Topeka, Kan.&nbsp;– The Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) has identified multiple COVID-19 cases linked to&nbsp;Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar and Grille located at&nbsp;2827 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release.

Anyone who attended <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/JEREMIAH-BULLFROGS-BAR-AND-GRILLE-157353776246/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=10151519043351247&amp;ref=page_internal">Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar and Grille</a> on July 24th, 25th, 27th&nbsp;and 28th&nbsp;is at risk for potential exposure and should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the date of attendance. Individuals are recommended to contact their primary care provider IF they develop any of the following symptoms: fever of 100.4 F or higher, chills, rigors,&nbsp;&nbsp;myalgia (muscle pain or aches), malaise,&nbsp;headache, sore throat,&nbsp;lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), new olfactory and taste disorders,&nbsp;diarrhea,&nbsp;congestion or runny nose and nausea or vomiting

“The Health Department appreciates the cooperation of the management staff at Bullfrogs Bar and Grille,” said Linda Ochs Shawnee County Health Department Director. “We encourage any individuals to contact their healthcare provider if they begin to exhibit any symptoms related to COVID-19”.

Jeremiah Bullfrogs ownership voluntarily closed their establishment over the weekend, Friday July 31st&nbsp;through Monday August 3rd, to conduct deep cleaning and to provide the opportunity for all staff to be tested. They reopened Tuesday August 4th&nbsp;for curbside pick-up and patio dining only.

“We have been following the guidance and recommendations set forth by the Shawnee County Health Department regarding social distancing and mask wear,” said General Manager Faith Pearson. “Once notified of the exposures we were proactive in protecting the health and safety of our staff and patrons by notifying the public and have been in communication with the Shawnee County Health Department regarding next steps”.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596670699188.png" alt="photo courtesy Jeremiah Bullfrogs . They are now open for carryout and patio service only following the outbreak" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Jeremiah Bullfrogs . They are now open for carryout and patio service only following the outbreak</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka, Kan.&nbsp;– The Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) has identified multiple COVID-19 cases linked to&nbsp;Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar and Grille located at&nbsp;2827 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release. Anyone who attended <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/JEREMIAH-BULLFROGS-BAR-AND-GRILLE-157353776246/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=10151519043351247&amp;ref=page_internal">Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar and Grille</a> on July 24th, 25th, 27th&nbsp;and 28th&nbsp;is at risk for potential exposure and should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the date of attendance. Individuals are recommended to contact their primary care provider IF they develop any of the following symptoms: fever of 100.4 F or higher, chills, rigors,&nbsp;&nbsp;myalgia (muscle pain or aches), malaise,&nbsp;headache, sore throat,&nbsp;lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), new olfactory and taste disorders,&nbsp;diarrhea,&nbsp;congestion or runny nose and nausea or vomiting“The Health Department appreciates the cooperation of the management staff at Bullfrogs Bar and Grille,” said Linda Ochs Shawnee County Health Department Director. “We encourage any individuals to contact their healthcare provider if they begin to exhibit any symptoms related to COVID-19”.Jeremiah Bullfrogs ownership voluntarily closed their establishment over the weekend, Friday July 31st&nbsp;through Monday August 3rd, to conduct deep cleaning and to provide the opportunity for all staff to be tested. They reopened Tuesday August 4th&nbsp;for curbside pick-up and patio dining only.“We have been following the guidance and recommendations set forth by the Shawnee County Health Department regarding social distancing and mask wear,” said General Manager Faith Pearson. “Once notified of the exposures we were proactive in protecting the health and safety of our staff and patrons by notifying the public and have been in communication with the Shawnee County Health Department regarding next steps”.

Multiple COVID-19 cases linked to Topeka bar and grill

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The mayor of Goddard who resigned on Monday was charged Wednesday with counterfeiting, a class A nonperson misdemeanor, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Jamey Blubaugh and his wife, Elizabeth, were charged Wednesday with one count of counterfeiting, which is a misdemeanor. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office said the couple is accused of using counterfeit tickets to attend last year's Zoobilee at the Sedgwick County Zoo. The tickets were $165 each.

According to the city of Goddard, "We understand that the former Mayor, who resigned Monday, August 3, 2020, is facing serious criminal charges. We also understand that these charges have no connection with any official&nbsp;action of the former Mayor. 

The City has no role in any decision to make these charges, and it&nbsp;has not conducted any investigation of these charges. Former Mayor Jamey Blubaugh, like any&nbsp;other individual, is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

We fully support law enforcement officials, and have expressed our commitment to cooperate&nbsp;with the District Attorney’s office to find the truth of the allegations.

We recognize that Goddard City officials expect to be held accountable for any actions that&nbsp;reflect badly on the City. These charges serve as an important reminder that no one is above&nbsp;the law. The citizens of Goddard deserve public servants acting with integrity. We look&nbsp;forward to justice being served in all cases where the public’s trust has been betrayed.

We are disappointed that this event may overshadow the number of positive developments&nbsp;that are happening in the community. We are hopeful that the distraction will not obscure the&nbsp;growth and vitality of the community.

These issues are entirely unconnected to the City, representing charges brought by the District&nbsp;Attorney against the former Mayor."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596655385041.png" alt="Jamey Blubaugh photo city of Goddard" />
 <figcaption>Jamey Blubaugh photo city of Goddard</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The mayor of Goddard who resigned on Monday was charged Wednesday with counterfeiting, a class A nonperson misdemeanor, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Jamey Blubaugh and his wife, Elizabeth, were charged Wednesday with one count of counterfeiting, which is a misdemeanor. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office said the couple is accused of using counterfeit tickets to attend last year's Zoobilee at the Sedgwick County Zoo. The tickets were $165 each.According to the city of Goddard, "We understand that the former Mayor, who resigned Monday, August 3, 2020, is facing serious criminal charges. We also understand that these charges have no connection with any official&nbsp;action of the former Mayor. The City has no role in any decision to make these charges, and it&nbsp;has not conducted any investigation of these charges. Former Mayor Jamey Blubaugh, like any&nbsp;other individual, is entitled to the presumption of innocence.We fully support law enforcement officials, and have expressed our commitment to cooperate&nbsp;with the District Attorney’s office to find the truth of the allegations.We recognize that Goddard City officials expect to be held accountable for any actions that&nbsp;reflect badly on the City. These charges serve as an important reminder that no one is above&nbsp;the law. The citizens of Goddard deserve public servants acting with integrity. We look&nbsp;forward to justice being served in all cases where the public’s trust has been betrayed.We are disappointed that this event may overshadow the number of positive developments&nbsp;that are happening in the community. We are hopeful that the distraction will not obscure the&nbsp;growth and vitality of the community.These issues are entirely unconnected to the City, representing charges brought by the District&nbsp;Attorney against the former Mayor."

Kan. mayor charged with counterfeiting tickets for fundraiser

SEDGWICK —Four suspects arrested in connection with a fatal motel room gun fight have that left two men dead made their first appearance in court Tuesday.

Braxton Cooley, 23; Akakia Farbes, 23; Koby Fisher, 23, all of Wichita and 43-year-old Eugene Donnald of O’Fallon, Illinois were charged with attempted aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office

Just before 1a.m. July 30, police responded to a shooting at the Scotsman Hotel, 5922 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old William Pottorff with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp; 

Shortly after arriving on the scene, Keion Whyte, 23, arrived at an area hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed, a woman has been staying at the motel for approximately one month and was being visited by Pottorff, who is an acquaintance,&nbsp;according to Captain Stephens.

While in the room, Whyte and four others later identified as&nbsp; Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald forced themselves into the room, and a physical altercation ensued between Pottorff and Whyte.

During the physical altercation, both men pulled out handguns, and there was an exchange of gunfire, leading to Pottorff’s&nbsp; fatal injuries.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Cooley, Farbes, Donald, Fisher, and an additional person that was in a vehicle during the incident took Whyte to an area hospital, according to Stephens. He died on August 1, according to police.

Following the investigation, police originally arrested Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald&nbsp; on requested charges of felony murder and aggravated burglary, according to Stephens.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596107513157.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation July 30 -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation July 30 -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK —Four suspects arrested in connection with a fatal motel room gun fight have that left two men dead made their first appearance in court Tuesday.Braxton Cooley, 23; Akakia Farbes, 23; Koby Fisher, 23, all of Wichita and 43-year-old Eugene Donnald of O’Fallon, Illinois were charged with attempted aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's officeJust before 1a.m. July 30, police responded to a shooting at the Scotsman Hotel, 5922 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old William Pottorff with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp; Shortly after arriving on the scene, Keion Whyte, 23, arrived at an area hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.&nbsp;The investigation revealed, a woman has been staying at the motel for approximately one month and was being visited by Pottorff, who is an acquaintance,&nbsp;according to Captain Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596146101791.png" alt="Cooley photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cooley photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>While in the room, Whyte and four others later identified as&nbsp; Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald forced themselves into the room, and a physical altercation ensued between Pottorff and Whyte.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596159011888.png" alt="Farbes photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Farbes photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the physical altercation, both men pulled out handguns, and there was an exchange of gunfire, leading to Pottorff’s&nbsp; fatal injuries.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596146211661.png" alt="Fisher photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Fisher photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Cooley, Farbes, Donald, Fisher, and an additional person that was in a vehicle during the incident took Whyte to an area hospital, according to Stephens. He died on August 1, according to police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596206388150.png" alt="Donnald- photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Donnald- photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the investigation, police originally arrested Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald&nbsp; on requested charges of felony murder and aggravated burglary, according to Stephens.--------

4 who survived fatal Kan. motel gun fight charged

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/05/kansas-primary-undercuts-gop-moderates-rogue-democrat-clings-to-victory/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Enough dust 
settled on the Kansas primary election Wednesday to reveal Democrats 
bemoaning the ouster of moderate Republican lawmakers by conservative 
challengers and the political universe’s dismay at the one-vote lead by a
 Wyandotte County Democrat who campaigned by calling on Republicans to 
drop dead of COVID-19.

Centrist Republicans in 
the Kansas House and Senate fell in the primary as the Kansas Chamber, 
Kansans for Life and other political action committees helped carry a 
majority of their conservative preferences across the finish line.

Unless Democrats surge in 
November, the Kansas Legislature could trend to the right and opposition
 to Gov. Laura Kelly’s vision of tax reform and Medicaid expansion could
 deepen.

“Last night’s election 
results affirmed Kansans want to thrive in a culture of limited 
government, opportunity and self-determination, all the while respecting
 life, neighbors, law and order,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a 
Wichita Republican who didn’t seek re-election. “My focus now is to 
preserve our veto-proof majority in the Kansas Senate to keep a check on
 Laura Kelly’s liberal policies, and stabilize and grow our economy in 
the midst of a historical pandemic.”

She also urged moderate 
and conservative Republicans to unify behind the GOP’s nominees in 
November to defeat “the extreme liberal agenda.”

The August primary results
 suggested statehouse politics could in the future more precisely follow
 party lines rather than operate with essentially a three-party model of
 conservative Republicans, moderate Republicans and Democrats. The House
 and Senate could become more ideological and accentuate policy 
gridlock.

A pair of Democratic 
legislators, both former Republicans, were struck by defeat of centrist 
GOP lawmakers in the same election cycle that prompted Democrats to 
nominate women in the state’s four U.S. House districts and the open 
U.S. Senate seat.

“If you still believe 
there is room for moderates in the GOP, take another look at the primary
 results,” said Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who was among four Republicans 
who switched allegiances after the 2018 elections.

Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an
 Overland Park Democrat who defected along with Sykes, said the state’s 
moderate Republicans deserved “representation, respect and time to 
process things.”

Incumbent Republican 
senators taking a licking in the Tuesday primary included John Skubal, 
of Overland Park; Bruce Givens, of El Dorado; Dan Goddard, of Parsons; 
Eric Rucker, of Topeka; Randall Hardy, of Salina; Mary Jo Taylor, of 
Stafford; and Ed Berger, of Hutchinson. Over in the House, the GOP 
members falling out of favor were Jan Kessinger, of Overland Park; Jim 
Karleskint, of Tonganoxie; Diana Dierks, of Salina; Michael Capps, of 
Wichita; and J.C. Moore, of Clearwater.

The District 15 contest in
 southeast Kansas between Goddard and former Rep. Virgil Peck remained 
close with late advance and provisional ballots left to be counted. As 
of Tuesday night, Peck had 4,927 votes to Goddard’s 4,886 votes.

Overland Park Republican 
Jane Dirks took 58% of the vote in District 20 of Johnson County in a 
campaign that amplified Kessinger’s refusal to support a proposed 
constitutional amendment that would have declared the Kansas 
Constitution didn’t afford women the right to abortion. Kessinger was 
among four Republicans who didn’t back the amendment, and it fell short 
of the two-thirds majority required to put it on statewide ballots.

Leawood Democrat Mari-Lynn
 Poskin, who will go up against Dirks in the general election, said 
Dirks’ campaign showed the GOP wasn’t interested in the contribution of 
cross-aisle consensus builders.

“GOP extremists proved they have no appetite for bipartisan, common sense approaches to governing our state,” Poskin said.

Three House primary 
contests — one Democrat, two Republican — were closer than 50 votes 
after Tuesday’s count. In the three-person Democratic race to replace 
Rep. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, candidates Mike Griswold and 
Whitney Moulder were separated by 37 votes from more than 1,000 cast.

In the state’s only 
four-candidate primary, the Kansas Chamber and KFL-backed candidate 
Kathy Valentine of Newton was trailing fellow Republican Avery Anderson 
by 39 votes. Anderson had 1,263, while Valentine was at 1,224. That seat
 is held by Rep. Tim Hodge, a North Newton Democrat and top target of 
Republicans.

The other 
too-early-to-call race had Marysville Republican Jon Ungerer with 2,622 
votes to Wheaton Republican Lisa Moser’s 2,610. They’re competing for 
the GOP nomination for the District 106 seat to be vacated by Rep. Bill 
Pannbacker, a Washington Republican.

The lone incumbent 
Democrat facing the uncomfortable reality of a potential primary loss is
 Rep. Stan Frownfelter, who has served the Kansas City, Kan., district 
since 2007. He was trailing — 768-767 — to challenger Aaron Coleman, a 
19-year-old who said on social media Republicans who refuse to wear a 
mask during the COVID-19 pandemic deserved to fall ill or die. He later 
apologized.

Bob Beatty, a Washburn 
University political science professor, said he doubted most 
participants in the Frownfelter-Coleman primary, many of whom could be 
considered “low-information voters,” were familiar with attributes or 
complexities of these Democratic candidates. It’s much easier for voters
 to focus on top-of-the-ballot candidates, he said.

Gadfly candidates 
typically suffer overwhelming defeat at the ballot box but it is 
possible for someone to gain an advantage by leaning into red-meat 
rhetoric to invigorate their political base, said Patrick Miller, a 
political science professor at the University of Kansas.

He also said it was 
possible Frownfelter underestimated the attraction of a new, younger 
candidate who bashed the GOP without reservation.

“To have incumbency work for you, you have to take advantage of it,” Miller said.

Kelly, the Democrat 
elected governor in 2018, said she was intrigued Missouri joined Kansas’
 neighboring states of Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma to expand 
eligibility for Medicaid under the law signed by President Barack Obama a
 decade ago. Voters in red-state Missouri endorsed Medicaid expansion 
despite a campaign by Republican state leaders to derail the initiative.
 The measure was adopted 53% to 46%.

For 
years, GOP Govs. Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer successfully collaborated
 with Republican-majority legislators to stiff-arm Medicaid reform in 
Kansas.

“Every 
single Kansas voter must ask themselves why, year after year, Republican
 leadership in the Legislature has blocked expansion,” Kelly said. 
“Their obstruction has left 150,000 Kansans without access to healthcare
 during a global health crisis. They have forfeited $4 billion Kansas 
taxpayer dollars. They have rejected 13,000 new jobs that we could bring
 to Kansas.”

“Republican
 leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ 
lives and support Medicaid expansion,” she said.

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596661242872.jpeg" alt="Salina Rep. J.R. Claeys, right, defeated in Tuesday's Republican Party primary incumbent Sen. Randall Hardy by nearly 3,000 votes as part of a conservative surge against moderates. No Democrat filed in District 24. (Nick Krug for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Salina Rep. J.R. Claeys, right, defeated in Tuesday's Republican Party primary incumbent Sen. Randall Hardy by nearly 3,000 votes as part of a conservative surge against moderates. No Democrat filed in District 24. (Nick Krug for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/05/kansas-primary-undercuts-gop-moderates-rogue-democrat-clings-to-victory/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Enough dust 
settled on the Kansas primary election Wednesday to reveal Democrats 
bemoaning the ouster of moderate Republican lawmakers by conservative 
challengers and the political universe’s dismay at the one-vote lead by a
 Wyandotte County Democrat who campaigned by calling on Republicans to 
drop dead of COVID-19.Centrist Republicans in 
the Kansas House and Senate fell in the primary as the Kansas Chamber, 
Kansans for Life and other political action committees helped carry a 
majority of their conservative preferences across the finish line.Unless Democrats surge in 
November, the Kansas Legislature could trend to the right and opposition
 to Gov. Laura Kelly’s vision of tax reform and Medicaid expansion could
 deepen.“Last night’s election 
results affirmed Kansans want to thrive in a culture of limited 
government, opportunity and self-determination, all the while respecting
 life, neighbors, law and order,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a 
Wichita Republican who didn’t seek re-election. “My focus now is to 
preserve our veto-proof majority in the Kansas Senate to keep a check on
 Laura Kelly’s liberal policies, and stabilize and grow our economy in 
the midst of a historical pandemic.”She also urged moderate 
and conservative Republicans to unify behind the GOP’s nominees in 
November to defeat “the extreme liberal agenda.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596661306941.jpeg" alt="Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican not seeking re-election, says her top priority is maintaining a veto-proof GOP majority in the Senate to thwart the agenda of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. (Nick Krug for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican not seeking re-election, says her top priority is maintaining a veto-proof GOP majority in the Senate to thwart the agenda of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. (Nick Krug for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The August primary results
 suggested statehouse politics could in the future more precisely follow
 party lines rather than operate with essentially a three-party model of
 conservative Republicans, moderate Republicans and Democrats. The House
 and Senate could become more ideological and accentuate policy 
gridlock.A pair of Democratic 
legislators, both former Republicans, were struck by defeat of centrist 
GOP lawmakers in the same election cycle that prompted Democrats to 
nominate women in the state’s four U.S. House districts and the open 
U.S. Senate seat.“If you still believe 
there is room for moderates in the GOP, take another look at the primary
 results,” said Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who was among four Republicans 
who switched allegiances after the 2018 elections.Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an
 Overland Park Democrat who defected along with Sykes, said the state’s 
moderate Republicans deserved “representation, respect and time to 
process things.”<h2>The defeated</h2>Incumbent Republican 
senators taking a licking in the Tuesday primary included John Skubal, 
of Overland Park; Bruce Givens, of El Dorado; Dan Goddard, of Parsons; 
Eric Rucker, of Topeka; Randall Hardy, of Salina; Mary Jo Taylor, of 
Stafford; and Ed Berger, of Hutchinson. Over in the House, the GOP 
members falling out of favor were Jan Kessinger, of Overland Park; Jim 
Karleskint, of Tonganoxie; Diana Dierks, of Salina; Michael Capps, of 
Wichita; and J.C. Moore, of Clearwater.The District 15 contest in
 southeast Kansas between Goddard and former Rep. Virgil Peck remained 
close with late advance and provisional ballots left to be counted. As 
of Tuesday night, Peck had 4,927 votes to Goddard’s 4,886 votes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596661343495.jpeg" alt="Former state Rep. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican, holds a 41-vote lead with nearly 10,000 ballots cast over GOP Sen. Dan Goddard of Parsons. Peck’s campaign is part of a strategy to root out moderate GOP senators. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Former state Rep. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican, holds a 41-vote lead with nearly 10,000 ballots cast over GOP Sen. Dan Goddard of Parsons. Peck’s campaign is part of a strategy to root out moderate GOP senators. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Overland Park Republican 
Jane Dirks took 58% of the vote in District 20 of Johnson County in a 
campaign that amplified Kessinger’s refusal to support a proposed 
constitutional amendment that would have declared the Kansas 
Constitution didn’t afford women the right to abortion. Kessinger was 
among four Republicans who didn’t back the amendment, and it fell short 
of the two-thirds majority required to put it on statewide ballots.Leawood Democrat Mari-Lynn
 Poskin, who will go up against Dirks in the general election, said 
Dirks’ campaign showed the GOP wasn’t interested in the contribution of 
cross-aisle consensus builders.“GOP extremists proved they have no appetite for bipartisan, common sense approaches to governing our state,” Poskin said.Three House primary 
contests — one Democrat, two Republican — were closer than 50 votes 
after Tuesday’s count. In the three-person Democratic race to replace 
Rep. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, candidates Mike Griswold and 
Whitney Moulder were separated by 37 votes from more than 1,000 cast.In the state’s only 
four-candidate primary, the Kansas Chamber and KFL-backed candidate 
Kathy Valentine of Newton was trailing fellow Republican Avery Anderson 
by 39 votes. Anderson had 1,263, while Valentine was at 1,224. That seat
 is held by Rep. Tim Hodge, a North Newton Democrat and top target of 
Republicans.The other 
too-early-to-call race had Marysville Republican Jon Ungerer with 2,622 
votes to Wheaton Republican Lisa Moser’s 2,610. They’re competing for 
the GOP nomination for the District 106 seat to be vacated by Rep. Bill 
Pannbacker, a Washington Republican.<h2>The Coleman thing</h2>The lone incumbent 
Democrat facing the uncomfortable reality of a potential primary loss is
 Rep. Stan Frownfelter, who has served the Kansas City, Kan., district 
since 2007. He was trailing — 768-767 — to challenger Aaron Coleman, a 
19-year-old who said on social media Republicans who refuse to wear a 
mask during the COVID-19 pandemic deserved to fall ill or die. He later 
apologized.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596661373194.jpeg" alt="Moderate Rep. Tom Cox of Shawnee fell far short Tuesday in a challenge of conservative Sen. Mike Thompson, the Shawnee former TV weather forecaster. Thompson gathered 73% of the vote in the primary race. (Nick Krug for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Moderate Rep. Tom Cox of Shawnee fell far short Tuesday in a challenge of conservative Sen. Mike Thompson, the Shawnee former TV weather forecaster. Thompson gathered 73% of the vote in the primary race. (Nick Krug for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Bob Beatty, a Washburn 
University political science professor, said he doubted most 
participants in the Frownfelter-Coleman primary, many of whom could be 
considered “low-information voters,” were familiar with attributes or 
complexities of these Democratic candidates. It’s much easier for voters
 to focus on top-of-the-ballot candidates, he said.Gadfly candidates 
typically suffer overwhelming defeat at the ballot box but it is 
possible for someone to gain an advantage by leaning into red-meat 
rhetoric to invigorate their political base, said Patrick Miller, a 
political science professor at the University of Kansas.He also said it was 
possible Frownfelter underestimated the attraction of a new, younger 
candidate who bashed the GOP without reservation.“To have incumbency work for you, you have to take advantage of it,” Miller said.<h2>Missouri model</h2>Kelly, the Democrat 
elected governor in 2018, said she was intrigued Missouri joined Kansas’
 neighboring states of Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma to expand 
eligibility for Medicaid under the law signed by President Barack Obama a
 decade ago. Voters in red-state Missouri endorsed Medicaid expansion 
despite a campaign by Republican state leaders to derail the initiative.
 The measure was adopted 53% to 46%.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596661403774.jpeg" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly says passage by Missouri voters of Medicaid expansion leaves Kansas in a five-state group with Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma still resisting a federal program extending health care to low- and moderate-income people. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly says passage by Missouri voters of Medicaid expansion leaves Kansas in a five-state group with Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma still resisting a federal program extending health care to low- and moderate-income people. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>For 
years, GOP Govs. Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer successfully collaborated
 with Republican-majority legislators to stiff-arm Medicaid reform in 
Kansas.“Every 
single Kansas voter must ask themselves why, year after year, Republican
 leadership in the Legislature has blocked expansion,” Kelly said. 
“Their obstruction has left 150,000 Kansans without access to healthcare
 during a global health crisis. They have forfeited $4 billion Kansas 
taxpayer dollars. They have rejected 13,000 new jobs that we could bring
 to Kansas.”“Republican
 leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ 
lives and support Medicaid expansion,” she said.Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

Kansas primary undercuts GOP moderates in Legislature

TOPEKA, Kan. — Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), held a press briefing Wednesday to discuss the latest on coronavirus in Kansas. During the discussion, Dr. Norman talked about sports and the virus, masks, children diagnosed with the virus and much more.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 368, an increase of 3 since Monday.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), held a press briefing Wednesday to discuss the latest on coronavirus in Kansas. During the discussion, Dr. Norman talked about sports and the virus, masks, children diagnosed with the virus and much more.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F3181624445282231%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 368, an increase of 3 since Monday.

🎥  Dr. Lee Norman on increase in coronavirus in Kansas

ATCHISON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a teen suspect in custody.

Just before 7:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to a shots fired call in the 400 block North 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike&nbsp; Wilson.

 Officers found a 17-year-old boy at the scene with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to a hospital. 

It was determined that the shooting suspect had fled the area on foot, according to Wilson.

At 8:15p.m., officers located the 16-year-old suspect at a residence. He was taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal use of a weapon. He was later transported to a juvenile detention facility.

According to investigators, both the victim and the suspect were on walking in the area of 5th and Parallel in Atchison. They were not walking together but a verbal altercation occurred as they were in the 400 block North 5th, according to Wilson. The suspect then shot the victim one time with a handgun.

Police recovered a handgun has been recovered during their investigation, according to Wilson.

Wilson did not release an update on the condition of the 17-year-old.

ATCHISON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a teen suspect in custody.Just before 7:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to a shots fired call in the 400 block North 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike&nbsp; Wilson. Officers found a 17-year-old boy at the scene with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to a hospital. It was determined that the shooting suspect had fled the area on foot, according to Wilson.At 8:15p.m., officers located the 16-year-old suspect at a residence. He was taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal use of a weapon. He was later transported to a juvenile detention facility.According to investigators, both the victim and the suspect were on walking in the area of 5th and Parallel in Atchison. They were not walking together but a verbal altercation occurred as they were in the 400 block North 5th, according to Wilson. The suspect then shot the victim one time with a handgun.Police recovered a handgun has been recovered during their investigation, according to Wilson.Wilson did not release an update on the condition of the 17-year-old.

Police arrest 16-year-old Kan. boy for shooting

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-3rd-district-amanda-adkins-wins-crowded-republican-primary-sharice-davids-next/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Amanda Adkins emerged victorious Tuesday from a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, in a race that focused heavily on who would match up best with Democratic incumbent Sharice Davids in the November general election.

Adkins, an Overland Park resident, defeated four challengers, tallying 31% of the vote with 567 of 642 precincts reporting. Sara Hart Weir of Mission, the former president of the National Down Syndrome Society, was second, with 23% and trailing by nearly 7,000 votes.

The race saw a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/kansas-voters-pivot-to-advance-by-mail-voting-amid-covid-19/">record number of advance mail-in ballots</a>, with more than 77,000 returned across the district as of Monday. Those early results in the 3rd District, which encompasses all of Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as part of Miami County, showed a large advantage for Adkins, which she held throughout the night.

Adkins, a Cerner executive and former chair of the Kansas Republican Party, as well as former campaign manager and advisor to former Gov. Sam Brownback, said her experience as a parent and as a businesswoman made her the most prepared to face Davids.

“There are not enough conservative, female, business-minded voices in Congress,” Adkins said. “As a life-long conservative, I have always believed the government’s role should be that of providing an economic lift to a region, not furthering dependency on the government.”

Following the election, Adkins issued a simple challenge to her forthcoming opponent.

“Sharice Davids, I have one message for you tonight and that is that we are coming for you this November,” Adkins said.

Adkins received endorsements from various big-name GOP legislators including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Most recently, Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets weighed in with his support as a fellow Midwestern politician.

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer congratulated Adkins and denounced the Democratic incumbent.

“Sharice Davids has been nothing more than a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and her socialist agenda since coming to Washington and has failed to stand up for Kansas,” Emmer said. “I look forward to Amanda’s victory this fall and working with her on common-sense conservative solutions for years to come.”

Adkins’ ties to Brownback, however, were heavily scrutinized in the lead-up to the election, especially by the Kansas Democratic Party. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2020-07-29/former-chairwoman-of-the-kansas-gop-says-shes-best-equipped-to-take-on-u-s-rep-sharice-davids">recent KCUR interview</a>, Adkins praised the former governor’s administration as being “fiscally prudent.”

“This is the latest example of how out-of-touch she is with Kansans. Hardworking families are still dealing with the fallout of the Brownback-Adkins tax experiment,” said KDP Executive Director Ben Meers. “No matter how hard she tries to distance herself from her old boss, Kansans will not forget Adkins’ involvement in our state’s largest economic failure.”

Adkins also fell under scrutiny from fellow candidates over financial support from a super PAC heavily funded by her father. The political action committee had put out ads critical of Weir.

Weir, who finished second in the election and in funding, butted heads with Adkins over the nominee’s ads claiming Weir was lying when she said she opposed Obamacare. Weir dismissed those claims, saying she wanted to see significant healthcare change.

“We need to offer a system that offers choice and free-market solutions that actually move all our citizens toward a healthier life and ensures employer-sponsored health insurance is affordable for business and organizations,” Weir said.

“I want to congratulate Amanda Adkins on her victory,” Weir said after the results came in. “As I’ve said from the beginning of this race, the most important thing for the party is that we have a candidate that can defeat Sharice Davids in November. I look forward to working to help make that happen.”

Among the other candidates in the race, Adrienne Vallejo Foster was edging out Mike Beehler for third, and Tom Love was coming in at 7%.

Davids held a kick-off event for the November election, speaking via Zoom as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m. Davids had raised $4 million for the campaign as of July 15; as of the same date, Adkins had raised just under $1 million.

“We have so much to fight for and so much on the line,” said Davids, who defeated longtime Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder in 2018. “We cannot allow this seat to slip back to the GOP. We don’t know who my opponent will be but we do know they will be fueled by dark money and corporate special interests.”

In a statement after the race was called, Davids touted her own track record working to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and provide relief during the coronavirus pandemic. She also criticized Adkins for trying to bring back old policies.

“I’m confident that Kansans will vote to continue the progress we’ve made together and reject Sam Brownback adviser Amanda Adkins’ plan to double down on the failures of the Brownback Administration that gutted funding for our public schools and decimated our economy, the effects of which Kansas families are still feeling today,” Davids said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG-0675.jpg" alt="A sign supporting Amanda Adkins, who currently leads the 3rd Congressional district Republican primary (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A sign supporting Amanda Adkins, who currently leads the 3rd Congressional district Republican primary (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-3rd-district-amanda-adkins-wins-crowded-republican-primary-sharice-davids-next/">Kansas Reflector</a>Amanda Adkins emerged victorious Tuesday from a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, in a race that focused heavily on who would match up best with Democratic incumbent Sharice Davids in the November general election.Adkins, an Overland Park resident, defeated four challengers, tallying 31% of the vote with 567 of 642 precincts reporting. Sara Hart Weir of Mission, the former president of the National Down Syndrome Society, was second, with 23% and trailing by nearly 7,000 votes.The race saw a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/kansas-voters-pivot-to-advance-by-mail-voting-amid-covid-19/">record number of advance mail-in ballots</a>, with more than 77,000 returned across the district as of Monday. Those early results in the 3rd District, which encompasses all of Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as part of Miami County, showed a large advantage for Adkins, which she held throughout the night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568149149461.png" alt="Amanda Adkins" />
 <figcaption>Amanda Adkins</figcaption>
 </figure>Adkins, a Cerner executive and former chair of the Kansas Republican Party, as well as former campaign manager and advisor to former Gov. Sam Brownback, said her experience as a parent and as a businesswoman made her the most prepared to face Davids.“There are not enough conservative, female, business-minded voices in Congress,” Adkins said. “As a life-long conservative, I have always believed the government’s role should be that of providing an economic lift to a region, not furthering dependency on the government.”Following the election, Adkins issued a simple challenge to her forthcoming opponent.“Sharice Davids, I have one message for you tonight and that is that we are coming for you this November,” Adkins said.Adkins received endorsements from various big-name GOP legislators including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Most recently, Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets weighed in with his support as a fellow Midwestern politician.National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer congratulated Adkins and denounced the Democratic incumbent.“Sharice Davids has been nothing more than a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and her socialist agenda since coming to Washington and has failed to stand up for Kansas,” Emmer said. “I look forward to Amanda’s victory this fall and working with her on common-sense conservative solutions for years to come.”Adkins’ ties to Brownback, however, were heavily scrutinized in the lead-up to the election, especially by the Kansas Democratic Party. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2020-07-29/former-chairwoman-of-the-kansas-gop-says-shes-best-equipped-to-take-on-u-s-rep-sharice-davids">recent KCUR interview</a>, Adkins praised the former governor’s administration as being “fiscally prudent.”“This is the latest example of how out-of-touch she is with Kansans. Hardworking families are still dealing with the fallout of the Brownback-Adkins tax experiment,” said KDP Executive Director Ben Meers. “No matter how hard she tries to distance herself from her old boss, Kansans will not forget Adkins’ involvement in our state’s largest economic failure.”Adkins also fell under scrutiny from fellow candidates over financial support from a super PAC heavily funded by her father. The political action committee had put out ads critical of Weir.Weir, who finished second in the election and in funding, butted heads with Adkins over the nominee’s ads claiming Weir was lying when she said she opposed Obamacare. Weir dismissed those claims, saying she wanted to see significant healthcare change.“We need to offer a system that offers choice and free-market solutions that actually move all our citizens toward a healthier life and ensures employer-sponsored health insurance is affordable for business and organizations,” Weir said.“I want to congratulate Amanda Adkins on her victory,” Weir said after the results came in. “As I’ve said from the beginning of this race, the most important thing for the party is that we have a candidate that can defeat Sharice Davids in November. I look forward to working to help make that happen.”Among the other candidates in the race, Adrienne Vallejo Foster was edging out Mike Beehler for third, and Tom Love was coming in at 7%.Davids held a kick-off event for the November election, speaking via Zoom as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m. Davids had raised $4 million for the campaign as of July 15; as of the same date, Adkins had raised just under $1 million.“We have so much to fight for and so much on the line,” said Davids, who defeated longtime Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder in 2018. “We cannot allow this seat to slip back to the GOP. We don’t know who my opponent will be but we do know they will be fueled by dark money and corporate special interests.”In a statement after the race was called, Davids touted her own track record working to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and provide relief during the coronavirus pandemic. She also criticized Adkins for trying to bring back old policies.“I’m confident that Kansans will vote to continue the progress we’ve made together and reject Sam Brownback adviser Amanda Adkins’ plan to double down on the failures of the Brownback Administration that gutted funding for our public schools and decimated our economy, the effects of which Kansas families are still feeling today,” Davids said.

Adkins wins crowded Kan. primary, Sharice Davids next

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

<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 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 368<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/2020/8/1596647146125.png" alt="August 5, 2020, KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>August 5, 2020, KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect captured at the scene of a burglary.

Just after 10p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person at a business in the 4200 block of NW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

 When deputies arrived, they located a man and woman on the property.&nbsp; Deputies determined a Hyundai Sonata driven by the man was reported stolen out of the city of Topeka.&nbsp; 

Deputies attempted to arrest the him but he ran from the scene.&nbsp; After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect later identified as 27-year-old Lyle J. Beaty of Topeka was detained and arrested.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Beaty is being held on requested charges of possession of stolen property and interference with a law enforcement officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596645908455.png" alt="Beaty photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Beaty photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect captured at the scene of a burglary.Just after 10p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person at a business in the 4200 block of NW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer. When deputies arrived, they located a man and woman on the property.&nbsp; Deputies determined a Hyundai Sonata driven by the man was reported stolen out of the city of Topeka.&nbsp; Deputies attempted to arrest the him but he ran from the scene.&nbsp; After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect later identified as 27-year-old Lyle J. Beaty of Topeka was detained and arrested.&nbsp;&nbsp;Beaty is being held on requested charges of possession of stolen property and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Kansas man captured near scene of business burglary

TOPEKA —Voters on Tuesday made Missouri the 38th state to approve expanding Medicaid health care coverage to thousands more low-income adults.

Support for the constitutional amendment means that as many as 250,000 more adults could choose to be covered by government health insurance beginning in July 2021, according to estimates from the state auditor.

&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a statement on the outcome of the vote.

“Last night, Missourians voted to join our neighbors in Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma to become the 39th state to expand Medicaid. Every single Kansas voter must ask themselves why, year after year, Republican leadership in the Legislature has blocked expansion."

“Their obstruction has left 150,000 Kansans without access to healthcare during a global health crisis. They have&nbsp;forfeited $4 billion Kansas taxpayer dollars. They have rejected 13,000 new jobs that we could bring to Kansas."

“Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion.”

The ballot proposal in Missouri will expand eligibility under the terms of the 2010 federal health care law signed by President Barack Obama. That law provides a higher-than-usual federal funding share for states that expand Medicaid coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, about $17,600 for an individual or $30,000 for a family of three.

Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who opposes Medicaid expansion and won the Republican primary for a full term Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/370412b64934d5f8a2db21131d3d1485">moved the vote on the proposal up</a>&nbsp;from the Nov. 3 general election to Tuesday’s primary. Parson said the earlier vote would give the state more time to financially prepare for Medicaid expansion, if it passes. He said his decision was not about politics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594062014716.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly:&nbsp;Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly:&nbsp;Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Voters on Tuesday made Missouri the 38th state to approve expanding Medicaid health care coverage to thousands more low-income adults.Support for the constitutional amendment means that as many as 250,000 more adults could choose to be covered by government health insurance beginning in July 2021, according to estimates from the state auditor.&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a statement on the outcome of the vote.“Last night, Missourians voted to join our neighbors in Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma to become the 39th state to expand Medicaid. Every single Kansas voter must ask themselves why, year after year, Republican leadership in the Legislature has blocked expansion."“Their obstruction has left 150,000 Kansans without access to healthcare during a global health crisis. They have&nbsp;forfeited $4 billion Kansas taxpayer dollars. They have rejected 13,000 new jobs that we could bring to Kansas."“Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion.”The ballot proposal in Missouri will expand eligibility under the terms of the 2010 federal health care law signed by President Barack Obama. That law provides a higher-than-usual federal funding share for states that expand Medicaid coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, about $17,600 for an individual or $30,000 for a family of three.Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who opposes Medicaid expansion and won the Republican primary for a full term Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/370412b64934d5f8a2db21131d3d1485">moved the vote on the proposal up</a>&nbsp;from the Nov. 3 general election to Tuesday’s primary. Parson said the earlier vote would give the state more time to financially prepare for Medicaid expansion, if it passes. He said his decision was not about politics.

Kan. Governor calls for Medicaid expansion after Missouri vote

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>


HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Tracey Mann is going to be the Republican nominee for the Kansas 
First District seat in Congress on the November ballot. He understands 
that the legacy of previous First District officeholders will be a 
challenge to obtain.

"That legacy is one of agriculture," Mann 
said. "One of sitting on the House Ag Committee, of representing the 
largest industry in this state, the largest industry in the Big First, 
by far. I'm a farm kid, grew up on a farm, spent hundreds of hours on a 
tractor, combine, worked thousands of head of cattle and excited for the
 opportunity to go and be a voice for Kansas agriculture."

The purse strings are the way Congress is able to hold the executive branch accountable, regardless of who is President.

"Congress
 is who oversees the funding for the EPA and other regulatory agencies,"
 Mann said. "We've got to make sure they're doing what they're supposed 
to but are not overstepping their bounds. Agriculture continues to be 
plagued by a lot of burdensome regulations from the EPA and others. I 
think it's better than it's been, but we still have work to do there."

Mann sees part of his role, should he be elected, to educate urban members on how rural life works.

"We
 have members of the House Ag Committee who have never been on a modern 
family farm, that don't understand what agriculture is like in the year 
2020," Mann said. "They don't understand what it's like to not have a 
good internet connection, what our rural communities go through. It's 
people being willing to advocate for our way of life and for 
agriculture."

Mann will face Democrat Kali Barnett in November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595943509943.png" alt="Tracey Mann will face&nbsp;Kali Barnett in the general election" />
 <figcaption>Tracey Mann will face&nbsp;Kali Barnett in the general election</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Tracey Mann is going to be the Republican nominee for the Kansas 
First District seat in Congress on the November ballot. He understands 
that the legacy of previous First District officeholders will be a 
challenge to obtain."That legacy is one of agriculture," Mann 
said. "One of sitting on the House Ag Committee, of representing the 
largest industry in this state, the largest industry in the Big First, 
by far. I'm a farm kid, grew up on a farm, spent hundreds of hours on a 
tractor, combine, worked thousands of head of cattle and excited for the
 opportunity to go and be a voice for Kansas agriculture."The purse strings are the way Congress is able to hold the executive branch accountable, regardless of who is President."Congress
 is who oversees the funding for the EPA and other regulatory agencies,"
 Mann said. "We've got to make sure they're doing what they're supposed 
to but are not overstepping their bounds. Agriculture continues to be 
plagued by a lot of burdensome regulations from the EPA and others. I 
think it's better than it's been, but we still have work to do there."Mann sees part of his role, should he be elected, to educate urban members on how rural life works."We
 have members of the House Ag Committee who have never been on a modern 
family farm, that don't understand what agriculture is like in the year 
2020," Mann said. "They don't understand what it's like to not have a 
good internet connection, what our rural communities go through. It's 
people being willing to advocate for our way of life and for 
agriculture."Mann will face Democrat Kali Barnett in November.

Mann hopes to keep GOP legacy on ag alive in Big First

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police activity report, a 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada driven by Sam Zefran, 92, Ogden was traveling in the 1100 Block of Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan and struck&nbsp;a 2014 Chevy Silverado driven by Craig Dechany, 42, of Manhattan and then struck the Manhattan Fire Department/Riley County EMS Station 2. 

Zafran was transported to Via Christi for treatment of major injuries. Dechany was not injured.

MANHATTAN —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Tuesday in Manhattan when a vehicle struck the Manhattan Fire Department (MFD) Firehouse #2,&nbsp; 1100 Poyntz Avenue. 

Crews heard the crash and found a passenger vehicle had struck the west apparatus bay with a single patient trapped in the vehicle.&nbsp; 

Personnel immediately started patient care and worked to free the trapped driver.&nbsp; A Riley County Emergency Medical Service (RCEMS) ambulance is normally parked in that bay, but was out of the station at the time of the accident.&nbsp; After extrication was completed, the patient was transported by ambulance to Ascension Via Christi hospital. The firehouse sustained structural damage and Manhattan Fire Department personnel shored the building to make it safe until permanent repairs can be made.&nbsp; Old Engine 1 was moved out of the firehouse to allow an ambulance to still respond out of the station.&nbsp; The apparatus where Manhattan Fire Department Quint 2 is housed was not affected.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596640437354.png" alt="Photo Manhattan Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Manhattan Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police activity report, a 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada driven by Sam Zefran, 92, Ogden was traveling in the 1100 Block of Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan and struck&nbsp;a 2014 Chevy Silverado driven by Craig Dechany, 42, of Manhattan and then struck the Manhattan Fire Department/Riley County EMS Station 2. Zafran was transported to Via Christi for treatment of major injuries. Dechany was not injured.Police released no additional details-----MANHATTAN —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Tuesday in Manhattan when a vehicle struck the Manhattan Fire Department (MFD) Firehouse #2,&nbsp; 1100 Poyntz Avenue. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596579081211.png" alt="Tuesday crash scene photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Tuesday crash scene photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews heard the crash and found a passenger vehicle had struck the west apparatus bay with a single patient trapped in the vehicle.&nbsp; Personnel immediately started patient care and worked to free the trapped driver.&nbsp; A Riley County Emergency Medical Service (RCEMS) ambulance is normally parked in that bay, but was out of the station at the time of the accident.&nbsp; After extrication was completed, the patient was transported by ambulance to Ascension Via Christi hospital. The firehouse sustained structural damage and Manhattan Fire Department personnel shored the building to make it safe until permanent repairs can be made.&nbsp; Old Engine 1 was moved out of the firehouse to allow an ambulance to still respond out of the station.&nbsp; The apparatus where Manhattan Fire Department Quint 2 is housed was not affected.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Update: 92-year-old crashed into firehouse in Manhattan

By DEBORAH SHAAR <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-pushes-covid-contact-tracing-kdhe">Kansas News Service</a>

The Sedgwick County Health Department is no longer doing COVID-19 contact tracing investigations.

Health
 workers are overwhelmed by the surge in new coronavirus infections that
 the work of tracking down close contacts was outsourced to the state 
health department.

The new strategy comes five months into 
Sedgwick County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited 
testing capabilities and staff, the county has struggled to keep up with
 community transmission of the respiratory disease.

County Health
 Director Adrienne Byrne said moving contact tracing to the state was 
necessary so her staff can focus solely on notifying people who have 
tested positive for COVID-19.

"The Kansas Department of Health 
and Environment is going to pick up our case contact tracing for at 
least the time being because we just can’t do it," she said.

Sedgwick
 County experienced a surge in coronavirus infections since June. On 
June 1, 145 people were considered to be “active” cases; this week, at 
least 2,830 people are infected.

The county’s cumulative COVID-19
 case totals jumped from 626 to 4,436 during the same period. The 
percentage of positive tests went from 2% in June to a high of 13.8% on 
July 23. This week, that important metric declined slightly to 12%.

"We’ve got to make sure that the person who is symptomatic is staying home, and is not out spreading," Byrne said.

Byrne
 said it’s taking longer than usual for health workers to notify people 
who test positive, and for the follow-up work that comes with every 
active case.

"So we’re not even able to do that to the degree 
that we usually do because of the onslaught of new cases that keep 
coming in," she said.

In addition, other staff members are 
assigned to notifying people who test negative. The daily number of 
negative cases grew substantially over the past few months as the county
 increased its coronavirus testing at its drive-thru location and began 
offering mobile testing opportunities throughout the area.

Byrne 
says health workers are documenting close contacts when newly positive 
people provide the information. The department sends letters to let 
contacts know they were exposed to someone who tested positive for 
COVID-19.

"We still get all the names [of close contacts] to 
enter them into the state system," Byrne said, "so that if they become 
positive on down the line, we know who they are connected to."

She expects KDHE disease investigators to follow-up on the local cases.

The
 county health department is still trying to hire about 40 disease 
investigators, and other medical staff to help with the pandemic 
response. Byrne says the county is at capacity for its daily coronavirus
 testing and can’t offer more until a second medical team comes on 
board.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says case 
investigation and contact tracing are considered core disease control 
measures for preventing further spread of COVID-19. The key is taking 
immediate action.

The CDC recommends identifying and warning 
close contacts as soon as possible to ensure they do not interact with 
others. Further, the nation’s top health agency says if communities are 
unable to effectively isolate patients and ensure contacts can separate 
themselves from others, rapid community spread of COVID-19 is likely to 
increase to the point that strict mitigation strategies will again be 
needed to contain the virus.

CDC staff are already working in 
Kansas on contact tracing. KDHE announced in May a plan to hire more 
disease investigators, and to deploy hundreds of volunteers to help 
track COVID cases statewide.

Follow Deborah Shaar on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/deborahshaar?lang=en" target="_blank">@deborahshaar.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596636324912.png" alt=" File / U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Wikipedia " />
 <figcaption> File / U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Wikipedia </figcaption>
 </figure>By DEBORAH SHAAR <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-pushes-covid-contact-tracing-kdhe">Kansas News Service</a>The Sedgwick County Health Department is no longer doing COVID-19 contact tracing investigations.Health
 workers are overwhelmed by the surge in new coronavirus infections that
 the work of tracking down close contacts was outsourced to the state 
health department.The new strategy comes five months into 
Sedgwick County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited 
testing capabilities and staff, the county has struggled to keep up with
 community transmission of the respiratory disease.County Health
 Director Adrienne Byrne said moving contact tracing to the state was 
necessary so her staff can focus solely on notifying people who have 
tested positive for COVID-19."The Kansas Department of Health 
and Environment is going to pick up our case contact tracing for at 
least the time being because we just can’t do it," she said.Sedgwick
 County experienced a surge in coronavirus infections since June. On 
June 1, 145 people were considered to be “active” cases; this week, at 
least 2,830 people are infected.The county’s cumulative COVID-19
 case totals jumped from 626 to 4,436 during the same period. The 
percentage of positive tests went from 2% in June to a high of 13.8% on 
July 23. This week, that important metric declined slightly to 12%."We’ve got to make sure that the person who is symptomatic is staying home, and is not out spreading," Byrne said.Byrne
 said it’s taking longer than usual for health workers to notify people 
who test positive, and for the follow-up work that comes with every 
active case."So we’re not even able to do that to the degree 
that we usually do because of the onslaught of new cases that keep 
coming in," she said.In addition, other staff members are 
assigned to notifying people who test negative. The daily number of 
negative cases grew substantially over the past few months as the county
 increased its coronavirus testing at its drive-thru location and began 
offering mobile testing opportunities throughout the area.Byrne 
says health workers are documenting close contacts when newly positive 
people provide the information. The department sends letters to let 
contacts know they were exposed to someone who tested positive for 
COVID-19."We still get all the names [of close contacts] to 
enter them into the state system," Byrne said, "so that if they become 
positive on down the line, we know who they are connected to."She expects KDHE disease investigators to follow-up on the local cases.The
 county health department is still trying to hire about 40 disease 
investigators, and other medical staff to help with the pandemic 
response. Byrne says the county is at capacity for its daily coronavirus
 testing and can’t offer more until a second medical team comes on 
board.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says case 
investigation and contact tracing are considered core disease control 
measures for preventing further spread of COVID-19. The key is taking 
immediate action.The CDC recommends identifying and warning 
close contacts as soon as possible to ensure they do not interact with 
others. Further, the nation’s top health agency says if communities are 
unable to effectively isolate patients and ensure contacts can separate 
themselves from others, rapid community spread of COVID-19 is likely to 
increase to the point that strict mitigation strategies will again be 
needed to contain the virus.CDC staff are already working in 
Kansas on contact tracing. KDHE announced in May a plan to hire more 
disease investigators, and to deploy hundreds of volunteers to help 
track COVID cases statewide.Follow Deborah Shaar on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/deborahshaar?lang=en" target="_blank">@deborahshaar.</a>&nbsp;

Sedgwick County pushes COVID contact tracing to KDHE 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A child was critically injured in a house fire Tuesday in Topeka.

Just before 4:30p.m.,&nbsp; fire crews responded to a fire in a two-story home at 710 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.

 Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the residence. Three occupants of the structure were able to self-evacuate prior to the fire departments arrival. During a search of the structure, firefighters located one unconscious juvenile victim.

The child was removed from the residence where firefighters began life saving measures.&nbsp; AMR transported the child to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.

A preliminary investigation by the Topeka Fire Department Investigation Unit indicates the fire cause to be undetermined, more likely than not associated with a juvenile playing with a lighter. The origin of the fire was determined to be in the northwest corner of the second floor.

The Estimated dollar loss – $30,000.00; of which $20,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 is associated with contents loss. Six people were displaced as a result of the fire. Working smoke detectors were not located within the structure of fire origin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596627343542.png" alt="Fire crews on the scene of Tuesday's fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews on the scene of Tuesday's fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—A child was critically injured in a house fire Tuesday in Topeka.Just before 4:30p.m.,&nbsp; fire crews responded to a fire in a two-story home at 710 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison. Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the residence. Three occupants of the structure were able to self-evacuate prior to the fire departments arrival. During a search of the structure, firefighters located one unconscious juvenile victim.The child was removed from the residence where firefighters began life saving measures.&nbsp; AMR transported the child to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.A preliminary investigation by the Topeka Fire Department Investigation Unit indicates the fire cause to be undetermined, more likely than not associated with a juvenile playing with a lighter. The origin of the fire was determined to be in the northwest corner of the second floor.The Estimated dollar loss – $30,000.00; of which $20,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 is associated with contents loss. Six people were displaced as a result of the fire. Working smoke detectors were not located within the structure of fire origin.

Fire Marshal: Child critically injured in Kan. house fire

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.

Marshall prevailed in a crowded primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without a pre-election endorsement from President Donald Trump sought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34a6a9737f0e78ceed84cf312234ab25">by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others</a>&nbsp;for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as a conservative firebrand and informal adviser to Trump.

Marshall will face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former lifelong moderate Republican who received national attention at the end of 2018 by switching parties.

Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018. Marshall and his allies made that loss a key issue as he and Kobach battled atop the GOP field.

Bob and Debbie Rosenberger said Kobach’s loss in 2018 was on their minds as they cast their Republican primary ballots for Marshall at a southwest Topeka church. The retired 62-year-old postal worker and his wife, a retired, 63-year-old nursing home supervisor, said they are Trump supporters and believe Marshall will help him in the Senate.

As for Kobach, Bob Rosenberger said, “Bottom line, I just don’t trust him as much as Roger Marshall.”

The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.

Marshall immediately called for party unity and told his supporters at a watch party at a winery southwest of his central Kansas hometown of Great Bend. He said the GOP’s Senate majority is at stake in his race and said he was strengthened by the contentious primary.

“I’ve always believed in iron sharpening iron,” Marshall said in his livestreamed remarks.

Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. Bollier had raised more than $8 million through July — and her campaign said Tuesday night that the total is now $9 million — a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state.

Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist, while Marshall is an obstetrician.

Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled about $11 million.

Hamilton had a strong showing in running behind Kobach and Marshall in early returns.

Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton and eight other candidates made the field the largest for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.

Dean Crenshaw, a 53-year-old welder from Belle Plaine in south-central Kansas, voted for Kobach for his conservative views despite believing that Democrats preferred to have Bollier face Kobach.

He said he was torn between voting for Kobach and Marshall but didn’t know much about Marshall and he “just voted for the guy I knew the most about.”

McConnell’s first choice in the race was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.

Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — particularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.

Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.

Marshall prevailed in a crowded GOP primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without an endorsement from President Donald Trump sought by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as both an informal adviser to Trump and reputation as a conservative firebrand.

Many Republicans’ fears about Kobach fueled ad campaigns that cost at least $15 million, with most of the spending by political action committees. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.

Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has raised more than $8 million for her campaign, a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state. Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist and former moderate Republican who garnered national headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.

Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled more than $9 million.

Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton sat atop an 11-person field, the largest one for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.

Marshall and his allies made Kobach’s loss in the governor’s race a key issue and argued that he was the best alternative. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s first choice was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.

Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — pa]rticularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596596984370.png" alt="President Trump called Marshall to offer congratulations for the primary win-photo courtesy Marshall for Senate campaign." />
 <figcaption>President Trump called Marshall to offer congratulations for the primary win-photo courtesy Marshall for Senate campaign.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.Marshall prevailed in a crowded primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without a pre-election endorsement from President Donald Trump sought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34a6a9737f0e78ceed84cf312234ab25">by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others</a>&nbsp;for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as a conservative firebrand and informal adviser to Trump.Marshall will face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former lifelong moderate Republican who received national attention at the end of 2018 by switching parties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596596521425.png" alt="Kris Kobach thanked his supporters during a watch party in Leavenworth Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Kris Kobach thanked his supporters during a watch party in Leavenworth Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018. Marshall and his allies made that loss a key issue as he and Kobach battled atop the GOP field.Bob and Debbie Rosenberger said Kobach’s loss in 2018 was on their minds as they cast their Republican primary ballots for Marshall at a southwest Topeka church. The retired 62-year-old postal worker and his wife, a retired, 63-year-old nursing home supervisor, said they are Trump supporters and believe Marshall will help him in the Senate.As for Kobach, Bob Rosenberger said, “Bottom line, I just don’t trust him as much as Roger Marshall.”The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596593743420.png" alt="Rep. Roger Marshall spoke to supporters during his watch party Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Roger Marshall spoke to supporters during his watch party Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Marshall immediately called for party unity and told his supporters at a watch party at a winery southwest of his central Kansas hometown of Great Bend. He said the GOP’s Senate majority is at stake in his race and said he was strengthened by the contentious primary.“I’ve always believed in iron sharpening iron,” Marshall said in his livestreamed remarks.Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. Bollier had raised more than $8 million through July — and her campaign said Tuesday night that the total is now $9 million — a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state.Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist, while Marshall is an obstetrician.Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled about $11 million.Hamilton had a strong showing in running behind Kobach and Marshall in early returns.Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton and eight other candidates made the field the largest for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.Dean Crenshaw, a 53-year-old welder from Belle Plaine in south-central Kansas, voted for Kobach for his conservative views despite believing that Democrats preferred to have Bollier face Kobach.He said he was torn between voting for Kobach and Marshall but didn’t know much about Marshall and he “just voted for the guy I knew the most about.”McConnell’s first choice in the race was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — particularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.____TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.Marshall prevailed in a crowded GOP primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without an endorsement from President Donald Trump sought by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as both an informal adviser to Trump and reputation as a conservative firebrand.Many Republicans’ fears about Kobach fueled ad campaigns that cost at least $15 million, with most of the spending by political action committees. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has raised more than $8 million for her campaign, a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state. Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist and former moderate Republican who garnered national headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled more than $9 million.Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton sat atop an 11-person field, the largest one for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.Marshall and his allies made Kobach’s loss in the governor’s race a key issue and argued that he was the best alternative. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s first choice was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — pa]rticularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.

Kansas GOP picks Rep. Marshall for Senate seat over Kobach

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Kansas' primary election (all times local):

A party-switching Kansas legislator who has raised eyebrows with her campaign’s fundraising success has easily won the Democratic nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Democrats had expected state Sen. Barbara Bollier to prevail in Tuesday’s election because she has raised $8 million for her race and has the backing of party leaders, including former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and two-term Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Her only primary opponent was retired Wichita court services officer and frequent congressional candidate Robert Tillman.

Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist and a former moderate Republican who garnered headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.

She is seeking the seat held by retiring four-term GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. Republicans had an 11-person primary field won easily by western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall.

Polls have close across most of Kansas in a primary election that features a contentious race for the Republican nomination for an open Senate seat.

The polls remained open an hour later Tuesday in four counties along the Colorado border in Mountain Time than in the rest of the state.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Kansas' primary election (all times local):8 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596590340401.png" alt="State Sen. Barbara Bollier" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Barbara Bollier</figcaption>
 </figure>A party-switching Kansas legislator who has raised eyebrows with her campaign’s fundraising success has easily won the Democratic nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat.Democrats had expected state Sen. Barbara Bollier to prevail in Tuesday’s election because she has raised $8 million for her race and has the backing of party leaders, including former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and two-term Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Her only primary opponent was retired Wichita court services officer and frequent congressional candidate Robert Tillman.Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist and a former moderate Republican who garnered headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.She is seeking the seat held by retiring four-term GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. Republicans had an 11-person primary field won easily by western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall.7:05 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596570585162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Polls have close across most of Kansas in a primary election that features a contentious race for the Republican nomination for an open Senate seat.The polls remained open an hour later Tuesday in four counties along the Colorado border in Mountain Time than in the rest of the state.At least 265,000 voters cast their ballots in advance of Tuesday’s election.The GOP ballot for Tuesday’s election included 11 candidates for the seat held by retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. They are led by party establishment-backed western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall and polarizing conservative Kris Kobach.Freshman Rep. Steve Watkins was trying to beat back a challenge from State Treasurer Jake LaTurner in the Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas. The election came three weeks after felony charges were filed against Watkins, accusing him of voting illegally in 2019 and other crimes. He has called the charges “bogus.”___3 p.m.Election officials in three of Kansas' largest counties reported an uneventful start to voting in the state's primary election, due in part to an increase in advance and mail-in balloting.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;ve taken safety precautions at our polling locations to keep our voters and election workers safe and healthy today: ✅ Physical distancing ✅ Plexiglass shields ✅ Personal protective equipment ✅ Sanitation supplies ✅ Single-use pens and styluses ✅ Additional signage <a href="https://t.co/8K6PFMamrU">pic.twitter.com/8K6PFMamrU</a>&mdash; Johnson County Election Office (@jocoelection) <a href="https://twitter.com/jocoelection/status/1290633591563550720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Nathan Carter, office administrator for the Johnson County Election Office, said no major problems were reported Tuesday morning. Election workers are concentrating not only on in-person voting but also collecting thousands of mail ballots. The county sent out 106,000 mail-in ballots and received about 70,000 before Tuesday. Voters can bring their ballots to polling sites or to drop-off boxes through Election Day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596570585162.png" alt="Voters socially distance in Wichita -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Voters socially distance in Wichita -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In-person voting was steady in Sedgwick County, with short or non-existent waiting times. Deputy Election Commissioner Melissa Schnieders said the county sent about about 56,000 mail-in ballots for this election, a big increase from previous elections. She said Tuesday's election was “pretty normal” except for preventative measures the county put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.And Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell said turnout in that county was “not huge." He said only three or four poll workers out of more than 400 didn't show up for election duty, which was typical of most elections.