OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Medical debts totaling more than $5.2 million owed by more than 3,200 families in Kansas and Oklahoma have been paid through a project of the United Church of Christ Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, church officials said Tuesday.

“As a result of our campaign that netted $40,000, with that $40,000 we were able to abolish $5,211,729 in medical debt” for more than 3,200 families in 76 counties in Kansas and 60 Oklahoma counties, according to conference President Bobbie Henderson of Tulsa.

The money was sent to New York-based RIP Medical Debt, an non-profit organization that purchased the debt at a discount and forgave the amount owed.

The average amount forgiven per household was $1,612.54, according to the church. The church does not know who the recipients are, said spokesperson Connie Larkman.

The medical debt forgiveness project began in 2019 and has now eliminated about $57 million in medical debt nationwide, according to a statement from the UCC.

The UCC, based in Cleveland, has 40 churches in Kansas, 13 in Oklahoma and about 7,000 members in the two states, according to UCC Minister Edith Guffey of Lawrence, Kansas.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Medical debts totaling more than $5.2 million owed by more than 3,200 families in Kansas and Oklahoma have been paid through a project of the United Church of Christ Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, church officials said Tuesday.“As a result of our campaign that netted $40,000, with that $40,000 we were able to abolish $5,211,729 in medical debt” for more than 3,200 families in 76 counties in Kansas and 60 Oklahoma counties, according to conference President Bobbie Henderson of Tulsa.The money was sent to New York-based RIP Medical Debt, an non-profit organization that purchased the debt at a discount and forgave the amount owed.The average amount forgiven per household was $1,612.54, according to the church. The church does not know who the recipients are, said spokesperson Connie Larkman.The medical debt forgiveness project began in 2019 and has now eliminated about $57 million in medical debt nationwide, according to a statement from the UCC.The UCC, based in Cleveland, has 40 churches in Kansas, 13 in Oklahoma and about 7,000 members in the two states, according to UCC Minister Edith Guffey of Lawrence, Kansas.

Church organization in Kansas pays medical debts

TOPEKA - Do you know a small business that has exceeded expectations – despite the COVID crisis?&nbsp; 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) would like to feature them in a SBA&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L29mZmljZXMvZGlzdHJpY3Qva3Mvd2ljaGl0YS9zdWNjZXNzLXN0b3JpZXM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.8IIrYp2TyAOZ1z1xzR0rCjnS7wLp17fYIiBWp3PLdnk/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">Kansas Success Story</a>&nbsp;article. We are also looking for nominations for the SBA&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L25hdGlvbmFsLXNtYWxsLWJ1c2luZXNzLXdlZWs_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.c6ADPXVxM0qgO9_9SxyuPT5QwZbjs8fFtXuESJf0jKo/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">2021 Small Business Week Awards</a>.

To be featured in a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L29mZmljZXMvZGlzdHJpY3Qva3Mvd2ljaGl0YS9zdWNjZXNzLXN0b3JpZXM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.yyFLEtIuaNphk57w5fDD3GEKUW4T6Juex0-TXNRUpxM/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">SBA Success Story article</a>&nbsp;or be a nominee for one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L25hdGlvbmFsLXNtYWxsLWJ1c2luZXNzLXdlZWs_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.i51Oy-amknIfVQfm2kC9NaJ_e5C1KmfyHS7D0OAY34Y/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">2021 Small Business Awards</a>, the small business must have received some sort of assistance from the SBA or our resource partners Kansas SBDC or SCORE.

The state and national award winners will be celebrated during&nbsp;National Small Business Week&nbsp;(May 3-7, 2021). The award eligibility and judging criteria details are summarized below:

Kansas Small Business Person of the Year&nbsp;or&nbsp;Kansas Small Business Exporter of the Year&nbsp;nominee eligibility criteria are:

Small Business&nbsp;Person(s) of the Year&nbsp;Award nominee judging criteria&nbsp;(one or more of the following):

Small Business&nbsp;Exporter of the Year&nbsp;Award nominee judging criteria&nbsp;(one or more of the following):

If you have a successful small business that you believe should be featured in a Success Story or would be a good nominee for either award, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:michael.aumack@sba.gov" target="_blank">Michael Aumack</a>&nbsp;and he will take it from there!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606233691243.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SBATOPEKA - Do you know a small business that has exceeded expectations – despite the COVID crisis?&nbsp; The Small Business Administration (SBA) would like to feature them in a SBA&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L29mZmljZXMvZGlzdHJpY3Qva3Mvd2ljaGl0YS9zdWNjZXNzLXN0b3JpZXM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.8IIrYp2TyAOZ1z1xzR0rCjnS7wLp17fYIiBWp3PLdnk/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">Kansas Success Story</a>&nbsp;article. We are also looking for nominations for the SBA&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L25hdGlvbmFsLXNtYWxsLWJ1c2luZXNzLXdlZWs_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.c6ADPXVxM0qgO9_9SxyuPT5QwZbjs8fFtXuESJf0jKo/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">2021 Small Business Week Awards</a>.To be featured in a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L29mZmljZXMvZGlzdHJpY3Qva3Mvd2ljaGl0YS9zdWNjZXNzLXN0b3JpZXM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.yyFLEtIuaNphk57w5fDD3GEKUW4T6Juex0-TXNRUpxM/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">SBA Success Story article</a>&nbsp;or be a nominee for one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMjMuMzA5ODI1OTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYmEuZ292L25hdGlvbmFsLXNtYWxsLWJ1c2luZXNzLXdlZWs_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.i51Oy-amknIfVQfm2kC9NaJ_e5C1KmfyHS7D0OAY34Y/s/202716367/br/90292696543-l" target="_blank">2021 Small Business Awards</a>, the small business must have received some sort of assistance from the SBA or our resource partners Kansas SBDC or SCORE.The state and national award winners will be celebrated during&nbsp;National Small Business Week&nbsp;(May 3-7, 2021). The award eligibility and judging criteria details are summarized below:Kansas Small Business Person of the Year&nbsp;or&nbsp;Kansas Small Business Exporter of the Year&nbsp;nominee eligibility criteria are:<ul>
 <li>Legal resident;</li><li>Owner or the chief executive of a small business that’s at least (3) three years old;</li><li>Received one type of SBA assistance such as a SBA loan, Emerging Leaders program, SCORE counseling, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) assistance, Veteran’s Business Outreach Center (VBOC) assistance, Women’s Business Center (WBC) assistance, government contracting assistance, disaster assistance, or Boots to Business training.</li>
 </ul>Small Business&nbsp;Person(s) of the Year&nbsp;Award nominee judging criteria&nbsp;(one or more of the following):<ul>
 <li>Staying power — a substantiated history as an established business; including but not limited to expansion, exporting, addition of territories, or growth in square footage occupied;</li><li>Growth in number of employees — Increases over the three years must be in excess of growth in Gross Domestic Product;</li><li>Increase in sales, net profit, and net worth for the three prior calendar years, that is, 2017, 2018 and 2019;</li><li>Response to adversity — examples of problems faced in the nominee’s business and the methods used to solve them; and</li><li>Contributions to community-oriented projects — evidence of the use of his/her personal time and resources towards community-oriented projects.</li>
 </ul>Small Business&nbsp;Exporter of the Year&nbsp;Award nominee judging criteria&nbsp;(one or more of the following):<ul>
 <li>Increased sales, profits and/or growth of employment because of exporting. Articulate what exporting has meant to the company&nbsp;(e.g. exports as a percentage of sales, jobs created by exporting, etc.);</li><li>Creative overseas marketing strategies, exporting history, and current export markets;</li><li>Effective solutions to export-related problems, including trade financing, payment, and currency issues, market-entry and logistical challenges, cultural differences, etc.;</li><li>Demonstrated encouragement of other small businesses to export and/or volunteer assistance to other small businesses entering the export market;and/or effective use of Federal and/or State government trade promotion or financing programs.</li>
 </ul>If you have a successful small business that you believe should be featured in a Success Story or would be a good nominee for either award, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:michael.aumack@sba.gov" target="_blank">Michael Aumack</a>&nbsp;and he will take it from there!

Nominations sought for Kansas 2021 Small Business Week awards

WASHINGTON (AP) — As coronavirus cases surge again nationwide the Supreme Court late Wednesday barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.

The justices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf" target="_blank">split 5-4</a>&nbsp;with new Justice Amy Coney Barrett in the majority. It was the conservative’s first publicly discernible vote as a justice. The court’s three liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented.

The move was a shift for the court. Earlier this year, when Barrett’s liberal predecessor, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was still on the court, the justices divided 5-4 to leave in place pandemic-related capacity restrictions affecting churches in California and Nevada.

The court’s action Wednesday could push New York to reevaluate its restrictions on houses of worship in areas designated virus hot spots. But the impact of the court’s action is also muted because the Catholic and Orthodox Jewish groups that sued to challenge the restrictions are no longer subject to them.

The Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America have churches and synagogues in areas of Brooklyn and Queens previously designated red and orange zones. In those red and orange zones, the state had capped attendance at houses of worship at 10 and 25 people, respectively. But the those particular areas are now designated as yellow zones with less restrictive rules neither group challenged.

The justices acted on an emergency basis, temporarily barring New York from enforcing the restrictions against the groups while their lawsuits continue. In an unsigned opinion the court said the restrictions “single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment.”

“Members of this Court are not public health experts, and we should respect the judgment of those with special expertise and responsibility in this area. But even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten. The restrictions at issue here, by effectively barring many from attending religious services, strike at the very heart of the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty,” the opinion said.

The opinion noted that in red zones, while a synagogue or church cannot admit more than 10 people, businesses deemed “essential,” from grocery stores to pet shops, can remain open without capacity limits. And in orange zones, while synagogues and churches are capped at 25 people, “even non-essential businesses may decide for themselves how many persons to admit.”

Roberts, in dissent, wrote that there was “simply no need” for the court’s action. “None of the houses of worship identified in the applications is now subject to any fixed numerical restrictions,” he said, adding that New York’s 10 and 25 person caps “do seem unduly restrictive.”

“The Governor might reinstate the restrictions. But he also might not. And it is a significant matter to override determinations made by public health officials concerning what is necessary for public safety in the midst of a deadly pandemic,” he wrote.

Roberts and four other justices wrote separately to explain their views. Barrett did not.

The court’s action was a victory for the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Jewish synagogues that had sued to challenge state restrictions announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Oct. 6.

The Diocese of Brooklyn, which covers Brooklyn and Queens, argued houses of worship were being unfairly singled out by the governor’s executive order. The diocese argued it had previously operated safely by capping attendance at 25% of a building’s capacity and taking other measures. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens are now in yellow zones where attendance at houses of worship is capped at 50% of a building’s capacity, but the church is keeping attendance lower.

“We are extremely grateful that the Supreme Court has acted so swiftly and decisively to protect one of our most fundamental constitutional rights — the free exercise of religion,” said Randy Mastro, an attorney for the diocese, in a statement.

Avi Schick, an attorney for Agudath Israel of America, wrote in an email: “This is an historic victory. This landmark decision will ensure that religious practices and religious institutions will be protected from government edicts that do not treat religion with the respect demanded by the Constitution.”

Two lower courts had sided with New York in allowing the restrictions to remain in place. New York had argued that religious gatherings were being treated less restrictively than secular gatherings that carried the same infection risk, like concerts and theatrical performances. An email sent early Thursday by The Associated Press to the governor’s office seeking comment was not immediately returned.

There are currently several areas in New York designated orange zones but no red zones, according to a state website that tracks areas designated as hot spots.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As coronavirus cases surge again nationwide the Supreme Court late Wednesday barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.The justices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf" target="_blank">split 5-4</a>&nbsp;with new Justice Amy Coney Barrett in the majority. It was the conservative’s first publicly discernible vote as a justice. The court’s three liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented.The move was a shift for the court. Earlier this year, when Barrett’s liberal predecessor, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was still on the court, the justices divided 5-4 to leave in place pandemic-related capacity restrictions affecting churches in California and Nevada.The court’s action Wednesday could push New York to reevaluate its restrictions on houses of worship in areas designated virus hot spots. But the impact of the court’s action is also muted because the Catholic and Orthodox Jewish groups that sued to challenge the restrictions are no longer subject to them.The Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America have churches and synagogues in areas of Brooklyn and Queens previously designated red and orange zones. In those red and orange zones, the state had capped attendance at houses of worship at 10 and 25 people, respectively. But the those particular areas are now designated as yellow zones with less restrictive rules neither group challenged.The justices acted on an emergency basis, temporarily barring New York from enforcing the restrictions against the groups while their lawsuits continue. In an unsigned opinion the court said the restrictions “single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment.”“Members of this Court are not public health experts, and we should respect the judgment of those with special expertise and responsibility in this area. But even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten. The restrictions at issue here, by effectively barring many from attending religious services, strike at the very heart of the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty,” the opinion said.The opinion noted that in red zones, while a synagogue or church cannot admit more than 10 people, businesses deemed “essential,” from grocery stores to pet shops, can remain open without capacity limits. And in orange zones, while synagogues and churches are capped at 25 people, “even non-essential businesses may decide for themselves how many persons to admit.”Roberts, in dissent, wrote that there was “simply no need” for the court’s action. “None of the houses of worship identified in the applications is now subject to any fixed numerical restrictions,” he said, adding that New York’s 10 and 25 person caps “do seem unduly restrictive.”“The Governor might reinstate the restrictions. But he also might not. And it is a significant matter to override determinations made by public health officials concerning what is necessary for public safety in the midst of a deadly pandemic,” he wrote.Roberts and four other justices wrote separately to explain their views. Barrett did not.The court’s action was a victory for the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Jewish synagogues that had sued to challenge state restrictions announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Oct. 6.The Diocese of Brooklyn, which covers Brooklyn and Queens, argued houses of worship were being unfairly singled out by the governor’s executive order. The diocese argued it had previously operated safely by capping attendance at 25% of a building’s capacity and taking other measures. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens are now in yellow zones where attendance at houses of worship is capped at 50% of a building’s capacity, but the church is keeping attendance lower.“We are extremely grateful that the Supreme Court has acted so swiftly and decisively to protect one of our most fundamental constitutional rights — the free exercise of religion,” said Randy Mastro, an attorney for the diocese, in a statement.Avi Schick, an attorney for Agudath Israel of America, wrote in an email: “This is an historic victory. This landmark decision will ensure that religious practices and religious institutions will be protected from government edicts that do not treat religion with the respect demanded by the Constitution.”Two lower courts had sided with New York in allowing the restrictions to remain in place. New York had argued that religious gatherings were being treated less restrictively than secular gatherings that carried the same infection risk, like concerts and theatrical performances. An email sent early Thursday by The Associated Press to the governor’s office seeking comment was not immediately returned.There are currently several areas in New York designated orange zones but no red zones, according to a state website that tracks areas designated as hot spots.

Supreme Court blocks coronavirus limits on houses of worship

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim&nbsp;50-year-old Kamilu Boyede of Wichita

Just after 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a check residence call in the 600 block of South Ida, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

 A neighbor reported to 911 that the the victim’s door to his residence was open. Upon arrival, police made entry into the residence and located Boyede deceased with multiple gunshot wounds.

Police asked the public for help with information to help locate a suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606353689137.png" alt="Police on the scene Wednesday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene Wednesday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim&nbsp;50-year-old Kamilu Boyede of WichitaJust after 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a check residence call in the 600 block of South Ida, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. A neighbor reported to 911 that the the victim’s door to his residence was open. Upon arrival, police made entry into the residence and located Boyede deceased with multiple gunshot wounds.Police asked the public for help with information to help locate a suspect.

Police ID victim in deadly Kansas shooting

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly warned residents Wednesday not to let down their guard during Thanksgiving Day celebrations as coronavirus cases soar and hospitals overflow.

The number of confirmed and probable case cases rose by 5,738 from Monday to 147,797, bringing the daily average to 2,743 over the past week. The number of deaths increased by 47 over the past two days to 1,503, according to state health officials.

“I understand how discouraging and frustrating it is to not get together with family members over special holidays like Thanksgiving,” Kelly said. “I know you all want this to be over. We all want to return to some semblance of normal, but we cannot return to any semblance of normal until this virus is under control, until we flatten the curve, until a vaccine is available, widely distributed and vaccination rates are significant. Until then I encourage Kansans to hunker down.”

Her admonition came on the same day that a new mask mandate took effect, although Kansas law still allows the state’s 105 counties to opt out. Most counties did so the first time Kelly tried to require masks in July, but only about 45 have done so this time, according to the Kansas Association of Counties. Kelly said she was “glad of that” because health care workers are “experiencing severe burnout.”

Kansas health chief Dr. Lee Norman warned that hospitals are running out of beds and especially staff.

“Some hospitals have clinics that can shut down to increase capacity, while others have electric surgeries and cancer care that they can defer, at least for a period of time to free up capacity,” he said.

The problem is so severe that doctors and nurses in rural parts of the state have been complaining about spending hours on the phone arranging transfers. Some patients are being flown hundreds of miles because closer hospitals have no capacity.

Norman said that the good news is that a new program called Mission Control, which helps line up beds and transportation, has helped coordinate more than 3,200 patients transfers. He said it is now in use in more than 30 facilities, with additional hospitals being added daily.

“It will allow patients to be transferred to an open ICU bed and relieve some of the strain on the state’s health care system since some areas of the state are already near capacity in their intensive care units,” Norman said.

But he also said the public needs to step up as nurses, doctors and correctional officers grow exhausted.

“We owe them all terrific debt of gratitude and appreciation,” he said. “But more than that we owe them the commitment to live safely and protect our communities from this virus.”

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly warned residents Wednesday not to let down their guard during Thanksgiving Day celebrations as coronavirus cases soar and hospitals overflow.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F195263332136278%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The number of confirmed and probable case cases rose by 5,738 from Monday to 147,797, bringing the daily average to 2,743 over the past week. The number of deaths increased by 47 over the past two days to 1,503, according to state health officials.“I understand how discouraging and frustrating it is to not get together with family members over special holidays like Thanksgiving,” Kelly said. “I know you all want this to be over. We all want to return to some semblance of normal, but we cannot return to any semblance of normal until this virus is under control, until we flatten the curve, until a vaccine is available, widely distributed and vaccination rates are significant. Until then I encourage Kansans to hunker down.”Her admonition came on the same day that a new mask mandate took effect, although Kansas law still allows the state’s 105 counties to opt out. Most counties did so the first time Kelly tried to require masks in July, but only about 45 have done so this time, according to the Kansas Association of Counties. Kelly said she was “glad of that” because health care workers are “experiencing severe burnout.”Kansas health chief Dr. Lee Norman warned that hospitals are running out of beds and especially staff.“Some hospitals have clinics that can shut down to increase capacity, while others have electric surgeries and cancer care that they can defer, at least for a period of time to free up capacity,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339227129.png" alt="Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The problem is so severe that doctors and nurses in rural parts of the state have been complaining about spending hours on the phone arranging transfers. Some patients are being flown hundreds of miles because closer hospitals have no capacity.Norman said that the good news is that a new program called Mission Control, which helps line up beds and transportation, has helped coordinate more than 3,200 patients transfers. He said it is now in use in more than 30 facilities, with additional hospitals being added daily.“It will allow patients to be transferred to an open ICU bed and relieve some of the strain on the state’s health care system since some areas of the state are already near capacity in their intensive care units,” Norman said.But he also said the public needs to step up as nurses, doctors and correctional officers grow exhausted.“We owe them all terrific debt of gratitude and appreciation,” he said. “But more than that we owe them the commitment to live safely and protect our communities from this virus.”

🎥 Gov. Kelly urges state to 'hunker down' amid virus surge

HASKELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Wednesday in Haskell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Taurus driven by&nbsp; Johnnie Trevor Coates, 18, Holcomb, was northbound on County Road FF at County Road 170.

The car left the roadway to the left, began to rotate on all four tires in a clockwise direction and rolled. The driver&nbsp; was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the car.

Coates was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Swaim Funeral Chapel.

HASKELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Wednesday in Haskell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Taurus driven by&nbsp; Johnnie Trevor Coates, 18, Holcomb, was northbound on County Road FF at County Road 170.The car left the roadway to the left, began to rotate on all four tires in a clockwise direction and rolled. The driver&nbsp; was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the car.Coates was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Swaim Funeral Chapel.

Kansas teen dies after being ejected in crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Monday seemed like the end of President Donald Trump’s relentless challenges to the election, after the federal government acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden was the “apparent winner” and Trump cleared the way for cooperation on a transition of power.

But his claims have a way of coming back. And back. And back.

By Wednesday, Trump was phoning into a local Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers’ meeting that had been orchestrated by his campaign to assert falsely, again, that the election was tainted.

“This election was rigged and we can’t let that happen,” Trump said by phone, offering no specific evidence.

The 2020 presidential race is turning into the zombie election that Trump just won’t let die. Despite dozens of legal and procedural setbacks, his campaign keeps filing new challenges that have no hope of succeeding and making fresh, unfounded claims of fraud.

But that’s the point. Trump’s strategy wasn’t to change the outcome, but to create a host of phantom claims about the 2020 presidential race that would infect the nation with doubt, even though the winner was clear and there has been no evidence of mass voter fraud.

“Zombies are dead people walking among the living — this litigation is the same thing,” said Franita Tolson, a professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. “In terms of litigation that could change the election, all these cases are basically dead men walking.”

It’s a strategy tolerated by many Republicans, most notably Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who are clinging to Trump as they face a test of retaining their own power in the form of two runoff elections in Georgia in January.

“This really is our version of a polite coup d’etat,” said Thomas Mann, senior resident scholar at the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. “It could end quickly if the Republican Party acknowledged what was going on. But they cower in the face of Trump’s connection with the base.”

A day after Trump said his administration should begin working with Biden’s team, three more lawsuits were filed by allies attempting to stop the certification in two more battleground states. In Minnesota, a judge did not rule on the suit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-jesse-ventura-minnesota-elections-0d3e71aca92857b6f50a6c1363ddc186">and the state certified the results for Biden</a>. Another was filed in Wisconsin, which doesn’t certify until Tuesday. Arizona Republicans filed a complaint over ballot inspection; the state certification is due Monday.

And the campaign legal team said state lawmakers in Arizona and Michigan would hold meetings on the election “to provide confidence that all of the legal votes have been counted and the illegal votes have not been counted in the November 3rd election.”

In Pennsylvania, where state Republican lawmakers met at Gettysburg on Wednesday to air grievances about the election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani attended in person and Trump dialed in from the Oval Office.

“We have all the evidence,” Trump asserted. “All we need is to have some judge listen to it properly without having a political opinion.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-pennsylvania-elections-talk-radio-433b6efe72720d8648221f405c2111f9">But the strongest legal rebuke yet came</a>&nbsp;from a conservative Republican judge in federal court in Pennsylvania, who on Saturday dismissed the Trump team’s lawsuit seeking to throw out the results of the election. The judge admonished the Trump campaign in a scathing ruling about its lack of evidence. The campaign has appealed.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fraud-claims-aimed-trump-base-loyal-e1c3c5147d11a033fb43ebe66a29f7e8">Trump’s allies have privately acknowledged</a>&nbsp;their plan would never actually overturn the results, but rather might provide Trump an off-ramp for a loss he wasn’t owning up to and an avenue to keep his base loyal for whatever he does next.

“And then our governing and politics will be hellish, because he will continue doing what he’s doing from his private own perch,” Mann predicted.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emily-murphy-say-transitional-launch-110eea5e33860598a0e177708081dd47">Emily Murphy, the top official at the General Services Administration,&nbsp;</a>declared Biden the “apparent winner” Monday, a procedural yet critical step that allowed for the transition to begin in earnest. She made the determination after Trump’s efforts to subvert the vote failed across battleground states. She cited “recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results.”

Michigan certified Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-consider-certifying-joe-biden-4ee6fbfd69f9a2a4daf9be449c6fe31d">154,000-count victory Monday</a>, despite calls by Trump to the GOP members to block the vote to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne County, where Trump claimed he was the victim of fraud. Biden crushed the president by more than 330,000 votes there.

“The board’s duty today is very clear,” said Aaron Van Langevelde, the Republican vice chair. “We have a duty to certify this election based on these returns.”

Still, the Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “simply a procedural step” and insisted it would fight on.

Trump and his allies have brought at least four cases in Michigan that sought — unsuccessfully — to block certification of election results in part or all of the state.

In Pennsylvania, after Gov. Tom Wolf certified Biden as the winner, an appeals court judge ordered state officials to halt any further steps toward certifying election results. The state has appealed to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.

In Arizona, just as lawyers for a woman in the Phoenix area dropped a case alleging that equipment was unable to record her ballot because she completed it with a county-issued Sharpie pen, Trump’s campaign filed its own lawsuit echoing some of the same complaints. As that suit was about to be dismissed, lawyers for the woman filed a new case reviving the claims and demanding that she be allowed to recast her ballot. All three of the cases have now been dismissed.

“The legal process seems to be unfolding the way it’s supposed to, but the Trump campaign has made clear its desire to throw wrenches in the system wherever it can,” said Lisa Marshall Manheim, a professor at the University of Washington School of Law.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is headed to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to continue his fight to overturn the results of the election and secure Trump a second term.

Pennsylvania has already certified its results and awarded its 20 electors to Democrat Joe Biden, who was declared the winner of the Nov. 3 election.

Giuliani is leading legal challenges to the balloting in Pennsylvania and other states as the Republican president seeks to maintain his base of supporters and keep his options open for opportunities post-presidency.

Giuliani claimed in a Wednesday interview with New York radio station AM 970 that illegal votes were cast, especially in Philadelphia, that he wants to see disqualified. But a broad coalition of top government and industry officials says the Nov. 3 election was “the most secure in American history.”

In Pennsylvania on Saturday, a conservative Republican judge shot down the Trump campaign’s biggest legal effort in the state with a scathing ruling that questioned why he was supposed to disenfranchise 7 million voters with no evidence to back its claims and an inept legal argument at best.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605823833108.png" alt="Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump during a news conference Nov. 19 in Washington -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump during a news conference Nov. 19 in Washington -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Monday seemed like the end of President Donald Trump’s relentless challenges to the election, after the federal government acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden was the “apparent winner” and Trump cleared the way for cooperation on a transition of power.But his claims have a way of coming back. And back. And back.By Wednesday, Trump was phoning into a local Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers’ meeting that had been orchestrated by his campaign to assert falsely, again, that the election was tainted.“This election was rigged and we can’t let that happen,” Trump said by phone, offering no specific evidence.The 2020 presidential race is turning into the zombie election that Trump just won’t let die. Despite dozens of legal and procedural setbacks, his campaign keeps filing new challenges that have no hope of succeeding and making fresh, unfounded claims of fraud.But that’s the point. Trump’s strategy wasn’t to change the outcome, but to create a host of phantom claims about the 2020 presidential race that would infect the nation with doubt, even though the winner was clear and there has been no evidence of mass voter fraud.“Zombies are dead people walking among the living — this litigation is the same thing,” said Franita Tolson, a professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. “In terms of litigation that could change the election, all these cases are basically dead men walking.”It’s a strategy tolerated by many Republicans, most notably Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who are clinging to Trump as they face a test of retaining their own power in the form of two runoff elections in Georgia in January.“This really is our version of a polite coup d’etat,” said Thomas Mann, senior resident scholar at the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. “It could end quickly if the Republican Party acknowledged what was going on. But they cower in the face of Trump’s connection with the base.”A day after Trump said his administration should begin working with Biden’s team, three more lawsuits were filed by allies attempting to stop the certification in two more battleground states. In Minnesota, a judge did not rule on the suit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-jesse-ventura-minnesota-elections-0d3e71aca92857b6f50a6c1363ddc186">and the state certified the results for Biden</a>. Another was filed in Wisconsin, which doesn’t certify until Tuesday. Arizona Republicans filed a complaint over ballot inspection; the state certification is due Monday.And the campaign legal team said state lawmakers in Arizona and Michigan would hold meetings on the election “to provide confidence that all of the legal votes have been counted and the illegal votes have not been counted in the November 3rd election.”In Pennsylvania, where state Republican lawmakers met at Gettysburg on Wednesday to air grievances about the election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani attended in person and Trump dialed in from the Oval Office.“We have all the evidence,” Trump asserted. “All we need is to have some judge listen to it properly without having a political opinion.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-pennsylvania-elections-talk-radio-433b6efe72720d8648221f405c2111f9">But the strongest legal rebuke yet came</a>&nbsp;from a conservative Republican judge in federal court in Pennsylvania, who on Saturday dismissed the Trump team’s lawsuit seeking to throw out the results of the election. The judge admonished the Trump campaign in a scathing ruling about its lack of evidence. The campaign has appealed.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fraud-claims-aimed-trump-base-loyal-e1c3c5147d11a033fb43ebe66a29f7e8">Trump’s allies have privately acknowledged</a>&nbsp;their plan would never actually overturn the results, but rather might provide Trump an off-ramp for a loss he wasn’t owning up to and an avenue to keep his base loyal for whatever he does next.“And then our governing and politics will be hellish, because he will continue doing what he’s doing from his private own perch,” Mann predicted.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emily-murphy-say-transitional-launch-110eea5e33860598a0e177708081dd47">Emily Murphy, the top official at the General Services Administration,&nbsp;</a>declared Biden the “apparent winner” Monday, a procedural yet critical step that allowed for the transition to begin in earnest. She made the determination after Trump’s efforts to subvert the vote failed across battleground states. She cited “recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results.”Michigan certified Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-consider-certifying-joe-biden-4ee6fbfd69f9a2a4daf9be449c6fe31d">154,000-count victory Monday</a>, despite calls by Trump to the GOP members to block the vote to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne County, where Trump claimed he was the victim of fraud. Biden crushed the president by more than 330,000 votes there.“The board’s duty today is very clear,” said Aaron Van Langevelde, the Republican vice chair. “We have a duty to certify this election based on these returns.”Still, the Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “simply a procedural step” and insisted it would fight on.Trump and his allies have brought at least four cases in Michigan that sought — unsuccessfully — to block certification of election results in part or all of the state.In Pennsylvania, after Gov. Tom Wolf certified Biden as the winner, an appeals court judge ordered state officials to halt any further steps toward certifying election results. The state has appealed to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.In Arizona, just as lawyers for a woman in the Phoenix area dropped a case alleging that equipment was unable to record her ballot because she completed it with a county-issued Sharpie pen, Trump’s campaign filed its own lawsuit echoing some of the same complaints. As that suit was about to be dismissed, lawyers for the woman filed a new case reviving the claims and demanding that she be allowed to recast her ballot. All three of the cases have now been dismissed.“The legal process seems to be unfolding the way it’s supposed to, but the Trump campaign has made clear its desire to throw wrenches in the system wherever it can,” said Lisa Marshall Manheim, a professor at the University of Washington School of Law.----------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is headed to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to continue his fight to overturn the results of the election and secure Trump a second term.Pennsylvania has already certified its results and awarded its 20 electors to Democrat Joe Biden, who was declared the winner of the Nov. 3 election.Giuliani is leading legal challenges to the balloting in Pennsylvania and other states as the Republican president seeks to maintain his base of supporters and keep his options open for opportunities post-presidency.Giuliani claimed in a Wednesday interview with New York radio station AM 970 that illegal votes were cast, especially in Philadelphia, that he wants to see disqualified. But a broad coalition of top government and industry officials says the Nov. 3 election was “the most secure in American history.”In Pennsylvania on Saturday, a conservative Republican judge shot down the Trump campaign’s biggest legal effort in the state with a scathing ruling that questioned why he was supposed to disenfranchise 7 million voters with no evidence to back its claims and an inept legal argument at best.

Update: President's legal team continues election fight 

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp;a string of recent burglaries in Barton County.

 On November 24, 2020 sheriff's deputies developed enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant and executed it at a home at 1814 Odell Street in the city of Great Bend. Deputies were looking for stolen property.

When deputies gained entry to the residence, they located three persons on the property and found stolen property from at least three burglaries. 

As the investigation continued deputies also discovered methamphetamine and homemade explosives.&nbsp; Deputies notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Wichita Police Department bomb squad responded to the scene. 

The pipe bombs were secured and transported to Wichita by the bomb squad for disposal.

Three persons were arrested at the scene. Derek Devine age 34 of Great Bend was booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of explosives, felony theft, burglary as well as possession of stolen property. He’s being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond. 

Caitlin Robinson age 26 of Great Bend was arrested and booked on requested charges of possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine. Her bond is set at $20,000. 

Michael Wheeler age 50 of Great Bend was arrested on requested charges of of possession of methamphetamine and his bond is set at $10,000. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339581793.png" alt="Robinson photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Robinson photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp;a string of recent burglaries in Barton County. On November 24, 2020 sheriff's deputies developed enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant and executed it at a home at 1814 Odell Street in the city of Great Bend. Deputies were looking for stolen property.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339555035.png" alt="Deputies at the scene of the investigation-Photo Barton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Deputies at the scene of the investigation-Photo Barton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>When deputies gained entry to the residence, they located three persons on the property and found stolen property from at least three burglaries. As the investigation continued deputies also discovered methamphetamine and homemade explosives.&nbsp; Deputies notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Wichita Police Department bomb squad responded to the scene. The pipe bombs were secured and transported to Wichita by the bomb squad for disposal.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339702197.png" alt="Devine-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Devine-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Three persons were arrested at the scene. Derek Devine age 34 of Great Bend was booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of explosives, felony theft, burglary as well as possession of stolen property. He’s being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339653754.png" alt="Wheeler-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Wheeler-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Caitlin Robinson age 26 of Great Bend was arrested and booked on requested charges of possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine. Her bond is set at $20,000. Michael Wheeler age 50 of Great Bend was arrested on requested charges of of possession of methamphetamine and his bond is set at $10,000.

Deputies find pipe bombs during Kansas drug bust

MORTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Morton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC Sierra driven by&nbsp; Schwindt, Jaxon D. Schwindt, 15, Rolla, Kansas, was eastbound on Rd J at Road 24 one mile south of the U.S. 56 and K51 intersection in Rolla.

Vehicle 2 was traveling northbound on Rd 24. 

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. A northbound 2000 Ford Mustang driven by Austin Ray Hayes, 22, Goodwell, Oklahoma, struck the GMC pickup at the intersection. The pickup began to overturn before striking a powerline pole.

A passenger in the GMC Jace W. Schwindt, 14, Boise City, Oklahoma, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Henson-Novack Mortuary.

Jaxon Schwindt, Hayes and a second passenger in the GMC Ali Ortiz, 18, from Mexico, were transported to the Morton County Hospital. The occupants of the GMC pickup were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

MORTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Morton County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC Sierra driven by&nbsp; Schwindt, Jaxon D. Schwindt, 15, Rolla, Kansas, was eastbound on Rd J at Road 24 one mile south of the U.S. 56 and K51 intersection in Rolla.Vehicle 2 was traveling northbound on Rd 24. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. A northbound 2000 Ford Mustang driven by Austin Ray Hayes, 22, Goodwell, Oklahoma, struck the GMC pickup at the intersection. The pickup began to overturn before striking a powerline pole.A passenger in the GMC Jace W. Schwindt, 14, Boise City, Oklahoma, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Henson-Novack Mortuary.Jaxon Schwindt, Hayes and a second passenger in the GMC Ali Ortiz, 18, from Mexico, were transported to the Morton County Hospital. The occupants of the GMC pickup were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Teen dead, 3 hospitalized after 2-vehicle Kansas crash

RENO COUNTY—&nbsp;Officers of the Hutchinson Police Department conducted an undercover operation into the solicitation of a child for sex on Wednesday and made an arrest.

At 9:34 a.m.,&nbsp; members of the Hutchinson Police Department Special Operations and Investigations Bureau completed an investigation into a Juvenile Sex Offense, according to a media release.

Police arrested David A. Johnson, 33, Hutchinson, for indecent solicitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and electronic solicitation.

After lengthy conversations between Johnson and officers, who Johnson believed to be a juvenile, Johnson went to a local residence to meet up with the juvenile to engage in sexual activity, but instead Johnson met up with officers who arrested him.

RENO COUNTY—&nbsp;Officers of the Hutchinson Police Department conducted an undercover operation into the solicitation of a child for sex on Wednesday and made an arrest.At 9:34 a.m.,&nbsp; members of the Hutchinson Police Department Special Operations and Investigations Bureau completed an investigation into a Juvenile Sex Offense, according to a media release.Police arrested David A. Johnson, 33, Hutchinson, for indecent solicitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and electronic solicitation.After lengthy conversations between Johnson and officers, who Johnson believed to be a juvenile, Johnson went to a local residence to meet up with the juvenile to engage in sexual activity, but instead Johnson met up with officers who arrested him.

Police arrest Kan. man during undercover child sex sting

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.

Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, police were called to a shooting that had just occurred, according to&nbsp;Sergeant Lana Urteaga. The victim notified dispatch he was in the area of Abe Hubert Elementary School,&nbsp;1205 A Street in Garden City.

Once officers arrived, they located a 16-year-old juvenile with a gunshot wound. Officers learned neither the school nor USD 457 was involved in the incident. EMS transported the boy to St. Catherine Hospital with critical injuries. 

While officers were investigating the incident in the parking lot of the school dispatchers were notified of a second shooting victim at 1307 north 12th Street. Upon arrival, Officers located a 4-year-old girl with a gunshot wound. 

Officers learned the incident occurred as a result of a domestic dispute. The 4-year old girl sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by Finney County EMS to St. Catherine Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

Police located and arrested Justin Franco, 31, Garden City, at his North 12th Street residence and took him into custody without incident. Police released no additional details late Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606345570144.png" alt="Police on the scene&nbsp; of the shooting Wednesday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene&nbsp; of the shooting Wednesday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, police were called to a shooting that had just occurred, according to&nbsp;Sergeant Lana Urteaga. The victim notified dispatch he was in the area of Abe Hubert Elementary School,&nbsp;1205 A Street in Garden City.Once officers arrived, they located a 16-year-old juvenile with a gunshot wound. Officers learned neither the school nor USD 457 was involved in the incident. EMS transported the boy to St. Catherine Hospital with critical injuries. While officers were investigating the incident in the parking lot of the school dispatchers were notified of a second shooting victim at 1307 north 12th Street. Upon arrival, Officers located a 4-year-old girl with a gunshot wound. Officers learned the incident occurred as a result of a domestic dispute. The 4-year old girl sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by Finney County EMS to St. Catherine Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.Police located and arrested Justin Franco, 31, Garden City, at his North 12th Street residence and took him into custody without incident. Police released no additional details late Wednesday.

Police: SW Kan. girl killed, teen wounded in shooting

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp; Authorities are cracking down on restaurants that violate rules designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Kansas City’s liquor control authorities found two dozen bars and restaurants in violation of the city’s new COVID-19 restrictions after a weekend sweep of 185 establishments. The city’s Department of Regulated Industries, which governs liquor licenses, used to rely primarily on complaints to enforce restrictions.

But as the latest set of rules issued by Mayor Quinton Lucas took effect Friday — limiting bars and restaurants to 50% capacity and a closing time of 10 p.m. — the city became more proactive. Staffers will be out every weekend checking on businesses, said Jim Ready, manager of Regulated Industries.

“We’re doing it — not to pick on the business. It’s because the COVID-19 numbers in Kansas City are really scary,” he said. “The hospitals are getting stretched to the max.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp; Authorities are cracking down on restaurants that violate rules designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus.Kansas City’s liquor control authorities found two dozen bars and restaurants in violation of the city’s new COVID-19 restrictions after a weekend sweep of 185 establishments. The city’s Department of Regulated Industries, which governs liquor licenses, used to rely primarily on complaints to enforce restrictions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339227129.png" alt="Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>But as the latest set of rules issued by Mayor Quinton Lucas took effect Friday — limiting bars and restaurants to 50% capacity and a closing time of 10 p.m. — the city became more proactive. Staffers will be out every weekend checking on businesses, said Jim Ready, manager of Regulated Industries.“We’re doing it — not to pick on the business. It’s because the COVID-19 numbers in Kansas City are really scary,” he said. “The hospitals are getting stretched to the max.”

Kansas City cracks down on restaurant virus rule breakers

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposed rule that would establish a framework through which stakeholders could gain expanded access to court case information in the Kansas eCourt case management system.

The court will accept comment at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publiccomments@kscourts.org?subject=Rule%2025&amp;body=" target="_blank">publiccomments@kscourts.org</a>&nbsp;until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.r 9. The email subject line must read “Rule 25.”

Under proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPiUedJDMZuKkYRayGnOfIzk" target="_blank">Supreme Court Rule 25: Expanded Access to Kansas eCourt case management system information</a>, stakeholders are defined as:

Law enforcement, district and county attorneys, and other groups require access to court case information, and the proposed rule provides a framework through which information sharing could occur.

Expanded access could include certain case types and documents and personally identifiable information that would otherwise not be publicly available. Stakeholders granted access to this information would be required to follow rules, policies, and procedures aimed at keeping the information confidential.

The judicial administrator would be responsible for managing this expanded access, which could include consulting stakeholders when developing standard operating procedures and methods of access.

As Kansas courts transition to a new centralized case management system following the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPuWgucjR1igKAVfUdxyEzkk" target="_blank">Kansas eCourt Statewide Rollout Plan</a>, many of their public records are becoming available through an&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPgDPEAMKCGpTJ0q3g4pGlqQ" target="_blank">online public portal</a>. This rule would allow for access to information beyond what is available through the portal.

Public court records are&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPqHqAEKEC7o11tLDvGk5MIw" target="_blank">accessible at each courthouse</a>&nbsp;through computers reserved for public searches of court case information. Sealed cases and sealed records are not public, and other records may be exempt by judicial rule, order, or case law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593180302304.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OJATOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposed rule that would establish a framework through which stakeholders could gain expanded access to court case information in the Kansas eCourt case management system.The court will accept comment at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publiccomments@kscourts.org?subject=Rule%2025&amp;body=" target="_blank">publiccomments@kscourts.org</a>&nbsp;until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.r 9. The email subject line must read “Rule 25.”Under proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPiUedJDMZuKkYRayGnOfIzk" target="_blank">Supreme Court Rule 25: Expanded Access to Kansas eCourt case management system information</a>, stakeholders are defined as:<ul>
 <li>a governmental agency; </li><li>a contractor for a governmental agency; or </li><li>another entity that is not part of the Kansas judicial branch that is granted expanded access.</li>
 </ul>Law enforcement, district and county attorneys, and other groups require access to court case information, and the proposed rule provides a framework through which information sharing could occur.Expanded access could include certain case types and documents and personally identifiable information that would otherwise not be publicly available. Stakeholders granted access to this information would be required to follow rules, policies, and procedures aimed at keeping the information confidential.The judicial administrator would be responsible for managing this expanded access, which could include consulting stakeholders when developing standard operating procedures and methods of access.As Kansas courts transition to a new centralized case management system following the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPuWgucjR1igKAVfUdxyEzkk" target="_blank">Kansas eCourt Statewide Rollout Plan</a>, many of their public records are becoming available through an&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPgDPEAMKCGpTJ0q3g4pGlqQ" target="_blank">online public portal</a>. This rule would allow for access to information beyond what is available through the portal.Public court records are&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/0Gq-A_DYJELVq2fM2LRGPqHqAEKEC7o11tLDvGk5MIw" target="_blank">accessible at each courthouse</a>&nbsp;through computers reserved for public searches of court case information. Sealed cases and sealed records are not public, and other records may be exempt by judicial rule, order, or case law.

Supreme Court accepting comment regarding access to court case information

GRANT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting.

Just before 5p.m. Thursday police responded to report of a shooting at a home in the 1300 Block of Oklahoma Avenue in Ulysses, according to Police Chief Alan Olsen.

At the scene, officers located an 11-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to her face. Grant County EMS transported her to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital.

Investigators have learned that a 13-year-old boy at the home was handling a firearm when it discharged and struck the girl.

GRANT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting.Just before 5p.m. Thursday police responded to report of a shooting at a home in the 1300 Block of Oklahoma Avenue in Ulysses, according to Police Chief Alan Olsen.At the scene, officers located an 11-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to her face. Grant County EMS transported her to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital.Investigators have learned that a 13-year-old boy at the home was handling a firearm when it discharged and struck the girl.Police released no additional details.

Police: 11-year-old Kansas girl shot in the face

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Millions of Americans took to the skies and hit the road ahead of Thanksgiving at the risk of pouring gasoline on the coronavirus fire, disregarding increasingly dire warnings that they stay home and limit their holiday gatherings to members of their own household.

Those who are flying witnessed a distinctly 2020 landscape at the nation’s airports during what is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year: plexiglass barriers in front of the ID stations, rapid virus testing sites inside terminals, and paperwork asking them to quarantine upon arrival at their destination.

While the number of Americans traveling by air over the past several days was down dramatically from the same time last year, plenty of others pressed ahead with their holiday plans amid skyrocketing deaths, hospitalizations and confirmed infections across the U.S.

Many were tired of more than eight months of social distancing and determined to spend time with loved ones.

“I think with the holidays and everything, it’s so important right now, especially because people are so bummed out because of the whole pandemic,” said 25-year-old Cassidy Zerkle of Phoenix, who flew to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;City,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri">Missouri</a>, to visit family.

She brought snacks and her own hand sanitizer and said the flight was half full. She had a row of seats to herself.

“As long as you’re maintaining your distance, you’re not touching stuff and you’re sanitizing your hands, people should see their families right now," she said.

The coronavirus is blamed for more than 12.6 million confirmed infections and over 269,000 deaths in the U.S.

More than 88,000 people in the U.S. — an all-time high — were in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Tuesday, and new cases have soared to an average of over 174,000 per day, the highest level on record. Deaths have surged to more than 1,600 per day, a mark last seen in May, when the crisis in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;City area was easing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local authorities have begged people not to travel and urged them to keep their Thanksgiving celebrations small.

“That’ll make sure that your extended family are around to celebrate Christmas and to celebrate the holidays next year,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kentucky">Kentucky</a>&nbsp;Gov. Andy Beshear said.

About 1 million people per day passed through U.S. airport checkpoints from Friday through Tuesday, a drop-off of around 60% from the same time a year ago. Still, those have been the biggest crowds since the COVID-19 crisis took hold in the U.S. in March.

Last year, a record 26 million passengers and crew passed through U.S. airport screening in the 11-day period around Thanksgiving.

People tend to drive rather than fly during the holiday, but AAA has projected those numbers also are likely to be lower this year. How much lower the auto club has not said.

Many states and cities have adopted precautions. Travelers to Los Angeles — either by plane or train — are being required to fill out an online form acknowledging&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>’s request that people quarantine for two weeks after arrival in the state.

The resurgence of the virus and the refusal of many people to wear masks or keep their distance from others have caused despair among health care officials and front-line workers.

“I’ll just to confess to you guys, I’m exhausted trying to convince folks to do stuff. It’s just going nowhere,” said Dr. Thomas Dobbs,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/mississippi">Mississippi</a>’s state health officer.

Anne Moore, a 60-year-old woman from Chicago, flew to Albany, New York, to be with her daughter for the holiday. Her daughter is a senior at Dartmouth University, and Moore and her husband were worried about her driving back to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois">Illinois</a>&nbsp;by herself.

Before the spike, the family had planned to hold a Thanksgiving gathering of fewer than 10 people. But instead it will be just Moore, her husband and her daughter.

“I have friends who are alone. And I’m not inviting them. And I feel badly about that,” she said. "We’ll take a walk or something instead. But yeah, the three of us are isolating.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584650381811.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kanas City International airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kanas City International airport</figcaption>
 </figure>BY LISA MARIE PANEKANSAS CITY (AP) —Millions of Americans took to the skies and hit the road ahead of Thanksgiving at the risk of pouring gasoline on the coronavirus fire, disregarding increasingly dire warnings that they stay home and limit their holiday gatherings to members of their own household.Those who are flying witnessed a distinctly 2020 landscape at the nation’s airports during what is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year: plexiglass barriers in front of the ID stations, rapid virus testing sites inside terminals, and paperwork asking them to quarantine upon arrival at their destination.While the number of Americans traveling by air over the past several days was down dramatically from the same time last year, plenty of others pressed ahead with their holiday plans amid skyrocketing deaths, hospitalizations and confirmed infections across the U.S.Many were tired of more than eight months of social distancing and determined to spend time with loved ones.“I think with the holidays and everything, it’s so important right now, especially because people are so bummed out because of the whole pandemic,” said 25-year-old Cassidy Zerkle of Phoenix, who flew to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;City,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri">Missouri</a>, to visit family.She brought snacks and her own hand sanitizer and said the flight was half full. She had a row of seats to herself.“As long as you’re maintaining your distance, you’re not touching stuff and you’re sanitizing your hands, people should see their families right now," she said.The coronavirus is blamed for more than 12.6 million confirmed infections and over 269,000 deaths in the U.S.More than 88,000 people in the U.S. — an all-time high — were in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Tuesday, and new cases have soared to an average of over 174,000 per day, the highest level on record. Deaths have surged to more than 1,600 per day, a mark last seen in May, when the crisis in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;City area was easing.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local authorities have begged people not to travel and urged them to keep their Thanksgiving celebrations small.“That’ll make sure that your extended family are around to celebrate Christmas and to celebrate the holidays next year,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kentucky">Kentucky</a>&nbsp;Gov. Andy Beshear said.About 1 million people per day passed through U.S. airport checkpoints from Friday through Tuesday, a drop-off of around 60% from the same time a year ago. Still, those have been the biggest crowds since the COVID-19 crisis took hold in the U.S. in March.Last year, a record 26 million passengers and crew passed through U.S. airport screening in the 11-day period around Thanksgiving.People tend to drive rather than fly during the holiday, but AAA has projected those numbers also are likely to be lower this year. How much lower the auto club has not said.Many states and cities have adopted precautions. Travelers to Los Angeles — either by plane or train — are being required to fill out an online form acknowledging&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>’s request that people quarantine for two weeks after arrival in the state.The resurgence of the virus and the refusal of many people to wear masks or keep their distance from others have caused despair among health care officials and front-line workers.“I’ll just to confess to you guys, I’m exhausted trying to convince folks to do stuff. It’s just going nowhere,” said Dr. Thomas Dobbs,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/mississippi">Mississippi</a>’s state health officer.Anne Moore, a 60-year-old woman from Chicago, flew to Albany, New York, to be with her daughter for the holiday. Her daughter is a senior at Dartmouth University, and Moore and her husband were worried about her driving back to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois">Illinois</a>&nbsp;by herself.Before the spike, the family had planned to hold a Thanksgiving gathering of fewer than 10 people. But instead it will be just Moore, her husband and her daughter.“I have friends who are alone. And I’m not inviting them. And I feel badly about that,” she said. "We’ll take a walk or something instead. But yeah, the three of us are isolating.”

Americans risk traveling over Thanksgiving despite warnings

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 5,738 to a total of 147,797 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1,503, an increase of 47.

<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 5,738 to a total of 147,797 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1,503, an increase of 47.<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/2020/11/1606339227129.png" alt="Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held a press briefing Wednesday afternoon to discuss the increase in COVID-19 in Kansas.&nbsp;

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 5,738 to a total of 147,797 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The governor also reminded Kansans to scale back Thanksgiving celebrations and to do Black Friday shopping online instead of in-person.

During the press conference, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman provided an update on COVID-19 treatments and the latests details on hospital capacity in the state.

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held a press briefing Wednesday afternoon to discuss the increase in COVID-19 in Kansas.&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 5,738 to a total of 147,797 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1,503, an increase of 47.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F195263332136278%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>&nbsp;The governor also reminded Kansans to scale back Thanksgiving celebrations and to do Black Friday shopping online instead of in-person.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606339227129.png" alt="Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>During the press conference, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman provided an update on COVID-19 treatments and the latests details on hospital capacity in the state.

🎥 Governor on COVID-19 and Thanksgiving in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Sedgwick County District&nbsp; Attorney Marc Bennett has filed a civil petition seeking the ouster of Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin for his role along with two others in a false ad against then Wichita mayoral candidate Brandon Whipple, according to a release from Bennett's office.

&nbsp;Michael O’Donnell resigned earlier this month from the Sedgwick County Commission after Bennett concluded there was sufficient evidence to begin ouster proceedings against him.

On November 20, Bennett said that he has also been in consultation with the attorney general’s office concerning state Rep Michael Capps role in the plot.

 The matter against Clendenin will be assigned to a District Court Judge, according to Bennett.&nbsp; No formal proceedings are scheduled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603722521631.png" alt="From left: Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O'Donnell, Kansas House Rep. Michael Capps and Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>From left: Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O'Donnell, Kansas House Rep. Michael Capps and Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Sedgwick County District&nbsp; Attorney Marc Bennett has filed a civil petition seeking the ouster of Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin for his role along with two others in a false ad against then Wichita mayoral candidate Brandon Whipple, according to a release from Bennett's office.&nbsp;Michael O’Donnell resigned earlier this month from the Sedgwick County Commission after Bennett concluded there was sufficient evidence to begin ouster proceedings against him.On November 20, Bennett said that he has also been in consultation with the attorney general’s office concerning state Rep Michael Capps role in the plot. The matter against Clendenin will be assigned to a District Court Judge, according to Bennett.&nbsp; No formal proceedings are scheduled.

DA seeks ouster of councilman over false ad plot

BEIJING (AP) — China says it has detected the coronavirus on packages of imported frozen food, but how valid are its claims and how serious is the threat to public health?

Frozen shrimp imported from an Ecuadorian company was banned for one week on Tuesday in a continuing series of such temporary bans.

While experts say the virus can survive for a time on cardboard and plastic containers, it remains unclear how serious a risk that poses. Like so many issues surrounding the pandemic, the matter has swiftly become politicized.

China has rejected complaints from the U.S. and others, saying it is putting people’s lives first. Experts say they generally don’t consider the presence of the virus on packaging to be a significant health risk.

A look at the issue and some of the conclusions so far:

Packaging first became a major issue with outbreaks in China linked to wholesale food markets, including one in June on the outskirts of Beijing. That prompted the removal of smoked salmon from supermarket shelves and has snowballed into multiple cases nationwide involving chicken, beef and seafood from nearly two dozen countries. At some supermarkets, imported meat now comes with a sticker declaring it to be virus-free.

Infections among freight handlers have also placed suspicion on packaging. Person-to-person transmission hasn’t been ruled out, however, and China has yet to release evidence that packaging was indeed the route of infection.

Trading partners, including the U.S., New Zealand, Canada and the EU, say they’re unclear on China’s methodology and have seen no solid evidence that their products carried the virus. The U.S. has questioned whether China’s crackdown is scientifically based and suggested the bans may amount to an unfair trade barrier.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian called the U.S. accusations “totally groundless and unreasonable.” China’s measures are “necessary following the spirit of putting people’s lives first and protecting people’s health,” he said last week.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the World Health Organization said cases of live viruses being found on packaging appear to be “rare and isolated.” While the virus can “survive a long time under cold storage conditions,” there is no evidence of people contracting COVID-19 from consuming food, it said.

The virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is overwhelmingly transmitted through respiratory droplets and smaller sized particles passed through the air, underscoring the importance of mask-wearing.

Yet the virus can also be present on surfaces, and public health officials have urged people to wash their hands carefully and avoid physical contact with others. In general, the colder and dryer that conditions are, the longer the virus can survive on surfaces.

Wiping down countertops, handrails and other surfaces is a common way to ensure safety. Some people have also gone to the extreme of disinfecting packages brought into their homes, both by themselves or by delivery services.

Virus traces found on packaging can be infectious or non-infectious. The extremely sensitive tests being used can detect both active viruses and their remnants, without being able to distinguish between them, said Timothy Newsome, a virologist at the University of Sydney.

“It is possible and may represent some risk, but it’s certainly at the lower end of risk for transmission,” he said. “We know low temperatures do stabilize the virus. Nonetheless, I think things which have been transported and surface transmission — there’s a low risk of it.”

BEIJING (AP) — China says it has detected the coronavirus on packages of imported frozen food, but how valid are its claims and how serious is the threat to public health?Frozen shrimp imported from an Ecuadorian company was banned for one week on Tuesday in a continuing series of such temporary bans.While experts say the virus can survive for a time on cardboard and plastic containers, it remains unclear how serious a risk that poses. Like so many issues surrounding the pandemic, the matter has swiftly become politicized.China has rejected complaints from the U.S. and others, saying it is putting people’s lives first. Experts say they generally don’t consider the presence of the virus on packaging to be a significant health risk.A look at the issue and some of the conclusions so far:CHINA’S CRACKDOWNPackaging first became a major issue with outbreaks in China linked to wholesale food markets, including one in June on the outskirts of Beijing. That prompted the removal of smoked salmon from supermarket shelves and has snowballed into multiple cases nationwide involving chicken, beef and seafood from nearly two dozen countries. At some supermarkets, imported meat now comes with a sticker declaring it to be virus-free.Infections among freight handlers have also placed suspicion on packaging. Person-to-person transmission hasn’t been ruled out, however, and China has yet to release evidence that packaging was indeed the route of infection.OVERSEAS COMPLAINTSTrading partners, including the U.S., New Zealand, Canada and the EU, say they’re unclear on China’s methodology and have seen no solid evidence that their products carried the virus. The U.S. has questioned whether China’s crackdown is scientifically based and suggested the bans may amount to an unfair trade barrier.Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian called the U.S. accusations “totally groundless and unreasonable.” China’s measures are “necessary following the spirit of putting people’s lives first and protecting people’s health,” he said last week.In a statement to The Associated Press, the World Health Organization said cases of live viruses being found on packaging appear to be “rare and isolated.” While the virus can “survive a long time under cold storage conditions,” there is no evidence of people contracting COVID-19 from consuming food, it said.SURFACE TRANSMISSIONThe virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is overwhelmingly transmitted through respiratory droplets and smaller sized particles passed through the air, underscoring the importance of mask-wearing.Yet the virus can also be present on surfaces, and public health officials have urged people to wash their hands carefully and avoid physical contact with others. In general, the colder and dryer that conditions are, the longer the virus can survive on surfaces.Wiping down countertops, handrails and other surfaces is a common way to ensure safety. Some people have also gone to the extreme of disinfecting packages brought into their homes, both by themselves or by delivery services.WHAT EXPERTS SAYVirus traces found on packaging can be infectious or non-infectious. The extremely sensitive tests being used can detect both active viruses and their remnants, without being able to distinguish between them, said Timothy Newsome, a virologist at the University of Sydney.“It is possible and may represent some risk, but it’s certainly at the lower end of risk for transmission,” he said. “We know low temperatures do stabilize the virus. Nonetheless, I think things which have been transported and surface transmission — there’s a low risk of it.”A positive test “doesn’t indicate infectious virus, just that some signal from the virus is present on that surface,” said Andrew Pekosz of Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.“I’ve seen no convincing data that SARS-CoV-2 on food packaging poses a significant risk for infection,” he said.___