JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — States across the U.S. are allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to respond to the coronavirus, even as the U.S. government prepares to send billions more their way.

Many states have built up sizable stockpiles in their “rainy day” funds during several robust years of tax collections. Some governors and state lawmakers now are tapping into those savings for emergency expenses. Others are looking to set aside even more in reserve, fearing the economic uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus could send tax revenues into a tailspin.

“Forget the closure on Broadway — the loss of revenue to the state government, right now, is incalculable,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.

He pulled the curtain on Broadway theaters this past week while banning gatherings of 500 or more people.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would free up as much as $50 billion for state and local governments as he declared the virus pandemic a national emergency. Many governors also have declared emergencies, giving themselves greater flexibility to spend money and waive regulations as needed.

“All the resources we can have on hand — to make sure if things get worse — we want,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, while announcing a state of emergency just hours after the president did so.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

State and local public health agencies have been on the front lines of the response, monitoring and testing those suspected of having the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Costs are mounting for staff time and medical supplies.

But states also are bracing for a potential ripple effect on their revenues. The cancellation of major sporting and entertainment events could mean less tax revenue from tourists and local residents. Directives to work and study at home instead of at offices, schools and colleges could mean less revenue from fuel taxes and public transit fares. And if some employees can't go to work, that could put a damper on state income and withholding taxes while driving up spending for public welfare programs such as unemployment insurance and state Medicaid health care programs.

“It definitely has the potential to have a significant impact on state budgets — both on the spending and revenue side,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers.

“One positive, if you want to use that word, is that this is coming after a period where states have seen strong revenue growth for the past couple of years ... and have been able to increase the size of their rainy day funds and reserves,” Sigritz added.

Across all states last fiscal year, the median rainy day fund balance equaled 7.6% of general fund expenditures. That's a record high that was way up from a 1.6% share of general fund expenditures in the 2010 fiscal year, according to the budget officers group.

In Washington state, which has seen the greatest number of U.S. coronavirus deaths, lawmakers this past week approved a budget that draws $200 million from the state's rainy day fund. Of that, $175 million is to go to the public health system with the rest going to a special unemployment fund for affected businesses and workers.

“The urgency of this is clear, the demand for action is clear, and we’ll stretch this as far as we can and we’ll find some way to finance more if we have to,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat.

While tapping the emergency fund, Washington state lawmakers also pared back some proposed spending, allowing the state's reserves to continue to grow in case the coronavirus causes more budgetary hardships.

Georgia lawmakers this past week approved shifting $100 million from the state’s $2.8 billion of reserves into a governor’s emergency fund for the coronavirus. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, signed legislation allowing the state to tap up to $50 million from its rainy day fund.

The spread of the coronavirus has coincided with crunch time in some state legislatures. Florida lawmakers, for example, extended their 60-day session that was scheduled to end Friday while working on a budget plan that has been complicated by the coronavirus outbreak. Concern about the economy has prompted budget writers to consider adding hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the state's reserves to help offset any potential shortfalls.

Some states where legislatures already had wrapped up budgets are now scrambling to account for the coronavirus costs.

New Mexico lawmakers adjourned Feb. 20. This past week, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed about $150 million in infrastructure spending as coronavirus concerns caused world oil prices to plunge. The oil sector is a mainstay of the New Mexico economy.

The cuts included nearly $50 million for local transportation projects plus funding for a rural water system, a preschool and senior center at Native American communities, and improvements at district courts.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — States across the U.S. are allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to respond to the coronavirus, even as the U.S. government prepares to send billions more their way.Many states have built up sizable stockpiles in their “rainy day” funds during several robust years of tax collections. Some governors and state lawmakers now are tapping into those savings for emergency expenses. Others are looking to set aside even more in reserve, fearing the economic uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus could send tax revenues into a tailspin.“Forget the closure on Broadway — the loss of revenue to the state government, right now, is incalculable,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.He pulled the curtain on Broadway theaters this past week while banning gatherings of 500 or more people.President Donald Trump said Friday that he would free up as much as $50 billion for state and local governments as he declared the virus pandemic a national emergency. Many governors also have declared emergencies, giving themselves greater flexibility to spend money and waive regulations as needed.“All the resources we can have on hand — to make sure if things get worse — we want,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, while announcing a state of emergency just hours after the president did so.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.State and local public health agencies have been on the front lines of the response, monitoring and testing those suspected of having the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Costs are mounting for staff time and medical supplies.But states also are bracing for a potential ripple effect on their revenues. The cancellation of major sporting and entertainment events could mean less tax revenue from tourists and local residents. Directives to work and study at home instead of at offices, schools and colleges could mean less revenue from fuel taxes and public transit fares. And if some employees can't go to work, that could put a damper on state income and withholding taxes while driving up spending for public welfare programs such as unemployment insurance and state Medicaid health care programs.“It definitely has the potential to have a significant impact on state budgets — both on the spending and revenue side,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers.“One positive, if you want to use that word, is that this is coming after a period where states have seen strong revenue growth for the past couple of years ... and have been able to increase the size of their rainy day funds and reserves,” Sigritz added.Across all states last fiscal year, the median rainy day fund balance equaled 7.6% of general fund expenditures. That's a record high that was way up from a 1.6% share of general fund expenditures in the 2010 fiscal year, according to the budget officers group.In Washington state, which has seen the greatest number of U.S. coronavirus deaths, lawmakers this past week approved a budget that draws $200 million from the state's rainy day fund. Of that, $175 million is to go to the public health system with the rest going to a special unemployment fund for affected businesses and workers.“The urgency of this is clear, the demand for action is clear, and we’ll stretch this as far as we can and we’ll find some way to finance more if we have to,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat.While tapping the emergency fund, Washington state lawmakers also pared back some proposed spending, allowing the state's reserves to continue to grow in case the coronavirus causes more budgetary hardships.Georgia lawmakers this past week approved shifting $100 million from the state’s $2.8 billion of reserves into a governor’s emergency fund for the coronavirus. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, signed legislation allowing the state to tap up to $50 million from its rainy day fund.The spread of the coronavirus has coincided with crunch time in some state legislatures. Florida lawmakers, for example, extended their 60-day session that was scheduled to end Friday while working on a budget plan that has been complicated by the coronavirus outbreak. Concern about the economy has prompted budget writers to consider adding hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the state's reserves to help offset any potential shortfalls.Some states where legislatures already had wrapped up budgets are now scrambling to account for the coronavirus costs.New Mexico lawmakers adjourned Feb. 20. This past week, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed about $150 million in infrastructure spending as coronavirus concerns caused world oil prices to plunge. The oil sector is a mainstay of the New Mexico economy.The cuts included nearly $50 million for local transportation projects plus funding for a rural water system, a preschool and senior center at Native American communities, and improvements at district courts.

States turn to cash reserves as coronavirus strains budgets

TOPEKA -&nbsp; It’s National Poison Prevention Week.&nbsp; The Poison Center at the University of Kansas Health System and Safe Kids Kansas want to remind everyone that almost anything can be poisonous if it is used in the wrong way, in the wrong amount or by the wrong person.

“We want to remind everyone that the best way to prevent poisoning is by making sure you always read and follow labels, keep items in their original containers, and keep potential poisons locked up, out of sight and reach of children and pets,” said Cherie Sage, state coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas.

Poison Centers are for everyone. While poison centers get more calls about children, the calls about teens, adults, and older adults tend to be more serious. Nearly&nbsp;60%&nbsp;of calls to the Kansas Poison Control in 2019 involved medicines or pharmaceuticals. However, other common poisons include&nbsp;household products, plants, mushrooms, pesticides, animal bites and stings, carbon monoxide, and many other types of nonpharmaceutical substances. Here are the top potential poisons by age group to help keep yourself and your family safe.

“The best piece of advice we can give is to program the Poison Help number, 800-222-1222, in your phone and post it visibly in your home. This way you are prepared in the event of a poisoning emergency or simply have questions,” said Stefanie Baines, education coordinator for the Kansas Poison Control Center.

If you think someone has been poisoned, call 800-222-1222 right away. Fast, free, expert help is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information about preventing accidental poisoning visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansashealthsystem.com%2Fpoison&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Caf2b9a619e924d3abb8208d7c9e8bfc1%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199873787505418&amp;sdata=2J5z45joTmCcX8oTdRyJchCnZRUxTUU%2BgT5FTi6N9eA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kansashealthsystem.com/poison</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.safekidskansas.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Caf2b9a619e924d3abb8208d7c9e8bfc1%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199873787505418&amp;sdata=Q2dKtG6a7DNKfRr7qHRPk6N7KZt9UFkqGwWgMzGsh%2Fs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.safekidskansas.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584482867782.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA -&nbsp; It’s National Poison Prevention Week.&nbsp; The Poison Center at the University of Kansas Health System and Safe Kids Kansas want to remind everyone that almost anything can be poisonous if it is used in the wrong way, in the wrong amount or by the wrong person.“We want to remind everyone that the best way to prevent poisoning is by making sure you always read and follow labels, keep items in their original containers, and keep potential poisons locked up, out of sight and reach of children and pets,” said Cherie Sage, state coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas.Poison Centers are for everyone. While poison centers get more calls about children, the calls about teens, adults, and older adults tend to be more serious. Nearly&nbsp;60%&nbsp;of calls to the Kansas Poison Control in 2019 involved medicines or pharmaceuticals. However, other common poisons include&nbsp;household products, plants, mushrooms, pesticides, animal bites and stings, carbon monoxide, and many other types of nonpharmaceutical substances. Here are the top potential poisons by age group to help keep yourself and your family safe.Young Children:<ol>
 <li>Medicines</li><li>Cosmetics and personal care products</li><li>Household Cleaners</li><li>Pain Medicines</li>
 </ol>Tweens and Teens (ages 6-12):<ol>
 <li>Pain medicines</li><li>Antidepressants</li><li>Non-food items (toys, magnets, batteries, etc.)</li>
 </ol>Adults:<ol>
 <li>Pain Medicines</li><li>Sleep medicines and anxiety/mood medicines</li><li>Antidepressants</li>
 </ol>Older Adults:<ol>
 <li>Heart medicines</li><li>Pain medicines</li><li>Sleep medicines and anxiety/mood medicines</li>
 </ol>“The best piece of advice we can give is to program the Poison Help number, 800-222-1222, in your phone and post it visibly in your home. This way you are prepared in the event of a poisoning emergency or simply have questions,” said Stefanie Baines, education coordinator for the Kansas Poison Control Center.If you think someone has been poisoned, call 800-222-1222 right away. Fast, free, expert help is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.For more information about preventing accidental poisoning visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansashealthsystem.com%2Fpoison&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Caf2b9a619e924d3abb8208d7c9e8bfc1%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199873787505418&amp;sdata=2J5z45joTmCcX8oTdRyJchCnZRUxTUU%2BgT5FTi6N9eA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kansashealthsystem.com/poison</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.safekidskansas.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Caf2b9a619e924d3abb8208d7c9e8bfc1%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199873787505418&amp;sdata=Q2dKtG6a7DNKfRr7qHRPk6N7KZt9UFkqGwWgMzGsh%2Fs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.safekidskansas.org</a>.

SAFE KIDS KANSAS: Almost anything can be poisonous

CHICAGO (AP) — The CDC is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in US be canceled or postponed over next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with governors closing restaurants, bars, and schools and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.

The shutdowns came as the nation sank deeper into chaos over the crisis. Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings, causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have been urging people to avoid.

In a sign of the impending economic gloom on the horizon, the Federal Reserve slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero. President Donald Trump sought to calm a jittery nation by declaring that the government has “tremendous control” over the situation and urging people to stop the panic buying of grocery staples that has depleted the shelves of stores around the country. Gun stores started seeing a similar run on weapons and ammunition as the panic intensified.

Parts of the country already look like a ghost town, and others are about to follow as theme parks closed, Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers, Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders and the governors of Ohio and Illinois ordered bars and restaurants shuttered. California’s governor asked the state’s bars and restaurants to do the same, but didn’t order it. New York City, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering similar measures.

“The time for persuasion and public appeals is over,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “This is not a joke. No one is immune to this.”

His decision came hours after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus’s spread.

“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Fauci, a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus. He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.

There is no indication Trump is considering such a move.

The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead, with thousands of new cases confirmed each day. The death toll in the United States climbed to 64, while infections passed 3,200.

Meanwhile, harsh criticism rained on Trump and his administration Sunday from state and local officials over long lines of returning international passengers at some U.S. airports that could have turned them into coronavirus carriers as they tried to get home.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lambasted the administration for allowing about 3,000 Americans returning from Europe to be stuck for hours inside the customs area at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, violating federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people practice “social distancing.”

The passengers, many of them rushing home because of fears they would be stuck in Europe, were screened for coronavirus symptoms before they were allowed to leave the airport.

Long lines also formed Saturday in Boston, Dallas and others of the 13 airports that are accepting return flights from Europe.

“People were forced into conditions that are against CDC guidance and are totally unacceptable,” Lightfoot said.

Elizabeth Pulvermacher, a University of Wisconsin student, arrived Saturday at O’Hare from Madrid, where she had been studying and spent hours in line. The customs process made her feel “unsafe,” she said.

“The whole idea is getting rid of the spread of coronavirus, but there were hundreds and hundreds of people in very close proximity,” Pulvermacher said.

Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University, said he was “appalled” by what he saw Saturday at nearby O’Hare.

“If they weren’t exposed to COVID-19 before, they probably are now. From a public health perspective, this is malpractice,” Murphy said in a statement Sunday. “The lack of preparation and concern is unfathomable.”

But the situation improved markedly Sunday at O’Hare and elsewhere. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said wait times are down to 30 minutes after processes have been adjusted to better handle the influx and extra personnel sent to the airports that are “funneling” passengers returning from overseas.

Bailey Miles, a 20-year-old sophomore at Taylor University in Indiana, arrived also from Madrid fearing the worst, but she got through customs and a health screening in about an hour. She said officials seemed to have learned their lesson from Saturday, when some of her friends returned.

“The employees were really helpful, had positive attitudes and had a lot of grace,” she said. She said a woman even passed out snacks.

At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Amanda Kay said she was asked to keep her distance from other passengers when she arrived from Paris at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

“They wanted 50 people at a time. So the first 50 people got off, and they asked us to keep a large distance between ourselves,” she said. “We showed them the first form and then as we walk there’s a person who has the scan for your temperature. And then you go through Customs and then that was it.”

Going forward, Wolf said he could not rule out a future halt to air travel within the U.S. Fauci said earlier Sunday on television that halting domestic travel had been discussed, though not seriously.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover.

And that may have given some people false hope, causing them to venture into crowds that Fauci and others would prefer they avoid. Even if someone doesn’t become visibly ill, they can still carry the disease and spread it to others.

In New Orleans and Chicago, people clad in green for St. Patrick’s Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks on Saturday even after the cities canceled their parades.

New York City, which has the nation’s largest public school district, announced that it will be closed starting Monday, joining most of the rest of the country. Mayor Bill de Blasio had originally balked, but under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others he said Sunday, “I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.”

In Florida, Walt Disney World and Universal-Orlando were closing Sunday night for the rest of the month, joining their California siblings, which already closed. Farther south, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale officials announced that they are closing their beaches, where thousands of college spring breakers from around the world have flocked. The cities also ordered restaurants and bars closed by 10 p.m. and to keep crowds below 250.

“We cannot become a petri dish for a very dangerous virus,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “Spring break is over. The party is over.”

Starbucks said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas nationwide, but customers can still order at the counter, at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app. It will also close or reduce hours in areas where there are a high-number of cases.

But not all government officials were as concerned. Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted a picture of himself and his children at a crowded metro restaurant Saturday night.

Republican Rep. Devin Nunes had a similar message on Fox News Sunday, encouraging people to go to local restaurants and pubs despite the warnings of health officials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584319369602.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, during Sunday's Caronavirus Task Force media briefings -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, during Sunday's Caronavirus Task Force media briefings -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — The CDC is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in US be canceled or postponed over next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with governors closing restaurants, bars, and schools and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.The shutdowns came as the nation sank deeper into chaos over the crisis. Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings, causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have been urging people to avoid.In a sign of the impending economic gloom on the horizon, the Federal Reserve slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero. President Donald Trump sought to calm a jittery nation by declaring that the government has “tremendous control” over the situation and urging people to stop the panic buying of grocery staples that has depleted the shelves of stores around the country. Gun stores started seeing a similar run on weapons and ammunition as the panic intensified.Parts of the country already look like a ghost town, and others are about to follow as theme parks closed, Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers, Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders and the governors of Ohio and Illinois ordered bars and restaurants shuttered. California’s governor asked the state’s bars and restaurants to do the same, but didn’t order it. New York City, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering similar measures.“The time for persuasion and public appeals is over,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “This is not a joke. No one is immune to this.”His decision came hours after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus’s spread.“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Fauci, a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus. He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.There is no indication Trump is considering such a move.The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead, with thousands of new cases confirmed each day. The death toll in the United States climbed to 64, while infections passed 3,200.Meanwhile, harsh criticism rained on Trump and his administration Sunday from state and local officials over long lines of returning international passengers at some U.S. airports that could have turned them into coronavirus carriers as they tried to get home.Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lambasted the administration for allowing about 3,000 Americans returning from Europe to be stuck for hours inside the customs area at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, violating federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people practice “social distancing.”The passengers, many of them rushing home because of fears they would be stuck in Europe, were screened for coronavirus symptoms before they were allowed to leave the airport.Long lines also formed Saturday in Boston, Dallas and others of the 13 airports that are accepting return flights from Europe.“People were forced into conditions that are against CDC guidance and are totally unacceptable,” Lightfoot said.Elizabeth Pulvermacher, a University of Wisconsin student, arrived Saturday at O’Hare from Madrid, where she had been studying and spent hours in line. The customs process made her feel “unsafe,” she said.“The whole idea is getting rid of the spread of coronavirus, but there were hundreds and hundreds of people in very close proximity,” Pulvermacher said.Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University, said he was “appalled” by what he saw Saturday at nearby O’Hare.“If they weren’t exposed to COVID-19 before, they probably are now. From a public health perspective, this is malpractice,” Murphy said in a statement Sunday. “The lack of preparation and concern is unfathomable.”But the situation improved markedly Sunday at O’Hare and elsewhere. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said wait times are down to 30 minutes after processes have been adjusted to better handle the influx and extra personnel sent to the airports that are “funneling” passengers returning from overseas.Bailey Miles, a 20-year-old sophomore at Taylor University in Indiana, arrived also from Madrid fearing the worst, but she got through customs and a health screening in about an hour. She said officials seemed to have learned their lesson from Saturday, when some of her friends returned.“The employees were really helpful, had positive attitudes and had a lot of grace,” she said. She said a woman even passed out snacks.At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Amanda Kay said she was asked to keep her distance from other passengers when she arrived from Paris at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.“They wanted 50 people at a time. So the first 50 people got off, and they asked us to keep a large distance between ourselves,” she said. “We showed them the first form and then as we walk there’s a person who has the scan for your temperature. And then you go through Customs and then that was it.”Going forward, Wolf said he could not rule out a future halt to air travel within the U.S. Fauci said earlier Sunday on television that halting domestic travel had been discussed, though not seriously.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover.And that may have given some people false hope, causing them to venture into crowds that Fauci and others would prefer they avoid. Even if someone doesn’t become visibly ill, they can still carry the disease and spread it to others.In New Orleans and Chicago, people clad in green for St. Patrick’s Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks on Saturday even after the cities canceled their parades.New York City, which has the nation’s largest public school district, announced that it will be closed starting Monday, joining most of the rest of the country. Mayor Bill de Blasio had originally balked, but under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others he said Sunday, “I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.”In Florida, Walt Disney World and Universal-Orlando were closing Sunday night for the rest of the month, joining their California siblings, which already closed. Farther south, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale officials announced that they are closing their beaches, where thousands of college spring breakers from around the world have flocked. The cities also ordered restaurants and bars closed by 10 p.m. and to keep crowds below 250.“We cannot become a petri dish for a very dangerous virus,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “Spring break is over. The party is over.”Starbucks said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas nationwide, but customers can still order at the counter, at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app. It will also close or reduce hours in areas where there are a high-number of cases.But not all government officials were as concerned. Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted a picture of himself and his children at a crowded metro restaurant Saturday night.Republican Rep. Devin Nunes had a similar message on Fox News Sunday, encouraging people to go to local restaurants and pubs despite the warnings of health officials.___

CDC recommends no gatherings of 50 or more for 8 weeks

TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)&nbsp; issued new guidance Sunday surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.

KDHE is now recommending 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:

“We know there are a lot of questions and concerns from people,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “One thing we want to stress is that having contact with someone who may have been exposed to someone who may be a COVID-19 case is not a reason to worry or quarantine yourself. Public health officials will notify you if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.”

There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391858233&amp;sdata=8Yn2ESj7OgBdURzPo4x7vPAiFHCaYCezFrWaCSHFyO0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.&nbsp;

Those who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.

If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.

Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. KDHE only approves COVID-19 testing requests from healthcare providers and local health departments.

People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391868226&amp;sdata=cJJZ5jKWxO0IzLq46qhiTh%2FL%2Fa35DWhqhvK7eWjkFVE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)&nbsp; issued new guidance Sunday surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested.KDHE is now recommending 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have:<ol>
 <li>Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15.</li><li>Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado within the past week.</li><li>Traveled on a cruise ship on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Traveled internationally on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine.</li><li>Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case.&nbsp; (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)</li>
 </ol>“We know there are a lot of questions and concerns from people,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “One thing we want to stress is that having contact with someone who may have been exposed to someone who may be a COVID-19 case is not a reason to worry or quarantine yourself. Public health officials will notify you if you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.”There is no need for returning travelers to notify KDHE about their return. Information on COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and states with community transmission can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391858233&amp;sdata=8Yn2ESj7OgBdURzPo4x7vPAiFHCaYCezFrWaCSHFyO0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>.&nbsp;Home Quarantine GuidelinesThose who are under home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain at about a 6-foot distance from other people.If a person under quarantine develops symptoms of COVID-19 during their 14-day quarantine period, including a measured fever of 100.4 (F) or higher and lower respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath, they should contact their healthcare provider and tell them about their recent travel or other COVID-19 exposure.Testing for COVID-19Healthcare providers should evaluate exposure history and symptoms and call KDHE if COVID-19 is suspected. KDHE only approves COVID-19 testing requests from healthcare providers and local health departments.People who are currently being tested for COVID-19 should remain in home isolation, or hospital isolation if symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized, until test results are available. If the test result is negative, isolation is no longer required. If test results are positive for COVID-19, the person must remain in isolation until released by public health.PreventionThere is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid spreading the virus and to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread between people who are within about 6 feet of each other for at least 10 minutes through droplets from coughing and sneezing.To reduce risk, everyone should:<ol>
 <li>Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.</li><li>Stay home if you are sick.</li><li>Cover coughs and sneezes.</li><li>Clean and disinfect surfaces daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>For more information, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C5377b95a8e3b451203c708d7c9285611%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637199047391868226&amp;sdata=cJJZ5jKWxO0IzLq46qhiTh%2FL%2Fa35DWhqhvK7eWjkFVE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>. KDHE&nbsp;has a phone bank that is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The phone number is&nbsp;1-866-534-3463&nbsp;(1-866-KDHEINF). KDHE also has an email address for general inquiries, COVID-19@ks.gov.&nbsp; Please note these contacts are for general questions and cannot provide you with medical evaluations. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and call your healthcare provider.

KDHE issues new quarantine suggestions, isolation of travelers

The medical impact of the new coronavirus is coming into sharper focus as it continues its spread in what is now officially recognized as a pandemic.

Its true fatality rate isn’t yet known, but it seems 10 times higher than the flu, which kills hundreds of thousands around the world each year, the United States’ top infectious disease expert told lawmakers last week.

Most people have had mild to moderate illness and recovered, but the virus is more serious for those who are older or have other health problems.

That’s a huge number, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who now heads a global health organization. In the U.S., 60% of adults have at least one underlying health condition and 42% have two or more.

“There’s still a lot that we don’t know” about the virus and disease it causes, COVID-19, he said.

Most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html" target="_blank">spread</a>&nbsp;is from droplets produced when an infected person coughs, which are inhaled by people nearby. Transmission from touching contaminated surfaces hasn’t been shown yet, though recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217v1.full.pdf" target="_blank">tests</a>&nbsp;by U.S. scientists suggest it’s possible -- one reason they recommend washing your hands and not touching your face.

The virus can live in the air for several hours, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. Cleaning surfaces with solutions containing diluted bleach should kill it.

“While we are still learning about the biology of this virus, it does not appear that there is a major risk of spread through sweat,” said Julie Fischer, a Georgetown University microbiologist. The biggest concern about going to the gym is infected people coughing on others, or contaminating shared surfaces or equipment, she said. Consider avoiding large classes and peak hours and don’t go if you’re coughing or feverish, she suggests.

The risk of virus transmission from food servers is the same risk as transmission from other infected people, but “one of the concerns in that food servers, like others facing stark choices about insurance and paychecks, may be pressured to work even if they are sick,” she said.

Each infected person spreads to two or three others on average, researchers estimate. It spreads more easily than flu but less than measles, tuberculosis or some other respiratory diseases. It is not known if it spreads less easily among children, but fewer of them have been diagnosed with the disease. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;of 1,099 patients in China found that 0.9% of the cases were younger than 15.

Most people get fever and cough, sometimes fatigue or shortness of breath, and recover after about two weeks. About 15% develop severe disease, including pneumonia, Chinese scientists&nbsp;<a href="http://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9-9a9b-fea8db1a8f51" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;from 45,000 cases there. Symptoms usually start slowly and often worsen as the illness goes on.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20032896v1.full.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;last week on the first 12 patients in the U.S., seven were hospitalized; most had underlying health problems and got worse during the second week of illness.

In China, slightly more males have been diagnosed with COVID-19 than females, which might be because roughly half of Chinese men smoke but only 5% of females do, Frieden said.

Children seem to get less sick -- a report on 10 in China found that fevers tended to be milder and they lacked clear signs of pneumonia.

Some cruise ship passengers described symptoms similar to the common cold or flu.

“It’s been a 2 on a scale of 10,” said Carl Goldman, who was hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska, after flying home.

However, a Chinese postgraduate student described going to the hospital twice after her symptoms worsened, and feeling “a heavy head while walking, unable to breathe, and nauseous.”

The CDC recommends at least two swabs -- nose and throat. Samples are sent to labs that look for bits of viral genetic material, which takes roughly 4 to 6 hours. Altogether, it can take several days to ship a sample and get results back.

It’s been taking two to three days, and “we are working really hard to see if we can shorten that time” by developing an in-house test, Dr. Aimee Moulin of the University of California, Davis said Thursday in a conference call held by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Some areas have opened drive-thru sites for testing, which could reduce exposure to health workers and other patients or the public.

The average time from exposure to developing symptoms is five to six days, but can be up to two weeks. Tests have found high amounts of virus in the throats and noses of people a couple days before they show symptoms.

Signs of virus also have been found in stool weeks after patients recover, but that doesn’t mean it’s capable of causing illness, scientists warn.

“The virus can be degraded,” said Robert Webster, a St. Jude Children’s Research Center virus expert. “It’s not necessarily infectious virus at all.”

That won’t be known until large studies are done to test big groups of people to see how many have been infected and with or without symptoms.

Scientists have estimated the fatality rate from less than 1% to as high as 4% among cases diagnosed so far, depending on location.

Flu kills about 0.1% of those it infects, so the new virus seems about 10 times more lethal, the National Institutes of Health’s Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress last week.

The death rate has been higher among people with other health problems -- more than 10% for those with heart disease, for example. In the U.S., 30 million have diabetes, more than 70 million are obese and nearly 80 million have high blood pressure.

CAN INFECTED PEOPLE WHO RECOVER GET IT AGAIN?

It’s not known. A few reports from China say some people had COVID-19, recovered and then fell ill again. It’s unclear if that’s a relapse, a new infection, or a case where the person never fully recovered in the first place.

Scientists at the at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle say the 30,000-letter genetic code of the virus changes by one letter every 15 days. It’s not known how many of these changes would be needed for the virus to seem different enough to the immune system of someone who had a previous version of it for it to cause a fresh infection.

Fauci told Congress on Thursday that it was unlikely that someone could get reinfected.

“We haven’t formally proved it, but it is strongly likely that that’s the case,” he said. “Because if this acts like any other virus, once you recover, you won’t get reinfected.”

Flu fades each spring and the new virus may do the same, Fauci said last week in a podcast with a journal editor.

“I am hoping that as we get into the warmer weather we will see a decline that will give us a chance to get our preparedness up to speed,” Fauci said.

But that, too, is far from certain. “We have to assume that the virus will continue to have the capacity to spread, and it’s a false hope to say yes, it will just disappear in the summertime like influenza,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization’s emergencies chief.

Flu viruses also mutate quickly, requiring new vaccines to be made each year. If the coronavirus follows suit, Frieden said, “It could become a virus that circulates around the world for many years to come.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583417190931.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, Associated PressThe medical impact of the new coronavirus is coming into sharper focus as it continues its spread in what is now officially recognized as a pandemic.Its true fatality rate isn’t yet known, but it seems 10 times higher than the flu, which kills hundreds of thousands around the world each year, the United States’ top infectious disease expert told lawmakers last week.Most people have had mild to moderate illness and recovered, but the virus is more serious for those who are older or have other health problems.That’s a huge number, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who now heads a global health organization. In the U.S., 60% of adults have at least one underlying health condition and 42% have two or more.“There’s still a lot that we don’t know” about the virus and disease it causes, COVID-19, he said.HOW IT SPREADSMost&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html" target="_blank">spread</a>&nbsp;is from droplets produced when an infected person coughs, which are inhaled by people nearby. Transmission from touching contaminated surfaces hasn’t been shown yet, though recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217v1.full.pdf" target="_blank">tests</a>&nbsp;by U.S. scientists suggest it’s possible -- one reason they recommend washing your hands and not touching your face.The virus can live in the air for several hours, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. Cleaning surfaces with solutions containing diluted bleach should kill it.“While we are still learning about the biology of this virus, it does not appear that there is a major risk of spread through sweat,” said Julie Fischer, a Georgetown University microbiologist. The biggest concern about going to the gym is infected people coughing on others, or contaminating shared surfaces or equipment, she said. Consider avoiding large classes and peak hours and don’t go if you’re coughing or feverish, she suggests.The risk of virus transmission from food servers is the same risk as transmission from other infected people, but “one of the concerns in that food servers, like others facing stark choices about insurance and paychecks, may be pressured to work even if they are sick,” she said.HOW FAST DOES IT SPREAD?Each infected person spreads to two or three others on average, researchers estimate. It spreads more easily than flu but less than measles, tuberculosis or some other respiratory diseases. It is not known if it spreads less easily among children, but fewer of them have been diagnosed with the disease. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;of 1,099 patients in China found that 0.9% of the cases were younger than 15.WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?Most people get fever and cough, sometimes fatigue or shortness of breath, and recover after about two weeks. About 15% develop severe disease, including pneumonia, Chinese scientists&nbsp;<a href="http://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9-9a9b-fea8db1a8f51" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;from 45,000 cases there. Symptoms usually start slowly and often worsen as the illness goes on.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20032896v1.full.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;last week on the first 12 patients in the U.S., seven were hospitalized; most had underlying health problems and got worse during the second week of illness.In China, slightly more males have been diagnosed with COVID-19 than females, which might be because roughly half of Chinese men smoke but only 5% of females do, Frieden said.Children seem to get less sick -- a report on 10 in China found that fevers tended to be milder and they lacked clear signs of pneumonia.WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?Some cruise ship passengers described symptoms similar to the common cold or flu.“It’s been a 2 on a scale of 10,” said Carl Goldman, who was hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska, after flying home.However, a Chinese postgraduate student described going to the hospital twice after her symptoms worsened, and feeling “a heavy head while walking, unable to breathe, and nauseous.”WHAT’S THE TEST LIKE?The CDC recommends at least two swabs -- nose and throat. Samples are sent to labs that look for bits of viral genetic material, which takes roughly 4 to 6 hours. Altogether, it can take several days to ship a sample and get results back.It’s been taking two to three days, and “we are working really hard to see if we can shorten that time” by developing an in-house test, Dr. Aimee Moulin of the University of California, Davis said Thursday in a conference call held by the American College of Emergency Physicians.Some areas have opened drive-thru sites for testing, which could reduce exposure to health workers and other patients or the public.WHEN IS THE VIRUS MOST CONTAGIOUS?The average time from exposure to developing symptoms is five to six days, but can be up to two weeks. Tests have found high amounts of virus in the throats and noses of people a couple days before they show symptoms.Signs of virus also have been found in stool weeks after patients recover, but that doesn’t mean it’s capable of causing illness, scientists warn.“The virus can be degraded,” said Robert Webster, a St. Jude Children’s Research Center virus expert. “It’s not necessarily infectious virus at all.”HOW DEADLY IS IT?That won’t be known until large studies are done to test big groups of people to see how many have been infected and with or without symptoms.Scientists have estimated the fatality rate from less than 1% to as high as 4% among cases diagnosed so far, depending on location.Flu kills about 0.1% of those it infects, so the new virus seems about 10 times more lethal, the National Institutes of Health’s Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress last week.The death rate has been higher among people with other health problems -- more than 10% for those with heart disease, for example. In the U.S., 30 million have diabetes, more than 70 million are obese and nearly 80 million have high blood pressure.CAN INFECTED PEOPLE WHO RECOVER GET IT AGAIN?It’s not known. A few reports from China say some people had COVID-19, recovered and then fell ill again. It’s unclear if that’s a relapse, a new infection, or a case where the person never fully recovered in the first place.Scientists at the at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle say the 30,000-letter genetic code of the virus changes by one letter every 15 days. It’s not known how many of these changes would be needed for the virus to seem different enough to the immune system of someone who had a previous version of it for it to cause a fresh infection.Fauci told Congress on Thursday that it was unlikely that someone could get reinfected.“We haven’t formally proved it, but it is strongly likely that that’s the case,” he said. “Because if this acts like any other virus, once you recover, you won’t get reinfected.”WILL IT GO AWAY IN THE SUMMER?Flu fades each spring and the new virus may do the same, Fauci said last week in a podcast with a journal editor.“I am hoping that as we get into the warmer weather we will see a decline that will give us a chance to get our preparedness up to speed,” Fauci said.But that, too, is far from certain. “We have to assume that the virus will continue to have the capacity to spread, and it’s a false hope to say yes, it will just disappear in the summertime like influenza,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization’s emergencies chief.Flu viruses also mutate quickly, requiring new vaccines to be made each year. If the coronavirus follows suit, Frieden said, “It could become a virus that circulates around the world for many years to come.”___

How it spreads, infects: Coronavirus impact comes into focus

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A jury convicted a Kansas City, Kan., man Wednesday on federal charges of heroin trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

During trial, jurors saw video from hidden cameras in the drug house where the defendant and others distributed heroin.

George Bush Jr., 29, Kansas City, Kan., was convicted on the following charges:&nbsp;Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Distributing heroin, Conspiracy to maintain a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking, Possession with intent to distribute heroin,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Possession with intent to distribute heroin,&nbsp; Possession with intent to distribute heroin an Possession with intent to distribute.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Bush and co-defendants dealt heroin out of a house at 823 Parallel Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

Five co-defendants pleaded guilty in the case:&nbsp;Albert Brown, 31, Kansas City, Kan. ;&nbsp;Isaiah Lewis, 23, Kansas City, Kan. ;&nbsp;Maurice Bluett, 26, Kansas City, Mo. ;&nbsp;Markelo Paden, 25, Olathe, Kan. ; and&nbsp;Benjamin Mims, 32, Lawrence, Kan.

Bush is scheduled for sentencing June 18.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584049752572.png" alt="George Bush, Jr. photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>George Bush, Jr. photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A jury convicted a Kansas City, Kan., man Wednesday on federal charges of heroin trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.During trial, jurors saw video from hidden cameras in the drug house where the defendant and others distributed heroin.George Bush Jr., 29, Kansas City, Kan., was convicted on the following charges:&nbsp;Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Distributing heroin, Conspiracy to maintain a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking, Possession with intent to distribute heroin,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Possession with intent to distribute heroin,&nbsp; Possession with intent to distribute heroin an Possession with intent to distribute.During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Bush and co-defendants dealt heroin out of a house at 823 Parallel Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.Five co-defendants pleaded guilty in the case:&nbsp;Albert Brown, 31, Kansas City, Kan. ;&nbsp;Isaiah Lewis, 23, Kansas City, Kan. ;&nbsp;Maurice Bluett, 26, Kansas City, Mo. ;&nbsp;Markelo Paden, 25, Olathe, Kan. ; and&nbsp;Benjamin Mims, 32, Lawrence, Kan.Bush is scheduled for sentencing June 18.&nbsp;

Hidden cameras help convict Kansas man of heroin trafficking

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The December death of a 2-year-old girl in Kansas City has been ruled a homicide, according to police.

Police said Stevie Osborn died Dec. 23 from injuries that officials have not detailed.

The homicide determination was made Feb. 20 following a two-month investigation, police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said. The newspaper reported it only recently learned of the child’s death after a reporter contacted police to verify the city’s number of homicides for 2019.

Officers and medics were called to an apartment the morning of Dec. 23 for a medical emergency, Becchina said, and first responders found the child unresponsive inside the apartment. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

Police have identified a person of interest in the case, but no arrests or charges have been made, Becchina said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584231784752.png" alt="Stevie Lynn Osborn photo courtesy <a href="https://everloved.com/life-of/stevie-osborn/obituary/?flow=201">Ever Loved</a>" />
 <figcaption>Stevie Lynn Osborn photo courtesy <a href="https://everloved.com/life-of/stevie-osborn/obituary/?flow=201">Ever Loved</a></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The December death of a 2-year-old girl in Kansas City has been ruled a homicide, according to police.Police said Stevie Osborn died Dec. 23 from injuries that officials have not detailed.The homicide determination was made Feb. 20 following a two-month investigation, police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said. The newspaper reported it only recently learned of the child’s death after a reporter contacted police to verify the city’s number of homicides for 2019.Officers and medics were called to an apartment the morning of Dec. 23 for a medical emergency, Becchina said, and first responders found the child unresponsive inside the apartment. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died.Police have identified a person of interest in the case, but no arrests or charges have been made, Becchina said.

Police: December death of 2-year-old in KC ruled homicide

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has prompted multiple religious faiths to change or cancel services as houses of worship try to help contain the disease. But some church leaders are also tackling another task: communicating a message that elevates both faith and science.

That goal is particularly challenging in a time of sharp political polarization, as partisan scuffles over religion’s influence on policymaking can caricature Christians as skeptical of science. For pastors across Christian denominations, however, rising public anxiety over coronavirus only reinforces the importance of believing in God while heeding the advice of public health experts.

“Science is a wonderful arena of truth and understanding truth. It is an amazing tool that can help human flourishing. We just believe it can’t address all truth that exists,” said D.J. Jenkins, pastor at Anthology Church in Studio City, Calif.

Jenkins, who got his undergraduate degree in biology, acknowledged that “for a lot of folks, it’s probably pretty strange to see” a Christian or other devout person “asking for divine help -- and then also trusting in science and health professionals and doctors. But it’s not strange for me.”

While past natural disasters have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/151633f83b7ed2452ca1c8ab7135af8e">found a few</a>&nbsp;high-profile Christians asserting a link to specific divine punishment, the coronavirus outbreak has generated little if any of that religious rhetoric. Instead, churches are rising to the moment with a mixture of spiritual aid and practical counsel that presents its own challenges, beyond the political tensions kicked up by the virus.

Scott Sauls, senior pastor at Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Church, said he’s discussing ways to “move toward the pain rather than away from it,” acting on his faith’s edict to love one’s neighbor amid rising anxiety.

But that goal is complicated by the social distancing that’s been recommended as a best practice to slow down the disease, Sauls noted, since “Christians’ responsibility is to, No. 1, not send the irresponsible, unloving message” of downplaying the virus’ risk. He said conversations about how best to help have so far focused on assisting the high-risk elderly and health care workers overtaxed by the crisis.

National Association of Evangelicals President Walter Kim said his guidance to denominations is prioritizing the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and other experts, because “the sense of reassurance we want to give is coupled with prudence in seeking out the best information.”

Citing the high religiosity among early scientific pioneers such as Isaac Newton, Kim said that although friction between faith and science has occurred in the past, “the scientific community and people of faith really should serve as collaborators.”

Religious institutions from coast to coast have upended their service schedules to prevent close contact that could spread coronavirus, with Kentucky’s governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf943036e5e71ae85c827a66f4adedf">encouraging&nbsp;</a>churches to cancel their services this week. While not every church in the state plans to fully close, pastors such as Steve Weaver, of Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort, Ky., said they are keenly aware of both scientific and faith considerations.

“We want to take seriously the health challenges that experts are describing and their prescriptions to address those challenges,” Weaver said by email. “However, we have to balance that by our responsibility to continue our regular expressions of worshiping and gathering, which I believe is commanded of us as Christians.”

In Washington state’s King County, where the outbreak&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e27307edc5b133a67f3ba2036a97dc27">has claimed</a>&nbsp;more than two dozen victims, pastors are already dealing with the spiritual struggles wrought by the pandemic.

“There’s a lot of fear right now, so we have an opportunity to be bearers of hope and peace,” said Andrew Fouché, pastor of Sunset Community Church in Renton, Wash. Fouché added that he resists “pat answers” about prayer providing complete protection.

Aaron Monts, pastor at United Church Seattle, said he’s seen “a tension of fear and faith” among congregants who are not yet directly affected by the virus but facing growing isolation. Last Sunday, Monts said, his church suggested a way for believers to blend worship with doctors’ advice: reciting a 20-second prayer while washing their hands.

“We taught, let’s do something a little more intentional with this space” than the increasingly popular advice to sing 20 seconds of “Happy Birthday,” Monts said.

Yet the act of prayer itself often proves fodder for political division over faith and science, and the government’s response to coronavirus is no exception. When Vice President Mike Pence tweeted a photo of a group prayer before a meeting of the Trump administration’s virus response task force that he leads, one commentator’s online pushback met with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkMeadows/status/1234526122014126081?s=20" target="_blank">condemnation from</a>&nbsp;prominent Republicans who accused progressives of maligning religion.

In fact, Pence’s photo sparked a complex reaction from Christians who said prayer is valuable but not the sole solution to a crisis, whether personal or pandemic.

Chris Green, professor of theology at Southeastern University, said he has seen “magical thinking” about the power of prayer among both conservative and liberal Christians, but “that is a minority, very clearly a quieter voice in the conversation.”

“Overwhelmingly, I think the groups I work with would say, pray and work” to solve problems, said Green, who’s also a teaching pastor at Sanctuary Church in Tulsa.

Katelyn Beaty, a former veteran editor at Christianity Today, described the Pence photo as a politicized bid to court conservative Christian support. But she separated that critical response from her view of prayer itself -- as not incompatible with respect for scientific fact.

A majority of Americans pray at least daily, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/frequency-of-prayer/" target="_blank">2014 poll</a>&nbsp;by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Referring to Muslim and Jewish neighbors who communicate with God, Beaty said that she “would never ... assume that because they pray, they’re also distrustful of science.”

Beaty added that “the ‘divide’ between faith and science is much more about culture wars and the politicization of everything in our common life than it is about what people think and believe.”

Underscoring that point, Pew polling also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion/" target="_blank">has found</a>&nbsp;that while 59% of Americans view religion and science as often in conflict, only 30% said science conflicts with their own personal beliefs.

James Dew Jr., president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, acknowledged what he called the “warfare” theory of faith’s relationship to science but offered an alternate view of religion and science as “dialogue partners.”

“We need God’s grace more than ever before,” said Dew, who writes extensively on theology and philosophy. “We also need our medical community to do its best work right now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584278183206.png" alt="Trinity Episcopal in Lawrence, Kansas&nbsp; is among many churches not holding public worship Sunday in light of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Until after March 29, the church will not be hosting any ministry or group functions, according to it's website- Google image" />
 <figcaption>Trinity Episcopal in Lawrence, Kansas&nbsp; is among many churches not holding public worship Sunday in light of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Until after March 29, the church will not be hosting any ministry or group functions, according to it's website- Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has prompted multiple religious faiths to change or cancel services as houses of worship try to help contain the disease. But some church leaders are also tackling another task: communicating a message that elevates both faith and science.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/kpaGEAzRZY">https://t.co/kpaGEAzRZY</a>&mdash; Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1239176998045519873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>That goal is particularly challenging in a time of sharp political polarization, as partisan scuffles over religion’s influence on policymaking can caricature Christians as skeptical of science. For pastors across Christian denominations, however, rising public anxiety over coronavirus only reinforces the importance of believing in God while heeding the advice of public health experts.“Science is a wonderful arena of truth and understanding truth. It is an amazing tool that can help human flourishing. We just believe it can’t address all truth that exists,” said D.J. Jenkins, pastor at Anthology Church in Studio City, Calif.Jenkins, who got his undergraduate degree in biology, acknowledged that “for a lot of folks, it’s probably pretty strange to see” a Christian or other devout person “asking for divine help -- and then also trusting in science and health professionals and doctors. But it’s not strange for me.”While past natural disasters have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/151633f83b7ed2452ca1c8ab7135af8e">found a few</a>&nbsp;high-profile Christians asserting a link to specific divine punishment, the coronavirus outbreak has generated little if any of that religious rhetoric. Instead, churches are rising to the moment with a mixture of spiritual aid and practical counsel that presents its own challenges, beyond the political tensions kicked up by the virus.Scott Sauls, senior pastor at Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Church, said he’s discussing ways to “move toward the pain rather than away from it,” acting on his faith’s edict to love one’s neighbor amid rising anxiety.But that goal is complicated by the social distancing that’s been recommended as a best practice to slow down the disease, Sauls noted, since “Christians’ responsibility is to, No. 1, not send the irresponsible, unloving message” of downplaying the virus’ risk. He said conversations about how best to help have so far focused on assisting the high-risk elderly and health care workers overtaxed by the crisis.National Association of Evangelicals President Walter Kim said his guidance to denominations is prioritizing the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and other experts, because “the sense of reassurance we want to give is coupled with prudence in seeking out the best information.”Citing the high religiosity among early scientific pioneers such as Isaac Newton, Kim said that although friction between faith and science has occurred in the past, “the scientific community and people of faith really should serve as collaborators.”Religious institutions from coast to coast have upended their service schedules to prevent close contact that could spread coronavirus, with Kentucky’s governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf943036e5e71ae85c827a66f4adedf">encouraging&nbsp;</a>churches to cancel their services this week. While not every church in the state plans to fully close, pastors such as Steve Weaver, of Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort, Ky., said they are keenly aware of both scientific and faith considerations.“We want to take seriously the health challenges that experts are describing and their prescriptions to address those challenges,” Weaver said by email. “However, we have to balance that by our responsibility to continue our regular expressions of worshiping and gathering, which I believe is commanded of us as Christians.”In Washington state’s King County, where the outbreak&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e27307edc5b133a67f3ba2036a97dc27">has claimed</a>&nbsp;more than two dozen victims, pastors are already dealing with the spiritual struggles wrought by the pandemic.“There’s a lot of fear right now, so we have an opportunity to be bearers of hope and peace,” said Andrew Fouché, pastor of Sunset Community Church in Renton, Wash. Fouché added that he resists “pat answers” about prayer providing complete protection.Aaron Monts, pastor at United Church Seattle, said he’s seen “a tension of fear and faith” among congregants who are not yet directly affected by the virus but facing growing isolation. Last Sunday, Monts said, his church suggested a way for believers to blend worship with doctors’ advice: reciting a 20-second prayer while washing their hands.“We taught, let’s do something a little more intentional with this space” than the increasingly popular advice to sing 20 seconds of “Happy Birthday,” Monts said.Yet the act of prayer itself often proves fodder for political division over faith and science, and the government’s response to coronavirus is no exception. When Vice President Mike Pence tweeted a photo of a group prayer before a meeting of the Trump administration’s virus response task force that he leads, one commentator’s online pushback met with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkMeadows/status/1234526122014126081?s=20" target="_blank">condemnation from</a>&nbsp;prominent Republicans who accused progressives of maligning religion.In fact, Pence’s photo sparked a complex reaction from Christians who said prayer is valuable but not the sole solution to a crisis, whether personal or pandemic.Chris Green, professor of theology at Southeastern University, said he has seen “magical thinking” about the power of prayer among both conservative and liberal Christians, but “that is a minority, very clearly a quieter voice in the conversation.”“Overwhelmingly, I think the groups I work with would say, pray and work” to solve problems, said Green, who’s also a teaching pastor at Sanctuary Church in Tulsa.Katelyn Beaty, a former veteran editor at Christianity Today, described the Pence photo as a politicized bid to court conservative Christian support. But she separated that critical response from her view of prayer itself -- as not incompatible with respect for scientific fact.A majority of Americans pray at least daily, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/frequency-of-prayer/" target="_blank">2014 poll</a>&nbsp;by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Referring to Muslim and Jewish neighbors who communicate with God, Beaty said that she “would never ... assume that because they pray, they’re also distrustful of science.”Beaty added that “the ‘divide’ between faith and science is much more about culture wars and the politicization of everything in our common life than it is about what people think and believe.”Underscoring that point, Pew polling also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion/" target="_blank">has found</a>&nbsp;that while 59% of Americans view religion and science as often in conflict, only 30% said science conflicts with their own personal beliefs.James Dew Jr., president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, acknowledged what he called the “warfare” theory of faith’s relationship to science but offered an alternate view of religion and science as “dialogue partners.”“We need God’s grace more than ever before,” said Dew, who writes extensively on theology and philosophy. “We also need our medical community to do its best work right now.”___

Pray and wash: Religion joins with science amid virus crisis

BY MATTHEW LONG-MIDDLETON and CELISA CALACAL, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/meet-punch-throwing-attorney-general-who-inspired-kansas-open-its-saloons-1987#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-save-dying-language">Listen to this episode of A People's History Of Kansas City</a>, a new podcast from KCUR 89.3. For more stories like this one, subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-peoples-history-of-kansas-city/id1497165479">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0KfG7qlvetwL9ptu0goIsV?si=SUzUcs1uR2qIfaP8Pqa2Uw">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/I4pgrm5hkl4wcavqbjfgx7a6esy">Google Play</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kcur-2/a-peoples-history-of-kansas-city">Stitcher</a>.

Kansas’s
 36th attorney general was infamous for popping out of trunks, inciting 
gunfights on buses, and going toe-to-toe with other lawmen and 
politicians. It was this unabashed, brash approach to law enforcement 
that earned Vern Miller the nickname "Lawman of the State."

“He 
was just kind of a cowboy who did things his way,” says Jim McLean, 
senior correspondent with KCUR’s Kansas News Service. “The narrative of 
the state of Kansas where you had these marshalls, sheriffs, of these 
Wild West communities, that would take matters in hand and clean up the 
town, right? Well, there's a certain amount of that to Vern Miller.”

But
 Vern Miller was not a Wild West sheriff. Miller wielded much of his 
power between the 1960s and the 70s, a socially and politically 
tumultuous time in Kansas and across the country.

Growing up in a hardscrabble community outside of Wichita, Miller worked at a dairy farm and got into a lot of fights as a kid.

“There was a lot of scrappin’ going on,” says Miller, now 91 and living in Phoenix. “Everybody scrapped at that age.”

After serving in Korea in the 1950s, Miller returned to become a road
 patrolman in the sheriff’s office. And he quickly became known for 
physical altercations.

One legend says that, as a traffic officer
 following a high-speed chase, Miller whipped a man in the face and 
dragged him through the car window.

As another story goes, Miller
 fought his boss — the sheriff — in the sheriff’s own home, ultimately 
costing him his job. In 1964, in a twist of irony, Miller won the race 
for sheriff of Sedgwick County, the state’s most populous county at the 
time.&nbsp;

Not shy about his new role, Miller traversed the county, 
busting folks for any and every possible infraction. He even went so far
 as to tell churches to suspend their cash bingo games.

“A lot of old ladies in town didn’t like that,” Miller remembers. “They like to play bingo.”

With
 a long history as a prohibition state, Kansas still had restrictive 
drinking laws at the time, which prevented the sale of liquor by the 
drink.

“Kansas for so long hadn’t had any laws enforced, along 
those areas,” Miller says. “I wanted them to know what the law was, and 
tell them they need to obey the law. And if they didn’t… then there’d be
 trouble about it.”

Besides bingo and drinking laws, Miller made 
headlines in the summer of 1968 for inciting a deadly gunfight on a bus 
in Wichita in order to nab two men suspected of murder in Missouri. And 
in 1967, he veered dangerously close to starting a mini-civil war in 
Kansas after making disparaging comments about officials in Leavenworth 
County. Miller was subpoenaed by the Leavenworth County prosecutor, who 
threatened to arrest him. In turn, Miller threatened to kill the men who
 came to arrest him. What resulted from that incident was the passing of
 Miller’s Law, which makes it illegal to resist an unlawful arrest.

Despite these controversies, or maybe because of them, Miller became a
 popular force during the social and political upheaval that dominated 
the 1960s, so much so that Democratic Gov. Bob Docking asked him to run 
as attorney general. It was Docking’s hope that Miller would turn out 
Democratic voters in populous Sedgwick County. Miller felt reluctant; a 
Democrat had not held the attorney general position in 80 years, and 
Miller had planned on going into private practice (he earned his law 
degree in Oklahoma by flying back-and-forth in a private plane).

“And I told ‘em, ‘I don’t know nothing about being attorney general,’” Miller recalls.

In 1970, he was elected attorney general of Kansas.

Traditionally,
 the attorney general is primarily concerned with managerial duties: 
ensuring that state laws are enforced through memos and deciding where 
to deploy investigative and prosecutorial resources. John Frieden, who 
was on his staff at the time, says Miller saw the job differently.

“The
 attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer in Kansas,” 
Frieden remembers Miller communicating. “And he was hands on.”

One of Miller’s campaign promises was to “land in the middle of the drug-ridden hippie commune at Lawrence with both feet."

Within
 his first few weeks in office, the newly-minted attorney general 
directed and personally executed raids at the University of Kansas in 
Lawrence.

Susan Hudgens, who now lives outside of Topeka, says 
she witnessed one of those raids when she cruised into Lawrence with her
 friends. They found themselves hanging out near one of the KU dorms 
when cars pulled up and Miller appeared.

“Sure enough, the trunk popped open and out comes this guy in a suit and a hat,” Hudgens says.

That was Miller with his signature move, and Hudgens remembered watching as he and his men converged on the dorm buildings.

“He
 acted more like the FBI guys chasing Bonnie and Clyde than a bureaucrat
 passing papers and writing reports, and that impression stuck,” Hudgens
 says.

Miller was especially keen on enforcing alcohol laws in Kansas. In 
the early 1970s, he made sure Greyhound and Trailways buses traveling 
through Kansas followed the state’s restrictions on selling liquor by 
the drink. And when Miller found out that Amtrak still sold liquor on 
trains passing through the state, Miller had a plan to enforce the law.

Here’s
 how he did it: An Amtrak train made a late-night stop in Newton, 
Kansas, Miller showed up, unannounced, and proceeded to storm the train 
with officers by his side. Together, they confiscated all of the alcohol
 on the train, threw the conductor in jail, and left the passengers 
stranded in Newton all night.

“So the train sat all night there in Newton, Kansas,” Miller says. “A little podunk town.”

The
 incident resulted in a lawsuit that Amtrak took all the way to the 
Supreme Court, which ruled that the Constitution gives states the power 
to regulate alcohol consumption.

Miller says lawyers for airline companies began asking how he would enforce the state’s alcohol laws on airplanes.

“And
 I said, ‘Well, fellas, I believe we’re under the same law and I believe
 you’re subject to it, so if you stop I won’t be raiding the plane,’” 
Miller recalls. “So they said, ‘Oh, it'll stop.’ So they stopped serving
 liquor over Kansas for a couple years.”

Although these actions 
drew ridicule from late-night talk show hosts, Miller’s popularity 
skyrocketed. In 1972, he won every county in Kansas during his 
reelection campaign. Two years later, as Kansas Gov. Bob Docking decided
 to run for U.S. Senate, Democrats looked to Miller to run for Governor.

“There
 was a poll run right before he ran for governor. In that particular 
poll, he had the support of 85% of people of Kansas.” says Democratic 
campaigner John Frieden. “I have never seen a poll that favorable to a 
candidate.”

Regardless of the polls, Miller lost the governor’s 
seat to Republican Robert Bennett by only 3,677 votes. And one place 
that came out against him was Douglas County, home of the “drug-ridden 
hippie commune” of Lawrence.

After leaving public office, Miller 
continued to practice law in Wichita, and eventually retired to Phoenix.
 Miller also received an honor from the Kansas Bar Association.

Meanwhile,
 Kansans voted in a referendum in 1986 to change the state constitution 
to allow liquor sales by the drink, paving the way for bars and 
restaurants to openly serve alcohol in the state.

Looking back at
 Miller’s legacy as a law enforcement officer, his aggression on the job
 would be scrutinized through a new lens: one that, in recent years, has
 become critical of police brutality and violence against civilians. 
That Miller largely sailed through his political career without much 
public criticism is perhaps more a reflection of the times than the man 
himself.

Still, John Frieden says it was Vern Miller’s pugnacious ways that led to his most lasting contribution to the state.

“And
 I think anybody who looks back at those times, the laws that he 
enforced that people were kind of uncomfortable with, they changed the 
laws,” Frieden says. “The laws were changed because of that and we came 
back into the 20th century.”

Celisa Calacal is a freelance contributor at KCUR 89.3. Matthew Long-Middleton is part of the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/term/america-amplified#stream/0">America Amplified</a> team based at KCUR 89.3. Connect with him at <a href="http://twitter.com/mlmindustries">@mlmindustries</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583774132434.png" alt=" kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply " />
 <figcaption> kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply </figcaption>
 </figure>BY MATTHEW LONG-MIDDLETON and CELISA CALACAL, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/meet-punch-throwing-attorney-general-who-inspired-kansas-open-its-saloons-1987#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-save-dying-language">Listen to this episode of A People's History Of Kansas City</a>, a new podcast from KCUR 89.3. For more stories like this one, subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-peoples-history-of-kansas-city/id1497165479">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0KfG7qlvetwL9ptu0goIsV?si=SUzUcs1uR2qIfaP8Pqa2Uw">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/I4pgrm5hkl4wcavqbjfgx7a6esy">Google Play</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kcur-2/a-peoples-history-of-kansas-city">Stitcher</a>.Kansas’s
 36th attorney general was infamous for popping out of trunks, inciting 
gunfights on buses, and going toe-to-toe with other lawmen and 
politicians. It was this unabashed, brash approach to law enforcement 
that earned Vern Miller the nickname "Lawman of the State."“He 
was just kind of a cowboy who did things his way,” says Jim McLean, 
senior correspondent with KCUR’s Kansas News Service. “The narrative of 
the state of Kansas where you had these marshalls, sheriffs, of these 
Wild West communities, that would take matters in hand and clean up the 
town, right? Well, there's a certain amount of that to Vern Miller.”But
 Vern Miller was not a Wild West sheriff. Miller wielded much of his 
power between the 1960s and the 70s, a socially and politically 
tumultuous time in Kansas and across the country.Growing up in a hardscrabble community outside of Wichita, Miller worked at a dairy farm and got into a lot of fights as a kid.“There was a lot of scrappin’ going on,” says Miller, now 91 and living in Phoenix. “Everybody scrapped at that age.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583774171292.png" alt=" Vern Miller served as attorney general of the state of Kansas between 1971 and 1975. Credit kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply" />
 <figcaption> Vern Miller served as attorney general of the state of Kansas between 1971 and 1975. Credit kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply</figcaption>
 </figure>After serving in Korea in the 1950s, Miller returned to become a road
 patrolman in the sheriff’s office. And he quickly became known for 
physical altercations.One legend says that, as a traffic officer
 following a high-speed chase, Miller whipped a man in the face and 
dragged him through the car window.As another story goes, Miller
 fought his boss — the sheriff — in the sheriff’s own home, ultimately 
costing him his job. In 1964, in a twist of irony, Miller won the race 
for sheriff of Sedgwick County, the state’s most populous county at the 
time.&nbsp;Not shy about his new role, Miller traversed the county, 
busting folks for any and every possible infraction. He even went so far
 as to tell churches to suspend their cash bingo games.“A lot of old ladies in town didn’t like that,” Miller remembers. “They like to play bingo.”With
 a long history as a prohibition state, Kansas still had restrictive 
drinking laws at the time, which prevented the sale of liquor by the 
drink.“Kansas for so long hadn’t had any laws enforced, along 
those areas,” Miller says. “I wanted them to know what the law was, and 
tell them they need to obey the law. And if they didn’t… then there’d be
 trouble about it.”Besides bingo and drinking laws, Miller made 
headlines in the summer of 1968 for inciting a deadly gunfight on a bus 
in Wichita in order to nab two men suspected of murder in Missouri. And 
in 1967, he veered dangerously close to starting a mini-civil war in 
Kansas after making disparaging comments about officials in Leavenworth 
County. Miller was subpoenaed by the Leavenworth County prosecutor, who 
threatened to arrest him. In turn, Miller threatened to kill the men who
 came to arrest him. What resulted from that incident was the passing of
 Miller’s Law, which makes it illegal to resist an unlawful arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583774198201.png" alt=" Kansas delegates attended a prohibition meeting in Michigan. Prohibition in Kansas took effect in 1881, which made it illegal to make or sell liquor. Credit Kenneth Spencer Research Library / University of Kansas" />
 <figcaption> Kansas delegates attended a prohibition meeting in Michigan. Prohibition in Kansas took effect in 1881, which made it illegal to make or sell liquor. Credit Kenneth Spencer Research Library / University of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite these controversies, or maybe because of them, Miller became a
 popular force during the social and political upheaval that dominated 
the 1960s, so much so that Democratic Gov. Bob Docking asked him to run 
as attorney general. It was Docking’s hope that Miller would turn out 
Democratic voters in populous Sedgwick County. Miller felt reluctant; a 
Democrat had not held the attorney general position in 80 years, and 
Miller had planned on going into private practice (he earned his law 
degree in Oklahoma by flying back-and-forth in a private plane).“And I told ‘em, ‘I don’t know nothing about being attorney general,’” Miller recalls.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583774226800.png" alt=" Vern Miller was convinced to run for Kansas attorney general in 1970. Credit kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply" />
 <figcaption> Vern Miller was convinced to run for Kansas attorney general in 1970. Credit kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply</figcaption>
 </figure>In 1970, he was elected attorney general of Kansas.Traditionally,
 the attorney general is primarily concerned with managerial duties: 
ensuring that state laws are enforced through memos and deciding where 
to deploy investigative and prosecutorial resources. John Frieden, who 
was on his staff at the time, says Miller saw the job differently.“The
 attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer in Kansas,” 
Frieden remembers Miller communicating. “And he was hands on.”One of Miller’s campaign promises was to “land in the middle of the drug-ridden hippie commune at Lawrence with both feet."Within
 his first few weeks in office, the newly-minted attorney general 
directed and personally executed raids at the University of Kansas in 
Lawrence.Susan Hudgens, who now lives outside of Topeka, says 
she witnessed one of those raids when she cruised into Lawrence with her
 friends. They found themselves hanging out near one of the KU dorms 
when cars pulled up and Miller appeared.“Sure enough, the trunk popped open and out comes this guy in a suit and a hat,” Hudgens says.That was Miller with his signature move, and Hudgens remembered watching as he and his men converged on the dorm buildings.“He
 acted more like the FBI guys chasing Bonnie and Clyde than a bureaucrat
 passing papers and writing reports, and that impression stuck,” Hudgens
 says.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583774259484.png" alt=" Miller takes inventory of confiscated alcohol during his time as Sedgwick County sheriff in 1970. Credit kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply" />
 <figcaption> Miller takes inventory of confiscated alcohol during his time as Sedgwick County sheriff in 1970. Credit kansasmemory.org / Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply</figcaption>
 </figure>Miller was especially keen on enforcing alcohol laws in Kansas. In 
the early 1970s, he made sure Greyhound and Trailways buses traveling 
through Kansas followed the state’s restrictions on selling liquor by 
the drink. And when Miller found out that Amtrak still sold liquor on 
trains passing through the state, Miller had a plan to enforce the law.Here’s
 how he did it: An Amtrak train made a late-night stop in Newton, 
Kansas, Miller showed up, unannounced, and proceeded to storm the train 
with officers by his side. Together, they confiscated all of the alcohol
 on the train, threw the conductor in jail, and left the passengers 
stranded in Newton all night.“So the train sat all night there in Newton, Kansas,” Miller says. “A little podunk town.”The
 incident resulted in a lawsuit that Amtrak took all the way to the 
Supreme Court, which ruled that the Constitution gives states the power 
to regulate alcohol consumption.Miller says lawyers for airline companies began asking how he would enforce the state’s alcohol laws on airplanes.“And
 I said, ‘Well, fellas, I believe we’re under the same law and I believe
 you’re subject to it, so if you stop I won’t be raiding the plane,’” 
Miller recalls. “So they said, ‘Oh, it'll stop.’ So they stopped serving
 liquor over Kansas for a couple years.”Although these actions 
drew ridicule from late-night talk show hosts, Miller’s popularity 
skyrocketed. In 1972, he won every county in Kansas during his 
reelection campaign. Two years later, as Kansas Gov. Bob Docking decided
 to run for U.S. Senate, Democrats looked to Miller to run for Governor.“There
 was a poll run right before he ran for governor. In that particular 
poll, he had the support of 85% of people of Kansas.” says Democratic 
campaigner John Frieden. “I have never seen a poll that favorable to a 
candidate.”Regardless of the polls, Miller lost the governor’s 
seat to Republican Robert Bennett by only 3,677 votes. And one place 
that came out against him was Douglas County, home of the “drug-ridden 
hippie commune” of Lawrence.After leaving public office, Miller 
continued to practice law in Wichita, and eventually retired to Phoenix.
 Miller also received an honor from the Kansas Bar Association.Meanwhile,
 Kansans voted in a referendum in 1986 to change the state constitution 
to allow liquor sales by the drink, paving the way for bars and 
restaurants to openly serve alcohol in the state.Looking back at
 Miller’s legacy as a law enforcement officer, his aggression on the job
 would be scrutinized through a new lens: one that, in recent years, has
 become critical of police brutality and violence against civilians. 
That Miller largely sailed through his political career without much 
public criticism is perhaps more a reflection of the times than the man 
himself.Still, John Frieden says it was Vern Miller’s pugnacious ways that led to his most lasting contribution to the state.“And
 I think anybody who looks back at those times, the laws that he 
enforced that people were kind of uncomfortable with, they changed the 
laws,” Frieden says. “The laws were changed because of that and we came 
back into the 20th century.”Celisa Calacal is a freelance contributor at KCUR 89.3. Matthew Long-Middleton is part of the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/term/america-amplified#stream/0">America Amplified</a> team based at KCUR 89.3. Connect with him at <a href="http://twitter.com/mlmindustries">@mlmindustries</a>.