WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday the House will remain in session until lawmakers deliver another round of COVID-19 relief, a move that came as Democrats from swing districts signaled discontent with a standoff that could force them to face voters without delivering more aid.

“We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement, an agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Pelosi said on CNBC.

Pelosi told her Democratic colleagues on a morning conference call that “we have to stay here until we have a bill.” That’s according to a Democratic aide speaking on condition of anonymity but authorized to quote her remarks.

Pelosi’s comments came as moderate Democrats, many from areas won by President Donald Trump four years ago, signed on to a $1.5 trillion rescue package endorsed by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of about 50 lawmakers who seek common solutions to issues.

The plan contains many elements of COVID rescue packages devised by both House Democrats and Republicans controlling the Senate, including aid to schools, funding for state and local governments, and renewal of lapsed COVID-related jobless benefits.

The price tag is significantly less than the $2.2 trillion figure cited by Pelosi but it’s also well above an approximately $650 billion Senate GOP plan that failed last week due to Democratic opposition.

Talks between Pelosi and the Trump administration broke down last month and there had been little optimism they would rekindle before Election Day. And last week, Senate Democrats scuttled a scaled-back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4cb7902f0f3f1d9ad3a9207d01782c6c">GOP coronavirus rescue package</a>.

Pelosi has maintained a hard line in negotiations and has been at odds with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. She orchestrated passage of a $3.4 trillion COVID rescue package back in May, but the effort was immediately dismissed by Senate Republicans and the Trump administration.

Tuesday’s remarks, said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, don’t mean that the speaker is adopting a more flexible position. She instead seems to be signaling continued determination to press ahead and won’t adjourn the House without an agreement with the administration.

Success is by no means guaranteed and many people on Capitol Hill remain very skeptical that an agreement between the White House and Democrats is likely before the election.

“My sense is the clock is running out,” said Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota. “I don’t see any intention or desire on the part of the Democrat leadership at the moment — regardless of what their members are saying — to cooperate and to work together on a solution. I think they feel like they’ve got the issue and they want to try and ride it in November.”

As the leadership talks collapsed, some moderate Democrats have been agitating for greater compromise. Their talks with pragmatic Republicans yielded common ground but the group does not have much of a track record of broadening their efforts and dominating debates.

“This is how Congress is supposed to work,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., a member of the Problem Solvers group, describing a lengthy, bipartisan negotiation that produced a consensus. The group hopes the package illustrates the kinds of compromises that top Democrats and the administration would have to agree to in order to actually get a measure through the warring House and Senate and get signed into law.

“I hope our leadership is paying attention. I hope our leadership is looking hard at what we’re doing,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore. “We consider this the basic tenets of any package that comes out of the House and the Senate and is signed by the president of the United States.”

No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland said the moderates had developed “useful ideas, important ideas” but said it did not do enough to address the ongoing needs of helping the economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

“We believe that getting to a compromise is absolutely essential,” Hoyer told reporters Tuesday. “Getting to a compromise that does not deal with the problems, however, is not useful, because the longer you delay addressing many of the problems, the greater you weaken both the economy and the response to COVID-19.”

And a set of powerful Democratic committee chairs swung against the moderates’ proposal as well, saying it “leaves too many needs unmet” — a leadership effort that signals that the Problem Solvers bill is going nowhere.

The Problem Solvers measure contains another round of $1,200 direct payments favored by Trump and Democrats but rejected by Senate Republicans in their most recent bill. It contains a liability shield against lawsuits brought against businesses that have reopened their doors that’s favored by Republicans but opposed by Pelosi and trial lawyers.

It also offers a two-month extension of bonus pandemic jobless benefits that splits the difference between the Pelosi-backed extension of the expired $600 weekly benefit that lapsed at the end of July and the $300 benefit favored by Senate Republicans. After two months, the benefit would increase back to $600 but not if that benefit causes a worker to exceed their wages.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday the House will remain in session until lawmakers deliver another round of COVID-19 relief, a move that came as Democrats from swing districts signaled discontent with a standoff that could force them to face voters without delivering more aid.“We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement, an agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Pelosi said on CNBC.Pelosi told her Democratic colleagues on a morning conference call that “we have to stay here until we have a bill.” That’s according to a Democratic aide speaking on condition of anonymity but authorized to quote her remarks.Pelosi’s comments came as moderate Democrats, many from areas won by President Donald Trump four years ago, signed on to a $1.5 trillion rescue package endorsed by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of about 50 lawmakers who seek common solutions to issues.The plan contains many elements of COVID rescue packages devised by both House Democrats and Republicans controlling the Senate, including aid to schools, funding for state and local governments, and renewal of lapsed COVID-related jobless benefits.The price tag is significantly less than the $2.2 trillion figure cited by Pelosi but it’s also well above an approximately $650 billion Senate GOP plan that failed last week due to Democratic opposition.Talks between Pelosi and the Trump administration broke down last month and there had been little optimism they would rekindle before Election Day. And last week, Senate Democrats scuttled a scaled-back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4cb7902f0f3f1d9ad3a9207d01782c6c">GOP coronavirus rescue package</a>.Pelosi has maintained a hard line in negotiations and has been at odds with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. She orchestrated passage of a $3.4 trillion COVID rescue package back in May, but the effort was immediately dismissed by Senate Republicans and the Trump administration.Tuesday’s remarks, said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, don’t mean that the speaker is adopting a more flexible position. She instead seems to be signaling continued determination to press ahead and won’t adjourn the House without an agreement with the administration.Success is by no means guaranteed and many people on Capitol Hill remain very skeptical that an agreement between the White House and Democrats is likely before the election.“My sense is the clock is running out,” said Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota. “I don’t see any intention or desire on the part of the Democrat leadership at the moment — regardless of what their members are saying — to cooperate and to work together on a solution. I think they feel like they’ve got the issue and they want to try and ride it in November.”As the leadership talks collapsed, some moderate Democrats have been agitating for greater compromise. Their talks with pragmatic Republicans yielded common ground but the group does not have much of a track record of broadening their efforts and dominating debates.“This is how Congress is supposed to work,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., a member of the Problem Solvers group, describing a lengthy, bipartisan negotiation that produced a consensus. The group hopes the package illustrates the kinds of compromises that top Democrats and the administration would have to agree to in order to actually get a measure through the warring House and Senate and get signed into law.“I hope our leadership is paying attention. I hope our leadership is looking hard at what we’re doing,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore. “We consider this the basic tenets of any package that comes out of the House and the Senate and is signed by the president of the United States.”No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland said the moderates had developed “useful ideas, important ideas” but said it did not do enough to address the ongoing needs of helping the economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis.“We believe that getting to a compromise is absolutely essential,” Hoyer told reporters Tuesday. “Getting to a compromise that does not deal with the problems, however, is not useful, because the longer you delay addressing many of the problems, the greater you weaken both the economy and the response to COVID-19.”And a set of powerful Democratic committee chairs swung against the moderates’ proposal as well, saying it “leaves too many needs unmet” — a leadership effort that signals that the Problem Solvers bill is going nowhere.The Problem Solvers measure contains another round of $1,200 direct payments favored by Trump and Democrats but rejected by Senate Republicans in their most recent bill. It contains a liability shield against lawsuits brought against businesses that have reopened their doors that’s favored by Republicans but opposed by Pelosi and trial lawyers.It also offers a two-month extension of bonus pandemic jobless benefits that splits the difference between the Pelosi-backed extension of the expired $600 weekly benefit that lapsed at the end of July and the $300 benefit favored by Senate Republicans. After two months, the benefit would increase back to $600 but not if that benefit causes a worker to exceed their wages.

Pelosi: House will stay in session until new deal on virus relief

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. on Tuesday issued a sweeping new advisory warning against travel to mainland China and Hong Kong, citing the risk of “arbitrary detention” and “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”

The advisory is likely to heighten tensions between the sides that have spiked since Beijing’s imposition on Hong Kong of a strict new national security law in June that has already been met with a series of U.S. punitive actions.

The statement warned U.S. citizens that China imposes “arbitrary detention and exit bans” to compel cooperation with investigations, pressure family members to return to China from abroad, influence civil disputes and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.”

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in China or Hong Kong, may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law,” the advisory said.

In Hong Kong, China “unilaterally and arbitrarily exercises police and security power,” the advisory said, adding that new legislation also covers offenses committed by non-Hong Kong residents or organizations outside of Hong Kong, possibly subjecting U.S. citizens who have publicly criticized China to a “heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution.”

When in Hong Kong, U.S. citizens are “strongly cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations,” the advisory said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing Tuesday that the U.S. should “fully respect the facts and should not engage in unwarranted political manipulation” when issuing such advisories.

“China has always protected the safety and legal rights of foreigners in China in accordance with law. China is one of the safest countries in the world,” Wang said. “Of course, foreigners in China also have an obligation to abide by Chinese laws.”

Last month, the Trump administration suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong covering extradition and tax exemptions, citing Beijing’s violation of its pledge for Hong Kong to retain broad autonomy for 50 years after the former British colony’s 1997 handover to Chinese rule.

Other Western nations have also suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong following the national security’s law’s passage.

The U.S. has also acted to end special trade and commercial privileges that Hong Kong had enjoyed and has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, including Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam, involved in enforcing the new security law.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington have hit their lowest point in decades amid simmering disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan, Tibet, the South China Sea, the coronavirus pandemic and, most recently, Hong Kong. The impact of the tensions has been felt in the tit-for-tat closures of diplomatic missions as well as visa restrictions on students and journalists.

The latest travel advisory did not offer any new warnings regarding COVID-19 in mainland China and Hong Kong, but referred travelers to earlier notices advising Americans to avoid the regions and return home from them if possible.

President Donald Trump has assigned full blame to Beijing for the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., deflecting criticism of his own handling of the pandemic that threatens his reelection.

The virus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, leading to the global pandemic. Critics have accused Beijing of an initial cover-up attempt, although Trump himself has admitted to downplaying the severity of the virus as early as February.

China appears to have contained the virus within its borders, reporting no new cases of domestic infection in a month, while Hong Kong has also radically brought down its numbers of new cases.

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. on Tuesday issued a sweeping new advisory warning against travel to mainland China and Hong Kong, citing the risk of “arbitrary detention” and “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”The advisory is likely to heighten tensions between the sides that have spiked since Beijing’s imposition on Hong Kong of a strict new national security law in June that has already been met with a series of U.S. punitive actions.The statement warned U.S. citizens that China imposes “arbitrary detention and exit bans” to compel cooperation with investigations, pressure family members to return to China from abroad, influence civil disputes and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.”“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in China or Hong Kong, may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law,” the advisory said.In Hong Kong, China “unilaterally and arbitrarily exercises police and security power,” the advisory said, adding that new legislation also covers offenses committed by non-Hong Kong residents or organizations outside of Hong Kong, possibly subjecting U.S. citizens who have publicly criticized China to a “heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution.”When in Hong Kong, U.S. citizens are “strongly cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations,” the advisory said.Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing Tuesday that the U.S. should “fully respect the facts and should not engage in unwarranted political manipulation” when issuing such advisories.“China has always protected the safety and legal rights of foreigners in China in accordance with law. China is one of the safest countries in the world,” Wang said. “Of course, foreigners in China also have an obligation to abide by Chinese laws.”Last month, the Trump administration suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong covering extradition and tax exemptions, citing Beijing’s violation of its pledge for Hong Kong to retain broad autonomy for 50 years after the former British colony’s 1997 handover to Chinese rule.Other Western nations have also suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong following the national security’s law’s passage.The U.S. has also acted to end special trade and commercial privileges that Hong Kong had enjoyed and has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, including Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam, involved in enforcing the new security law.Tensions between Beijing and Washington have hit their lowest point in decades amid simmering disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan, Tibet, the South China Sea, the coronavirus pandemic and, most recently, Hong Kong. The impact of the tensions has been felt in the tit-for-tat closures of diplomatic missions as well as visa restrictions on students and journalists.The latest travel advisory did not offer any new warnings regarding COVID-19 in mainland China and Hong Kong, but referred travelers to earlier notices advising Americans to avoid the regions and return home from them if possible.President Donald Trump has assigned full blame to Beijing for the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., deflecting criticism of his own handling of the pandemic that threatens his reelection.The virus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, leading to the global pandemic. Critics have accused Beijing of an initial cover-up attempt, although Trump himself has admitted to downplaying the severity of the virus as early as February.China appears to have contained the virus within its borders, reporting no new cases of domestic infection in a month, while Hong Kong has also radically brought down its numbers of new cases.

US issues sweeping new travel warning for China, Hong Kong

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita teacher who posted on Facebook about her concern over school reopening procedures was wrongly disciplined by the district, The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas says.

The ACLU asked the Wichita school district in a letter to rescind the reprimand.&nbsp;It said it is defending the teacher’s First Amendment rights, calling the district’s move a way of “weaponizing inapplicable policies as a pretext to censor them.”

A school district spokesperson said in an email it respects the teacher’s right to disagree with policies for the reopening of schools, as well as the teacher’s right to publicize those views on their own time in a manner consistent with the district’s policies.

At issue is a video recording the teacher made with her phone of a temperature check before entering the building showing her temperature was 93.9 degrees. The teacher later posted the video to document that the thermometer was not working properly and to express worries that the screening process was deficient.

Another person complained the video violated a policy which requires prior approval to use a concealed camera to record a student or employee.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita teacher who posted on Facebook about her concern over school reopening procedures was wrongly disciplined by the district, The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas says.The ACLU asked the Wichita school district in a letter to rescind the reprimand.&nbsp;It said it is defending the teacher’s First Amendment rights, calling the district’s move a way of “weaponizing inapplicable policies as a pretext to censor them.”A school district spokesperson said in an email it respects the teacher’s right to disagree with policies for the reopening of schools, as well as the teacher’s right to publicize those views on their own time in a manner consistent with the district’s policies.At issue is a video recording the teacher made with her phone of a temperature check before entering the building showing her temperature was 93.9 degrees. The teacher later posted the video to document that the thermometer was not working properly and to express worries that the screening process was deficient.Another person complained the video violated a policy which requires prior approval to use a concealed camera to record a student or employee.

ACLU: School disciplined Kan. teacher over Facebook post

WASHINGTON (AP) —Declaring “the dawn of a new Middle East,” President Donald Trump on Tuesday presided over the signing of historic diplomatic pacts between Israel and two Gulf Arab nations that he hopes will lead to a new order in the Mideast and cast him as a peacemaker at the height of his reelection campaign.

Hundreds of people amassed on the sun-washed South Lawn to witness the signing of agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The bilateral agreements formalize the normalization of the Jewish state’s already thawing relations with the two Arab nations in line with their common opposition to Iran and its aggression in the region.

“We’re here this afternoon to change the course of history,” Trump said from a balcony overlooking the South Lawn. “After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East.”

The agreements do not address the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the UAE, Bahrain and other Arab countries support the Palestinians, the Trump administration has persuaded the two countries not to let that conflict keep them from having normal relations with Israel.

Trump’s political backers are looking for the agreements to boost his standing as a statesman with just seven weeks to go before Election Day. Until now, foreign policy has not had a major role in a campaign dominated by the coronavirus, racial issues and the economy. The pandemic was in the backdrop of the White House ceremony, where there was no social distancing and most guests didn’t wear masks.

The agreements won’t end active wars, but supporters believe they could pave the way for a broader Arab-Israeli rapprochement after decades of enmity and only two previous peace deals. Skeptics, including many longtime Mideast analysts and former officials, have expressed doubts about their impact and lamented that they ignore the Palestinians, who have rejected them as a stab in the back by fellow Arabs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel has only suspended its plans to annex West Bank settlements.

Yet even the harshest critics have allowed that the agreements could usher in a major shift in the region should other Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, follow suit, with implications for Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Other Arab countries believed to be close to recognizing Israel include Oman, Sudan and Morocco.

“We are very down the road with about five different countries,” Trump told reporters before the ceremony.

In addition to the bilateral agreements signed by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, all three are signing a document dubbed the “Abraham Accords” after the patriarch of the world’s three major monotheistic religions.

“This day is a pivot of history,” Netanyahu said. “It heralds a new dawn of peace.”

“Despite the many challenges and hardships that we all face — despite all that, let us pause a moment to appreciate this remarkable day.”

The Palestinians have not embraced the U.S. vision. Palestinian activists held small demonstrations Tuesday inthe West Bank and in Gaza, where they trampled and set fire to pictures of Trump, Netanyahu and the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain.

A poll released Tuesday found that 86% of Palestinians believe the normalization agreement with the UAE serves only Israel’s interests and not their own. The poll, carried out by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, was carried out Sept. 9-12 and surveyed 1,270 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Even in Israel, where the accords have received widespread acclaim, there is concern they might result in U.S. sales of sophisticated weaponry to the UAE and Bahrain, thus potentially upsetting Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.

Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Israel">Israel</a>

“They’re very wealthy countries for the most part ... some are extraordinarily, like UAE,” Trump told “Fox &amp; Friends” in an interview before the ceremony. “And they would like to buy some fighter jets and I personally would have no problem with it.”

Meanwhile, a politically vulnerable Netanyahu is facing questions about appearing at such a large event just days after he announced a new nationwide lockdown to fight a surge in coronavirus cases that will impose severe restrictions on movement and gatherings.

And while the UAE and Bahrain have a history of suppressing dissent and critical public opinion, there have been indications that the agreements are not nearly as popular or well-received as in Israel. Neither country sent its head of state or government to sign the deals with Netanyahu.

Bahrain’s largest Shiite-dominated opposition group, Al-Wefaq, which the government ordered dissolved in 2016 amid a yearslong crackdown on dissent, said there is widespread rejection of normalization. Al-Wefaq said in a statement that it joins other Bahrainis who reject the agreement to normalize ties with the “Zionist entity,” and criticized the government for crushing the public’s ability to express opinions “to obscure the extent of discontent” at normalization.

The ceremony follows months of intricate diplomacy headed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, and the president’s envoy for international negotiations, Avi Berkowitz. On Aug. 13, the Israel-UAE deal was announced. That was followed by the first direct commercial flight between the countries, and then the Sept. 11 announcement of the Bahrain-Israel agreement.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to preside Tuesday over the signing of historic diplomatic deals between Israel and two Gulf Arab nations that could herald a dramatic shift in Middle East power dynamics and give him a boost ahead of the November U.S. election.

In a White House ceremony aimed at showcasing presidential statesmanship, Trump is hosting more than 700 guests on the South Lawn to witness the sealing of the agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Trump and his allies hope the occasion will burnish Trump’s credentials as a peacemaker at the height of his reelection campaign.

“This can lead to peace, real peace, in the Middle East,” Trump said in the Oval Office as he welcomed Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince.

“You can have peace without blood in the sand,” Trump added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Emirati and Bahraini foreign ministers are to ink the deals before the crowd, which will include representatives of supporting nations from the Washington-based diplomatic corps but few other dignitaries from overseas. Some congressional Democrats who have offered muted praise have been invited to attend.

In addition to the individual bilateral agreements signed by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, all three will sign a trilateral document, officials said. The agreements are dubbed the “Abraham Accords” after the patriarch of the world’s three major monotheistic religions. Trump is expected to sign as a witness.

The agreements won’t end active wars but will rather formalize the normalization of the Jewish state’s already warming relations with the two countries. And, while not addressing the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they may pave the way for a broader Arab-Israeli rapprochement after decades of enmity, a pair of wars and only two previous peace deals.

Skeptics, including many longtime Mideast analysts and former officials, have expressed doubts about the impact of the deals and lamented that they ignore the Palestinians, who have rejected them as a stab in the back by fellow Arabs. Netanyahu has insisted that Israel’s plans to annex West Bank settlements is only suspended and remains on the table.

“These agreements are a huge accomplishment for the countries involved and have led to a tremendous sense of hope and optimism in the region,” said Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who led the negotiations. “Instead of focusing on past conflicts, people are now focused on creating a vibrant future filled with endless possibilities.”

The Palestinians have not embraced Kushner’s vision.

A poll released Tuesday found that 86% of Palestinians believe the normalization agreement with the UAE serves only Israel’s interests and not their own. Fifty-three percent of Palestinians described the agreement as a “betrayal” while 17% said it marked the “abandonment” of their cause.

The poll, carried out by the respected Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, found that 92% of Palestinians are opposed to Trump’s Mideast plan. The poll, carried out Sept. 9-12, surveyed 1,270 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.

Palestinian activists held small demonstrations Tuesday in different parts of the West Bank and in Gaza, where they trampled and set fire to pictures of Trump, Netanyahu and the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain.

Trump remains undeterred, telling “Fox &amp; Friends” on Tuesday that the Palestinians are “difficult” to deal with. Eventually, he said, “Palestinians will be brought in because all of their supporters, all of the people that give them lots of money are coming into the deal so otherwise they’ll be left out in the cold.”

Tuesday’s ceremony follows months of intricate diplomacy headed by Kushner and Trump’s envoy for international negotiations, Avi Berkowitz, that first bore fruit Aug. 13 when the Israel-UAE deal was announced. That was followed by the first direct commercial flight between the countries, and then the Sept. 11 announcement of the Bahrain-Israel agreement.

The specific contents of the individual documents to be signed were not known ahead of the ceremony.

The lack of clarity has raised some suspicions about the durability of the agreements.

Even in Israel, where the accords have received widespread acclaim, there is concern that that they might result in U.S. sales of sophisticated weaponry to the UAE and Bahrain, thus potentially upsetting Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.

“They’re very wealthy countries for the most part ... some are extraordinarily, like UAE,” Trump said. “And they would like to buy some fighter jets and I personally would have no problem with it.”

Meanwhile, a politically vulnerable Netanyahu is facing questions about appearing at such a large event just days after he announced a new nationwide lockdown to fight a surge in coronavirus cases that will impose severe restrictions on movement and gatherings. The White House encouraged those attending Tuesday’s ceremony to wear masks.

Bahrain’s largest Shiite-dominated opposition group, Al-Wefaq, which the government ordered dissolved in 2016 amid a yearslong crackdown on dissent, said there is widespread rejection of normalization.

In the UAE, there has been speculation that Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, widely seen as the country’s day-to-day leader and architect of the Emirati push to improve relations with Israel, is steering clear of the signing ceremony.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600191454620.png" alt="President Donald Trump speaks during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (R)-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump speaks during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (R)-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Declaring “the dawn of a new Middle East,” President Donald Trump on Tuesday presided over the signing of historic diplomatic pacts between Israel and two Gulf Arab nations that he hopes will lead to a new order in the Mideast and cast him as a peacemaker at the height of his reelection campaign.Hundreds of people amassed on the sun-washed South Lawn to witness the signing of agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The bilateral agreements formalize the normalization of the Jewish state’s already thawing relations with the two Arab nations in line with their common opposition to Iran and its aggression in the region.“We’re here this afternoon to change the course of history,” Trump said from a balcony overlooking the South Lawn. “After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East.”The agreements do not address the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the UAE, Bahrain and other Arab countries support the Palestinians, the Trump administration has persuaded the two countries not to let that conflict keep them from having normal relations with Israel.Trump’s political backers are looking for the agreements to boost his standing as a statesman with just seven weeks to go before Election Day. Until now, foreign policy has not had a major role in a campaign dominated by the coronavirus, racial issues and the economy. The pandemic was in the backdrop of the White House ceremony, where there was no social distancing and most guests didn’t wear masks.The agreements won’t end active wars, but supporters believe they could pave the way for a broader Arab-Israeli rapprochement after decades of enmity and only two previous peace deals. Skeptics, including many longtime Mideast analysts and former officials, have expressed doubts about their impact and lamented that they ignore the Palestinians, who have rejected them as a stab in the back by fellow Arabs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel has only suspended its plans to annex West Bank settlements.Yet even the harshest critics have allowed that the agreements could usher in a major shift in the region should other Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, follow suit, with implications for Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Other Arab countries believed to be close to recognizing Israel include Oman, Sudan and Morocco.“We are very down the road with about five different countries,” Trump told reporters before the ceremony.In addition to the bilateral agreements signed by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, all three are signing a document dubbed the “Abraham Accords” after the patriarch of the world’s three major monotheistic religions.“This day is a pivot of history,” Netanyahu said. “It heralds a new dawn of peace.”“Despite the many challenges and hardships that we all face — despite all that, let us pause a moment to appreciate this remarkable day.”The Palestinians have not embraced the U.S. vision. Palestinian activists held small demonstrations Tuesday inthe West Bank and in Gaza, where they trampled and set fire to pictures of Trump, Netanyahu and the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain.A poll released Tuesday found that 86% of Palestinians believe the normalization agreement with the UAE serves only Israel’s interests and not their own. The poll, carried out by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, was carried out Sept. 9-12 and surveyed 1,270 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.Even in Israel, where the accords have received widespread acclaim, there is concern they might result in U.S. sales of sophisticated weaponry to the UAE and Bahrain, thus potentially upsetting Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Israel">Israel</a>“They’re very wealthy countries for the most part ... some are extraordinarily, like UAE,” Trump told “Fox &amp; Friends” in an interview before the ceremony. “And they would like to buy some fighter jets and I personally would have no problem with it.”Meanwhile, a politically vulnerable Netanyahu is facing questions about appearing at such a large event just days after he announced a new nationwide lockdown to fight a surge in coronavirus cases that will impose severe restrictions on movement and gatherings.And while the UAE and Bahrain have a history of suppressing dissent and critical public opinion, there have been indications that the agreements are not nearly as popular or well-received as in Israel. Neither country sent its head of state or government to sign the deals with Netanyahu.Bahrain’s largest Shiite-dominated opposition group, Al-Wefaq, which the government ordered dissolved in 2016 amid a yearslong crackdown on dissent, said there is widespread rejection of normalization. Al-Wefaq said in a statement that it joins other Bahrainis who reject the agreement to normalize ties with the “Zionist entity,” and criticized the government for crushing the public’s ability to express opinions “to obscure the extent of discontent” at normalization.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600189052525.png" alt="White House dressed up for Tuesday's signing ceremony-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>White House dressed up for Tuesday's signing ceremony-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The ceremony follows months of intricate diplomacy headed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, and the president’s envoy for international negotiations, Avi Berkowitz. On Aug. 13, the Israel-UAE deal was announced. That was followed by the first direct commercial flight between the countries, and then the Sept. 11 announcement of the Bahrain-Israel agreement.___---------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to preside Tuesday over the signing of historic diplomatic deals between Israel and two Gulf Arab nations that could herald a dramatic shift in Middle East power dynamics and give him a boost ahead of the November U.S. election.In a White House ceremony aimed at showcasing presidential statesmanship, Trump is hosting more than 700 guests on the South Lawn to witness the sealing of the agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Trump and his allies hope the occasion will burnish Trump’s credentials as a peacemaker at the height of his reelection campaign.“This can lead to peace, real peace, in the Middle East,” Trump said in the Oval Office as he welcomed Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince.“You can have peace without blood in the sand,” Trump added.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Emirati and Bahraini foreign ministers are to ink the deals before the crowd, which will include representatives of supporting nations from the Washington-based diplomatic corps but few other dignitaries from overseas. Some congressional Democrats who have offered muted praise have been invited to attend.In addition to the individual bilateral agreements signed by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, all three will sign a trilateral document, officials said. The agreements are dubbed the “Abraham Accords” after the patriarch of the world’s three major monotheistic religions. Trump is expected to sign as a witness.The agreements won’t end active wars but will rather formalize the normalization of the Jewish state’s already warming relations with the two countries. And, while not addressing the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they may pave the way for a broader Arab-Israeli rapprochement after decades of enmity, a pair of wars and only two previous peace deals.Skeptics, including many longtime Mideast analysts and former officials, have expressed doubts about the impact of the deals and lamented that they ignore the Palestinians, who have rejected them as a stab in the back by fellow Arabs. Netanyahu has insisted that Israel’s plans to annex West Bank settlements is only suspended and remains on the table.Yet even the harshest critics have allowed that the agreements could usher in a major shift in the region should other Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, follow suit, with implications for Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Other Arab countries believed to be close to recognizing Israel include Oman, Sudan and Morocco.“These agreements are a huge accomplishment for the countries involved and have led to a tremendous sense of hope and optimism in the region,” said Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who led the negotiations. “Instead of focusing on past conflicts, people are now focused on creating a vibrant future filled with endless possibilities.”The Palestinians have not embraced Kushner’s vision.A poll released Tuesday found that 86% of Palestinians believe the normalization agreement with the UAE serves only Israel’s interests and not their own. Fifty-three percent of Palestinians described the agreement as a “betrayal” while 17% said it marked the “abandonment” of their cause.The poll, carried out by the respected Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, found that 92% of Palestinians are opposed to Trump’s Mideast plan. The poll, carried out Sept. 9-12, surveyed 1,270 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.Palestinian activists held small demonstrations Tuesday in different parts of the West Bank and in Gaza, where they trampled and set fire to pictures of Trump, Netanyahu and the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain.Trump remains undeterred, telling “Fox &amp; Friends” on Tuesday that the Palestinians are “difficult” to deal with. Eventually, he said, “Palestinians will be brought in because all of their supporters, all of the people that give them lots of money are coming into the deal so otherwise they’ll be left out in the cold.”Tuesday’s ceremony follows months of intricate diplomacy headed by Kushner and Trump’s envoy for international negotiations, Avi Berkowitz, that first bore fruit Aug. 13 when the Israel-UAE deal was announced. That was followed by the first direct commercial flight between the countries, and then the Sept. 11 announcement of the Bahrain-Israel agreement.The specific contents of the individual documents to be signed were not known ahead of the ceremony.The lack of clarity has raised some suspicions about the durability of the agreements.Even in Israel, where the accords have received widespread acclaim, there is concern that that they might result in U.S. sales of sophisticated weaponry to the UAE and Bahrain, thus potentially upsetting Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.“They’re very wealthy countries for the most part ... some are extraordinarily, like UAE,” Trump said. “And they would like to buy some fighter jets and I personally would have no problem with it.”Meanwhile, a politically vulnerable Netanyahu is facing questions about appearing at such a large event just days after he announced a new nationwide lockdown to fight a surge in coronavirus cases that will impose severe restrictions on movement and gatherings. The White House encouraged those attending Tuesday’s ceremony to wear masks.And while the UAE and Bahrain have a history of suppressing dissent and critical public opinion, there have been indications that the agreements are not nearly as popular or well-received as in Israel. Neither country sent its head of state or government to sign the deals with Netanyahu.Bahrain’s largest Shiite-dominated opposition group, Al-Wefaq, which the government ordered dissolved in 2016 amid a yearslong crackdown on dissent, said there is widespread rejection of normalization.In the UAE, there has been speculation that Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, widely seen as the country’s day-to-day leader and architect of the Emirati push to improve relations with Israel, is steering clear of the signing ceremony.

Trump presides as Israel, 2 Arab states sign historic pacts

WICHITA —Wichita State University’s Advanced Center for Virtual Engineering and Testing will soon have a new name. The building’s renaming is a tribute to Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran’s commitment to provide vital resources and connections that help Wichita State offer impactful student experiences to drive prosperity for the city, region and state, according to a media release from WSU.

The building will renamed the Jerry Moran Center for Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing, with a dedication ceremony planned this fall.

The Jerry Moran Center is a 20,000-square-foot facility on WSU’s Innovation Campus. The building houses Crash Dynamics, Building Block, Virtual Engineering and Flight Test Labs, part of the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). AVET supports cutting-edge virtual and physical crash dynamics testing capabilities for the aviation and greater transportation industries, while providing Wichita State students with valuable applied learning experiences in an industry-based setting.

Through the dedication of the Jerry Moran Center for Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing, Wichita State recognizes Sen. Moran’s focus on Kansans, the advancement of our nation’s defense and the future learning research.

“The Senator’s commitment to strengthen Wichita State and our nation’s defense programs has raised awareness of the technology and talent available at Wichita State and led to new partnerships focused on improving the efficiency of our military fleet,” said John Tomblin, WSU Senior Vice President for Industry and Defense Programs.These technologies include machine learning applications for fleet readiness; next generation high temperature materials for long-range precision fires; and advanced technologies for aircraft sustainment and repair.

“By dedicating this building to Jerry Moran, we honor an individual who has been a partner, collaborator and advocate for Wichita State University and embodies our mission to be an education, economic and cultural driver for our region,” said WSU President Jay Golden.

Recently AVET collaborated with Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Engineering Directorate in the virtual development and evaluation of various seating concepts to ensure the safety of passengers being transported in Negatively Pressurized Conex (NPC) modules designed to be carried by USAF cargo aircraft. The NPC system enables the safe transport of individuals infected with the COVID-19 virus and other highly infectious diseases.

“In a period of four weeks, the AVET team was able to evaluate the dynamic response of various seat designs when subjected to emergency landing conditions,” said Lawrence Rogers, Technical Director, Flight Systems Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate for the U.S. Air Force. “NIAR’s virtual evaluation capability gave us the ability to clearly identify and lower risk to our warfighters. Even if we would’ve had this level of analysis fidelity, Dr. Olivares’ team still saved several months to a year.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600181412698.png" alt="Advanced Center for Virtual Engineering and Testing-photo courtesy WSU&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Advanced Center for Virtual Engineering and Testing-photo courtesy WSU&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Wichita State University’s Advanced Center for Virtual Engineering and Testing will soon have a new name. The building’s renaming is a tribute to Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran’s commitment to provide vital resources and connections that help Wichita State offer impactful student experiences to drive prosperity for the city, region and state, according to a media release from WSU.The building will renamed the Jerry Moran Center for Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing, with a dedication ceremony planned this fall.The Jerry Moran Center is a 20,000-square-foot facility on WSU’s Innovation Campus. The building houses Crash Dynamics, Building Block, Virtual Engineering and Flight Test Labs, part of the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). AVET supports cutting-edge virtual and physical crash dynamics testing capabilities for the aviation and greater transportation industries, while providing Wichita State students with valuable applied learning experiences in an industry-based setting.Through the dedication of the Jerry Moran Center for Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing, Wichita State recognizes Sen. Moran’s focus on Kansans, the advancement of our nation’s defense and the future learning research.“The Senator’s commitment to strengthen Wichita State and our nation’s defense programs has raised awareness of the technology and talent available at Wichita State and led to new partnerships focused on improving the efficiency of our military fleet,” said John Tomblin, WSU Senior Vice President for Industry and Defense Programs.These technologies include machine learning applications for fleet readiness; next generation high temperature materials for long-range precision fires; and advanced technologies for aircraft sustainment and repair.“By dedicating this building to Jerry Moran, we honor an individual who has been a partner, collaborator and advocate for Wichita State University and embodies our mission to be an education, economic and cultural driver for our region,” said WSU President Jay Golden.Recently AVET collaborated with Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Engineering Directorate in the virtual development and evaluation of various seating concepts to ensure the safety of passengers being transported in Negatively Pressurized Conex (NPC) modules designed to be carried by USAF cargo aircraft. The NPC system enables the safe transport of individuals infected with the COVID-19 virus and other highly infectious diseases.“In a period of four weeks, the AVET team was able to evaluate the dynamic response of various seat designs when subjected to emergency landing conditions,” said Lawrence Rogers, Technical Director, Flight Systems Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate for the U.S. Air Force. “NIAR’s virtual evaluation capability gave us the ability to clearly identify and lower risk to our warfighters. Even if we would’ve had this level of analysis fidelity, Dr. Olivares’ team still saved several months to a year.”

Wichita State lab to be renamed for Sen. Jerry Moran

KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;– A California woman who was stopped in Kansas with eight pounds of heroin in her car was sentenced Monday to 26 months in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Rufina Valdovinos-Anacleto, 24, Pomona, Calif., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin. The Kansas Highway Patrol stopped her car in Saline County, Kan. Troopers found more than 8.8 pounds of heroin in the car.

McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham for their work on the case.

KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;– A California woman who was stopped in Kansas with eight pounds of heroin in her car was sentenced Monday to 26 months in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Rufina Valdovinos-Anacleto, 24, Pomona, Calif., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin. The Kansas Highway Patrol stopped her car in Saline County, Kan. Troopers found more than 8.8 pounds of heroin in the car.McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham for their work on the case.

KHP found 8 pounds of heroin in driver's car

JACKSON COUNTY —A man faces felony charges after he attempted to shoot at a KC Royals employee at the stadium complex, causing a lock down of the stadium Saturday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Joshua D. Newton, 33, Kansas City, Kansas, faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action and Making a Terrorist Threat 1st Degree, according to court records.

Just after 11a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to 1 Arrowhead Drive on a disturbance with a weapon. The victim, who works as a groundskeeper for the Kansas City Royals, told police he was disposing of grass clippings when he saw a man later identified as Newton walking through the parking lot. 

Newton turned toward the victim, about 100 feet away, and pulled out two handguns. He fired shots at the victim as the victim ran away,&nbsp;

Video of the incident showed the Newton walking around the stadium and holding what appears to be a gun and raising it. Social media associated with the defendant displayed threatening language related to his going to Arrowhead that day. When police took the defendant into custody, loaded handguns were found. He acknowledged pointing a gun at someone. Due to the defendant’s actions, the stadium was locked down for security reasons which also delayed the start of the Royals baseball game.

Newton is being jailed on a $40,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600164871580.png" alt="Newton photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Newton photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A man faces felony charges after he attempted to shoot at a KC Royals employee at the stadium complex, causing a lock down of the stadium Saturday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Joshua D. Newton, 33, Kansas City, Kansas, faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action and Making a Terrorist Threat 1st Degree, according to court records.Just after 11a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to 1 Arrowhead Drive on a disturbance with a weapon. The victim, who works as a groundskeeper for the Kansas City Royals, told police he was disposing of grass clippings when he saw a man later identified as Newton walking through the parking lot. Newton turned toward the victim, about 100 feet away, and pulled out two handguns. He fired shots at the victim as the victim ran away,&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599960494639.png" alt="Police on the scene of the weekend standoff -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the weekend standoff -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Video of the incident showed the Newton walking around the stadium and holding what appears to be a gun and raising it. Social media associated with the defendant displayed threatening language related to his going to Arrowhead that day. When police took the defendant into custody, loaded handguns were found. He acknowledged pointing a gun at someone. Due to the defendant’s actions, the stadium was locked down for security reasons which also delayed the start of the Royals baseball game.Newton is being jailed on a $40,000 bond.

Kan. man charged for standoff at Arrowhead Stadium

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Two days after a lengthy and contentious meeting with the GOP-led State Finance Council, Gov. Laura Kelly said she expected Republicans to continue using the meetings for political purposes at least until after the November election.

On Friday, the council&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9436c3901c2eaaf3ae46d1763804bed9">agreed</a>&nbsp;to extend Kelly’s emergency declaration that allowed the state to continue providing coronavirus-related services. The extension came only after Republican members demanded that Kelly, a Democrat, agree to a clause in the declaration that she did not intend to order another statewide closure of businesses.

Kelly had said repeatedly that she does not believe another statewide closure order will be necessary and she reiterated that on Monday. The extension will last until Oct. 15, when the council will have to vote on the issue again.

“It is political season and I think members of the State Finance Council took the opportunity to make political hay and I expect they’ll continue to do that until the election’s finally over,” she said.

On Monday, Kansas health officials reported 1,513 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, for a total of 49,899 across the state. Kansas also had 23 new deaths, raising that number to 534 since the pandemic began.

The governor said Kansans cannot become numb to the numbers and asked them to commit themselves again to safety recommendations even while everyone is tired of restrictions imposed by the virus. She also urged state residents to get a flu shot to prevent overwhelming the health care system with both COVID-19 and flu cases.

Kelly expressed concern after a video showed a large house party near the University of Kansas campus over the weekend where few people were wearing masks or social distancing.

She said students are responsible for helping to slow the virus but she believes they would be more cooperative if they had received consistent guidance from federal, state and local authorities from the beginning of the pandemic about the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.

“Yes, I think they need to act more responsibly,” she said. “I hope they don’t suffer the consequences and their friends and families don’t suffer the consequences of their behavior this weekend. But I want to reiterate that it really is up to us, particularly all the leaders, to get behind a consistent message and one that we know works that’s based on science and fact.”

The university on Monday issued public health bans to students living at two off-campus houses in response to the video and reports there were other large parties, a university spokeswoman said. It wasn’t immediately clear how many students were subject to the bans.

“Most of our students are doing the right thing, but we will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk,” university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said in an email to The Kansas City Star.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600118667756.png" alt="During her Monday news conference, Governor Laura Kelly said, “It is political season and I think members of the State Finance Council took the opportunity to make political hay and I expect they’ll continue to do that until the election’s finally over.”&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>During her Monday news conference, Governor Laura Kelly said, “It is political season and I think members of the State Finance Council took the opportunity to make political hay and I expect they’ll continue to do that until the election’s finally over.”&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Two days after a lengthy and contentious meeting with the GOP-led State Finance Council, Gov. Laura Kelly said she expected Republicans to continue using the meetings for political purposes at least until after the November election.On Friday, the council&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9436c3901c2eaaf3ae46d1763804bed9">agreed</a>&nbsp;to extend Kelly’s emergency declaration that allowed the state to continue providing coronavirus-related services. The extension came only after Republican members demanded that Kelly, a Democrat, agree to a clause in the declaration that she did not intend to order another statewide closure of businesses.Kelly had said repeatedly that she does not believe another statewide closure order will be necessary and she reiterated that on Monday. The extension will last until Oct. 15, when the council will have to vote on the issue again.“It is political season and I think members of the State Finance Council took the opportunity to make political hay and I expect they’ll continue to do that until the election’s finally over,” she said.On Monday, Kansas health officials reported 1,513 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, for a total of 49,899 across the state. Kansas also had 23 new deaths, raising that number to 534 since the pandemic began.The governor said Kansans cannot become numb to the numbers and asked them to commit themselves again to safety recommendations even while everyone is tired of restrictions imposed by the virus. She also urged state residents to get a flu shot to prevent overwhelming the health care system with both COVID-19 and flu cases.Kelly expressed concern after a video showed a large house party near the University of Kansas campus over the weekend where few people were wearing masks or social distancing.She said students are responsible for helping to slow the virus but she believes they would be more cooperative if they had received consistent guidance from federal, state and local authorities from the beginning of the pandemic about the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.“Yes, I think they need to act more responsibly,” she said. “I hope they don’t suffer the consequences and their friends and families don’t suffer the consequences of their behavior this weekend. But I want to reiterate that it really is up to us, particularly all the leaders, to get behind a consistent message and one that we know works that’s based on science and fact.”The university on Monday issued public health bans to students living at two off-campus houses in response to the video and reports there were other large parties, a university spokeswoman said. It wasn’t immediately clear how many students were subject to the bans.“Most of our students are doing the right thing, but we will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk,” university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said in an email to The Kansas City Star.

Governor: State Finance Council likely to stay political

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a Missouri woman after a traffic stop this summer will not be charged in her death even though it was possibly avoidable, a special prosecutor announced Monday.

The Pettis County sheriff's deputy shot Hannah Fizer, 25, after stopping her for traffic violations in Sedalia on June 13.

“There are aspects of the case that lead me to believe that an alternative approach might have avoided the confrontation that led to the officer having to discharge his weapon,” but that is not relevant under Missouri law to whether criminal charges should be filed,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2aa77a7b17c986f0f17dcc6207d44e04">special prosecutor</a>&nbsp;Stephen Sokoloff wrote.

The deputy, who has not been identified, told investigators Fizer said she had a gun and was going to shoot him. She reached down to the floorboard of her car and then raised up toward the deputy, prompting him to shoot, Sokoloff said in a report to Pettis County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Mittelhauser.

Missouri law requires that officers have a reasonable belief they are in danger before firing their weapon and based on the circumstances "it cannot be said that the officer did not have a reasonable belief that he was in danger of serious physical injury or death from the actions of the deceased at the time he fired,” the prosecutor said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/63c404abdfe70c119140ba6a555732bf">No gun</a>&nbsp;was found in Fizer's car, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

Fizer's family and friends have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c2402b227f9ea86121ccbae480fc87a8">disputed</a>&nbsp;investigators' version of events, saying Fizer was on her way to work, did not own a gun and would not have shot anyone.

Fizer's father, John Fizer, said Monday he was “dumbfounded” after hearing Sokoloff's findings. He said his daughter would have done “absolutely nothing” to draw the officer's fire.

“She probably did run a red light, he probably pulled her over for a good reason,” Fizer said. “His good reason stopped right there. Seconds later she's dead. I'm just numb. I don't understand it."

No dash-cam or body-camera video of the shooting was available because Pettis County does not provide them to deputies, which Sokoloff said made his findings “somewhat more difficult.”

Video from a nearby restaurant had no audio and was not clear, but it showed Fizer moving around the vehicle “vigorously” and bending down. During the officer's radio dispatch, Fizer can be heard yelling at the officer and he repeated her threat to shoot him, the prosecutor wrote.

The Pettis County Commission in August approved spending about $43,000 for body cameras for the sheriff's department.

The shooting came during nationwide protests over police use of force, after George Floyd, a Black man, was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis.

Both Fizer and the deputy are white. Fizer's family and friends held several protests in Sedalia criticizing the shooting and demanding answers.

Sokoloff suggested in his report that more training in deescalation techniques and sometime more experience might be necessary for officers.

"The recent spate of these types of avoidable deaths would certainly suggest that a reexamination of training techniques may be in order,” he wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592338794006.png" alt="Hannah Fizer- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hannah Fizer- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a Missouri woman after a traffic stop this summer will not be charged in her death even though it was possibly avoidable, a special prosecutor announced Monday.The Pettis County sheriff's deputy shot Hannah Fizer, 25, after stopping her for traffic violations in Sedalia on June 13.“There are aspects of the case that lead me to believe that an alternative approach might have avoided the confrontation that led to the officer having to discharge his weapon,” but that is not relevant under Missouri law to whether criminal charges should be filed,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2aa77a7b17c986f0f17dcc6207d44e04">special prosecutor</a>&nbsp;Stephen Sokoloff wrote.The deputy, who has not been identified, told investigators Fizer said she had a gun and was going to shoot him. She reached down to the floorboard of her car and then raised up toward the deputy, prompting him to shoot, Sokoloff said in a report to Pettis County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Mittelhauser.Missouri law requires that officers have a reasonable belief they are in danger before firing their weapon and based on the circumstances "it cannot be said that the officer did not have a reasonable belief that he was in danger of serious physical injury or death from the actions of the deceased at the time he fired,” the prosecutor said.<a href="https://apnews.com/63c404abdfe70c119140ba6a555732bf">No gun</a>&nbsp;was found in Fizer's car, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.Fizer's family and friends have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c2402b227f9ea86121ccbae480fc87a8">disputed</a>&nbsp;investigators' version of events, saying Fizer was on her way to work, did not own a gun and would not have shot anyone.Fizer's father, John Fizer, said Monday he was “dumbfounded” after hearing Sokoloff's findings. He said his daughter would have done “absolutely nothing” to draw the officer's fire.“She probably did run a red light, he probably pulled her over for a good reason,” Fizer said. “His good reason stopped right there. Seconds later she's dead. I'm just numb. I don't understand it."No dash-cam or body-camera video of the shooting was available because Pettis County does not provide them to deputies, which Sokoloff said made his findings “somewhat more difficult.”Video from a nearby restaurant had no audio and was not clear, but it showed Fizer moving around the vehicle “vigorously” and bending down. During the officer's radio dispatch, Fizer can be heard yelling at the officer and he repeated her threat to shoot him, the prosecutor wrote.The Pettis County Commission in August approved spending about $43,000 for body cameras for the sheriff's department.The shooting came during nationwide protests over police use of force, after George Floyd, a Black man, was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis.Both Fizer and the deputy are white. Fizer's family and friends held several protests in Sedalia criticizing the shooting and demanding answers.Sokoloff suggested in his report that more training in deescalation techniques and sometime more experience might be necessary for officers."The recent spate of these types of avoidable deaths would certainly suggest that a reexamination of training techniques may be in order,” he wrote.

No charges for woman's traffic stop shooting death

WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal regulators on Monday handed a victory to corn farmers and the renewable fuels industry by refusing to allow a group of petroleum refiners in 14 states to forego requirements to blend ethanol into the gasoline they make.

Members of Congress from farm states have heavily lobbied President Donald Trump to reject the waiver requests for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/88d6c360698aa7ac1d7ab9b20229ad0c">months.</a>&nbsp;Those representing oil-producing states supported the waivers, which were originally designed to help small refineries that struggled financially to meet federally mandated ethanol targets. In recent years, however, larger refineries also have received exemptions from the Trump administration.

The petroleum refiners had sought 54 exemptions retroactively, some as far back as 2011, that would have allowed the petroleum industry to remove hundreds of millions of gallons of corn-based ethanol from the market.

Significant exemptions from the congressional requirement of blending at least 15 billion gallons of ethanol a year into the nations fuel supply began after Trump took office and appointed Andrew Wheeler as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

By agreeing to reject the waivers the Trump administration is essentially fixing a problem it created.

Congressional Republicans including Iowa Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley nevertheless lauded Trump for the decision.

“I applaud President Trump for keeping his word and supporting our farmers and biofuel producers,” Grassley said in a statement.

Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer agreed the EPA decision will help Iowa farmers but called out the Trump administration for approving previous waivers that removed 4 billion gallons of ethanol from production and waiting “until 50 days before an election to finally take even this modest action.”

A petroleum industry group response was critical of EPA and Trump.

“The notion that this administration is ‘following the rule of law’ through its latest betrayal of U.S. refinery workers is laughable,” said Chet Thompson, CEO of the American Fuel &amp; Petrochemical Manufacturers, a trade group for producers of fuel and petrochemicals used in many products.

While maintaining the ethanol production levels, the EPA decision also is likely to bring an end to the small refinery exemptions that have plagued the ethanol industry. If the decision isn’t appealed or if it is upheld on appeal, only a few small refineries would remain eligible for waivers, said Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group.

About 40% of the nation’s corn crop is used for ethanol, making such decisions critical for the economy of Iowa, the nation’s leading corn and ethanol producer. Many farmers who grow corn were early investors in the ethanol industry and have significant stakes in the industry.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal regulators on Monday handed a victory to corn farmers and the renewable fuels industry by refusing to allow a group of petroleum refiners in 14 states to forego requirements to blend ethanol into the gasoline they make.Members of Congress from farm states have heavily lobbied President Donald Trump to reject the waiver requests for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/88d6c360698aa7ac1d7ab9b20229ad0c">months.</a>&nbsp;Those representing oil-producing states supported the waivers, which were originally designed to help small refineries that struggled financially to meet federally mandated ethanol targets. In recent years, however, larger refineries also have received exemptions from the Trump administration.The petroleum refiners had sought 54 exemptions retroactively, some as far back as 2011, that would have allowed the petroleum industry to remove hundreds of millions of gallons of corn-based ethanol from the market.Significant exemptions from the congressional requirement of blending at least 15 billion gallons of ethanol a year into the nations fuel supply began after Trump took office and appointed Andrew Wheeler as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.By agreeing to reject the waivers the Trump administration is essentially fixing a problem it created.Congressional Republicans including Iowa Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley nevertheless lauded Trump for the decision.“I applaud President Trump for keeping his word and supporting our farmers and biofuel producers,” Grassley said in a statement.Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer agreed the EPA decision will help Iowa farmers but called out the Trump administration for approving previous waivers that removed 4 billion gallons of ethanol from production and waiting “until 50 days before an election to finally take even this modest action.”A petroleum industry group response was critical of EPA and Trump.“The notion that this administration is ‘following the rule of law’ through its latest betrayal of U.S. refinery workers is laughable,” said Chet Thompson, CEO of the American Fuel &amp; Petrochemical Manufacturers, a trade group for producers of fuel and petrochemicals used in many products.While maintaining the ethanol production levels, the EPA decision also is likely to bring an end to the small refinery exemptions that have plagued the ethanol industry. If the decision isn’t appealed or if it is upheld on appeal, only a few small refineries would remain eligible for waivers, said Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group.About 40% of the nation’s corn crop is used for ethanol, making such decisions critical for the economy of Iowa, the nation’s leading corn and ethanol producer. Many farmers who grow corn were early investors in the ethanol industry and have significant stakes in the industry.

EPA sides with farmers on ethanol, rejects refinery waivers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported sexual assault of a 32-year-old woman at a home in Wichita.

At approximately 12:00 a.m., Saturday, police were dispatched to a burglary in progress call in the 700 block of South Pershing, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon their arrival, they contacted the 32-year-old female victim, who reported an unknown, armed male suspect entered her residence.

 Once inside the suspect demanded money, sexually assaulted her, and left.

 The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Also, inside the residence were two small children.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported sexual assault of a 32-year-old woman at a home in Wichita.At approximately 12:00 a.m., Saturday, police were dispatched to a burglary in progress call in the 700 block of South Pershing, according to officer Paul Cruz.Upon their arrival, they contacted the 32-year-old female victim, who reported an unknown, armed male suspect entered her residence. Once inside the suspect demanded money, sexually assaulted her, and left. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Also, inside the residence were two small children.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. woman sexually assaulted during home invasion

SEDGWICK COUNTY– Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed new emergency public health order which will take effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. This order will remain in place until at least midnight, Wednesday, October 21, 2020, according to a media release from the county.

Section III of this order was revised to remove language stating that the order was voluntary. Any persons or organizations within Sedgwick County must comply with the order.

Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction.&nbsp;

The community toolbox consists of mask wearing, social distancing, and good hand hygiene, as the best ways for the community to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect one another.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Numerous Wichita bars are ignoring a local health directive ordering them to shut down at 11 p.m. because of the coronavirus pandemic on Friday night. City and county officials say the bars that are ignoring the curfew order from Sedgwick County health officials may be vulnerable to lawsuits if their patrons or employees get sick or they could lose their city liquor licenses. 

The owner of the Blu Night Club in western Wichita, Darren Greiving, said staying open late is important to his business’ economic survival.  So far city and county officials have not issued any citations related to the curfew.

SEDGWICK COUNTY– Local Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns signed new emergency public health order which will take effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. This order will remain in place until at least midnight, Wednesday, October 21, 2020, according to a media release from the county.Section III of this order was revised to remove language stating that the order was voluntary. Any persons or organizations within Sedgwick County must comply with the order.Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions as trends move in a positive direction.&nbsp;The community toolbox consists of mask wearing, social distancing, and good hand hygiene, as the best ways for the community to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect one another.---------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Numerous Wichita bars are ignoring a local health directive ordering them to shut down at 11 p.m. because of the coronavirus pandemic on Friday night. City and county officials say the bars that are ignoring the curfew order from Sedgwick County health officials may be vulnerable to lawsuits if their patrons or employees get sick or they could lose their city liquor licenses. The owner of the Blu Night Club in western Wichita, Darren Greiving, said staying open late is important to his business’ economic survival. So far city and county officials have not issued any citations related to the curfew.

Sedgwick Co. health order no longer voluntary 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;investigating a weekend shooting that killed a 17-year-old identified as Valincio Hill of Wichita and injured a 41-year-old woman.

Just after 8:3o p.m. on Sunday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 1600 block of South Water in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; 

Upon arrival, officers located Hill and the woman who had been shot.&nbsp; Both victims were taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.&nbsp; Hill died&nbsp; and the woman victim remains hospitalized in stable condition, according to Davidson.

The investigation revealed several individuals were at the home on Water, including Hill and the female victim.&nbsp; Unknown suspects approached the home on foot and fired multiple shots from the street, striking the victims and surrounding property.&nbsp;

This was not a random incident, and a lack of all cooperation in this investigation has affected investigators from learning all the details of this case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600089328294.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Sunday night investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Sunday night investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;investigating a weekend shooting that killed a 17-year-old identified as Valincio Hill of Wichita and injured a 41-year-old woman.Just after 8:3o p.m. on Sunday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 1600 block of South Water in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located Hill and the woman who had been shot.&nbsp; Both victims were taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.&nbsp; Hill died&nbsp; and the woman victim remains hospitalized in stable condition, according to Davidson.The investigation revealed several individuals were at the home on Water, including Hill and the female victim.&nbsp; Unknown suspects approached the home on foot and fired multiple shots from the street, striking the victims and surrounding property.&nbsp;This was not a random incident, and a lack of all cooperation in this investigation has affected investigators from learning all the details of this case.

Police: Teen dead, woman wounded in shooting at Kan. home

RENO COUNTY — A 12-year-old died in a ATV, motorcycle accident Sunday evening in southern Reno County.

Just before 5p.m. Sunday, two youths were riding a four-wheeler and a dirt bike in the 20000 block of West Pretty Prairie Road south of Arlington when the two collided, according to the Reno County Sheriff.

Deputies on scene assisted other first responders with lifesaving measures until Reno County EMS was on scene and able to transport the victim to the hospital.&nbsp;

Protective equipment was worn by the individual and the collision was investigated by the Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;

RENO COUNTY — A 12-year-old died in a ATV, motorcycle accident Sunday evening in southern Reno County.Just before 5p.m. Sunday, two youths were riding a four-wheeler and a dirt bike in the 20000 block of West Pretty Prairie Road south of Arlington when the two collided, according to the Reno County Sheriff.Deputies on scene assisted other first responders with lifesaving measures until Reno County EMS was on scene and able to transport the victim to the hospital.&nbsp;Protective equipment was worn by the individual and the collision was investigated by the Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;

Sheriff: 12-year-old dies in ATV, motorcycle accident

TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly will held a press conference at Monday to give an update regarding COVID-19 in Kansas.

She discussed the dramatic increase in virus deaths over the&nbsp; weekend, encouraged residents to get a flu shot (she got a flu shot last week) and answered questions about budget cuts and much more.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,513 to a total of 49,899 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 534, an increase of 23.

TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly will held a press conference at Monday to give an update regarding COVID-19 in Kansas.She discussed the dramatic increase in virus deaths over the&nbsp; weekend, encouraged residents to get a flu shot (she got a flu shot last week) and answered questions about budget cuts and much more.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F2745278769132017%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 number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,513 to a total of 49,899 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 534, an increase of 23.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600104258337.png" alt="Sept. 14 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Sept. 14 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥 Governor gives update on COVID-19 in Kansas

By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/more-kansans-ever-believe-global-warming-yale-survey-shows">Kansas News Service</a>

Climate change is at the root of this year’s extreme weather events, 
from the wild swings between flooding and drought in Kansas to larger 
hurricanes and some of the worst wildfires the West has seen.

And the majority of Americans are starting to take notice, according to the latest survey from the <a href="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/" target="_blank">Yale Program on Climate Change Communication</a>.

The
 climate opinion map, which was compiled from survey data from March 
2020, shows 72% of Americans believe that global warming is happening. 
At a local level, Kansans and Missourians aren’t far behind, with a 
little more than two-thirds believing that global warming is happening.

“Everyone
 by and large underestimates how much people care about this issue,” 
Yale School of Environment research scientist Jennifer Marlon said.

Because
 of that, she said, people are often afraid to bring up climate change 
because they’re worried that the other person will disagree with them.

The point of the survey
 is to figure out what Americans really think so that climate 
researchers can better understand what misconceptions or policy 
preferences are out there.

For example, in Kansas, there’s 
majority support for a wide range of climate-related policies. 
Eighty-five percent of people support funding research into renewable 
energy resources; 62% support setting strict limits on CO2 emissions 
from existing coal-fired power plants; and 80% support providing tax 
rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels.

Many 
politicians say they make decisions about priorities and votes based on 
constituent opinion, but when it comes to climate change, “they get it 
wrong,” Marlon said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600097589105.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/more-kansans-ever-believe-global-warming-yale-survey-shows">Kansas News Service</a>Climate change is at the root of this year’s extreme weather events, 
from the wild swings between flooding and drought in Kansas to larger 
hurricanes and some of the worst wildfires the West has seen.And the majority of Americans are starting to take notice, according to the latest survey from the <a href="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/" target="_blank">Yale Program on Climate Change Communication</a>.The
 climate opinion map, which was compiled from survey data from March 
2020, shows 72% of Americans believe that global warming is happening. 
At a local level, Kansans and Missourians aren’t far behind, with a 
little more than two-thirds believing that global warming is happening.“Everyone
 by and large underestimates how much people care about this issue,” 
Yale School of Environment research scientist Jennifer Marlon said.Because
 of that, she said, people are often afraid to bring up climate change 
because they’re worried that the other person will disagree with them.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600097644508.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Climate change policy</h2>The point of the survey
 is to figure out what Americans really think so that climate 
researchers can better understand what misconceptions or policy 
preferences are out there.For example, in Kansas, there’s 
majority support for a wide range of climate-related policies. 
Eighty-five percent of people support funding research into renewable 
energy resources; 62% support setting strict limits on CO2 emissions 
from existing coal-fired power plants; and 80% support providing tax 
rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels.Many 
politicians say they make decisions about priorities and votes based on 
constituent opinion, but when it comes to climate change, “they get it 
wrong,” Marlon said.“They don’t know what public opinion actually is.”Amber
 Campbell, an assistant professor of anthropology at Kansas State 
University, said ranchers and farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma mirror the 
Yale study.Ten years ago, producers would tell Campbell the climate wasn’t changing, but she said <a href="https://www.harvestpublicmedia.org/post/how-talk-about-climate-change-rural-america-don-t-say-those-two-words" target="_blank">they’d talk for hours about all the ways the weather was different </a>now than in the past. In her most recent surveys, they’re more willing to acknowledge it.“The
 reality that weather is different than it was 30 years ago is becoming 
more and more apparent to people regardless of where they’re at in 
life,” Campbell said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600097677067.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Climate change risks</h2>While there’s a growing 
understanding about the realities of climate change, there’s still a 
disconnect between what’s at stake. Two-thirds of Kansans think global 
warming will harm future generations and a majority believe global 
warming will harm plants, animals and people in developing countries.But only 37% of Kansans think that global warming will harm them personally.It’s
 the same across the country, a psychological phenomenon Marlon 
attributes&nbsp; to optimism bias. She said in some ways that’s good, because
 it prevents us from always worrying about worst-case scenarios, but 
ultimately we have to make sure we’re taking actions to protect 
ourselves against real and present dangers.“We tend to sort of 
feel that we won’t be touched, like somehow we’re invincible or have a 
protective bubble around us,” she said. “Unfortunately, that’s not 
true.”The data for the Yale Program on Climate Change comes from
 a national survey of more than 25,000 respondents. The team validated 
the local data model with independent surveys in California, Texas, 
Colorado and Ohio. For statewide level data, the margin of error is plus
 or minus 7 percentage points.Brian Grimmett reports on the 
environment, energy and natural resources for KMUW in Wichita and the 
Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/briangrimmett?lang=en" target="_blank">@briangrimmett</a>
 or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org. The Kansas News Service 
is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains 
Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and 
their connection to public policy.