DOUGLAS COUNTY —Health authorities are working through more positive COVID-19 test results at another county jail in Kansas.

On August 20, officials in Douglas County were notified that a staff member at the County Correctional Facility received a positive test result for COVID-19. Inmates in minimum classification had contact with this staff member, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

As part of their pandemic plan, inmates in minimum housing were moved to an area of the facility that allowed for each of them to be quarantined individually.

Officers and deputies at the facility worked immediately to deep-clean and disinfect the entire exposed area and to wash all laundry in the facility.

COVID-19 tests provided by Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health were administered by the jail medical staff to all inmates in the minimum classification unit and staff members that were in contact with the individual who tested positive.

Over the weekend Douglas County officials learned that d a second staff member at the correctional facility received a positive test result for COVID-19. This individual’s exposure to the virus happened outside of the work environment. All inmates and staff at the facility not tested on Friday are now being tested. This second individual has not been at the facility since it was deep-cleaned and disinfected on Thursday.

All employees at the correctional facility are required to wear PPE at all times and were doing so when in contact with the two individuals who reported positive test results.

All inmates are provided PPE each week, more often if requested. Wearing the PPE was previously a choice inmates were allowed to make. Until further notice all inmates will now be required to wear PPE outside of their individual housing units. Most inmates who had contact with the staff reporting positive cases were wearing PPE.

While not all test results have been returned, officials have not yet received any additional positive results. We will continue to be transparent with the public should any results come back positive.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Health authorities are working through more positive COVID-19 test results at another county jail in Kansas.On August 20, officials in Douglas County were notified that a staff member at the County Correctional Facility received a positive test result for COVID-19. Inmates in minimum classification had contact with this staff member, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.As part of their pandemic plan, inmates in minimum housing were moved to an area of the facility that allowed for each of them to be quarantined individually.Officers and deputies at the facility worked immediately to deep-clean and disinfect the entire exposed area and to wash all laundry in the facility.COVID-19 tests provided by Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health were administered by the jail medical staff to all inmates in the minimum classification unit and staff members that were in contact with the individual who tested positive.Over the weekend Douglas County officials learned that d a second staff member at the correctional facility received a positive test result for COVID-19. This individual’s exposure to the virus happened outside of the work environment. All inmates and staff at the facility not tested on Friday are now being tested. This second individual has not been at the facility since it was deep-cleaned and disinfected on Thursday.All employees at the correctional facility are required to wear PPE at all times and were doing so when in contact with the two individuals who reported positive test results.All inmates are provided PPE each week, more often if requested. Wearing the PPE was previously a choice inmates were allowed to make. Until further notice all inmates will now be required to wear PPE outside of their individual housing units. Most inmates who had contact with the staff reporting positive cases were wearing PPE.While not all test results have been returned, officials have not yet received any additional positive results. We will continue to be transparent with the public should any results come back positive.

All inmates, staff getting virus tests at another Kan. jail

TOPEKA&nbsp;– A ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th&nbsp;Circuit has reaffirmed the authority of states to maintain sex offender registries to inform the public and rejected the claim that registries are a form of punishment, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Monday.

The appellate ruling last week reversed a 2017 lower court decision striking down the Colorado sex offender registry as unconstitutional. The case&nbsp;involved a claim brought by three individuals against the director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;

“While the offender registry laws in the states differ, the appellate court recognized the sovereign state interests in these laws and applied a legal test that reaffirms the states’ ability to notify Kansans of this important public safety information,” Schmidt said. “We will remain diligent to protect the Kansas law from legal attacks.”

Kansas joined Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming in a brief arguing to the federal appellate court that Colorado’s sex offender registry laws serve a compelling state interest by informing the public and were not punitive in nature or excessive requirements. A three-judge panel of the 10th&nbsp;Circuit agreed, reversing the lower court ruling and upholding the state law as constitutional.

Schmidt said the ruling is significant because any future challenge to the Kansas offender registry law would be governed by the precedent established by the 10th&nbsp;Circuit in the Colorado challenge.

The federal decision in Millard v. Camper is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/17/17-1333.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/17/17-1333.pdf</a>.

Schmidt’s office previously successfully defended the Kansas offender registration law in state court against challenges to its constitutionality.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– A ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th&nbsp;Circuit has reaffirmed the authority of states to maintain sex offender registries to inform the public and rejected the claim that registries are a form of punishment, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Monday.The appellate ruling last week reversed a 2017 lower court decision striking down the Colorado sex offender registry as unconstitutional. The case&nbsp;involved a claim brought by three individuals against the director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;“While the offender registry laws in the states differ, the appellate court recognized the sovereign state interests in these laws and applied a legal test that reaffirms the states’ ability to notify Kansans of this important public safety information,” Schmidt said. “We will remain diligent to protect the Kansas law from legal attacks.”Kansas joined Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming in a brief arguing to the federal appellate court that Colorado’s sex offender registry laws serve a compelling state interest by informing the public and were not punitive in nature or excessive requirements. A three-judge panel of the 10th&nbsp;Circuit agreed, reversing the lower court ruling and upholding the state law as constitutional.Schmidt said the ruling is significant because any future challenge to the Kansas offender registry law would be governed by the precedent established by the 10th&nbsp;Circuit in the Colorado challenge.The federal decision in Millard v. Camper is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/17/17-1333.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/17/17-1333.pdf</a>.Schmidt’s office previously successfully defended the Kansas offender registration law in state court against challenges to its constitutionality.

Court opinion affirms states’ authority to require sex offender registries

When the U.S. government extended pandemic hardship loans to thousands of religious institutions, Jim Bakker and Morningside USA, his ministry in Blue Eye, Missouri, were among the most high-profile recipients.

On April 28, the pastor received approval for an amount between $650,000 and $1.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds.

Weeks before, the Missouri attorney general filed a complaint, the New York attorney general sent a cease-and-desist warning and the Federal Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters alleging Bakker engaged in deceptive practices by touting purported health benefits of a silver product on The Jim Bakker Show — including a suggestion it could be used to treat or prevent COVID-19 infection, something the FDA says is false. In June, the Arkansas attorney general’s office followed with its own lawsuit.

Applicants seeking PPP loans were asked to certify they weren’t engaged in any activity that is illegal under federal, state or local law. The question is whether Bakker’s involvement in ongoing litigation and fraud allegations will rise to the level of a Small Business Administration review.

It’s likely, according to attorney Daniel Grooms, a former federal prosecutor who worked in the Justice Department for 15 years. “There is every reason to think that an entity, led by a person with the profile he has, given his history, and given the ongoing fraud issues surrounding the product he was selling, that those ongoing investigations and the ongoing attention ... it would be realistic to think that would lead to further investigation of his PPP loans,” Grooms said.

An SBA spokesperson refused to comment on any specific loan recipient. However, he provided an explanation about how the loan program was administered, saying the agency made no eligibility determinations during the approval process. After the fact, the SBA will review organizations and companies to identify those that may have submitted inaccurate self-certifications. The agency may seek repayment with the potential for civil or criminal penalties if a fraudulent application was submitted.

Bakker’s attorneys argue no laws were violated and provided this statement: “We strongly believe that Morningside’s offering of a legal product, sold by stores across the country, did not violate any laws; a fact underscored by the FDA taking no action against Morningside and issuing its letter closing the warning letter process on July 14th. The allegations made by the Missouri and Arkansas attorneys general concern only this product, and Morningside had suspended its offering of that product prior to the date of its PPP loan application.”

Bakker gained notoriety in the late 1980s and 1990s as a result of his trial and financial fraud conviction relating to Heritage USA, his TV studio, Christian-oriented theme park and water park attraction with shopping, hotels and condominiums in Fort Mill, South Carolina. After serving five years in federal prison, he shifted from preaching the prosperity gospel to an apocalyptic end-times message.

“We’ve gone through quite a year,” a tearful Bakker told his TV congregants this month.

On Feb. 12, before any governor had ordered a coronavirus lockdown, Bakker touted the health benefits of Silver Solution on his show. Bakker was joined by guest Sherrill Sellman, who practices naturopathic medicine and is not a licensed physician.

“This influenza that is now circling the globe, you’re saying that Silver Solution would be effective,” he said, holding a bottle throughout the TV segment.

Sellman explained that the silver product, previously promoted on the show and sold through its online store, had not been tested against COVID-19, “but it’s been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it in 12 hours — totally eliminate it. It kills it. Deactivates it,” she said.

What followed was a succession of cease-and-desist orders, warning letters, multiple state complaints and a request for a temporary restraining order to stop promoting or selling the product.

Bakker’s co-counsel is Jay Nixon, a former four-term Missouri attorney general and two-term Democratic governor. Nixon has framed this as a First Amendment and religious freedom fight.

Nixon says the pastor and his family use silver products in gel, lozenge and liquid form. He said Bakker complied immediately with orders to stop offering Silver Solution on his show and website.

“What we’re trying to do is to show that this is a targeting of a pastor for work said in his church as opposed to some sort of massive consumer issue that they’ve been after for a long time, which they have not,” Nixon said.

Bakker’s legal team filed a suit against the Arkansas state attorney’s office to prevent the pursuit of his congregation’s personal information as part of its investigation.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge pushes back on framing the lawsuit as a religious freedom infringement. She wrote in a statement to the AP, “I have a long track record of protecting the First Amendment and religious liberties for Arkansans and all Americans. What I will not tolerate are the illegal schemes used by Mr. Bakker that directly relate to harming Arkansas consumers financially or physically. By using his celebrity status to peddle fraudulent COVID-19 cures — stealing over $60,000 — Bakker has historically cloaked his illegal action in the name of religion, yet he continues to deceive Arkansans for his own glory and wealth.”

Bakker, wife Lori and daughter Maricela Bakker Woodall, who serves as president of Morningside Church Productions, appealed for donations during a show which aired April 20. They referenced financial difficulties, and Bakker singled out “enemies” who were behind their problems. “The only way that we can stay on is if you help me. It’s just sad to see what’s happening to America. We are living in the final days, and if we go the wrong direction, America is through,” he said. “Don’t let me have to file for bankruptcy.”

A week later, Arvest Bank, as the lender, released three PPP loans to Bakker’s church management, production and retreat entities.

Bakker declined to comment, but Woodall responded in an email via the attorneys: The PPP program, she said, “has been another blessing for our ministry, and for so many other ministries and small businesses.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588705366986.png" alt="Jim Baker courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jim Baker courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALLY STAPLETON, Associated PressWhen the U.S. government extended pandemic hardship loans to thousands of religious institutions, Jim Bakker and Morningside USA, his ministry in Blue Eye, Missouri, were among the most high-profile recipients.On April 28, the pastor received approval for an amount between $650,000 and $1.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds.Weeks before, the Missouri attorney general filed a complaint, the New York attorney general sent a cease-and-desist warning and the Federal Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters alleging Bakker engaged in deceptive practices by touting purported health benefits of a silver product on The Jim Bakker Show — including a suggestion it could be used to treat or prevent COVID-19 infection, something the FDA says is false. In June, the Arkansas attorney general’s office followed with its own lawsuit.Applicants seeking PPP loans were asked to certify they weren’t engaged in any activity that is illegal under federal, state or local law. The question is whether Bakker’s involvement in ongoing litigation and fraud allegations will rise to the level of a Small Business Administration review.It’s likely, according to attorney Daniel Grooms, a former federal prosecutor who worked in the Justice Department for 15 years. “There is every reason to think that an entity, led by a person with the profile he has, given his history, and given the ongoing fraud issues surrounding the product he was selling, that those ongoing investigations and the ongoing attention ... it would be realistic to think that would lead to further investigation of his PPP loans,” Grooms said.An SBA spokesperson refused to comment on any specific loan recipient. However, he provided an explanation about how the loan program was administered, saying the agency made no eligibility determinations during the approval process. After the fact, the SBA will review organizations and companies to identify those that may have submitted inaccurate self-certifications. The agency may seek repayment with the potential for civil or criminal penalties if a fraudulent application was submitted.Bakker’s attorneys argue no laws were violated and provided this statement: “We strongly believe that Morningside’s offering of a legal product, sold by stores across the country, did not violate any laws; a fact underscored by the FDA taking no action against Morningside and issuing its letter closing the warning letter process on July 14th. The allegations made by the Missouri and Arkansas attorneys general concern only this product, and Morningside had suspended its offering of that product prior to the date of its PPP loan application.”Bakker gained notoriety in the late 1980s and 1990s as a result of his trial and financial fraud conviction relating to Heritage USA, his TV studio, Christian-oriented theme park and water park attraction with shopping, hotels and condominiums in Fort Mill, South Carolina. After serving five years in federal prison, he shifted from preaching the prosperity gospel to an apocalyptic end-times message.“We’ve gone through quite a year,” a tearful Bakker told his TV congregants this month.On Feb. 12, before any governor had ordered a coronavirus lockdown, Bakker touted the health benefits of Silver Solution on his show. Bakker was joined by guest Sherrill Sellman, who practices naturopathic medicine and is not a licensed physician.“This influenza that is now circling the globe, you’re saying that Silver Solution would be effective,” he said, holding a bottle throughout the TV segment.Sellman explained that the silver product, previously promoted on the show and sold through its online store, had not been tested against COVID-19, “but it’s been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it in 12 hours — totally eliminate it. It kills it. Deactivates it,” she said.What followed was a succession of cease-and-desist orders, warning letters, multiple state complaints and a request for a temporary restraining order to stop promoting or selling the product.Bakker’s co-counsel is Jay Nixon, a former four-term Missouri attorney general and two-term Democratic governor. Nixon has framed this as a First Amendment and religious freedom fight.Nixon says the pastor and his family use silver products in gel, lozenge and liquid form. He said Bakker complied immediately with orders to stop offering Silver Solution on his show and website.“What we’re trying to do is to show that this is a targeting of a pastor for work said in his church as opposed to some sort of massive consumer issue that they’ve been after for a long time, which they have not,” Nixon said.Bakker’s legal team filed a suit against the Arkansas state attorney’s office to prevent the pursuit of his congregation’s personal information as part of its investigation.Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge pushes back on framing the lawsuit as a religious freedom infringement. She wrote in a statement to the AP, “I have a long track record of protecting the First Amendment and religious liberties for Arkansans and all Americans. What I will not tolerate are the illegal schemes used by Mr. Bakker that directly relate to harming Arkansas consumers financially or physically. By using his celebrity status to peddle fraudulent COVID-19 cures — stealing over $60,000 — Bakker has historically cloaked his illegal action in the name of religion, yet he continues to deceive Arkansans for his own glory and wealth.”Bakker, wife Lori and daughter Maricela Bakker Woodall, who serves as president of Morningside Church Productions, appealed for donations during a show which aired April 20. They referenced financial difficulties, and Bakker singled out “enemies” who were behind their problems. “The only way that we can stay on is if you help me. It’s just sad to see what’s happening to America. We are living in the final days, and if we go the wrong direction, America is through,” he said. “Don’t let me have to file for bankruptcy.”A week later, Arvest Bank, as the lender, released three PPP loans to Bakker’s church management, production and retreat entities.Bakker declined to comment, but Woodall responded in an email via the attorneys: The PPP program, she said, “has been another blessing for our ministry, and for so many other ministries and small businesses.”__

TV preacher gets PPP loans during legal fight on fraud claims

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon accused a fatal shooting during an altercation in a car made his first court appearance Friday.

Donovan Harrington, 25 is charged with second degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. August 17, police responded to a shooting call in the 600 block of South Armour Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located 27-year-old Miguel Tapia outside of a Nissan Pathfinder with gunshot wounds. Tapia was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation has revealed that Tapia was driving the Pathfinder with a suspect later identified as Harrington  and a 19-year-old and 20-year-old females as passengers. 

An argument ensued between Harrington and Tapia, and Harrington shot him. Harrington and the passengers ran from the vehicle and flagged down an unknowing driver to get a ride.

Harrington was arrested Tuesday during a vehicle stop in the 600 block of South Woodlawn, according to Wheeler.

This incident was not random, and it remains under investigation. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Harrington has previously been convicted on of theft, criminal threat, aggravated robbery, Flee or elude law enforcement with five or more moving violations and is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections. 

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim of as 27-year-old Miguel Tapia of Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

Just after 7:30 a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting call in the 600 block of South Armour Drive in Wichita. Upon arrival, officers located Tapia outside of a gray Nissan Pathfinder with gunshot wounds. Tapia was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation has revealed that Tapia was inside the Pathfinder when a disturbance broke out, and he was shot.

This incident was not random, and it remains under investigation, according to Wheeler

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597846708906.png" alt="Harrington-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Harrington-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon accused a fatal shooting during an altercation in a car made his first court appearance Friday.Donovan Harrington, 25 is charged with second degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.At approximately 7:30 a.m. August 17, police responded to a shooting call in the 600 block of South Armour Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located 27-year-old Miguel Tapia outside of a Nissan Pathfinder with gunshot wounds. Tapia was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.The investigation has revealed that Tapia was driving the Pathfinder with a suspect later identified as Harrington and a 19-year-old and 20-year-old females as passengers. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597783835983.png" alt="On Aug. 18, police asked the public for help to locate this teal F150 pickup. This is the vehicle that gave Harrington and the women a ride from the crime scene, according to Wheeler." />
 <figcaption>On Aug. 18, police asked the public for help to locate this teal F150 pickup. This is the vehicle that gave Harrington and the women a ride from the crime scene, according to Wheeler.</figcaption>
 </figure>An argument ensued between Harrington and Tapia, and Harrington shot him. Harrington and the passengers ran from the vehicle and flagged down an unknowing driver to get a ride.Harrington was arrested Tuesday during a vehicle stop in the 600 block of South Woodlawn, according to Wheeler.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597701535023.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation Monday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation Monday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>This incident was not random, and it remains under investigation. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.Harrington has previously been convicted on of theft, criminal threat, aggravated robbery, Flee or elude law enforcement with five or more moving violations and is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections. --------------SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim of as 27-year-old Miguel Tapia of Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.Just after 7:30 a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting call in the 600 block of South Armour Drive in Wichita. Upon arrival, officers located Tapia outside of a gray Nissan Pathfinder with gunshot wounds. Tapia was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.The investigation has revealed that Tapia was inside the Pathfinder when a disturbance broke out, and he was shot.This incident was not random, and it remains under investigation, according to Wheeler

Kan. felon charged in fatal shooting during dispute in a car

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. Monday to give an update regarding COVID-19 in Kansas.

Another weekend surge pushed the total number of virus cases for the pandemic past 38,000. The state Department of Health and Environment said Monday that Kansas saw another 1,545 confirmed and probable cases since Friday, an increase of 4.2%. The total since the pandemic began is 38,401.

The health department said all 105 of the state’s counties have had a confirmed or probable case. Rawlins and Wallace counties in western Kansas had remained the only two without a reported case for more than a month before the department said Monday that they had one case each.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. Monday to give an update regarding COVID-19 in Kansas.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F326252398816890%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>Another weekend surge pushed the total number of virus cases for the pandemic past 38,000. The state Department of Health and Environment said Monday that Kansas saw another 1,545 confirmed and probable cases since Friday, an increase of 4.2%. The total since the pandemic began is 38,401.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598288743755.png" alt="August 24, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>August 24, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The health department said all 105 of the state’s counties have had a confirmed or probable case. Rawlins and Wallace counties in western Kansas had remained the only two without a reported case for more than a month before the department said Monday that they had one case each.

🎥  Gov. Kelly: No more COVID-19-free counties in Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican candidate running against a Neosho County commissioner was killed after his motorcycle was hit by a car. 

The Kansas Highway Patrol says Christopher D. Ellis, 31, died from injuries sustained when 79-year-old&nbsp;Barbara A. Clingan of Parsons driving a Buick Regal crossed into the lane he was riding and struck him Sunday afternoon about three miles north of Erie. 

Ellis was driving a 2009 Harley Davidson north on highway U.S. 59 and the Buick was southbound.&nbsp;

 Ellis was running against incumbent David Orr for the Neosho County Commission seat. Clinghan&nbsp; was hospitalized with possible minor injuries.

NEOSHO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 2p.m. Sunday in Neosho County.

The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2013 Buick Regal driven by Barbara A. Clingan, 79, Parsons, was southbound on U.S. 59 three miles north of Erie.

The Buick crossed over into the northbound lane. The passenger side of the car struck a northbound 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Christopher D. Ellis, 31, Erie.

EMS transported Ellis to Miami County Medical Center where he died.&nbsp; EMS transported Clingan to Latette Health. Ellis was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican candidate running against a Neosho County commissioner was killed after his motorcycle was hit by a car. The Kansas Highway Patrol says Christopher D. Ellis, 31, died from injuries sustained when 79-year-old&nbsp;Barbara A. Clingan of Parsons driving a Buick Regal crossed into the lane he was riding and struck him Sunday afternoon about three miles north of Erie. Ellis was driving a 2009 Harley Davidson north on highway U.S. 59 and the Buick was southbound.&nbsp; Ellis was running against incumbent David Orr for the Neosho County Commission seat. Clinghan&nbsp; was hospitalized with possible minor injuries.--------------NEOSHO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 2p.m. Sunday in Neosho County.The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2013 Buick Regal driven by Barbara A. Clingan, 79, Parsons, was southbound on U.S. 59 three miles north of Erie.The Buick crossed over into the northbound lane. The passenger side of the car struck a northbound 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Christopher D. Ellis, 31, Erie.EMS transported Ellis to Miami County Medical Center where he died.&nbsp; EMS transported Clingan to Latette Health. Ellis was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Update: Kan. man who died in crash was commission candidate

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Classes started Monday at the University of Kansas under a cloud of concern about how and when the coronavirus pandemic would disrupt the fall semester.

Even before classes began, the university found 89 people who moved back to campus early had tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 87 were students and most were from fraternities and sororities.

On Sunday night, Chancellor Douglas Girod issued a cease and desist order and 14-day public health bans against two fraternities after complaints about partying and social media posts showing large groups outside the groups’ homes without masks or social distancing.

Girod said in a university email that Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi fraternities hosted activities that violated both Douglas County and university policies.

University spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said Monday that pending a formal hearing, any events including programs or activities at the fraternities that are not approved by the University of Kansas Sorority and Fraternity Life office and/or headquarters must “cease immediately.” She said continuing any unsanctioned events would result in disciplinary action.

“We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk,” Girod said. “That disrespects staff, faculty, and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county.”

Some students said they were skeptical the school’s testing efforts and protocols encouraging social distancing and mask wearing would be effective, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article245133915.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

“I’m going to get COVID. It’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when,” said senior Andrew Wagner. “Because everyone’s coming back and because of the age group, not everyone’s doing the things that are recommended.”

Barcomb-Peterson said the university’s policies have created a safer campus environment.

“It’s up to each and every member of the university community to commit to the personal responsibility pledge we have put into place,” Barcomb-Peterson said.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansan.com/opinion/editorial-ku-must-reverse-course-now-on-campus-reopening/article_ea18f05c-c6d9-11ea-a950-e707b12c73bb.html" target="_blank">editorial</a>&nbsp;last week in the university’s student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, urged the school to change its plans and halt on-campus classes, citing universities such as North Carolina and Notre Dame, which quickly reverted to online classes after COVID-19 cases spiked as students returned.

The editorial said the university had not been transparent about its plans for handling an outbreak. It also accused the university of placing most of the responsibility for stopping a virus spread on students.

“It appears that the science used to build the Protect KU plan is economics,” the editorial says. “Students have become the revenue KU needs to stay open. Health and education, meanwhile, are subverted for the sake of a few weeks of cash.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598296505268.png" alt="Students wearing masks in classes outside on Monday Photo courtesy Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor" />
 <figcaption>Students wearing masks in classes outside on Monday Photo courtesy Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Classes started Monday at the University of Kansas under a cloud of concern about how and when the coronavirus pandemic would disrupt the fall semester.Even before classes began, the university found 89 people who moved back to campus early had tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 87 were students and most were from fraternities and sororities.On Sunday night, Chancellor Douglas Girod issued a cease and desist order and 14-day public health bans against two fraternities after complaints about partying and social media posts showing large groups outside the groups’ homes without masks or social distancing.Girod said in a university email that Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi fraternities hosted activities that violated both Douglas County and university policies.University spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said Monday that pending a formal hearing, any events including programs or activities at the fraternities that are not approved by the University of Kansas Sorority and Fraternity Life office and/or headquarters must “cease immediately.” She said continuing any unsanctioned events would result in disciplinary action.“We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk,” Girod said. “That disrespects staff, faculty, and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county.”Some students said they were skeptical the school’s testing efforts and protocols encouraging social distancing and mask wearing would be effective, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article245133915.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.“I’m going to get COVID. It’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when,” said senior Andrew Wagner. “Because everyone’s coming back and because of the age group, not everyone’s doing the things that are recommended.”Barcomb-Peterson said the university’s policies have created a safer campus environment.“It’s up to each and every member of the university community to commit to the personal responsibility pledge we have put into place,” Barcomb-Peterson said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598296689217.png" alt="Students socially distant during a class Monday photo courtesy Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor " />
 <figcaption>Students socially distant during a class Monday photo courtesy Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor </figcaption>
 </figure>An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansan.com/opinion/editorial-ku-must-reverse-course-now-on-campus-reopening/article_ea18f05c-c6d9-11ea-a950-e707b12c73bb.html" target="_blank">editorial</a>&nbsp;last week in the university’s student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, urged the school to change its plans and halt on-campus classes, citing universities such as North Carolina and Notre Dame, which quickly reverted to online classes after COVID-19 cases spiked as students returned.The editorial said the university had not been transparent about its plans for handling an outbreak. It also accused the university of placing most of the responsibility for stopping a virus spread on students.“It appears that the science used to build the Protect KU plan is economics,” the editorial says. “Students have become the revenue KU needs to stay open. Health and education, meanwhile, are subverted for the sake of a few weeks of cash.”

KU begins classes amid COVID-19 concerns

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Crews have pulled the body of a 5-year-old girl from a western Missouri lake, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.

The girl was with other people on a raft Saturday in Longview Lake at Lee’s Summit, 20 miles south of Kansas City, when she went into the water and did not resurface, officials said. She was not wearing a life jacket when she went into the water, authorities said.

Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said the group was in an area of the lake where swimming is not allowed.

The patrol said crews found the girl’s body around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Her name had not been released by Monday morning. The patrol continues to investigate.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Crews have pulled the body of a 5-year-old girl from a western Missouri lake, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.The girl was with other people on a raft Saturday in Longview Lake at Lee’s Summit, 20 miles south of Kansas City, when she went into the water and did not resurface, officials said. She was not wearing a life jacket when she went into the water, authorities said.Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said the group was in an area of the lake where swimming is not allowed.The patrol said crews found the girl’s body around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Her name had not been released by Monday morning. The patrol continues to investigate.

Crews pull body of 5-year-old girl from lake

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Republican Party formally nominated&nbsp;<a href="https://fox8.com/tag/donald-trump/">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;for a second term in the White House Monday, one of the first acts of a GOP convention that has been dramatically scaled down to prevent the spread of the&nbsp;<a href="https://fox8.com/tag/coronavirus/">coronavirus.</a>

Trump has sought to minimize the toll of the pandemic, but its impact was evident as proceedings began in Charlotte. Instead of the thousands of people who were expected to converge on this city for a week-long extravaganza, just 336 delegates participated in a roll-call vote from a Charlotte Convention Center ballroom.

Earlier, the convention renominated Vice President Mike Pence, and he thanked the delegates in person.

“The choice in this election has never been clearer and the stakes have never been higher,” Pence said. “We’re going to make American great again. Again.”

Party Chair Ronna McDaniel said as she began the proceedings: “We are obviously disappointed we could not hold this event in the same way we had originally planned,” But she thanked the city for allowing the convention to move forward in its truncated form.

Many of the usual trappings of a convention were present, including signs designating each state and gift bags with Republican swag. But chairs on the ballroom floor were arranged with lots of space between them and convention organizers told participants to wear masks, though adherence to the rule was uneven. Still, the fact an in-person meeting was held at all marked a sharp contrast with Democrats.

Last week, the Democrats created a well-received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1d43f47dfe9dd79a42caca46eb34d374">roll call via video montage</a>&nbsp;with diverse officials and others from states across the country. The Republicans, overwhelmingly white, spoke from the ballroom floor.

After Trump’s renomination, much of the action is shifting to Washington, where Republicans will spend the week trying to convince the American people that the president deserves a second term.

The GOP convention is a crucial moment for Trump, who is trailing in national and battleground state polls and under intense pressure to turn the race around. Just 23% think the country is heading in the right direction, while 75% think it’s on the wrong path, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a464966595a326a6b2e4c6f9888f7d8c">new poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Aides want the convention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9f91ff4110ce2d0b98cc11cde0ac99f">recast the story</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s presidency and present the election as a choice between his vision for America’s future and the one presented by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/de0107b02c0373105b86d5c4d3d9a302">Democratic nominee Joe Biden.</a>

McDaniel worked to highlight that contrast, accusing Biden of embracing a radical left agenda and pushing back on Democrats’ efforts to demonstrate Biden’s empathy and kindness.

“The truth is there’s only one person who has empathized with everyday Americans and actually been fighting for them every single day over the past four years, and that’s President Donald J. Trump,” she said.

For both sides, it’s an unconventional convention year.

The parties’ election year gatherings are typically massive events, drawing thousands of delegates, party leaders, donors, journalists and political junkies for a week of speeches, parties and after-parties that inject hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy and deliver a multiday infomercial for the nominee.

The coronavirus has changed all that, as much as Trump has resisted. Just 336 delegates — six from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories — have been invited to cast proxy votes on behalf of the more than 2,500 regular delegates. And stringent safety measures have been put in place guided by a 42-page health and safety plan developed by a hired doctor.

Attendees were asked to practice enhanced social distancing and get tested prior to travel, fill out a pre-travel health questionnaire and participate in a daily symptom tracker. They’re also being tested onsite, have been asked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a87da6ce7831863152f0d904b9d1abe1">maintain a 6-foot (1.8-meter) distance from other people and to use face coverings</a>&nbsp;as a condition of participation — though many attendees were seen openly flouting those rules Monday morning. The RNC has also committed to contacting every participant five, 14 and 21 days after the event to check on potential symptoms.

The event had been met with protests, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bc7c82ad0ec2617e725a64940227df05">police have made several arrests.</a>

Besides the formal nomination roll call, the party is also spending time in Charlotte approving a handful of new resolutions, including one that backs Columbus Day as a federal holiday and one that labels the Southern Poverty Law Center, which catalogs the country’s hate groups, as a “radical organization.” Another bemoans “cancel culture,” warning that it “has grown into erasing of history, encouraging lawlessness, muting citizens and violating free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and speech.”

But they will not vote on a new 2020 platform, after a unanimous vote to forgo one this year.

“RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda,” a resolution instead reads, in part.

After the Charlotte kickoff, most of the GOP convention will take place in Washington, D.C., at and around the White House, as well as by video. It will feature remarks from well-known Trump supporters, including members of the Trump family, outspoken conservatives and everyday Americans who campaign officials say have been helped by Trump’s policies.

First lady Melania Trump will speak Tuesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8c96b29080281470cf6a5ae06a62b81d">the Rose Garden</a>, Pence will appear from Fort McHenry in Baltimore on Wednesday and Trump will deliver his marquee acceptance speech on Thursday from the South Lawn before a crowd of supporters — blurring the lines between governing and campaigning yet again.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598287958784.png" alt="Kansas GOP Chair Mike Kuckelman announced all 39 of the state's votes for Trump during Monday's roll call -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas GOP Chair Mike Kuckelman announced all 39 of the state's votes for Trump during Monday's roll call -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Republican Party formally nominated&nbsp;<a href="https://fox8.com/tag/donald-trump/">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;for a second term in the White House Monday, one of the first acts of a GOP convention that has been dramatically scaled down to prevent the spread of the&nbsp;<a href="https://fox8.com/tag/coronavirus/">coronavirus.</a>Trump has sought to minimize the toll of the pandemic, but its impact was evident as proceedings began in Charlotte. Instead of the thousands of people who were expected to converge on this city for a week-long extravaganza, just 336 delegates participated in a roll-call vote from a Charlotte Convention Center ballroom.Earlier, the convention renominated Vice President Mike Pence, and he thanked the delegates in person.“The choice in this election has never been clearer and the stakes have never been higher,” Pence said. “We’re going to make American great again. Again.”Party Chair Ronna McDaniel said as she began the proceedings: “We are obviously disappointed we could not hold this event in the same way we had originally planned,” But she thanked the city for allowing the convention to move forward in its truncated form.Many of the usual trappings of a convention were present, including signs designating each state and gift bags with Republican swag. But chairs on the ballroom floor were arranged with lots of space between them and convention organizers told participants to wear masks, though adherence to the rule was uneven. Still, the fact an in-person meeting was held at all marked a sharp contrast with Democrats.Last week, the Democrats created a well-received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1d43f47dfe9dd79a42caca46eb34d374">roll call via video montage</a>&nbsp;with diverse officials and others from states across the country. The Republicans, overwhelmingly white, spoke from the ballroom floor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598294633053.png" alt="President Trump waves to supporters Monday morning in North Carolina during the opening day of the RNC -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump waves to supporters Monday morning in North Carolina during the opening day of the RNC -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>After Trump’s renomination, much of the action is shifting to Washington, where Republicans will spend the week trying to convince the American people that the president deserves a second term.The GOP convention is a crucial moment for Trump, who is trailing in national and battleground state polls and under intense pressure to turn the race around. Just 23% think the country is heading in the right direction, while 75% think it’s on the wrong path, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a464966595a326a6b2e4c6f9888f7d8c">new poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Aides want the convention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9f91ff4110ce2d0b98cc11cde0ac99f">recast the story</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s presidency and present the election as a choice between his vision for America’s future and the one presented by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/de0107b02c0373105b86d5c4d3d9a302">Democratic nominee Joe Biden.</a>McDaniel worked to highlight that contrast, accusing Biden of embracing a radical left agenda and pushing back on Democrats’ efforts to demonstrate Biden’s empathy and kindness.“The truth is there’s only one person who has empathized with everyday Americans and actually been fighting for them every single day over the past four years, and that’s President Donald J. Trump,” she said.For both sides, it’s an unconventional convention year.The parties’ election year gatherings are typically massive events, drawing thousands of delegates, party leaders, donors, journalists and political junkies for a week of speeches, parties and after-parties that inject hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy and deliver a multiday infomercial for the nominee.The coronavirus has changed all that, as much as Trump has resisted. Just 336 delegates — six from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories — have been invited to cast proxy votes on behalf of the more than 2,500 regular delegates. And stringent safety measures have been put in place guided by a 42-page health and safety plan developed by a hired doctor.Attendees were asked to practice enhanced social distancing and get tested prior to travel, fill out a pre-travel health questionnaire and participate in a daily symptom tracker. They’re also being tested onsite, have been asked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a87da6ce7831863152f0d904b9d1abe1">maintain a 6-foot (1.8-meter) distance from other people and to use face coverings</a>&nbsp;as a condition of participation — though many attendees were seen openly flouting those rules Monday morning. The RNC has also committed to contacting every participant five, 14 and 21 days after the event to check on potential symptoms.The event had been met with protests, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bc7c82ad0ec2617e725a64940227df05">police have made several arrests.</a>Besides the formal nomination roll call, the party is also spending time in Charlotte approving a handful of new resolutions, including one that backs Columbus Day as a federal holiday and one that labels the Southern Poverty Law Center, which catalogs the country’s hate groups, as a “radical organization.” Another bemoans “cancel culture,” warning that it “has grown into erasing of history, encouraging lawlessness, muting citizens and violating free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and speech.”But they will not vote on a new 2020 platform, after a unanimous vote to forgo one this year.“RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda,” a resolution instead reads, in part.After the Charlotte kickoff, most of the GOP convention will take place in Washington, D.C., at and around the White House, as well as by video. It will feature remarks from well-known Trump supporters, including members of the Trump family, outspoken conservatives and everyday Americans who campaign officials say have been helped by Trump’s policies.First lady Melania Trump will speak Tuesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8c96b29080281470cf6a5ae06a62b81d">the Rose Garden</a>, Pence will appear from Fort McHenry in Baltimore on Wednesday and Trump will deliver his marquee acceptance speech on Thursday from the South Lawn before a crowd of supporters — blurring the lines between governing and campaigning yet again.

Kan. GOP Chair casts votes; Trump nominated to face Biden

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,545 to a total of 38,401 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 426, an increase of 7.

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,545 to a total of 38,401 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 426, an increase of 7.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598288743755.png" alt="August 24, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>August 24, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SALINE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a weekend altercation in Salina.

Just after 3 a.m. Saturday a witness told police Joseph Campbell, 35, Salina, drove a 2001 Ford Excursion into the parking lot of The Blind Pig, 2051 Market Place in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Campbell then exchanged words with a 38-year-old woman and then allegedly slapped the woman in the face and drove off, striking her with the vehicle, according Forrester.

The woman who allegedly was struck could not remember what happened and suffered a swollen right eye, severe road rash on her right knee, severe bruising and lacerations below her left knee, and a swollen left ankle, according to Forrester. EMS transported her to Salina Regional Health Center.

Officers located the Excursion in front of Campbell’s residence in the 1300 block of Gypsum in Salina. They also found a baggie of marijuana on the front seat of the vehicle, according to Forrester.

Officers arrested Campbell was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated battery, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598189050255.jpeg" alt="Campbell photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Campbell photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a weekend altercation in Salina.Just after 3 a.m. Saturday a witness told police Joseph Campbell, 35, Salina, drove a 2001 Ford Excursion into the parking lot of The Blind Pig, 2051 Market Place in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Campbell then exchanged words with a 38-year-old woman and then allegedly slapped the woman in the face and drove off, striking her with the vehicle, according Forrester.The woman who allegedly was struck could not remember what happened and suffered a swollen right eye, severe road rash on her right knee, severe bruising and lacerations below her left knee, and a swollen left ankle, according to Forrester. EMS transported her to Salina Regional Health Center.Officers located the Excursion in front of Campbell’s residence in the 1300 block of Gypsum in Salina. They also found a baggie of marijuana on the front seat of the vehicle, according to Forrester.Officers arrested Campbell was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated battery, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Police: Kan. man arrested after he allegedly hit woman with SUV

By CHERYL MILLER <a href="https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2020/08-aug/Perspectives_Azpuru_3.php">Wichita State University News</a>

The first talk in Wichita State’s Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences “Perspectives on the Pandemics: Part II” series will feature Dinorah Azpuru. A professor of political science, Azpuru researches issues related to democracy. Her talk, “Democracy in the world in times of COVID-19,” will explore how the pandemic has affected democratic societies globally.

Beyond the effects on health, the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic has had huge effects on the economy,
                        but also on politics in countries around the world. More specifically, in certain
                        countries, it has impacted democracy in a negative way. This presentation will examine
                        the overall impact of the pandemic on&nbsp;countries with democratic regimes, with emphasis
                        on the democratic backsliding that has occurred in some of them. It will also look
                        at the tightening of authoritarianism and human rights violations in countries that
                        were already authoritarian when the pandemic began. Quantitative indicators that show
                        the impact of the pandemic will be also discussed.
                     

Azpuru, the presenter, teaches courses on comparative politics. She researches issues
                        related to democracy in general, with emphasis on Latin America. Through the analysis
                        of survey data, she studies public opinion about democracy, democratic values and
                        behavior, such as voting behavior.&nbsp;Azpuru earned her bachelor’s degree in political
                        science and master’s degree in teaching and&nbsp;research from University Rafael Landivar,
                        Guatemala. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from
                        the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania.
                     

Her lecture will be delivered via Zoom at 4 p.m. Wednesday. For more information
 about the “Perspectives on the Pandemics: Part II” series and how to join by Zoom, visit: <a href="https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_college_of_liberal_arts_and_sciences/whatshappening/News/PerspPan2.php">https://www.wichita.edu/Pan2</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598277275842.jpeg" alt="Dr. Dinorah Azpuru" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Dinorah Azpuru</figcaption>
 </figure>By CHERYL MILLER <a href="https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2020/08-aug/Perspectives_Azpuru_3.php">Wichita State University News</a>The first talk in Wichita State’s Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences “Perspectives on the Pandemics: Part II” series will feature Dinorah Azpuru. A professor of political science, Azpuru researches issues related to democracy. Her talk, “Democracy in the world in times of COVID-19,” will explore how the pandemic has affected democratic societies globally.Beyond the effects on health, the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic has had huge effects on the economy,
 but also on politics in countries around the world. More specifically, in certain
 countries, it has impacted democracy in a negative way. This presentation will examine
 the overall impact of the pandemic on&nbsp;countries with democratic regimes, with emphasis
 on the democratic backsliding that has occurred in some of them. It will also look
 at the tightening of authoritarianism and human rights violations in countries that
 were already authoritarian when the pandemic began. Quantitative indicators that show
 the impact of the pandemic will be also discussed.
 Azpuru, the presenter, teaches courses on comparative politics. She researches issues
 related to democracy in general, with emphasis on Latin America. Through the analysis
 of survey data, she studies public opinion about democracy, democratic values and
 behavior, such as voting behavior.&nbsp;Azpuru earned her bachelor’s degree in political
 science and master’s degree in teaching and&nbsp;research from University Rafael Landivar,
 Guatemala. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from
 the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania.
 Her lecture will be delivered via Zoom at 4 p.m. Wednesday. For more information
 about the “Perspectives on the Pandemics: Part II” series and how to join by Zoom, visit: <a href="https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_college_of_liberal_arts_and_sciences/whatshappening/News/PerspPan2.php">https://www.wichita.edu/Pan2</a>

Professor will examine COVID-19's effect on democracy

LAWRENCE —Following reported large gatherings where students are not social distancing or wearing masks revealed on social media, the University of Kansas Chancellor issued a statement<a href="https://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2020/aug23"> calling for a renewed</a> commitment and responsibility as classes begin Monday.

"As we embark on a fall semester unlike any in history, I write to reiterate a straightforward reality: We cannot do this unless each of you adheres to our health and safety guidelines. And we cannot do this unless each of you commits to thinking not only about yourself, but about&nbsp;the entire university community, in every decision you make. The safety of our university, and our ability to be on campus, depends on it, Chancellor Doug Girod wrote.

"We are aware of social activities over the weekend hosted by KU students in violation of county regulations and university policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We have issued cease-and-desist orders to two fraternities – Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi – and issued 14-day public health bans for the members of these organization.

We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk; that disrespects staff, faculty and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county.

I know most of our students are doing the right thing. But we will not accept noncompliance with health and safety protocols on-campus related to masks, physical distancing and large gatherings. Any student who does not follow university regulations may face student conduct action, including the removal of privileges to come to campus and possible suspension. Additionally, disregard for state or county guidelines could lead to civil or criminal penalties. These disciplinary actions and penalties can follow you throughout your academic career and impact your applications for graduate school or your first job after graduation.

Students, let us again be perfectly frank about our situation. We need each of you to rise to this occasion. We expect it of you, and we cannot settle for less.

Though this pandemic is impossibly complicated, the expectations of you are not. Each of you has the power to help by following some simple guidance: Wear your mask at all times. Maintain six feet of distance from others. Wash your hands. Stay home if you’re not feeling well. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or potentially been exposed, follow the instructions given to you by health officials. These actions don’t take great effort. They are only a matter of will.

Further, if you see someone who isn’t doing these things —&nbsp;step up. Talk to that person and ask them to take appropriate action. Help them realize their decisions impact the whole community. Help them understand that we all need to look out for each other.

The bottom line is, each of us has a special responsibility to the community this year. I am counting on you to embrace this responsibility. And you can count on me and every member of our faculty and staff to continue making your health and safety our top priority."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598272164373.png" alt="Image from the video on facebook of the weekend incident at a KU fraternity" />
 <figcaption>Image from the video on facebook of the weekend incident at a KU fraternity</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE —Following reported large gatherings where students are not social distancing or wearing masks revealed on social media, the University of Kansas Chancellor issued a statement<a href="https://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2020/aug23"> calling for a renewed</a> commitment and responsibility as classes begin Monday."As we embark on a fall semester unlike any in history, I write to reiterate a straightforward reality: We cannot do this unless each of you adheres to our health and safety guidelines. And we cannot do this unless each of you commits to thinking not only about yourself, but about&nbsp;the entire university community, in every decision you make. The safety of our university, and our ability to be on campus, depends on it, Chancellor Doug Girod wrote."We are aware of social activities over the weekend hosted by KU students in violation of county regulations and university policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have issued cease-and-desist orders to two fraternities – Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi – and issued 14-day public health bans for the members of these organization.We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk; that disrespects staff, faculty and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/kE6sN6ipkW">pic.twitter.com/kE6sN6ipkW</a>&mdash; Kansas Kappa Sigma (@KU_Kappa_Sigma) <a href="https://twitter.com/KU_Kappa_Sigma/status/1297710428278194176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>I know most of our students are doing the right thing. But we will not accept noncompliance with health and safety protocols on-campus related to masks, physical distancing and large gatherings. Any student who does not follow university regulations may face student conduct action, including the removal of privileges to come to campus and possible suspension. Additionally, disregard for state or county guidelines could lead to civil or criminal penalties. These disciplinary actions and penalties can follow you throughout your academic career and impact your applications for graduate school or your first job after graduation.Students, let us again be perfectly frank about our situation. We need each of you to rise to this occasion. We expect it of you, and we cannot settle for less.Though this pandemic is impossibly complicated, the expectations of you are not. Each of you has the power to help by following some simple guidance: Wear your mask at all times. Maintain six feet of distance from others. Wash your hands. Stay home if you’re not feeling well. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or potentially been exposed, follow the instructions given to you by health officials. These actions don’t take great effort. They are only a matter of will.Further, if you see someone who isn’t doing these things —&nbsp;step up. Talk to that person and ask them to take appropriate action. Help them realize their decisions impact the whole community. Help them understand that we all need to look out for each other.The bottom line is, each of us has a special responsibility to the community this year. I am counting on you to embrace this responsibility. And you can count on me and every member of our faculty and staff to continue making your health and safety our top priority."

KU issues public health bans after controversial video 

BY JOCELYN GECKER AND&nbsp;MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays, of up to several months, in getting this year’s most crucial back-to-school supplies: the laptops and other equipment needed for online learning, an Associated Press investigation has found.

The world’s three biggest computer companies, Lenovo, HP and Dell, have told school districts they have a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops, in some cases exacerbated by Trump administration sanctions on Chinese suppliers, according to interviews with over two dozen U.S. schools, districts in 15 states, suppliers, computer companies and industry analysts.

As the school year begins virtually in many places because of the coronavirus, educators nationwide worry that computer shortfalls will compound the inequities — and the headaches for students, families and teachers.

The Wichita Kansas school district has only received two-thirds of the computers and tablets it has ordered to equip students for distance learning because of worldwide supply chain problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Until the supply and demand problem clears up, USD 259 is prioritizing its distribution of the 8,000 devices it has received out of an order of 24,000.

“This is going to be like asking an artist to paint a picture without paint. You can’t have a kid do distance learning without a computer,” said Tom Baumgarten, superintendent of the Morongo County School District in California’s Mojave Desert, where all 8,000 students qualify for free lunch and most need computers for distance learning.

Baumgarten was set to order 5,000 Lenovo Chromebooks in July when his vendor called him off, saying Lenovos were getting “stopped by a government agency because of a component from China that’s not allowed here,” he said. He switched to HPs and was told they would arrive in time for the first day of school Aug. 26. The delivery date then changed to September, then October. The district has about 4,000 old laptops that can serve roughly half of students, but what about the rest, Baumgarten asks rhetorically. “I’m very concerned that I’m not going to be able to get everyone a computer.”

Chromebooks and other low-cost PCs are the computers of choice for most budget-strapped schools. The delays started in the spring and intensified because of high demand and disruptions of supply chains, the same reasons that toilet paper and other pandemic necessities flew off shelves a few months ago. Then came the Trump administration's July 20 announcement targeting Chinese companies it says were implicated in forced labor or other human rights abuses against a Muslim minority population, the Uighurs. The Commerce Department imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies, including the manufacturer of multiple models of Lenovo laptops, which the company says will add several weeks to existing delays, according to a letter Lenovo sent to customers.

School districts are pleading with the Trump administration to resolve the issue, saying that distance learning without laptops will amount to no learning for some of the country’s most vulnerable students.

“It's a tough one because I’m not condoning child slave labor for computers, but can we not hurt more children in the process?” said Matt Bartenhagen, IT director for Williston Public Schools in North Dakota, a district of 4,600 waiting on an order for 2,000 Lenovo Chromebooks. “They were supposed to be delivered in July. Then August. Then late August. The current shipping estimate is ‘hopefully" by the end of the year.

The Denver Public Schools district, the largest in Colorado, is waiting for 12,500 Lenovo Chromebooks ordered in April and May. The district has scrambled to find machines, settled for whatever is available and is handing out everything they get to students that need them. Still, when school starts Wednesday, they will be about 3,000 devices short, says Lara Hussain, an IT director for the district.

“We were promised devices. Our students need devices. And as a result of not receiving devices we will have students starting the school year unable to participate. It’s unconscionable,” said Hussain.

Lenovo had informed Denver and other districts over the spring and summer of supply chain delays. In late July, Lenovo sent a letter to customers to say the “trade controls” announced by the Commerce Department would cause another slowdown of at least several weeks.

“This delay is a new development and is unrelated to supply constraints previously communicated,” Matthew Zielinski, president of Lenovo North America said in the letter, which referred to the sanctions on a Chinese supplier, Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. Ltd. The letter listed 23 Lenovo models for education and corporate customers made by Bitland.

“Effective immediately, we are no longer manufacturing these devices at Bitland,” the letter said, adding that Lenovo is working on “a transition plan” to shift production to other sites.

A Lenovo official told California’s Department of Education the company has a backlog of more than 3 million Chromebooks, said Daniel Thigpen, the department’s spokesman.

Lenovo declined to respond to repeated questions from AP seeking confirmation of the backlog and details on the numbers of devices delayed, replying only to deny a question on whether computers were seized by U.S. customs, as some schools were told by suppliers.

U.S. government agencies said they have no knowledge of the computers' whereabouts and also deny any were seized.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not have any record of detained laptops matching this description,” the agency said in a statement.

The Department of Commerce said it added Hefei Bitland to its so-called Entity List, which restricts the export and in-country transfer of items by sanctioned companies. “It does not apply to the importation of Chromebooks from China,” the department said in a statement, adding, however, “we should all agree that American school children should not be using computers from China that were produced from forced labor.”

There are no nationwide tallies on the numbers of laptops and other devices that schools are waiting for. The Associated Press found that some of America’s biggest school districts are among those with outstanding orders of Chromebooks, other laptops or hotspots for internet connections, including Los Angeles, Clark County, Nevada, Wake County, North Carolina, Houston, Palm Beach and Hawaii, the nation’s only statewide school district.

A recent poll of California's 1,100 districts showed schools across the state are waiting on at least 300,000 backordered computers, said Mary Nicely, a senior policy advisor to the state superintendent. A survey in Alabama found that about 20 schools were waiting on 33,000 computers, said Ryan Hollingsworth, director of the School Superintendents of Alabama.

Smaller districts in Montana, New York, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, New Hampshire and elsewhere are also waiting on laptop orders, with delivery dates that have become moving targets.

Some of the school districts, like Los Angeles, say the outstanding orders are for replacement devices and all students who need a computer will have one. Many districts are asking parents with the means to buy devices for their children but realize that's not an option for many families.

It's also not an easy task with supplies at commercial stores running out. Best Buy's website shows 36 models of new and used Chromebooks priced under $500, the low-cost models that are popular for students. As of this week, 33 of those models were sold out.

The backlog and delays have become so widespread that some students will be forced to start the semester without an essential piece of technology for remote learning, said Michael Flood, senior vice president of Kajeet, which works with more than 2,000 school districts in the U.S. and Canada.

Some school administrators told Flood their laptop and Chromebook suppliers hope deliveries will only be delayed by a month or so. But others are being told their machines may not be available until early 2021.

The shortage stems from exceptionally high demand at a time when the personal computer industry is still recovering from pandemic-driven precautions that shut down the factories of major PC suppliers in China during February and March. Just as the supply chain started ramping back up, new orders poured in from huge companies and government agencies with large numbers of employees working from home — in addition to school districts scrambling to secure machines, said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner Inc., which closely follows the PC industry.

“The bottom line is everyone seems to want a laptop or Chromebook right now and there just isn’t enough supply of it,” Kitagawa said. “It’s a case of very bad timing.”

To make matters worse, many school districts underestimated their needs during spring ordering, assuming that traditional in-person classes would resume in the fall.

In California, most schools were planning for some form of in-person classes in the fall but only learned in July that wouldn’t be possible, when Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively ordered the majority of schools to start with remote learning. It created a mad dash for computers.

Tom Quiambao, director of technology for the Tracy Unified School District in Northern California, said he and his vendor contacted HP directly to ask why his July order for 10,000 HP laptops would take three months to be delivered. He was told, “HP is short 1.7 million units of laptops” because of production shortages in a variety of components made in China, including processors, touchscreens, motherboards and others, Quiambao said.

An HP spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny that number, saying only “we are continuing to leverage our global supply chain to meet the changing needs of our customer.”

Dell offered a similarly brief response to detailed questions about a backlog.

“We can’t comment on demand and supply specifically,” Dell said in an emailed statement, adding the company was seeing increased orders due to virtual learning and trying “to fulfill orders as efficiently as possible.”

With so many customers ordering laptops at the same time, PC manufacturers may be put in the uncomfortable position of deciding who gets them first, said Linn Huang, an analyst for the research firm International Data Corp. Those kind of pecking orders threaten to push small school districts to the back of the laptop line.

That’s part of the problem for the central Texas district of Abilene, where they are waiting for 6,000 Dell Chromebooks, ordered in May and June but not expected until November.

“In Texas, there are over 1,200 school districts and they’re all ordering,” said district spokesman Lance Fleming. Schools are trying to get disinfecting supplies, too. “Who would have ever thought that computers and Clorox Wipes would be on the same level of need in our country.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598006130627.png" alt="The school board in Wichita voted Thursday night to have 6-12 grade students begin the school year with online learning- photo courtesy USD 259." />
 <figcaption>The school board in Wichita voted Thursday night to have 6-12 grade students begin the school year with online learning- photo courtesy USD 259.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JOCELYN GECKER AND&nbsp;MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated PressKANSAS CITY (AP) — Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays, of up to several months, in getting this year’s most crucial back-to-school supplies: the laptops and other equipment needed for online learning, an Associated Press investigation has found.The world’s three biggest computer companies, Lenovo, HP and Dell, have told school districts they have a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops, in some cases exacerbated by Trump administration sanctions on Chinese suppliers, according to interviews with over two dozen U.S. schools, districts in 15 states, suppliers, computer companies and industry analysts.As the school year begins virtually in many places because of the coronavirus, educators nationwide worry that computer shortfalls will compound the inequities — and the headaches for students, families and teachers.The Wichita Kansas school district has only received two-thirds of the computers and tablets it has ordered to equip students for distance learning because of worldwide supply chain problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Until the supply and demand problem clears up, USD 259 is prioritizing its distribution of the 8,000 devices it has received out of an order of 24,000.“This is going to be like asking an artist to paint a picture without paint. You can’t have a kid do distance learning without a computer,” said Tom Baumgarten, superintendent of the Morongo County School District in California’s Mojave Desert, where all 8,000 students qualify for free lunch and most need computers for distance learning.Baumgarten was set to order 5,000 Lenovo Chromebooks in July when his vendor called him off, saying Lenovos were getting “stopped by a government agency because of a component from China that’s not allowed here,” he said. He switched to HPs and was told they would arrive in time for the first day of school Aug. 26. The delivery date then changed to September, then October. The district has about 4,000 old laptops that can serve roughly half of students, but what about the rest, Baumgarten asks rhetorically. “I’m very concerned that I’m not going to be able to get everyone a computer.”Chromebooks and other low-cost PCs are the computers of choice for most budget-strapped schools. The delays started in the spring and intensified because of high demand and disruptions of supply chains, the same reasons that toilet paper and other pandemic necessities flew off shelves a few months ago. Then came the Trump administration's July 20 announcement targeting Chinese companies it says were implicated in forced labor or other human rights abuses against a Muslim minority population, the Uighurs. The Commerce Department imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies, including the manufacturer of multiple models of Lenovo laptops, which the company says will add several weeks to existing delays, according to a letter Lenovo sent to customers.School districts are pleading with the Trump administration to resolve the issue, saying that distance learning without laptops will amount to no learning for some of the country’s most vulnerable students.“It's a tough one because I’m not condoning child slave labor for computers, but can we not hurt more children in the process?” said Matt Bartenhagen, IT director for Williston Public Schools in North Dakota, a district of 4,600 waiting on an order for 2,000 Lenovo Chromebooks. “They were supposed to be delivered in July. Then August. Then late August. The current shipping estimate is ‘hopefully" by the end of the year.The Denver Public Schools district, the largest in Colorado, is waiting for 12,500 Lenovo Chromebooks ordered in April and May. The district has scrambled to find machines, settled for whatever is available and is handing out everything they get to students that need them. Still, when school starts Wednesday, they will be about 3,000 devices short, says Lara Hussain, an IT director for the district.“We were promised devices. Our students need devices. And as a result of not receiving devices we will have students starting the school year unable to participate. It’s unconscionable,” said Hussain.Lenovo had informed Denver and other districts over the spring and summer of supply chain delays. In late July, Lenovo sent a letter to customers to say the “trade controls” announced by the Commerce Department would cause another slowdown of at least several weeks.“This delay is a new development and is unrelated to supply constraints previously communicated,” Matthew Zielinski, president of Lenovo North America said in the letter, which referred to the sanctions on a Chinese supplier, Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. Ltd. The letter listed 23 Lenovo models for education and corporate customers made by Bitland.“Effective immediately, we are no longer manufacturing these devices at Bitland,” the letter said, adding that Lenovo is working on “a transition plan” to shift production to other sites.A Lenovo official told California’s Department of Education the company has a backlog of more than 3 million Chromebooks, said Daniel Thigpen, the department’s spokesman.Lenovo declined to respond to repeated questions from AP seeking confirmation of the backlog and details on the numbers of devices delayed, replying only to deny a question on whether computers were seized by U.S. customs, as some schools were told by suppliers.U.S. government agencies said they have no knowledge of the computers' whereabouts and also deny any were seized.“U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not have any record of detained laptops matching this description,” the agency said in a statement.The Department of Commerce said it added Hefei Bitland to its so-called Entity List, which restricts the export and in-country transfer of items by sanctioned companies. “It does not apply to the importation of Chromebooks from China,” the department said in a statement, adding, however, “we should all agree that American school children should not be using computers from China that were produced from forced labor.”There are no nationwide tallies on the numbers of laptops and other devices that schools are waiting for. The Associated Press found that some of America’s biggest school districts are among those with outstanding orders of Chromebooks, other laptops or hotspots for internet connections, including Los Angeles, Clark County, Nevada, Wake County, North Carolina, Houston, Palm Beach and Hawaii, the nation’s only statewide school district.A recent poll of California's 1,100 districts showed schools across the state are waiting on at least 300,000 backordered computers, said Mary Nicely, a senior policy advisor to the state superintendent. A survey in Alabama found that about 20 schools were waiting on 33,000 computers, said Ryan Hollingsworth, director of the School Superintendents of Alabama.Smaller districts in Montana, New York, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, New Hampshire and elsewhere are also waiting on laptop orders, with delivery dates that have become moving targets.Some of the school districts, like Los Angeles, say the outstanding orders are for replacement devices and all students who need a computer will have one. Many districts are asking parents with the means to buy devices for their children but realize that's not an option for many families.It's also not an easy task with supplies at commercial stores running out. Best Buy's website shows 36 models of new and used Chromebooks priced under $500, the low-cost models that are popular for students. As of this week, 33 of those models were sold out.The backlog and delays have become so widespread that some students will be forced to start the semester without an essential piece of technology for remote learning, said Michael Flood, senior vice president of Kajeet, which works with more than 2,000 school districts in the U.S. and Canada.Some school administrators told Flood their laptop and Chromebook suppliers hope deliveries will only be delayed by a month or so. But others are being told their machines may not be available until early 2021.The shortage stems from exceptionally high demand at a time when the personal computer industry is still recovering from pandemic-driven precautions that shut down the factories of major PC suppliers in China during February and March. Just as the supply chain started ramping back up, new orders poured in from huge companies and government agencies with large numbers of employees working from home — in addition to school districts scrambling to secure machines, said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner Inc., which closely follows the PC industry.“The bottom line is everyone seems to want a laptop or Chromebook right now and there just isn’t enough supply of it,” Kitagawa said. “It’s a case of very bad timing.”To make matters worse, many school districts underestimated their needs during spring ordering, assuming that traditional in-person classes would resume in the fall.In California, most schools were planning for some form of in-person classes in the fall but only learned in July that wouldn’t be possible, when Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively ordered the majority of schools to start with remote learning. It created a mad dash for computers.Tom Quiambao, director of technology for the Tracy Unified School District in Northern California, said he and his vendor contacted HP directly to ask why his July order for 10,000 HP laptops would take three months to be delivered. He was told, “HP is short 1.7 million units of laptops” because of production shortages in a variety of components made in China, including processors, touchscreens, motherboards and others, Quiambao said.An HP spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny that number, saying only “we are continuing to leverage our global supply chain to meet the changing needs of our customer.”Dell offered a similarly brief response to detailed questions about a backlog.“We can’t comment on demand and supply specifically,” Dell said in an emailed statement, adding the company was seeing increased orders due to virtual learning and trying “to fulfill orders as efficiently as possible.”With so many customers ordering laptops at the same time, PC manufacturers may be put in the uncomfortable position of deciding who gets them first, said Linn Huang, an analyst for the research firm International Data Corp. Those kind of pecking orders threaten to push small school districts to the back of the laptop line.That’s part of the problem for the central Texas district of Abilene, where they are waiting for 6,000 Dell Chromebooks, ordered in May and June but not expected until November.“In Texas, there are over 1,200 school districts and they’re all ordering,” said district spokesman Lance Fleming. Schools are trying to get disinfecting supplies, too. “Who would have ever thought that computers and Clorox Wipes would be on the same level of need in our country.”___

US faces back-to-school laptop shortage

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.

The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.

On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.

The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.

In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”

But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.

Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.

The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval. The accusations of an FDA slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on what he refers to as the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”

“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”

During Sunday’s 18-minute press conference, Trump said he thought there had been a “logjam” at the FDA over granting the emergency authorization. He alleged there are people at the FDA “that can see things being held up ... and that’s for political reasons.”

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said the statement, and Hahn’s silence while Trump said it, “was disgraceful.”

“The FDA commissioner basically allowed the president to mischaracterize the decision and attack the integrity of FDA employees. I was horrified,” said Sharfstein, a vice dean at John Hopkins University’s school of public health who was a top FDA official during the Obama administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598222952199.png" alt="President Trump took only 3 questions during the Sunday evening press conference-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump took only 3 questions during the Sunday evening press conference-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval. The accusations of an FDA slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on what he refers to as the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598222686256.png" alt="President Donald Trump accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, center and HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a media briefing Sunday -photo Courtesy White House." />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, center and HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a media briefing Sunday -photo Courtesy White House.</figcaption>
 </figure>During Sunday’s 18-minute press conference, Trump said he thought there had been a “logjam” at the FDA over granting the emergency authorization. He alleged there are people at the FDA “that can see things being held up ... and that’s for political reasons.”Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said the statement, and Hahn’s silence while Trump said it, “was disgraceful.”“The FDA commissioner basically allowed the president to mischaracterize the decision and attack the integrity of FDA employees. I was horrified,” said Sharfstein, a vice dean at John Hopkins University’s school of public health who was a top FDA official during the Obama administration.“This is a promising therapy that has not been fully established,” he saidThe push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement. He said “this has been in the works for several weeks.”But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.Rigorous studies are under way around the country, comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.“I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients,” Gottlieb told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598218807664.png" alt="President Trump during the Sunday evening news conference -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during the Sunday evening news conference -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump, in news conferences, “has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions” that have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous, Schaffner said. That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and disinfectant. Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin, a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against.But the president is perhaps best known for his early and ardent embrace of the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Earlier this month, Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates.“I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember” ever happening in the past, Schaffner said.“Everybody is just a little bit nervous,” he said.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Sunday the emergency authorization of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients, in a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising,” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.The announcement came after days of White House officials suggesting there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization — it makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment — in a news conference Sunday evening.The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling with the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, noted: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”An emergency use authorization is not the same as full FDA approval.In the authorization letter, FDA officials emphasized convalescent plasma is still under investigation. “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months,” it said.But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager for a piece of good news on the battle of the pandemic, and the timing allowed him to head into the convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and utilized the White House briefing room to make the announcement.Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval, but the accusations of a slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.There’s no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus and, if so, how best to use it.The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement, which comes just before a pivotal week for the president’s reelection chances. Hahn said “this has been in the works for several weeks” and came after a data validation for which the agency had been waiting.But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.Rigorous studies underway around the country are designed to get that proof, by comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.ADVERTISEMENT“I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients,” Gottlieb told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”Hundreds of drugs are currently being developed as possible treatments against the coronavirus infection, taking a range of approaches.Trump, in news conferences, “has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions” that have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous, Schaffner said. That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and disinfectant. Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin, a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against.But the president is perhaps best known for his early and ardent embrace of the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Earlier this month, Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates.“I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember” ever happening in the past, Schaffner said.“Everybody is just a little bit nervous,” he said.----