WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A civil rights group asked the Kansas Supreme Court on Thursday to immediately release prisoners who have preexisting medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas filed the class action petition on behalf of seven inmates being housed at Lansing Correctional Facility, the Ellsworth Correctional Facility and the Topeka Correctional Facility. They are seeking an expedited hearing before the state’s highest court on the request by the named plaintiffs and other Kansas inmates in a similar situation.

Rebecca Witte, the spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the department would comment later on the filing.

“Petitioners are housed in crowded facilities with limited access to adequate medical treatment and sanitation supplies,” according to the petition. “Several petitioners also have preexisting medical conditions that make them uniquely vulnerable to serious complications and death if they contract the COVID-19 virus — which has already infected both staff and individuals housed within Kansas prisons.”

The lawsuit contends that the release would not only prevent harm to the medically vulnerable inmates, but would also sufficiently reduce the population at prison facilities to ensure proper social distancing and reduce transmission of the virus to inmates and the wider public.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A civil rights group asked the Kansas Supreme Court on Thursday to immediately release prisoners who have preexisting medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas filed the class action petition on behalf of seven inmates being housed at Lansing Correctional Facility, the Ellsworth Correctional Facility and the Topeka Correctional Facility. They are seeking an expedited hearing before the state’s highest court on the request by the named plaintiffs and other Kansas inmates in a similar situation.Rebecca Witte, the spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the department would comment later on the filing.“Petitioners are housed in crowded facilities with limited access to adequate medical treatment and sanitation supplies,” according to the petition. “Several petitioners also have preexisting medical conditions that make them uniquely vulnerable to serious complications and death if they contract the COVID-19 virus — which has already infected both staff and individuals housed within Kansas prisons.”The lawsuit contends that the release would not only prevent harm to the medically vulnerable inmates, but would also sufficiently reduce the population at prison facilities to ensure proper social distancing and reduce transmission of the virus to inmates and the wider public.

ACLU seeks release of Kan. inmates vulnerable to COVID-19

The Kansas Department of Health released the state's latest report on coronavirus Thursday afternoon.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here f</a>or additional details.

The Kansas Department of Health released the state's latest report on coronavirus Thursday afternoon.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here f</a>or additional details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586452228368.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

By STEPHEN KORANDA &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-gop-upends-gov-kellys-limits-church-services-and-potentially-all-gatherings#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas may not have any limits on the number of people who can safely gather — at all.&nbsp;

In
 a dramatic rebuke, Republican leaders on the Legislative Coordinating 
Council voted Wednesday to overturn the Democratic governor’s executive 
order banning churches and funerals from having more than 10 people at 
services, which followed a wider directive from March 24.&nbsp;

Kelly 
did not immediately reinstate a ban on large gatherings, saying her 
administration was exploring its legal options. But Attorney General 
Derek Schmidt said in a news release Wednesday evening that his office 
believes the March 24 order to be in effect.

The governor’s 
office did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking 
clarification. However, Kelly said earlier in the day that “even if we 
run into a legal snag here, I would encourage the people of Kansas to 
still act as if ... those orders are in place.”&nbsp;

It was seemingly
 the final straw for Republicans when Kelly told churches that they 
couldn’t gather as normal to celebrate one of the most important days in
 Christianity, Easter.&nbsp;

“I’ve received an absolute outpouring of 
concerns from people of faith. And it's not because they were planning 
on attending a worship service for Easter,” Senate President Susan Wagle
 said during the panel’s meeting, invoking religious liberties. “They 
think it’s totally inappropriate for the governor to tell them that they
 cannot worship in a way and in the manner that they choose to on 
Sunday.”&nbsp;

Kelly sternly called the panel’s decision “shockingly 
irresponsible” and an action that will “put every Kansan at risk.” Kelly
 also took aim at Schmidt, who discouraged police and prosecutors from 
breaking up groups of people, which she called a “bizarre, confusing and
 overtly political attack.”&nbsp;

Schmidt responded that his office 
“repeatedly advised against issuing the overreaching executive order 
regulating churches and notified her I would express my concerns 
publicly if she proceeded. She did, and so did I.”

The fight came as Kansas topped 1,000 cases of COVID-19. Already, 
Kansas officials say three clusters of coronavirus have been tied 
directly to church events. Those and nine other outbreaks from group 
settings have led to 165 illnesses and 12 deaths combined. And dozens of
 states have limited church gatherings.

State officials and 
lawmakers have largely worked in bipartisan fashion the last month or so
 to help stem the spread of coronavirus and help out Kansans who need 
unemployment benefits and small business loans. That cooperation, Kelly 
said, had “enabled Kansas to move swiftly and to save lives.”

But
 while most churches had canceled Easter services or moved them online 
voluntarily, Kelly’s order to keep church attendance to 10 or less (not 
including choirs, ministers, etc.) rankled Kansas’ Republican leaders.&nbsp;

Kelly
 said her legal counsel had put the executive order together, and 
believe it to be constitutional. But Wagle, who is running for an open 
U.S. Senate seat and often clashes with Kelly, disagreed.

While 
it is “unprecedented times,” Wagle said she believed the executive order
 restricted “individual rights to practice religious liberties,” adding:
 “I can’t approve this.”

House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, who 
voted to overturn Kelly’s executive order, did press Kansans to stay at 
home on Easter Sunday.&nbsp;

“We have a duty to look out for one 
another and not spread this virus,” he said, asking faith leaders to 
find different ways to help people celebrate the religious holiday.&nbsp;

“Don’t
 hold services where people have to come in person this weekend or next 
weekend,” Finch said. “Let’s get through this crisis first."

The 
nonprofit advocacy group Kansas Interfaith Action weighed in, saying 
people should adhere to social distancing during any services this 
weekend and stick with the 10-person limit.&nbsp;

“As faith leaders, 
of course we place a high value on our religious freedom, but we believe
 that a) no one is limiting our right to worship, only to gather 
publicly, and b) the pandemic is an extenuating circumstance that calls 
us to accept temporary limitations on public worship that would be 
unacceptable in normal circumstances.”

Those who voted to 
overturn the executive order were Wagle, Finch, Senate Majority Leader 
Jim Denning, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and House Majority Leader Dan 
Hawkins. The two Democrats on the panel, Senate Minority Leader Anthony 
Hensley and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, wanted to keep the order.

Kelly
 also said early Wednesday evening that the vote was a distraction 
because state officials were starting to talk about whether they need to
 extend the stay-at-home order.&nbsp;

“We really need to be talking 
about what strategy are we going to have in place to rebuild our economy
 when we’re able to open back up,” she said, “and how are we gonna do 
that?”

An early version of this article incorrectly stated the number of COVID-19 cases tied directly to church services.

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

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586453362209.jpeg" alt=" Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption> Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN KORANDA &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-gop-upends-gov-kellys-limits-church-services-and-potentially-all-gatherings#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas may not have any limits on the number of people who can safely gather — at all.&nbsp;In
 a dramatic rebuke, Republican leaders on the Legislative Coordinating 
Council voted Wednesday to overturn the Democratic governor’s executive 
order banning churches and funerals from having more than 10 people at 
services, which followed a wider directive from March 24.&nbsp;Kelly 
did not immediately reinstate a ban on large gatherings, saying her 
administration was exploring its legal options. But Attorney General 
Derek Schmidt said in a news release Wednesday evening that his office 
believes the March 24 order to be in effect.The governor’s 
office did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking 
clarification. However, Kelly said earlier in the day that “even if we 
run into a legal snag here, I would encourage the people of Kansas to 
still act as if ... those orders are in place.”&nbsp;It was seemingly
 the final straw for Republicans when Kelly told churches that they 
couldn’t gather as normal to celebrate one of the most important days in
 Christianity, Easter.&nbsp;“I’ve received an absolute outpouring of 
concerns from people of faith. And it's not because they were planning 
on attending a worship service for Easter,” Senate President Susan Wagle
 said during the panel’s meeting, invoking religious liberties. “They 
think it’s totally inappropriate for the governor to tell them that they
 cannot worship in a way and in the manner that they choose to on 
Sunday.”&nbsp;Kelly sternly called the panel’s decision “shockingly 
irresponsible” and an action that will “put every Kansan at risk.” Kelly
 also took aim at Schmidt, who discouraged police and prosecutors from 
breaking up groups of people, which she called a “bizarre, confusing and
 overtly political attack.”&nbsp;Schmidt responded that his office 
“repeatedly advised against issuing the overreaching executive order 
regulating churches and notified her I would express my concerns 
publicly if she proceeded. She did, and so did I.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586453519904.jpeg" alt=" Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks about an hour after Republicans overturned her executive order limiting churches to 10 people or less at services. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks about an hour after Republicans overturned her executive order limiting churches to 10 people or less at services. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The fight came as Kansas topped 1,000 cases of COVID-19. Already, 
Kansas officials say three clusters of coronavirus have been tied 
directly to church events. Those and nine other outbreaks from group 
settings have led to 165 illnesses and 12 deaths combined. And dozens of
 states have limited church gatherings.State officials and 
lawmakers have largely worked in bipartisan fashion the last month or so
 to help stem the spread of coronavirus and help out Kansans who need 
unemployment benefits and small business loans. That cooperation, Kelly 
said, had “enabled Kansas to move swiftly and to save lives.”But
 while most churches had canceled Easter services or moved them online 
voluntarily, Kelly’s order to keep church attendance to 10 or less (not 
including choirs, ministers, etc.) rankled Kansas’ Republican leaders.&nbsp;Kelly
 said her legal counsel had put the executive order together, and 
believe it to be constitutional. But Wagle, who is running for an open 
U.S. Senate seat and often clashes with Kelly, disagreed.While 
it is “unprecedented times,” Wagle said she believed the executive order
 restricted “individual rights to practice religious liberties,” adding:
 “I can’t approve this.”House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, who 
voted to overturn Kelly’s executive order, did press Kansans to stay at 
home on Easter Sunday.&nbsp;“We have a duty to look out for one 
another and not spread this virus,” he said, asking faith leaders to 
find different ways to help people celebrate the religious holiday.&nbsp;“Don’t
 hold services where people have to come in person this weekend or next 
weekend,” Finch said. “Let’s get through this crisis first."The 
nonprofit advocacy group Kansas Interfaith Action weighed in, saying 
people should adhere to social distancing during any services this 
weekend and stick with the 10-person limit.&nbsp;“As faith leaders, 
of course we place a high value on our religious freedom, but we believe
 that a) no one is limiting our right to worship, only to gather 
publicly, and b) the pandemic is an extenuating circumstance that calls 
us to accept temporary limitations on public worship that would be 
unacceptable in normal circumstances.”Those who voted to 
overturn the executive order were Wagle, Finch, Senate Majority Leader 
Jim Denning, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and House Majority Leader Dan 
Hawkins. The two Democrats on the panel, Senate Minority Leader Anthony 
Hensley and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, wanted to keep the order.Kelly
 also said early Wednesday evening that the vote was a distraction 
because state officials were starting to talk about whether they need to
 extend the stay-at-home order.&nbsp;“We really need to be talking 
about what strategy are we going to have in place to rebuild our economy
 when we’re able to open back up,” she said, “and how are we gonna do 
that?”An early version of this article incorrectly stated the number of COVID-19 cases tied directly to church services.Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda">@kprkoranda</a>.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

GOP upends limits on church services, and potentially all gatherings

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help in locating a wanted Kansas felon, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

&nbsp;Andrew Taylor, 33, is described as a white male, 5-foot-10 and approximately 225 pounds.

He&nbsp;has a previous conviction for theft, according the Kansas Department of Corrections and is wanted on a Barton County District Court warrant. He may be in possession of a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun, according to Bellendir. 

Taylor has allegedly made statements he will not be taken alive by law enforcement and should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you have information about Taylor, call police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586446136824.png" alt="Taylor photo Barton County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Taylor photo Barton County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help in locating a wanted Kansas felon, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.&nbsp;Andrew Taylor, 33, is described as a white male, 5-foot-10 and approximately 225 pounds.He&nbsp;has a previous conviction for theft, according the Kansas Department of Corrections and is wanted on a Barton County District Court warrant. He may be in possession of a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun, according to Bellendir. Taylor has allegedly made statements he will not be taken alive by law enforcement and should be considered armed and dangerous.If you have information about Taylor, call police.

Sheriff asks for help to locate armed, dangerous Kan. felon

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is taking additional steps to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy. The money will target American households and businesses, as well as local governments besieged by the coronavirus outbreak.

<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200409a.htm">Click here </a>to see additional details on the program

The Fed said Thursday that it is activating a Main Street Business Lending Program authorized by the CARES Act, the largest economic relief package ever passed by Congress.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed's role was to “provide as much relief and stability as we can during this period of constrained economic activity.”

In in a webcast from the Brookings Institution, Powell said that the Fed fully intended to use its powers “forcefully, proactively and aggressively until we are confident that we are solidly on the road to recovery.”

He said there was “every reason to believe that the economic rebound, when it comes, can be robust” because the economy was doing well before the virus hit.

Among the actions taken Thursday, the Fed activated a loan program for municipal governments, as well as additional support for the Paycheck Protection Program, which the Small Business Administration rolled out last week. The program provides loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

The Main Street lending program “will make a significant difference for the 40,000 medium-sized business that employ 35 million Americans," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday.

The government's pay protection plan for small businesses is off to a rocky start. Businesses have had difficulty getting banks to provide the loans. The banks have said that the government has not made clear how they should process such loans, even what forms businesses are required to use.

The Fed announced the new infusion of cash on the same day the U.S. reported applications for unemployment benefits reached a staggering 6.6 million last week. That means more than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just the past three weeks to the coronavirus outbreak.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586444648763.png" alt="Empty business along SW Wanamaker Road this week in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Empty business along SW Wanamaker Road this week in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is taking additional steps to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy. The money will target American households and businesses, as well as local governments besieged by the coronavirus outbreak.<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200409a.htm">Click here </a>to see additional details on the programThe Fed said Thursday that it is activating a Main Street Business Lending Program authorized by the CARES Act, the largest economic relief package ever passed by Congress.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586436935167.png" alt="Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell" />
 <figcaption>Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell</figcaption>
 </figure>Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed's role was to “provide as much relief and stability as we can during this period of constrained economic activity.”In in a webcast from the Brookings Institution, Powell said that the Fed fully intended to use its powers “forcefully, proactively and aggressively until we are confident that we are solidly on the road to recovery.”He said there was “every reason to believe that the economic rebound, when it comes, can be robust” because the economy was doing well before the virus hit.Among the actions taken Thursday, the Fed activated a loan program for municipal governments, as well as additional support for the Paycheck Protection Program, which the Small Business Administration rolled out last week. The program provides loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees.The Main Street lending program “will make a significant difference for the 40,000 medium-sized business that employ 35 million Americans," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday.The government's pay protection plan for small businesses is off to a rocky start. Businesses have had difficulty getting banks to provide the loans. The banks have said that the government has not made clear how they should process such loans, even what forms businesses are required to use.The Fed announced the new infusion of cash on the same day the U.S. reported applications for unemployment benefits reached a staggering 6.6 million last week. That means more than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just the past three weeks to the coronavirus outbreak.

Virus relief: New $2.3 trillion Fed plan to buttress cities, businesses

By STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/anxious-kansas-parents-keep-kids-home-day-care-amid-coronavirus-outbreak">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — Day cares, at a premium in Kansas 
in non-pandemic times, are essential businesses that can stay open while
 the state is under a stay-at-home order. Overall, they’re seeing a drop
 in the number of kids who show up, but want to be there for health care
 workers.

“The nurses. The doctors. Everybody on the frontlines,”
 Phillipsburg Child Care Center program director Brooke Feik said. “They
 need somewhere to take their kiddos.”

Meanwhile, some parents 
who are at home due to social distancing or climbing unemployment are 
keeping their kids with them while still paying to keep their day care 
spots for when the virus lifts. And about 7% of Kansas day cares decided
 it was too risky to stay open, especially with a combination of 
hygiene-oblivious toddlers and a shortage of cleaning supplies.

The
 biggest competition to child care facilities during the pandemic: 
friends, family and neighbors. With plenty of Kansans stuck home, they 
have the free time to watch each other’s kids.

“If you know that 
your neighbor is also home cause she's a school teacher, you might 
approach her and say ‘Hey, can you watch your children Monday, 
Wednesday, Friday? I'll watch your children on Tuesday, Thursday,’" said
 Leadell Ediger, executive director of Child Care Aware of Kansas, which
 runs the state’s child care referral network.

According to a 
last year’s child care state report, 77% of Kansas counties had fewer 
than one child care spot per 10 toddlers, and there were 10% fewer child
 care programs in the state than two years prior.

But while 
attendance at child care has dropped, enrollment has not. Day care 
providers say many parents continue to write the tuition checks, 
figuring it’s better to pay for unused child care than give up one of 
the state’s limited number of spots.

“If we had several people 
coming in looking for care next week and you didn’t have that spot held 
for your child, we wouldn’t necessarily have a spot for them,” said 
Jaime Noone, a teacher at Logan ABC Community Day Care Center.

The
 practical advice for preventing the spread of the coronavirus is easy —
 wash your hands, stay six feet away from other people, don’t touch your
 face. But try giving it to a three-year-old.

Kansas provides 
some social distancing guidelines for child care centers, like no more 
than 10 kids in a group, not mixing the group and keeping employees with
 the same group.

Providers say that’s not too different from what
 they already have to do to keep their licenses, but they also say 
keeping kids six feet apart is unrealistic when they’re just learning 
what personal space means.

“We are doing everything we can to 
space children, but the reality of children is that’s not a feasible 
task,” said Emily Barnes, who operates Barnes Childcare in Olathe.

Instead,
 day care providers take kids’ temperatures before they come inside. The
 parents stay outside. One center has the fingerprint scanner that 
parents have to use when dropping off their kids each day, and it’s 
cleaned constantly.

There’s also a lot of hand-washing — a lot. At one center, kids have to each time they touch their face.

But
 like a lot of places right now, it’s hard to find cleaning supplies, 
thermometers and disposable thermometer covers. About 7% of child care 
providers in the state closed their doors since mid-March, mostly to 
stop the spread of the virus, according to Child Care Aware of Kansas.

The parents who still need day care services are often those who can’t stay at home.

Kerri
 Burr usually drops her 3-year-old daughter off at a Wichita day care. 
Burr has worked at home for a while, writing grants for a nonprofit, but
 her husband still goes in for his job at a car dealership.

All 
four of their kids are now at home because schools are closed, and she 
works at night so her husband can be on parenting duty.

She said it would have been easier to keep sending her daughter to day care, but she didn’t want to be a vector.

“It’s
 hard for me to have everyone home but I don’t have to wonder if we’re 
spreading something around to somebody whose body can’t handle it or 
fight it off,” Burr said.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586352274209.jpeg" alt=" An empty playground outside of Plymouth Preschool in Wichita. Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> An empty playground outside of Plymouth Preschool in Wichita. Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/anxious-kansas-parents-keep-kids-home-day-care-amid-coronavirus-outbreak">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — Day cares, at a premium in Kansas 
in non-pandemic times, are essential businesses that can stay open while
 the state is under a stay-at-home order. Overall, they’re seeing a drop
 in the number of kids who show up, but want to be there for health care
 workers.“The nurses. The doctors. Everybody on the frontlines,”
 Phillipsburg Child Care Center program director Brooke Feik said. “They
 need somewhere to take their kiddos.”Meanwhile, some parents 
who are at home due to social distancing or climbing unemployment are 
keeping their kids with them while still paying to keep their day care 
spots for when the virus lifts. And about 7% of Kansas day cares decided
 it was too risky to stay open, especially with a combination of 
hygiene-oblivious toddlers and a shortage of cleaning supplies.<h2>Staying home</h2>The
 biggest competition to child care facilities during the pandemic: 
friends, family and neighbors. With plenty of Kansans stuck home, they 
have the free time to watch each other’s kids.“If you know that 
your neighbor is also home cause she's a school teacher, you might 
approach her and say ‘Hey, can you watch your children Monday, 
Wednesday, Friday? I'll watch your children on Tuesday, Thursday,’" said
 Leadell Ediger, executive director of Child Care Aware of Kansas, which
 runs the state’s child care referral network.According to a 
last year’s child care state report, 77% of Kansas counties had fewer 
than one child care spot per 10 toddlers, and there were 10% fewer child
 care programs in the state than two years prior.But while 
attendance at child care has dropped, enrollment has not. Day care 
providers say many parents continue to write the tuition checks, 
figuring it’s better to pay for unused child care than give up one of 
the state’s limited number of spots.“If we had several people 
coming in looking for care next week and you didn’t have that spot held 
for your child, we wouldn’t necessarily have a spot for them,” said 
Jaime Noone, a teacher at Logan ABC Community Day Care Center.<h2>Cleanliness at centers</h2>The
 practical advice for preventing the spread of the coronavirus is easy —
 wash your hands, stay six feet away from other people, don’t touch your
 face. But try giving it to a three-year-old.Kansas provides 
some social distancing guidelines for child care centers, like no more 
than 10 kids in a group, not mixing the group and keeping employees with
 the same group.Providers say that’s not too different from what
 they already have to do to keep their licenses, but they also say 
keeping kids six feet apart is unrealistic when they’re just learning 
what personal space means.“We are doing everything we can to 
space children, but the reality of children is that’s not a feasible 
task,” said Emily Barnes, who operates Barnes Childcare in Olathe.Instead,
 day care providers take kids’ temperatures before they come inside. The
 parents stay outside. One center has the fingerprint scanner that 
parents have to use when dropping off their kids each day, and it’s 
cleaned constantly.There’s also a lot of hand-washing — a lot. At one center, kids have to each time they touch their face.But
 like a lot of places right now, it’s hard to find cleaning supplies, 
thermometers and disposable thermometer covers. About 7% of child care 
providers in the state closed their doors since mid-March, mostly to 
stop the spread of the virus, according to Child Care Aware of Kansas.<h2>Still working</h2>The parents who still need day care services are often those who can’t stay at home.Kerri
 Burr usually drops her 3-year-old daughter off at a Wichita day care. 
Burr has worked at home for a while, writing grants for a nonprofit, but
 her husband still goes in for his job at a car dealership.All 
four of their kids are now at home because schools are closed, and she 
works at night so her husband can be on parenting duty.She said it would have been easier to keep sending her daughter to day care, but she didn’t want to be a vector.“It’s
 hard for me to have everyone home but I don’t have to wonder if we’re 
spreading something around to somebody whose body can’t handle it or 
fight it off,” Burr said.Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en" target="_blank">@stevebisaha</a>.

Anxious Kan. parents keep kids home from day care amid outbreak 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of the N95 respirators, surgical masks, face, shields, gowns and other medical supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients.

The Department of Health and Human Services told The Associated Press Wednesday that the federal stockpile was in the process of deploying all remaining personal protective equipment in its inventory.

The HHS statement confirms&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6827959-Medical-supplies-distribution.html" target="_blank">federal documents</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday by the House Oversight and Reform Committee showing that about 90% of the personal protective equipment in the stockpile has been distributed to state and local governments.

HHS spokeswoman Katie McKeogh said the remaining 10% will be kept in reserve to support federal response efforts.

House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/new-document-shows-inadequate-distribution-of-personal-protective-equipment-and" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration is leaving states to scour the open market for scarce supplies, often competing with each other and federal agencies in a chaotic bidding war that drives up prices.

“The President failed to bring in FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) early on, failed to name a national commander for this crisis, and failed to fully utilize the authorities Congress gave him under the Defense Production Act to procure and manage the distribution of critical supplies,” Maloney said. “He must take action now to address these deficiencies.”

For the last month, health care workers across the nation have taken to social media to illustrate the shortages by taking selfies wearing home-sewn masks on their faces and trash bags over their scrubs.

President Donald Trump has faulted the states for not better preparing for the pandemic and has said they should only being relying on the federal stockpile as a last resort.

The AP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/090600c299a8cf07f5b44d92534856bc">reported</a>&nbsp;Sunday that the Trump administration squandered nearly two months after the early January warnings that COVID-19 might ignite a global pandemic, waiting until mid-March to place bulk orders of N95 masks and other medical supplies needed to build up the stockpile. By then, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and were pleading for help.

Trump spent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/09985ba2784e553d69c7f194960de94f">first two months</a>&nbsp;of the outbreak playing down the threat from the new virus. He derided warnings of a pandemic as a hoax perpetrated by Democrats and the media, predicting as late as Feb. 26 that the number of U.S. cases would soon drop to zero.

The stockpile was created in 1999 to prevent supply-chain disruptions for the predicted Y2K computer problems. It expanded after 9/11 to prepare for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. Congress provided money in 2006 to prepare for a potential influenza pandemic, though much of that stock was used during the H1N1 flu outbreak three years later.

At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the federal stockpile had about 13 million N95 respirators, masks which filter out about 95% of all liquid or airborne particles and are critical to prevent health care workers from becoming infected. That’s just a small fraction of what hospitals need to protect their workers, who normally would wear a new mask for each patient, but who now are often issued only one to last for days.

Federal contracting records show HHS made an initial bulk order of N95 masks on March 12, followed by larger orders on March 21. But those contracts won’t yield big deliveries to the national stockpile until the end of April, after the White House has projected the pandemic will reach its peak.

For nearly a month, Trump rebuffed calls to use his authority under the Defense Production Act to order companies to increase production of respirators and ventilators, before he relented last week.

Asked about the AP report, the president suggested Sunday the states should be thankful for the shipments of supplies they have gotten.

“FEMA, the military, what they’ve done is a miracle,” Trump said. “What they’ve done is a miracle in getting all of this stuff. What they have done for states is incredible.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586430652281.png" alt="PPE distribution on Wednesday in Missouri -photo office of Missouri governor" />
 <figcaption>PPE distribution on Wednesday in Missouri -photo office of Missouri governor</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of the N95 respirators, surgical masks, face, shields, gowns and other medical supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients.The Department of Health and Human Services told The Associated Press Wednesday that the federal stockpile was in the process of deploying all remaining personal protective equipment in its inventory.The HHS statement confirms&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6827959-Medical-supplies-distribution.html" target="_blank">federal documents</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday by the House Oversight and Reform Committee showing that about 90% of the personal protective equipment in the stockpile has been distributed to state and local governments.HHS spokeswoman Katie McKeogh said the remaining 10% will be kept in reserve to support federal response efforts.House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/new-document-shows-inadequate-distribution-of-personal-protective-equipment-and" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration is leaving states to scour the open market for scarce supplies, often competing with each other and federal agencies in a chaotic bidding war that drives up prices.“The President failed to bring in FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) early on, failed to name a national commander for this crisis, and failed to fully utilize the authorities Congress gave him under the Defense Production Act to procure and manage the distribution of critical supplies,” Maloney said. “He must take action now to address these deficiencies.”For the last month, health care workers across the nation have taken to social media to illustrate the shortages by taking selfies wearing home-sewn masks on their faces and trash bags over their scrubs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586209464100.png" alt="President Trump answering questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answering questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump has faulted the states for not better preparing for the pandemic and has said they should only being relying on the federal stockpile as a last resort.The AP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/090600c299a8cf07f5b44d92534856bc">reported</a>&nbsp;Sunday that the Trump administration squandered nearly two months after the early January warnings that COVID-19 might ignite a global pandemic, waiting until mid-March to place bulk orders of N95 masks and other medical supplies needed to build up the stockpile. By then, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and were pleading for help.Trump spent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/09985ba2784e553d69c7f194960de94f">first two months</a>&nbsp;of the outbreak playing down the threat from the new virus. He derided warnings of a pandemic as a hoax perpetrated by Democrats and the media, predicting as late as Feb. 26 that the number of U.S. cases would soon drop to zero.The stockpile was created in 1999 to prevent supply-chain disruptions for the predicted Y2K computer problems. It expanded after 9/11 to prepare for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. Congress provided money in 2006 to prepare for a potential influenza pandemic, though much of that stock was used during the H1N1 flu outbreak three years later.At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the federal stockpile had about 13 million N95 respirators, masks which filter out about 95% of all liquid or airborne particles and are critical to prevent health care workers from becoming infected. That’s just a small fraction of what hospitals need to protect their workers, who normally would wear a new mask for each patient, but who now are often issued only one to last for days.Federal contracting records show HHS made an initial bulk order of N95 masks on March 12, followed by larger orders on March 21. But those contracts won’t yield big deliveries to the national stockpile until the end of April, after the White House has projected the pandemic will reach its peak.For nearly a month, Trump rebuffed calls to use his authority under the Defense Production Act to order companies to increase production of respirators and ventilators, before he relented last week.Asked about the AP report, the president suggested Sunday the states should be thankful for the shipments of supplies they have gotten.“FEMA, the military, what they’ve done is a miracle,” Trump said. “What they’ve done is a miracle in getting all of this stuff. What they have done for states is incredible.”

HHS: Federal stocks of protective equipment nearly depleted

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed another man at a park and then intentionally ran over the victim.

Corey Darden was also charged with first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action in the death of Felipe Carillo, 41, of Kansas City, on Monday at Blue Valley Park.

Officers who were responding to a report of a pedestrian being hit and killed by a vehicle found Carillo dead. Witnesses told police Carillo had been stabbed during a fight with another man and when he tried to flee, the suspect intentionally ran him over, according to court documents.

Darden was arrested after he wrecked the Jeep.

Darden is being held at the Jackson County Detention Center. Prosecutors have requested a $500,000 cash bond.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police have identified a man investigators believe was intentionally run down in a fatal hit-and-run crash.

Felipe Carillo, 41, of Kansas City, was killed in the Monday afternoon crash in the city’s Blue Valley Park, police said in a news release late Tuesday.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday, when officers responded to reports of a crash involving a man who was hit by a vehicle. Police said the man, later identified at Carillo, died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle left the scene and abandoned the vehicle a short distance later, police said. Investigators said initial evidence indicated the collision was an intentional act, and the case was turned over to the department's homicide unit.

No arrests had been reported by Wednesday morning.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Investigators believe a pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run crash was intentionally run down, Kansas City police said.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday in the city’s Blue Valley Park, when officers responded to reports of a crash involving a man who was hit by a vehicle. Police said the man died at the scene.

No arrests had been reported by Tuesday morning. Police had not released the identities of the victim or the suspected driver by early Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586373185750.png" alt="Darden photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Darden photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed another man at a park and then intentionally ran over the victim.Corey Darden was also charged with first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action in the death of Felipe Carillo, 41, of Kansas City, on Monday at Blue Valley Park.Officers who were responding to a report of a pedestrian being hit and killed by a vehicle found Carillo dead. Witnesses told police Carillo had been stabbed during a fight with another man and when he tried to flee, the suspect intentionally ran him over, according to court documents.Darden was arrested after he wrecked the Jeep.Darden is being held at the Jackson County Detention Center. Prosecutors have requested a $500,000 cash bond.-------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police have identified a man investigators believe was intentionally run down in a fatal hit-and-run crash.Felipe Carillo, 41, of Kansas City, was killed in the Monday afternoon crash in the city’s Blue Valley Park, police said in a news release late Tuesday.The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday, when officers responded to reports of a crash involving a man who was hit by a vehicle. Police said the man, later identified at Carillo, died at the scene.The driver of the vehicle left the scene and abandoned the vehicle a short distance later, police said. Investigators said initial evidence indicated the collision was an intentional act, and the case was turned over to the department's homicide unit.No arrests had been reported by Wednesday morning.--------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Investigators believe a pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run crash was intentionally run down, Kansas City police said.The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday in the city’s Blue Valley Park, when officers responded to reports of a crash involving a man who was hit by a vehicle. Police said the man died at the scene.The driver of the vehicle left the scene and abandoned the vehicle a short distance later, police said. Investigators said initial evidence indicated the collision was an intentional act, and the case was turned over to the department's homicide unit.No arrests had been reported by Tuesday morning. Police had not released the identities of the victim or the suspected driver by early Tuesday.

Update: Man charged with murder for hit-and-run at KC park

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines for essential workers, such as those in the health care and food supply industries. The guidance is focused on when those workers can return to work after having been exposed to the new coronavirus.

— Do take your temperature before work.

— Do practice social distancing as work duties permit.

— Don’t stay at work if you become sick

— Don’t share headsets or objects used near face.

— Don’t congregate in the break room or other crowded places.

The CDC also issued guidance for employers in essential industries.

— Do increase the frequency of cleaning commonly touched surfaces.

— Do increase air exchange in the building.

— Do send sick workers home immediately.

— Do test the use of face masks to ensure they don’t interfere with workflow.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586391131314.png" alt="Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during Wednesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during Wednesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines for essential workers, such as those in the health care and food supply industries. The guidance is focused on when those workers can return to work after having been exposed to the new coronavirus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586391294022.png" alt="CDC" />
 <figcaption>CDC</figcaption>
 </figure>— Do take your temperature before work.— Do wear a face mask at all times.— Do practice social distancing as work duties permit.— Don’t stay at work if you become sick— Don’t share headsets or objects used near face.— Don’t congregate in the break room or other crowded places.The CDC also issued guidance for employers in essential industries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586391231224.png" alt="CDC" />
 <figcaption>CDC</figcaption>
 </figure>— Do increase the frequency of cleaning commonly touched surfaces.— Do increase air exchange in the building.— Do send sick workers home immediately.— Do test the use of face masks to ensure they don’t interfere with workflow.

New CDC guidance for essential workers, employers during coronavirus

COWLEY COUNTY — A Kansas felon wanted in connection with a fatal shooting has turned himself in.

Shooting suspect, Christopher Robert Henry, 37, of Wichita, turned himself in about 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Arkansas City Police Department, according to a media release. 

Last week, police issued a warrant for his arrest and asked the public for help to locate him.

Just before 1p.m. April 3, police responded to the 700 block of North B Street in Arkansas City for a report of shots fired. Before officers arrived on the scene, the individuals involved in the incident allegedly left.

A short time later, officers located and stopped a vehicle in the 28000 block of U.S. 77 Bypass. Police learned that one of the vehicle’s passengers, Jonathan Martinez, 28, of Arkansas City, had sustained an apparent gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Martinez was transported by the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department to South Central Kansas

Medical Center. He was transported by air ambulance to a Wichita hospital, where he later died.

Henry and Martinez knew each other, and police said this was not a random shooting or “road rage.”

Henry is being held in the Cowley County Jail on requested charges that include intentional second-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle. His bond is set at $500,000 bond, according to police.&nbsp;

COWLEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a fatal shooting and are asking the public for help to locate the suspect.

The victim in the shooting&nbsp; identified as Jonathan Martinez, 28, Arkansas City,&nbsp; died from the gunshot wound he sustained after being transported by air ambulance Friday afternoon to a Wichita hospital.

The investigation has identified the shooting suspect as Christopher Robert Henry, 37, of Wichita, according Police Chief Dan Ward.

“We believe Henry is no longer in our community and is likely in the Wichita area,” said Ward.

“A warrant for Hentry's arrest has been obtained and we are working with the Wichita Police department to locate him. Henry should be considered armed and dangerous.”

Henry and Martinez knew each other, and Ward said this was not a random shooting or “road rage.”

The Arkansas City Police Department was able to identify Henry quickly due to the teamwork and assistance of the public and several other law enforcement agencies, including the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol and Wichita Police Department. He has a previous conviction for aggravated battery in Lyon County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Anyone with information on Henry’s whereabouts should immediately contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586041806433.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Henry- photo Arkansas City PoliceCOWLEY COUNTY — A Kansas felon wanted in connection with a fatal shooting has turned himself in.Shooting suspect, Christopher Robert Henry, 37, of Wichita, turned himself in about 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Arkansas City Police Department, according to a media release. Last week, police issued a warrant for his arrest and asked the public for help to locate him.Just before 1p.m. April 3, police responded to the 700 block of North B Street in Arkansas City for a report of shots fired. Before officers arrived on the scene, the individuals involved in the incident allegedly left.A short time later, officers located and stopped a vehicle in the 28000 block of U.S. 77 Bypass. Police learned that one of the vehicle’s passengers, Jonathan Martinez, 28, of Arkansas City, had sustained an apparent gunshot wound to his abdomen.Martinez was transported by the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department to South Central KansasMedical Center. He was transported by air ambulance to a Wichita hospital, where he later died.Henry and Martinez knew each other, and police said this was not a random shooting or “road rage.”Henry is being held in the Cowley County Jail on requested charges that include intentional second-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle. His bond is set at $500,000 bond, according to police.&nbsp;--------COWLEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a fatal shooting and are asking the public for help to locate the suspect.The victim in the shooting&nbsp; identified as Jonathan Martinez, 28, Arkansas City,&nbsp; died from the gunshot wound he sustained after being transported by air ambulance Friday afternoon to a Wichita hospital.The investigation has identified the shooting suspect as Christopher Robert Henry, 37, of Wichita, according Police Chief Dan Ward.“We believe Henry is no longer in our community and is likely in the Wichita area,” said Ward.“A warrant for Hentry's arrest has been obtained and we are working with the Wichita Police department to locate him. Henry should be considered armed and dangerous.”Henry and Martinez knew each other, and Ward said this was not a random shooting or “road rage.”The Arkansas City Police Department was able to identify Henry quickly due to the teamwork and assistance of the public and several other law enforcement agencies, including the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol and Wichita Police Department. He has a previous conviction for aggravated battery in Lyon County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Anyone with information on Henry’s whereabouts should immediately contact police.

Police: Kan. felon wanted for murder turns himself in

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly discussed the dramatic increase in coronavirus deaths in Kansas during her daily press conference. Kansas saw a 41 percent jump in coronavirus&nbsp; deaths Wednesday to 38, according to the KDHE.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The governor and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman also responded to the statement by&nbsp; the Kansas Attorney General who told police <a href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2020/04/08/ag-derek-schmidt-kansans-should-comply-with-governor-s-order-limiting-religious-gatherings-during-pandemic-but-cannot-be-arrested-prosecuted-or-imprisoned-for-worshiping">not to enforce the governor's order on religious gatherings</a>&nbsp;and lawmakers who overturned the order restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the pandemic.

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly discussed the dramatic increase in coronavirus deaths in Kansas during her daily press conference. Kansas saw a 41 percent jump in coronavirus&nbsp; deaths Wednesday to 38, according to the KDHE.&nbsp;&nbsp;The governor and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman also responded to the statement by&nbsp; the Kansas Attorney General who told police <a href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2020/04/08/ag-derek-schmidt-kansans-should-comply-with-governor-s-order-limiting-religious-gatherings-during-pandemic-but-cannot-be-arrested-prosecuted-or-imprisoned-for-worshiping">not to enforce the governor's order on religious gatherings</a>&nbsp;and lawmakers who overturned the order restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the pandemic.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F1037628039966755%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

🎥  Gov. Kelly on dramatic increase of virus deaths in Kansas

OVERLAND PARK, KAN.&nbsp;(AP) — Officials in Overland Park have announced the suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City community’s farmers market will not open this weekend as planned in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

City officials announced the markets’ postponed opening on Tuesday under pressure from the public, the Kansas City Star reported. The city had been planning to open the market for the season on Saturday, even as other Johnson County cities decided to postpone their own markets.

The city had made several changes in an effort to address health concerns — including canceling children's events and moving the event to a parking lot to give more space between vendors. But the event draws thousands of shoppers, making it difficult to keep people six feet apart and enforce safety protocols.

The city heard from several concerned residents, especially as the number of coronavirus cases rapidly grows in Johnson County, city spokesman Sean Reilly.

“Despite the efforts we’ve gone through with the safety and health protocols, we still heard from people who were concerned about the health of the public and vendors,” Reilly said. “So we heard them, listened to them and decided we would go ahead and close it.”

Reilly said the farmers market will open after Kansas' stay-at-home order is lifted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586358248415.png" alt="Image courtesy Overland Park Farmers Market" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Overland Park Farmers Market</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, KAN.&nbsp;(AP) — Officials in Overland Park have announced the suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City community’s farmers market will not open this weekend as planned in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.City officials announced the markets’ postponed opening on Tuesday under pressure from the public, the Kansas City Star reported. The city had been planning to open the market for the season on Saturday, even as other Johnson County cities decided to postpone their own markets.The city had made several changes in an effort to address health concerns — including canceling children's events and moving the event to a parking lot to give more space between vendors. But the event draws thousands of shoppers, making it difficult to keep people six feet apart and enforce safety protocols.The city heard from several concerned residents, especially as the number of coronavirus cases rapidly grows in Johnson County, city spokesman Sean Reilly.“Despite the efforts we’ve gone through with the safety and health protocols, we still heard from people who were concerned about the health of the public and vendors,” Reilly said. “So we heard them, listened to them and decided we would go ahead and close it.”Reilly said the farmers market will open after Kansas' stay-at-home order is lifted.

Coronavirus response varied among Kansas farmers markets

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have two suspects in custody.

Just after 4 a.m. March 27, police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home in the 2900 block of South Bunker Hill in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located a 44-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.&nbsp; He was taken to an area hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed, 24-year-old Devonte Whichard and 26-year-old Shardae Kirby went to the home, knocked on the door, and asked for food.&nbsp; 

Once inside, Whichard grabbed an Xbox, and both suspects fled the residence.

 The victim pursued and confronted Whichard who pulled out a handgun and fired a shot, striking the victim.&nbsp; Both suspects fled the scene.

Investigators were able to determine Whichard and Kirby’s involvement in the incident.&nbsp; On Monday, police located them at a home in the 2200 block of South Kansas and arrested they without incident.

They are being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286420857.png" alt="Wichard photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wichard photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have two suspects in custody.Just after 4 a.m. March 27, police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home in the 2900 block of South Bunker Hill in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located a 44-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.&nbsp; He was taken to an area hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;The investigation revealed, 24-year-old Devonte Whichard and 26-year-old Shardae Kirby went to the home, knocked on the door, and asked for food.&nbsp; Once inside, Whichard grabbed an Xbox, and both suspects fled the residence. The victim pursued and confronted Whichard who pulled out a handgun and fired a shot, striking the victim.&nbsp; Both suspects fled the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286391882.png" alt="Kirby photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Kirby photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators were able to determine Whichard and Kirby’s involvement in the incident.&nbsp; On Monday, police located them at a home in the 2200 block of South Kansas and arrested they without incident.They are being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery.&nbsp;

2 arrested for shooting Kan. homeowner after robbery

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak has been overturned after the state’s top prosecutor said it likely violates the state constitution.

The Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to undo the order that limited in-person religious services and funerals to 10 people. The move came after Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said that while the order was “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow,” he was discouraging law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.

Governor Laura Kelly during Tuesday's news conference

With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order Tuesday because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings. Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, said 165 had been sickened in those outbreaks.

“In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order,” wrote Schmidt, adding that Kansas statutory and constitutional law provide substantially more protection for religious freedoms than does federal law.

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew Wednesday to 1,008, up from 900 Tuesday, with 38 deaths.

The sickened include 56 patients and staff members at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Kansas City, Kansas. Six have died and seven are hospitalized, health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday.

State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.

Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

By STEPHEN KORANDA &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-wiped-out-gov-laura-kellys-covid-19-ban-big-church-gatherings#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Republican leadership 
seemingly had enough of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive orders, 
with a limit on church gatherings marking the final straw.

The 
Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to strip the state 
of any ban on the number of people who could gather at one time to stop 
the spread of the coronavirus.

No more than 10 people have been 
allowed to gather for a while, but on Tuesday, Kelly specified that it 
would apply to churches and funerals. Kansas officials have said three 
clusters of coronavirus have been directly tied to church services, 
leading to 165 illnesses and 12 deaths.

Plus, Easter is this Sunday, and the decision rankled Republican leadership.

“I
 can’t approve this,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, who often 
clashes with Kelly. “We did take an oath to uphold (religious freedoms 
in the constitution).”

It is now up to Kelly whether to establish
 another order that limits gatherings. She delayed an afternoon news 
conference as soon as the LCC’s vote happened.

Kansas House 
Speaker Pro Tem Finch said he hoped everyone will stay home, adding that
 it isn’t worth the risk to go to a church service this weekend and 
thanked church leaders for holding online services.

Those who 
voted to overturn the executive order, via conference call, were Wagle, 
Finch, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and
 House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins. The two Democrats, Sen. Anthony 
Hensley and House Rep. Tom Sawyer, wanted to keep the order.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak has been overturned after the state’s top prosecutor said it likely violates the state constitution.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/pHrW7sAiqY">pic.twitter.com/pHrW7sAiqY</a>&mdash; Speaker Ryckman (@RonRyckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonRyckman/status/1247989645973032960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to undo the order that limited in-person religious services and funerals to 10 people. The move came after Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said that while the order was “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow,” he was discouraging law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586287905649.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Governor Laura Kelly during Tuesday's news conferenceWith Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order Tuesday because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings. Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, said 165 had been sickened in those outbreaks.“In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order,” wrote Schmidt, adding that Kansas statutory and constitutional law provide substantially more protection for religious freedoms than does federal law.Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew Wednesday to 1,008, up from 900 Tuesday, with 38 deaths.The sickened include 56 patients and staff members at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Kansas City, Kansas. Six have died and seven are hospitalized, health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday.State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.----------By STEPHEN KORANDA &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-wiped-out-gov-laura-kellys-covid-19-ban-big-church-gatherings#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Republican leadership 
seemingly had enough of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive orders, 
with a limit on church gatherings marking the final straw.The 
Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to strip the state 
of any ban on the number of people who could gather at one time to stop 
the spread of the coronavirus.No more than 10 people have been 
allowed to gather for a while, but on Tuesday, Kelly specified that it 
would apply to churches and funerals. Kansas officials have said three 
clusters of coronavirus have been directly tied to church services, 
leading to 165 illnesses and 12 deaths.Plus, Easter is this Sunday, and the decision rankled Republican leadership.“I
 can’t approve this,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, who often 
clashes with Kelly. “We did take an oath to uphold (religious freedoms 
in the constitution).”It is now up to Kelly whether to establish
 another order that limits gatherings. She delayed an afternoon news 
conference as soon as the LCC’s vote happened.Kansas House 
Speaker Pro Tem Finch said he hoped everyone will stay home, adding that
 it isn’t worth the risk to go to a church service this weekend and 
thanked church leaders for holding online services.Those who 
voted to overturn the executive order, via conference call, were Wagle, 
Finch, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and
 House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins. The two Democrats, Sen. Anthony 
Hensley and House Rep. Tom Sawyer, wanted to keep the order.This is a breaking news story and will be updated.Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda">@kprkoranda</a>.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Update: Kan. lawmakers wipe out Gov.'s ban on church gatherings 

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Wednesday afternoon.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here </a>for additional details.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Wednesday afternoon.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here </a>for additional details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586378408382.png" alt="" />
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KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 38 deaths

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor says a new executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak likely violates the state constitution.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said in a news release Wednesday that limiting religious services and funerals to 10 people is “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow” but discouraged law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.

According to the media release, “The Office of Attorney General strongly encourages all Kansans participating in religious services or activities to voluntarily comply with the new restrictions on religious mass gatherings in order to protect public health.” Schmidt wrote in a memorandum to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide. “Nevertheless, … we also strongly discourage law enforcement from attempting to enforce the requirements of EO 20-18 as violations of the criminal law. In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order.”

Wednesday's memorandum is the second Schmidt has provided to assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide in navigating the legally uncertain world of enforcing emergency orders during the current COVID-19 crisis. He said today’s further guidance was necessary because the new executive order singles out for additional regulation the exercise of a fundamental freedom expressly protected by the Kansas Constitution and by state statute. Schmidt noted that Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as well as the state’s Preservation for Religious Freedom Act, both set strict limits on the authority of any state or local government authority, including the governor, to restrict the religious freedoms of Kansans.

With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order&nbsp; because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings.&nbsp;

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-1-to-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=7a60ac1a_2">Click here to read</a> a copy of the attorney general’s memorandum&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286859667.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly issued the executive order during her news conference Tuesday afternoon." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly issued the executive order during her news conference Tuesday afternoon.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor says a new executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak likely violates the state constitution.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said in a news release Wednesday that limiting religious services and funerals to 10 people is “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow” but discouraged law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.According to the media release, “The Office of Attorney General strongly encourages all Kansans participating in religious services or activities to voluntarily comply with the new restrictions on religious mass gatherings in order to protect public health.” Schmidt wrote in a memorandum to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide. “Nevertheless, … we also strongly discourage law enforcement from attempting to enforce the requirements of EO 20-18 as violations of the criminal law. In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order.”Wednesday's memorandum is the second Schmidt has provided to assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide in navigating the legally uncertain world of enforcing emergency orders during the current COVID-19 crisis. He said today’s further guidance was necessary because the new executive order singles out for additional regulation the exercise of a fundamental freedom expressly protected by the Kansas Constitution and by state statute. Schmidt noted that Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as well as the state’s Preservation for Religious Freedom Act, both set strict limits on the authority of any state or local government authority, including the governor, to restrict the religious freedoms of Kansans.With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order&nbsp; because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings.&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-1-to-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=7a60ac1a_2">Click here to read</a> a copy of the attorney general’s memorandum&nbsp;&nbsp;