TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top election official argued Tuesday that going in person to the polls is “a community event” for many voters and that moving solely to mail ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic would create confusion.

Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab is well along in his plans to equip every polling place with two plexiglass screens for the Aug. 4 primary election — less than five weeks after Democrats held a presidential primary only by mail that went relatively smoothly. Schwab plans to give voters disposable stylus pens and hand out $1 million in personal protective equipment to election workers, funded with federal coronavirus relief funds.

“A lot of people in our communities really enjoy going to the polling place,” Schwab said. “We don’t want to take that from them, but at the same time, we don’t want them to feel endangered.”

Schwab on Tuesday visited the Topeka branch of Binswanger Glass, which is making and shipping more than 2,000 plexiglass screens for polling places.

The quarter-inch screens are 24 inches wide and 42 inches high, with two half-inch thick legs held on by 2-inch screws, and the $150 kit can be assembled in a few minutes with a screwdriver. Jason Tomlinson, the company’s branch manager, said his goal is to have them all done and shipped by the end of this month.

Screens are common in retail stores. Kansas has reported more than 10,600 coronavirus cases and 236 COVID-19-related deaths.

Schwab’s office is encouraging people who are nervous about showing up at a polling place to ask for a mail ballot. Kansas doesn’t require voters to list a reason for seeking a mail ballot, and Schwab’s office said a record 75,000 already have been requested.

But Kansas law&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/statute/025_000_0000_chapter/025_004_0000_article/025_004_0032_section/025_004_0032_k/" target="_blank">prohibits voting solely by mail ballot</a>&nbsp;to fill elective offices, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/statute/025_000_0000_chapter/025_006_0000_article/025_006_0022_section/025_006_0022_k/" target="_blank">another law</a>&nbsp;says the secretary of state can change the method of voting in emergencies when normal voting is “impossible.”

The issue of switching to solely mail ballots for the primary or Nov. 3 general election never came up during a special session of the Republican-controlled Legislature last week. In fact,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">a sweeping coronavirus measure&nbsp;</a>approved by lawmakers barred Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly from changing how or when elections are conducted during the pandemic.

In its presidential primary, the Kansas Democratic Party mailed ballots to more than 400,000 registered Democrats and had no in-person polling sites for the May 2 election. Turnout was about 147,000.

“I would 100% push for entirely mailing those ballots out instead of trying to put a whole lot of money into making provisions for safety,” said State Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Hiatt.

But Schwab said some voters who get ballots by mail without asking for them might confuse them for surveys or other mail they throw out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587385328985.png" alt="Democrat Presidential Primary ballot in Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Democrat Presidential Primary ballot in Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top election official argued Tuesday that going in person to the polls is “a community event” for many voters and that moving solely to mail ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic would create confusion.Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab is well along in his plans to equip every polling place with two plexiglass screens for the Aug. 4 primary election — less than five weeks after Democrats held a presidential primary only by mail that went relatively smoothly. Schwab plans to give voters disposable stylus pens and hand out $1 million in personal protective equipment to election workers, funded with federal coronavirus relief funds.“A lot of people in our communities really enjoy going to the polling place,” Schwab said. “We don’t want to take that from them, but at the same time, we don’t want them to feel endangered.”Schwab on Tuesday visited the Topeka branch of Binswanger Glass, which is making and shipping more than 2,000 plexiglass screens for polling places.The quarter-inch screens are 24 inches wide and 42 inches high, with two half-inch thick legs held on by 2-inch screws, and the $150 kit can be assembled in a few minutes with a screwdriver. Jason Tomlinson, the company’s branch manager, said his goal is to have them all done and shipped by the end of this month.Screens are common in retail stores. Kansas has reported more than 10,600 coronavirus cases and 236 COVID-19-related deaths.Schwab’s office is encouraging people who are nervous about showing up at a polling place to ask for a mail ballot. Kansas doesn’t require voters to list a reason for seeking a mail ballot, and Schwab’s office said a record 75,000 already have been requested.But Kansas law&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/statute/025_000_0000_chapter/025_004_0000_article/025_004_0032_section/025_004_0032_k/" target="_blank">prohibits voting solely by mail ballot</a>&nbsp;to fill elective offices, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/statute/025_000_0000_chapter/025_006_0000_article/025_006_0022_section/025_006_0022_k/" target="_blank">another law</a>&nbsp;says the secretary of state can change the method of voting in emergencies when normal voting is “impossible.”The issue of switching to solely mail ballots for the primary or Nov. 3 general election never came up during a special session of the Republican-controlled Legislature last week. In fact,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">a sweeping coronavirus measure&nbsp;</a>approved by lawmakers barred Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly from changing how or when elections are conducted during the pandemic.In its presidential primary, the Kansas Democratic Party mailed ballots to more than 400,000 registered Democrats and had no in-person polling sites for the May 2 election. Turnout was about 147,000.“I would 100% push for entirely mailing those ballots out instead of trying to put a whole lot of money into making provisions for safety,” said State Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Hiatt.But Schwab said some voters who get ballots by mail without asking for them might confuse them for surveys or other mail they throw out.___

Kansas not swayed by Democrats' luck with mail-balloting

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 162 to a total of 10,812, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 162 to a total of 10,812, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 240<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591809929925.png" alt="June 10, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>June 10, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

WASHINGTON —U.S. meatpacking facilities are operating at more than 95 percent of average capacity when compared to 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities. 

USDA says beef facilities are operating at 98 percent, pork facilities are operating at 95 percent, and poultry facilities are operating at 98 percent of their capacity compared to the same time last year. 

Secretary Perdue thanked the industry and its workers, for "quickly getting their operations back up and running." USDA says the facilities are safely resuming operations following an executive order by President Donald Trump to implement safety guidelines to protect workers from COVID-19. 

The closures led to shortages at grocery stores and a backlog of animals ready to slaughter, creating depressed prices for farmers, yet higher prices for consumers. USDA says it will continue to work with safety officials to keep the facilities open while maintaining worker safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589997636847.png" alt="Workers wearing protective clothing -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Workers wearing protective clothing -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —U.S. meatpacking facilities are operating at more than 95 percent of average capacity when compared to 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities. USDA says beef facilities are operating at 98 percent, pork facilities are operating at 95 percent, and poultry facilities are operating at 98 percent of their capacity compared to the same time last year. Secretary Perdue thanked the industry and its workers, for "quickly getting their operations back up and running." USDA says the facilities are safely resuming operations following an executive order by President Donald Trump to implement safety guidelines to protect workers from COVID-19. The closures led to shortages at grocery stores and a backlog of animals ready to slaughter, creating depressed prices for farmers, yet higher prices for consumers. USDA says it will continue to work with safety officials to keep the facilities open while maintaining worker safety.

USDA: Meatpacking facilities near full operation of 2019 capacity

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect found with an missing teenage girl during a traffic stop.

Just before 1p.m. Tuesday, an officer conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 70 with a 2019 Nissan rental vehicle for a traffic violation, according to Junction City police.

The officer met with the occupants of the vehicle. and during an investigation discovered the passenger was a 15-year-old girl from El Salvador and had been reported missing by a relative in Maryland a few days earlier. 

Police arrested the driver identified as Fulgencio Castillo-Guardado, 37, Wilmington California, on requested charges of Interference with Parental Custody, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer and Speeding.

Castillo-Guardado is being held without bond pending first appearance. The juvenile was turned over to juvenile intake and assessment, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591804604735.png" alt="CASTILLO GUARDADO-photo Geary County" />
 <figcaption>CASTILLO GUARDADO-photo Geary County</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect found with an missing teenage girl during a traffic stop.Just before 1p.m. Tuesday, an officer conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 70 with a 2019 Nissan rental vehicle for a traffic violation, according to Junction City police.The officer met with the occupants of the vehicle. and during an investigation discovered the passenger was a 15-year-old girl from El Salvador and had been reported missing by a relative in Maryland a few days earlier. Police arrested the driver identified as Fulgencio Castillo-Guardado, 37, Wilmington California, on requested charges of Interference with Parental Custody, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer and Speeding.Castillo-Guardado is being held without bond pending first appearance. The juvenile was turned over to juvenile intake and assessment, according to police.

Police: Missing teen found during I-70 traffic stop

SUMNER COUNTY — The Sumer County Sheriff's has requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's assistance to positively identity a person whose badly decomposed body was pulled from the Ninnescah River over the weekend.

It is a homicide investigation, according to Melissa Underwood with the KBI.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to an area in northeastern Sumner County, west of the Kansas Turnpike, around 1:30 p.m. Sunday after someone fishing in the river spotted the body.

Authorities said they were unable to say how the person died or whether the victim was a man or a woman because of the deteriorated condition of the remains. An autopsy has been scheduled at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center in Wichita

The KBI is expected to release additional details later this week.

MULVANE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in southern Kansas are trying to learn the identity of a person whose badly decomposed body was pulled from the Ninnescah River over the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591715981288.png" alt="Ninnescah River in Sumner County Photo by Slade Hackney, USGS" />
 <figcaption>Ninnescah River in Sumner County Photo by Slade Hackney, USGS</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY — The Sumer County Sheriff's has requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's assistance to positively identity a person whose badly decomposed body was pulled from the Ninnescah River over the weekend.It is a homicide investigation, according to Melissa Underwood with the KBI.Sheriff’s deputies were called to an area in northeastern Sumner County, west of the Kansas Turnpike, around 1:30 p.m. Sunday after someone fishing in the river spotted the body.Authorities said they were unable to say how the person died or whether the victim was a man or a woman because of the deteriorated condition of the remains. An autopsy has been scheduled at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center in WichitaThe KBI is expected to release additional details later this week.-----------MULVANE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in southern Kansas are trying to learn the identity of a person whose badly decomposed body was pulled from the Ninnescah River over the weekend.Sheriff’s deputies were called to an area in northeastern Sumner County, west of the Kansas Turnpike, around 1:30 p.m. Sunday after someone fishing in the river spotted the body.Authorities said they were unable to say how the person died or whether the victim was a man or a woman because of the deteriorated condition of the remains. An autopsy has been scheduled at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center in Wichita

Update: KBI joins investigation of body pulled from river in Kansas

St. Louis(AP) —Merriam-Webster is revising its definition of racism after a Missouri woman's emails claimed it fell short of including the systemic oppression of certain groups of people.

Kennedy Mitchum, who lives in the St. Louis suburb Florissant, said people would argue with her about the definition of racism and she realized the problem was in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary.

“It’s not just disliking someone because of their race,” Mitchum wrote in a Facebook post. “This current fight we are in is evidence of that, lives are at stake because of the systems of oppression that go hand-in-hand with racism.”

The revision comes against the backdrop of protests around the country against police brutality after the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e1443df6ee94d9386a7dbbf6c1928f26">George Floyd</a>, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck to the ground.

The Merriam-Webster&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism">online dictionary</a>&nbsp;first defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”

Mitchum, who recently graduated with a degree in law, politics and society, said that definition was too simple.

“So, a couple weeks ago, I said this is the last argument I’m going to have about this. I know what racism is, I’ve experienced it time and time and time again in a lot of different ways, so enough is enough. So, I emailed them about how I felt about it. Saying this needs to change,” she said.

Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that the dictionary's second definition is “divided to express, first, explicit institutional bias against people because of their race, and, second, a broader implicit bias that can also result in an asymmetrical power structure.”

“This second definition covers the sense that Ms. Mitchum was seeking, and we will make its wording even more clear in our next release,” he said. “This is the kind of continuous revision that is part of the work of keeping the dictionary up to date, based on rigorous criteria and research we employ in order to describe the language as it is actually used.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591795458102.png" alt="Kennedy Mitchum photo courtesy KMOV TV" />
 <figcaption>Kennedy Mitchum photo courtesy KMOV TV</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Louis(AP) —Merriam-Webster is revising its definition of racism after a Missouri woman's emails claimed it fell short of including the systemic oppression of certain groups of people.Kennedy Mitchum, who lives in the St. Louis suburb Florissant, said people would argue with her about the definition of racism and she realized the problem was in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary.“It’s not just disliking someone because of their race,” Mitchum wrote in a Facebook post. “This current fight we are in is evidence of that, lives are at stake because of the systems of oppression that go hand-in-hand with racism.”The revision comes against the backdrop of protests around the country against police brutality after the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e1443df6ee94d9386a7dbbf6c1928f26">George Floyd</a>, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck to the ground.The Merriam-Webster&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism">online dictionary</a>&nbsp;first defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”Mitchum, who recently graduated with a degree in law, politics and society, said that definition was too simple.“So, a couple weeks ago, I said this is the last argument I’m going to have about this. I know what racism is, I’ve experienced it time and time and time again in a lot of different ways, so enough is enough. So, I emailed them about how I felt about it. Saying this needs to change,” she said.Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that the dictionary's second definition is “divided to express, first, explicit institutional bias against people because of their race, and, second, a broader implicit bias that can also result in an asymmetrical power structure.”“This second definition covers the sense that Ms. Mitchum was seeking, and we will make its wording even more clear in our next release,” he said. “This is the kind of continuous revision that is part of the work of keeping the dictionary up to date, based on rigorous criteria and research we employ in order to describe the language as it is actually used.”

Woman prompts Merriam-Webster to redefine 'racism'

New poll shows Kansans stressed by the pandemic, economic toll

By SCOTT CANON &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-06-09/kansans-reveal-their-coronavirus-anxieties-from-money-to-health-to-loneliness">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — A full two-thirds of Kansans say they don’t personally know someone who’s been infected with the coronavirus.

Yet an overwhelming number of respondents to a survey say the pandemic remade their lives, mostly for the worse.

They
 talk of worry, boredom. It has cost most of them money. In a time of 
one-way grocery aisles and when you need to wear a mask to go into a 
bank, they speak of a future that has hardly ever looked so gloomily 
foggy.

“It’s changed everyone’s lives,” said one respondent to a 
survey commissioned by public media project America Amplified for the 
Kansas News Service. “It’s been hard staying away from everyone I know 
and love.”

Still, that respondent reflected another common view of the poll — that the pain of stay-at-home orders felt worthwhile.

Kansans essentially said the damage to commerce and community makes 
sense as a way to keep a lethal virus from killing more people. They 
give state and local government higher marks than Washington, but that’s
 a common finding in polls.

If anything, most people said the federal response to a pandemic that’s killed 100,000-plus Americans came too late.

“Attacking
 the virus from the moment we were aware would have saved countless 
lives,” one respondent said. Another said officials should not have 
“play(ed) it off as a hoax.”

A sizable minority, nearly a fourth, said too much emphasis has been put on combating the virus. After all,<a href="https://www.kcur.org/economy/2020-03-30/kansas-sees-a-1-000-surge-in-jobless-claims-as-covid-19-derails-the-economy" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/economy/2020-03-30/kansas-sees-a-1-000-surge-in-jobless-claims-as-covid-19-derails-the-economy" target="_blank">unemployment claims in Kansas</a>
 have never come so suddenly, or in such volume. (The survey was 
conducted from May 28 to June 4, before reports that the national <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/05/may-2020-jobs-report/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNTk2YjIzYjhhZGU0ZTI0MTE5YWU3NDBkIiwidGFnIjoid3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvMjAyMC8wNi8wNS9tYXktMjAyMC1qb2JzLXJlcG9ydC8_d3Btaz0xJndwaXNyYz1hbF9uZXdzX19hbGVydC1lY29ub215LS1hbGVydC1uYXRpb25hbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWFsZXJ0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXdwX25ld3NfYWxlcnRfcmV2ZXJlIn0.AlgTFdLa7EZgViXW28XIV2aMrDLbVVt7pcXRXq9KTig&amp;utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=alert&amp;wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-national&amp;wpmk=1" target="_blank">jobless rate defied economists’ projections and improved</a>, if not as much as initially thought, in May.) “I wanted” the state, said one respondent, “to let us get things open sooner.”

[The
 poll was commissioned by public media project America Amplified for the
 Kansas News Service. It was conducted by Hertz Research. The results 
are based on 616 responses to an online survey. While the demographics 
of the respondents generally reflect those of Kansas as a whole — by 
income, age, sex, geography, political affiliation and race — the 
results have been statistically weighted to match the state’s population
 even more accurately. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4%. 
See the results of all the questions and the pollster's analysis 
embedded at the bottom of this article.]

Notably, white 
people appear far less worried about the pandemic. Only 32% of white 
respondents said they were very concerned, compared to 55% of people of 
color. Findings throughout the pandemic have noted that people of color —
 they generally have less access to health care and face other factors 
that put their health in jeopardy — have been far more likely to catch<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/black-kansans-least-7-times-more-likely-die-coronavirus-white-kansans" target="_blank"> COVID-19</a> and to die from it.

More
 than three-fourths of respondents of color said that the pandemic felt 
stressful or very stressful, compared to barely half of the white people
 in the survey.

People of color were significantly more likely to 
say they’ve lost a job, been furloughed, seen their work hours cut or 
lost health care benefits.

And while only about 21% of white 
people personally know someone who got the coronavirus, about 35% of 
people of color know someone who’s become sick from the virus.

“It’s quite a bit different for African Americans,” said Natalie 
Pennie, a black woman from Topeka who spoke with the Kansas News Service
 after taking the survey.

She got laid off from a part-time job and found herself struggling to pay her bills.

“The
 price of food is outrageous,” she said, forcing her to choose between 
the grocery bill and a pending car insurance premium. “With your income 
being more limited now, you’ve got to make a decision on what’s more 
important.”

Yet she also talked about the collective need to 
balance the economic impact of stay-at-home orders against keeping the 
virus from spreading.

“I’d rather have my life and be broke,” she said, “than take a chance and go out there and get sick and then die.”

In
 fact, Kansans in the survey generally maintained serious worries about 
the pandemic, even though the poll came after nearly all of the<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-19/kansas-rolls-back-more-restrictions-but-the-pool-wont-be-open-for-memorial-day" target="_blank"> statewide restrictions have been lifted</a>.

That’s another way Kansas reflects the national mood.

“People still think the health risks are more important to address than opening the economy,” said <a href="https://www.aei.org/profile/karlyn-bowman/" target="_blank">Karlyn Bowman</a>, a polling expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “They’re deeply concerned about the ​economy.”

She said national polls reveal a similar sense of angst about both an economic recession and a fatal disease.

“People
 really, really are concerned about what this all means, what it's going
 to be for them and their families and whether there’ll ever be a 
vaccine,” Bowman said. “There is an enormous amount of anxiety right 
now.”

Among the concerns: 65% worry about getting infected, or a 
relative or friend getting sick; 63% worry about the economic impact of 
the virus; 57% fret about how long the virus will alter their lives.

When
 they filled in blanks on the survey, respondents talked about elderly 
relatives they couldn’t visit. About the uncertainty of their business. 
About the tedium. One respondent said, “I feel cooped up and sad.”

Kansans
 in the survey see a future far different from the recent past. Nearly 
three-fourths said more people will work from home. Almost two-thirds 
said people will be reluctant to attend sporting events, go to concerts 
or meet in large crowds. About half expect we’ll go out to eat less.

“It’s
 already starting to do damage to the economy and what we think of as 
normal American life,” Jon Russell said in an interview after taking the
 survey. He’s 24 and says the pandemic is partly responsible for him 
being out of work.

Other respondents said, basically, this too 
shall pass. Some complained of what they see as an overreaction to the 
virus, a response that’s made a mess of a previously robust economy.

But more often, they spoke despairingly. One respondent talked of 
being “in a world of disbelief.” Another said, “It's been very isolating
 and depressing at times.”

Those dreary responses — there were 
exceptions, particularly people grateful for more time with their 
families — defined the results.

“The stress levels seem amazing high,” said Martin Hamburger, a <a href="https://www.hgcreative.com/about/" target="_blank">Democratic political consultant</a> who has run campaigns in Kansas for decades.

Consider all those people who’ve lost a job, a business, who’ve been furloughed or seen their pay cut.

“A lot of those people are down to no money coming in all of a sudden,” Hamburger said. “That’s a pretty serious thing.”

Stress
 levels appear to run highest among the young and those living in 
densely populated situations — renters and urban residents.

Democrats also were more likely than Republicans to say the pandemic made them very stressed.

A
 number of issues split along party lines. Most glaringly, it’s clear 
that Republicans put far more faith in what President Donald Trump says 
about the pandemic (56% have a great or good deal of faith in what he 
says) than Democrats (16%).

“Trump is doing a fantastic job,” Mark
 Swisher said in an interview after taking the survey. He also gave 
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly high marks. “It’s not her fault if the virus
 rolls up.”

He’s a Republican who lives in a nursing home in 
Onaga, Kansas. He thinks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
could have been better prepared for the pandemic. Now he hopes progress 
is made to fight the disease.

“The world has forever changed,” Swisher said. “I hope it’s within six months that they have a vaccine.”

Quarantines
 have raised the possibility of complicating the August primary and 
November general election. An overwhelming number of Democrats, 79%, 
said voting by mail is secure and should be encouraged. Just 38% of 
Republicans agreed.

Protests over the death of George Floyd in the
 custody of Minneapolis police escalated only after the survey had 
begun. In response to open-ended questions, a handful of respondents 
volunteered that those protests might spread the virus.

Yet people maintain their faith in scientists to lead them through a public health crisis. <a href="https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/kathleen-hall-jamieson-phd" target="_blank">Kathleen Hall Jamieson</a>,
 a communications professor at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, said 
that people have long tended to trust scientists over politicians.

That confidence in real expertise, she said, shows up in the sacrifices they were willing to make.

“They
 were giving up the ability to interact with people who were their 
friends and their other members of their family and their children and 
grandchildren, or their grandparents,” she said. “It would make no sense
 to say that you think it was a worthwhile trade-off if you didn't 
believe the science.”

Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.&nbsp;Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celialj_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591736014875.png" alt="Photo illustration by Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo illustration by Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>New poll shows Kansans stressed by the pandemic, economic toll</h2>By SCOTT CANON &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-06-09/kansans-reveal-their-coronavirus-anxieties-from-money-to-health-to-loneliness">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — A full two-thirds of Kansans say they don’t personally know someone who’s been infected with the coronavirus.Yet an overwhelming number of respondents to a survey say the pandemic remade their lives, mostly for the worse.They
 talk of worry, boredom. It has cost most of them money. In a time of 
one-way grocery aisles and when you need to wear a mask to go into a 
bank, they speak of a future that has hardly ever looked so gloomily 
foggy.“It’s changed everyone’s lives,” said one respondent to a 
survey commissioned by public media project America Amplified for the 
Kansas News Service. “It’s been hard staying away from everyone I know 
and love.”Still, that respondent reflected another common view of the poll — that the pain of stay-at-home orders felt worthwhile.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591736173524.png" alt="Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansans essentially said the damage to commerce and community makes 
sense as a way to keep a lethal virus from killing more people. They 
give state and local government higher marks than Washington, but that’s
 a common finding in polls.If anything, most people said the federal response to a pandemic that’s killed 100,000-plus Americans came too late.“Attacking
 the virus from the moment we were aware would have saved countless 
lives,” one respondent said. Another said officials should not have 
“play(ed) it off as a hoax.”A sizable minority, nearly a fourth, said too much emphasis has been put on combating the virus. After all,<a href="https://www.kcur.org/economy/2020-03-30/kansas-sees-a-1-000-surge-in-jobless-claims-as-covid-19-derails-the-economy" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/economy/2020-03-30/kansas-sees-a-1-000-surge-in-jobless-claims-as-covid-19-derails-the-economy" target="_blank">unemployment claims in Kansas</a>
 have never come so suddenly, or in such volume. (The survey was 
conducted from May 28 to June 4, before reports that the national <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/05/may-2020-jobs-report/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNTk2YjIzYjhhZGU0ZTI0MTE5YWU3NDBkIiwidGFnIjoid3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvMjAyMC8wNi8wNS9tYXktMjAyMC1qb2JzLXJlcG9ydC8_d3Btaz0xJndwaXNyYz1hbF9uZXdzX19hbGVydC1lY29ub215LS1hbGVydC1uYXRpb25hbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWFsZXJ0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXdwX25ld3NfYWxlcnRfcmV2ZXJlIn0.AlgTFdLa7EZgViXW28XIV2aMrDLbVVt7pcXRXq9KTig&amp;utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=alert&amp;wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-national&amp;wpmk=1" target="_blank">jobless rate defied economists’ projections and improved</a>, if not as much as initially thought, in May.) “I wanted” the state, said one respondent, “to let us get things open sooner.”[The
 poll was commissioned by public media project America Amplified for the
 Kansas News Service. It was conducted by Hertz Research. The results 
are based on 616 responses to an online survey. While the demographics 
of the respondents generally reflect those of Kansas as a whole — by 
income, age, sex, geography, political affiliation and race — the 
results have been statistically weighted to match the state’s population
 even more accurately. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4%. 
See the results of all the questions and the pollster's analysis 
embedded at the bottom of this article.]Notably, white 
people appear far less worried about the pandemic. Only 32% of white 
respondents said they were very concerned, compared to 55% of people of 
color. Findings throughout the pandemic have noted that people of color —
 they generally have less access to health care and face other factors 
that put their health in jeopardy — have been far more likely to catch<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/black-kansans-least-7-times-more-likely-die-coronavirus-white-kansans" target="_blank"> COVID-19</a> and to die from it.<h2>Race matters</h2>More
 than three-fourths of respondents of color said that the pandemic felt 
stressful or very stressful, compared to barely half of the white people
 in the survey.People of color were significantly more likely to 
say they’ve lost a job, been furloughed, seen their work hours cut or 
lost health care benefits.And while only about 21% of white 
people personally know someone who got the coronavirus, about 35% of 
people of color know someone who’s become sick from the virus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591736228358.png" alt="Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s quite a bit different for African Americans,” said Natalie 
Pennie, a black woman from Topeka who spoke with the Kansas News Service
 after taking the survey.She got laid off from a part-time job and found herself struggling to pay her bills.“The
 price of food is outrageous,” she said, forcing her to choose between 
the grocery bill and a pending car insurance premium. “With your income 
being more limited now, you’ve got to make a decision on what’s more 
important.”Yet she also talked about the collective need to 
balance the economic impact of stay-at-home orders against keeping the 
virus from spreading.“I’d rather have my life and be broke,” she said, “than take a chance and go out there and get sick and then die.”<h2>Public health vs the economy</h2>In
 fact, Kansans in the survey generally maintained serious worries about 
the pandemic, even though the poll came after nearly all of the<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-19/kansas-rolls-back-more-restrictions-but-the-pool-wont-be-open-for-memorial-day" target="_blank"> statewide restrictions have been lifted</a>.That’s another way Kansas reflects the national mood.“People still think the health risks are more important to address than opening the economy,” said <a href="https://www.aei.org/profile/karlyn-bowman/" target="_blank">Karlyn Bowman</a>, a polling expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “They’re deeply concerned about the ​economy.”She said national polls reveal a similar sense of angst about both an economic recession and a fatal disease.“People
 really, really are concerned about what this all means, what it's going
 to be for them and their families and whether there’ll ever be a 
vaccine,” Bowman said. “There is an enormous amount of anxiety right 
now.”Among the concerns: 65% worry about getting infected, or a 
relative or friend getting sick; 63% worry about the economic impact of 
the virus; 57% fret about how long the virus will alter their lives.When
 they filled in blanks on the survey, respondents talked about elderly 
relatives they couldn’t visit. About the uncertainty of their business. 
About the tedium. One respondent said, “I feel cooped up and sad.”<h2>Stressed and uncertain</h2>Kansans
 in the survey see a future far different from the recent past. Nearly 
three-fourths said more people will work from home. Almost two-thirds 
said people will be reluctant to attend sporting events, go to concerts 
or meet in large crowds. About half expect we’ll go out to eat less.“It’s
 already starting to do damage to the economy and what we think of as 
normal American life,” Jon Russell said in an interview after taking the
 survey. He’s 24 and says the pandemic is partly responsible for him 
being out of work.Other respondents said, basically, this too 
shall pass. Some complained of what they see as an overreaction to the 
virus, a response that’s made a mess of a previously robust economy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591736276973.png" alt="Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>But more often, they spoke despairingly. One respondent talked of 
being “in a world of disbelief.” Another said, “It's been very isolating
 and depressing at times.”Those dreary responses — there were 
exceptions, particularly people grateful for more time with their 
families — defined the results.“The stress levels seem amazing high,” said Martin Hamburger, a <a href="https://www.hgcreative.com/about/" target="_blank">Democratic political consultant</a> who has run campaigns in Kansas for decades.Consider all those people who’ve lost a job, a business, who’ve been furloughed or seen their pay cut.“A lot of those people are down to no money coming in all of a sudden,” Hamburger said. “That’s a pretty serious thing.”Stress
 levels appear to run highest among the young and those living in 
densely populated situations — renters and urban residents.Democrats also were more likely than Republicans to say the pandemic made them very stressed.<h2>Red and blue</h2>A
 number of issues split along party lines. Most glaringly, it’s clear 
that Republicans put far more faith in what President Donald Trump says 
about the pandemic (56% have a great or good deal of faith in what he 
says) than Democrats (16%).“Trump is doing a fantastic job,” Mark
 Swisher said in an interview after taking the survey. He also gave 
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly high marks. “It’s not her fault if the virus
 rolls up.”He’s a Republican who lives in a nursing home in 
Onaga, Kansas. He thinks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
could have been better prepared for the pandemic. Now he hopes progress 
is made to fight the disease.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591736366146.png" alt="Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Crysta Henthorne / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“The world has forever changed,” Swisher said. “I hope it’s within six months that they have a vaccine.”Quarantines
 have raised the possibility of complicating the August primary and 
November general election. An overwhelming number of Democrats, 79%, 
said voting by mail is secure and should be encouraged. Just 38% of 
Republicans agreed.Protests over the death of George Floyd in the
 custody of Minneapolis police escalated only after the survey had 
begun. In response to open-ended questions, a handful of respondents 
volunteered that those protests might spread the virus.Yet people maintain their faith in scientists to lead them through a public health crisis. <a href="https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/kathleen-hall-jamieson-phd" target="_blank">Kathleen Hall Jamieson</a>,
 a communications professor at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, said 
that people have long tended to trust scientists over politicians.That confidence in real expertise, she said, shows up in the sacrifices they were willing to make.“They
 were giving up the ability to interact with people who were their 
friends and their other members of their family and their children and 
grandchildren, or their grandparents,” she said. “It would make no sense
 to say that you think it was a worthwhile trade-off if you didn't 
believe the science.”Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.&nbsp;Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celialj_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Kansans reveal virus anxieties, from money to health to loneliness

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former Leavenworth police officer who fatally shot a man in a vehicle in 2017 cannot claim legal immunity, a ruling that leaves it to a jury to decide whether his actions were justified as self defense.

Leavenworth County Judge Michael Gibbens found that the force used by then officer Matthew Harrington was not statutorily justified as self defense, clearing the way for the involuntary manslaughter case to proceed.

Harrington was indicted in August 2018 for the death of Antonio Garcia Jr., who was shot multiple times while sitting in an SUV. Harrington was fired for violating policy.

The judge ruled in May that a “reasonable person” would not believe use of force was necessary or that the SUV Garcia was in could be considered a weapon.

“Dismissal at this early stage would have been an extremely rare outcome considering the State’s low burden of proof,” defense attorney Morgan Roach said in a statement. “Although we believe dismissal was warranted, we are confident that Matt will be exonerated at trial.”

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson declined to comment.

Garcia’s family settled in November a wrongful death and civil right’s lawsuit against Harrington and the city of Leavenworth for $1 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1572909716608.png" alt=" Matthew Harrington -photo Leavenworth Co." />
 <figcaption> Matthew Harrington -photo Leavenworth Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former Leavenworth police officer who fatally shot a man in a vehicle in 2017 cannot claim legal immunity, a ruling that leaves it to a jury to decide whether his actions were justified as self defense.Leavenworth County Judge Michael Gibbens found that the force used by then officer Matthew Harrington was not statutorily justified as self defense, clearing the way for the involuntary manslaughter case to proceed.Harrington was indicted in August 2018 for the death of Antonio Garcia Jr., who was shot multiple times while sitting in an SUV. Harrington was fired for violating policy.The judge ruled in May that a “reasonable person” would not believe use of force was necessary or that the SUV Garcia was in could be considered a weapon.“Dismissal at this early stage would have been an extremely rare outcome considering the State’s low burden of proof,” defense attorney Morgan Roach said in a statement. “Although we believe dismissal was warranted, we are confident that Matt will be exonerated at trial.”Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson declined to comment.Garcia’s family settled in November a wrongful death and civil right’s lawsuit against Harrington and the city of Leavenworth for $1 million.

Ruling: Jury to decide case against Kansas police officer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — To the issues creating a partisan divide in state legislatures across the U.S., add this one: masks.

Many Democratic lawmakers are wearing them amid the coronavirus outbreak while many Republicans refuse.

“Public health has become partisan,” bemoaned South Carolina state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, a Democrat who recently became ill from COVID-19.

As legislatures around the country resume work following coronavirus suspensions, Democrats and Republicans also have split over social distancing, remote voting and the extension of emergency powers for governors who had ordered businesses to close and residents to remain home.

Lawmakers have become ill from the coronavirus in nearly half the states, with Democrats accounting for about two-thirds of the 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to an Associated Press tally. Three lawmakers died of the virus — a Michigan Democrat in late March and Republicans in Louisiana and South Dakota in early April.

Partisan divisions appear to have grown since then, particularly in the South and Midwest, as some Republicans pushed to reopen the economy faster than some Democrats.

While there have been bipartisan exceptions, mask-wearing divisions among Democrats and Republicans have been evident during recent legislative sessions in Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

In Illinois, Republican Rep. Darren Bailey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c576f411487605ed3d9dd654b95eae91">was removed from a convention center</a>&nbsp;functioning as the House floor last month for refusing to wear a mask. His ejection came just moments after the Democratic-led chamber approved a mask mandate with support from some Republicans in a move Bailey considered “a show.”

“The mask is not about health. It’s about more bureaucracy and more government control, of which the liberal Democrat thrives on,” Bailey told the AP.

When Pennsylvania Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/861ecc52a9758ef227071a7c31a689a7">Rep. Andrew Lewis</a>&nbsp;announced through a news release that he had self-isolated and recovered from COVID-19, Democratic colleagues expressed outrage that his diagnosis had been kept secret from them for a week. Democrats demanded changes requiring lawmakers to wear masks in the Republican-controlled legislature, but GOP legislative leaders have not acted on the request.

In Ohio, a Democratic proposal to require masks at House sessions and committee meetings was defeated on a party-line vote last month in the Republican-led chamber. A Republican lawmaker then filed legislation to bar mask requirements statewide unless approved by two-thirds of lawmakers. That measure is pending.

Some trace the partisan divergence on coronavirus precautions to the very top of American politics. Republican President Donald Trump hasn’t publicly worn masks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/227fa2d005b3923157b9eb736c12e6c5">not even while announcing</a>&nbsp;federal recommendations that Americans wear face coverings in public to help fight the spread of the virus.

“I think that when our president, from a national standpoint, signals that masks aren’t politically expedient, then I think that trickles down to the local and state level,” said Garvin, the South Carolina Democrat who has worn masks both before and after his coronavirus illness.

Several recent studies using polling and smartphone GPS data have shown that Democrats are more apt than Republicans to embrace social distancing in public, wear masks and stay at home because of the coronavirus.

Virus precautions have started to become an ideological means of group identification, similar to partisan divisions over abortion or other hot-button issues, said psychology professor Hank Rothgerber of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Democrats now have identified themselves as the party that’s taking this more seriously and is more concerned about public health,” Rothgerber said, “and Republicans are identifying themselves as a party that is focused on opening the economy back up and not overreacting to this crisis.”

When the Missouri House met in early April to pass a coronavirus budget bill, Republican leadership imposed strict social distancing. Lawmakers listened to proceedings over the internet in offices until summoned to the chamber in small groups to vote. Nearly everyone wore masks.

Yet those precautions were abandoned as the House finished its session in May. Lawmakers sat packed together at desks and few Republicans wore masks, though numerous Democrats still did.

Democratic Rep. Joe Runions, who had been out for six weeks with COVID-19, was aghast at what he described as “inconsiderate and selfish” behavior.

“To me, leadership starts with, you put that mask on. I don’t care who you are — the president, the governor, the pope, whoever,” Runions said.

Republican House Speaker Elijah Haahr noted that lawmakers’ temperatures were checked as they entered the Capitol.

Health screenings also were required of legislative staff and media at the Alaska Capitol, although lawmakers could skip it. Protocols said masks were required. But Republican state Sen. Lora Reinbold didn’t wear one.

“It didn’t make sense to me,” Reinbold said. “I saw no research on cloth, silk, cotton face coverings ... that they prevent COVID.”

The coroanvirus can be spread through respiratory droplets when people cough, sneeze or talk.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">The CDC&nbsp;</a>says cloth masks can help prevent people, who may not realize they are infected, from spreading the virus to others.

“The whole idea behind it is ‘I wear my mask to protect you,’ and it’s not so much to protect me,” said Kansas Democratic Rep. Barbara Ballard, who wore a mask festooned with the University of Kansas mascot during a legislative session last week.

Kansas House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, who like many Republicans remained mask-less, said face coverings diminish personal communication because you can’t see lips. Republicans, he said, are “a very independent lot” who “really don’t like to be told what to do.”

Some lawmakers have removed masks when talking into microphones during debates — the very time when they may be more likely to expel virus-carrying particles. Others have worn loose-fitting masks that slip off their faces.

Colorado state Sen. Jim Smallwood, a Republican who had recovered from a mild case of the coronavirus, wore a mask that repeatedly slipped off his nose as he argued unsuccessfully last month against a Democratic rule change allowing lawmakers to vote remotely without attending sessions.

“I feel like it sets a good example and it puts other people at ease,” Smallwood told the AP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590143364707.png" alt="Stephanie Clayton, a Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives representing the 19th district in Overland Park. She was elected as a Republican, but changed her party affiliation in 2018. She wore a mask during the wrap up session of the legislature on May 21." />
 <figcaption>Stephanie Clayton, a Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives representing the 19th district in Overland Park. She was elected as a Republican, but changed her party affiliation in 2018. She wore a mask during the wrap up session of the legislature on May 21.</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — To the issues creating a partisan divide in state legislatures across the U.S., add this one: masks.Many Democratic lawmakers are wearing them amid the coronavirus outbreak while many Republicans refuse.“Public health has become partisan,” bemoaned South Carolina state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, a Democrat who recently became ill from COVID-19.As legislatures around the country resume work following coronavirus suspensions, Democrats and Republicans also have split over social distancing, remote voting and the extension of emergency powers for governors who had ordered businesses to close and residents to remain home.Lawmakers have become ill from the coronavirus in nearly half the states, with Democrats accounting for about two-thirds of the 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to an Associated Press tally. Three lawmakers died of the virus — a Michigan Democrat in late March and Republicans in Louisiana and South Dakota in early April.Partisan divisions appear to have grown since then, particularly in the South and Midwest, as some Republicans pushed to reopen the economy faster than some Democrats.While there have been bipartisan exceptions, mask-wearing divisions among Democrats and Republicans have been evident during recent legislative sessions in Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.In Illinois, Republican Rep. Darren Bailey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c576f411487605ed3d9dd654b95eae91">was removed from a convention center</a>&nbsp;functioning as the House floor last month for refusing to wear a mask. His ejection came just moments after the Democratic-led chamber approved a mask mandate with support from some Republicans in a move Bailey considered “a show.”“The mask is not about health. It’s about more bureaucracy and more government control, of which the liberal Democrat thrives on,” Bailey told the AP.When Pennsylvania Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/861ecc52a9758ef227071a7c31a689a7">Rep. Andrew Lewis</a>&nbsp;announced through a news release that he had self-isolated and recovered from COVID-19, Democratic colleagues expressed outrage that his diagnosis had been kept secret from them for a week. Democrats demanded changes requiring lawmakers to wear masks in the Republican-controlled legislature, but GOP legislative leaders have not acted on the request.In Ohio, a Democratic proposal to require masks at House sessions and committee meetings was defeated on a party-line vote last month in the Republican-led chamber. A Republican lawmaker then filed legislation to bar mask requirements statewide unless approved by two-thirds of lawmakers. That measure is pending.Some trace the partisan divergence on coronavirus precautions to the very top of American politics. Republican President Donald Trump hasn’t publicly worn masks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/227fa2d005b3923157b9eb736c12e6c5">not even while announcing</a>&nbsp;federal recommendations that Americans wear face coverings in public to help fight the spread of the virus.“I think that when our president, from a national standpoint, signals that masks aren’t politically expedient, then I think that trickles down to the local and state level,” said Garvin, the South Carolina Democrat who has worn masks both before and after his coronavirus illness.Several recent studies using polling and smartphone GPS data have shown that Democrats are more apt than Republicans to embrace social distancing in public, wear masks and stay at home because of the coronavirus.Virus precautions have started to become an ideological means of group identification, similar to partisan divisions over abortion or other hot-button issues, said psychology professor Hank Rothgerber of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.“Democrats now have identified themselves as the party that’s taking this more seriously and is more concerned about public health,” Rothgerber said, “and Republicans are identifying themselves as a party that is focused on opening the economy back up and not overreacting to this crisis.”When the Missouri House met in early April to pass a coronavirus budget bill, Republican leadership imposed strict social distancing. Lawmakers listened to proceedings over the internet in offices until summoned to the chamber in small groups to vote. Nearly everyone wore masks.Yet those precautions were abandoned as the House finished its session in May. Lawmakers sat packed together at desks and few Republicans wore masks, though numerous Democrats still did.Democratic Rep. Joe Runions, who had been out for six weeks with COVID-19, was aghast at what he described as “inconsiderate and selfish” behavior.“To me, leadership starts with, you put that mask on. I don’t care who you are — the president, the governor, the pope, whoever,” Runions said.Republican House Speaker Elijah Haahr noted that lawmakers’ temperatures were checked as they entered the Capitol.Health screenings also were required of legislative staff and media at the Alaska Capitol, although lawmakers could skip it. Protocols said masks were required. But Republican state Sen. Lora Reinbold didn’t wear one.“It didn’t make sense to me,” Reinbold said. “I saw no research on cloth, silk, cotton face coverings ... that they prevent COVID.”The coroanvirus can be spread through respiratory droplets when people cough, sneeze or talk.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">The CDC&nbsp;</a>says cloth masks can help prevent people, who may not realize they are infected, from spreading the virus to others.“The whole idea behind it is ‘I wear my mask to protect you,’ and it’s not so much to protect me,” said Kansas Democratic Rep. Barbara Ballard, who wore a mask festooned with the University of Kansas mascot during a legislative session last week.Kansas House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, who like many Republicans remained mask-less, said face coverings diminish personal communication because you can’t see lips. Republicans, he said, are “a very independent lot” who “really don’t like to be told what to do.”Some lawmakers have removed masks when talking into microphones during debates — the very time when they may be more likely to expel virus-carrying particles. Others have worn loose-fitting masks that slip off their faces.Colorado state Sen. Jim Smallwood, a Republican who had recovered from a mild case of the coronavirus, wore a mask that repeatedly slipped off his nose as he argued unsuccessfully last month against a Democratic rule change allowing lawmakers to vote remotely without attending sessions.“I feel like it sets a good example and it puts other people at ease,” Smallwood told the AP.___

Masks reveal partisan split among lawmakers on coronavirus

SHAWNEE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left one woman with non-life threatening injuries.

Just after 6a.m. Monday, police arrived at a local hospital where an adult woman had arrived by private vehicle with a gunshot wound, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Officers spoke with the victim who stated that a man who was known to her robbed her of an undisclosed amount of money and at least one item, before shooting her in the hand. 

The incident occurred in the 400 block of SW Taylor Street in Topeka.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested James David Cobulius Jr., 42 of Topeka, and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges: Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Battery and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591735042730.png" alt="Cobulius-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Cobulius-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left one woman with non-life threatening injuries.Just after 6a.m. Monday, police arrived at a local hospital where an adult woman had arrived by private vehicle with a gunshot wound, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.Officers spoke with the victim who stated that a man who was known to her robbed her of an undisclosed amount of money and at least one item, before shooting her in the hand. The incident occurred in the 400 block of SW Taylor Street in Topeka.As a result of the investigation, police arrested James David Cobulius Jr., 42 of Topeka, and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges: Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Battery and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.

Police: Kansas man shot woman during robbery

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins spent $400,000 in taxpayer-funded communications during a six-month period amid a Republican primary challenge — nearly twice the total spent by the state’s other three representatives, a new federal report shows.

Watkins, who was narrowly elected in 2018 with President Donald Trump’s backing, is running against State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Topeka attorney Dennis Taylor in the Aug. 4 primary for the 2nd District seat.

Watkins’ congressional office allocated at least $400,000 for printing and mailing of correspondence, as well as for online and broadcast messaging from Oct. 1 to March 31, according to quarterly financial reports submitted to the U.S. House’s administration committee.NT

The Topeka Capital Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200607/kansas-rep-watkins-rings-up-400000-in-taxpayer-funded-communications-in-six-months" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;that U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat, spent $33,000 on franking communications during the six-month period. U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican serving the 4th District, reported $100,000 for franking, while U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, the 1st District Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts, filed reports showing $75,000 in franking costs.

Watkins spokesman Dylan Jones has said Watkins prioritized the goal of keeping constituents informed. He said that connection was “a vital component to effective representation and leadership.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591476738251.png" alt="Photo courtesy Rep. Steve Watkins" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Rep. Steve Watkins</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins spent $400,000 in taxpayer-funded communications during a six-month period amid a Republican primary challenge — nearly twice the total spent by the state’s other three representatives, a new federal report shows.Watkins, who was narrowly elected in 2018 with President Donald Trump’s backing, is running against State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Topeka attorney Dennis Taylor in the Aug. 4 primary for the 2nd District seat.Watkins’ congressional office allocated at least $400,000 for printing and mailing of correspondence, as well as for online and broadcast messaging from Oct. 1 to March 31, according to quarterly financial reports submitted to the U.S. House’s administration committee.NTThe Topeka Capital Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200607/kansas-rep-watkins-rings-up-400000-in-taxpayer-funded-communications-in-six-months" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;that U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat, spent $33,000 on franking communications during the six-month period. U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican serving the 4th District, reported $100,000 for franking, while U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, the 1st District Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts, filed reports showing $75,000 in franking costs.Watkins spokesman Dylan Jones has said Watkins prioritized the goal of keeping constituents informed. He said that connection was “a vital component to effective representation and leadership.”

Kan. congressman spent $400K in taxpayer-funded mailing, messaging

WICHITA – A Kansas man has been sentenced for trafficking an underage girl in Wichita.

On June 5, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced James Sexton, 27, of Wichita, to 144 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

In February, Sexton was convicted of commercial sexual exploitation of a child.

In August of 2018, members of the Exploited and Missing Child Unit in Wichita were on special assignment targeting online escort ads in an attempt to recover juvenile victims of sex trafficking. An undercover officer called a phone number on one of the ads and set up a meeting at a hotel in northwest Wichita. Police observed a 15-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman walk into the hotel. 

The teenager was a runaway from another county.

After an exchange of money, detectives arrested Sexton, the man who drove them to the location.

The 22-year-old suspect, Kelly Holt of Wichita, was convicted of aggravated endangerment of a child and unlawful use of a communication facility. She is awaiting sentencing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591719628440.png" alt="Sexton booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Sexton booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A Kansas man has been sentenced for trafficking an underage girl in Wichita.On June 5, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced James Sexton, 27, of Wichita, to 144 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.In February, Sexton was convicted of commercial sexual exploitation of a child.In August of 2018, members of the Exploited and Missing Child Unit in Wichita were on special assignment targeting online escort ads in an attempt to recover juvenile victims of sex trafficking. An undercover officer called a phone number on one of the ads and set up a meeting at a hotel in northwest Wichita. Police observed a 15-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman walk into the hotel. The teenager was a runaway from another county.After an exchange of money, detectives arrested Sexton, the man who drove them to the location.The 22-year-old suspect, Kelly Holt of Wichita, was convicted of aggravated endangerment of a child and unlawful use of a communication facility. She is awaiting sentencing.

Kansas man advertised 15-year-old for sex in online ads

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will offer voluntary buyout packages to some faculty members as it grapples with financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor Douglas Girod has said the university faces a budget shortfall of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/96e7e3cfef7e6d0041dfe3c908fd4389">at least $120</a>&nbsp;million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 due to virus-related shutdowns.

Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a Monday message to faculty and staff members that eligible employees must be age 62 or older and meet other requirements.

“This was not an easy decision, however, it is one that will help enable the university to plan and forecast its continued capacity to provide high-quality educational experiences and exceptional research on our Lawrence and Edwards campuses long into the future,” Bichelmeyer said.

Applicants accepted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $100,000 or their fiscal year 2021 budgeted base salary, whichever is lower. They must retire by Dec. 31 and would not be eligible for rehire at the university for 12 months.

Between 500 and 600 faculty and staff are likely eligible for the program, said university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will offer voluntary buyout packages to some faculty members as it grapples with financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic.Chancellor Douglas Girod has said the university faces a budget shortfall of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/96e7e3cfef7e6d0041dfe3c908fd4389">at least $120</a>&nbsp;million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 due to virus-related shutdowns.Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a Monday message to faculty and staff members that eligible employees must be age 62 or older and meet other requirements.“This was not an easy decision, however, it is one that will help enable the university to plan and forecast its continued capacity to provide high-quality educational experiences and exceptional research on our Lawrence and Edwards campuses long into the future,” Bichelmeyer said.Applicants accepted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $100,000 or their fiscal year 2021 budgeted base salary, whichever is lower. They must retire by Dec. 31 and would not be eligible for rehire at the university for 12 months.Between 500 and 600 faculty and staff are likely eligible for the program, said university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.

University of Kansas offers buyouts amid pandemic losses

TOPEKA–The KDHE confirmed the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Lansing Correctional Facility is contained. As a result, the Guardsmen who have supported logistics, food and medical services at the facility concluded their mission on June 4.

“The Kansas National Guard is full of highly trained, professional public servants who are ready at a moment’s notice to serve their fellow Kansans,”&nbsp;Secretary Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.

“We were extremely impressed with their willingness and ability to adapt to their new surroundings and face each task with strength and dignity. On behalf of the department, I want to sincerely thank them for their work.”

The first four Kansas National Guard members arrived at Lansing on April 15 and grew to more than 40 in support of LCF’s COVID-19 response. The Guardsmen were instrumental in monitoring residents for symptoms, carrying out mass testing for the virus and conducting twice-daily health checks. Additional members also provided support in food service, as residents who normally prepare meals were unable to do so while they were quarantined and assisted with the move to the new buildings at the reconstructed facility. Their contributions allowed Lansing employees to remain focused on safety and security tasks with confidence that these services were continuing.

KDHE began assisting KDOC with their COVID-19 preparations in early March and when the situation at LCF escalated, they dedicated a full-time staff member to assist with ensuring the health and safety of the residents. As the agency moves into a new phase of response, the two agencies will continue to partner to determine what additional steps may need to be taken in the future.

“Secretary Lee Norman and Phil Griffin, Director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at KDHE, have been amazing partners to our agency,” Zmuda said. “They have brought the health expertise that we needed to make sure that our staff received the most up-to-date information on the virus and how to keep the men, women and youth in our care safe.”

With the virus contained, residents, staff and contractors at the facility are moving forward with the resumption of many activities. This includes residents returning to their jobs in food service, laundry and maintenance activities as well as essential private industry jobs. In addition, the contracted medical provider will continue providing all services under the terms of their contract. Activities that expose residents to the community, including visitation, volunteers, mentors, and non-essential private industry jobs will not be resumed at this time.

“While we are resuming many activities, we fully recognize that this virus will still be present for the foreseeable future, so we plan to maintain the mitigation strategies that have been implemented at each of our facilities,” Zmuda said. “This resumption of activities is a first step to normalizing operations at Lansing, but one we will do with an abundance of caution and care.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591738839534.png" alt="Kansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are assisting at Lansing Correctional Facility on May 5 supplementing kitchen staff by preparing sack lunches for distribution to residents throughout the facility- photo courtesy Kansas National Guard" />
 <figcaption>Kansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are assisting at Lansing Correctional Facility on May 5 supplementing kitchen staff by preparing sack lunches for distribution to residents throughout the facility- photo courtesy Kansas National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA–The KDHE confirmed the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Lansing Correctional Facility is contained. As a result, the Guardsmen who have supported logistics, food and medical services at the facility concluded their mission on June 4.“The Kansas National Guard is full of highly trained, professional public servants who are ready at a moment’s notice to serve their fellow Kansans,”&nbsp;Secretary Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.“We were extremely impressed with their willingness and ability to adapt to their new surroundings and face each task with strength and dignity. On behalf of the department, I want to sincerely thank them for their work.”The first four Kansas National Guard members arrived at Lansing on April 15 and grew to more than 40 in support of LCF’s COVID-19 response. The Guardsmen were instrumental in monitoring residents for symptoms, carrying out mass testing for the virus and conducting twice-daily health checks. Additional members also provided support in food service, as residents who normally prepare meals were unable to do so while they were quarantined and assisted with the move to the new buildings at the reconstructed facility. Their contributions allowed Lansing employees to remain focused on safety and security tasks with confidence that these services were continuing.KDHE began assisting KDOC with their COVID-19 preparations in early March and when the situation at LCF escalated, they dedicated a full-time staff member to assist with ensuring the health and safety of the residents. As the agency moves into a new phase of response, the two agencies will continue to partner to determine what additional steps may need to be taken in the future.“Secretary Lee Norman and Phil Griffin, Director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at KDHE, have been amazing partners to our agency,” Zmuda said. “They have brought the health expertise that we needed to make sure that our staff received the most up-to-date information on the virus and how to keep the men, women and youth in our care safe.”With the virus contained, residents, staff and contractors at the facility are moving forward with the resumption of many activities. This includes residents returning to their jobs in food service, laundry and maintenance activities as well as essential private industry jobs. In addition, the contracted medical provider will continue providing all services under the terms of their contract. Activities that expose residents to the community, including visitation, volunteers, mentors, and non-essential private industry jobs will not be resumed at this time.“While we are resuming many activities, we fully recognize that this virus will still be present for the foreseeable future, so we plan to maintain the mitigation strategies that have been implemented at each of our facilities,” Zmuda said. “This resumption of activities is a first step to normalizing operations at Lansing, but one we will do with an abundance of caution and care.”

KDHE: Coronavirus outbreak at Kansas prison is contained

The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to locating missing 23-year-old Savanah Schneider of Wichita. The KBI issued a statewide endangered persons advisory for her last week.

The investigation led to a search Tuesday of an area south of Haysville after it was learned Schneider’s cell phone last pinged in the Haysville area, according to officer Charley Davidson.

WPD detectives, Sedgwick County Sheriff Detectives, WPD mounted unit, cadaver K9’s, and article search K9’s searched the area.

Schneider was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo.&nbsp; She is described as 5-foot-8”, 110pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.

Police and family are concerned for her and need help locating her.&nbsp; If you have any information on this case or Schneider’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide endangered persons advisory for a missing Wichita woman.

The whereabouts of Savanah Schneider, 23, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.

She was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo in Wichita.

She is described as 5-foot-8, 110 pounds., with blue eyes and blonde hair. Savanah has an intellectual disability, and WPD is concerned for her welfare.

If you know the whereabouts of Savanah or see her, please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591791485996.png" alt="Savanah Schneider -photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Savanah Schneider -photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to locating missing 23-year-old Savanah Schneider of Wichita. The KBI issued a statewide endangered persons advisory for her last week.The investigation led to a search Tuesday of an area south of Haysville after it was learned Schneider’s cell phone last pinged in the Haysville area, according to officer Charley Davidson.WPD detectives, Sedgwick County Sheriff Detectives, WPD mounted unit, cadaver K9’s, and article search K9’s searched the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591390996010.png" alt="Savanah Schneider" />
 <figcaption>Savanah Schneider</figcaption>
 </figure>Schneider was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo.&nbsp; She is described as 5-foot-8”, 110pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.Police and family are concerned for her and need help locating her.&nbsp; If you have any information on this case or Schneider’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.----------SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide endangered persons advisory for a missing Wichita woman.The whereabouts of Savanah Schneider, 23, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.She was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo in Wichita.She is described as 5-foot-8, 110 pounds., with blue eyes and blonde hair. Savanah has an intellectual disability, and WPD is concerned for her welfare.If you know the whereabouts of Savanah or see her, please call 911 immediately.

Police offer reward to help locate missing Kansas woman

Criminals are seizing on a surge in job losses to steal unemployment benefits from Americans nationwide. This complicates an already tough situation for millions of financially strapped Americans and overwhelmed state unemployment offices.

While there’s no exact measure of how many fraudulent claims have been made, states from Washington to Maine say they’ve seen an increase and numerous federal agencies are working to fight it.

“About 10% of (unemployment insurance) payments are improper under the best of times, and we are in the worst of times,” Scott Dahl, the inspector general for the U.S. Labor Department, told the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. Dahl estimated that at least $26 billion in benefits could be wasted, with the bulk of that going to fraudsters.

This forces unemployed workers, already reeling from the loss of a job, to fight for the benefits they need and are entitled to.

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of these people and when they will get this resolved and get the money they need to live on,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, which has seen a sharp jump in calls for help with unemployment fraud.

Since mid-March, 42.7 million people have applied for unemployment benefits, though some have been rehired as states allow businesses to reopen. On Thursday, the federal government said 21.5 million people are receiving jobless aid. That creates added opportunity for criminals. An extra $600 a week in benefits makes it more lucrative.

Additionally, state unemployment agencies have been overwhelmed by claims and are working to get payments to those in need as fast as possible. In some cases, security experts say the new processes, added workload and outdated systems may have made it easier for criminals to act.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587668925586.png" alt="Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia</figcaption>
 </figure>By SARAH SKIDMORE SELL, Associated PressCriminals are seizing on a surge in job losses to steal unemployment benefits from Americans nationwide. This complicates an already tough situation for millions of financially strapped Americans and overwhelmed state unemployment offices.While there’s no exact measure of how many fraudulent claims have been made, states from Washington to Maine say they’ve seen an increase and numerous federal agencies are working to fight it.“About 10% of (unemployment insurance) payments are improper under the best of times, and we are in the worst of times,” Scott Dahl, the inspector general for the U.S. Labor Department, told the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. Dahl estimated that at least $26 billion in benefits could be wasted, with the bulk of that going to fraudsters.This forces unemployed workers, already reeling from the loss of a job, to fight for the benefits they need and are entitled to.“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of these people and when they will get this resolved and get the money they need to live on,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, which has seen a sharp jump in calls for help with unemployment fraud.Since mid-March, 42.7 million people have applied for unemployment benefits, though some have been rehired as states allow businesses to reopen. On Thursday, the federal government said 21.5 million people are receiving jobless aid. That creates added opportunity for criminals. An extra $600 a week in benefits makes it more lucrative.Additionally, state unemployment agencies have been overwhelmed by claims and are working to get payments to those in need as fast as possible. In some cases, security experts say the new processes, added workload and outdated systems may have made it easier for criminals to act.“This is El Dorado for them and it’s pure hell for victims,” said Adam Levin, founder of data security firm CyberScout.Security experts say the bulk of the fraud appears to be committed by criminals using stolen data to make claims using someone else’s identity. The information has often been gleaned from prior data breaches or direct attacks on state systems.In many cases, victims don’t know they have been affected until they apply for benefits and find out someone has beat them to the punch. Some even find their benefit payments halted when a criminal usurps their benefits.Victims should report a suspected fraud to the state, their employer and file a police report. But resolving the issue and getting proper payment means going through the state agency that processes unemployment benefit claims, which is potentially already overwhelmed.The U.S. Secret Service issued a memo last month that suggested a well-organized Nigerian fraud ring was targeting state unemployment systems, according to the New York Times, which got a copy of the document. But agents were still working to pinpoint who was involved and from where. The memo said that Washington was the hardest-hit state but there was evidence of attacks in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Florida. The California cybersecurity firm Agari estimated last week that at least 11 states have been targeted.On Thursday, officials in Washington said the state has recovered $333 million out an estimated $550 million to $650 million paid out fraudulently.Those with jobs are also targets of the fraudsters. Blake Victor Kent said that last week he got a letter from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance informing him that they had commenced payments for his unemployment claim.“That’s funny, because I am still employed,” he said.Kent thought his information may have been exposed when he was a victim of a data breach a few years back. But his employer, Massachusetts General Hospital, sent an email a few days later to staff saying they were aware of a number of such cases for employees.In other cases, criminals are targeting people with false job offers, assistance filing unemployment and to glean personal information. Other people may also be targeted and used as “mules” to move money for the criminals.Experts warn that if a criminal has enough information to make an unemployment claim, they have enough information to commit other acts of identity theft. So people need to protect themselves from further harm by freezing their credit and monitoring their credit regularly for any irregularities.People should practice good cyber hygiene as well, suggests John Breyault, who manages the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center. That means changing passwords regularly, using two-factor authentication whenever possible to log into accounts and being wary of offers that seem too good to be true, whether that is by phone, online, mail or in person.“Until this unemployment problem starts to recede, this is going to be a problem that sticks with us,” Breyault said.__