TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican legislator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5754325796fa71b55a24b02648406648">who worked with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly</a>&nbsp;on a plan for expanding Medicaid in Kansas announced Friday that he is not seeking re-election.

Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning said it’s time for him to focus again on his wife and business. The Overland Park Republican is the retired CEO of an eye care and optical surgery company and was expected to have a tough re-election race this year.

“Throughout this journey, I have promoted fiscally responsible policy and remained focused on evaluation all legislation in a practical and pragmatic fashion,” Denning said.

Denning was elected to the House in 2010 and to the Senate in 2012, becoming its No. 2 leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6974366ea0c04c7d9a3e0624b6573fa0">in 2016.</a>&nbsp;The only candidate so far in his Kansas City-area district is Democratic Rep. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park.

He helped block Medicaid expansion in 2019 but outlined&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/59fe470d42cb538a734572660a7d84b4" target="_blank">his own plan</a>&nbsp;in October before working with Kelly on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5cf2666dc8dbd4b88e1f313e28a655d">a bipartisan proposal</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5cf2666dc8dbd4b88e1f313e28a655d"></a>hasn’t gotten a vote.

In 2019, Denning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/439928cb258248bb90b22f6abe7ee81e">sued The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;over a freelancer’s column that criticized him for opposing Medicaid expansion, alleging the column defamed him by falsely attributing statements to him. A judge dismissed the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588956743770.png" alt="Senator Denning and Gov. Laura Kelly on the day they announced the Medicaid expansion agreement" />
 <figcaption>Senator Denning and Gov. Laura Kelly on the day they announced the Medicaid expansion agreement</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican legislator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5754325796fa71b55a24b02648406648">who worked with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly</a>&nbsp;on a plan for expanding Medicaid in Kansas announced Friday that he is not seeking re-election.Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning said it’s time for him to focus again on his wife and business. The Overland Park Republican is the retired CEO of an eye care and optical surgery company and was expected to have a tough re-election race this year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It is with great thought and reflection that I announce I will not seek another term in the Kansas Legislature. &quot;No legislator will accomplish everything they set out to do, but we do our best to ensure our district is represented and that we serve our people responsibly.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/l30tQdfnnw">pic.twitter.com/l30tQdfnnw</a>&mdash; Jim Denning (@JimDenning4KS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimDenning4KS/status/1258776250748932097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Throughout this journey, I have promoted fiscally responsible policy and remained focused on evaluation all legislation in a practical and pragmatic fashion,” Denning said.Denning was elected to the House in 2010 and to the Senate in 2012, becoming its No. 2 leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6974366ea0c04c7d9a3e0624b6573fa0">in 2016.</a>&nbsp;The only candidate so far in his Kansas City-area district is Democratic Rep. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park.He helped block Medicaid expansion in 2019 but outlined&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/59fe470d42cb538a734572660a7d84b4" target="_blank">his own plan</a>&nbsp;in October before working with Kelly on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5cf2666dc8dbd4b88e1f313e28a655d">a bipartisan proposal</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5cf2666dc8dbd4b88e1f313e28a655d"></a>hasn’t gotten a vote.In 2019, Denning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/439928cb258248bb90b22f6abe7ee81e">sued The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;over a freelancer’s column that criticized him for opposing Medicaid expansion, alleging the column defamed him by falsely attributing statements to him. A judge dismissed the case.___

Kansas GOP leader pushing Medicaid plan not running again

SALINE COUNTY —Rolling Hills Zoo announced Friday that its male snow leopard, Gobi, was found dead in his indoor quarters by his keepers during morning rounds on May 4, according to a media release.

There were no indications that anything was wrong prior to his death.&nbsp; A gross necropsy has been performed.&nbsp;&nbsp; Tests showed that Gobi was negative for SARS and COVID-19.&nbsp; The zoo is now awaiting further results from the histopathology.&nbsp;

Gobi, was born on May 25, 2009, at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. He moved to Rolling Hills Zoo on April 7, 2011.&nbsp; Snow leopards are typically solitary animals in the wild, and although he was paired with several females at RHZ, he never produced offspring.&nbsp;&nbsp; In captivity snow leopards have been known to live as long as 22 years, but life in the wild is much harder, so the life expectancy is more likely to be 10 – 12 years.&nbsp;

According to his keepers, Gobi was sassy, headstrong and stubborn, and loved attention and interactions with his keepers.&nbsp; Some of his favorite games were playing chase as the keepers ran along the outside of his habitat and stocking his keepers at supper time.&nbsp;

“He loved to play hide and seek,” shared Kira Noda, relief keeper. &nbsp;“We would play where I would ‘hide’ behind the rocks and he would pounce from the other side when he found me. He wouldn’t shift inside for the night until we played both chase and hide and seek.”

“He could brighten any day with his chuffs, tail twitches and spunky personality, and always had to add his two cents to a conversation,” said his keeper, Siarra Abker. &nbsp;&nbsp;“Sometimes he would act like he was not paying attention to us, but his tail would always give him away because whenever we talked to him his tail would twitch, so we knew he was listening even if it didn’t seem like it.”

Gobi was trained to present different body parts which allowed the keepers to do physical exams on a regular basis.&nbsp; He was also trained to present his tail to his keepers so it could eventually be used for injections should the need arise.&nbsp; With the trainings, his favorite treat was chicken, and he also loved the sensory enrichment of rhino hay and nutmeg.&nbsp;

As one of the zoo’s featured artists, Gobi loved to paint.&nbsp; One of the keepers’ favorite memories was when they were painting with Gobi and he flicked paint at one of the keepers because she used too much paint and he was offended. &nbsp;It was his way of showing her who was in charge, and it wasn’t the keepers.&nbsp;

According to the Snow Leopard Trust, while exact numbers are unknown, there may be as few as 3,920 snow leopards left in the wild and probably no more than 6,390. Known throughout the world for their beautiful coats, this elusive cat faces numerous threats including poaching for snow leopard parts. Between 2008 and 2016, one snow leopard was reportedly killed and traded every day, 220 – 450 cats per year, and the true extent of the problem is thought to be even bigger. Other threats include habitat loss, mining and climate change.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588968406118.jpeg" alt="Gobi would have turned 11-year-old this month-&nbsp;Photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Gobi would have turned 11-year-old this month-&nbsp;Photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Rolling Hills Zoo announced Friday that its male snow leopard, Gobi, was found dead in his indoor quarters by his keepers during morning rounds on May 4, according to a media release.There were no indications that anything was wrong prior to his death.&nbsp; A gross necropsy has been performed.&nbsp;&nbsp; Tests showed that Gobi was negative for SARS and COVID-19.&nbsp; The zoo is now awaiting further results from the histopathology.&nbsp;Gobi, was born on May 25, 2009, at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. He moved to Rolling Hills Zoo on April 7, 2011.&nbsp; Snow leopards are typically solitary animals in the wild, and although he was paired with several females at RHZ, he never produced offspring.&nbsp;&nbsp; In captivity snow leopards have been known to live as long as 22 years, but life in the wild is much harder, so the life expectancy is more likely to be 10 – 12 years.&nbsp;According to his keepers, Gobi was sassy, headstrong and stubborn, and loved attention and interactions with his keepers.&nbsp; Some of his favorite games were playing chase as the keepers ran along the outside of his habitat and stocking his keepers at supper time.&nbsp;“He loved to play hide and seek,” shared Kira Noda, relief keeper. &nbsp;“We would play where I would ‘hide’ behind the rocks and he would pounce from the other side when he found me. He wouldn’t shift inside for the night until we played both chase and hide and seek.”“He could brighten any day with his chuffs, tail twitches and spunky personality, and always had to add his two cents to a conversation,” said his keeper, Siarra Abker. &nbsp;&nbsp;“Sometimes he would act like he was not paying attention to us, but his tail would always give him away because whenever we talked to him his tail would twitch, so we knew he was listening even if it didn’t seem like it.”Gobi was trained to present different body parts which allowed the keepers to do physical exams on a regular basis.&nbsp; He was also trained to present his tail to his keepers so it could eventually be used for injections should the need arise.&nbsp; With the trainings, his favorite treat was chicken, and he also loved the sensory enrichment of rhino hay and nutmeg.&nbsp;As one of the zoo’s featured artists, Gobi loved to paint.&nbsp; One of the keepers’ favorite memories was when they were painting with Gobi and he flicked paint at one of the keepers because she used too much paint and he was offended. &nbsp;It was his way of showing her who was in charge, and it wasn’t the keepers.&nbsp;According to the Snow Leopard Trust, while exact numbers are unknown, there may be as few as 3,920 snow leopards left in the wild and probably no more than 6,390. Known throughout the world for their beautiful coats, this elusive cat faces numerous threats including poaching for snow leopard parts. Between 2008 and 2016, one snow leopard was reportedly killed and traded every day, 220 – 450 cats per year, and the true extent of the problem is thought to be even bigger. Other threats include habitat loss, mining and climate change.

Kansas zoo investigates death of snow leopard

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly and&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, discuss the latest updates regarding COVID-19.   

The governor also announced the state received an $8 million grant to enhance early childhood education in Kansas.

In compliance with the governor’s Executive Order limiting mass gatherings in Kansas, the press briefings are held virtually, done with 10&nbsp;total people (or less) in the room. 

The room limit will be strictly enforced in an effort to comply with CDC and KDHE recommended social distancing policies. This number includes

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly and&nbsp;Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, discuss the latest updates regarding COVID-19.   The governor also announced the state received an $8 million grant to enhance early childhood education in Kansas.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F728967931256339%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>In compliance with the governor’s Executive Order limiting mass gatherings in Kansas, the press briefings are held virtually, done with 10&nbsp;total people (or less) in the room. The room limit will be strictly enforced in an effort to comply with CDC and KDHE recommended social distancing policies. This number includes

🎥 Gov. Kelly update on the battle against coronavirus

For some, it could mean choosing between a paycheck and their health

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-08/for-some-kansans-going-back-to-work-in-a-pandemic-could-mean-risking-their-lives">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — The economic shutdown driven by the COVID-19 outbreak put Sherri Calderwood out of work. 

Then her job waiting tables opened up again.

But
 that opportunity came with a tough choice, one she shares with millions
 of other Americans: Somehow manage without a paycheck or risk her 
health earning a living.

Several years ago, she had a blood 
disease that required doctors to remove her spleen, a fist-sized organ 
that helps the body fight infection.

With a weakened immune 
system, Calderwood fears returning to work at Topeka’s Hanover Pancake 
House, a diner that’s been her “home away from home” for the past 21 
years.

“I’ve always felt safe,” she said, “Now I don’t, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

Closed
 for more than a month, the restaurant reopened a few weeks ago for 
carryout orders. Eager to overcome her fears, Calderwood volunteered to 
work a partial shift hoping it would prepare her to come back full time 
when the dining room reopened the following week.

That
 excitement turned to panic when she overheard a few coworkers talking 
about how they had largely ignored Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order
 while the restaurant was closed.

“I’m thinking, ‘Oh, my God, I 
haven’t left my house and here I am standing with people that have been 
out running around,’” Calderwood said.

“So, the panic attack got worse,” she said. “I couldn’t breathe.”

Seeing
 Calderwood in distress, owner Scott Albrecht walked her to the door and
 told her it was OK to stay home for another couple of weeks.

Still in tears, she couldn’t make herself leave.

“I thought, ‘If I walked out this door, I’m never going to have my job back,’” she said.

Calderwood is determined to show up for work on May 18 even if she hasn’t entirely put her fears to rest.

“I just have to suck it up and do it,” she said. “(The job) isn’t just my livelihood, it’s my life.”

Calderwood’s
 anxiety mirrors that of untold others forced to weigh the need to pay 
their bills against the risks of returning to work with cases of 
COVID-19 still on the rise.

Buttressing those concerns are <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/01/848931228/essential-workers-plan-may-day-strikes-others-demand-end-to-covid-19-lockdowns" target="_blank">reports of the virus’ toll on essential workers </a>forced to stay on the job during the height of the pandemic.

Soaring infection rates in <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-04/despite-meatpacking-plants-efforts-kansas-workers-say-were-right-next-to-each-other" target="_blank">southwest Kansas meatpacking plants </a>also serve as a cautionary tale to people being called back to workplaces where mitigation measures are hard to put into practice.

At
 the restaurant, Albrecht has rearranged tables and blocked off every 
other booth to comply with social distancing rules. He’s purchased masks
 for his workers but doesn’t require that they wear them. However, they 
are required to disinfect tables and chairs after every use.

Some retailers are encouraging people to wear masks and attempting to
 make social distancing easier by reconfiguring areas where people 
gather such as checkout lines.

Those kinds of<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/225/How-to-protect-yourself-and-others" target="_blank"> basic precautions,</a>
 said Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment, significantly reduce the risk of exposure to the 
coronavirus.

“But you cannot mitigate risk down to zero,” he said.

Employers that ignore mitigation guidelines or half-heartedly enforce them are Karen Davis’ concern.

She
 said she lost her job in a Johnson County dental clinic because she 
questioned whether enough was being done to protect patients and 
employees.

“I ended up only working there like a day and a half,” Davis said. “I just knew it wasn’t safe.”

Since
 going public with her concerns, Davis has fielded a steady stream of 
complaints from other hygienists afraid to confront their bosses.

“They’re private messaging and calling me,” she said.

Among other things, Davis worries some clinics aren’t providing hygienists with masks capable of blocking <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVID19InfectionControlForAerosolGeneratingProcedures.pdf" target="_blank">particles put into the air by common procedures</a> such as cleaning or scaling teeth.

The
 head of the Kansas Dental Association said his members “understand the 
gravity of the situation” and are taking steps to ensure the safety of 
their workers and patients.

Even though there have been “no instances of COVID-19 transmission from dental treatment,” KDA Director Kevin Robertson said in <a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/0650eda1201/9f813f33-cfda-4a61-9c50-d3a49e376615.pdf" target="_blank">a recent letter to the governor,</a> Kansas dentists are providing a “heightened level of infection control” as they resume practicing.

That
 includes screening patients for the virus, expanding the use of 
personal protective equipment and adhering to social distancing 
safeguards, Robertson said in the letter co-signed by the association’s 
president and the chair of its reopening task force.

People
 worried about returning to work because of an underlying health 
condition or an employer’s failure to take steps to mitigate the spread 
of the virus have options, at least when it comes to collecting 
unemployment.

In some states, workers who decline to return to 
work are no longer eligible for benefits. But Kelly decided to handle 
those situations differently in Kansas.

“We are going to deal with that on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

That means people <a href="https://www.dol.ks.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/job-refusal-info.pdf" target="_blank">can continue receiving benefits</a>
 as long as they “have good cause for declining the work,” said Laurel 
Klein Searles, the head of the unemployment division at the Kansas 
Department of Labor.

Kansans on unemployment who refuse a job 
offer must notify the agency when they file their weekly claim, Klein 
Searles said. The employer who extended the offer should also alert the 
agency that it had been declined, she said.

To avoid 
he-said-she-said disputes, Klein Searles said, people claiming to have 
an underlying health condition should be prepared to provide supporting 
documentation.

“We need that,” she said, “to prove, ‘Yes, I am at high risk and I do have good cause for rejecting this job offer.’”

Nearly 240,000 Kansans have filed for unemployment since March 14.

Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for 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. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks or 
email jim@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588962352579.png" alt="Sherri Calderwood has worked at a Topeka diner for 21 years but a health condition has her afraid to return during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Sherri Calderwood has worked at a Topeka diner for 21 years but a health condition has her afraid to return during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>For some, it could mean choosing between a paycheck and their health</h2>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-08/for-some-kansans-going-back-to-work-in-a-pandemic-could-mean-risking-their-lives">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — The economic shutdown driven by the COVID-19 outbreak put Sherri Calderwood out of work. Then her job waiting tables opened up again.But
 that opportunity came with a tough choice, one she shares with millions
 of other Americans: Somehow manage without a paycheck or risk her 
health earning a living.Several years ago, she had a blood 
disease that required doctors to remove her spleen, a fist-sized organ 
that helps the body fight infection.With a weakened immune 
system, Calderwood fears returning to work at Topeka’s Hanover Pancake 
House, a diner that’s been her “home away from home” for the past 21 
years.“I’ve always felt safe,” she said, “Now I don’t, and I don’t know how to handle it.”Closed
 for more than a month, the restaurant reopened a few weeks ago for 
carryout orders. Eager to overcome her fears, Calderwood volunteered to 
work a partial shift hoping it would prepare her to come back full time 
when the dining room reopened the following week.“I was so excited,” she said.That
 excitement turned to panic when she overheard a few coworkers talking 
about how they had largely ignored Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order
 while the restaurant was closed.“I’m thinking, ‘Oh, my God, I 
haven’t left my house and here I am standing with people that have been 
out running around,’” Calderwood said.“So, the panic attack got worse,” she said. “I couldn’t breathe.”Seeing
 Calderwood in distress, owner Scott Albrecht walked her to the door and
 told her it was OK to stay home for another couple of weeks.Still in tears, she couldn’t make herself leave.“I thought, ‘If I walked out this door, I’m never going to have my job back,’” she said.Calderwood is determined to show up for work on May 18 even if she hasn’t entirely put her fears to rest.“I just have to suck it up and do it,” she said. “(The job) isn’t just my livelihood, it’s my life.”<h2>Reason for concern</h2>Calderwood’s
 anxiety mirrors that of untold others forced to weigh the need to pay 
their bills against the risks of returning to work with cases of 
COVID-19 still on the rise.Buttressing those concerns are <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/01/848931228/essential-workers-plan-may-day-strikes-others-demand-end-to-covid-19-lockdowns" target="_blank">reports of the virus’ toll on essential workers </a>forced to stay on the job during the height of the pandemic.Soaring infection rates in <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-04/despite-meatpacking-plants-efforts-kansas-workers-say-were-right-next-to-each-other" target="_blank">southwest Kansas meatpacking plants </a>also serve as a cautionary tale to people being called back to workplaces where mitigation measures are hard to put into practice.At
 the restaurant, Albrecht has rearranged tables and blocked off every 
other booth to comply with social distancing rules. He’s purchased masks
 for his workers but doesn’t require that they wear them. However, they 
are required to disinfect tables and chairs after every use.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588962503558.png" alt="Seating has been restricted to comply with social distancing rules. Jim McLean photo" />
 <figcaption>Seating has been restricted to comply with social distancing rules. Jim McLean photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Some retailers are encouraging people to wear masks and attempting to
 make social distancing easier by reconfiguring areas where people 
gather such as checkout lines.Those kinds of<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/225/How-to-protect-yourself-and-others" target="_blank"> basic precautions,</a>
 said Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment, significantly reduce the risk of exposure to the 
coronavirus.“But you cannot mitigate risk down to zero,” he said.Employers that ignore mitigation guidelines or half-heartedly enforce them are Karen Davis’ concern.She
 said she lost her job in a Johnson County dental clinic because she 
questioned whether enough was being done to protect patients and 
employees.“I ended up only working there like a day and a half,” Davis said. “I just knew it wasn’t safe.”Since
 going public with her concerns, Davis has fielded a steady stream of 
complaints from other hygienists afraid to confront their bosses.“They’re private messaging and calling me,” she said.Among other things, Davis worries some clinics aren’t providing hygienists with masks capable of blocking <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVID19InfectionControlForAerosolGeneratingProcedures.pdf" target="_blank">particles put into the air by common procedures</a> such as cleaning or scaling teeth.The
 head of the Kansas Dental Association said his members “understand the 
gravity of the situation” and are taking steps to ensure the safety of 
their workers and patients.Even though there have been “no instances of COVID-19 transmission from dental treatment,” KDA Director Kevin Robertson said in <a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/0650eda1201/9f813f33-cfda-4a61-9c50-d3a49e376615.pdf" target="_blank">a recent letter to the governor,</a> Kansas dentists are providing a “heightened level of infection control” as they resume practicing.That
 includes screening patients for the virus, expanding the use of 
personal protective equipment and adhering to social distancing 
safeguards, Robertson said in the letter co-signed by the association’s 
president and the chair of its reopening task force.<h2>Options for some</h2>People
 worried about returning to work because of an underlying health 
condition or an employer’s failure to take steps to mitigate the spread 
of the virus have options, at least when it comes to collecting 
unemployment.In some states, workers who decline to return to 
work are no longer eligible for benefits. But Kelly decided to handle 
those situations differently in Kansas.“We are going to deal with that on a case-by-case basis,” she said.That means people <a href="https://www.dol.ks.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/job-refusal-info.pdf" target="_blank">can continue receiving benefits</a>
 as long as they “have good cause for declining the work,” said Laurel 
Klein Searles, the head of the unemployment division at the Kansas 
Department of Labor.Kansans on unemployment who refuse a job 
offer must notify the agency when they file their weekly claim, Klein 
Searles said. The employer who extended the offer should also alert the 
agency that it had been declined, she said.To avoid 
he-said-she-said disputes, Klein Searles said, people claiming to have 
an underlying health condition should be prepared to provide supporting 
documentation.“We need that,” she said, “to prove, ‘Yes, I am at high risk and I do have good cause for rejecting this job offer.’”Nearly 240,000 Kansans have filed for unemployment since March 14.Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for 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. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks or 
email jim@kcur.org.

For some Kansans, going back to work could mean risking their lives

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 357 to a total of 6501, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 357 to a total of 6501, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 152<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/2020/5/1588958244088.png" alt="May 8, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>May 8, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

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


HUTCHINSON — 
The digital differences between students in Kansas K-12 education have been brought into sharp relief this year.

"We've
 known for several years that children, especially those who live in 
some of the more remote rural areas, or those who live in high poverty 
areas just do not have access to broadband internet either at all or to a
 reliable supplier," said KASB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Leah 
Fliter. "We've known that. It's something that the state has been 
attempting to work on through a broadband task force, but you know, it's
 been slow going."

The federal level may provide some hope in that regard if proposed legislation makes it into the next COVID-19 stimulus bill.

"The
 Emergency Educational Connections Act, that's a bill that would provide
 $4 billion for internet connectivity across the nation," Fliter said. 
"It would assist with broadband devices, with Wi-Fi hotspots and other 
connectivity issues for students across the United States."

The 
National Center for Education Statistics estimates 14 percent of 
school-aged children didn’t have home internet access in 2017. Kansas 
was slightly below that national rate.

"In Kansas, that's 70,000 kids we estimate do not have broadband internet access at home," Fliter said.

For
 those who think online delivery might be the solution to a long-term 
teacher shortage in the state, in order for that to be viable, the 
students need to have internet access at home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588957609333.jpeg" alt="1588933801473.jpeg" />
 <figcaption>1588933801473.jpeg</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — 
The digital differences between students in Kansas K-12 education have been brought into sharp relief this year."We've
 known for several years that children, especially those who live in 
some of the more remote rural areas, or those who live in high poverty 
areas just do not have access to broadband internet either at all or to a
 reliable supplier," said KASB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Leah 
Fliter. "We've known that. It's something that the state has been 
attempting to work on through a broadband task force, but you know, it's
 been slow going."The federal level may provide some hope in that regard if proposed legislation makes it into the next COVID-19 stimulus bill."The
 Emergency Educational Connections Act, that's a bill that would provide
 $4 billion for internet connectivity across the nation," Fliter said. 
"It would assist with broadband devices, with Wi-Fi hotspots and other 
connectivity issues for students across the United States."The 
National Center for Education Statistics estimates 14 percent of 
school-aged children didn’t have home internet access in 2017. Kansas 
was slightly below that national rate."In Kansas, that's 70,000 kids we estimate do not have broadband internet access at home," Fliter said.For
 those who think online delivery might be the solution to a long-term 
teacher shortage in the state, in order for that to be viable, the 
students need to have internet access at home.

Pandemic brings rural broadband disparity for students into focus

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An employee of a payday loan business in Wichita is recovering after an armed robber doused the man with pepper spray. Police say the crime happened Thursday afternoon at a Check N’ Go business. 

The robber, wearing a scarf over his face, demanded that the 49-year-old worker open the cash drawer. 

During the crime, police say, the employee suffered minor injuries after being doused in pepper spray. The robber got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled in a car.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An employee of a payday loan business in Wichita is recovering after an armed robber doused the man with pepper spray. Police say the crime happened Thursday afternoon at a Check N’ Go business. The robber, wearing a scarf over his face, demanded that the 49-year-old worker open the cash drawer. During the crime, police say, the employee suffered minor injuries after being doused in pepper spray. The robber got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled in a car.

Kansas robbery suspect used pepper-spray, took cash

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573767524960.jpeg">Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/ag-news" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a> for live commodity prices and the latest in national agriculture news.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575655356437.jpeg">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@melissaaskew?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Melissa Askew</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/wheat?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Unsplash</a>

Ag News & Markets, brought to you by La Crosse Livestock Market

Steve Webster of Eagle Radio of Great Bend talked with Kansas State High School Activities Association Executive Director Bill Faflick on Thursday on Sports Day on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.

Faflick discussed KSHSAA's moves during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent actions and the future of high school activities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141477893.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Steve Webster of Eagle Radio of Great Bend talked with Kansas State High School Activities Association Executive Director Bill Faflick on Thursday on Sports Day on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.Faflick discussed KSHSAA's moves during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent actions and the future of high school activities.Listen to the interview below...<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/815714557&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=false&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/faflick" title="Interview: KSHSAA Director Bill Faflick" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Interview: KSHSAA Director Bill Faflick</a></div></div>

🎤 KSHSAA director discusses future of high school activities

SALINA —Police are investigating the alleged theft of a dog in Salina.

On Wednesday, a two-year-old Siberian Husky, valued at an estimated $1200.00, got out of its owner's yard in the 500 block of Reynolds Street, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. 

A neighbor saw the dog in her front yard in the 700 block of Lincoln and attempted to secure the dog for the owner, but was unsuccessful.

Later the same day, the same neighbor’s front door camera captured two women walking the dog with a blue rope tied around the dog’s neck. The owner was informed of this and assumed the woman would contact the animal shelter for the dog. She contacted the animal shelter and they did not have the dog.

Police are reviewing surveillance video, according to Forrester.

SALINA —Police are investigating the alleged theft of a dog in Salina.On Wednesday, a two-year-old Siberian Husky, valued at an estimated $1200.00, got out of its owner's yard in the 500 block of Reynolds Street, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. A neighbor saw the dog in her front yard in the 700 block of Lincoln and attempted to secure the dog for the owner, but was unsuccessful.Later the same day, the same neighbor’s front door camera captured two women walking the dog with a blue rope tied around the dog’s neck. The owner was informed of this and assumed the woman would contact the animal shelter for the dog. She contacted the animal shelter and they did not have the dog.Police are reviewing surveillance video, according to Forrester.

Police: Kan. woman reports her $1,200 dog was stolen

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s top Republican legislative critic on Thursday launched an effort to curb the governor’s power in emergencies, impose oversight over the spending of federal aid and force Kelly to provide tax relief to struggling businesses.

Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican and U.S. Senate candidate, said she has directed four chairs to convene in-person Statehouse meetings of their committees before May 21, the last and only remaining day the GOP-controlled Legislature is set to be in session this year. Lawmakers have been on an extended spring break since March 20 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Legislators attempted in March to check the governor’s power in emergencies,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/37347b5c68770654119e27f910af3cc2">passing a resolution</a>&nbsp;to give their leaders the power to overturn Kelly’s executive orders. But when Republican leaders overturned an order limiting in-person religious gatherings, Kelly sued and the Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">reinstated her order</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds.

The Legislature did not seek to check the governor’s emergency powers when Republicans Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer held the office before Kelly. And less than a year ago, the Legislature&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hcr5015/" target="_blank">unanimously approved</a>&nbsp;a resolution&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/hcr5015_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">extending a disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;Kelly issued over flooding into January of this year, without attempting to curb the broad power granted to a governor&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/statute/048_000_0000_chapter/048_009_0000_article/048_009_0025_section/048_009_0025_k/" target="_blank">by state law</a>&nbsp;when such a declaration is in force.

“Whenever there’s an emergency, everybody comes together and gets behind the governor, regardless of the party of the governor,” said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat. “Senator Wagle has kind of changed that tradition. She’s decide to make emergencies partisan.”

Kansas joins other states, including Michigan and Ohio, where governors or state public health officials have faced a backlash from legislators frustrated with the executive orders or what they perceive as the slow pace of reopening the economy.

In Kansas, top Republican legislators have grown increasingly frustrated with Kelly as she avoided their oversight by issuing a second emergency declaration after her first expired May 1. The second declaration is in effect through May 14, yet Kelly’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/abd6bb1cfc4f6349d94f853f04b12bcb">plan for a phased-in reopening</a>&nbsp;of the economy calls for some restrictions to remain in place until June 15.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr, a Kansas City-area Republican, questioned whether Kelly has the legal authority to keep issuing new disaster declarations for the same emergency as a way to avoid asking the Legislature or its leaders to extend the existing one.

Lawmakers could attempt to clarify that issue. Some Republicans also have argued for legislative oversight of a governor’s decisions, and some GOP conservatives want to limit the governor’s power to restrict church gatherings, close businesses or ban gun sales, which Kelly hasn’t done or suggested she would do.

Kelly also has not extended the May 10 deadline for home and business owners to pay half of their local property taxes, something Wagle has advocated.

“Our forefathers created checks and balances on political authority,” Wagle said Thursday. “Uncertainty abounds regarding the governor’s plan to re-open Kansas safely and what she may do in the coming months when the Legislature is not in session. Those issues must be addressed.”

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, another Kansas City-area Republican, said lawmakers need to set up oversight over how the state spends $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus aid, adding that having no oversight would be “unprecedented.”

“The most important duty delegated to our legislative body is to be the fiscal steward of taxpayer funds,” Denning said.

Kelly announced late Wednesday that she had created a coronavirus recovery team that will include legislators from both parties. Spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said Thursday that the governor is pursuing “a thoughtful, collaborative, transparent and bipartisan approach.”

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said Wagle is “desperately seeking attention” for a foundering Senate campaign with “one political stunt after another.” He also said Republicans are flummoxed because Kelly enjoys public support for “an extraordinarily effective” coronavirus response.

“They just don’t know how to handle somebody that can be that effective,” Hensley said. “They’re used to incompetence.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588892130482.png" alt="Kansas Laura Kelly answers questions during Wednesday's press briefing" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Laura Kelly answers questions during Wednesday's press briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s top Republican legislative critic on Thursday launched an effort to curb the governor’s power in emergencies, impose oversight over the spending of federal aid and force Kelly to provide tax relief to struggling businesses.Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican and U.S. Senate candidate, said she has directed four chairs to convene in-person Statehouse meetings of their committees before May 21, the last and only remaining day the GOP-controlled Legislature is set to be in session this year. Lawmakers have been on an extended spring break since March 20 because of the coronavirus pandemic.Legislators attempted in March to check the governor’s power in emergencies,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/37347b5c68770654119e27f910af3cc2">passing a resolution</a>&nbsp;to give their leaders the power to overturn Kelly’s executive orders. But when Republican leaders overturned an order limiting in-person religious gatherings, Kelly sued and the Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">reinstated her order</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds.The Legislature did not seek to check the governor’s emergency powers when Republicans Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer held the office before Kelly. And less than a year ago, the Legislature&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hcr5015/" target="_blank">unanimously approved</a>&nbsp;a resolution&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/hcr5015_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">extending a disaster declaration</a>&nbsp;Kelly issued over flooding into January of this year, without attempting to curb the broad power granted to a governor&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/statute/048_000_0000_chapter/048_009_0000_article/048_009_0025_section/048_009_0025_k/" target="_blank">by state law</a>&nbsp;when such a declaration is in force.“Whenever there’s an emergency, everybody comes together and gets behind the governor, regardless of the party of the governor,” said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat. “Senator Wagle has kind of changed that tradition. She’s decide to make emergencies partisan.”Kansas joins other states, including Michigan and Ohio, where governors or state public health officials have faced a backlash from legislators frustrated with the executive orders or what they perceive as the slow pace of reopening the economy.In Kansas, top Republican legislators have grown increasingly frustrated with Kelly as she avoided their oversight by issuing a second emergency declaration after her first expired May 1. The second declaration is in effect through May 14, yet Kelly’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/abd6bb1cfc4f6349d94f853f04b12bcb">plan for a phased-in reopening</a>&nbsp;of the economy calls for some restrictions to remain in place until June 15.House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr, a Kansas City-area Republican, questioned whether Kelly has the legal authority to keep issuing new disaster declarations for the same emergency as a way to avoid asking the Legislature or its leaders to extend the existing one.Lawmakers could attempt to clarify that issue. Some Republicans also have argued for legislative oversight of a governor’s decisions, and some GOP conservatives want to limit the governor’s power to restrict church gatherings, close businesses or ban gun sales, which Kelly hasn’t done or suggested she would do.Kelly also has not extended the May 10 deadline for home and business owners to pay half of their local property taxes, something Wagle has advocated.“Our forefathers created checks and balances on political authority,” Wagle said Thursday. “Uncertainty abounds regarding the governor’s plan to re-open Kansas safely and what she may do in the coming months when the Legislature is not in session. Those issues must be addressed.”Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, another Kansas City-area Republican, said lawmakers need to set up oversight over how the state spends $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus aid, adding that having no oversight would be “unprecedented.”“The most important duty delegated to our legislative body is to be the fiscal steward of taxpayer funds,” Denning said.Kelly announced late Wednesday that she had created a coronavirus recovery team that will include legislators from both parties. Spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said Thursday that the governor is pursuing “a thoughtful, collaborative, transparent and bipartisan approach.”Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said Wagle is “desperately seeking attention” for a foundering Senate campaign with “one political stunt after another.” He also said Republicans are flummoxed because Kelly enjoys public support for “an extraordinarily effective” coronavirus response.“They just don’t know how to handle somebody that can be that effective,” Hensley said. “They’re used to incompetence.”___

GOP critic moves to curb Kansas governor's emergency power

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures are stark evidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shattered economy.

The losses reflect what has become a severe recession caused by sudden business shutdowns in nearly every industry. Almost all the job growth achieved during the 11-year recovery from the Great Recession has now been lost in one month.

The collapse of the job market has occurred with stunning speed. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was a five-decade low of 3.5%, and employers had added jobs for a record 113 months. In March, the unemployment rate was just 4.4%

The government’s report Friday noted that many people who lost jobs in April but didn’t look for another one weren’t even counted in the unemployment rate. The impact of those losses was reflected in the drop in the proportion of working-age Americans who have jobs: Just 51.3%, the lowest on record.

In addition to the millions of newly unemployed, 5.1 million others had their hours reduced in April. That trend, too, means less income and less spending, perpetuating the economic downturn. A measure of what’s called underemployment — which counts the unemployed plus full-time workers who were reduced to part-time work — reached 22.8%, a record high.

Though some businesses are beginning to reopen in certain states, factories, hotels, restaurants, resorts, sporting venues, movie theaters and many small businesses are still largely shuttered. As companies have laid off tens of millions, lives have been upended across the country.

One of the newly unemployed, Sara Barnard, 24, of St. Louis, has lost three jobs: A floor manager at a pub and restaurant, a bartender at a small downtown tavern and the occasional stand-up comedian. Her main job was at McGurk’s, an Irish pub and restaurant near downtown that closed days before St. Patrick’s Day. She had worked there continually since high school.

McGurk’s tried selling food curbside, Barnard said, but it was costing more to keep the place open than the money that was coming in. Around that time, the bar where she worked closed, and comedy jobs ended when social distancing requirements forced clubs to close.

McGurk’s is a St. Louis landmark, and Barnard expects it to rebound quickly once it reopens. She just doesn’t know when.

Job losses and pay cuts are ranging across the world. Unemployment in the 19-country eurozone is expected to surpass 10% in coming months as more people are laid off. That figure is expected to remain lower than the U.S. unemployment rate. But it doesn’t count many people who either are furloughed or whose hours are cut but who receive most of their wages from government assistance.

In France, about half the private-sector workforce is on a government paid-leave program whereby they receive up to 84% of their net salary. In Germany, 3 million workers are supported in a similar system, with the government paying up to 60% of their net pay.

In the five weeks covered by the U.S. jobs report for April, 26.5 million people applied for unemployment benefits.

The job loss reported Friday was a smaller figure because the two are measured differently: The government calculates job losses by surveying businesses and households. It’s a net figure that also counts the hiring that some companies, like Amazon and many grocery stores, have done. By contrast, total jobless claims are a measure of just the layoff side of the equation.

For the United States, a key question is where the job market goes from here. Applications for unemployment aid, while high, have declined for five straight weeks, a sign that the worst of the layoffs has passed. Still, few economists expect a rapid turnaround.

The Congressional Budget Office has forecast that the unemployment rate will still be 9.5% by the end of next year. A paper by economists at the San Francisco Federal Reserve estimates that under an optimistic scenario that assumes shutdowns are lifted quickly, the unemployment rate could fall back to about 4% by mid-2021.

But if shutdowns recur and hiring revives more slowly, the jobless rate could remain in double-digits until the end of 2021, the San Francisco Fed economists predict.

Raj Chetty, a Harvard economist, is tracking real-time data on the economy, including consumer spending, small business hiring and job postings. Chetty noted the economy’s health will hinge on when the viral outbreak has subsided enough that most Americans will feel comfortable returning to restaurants, bars, movie theaters and shops.

The data suggests that many small businesses are holding on in hopes that spending and the economy will rebound soon, he said. Small business payrolls have fallen sharply but have leveled off in recent weeks. And job postings haven’t dropped nearly as much as total jobs have. But it’s unclear how much longer those trends will persist.

“There’s only so long you can hold out,” Chetty said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584974379276.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures are stark evidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shattered economy.The losses reflect what has become a severe recession caused by sudden business shutdowns in nearly every industry. Almost all the job growth achieved during the 11-year recovery from the Great Recession has now been lost in one month.The collapse of the job market has occurred with stunning speed. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was a five-decade low of 3.5%, and employers had added jobs for a record 113 months. In March, the unemployment rate was just 4.4%The government’s report Friday noted that many people who lost jobs in April but didn’t look for another one weren’t even counted in the unemployment rate. The impact of those losses was reflected in the drop in the proportion of working-age Americans who have jobs: Just 51.3%, the lowest on record.In addition to the millions of newly unemployed, 5.1 million others had their hours reduced in April. That trend, too, means less income and less spending, perpetuating the economic downturn. A measure of what’s called underemployment — which counts the unemployed plus full-time workers who were reduced to part-time work — reached 22.8%, a record high.Though some businesses are beginning to reopen in certain states, factories, hotels, restaurants, resorts, sporting venues, movie theaters and many small businesses are still largely shuttered. As companies have laid off tens of millions, lives have been upended across the country.One of the newly unemployed, Sara Barnard, 24, of St. Louis, has lost three jobs: A floor manager at a pub and restaurant, a bartender at a small downtown tavern and the occasional stand-up comedian. Her main job was at McGurk’s, an Irish pub and restaurant near downtown that closed days before St. Patrick’s Day. She had worked there continually since high school.McGurk’s tried selling food curbside, Barnard said, but it was costing more to keep the place open than the money that was coming in. Around that time, the bar where she worked closed, and comedy jobs ended when social distancing requirements forced clubs to close.McGurk’s is a St. Louis landmark, and Barnard expects it to rebound quickly once it reopens. She just doesn’t know when.Job losses and pay cuts are ranging across the world. Unemployment in the 19-country eurozone is expected to surpass 10% in coming months as more people are laid off. That figure is expected to remain lower than the U.S. unemployment rate. But it doesn’t count many people who either are furloughed or whose hours are cut but who receive most of their wages from government assistance.In France, about half the private-sector workforce is on a government paid-leave program whereby they receive up to 84% of their net salary. In Germany, 3 million workers are supported in a similar system, with the government paying up to 60% of their net pay.In the five weeks covered by the U.S. jobs report for April, 26.5 million people applied for unemployment benefits.The job loss reported Friday was a smaller figure because the two are measured differently: The government calculates job losses by surveying businesses and households. It’s a net figure that also counts the hiring that some companies, like Amazon and many grocery stores, have done. By contrast, total jobless claims are a measure of just the layoff side of the equation.For the United States, a key question is where the job market goes from here. Applications for unemployment aid, while high, have declined for five straight weeks, a sign that the worst of the layoffs has passed. Still, few economists expect a rapid turnaround.The Congressional Budget Office has forecast that the unemployment rate will still be 9.5% by the end of next year. A paper by economists at the San Francisco Federal Reserve estimates that under an optimistic scenario that assumes shutdowns are lifted quickly, the unemployment rate could fall back to about 4% by mid-2021.But if shutdowns recur and hiring revives more slowly, the jobless rate could remain in double-digits until the end of 2021, the San Francisco Fed economists predict.Raj Chetty, a Harvard economist, is tracking real-time data on the economy, including consumer spending, small business hiring and job postings. Chetty noted the economy’s health will hinge on when the viral outbreak has subsided enough that most Americans will feel comfortable returning to restaurants, bars, movie theaters and shops.The data suggests that many small businesses are holding on in hopes that spending and the economy will rebound soon, he said. Small business payrolls have fallen sharply but have leveled off in recent weeks. And job postings haven’t dropped nearly as much as total jobs have. But it’s unclear how much longer those trends will persist.“There’s only so long you can hold out,” Chetty said.

Jobless rate spikes to 14.7%, highest since Great Depression

Topeka,&nbsp;Kan.&nbsp;–The Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) has identified some COVID-19 cases linked to the Topeka Service Area on the I-70 Turnpike located at mile marker 188 (just East of Topeka, according to a media relase.

The exposure is specifically designated to the food court and restrooms of the facility. This facility houses a food court which includes the following restaurants: Dunkin Donuts, Hardees, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. The facility is accessible going east and westbound on the I-70 Turnpike.

People who have traveled to food court or used the restrooms of this facility after April 23rd&nbsp;are recommended to contact their primary care provider IF they develop any of the following symptoms within 14 days from the date of their visit fever of 100.4 F or higher,&nbsp;chills, rigors, myalgia (muscle pain or aches, malaise,&nbsp;&nbsp;headache, sore throat, lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) new olfactory and taste disorders, diarrhea

The facility will remain closed while it is sanitized.

Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino, Shawnee County Health Officer stated, ”While the risk of anyone being infected with coronavirus during a visit at the Turnpike food court is probably very low, it is not zero. We think that the public should know that information and should share it with their healthcare provider if they become sick.”

This investigation is being conducted by the Shawnee County Health Department in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

As a reminder, human coronaviruses like the one that causes COVID-19 are most commonly spread through coughing and sneezing, personal contact like shaking hands, and touching a surface with the virus and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. There are simple steps everyone can take to help prevent spreading them:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stay home when you are sick and only leave home for essential items.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588891583149.png" alt="Topeka Service area on I-70 Google image" />
 <figcaption>Topeka Service area on I-70 Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka,&nbsp;Kan.&nbsp;–The Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) has identified some COVID-19 cases linked to the Topeka Service Area on the I-70 Turnpike located at mile marker 188 (just East of Topeka, according to a media relase.The exposure is specifically designated to the food court and restrooms of the facility. This facility houses a food court which includes the following restaurants: Dunkin Donuts, Hardees, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. The facility is accessible going east and westbound on the I-70 Turnpike.People who have traveled to food court or used the restrooms of this facility after April 23rd&nbsp;are recommended to contact their primary care provider IF they develop any of the following symptoms within 14 days from the date of their visit fever of 100.4 F or higher,&nbsp;chills, rigors, myalgia (muscle pain or aches, malaise,&nbsp;&nbsp;headache, sore throat, lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) new olfactory and taste disorders, diarrheaThe facility will remain closed while it is sanitized.Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino, Shawnee County Health Officer stated, ”While the risk of anyone being infected with coronavirus during a visit at the Turnpike food court is probably very low, it is not zero. We think that the public should know that information and should share it with their healthcare provider if they become sick.”This investigation is being conducted by the Shawnee County Health Department in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas Turnpike Authority.As a reminder, human coronaviruses like the one that causes COVID-19 are most commonly spread through coughing and sneezing, personal contact like shaking hands, and touching a surface with the virus and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. There are simple steps everyone can take to help prevent spreading them:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoid close contact with people who are sick.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stay home when you are sick and only leave home for essential items.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Coronavirus cases identified at I-70 service area food court

WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite a massive effort, the nation faces “truly daunting” challenges to deploy millions of coronavirus tests to safely re-open the economy, the head of the National Institutes of Health told lawmakers Thursday.

NIH Director Francis Collins told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee that government and private industry have launched a $2.5 billion, taxpayer-funded effort to develop, manufacture and distribute technology capable of accurately testing millions of people a week by the end of the summer or the fall, before the annual flu season.

<a href="https://apnews.com/64a594728f6e36480ee38cc1502436cc">Widespread availability of testing is seen as critical</a>&nbsp;to reopening the economy because it would allow public health officials to identify and contain a rebound of the virus. It remains a high bar to clear.

“I must tell you, senators, that this is a stretch goal that goes well beyond what most experts think will be possible,” Collins said. “I have encountered some stunned expressions when describing these goals and this timetable to knowledgeable individuals. The scientific and logistical challenges are truly daunting.”

Nonetheless, Collins said “the track record of American ingenuity” gives him optimism. More than three months into the epidemic, the lack of testing is widely acknowledged as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c335958b1f8f6a37b19b421bc7759722">central failing in the nation’s response</a>.

The issue has dogged the White House for weeks. President Donald Trump takes credit for the fact that testing has ramped up dramatically since the early days of the outbreak, when a test from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ran into numerous problems.

But sometimes he also seems uneasy about testing.

“We do, by far, the most testing,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “If we did very little testing, we wouldn’t have the most cases. So, in a way, by doing all of this testing, we make ourselves look bad.”

The U.S. is currently testing more than a million people a week for COVID-19 and White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx has said that weekly number should rise to 2 million or 2.5 million by the middle of June.

But some experts say a million tests per day are needed, or more.

“To test every nursing home, and every prison, everyone in an operating room, and some entire classes and campuses and factories, teams at sports events, and to give those tests more than once, we will need millions more tests,” agreed committee chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. “This demand will only grow as the country goes back to work.”

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the panel, put the blame on Trump for persistent problems with testing.

“The problem isn’t a lack of innovation—it’s a lack of national leadership, and a plan from the White House. “And when it comes to testing, this administration has had no map, and no one at the wheel.”

Congress provided NIH with $1.5 billion to develop tests. To help private industry quickly produce and distribute tests that meet NIH standards, lawmakers gave another $1 billion to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Known as BARDA, that agency is under scrutiny after its director alleged he was ousted for opposing widespread use of a a malaria drug promoted by Trump to treat coronavirus patients.

Collins said the goal is to have highly accurate tests that can provide quick results at the “point-of-care,” such as a doctor’s office or a community health clinic. A special effort is being made to expand testing in minority communities that have taken the brunt of virus deaths.

Many of the currently available tests require processing by a central laboratory to get results. Medical technology giant Abbott already has a point-of-care test available. But Collins said there’s a limited supply of the machines, and that they can sometimes fail to detect a patient who is positive. He said Abbott is working to improve its test, but that he thinks NIH might be able to do better.

NIH has set up what Collins calls a “shark tank” process to quickly identify promising technologies, and test them. Within the agency, the initiative is formally called Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, or RADx. It was launched just last week.

NIH scientists, along with their counterparts in industry and academia, are looking into tests that can use different types of samples, from nasal swabs, saliva, blood, or exhaled breath.

They’re also looking at antigen tests, a form of rapid test that can detect active infection. With time and effort such tests can be modified to be done at home, Collins said, but accuracy has traditionally been a problem.

NIH has received more than 1,000 applications putting forth different ideas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588938823679.png" alt="NIH Director Francis Collins during Senate testimony Thursday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>NIH Director Francis Collins during Senate testimony Thursday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite a massive effort, the nation faces “truly daunting” challenges to deploy millions of coronavirus tests to safely re-open the economy, the head of the National Institutes of Health told lawmakers Thursday.NIH Director Francis Collins told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee that government and private industry have launched a $2.5 billion, taxpayer-funded effort to develop, manufacture and distribute technology capable of accurately testing millions of people a week by the end of the summer or the fall, before the annual flu season.<a href="https://apnews.com/64a594728f6e36480ee38cc1502436cc">Widespread availability of testing is seen as critical</a>&nbsp;to reopening the economy because it would allow public health officials to identify and contain a rebound of the virus. It remains a high bar to clear.“I must tell you, senators, that this is a stretch goal that goes well beyond what most experts think will be possible,” Collins said. “I have encountered some stunned expressions when describing these goals and this timetable to knowledgeable individuals. The scientific and logistical challenges are truly daunting.”Nonetheless, Collins said “the track record of American ingenuity” gives him optimism. More than three months into the epidemic, the lack of testing is widely acknowledged as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c335958b1f8f6a37b19b421bc7759722">central failing in the nation’s response</a>.The issue has dogged the White House for weeks. President Donald Trump takes credit for the fact that testing has ramped up dramatically since the early days of the outbreak, when a test from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ran into numerous problems.But sometimes he also seems uneasy about testing.“We do, by far, the most testing,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “If we did very little testing, we wouldn’t have the most cases. So, in a way, by doing all of this testing, we make ourselves look bad.”The U.S. is currently testing more than a million people a week for COVID-19 and White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx has said that weekly number should rise to 2 million or 2.5 million by the middle of June.But some experts say a million tests per day are needed, or more.“To test every nursing home, and every prison, everyone in an operating room, and some entire classes and campuses and factories, teams at sports events, and to give those tests more than once, we will need millions more tests,” agreed committee chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. “This demand will only grow as the country goes back to work.”Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the panel, put the blame on Trump for persistent problems with testing.“The problem isn’t a lack of innovation—it’s a lack of national leadership, and a plan from the White House. “And when it comes to testing, this administration has had no map, and no one at the wheel.”Congress provided NIH with $1.5 billion to develop tests. To help private industry quickly produce and distribute tests that meet NIH standards, lawmakers gave another $1 billion to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Known as BARDA, that agency is under scrutiny after its director alleged he was ousted for opposing widespread use of a a malaria drug promoted by Trump to treat coronavirus patients.Collins said the goal is to have highly accurate tests that can provide quick results at the “point-of-care,” such as a doctor’s office or a community health clinic. A special effort is being made to expand testing in minority communities that have taken the brunt of virus deaths.Many of the currently available tests require processing by a central laboratory to get results. Medical technology giant Abbott already has a point-of-care test available. But Collins said there’s a limited supply of the machines, and that they can sometimes fail to detect a patient who is positive. He said Abbott is working to improve its test, but that he thinks NIH might be able to do better.NIH has set up what Collins calls a “shark tank” process to quickly identify promising technologies, and test them. Within the agency, the initiative is formally called Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, or RADx. It was launched just last week.NIH scientists, along with their counterparts in industry and academia, are looking into tests that can use different types of samples, from nasal swabs, saliva, blood, or exhaled breath.They’re also looking at antigen tests, a form of rapid test that can detect active infection. With time and effort such tests can be modified to be done at home, Collins said, but accuracy has traditionally been a problem.NIH has received more than 1,000 applications putting forth different ideas.___

US faces 'truly daunting' challenges on needed COVID tests

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made two arrests.

Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, police were doing follow-up in an effort to locate 21-year-old Terrell Sanders, who was wanted regarding an aggravated burglary and robbery from a person investigation that occurred in late March, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Offices observed Sanders getting into the driver’s side of a Maroon Dodge Ram 1500 at apartments in the 3500 block of North Inwood in Wichita and 18-year-old Darius Washington getting into the passenger side.

Officers attempted to stop the truck.&nbsp; Sanders refused to stop, accelerated, and fled from officers. As Sanders fled, he struck a WPD patrol vehicle, causing minor damage and no injuries. 

A traffic purist ensued. During the pursuit, Sanders struck two vehicles occupied by only drivers in the area of 30th and Woodlawn. No one was injured in the collisions. 

After Sanders struck the vehicles, he continued to flee from officers in the truck. In the area of the 2000 block of North Woodlawn, Sanders fled from the truck on foot. 

Officers arrested him after a short foot pursuit. He is being held on requested charges of flee and elude police, two counts of hit and run, two counts of aggravated burglary, robbery from a person, domestic battery, simple battery, multiple traffic charges, and an outstanding warrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Washington was contacted in the truck and arrested on a charge of marijuana possession.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sanders has previously been arrested and convicted on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588883120607.png" alt="Sanders" />
 <figcaption>Sanders</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made two arrests.Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, police were doing follow-up in an effort to locate 21-year-old Terrell Sanders, who was wanted regarding an aggravated burglary and robbery from a person investigation that occurred in late March, according to officer Charley Davidson.Offices observed Sanders getting into the driver’s side of a Maroon Dodge Ram 1500 at apartments in the 3500 block of North Inwood in Wichita and 18-year-old Darius Washington getting into the passenger side.Officers attempted to stop the truck.&nbsp; Sanders refused to stop, accelerated, and fled from officers. As Sanders fled, he struck a WPD patrol vehicle, causing minor damage and no injuries. A traffic purist ensued. During the pursuit, Sanders struck two vehicles occupied by only drivers in the area of 30th and Woodlawn. No one was injured in the collisions. After Sanders struck the vehicles, he continued to flee from officers in the truck. In the area of the 2000 block of North Woodlawn, Sanders fled from the truck on foot. Officers arrested him after a short foot pursuit. He is being held on requested charges of flee and elude police, two counts of hit and run, two counts of aggravated burglary, robbery from a person, domestic battery, simple battery, multiple traffic charges, and an outstanding warrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;Washington was contacted in the truck and arrested on a charge of marijuana possession.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sanders has previously been arrested and convicted on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon.

Kan. burglary suspect crashes into police car during chase

BOURBON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Bourbon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Kenworth semi driven by Hugo Herrera&nbsp;Aguilar, 58, Springdale, Arkansas, was southbound U.S. 69. just north of Third Street in Fort Scott.

The semi struck the median curb, rotated 180 degrees counter clockwise as it crossed U.S. 69 Highway and struck the Pedestrian Catwalk.&nbsp;

Aguilar was transported to the hospital in Fort Scott where he died.

EMS transported a passengerNori M.&nbsp;Santizo-Alvarez, 57, Springdale, Arkansas, to Via Christi.&nbsp; Aguilar was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BOURBON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Bourbon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Kenworth semi driven by Hugo Herrera&nbsp;Aguilar, 58, Springdale, Arkansas, was southbound U.S. 69. just north of Third Street in Fort Scott.The semi struck the median curb, rotated 180 degrees counter clockwise as it crossed U.S. 69 Highway and struck the Pedestrian Catwalk.&nbsp;Aguilar was transported to the hospital in Fort Scott where he died.EMS transported a passengerNori M.&nbsp;Santizo-Alvarez, 57, Springdale, Arkansas, to Via Christi.&nbsp; Aguilar was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver dead after semi crash on Kansas highway

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Crews working to finish fixing levees busted in last year’s deluge are getting some help from the weather.

“Between the flows in the river today and the conditions in our reservoirs, we are in much better shape than we were the first of May a year ago,” said John Remus, who leads the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, during a call Thursday with elected officials and other river stakeholders.

The flooding last spring along the Missouri River and its tributaries inundated thousands of acres of farmland in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

Among 61 levees approved for repair in an area spanning from Rulo, Nebraska, to the mouth of Mississippi River, about half have been restored to the height they were before the flooding. Upstream of Rulo, all but one levee has been restored to pre-flood height, although seeding and grading hasn’t been finished.

Forecasters had warned earlier this year that with the ground saturated and significant snowpack to the north, there was a high risk of flooding. But conditions have been drier over the last few month. That has helped, although the soil remains wetter than usual.

National Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Low said the chance of flooding is still 10% to 30% higher than normal in an area that includes parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588889816065.png" alt="Contractors in East Bottoms in Jackson County, Missouri - moving rock from barge to riverside and moving dirt [rock] to repair damage from 2019 flooding -photo courtesy Army Corp of Engineers" />
 <figcaption>Contractors in East Bottoms in Jackson County, Missouri - moving rock from barge to riverside and moving dirt [rock] to repair damage from 2019 flooding -photo courtesy Army Corp of Engineers</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Crews working to finish fixing levees busted in last year’s deluge are getting some help from the weather.“Between the flows in the river today and the conditions in our reservoirs, we are in much better shape than we were the first of May a year ago,” said John Remus, who leads the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, during a call Thursday with elected officials and other river stakeholders.The flooding last spring along the Missouri River and its tributaries inundated thousands of acres of farmland in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.Among 61 levees approved for repair in an area spanning from Rulo, Nebraska, to the mouth of Mississippi River, about half have been restored to the height they were before the flooding. Upstream of Rulo, all but one levee has been restored to pre-flood height, although seeding and grading hasn’t been finished.Forecasters had warned earlier this year that with the ground saturated and significant snowpack to the north, there was a high risk of flooding. But conditions have been drier over the last few month. That has helped, although the soil remains wetter than usual.National Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Low said the chance of flooding is still 10% to 30% higher than normal in an area that includes parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.