TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A COVID-19 surge in Kansas fueled by the faster-spreading delta variant is filling up hospital beds in some areas.

Four times as many patients with confirmed COVID-19 infections were hospitalized this week as were hospitalized in early June, according to a survey from the Kansas Hospital Association. Hospitals said they’re dealing with a regular load of non-COVID patients as delta variant cases surge — unlike last fall and winter, when new COVID-19 case numbers hit record highs.

“We’re seeing more cases of a variety of other things that have patients in the ER and ICU,” Cindy Samuelson, a senior Kansas Hospital Association vice president, said Thursday. “Then you add the COVID on top of that.”

Confirmed delta variant cases in Kansas are doubling every two weeks, and new COVID-19 cases overall have been rising for five weeks.

The University of Kansas is recommending that all people wear masks indoors on its main campus in Lawrence and a satellite campus in the Kansas City area when two or more people gather.

Meanwhile, the Kansas Hospital Association said that 116 Kansas hospitals surveyed this week reported having 399 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. For early June, 125 hospitals reported having 99 — and the association stopped posting numbers on its website for five weeks.

University of Kansas Health System officials disclosed last week that they were refusing to admit some patients from outside their system.

For about a month, the Salina Regional Health Center has a times been full capacity. Chief Medical Officer Robert Freelove said the hospital has struggled to find beds for patients who have needed a higher level of care, recently sending one more than three hours away to Garden City in southwest Kansas.

“Normally when we’d send somebody to another hospital, it’s going up to a higher level of care, like a bigger hospital with more services,” Freelove said. “But now, at times, we’re just looking for a bed wherever we can find one.”

In Wichita, the Ascension Via Christi system had some good news with the slowing this week of a recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

“We accept transfers as we are able, but when the volumes are running high there often are times when we cannot,” said Kris Hill, vice president of nursing for the system’s St. Francis hospital in Wichita.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A COVID-19 surge in Kansas fueled by the faster-spreading delta variant is filling up hospital beds in some areas.Four times as many patients with confirmed COVID-19 infections were hospitalized this week as were hospitalized in early June, according to a survey from the Kansas Hospital Association. Hospitals said they’re dealing with a regular load of non-COVID patients as delta variant cases surge — unlike last fall and winter, when new COVID-19 case numbers hit record highs.“We’re seeing more cases of a variety of other things that have patients in the ER and ICU,” Cindy Samuelson, a senior Kansas Hospital Association vice president, said Thursday. “Then you add the COVID on top of that.”Confirmed delta variant cases in Kansas are doubling every two weeks, and new COVID-19 cases overall have been rising for five weeks.The University of Kansas is recommending that all people wear masks indoors on its main campus in Lawrence and a satellite campus in the Kansas City area when two or more people gather.Meanwhile, the Kansas Hospital Association said that 116 Kansas hospitals surveyed this week reported having 399 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. For early June, 125 hospitals reported having 99 — and the association stopped posting numbers on its website for five weeks.University of Kansas Health System officials disclosed last week that they were refusing to admit some patients from outside their system.For about a month, the Salina Regional Health Center has a times been full capacity. Chief Medical Officer Robert Freelove said the hospital has struggled to find beds for patients who have needed a higher level of care, recently sending one more than three hours away to Garden City in southwest Kansas.“Normally when we’d send somebody to another hospital, it’s going up to a higher level of care, like a bigger hospital with more services,” Freelove said. “But now, at times, we’re just looking for a bed wherever we can find one.”In Wichita, the Ascension Via Christi system had some good news with the slowing this week of a recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations.“We accept transfers as we are able, but when the volumes are running high there often are times when we cannot,” said Kris Hill, vice president of nursing for the system’s St. Francis hospital in Wichita.___

Delta variant fills Kansas hospital beds with COVID patients

HUTCHINSON— A dog alerted a Kansas family to a fire early Friday in Hutchinson.

Just after 3:30 a.m. fire crews responded to a home at 826 E 7th Street for a residential fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.

Smoke was showing from the roof eaves on a small single-story residence. There was a fire in the kitchen at the back of the house. The fire was quickly controlled, and no one was hurt, all occupants were out of the house.

The residence suffered light smoke damage throughout. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen.

Occupants were asleep at the time the fire started and was alerted by their dog. An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen, according to Beer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627645964298.jpeg" alt="An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen that caused the fire.-photo Hutchinson Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen that caused the fire.-photo Hutchinson Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— A dog alerted a Kansas family to a fire early Friday in Hutchinson.Just after 3:30 a.m. fire crews responded to a home at 826 E 7th Street for a residential fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.Smoke was showing from the roof eaves on a small single-story residence. There was a fire in the kitchen at the back of the house. The fire was quickly controlled, and no one was hurt, all occupants were out of the house.The residence suffered light smoke damage throughout. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen.Occupants were asleep at the time the fire started and was alerted by their dog. An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen, according to Beer.

Fire Chief: Dog alerts family to fire at Kan. home

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513806-1/president-biden-announces-federal-employees-vaccinated-tested-regularly">Click here</a> to watch the President's comments

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new pandemic requirements aimed at boosting vaccination rates for millions of federal workers and contractors as he lamented the “American tragedy” of rising-yet-preventable deaths among the unvaccinated.

Federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more. The strict new guidelines are aimed at increasing sluggish vaccination rates among the huge number of Americans who draw federal paychecks — and to set an example for private employers around the country.

“Right now, too many people are dying or watching someone they love die and say, ‘If I’d just got the vaccine,’” Biden said in a somber address from the East Room of the White House. “This is an American tragedy. People are dying who don’t have to die.”

However, pushback is certain to Biden’s action. It puts him squarely in the center of a fierce political debate surrounding the government’s ability to compel Americans to follow public health guidelines.

The federal government directly employs about 4 million people, but Biden’s action could affect many more when federal contractors are factored in. New York University professor of public service Paul Light estimates there are nearly 7 million more employees who could potentially be included, combining those who work for companies that contract with the government and those working under federal grants.

Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots, saying “they get sick and fill up our hospitals,” taking beds away from others who need them.

“If in fact you are unvaccinated, you present a problem to yourself, to your family and those with whom you work,” he said bluntly.”

At the same time, he expressed sympathy for people who have received their shots and are “frustrated with the consequences of the minority that fail to get vaccinated.” And he again emphasized that the fight against the virus is far from over, girding Americans to remain strong in the face of setbacks in the pandemic.

“I know this is hard to hear. I know it’s frustrating. I know it’s exhausting to think we’re still in this fight. I know we hoped this would be a simple straightforward line, without problems or new challenges. But that isn’t real life,” he said.

His comments came as some 60% of American adults have been fully vaccinated. He had set a July 4 goal to get at least one shot in 70% of adults, and is still not quite there. The latest figure is 69.3%. And there remains significant resistance from many Republicans and some unions to vaccine mandates for employers.

Reflecting an awareness of the political landmines surrounding mandates, administration officials emphasize that their plan does not require workers to receive the vaccine but aims to make life more difficult for those who are unvaccinated to encourage them to comply. Biden directed his team to take steps to apply similar requirements to all federal contractors.

He also directed the Defense Department to look into adding the COVID-19 shot to its list of required vaccinations for members of the military. Service members already are required to get as many as 17 vaccines, depending on where they are based around the world.

Over and over, the president repeated that the vast majority of those falling ill and dying in the new wave of the delta virus are unvaccinated, putting others at risk and endangering the nation’s fragile economic recovery and return to normalcy.

“It’s an American blessing that we have vaccines for each and every American. It’s such a shame to squander that blessing,” said Biden.

He praised the recent increase in Republican lawmakers urging those who are not vaccinated — many of whom, polling suggests, identify as conservatives — to get their shots. And seeking to push back against skepticism among some Republicans over the safety of the vaccine, he gave a nod to predecessor Donald Trump, noting that it was “developed and authorized under a Republican administration.”

“This is not about red states and blue states,” he said. “It’s literally about life and death, life and death.”

Biden renewed his calls for schools to fully open this fall, although children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. And he said that public health officials do not yet believe Americans need a booster vaccine despite the highly contagious delta variant fueling the surge.

The new pressure on workers to get vaccinated could work because evidence shows people would rather get the vaccine than deal with burdens they consider onerous at work, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University Law School.

“People would much rather roll up their sleeves and get a jab, than undergo weekly testing and universal masking,” he said. “In many ways, this is really not a mandate, it’s giving workers a choice.”

Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.

The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines that, while widely recognized as safe and effective, have yet to receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

“I think we’ve reached this tipping point, and Biden’s announcement will provide a lot of air cover for companies and boards of directors who have difficult decisions facing them,” said Jeff Hyman, a Chicago-based business author and recruiter for start-up companies.

Some of the nation’s biggest corporations have moved to require vaccinations for their workers. Tech giants Facebook and Google announced this week their employees would have to show proof they’ve been fully vaccinated before returning to work.

Delta and United airlines are requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are requiring workers to disclose their vaccination status though not requiring them to be vaccinated.

But fewer than 10% of employers have said they intend to require all employees to be vaccinated, based on periodic surveys by the research firm Gartner.

State lawmakers across the U.S. have introduced more than 100 bills aiming to prohibit employers from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. At least six states have approved such bills.

The Justice Department and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have both said no federal laws prevent businesses from requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment and the federal policy would take precedent. But the “medical freedom” bills underscore the resistance such guidance may encounter at the state level.

Government actions in New York City and California have faced resistance from local unions. And prior to Biden’s announcement, some national unions were speaking out against it.

Larry Cosme, President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents 30,000 federal officers and agents, said in a statement while the organization supports the vaccine it opposes compelling it.

“Forcing people to undertake a medical procedure is not the American way and is a clear civil rights violation no matter how proponents may seek to justify it,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627593916386.png" alt="President Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513806-1/president-biden-announces-federal-employees-vaccinated-tested-regularly">Click here</a> to watch the President's commentsWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new pandemic requirements aimed at boosting vaccination rates for millions of federal workers and contractors as he lamented the “American tragedy” of rising-yet-preventable deaths among the unvaccinated.Federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more. The strict new guidelines are aimed at increasing sluggish vaccination rates among the huge number of Americans who draw federal paychecks — and to set an example for private employers around the country.“Right now, too many people are dying or watching someone they love die and say, ‘If I’d just got the vaccine,’” Biden said in a somber address from the East Room of the White House. “This is an American tragedy. People are dying who don’t have to die.”However, pushback is certain to Biden’s action. It puts him squarely in the center of a fierce political debate surrounding the government’s ability to compel Americans to follow public health guidelines.The federal government directly employs about 4 million people, but Biden’s action could affect many more when federal contractors are factored in. New York University professor of public service Paul Light estimates there are nearly 7 million more employees who could potentially be included, combining those who work for companies that contract with the government and those working under federal grants.Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots, saying “they get sick and fill up our hospitals,” taking beds away from others who need them.“If in fact you are unvaccinated, you present a problem to yourself, to your family and those with whom you work,” he said bluntly.”At the same time, he expressed sympathy for people who have received their shots and are “frustrated with the consequences of the minority that fail to get vaccinated.” And he again emphasized that the fight against the virus is far from over, girding Americans to remain strong in the face of setbacks in the pandemic.“I know this is hard to hear. I know it’s frustrating. I know it’s exhausting to think we’re still in this fight. I know we hoped this would be a simple straightforward line, without problems or new challenges. But that isn’t real life,” he said.His comments came as some 60% of American adults have been fully vaccinated. He had set a July 4 goal to get at least one shot in 70% of adults, and is still not quite there. The latest figure is 69.3%. And there remains significant resistance from many Republicans and some unions to vaccine mandates for employers.Reflecting an awareness of the political landmines surrounding mandates, administration officials emphasize that their plan does not require workers to receive the vaccine but aims to make life more difficult for those who are unvaccinated to encourage them to comply. Biden directed his team to take steps to apply similar requirements to all federal contractors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590438752.png" alt="Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.&nbsp;The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines." />
 <figcaption>Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.&nbsp;The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines.</figcaption>
 </figure>He also directed the Defense Department to look into adding the COVID-19 shot to its list of required vaccinations for members of the military. Service members already are required to get as many as 17 vaccines, depending on where they are based around the world.Over and over, the president repeated that the vast majority of those falling ill and dying in the new wave of the delta virus are unvaccinated, putting others at risk and endangering the nation’s fragile economic recovery and return to normalcy.“It’s an American blessing that we have vaccines for each and every American. It’s such a shame to squander that blessing,” said Biden.He praised the recent increase in Republican lawmakers urging those who are not vaccinated — many of whom, polling suggests, identify as conservatives — to get their shots. And seeking to push back against skepticism among some Republicans over the safety of the vaccine, he gave a nod to predecessor Donald Trump, noting that it was “developed and authorized under a Republican administration.”“This is not about red states and blue states,” he said. “It’s literally about life and death, life and death.”Biden renewed his calls for schools to fully open this fall, although children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. And he said that public health officials do not yet believe Americans need a booster vaccine despite the highly contagious delta variant fueling the surge.The new pressure on workers to get vaccinated could work because evidence shows people would rather get the vaccine than deal with burdens they consider onerous at work, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University Law School.“People would much rather roll up their sleeves and get a jab, than undergo weekly testing and universal masking,” he said. “In many ways, this is really not a mandate, it’s giving workers a choice.”Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines that, while widely recognized as safe and effective, have yet to receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.“I think we’ve reached this tipping point, and Biden’s announcement will provide a lot of air cover for companies and boards of directors who have difficult decisions facing them,” said Jeff Hyman, a Chicago-based business author and recruiter for start-up companies.Some of the nation’s biggest corporations have moved to require vaccinations for their workers. Tech giants Facebook and Google announced this week their employees would have to show proof they’ve been fully vaccinated before returning to work.Delta and United airlines are requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are requiring workers to disclose their vaccination status though not requiring them to be vaccinated.But fewer than 10% of employers have said they intend to require all employees to be vaccinated, based on periodic surveys by the research firm Gartner.Still, there is opposition.State lawmakers across the U.S. have introduced more than 100 bills aiming to prohibit employers from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. At least six states have approved such bills.The Justice Department and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have both said no federal laws prevent businesses from requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment and the federal policy would take precedent. But the “medical freedom” bills underscore the resistance such guidance may encounter at the state level.Government actions in New York City and California have faced resistance from local unions. And prior to Biden’s announcement, some national unions were speaking out against it.Larry Cosme, President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents 30,000 federal officers and agents, said in a statement while the organization supports the vaccine it opposes compelling it.“Forcing people to undertake a medical procedure is not the American way and is a clear civil rights violation no matter how proponents may seek to justify it,” he said.____

🎥  President Biden orders tough new vaccination rules 

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A group of mostly Black pastors has joined other civil rights organizations in Kansas City who are seeking a federal investigation into officer misconduct in the city’s police department.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter has asked the Department of Justice to investigate the department because it has not been responsive to calls for more accountability, particularly in shootings or violent interactions with minority residents, Pastor Darron Edwards said.

“Something needs to happen to change the trajectory of our city in terms of protecting and serving people in all its Zip codes,” Edwards said Thursday.

On Monday, the Urban Council, an umbrella group of civil rights organizations, announced it had sent a letter to U.S Attorney Merrick Garland asking for an investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-race-and-ethnicity-michael-brown-racial-injustice-police-reform-a9f80387827324193e7f31f103206665">“disturbing patterns” of violent policing toward Black men.</a>

The civil rights groups also criticized the Board of Police Commissioners, which includes the mayor and four members appointed by the governor. They say the board has protected the police department and the current organization makes Kansas City one of largest metropolitan cities in the U.S. without local police control.

Edwards said his group hand-delivered its letter to Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents the Kansas City area, about two weeks ago. The group has also asked the Missouri State Auditor and the Kansas City auditor to investigate aspects of the department.

The U.S Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the two calls for investigations. Scott Holste, a spokesman for the Missouri Auditor’s office, said the request from Getting to the Heart of the Matter is under review.

Kansas City police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the department has had an agreement with the Justice Department, the FBI and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office since 2015 to ensure the department reports incidents that could be considered civil rights violations or excessive force.

“We take very seriously the quality of relationships and respect between the community as well as members of the (police department),” said Becchina, who said the department has procedures to report discrimination or racial complaints and fully investigates those complaints.

The civil rights groups have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/896db17d0ecb1e921ce26ebc897760da">long criticized the department and called for the resignation or firing of Police Chief Rick Smith</a>, with the complaints increasing after racial injustice protests that began in the summer of 2020.

Unlike those groups, Getting to the Heart of the Matter had worked with the department to improve police-community relationships and was publicly lauded by Smith and others for those efforts.

That relationship changed on June 1, when the group released a video of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-kansas-police-shootings-07c9ee2bca9013d73d8751a263932aa5">a fatal police shooting of a Black man at a convenience store</a>. Edwards and others said video of Malcolm Johnson, 31, being shot as he struggled with several officers contradicted the police department’s version that he was shot after he shot an officer.

They contend Johnson was “executed” by police while several officers had him pinned on the floor.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has turned its investigation into Johnson’s shooting over to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office.

Edwards said the department stopped working with his group since it held news conferences to question the Johnson case. He said he used to hear from Chief Smith or someone from the department nearly every day but has not received any communication or been asked to speak to any groups since June 1.

Becchina said in his statement that the department continues to work with Edwards and dozens of others in the faith based community on a weekly basis.

Edwards said the problems with the police department go beyond the Malcolm Johnson case.

“The investigations are necessary because I see no leadership from the chief of police,” Edwards said. “There is no accountability, no responsiveness to the needs or voices of the community.”

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A group of mostly Black pastors has joined other civil rights organizations in Kansas City who are seeking a federal investigation into officer misconduct in the city’s police department.Getting to the Heart of the Matter has asked the Department of Justice to investigate the department because it has not been responsive to calls for more accountability, particularly in shootings or violent interactions with minority residents, Pastor Darron Edwards said.“Something needs to happen to change the trajectory of our city in terms of protecting and serving people in all its Zip codes,” Edwards said Thursday.On Monday, the Urban Council, an umbrella group of civil rights organizations, announced it had sent a letter to U.S Attorney Merrick Garland asking for an investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-race-and-ethnicity-michael-brown-racial-injustice-police-reform-a9f80387827324193e7f31f103206665">“disturbing patterns” of violent policing toward Black men.</a>The civil rights groups also criticized the Board of Police Commissioners, which includes the mayor and four members appointed by the governor. They say the board has protected the police department and the current organization makes Kansas City one of largest metropolitan cities in the U.S. without local police control.Edwards said his group hand-delivered its letter to Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents the Kansas City area, about two weeks ago. The group has also asked the Missouri State Auditor and the Kansas City auditor to investigate aspects of the department.The U.S Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the two calls for investigations. Scott Holste, a spokesman for the Missouri Auditor’s office, said the request from Getting to the Heart of the Matter is under review.Kansas City police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the department has had an agreement with the Justice Department, the FBI and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office since 2015 to ensure the department reports incidents that could be considered civil rights violations or excessive force.“We take very seriously the quality of relationships and respect between the community as well as members of the (police department),” said Becchina, who said the department has procedures to report discrimination or racial complaints and fully investigates those complaints.The civil rights groups have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/896db17d0ecb1e921ce26ebc897760da">long criticized the department and called for the resignation or firing of Police Chief Rick Smith</a>, with the complaints increasing after racial injustice protests that began in the summer of 2020.Unlike those groups, Getting to the Heart of the Matter had worked with the department to improve police-community relationships and was publicly lauded by Smith and others for those efforts.ADVERTISEMENTThat relationship changed on June 1, when the group released a video of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-kansas-police-shootings-07c9ee2bca9013d73d8751a263932aa5">a fatal police shooting of a Black man at a convenience store</a>. Edwards and others said video of Malcolm Johnson, 31, being shot as he struggled with several officers contradicted the police department’s version that he was shot after he shot an officer.They contend Johnson was “executed” by police while several officers had him pinned on the floor.The Missouri State Highway Patrol has turned its investigation into Johnson’s shooting over to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office.Edwards said the department stopped working with his group since it held news conferences to question the Johnson case. He said he used to hear from Chief Smith or someone from the department nearly every day but has not received any communication or been asked to speak to any groups since June 1.Becchina said in his statement that the department continues to work with Edwards and dozens of others in the faith based community on a weekly basis.Edwards said the problems with the police department go beyond the Malcolm Johnson case.“The investigations are necessary because I see no leadership from the chief of police,” Edwards said. “There is no accountability, no responsiveness to the needs or voices of the community.”

Kansas City Black clergy group calls for US probe of police

RILEY COUNTY —Beginning Friday, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 will require all teachers, staff, students and visitors to wear masks at any indoor USD 383 facility, regardless of vaccination status, according to a statement from the school district Thursday morning.&nbsp;

"This significant mitigation measure is consistent with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control in response to rapidly increasing COVID numbers across the country," USD 383 said in their statement.

USD 305 Salina made a similar decision on Tuesday. The Shawnee Mission school board in the Kansas City area voted 6-1 on Monday night to also require masks in elementary schools but keep them optional in middle and high schools, where children are old enough to get vaccinated.&nbsp;The district has about 26,000 students and is the state’s third largest, behind Wichita and Olathe.

USD 383 said, "We are thankful that schools will soon be open five days per week for all students, and look forward to the future when vaccinations will be available to children under the age of twelve. In the meantime, we want to remind everyone that the two most important things we can do to keep our community safe from COVID is to get vaccinated when you are eligible and to wear a mask indoors."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617034362447.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Beginning Friday, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 will require all teachers, staff, students and visitors to wear masks at any indoor USD 383 facility, regardless of vaccination status, according to a statement from the school district Thursday morning.&nbsp;"This significant mitigation measure is consistent with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control in response to rapidly increasing COVID numbers across the country," USD 383 said in their statement.USD 305 Salina made a similar decision on Tuesday. The Shawnee Mission school board in the Kansas City area voted 6-1 on Monday night to also require masks in elementary schools but keep them optional in middle and high schools, where children are old enough to get vaccinated.&nbsp;The district has about 26,000 students and is the state’s third largest, behind Wichita and Olathe.USD 383 said, "We are thankful that schools will soon be open five days per week for all students, and look forward to the future when vaccinations will be available to children under the age of twelve. In the meantime, we want to remind everyone that the two most important things we can do to keep our community safe from COVID is to get vaccinated when you are eligible and to wear a mask indoors."

More Kansas school districts will require masks

HUTCHINSON — Formal charges have been brought against a Hutchinson man arrested after packages containing 40 pounds of marijuana were intercepted in the mail.

Luis Gutierrez is charged with possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute.

Gutierrez was arrested last week after members of the Reno County Criminal Interdiction Unit along with members of the United States Postal Service Inspectors Division, Hutchinson Police Department's Special Operations Unit, and South Hutchinson Police Department executed two drug-related search warrants simultaneously at two neighboring houses in the south part of Hutchinson as part of a controlled delivery.&nbsp;

Approximately 40 pounds of marijuana was seized from the two residences. Gutierrez remains jailed on a bond of $270,000. He is also due back in court Friday, Aug. 6, on a motion on a community corrections violation from a case back in 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627588668573.jpeg" alt="Gutierrez-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Gutierrez-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON — Formal charges have been brought against a Hutchinson man arrested after packages containing 40 pounds of marijuana were intercepted in the mail.Luis Gutierrez is charged with possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute.Gutierrez was arrested last week after members of the Reno County Criminal Interdiction Unit along with members of the United States Postal Service Inspectors Division, Hutchinson Police Department's Special Operations Unit, and South Hutchinson Police Department executed two drug-related search warrants simultaneously at two neighboring houses in the south part of Hutchinson as part of a controlled delivery.&nbsp;Approximately 40 pounds of marijuana was seized from the two residences. Gutierrez remains jailed on a bond of $270,000. He is also due back in court Friday, Aug. 6, on a motion on a community corrections violation from a case back in 2019.

Kan. man charged after marijuana sent in the mail

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged burglary.

Just before 10p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;were dispatched to a burglary in progress to a vehicle near SW 4th Street and SW Van Buren Street in downtown Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

While officers were responding to the scene, witnesses provided detailed suspect information. Police located a man matching the description walking near SW 3rd Street and SW Van Buren Street and took him into custody.

Officers located stolen items in the suspect’s possession. The stolen items were returned to the victim.

As a result of the investigation, Ezkekiel P. Rhoten, 59 of Topeka booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary; Vehicle to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime, Theft &lt; $1,500 Pocket-Picking, Interference with LEO; obstruct/resist/oppose felony warrant service or execution Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627585294270.png" alt="Rhoten photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Rhoten photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged burglary.Just before 10p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;were dispatched to a burglary in progress to a vehicle near SW 4th Street and SW Van Buren Street in downtown Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.While officers were responding to the scene, witnesses provided detailed suspect information. Police located a man matching the description walking near SW 3rd Street and SW Van Buren Street and took him into custody.Officers located stolen items in the suspect’s possession. The stolen items were returned to the victim.As a result of the investigation, Ezkekiel P. Rhoten, 59 of Topeka booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary; Vehicle to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime, Theft &lt; $1,500 Pocket-Picking, Interference with LEO; obstruct/resist/oppose felony warrant service or execution Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.

Police: Kan. man found with items taken in burglary

CLOUD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has arrested two individuals after an investigation into former employees of the Cloud County Jail.

Just after 8:35 a.m., Thursday Amber Lindberg, 40, of Concordia, was arrested at 212 N. Concord in Minneapolis, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

 She was arrested on a requested charge of theft, misuse of public funds, official misconduct, making false information, conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, conspiracy to commit misuse of public funds, and conspiracy to commit destroying a written instrument. 

Lindberg was the Cloud County jail administrator in June 2019 when the KBI initiated the investigation. Following her arrest, Lindberg was booked into the Saline County Jail.

Joyce Jasper, 62, of Concordia, was arrested on a requested charge of theft at 11th&nbsp;and State Street in Concordia. The arrest occurred at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday. Jasper is Lindberg’s mother. She was booked into the Cloud County Jail.

The Lincoln County Attorney was appointed as the special prosecutor and is expected to prosecute the case.

The investigation is ongoing. Additional arrests are expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627595225257.png" alt="Lindberg-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Lindberg-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>CLOUD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has arrested two individuals after an investigation into former employees of the Cloud County Jail.Just after 8:35 a.m., Thursday Amber Lindberg, 40, of Concordia, was arrested at 212 N. Concord in Minneapolis, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI. She was arrested on a requested charge of theft, misuse of public funds, official misconduct, making false information, conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, conspiracy to commit misuse of public funds, and conspiracy to commit destroying a written instrument. Lindberg was the Cloud County jail administrator in June 2019 when the KBI initiated the investigation. Following her arrest, Lindberg was booked into the Saline County Jail.Joyce Jasper, 62, of Concordia, was arrested on a requested charge of theft at 11th&nbsp;and State Street in Concordia. The arrest occurred at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday. Jasper is Lindberg’s mother. She was booked into the Cloud County Jail.The Lincoln County Attorney was appointed as the special prosecutor and is expected to prosecute the case.The investigation is ongoing. Additional arrests are expected.

Former jail administrator arrested after KBI investigation

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is asking states and localities to offer unvaccinated residents $100 to get their COVID-19 shots.

The cash reward for vaccination was one idea in Biden’s latest plan to boost lagging vaccination rates in many parts of the nation. Rolled out Thursday, the core of his new plan is a requirement for federal workers to disclose their vaccination status to their agencies.

Biden is pointing to anecdotal evidence that a $100 reward will get results. The White House says the Kroger grocery store chain tried it and saw vaccination rates jump to 75% from 50% among employees. New Mexico, Ohio and Colorado have also experimented with the idea.

Biden says states and localities can use money from his COVID relief law to pay for the incentive programs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590471007.png" alt="President Biden holding his mask Thursday afternoon as he begins remarks laying out the next steps in the effort to get more Americans vaccinated and combat the spread of the Delta Variant-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden holding his mask Thursday afternoon as he begins remarks laying out the next steps in the effort to get more Americans vaccinated and combat the spread of the Delta Variant-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is asking states and localities to offer unvaccinated residents $100 to get their COVID-19 shots.The cash reward for vaccination was one idea in Biden’s latest plan to boost lagging vaccination rates in many parts of the nation. Rolled out Thursday, the core of his new plan is a requirement for federal workers to disclose their vaccination status to their agencies.Biden is pointing to anecdotal evidence that a $100 reward will get results. The White House says the Kroger grocery store chain tried it and saw vaccination rates jump to 75% from 50% among employees. New Mexico, Ohio and Colorado have also experimented with the idea.Biden says states and localities can use money from his COVID relief law to pay for the incentive programs.

Biden asks states to offer the unvaccinated $100

JEWELL COUNTY —Another small earthquake shook north central Kansas Thursday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake just before 8a.m. measured a magnitude 3.2 and was centered south of Esbon in Jewell County.&nbsp; 

This follows a 2.9 magnitude quake in the same area on Wednesday.

A preliminary report from the Kansas Geological Survey indicated Wednesday quake&nbsp; at 9:15 a.m. measured 3.4 magnitude.

There are no reports of damage or injury, according to the Jewell County Sheriff's office.

JEWELL COUNTY —Another small earthquake shook north central Kansas Thursday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake just before 8a.m. measured a magnitude 3.2 and was centered south of Esbon in Jewell County.&nbsp; This follows a 2.9 magnitude quake in the same area on Wednesday.A preliminary report from the Kansas Geological Survey indicated Wednesday quake&nbsp; at 9:15 a.m. measured 3.4 magnitude.There are no reports of damage or injury, according to the Jewell County Sheriff's office.

Another quake reported in north-central Kansas

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– A group of midwestern Senators including Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Missouri&nbsp; led several of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden requesting a meeting with him and representatives of his cabinet to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard and promote biofuels as a key solution for America’s energy and climate agenda. The Biden administration’s energy and climate agenda lacks meaningful consideration of biofuels, which contribute significantly to emissions reductions and energy security and serve as an important market-driver for farmers.

<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/5/f/5f1e2d05-0a3f-47c7-bd69-eafef38a32b6/2C6218B823D227DFBACA197E2B57C605.9a5ade19a58da653b061a79c56efe977.thune-rfs-letter-to-potus-with-signatures-final.pdf">Click here to</a>&nbsp;read the letter

“We seek an audience to discuss the tremendous opportunity that biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel present to bolster affordable American energy, underpin a strong agricultural economy, and immediately lower transportation emissions using the existing consumer vehicle fleet and fueling infrastructure,”&nbsp;wrote the senators.&nbsp;“Unfortunately, the promise of homegrown biofuels and our agriculture sector appear to be woefully underrepresented in your administration’s energy, environmental, and transportation agenda.”

U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) also signed the letter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627572328781.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– A group of midwestern Senators including Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Missouri&nbsp; led several of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden requesting a meeting with him and representatives of his cabinet to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard and promote biofuels as a key solution for America’s energy and climate agenda. The Biden administration’s energy and climate agenda lacks meaningful consideration of biofuels, which contribute significantly to emissions reductions and energy security and serve as an important market-driver for farmers.<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/5/f/5f1e2d05-0a3f-47c7-bd69-eafef38a32b6/2C6218B823D227DFBACA197E2B57C605.9a5ade19a58da653b061a79c56efe977.thune-rfs-letter-to-potus-with-signatures-final.pdf">Click here to</a>&nbsp;read the letter“We seek an audience to discuss the tremendous opportunity that biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel present to bolster affordable American energy, underpin a strong agricultural economy, and immediately lower transportation emissions using the existing consumer vehicle fleet and fueling infrastructure,”&nbsp;wrote the senators.&nbsp;“Unfortunately, the promise of homegrown biofuels and our agriculture sector appear to be woefully underrepresented in your administration’s energy, environmental, and transportation agenda.”U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) also signed the letter.

Moran, Marshall want to meet with Biden on biofuels

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former suburban Kansas City police chief who helped rescue a baby from an icy pond and later assaulted the man accused of trying to kill the infant has pleaded guilty in the case. 

Greg Hallgrimson pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday. He was indicted in 2019 on a single count of violating the civil rights of Jonathon Zicarelli. 

Prosecutors say Hallgrimson threw a handcuffed Zicarelli to the ground and punching him in the face. Zicarelli had walked into the Greenwood police station in December 2018 and said he had tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter in a nearby pond. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the pond and rescued the baby.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573733052209.png" alt=" Greg Hallgrimson photo courtesy Fox4 Kansas City" />
 <figcaption> Greg Hallgrimson photo courtesy Fox4 Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former suburban Kansas City police chief who helped rescue a baby from an icy pond and later assaulted the man accused of trying to kill the infant has pleaded guilty in the case. Greg Hallgrimson pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday. He was indicted in 2019 on a single count of violating the civil rights of Jonathon Zicarelli. Prosecutors say Hallgrimson threw a handcuffed Zicarelli to the ground and punching him in the face. Zicarelli had walked into the Greenwood police station in December 2018 and said he had tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter in a nearby pond. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the pond and rescued the baby.

Ex-KC-area police chief who rescued baby pleads to assault

COFFEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office reported that Rickie Sluder returned home Thursday afternoon and was unharmed.

The statewide silver alert has been canceled.&nbsp;

COFFEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man.&nbsp;

The whereabouts of 70-year-old Rickie Allen Sluder of Leroy, Kansas are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Sluder is a 70-year-old white male, 6 ft. 2 in. tall, weighing 300 lbs. He has dark hair with some grey, and brown eyes. He is a severe diabetic and does not have his medication.&nbsp;

Sluder was last believed to be at his residence in rural Leroy on the morning of Wednesday, June 28. He is likely driving a tan 2002 Mercury Sable with Kansas disabled tag A8569. His direction of travel is unknown.

If you see Rickie Sluder, or have information about his whereabouts, please immediately call 911, or the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office at&nbsp;(620) 364-2123.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627578499376.png" alt="Sluder photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Sluder photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>COFFEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office reported that Rickie Sluder returned home Thursday afternoon and was unharmed.The statewide silver alert has been canceled.&nbsp;----------COFFEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man.&nbsp;The whereabouts of 70-year-old Rickie Allen Sluder of Leroy, Kansas are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Sluder is a 70-year-old white male, 6 ft. 2 in. tall, weighing 300 lbs. He has dark hair with some grey, and brown eyes. He is a severe diabetic and does not have his medication.&nbsp;Sluder was last believed to be at his residence in rural Leroy on the morning of Wednesday, June 28. He is likely driving a tan 2002 Mercury Sable with Kansas disabled tag A8569. His direction of travel is unknown.If you see Rickie Sluder, or have information about his whereabouts, please immediately call 911, or the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office at&nbsp;(620) 364-2123.

KBI: Silver Alert canceled, missing Kan. man is home

BOSTON (AP) — The Biden administration will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled it could only be extended until the end of the month.

In a statement Thursday, the White House said President Joe Biden would have liked to have extended the federal eviction moratorium due to spread of the delta variant. Biden called on “Congress to extend the eviction moratorium to protect such vulnerable renters and their families without delay.”

The moratorium was put in place put in place last September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

BOSTON (AP) — The Biden administration will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled it could only be extended until the end of the month.In a statement Thursday, the White House said President Joe Biden would have liked to have extended the federal eviction moratorium due to spread of the delta variant. Biden called on “Congress to extend the eviction moratorium to protect such vulnerable renters and their families without delay.”The moratorium was put in place put in place last September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

Biden to allow eviction moratorium to expire Saturday

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged theft.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 14,300 block of Hillside Drive in Randolph, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 65-year-old man reported a 38-year-old male suspect stole his 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 and a yellow 1996 Belshe trailer. 

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $13,000. 

The Marion County Sherrif's Office arrested Eric Pettit, 38, of Galva on requested charges of possession of stolen property. Deputies also recovered the Dodge Ram.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627568790053.png" alt="Pettit remains jailed in Marion County" />
 <figcaption>Pettit remains jailed in Marion County</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged theft.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 14,300 block of Hillside Drive in Randolph, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 65-year-old man reported a 38-year-old male suspect stole his 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 and a yellow 1996 Belshe trailer. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $13,000. The Marion County Sherrif's Office arrested Eric Pettit, 38, of Galva on requested charges of possession of stolen property. Deputies also recovered the Dodge Ram.

Sheriff: Kan. man jailed for alleged pickup, trailer theft

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced that she’s imposing a mask mandate for Kansas state government workers and visitors to state buildings in the wake of a “self-inflicted” surge in new COVID-19 cases fueled by the faster-spreading delta variant.

Kelly’s announcement came after a central Kansas school district mandated masks in its building and public health officials in two of the state’s most populous counties recommended that even vaccinated residents wear masks in at least some indoor public spaces. And all of the developments were in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-79959d313428d98ab8aa905bbe287ba0">changing its guidance</a>&nbsp;on masks because of the delta variant.

The CDC now recommends that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in places where the coronavirus is surging, and under its guidelines, those recommendations would apply to 84 of the state’s 105 counties.

Kelly’s mask mandate would apply to state workers and state buildings in those affected counties, indoors where social distancing isn’t possible, and in public spaces such as hallways and bathrooms. Her order takes effect Monday and applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. It covers almost 39,000 government workers, according to legislative researchers.

“We’ve been brought together mostly through a self-inflected problem,” Kelly said at the start of a Statehouse news conference, blaming the delta variant’s spread on people’s refusal to get vaccinated.

Top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature ended Kansas’ pandemic state of emergency in mid-June, citing a decline in new cases. Kelly, a Democrat, had wanted to keep the state of emergency in place at least through August, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-michael-brown-kansas-645694a155de3d206a433a3e763b299e">new cases began rising again</a>&nbsp;only days after the GOP leaders’ action.

Confirmed delta variant cases are doubling every two weeks, reaching 1,543 as of Wednesday, according to state data.

“I’m as frustrated as any other vaccinated Kansan,” Kelly said. “I feel like I did my part and one of the rewards of that was not having to wear a mask, but that option has been taken away.”

Some Republicans have criticized the CDC for backing off earlier, looser recommendations on masks. In a tweet, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor next year,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DerekSchmidtKS/status/1420167047800107009" target="_blank">criticized “conflicting and ever-changing” CDC guidance.</a>

“Bottom line: no mask mandates, no vaccine mandates, no vaccine passports, no more government control,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DerekSchmidtKS/status/1420167049419108355" target="_blank">Schmidt tweeted.</a>

Kelly is not planning to pursue vaccine passports. She tried last year to impose a statewide mask mandate but told reporters Wednesday that she’s not considering a broader one now. She also said she’s not considering declaring a new state of emergency.

Her office plans to issue guidance for schools, but Kelly said decisions about what they do with masks and social distancing will be left to the State Board of Education and local school boards.

She hasn’t suggested requiring anyone to get vaccinated but said she supports the right of private employers to do what they think is right for their businesses. That comment came after the Ascension Via Christi health system, which operates hospitals and specialty clinics in Wichita, Manhattan, Pittsburg and Wamego, announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://ascension.org/News/News-Articles/2021/07/27/15/59/Ascension-to-Require-COVID-19-Vaccination" target="_blank">it will require its its staff to get vaccinated.</a>

The Salina district’s board of education voted 5-2 during a special Tuesday night meeting to impose its mask requirement. The district, which has about 6,900 students, appears to be the first outside of the Kansas City area to impose a new mask mandate.

“Our goal is having our students in our classrooms, with our teachers, with their peers,” district spokesperson Jennifer Camien said, adding that requiring masks is a “strategy that underscores that goal and better ensures it.”

Shawnee County’s health officer on Wednesday recommended that all people wear masks “in crowded indoor situations” and that indoor events be limited to 50% of a room’s capacity to allow social distancing. The Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health department on Tuesday began recommending that anyone age 2 or older wear masks in schools and other indoor spaces. The two counties are among the top five in Kansas in population.

Kansas saw an average of 743 new COVID-19 cases per day during the seven-day period that ended Wednesday, according to state health department data. That’s a fraction of the worst peak in mid-November but more than seven times the average of 96 new cases per day for the seven-day period that ended June 23, before new cases began rising again.

The CDC reported that as of Tuesday, 45% of the state’s 2.9 million residents were vaccinated, which put Kansas 30th among states and below the national vaccination rate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627554979565.png" alt="“I’m as frustrated as any other vaccinated Kansan,” Kelly said during a Wednesday news conferene. “I feel like I did my part and one of the rewards of that was not having to wear a mask, but that option has been taken away.”" />
 <figcaption>“I’m as frustrated as any other vaccinated Kansan,” Kelly said during a Wednesday news conferene. “I feel like I did my part and one of the rewards of that was not having to wear a mask, but that option has been taken away.”</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced that she’s imposing a mask mandate for Kansas state government workers and visitors to state buildings in the wake of a “self-inflicted” surge in new COVID-19 cases fueled by the faster-spreading delta variant.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F898909867364707%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Kelly’s announcement came after a central Kansas school district mandated masks in its building and public health officials in two of the state’s most populous counties recommended that even vaccinated residents wear masks in at least some indoor public spaces. And all of the developments were in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-79959d313428d98ab8aa905bbe287ba0">changing its guidance</a>&nbsp;on masks because of the delta variant.The CDC now recommends that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in places where the coronavirus is surging, and under its guidelines, those recommendations would apply to 84 of the state’s 105 counties.Kelly’s mask mandate would apply to state workers and state buildings in those affected counties, indoors where social distancing isn’t possible, and in public spaces such as hallways and bathrooms. Her order takes effect Monday and applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. It covers almost 39,000 government workers, according to legislative researchers.“We’ve been brought together mostly through a self-inflected problem,” Kelly said at the start of a Statehouse news conference, blaming the delta variant’s spread on people’s refusal to get vaccinated.Top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature ended Kansas’ pandemic state of emergency in mid-June, citing a decline in new cases. Kelly, a Democrat, had wanted to keep the state of emergency in place at least through August, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-michael-brown-kansas-645694a155de3d206a433a3e763b299e">new cases began rising again</a>&nbsp;only days after the GOP leaders’ action.Confirmed delta variant cases are doubling every two weeks, reaching 1,543 as of Wednesday, according to state data.“I’m as frustrated as any other vaccinated Kansan,” Kelly said. “I feel like I did my part and one of the rewards of that was not having to wear a mask, but that option has been taken away.”Some Republicans have criticized the CDC for backing off earlier, looser recommendations on masks. In a tweet, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor next year,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DerekSchmidtKS/status/1420167047800107009" target="_blank">criticized “conflicting and ever-changing” CDC guidance.</a>“Bottom line: no mask mandates, no vaccine mandates, no vaccine passports, no more government control,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DerekSchmidtKS/status/1420167049419108355" target="_blank">Schmidt tweeted.</a>Kelly is not planning to pursue vaccine passports. She tried last year to impose a statewide mask mandate but told reporters Wednesday that she’s not considering a broader one now. She also said she’s not considering declaring a new state of emergency.Her office plans to issue guidance for schools, but Kelly said decisions about what they do with masks and social distancing will be left to the State Board of Education and local school boards.She hasn’t suggested requiring anyone to get vaccinated but said she supports the right of private employers to do what they think is right for their businesses. That comment came after the Ascension Via Christi health system, which operates hospitals and specialty clinics in Wichita, Manhattan, Pittsburg and Wamego, announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://ascension.org/News/News-Articles/2021/07/27/15/59/Ascension-to-Require-COVID-19-Vaccination" target="_blank">it will require its its staff to get vaccinated.</a>The Salina district’s board of education voted 5-2 during a special Tuesday night meeting to impose its mask requirement. The district, which has about 6,900 students, appears to be the first outside of the Kansas City area to impose a new mask mandate.“Our goal is having our students in our classrooms, with our teachers, with their peers,” district spokesperson Jennifer Camien said, adding that requiring masks is a “strategy that underscores that goal and better ensures it.”Shawnee County’s health officer on Wednesday recommended that all people wear masks “in crowded indoor situations” and that indoor events be limited to 50% of a room’s capacity to allow social distancing. The Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health department on Tuesday began recommending that anyone age 2 or older wear masks in schools and other indoor spaces. The two counties are among the top five in Kansas in population.Kansas saw an average of 743 new COVID-19 cases per day during the seven-day period that ended Wednesday, according to state health department data. That’s a fraction of the worst peak in mid-November but more than seven times the average of 96 new cases per day for the seven-day period that ended June 23, before new cases began rising again.The CDC reported that as of Tuesday, 45% of the state’s 2.9 million residents were vaccinated, which put Kansas 30th among states and below the national vaccination rate.___

Governor: I’m as frustrated as any other vaccinated Kansan

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

An airplane of a different kind, the NASA kind to be specific, has been using the Salina Regional Airport the past couple of weeks while on a scientific mission.

University and NASA scientists are studying the intense summer thunderstorms over the central United States to learn how they affect the Earth's stratosphere and how those effects contribute to climate change.

The Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) airborne science mission began flying out of the Salina Regional Airport earier this month. The mission will continue to fly from Salina Regional this summer and is scheduled to do so in the summer of 2022 as well.

Several of the scientists involved in the project participated in an online media briefing Tuesday.

Kenneth Jucks, program manager for NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Program, participated in the briefing from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport while on his way to Salina.

Jucks explained that while NASA does the majority of its scientific investigations with space-based data, the agency also deploys aircraft in its quest for knowledge.

Jucks said that NASA solicits proposals from all areas of earth science for projects that could provide important information and this time NASA selected a proposal from Kenneth Bowman and his team to study the effects of intense thunderstorms on the Earth's atmosphere.

"They put together a very compelling program. It reviewed extremely well, and we're excited to go and do it. As you can tell, I'm on my way to Kansas to go join the festivities right now. I'm excited to see what type of data they're collecting," he said.

Bowman, principal investigator for the mission a professor of atmospheric science at Texas A&amp;M University, said the project team includes research groups from seven universities, four NASA centers, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bowman said that most thunderstorms occur in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere, however, with the intense storms that the project is studying, the updrafts can overshoot the troposphere and blow into the next highest layer, the stratosphere.

"The stratosphere contains the Earth's ozone layer, which protects us from harmful solar ultraviolet radiation. That is 'UV,'" Bowman said. "We're interested in how these storms might affect ozone, among other things."

Bowman explained that much of the air that goes up in an updraft spreads out at the boundary of the troposphere and and stratosphere and forms the anvil of the storm.

"From the ground, you'll often see this characteristic anvil shape for a big thunderstorm. But at the tops of these updrafts, if they're strong enough, they actually overshoot into the stratosphere," he said.

Bowman said the air in the updrafts, if they are strong enough, can go from close to the ground up into the stratosphere in 20 to 30 minutes.

"These updrafts provide a very fast path for transporting water and pollutants into the stratosphere," he said. "The things that come out of the top include water and ice from the clouds, various gases, both natural and man-made gases, and particles, solid and liquid particles suspended in air that we call aerosols, and those are also of both natural and man-made origin."

Bowman said that over the last decade, scientists have learned that the intense, overshooting storms are more common than previously thought. The research project currently under way is the first such project to investigate how these strong storms affect the stratosphere.

The ER-2 research aircraft being used in the project is capable of operating at high altitudes above the anvil of a storm and will fly close to 70,000 feet high, Bowman said. In the summer, an anvil is typically approximately 45,000 high, he said. Additionally, flights thus far have lasted between five and eight hours.

"For DCOTSS, the ER-2 is carrying a payload of 12 state-of-the-art scientific instruments to measure meteorlogical parameters, gases, and particles that come out of the tops of these storms into the stratosphere," he said.

David Wilmouth, a scientist at Harvard University and the lead for Harvard’s Halogens instrument, said that the instruments on the aircraft are fully robotic.

"There's only one person on that plane. That's the pilot. He has to wear a pressure suit because the plane goes so high in the air," Wilmouth said. "So all the instruments are fully autonomous. They're preprogrammed to know what to do when they encounter different air in the stratosphere, and some of them are extremely sensitive."

Wilmouth emphasized the sensitivity of the instruments with this example, "The plane is flying along at potentially 100 degrees farenheit below zero and traveling at approximately 450 miles an hour and these instruments are making the measurements in real time. So it's a fantastic suite of instruments."

According to Bowman, the overshooting storms are quite common in the central United States, which is part of the reason the ER-2 is operating from the Salina Regiona Airport this summer and is scheduled to do so next summer as well. 

"But also, they have a very good facility here. The airport is great. It's a great place to operate this airplane from. The runway is wide enough for the very long wings on the ER-2 and long enough," Bowman said.

Additionally, Salina Regional Airport has great hangar facilities "for both the aircraft and for all the scientists with lab and office space. This is really working out to be a great place to fly from," he added.

The ER-2 typically will fly two to three times per week, Bowman said.

"At this point, we have completed the first four science flights for this deployment and we're just beginning to analyze the exciting data that we have collected so far," Bowman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627533438866.png" alt="The ER-2 in flight. Photo courtesy NASA" />
 <figcaption>The ER-2 in flight. Photo courtesy NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostAn airplane of a different kind, the NASA kind to be specific, has been using the Salina Regional Airport the past couple of weeks while on a scientific mission.University and NASA scientists are studying the intense summer thunderstorms over the central United States to learn how they affect the Earth's stratosphere and how those effects contribute to climate change.The Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) airborne science mission began flying out of the Salina Regional Airport earier this month. The mission will continue to fly from Salina Regional this summer and is scheduled to do so in the summer of 2022 as well.Several of the scientists involved in the project participated in an online media briefing Tuesday.Kenneth Jucks, program manager for NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Program, participated in the briefing from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport while on his way to Salina.Jucks explained that while NASA does the majority of its scientific investigations with space-based data, the agency also deploys aircraft in its quest for knowledge.Jucks said that NASA solicits proposals from all areas of earth science for projects that could provide important information and this time NASA selected a proposal from Kenneth Bowman and his team to study the effects of intense thunderstorms on the Earth's atmosphere."They put together a very compelling program. It reviewed extremely well, and we're excited to go and do it. As you can tell, I'm on my way to Kansas to go join the festivities right now. I'm excited to see what type of data they're collecting," he said.Bowman, principal investigator for the mission a professor of atmospheric science at Texas A&amp;M University, said the project team includes research groups from seven universities, four NASA centers, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Bowman said that most thunderstorms occur in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere, however, with the intense storms that the project is studying, the updrafts can overshoot the troposphere and blow into the next highest layer, the stratosphere."The stratosphere contains the Earth's ozone layer, which protects us from harmful solar ultraviolet radiation. That is 'UV,'" Bowman said. "We're interested in how these storms might affect ozone, among other things."Bowman explained that much of the air that goes up in an updraft spreads out at the boundary of the troposphere and and stratosphere and forms the anvil of the storm."From the ground, you'll often see this characteristic anvil shape for a big thunderstorm. But at the tops of these updrafts, if they're strong enough, they actually overshoot into the stratosphere," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627533652882.png" alt="Image courtesy NASA" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>Bowman said the air in the updrafts, if they are strong enough, can go from close to the ground up into the stratosphere in 20 to 30 minutes."These updrafts provide a very fast path for transporting water and pollutants into the stratosphere," he said. "The things that come out of the top include water and ice from the clouds, various gases, both natural and man-made gases, and particles, solid and liquid particles suspended in air that we call aerosols, and those are also of both natural and man-made origin."Bowman said that over the last decade, scientists have learned that the intense, overshooting storms are more common than previously thought. The research project currently under way is the first such project to investigate how these strong storms affect the stratosphere.The ER-2 research aircraft being used in the project is capable of operating at high altitudes above the anvil of a storm and will fly close to 70,000 feet high, Bowman said. In the summer, an anvil is typically approximately 45,000 high, he said. Additionally, flights thus far have lasted between five and eight hours."For DCOTSS, the ER-2 is carrying a payload of 12 state-of-the-art scientific instruments to measure meteorlogical parameters, gases, and particles that come out of the tops of these storms into the stratosphere," he said.David Wilmouth, a scientist at Harvard University and the lead for Harvard’s Halogens instrument, said that the instruments on the aircraft are fully robotic."There's only one person on that plane. That's the pilot. He has to wear a pressure suit because the plane goes so high in the air," Wilmouth said. "So all the instruments are fully autonomous. They're preprogrammed to know what to do when they encounter different air in the stratosphere, and some of them are extremely sensitive."Wilmouth emphasized the sensitivity of the instruments with this example, "The plane is flying along at potentially 100 degrees farenheit below zero and traveling at approximately 450 miles an hour and these instruments are making the measurements in real time. So it's a fantastic suite of instruments."According to Bowman, the overshooting storms are quite common in the central United States, which is part of the reason the ER-2 is operating from the Salina Regiona Airport this summer and is scheduled to do so next summer as well. "But also, they have a very good facility here. The airport is great. It's a great place to operate this airplane from. The runway is wide enough for the very long wings on the ER-2 and long enough," Bowman said.Additionally, Salina Regional Airport has great hangar facilities "for both the aircraft and for all the scientists with lab and office space. This is really working out to be a great place to fly from," he added.The ER-2 typically will fly two to three times per week, Bowman said."At this point, we have completed the first four science flights for this deployment and we're just beginning to analyze the exciting data that we have collected so far," Bowman said.

NASA science mission flying out of Salina Regional Airport

LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) — A Leawood doctor has surrendered his medical license after admitting that he solicited health care kickbacks from a drug company. Dr. Steven Simon surrendered his license this month, after being sentenced in April to three years of probation. 

He was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Simon admitted that he told a representative for AstraZeneca that he would stop selling one of its drugs unless he was hired for more speaking engagements. 

KCUR reports the drug company determined it would not offer Simon any further speaking engagements. Doctors can legally accept compensation for speaking engagements, but can't receive kickbacks for prescribing drugs or medical devices.

LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) — A Leawood doctor has surrendered his medical license after admitting that he solicited health care kickbacks from a drug company. Dr. Steven Simon surrendered his license this month, after being sentenced in April to three years of probation. He was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Simon admitted that he told a representative for AstraZeneca that he would stop selling one of its drugs unless he was hired for more speaking engagements. KCUR reports the drug company determined it would not offer Simon any further speaking engagements. Doctors can legally accept compensation for speaking engagements, but can't receive kickbacks for prescribing drugs or medical devices.

Kansas doctor admits soliciting drug company kickbacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan, acting with sudden speed after weeks of fits and starts once the White House and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on major provisions of the package that’s key to President Joe Biden’s agenda.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627553548845.png" alt="President Biden spoke on manufacturing in Allentown, PA on Wednesday. He welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke on manufacturing in Allentown, PA on Wednesday. He welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan, acting with sudden speed after weeks of fits and starts once the White House and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on major provisions of the package that’s key to President Joe Biden’s agenda.Biden welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” It includes the most significant long-term investments in nearly a century, he said, on par with building the transcontinental railroad or the Interstate highway system.“This deal signals to the world that our democracy can function,” Biden said ahead of the vote. “We will once again transform America and propel us into the future.”After weeks of stop-and-go negotiations, the rare bipartisan showing on a 67-32 vote to start formal Senate consideration showed the high interest among senators in the infrastructure package. But it’s unclear if enough Republicans will eventually join Democrats to support final passage.Senate rules require 60 votes in the evenly split 50-50 chamber to proceed for consideration and ultimately pass this bill, meaning support from both parties.The outcome&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/The%20Republican%20senators%20met%20Wednesday%20morning%20with%20Senate%20Republican%20Leader%20Mitch%20McConnell,%20who%20appears%20to%20have%20given%20his%20nod%20to%20proceed%20to%20consider%20the%20emerging%20legislation.%20Standing%20outside%20McConnell%E2%80%99s%20office%20to%20announce%20the%20agreement,%20Portman%20said%20McConnell%20%E2%80%9Call%20along%20has%20been%20encouraging%20our%20efforts.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">will set the stage</a>&nbsp;for the next debate over Biden’s much more ambitious $3.5 trillion spending package, a strictly partisan pursuit of far-reaching programs and services including child care, tax breaks and health care that touch almost every corner of American life. Republicans strongly oppose that bill, which would require a simple majority, and may try to stop both.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627553329849.png" alt="Bipartisan Group of Senators announced the agreement Wednesday -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Bipartisan Group of Senators announced the agreement Wednesday -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Lead GOP negotiator Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced the bipartisan group’s agreement on the $1 trillion package earlier Wednesday at the Capitol, flanked by four other Republican senators who had been in talks with Democrats and the White House.After voting, Portman said the outcome showed that bipartisanship in Washington can work and he believed GOP support would only grow. “That’s pretty darn good for a start,” he said.That group had labored with the White House to salvage the deal, a first part of Biden’s big infrastructure agenda. Swelling to more than 700 pages, the bill includes $550 billion in new spending for public works projects.In all, 17 Republican senators joined the Democrats in voting to launch the debate, but most remained skeptical. The GOP senators were given a thick binder of briefing materials during a private lunch, but they asked many questions and wanted more details.According to a 57-page GOP summary obtained by The Associated Press, the five-year spending package would be paid for by tapping $205 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief aid and $53 billion in unemployment insurance aid some states have halted. It also relies on economic growth to bring in $56 billion, and other measures.Giving Wednesday night’s vote a boost, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced late in the day he would vote to proceed, though whether he will support the final bill remains uncertain. The Republican negotiators met with McConnell earlier Wednesday and Portman said the leader “all along has been encouraging our efforts.”Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, a lead Democratic negotiator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-az-state-wire-government-and-politics-6632b84d43dcd5f897dbaea36d780bbb">who talks often with Republicans&nbsp;</a>also spoke with Biden on Wednesday and said the she hoped the results showed “our government can work.”Democrats, who have slim control of the House and Senate, face a timeline to act on what would be some of the most substantial pieces of legislation in years.Filling in the details has become a month-long exercise ever since a bipartisan group of senators struck an agreement with Biden in June over the broad framework.The new spending in the package dropped from about $600 billion to $550 billion, senators said, as money was eliminated for a public-private infrastructure bank and was reduced in other categories, including transit.The package still includes $110 billion for highways, $65 billion for broadband and $73 billion to modernize the nation’s electric grid, according a White House fact sheet.Additionally, there’s $25 billion for airports, $55 billion for waterworks and more than $50 billion to bolster infrastructure against cyberattacks and climate change. There’s also $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations.Paying for the package has been a slog throughout the talks after Democrats rejected a plan to bring in funds by hiking the gas tax drivers pay at the pump and Republicans dashed an effort to boost the IRS to go after tax scofflaws.Along with repurposing the COVID-19 relief and unemployment aid, other revenue would come from the sale of broadcast spectrum, reinstating fees that chemical companies used to pay for cleaning up the nation’s worst hazardous waste sites and drawing $49 billion from reversing a Trump-era pharmaceutical rebate, among other sources.The final deal could run into political trouble if it doesn’t pass muster as fully paid for when the Congressional Budget Office assesses the details. But Portman said the package will be “more than paid for.”House Democrats have their own transportation bill, which includes much more spending to address rail transit, electric vehicles and other strategies to counter climate change.The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., called the Senate’s bipartisan measure complete “crap,” during a private meeting Tuesday according to two Democrats who attended the session and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe it.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not commit to supporting the package until she sees the details, but said Wednesday she’s “rooting for it.”Pelosi said, “I very much want it to pass.”A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-only-on-ap-a5454467619247e89b9c87697ac0d6f5">8 in 10 Americans favor some increased infrastructure spending</a>.Senators in the bipartisan group have been huddling privately for months. The group includes 10 core negotiators, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, but has swelled at times to 22.Transit funding has remained a stubborn dispute, as most Republican senators come from rural states where highways dominate and public transit is scarce, while Democrats view transit as a priority for cities and a key to easing congesting and fighting climate change.Expanding access to broadband. which has become ever more vital for households during the coronavirus pandemic, sparked a new debate. Republicans pushed back against imposing regulations on internet service providers in a program that helps low-income people pay for service.Meanwhile, Democrats are readying the broader $3.5 trillion package that is being considered under budget rules that allow passage with 51 senators in the split Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to break a tie. It would be paid for by increasing the corporate tax rate and the tax rate on Americans earning more than $400,000 a year.___