WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s unemployment safety net is looking increasingly shaky, with a $300-a-week federal jobless benefit from the Trump administration running out just weeks after it began and millions of laid-off Americans nearing an end to their state unemployment aid.

Most Americans who exhaust their state’s unemployment benefits — typically after six months — will transition to an emergency federal program that provides an additional 13 weeks of aid. Yet they still face a looming deadline: By year’s end, nearly all the federal unemployment supports will expire. Unless Congress extends those programs, millions of jobless Americans could be cut off.

Their struggles come against the backdrop of an ailing job market with 13 million unemployed people and the pace of layoffs still elevated six months after the viral pandemic flattened the economy. Applications for unemployment benefits first spiked in the week of March 21, when they reached 3.3 million, then more than doubled the next week to a record 6.9 million. That means that anyone who began receiving state unemployment benefits then will have to shift to an emergency federal program in the coming weeks.

Separately, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is administering the $300-a-week federal benefit, said Thursday that the agency is providing money to cover six weeks, from the start of August through the end of this week, with no extension in sight.

Nearly all states have applied for the $300-a-week benefit. But only 17 have managed to upgrade their computers systems to actually distribute the payments. As a result, while many states will likely issue checks for several weeks, the money will be retroactive to early August and will cover only through mid-September.

Trump’s $300-a-week jobless aid program was created by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f67dd310113355f4effe13dfcf4ac3b8?utm_source=piano&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=morningwire&amp;pnespid=huUw9P9VBF2N3gQRJP9rReQYsCZixU6HOEfit00g">an executive order last month</a>&nbsp;after a more generous version adopted by Congress expired and Trump and Congress failed to reach agreement on a new aid package.

Through July, people out of work amid the coronavirus pandemic were receiving $600 a week in federal aid on top of their state unemployment benefits. For many recipients, the $600 federal check exceeded their state benefits and kept them afloat as the economy crumbled. But Republicans in Congress opposed the $600, arguing that it was so high as to discourage many of the unemployed from looking for a job.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3588901312dec9607b6cd22bc83029c2">blocked legislation</a>&nbsp;that would have extended the extra $300 payment and provided more money for schools. The Democrats favored restoring the full $600-a-week jobless benefit as well as more money for states, localities and small businesses.

Also Thursday, the Labor Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf" target="_blank">reported&nbsp;</a>that applications for unemployment aid were unchanged last week at 884,000, and the number of laid-off workers who applied for aid under a separate program for the self-employed and contract workers increased. The figures indicated that companies are still cutting an unusually large number of jobs.

Other recent evidence also suggests that the job market’s improvement may be weakening after solid gains through spring and most of summer. The number of people seeking jobless aid each week still far exceeds the number who did so in any week on record before this year.

Hiring has slowed since June, and a rising number of laid-off workers now say they regard their job loss as permanent. The number of people who are continuing to receive state unemployment benefits rose last week, after five weeks of declines, to 13.4 million, evidence that employers aren’t hiring enough to offset layoffs.

For those who have run out of state unemployment benefits, the next step will be to transition to a federal program known as Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC. It’s among the alphabet soup of additional supports that were established by the $2 trillion aid package that Congress approved this spring. The emergency program lasts for 13 weeks and is now paying benefits to 1.4 million people.

One of them is Mike Walsh, who lives in Orlando, and is receiving PEUC because Florida’s state unemployment benefits last only 12 weeks. Along with North Carolina, that’s the fewest number of weeks provided by any state.

Before the pandemic, Walsh, 53, worked as a transportation manager for conventions and gatherings in Orlando and around the country. If a trade group brought 40,000 of its members to Orlando for an annual convention, Walsh would coordinate the buses needed to shuttle them from dozens of hotels to the convention center and theme parks. He traveled to Washington, D.C. to manage 2,200 buses that arrived for President Barack Obama’s inaugural in 2009.

Walsh doesn’t know when the convention business, where he has worked for 33 years, will return. Yet that might not be until next spring, likely long after his unemployment checks will have run out. His current $244 payment and savings are covering his expenses for now, but he doesn’t want to run through all his savings. If his money runs too low he’ll take any job.

“I’ll be the one standing at the door, telling you, ‘Welcome to Walmart,’ ” he said.

If the PEUC program expires, unemployed workers can then apply for what’s called Extended Benefits, which lasts from 13 to 20 weeks in most states, though only six weeks in Florida. Extended Benefits kick in when a state’s unemployment rate crosses a specific threshold. All states are currently paying these benefits, which is providing checks to 241,000 people.

Then there is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, or PUA. It is a new source of support set up by the government’s relief package and is now providing aid to 14.6 million of the unemployed, more than the regular state programs are covering. Its coverage lasts for 39 weeks.

But not necessarily for those who have been laid off more recently. On Dec. 31, the PEUC and PUA will expire. That will leave only state benefits and the Extended Benefits programs. With unemployment likely to remain high until then, many of the jobless could be left desperate.

“There will still be a need for unemployment benefits then,” said Elizabeth Pancotti, a policy analyst at Employ America, an advocacy group.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The temporary $300-a-week unemployment insurance boost implemented by President Donald Trump will end, with no extension in sight.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday in an email to The Associated Press that it has distributed $30 billion of the $44 billion it had set aside for the benefit. The agency said the fund was enough to cover six weeks of additional jobless aid starting Aug. 1, so unemployed workers won't receive any more after this week.

FEMA emphasized that all eligible recipients will get the $300 boost to cover six weeks, a period that ended Sept. 5.

Some states had technical obstacles that have delayed the payments, and the federal government is still in the process of approving other states' plans to distribute the money. Eligible workers who have not yet received the $300-a-week supplement or have received less than six weeks' worth, will receive payments for their full share, according to FEMA. After that, the fund will be dry.

The program was designed to leave money to deal with natural disasters, such as the wildfires now sweeping the West, even after the unemployment boost was gone.

Trump created the program after a more generous $600-a-week benefit adopted by Congress expired. The federal government initially did not have an estimate of how long the money would last, but six weeks is in line with what experts expected.

The Trump administration and congressional Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on a new coronavirus relief package that would include an extension of the unemployment supplement.

Recipients have said the extra jolt of money from the federal government kept them afloat as the economy cratered amid stay-at-home orders and business closings. On Thursday, the government reported that 13.4 million Americans continue to receive state unemployment benefits, although not all of them are receiving the additional $300.

The extra weekly payments came with a significant string attached: It was available only to people receiving at least $100 a week in other unemployment insurance benefits. That cut out hundreds of thousands of low-wage earners, people who had jobs for short periods and gig workers.

One of them is Philip Tuley of Clearlake Oaks, California.

His unemployment benefits come to $65 a week, or $260 a month. It was so low because Tuley, 63, had previously taken a year off after spending two decades as an assistant educator at a school district in rural Northern California. He had been substituting recently and was about to return to his district full time when the pandemic struck.

His unemployment benefit was so small because it was based on his average earnings over a two-year period. He said he’s been turned away from a local food bank because its shelves were bare.

Tuley said Trump’s order is to blame for the predicament he and other low-wage workers are in.

"To have him choose that people who didn’t get $100 were excluded, that’s just -- forgive me — it seems sheer evil,” Tuley said.

A handful of states kicked in an additional $100 per person to enhance the payment. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, was the lone governor to decline the additional weekly benefit, according to an AP tally of the states.

FEMA’s announcement came as Democrats in the U.S. Senate scuttled a scaled-back GOP coronavirus aid plan, arguing that it was too stingy. That bill includes continuing a $300 weekly unemployment supplement until late December.

Paula Ridenti, 33, who lives in Waltham, Massachusetts, gets $202 a week in regular unemployment benefits since she stopped working at a grocery store in March when her children's schools closed, so the $600 supplement was a major help.

But she’s still waiting for her checks with the $300 boost. She should get that money eventually, but in the meantime she has been trying to figure out how to make do on an income that adds up to just about half her monthly $1,600 rent.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s unemployment safety net is looking increasingly shaky, with a $300-a-week federal jobless benefit from the Trump administration running out just weeks after it began and millions of laid-off Americans nearing an end to their state unemployment aid.Most Americans who exhaust their state’s unemployment benefits — typically after six months — will transition to an emergency federal program that provides an additional 13 weeks of aid. Yet they still face a looming deadline: By year’s end, nearly all the federal unemployment supports will expire. Unless Congress extends those programs, millions of jobless Americans could be cut off.Their struggles come against the backdrop of an ailing job market with 13 million unemployed people and the pace of layoffs still elevated six months after the viral pandemic flattened the economy. Applications for unemployment benefits first spiked in the week of March 21, when they reached 3.3 million, then more than doubled the next week to a record 6.9 million. That means that anyone who began receiving state unemployment benefits then will have to shift to an emergency federal program in the coming weeks.Separately, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is administering the $300-a-week federal benefit, said Thursday that the agency is providing money to cover six weeks, from the start of August through the end of this week, with no extension in sight.Nearly all states have applied for the $300-a-week benefit. But only 17 have managed to upgrade their computers systems to actually distribute the payments. As a result, while many states will likely issue checks for several weeks, the money will be retroactive to early August and will cover only through mid-September.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596920200204.png" alt="President Trump signed the executive order at his New Jersey golf club- photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the executive order at his New Jersey golf club- photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s $300-a-week jobless aid program was created by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f67dd310113355f4effe13dfcf4ac3b8?utm_source=piano&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=morningwire&amp;pnespid=huUw9P9VBF2N3gQRJP9rReQYsCZixU6HOEfit00g">an executive order last month</a>&nbsp;after a more generous version adopted by Congress expired and Trump and Congress failed to reach agreement on a new aid package.Through July, people out of work amid the coronavirus pandemic were receiving $600 a week in federal aid on top of their state unemployment benefits. For many recipients, the $600 federal check exceeded their state benefits and kept them afloat as the economy crumbled. But Republicans in Congress opposed the $600, arguing that it was so high as to discourage many of the unemployed from looking for a job.On Thursday, Senate Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3588901312dec9607b6cd22bc83029c2">blocked legislation</a>&nbsp;that would have extended the extra $300 payment and provided more money for schools. The Democrats favored restoring the full $600-a-week jobless benefit as well as more money for states, localities and small businesses.Also Thursday, the Labor Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf" target="_blank">reported&nbsp;</a>that applications for unemployment aid were unchanged last week at 884,000, and the number of laid-off workers who applied for aid under a separate program for the self-employed and contract workers increased. The figures indicated that companies are still cutting an unusually large number of jobs.Other recent evidence also suggests that the job market’s improvement may be weakening after solid gains through spring and most of summer. The number of people seeking jobless aid each week still far exceeds the number who did so in any week on record before this year.Hiring has slowed since June, and a rising number of laid-off workers now say they regard their job loss as permanent. The number of people who are continuing to receive state unemployment benefits rose last week, after five weeks of declines, to 13.4 million, evidence that employers aren’t hiring enough to offset layoffs.For those who have run out of state unemployment benefits, the next step will be to transition to a federal program known as Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC. It’s among the alphabet soup of additional supports that were established by the $2 trillion aid package that Congress approved this spring. The emergency program lasts for 13 weeks and is now paying benefits to 1.4 million people.One of them is Mike Walsh, who lives in Orlando, and is receiving PEUC because Florida’s state unemployment benefits last only 12 weeks. Along with North Carolina, that’s the fewest number of weeks provided by any state.Before the pandemic, Walsh, 53, worked as a transportation manager for conventions and gatherings in Orlando and around the country. If a trade group brought 40,000 of its members to Orlando for an annual convention, Walsh would coordinate the buses needed to shuttle them from dozens of hotels to the convention center and theme parks. He traveled to Washington, D.C. to manage 2,200 buses that arrived for President Barack Obama’s inaugural in 2009.Walsh doesn’t know when the convention business, where he has worked for 33 years, will return. Yet that might not be until next spring, likely long after his unemployment checks will have run out. His current $244 payment and savings are covering his expenses for now, but he doesn’t want to run through all his savings. If his money runs too low he’ll take any job.“I’ll be the one standing at the door, telling you, ‘Welcome to Walmart,’ ” he said.If the PEUC program expires, unemployed workers can then apply for what’s called Extended Benefits, which lasts from 13 to 20 weeks in most states, though only six weeks in Florida. Extended Benefits kick in when a state’s unemployment rate crosses a specific threshold. All states are currently paying these benefits, which is providing checks to 241,000 people.Then there is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, or PUA. It is a new source of support set up by the government’s relief package and is now providing aid to 14.6 million of the unemployed, more than the regular state programs are covering. Its coverage lasts for 39 weeks.But not necessarily for those who have been laid off more recently. On Dec. 31, the PEUC and PUA will expire. That will leave only state benefits and the Extended Benefits programs. With unemployment likely to remain high until then, many of the jobless could be left desperate.“There will still be a need for unemployment benefits then,” said Elizabeth Pancotti, a policy analyst at Employ America, an advocacy group.________WASHINGTON (AP) —The temporary $300-a-week unemployment insurance boost implemented by President Donald Trump will end, with no extension in sight.The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday in an email to The Associated Press that it has distributed $30 billion of the $44 billion it had set aside for the benefit. The agency said the fund was enough to cover six weeks of additional jobless aid starting Aug. 1, so unemployed workers won't receive any more after this week.FEMA emphasized that all eligible recipients will get the $300 boost to cover six weeks, a period that ended Sept. 5.Some states had technical obstacles that have delayed the payments, and the federal government is still in the process of approving other states' plans to distribute the money. Eligible workers who have not yet received the $300-a-week supplement or have received less than six weeks' worth, will receive payments for their full share, according to FEMA. After that, the fund will be dry.The program was designed to leave money to deal with natural disasters, such as the wildfires now sweeping the West, even after the unemployment boost was gone.Trump created the program after a more generous $600-a-week benefit adopted by Congress expired. The federal government initially did not have an estimate of how long the money would last, but six weeks is in line with what experts expected.The Trump administration and congressional Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on a new coronavirus relief package that would include an extension of the unemployment supplement.Recipients have said the extra jolt of money from the federal government kept them afloat as the economy cratered amid stay-at-home orders and business closings. On Thursday, the government reported that 13.4 million Americans continue to receive state unemployment benefits, although not all of them are receiving the additional $300.The extra weekly payments came with a significant string attached: It was available only to people receiving at least $100 a week in other unemployment insurance benefits. That cut out hundreds of thousands of low-wage earners, people who had jobs for short periods and gig workers.One of them is Philip Tuley of Clearlake Oaks, California.His unemployment benefits come to $65 a week, or $260 a month. It was so low because Tuley, 63, had previously taken a year off after spending two decades as an assistant educator at a school district in rural Northern California. He had been substituting recently and was about to return to his district full time when the pandemic struck.His unemployment benefit was so small because it was based on his average earnings over a two-year period. He said he’s been turned away from a local food bank because its shelves were bare.Tuley said Trump’s order is to blame for the predicament he and other low-wage workers are in."To have him choose that people who didn’t get $100 were excluded, that’s just -- forgive me — it seems sheer evil,” Tuley said.A handful of states kicked in an additional $100 per person to enhance the payment. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, was the lone governor to decline the additional weekly benefit, according to an AP tally of the states.FEMA’s announcement came as Democrats in the U.S. Senate scuttled a scaled-back GOP coronavirus aid plan, arguing that it was too stingy. That bill includes continuing a $300 weekly unemployment supplement until late December.Paula Ridenti, 33, who lives in Waltham, Massachusetts, gets $202 a week in regular unemployment benefits since she stopped working at a grocery store in March when her children's schools closed, so the $600 supplement was a major help.But she’s still waiting for her checks with the $300 boost. She should get that money eventually, but in the meantime she has been trying to figure out how to make do on an income that adds up to just about half her monthly $1,600 rent.

$300 in US jobless aid ends as more seek help

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police are investigating after a 41-year-old man was found dead inside an apartment in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday.

Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman Officer Dustin Dierenfeldt said officers were called to the apartment in southeastern Kansas City, Kansas, shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday after gunshots were fired.

Officers found the dead man inside with a gunshot wound to the head.

Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting. Police said a person of interest had been identified in the case and that person was cooperating with investigators.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600045436562.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Sunday photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Sunday photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police are investigating after a 41-year-old man was found dead inside an apartment in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday.Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman Officer Dustin Dierenfeldt said officers were called to the apartment in southeastern Kansas City, Kansas, shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday after gunshots were fired.Officers found the dead man inside with a gunshot wound to the head.Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting. Police said a person of interest had been identified in the case and that person was cooperating with investigators.

Police ID suspect in fatal Kan. apartment shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Wichita.&nbsp;

A 2005 Ducati motorcycle driven by a 43-year-old man was westbound on Kellogg Drive collided with a northbound 2004 Lincoln Navigator driven by a 17-year-old at the intersection of Main Street, according to officer Charley Davidson.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release his name on Sunday. The accident remains under investigation, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600078049038.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the Saturday night fatal crash-photo courtesy KWCH&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the Saturday night fatal crash-photo courtesy KWCH&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Wichita.&nbsp;A 2005 Ducati motorcycle driven by a 43-year-old man was westbound on Kellogg Drive collided with a northbound 2004 Lincoln Navigator driven by a 17-year-old at the intersection of Main Street, according to officer Charley Davidson.The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release his name on Sunday. The accident remains under investigation, according to Davidson.

43-year-old Kansas man dies after motorcycle accident

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating multiple individuals stemming from ongoing gambling investigations in Wichita.

Officers arrested 11 individuals over the past three weeks in response to multiple citizen complaints of illegal gambling at multiple locations throughout Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

WPD Vice Investigations Section began proactive enforcement operations at local locations that were allowing gambling on the premises. In addition to the arrests, police also seized firearms, cash, and gambling devices as part of these investigations.

According to Davidson, police arrested the following:

&nbsp;Arlando Trotter, 49,&nbsp; Wichita – multiple counts of commercial gambling and possession of gambling devices.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769553039.png" alt="Arlando Trotter photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Arlando Trotter photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating multiple individuals stemming from ongoing gambling investigations in Wichita.Officers arrested 11 individuals over the past three weeks in response to multiple citizen complaints of illegal gambling at multiple locations throughout Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.WPD Vice Investigations Section began proactive enforcement operations at local locations that were allowing gambling on the premises. In addition to the arrests, police also seized firearms, cash, and gambling devices as part of these investigations.According to Davidson, police arrested the following:&nbsp;Arlando Trotter, 49,&nbsp; Wichita – multiple counts of commercial gambling and possession of gambling devices.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769640599.png" alt="William Borboa, 55, Wichita – possession of a firearm by a felon, commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>William Borboa, 55, Wichita – possession of a firearm by a felon, commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769684901.png" alt="James Bradford, 42, Wichita – commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>James Bradford, 42, Wichita – commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769721920.png" alt="Valerie Henry, 54, Wichita – commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>Valerie Henry, 54, Wichita – commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769773942.png" alt="Theraesa Ponds, 44, Wichita – permit gambling, possession of marijuana." />
 <figcaption>Theraesa Ponds, 44, Wichita – permit gambling, possession of marijuana.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769805994.png" alt="Antoine White, 33, Wichita – commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>Antoine White, 33, Wichita – commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769846389.png" alt="Virgil Vaughn, 59, Wichita – commercial gambling, traffic charges." />
 <figcaption>Virgil Vaughn, 59, Wichita – commercial gambling, traffic charges.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769887295.png" alt="Volonda Trotter, 59, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>Volonda Trotter, 59, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769928399.png" alt="Kenneth Porter, 45, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling, possession of marijuana." />
 <figcaption>Kenneth Porter, 45, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling, possession of marijuana.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599769972577.png" alt="Lewis Iverson, 49, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>Lewis Iverson, 49, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599770011025.png" alt="Artis Washington, 61, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling." />
 <figcaption>Artis Washington, 61, Wichita – two counts of commercial gambling.</figcaption>
 </figure>The cases will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Police make multiple arrests in Kan. gambling bust

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ordered the Kansas Secretary of State’s office to allow state Sen. Julia Lynn to remove her name from November’s ballot so she can care for her ailing sister.

The judge in Shawnee County found Friday that the Olathe Republican had submitted all of the necessary documentation, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article245671060.html" target="_blank">reports.</a>

At issue was technical issues with the initial version of the doctor’s note she submitted attesting to the fact that her sister required continuous care. The note, which she turned in on the Sept. 1 deadline for withdrawing, had the doctor’s name along with a handwritten notation by a nurse in the doctor’s office.

The following day, Lynn was told she needed to obtain a doctor’s note with a handwritten signature. Lynn said in a petition that it was provided a day later but that the Kansas Secretary of State rejected it for arriving a day late.

In the initial denial, the office of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said that Lynn had turned in a note signed by a nurse instead of a doctor.

Schwab, was ordered to remove her name from any ballots and notify the Johnson County Republican Party Committee of the vacancy in the election.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1570125128613.png" alt="Senator Julia Lynn" />
 <figcaption>Senator Julia Lynn</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ordered the Kansas Secretary of State’s office to allow state Sen. Julia Lynn to remove her name from November’s ballot so she can care for her ailing sister.The judge in Shawnee County found Friday that the Olathe Republican had submitted all of the necessary documentation, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article245671060.html" target="_blank">reports.</a>At issue was technical issues with the initial version of the doctor’s note she submitted attesting to the fact that her sister required continuous care. The note, which she turned in on the Sept. 1 deadline for withdrawing, had the doctor’s name along with a handwritten notation by a nurse in the doctor’s office.The following day, Lynn was told she needed to obtain a doctor’s note with a handwritten signature. Lynn said in a petition that it was provided a day later but that the Kansas Secretary of State rejected it for arriving a day late.In the initial denial, the office of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said that Lynn had turned in a note signed by a nurse instead of a doctor.Schwab, was ordered to remove her name from any ballots and notify the Johnson County Republican Party Committee of the vacancy in the election.

Judge orders officials to remove Kan. Senator from ballot

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9p.m. on Saturday in Wichita.

Police&nbsp; responded to the injury accident at Hillside and Zimmerly involving a silver 2003 Dodge Neon and a black 2014 Chevy Suburban, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the 21-year-old driver of the Neon who had critical injuries.&nbsp; He was taken to an area hospital where he died, according to Davidson.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed a 43-year-old female was driving the Suburban along with three passengers and turned south on Hillside from Zimmerly.&nbsp; The 21-year-old in the Dodge was&nbsp; northbound on Hillside and struck the Suburban, causing his fatal injuries.&nbsp; The occupants of the Suburban were not injured.

Speed and alcohol involving the Neon are believed to a factor in the accident, according to Davidson.&nbsp; Police have not released names of the drivers.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9p.m. on Saturday in Wichita.Police&nbsp; responded to the injury accident at Hillside and Zimmerly involving a silver 2003 Dodge Neon and a black 2014 Chevy Suburban, according to officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers contacted the 21-year-old driver of the Neon who had critical injuries.&nbsp; He was taken to an area hospital where he died, according to Davidson.&nbsp;The investigation revealed a 43-year-old female was driving the Suburban along with three passengers and turned south on Hillside from Zimmerly.&nbsp; The 21-year-old in the Dodge was&nbsp; northbound on Hillside and struck the Suburban, causing his fatal injuries.&nbsp; The occupants of the Suburban were not injured.Speed and alcohol involving the Neon are believed to a factor in the accident, according to Davidson.&nbsp; Police have not released names of the drivers.

Police: Speed, alcohol a factor in fatal Kan. crash

By DANIEL C. VOCK, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/10/immigration-agency-cuts-of-800-kansas-city-jobs-expected-to-trigger-backlogs-delays-nationwide/'">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON
 — Members of Congress from the Kansas City region scored a victory last
 month when a federal immigration agency backed off plans that would 
have led to thousands of layoffs of government employees in the metro 
area.

But
 their relief was short lived, as the agency now intends to furlough 800
 of its local private contractors instead — a move expected to set off 
immigration backlogs and processing delays throughout the nation.

The
 Kansas City furloughs are the latest result of budget shortfalls at 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which earlier this summer <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/11/covid-19-stimulus-deal-us-immigration-services-plans-furloughs/3344178001/">threatened to furlough two-thirds of all its workers</a> across the country, raising the specter of a severely damaged immigration system and outraging lawmakers.

The
 news that Kansas City still could sustain an 800-job hit has produced 
fresh objections from bipartisan members of Congress from both Missouri 
and Kansas, who wrote the agency saying “the economic impact of such a 
reduction will be felt for years to come.”

But
 the job cuts also more broadly could further delay the ability of USCIS
 to process green cards, work authorizations and other 
immigration-related documents nationwide.&nbsp;

Those
 backlogs, immigration advocates say, could slow any economic recovery, 
if companies in fields like technology and health care cannot hire the 
workers they need quickly.

The
 800 people who are being furloughed work for a contractor at the 
National Benefit Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. USCIS uses the 
processing center to collect information, conduct background checks and 
prepare a variety of applications for local field offices.&nbsp;

But
 the agency says demand for immigration paperwork has dropped 
dramatically this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented many 
people from traveling and the Trump administration has raised more 
procedural obstacles to legal immigration.&nbsp;

That
 has caused a financial crisis for USCIS, because 96% of its revenue 
comes from application fees — not general tax revenues.&nbsp;

“USCIS
 has seen a 50% drop in receipts and incoming fees starting in March and
 estimates that application and petition receipts will stay well below 
plan through the end of (September). This dramatic drop in revenue has 
made it impossible for our agency to operate at full capacity,” a USCIS 
spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The
 immigration agency has been threatening to issue mass layoffs since 
late spring and, until recently, said it would have to send 13,000 of 
its 20,000 employees home at the end of August.&nbsp;

A week before the cutbacks were set to take place, though, USCIS deputy director for policy Joseph Edlow <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-averts-furlough-of-nearly-70-of-workforce">announced</a> the agency would avoid such widespread furloughs.

Members
 of Congress from the Kansas City area, particularly Sen. Roy Blunt, a 
Missouri Republican, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, 
worked across party lines to avoid the threatened furloughs, which would
 have hit the bi-state area hard. USCIS employs 3,100 people in the 
region.&nbsp;

The U.S. House unanimously passed <a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-s-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-uscis-furloughs-passes-house-of">legislation authored by Cleaver</a>
 in late August that would have helped the agency halt the furloughs by 
immediately increasing the agency’s revenue from so-called premium 
processing, or special faster services. The agency announced its own 
plan to fend off furloughs before the Senate could take up the measure.

To
 cancel the furloughs, though, Edlow said the agency had to make other 
cuts in the short term. To get things back on track for the long term, 
USCIS wants Congress to provide $1.2 billion in emergency funding.&nbsp;

“Averting
 this furlough comes at a severe operational cost that will increase 
backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we can avoid
 future furloughs. A return to normal operating procedures requires 
congressional intervention to sustain the agency through fiscal year 
2021,” which ends in September 2021, Edlow said.

One
 of the ways USCIS is saving money is by reducing the number of contract
 employees it uses in the Kansas City area. Before the pandemic, the 
agency used 1,300 workers from contracting business Pacific Architects 
and Engineers to help process applications. Now it will use just 500. 
The move is expected to save $9 million through the end of November.&nbsp;

The
 agency expects the cutbacks will increase backlogs and processing 
delays throughout the country. They also come at a time when the 
agency’s 86 field offices have scaled back their operations. The field 
offices were closed from March until July because of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Now
 that they’re open again, they are still conducting half as many 
interviews as they were before the March closures for health reasons.&nbsp;

The
 slowdown at the field offices, though, means that fewer cases need to 
be prepared for them. Cutting the size of the contract at the National 
Benefit Center will better meet the current workload, a USCIS 
spokesperson said.

Those moves have not gone over well with the Kansas City area’s congressional delegation.

“The
 jobs at the National Benefit Center support the livelihoods of many 
Kansas families and allow legal immigration applications to be processed
 without interruption,” said Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat. “I 
am very disappointed that the USCIS would end these jobs without working
 with Congress on possible solutions.”

Davids was one of several area lawmakers to criticize USCIS for the furlough of contract employees in <a href="https://www.blunt.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USCIS%20Contract%20Letter%20Final.pdf">a letter last week.</a>&nbsp;

Davids,
 Blunt and Cleaver were joined by Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of 
Missouri and Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas and Republican Rep. 
Sam Graves of Missouri in signing the letter.

They asked for a briefing from the agency, which USCIS held on Friday.

Diane
 Rish, the associate director of government relations for the American 
Immigration Lawyers Association, said the delays USCIS is predicting as a
 result of furloughing the private contractors will only make things 
worse for a system that has been experiencing longer and longer delays 
in processing key immigration documents.

The Trump administration has repeatedly slowed down those processes, she said.

One
 of the most significant changes came in the fall of 2017, just a few 
months after the president took office. That’s when USCIS started 
requiring in-person interviews for applicants seeking work permits, 
along with several other categories of potential immigrants.&nbsp;

Trump
 administration officials acknowledged at the time that the new steps 
would increase processing times, but said they were necessary to prevent
 fraud.

Now
 that USCIS says its capacity to handle in-person interviews is reduced,
 Rish said, the agency could simply rescind the interview requirement.

“The
 administration is saying they’re enforcing a legal immigration system,”
 she said, “(but) people in line who are trying to comply with the law 
are being thrown into a system that is now taking longer and longer, 
making it almost impossible to comply with the law.”

Rish also questioned USCIS’ claim that its budget troubles are related to the slowdown in cases brought on by the coronavirus.&nbsp;

The
 agency proposed raising several fees — some by as much as 80% — last 
November, citing budget concerns. Recently, USCIS finalized those fee 
hikes, which are now set to take effect in October.

Immigration
 lawyers did see a dip in cases when the coronavirus pandemic first 
struck the United States in March and April, but the number of cases has
 returned to “similar levels” to pre-pandemic levels since then, Rish 
said. USCIS caseloads usually climb right before fee hikes, so there 
will likely be even more applications filed in the coming weeks, she 
added.

USCIS officials said the higher fees would not be enough to cover the drop in revenue it faced this year.&nbsp;

In
 fact, USCIS has to periodically revise its fees to keep up with its 
expenses. The fee hikes scheduled to take effect next month will amount 
to a weighted average increase of 20%, compared to 21% increases the 
last time the agency changed its fees in December 2016.

“USCIS
 is required to examine incoming and outgoing expenditures and make 
adjustments based on that analysis. These overdue adjustments in fees 
are necessary to efficiently and fairly administer our nation’s lawful 
immigration system, secure the homeland and protect Americans,” Edlow, 
the agency’s deputy director, said in a statement.

With
 the rising number of applications and fewer people to process them, 
Rish predicted that the effects of the furloughs in the Kansas City area
 would be far-reaching.&nbsp;

“These
 are applications that are filed from all over the country,” she said, 
“so all states and all cities are going to feel the impacts of these 
furloughs.”

Daniel C. Vock is a correspondent for the States Newsroom Washington, D.C., bureau.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599756953779.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DANIEL C. VOCK, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/10/immigration-agency-cuts-of-800-kansas-city-jobs-expected-to-trigger-backlogs-delays-nationwide/'">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON
 — Members of Congress from the Kansas City region scored a victory last
 month when a federal immigration agency backed off plans that would 
have led to thousands of layoffs of government employees in the metro 
area.But
 their relief was short lived, as the agency now intends to furlough 800
 of its local private contractors instead — a move expected to set off 
immigration backlogs and processing delays throughout the nation.The
 Kansas City furloughs are the latest result of budget shortfalls at 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which earlier this summer <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/11/covid-19-stimulus-deal-us-immigration-services-plans-furloughs/3344178001/">threatened to furlough two-thirds of all its workers</a> across the country, raising the specter of a severely damaged immigration system and outraging lawmakers.The
 news that Kansas City still could sustain an 800-job hit has produced 
fresh objections from bipartisan members of Congress from both Missouri 
and Kansas, who wrote the agency saying “the economic impact of such a 
reduction will be felt for years to come.”But
 the job cuts also more broadly could further delay the ability of USCIS
 to process green cards, work authorizations and other 
immigration-related documents nationwide.&nbsp;Those
 backlogs, immigration advocates say, could slow any economic recovery, 
if companies in fields like technology and health care cannot hire the 
workers they need quickly.The
 800 people who are being furloughed work for a contractor at the 
National Benefit Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. USCIS uses the 
processing center to collect information, conduct background checks and 
prepare a variety of applications for local field offices.&nbsp;But
 the agency says demand for immigration paperwork has dropped 
dramatically this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented many 
people from traveling and the Trump administration has raised more 
procedural obstacles to legal immigration.&nbsp;That
 has caused a financial crisis for USCIS, because 96% of its revenue 
comes from application fees — not general tax revenues.&nbsp;“USCIS
 has seen a 50% drop in receipts and incoming fees starting in March and
 estimates that application and petition receipts will stay well below 
plan through the end of (September). This dramatic drop in revenue has 
made it impossible for our agency to operate at full capacity,” a USCIS 
spokesperson said in an emailed statement.<h2>Threats of mass layoffs</h2>The
 immigration agency has been threatening to issue mass layoffs since 
late spring and, until recently, said it would have to send 13,000 of 
its 20,000 employees home at the end of August.&nbsp;A week before the cutbacks were set to take place, though, USCIS deputy director for policy Joseph Edlow <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-averts-furlough-of-nearly-70-of-workforce">announced</a> the agency would avoid such widespread furloughs.Members
 of Congress from the Kansas City area, particularly Sen. Roy Blunt, a 
Missouri Republican, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, 
worked across party lines to avoid the threatened furloughs, which would
 have hit the bi-state area hard. USCIS employs 3,100 people in the 
region.&nbsp;The U.S. House unanimously passed <a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-s-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-uscis-furloughs-passes-house-of">legislation authored by Cleaver</a>
 in late August that would have helped the agency halt the furloughs by 
immediately increasing the agency’s revenue from so-called premium 
processing, or special faster services. The agency announced its own 
plan to fend off furloughs before the Senate could take up the measure.To
 cancel the furloughs, though, Edlow said the agency had to make other 
cuts in the short term. To get things back on track for the long term, 
USCIS wants Congress to provide $1.2 billion in emergency funding.&nbsp;“Averting
 this furlough comes at a severe operational cost that will increase 
backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we can avoid
 future furloughs. A return to normal operating procedures requires 
congressional intervention to sustain the agency through fiscal year 
2021,” which ends in September 2021, Edlow said.One
 of the ways USCIS is saving money is by reducing the number of contract
 employees it uses in the Kansas City area. Before the pandemic, the 
agency used 1,300 workers from contracting business Pacific Architects 
and Engineers to help process applications. Now it will use just 500. 
The move is expected to save $9 million through the end of November.&nbsp;The
 agency expects the cutbacks will increase backlogs and processing 
delays throughout the country. They also come at a time when the 
agency’s 86 field offices have scaled back their operations. The field 
offices were closed from March until July because of the pandemic.&nbsp;Now
 that they’re open again, they are still conducting half as many 
interviews as they were before the March closures for health reasons.&nbsp;The
 slowdown at the field offices, though, means that fewer cases need to 
be prepared for them. Cutting the size of the contract at the National 
Benefit Center will better meet the current workload, a USCIS 
spokesperson said.<h2>Kansas City delegation</h2>Those moves have not gone over well with the Kansas City area’s congressional delegation.“The
 jobs at the National Benefit Center support the livelihoods of many 
Kansas families and allow legal immigration applications to be processed
 without interruption,” said Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat. “I 
am very disappointed that the USCIS would end these jobs without working
 with Congress on possible solutions.”Davids was one of several area lawmakers to criticize USCIS for the furlough of contract employees in <a href="https://www.blunt.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USCIS%20Contract%20Letter%20Final.pdf">a letter last week.</a>&nbsp;Davids,
 Blunt and Cleaver were joined by Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of 
Missouri and Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas and Republican Rep. 
Sam Graves of Missouri in signing the letter.They asked for a briefing from the agency, which USCIS held on Friday.Diane
 Rish, the associate director of government relations for the American 
Immigration Lawyers Association, said the delays USCIS is predicting as a
 result of furloughing the private contractors will only make things 
worse for a system that has been experiencing longer and longer delays 
in processing key immigration documents.The Trump administration has repeatedly slowed down those processes, she said.One
 of the most significant changes came in the fall of 2017, just a few 
months after the president took office. That’s when USCIS started 
requiring in-person interviews for applicants seeking work permits, 
along with several other categories of potential immigrants.&nbsp;Trump
 administration officials acknowledged at the time that the new steps 
would increase processing times, but said they were necessary to prevent
 fraud.Now
 that USCIS says its capacity to handle in-person interviews is reduced,
 Rish said, the agency could simply rescind the interview requirement.“The
 administration is saying they’re enforcing a legal immigration system,”
 she said, “(but) people in line who are trying to comply with the law 
are being thrown into a system that is now taking longer and longer, 
making it almost impossible to comply with the law.”<h2>Blaming the pandemic</h2>Rish also questioned USCIS’ claim that its budget troubles are related to the slowdown in cases brought on by the coronavirus.&nbsp;The
 agency proposed raising several fees — some by as much as 80% — last 
November, citing budget concerns. Recently, USCIS finalized those fee 
hikes, which are now set to take effect in October.Immigration
 lawyers did see a dip in cases when the coronavirus pandemic first 
struck the United States in March and April, but the number of cases has
 returned to “similar levels” to pre-pandemic levels since then, Rish 
said. USCIS caseloads usually climb right before fee hikes, so there 
will likely be even more applications filed in the coming weeks, she 
added.USCIS officials said the higher fees would not be enough to cover the drop in revenue it faced this year.&nbsp;In
 fact, USCIS has to periodically revise its fees to keep up with its 
expenses. The fee hikes scheduled to take effect next month will amount 
to a weighted average increase of 20%, compared to 21% increases the 
last time the agency changed its fees in December 2016.“USCIS
 is required to examine incoming and outgoing expenditures and make 
adjustments based on that analysis. These overdue adjustments in fees 
are necessary to efficiently and fairly administer our nation’s lawful 
immigration system, secure the homeland and protect Americans,” Edlow, 
the agency’s deputy director, said in a statement.With
 the rising number of applications and fewer people to process them, 
Rish predicted that the effects of the furloughs in the Kansas City area
 would be far-reaching.&nbsp;“These
 are applications that are filed from all over the country,” she said, 
“so all states and all cities are going to feel the impacts of these 
furloughs.”Daniel C. Vock is a correspondent for the States Newsroom Washington, D.C., bureau.

Immigration agency's job cuts expected to trigger nat'l backlogs

KIOWA COUNTY, Kan. (AP) — A 14-year-old Kansas girl may have set a new deer hunting record in the state with a buck she killed this month.

Paslie Werth shot a 40-point whitetail buck while hunting on family property in Kiowa County with her father. The deer unofficially measured 282 6/8 inches, which would top the existing record of 280 4/8 inches set in 1987.

Before the record can become official, the rack of antlers on the deer Werth shot must dry for 60 days.

Werth said she had seen the deer before in trail camera photographs on the family-owned land, but it was impressive to see it in person.

“When he stood up 25 yards away, I was in shock of his massive rack,” the teen said.

But even if Werth’s deer sets a new record, she may not hold the title for long. A deer shot last fall in Chase County measured 321 3/8 inches, but that deer won’t be officially certified until 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600023706192.png" alt="Photo courtesy Paisley Werth" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Paisley Werth</figcaption>
 </figure>KIOWA COUNTY, Kan. (AP) — A 14-year-old Kansas girl may have set a new deer hunting record in the state with a buck she killed this month.Paslie Werth shot a 40-point whitetail buck while hunting on family property in Kiowa County with her father. The deer unofficially measured 282 6/8 inches, which would top the existing record of 280 4/8 inches set in 1987.Before the record can become official, the rack of antlers on the deer Werth shot must dry for 60 days.Werth said she had seen the deer before in trail camera photographs on the family-owned land, but it was impressive to see it in person.“When he stood up 25 yards away, I was in shock of his massive rack,” the teen said.But even if Werth’s deer sets a new record, she may not hold the title for long. A deer shot last fall in Chase County measured 321 3/8 inches, but that deer won’t be officially certified until 2022.

Deer shot by teen may set new Kansas record for size

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who fired shots at employees outside Arrowhead Stadium was arrested Saturday after a daylong standoff.

Kansas City police spokesman Capt. David Jackson said the man arrived at the Truman Sports Complex around 10:30 a.m. Saturday and fired several shots at employees but did not hit anyone. The man was arrested shortly after 6 p.m. on suspicion of several charges related to the shooting.

Jackson said the man pointed guns during the standoff and at some times he placed the guns in his waistband as he moved around a parking lot. Jackson said the man didn’t appear to have any connection to the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals.

During the standoff, some stadium employees took shelter inside the complex.

The Kansas City Royals’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was delayed about half an hour because of the standoff but was able to be played after the man was arrested.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect arrested after a standoff Saturday afternoon at Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City.

At about 6:30pm tactical officers developed a plan to use less lethal devices to secure the armed individual. The plan was successful and he was taken into custody without further incident. He was not injured. Two hand guns and a knife were recovered from the suspect.

The suspect, who police have not identified, is under arrest on requested criminal charges associated with the initial shots fired, according to Kansas City Police.

Normal stadium access and operations continued Saturday evening. The start of the game between the Royals and Pirates was delayed for approximately 30 minutes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599960494639.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff Saturday -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff Saturday -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who fired shots at employees outside Arrowhead Stadium was arrested Saturday after a daylong standoff.Kansas City police spokesman Capt. David Jackson said the man arrived at the Truman Sports Complex around 10:30 a.m. Saturday and fired several shots at employees but did not hit anyone. The man was arrested shortly after 6 p.m. on suspicion of several charges related to the shooting.Jackson said the man pointed guns during the standoff and at some times he placed the guns in his waistband as he moved around a parking lot. Jackson said the man didn’t appear to have any connection to the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals.During the standoff, some stadium employees took shelter inside the complex.The Kansas City Royals’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was delayed about half an hour because of the standoff but was able to be played after the man was arrested.--------KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect arrested after a standoff Saturday afternoon at Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City.At about 6:30pm tactical officers developed a plan to use less lethal devices to secure the armed individual. The plan was successful and he was taken into custody without further incident. He was not injured. Two hand guns and a knife were recovered from the suspect.The suspect, who police have not identified, is under arrest on requested criminal charges associated with the initial shots fired, according to Kansas City Police.Normal stadium access and operations continued Saturday evening. The start of the game between the Royals and Pirates was delayed for approximately 30 minutes.

Update: Gunman arrested after standoff outside Arrowhead stadium

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican said Saturday it was “necessary and urgent” to return to in-person Masses as soon as anti-coronavirus measures permit.

The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, Cardinal Robert Sarah, said in a letter to bishops conferences that virtual liturgies, while useful, were no replacement for the real thing. He said physical presence by the faithful in churches was “vital, indispensable, irreplaceable.”

While some Catholic priests claimed coronavirus lockdowns that shuttered churches infringed on religious liberties, Pope Francis has adhered to Italy’s strict lockdown.

He halted all public Masses at the Vatican, livestreamed his morning liturgies during the peak of Italy’s outbreak, and at one point even admonished priests who balked at the measures for their “adolescent resistance.”

The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had approved Sarah’s letter to bishops conferences, which makes clear that government authorities cannot dictate liturgical practices.

Francis had urged the Catholic faithful to obey anti-COVID measures, saying government authorities were responsible for public health. He was seen this week wearing a face mask for the first time, and has been using hand sanitizer.

In recent weeks Francis has resumed public gatherings and has celebrated a handful of public Masses before limited, socially distanced groups.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican said Saturday it was “necessary and urgent” to return to in-person Masses as soon as anti-coronavirus measures permit.The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, Cardinal Robert Sarah, said in a letter to bishops conferences that virtual liturgies, while useful, were no replacement for the real thing. He said physical presence by the faithful in churches was “vital, indispensable, irreplaceable.”While some Catholic priests claimed coronavirus lockdowns that shuttered churches infringed on religious liberties, Pope Francis has adhered to Italy’s strict lockdown.He halted all public Masses at the Vatican, livestreamed his morning liturgies during the peak of Italy’s outbreak, and at one point even admonished priests who balked at the measures for their “adolescent resistance.”The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had approved Sarah’s letter to bishops conferences, which makes clear that government authorities cannot dictate liturgical practices.Francis had urged the Catholic faithful to obey anti-COVID measures, saying government authorities were responsible for public health. He was seen this week wearing a face mask for the first time, and has been using hand sanitizer.In recent weeks Francis has resumed public gatherings and has celebrated a handful of public Masses before limited, socially distanced groups.___

Vatican urges return to in-person Mass as soon as possible

HUTCHINSON —Investigators are working to determine the cause of fire that destroyed a business in Hutchinson.

Just before 1:30a.m. Sunday, fire crews responded to 1310 East 4th Avenue in Hutchinson for a report of a fire coming thru the roof of a 60’ x 120’ commercial business, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.

The front part of building was used as a business for a window tint and graphics business. The remaining portion of the structure was used for storage. No one was in the building at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported, according to Beer.

Six engines and two ladder trucks were used to contain the fire and protect the adjacent properties. Power was disrupted in the area. Crews continued to work overnight containing hot spots.

HUTCHINSON —Investigators are working to determine the cause of fire that destroyed a business in Hutchinson.Just before 1:30a.m. Sunday, fire crews responded to 1310 East 4th Avenue in Hutchinson for a report of a fire coming thru the roof of a 60’ x 120’ commercial business, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.The front part of building was used as a business for a window tint and graphics business. The remaining portion of the structure was used for storage. No one was in the building at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported, according to Beer.Six engines and two ladder trucks were used to contain the fire and protect the adjacent properties. Power was disrupted in the area. Crews continued to work overnight containing hot spots.

Fire destroyed business in Hutchinson 

RENO COUNTY —One person died in an accident Friday night in Reno County.

Just before 9:30p.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to 10818 E Maple Grove for an injury ATV accident, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Department.

Kansas Wildlife and Parks arrived on scene first and advised the driver of the ATV identified as 53-year-old Kelli Owens of Mount Hope was unconscious and having trouble breathing.

Life saving measures were started and Haven EMS and fire took over when they arrived on scene. Owens died of her injuries while still on scene, according to the sheriff's department.

Investigators determined the four wheeler drove through a fence causing several injuries.

Owens was not wearing a helmet, according to the sheriff's department. The accident remains under investigation.&nbsp;

RENO COUNTY —One person died in an accident Friday night in Reno County.Just before 9:30p.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to 10818 E Maple Grove for an injury ATV accident, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Department.Kansas Wildlife and Parks arrived on scene first and advised the driver of the ATV identified as 53-year-old Kelli Owens of Mount Hope was unconscious and having trouble breathing.Life saving measures were started and Haven EMS and fire took over when they arrived on scene. Owens died of her injuries while still on scene, according to the sheriff's department.Investigators determined the four wheeler drove through a fence causing several injuries.Owens was not wearing a helmet, according to the sheriff's department. The accident remains under investigation.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Kan. woman dies from injuries in ATV crash

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man has been charged in federal court with drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms after law enforcement officers found firearms and large quantities of illegal drugs in his vehicle at the Argosy Casino, according to the United State's Attorney.

Dominick A. Campos, 40, was charged in a two-count complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The federal criminal complaint charges Campos with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, law enforcement identified Campos during an investigation into drug sales in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Campos was arrested at the Argosy Casino on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Following his arrest, Campos told officers he had been selling approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine each week since April 2020. When officers searched Campos’s car, they found a Zastava Serbian AK-47-style 7.62x39mm rifle, a Hi-Point .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, nearly 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 3.7 kilograms of marijuana, &nbsp;276 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 294 1100mg THC cartridges of LA Kush, 385 grams of suspected marijuana wax, 65 500mg THC edibles, 735 suspected acetaminophen/hydrocodone pills, 52 unknown pills, two notebooks that contained records of suspected drug transactions, drug paraphernalia, and $40,240.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599943377448.png" alt="Campos-photo MODC" />
 <figcaption>Campos-photo MODC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man has been charged in federal court with drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms after law enforcement officers found firearms and large quantities of illegal drugs in his vehicle at the Argosy Casino, according to the United State's Attorney.Dominick A. Campos, 40, was charged in a two-count complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City on Wednesday, Sept. 9.The federal criminal complaint charges Campos with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, law enforcement identified Campos during an investigation into drug sales in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Campos was arrested at the Argosy Casino on Tuesday, Sept. 8.Following his arrest, Campos told officers he had been selling approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine each week since April 2020. When officers searched Campos’s car, they found a Zastava Serbian AK-47-style 7.62x39mm rifle, a Hi-Point .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, nearly 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 3.7 kilograms of marijuana, &nbsp;276 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 294 1100mg THC cartridges of LA Kush, 385 grams of suspected marijuana wax, 65 500mg THC edibles, 735 suspected acetaminophen/hydrocodone pills, 52 unknown pills, two notebooks that contained records of suspected drug transactions, drug paraphernalia, and $40,240.The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty&nbsp;

Police find meth, high powered weapons in car at KC casino

MANHATTAN — A team of Kansas State University researchers is using a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and an additional grant from the state of Kansas — to study how to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nation's meat and poultry processing facilities.

The study&nbsp;"Translating SARS-CoV-2 Research Into Practical Solutions For The Meat And Poultry Processing Industry" seeks to&nbsp;protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19.

It involves researchers from K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Agriculture</a>.

As part of the study, $330,000 from the&nbsp;State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Transition Fund will be used for research in K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bri.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Biosecurity Research Institute</a>, or BRI, at Pat Roberts Hall. The BRI is a high-containment research facility.

A key objective of the project will be verifying the effectiveness of many of the approved cleaners and sanitizers for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 during plant processing and sanitation operations."

Nationally and internationally, many facilities that produce meat and poultry products have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks," said A. Sally Davis,&nbsp;an assistant professor of experimental pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and project director of the K-State grant.

"This has put a major strain on food production, limiting the amount of meat and poultry on grocery store shelves and disrupting food and feed supply chains across the globe. Research is necessary to understand why SARS-CoV-2 is such a problem in meat and poultry processing environments and how we can mitigate the problem." 

Davis said infections with SARS-CoV-2 are primarily thought to occur by exposure to infectious micro-droplets in the air and contaminated surfaces. "We are investigating the conditions within meat and poultry processing environments, such as low temperatures, relative humidity, increased air movement and workers being in close proximity to one another, to help identify areas and surfaces that are at high risk for contamination and spread of infectious SARS-CoV-2," Davis said.

The team will evaluate potential sources of exposure and determine the amount and the longevity of infectious virus that is present during and after meat processing and packaging activities. The team seeks to identify, develop, validate and deliver practical cleaning and disinfection strategies, plus develop mathematical models to predict and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in meat and poultry processing facilities.

Joining Davis on the research team are food safety faculty from K-State's Food Science Institute, including Randall Phebus, co-project director and professor of animal sciences and industry, and Jeanette Thurston, director of the Food Science Institute and co-investigator on the project. 

The project also will rely on input from an industry advisory board. "Our advisory board will be regularly updated on research progress," Thurston said. "We will communicate with them in real time to make sure we are on the right track with our research and recommendations, and ensure that our findings are rapidly deployed across the processing sector."

The industry advisory board is composed of senior-level directors of food safety and plant operations at Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing Company, Cargill Protein North America, JBS USA, Wayne Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Tyson Fresh Meats and Costco Wholesale.

Collaborating with the K-State team are co-project directors from the University of Georgia poultry science department, Harsha Thippareddi and Manpreet Singh, who will provide extensive poultry experience and industry connections and lead the grant's industry outreach efforts. Valentina Trinetta and Sara Gragg, food safety faculty from the Food Science Institute, are co-project directors. 

Co-investigator Anke Richter, a public health-focused operation research specialist at the Naval Postgraduate School, will lead the risk assessment driven by mathematical modeling. Co-investigators Yunjeong Kim and Erin Schirtzinger in the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine and the Food Science Institute's Daniel Vega round out the project team.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600099184107.jpeg" alt="Kansas State University researchers involved in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project to protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19. From left: Randy Phebus, Sally Davis, Valentina Trinetta, Sara Gragg and Daniel Vega. Not pictured are Jeanette Thurston, Erin Schirtzinger and Yunjeong Kim." />
 <figcaption>Kansas State University researchers involved in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project to protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19. From left: Randy Phebus, Sally Davis, Valentina Trinetta, Sara Gragg and Daniel Vega. Not pictured are Jeanette Thurston, Erin Schirtzinger and Yunjeong Kim.</figcaption>
 </figure>KSU News ServiceMANHATTAN — A team of Kansas State University researchers is using a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and an additional grant from the state of Kansas — to study how to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nation's meat and poultry processing facilities.The study&nbsp;"Translating SARS-CoV-2 Research Into Practical Solutions For The Meat And Poultry Processing Industry" seeks to&nbsp;protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19.It involves researchers from K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Agriculture</a>.As part of the study, $330,000 from the&nbsp;State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Transition Fund will be used for research in K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bri.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Biosecurity Research Institute</a>, or BRI, at Pat Roberts Hall. The BRI is a high-containment research facility.A key objective of the project will be verifying the effectiveness of many of the approved cleaners and sanitizers for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 during plant processing and sanitation operations."Nationally and internationally, many facilities that produce meat and poultry products have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks," said A. Sally Davis,&nbsp;an assistant professor of experimental pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and project director of the K-State grant."This has put a major strain on food production, limiting the amount of meat and poultry on grocery store shelves and disrupting food and feed supply chains across the globe. Research is necessary to understand why SARS-CoV-2 is such a problem in meat and poultry processing environments and how we can mitigate the problem." Davis said infections with SARS-CoV-2 are primarily thought to occur by exposure to infectious micro-droplets in the air and contaminated surfaces. "We are investigating the conditions within meat and poultry processing environments, such as low temperatures, relative humidity, increased air movement and workers being in close proximity to one another, to help identify areas and surfaces that are at high risk for contamination and spread of infectious SARS-CoV-2," Davis said.The team will evaluate potential sources of exposure and determine the amount and the longevity of infectious virus that is present during and after meat processing and packaging activities. The team seeks to identify, develop, validate and deliver practical cleaning and disinfection strategies, plus develop mathematical models to predict and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in meat and poultry processing facilities.Joining Davis on the research team are food safety faculty from K-State's Food Science Institute, including Randall Phebus, co-project director and professor of animal sciences and industry, and Jeanette Thurston, director of the Food Science Institute and co-investigator on the project. The project also will rely on input from an industry advisory board. "Our advisory board will be regularly updated on research progress," Thurston said. "We will communicate with them in real time to make sure we are on the right track with our research and recommendations, and ensure that our findings are rapidly deployed across the processing sector."The industry advisory board is composed of senior-level directors of food safety and plant operations at Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing Company, Cargill Protein North America, JBS USA, Wayne Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Tyson Fresh Meats and Costco Wholesale.Collaborating with the K-State team are co-project directors from the University of Georgia poultry science department, Harsha Thippareddi and Manpreet Singh, who will provide extensive poultry experience and industry connections and lead the grant's industry outreach efforts. Valentina Trinetta and Sara Gragg, food safety faculty from the Food Science Institute, are co-project directors. Co-investigator Anke Richter, a public health-focused operation research specialist at the Naval Postgraduate School, will lead the risk assessment driven by mathematical modeling. Co-investigators Yunjeong Kim and Erin Schirtzinger in the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine and the Food Science Institute's Daniel Vega round out the project team.&nbsp;

K-State research looks to mitigate COVID-19 in meat and poultry processing facilities

BARTON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Barton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Journey driven by Mackenzie B. Trarbach, was westbound on U.S. 56 four miles east of Great Bend.

The vehicle struck a bicycle driven by Harold D. Carson, 78, Ellinwood, who was in the westbound lane possibly making a u-turn.

Carson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Minnis Chapel.

BARTON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Barton County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Journey driven by Mackenzie B. Trarbach, was westbound on U.S. 56 four miles east of Great Bend.The vehicle struck a bicycle driven by Harold D. Carson, 78, Ellinwood, who was in the westbound lane possibly making a u-turn.Carson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Minnis Chapel.

Kansas man struck, killed riding bicycle 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday&nbsp; reversed convictions in an aggravated criminal sodomy case from Riley County.

<a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/115184_1.pdf?ext=.pdf">Ziad K. Khalil-Alsalaami</a>&nbsp;argued in his appeal that his two convictions must be set aside because his attorney was ineffective. The argument centered on his attorney’s stipulation that a confession 38-year-old Khalil-Alsalaami made during a police interrogation was voluntary, even though several factors weighed in favor of suppressing it.

The Supreme Court held that there was a reasonable probability that had it not been for the attorney’s stipulation to the confession Khalil-Alsalaami may have been acquitted. It remanded the case to district court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599855477309.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Khalil-Alsalaami-photo KDOCTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday&nbsp; reversed convictions in an aggravated criminal sodomy case from Riley County.<a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/115184_1.pdf?ext=.pdf">Ziad K. Khalil-Alsalaami</a>&nbsp;argued in his appeal that his two convictions must be set aside because his attorney was ineffective. The argument centered on his attorney’s stipulation that a confession 38-year-old Khalil-Alsalaami made during a police interrogation was voluntary, even though several factors weighed in favor of suppressing it.The Supreme Court held that there was a reasonable probability that had it not been for the attorney’s stipulation to the confession Khalil-Alsalaami may have been acquitted. It remanded the case to district court.

Court reverses conviction in Kan. sex crimes case

NEW YORK (AP) — Children who caught the coronavirus at day cares and a day camp spread it to their relatives, according to a new report that underscores that kids can bring the germ home and infect others.

Scientists already know children can spread the virus. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937e3.htm?s_cid=mm6937e3_w" target="_blank">the study published Friday</a>&nbsp;by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “definitively indicates — in a way that previous studies have struggled to do — the potential for transmission to family members,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher.

The findings don’t mean that schools and child-care programs need to close, but it does confirm that the virus can spread within those places and then be brought home by kids. So, masks, disinfection and social distancing are needed. And people who work in such facilities have to be careful and get tested if they think they may be infected, experts said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/2fcde558e46b4d304d27ed0957960d66">Earlier research</a>&nbsp;from the U.S., China and Europe has found that children are less likely than adults to be infected by the virus and are less likely to become seriously ill when they do get sick.

There also was data suggesting that young children don’t spread the virus very often, though older kids are believed to spread it as easily as adults.

In the new study, researchers from Utah and the CDC focused on three outbreaks in Salt Lake City child care facilities between April and July. Two were child-care programs for toddlers, and the other was a camp for older kids. The average age of kids at all three programs was about 7.

At two of the facilities, investigators were able to establish that an infected adult worker unknowingly introduced the virus.

NEW YORK (AP) — Children who caught the coronavirus at day cares and a day camp spread it to their relatives, according to a new report that underscores that kids can bring the germ home and infect others.Scientists already know children can spread the virus. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937e3.htm?s_cid=mm6937e3_w" target="_blank">the study published Friday</a>&nbsp;by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “definitively indicates — in a way that previous studies have struggled to do — the potential for transmission to family members,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher.The findings don’t mean that schools and child-care programs need to close, but it does confirm that the virus can spread within those places and then be brought home by kids. So, masks, disinfection and social distancing are needed. And people who work in such facilities have to be careful and get tested if they think they may be infected, experts said.<a href="https://apnews.com/2fcde558e46b4d304d27ed0957960d66">Earlier research</a>&nbsp;from the U.S., China and Europe has found that children are less likely than adults to be infected by the virus and are less likely to become seriously ill when they do get sick.There also was data suggesting that young children don’t spread the virus very often, though older kids are believed to spread it as easily as adults.In the new study, researchers from Utah and the CDC focused on three outbreaks in Salt Lake City child care facilities between April and July. Two were child-care programs for toddlers, and the other was a camp for older kids. The average age of kids at all three programs was about 7.At two of the facilities, investigators were able to establish that an infected adult worker unknowingly introduced the virus.The study concluded 12 children caught the coronavirus at the facilities, and spread it to at least 12 of the 46 parents or siblings that they came in contact at home. Three of the infected children had no symptoms, and one of them spread it to a parent who was later hospitalized because of COVID-19, the researchers said.That kind of rate of spread — about 25% — is on par with studies of spread in households that have included both children and adults. It also shows that children with no symptoms, or very mild symptoms, can spread the infection, just like adults can.Hanage cautioned that it’s not clear whether the findings at the three programs are broadly applicable. Also, the study didn’t involve genetic analysis of individual infections that might have given a clearer picture of how the disease spread.But many infected kids experience mild illnesses and testing of children has been very limited, so it’s likely that more than 25% of the outside contacts were infected, Hanage added.The epidemic could get worse and more complicated this fall, said Dr. David Kimberlin, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.“This should be another wake up call to all of us that we need to be diligent and all do our part,” he said.___