By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-18/the-coronavirus-blew-a-650m-hole-in-kansas-budget-putting-even-school-funding-in-jeopardy">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — When Kansas lawmakers left for an early 
spring break in mid-March, the state was projected to have a healthy 
savings account of nearly $1 billion in reserves come June. They passed 
an <a href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-gets-budget-and-lawmakers-leave-early-session-changed-coronavirus" target="_blank">$8 billion budget</a> as the coronavirus pandemic was just beginning, not knowing whether they’d even come back to Topeka.

Since then, the virus caused thousands of businesses across Kansas to close and more than <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/some-kansans-going-back-work-pandemic-could-mean-risking-their-lives" target="_blank">200,000 </a>people
 to file for unemployment. Tax revenues started falling off a cliff — 
income taxes are expected to be down more than 15% and sales taxes by 4%
 — and there’s now an estimated $650 million <a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/CRE/2020_CRE_ShortMemo_4-20-2020.pdf" target="_blank">budget deficit</a> for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

It’s up to lawmakers and the governor to fix the financial situation, and it could take wide-ranging budget cuts.

“Nothing
 is going to be safe,” said Republican Troy Waymaster, chairman of the 
House Appropriations Committee. “We’re going to have to look at higher 
ed. We’re going to have to look at social services. We’re going to have 
to look at all aspects of the state budget.”

But legislators are 
planning to meet for as little as one day — May 21 — to wrap up the 
session, so they might not take immediate action. Republican leaders 
seem to be focused more on restricting Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency 
powers than taking immediate action to deal with the shortfall.

Kelly
 could make cuts unilaterally. Lawmakers could also return for a special
 session. Or they could choose to just wait and tackle the budget in the
 2021 session come January.

No matter what, funding for K-12 schools is on the table, even though the state<a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2019-06-14/kansas-supreme-court-lawmakers-finally-put-enough-money-into-schools" target="_blank"> just last year</a> resolved a decade-long lawsuit over school spending.

The budget passed in March included <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_sb_66_2020" target="_blank">nearly $120 million</a> more for primary education. And already, K-12 schools make up about half<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/FiscalFacts/2019_fiscal_facts.pdf" target="_blank"> the state’s spending.</a>

“This
 is absolutely not the time that we should be cutting K-12 education,” 
said Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School Boards.

He
 said students will need extra help next year to catch up after concerns
 over the coronavirus closed school buildings and moved instruction 
largely online. But Tallman acknowledged districts understand the 
situation.

“In the absence of other assistance, it would be extremely hard to solve this problem without touching K-12,” he said.

The
 top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee is concerned that 
cutting K-12 would put the state right back before the Kansas Supreme 
Court.

“That would probably be my biggest fear is to have to 
repeat that whole saga again,” Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore said, “which I 
certainly don't want to do.”

There’s no guarantee that will 
happen. A group representing dozens of school districts, including the 
four that sued the state, is waiting to see what happens.

There
 are plenty of other targets in Kansas’ budget aside from K-12. 
Lawmakers could further delay payments to the state pension, which 
already has a $9 billion <a href="https://www.kpers.org/annualreport2019.pdf" target="_blank">long-term deficit</a>, or scale back the 10-year, $10 billion transportation plan that was <a href="https://apnews.com/db86e50ea407a7931bf66e9f37ff23f9" target="_blank">approved this year</a>.

Before
 the pandemic, lawmakers hoped they could add even more for the state’s 
roads and bridges, $25 million more. Now, Waymaster said, “I don’t see 
how that could happen.”

Wolfe Moore would like to consider a tobacco tax increase — both to make Kansas healthier and boost the state’s bottom line.

She also hopes the federal government will help states out financially so they can avoid slashing spending.

“I
 absolutely think they absolutely have to do that for us because the 
choices are too awful beyond that, they really are,” she said.

There hasn’t been strong support for the idea <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-split-over-additional-coronavirus-aid-states-municipalities-n1206816" target="_blank">among the Republicans</a>
 who control the U.S. Senate. But the possibility makes Republican state
 Sen. Carolyn McGinn believe it’s premature to discuss Kansas budget 
cuts. Plus, she said, reopening businesses might improve the state’s 
finances.

“I think we have people that are just itching to get 
back into the economy again,” said McGinn, who is the Senate’s lead 
budget writer. “We've got to be safe, we've got to do social distancing.
 People start getting back and start spending some money, things could 
look very different.”

Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank"> @kprkoranda</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589830931901.png" alt="The Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service file photo" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-18/the-coronavirus-blew-a-650m-hole-in-kansas-budget-putting-even-school-funding-in-jeopardy">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — When Kansas lawmakers left for an early 
spring break in mid-March, the state was projected to have a healthy 
savings account of nearly $1 billion in reserves come June. They passed 
an <a href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-gets-budget-and-lawmakers-leave-early-session-changed-coronavirus" target="_blank">$8 billion budget</a> as the coronavirus pandemic was just beginning, not knowing whether they’d even come back to Topeka.Since then, the virus caused thousands of businesses across Kansas to close and more than <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/some-kansans-going-back-work-pandemic-could-mean-risking-their-lives" target="_blank">200,000 </a>people
 to file for unemployment. Tax revenues started falling off a cliff — 
income taxes are expected to be down more than 15% and sales taxes by 4%
 — and there’s now an estimated $650 million <a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/CRE/2020_CRE_ShortMemo_4-20-2020.pdf" target="_blank">budget deficit</a> for the fiscal year that starts July 1.It’s up to lawmakers and the governor to fix the financial situation, and it could take wide-ranging budget cuts.“Nothing
 is going to be safe,” said Republican Troy Waymaster, chairman of the 
House Appropriations Committee. “We’re going to have to look at higher 
ed. We’re going to have to look at social services. We’re going to have 
to look at all aspects of the state budget.”But legislators are 
planning to meet for as little as one day — May 21 — to wrap up the 
session, so they might not take immediate action. Republican leaders 
seem to be focused more on restricting Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency 
powers than taking immediate action to deal with the shortfall.Kelly
 could make cuts unilaterally. Lawmakers could also return for a special
 session. Or they could choose to just wait and tackle the budget in the
 2021 session come January.<h2>K-12 not untouchable</h2>No matter what, funding for K-12 schools is on the table, even though the state<a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2019-06-14/kansas-supreme-court-lawmakers-finally-put-enough-money-into-schools" target="_blank"> just last year</a> resolved a decade-long lawsuit over school spending.The budget passed in March included <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_sb_66_2020" target="_blank">nearly $120 million</a> more for primary education. And already, K-12 schools make up about half<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/FiscalFacts/2019_fiscal_facts.pdf" target="_blank"> the state’s spending.</a>“This
 is absolutely not the time that we should be cutting K-12 education,” 
said Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School Boards.He
 said students will need extra help next year to catch up after concerns
 over the coronavirus closed school buildings and moved instruction 
largely online. But Tallman acknowledged districts understand the 
situation.“In the absence of other assistance, it would be extremely hard to solve this problem without touching K-12,” he said.The
 top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee is concerned that 
cutting K-12 would put the state right back before the Kansas Supreme 
Court.“That would probably be my biggest fear is to have to 
repeat that whole saga again,” Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore said, “which I 
certainly don't want to do.”There’s no guarantee that will 
happen. A group representing dozens of school districts, including the 
four that sued the state, is waiting to see what happens.<h2>Wide-ranging reductions</h2>There
 are plenty of other targets in Kansas’ budget aside from K-12. 
Lawmakers could further delay payments to the state pension, which 
already has a $9 billion <a href="https://www.kpers.org/annualreport2019.pdf" target="_blank">long-term deficit</a>, or scale back the 10-year, $10 billion transportation plan that was <a href="https://apnews.com/db86e50ea407a7931bf66e9f37ff23f9" target="_blank">approved this year</a>.Before
 the pandemic, lawmakers hoped they could add even more for the state’s 
roads and bridges, $25 million more. Now, Waymaster said, “I don’t see 
how that could happen.”Wolfe Moore would like to consider a tobacco tax increase — both to make Kansas healthier and boost the state’s bottom line.She also hopes the federal government will help states out financially so they can avoid slashing spending.“I
 absolutely think they absolutely have to do that for us because the 
choices are too awful beyond that, they really are,” she said.There hasn’t been strong support for the idea <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-split-over-additional-coronavirus-aid-states-municipalities-n1206816" target="_blank">among the Republicans</a>
 who control the U.S. Senate. But the possibility makes Republican state
 Sen. Carolyn McGinn believe it’s premature to discuss Kansas budget 
cuts. Plus, she said, reopening businesses might improve the state’s 
finances.“I think we have people that are just itching to get 
back into the economy again,” said McGinn, who is the Senate’s lead 
budget writer. “We've got to be safe, we've got to do social distancing.
 People start getting back and start spending some money, things could 
look very different.”Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank"> @kprkoranda</a>.

Virus blew $650M hole in Kan. budget, putting even schools in jeopardy 

TOPEKA —Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is updating the state's battle against coronavirus.

Governor Kelly is not attending Monday's briefing due to a scheduling conflict.

&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 454 since Friday to a total of 8340, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp; Coronavirus deaths were reported at 173.

TOPEKA —Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is updating the state's battle against coronavirus.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F3313868611956554%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>Governor Kelly is not attending Monday's briefing due to a scheduling conflict.&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 454 since Friday to a total of 8340, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp; Coronavirus deaths were reported at 173.

🎥 KDHE Secretary updates battle against coronavirus

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney will close almost 30% of its 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection. The ailing department store said Monday that it plans to close about 192 stores by February 2021, and then 50 additional stores in the year after that. 

That would leave the company with just over 600 locations. J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Friday, making it the biggest retailer to do since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to shut down all stores.

The company has not released a list of stores that will close.

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has pushed troubled department store chain J.C. Penney into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

It is the fourth major retailer to meet that fate. Texas-based Penney said late Friday it will be reducing its store count and will be disclosing details and timing in the next few weeks. 

It currently operates 850 stores and employs nearly 90,000 workers. It said that it received $900 million in financing to help it operate during the restructuring. Penney joins luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus and J.Crew in filing for bankruptcy reorganization. Others are expected to follow. Still many experts are pessimistic about Penney’s long-term survival.

Check the Post for additional details,&nbsp;as they become available&nbsp;on how the bankruptcy impacts local stores.

U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened stores across the country and weighed down a sinking economy. 

The Commerce Department’s report on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6%. The sharpest drops from March to April were at clothiers, electronics stores, furniture stores and restaurants. 

A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating, with that segment posting a 8.4% monthly gain. Measured year over year, online sales surged 21.6%.

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney will close almost 30% of its 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection. The ailing department store said Monday that it plans to close about 192 stores by February 2021, and then 50 additional stores in the year after that. That would leave the company with just over 600 locations. J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Friday, making it the biggest retailer to do since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to shut down all stores.The company has not released a list of stores that will close.-------NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has pushed troubled department store chain J.C. Penney into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It is the fourth major retailer to meet that fate. Texas-based Penney said late Friday it will be reducing its store count and will be disclosing details and timing in the next few weeks. It currently operates 850 stores and employs nearly 90,000 workers. It said that it received $900 million in financing to help it operate during the restructuring. Penney joins luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus and J.Crew in filing for bankruptcy reorganization. Others are expected to follow. Still many experts are pessimistic about Penney’s long-term survival.Check the Post for additional details,&nbsp;as they become available&nbsp;on how the bankruptcy impacts local stores.--------U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened stores across the country and weighed down a sinking economy. The Commerce Department’s report on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6%. The sharpest drops from March to April were at clothiers, electronics stores, furniture stores and restaurants. A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating, with that segment posting a 8.4% monthly gain. Measured year over year, online sales surged 21.6%.

Pandemic casualty: JC Penney to close 240 stores

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 454 since Friday to a total of 8340, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

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

Note: The KDHE Coronavirus in Kansas report is now released Monday, Wednesday and Friday.&nbsp;

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 454 since Friday to a total of 8340, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 173.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589821676425.png" alt="Monday May 18 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday May 18 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Note: The KDHE Coronavirus in Kansas report is now released Monday, Wednesday and Friday.&nbsp;

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following a chase and crash.

Just before 9:30p.m. Sunday, officers received report of a car traveling in a reckless manner, according to Wamego Police Chief Michael D. Baker, Sr.,&nbsp;

Officers located the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop near 10th and Lilac.&nbsp; The driver refused to stop. Officers began a pursuit that continued to St. George where the vehicle left the road and landed in a creek near Military Trail and Chapman Road, according to Baker.

Prior to the crash, Wamego police lost sight of the vehicle. A caller to the Pottawatomie County sheriff's department reported a crash into the creek near their residence.

Deputies and officers arrived to find the vehicle in the creek . The occupants of the vehicle fled before authorities arrived.

Authorities identified the suspect and one suspect was arrested with assistance of Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff's deputies, The&nbsp; Kansas Highway Patrol and St. George police, according to Baker.&nbsp; &nbsp;There is no danger to the public as the investigation continues.&nbsp;Baker did not release the suspect's name or possible charges.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following a chase and crash.Just before 9:30p.m. Sunday, officers received report of a car traveling in a reckless manner, according to Wamego Police Chief Michael D. Baker, Sr.,&nbsp;Officers located the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop near 10th and Lilac.&nbsp; The driver refused to stop. Officers began a pursuit that continued to St. George where the vehicle left the road and landed in a creek near Military Trail and Chapman Road, according to Baker.Prior to the crash, Wamego police lost sight of the vehicle. A caller to the Pottawatomie County sheriff's department reported a crash into the creek near their residence.Deputies and officers arrived to find the vehicle in the creek . The occupants of the vehicle fled before authorities arrived.Authorities identified the suspect and one suspect was arrested with assistance of Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff's deputies, The&nbsp; Kansas Highway Patrol and St. George police, according to Baker.&nbsp; &nbsp;There is no danger to the public as the investigation continues.&nbsp;Baker did not release the suspect's name or possible charges.

Suspect arrested after chase, crash into Kan. creek

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Salina man in connection with an alleged criminal threat at a truck service center..

Just before 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to&nbsp; Petro 2 Truck Service Center, 2125 North Ninth Street in Salina for the report of an altercation between two employees, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A 40-year-old employee told police that another employee identified as Charles Overgard, 36, Salina, threatened him with a knife.

The victim told police he was putting air in some tires when Overgard unhooked the air hose. A verbal argument ensued and Overgard allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened him.

Police arrested Overgard and later located a knife in his possession, according to Forrester.

Overgard is being held on requested charges that include aggravated assault and criminal threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589808823165.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Charles Overgard-Photo Saline CountySALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Salina man in connection with an alleged criminal threat at a truck service center..Just before 5:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to&nbsp; Petro 2 Truck Service Center, 2125 North Ninth Street in Salina for the report of an altercation between two employees, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.A 40-year-old employee told police that another employee identified as Charles Overgard, 36, Salina, threatened him with a knife.The victim told police he was putting air in some tires when Overgard unhooked the air hose. A verbal argument ensued and Overgard allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened him.Police arrested Overgard and later located a knife in his possession, according to Forrester.Overgard is being held on requested charges that include aggravated assault and criminal threat.

Kan. man accused of threatening fellow employee at truck stop

Employees at the Ford plant in Kansas City are returning to work Monday along with others in the region as the state of Kansas and Missouri begin to reopen.

On Saturday, Ford announced it had signed contracts with health systems in Kansas City and three other metro areas with major company facilities to quickly test hourly and salaried employees with suspected symptoms of COVID-19, according to a media release.

In the Kansas City area, employees will be tested through Liberty Hospital.&nbsp;

“Fast and accurate testing is a key tool in the effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Walter Talamonti, Ford Medical Director. “These contracts will allow us to test employees with suspected symptoms and have results back within 24 hours. If they test positive, we can quickly identify close contact employees who may have been exposed and ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days.”

In the Kansas City area, where Ford builds the best-selling F-150 and employs more than 7,000 people, employees who exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19 will receive a prescription from Ford’s onsite doctors for testing. They can then access a drive-through testing site at Liberty Hospital.

In all Ford assembly plant locations, the goal is to have results available within 24 hours.

Testing results will be simultaneously shared with Ford doctors in order to quickly identify others who were in close contact with infected employees and immediately have them self-quarantine for 14 days.

&nbsp;<a></a>“We are working on quickly expanding testing of symptomatic employees,” said Ken Washington, Ford’s Chief Technology Officer. “The health and safety of our employees has been – and remains – our top priority as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to expanding locations for these tests, we are also pursuing the possibility of voluntary antibody testing in the future for our employees.”

Ford is initially focusing on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which identifies if someone is actively infected. PCR tests are used to detect the presence of viral RNA, not the presence of the antibodies, which are the body’s immune response.

“Fast, accurate tests work hand-in-hand with personal protection equipment and protocols to create a safe environment for our workforce,” said Gary Johnson, Ford’s Chief Manufacturing and Labor Affairs Officer. “We are proud to partner with the UAW to lead the way on restarting our factories the right way.”

Testing is the most recent addition to Ford’s health and safety protocols in place in the company’s facilities.

To guide the workforce with the new health and safety protocols, Ford has compiled a comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.at.ford.com/content/dam/atford/fna/documents/PDFs/MFGPlaybook/Ford_ReturnToWork_COVID-19_Playbook_ME.pdf">Manufacturing Return to Work Playbook</a>&nbsp;to help protect its workforce, assembled using best practices and input from experts around the world. Some of the safety protocols include:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589805616946.png" alt="Missouri Governor Mike Parson visited the Kansas City assembly plant Friday- photo courtesy office of Missouri governor." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Governor Mike Parson visited the Kansas City assembly plant Friday- photo courtesy office of Missouri governor.</figcaption>
 </figure>Employees at the Ford plant in Kansas City are returning to work Monday along with others in the region as the state of Kansas and Missouri begin to reopen.On Saturday, Ford announced it had signed contracts with health systems in Kansas City and three other metro areas with major company facilities to quickly test hourly and salaried employees with suspected symptoms of COVID-19, according to a media release.In the Kansas City area, employees will be tested through Liberty Hospital.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589805534095.png" alt="Missouri Governor Mike Parson wore a mask during his Friday visit to the Kansas City assembly plant-photo courtesy office of Missouri governor" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Governor Mike Parson wore a mask during his Friday visit to the Kansas City assembly plant-photo courtesy office of Missouri governor</figcaption>
 </figure>“Fast and accurate testing is a key tool in the effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Walter Talamonti, Ford Medical Director. “These contracts will allow us to test employees with suspected symptoms and have results back within 24 hours. If they test positive, we can quickly identify close contact employees who may have been exposed and ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days.”In the Kansas City area, where Ford builds the best-selling F-150 and employs more than 7,000 people, employees who exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19 will receive a prescription from Ford’s onsite doctors for testing. They can then access a drive-through testing site at Liberty Hospital.In all Ford assembly plant locations, the goal is to have results available within 24 hours.Testing results will be simultaneously shared with Ford doctors in order to quickly identify others who were in close contact with infected employees and immediately have them self-quarantine for 14 days.&nbsp;<a></a>“We are working on quickly expanding testing of symptomatic employees,” said Ken Washington, Ford’s Chief Technology Officer. “The health and safety of our employees has been – and remains – our top priority as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to expanding locations for these tests, we are also pursuing the possibility of voluntary antibody testing in the future for our employees.”Ford is initially focusing on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which identifies if someone is actively infected. PCR tests are used to detect the presence of viral RNA, not the presence of the antibodies, which are the body’s immune response.“Fast, accurate tests work hand-in-hand with personal protection equipment and protocols to create a safe environment for our workforce,” said Gary Johnson, Ford’s Chief Manufacturing and Labor Affairs Officer. “We are proud to partner with the UAW to lead the way on restarting our factories the right way.”Testing is the most recent addition to Ford’s health and safety protocols in place in the company’s facilities.To guide the workforce with the new health and safety protocols, Ford has compiled a comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.at.ford.com/content/dam/atford/fna/documents/PDFs/MFGPlaybook/Ford_ReturnToWork_COVID-19_Playbook_ME.pdf">Manufacturing Return to Work Playbook</a>&nbsp;to help protect its workforce, assembled using best practices and input from experts around the world. Some of the safety protocols include:<ol>
 <li>Daily online employee and visitor health self-certifications completed before work every day. Employees or visitors who indicate they may have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus will be told not to come to Ford facilities.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>No-touch temperature scans upon arrival – anyone with a raised temperature will not be permitted to enter and will need to be cleared of symptoms before returning to work.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Required face masks for everyone entering a Ford facility. Every Ford team member will be provided a care kit including face masks and other items to help keep them healthy and comfortable at work.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Safety glasses with side shields or face shields will be required when jobs don’t allow for social distancing.</li><li>There will be more time between production shifts to limit interaction between employees and allow for additional cleaning.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>

Ford plant in Kansas City reopens with virus testing

TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;A Lansing Correctional Facility resident who died Saturday, May 16, had tested positive for COVID-19. This is the fourth resident death related to COVID-19.

The resident was a man over the age of 60 with underlying medical conditions who tested positive for the virus on April 29 and was transferred to the hospital on May 1, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 The official manner of death for all COVID-19 deaths is natural causes.&nbsp;

The individual was serving a sentence for charges including aggravated robbery and first-degree murder. He had been imprisoned with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) since December 1989 and his earliest possible release date was set for Oct. 1, 2020. For the privacy of his family and due to confidentiality laws, the KDOC will not release his name nor his underlying medical conditions. His family has been notified.

The Lansing Correctional Facility, formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary, opened in 1867 during the presidency of Andrew Johnson and is the oldest and largest state correctional facility in Kansas. Serving only males, the facility capacity is 2,432 residents.

TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;A Lansing Correctional Facility resident who died Saturday, May 16, had tested positive for COVID-19. This is the fourth resident death related to COVID-19.The resident was a man over the age of 60 with underlying medical conditions who tested positive for the virus on April 29 and was transferred to the hospital on May 1, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The official manner of death for all COVID-19 deaths is natural causes.&nbsp;The individual was serving a sentence for charges including aggravated robbery and first-degree murder. He had been imprisoned with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) since December 1989 and his earliest possible release date was set for Oct. 1, 2020. For the privacy of his family and due to confidentiality laws, the KDOC will not release his name nor his underlying medical conditions. His family has been notified.The Lansing Correctional Facility, formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary, opened in 1867 during the presidency of Andrew Johnson and is the oldest and largest state correctional facility in Kansas. Serving only males, the facility capacity is 2,432 residents.

Fourth inmate dies from coronavirus at Kansas prison

TOPEKA —On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly will visit the White House for a meeting with President Trump. &nbsp;

In addition to discussing the state’s phased reopening and statewide testing strategy, topics of discussion will include protecting America’s food supply chain, supporting Kansas’ farmers, and partnering to ensure the health and safety of food supply workers during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media release from Kelly's office.

"I look forward to the discussion with President Trump on ways we can continue to work with the federal government on our response and recovery efforts," Governor Kelly said. "Our continued emphasis is on protecting Kansans' health and well-being, and helping the state recover from a public health crisis that has exacted a painful financial toll on many. 

The economic damage will be long lasting, and will require collaboration at every level. I look forward to discussing how the President and I will continue partnering together in our recovery.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588352476511.png" alt="Governor Larua Kelly during her televised phased reopening announcement&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Governor Larua Kelly during her televised phased reopening announcement&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly will visit the White House for a meeting with President Trump. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589490713721.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to discussing the state’s phased reopening and statewide testing strategy, topics of discussion will include protecting America’s food supply chain, supporting Kansas’ farmers, and partnering to ensure the health and safety of food supply workers during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media release from Kelly's office."I look forward to the discussion with President Trump on ways we can continue to work with the federal government on our response and recovery efforts," Governor Kelly said. "Our continued emphasis is on protecting Kansans' health and well-being, and helping the state recover from a public health crisis that has exacted a painful financial toll on many. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588194319573.png" alt="President Trump and the Kansas Governor will visit in the Oval Office Wednesday -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Trump and the Kansas Governor will visit in the Oval Office Wednesday -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The economic damage will be long lasting, and will require collaboration at every level. I look forward to discussing how the President and I will continue partnering together in our recovery.”

Gov. will discuss phased reopening with Trump at White House

By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-14/kansas-prison-workers-want-more-covid-19-protection-after-2-guards-and-3-inmates-die">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE, Kansas — In his 15 years as a corrections officer at
 a northeast Kansas prison, David Carter witnessed stabbings, worked 
through riots and broke up more fights than he can count. He was used to
 risky situations.

When the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-04-14/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-to-know-about-the-covid-19-coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus pandemic</a>
 showed up, Carter and his coworkers at the Lansing Correctional 
Facility still touched other people and countless surfaces all day, 
every day: putting on and taking off handcuffs, opening doors and 
working multiple buildings in the same day or week.

Stress levels 
at one of the state’s largest and oldest prisons were rising. The staff 
needed to work longer hours because people had been laid off earlier in 
the year. Carter had been exposed to the virus outside of work, and 
twice self-isolated as a precaution, but a human resources employee told
 him he had to come to work the second time because he didn’t have 
symptoms.

“You can’t fit that many people under that roof and keep them distanced in any way, shape or form,” he said.

Carter
 could no longer justify the risk of bringing the virus home to his 
family, so he quit on April 28 in public fashion, posting his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlayinBass/posts/10157071205391464" target="_blank">resignation letter</a> on Facebook and talking to media outlets.

“We all saw the writing on the wall a couple of months ago,” Carter 
said. “Every senior staff looked at each other and said, ‘You know what?
 If this thing shows up in our prison, everybody’s got it. There’s no 
way around it.’”

Since March 31, 790 of about 10,000 inmates and 97 staffers have <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">tested positive for COVID-19</a>,
 which has been found in seven of the state’s facilities (of which there
 are nine adult prisons and one juvenile prison). At Lansing, 44% of 
prisoners tested positive, and three inmates and two corrections 
officers have died.

Knowing how quickly the virus can spread 
inside close quarters, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas 
tried and lost a lawsuit in which they wanted the state to release about
 55% of prisoners.

Under usual circumstances, prisons are 
dangerous and understaffed, which can lead officers to consider 
quitting. And during the pandemic, four current or former officers told 
the Kansas News Service, the state hasn’t done enough to protect them 
and acted too late to contain it.

The
 Kansas Department of Corrections issued updated guidelines in early 
April regarding the use of personal protective equipment and the 
screening of inmates and employees who enter any prison. It has tested 
all of the inmates at Lansing and begun testing inmates at the Wichita 
Work Release Facility, and announced that it would give <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/kansas-gives-inmates-cloth-masks-coronavirus-aclu-lawsuit-says-lives-risk" target="_blank">fabric masks</a> to all inmates and employees in early April.

“We
 will continue to review our practices and improve those whenever and 
wherever possible,” agency secretary Jeff Zmuda said this week. He 
announced the agency will also begin testing all of its staff.

The
 department has also started giving $200 per week to employees working 
in prisons with positive COVID-19 cases, although workers are only 
eligible if they don’t take any time off during each week.

Lansing
 is the state’s most affected facility. As of May 13, 750 out of 1,699 
people who are incarcerated there have tested positive for COVID-19. 
Most are asymptomatic. Three of those people have died. Among staffers 
at the prison in Leavenworth County, 88 have tested positive, and two <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-12/family-says-lansing-correctional-facility-worker-died-this-week-from-covid-19">died this week</a>.

The
 department said Thursday it would move all inmates from the Wichita 
facility to Lansing after finding 38 positive cases in Wichita, almost 
all of which are asymptomatic.

A corrections officer at Lansing, 
who spoke with the Kansas News Service on the condition of anonymity 
because of the risk of retaliation, brings in cleaning supplies and hand
 sanitizer to share with coworkers because the prison doesn’t provide 
enough.

Some coworkers, the corrections officer said, have had 
trouble finding child care because daycares won’t take the children of 
Lansing employees anymore.

“What are they going to do when 
everybody catches it … and nobody wants to come to work?” the officer 
said. “They have put us on the back burner for so long.”

In
 mid-April, the DOC announced it would be giving masks to all staff and 
inmates. But the officer said employees had to ask directly for masks, 
rather than receiving them as a group. The officer asked a nurse for 
one, but a nurse said she had been instructed not to provide masks to 
staff.

The officers also have been told they will face 
disciplinary action if they bring in outside masks, said the officer, 
who uses masks obtained from a local dentist rather than the ones 
distributed by the state.

“I feel a mask is a mask, and right now that’s basically all we have to protect us,” the officer said.

The Lansing officer also said that for two weeks at the end of April,
 no laundry was being done — not even the inmates’ masks — because 
prisoners were being moved to new buildings that didn’t have working 
laundry facilities. Currently, the officer said, laundry and food carts 
aren’t sanitized, even though they move between the two buildings where 
inmates are staying.

For weeks, criminal justice advocates in 
Kansas have raised questions and asked for solutions for the potentially
 unsafe conditions in state prisons during the pandemic. In March, some 
public defenders sent a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly asking her to release
 prisoners to reduce virus transmission — both in prisons and in the 
homes and communities where employees live.

“This is a public 
safety, a public health concern,” public defender Jennifer Roth, who 
signed the letter, told the Kansas News Service.

The state released six people on house arrest, but does not plan to release any more, Zmuda said.

At the same time, ACLU unsuccessfully <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-30/kansas-prisons-are-fighting-a-lawsuit-to-release-prisoners-to-reduce-covid-19-spread" target="_blank">sued to force the state</a>
 to release people who were convicted of minor crimes, had a short 
amount of time left on their sentences or were vulnerable due to age or 
illness.

"We are definitely disappointed for our clients who 
continue to face dangerous and declining conditions inside Lansing,” 
executive director Nadine Johnson said in an emailed statement. “KDOC's 
efforts clearly are not enough to protect the people they have a legal 
obligation to keep safe.”

There
 are only six known cases in the Topeka Correctional Facility, the 
state’s only women’s prison. But officers there still fear for their 
lives and safety — as well as their families’ well being, corrections 
officer Jon-Wesley O’Hara said.

“Most of us do not have any way to
 isolate from our families if it happens,” he said. “When it comes, 
we'll bring it home and we're going to have to figure out how to live 
with ourselves.”

O’Hara said it’s helped that new inmates are 
quarantined when they arrive at the Topeka prison. But many inmates 
don’t wear their masks, he said, and it’s impossible to keep people from
 congregating the yard during recreation periods.

In the day rooms, the phones for inmate use are clustered within a few feet of each other.

“If
 you want to have contact with people on the outside,” O’Hara said, 
“you’re going to have to deal with people that are not six feet away 
from you.There’s just no way around that.”

More staff at the 
Topeka women’s prison are staying home due to illness, childcare issues 
or self-isolation, O’Hara said. And several members of the prison’s 
crisis-response team were temporarily transferred to Lansing.

The 
short-staffing has led to more officers working overtime in Topeka. Some
 of his coworkers have cancelled vacations because they don’t have 
enough paid time off to self-quarantine for two weeks following travel 
to high-risk areas.

Like Lansing, Topeka corrections officers 
often move between multiple buildings in the same shift, which increases
 the risk of transmission between units. That’s according to Cody Hill, 
another corrections officer at the Topeka facility.

The prison has
 required social distancing in the medication line, Hill said. But 
education programs still go on in crowded classrooms. While the building
 has decreased chow-hall occupancy during meal times, he said, people 
still sit fairly close to each other for breakfast and dinner.

Hill
 said inmates have been bringing trays back to their dorms for lunch, 
where they sleep close enough to touch. Starting Monday, inmates will 
bring all of their meals to their dorms, corrections spokesperson 
Rebecca Witte said in an email.

Hill hasn’t considered quitting, 
though. He thinks his work is important and doesn’t want to take the 
risk of being unemployed during a recession. But he feels the Department
 of Corrections has communicated poorly with staff.

“We don’t proactively plan for things,” Hill said, “and it really shows whenever we come to a crisis like this.”

Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589552648366.png" alt="The Topeka Correctional Facility has six coronavirus cases. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The Topeka Correctional Facility has six coronavirus cases. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-14/kansas-prison-workers-want-more-covid-19-protection-after-2-guards-and-3-inmates-die">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE, Kansas — In his 15 years as a corrections officer at
 a northeast Kansas prison, David Carter witnessed stabbings, worked 
through riots and broke up more fights than he can count. He was used to
 risky situations.When the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-04-14/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-to-know-about-the-covid-19-coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus pandemic</a>
 showed up, Carter and his coworkers at the Lansing Correctional 
Facility still touched other people and countless surfaces all day, 
every day: putting on and taking off handcuffs, opening doors and 
working multiple buildings in the same day or week.Stress levels 
at one of the state’s largest and oldest prisons were rising. The staff 
needed to work longer hours because people had been laid off earlier in 
the year. Carter had been exposed to the virus outside of work, and 
twice self-isolated as a precaution, but a human resources employee told
 him he had to come to work the second time because he didn’t have 
symptoms.“You can’t fit that many people under that roof and keep them distanced in any way, shape or form,” he said.Carter
 could no longer justify the risk of bringing the virus home to his 
family, so he quit on April 28 in public fashion, posting his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlayinBass/posts/10157071205391464" target="_blank">resignation letter</a> on Facebook and talking to media outlets.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589552740460.png" alt="David Carter (left) quit his job at the Lansing Correctional Facility on April 28. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>David Carter (left) quit his job at the Lansing Correctional Facility on April 28. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“We all saw the writing on the wall a couple of months ago,” Carter 
said. “Every senior staff looked at each other and said, ‘You know what?
 If this thing shows up in our prison, everybody’s got it. There’s no 
way around it.’”Since March 31, 790 of about 10,000 inmates and 97 staffers have <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">tested positive for COVID-19</a>,
 which has been found in seven of the state’s facilities (of which there
 are nine adult prisons and one juvenile prison). At Lansing, 44% of 
prisoners tested positive, and three inmates and two corrections 
officers have died.Knowing how quickly the virus can spread 
inside close quarters, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas 
tried and lost a lawsuit in which they wanted the state to release about
 55% of prisoners.Under usual circumstances, prisons are 
dangerous and understaffed, which can lead officers to consider 
quitting. And during the pandemic, four current or former officers told 
the Kansas News Service, the state hasn’t done enough to protect them 
and acted too late to contain it.<h2>A community problem</h2>The
 Kansas Department of Corrections issued updated guidelines in early 
April regarding the use of personal protective equipment and the 
screening of inmates and employees who enter any prison. It has tested 
all of the inmates at Lansing and begun testing inmates at the Wichita 
Work Release Facility, and announced that it would give <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/kansas-gives-inmates-cloth-masks-coronavirus-aclu-lawsuit-says-lives-risk" target="_blank">fabric masks</a> to all inmates and employees in early April.“We
 will continue to review our practices and improve those whenever and 
wherever possible,” agency secretary Jeff Zmuda said this week. He 
announced the agency will also begin testing all of its staff.The
 department has also started giving $200 per week to employees working 
in prisons with positive COVID-19 cases, although workers are only 
eligible if they don’t take any time off during each week.Lansing
 is the state’s most affected facility. As of May 13, 750 out of 1,699 
people who are incarcerated there have tested positive for COVID-19. 
Most are asymptomatic. Three of those people have died. Among staffers 
at the prison in Leavenworth County, 88 have tested positive, and two <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-12/family-says-lansing-correctional-facility-worker-died-this-week-from-covid-19">died this week</a>.The
 department said Thursday it would move all inmates from the Wichita 
facility to Lansing after finding 38 positive cases in Wichita, almost 
all of which are asymptomatic.A corrections officer at Lansing, 
who spoke with the Kansas News Service on the condition of anonymity 
because of the risk of retaliation, brings in cleaning supplies and hand
 sanitizer to share with coworkers because the prison doesn’t provide 
enough.Some coworkers, the corrections officer said, have had 
trouble finding child care because daycares won’t take the children of 
Lansing employees anymore.“What are they going to do when 
everybody catches it … and nobody wants to come to work?” the officer 
said. “They have put us on the back burner for so long.”<h2>Conditions inside Lansing</h2>In
 mid-April, the DOC announced it would be giving masks to all staff and 
inmates. But the officer said employees had to ask directly for masks, 
rather than receiving them as a group. The officer asked a nurse for 
one, but a nurse said she had been instructed not to provide masks to 
staff.The officers also have been told they will face 
disciplinary action if they bring in outside masks, said the officer, 
who uses masks obtained from a local dentist rather than the ones 
distributed by the state.“I feel a mask is a mask, and right now that’s basically all we have to protect us,” the officer said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589552778361.png" alt="A mask issued to corrections officers by the Kansas Department of Corrections. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A mask issued to corrections officers by the Kansas Department of Corrections. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Lansing officer also said that for two weeks at the end of April,
 no laundry was being done — not even the inmates’ masks — because 
prisoners were being moved to new buildings that didn’t have working 
laundry facilities. Currently, the officer said, laundry and food carts 
aren’t sanitized, even though they move between the two buildings where 
inmates are staying.For weeks, criminal justice advocates in 
Kansas have raised questions and asked for solutions for the potentially
 unsafe conditions in state prisons during the pandemic. In March, some 
public defenders sent a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly asking her to release
 prisoners to reduce virus transmission — both in prisons and in the 
homes and communities where employees live.“This is a public 
safety, a public health concern,” public defender Jennifer Roth, who 
signed the letter, told the Kansas News Service.The state released six people on house arrest, but does not plan to release any more, Zmuda said.At the same time, ACLU unsuccessfully <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-30/kansas-prisons-are-fighting-a-lawsuit-to-release-prisoners-to-reduce-covid-19-spread" target="_blank">sued to force the state</a>
 to release people who were convicted of minor crimes, had a short 
amount of time left on their sentences or were vulnerable due to age or 
illness."We are definitely disappointed for our clients who 
continue to face dangerous and declining conditions inside Lansing,” 
executive director Nadine Johnson said in an emailed statement. “KDOC's 
efforts clearly are not enough to protect the people they have a legal 
obligation to keep safe.”<h2>Fewer cases, similar worries</h2>There
 are only six known cases in the Topeka Correctional Facility, the 
state’s only women’s prison. But officers there still fear for their 
lives and safety — as well as their families’ well being, corrections 
officer Jon-Wesley O’Hara said.“Most of us do not have any way to
 isolate from our families if it happens,” he said. “When it comes, 
we'll bring it home and we're going to have to figure out how to live 
with ourselves.”O’Hara said it’s helped that new inmates are 
quarantined when they arrive at the Topeka prison. But many inmates 
don’t wear their masks, he said, and it’s impossible to keep people from
 congregating the yard during recreation periods.In the day rooms, the phones for inmate use are clustered within a few feet of each other.“If
 you want to have contact with people on the outside,” O’Hara said, 
“you’re going to have to deal with people that are not six feet away 
from you.There’s just no way around that.”More staff at the 
Topeka women’s prison are staying home due to illness, childcare issues 
or self-isolation, O’Hara said. And several members of the prison’s 
crisis-response team were temporarily transferred to Lansing.The 
short-staffing has led to more officers working overtime in Topeka. Some
 of his coworkers have cancelled vacations because they don’t have 
enough paid time off to self-quarantine for two weeks following travel 
to high-risk areas.Like Lansing, Topeka corrections officers 
often move between multiple buildings in the same shift, which increases
 the risk of transmission between units. That’s according to Cody Hill, 
another corrections officer at the Topeka facility.The prison has
 required social distancing in the medication line, Hill said. But 
education programs still go on in crowded classrooms. While the building
 has decreased chow-hall occupancy during meal times, he said, people 
still sit fairly close to each other for breakfast and dinner.Hill
 said inmates have been bringing trays back to their dorms for lunch, 
where they sleep close enough to touch. Starting Monday, inmates will 
bring all of their meals to their dorms, corrections spokesperson 
Rebecca Witte said in an email.Hill hasn’t considered quitting, 
though. He thinks his work is important and doesn’t want to take the 
risk of being unemployed during a recession. But he feels the Department
 of Corrections has communicated poorly with staff.“We don’t proactively plan for things,” Hill said, “and it really shows whenever we come to a crisis like this.”Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

Kan. prison workers want more protection after deaths of guards, inmates

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man identified as&nbsp;20-year-old Keaton B. Knutsen  at an apartment complex in Topeka.&nbsp;

Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded&nbsp; the apartment complex in the 3700 block of SW Plaza Dr. on a check welfare call, according to Lt. John Trimble. 

Officers located Knutsen who was deceased.&nbsp;

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man at an apartment complex in Topeka.

Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded&nbsp; the apartment complex in the 3700 block of SW Plaza Dr. on a check

welfare call, according to Lt. John Trimble. Officers located a subject who was deceased. Police released no additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man identified as&nbsp;20-year-old Keaton B. Knutsen at an apartment complex in Topeka.&nbsp;Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded&nbsp; the apartment complex in the 3700 block of SW Plaza Dr. on a check welfare call, according to Lt. John Trimble. Officers located Knutsen who was deceased.&nbsp;--------SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man at an apartment complex in Topeka.Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded&nbsp; the apartment complex in the 3700 block of SW Plaza Dr. on a checkwelfare call, according to Lt. John Trimble. Officers located a subject who was deceased. Police released no additional details.

Update: Police ID man found dead at Kan. apartment complex

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man was charged Friday in connection with a fire that damaged a ceremonial tipi at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Ryan Adam Sekayouma Simpson, 32, of Lawrence, was charged with arson, a felony, and two counts of misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

The tipi, which was built to honor the 2020 graduating class at Haskell, was destroyed by fire early on May 9 at the school’s campus in Lawrence.

The Lawrence-Douglas County fire department said Monday the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were helping with the investigation. Simpson was arrested Thursday.

A fundraiser to replace the tipi, worth an estimated $2,500 to $3,000, raised more than $15,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589158211222.png" alt="TIpi fire photo courtesy Haskell Indian Leader" />
 <figcaption>TIpi fire photo courtesy Haskell Indian Leader</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man was charged Friday in connection with a fire that damaged a ceremonial tipi at Haskell Indian Nations University.Ryan Adam Sekayouma Simpson, 32, of Lawrence, was charged with arson, a felony, and two counts of misdemeanor criminal trespassing.The tipi, which was built to honor the 2020 graduating class at Haskell, was destroyed by fire early on May 9 at the school’s campus in Lawrence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589749909000.png" alt="Simpson photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Simpson photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>The Lawrence-Douglas County fire department said Monday the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were helping with the investigation. Simpson was arrested Thursday.A fundraiser to replace the tipi, worth an estimated $2,500 to $3,000, raised more than $15,000.

Kan. man charged for burning tipi at Kansas Indian school

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado judge is expected to be sentenced to a jail term for pleading guilty to a second DUI charge within two years. 

&nbsp;62-year-old Debra Gunkel pleaded guilty to violating the terms of her probation from a 2018 DUI case in Prowers County. 

The conviction would have been erased from the Baca County judge’s record if she completed two years of probation, but Gunkel was arrested for driving while drunk in Kansas in August.

 Gunkel’s probation was revoked after the charge was filed. Jail time will be mandatory after her expected plea in June.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589318144664.png" alt="Gunkel photo Greeley Co." />
 <figcaption>Gunkel photo Greeley Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A Colorado judge is expected to be sentenced to a jail term for pleading guilty to a second DUI charge within two years. &nbsp;62-year-old Debra Gunkel pleaded guilty to violating the terms of her probation from a 2018 DUI case in Prowers County. The conviction would have been erased from the Baca County judge’s record if she completed two years of probation, but Gunkel was arrested for driving while drunk in Kansas in August. Gunkel’s probation was revoked after the charge was filed. Jail time will be mandatory after her expected plea in June.

Judge arrested in Kan. for DUI expected to spend time in jail

JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for allege drug distribution.

On Thursday, A sheriff’s deputy stopped a Ford F-250 pickup truck that was northbound on U.S. 75 south of Hoyt, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy located a quantity of a substance believed to be ecstasy and marijuana. 

The driver, Stephen Virgil Albright, 36, of Topeka was arrested on requested charges of distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a hallucinogenic drug and no drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589634744740.png" alt="Albright-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Albright-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for allege drug distribution.On Thursday, A sheriff’s deputy stopped a Ford F-250 pickup truck that was northbound on U.S. 75 south of Hoyt, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputy located a quantity of a substance believed to be ecstasy and marijuana. The driver, Stephen Virgil Albright, 36, of Topeka was arrested on requested charges of distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a hallucinogenic drug and no drug tax stamp.

Deputy finds ecstasy, marijuana in Kan. man's pickup

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — FedEx has confirmed that workers from its facility in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe have tested positive for COVID-19.

A spokesperson from FedEx Ground said in a statement Friday that it was working cooperatively with county health officials and offering voluntary COVID-19 testing to employees and vendors at the facility.

The positive tests are considered to be the first cluster of coronavirus cases tied to a workplace in Johnson County, which announced nine cases in the cluster Thursday without identifying the name of the affected business.

FedEx said it has been providing hand soap, disinfecting wipes, masks, latex gloves and hand sanitizer to employees. It said it has also implemented temperature checks, symptom screenings and changes to its process to allow for social distancing.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — FedEx has confirmed that workers from its facility in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe have tested positive for COVID-19.A spokesperson from FedEx Ground said in a statement Friday that it was working cooperatively with county health officials and offering voluntary COVID-19 testing to employees and vendors at the facility.The positive tests are considered to be the first cluster of coronavirus cases tied to a workplace in Johnson County, which announced nine cases in the cluster Thursday without identifying the name of the affected business.FedEx said it has been providing hand soap, disinfecting wipes, masks, latex gloves and hand sanitizer to employees. It said it has also implemented temperature checks, symptom screenings and changes to its process to allow for social distancing.

Coronavirus infects workers at FedEx facility in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ education commissioner is cautiously optimistic that the state’s 500,000 public school students will be back in their classrooms when the fall semester begins.

Commissioner Randy Watson concedes it’s difficult to predict the future as it relates to the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced schools to go to mostly online learning since mid-March.

“We’re about 90 days now from the opening of school and I think there’s still much to learn about it,” Watson said. “We’re cautiously optimistic that we can be back in school face-to-face in August. What that looks like, it’s just too early to tell.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly became the nation’s first governor to order closure of school buildings on March 17. The Kansas Department of Education intends to present a reopening guide to school districts by July 10, Watson said.

Restart scenarios should take into account a standard reopening as well as an alternative that would include blending in-person and online teaching, Watson said. The contingency could be needed if there is resurgence of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Different infection-control actions may be necessary in different parts of the state, depending on infection clusters, he said.

When classes resume, it is essential to rebuild school learning environments for students with disabilities and those losing ground academically and emotionally, Watson said.

Statewide, Kansas has recorded 193 deaths and 7,900 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, although the numbers are believed to be low due to initial limits in testing.

For most people, 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 and death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584484524519.png" alt="Dr. Randy Watson during the governor's March 17, press conference on the closure of school buildings in Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Randy Watson during the governor's March 17, press conference on the closure of school buildings in Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ education commissioner is cautiously optimistic that the state’s 500,000 public school students will be back in their classrooms when the fall semester begins.Commissioner Randy Watson concedes it’s difficult to predict the future as it relates to the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced schools to go to mostly online learning since mid-March.“We’re about 90 days now from the opening of school and I think there’s still much to learn about it,” Watson said. “We’re cautiously optimistic that we can be back in school face-to-face in August. What that looks like, it’s just too early to tell.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly became the nation’s first governor to order closure of school buildings on March 17. The Kansas Department of Education intends to present a reopening guide to school districts by July 10, Watson said.Restart scenarios should take into account a standard reopening as well as an alternative that would include blending in-person and online teaching, Watson said. The contingency could be needed if there is resurgence of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Different infection-control actions may be necessary in different parts of the state, depending on infection clusters, he said.When classes resume, it is essential to rebuild school learning environments for students with disabilities and those losing ground academically and emotionally, Watson said.Statewide, Kansas has recorded 193 deaths and 7,900 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, although the numbers are believed to be low due to initial limits in testing.For most people, 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 and death.

Kansas education leader hopeful for fall in-person classes

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Authorities have recovered the body and identified the man who drowned in Mission Creek on Friday 32-year-old Cody, L. Campbell, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

Campbell's body was recovered&nbsp;with the assistance of the Topeka, Dover, Auburn, Mission and Shawnee Heights Fire Departments as well as Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association.

Just after 9:30a.m., the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a possible drowning in Mission Creek near the 1800 block of SW Glick Road, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

According to statements at the scene, two individuals were on land working near the creek when one of the men later identified as Campbell jumped in to try to save a dog that entered the water.

Campbell was swept under by the fast moving water. The other individual attempted a rescue but was unsuccessful.

Emergency crews arriving at the scene Friday morning -photo&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Shawnee-Co-Sheriff-investigting-death-west-of-Topeka--570503851.html">courtesy WIBW TV</a>

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Authorities are on the scene of a drowning in northeast Kansas.

According to statements at the scene, two individuals were on land working near the creek when one of the men jumped in to try to save a dog that entered the water.

The man was swept under by the fast moving water. The other individual attempted a rescue but was unsuccessful.

A recovery operation is underway with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Dover Fire Department, Mission Fire Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, according to Anderson.

Check the Post for additional details as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589667251150.png" alt="Search crews on Mission Creek Saturday-photo courtesy WIBW -TV" />
 <figcaption>Search crews on Mission Creek Saturday-photo courtesy WIBW -TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Authorities have recovered the body and identified the man who drowned in Mission Creek on Friday 32-year-old Cody, L. Campbell, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.Campbell's body was recovered&nbsp;with the assistance of the Topeka, Dover, Auburn, Mission and Shawnee Heights Fire Departments as well as Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association.Just after 9:30a.m., the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a possible drowning in Mission Creek near the 1800 block of SW Glick Road, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.According to statements at the scene, two individuals were on land working near the creek when one of the men later identified as Campbell jumped in to try to save a dog that entered the water.Campbell was swept under by the fast moving water. The other individual attempted a rescue but was unsuccessful.---------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589565824443.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Emergency crews arriving at the scene Friday morning -photo&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Shawnee-Co-Sheriff-investigting-death-west-of-Topeka--570503851.html">courtesy WIBW TV</a>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Authorities are on the scene of a drowning in northeast Kansas.Just after 9:30a.m., the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a possible drowning in Mission Creek near the 1800 block of SW Glick Road, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.According to statements at the scene, two individuals were on land working near the creek when one of the men jumped in to try to save a dog that entered the water.The man was swept under by the fast moving water. The other individual attempted a rescue but was unsuccessful.A recovery operation is underway with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Dover Fire Department, Mission Fire Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, according to Anderson.Check the Post for additional details as it becomes available.

Update: Man drowns attempting to save dog in Kan. creek

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Linda MowBray admits she’s uneasy as communities ease restrictions meant to stop the coronavirus spread, luring people back to restaurants, businesses and normal life.

She gets it that the economy needs to be up and running again. But MowBray worries that as that happens nursing home workers could contract the virus and bring it into a facility without knowing.

“I’m scared to death of what’s going to happen,” MowBray, president of the Kansas Health Care Association, a nursing home advocacy group, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article242645586.html">The Kansas City Star</a>. “The virus is still out there, and people will still get sick. And when you have workers carrying it into a frail population, more people are going to die.”

She emphasizes that long-term care facilities still have a crucial need for the big three: Testing, personal protective equipment and more resources.

To that end, Vice President Mike Pence may have offered MowBray and other advocates a small sign of hope this week. During a call with governors on Monday, Pence recommended that all residents and staff of nursing homes be tested for COVID-19 in the next two weeks.

But just how that can happen is still unknown.

Officials with Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services are “having internal discussions” with the governor’s office about Pence’s recommendation, said Kristi Zears, a spokeswoman for KDHE.

Currently, facilities in the state monitor residents and staff for symptoms and test anyone who is symptomatic. If someone tests positive, KDHE works with the county health department to test everyone in that facility.

The need for testing kits and lab processing will be great if Pence’s recommendation is followed.

In Kansas alone, there are more than 300 nursing homes that are Medicaid and/or Medicare-certified. That accounts for 20,000 residents and 20,000 staff, Zears said.

In Johnson County, the health department hopes the resources are there to expand testing, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.

“As mentioned several times, testing needs to increase by several folds,” Areola said. “And we will continue to work to obtain these resources. We are working to establish relationships with local infection control experts to use as resources for these facilities.”

In Missouri, nearly 80 long-term care facilities have reported two or more cases. Though the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services does not track nursing home COVID-19 deaths, residents have died at several facilities in Missouri — including in Cass and Jackson counties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586045672182.png" alt="Over 100 patients and staff have tested positive for the virus at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation facility in Kansas City, Kansas.&nbsp; More than two dozen died, according to the KDHE. photo courtesy Riverbend" />
 <figcaption>Over 100 patients and staff have tested positive for the virus at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation facility in Kansas City, Kansas.&nbsp; More than two dozen died, according to the KDHE. photo courtesy Riverbend</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Linda MowBray admits she’s uneasy as communities ease restrictions meant to stop the coronavirus spread, luring people back to restaurants, businesses and normal life.She gets it that the economy needs to be up and running again. But MowBray worries that as that happens nursing home workers could contract the virus and bring it into a facility without knowing.“I’m scared to death of what’s going to happen,” MowBray, president of the Kansas Health Care Association, a nursing home advocacy group, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article242645586.html">The Kansas City Star</a>. “The virus is still out there, and people will still get sick. And when you have workers carrying it into a frail population, more people are going to die.”She emphasizes that long-term care facilities still have a crucial need for the big three: Testing, personal protective equipment and more resources.To that end, Vice President Mike Pence may have offered MowBray and other advocates a small sign of hope this week. During a call with governors on Monday, Pence recommended that all residents and staff of nursing homes be tested for COVID-19 in the next two weeks.But just how that can happen is still unknown.Officials with Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services are “having internal discussions” with the governor’s office about Pence’s recommendation, said Kristi Zears, a spokeswoman for KDHE.Currently, facilities in the state monitor residents and staff for symptoms and test anyone who is symptomatic. If someone tests positive, KDHE works with the county health department to test everyone in that facility.The need for testing kits and lab processing will be great if Pence’s recommendation is followed.In Kansas alone, there are more than 300 nursing homes that are Medicaid and/or Medicare-certified. That accounts for 20,000 residents and 20,000 staff, Zears said.In Johnson County, the health department hopes the resources are there to expand testing, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.“As mentioned several times, testing needs to increase by several folds,” Areola said. “And we will continue to work to obtain these resources. We are working to establish relationships with local infection control experts to use as resources for these facilities.”In Missouri, nearly 80 long-term care facilities have reported two or more cases. Though the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services does not track nursing home COVID-19 deaths, residents have died at several facilities in Missouri — including in Cass and Jackson counties.“We believe it’s critical that adequate testing be made widely available immediately now that we understand that individuals can have the virus but not show any symptoms,” said Nikki Strong, executive director of Missouri Health Care Association. “It’s time to rally around our long-term care workers, who are frontline heroes.”Beyond testing, long-term care facilities on both sides of the state line are experiencing staffing shortages and struggle to access enough protective equipment and other resources.Facilities have to deal with these issues, advocates say, before they can even attempt to get back to any sense of normalcy and allow visitors again.“The $100,000 question is how do we open it back up?” MowBray said. “At this point I really don’t know when it will be a safe and prudent thing to do. ... Letting people back in, it’s risky. And the staff are going to be out and about more, that’s risky.”In both Kansas and Missouri, state orders say there should be no visitation at long-term care facilities during the first phase of reopening.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s order ends May 31. It isn’t known what restrictions will be included in the next phases.In Kansas City, health officials stress the need to be cautious with this vulnerable population.“We know families are yearning to visit their loved ones in nursing homes, to embrace them and look them in the eyes,” said Tracie McClendon-Cole, deputy director of the Kansas City Health Department. “As much as we want to visit freely, we have to remember this disease is most dangerous and deadly to them. We want families reunited, but will argue for strict and careful guidelines to protect their lives.”Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s order doesn’t allow nursing home visits until the third phase of reopening. The order states that visits to long-term care facilities — as well as correctional facilities — “may be gradually reinstated.” The earliest the third phase could begin is June 1.Nursing homes have the flexibility to implement their own visitation polices as long as they do not contradict the governor’s plan, said Cara Sloan-Ramos, a spokeswoman with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. Counties also may require different timelines.As both states relax some restrictions, nursing facilities are still dealing with surges of coronavirus cases.As of Wednesday, coronavirus deaths linked to long-term care facilities in Johnson County account for 74% of the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the county.Homestead of Olathe North has reported 21 cases and five deaths. Forest Creek Memory Care in Overland Park has had 24 cases and seven deaths. Bickford at Mission Springs now has nine cases, according to the county health department.And at Brighton Gardens of Prairie Village, staff have been overwhelmed with coronavirus cases, reporting the most cases and deaths in Johnson County. Cases jumped to 71 this week, and 14 people have died.Prairie Village Councilwoman Jori Nelson continues to keep her constituents updated on Facebook on the virus inside the long-term care facility. This past weekend she posted when cases at Brighton Gardens stood at 70 and with 13 deaths.“These are our residents,” she wrote. “These are mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles. They are much more than a statistic. This is devastating to our families and our community.”Nelson told The Star she has constituents with family members who live at Brighton Gardens and they weren’t getting answers to questions about what was happening at the facility.“My heart aches for those that have lost their lives and those who continue to struggle with the virus,” Nelson said. “It’s heartbreaking.”Sunrise Senior Living, owner of the Prairie Village facility, released a statement on Tuesday to detail the precautions being taken in the facility.Denise Falco, regional vice president of operations, said Brighton Gardens is working closely with the county health department to implement new measures to protect staff and residents.The facility has just completed a second round of testing of people who previously tested negative for COVID-19. Based on those results, Falco said, Brighton Gardens will move residents who are positive to a separate area of the facility.“We are deeply saddened by the impact this virus has had on our community,” Falco said. “Please know that we are doing everything we can to mitigate further impact to our community. We take our responsibility to provide quality care to our residents very seriously.”