TOPEKA – The Legislature should enact a law governing COVID-19 contact tracing to provide a legal framework for the protection of personal information and civil liberties, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt recommended Monday.

“While contact tracing is a familiar tool to the public health community, the anticipated scope of expansion of the practice during the COVID-19 pandemic is certain to present challenging legal issues not addressed by current Kansas law,” Schmidt wrote last week to bipartisan legislative leaders and the governor. 

“Already, concerns have been raised about whether and how cellphone location data may be used to track the movements of Kansans, [a]nd major global data companies have announced they are developing technologies specifically to enable automated contact tracing through individuals’ cellphones. At least one lawsuit has been filed and resolved when the local government involved agreed to change its low-tech data-collection practices. All of this is occurring without even a basic statutory architecture to guide development and deployment of the practice and management of the sensitive personal information collected.”

Contact tracing, which is the practice of public health officials identifying persons with whom an infected individual has had contact, is considered by many public health officials key to enabling a safe reopening and economic recovery. It is used to identify new outbreaks of the virus and contain them before they can spread widely. Contact tracing is well-accepted in the public health community, but the absence of law governing the practice causes unease for many Kansans.

“Much of this is unplowed legal ground, and I recognize that the relatively short time available [during the special session] will not allow development of a thoughtful, comprehensive contact-tracing statute,” Schmidt wrote. “More thorough study in an interim committee or during the next regular legislative session no doubt will be advisable. But perhaps crafting a simple, basic framework to guide development of the practice at least through the remainder of this year is possible and advisable.”

The attorney general said he will work with other state leaders on a bill draft if there is legislative interest in acting on the subject during the special session. He said a bill should address basic questions such as:

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/letter-to-gov-kelly-and-legislative-leaders-contact-tracing.pdf?sfvrsn=9dabac1a_2">Click here </a>to read a copy of the attorney general’s letter to legislative leaders and the governor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590504469923.png" alt="KDHD Secretary Dr. Lee Norman has frequently discussed the importance of contact tracing in the battle against coronavirus." />
 <figcaption>KDHD Secretary Dr. Lee Norman has frequently discussed the importance of contact tracing in the battle against coronavirus.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – The Legislature should enact a law governing COVID-19 contact tracing to provide a legal framework for the protection of personal information and civil liberties, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt recommended Monday.“While contact tracing is a familiar tool to the public health community, the anticipated scope of expansion of the practice during the COVID-19 pandemic is certain to present challenging legal issues not addressed by current Kansas law,” Schmidt wrote last week to bipartisan legislative leaders and the governor. “Already, concerns have been raised about whether and how cellphone location data may be used to track the movements of Kansans, [a]nd major global data companies have announced they are developing technologies specifically to enable automated contact tracing through individuals’ cellphones. At least one lawsuit has been filed and resolved when the local government involved agreed to change its low-tech data-collection practices. All of this is occurring without even a basic statutory architecture to guide development and deployment of the practice and management of the sensitive personal information collected.”Contact tracing, which is the practice of public health officials identifying persons with whom an infected individual has had contact, is considered by many public health officials key to enabling a safe reopening and economic recovery. It is used to identify new outbreaks of the virus and contain them before they can spread widely. Contact tracing is well-accepted in the public health community, but the absence of law governing the practice causes unease for many Kansans.“Much of this is unplowed legal ground, and I recognize that the relatively short time available [during the special session] will not allow development of a thoughtful, comprehensive contact-tracing statute,” Schmidt wrote. “More thorough study in an interim committee or during the next regular legislative session no doubt will be advisable. But perhaps crafting a simple, basic framework to guide development of the practice at least through the remainder of this year is possible and advisable.”The attorney general said he will work with other state leaders on a bill draft if there is legislative interest in acting on the subject during the special session. He said a bill should address basic questions such as:<ol>
 <li>Is participation voluntary or mandatory?</li><li>Will contact information remain private and confidential?</li><li>May cellphone location data be used?</li><li>What data may be collected?</li><li>Who is authorized to collect, possess or access the collected data?</li><li>For what purposes may collected data be used?</li><li>How long may collected data be retained by the government.</li>
 </ol><a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/letter-to-gov-kelly-and-legislative-leaders-contact-tracing.pdf?sfvrsn=9dabac1a_2">Click here </a>to read a copy of the attorney general’s letter to legislative leaders and the governor.

Kan. AG recommends a law to regulate contact tracing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Protests were largely peaceful and the nation's streets were calmer than they have been in days since the killing of George Floyd set off demonstrations that at times brought violence and destruction along with pleas to stop police brutality and injustice against African Americans.

There were scattered reports of looting in New York City overnight, and as of Wednesday morning there had been over 9,000 arrests nationwide since the unrest began following Floyd's death May 25 in Minneapolis. But there was a marked quiet compared with the unrest of the past few nights, which included fires and shootings in some cities.

The calmer night came as many cities intensified their curfews, with authorities in New York and Washington ordering people off streets while it was still daylight.

A block away from the White House, thousands of demonstrators massed following a crackdown a day earlier when officers on foot and horseback aggressively drove peaceful protesters away from Lafayette Park, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to do a photo op at nearby St. John’s Church. Tuesday's protesters faced law enforcement personnel who stood behind a black chain-link fence that was put up overnight to block access to the park.

“Last night pushed me way over the edge,” said Jessica DeMaio, 40, of Washington, who attended a Floyd protest Tuesday for the first time. “Being here is better than being at home feeling helpless.”

Pastors at the church prayed with demonstrators and handed out water bottles. The crowd remained in place after the city’s 7 p.m. curfew passed, defying warnings that the response from law enforcement could be even more forceful. But the crowd Tuesday was peaceful, even polite. At one point, the crowd booed when a protester climbed a light post and took down a street sign. A chant went up: “Peaceful protest!”

Trump, meanwhile, amplified his hard-line calls from Monday, when he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn’t do it.

“NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD,” he tweeted. “The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast!”

Thousands of people remained in the streets of New York City Tuesday night, undeterred by an 8 p.m. curfew, though most streets were clear by early Wednesday other than police who were patrolling some areas. Midtown Manhattan was pocked with battered storefronts after Monday’s protests.

Protests also passed across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, Miami, St. Paul, Minnesota, Columbia, South Carolina and Houston, where the police chief talked to peaceful demonstrators, vowing reforms.

“God as my witness, change is coming,” Art Acevedo said. “And we’re going to do it the right way.”

More than 20,000 National Guard members have been called up in 29 states to deal with the violence. New York is not among them, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he does not want the Guard. On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo called what happened in the city “a disgrace.”

“The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night,” Cuomo said at a briefing in Albany.

He said the mayor underestimated the problem, and the nation’s largest police force was not deployed in sufficient numbers, though the city had said it doubled the usual police presence.

Tuesday marked the eighth straight night of the protests, which began after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd's neck while the handcuffed black man called out that he couldn't breathe. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with murder.

The mother of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, said she wanted the world to know that her little girl lost a good father.

“I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took,” Roxie Washington said during a Minneapolis news conference with her young daughter at her side. “I want justice for him because he was good. No matter what anybody thinks, he was good.”

Some protesters framed the burgeoning movement as a necessity after a string of killings by police.

“It feels like it’s just been an endless cascade of hashtags of black people dying, and it feels like nothing’s really being done by our political leaders to actually enact real change,” said Christine Ohenzuwa, 19, who attended a peaceful protest at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul. “There’s always going to be a breaking point. I think right now, we’re seeing the breaking point around the country.”

“I live in this state. It’s really painful to see what’s going on, but it’s also really important to understand that it’s connected to a system of racial violence,” she said.

Meanwhile, governors and mayors, Republicans and Democrats alike, rejected Trump's threat to send in the military, with some saying troops would be unnecessary and others questioning whether the government has such authority and warning that such a step would be dangerous.

A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the president is not rushing to send in the military and that his goal was to pressure governors to deploy more National Guard members.

Such use of the military would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history.

Amid the protests, nine states and the District of Columbia held presidential primaries that tested the nation’s ability to run elections while balancing a pandemic and sweeping social unrest. Joe Biden won hundreds more delegates and was on the cusp of formally securing the Democratic presidential nomination.

Also Tuesday, Minnesota opened an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police Department has a pattern of discrimination against minorities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591180588986.png" alt="A calm night in Kansas City. Protesters and police at West 46th and Terrace in Kansas City on Tuesday evening- photo by Leslie Augilar courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>A calm night in Kansas City. Protesters and police at West 46th and Terrace in Kansas City on Tuesday evening- photo by Leslie Augilar courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Protests were largely peaceful and the nation's streets were calmer than they have been in days since the killing of George Floyd set off demonstrations that at times brought violence and destruction along with pleas to stop police brutality and injustice against African Americans.There were scattered reports of looting in New York City overnight, and as of Wednesday morning there had been over 9,000 arrests nationwide since the unrest began following Floyd's death May 25 in Minneapolis. But there was a marked quiet compared with the unrest of the past few nights, which included fires and shootings in some cities.The calmer night came as many cities intensified their curfews, with authorities in New York and Washington ordering people off streets while it was still daylight.A block away from the White House, thousands of demonstrators massed following a crackdown a day earlier when officers on foot and horseback aggressively drove peaceful protesters away from Lafayette Park, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to do a photo op at nearby St. John’s Church. Tuesday's protesters faced law enforcement personnel who stood behind a black chain-link fence that was put up overnight to block access to the park.“Last night pushed me way over the edge,” said Jessica DeMaio, 40, of Washington, who attended a Floyd protest Tuesday for the first time. “Being here is better than being at home feeling helpless.”Pastors at the church prayed with demonstrators and handed out water bottles. The crowd remained in place after the city’s 7 p.m. curfew passed, defying warnings that the response from law enforcement could be even more forceful. But the crowd Tuesday was peaceful, even polite. At one point, the crowd booed when a protester climbed a light post and took down a street sign. A chant went up: “Peaceful protest!”Trump, meanwhile, amplified his hard-line calls from Monday, when he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn’t do it.“NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD,” he tweeted. “The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast!”Thousands of people remained in the streets of New York City Tuesday night, undeterred by an 8 p.m. curfew, though most streets were clear by early Wednesday other than police who were patrolling some areas. Midtown Manhattan was pocked with battered storefronts after Monday’s protests.Protests also passed across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, Miami, St. Paul, Minnesota, Columbia, South Carolina and Houston, where the police chief talked to peaceful demonstrators, vowing reforms.“God as my witness, change is coming,” Art Acevedo said. “And we’re going to do it the right way.”More than 20,000 National Guard members have been called up in 29 states to deal with the violence. New York is not among them, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he does not want the Guard. On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo called what happened in the city “a disgrace.”“The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night,” Cuomo said at a briefing in Albany.He said the mayor underestimated the problem, and the nation’s largest police force was not deployed in sufficient numbers, though the city had said it doubled the usual police presence.Tuesday marked the eighth straight night of the protests, which began after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd's neck while the handcuffed black man called out that he couldn't breathe. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with murder.The mother of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, said she wanted the world to know that her little girl lost a good father.“I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took,” Roxie Washington said during a Minneapolis news conference with her young daughter at her side. “I want justice for him because he was good. No matter what anybody thinks, he was good.”Some protesters framed the burgeoning movement as a necessity after a string of killings by police.“It feels like it’s just been an endless cascade of hashtags of black people dying, and it feels like nothing’s really being done by our political leaders to actually enact real change,” said Christine Ohenzuwa, 19, who attended a peaceful protest at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul. “There’s always going to be a breaking point. I think right now, we’re seeing the breaking point around the country.”“I live in this state. It’s really painful to see what’s going on, but it’s also really important to understand that it’s connected to a system of racial violence,” she said.Meanwhile, governors and mayors, Republicans and Democrats alike, rejected Trump's threat to send in the military, with some saying troops would be unnecessary and others questioning whether the government has such authority and warning that such a step would be dangerous.A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the president is not rushing to send in the military and that his goal was to pressure governors to deploy more National Guard members.Such use of the military would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history.Amid the protests, nine states and the District of Columbia held presidential primaries that tested the nation’s ability to run elections while balancing a pandemic and sweeping social unrest. Joe Biden won hundreds more delegates and was on the cusp of formally securing the Democratic presidential nomination.Also Tuesday, Minnesota opened an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police Department has a pattern of discrimination against minorities.___

Nation's streets calmest in days, protests largely peaceful

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is no longer shielding renters and homeowners who are financially strapped because of the coronavirus pandemic from being evicted or having lenders foreclose on their mortgages.

Kelly allowed an executive order that had banned new evictions and foreclosures to expire May 26. Her office confirmed Monday that the executive order no longer was in place.

The Democratic governor let the ban on evictions and mortgage foreclosures expire the same day she lifted statewide restrictions on businesses and left it to each of the state’s 105 counties to decide whether they would remain closed. The state’s unemployment rate sourced to 11.2% in April from 2.8% in March after Kelly imposed a statewide stay at home order through May 3.

Renters’ advocates warned that unemployment benefits and one-time federal stimulus checks won’t be enough to keep people in their homes.

“They were getting their paperwork ready in April to file evictions and as soon as the moratorium is lifted they’re going to file them,” said Brandon Irwin, an organizer with the housing reform coalition Rent Zero Kansas.

Irwin added that what’s “distressing” and “in many ways evil” is that despite communities reopening and relaxing coronavirus rules, “There’s still people at really high risk.”

Nearly 8,600 evictions were conducted in Kansas in 2016, the latest year for which data is available, according to Eviction Lab at Princeton University. The figure represents an eviction rate of 2.3%.

Some landlords and apartment owners said evictions are likely weeks away and emphasized that they’re willing to work with tenants who have fallen behind.

Cathy Payne, who owns several rental properties in Wichita, said 40% of her renters struggled but have caught up on payments. No evictions are planned, she said.

“Some even borrowing from family to pay,” she said. “The stimulus check helped them, too.”

Kansas has reported more than 10,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic reached the state in early March. Johns Hopkins University reported Tuesday that the state has had 220 COVID-19-related deaths, up three from Monday.

Kelly’s office said improvements in the state’s handling of unemployment claims led Kelly to allow evictions and foreclosures to proceed.

In March, the state Department of Labor’s antiquated computer systems and small staff were quickly overwhelmed by a wave of calls and online applications for unemployment benefits. On some days, calls exceeded a million.

Some Kansans were unable to obtain benefits or get through to a real person at the agency for weeks. Recently, the agency’s performance has improved and officials have dramatically reduced the number of unprocessed claims.

“As a result, the governor felt comfortable lifting this order at this time and she will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks and months,” Kelly spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586440392187.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly's executive order expired May 26." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly's executive order expired May 26.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is no longer shielding renters and homeowners who are financially strapped because of the coronavirus pandemic from being evicted or having lenders foreclose on their mortgages.Kelly allowed an executive order that had banned new evictions and foreclosures to expire May 26. Her office confirmed Monday that the executive order no longer was in place.The Democratic governor let the ban on evictions and mortgage foreclosures expire the same day she lifted statewide restrictions on businesses and left it to each of the state’s 105 counties to decide whether they would remain closed. The state’s unemployment rate sourced to 11.2% in April from 2.8% in March after Kelly imposed a statewide stay at home order through May 3.Renters’ advocates warned that unemployment benefits and one-time federal stimulus checks won’t be enough to keep people in their homes.“They were getting their paperwork ready in April to file evictions and as soon as the moratorium is lifted they’re going to file them,” said Brandon Irwin, an organizer with the housing reform coalition Rent Zero Kansas.Irwin added that what’s “distressing” and “in many ways evil” is that despite communities reopening and relaxing coronavirus rules, “There’s still people at really high risk.”Nearly 8,600 evictions were conducted in Kansas in 2016, the latest year for which data is available, according to Eviction Lab at Princeton University. The figure represents an eviction rate of 2.3%.Some landlords and apartment owners said evictions are likely weeks away and emphasized that they’re willing to work with tenants who have fallen behind.Cathy Payne, who owns several rental properties in Wichita, said 40% of her renters struggled but have caught up on payments. No evictions are planned, she said.“Some even borrowing from family to pay,” she said. “The stimulus check helped them, too.”Kansas has reported more than 10,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic reached the state in early March. Johns Hopkins University reported Tuesday that the state has had 220 COVID-19-related deaths, up three from Monday.Kelly’s office said improvements in the state’s handling of unemployment claims led Kelly to allow evictions and foreclosures to proceed.In March, the state Department of Labor’s antiquated computer systems and small staff were quickly overwhelmed by a wave of calls and online applications for unemployment benefits. On some days, calls exceeded a million.Some Kansans were unable to obtain benefits or get through to a real person at the agency for weeks. Recently, the agency’s performance has improved and officials have dramatically reduced the number of unprocessed claims.“As a result, the governor felt comfortable lifting this order at this time and she will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks and months,” Kelly spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Kansans no longer shielded from evictions, foreclosures

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City paper plant has infected more than 200 people, health officials announced Tuesday.

The Kansas City Health Department said the first employee at Aspen Paper Products tested positive in mid-May. As cases continued to increase, Aspen tested all its employees on Friday and Saturday. The Kansas City plant employs about 850 people.

Health officials are working with Aspen to increase cleaning and personal protection equipment.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City paper plant has infected more than 200 people, health officials announced Tuesday.The Kansas City Health Department said the first employee at Aspen Paper Products tested positive in mid-May. As cases continued to increase, Aspen tested all its employees on Friday and Saturday. The Kansas City plant employs about 850 people.Health officials are working with Aspen to increase cleaning and personal protection equipment.

Virus outbreak at Kansas City paper plant infects 200-plus

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend shooting and have identified the victims as 41-year-old Talisha Fay Johnson and 38-year-old Anthony Michael Johnson, both of Overland Park, according to Kansas City, Kansas police.

They were shot to death while driving Saturday night on an exit ramp from Interstate 70. Two juveniles in the car were not harmed

Police arrested the suspect, 21-year-old Isaiah Montez Taylor, of Overland Park, at the scene. He faces requested charges of&nbsp; second-degree murder and aggravated endangering a child, according to online jail records.

Police believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591132896609.png" alt="Taylor photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Taylor photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend shooting and have identified the victims as 41-year-old Talisha Fay Johnson and 38-year-old Anthony Michael Johnson, both of Overland Park, according to Kansas City, Kansas police.They were shot to death while driving Saturday night on an exit ramp from Interstate 70. Two juveniles in the car were not harmedPolice arrested the suspect, 21-year-old Isaiah Montez Taylor, of Overland Park, at the scene. He faces requested charges of&nbsp; second-degree murder and aggravated endangering a child, according to online jail records.Police believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute.&nbsp;

Suspect jailed for shooting that killed 2 on I-70

PRATT COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Pratt County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Buick&nbsp;Rendezvous driven by Jacob R. Davis, 35,&nbsp; Macksville,&nbsp;was southbound on NE 70th Avenue just North of 90th two miles northwest of Preston.

The vehicle left the roadway to the west, came back onto the roadway, entered the east ditch, struck the embankment and rolled.

Davis was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Larrison Mortuary in Pratt. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

PRATT COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Pratt County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Buick&nbsp;Rendezvous driven by Jacob R. Davis, 35,&nbsp; Macksville,&nbsp;was southbound on NE 70th Avenue just North of 90th two miles northwest of Preston.The vehicle left the roadway to the west, came back onto the roadway, entered the east ditch, struck the embankment and rolled.Davis was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Larrison Mortuary in Pratt. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV rollover crash

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Republican attorney general plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the state to require new voters to provide papers documenting their citizenship when registering.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Tuesday that he will appeal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/816aaaa51ff9ca49a173ec7e60417d83">a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision</a>&nbsp;in April that said the state could not enforce a proof-of-citizenship law. An appeals-court panel said the law violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal legal protection as well as a federal voter registration law.

If the U.S. Supreme Court takes the case, it could have broader implications because Alabama, Arizona and Georgia have proof-of-citizenship laws on their books, and Republican officials in other states have wanted to enact them. Critics of such laws believe they’re designed to suppress the vote, particularly among groups that tend to vote Democratic.

The Kansas law was championed as an anti-fraud measure by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a hard-right conservative who was vice chairman of President Donald Trump’s now-defunct voter fraud commission. Kobach was a leading source for Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that “millions” of immigrants living in the U.S. voted in the 2016 election, when Trump lost the popular vote but prevailed in enough states to win in the electoral college.

“Kansas is going to win,” Kobach said Tuesday. “It’s a really important appeal because the rest of the country is watching.”

Both the federal appeals court and a federal judge in Kansas who heard a lawsuit against the proof-of-citizenship law concluded that Kobach could show only a small potential for fraud that didn’t justify adding such a restriction on voting rights.

Kansas’ registration form has long required potential voters to mark a box or circle affirming that they are citizens and face criminal penalties if they lie. Voting-rights advocates contend that’s sufficient to deter fraud, and many experts say voter fraud — is rare.

Under the Kansas law, the appeals court noted, more than 31,000 potential voters had their registration suspended or canceled for failing to meet the proof-of-citizenship requirement. Meanwhile, the judges noted that at most, 67 non-citizens registered or attempted to register in Kansas in the past 19 years, something it called “incredibly slight” evidence that the state faced a threat to its interests in making sure only citizens vote.

Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project, said pursuing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is an attempt “to resuscitate Kris Kobach’s sorry legacy of voter suppression” and “an insult to Kansas voters.”

“This law disenfranchised more than 30,000 Kansans, denying them the most fundamental right in our democracy,” Ho said, adding that he is confident the previous court rulings will stand.

The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law at Kobach’s urging in 2011 and it took effect in 2013.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly had said the state should let the federal appeals court ruling stand. Kelly voted for the final version of the proof-of-citizenship law as a state senator in 2011, but like other Democrats who backed it then, came to see it has harmful to voting rights after it was put into effect. Kelly defeated Kobach in the 2018 governor’s race.

Schmidt said he decided to appeal after conferring with current Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who also backed the law as a legislator.

“It is prudent we have thorough judicial review to provide clarity on this important issue,” Schwab said in a statement.

Schmidt said in a statement Tuesday that as long as the law remains formally on the books it deserves “a full and robust legal defense.”

“Voting is only for citizens, and this Kansas law is designed to confirm the citizenship of those registering to vote,” Schmidt said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588178330303.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Republican attorney general plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the state to require new voters to provide papers documenting their citizenship when registering.Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Tuesday that he will appeal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/816aaaa51ff9ca49a173ec7e60417d83">a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision</a>&nbsp;in April that said the state could not enforce a proof-of-citizenship law. An appeals-court panel said the law violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal legal protection as well as a federal voter registration law.If the U.S. Supreme Court takes the case, it could have broader implications because Alabama, Arizona and Georgia have proof-of-citizenship laws on their books, and Republican officials in other states have wanted to enact them. Critics of such laws believe they’re designed to suppress the vote, particularly among groups that tend to vote Democratic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1572289787089.png" alt="Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach" />
 <figcaption>Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas law was championed as an anti-fraud measure by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a hard-right conservative who was vice chairman of President Donald Trump’s now-defunct voter fraud commission. Kobach was a leading source for Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that “millions” of immigrants living in the U.S. voted in the 2016 election, when Trump lost the popular vote but prevailed in enough states to win in the electoral college.“Kansas is going to win,” Kobach said Tuesday. “It’s a really important appeal because the rest of the country is watching.”Both the federal appeals court and a federal judge in Kansas who heard a lawsuit against the proof-of-citizenship law concluded that Kobach could show only a small potential for fraud that didn’t justify adding such a restriction on voting rights.Kansas’ registration form has long required potential voters to mark a box or circle affirming that they are citizens and face criminal penalties if they lie. Voting-rights advocates contend that’s sufficient to deter fraud, and many experts say voter fraud — is rare.Under the Kansas law, the appeals court noted, more than 31,000 potential voters had their registration suspended or canceled for failing to meet the proof-of-citizenship requirement. Meanwhile, the judges noted that at most, 67 non-citizens registered or attempted to register in Kansas in the past 19 years, something it called “incredibly slight” evidence that the state faced a threat to its interests in making sure only citizens vote.Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project, said pursuing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is an attempt “to resuscitate Kris Kobach’s sorry legacy of voter suppression” and “an insult to Kansas voters.”“This law disenfranchised more than 30,000 Kansans, denying them the most fundamental right in our democracy,” Ho said, adding that he is confident the previous court rulings will stand.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law at Kobach’s urging in 2011 and it took effect in 2013.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly had said the state should let the federal appeals court ruling stand. Kelly voted for the final version of the proof-of-citizenship law as a state senator in 2011, but like other Democrats who backed it then, came to see it has harmful to voting rights after it was put into effect. Kelly defeated Kobach in the 2018 governor’s race.Schmidt said he decided to appeal after conferring with current Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who also backed the law as a legislator.“It is prudent we have thorough judicial review to provide clarity on this important issue,” Schwab said in a statement.Schmidt said in a statement Tuesday that as long as the law remains formally on the books it deserves “a full and robust legal defense.”“Voting is only for citizens, and this Kansas law is designed to confirm the citizenship of those registering to vote,” Schmidt said.___

Kansas to ask Supreme Court to save voter citizenship law

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a peaceful protest march in Wichita that turned violent.

According to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey, officers faced a life threatening and harrowing situation during a protest march Monday night.

"What started out as a peaceful protest about 7p.m. at 21st Street and Arkansas turned into a very violent scene in the early morning hours of Tuesday," said Ramsay during a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WichitaPolice/videos/247413959927580/">Tuesday afternoon press conference.</a>

At about 11:30p.m. a glass window on the Metro PCS store on 21 Street was vandalized and random gunshots began to ring out in the area, according to Ramsey.&nbsp; "We don't have an issue with peaceful protests but when property is damaged and there are gunshots, it raises our level of concern as it does our community members."

Wichita police moved toward the scene of the violence with additional officers to clear what had become an unlawful assembly from the area. "The majority left peacefully after being asked to leave over a loud speaker," said Ramsey. 

"Some 50-70 people remained and were very hostile. As officers moved in to clear the area, they were hit with cinder blocks, rocks, water bottles and other debris."

In addition, unknown suspects began firing shots towards the group of officers, striking a a police armored vehicle. 

 Three officers received minor injuries from the items being thrown, two of them requiring stitches.

Police were ultimately able to clear the unlawful assembly without firing any shots.&nbsp;

Two arrests were made during the incident for charges of criminal discharge of a firearm, rioting, and failure to disperse.  Additional arrests will occur with further investigation.

"There have been a number of protests over the past few days and I'm really hopeful we can come together as a community and let voices be heard to continue moving Wichita forward," Ramsay said.

"Everyone in this police department has worked incredibly hard to build good will and strong relationships with our community."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591123473834.png" alt="Police in Wichita confront protesters Monday night photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police in Wichita confront protesters Monday night photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a peaceful protest march in Wichita that turned violent.According to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey, officers faced a life threatening and harrowing situation during a protest march Monday night."What started out as a peaceful protest about 7p.m. at 21st Street and Arkansas turned into a very violent scene in the early morning hours of Tuesday," said Ramsay during a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WichitaPolice/videos/247413959927580/">Tuesday afternoon press conference.</a><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWichitaPolice%2Fvideos%2F2590384587945591%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>At about 11:30p.m. a glass window on the Metro PCS store on 21 Street was vandalized and random gunshots began to ring out in the area, according to Ramsey.&nbsp; "We don't have an issue with peaceful protests but when property is damaged and there are gunshots, it raises our level of concern as it does our community members."Wichita police moved toward the scene of the violence with additional officers to clear what had become an unlawful assembly from the area. "The majority left peacefully after being asked to leave over a loud speaker," said Ramsey. "Some 50-70 people remained and were very hostile. As officers moved in to clear the area, they were hit with cinder blocks, rocks, water bottles and other debris."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591127610629.png" alt="Chief Ramsay said, "A bullet ricocheted off of a helmet worn by an officer during the confrontation."- photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Chief Ramsay said, "A bullet ricocheted off of a helmet worn by an officer during the confrontation."- photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition, unknown suspects began firing shots towards the group of officers, striking a a police armored vehicle. Three officers received minor injuries from the items being thrown, two of them requiring stitches.Police were ultimately able to clear the unlawful assembly without firing any shots.&nbsp;Two arrests were made during the incident for charges of criminal discharge of a firearm, rioting, and failure to disperse. Additional arrests will occur with further investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591132639079.png" alt="Chief Gordon Ramsay spoke to the community Tuesday about the&nbsp; violent confrontation" />
 <figcaption>Chief Gordon Ramsay spoke to the community Tuesday about the&nbsp; violent confrontation</figcaption>
 </figure>"There have been a number of protests over the past few days and I'm really hopeful we can come together as a community and let voices be heard to continue moving Wichita forward," Ramsay said."Everyone in this police department has worked incredibly hard to build good will and strong relationships with our community."

Police Chief: Officers injured during protest in Wichita

On Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce Executive Committee reviewed and approved a proposal to distribute $400 million to local governments to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19, according to a media release from the governor's office.

“Over the last few months Kansans have faced unprecedented challenges because of COVID-19,” Governor Kelly said. “Through it all, they have shown resiliency and compassion that has served as a strong reminder that we are all in this together.

“Every region of our State has been impacted by the health and economic crisis of this pandemic. We need to provide local governments with all the resources we can to mitigate the virus and revitalize our economy. We want to make these funds available, so communities can address current challenges and jumpstart our economic recovery,” Kelly said.

This is the first action of the SPARK Taskforce, which is charged with distributing over a billion dollars in federal funds Kansas received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“This fair, impactful and timely distribution of funds to county governments will strengthen our health, speed the reopening of our economy and help our state remain open for business,” Cheryl Harrison-Lee, Executive Director of the Recovery Office, said. “I’m grateful to the Executive Committee members for the swift action they took today and look forward to collaborating with them and the Steering Committee to put the remaining funds to work.”

Harrison-Lee proposed a three-phased approach to allocating the funds. The first round will focus on providing relief to county governments which had not already received funding under the CARES Act. Johnson and Sedgwick Counties have already received funds because they have populations over 500,000.

Under the SPARK proposal, each county would receive funds based on the following formula:

Fifty percent of each county’s share will be for reimbursement of COVID-19 related expenses and the remaining 50 percent will be direct aid for eligible expenditures under the CARES Act.

To receive funds, counties will be required to pass a resolution affirming they will allocate the funding consistent with the CARES Act and to share and allocate funds to educational and municipal entities within their counties.

Under this proposal, there will be two additional funding rounds later this year. Public and private entities will be eligible for funding in the later rounds, which will focus on strategic investments and revitalizing the State’s economy.

“While our initial focus is on strengthening health, the second round will target short-term and long-term opportunities to generate economic growth for all Kansans,” Lyle Butler, SPARK Executive Committee Chair, said.&nbsp; “I’m so pleased at the talent we’ve assembled both on our Executive and Steering Committees – we’re going to need it to make sound, inclusive investments that serve rural and urban Kansas now and in the future.”

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SPARK-Process_6.2_FINAL_Presentation.pdf">Click here to find </a>the full presentation

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly team she appointed to help her plan for the state’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic began discussing how to spend $1.25 billion in federal relief funds.

The Democratic governor said she is confident that she can work out an agreement with the Republican-controlled Legislature to give them some oversight over how the funds are spent.

Kelly said the money has to be distributed by the end of the year, and she expects the first round of spending to include payments to cities and counties to cover their coronavirus-related costs. A five-member executive committee of Kelly’s 20-member planning team plans to have its first meeting Tuesday.

“There was a real desire on the part some in the Legislature to have some control,” Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference. “I think we can come up with something that they feel comfortable that they’ve got the kind oversight they ought to have and want without giving up the nimbleness that we need to get that money out.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/a5e30a0ec7a5943ada9f03af22ee1970">Kelly vetoed</a>&nbsp;a sweeping coronavirus bill passed by GOP legislators in the final moments of their annual session, and the measure would have curbed her power to direct the state’s pandemic response. It included provisions that would have given the Legislature’s top seven leaders the final say in how the federal coronavirus relief funds would be spent.

Kelly said there’s not enough time for “having committee meetings, debating, everything else.”

The governor called legislators back into a special session starting Wednesday to extend&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020-05-26-Proclamation.pdf" target="_blank">a state of emergency&nbsp;</a>that’s due to expire June 10.

After the governor vetoed the GOP coronavirus bill, she lifted the state’s remaining restrictions on businesses last week, leaving it to officials in each of the state’s 105 counties to determine what rules remain in place. She had planned to keep some statewide restrictions in place until June 23 but backed off after weeks of pressure from the Legislature to move more quickly to reopen the economy.

Kansas has continued to see coronavirus cases and COVID-19-related deaths increase. The state Department of Health and Environment reported Monday that the number of cases had reached 10,011, up 292 or 3% since Friday, and the number of deaths jumped 4.5%, up 9 to a total of 217 since the pandemic hit the state in early March.

Meanwhile, two female students are suing the University of Kansas for refunds they believe they should have received after classes were moved online and activities were canceled because of the pandemic.

Universities across the country are facing similar lawsuits after they sent students home in March.

The lawsuit was filed May 18 by two students from Johnson County, who are not named. They contend the university is keeping money students should have received — by refusing to refund the cost of campus fees for the time after students left campus and by issuing credits for on-campus dining packages instead of refunds, The Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2020/may/31/ku-facing-litigation-complaints-from-students-and-families-about-lack-of-refunds-during-pandemic/" target="_blank">reported</a>.

The lawsuit leaves open the possibility of become a class-action for all 26,000 university students but it’s unclear if other plaintiffs have signed on to the case.

Kansas spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said the university was aware of the lawsuit but would refrain from commenting “until the appropriate time.”

The university has provided refunds in several areas, such as parking, housing and dining, Barcomb-Peterson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591128845261.png" alt="Governor Kelly and a team she appointed met Tuesday to work on the state's economic recovery. "COVID-19 has caused unprecedented challenges for our state's economy, our businesses and our families. Through the SPARK taskforce, the Recovery Office will distribute CARES Act funds to Kansans who need it most, " said the governor.&nbsp; "We are on our way to building a more inclusive and resilient economy."" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly and a team she appointed met Tuesday to work on the state's economic recovery. "COVID-19 has caused unprecedented challenges for our state's economy, our businesses and our families. Through the SPARK taskforce, the Recovery Office will distribute CARES Act funds to Kansans who need it most, " said the governor.&nbsp; "We are on our way to building a more inclusive and resilient economy."</figcaption>
 </figure>On Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce Executive Committee reviewed and approved a proposal to distribute $400 million to local governments to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19, according to a media release from the governor's office.“Over the last few months Kansans have faced unprecedented challenges because of COVID-19,” Governor Kelly said. “Through it all, they have shown resiliency and compassion that has served as a strong reminder that we are all in this together.“Every region of our State has been impacted by the health and economic crisis of this pandemic. We need to provide local governments with all the resources we can to mitigate the virus and revitalize our economy. We want to make these funds available, so communities can address current challenges and jumpstart our economic recovery,” Kelly said.This is the first action of the SPARK Taskforce, which is charged with distributing over a billion dollars in federal funds Kansas received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.“This fair, impactful and timely distribution of funds to county governments will strengthen our health, speed the reopening of our economy and help our state remain open for business,” Cheryl Harrison-Lee, Executive Director of the Recovery Office, said. “I’m grateful to the Executive Committee members for the swift action they took today and look forward to collaborating with them and the Steering Committee to put the remaining funds to work.”Harrison-Lee proposed a three-phased approach to allocating the funds. The first round will focus on providing relief to county governments which had not already received funding under the CARES Act. Johnson and Sedgwick Counties have already received funds because they have populations over 500,000.Under the SPARK proposal, each county would receive funds based on the following formula:<ol>
 <li>Population: All counties are guaranteed to receive at least $194 per person. This is the same amount awarded to Johnson and Sedgwick residents previously.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Impact Fund:&nbsp;Counties will receive additional dollars based on their COVID-19 case rates and unemployment rates. The purpose of the Impact Fund is to provide additional dollars to those counties hit hardest by the virus. Johnson and Sedgwick counties will receive funds through this fund as well.</li>
 </ol>Fifty percent of each county’s share will be for reimbursement of COVID-19 related expenses and the remaining 50 percent will be direct aid for eligible expenditures under the CARES Act.To receive funds, counties will be required to pass a resolution affirming they will allocate the funding consistent with the CARES Act and to share and allocate funds to educational and municipal entities within their counties.Under this proposal, there will be two additional funding rounds later this year. Public and private entities will be eligible for funding in the later rounds, which will focus on strategic investments and revitalizing the State’s economy.“While our initial focus is on strengthening health, the second round will target short-term and long-term opportunities to generate economic growth for all Kansans,” Lyle Butler, SPARK Executive Committee Chair, said.&nbsp; “I’m so pleased at the talent we’ve assembled both on our Executive and Steering Committees – we’re going to need it to make sound, inclusive investments that serve rural and urban Kansas now and in the future.”<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SPARK-Process_6.2_FINAL_Presentation.pdf">Click here to find </a>the full presentation---------By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly team she appointed to help her plan for the state’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic began discussing how to spend $1.25 billion in federal relief funds.The Democratic governor said she is confident that she can work out an agreement with the Republican-controlled Legislature to give them some oversight over how the funds are spent.Kelly said the money has to be distributed by the end of the year, and she expects the first round of spending to include payments to cities and counties to cover their coronavirus-related costs. A five-member executive committee of Kelly’s 20-member planning team plans to have its first meeting Tuesday.“There was a real desire on the part some in the Legislature to have some control,” Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference. “I think we can come up with something that they feel comfortable that they’ve got the kind oversight they ought to have and want without giving up the nimbleness that we need to get that money out.”<a href="https://apnews.com/a5e30a0ec7a5943ada9f03af22ee1970">Kelly vetoed</a>&nbsp;a sweeping coronavirus bill passed by GOP legislators in the final moments of their annual session, and the measure would have curbed her power to direct the state’s pandemic response. It included provisions that would have given the Legislature’s top seven leaders the final say in how the federal coronavirus relief funds would be spent.Kelly said there’s not enough time for “having committee meetings, debating, everything else.”The governor called legislators back into a special session starting Wednesday to extend&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020-05-26-Proclamation.pdf" target="_blank">a state of emergency&nbsp;</a>that’s due to expire June 10.After the governor vetoed the GOP coronavirus bill, she lifted the state’s remaining restrictions on businesses last week, leaving it to officials in each of the state’s 105 counties to determine what rules remain in place. She had planned to keep some statewide restrictions in place until June 23 but backed off after weeks of pressure from the Legislature to move more quickly to reopen the economy.Kansas has continued to see coronavirus cases and COVID-19-related deaths increase. The state Department of Health and Environment reported Monday that the number of cases had reached 10,011, up 292 or 3% since Friday, and the number of deaths jumped 4.5%, up 9 to a total of 217 since the pandemic hit the state in early March.Meanwhile, two female students are suing the University of Kansas for refunds they believe they should have received after classes were moved online and activities were canceled because of the pandemic.Universities across the country are facing similar lawsuits after they sent students home in March.The lawsuit was filed May 18 by two students from Johnson County, who are not named. They contend the university is keeping money students should have received — by refusing to refund the cost of campus fees for the time after students left campus and by issuing credits for on-campus dining packages instead of refunds, The Lawrence Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2020/may/31/ku-facing-litigation-complaints-from-students-and-families-about-lack-of-refunds-during-pandemic/" target="_blank">reported</a>.The lawsuit leaves open the possibility of become a class-action for all 26,000 university students but it’s unclear if other plaintiffs have signed on to the case.Kansas spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said the university was aware of the lawsuit but would refrain from commenting “until the appropriate time.”The university has provided refunds in several areas, such as parking, housing and dining, Barcomb-Peterson said.

Taskforce approves $400M to local governments for COVID-19 expenses

UPDATE WEDNESDAY from Topeka Police: Jonathon West, 42, was arrested following an incident that occurred Monday night in the 300 block of SE Lawrence Street. He was not arrested due to the violence that occurred in downtown Topeka.

Officers were in the area investigating a separate incident from the protests when West entered the apartment complex the officers were in. He was combative with officers and was later arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for&nbsp;Assault of LEO&nbsp;and&nbsp;Disobeying a Lawful Police Order. &nbsp;

TOPEKA —Authorities are assessing damage reports after a clash with protesters in Topeka Monday night.&nbsp;

Police arrested at least five people during the violent protest in front of the Law Enforcement Center, 320 Kansas Avenue, according to Topeka police department spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

At one point, officers and deputies rescued a protester suffering from a health condition.&nbsp; The officers were being assaulted with rocks and debris until she could receive medical attention.

Police arrested 19-year-old Brett Michael House of Silver Lake on requested charges of Unlawful Assembly, Interference with Law Enforcement, Criminal Damage to Property and Disobeying Lawful Police Order.

Noah Lee Kelley, 21, of Topeka was arrested on requested charges of Disobeying Lawful Police Order.

Johnathon Lee West of Topeka was arrested on a requested charge of Assault of LEO and Disobeying Lawful Police Order.

Haley Paige Elliott, 19; Cameron Michele Spagnola, 27;&nbsp; Andrew Joseph Dome, 28; Brian Charles Rutschmann all&nbsp; of Topeka were&nbsp;arrested on a requested charges of Disobeying Lawful Police Order.

&nbsp;A 15-year-old girl was cited for Criminal Damage to Property and released to the custody of her legal guardian. 

Police asked citizens to report any damages to TPD by calling 785-368-9551.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591094592476.png" alt="Scene of the violent protest Monday night in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the violent protest Monday night in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE WEDNESDAY from Topeka Police: Jonathon West, 42, was arrested following an incident that occurred Monday night in the 300 block of SE Lawrence Street. He was not arrested due to the violence that occurred in downtown Topeka.Officers were in the area investigating a separate incident from the protests when West entered the apartment complex the officers were in. He was combative with officers and was later arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for&nbsp;Assault of LEO&nbsp;and&nbsp;Disobeying a Lawful Police Order. &nbsp;------TOPEKA —Authorities are assessing damage reports after a clash with protesters in Topeka Monday night.&nbsp;Police arrested at least five people during the violent protest in front of the Law Enforcement Center, 320 Kansas Avenue, according to Topeka police department spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591111184973.png" alt="Kelley" />
 <figcaption>Kelley</figcaption>
 </figure>At one point, officers and deputies rescued a protester suffering from a health condition.&nbsp; The officers were being assaulted with rocks and debris until she could receive medical attention.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591110983072.png" alt="West photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>West photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested 19-year-old Brett Michael House of Silver Lake on requested charges of Unlawful Assembly, Interference with Law Enforcement, Criminal Damage to Property and Disobeying Lawful Police Order.Noah Lee Kelley, 21, of Topeka was arrested on requested charges of Disobeying Lawful Police Order.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591111074275.png" alt="House photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>House photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>Johnathon Lee West of Topeka was arrested on a requested charge of Assault of LEO and Disobeying Lawful Police Order.Haley Paige Elliott, 19; Cameron Michele Spagnola, 27;&nbsp; Andrew Joseph Dome, 28; Brian Charles Rutschmann all&nbsp; of Topeka were&nbsp;arrested on a requested charges of Disobeying Lawful Police Order.&nbsp;A 15-year-old girl was cited for Criminal Damage to Property and released to the custody of her legal guardian. Police asked citizens to report any damages to TPD by calling 785-368-9551.

Update: Police make arrests after violent protest in Topeka

By STEPAHN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/6-lessons-kansas-teachers-learned-when-coronavirus-pushed-classes-online">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — Educators say there was a silver 
lining when Kansas schools and campuses had to shut down because of the 
coronavirus: It was a chance to learn how to do remote learning right.

Now
 with college finals submitted and most K-12 schools in summer vacation 
mode, educators are reflecting on those two months of online teaching, 
especially knowing that some universities will have to do it again come 
fall (Wichita State plans online-only instruction after Thanksgiving).

Here are six things that Kansas professors and teachers say they’ve learned outside of the physical classroom.

1. Educators need new ways to show students they care — or students won’t.

Even though he teaches classes with 100-plus students, Ronald Brockhoff memorized all of their names.

“It
 makes it harder for them to hide from you,” said Brockhoff, a 
mechanical and nuclear engineering assistant professor at Kansas State 
University.

It also showed his students that he cared about their
 education, making it more likely they would, too. To translate this to 
online learning, Brockhoff created kits for each of his students in his 
mechanical engineering lab, including load cells, a thermocouple and the
 necessary circuitry.

In return, all 97 students stayed engaged. 
It was a big feat, considering some Kansas educators say they were lucky
 to have half their students still show up for online lessons.

“We
 were engaged and we cared about their experience and therefore it made 
them more likely to rise up to the occasion,” Brockhoff said.

But
 Brockhoff didn’t have the same luck in a lecture-based class, which he 
admits to putting less effort into. He said he thinks students could 
tell, and some stopped doing the work.

2. Online learning makes school a little less serious, and a little more vulnerable.

Remote
 learning may sound distant, but it’s often littered with distractingly 
human moments. Live video lessons often come with screaming toddlers 
offscreen, or family pets fighting in the background.

It’s those moments that educators at Olathe Public Schools believe are a good thing.

“When
 I was teaching math in high school, that was the most important thing a
 kid did,” said Rich Wilson, the district’s director of curriculum and 
assessment. “One of the things that this has done is it’s kind of 
knocked all that pretense down.”

Shelly Todd, a seventh grade English teacher in the district, said she’s found it easier to show emotions online.

“I
 was in a Zoom meeting last week and one of my students had written a 
song and was playing her ukulele, and I started crying,” Todd said. 
“It’s important that they see that we’re all human.”

3. It’s much easier to bring in star power.

Julie
 Pentz is a professor of dance at Kansas State. While most of her 
classes are in-person, over the years she’d recorded more than 100 
videos of how to do different movements.

But one thing she hadn’t tapped into with online instruction was bringing in guests. That changed during the coronavirus.

She
 interviewed Dena Rizzo, one of the leaders in hip-hop dance. Pentz also
 shared a conversation with a Rockette, which spanned the challenges of 
finding and keeping a high-caliber dance job.

“My students love 
to hear that struggle,” Pentz said of the conversations that wouldn’t 
normally come up in class. “They tended to get lost in these interviews 
even for just a short time.”

While guests were always an option 
before the pandemic, a prerecorded voice chat was significantly cheaper 
than purchasing a flight for the guests to teach in person. Now Pentz 
plans on continuing the interviews for her students even when they’re 
all back on campus.

4. Hands-on learning without fancy equipment can be more practical.

Students
 who study engraving at Emporia State University normally have the 
benefit of workbenches equipped with about $15,000 worth of tools, 
including microscopes and power-assisted engravers.

But once 
instruction went online, the school had to loan out inexpensive tools. 
Emporia State professor James Ehlers said that created an opportunity to
 teach students how to do their work with the basic tools they’ll have 
access to post-graduation.

Ehlers taught students how to maintain
 their blades without the sharpening tools on campus. It’s a skill only a
 few students normally learned from him because they were curious and 
asked.

“It gives them a sense of what exactly do I need to remain a practicing artist whenever this semester is over,” Ehlers said.

5. Professors must intentionally create unintended learning.

Andrea
 Follmer Greenhoot, director for the University of Kansas’ Center For 
Teaching Excellence, said some of the best learning moments happen 
outside of structured class time.

That’s when students learn from
 each other — asking questions before class starts or chatting with the 
professor after the lecture ends. Those unplanned moments are less 
likely to happen online unless educators specifically make space for 
them.

“When you’re teaching online, everything has to be intentional,” Greenhoot said.

Online
 discussion boards are useful, Greenhoot said, but spontaneous moments 
have to happen outside of the classwork. KU teachers found that groups 
on Facebook and LinkedIn helped create that space for students to 
naturally ask questions without prompting and their peers to provide the
 answer.

“Those things don’t happen unless you set them up,” 
Greenhoot said. “This is the kind of thing that’s going to be a big 
focus of the work that faculty do to prepare for the fall.”

Online learning is full of distractions; it can be hard to pay attention to a lesson with YouTube just a few keystrokes away.

The
 school building can be even more distracting for some students, like 
those who struggle with loud classrooms and crowded hallways. Plus, 
students with physical disabilities may be more concerned about hazards 
to their health than their algebra midterm.

Because of the 
success that some students are having with remote learning, Topeka 
Public Schools decided to start offering virtual summer school this 
year.

Kaylee Erickson, a fourth grade teacher at Topeka Public 
Schools, said about a third of her students are doing better with remote
 learning, including the students she described as more hyperactive, 
because they were able to do the work on their own time.

“My students continued to mention how amazing it was for them to be able to do it when it was working for them,” Erickson said.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591121636174.jpeg" alt="Emporia State University Professor James Ehlers used editing software to create video lessons for his Emporia State University students. James Ehlers" />
 <figcaption>Emporia State University Professor James Ehlers used editing software to create video lessons for his Emporia State University students. James Ehlers</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPAHN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/6-lessons-kansas-teachers-learned-when-coronavirus-pushed-classes-online">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — Educators say there was a silver 
lining when Kansas schools and campuses had to shut down because of the 
coronavirus: It was a chance to learn how to do remote learning right.Now
 with college finals submitted and most K-12 schools in summer vacation 
mode, educators are reflecting on those two months of online teaching, 
especially knowing that some universities will have to do it again come 
fall (Wichita State plans online-only instruction after Thanksgiving).Here are six things that Kansas professors and teachers say they’ve learned outside of the physical classroom.1. Educators need new ways to show students they care — or students won’t.Even though he teaches classes with 100-plus students, Ronald Brockhoff memorized all of their names.“It
 makes it harder for them to hide from you,” said Brockhoff, a 
mechanical and nuclear engineering assistant professor at Kansas State 
University.It also showed his students that he cared about their
 education, making it more likely they would, too. To translate this to 
online learning, Brockhoff created kits for each of his students in his 
mechanical engineering lab, including load cells, a thermocouple and the
 necessary circuitry.In return, all 97 students stayed engaged. 
It was a big feat, considering some Kansas educators say they were lucky
 to have half their students still show up for online lessons.“We
 were engaged and we cared about their experience and therefore it made 
them more likely to rise up to the occasion,” Brockhoff said.But
 Brockhoff didn’t have the same luck in a lecture-based class, which he 
admits to putting less effort into. He said he thinks students could 
tell, and some stopped doing the work.2. Online learning makes school a little less serious, and a little more vulnerable.Remote
 learning may sound distant, but it’s often littered with distractingly 
human moments. Live video lessons often come with screaming toddlers 
offscreen, or family pets fighting in the background.It’s those moments that educators at Olathe Public Schools believe are a good thing.“When
 I was teaching math in high school, that was the most important thing a
 kid did,” said Rich Wilson, the district’s director of curriculum and 
assessment. “One of the things that this has done is it’s kind of 
knocked all that pretense down.”Shelly Todd, a seventh grade English teacher in the district, said she’s found it easier to show emotions online.“I
 was in a Zoom meeting last week and one of my students had written a 
song and was playing her ukulele, and I started crying,” Todd said. 
“It’s important that they see that we’re all human.”3. It’s much easier to bring in star power.Julie
 Pentz is a professor of dance at Kansas State. While most of her 
classes are in-person, over the years she’d recorded more than 100 
videos of how to do different movements.But one thing she hadn’t tapped into with online instruction was bringing in guests. That changed during the coronavirus.She
 interviewed Dena Rizzo, one of the leaders in hip-hop dance. Pentz also
 shared a conversation with a Rockette, which spanned the challenges of 
finding and keeping a high-caliber dance job.“My students love 
to hear that struggle,” Pentz said of the conversations that wouldn’t 
normally come up in class. “They tended to get lost in these interviews 
even for just a short time.”While guests were always an option 
before the pandemic, a prerecorded voice chat was significantly cheaper 
than purchasing a flight for the guests to teach in person. Now Pentz 
plans on continuing the interviews for her students even when they’re 
all back on campus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591121701369.jpeg" alt=" Professor James Ehlers created engraving kits for his Emporia State University students to take home while they learned remotely. Credit James Ehlers" />
 <figcaption> Professor James Ehlers created engraving kits for his Emporia State University students to take home while they learned remotely. Credit James Ehlers</figcaption>
 </figure>4. Hands-on learning without fancy equipment can be more practical.Students
 who study engraving at Emporia State University normally have the 
benefit of workbenches equipped with about $15,000 worth of tools, 
including microscopes and power-assisted engravers.But once 
instruction went online, the school had to loan out inexpensive tools. 
Emporia State professor James Ehlers said that created an opportunity to
 teach students how to do their work with the basic tools they’ll have 
access to post-graduation.Ehlers taught students how to maintain
 their blades without the sharpening tools on campus. It’s a skill only a
 few students normally learned from him because they were curious and 
asked.“It gives them a sense of what exactly do I need to remain a practicing artist whenever this semester is over,” Ehlers said.5. Professors must intentionally create unintended learning.Andrea
 Follmer Greenhoot, director for the University of Kansas’ Center For 
Teaching Excellence, said some of the best learning moments happen 
outside of structured class time.That’s when students learn from
 each other — asking questions before class starts or chatting with the 
professor after the lecture ends. Those unplanned moments are less 
likely to happen online unless educators specifically make space for 
them.“When you’re teaching online, everything has to be intentional,” Greenhoot said.Online
 discussion boards are useful, Greenhoot said, but spontaneous moments 
have to happen outside of the classwork. KU teachers found that groups 
on Facebook and LinkedIn helped create that space for students to 
naturally ask questions without prompting and their peers to provide the
 answer.“Those things don’t happen unless you set them up,” 
Greenhoot said. “This is the kind of thing that’s going to be a big 
focus of the work that faculty do to prepare for the fall.”6. Some students do better online.Online learning is full of distractions; it can be hard to pay attention to a lesson with YouTube just a few keystrokes away.The
 school building can be even more distracting for some students, like 
those who struggle with loud classrooms and crowded hallways. Plus, 
students with physical disabilities may be more concerned about hazards 
to their health than their algebra midterm.Because of the 
success that some students are having with remote learning, Topeka 
Public Schools decided to start offering virtual summer school this 
year.Kaylee Erickson, a fourth grade teacher at Topeka Public 
Schools, said about a third of her students are doing better with remote
 learning, including the students she described as more hyperactive, 
because they were able to do the work on their own time.“My students continued to mention how amazing it was for them to be able to do it when it was working for them,” Erickson said.Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en" target="_blank">@stevebisaha</a>.

Lessons Kan. teachers learned when virus pushed classes online 

KANSAS CITY —The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for the public's help to identify individuals instigating violence during peaceful demonstrations across the country.

In a media release, the bureau said, the FBI respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights. Our mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution is dual and simultaneous, not contradictory. Accordingly, we are committed to apprehending and charging violent instigators who are exploiting legitimate, peaceful protests and engaging in violations of federal law. The continued violence, potential threat to life, and destruction of property across the United States interferes with the rights and safety of First Amendment-protected peaceful demonstrators, as well as all other citizens. To help us identify actors who are actively instigating violence in the wake of Mr. George Floyd’s death, the FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting violent encounters surrounding the civil unrest that is happening throughout the country. If you witness or have witnessed unlawful violent actions, we urge you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant to the case at&nbsp;<a href="https://fbi.gov/violence" target="_blank">fbi.gov/violence</a>. You may also call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) to verbally report tips and/or information related to this investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590977417965.png" alt="Police use tear gas against demonstrators on the Country Club Plaza Sunday in Kansas City -image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police use tear gas against demonstrators on the Country Club Plaza Sunday in Kansas City -image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for the public's help to identify individuals instigating violence during peaceful demonstrations across the country.In a media release, the bureau said, the FBI respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights. Our mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution is dual and simultaneous, not contradictory. Accordingly, we are committed to apprehending and charging violent instigators who are exploiting legitimate, peaceful protests and engaging in violations of federal law. The continued violence, potential threat to life, and destruction of property across the United States interferes with the rights and safety of First Amendment-protected peaceful demonstrators, as well as all other citizens. To help us identify actors who are actively instigating violence in the wake of Mr. George Floyd’s death, the FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting violent encounters surrounding the civil unrest that is happening throughout the country. If you witness or have witnessed unlawful violent actions, we urge you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant to the case at&nbsp;<a href="https://fbi.gov/violence" target="_blank">fbi.gov/violence</a>. You may also call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) to verbally report tips and/or information related to this investigation.

FBI asks for help to ID 'instigators' inciting violence during demonstrations

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a property tax bill and two other measures approved by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature.

Kelly said in a statement Monday that each of the bills could create financial problems for state and local governments when they’re stressed because of economic woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Republicans described&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hb2702/" target="_blank">one bill&nbsp;</a>that Kelly vetoed as a tax transparency measure. It could require city and county commissions to have public hearings and take a specific vote if they planned to spend increases in property tax revenues, starting in 2021.

Kelly said the measure could deny local governments funds needed to handle the coronavirus pandemic. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce said she had chosen “big government over Kansan taxpayers.”

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_hb_2619_2020" target="_blank">Another bill&nbsp;</a>Kelly vetoed set up a $60 million program to make low-interest loans to businesses and farmers. But Kelly noted that it also created a tax credit for banks at a time when the state faces revenue shortfalls.

Kelly said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_hb_2510_2020" target="_blank">the third bill</a>&nbsp;she vetoed was “well-intentioned” in creating a report card on the state’s foster care system but could cost the state millions of extra dollars.

Legislators ended their annual session May 21 and cannot override her vetoes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590154820472.png" alt="The Kansas Senate as they wrapped up the 2020 legislative session in the early morning hours of Friday May 22&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Senate as they wrapped up the 2020 legislative session in the early morning hours of Friday May 22&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a property tax bill and two other measures approved by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature.Kelly said in a statement Monday that each of the bills could create financial problems for state and local governments when they’re stressed because of economic woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.Republicans described&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hb2702/" target="_blank">one bill&nbsp;</a>that Kelly vetoed as a tax transparency measure. It could require city and county commissions to have public hearings and take a specific vote if they planned to spend increases in property tax revenues, starting in 2021.Kelly said the measure could deny local governments funds needed to handle the coronavirus pandemic. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce said she had chosen “big government over Kansan taxpayers.”<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_hb_2619_2020" target="_blank">Another bill&nbsp;</a>Kelly vetoed set up a $60 million program to make low-interest loans to businesses and farmers. But Kelly noted that it also created a tax credit for banks at a time when the state faces revenue shortfalls.Kelly said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_hb_2510_2020" target="_blank">the third bill</a>&nbsp;she vetoed was “well-intentioned” in creating a report card on the state’s foster care system but could cost the state millions of extra dollars.Legislators ended their annual session May 21 and cannot override her vetoes.

Gov. vetoes Kan. property tax bill, 2 other measures

ST. LOUIS — Police say four officers were hit by gunfire after protests in St. Louis that started peacefully Monday became violent overnight, with demonstrators smashing windows and stealing items from businesses and fires burning in the downtown area.

The police department tweeted early Tuesday that the officers were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. It was unclear who had fired the shots.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591096462941.png" alt="Police confront protesters in St. Louis on Monday -image courtesy KMOV TV" />
 <figcaption>Police confront protesters in St. Louis on Monday -image courtesy KMOV TV</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. LOUIS — Police say four officers were hit by gunfire after protests in St. Louis that started peacefully Monday became violent overnight, with demonstrators smashing windows and stealing items from businesses and fires burning in the downtown area.The police department tweeted early Tuesday that the officers were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. It was unclear who had fired the shots.The chaos in St. Louis followed continued protests Monday in Missouri over the death of George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans, with gatherings also held in Kansas City and Jefferson City.On Monday afternoon, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith kneeled with protesters gathered at the Country Club Plaza entertainment district and had what police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina later described as a good conversation with the crowd.Not long after, Becchina said items were thrown at police and pepper spray was used. More people began to arrive later in the evening and he said about “half a dozen”people had been detained, some who had sacks of rocks and bags of urine.------On Monday afternoon, several hundred people rallied peacefully outside the justice center in downtown St. Louis, including Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards. Protestors later walked to the Gateway Arch National Park and then onto nearby Interstate 64.But later Monday, protesters gathered in front of police headquarters, where officers fired tear gas. Some protesters smashed windows at a downtown 7-11 store and stole items from inside before the building was set on fire.___NEW YORK — New York City imposed a late-night curfew Monday that failed to prevent another night of destruction, including arrests after a break-in at the iconic Macy’s store on 34th Street, following protests over George Floyd’s death.As the 11 p.m. deadline to get off the streets approached, bands of protesters marched peacefully through Manhattan and Brooklyn, but police simultaneously responded to numerous reports of roving groups of people smashing their way into shops and emptying them of merchandise.The doors of Macy’s flagship Manhattan store were breached. Police pulled two handcuffed men out and put them in a van.People rushed into a Nike store and carried out armloads of clothing. Near Rockefeller Center, storefront windows were smashed and multiple people arrested. Bank windows were smashed. Wreckage littered the inside of an AT&amp;T store.Video posted on social media showed some protesters arguing with people breaking windows, urging them to stop, but instances of vandalism and smash-and-grab thefts mounted as the night deepened.New York joined other cities around the country in imposing a curfew after days of unrest. It comes on top of months of restrictions on public gatherings already imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.Enough mayhem happened before the curfew took effect that Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted that it would move up to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The curfew lifts at 5 a.m.__LAS VEGAS — Authorities say an officer has been shot in Las Vegas and police have responded to another shooting as people protest the killings of black people by police. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said early Tuesday that the officer was shot outside the Circus Circus casino. A different officer was involved in a shooting in the downtown area.&nbsp;___BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Workers in Alabama’s largest city began removing a Confederate monument Monday night after demonstrators failed to knock down the obelisk the night before.Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin sent workers with heavy equipment to take down the more than 50-foot-tall Confederate monument made of stone. Late on Monday, after a 7 p.m. curfew took effect and streets were mostly clear, crews began their work.Live video showed workers attaching straps to the peak of the obelisk so it could be lifted away with a crane. Within a few hours they had removed the top of the monument.Woodfin said the city would see if the memorial could be given to a museum or another group.Woodfin said the fine the city may face for violating a state law banning the removal of Confederate and other long-standing monuments is more affordable than the cost of continued unrest in the city.Attorney General Steve Marshall, in a statement, said the city would face an assessment of $25,000 if it removed the monument, which has been the subject of a court fight between the mostly black city and Republican-controlled state.___CICERO, Ill. — Two people have been killed during unrest in the Chicago suburb of Cicero as protests continued over the death of George Floyd, according to a town official.Spokesman Ray Hanania says 60 people were arrested in the town of about 84,000 located west of Chicago. Hanania didn’t provide additional information about those killed or the circumstances of their deaths.The Illinois State Police and Cook County Sheriff’s Office were called in to help local police Monday as people broke into a liquor store and other businesses and stole items.___BUFFALO, N.Y. — A vehicle plowed through a group of law enforcement officers at a George Floyd demonstration Monday night in Buffalo, injuring at least two.Video from the scene shows the vehicle accelerating through an intersection shortly after officers apparently tackle a protester on the street and handcuff him. Officers are seen scattering to avoid the SUV as it drives off on Buffalo’s east side. Apparent gunshots are heard.The officers were taken to Erie County Medical Center. Authorities said they were in stable condition.___WASHINGTON — Law enforcement officers used tear gas, pellets and low-flying helicopters to turn back demonstrators in Washington protesting the death of George Floyd.Protesters remained on the streets well past the 7 p.m. curfew that had been imposed by District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser. They had spent hours marching peacefully around the nation’s capital before they were buzzed by the helicopters, which kicked up debris.A standoff developed within site of the Capitol.Protesters smashed windows at the Teamsters building as they dispersed.___LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Riot police firing tear gas scattered several hundred protesters from Louisville’s downtown Jefferson Square, violently capping a day of mostly peaceful protests.Riot police with batons at the ready stood shoulder to shoulder as they advanced down key streets before breaking up the protest after a brief standoff shortly after 10 p.m. Demonstrators shouted at police as authorities on a microphone ordered the crowd to disperse before loud bursts of tear gas crackled and spread acrid, choking smoke over the area.Protesters began running and military-style vehicles could later be seen occupying the key square fronting a courthouse complex. Some protesters gasped and held wet cloths to their faces as they ran from the wafting gas and advancing police. A helicopter clattered overhead amid the bursts of tear gas fire, and streets appeared to largely empty out.___ATLANTA — Protesters were still in the streets of downtown Atlanta on Monday night as curfew neared, and police officers and the National Guard used tear gas, starting shortly before 9 p.m.Protesters largely dispersed after that, though some remained, and officers were making arrests, apparently for curfew violations. A similar scene played out the night before.___LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The fatal shooting of the popular owner of a Louisville barbecue spot has prompted a massive march to the site where the restaurateur was killed early Monday.David McAtee died while police officers and National Guard soldiers were enforcing a curfew amid waves of protests in the Kentucky city. Mayor Greg Fischer revealed earlier Monday that police officers lacked body camera video for the investigation.The large group marched peacefully Monday evening as some honked horns in solidarity and marchers raised clenched fists. Louisville’s police chief was fired by the city’s mayor on Monday after the mayor learned that officers failed to activate body cameras at the chaotic scene were McAttee was shot.___NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 60 National Guard troops put down their riot shields Monday evening at the request of peaceful protesters who had gathered in front of Tennessee’s state Capitol in Nashville to honor George Floyd.Guardsman had initially rushed to grab their shields and form a hard line to block the slowly moving crowd — which was singing and chanting — from advancing up the Capitol steps. As the National Guard began moving, Tennessee State Police grabbed batons and formed a line behind them. However, the crowd remained calm.Democratic lawmakers leaving the Capitol asked to be able to move past the line of guards to join the crowd. As the crowd continued to sing and call for justice for black Americans, slowly the shields began to drop. The state troopers declined to drop their batons but backed farther away from the crowd.Monday’s peaceful vigil was a marked difference from several protests that turned violent in Tennessee over the weekend.___At least 5,600 people have been arrested in cities around the country since demonstrations broke out protesting the death of George Floyd, according to a tally compiled by AP journalists from police department press releases, police agency Twitter activity and media reports.The protests began after the May 25 death of Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis after a white police officer who is now charged with murder, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air.The arrests come as protests in some cities become more violent and as police and governors are urged by President Donald Trump to take a stronger hand in quelling the demonstrations.In Minneapolis, where Floyd died, some 155 arrests have taken place. Some of the biggest cities in the U.S. have made a significant number of arrests, including nearly 800 in New York City and more than 900 in Los Angeles.___WASHINGTON — Protesters took a knee in the middle of a downtown Washington street Monday night, chanting, “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now.”They applauded as they rose to their feet and declared that the streets were theirs.Over the past few nights, demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd in Minnesota had asked black police officers to take a knee to show their support.The march Monday night was peaceful as nightfall approached. There was no apparent effort to get protesters off the streets even though a 7 p.m. curfew had passed.Earlier, law enforcement officers on horseback and foot aggressively pushed the protesters away from Lafayette Park near the White House so President Donald Trump could visit a church that was damaged by fire during the protests Sunday night.___OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday evening slammed President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the United States military to American cities to quell a rise of violent protests.In an emailed statement in response to the president’s comments, the Democrat said Trump “has repeatedly proven he is incapable of governing and shown nothing but false bravado throughout the chaos that has accompanied his time in office.”“He cowers at the feet of authoritarians around the world,” Inslee said. “Now he uses the most supreme power of the presidency in a desperate attempt to hide his timidity and vapidity. I pray no soldier and no civilian is injured or killed by this reckless fit.”The Seattle area has seen several days of violence, including vandalism in the city’s downtown core.___PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says she won’t send National Guard troops to actively help quell violent protests in Portland over the killing of George Floyd because they aren’t needed and that “is exactly what President Trump wants.”At a Monday news conference, Brown said she would send 100 state police from around Oregon to assist the city, and activate 50 Guard troops to work in support and behind the scenes.Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump slammed many governors as “weak” and demanded tougher crackdowns on burning and stealing among some demonstrations. Trump spoke to governors via video teleconference.Brown said having National Guard soldiers on the streets was the wrong way to go.“You don’t defuse violence by putting soldiers on the streets,” the Democrat said. “Trump wants governors to deploy the national guard to intimidate the public.”Portland remains under a curfew order that takes effect at 8 p.m. nightly. Police arrested 11 adults during protests Sunday and early Monday morning after authorities said projectiles — including “large, industrial grade mortar-type fireworks” — were thrown at officers.“Having soldiers on the streets of America is exactly what President Trump wants,” Brown said.___PHILADELPHIA — Police fired non-lethal bullets and tear gas at hundreds of protesters who spilled onto an interstate highway in the heart of Philadelphia on Monday just before a 6 p.m. curfew took effect.The crowds on Interstate 676 also led to the closure of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the main link from downtown Philadelphia to New Jersey suburbs across the Delaware River.Some climbed a steep embankment and scaled a fence as police acted.More than two dozen were arrested as a few hundred other protesters moved to block the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a grand thoroughfare leading from downtown the city’s imposing art museum.