TOPEKA —At the direction of the State Emergency Operations Center, the Kansas Army National Guard has placed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters on standby in Salina in response to a high potential for wildland fires Tuesday and Wednesday. Helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation supported fire suppression efforts in Harvey County over the weekend, according to a media release from the Kansas Adjutant General. Gov. Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency declaration Nov. 14 due to the potential for wildland fires in counties in northwest and southwest Kansas. "It is because wildfires can spring up so suddenly under these conditions that I have put this disaster declaration in place," Kelly said. "Placing resources such as these helicopters on standby help the state respond more quickly if a fire begins to spread." The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria. The threat for a potentially dangerous situation exists due to a combination of northwest winds gusting up to 65 mph, blowing dust producing reduced visibilities, and critical fire weather conditions. "It is critical that all Kansans be aware of the danger for wildfires and do their part to prevent them," said Angee Morgan, deputy director, Kansas Division of Emergency Management. "A carelessly discarded cigarette or an unattended charcoal grill has the potential to touch off a devastating fire, so we urge everyone to be careful and to contact their local county emergency manager to see if there is a burn ban in their area." The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka is currently activated in response to the coronavirus pandemic and will be monitoring for critical fire weather across Kansas.

TOPEKA —At the direction of the State Emergency Operations Center, the Kansas Army National Guard has placed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters on standby in Salina in response to a high potential for wildland fires Tuesday and Wednesday. Helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation supported fire suppression efforts in Harvey County over the weekend, according to a media release from the Kansas Adjutant General. Gov. Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency declaration Nov. 14 due to the potential for wildland fires in counties in northwest and southwest Kansas. "It is because wildfires can spring up so suddenly under these conditions that I have put this disaster declaration in place," Kelly said. "Placing resources such as these helicopters on standby help the state respond more quickly if a fire begins to spread." The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria. The threat for a potentially dangerous situation exists due to a combination of northwest winds gusting up to 65 mph, blowing dust producing reduced visibilities, and critical fire weather conditions. "It is critical that all Kansans be aware of the danger for wildfires and do their part to prevent them," said Angee Morgan, deputy director, Kansas Division of Emergency Management. "A carelessly discarded cigarette or an unattended charcoal grill has the potential to touch off a devastating fire, so we urge everyone to be careful and to contact their local county emergency manager to see if there is a burn ban in their area." The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka is currently activated in response to the coronavirus pandemic and will be monitoring for critical fire weather across Kansas.

Black Hawk helicopters on standby due to the risk of wild fires


WASHINGTON, D.C. — 
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran spoke on the Senate floor on Monday to urge his Senate colleagues to support legislative proposals that extend the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) deadline, including the Remove Impediments for a Successful Economic Recovery (RISER) Act he introduced last month.

"This week," Moran said. "If it doesn't get done this week, it probably means very little in an extension, to this week pass an extension beyond December 31 for the use of those CARES dollars in states across the nation."

Kansas received $1.25 billion from the CRF, but under current law will lose any funding not utilized by December 31, 2020. The RISER Act would extend the CRF deadline to December 31, 2022, allowing states and local governments to strategically target areas of need over a longer period of time.

Moran understands that it may be easier to pass an extension with fewer provisions than the RISER Act, and he's okay with that in the short term while they work out details, but the lack of an extension is what would&nbsp; force government at the local and state level to use the money before they lose it, and likely not do so as efficiently.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — 
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran spoke on the Senate floor on Monday to urge his Senate colleagues to support legislative proposals that extend the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) deadline, including the Remove Impediments for a Successful Economic Recovery (RISER) Act he introduced last month.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_tVJcdIdyMw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"This week," Moran said. "If it doesn't get done this week, it probably means very little in an extension, to this week pass an extension beyond December 31 for the use of those CARES dollars in states across the nation."Kansas received $1.25 billion from the CRF, but under current law will lose any funding not utilized by December 31, 2020. The RISER Act would extend the CRF deadline to December 31, 2022, allowing states and local governments to strategically target areas of need over a longer period of time.Moran understands that it may be easier to pass an extension with fewer provisions than the RISER Act, and he's okay with that in the short term while they work out details, but the lack of an extension is what would&nbsp; force government at the local and state level to use the money before they lose it, and likely not do so as efficiently.

🎥 Moran wants Coronavirus Relief Fund deadline extended

KANSAS CITY (AP) — No one was injured Monday when strong wind gusts blew a small plane off the runway at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City, airport officials said.

A Piper Meridian single-engine aircraft had landed on a runway around 10:30 a.m. Monday when the wind pushed it off the east side of the runway into the grass, airport officials said. Two people aboard the plane were uninjured, according to officials.

The runway was briefly shut down while crews removed the plane. The airport’s other runway remained open.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605612153368.png" alt="Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport google image" />
 <figcaption>Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — No one was injured Monday when strong wind gusts blew a small plane off the runway at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City, airport officials said.A Piper Meridian single-engine aircraft had landed on a runway around 10:30 a.m. Monday when the wind pushed it off the east side of the runway into the grass, airport officials said. Two people aboard the plane were uninjured, according to officials.The runway was briefly shut down while crews removed the plane. The airport’s other runway remained open.

Wind gust blows small plane off runway in Kansas City

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A white supremacist who told an undercover FBI agent about his plans to firebomb a synagogue or attack a Las Vegas bar catering to LGBTQ customers was sentenced Friday to two years in prison.

Conor Climo, 24, apologized before U.S. District Judge James Mahan sentenced him to prison followed by six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. Prosecutors recommended a 30-month prison sentence.

“I was truly wrong for all of this,” Climo said. “I even have come to really regret everything, everything that I was involved with.”

The judge gave Climo credit for the jail time he already has served since his August 2019 arrest and agreed to recommend that he serves his prison time in Louisiana, near grandparents whom he plans to live with after his release.

“I’m going to take you at your word,” Mahan told Climo. “I think you have seen the error of your ways and you want to reform.”

Defense attorney Paul Riddle said his client is grateful that FBI agents arrested him when they did because he knows that he was on a “very dark path.”

“But he’s not on that path anymore, and he’s the not same person that was arrested,” Riddle said.

The FBI said it began investigating Climo in April 2019 after learning of his encrypted internet chats with members of Feuerkrieg Division, an international offshoot of a U.S.-based neo-Nazi group called Atomwaffen Division. Climo told FBI agents that he joined Feuerkrieg Division but left because he “became bored with the group and their inaction,” according to a court filing.

Climo, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/056c0c1f14716fb8093ec290314a7926">pleading guilty&nbsp;</a>to a firearm charge, acknowledged that he discussed attacking a synagogue or other targets during his online communications with an undercover FBI agent and an informant. Agents who searched Climo’s Las Vegas home found bomb components and two rifles.

Climo was “not just talking about what he believes and intends to do, but rather is planning, and has engaged in actions,” a federal magistrate judge wrote after Climo’s arrest.

Atomwaffen has been linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/406c0b0b8bb04d06a774443cef2294ec">several killings</a>, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/222eaf9f330e4cdf812634f0baf3d5ca">May 2017 shooting deaths</a>&nbsp;of two men at an apartment in Tampa, Florida. Atomwaffen co-founder Devon Arthurs, who was charged with killing two of his roommates in the apartment, told police they were group members and that he killed them to thwart a terrorist attack.

Federal authorities have arrested several men linked to white supremacist groups promoting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6a19ebcf35353bb4e5644a2ee77bc83c">“accelerationism,”</a>&nbsp;a fringe philosophy espousing mass violence to fuel society’s collapse. Members of a neo-Nazi group called The Base were arrested in January ahead of a gun rights rally in Virginia. Several Atomwaffen members were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/280a6f365dda116a8cbf53be3570c84a">charged in February&nbsp;</a>with conspiring to harass journalists, church congregations and a former Cabinet official.

Climo pleaded guilty in February to illegal possession of an unregistered firearm, a charge that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

During an FBI interview, Climo described his white supremacist ideology and expressed his hatred of Jews, African Americans and gay people, authorities said.

Climo told an FBI informant that he tried but failed to recruit a homeless person to conduct surveillance on a synagogue in October 2017, according to a court filing.

“The defendant had very specific plans about attacking one specific synagogue near his house,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe wrote in an order last year. “The defendant spoke of wanting to light an incendiary device and having others join him to shoot people as they came out of the synagogue.”

Investigators said Climo compiled a journal with sketches of gunmen attacking a LGBTQ bar in a downtown tourist corridor. His list of potential targets also included a fast food restaurant and a Las Vegas office for the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, authorities said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/feuerkrieg-division-fkd" target="_blank">ADL describes Feuerkrieg Division&nbsp;</a>as a group that has advocated for a race war and promoted some of the most extreme views of the white supremacist movement. Formed in 2018, it had roughly 30 members who conducted most of their activities online, the ADL said.

Another man linked to Feuerkrieg Division,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03e8abbd2a0a7c6d7f91113afafc508a">former soldier Jarrett William Smith</a>, was sentenced in August to 2 1/2 years in prison for distributing information about building a bomb and making napalm to an undercover FBI agent while he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Climo, a former security guard, came to the attention of authorities in September 2016 when he was interviewed by a local television news crew as he wore military-style battle gear and patrolled his neighborhood carrying an assault rifle, survival knife and extended-capacity ammunition magazines. Police said at the time he was not arrested because Nevada does not prohibit openly carrying firearms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605526416110.png" alt="Climo photo courtesy KTNV" />
 <figcaption>Climo photo courtesy KTNV</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — A white supremacist who told an undercover FBI agent about his plans to firebomb a synagogue or attack a Las Vegas bar catering to LGBTQ customers was sentenced Friday to two years in prison.Conor Climo, 24, apologized before U.S. District Judge James Mahan sentenced him to prison followed by six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. Prosecutors recommended a 30-month prison sentence.“I was truly wrong for all of this,” Climo said. “I even have come to really regret everything, everything that I was involved with.”The judge gave Climo credit for the jail time he already has served since his August 2019 arrest and agreed to recommend that he serves his prison time in Louisiana, near grandparents whom he plans to live with after his release.“I’m going to take you at your word,” Mahan told Climo. “I think you have seen the error of your ways and you want to reform.”Defense attorney Paul Riddle said his client is grateful that FBI agents arrested him when they did because he knows that he was on a “very dark path.”“But he’s not on that path anymore, and he’s the not same person that was arrested,” Riddle said.The FBI said it began investigating Climo in April 2019 after learning of his encrypted internet chats with members of Feuerkrieg Division, an international offshoot of a U.S.-based neo-Nazi group called Atomwaffen Division. Climo told FBI agents that he joined Feuerkrieg Division but left because he “became bored with the group and their inaction,” according to a court filing.Climo, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/056c0c1f14716fb8093ec290314a7926">pleading guilty&nbsp;</a>to a firearm charge, acknowledged that he discussed attacking a synagogue or other targets during his online communications with an undercover FBI agent and an informant. Agents who searched Climo’s Las Vegas home found bomb components and two rifles.Climo was “not just talking about what he believes and intends to do, but rather is planning, and has engaged in actions,” a federal magistrate judge wrote after Climo’s arrest.Atomwaffen has been linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/406c0b0b8bb04d06a774443cef2294ec">several killings</a>, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/222eaf9f330e4cdf812634f0baf3d5ca">May 2017 shooting deaths</a>&nbsp;of two men at an apartment in Tampa, Florida. Atomwaffen co-founder Devon Arthurs, who was charged with killing two of his roommates in the apartment, told police they were group members and that he killed them to thwart a terrorist attack.Federal authorities have arrested several men linked to white supremacist groups promoting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6a19ebcf35353bb4e5644a2ee77bc83c">“accelerationism,”</a>&nbsp;a fringe philosophy espousing mass violence to fuel society’s collapse. Members of a neo-Nazi group called The Base were arrested in January ahead of a gun rights rally in Virginia. Several Atomwaffen members were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/280a6f365dda116a8cbf53be3570c84a">charged in February&nbsp;</a>with conspiring to harass journalists, church congregations and a former Cabinet official.Climo pleaded guilty in February to illegal possession of an unregistered firearm, a charge that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.During an FBI interview, Climo described his white supremacist ideology and expressed his hatred of Jews, African Americans and gay people, authorities said.Climo told an FBI informant that he tried but failed to recruit a homeless person to conduct surveillance on a synagogue in October 2017, according to a court filing.“The defendant had very specific plans about attacking one specific synagogue near his house,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe wrote in an order last year. “The defendant spoke of wanting to light an incendiary device and having others join him to shoot people as they came out of the synagogue.”Investigators said Climo compiled a journal with sketches of gunmen attacking a LGBTQ bar in a downtown tourist corridor. His list of potential targets also included a fast food restaurant and a Las Vegas office for the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, authorities said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/feuerkrieg-division-fkd" target="_blank">ADL describes Feuerkrieg Division&nbsp;</a>as a group that has advocated for a race war and promoted some of the most extreme views of the white supremacist movement. Formed in 2018, it had roughly 30 members who conducted most of their activities online, the ADL said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581537760069.png" alt="Jarrett Smith photo Riley County" />
 <figcaption>Jarrett Smith photo Riley County</figcaption>
 </figure>Another man linked to Feuerkrieg Division,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03e8abbd2a0a7c6d7f91113afafc508a">former soldier Jarrett William Smith</a>, was sentenced in August to 2 1/2 years in prison for distributing information about building a bomb and making napalm to an undercover FBI agent while he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.Climo, a former security guard, came to the attention of authorities in September 2016 when he was interviewed by a local television news crew as he wore military-style battle gear and patrolled his neighborhood carrying an assault rifle, survival knife and extended-capacity ammunition magazines. Police said at the time he was not arrested because Nevada does not prohibit openly carrying firearms.

Man linked to Kan. soldier sentenced in bomb plot case

ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — Nearly a year after Walter the dog went missing in suburban St. Louis, apparently wandering the woods behind an industrial park, the golden retriever is back with his owner.

Kate Olson of New Hampshire was in Arnold, Missouri, visiting relatives last Thanksgiving when Walter slipped out of his collar and took off. Olson stayed in Missouri for weeks searching for the dog and printing and distributing fliers.

She eventually returned to New England but got calls about sightings. She returned in January to search again. No luck, so she created a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2174541949520038">“Where's Walter?” Facebook page</a> and enlisted animal rescue groups in the search.

Finally, on Friday, Olson got the call she had been waiting for. A group based in Belleville, Illinois, called Lost Paws Trapping was able to capture Walter. Olson immediately got on a plane and was reunited with Walter Friday night.

“He has been such a little love,” Olson said. "He is the same sweet boy he was before and maybe even sweeter because he has missed getting loved on!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605545782074.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kate Olson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kate Olson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — Nearly a year after Walter the dog went missing in suburban St. Louis, apparently wandering the woods behind an industrial park, the golden retriever is back with his owner.Kate Olson of New Hampshire was in Arnold, Missouri, visiting relatives last Thanksgiving when Walter slipped out of his collar and took off. Olson stayed in Missouri for weeks searching for the dog and printing and distributing fliers.She eventually returned to New England but got calls about sightings. She returned in January to search again. No luck, so she created a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2174541949520038">“Where's Walter?” Facebook page</a> and enlisted animal rescue groups in the search.Finally, on Friday, Olson got the call she had been waiting for. A group based in Belleville, Illinois, called Lost Paws Trapping was able to capture Walter. Olson immediately got on a plane and was reunited with Walter Friday night.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=308&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F261438284438417%2Fvideos%2F1819692641503110%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="308" 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>“He has been such a little love,” Olson said. "He is the same sweet boy he was before and maybe even sweeter because he has missed getting loved on!”

After a year lost in the woods, dog reunites with owner

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as 16-year-old Stevie Ann Turner of Topeka, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz with Topeka Police.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of NW Lyman Road in Topeka for an accident in which a vehicle struck Turner, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

EMS transported her to a local hospital for treatment.

The Topeka Police Accident Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash. Lyman Rd between NW Lane St. and NW Myrtle Ave. were closed for an extended period of time.

Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact police.&nbsp; Authorities have not released additional details.&nbsp;

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities investigating an accident that sent a pedestrian to the hospital say the&nbsp;16-year-old victim died, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz with Topeka Police.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of NW Lyman Road in Topeka for an accident in which a vehicle struck a pedestrian, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

EMS transported the teen to a local hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact police.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the victim's name or additional details.&nbsp;

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that sent a pedestrian to a hospital with critical injuries.

EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as 16-year-old Stevie Ann Turner of Topeka, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz with Topeka Police.Just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of NW Lyman Road in Topeka for an accident in which a vehicle struck Turner, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.EMS transported her to a local hospital for treatment.The Topeka Police Accident Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash. Lyman Rd between NW Lane St. and NW Myrtle Ave. were closed for an extended period of time.Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact police.&nbsp; Authorities have not released additional details.&nbsp;---------TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities investigating an accident that sent a pedestrian to the hospital say the&nbsp;16-year-old victim died, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz with Topeka Police.Just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of NW Lyman Road in Topeka for an accident in which a vehicle struck a pedestrian, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.EMS transported the teen to a local hospital for treatment.The Topeka Police Accident Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash. Lyman Rd between NW Lane St. and NW Myrtle Ave. were closed for an extended period of time.Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact police.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the victim's name or additional details.&nbsp;--------TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that sent a pedestrian to a hospital with critical injuries.Just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of NW Lyman Road in Topeka for an accident in which a vehicle struck a pedestrian, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.The Topeka Police Accident Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash. Lyman Rd between NW Lane St. and NW Myrtle Ave. were closed for an extended period of time.Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact police.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the victim's name or additional details.&nbsp;

Police ID Kan. girl who died in pedestrian accident 

NEW YORK (AP) — Close to 90,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America as the Monday deadline arrived for submitting claims in the organization’s bankruptcy case.

The number far exceeds the initial projections of lawyers across the United States who have been signing up clients since the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the face of hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders.

“We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in Scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement. “We are heartbroken that we cannot undo their pain.”

Eventually, the proceedings in federal bankruptcy court will lead to the creation of a compensation fund to pay out settlements to abuse survivors whose claims are upheld.

The potential size of the fund is not yet known and will be the subject of complex negotiations. The national organization is expected to contribute a substantial portion of its assets, which include financial investments and real estate. The Boy Scouts’ insurers also will be contributing, as will the Boy Scouts’ roughly 260 local councils and companies that insured them in the past.

Andrew Van Arsdale, a lawyer with a network called Abused in Scouting, said it has signed up about 16,000 claimants. He said that number doubled after the Boy Scouts, under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge, launched a nationwide advertising campaign on Aug. 31 to notify victims that they had until Nov. 16 to seek compensation.

“They spent millions trying to encourage people to come forward,” Van Arsdale said. “Now, the question is whether they can make good on their commitment.”

The Boy Scouts said it “intentionally developed an open, accessible process to reach survivors and help them take an essential step toward receiving compensation.”

“The response we have seen from survivors has been gut-wrenching,” the organization added. “We are deeply sorry.”

The bankruptcy has been painful for the 110-year-old Boy Scouts, which has been a pillar of American civic life for generations. Its finances were already strained by sex abuse settlements and declining membership — now below 2 million from a peak of over 4 million in the 1970s.

Most of the pending sex abuse claims date to the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, before the Boy Scouts adopted criminal background checks, abuse prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during activities.

Among the contentious issues still to be addressed in the bankruptcy case is the extent to which the Boy Scouts’ local councils contribute to the compensation fund.

In its bankruptcy filing, the national organization said the councils, which have extensive property holdings and other assets, are separate legal entities and should not be included as debtors in the case. An ad hoc committee representing the councils has been negotiating what they will pay in.

Under the terms of the case, no additional sex abuse claims can be filed against the Boy Scouts after Monday. However, attorney Jason Amala, part of a legal team representing more than 1,000 claimants, said new claims still could filed against local councils in some states that have victim-friendly statute-of-limitations laws, such as New York, New Jersey and California.

Lawyer Paul Mones, who won a $19.9 million sex abuse verdict against the Boy Scouts in Oregon in 2010, said painstaking work lies ahead to determine which insurers were responsible for coverage of the national organization and the local councils over the decades in which abuse occurred.

He said the eventual payments are likely to vary, depending on the severity and duration of the abuse.

“The number of claims is mind-boggling,” Mones said, noting that many abuse victims likely have not come forward. “It’s chilling in terms of the amount of horror that was experienced.”

Some of the claims may be hard to verify, if they involve abuse allegations against volunteer Scout leaders whose names don’t appear in official rosters from long ago, Mones said.

One of the official parties in the case, a group of nine sex abuse survivors representing all the victims, called the case “the largest and most tragic bankruptcy ever resulting from sexual abuse liability.”

“More sexual abuse claims will be filed in the Boy Scouts bankruptcy than all claims filed against the Catholic Church throughout the nation,” the Torts Claimants Committee said.

“Sexual abuse in scouting is unprecedented and the remedies for victims must, likewise, be unprecedented,” said the committee’s chairman, John Humphrey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582026338805.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Close to 90,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America as the Monday deadline arrived for submitting claims in the organization’s bankruptcy case.The number far exceeds the initial projections of lawyers across the United States who have been signing up clients since the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the face of hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders.“We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in Scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement. “We are heartbroken that we cannot undo their pain.”Eventually, the proceedings in federal bankruptcy court will lead to the creation of a compensation fund to pay out settlements to abuse survivors whose claims are upheld.The potential size of the fund is not yet known and will be the subject of complex negotiations. The national organization is expected to contribute a substantial portion of its assets, which include financial investments and real estate. The Boy Scouts’ insurers also will be contributing, as will the Boy Scouts’ roughly 260 local councils and companies that insured them in the past.Andrew Van Arsdale, a lawyer with a network called Abused in Scouting, said it has signed up about 16,000 claimants. He said that number doubled after the Boy Scouts, under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge, launched a nationwide advertising campaign on Aug. 31 to notify victims that they had until Nov. 16 to seek compensation.“They spent millions trying to encourage people to come forward,” Van Arsdale said. “Now, the question is whether they can make good on their commitment.”The Boy Scouts said it “intentionally developed an open, accessible process to reach survivors and help them take an essential step toward receiving compensation.”“The response we have seen from survivors has been gut-wrenching,” the organization added. “We are deeply sorry.”The bankruptcy has been painful for the 110-year-old Boy Scouts, which has been a pillar of American civic life for generations. Its finances were already strained by sex abuse settlements and declining membership — now below 2 million from a peak of over 4 million in the 1970s.Most of the pending sex abuse claims date to the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, before the Boy Scouts adopted criminal background checks, abuse prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during activities.Among the contentious issues still to be addressed in the bankruptcy case is the extent to which the Boy Scouts’ local councils contribute to the compensation fund.In its bankruptcy filing, the national organization said the councils, which have extensive property holdings and other assets, are separate legal entities and should not be included as debtors in the case. An ad hoc committee representing the councils has been negotiating what they will pay in.Under the terms of the case, no additional sex abuse claims can be filed against the Boy Scouts after Monday. However, attorney Jason Amala, part of a legal team representing more than 1,000 claimants, said new claims still could filed against local councils in some states that have victim-friendly statute-of-limitations laws, such as New York, New Jersey and California.Lawyer Paul Mones, who won a $19.9 million sex abuse verdict against the Boy Scouts in Oregon in 2010, said painstaking work lies ahead to determine which insurers were responsible for coverage of the national organization and the local councils over the decades in which abuse occurred.He said the eventual payments are likely to vary, depending on the severity and duration of the abuse.“The number of claims is mind-boggling,” Mones said, noting that many abuse victims likely have not come forward. “It’s chilling in terms of the amount of horror that was experienced.”Some of the claims may be hard to verify, if they involve abuse allegations against volunteer Scout leaders whose names don’t appear in official rosters from long ago, Mones said.One of the official parties in the case, a group of nine sex abuse survivors representing all the victims, called the case “the largest and most tragic bankruptcy ever resulting from sexual abuse liability.”“More sexual abuse claims will be filed in the Boy Scouts bankruptcy than all claims filed against the Catholic Church throughout the nation,” the Torts Claimants Committee said.“Sexual abuse in scouting is unprecedented and the remedies for victims must, likewise, be unprecedented,” said the committee’s chairman, John Humphrey.

About 90K sex abuse claims filed in Boy Scouts bankruptcy

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Leaders of the Kansas City area announced Monday new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, days after St. Louis County announced similar new measures.

All indoor gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people effective Friday in Kansas City, Missouri, Democratic Mayor Quinton Lucas. Restaurants and bars must close by 10 p.m. and limit occupancy to 50% capacity. Masks must be worn at all indoor spaces and at outdoor spaces where social distancing isn’t possible.

“We’re here because we have reached, I think, our greatest crisis moment in Kansas City’s response to COVID-19,” Lucas said at a news conference.

Separately, neighboring Kansas City, Kansas, along with Jackson County in Missouri and Wyandotte County in Kansas jointly announced similar measures.

Restrictions announced last week in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-st-louis-coronavirus-pandemic-exercise-restaurants-3b61a70b74243458ff495d82eefc2b8a">St. Louis County</a>&nbsp;go into effect Tuesday. For four weeks, residents are being told to stay home except to work, go to school, shop, exercise or get medical care. Residents are advised to establish social groups of 10 or fewer relatives and/or friends. In-person service at bars and restaurants will be shut down.

Meanwhile, the city of St. Louis on Saturday began prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people. The order placed no new restrictions on in-person dining or additional capacity limits.

The restrictions in the state’s two urban areas come as confirmed cases continue to rise significantly. Perhaps more concerning is the fast rise in hospitalizations, which now stands at 2,525, according to the state health department’s website. The data also shows intensive care units are dangerously full, with just 2% capacity in the northeast part of the state, 13% capacity in the northwest and 15% capacity in Kansas City.

“It’s very simple. Every wedding, every Thanksgiving, every large event is a potential for large community spread,” Lucas said. “We have seen it time and again.”

The situation is so dire that hospital leaders in places ranging from the big cities to rural areas have urged Republican Gov. Mike Parson to issue a statewide mask mandate. The Missouri Hospital Association joined the call, too.

“The wolf is at the door,” Herb Kuhn, the association’s president and CEO, wrote in a letter to Parson dated Friday. “Missouri’s hospitals urge you to issue a statewide masking mandate. A mask mandate may be unappealing to some, but it has become necessary."

Parson has frequently urged Missourians to take precautions, including wearing masks, but has repeatedly declined to require it.

Two major St. Louis health care providers announced Sunday that some elective surgeries will be suspended for eight weeks.

“We must take this drastic measure both to increase our hospital capacity and ensure we have the staff available to continue providing exceptional care for our patients,” according to a joint statement from BJC HealthCare President Richard Liekweg and Washington University Physicians CEO Dr. Paul Scheel Jr.

Tiny Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri, also will stop all elective surgeries starting Tuesday. The hospital is so short-staffed with 10% of health care workers out, either with COVID-19 or in quarantine, that it urged anyone in the community with health care experience “who could potentially help at this time” to apply for a job.

Missouri’s health department reported another 3,718 confirmed cases Monday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 243,169. St. Louis County cited 1,061 new cases— the first time the county has surpassed 1,000 in a single day.

The state reported 12 additional deaths and a total of 3,386 deaths since the onset of the virus. The positivity rate of 24.4% is nearly five times the 5% benchmark suggested by the World Health Organization.

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Leaders of the Kansas City area announced Monday new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, days after St. Louis County announced similar new measures.All indoor gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people effective Friday in Kansas City, Missouri, Democratic Mayor Quinton Lucas. Restaurants and bars must close by 10 p.m. and limit occupancy to 50% capacity. Masks must be worn at all indoor spaces and at outdoor spaces where social distancing isn’t possible.“We’re here because we have reached, I think, our greatest crisis moment in Kansas City’s response to COVID-19,” Lucas said at a news conference.Separately, neighboring Kansas City, Kansas, along with Jackson County in Missouri and Wyandotte County in Kansas jointly announced similar measures.Restrictions announced last week in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-st-louis-coronavirus-pandemic-exercise-restaurants-3b61a70b74243458ff495d82eefc2b8a">St. Louis County</a>&nbsp;go into effect Tuesday. For four weeks, residents are being told to stay home except to work, go to school, shop, exercise or get medical care. Residents are advised to establish social groups of 10 or fewer relatives and/or friends. In-person service at bars and restaurants will be shut down.Meanwhile, the city of St. Louis on Saturday began prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people. The order placed no new restrictions on in-person dining or additional capacity limits.The restrictions in the state’s two urban areas come as confirmed cases continue to rise significantly. Perhaps more concerning is the fast rise in hospitalizations, which now stands at 2,525, according to the state health department’s website. The data also shows intensive care units are dangerously full, with just 2% capacity in the northeast part of the state, 13% capacity in the northwest and 15% capacity in Kansas City.“It’s very simple. Every wedding, every Thanksgiving, every large event is a potential for large community spread,” Lucas said. “We have seen it time and again.”The situation is so dire that hospital leaders in places ranging from the big cities to rural areas have urged Republican Gov. Mike Parson to issue a statewide mask mandate. The Missouri Hospital Association joined the call, too.“The wolf is at the door,” Herb Kuhn, the association’s president and CEO, wrote in a letter to Parson dated Friday. “Missouri’s hospitals urge you to issue a statewide masking mandate. A mask mandate may be unappealing to some, but it has become necessary."Parson has frequently urged Missourians to take precautions, including wearing masks, but has repeatedly declined to require it.Two major St. Louis health care providers announced Sunday that some elective surgeries will be suspended for eight weeks.“We must take this drastic measure both to increase our hospital capacity and ensure we have the staff available to continue providing exceptional care for our patients,” according to a joint statement from BJC HealthCare President Richard Liekweg and Washington University Physicians CEO Dr. Paul Scheel Jr.Tiny Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri, also will stop all elective surgeries starting Tuesday. The hospital is so short-staffed with 10% of health care workers out, either with COVID-19 or in quarantine, that it urged anyone in the community with health care experience “who could potentially help at this time” to apply for a job.Missouri’s health department reported another 3,718 confirmed cases Monday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 243,169. St. Louis County cited 1,061 new cases— the first time the county has surpassed 1,000 in a single day.The state reported 12 additional deaths and a total of 3,386 deaths since the onset of the virus. The positivity rate of 24.4% is nearly five times the 5% benchmark suggested by the World Health Organization.

Kansas City-area officials announce new virus restrictions

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday announced that nearly 2,000 Kansas small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a share of $37.5 million in Small Business Working Capital (SBWC) grants.

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SBWC-Grant-Awardees.pdf">Click her</a>e to&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMTYuMzA1Nzk5MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjAvMTEvU0JXQy1HcmFudC1Bd2FyZGVlcy5wZGYifQ.jIdlTiCdRKMkielb_z3aF7Q_XYI8lKi6pY6W7U1-r98/s/1303160919/br/89857232732-l" target="_blank">View all SBWC grant recipients&nbsp;</a>

“Throughout the pandemic, my administration has prioritized the efficient distribution of CARES Act funding to protect Kansas’ economy and ensure our businesses and schools can stay open,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“While I’m proud to announce that we have been able to provide relief to almost 2,000 small businesses, there are many more that still need help. Washington has been sitting on a second stimulus bill for months, it’s time to put aside the partisanship and pass this long-overdue aid for the states.”

Kansas businesses with fewer than 500 employees were eligible to apply for SBWC grant funding, made available by Governor Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce through the federal CARES Act.

Grant funds can be used to pay working capital expenses such as payroll, insurance, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, and more.

“Through the CARES Act funding, we’ve enhanced our public health response, upgraded our technology infrastructure, made sure children could keep learning, helped businesses stay open and created jobs,”&nbsp;Julie Lorenz, Executive Director of the Office of Recovery, said.&nbsp;“There are still many unmet needs and with additional federal funding and flexibility, we could deliver more investments to serve Kansans and industries that continue to suffer from the pandemic.”&nbsp;

The SPARK Taskforce and the Kansas Department of Commerce will maintain the Small Business Working Capital grant program, as well as PPE Procurement and Connectivity Emergency Response Grant programs, should more federal CARES Act funding become available.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the Kansas economy, and they keep our communities strong and vibrant,”&nbsp;Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We’re glad to have been able to provide critically-needed working capital to nearly 2,000 businesses, but the need for liquidity doesn’t end there. We need to have their backs. The Department of Commerce will always stand ready to assist businesses across Kansas, pandemic or not.”

The online application process for several other SPARK grant programs remain active. Details are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.RJxK4H8nmqFksbxn477qz6ocrYDfgXGgywgpqkb_8BM/s/1303160919/br/89857232732-l" target="_blank">www.kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605561942995.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly, David Toland, Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce and Julie Lorenz, Executive Director of the Kansas Office of Recovery during Monday's virtual press conference" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly, David Toland, Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce and Julie Lorenz, Executive Director of the Kansas Office of Recovery during Monday's virtual press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday announced that nearly 2,000 Kansas small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a share of $37.5 million in Small Business Working Capital (SBWC) grants.<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SBWC-Grant-Awardees.pdf">Click her</a>e to&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDExMTYuMzA1Nzk5MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjAvMTEvU0JXQy1HcmFudC1Bd2FyZGVlcy5wZGYifQ.jIdlTiCdRKMkielb_z3aF7Q_XYI8lKi6pY6W7U1-r98/s/1303160919/br/89857232732-l" target="_blank">View all SBWC grant recipients&nbsp;</a>“Throughout the pandemic, my administration has prioritized the efficient distribution of CARES Act funding to protect Kansas’ economy and ensure our businesses and schools can stay open,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“While I’m proud to announce that we have been able to provide relief to almost 2,000 small businesses, there are many more that still need help. Washington has been sitting on a second stimulus bill for months, it’s time to put aside the partisanship and pass this long-overdue aid for the states.”Kansas businesses with fewer than 500 employees were eligible to apply for SBWC grant funding, made available by Governor Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce through the federal CARES Act.Grant funds can be used to pay working capital expenses such as payroll, insurance, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, and more.“Through the CARES Act funding, we’ve enhanced our public health response, upgraded our technology infrastructure, made sure children could keep learning, helped businesses stay open and created jobs,”&nbsp;Julie Lorenz, Executive Director of the Office of Recovery, said.&nbsp;“There are still many unmet needs and with additional federal funding and flexibility, we could deliver more investments to serve Kansans and industries that continue to suffer from the pandemic.”&nbsp;The SPARK Taskforce and the Kansas Department of Commerce will maintain the Small Business Working Capital grant program, as well as PPE Procurement and Connectivity Emergency Response Grant programs, should more federal CARES Act funding become available.“Small businesses are the backbone of the Kansas economy, and they keep our communities strong and vibrant,”&nbsp;Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We’re glad to have been able to provide critically-needed working capital to nearly 2,000 businesses, but the need for liquidity doesn’t end there. We need to have their backs. The Department of Commerce will always stand ready to assist businesses across Kansas, pandemic or not.”The online application process for several other SPARK grant programs remain active. Details are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.RJxK4H8nmqFksbxn477qz6ocrYDfgXGgywgpqkb_8BM/s/1303160919/br/89857232732-l" target="_blank">www.kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief</a>.

Gov. Kelly announces SPARK small business grant winners

SHAWNEE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated battery and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 9a.m. Sunday, police responded to the 2000 block of Eco Ridge in Topeka on a report of a possible stabbing, according to LT Kelvin Johnson.

 Once on scene, officers located one victim with non-life threatening stab wounds. The suspect later identified as Karrington Drake, 33, Topeka, who was still on scene, was taken into custody and brought to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews. 

At the conclusion of the investigation, police booked Drake into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery, according Johnson.

Police did not release an update on the condition of the victim late Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605490142601.png" alt="Drake photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Drake photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated battery and have a suspect in custody.Just after 9a.m. Sunday, police responded to the 2000 block of Eco Ridge in Topeka on a report of a possible stabbing, according to LT Kelvin Johnson. Once on scene, officers located one victim with non-life threatening stab wounds. The suspect later identified as Karrington Drake, 33, Topeka, who was still on scene, was taken into custody and brought to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews. At the conclusion of the investigation, police booked Drake into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery, according Johnson.Police did not release an update on the condition of the victim late Sunday.

Kansas man jailed for alleged stabbing 

TOPEKA, Kansas – An Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) resident who died Sunday, November15 had tested positive for COVID-19. This is third resident death from ECF, and the tenth resident death related to COVID-19 for the department, according to a media release from the KDOC.

The resident was moved October 26 to the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) COVID-19 Management Unit (CMU) after testing positive for the virus, and then transported from LCF to the hospital.

The resident was a 68-year-old white male with underlying medical concerns that contributed to his condition. He was serving a life sentence for first degree murder

The Ellsworth Correctional Facility opened in 1988. Serving only males, the Central Unit provides housing for 820 multi-custody residents and the East Unit provides housing for 95 minimum-custody residents.

TOPEKA, Kansas – An Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) resident who died Sunday, November15 had tested positive for COVID-19. This is third resident death from ECF, and the tenth resident death related to COVID-19 for the department, according to a media release from the KDOC.The resident was moved October 26 to the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) COVID-19 Management Unit (CMU) after testing positive for the virus, and then transported from LCF to the hospital.The resident was a 68-year-old white male with underlying medical concerns that contributed to his condition. He was serving a life sentence for first degree murderThe Ellsworth Correctional Facility opened in 1988. Serving only males, the Central Unit provides housing for 820 multi-custody residents and the East Unit provides housing for 95 minimum-custody residents.

10th Kansas inmate dies after positive COVID-19 test

HEDVILLE — Law enforcement authorities are investigation two suspects from Minnesota after they allegedly attempted to steal car ramps from a rural Saline County residence.

On Saturday, deputies were sent to the 100 block of West Pennsylvania Street in Hedville, an unincorported community in northern Saline County, for the report of attempted theft. A witness reported that two people in a gray pickup had attempted to steal car ramps, but left the area before taking the ramps, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Deputies located the pickup on North Hedville Road near Interstate 70 with two occupants, Dennis Murray, 38, Mankato, Minnesota and Amber Jacobsen, 35, Eagle Park, Minnesota.

The pickup, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado valued at $10,000, was taken for a test drive several days prior and never returned to HG Auto in South Sioux City, Nebraska, according to Soldan.

Deputies also found methamphetamine in the pickup.

Deputies arrested Murray on requested charges of Possession of stolen property, Possession of methamphetamine, Driving while suspended and Attempted theft.

Deputies arrested Jacobsen on requested charges that included Possession of stolen property, Possession of methamphetamine and Driving while suspended.

The suspects will face additional charges in Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605538294843.jpeg" alt="Murray photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Murray photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HEDVILLE — Law enforcement authorities are investigation two suspects from Minnesota after they allegedly attempted to steal car ramps from a rural Saline County residence.On Saturday, deputies were sent to the 100 block of West Pennsylvania Street in Hedville, an unincorported community in northern Saline County, for the report of attempted theft. A witness reported that two people in a gray pickup had attempted to steal car ramps, but left the area before taking the ramps, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.Deputies located the pickup on North Hedville Road near Interstate 70 with two occupants, Dennis Murray, 38, Mankato, Minnesota and Amber Jacobsen, 35, Eagle Park, Minnesota.The pickup, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado valued at $10,000, was taken for a test drive several days prior and never returned to HG Auto in South Sioux City, Nebraska, according to Soldan.Deputies also found methamphetamine in the pickup.Deputies arrested Murray on requested charges of Possession of stolen property, Possession of methamphetamine, Driving while suspended and Attempted theft.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605537939019.jpeg" alt="Jacobsen photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Jacobsen photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested Jacobsen on requested charges that included Possession of stolen property, Possession of methamphetamine and Driving while suspended.The suspects will face additional charges in Nebraska.

2 in pickup taken for a test drive in Neb. captured in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An individual’s conduct can be relevant in determining whether a person has expressed valid consent to search, the Kansas Supreme Court said in a decision reversing a lower court ruling suppressing evidence.

The ruling Friday came in the case of Gianni Massimo Daino, who allowed police to enter his apartment when he opened the door and stood aside for them to come in.

The appeals court reversed a Johnson County District Court ruling suppressing evidence after the warrantless search led to the discovery of marijuana and other incriminating evidence.

The Supreme Court said valid consent requires a showing that an individual freely expressed consent and was not merely acquiescing to lawful authority. It ruled that an individual’s nonverbal conduct can be relevant because a person may express valid consent through words, acts, or conduct.

The court remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An individual’s conduct can be relevant in determining whether a person has expressed valid consent to search, the Kansas Supreme Court said in a decision reversing a lower court ruling suppressing evidence.The ruling Friday came in the case of Gianni Massimo Daino, who allowed police to enter his apartment when he opened the door and stood aside for them to come in.The appeals court reversed a Johnson County District Court ruling suppressing evidence after the warrantless search led to the discovery of marijuana and other incriminating evidence.The Supreme Court said valid consent requires a showing that an individual freely expressed consent and was not merely acquiescing to lawful authority. It ruled that an individual’s nonverbal conduct can be relevant because a person may express valid consent through words, acts, or conduct.The court remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings.

Kan. Supreme Court: Consent to search can be non-verbal

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 7,234 to a total of 122,741 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1266, an increase of 10

<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 7,234 to a total of 122,741 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 1266, an increase of 10<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/2020/11/1605549933416.png" alt="Monday Nov. 16, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday Nov. 16, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

BY TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/15/gov-laura-kelly-blocks-gop-bid-to-pour-federal-relief-money-into-unemployment-fund/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly 
said the state’s unemployment trust fund is likely to hit zero by March 
after the COVID-19 crisis burns through more than $900 million set aside
 before the pandemic to support people thrown out of work.

The governor said the most
 likely strategy would be for the state to prop up the trust fund by 
borrowing at zero percent interest from the U.S. treasury in a manner 
reminiscent of steps taken a decade ago during a deep national 
recession. There is concern in Kansas and elsewhere unprecedented 
escalation of COVID-19 could drive joblessness higher and further 
compromise state unemployment funds.

Kansas unemployment peaked at 11.9% in April, but fell by half through September to moderate transfers from the trust fund.

“If things don’t get 
better, we’re likely to be bone dry some time in early spring at the 
latest,” Kelly said. “We will not be the first state to empty its 
coffers.”

Despite consensus the 
Kansas unemployment fund would be empty in early 2021, Kelly made use 
Friday of her authority as a member of the State Finance Council to 
reject a proposal to place unspent federal coronavirus aid into the 
state’s trust fund.

Senate Majority Leader Jim
 Denning, an Overland Park Republican, recommended transfer of a 
yet-to-be-determined amount, likely in the millions of dollars, to the 
trust fund before the Dec. 31 deadline for spending federal coronavirus 
aid. Under current federal law, any portion of $1 billion allocated to 
Kansas amid the pandemic must be returned if not spent by end of the 
year.

The five Republican 
legislators on the State Finance Council supported Denning’s proposal, 
but the two Democrats and Kelly opposed it. The governor holds veto 
power over the council’s recommendations.

Denning said the council 
appropriately earmarked $25 million from the federal allocation to 
bolster budgets of state agencies tied to the COVID-19 response. It also
 made sense, he said, to offer businesses a measure of relief in terms 
of rebuilding the unemployment trust fund.

“It’s only fair to give that amount of logic to the business unemployment fund, which is basically exhausted,” Denning said.

He said there was no 
question the state would be forced to borrow from the federal government
 to cover future unemployment claims. The state’s trust fund is 
typically fueled by contributions of businesses and, even with an 
infusion of COVID-19 federal dollars, will be rebuilt by employers, he 
said.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman,
 an Olathe Republican who backed Denning’s proposal, said placing a 
portion of the federal aid in the unemployment trust fund would be 
helpful to businesses and could ease anxiety of people without a job.

“This is something that can help the folks that are on unemployment that can’t find work, especially because of COVID,” he said.

In April, the state’s 
jobless rate surged to 11.9% with 179,000 people out of work. The rate 
declined for five consecutive months to 5.9% in September as 87,000 
people remained unemployed in Kansas.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605547836567.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, speaks at the Capitol with Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican. They disagreed on moving a portion of federal COVID-19 aid into the state's shrinking unemployment trust fund. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, speaks at the Capitol with Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican. They disagreed on moving a portion of federal COVID-19 aid into the state's shrinking unemployment trust fund. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/15/gov-laura-kelly-blocks-gop-bid-to-pour-federal-relief-money-into-unemployment-fund/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly 
said the state’s unemployment trust fund is likely to hit zero by March 
after the COVID-19 crisis burns through more than $900 million set aside
 before the pandemic to support people thrown out of work.The governor said the most
 likely strategy would be for the state to prop up the trust fund by 
borrowing at zero percent interest from the U.S. treasury in a manner 
reminiscent of steps taken a decade ago during a deep national 
recession. There is concern in Kansas and elsewhere unprecedented 
escalation of COVID-19 could drive joblessness higher and further 
compromise state unemployment funds.Kansas unemployment peaked at 11.9% in April, but fell by half through September to moderate transfers from the trust fund.“If things don’t get 
better, we’re likely to be bone dry some time in early spring at the 
latest,” Kelly said. “We will not be the first state to empty its 
coffers.”Despite consensus the 
Kansas unemployment fund would be empty in early 2021, Kelly made use 
Friday of her authority as a member of the State Finance Council to 
reject a proposal to place unspent federal coronavirus aid into the 
state’s trust fund.Senate Majority Leader Jim
 Denning, an Overland Park Republican, recommended transfer of a 
yet-to-be-determined amount, likely in the millions of dollars, to the 
trust fund before the Dec. 31 deadline for spending federal coronavirus 
aid. Under current federal law, any portion of $1 billion allocated to 
Kansas amid the pandemic must be returned if not spent by end of the 
year.The five Republican 
legislators on the State Finance Council supported Denning’s proposal, 
but the two Democrats and Kelly opposed it. The governor holds veto 
power over the council’s recommendations.Denning said the council 
appropriately earmarked $25 million from the federal allocation to 
bolster budgets of state agencies tied to the COVID-19 response. It also
 made sense, he said, to offer businesses a measure of relief in terms 
of rebuilding the unemployment trust fund.“It’s only fair to give that amount of logic to the business unemployment fund, which is basically exhausted,” Denning said.He said there was no 
question the state would be forced to borrow from the federal government
 to cover future unemployment claims. The state’s trust fund is 
typically fueled by contributions of businesses and, even with an 
infusion of COVID-19 federal dollars, will be rebuilt by employers, he 
said.House Speaker Ron Ryckman,
 an Olathe Republican who backed Denning’s proposal, said placing a 
portion of the federal aid in the unemployment trust fund would be 
helpful to businesses and could ease anxiety of people without a job.“This is something that can help the folks that are on unemployment that can’t find work, especially because of COVID,” he said.In April, the state’s 
jobless rate surged to 11.9% with 179,000 people out of work. The rate 
declined for five consecutive months to 5.9% in September as 87,000 
people remained unemployed in Kansas.Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

Kelly blocks GOP bid to pour federal relief money into unemployment fund

TOPEKA -- The United States Capitol Christmas tree received a special escort from Kansas Highway Patrol on Sunday and Monday.

TOPEKA -- The United States Capitol Christmas tree received a special escort from Kansas Highway Patrol on Sunday and Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My <a href="https://twitter.com/USCapitolTree?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCapitolTree</a> escort is over, <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperBenKHP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrooperBenKHP</a> picks them back up in the morning and takes them to the Missouri line! 🇺🇸🎄 <a href="https://t.co/0bX5cqPiR8">pic.twitter.com/0bX5cqPiR8</a>&mdash; Trooper Tod (@TrooperTodKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperTodKHP/status/1328147778199986177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKHPTroopC%2Fvideos%2F753109078636267%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" 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><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I spy with my little eye - the truck taking the <a href="https://twitter.com/USCapitolTree?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCapitolTree</a> to Washington DC. This was on I-70/KTA near E Topeka interchange (MM 183.) Anyone else see it today? <a href="https://t.co/5zpPKvBGcC">pic.twitter.com/5zpPKvBGcC</a>&mdash; Kansas Turnpike (@KansasTurnpike) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasTurnpike/status/1328412341122326540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Troopers escort U.S. Capitol Christmas tree across Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at home in Wichita made his first court appearance Friday.

Leroy Sabrion Gunter, 18, Wichita, was charged with&nbsp;with 1st degree murder, aggravated robbery, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

According to the Sedgwick County booking report, police arrested and booked Leroy Sabrion Gunter, 18, into the county jail just after&nbsp; 6:30p.m. Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Christopher Bell of Wichita.

Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 900 block of North Ridgewood in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

 Upon their arrival, officers learned that 21-year-old Christopher Bell had been transported to an area hospital by private vehicle where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving Gunter. During the disturbance, Gunter fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.&nbsp;

Gunter's next court appearance is scheduled for November 25. He is being held on $200,000 bond, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 900 block of North Ridgewood in Wichita, according to Cruz.

 Upon their arrival, officers learned that Bell had been transported to an area hospital by private vehicle where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving a known suspect. During the disturbance, the suspect fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.

This was not a random incident, according to Cruz. Police have not reported an arrest.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Monday shooting at a Kansas home have a suspect in custody.

The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving a known suspect. During the disturbance, the suspect fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.&nbsp;

Gunter is being held on requested charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm, according to <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20067109">online jail records.</a>

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

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp; investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 21-year-old Christopher Bell of Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605100182056.png" alt="Gunter-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Gunter-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at home in Wichita made his first court appearance Friday.Leroy Sabrion Gunter, 18, Wichita, was charged with&nbsp;with 1st degree murder, aggravated robbery, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605047139298.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Sedgwick County booking report, police arrested and booked Leroy Sabrion Gunter, 18, into the county jail just after&nbsp; 6:30p.m. Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Christopher Bell of Wichita.Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 900 block of North Ridgewood in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon their arrival, officers learned that 21-year-old Christopher Bell had been transported to an area hospital by private vehicle where he later died from his injuries.The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving Gunter. During the disturbance, Gunter fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.&nbsp;Gunter's next court appearance is scheduled for November 25. He is being held on $200,000 bond, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.--------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605047139298.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 900 block of North Ridgewood in Wichita, according to Cruz. Upon their arrival, officers learned that Bell had been transported to an area hospital by private vehicle where he later died from his injuries.The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving a known suspect. During the disturbance, the suspect fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.This was not a random incident, according to Cruz. Police have not reported an arrest.SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Monday shooting at a Kansas home have a suspect in custody.According to the Sedgwick County booking report, police arrested and booked Leroy Sabrion Gunter, 18, into the county jail just after&nbsp; 6:30p.m. Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Christopher Bell of Wichita.Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 900 block of North Ridgewood in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon their arrival, officers learned that Bell had been transported to an area hospital by private vehicle where he later died from his injuries.The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving a known suspect. During the disturbance, the suspect fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.&nbsp;Gunter is being held on requested charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm, according to <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20067109">online jail records.</a>This was not a random incident, according to Cruz.&nbsp;--------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp; investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 21-year-old Christopher Bell of Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 900 block of North Ridgewood in Wichita, according to Cruz. Upon their arrival, officers learned that Bell had been transported to an area hospital by private vehicle where he later died from his injuries.The investigation revealed Bell was inside of the residence when a disturbance ensued involving a known suspect. During the disturbance, the suspect fired multiple shots, striking Bell. Other individuals were inside of the residence but were not injured.This was not a random incident, according to Cruz. Police have not reported an arrest.

Teen charged for fatal shooting at Kansas home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that fatally injured a 59-year-old man.

Just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a stabbing at a home in the 2800 block of South Washington in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; 

Upon arrival, officer’s located the victim with multiple cut and stab wounds to his body.&nbsp; Officers quickly began life-saving measures, but he succumbed to his injuries on the scene.

The investigation revealed the victim was visiting at the home when a disturbance ensued with a 34-year-old suspect.&nbsp; During the disturbance, the suspect pulled out a knife causing multiple injuries to the victim and then fled the scene in a vehicle.

This was not a random incident, and the investigation is ongoing, with investigators working to locate the suspect, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605480651864.png" alt="Crime scene tape at the home early Sunday photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Crime scene tape at the home early Sunday photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that fatally injured a 59-year-old man.Just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a stabbing at a home in the 2800 block of South Washington in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officer’s located the victim with multiple cut and stab wounds to his body.&nbsp; Officers quickly began life-saving measures, but he succumbed to his injuries on the scene.The investigation revealed the victim was visiting at the home when a disturbance ensued with a 34-year-old suspect.&nbsp; During the disturbance, the suspect pulled out a knife causing multiple injuries to the victim and then fled the scene in a vehicle.This was not a random incident, and the investigation is ongoing, with investigators working to locate the suspect, according to Davidson.

Police: 59-year-old Kansas man dies after knife attack 

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Despite painstaking efforts to keep election sites safe, some poll workers who came in contact with voters on Election Day have tested positive for the coronavirus, including more than two dozen in Missouri and others in New York, Iowa, Indiana and Virginia.

The infections cannot be tied definitively to polling places. Because COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the U.S., there is no way to determine yet whether in-person voting on Election Day contributed to the surge, public health experts said.

Still, the infections among poll workers raise concerns because of how many people passed through voting sites, which implemented social-distancing rules, erected protective barriers and stocked sanitizer, masks, gloves and other safety gear. In most places, poll workers were required to wear masks.

The cases emerged while election workers continued counting thousands of ballots. As a hand tally of the presidential race began in Georgia, the state’s top election official placed himself under quarantine after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is in a county considered a national virus hot spot, an election official who worked an early voting site later tested positive.

“I’m actually surprised that we don’t have more cases,” said Linn County Election Commissioner Joel Miller, who noted that several county workers in his building tested positive in the last week. “It actually seems kind of far-fetched that we didn’t have more, but they might not be reporting it to us.”

Election workers in Jackson County, Missouri, which includes Kansas City, seem to be the hardest hit so far, with about 28 staffers testing positive in the past couple of weeks.

Tammy Brown, head of the Jackson County Election Board, said her staffers urged voters who felt ill to avoid coming inside, though she suspects not everyone listened. The board dealt with nearly 200,000 voters, including more than 60,000 who cast early ballots.

“We, as election officials, all knew we were at risk,” Brown said. “I don’t think this was shocking to any of us.”

With transmission rates high in Missouri, health officials are not ready to link the cases to polling places. They say the workers could have become infected anywhere.

The county offered drive-thru voting for people with COVID-19 or who were quarantining because of contact with someone who was infected. When part-time workers became ill, full-time election board staff worked the drive-thru line.

It’s difficult to trace cases back to polling places because the virus manifests in different ways, and some people never get symptoms. Infections also are spiking as people gather with extended family or friends and return to more crowded public settings.

The U.S. on Sunday surpassed 11 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the most recent million coming in less than a week, according to Johns Hopkins University. The virus has now killed more than 246,000 people in the United States, and the disease is spreading faster across the country than at any time since the pandemic started.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605527673357.png" alt="Voters wait in line on November 3 in Johnson County, Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Voters wait in line on November 3 in Johnson County, Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Despite painstaking efforts to keep election sites safe, some poll workers who came in contact with voters on Election Day have tested positive for the coronavirus, including more than two dozen in Missouri and others in New York, Iowa, Indiana and Virginia.The infections cannot be tied definitively to polling places. Because COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the U.S., there is no way to determine yet whether in-person voting on Election Day contributed to the surge, public health experts said.Still, the infections among poll workers raise concerns because of how many people passed through voting sites, which implemented social-distancing rules, erected protective barriers and stocked sanitizer, masks, gloves and other safety gear. In most places, poll workers were required to wear masks.The cases emerged while election workers continued counting thousands of ballots. As a hand tally of the presidential race began in Georgia, the state’s top election official placed himself under quarantine after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus.In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is in a county considered a national virus hot spot, an election official who worked an early voting site later tested positive.“I’m actually surprised that we don’t have more cases,” said Linn County Election Commissioner Joel Miller, who noted that several county workers in his building tested positive in the last week. “It actually seems kind of far-fetched that we didn’t have more, but they might not be reporting it to us.”Election workers in Jackson County, Missouri, which includes Kansas City, seem to be the hardest hit so far, with about 28 staffers testing positive in the past couple of weeks.Tammy Brown, head of the Jackson County Election Board, said her staffers urged voters who felt ill to avoid coming inside, though she suspects not everyone listened. The board dealt with nearly 200,000 voters, including more than 60,000 who cast early ballots.“We, as election officials, all knew we were at risk,” Brown said. “I don’t think this was shocking to any of us.”With transmission rates high in Missouri, health officials are not ready to link the cases to polling places. They say the workers could have become infected anywhere.The county offered drive-thru voting for people with COVID-19 or who were quarantining because of contact with someone who was infected. When part-time workers became ill, full-time election board staff worked the drive-thru line.It’s difficult to trace cases back to polling places because the virus manifests in different ways, and some people never get symptoms. Infections also are spiking as people gather with extended family or friends and return to more crowded public settings.The U.S. on Sunday surpassed 11 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the most recent million coming in less than a week, according to Johns Hopkins University. The virus has now killed more than 246,000 people in the United States, and the disease is spreading faster across the country than at any time since the pandemic started.While that spread increases the likelihood poll workers may have contracted the disease elsewhere, there have been calls for their co-workers to quarantine and voters to be tested as a precaution.In New York, more than 1,600 people who voted at a site in the Hudson Valley on Election Day have been advised to get tested after a poll worker tested positive. Officials said colleagues who had sustained contact with the worker will be tested, but they described the risk to voters as minimal because the person wore a mask, kept distance and followed other safety measures.Similarly, officials in Virginia’s Carroll County said two poll workers in different precincts have tested positive. A health official said that because both were in their infectious periods on Election Day, testing has been offered to workers and voters.Virginia officials statewide had masks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer and other supplies for polling places, and they trained people in safety practices, said Jessica Bowman, deputy commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections.It could be several weeks before the effect of in-person voting nationwide is known. Polling places that used safety measures could have greatly minimized transmission rates, perhaps making them less risky than going to a restaurant with friends, said M. Kumi Smith, an assistant professor with the epidemiology division at the University of Minnesota.“A super-spreader event is a lot easier to identify when you’re still at an early stage of an epidemic or when there’s a really discrete event that’s really unlike anything else that anyone else is doing,” she said. “But given the real range of activities that are going on here, I would probably be a little bit more skeptical of someone who declares that this is definitively a super-spreading event.”No major reports of safety lapses or risky voting conditions have emerged.States had varying rules for masks. But even in places with mandates, officials balked at requiring face coverings while voting. Instead, they opted for a strong recommendation or offered options such as curbside voting or booths away from others.In Indiana, a poll worker who later tested positive did not show symptoms, practiced social distancing and “wore a mask at all times” on Election Day, said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps. As a precaution, seven colleagues are quarantining for two weeks.He said election officials spent a lot of time and money making polling places as safe as possible. Poll workers wore masks, and machines, tables and doorknobs were constantly sanitized.“We worked really hard to make sure that every polling location had protocols in place,” Phelps said.___