Editor's note: The Event coordinator originally included Kanopolis Drive-in on a list of drive-ins hosting the show.&nbsp; They are not participating in the concert.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country superstar Garth Brooks is holding a concert that will be played at 300 drive-in theaters in June across the country.

Brooks announced the June 27th concert event on Thursday.&nbsp;

The concert will be created in Nashville, Tennessee, and tickets at each showing will be limited. Tickets will cost $100 per passenger car or truck.

<a href="https://www.encorelive.com/">Several locations in Kansas</a> will host the show including the Starlite in Wichita.&nbsp;

The concert event will follow guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as all state and local health mandates. There will be rules on spacing between vehicles, protective equipment for staff, contactless payment and limited capacity in restrooms.

Brooks said in a statement that the drive-in concert “allows us all to get back to playing live music without the uncertainty of what would be the result to us as a community.”

Brooks has had to postpone some of his concerts this year due to the coronavirus spread.

Tickets will be on sale June 19.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/732705">click&nbsp;here&nbsp;for details.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591961928393.png" alt="Photo courtesy Starlite Drive-in" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Starlite Drive-in</figcaption>
 </figure>Editor's note: The Event coordinator originally included Kanopolis Drive-in on a list of drive-ins hosting the show.&nbsp; They are not participating in the concert.NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country superstar Garth Brooks is holding a concert that will be played at 300 drive-in theaters in June across the country.Brooks announced the June 27th concert event on Thursday.&nbsp;The concert will be created in Nashville, Tennessee, and tickets at each showing will be limited. Tickets will cost $100 per passenger car or truck.<a href="https://www.encorelive.com/">Several locations in Kansas</a> will host the show including the Starlite in Wichita.&nbsp;The concert event will follow guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as all state and local health mandates. There will be rules on spacing between vehicles, protective equipment for staff, contactless payment and limited capacity in restrooms.Brooks said in a statement that the drive-in concert “allows us all to get back to playing live music without the uncertainty of what would be the result to us as a community.”Brooks has had to postpone some of his concerts this year due to the coronavirus spread.Tickets will be on sale June 19.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/732705">click&nbsp;here&nbsp;for details.</a>

Garth Brooks concert set for drive-in theaters in Kansas, nationwide

WICHITA —Spirit AeroSystems announced Thursday the Department of Defense (DoD) allocated&nbsp;$80 million&nbsp;to Spirit to expand domestic production capability for advanced tooling, composite fabrication and metallic fabrication. 

These funds are part of the national response to COVID-19 in support of the Defense Industrial Base.

"We appreciate the confidence our customers have in Spirit's capabilities to serve a variety of critical defense needs," said&nbsp;Duane Hawkins, Senior Vice President; President, Defense and Fabrication, Spirit AeroSystems. "This funding for Spirit provides the Department of Defense additional production capacity for defense needs and helps maintain critical skills in the Defense Industrial Base."

Spirit will utilize the funds to build tooling, fabricate composite parts and machine complex metallic parts at its&nbsp;Wichita, Kan., facility. 

Spirit designs and manufactures both composite and metallic structures for commercial and defense customers. With long-standing machining capabilities, Spirit crafts more than 3 million detailed parts annually for original equipment manufacturers at peak production. The 5-axis center of excellence in&nbsp;Wichita&nbsp;focuses on large, complex, soft metal parts for fuselage, pylon and wing structures, all built on high-tech, high-speed, latest-generation equipment and is part of&nbsp;12M&nbsp;sqft of manufacturing space.

"Our growing work on defense programs has provided a measure of stability for the company, and helped us as we shift capacity to serve other needs, particularly in the defense market," said Hawkins. "These funds under Title III will help retain employees with critical skills."

Spirit supports a number of military programs, including programs for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. the Army.

Defense Production Act Title III contracts support the Defense Industrial Base and use funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591891784932.png" alt="Senator Jerry Moran, Congressman Ron Estes and Duane Hawkins, Spirit SVP President of Defense and Fabrication-photo courtesy Spirit Aerosystems" />
 <figcaption>Senator Jerry Moran, Congressman Ron Estes and Duane Hawkins, Spirit SVP President of Defense and Fabrication-photo courtesy Spirit Aerosystems</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Spirit AeroSystems announced Thursday the Department of Defense (DoD) allocated&nbsp;$80 million&nbsp;to Spirit to expand domestic production capability for advanced tooling, composite fabrication and metallic fabrication. These funds are part of the national response to COVID-19 in support of the Defense Industrial Base."We appreciate the confidence our customers have in Spirit's capabilities to serve a variety of critical defense needs," said&nbsp;Duane Hawkins, Senior Vice President; President, Defense and Fabrication, Spirit AeroSystems. "This funding for Spirit provides the Department of Defense additional production capacity for defense needs and helps maintain critical skills in the Defense Industrial Base."Spirit will utilize the funds to build tooling, fabricate composite parts and machine complex metallic parts at its&nbsp;Wichita, Kan., facility. Spirit designs and manufactures both composite and metallic structures for commercial and defense customers. With long-standing machining capabilities, Spirit crafts more than 3 million detailed parts annually for original equipment manufacturers at peak production. The 5-axis center of excellence in&nbsp;Wichita&nbsp;focuses on large, complex, soft metal parts for fuselage, pylon and wing structures, all built on high-tech, high-speed, latest-generation equipment and is part of&nbsp;12M&nbsp;sqft of manufacturing space."Our growing work on defense programs has provided a measure of stability for the company, and helped us as we shift capacity to serve other needs, particularly in the defense market," said Hawkins. "These funds under Title III will help retain employees with critical skills."Spirit supports a number of military programs, including programs for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. the Army.Defense Production Act Title III contracts support the Defense Industrial Base and use funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act.

Virus relief: Kan. aircraft parts maker receives $80M to expand production

WASHINGTON (AP) — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf">latest figure</a>&nbsp;from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline in applications for jobless aid since they peaked in mid-March when the coronavirus hit hard. Still, the pace of layoffs remains historically high.

The total number of people who are receiving unemployment aid fell slightly, a sign that some people who were laid off when restaurants, retail chains and small businesses suddenly shut down have been recalled to work.

The figures are “consistent with a labor market that has begun what will be a slow and difficult healing process,” said Nancy Vanden Houten, an economist at Oxford Economics. “Still, initial jobless claims remain at levels that at the start of the year might have seemed unthinkable.”

Last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9358e14389c7d8e11c3a6a4beb366411">jobs report showed</a>&nbsp;that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, an unexpected increase that suggested that the job market has bottomed out.

But the recovery has begun slowly. Though the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined from 14.7%, it is still a high 13.3%. And even with the May hiring gain, just one in nine jobs that were lost in March and April have returned. Nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed.

Even those figures don't capture the full scope of the damage to the job market. Including people the government said had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf">erroneously categorized</a>&nbsp;as employed in the May jobs report and those who lost jobs but didn't look for new ones, 32.5 million people are out of work, economists estimate. That would have raised May's unemployment rate to 19.7%.

Thursday’s report also shows that an additional 706,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week under a new program for self-employed and gig workers that made them eligible for aid for the first time. These figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesn’t include them in the official count.

The weekly reports on applications for unemployment benefits track layoffs. But they don't directly account for hiring, which can offset layoffs. The surprise job gain in May suggests that some employers are recalling laid-off workers.

Private real-time data also points to steady, if modest, rehiring.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kronos.com/sites/default/files/resources/document/An-Update-on-US-Workforce-Activity-June-1-7-2020.pdf">Data from Kronos</a>, whose software tracks workers' hours, shows that the number of shifts worked has recovered steadily since bottoming in mid-April. Shifts worked have risen 25% since then, recovering nearly half the work that was lost to the pandemic-induced business shutdowns.

“The growth in shifts worked ... indicates that furloughed employees are being called back to work as each state opens up,” said Dave Gilbertson, a Kronos executive.

Twenty-four states reported a rise in applications for jobless aid last week, up from just four the week before, though the state data isn't adjusted for seasonal trends so it can be volatile. California, New York and Massachusetts reported sharp increases. Florida, Georgia and Texas, some of the earliest states to reopen their economies, reported large declines.

In February, the economy fell into a deep recession, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the association of economists that is the official arbiter of recessions. The Federal Reserve estimated Wednesday that the economy will shrink 6.5% this year. That would be, by far, the deepest annual contraction on records dating to World War II.

Even as restaurants, bars and gyms reopen, they are doing so at lower capacity. And consumer spending on such services remains far below what it was before the viral outbreak.

Unemployment benefits are providing significant support for jobless Americans, with total payments having reached $94 billion in May — six times the previous record set in 2010 just after the previous recession. This time, the benefits include an additional $600 a week from the federal government.

But that extra benefit is set to end July 31, and the Trump administration opposes extending it. Its opposition has set up a possible clash with House Democrats, who have approved legislation to extend the $600-a-week in federal benefits for an additional six months.

Republicans in Congress argue that the extra $600, which comes on top of state benefits that average about $375 nationwide, means many of the unemployed are receiving more money from jobless benefits than they earned at their old jobs. Republicans argue that this discourages people from returning to work.

Studies suggest that roughly two-thirds of the recipients are receiving total unemployment aid that exceeds their previous paychecks. But many workers are also wary about returning to their old jobs for fear of contracting the virus. And recipients who receive aid can lose their benefits if they turn down job offers.

Karin Jensen of Concord, California, has been out of work since being laid off from a managerial position with Men’s Wearhouse in late March. Jensen, 27, says she plans to return to her job whenever she is called back and is grateful that her company is continuing employee health care in the meantime.

Jensen acknowledged that receiving the extra $600 has made her less eager to return to work because she is among recipients whose total benefits exceed their former income. But she’s also worried about returning to retail work.

“I’d be in close contact with people,” Jensen said. “We have to measure customers, actually touch them. There’s no way we could do any minimum social distancing if we were to return to business as usual. I’m more than a little uneasy about it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587578545738.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf">latest figure</a>&nbsp;from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline in applications for jobless aid since they peaked in mid-March when the coronavirus hit hard. Still, the pace of layoffs remains historically high.The total number of people who are receiving unemployment aid fell slightly, a sign that some people who were laid off when restaurants, retail chains and small businesses suddenly shut down have been recalled to work.The figures are “consistent with a labor market that has begun what will be a slow and difficult healing process,” said Nancy Vanden Houten, an economist at Oxford Economics. “Still, initial jobless claims remain at levels that at the start of the year might have seemed unthinkable.”Last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9358e14389c7d8e11c3a6a4beb366411">jobs report showed</a>&nbsp;that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, an unexpected increase that suggested that the job market has bottomed out.But the recovery has begun slowly. Though the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined from 14.7%, it is still a high 13.3%. And even with the May hiring gain, just one in nine jobs that were lost in March and April have returned. Nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed.Even those figures don't capture the full scope of the damage to the job market. Including people the government said had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf">erroneously categorized</a>&nbsp;as employed in the May jobs report and those who lost jobs but didn't look for new ones, 32.5 million people are out of work, economists estimate. That would have raised May's unemployment rate to 19.7%.Thursday’s report also shows that an additional 706,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week under a new program for self-employed and gig workers that made them eligible for aid for the first time. These figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesn’t include them in the official count.The weekly reports on applications for unemployment benefits track layoffs. But they don't directly account for hiring, which can offset layoffs. The surprise job gain in May suggests that some employers are recalling laid-off workers.Private real-time data also points to steady, if modest, rehiring.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kronos.com/sites/default/files/resources/document/An-Update-on-US-Workforce-Activity-June-1-7-2020.pdf">Data from Kronos</a>, whose software tracks workers' hours, shows that the number of shifts worked has recovered steadily since bottoming in mid-April. Shifts worked have risen 25% since then, recovering nearly half the work that was lost to the pandemic-induced business shutdowns.“The growth in shifts worked ... indicates that furloughed employees are being called back to work as each state opens up,” said Dave Gilbertson, a Kronos executive.Twenty-four states reported a rise in applications for jobless aid last week, up from just four the week before, though the state data isn't adjusted for seasonal trends so it can be volatile. California, New York and Massachusetts reported sharp increases. Florida, Georgia and Texas, some of the earliest states to reopen their economies, reported large declines.In February, the economy fell into a deep recession, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the association of economists that is the official arbiter of recessions. The Federal Reserve estimated Wednesday that the economy will shrink 6.5% this year. That would be, by far, the deepest annual contraction on records dating to World War II.Even as restaurants, bars and gyms reopen, they are doing so at lower capacity. And consumer spending on such services remains far below what it was before the viral outbreak.Unemployment benefits are providing significant support for jobless Americans, with total payments having reached $94 billion in May — six times the previous record set in 2010 just after the previous recession. This time, the benefits include an additional $600 a week from the federal government.But that extra benefit is set to end July 31, and the Trump administration opposes extending it. Its opposition has set up a possible clash with House Democrats, who have approved legislation to extend the $600-a-week in federal benefits for an additional six months.Republicans in Congress argue that the extra $600, which comes on top of state benefits that average about $375 nationwide, means many of the unemployed are receiving more money from jobless benefits than they earned at their old jobs. Republicans argue that this discourages people from returning to work.Studies suggest that roughly two-thirds of the recipients are receiving total unemployment aid that exceeds their previous paychecks. But many workers are also wary about returning to their old jobs for fear of contracting the virus. And recipients who receive aid can lose their benefits if they turn down job offers.Karin Jensen of Concord, California, has been out of work since being laid off from a managerial position with Men’s Wearhouse in late March. Jensen, 27, says she plans to return to her job whenever she is called back and is grateful that her company is continuing employee health care in the meantime.Jensen acknowledged that receiving the extra $600 has made her less eager to return to work because she is among recipients whose total benefits exceed their former income. But she’s also worried about returning to retail work.“I’d be in close contact with people,” Jensen said. “We have to measure customers, actually touch them. There’s no way we could do any minimum social distancing if we were to return to business as usual. I’m more than a little uneasy about it.”

Many more likely sought US jobless aid even as layoffs slow

SEWARD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on federal charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 9:30a.m. Wednesday, a sheriff's deputy a Chevy Silverado pickup with Ohio license plates for failure to signal a lane change on Interstate 80 in Seward County, NE., according to Sheriff Michael Vance.

The sheriff was concerned the driver was involved in criminal activity and requested consent to search the vehicle. The sheriff deployed K9 Igor and ultimately located and seized nearly&nbsp;$2 million in cash in duffel bags in the back of the truck.

Deputies then arrested the driver 42-year-old Michael T. Gayton of Toledo, Ohio, on requested charges of felony transportation and possession of illegal currency used to facilitate the purchase of illegal drugs and money laundering. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security also assisted with the arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591893555189.png" alt="Deputies with the cash -photo courtesy Seward Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Deputies with the cash -photo courtesy Seward Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on federal charges after a traffic stop.Just after 9:30a.m. Wednesday, a sheriff's deputy a Chevy Silverado pickup with Ohio license plates for failure to signal a lane change on Interstate 80 in Seward County, NE., according to Sheriff Michael Vance.The sheriff was concerned the driver was involved in criminal activity and requested consent to search the vehicle. The sheriff deployed K9 Igor and ultimately located and seized nearly&nbsp;$2 million in cash in duffel bags in the back of the truck.Deputies then arrested the driver 42-year-old Michael T. Gayton of Toledo, Ohio, on requested charges of felony transportation and possession of illegal currency used to facilitate the purchase of illegal drugs and money laundering. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security also assisted with the arrest.

Sheriff K9 helps locate nearly $2M in cash during traffic stop

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Health officials in suburban Kansas City have linked a new coronavirus case to Memorial Day weekend parties at the Lake of the Ozarks. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Holzschuh told the Johnson County, Kansas, board of commissioners Thursday that the infected resident visited the same bar as a resident of Boone County in mid-Missouri who previously tested positive. 

Social media postings of the event showed large crowds of mostly young people without masks and not adhering to social distancing guidelines at pools along the central Missouri lake that is a popular weekend getaway spot. Health officials urged anyone who attended the parties to self-quarantine for 14 days.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591911691981.png" alt="Snap Chat image of the crowded pool party" />
 <figcaption>Snap Chat image of the crowded pool party</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Health officials in suburban Kansas City have linked a new coronavirus case to Memorial Day weekend parties at the Lake of the Ozarks. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Holzschuh told the Johnson County, Kansas, board of commissioners Thursday that the infected resident visited the same bar as a resident of Boone County in mid-Missouri who previously tested positive. Social media postings of the event showed large crowds of mostly young people without masks and not adhering to social distancing guidelines at pools along the central Missouri lake that is a popular weekend getaway spot. Health officials urged anyone who attended the parties to self-quarantine for 14 days.&nbsp;

2nd COVID-19 case tied to Memorial weekend lake parties

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are conducting an investigation of graffiti and vandalism in Sante Fe Ballpark in Topeka. “This is truly despicable,” said Chief Bill Cochran. “Not only did the person or persons responsible damage property, but they damaged the image of our Topeka community. We must stand together and work to find the person or persons responsible for these hateful and unacceptable remarks.” "Hate speech in this community will never be tolerated,” said Mayor Michelle De La Isla. “Yesterday, today and tomorrow, our values remain the same - Black lives matter. The physical damage has been remedied and I'm grateful to Commissioner Cook and the county for ensuring this horrific graffiti was erased. The message painted at Sante Fe Park makes it clear though, there is still plenty of work to be done to heal our community. I know we, Topekans, are up for the challenge. This is yet another opportunity for us to live up to our legacy." If you have any information about the person(s) responsible, please email telltpd@topeka.org or call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591911973712.png" alt="Workers in Topeka painted over the graffiti -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Workers in Topeka painted over the graffiti -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are conducting an investigation of graffiti and vandalism in Sante Fe Ballpark in Topeka. “This is truly despicable,” said Chief Bill Cochran. “Not only did the person or persons responsible damage property, but they damaged the image of our Topeka community. We must stand together and work to find the person or persons responsible for these hateful and unacceptable remarks.” "Hate speech in this community will never be tolerated,” said Mayor Michelle De La Isla. “Yesterday, today and tomorrow, our values remain the same - Black lives matter. The physical damage has been remedied and I'm grateful to Commissioner Cook and the county for ensuring this horrific graffiti was erased. The message painted at Sante Fe Park makes it clear though, there is still plenty of work to be done to heal our community. I know we, Topekans, are up for the challenge. This is yet another opportunity for us to live up to our legacy." If you have any information about the person(s) responsible, please email telltpd@topeka.org or call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

Police: Ball park in Kansas vandalized with hate speech, graffiti

KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;– The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the death of Alonzo Brooks. Brooks’ body was found in a creek in La Cygne, Kan., on May 1, 2004.

U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister and FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Langan announced the reward during a press conference in Kansas City Thursday.

 McAllister and the FBI reopened the investigation over a year ago. They have reviewed evidence going back 16 years, re-interviewed many witnesses who attended a party at a farmhouse where Brooks was last seen alive, interviewed new witnesses and collected all available physical and forensic evidence.

“We are investigating whether Alonzo was murdered,” McAllister said. “His death certainly was suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know(s) what happened that night in April 2004. It is past time for the truth to come out. The code of silence must be broken. Alonzo’s family deserves to know the truth, and it is time for justice to be served.”

“There are many unanswered questions that surround Alonzo’s death,” Langan said. “Someone knows something and we are hopeful that with the passage of time and this significant reward this renewed effort will produce results and provide closure for the Brooks family.”

The FBI is investigating Brooks’ death as a potential racially-motivated crime. Brooks, who was 23 years old at the time he died, was one of only three African-American men at the party he attended with approximately 100 people at a farmhouse on the outskirts of La Cygne. Brooks, who lived in Gardner, Kan., rode to the party with friends, but they left before him, and Brooks eventually had no ride home.

When Brooks failed to come home the next day, his family and friends contacted the Linn County Sheriff’s Department.

From the beginning, there were rumors that Brooks had been the victim of foul play. Some said Brooks may have flirted with a girl, some said drunken white men wanted to fight an African-American male, and some said racist whites simply resented Brooks’ presence.

After the party, two troubling facts were indisputable: Alonzo could not be found; and no one who attended the party would admit to knowing what happened to him.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to reports at the time, the Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies searched areas around the farmhouse, including parts of nearby Middle Creek, but did not find Alonzo.

After Alonzo had been missing for almost a month, a group of his family and friends organized a search. They began on the road near the farmhouse and walked the two branches of Middle Creek. In just under an hour, they found Alonzo’s body, partially on top of a pile of brush and branches in the creek.

Because Alonzo died in 2004 and because of the lapse of time between his disappearance and discovery of his body, forensic analysis of the physical evidence at the time was limited. The official autopsy performed in 2004 did not determine a cause of death.

“I have stood under the trees on the bank of Middle Creek where Alonzo’s body was found,” McAllister said. “It is a quiet place of profound sadness to one who knows its history, but no answers are there. I am convinced, however, that there are people who know the answers, people who have been keeping terrible secrets all these years and bearing a horrible burden. We are asking one or more of them to come forward now and to lay down that burden at last, so that we can ease a family’s suffering, and serve the cause of justice.”

This reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the individual or individuals that may be responsible for Alonzo’s death. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the FBI at 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit a tip online at fbi.tips.gov

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591908849400.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;– The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the death of Alonzo Brooks. Brooks’ body was found in a creek in La Cygne, Kan., on May 1, 2004.U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister and FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Langan announced the reward during a press conference in Kansas City Thursday. McAllister and the FBI reopened the investigation over a year ago. They have reviewed evidence going back 16 years, re-interviewed many witnesses who attended a party at a farmhouse where Brooks was last seen alive, interviewed new witnesses and collected all available physical and forensic evidence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591905055514.png" alt="U.S. Attorney&nbsp; Steven McAllister during Thursday news conference&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Attorney&nbsp; Steven McAllister during Thursday news conference&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“We are investigating whether Alonzo was murdered,” McAllister said. “His death certainly was suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know(s) what happened that night in April 2004. It is past time for the truth to come out. The code of silence must be broken. Alonzo’s family deserves to know the truth, and it is time for justice to be served.”“There are many unanswered questions that surround Alonzo’s death,” Langan said. “Someone knows something and we are hopeful that with the passage of time and this significant reward this renewed effort will produce results and provide closure for the Brooks family.”The FBI is investigating Brooks’ death as a potential racially-motivated crime. Brooks, who was 23 years old at the time he died, was one of only three African-American men at the party he attended with approximately 100 people at a farmhouse on the outskirts of La Cygne. Brooks, who lived in Gardner, Kan., rode to the party with friends, but they left before him, and Brooks eventually had no ride home.When Brooks failed to come home the next day, his family and friends contacted the Linn County Sheriff’s Department.From the beginning, there were rumors that Brooks had been the victim of foul play. Some said Brooks may have flirted with a girl, some said drunken white men wanted to fight an African-American male, and some said racist whites simply resented Brooks’ presence.After the party, two troubling facts were indisputable: Alonzo could not be found; and no one who attended the party would admit to knowing what happened to him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to reports at the time, the Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies searched areas around the farmhouse, including parts of nearby Middle Creek, but did not find Alonzo.After Alonzo had been missing for almost a month, a group of his family and friends organized a search. They began on the road near the farmhouse and walked the two branches of Middle Creek. In just under an hour, they found Alonzo’s body, partially on top of a pile of brush and branches in the creek.Because Alonzo died in 2004 and because of the lapse of time between his disappearance and discovery of his body, forensic analysis of the physical evidence at the time was limited. The official autopsy performed in 2004 did not determine a cause of death.“I have stood under the trees on the bank of Middle Creek where Alonzo’s body was found,” McAllister said. “It is a quiet place of profound sadness to one who knows its history, but no answers are there. I am convinced, however, that there are people who know the answers, people who have been keeping terrible secrets all these years and bearing a horrible burden. We are asking one or more of them to come forward now and to lay down that burden at last, so that we can ease a family’s suffering, and serve the cause of justice.”This reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the individual or individuals that may be responsible for Alonzo’s death. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the FBI at 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit a tip online at fbi.tips.gov

FBI offers $100,000 reward in Kansas cold case

Governor Laura Kelly will discuss her administration’s&nbsp;statewide COVID-19 testing strategy.

The Governor will be joined&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Governor Laura Kelly will discuss her administration’s&nbsp;statewide COVID-19 testing strategy.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F181713886602771%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 Governor will be joined&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

🎥  Gov. Kelly on statewide COVID-19 testing strategy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration opposes a Democratic proposal to extend a $600 per week federal unemployment benefit approved in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday.

The $600 payment, which is in addition to normal unemployment benefits, “was the right thing to do,″ Scalia said, but is no longer needed as the economy begins to recover.

The money, included in a government relief package enacted in late March, has helped millions of workers stay in their homes and pay bills even as the unemployment rate surged to its highest levels since World War II.

The payments are set to expire July 31, and Democrats have pushed a plan that would extend the enhanced benefit through January. The Democratic-led House approved the proposal last month, but it is considered unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Scalia pointed to an unexpectedly rosy jobs report released last Friday. By the end of July, “we expect the economy to be deep into the process of reopening, with shutdown orders ended and millions of Americans freed to return to work,″ he told the Senate Finance Committee.

Unemployment benefits will still be needed in August and beyond, “but the circumstances that originally called for the $600 plus-up will have changed,″ Scalia said. “Policy will need to change as well.″

Democrats challenged that view, saying the unemployment rate is likely to remain at historically high levels through the summer at least.

Friday’s jobs report showed that unemployment dropped unexpectedly in May to 13.3% as reopened businesses began recalling millions of workers faster than economists had predicted, but the jobless rate is still on par with what the nation witnessed during the Great Depression.

Watching President Donald Trump “celebrate victory” Friday as the jobs report was released “is yet another sign that he doesn’t understand what it’s like for people born without a real estate portfolio,″ said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the panel’s top Democrat.

“Speaking conservatively, more than 20 million Americans are still out of work today,″ Wyden said, “and I bet you’re not celebrating if you’re among the many people who don’t know how they’re going to pay the rent or put food on the table this month.″

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the Finance Committee chairman, said the $600 weekly payments were “poorly targeted,″ with the result that most recipients are being paid more on unemployment insurance than they earned when they were working.

“This discourages people from returning to work or taking a new job, delaying the recovery,″ Grassley said.

Grassley and other Republicans cited a report by the Congressional Budget Office indicating that extending the $600 payments through January would mean that about 5 of every 6 recipients would receive benefits higher than the amount they would have earned from working.

Grassley said he hears from Iowans every day who wonder why they are earning less than others they know who are getting unemployment benefits. Employers also have complained that the generous benefits are resulting in fewer applicants for job openings, he said.

Wyden called that evidence anecdotal and said the idea that Americans don’t want to go back to work “is dead wrong and insulting.″

Scalia said he agrees that most Americans “are excited to go back to work,″ but added that ”at the margins, a certain number will choose not to work” because of the $600 payments.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said the fact that those collecting the additional $600 per week receive more than their usual pay only shows that “they were underpaid before.″ He pushed a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, a concept Scalia resisted.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said lawmakers made “a profound mistake” by allowing the enhanced payments to expire in July. Instead, he said, the payments should be tied to economic conditions, so they continue as long as unemployment remains high.

“Benefits end, but costs don’t end,″ Bennet said.

With the unemployment rate expected to remain in the mid-teens through July, lawmakers will face pressure to compromise on some form of renewed benefits for the jobless.

So far there are no formal negotiations on another relief package. But analysts say the need to address the fate of the $600 weekly benefits could force a resolution of the issue this summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration opposes a Democratic proposal to extend a $600 per week federal unemployment benefit approved in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday.The $600 payment, which is in addition to normal unemployment benefits, “was the right thing to do,″ Scalia said, but is no longer needed as the economy begins to recover.The money, included in a government relief package enacted in late March, has helped millions of workers stay in their homes and pay bills even as the unemployment rate surged to its highest levels since World War II.The payments are set to expire July 31, and Democrats have pushed a plan that would extend the enhanced benefit through January. The Democratic-led House approved the proposal last month, but it is considered unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled Senate.Scalia pointed to an unexpectedly rosy jobs report released last Friday. By the end of July, “we expect the economy to be deep into the process of reopening, with shutdown orders ended and millions of Americans freed to return to work,″ he told the Senate Finance Committee.Unemployment benefits will still be needed in August and beyond, “but the circumstances that originally called for the $600 plus-up will have changed,″ Scalia said. “Policy will need to change as well.″Democrats challenged that view, saying the unemployment rate is likely to remain at historically high levels through the summer at least.Friday’s jobs report showed that unemployment dropped unexpectedly in May to 13.3% as reopened businesses began recalling millions of workers faster than economists had predicted, but the jobless rate is still on par with what the nation witnessed during the Great Depression.Watching President Donald Trump “celebrate victory” Friday as the jobs report was released “is yet another sign that he doesn’t understand what it’s like for people born without a real estate portfolio,″ said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the panel’s top Democrat.“Speaking conservatively, more than 20 million Americans are still out of work today,″ Wyden said, “and I bet you’re not celebrating if you’re among the many people who don’t know how they’re going to pay the rent or put food on the table this month.″Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the Finance Committee chairman, said the $600 weekly payments were “poorly targeted,″ with the result that most recipients are being paid more on unemployment insurance than they earned when they were working.“This discourages people from returning to work or taking a new job, delaying the recovery,″ Grassley said.Grassley and other Republicans cited a report by the Congressional Budget Office indicating that extending the $600 payments through January would mean that about 5 of every 6 recipients would receive benefits higher than the amount they would have earned from working.Grassley said he hears from Iowans every day who wonder why they are earning less than others they know who are getting unemployment benefits. Employers also have complained that the generous benefits are resulting in fewer applicants for job openings, he said.Wyden called that evidence anecdotal and said the idea that Americans don’t want to go back to work “is dead wrong and insulting.″Scalia said he agrees that most Americans “are excited to go back to work,″ but added that ”at the margins, a certain number will choose not to work” because of the $600 payments.Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said the fact that those collecting the additional $600 per week receive more than their usual pay only shows that “they were underpaid before.″ He pushed a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, a concept Scalia resisted.Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said lawmakers made “a profound mistake” by allowing the enhanced payments to expire in July. Instead, he said, the payments should be tied to economic conditions, so they continue as long as unemployment remains high.“Benefits end, but costs don’t end,″ Bennet said.With the unemployment rate expected to remain in the mid-teens through July, lawmakers will face pressure to compromise on some form of renewed benefits for the jobless.So far there are no formal negotiations on another relief package. But analysts say the need to address the fate of the $600 weekly benefits could force a resolution of the issue this summer.

Virus relief: GOP wants to end $600 enhanced unemployment benefit 

DUBOIS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a Kansas man has died in a crash on a Nebraska highway involving the man's farm tractor and a semitrailer. 

The crash happened Monday on Nebraska Highway 50 south of DuBois, near the Kansas state line. Investigators say 86-year-old Arden Bredemeier, of Sabetha, Kansas, was driving a farm tractor north on the highway when he tried to turn into a private drive and and was hit by a southbound semitrailer. 

The crash closed a stretch of the highway for about two hours. Pawnee County Attorney Jennifer Ladman says no charges are expected in the crash.

DUBOIS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a Kansas man has died in a crash on a Nebraska highway involving the man's farm tractor and a semitrailer. The crash happened Monday on Nebraska Highway 50 south of DuBois, near the Kansas state line. Investigators say 86-year-old Arden Bredemeier, of Sabetha, Kansas, was driving a farm tractor north on the highway when he tried to turn into a private drive and and was hit by a southbound semitrailer. The crash closed a stretch of the highway for about two hours. Pawnee County Attorney Jennifer Ladman says no charges are expected in the crash.

Kansas man driving farm tractor killed in crash with semi

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects after a drug task force bust in Saline County.

Just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday, police executed the first search warrant on a 2008 Buick Lucerne belonging to Lelando Allen, 36, of Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

&nbsp;Officers observed Allen at 305 West Schilling Road in Salina and he was taken into custody and his car searched.

During the search, police found Six grams of marijuana, 28.6 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of what is suspected to be black tar heroin, and 109 Oxycontin pills

A search warrant also was executed at Allen's residence at 122 West Kirwin Avenue.&nbsp;Police arrested Allen on requested charges of Possession with intent to distribute heroin, Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Possession with intent to distribute opiates, Three counts of no drug tax stamp, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana

Police then executed a search warrant for 39-year-old Rhonda Perry's residence at 1208 Wilbre Road and found Methamphetamine residue in a baggie in a purse allegedly belonging to Perry, a container with 52.6 grams of marijuana in a closet of the residence, a baggie with 9.9 grams of methamphetamine in a bedroom of the residence.

Perry was arrested on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.

The Task Force then executed&nbsp; a search warrant for 42-year-old Gregory Tucker's residence at 210 East Kirwin Avenue. In a basement room officers found a baggie with 251.7 grams of marijuana, a baggie with 68.8 grams of marijuana, a baggie with 45.3 grams of marijuana, a&nbsp;container with 1.7 grams of cocaine, 84 packages of THC wax, Six THC wax cookies

Police arrested Tucker on requested charges that include Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, Possession of a stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Felony drug paraphernalia and No tax stamp

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects after a drug task force bust in Saline County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591884070294.jpeg" alt="Allen photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Allen photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday, police executed the first search warrant on a 2008 Buick Lucerne belonging to Lelando Allen, 36, of Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.&nbsp;Officers observed Allen at 305 West Schilling Road in Salina and he was taken into custody and his car searched.During the search, police found Six grams of marijuana, 28.6 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of what is suspected to be black tar heroin, and 109 Oxycontin pillsA search warrant also was executed at Allen's residence at 122 West Kirwin Avenue.&nbsp;Police arrested Allen on requested charges of Possession with intent to distribute heroin, Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Possession with intent to distribute opiates, Three counts of no drug tax stamp, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591884181431.jpeg" alt="Perry photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Perry photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police then executed a search warrant for 39-year-old Rhonda Perry's residence at 1208 Wilbre Road and found Methamphetamine residue in a baggie in a purse allegedly belonging to Perry, a container with 52.6 grams of marijuana in a closet of the residence, a baggie with 9.9 grams of methamphetamine in a bedroom of the residence.Perry was arrested on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591884259170.jpeg" alt="Tucker photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Tucker photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Task Force then executed&nbsp; a search warrant for 42-year-old Gregory Tucker's residence at 210 East Kirwin Avenue. In a basement room officers found a baggie with 251.7 grams of marijuana, a baggie with 68.8 grams of marijuana, a baggie with 45.3 grams of marijuana, a&nbsp;container with 1.7 grams of cocaine, 84 packages of THC wax, Six THC wax cookiesPolice arrested Tucker on requested charges that include Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, Possession of a stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Felony drug paraphernalia and No tax stamp

Drug Task Force makes 3 arrests in Saline County

NEW YORK (AP) — States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus isn’t done with the U.S.

Cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a worrying trend that could worsen as people return to work and venture out during the summer.

In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses.

There is no single reason to explain all the surges. In some cases, more testing has revealed more cases. In others, local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts think at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions put in place during the spring to stem the virus’s spread.

“It is a disaster that spreads,” said Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s not like there’s an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once.”

The virus first landed on the U.S. coasts, carried by international travelers infected abroad. For months, the epicenter was in northeastern states. More recently, the biggest increases have been in the South and the West.

The AP analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus testing data in the United States. The analysis found that in 21 states as of Monday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier.

Here’s what’s driving increases in some of the states with notable upticks:

&nbsp;Missouri health officials reported 179 in new confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday as the state continues to see daily triple-digit increases.

The state's COVID-19 death toll increased to 848 on Wednesday, which was 29 more than on Monday.&nbsp;

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey ended Arizona’s stay-at-home order on May 15 and eased restrictions on businesses. Arizona residents who were cooped up for six weeks flooded Phoenix-area bar districts, ignoring social distancing guidelines.

The state began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations about 10 days later.

“It seems pretty clear to me that what we’re seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order,” said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association.

It wasn’t just that the order ended: There were no requirements to wear face masks, no major increases in contact tracing to spot and stop evolving outbreaks, and no scale-up of infection control at nursing homes, he said.

“Those are missed opportunities that, if implemented today, could still make a big difference,” said Humble, a former director of the state Department of Health Services.

Testing has been increasing in Arizona, which increases the chance of finding new cases. But the proportion of tests that come back positive has also been on the rise.

The AP analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day at the time the shutdown was lifted, but it shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week. Hospitalizations have also risen dramatically, hitting the 1,200 mark last week.

The state also passed another grim milestone last week, recording it’s 1,000th death.

Meanwhile Arizona hospitals on Tuesday reported they were at 83% of capacity, up from 78% the previous day. That could force affected hospitals to cancel elective surgeries. Rules established under an executive order Ducey issued in April said hospitals wanting to resume elective surgeries had to have at least 20% of their beds available.

In North Carolina, more testing plus more people out and about during reopening seem to be the main drivers of recent case upticks, said Kimberly Powers, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.

On Saturday, the state recorded its highest single-day increase, with 1,370. While testing has grown in the last two weeks, so has the rate of tests coming back positive.

“These trends moving in the wrong direction is a signal we need to take very seriously,” said North Carolina’s top health official, Mandy Cohen, who along with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves.

But some state residents are not on board.

“I think they should start opening stuff a little bit more,” said Jason Denton, an electrician from Greenville who said one of his main concerns was getting to the gym.

Few states are rebooting faster than Texas, where hospitalizations surged past 2,100 on Wednesday for the first time during the pandemic. That’s a 42% increase in patients since Memorial Day weekend, when restless beachgoers swarmed Texas’ coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders.

Texas’ percentage of tests coming back positive has also jumped to levels that are among the nation’s highest. State officials point to hot spots at meatpacking plants and prisons in rural counties, where thousands of new cases have cropped up, but have not offered explanations for a rise in numbers elsewhere.

Abbott, who has recently begun wearing a mask in public, has shown no intention of pumping the brake on reopening a state where conservative protesters in May pressured him to speed up the timeline on getting hair salons back in business.

On Friday, Texas is set to lift even more restrictions and let restaurant dining rooms reopen at nearly full capacity.

In Alabama, outbreaks in nursing homes and poultry plants helped drive state numbers upward, though there was a drop more recently. But that may change — there is evidence of community transmission in the capital, Montgomery, which has become an emerging hot spot, said State Health Officer Scott Harris.

“I think reopening the economy gave a lot of people the wrong impression … that, ‘Hey everything is fine. Let’s go back to normal,’” Harris said. “Clearly, it is not that way. Really, now more than ever we need people to stay 6 feet apart, wear face coverings and wash their hands.”

Montgomery hospital intensive care units are as busy as during flu season.

“I can assure you that Montgomery’s cases are not going down, and if our community does not take this seriously, the virus will continue to spread, and at some point, our medical capacity will reach its limit,” Dr. David Thrasher, director of respiratory therapy at Jackson Hospital, said in a statement.

Arkansas has also seen increases — in cases, hospitalizations and the percentage of tests that come back positive. But the state’s situation is a complicated story of different outbreaks at different times, said Dr. Nate Smith, director of the Arkansas Department of Health.

After a peak in April, levels were low until spikes began about three weeks ago — mainly in the cities of Rogers and Springdale in the northwest and in De Queen further south. The cases have been concentrated among Hispanics and those who work in chicken production facilities.

The chicken plants never were closed, Smith said. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday said the state will move into a new phase of reopening, starting Monday.

Experts are wondering what will happen in the next week or so, in the wake of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.

The protests were outdoors, which reduces the likelihood of virus spread, and many participants have worn masks and taken other precautions. But it’s a lot of people close together, chanting, singing and yelling.

“Hopefully we won’t see a big spike. But those data aren’t in yet,” Humble said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591208066312.png" alt="Photo Sedgwick County Health Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick County Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus isn’t done with the U.S.Cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a worrying trend that could worsen as people return to work and venture out during the summer.In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses.There is no single reason to explain all the surges. In some cases, more testing has revealed more cases. In others, local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts think at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions put in place during the spring to stem the virus’s spread.The virus is also gradually fanning out.“It is a disaster that spreads,” said Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s not like there’s an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once.”The virus first landed on the U.S. coasts, carried by international travelers infected abroad. For months, the epicenter was in northeastern states. More recently, the biggest increases have been in the South and the West.The AP analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus testing data in the United States. The analysis found that in 21 states as of Monday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier.Here’s what’s driving increases in some of the states with notable upticks:MISSOURI&nbsp;Missouri health officials reported 179 in new confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday as the state continues to see daily triple-digit increases.The state's COVID-19 death toll increased to 848 on Wednesday, which was 29 more than on Monday.&nbsp;ARIZONARepublican Gov. Doug Ducey ended Arizona’s stay-at-home order on May 15 and eased restrictions on businesses. Arizona residents who were cooped up for six weeks flooded Phoenix-area bar districts, ignoring social distancing guidelines.The state began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations about 10 days later.“It seems pretty clear to me that what we’re seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order,” said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association.It wasn’t just that the order ended: There were no requirements to wear face masks, no major increases in contact tracing to spot and stop evolving outbreaks, and no scale-up of infection control at nursing homes, he said.“Those are missed opportunities that, if implemented today, could still make a big difference,” said Humble, a former director of the state Department of Health Services.Testing has been increasing in Arizona, which increases the chance of finding new cases. But the proportion of tests that come back positive has also been on the rise.The AP analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day at the time the shutdown was lifted, but it shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week. Hospitalizations have also risen dramatically, hitting the 1,200 mark last week.The state also passed another grim milestone last week, recording it’s 1,000th death.Meanwhile Arizona hospitals on Tuesday reported they were at 83% of capacity, up from 78% the previous day. That could force affected hospitals to cancel elective surgeries. Rules established under an executive order Ducey issued in April said hospitals wanting to resume elective surgeries had to have at least 20% of their beds available.NORTH CAROLINAIn North Carolina, more testing plus more people out and about during reopening seem to be the main drivers of recent case upticks, said Kimberly Powers, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.On Saturday, the state recorded its highest single-day increase, with 1,370. While testing has grown in the last two weeks, so has the rate of tests coming back positive.“These trends moving in the wrong direction is a signal we need to take very seriously,” said North Carolina’s top health official, Mandy Cohen, who along with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves.But some state residents are not on board.“I think they should start opening stuff a little bit more,” said Jason Denton, an electrician from Greenville who said one of his main concerns was getting to the gym.“That’s like my therapy,” he said.TEXASFew states are rebooting faster than Texas, where hospitalizations surged past 2,100 on Wednesday for the first time during the pandemic. That’s a 42% increase in patients since Memorial Day weekend, when restless beachgoers swarmed Texas’ coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders.Texas’ percentage of tests coming back positive has also jumped to levels that are among the nation’s highest. State officials point to hot spots at meatpacking plants and prisons in rural counties, where thousands of new cases have cropped up, but have not offered explanations for a rise in numbers elsewhere.Abbott, who has recently begun wearing a mask in public, has shown no intention of pumping the brake on reopening a state where conservative protesters in May pressured him to speed up the timeline on getting hair salons back in business.On Friday, Texas is set to lift even more restrictions and let restaurant dining rooms reopen at nearly full capacity.ALABAMAIn Alabama, outbreaks in nursing homes and poultry plants helped drive state numbers upward, though there was a drop more recently. But that may change — there is evidence of community transmission in the capital, Montgomery, which has become an emerging hot spot, said State Health Officer Scott Harris.“I think reopening the economy gave a lot of people the wrong impression … that, ‘Hey everything is fine. Let’s go back to normal,’” Harris said. “Clearly, it is not that way. Really, now more than ever we need people to stay 6 feet apart, wear face coverings and wash their hands.”Montgomery hospital intensive care units are as busy as during flu season.“I can assure you that Montgomery’s cases are not going down, and if our community does not take this seriously, the virus will continue to spread, and at some point, our medical capacity will reach its limit,” Dr. David Thrasher, director of respiratory therapy at Jackson Hospital, said in a statement.ARKANSASArkansas has also seen increases — in cases, hospitalizations and the percentage of tests that come back positive. But the state’s situation is a complicated story of different outbreaks at different times, said Dr. Nate Smith, director of the Arkansas Department of Health.After a peak in April, levels were low until spikes began about three weeks ago — mainly in the cities of Rogers and Springdale in the northwest and in De Queen further south. The cases have been concentrated among Hispanics and those who work in chicken production facilities.The chicken plants never were closed, Smith said. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday said the state will move into a new phase of reopening, starting Monday.LOOKING AHEADExperts are wondering what will happen in the next week or so, in the wake of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.The protests were outdoors, which reduces the likelihood of virus spread, and many participants have worn masks and taken other precautions. But it’s a lot of people close together, chanting, singing and yelling.“Hopefully we won’t see a big spike. But those data aren’t in yet,” Humble said.

Alarming rise in virus cases as states roll back lockdowns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City should rename an iconic fountain and street that bears the name of an important city developer who barred minorities from living in affluent neighborhoods that he designed in the early 1900s, a member of the city's parks board said.

Chris Goode wrote last week to fellow members of the Board of Parks and Recreation asking them to consider a new name for the J.C. Nichols fountain and a parkway that runs through County Club Plaza.

The fountain was the gathering spot for many of the recent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“The time has come for us to stop turning a blind eye towards racism of past and present," Goode said in the letter. "There is no immediate resolution to racism, that of which has been deeply embedded for over 400 years into the fabric of this country. We can however, make a collective decision to simply do the right thing, now.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that he supported Goode's suggestion.

“No person accelerated white flight, redlining, and racial division in the Kansas City area more than J.C. Nichols,“ Lucas said. "The time has long passed that we remove Kansas City’s memorials to his name.”

The park board said it would schedule two public comment sessions in the next 30 days before voting on the request.

Meanwhile, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi will meet Thursday with organizers of an online petition seeking to have a statue of Thomas Jefferson removed from the Columbia campus.

The petition, which had more than 3,200 signatures as of Wednesday, targets the statue because Jefferson owned slaves and fathered children with one of those slaves, Sally Hemming.

The statue has been the target of anti-racism protests in the past. In the fall of 2015, students used post-it notes attached to the statue to express outrage at Jefferson’s treatment of Hemmings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591180588986.png" alt="Protesters and police face off last week near the Plaza photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protesters and police face off last week near the Plaza photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City should rename an iconic fountain and street that bears the name of an important city developer who barred minorities from living in affluent neighborhoods that he designed in the early 1900s, a member of the city's parks board said.Chris Goode wrote last week to fellow members of the Board of Parks and Recreation asking them to consider a new name for the J.C. Nichols fountain and a parkway that runs through County Club Plaza.The fountain was the gathering spot for many of the recent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.“The time has come for us to stop turning a blind eye towards racism of past and present," Goode said in the letter. "There is no immediate resolution to racism, that of which has been deeply embedded for over 400 years into the fabric of this country. We can however, make a collective decision to simply do the right thing, now.”Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that he supported Goode's suggestion.“No person accelerated white flight, redlining, and racial division in the Kansas City area more than J.C. Nichols,“ Lucas said. "The time has long passed that we remove Kansas City’s memorials to his name.”The park board said it would schedule two public comment sessions in the next 30 days before voting on the request.Meanwhile, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi will meet Thursday with organizers of an online petition seeking to have a statue of Thomas Jefferson removed from the Columbia campus.The petition, which had more than 3,200 signatures as of Wednesday, targets the statue because Jefferson owned slaves and fathered children with one of those slaves, Sally Hemming.The statue has been the target of anti-racism protests in the past. In the fall of 2015, students used post-it notes attached to the statue to express outrage at Jefferson’s treatment of Hemmings.

Kansas City board to consider renaming iconic fountain, site of protests

RILEY COUNTY&nbsp; — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported rape in Manhattan.

According to a media release from the Riley County Police, the woman told police she was raped in Northeast Manhattan early Saturday morning.

Police are asking for anyone who has information on social gatherings and guests Friday night through Saturday morning in the area of 6th and Kearney to please contact Detective Jessie Ehrlich.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5-foot-10 to 6-foot tall, average build.

His hair is described as a really short light brown hairstyle, resembling a military haircut. The suspect had a clean-shaven face and was not wearing a hat or glasses.

The type or color of his clothing is unknown. The suspect was last seen running southbound on 6th Street near the area of Kearney at about 2 a.m., according to the RCPD.

Initial investigation suggests the suspect drove, or was driven by someone else over the bridge leading to Pillsbury Drive/Highway 177 later in the morning.

Anyone with information about house parties or get-togethers on Friday June 5th through the morning of Saturday, June 6th to please contact Detective Ehrlich at (785) 473-2397. If you observed anything suspicious, know of someone who matches the physical description who may have been in the area, or have any additional information, we are urging you to call.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580419529960.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY&nbsp; — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported rape in Manhattan.According to a media release from the Riley County Police, the woman told police she was raped in Northeast Manhattan early Saturday morning.Police are asking for anyone who has information on social gatherings and guests Friday night through Saturday morning in the area of 6th and Kearney to please contact Detective Jessie Ehrlich.The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5-foot-10 to 6-foot tall, average build.His hair is described as a really short light brown hairstyle, resembling a military haircut. The suspect had a clean-shaven face and was not wearing a hat or glasses.The type or color of his clothing is unknown. The suspect was last seen running southbound on 6th Street near the area of Kearney at about 2 a.m., according to the RCPD.Initial investigation suggests the suspect drove, or was driven by someone else over the bridge leading to Pillsbury Drive/Highway 177 later in the morning.Anyone with information about house parties or get-togethers on Friday June 5th through the morning of Saturday, June 6th to please contact Detective Ehrlich at (785) 473-2397. If you observed anything suspicious, know of someone who matches the physical description who may have been in the area, or have any additional information, we are urging you to call.

Police release description of alleged rape suspect in Manhattan

SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Church of the Magdalen,&nbsp;12626 E 21st St N in Wichita is temporarily close for at least two weeks after a priest reported he tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Diocese of Wichita, the priest&nbsp;woke up feeling ill on Wednesday and after speaking with a doctor, went in for a test and received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. 

Since the priest live together in the rectory, a second priest is now also required to quarantine for 14 days.

Out of an abundance of&nbsp;caution, the priest and the church staff have determined the following measures need to be taken, effective immediately. All Masses—including Sunday Masses, confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration are temporarily suspended

Livestreams are temporarily discontinued (Magdalen website will have recommended alternatives shortly)

First Communion, originally scheduled for this weekend, is postponed until further notice

The entire Magdalen campus is temporarily closed

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584219029698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Church of the Magdalen,&nbsp;12626 E 21st St N in Wichita is temporarily close for at least two weeks after a priest reported he tested positive for COVID-19.According to the Diocese of Wichita, the priest&nbsp;woke up feeling ill on Wednesday and after speaking with a doctor, went in for a test and received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Since the priest live together in the rectory, a second priest is now also required to quarantine for 14 days.Out of an abundance of&nbsp;caution, the priest and the church staff have determined the following measures need to be taken, effective immediately. All Masses—including Sunday Masses, confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration are temporarily suspendedLivestreams are temporarily discontinued (Magdalen website will have recommended alternatives shortly)First Communion, originally scheduled for this weekend, is postponed until further noticeThe entire Magdalen campus is temporarily closed

Coronavirus shuts down Kan. church after priest tests positive

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer was charged Wednesday with two counts of felony aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Wyandotte County Attorney Mark Dupree said.

The charges against Nicholas Schafer, 36, involve lewd fondling or touching of a child under the age of 14. Dupree said the officer knew the victim and the alleged crimes did not occur while he was on duty.

Schafer, who has been an officer for more than a decade, was being held on on $250,000 bond.

Kansas City, Kansas, Interim Police Chief Michael York said the department’s Internal Affairs Division began investigating as soon as it was made aware of the incident.

“I hold myself and my employees to the highest standards,” York said. “All complaints against members of our Department are investigated thoroughly.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591824053989.png" alt="Schafer photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Schafer photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer was charged Wednesday with two counts of felony aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Wyandotte County Attorney Mark Dupree said.The charges against Nicholas Schafer, 36, involve lewd fondling or touching of a child under the age of 14. Dupree said the officer knew the victim and the alleged crimes did not occur while he was on duty.Schafer, who has been an officer for more than a decade, was being held on on $250,000 bond.Kansas City, Kansas, Interim Police Chief Michael York said the department’s Internal Affairs Division began investigating as soon as it was made aware of the incident.“I hold myself and my employees to the highest standards,” York said. “All complaints against members of our Department are investigated thoroughly.”

Kansas police officer jailed on $250K bond for 2 child sex crimes

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Donors are pushing Kansas’ higher education board to fire Wichita State University’s president after he canceled a virtual speech by Ivanka Trump for its technical school’s graduation.

The Kansas Board of Regents had a special Zoom meeting Wednesday, only two days after a former board member from Wichita said the regents should ask for President Jay Golden’s resignation. Golden was present for at least part of the four-hour closed meeting.

Afterward, the board issued <a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2020-news-releases/757-kansas-board-of-regents-statement">a short statement</a> that didn’t mention him or Wichita State, expressing its commitment to “support and promote freedom of speech and diversity and inclusion.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/466ba7b32565ecde87ff4eb40dd4f71e">Golden canceled</a>&nbsp;Trump’s speech after students and faculty protested. Students staged an impromptu rally Wednesday for Golden, and nearly 7,200 people had signed a petition supporting him by Wednesday night.

<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2020-news-releases/757-kansas-board-of-regents-statement" target="_blank">The board’s statement</a>&nbsp;asked for “patience and understanding” in “unprecedented times.”

“We look forward to strengthening relationships with students, alumni and friends,” the statement said.

Steve Clark, the former regent seeking Golden’s ouster, sent a letter Monday to board members saying Golden’s decision to cancel the speech by President Donald Trump’s daughter threatens a multimillion-dollar relationship with Koch Industries, the vast conglomerate led by billionaire and conservative political donor Charles Koch.<a href="https://www.kansas.com/article243382231.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>He did not return a telephone message Wednesday from The Associated Press.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581346426258.jpeg" alt=" WSU President Jay Golden - photo by Stephan Bisaha&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption> WSU President Jay Golden - photo by Stephan Bisaha&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Donors are pushing Kansas’ higher education board to fire Wichita State University’s president after he canceled a virtual speech by Ivanka Trump for its technical school’s graduation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591838980724.png" alt="Board of Regents held their meeting on Zoom Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Board of Regents held their meeting on Zoom Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Board of Regents had a special Zoom meeting Wednesday, only two days after a former board member from Wichita said the regents should ask for President Jay Golden’s resignation. Golden was present for at least part of the four-hour closed meeting.Afterward, the board issued <a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2020-news-releases/757-kansas-board-of-regents-statement">a short statement</a> that didn’t mention him or Wichita State, expressing its commitment to “support and promote freedom of speech and diversity and inclusion.”<div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I stand with the Kansas Board of Regents in its support for freedom of speech and for diversity and inclusion. I look forward to continuing our efforts in advancing the mission and vision of <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaState?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WichitaState</a> for all of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShockerNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShockerNation</a>. Full statement: <a href="https://t.co/5YjzzXTsHk">https://t.co/5YjzzXTsHk</a> <a href="https://t.co/cgWkLdLlqG">pic.twitter.com/cgWkLdLlqG</a>&mdash; Dr. Jay Golden (@PresidentWSU) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidentWSU/status/1270912273612181504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/466ba7b32565ecde87ff4eb40dd4f71e">Golden canceled</a>&nbsp;Trump’s speech after students and faculty protested. Students staged an impromptu rally Wednesday for Golden, and nearly 7,200 people had signed a petition supporting him by Wednesday night.<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2020-news-releases/757-kansas-board-of-regents-statement" target="_blank">The board’s statement</a>&nbsp;asked for “patience and understanding” in “unprecedented times.”“We look forward to strengthening relationships with students, alumni and friends,” the statement said.Steve Clark, the former regent seeking Golden’s ouster, sent a letter Monday to board members saying Golden’s decision to cancel the speech by President Donald Trump’s daughter threatens a multimillion-dollar relationship with Koch Industries, the vast conglomerate led by billionaire and conservative political donor Charles Koch.<a href="https://www.kansas.com/article243382231.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>He did not return a telephone message Wednesday from The Associated Press.Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican and Wichita State graduate, said she was “deeply disappointed,” adding that when she was a student in the 1970s, “free speech was a fundamental right on campus.”“I fear that may no longer be the case,” she said.A Koch Industries spokeswoman said Wednesday that financial commitments to the university are being honored and, while it opposes canceling speakers, it doesn’t tie funding to university employment actions.Clark is the chairman and CEO of a Wichita investment firm who served as chairman of search committees for both Golden and his predecessor, John Bardo. Golden became president in January, after Bardo died in March 2019.Clark told the regents that officials from Koch Industries and several longtime donors and supporters are “very upset and quite vocal in their decisions to disavow any further support.” He said canceling Trump’s speech damaged the school’s reputation with high-profile donors and relationships can be restored only if Golden leaves.Steve Feilmeier, Koch Industries’ executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in an email that he’s been asked to serve on the Wichita State Foundation board and how the speech controversy is resolved will “weigh heavily” on his decision.The university has said Koch Industries and its associated foundations have spent or pledged to spend more than $15 million there in the past seven years. The university’s basketball arena is named for Charles Koch.Company spokeswoman Jessica Koehn said it respects “the university’s independence” in making employment decisions.But she also said Koch Industries believes canceling speakers “cuts off the chance to engage, debate, and criticize.”Wichita State has 14,000 students, including some 3,000 at its technical school and is home to a national institute on aviation research. Parts of Wichita and its suburbs are politically conservative, and Donald Trump carried the county in 2016 by 18 percentage points. Ivanka Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e0fc0c39320f47bb97c009827f9f5bfc">visited WSU Tech last fall</a>&nbsp;to promote its training programs.The university announced Thursday that she would give a virtual speech for WSU Tech’s graduation and canceled it hours later after a professor’s open letter of protest garnered nearly 500 signatures. The letter said allowing the speech would show that the WSU Tech “does not take diversity seriously.”Days earlier, police under federal command in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a2797b342b4fc509e43f404817a56aa9">used tear gas&nbsp;</a>to force back peaceful protesters of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis while detained by police. The police action allowed the president to walk to a church near the White House and pose with a Bible, accompanied by his daughter. The president also threatened to use the military to quell violence.WSU Tech President Sheree Utash&nbsp;<a href="https://wsutech.edu/news/message-from-wsu-tech-president-dr-sheree-utash/" target="_blank">later apologized,</a>&nbsp;calling the timing of the announcement of Ivanka Trump’s speech “insensitive.” Golden has said the university is committed to diversity and that he canceled the speech to avoid a distraction from celebrating the students.Ivanka Trump responded&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump/status/1269044636590497792" target="_blank">by tweeting</a>&nbsp;a link to her remarks and saying universities should be “bastions of free speech.”“Cancel culture and viewpoint discrimination are antithetical to academia,” she said.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, called the cancellation “shameful.”---------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Donors are pushing Kansas’ higher education board to fire Wichita State University’s president after he canceled a virtual speech by Ivanka Trump for its technical school’s graduation.The Kansas Board of Regents scheduled a special meeting Wednesday to discuss what it called “personnel matters.” Its staff did not say more, but the meeting comes only two days after a former board member from Wichita said the regents should ask for President Jay Golden’s resignation.<a href="https://apnews.com/466ba7b32565ecde87ff4eb40dd4f71e">Golden canceled</a>&nbsp;Trump’s speech after students and faculty protested. Students staged an impromptu rally Wednesday to support him.Steve Clark, the former regent seeking Golden’s ouster, sent a letter Monday to board members saying Golden’s decision to cancel the speech by President Donald Trump’s daughter threatens a multimillion-dollar relationship with Koch Industries, the vast conglomerate led by billionaire and conservative political donor Charles Koch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574437394978.png" alt="Secretary of State Mike Pompeo&nbsp; and Ivanka Trump visited Wichita in Oct. 2019" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Mike Pompeo&nbsp; and Ivanka Trump visited Wichita in Oct. 2019</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansas.com/article243382231.html" target="_blank"></a>A Koch Industries spokeswoman said Wednesday that financial commitments to the university are being honored and, while it opposes canceling speakers, it doesn’t tie funding to university employment actions.Clark is the chairman and CEO of a Wichita investment firm who served as chairman of search committees for both Golden and his predecessor, John Bardo. Golden became president in January, after Bardo died in March 2019.Clark told the regents that officials from Koch Industries and several longtime donors and supporters are “very upset and quite vocal in their decisions to disavow any further support.” He said canceling Trump’s speech damaged the school’s reputation with high-profile donors.“These relationships can only be restored by Dr. Golden’s departure,” he wrote the regents. “I would strongly encourage you not to let this linger.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We stand with President Dr. Jay Golden of Wichita State University. Dr. Golden listened to the student voices’ and took action, which is one of the things that makes him a great university president. <a href="https://t.co/16wf1JyYgo">pic.twitter.com/16wf1JyYgo</a>&mdash; Wichita State Student Government Association (@WichitaStateSGA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaStateSGA/status/1270739357541044224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Steve Feilmeier, Koch Industries’ executive vice president and chief financial officer, said he’s been asked to serve on the Wichita State Foundation board and how the speech controversy is resolved will “weigh heavily” on his decision.The university has said Koch Industries and its associated foundations have spent or pledged to spend more than $15 million there in the past seven years. Company spokeswoman Jessica Koehn said it respects “the university’s independence” in making employment decisions.But she also said Koch Industries believes canceling speakers “cuts off the chance to engage, debate, and criticize.”Wichita State has 14,000 students, including some 3,000 at its technical school and is home to a national institute on aviation research. Parts of Wichita and its suburbs are politically conservative, and Donald Trump carried the county in 2016 by 18 percentage points. Ivanka Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e0fc0c39320f47bb97c009827f9f5bfc">visited WSU Tech last fall</a>&nbsp;to promote its training programs.The university announced Thursday that she would give a virtual speech for WSU Tech’s graduation and canceled it hours later after a professor’s open letter of protest garnered nearly 500 signatures.Days earlier, police under federal command in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a2797b342b4fc509e43f404817a56aa9">used tear gas&nbsp;</a>to force back a peaceful protests of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis while detained by police. The police action allowed the president to walk to a church near the White House and pose with a Bible, accompanied by his daughter. The president also threatened to use the military to quell violence.WSU Tech President Sheree Utash later apologized, calling the timing of the announcement of Ivanka Trump’s speech “insensitive.” Golden has said the university is committed to diversity and that he canceled the speech to avoid a distraction from celebrating the students.Ivanka Trump responded&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump/status/1269044636590497792" target="_blank">by tweeting</a>&nbsp;a link to her remarks and saying universities should be “bastions of free speech.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here is the message I recorded on May 18th for the Graduates of WSU-Tech. I know that all of these talented graduates will dream big and aspire to make the world a better place!&mdash; Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump/status/1269044635634143233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Cancel culture and viewpoint discrimination are antithetical to academia,” she said.&nbsp; (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&amp;v=-dNU9e0SYIg&amp;feature=emb_logo">Click here </a>to watch a recording of her speech)U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, called the cancellation “shameful,” adding in a statement: “The losers here are freedom of thought, the students, and the central idea of universities as places of tolerance and learning.”----------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Donors are calling for Wichita State University’s president to be fired after he canceled a virtual speech by Ivanka Trump for its technical school’s graduation.A former member of the Kansas higher education system’s Board of Regents told the board that the decision by university President Jay Golden threatens a multimillion-dollar relationship with Koch Industries, the vast conglomerate led by billionaire and conservative political donor Charles Koch.The Board of Regents scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday. Golden took over as the university’s president in January following the death of former President John Bardo.The university announced Thursday that President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser would give a virtual speech at the ceremony honoring this year’s graduates of WSU Tech. But her speech was canceled only hours later following criticism from faculty, students and alumni concerned about the Trump administration’s response to nationwide protests against police brutality. Golden later said the university is committed to diversity and that he canceled the speech to avoid a distraction from celebrating the students.Steve Clark, a former Kansas Board of Regents member from Wichita, told the board in a letter Monday that Koch Industries and several longtime donors and supporters are “very upset and quite vocal in their decisions to disavow any further support.”-------------WICHITA —WSU Tech has made a change in who will speak at their weekend virtual graduation event.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574437394978.png" alt="Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ivanka Trump during her visit to Wichita in October of 2019" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ivanka Trump during her visit to Wichita in October of 2019</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday morning, the school announced that Ivanka Trump, advisor to the president of the United States, as a planned speaker at the college’s virtual commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday.The invitation was extended in February and Ms. Trump offered to record a congratulatory message to graduates to be played during the event, according to a statement released late Thursday from Dr. Sheree Utash, President, WSU Tech."In light of the social justice issues brought forth by George Floyd’s death, I understand and take responsibility that the timing of the announcement was insensitive. For this, I’m sorry that was never the intent, and I want you to know I have heard you and we are responding," according to Utash."Our focus with commencement has always been about our graduates and celebrating their accomplishments. To ensure this our only commencement speaker will be Rebecca Zinabu, WSU Tech practical nursing graduate," according to a joint statement from Utash and Wichita State University president Jay Golden."The graduates will also be invited to separately view congratulatory messages from over 30 voices, including Ms. Trump and community members."Utash wrote, "I respect and understand the sharply divided reaction to today’s announcement. The college stands with those who fight injustice and advocate for social equity, and we’re profoundly proud of the diversity and social change being brought forth by our students, alumni, faculty, and staff.In my heart, my highest priority has always been to support our students and our community, and we will do so on Saturday."