S. airport checkpoints on any day during the past week, according to Transportation Security Administration statistics. That’s a far cry from the 2.3 to 2.6 million seen daily last year. But it far surpasses the number of travelers early in the pandemic, when daily totals fell below 100,000 on some spring days.More COVID-19 restrictions were in store for California starting Monday. Los Angeles County will impose a lockdown calling for its 10 million residents to stay home. Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, is banning all high school, collegiate and professional sports and imposing a quarantine for anyone traveling into the region from more than 150 miles away.Back in New York, some elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs will resume classes Dec. 7, a week from Monday, the mayor said. Others will take longer to reopen.The plan for reopening middle and high schools is still being developed, de Blasio said.About 190,000 students will be eligible to return to classrooms in the first round of reopening, just a fraction of the more than 1 million total pupils in the system. The great majority of parents have opted to have their kids learn remotely by computer.De Blasio said that many of those returning in person will be able to attend five days of class a week, up from one to three days previously.Elementary school students attending in person will be required to undergo frequent testing for the virus. Previously, the city set a target of testing 20% of teachers and students in each school building once a month. Now the testing will be weekly.The mayor said the city was doing away with its previous trigger for closing schools, which was when 3% or more of the virus tests conducted in the city over a seven-day period came back positive.New York exceeded that threshold early in November, and infections have slightly worsened since then. More than 9,300 residents have tested positive for the virus over the past seven days.___

Fauci: US may see 'surge upon surge' of virus in weeks ahead

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an aggravated robbery and death of a teen&nbsp; released additional details Sunday night on the tragic incident that&nbsp; garnered significant public attention.

There had been some spread of false information and rumors, especially on social media about the death,&nbsp;according to Captain Wendell Nicholson, Commander of the Wichita Police Department's Patrol South Bureau.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday police went to an apartment complex in the 1000 Block of South Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Nicholson.&nbsp; They were searching for a 16-year-old boy wanted for multiple felony warrants that included aggravated robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery, a weapons violation and an escape from custody.

Police believed the boy was at the apartment and then observed him walk inside, according to Nicholson. The homeowner allowed police inside to search for the boy. Officers heard noise in the attic and observed open access to the attic which led them to believe the boy was hiding in the attic.

Police and the boy's mother made several attempts to get the boy to come down from the attic. A Wichita Police crisis negotiator responded to the scene to help deescalate the situation and called for the boy to surrender peacefully. Officers worked for over two hours in an attempt to get the boy to come down from the attic, according to Nicholson.

During the entire time, officers received no verbal communication from the boy. K-9 officers sent in dogs to safely search for the boy.&nbsp;

Just after 11p.m., officers located the boy deceased in the attic. He died from a self inflicted gunshot wound, according to Nicholson. They also found a 9mm Taurus firearm next to the boy.

During the incident, officers did not discharge their firearms. No weapons were used, according to Nicholson.

Social media continues to express a variety of opinions on the details of the incident and the public has asked police why they have not released more body camera images of the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606701543964.png" alt="Police attempting to communicate with the boy hiding in the attic. Photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Police attempting to communicate with the boy hiding in the attic. Photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an aggravated robbery and death of a teen&nbsp; released additional details Sunday night on the tragic incident that&nbsp; garnered significant public attention.There had been some spread of false information and rumors, especially on social media about the death,&nbsp;according to Captain Wendell Nicholson, Commander of the Wichita Police Department's Patrol South Bureau.Just before 7p.m. Saturday police went to an apartment complex in the 1000 Block of South Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Nicholson.&nbsp; They were searching for a 16-year-old boy wanted for multiple felony warrants that included aggravated robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery, a weapons violation and an escape from custody.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606701579948.png" alt="Open access to the attic -image courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Open access to the attic -image courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Police believed the boy was at the apartment and then observed him walk inside, according to Nicholson. The homeowner allowed police inside to search for the boy. Officers heard noise in the attic and observed open access to the attic which led them to believe the boy was hiding in the attic.Police and the boy's mother made several attempts to get the boy to come down from the attic. A Wichita Police crisis negotiator responded to the scene to help deescalate the situation and called for the boy to surrender peacefully. Officers worked for over two hours in an attempt to get the boy to come down from the attic, according to Nicholson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606701912811.png" alt="9mm Taurus firearm found next to the boy-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>9mm Taurus firearm found next to the boy-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>During the entire time, officers received no verbal communication from the boy. K-9 officers sent in dogs to safely search for the boy.&nbsp;Just after 11p.m., officers located the boy deceased in the attic. He died from a self inflicted gunshot wound, according to Nicholson. They also found a 9mm Taurus firearm next to the boy.During the incident, officers did not discharge their firearms. No weapons were used, according to Nicholson.Social media continues to express a variety of opinions on the details of the incident and the public has asked police why they have not released more body camera images of the incident.

Police release details on Kan. teen robbery suspect's death

KIOWA COUNTY -- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks staff recently reviewed a trail camera photo of a mountain lion taken in Kiowa County, according to a social media report.

The adult cat was carrying a recently killed porcupine. The photo follows three earlier confirmations (20 miles total apart) in the same area 2 and a one half months ago, which biologists assumed was the same cat headed south. 

This is the first time multiple photos of a cat have been confirmed in the same area within a time frame that could indicate the presence of a resident lion. However, it’s too early to tell because it could be a different lion coincidentally in the same area. There have been 21 confirmed mountain lion sightings in Kansas since 2007, and all have appeared to be young adult cats on the move.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606701454380.png" alt="Photo courtesy KDWP&amp;T" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KDWP&amp;T</figcaption>
 </figure>KIOWA COUNTY -- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks staff recently reviewed a trail camera photo of a mountain lion taken in Kiowa County, according to a social media report.The adult cat was carrying a recently killed porcupine. The photo follows three earlier confirmations (20 miles total apart) in the same area 2 and a one half months ago, which biologists assumed was the same cat headed south. This is the first time multiple photos of a cat have been confirmed in the same area within a time frame that could indicate the presence of a resident lion. However, it’s too early to tell because it could be a different lion coincidentally in the same area. There have been 21 confirmed mountain lion sightings in Kansas since 2007, and all have appeared to be young adult cats on the move.

KDWP&T: Mountain lion seen on trail cam in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is quietly amending its execution protocols, no longer requiring federal death sentences to be carried out by lethal injection and clearing the way to use other methods like firing squads and poison gas.

The amended rule, published Friday in the Federal Register, allows the U.S. government to conduct executions by lethal injection or use “any other manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence was imposed.” A number of states allow other methods of execution, including electrocution, inhaling nitrogen gas or death by firing squad.

It remains unclear whether the Justice Department will seek to use any methods other than lethal injection for executions in the future. The rule – which goes into effect on Dec. 24 – comes as the Justice Department has scheduled five executions during the lame-duck period, including three just days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

A Justice Department official said the change was made to account for the fact the Federal Death Penalty Act requires sentences be carried out in the “in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed,″ and some of those states use methods other than lethal injection.

The official told the AP the federal government “will never execute an inmate by firing squad or electrocution unless the relevant state has itself authorized that method of execution.”

The official said two executions scheduled in December would be done by lethal injection but didn’t provide information about three others scheduled in January. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the internal department protocols.

The change is likely to set off intense criticism from Democrats and anti-death penalty advocates, as the Trump administration tries to push through a number of rule changes before Trump leaves office. A spokesperson for Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prisons-inaugurations-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-365258989e6be8d7077b2f67d8c3e190">told the AP</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that the president-elect “opposes the death penalty now and in the future” and would work to end its use. But he did not say whether executions would be paused immediately once Biden takes office.

Attorney General William Barr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/638826b00bba1b389756126e4cfae97a">restarted federal executions</a>&nbsp;this year after a 17-year hiatus. This year, the Justice Department has put to death more people than during the previous half-century, despite waning public support from both Democrats and Republicans for its use.

All states that use the death penalty allow lethal injection – and that is the primary method in all states where other methods are allowed, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. As lethal injection drugs become difficult to obtain, some states have begun looking at alternative methods for carrying out death sentences. Alabama joined Oklahoma and Mississippi in 2018 approving the use of nitrogen gas to execute prisoners, allowing the state to asphyxiate condemned inmates with the gas in some cases.

In some states, inmates can choose the method of their execution. In Florida, for example, an inmate can specifically ask to be put to death by electrocution and in Washington state, inmates can ask to be put to death by hanging. In Utah, prisoners sentenced before May 2004 can choose to be killed by a firing squad. The state law there also authorizes the use of a firing squad if lethal injection drugs aren’t available.

In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs.

Barr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ab434fcc31e429089eb5e14de0d1324">said in July 2019</a>&nbsp;that the review had been completed, allowing executions to resume and approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaced the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital. The one-drug protocol is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas.

Before the Trump administration resumed executions this year, the federal government had put only three inmates to death since 1988. Though there hadn’t been a federal execution since 2003, until July, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions, and federal courts had continued sentencing defendants to death.

Trump has spoken often about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and an appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and the killings of police officers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602895377835.png" alt="Lisa Montgomery from Kansas is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at the U.S. Penitentiary Terre Haute, Indiana, Jan. 12. She is being held at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, according to online jail records." />
 <figcaption>Lisa Montgomery from Kansas is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at the U.S. Penitentiary Terre Haute, Indiana, Jan. 12. She is being held at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, according to online jail records.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is quietly amending its execution protocols, no longer requiring federal death sentences to be carried out by lethal injection and clearing the way to use other methods like firing squads and poison gas.The amended rule, published Friday in the Federal Register, allows the U.S. government to conduct executions by lethal injection or use “any other manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence was imposed.” A number of states allow other methods of execution, including electrocution, inhaling nitrogen gas or death by firing squad.It remains unclear whether the Justice Department will seek to use any methods other than lethal injection for executions in the future. The rule – which goes into effect on Dec. 24 – comes as the Justice Department has scheduled five executions during the lame-duck period, including three just days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.A Justice Department official said the change was made to account for the fact the Federal Death Penalty Act requires sentences be carried out in the “in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed,″ and some of those states use methods other than lethal injection.The official told the AP the federal government “will never execute an inmate by firing squad or electrocution unless the relevant state has itself authorized that method of execution.”The official said two executions scheduled in December would be done by lethal injection but didn’t provide information about three others scheduled in January. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the internal department protocols.The change is likely to set off intense criticism from Democrats and anti-death penalty advocates, as the Trump administration tries to push through a number of rule changes before Trump leaves office. A spokesperson for Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prisons-inaugurations-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-365258989e6be8d7077b2f67d8c3e190">told the AP</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that the president-elect “opposes the death penalty now and in the future” and would work to end its use. But he did not say whether executions would be paused immediately once Biden takes office.Attorney General William Barr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/638826b00bba1b389756126e4cfae97a">restarted federal executions</a>&nbsp;this year after a 17-year hiatus. This year, the Justice Department has put to death more people than during the previous half-century, despite waning public support from both Democrats and Republicans for its use.All states that use the death penalty allow lethal injection – and that is the primary method in all states where other methods are allowed, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. As lethal injection drugs become difficult to obtain, some states have begun looking at alternative methods for carrying out death sentences. Alabama joined Oklahoma and Mississippi in 2018 approving the use of nitrogen gas to execute prisoners, allowing the state to asphyxiate condemned inmates with the gas in some cases.In some states, inmates can choose the method of their execution. In Florida, for example, an inmate can specifically ask to be put to death by electrocution and in Washington state, inmates can ask to be put to death by hanging. In Utah, prisoners sentenced before May 2004 can choose to be killed by a firing squad. The state law there also authorizes the use of a firing squad if lethal injection drugs aren’t available.In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs.Barr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ab434fcc31e429089eb5e14de0d1324">said in July 2019</a>&nbsp;that the review had been completed, allowing executions to resume and approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaced the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital. The one-drug protocol is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas.Before the Trump administration resumed executions this year, the federal government had put only three inmates to death since 1988. Though there hadn’t been a federal execution since 2003, until July, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions, and federal courts had continued sentencing defendants to death.Trump has spoken often about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and an appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and the killings of police officers.

New rules: Poison gas, firing squads for US executions

HOLTON, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Small rural hospitals in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;and&nbsp;Missouri&nbsp;are increasingly spending hours searching for facilities they can transfer patients to because they are struggling to cope with the surge in coronavirus cases.

As the region's hospitals fill up with COVID-19 patients, smaller hospitals like the one in Holton, Kansas, are finding it difficult to treat patients who don't have the disease but still need care.

“People don’t just stop having heart attacks or those sorts of things,” said Carrie Saia, CEO of the hospital in Holton, which is about 30 miles north of Topeka, Kansas. “I just worry that we’re going to be so consumed that we’re not really able to care for some emergency that comes in.”

The urban and rural health care systems in Missouri and Kansas are intertwined, with smaller hospitals identifying which patients need more advanced care and transferring them to larger facilities in bigger cities, the Kansas City Star reported. But lately, smaller hospitals have been spending hours searching for beds for their patients in larger facilities in places such as Wichita, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri.

When COVID-19 patients stress the capacity of smaller hospitals, it makes it harder to care for patients with heart attacks, strokes or other serious conditions.

“Those patients, when they come through our doors, honestly that’s a little more scary than COVID,” said Valarie Davis who is the administrator of Mercy’s smaller hospitals in Cassville and Aurora, Missouri. “We have to get them somewhere as quick as we possibly can.”

And rural hospital administrators increasingly worry about how the surge in patients is affecting their nurses and doctors.

“I’ve had one of the nurses literally break down right in front of me because of her concern for one of the patients, which is a wonderful thing but it takes a toll on the staff,” said Dennis Franks, CEO of the 25-bed Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas. “They’re working a lot.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606685988313.png" alt="Holton Community Hospital is 30 miles north of Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Holton Community Hospital is 30 miles north of Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLTON, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Small rural hospitals in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;and&nbsp;Missouri&nbsp;are increasingly spending hours searching for facilities they can transfer patients to because they are struggling to cope with the surge in coronavirus cases.As the region's hospitals fill up with COVID-19 patients, smaller hospitals like the one in Holton, Kansas, are finding it difficult to treat patients who don't have the disease but still need care.“People don’t just stop having heart attacks or those sorts of things,” said Carrie Saia, CEO of the hospital in Holton, which is about 30 miles north of Topeka, Kansas. “I just worry that we’re going to be so consumed that we’re not really able to care for some emergency that comes in.”The urban and rural health care systems in Missouri and Kansas are intertwined, with smaller hospitals identifying which patients need more advanced care and transferring them to larger facilities in bigger cities, the Kansas City Star reported. But lately, smaller hospitals have been spending hours searching for beds for their patients in larger facilities in places such as Wichita, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri.When COVID-19 patients stress the capacity of smaller hospitals, it makes it harder to care for patients with heart attacks, strokes or other serious conditions.“Those patients, when they come through our doors, honestly that’s a little more scary than COVID,” said Valarie Davis who is the administrator of Mercy’s smaller hospitals in Cassville and Aurora, Missouri. “We have to get them somewhere as quick as we possibly can.”And rural hospital administrators increasingly worry about how the surge in patients is affecting their nurses and doctors.“I’ve had one of the nurses literally break down right in front of me because of her concern for one of the patients, which is a wonderful thing but it takes a toll on the staff,” said Dennis Franks, CEO of the 25-bed Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas. “They’re working a lot.”

Surge in virus cases stresses rural hospitals across Kansas

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — A historic Black church in Missouri has been vandalized, leaving its congregation reeling and authorities looking to find out who did it.

The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that the acts committed at the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Holts Summit, Missouri, are “despicable and quite offensive,.”

Deputies responded to the property at 1:32 a.m. Thursday following an alarm call. They discovered that both the historic church building and a newer one completed in the early 2000s had been struck by vandals.

Photos show what appear to be bullet holes and boot prints on the older building’s front door. Windows are smashed and an air-conditioning unit tipped on its side. Inside there are gaping holes in the walls, pews tipped over, toilets shattered, furniture smashed. Even the blades of the ceiling fans above the sanctuary are broken.

Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said Friday that a final monetary estimate of the damages is still pending, but it “is significant.”

Mt. Vernon was established by slaves in the early 1800s and later rebuilt in 1869, Pastor Gordon Coleman said in a Facebook post. The church celebrated its 150th birthday in 2016.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606594815770.png" alt="Photos Callaway Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Callaway Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — A historic Black church in Missouri has been vandalized, leaving its congregation reeling and authorities looking to find out who did it.The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that the acts committed at the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Holts Summit, Missouri, are “despicable and quite offensive,.”Deputies responded to the property at 1:32 a.m. Thursday following an alarm call. They discovered that both the historic church building and a newer one completed in the early 2000s had been struck by vandals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606594791592.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos show what appear to be bullet holes and boot prints on the older building’s front door. Windows are smashed and an air-conditioning unit tipped on its side. Inside there are gaping holes in the walls, pews tipped over, toilets shattered, furniture smashed. Even the blades of the ceiling fans above the sanctuary are broken.Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said Friday that a final monetary estimate of the damages is still pending, but it “is significant.”Mt. Vernon was established by slaves in the early 1800s and later rebuilt in 1869, Pastor Gordon Coleman said in a Facebook post. The church celebrated its 150th birthday in 2016.No arrests have been made.