SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a dog was shot and died in Topeka.

Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police responded to report of gunshots in the&nbsp;1300 block of Northeast Quincy Avenue, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Investigators determined&nbsp;that a man was in his yard taking his dogs out, when another dog&nbsp;described as a male black lab&nbsp; approached him in an aggressive manor and he shot the dog.

 The man stated that he felt threatened for his safety and the safety of his dogs.

The dog, who also lived in the 1300 Block of Northeast Quincy, died as a result of the shooting.

Police didn't know of&nbsp; any previous problems with the dog.

The victim declined to press charges against the owner of the dog. Police had not issued any citations early Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593011588982.png" alt="Police on the scene of the incident early Wednesday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the incident early Wednesday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a dog was shot and died in Topeka.Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police responded to report of gunshots in the&nbsp;1300 block of Northeast Quincy Avenue, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.Investigators determined&nbsp;that a man was in his yard taking his dogs out, when another dog&nbsp;described as a male black lab&nbsp; approached him in an aggressive manor and he shot the dog. The man stated that he felt threatened for his safety and the safety of his dogs.The dog, who also lived in the 1300 Block of Northeast Quincy, died as a result of the shooting.Police didn't know of&nbsp; any previous problems with the dog.The victim declined to press charges against the owner of the dog. Police had not issued any citations early Wednesday.No other injuries were reported.

Police: Dog shot, killed during incident at Kansas home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has appointed a commission to examine policing and other racial justice issues and named the superintendent of Topeka’s public schools and a state university administrator to lead it.

Kelly issued an executive order Wednesday to create the 14-member Commission on Racial Equity and Justice and said it would focus first on relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they police. She said it will develop policy proposals for both state and local officials.

The governor promised her administration would tackle such issues following George Floyd’s death May 25 in Minnesota. Floyd, a Black man, was pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer held a knee to his neck for nearly eight minutes, and his death inspired global protests.

The leaders of Kelly’s new commission are Topeka Superintendent Tiffany Anderson and Shannon Portillo, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Kansas campus in Overland Park.

Other commission members include Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, Lawrence public schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis and DeAngela Burns-Wallace, the state Department of Administration’s top administrator.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has appointed a commission to examine policing and other racial justice issues and named the superintendent of Topeka’s public schools and a state university administrator to lead it.Kelly issued an executive order Wednesday to create the 14-member Commission on Racial Equity and Justice and said it would focus first on relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they police. She said it will develop policy proposals for both state and local officials.The governor promised her administration would tackle such issues following George Floyd’s death May 25 in Minnesota. Floyd, a Black man, was pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer held a knee to his neck for nearly eight minutes, and his death inspired global protests.The leaders of Kelly’s new commission are Topeka Superintendent Tiffany Anderson and Shannon Portillo, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Kansas campus in Overland Park.Other commission members include Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, Lawrence public schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis and DeAngela Burns-Wallace, the state Department of Administration’s top administrator.

Kansas governor creates commission on racial justice issues

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


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Gas prices are continuing their traditional summer rise.

"In the 
past week, we've gone up four cents a gallon," said Shawn Steward with 
AAA Kansas. "We're at $1.94, pretty much the same story with the 
national gas price. It went up six cents a gallon in the past week to 
$2.17 a gallon."

Compared to this time last year, we are still over 50 cents lower.

"Gasoline
 demand actually saw a small week over week decline this past week, 
although we've been seeing a general upward trend recently," Steward 
said. "Gas demand continues to be significantly lower, about 21% less, 
compared to one year ago."

Gas prices are up 27 cents a gallon over a month ago in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592583302431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Gas prices are continuing their traditional summer rise."In the 
past week, we've gone up four cents a gallon," said Shawn Steward with 
AAA Kansas. "We're at $1.94, pretty much the same story with the 
national gas price. It went up six cents a gallon in the past week to 
$2.17 a gallon."Compared to this time last year, we are still over 50 cents lower."Gasoline
 demand actually saw a small week over week decline this past week, 
although we've been seeing a general upward trend recently," Steward 
said. "Gas demand continues to be significantly lower, about 21% less, 
compared to one year ago."Gas prices are up 27 cents a gallon over a month ago in Kansas.

Still much lower than last year, but gas prices going up

TOPEKA— The city of Topeka is looking to cut more than 30 jobs next year to deal with a $5 million budget deficit resulting from efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. 

Topeka City Manager Brent Trout on Tuesday proposed cutting 32 full-time position and reducing at least one position to part time in 2021. 

According to a media release, the specific positions eliminated include the Deputy City Manager, Director of Neighborhood Relations and Emergency Manager. The City of Topeka will continue to work closely with Shawnee County Emergency Management for city emergency response. The Neighborhood Relations Department will be absorbed into another department, which will be decided at a later date.

These individuals are not being dismissed due to any conduct or performance issues. However, the effect the pandemic is anticipated to have on the city budget is likely to be severe. This requires that steps be taken to responsibly navigate through this unprecedented event, including the elimination of positions.

“Eliminating these positions was a difficult decision," said Trout.

The elimination of these three positions, including salaries and benefits, will save the city approximately $446,000 in 2021.

The mayor and City Council will consider the proposal before finalizing the budget in August. The proposed cuts come as reduced sales tax revenues have left the city struggling to balance its budget for this year.

TOPEKA— The city of Topeka is looking to cut more than 30 jobs next year to deal with a $5 million budget deficit resulting from efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Topeka City Manager Brent Trout on Tuesday proposed cutting 32 full-time position and reducing at least one position to part time in 2021. According to a media release, the specific positions eliminated include the Deputy City Manager, Director of Neighborhood Relations and Emergency Manager. The City of Topeka will continue to work closely with Shawnee County Emergency Management for city emergency response. The Neighborhood Relations Department will be absorbed into another department, which will be decided at a later date.These individuals are not being dismissed due to any conduct or performance issues. However, the effect the pandemic is anticipated to have on the city budget is likely to be severe. This requires that steps be taken to responsibly navigate through this unprecedented event, including the elimination of positions.“Eliminating these positions was a difficult decision," said Trout.The elimination of these three positions, including salaries and benefits, will save the city approximately $446,000 in 2021.The mayor and City Council will consider the proposal before finalizing the budget in August. The proposed cuts come as reduced sales tax revenues have left the city struggling to balance its budget for this year.

City of Topeka will cut more than 30 jobs to deal with budget crisis

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $809,000 in restitution for Medicare fraud he conducted in 16 states.

Nereus Sutko, 38, Omaha, visited assisted-living facilities, retirement centers and low-income housing complexes in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and 12 other states, federal prosecutors said, where he held pizza and ice cream parties and convinced elderly residents to sign up for Medicare-funded products that he never delivered.

Sutko collected more than $1.8 million from Medicare, Nebraska Medicaid and Iowa Medicaid, much of it based on fraudulent claims, prosecutors said. Sutko pleaded guilty in December to health care fraud.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard on Tuesday also ordered Sutko to forfeit a Corvette and speedboat, among other property he paid for with the ill-gotten money.

Sutko is scheduled to report to prison on Sept. 9 to begin serving the sentence.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $809,000 in restitution for Medicare fraud he conducted in 16 states.Nereus Sutko, 38, Omaha, visited assisted-living facilities, retirement centers and low-income housing complexes in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and 12 other states, federal prosecutors said, where he held pizza and ice cream parties and convinced elderly residents to sign up for Medicare-funded products that he never delivered.Sutko collected more than $1.8 million from Medicare, Nebraska Medicaid and Iowa Medicaid, much of it based on fraudulent claims, prosecutors said. Sutko pleaded guilty in December to health care fraud.U.S. District Judge John Gerrard on Tuesday also ordered Sutko to forfeit a Corvette and speedboat, among other property he paid for with the ill-gotten money.Sutko is scheduled to report to prison on Sept. 9 to begin serving the sentence.

Medicare fraud: Elderly in Kan. got ice cream, man got $1.8M and prison

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Branson, Missouri, may be known for its country music shows and wholesome entertainment, but the tourist hot spot now finds itself at the center of a standoff over Confederate symbolism.

Protesters have been gathering outside a strip mall store Dixie Outfitters, which specializes in Confederate flags, clothing and other merchandise. The protests have drawn people from opposing sides of the debate — Black Lives Matter demonstrators, as well as those who support the store and the Confederate flag.

Confederate statutes, the flag and other symbols have drawn new scrutiny and criticism amid protests that followed the death in Minneapolis of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/DeathofGeorgeFloyd">George Floyd</a>, who died May 25 after a white officer used a knee to pin down the handcuffed Black man’s neck even after Floyd stopped moving.

The protests in Branson have at times become heated. A video posted on social media showed a woman waving the Confederate flag and telling protesters, “I will teach my grandkids to hate you all,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/06/23/dixie-outfitters-branson-missouri-responds-black-lives-matter-protest/3241262001/">Springfield News-Leader</a>&nbsp;reported.

Following a Black Lives Matter demonstration Sunday, the Dixie Outfitters owners thanked supporters and called protesters “thugs” on another social media post.

The post thanked police and a group of people who prayed, then stated, “These thugs don’t just hate us...they hate our country! They hate patriotism, faith and freedom! But God still reigns over Branson, MO!”

Branson leaders are concerned about the negative attention in a town that thrives on tourism — Branson has just 11,500 full-time residents but draws millions of people each year to shows and attractions that are largely family-oriented. Most of the theaters only recently reopened after weeks of shutdown caused by the coronavirus.

“I don’t think there’s a Branson-area person that is happy with this situation and the way we’re being characterized across social media,” said Mayor Edd Akers, who on Tuesday issued a proclamation “promoting unity and condemning hate speech.”

&nbsp;The Dixie Outfitters store is owned by Anna and Nathan Robb. Nathan Robb is the son of Thomas Robb, an Arkansas-based pastor who was once the leader of the Ku Klux Klan. In 2015, Anna Robb said she and her husband were estranged from Thomas Robb, but acknowledged attending KKK events in the past.

At a Branson Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, members were asked by a man in the crowd to voice their stance on the KKK, the Star reported. Two spoke out, two remained silent and Alderman Bob Simmons said the city should do something to support police because “there doesn’t seem to be too many people behind the police departments across the country.”

Alderman Larry Milton said, “I’ll answer your question point blank: I despise the KKK. I despise any organization that is violent and violent towards people for the simple reason of the color of their skin.”

Alderman Bill Skains also denounced the KKK and said he was almost brought to tears by the video of the woman pledging to teach hate to her grandchildren.

“It hurts me to hear these things,” Skains said. “They have no part in this community and I wish they would get the hell out of it.”

Branson resident Kelsey Allen told the board that the Confederate flag incites violence and symbolizes racism, slavery and division.

“How is that a welcoming, family-friendly community?” Allen asked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593024194110.png" alt="Dixie Outfitters in Branson -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Dixie Outfitters in Branson -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Branson, Missouri, may be known for its country music shows and wholesome entertainment, but the tourist hot spot now finds itself at the center of a standoff over Confederate symbolism.Protesters have been gathering outside a strip mall store Dixie Outfitters, which specializes in Confederate flags, clothing and other merchandise. The protests have drawn people from opposing sides of the debate — Black Lives Matter demonstrators, as well as those who support the store and the Confederate flag.Confederate statutes, the flag and other symbols have drawn new scrutiny and criticism amid protests that followed the death in Minneapolis of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/DeathofGeorgeFloyd">George Floyd</a>, who died May 25 after a white officer used a knee to pin down the handcuffed Black man’s neck even after Floyd stopped moving.The protests in Branson have at times become heated. A video posted on social media showed a woman waving the Confederate flag and telling protesters, “I will teach my grandkids to hate you all,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/06/23/dixie-outfitters-branson-missouri-responds-black-lives-matter-protest/3241262001/">Springfield News-Leader</a>&nbsp;reported.Following a Black Lives Matter demonstration Sunday, the Dixie Outfitters owners thanked supporters and called protesters “thugs” on another social media post.The post thanked police and a group of people who prayed, then stated, “These thugs don’t just hate us...they hate our country! They hate patriotism, faith and freedom! But God still reigns over Branson, MO!”Branson leaders are concerned about the negative attention in a town that thrives on tourism — Branson has just 11,500 full-time residents but draws millions of people each year to shows and attractions that are largely family-oriented. Most of the theaters only recently reopened after weeks of shutdown caused by the coronavirus.“I don’t think there’s a Branson-area person that is happy with this situation and the way we’re being characterized across social media,” said Mayor Edd Akers, who on Tuesday issued a proclamation “promoting unity and condemning hate speech.”&nbsp;The Dixie Outfitters store is owned by Anna and Nathan Robb. Nathan Robb is the son of Thomas Robb, an Arkansas-based pastor who was once the leader of the Ku Klux Klan. In 2015, Anna Robb said she and her husband were estranged from Thomas Robb, but acknowledged attending KKK events in the past.At a Branson Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, members were asked by a man in the crowd to voice their stance on the KKK, the Star reported. Two spoke out, two remained silent and Alderman Bob Simmons said the city should do something to support police because “there doesn’t seem to be too many people behind the police departments across the country.”Alderman Larry Milton said, “I’ll answer your question point blank: I despise the KKK. I despise any organization that is violent and violent towards people for the simple reason of the color of their skin.”Alderman Bill Skains also denounced the KKK and said he was almost brought to tears by the video of the woman pledging to teach hate to her grandchildren.“It hurts me to hear these things,” Skains said. “They have no part in this community and I wish they would get the hell out of it.”Branson resident Kelsey Allen told the board that the Confederate flag incites violence and symbolizes racism, slavery and division.“How is that a welcoming, family-friendly community?” Allen asked.

Confederate store in Branson at protests' center

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly today announced a new customer service hotline and email for Kansans who have been affected by the recent duplicate payments. Kansans can reach out to the Department of Labor for assistance at the following resources:

Duplicate payment&nbsp;hotline: (785) 580-2602

Duplicate payment&nbsp;email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOL.DuplicateConcerns@ks.gov" target="_blank">KDOL.DuplicateConcerns@ks.gov</a>

“I know some Kansans have struggled to get the services they need from the Department of Labor,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to make this right. Fixing the Department of Labor won’t happen overnight, but our administration will use every resource at our disposal to improve services and get Kansans help.”

Kansans who have questions about their unemployment benefits such as Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), that are not related to the duplicate payments, should use the Department of Labor website, GetKansasBenefits.gov and the initial hotline for inquiries.

Dept. of Labor Hotline: (785) 296-5000

Dept. of Labor UI Website: GetKansasBenefits.gov

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593031313210.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly discussed the issues facing the Department of Labor during Monday's news conference." />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly discussed the issues facing the Department of Labor during Monday's news conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly today announced a new customer service hotline and email for Kansans who have been affected by the recent duplicate payments. Kansans can reach out to the Department of Labor for assistance at the following resources:Duplicate payment&nbsp;hotline: (785) 580-2602Duplicate payment&nbsp;email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOL.DuplicateConcerns@ks.gov" target="_blank">KDOL.DuplicateConcerns@ks.gov</a>“I know some Kansans have struggled to get the services they need from the Department of Labor,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to make this right. Fixing the Department of Labor won’t happen overnight, but our administration will use every resource at our disposal to improve services and get Kansans help.”Kansans who have questions about their unemployment benefits such as Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), that are not related to the duplicate payments, should use the Department of Labor website, GetKansasBenefits.gov and the initial hotline for inquiries.Dept. of Labor Hotline: (785) 296-5000Dept. of Labor UI Website: GetKansasBenefits.gov

New hotline for Kansans affected by DOL duplicate payments 

BRUSSELS (AP)— Americans are unlikely to be allowed into Europe when the continent reopens its borders next week, due to how the coronavirus pandemic is flaring in the U.S. and President Donald Trump’s ban on Europeans entering the United States.

European nations appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1, and their representatives in Brussels are now debating what virus-related criteria should apply when lifting border restrictions to the outside world that were imposed in March.

In recommendations to EU nations on June 11, the European Commission said “travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse” than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

That is likely to rule out the United States, where new coronavirus infections have surged to the highest level in two months, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. After trending down for well over a month, new U.S. cases have risen for more than a week.

The U.S. on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, bringing its total to more than 2.3 million and over 121,000 dead — the most anywhere in the world. The virus outbreaks in Brazil, India and Russia are remarkably high too, and it’s also unlikely that the EU will let their citizens in.

In contrast, aside from a notable new outbreak tied to a slaughterhouse in western Germany, the virus’s spread has slowed notably across the EU and particularly in the 26 nations that make up Europe’s visa-free travel zone known as the Schengen area, which more than 15 million Americans visit each year.

For the EU’s executive arm, the key criteria for opening up to the outside world should include the number of new infections per 100,000 population — the exact ceiling is up for debate — and the country’s overall response to the pandemic, in terms of testing, surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and reporting cases.

But more than this, the country should lift its own travel restrictions for Europeans from all EU and Schengen nations, the commission said, adding “it cannot be applied selectively.”

Brussels fears that opening up to countries outside in ad hoc way could lead to the reintroduction of border controls between nations inside the Schengen area, threatening once again Europe’s cherished principle of free movement, which allows people and goods to cross borders without checks.

This principle of reciprocity on its own should rule out U.S. citizens, at least initially. The aim is to revise the list of acceptable countries every two weeks based on developments.

In a decree on March 11, Trump suspended the entry of all people in the Schengen area. More than 10 million Europeans visit the United States each year.

“The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from the Schengen Area threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security,” Trump’s proclamation said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584650381811.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP)— Americans are unlikely to be allowed into Europe when the continent reopens its borders next week, due to how the coronavirus pandemic is flaring in the U.S. and President Donald Trump’s ban on Europeans entering the United States.European nations appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1, and their representatives in Brussels are now debating what virus-related criteria should apply when lifting border restrictions to the outside world that were imposed in March.In recommendations to EU nations on June 11, the European Commission said “travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse” than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.That is likely to rule out the United States, where new coronavirus infections have surged to the highest level in two months, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. After trending down for well over a month, new U.S. cases have risen for more than a week.The U.S. on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, bringing its total to more than 2.3 million and over 121,000 dead — the most anywhere in the world. The virus outbreaks in Brazil, India and Russia are remarkably high too, and it’s also unlikely that the EU will let their citizens in.In contrast, aside from a notable new outbreak tied to a slaughterhouse in western Germany, the virus’s spread has slowed notably across the EU and particularly in the 26 nations that make up Europe’s visa-free travel zone known as the Schengen area, which more than 15 million Americans visit each year.For the EU’s executive arm, the key criteria for opening up to the outside world should include the number of new infections per 100,000 population — the exact ceiling is up for debate — and the country’s overall response to the pandemic, in terms of testing, surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and reporting cases.But more than this, the country should lift its own travel restrictions for Europeans from all EU and Schengen nations, the commission said, adding “it cannot be applied selectively.”Brussels fears that opening up to countries outside in ad hoc way could lead to the reintroduction of border controls between nations inside the Schengen area, threatening once again Europe’s cherished principle of free movement, which allows people and goods to cross borders without checks.This principle of reciprocity on its own should rule out U.S. citizens, at least initially. The aim is to revise the list of acceptable countries every two weeks based on developments.In a decree on March 11, Trump suspended the entry of all people in the Schengen area. More than 10 million Europeans visit the United States each year.“The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from the Schengen Area threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security,” Trump’s proclamation said.

As Europe reopens borders, U.S. travelers not welcome

BERLIN (AP) — German pharmaceutical company Bayer says it’s paying up to $10.9 billion to settle a lawsuit over subsidiary Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup, which has faced numerous lawsuits over claims it causes cancer.

In a statement Wednesday, Bayer said it was also paying up $1.22 billion to settle two further cases, one involving PCB in water.

The Leverkusen-based company said the Roundup settlement would “bring closure to approximately 75%” of the current 125,000 filed and unfiled claims.

It said the agreement is subject to approval by Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Bayer said it would also pay up to $400 million to settle cases involving the weedkiller dicamba having drifted onto plants that weren’t bred to resist it, killing them.

A further payment of up to $820 million will be made to settle “most” claims for exposure to PCB, a highly carcinogenic substance, that Monsanto produced until 1977 and which has been found in U.S. waters

Bayer said it would start making payments this year and these would be financed from existing liquidity, future income, proceeds from the sale of its animal health business and the issuance of additional bonds.

BERLIN (AP) — German pharmaceutical company Bayer says it’s paying up to $10.9 billion to settle a lawsuit over subsidiary Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup, which has faced numerous lawsuits over claims it causes cancer.In a statement Wednesday, Bayer said it was also paying up $1.22 billion to settle two further cases, one involving PCB in water.The Leverkusen-based company said the Roundup settlement would “bring closure to approximately 75%” of the current 125,000 filed and unfiled claims.It said the agreement is subject to approval by Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.Bayer said it would also pay up to $400 million to settle cases involving the weedkiller dicamba having drifted onto plants that weren’t bred to resist it, killing them.A further payment of up to $820 million will be made to settle “most” claims for exposure to PCB, a highly carcinogenic substance, that Monsanto produced until 1977 and which has been found in U.S. watersBayer said it would start making payments this year and these would be financed from existing liquidity, future income, proceeds from the sale of its animal health business and the issuance of additional bonds.

Bayer to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle Monsanto case

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 505 to a total of 12,970, 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 505 to a total of 12,970, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 261<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/2020/6/1593018195991.png" alt="Wednesday June 24, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday June 24, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SALINE COUNTY —A six year-old Kansas boy was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Tuesday in Saline County.

The boy ran from a driveway in the 100 Block of South Simpson Road and into the side of northbound 2008 Honda Odyssey, according to&nbsp; Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

A southbound vehicle had just missed hitting the boy, according to the sheriff.

EMS transported the boy to the hospital in Salina for treatment of a broken leg.&nbsp; The driver was not cited, according to Soldan.

SALINE COUNTY —A six year-old Kansas boy was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Tuesday in Saline County.The boy ran from a driveway in the 100 Block of South Simpson Road and into the side of northbound 2008 Honda Odyssey, according to&nbsp; Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.A southbound vehicle had just missed hitting the boy, according to the sheriff.EMS transported the boy to the hospital in Salina for treatment of a broken leg.&nbsp; The driver was not cited, according to Soldan.

Kan. boy hospitalized after running into moving vehicle

By JODI FORTINO <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-06-23/when-schools-reopen-this-fall-students-and-staff-in-wyandotte-county-may-be-required-to-wear-face-masks-to-ward-off-coronavirus">Kansas News Service</a>

Wyandotte County health officials are considering a new set of safety
 guidelines for students returning to campus in the the fall.

School
 districts across the county, in partnership with the Unified Government
 Public Health Department, released guidance this week for K-12, and 
higher education facilities to follow for the 2020-2021 school year.

Dr.
 Allen Greiner, Chief Medical Officer with the UG, says the department 
came up with the guidelines in response to feedback from educators 
wanting to get students back in the classroom.

“We must work to 
strike a balance between protecting the immediate health of our 
community members by reducing the spread of COVID-19, while providing 
quality education, which we know has longer-term health impacts on 
individuals and our community as a whole,” said Greiner.

In March,
 Kansas' public schools were the first in the nation to close statewide 
in light of the spread of COVID-19. Charles Foust, the Superintendent of
 Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, told KCUR at the time that the 
transition to virtual learning didn’t come easy to some students and 
parents.

“Parents, at that point, were being told that you're 
going to be a teacher and I think that provided some anxiety. However, 
we knew that safety was the first measure that we wanted to take into 
place,” said Foust.

The Unified Government Public Health 
Department is also erring on the side of caution and has extended Phase 3
 of its reopening plan until at least July 6. Since the department does 
not know what phase the county will be in when the school year starts, 
it says the guidelines are open to change.

“We could find 
ourselves at different reopening phases over the course of the school 
year. This additional guidance will help our schools keep their 
students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible, no matter what 
reopening phase we are in,” said Dr. Erin Corriveau, the UG's Deputy 
Medical Officer.

The newly released Education ReStart WyCo Plan 
will cover social distancing standards for each reopening phase, from 
Stay At Home, to Phases 1-3, to Phase Out. The health department has 
released examples of Phase 3 guidelines for Wyandotte County education 
facilities.

While
 the use of face masks is only a recommendation right now, the UG health
 department says it may end up being requiring them if deemed necessary.

“Data
 we are seeing from other countries shows an increased risk of the virus
 spreading in schools when masks aren’t worn. Some countries had to 
close schools again as a result. Wearing masks will give us a better 
chance of keeping schools open for longer,” said Corriveau.

More information and updates on Wyandotte County’s Education ReStart program will be made available <a href="http://wycokck.org/COVID-19" target="_blank">on the county’s website.</a>

Jodi Fortino is a newsroom intern for KCUR.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593010869739.png" alt="Students in Kansas, like these at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas, were the first in the nation to be put under statewide stay-at-home orders when Gov. Laura Kelly closed schools in March. Elle Moxley / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>Students in Kansas, like these at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas, were the first in the nation to be put under statewide stay-at-home orders when Gov. Laura Kelly closed schools in March. Elle Moxley / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>By JODI FORTINO <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-06-23/when-schools-reopen-this-fall-students-and-staff-in-wyandotte-county-may-be-required-to-wear-face-masks-to-ward-off-coronavirus">Kansas News Service</a>Wyandotte County health officials are considering a new set of safety
 guidelines for students returning to campus in the the fall.School
 districts across the county, in partnership with the Unified Government
 Public Health Department, released guidance this week for K-12, and 
higher education facilities to follow for the 2020-2021 school year.Dr.
 Allen Greiner, Chief Medical Officer with the UG, says the department 
came up with the guidelines in response to feedback from educators 
wanting to get students back in the classroom.“We must work to 
strike a balance between protecting the immediate health of our 
community members by reducing the spread of COVID-19, while providing 
quality education, which we know has longer-term health impacts on 
individuals and our community as a whole,” said Greiner.In March,
 Kansas' public schools were the first in the nation to close statewide 
in light of the spread of COVID-19. Charles Foust, the Superintendent of
 Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, told KCUR at the time that the 
transition to virtual learning didn’t come easy to some students and 
parents.“Parents, at that point, were being told that you're 
going to be a teacher and I think that provided some anxiety. However, 
we knew that safety was the first measure that we wanted to take into 
place,” said Foust.The Unified Government Public Health 
Department is also erring on the side of caution and has extended Phase 3
 of its reopening plan until at least July 6. Since the department does 
not know what phase the county will be in when the school year starts, 
it says the guidelines are open to change.“We could find 
ourselves at different reopening phases over the course of the school 
year. This additional guidance will help our schools keep their 
students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible, no matter what 
reopening phase we are in,” said Dr. Erin Corriveau, the UG's Deputy 
Medical Officer.The newly released Education ReStart WyCo Plan 
will cover social distancing standards for each reopening phase, from 
Stay At Home, to Phases 1-3, to Phase Out. The health department has 
released examples of Phase 3 guidelines for Wyandotte County education 
facilities.For early childhood care and education:<ul>
 <li>Children who live with those who are senior-aged or immunocompromised should not be in child care, if possible.</li><li>Children should be cared for in rooms of 25 or fewer with the same caregiver and group of children each day</li><li>Staff and children aged two or older may wear face coverings</li>
 </ul>For K-12 schools:<ul>
 <li>Parents and guardians can choose for their child not to return to school, and online options should be offered, when possible.</li><li>Schools will reopen at normal capacity for instruction and activities.</li><li>Student
 athletics may resume within Kansas State High Schools Activities 
Association guidelines. (A high school athlete in south-central Kansas 
tested positive for COVID-19 this week.)</li><li>Each grade level will share lunch and recess time and limit interaction with other grade levels.</li><li>Masks or face coverings are recommended for employees, visitors, and students.</li>
 </ul>For higher education facilities: <ul>
 <li>Most education will continue virtually, but hands-on learning will be offered with social distancing to alternate students.</li><li>Workspaces and common areas will be adjusted to maintain 6-foot social distancing.</li><li>Employees, students, and visitors are encouraged to wear masks or face coverings at all times.</li>
 </ul>While
 the use of face masks is only a recommendation right now, the UG health
 department says it may end up being requiring them if deemed necessary.“Data
 we are seeing from other countries shows an increased risk of the virus
 spreading in schools when masks aren’t worn. Some countries had to 
close schools again as a result. Wearing masks will give us a better 
chance of keeping schools open for longer,” said Corriveau.More information and updates on Wyandotte County’s Education ReStart program will be made available <a href="http://wycokck.org/COVID-19" target="_blank">on the county’s website.</a>Jodi Fortino is a newsroom intern for KCUR.&nbsp;

Facemasks may be required for Wyandotte Co. students, staff

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities have charged a Columbia man with the death of another man whose body was found burned beyond recognition at a Kansas City homeless camp earlier this year.

Mark Salisbury, 41, has been charged with second-degree murder and other counts in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Derrick Wallace.

Police found Wallace’s burned body near East Ninth Street and Hardesty Avenue on Feb. 2 and soon determined Wallace had been shot and killed four or five days earlier at a different location.

Salisbury was arrested after he told two people he was involved in killing Wallace, prosecutors said. Court documents say one of two handguns police found in Salisbury’s apartment was determined through lab analysis to be the gun used in Wallace's shooting.

Police detectives say Salisbury told investigators he believed Wallace had sexually assaulted one of Salisbury's relatives. Salisbury said he and another person had intended to scare Wallace into leaving the area, detectives recounted, but ended up killing him..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593008687233.png" alt="Salisbury-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Salisbury-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities have charged a Columbia man with the death of another man whose body was found burned beyond recognition at a Kansas City homeless camp earlier this year.Mark Salisbury, 41, has been charged with second-degree murder and other counts in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Derrick Wallace.Police found Wallace’s burned body near East Ninth Street and Hardesty Avenue on Feb. 2 and soon determined Wallace had been shot and killed four or five days earlier at a different location.Salisbury was arrested after he told two people he was involved in killing Wallace, prosecutors said. Court documents say one of two handguns police found in Salisbury’s apartment was determined through lab analysis to be the gun used in Wallace's shooting.Police detectives say Salisbury told investigators he believed Wallace had sexually assaulted one of Salisbury's relatives. Salisbury said he and another person had intended to scare Wallace into leaving the area, detectives recounted, but ended up killing him..

Man charged after burned body found in KC homeless camp

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s call for another round of stimulus checks to most taxpayers is getting a lukewarm endorsement from his GOP allies on Capitol Hill, but it’s emerging as an early area of potential agreement with Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the next coronavirus bill.

In a fractured Washington, that could be a foundation of a winning coalition as lawmakers inch toward talks on the fifth, and possibly final, coronavirus relief measure before November’s elections.

Trump told an interviewer Monday that he supports another round of direct economic stimulus payments similar to the $1,200 checks issued to most individuals earlier this year.

“Yeah, we are,” Trump told a correspondent for Scripps television stations. “We will be doing another stimulus package. It’ll be very good. It’ll be very generous.”

On Tuesday, neither Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin — the lead White House negotiator on the first package — nor Trump’s GOP allies raced to endorse the idea.

“As we’ve said before, we’re talking about a bunch of different ideas that we may need to do in another bill,” Mnuchin said after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans where the topic received little discussion. “We’re going to take our time and make sure that we’re thoughtful. Whatever we do, it will be much more targeted, much more focused on jobs.”

Congress passed the first round of checks nearly unanimously in March as part of a coronavirus response bill, at a cost of almost $300 billion. Both parties said the aid was essential as coronavirus lockdowns brought the economy to a near standstill. The jobless rate is still high at almost 15% nationwide, though retail sales have rebounded.

House Democrats are fully onboard with another round, having included direct payments in a more than $3 trillion measure that they pushed through the House in May. But views in the GOP are more mixed, despite Trump’s support.

“He’s always wanted a second round of stimulus checks, and probably for good reason,” said Sen. Ken Cramer, R-N.D., who mostly endorsed the idea. “What we do next in addition to something like that should be very targeted, very specific to restarting, really restarting the economy. ... I think direct contribution installments to individuals could be a nice, a nice stimulus.”

Skeptics of direct stimulus payments say they are not targeted enough, but they have an undeniable political appeal, especially with the elections less than five months away.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has made it clear that he does not want negotiations with Democrats and Pelosi on another COVID-19 response bill to begin until next month.

Negotiations on the legislation are also likely to center on providing another round of aid to states and local governments and extending unemployment benefits — though not the $600 per week supplement enacted in March.

“My preference would be to extend unemployment insurance, but to do that in a more limited way, and a more targeted way,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who also wants adjustments to payroll subsidies for businesses and aid to states and local governments seeking help with their ballooning budget deficits.

Most Republicans know that Trump’s posture means it’s likely a cinch that another round of direct payments will make it into the upcoming bill, despite their reservations. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., discounted a reporter’s suggestion that there’s “pretty strong skepticism” by Republicans toward another set of stimulus checks.

“I don’t think it got to the point you can say that,” Blunt said.

Several Republicans, however, said they want to tighten eligibility for the stimulus payments to try to control costs.

“But we need targeted tailoring of any kind of stimulus measures if we really want to get it to the people who are hurting the most,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593001408779.png" alt="President Donald Trump spoke with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday. Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump spoke with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday. Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s call for another round of stimulus checks to most taxpayers is getting a lukewarm endorsement from his GOP allies on Capitol Hill, but it’s emerging as an early area of potential agreement with Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the next coronavirus bill.In a fractured Washington, that could be a foundation of a winning coalition as lawmakers inch toward talks on the fifth, and possibly final, coronavirus relief measure before November’s elections.Trump told an interviewer Monday that he supports another round of direct economic stimulus payments similar to the $1,200 checks issued to most individuals earlier this year.“Yeah, we are,” Trump told a correspondent for Scripps television stations. “We will be doing another stimulus package. It’ll be very good. It’ll be very generous.”On Tuesday, neither Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin — the lead White House negotiator on the first package — nor Trump’s GOP allies raced to endorse the idea.“As we’ve said before, we’re talking about a bunch of different ideas that we may need to do in another bill,” Mnuchin said after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans where the topic received little discussion. “We’re going to take our time and make sure that we’re thoughtful. Whatever we do, it will be much more targeted, much more focused on jobs.”Congress passed the first round of checks nearly unanimously in March as part of a coronavirus response bill, at a cost of almost $300 billion. Both parties said the aid was essential as coronavirus lockdowns brought the economy to a near standstill. The jobless rate is still high at almost 15% nationwide, though retail sales have rebounded.House Democrats are fully onboard with another round, having included direct payments in a more than $3 trillion measure that they pushed through the House in May. But views in the GOP are more mixed, despite Trump’s support.“He’s always wanted a second round of stimulus checks, and probably for good reason,” said Sen. Ken Cramer, R-N.D., who mostly endorsed the idea. “What we do next in addition to something like that should be very targeted, very specific to restarting, really restarting the economy. ... I think direct contribution installments to individuals could be a nice, a nice stimulus.”Skeptics of direct stimulus payments say they are not targeted enough, but they have an undeniable political appeal, especially with the elections less than five months away.Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has made it clear that he does not want negotiations with Democrats and Pelosi on another COVID-19 response bill to begin until next month.Negotiations on the legislation are also likely to center on providing another round of aid to states and local governments and extending unemployment benefits — though not the $600 per week supplement enacted in March.“My preference would be to extend unemployment insurance, but to do that in a more limited way, and a more targeted way,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who also wants adjustments to payroll subsidies for businesses and aid to states and local governments seeking help with their ballooning budget deficits.Most Republicans know that Trump’s posture means it’s likely a cinch that another round of direct payments will make it into the upcoming bill, despite their reservations. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., discounted a reporter’s suggestion that there’s “pretty strong skepticism” by Republicans toward another set of stimulus checks.“I don’t think it got to the point you can say that,” Blunt said.Several Republicans, however, said they want to tighten eligibility for the stimulus payments to try to control costs.“But we need targeted tailoring of any kind of stimulus measures if we really want to get it to the people who are hurting the most,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

Debate continues on sending another virus stimulus check

WASHINGTON (AP) — The next few weeks are critical to tamping down a disturbing coronavirus surge, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Tuesday — issuing a plea for people to avoid crowds and wear masks.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?473229-1/white-house-coronavirus-task-force-members-testify-federal-response-pandemic&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here</a>&nbsp;to watch a replay of the testimony

Fauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down virus testing, in contrast to Trump’s claim last weekend that he had ordered fewer tests be performed because they were uncovering too many infections. Trump said earlier Tuesday that he wasn’t kidding when he made that remark.

“We will be doing more testing,” Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, pledged to a House committee conducting oversight of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic.

The leading public health officials spent more than five hours testifying before the committee at a fraught moment, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.

Fauci told lawmakers he understands the pent-up desire to get back to normal as the U.S. begins emerging from months of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But that has “to be a gradual step-by-step process and not throwing caution to the wind,” he said.

“Plan A, don’t go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask,” Fauci said.

Troubling surges worsened Tuesday in several states, with Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas setting single-day records for new coronavirus cases, and some governors saying they’ll consider reinstating restrictions or delaying plans to ease up in order to help slow the spread of the virus.

Arizona, where Trump was headed for a speech at a Phoenix megachurch, reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus infections Tuesday. Arizona emerged as a COVID-19 hot spot after Republican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his stay-home orders in mid-May. Last week he allowed cities and counties to require masks in public places and many have done so.

Texas surpassed 5,000 new cases for a single day for the first time — just days after it eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time — as America’s largest pediatric hospital began taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston. The infection rate in Texas has doubled since late May. And Nevada surpassed a record one-day increase for the fourth time in the past eight days. Other states also were experiencing worrisome surges, including Louisiana, Utah and South Carolina.

Another worrisome trend: an increase in infections among young adults. Fauci said while COVID-19 tends to be less severe in younger people, some of them do get very sick and even die. And younger people also may be more likely to show no symptoms yet still spread the virus.

If people say, “’I’m young, I’m healthy, who cares’ — you should care, not only for yourself but for the impact you might have” on sickening someone more vulnerable, Fauci said.

About 2.3 million Americans have been infected and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Republican Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia asked if Fauci regretted that the American public wasn’t urged sooner to wear face masks, and then interrupted before the visibly annoyed scientist finished answering.

Fauci said he didn’t regret the change in recommendations. Early in the pandemic there was a “paucity of equipment” for health workers “who put themselves daily in harm’s way” and “we did not want to divert” those scarce supplies, he said.

Scientists eventually recommended the general public use cloth masks, after they better understood that people with no symptoms could be spreading the virus —

Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on testing claims that have public health experts appalled, tweeting Tuesday:

“Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases! “

Less testing in fact means more infections going undetected. The U.S. was slow in ramping up and currently is testing about 500,000 people a day. Many experts say to control the spread of the virus, it should be testing 900,000 or more.

Brett Giroir, a Health and Human Services assistant secretary, told lawmakers Tuesday the next step is testing patient samples in large batches to stretch limited supplies, which would expand U.S. screening between fivefold and tenfold.

Instead of testing each person individually, health workers would pool samples from 50, 100 or more people from the same office or school, for example. A negative result would clear everyone, while a positive would require each person to be individually re-tested.

And Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, added that it’s now recommended for workers in nursing homes — hard-hit by the virus — to be tested weekly.

As for the anxiously awaited vaccine, Fauci said he believes “it will be when and not if” it arrives, and he’s “cautiously optimistic” that some vaccine could be available at the end of the year.

More than a dozen vaccine candidates are in various stages of testing around the globe, and the U.S. next month is poised to begin the largest study — in 30,000 people — to get the needed proof that one really works. Meanwhile, countries, including the U.S. under a program called “Operation Warp Speed,” are beginning to stockpile millions of doses of different shots, in hopes at least some will prove usable.

Health officials assured lawmakers Tuesday that there won’t be shortcuts on safety.

“We absolutely must maintain regulatory independence and make the right decision for the American people based on the science and the data,” said Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

Democrats blasted Trump for confusing the public with erroneous statements — from testing to masks to unproven treatments — and ignoring the public health experts’ advice.

“It costs lives,” Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida said of Trump’s false claims. She urged the public health specialists to do more to counter the president: “We really expect you to be more outspoken.”

Pushed on whether schools should reopen in August and September, Redfield insisted that will vary not just by state but by school district, depending on how many infections are in a particular area.

“Many jurisdictions will be reopening schools,” and CDC will soon issue some guidelines to help, he said.

Fauci noted that schools should tailor their decisions to local conditions, saying some might need few restrictions and others more. He offered the same advice to colleges, saying they should assume some students will get infected and that there must be ways to keep them and their classmates safe.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government’s top infectious disease expert told a House committee on Tuesday he believes “it will be when and not if” there will be a COVID-19 vaccine and that he remains “cautiously optimistic” that some will be ready at the end of the year.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?473229-1/white-house-coronavirus-task-force-members-testify-federal-response-pandemic&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here</a> to watch a replay of the testimony

Dr. Anthony Fauci has returned to Capitol Hill at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1b92ce21f8ddf7eefb634b92fee38fed">fraught moment</a>&nbsp;in the nation’s pandemic response, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.

Fauci was testifying along with the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Since Fauci’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e64f20bbacb7d48d15e1d76339220486">last appearance at a high-profile hearing</a>&nbsp;more than a month ago, the U.S. has been emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But it’s being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening — Arizona, Florida and Texas — are among those seeing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/feb4c26d9364497cf82ee7c0c1b1b3d5">worrisome increases in cases</a>.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence published an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal saying the administration’s efforts have strengthened the nation’s ability to counter the virus and should be “a cause for celebration.”

Then Trump said at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a59b4efe97f2249d414ae4f0b3c6495">his weekend rally in Tulsa</a>&nbsp;that he had asked administration officials to slow down testing, because too many positive cases are turning up. Many rally goers did not wear masks, and for some that was an act of defiance against what they see as government intrusion. White House officials later tried to walk back Trump’s comment on testing, suggesting it wasn’t meant to be taken literally.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey said during Tuesday’s hearing that Trump’s testing comment at the rally “was an extremely reckless action, and unfortunately it continues the president’s pattern of ignoring the advice of his own public health experts.”

Trump, departing the White House for a visit to Arizona on Tuesday, played down those comments, saying under his administration the U.S. is doing more testing than any other country. Trump’s trip includes a rally at a megachurch.

Fauci has recently warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f401d034122b820a89773432cbf51152">the U.S. is still in the first wave</a>&nbsp;of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are “risky” to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.

About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic, and some 120,000 have died,&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">according to data from Johns Hopkins University</a>.

Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is joined by CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, FDA chief Dr. Stephen Hahn and the head of the U.S. Public Health Service, Adm. Brett Giroir.

Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing. But he gained notoriety after a whistleblower complaint flagged him for trying to push&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0fbe485717c9a74e6d6c48aee7d208ae">a malaria drug touted by Trump</a>&nbsp;to treat COVID-19 without conclusive scientific evidence. The FDA has since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/33f67f8aa5ef2280215087f8e5364017">withdrawn its emergency use authorization</a>&nbsp;for hydroxychloroquine.

“There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Pallone said. “As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies, it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis.”

There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.

Since Fauci last testified, hospital physicians have become more skilled in treating coronavirus patients with the techniques and medications at their disposal. The U.S. continues to ramp up testing, with some 27.5 million Americans, or more than 8% of the population, tested thus far. But most communities still lack enough health workers trained in doing contact tracing, the work of identifying people who have had interactions with an infected person. That could make it more difficult to tamp down emerging outbreaks.

The Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight over drugs and vaccines, among other facets of the U.S. health care system. Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration. However, not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House. Some GOP members were growing concerned early in the year that the administration wasn’t doing enough to prepare.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592928665531.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci prior to his testimony on Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci prior to his testimony on Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The next few weeks are critical to tamping down a disturbing coronavirus surge, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Tuesday — issuing a plea for people to avoid crowds and wear masks.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?473229-1/white-house-coronavirus-task-force-members-testify-federal-response-pandemic&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here</a>&nbsp;to watch a replay of the testimonyFauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down virus testing, in contrast to Trump’s claim last weekend that he had ordered fewer tests be performed because they were uncovering too many infections. Trump said earlier Tuesday that he wasn’t kidding when he made that remark.“We will be doing more testing,” Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, pledged to a House committee conducting oversight of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic.The leading public health officials spent more than five hours testifying before the committee at a fraught moment, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.Fauci told lawmakers he understands the pent-up desire to get back to normal as the U.S. begins emerging from months of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But that has “to be a gradual step-by-step process and not throwing caution to the wind,” he said.“Plan A, don’t go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask,” Fauci said.Troubling surges worsened Tuesday in several states, with Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas setting single-day records for new coronavirus cases, and some governors saying they’ll consider reinstating restrictions or delaying plans to ease up in order to help slow the spread of the virus.Arizona, where Trump was headed for a speech at a Phoenix megachurch, reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus infections Tuesday. Arizona emerged as a COVID-19 hot spot after Republican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his stay-home orders in mid-May. Last week he allowed cities and counties to require masks in public places and many have done so.Texas surpassed 5,000 new cases for a single day for the first time — just days after it eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time — as America’s largest pediatric hospital began taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston. The infection rate in Texas has doubled since late May. And Nevada surpassed a record one-day increase for the fourth time in the past eight days. Other states also were experiencing worrisome surges, including Louisiana, Utah and South Carolina.Another worrisome trend: an increase in infections among young adults. Fauci said while COVID-19 tends to be less severe in younger people, some of them do get very sick and even die. And younger people also may be more likely to show no symptoms yet still spread the virus.If people say, “’I’m young, I’m healthy, who cares’ — you should care, not only for yourself but for the impact you might have” on sickening someone more vulnerable, Fauci said.About 2.3 million Americans have been infected and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Republican Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia asked if Fauci regretted that the American public wasn’t urged sooner to wear face masks, and then interrupted before the visibly annoyed scientist finished answering.Fauci said he didn’t regret the change in recommendations. Early in the pandemic there was a “paucity of equipment” for health workers “who put themselves daily in harm’s way” and “we did not want to divert” those scarce supplies, he said.Scientists eventually recommended the general public use cloth masks, after they better understood that people with no symptoms could be spreading the virus —Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on testing claims that have public health experts appalled, tweeting Tuesday:“Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases! “Less testing in fact means more infections going undetected. The U.S. was slow in ramping up and currently is testing about 500,000 people a day. Many experts say to control the spread of the virus, it should be testing 900,000 or more.Brett Giroir, a Health and Human Services assistant secretary, told lawmakers Tuesday the next step is testing patient samples in large batches to stretch limited supplies, which would expand U.S. screening between fivefold and tenfold.Instead of testing each person individually, health workers would pool samples from 50, 100 or more people from the same office or school, for example. A negative result would clear everyone, while a positive would require each person to be individually re-tested.And Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, added that it’s now recommended for workers in nursing homes — hard-hit by the virus — to be tested weekly.As for the anxiously awaited vaccine, Fauci said he believes “it will be when and not if” it arrives, and he’s “cautiously optimistic” that some vaccine could be available at the end of the year.More than a dozen vaccine candidates are in various stages of testing around the globe, and the U.S. next month is poised to begin the largest study — in 30,000 people — to get the needed proof that one really works. Meanwhile, countries, including the U.S. under a program called “Operation Warp Speed,” are beginning to stockpile millions of doses of different shots, in hopes at least some will prove usable.Health officials assured lawmakers Tuesday that there won’t be shortcuts on safety.“We absolutely must maintain regulatory independence and make the right decision for the American people based on the science and the data,” said Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn.Democrats blasted Trump for confusing the public with erroneous statements — from testing to masks to unproven treatments — and ignoring the public health experts’ advice.“It costs lives,” Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida said of Trump’s false claims. She urged the public health specialists to do more to counter the president: “We really expect you to be more outspoken.”Pushed on whether schools should reopen in August and September, Redfield insisted that will vary not just by state but by school district, depending on how many infections are in a particular area.“Many jurisdictions will be reopening schools,” and CDC will soon issue some guidelines to help, he said.Fauci noted that schools should tailor their decisions to local conditions, saying some might need few restrictions and others more. He offered the same advice to colleges, saying they should assume some students will get infected and that there must be ways to keep them and their classmates safe.----------WASHINGTON (AP) — The government’s top infectious disease expert told a House committee on Tuesday he believes “it will be when and not if” there will be a COVID-19 vaccine and that he remains “cautiously optimistic” that some will be ready at the end of the year.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?473229-1/white-house-coronavirus-task-force-members-testify-federal-response-pandemic&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here</a> to watch a replay of the testimonyDr. Anthony Fauci has returned to Capitol Hill at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1b92ce21f8ddf7eefb634b92fee38fed">fraught moment</a>&nbsp;in the nation’s pandemic response, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.Fauci was testifying along with the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.Since Fauci’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e64f20bbacb7d48d15e1d76339220486">last appearance at a high-profile hearing</a>&nbsp;more than a month ago, the U.S. has been emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But it’s being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening — Arizona, Florida and Texas — are among those seeing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/feb4c26d9364497cf82ee7c0c1b1b3d5">worrisome increases in cases</a>.Last week, Vice President Mike Pence published an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal saying the administration’s efforts have strengthened the nation’s ability to counter the virus and should be “a cause for celebration.”Then Trump said at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a59b4efe97f2249d414ae4f0b3c6495">his weekend rally in Tulsa</a>&nbsp;that he had asked administration officials to slow down testing, because too many positive cases are turning up. Many rally goers did not wear masks, and for some that was an act of defiance against what they see as government intrusion. White House officials later tried to walk back Trump’s comment on testing, suggesting it wasn’t meant to be taken literally.House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey said during Tuesday’s hearing that Trump’s testing comment at the rally “was an extremely reckless action, and unfortunately it continues the president’s pattern of ignoring the advice of his own public health experts.”Trump, departing the White House for a visit to Arizona on Tuesday, played down those comments, saying under his administration the U.S. is doing more testing than any other country. Trump’s trip includes a rally at a megachurch.Fauci has recently warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f401d034122b820a89773432cbf51152">the U.S. is still in the first wave</a>&nbsp;of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are “risky” to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic, and some 120,000 have died,&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">according to data from Johns Hopkins University</a>.Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is joined by CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, FDA chief Dr. Stephen Hahn and the head of the U.S. Public Health Service, Adm. Brett Giroir.Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing. But he gained notoriety after a whistleblower complaint flagged him for trying to push&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0fbe485717c9a74e6d6c48aee7d208ae">a malaria drug touted by Trump</a>&nbsp;to treat COVID-19 without conclusive scientific evidence. The FDA has since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/33f67f8aa5ef2280215087f8e5364017">withdrawn its emergency use authorization</a>&nbsp;for hydroxychloroquine.“There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Pallone said. “As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies, it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis.”There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.Since Fauci last testified, hospital physicians have become more skilled in treating coronavirus patients with the techniques and medications at their disposal. The U.S. continues to ramp up testing, with some 27.5 million Americans, or more than 8% of the population, tested thus far. But most communities still lack enough health workers trained in doing contact tracing, the work of identifying people who have had interactions with an infected person. That could make it more difficult to tamp down emerging outbreaks.The Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight over drugs and vaccines, among other facets of the U.S. health care system. Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration. However, not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House. Some GOP members were growing concerned early in the year that the administration wasn’t doing enough to prepare.

🎥 Fauci: Next few weeks critical to tamping down virus spikes

RENO COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of the Wednesday morning house fire in Hutchinson.

Just before 2a.m. fire crews were dispatched for a report of a structure fire at 710 West 23rd Street in Hutchinson, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.

Upon arrival, first on scene units reported a working fire in a brick framed ranch style home with flames coming out from windows and door on the front of the home. 

Crews were informed that all occupants were accounted for, however, two cats were unaccounted for. Crews performed an aggressive fire attack along with search and rescue efforts in order to quickly locate the missing animals. Fire crews were able to locate the two cats; both died in the fire.

Fire crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly, but not before it did extensive damage to the structure. The home is deemed inhabitable at this time.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592992412314.jpeg" alt="Two pets died in the Wednesday morning house fire -photo Hutchinson Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Two pets died in the Wednesday morning house fire -photo Hutchinson Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of the Wednesday morning house fire in Hutchinson.Just before 2a.m. fire crews were dispatched for a report of a structure fire at 710 West 23rd Street in Hutchinson, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.Upon arrival, first on scene units reported a working fire in a brick framed ranch style home with flames coming out from windows and door on the front of the home. Crews were informed that all occupants were accounted for, however, two cats were unaccounted for. Crews performed an aggressive fire attack along with search and rescue efforts in order to quickly locate the missing animals. Fire crews were able to locate the two cats; both died in the fire.Fire crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly, but not before it did extensive damage to the structure. The home is deemed inhabitable at this time.&nbsp;

2 residents escape, pets die in Kansas house fire 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A suspended Kansas City police detective pleaded not guilty Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a Black man who was killed while sitting in his truck in his garage.

Eric J. DeValkenaere, 41, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97ef60a6995d4052c96f00f7d23a9cf2">indicted</a>&nbsp;by a grand jury last week with first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Dec. 3 killing of Cameron Lamb, 26.

DeValkenaere remains free after posting a $30,000 bond. His next hearing is scheduled for July 30, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article243733377.html">reported</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="DeValkenaere-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>DeValkenaere-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A suspended Kansas City police detective pleaded not guilty Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a Black man who was killed while sitting in his truck in his garage.Eric J. DeValkenaere, 41, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97ef60a6995d4052c96f00f7d23a9cf2">indicted</a>&nbsp;by a grand jury last week with first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Dec. 3 killing of Cameron Lamb, 26.DeValkenaere remains free after posting a $30,000 bond. His next hearing is scheduled for July 30, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article243733377.html">reported</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592995037957.png" alt="Police on the scene of the December shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the December shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records, DeValkenaere and another officer were investigating an earlier disturbance between two vehicles when they went into Lamb's backyard. DeValkenaere said he shot Lamb, who was still in his truck after backing it into the garage, after Lamb pointed a gun at the other officer.Lamb's family and other activists have questioned the police account. And Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said her office was “stymied” by the police department’s refusal to provide a probable cause statement to prosecutors.Police said Lamb's left arm was hanging out of the truck and a gun was found on the ground beneath his hand.Lamb is right-handed and he did not have full use of his left hand as a result of an injury sustained in 2015, according to prosecutors.