JEFFERSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on numerous charges after a chase and crash into corral.

Just after 4:30 pm Saturday a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a Chevy Malibu for a traffic infraction south of U.S. 75 Highway and Banner Avenue near Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The&nbsp; vehicle stopped near the intersection. 

When the deputy approached the driver, the vehicle sped off eastbound on Banner Avenue then south on Q. Road. 

A vehicle pursuit ensued heading towards southeastern Jackson County. The vehicle headed east on 134th Road into Jefferson County when a Jefferson County Deputy deployed spikes puncturing the front right tire of the suspect’s vehicle. 

The vehicle continued east as the front tire disintegrated. The car left the roadway through a fence on the south side of the road into a corral striking a cow and came to rest against a corral fence post. 

The two occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. The female passenger later identified as&nbsp;Santana Kay Noriega, 21, Mayetta, was quickly apprehended. A KHP helicopter, KHP K-9, Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 arrived to the scene to search for the driver later identified as&nbsp;Skye Joe Covers Up, 18, of Horton.

Just after 6:30p.m. deputies captured Covers Up.&nbsp;

The cow that they hit with their car suffered two broken legs and was expected to be euthanized, according to Morse.

&nbsp;Noriega is being held on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony interference with law enforcement, and furnishing alcohol to a minor. 

&nbsp;Covers Up is being held on requested charges of felony fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, transporting an open container, driving while suspended, no insurance, felony interference with law enforcement, reckless driving, and felony criminal damage to property, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594553715188.png" alt="Noriega" />
 <figcaption>Noriega</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on numerous charges after a chase and crash into corral.Just after 4:30 pm Saturday a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a Chevy Malibu for a traffic infraction south of U.S. 75 Highway and Banner Avenue near Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The&nbsp; vehicle stopped near the intersection. When the deputy approached the driver, the vehicle sped off eastbound on Banner Avenue then south on Q. Road. A vehicle pursuit ensued heading towards southeastern Jackson County. The vehicle headed east on 134th Road into Jefferson County when a Jefferson County Deputy deployed spikes puncturing the front right tire of the suspect’s vehicle. The vehicle continued east as the front tire disintegrated. The car left the roadway through a fence on the south side of the road into a corral striking a cow and came to rest against a corral fence post. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594553759185.png" alt="Photo Jackson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Jackson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The two occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. The female passenger later identified as&nbsp;Santana Kay Noriega, 21, Mayetta, was quickly apprehended. A KHP helicopter, KHP K-9, Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 arrived to the scene to search for the driver later identified as&nbsp;Skye Joe Covers Up, 18, of Horton.Just after 6:30p.m. deputies captured Covers Up.&nbsp;The cow that they hit with their car suffered two broken legs and was expected to be euthanized, according to Morse.&nbsp;Noriega is being held on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony interference with law enforcement, and furnishing alcohol to a minor. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594553660737.png" alt="Covers Up- photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Covers Up- photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Covers Up is being held on requested charges of felony fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, transporting an open container, driving while suspended, no insurance, felony interference with law enforcement, reckless driving, and felony criminal damage to property, according to Morse.

Sheriff: 2 captured after chase, crash into cow in corral

BEIJING (AP) — China on Monday said it will ban entry to U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Representative Chris Smith and Ambassador for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback over their criticism of the ruling Communist Party’s policies toward minority groups and people of faith.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said actions by the U.S. had “seriously damaged China-U.S. relations" and that China was determined to uphold its national sovereignty against what it sees as interference in its internal affairs.

“China will respond further according to the development of the situation," Hua said.

There was no indication that any of the four had plans to travel to China.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586052372246.png" alt="Former Kansas governor Sam Brownback, President Trump’s special envoy for religious freedom-photo courtesy U.S. State Department" />
 <figcaption>Former Kansas governor Sam Brownback, President Trump’s special envoy for religious freedom-photo courtesy U.S. State Department</figcaption>
 </figure>BEIJING (AP) — China on Monday said it will ban entry to U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Representative Chris Smith and Ambassador for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback over their criticism of the ruling Communist Party’s policies toward minority groups and people of faith.Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said actions by the U.S. had “seriously damaged China-U.S. relations" and that China was determined to uphold its national sovereignty against what it sees as interference in its internal affairs.“China will respond further according to the development of the situation," Hua said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Accountability a long time coming for Chen Quanguo, Zhu Hailun, &amp; Wang Mingshan, the CCP officials for whom <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecPompeo</a> restricted visas for gross violations of human rights in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Xinjiang?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Xinjiang</a>, including <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/religiousfreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#religiousfreedom</a> abuses, against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uyghurs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uyghurs</a> &amp; other Muslims. <a href="https://t.co/lkjfu7nLYL">https://t.co/lkjfu7nLYL</a>&mdash; Ambassador Sam Brownback (@IRF_Ambassador) <a href="https://twitter.com/IRF_Ambassador/status/1281258937543798789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>There was no indication that any of the four had plans to travel to China.___

China bans former Kan. governor, 2 U.S. Senators over criticism

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to coercing and enticing a teenage victim to engage in illicit sexual activity, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

Tracy Todd Presson, 54, Gainesville, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor and to one count of the coercion and enticement of a minor.

By pleading guilty Presson admitted that he produced child pornography, using a child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1, by recording him and Jane Doe 1 engaging in sexually explicit activity on multiple occasions. &nbsp;Presson also admitted that he used FaceTime to coerce and entice Jane Doe 1 to engage in sexually explicit activity. &nbsp;When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Presson’s residence on Oct. 3, 2018, they found a SanDisk 32GB SD card that contained child pornography, including 165 images and 68 videos of Jane Doe 1 engaged in sexually explicit activity.

Under federal statutes, Presson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594415103045.png" alt="Presson photo Ozark Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Presson photo Ozark Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to coercing and enticing a teenage victim to engage in illicit sexual activity, according to the United State's Attorney's office.Tracy Todd Presson, 54, Gainesville, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor and to one count of the coercion and enticement of a minor.By pleading guilty Presson admitted that he produced child pornography, using a child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1, by recording him and Jane Doe 1 engaging in sexually explicit activity on multiple occasions. &nbsp;Presson also admitted that he used FaceTime to coerce and entice Jane Doe 1 to engage in sexually explicit activity. &nbsp;When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Presson’s residence on Oct. 3, 2018, they found a SanDisk 32GB SD card that contained child pornography, including 165 images and 68 videos of Jane Doe 1 engaged in sexually explicit activity.Under federal statutes, Presson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Man admits using FaceTime to coerce victim into sexual activity

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A&nbsp; physician accused of fatally shooting her husband in front of their two children last month has been released on $100,000 bond. 

&nbsp;Kathleen Jourdan, 31, put up 10% of her $1 million bail to be released from jail on Thursday.

 Jourdan is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon in the June 17 killing of her husband, 35-year-old Joshua Jourdan.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Jourdan and his wife were involved in an argument while traveling on I-80. Jourdan had been driving the vehicle and pulled over during the argument, at which time Kathleen Jourdan produced a handgun and shot Joshua Jourdan twice.

Kathleen Jourdan called 911 to report the shooting and remained at the scene. The couple’s two children were in the backseat of the vehicle. The children were not injured.

Kathleen Jourdan told police she shot her husband because she feared for herself and children during an argument between the couple inside their vehicle, which pulled over alongside Interstate 80.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman after a fatal shooting while on a drive with her husband and the couple's two children.

Just after 3p.m. Wednesday, State Troopers responded to a 911 call regarding a shooting that had occurred inside a vehicle on eastbound I-80 near Cozad, Nebraska.

 When troopers arrived, they found a man dead in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck that was pulling a trailer. The victim is identified as Joshua Jourdan, 35, of Omaha.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that Jourdan and his wife, Kathleen Jourdan, 31, of Omaha, were involved in an argument while traveling on I-80. Jourdan had been driving the vehicle and pulled over during the argument, at which time Kathleen Jourdan produced a handgun and shot Joshua Jourdan twice.

Kathleen Jourdan is being held on a requested charge of second degree murder in the Dawson County Jail. The children are in protective custody.&nbsp;

Cozad Police Officers, Dawson County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Cozad Volunteer Fire and Rescue also assisted at the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594403070774.png" alt="Jourdan" />
 <figcaption>Jourdan</figcaption>
 </figure>LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A&nbsp; physician accused of fatally shooting her husband in front of their two children last month has been released on $100,000 bond. &nbsp;Kathleen Jourdan, 31, put up 10% of her $1 million bail to be released from jail on Thursday. Jourdan is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon in the June 17 killing of her husband, 35-year-old Joshua Jourdan.The preliminary investigation revealed that Jourdan and his wife were involved in an argument while traveling on I-80. Jourdan had been driving the vehicle and pulled over during the argument, at which time Kathleen Jourdan produced a handgun and shot Joshua Jourdan twice.Kathleen Jourdan called 911 to report the shooting and remained at the scene. The couple’s two children were in the backseat of the vehicle. The children were not injured.Kathleen Jourdan told police she shot her husband because she feared for herself and children during an argument between the couple inside their vehicle, which pulled over alongside Interstate 80.&nbsp;&nbsp;---------NORTH PLATTE— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman after a fatal shooting while on a drive with her husband and the couple's two children.Just after 3p.m. Wednesday, State Troopers responded to a 911 call regarding a shooting that had occurred inside a vehicle on eastbound I-80 near Cozad, Nebraska. When troopers arrived, they found a man dead in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck that was pulling a trailer. The victim is identified as Joshua Jourdan, 35, of Omaha.Preliminary investigation has revealed that Jourdan and his wife, Kathleen Jourdan, 31, of Omaha, were involved in an argument while traveling on I-80. Jourdan had been driving the vehicle and pulled over during the argument, at which time Kathleen Jourdan produced a handgun and shot Joshua Jourdan twice.Kathleen Jourdan called 911 to report the shooting and remained at the scene. The couple’s two children were in the backseat of the vehicle. The children were not injured.Kathleen Jourdan is being held on a requested charge of second degree murder in the Dawson County Jail. The children are in protective custody.&nbsp;Cozad Police Officers, Dawson County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Cozad Volunteer Fire and Rescue also assisted at the scene.&nbsp;

Woman who fatally shot husband on drive with kids is out of jail

As the Trump administration pushes full steam ahead to force schools to resume in-person education, public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening could drive infection and death rates even higher.

They’re urging a more cautious approach, which many local governments and school districts are already pursuing.

But U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos doubled down on President Donald Trump’s insistence that kids can safely return to the classroom.

“There’s nothing in the data that suggests that kids being in school is in any way dangerous,” she told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”

Still, health experts say there are too many uncertainties and variables for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f3d8baf703ae4ff1af917b6202d26888">back-to-school to be back-to-normal.</a>

Where is the virus spreading rapidly? Do students live with aged grandparents? Do teachers have high-risk health conditions that would make online teaching safest? Do infected children easily spread COVID-19 to each other and to adults?

Regarding the latter, some evidence suggests they don’t, but a big government study aims to find better proof. Results won’t be available before the fall, and some schools are slated to reopen in just a few weeks.

“These are complicated issues. You can’t just charge straight ahead,” Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday during an online briefing.

Children infected with coronavirus are more likely than adults to have mild illnesses, but their risk for severe disease and death isn’t zero. While a virus-linked inflammatory condition is uncommon, most children who develop it require intensive care, and a few have died. Doctors don’t know which children are at risk.

“The single most important thing we can do to keep our schools safe has nothing to do with what happens in school. It’s how well we control COVID-19 in the community,” Frieden said. “Right now there are places around the country where the virus is spreading explosively and it would be difficult if not impossible to operate schools safely until the virus is under better control.”

Zahrah Wattier teaches high school in Galveston, Texas, where cases and deaths have been spiking. Until the state recently said schools must reopen to in-person classes, her district had been weighing options many others are considering, including full-time online teaching or a hybrid mix.

Wattier’s school has mostly Hispanic and Black students, many from low-income families; almost 70% qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and many have parents who work in “essential” jobs that increase potential exposure to the virus. Online education was hard for many with limited internet access, and Wattier knows in-person classes can help even the playing field.

“My school has over 2,000 students. That’s over 2,000 exposures in a day,” said Wattier, whose parents live with the family and are both high-risk. “It’s a lot to think about. It’s my job. It’s something I choose to do, it’s something I love. Now it comes at a really high risk.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics, whose guidance the Trump administration has cited to support its demands, says the goal is for all students to be physically present in school. But, it adds, districts must be flexible, consult with health authorities and be ready to pivot as virus activity waxes and wanes.

“It is not that the American Academy of Pediatrics thinks this is a done deal because we have put out guidance,” said Dr. Nicholas Beers, a member of the academy’s school health council. “But what we do know is that we need to have a more realistic dialogue about the implications of virtual learning on the future of children. We have left whole swaths of society behind, whether it’s because they have limited access to a computer, or broadband internet,” or because of other challenges that online education can’t address.

DeVos said local school officials are smart enough to know when conditions are not right.

“There’s going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“And where there are little flare-ups or hot spots, that can be dealt with on a school by school or a case by case basis.”

Following CDC and academy guidelines would mean big changes for most schools. Mask-wearing would be strongly encouraged for adult staff and students except the youngest. Desks would be distanced at least 3 feet apart; the CDC recommends 6 feet. Both suggest limiting adults allowed in schools, including parents, and canceling group activities like choir and assemblies. Staggered arrival and dismissal times, outdoor classes, and keeping kids in the same classroom all day are other options.

President Trump has threatened federal funding cuts for districts that don’t fully reopen.

DeVos defended that stance, saying, “American investment in education is a promise to students and their families.”

“If schools aren’t going to reopen and not fulfill that promise, they shouldn’t get the funds, and give it to the families to decide to go to a school that is going to meet that promise,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.”

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeVos’ comments “malfeasance and dereliction of duty.”

“They’re messing, the president and his administration are messing with the health of our children,” the California Democrat told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

While most funding typically comes from state and local sources, experts say schools will need more federal funding, not less, to reopen safely. Masks, extra cleaning supplies or janitors, additional classroom space, and mental health support for students and staff traumatized by the pandemic are among potential costs. And with more parents out of work, more children will qualify for federally funded school lunches.

Lynn Morales, 49, teaches 8th grade English at a high-poverty public school in Bloomington, Minnesota, that is considering several options including in-person classes; a final decision is expected Aug. 1.

Some colleagues are considering not returning to the classroom because their children’s day care centers aren’t reopening. Some say they won’t come back until there’s a vaccine.

“I am concerned and it’s because of the age group,” Morales said. ’’Middle school students ... are lovely and I love them, but they touch, they get close, they roughhouse. It is their nature. They’re 13 years old. They are defiant.”

“If masks are required and a kid isn’t wearing a mask, is my job description going to be to chase down this kid and insist they wear a mask? And what if they don’t?”

Dr. Emily Landon, a University of Chicago infectious disease specialist, is helping the university and a campus preK-12 school decide how to reopen safely.

“Things are evolving from, ‘We can’t do it unless it’s perfectly safe’ to more of a harm reduction model, with the caveat that you can always step back” if virus activity flares, Landon said.

Single-occupancy dorms, outdoor classes, socially distanced classrooms and mask-wearing by students and faculty are on tap for the university. Face coverings will be required at the school too. Policies may change depending on virus activity.

She dismisses complaints from some parents who say masks are a loss of personal freedom.

“It’s not harmful for your child,” she said. “If you see wearing masks as a loss of personal freedom, then you have to think the same of pants.”

Dr. Tina Hartert of Vanderbilt University is leading a National Institutes of Health-funded study to determine what role children play in transmitting COVID-19. Almost 2,000 families are enrolled and self-test every two weeks. The idea is to find infected children without symptoms and see how easily disease spreads within families. Results may come by year’s end.

“If we don’t see significant transmission within households, that would be very reassuring,” Hartert said.

She noted that in other countries where schools have reopened, evidence suggests no widespread transmission from children.

In France, public schools reopened briefly before a summer break, with no sign of widespread virus transmission. Masks were only required for upper grades, but students stayed in the same classroom all day. A better test will be when the new school year starts Sept. 1.

In Norway, schools closed in March for several weeks. Nursery schools reopened first, then other grades. Children were put in smaller groups that stay together all day. Masks aren’t required. There have been only a few virus cases, said Dr. Margrethe Greve-Isdahl of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, but she noted virus activity is much lower than in the U.S.

Kati Spaniak, a realtor in Northbrook, Illinois, says her five teenage daughters have struggled to cope with pandemic fears, school closures and deficits of online learning. She strongly supports getting kids back in the classroom, and all her girls will return to some form of that in the fall.

It’s been hard for her high school senior, Kylie Ciesla. Prom, graduation and other senior rituals were canceled, and there were no good-byes. “Just to get ripped away from everything I’ve worked for 12 years, it’s really hard,” Kylie said.

At college, classes will be in person, masks mandated and a COVID-19 test required before she can move into her dorm. Kylie isn’t sure all that is needed.

“I hate that this thing has become so political. I just want the science. I want to know what we need to do to fix it,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593205499970.png" alt="U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos -courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos -courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINDSEY TANNERAs the Trump administration pushes full steam ahead to force schools to resume in-person education, public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening could drive infection and death rates even higher.They’re urging a more cautious approach, which many local governments and school districts are already pursuing.But U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos doubled down on President Donald Trump’s insistence that kids can safely return to the classroom.“There’s nothing in the data that suggests that kids being in school is in any way dangerous,” she told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”Still, health experts say there are too many uncertainties and variables for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f3d8baf703ae4ff1af917b6202d26888">back-to-school to be back-to-normal.</a>Where is the virus spreading rapidly? Do students live with aged grandparents? Do teachers have high-risk health conditions that would make online teaching safest? Do infected children easily spread COVID-19 to each other and to adults?ADVERTISEMENTRegarding the latter, some evidence suggests they don’t, but a big government study aims to find better proof. Results won’t be available before the fall, and some schools are slated to reopen in just a few weeks.“These are complicated issues. You can’t just charge straight ahead,” Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday during an online briefing.Children infected with coronavirus are more likely than adults to have mild illnesses, but their risk for severe disease and death isn’t zero. While a virus-linked inflammatory condition is uncommon, most children who develop it require intensive care, and a few have died. Doctors don’t know which children are at risk.“The single most important thing we can do to keep our schools safe has nothing to do with what happens in school. It’s how well we control COVID-19 in the community,” Frieden said. “Right now there are places around the country where the virus is spreading explosively and it would be difficult if not impossible to operate schools safely until the virus is under better control.”Zahrah Wattier teaches high school in Galveston, Texas, where cases and deaths have been spiking. Until the state recently said schools must reopen to in-person classes, her district had been weighing options many others are considering, including full-time online teaching or a hybrid mix.Wattier’s school has mostly Hispanic and Black students, many from low-income families; almost 70% qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and many have parents who work in “essential” jobs that increase potential exposure to the virus. Online education was hard for many with limited internet access, and Wattier knows in-person classes can help even the playing field.But she’s worried.“My school has over 2,000 students. That’s over 2,000 exposures in a day,” said Wattier, whose parents live with the family and are both high-risk. “It’s a lot to think about. It’s my job. It’s something I choose to do, it’s something I love. Now it comes at a really high risk.”The American Academy of Pediatrics, whose guidance the Trump administration has cited to support its demands, says the goal is for all students to be physically present in school. But, it adds, districts must be flexible, consult with health authorities and be ready to pivot as virus activity waxes and wanes.“It is not that the American Academy of Pediatrics thinks this is a done deal because we have put out guidance,” said Dr. Nicholas Beers, a member of the academy’s school health council. “But what we do know is that we need to have a more realistic dialogue about the implications of virtual learning on the future of children. We have left whole swaths of society behind, whether it’s because they have limited access to a computer, or broadband internet,” or because of other challenges that online education can’t address.DeVos said local school officials are smart enough to know when conditions are not right.“There’s going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union.”“And where there are little flare-ups or hot spots, that can be dealt with on a school by school or a case by case basis.”Following CDC and academy guidelines would mean big changes for most schools. Mask-wearing would be strongly encouraged for adult staff and students except the youngest. Desks would be distanced at least 3 feet apart; the CDC recommends 6 feet. Both suggest limiting adults allowed in schools, including parents, and canceling group activities like choir and assemblies. Staggered arrival and dismissal times, outdoor classes, and keeping kids in the same classroom all day are other options.President Trump has threatened federal funding cuts for districts that don’t fully reopen.DeVos defended that stance, saying, “American investment in education is a promise to students and their families.”“If schools aren’t going to reopen and not fulfill that promise, they shouldn’t get the funds, and give it to the families to decide to go to a school that is going to meet that promise,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.”U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeVos’ comments “malfeasance and dereliction of duty.”“They’re messing, the president and his administration are messing with the health of our children,” the California Democrat told CNN’s “State of the Union.”While most funding typically comes from state and local sources, experts say schools will need more federal funding, not less, to reopen safely. Masks, extra cleaning supplies or janitors, additional classroom space, and mental health support for students and staff traumatized by the pandemic are among potential costs. And with more parents out of work, more children will qualify for federally funded school lunches.Lynn Morales, 49, teaches 8th grade English at a high-poverty public school in Bloomington, Minnesota, that is considering several options including in-person classes; a final decision is expected Aug. 1.Some colleagues are considering not returning to the classroom because their children’s day care centers aren’t reopening. Some say they won’t come back until there’s a vaccine.“I am concerned and it’s because of the age group,” Morales said. ’’Middle school students ... are lovely and I love them, but they touch, they get close, they roughhouse. It is their nature. They’re 13 years old. They are defiant.”“If masks are required and a kid isn’t wearing a mask, is my job description going to be to chase down this kid and insist they wear a mask? And what if they don’t?”Dr. Emily Landon, a University of Chicago infectious disease specialist, is helping the university and a campus preK-12 school decide how to reopen safely.“Things are evolving from, ‘We can’t do it unless it’s perfectly safe’ to more of a harm reduction model, with the caveat that you can always step back” if virus activity flares, Landon said.Single-occupancy dorms, outdoor classes, socially distanced classrooms and mask-wearing by students and faculty are on tap for the university. Face coverings will be required at the school too. Policies may change depending on virus activity.She dismisses complaints from some parents who say masks are a loss of personal freedom.“It’s not harmful for your child,” she said. “If you see wearing masks as a loss of personal freedom, then you have to think the same of pants.”Dr. Tina Hartert of Vanderbilt University is leading a National Institutes of Health-funded study to determine what role children play in transmitting COVID-19. Almost 2,000 families are enrolled and self-test every two weeks. The idea is to find infected children without symptoms and see how easily disease spreads within families. Results may come by year’s end.“If we don’t see significant transmission within households, that would be very reassuring,” Hartert said.She noted that in other countries where schools have reopened, evidence suggests no widespread transmission from children.In France, public schools reopened briefly before a summer break, with no sign of widespread virus transmission. Masks were only required for upper grades, but students stayed in the same classroom all day. A better test will be when the new school year starts Sept. 1.In Norway, schools closed in March for several weeks. Nursery schools reopened first, then other grades. Children were put in smaller groups that stay together all day. Masks aren’t required. There have been only a few virus cases, said Dr. Margrethe Greve-Isdahl of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, but she noted virus activity is much lower than in the U.S.Kati Spaniak, a realtor in Northbrook, Illinois, says her five teenage daughters have struggled to cope with pandemic fears, school closures and deficits of online learning. She strongly supports getting kids back in the classroom, and all her girls will return to some form of that in the fall.It’s been hard for her high school senior, Kylie Ciesla. Prom, graduation and other senior rituals were canceled, and there were no good-byes. “Just to get ripped away from everything I’ve worked for 12 years, it’s really hard,” Kylie said.At college, classes will be in person, masks mandated and a COVID-19 test required before she can move into her dorm. Kylie isn’t sure all that is needed.“I hate that this thing has become so political. I just want the science. I want to know what we need to do to fix it,” she said.___

Doctors: Virus spread, not politics should guide schools

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A woman accused in a fatal shooting has made her first appearance in court. 

Amber Ahrens, 41, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She remains jailed on bond totaling $200,000, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=71827">according to online jail records.</a>

At approximately 3:30 a.m. June 17, police responded to a disturbance with shots fired at a home in the 1200 block of North Pinecrest in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

 Upon arrival, officers located 53-year-old David Leddy of Wichita in the front of the residence with a gunshot wound.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The investigation revealed a disturbance ensued earlier in the day at the home between Leddy and a 19-year-old boy who did not live there.&nbsp; 

During the disturbance, Leddy’s vehicle was damaged, and the 19-year-old was battered.

The 19-year-old’s 41-year-old mother identified as Ahrens and three friends, a 44-year-old female, a 54-year-old male, and a 31-year-old female, later arrived at the home.&nbsp; A disturbance then ensued in front of the house, and shots were fired that struck Leddy.

Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, Ahrens was <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=71827">booked into the </a>Sedgwick County jail on requested charges of 2nd-degree intentional murder, criminal&nbsp; possession of a firearm and a drug charge, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592415145581.png" alt="Police on the scene&nbsp; of the investigation on June 17 -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene&nbsp; of the investigation on June 17 -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A woman accused in a fatal shooting has made her first appearance in court. Amber Ahrens, 41, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She remains jailed on bond totaling $200,000, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=71827">according to online jail records.</a>At approximately 3:30 a.m. June 17, police responded to a disturbance with shots fired at a home in the 1200 block of North Pinecrest in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 53-year-old David Leddy of Wichita in the front of the residence with a gunshot wound.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594216899431.png" alt="Ahrens photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ahrens photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation revealed a disturbance ensued earlier in the day at the home between Leddy and a 19-year-old boy who did not live there.&nbsp; During the disturbance, Leddy’s vehicle was damaged, and the 19-year-old was battered.The 19-year-old’s 41-year-old mother identified as Ahrens and three friends, a 44-year-old female, a 54-year-old male, and a 31-year-old female, later arrived at the home.&nbsp; A disturbance then ensued in front of the house, and shots were fired that struck Leddy.Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, Ahrens was <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=71827">booked into the </a>Sedgwick County jail on requested charges of 2nd-degree intentional murder, criminal&nbsp; possession of a firearm and a drug charge, according to online jail records.

Woman charged with murder for shooting death at Kansas home

By LYNN HORSLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-09/some-johnson-county-officials-upset-about-hotel-housing-coronavirus-patients">Kansas News Service</a>

Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown and Sheriff Calvin Hayden 
expressed outrage Thursday over the state of Kansas’ decision to isolate
 COVID-19 patients in a hotel in Gardner.

“We brought positive 
COVID-19 patients into the heart of my district, around people who 
aren’t generally sick. That’s damn near criminal. That’s wrong,” Brown 
said at the county commission’s weekly meeting. “How dare the governor 
decide to just import that into Johnson County. What in the world? Why 
aren’t they in Topeka?”

Brown, who represents a southern Johnson 
County district, including Gardner, was angry that he hadn’t been 
notified previously, although state officials did alert Johnson County 
emergency management and health officials.

Brown said he’d received calls from concerned constituents.

“Why is it here?” he demanded. “Why am I dealing with this?”

In
 public comments to the commission, Sheriff Hayden also complained about
 the lack of communication from the state. He said he found out about 
the hotel indirectly on Wednesday.

Hayden said he and his staff 
have worked incredibly hard to ensure there are no COVID-19 cases in the
 jail, but the state had not alerted him to this new facility.

“Somebody
 knew. As the chief law enforcement officer in Johnson County, I did 
not,” Hayden said, adding that the commissioners also should have been 
notified but were not. “You were kept out of the loop. Unacceptable.”

The
 governor’s office responded Thursday that the need for what's called 
"non-congregant housing" for COVID-19 patients had been recognized for 
some time, both in the state and nationally.

“Like states across 
the country, we have been working – in accordance with FEMA guidelines –
 with counties across Kansas since April to set up non-congregant 
housing for their community members including frontline health care 
workers, individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, and those in the
 high-risk category or who have family members in the high risk 
category,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

“Due to 
HIPAA laws we can’t share specifics, nor do we think it is appropriate 
to shame individuals who are self-isolating as an act of social 
responsibility or in order to protect their or their loved ones' health.
 When the Kansas Division of Emergency Management contracts with motels,
 they contract the entire facility, there are no other guests, and they 
provide on-site support for individuals using the housing.”

Commissioner
 Jim Allen said it was his understanding that the state is allowed to 
contract directly with the hotel owner for these types of non-congregant
 facilities, and the county doesn’t have a role in the decision. Cindy 
Dunham with the county counselor’s office confirmed it’s a contract 
between the state and the hotel.

Commissioner Janee Hanzlick 
pointed out that the county had in the past discussed the potential need
 for such a shelter, for people who might become infected and be 
homeless. She said it’s safer to isolate and treat people in these types
 of facilities than having them living on the streets.

Sanmi 
Areola, director of Johnson County’s department of health and 
environment, said it was not his responsibility to approve the facility 
or to alert the commission, although he knew about the state’s decision 
and supported it.

“It’s a need,” he said. “I did not oppose this.”

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShuteForGardner/" target="_blank">In a Facebook post on Wednesday</a>,
 Gardner Mayor Steve Shute said the Kansas Department of Emergency 
Management did not consult with him before establishing the 
non-congregant facility at the Super 8 Motel in Gardner.

Lynn Horsley is a freelance writer in Kansas City. Follow her on Twitter @LynnHorsley.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594404213196.png" alt="Commissioner Mike Brown expressed his concern over the hotel in a Facebook Live broadcast of a Johnson County commission meeting. Lynn Horsley / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Commissioner Mike Brown expressed his concern over the hotel in a Facebook Live broadcast of a Johnson County commission meeting. Lynn Horsley / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By LYNN HORSLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-09/some-johnson-county-officials-upset-about-hotel-housing-coronavirus-patients">Kansas News Service</a>Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown and Sheriff Calvin Hayden 
expressed outrage Thursday over the state of Kansas’ decision to isolate
 COVID-19 patients in a hotel in Gardner.“We brought positive 
COVID-19 patients into the heart of my district, around people who 
aren’t generally sick. That’s damn near criminal. That’s wrong,” Brown 
said at the county commission’s weekly meeting. “How dare the governor 
decide to just import that into Johnson County. What in the world? Why 
aren’t they in Topeka?”Brown, who represents a southern Johnson 
County district, including Gardner, was angry that he hadn’t been 
notified previously, although state officials did alert Johnson County 
emergency management and health officials.Brown said he’d received calls from concerned constituents.“Why is it here?” he demanded. “Why am I dealing with this?”In
 public comments to the commission, Sheriff Hayden also complained about
 the lack of communication from the state. He said he found out about 
the hotel indirectly on Wednesday.Hayden said he and his staff 
have worked incredibly hard to ensure there are no COVID-19 cases in the
 jail, but the state had not alerted him to this new facility.“Somebody
 knew. As the chief law enforcement officer in Johnson County, I did 
not,” Hayden said, adding that the commissioners also should have been 
notified but were not. “You were kept out of the loop. Unacceptable.”The
 governor’s office responded Thursday that the need for what's called 
"non-congregant housing" for COVID-19 patients had been recognized for 
some time, both in the state and nationally.“Like states across 
the country, we have been working – in accordance with FEMA guidelines –
 with counties across Kansas since April to set up non-congregant 
housing for their community members including frontline health care 
workers, individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, and those in the
 high-risk category or who have family members in the high risk 
category,” the governor’s office said in a statement.“Due to 
HIPAA laws we can’t share specifics, nor do we think it is appropriate 
to shame individuals who are self-isolating as an act of social 
responsibility or in order to protect their or their loved ones' health.
 When the Kansas Division of Emergency Management contracts with motels,
 they contract the entire facility, there are no other guests, and they 
provide on-site support for individuals using the housing.”Commissioner
 Jim Allen said it was his understanding that the state is allowed to 
contract directly with the hotel owner for these types of non-congregant
 facilities, and the county doesn’t have a role in the decision. Cindy 
Dunham with the county counselor’s office confirmed it’s a contract 
between the state and the hotel.Commissioner Janee Hanzlick 
pointed out that the county had in the past discussed the potential need
 for such a shelter, for people who might become infected and be 
homeless. She said it’s safer to isolate and treat people in these types
 of facilities than having them living on the streets.Sanmi 
Areola, director of Johnson County’s department of health and 
environment, said it was not his responsibility to approve the facility 
or to alert the commission, although he knew about the state’s decision 
and supported it.“It’s a need,” he said. “I did not oppose this.”<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShuteForGardner/" target="_blank">In a Facebook post on Wednesday</a>,
 Gardner Mayor Steve Shute said the Kansas Department of Emergency 
Management did not consult with him before establishing the 
non-congregant facility at the Super 8 Motel in Gardner. Lynn Horsley is a freelance writer in Kansas City. Follow her on Twitter @LynnHorsley.&nbsp;

Some Johnson Co. officials upset about hotel housing virus patients

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has not contained a resurgence in coronavirus cases, raising questions about whether Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature erred in allowing local officials to set rules for businesses and public gatherings.

State Department of Health and Environment figures show that Kansas experienced its worst spike in confirmed new cases since the pandemic began in the two-week period ending Friday, with an average of 362 a day. It was also the fourth consecutive health department report within eight days showing a new record.

The department on Friday reported 993 confirmed new coronavirus cases over the previous two days, bringing the state’s pandemic total to 18,611. The agency also reported an additional two COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the toll to 284. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and people can be infected without feeling sick.

The number of cases reported by the health department increased by 37.5% or 5,073 during the two weeks ending Friday. Kelly issued&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200702093130003.pdf" target="_blank">a statewide order</a>&nbsp;July 2 requiring people to wear masks in public and workplaces, but most counties have opted either for less restrictive rules or a mere recommendation to wear a mask.

“It is beyond question that the virus is still in our communities, spreading,” Kelly spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said in an email to The Associated Press. “We have to leave politics out of public health and continue to practice social distancing, proper hygiene, and wear a mask.”

The latest reported spike came as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/events/townhall/" target="_blank">Kansas State University announced&nbsp;</a>almost 1,900 employees would be required to take some unpaid leave between early August and the end of June 2021 because of the economic slowdown tied to the pandemic. Also,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/confirmed-covid-19-case-at-hutchinson-correctional-facility-1" target="_blank">state corrections officials said&nbsp;</a>a staffer at the state prison in Hutchinson tested positive for the coronavirus, making the facility the seventh of 10 with a case among workers or inmates.

Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a5e30a0ec7a5943ada9f03af22ee1970">lifted statewide restrictions</a>&nbsp;on businesses and public gatherings May 26, following weeks of criticism from Republican legislators that she was reopening the economy too slowly. Counties have the power to opt out of her orders under&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/measures/documents/summary_hb_2016_2020special" target="_blank">a law</a>&nbsp;that took effect last month after GOP legislative leaders argued that a one-size-fits-all approach was wrongheaded.

The governor suggested Monday that she lifted statewide restrictions to persuade Republican legislators to keep a statewide emergency declaration for the pandemic in place past May. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, said Kelly had no choice; GOP lawmakers have two-thirds majorities in both chambers.

“The decisions should have been left at the state level,” Hensley said. “We were doing much better with the governor in control.”

Ninety of the state’s 105 counties have overruled Kelly’s mask order. Although most are in less populated rural areas, about 40% of the state’s residents aren’t covered by a mask mandate.

Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican who advocated for a faster reopening and for allowing counties to set pandemic rules, said the coronavirus mortality rate is “way down” and that hospitals “are far from overwhelmed.” Reported hospitalizations have increased less than 16% during the past two weeks and COVID-19-related deaths are up less than 8%.

Some Republicans also have suggested that increased testing is fueling the surge in reported cases, and Kansas has seen testing rise since mid-June. The daily average for reported tests for the two weeks ending Friday was 3,566, about 29% higher than the figure for the two weeks ending June 26.

“There is absolutely no need to spread fear,” Wagle said in an emailed statement. “The truth is the economy is rolling again. ”

House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, said it’s too early to tell whether allowing counties to set pandemic rules was a mistake. But he added that the recent surge in coronavirus cases does demonstrate the need for people to wear masks — and for counties not to opt out of the governor’s mandate.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s top administrator, said everyone has a responsibility “to take this disease seriously.”

“Just because a county’s guidelines may be more relaxed, it doesn’t mean individuals should relax their own safety precautions,” he said in an emailed statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594063503142.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly removed her mask ahead of her July 6 news conference" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly removed her mask ahead of her July 6 news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has not contained a resurgence in coronavirus cases, raising questions about whether Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature erred in allowing local officials to set rules for businesses and public gatherings.State Department of Health and Environment figures show that Kansas experienced its worst spike in confirmed new cases since the pandemic began in the two-week period ending Friday, with an average of 362 a day. It was also the fourth consecutive health department report within eight days showing a new record.The department on Friday reported 993 confirmed new coronavirus cases over the previous two days, bringing the state’s pandemic total to 18,611. The agency also reported an additional two COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the toll to 284. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and people can be infected without feeling sick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594402542454.png" alt="Friday July 10, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday July 10, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The number of cases reported by the health department increased by 37.5% or 5,073 during the two weeks ending Friday. Kelly issued&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200702093130003.pdf" target="_blank">a statewide order</a>&nbsp;July 2 requiring people to wear masks in public and workplaces, but most counties have opted either for less restrictive rules or a mere recommendation to wear a mask.“It is beyond question that the virus is still in our communities, spreading,” Kelly spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said in an email to The Associated Press. “We have to leave politics out of public health and continue to practice social distancing, proper hygiene, and wear a mask.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594466693755.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during his Wednesday press briefing in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during his Wednesday press briefing in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>The latest reported spike came as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/events/townhall/" target="_blank">Kansas State University announced&nbsp;</a>almost 1,900 employees would be required to take some unpaid leave between early August and the end of June 2021 because of the economic slowdown tied to the pandemic. Also,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/confirmed-covid-19-case-at-hutchinson-correctional-facility-1" target="_blank">state corrections officials said&nbsp;</a>a staffer at the state prison in Hutchinson tested positive for the coronavirus, making the facility the seventh of 10 with a case among workers or inmates.Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a5e30a0ec7a5943ada9f03af22ee1970">lifted statewide restrictions</a>&nbsp;on businesses and public gatherings May 26, following weeks of criticism from Republican legislators that she was reopening the economy too slowly. Counties have the power to opt out of her orders under&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/measures/documents/summary_hb_2016_2020special" target="_blank">a law</a>&nbsp;that took effect last month after GOP legislative leaders argued that a one-size-fits-all approach was wrongheaded.The governor suggested Monday that she lifted statewide restrictions to persuade Republican legislators to keep a statewide emergency declaration for the pandemic in place past May. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, said Kelly had no choice; GOP lawmakers have two-thirds majorities in both chambers.“The decisions should have been left at the state level,” Hensley said. “We were doing much better with the governor in control.”Ninety of the state’s 105 counties have overruled Kelly’s mask order. Although most are in less populated rural areas, about 40% of the state’s residents aren’t covered by a mask mandate.Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican who advocated for a faster reopening and for allowing counties to set pandemic rules, said the coronavirus mortality rate is “way down” and that hospitals “are far from overwhelmed.” Reported hospitalizations have increased less than 16% during the past two weeks and COVID-19-related deaths are up less than 8%.Some Republicans also have suggested that increased testing is fueling the surge in reported cases, and Kansas has seen testing rise since mid-June. The daily average for reported tests for the two weeks ending Friday was 3,566, about 29% higher than the figure for the two weeks ending June 26.“There is absolutely no need to spread fear,” Wagle said in an emailed statement. “The truth is the economy is rolling again. ”House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, said it’s too early to tell whether allowing counties to set pandemic rules was a mistake. But he added that the recent surge in coronavirus cases does demonstrate the need for people to wear masks — and for counties not to opt out of the governor’s mandate.Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s top administrator, said everyone has a responsibility “to take this disease seriously.”“Just because a county’s guidelines may be more relaxed, it doesn’t mean individuals should relax their own safety precautions,” he said in an emailed statement.___

COVID-19 spike in Kansas casts doubt on allowing local rules

NEW YORK (AP) — Crowded bars and house parties have been identified as culprits in spreading the coronavirus. Meat packing plants, prisons and nursing homes are known hot spots. Then there’s the complicated case of America’s churches.

The vast majority of these churches have cooperated with health authorities and successfully protected their congregations. Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks.

They are by no means at the top of the list of problematic activities across the U.S., but they have posed challenges for government leaders and public health officials whose guidelines and orders are sometimes challenged as encroachments on religious liberty.

“If we wanted to have zero risks, the safest thing would be to never open our doors,” said prominent Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress. “The question is how can you balance risk with the very real need to worship.”

In the past two weeks alone, there have been two notable church-government confrontations in California.

San Francisco's city attorney sent a cease-and-desist order in late June to the Roman Catholic archdiocese, alleging that some of its churches had violated a local ban on large indoor gatherings. The archdiocese promised to comply.

A few days later, state officials temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship.pdf">banned</a>&nbsp;“indoor singing and chanting activities” at all places of worship, prompting some pastors to defy the rule.

Evangelical pastor Samuel Rodriguez said worshippers at his Sacramento megachurch joined in singing hymns on July 5, even as most of them wore face masks and obeyed social-distancing guidelines.

“To forbid singing in a church is morally reprehensible,” Rodriguez said. “That is how we petition heaven.”

The extent to which religious gatherings have contributed to the pandemic’s toll may never be known with any precision. But there’s no question they have played a role throughout, internationally as well as in the United States, even as myriad houses of worship halted in-person services for safety reasons.

Of the first wave of cases in South Korea in February, several thousand were members of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Hundreds of other cases were linked to a Muslim missionary movement event in late February in Malaysia that was attended by about 16,000 people from numerous East Asian countries.

In the second week of March, before warnings and lockdown orders proliferated in the U.S., 35 of the 92 people who attended events at a rural Arkansas church developed COVID-19, and three of them died, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6920e2.htm">report</a>&nbsp;issued in May.

More recently, in mid-June, a small-town church in northeastern Oregon became the epicenter of the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak when 236 people linked to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church tested positive.

According to the Observer newspaper in nearby La Grande, the church in Island City had held religious services, a wedding and a graduation ceremony in the weeks preceding the outbreak, sometimes with more than 100 people in attendance in defiance of state restrictions on gatherings.

Union County, with a population of 25,000 people, had recorded fewer than 25 cases during the pandemic prior to the church outbreak. Within two weeks, it had Oregon's highest per capita rate of coronavirus infections.

Also in June, West Virginia’s health department announced outbreaks linked to five churches in different parts of the state. The biggest was at Graystone Baptist Church in Lewisburg with 51 cases, three of them fatal.

In several cases, churches that resumed in-person services opted to close again after outbreaks. Among them:

— A church and an administrative office affiliated with the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, which is the home base for the Pentecostal denomination. No official case count has been released, but a senior leader of the denomination, General Overseer Tim Hill, confirmed that the number of verified cases is growing, and that several church leaders were among those seriously ill. One pastor, Ernie Varner of Lenoir City, Tennessee, died Friday, six days after posting on Facebook, “I'm in the ICU with COVID. Please pray for me."

— Calvary Chapel, an evangelical church in Universal City, Texas. It reopened in early May only to close anew in late June after dozens of staff and churchgoers tested positive, including Pastor Ron Arbaugh and his wife. Arbaugh says he regrets telling worshippers last month they could resume the tradition of hugging each other during an interlude of mid-service socializing.

— Holy Family Catholic Church in Las Vegas. The diocese announced Thursday that the church would be closed indefinitely after a priest who celebrated Mass this week tested positive.

— First Baptist Church of Tillmans Corner in Mobile, Alabama. It resumed in-person services May 17 after the governor gave a statewide green light, but recently canceled them at least through July 31 after more than 20 of the congregation’s 1,500 members tested positive. Pastor Derek Allen wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jderekallen.com/post/five-lessons-i-learned-from-a-covid-19-spike-at-our-church">blog post</a>&nbsp;describing the outbreak as a “harrowing and demoralizing journey,” and offering advice to other pastors: “Assume every sniffle is COVID-19, and act quickly. We’ve learned that the tests take too long, and false positives are possible along with false negatives."

Another Baptist church, First Baptist Dallas, was in the spotlight June 28 when it hosted Vice President Mike Pence at its annual Freedom Sunday celebrations. Most of the 2,400 attendees wore face masks, but some criticism surfaced after the choir sang without masks.

Jeffress, the church’s pastor and a prominent evangelical conservative with close ties to President Donald Trump, said the choir and orchestra had been tested for COVID-19 beforehand. The church said a few who tested positive did not take part in the event.

Jeffress bristled at the idea that choirs should be temporarily banned.

“Choirs will always be a part of worship for us,” he said. “We think it’s possible to still have them but do it in a safe way.”

A few days after the Freedom Sunday event, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order requiring people wear face masks in most public settings — with several exceptions, including participants in religious services.

Some churches, through their physical attributes and the decisions of their leaders, have been able to minimize risks as worship resumes.

In Incline Village, Nevada, along the north shore of Lake Tahoe, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church took advantage of a unique feature to relaunch scaled-back, in-person services this month: its outdoor mountain amphitheater chapel shaded by pine trees.

Church officials took precautionary measures such as moving the log-bench pews farther apart, capping attendance at 50 and requiring worshippers have their temperature taken, employ hand sanitizer and wear masks. There was no Eucharist or passing of the peace, and the usual post-service coffee hour was held by video conference.

“Good morning, children of God,” the Rev. Sarah Dunn, the church’s rector, said from behind a plexiglass screen, welcoming parishioners back to the socially distanced service July 5 after 16 Sundays apart. She acknowledged feeling “mixed emotions”: apprehension as the virus remains a threat, but joy at being able to gather in the sacred space.

NEW YORK (AP) — Crowded bars and house parties have been identified as culprits in spreading the coronavirus. Meat packing plants, prisons and nursing homes are known hot spots. Then there’s the complicated case of America’s churches.The vast majority of these churches have cooperated with health authorities and successfully protected their congregations. Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks.They are by no means at the top of the list of problematic activities across the U.S., but they have posed challenges for government leaders and public health officials whose guidelines and orders are sometimes challenged as encroachments on religious liberty.“If we wanted to have zero risks, the safest thing would be to never open our doors,” said prominent Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress. “The question is how can you balance risk with the very real need to worship.”In the past two weeks alone, there have been two notable church-government confrontations in California.San Francisco's city attorney sent a cease-and-desist order in late June to the Roman Catholic archdiocese, alleging that some of its churches had violated a local ban on large indoor gatherings. The archdiocese promised to comply.A few days later, state officials temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship.pdf">banned</a>&nbsp;“indoor singing and chanting activities” at all places of worship, prompting some pastors to defy the rule.Evangelical pastor Samuel Rodriguez said worshippers at his Sacramento megachurch joined in singing hymns on July 5, even as most of them wore face masks and obeyed social-distancing guidelines.“To forbid singing in a church is morally reprehensible,” Rodriguez said. “That is how we petition heaven.”The extent to which religious gatherings have contributed to the pandemic’s toll may never be known with any precision. But there’s no question they have played a role throughout, internationally as well as in the United States, even as myriad houses of worship halted in-person services for safety reasons.Of the first wave of cases in South Korea in February, several thousand were members of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Hundreds of other cases were linked to a Muslim missionary movement event in late February in Malaysia that was attended by about 16,000 people from numerous East Asian countries.In the second week of March, before warnings and lockdown orders proliferated in the U.S., 35 of the 92 people who attended events at a rural Arkansas church developed COVID-19, and three of them died, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6920e2.htm">report</a>&nbsp;issued in May.More recently, in mid-June, a small-town church in northeastern Oregon became the epicenter of the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak when 236 people linked to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church tested positive.According to the Observer newspaper in nearby La Grande, the church in Island City had held religious services, a wedding and a graduation ceremony in the weeks preceding the outbreak, sometimes with more than 100 people in attendance in defiance of state restrictions on gatherings.Union County, with a population of 25,000 people, had recorded fewer than 25 cases during the pandemic prior to the church outbreak. Within two weeks, it had Oregon's highest per capita rate of coronavirus infections.Also in June, West Virginia’s health department announced outbreaks linked to five churches in different parts of the state. The biggest was at Graystone Baptist Church in Lewisburg with 51 cases, three of them fatal.In several cases, churches that resumed in-person services opted to close again after outbreaks. Among them:— A church and an administrative office affiliated with the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, which is the home base for the Pentecostal denomination. No official case count has been released, but a senior leader of the denomination, General Overseer Tim Hill, confirmed that the number of verified cases is growing, and that several church leaders were among those seriously ill. One pastor, Ernie Varner of Lenoir City, Tennessee, died Friday, six days after posting on Facebook, “I'm in the ICU with COVID. Please pray for me."— Calvary Chapel, an evangelical church in Universal City, Texas. It reopened in early May only to close anew in late June after dozens of staff and churchgoers tested positive, including Pastor Ron Arbaugh and his wife. Arbaugh says he regrets telling worshippers last month they could resume the tradition of hugging each other during an interlude of mid-service socializing.— Holy Family Catholic Church in Las Vegas. The diocese announced Thursday that the church would be closed indefinitely after a priest who celebrated Mass this week tested positive.— First Baptist Church of Tillmans Corner in Mobile, Alabama. It resumed in-person services May 17 after the governor gave a statewide green light, but recently canceled them at least through July 31 after more than 20 of the congregation’s 1,500 members tested positive. Pastor Derek Allen wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jderekallen.com/post/five-lessons-i-learned-from-a-covid-19-spike-at-our-church">blog post</a>&nbsp;describing the outbreak as a “harrowing and demoralizing journey,” and offering advice to other pastors: “Assume every sniffle is COVID-19, and act quickly. We’ve learned that the tests take too long, and false positives are possible along with false negatives."Another Baptist church, First Baptist Dallas, was in the spotlight June 28 when it hosted Vice President Mike Pence at its annual Freedom Sunday celebrations. Most of the 2,400 attendees wore face masks, but some criticism surfaced after the choir sang without masks.Jeffress, the church’s pastor and a prominent evangelical conservative with close ties to President Donald Trump, said the choir and orchestra had been tested for COVID-19 beforehand. The church said a few who tested positive did not take part in the event.Jeffress bristled at the idea that choirs should be temporarily banned.“Choirs will always be a part of worship for us,” he said. “We think it’s possible to still have them but do it in a safe way.”A few days after the Freedom Sunday event, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order requiring people wear face masks in most public settings — with several exceptions, including participants in religious services.Some churches, through their physical attributes and the decisions of their leaders, have been able to minimize risks as worship resumes.In Incline Village, Nevada, along the north shore of Lake Tahoe, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church took advantage of a unique feature to relaunch scaled-back, in-person services this month: its outdoor mountain amphitheater chapel shaded by pine trees.Church officials took precautionary measures such as moving the log-bench pews farther apart, capping attendance at 50 and requiring worshippers have their temperature taken, employ hand sanitizer and wear masks. There was no Eucharist or passing of the peace, and the usual post-service coffee hour was held by video conference.“Good morning, children of God,” the Rev. Sarah Dunn, the church’s rector, said from behind a plexiglass screen, welcoming parishioners back to the socially distanced service July 5 after 16 Sundays apart. She acknowledged feeling “mixed emotions”: apprehension as the virus remains a threat, but joy at being able to gather in the sacred space.

Churches amid the pandemic: Some outbreaks, many challenges

TOPEKA, Kan. –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspect in custody.

Just after 10:30p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to 915 NW Western in Topeka for a report of a burglary in progress, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

Officers arrived and set up a perimeter around the building and were able to take Cynthia Wood, 54, and Stacy Stinnett, 44, both of Topeka, into custody. 

Both women were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections under suspicion of burglary, criminal damage, and theft. 

The stolen items were recovered at the scene and returned to the property owner, according to Johnson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594412858405.png" alt="Wood-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wood-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspect in custody.Just after 10:30p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to 915 NW Western in Topeka for a report of a burglary in progress, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived and set up a perimeter around the building and were able to take Cynthia Wood, 54, and Stacy Stinnett, 44, both of Topeka, into custody. Both women were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections under suspicion of burglary, criminal damage, and theft. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594412972329.png" alt="Stinnett-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Stinnett-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The stolen items were recovered at the scene and returned to the property owner, according to Johnson.

Police catch two Kansas women during burglary

GREENWOOD COUNTY—Authorities are reporting six cases of rabies near Eureka, Kansas, according to Greenwood County Health Officer Vicki Lindsey-Ross.

"Being observant of erratic behavior in wildlife or livestock is important," she said in a media release. "Pet owners are encourage to follow best practices and vaccinate their animals to prevent the disease"

"Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted animals to people and is often transmitted from the bite of an infected animal."

She released no additional details. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/">Click here</a> for or more information on rabies.&nbsp;

GREENWOOD COUNTY—Authorities are reporting six cases of rabies near Eureka, Kansas, according to Greenwood County Health Officer Vicki Lindsey-Ross."Being observant of erratic behavior in wildlife or livestock is important," she said in a media release. "Pet owners are encourage to follow best practices and vaccinate their animals to prevent the disease""Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted animals to people and is often transmitted from the bite of an infected animal."She released no additional details. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/">Click here</a> for or more information on rabies.&nbsp;

Officials report 6 cases of rabies in one Kansas county

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday, the first time the president has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials as a precaution against spreading or becoming infected by the novel coronavirus.

Trump flew by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Washington to meet wounded servicemembers and health care providers caring for COVID-19 patients. As he left the White House, he told reporters: “When you’re in a hospital, especially ... I think it’s expected to wear a mask.”

Trump was wearing a mask in Walter Reed’s hallway as he began his visit. He was not wearing one when he stepped off the helicopter at the facility.

The president was a latecomer to wearing a mask during the pandemic, which has raged across the U.S. since March and infected more than 3.2 million and killed at least 134,000. Most prominent Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence, endorsed wearing masks as the coronavirus gained ground this summer.

Trump, however, has declined to wear a mask at news conferences, coronavirus task force updates, rallies and other public events. People close to him have told The Associated Press that the president feared a mask would make him look weak and was concerned that it shifted focus to the public health crisis rather than the economic recovery. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private matters.

While not wearing one himself, Trump has sent mixed signals about masks, acknowledging that they would be appropriate if worn in an indoor setting where people were close together. But he has accused reporters of wearing them to be politically correct and has retweeted messages making fun of Democrat Joe Biden for wearing a mask and implying that Biden looks weak.

The wearing of masks became another political dividing line, with Republicans more resistant to wearing them than Democrats. Few masks were seen at recent Trump campaign events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Phoenix and South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore.

The only time Trump has been known to wear a mask was during a private part of a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan.

On its website, Walter Reed carries this recommendation: “Whenever you’re out in public, like at your local grocery store or pharmacy, where it’s difficult to maintain 6 feet of social distance, you should wear a cloth face covering.” The facility also notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”

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<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594505499981.png" alt="President Trump during a visit to&nbsp;Walter Reed National Military Medical Center&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during a visit to&nbsp;Walter Reed National Military Medical Center&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday, the first time the president has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials as a precaution against spreading or becoming infected by the novel coronavirus.Trump flew by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Washington to meet wounded servicemembers and health care providers caring for COVID-19 patients. As he left the White House, he told reporters: “When you’re in a hospital, especially ... I think it’s expected to wear a mask.”Trump was wearing a mask in Walter Reed’s hallway as he began his visit. He was not wearing one when he stepped off the helicopter at the facility.The president was a latecomer to wearing a mask during the pandemic, which has raged across the U.S. since March and infected more than 3.2 million and killed at least 134,000. Most prominent Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence, endorsed wearing masks as the coronavirus gained ground this summer.Trump, however, has declined to wear a mask at news conferences, coronavirus task force updates, rallies and other public events. People close to him have told The Associated Press that the president feared a mask would make him look weak and was concerned that it shifted focus to the public health crisis rather than the economic recovery. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private matters.While not wearing one himself, Trump has sent mixed signals about masks, acknowledging that they would be appropriate if worn in an indoor setting where people were close together. But he has accused reporters of wearing them to be politically correct and has retweeted messages making fun of Democrat Joe Biden for wearing a mask and implying that Biden looks weak.The wearing of masks became another political dividing line, with Republicans more resistant to wearing them than Democrats. Few masks were seen at recent Trump campaign events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Phoenix and South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore.The only time Trump has been known to wear a mask was during a private part of a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan.On its website, Walter Reed carries this recommendation: “Whenever you’re out in public, like at your local grocery store or pharmacy, where it’s difficult to maintain 6 feet of social distance, you should wear a cloth face covering.” The facility also notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/e4733210ebf43a43d3b96b7cf19dbd96">Dutch short-track world champion Van Ruijven dies at age 27</a><a href="https://apnews.com/12bec4013ad5fc13c7df8555dd44e4c1">Noem vaunts hands-off virus approach; testing draws concern</a><a href="https://apnews.com/155113ab0bcf63d42b95169e7e5f1af7">Ghislaine Maxwell seeks jail release in Epstein abuse case</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

Trump wears mask in public for first time during pandemic

TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice met for their first meeting Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;

<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DylmJgK8kuiU&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd4fa028bae0f4393454108d8251538be%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637300120359291733&amp;sdata=vt8ORYrrKVWjSH3rjTglaZLVRXDynNEqpFgY764LN0c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to watch a replay of the meeting.

In a media release, Governor Kelly said, “This is not the first time a group like this has been convened to discuss the structural inequalities that exist in our country. But I believe this national moment has provided the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice, and the state of Kansas an opportunity to have an honest and informed conversation about the work that must be done.”

Co-chairs Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools USD 501, and Dr. Shannon Portillo, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs KU Edwards Campus &amp; School of Professional Studies, led the conversation in discussing the structure, schedule, and priority goals of the Commission.

“We had a robust discussion in our first meeting, outlining areas for inquiry and listening sessions,”&nbsp;Dr. Shannon Portillo, said.&nbsp;“I am looking forward to engaging with our community listening sessions, and ultimately developing a report for Governor Kelly’s administration to take action on.”

The Commission plans to meet biweekly, every other Thursday, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 23rd, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. The meetings will continue to be held virtually and streamed to&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUChH3fB2PkiJjZlo55c9UH2Q%3Fview_as%3Dsubscriber&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd4fa028bae0f4393454108d8251538be%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637300120359291733&amp;sdata=fJQxKTScrj4scj3PuJzDC7TcOMi8bqKHlomOVq5qvaA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Governor Laura Kelly’s YouTube page.</a>

Governor Kelly tasked the Commission with focusing their work first on law enforcement and policing in Kansas. Commission members discussed the following possible topics for the initial focus of their work:

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (KSCPOST)

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Former Commissions and reports (Federal &amp; Local)

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;School resource officers and policing in schools

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bail bonds

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594415416015.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly and members of her Commission on Racial Equality held their first meeting online this week." />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly and members of her Commission on Racial Equality held their first meeting online this week.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice met for their first meeting Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DylmJgK8kuiU&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd4fa028bae0f4393454108d8251538be%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637300120359291733&amp;sdata=vt8ORYrrKVWjSH3rjTglaZLVRXDynNEqpFgY764LN0c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to watch a replay of the meeting.In a media release, Governor Kelly said, “This is not the first time a group like this has been convened to discuss the structural inequalities that exist in our country. But I believe this national moment has provided the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice, and the state of Kansas an opportunity to have an honest and informed conversation about the work that must be done.”Co-chairs Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools USD 501, and Dr. Shannon Portillo, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs KU Edwards Campus &amp; School of Professional Studies, led the conversation in discussing the structure, schedule, and priority goals of the Commission.“We had a robust discussion in our first meeting, outlining areas for inquiry and listening sessions,”&nbsp;Dr. Shannon Portillo, said.&nbsp;“I am looking forward to engaging with our community listening sessions, and ultimately developing a report for Governor Kelly’s administration to take action on.”The Commission plans to meet biweekly, every other Thursday, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 23rd, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. The meetings will continue to be held virtually and streamed to&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUChH3fB2PkiJjZlo55c9UH2Q%3Fview_as%3Dsubscriber&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd4fa028bae0f4393454108d8251538be%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637300120359291733&amp;sdata=fJQxKTScrj4scj3PuJzDC7TcOMi8bqKHlomOVq5qvaA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Governor Laura Kelly’s YouTube page.</a>Governor Kelly tasked the Commission with focusing their work first on law enforcement and policing in Kansas. Commission members discussed the following possible topics for the initial focus of their work:•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (KSCPOST)•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Former Commissions and reports (Federal &amp; Local)<ul>
 <li>The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing</li><li>Forward Through Ferguson Police Reform</li><li>Kerner Commission</li><li>Other Kansas-specific reports</li>
 </ul>•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;School resource officers and policing in schools•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bail bonds•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;K-9 officers and dispute resolution•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Qualified immunity•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Corrections officers•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recruitment, hiring, and decertification practices•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Police misconduct records•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Police unions and contract negotiations•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Officer Residency requirements•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Social determinants of health in prisons•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Debtors’ prisonsThe group discussed the methods of collecting data and reports for the Commission. National Governors Association, Governor’s staff, and stakeholders will be facilitating data and research for the work of the Commission.“Engaging with the public throughout the course of these meetings will be crucial to crafting recommendations and policies that are specific to Kansas, and to amplifying as many voices throughout the community as possible,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.The Commission plans to hold a number of virtual listening sessions with stakeholders and communities across the state. This includes, but is not limited to:•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Public Defenders•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Law Enforcement•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Community members who have engaged with the criminal justice system•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spanish and other non-English-speaking communities•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Immigrant and refugee communitiesTo engage with the public, the Commission will be providing an email address, mailing address, constituent services line, and Twitter hashtag (#KansasCREJ). More information regarding how constituents can submit feedback and testimony will be made available next week.