WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic.

The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, is considering an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.

Under the proposed guidance, people who are exposed to someone infected would be allowed back on the job if they are asymptomatic, test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask, said a person familiar with the proposal under consideration. The person described the proposal on the condition of anonymity because the draft had not been finalized.

The new policy is aimed in particular at workers in critical jobs. But it also comes as the Trump administration is eyeing what it calls a “stabilization” in infection rates and looks toward rolling back some of the restrictive social-distancing guidelines and restarting the nation’s stalled economy.

The proposed guidance would follow recommendations made by the CDC that eased self-isolation requirements for front-line medical workers who were exposed to the virus. Under CDC guidance, medical workers who have been exposed to the virus without protective equipment but who have no symptoms can return to work with a mask and temperature checks after 14 days.

Pence on Tuesday said the White House is focusing on the “point of need” for the current situation but is also operating on another track to consider future recommendations for the public.

“Some of the best minds here at the White House are beginning to think about what recommendations will look like that we give to businesses, that we give to states, but it will all, I promise you, be informed on putting the health and well-being of the American people first,” Pence said.

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

In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be trying to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586341574111.png" alt="Vice President Mike Pence answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Mike Pence answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic.The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, is considering an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.Under the proposed guidance, people who are exposed to someone infected would be allowed back on the job if they are asymptomatic, test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask, said a person familiar with the proposal under consideration. The person described the proposal on the condition of anonymity because the draft had not been finalized.The new policy is aimed in particular at workers in critical jobs. But it also comes as the Trump administration is eyeing what it calls a “stabilization” in infection rates and looks toward rolling back some of the restrictive social-distancing guidelines and restarting the nation’s stalled economy.The proposed guidance would follow recommendations made by the CDC that eased self-isolation requirements for front-line medical workers who were exposed to the virus. Under CDC guidance, medical workers who have been exposed to the virus without protective equipment but who have no symptoms can return to work with a mask and temperature checks after 14 days.Pence on Tuesday said the White House is focusing on the “point of need” for the current situation but is also operating on another track to consider future recommendations for the public.“Some of the best minds here at the White House are beginning to think about what recommendations will look like that we give to businesses, that we give to states, but it will all, I promise you, be informed on putting the health and well-being of the American people first,” Pence said.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be trying to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

CDC weighs loosening guidelines for some exposed to virus

TOPEKA, Kan. – Two people have been taken into custody for questioning following a Kansas Highway Patrol pursuit.

Just after 4 p.m. Monday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper&nbsp; observed a vehicle in the 500 block of SW Lane matching the description of a vehicle involved in a Topeka Police Department investigation, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver initiated a brief pursuit. The driver of the vehicle identified as 21-year-old Keshawn Ivy was taken into custody a short time later without incident. 

A passenger fled the vehicle on foot. That suspect&nbsp; was taken into custody in the 200 block of SW Quinton at approximately 5:30 p.m.

A collaborative effort between the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office led to the apprehension of those involved.&nbsp;

Ivy is being held on requested charges of Interference with Law Enforcement Officer; Obstruction, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Violation of Governor’s Proclamation. A female passenger was also arrested for a City of Topeka traffic warrant. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586285893757.png" alt="Ivy photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Ivy photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. – Two people have been taken into custody for questioning following a Kansas Highway Patrol pursuit.Just after 4 p.m. Monday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper&nbsp; observed a vehicle in the 500 block of SW Lane matching the description of a vehicle involved in a Topeka Police Department investigation, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver initiated a brief pursuit. The driver of the vehicle identified as 21-year-old Keshawn Ivy was taken into custody a short time later without incident. A passenger fled the vehicle on foot. That suspect&nbsp; was taken into custody in the 200 block of SW Quinton at approximately 5:30 p.m.A collaborative effort between the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office led to the apprehension of those involved.&nbsp;Ivy is being held on requested charges of Interference with Law Enforcement Officer; Obstruction, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Violation of Governor’s Proclamation. A female passenger was also arrested for a City of Topeka traffic warrant.

Police: Kan. felon, woman arrested after KHP pursuit

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">in the age of the coronavirus</a>, it did not go well for many voters.

Thousands were forced to congregate for hours in long lines on Tuesday with no protective gear. Thousands more stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.

Voters reported being afraid, angry and embarrassed by the state’s unwillingness to postpone their presidential primary elections as more than a dozen other states have already done. Neither&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fe9a5d1194c24ca7a826652f0c63187e">Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;will be declared a winner at least until next Monday in accordance with one of several court orders that shaped the contest.

And there was evidence that minority voters were disproportionately impacted by widespread poll closures in their communities. Michael Claus, 66, wore a protective mask and a Tuskegee Airmen cap, as he waited to vote.

The African American man said he tried to vote absentee and requested a ballot in March but it never showed up. His only option was to vote in person. He blamed the Republican-controlled state legislature.

“They could have delayed the election with no problem,” Claus said. “They decided if they can suppress the vote in Milwaukee and Madison, where you have a large minority presence, you can get people elected you want elected. And that’s sad.”

The chaos in Wisconsin, a premiere general election battleground, was expected to reverberate across states that still have primaries ahead. Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio are conducting contests by mail this month, and other states, including Georgia, are slated to hold in-person voting in May.

Election experts warned that Wisconsin was an example of what not to do. And the experience added immediate context to the broader debate about protecting voting rights this November.

“We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission.

With results not coming until next week, the state did not offer Biden the knockout blow he hoped for in his presidential nomination fight against Sanders. The candidates spoke out late Tuesday on separate livestreams from the safety of their homes hundreds of miles (kilometers) away but had little to say about the Wisconsin contest.

Sanders didn’t say a word about the election on Tuesday after warning the night before that the holding the election was “dangerous” and “may prove deadly.” Biden, too, said in-person voting shouldn’t have taken place.

Democrats in and out of Wisconsin had pushed for the contestto be postponed, yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97db30e6564b9b5eedfc300234ea6630">Republicans — and the conservative-majority state Supreme Court — would not give in</a>. The fight over whether to postpone the election was influenced by a state Supreme Court election also being held Tuesday. A lower turnout was thought to benefit the conservative candidate.

Lest there be any doubt about the GOP’s motivation, President Donald Trump on Tuesday broke from health experts who have encouraged all Americans to stay home by calling on his supporters to “get out and vote NOW” for the conservative judicial candidate.

The election was unlike virtually any other in recent memory. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, opened just five of its 180 traditional polling places, forced to downsize after hundreds of poll workers stepped down because of health risks. The ensuing logjam forced voters to wait together in lines spanning several blocks in some cases. Many did not have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34b6b5c689c8c6993cb21475b017baa4">facial coverings</a>.

As of Tuesday night, Wisconsin reported more than 2,500 coronavirus infections and 92 related deaths — 49 of them in Milwaukee County, where the voting lines were longest.

Milwaukee is home to the state’s largest concentration of black voters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b52e4e9a63d64e3a25109f09010508b6">a community that has been hit harder than others</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic. Reduced minority turnout would benefit Republicans in a series of state and local elections.

The unprecedented challenge created chaotic scenes across the state — and a variety of health risks for voters and the elected officials who fought to keep polls open.

They included Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state Assembly, who joined more than 2,500 National Guard troops dispatched to help staff voting stations. While many voters stranded in lines for more than an hour did not have any protective equipment, Vos donned a face mask, safety glasses, gloves and a full protective gown.

In Madison, city workers erected Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots.

Tens of thousands of voters who received absentee ballots had not returned them as of Tuesday, Albrecht said. He noted that his office received hundreds of calls from people who didn’t get an absentee ballot or were concerned theirs hadn’t been delivered to election officials.

Milwaukee resident Megan Nakkula, 30, was forced to vote in person after requesting an absentee ballot but never receiving it.

“It’s been a very emotional day thinking about what the outcome of this could be,” she said, holding back tears. “It just doesn’t feel like it was the safest decision to do. I saw a lot of elderly voters, people who were high risk and everyone is taking as many precautions as they could. We were 6 feet apart, but you know, we don’t know what we don’t know about this virus at this point in time, and it’s really scary.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">in the age of the coronavirus</a>, it did not go well for many voters.Thousands were forced to congregate for hours in long lines on Tuesday with no protective gear. Thousands more stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This feels like an era-defining image <a href="https://t.co/rgEwnhmk8O">pic.twitter.com/rgEwnhmk8O</a>&mdash; Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1247581715511627776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Voters reported being afraid, angry and embarrassed by the state’s unwillingness to postpone their presidential primary elections as more than a dozen other states have already done. Neither&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fe9a5d1194c24ca7a826652f0c63187e">Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;will be declared a winner at least until next Monday in accordance with one of several court orders that shaped the contest.And there was evidence that minority voters were disproportionately impacted by widespread poll closures in their communities. Michael Claus, 66, wore a protective mask and a Tuskegee Airmen cap, as he waited to vote.The African American man said he tried to vote absentee and requested a ballot in March but it never showed up. His only option was to vote in person. He blamed the Republican-controlled state legislature.“They could have delayed the election with no problem,” Claus said. “They decided if they can suppress the vote in Milwaukee and Madison, where you have a large minority presence, you can get people elected you want elected. And that’s sad.”The chaos in Wisconsin, a premiere general election battleground, was expected to reverberate across states that still have primaries ahead. Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio are conducting contests by mail this month, and other states, including Georgia, are slated to hold in-person voting in May.Election experts warned that Wisconsin was an example of what not to do. And the experience added immediate context to the broader debate about protecting voting rights this November.“We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission.With results not coming until next week, the state did not offer Biden the knockout blow he hoped for in his presidential nomination fight against Sanders. The candidates spoke out late Tuesday on separate livestreams from the safety of their homes hundreds of miles (kilometers) away but had little to say about the Wisconsin contest.Sanders didn’t say a word about the election on Tuesday after warning the night before that the holding the election was “dangerous” and “may prove deadly.” Biden, too, said in-person voting shouldn’t have taken place.Democrats in and out of Wisconsin had pushed for the contestto be postponed, yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97db30e6564b9b5eedfc300234ea6630">Republicans — and the conservative-majority state Supreme Court — would not give in</a>. The fight over whether to postpone the election was influenced by a state Supreme Court election also being held Tuesday. A lower turnout was thought to benefit the conservative candidate.Lest there be any doubt about the GOP’s motivation, President Donald Trump on Tuesday broke from health experts who have encouraged all Americans to stay home by calling on his supporters to “get out and vote NOW” for the conservative judicial candidate.The election was unlike virtually any other in recent memory. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, opened just five of its 180 traditional polling places, forced to downsize after hundreds of poll workers stepped down because of health risks. The ensuing logjam forced voters to wait together in lines spanning several blocks in some cases. Many did not have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34b6b5c689c8c6993cb21475b017baa4">facial coverings</a>.As of Tuesday night, Wisconsin reported more than 2,500 coronavirus infections and 92 related deaths — 49 of them in Milwaukee County, where the voting lines were longest.Milwaukee is home to the state’s largest concentration of black voters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b52e4e9a63d64e3a25109f09010508b6">a community that has been hit harder than others</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic. Reduced minority turnout would benefit Republicans in a series of state and local elections.The unprecedented challenge created chaotic scenes across the state — and a variety of health risks for voters and the elected officials who fought to keep polls open.They included Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state Assembly, who joined more than 2,500 National Guard troops dispatched to help staff voting stations. While many voters stranded in lines for more than an hour did not have any protective equipment, Vos donned a face mask, safety glasses, gloves and a full protective gown.In Madison, city workers erected Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots.Tens of thousands of voters who received absentee ballots had not returned them as of Tuesday, Albrecht said. He noted that his office received hundreds of calls from people who didn’t get an absentee ballot or were concerned theirs hadn’t been delivered to election officials.Milwaukee resident Megan Nakkula, 30, was forced to vote in person after requesting an absentee ballot but never receiving it.“It’s been a very emotional day thinking about what the outcome of this could be,” she said, holding back tears. “It just doesn’t feel like it was the safest decision to do. I saw a lot of elderly voters, people who were high risk and everyone is taking as many precautions as they could. We were 6 feet apart, but you know, we don’t know what we don’t know about this virus at this point in time, and it’s really scary.”___

Voters forced to choose between health, democracy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials are making plans to free some Kansas prison inmates who are close to finishing their sentences amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Priority will be given to inmates with “viable plans,” such as a place to live or a job. She offered no specific numbers and noted that the state will coordinate with local officials so that there will be “no surprises.”

Gov. Laura Kelly said at a news conference Tuesday that “hopefully we will be able to move quite a few of those folks back into their community.” 

The announcement comes after corrections officials announced that an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and nine staff members.

Jails in Shawnee and Sedgwick County previously took steps to incarcerate fewer inmates. Several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have been urging state officials to take similar steps.

On Tuesday, the top federal public defender in Kansas also demanded the release of vulnerable defendants in a written statement. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas has opposed these requests in recent weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286806900.png" alt="Laura Kelly discussed the issue Tuesday&nbsp; during her coronavirus news conference" />
 <figcaption>Laura Kelly discussed the issue Tuesday&nbsp; during her coronavirus news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials are making plans to free some Kansas prison inmates who are close to finishing their sentences amid the coronavirus outbreak.Priority will be given to inmates with “viable plans,” such as a place to live or a job. She offered no specific numbers and noted that the state will coordinate with local officials so that there will be “no surprises.”Gov. Laura Kelly said at a news conference Tuesday that “hopefully we will be able to move quite a few of those folks back into their community.” The announcement comes after corrections officials announced that an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and nine staff members.Jails in Shawnee and Sedgwick County previously took steps to incarcerate fewer inmates. Several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have been urging state officials to take similar steps.On Tuesday, the top federal public defender in Kansas also demanded the release of vulnerable defendants in a written statement. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas has opposed these requests in recent weeks.

Kan. officials review inmates for possible early release amid pandemic

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

Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence at 706 S. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in progress, according to Arkansas City police.

Officers learned 29-year-old&nbsp; Blas Orlando Ibarra allegedly broke open the front door of the residence and entered without permission. 

Once inside, he allegedly struck a 63-year-old man in the face and threatened to kill him.

During the altercation, the door was broken and then Ibarra left. He was found across the street and taken into custody without further incident on requested charges of felony&nbsp; aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling,&nbsp; battery and criminal damage to property.

He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $25,000 bond

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586203512827.png" alt="Ibarra photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Ibarra photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence at 706 S. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in progress, according to Arkansas City police.Officers learned 29-year-old&nbsp; Blas Orlando Ibarra allegedly broke open the front door of the residence and entered without permission. Once inside, he allegedly struck a 63-year-old man in the face and threatened to kill him.During the altercation, the door was broken and then Ibarra left. He was found across the street and taken into custody without further incident on requested charges of felony&nbsp; aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling,&nbsp; battery and criminal damage to property.He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $25,000 bond

Police: Kansas man broke into house, battered 63-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;Police can pull over a car when they know only that its owner's license is invalid, even if they don't know who's behind the wheel, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The court said in an 8-1 decision that unless there's reason to believe otherwise, it's common sense for an officer to think the car's owner will be driving.

Empirical studies demonstrate what common experience readily reveals: Drivers with revoked licenses frequently continue to drive and therefore to pose safety risks to other motorists and pedestrians,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court.

The high court reversed a&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court ruling that found police violated a driver’s constitutional rights when they stopped his pickup based only on information that the truck owner’s license had been revoked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586208701830.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;Police can pull over a car when they know only that its owner's license is invalid, even if they don't know who's behind the wheel, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.The court said in an 8-1 decision that unless there's reason to believe otherwise, it's common sense for an officer to think the car's owner will be driving.Empirical studies demonstrate what common experience readily reveals: Drivers with revoked licenses frequently continue to drive and therefore to pose safety risks to other motorists and pedestrians,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court.Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented.The high court reversed a&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court ruling that found police violated a driver’s constitutional rights when they stopped his pickup based only on information that the truck owner’s license had been revoked.

Supreme Court reverses Kan. decision, backs police in traffic stops

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly says religious services and funerals will be limited to 10 people after Kansas officials identified three coronavirus clusters related to church gatherings. 

Kelly’s initial statewide stay-at-home order allowed for religious gatherings as long as social distancing was maintained.

Her new order takes effect Wednesday, just days before Easter. She noted that most churches already had taken action, including by livestreaming services or offering drive-up gatherings in which people stay in their vehicles. Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900. Twenty-five people have died.

During Tuesday's news conference, the Governor also answered questions on many topics including the issues with the virus in state prisons, difficulty in working with the federal government during this pandemic and some thoughts on economic recovery plans.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly says religious services and funerals will be limited to 10 people after Kansas officials identified three coronavirus clusters related to church gatherings. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F790101771515530%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>Kelly’s initial statewide stay-at-home order allowed for religious gatherings as long as social distancing was maintained.Her new order takes effect Wednesday, just days before Easter. She noted that most churches already had taken action, including by livestreaming services or offering drive-up gatherings in which people stay in their vehicles. Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900. Twenty-five people have died.During Tuesday's news conference, the Governor also answered questions on many topics including the issues with the virus in state prisons, difficulty in working with the federal government during this pandemic and some thoughts on economic recovery plans.-The AP contributed to this report

🎥 Kansas limits size of church services heading into Easter

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, but President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says more money is needed. 

The $350 billion program took off last Friday but was quickly overrun. Companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing while workers stay home. Mnuchin requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it. But McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, making the outcome uncertain. The action is set for Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7927456d58b4c29c843252506685e02">$2.2 trillion effort</a>. She wants another round of direct payments to Americans and more money for companies to keep making payroll. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ade6f4a0853ceb4c3500a8238ad6cd7f">said in recent days&nbsp;</a>that health care should top the list, signaling his intent to get to work on a new bill.

“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”

It’s a rare sign of emerging consensus as Washington responds to the public health emergency and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0aa967875547c5d63f22575dd2cf1aaa">economic fallout&nbsp;</a>that is ransacking communities nationwide, a crisis on par with a war effort or the Great Depression.

The contours of the package are still being debated and any votes in Congress remain a logistical conundrum. The House and Senate adjourned for most of the month, as part of strict stay-at-home orders from public health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.

On an afternoon conference call with House Democrats, Pelosi told lawmakers at least another $1 trillion would be needed, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.

The California Democrat has vowed to put the next package together in time for a House vote this month.

Former Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen joined the private call and warned Democrats the economic fallout will depend on the public health response to the pandemic, the person said. As businesses shutter to stop the virus’ spread, it has hurled the U.S. economy toward a recession.

Yellen said it was impossible to know how deep and long the recession would be, and added that it would depend on the health response.

The former Fed chair also told them the nation’s unemployment rate is now at least 13% and this week’s jobless report will show higher numbers than last week’s.

Yellen said she expects a 30 percent contraction of GDP this year, but has seen models as high as 50 percent, according to a Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.

The earlier relief package, approved in late March, included one-time $1,200 direct payments to Americans, along with forgivable small business loans for companies to keep making payroll. It also included a boost of unemployment pay, money for hospitals and a $500 billion fund for bigger corporations and industries.

Pelosi told Democrats said the $1,200 direct payments to Americans and the paycheck protection program for small businesses are not enough and more needs to be done, the person said.

She also said there needs to be more aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

Trump has favored direct checks to Americans, and gave a nod to another round in the next package.

“It is absolutely under serious consideration,” he said.

The shifts from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs.

McConnell told The Associated Press on Friday that there will be another package and health care must be at the “top of the list.”

McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the earlier $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to “wipe out” the virus.

Pelosi, D-Calif., last week also backed off her more sweeping proposals for an infrastructure package to put people back to work, focusing on the more immediate health care and economic needs.

As governors plead for federal intervention to provide hard-hit hospitals in New York and elsewhere with vital medical ventilators, equipment and supplies, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a better-coordinated effort to care for the many sick people.

Schumer told reporters on a conference call Monday that he’s urging the White House to appoint a single, well-qualified “czar” to handle both the production and distribution of medical supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic.

Right now, Schumer said, governors and other officials have no choice but to search out materials helter-skelter.

“Everyone’s hunting and pecking for the equipment and the supplies they need,” he said. “It’s just not working. It’s like a scavenger hunt for their lives.”

Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to both Vice President Mike Pence and new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and suggested three potential candidates for the job: two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Paul Selva and retired Adm. James A. Winnefield, and retired Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, former director of the Defense Logistics Agency.

Trump, displeased with Schumer’s effort, accused the senator of being overtly political.

This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. With so much federal aid expected to be pushed so quickly to the public, Congress is also trying to swiftly stand up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91bbb26d8557c7d697f757b931089611">oversight panels</a>.

Pelosi late last week announced the formation of a House select committee with subpoena power to monitor the decision-making and cash flow.

A broader oversight board is being formed to track the Treasury Department’s dispersal of the aid to businesses, particularly the more than $500 billion in corporate and industry aid under Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s discretion.

Schumer named a top economic adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, as his choice for the pandemic response accountabilty committee established by recently passed legislation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586299015045.png" alt="President Trump opening Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump opening Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, but President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says more money is needed. The $350 billion program took off last Friday but was quickly overrun. Companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing while workers stay home. Mnuchin requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it. But McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, making the outcome uncertain. The action is set for Thursday.------WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7927456d58b4c29c843252506685e02">$2.2 trillion effort</a>. She wants another round of direct payments to Americans and more money for companies to keep making payroll. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ade6f4a0853ceb4c3500a8238ad6cd7f">said in recent days&nbsp;</a>that health care should top the list, signaling his intent to get to work on a new bill.“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”It’s a rare sign of emerging consensus as Washington responds to the public health emergency and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0aa967875547c5d63f22575dd2cf1aaa">economic fallout&nbsp;</a>that is ransacking communities nationwide, a crisis on par with a war effort or the Great Depression.The contours of the package are still being debated and any votes in Congress remain a logistical conundrum. The House and Senate adjourned for most of the month, as part of strict stay-at-home orders from public health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.On an afternoon conference call with House Democrats, Pelosi told lawmakers at least another $1 trillion would be needed, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.The California Democrat has vowed to put the next package together in time for a House vote this month.Former Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen joined the private call and warned Democrats the economic fallout will depend on the public health response to the pandemic, the person said. As businesses shutter to stop the virus’ spread, it has hurled the U.S. economy toward a recession.Yellen said it was impossible to know how deep and long the recession would be, and added that it would depend on the health response.The former Fed chair also told them the nation’s unemployment rate is now at least 13% and this week’s jobless report will show higher numbers than last week’s.Yellen said she expects a 30 percent contraction of GDP this year, but has seen models as high as 50 percent, according to a Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.The earlier relief package, approved in late March, included one-time $1,200 direct payments to Americans, along with forgivable small business loans for companies to keep making payroll. It also included a boost of unemployment pay, money for hospitals and a $500 billion fund for bigger corporations and industries.Pelosi told Democrats said the $1,200 direct payments to Americans and the paycheck protection program for small businesses are not enough and more needs to be done, the person said.She also said there needs to be more aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.Trump has favored direct checks to Americans, and gave a nod to another round in the next package.“It is absolutely under serious consideration,” he said.The shifts from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs.McConnell told The Associated Press on Friday that there will be another package and health care must be at the “top of the list.”McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the earlier $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to “wipe out” the virus.Pelosi, D-Calif., last week also backed off her more sweeping proposals for an infrastructure package to put people back to work, focusing on the more immediate health care and economic needs.As governors plead for federal intervention to provide hard-hit hospitals in New York and elsewhere with vital medical ventilators, equipment and supplies, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a better-coordinated effort to care for the many sick people.Schumer told reporters on a conference call Monday that he’s urging the White House to appoint a single, well-qualified “czar” to handle both the production and distribution of medical supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic.Right now, Schumer said, governors and other officials have no choice but to search out materials helter-skelter.“Everyone’s hunting and pecking for the equipment and the supplies they need,” he said. “It’s just not working. It’s like a scavenger hunt for their lives.”Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to both Vice President Mike Pence and new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and suggested three potential candidates for the job: two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Paul Selva and retired Adm. James A. Winnefield, and retired Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, former director of the Defense Logistics Agency.Trump, displeased with Schumer’s effort, accused the senator of being overtly political.This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. With so much federal aid expected to be pushed so quickly to the public, Congress is also trying to swiftly stand up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91bbb26d8557c7d697f757b931089611">oversight panels</a>.Pelosi late last week announced the formation of a House select committee with subpoena power to monitor the decision-making and cash flow.A broader oversight board is being formed to track the Treasury Department’s dispersal of the aid to businesses, particularly the more than $500 billion in corporate and industry aid under Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s discretion.Schumer named a top economic adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, as his choice for the pandemic response accountabilty committee established by recently passed legislation.___

Trump seeks $250 billion more from Congress for payrolls

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of Spirit AeroSystems employees in Wichita and other locations are being furloughed for three weeks without pay amid an outbreak of a novel coronavirus that has paralyzed air travel around the globe.

Most managers and hourly employees at Spirit, Wichita’s largest employer, will be placed on 21-day unpaid leave starting Wednesday. It's unclear exactly how many employees will be affected. 

The aircraft parts maker's company profile says it employs around 18,000. The temporary layoffs apply to Spirit employees associated with the company's Boeing commercial program. It includes Spirit employees in San Antonio and in Tulsa and McAlester locations in Oklahoma.

&nbsp;In addition, Siemens Gamesa announced Monday it will furlough a large number of workers in the U.S., including 200 at the Hutchinson facility.&nbsp;

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of Spirit AeroSystems employees in Wichita and other locations are being furloughed for three weeks without pay amid an outbreak of a novel coronavirus that has paralyzed air travel around the globe.Most managers and hourly employees at Spirit, Wichita’s largest employer, will be placed on 21-day unpaid leave starting Wednesday. It's unclear exactly how many employees will be affected. The aircraft parts maker's company profile says it employs around 18,000. The temporary layoffs apply to Spirit employees associated with the company's Boeing commercial program. It includes Spirit employees in San Antonio and in Tulsa and McAlester locations in Oklahoma.&nbsp;In addition, Siemens Gamesa announced Monday it will furlough a large number of workers in the U.S., including 200 at the Hutchinson facility.&nbsp;

Kansas aircraft parts maker announces temporary layoffs

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here for</a> additional details.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here for</a> additional details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586279762813.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 27 deaths

HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a viral video of two people walking through Walmart in Newton coughing on other people and saying they have coronavirus, according to a social media report police in Newton.

Police were not called at the time of this incident, but Newton officers began investigating after seeing the video on social media. Police identified the suspects, interviewed them and have arrested Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston,&nbsp; on requested charges of felony criminal threat and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They've been booked into Harvey County Jail.

Both admitted to walking around Walmart with Williams coughing on people while Hamrick verbalized that Williams had the coronavirus. They both indicated they don't take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thought it would be funny.

Harvey County Attorney's Office has indicated they will aggressively pursue prosecution of the two individuals, including other potential criminal charges, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586278382349.png" alt="Williams photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a viral video of two people walking through Walmart in Newton coughing on other people and saying they have coronavirus, according to a social media report police in Newton.Police were not called at the time of this incident, but Newton officers began investigating after seeing the video on social media. Police identified the suspects, interviewed them and have arrested Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston,&nbsp; on requested charges of felony criminal threat and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They've been booked into Harvey County Jail.Both admitted to walking around Walmart with Williams coughing on people while Hamrick verbalized that Williams had the coronavirus. They both indicated they don't take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thought it would be funny.Harvey County Attorney's Office has indicated they will aggressively pursue prosecution of the two individuals, including other potential criminal charges, according to police.

Kan. couple jailed for coughing on people, saying they have coronavirus

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — In many parts of Kansas, people not sick enough for hospitalization still can’t find out if they have COVID-19.

Doctor’s
 offices and hospitals say access to coronavirus testing has improved in
 Kansas, but still remains out of reach for many people.

A clinic runs out of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-swab-tests-unpleasant-illustration-1495322" target="_blank">swabs</a> to collect patient samples. A vendor postpones delivery of testing equipment. A private lab becomes backlogged.

Ascension Via Christi Health in Wichita is among hospitals trying to buy <a href="https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-03-27-Abbott-Launches-Molecular-Point-of-Care-Test-to-Detect-Novel-Coronavirus-in-as-Little-as-Five-Minutes" target="_blank">new 5- to 15-minute tests</a>
 that received a temporary emergency greenlight from the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration. But the best the system of hospitals and clinics 
can do for now is get in line, so it has contacted its suppliers.

“We have the equipment,” chief nursing officer Carla Yost said in an email, “but we do not have the test kits.”

For
 now, she says, those kits are heading to areas where the outbreak is 
more acute. So Ascension Via Christi is sending samples to its lab in 
Tulsa. Getting results takes about a day and a half.

“We have couriers running routes to and from our Kansas hospitals multiple times a day,” Yost said. “Seven days a week.”

As of last week, more than 6,500 Kansans had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">More than 550</a> had tested positive. The state has a <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">dashboard</a> that lets you explore how many people have been tested in each county.

Some doctors are raising concerns about <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/" target="_blank">false negatives</a>
 — tests that suggest someone doesn’t have the virus when they are 
infected — and encouraging people with coronavirus symptoms who test 
negative to stay home anyway.

Congress passed a law <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">requiring most</a>&nbsp;health plans to cover COVID-19 testing for now without cost to the patient. But patients could get bills anyway, <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation says</a>.

Americans
 often end up at an emergency room outside their insurance network, or 
sometimes go to an in-network hospital or clinic only to find out later 
that the facility used out-of-network labs or staff. Patients might also
 get charged for other services in conjunction with their COVID-19 
tests, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-tests-bills.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.

Uninsured
 people and people with low-quality health insurance should get the 
tests for free, too, under the same federal law, but that will take some
 legwork on the state's part. The Kansas News Service is seeking more 
information from Gov. Laura Kelly's office about what uninsured Kansans 
should do if they receive a bill in the meantime.&nbsp;

As for coronavirus treatment, many insurers may cover it, but <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">they don’t have to</a>.
 On Friday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas announced it would waive 
copays and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment for the next 60 days for 
plans fully under its control. (In other cases, employers will have the 
final say.)&nbsp;

At
 the state lab in Topeka, coronavirus testing took several hours at 
first. Staff worked 16-hour shifts, health secretary Lee Norman has 
said, but still got through fewer than 200 samples a day.

Last weekend, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received <a href="https://perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/home/products/new-coronavirus-2019-ncov-nucleic-acid-detection-kit/" target="_blank">equipment</a> to ramp up to between 700 and 1,000 samples a day. State officials hope to get as many as 64,000 test kits soon.

Kansas has also ordered equipment and supplies for <a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus" target="_blank">45-minute test</a><a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus">s</a> and expects to receive that in the next few weeks.

Yet the specialized nose and throat swabs needed for collecting patient samples are in short supply here and elsewhere.

Private labs, local health agencies and hospitals in Kansas

Some hospitals have purchased testing equipment and kits, too. St Luke’s Health System in the Kansas City area <a href="https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html" target="_blank">set up in-house testing</a> that cut wait time from a few days to hours. The University of Kansas Health System has had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eEDjrQRAog&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">similar success</a>.

But
 vendors can’t move fast enough to meet demand. Stormont Vail Hospital 
in Topeka expected to receive testing equipment early this week — then 
its supplier pushed back the delivery date to later in the month.

“We
 find that vendors will say that we've been ‘reprioritized’” for various
 coronavirus-related supplies, Stormont CEO Robert Kenagy said. “It's 
very difficult to get vendors to commit.”

For now, many clinics 
and hospitals use external labs. At least four such labs are processing 
tests for Kansas clinics and hospitals.

Community Health Center 
of Southeast Kansas uses a company with lab sites in Lenexa and St. 
Louis. As of this week, the center had plenty of supplies to gather 
patient samples, but getting back results was taking five to seven days,
 vice president Christi Keating said.

As of April 1, private labs had identified about 75% of known COVID-19 cases in Kansas.

The state lab may sometimes be a faster option, but limited resources have forced Kansas to limit who it tests.

Clinics and hospitals can send samples to the state lab only for patients that <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Testing_Priorities_3-22.20.pdf" target="_blank">fit certain criteria</a>,
 such as health care workers or nursing home residents with coronavirus 
symptoms. Samples from other patients go to private labs.

What about those drive-through testing sites?

Sites such as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/covid-19-testing-limited-kansas-city-so-dont-expect-get-one-without-doctors-order#stream/0" target="_blank">this one</a> in Wyandotte County where patients can pull up and give a sample to a waiting health worker are springing up across the state.

So
 far these are not places to show up unannounced. You’ll need approval 
and an appointment through a health care provider first. Criteria vary 
by provider, and some <a href="https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-three-covid-19-drive-thru-testing-sites-set-qualifying-saint-lukes" target="_blank">post them on their websites</a>.

Whether
 to order the test in the first place remains up to your health care 
provider. Because of the testing bottleneck, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing some patients over 
others, but <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf" target="_blank">its guidelines</a> aren’t binding.

If
 your symptoms aren’t serious, your doctor or nurse practitioner may 
simply ask you to stay home, care for yourself and call if you get 
worse. Most people test negative for COVID-19, and most cases of it are 
mild. Research from other countries suggests about 1 in 5 patients get 
sick enough to need hospitalization.

“It would be nice if we had 
as many COVID-19 tests as we do influenza tests, but it’s not there,” 
said Jim Zauche, a doctor at Garden City’s St. Catherine Hospital.

His
 hospital is focusing on testing people sick enough for hospitalization.
 So for Finney County residents with milder symptoms, he recommends 
calling the public health department or your doctor before showing up at
 the ER in search of a test.

The CDC has a list of coronavirus symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">self-check tool</a> to help people decide when to seek medical care.

What about tests for people without symptoms?

The question of whether to push for <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-paradox-united-states" target="_blank">broader testing</a> remains a matter of debate, with some experts arguing the U.S. shouldn’t ignore people with few or no symptoms.

Kansas
 ultimately wants to launch population studies that include seemingly 
healthy people, to better understand how common the virus is in 
different areas, pinpoint hotspots and stop the spread. Johnson County 
has plans for <a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/johnson-county-board-of-commissioners-oks-additional-covid-19-testing/31984155" target="_blank">a similar effort</a>.

Officials were hopeful this week that enough test kits would come through to help the state achieve that.

“It will allow us to change our thinking,” Norman said. “Until that time, social distancing is the name of the game.”

A Yale University medical professor is among those <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/well/live/coronavirus-symptoms-tests-false-negative.html" target="_blank">urging caution</a>
 among people told they don’t have the coronavirus, and warning of a 
potentially significant rate of people testing negative despite having 
the illness.

KU Health System has double-tested 34 patients so far to check accuracy, and got the same results in each round of testing.

But
 the problem of false negatives may have less to do with the actual test
 and more to do with sample collection, which often involves inserting 
an uncomfortable swab very deep into a person’s nose. That makes 
training medical workers vital, or all bets are off.

“You’re 
putting … the swab back to about where your ear is,” KU infectious 
disease specialist Dana Hawkinson said. “If you have a nice nurse who 
doesn’t want to hurt you, that could be a problem because the sampling 
may not be good.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272128141.jpeg" alt=" Drive-through testing sites are popping up across Kansas, but don't show up without an appointment. J. Schafer / Kansas Public Radio" />
 <figcaption> Drive-through testing sites are popping up across Kansas, but don't show up without an appointment. J. Schafer / Kansas Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — In many parts of Kansas, people not sick enough for hospitalization still can’t find out if they have COVID-19.Doctor’s
 offices and hospitals say access to coronavirus testing has improved in
 Kansas, but still remains out of reach for many people.A clinic runs out of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-swab-tests-unpleasant-illustration-1495322" target="_blank">swabs</a> to collect patient samples. A vendor postpones delivery of testing equipment. A private lab becomes backlogged.Ascension Via Christi Health in Wichita is among hospitals trying to buy <a href="https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-03-27-Abbott-Launches-Molecular-Point-of-Care-Test-to-Detect-Novel-Coronavirus-in-as-Little-as-Five-Minutes" target="_blank">new 5- to 15-minute tests</a>
 that received a temporary emergency greenlight from the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration. But the best the system of hospitals and clinics 
can do for now is get in line, so it has contacted its suppliers.“We have the equipment,” chief nursing officer Carla Yost said in an email, “but we do not have the test kits.”For
 now, she says, those kits are heading to areas where the outbreak is 
more acute. So Ascension Via Christi is sending samples to its lab in 
Tulsa. Getting results takes about a day and a half.“We have couriers running routes to and from our Kansas hospitals multiple times a day,” Yost said. “Seven days a week.”As of last week, more than 6,500 Kansans had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">More than 550</a> had tested positive. The state has a <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">dashboard</a> that lets you explore how many people have been tested in each county.Some doctors are raising concerns about <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/" target="_blank">false negatives</a>
 — tests that suggest someone doesn’t have the virus when they are 
infected — and encouraging people with coronavirus symptoms who test 
negative to stay home anyway.<h2>Is testing free?</h2>Congress passed a law <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">requiring most</a>&nbsp;health plans to cover COVID-19 testing for now without cost to the patient. But patients could get bills anyway, <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation says</a>.Americans
 often end up at an emergency room outside their insurance network, or 
sometimes go to an in-network hospital or clinic only to find out later 
that the facility used out-of-network labs or staff. Patients might also
 get charged for other services in conjunction with their COVID-19 
tests, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-tests-bills.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.Uninsured
 people and people with low-quality health insurance should get the 
tests for free, too, under the same federal law, but that will take some
 legwork on the state's part. The Kansas News Service is seeking more 
information from Gov. Laura Kelly's office about what uninsured Kansans 
should do if they receive a bill in the meantime.&nbsp;As for coronavirus treatment, many insurers may cover it, but <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">they don’t have to</a>.
 On Friday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas announced it would waive 
copays and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment for the next 60 days for 
plans fully under its control. (In other cases, employers will have the 
final say.)&nbsp;<h2>How much testing does Kansas do?</h2>At
 the state lab in Topeka, coronavirus testing took several hours at 
first. Staff worked 16-hour shifts, health secretary Lee Norman has 
said, but still got through fewer than 200 samples a day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272211245.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Last weekend, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received <a href="https://perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/home/products/new-coronavirus-2019-ncov-nucleic-acid-detection-kit/" target="_blank">equipment</a> to ramp up to between 700 and 1,000 samples a day. State officials hope to get as many as 64,000 test kits soon.Kansas has also ordered equipment and supplies for <a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus" target="_blank">45-minute test</a><a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus">s</a> and expects to receive that in the next few weeks.Yet the specialized nose and throat swabs needed for collecting patient samples are in short supply here and elsewhere.<h2>Private labs, local health agencies and hospitals in Kansas</h2>Some hospitals have purchased testing equipment and kits, too. St Luke’s Health System in the Kansas City area <a href="https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html" target="_blank">set up in-house testing</a> that cut wait time from a few days to hours. The University of Kansas Health System has had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eEDjrQRAog&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">similar success</a>.But
 vendors can’t move fast enough to meet demand. Stormont Vail Hospital 
in Topeka expected to receive testing equipment early this week — then 
its supplier pushed back the delivery date to later in the month.“We
 find that vendors will say that we've been ‘reprioritized’” for various
 coronavirus-related supplies, Stormont CEO Robert Kenagy said. “It's 
very difficult to get vendors to commit.”For now, many clinics 
and hospitals use external labs. At least four such labs are processing 
tests for Kansas clinics and hospitals.Community Health Center 
of Southeast Kansas uses a company with lab sites in Lenexa and St. 
Louis. As of this week, the center had plenty of supplies to gather 
patient samples, but getting back results was taking five to seven days,
 vice president Christi Keating said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272249249.jpeg" alt=" View from a patient's car while waiting for testing. Credit Submitted" />
 <figcaption> View from a patient's car while waiting for testing. Credit Submitted</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Who gets tested through which lab?</h2>As of April 1, private labs had identified about 75% of known COVID-19 cases in Kansas.The state lab may sometimes be a faster option, but limited resources have forced Kansas to limit who it tests.Clinics and hospitals can send samples to the state lab only for patients that <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Testing_Priorities_3-22.20.pdf" target="_blank">fit certain criteria</a>,
 such as health care workers or nursing home residents with coronavirus 
symptoms. Samples from other patients go to private labs.<h2>What about those drive-through testing sites?</h2>Sites such as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/covid-19-testing-limited-kansas-city-so-dont-expect-get-one-without-doctors-order#stream/0" target="_blank">this one</a> in Wyandotte County where patients can pull up and give a sample to a waiting health worker are springing up across the state.So
 far these are not places to show up unannounced. You’ll need approval 
and an appointment through a health care provider first. Criteria vary 
by provider, and some <a href="https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-three-covid-19-drive-thru-testing-sites-set-qualifying-saint-lukes" target="_blank">post them on their websites</a>.<h2>Who can get tested?</h2>Whether
 to order the test in the first place remains up to your health care 
provider. Because of the testing bottleneck, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing some patients over 
others, but <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf" target="_blank">its guidelines</a> aren’t binding.If
 your symptoms aren’t serious, your doctor or nurse practitioner may 
simply ask you to stay home, care for yourself and call if you get 
worse. Most people test negative for COVID-19, and most cases of it are 
mild. Research from other countries suggests about 1 in 5 patients get 
sick enough to need hospitalization.“It would be nice if we had 
as many COVID-19 tests as we do influenza tests, but it’s not there,” 
said Jim Zauche, a doctor at Garden City’s St. Catherine Hospital.His
 hospital is focusing on testing people sick enough for hospitalization.
 So for Finney County residents with milder symptoms, he recommends 
calling the public health department or your doctor before showing up at
 the ER in search of a test.The CDC has a list of coronavirus symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">self-check tool</a> to help people decide when to seek medical care.<h2>What about tests for people without symptoms?</h2>The question of whether to push for <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-paradox-united-states" target="_blank">broader testing</a> remains a matter of debate, with some experts arguing the U.S. shouldn’t ignore people with few or no symptoms.Kansas
 ultimately wants to launch population studies that include seemingly 
healthy people, to better understand how common the virus is in 
different areas, pinpoint hotspots and stop the spread. Johnson County 
has plans for <a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/johnson-county-board-of-commissioners-oks-additional-covid-19-testing/31984155" target="_blank">a similar effort</a>.Officials were hopeful this week that enough test kits would come through to help the state achieve that.“It will allow us to change our thinking,” Norman said. “Until that time, social distancing is the name of the game.”<h2>What about false negatives?</h2>A Yale University medical professor is among those <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/well/live/coronavirus-symptoms-tests-false-negative.html" target="_blank">urging caution</a>
 among people told they don’t have the coronavirus, and warning of a 
potentially significant rate of people testing negative despite having 
the illness.KU Health System has double-tested 34 patients so far to check accuracy, and got the same results in each round of testing.But
 the problem of false negatives may have less to do with the actual test
 and more to do with sample collection, which often involves inserting 
an uncomfortable swab very deep into a person’s nose. That makes 
training medical workers vital, or all bets are off.“You’re 
putting … the swab back to about where your ear is,” KU infectious 
disease specialist Dana Hawkinson said. “If you have a nice nurse who 
doesn’t want to hurt you, that could be a problem because the sampling 
may not be good.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

This is how coronavirus testing works if you live in Kansas 

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/jobs-topeka-diner-so-many-across-kansas-might-not-survive-covid-19#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Set apart from its fast-food 
neighbors by a vintage neon sign that speaks of another era, the Hanover
 Pancake House sits a few short blocks from the Kansas Statehouse. It’s 
been a Capital mainstay for more than 50 years.

But today, like most dine-in restaurants across the state, it’s closed because of the coronavirus.

Those
 closures have thrown tens of thousands of Kansans out of work and 
deprived hundreds of thousands more the comfort of friends in familiar 
places.

When owner Scott Albrecht shut it down on March 20, he told his 32 employees that he hoped to re-open in a matter of weeks.

Anything longer than two or three weeks, Albrecht said, “and I’ll need some help.”

The
 challenges facing Albrecht and his displaced workers confront thousands
 of other businesses across the state. They all will need state and 
federal lifelines to survive the crisis.&nbsp;

For Marsha 
Dighera-Neria, surviving after losing her job at the Pancake House meant
 getting unemployment checks as quickly as possible.&nbsp;

In just the last two weeks,<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/UI%20Weekly%20Review.pdf" target="_blank"> 79,353 Kansans filed initial unemployment claims.</a>That’s a record.

The unprecedented surge in claims has <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sees-1000-surge-jobless-claims-covid-19-derails-economy" target="_blank">overwhelmed the Kansas Department of Labor,</a> which is averaging more than 200,000 calls a day.&nbsp;

Hospitality workers — a category that includes hotel workers and those employed by Kansas’ <a href="https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/kansas.pdf" target="_blank">more than 5,000 bars and restaurants </a>— account for nearly 20% of the new unemployment claims.

Dighera-Neria
 beat the rush by filing right after finishing her final shift. She 
expects to recieve $146 a week until she goes back to work.

“That’s about half of what I was making at the restaurant,” she said.

A federal relief plan aimed to minimize the impact of 
coronavirus-driven shutdowns to the economy will deliver another $600 a 
week to suddenly jobless workers like Dighera-Neria. But it could be 
weeks before those benefits start arriving.

Stuck at home, Dighera-Neria and the other waitresses check in with one other almost every day by phone or on Facebook.

“We all have to take care of each other and that’s what us girls are trying to do,” said Marsha Dighera-Neria.

Some, she said, are handling the uncertainty “better than others.”

“It’s hard,” she said, “when you don’t know how long this is going to go on.”

So
 they worry together about whether the restaurant will survive and how 
the customers they’ve grown accustomed to seeing every day are getting 
by.

“Some people really depend on coming in,” Dighera-Neria said.
 “Elderly people, you know. It’s human contact and now there is none.”

Restaurants
 across the country lost $25 billion in March, according to the National
 Restaurant Association. Thousands of the restaurants closed now will 
never reopen.

Albrecht acknowledges that the restaurant he 
inherited from his father in 1999 could be among those shuttered for 
good if the health crisis persists for months. But for now, he’s laying 
the groundwork to reopen by applying for a Small Business Administration
 loan that he won’t have to repay if he hires everyone back.&nbsp;

“It’s going to be the shot in the arm we need to open back up,” he said.&nbsp;

The relief bill recently passed by Congress contains $350 billion for the<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp" target="_blank"> Paycheck Protection Program.</a>
 Small business owners must go through their local banks to obtain the 
loans. However, bankers across the country say they’re not ready to 
handle the anticipated volume of applications. They also say federal 
officials <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/paycheck-protection-program-202113050.html" target="_blank">haven’t provided them with detailed instructions </a>on how to run the program.

Albrecht said he caught his banker unaware when he called earlier this week to start the process.&nbsp;

“I was surprised he hadn’t heard anything yet,” Albrecht said.&nbsp;

Once
 the administrative problems are fixed, Albrecht hopes to get about 
$100,000 to cover ongoing expenses. Everything from rent — about $5,000 a
 month — to utility bills and maintenance to keep the restaurant’s water
 softening system, freezers and ice machines working.

“Those things add up real quickly,” he said.

On the day he closed, Albrecht said he had enough cash on hand to pay
 his employees, but he didn’t have enough to cover the roughly $15,000 
he owed the federal and state governments in withholding and sales 
taxes.

He had set that money aside, but he spent it on emergency repairs to an oven and the restaurant’s main freezer.

“Had
 I known this (coronavirus) disaster was going to be happening, I could 
have held those checks and paid them a little later,” he said. “But I 
had no idea we were going to be this drastically affected.”

With
 so many Kansas businesses struggling, state officials know that a 
reckoning is coming. Tax collections that had met or exceeded estimates 
every month for the last two years fell short in March.

Though 
they totaled only $8.6 million less than the expected $523 million, Gov.
 Laura Kelly is bracing for steeper drops in the months ahead.

“We know we’re going to be taking a huge hit in our revenues,” Kelly said in a news conference.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270635012.jpeg" alt=" Scott Albrecht surveys his empty Topeka restaurant after closing because of the coronavirus. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Scott Albrecht surveys his empty Topeka restaurant after closing because of the coronavirus. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/jobs-topeka-diner-so-many-across-kansas-might-not-survive-covid-19#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Set apart from its fast-food 
neighbors by a vintage neon sign that speaks of another era, the Hanover
 Pancake House sits a few short blocks from the Kansas Statehouse. It’s 
been a Capital mainstay for more than 50 years.But today, like most dine-in restaurants across the state, it’s closed because of the coronavirus.Those
 closures have thrown tens of thousands of Kansans out of work and 
deprived hundreds of thousands more the comfort of friends in familiar 
places.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270686953.jpeg" alt=" A couple of blocks from the Kansas Statehouse, the Hanover Pancake House has been a popular breakfast spot for more than 50 years. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A couple of blocks from the Kansas Statehouse, the Hanover Pancake House has been a popular breakfast spot for more than 50 years. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>When owner Scott Albrecht shut it down on March 20, he told his 32 employees that he hoped to re-open in a matter of weeks.Anything longer than two or three weeks, Albrecht said, “and I’ll need some help.”<h2>Restaurants in peril&nbsp;</h2>The
 challenges facing Albrecht and his displaced workers confront thousands
 of other businesses across the state. They all will need state and 
federal lifelines to survive the crisis.&nbsp;For Marsha 
Dighera-Neria, surviving after losing her job at the Pancake House meant
 getting unemployment checks as quickly as possible.&nbsp;In just the last two weeks,<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/UI%20Weekly%20Review.pdf" target="_blank"> 79,353 Kansans filed initial unemployment claims.</a>That’s a record.The unprecedented surge in claims has <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sees-1000-surge-jobless-claims-covid-19-derails-economy" target="_blank">overwhelmed the Kansas Department of Labor,</a> which is averaging more than 200,000 calls a day.&nbsp;Hospitality workers — a category that includes hotel workers and those employed by Kansas’ <a href="https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/kansas.pdf" target="_blank">more than 5,000 bars and restaurants </a>— account for nearly 20% of the new unemployment claims.Dighera-Neria
 beat the rush by filing right after finishing her final shift. She 
expects to recieve $146 a week until she goes back to work.“That’s about half of what I was making at the restaurant,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270718414.jpeg" alt=" Marsha Dighera-Neria is drawing unemployment, but she wants to get back to work at the restaurant. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Marsha Dighera-Neria is drawing unemployment, but she wants to get back to work at the restaurant. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>A federal relief plan aimed to minimize the impact of 
coronavirus-driven shutdowns to the economy will deliver another $600 a 
week to suddenly jobless workers like Dighera-Neria. But it could be 
weeks before those benefits start arriving.Stuck at home, Dighera-Neria and the other waitresses check in with one other almost every day by phone or on Facebook.“We all have to take care of each other and that’s what us girls are trying to do,” said Marsha Dighera-Neria.Some, she said, are handling the uncertainty “better than others.”“It’s hard,” she said, “when you don’t know how long this is going to go on.”So
 they worry together about whether the restaurant will survive and how 
the customers they’ve grown accustomed to seeing every day are getting 
by.“Some people really depend on coming in,” Dighera-Neria said.
 “Elderly people, you know. It’s human contact and now there is none.”<h2>Saving the diner</h2>Restaurants
 across the country lost $25 billion in March, according to the National
 Restaurant Association. Thousands of the restaurants closed now will 
never reopen.Albrecht acknowledges that the restaurant he 
inherited from his father in 1999 could be among those shuttered for 
good if the health crisis persists for months. But for now, he’s laying 
the groundwork to reopen by applying for a Small Business Administration
 loan that he won’t have to repay if he hires everyone back.&nbsp;“It’s going to be the shot in the arm we need to open back up,” he said.&nbsp;The relief bill recently passed by Congress contains $350 billion for the<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp" target="_blank"> Paycheck Protection Program.</a>
 Small business owners must go through their local banks to obtain the 
loans. However, bankers across the country say they’re not ready to 
handle the anticipated volume of applications. They also say federal 
officials <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/paycheck-protection-program-202113050.html" target="_blank">haven’t provided them with detailed instructions </a>on how to run the program.Albrecht said he caught his banker unaware when he called earlier this week to start the process.&nbsp;“I was surprised he hadn’t heard anything yet,” Albrecht said.&nbsp;Once
 the administrative problems are fixed, Albrecht hopes to get about 
$100,000 to cover ongoing expenses. Everything from rent — about $5,000 a
 month — to utility bills and maintenance to keep the restaurant’s water
 softening system, freezers and ice machines working.“Those things add up real quickly,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270743442.jpeg" alt=" Topeka's Hanover Pancake House is one of thousands of Kansas restaurants shut down due to the coronavirus. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Topeka's Hanover Pancake House is one of thousands of Kansas restaurants shut down due to the coronavirus. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>On the day he closed, Albrecht said he had enough cash on hand to pay
 his employees, but he didn’t have enough to cover the roughly $15,000 
he owed the federal and state governments in withholding and sales 
taxes.He had set that money aside, but he spent it on emergency repairs to an oven and the restaurant’s main freezer.“Had
 I known this (coronavirus) disaster was going to be happening, I could 
have held those checks and paid them a little later,” he said. “But I 
had no idea we were going to be this drastically affected.”<h2>Ripple effects</h2>With
 so many Kansas businesses struggling, state officials know that a 
reckoning is coming. Tax collections that had met or exceeded estimates 
every month for the last two years fell short in March.Though 
they totaled only $8.6 million less than the expected $523 million, Gov.
 Laura Kelly is bracing for steeper drops in the months ahead.“We know we’re going to be taking a huge hit in our revenues,” Kelly said in a news conference.By
 the time Albrecht shut the restaurant down, he was also starting to 
fall behind on payments to the distributors who supplied him with bread,
 eggs, bacon, coffee and other diner staples.With hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country in similar straits, those companies are also suffering.Sysco,
 one of Albrecht’s suppliers, is replacing fresh meat and produce with 
frozen fare to cut back on costs. It’s also laying off workers in 
droves. The person who handled Albrecht’s account for the last dozen 
years was among the casualties.“He was a 12-year veteran of the company,” Albrecht said, and “a good guy.”The ripple effects of Hanover’s closure are evident in other ways.Mack
 Smith is the kind of hail-fellow-well-met you’ll find among Capitol 
insiders. He and a half dozen others have met for breakfast at the 
Pancake House nearly every weekday for years. They eat, read newspapers 
and talk about politics, sports, music, movie trivia.“We have a 
blast,” Smith said. “We have our regular waitresses on certain days. 
It’s quite a relationship that’s developed through the years.”Smith misses starting each day with “my buddies,” but said he also thinks about the people who have served him over the years.“I worry about how they’re going to feed the people they love,” he said. “It’s just scary as heck.”Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>&nbsp;or email jim@kcur.org.