OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The founder of a Johnson County soccer club was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation for inappropriately touching a juvenile girl who he coached.

Jason Cummins, 37, pleaded guilty in July to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child between the ages of 14 and 16. He will serve 19 months in jail if he violates his probation, his attorney, Scott Toth, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/former-arson-fc-coach-sentenced-to-19-months-for-child-sex-offense">KSHB-TV</a>.

As part of his plea deal, Cummins will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and can have no contact with any children except his own.

Court documents indicate Cummins took the girl to his home in Shawnee and touched her without her consent. He had coached her since she was 9 and was coaching the team she played on at the time.

Cummins founded Arson FC in 2014. He stepped down after he was charged.

Less than a month after he pleaded guilty, the entire coaching staff of the club resigned and started a new club — the Johnson County Soccer Club.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597269232186.png" alt="Cummins-photo Kansas Sex offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Cummins-photo Kansas Sex offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The founder of a Johnson County soccer club was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation for inappropriately touching a juvenile girl who he coached.Jason Cummins, 37, pleaded guilty in July to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child between the ages of 14 and 16. He will serve 19 months in jail if he violates his probation, his attorney, Scott Toth, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/former-arson-fc-coach-sentenced-to-19-months-for-child-sex-offense">KSHB-TV</a>.As part of his plea deal, Cummins will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and can have no contact with any children except his own.Court documents indicate Cummins took the girl to his home in Shawnee and touched her without her consent. He had coached her since she was 9 and was coaching the team she played on at the time.Cummins founded Arson FC in 2014. He stepped down after he was charged.Less than a month after he pleaded guilty, the entire coaching staff of the club resigned and started a new club — the Johnson County Soccer Club.

Kansas soccer club leader sentenced for child sex crime

By JIM MCLEAN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-22/trump-and-the-economy-start-to-define-the-race-for-kansas-u-s-senate-seat">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — It’s little surprise that the candidates for 
Kansas’ open U.S. Senate seat sharply disagree on taxes, trade, 
immigration and climate change. What’s unclear is who voters will most 
agree with in November: Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall or 
Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier.

Bollier, a retired doctor, 
believes Marshall’s down-the-line support of President Donald Trump has 
created an opportunity for her to ride anti-Trump sentiment in the 
state’s population centers to an upset.

But Marshall is betting on
 his support of Trump’s tax cuts, trade tactics and hard-line position 
on immigration to carry the day in a state where the president remains <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/kansas/" target="_blank">relatively popular with voters.</a>
 Summing up his core message at a primary debate, Marshall declared, 
“I’m running to keep standing by this president and to stop the left’s 
socialist agenda” — including “radical” immigration and environmental 
policies.

Bollier, however, said those tax cuts benefited the 
wealthy over middle-class Kansans and that the president’s trade 
policies were “reckless” and punished Kansas farmers. Essentially, 
Bollier said in the first debate of the general election, Marshall is 
voting “the way he is told (by party leaders) rather than what’s best 
for Kansas.”

“We need political leaders in Washington who will 
stop the political bickering, stop attacking one another and just get 
things done,” said Bollier, a moderate former Republican who switched 
parties in 2018.

Marshall,
 a two-term congressman from western Kansas and retired obstetrician 
from Great Bend, claims the federal tax cuts enacted in 2017 spurred the
 pre-COVID-19 U.S. economy to record heights and substantially lowered 
taxes for middle-income Kansans.

“It was the greatest economy of 
my lifetime,” Marshall said in a recent interview with the Kansas News 
Service. “The average Kansas family was keeping $2,000 more of their 
hard-earned money.”

A pro-Marshall campaign ad produced by One Nation, a political action
 committee that doesn’t have to disclose its donors and is connected to 
Republican political operative Karl Rove, praised Marshall for 
supporting tax cuts that it said “will increase average household income
 by $4,000.”

Both that claim and Marshall’s are misleading, according to Frank Sammartino, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan<a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/" target="_blank"> Tax Policy Center.</a>

“There was an increase in people’s after-tax income,” Sammartino said, “but it wasn’t anything like $4,000 across the board.”

The figure used in the ad comes from projections Trump’s<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2019/09/26/475083/trumps-corporate-tax-cut-not-trickling/" target="_blank"> Council of Economic advisers formulated</a>
 to boost support for the legislation as Congress was debating it. A Tax
 Policy Center analysis shows that the cuts reduced federal taxes for 
Kansas families earning between $50,000 and $75,000 by an average of 
$930, and 60% of the benefits went to the wealthiest 20% of Kansans.

Other
 provisions in the tax bill, Marshall said, such as the repeal of the 
Affordable Care Act mandate that required Americans to purchase health 
insurance, added to the savings.

But Bollier pushed back, pointing to the uneven distribution of benefits and the fact that the tax cuts<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2020/01/29/trumps-wasteful-tax-cuts-lead-to-continued-trillion-dollar-deficits-in-expanding-economy/#6e8609d966c4" target="_blank"> “ballooned” the federal budget deficit,</a>

“We need a tax system that is fair to all,” she said.

Democratic
 presidential candidate Joe Biden is proposing to repeal the tax cuts 
for those making more than $400,000 a year. Bollier doesn’t support “a 
full repeal of the Trump tax plan,” spokesperson Alexandra De Luca said.
 Instead, she favors making the middle-class tax cuts permanent and 
closing “loopholes for corporations and the wealthy that are driving up 
our national debt.”

Marshall concedes that the 
tariffs Trump imposed on China hurt Kansas farmers. But, he said, 
producers will benefit in the long run. He believes the get-tough 
tactics resulted in a “stronger” trade deal.

“I was just so 
grateful that Kansas farmers stood beside us and helped get us through 
those trade wars,” Marshall said. “They knew we had to stand up to this 
bully.”

On several occasions, Marshall has said the Phase One deal
 has boosted trade with China by 14%. However, U.S. exports to China 
during the first half of 2020 were down 4.6% compared to the first half 
of 2019 and 16.5% lower than the corresponding period in 2017.

<a href="https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-phase-one-tracker-chinas-purchases-us-goods" target="_blank">And an analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics</a>
 shows China falling far short of the purchasing targets it agreed to. 
For example, it committed to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural
 goods by approximately $37 million in 2020; halfway through the year, 
China had spent only $9.9 billion.

Bollier said that Marshall had 
the chance to stand up for Kansas farmers, but that he “instead chose to
 be a yes man for the president and for these harmful policies.”

But
 Marshall has the support of the Kansas Farm Bureau, an influential 
organization that represents thousands of farmers and ranchers.

“Our
 members like him and they respect him,” said Jackie Brundt, a Pratt 
County farmer who serves on KFB’s endorsement committee. “They’re the 
ones who said ‘Marshall’s our guy.’”

In 2018, Marshall worked on a<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/marshall-touts-progress-agricultural-guest-worker-visa" target="_blank"> bipartisan immigration plan</a>
 that, among other things, would have protected a visa program that 
supplies Kansas farmers with seasonal workers. He also questioned the 
practicality of Trump’s plan to fortify the wall on the U.S.-Mexico 
border.

When those positions led to attacks from rivals in this 
year’s primary race, Marshall pivoted to a more hardline stance on 
immigration. He embraced the wall and accused Bollier of being for “open
 borders and sanctuary cities.”

“She will open the door to all immigrants and they will get a free ride,” he said.

Responding
 during their recent debate, Bollier said Congress’ failure to pass 
comprehensive immigration reform is an example of “how broken Washington
 is.”

If elected, Bollier said, she would work for a bipartisan compromise 
that secures the border and protects “Dreamers who were brought to this 
country through no fault of their own.”

“I will be very supportive of making sure people have a path to citizenship,” she said.

Marshall
 said his efforts to strike a compromise have led him to the 
“disappointing” conclusion that “Democrats do not want to fix this 
situation.”

Marshall
 has said voters can assume that Bollier’s switch to the Democratic 
Party means she supports “radical” proposals such as the<a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez" target="_blank"> Green New Deal</a>, a sweeping plan advocated by more left-leaning Democrats to address climate change.

“The Green New Deal will be the end of Kansas agriculture,” Marshall asserted.

Bollier, however, said she doesn’t support the proposal, telling Marshall to “stop deceiving voters.”

Undeterred, Marshall said Democratic leaders in Washington will “come after her vote and she’s going to give it up.”

<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/senate/kansas/" target="_blank">Polls give Marshall the edge</a> but suggest the race could be the closest U.S. Senate contest in decades. A Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas <a href="https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000447" target="_blank">since the 1930s.</a>

Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities
 and civic life. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur .org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600877514015.png" alt="Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier speaking recently at a recent outdoor rally in Lenexa. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier speaking recently at a recent outdoor rally in Lenexa. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-22/trump-and-the-economy-start-to-define-the-race-for-kansas-u-s-senate-seat">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — It’s little surprise that the candidates for 
Kansas’ open U.S. Senate seat sharply disagree on taxes, trade, 
immigration and climate change. What’s unclear is who voters will most 
agree with in November: Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall or 
Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier.Bollier, a retired doctor, 
believes Marshall’s down-the-line support of President Donald Trump has 
created an opportunity for her to ride anti-Trump sentiment in the 
state’s population centers to an upset.But Marshall is betting on
 his support of Trump’s tax cuts, trade tactics and hard-line position 
on immigration to carry the day in a state where the president remains <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/kansas/" target="_blank">relatively popular with voters.</a>
 Summing up his core message at a primary debate, Marshall declared, 
“I’m running to keep standing by this president and to stop the left’s 
socialist agenda” — including “radical” immigration and environmental 
policies.Bollier, however, said those tax cuts benefited the 
wealthy over middle-class Kansans and that the president’s trade 
policies were “reckless” and punished Kansas farmers. Essentially, 
Bollier said in the first debate of the general election, Marshall is 
voting “the way he is told (by party leaders) rather than what’s best 
for Kansas.”“We need political leaders in Washington who will 
stop the political bickering, stop attacking one another and just get 
things done,” said Bollier, a moderate former Republican who switched 
parties in 2018.<h2>Tax cuts</h2>Marshall,
 a two-term congressman from western Kansas and retired obstetrician 
from Great Bend, claims the federal tax cuts enacted in 2017 spurred the
 pre-COVID-19 U.S. economy to record heights and substantially lowered 
taxes for middle-income Kansans.“It was the greatest economy of 
my lifetime,” Marshall said in a recent interview with the Kansas News 
Service. “The average Kansas family was keeping $2,000 more of their 
hard-earned money.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600877579297.png" alt="The Kansas News Service is a local partner with ProPublica's Electionland collaboration." />
 <figcaption>The Kansas News Service is a local partner with ProPublica's Electionland collaboration.</figcaption>
 </figure>A pro-Marshall campaign ad produced by One Nation, a political action
 committee that doesn’t have to disclose its donors and is connected to 
Republican political operative Karl Rove, praised Marshall for 
supporting tax cuts that it said “will increase average household income
 by $4,000.”Both that claim and Marshall’s are misleading, according to Frank Sammartino, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan<a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/" target="_blank"> Tax Policy Center.</a>“There was an increase in people’s after-tax income,” Sammartino said, “but it wasn’t anything like $4,000 across the board.”The figure used in the ad comes from projections Trump’s<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2019/09/26/475083/trumps-corporate-tax-cut-not-trickling/" target="_blank"> Council of Economic advisers formulated</a>
 to boost support for the legislation as Congress was debating it. A Tax
 Policy Center analysis shows that the cuts reduced federal taxes for 
Kansas families earning between $50,000 and $75,000 by an average of 
$930, and 60% of the benefits went to the wealthiest 20% of Kansans.Other
 provisions in the tax bill, Marshall said, such as the repeal of the 
Affordable Care Act mandate that required Americans to purchase health 
insurance, added to the savings.But Bollier pushed back, pointing to the uneven distribution of benefits and the fact that the tax cuts<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2020/01/29/trumps-wasteful-tax-cuts-lead-to-continued-trillion-dollar-deficits-in-expanding-economy/#6e8609d966c4" target="_blank"> “ballooned” the federal budget deficit,</a>“We need a tax system that is fair to all,” she said.Democratic
 presidential candidate Joe Biden is proposing to repeal the tax cuts 
for those making more than $400,000 a year. Bollier doesn’t support “a 
full repeal of the Trump tax plan,” spokesperson Alexandra De Luca said.
 Instead, she favors making the middle-class tax cuts permanent and 
closing “loopholes for corporations and the wealthy that are driving up 
our national debt.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596593743420.png" alt="Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Trade tactics</h2>Marshall concedes that the 
tariffs Trump imposed on China hurt Kansas farmers. But, he said, 
producers will benefit in the long run. He believes the get-tough 
tactics resulted in a “stronger” trade deal.“I was just so 
grateful that Kansas farmers stood beside us and helped get us through 
those trade wars,” Marshall said. “They knew we had to stand up to this 
bully.”On several occasions, Marshall has said the Phase One deal
 has boosted trade with China by 14%. However, U.S. exports to China 
during the first half of 2020 were down 4.6% compared to the first half 
of 2019 and 16.5% lower than the corresponding period in 2017.<a href="https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-phase-one-tracker-chinas-purchases-us-goods" target="_blank">And an analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics</a>
 shows China falling far short of the purchasing targets it agreed to. 
For example, it committed to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural
 goods by approximately $37 million in 2020; halfway through the year, 
China had spent only $9.9 billion.Bollier said that Marshall had 
the chance to stand up for Kansas farmers, but that he “instead chose to
 be a yes man for the president and for these harmful policies.”But
 Marshall has the support of the Kansas Farm Bureau, an influential 
organization that represents thousands of farmers and ranchers.“Our
 members like him and they respect him,” said Jackie Brundt, a Pratt 
County farmer who serves on KFB’s endorsement committee. “They’re the 
ones who said ‘Marshall’s our guy.’”<h2>Immigration</h2>In 2018, Marshall worked on a<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/marshall-touts-progress-agricultural-guest-worker-visa" target="_blank"> bipartisan immigration plan</a>
 that, among other things, would have protected a visa program that 
supplies Kansas farmers with seasonal workers. He also questioned the 
practicality of Trump’s plan to fortify the wall on the U.S.-Mexico 
border.When those positions led to attacks from rivals in this 
year’s primary race, Marshall pivoted to a more hardline stance on 
immigration. He embraced the wall and accused Bollier of being for “open
 borders and sanctuary cities.”“She will open the door to all immigrants and they will get a free ride,” he said.Responding
 during their recent debate, Bollier said Congress’ failure to pass 
comprehensive immigration reform is an example of “how broken Washington
 is.”If elected, Bollier said, she would work for a bipartisan compromise 
that secures the border and protects “Dreamers who were brought to this 
country through no fault of their own.”“I will be very supportive of making sure people have a path to citizenship,” she said.Marshall
 said his efforts to strike a compromise have led him to the 
“disappointing” conclusion that “Democrats do not want to fix this 
situation.”<h2>Climate change</h2>Marshall
 has said voters can assume that Bollier’s switch to the Democratic 
Party means she supports “radical” proposals such as the<a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez" target="_blank"> Green New Deal</a>, a sweeping plan advocated by more left-leaning Democrats to address climate change.“The Green New Deal will be the end of Kansas agriculture,” Marshall asserted.Bollier, however, said she doesn’t support the proposal, telling Marshall to “stop deceiving voters.”Undeterred, Marshall said Democratic leaders in Washington will “come after her vote and she’s going to give it up.”<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/senate/kansas/" target="_blank">Polls give Marshall the edge</a> but suggest the race could be the closest U.S. Senate contest in decades. A Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas <a href="https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000447" target="_blank">since the 1930s.</a>Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities
 and civic life. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur .org.

Trump, the economy start to define Kan. U.S. Senate race

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas set another record Wednesday for its biggest seven-day spike in new confirmed coronavirus cases, and the state’s top public health official said it’s a sign that the state is seeing community spread of the virus even in “frontier” counties.

The state health department reported 1,267 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, an increase of 2.3%, to bring the total to 55,226. The average number of new cases per day was 622 for the seven days ending Wednesday, surpassing the previous record average of 615 for the first seven days of September.

The state also reported another 21 deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total for the pandemic to 621. Nine of those deaths occurred before this week and were added to the total after a regular review of death certificates.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, acknowledged that the number of deaths as a total of positive cases has hovered around 1.1%. He said hospitals aren’t overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, largely because a higher percentage of younger people are getting infected. The median age of Kansas residents testing is 35, having dropped steadily since the end of March.

But Norman said during a Statehouse news conference that a “worrisome concern” is that the state anticipates that cases will continue to rise, and “1.1% of an ever-enlarging number is an ever-enlarging number.”

“We’re getting more widespread community spread statewide,” Norman said. “It’s not as just located in packing plants, nursing homes and the like, and so it’s becoming more community spread in rural and frontier counties.”

Kansas has no statewide mandate for people to wear masks in public because of a pandemic-management law enacted in June as a compromise between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature. The law has left decisions about restrictions on businesses and public gatherings and when K-12 schools should resume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2b5daf37e0f9a8d4f4b108d53a6139fb">to local officials.&nbsp;</a>GOP lawmakers recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9436c3901c2eaaf3ae46d1763804bed9">extracted a public promise</a>&nbsp;from Kelly that she won’t seek to close businesses statewide again, as she did in the spring.

During the past two weeks, the biggest increases in reported cases per 1,000 residents have been in rural central or western Kansas counties. Cheyenne County in the state’s far northwestern corner is in the lead with nearly 17 new cases per 1,000 residents, having seen its total case count jump from nine to 54, according to the state health department.

Four of the top five counties for total cases per 1,000 residents also are in central or western Kansas, led by Ford County in southwestern Kansas, with nearly 82 reported cases per 1,000 residents for the pandemic.

“It’s more widespread — urban, surburban, rural, frontier — and those are contributing to the overall numbers in an unfortunate way,” Norman said. “There’s a lot more young people that are getting infected in schools and colleges and universities and sports.”

Meanwhile, the University of Kansas Medical Center is part of a nationwide clinical trial looking into different treatments for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of the coronavirus who do not require hospitalization.

The first treatment will involve a drug made by Eli Lilly and the use of engineered versions of the same virus-fighting antibodies that the body naturally produces, KCUR-FM reported. The clinical trial is one of at least 40 around the country.

KU Medical Center’s lead investigator, Dr. Mario Castro, said the trial will allow for the introduction of multiple agents to combat COVID-19 as they become available.

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

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas set another record Wednesday for its biggest seven-day spike in new confirmed coronavirus cases, and the state’s top public health official said it’s a sign that the state is seeing community spread of the virus even in “frontier” counties.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F764889104292142%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The state health department reported 1,267 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, an increase of 2.3%, to bring the total to 55,226. The average number of new cases per day was 622 for the seven days ending Wednesday, surpassing the previous record average of 615 for the first seven days of September.The state also reported another 21 deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total for the pandemic to 621. Nine of those deaths occurred before this week and were added to the total after a regular review of death certificates.Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, acknowledged that the number of deaths as a total of positive cases has hovered around 1.1%. He said hospitals aren’t overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, largely because a higher percentage of younger people are getting infected. The median age of Kansas residents testing is 35, having dropped steadily since the end of March.But Norman said during a Statehouse news conference that a “worrisome concern” is that the state anticipates that cases will continue to rise, and “1.1% of an ever-enlarging number is an ever-enlarging number.”“We’re getting more widespread community spread statewide,” Norman said. “It’s not as just located in packing plants, nursing homes and the like, and so it’s becoming more community spread in rural and frontier counties.”Kansas has no statewide mandate for people to wear masks in public because of a pandemic-management law enacted in June as a compromise between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature. The law has left decisions about restrictions on businesses and public gatherings and when K-12 schools should resume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2b5daf37e0f9a8d4f4b108d53a6139fb">to local officials.&nbsp;</a>GOP lawmakers recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9436c3901c2eaaf3ae46d1763804bed9">extracted a public promise</a>&nbsp;from Kelly that she won’t seek to close businesses statewide again, as she did in the spring.During the past two weeks, the biggest increases in reported cases per 1,000 residents have been in rural central or western Kansas counties. Cheyenne County in the state’s far northwestern corner is in the lead with nearly 17 new cases per 1,000 residents, having seen its total case count jump from nine to 54, according to the state health department.Four of the top five counties for total cases per 1,000 residents also are in central or western Kansas, led by Ford County in southwestern Kansas, with nearly 82 reported cases per 1,000 residents for the pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600881352224.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 23, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 23, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s more widespread — urban, surburban, rural, frontier — and those are contributing to the overall numbers in an unfortunate way,” Norman said. “There’s a lot more young people that are getting infected in schools and colleges and universities and sports.”Meanwhile, the University of Kansas Medical Center is part of a nationwide clinical trial looking into different treatments for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of the coronavirus who do not require hospitalization.The first treatment will involve a drug made by Eli Lilly and the use of engineered versions of the same virus-fighting antibodies that the body naturally produces, KCUR-FM reported. The clinical trial is one of at least 40 around the country.KU Medical Center’s lead investigator, Dr. Mario Castro, said the trial will allow for the introduction of multiple agents to combat COVID-19 as they become available.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

🎥  Even ‘frontier’ counties hit in Kansas’ new COVID-19 spike

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 200 federal agents assigned to the anti-crime task force known as Operation Legend have left Kansas City, authorities announced Wednesday.

Kansas City was the first city where agents from several federal law enforcement agencies were sent to work with local law enforcement to combat violent crime, and the effort was later expanded to eight other U.S. cities.

Operation Legend was named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept in Kansas City in June. President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0950ff59635979d7d2d2d3479f4d9c58">nationwide crackdown&nbsp;</a>on violent crime was needed to reduce spiking crime rates in the nine cities.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison in Kansas City said in a statement Wednesday that Operation Legend was always meant to be a short-term operation. But he said strategies implemented under the program will remain.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that creating a safer community also requires prevention, intervention, and clearance of cases, and as long as children are being killed and the city approaches record homicide numbers, “we have far, far more work to do.”

Garrison and city officials plan a news conference Monday to discuss the impact of Operation Legend and the next steps in combating violent crime

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597859601606.png" alt="Attorney General William Barr discussed Operation Legend during an August news conference in Kansas City-photo U.S. Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General William Barr discussed Operation Legend during an August news conference in Kansas City-photo U.S. Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 200 federal agents assigned to the anti-crime task force known as Operation Legend have left Kansas City, authorities announced Wednesday.Kansas City was the first city where agents from several federal law enforcement agencies were sent to work with local law enforcement to combat violent crime, and the effort was later expanded to eight other U.S. cities.Operation Legend was named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept in Kansas City in June. President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0950ff59635979d7d2d2d3479f4d9c58">nationwide crackdown&nbsp;</a>on violent crime was needed to reduce spiking crime rates in the nine cities.U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison in Kansas City said in a statement Wednesday that Operation Legend was always meant to be a short-term operation. But he said strategies implemented under the program will remain.Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that creating a safer community also requires prevention, intervention, and clearance of cases, and as long as children are being killed and the city approaches record homicide numbers, “we have far, far more work to do.”Garrison and city officials plan a news conference Monday to discuss the impact of Operation Legend and the next steps in combating violent crime

All federal agents from Operation Legend leave Kansas City

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Hours after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for Breonna Taylor’s death and protesters took to the streets, authorities said two officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night during the demonstrations expressing anger over the killings of Black people at the hands of police.

Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was in custody but did not offer details about whether that person was participating in the demonstrations. He says both officers are expected to recover, and one is undergoing surgery.

He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd.

Several shots rang out as protesters in downtown Louisville tried to avoid police blockades, moving down an alleyway as officers lobbed pepper balls, according to an Associated Press journalist. People covered their ears, ran away and frantically looked for places to hide. Police with long guns swarmed the area, then officers in riot gear and military-style vehicles blocked off roadways.

The violence comes after prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, a Black woman, were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s with people inside.

The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylor’s home on March 13.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylor’s family, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” immediately marched through the streets.

Scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square that’s been at the center of protests, but it had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Dozens of patrol cars blocked the city’s major thoroughfare.

Demonstrators also marched in cities like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/655e8cc0c3d0e1b5fed66d51771814e6">New York</a>, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.

Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for nationwide protests that have drawn attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/21a1095fe4da9f6e54cd7661de0ae041">prominent African American celebrities</a>&nbsp;joined those urging that the officers be charged.

The announcement drew sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.

Morgan Julianna Lee, a high school student in Charlotte, North Carolina, watched the announcement at home.

“It’s almost like a slap in the face,” the 15-year-old said by phone. “If I, as a Black woman, ever need justice, I will never get it.”

Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. He also urged Cameron, the state attorney general, to post online all the evidence that could be released without affecting the charges filed.

“Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more,” he said.

The case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0de8765e676adc953416f4dd0b3ea663">exposed the wide gulf&nbsp;</a>between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.

At a news conference, Cameron spoke to that disconnect: “Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief.”

“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. ... My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a2a2d2819d0c45b8f177ce3a94f18159">he added, choking up</a>.

But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no knock,” according to the investigation. The city has since banned such warrants.

“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”

Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor.

Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming in and fired in self-defense.

<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron, who is a Republican, is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.

At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron, saying “justice is not often easy.” He later tweeted that he was “praying for the two police officers that were shot.”

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, are calling for policing reform.

Biden says that while a federal investigation continues, “we do not need to wait for the final judgment of that investigation to do more to deliver justice for Breonna.” He said the country should start by addressing excessive force, banning chokeholds and overhauling no-knock warrants.

“We must never stop speaking Breonna’s name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants,” Harris said on Twitter.

Hankison was fired on June 23. A termination letter sent by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said he had violated procedures by showing “extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” fired his weapon.

Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed administrative reassignment.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42df1f3ebea59ff20a309b8fe04619df">the city settled a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>against the three officers brought by Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves.

The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor’s neighbors’ homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

The Taylor family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” began marching through the streets. Some sat quietly and wept.

Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May — drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities.

The charges drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.

Right after the decision, protesters brought cases of water to “Injustice Square,” the Louisville park where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c5fe70b4a8eaded10dbcd9bcaa7224b1">people have gathered to demand justice for Taylor</a>. Some began preparing food.

Later, police in the city cordoned off a street with yellow tape, telling protesters to move back, and officers in protective gear could be seen handcuffing some people.

“Justice has NOT been served,” tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case.

Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville’s Metro Council.

The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans, and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor working police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.

At a news conference, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke to that disconnect.

“Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief,” Cameron told reporters after the charges were announced.

“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. And I’ve said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,” he added, choking up.

But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no-knock,” according to the investigation.

Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/586fb78d7d8af713fb3f496864257a9f">prosecutors later dropped the charge</a>.

Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.

Regarding the disappointment of those who wanted criminal charges brought in Taylor’s death, he remarked, “The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms. Taylor’s life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally yes.”

A Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.

Asked about the decision at a White House event, Trump said he hadn’t had time to consider it yet but would comment when he had. He added: “My message is that I love the Black community, and that I’ve done more for the Black community than any other president, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.”

Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, told reporters in Washington that she also hadn’t fully read the decision.

“But there’s no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserved justice yesterday, today and tomorrow so I’ll review it,” she said.

Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city’s police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing “extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor’s apartment in March.

Hankison had previously been placed on administrative reassignment, as were Sgt. Johnathan Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes.

On Sept. 15,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42df1f3ebea59ff20a309b8fe04619df">the city settled a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>against the three officers brought by Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.

Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. The release in late May of a 911 call by Taylor’s boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fueled by her shooting and the killing of Floyd while at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25.

Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyoncé have joined those urging that the officers be charged.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600943943691.png" alt="Despite a 9p.m. curfew protesters ran the streets in Louisville -photo courtesy WLKY TV" />
 <figcaption>Despite a 9p.m. curfew protesters ran the streets in Louisville -photo courtesy WLKY TV</figcaption>
 </figure>LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Hours after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for Breonna Taylor’s death and protesters took to the streets, authorities said two officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night during the demonstrations expressing anger over the killings of Black people at the hands of police.Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was in custody but did not offer details about whether that person was participating in the demonstrations. He says both officers are expected to recover, and one is undergoing surgery.He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FBI Louisville and <a href="https://twitter.com/LMPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LMPD</a> are seeking the public&#39;s help regarding the shooting of LMPD officers on 09/23/2020. Anyone with pictures or videos of the incident is asked to provide those files using <a href="https://t.co/6PCitiZl9J">https://t.co/6PCitiZl9J</a>.&mdash; FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBILouisville/status/1309001596894949376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Several shots rang out as protesters in downtown Louisville tried to avoid police blockades, moving down an alleyway as officers lobbed pepper balls, according to an Associated Press journalist. People covered their ears, ran away and frantically looked for places to hide. Police with long guns swarmed the area, then officers in riot gear and military-style vehicles blocked off roadways.The violence comes after prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, a Black woman, were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s with people inside.The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylor’s home on March 13.Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylor’s family, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” immediately marched through the streets.Scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square that’s been at the center of protests, but it had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Dozens of patrol cars blocked the city’s major thoroughfare.Demonstrators also marched in cities like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/655e8cc0c3d0e1b5fed66d51771814e6">New York</a>, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia.Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for nationwide protests that have drawn attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/21a1095fe4da9f6e54cd7661de0ae041">prominent African American celebrities</a>&nbsp;joined those urging that the officers be charged.The announcement drew sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.Morgan Julianna Lee, a high school student in Charlotte, North Carolina, watched the announcement at home.“It’s almost like a slap in the face,” the 15-year-old said by phone. “If I, as a Black woman, ever need justice, I will never get it.”Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. He also urged Cameron, the state attorney general, to post online all the evidence that could be released without affecting the charges filed.“Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more,” he said.The case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0de8765e676adc953416f4dd0b3ea663">exposed the wide gulf&nbsp;</a>between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.At a news conference, Cameron spoke to that disconnect: “Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief.”“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. ... My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a2a2d2819d0c45b8f177ce3a94f18159">he added, choking up</a>.But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no knock,” according to the investigation. The city has since banned such warrants.“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor.Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming in and fired in self-defense.<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron, who is a Republican, is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron, saying “justice is not often easy.” He later tweeted that he was “praying for the two police officers that were shot.”Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, are calling for policing reform.Biden says that while a federal investigation continues, “we do not need to wait for the final judgment of that investigation to do more to deliver justice for Breonna.” He said the country should start by addressing excessive force, banning chokeholds and overhauling no-knock warrants.“We must never stop speaking Breonna’s name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants,” Harris said on Twitter.Hankison was fired on June 23. A termination letter sent by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said he had violated procedures by showing “extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” fired his weapon.Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed administrative reassignment.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42df1f3ebea59ff20a309b8fe04619df">the city settled a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>against the three officers brought by Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.-----------LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600894701581.png" alt="Protesters in the streets of Louisville following Wednesday's announcement photo courtesy WLKY TV" />
 <figcaption>Protesters in the streets of Louisville following Wednesday's announcement photo courtesy WLKY TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor’s neighbors’ homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.The Taylor family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” began marching through the streets. Some sat quietly and wept.Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May — drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities.The charges drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.Right after the decision, protesters brought cases of water to “Injustice Square,” the Louisville park where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c5fe70b4a8eaded10dbcd9bcaa7224b1">people have gathered to demand justice for Taylor</a>. Some began preparing food.Later, police in the city cordoned off a street with yellow tape, telling protesters to move back, and officers in protective gear could be seen handcuffing some people.“Justice has NOT been served,” tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case.Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville’s Metro Council.The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans, and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor working police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.At a news conference, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke to that disconnect.“Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief,” Cameron told reporters after the charges were announced.“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. And I’ve said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,” he added, choking up.But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no-knock,” according to the investigation.“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/586fb78d7d8af713fb3f496864257a9f">prosecutors later dropped the charge</a>.Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.Regarding the disappointment of those who wanted criminal charges brought in Taylor’s death, he remarked, “The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms. Taylor’s life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally yes.”A Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.Asked about the decision at a White House event, Trump said he hadn’t had time to consider it yet but would comment when he had. He added: “My message is that I love the Black community, and that I’ve done more for the Black community than any other president, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.”Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, told reporters in Washington that she also hadn’t fully read the decision.“But there’s no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserved justice yesterday, today and tomorrow so I’ll review it,” she said.Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city’s police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing “extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor’s apartment in March.Hankison had previously been placed on administrative reassignment, as were Sgt. Johnathan Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes.On Sept. 15,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42df1f3ebea59ff20a309b8fe04619df">the city settled a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>against the three officers brought by Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. The release in late May of a 911 call by Taylor’s boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fueled by her shooting and the killing of Floyd while at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25.Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyoncé have joined those urging that the officers be charged.___

2 Louisville officers shot amid Breonna Taylor protests

WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci says it wouldn’t be smart for college administrators to send students home if there’s an outbreak on campus.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?475449-1/white-house-coronavirus-task-force-members-testify-latest-pandemic-response-efforts">Click here</a> to watch a replay of the hearing

Fauci told senators that would only make matters worse. That’s because it could make the returning students into disease carriers.

Colleges and universities should plan to accommodate students who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus in a separate dorm or maybe a separate floor — that’s if the infected students don’t need to be hospitalized.

“But do not send them home to their community,” Fauci says, “because of the likelihood of them reseeding infection in a community.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600888542522.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci during Wednesday's testimony -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci during Wednesday's testimony -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci says it wouldn’t be smart for college administrators to send students home if there’s an outbreak on campus.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?475449-1/white-house-coronavirus-task-force-members-testify-latest-pandemic-response-efforts">Click here</a> to watch a replay of the hearingFauci told senators that would only make matters worse. That’s because it could make the returning students into disease carriers.Colleges and universities should plan to accommodate students who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus in a separate dorm or maybe a separate floor — that’s if the infected students don’t need to be hospitalized.“But do not send them home to their community,” Fauci says, “because of the likelihood of them reseeding infection in a community.”

Fauci: Keep students on campus after virus outbreak

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An accused drug dealer who was deported last year is once again facing drug charges after illegally returning to the U.S. 

Raul Valenzuela-Arce, 28, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court in Topeka. He is accused of distributing methamphetamine. An affidavit from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation says Valenzuela-Arce was arrested in March 2019 in Topeka on state drug and gun charges. 

The affidavit says Valenzuela-Arce agreed while jailed to become a KBI informant. But instead of helping police, Valenzuela-Arce allegedly returned to committing drug crimes. Court filings show he was deported to Mexico in November, but was caught in Topeka in July.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600871020662.png" alt="Valenzuela-Arce-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Valenzuela-Arce-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An accused drug dealer who was deported last year is once again facing drug charges after illegally returning to the U.S. Raul Valenzuela-Arce, 28, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court in Topeka. He is accused of distributing methamphetamine. An affidavit from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation says Valenzuela-Arce was arrested in March 2019 in Topeka on state drug and gun charges. The affidavit says Valenzuela-Arce agreed while jailed to become a KBI informant. But instead of helping police, Valenzuela-Arce allegedly returned to committing drug crimes. Court filings show he was deported to Mexico in November, but was caught in Topeka in July.

Suspected drug dealer, deported in 2019, charged in Kansas

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

Just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a&nbsp;police responded to a check shots call in the 500 block of North Edwards in Wichita, according to&nbsp;according to police Lt. Christian Cory.

Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive victim identified as 42-year-old Jeremy Hutchins in a white Nissan Xterra who had been shot in his upper torso.

Fire and EMS arrived on scene and attempted life-saving measures, but Hutchins died on the scene, according to Cory. Police also contacted a female acquaintance at the scene of the shooting.

Investigators learned that Hutchins met Wholford in the&nbsp;2700 Block of West Newell Street to make a property transaction.&nbsp;There was a disturbance between the two while in the SUV and Wholford shot Hutchins, according to Cory. Wholford also show at the female acquaintance but she was not injured.

Later Tuesday morning, police arrested Wohlford during a traffic stop at South Washington Avenue and East Luther Street.&nbsp;Wohlford is being held on requested charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm, according to Cory.&nbsp; He did release details on what property was involved in the transaction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600873022540.png" alt="Wohlford&nbsp; has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp; He had been on parol since since June -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wohlford&nbsp; has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp; He had been on parol since since June -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.Just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a&nbsp;police responded to a check shots call in the 500 block of North Edwards in Wichita, according to&nbsp;according to police Lt. Christian Cory.Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive victim identified as 42-year-old Jeremy Hutchins in a white Nissan Xterra who had been shot in his upper torso.Fire and EMS arrived on scene and attempted life-saving measures, but Hutchins died on the scene, according to Cory. Police also contacted a female acquaintance at the scene of the shooting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600798039296.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday morning -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday morning -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators learned that Hutchins met Wholford in the&nbsp;2700 Block of West Newell Street to make a property transaction.&nbsp;There was a disturbance between the two while in the SUV and Wholford shot Hutchins, according to Cory. Wholford also show at the female acquaintance but she was not injured.Later Tuesday morning, police arrested Wohlford during a traffic stop at South Washington Avenue and East Luther Street.&nbsp;Wohlford is being held on requested charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm, according to Cory.&nbsp; He did release details on what property was involved in the transaction.

Police arrest felon on parole for fatal Kansas shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will face off on the Supreme Court, the coronavirus pandemic and race and violence in the nation’s cities next week when they meet for their first presidential debate.

The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates on Tuesday announced the six topics for the first face-to-face event scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland. The topics were selected by the debate’s moderator, Fox News’ Chris Wallace, and will each be the subject of 15-minute “blocks” in the debate.

Sep. 29	First presidential debate	Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Oct. 07	Vice presidential debate	The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

Oct. 15	Second presidential debate	Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, Florida

Oct. 22	Third presidential debate	Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598288443238.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will face off on the Supreme Court, the coronavirus pandemic and race and violence in the nation’s cities next week when they meet for their first presidential debate.The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates on Tuesday announced the six topics for the first face-to-face event scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland. The topics were selected by the debate’s moderator, Fox News’ Chris Wallace, and will each be the subject of 15-minute “blocks” in the debate.2020 Presidential debate scheduleSep. 29	First presidential debate	Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OhioOct. 07	Vice presidential debate	The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UtahOct. 15	Second presidential debate	Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, FloridaOct. 22	Third presidential debate	Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee

Court, COVID, race are topics for first Trump-Biden debate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who has steadfastly refused to require residents to wear masks, tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Wednesday.

Parson was tested after his wife, Teresa, tested positive earlier in the day. Teresa Parson had experienced mild symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones said. She took a rapid test that came back positive and a nasal swab test later confirmed the finding. The governor's rapid test showed he tested positive and he is still awaiting results from the swab test.

“I want everybody to know that myself and the first lady are both fine,” Parson said in a video posted on his Facebook page. “Right now I feel fine. No symptoms of any kind,” Parson said in a video posted on his Facebook page. “But right now we just have to take the quarantine procedures in place.”

Gov. Parson postponed several events through the remainder of the week. He and his wife had been traveling around the state this week for events that included a ceremonial bill signing in Cape Girardeau, where a photo posted Tuesday on the governor’s Facebook page showed both of them wearing masks.

On Friday, he and several other Missouri Republican candidates appeared together at an event called the “TARGET BBQ” in Springfield. A photo posted on Parson’s Twitter pages shows Parson on a stage with four other statewide officeholders seeking reelection: Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Attorney General Eric Schmitt. They appear to be a few feet apart from each other, but none are wearing masks.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams said contact tracing efforts have begun, seeking out people who have had close contact with the governor or his wife, but despite Parson’s many recent public appearances, it is believed that involves “a relatively small number of people.”

“Surprisingly it’s not as big a number as you might think because while they might be in a room with 1,000 people, the number of people who were literally with them for 15 minutes, right up next to them, is actually a smaller number,” Williams said at a news conference.

Parson is self-isolating in the governor’s mansion, Williams said. His wife is isolating at their home in Bolivar in southwestern Missouri.

Schmitt’s spokesman said the attorney general took a rapid test on Wednesday and the result was negative. Spokespeople for the other officeholders didn’t immediately respond to email messages.

Parson, 65, is facing Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway in the November election. The two were supposed to debate Friday in a forum hosted by the Missouri Press Association, but it has been postponed, said Mark Maassen, executive director of the association. He said the forum will be rescheduled.

“I wish Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson a safe and full recovery," Galloway said in a statement. "This is a stark reminder that this virus can reach anyone, anywhere and that this pandemic is far from over. We must all continue to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a mask.”

Parson has repeatedly urged residents to wear masks and maintain social distancing, but he has been an outspoken opponent of mask mandates, often appearing at functions without one. In July, speaking without a mask at a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association steak fry in Sedalia, he reiterated his stance.

“You don’t need government to tell you to wear a dang mask,” he said. “If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.”

Parson’s opposition to masks has held strong even as the White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended a face covering requirement in Missouri given the state’s escalating number of confirmed cases. When Parson allowed the state to reopen for business in mid-June, about 16,000 cases had been confirmed. The state health department on Wednesday added 1,580 new cases, bringing the total to 116,946 since the pandemic began.

The state also has reported 1,947 deaths, including 83 reported Wednesday. That single-day total was the highest since the pandemic began. The second-highest was the 57 announced Tuesday.

Parson would be considered a potential high-risk patient given his age and a preexisting condition. On Christmas Eve in 2016, Parson underwent heart surgery after doctors discovered a blockage discovered during a routine checkup in Springfield.

Two other Republican governors also have tested positive for COVID-19, though one of those turned out to be a false positive. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt became the first governor to test positive in July. He recovered and returned to work less than two weeks later.

In August, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that a rapid test was positive. But a short time later, DeWine said a more sensitive test was negative.

Parson is a former county sheriff and state representative who was elected lieutenant governor in 2016.

He became governor in June 2018 when Eric Greitens, also a Republican, resigned. Greitens had been charged in early 2018 with felony invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during an affair and threatening to post it if she spoke of the affair. He was also under investigation for ethics complaints.

The criminal charge was dropped weeks before Greitens resigned, and he denied doing anything wrong.

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The wife of Missouri Gov. Mike Parson tested positive for the coronavirus after experiencing mild symptoms, a spokeswoman for the governor told media outlets Wednesday.

Teresa Parson had been showing symptoms that included a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She took a rapid test that came back positive and was awaiting results of a nasal swab test to confirm the finding.

The governor also was tested and was awaiting results, Jones told the newspaper. She did not immediately respond to phone and email messages from The Associated Press.

Gov. Parson postponed several events this week, Jones told&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/teresa-parson-wife-of-governor-parson-tests-positive-for-covid-19/">WDAF-TV</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City. Teresa Parson has been traveling with her husband this week for several events, including a ceremonial bill signing in Cape Girardeau where a photo posted Tuesday on the governor’s Facebook page shows both of them wearing masks.

Parson, 65, is facing Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway in the November election.

Parson’s opposition to masks has held strong even as the White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended a face covering requirement in Missouri given the state’s escalating number of confirmed cases. When Parson allowed the state to reopen for business in mid-June, about 16,000 cases had been confirmed. That number has now grown by nearly 100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600888897576.png" alt="Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron earlier this month." />
 <figcaption>Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron earlier this month.</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who has steadfastly refused to require residents to wear masks, tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Wednesday.Parson was tested after his wife, Teresa, tested positive earlier in the day. Teresa Parson had experienced mild symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones said. She took a rapid test that came back positive and a nasal swab test later confirmed the finding. The governor's rapid test showed he tested positive and he is still awaiting results from the swab test.“I want everybody to know that myself and the first lady are both fine,” Parson said in a video posted on his Facebook page. “Right now I feel fine. No symptoms of any kind,” Parson said in a video posted on his Facebook page. “But right now we just have to take the quarantine procedures in place.”Gov. Parson postponed several events through the remainder of the week. He and his wife had been traveling around the state this week for events that included a ceremonial bill signing in Cape Girardeau, where a photo posted Tuesday on the governor’s Facebook page showed both of them wearing masks.On Friday, he and several other Missouri Republican candidates appeared together at an event called the “TARGET BBQ” in Springfield. A photo posted on Parson’s Twitter pages shows Parson on a stage with four other statewide officeholders seeking reelection: Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Attorney General Eric Schmitt. They appear to be a few feet apart from each other, but none are wearing masks.Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams said contact tracing efforts have begun, seeking out people who have had close contact with the governor or his wife, but despite Parson’s many recent public appearances, it is believed that involves “a relatively small number of people.”“Surprisingly it’s not as big a number as you might think because while they might be in a room with 1,000 people, the number of people who were literally with them for 15 minutes, right up next to them, is actually a smaller number,” Williams said at a news conference.Parson is self-isolating in the governor’s mansion, Williams said. His wife is isolating at their home in Bolivar in southwestern Missouri.Schmitt’s spokesman said the attorney general took a rapid test on Wednesday and the result was negative. Spokespeople for the other officeholders didn’t immediately respond to email messages.Parson, 65, is facing Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway in the November election. The two were supposed to debate Friday in a forum hosted by the Missouri Press Association, but it has been postponed, said Mark Maassen, executive director of the association. He said the forum will be rescheduled.“I wish Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson a safe and full recovery," Galloway said in a statement. "This is a stark reminder that this virus can reach anyone, anywhere and that this pandemic is far from over. We must all continue to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a mask.”Parson has repeatedly urged residents to wear masks and maintain social distancing, but he has been an outspoken opponent of mask mandates, often appearing at functions without one. In July, speaking without a mask at a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association steak fry in Sedalia, he reiterated his stance.“You don’t need government to tell you to wear a dang mask,” he said. “If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.”Parson’s opposition to masks has held strong even as the White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended a face covering requirement in Missouri given the state’s escalating number of confirmed cases. When Parson allowed the state to reopen for business in mid-June, about 16,000 cases had been confirmed. The state health department on Wednesday added 1,580 new cases, bringing the total to 116,946 since the pandemic began.The state also has reported 1,947 deaths, including 83 reported Wednesday. That single-day total was the highest since the pandemic began. The second-highest was the 57 announced Tuesday.Parson would be considered a potential high-risk patient given his age and a preexisting condition. On Christmas Eve in 2016, Parson underwent heart surgery after doctors discovered a blockage discovered during a routine checkup in Springfield.Two other Republican governors also have tested positive for COVID-19, though one of those turned out to be a false positive. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt became the first governor to test positive in July. He recovered and returned to work less than two weeks later.In August, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that a rapid test was positive. But a short time later, DeWine said a more sensitive test was negative.Parson is a former county sheriff and state representative who was elected lieutenant governor in 2016.He became governor in June 2018 when Eric Greitens, also a Republican, resigned. Greitens had been charged in early 2018 with felony invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during an affair and threatening to post it if she spoke of the affair. He was also under investigation for ethics complaints.The criminal charge was dropped weeks before Greitens resigned, and he denied doing anything wrong.----------O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The wife of Missouri Gov. Mike Parson tested positive for the coronavirus after experiencing mild symptoms, a spokeswoman for the governor told media outlets Wednesday.Teresa Parson had been showing symptoms that included a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She took a rapid test that came back positive and was awaiting results of a nasal swab test to confirm the finding.The governor also was tested and was awaiting results, Jones told the newspaper. She did not immediately respond to phone and email messages from The Associated Press.Gov. Parson postponed several events this week, Jones told&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/teresa-parson-wife-of-governor-parson-tests-positive-for-covid-19/">WDAF-TV</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City. Teresa Parson has been traveling with her husband this week for several events, including a ceremonial bill signing in Cape Girardeau where a photo posted Tuesday on the governor’s Facebook page shows both of them wearing masks.Parson, 65, is facing Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway in the November election.Parson has repeatedly urged residents to wear masks and maintain social distancing, but he has been an outspoken opponent of mask mandates, often appearing at functions without one. In July, speaking without a mask at a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association steak fry in Sedalia, he reiterated his stance.“You don’t need government to tell you to wear a dang mask,” he said. “If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.”Parson’s opposition to masks has held strong even as the White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended a face covering requirement in Missouri given the state’s escalating number of confirmed cases. When Parson allowed the state to reopen for business in mid-June, about 16,000 cases had been confirmed. That number has now grown by nearly 100,000.

Missouri Gov., opponent of mandatory masks, has COVID-19

HUTCHINSON— More efforts to preserve Amtrak's Southwest Chief have been successful.&nbsp;

Amtrak, announced in a media release Wednesday that the Federal Railroad Administration will provide a $5.6 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to stabilize and rehabilitate the route of the Chief in Colorado and New Mexico. Combined with $4.9 million in Amtrak federal funds set aside for this service and $1 million from the&nbsp;<a href="https://dot.state.nm.us/content/nmdot/en/About_Us.html">New Mexico Department of Transportation</a>&nbsp;(NMDOT), a total of $11.5 million will be invested from Trinidad, Colo., to the south of Lamy, N.M.

Project engineering and construction will be carried out by the BNSF Railway Engineering Department and NMDOT will handle the part of the right of way they own. Work is expected to begin in 2021 and carry into 2022.

Work will include new ties will be installed on a 31-mile section south of Raton Pass and another six-mile segment in New Mexico, more than 12 miles of bolted rail will be converted to welded rail between Lamy and where Rio Metro’s Rail Runner commuter traffic diverges to Santa Fe, and the decks of two bridges will be rebuilt, along with three grade crossings.

Efforts to secure grants started when Amtrak hinted that they could move the Chief off of its current route. Cities along the route and NNSF were against it although the railroad admitted they really didn’t want to keep a line open for one passenger train.

The work comes as Amtrak is preparing to reduce service on the Chief to three days per week due to a drop in ridership connected to the pandemic. Amtrak has come out in assurance that daily service will return in the summer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580416889608.png" alt="The SW Chief makes an overnight stop in Hutchinson. More funding has been secured to make track improvements in Colorado and New Mexico" />
 <figcaption>The SW Chief makes an overnight stop in Hutchinson. More funding has been secured to make track improvements in Colorado and New Mexico</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— More efforts to preserve Amtrak's Southwest Chief have been successful.&nbsp;Amtrak, announced in a media release Wednesday that the Federal Railroad Administration will provide a $5.6 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to stabilize and rehabilitate the route of the Chief in Colorado and New Mexico. Combined with $4.9 million in Amtrak federal funds set aside for this service and $1 million from the&nbsp;<a href="https://dot.state.nm.us/content/nmdot/en/About_Us.html">New Mexico Department of Transportation</a>&nbsp;(NMDOT), a total of $11.5 million will be invested from Trinidad, Colo., to the south of Lamy, N.M.Project engineering and construction will be carried out by the BNSF Railway Engineering Department and NMDOT will handle the part of the right of way they own. Work is expected to begin in 2021 and carry into 2022.Work will include new ties will be installed on a 31-mile section south of Raton Pass and another six-mile segment in New Mexico, more than 12 miles of bolted rail will be converted to welded rail between Lamy and where Rio Metro’s Rail Runner commuter traffic diverges to Santa Fe, and the decks of two bridges will be rebuilt, along with three grade crossings.Efforts to secure grants started when Amtrak hinted that they could move the Chief off of its current route. Cities along the route and NNSF were against it although the railroad admitted they really didn’t want to keep a line open for one passenger train.The work comes as Amtrak is preparing to reduce service on the Chief to three days per week due to a drop in ridership connected to the pandemic. Amtrak has come out in assurance that daily service will return in the summer.

Amtrak's SW Chief to get track improvement funding

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of the women on Donald Trump’s short list to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court got her first taste of politics as a college student stuffing envelopes for Democrat Joe Biden’s 1988 presidential run.

But, by 1996, Joan L. Larsen was volunteering for Republican Bob Dole, and today few doubt her conservative credentials, which includes a longtime affiliation with the Federalist Society.

Larsen is among a small group of female lawyers whom Trump is considering to replace Ginsburg, the liberal icon whose death last week gave conservatives a chance to move the court further to the right. White House officials say Trump was referring to Larsen when he said Monday his finalists included “a great one from Michigan.” On Tuesday, he called her “very talented” in an interview with a local television station.

In just five years, Joan L. Larsen has gone from a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar to a prominent federal appeals court judge and now a candidate for the high court.

Conservative activists hope that, if nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Larsen would carry on the legacy of her mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked in the early 1990s and eulogized after his 2016 death.

For Trump, picking Larsen could give him a boost in the critical battleground state of Michigan, where she has raised her two children, advanced her career and won election to the state Supreme Court.

Liberals fear that she would follow in Scalia’s footsteps by voting to overrule decisions that legalized abortion rights and gay marriage and other rulings that Scalia and his followers vociferously oppose.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600799049205.png" alt="Joan Larsen during her 6th Circuit Court confirmation hearing-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Joan Larsen during her 6th Circuit Court confirmation hearing-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of the women on Donald Trump’s short list to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court got her first taste of politics as a college student stuffing envelopes for Democrat Joe Biden’s 1988 presidential run.But, by 1996, Joan L. Larsen was volunteering for Republican Bob Dole, and today few doubt her conservative credentials, which includes a longtime affiliation with the Federalist Society.Larsen is among a small group of female lawyers whom Trump is considering to replace Ginsburg, the liberal icon whose death last week gave conservatives a chance to move the court further to the right. White House officials say Trump was referring to Larsen when he said Monday his finalists included “a great one from Michigan.” On Tuesday, he called her “very talented” in an interview with a local television station.In just five years, Joan L. Larsen has gone from a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar to a prominent federal appeals court judge and now a candidate for the high court.Conservative activists hope that, if nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Larsen would carry on the legacy of her mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked in the early 1990s and eulogized after his 2016 death.For Trump, picking Larsen could give him a boost in the critical battleground state of Michigan, where she has raised her two children, advanced her career and won election to the state Supreme Court.Liberals fear that she would follow in Scalia’s footsteps by voting to overrule decisions that legalized abortion rights and gay marriage and other rulings that Scalia and his followers vociferously oppose.At 52, Larsen would be a candidate who could serve on the high court for three decades or longer. Her father, Leonard Larsen, the retired CEO of a Lutheran social services agency, died in April at age 91. Her mother is 89.Larsen’s rise began when Michigan's then-Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appointed her to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court in September 2015, praising her as a “superb attorney” who had experience in government, academia and private practice.“When she called to tell me, I was shocked. I had no idea that she was thinking such a thing,” said Sarah Zearfoss, a longtime colleague at the Michigan law school who has marveled at her friend’s ascent.“Justice Joan” campaigned for a full term as a judge who would interpret the state constitution according to its original meaning and not “legislate from the bench.” Her campaign was backed by the Republican Party and business groups such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.Even before she won a full eight-year term, Trump included her on his list of potential nominees to the Supreme Court — a development that she called a “complete surprise.” She easily won election in November 2016 on the same day that Trump carried Michigan in a surprise victory.Trump tapped Larsen for a seat on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, which hears appeals in federal cases in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.Michigan’s Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadn’t consulted them, as is customary. But ultimately they allowed her confirmation to move forward after Larsen met with them, and joined with six other Democrats in a 60-38 confirmation vote.In a 2018 interview, Zearfoss described Larsen as a “solid Republican” who is smart, thoughtful, kind and funny — even though they disagree on political issues.“It will be really hard not to like Joan,” said Zearfoss, an assistant dean at the law school.Critics say that during her relatively short judicial career, Larsen has at times favored corporations, insurers and police officers while showing less regard for workers, injured plaintiffs, environmental concerns, criminal suspects and immigrants.In a recent decision, a dissenting judge accused Larsen and a colleague of turning a “blind eye to race-based policing that violates the constitutional rights of black and brown Americans.”Republicans have defended the Northwestern Law School graduate as a mainstream judge with impeccable credentials. In her 2017 confirmation hearing, she said she has ruled evenly and never given any public or private promises that she would overrule Roe vs. Wade or any other precedents.Attorney Richard Bernstein worked as co-counsel with Larsen on a yearlong trial when they were both lawyers at Sidley &amp; Austin in Washington, which she joined for three years after clerking for Scalia. In a 2018 interview, he said Larsen was a smart lawyer and fine judge.But Bernstein, a former Scalia clerk himself, said he worried that all candidates on Trump’s list would seek to overrule decisions on abortion and gay rights that Scalia opposed.“The belief that those decisions are not only wrong but illegitimate runs so deep” among movement conservatives, he said.Larsen spoke at Scalia’s memorial service in 2016, praising his intellect, upbeat attitude and the opportunities he gave his clerks.“What better preparation for any of us, male or female, than to have matched wits with the justice?” she said. “With each thrust and parry, we got sharper."Larsen appears to have an expansive view of the powers of the presidency, a topic which she’s taught in law school. She wrote a 2006 article defending President George W. Bush’s use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. She also worked in the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2002 to 2003, drafting legal opinions involving the Patriot Act, detainees' rights and other matters.Larsen assured senators in 2017 that she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it. She said that Scalia taught her “that the law governs, not personal interest.”Larsen is married to University of Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children.