HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police issued thanks on Tuesday to a Caney, Kan. police officer who saved one of their trainees from choking at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

According to a social media report, the Hutchinson officer turned purple due to lack of air and not being able to get the food out of his throat during a meal at the training academy.

Caney Officer Joe Elliott, recognized that the fellow officer was in serious trouble and performed a Heimlich maneuver on the officer.

As a result of Officer Elliott's quick actions the officers airway was cleared and he was able to breath again. The Officer was transported to an area hospital to be checked out.

The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson is the main police academy for officers outside the state's largest cities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597226363937.jpeg" alt="Caney Officer Joe Elliott" />
 <figcaption>Caney Officer Joe Elliott</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police issued thanks on Tuesday to a Caney, Kan. police officer who saved one of their trainees from choking at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.According to a social media report, the Hutchinson officer turned purple due to lack of air and not being able to get the food out of his throat during a meal at the training academy.Caney Officer Joe Elliott, recognized that the fellow officer was in serious trouble and performed a Heimlich maneuver on the officer.As a result of Officer Elliott's quick actions the officers airway was cleared and he was able to breath again. The Officer was transported to an area hospital to be checked out.The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson is the main police academy for officers outside the state's largest cities.

Officer saves Kansas officer's life at training center

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors are seeking a court order to stop the Kansas child welfare agency from releasing more information about a 3-year-old girl whose battered body was found after her father reported her missing.

The request comes despite a 2018 state law that aims to make such information more readily available when a child dies.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families last month released a “Child Fatality Summary” pertaining to Olivia Ann Jansen of Kansas City, Kansas, in response to an open records request from The Associated Press and other media outlets. The agency then filed notices with interested parties before making public any additional documents.

Olivia’s remains were found in a shallow grave on July 10 after her father, Howard Jansen III, 29, reported her missing. The 29-year-old father and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, have since been charged with felony murder and other crimes.

On Monday, the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office filed motions seeking an injunction prohibiting the release of more records, pending a new hearing or the court’s review of the material to determine if anything can be released with redactions.

The court has already released a redacted probable cause affidavit that shows Olivia’s body was covered with bruises and that she died of a brain bleed. Prosecutors are also specifically objecting to the release of the unredacted affidavit that the child welfare agency has in its files.

The 2018 transparency law says Kansas Department for Children and Families’ documents are a matter of public record when child abuse or neglect results in a child fatality or near fatality.

The summary information already released by the agency shows it received two reports of alleged physical abuse on Feb. 28. One report alleged Olivia’s father hit her on the leg, leaving a bruise and possibly breaking the limb. The other report alleged the father’s girlfriend hit the girl. Both were ruled unsubstantiated after a person who alleged the abuse recanted.

In June, the agency investigated a report alleging the girl’s caregiver was unavailable or unable to care for her and alleging substance abuse. The father tested positive for THC last month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594403105823.png" alt="Olivia Jansen " />
 <figcaption>Olivia Jansen </figcaption>
 </figure>BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors are seeking a court order to stop the Kansas child welfare agency from releasing more information about a 3-year-old girl whose battered body was found after her father reported her missing.The request comes despite a 2018 state law that aims to make such information more readily available when a child dies.The Kansas Department for Children and Families last month released a “Child Fatality Summary” pertaining to Olivia Ann Jansen of Kansas City, Kansas, in response to an open records request from The Associated Press and other media outlets. The agency then filed notices with interested parties before making public any additional documents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594468009097.png" alt="Jansen-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Jansen-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Olivia’s remains were found in a shallow grave on July 10 after her father, Howard Jansen III, 29, reported her missing. The 29-year-old father and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, have since been charged with felony murder and other crimes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594490776368.png" alt="Kirkpatrick -photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Kirkpatrick -photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office filed motions seeking an injunction prohibiting the release of more records, pending a new hearing or the court’s review of the material to determine if anything can be released with redactions.The court has already released a redacted probable cause affidavit that shows Olivia’s body was covered with bruises and that she died of a brain bleed. Prosecutors are also specifically objecting to the release of the unredacted affidavit that the child welfare agency has in its files.The 2018 transparency law says Kansas Department for Children and Families’ documents are a matter of public record when child abuse or neglect results in a child fatality or near fatality.The summary information already released by the agency shows it received two reports of alleged physical abuse on Feb. 28. One report alleged Olivia’s father hit her on the leg, leaving a bruise and possibly breaking the limb. The other report alleged the father’s girlfriend hit the girl. Both were ruled unsubstantiated after a person who alleged the abuse recanted.In June, the agency investigated a report alleging the girl’s caregiver was unavailable or unable to care for her and alleging substance abuse. The father tested positive for THC last month.

Prosecutors seek to block release of beaten Kan. girl's records

TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left two dead and have identified the victims&nbsp; as Angelo D. Epps, 35, and Calvin E. Coleman Jr. 19, both of Topeka. 

Just after 10 p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of multiple gun shots being fired in the 3800 block of SW South Park in Topeka, according to&nbsp;Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

Officers located three subjects suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

One victim was declared deceased at the scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital where he died due to his injuries. The third individual was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Police have not released the identity of the third victim or additional details.

TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left two dead in Topeka.

Just after 10p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of multiple gun shots being fired in the 3800 block of SW South Park in Topeka, according to&nbsp;LT Kelvin Johnson.

One individual was declared deceased at the scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital where he died due to his injuries. The third individual was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.

Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597141755476.png" alt="Investigators on the scene of the investigation late Monday-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Investigators on the scene of the investigation late Monday-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left two dead and have identified the victims&nbsp; as Angelo D. Epps, 35, and Calvin E. Coleman Jr. 19, both of Topeka. Just after 10 p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of multiple gun shots being fired in the 3800 block of SW South Park in Topeka, according to&nbsp;Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers located three subjects suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.One victim was declared deceased at the scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital where he died due to his injuries. The third individual was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Police have not released the identity of the third victim or additional details.-------TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left two dead in Topeka.Just after 10p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of multiple gun shots being fired in the 3800 block of SW South Park in Topeka, according to&nbsp;LT Kelvin Johnson.Officers located three subjects suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.One individual was declared deceased at the scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital where he died due to his injuries. The third individual was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

Update: 2 dead, 1 critically injured in Kansas shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 10&nbsp;p.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of a highway robbery at the Pizza Hut in the 300 block of East 47th&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. 

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 45-year-old male delivery driver who reported being robbed at gunpoint while delivering a pizza.

The investigation revealed that the 45-year-old went to deliver an order at an apartment complex in the 4100 block of South Seneca.&nbsp; The driver was unable to contact anyone at the apartment.&nbsp; As he was walking back to his vehicle, he was approached by a suspect later identified as 20-year-old Jeramiah Milligan of Wichita who asked to buy the order.&nbsp; 

The driver refused, and Milligan produced a handgun and demanded money and the pizza order from the driver.&nbsp; The driver left the order on the ground and drove away in his vehicle back to the restaurant to call police.

Officers spotted Milligan at a nearby apartment in the 4100 Block of South Seneca and arrested him without incident.&nbsp; Officers later recovered the pizza order as well as a handgun.&nbsp; Milligan was booked on requested charges that include aggravated robbery. 

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Milligan remains jailed on a $75,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597090729726.png" alt="Milligan photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Milligan photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.Just before 10&nbsp;p.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of a highway robbery at the Pizza Hut in the 300 block of East 47th&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 45-year-old male delivery driver who reported being robbed at gunpoint while delivering a pizza.The investigation revealed that the 45-year-old went to deliver an order at an apartment complex in the 4100 block of South Seneca.&nbsp; The driver was unable to contact anyone at the apartment.&nbsp; As he was walking back to his vehicle, he was approached by a suspect later identified as 20-year-old Jeramiah Milligan of Wichita who asked to buy the order.&nbsp; The driver refused, and Milligan produced a handgun and demanded money and the pizza order from the driver.&nbsp; The driver left the order on the ground and drove away in his vehicle back to the restaurant to call police.Officers spotted Milligan at a nearby apartment in the 4100 Block of South Seneca and arrested him without incident.&nbsp; Officers later recovered the pizza order as well as a handgun.&nbsp; Milligan was booked on requested charges that include aggravated robbery. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Milligan remains jailed on a $75,000 bond.

Police: Kan. man pulled a gun on pizza delivery driver

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the wording "out-of-state" to the section about mass gatherings of 500 or greater. That wording was left off of a news release sent to media, however it does appear in the information on the KDHE website.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list, removing the state of Florida and adding attendance at out-of-state mass gatherings greater than 500 people, according to a media release from the agency.

Additionally, those countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice with restrictions remain.

This list is effective for all persons returning to or entering Kansas on the effective dates. The state will review/update this list every two weeks. A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have:

<a>Others needing to continue quarantining:</a>

Travel quarantines do not prohibit travel through Kansas. People from these locations may still travel through Kansas. If this is done, KDHE recommends limited stops, wearing a mask at rest stops or when getting gas and being 6’ from others when doing so. If the destination is Kansas, they would be required to quarantine upon arrival to their destination.

Critical infrastructure sector employees who have travelled to these destinations should contact their local health department regarding instructions for application of these quarantine orders while working. Critical infrastructure employees, such as public health, law enforcement, food supply, etc., need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans so the local health department may allow a modified quarantine. Please note the only exemption for these quarantine mandates for critical infrastructure sector employees is work – they are not to go any other locations outside of work.

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the wording "out-of-state" to the section about mass gatherings of 500 or greater. That wording was left off of a news release sent to media, however it does appear in the information on the KDHE website.TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list, removing the state of Florida and adding attendance at out-of-state mass gatherings greater than 500 people, according to a media release from the agency.Additionally, those countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice with restrictions remain.This list is effective for all persons returning to or entering Kansas on the effective dates. The state will review/update this list every two weeks. A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have:<ul>
 <li><a>Attended/traveled to out-of-state mass gathering events of 500 people or greater on or after August 11.</a></li><li>Traveled to/from Florida between June 29 – August 11.&nbsp;</li><li>Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.</li><li><a>International travel on or after July 14 to countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice, including China, Iran, European Schengen area, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Brazil. International travelers must follow&nbsp;</a><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Ftravelers%2Ffrom-other-countries.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cadde893d0d024bf0fc9908d83e22597a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637327664750923792&amp;sdata=yVP2xONlDfuahO%2F%2BZw%2BSmd5D9qZDYGMEGSOOvrpDjUg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">CDC guidance and protocols</a>.</li>
 </ul><a>Others needing to continue quarantining:</a><ul>
 <li>Anyone subject to a travel-related quarantine for a state or country previously on the travel-related quarantine list must complete their 14-day quarantine period.</li><li>Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.</li>
 </ul>Travel quarantines do not prohibit travel through Kansas. People from these locations may still travel through Kansas. If this is done, KDHE recommends limited stops, wearing a mask at rest stops or when getting gas and being 6’ from others when doing so. If the destination is Kansas, they would be required to quarantine upon arrival to their destination.Critical infrastructure sector employees who have travelled to these destinations should contact their local health department regarding instructions for application of these quarantine orders while working. Critical infrastructure employees, such as public health, law enforcement, food supply, etc., need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans so the local health department may allow a modified quarantine. Please note the only exemption for these quarantine mandates for critical infrastructure sector employees is work – they are not to go any other locations outside of work.

UPDATE: Quarantine after out-of-state mass gatherings of 500+ 

SALINE COUNTY—Updated DNA testing has confirmed the identification of "Miss Molly," as Robin Ann Green from Los Angeles, California, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan announced during a Tuesday news conference.

Her body was found in a creek along Interstate 70 in Saline County on Jan. 25, 1986. She was last seen on Dec. 28, 1985 after visiting family members in Minnesota, according to the sheriff.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Green and her husband had lived in southern California. The&nbsp;house they lived in was seized as part of a drug investigation, according to Soldan.&nbsp; He died in 2007.

Robin Green's family made a request that authorities not identify them. They traveled to Saline County last weekend to visit her grave, according to Soldan.

This is still an open homicide investigation, according to Soldan.&nbsp;Investigators don't know how she came to Kansas.

On July 29, 2019, Green's body was exhumed from Gypsum Hill Cemetery in Saline County so that samples could be obtained for DNA testing. The resulting DNA profile was entered in the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and in late February the Saline County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a possible familial match was obtained, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

SALINE COUNTY —Updated DNA testing has resulted in the identification of "Miss Molly," an unidentified deceased woman who was found in a creek along Interstate 70 in Saline County on Jan. 25, 1986.

On July 29, 2019, the woman's body was exhumed from Gypsum Hill Cemetery so that samples could be obtained for DNA testing. The resulting DNA profile was entered in the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and in late February the Saline County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a possible familial match was obtained, according to a news release from the sheriff's office this morning.

"After further examination this match provided positive identification of ‘Miss Molly’ which has since been confirmed thru dental records," according to the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597183265225.jpeg" alt="Sheriff Roger Soldan made the announcement Tuesday afternoon." />
 <figcaption>Sheriff Roger Soldan made the announcement Tuesday afternoon.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Updated DNA testing has confirmed the identification of "Miss Molly," as Robin Ann Green from Los Angeles, California, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan announced during a Tuesday news conference.Her body was found in a creek along Interstate 70 in Saline County on Jan. 25, 1986. She was last seen on Dec. 28, 1985 after visiting family members in Minnesota, according to the sheriff.&nbsp;&nbsp;Green and her husband had lived in southern California. The&nbsp;house they lived in was seized as part of a drug investigation, according to Soldan.&nbsp; He died in 2007.Robin Green's family made a request that authorities not identify them. They traveled to Saline County last weekend to visit her grave, according to Soldan.This is still an open homicide investigation, according to Soldan.&nbsp;Investigators don't know how she came to Kansas.On July 29, 2019, Green's body was exhumed from Gypsum Hill Cemetery in Saline County so that samples could be obtained for DNA testing. The resulting DNA profile was entered in the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and in late February the Saline County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a possible familial match was obtained, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.-------SALINE COUNTY —Updated DNA testing has resulted in the identification of "Miss Molly," an unidentified deceased woman who was found in a creek along Interstate 70 in Saline County on Jan. 25, 1986.On July 29, 2019, the woman's body was exhumed from Gypsum Hill Cemetery so that samples could be obtained for DNA testing. The resulting DNA profile was entered in the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and in late February the Saline County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a possible familial match was obtained, according to a news release from the sheriff's office this morning."After further examination this match provided positive identification of ‘Miss Molly’ which has since been confirmed thru dental records," according to the release.

Sheriff IDs Kan. cold case victim as California woman

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate on Tuesday, making history by selecting the first Black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket and acknowledging the vital role Black voters will play in his bid to defeat President Donald Trump.

“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden tweeted. In a text message to supporters, Biden said, “Together, with you, we’re going to beat Trump.”

Harris and Biden plan to deliver remarks Wednesday in Wilmington.

In choosing Harris, Biden is embracing a former rival from the Democratic primary who is familiar with the unique rigor of a national campaign. Harris, a 55-year-old first-term senator, is also one of the party’s most prominent figures and quickly became a top contender for the No. 2 spot after her own White House campaign ended.

Harris, who is also Indian American, joins Biden in the 2020 race at a moment of unprecedented national crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people in the U.S., far more than the toll experienced in other countries. Business closures and disruptions resulting from the pandemic have caused an economic collapse. Unrest, meanwhile, has emerged across the country as Americans protest racism and police brutality.

Trump’s uneven handling of the crises has given Biden an opening, and he enters the fall campaign in strong position against the president. In adding Harris to the ticket, he can point to her relatively centrist record on issues such as health care and her background in law enforcement in the nation’s largest state.

Harris’ record as California attorney general and district attorney in San Francisco was heavily scrutinized during the Democratic primary and turned off some liberals and younger Black voters who saw her as out of step on issues of systemic racism in the legal system and police brutality. She tried to strike a balance on these issues, declaring herself a “progressive prosecutor” who backs law enforcement reforms.

Biden, who spent eight years as President Barack Obama’s vice president, has spent months weighing who would fill that same role in his White House. He pledged in March to select a woman as his vice president, easing frustration among Democrats that the presidential race would center on two white men in their 70s.

Biden’s search was expansive, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a leading progressive, Florida Rep. Val Demings, whose impeachment prosecution of Trump won plaudits, California Rep. Karen Bass, who leads the Congressional Black Caucus, former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, whose passionate response to unrest in her city garnered national attention.

Rice congratulated Harris on her selection, calling her a “tenacious and trailblazing leader.” Rice said she would support Biden and Harris “with all my energy and commitment.”

Bass tweeted, “@KamalaHarris is a great choice for Vice President. Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now.”

A woman has never served as president or vice president in the United States. Two women have been nominated as running mates on major party tickets: Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Republican Sarah Palin in 2008. Their party lost in the general election.

The vice presidential pick carries increased significance this year. If elected, Biden would be 78 when he’s inaugurated in January, the oldest man to ever assume the presidency. He’s spoken of himself as a transitional figure and hasn’t fully committed to seeking a second term in 2024. If he declines to do so, his running mate would likely become a front-runner for the nomination that year.

Born in Oakland to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, Harris won her first election in 2003 when she became San Francisco’s district attorney. In the role, she created a reentry program for low-level drug offenders and cracked down on student truancy.

She was elected California’s attorney general in 2010, the first woman and Black person to hold the job, and focused on issues including the foreclosure crisis. She declined to defend the state’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage and was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

As her national profile grew, Harris built a reputation around her work as a prosecutor. After being elected to the Senate in 2016, she quickly gained attention for her assertive questioning of Trump administration officials during congressional hearings. In one memorable moment last year, Harris tripped up Attorney General William Barr when she repeatedly pressed him on whether Trump or other White House officials pressured him to investigate certain people.

Harris launched her presidential campaign in early 2019 with the slogan “Kamala Harris For the People,” a reference to her courtroom work. She was one of the highest-profile contenders in a crowded Democratic primary and attracted 20,000 people to her first campaign rally in Oakland.

But the early promise of her campaign eventually faded. Her law enforcement background prompted skepticism from some progressives, and she struggled to land on a consistent message that resonated with voters. Facing fundraising problems, Harris abruptly withdrew from the race in December 2019, two months before the first votes of the primary were cast.

One of Harris’ standout moments of her presidential campaign came at the expense of Biden. During a debate, Harris said Biden made “very hurtful” comments about his past work with segregationist senators and slammed his opposition to busing as schools began to integrate in the 1970s.

“There was a little girl in California who was a part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day,” she said. “And that little girl was me.”

Shaken by the attack, Biden called her comments “a mischaracterization of my position.”

The exchange resurfaced recently one of Biden’s closest friends and a co-chair of his vice presidential vetting committee, former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, still harbors concerns about the debate and that Harris hadn’t expressed regret. The comments attributed to Dodd and first reported by Politico drew condemnation, especially from influential Democratic women who said Harris was being held to a standard that wouldn’t apply to a man running for president.

Some Biden confidants said Harris’ campaign attack did irritate the former vice president, who had a friendly relationship with her. Harris was also close with Biden’s late son, Beau, who served as Delaware attorney general while she held the same post in California.

But Biden and Harris have since returned to a warm relationship.

“Joe has empathy, he has a proven track record of leadership and more than ever before we need a president of the United States who understands who the people are, sees them where they are, and has a genuine desire to help and knows how to fight to get us where we need to be,” Harris said at an event for Biden earlier this summer.

At the same event, she bluntly attacked Trump, labeling him a “drug pusher” for his promotion of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus, which has not been proved to be an effective treatment and may even be more harmful. After Trump tweeted “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in response to protests about the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody, Harris said his remarks “

Harris has taken a tougher stand on policing since Floyd’s killing. She co-sponsored legislation in June that would ban police from using chokeholds and no-knock warrants, set a national use-of-force standard and create a national police misconduct registry, among other things. It would also reform the qualified immunity system that shields officers from liability.

The list included practices Harris did not vocally fight to reform while leading California’s Department of Justice. Although she required DOJ officers to wear body cameras, she did not support legislation mandating it statewide. And while she now wants independent investigations of police shootings, she didn’t support a 2015 California bill that would have required her office to take on such cases.

“We made progress, but clearly we are not at the place yet as a country where we need to be and California is no exception,” she told The Associated Press recently. But the national focus on racial injustice now shows “there’s no reason that we have to continue to wait.”

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate on Tuesday, making history by selecting the first Black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket and acknowledging the vital role Black voters will play in his bid to defeat President Donald Trump.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate.&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1293280411150217219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden tweeted. In a text message to supporters, Biden said, “Together, with you, we’re going to beat Trump.”Harris and Biden plan to deliver remarks Wednesday in Wilmington.In choosing Harris, Biden is embracing a former rival from the Democratic primary who is familiar with the unique rigor of a national campaign. Harris, a 55-year-old first-term senator, is also one of the party’s most prominent figures and quickly became a top contender for the No. 2 spot after her own White House campaign ended.Harris, who is also Indian American, joins Biden in the 2020 race at a moment of unprecedented national crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people in the U.S., far more than the toll experienced in other countries. Business closures and disruptions resulting from the pandemic have caused an economic collapse. Unrest, meanwhile, has emerged across the country as Americans protest racism and police brutality.Trump’s uneven handling of the crises has given Biden an opening, and he enters the fall campaign in strong position against the president. In adding Harris to the ticket, he can point to her relatively centrist record on issues such as health care and her background in law enforcement in the nation’s largest state.Harris’ record as California attorney general and district attorney in San Francisco was heavily scrutinized during the Democratic primary and turned off some liberals and younger Black voters who saw her as out of step on issues of systemic racism in the legal system and police brutality. She tried to strike a balance on these issues, declaring herself a “progressive prosecutor” who backs law enforcement reforms.Biden, who spent eight years as President Barack Obama’s vice president, has spent months weighing who would fill that same role in his White House. He pledged in March to select a woman as his vice president, easing frustration among Democrats that the presidential race would center on two white men in their 70s.Biden’s search was expansive, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a leading progressive, Florida Rep. Val Demings, whose impeachment prosecution of Trump won plaudits, California Rep. Karen Bass, who leads the Congressional Black Caucus, former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, whose passionate response to unrest in her city garnered national attention.Rice congratulated Harris on her selection, calling her a “tenacious and trailblazing leader.” Rice said she would support Biden and Harris “with all my energy and commitment.”Bass tweeted, “@KamalaHarris is a great choice for Vice President. Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now.”A woman has never served as president or vice president in the United States. Two women have been nominated as running mates on major party tickets: Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Republican Sarah Palin in 2008. Their party lost in the general election.The vice presidential pick carries increased significance this year. If elected, Biden would be 78 when he’s inaugurated in January, the oldest man to ever assume the presidency. He’s spoken of himself as a transitional figure and hasn’t fully committed to seeking a second term in 2024. If he declines to do so, his running mate would likely become a front-runner for the nomination that year.Born in Oakland to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, Harris won her first election in 2003 when she became San Francisco’s district attorney. In the role, she created a reentry program for low-level drug offenders and cracked down on student truancy.She was elected California’s attorney general in 2010, the first woman and Black person to hold the job, and focused on issues including the foreclosure crisis. She declined to defend the state’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage and was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.As her national profile grew, Harris built a reputation around her work as a prosecutor. After being elected to the Senate in 2016, she quickly gained attention for her assertive questioning of Trump administration officials during congressional hearings. In one memorable moment last year, Harris tripped up Attorney General William Barr when she repeatedly pressed him on whether Trump or other White House officials pressured him to investigate certain people.Harris launched her presidential campaign in early 2019 with the slogan “Kamala Harris For the People,” a reference to her courtroom work. She was one of the highest-profile contenders in a crowded Democratic primary and attracted 20,000 people to her first campaign rally in Oakland.But the early promise of her campaign eventually faded. Her law enforcement background prompted skepticism from some progressives, and she struggled to land on a consistent message that resonated with voters. Facing fundraising problems, Harris abruptly withdrew from the race in December 2019, two months before the first votes of the primary were cast.One of Harris’ standout moments of her presidential campaign came at the expense of Biden. During a debate, Harris said Biden made “very hurtful” comments about his past work with segregationist senators and slammed his opposition to busing as schools began to integrate in the 1970s.“There was a little girl in California who was a part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day,” she said. “And that little girl was me.”Shaken by the attack, Biden called her comments “a mischaracterization of my position.”The exchange resurfaced recently one of Biden’s closest friends and a co-chair of his vice presidential vetting committee, former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, still harbors concerns about the debate and that Harris hadn’t expressed regret. The comments attributed to Dodd and first reported by Politico drew condemnation, especially from influential Democratic women who said Harris was being held to a standard that wouldn’t apply to a man running for president.Some Biden confidants said Harris’ campaign attack did irritate the former vice president, who had a friendly relationship with her. Harris was also close with Biden’s late son, Beau, who served as Delaware attorney general while she held the same post in California.But Biden and Harris have since returned to a warm relationship.“Joe has empathy, he has a proven track record of leadership and more than ever before we need a president of the United States who understands who the people are, sees them where they are, and has a genuine desire to help and knows how to fight to get us where we need to be,” Harris said at an event for Biden earlier this summer.At the same event, she bluntly attacked Trump, labeling him a “drug pusher” for his promotion of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus, which has not been proved to be an effective treatment and may even be more harmful. After Trump tweeted “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in response to protests about the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody, Harris said his remarks “Harris has taken a tougher stand on policing since Floyd’s killing. She co-sponsored legislation in June that would ban police from using chokeholds and no-knock warrants, set a national use-of-force standard and create a national police misconduct registry, among other things. It would also reform the qualified immunity system that shields officers from liability.The list included practices Harris did not vocally fight to reform while leading California’s Department of Justice. Although she required DOJ officers to wear body cameras, she did not support legislation mandating it statewide. And while she now wants independent investigations of police shootings, she didn’t support a 2015 California bill that would have required her office to take on such cases.“We made progress, but clearly we are not at the place yet as a country where we need to be and California is no exception,” she told The Associated Press recently. But the national focus on racial injustice now shows “there’s no reason that we have to continue to wait.”___

Biden selects California Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate

CRAWFORD COUNTy— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the discovery of decomposed human remains in rural southeast Kansas.

Someone out for a walk found the skeletal remains Monday&nbsp; near Kansas 126 and 80th Street, according to the Crawford County Sheriff's Department.

 The release said the identity of the person and the cause of death aren’t known.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded and processed the scene. The remains to Frontier Forensics in Kansas City for examination to determine identification and cause of death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596032210664.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CRAWFORD COUNTy— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the discovery of decomposed human remains in rural southeast Kansas.Someone out for a walk found the skeletal remains Monday&nbsp; near Kansas 126 and 80th Street, according to the Crawford County Sheriff's Department. The release said the identity of the person and the cause of death aren’t known.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded and processed the scene. The remains to Frontier Forensics in Kansas City for examination to determine identification and cause of death.

Sheriff: Human remains found in rural southeast Kansas

State Fair 2020 concerts, events rescheduled for 2021

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A spokeswoman says Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is reviewing President Donald Trump’s plan to extend supplemental unemployment benefits but is waiting for more details.

A program providing an additional $600 a week to workers left unemployed by the coronavirus pandemic expired July 31, and Congress hasn’t agreed on a bill including an extension. Trump announced a plan this weekend to provide an additional $400 a week in benefits but said states would have to cover 25% of the cost.

Kelly spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald called Trump’s plan only “a broad memo” and questioned whether he can provide the extra benefits through an executive order.

Kansas struggled to handle a huge surge of unemployment claims from the pandemic-related shutdown of the state’s economy this spring. Kelly blamed much of the problem on a decades-old computer system, but Labor Secretary Delia Garcia was forced to resign in June.

Fitzgerald said the state has limited resources.

“If we divert those resources to try and implement a plan that may not be permanent and may not even be legal, it could ultimately prevent Kansans receiving those benefits in a timely manner when a more permanent solution is just around the corner if Congress acts,” Fitzgerald said.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A spokeswoman says Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is reviewing President Donald Trump’s plan to extend supplemental unemployment benefits but is waiting for more details.A program providing an additional $600 a week to workers left unemployed by the coronavirus pandemic expired July 31, and Congress hasn’t agreed on a bill including an extension. Trump announced a plan this weekend to provide an additional $400 a week in benefits but said states would have to cover 25% of the cost.Kelly spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald called Trump’s plan only “a broad memo” and questioned whether he can provide the extra benefits through an executive order.Kansas struggled to handle a huge surge of unemployment claims from the pandemic-related shutdown of the state’s economy this spring. Kelly blamed much of the problem on a decades-old computer system, but Labor Secretary Delia Garcia was forced to resign in June.Fitzgerald said the state has limited resources.“If we divert those resources to try and implement a plan that may not be permanent and may not even be legal, it could ultimately prevent Kansans receiving those benefits in a timely manner when a more permanent solution is just around the corner if Congress acts,” Fitzgerald said.

Kan. governor skeptical of Trump plan to extend benefits

BY STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-teachers-could-owe-their-schools-thousands-if-they-quit-over-coronavirus-concerns">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — Kansas teachers that don’t feel 
safe going back to crowded hallways as schools reopen could take medical
 leave or teach online. But at the many districts that don’t have those 
options, teachers eye another choice: quitting.

Resigning would 
mean more than losing steady paychecks during a recession and insurance 
during a pandemic. Teachers that leave now must pay their districts 
thousands of dollars.

Most Kansas public teachers must retire or 
resign early in the summer or pay their school district to find a 
replacement. Unless a district or a teacher says otherwise, contracts 
roll over into the new year.

It’s usually a routine thing. 
Notably, the upcoming school year looks much the same when those 
contracts are signed as when kids return for the fall semester.

But
 heading back to school seemed a lot safer before the resignation 
deadlines that came a few months ago. At the deadlines, the coronavirus 
outbreak appeared nearly under control. Some educators now say it’s 
unfair to charge teachers for escaping their contracts if they no longer
 feel safe returning to the classroom. And forcing teachers to pay now 
could lead to more teachers quitting eventually.

“You can claw 
back as much money as you want, but if you’re not careful, then what you
 end up with is a district with no teachers,” said Marcus Baltzell, head
 of communications for the Kansas National Education Association.

In
 May, the worst of the pandemic in Kansas seemed over. The state 
reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in two months and 
businesses were slowly reopening. Before the end of the month, most 
Kansas schools required teachers to decide if they were coming back.

Kelly
 Smith, a special education teacher at Leavenworth High School, felt 
pretty good about returning. The state still hadn’t released guidelines 
for what reopening schools should look like, but a task force made up of
 educators and health officials were working on that.

“I was 
absolutely confident that with all the contributors that they would come
 up with the absolute best plan that they could in completely unknown 
waters,” Smith said.

Today, coronavirus cases have climbed back up. Several counties, like <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-commission-reinstates-curfew-bar-restaurants" target="_blank">Sedgwick</a>, began ordering bars to close and reinstated gathering size limits. Some educators are now saying reopening schools safely is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/01/schools-reopening-coronavirus-arizona-superintendent/?arc404=true" target="_blank">not possible</a>. Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to delay reopening schools was overturned by the state school board, making that a local decision.

Smith said she’s now terrified. She would consider quitting, but she’d have to pay her district <a href="https://www.usd453.org/jobs/negotiated_agreement" target="_blank">$2,000 dollars for resigning in August</a>. She said that doesn’t leave her much choice other than going back to work.

“For me, that’s just shy of a month’s paycheck,” Smith said. “That would hurt.”

Penalties
 for backing out of a contract are meant to help districts find 
replacements, something that’s much harder the closer it gets to the 
first day of classes. By then, many teachers have already accepted jobs 
elsewhere.

Usually, districts ask for around $2,000, depending on
 how late a teacher leaves. But some schools want more. Emporia Public 
Schools asks for <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hL_rJfraEde6ITnTDUhFyBgSNSzbmOpt/view" target="_blank">$5,000 after August</a>. The Syracuse school district near the Colorado border asks for <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/361/negotiated_agreement.pdf" target="_blank">$10,000</a>.

Courts
 have upheld these clauses, but schools must prove that they’re actually
 based on the cost of replacing that teacher. It can’t be an arbitrary 
amount just meant to punish teachers. A rural district like Syracuse can
 argue that it’s much harder to recruit teachers, so they need more 
money from a teacher who’s backing out.

Despite the potential of teachers paying thousands of dollars, teachers unions often support these clauses.

Late
 resignations hurt other teachers who have to pick up the slack — and 
extra students — until a replacement can be found. That can take a while
 with the long-standing <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/15/493808213/frustration-burnout-attrition-its-time-to-address-the-national-teacher-shortage" target="_blank">national teacher shortage</a>.
 And without these clauses, teachers risk losing their teaching licenses
 for quitting too close to the start of the school year. The contracts 
give them a buyout option.

“Honestly, the association sees this 
as protection for teachers as well,” said Erica Huggard, the president 
of the Emporia chapter of the National Education Association.

Teachers still have plenty of questions about how their districts plan on reopening safely, like how <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-governor-says-masks-are-non-negotiable-schools-and-pleads-delaying-classes" target="_blank">mask requirements and daily temperature checks</a>&nbsp;will be enforced.

“Teachers
 are planners and right now we can’t plan anything,” said Kimberly 
Howard, president of the United Teachers of Wichita. She said Wichita 
should let teachers resign without penalty.

Wichita Public 
Schools said retiring teachers no longer need to pay. But while the 
district reserves the right to waive the fee on a case-by-case basis, it
 generally still plans on enforcing the rule.

Other districts 
have a similar position. They say they’re facing plenty of uncertainty 
because of the pandemic, making it essential they know how many teachers
 they’ll have to start the school year.

“It’s one of the most 
important things that we deal with every year, this year in particular,”
 said Eryn Wright, executive director of human resources at Salina 
Public Schools. “Knowing how many teachers we have is fundamental.”

All
 the unknowns could change whether or not courts enforce the buyout 
clauses. Indiana University business law professor Julie Manning Magid 
said many of the contracts were signed nearly a year ago. So much about 
teaching today has changed since then that courts could decide the 
contracts are no longer binding.

But the coronavirus could also 
bolster a school district’s argument that teachers should pay even some 
of the highest fees. It’s easier to justify those replacement costs 
because it’s that much harder — and expensive — today to find someone 
willing to teach in a school building.

“The current pandemic 
situation and trying to reopen schools is a new wrinkle in a way,” Magid
 said, “that I’m sure these clauses have never been tested.”

Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveBisaha" target="_blank">@stevebisaha</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597165212301.jpeg" alt=" Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption> Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>BY STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-teachers-could-owe-their-schools-thousands-if-they-quit-over-coronavirus-concerns">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — Kansas teachers that don’t feel 
safe going back to crowded hallways as schools reopen could take medical
 leave or teach online. But at the many districts that don’t have those 
options, teachers eye another choice: quitting.Resigning would 
mean more than losing steady paychecks during a recession and insurance 
during a pandemic. Teachers that leave now must pay their districts 
thousands of dollars.Most Kansas public teachers must retire or 
resign early in the summer or pay their school district to find a 
replacement. Unless a district or a teacher says otherwise, contracts 
roll over into the new year.It’s usually a routine thing. 
Notably, the upcoming school year looks much the same when those 
contracts are signed as when kids return for the fall semester.But
 heading back to school seemed a lot safer before the resignation 
deadlines that came a few months ago. At the deadlines, the coronavirus 
outbreak appeared nearly under control. Some educators now say it’s 
unfair to charge teachers for escaping their contracts if they no longer
 feel safe returning to the classroom. And forcing teachers to pay now 
could lead to more teachers quitting eventually.“You can claw 
back as much money as you want, but if you’re not careful, then what you
 end up with is a district with no teachers,” said Marcus Baltzell, head
 of communications for the Kansas National Education Association.<h2>May decision</h2>In
 May, the worst of the pandemic in Kansas seemed over. The state 
reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in two months and 
businesses were slowly reopening. Before the end of the month, most 
Kansas schools required teachers to decide if they were coming back.Kelly
 Smith, a special education teacher at Leavenworth High School, felt 
pretty good about returning. The state still hadn’t released guidelines 
for what reopening schools should look like, but a task force made up of
 educators and health officials were working on that.“I was 
absolutely confident that with all the contributors that they would come
 up with the absolute best plan that they could in completely unknown 
waters,” Smith said.Today, coronavirus cases have climbed back up. Several counties, like <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-commission-reinstates-curfew-bar-restaurants" target="_blank">Sedgwick</a>, began ordering bars to close and reinstated gathering size limits. Some educators are now saying reopening schools safely is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/01/schools-reopening-coronavirus-arizona-superintendent/?arc404=true" target="_blank">not possible</a>. Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to delay reopening schools was overturned by the state school board, making that a local decision.Smith said she’s now terrified. She would consider quitting, but she’d have to pay her district <a href="https://www.usd453.org/jobs/negotiated_agreement" target="_blank">$2,000 dollars for resigning in August</a>. She said that doesn’t leave her much choice other than going back to work.“For me, that’s just shy of a month’s paycheck,” Smith said. “That would hurt.”Penalties
 for backing out of a contract are meant to help districts find 
replacements, something that’s much harder the closer it gets to the 
first day of classes. By then, many teachers have already accepted jobs 
elsewhere.Usually, districts ask for around $2,000, depending on
 how late a teacher leaves. But some schools want more. Emporia Public 
Schools asks for <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hL_rJfraEde6ITnTDUhFyBgSNSzbmOpt/view" target="_blank">$5,000 after August</a>. The Syracuse school district near the Colorado border asks for <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/361/negotiated_agreement.pdf" target="_blank">$10,000</a>.Courts
 have upheld these clauses, but schools must prove that they’re actually
 based on the cost of replacing that teacher. It can’t be an arbitrary 
amount just meant to punish teachers. A rural district like Syracuse can
 argue that it’s much harder to recruit teachers, so they need more 
money from a teacher who’s backing out.Despite the potential of teachers paying thousands of dollars, teachers unions often support these clauses.Late
 resignations hurt other teachers who have to pick up the slack — and 
extra students — until a replacement can be found. That can take a while
 with the long-standing <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/15/493808213/frustration-burnout-attrition-its-time-to-address-the-national-teacher-shortage" target="_blank">national teacher shortage</a>.
 And without these clauses, teachers risk losing their teaching licenses
 for quitting too close to the start of the school year. The contracts 
give them a buyout option.“Honestly, the association sees this 
as protection for teachers as well,” said Erica Huggard, the president 
of the Emporia chapter of the National Education Association.<h2>Uncertain year</h2>Teachers still have plenty of questions about how their districts plan on reopening safely, like how <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-governor-says-masks-are-non-negotiable-schools-and-pleads-delaying-classes" target="_blank">mask requirements and daily temperature checks</a>&nbsp;will be enforced.“Teachers
 are planners and right now we can’t plan anything,” said Kimberly 
Howard, president of the United Teachers of Wichita. She said Wichita 
should let teachers resign without penalty.Wichita Public 
Schools said retiring teachers no longer need to pay. But while the 
district reserves the right to waive the fee on a case-by-case basis, it
 generally still plans on enforcing the rule.Other districts 
have a similar position. They say they’re facing plenty of uncertainty 
because of the pandemic, making it essential they know how many teachers
 they’ll have to start the school year.“It’s one of the most 
important things that we deal with every year, this year in particular,”
 said Eryn Wright, executive director of human resources at Salina 
Public Schools. “Knowing how many teachers we have is fundamental.”All
 the unknowns could change whether or not courts enforce the buyout 
clauses. Indiana University business law professor Julie Manning Magid 
said many of the contracts were signed nearly a year ago. So much about 
teaching today has changed since then that courts could decide the 
contracts are no longer binding.But the coronavirus could also 
bolster a school district’s argument that teachers should pay even some 
of the highest fees. It’s easier to justify those replacement costs 
because it’s that much harder — and expensive — today to find someone 
willing to teach in a school building.“The current pandemic 
situation and trying to reopen schools is a new wrinkle in a way,” Magid
 said, “that I’m sure these clauses have never been tested.”Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveBisaha" target="_blank">@stevebisaha</a>.

Kan. teachers could owe schools thousands if they quit over virus

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — Santa’s Workshop, hosted by the Great Bend Recreation Commission at the
City Auditorium, is a huge event for children and their families in December.
The free Christmas program allows children to walk around to booths for food,
craft activities and to visit with Santa. 

This holiday season would have marked
the 24th Annual Santa’s Workshop, but GBRC has decided to cancel
this year’s workshop due to COVID-19 concerns. 

Rec Center Executive Director
Diann Henderson says social distancing would be too difficult with the way the program
is designed.

"It would be difficult with the number of people we 
have on the gym floor, balcony and the lines," said Henderson. "The 
building is not conducive to social distancing when we you have 800, 
1,000 or 1,500 people in that building."

In reviewing Barton County Health Department and CDC guidelines, mass
gatherings should be cancelled if individuals will be in close contact with
each other. 

GBRC is working to create another holiday event for families to
replace Santa’s Workshop this year. 
"We would like to host something that is perhaps smaller and allows us 
to reach out to our families around the holiday time," Henderson said. 
Many community volunteers assist the Recreation Commission staff each year with
transforming City Auditorium into Santa’s Workshop.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597161403742.jpeg" alt="The 2020 Santa's Workshop hosted by the Great Bend Recreation Commission has been canceled." />
 <figcaption>The 2020 Santa's Workshop hosted by the Great Bend Recreation Commission has been canceled.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — Santa’s Workshop, hosted by the Great Bend Recreation Commission at the
City Auditorium, is a huge event for children and their families in December.
The free Christmas program allows children to walk around to booths for food,
craft activities and to visit with Santa. This holiday season would have marked
the 24th Annual Santa’s Workshop, but GBRC has decided to cancel
this year’s workshop due to COVID-19 concerns. Rec Center Executive Director
Diann Henderson says social distancing would be too difficult with the way the program
is designed."It would be difficult with the number of people we 
have on the gym floor, balcony and the lines," said Henderson. "The 
building is not conducive to social distancing when we you have 800, 
1,000 or 1,500 people in that building."In reviewing Barton County Health Department and CDC guidelines, mass
gatherings should be cancelled if individuals will be in close contact with
each other. GBRC is working to create another holiday event for families to
replace Santa’s Workshop this year. 
"We would like to host something that is perhaps smaller and allows us 
to reach out to our families around the holiday time," Henderson said. 
Many community volunteers assist the Recreation Commission staff each year with
transforming City Auditorium into Santa’s Workshop.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Great Bend cancels annual Christmas event due to COVID-19 concerns

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a stop on Interstate 70 Monday night.

Just after 10 p.m. Monday, a deputy stopped a 2010 Ford Explorer just west of Solomon for traveling at 93 mph in a 75 mph zone, according&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Upon making contact with the driver, Terrence Szczepaniak, 25, of Salina, the deputy noticed a small amount of marijuana in the console of the SUV.

During a search of the vehicle, the deputy reported finding 20 grams of marijuana, 55 grams of methamphetamine and a drug pipe. 

The deputy arrested Szczepaniak on suspicion of&nbsp; speeding, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, no tax stamp, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Soldan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597162831275.jpeg" alt="Terrence Szczepaniak has numerous previous drug convictions dating back to 2014, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.- photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Terrence Szczepaniak has numerous previous drug convictions dating back to 2014, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.- photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a stop on Interstate 70 Monday night.Just after 10 p.m. Monday, a deputy stopped a 2010 Ford Explorer just west of Solomon for traveling at 93 mph in a 75 mph zone, according&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.Upon making contact with the driver, Terrence Szczepaniak, 25, of Salina, the deputy noticed a small amount of marijuana in the console of the SUV.During a search of the vehicle, the deputy reported finding 20 grams of marijuana, 55 grams of methamphetamine and a drug pipe. The deputy arrested Szczepaniak on suspicion of&nbsp; speeding, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, no tax stamp, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Soldan.

Sheriff: Kan. felon was driving 93 mph on I-70 with drugs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A school district was wrong when it forced a transgender high school student to either use the girls bathroom or a single-stall gender neutral bathroom, a federal appeals court ruled.

The ruling sides with Drew Adams, who sued the St. Johns County Florida School District because he wasn’t allowed to use the boys restroom. 

It could have a wide-ranging impact on how schools treat transgender students. Though his assigned gender was female at birth, Adams began the transition to become a male before he enrolled in Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach.

The school district, however, pointed to forms filled out when Adams was in fourth grade that listed him as a girl, and said he couldn’t use the boys bathroom. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that in a 2-1 decision.

“A public school may not punish its students for gender nonconformity. Neither may a public school harm transgender students by establishing arbitrary, separate rules for their restroom use. The evidence at trial confirms that Mr. Adams suffered both these indignities,” the court wrote in its opinion.

Adams has since graduated from the high school and attends the University of Central Florida.

“I’m really grateful the court agreed that trans rights are human rights,” Adams said in a phone interview Monday.

The ruling would cover schools in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and could carry the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the victory is considered a milestone for transgender rights that will resonate beyond high school bathroom use.

“I definitely hope that seeing me, an actual trans person, and seeing me just as a normal person, I hope that has a lasting impact,” Adams said. “I really think that ignorance and misunderstanding is really the root of a lot of transphobia in this country.”

The ruling noted that Adams had already undergone physical transitions, including a removal of breast tissue and hormones that promoted secondary male characteristics and a deepening of his voice.

The ruling dismissed school board claims that male students’ privacy would be compromised if he used the boys restroom and that some boys might claim to be “gender fluid” in order to be voyeurs in the girls restroom. The court said there was no evidence that either was the case.

“Were Mr. Adams to use the school’s restroom for girls, as the School Board maintains he could, his masculine physiology would present many of the same anatomical differences the School Board fears if non-transgender boys used the girls’ restroom,” the ruling said.

Paul Castillo, a lawyer for Lambda Legal, an organization that fights for LGBTQ rights, said the ruling, though immediately affecting a few states, could have a national impact.

“I could not be more impressed with his resolve over the years and his steadfast commitment for LGBTQ equality, particularly for transgender youth,” Castillo said. “Even though he’s graduated, he continues to put himself, through his case, in a position to help thousands of transgender youth across the country.”

Calls to the St. Johns School County School District seeking comment went unanswered.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A school district was wrong when it forced a transgender high school student to either use the girls bathroom or a single-stall gender neutral bathroom, a federal appeals court ruled.The ruling sides with Drew Adams, who sued the St. Johns County Florida School District because he wasn’t allowed to use the boys restroom. It could have a wide-ranging impact on how schools treat transgender students. Though his assigned gender was female at birth, Adams began the transition to become a male before he enrolled in Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach.The school district, however, pointed to forms filled out when Adams was in fourth grade that listed him as a girl, and said he couldn’t use the boys bathroom. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that in a 2-1 decision.“A public school may not punish its students for gender nonconformity. Neither may a public school harm transgender students by establishing arbitrary, separate rules for their restroom use. The evidence at trial confirms that Mr. Adams suffered both these indignities,” the court wrote in its opinion.Adams has since graduated from the high school and attends the University of Central Florida.“I’m really grateful the court agreed that trans rights are human rights,” Adams said in a phone interview Monday.The ruling would cover schools in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and could carry the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the victory is considered a milestone for transgender rights that will resonate beyond high school bathroom use.“I definitely hope that seeing me, an actual trans person, and seeing me just as a normal person, I hope that has a lasting impact,” Adams said. “I really think that ignorance and misunderstanding is really the root of a lot of transphobia in this country.”The ruling noted that Adams had already undergone physical transitions, including a removal of breast tissue and hormones that promoted secondary male characteristics and a deepening of his voice.The ruling dismissed school board claims that male students’ privacy would be compromised if he used the boys restroom and that some boys might claim to be “gender fluid” in order to be voyeurs in the girls restroom. The court said there was no evidence that either was the case.“Were Mr. Adams to use the school’s restroom for girls, as the School Board maintains he could, his masculine physiology would present many of the same anatomical differences the School Board fears if non-transgender boys used the girls’ restroom,” the ruling said.Paul Castillo, a lawyer for Lambda Legal, an organization that fights for LGBTQ rights, said the ruling, though immediately affecting a few states, could have a national impact.“I could not be more impressed with his resolve over the years and his steadfast commitment for LGBTQ equality, particularly for transgender youth,” Castillo said. “Even though he’s graduated, he continues to put himself, through his case, in a position to help thousands of transgender youth across the country.”Calls to the St. Johns School County School District seeking comment went unanswered.

Federal court rules for transgender man in bathroom case

WICHITA, KAN. – A man who murdered another man over two years ago at a nightclub in Wichita has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

District Judge Eric Williams sentenced Brandon Evans, 38 of Wichita, on Friday.

Evans shot and killed Isaac Lewis, 37 of Wichita, on June 10th, 2018 outside Daiquiri’s Club at 7007 E. Harry. A 28 year old woman was shot in the arm. Evans was arrested after police saw him running from the club with a pistol in his hand.

On August 12, 2019, a jury found Evans guilty of 1st degree murder, aggravated battery, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

At the sentencing hearing August 7,&nbsp; Evans claimed he suffered from a mental disease and shot Mr. Lewis after he threatened to kill Evans and his family.

Judge Williams disagreed with the defendant’s claim and sentenced him to life with no parole eligibility for 789 months. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597077458818.png" alt="Evans photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Evans photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A man who murdered another man over two years ago at a nightclub in Wichita has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.District Judge Eric Williams sentenced Brandon Evans, 38 of Wichita, on Friday.Evans shot and killed Isaac Lewis, 37 of Wichita, on June 10th, 2018 outside Daiquiri’s Club at 7007 E. Harry. A 28 year old woman was shot in the arm. Evans was arrested after police saw him running from the club with a pistol in his hand.On August 12, 2019, a jury found Evans guilty of 1st degree murder, aggravated battery, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.At the sentencing hearing August 7,&nbsp; Evans claimed he suffered from a mental disease and shot Mr. Lewis after he threatened to kill Evans and his family.Judge Williams disagreed with the defendant’s claim and sentenced him to life with no parole eligibility for 789 months.

Life in prison for man in fatal Kan. nightclub shooting

TOPEKA —President Trump issued an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-authorizing-needs-assistance-program-major-disaster-declarations-related-coronavirus-disease-2019/">executive memorandum </a>Saturday hoping to restart the&nbsp;Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program at a rate of $400 per week, instead of the previous $600 amount.

However, the memorandum is broad and there are concerns around its legality, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Labor.

The agency is waiting on additional guidance from&nbsp; federal partners, in order to evaluate if this temporary program extension is possible.

"We know Kansans are hurting and we want to provide as much certainty as possible to families during this difficult time. The only way to ensure that certainty is for Congress to act by passing a permanent, bipartisan solution that states can implement."

In addition, the National <a href="https://www.nga.org/news/press-releases/national-governors-association-leaders-call-on-congress-to-come-together-on-coronavirus-relief/">Governor's Association </a>on Monday said that while they appreciate the White House’s&nbsp;proposals to provide additional&nbsp;solutions to address economic challenges,&nbsp; "we are concerned&nbsp;about the&nbsp;significant&nbsp;administrative burdens and costs this&nbsp;latest action would&nbsp;place on the states."

“The best way forward is for the Congress and the Administration to get back to the negotiating table and come up with a workable solution, which should provide meaningful additional relief for American families."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593457222137.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —President Trump issued an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-authorizing-needs-assistance-program-major-disaster-declarations-related-coronavirus-disease-2019/">executive memorandum </a>Saturday hoping to restart the&nbsp;Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program at a rate of $400 per week, instead of the previous $600 amount. However, the memorandum is broad and there are concerns around its legality, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Labor.The agency is waiting on additional guidance from&nbsp; federal partners, in order to evaluate if this temporary program extension is possible."We know Kansans are hurting and we want to provide as much certainty as possible to families during this difficult time. The only way to ensure that certainty is for Congress to act by passing a permanent, bipartisan solution that states can implement."In addition, the National <a href="https://www.nga.org/news/press-releases/national-governors-association-leaders-call-on-congress-to-come-together-on-coronavirus-relief/">Governor's Association </a>on Monday said that while they appreciate the White House’s&nbsp;proposals to provide additional&nbsp;solutions to address economic challenges,&nbsp; "we are concerned&nbsp;about the&nbsp;significant&nbsp;administrative burdens and costs this&nbsp;latest action would&nbsp;place on the states."“The best way forward is for the Congress and the Administration to get back to the negotiating table and come up with a workable solution, which should provide meaningful additional relief for American families."&nbsp;

Kan. Dept. of Labor delays start of new $400 jobless benefit

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican leader in the Kansas Legislature on Monday accused Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s top public health administrator of using a misleading presentation to bolster their argument for requiring people to wear masks in public as a debate rages over imposing mandates to get the coronavirus under control.

House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins’ criticism of Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state Department of Health and Environment, came after the CEO of the small-government, free-market Kansas Policy Institute think tank suggested in&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/kdhe-doctored-a-covid-case-chart-to-justify-mask-mandates/" target="_blank">an online article</a>&nbsp;that Norman had “deceptively doctored”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1411/Kansas-COVID-19-7-Day-Rolling-Average-of-Daily-Cases-Per-100K-Population-002" target="_blank">a chart</a>&nbsp;used in a news conference last week “to justify mask mandates.” Norman acknowledged in an interview that the chart might have caused confusion but said the central point — that requiring masks checks the virus’s spread — remains valid.

Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature have been at odds with Kelly for months over her handling the pandemic and have successfully pressured her into allowing the state’s 105 counties to set the rules for businesses and public gatherings. Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f492431f603ac1ad9610ccc32bb2c0c2">issued an order</a>&nbsp;July 2 to require people to wear masks in public, but a law enacted in June allows counties to opt out of her health orders, and most have opted out of the mask mandate.

Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, has pushed to put local officials in charge, opposed mask mandates and told reporters that he dislikes wearing a mask himself because they’re uncomfortable. He tried to raise questions about Norman’s presentation last week on masks during a public Zoom meeting Monday between Kelly and eight top lawmakers, only to have her cut him off, telling him that his comments weren’t relevant to the unrelated issues they were discussing.

“Your administration has a problem with transparency,” Hawkins told Kelly. “You have agencies that are giving out not-so-good information.”

The state health department reported Monday that Kansas has had 31,730 confirmed and probable coronavirus virus cases as of Monday, up 3.6% or 1,092 cases since Friday. The department also reported another seven COVID-19-related deaths to bring the total to 387.

Norman called criticism of his presentation last week “kind of killing the messenger.”

“Let’s not lose sight of what the goal is,” Norman said. “Hopefully that we can push all the numbers down in mask and no-mask counties — that’s the goal.”

Norman said during a news conference Wednesday that was live-streamed on his department’s Facebook page that counties that have imposed a mask mandate collectively have seen their growth in new coronavirus cases slow down while counties with no mandate have not.

He cited a chart showing that counties with mask mandates had seen the average number of new cases per 100,000 residents drop significantly while counties without mask mandates saw the figure hold relatively steady. The chart combined two graphics starting their scales at different points.

Kansas Policy Institute CEO Dave Trabert said in his article that the chart suggested visually that mask-mandate counties had fewer overall new cases per day, when they did not. Hawkins called the presentation “incredibly misleading.”

Norman said the graph’s presentation of data was “not unheard of” but added, “I think a learned lesson is that it probably is better to separate it out.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597143480721.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman explains the chart during his August 5 news conference-KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman explains the chart during his August 5 news conference-KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican leader in the Kansas Legislature on Monday accused Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s top public health administrator of using a misleading presentation to bolster their argument for requiring people to wear masks in public as a debate rages over imposing mandates to get the coronavirus under control.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596718264258.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman's chart courtesy Kansas Dept. of Health" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman's chart courtesy Kansas Dept. of Health</figcaption>
 </figure>House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins’ criticism of Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state Department of Health and Environment, came after the CEO of the small-government, free-market Kansas Policy Institute think tank suggested in&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/kdhe-doctored-a-covid-case-chart-to-justify-mask-mandates/" target="_blank">an online article</a>&nbsp;that Norman had “deceptively doctored”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1411/Kansas-COVID-19-7-Day-Rolling-Average-of-Daily-Cases-Per-100K-Population-002" target="_blank">a chart</a>&nbsp;used in a news conference last week “to justify mask mandates.” Norman acknowledged in an interview that the chart might have caused confusion but said the central point — that requiring masks checks the virus’s spread — remains valid.Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature have been at odds with Kelly for months over her handling the pandemic and have successfully pressured her into allowing the state’s 105 counties to set the rules for businesses and public gatherings. Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f492431f603ac1ad9610ccc32bb2c0c2">issued an order</a>&nbsp;July 2 to require people to wear masks in public, but a law enacted in June allows counties to opt out of her health orders, and most have opted out of the mask mandate.Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, has pushed to put local officials in charge, opposed mask mandates and told reporters that he dislikes wearing a mask himself because they’re uncomfortable. He tried to raise questions about Norman’s presentation last week on masks during a public Zoom meeting Monday between Kelly and eight top lawmakers, only to have her cut him off, telling him that his comments weren’t relevant to the unrelated issues they were discussing.“Your administration has a problem with transparency,” Hawkins told Kelly. “You have agencies that are giving out not-so-good information.”The state health department reported Monday that Kansas has had 31,730 confirmed and probable coronavirus virus cases as of Monday, up 3.6% or 1,092 cases since Friday. The department also reported another seven COVID-19-related deaths to bring the total to 387.Norman called criticism of his presentation last week “kind of killing the messenger.”“Let’s not lose sight of what the goal is,” Norman said. “Hopefully that we can push all the numbers down in mask and no-mask counties — that’s the goal.”Norman said during a news conference Wednesday that was live-streamed on his department’s Facebook page that counties that have imposed a mask mandate collectively have seen their growth in new coronavirus cases slow down while counties with no mandate have not.He cited a chart showing that counties with mask mandates had seen the average number of new cases per 100,000 residents drop significantly while counties without mask mandates saw the figure hold relatively steady. The chart combined two graphics starting their scales at different points.Kansas Policy Institute CEO Dave Trabert said in his article that the chart suggested visually that mask-mandate counties had fewer overall new cases per day, when they did not. Hawkins called the presentation “incredibly misleading.”Norman said the graph’s presentation of data was “not unheard of” but added, “I think a learned lesson is that it probably is better to separate it out.”

GOP leader says Kansas health chief misled public on masks

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated burglary that occurred at a residence in the 300 block Parallel Street in Atchison and are looking for a suspect.

In the early morning hours on August 6, a 45-year-old victim was at home and sustained injuries from the intruder, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The victim was familiar with who the suspect was. Police are not certain what vehicle the suspect was in on August 6, but in the past he was known to drive an older model black Toyota 4 Runner with Pennsylvania tags.

The victim sustained injuries from being struck with an object that was in the suspect's hand. The victim was treated and released from hospital care.

Police have identified and are searching for a 30-year-old male suspect. A case file has been presented to the County Attorney’s Office for prosecution, according to Wilson.

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated burglary that occurred at a residence in the 300 block Parallel Street in Atchison and are looking for a suspect.In the early morning hours on August 6, a 45-year-old victim was at home and sustained injuries from the intruder, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The victim was familiar with who the suspect was. Police are not certain what vehicle the suspect was in on August 6, but in the past he was known to drive an older model black Toyota 4 Runner with Pennsylvania tags.The victim sustained injuries from being struck with an object that was in the suspect's hand. The victim was treated and released from hospital care.Police have identified and are searching for a 30-year-old male suspect. A case file has been presented to the County Attorney’s Office for prosecution, according to Wilson.