TOPEKA – The Kelly administration has announced that nominations are being accepted for the prestigious 2020 Governor’s Awards
for Business Excellence, which honor businesses across the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence have been presented to outstanding Kansas businesses since 1995,” Kansas Governor Laura
Kelly said, “It’s my honor to continue the tradition of recognizing the magnificent work Kansas businesses do for our people and our communities.”

In past years, the state has presented the Governor’s Award to one outstanding Kansas business. This year, in addition to Business
of the Year, the state also will present awards for Outstanding New Business, Outstanding Veteran-owned Business and Family Friendly Business. Regional awards also will be presented in the Manufacturing and Distribution, Healthcare and Nonprofit, Business Services
and Retail sectors. 

“Businesses play a critical role in creating and maintaining a healthy Kansas economy,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With
so many terrific businesses in Kansas, I know members of the selection committee will have their work cut out for them in selecting this year’s winners.”

Nominations for the Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence are reviewed and scored by a committee of Kansas businesses and economic
development professionals. 

Businesses may be nominated by an individual or organization, and nominators may submit multiple companies for consideration. Self-nominations
also are accepted. The nomination deadline is April 3, 2020.&nbsp; Additional details on the awards, as well as the nomination form may be found online at <a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascommerce.gov%2Fgovernorsawards&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd59de85ee26042b2b9a008d7c50a26a0%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637194519747226997&amp;sdata=XH5n3%2B99t1mxa%2B2Wdas2PVDAOMgUOjqVutjpCsUVY2M%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kansascommerce.gov/governorsawards</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583862433486.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDCTOPEKA – The Kelly administration has announced that nominations are being accepted for the prestigious 2020 Governor’s Awards
for Business Excellence, which honor businesses across the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence have been presented to outstanding Kansas businesses since 1995,” Kansas Governor Laura
Kelly said, “It’s my honor to continue the tradition of recognizing the magnificent work Kansas businesses do for our people and our communities.”In past years, the state has presented the Governor’s Award to one outstanding Kansas business. This year, in addition to Business
of the Year, the state also will present awards for Outstanding New Business, Outstanding Veteran-owned Business and Family Friendly Business. Regional awards also will be presented in the Manufacturing and Distribution, Healthcare and Nonprofit, Business Services
and Retail sectors. “Businesses play a critical role in creating and maintaining a healthy Kansas economy,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With
so many terrific businesses in Kansas, I know members of the selection committee will have their work cut out for them in selecting this year’s winners.”Nominations for the Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence are reviewed and scored by a committee of Kansas businesses and economic
development professionals. Businesses may be nominated by an individual or organization, and nominators may submit multiple companies for consideration. Self-nominations
also are accepted. The nomination deadline is April 3, 2020.&nbsp; Additional details on the awards, as well as the nomination form may be found online at <a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascommerce.gov%2Fgovernorsawards&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd59de85ee26042b2b9a008d7c50a26a0%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637194519747226997&amp;sdata=XH5n3%2B99t1mxa%2B2Wdas2PVDAOMgUOjqVutjpCsUVY2M%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kansascommerce.gov/governorsawards</a>.

Nominations open for Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence

LONDON (AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook says the tech giant’s retail operation outside of China is going online-only for two weeks as part of efforts to fight the global viral pandemic.

Cook tweeted that “Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until March 27 and committing $15M to help with worldwide recovery."

In a lengthier online statement, Cook said that Apple’s stores in China have all now reopened and what the company has learned there has helped it develop “best practices that are assisting enormously in our global response.”

Apple’s online stores are still open and workers will continue to be paid, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584188194030.png" alt="Apple store in Leawood Kansas -google image" />
 <figcaption>Apple store in Leawood Kansas -google image</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook says the tech giant’s retail operation outside of China is going online-only for two weeks as part of efforts to fight the global viral pandemic.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In our workplaces and communities, we must do all we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until March 27 and committing $15M to help with worldwide recovery. <a href="https://t.co/ArdMA43cFJ">https://t.co/ArdMA43cFJ</a>&mdash; Tim Cook (@tim_cook) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/1238717395058876416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Cook tweeted that “Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until March 27 and committing $15M to help with worldwide recovery."In a lengthier online statement, Cook said that Apple’s stores in China have all now reopened and what the company has learned there has helped it develop “best practices that are assisting enormously in our global response.”Apple’s online stores are still open and workers will continue to be paid, he said.

Apple temporarily closes stores worldwide in response to virus

HARLAN, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa judge has ordered a psychological evaluation of a Kansas man who asked the judge to let him engage in a sword fight with his ex-wife and her attorney so that he can "rend their souls" from their bodies.

David Ostrom, 40, of Paola, Kansas, said in a Jan. 3 court filing that his former wife, Bridgette Ostrom, 38, of Harlan, Iowa, and her attorney, Matthew Hudson, had "destroyed (him) legally." The Ostroms have been embroiled in disputes over custody and visitation issues and property tax payments.

The judge had the power to let the parties "resolve our disputes on the field of battle, legally," David Ostrom said, adding in his filing that trial by combat "has never been explicitly banned or restricted as a right in these United States."

"I think I've met Mr. Hudson's absurdity with my own absurdity," Ostrom said, adding that his former wife could choose her attorney to act as her champion.

Bridgette Ostrom subsequently asked the judge to suspend David Ostrom's visitation rights and order him to undergo an evaluation. Judge Craig Dreismeier granted both of her requests last week.

"This conduct is concerning," Dreismeier said in his ruling. "The content of the messages sent through email by David over the past few months is disturbing. David´s motion for trial by combat is disturbing. His reasons for filing the motion in order to get publicity is disturbing."

David Ostrom told The Des Moines Register that he has an appointment scheduled with a psychologist. Ostrom said he can ask the judge to reverse the decision about contact with the children if the psychologist determines he's not a threat to himself or his children. If he has to undergo treatment, Ostrom said, he must wait until the program is complete to make the same request.

HARLAN, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa judge has ordered a psychological evaluation of a Kansas man who asked the judge to let him engage in a sword fight with his ex-wife and her attorney so that he can "rend their souls" from their bodies.David Ostrom, 40, of Paola, Kansas, said in a Jan. 3 court filing that his former wife, Bridgette Ostrom, 38, of Harlan, Iowa, and her attorney, Matthew Hudson, had "destroyed (him) legally." The Ostroms have been embroiled in disputes over custody and visitation issues and property tax payments.The judge had the power to let the parties "resolve our disputes on the field of battle, legally," David Ostrom said, adding in his filing that trial by combat "has never been explicitly banned or restricted as a right in these United States.""I think I've met Mr. Hudson's absurdity with my own absurdity," Ostrom said, adding that his former wife could choose her attorney to act as her champion.Bridgette Ostrom subsequently asked the judge to suspend David Ostrom's visitation rights and order him to undergo an evaluation. Judge Craig Dreismeier granted both of her requests last week."This conduct is concerning," Dreismeier said in his ruling. "The content of the messages sent through email by David over the past few months is disturbing. David´s motion for trial by combat is disturbing. His reasons for filing the motion in order to get publicity is disturbing."David Ostrom told The Des Moines Register that he has an appointment scheduled with a psychologist. Ostrom said he can ask the judge to reverse the decision about contact with the children if the psychologist determines he's not a threat to himself or his children. If he has to undergo treatment, Ostrom said, he must wait until the program is complete to make the same request.

Psych evaluation ordered for Kan. man who sought trial by combat

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Secretary of Corrections announced Friday that visitation will be suspended at all Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facilities, effective immediately, as a measure of precaution to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to our residents and staff.

We will reevaluate on an on-going basis and will communicate any changes as soon as possible.

Families are encouraged to utilize e-mail, phone and video visits to stay in touch with their loved ones.

For more information and resources related to COVID-19, including symptoms and tips for prevention, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7c7f0e3d945f4c72010d08d7c78d604a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637197282908733988&amp;sdata=kyCYKEZLPalwydp3DMLuB9R22dKND5rFqCDFB10pUEI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Secretary of Corrections announced Friday that visitation will be suspended at all Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facilities, effective immediately, as a measure of precaution to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to our residents and staff.We will reevaluate on an on-going basis and will communicate any changes as soon as possible.Families are encouraged to utilize e-mail, phone and video visits to stay in touch with their loved ones.For more information and resources related to COVID-19, including symptoms and tips for prevention, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7c7f0e3d945f4c72010d08d7c78d604a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637197282908733988&amp;sdata=kyCYKEZLPalwydp3DMLuB9R22dKND5rFqCDFB10pUEI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

KDOC: Visitation cancelled at all corrections facilities due to coronavirus

By FRANK MORRIS <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-towns-are-insulated-coronavirus-now-they-may-take-harder-hit-later#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

Remote rural towns are a good place to be early in a pandemic, 
according to epidemiologists, but that flips as the people in those 
towns begin to get sick.

Fredonia, Kansas, and other rural towns 
tend to be more spread out, lowering the chances that people are in 
close enough contact to catch the novel coronavirus.

“I always 
say it’s a hundred miles from anywhere,” quips Cassie Edson, with the 
Wilson County Health Department. “It’s a hundred miles from Wichita, a 
hundred miles to Joplin, a hundred miles to Tulsa.”

By 
definition, rural areas are removed from major seaports, airports and 
often even big highways, so it generally takes longer for new viruses to
 show up, but when they do, that distance can make treatment 
challenging.

Fredonia had an estimated population of 2,264 in 2018.

Destany
 Wheeler, director of the Wilson County health department, says all the 
miles of farm fields between Fredonia and the next big town are a plus 
right now.

“It gives us a little bit more time to prepare and to educate people on, especially, social distancing,” Wheeler says.

That
 is the practice of avoiding large crowds and close contact with others,
 which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing can be easier in small towns without mass transit, long lines or dense crowds.

“I
 think it’s accurate that where you have more individuals you increase 
the likelihood of transmission of infections,” says Allison Aiello, a 
professor of social epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.

That said, no one believes rural communities will be permanently shielded from the spread of the coronavirus.

“I
 think it’s just a matter of time,” says Andy Pekosz, a professor of 
molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School 
of Public Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most remote rural towns don’t get many 
outside visitors, but the people who live there often drive to larger 
cities for everything from work to medical treatment to a night on the 
town.

Pekosz says that unless containment efforts succeed beyond 
his expectations, it will be increasingly likely that rural residents 
will be exposed to the coronavirus on those trips.

“As case 
numbers increase, then, there's more of a likelihood of people moving 
from those urban areas to all sorts of other parts of the country,” says
 Pekosz. “And so, therefore, the rest (of the country) is really going 
to increase exponentially.”

Alex
 Navarro, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, says 
Spanish Flu swept the entire country in 1918. There were a few notable 
exceptions, including Gunnison, Colorado.

“You have the story of a
 town that literally barricaded the roads and forced everyone who did 
come into town into quarantine,” says Navarro.

In fact, all of 
Gunnison County sealed itself off from the outside world for four 
months. It worked. At the height of the pandemic, the county recorded 
just two cases of the Spanish Flu, both in isolation.

Navarro says people keep asking him if a remote, little town could pull off the same trick today.

“It's
 a very highly qualified maybe. I mean, I think there's probably no 
doubt that it can work if it's done properly,” says Navarro. “You have 
to do it really early. You have to do it as strictly as possible, and it
 has to last long enough for community transmission outside of that area
 to end.”

It turned out that even the four-month shutdown in 
Gunnison wasn’t long enough. More than 100 people got sick, and several 
died when the city finally lifted its barricades.&nbsp;

In
 Fredonia, Kansas, Wheeler has planned for coronavirus by stockpiling 
masks and other supplies, but she fears that a local outbreak could be 
devastating.

Wilson County, like most rural communities, skews 
older than the national average. Additionally, Wheeler says residents 
are more likely to be smokers or have chronic health issues, increasing 
the likelihood of life-threatening cases of COVID-19.

Fredonia is fortunate to have a hospital in town, but it’s small with only 25 beds and one ventilator.

Edson says a serious outbreak could quickly overwhelm the local health system.

“If
 enough people need more hospitalization, well, they'll have to go 
elsewhere, and that’s a fact. It'll be challenging to everybody,” says 
Edson.

Frank Morris is a national correspondent and senior editor at KCUR&nbsp;89.3. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/franknewsman">@FrankNewsman</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584118532944.png" alt=" Destany Wheeler, the director of the health department in Wilson County, Kansas, waves at a pedestrian. Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Destany Wheeler, the director of the health department in Wilson County, Kansas, waves at a pedestrian. Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By FRANK MORRIS <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-towns-are-insulated-coronavirus-now-they-may-take-harder-hit-later#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>Remote rural towns are a good place to be early in a pandemic, 
according to epidemiologists, but that flips as the people in those 
towns begin to get sick.Fredonia, Kansas, and other rural towns 
tend to be more spread out, lowering the chances that people are in 
close enough contact to catch the novel coronavirus.“I always 
say it’s a hundred miles from anywhere,” quips Cassie Edson, with the 
Wilson County Health Department. “It’s a hundred miles from Wichita, a 
hundred miles to Joplin, a hundred miles to Tulsa.”By 
definition, rural areas are removed from major seaports, airports and 
often even big highways, so it generally takes longer for new viruses to
 show up, but when they do, that distance can make treatment 
challenging.<h2>Already isolated</h2>Fredonia had an estimated population of 2,264 in 2018.Destany
 Wheeler, director of the Wilson County health department, says all the 
miles of farm fields between Fredonia and the next big town are a plus 
right now.“It gives us a little bit more time to prepare and to educate people on, especially, social distancing,” Wheeler says.That
 is the practice of avoiding large crowds and close contact with others,
 which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
to slow the spread of COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584118576638.png" alt=" Destany Wheeler stocks face masks and other supplies likely to be needed in a pandemic. Credit Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Destany Wheeler stocks face masks and other supplies likely to be needed in a pandemic. Credit Frank Morris / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>Social distancing can be easier in small towns without mass transit, long lines or dense crowds.“I
 think it’s accurate that where you have more individuals you increase 
the likelihood of transmission of infections,” says Allison Aiello, a 
professor of social epidemiology at the University of North Carolina.That said, no one believes rural communities will be permanently shielded from the spread of the coronavirus.“I
 think it’s just a matter of time,” says Andy Pekosz, a professor of 
molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School 
of Public Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most remote rural towns don’t get many 
outside visitors, but the people who live there often drive to larger 
cities for everything from work to medical treatment to a night on the 
town.Pekosz says that unless containment efforts succeed beyond 
his expectations, it will be increasingly likely that rural residents 
will be exposed to the coronavirus on those trips.“As case 
numbers increase, then, there's more of a likelihood of people moving 
from those urban areas to all sorts of other parts of the country,” says
 Pekosz. “And so, therefore, the rest (of the country) is really going 
to increase exponentially.”<h2>The town that blocked the Spanish Flu</h2>Alex
 Navarro, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, says 
Spanish Flu swept the entire country in 1918. There were a few notable 
exceptions, including Gunnison, Colorado.“You have the story of a
 town that literally barricaded the roads and forced everyone who did 
come into town into quarantine,” says Navarro.In fact, all of 
Gunnison County sealed itself off from the outside world for four 
months. It worked. At the height of the pandemic, the county recorded 
just two cases of the Spanish Flu, both in isolation.Navarro says people keep asking him if a remote, little town could pull off the same trick today.“It's
 a very highly qualified maybe. I mean, I think there's probably no 
doubt that it can work if it's done properly,” says Navarro. “You have 
to do it really early. You have to do it as strictly as possible, and it
 has to last long enough for community transmission outside of that area
 to end.”It turned out that even the four-month shutdown in 
Gunnison wasn’t long enough. More than 100 people got sick, and several 
died when the city finally lifted its barricades.&nbsp;<h2>A challenge for the local health system</h2>In
 Fredonia, Kansas, Wheeler has planned for coronavirus by stockpiling 
masks and other supplies, but she fears that a local outbreak could be 
devastating.Wilson County, like most rural communities, skews 
older than the national average. Additionally, Wheeler says residents 
are more likely to be smokers or have chronic health issues, increasing 
the likelihood of life-threatening cases of COVID-19.Fredonia is fortunate to have a hospital in town, but it’s small with only 25 beds and one ventilator.Edson says a serious outbreak could quickly overwhelm the local health system.“If
 enough people need more hospitalization, well, they'll have to go 
elsewhere, and that’s a fact. It'll be challenging to everybody,” says 
Edson.Frank Morris is a national correspondent and senior editor at KCUR&nbsp;89.3. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/franknewsman">@FrankNewsman</a>.

Kan. towns insulated from coronavirus now — but may take harder hit later 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday began&nbsp; sending out its COVID-19 Update to our media partners.

This document lists the numbers of positive and negative cases as of the specified time and is distributed Monday - Friday.


This is also posted on our KDHE website, <a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6f421bce23f44ba8dbdd08d7c784170e%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637197242438830070&amp;sdata=Jo%2FR%2BNHRHmj8BShbRO77q5RwujITIjQtKGk2u%2F%2FThRw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday began&nbsp; sending out its COVID-19 Update to our media partners.This document lists the numbers of positive and negative cases as of the specified time and is distributed Monday - Friday.
This is also posted on our KDHE website, <a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6f421bce23f44ba8dbdd08d7c784170e%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637197242438830070&amp;sdata=Jo%2FR%2BNHRHmj8BShbRO77q5RwujITIjQtKGk2u%2F%2FThRw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584136105765.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEWS RELEASE

KDHE begins issuing regular COVID-19 public updates

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas City police officer has shot and wounded a man whom the officer believed was armed.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina in an email that the shooting happened late Thursday after an officer attempted to stop a driver for a traffic violation. The driver didn't immediately pull over, and when he did come to a stop in an alley, he ran from the vehicle with the officer in pursuit.

Becchina said that the man turned toward the officer during the pursuit and raised his arms “as though he had a weapon." The officer then told the man to get on the ground. Becchina said the officer fired when the man didn't follow the commands.

The man was rushed to a hospital with injuries that police described as life-threatening.

Police said the wounded man is black. Police didn't immediately release his name or the race of the officer who fired.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas City police officer has shot and wounded a man whom the officer believed was armed.Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina in an email that the shooting happened late Thursday after an officer attempted to stop a driver for a traffic violation. The driver didn't immediately pull over, and when he did come to a stop in an alley, he ran from the vehicle with the officer in pursuit.Becchina said that the man turned toward the officer during the pursuit and raised his arms “as though he had a weapon." The officer then told the man to get on the ground. Becchina said the officer fired when the man didn't follow the commands.The man was rushed to a hospital with injuries that police described as life-threatening.Police said the wounded man is black. Police didn't immediately release his name or the race of the officer who fired.

KC police shoot, wound man whom officer believed was armed

WICHITA —Sedgwick County officials announced recommendations related to public gatherings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference Friday morning in Wichita.

"Until further notice, there is a ban on public gatherings of more than 250 attendees in Sedgwick County," said Local Health Officer Garold Minns, M.D.&nbsp;

"Under state statute, the local health officer has the authority to cancel public events when there is a broad public health concern."

Watch the news <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI4EhXdTqz8">conference here.</a>

"As we continue to learn more about Coronavirus, we will revisit these recommendations and adjust as necessary."

For more information on the virus go to the<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/COVID-19_One_Pager.pdf"> KDHE web site.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584117475311.png" alt="County Commissioner Pete Meitzner, Local Health Officer Garold Minns, MD.&nbsp; who is also the Dean of the KU School of Medicine in Wichita and Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne during Friday's news conference-photo courtesy Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>County Commissioner Pete Meitzner, Local Health Officer Garold Minns, MD.&nbsp; who is also the Dean of the KU School of Medicine in Wichita and Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne during Friday's news conference-photo courtesy Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Sedgwick County officials announced recommendations related to public gatherings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference Friday morning in Wichita."Until further notice, there is a ban on public gatherings of more than 250 attendees in Sedgwick County," said Local Health Officer Garold Minns, M.D.&nbsp;"Under state statute, the local health officer has the authority to cancel public events when there is a broad public health concern."Watch the news <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI4EhXdTqz8">conference here.</a>"As we continue to learn more about Coronavirus, we will revisit these recommendations and adjust as necessary."For more information on the virus go to the<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/download/COVID-19_One_Pager.pdf"> KDHE web site.</a>

Coronavirus: Sedgwick County bans public gatherings over 250 people

SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police Department has released the name of the man who died after a barricaded incident at 133 South Chicago on Wednesday.

Kenney Lambert, Jr., 50, was found dead in the residence, according to Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus. An autopsy is being conducted as part of the investigation.

&nbsp;Additional charges including possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a stimulant and felony obstruction have been requested against a woman identified as 36-year-old Danielle Reed who was in the residence with Lambert for much of the incident. Felony obstruction

Police took Reed into custody once she exited the residence for an outstanding District Court felony warrant for a probation violation.

Just after 9 a.m. Wednesday, police observed a subject later identified as Lambert)riding a bicycle on West Walnut Street near South Chicago Street in Salina, according to police. The officer knew Lambert had an active Saline County District Court felony burglary warrant and attempted to make contact with him.

Lambert "attempted to evade the officer while still on his bicycle. The officer was able to determine that Lambert had run into a residence.

 While officers were outside waiting for backup, several individuals exited the home and stated there was a man inside who had a gun in his mouth. An individual who exited the home advised that he knew the subject who had burst into his home, and he also confirmed that the subject was in possession of a handgun."

Officers on the scene also were advised that a woman (Reed) was inside. At that point the officers on scene were treating the incident as a hostage situation as they did not know whether Reed was being held against her will.

The two persons remaining in the residence were ordered to exit the residence, but did not respond.

At 10:06 a.m., the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called out to attempt to resolve this incident involving a barricaded and armed suspect with a possible hostage, the SPD release stated. During a meeting with media Thursday, Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson said that the initial duty in such a situation is to isolate the suspect and protect those in the immediate area.

SWAT Team members train a minimum of 16 hours per month on various scenarios, including barricaded subject and hostage situations, he said.

After continuous efforts were made to communicate with the occupants via a PA system from a patrol vehicle, a SWAT officer delivered a phone to the porch of the residence at 11:30 a.m. in an attempt to initiate communication.

"More than one hour of on-and-off communications occurred between the Reed and the negotiators and it became clear she was not being held against her will, according to police.

During this time, Reed told police that "the man, who she identified by name, was suicidal and had a handgun. She also said several times that he intended to burn the house down if law enforcement personnel tried to make entry," the release stated.

Hanus said Friday that at no time during the incident did police negotiators speak with Lambert directly.

At 12:44 p.m., Reed agreed to exit the residence, and she confirmed that Lambert was the only person left inside and that he had a handgun, according to the SPD release.

At 12:57 p.m., SWAT officers injected four rounds of CS cold gas into the back of the residence in an effort to get Lambert to exit the residence, according to the release.

"This gas is delivered in a micro-powder form which is not considered flammable as it does not create heat," the release noted.

Approximately two minutes later, Lambert was observed in the front portion of the residence and within minutes, it was clear there was a fire in that same area, the release stated. Shortly after, officers reported hearing several gun shots from inside the rear of the home, Hanus said today.

The Salina Fire Department arrived on the scene at 1:04 p.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, according to the release. Lambert was found dead in the rear portion of the home, SPD information noted.

Hanus said this morning that at no time did officers fire shots during the incident. Additionally, no officers entered the residence prior to the fire and the gunshots being heard, he said.

The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire, according to Hanus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584020868964.jpeg" alt="Danielle Reed photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Danielle Reed photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police Department has released the name of the man who died after a barricaded incident at 133 South Chicago on Wednesday.Kenney Lambert, Jr., 50, was found dead in the residence, according to Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus. An autopsy is being conducted as part of the investigation.&nbsp;Additional charges including possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a stimulant and felony obstruction have been requested against a woman identified as 36-year-old Danielle Reed who was in the residence with Lambert for much of the incident. Felony obstructionPolice took Reed into custody once she exited the residence for an outstanding District Court felony warrant for a probation violation.Just after 9 a.m. Wednesday, police observed a subject later identified as Lambert)riding a bicycle on West Walnut Street near South Chicago Street in Salina, according to police. The officer knew Lambert had an active Saline County District Court felony burglary warrant and attempted to make contact with him.Lambert "attempted to evade the officer while still on his bicycle. The officer was able to determine that Lambert had run into a residence. While officers were outside waiting for backup, several individuals exited the home and stated there was a man inside who had a gun in his mouth. An individual who exited the home advised that he knew the subject who had burst into his home, and he also confirmed that the subject was in possession of a handgun."Officers on the scene also were advised that a woman (Reed) was inside. At that point the officers on scene were treating the incident as a hostage situation as they did not know whether Reed was being held against her will.The two persons remaining in the residence were ordered to exit the residence, but did not respond.At 10:06 a.m., the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called out to attempt to resolve this incident involving a barricaded and armed suspect with a possible hostage, the SPD release stated. During a meeting with media Thursday, Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson said that the initial duty in such a situation is to isolate the suspect and protect those in the immediate area.SWAT Team members train a minimum of 16 hours per month on various scenarios, including barricaded subject and hostage situations, he said.After continuous efforts were made to communicate with the occupants via a PA system from a patrol vehicle, a SWAT officer delivered a phone to the porch of the residence at 11:30 a.m. in an attempt to initiate communication."More than one hour of on-and-off communications occurred between the Reed and the negotiators and it became clear she was not being held against her will, according to police.During this time, Reed told police that "the man, who she identified by name, was suicidal and had a handgun. She also said several times that he intended to burn the house down if law enforcement personnel tried to make entry," the release stated.Hanus said Friday that at no time during the incident did police negotiators speak with Lambert directly.At 12:44 p.m., Reed agreed to exit the residence, and she confirmed that Lambert was the only person left inside and that he had a handgun, according to the SPD release.At 12:57 p.m., SWAT officers injected four rounds of CS cold gas into the back of the residence in an effort to get Lambert to exit the residence, according to the release."This gas is delivered in a micro-powder form which is not considered flammable as it does not create heat," the release noted.Approximately two minutes later, Lambert was observed in the front portion of the residence and within minutes, it was clear there was a fire in that same area, the release stated. Shortly after, officers reported hearing several gun shots from inside the rear of the home, Hanus said today.The Salina Fire Department arrived on the scene at 1:04 p.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, according to the release. Lambert was found dead in the rear portion of the home, SPD information noted.Hanus said this morning that at no time did officers fire shots during the incident. Additionally, no officers entered the residence prior to the fire and the gunshots being heard, he said.The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire, according to Hanus.

Police ID man who died in Salina standoff, house fire

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is announcing a sixth case of COVID-19 in Kansas. 

According to a media release, the presumptive positive case was identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.

The case is in a Butler County man in his 70s who had travel outside the U.S. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patient is in isolation. No other information will be provided about the patient.

“Kansans should remain vigilant,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary said. “It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”

People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/">website.</a>

If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584111668151.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is announcing a sixth case of COVID-19 in Kansas. According to a media release, the presumptive positive case was identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.The case is in a Butler County man in his 70s who had travel outside the U.S. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patient is in isolation. No other information will be provided about the patient.“Kansans should remain vigilant,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary said. “It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/">website.</a>If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Kansas finds 1st coronavirus case outside Kansas City metro

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating after a man was found dead from a gunshot wound near an SUV parked along the side of an interstate Friday morning.

Kansas City Police spokesman Jacob Becchina said officers responded shortly before 4 a.m. to a report of a shooting and found a white SUV on the side of the northbound lanes of Interstate 49 in south Kansas City. 

An adult male was outside the vehicle and had been shot. At least two other people were inside the SUV and police are talking with them to learn what led to the shooting.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating after a man was found dead from a gunshot wound near an SUV parked along the side of an interstate Friday morning.Kansas City Police spokesman Jacob Becchina said officers responded shortly before 4 a.m. to a report of a shooting and found a white SUV on the side of the northbound lanes of Interstate 49 in south Kansas City. An adult male was outside the vehicle and had been shot. At least two other people were inside the SUV and police are talking with them to learn what led to the shooting.

Man found shot to death outside SUV on Kansas City highway

COVID-19 has lessons for Kansas in handling crises. Citizens and policymakers should use this moment to reflect on how we can protect public health now, and prepare for the next crisis to threaten Kansas.

First, let’s talk social trust. In surveys, Americans report little trust in government. Where diseases are concerned, Hollywood has given us the disaster movie narrative wherein the government bungles containment, leading to tyrannical doomsday measures. It’s little wonder that social media is full of conspiracies implicating government and corporations for “causing” the COVID-19 crisis.

Further, trust on coronavirus is increasingly partisan. In recent national polling, over 60 percent of Republicans—but just 30 percent of Democrats—call the COVID-19 threat “exaggerated.” Republicans trust President Trump to handle coronavirus; Democrats don’t. Republicans express significant skepticism about the honesty of public health experts on coronavirus; Democrats don’t.

Trump aside, state and local governments are as important in responding to COVID-19 as federal authorities. They are closer to outbreaks, and often lead efforts to prevent and contain them. These are your friends and neighbors protecting your communities.

America’s governors have been the stars of the coronavirus response. In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly and Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE, have transparently updated the public and outlined state capabilities. Heck, even Susan Wagle, the Republican state senate president, praised the Governor’s administration on this.

KDHE has resources to stay informed about COVID-19 in Kansas. Follow them on Twitter @KDHE. &nbsp;Visit them online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>, or call their hotline at (866) 534-3463.&nbsp;

No, government alone cannot stop COVID-19. Individuals must practice personal responsibility in following recommended health practices. State and local governments are providing leadership, and citizens should trust and work with them to preserve public health.

Second, as the Wichita Eagle recently reported, Kansas has chronically underfunded public health. For example, funding for the State Formula Grant, which gives local health departments discretionary money to use on things like COVID-19 response, has not increased in nearly three decades.&nbsp;

Consequently, local health authorities in Kansas might not have access to immediate and adequate funding to respond to coronavirus diagnoses. Sixty-eight Kansas counties qualify for just $7,000 from this grant. And many counties could face complications in rearranging how other dollars are used because of spending restrictions.

It’s easy to condemn past underfunding of public health, and Kansas has many financial needs as it recovers from Sam Brownback. But, will this experience teach us to better prepare for the next pandemic?&nbsp;

Third, fears of a coronavirus-driven recession are mounting. &nbsp;Luckily, the state has substantial financial reserves after ending the Brownback tax experiment, and Governor Kelly has emphasized growing that cushion.&nbsp;

The pro: Kansas is better prepared financially for any recession than it would have been under Brownback’s tax experiment. The con: the size of that cushion is already expected to fall, and it could disappear if a recession craters state revenue. The longterm lesson for policymakers is to continue budget practices that provide Kansas a solid financial cushion.

Crises like this are a critical moment for self-assessment. If citizens can trade cynicism for trust, we can get through this better. And if policymakers can internalize lessons that are already obvious, then we can better prepare for the next public health crisis.

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>COVID-19 has lessons for Kansas in handling crises. Citizens and policymakers should use this moment to reflect on how we can protect public health now, and prepare for the next crisis to threaten Kansas.First, let’s talk social trust. In surveys, Americans report little trust in government. Where diseases are concerned, Hollywood has given us the disaster movie narrative wherein the government bungles containment, leading to tyrannical doomsday measures. It’s little wonder that social media is full of conspiracies implicating government and corporations for “causing” the COVID-19 crisis.Further, trust on coronavirus is increasingly partisan. In recent national polling, over 60 percent of Republicans—but just 30 percent of Democrats—call the COVID-19 threat “exaggerated.” Republicans trust President Trump to handle coronavirus; Democrats don’t. Republicans express significant skepticism about the honesty of public health experts on coronavirus; Democrats don’t.Even coronavirus is partisan.Trump aside, state and local governments are as important in responding to COVID-19 as federal authorities. They are closer to outbreaks, and often lead efforts to prevent and contain them. These are your friends and neighbors protecting your communities.America’s governors have been the stars of the coronavirus response. In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly and Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE, have transparently updated the public and outlined state capabilities. Heck, even Susan Wagle, the Republican state senate president, praised the Governor’s administration on this.KDHE has resources to stay informed about COVID-19 in Kansas. Follow them on Twitter @KDHE. &nbsp;Visit them online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>, or call their hotline at (866) 534-3463.&nbsp;No, government alone cannot stop COVID-19. Individuals must practice personal responsibility in following recommended health practices. State and local governments are providing leadership, and citizens should trust and work with them to preserve public health.Second, as the Wichita Eagle recently reported, Kansas has chronically underfunded public health. For example, funding for the State Formula Grant, which gives local health departments discretionary money to use on things like COVID-19 response, has not increased in nearly three decades.&nbsp;Consequently, local health authorities in Kansas might not have access to immediate and adequate funding to respond to coronavirus diagnoses. Sixty-eight Kansas counties qualify for just $7,000 from this grant. And many counties could face complications in rearranging how other dollars are used because of spending restrictions.It’s easy to condemn past underfunding of public health, and Kansas has many financial needs as it recovers from Sam Brownback. But, will this experience teach us to better prepare for the next pandemic?&nbsp;Third, fears of a coronavirus-driven recession are mounting. &nbsp;Luckily, the state has substantial financial reserves after ending the Brownback tax experiment, and Governor Kelly has emphasized growing that cushion.&nbsp;The pro: Kansas is better prepared financially for any recession than it would have been under Brownback’s tax experiment. The con: the size of that cushion is already expected to fall, and it could disappear if a recession craters state revenue. The longterm lesson for policymakers is to continue budget practices that provide Kansas a solid financial cushion.Crises like this are a critical moment for self-assessment. If citizens can trade cynicism for trust, we can get through this better. And if policymakers can internalize lessons that are already obvious, then we can better prepare for the next public health crisis.Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Virus already has lessons for Kansans, policymakers

During a Thursday evening news conference, Governor Laura Kelly reported that Kansas has the first death due to coronavirus.

The victim was a man in his 70s from Wyandotte County.

Governor Laura Kelly has also issued an emergency declaration for the State of Kansas in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).&nbsp; The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

"The safety and well-being of Kansans is our priority, first and foremost," Kelly said. "The landscape of COVID-19 is fast-changing. Today is evidence of that."

Tonight, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the first COVID-19 related death in Kansas. A man in his 70s was brought to the hospital and died shortly after arrival. Testing done post-mortem came back positive for COVID-19. He was living in a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County.

"We are working on identifying contacts right now," Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. "We understand the concern and encourage Kansans to remain vigilant."

"To prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population, it's important to follow the recommended guidelines of screening and restricting visitors to our long-term care facilities," Department for Children and Families and Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard said.&nbsp;

The Governor issued the emergency declaration Thursday afternoon. &nbsp;

"Our state is well prepared," Kelly said. "With this emergency declaration we can activate our response and coordinate fully. This is part of the process and will make access to important resources more accessible. We continue to work closely with our local, state and federal partners to respond to the potential spread of the virus - or any situation that may arise."

COVID-19 can be found at the following sources:

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE's website and Frequently Asked Questions at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=3u0ejmwwe6q32%2FMk1f1hi2CpVhRMT1RCrMQUZEQ5VOk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=ykRqpB1cCOCWVqlTcEU4NWYLXl6%2BwvCuIZJi0VAHgro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus</a>.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say they have identified three new cases of the coronavirus, making four cases in the state. Mary Beverly, the interim director of the Johnson County Health Department, says the cases are three men between the ages of 35 and 65 who all attended a conference in Florida. 

Beverly says the men did not have symptoms until after they returned from the conference and they are not seriously ill. The announcement comes after the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Emporia State University joined colleges across the country in shifting classes online to mitigate the spread of the virus.&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is confirming three presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible cases were identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.

The cases are in Johnson County and involve three people who attended the same conference in Florida. It is believed they contracted COVID-19 in Florida.&nbsp; They were not symptomatic when traveling home and sought care once they began feeling ill. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patients are all males and in isolation. These cases are not connected to the earlier case in Johnson County. No other information will be provided about the patients.

“Right now, there is no community spread,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The cases in Kansas are here because of transmission elsewhere. However, Kansans should remain vigilant. It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”

“Kansas is working alongside local and federal public health partners in addressing presumptive positive cases in our state, and the potential spread of the virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is our highest priority to keep all Kansans healthy and safe. Everyone should continue to practice safe habits such as hand washing and staying home when sick. The KDHE website, www.<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkdheks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477178260&amp;sdata=3ZsIvAC9n9u%2FdowCO%2FQmie2VBJ0U6uMWZFKkqkDiw2k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">kdheks.gov</a>, has daily updates and other resources to keep Kansans educated on COVID-19."

People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s website,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477188217&amp;sdata=V5ag3QGvNXe5jpJ2ghFTJeaOx%2BYIdAqqRd%2Bi4jpiSrY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

During a Thursday evening news conference, Governor Laura Kelly reported that Kansas has the first death due to coronavirus.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F529643674624712%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The victim was a man in his 70s from Wyandotte County.Governor Laura Kelly has also issued an emergency declaration for the State of Kansas in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).&nbsp; The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria."The safety and well-being of Kansans is our priority, first and foremost," Kelly said. "The landscape of COVID-19 is fast-changing. Today is evidence of that."Tonight, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the first COVID-19 related death in Kansas. A man in his 70s was brought to the hospital and died shortly after arrival. Testing done post-mortem came back positive for COVID-19. He was living in a long-term care facility in Wyandotte County."We are working on identifying contacts right now," Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. "We understand the concern and encourage Kansans to remain vigilant.""To prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population, it's important to follow the recommended guidelines of screening and restricting visitors to our long-term care facilities," Department for Children and Families and Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard said.&nbsp;The Governor issued the emergency declaration Thursday afternoon. &nbsp;"Our state is well prepared," Kelly said. "With this emergency declaration we can activate our response and coordinate fully. This is part of the process and will make access to important resources more accessible. We continue to work closely with our local, state and federal partners to respond to the potential spread of the virus - or any situation that may arise."COVID-19 can be found at the following sources:<ol>
 <li><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2Findex.htm&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891596507&amp;sdata=80eCy5q8uxHf%2Fjc3lC8iNJEoqGtWCDaC0N%2F8PpldB08%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health and Environment</a></li><li><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Findex.html&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891606463&amp;sdata=2bh6QxhCkh9jOxgHw8bJiF9cFqHiYVnnY1M7abCB8IA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Center for Disease Control and Prevention</a></li><li><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891606463&amp;sdata=IVwTAAwt0Clz6a9wJiKtyC0GDBlS0LTIHY0tNBYlrTY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a></li>
 </ol>If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE's website and Frequently Asked Questions at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=3u0ejmwwe6q32%2FMk1f1hi2CpVhRMT1RCrMQUZEQ5VOk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbd113646320f48a2a58208d7c6e65640%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196564891616409&amp;sdata=ykRqpB1cCOCWVqlTcEU4NWYLXl6%2BwvCuIZJi0VAHgro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/coronavirus</a>.------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say they have identified three new cases of the coronavirus, making four cases in the state. Mary Beverly, the interim director of the Johnson County Health Department, says the cases are three men between the ages of 35 and 65 who all attended a conference in Florida. Beverly says the men did not have symptoms until after they returned from the conference and they are not seriously ill. The announcement comes after the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Emporia State University joined colleges across the country in shifting classes online to mitigate the spread of the virus.&nbsp;-------------The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is confirming three presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible cases were identified with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as a positive unless determined otherwise.The cases are in Johnson County and involve three people who attended the same conference in Florida. It is believed they contracted COVID-19 in Florida.&nbsp; They were not symptomatic when traveling home and sought care once they began feeling ill. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patients are all males and in isolation. These cases are not connected to the earlier case in Johnson County. No other information will be provided about the patients.“Right now, there is no community spread,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The cases in Kansas are here because of transmission elsewhere. However, Kansans should remain vigilant. It’s important to live your lives, but it’s also important to take basic precautions like exercising good hygiene practices. It is up to each of us to do our part.”“Kansas is working alongside local and federal public health partners in addressing presumptive positive cases in our state, and the potential spread of the virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is our highest priority to keep all Kansans healthy and safe. Everyone should continue to practice safe habits such as hand washing and staying home when sick. The KDHE website, www.<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkdheks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477178260&amp;sdata=3ZsIvAC9n9u%2FdowCO%2FQmie2VBJ0U6uMWZFKkqkDiw2k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">kdheks.gov</a>, has daily updates and other resources to keep Kansans educated on COVID-19."People should exercise vigilance when attending large public gatherings, particularly those people over age 60 and those with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions. There are mass events guidance documents from the Centers from Disease Control available on KDHE’s website,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C4603af32acc04fd7b8d908d7c6a41d4d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637196280477188217&amp;sdata=V5ag3QGvNXe5jpJ2ghFTJeaOx%2BYIdAqqRd%2Bi4jpiSrY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.If you have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and believe you may have had contact or have had contact with someone with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider.You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

🎥 Kan. reports 1st coronavirus death; governor declares emergency

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq, targeting the Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad, the Pentagon said.

U.S. officials said multiple strikes by U.S. fighter jets on Thursday hit five locations and mainly targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq. A Defense Department statement said the strikes targeted five weapons storage facilities “to significantly degrade their ability to conduct future attacks.”

The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq. They came just hours after top U.S. defense leaders threatened retaliation for the Wednesday rocket attack, making clear that they knew who did it and that the attackers would be held accountable.

“The United States will not tolerate attacks against our people, our interests, or our allies,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said. “As we have demonstrated in recent months, we will take any action necessary to protect our forces in Iraq and the region.”

The Pentagon statement said the facilities hit in the precision strikes were used to store weapons used to target the U.S. and coalition forces. It called the counterattack “defensive, proportional and in direct response to the threat” posed by the Iranian-backed Shiite militia groups.

U.S. officials said the locations of the strikes were largely around the Baghdad region. One U.S. official said there were two strikes at Jurf al-Sakher, one in Karbala, one at Al-Musayib, and one at Arab Nawar Ahmad. The official said the U.S. expected casualties would be lower than 50, and said the main effort was to hit the weapons.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because some details about the operations had not yet been made public.

An official with the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Units told The Associated Press that two Iraqi federal police personnel were killed in Jurf al-Sakher. An Iraqi military statement said the aerial "aggression" occurred at 1:15 a.m. in the areas of Jurf al-Sakher, Al-Musayib, Najaf and Alexandria on the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Units, emergency regiments and commandos of the 9th division of the Iraqi army.

Esper told reporters at the Pentagon earlier Thursday that President Donald Trump had given him the authority to take whatever action he deemed necessary.

“We're going to take this one step at a time, but we've got to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Esper said. “You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.”

At the White House, Trump had also hinted that a U.S. counterpunch could be coming, telling reporters, "We'll see what the response is.” And Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters the U.S. knows ”with a high degree of certainty" who launched the attack.

On Capitol Hill earlier in the day, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, told senators the deaths of U.S. and coalition troops created a “red line” for the U.S., but said he didn't think Iran has “a good understanding of where our red line is.”

Asked if any counterattack could include a strike inside Iran, Esper said, “We are focused on the group that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq.”

Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel were wounded when 18 rockets hit the base Wednesday. The U.S. military said the 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired from a truck launcher that was found by Iraqi security forces near the base after the attack.

U.S. officials have not publicly said what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group, was the likely perpetrator. And the U.S. strikes, which came in the middle of the night in Iraq, targeted that group.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That in turn led to protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. They were followed Jan. 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member. In response to the Soleimani killing, Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Jan. 8, at al-Asad air base in Iraq, that resulted in traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 American troops.

McKenzie told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning that the killing of Soleimani and the increase in U.S. troops and assets in the region has made clear to Iran that the U.S. will defend its interests there. He said the U.S. has re-established a level of deterrence for state-on-state attacks by Iran.

However, he said: “What has not been changed is their continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly again us. That is a far more difficult area to deter.”

On Thursday, Esper and Milley said they spoke with their British counterparts about the attack, but declined to provide details.

Asked why none of the rockets was intercepted, Milley said there are no systems on the base capable of defending against that type of attack.

He also said the 14 injured personnel were a mix of U.S. and allied troops as well as contractors, and they will also be monitored for possible traumatic brain injury in the wake of the blasts.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq Thursday, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad.

One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq. The strikes were joint operation with the British, that official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because operations were still going on.

The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq.

U.S. defense leaders on Thursday threatened a retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Shia militia in Iraq, saying they know who launched the rockets in Iraq that killed and wounded U.S. and coalition troops and the attackers will be held accountable.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon that President Donald Trump on Wednesday night gave him the authority to do what he needs to do. The rapidly unfolding events signaled a renewed spike in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq.

At the White House, Trump said the attackers were a rebel group that “mostly likely looked like it could be backed by Iran. And we'll see what the response is.” And Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters the U.S. knows ”with a high degree of certainty" who launched the attack.

Esper and Milley declined to provide any more information about any impending U.S. retaliation for the attack at Camp Taji north of Baghdad. But Esper said all options are on the table. On Capitol Hill, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, told senators that the deaths of U.S. and coalition troops is a “red line” for the U.S., but said he doesn't think Iran has “a good understanding of where our red line is.”

Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel were wounded when 18 rockets hit the base on Wednesday. The U.S. military said the 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired from a truck launcher that was found by Iraqi security forces near the base after the attack.

U.S. officials have not publicly said what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia militia group, is likely.

But, he said, “What has not been changed is their continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly again us. That is a far more difficult area to deter.”

He also said the 14 injured personnel were a mix of U.S. and allied troops as well as contractors, and that they will also be monitored for possible traumatic brain injury in the wake of the blasts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584052117791.png" alt="&nbsp;More than 15 small rockets impacted Iraq’s Camp Taji base hosting Coalition troops, March 11 at 7:35 p.m. (Iraq Time). A truck rigged with rocket launchers was discovered by Iraqi security forces a few miles from the base after the attack.-photo&nbsp;OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. CagginsIII" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;More than 15 small rockets impacted Iraq’s Camp Taji base hosting Coalition troops, March 11 at 7:35 p.m. (Iraq Time). A truck rigged with rocket launchers was discovered by Iraqi security forces a few miles from the base after the attack.-photo&nbsp;OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. CagginsIII</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq, targeting the Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad, the Pentagon said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We have effectively destroyed these facilities and expect that they no longer contain the type of advanced Iranian-supplied weapons that were used in the KH attacks. – Gen Frank McKenzie, CDR CENTCOM <a href="https://t.co/ag27fZnCoO">pic.twitter.com/ag27fZnCoO</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1238444443709079552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. officials said multiple strikes by U.S. fighter jets on Thursday hit five locations and mainly targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq. A Defense Department statement said the strikes targeted five weapons storage facilities “to significantly degrade their ability to conduct future attacks.”The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq. They came just hours after top U.S. defense leaders threatened retaliation for the Wednesday rocket attack, making clear that they knew who did it and that the attackers would be held accountable.“The United States will not tolerate attacks against our people, our interests, or our allies,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said. “As we have demonstrated in recent months, we will take any action necessary to protect our forces in Iraq and the region.”The Pentagon statement said the facilities hit in the precision strikes were used to store weapons used to target the U.S. and coalition forces. It called the counterattack “defensive, proportional and in direct response to the threat” posed by the Iranian-backed Shiite militia groups.U.S. officials said the locations of the strikes were largely around the Baghdad region. One U.S. official said there were two strikes at Jurf al-Sakher, one in Karbala, one at Al-Musayib, and one at Arab Nawar Ahmad. The official said the U.S. expected casualties would be lower than 50, and said the main effort was to hit the weapons.The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because some details about the operations had not yet been made public.An official with the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Units told The Associated Press that two Iraqi federal police personnel were killed in Jurf al-Sakher. An Iraqi military statement said the aerial "aggression" occurred at 1:15 a.m. in the areas of Jurf al-Sakher, Al-Musayib, Najaf and Alexandria on the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Units, emergency regiments and commandos of the 9th division of the Iraqi army.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A U.S. Army soldier and a U.S. Air Force airmen, and a medic from the United Kingdom were killed during a rocket attack by an Iranian-backed militia, Katib Hizbollah (KH, on Camp Taji. – Gen Frank McKenzie, CDR CENTCOM&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1238443169026629632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Esper told reporters at the Pentagon earlier Thursday that President Donald Trump had given him the authority to take whatever action he deemed necessary.“We're going to take this one step at a time, but we've got to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Esper said. “You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.”At the White House, Trump had also hinted that a U.S. counterpunch could be coming, telling reporters, "We'll see what the response is.” And Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters the U.S. knows ”with a high degree of certainty" who launched the attack.On Capitol Hill earlier in the day, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, told senators the deaths of U.S. and coalition troops created a “red line” for the U.S., but said he didn't think Iran has “a good understanding of where our red line is.”Asked if any counterattack could include a strike inside Iran, Esper said, “We are focused on the group that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq.”Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel were wounded when 18 rockets hit the base Wednesday. The U.S. military said the 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired from a truck launcher that was found by Iraqi security forces near the base after the attack.U.S. officials have not publicly said what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group, was the likely perpetrator. And the U.S. strikes, which came in the middle of the night in Iraq, targeted that group.Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.That in turn led to protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. They were followed Jan. 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member. In response to the Soleimani killing, Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Jan. 8, at al-Asad air base in Iraq, that resulted in traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 American troops.McKenzie told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning that the killing of Soleimani and the increase in U.S. troops and assets in the region has made clear to Iran that the U.S. will defend its interests there. He said the U.S. has re-established a level of deterrence for state-on-state attacks by Iran.However, he said: “What has not been changed is their continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly again us. That is a far more difficult area to deter.”On Thursday, Esper and Milley said they spoke with their British counterparts about the attack, but declined to provide details.Asked why none of the rockets was intercepted, Milley said there are no systems on the base capable of defending against that type of attack.He also said the 14 injured personnel were a mix of U.S. and allied troops as well as contractors, and they will also be monitored for possible traumatic brain injury in the wake of the blasts.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq Thursday, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad.One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq. The strikes were joint operation with the British, that official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because operations were still going on.The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE: 3 Coalition personnel were killed during a rocket attack on Camp Taji, March 11. Names of personnel are withheld pending next of kin notification. Camp Taji is an Iraqi base that hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/CJTFOIR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CJTFOIR</a> personnel for anti-ISIS training &amp; advising missions. Full statement below. <a href="https://t.co/tDwxNwqNOZ">pic.twitter.com/tDwxNwqNOZ</a>&mdash; OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) <a href="https://twitter.com/OIRSpox/status/1237879226243710976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. defense leaders on Thursday threatened a retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Shia militia in Iraq, saying they know who launched the rockets in Iraq that killed and wounded U.S. and coalition troops and the attackers will be held accountable.Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon that President Donald Trump on Wednesday night gave him the authority to do what he needs to do. The rapidly unfolding events signaled a renewed spike in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq.“We're going to take this one step at a time, but we've got to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Esper said. “You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.”At the White House, Trump said the attackers were a rebel group that “mostly likely looked like it could be backed by Iran. And we'll see what the response is.” And Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters the U.S. knows ”with a high degree of certainty" who launched the attack.Esper and Milley declined to provide any more information about any impending U.S. retaliation for the attack at Camp Taji north of Baghdad. But Esper said all options are on the table. On Capitol Hill, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, told senators that the deaths of U.S. and coalition troops is a “red line” for the U.S., but said he doesn't think Iran has “a good understanding of where our red line is.”Asked if any counterattack could include a strike inside Iran, Esper said, “We are focused on the group that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq.”Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel were wounded when 18 rockets hit the base on Wednesday. The U.S. military said the 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired from a truck launcher that was found by Iraqi security forces near the base after the attack.U.S. officials have not publicly said what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia militia group, is likely.Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.That in turn led to protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. They were followed Jan. 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member. In response to the Soleimani killing, Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Jan. 8, at al-Asad air base in Iraq, that resulted in traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 American troops.McKenzie told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning that the killing of Soleimani and the increase in U.S. troops and assets in the region has made clear to Iran that the U.S. will defend its interests there. He said the U.S. has re-established a level of deterrence for state-on-state attacks by Iran.But, he said, “What has not been changed is their continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly again us. That is a far more difficult area to deter.”On Thursday, Esper and Milley said they spoke with their British counterparts about the attack, but declined to provide details.Asked why none of the rockets was intercepted, Milley said there are no systems on the base capable of defending against that type of attack.He also said the 14 injured personnel were a mix of U.S. and allied troops as well as contractors, and that they will also be monitored for possible traumatic brain injury in the wake of the blasts.-----------

Update: US airstrikes hit Iran-backed group that killed 2 Americans

PLATTE CITY, MO (AP) —&nbsp;Jurors convicted a Kansas man of murder for shooting an unarmed man in the back at a home in&nbsp;Missouri, prosecutors said.

The Platte County prosecutor's office said in a news release Thursday that Coty Borst, 28, of Shawnee, Kansas, was found guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action following a three-day trial.

The charges stem from an altercation on June 21, 2018, at a Houston Lake home during which Borst fired into the back of Jacob Stowers. He fled and was found in a creek bed 100 yards from the house following a manhunt.

“This senseless murder took the life of a young man in the prime of his life,” Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd said in a statement. “There is no justification for murder when an unarmed person is ambushed.”

Borst testified at his trial to the shooting, but claimed he believed the victim intended to get a gun. He told jurors he hid behind a corner in the house before walking into a living room and firing at Stowers. He claimed he acted in self-defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584043577225.png" alt="Borst" />
 <figcaption>Borst</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE CITY, MO (AP) —&nbsp;Jurors convicted a Kansas man of murder for shooting an unarmed man in the back at a home in&nbsp;Missouri, prosecutors said.The Platte County prosecutor's office said in a news release Thursday that Coty Borst, 28, of Shawnee, Kansas, was found guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action following a three-day trial.The charges stem from an altercation on June 21, 2018, at a Houston Lake home during which Borst fired into the back of Jacob Stowers. He fled and was found in a creek bed 100 yards from the house following a manhunt.“This senseless murder took the life of a young man in the prime of his life,” Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd said in a statement. “There is no justification for murder when an unarmed person is ambushed.”Borst testified at his trial to the shooting, but claimed he believed the victim intended to get a gun. He told jurors he hid behind a corner in the house before walking into a living room and firing at Stowers. He claimed he acted in self-defense.Sentencing is set for April 23.

Jury: Kansas man guilty of fatal ambush of unarmed man

VAIL, Colo. (AP) — A skier who died at Vail has been identified as a 20-year-old man from Kansas.

The ski patrol was called to an intermediate run at the resort’s Blue Sky Basin area, and the man, identified by the Eagle County coroner as Connor Vande Garde, of Leawood, Kansas, died at a hospital near the base of the mountain.

Vail officials offered sympathy and support to Vande Garde’s family and friends but have not released details about the circumstances of his death, which was announced Wednesday.

According to Vail’s website, Blue Sky Basin is 7 miles (11.3 kilometers) from the resort’s base area and “provides a backcountry type experience of mostly open meadows and glades.”

VAIL, Colo. (AP) — A skier who died at Vail has been identified as a 20-year-old man from Kansas.The ski patrol was called to an intermediate run at the resort’s Blue Sky Basin area, and the man, identified by the Eagle County coroner as Connor Vande Garde, of Leawood, Kansas, died at a hospital near the base of the mountain.Vail officials offered sympathy and support to Vande Garde’s family and friends but have not released details about the circumstances of his death, which was announced Wednesday.According to Vail’s website, Blue Sky Basin is 7 miles (11.3 kilometers) from the resort’s base area and “provides a backcountry type experience of mostly open meadows and glades.”