WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump escalated his war on social media companies, signing an executive order Thursday challenging the liability protections that have served as a bedrock for unfettered speech on the internet.

Still, the move appears to be more about politics than substance, as the president aims to rally supporters after he lashed out at Twitter for applying fact checks to two of his tweets.

Trump said the fact checks were “editorial decisions” by Twitter and amounted to political activism. He said it should cost those companies their protection from lawsuits for what is posted on their platforms.

Trump and his allies, who rely heavily on Twitter to verbally flog their foes, have long accused the tech giants in liberal-leaning Silicon Valley of targeting conservatives on social media by fact-checking them or removing their posts.

“We’re fed up with it,” Trump said, claiming the order would uphold freedom of speech.

It directs executive branch agencies to ask independent rule-making agencies including the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to study whether they can place new regulations on the companies — though experts express doubts much can be done without an act of Congress.

Companies like Twitter and Facebook are granted liability protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act because they are treated as “platforms,” rather than “publishers,” which can face lawsuits over content.

A similar executive order was previously considered by the administration but shelved over concerns it couldn’t pass legal muster and that it violated conservative principles on deregulation and free speech.

Two administration officials outlined the draft order on the condition of anonymity because it was still being finalized Thursday morning. But a draft was circulating on Twitter — where else?

“This will be a Big Day for Social Media and FAIRNESS!” Trump tweeted.

Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the Twitter fact checks reflected “bias in action” and Trump aimed to sign the order by the end of the day.

Trump and his campaign reacted after Twitter added a warning phrase to two Trump tweets that called mail-in ballots “fraudulent” and predicted “mail boxes will be robbed.” Under the tweets, there’s now a link reading “Get the facts about mail-in ballots” that guides users to a page with fact checks and news stories about Trump’s unsubstantiated claims.

Trump accused Twitter of interfering in the 2020 presidential election” and declared “as president, I will not allow this to happen.” His campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said Twitter’s “clear political bias” had led the campaign to pull “all our advertising from Twitter months ago.” In fact, Twitter has banned political advertising since last November.

Late Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted, “We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally.”

Dorsey added: “This does not make us an ‘arbiter of truth.’ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.”

On the other hand, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Fox News his platform has “a different policy, I think, than Twitter on this.”

“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” he said.

The president’s critics, meanwhile, scolded the platforms for allowing him to put forth false or misleading information that could confuse voters.

“Donald Trump’s order is plainly illegal,” said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat and advocate for internet freedoms. He is “desperately trying to steal for himself the power of the courts and Congress. … All for the ability to spread unfiltered lies.”

Trump’s proposal has multiple, serious legal problems and is unlikely to survive a challenge, according to Matt Schruers, president of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a Washington-based organization that represents computer and internet companies.

It would also seem to be an assault on the same online freedom that enabled social media platforms to flourish in the first place — and made them such an effective microphone for Trump and other politicians.

“The irony that is lost here is that if these protections were to go away social media services would be far more aggressive in moderating content and terminating accounts,” Schruers said. “Our vibrant public sphere of discussion would devolve into nothing more than preapproved soundbites.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was “outrageous” that while Twitter had put a fact-check tag on Trump’s tweets asserting massive mail-in election fraud, it had not removed his tweets suggesting without evidence that a TV news host had murdered an aide years ago.

“Their business model is to make money at the expense of the truth and the facts that they know,” she said of social media giants, also mentioning Facebook. She said their goal is to avoid taxes “and they don’t want to be regulated, so they pander to the White House.”

The order was also expected to try to hold back federal advertising dollars from Twitter and other social media companies that “violate free speech principles.”

The president and fellow conservatives have been claiming, for years, that Silicon Valley tech companies are biased against them. But there is no evidence for this — and while the executives and many employees of Twitter, Facebook and Google may lean liberal, the companies have stressed they have no business interest in favoring on political party over the other.

The trouble began in 2016, two years after Facebook launched a section called “trending,” using human editors to curate popular news stories. Facebook was accused of bias against conservatives based on the words of an anonymous former contractor who said the company downplayed conservative issues in that feature and promoted liberal causes.

Zuckerberg met with prominent right-wing leaders at the time in an attempt at damage control, and in 2018, Facebook shut down the “trending” section,.

In August 2018, Trump accused Google of biased searches and warned the company to “be careful.” Google pushed back sharply, saying Trump’s claim simply wasn’t so: “We never rank search results to manipulate political sentiment.”

Experts, meanwhile, suggested that Trump’s comments showed a misunderstanding of how search engines work.

Last year, Trump again blasted social media companies after Facebook banned a slew of extremist figures including conspiracy peddler Alex Jones from its site and from Instagram.

Meanwhile, the companies are gearing up to combat misinformation around the November elections. Twitter and Facebook have begun rolling out dozens of new rules to avoid a repeat of the false postings about the candidates and the voting process that marred the 2016 election.

The coronavirus pandemic has further escalated the platforms’ response, leading them to take actions against politicians — a move they’ve long resisted — who make misleading claims about the virus.

Last month, Twitter began a “Get the Facts” label to direct social media users to news articles from trusted outlets next to tweets containing misleading or disputed information about the virus. Company leaders said the new labels could be applied to anyone on Twitter and they were considering using them on other topics.

The Democratic National Committee said Trump’s vote-by-mail tweets should have been removed, not just flagged, for violating the company’s rules on posting false voting information.

“After taking too long to act, Twitter once again came up short out of fear of upsetting Trump,” the party said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590699028016.png" alt="President Trump in the Oval Office before signing an executive order aimed at curbing protections for social media giants- Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump in the Oval Office before signing an executive order aimed at curbing protections for social media giants- Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump escalated his war on social media companies, signing an executive order Thursday challenging the liability protections that have served as a bedrock for unfettered speech on the internet.Still, the move appears to be more about politics than substance, as the president aims to rally supporters after he lashed out at Twitter for applying fact checks to two of his tweets.Trump said the fact checks were “editorial decisions” by Twitter and amounted to political activism. He said it should cost those companies their protection from lawsuits for what is posted on their platforms.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> just took executive action to fight online censorship by tech corporations, including social media platforms. <a href="https://t.co/W4r7vLw958">pic.twitter.com/W4r7vLw958</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1266104188112601089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump and his allies, who rely heavily on Twitter to verbally flog their foes, have long accused the tech giants in liberal-leaning Silicon Valley of targeting conservatives on social media by fact-checking them or removing their posts.“We’re fed up with it,” Trump said, claiming the order would uphold freedom of speech.It directs executive branch agencies to ask independent rule-making agencies including the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to study whether they can place new regulations on the companies — though experts express doubts much can be done without an act of Congress.Companies like Twitter and Facebook are granted liability protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act because they are treated as “platforms,” rather than “publishers,” which can face lawsuits over content.A similar executive order was previously considered by the administration but shelved over concerns it couldn’t pass legal muster and that it violated conservative principles on deregulation and free speech.Two administration officials outlined the draft order on the condition of anonymity because it was still being finalized Thursday morning. But a draft was circulating on Twitter — where else?“This will be a Big Day for Social Media and FAIRNESS!” Trump tweeted.Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the Twitter fact checks reflected “bias in action” and Trump aimed to sign the order by the end of the day.Trump and his campaign reacted after Twitter added a warning phrase to two Trump tweets that called mail-in ballots “fraudulent” and predicted “mail boxes will be robbed.” Under the tweets, there’s now a link reading “Get the facts about mail-in ballots” that guides users to a page with fact checks and news stories about Trump’s unsubstantiated claims.Trump accused Twitter of interfering in the 2020 presidential election” and declared “as president, I will not allow this to happen.” His campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said Twitter’s “clear political bias” had led the campaign to pull “all our advertising from Twitter months ago.” In fact, Twitter has banned political advertising since last November.Late Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted, “We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally.”Dorsey added: “This does not make us an ‘arbiter of truth.’ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.”On the other hand, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Fox News his platform has “a different policy, I think, than Twitter on this.”“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” he said.The president’s critics, meanwhile, scolded the platforms for allowing him to put forth false or misleading information that could confuse voters.“Donald Trump’s order is plainly illegal,” said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat and advocate for internet freedoms. He is “desperately trying to steal for himself the power of the courts and Congress. … All for the ability to spread unfiltered lies.”Trump’s proposal has multiple, serious legal problems and is unlikely to survive a challenge, according to Matt Schruers, president of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a Washington-based organization that represents computer and internet companies.It would also seem to be an assault on the same online freedom that enabled social media platforms to flourish in the first place — and made them such an effective microphone for Trump and other politicians.“The irony that is lost here is that if these protections were to go away social media services would be far more aggressive in moderating content and terminating accounts,” Schruers said. “Our vibrant public sphere of discussion would devolve into nothing more than preapproved soundbites.”House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was “outrageous” that while Twitter had put a fact-check tag on Trump’s tweets asserting massive mail-in election fraud, it had not removed his tweets suggesting without evidence that a TV news host had murdered an aide years ago.“Their business model is to make money at the expense of the truth and the facts that they know,” she said of social media giants, also mentioning Facebook. She said their goal is to avoid taxes “and they don’t want to be regulated, so they pander to the White House.”The order was also expected to try to hold back federal advertising dollars from Twitter and other social media companies that “violate free speech principles.”The president and fellow conservatives have been claiming, for years, that Silicon Valley tech companies are biased against them. But there is no evidence for this — and while the executives and many employees of Twitter, Facebook and Google may lean liberal, the companies have stressed they have no business interest in favoring on political party over the other.The trouble began in 2016, two years after Facebook launched a section called “trending,” using human editors to curate popular news stories. Facebook was accused of bias against conservatives based on the words of an anonymous former contractor who said the company downplayed conservative issues in that feature and promoted liberal causes.Zuckerberg met with prominent right-wing leaders at the time in an attempt at damage control, and in 2018, Facebook shut down the “trending” section,.In August 2018, Trump accused Google of biased searches and warned the company to “be careful.” Google pushed back sharply, saying Trump’s claim simply wasn’t so: “We never rank search results to manipulate political sentiment.”Experts, meanwhile, suggested that Trump’s comments showed a misunderstanding of how search engines work.Last year, Trump again blasted social media companies after Facebook banned a slew of extremist figures including conspiracy peddler Alex Jones from its site and from Instagram.Meanwhile, the companies are gearing up to combat misinformation around the November elections. Twitter and Facebook have begun rolling out dozens of new rules to avoid a repeat of the false postings about the candidates and the voting process that marred the 2016 election.The coronavirus pandemic has further escalated the platforms’ response, leading them to take actions against politicians — a move they’ve long resisted — who make misleading claims about the virus.Last month, Twitter began a “Get the Facts” label to direct social media users to news articles from trusted outlets next to tweets containing misleading or disputed information about the virus. Company leaders said the new labels could be applied to anyone on Twitter and they were considering using them on other topics.The Democratic National Committee said Trump’s vote-by-mail tweets should have been removed, not just flagged, for violating the company’s rules on posting false voting information.“After taking too long to act, Twitter once again came up short out of fear of upsetting Trump,” the party said in a statement.

Trump signs order, escalates war on Twitter, social media protections

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Construction has resumed at the national biosecurity lab in Manhattan after a brief shutdown because a worker tested positive for COVID-19.

Officials stopped the work Tuesday to clean potentially contaminated areas where the worker might have been. Work resumed on Wednesday. Project officials did not provide the ill worker’s gender, age or county of residence.

Workers at the site are not being routinely tested for COVID-19 but they are required to wear face coverings, follow social distancing and answer health screening questions when they arrive at work.&nbsp;

Manhattan, Kan. (AP) —Construction on a national biosecurity lab in Manhattan has been halted after a worker tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced Wednesday.

Work was stopped Tuesday on the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility when the positive test was confirmed, said program manager Timothy Barr.

The employee is with McCarthy Mortenson Joint Venture, the construction contractor for NBAF.

The contractor will determine what areas, tools and materials might need additional cleaning and disinfection while construction is stalled.

Officials did not estimate how long the site might be closed but did not expect an extended shutdown.

The worker is not from Riley County but no information about the person was released.

Disruptions caused by the coronavirus to the supply and labor chain have already delayed the project. Officials said in April that the lab’s original commission date of May 2021 has been delayed by at least 2.5 months.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Construction has resumed at the national biosecurity lab in Manhattan after a brief shutdown because a worker tested positive for COVID-19.Officials stopped the work Tuesday to clean potentially contaminated areas where the worker might have been. Work resumed on Wednesday. Project officials did not provide the ill worker’s gender, age or county of residence.Workers at the site are not being routinely tested for COVID-19 but they are required to wear face coverings, follow social distancing and answer health screening questions when they arrive at work.&nbsp;---------Manhattan, Kan. (AP) —Construction on a national biosecurity lab in Manhattan has been halted after a worker tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced Wednesday.Work was stopped Tuesday on the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility when the positive test was confirmed, said program manager Timothy Barr.The employee is with McCarthy Mortenson Joint Venture, the construction contractor for NBAF.The contractor will determine what areas, tools and materials might need additional cleaning and disinfection while construction is stalled.Officials did not estimate how long the site might be closed but did not expect an extended shutdown.The worker is not from Riley County but no information about the person was released.Disruptions caused by the coronavirus to the supply and labor chain have already delayed the project. Officials said in April that the lab’s original commission date of May 2021 has been delayed by at least 2.5 months.

Update: Construction resumes at biosecurity lab in Manhattan

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;The University of&nbsp;Missouri-Kansas&nbsp;City has announced it will begin bringing back faculty, staff and students to its two campuses in Kansas City starting next week following its shutdown during the coronavirus outbreak.

The university said Thursday in a news release that the campuses will open in three phases. The first phase will begin Monday, when a small group of employees engaged in critical operations will be brought back through July 5. The second phase will bring back senior administration and departmental leaders from July 6 through Aug. 2. The final phase would bring back all remaining faculty, staff and students from Aug. 3-24, except for those with individual medical exemptions.

While the university plans to return to in-person classes in August, it will monitor the public health situation closely and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local guidelines, the release said.

“The time has come for us to prepare in earnest to return to campus,” Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “We will do so carefully and flexibly, because the health and safety of our community is our highest priority.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;The University of&nbsp;Missouri-Kansas&nbsp;City has announced it will begin bringing back faculty, staff and students to its two campuses in Kansas City starting next week following its shutdown during the coronavirus outbreak.The university said Thursday in a news release that the campuses will open in three phases. The first phase will begin Monday, when a small group of employees engaged in critical operations will be brought back through July 5. The second phase will bring back senior administration and departmental leaders from July 6 through Aug. 2. The final phase would bring back all remaining faculty, staff and students from Aug. 3-24, except for those with individual medical exemptions.While the university plans to return to in-person classes in August, it will monitor the public health situation closely and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local guidelines, the release said.“The time has come for us to prepare in earnest to return to campus,” Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “We will do so carefully and flexibly, because the health and safety of our community is our highest priority.

UMKC to repopulate 2 Kansas City campuses next week

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WDAF-TV) — Police say a 9-year-old Kansas boy was trapped for more than an hour under a vehicle that crashed through his bedroom wall this week. Television station <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/im-under-here-kck-boy-trapped-under-jeep-in-his-bedroom-after-drunk-driver-plows-into-home/">WDAF reports</a> that the crash happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas.

The boy, Jamison Langley, tells the station he was awake and watching online videos when he suddenly found himself under the crashed Jeep, unable to move and having trouble breathing. After about an hour, rescue crews were able to free Jamison, who suffered only cuts and bruises. 

But almost everything in his room — and even his bike that had been parked outside the house — was destroyed or damaged in the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590688923122.png" alt="Tuesday morning crash scene photo courtesy Fox4 Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday morning crash scene photo courtesy Fox4 Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WDAF-TV) — Police say a 9-year-old Kansas boy was trapped for more than an hour under a vehicle that crashed through his bedroom wall this week. Television station <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/im-under-here-kck-boy-trapped-under-jeep-in-his-bedroom-after-drunk-driver-plows-into-home/">WDAF reports</a> that the crash happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas. The boy, Jamison Langley, tells the station he was awake and watching online videos when he suddenly found himself under the crashed Jeep, unable to move and having trouble breathing. After about an hour, rescue crews were able to free Jamison, who suffered only cuts and bruises. But almost everything in his room — and even his bike that had been parked outside the house — was destroyed or damaged in the crash.

Kan. boy trapped under jeep that crashed into his bedroom

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


HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Gas prices this spring have been the lowest we've seen in years 
at times, but as we get closer to summer, prices are going back up.

"Nationally,
 we're at an average of $1.96," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. 
"Here in Kansas, we're at $1.68, which is up four cents in the past week
 and about 19 or 20 cents in the past month."

The increased demand
 of returning to work along with the beginning of the traditional summer
 travel season have boosted prices, but they're still lower than last 
year.

"We still don't see that this summer's average is going to 
be as expensive as last year's season," Steward said. "If we look back a
 year ago from now, in Kansas, we were at $2.59 a gallon, about 90 cents
 more than we are now. We don't see it getting back to that level.

"There
 was a push back in the deadline for removing the winter blend gas from 
the system, just because of COVID-19 and the glut of fuel in the 
system," Steward said. "There was an allowance to push that to later 
this year."

That allowance is due to expire at the end of the 
month and the summer blend gas that replaces it is more expensive to 
make, so it is likely prices will continue to climb in the short term.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577112566279.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Gas prices this spring have been the lowest we've seen in years 
at times, but as we get closer to summer, prices are going back up."Nationally,
 we're at an average of $1.96," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. 
"Here in Kansas, we're at $1.68, which is up four cents in the past week
 and about 19 or 20 cents in the past month."The increased demand
 of returning to work along with the beginning of the traditional summer
 travel season have boosted prices, but they're still lower than last 
year."We still don't see that this summer's average is going to 
be as expensive as last year's season," Steward said. "If we look back a
 year ago from now, in Kansas, we were at $2.59 a gallon, about 90 cents
 more than we are now. We don't see it getting back to that level."There
 was a push back in the deadline for removing the winter blend gas from 
the system, just because of COVID-19 and the glut of fuel in the 
system," Steward said. "There was an allowance to push that to later 
this year."That allowance is due to expire at the end of the 
month and the summer blend gas that replaces it is more expensive to 
make, so it is likely prices will continue to climb in the short term.

Prices going up at the pump, rise likely to continue

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man on drug charges after a traffic stop in Salina.

Just after 11p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;a police officer observed a Hyundai Sonata turn south onto North Ninth Street from West Diamond Drive in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester

The driver made an improper turn and failed to signal and the officer made a traffic stop at the Pilot Travel Center, 1944 North Ninth Street.

The officer detected the odor of raw marijuana, asked to search the car, and was given permission to do so by the driver identified Kevin Odom, 60, of Deland, Florida.

 During the search, the officer located&nbsp; six medicine bottles containing a total of 21 grams of marijuana and 24 vaccuum-sealed packages of marijuana weighing a total of just under 14 pounds, according to Forrester.

Police arrested Odom on requested charges that include Possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; greater than 450 grams and less than 30 kilograms No drug tax stamp Possession of drug paraphernalia, Failure to signal and Improper turn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590673336442.jpeg" alt="Kevin Odom-Photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Kevin Odom-Photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man on drug charges after a traffic stop in Salina.Just after 11p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;a police officer observed a Hyundai Sonata turn south onto North Ninth Street from West Diamond Drive in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul ForresterThe driver made an improper turn and failed to signal and the officer made a traffic stop at the Pilot Travel Center, 1944 North Ninth Street.The officer detected the odor of raw marijuana, asked to search the car, and was given permission to do so by the driver identified Kevin Odom, 60, of Deland, Florida. During the search, the officer located&nbsp; six medicine bottles containing a total of 21 grams of marijuana and 24 vaccuum-sealed packages of marijuana weighing a total of just under 14 pounds, according to Forrester.Police arrested Odom on requested charges that include Possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; greater than 450 grams and less than 30 kilograms No drug tax stamp Possession of drug paraphernalia, Failure to signal and Improper turn.

Police: Florida man driving with 14-pounds of pot in Kansas

KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and continue to search for the suspect who may have forced a woman to drive him from the crime scene.

Just before 6:30p.m.Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 4700 Block of State Avenue, according to police spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.

Upon arrival, officers found a black male in his early 40s in the parking lot of the parking lot of the Royal Inn. EMS transported him to a local hospital in critical condition.

Investigators believe the person of interest identified as&nbsp; 39-year-old Matthew R. Walker 'Love"&nbsp;left the area in a&nbsp; 1993 teal and silver, Chevy Suburban with Kansas Tag 690KRE. The vehicle has plastic covering the rear passenger and side window.

Police believe Walker forced the driver of the suburban at gunpoint to drive him from the crime scene, according to Chartrand. The driver, victim is identified as 34-year-old Candi Hunter.

Walker described as 6-foot-1, 260 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590678585970.png" alt="Walker-photo KCK police" />
 <figcaption>Walker-photo KCK police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and continue to search for the suspect who may have forced a woman to drive him from the crime scene.Just before 6:30p.m.Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 4700 Block of State Avenue, according to police spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.Upon arrival, officers found a black male in his early 40s in the parking lot of the parking lot of the Royal Inn. EMS transported him to a local hospital in critical condition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590678748041.png" alt="Actual vehicle -photo KCK police" />
 <figcaption>Actual vehicle -photo KCK police</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators believe the person of interest identified as&nbsp; 39-year-old Matthew R. Walker 'Love"&nbsp;left the area in a&nbsp; 1993 teal and silver, Chevy Suburban with Kansas Tag 690KRE. The vehicle has plastic covering the rear passenger and side window.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590678803686.png" alt="Candi Hunter photo KCK police" />
 <figcaption>Candi Hunter photo KCK police</figcaption>
 </figure>Police believe Walker forced the driver of the suburban at gunpoint to drive him from the crime scene, according to Chartrand. The driver, victim is identified as 34-year-old Candi Hunter.Walker described as 6-foot-1, 260 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Police: Kan. woman forced to drive gunman from crime scene

The 36 deaths at Riverbend account for half the COVID-19-related deaths in Wyandotte Co.

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-05-27/at-least-8-lawsuits-are-now-pending-against-kansas-city-kansas-rehab-facility-over-covid-19-deaths">Kansas News Service</a>

At least eight lawsuits have now been filed against Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation, the Kansas City, Kansas, nursing home <a href="https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/" target="_blank">where 132 patients and staff have tested positive for COVID-19</a> and 36 have died.

Attorneys
 representing the nursing home on Tuesday transferred all eight cases to
 federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. They had originally been filed in
 Wyandotte County District Court.

Defendants are allowed to move 
civil actions from state to federal court if there’s a basis for federal
 jurisdiction. In all eight cases, Riverbend’s attorneys invoked the 
federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a law that 
authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services to issue a declaration in response to a public health 
emergency.

Such a declaration provides immunity from liability to 
health care providers who prescribe and administer medications and other
 measures amid public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rachel
 Stahle, an attorney who represents families in four of the eight cases,
 said she will seek to have the cases sent back to state court.

“This happened in Wyandotte County and should be heard in Wyandotte County by Wyandotte County jurors,” she said.

Riverbend’s attorneys did not return calls seeking comment.

The
 eight wrongful-death lawsuits were filed on behalf of patients who died
 at Riverbend. In general, they allege that the nursing home was 
negligent in how it handled the spread of the coronavirus, that it 
lacked adequate staff and that it failed to notify the families of the 
outbreak.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-23/first-lawsuit-filed-against-kansas-city-kansas-rehab-facility-over-covid-19-death" target="_blank">The first lawsuit was filed on April 28</a>
 by the wife and daughter of Okey Long, an 87-year-old retired barber 
who died on April 17. The other lawsuits were filed in the following 
days by family members of other residents who were said to have died of 
COVID-19.

The 36 deaths at Riverbend account for half the COVID-19-related deaths in Wyandotte County.

On April 26, <a href="https://riverbendkansascity.com/covid-19-update/" target="_blank">Riverbend posted a statement on its website</a> offering its condolences to the families and friends of residents who died of COVID-19.

“Given
 the novel nature of the virus and the ability of asymptomatic 
individuals to unknowingly infect others, we believe our team took 
reasonable actions with the resources and information available to us at
 the time,” the statement reads.

“Now, to second guess those on 
the front lines battling a mysterious virus who were doing what they 
could to save lives, just doesn’t feel like a path to justice,” the 
statement says. "If that is the route we choose to take, then skilled 
nursing facilities all across the country will be facing a new crisis 
that threatens the industry’s ability to minister to those in need of 
the care and services it provides.”

As of May 21, at least 7,732 
long-term care facilities in 43 states were reporting 174,381 infections
 and 35,118 deaths, or 42% of all U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19, <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/state-data-and-policy-actions-to-address-coronavirus/" target="_blank">according to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.

Riverbend
 is indirectly owned by The Ensign Group, a publicly traded company 
based in Mission Viejo, California. The company owns about 225 assisted 
living, skilled nursing and rehabilitative care facilities in 13 states.
 It acquired the Kansas City, Kansas, facility in 2016.

In 2019, The Ensign Group earned more than $110 million on revenues of more than $2 billion. <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537620000076/ensg-20200331.htm" target="_blank">In its most recent quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission</a>,
 the company said it expected to receive nearly $40 million in federal 
funds under the CARES Act, the $2.2 trillion relief package passed by 
Congress to help prop up health care providers and other businesses amid
 the pandemic.

Dan Margolies is senior reporter and editor at KCUR. He can be reached by email at dan@kcur.org or on Twitter @DanMargolies.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590675954803.png" alt="Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation is indirectly owned by The Ensign Group, a California-based operator of long-term care facilities in 13 states. Julie Denesha / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation is indirectly owned by The Ensign Group, a California-based operator of long-term care facilities in 13 states. Julie Denesha / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The 36 deaths at Riverbend account for half the COVID-19-related deaths in Wyandotte Co.</h2>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-05-27/at-least-8-lawsuits-are-now-pending-against-kansas-city-kansas-rehab-facility-over-covid-19-deaths">Kansas News Service</a>At least eight lawsuits have now been filed against Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation, the Kansas City, Kansas, nursing home <a href="https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/" target="_blank">where 132 patients and staff have tested positive for COVID-19</a> and 36 have died.Attorneys
 representing the nursing home on Tuesday transferred all eight cases to
 federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. They had originally been filed in
 Wyandotte County District Court.Defendants are allowed to move 
civil actions from state to federal court if there’s a basis for federal
 jurisdiction. In all eight cases, Riverbend’s attorneys invoked the 
federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a law that 
authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services to issue a declaration in response to a public health 
emergency.Such a declaration provides immunity from liability to 
health care providers who prescribe and administer medications and other
 measures amid public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.Rachel
 Stahle, an attorney who represents families in four of the eight cases,
 said she will seek to have the cases sent back to state court.“This happened in Wyandotte County and should be heard in Wyandotte County by Wyandotte County jurors,” she said.Riverbend’s attorneys did not return calls seeking comment.The
 eight wrongful-death lawsuits were filed on behalf of patients who died
 at Riverbend. In general, they allege that the nursing home was 
negligent in how it handled the spread of the coronavirus, that it 
lacked adequate staff and that it failed to notify the families of the 
outbreak.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-23/first-lawsuit-filed-against-kansas-city-kansas-rehab-facility-over-covid-19-death" target="_blank">The first lawsuit was filed on April 28</a>
 by the wife and daughter of Okey Long, an 87-year-old retired barber 
who died on April 17. The other lawsuits were filed in the following 
days by family members of other residents who were said to have died of 
COVID-19.The 36 deaths at Riverbend account for half the COVID-19-related deaths in Wyandotte County.On April 26, <a href="https://riverbendkansascity.com/covid-19-update/" target="_blank">Riverbend posted a statement on its website</a> offering its condolences to the families and friends of residents who died of COVID-19.“Given
 the novel nature of the virus and the ability of asymptomatic 
individuals to unknowingly infect others, we believe our team took 
reasonable actions with the resources and information available to us at
 the time,” the statement reads.“Now, to second guess those on 
the front lines battling a mysterious virus who were doing what they 
could to save lives, just doesn’t feel like a path to justice,” the 
statement says. "If that is the route we choose to take, then skilled 
nursing facilities all across the country will be facing a new crisis 
that threatens the industry’s ability to minister to those in need of 
the care and services it provides.”As of May 21, at least 7,732 
long-term care facilities in 43 states were reporting 174,381 infections
 and 35,118 deaths, or 42% of all U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19, <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/state-data-and-policy-actions-to-address-coronavirus/" target="_blank">according to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.Riverbend
 is indirectly owned by The Ensign Group, a publicly traded company 
based in Mission Viejo, California. The company owns about 225 assisted 
living, skilled nursing and rehabilitative care facilities in 13 states.
 It acquired the Kansas City, Kansas, facility in 2016.In 2019, The Ensign Group earned more than $110 million on revenues of more than $2 billion. <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537620000076/ensg-20200331.htm" target="_blank">In its most recent quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission</a>,
 the company said it expected to receive nearly $40 million in federal 
funds under the CARES Act, the $2.2 trillion relief package passed by 
Congress to help prop up health care providers and other businesses amid
 the pandemic.Dan Margolies is senior reporter and editor at KCUR. He can be reached by email at dan@kcur.org or on Twitter @DanMargolies.&nbsp;

Lawsuits pile up against rehab facility linked to virus deaths

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/expert-tip-sheet-for-pushing-back-against-your-medical-bills">Kansas News Service</a>

Got a medical bill that seems too high? First step: Ask if there’s been a mistake. Next step, fight back.

The tips below come from a dozen experts in law, medical billing and patient advocacy.

They
 agreed on many points, including this frustrating one: None of these 
strategies is guaranteed to make a big — even blatantly excessive — 
medical bill go away. They represent a scattershot approach for people 
with urgent bills now — who can’t sit around and <a href="https://khn.org/news/analysis-who-profits-from-steep-medical-bills-the-people-tasked-with-fixing-them/" target="_blank">wait for Congress</a> to pass reforms to medical billing.

‘Don’t just let the bills pile up and don’t just ignore them.’

<a href="https://business.lehigh.edu/directory/george-nation-iii" target="_blank">George Nation</a>,
 a professor of law and business at Lehigh University, says your biller 
can argue later that you never contested the charge and essentially 
admitted you owe it.

“Put in writing (to them) that you’re 
contesting the bill, that you’re saying it’s unreasonable,” he says. 
“That it’s too high and that you would like to discuss how they came 
about this amount and what a reasonable amount would be.”

You don’t necessarily owe what the biller says you owe.

You
 got an appendectomy. The folks at the hospital deserve to get paid. But
 how much? They asked you in advance to sign a form that might look <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sites/kcur/files/AirMedFlightAuthorization_Redacted.pdf" target="_blank">something like this</a>, effectively promising to pay the eventual bill. But they didn’t give you a price.

Duke University professor of law and business administration <a href="https://law.duke.edu/fac/richman/" target="_blank">Barak Richman</a> says that’s an <a href="https://khn.org/news/one-defensive-strategy-against-surprise-medical-bills-set-your-own-terms/" target="_blank">incomplete contract</a>. So you can push back if the bill is outrageous.

“They are not allowed to extract an extraordinary price based on a contract that leaves no price specified,” he says.

Investigate the market value of your care.

Under contract law, the justifiable price in this situation is market value, professors like Richman and Nation say.

So
 you want to know the market value for a treatment or procedure — what 
hospitals normally get paid for, say, an MRI in your area. What price do
 they agree to with insurers when they strike in-network deals?

Some websites help you explore the going rate near you. Check out the <a href="https://healthcostinstitute.org/data#g-mainbottom" target="_blank">Health Care Cost Institute</a> and its <a href="https://www.guroo.com/" target="_blank">Guroo</a> site. Try <a href="https://www.healthcarebluebook.com/ui/consumerfront" target="_blank">Healthcare Bluebook</a> and <a href="https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/" target="_blank">FAIR Health</a>. Check what <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/" target="_blank">Medicare</a> would pay, too.

Then call your biller and negotiate.

“People should come armed with various data points,” says <a href="https://khn.org/news/author/elisabeth-rosenthal/" target="_blank">Elisabeth Rosenthal</a>, a physician-turned-journalist and editor-in-chief of Kaiser Health News.

“I
 tend to like Medicare rates because that’s a rate that has been 
calculated as being fair and including a profit for the provider,” she 
says. “Say, ‘I got a bill for $30,000. I see Medicare would pay $6,000. I
 will give you that. Or I will set up a payment plan for that.’”

Many
 providers say Medicare underpays, she adds. So you might need to up 
your offer to 150% or 200% of Medicare. It may still be a lot less than 
your bill.

Your hospital 
(especially if it’s a not-for-profit) may have financial aid options 
that apply to you, or discounts for paying cash.

But you may need to ask and ask again. As Kaiser Health News found, staff <a href="https://khn.org/news/patients-eligible-for-charity-care-instead-get-big-bills/" target="_blank">don’t always bring it up</a>.

Did you ever get an itemized list of charges?

Ask
 for it. Hospitals and doctors deal with so many patients that people 
sometimes get charged for services they didn’t receive, or a wrong 
billing code slips in. (Check out Rosenthal’s own <a href="https://khn.org/news/analysis-in-medical-billing-fraudulent-charges-weirdly-pass-as-legal/" target="_blank">deep dive</a> into her family’s medical bills.)

Don’t settle for a vague list of categories with subtotals next to each. Experts say you’ll want the itemized version
 to scour for errors or questionable prices. If the biller won’t give 
you that, one advocate recommended telling your state attorney general.

...to your insurer, your doctor, your congressman, your senators. Don’t forget you have a <a href="https://insurance.kansas.gov/complaint/" target="_blank">state insurance commissioner</a>. Federal laws limit their ability to help with some situations, but it’s worth asking.

File
 an appeal to your insurer. That could clear things up, for example, by 
getting your doctor to help show your care was necessary. Or, try your 
employer.

“Employers have a lot of sway with their health plans,” says <a href="https://altarum.org/experts/lynn-quincy" target="_blank">Lynn Quincy</a>,
 director of the Healthcare Value Hub at Altarum. “A lot of times the 
employer can weigh in on behalf of the employee and say, ‘We want this 
to be covered.’”

For 
smaller amounts, if you suspect you’re being overbilled, consider 
challenging it in small claims court. Rules vary by state. <a href="https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/node/103/small-claims-court-basic-information" target="_blank">Here’s a few basics</a> for Kansans.

Listen to this episode of <a href="https://khn.org/news/an-arm-and-a-leg-can-they-freaking-do-that/" target="_blank">An Arm and a Leg Show</a> to hear how patients take their claims to court. The whole thing is a great listen, but if you’re in a hurry, fast-forward to 13:30.

If
 an outrageous bill still won’t go away, you may need a patient advocate
 or a lawyer. That can cost money, so small bills may not be worth it.

Kansans can call the Kansas Bar Association for <a href="https://www.ksbar.org/page/LRS_Public" target="_blank">lawyer referral</a> or for $2-a-minute <a href="https://www.ksbar.org/page/LRS_AskALawyer" target="_blank">legal advice</a>.

Patient advocates work independently or with <a href="https://www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/faq/" target="_blank">nonprofit groups</a>. Give <a href="https://advoconnection.com/" target="_blank">this directory</a> a try or head over to Google.

This story is part of our series, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/a-kansans-50k-medical-bill-shows-that-you-dont-always-owe-what-youre-charged" target="_blank">Bills of Health</a>. Got a medical bill you want to share with a reporter? Email celia@kcur.org.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590586105189.png" alt="Scott Canon / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Scott Canon / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/expert-tip-sheet-for-pushing-back-against-your-medical-bills">Kansas News Service</a>Got a medical bill that seems too high? First step: Ask if there’s been a mistake. Next step, fight back.The tips below come from a dozen experts in law, medical billing and patient advocacy.They
 agreed on many points, including this frustrating one: None of these 
strategies is guaranteed to make a big — even blatantly excessive — 
medical bill go away. They represent a scattershot approach for people 
with urgent bills now — who can’t sit around and <a href="https://khn.org/news/analysis-who-profits-from-steep-medical-bills-the-people-tasked-with-fixing-them/" target="_blank">wait for Congress</a> to pass reforms to medical billing.‘Don’t just let the bills pile up and don’t just ignore them.’<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590585629957.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://business.lehigh.edu/directory/george-nation-iii" target="_blank">George Nation</a>,
 a professor of law and business at Lehigh University, says your biller 
can argue later that you never contested the charge and essentially 
admitted you owe it.“Put in writing (to them) that you’re 
contesting the bill, that you’re saying it’s unreasonable,” he says. 
“That it’s too high and that you would like to discuss how they came 
about this amount and what a reasonable amount would be.”You don’t necessarily owe what the biller says you owe.You
 got an appendectomy. The folks at the hospital deserve to get paid. But
 how much? They asked you in advance to sign a form that might look <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sites/kcur/files/AirMedFlightAuthorization_Redacted.pdf" target="_blank">something like this</a>, effectively promising to pay the eventual bill. But they didn’t give you a price.Duke University professor of law and business administration <a href="https://law.duke.edu/fac/richman/" target="_blank">Barak Richman</a> says that’s an <a href="https://khn.org/news/one-defensive-strategy-against-surprise-medical-bills-set-your-own-terms/" target="_blank">incomplete contract</a>. So you can push back if the bill is outrageous.“They are not allowed to extract an extraordinary price based on a contract that leaves no price specified,” he says.Investigate the market value of your care.Under contract law, the justifiable price in this situation is market value, professors like Richman and Nation say.So
 you want to know the market value for a treatment or procedure — what 
hospitals normally get paid for, say, an MRI in your area. What price do
 they agree to with insurers when they strike in-network deals?Some websites help you explore the going rate near you. Check out the <a href="https://healthcostinstitute.org/data#g-mainbottom" target="_blank">Health Care Cost Institute</a> and its <a href="https://www.guroo.com/" target="_blank">Guroo</a> site. Try <a href="https://www.healthcarebluebook.com/ui/consumerfront" target="_blank">Healthcare Bluebook</a> and <a href="https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/" target="_blank">FAIR Health</a>. Check what <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/" target="_blank">Medicare</a> would pay, too.Then call your biller and negotiate.“People should come armed with various data points,” says <a href="https://khn.org/news/author/elisabeth-rosenthal/" target="_blank">Elisabeth Rosenthal</a>, a physician-turned-journalist and editor-in-chief of Kaiser Health News.“I
 tend to like Medicare rates because that’s a rate that has been 
calculated as being fair and including a profit for the provider,” she 
says. “Say, ‘I got a bill for $30,000. I see Medicare would pay $6,000. I
 will give you that. Or I will set up a payment plan for that.’”Many
 providers say Medicare underpays, she adds. So you might need to up 
your offer to 150% or 200% of Medicare. It may still be a lot less than 
your bill.Discounts and charity.Your hospital 
(especially if it’s a not-for-profit) may have financial aid options 
that apply to you, or discounts for paying cash.But you may need to ask and ask again. As Kaiser Health News found, staff <a href="https://khn.org/news/patients-eligible-for-charity-care-instead-get-big-bills/" target="_blank">don’t always bring it up</a>.Did you ever get an itemized list of charges?Ask
 for it. Hospitals and doctors deal with so many patients that people 
sometimes get charged for services they didn’t receive, or a wrong 
billing code slips in. (Check out Rosenthal’s own <a href="https://khn.org/news/analysis-in-medical-billing-fraudulent-charges-weirdly-pass-as-legal/" target="_blank">deep dive</a> into her family’s medical bills.)Don’t settle for a vague list of categories with subtotals next to each. Experts say you’ll want the itemized version
 to scour for errors or questionable prices. If the biller won’t give 
you that, one advocate recommended telling your state attorney general.Complain, complain, complain......to your insurer, your doctor, your congressman, your senators. Don’t forget you have a <a href="https://insurance.kansas.gov/complaint/" target="_blank">state insurance commissioner</a>. Federal laws limit their ability to help with some situations, but it’s worth asking.File
 an appeal to your insurer. That could clear things up, for example, by 
getting your doctor to help show your care was necessary. Or, try your 
employer.“Employers have a lot of sway with their health plans,” says <a href="https://altarum.org/experts/lynn-quincy" target="_blank">Lynn Quincy</a>,
 director of the Healthcare Value Hub at Altarum. “A lot of times the 
employer can weigh in on behalf of the employee and say, ‘We want this 
to be covered.’”How about small claims court?For 
smaller amounts, if you suspect you’re being overbilled, consider 
challenging it in small claims court. Rules vary by state. <a href="https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/node/103/small-claims-court-basic-information" target="_blank">Here’s a few basics</a> for Kansans.Listen to this episode of <a href="https://khn.org/news/an-arm-and-a-leg-can-they-freaking-do-that/" target="_blank">An Arm and a Leg Show</a> to hear how patients take their claims to court. The whole thing is a great listen, but if you’re in a hurry, fast-forward to 13:30.Get someone on your sideIf
 an outrageous bill still won’t go away, you may need a patient advocate
 or a lawyer. That can cost money, so small bills may not be worth it.Kansans can call the Kansas Bar Association for <a href="https://www.ksbar.org/page/LRS_Public" target="_blank">lawyer referral</a> or for $2-a-minute <a href="https://www.ksbar.org/page/LRS_AskALawyer" target="_blank">legal advice</a>.Patient advocates work independently or with <a href="https://www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/faq/" target="_blank">nonprofit groups</a>. Give <a href="https://advoconnection.com/" target="_blank">this directory</a> a try or head over to Google.This story is part of our series, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/a-kansans-50k-medical-bill-shows-that-you-dont-always-owe-what-youre-charged" target="_blank">Bills of Health</a>. Got a medical bill you want to share with a reporter? Email celia@kcur.org.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

Expert tip sheet for pushing back against your medical bills

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Public pools will look very different this summer if they open at all with the coronavirus threat still looming, as staffers will be tasked with maintaining social distancing and spotting COVID-19 symptoms in addition to their primary duties.

Pools that do plan to open will take precautions, including screening temperatures on entry, requiring lifeguards to wear masks and significantly reducing the number of swimmers allowed in the water and locker rooms, said Dr. Justin Sempsrott, the medical director for the lifeguard certification program Starguard Elite and executive director of Lifeguards Without Borders, which works to reduce drownings worldwide.

“It’s definitely not going to be business as usual this season,” he said.

Amid the uncertainty, sales of inflatable pools that cost less than $150 have increased by 165% over the seven-week period that began March 15, compared with the same period last year, according to NPD Group, a data and consulting firm. Meanwhile, most of the people who were planning to install in-ground pools in their yards before the COVID-19 shutdown caused economic havoc have decided to proceed, said Sabeena Hickman, the CEO of the Pool &amp; Hot Tub Alliance, an industry trade group, which reached out to the country’s top 25 residential pool builders.

“It appears as if a lot of people are looking for pools and hot tubs for staycations,” she said. “We are anticipating that it will be a strong season for backyard pools.”

Walmart reported an uptick in the sales of pools and swimming gear such as foam noodles, and Bass Pro Shops said more people have been buying fishing gear and kayaks, though neither company provided specifics.

“If there is a bright spot in this horrible COVID-19 tragedy, it’s the unprecedented interest from fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles all wanting to take their family out to enjoy nature,” said Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops’ founder and CEO.

Properly chlorinated pools can kill the virus, but youngsters splashing around together could be unwittingly spreading it without knowing they are infected, said Sempsrott, who is also an emergency room doctor in Boise, Idaho, who has treated COVID-19 patients.

Some pool operators have decided to delay opening or just offer lap swimming and lessons, while others have already called it quits. The National Recreation and Park Association, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of public parks, recreation and conservation, said 31% of agencies with pools have decided not to open them this summer and 46% were awaiting additional guidance from government and health officials before making a decision. Of those that are opening, only 5% plan to operate fully; the other 18% will do so with truncated offerings.

Among those that have opted not to open their pools this summer is the Kansas City suburb of Mission. In normal times, its outdoor pool is packed with kids, including a roughly 300-strong swim team, afternoon day camps and neighborhood children just looking to cool off and have fun.

City spokeswoman Emily Randel said opening this summer would have been too difficult given the added responsibilities of enforcing social distancing that would largely have fallen to teenage lifeguards. Kansas officials also have made June 8 the earliest that public pools can open.

“Putting it on our youngest staff seems like quite a burden for them,” she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lifeguard certifying agencies recommend that the task of monitoring social distancing not fall to the already-busy lifeguards.

However, Sempsrott said lifeguards will be “essential health care providers” this summer and will need to be provided with protective gear and a plan for what to do if a swimmer who arrives in apparently good health suddenly starts coughing or displaying other COVID-19 symptoms.

“The aquatic industry has been built on safety and prevention,” Sempsrott said. “If we aren’t able to safely open and reduce risk to an acceptable level, it doesn’t make sense to open in the middle of a pandemic.”

There are also financial concerns that need to be weighed. Some places have said they can’t afford to open their pools because of the decline in tax revenue caused by the coronavirus and the efforts to slow it’s spread. New York City, for example, estimates it will save $12 million by keeping its pools closed.

The closures will also mean the loss of many summer swim teams. USA Swimming has already canceled some high-level summer meets.

Sempsrott, meanwhile, warned that there could be more child deaths, as beginner swimmers take their chances in backyard pools without a lifeguard watching and with parents who may be distracted as they juggle working from home.

The kids are going to slip away into the backyard pool because you are on a Zoom meeting,” said Sempsrott. “Before, they would have been in preschool.”

Similar concerns were raised by the American Canoe Association, which also promotes kayaking and rafting. Beth Spilman, the interim executive director of the group, said it is hearing that boating could be at an all-time high this summer and is considering a social media campaign to promote safety.

“We know that there are concerns in the paddling community that there will be an influx of beginner or armature paddlers who are perhaps getting on the water without adequate instruction and that will cause an issue for local safety and rescue and perhaps for the Coast Guard,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590421122561.png" alt="Photo courtesy&nbsp; Valley Center, Kansas pool" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy&nbsp; Valley Center, Kansas pool</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHMISSION, Kan. (AP) — Public pools will look very different this summer if they open at all with the coronavirus threat still looming, as staffers will be tasked with maintaining social distancing and spotting COVID-19 symptoms in addition to their primary duties.Pools that do plan to open will take precautions, including screening temperatures on entry, requiring lifeguards to wear masks and significantly reducing the number of swimmers allowed in the water and locker rooms, said Dr. Justin Sempsrott, the medical director for the lifeguard certification program Starguard Elite and executive director of Lifeguards Without Borders, which works to reduce drownings worldwide.“It’s definitely not going to be business as usual this season,” he said.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D3229919970359864%26id%3D217547238263834&width=500" width="500" height="230" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>Amid the uncertainty, sales of inflatable pools that cost less than $150 have increased by 165% over the seven-week period that began March 15, compared with the same period last year, according to NPD Group, a data and consulting firm. Meanwhile, most of the people who were planning to install in-ground pools in their yards before the COVID-19 shutdown caused economic havoc have decided to proceed, said Sabeena Hickman, the CEO of the Pool &amp; Hot Tub Alliance, an industry trade group, which reached out to the country’s top 25 residential pool builders.“It appears as if a lot of people are looking for pools and hot tubs for staycations,” she said. “We are anticipating that it will be a strong season for backyard pools.”Walmart reported an uptick in the sales of pools and swimming gear such as foam noodles, and Bass Pro Shops said more people have been buying fishing gear and kayaks, though neither company provided specifics.“If there is a bright spot in this horrible COVID-19 tragedy, it’s the unprecedented interest from fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles all wanting to take their family out to enjoy nature,” said Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops’ founder and CEO.Properly chlorinated pools can kill the virus, but youngsters splashing around together could be unwittingly spreading it without knowing they are infected, said Sempsrott, who is also an emergency room doctor in Boise, Idaho, who has treated COVID-19 patients.Some pool operators have decided to delay opening or just offer lap swimming and lessons, while others have already called it quits. The National Recreation and Park Association, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of public parks, recreation and conservation, said 31% of agencies with pools have decided not to open them this summer and 46% were awaiting additional guidance from government and health officials before making a decision. Of those that are opening, only 5% plan to operate fully; the other 18% will do so with truncated offerings.Among those that have opted not to open their pools this summer is the Kansas City suburb of Mission. In normal times, its outdoor pool is packed with kids, including a roughly 300-strong swim team, afternoon day camps and neighborhood children just looking to cool off and have fun.City spokeswoman Emily Randel said opening this summer would have been too difficult given the added responsibilities of enforcing social distancing that would largely have fallen to teenage lifeguards. Kansas officials also have made June 8 the earliest that public pools can open.“Putting it on our youngest staff seems like quite a burden for them,” she said.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lifeguard certifying agencies recommend that the task of monitoring social distancing not fall to the already-busy lifeguards.However, Sempsrott said lifeguards will be “essential health care providers” this summer and will need to be provided with protective gear and a plan for what to do if a swimmer who arrives in apparently good health suddenly starts coughing or displaying other COVID-19 symptoms.“The aquatic industry has been built on safety and prevention,” Sempsrott said. “If we aren’t able to safely open and reduce risk to an acceptable level, it doesn’t make sense to open in the middle of a pandemic.”There are also financial concerns that need to be weighed. Some places have said they can’t afford to open their pools because of the decline in tax revenue caused by the coronavirus and the efforts to slow it’s spread. New York City, for example, estimates it will save $12 million by keeping its pools closed.The closures will also mean the loss of many summer swim teams. USA Swimming has already canceled some high-level summer meets.Sempsrott, meanwhile, warned that there could be more child deaths, as beginner swimmers take their chances in backyard pools without a lifeguard watching and with parents who may be distracted as they juggle working from home.The kids are going to slip away into the backyard pool because you are on a Zoom meeting,” said Sempsrott. “Before, they would have been in preschool.”Similar concerns were raised by the American Canoe Association, which also promotes kayaking and rafting. Beth Spilman, the interim executive director of the group, said it is hearing that boating could be at an all-time high this summer and is considering a social media campaign to promote safety.“We know that there are concerns in the paddling community that there will be an influx of beginner or armature paddlers who are perhaps getting on the water without adequate instruction and that will cause an issue for local safety and rescue and perhaps for the Coast Guard,” she said.___

Communities face tough choices on opening public pools

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a standoff in Topeka.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, police responded to the area of 10th and Fairlawn in Topeka after report of a suspicious vehicle, which was determined to be stolen, according to&nbsp;LT Manuel Munoz.

When officers attempted to stop the driver later identified as 26-year-old Brandon Baker of Topeka.

 He attempted to elude the officers and&nbsp;was driving very erratically. He led officers to the 1200 block of SW Harvey and ran into an apartment. 

In addition to Topeka Police, Shawnee Co. Sheriff’s Deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol also responded to the scene.&nbsp;

 Baker refused to come out of the apartment. After several hours of negotiation, Baker came out and was taken into custody without incident.

Baker was booked into the Shawnee Co. Dept. of Corrections for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Stolen Property, and several traffic charges, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590662602437.png" alt="Baker has previous convictions for drugs and obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Baker has previous convictions for drugs and obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a standoff in Topeka.&nbsp;On Wednesday, police responded to the area of 10th and Fairlawn in Topeka after report of a suspicious vehicle, which was determined to be stolen, according to&nbsp;LT Manuel Munoz.When officers attempted to stop the driver later identified as 26-year-old Brandon Baker of Topeka. He attempted to elude the officers and&nbsp;was driving very erratically. He led officers to the 1200 block of SW Harvey and ran into an apartment. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590611528909.png" alt="Law enforcement at the scene of the standoff Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement at the scene of the standoff Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to Topeka Police, Shawnee Co. Sheriff’s Deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol also responded to the scene.&nbsp; Baker refused to come out of the apartment. After several hours of negotiation, Baker came out and was taken into custody without incident.Baker was booked into the Shawnee Co. Dept. of Corrections for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Stolen Property, and several traffic charges, according to Munoz.

Kansas felon in stolen vehicle jailed after standoff 

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The U.S. surpassed a jarring milestone Wednesday in the coronavirus pandemic: 100,000 deaths.

That number is the best estimate and most assuredly an undercount. But it represents the stark reality that more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e242bc89a073d6724a7f158e4c9d40d">Americans have died&nbsp;</a>from the virus than from the Vietnam and Korean wars combined.

“It’s a striking reminder of how dangerous this virus can be,” said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington.

The once-unthinkable toll appears to be just the beginning of untold misery in the months ahead as Las Vegas casinos and Walt Disney World make plans to reopen, crowds of unmasked Americans swarm beaches and public health officials predict a resurgence by fall.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, issued a stern warning after watching video of Memorial Day crowds gathered at a pool party in Missouri.

“We have a situation in which you see that type of crowding with no mask and people interacting. That’s not prudent, and that’s inviting a situation that could get out of control,” he said during an interview Wednesday on CNN. “Don’t start leapfrogging some of the recommendations in the guidelines because that’s really tempting fate and asking for trouble.”

Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 5.6 million people and killed over 350,000, with the U.S. having the most confirmed cases and deaths by far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Europe has recorded about 170,000 deaths, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f768f47203908b834e245fbf7f0b3ccc">U.S. reached more than 100,000</a>&nbsp;in less than four months.

The true death toll from the virus, which emerged in China late last year and was first reported in the U.S. in January, is widely believed to be significantly higher, with experts saying many victims died of COVID-19 without ever being tested for it.

Early on, President Donald Trump downplayed the severity of the coronavirus, likening it to the flu, and predicted the U.S. wouldn’t reach 100,000 deaths.

“I think we’ll be substantially under that number,” Trump said on April 10. Ten days later, he said, “We’re going toward 50- or 60,000 people.” Ten days after that: “We’re probably heading to 60,000, 70,000.”

Critics have said deaths spiked because Trump was slow to respond, but he has contended on Twitter that it could have been 20 times higher without his actions. He has urged states to reopen their economies after months of stay-at-home restrictions.

Las Vegas casinos can welcome tourists again on June 4. SeaWorld and Walt Disney World plan to reopen to limited numbers of tourists in Orlando, Florida, in June and July. And people who have been cooped up indoors began venturing outside in droves, often without practicing social distancing or wearing masks.

Kelly Hove, 79, of Twin Falls, Idaho, an internationally known pianist, died at a nursing home on April 12 of complications from COVID-19 after a long battle with dementia. Her sister-in-law Jan Hove fears that more will die as states start lifting restrictions.

“I think going back too soon is going to cause more deaths, so I’m incredibly concerned,” she said. “And I don’t think we have adequate leadership. ... It’s an absolute joke, from the White House down.”

The virus exacted an especially vicious toll on Trump’s hometown of New York City and its surrounding suburbs, killing more than 21,000. At the peak, hundreds of people were dying per day in New York City, and hospitals, ambulances and first responders were inundated with patients.

There is no vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, though several emergency treatments are being used after showing some promise in preliminary testing.

Worldwide, about a dozen vaccine candidates are starting to be tested or getting close to it. Health officials have said studies of a potential vaccine might be done by late this year or early next year.

Only half of Americans said they would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dacdc8bc428dd4df6511bfa259cfec44">willing to get vaccinated</a>&nbsp;if scientists are successful in developing a vaccine, according to a poll released Wednesday from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

For most, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Among the 100,000 fatalities was 74-year-old Michael Ganci of Newington, Connecticut, who died March 21. He was a public school teacher, a grandfather and father of four, and a 4th-degree belt Sensei in Kyokushin karate.

Ganci, who had a compromised immune system, died at a hospital in Hartford three days after showing symptoms. His family was not allowed to be with him and tried to text and talk with him on his cellphone during his final days. His wife of 48 years also tested positive for COVID-19 and had to grieve alone.

For their daughter, 45-year-old Joanna Ganci of Beverly, Massachusetts, the milestone is important to understand the scope of the virus.

“But at the same time, I think the danger of counting, the danger of statistics, is that it just minimizes the human element,” she said. “It’s like, what number is going to make an impact for people who haven’t been touched by it?”

It’s not even clear when the coronavirus turned deadly in the United States. Initially, it was believed the first U.S. deaths from the virus were in late February in a Seattle suburb. But by mid-April, it was determined that two people with the coronavirus died in California as many as three weeks earlier.

Comparing countries is tricky, given varying levels of testing and that some coronavirus deaths can be missed. According to figures tracked by Johns Hopkins University, the death rate per 100,000 people is lower in the U.S. than in Italy, France and Spain but higher than in Germany, China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

“The experience of other countries shows that death at that scale was preventable,” said Michaud of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “To some extent, the United States suffers from having a slow start and inconsistent approach. We might have seen a different trajectory if different policies were put into place earlier and more forcefully.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590661594503.png" alt="The U.S. is also approaching 1.7 million cases of the coronavirus-Image courtesy John Hopkins University" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. is also approaching 1.7 million cases of the coronavirus-Image courtesy John Hopkins University</figcaption>
 </figure>HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The U.S. surpassed a jarring milestone Wednesday in the coronavirus pandemic: 100,000 deaths.That number is the best estimate and most assuredly an undercount. But it represents the stark reality that more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e242bc89a073d6724a7f158e4c9d40d">Americans have died&nbsp;</a>from the virus than from the Vietnam and Korean wars combined.“It’s a striking reminder of how dangerous this virus can be,” said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington.The once-unthinkable toll appears to be just the beginning of untold misery in the months ahead as Las Vegas casinos and Walt Disney World make plans to reopen, crowds of unmasked Americans swarm beaches and public health officials predict a resurgence by fall.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586814827197.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, issued a stern warning after watching video of Memorial Day crowds gathered at a pool party in Missouri.“We have a situation in which you see that type of crowding with no mask and people interacting. That’s not prudent, and that’s inviting a situation that could get out of control,” he said during an interview Wednesday on CNN. “Don’t start leapfrogging some of the recommendations in the guidelines because that’s really tempting fate and asking for trouble.”Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 5.6 million people and killed over 350,000, with the U.S. having the most confirmed cases and deaths by far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Europe has recorded about 170,000 deaths, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f768f47203908b834e245fbf7f0b3ccc">U.S. reached more than 100,000</a>&nbsp;in less than four months.The true death toll from the virus, which emerged in China late last year and was first reported in the U.S. in January, is widely believed to be significantly higher, with experts saying many victims died of COVID-19 without ever being tested for it.Early on, President Donald Trump downplayed the severity of the coronavirus, likening it to the flu, and predicted the U.S. wouldn’t reach 100,000 deaths.“I think we’ll be substantially under that number,” Trump said on April 10. Ten days later, he said, “We’re going toward 50- or 60,000 people.” Ten days after that: “We’re probably heading to 60,000, 70,000.”Critics have said deaths spiked because Trump was slow to respond, but he has contended on Twitter that it could have been 20 times higher without his actions. He has urged states to reopen their economies after months of stay-at-home restrictions.Las Vegas casinos can welcome tourists again on June 4. SeaWorld and Walt Disney World plan to reopen to limited numbers of tourists in Orlando, Florida, in June and July. And people who have been cooped up indoors began venturing outside in droves, often without practicing social distancing or wearing masks.Kelly Hove, 79, of Twin Falls, Idaho, an internationally known pianist, died at a nursing home on April 12 of complications from COVID-19 after a long battle with dementia. Her sister-in-law Jan Hove fears that more will die as states start lifting restrictions.“I think going back too soon is going to cause more deaths, so I’m incredibly concerned,” she said. “And I don’t think we have adequate leadership. ... It’s an absolute joke, from the White House down.”The virus exacted an especially vicious toll on Trump’s hometown of New York City and its surrounding suburbs, killing more than 21,000. At the peak, hundreds of people were dying per day in New York City, and hospitals, ambulances and first responders were inundated with patients.There is no vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, though several emergency treatments are being used after showing some promise in preliminary testing.Worldwide, about a dozen vaccine candidates are starting to be tested or getting close to it. Health officials have said studies of a potential vaccine might be done by late this year or early next year.Only half of Americans said they would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dacdc8bc428dd4df6511bfa259cfec44">willing to get vaccinated</a>&nbsp;if scientists are successful in developing a vaccine, according to a poll released Wednesday from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.For most, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.Among the 100,000 fatalities was 74-year-old Michael Ganci of Newington, Connecticut, who died March 21. He was a public school teacher, a grandfather and father of four, and a 4th-degree belt Sensei in Kyokushin karate.Ganci, who had a compromised immune system, died at a hospital in Hartford three days after showing symptoms. His family was not allowed to be with him and tried to text and talk with him on his cellphone during his final days. His wife of 48 years also tested positive for COVID-19 and had to grieve alone.For their daughter, 45-year-old Joanna Ganci of Beverly, Massachusetts, the milestone is important to understand the scope of the virus.“But at the same time, I think the danger of counting, the danger of statistics, is that it just minimizes the human element,” she said. “It’s like, what number is going to make an impact for people who haven’t been touched by it?”It’s not even clear when the coronavirus turned deadly in the United States. Initially, it was believed the first U.S. deaths from the virus were in late February in a Seattle suburb. But by mid-April, it was determined that two people with the coronavirus died in California as many as three weeks earlier.Comparing countries is tricky, given varying levels of testing and that some coronavirus deaths can be missed. According to figures tracked by Johns Hopkins University, the death rate per 100,000 people is lower in the U.S. than in Italy, France and Spain but higher than in Germany, China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.“The experience of other countries shows that death at that scale was preventable,” said Michaud of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “To some extent, the United States suffers from having a slow start and inconsistent approach. We might have seen a different trajectory if different policies were put into place earlier and more forcefully.”Countries with low death rates suppressed the virus “through lots of testing, contact tracing and policies to support isolation and quarantine of people at risk,” Michaud said.Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University, called the U.S. death rate shocking.“It reflects the fact that we have neglected basic fundamentals for health,” El-Sadr said. “So, now we are in this shameful situation. It is the most vulnerable people in our midst — the elderly, the poor, members of racial/ethnic minority groups — who are the ones disproportionately getting sick and dying.”