WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dded8ead64598a3893f4046bbe857d2e">run out of money&nbsp;</a>and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.

President Donald Trump said Sunday, “We're getting close to a deal.”

Along with the small business boost, Trump said the negotiators were looking at "helping our hospitals," particularly hard-hit rural health care providers.

A deal could be announced Monday, the president said at a White House briefing.

With small-business owners reeling during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier Sunday he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek.

“I think we’re very close to a deal today. I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he believed a deal could be reached late Sunday or early Monday. “We still have a few more details to deal with,” he said.

The Senate is scheduled for a pro forma session Monday, but no vote has been set.

The House announced it could meet as soon as Wednesday for a recorded vote on the pending package, according to a schedule update from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Under the emerging deal there would be $300 billion for small-business payroll program, and $50 billion would be available for small business disaster fund. Additionally, it would bring $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for testing, according to those involved in the talks

On a conference call Sunday afternoon that included Trump, Mnuchin and Republican senators, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated the only remaining item for discussion involved the money for testing, according to a Senate GOP leadership aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private call.

Under the emerging deal, the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses would get roughly $300 billion, according to Mnuchin. The program has been swamped by companies applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. That left thousands of small businesses in limbo as they sought help. An additional $50 billion in the evolving deal would go for disaster loans.

About $75 billion would go to U.S. hospitals, for those straining under a ballooning coronavirus caseload as well as those struggling to stay financially afloat after suspending elective surgeries during the pandemic. About $25 billion would be added for COVID-19 testing, something states have said was urgently needed. The money for hospitals and testing were priorities sought by congressional Democrats.

But additional aid to state and local governments would be left out, Mnuchin said. Democrats have been keen to boost funding to cash-strapped states and local governments whose revenues have cratered, but the issue threatened to provoke fights between large, high-tax states like California and New York and smaller states more typically run by Republicans.

“The president is willing to consider that in the next bill, but wants to get this over the finish line with a focus on small businesses, hospitals and testing,” Mnuchin said.

He said he’s been in touch with GOP leaders including McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and all are “on board with the same plan.” On the Sunday call with senators, Mnuchin and McConnell reiterated that money for state and local governments as well as food stamps would not be included in the package, according to the GOP aide.

“I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement, that the Senate can pass this tomorrow, and that the House can take it up on Tuesday, and, Wednesday, we’d be back up and running,” Mnuchin said earlier in his TV interview.

Schumer said Democrats would insist on aid for state and local governments. They had submitted a compromise offer Friday that would provide $150 billion for states as well as cities, counties and towns based on need. ‪Key swing states for Trump in the November presidential election — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin — would receive billions in new aid under the proposal, according to a senior Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of private negotiations.

“We are pushing hard,” Schumer said. “We don’t want our police, our firefighters, our EMTs, our bus drivers — this is not an abstract issue. We don’t want them fired.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., predicted an agreement would be reached “soon.”

“I am pleased to report that we have been engaged in bipartisan negotiations on our interim legislation, and our progress is encouraging,” she said in a letter late Saturday to Democratic colleagues.

Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who leads the National Governors’ Association, said he and other governors believe that aid for state and local government is “desperately needed,'' but that it may not be an issue worth fighting over for now.

“I don’t think the deal is finalized yet,” he said. “But, look, we do not want to hold up funding to these small businesses. And we hope that the Democrats and the Republicans in the Senate can come together in a bipartisan way and get something moving for the American people."

Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states needed money from the federal government to ramp up testing, and he blasted legislation that wouldn’t provide it.

“You have the president saying 15 times, ‘It’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors,'" he said. "And then they’re going to pass a piece of legislation that gives you know what to states: zero, zilch, nada, niente. Whatever language you want to say it, nothing. But then how are the states supposed to do this?”

The SBA loans, based on a company’s payroll costs, offer owners forgiveness if they retain workers or rehire those who have been laid off. The law provides for forgiveness for companies in any industry — even businesses like hedge funds and law firms. There’s a limit of $100,000 on the amount of employees’ compensation that can be considered when loan forgiveness is calculated.

While they wait, owners who are shut down or who’ve lost revenue have expressed unease about the longer-term impact the virus outbreak will have on their companies.

“There’s great pain out there,” said Suzanne Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Every hour and day that goes by without this assistance is really hurting them.”

Mnuchin, Schumer and Hogan appeared on CNN's “State of the Union," and Clark spoke on CBS' “Face the Nation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587378698890.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin doing television interviews on Sunday-image courtesy Dept. of Treasury" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin doing television interviews on Sunday-image courtesy Dept. of Treasury</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dded8ead64598a3893f4046bbe857d2e">run out of money&nbsp;</a>and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.President Donald Trump said Sunday, “We're getting close to a deal.”Along with the small business boost, Trump said the negotiators were looking at "helping our hospitals," particularly hard-hit rural health care providers.A deal could be announced Monday, the president said at a White House briefing.With small-business owners reeling during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier Sunday he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek.“I think we’re very close to a deal today. I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” he said.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he believed a deal could be reached late Sunday or early Monday. “We still have a few more details to deal with,” he said.The Senate is scheduled for a pro forma session Monday, but no vote has been set.The House announced it could meet as soon as Wednesday for a recorded vote on the pending package, according to a schedule update from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.Under the emerging deal there would be $300 billion for small-business payroll program, and $50 billion would be available for small business disaster fund. Additionally, it would bring $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for testing, according to those involved in the talksOn a conference call Sunday afternoon that included Trump, Mnuchin and Republican senators, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated the only remaining item for discussion involved the money for testing, according to a Senate GOP leadership aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private call.Under the emerging deal, the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses would get roughly $300 billion, according to Mnuchin. The program has been swamped by companies applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. That left thousands of small businesses in limbo as they sought help. An additional $50 billion in the evolving deal would go for disaster loans.About $75 billion would go to U.S. hospitals, for those straining under a ballooning coronavirus caseload as well as those struggling to stay financially afloat after suspending elective surgeries during the pandemic. About $25 billion would be added for COVID-19 testing, something states have said was urgently needed. The money for hospitals and testing were priorities sought by congressional Democrats.But additional aid to state and local governments would be left out, Mnuchin said. Democrats have been keen to boost funding to cash-strapped states and local governments whose revenues have cratered, but the issue threatened to provoke fights between large, high-tax states like California and New York and smaller states more typically run by Republicans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587378513189.png" alt="President Trump answers questions during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answers questions during Sunday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>“The president is willing to consider that in the next bill, but wants to get this over the finish line with a focus on small businesses, hospitals and testing,” Mnuchin said.He said he’s been in touch with GOP leaders including McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and all are “on board with the same plan.” On the Sunday call with senators, Mnuchin and McConnell reiterated that money for state and local governments as well as food stamps would not be included in the package, according to the GOP aide.“I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement, that the Senate can pass this tomorrow, and that the House can take it up on Tuesday, and, Wednesday, we’d be back up and running,” Mnuchin said earlier in his TV interview.Schumer said Democrats would insist on aid for state and local governments. They had submitted a compromise offer Friday that would provide $150 billion for states as well as cities, counties and towns based on need. ‪Key swing states for Trump in the November presidential election — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin — would receive billions in new aid under the proposal, according to a senior Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of private negotiations.“We are pushing hard,” Schumer said. “We don’t want our police, our firefighters, our EMTs, our bus drivers — this is not an abstract issue. We don’t want them fired.”House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., predicted an agreement would be reached “soon.”“I am pleased to report that we have been engaged in bipartisan negotiations on our interim legislation, and our progress is encouraging,” she said in a letter late Saturday to Democratic colleagues.Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who leads the National Governors’ Association, said he and other governors believe that aid for state and local government is “desperately needed,'' but that it may not be an issue worth fighting over for now.“I don’t think the deal is finalized yet,” he said. “But, look, we do not want to hold up funding to these small businesses. And we hope that the Democrats and the Republicans in the Senate can come together in a bipartisan way and get something moving for the American people."Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states needed money from the federal government to ramp up testing, and he blasted legislation that wouldn’t provide it.“You have the president saying 15 times, ‘It’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors,'" he said. "And then they’re going to pass a piece of legislation that gives you know what to states: zero, zilch, nada, niente. Whatever language you want to say it, nothing. But then how are the states supposed to do this?”The SBA loans, based on a company’s payroll costs, offer owners forgiveness if they retain workers or rehire those who have been laid off. The law provides for forgiveness for companies in any industry — even businesses like hedge funds and law firms. There’s a limit of $100,000 on the amount of employees’ compensation that can be considered when loan forgiveness is calculated.While they wait, owners who are shut down or who’ve lost revenue have expressed unease about the longer-term impact the virus outbreak will have on their companies.“There’s great pain out there,” said Suzanne Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Every hour and day that goes by without this assistance is really hurting them.”Mnuchin, Schumer and Hogan appeared on CNN's “State of the Union," and Clark spoke on CBS' “Face the Nation.”

Evolving virus aid package offers billions for hospitals, testing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Karosis usually strives to protect his personal information. But a scary bout of COVID-19 that began last month with headaches and fevers, progressed to breathing problems and led to a hospital visit has now left him eager to disclose as much as possible to help halt the virus’ spread.

Karosis has already shared personal details with Massachusetts health investigators. And if he was asked to comply with a disease-tracking phone app that monitored his whereabouts but didn’t publicly reveal his name and Cambridge street address, he said he’d do that, too.

“I’m sick and I’m under a quarantine -- hold me accountable for it,” the 27-year-old software salesman said. “You have the potential to kill other people.”

As countries around the world edge toward ending lockdowns and restarting their economies and societies, citizens are being more closely monitored, in nations rich and poor, authoritarian and free.

New systems to track who is infected and who isn’t, and where they’ve been, have been created or extended in China, South Korea and Singapore. And a range of other surveillance systems – some utilizing GPS location data, some gathering medical data – have been debated or piloted in Israel, Germany, the U.K., Italy and elsewhere.

The challenge: achieving the tricky balance between limiting the spread of disease and allowing people freedom to move outside their homes.

Whether the prospect on the table is “immunity passports” or cellphone-based tracking apps, the aim is to protect public health. But experts say it’s also important to avoid a slippery-slope scenario where data collected to minimize the spread of disease is stored indefinitely, available without limits to law enforcement or susceptible to hackers.

“We need to build necessary guardrails for civil liberties,” said Jake Laperruque, a lawyer at the nonprofit Project on Government Oversight in Washington. “If new data is being collected for public health purposes, it should only be used for public health purposes.”

Right now, there is no single official plan for reopening the United States, where the constitutional system gives states responsibility for maintaining public safety and where deaths from COVID-19 continue to rise steeply.

Scientists believe that the hundreds of thousands of people who already have recovered from the virus worldwide are likely to have some immunity to future infection, but they aren’t sure for how long. To ensure new cases don’t overwhelm hospital capacity, any plans to relax lockdowns will include provisions to track infections.

“The virus is not going away – if we all just come out on a certain date, it will spread widely again,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, an infectious disease expert and former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That means we need to think carefully about how and when we come out.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s top disease expert, said the administration has looked at the idea of issuing certificates of immunity to people whose blood tests reveal they have developed antibodies to fight the virus, among other possible plans. Yet they haven’t concluded that approach would be effective, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/46ee40035d500c4190489aea0adb126b">told</a>&nbsp;The Associated Press on Tuesday.

“I know people are anxious to say, ‘Well, we’ll give you a passport that says you’re antibody-positive, you can go to work and you’re protected.’ The worst possibility that would happen is if we’re actually wrong about that” and those people get infected.

Meanwhile, public health agencies from Massachusetts to the city of San Francisco have hired a surge of people to run “contact tracing” teams. Their mission is to identify anyone who has recently been in contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, then encourage those people to get tested and perhaps isolate themselves. These meetings can be sensitive and require training, and support, to pull off effectively.

Aiming to take the tracing approach to a new scale are tech giants Apple and Google, which are jointly working to build smartphone technology that alerts users if they shared a park bench or grocery store aisle with a stranger later found to be infected with the virus.

Unlike the more invasive location-tracking methods attempted by some governments, the Apple-Google approach uses Bluetooth beacons to detect physical proximity and encrypted keys to maintain people’s anonymity. The companies say they’re building the software for public health departments only, on the condition that they won’t make use of them mandatory.

In addition to developing the technology, experts warn that the implications of deploying such devices need to be carefully considered. Who will collect and verify the data? How long will it be held? Will enough people use a voluntary app for it to be helpful?

“We know from history that ‘emergency measures’ too often last long beyond their initial expiry date,” said Deborah Brown, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

She also noted that systems that monitor cellphone location or GPS data reveal more than just where someone has recently been. “Your contacts and associations can be gleaned, potentially your religious or political beliefs,” she said -- for instance, if you’ve visited a church or mosque.

Susan Landau, a cybersecurity professor at Tufts University, said she has doubts about the effectiveness of relying on smartphone-based approaches, even if the apps are carefully designed to protect individual privacy.

“My real concern about the whole thing is I think it’s being oversold,” she said. “Does it reduce spread? I don’t doubt that. Does it enable us to eliminate social distancing? No, not as long as there’s a high portion of people who are asymptomatic.”

Collecting data should complement, but not substitute for, well-managed public health interventions, said Deborah Seligsohn, a political scientist at Villanova University.

It’s one thing to merely send a phone alert that someone exposed to a COVID-19 case should self-isolate for 14 days. It’s another to have government workers bring them groceries or other essentials to make that quarantine period possible if someone would otherwise have trouble complying, she said.

After the various lockdowns lift, it’s not clear how readily Americans will submit to tracking efforts.

Cameron Karosis had his mind changed by contracting the virus, but many others are still wrestling with the prospect of how far they’d be willing to go.

“Personally, I would not be thrilled to be forced into downloading an app, mostly because I don’t love the idea of Silicon Valley knowing even more about me than they already do,” said Maura Cunningham, a writer in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “But I’d probably give in on that pretty quickly if it were made a widespread prerequisite for getting back to normal activity at some point in the future. I’d definitely resist a blood test — that just feels too intrusive.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1570046351883.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Karosis usually strives to protect his personal information. But a scary bout of COVID-19 that began last month with headaches and fevers, progressed to breathing problems and led to a hospital visit has now left him eager to disclose as much as possible to help halt the virus’ spread.Karosis has already shared personal details with Massachusetts health investigators. And if he was asked to comply with a disease-tracking phone app that monitored his whereabouts but didn’t publicly reveal his name and Cambridge street address, he said he’d do that, too.“I’m sick and I’m under a quarantine -- hold me accountable for it,” the 27-year-old software salesman said. “You have the potential to kill other people.”As countries around the world edge toward ending lockdowns and restarting their economies and societies, citizens are being more closely monitored, in nations rich and poor, authoritarian and free.New systems to track who is infected and who isn’t, and where they’ve been, have been created or extended in China, South Korea and Singapore. And a range of other surveillance systems – some utilizing GPS location data, some gathering medical data – have been debated or piloted in Israel, Germany, the U.K., Italy and elsewhere.The challenge: achieving the tricky balance between limiting the spread of disease and allowing people freedom to move outside their homes.Whether the prospect on the table is “immunity passports” or cellphone-based tracking apps, the aim is to protect public health. But experts say it’s also important to avoid a slippery-slope scenario where data collected to minimize the spread of disease is stored indefinitely, available without limits to law enforcement or susceptible to hackers.“We need to build necessary guardrails for civil liberties,” said Jake Laperruque, a lawyer at the nonprofit Project on Government Oversight in Washington. “If new data is being collected for public health purposes, it should only be used for public health purposes.”Right now, there is no single official plan for reopening the United States, where the constitutional system gives states responsibility for maintaining public safety and where deaths from COVID-19 continue to rise steeply.Scientists believe that the hundreds of thousands of people who already have recovered from the virus worldwide are likely to have some immunity to future infection, but they aren’t sure for how long. To ensure new cases don’t overwhelm hospital capacity, any plans to relax lockdowns will include provisions to track infections.“The virus is not going away – if we all just come out on a certain date, it will spread widely again,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, an infectious disease expert and former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That means we need to think carefully about how and when we come out.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586816593346.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci listens to President Trump during Friday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -White House image" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci listens to President Trump during Friday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s top disease expert, said the administration has looked at the idea of issuing certificates of immunity to people whose blood tests reveal they have developed antibodies to fight the virus, among other possible plans. Yet they haven’t concluded that approach would be effective, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/46ee40035d500c4190489aea0adb126b">told</a>&nbsp;The Associated Press on Tuesday.“I know people are anxious to say, ‘Well, we’ll give you a passport that says you’re antibody-positive, you can go to work and you’re protected.’ The worst possibility that would happen is if we’re actually wrong about that” and those people get infected.Meanwhile, public health agencies from Massachusetts to the city of San Francisco have hired a surge of people to run “contact tracing” teams. Their mission is to identify anyone who has recently been in contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, then encourage those people to get tested and perhaps isolate themselves. These meetings can be sensitive and require training, and support, to pull off effectively.Aiming to take the tracing approach to a new scale are tech giants Apple and Google, which are jointly working to build smartphone technology that alerts users if they shared a park bench or grocery store aisle with a stranger later found to be infected with the virus.Unlike the more invasive location-tracking methods attempted by some governments, the Apple-Google approach uses Bluetooth beacons to detect physical proximity and encrypted keys to maintain people’s anonymity. The companies say they’re building the software for public health departments only, on the condition that they won’t make use of them mandatory.In addition to developing the technology, experts warn that the implications of deploying such devices need to be carefully considered. Who will collect and verify the data? How long will it be held? Will enough people use a voluntary app for it to be helpful?“We know from history that ‘emergency measures’ too often last long beyond their initial expiry date,” said Deborah Brown, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.She also noted that systems that monitor cellphone location or GPS data reveal more than just where someone has recently been. “Your contacts and associations can be gleaned, potentially your religious or political beliefs,” she said -- for instance, if you’ve visited a church or mosque.Susan Landau, a cybersecurity professor at Tufts University, said she has doubts about the effectiveness of relying on smartphone-based approaches, even if the apps are carefully designed to protect individual privacy.“My real concern about the whole thing is I think it’s being oversold,” she said. “Does it reduce spread? I don’t doubt that. Does it enable us to eliminate social distancing? No, not as long as there’s a high portion of people who are asymptomatic.”Collecting data should complement, but not substitute for, well-managed public health interventions, said Deborah Seligsohn, a political scientist at Villanova University.It’s one thing to merely send a phone alert that someone exposed to a COVID-19 case should self-isolate for 14 days. It’s another to have government workers bring them groceries or other essentials to make that quarantine period possible if someone would otherwise have trouble complying, she said.After the various lockdowns lift, it’s not clear how readily Americans will submit to tracking efforts.Cameron Karosis had his mind changed by contracting the virus, but many others are still wrestling with the prospect of how far they’d be willing to go.“Personally, I would not be thrilled to be forced into downloading an app, mostly because I don’t love the idea of Silicon Valley knowing even more about me than they already do,” said Maura Cunningham, a writer in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “But I’d probably give in on that pretty quickly if it were made a widespread prerequisite for getting back to normal activity at some point in the future. I’d definitely resist a blood test — that just feels too intrusive.”

Would you give up health or location data to return to work?

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 2:30a.m. April 16,&nbsp; police responded to the Topeka Lutheran School located at 701 SW Roosevelt St. on a report of an alarm, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen. 

Officers and a Topeka Police K-9 began to search the school and the surrounding area. During the search, officers located a suspect fleeing from the school building. After a brief foot pursuit, officers arrested the suspect later identified as 26-year-old Dylan R. Area and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Interference with Law Enforcement and Topeka Bench Warrants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587074522546.png" alt="Area photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Area photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 2:30a.m. April 16,&nbsp; police responded to the Topeka Lutheran School located at 701 SW Roosevelt St. on a report of an alarm, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen. Officers and a Topeka Police K-9 began to search the school and the surrounding area. During the search, officers located a suspect fleeing from the school building. After a brief foot pursuit, officers arrested the suspect later identified as 26-year-old Dylan R. Area and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Interference with Law Enforcement and Topeka Bench Warrants.

Suspect jailed for alleged burglary of Kansas school

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly announced Sunday that Kansas has received additional supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to expand COVID-19 testing in Finney, Ford, Lyon and Seward counties, according to a media release.

“I want to thank our federal partners for their ongoing efforts to help our state response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kelly said. “I particularly appreciate the assistance from Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Jerry Moran.”&nbsp;

Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test and contain recent clusters of positive coronavirus cases in Kansas counties centered around food and meat processing plants.

“In order to fight this pandemic, collaboration at the state, local and federal level is paramount,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “Expanded testing and additional supplies from the federal level will equip and inform our state and local health officials as they work to protect the health of Kansans.”

The plants in southwest Kansas account for 25 to 30% of the country’s beef processing. “Agriculture is a facet of&nbsp;our state’s&nbsp;most&nbsp;critical infrastructure –&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;just feed the state, we feed the world,” Kelly said. “This is particularly true of our frontline workers in meatpacking plants across the state&nbsp;who process&nbsp;a significant portion of the nation’s supply.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Since the start of this crisis,&nbsp;the Governor&nbsp;and members of&nbsp;her&nbsp;administration have been in communication with&nbsp;those plants and representatives of their employees.

The&nbsp;facilities&nbsp;have&nbsp;modified&nbsp;several&nbsp;production and shipping systems and have&nbsp;taken&nbsp;proactive measures including temperature and health screenings, enhanced sanitation&nbsp;and social distancing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In recent weeks, Kansas has struggled to obtain the necessary supplies needed to test and treat coronavirus patients. The State received their allocation of the Strategic National Stockpile in late March. PPE received from the SNS&nbsp;was quickly distributed to counties throughout the state based on population.

Kansas is pleased to be able to deploy this collaborative effort between local, state and federal partners to proactively address these clusters in a strategic response to protect the nation’s food supply and the health of our essential food workers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587347190071.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during an April 16 news conference" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during an April 16 news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly announced Sunday that Kansas has received additional supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to expand COVID-19 testing in Finney, Ford, Lyon and Seward counties, according to a media release.“I want to thank our federal partners for their ongoing efforts to help our state response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kelly said. “I particularly appreciate the assistance from Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Jerry Moran.”&nbsp;Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test and contain recent clusters of positive coronavirus cases in Kansas counties centered around food and meat processing plants.“In order to fight this pandemic, collaboration at the state, local and federal level is paramount,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “Expanded testing and additional supplies from the federal level will equip and inform our state and local health officials as they work to protect the health of Kansans.”The plants in southwest Kansas account for 25 to 30% of the country’s beef processing. “Agriculture is a facet of&nbsp;our state’s&nbsp;most&nbsp;critical infrastructure –&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;just feed the state, we feed the world,” Kelly said. “This is particularly true of our frontline workers in meatpacking plants across the state&nbsp;who process&nbsp;a significant portion of the nation’s supply.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Since the start of this crisis,&nbsp;the Governor&nbsp;and members of&nbsp;her&nbsp;administration have been in communication with&nbsp;those plants and representatives of their employees.The&nbsp;facilities&nbsp;have&nbsp;modified&nbsp;several&nbsp;production and shipping systems and have&nbsp;taken&nbsp;proactive measures including temperature and health screenings, enhanced sanitation&nbsp;and social distancing.&nbsp;&nbsp;In recent weeks, Kansas has struggled to obtain the necessary supplies needed to test and treat coronavirus patients. The State received their allocation of the Strategic National Stockpile in late March. PPE received from the SNS&nbsp;was quickly distributed to counties throughout the state based on population.Kansas is pleased to be able to deploy this collaborative effort between local, state and federal partners to proactively address these clusters in a strategic response to protect the nation’s food supply and the health of our essential food workers.

Kan. receives additional PPE supplies; COVID-19 testing expanded 

TOPEKA, Kan. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon in Topeka, according to Police Chief Bill Cochran.

Just 1:30 p.m. an officer from the Topeka Police Department was in the area of SW 12th St. and SW Buchanan St. conducting a traffic stop. 

The officer was then dragged by the suspect’s vehicle for an unknown distance. While the officer was being dragged, the officer fired their department issued firearm at least one time, striking the suspect.

The suspect fled and later crashed their vehicle in the area of 1208 SW Throop St. The suspect was taken into custody and officers began to render aid until paramedics arrived. The suspect was then taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

The suspect remains at the hospital late Sunday afternoon.

The officer sustained injuries in the incident. Paramedics at the scene rendered aid to the officer and further treatment will be given. The officer is expected to recover, according to Cochran.

The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.

No passengers were in the vehicle at the time of the incident.&nbsp; The Kansas City Police department is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587341399995.png" alt="Police near the scene of the officer-involved shooting Sunday afternoon -photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Officer-involved-shooting-in-central-Topeka-569770771.html">WIBW TV</a>" />
 <figcaption>Police near the scene of the officer-involved shooting Sunday afternoon -photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Officer-involved-shooting-in-central-Topeka-569770771.html">WIBW TV</a></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon in Topeka, according to Police Chief Bill Cochran.Just 1:30 p.m. an officer from the Topeka Police Department was in the area of SW 12th St. and SW Buchanan St. conducting a traffic stop. The officer was then dragged by the suspect’s vehicle for an unknown distance. While the officer was being dragged, the officer fired their department issued firearm at least one time, striking the suspect.The suspect fled and later crashed their vehicle in the area of 1208 SW Throop St. The suspect was taken into custody and officers began to render aid until paramedics arrived. The suspect was then taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect remains at the hospital late Sunday afternoon.The officer sustained injuries in the incident. Paramedics at the scene rendered aid to the officer and further treatment will be given. The officer is expected to recover, according to Cochran.The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.No passengers were in the vehicle at the time of the incident.&nbsp; The Kansas City Police department is in charge of the investigation.

Kansas officer injured during traffic stop, suspect shot

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The process of establishing a new commercial hemp program in Kansas has taken a critical first step.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the plan by the Kansas Department of Agriculture to change the state’s research-based commercial hemp program to a commercial program.

This approval makes it possible for farmers to grow hemp without being under the umbrella of a research program. Once this program is approved by the state, farmers will not have to make formal research proposals in order to grow the non-hallucinogenic crop.

But the program must jump through several more hurdles to change status. These include state-based rules and regulations.

Heather Lansdowne, a spokesperson for Kansas Department of Agriculture, said it doesn’t mean any immediate charge for farmers. But she added that the agency was “confident” that they would be growing commercial hemp next year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582842005199.jpeg" alt=" A bud from an industrial hemp plant, which is cannabis that has less of the psychoactive chemical compound THC than marijuana. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service photo" />
 <figcaption> A bud from an industrial hemp plant, which is cannabis that has less of the psychoactive chemical compound THC than marijuana. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The process of establishing a new commercial hemp program in Kansas has taken a critical first step.The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the plan by the Kansas Department of Agriculture to change the state’s research-based commercial hemp program to a commercial program.This approval makes it possible for farmers to grow hemp without being under the umbrella of a research program. Once this program is approved by the state, farmers will not have to make formal research proposals in order to grow the non-hallucinogenic crop.But the program must jump through several more hurdles to change status. These include state-based rules and regulations.Heather Lansdowne, a spokesperson for Kansas Department of Agriculture, said it doesn’t mean any immediate charge for farmers. But she added that the agency was “confident” that they would be growing commercial hemp next year.

Kansas moves one step closer to commercial hemp program

LENEXA&nbsp; - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 (which includes Kansas) announced that it has transferred almost 8,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This PPE includes
 gloves, protective suits, boot and shoe covers, protective glasses, and face shields used to protect first responders and medical personnel exposed to COVID-19. Supplies include:

EPA maintains a range of PPE for mission-critical work such as responding to emergencies, including chemical, oil, radiological and biological incidents.

“EPA is working hard to support our nation’s first responders as they risk their own safety to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic,”
said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “After searching our inventory of personal protective equipment, we identified excess supplies and sent them to those on the front lines of this fight. At EPA, we are here to help in any way we can and
 I encourage everyone else to do the same.”

“The EPA Region 7 team wants our health care workers and others on the front line to know just how much we value their sacrifices,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford. “This pandemic affects every single American, and the fight
 won’t be won by a single decisive action but by a million small efforts made by each of us.”

EPA maintains a supply of PPE as part of the Agency’s laboratory, inspection, and emergency response functions. EPA also provides additional response assistance when state and local first responder capabilities have been exhausted or when additional support
 is requested.<a></a>

EPA is currently developing an Agency-wide plan for rapid distribution of available PPE to state and local governments that are working COVID-19 operations.&nbsp;

For information about EPA’s involvement with the COVID-19 response, please visit:
<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9uEUHvgkgb0NjrUI2dQLycTlOAFb-2Bsz1N-2FppOoLTp7XaemNx_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah21KHordUO1d7zhLCFR0YP4W2h34kGvaUJG9DcNaDLY4wTxXaVbw1sBFaBaBxdAvVV-2FTZUJbh-2FHyKVvFqNdl2uU2O-2BPQzmOZ8WxI2hgLJHpW5JwvvKsOf6X6ejC3XBRSX-2B1-2BknHTVw-2BkHsbfr5-2FbQgaL8hCEHeGdcuvsDq62n4T6XH3v9IQkqjT6LfJwvaj18BPIcEKwpwMwz-2BWhVISby0-2BAie8QRQ2HPMgUIQJ2630GE9sjfujziKxBeFpmcRMGCd0CFNaivE-2FLMPLD096hBw1gJ25Lc6NMpzn4QvDOJV9Maeil8Icirbs61QPln0TfF8-3D" target="_blank">
www.epa.gov/coronavirus</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587390334096.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EPALENEXA&nbsp; - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 (which includes Kansas) announced that it has transferred almost 8,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This PPE includes
 gloves, protective suits, boot and shoe covers, protective glasses, and face shields used to protect first responders and medical personnel exposed to COVID-19. Supplies include:<ol>
 <li>297 boot covers</li><li>7,300 gloves</li><li>232 protective suits</li><li>80 safety glasses</li>
 </ol>EPA maintains a range of PPE for mission-critical work such as responding to emergencies, including chemical, oil, radiological and biological incidents.“EPA is working hard to support our nation’s first responders as they risk their own safety to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic,”
said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “After searching our inventory of personal protective equipment, we identified excess supplies and sent them to those on the front lines of this fight. At EPA, we are here to help in any way we can and
 I encourage everyone else to do the same.”“The EPA Region 7 team wants our health care workers and others on the front line to know just how much we value their sacrifices,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford. “This pandemic affects every single American, and the fight
 won’t be won by a single decisive action but by a million small efforts made by each of us.”EPA maintains a supply of PPE as part of the Agency’s laboratory, inspection, and emergency response functions. EPA also provides additional response assistance when state and local first responder capabilities have been exhausted or when additional support
 is requested.<a></a>EPA is currently developing an Agency-wide plan for rapid distribution of available PPE to state and local governments that are working COVID-19 operations.&nbsp;For information about EPA’s involvement with the COVID-19 response, please visit:
<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9uEUHvgkgb0NjrUI2dQLycTlOAFb-2Bsz1N-2FppOoLTp7XaemNx_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah21KHordUO1d7zhLCFR0YP4W2h34kGvaUJG9DcNaDLY4wTxXaVbw1sBFaBaBxdAvVV-2FTZUJbh-2FHyKVvFqNdl2uU2O-2BPQzmOZ8WxI2hgLJHpW5JwvvKsOf6X6ejC3XBRSX-2B1-2BknHTVw-2BkHsbfr5-2FbQgaL8hCEHeGdcuvsDq62n4T6XH3v9IQkqjT6LfJwvaj18BPIcEKwpwMwz-2BWhVISby0-2BAie8QRQ2HPMgUIQJ2630GE9sjfujziKxBeFpmcRMGCd0CFNaivE-2FLMPLD096hBw1gJ25Lc6NMpzn4QvDOJV9Maeil8Icirbs61QPln0TfF8-3D" target="_blank">
www.epa.gov/coronavirus</a>.

EPA Region 7 transfers Personal Protective Equipment to FEMA

RAYTOWN, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas City area police officer shot and killed an man at a Walmart.

Raytown police Capt. Dyon Harper said the officer was in uniform and working at the store in an off-duty capacity Saturday night when an armed man entered the store. Harper says the officer then “encountered the man and shots were fired."

It wasn't immediately clear what led up to the shooting or where exactly in the store it happened.

The man died at the scene. Police did not immediately release his name.

Harper said the officer was not injured, and has been placed on administrative leave. No other injuries were reported.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587333314831.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation- photo <a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/officer-fatally-shoots-armed-man-at-raytown-walmart/article_61466d48-81e4-11ea-92bc-9b6f8cd19692.html">courtesy KCTV</a>" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation- photo <a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/officer-fatally-shoots-armed-man-at-raytown-walmart/article_61466d48-81e4-11ea-92bc-9b6f8cd19692.html">courtesy KCTV</a></figcaption>
 </figure>RAYTOWN, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas City area police officer shot and killed an man at a Walmart.Raytown police Capt. Dyon Harper said the officer was in uniform and working at the store in an off-duty capacity Saturday night when an armed man entered the store. Harper says the officer then “encountered the man and shots were fired."It wasn't immediately clear what led up to the shooting or where exactly in the store it happened.The man died at the scene. Police did not immediately release his name.Harper said the officer was not injured, and has been placed on administrative leave. No other injuries were reported.The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating.

Officer shoots, kills man at Kansas City-area Walmart

SEATTLE (AP) — Before stay-at-home orders are lifted, the nation's public health agencies want to be ready to douse any new sparks of coronavirus infection — a task they say could require tens of thousands more investigators to call people who test positive, track down their contacts and get them into quarantine.

Without the extra help, officials insist, states cannot possibly be ready to resume normal everyday activities, and some agencies are so desperate they are considering recruiting librarians and Peace Corps volunteers to join the effort.

“We are trying to build these teams and processes in the midst of a crisis,” said Sharon Bogan, a public health spokeswoman for Seattle and King County, which are seeking at least 20 more investigators.

As federal officials weigh how and when to reopen the country, experts worry that the United States does not have enough public health workers to suppress another outbreak, especially those qualified to do contact tracing, the critically important search for people who may have been exposed to the virus.

While the exact number of workers needed is a subject of debate, a top federal health official this week acknowledged the mandate to find many more.

“Everybody agrees that our public health capacity at the local and state level is not ready to take this on at a very large scale without reinforcements,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who oversees the agency’s coronavirus response work.

The work could require as many as 300,000 public health workers — a daunting number given that the combined federal, state, and local public health workforce has been shrinking and is now probably less than 280,000, according to some estimates.

To address the shortage of help, governments are weighing whether to enlist people with little to no experience in public health, including the Peace Corps volunteers, furloughed social workers and public health students. San Francisco is training librarians, medical students and people who work for the city attorney’s office.

The extra workers would help conduct testing, isolate sick cases and trace everyone those sick people had contact with.

It’s crucial that such a system be in place before government officials ease social-distancing guidelines, reopen schools or lift stay-at-home orders, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director.

“If we have explosive spread when we reopen, we’ll have to close again. That will be very damaging, not just economically but from a health standpoint,” Frieden said.

The U.S. government has funneled about $800 million to states for coronavirus response work that can include contact tracing. On top of hundreds of staff sent to states to help with coronavirus work, the CDC has already assembled “community protection teams” of six to 12 people each to do contact tracing and investigate tools that could help with it. Some have already been deployed to states where spread of the virus has been relatively low.

Tiny Rhode Island has nearly 100 people "focused on nothing but contact tracing,” reaching out to hundreds of contacts of infected people each day, Gov. Gina Raimondo told reporters. She has urged all residents to take a minute each evening to write down who they physically encountered that day and where those encounters took place.

“If I’m going out to the store, I’ll put the date, what store I went to, and then the time I was there,” said Drew Grande, 40, of Cranston, Rhode Island. He started a contacts diary on a note-taking app on his phone after he heard the governor's request.

Contact tracing has changed over the last few months in the U.S. When the first handful of infections were being identified, teams of 20 or more might be assigned to each confirmed case. Investigations would often start with a staffer or two doing an in-person interview at a hospital bedside. Disease trackers might spend hours asking a sick person and that person's relatives who they had been in contact with since symptoms surfaced.

In-person interviews are often better, said Isaac Ghinai, a CDC disease tracker assigned to Chicago to work with that city's health department.

“There's a value to looking someone in the eye. You can build a relationship face to face that you can't always do by phone," he said. Some people are comfortable sharing personal details over the phone but others “require more cajoling.”

With hundreds of new cases emerging each day in Chicago, that kind of attention to individual infections has largely stopped. Instead, the priority is large groups of people who are particularly vulnerable, like those at nursing homes or homeless shelters. Many new confirmed cases are not being investigated, and when they are, the interviews may be done by only two or three people, and over the phone, Ghinai said.

Could there be a digital solution? Apple and Google are teaming up on a contact-tracing app, and other efforts use Bluetooth to gather data from phones that came close to an infected person. Seattle scientist Trevor Bedford has developed a digital interview that public health departments can use if they don’t have enough people trained in contact tracing.

Whatever the solution, it will take a while.

People have to be tested and diagnosed before contact tracing kicks into gear, and testing remains limited in many parts of the country. This week, the Association of American Medical Colleges sent a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force saying that testing materials and machines remain in short supply.

President Donald Trump has floated the idea of easing at least some restrictions as early as May 1.

Some observers believe restrictions could be eased first in places where the spread is low, if rigorous testing and contact tracing could prevent a sudden explosion in infections.

But Schuchat warned that "there is no way the entire country could relax mitigation on May 1 and the country not experience a major resurgence.”

SEATTLE (AP) — Before stay-at-home orders are lifted, the nation's public health agencies want to be ready to douse any new sparks of coronavirus infection — a task they say could require tens of thousands more investigators to call people who test positive, track down their contacts and get them into quarantine.Without the extra help, officials insist, states cannot possibly be ready to resume normal everyday activities, and some agencies are so desperate they are considering recruiting librarians and Peace Corps volunteers to join the effort.“We are trying to build these teams and processes in the midst of a crisis,” said Sharon Bogan, a public health spokeswoman for Seattle and King County, which are seeking at least 20 more investigators.As federal officials weigh how and when to reopen the country, experts worry that the United States does not have enough public health workers to suppress another outbreak, especially those qualified to do contact tracing, the critically important search for people who may have been exposed to the virus.While the exact number of workers needed is a subject of debate, a top federal health official this week acknowledged the mandate to find many more.“Everybody agrees that our public health capacity at the local and state level is not ready to take this on at a very large scale without reinforcements,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who oversees the agency’s coronavirus response work.The work could require as many as 300,000 public health workers — a daunting number given that the combined federal, state, and local public health workforce has been shrinking and is now probably less than 280,000, according to some estimates.To address the shortage of help, governments are weighing whether to enlist people with little to no experience in public health, including the Peace Corps volunteers, furloughed social workers and public health students. San Francisco is training librarians, medical students and people who work for the city attorney’s office.The extra workers would help conduct testing, isolate sick cases and trace everyone those sick people had contact with.It’s crucial that such a system be in place before government officials ease social-distancing guidelines, reopen schools or lift stay-at-home orders, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director.“If we have explosive spread when we reopen, we’ll have to close again. That will be very damaging, not just economically but from a health standpoint,” Frieden said.The U.S. government has funneled about $800 million to states for coronavirus response work that can include contact tracing. On top of hundreds of staff sent to states to help with coronavirus work, the CDC has already assembled “community protection teams” of six to 12 people each to do contact tracing and investigate tools that could help with it. Some have already been deployed to states where spread of the virus has been relatively low.Tiny Rhode Island has nearly 100 people "focused on nothing but contact tracing,” reaching out to hundreds of contacts of infected people each day, Gov. Gina Raimondo told reporters. She has urged all residents to take a minute each evening to write down who they physically encountered that day and where those encounters took place.“If I’m going out to the store, I’ll put the date, what store I went to, and then the time I was there,” said Drew Grande, 40, of Cranston, Rhode Island. He started a contacts diary on a note-taking app on his phone after he heard the governor's request.Contact tracing has changed over the last few months in the U.S. When the first handful of infections were being identified, teams of 20 or more might be assigned to each confirmed case. Investigations would often start with a staffer or two doing an in-person interview at a hospital bedside. Disease trackers might spend hours asking a sick person and that person's relatives who they had been in contact with since symptoms surfaced.In-person interviews are often better, said Isaac Ghinai, a CDC disease tracker assigned to Chicago to work with that city's health department.“There's a value to looking someone in the eye. You can build a relationship face to face that you can't always do by phone," he said. Some people are comfortable sharing personal details over the phone but others “require more cajoling.”With hundreds of new cases emerging each day in Chicago, that kind of attention to individual infections has largely stopped. Instead, the priority is large groups of people who are particularly vulnerable, like those at nursing homes or homeless shelters. Many new confirmed cases are not being investigated, and when they are, the interviews may be done by only two or three people, and over the phone, Ghinai said.Could there be a digital solution? Apple and Google are teaming up on a contact-tracing app, and other efforts use Bluetooth to gather data from phones that came close to an infected person. Seattle scientist Trevor Bedford has developed a digital interview that public health departments can use if they don’t have enough people trained in contact tracing.Whatever the solution, it will take a while.People have to be tested and diagnosed before contact tracing kicks into gear, and testing remains limited in many parts of the country. This week, the Association of American Medical Colleges sent a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force saying that testing materials and machines remain in short supply.President Donald Trump has floated the idea of easing at least some restrictions as early as May 1.Some observers believe restrictions could be eased first in places where the spread is low, if rigorous testing and contact tracing could prevent a sudden explosion in infections.But Schuchat warned that "there is no way the entire country could relax mitigation on May 1 and the country not experience a major resurgence.”

Reopening could require thousands more public health workers

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on felony charges after an arrest.&nbsp;

Just after 7p.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Fugitive Warrants Unit served an arrest warrant in the 1400 block of SW Byron Street, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

While serving the warrant, deputies observed narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside the residence.

The Shawnee County Drug Task Force then executed a search warrant on the residence, and seized a Springfield XD semi-automatic pistol, Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol, Over 50 packages of THC edibles,&nbsp;Over 100 suspected unlawful pills (which will be sent to KBI for further analysis, Various types of ammunition.

They also arrested Jeremiah M. Guesby, 17, of Topeka, was arrested on on requested charges of Felony probation violation, Misdemeanor probation violation and Interference with law enforcement, according to Stallbaumer.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on felony charges after an arrest.&nbsp;Just after 7p.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Fugitive Warrants Unit served an arrest warrant in the 1400 block of SW Byron Street, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.While serving the warrant, deputies observed narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside the residence.The Shawnee County Drug Task Force then executed a search warrant on the residence, and seized a Springfield XD semi-automatic pistol, Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol, Over 50 packages of THC edibles,&nbsp;Over 100 suspected unlawful pills (which will be sent to KBI for further analysis, Various types of ammunition.They also arrested Jeremiah M. Guesby, 17, of Topeka, was arrested on on requested charges of Felony probation violation, Misdemeanor probation violation and Interference with law enforcement, according to Stallbaumer.

Sheriff: 17-year-old had weapons, drugs at Kan. home

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by&nbsp; 59&nbsp; to&nbsp; 1,849 total, the state health department reported Sunday&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&nbsp; 59&nbsp; to&nbsp; 1,849 total, the state health department reported Sunday&nbsp;COVID-19 deaths increased to 92<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/2020/4/1587316571454.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>--------------

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

Robert and Adlynn Harte, retired CIA
 employees, sued after sheriff's deputies raided their home looking for 
marijuana and found a tomato-growing operation in their basement 
instead. 

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-17/leawood-couple-targeted-in-bungled-marijuana-raid-settles-case-against-sheriffs-deputies">Kansas News Service</a>

A Leawood, Kansas, couple whose home was raided by a police tactical 
team in a bungled search for marijuana has settled its civil suit 
against the Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies who led the operation.

The
 amount of the settlement with Robert and Adlynn Harte, retired CIA 
employees, is unknown because the settlement document has been sealed. 
But U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum ruled he would unseal it once the
 parties have redacted portions related to the Hartes’ children.

Cheryl
 Pilate, an attorney for the Hartes, said the case had been "resolved to
 the mutual satisfaction of the parties." Larry Ferree III, a lawyer for
 the defendants, said the same thing. 

The case, which drew <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2017/12/19/jury-rules-against-family-subjected-to-swat-raid-over-loose-leaf-tea/" target="_blank">national headlines</a>, had a long, tortuous history.

The
 Hartes’ lawsuit was originally filed in 2013 and sought millions of 
dollars in damages for trespass, false arrest, assault and outrageous 
conduct that caused them severe emotional distress.

The Hartes 
sued after Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies raided their Leawood home 
in April 2012, eight months after Robert Harte and his two young 
children visited a hydroponic-gardening store and bought a small bag of 
supplies as part of a tomato-growing project in their basement.

A 
Missouri Highway Patrol officer was parked nearby, surveilling the store
 for people who might be buying supplies for indoor marijuana growing 
operations.

Based on the officer’s tip, Johnson County sheriff’s 
deputies rooted through the Hartes’ trash and found wet green vegetation
 mixed in with kitchen trash. After deputies conducted a field test and 
determined the vegetation was marijuana, seven officers clad in black 
SWAT uniforms and brandishing 9 mm Glocks, an AR-15 assault rifle and a 
battering ram pounded on the Hartes’ door and burst in, guns drawn, at 
around 7:30 a.m. on April 20, 2012, a day celebrated by marijuana 
activists.

Robert Harte was forced face-down to the floor, 
shirtless, as the deputies searched the house for more than two hours. 
All four family members, including the Harte children, were detained in 
the living room under armed guard.

The search proved fruitless, 
even after the deputies called in a drug dog. No marijuana was found and
 the vegetation in the trash turned out to be nothing more than 
loose-leaf tea.

The sheriff’s office claimed its search was 
conducted pursuant to a valid search warrant and the deputies were 
legally justified in detaining the family while the search was ongoing.

Lungstrum,
 the federal trial judge, dismissed the lawsuit in 2015 after finding 
the deputies were protected by qualified immunity and, in any event, 
could not have known their field tests on the vegetation had produced 
false positives.

The Hartes appealed and an appeals court panel partially reversed Lungstrum, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/government/2017-07-25/leawood-couple-whose-home-was-raided-in-bungled-marijuana-search-to-get-day-in-court">allowing the Hartes to proceed to trial</a>. In December 2017, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2017-12-12/jury-rules-against-leawood-family-whose-home-was-raided-in-bungled-marijuana-search">a jury found against the Hartes</a> and in favor of the sheriff’s deputies.

The
 Hartes appealed again. This time, the appeals court panel handed down 
three separate opinions, which led to confusion and prompted the panel 
to issue a lengthy clarifying opinion later. 

In that opinion, the
 panel ruled that the Hartes could proceed to try their claims that the 
sheriff’s deputies improperly executed the search warrant; exceeded the 
scope of the warrant by searching for evidence of general criminal 
activity and not just a marijuana grow operation; and prolonged the 
Hartes’ detention, thus subjecting them to an illegal arrest.

The settlement resolves those claims, bringing an end to the case eight years after the raid on the Hartes’ home.

Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies" target="_blank">@DanMargolies</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587153950005.png" alt="The Hartes purchased a hydroponic tomato-growing project similar to this one, which led sheriff's deputies to search their basement for an alleged marijuana operation. Plantlady233 / Wikimedia" />
 <figcaption>The Hartes purchased a hydroponic tomato-growing project similar to this one, which led sheriff's deputies to search their basement for an alleged marijuana operation. Plantlady233 / Wikimedia</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Robert and Adlynn Harte, retired CIA
 employees, sued after sheriff's deputies raided their home looking for 
marijuana and found a tomato-growing operation in their basement 
instead. </h2>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-17/leawood-couple-targeted-in-bungled-marijuana-raid-settles-case-against-sheriffs-deputies">Kansas News Service</a>A Leawood, Kansas, couple whose home was raided by a police tactical 
team in a bungled search for marijuana has settled its civil suit 
against the Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies who led the operation.The
 amount of the settlement with Robert and Adlynn Harte, retired CIA 
employees, is unknown because the settlement document has been sealed. 
But U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum ruled he would unseal it once the
 parties have redacted portions related to the Hartes’ children.Cheryl
 Pilate, an attorney for the Hartes, said the case had been "resolved to
 the mutual satisfaction of the parties." Larry Ferree III, a lawyer for
 the defendants, said the same thing. The case, which drew <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2017/12/19/jury-rules-against-family-subjected-to-swat-raid-over-loose-leaf-tea/" target="_blank">national headlines</a>, had a long, tortuous history.The
 Hartes’ lawsuit was originally filed in 2013 and sought millions of 
dollars in damages for trespass, false arrest, assault and outrageous 
conduct that caused them severe emotional distress.The Hartes 
sued after Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies raided their Leawood home 
in April 2012, eight months after Robert Harte and his two young 
children visited a hydroponic-gardening store and bought a small bag of 
supplies as part of a tomato-growing project in their basement.A 
Missouri Highway Patrol officer was parked nearby, surveilling the store
 for people who might be buying supplies for indoor marijuana growing 
operations.Based on the officer’s tip, Johnson County sheriff’s 
deputies rooted through the Hartes’ trash and found wet green vegetation
 mixed in with kitchen trash. After deputies conducted a field test and 
determined the vegetation was marijuana, seven officers clad in black 
SWAT uniforms and brandishing 9 mm Glocks, an AR-15 assault rifle and a 
battering ram pounded on the Hartes’ door and burst in, guns drawn, at 
around 7:30 a.m. on April 20, 2012, a day celebrated by marijuana 
activists.Robert Harte was forced face-down to the floor, 
shirtless, as the deputies searched the house for more than two hours. 
All four family members, including the Harte children, were detained in 
the living room under armed guard.The search proved fruitless, 
even after the deputies called in a drug dog. No marijuana was found and
 the vegetation in the trash turned out to be nothing more than 
loose-leaf tea.The sheriff’s office claimed its search was 
conducted pursuant to a valid search warrant and the deputies were 
legally justified in detaining the family while the search was ongoing.Lungstrum,
 the federal trial judge, dismissed the lawsuit in 2015 after finding 
the deputies were protected by qualified immunity and, in any event, 
could not have known their field tests on the vegetation had produced 
false positives.The Hartes appealed and an appeals court panel partially reversed Lungstrum, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/government/2017-07-25/leawood-couple-whose-home-was-raided-in-bungled-marijuana-search-to-get-day-in-court">allowing the Hartes to proceed to trial</a>. In December 2017, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2017-12-12/jury-rules-against-leawood-family-whose-home-was-raided-in-bungled-marijuana-search">a jury found against the Hartes</a> and in favor of the sheriff’s deputies.The
 Hartes appealed again. This time, the appeals court panel handed down 
three separate opinions, which led to confusion and prompted the panel 
to issue a lengthy clarifying opinion later. In that opinion, the
 panel ruled that the Hartes could proceed to try their claims that the 
sheriff’s deputies improperly executed the search warrant; exceeded the 
scope of the warrant by searching for evidence of general criminal 
activity and not just a marijuana grow operation; and prolonged the 
Hartes’ detention, thus subjecting them to an illegal arrest.The settlement resolves those claims, bringing an end to the case eight years after the raid on the Hartes’ home.Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies" target="_blank">@DanMargolies</a>.

Kan. couple targeted in bungled pot raid settles case against deputies 

NEW YORK (AP) - Tanzania's president claimed the coronavirus "cannot sit in the body of Christ." Israel's health minister dismissed a potential curfew by saying that "the Messiah will come and save us." A global Muslim missionary movement held mass gatherings - and took blame for spreading the disease.

While most leaders of major religions have supported governments' efforts to fight the pandemic by limiting gatherings, a minority of the faithful - in both religious and secular institutions - have not.

Some have insisted that in-person worship should continue because of the relief it can provide. Others have suggested that faith is an authority higher than science, and belief can turn back contagion.

The struggle to adapt religious behaviors to a pandemic that doesn't distinguish between denominations or national boundaries was especially urgent in its earliest weeks, before many countries fully locked down. But as more officials trace virus hot spots back to faith gatherings, calls have grown louder for the devout to protect each other's physical well-being first.

"One of the things that most religious faiths stress in the first instance is to care for the most vulnerable in a community, to save others' lives as a primary focus," said L. Gregory Jones, dean of Duke University's divinity school.

But for some people of faith -- particularly those whose churches, synagogues and mosques are important community centers - that focus appears to conflict with the very fabric of their lives.

In majority-Christian Tanzania, President John Magufuli told a church congregation last month that he was "not afraid of coming here" because the virus could be combatted with belief.

Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman had insisted on exempting synagogues and other religious institutions from limits on public gatherings, according to Israeli media reports, only to come down with the virus himself this month -- apparently after failing to heed the social distancing precautions he had publicly preached.

Litzman is now widely seen as a symbol of lax attitudes that led to a disproportionate number of cases in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community that he belongs to, which makes up just over 10% of the population. Though he dismissed a possible Passover curfew last month, Israel ultimately imposed a national lockdown on the holiday's first night.

In India, the Muslim missionary movement Tablighi Jamaat came under fire with the online circulation of an audio clip said to be of its chief Maulana Saad, urging the faithful to continue to congregate at mosques.

"They say that the infection will spread if you gather at a mosque, this is false," Saad told worshippers. "If you die by coming to the mosque, then this is the best place to die."

A spokesman for Jamaat, Mujeeb ur Rehman, said the recording was taken out of context.

"There was no malice in it," he said. "During the same sermon, he also went on to ask his followers to follow the government guidelines to battle the spread of the virus."

Indeed, many Muslim clerics and religious authorities across the world have worked to promote mosque closures or other restrictions.

But the Pakistani government -- accused of moving too slowly to curb gatherings -- refused to order mosques closed. Instead, it limited congregants to five or less. Still, some hardliners remained defiant despite advice to stay at home from the country's Islamic Ideology Council. Maulana Abdul Aziz, a cleric at the Red Mosque in Islamabad, urged the faithful to challenge restrictions, arguing it was a sin to keep mosques empty.

In India, authorities said they linked hundreds of infections to Tablighi Jamaat's activities and accused the movement's leadership of negligence. The news inflamed religious tensions and sparked hateful comments against the nation's Muslim minority.

Rehman acknowledged that "Jamaat was careless on its part, but the government is guilty too. First they failed to stem the outbreak and now they are turning the pandemic into a communal issue."

Most U.S. religious services have paused or shifted online as the federal government discourages group gatherings to help contain the virus. But a few faith leaders and congregants in America, where religious freedom was already a political minefield, have rebelled against those limits and claimed an incursion on their rights.

Others have taken less aggressive steps to assert the power of communal worship, pointing to what they see as the ability of belief to heal the pandemic's spiritual pain. Retired Catholic moral theologian Janet Smith is among those in her faith urging bishops to support the restoration of the holy sacraments, delivered in person using tactics that wouldn't flout governmental orders.

"We believe that Jesus is really there and is bringing graces in the world that will help stop this coronavirus," said Smith, who recently retired from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. She suggested outdoor and drive-up meetings with priests as options for receiving sacraments.

Susannah Heschel, professor of Jewish studies at Dartmouth College, pointed to an assumption among some that "we control God, and we don't - as if somehow, if we pray in a large number in a church or a mosque or synagogue, somehow this virus will come to an end."

Seeking solace in spirituality or relying on religious rituals for relief and protection, some believers across faiths have continued to shrug off coronavirus risks as they worship.

Last month in Iraq, some defied a curfew to observe the anniversary of the death of revered Shiite Imam Moussa al-Kadhim. One of the visitors who have trekked to the imam's gold-domed shrine complex, Ayoub al-Moussawi, said he has over the years braved threats to perform religious visits.

"We have always been subjected to all sort of things from bombs to explosive devices, but protection comes from God," said al-Moussawi. "This time it's the corona pandemic."

He said he took precautions such as donning a mask in crowded areas and sanitizing his hands. There were fewer pilgrims this year and many marked the occasion remotely from their rooftops, he said.

Al-Moussawi is a supporter of the Iraqi Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who blamed the spread of the coronavirus in part on the legalization of same-sex marriage in a tweet to his 1 million followers.

Some Iraqis have criticized al-Sadr, a Shiite Muslim, arguing he hasn't discouraged believers from visiting holy shrines.

Instead, al-Sadr urged visitors of one Shiite shrine to "hurry up in completing the visit and to follow order and medical and heath rules so as not to be a source of contagion for others." Al-Sadr rejected claims that he had undercut efforts to fight the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584395919012.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) - Tanzania's president claimed the coronavirus "cannot sit in the body of Christ." Israel's health minister dismissed a potential curfew by saying that "the Messiah will come and save us." A global Muslim missionary movement held mass gatherings - and took blame for spreading the disease.While most leaders of major religions have supported governments' efforts to fight the pandemic by limiting gatherings, a minority of the faithful - in both religious and secular institutions - have not.Some have insisted that in-person worship should continue because of the relief it can provide. Others have suggested that faith is an authority higher than science, and belief can turn back contagion.The struggle to adapt religious behaviors to a pandemic that doesn't distinguish between denominations or national boundaries was especially urgent in its earliest weeks, before many countries fully locked down. But as more officials trace virus hot spots back to faith gatherings, calls have grown louder for the devout to protect each other's physical well-being first."One of the things that most religious faiths stress in the first instance is to care for the most vulnerable in a community, to save others' lives as a primary focus," said L. Gregory Jones, dean of Duke University's divinity school.But for some people of faith -- particularly those whose churches, synagogues and mosques are important community centers - that focus appears to conflict with the very fabric of their lives.In majority-Christian Tanzania, President John Magufuli told a church congregation last month that he was "not afraid of coming here" because the virus could be combatted with belief.Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman had insisted on exempting synagogues and other religious institutions from limits on public gatherings, according to Israeli media reports, only to come down with the virus himself this month -- apparently after failing to heed the social distancing precautions he had publicly preached.Litzman is now widely seen as a symbol of lax attitudes that led to a disproportionate number of cases in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community that he belongs to, which makes up just over 10% of the population. Though he dismissed a possible Passover curfew last month, Israel ultimately imposed a national lockdown on the holiday's first night.In India, the Muslim missionary movement Tablighi Jamaat came under fire with the online circulation of an audio clip said to be of its chief Maulana Saad, urging the faithful to continue to congregate at mosques."They say that the infection will spread if you gather at a mosque, this is false," Saad told worshippers. "If you die by coming to the mosque, then this is the best place to die."A spokesman for Jamaat, Mujeeb ur Rehman, said the recording was taken out of context."There was no malice in it," he said. "During the same sermon, he also went on to ask his followers to follow the government guidelines to battle the spread of the virus."Indeed, many Muslim clerics and religious authorities across the world have worked to promote mosque closures or other restrictions.But the Pakistani government -- accused of moving too slowly to curb gatherings -- refused to order mosques closed. Instead, it limited congregants to five or less. Still, some hardliners remained defiant despite advice to stay at home from the country's Islamic Ideology Council. Maulana Abdul Aziz, a cleric at the Red Mosque in Islamabad, urged the faithful to challenge restrictions, arguing it was a sin to keep mosques empty.In India, authorities said they linked hundreds of infections to Tablighi Jamaat's activities and accused the movement's leadership of negligence. The news inflamed religious tensions and sparked hateful comments against the nation's Muslim minority.Rehman acknowledged that "Jamaat was careless on its part, but the government is guilty too. First they failed to stem the outbreak and now they are turning the pandemic into a communal issue."Most U.S. religious services have paused or shifted online as the federal government discourages group gatherings to help contain the virus. But a few faith leaders and congregants in America, where religious freedom was already a political minefield, have rebelled against those limits and claimed an incursion on their rights.Others have taken less aggressive steps to assert the power of communal worship, pointing to what they see as the ability of belief to heal the pandemic's spiritual pain. Retired Catholic moral theologian Janet Smith is among those in her faith urging bishops to support the restoration of the holy sacraments, delivered in person using tactics that wouldn't flout governmental orders."We believe that Jesus is really there and is bringing graces in the world that will help stop this coronavirus," said Smith, who recently retired from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. She suggested outdoor and drive-up meetings with priests as options for receiving sacraments.Susannah Heschel, professor of Jewish studies at Dartmouth College, pointed to an assumption among some that "we control God, and we don't - as if somehow, if we pray in a large number in a church or a mosque or synagogue, somehow this virus will come to an end."Seeking solace in spirituality or relying on religious rituals for relief and protection, some believers across faiths have continued to shrug off coronavirus risks as they worship.Last month in Iraq, some defied a curfew to observe the anniversary of the death of revered Shiite Imam Moussa al-Kadhim. One of the visitors who have trekked to the imam's gold-domed shrine complex, Ayoub al-Moussawi, said he has over the years braved threats to perform religious visits."We have always been subjected to all sort of things from bombs to explosive devices, but protection comes from God," said al-Moussawi. "This time it's the corona pandemic."He said he took precautions such as donning a mask in crowded areas and sanitizing his hands. There were fewer pilgrims this year and many marked the occasion remotely from their rooftops, he said.Al-Moussawi is a supporter of the Iraqi Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who blamed the spread of the coronavirus in part on the legalization of same-sex marriage in a tweet to his 1 million followers.Some Iraqis have criticized al-Sadr, a Shiite Muslim, arguing he hasn't discouraged believers from visiting holy shrines.Instead, al-Sadr urged visitors of one Shiite shrine to "hurry up in completing the visit and to follow order and medical and heath rules so as not to be a source of contagion for others." Al-Sadr rejected claims that he had undercut efforts to fight the virus.___

A virus that hits all faiths tests religion's tie to science

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge on Saturday blocked Kansas from limiting attendance at in-person religious worship services or activities to 10 people or fewer to check the spread of the coronavirus, signaling that he believes that it’s likely that the policy violates religious freedom and free speech rights.

<a href="https://apdocs.inside.ap.org/documents/150877-churches-order-04-18-20.html" target="_blank">The ruling</a>&nbsp;from U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita prevents the enforcement of&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-18-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;issued by Gov. Laura Kelly if pastors and congregations observe social distancing. The judge’s decision will remain in effect until May 2; he has a hearing scheduled Thursday in a lawsuit filed against Kelly by two churches and their pastors.

Kelly continued to defend her order in a statement: “This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis.”

Broomes’ action comes amid strong criticism of the Democratic governor’s order from the Republican-controlled Legislature and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">increasing pressure</a>&nbsp;from GOP lawmakers to lift at least part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;for all 2.9 million Kansas residents that took effect March 30 and is set to continue until May 3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587258656482.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly briefly discussed the lawsuit during her Friday press conference" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly briefly discussed the lawsuit during her Friday press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge on Saturday blocked Kansas from limiting attendance at in-person religious worship services or activities to 10 people or fewer to check the spread of the coronavirus, signaling that he believes that it’s likely that the policy violates religious freedom and free speech rights.<a href="https://apdocs.inside.ap.org/documents/150877-churches-order-04-18-20.html" target="_blank">The ruling</a>&nbsp;from U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita prevents the enforcement of&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-18-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;issued by Gov. Laura Kelly if pastors and congregations observe social distancing. The judge’s decision will remain in effect until May 2; he has a hearing scheduled Thursday in a lawsuit filed against Kelly by two churches and their pastors.Kelly continued to defend her order in a statement: “This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis.”Broomes’ action comes amid strong criticism of the Democratic governor’s order from the Republican-controlled Legislature and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">increasing pressure</a>&nbsp;from GOP lawmakers to lift at least part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;for all 2.9 million Kansas residents that took effect March 30 and is set to continue until May 3.“Churches and religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment,” Broomes wrote in his order.COVID-19-related deaths rose Saturday by two, to 86, and confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 85 to 1,790. Kelly’s office said six deaths and 80 cases are tied to religious gatherings.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.The lawsuit over church gatherings was filed Thursday by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris. The lawsuit said both churches held indoor Easter services with 20 or more members of the congregation present.Broomes’ order does not let the churches have services without any restrictions. Instead, he ordered them to abide by recommendations for social distancing that people stay 6 feet apart and to continue following other practices the lawsuit said they had imposed, such as not using collection plates.“Public safety is important, but so is following the Constitution,” said Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel for the Christian-founded and conservative Alliance for Defending Freedom, which was involved in the case. “We can prioritize the health of safety of ourselves and our neighbors without harming churches and people of faith.”Kelly’s order limited in-person religious services or activities to 10 congregation members but didn’t limit the number of pastors, choir members and others who could put on the service, so long as they practiced social distancing. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, warned that it would be unconstitutional to cite or fine churches and pastors for violating Kelly’s order.“Ultimately, the people were forced to stop her,” Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement.Many Kansas churches have moved services online, but the pastors and churches suing Kelly said they believe God calls them to engage in “corporate” prayer.They argued Kelly could have imposed less restrictive measures on churches to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. They also said that Kelly’s stay-at-home order had exceptions for numerous “essential” businesses, so her policies unfairly targeted and showed “hostility” toward churches.Broomes noted the exceptions for some businesses, calling the different treatment of churches “arbitrary.”But Kelly called the judge’s decision “preliminary” and some critics said it could be applied to only the two churches that sued.“There is still a long way to go in this case,” Kelly said. “And we will continue to be proactive and err on the side of caution where Kansans’ health and safety is at stake,” Kelly said.Top Republican legislative leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">moved last week</a>&nbsp;to revoke Kelly’s order on church gatherings themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">let her order stand</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a Kansas City-area Republican, texted that people need to stay home, but, “the state cannot and should not set up a double standard.”----------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has blocked Kansas from limiting attendance at in-person religious worship services or activities to 10 or fewer congregation members to check the spread of the coronavirus.<a href="https://ecf.ksd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2020cv1102-14">Click here</a> to read more from the court on this caseThe decision Saturday from U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita signaled that he believes there’s a good chance the policy violates religious freedom and free speech rights. Broomes' ruling prevents the enforcement of an order issued by Gov. Laura Kelly on April 7. His decision will remain in effect until May 2. He has a hearing set for Wednesday in a lawsuit filed against Kelly by Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris and First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond.Governor Kelly responded to the ruling late Saturday evening. “We are in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic. “We all want to resume our normal lives as soon as possible, but for now the data and science tell us there’s still a serious threat from COVID-19 – and when we gather in large groups, the virus spreads.“My executive order is about saving Kansans’ lives and slowing the spread of the virus to keep our neighbors, our families and our loved ones safe,” Kelly said. “During public health emergencies, we must take proactive measures to save lives."Kansas has had six deaths and more than 80 cases of COVID-19 that have originated from religious gatherings. The court’s temporary order noted that, given the gravity of the issues involved, the order only applies to the two plaintiffs to the lawsuit. All other religious gatherings must continue to adhere to the requirements of Executive Order 20-25 and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer attendees.Kansas is not alone in restricting gatherings, including religious gatherings. A majority of states and hundreds of local governments across the country have imposed similar temporary restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;“There have been at least eight other legal challenges like this one, and so far none of them have ruled against a mass gathering restriction like ours. Courts across the country have recognized that during this pandemic emergency the law allows governments to prioritize proper public health and safety,” Kelly said.“This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis,” Kelly said. “This ruling was just a preliminary step. There is still a long way to go in this case, and we will continue to be proactive and err on the side of caution where Kansans’ health and safety is at stake.”Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said nothing has changed related to the need to practice social distancing and avoid mass gatherings.“As Kansans, we have a responsibility to keep our neighbors, friends and family safe. Please do not gather in groups larger than 10 people,” Norman said. “As we see ramped-up testing across the state, we still must exercise extreme caution in our daily activities. It bears repeating: stay safe, stay home, save lives.”