By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/16/hoyt-council-president-blasts-jackson-countys-insulting-use-of-cares-act-funds/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A small-town 
leader blasted the Jackson County Commission for its decision to use 
pandemic relief funding on “pet projects,” including the remodel of the 
county attorney’s office, rather than urgent needs in county 
municipalities.

The county received $2.9 
million in CARES Act funding to be spent on unbudgeted expenditures 
incurred because of COVID-19, but commissioners allotted just $40,000 to
 cities and towns within the county.

Nathan McAlister, 
president of the Hoyt City Council, said amid a costly pandemic, the 
decision to give so little to cities baffled him.

“The amount allotted is, 
in my words, insulting,” McAlister said. “Most counties understand that 
their cities are hurting as well and are distributing the funds in an 
equitable manner. For some reason in our county that doesn’t seem to be 
happening.”

In a fiery speech during a
 recent meeting of the city council, McAlister called the decision to 
spend relief funding on the county courthouse and jail a “cash grab.” He
 said area communities’ needs are being ignored, and he questioned the 
need to spend $145,000 on a consultant.

County commissioners said these expenses were long overdue and within the regulations for spending the federal aid.

The county commission 
spent $550,000 on a quarantine isolation chamber for the sheriff’s 
department to safely transfer prisoners and an additional $250,000 to 
remodel the county attorney’s office.

The three county school 
districts received $531,362. The county commission also committed 
$221,897 to Holton Community Hospital and $226,850 to NEK Multicounty 
Health Department, which serves Jackson, Atchison and Brown county.

McAlister said 
municipalities have more immediate needs related to COVID-19. For 
example, Hoyt requested $45,000 for mold removal in its community 
center, a voting location, which McAlister said developed the fungal 
issue after staying closed in the heat of summer during the pandemic.

County commissioners allotted just $5,000 for the entire municipality of 638 people, or $7.83 per person.

“It’s not as if we were 
asking for oodles and gobs of money,” McAlister said. “Hoyt itself was 
not asking for much. Really in the grand scheme of things, our 
percentage of what we asked for is probably on par with what they spent 
on their consultant.”

Jackson County does not 
have a county administrator, so it hired a consultant to ensure 
compliance with funding regulations, said Janet Zwonitzer, chairwoman of
 the Jackson County Commission.

Zwonitzer said with so 
little time to decide when and where to spend the money, a lot of red 
tape to navigate and the need for thorough record-keeping, the 
commissioners felt it necessary to bring in someone to assist with the 
project.

She said the grant 
administrator and the state certified the investment of CARES Act 
funding for the isolation chamber and county attorney’s office.

“It’s a no-brainer that we
 would use that kind of money to do that instead of taxing everybody in 
the county to get that project done,” Zwonitzer said. “I know that it is
 hard for the public who never gets to see some of these areas. So I 
understand why there’s been some question about why we did it. We’re 
pretty sure that we feel we did the right thing.”

As significant capital improvements, however, both projects were <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jackson-County_Reimbursement-Direct-Aid-Review-Memo.pdf">flagged during review</a> as potential compliance issues if not executed correctly.

The project must be 
cost-efficient, substantially complete before Dec. 30, 2020 — the 
deadline for counties to spend their relief funds — and meet <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl">federal regulations for the administration of federal grants</a>.

The commission determined mold remediation for the Hoyt Community Center did not meet CARES Act requirements.

“This community building 
didn’t fit the state’s guidelines for this money,” said Ed Kathrens, a 
Jackson County commissioner. “It would have been rejected by the state. 
Then that money would have been paid back probably out of taxpayer 
dollars because it already had been spent on the project.”

Despite McAlister’s 
frustrations over the community building, the decision of where funds 
are administered is ultimately up to the county, said Lauren Fitzgerald,
 a spokeswoman for Gov. Laura Kelly.

“Recognizing the variance 
of needs across Kansas, the SPARK taskforce and State Finance Council 
awarded funds to Kansas counties so they could make investments to best 
serve their communities’ specific needs,” Fitzgerald said. “The Office 
of Recovery monitors to ensure all county spending is federally 
compliant. However, it is up to the counties to determine how they think
 those funds can best be utilized.”

McAlister said the county’s decisions may be compliant but argued they were done in bad faith.

“It’s a spirit of the law 
versus letter of the law mentality,” McAlister said. “It is completely 
within their rights to do what they’ve done. It just seems, well, 
inappropriate.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602875845037.png" alt="The city of Hoyt requested $45,000 for mold remediation in its community center but was allotted just $5,000 in total federal aid for the entire population of 638 people — $7.83 per person. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The city of Hoyt requested $45,000 for mold remediation in its community center but was allotted just $5,000 in total federal aid for the entire population of 638 people — $7.83 per person. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/16/hoyt-council-president-blasts-jackson-countys-insulting-use-of-cares-act-funds/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A small-town 
leader blasted the Jackson County Commission for its decision to use 
pandemic relief funding on “pet projects,” including the remodel of the 
county attorney’s office, rather than urgent needs in county 
municipalities.The county received $2.9 
million in CARES Act funding to be spent on unbudgeted expenditures 
incurred because of COVID-19, but commissioners allotted just $40,000 to
 cities and towns within the county.Nathan McAlister, 
president of the Hoyt City Council, said amid a costly pandemic, the 
decision to give so little to cities baffled him.“The amount allotted is, 
in my words, insulting,” McAlister said. “Most counties understand that 
their cities are hurting as well and are distributing the funds in an 
equitable manner. For some reason in our county that doesn’t seem to be 
happening.”In a fiery speech during a
 recent meeting of the city council, McAlister called the decision to 
spend relief funding on the county courthouse and jail a “cash grab.” He
 said area communities’ needs are being ignored, and he questioned the 
need to spend $145,000 on a consultant.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u3zQFoPC004"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>County commissioners said these expenses were long overdue and within the regulations for spending the federal aid.The county commission 
spent $550,000 on a quarantine isolation chamber for the sheriff’s 
department to safely transfer prisoners and an additional $250,000 to 
remodel the county attorney’s office.The three county school 
districts received $531,362. The county commission also committed 
$221,897 to Holton Community Hospital and $226,850 to NEK Multicounty 
Health Department, which serves Jackson, Atchison and Brown county.McAlister said 
municipalities have more immediate needs related to COVID-19. For 
example, Hoyt requested $45,000 for mold removal in its community 
center, a voting location, which McAlister said developed the fungal 
issue after staying closed in the heat of summer during the pandemic.County commissioners allotted just $5,000 for the entire municipality of 638 people, or $7.83 per person.“It’s not as if we were 
asking for oodles and gobs of money,” McAlister said. “Hoyt itself was 
not asking for much. Really in the grand scheme of things, our 
percentage of what we asked for is probably on par with what they spent 
on their consultant.”Jackson County does not 
have a county administrator, so it hired a consultant to ensure 
compliance with funding regulations, said Janet Zwonitzer, chairwoman of
 the Jackson County Commission.Zwonitzer said with so 
little time to decide when and where to spend the money, a lot of red 
tape to navigate and the need for thorough record-keeping, the 
commissioners felt it necessary to bring in someone to assist with the 
project.She said the grant 
administrator and the state certified the investment of CARES Act 
funding for the isolation chamber and county attorney’s office.“It’s a no-brainer that we
 would use that kind of money to do that instead of taxing everybody in 
the county to get that project done,” Zwonitzer said. “I know that it is
 hard for the public who never gets to see some of these areas. So I 
understand why there’s been some question about why we did it. We’re 
pretty sure that we feel we did the right thing.”As significant capital improvements, however, both projects were <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jackson-County_Reimbursement-Direct-Aid-Review-Memo.pdf">flagged during review</a> as potential compliance issues if not executed correctly.The project must be 
cost-efficient, substantially complete before Dec. 30, 2020 — the 
deadline for counties to spend their relief funds — and meet <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl">federal regulations for the administration of federal grants</a>.The commission determined mold remediation for the Hoyt Community Center did not meet CARES Act requirements.“This community building 
didn’t fit the state’s guidelines for this money,” said Ed Kathrens, a 
Jackson County commissioner. “It would have been rejected by the state. 
Then that money would have been paid back probably out of taxpayer 
dollars because it already had been spent on the project.”Despite McAlister’s 
frustrations over the community building, the decision of where funds 
are administered is ultimately up to the county, said Lauren Fitzgerald,
 a spokeswoman for Gov. Laura Kelly.“Recognizing the variance 
of needs across Kansas, the SPARK taskforce and State Finance Council 
awarded funds to Kansas counties so they could make investments to best 
serve their communities’ specific needs,” Fitzgerald said. “The Office 
of Recovery monitors to ensure all county spending is federally 
compliant. However, it is up to the counties to determine how they think
 those funds can best be utilized.”McAlister said the county’s decisions may be compliant but argued they were done in bad faith.“It’s a spirit of the law 
versus letter of the law mentality,” McAlister said. “It is completely 
within their rights to do what they’ve done. It just seems, well, 
inappropriate.”

🎥 Kan. city council president blasts county’s ‘insulting’ use of CARES Act funds

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Business is booming for one segment of the economy in Kansas during the coronavirus pandemic: liquor stores.

Tax collections on liquor sales at stores are up 17.9% from July to September compared to last year, according to data from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

It’s not just Kansas. The data organization Nielsen says liquor sales at stores are up 22.7% nationwide from March 1 through mid-September compared to the same time last year.

The surge in alcohol sales comes as bars and restaurants have taken a severe hit due to the pandemic.

“So instead of going to the bar and buying their drink, they’re going to the liquor store and taking it home with them,” said Kansas Department of Revenue Director of Taxation Steve Stotts.

Brian Davis, who owns one of the five Davis Liquor Outlets around Wichita, said every day from March to June was like Christmas time, when liquor sales tend to increase. Sales started to recede but only briefly — the arrival of football season caused another spike.

“5 o’clock came really early every day for everyone since March,” Davis said.

The extra business has meant two or three additional employees hired at each location, which is about a 33% increase in employees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584668490151.png" alt="Liquor Store on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Liquor Store on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Business is booming for one segment of the economy in Kansas during the coronavirus pandemic: liquor stores.Tax collections on liquor sales at stores are up 17.9% from July to September compared to last year, according to data from the Kansas Department of Revenue.It’s not just Kansas. The data organization Nielsen says liquor sales at stores are up 22.7% nationwide from March 1 through mid-September compared to the same time last year.The surge in alcohol sales comes as bars and restaurants have taken a severe hit due to the pandemic.“So instead of going to the bar and buying their drink, they’re going to the liquor store and taking it home with them,” said Kansas Department of Revenue Director of Taxation Steve Stotts.Brian Davis, who owns one of the five Davis Liquor Outlets around Wichita, said every day from March to June was like Christmas time, when liquor sales tend to increase. Sales started to recede but only briefly — the arrival of football season caused another spike.“5 o’clock came really early every day for everyone since March,” Davis said.The extra business has meant two or three additional employees hired at each location, which is about a 33% increase in employees.

Kansas liquor sales rise during pandemic

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1700 to a total of 70,855 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 859, an increase of 21.

<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 1700 to a total of 70,855 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 859, an increase of 21.<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/2020/10/1602868240669.png" alt="Friday Oct. 16, 2020, KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Oct. 16, 2020, KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men are dead after a fire destroyed a home in Kansas City.

The fire was reported about 3 a.m. Friday in the Historic Northeast district of the city. Flames were coming out of the home's windows by the time firefighters arrived.

Both victims were found inside the home. A third man had escaped by crawling out of a second-floor window and climbing down a tree. He was uninjured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Names of the victims have not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602867825395.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the fatal house fire early Friday photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the fatal house fire early Friday photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men are dead after a fire destroyed a home in Kansas City.The fire was reported about 3 a.m. Friday in the Historic Northeast district of the city. Flames were coming out of the home's windows by the time firefighters arrived.Both victims were found inside the home. A third man had escaped by crawling out of a second-floor window and climbing down a tree. He was uninjured.The cause of the fire is under investigation. Names of the victims have not been released.

2 killed in Kansas City house fire

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly held a virtual press conference Friday to announce a multi-region economic development project for Kansas communities.

Amazon confirmed&nbsp; plans to open two new fulfillment centers in Kansas. The new fulfillment centers, which are anticipated to launch in 2021, will together create over 1,000 new, full-time jobs with industry-leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one, according to officials.

“We’re excited to continue our growth and investment across Kansas so we can better serve our customers throughout the state,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s vice president of global customer fulfillment. “We are grateful for the strong support we’ve received from local and state leaders, and we look forward to ingraining ourselves in the communities in which we serve.”

In both of the new one million square-foot fulfillment centers located at 9700 Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas and at 7130 North Broadway Avenue in Park City, Kansas, Amazon associates will work to pick, pack, and ship bulky or larger-sized customer items such as patio furniture, outdoor equipment, or rugs.

In addition to the two new fulfillment centers, Amazon also plans to open a new delivery station in Wichita, Kansas which is expected to launch later in 2020.

“With an unrivaled workforce and a strong economy, Kansas has proven itself to be a first-rate destination for Amazon as they continue to expand operations and bring more than 1,000 new jobs to our great state,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “From Day One, my administration has prioritized rebuilding Kansas’ foundation, and significant economic announcements like these prove that our state is on the right track. I want to thank our city partners, staff members and Amazon for making this possible.”

On top of Amazon’s industry-leading minimum $15 per hour wage, the company offers full-time employees comprehensive benefits including full medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50 percent match starting on day one. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility to support their growing families.

“Park City is excited and honored to have a leading business and household name such as Amazon located here because their team recognized that our community offers a business-friendly environment in a prime location,” said Park City Mayor Ray Mann. “Park City looks forward to working with Amazon and the tremendous economic benefits and employment opportunities it brings. While 2020 hasn’t always brought the best news, this announcement makes today a great day for Park City, Sedgwick County and our region, and Kansas.”

Amazon is a great place to work with highly competitive pay, benefits from day one, and training programs for in-demand jobs. Amazon has pledged to invest over $700 million to provide upskilling training for 100,000 U.S. employees for in-demand jobs. The programs will help Amazonians from all backgrounds access training to move into highly skilled roles across the company’s corporate offices, tech hubs, fulfillment centers, retail stores, and transportation network, or pursue career paths outside of Amazon.

“We are excited that Amazon is continuing their investment in our community with a second facility in Kansas City, Kansas, further highlighting the benefits our central Midwest location offers for logistics and access to a quality workforce,” said Mayor David Alvey of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas. “We look forward to this new center creating additional jobs, with a focus on employing local residents, and are pleased that this location will generate revenue immediately to maintain and improve services in neighborhoods throughout our community.”

Amazon leverages its scale for good and makes investments to support communities. Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 4,500 jobs in Kansas and invested more than $2.9 billion across the state, including infrastructure and compensation to our employees. These investments have contributed an additional $2.3 billion in GDP to the Kansas economy and have helped create over 4,100 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires – from jobs in construction and logistics to professional services. In addition, more than 10,500 independent authors and small and medium businesses in Kansas are selling to customers in Amazon’s store, creating thousands of additional jobs across the state.

About Amazon:&nbsp;Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutamazon.com%2F&amp;esheet=52308132&amp;newsitemid=20201016005504&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutamazon.com%2F&amp;index=3&amp;md5=b41db8792a3cdb7801c2bb3373069f79" rel="nofollow">https://www.aboutamazon.com/</a>&nbsp;and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAmazonNews&amp;esheet=52308132&amp;newsitemid=20201016005504&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=%40AmazonNews&amp;index=4&amp;md5=579becd0a99540d887ba7709cde6e9e1" rel="nofollow">@AmazonNews</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602864264489.png" alt="Gov. Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, Kansas Labor Secretary David Toland, Mayor David Alvey of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Mayor Ray Mann of Park City, Sedgwick County Commissioner Pete Meitzner and Mark Marzano of Amazon participated in Friday's announcement" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, Kansas Labor Secretary David Toland, Mayor David Alvey of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Mayor Ray Mann of Park City, Sedgwick County Commissioner Pete Meitzner and Mark Marzano of Amazon participated in Friday's announcement</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly held a virtual press conference Friday to announce a multi-region economic development project for Kansas communities.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F686745025279743%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Amazon confirmed&nbsp; plans to open two new fulfillment centers in Kansas. The new fulfillment centers, which are anticipated to launch in 2021, will together create over 1,000 new, full-time jobs with industry-leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one, according to officials.“We’re excited to continue our growth and investment across Kansas so we can better serve our customers throughout the state,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s vice president of global customer fulfillment. “We are grateful for the strong support we’ve received from local and state leaders, and we look forward to ingraining ourselves in the communities in which we serve.”In both of the new one million square-foot fulfillment centers located at 9700 Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas and at 7130 North Broadway Avenue in Park City, Kansas, Amazon associates will work to pick, pack, and ship bulky or larger-sized customer items such as patio furniture, outdoor equipment, or rugs.In addition to the two new fulfillment centers, Amazon also plans to open a new delivery station in Wichita, Kansas which is expected to launch later in 2020.“With an unrivaled workforce and a strong economy, Kansas has proven itself to be a first-rate destination for Amazon as they continue to expand operations and bring more than 1,000 new jobs to our great state,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “From Day One, my administration has prioritized rebuilding Kansas’ foundation, and significant economic announcements like these prove that our state is on the right track. I want to thank our city partners, staff members and Amazon for making this possible.”On top of Amazon’s industry-leading minimum $15 per hour wage, the company offers full-time employees comprehensive benefits including full medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50 percent match starting on day one. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility to support their growing families.“Park City is excited and honored to have a leading business and household name such as Amazon located here because their team recognized that our community offers a business-friendly environment in a prime location,” said Park City Mayor Ray Mann. “Park City looks forward to working with Amazon and the tremendous economic benefits and employment opportunities it brings. While 2020 hasn’t always brought the best news, this announcement makes today a great day for Park City, Sedgwick County and our region, and Kansas.”Amazon is a great place to work with highly competitive pay, benefits from day one, and training programs for in-demand jobs. Amazon has pledged to invest over $700 million to provide upskilling training for 100,000 U.S. employees for in-demand jobs. The programs will help Amazonians from all backgrounds access training to move into highly skilled roles across the company’s corporate offices, tech hubs, fulfillment centers, retail stores, and transportation network, or pursue career paths outside of Amazon.“We are excited that Amazon is continuing their investment in our community with a second facility in Kansas City, Kansas, further highlighting the benefits our central Midwest location offers for logistics and access to a quality workforce,” said Mayor David Alvey of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas. “We look forward to this new center creating additional jobs, with a focus on employing local residents, and are pleased that this location will generate revenue immediately to maintain and improve services in neighborhoods throughout our community.”Amazon leverages its scale for good and makes investments to support communities. Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 4,500 jobs in Kansas and invested more than $2.9 billion across the state, including infrastructure and compensation to our employees. These investments have contributed an additional $2.3 billion in GDP to the Kansas economy and have helped create over 4,100 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires – from jobs in construction and logistics to professional services. In addition, more than 10,500 independent authors and small and medium businesses in Kansas are selling to customers in Amazon’s store, creating thousands of additional jobs across the state.About Amazon:&nbsp;Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutamazon.com%2F&amp;esheet=52308132&amp;newsitemid=20201016005504&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutamazon.com%2F&amp;index=3&amp;md5=b41db8792a3cdb7801c2bb3373069f79" rel="nofollow">https://www.aboutamazon.com/</a>&nbsp;and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAmazonNews&amp;esheet=52308132&amp;newsitemid=20201016005504&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=%40AmazonNews&amp;index=4&amp;md5=579becd0a99540d887ba7709cde6e9e1" rel="nofollow">@AmazonNews</a>.

🎥 Governor: Amazon brings 2 new fulfillment centers to Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Protesters in Kansas City chained themselves to the doors of a downtown courthouse Thursday and shut down virtual eviction proceedings with online disruptions.

The protest, which drew about 100 people, was organized by the nonprofit group KC Tenants.

Protesters holding signs saying “eviction kills” and “court's closed today” called on Jackson County Judge David Byrn to halt eviction hearings and keep residents in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis.

The Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily halted evictions this spring, but those resumed this summer. Tenant advocates have been calling for another moratorium amid high unemployment brought on by the pandemic.

KC Tenants and the American Civil Liberties Union sued last month, alleging Byrn's administrative order laying out procedures for eviction cases violated a federal halt of evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The court said in a statement that the judicial branch “does not create laws, statutes or policy,” but rather enforces and follows laws set by executive and legislative branches. It says it is and will remain in compliance with the CDC order.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Protesters in Kansas City chained themselves to the doors of a downtown courthouse Thursday and shut down virtual eviction proceedings with online disruptions.The protest, which drew about 100 people, was organized by the nonprofit group KC Tenants.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The people have closed court today. <a href="https://t.co/NRuLvLSrUi">pic.twitter.com/NRuLvLSrUi</a>&mdash; KC Tenants (@KCTenants) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCTenants/status/1316789232875245578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Protesters holding signs saying “eviction kills” and “court's closed today” called on Jackson County Judge David Byrn to halt eviction hearings and keep residents in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis.The Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily halted evictions this spring, but those resumed this summer. Tenant advocates have been calling for another moratorium amid high unemployment brought on by the pandemic.KC Tenants and the American Civil Liberties Union sued last month, alleging Byrn's administrative order laying out procedures for eviction cases violated a federal halt of evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The court said in a statement that the judicial branch “does not create laws, statutes or policy,” but rather enforces and follows laws set by executive and legislative branches. It says it is and will remain in compliance with the CDC order.

Tenants chain themselves to Kansas City courthouse in protest

MEDICINE LODGE – A Kansas man has been sentenced to nearly 30-years in prison for his role in a 2018 home invasion in rural Barber County, according the Kansas Attorney General's office.

Ora Munger, 42, of Wichita, was sentenced Wednesday for one count of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of mistreatment of an elder person and one count of criminal damage in the amount of over $1,000 but less than $25,000. 

Judge Francis E. Meisenheimer issued the sentence in Barber County District Court. Munger entered a guilty plea to all charges on September 4.

The crimes occurred in July 2018 near Medicine Lodge.

Meisenheimer ordered Munger to serve the time consecutively with a 152-month prison sentence he received in Sumner County for crimes he committed on July 10, 2018. Munger pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count each of kidnapping, theft, arson and attempted aggravated robbery with a firearm.

He has previous convictions for aggravated battery and drug possession, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602794014039.png" alt="Munger is being held in Barber County, according to online court records." />
 <figcaption>Munger is being held in Barber County, according to online court records.</figcaption>
 </figure>MEDICINE LODGE – A Kansas man has been sentenced to nearly 30-years in prison for his role in a 2018 home invasion in rural Barber County, according the Kansas Attorney General's office. Ora Munger, 42, of Wichita, was sentenced Wednesday for one count of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of mistreatment of an elder person and one count of criminal damage in the amount of over $1,000 but less than $25,000. Judge Francis E. Meisenheimer issued the sentence in Barber County District Court. Munger entered a guilty plea to all charges on September 4. The crimes occurred in July 2018 near Medicine Lodge. Meisenheimer ordered Munger to serve the time consecutively with a 152-month prison sentence he received in Sumner County for crimes he committed on July 10, 2018. Munger pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count each of kidnapping, theft, arson and attempted aggravated robbery with a firearm.He has previous convictions for aggravated battery and drug possession, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;

Man sentenced for rural Kansas home invasion attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off, in a way, Thursday night in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to a pandemic that has reshaped the nation.

Coming just two and a half weeks before Election Day, the night offered crystalizing contrasts and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-sarah-silverman-jon-hamm-7b601886fd47cc937612f25352747991">a national, if divided, audience</a>. But it seemed unlikely to have produced a needed moment for a president running out of time or opportunities to appeal beyond his core base.

He was defensive about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, and evasive when pressed about whether he took a required COVID-19 test before his first debate with Biden. Angry and combative, Trump refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group — and only testily did so regarding white supremacists.

The president also appeared to acknowledge revelations from a recent New York Times report that he was in debt and left open the possibility that some of it was owed to a foreign bank. But he insisted that he didn’t owe any money to Russia or any “sinister people” and suggested that $400 million in debt was a “very, very small percentage” compared to his overall assets.

Biden denounced the White House’s handling of the virus, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration in which he served. Though vague at times, he suggested he will offer clarity on his position on expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee to the bench is seated before Election Day.

After Biden’s 90-minute town hall event formally concluded, the candidate spent another half-hour taking questions from those in the audience who didn’t get an opportunity during the televised program.

Trump and Biden were supposed to spend Thursday night on the same debate stage in Miami. But that faceoff was scuttled after Trump’s coronavirus infection, which jolted the race and threatened the health of the American president.

Trump wouldn’t say whether he had tested negative on the day of his first debate with Biden on Sept. 29, allowing only, “Possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.” Debate rules required that each candidate, using the honor system, had tested negative prior to the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.

The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following his COVID-19 diagnosis.

The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and striking.

Trump was Trump.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-9fb3c8e23ccb85bcf267b0990d49ca2b">He was loud and argumentative</a>, rebuking his FBI director, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election, but only after casting an extraordinary amount of doubt on the likeliness of fairness.

“And then they talk, ’Will you accept a peaceful transfer?’” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else.”

He again sought to minimize revelations from a New York Times investigation that he has more than $400 million in debt and suggested that reports are wrong that he paid little or no federal income taxes in most years over the past two decades.

Biden, meanwhile, took a far different, softer approach with audience questions. The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the program and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words. At times his answers droned on.

Holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee brought a small card of notes onstage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He said doing so would save, as he consulted his notes, “let me see ... $92 billion.”

Biden vowed to say before Election Day whether he will support expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court if Democrats win the presidency and the Senate and hold the House after November.

He has for weeks refused to answer the question but went further Thursday night. He said, “I’m still not a fan” of expanding the court, but said his ultimate decision depended on how the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court “is handled” and “how much they rush this.”

Biden also blasted Trump’s foreign policy, declaring that “‘America first’ has made ‘America alone’” and “This president embraces all the thugs in the world.” He turned introspective when asked what it would say if he lost.

“It could say that I’m a lousy candidate, that I didn’t do a good job,” Biden said. “But I think, I hope that it doesn’t say that we’re as racially, ethnically and religiously at odds as it appears the president wants us to be.”

Biden said he plans to participate in next week’s debate but he would ask Trump to take a COVID-19 test before arriving. “It’s just decency” for everyone around him, including non-candidates like camera operators, Biden said.

The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was evasive Thursday night when pressed if he took a COVID-19 test before his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden as the two men squared off again, in a way, after their scuttled second showdown was replaced by dueling televised town halls several channels apart.

Biden, appearing nearly 1,200 miles away, denounced the White House’s handling of the virus that has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration. Trump, meanwhile, was defensive and insisted that the nation was turning the corner on the virus, even as his own battle with the disease took center stage.

Trump, less than two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19, dodged directly answering whether he took a test the day of the Sept. 29 debate, only saying “possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.” Debate rules required that each candidate, using the honor system, had tested negative prior to the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.

It was his positive test two days later that created Thursday’s odd spectacle, which deprived most viewers of a simultaneous look at the candidates just 19 days before Election Day. The moment seemed fitting for a race unlike any other, as yet another campaign ritual was changed by the pandemic that has rewritten the norms of society.

The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis.

Trump was Trump. He was loud and argumentative, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, refusing to outright condemn the QAnon conspiracy group, testily declaring he would denounce white supremacy but complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election, but only after casting an extraordinary amount doubt on the likeliness of fairness.

“And then they talk ’Will you accept a peaceful transfer,’” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else.”

Biden meanwhile, took a far different, softer, approach with audience questions. The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the show and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words. At times his answers droned on.

Dressed in a blue suit and holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee also brought a small card of notes on stage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

He said doing so would save “let me see... $92 billion.”

The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville. But the cancellation of Thursday’s debate still reverberated for both campaigns.

Trump and Biden battled on Sept. 29 in Cleveland in a debate defined both by the president’s constant hectoring of his opponent, which sent his support lower, and by its place on the calendar: just two days before Trump announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.

Trump was hospitalized for three days, and while he later convalesced at the White House the debate commission moved to make their second debate remote — which the president immediately rejected.

Earlier Thursday, Trump appeared at a rally in North Carolina, underscoring the challenge confronting him in the final weeks as multiple polls have shown him trailing Biden nationally and in many swing states. Trump has spent much of the week on defense, campaigning in states he won in 2016, such as North Carolina and Iowa, where he campaigned Wednesday.

But despite the polling, Trump predicted a “big, beautiful red wave” on Election Night, before referencing another one of his major challenges: A cash disadvantage to the Biden campaign, which just announced raising a record-breaking $383 million in September.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden will compete for TV audiences in dueling town halls on Thursday night instead of meeting face-to-face for their second debate as originally planned.

The two will take questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-donald-trump-rush-limbaugh-campaigns-705e9f19162daa9c595b7a3c03f5a8d2">Trump backed out</a>&nbsp;of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-health-archive-hope-hicks-7fece2838ff7a9bd91ccf5ac287348b3">Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis</a>.

The town halls offer a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the two held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. But Trump, speaking on Fox Business on Thursday morning, launched early attacks on Biden, calling him “mentally shot,” a “liar” and a “corrupt politician.” He also said he had no plans to change his tone going forward.

“Many people said I won it, but some people said I was rude. But you have to be rude,” Trump said of the last debate. “The guy’s a liar.”

He also preemptively attacked NBC, charging that it went easy on Biden in a recent interview and asked questions geared for a child. Trump said NBC asked him to do the town hall.

“It’s a different audience and it’s good for me to have a different audience,” he said.

As the pace of the campaign speeds up in its final weeks, the two candidates first are taking care of other electoral necessities Thursday: Trump has a midday rally in battleground North Carolina, and Biden is raising campaign cash at a virtual event.

During his fundraiser, Biden warned supporters that Trump is “going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me” and will deliver “an overwhelming torrent of lies.” Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, came under scrutiny this week following a New York Post report outlining an email Hunter allegedly received from a Ukrainian businessman discussing a meeting with the elder Biden. Biden’s campaign has said the meeting never happened, and experts have raised questions about the veracity of the emails.

Indeed, with just 19 days until Election Day, there remains ample time for unexpected developments to throw off the candidates’ plans — like they did Thursday, when Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon announced the campaign was canceling running mate Sen. Kamala Harris’ in-person campaign events through Sunday “out of an abundance of caution” after two staffers tied to the campaign tested positive for the coronavirus.

The campaign told reporters Thursday morning that Harris’ communications director and a flight crew member tested positive after a campaign trip to Arizona last week, during which Harris and Biden campaigned together throughout the state. Biden and Harris both have tested negative multiple times since then, and the campaign said Harris was never in close contact with the staffers. But in an effort to draw a contrast with Trump, the campaign has emphasized its strict protocols in dealing with the virus and said it’d be moving Harris’ campaign events online whenever possible in the next few days.

Meanwhile Trump, after recovering from his own bout with the coronavirus, has been trying to shore up support from constituencies that not so long ago he thought he had in the bag: big business and voters in the red state of Iowa.

In a Wednesday morning address to business leaders, he expressed puzzlement that they would even consider supporting Biden, arguing that his own leadership was a better bet for a strong economy. Later, the president held his third campaign rally in three nights, this time in Iowa, a state he won handily in 2016 but where Biden is making a late push.

“I know I’m speaking to some Democrats, and some of you are friends of mine,” Trump said in a virtual address to the Economic Clubs of New York, Florida, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Pittsburgh and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Should Biden be elected, he continued, “you will see things happen that will not make you happy. I don’t understand your thinking.”

During his decades in the Senate representing Delaware, a center for the credit card and banking industries, Biden built relationships and a voting record in the business sector that has raised suspicion on the left but provides Wall Street with a measure of ease at the prospect of a Biden administration.

After being sidelined by the coronavirus, Trump resumed a breakneck schedule this week, with aides saying he is expected to travel and host campaign rallies every day through Nov. 3. Trump has appeared hale in his public appearances since reemerging from quarantine, though at moments during his economic address on Wednesday his voice was raspy.

In Iowa, Trump tossed away his tie and donned a red hat to fight off the stiff breeze on the airport tarmac. He made a direct appeal to the state’s farmers, saying that he was responsible for $28 billion in aid designed to help offset damage stemming from his trade war with China. “I hope you remember that on Nov. 3,” Trump said.

But after years of farmers supporting him despite the trade war, some Republicans say Trump’s renewable fuel policy has sown some doubt.

Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency granted dozens of waivers to petroleum companies seeking to bypass congressional rules requiring the level of the corn-based fuel additive ethanol that gasoline must contain. He has recently denied more waiver requests, but the EPA’s previous action removed about 4 billion gallons of ethanol demand, resulting in the closure — at least temporarily — of more than a dozen ethanol plants in Iowa.

While mostly laying low on Wednesday, Biden has stepped up campaign travel in the past week, with visits to Arizona, Nevada, Florida and Pennsylvania, where he drove his consistent campaign message focused on Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602793246633.png" alt="President Trump on NBC from Miami and Former Vice President Biden on ABC from Philadelphia-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump on NBC from Miami and Former Vice President Biden on ABC from Philadelphia-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off, in a way, Thursday night in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to a pandemic that has reshaped the nation.Coming just two and a half weeks before Election Day, the night offered crystalizing contrasts and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-sarah-silverman-jon-hamm-7b601886fd47cc937612f25352747991">a national, if divided, audience</a>. But it seemed unlikely to have produced a needed moment for a president running out of time or opportunities to appeal beyond his core base.He was defensive about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, and evasive when pressed about whether he took a required COVID-19 test before his first debate with Biden. Angry and combative, Trump refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group — and only testily did so regarding white supremacists.The president also appeared to acknowledge revelations from a recent New York Times report that he was in debt and left open the possibility that some of it was owed to a foreign bank. But he insisted that he didn’t owe any money to Russia or any “sinister people” and suggested that $400 million in debt was a “very, very small percentage” compared to his overall assets.Biden denounced the White House’s handling of the virus, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration in which he served. Though vague at times, he suggested he will offer clarity on his position on expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee to the bench is seated before Election Day.After Biden’s 90-minute town hall event formally concluded, the candidate spent another half-hour taking questions from those in the audience who didn’t get an opportunity during the televised program.Trump and Biden were supposed to spend Thursday night on the same debate stage in Miami. But that faceoff was scuttled after Trump’s coronavirus infection, which jolted the race and threatened the health of the American president.Trump wouldn’t say whether he had tested negative on the day of his first debate with Biden on Sept. 29, allowing only, “Possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.” Debate rules required that each candidate, using the honor system, had tested negative prior to the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following his COVID-19 diagnosis.The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and striking.Trump was Trump.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-9fb3c8e23ccb85bcf267b0990d49ca2b">He was loud and argumentative</a>, rebuking his FBI director, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election, but only after casting an extraordinary amount of doubt on the likeliness of fairness.“And then they talk, ’Will you accept a peaceful transfer?’” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else.”He again sought to minimize revelations from a New York Times investigation that he has more than $400 million in debt and suggested that reports are wrong that he paid little or no federal income taxes in most years over the past two decades.Biden, meanwhile, took a far different, softer approach with audience questions. The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the program and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words. At times his answers droned on.Holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee brought a small card of notes onstage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He said doing so would save, as he consulted his notes, “let me see ... $92 billion.”Biden vowed to say before Election Day whether he will support expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court if Democrats win the presidency and the Senate and hold the House after November.He has for weeks refused to answer the question but went further Thursday night. He said, “I’m still not a fan” of expanding the court, but said his ultimate decision depended on how the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court “is handled” and “how much they rush this.”Biden also blasted Trump’s foreign policy, declaring that “‘America first’ has made ‘America alone’” and “This president embraces all the thugs in the world.” He turned introspective when asked what it would say if he lost.“It could say that I’m a lousy candidate, that I didn’t do a good job,” Biden said. “But I think, I hope that it doesn’t say that we’re as racially, ethnically and religiously at odds as it appears the president wants us to be.”Biden said he plans to participate in next week’s debate but he would ask Trump to take a COVID-19 test before arriving. “It’s just decency” for everyone around him, including non-candidates like camera operators, Biden said.The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville.___WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was evasive Thursday night when pressed if he took a COVID-19 test before his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden as the two men squared off again, in a way, after their scuttled second showdown was replaced by dueling televised town halls several channels apart.Biden, appearing nearly 1,200 miles away, denounced the White House’s handling of the virus that has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration. Trump, meanwhile, was defensive and insisted that the nation was turning the corner on the virus, even as his own battle with the disease took center stage.Trump, less than two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19, dodged directly answering whether he took a test the day of the Sept. 29 debate, only saying “possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.” Debate rules required that each candidate, using the honor system, had tested negative prior to the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.It was his positive test two days later that created Thursday’s odd spectacle, which deprived most viewers of a simultaneous look at the candidates just 19 days before Election Day. The moment seemed fitting for a race unlike any other, as yet another campaign ritual was changed by the pandemic that has rewritten the norms of society.The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis.The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and striking.Trump was Trump. He was loud and argumentative, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, refusing to outright condemn the QAnon conspiracy group, testily declaring he would denounce white supremacy but complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election, but only after casting an extraordinary amount doubt on the likeliness of fairness.“And then they talk ’Will you accept a peaceful transfer,’” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else.”Biden meanwhile, took a far different, softer, approach with audience questions. The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the show and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words. At times his answers droned on.Dressed in a blue suit and holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee also brought a small card of notes on stage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.He said doing so would save “let me see... $92 billion.”The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville. But the cancellation of Thursday’s debate still reverberated for both campaigns.Trump and Biden battled on Sept. 29 in Cleveland in a debate defined both by the president’s constant hectoring of his opponent, which sent his support lower, and by its place on the calendar: just two days before Trump announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.Trump was hospitalized for three days, and while he later convalesced at the White House the debate commission moved to make their second debate remote — which the president immediately rejected.Earlier Thursday, Trump appeared at a rally in North Carolina, underscoring the challenge confronting him in the final weeks as multiple polls have shown him trailing Biden nationally and in many swing states. Trump has spent much of the week on defense, campaigning in states he won in 2016, such as North Carolina and Iowa, where he campaigned Wednesday.But despite the polling, Trump predicted a “big, beautiful red wave” on Election Night, before referencing another one of his major challenges: A cash disadvantage to the Biden campaign, which just announced raising a record-breaking $383 million in September.-------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden will compete for TV audiences in dueling town halls on Thursday night instead of meeting face-to-face for their second debate as originally planned.The two will take questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-donald-trump-rush-limbaugh-campaigns-705e9f19162daa9c595b7a3c03f5a8d2">Trump backed out</a>&nbsp;of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-health-archive-hope-hicks-7fece2838ff7a9bd91ccf5ac287348b3">Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis</a>.The town halls offer a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the two held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. But Trump, speaking on Fox Business on Thursday morning, launched early attacks on Biden, calling him “mentally shot,” a “liar” and a “corrupt politician.” He also said he had no plans to change his tone going forward.“Many people said I won it, but some people said I was rude. But you have to be rude,” Trump said of the last debate. “The guy’s a liar.”He also preemptively attacked NBC, charging that it went easy on Biden in a recent interview and asked questions geared for a child. Trump said NBC asked him to do the town hall.“It’s a different audience and it’s good for me to have a different audience,” he said.As the pace of the campaign speeds up in its final weeks, the two candidates first are taking care of other electoral necessities Thursday: Trump has a midday rally in battleground North Carolina, and Biden is raising campaign cash at a virtual event.During his fundraiser, Biden warned supporters that Trump is “going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me” and will deliver “an overwhelming torrent of lies.” Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, came under scrutiny this week following a New York Post report outlining an email Hunter allegedly received from a Ukrainian businessman discussing a meeting with the elder Biden. Biden’s campaign has said the meeting never happened, and experts have raised questions about the veracity of the emails.Indeed, with just 19 days until Election Day, there remains ample time for unexpected developments to throw off the candidates’ plans — like they did Thursday, when Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon announced the campaign was canceling running mate Sen. Kamala Harris’ in-person campaign events through Sunday “out of an abundance of caution” after two staffers tied to the campaign tested positive for the coronavirus.The campaign told reporters Thursday morning that Harris’ communications director and a flight crew member tested positive after a campaign trip to Arizona last week, during which Harris and Biden campaigned together throughout the state. Biden and Harris both have tested negative multiple times since then, and the campaign said Harris was never in close contact with the staffers. But in an effort to draw a contrast with Trump, the campaign has emphasized its strict protocols in dealing with the virus and said it’d be moving Harris’ campaign events online whenever possible in the next few days.Meanwhile Trump, after recovering from his own bout with the coronavirus, has been trying to shore up support from constituencies that not so long ago he thought he had in the bag: big business and voters in the red state of Iowa.In a Wednesday morning address to business leaders, he expressed puzzlement that they would even consider supporting Biden, arguing that his own leadership was a better bet for a strong economy. Later, the president held his third campaign rally in three nights, this time in Iowa, a state he won handily in 2016 but where Biden is making a late push.“I know I’m speaking to some Democrats, and some of you are friends of mine,” Trump said in a virtual address to the Economic Clubs of New York, Florida, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Pittsburgh and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Should Biden be elected, he continued, “you will see things happen that will not make you happy. I don’t understand your thinking.”During his decades in the Senate representing Delaware, a center for the credit card and banking industries, Biden built relationships and a voting record in the business sector that has raised suspicion on the left but provides Wall Street with a measure of ease at the prospect of a Biden administration.After being sidelined by the coronavirus, Trump resumed a breakneck schedule this week, with aides saying he is expected to travel and host campaign rallies every day through Nov. 3. Trump has appeared hale in his public appearances since reemerging from quarantine, though at moments during his economic address on Wednesday his voice was raspy.In Iowa, Trump tossed away his tie and donned a red hat to fight off the stiff breeze on the airport tarmac. He made a direct appeal to the state’s farmers, saying that he was responsible for $28 billion in aid designed to help offset damage stemming from his trade war with China. “I hope you remember that on Nov. 3,” Trump said.But after years of farmers supporting him despite the trade war, some Republicans say Trump’s renewable fuel policy has sown some doubt.Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency granted dozens of waivers to petroleum companies seeking to bypass congressional rules requiring the level of the corn-based fuel additive ethanol that gasoline must contain. He has recently denied more waiver requests, but the EPA’s previous action removed about 4 billion gallons of ethanol demand, resulting in the closure — at least temporarily — of more than a dozen ethanol plants in Iowa.While mostly laying low on Wednesday, Biden has stepped up campaign travel in the past week, with visits to Arizona, Nevada, Florida and Pennsylvania, where he drove his consistent campaign message focused on Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.___

Trump, Biden go at it -- from a distance -- in town halls

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an arrest.

Just before 11p.m. Wednesday, A sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle near 150th&nbsp;and U.S. 75 Highway Wednesday for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies arrested the driver identified as Lonnie Gene Banks Jr., 58, Topeka, and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602771922616.png" alt="Banks-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Banks-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an arrest.Just before 11p.m. Wednesday, A sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle near 150th&nbsp;and U.S. 75 Highway Wednesday for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies arrested the driver identified as Lonnie Gene Banks Jr., 58, Topeka, and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

Sheriff: Deputies catch Kan. felon transporting drugs

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Thursday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by Shane M.&nbsp; Lingenfelter, 44, Manhattan, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Tallgrass Road thirteen miles southeast of Manhattan.

The driver steered onto the north shoulder and struck a tree. The pickup rolled, struck a second tree and rolled into a creek. The pickup came to rest on the driver's side in the creek.

Lingenfelter was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Thursday in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by Shane M.&nbsp; Lingenfelter, 44, Manhattan, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Tallgrass Road thirteen miles southeast of Manhattan.The driver steered onto the north shoulder and struck a tree. The pickup rolled, struck a second tree and rolled into a creek. The pickup came to rest on the driver's side in the creek.Lingenfelter was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. man dies after pickup strikes tree, rolls into creek

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday on behalf of a protester who was arrested and allegedly banned by police in Kansas City from participating in future protests or returning to the popular dining and shopping district where the protests were held.

The ACLU of Missouri and MacArthur Justice Center sued Kansas City, Missouri, police commissioners challenging what they call an unconstitutional verbal banishment order.

The lawsuit stems from a June 1 protest against police brutality and racial injustice at the Country Club Plaza during which Theresa Taylor and about 100 others were arrested. The lawsuit contends that when she was released on bail, police told her that if she returned to the Plaza she would be arrested and held without bail.

Police spokesman Jake Becchina declined to comment on the litigation.

“Kansas City Police’s order banishing Ms. Taylor from that area — for any purpose — is clearly unconstitutional," Amy Breihan, co-director at MacArthur Justice Center, said in a news release. "And it also demonstrates law enforcement’s power to silence dissenting voices including and especially when those voices are raised in objection to police violence.”

A municipal charge alleging Taylor failed to comply with a police order to disperse was dismissed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590977417965.png" alt="June protests near the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>June protests near the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday on behalf of a protester who was arrested and allegedly banned by police in Kansas City from participating in future protests or returning to the popular dining and shopping district where the protests were held.The ACLU of Missouri and MacArthur Justice Center sued Kansas City, Missouri, police commissioners challenging what they call an unconstitutional verbal banishment order.The lawsuit stems from a June 1 protest against police brutality and racial injustice at the Country Club Plaza during which Theresa Taylor and about 100 others were arrested. The lawsuit contends that when she was released on bail, police told her that if she returned to the Plaza she would be arrested and held without bail.Police spokesman Jake Becchina declined to comment on the litigation.“Kansas City Police’s order banishing Ms. Taylor from that area — for any purpose — is clearly unconstitutional," Amy Breihan, co-director at MacArthur Justice Center, said in a news release. "And it also demonstrates law enforcement’s power to silence dissenting voices including and especially when those voices are raised in objection to police violence.”A municipal charge alleging Taylor failed to comply with a police order to disperse was dismissed.

Lawsuit alleges police order banished KC protester

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) - A jury found a woman guilty Wednesday of the killing another woman who disappeared after a Tinder date and whose dismembered remains were later found in trash bags along rural Nebraska roads.

Jurors took less than four hours to find Bailey Boswell, 26, guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and improper disposal of human remains in the 2017 killing of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe of Lincoln.

Boswell's defense had argued she was forced by her ex-convict boyfriend to go along with the killing and dismemberment, but state prosecutors said Boswell acted in tandem with Aubrey Trail, 54, to meet and kill Loofe.

Boswell could become the first woman sent to death row in Nebraska when she's sentenced at a later date. Trail was found guilty last year and also faces a possible death penalty.

Investigators say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d26b8a401f2d4154a43a5e3a033d4f3c" target="_blank">Boswell arranged a date</a>&nbsp;with Loofe, a Lincoln store clerk, through the internet dating app Tinder for Nov. 15, 2017 - the same day officials say Loofe was killed. Loofe was reported missing by her family, and a massive search was launched. Her remains weren't found until Dec. 4, when her dismembered body was found stuffed into garbage bags that had been dumped in a field near Edgar, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Lincoln.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Jury selection has begun in the trial of a woman charged with killing a 24-year-old woman who disappeared after a Tinder date and whose dismembered remains later were found in trash bags along remote gravel roads in Nebraska.

Bailey Boswell, 26, faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the November 2017 slaying of Sydney Loofe, who was a store clerk in Lincoln. Boswell had arranged a date with Loofe through the internet dating app - a date from which Loofe never returned.

Boswell's boyfriend, 54-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7242eab656f64cd99b8780881e67deab" target="_blank">Aubrey Trail,&nbsp;</a>was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in Loofe's death in July 2019. Trail testified that he accidentally choked Loofe to death during a sex party that involved Boswell.

Boswell's trial was moved from Saline County, where she and Trail lived, to Dawson County because of extensive publicity.

On Wednesday, a special prosecutor handling the case asked jurors if they had read or heard anything about the case. Nearly all indicated that they had heard about the case, and most nodded when asked if they had gotten their information from news accounts.

Trail, a Kansas convict who specialized in fraud and deception, went on social media shortly after Loofe was reported missing to proclaim in a video that he and Boswell had nothing to do with her disappearance. Boswell has said she dropped Loofe off in Lincoln after their date and had no idea where she was.

During his trial, Trail slashed his own neck in front of jurors, but survived. Prosecutors have called Trail a conman. He is scheduled for sentencing in December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560911993347.png" alt="Boswell's defense had argued she was forced by her ex-convict boyfriend Aubrey Trail to go along with the killing.&nbsp; Trail has previous convictions in Kansas for theft and giving a worthless check, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He is scheduled for sentencing in December for Loofe's murder." />
 <figcaption>Boswell's defense had argued she was forced by her ex-convict boyfriend Aubrey Trail to go along with the killing.&nbsp; Trail has previous convictions in Kansas for theft and giving a worthless check, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He is scheduled for sentencing in December for Loofe's murder.</figcaption>
 </figure>LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) - A jury found a woman guilty Wednesday of the killing another woman who disappeared after a Tinder date and whose dismembered remains were later found in trash bags along rural Nebraska roads.Jurors took less than four hours to find Bailey Boswell, 26, guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and improper disposal of human remains in the 2017 killing of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe of Lincoln.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560911898785.png" alt="Boswell photo Lancaster County" />
 <figcaption>Boswell photo Lancaster County</figcaption>
 </figure>Boswell's defense had argued she was forced by her ex-convict boyfriend to go along with the killing and dismemberment, but state prosecutors said Boswell acted in tandem with Aubrey Trail, 54, to meet and kill Loofe.Boswell could become the first woman sent to death row in Nebraska when she's sentenced at a later date. Trail was found guilty last year and also faces a possible death penalty.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561640263298.png" alt="Sydney Loofe- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Sydney Loofe- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d26b8a401f2d4154a43a5e3a033d4f3c" target="_blank">Boswell arranged a date</a>&nbsp;with Loofe, a Lincoln store clerk, through the internet dating app Tinder for Nov. 15, 2017 - the same day officials say Loofe was killed. Loofe was reported missing by her family, and a massive search was launched. Her remains weren't found until Dec. 4, when her dismembered body was found stuffed into garbage bags that had been dumped in a field near Edgar, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Lincoln.---------LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Jury selection has begun in the trial of a woman charged with killing a 24-year-old woman who disappeared after a Tinder date and whose dismembered remains later were found in trash bags along remote gravel roads in Nebraska.Bailey Boswell, 26, faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the November 2017 slaying of Sydney Loofe, who was a store clerk in Lincoln. Boswell had arranged a date with Loofe through the internet dating app - a date from which Loofe never returned.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560911993347.png" alt="Aubrey Trail has previous convictions in Kansas for theft and giving a worthless check, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is scheduled for sentencing in December for Loofe's murder." />
 <figcaption>Aubrey Trail has previous convictions in Kansas for theft and giving a worthless check, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is scheduled for sentencing in December for Loofe's murder.</figcaption>
 </figure>Boswell's boyfriend, 54-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7242eab656f64cd99b8780881e67deab" target="_blank">Aubrey Trail,&nbsp;</a>was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in Loofe's death in July 2019. Trail testified that he accidentally choked Loofe to death during a sex party that involved Boswell.Boswell's trial was moved from Saline County, where she and Trail lived, to Dawson County because of extensive publicity.On Wednesday, a special prosecutor handling the case asked jurors if they had read or heard anything about the case. Nearly all indicated that they had heard about the case, and most nodded when asked if they had gotten their information from news accounts.Trail, a Kansas convict who specialized in fraud and deception, went on social media shortly after Loofe was reported missing to proclaim in a video that he and Boswell had nothing to do with her disappearance. Boswell has said she dropped Loofe off in Lincoln after their date and had no idea where she was.During his trial, Trail slashed his own neck in front of jurors, but survived. Prosecutors have called Trail a conman. He is scheduled for sentencing in December.

2nd guilty verdict in dismemberment death involving Kan. felon

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting over an online dispute that sent a girl to the hospital.

Just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a drive-by shooting in the 2500 block of East 18th Street in Wichita, according to Officer Kevin Wheeler.

 Upon arrival, officers located shell casings and heard a disturbance nearby in the 1800 block of North Green. Officers responded there and contacted multiple individuals.

The investigation revealed a physical disturbance occurred between the multiple individuals on 18th street. During the disturbance, a suspect fired a shot into the air. Another suspect identified as&nbsp; 26-year-old Charles Henderson II of Wichita fired shots into a white Pontiac G6, striking and injuring a 15-year-old girl in the car, according to Wheeler.

EMS transported the girl&nbsp;to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. 

After individuals fled the scene on 18th street, they began to gather again on Green, where another disturbance began before police arrived. Police contacted Henderson there and&nbsp; arrested him without further incident.

He is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and an outstanding warrant, according to Wheeler.

The shooting was not a random incident and involved an online dispute between individuals known to each other.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602778180910.png" alt="Henderson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Henderson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting over an online dispute that sent a girl to the hospital.Just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a drive-by shooting in the 2500 block of East 18th Street in Wichita, according to Officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located shell casings and heard a disturbance nearby in the 1800 block of North Green. Officers responded there and contacted multiple individuals.The investigation revealed a physical disturbance occurred between the multiple individuals on 18th street. During the disturbance, a suspect fired a shot into the air. Another suspect identified as&nbsp; 26-year-old Charles Henderson II of Wichita fired shots into a white Pontiac G6, striking and injuring a 15-year-old girl in the car, according to Wheeler.EMS transported the girl&nbsp;to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. After individuals fled the scene on 18th street, they began to gather again on Green, where another disturbance began before police arrived. Police contacted Henderson there and&nbsp; arrested him without further incident.He is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and an outstanding warrant, according to Wheeler.The shooting was not a random incident and involved an online dispute between individuals known to each other.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office

Police: Kansas girl shot after alleged online dispute

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/14/hospital-staffing-and-capacity-a-concern-for-kansas-communities-as-covid-19-multiplies/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Concerns are 
growing about adequate staffing levels and bed capacity at Kansas 
hospitals and nursing homes strained by rising COVID-19 cases.

Hospitals in southeast Kansas already are struggling with capacity issues. <a href="https://www.morningsun.net/news/20201013/county-health-officials-consider-policy-changes-as-area-hospitals-reach-capacity">Ascension Via Christi Hospital announced this week</a>
 it would implement its surge plan and cease all elective surgeries 
because of a spike in cases in Crawford and Bourbon counties.

Kansas Department of 
Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman said Tuesday most hospitals 
he has spoken with are staying ahead of the virus. He said as case 
numbers rise in a community, however, so will the strain on hospital 
staff.

“Staffing challenges will 
be the first thing that we notice as numbers get worse,” Norman said. 
“It’s not because the people are out with an illness or in quarantine. 
It’s just because there are only so many critical care practitioners — 
whether they are doctors, nurses or therapists — to go around.”

As flu season begins, 
Norman emphasized the need to keep community COVID-19 case numbers low 
and, in effect, keep all areas of the hospital operating at full 
capacity.

Norman said he has 
discussed surge capacity plans and the possibility of strain on staffing
 levels during conversations this week with hospitals and nursing homes 
across the state.

Physical inventory, such 
as dialysis machines and ventilators, is strong statewide, Norman said, 
and he expects hospitals to remain well-stocked. But he is advising a 
cautious approach to potential staffing shortfalls.

“We have to do whatever we
 can to push it down,” Norman said. “I think we might get pinched, which
 is an excellent reason, I think, to bolster up and strengthen the 
anti-contagion practices in every county, city and town.”

KDHE on Wednesday reported
 an increase in of 1,293 cases of COVID-19 since Monday, and a two-day 
increase of 67 deaths. That brings state totals to 69,155 cases and 838 
deaths since the pandemic began in early March.

Kansas remains in the red zone for total cases per 100,000 people compared to the United States as a whole.

Norman said there is 
mounting evidence people could face re-infection with different strains 
of the virus. A woman in the Netherlands died this week after 
reinfection with COVID-19, although she was also fighting a rare form of
 cancer at the same time.

Nonfatal reinfections also has been reported in Hong Kong, Belgium and Nevada.

Norman said these reports 
contrast with the belief many hold that those who are infected are no 
longer at risk of contracting it again.

“We don’t know for sure if
 an immunity to the first time you had it, if it is a slightly different
 virus, will provide immunity the next time you are exposed,” Norman 
said. “Which means as a person that had it before, can they act like 
they won’t get it again? We don’t know the answer to that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602783801990.png" alt="Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman said capacity issues in southeast Kansas should serve as a wake-up call as concerns grow over rising COVID-19 case numbers and their strain on hospital staffing levels. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman said capacity issues in southeast Kansas should serve as a wake-up call as concerns grow over rising COVID-19 case numbers and their strain on hospital staffing levels. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/14/hospital-staffing-and-capacity-a-concern-for-kansas-communities-as-covid-19-multiplies/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Concerns are 
growing about adequate staffing levels and bed capacity at Kansas 
hospitals and nursing homes strained by rising COVID-19 cases.Hospitals in southeast Kansas already are struggling with capacity issues. <a href="https://www.morningsun.net/news/20201013/county-health-officials-consider-policy-changes-as-area-hospitals-reach-capacity">Ascension Via Christi Hospital announced this week</a>
 it would implement its surge plan and cease all elective surgeries 
because of a spike in cases in Crawford and Bourbon counties.Kansas Department of 
Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman said Tuesday most hospitals 
he has spoken with are staying ahead of the virus. He said as case 
numbers rise in a community, however, so will the strain on hospital 
staff.“Staffing challenges will 
be the first thing that we notice as numbers get worse,” Norman said. 
“It’s not because the people are out with an illness or in quarantine. 
It’s just because there are only so many critical care practitioners — 
whether they are doctors, nurses or therapists — to go around.”As flu season begins, 
Norman emphasized the need to keep community COVID-19 case numbers low 
and, in effect, keep all areas of the hospital operating at full 
capacity.Norman said he has 
discussed surge capacity plans and the possibility of strain on staffing
 levels during conversations this week with hospitals and nursing homes 
across the state.Physical inventory, such 
as dialysis machines and ventilators, is strong statewide, Norman said, 
and he expects hospitals to remain well-stocked. But he is advising a 
cautious approach to potential staffing shortfalls.“We have to do whatever we
 can to push it down,” Norman said. “I think we might get pinched, which
 is an excellent reason, I think, to bolster up and strengthen the 
anti-contagion practices in every county, city and town.”KDHE on Wednesday reported
 an increase in of 1,293 cases of COVID-19 since Monday, and a two-day 
increase of 67 deaths. That brings state totals to 69,155 cases and 838 
deaths since the pandemic began in early March.Kansas remains in the red zone for total cases per 100,000 people compared to the United States as a whole.Norman said there is 
mounting evidence people could face re-infection with different strains 
of the virus. A woman in the Netherlands died this week after 
reinfection with COVID-19, although she was also fighting a rare form of
 cancer at the same time.Nonfatal reinfections also has been reported in Hong Kong, Belgium and Nevada.Norman said these reports 
contrast with the belief many hold that those who are infected are no 
longer at risk of contracting it again.“We don’t know for sure if
 an immunity to the first time you had it, if it is a slightly different
 virus, will provide immunity the next time you are exposed,” Norman 
said. “Which means as a person that had it before, can they act like 
they won’t get it again? We don’t know the answer to that.”

Hospital staffing, capacity a concern for Kan. communities as COVID-19 multiplies

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A virtual diversity event at Kansas State University was flooded with racist comments after a white student who caused an uproar earlier this year with a racist tweet about George Floyd shared a link to the Zoom call with his followers. 

The executive board of the KSU Young Democrats blamed followers of Jaden McNeil for disrupting Tuesday’s KSUnite event in a tweet and demanded that he be expelled. A university spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday that the disruption was so severe that the moderators had to disable the chat function for participants.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A virtual diversity event at Kansas State University was flooded with racist comments after a white student who caused an uproar earlier this year with a racist tweet about George Floyd shared a link to the Zoom call with his followers. The executive board of the KSU Young Democrats blamed followers of Jaden McNeil for disrupting Tuesday’s KSUnite event in a tweet and demanded that he be expelled. A university spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday that the disruption was so severe that the moderators had to disable the chat function for participants.

Racist comments flood online K-State diversity event

LAWRENCE&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly Thursday applauded the announcement of the Phase III expansion of the Bioscience &amp; Technology Business Center (BTBC) at the University of Kansas, and introduction of the new KU Innovation Park, according to a media release from the governor's office.

The Phase III expansion includes a new 70,000-square-foot facility, which will feature fully functional wet labs, offices, and collaborative spaces for its tenant startups. The facility will house 250 new high-tech jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602788892516.png" alt="Governor Kelly joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod, Lawrence Mayor Jennifer Ananda, BTBC Executive Chair E. LaVerne Epp, U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Anthony Foti, and U.S. Department of Commerce Office of External Affairs and Communications Director Joel Frushone in making the announcement Thursday afternoon-photo courtesy office of Kan. Governor" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod, Lawrence Mayor Jennifer Ananda, BTBC Executive Chair E. LaVerne Epp, U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Anthony Foti, and U.S. Department of Commerce Office of External Affairs and Communications Director Joel Frushone in making the announcement Thursday afternoon-photo courtesy office of Kan. Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly Thursday applauded the announcement of the Phase III expansion of the Bioscience &amp; Technology Business Center (BTBC) at the University of Kansas, and introduction of the new KU Innovation Park, according to a media release from the governor's office.The Phase III expansion includes a new 70,000-square-foot facility, which will feature fully functional wet labs, offices, and collaborative spaces for its tenant startups. The facility will house 250 new high-tech jobs.“The University of Kansas Bioscience &amp; Technology Business Center expansion will assist my administration’s efforts to create good jobs, keep&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;graduates in our communities, and foster the local infrastructure of talent, resources, and business support that promotes sustainable economic resiliency in our state,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“I offer my&nbsp;congratulations&nbsp;to BTBC, and I look forward to seeing the full potential of this impressive initiative that will support our state’s growth for decades to come.”Before the expansion, BTBC established itself as a key sector for bioscience startups in Kansas. Currently, the center houses 50 high-tech and bioscience companies, and has created more than 400 high-wage jobs resulting in more than $22 million in annual payroll. The new development comes as the result of continued efforts by the founders of the BTBC, the KU Endowment Association, the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce.“The Department of Commerce is committed to leveraging the research and talent in our state’s higher education institutions to create new jobs and businesses in Kansas,”&nbsp;Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“BTBC is a powerful ally in building a diversified, robust Kansas economy powered by cutting-edge innovation in bioscience and technology.&nbsp;Congratulations&nbsp;to all involved on this historic achievement for KU and for our state.”Through its support of BTBC, the Department of Commerce will work alongside local governments to identify opportunities for economic growth, and to better direct economic development resources where they will have the greatest local impact.According to BTBC, the Phase III expansion will further BTBC’s mission: Creating high-wage jobs by building Kansas’ high-tech and bioscience industry clusters around the strengths of the University, leveraging one of Kansas’ most important economic resources for sustainable long-term growth and economic resiliency.Phase III is the first step in KU’s new Innovation Park, which is slated to be a unique blend of start-ups, private industry, government agencies, and research facilities for KU. The park is projected to bring an additional 2,500 high-paying bioscience jobs to Lawrence.&nbsp;More details on this project will be released at a later date.