Today, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Richard Fairbank, CEO of Capital One Financial Corp., will <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/2010065finaljudgment.pdf">pay a $637,950 civil penalty</a>
 to settle charges that his acquisition of Capital One Financial stock 
violated the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Fairbank’s recent 
multi-million dollar compensation package included over 100,000 Capital 
One Financial shares in 2018, which increased his holdings to $168 
million. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/2010065fairbankcomplaint.pdf">complaint</a>
 alleges that Fairbank failed to report his sizable stock windfall to 
federal antitrust authorities and illegally finalized the acquisition 
before the agencies could investigate. While Fairbank is a repeat filing
 offender with wrongdoing spanning two decades, today’s FTC order is the
 first time he has been penalized.

“As the CEO of one of America’s
 largest banks, Richard Fairbank repeatedly broke the law,” said Holly 
Vedova, Acting Director of the Bureau of Competition. “There is no 
exemption for Wall Street bankers and powerful CEOs when it comes to 
complying with our country’s antitrust laws.”

The HSR Act requires
 companies and individuals to report large transactions over a certain 
threshold to the FTC and DOJ so that the federal agencies can 
investigate the deals before they close. The agencies have 30 days after
 a transaction has been reported to conduct an initial investigation and
 file a “second request” demand for additional information. It is 
generally illegal to finalize an acquisition during this investigatory 
period. The maximum civil penalty for an HSR violation is currently 
$43,792 per day.

According to the complaint, Fairbank twice failed
 to comply with the HSR Act in making filings relating to his 
multi-million dollar compensation package. In 1999 and 2004, Fairbank 
failed to file under the HSR Act prior to acquiring Capital One 
Financial voting securities. In making a corrective filing in 2008, 
Fairbank alleged that his filing failure was inadvertent, and he pledged
 to implement a system to ensure that, going forward, the required HSR 
notifications would be filed. The FTC gave Fairbank a free pass for the 
1999 and 2004 acquisitions. Fairbank did not pay a penny in penalties 
for his wrongdoing.

Despite these warnings for his failures to 
comply, as the complaint alleges, in 2018 Fairbank again violated the 
notice and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act because he did not
 file before acquiring additional Capital One Financial voting 
securities in excess of the HSR filing threshold, as adjusted. 
Specifically, Fairbank was in violation of the HSR Act from March 8, 
2018 until he made a corrective filing and observed the 30-day waiting 
period, which ended on Jan. 17, 2020.

The Commission vote to 
accept the settlement and refer the matter to the Department of Justice 
for filing was 4-0-1, with Chair Lina M. Khan not participating. The 
Department of Justice filed the complaint and proposed stipulated order 
on the FTC’s behalf in the U.S. District Court for the District of 
Columbia on September 2, 2021.

As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/">Federal Register</a>.
 Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed 
settlement during a 60-day comment period to Maribeth Petrizzi, Special 
Attorney, United States, c/o Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 <a href="mailto:bccompliance@ftc.gov">bccompliance@ftc.gov(link sends e-mail)</a>.
 At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court
 for the District of Columbia may approve the proposed settlement upon 
finding that it is in the public interest.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/competition-counts/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf">how competition benefits consumers</a> or <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation">file an antitrust complaint</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters">read our blog</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCToday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Richard Fairbank, CEO of Capital One Financial Corp., will <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/2010065finaljudgment.pdf">pay a $637,950 civil penalty</a>
 to settle charges that his acquisition of Capital One Financial stock 
violated the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Fairbank’s recent 
multi-million dollar compensation package included over 100,000 Capital 
One Financial shares in 2018, which increased his holdings to $168 
million. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/2010065fairbankcomplaint.pdf">complaint</a>
 alleges that Fairbank failed to report his sizable stock windfall to 
federal antitrust authorities and illegally finalized the acquisition 
before the agencies could investigate. While Fairbank is a repeat filing
 offender with wrongdoing spanning two decades, today’s FTC order is the
 first time he has been penalized.“As the CEO of one of America’s
 largest banks, Richard Fairbank repeatedly broke the law,” said Holly 
Vedova, Acting Director of the Bureau of Competition. “There is no 
exemption for Wall Street bankers and powerful CEOs when it comes to 
complying with our country’s antitrust laws.”The HSR Act requires
 companies and individuals to report large transactions over a certain 
threshold to the FTC and DOJ so that the federal agencies can 
investigate the deals before they close. The agencies have 30 days after
 a transaction has been reported to conduct an initial investigation and
 file a “second request” demand for additional information. It is 
generally illegal to finalize an acquisition during this investigatory 
period. The maximum civil penalty for an HSR violation is currently 
$43,792 per day.According to the complaint, Fairbank twice failed
 to comply with the HSR Act in making filings relating to his 
multi-million dollar compensation package. In 1999 and 2004, Fairbank 
failed to file under the HSR Act prior to acquiring Capital One 
Financial voting securities. In making a corrective filing in 2008, 
Fairbank alleged that his filing failure was inadvertent, and he pledged
 to implement a system to ensure that, going forward, the required HSR 
notifications would be filed. The FTC gave Fairbank a free pass for the 
1999 and 2004 acquisitions. Fairbank did not pay a penny in penalties 
for his wrongdoing.Despite these warnings for his failures to 
comply, as the complaint alleges, in 2018 Fairbank again violated the 
notice and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act because he did not
 file before acquiring additional Capital One Financial voting 
securities in excess of the HSR filing threshold, as adjusted. 
Specifically, Fairbank was in violation of the HSR Act from March 8, 
2018 until he made a corrective filing and observed the 30-day waiting 
period, which ended on Jan. 17, 2020.The Commission vote to 
accept the settlement and refer the matter to the Department of Justice 
for filing was 4-0-1, with Chair Lina M. Khan not participating. The 
Department of Justice filed the complaint and proposed stipulated order 
on the FTC’s behalf in the U.S. District Court for the District of 
Columbia on September 2, 2021.As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/">Federal Register</a>.
 Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed 
settlement during a 60-day comment period to Maribeth Petrizzi, Special 
Attorney, United States, c/o Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 <a href="mailto:bccompliance@ftc.gov">bccompliance@ftc.gov(link sends e-mail)</a>.
 At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court
 for the District of Columbia may approve the proposed settlement upon 
finding that it is in the public interest.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/competition-counts/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf">how competition benefits consumers</a> or <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation">file an antitrust complaint</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters">read our blog</a>.

 FTC: Capital One CEO fined for 'repeatedly violating antitrust laws'

Two of the least-known freedoms protected by the First Amendment — 
the rights of assembly and petition — are being tested in today’s 
rancorous, confrontational social atmospherics.

With confrontation comes vexing problems, for both speakers who fear 
retaliation from opponents and the government officials who often must 
preside over meetings that run from contentious to violent.

Democracy requires robust but peaceable discussion

To be sure, more of us than seen in recent decades are speaking out 
peacefully, from those opposed to what they see as heavy-handed 
government <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2021/05/19/perspective-tide-may-be-turning-toward-religious-exemptions-from-vaccine-mandates/" target="_blank">enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions</a> to Black Lives Matter supporters calling for police reform.

Passions run high. The words, like the issues, are strong and 
challenging. But the process of self-governance calls for degrees of 
patience, tolerance and often — in the final push to a workable policy —
 compromise. The First Amendment itself provides protection when we 
“peaceably assemble” and “petition the Government for a redress of 
grievances.”

No strangers to the hot tempers, provocative speech and outright 
violence that accompanied political turmoil in their day — think 
Revolutionary War — the nation’s founders felt compelled to provide 
protections in the amendment for two contrary ideas: We can speak in 
tones, terms and words that provide for what the U.S. Supreme Court in 
1964 called “robust, uninhibited and wide open” discussion of public 
issues. But then the founders provided that conceptual counterweight 
word just before assembly and petition: “peaceably.”

While the First Amendment allows no government judgment about the 
content or viewpoint of what we say, we ought to be worthy of its 
protections by having something worth saying.

And it follows that if it was worth saying, it’s worth hearing — if only to be better prepared with a counterargument.

Far too often today, that entire thread that supports our core 
freedoms is lost in the heat of the moment — or in intentional 
disruption that, no matter how loudly one proclaims patriotism or waves a
 flag, is just as anti-American as any foreign foe.

We have “robust” public discussions on small and large issues, not just to vent our emotions as <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2021/06/03/news-new-state-anti-protest-laws-if-upheld-threaten-to-mute-our-first-amendment-freedoms/" target="_blank">a kind of civic therapy</a>,
 but to parse approaches, proposals and legislation and determine that 
which best serves the greatest number of our fellow citizens, hopefully 
in the shortest amount of time.

The “heckler’s veto” and intentionally packing meeting rooms with 
vocal opposition to intimidate public officeholders are tactics as old 
as time, but that does not make them valid in a participatory democracy.

Federal and state courts through the years have held that the public 
has a right to attend and speak at government meetings — but also have 
upheld the authority of public officials to set reasonable “time, place 
and manner” rules to ensure orderly sessions or deal with intentional 
disruption.

Such rules walk a fine line between protected free speech on matters 
of public interest and allowing government to carry out its 
responsibilities. Courts consistently have said government officials 
cannot restrict speakers because of their viewpoints, however 
controversial or critical.

“… when you assemble a number of men to have the 
advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men,
 all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their 
local interests, and their selfish views.” – Benjamin Franklin

But free speech protections do not cover threats of immediate violence — which may well include <a href="https://www.newschannel5.com/news/we-know-who-you-are-group-seen-threatening-medical-professionals-outside-williamson-co-school-board-meeting" target="_blank">protesters threatening harm</a>
 to speakers in the parking lot following a meeting. Even more 
importantly, such threats have a multiplier effect, likely chilling 
speech far beyond the specific target. A new survey by the Freedom 
Forum, to be released Sept. 22, finds significant numbers of our fellow 
Americans today fear retaliation if they voice their opinions.

Let’s turn to Franklin again: As he was leaving the Constitutional 
Convention, he reportedly was asked what sort of government the 
delegates had created. His answer: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

For more than two centuries, we have kept that republic in no small 
degree because we have freely spoken to each other, secure from 
government interference or punishment — benefiting from that shared 
wisdom Franklin noted.

And, just as certainly, we have kept that republic because so many times we also have listened.

Gene Policinski is Freedom Forum senior fellow for the First Amendment. You can reach Gene at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593729871227.png" alt="Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum. " />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum. </figcaption>
 </figure>Two of the least-known freedoms protected by the First Amendment — 
the rights of assembly and petition — are being tested in today’s 
rancorous, confrontational social atmospherics.With confrontation comes vexing problems, for both speakers who fear 
retaliation from opponents and the government officials who often must 
preside over meetings that run from contentious to violent.<ul>
 <li>At a Salt Lake City area public meeting in May, protesters shouted down a speaker and <a href="https://kslnewsradio.com/1951526/11-people-charged-for-disrupting-granite-school-board-meeting/?" target="_blank">disrupted the meeting</a> with catcalls and loud insults, forcing the Granite School District board to adjourn.</li><li>In Loudoun County, Va., this summer, protests erupted over a 
proposed school policy of protection for transgender students. The 
online news operation LoudounNow reported disruption at a June board meeting led to the <a href="https://loudounnow.com/2021/06/22/one-injured-as-loudoun-school-board-meeting-crowd-erupts/" target="_blank">public being expelled</a>
 and an arrest for disorderly conduct. At an August meeting, small 
groups were admitted for comments, requiring some to wait outside in a 
rainstorm, with <a href="https://www.loudountimes.com/news/following-hours-of-public-comment-school-board-pushes-controversial-vote-to-wednesday/article_a1193428-fa47-11eb-832c-ab295935882e.html" target="_blank">no general audience present</a> — a new policy adopted after the June disorder.</li><li>In Anchorage, Alaska, hours of public testimony to a school board about mask policy repeatedly were <a href="https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/08/04/outbursts-tears-and-jeers-dont-sway-asd-school-board-from-mask-mandate/" target="_blank">interrupted by shouting audience members</a>.
 Alaska Public Media reported that at least one person cursed at the 
board, with some shouting to board and administrators, “You’re going to 
jail!”</li><li>Anti-mask demonstrators heckled masked people, including doctors and
 nurses, leaving a Williamson County, Tenn., school board meeting Aug. 
10. One man was <a href="https://www.newschannel5.com/news/we-know-who-you-are-group-seen-threatening-medical-professionals-outside-williamson-co-school-board-meeting" target="_blank">followed to his car</a> and had a person shout at him, “We will find you” and “We know who you are.”</li>
 </ul><h2>Democracy requires robust but peaceable discussion</h2>To be sure, more of us than seen in recent decades are speaking out 
peacefully, from those opposed to what they see as heavy-handed 
government <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2021/05/19/perspective-tide-may-be-turning-toward-religious-exemptions-from-vaccine-mandates/" target="_blank">enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions</a> to Black Lives Matter supporters calling for police reform.Passions run high. The words, like the issues, are strong and 
challenging. But the process of self-governance calls for degrees of 
patience, tolerance and often — in the final push to a workable policy —
 compromise. The First Amendment itself provides protection when we 
“peaceably assemble” and “petition the Government for a redress of 
grievances.”No strangers to the hot tempers, provocative speech and outright 
violence that accompanied political turmoil in their day — think 
Revolutionary War — the nation’s founders felt compelled to provide 
protections in the amendment for two contrary ideas: We can speak in 
tones, terms and words that provide for what the U.S. Supreme Court in 
1964 called “robust, uninhibited and wide open” discussion of public 
issues. But then the founders provided that conceptual counterweight 
word just before assembly and petition: “peaceably.”<h2>Speaking has a corollary: Listening</h2>While the First Amendment allows no government judgment about the 
content or viewpoint of what we say, we ought to be worthy of its 
protections by having something worth saying.And it follows that if it was worth saying, it’s worth hearing — if only to be better prepared with a counterargument.Far too often today, that entire thread that supports our core 
freedoms is lost in the heat of the moment — or in intentional 
disruption that, no matter how loudly one proclaims patriotism or waves a
 flag, is just as anti-American as any foreign foe.We have “robust” public discussions on small and large issues, not just to vent our emotions as <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2021/06/03/news-new-state-anti-protest-laws-if-upheld-threaten-to-mute-our-first-amendment-freedoms/" target="_blank">a kind of civic therapy</a>,
 but to parse approaches, proposals and legislation and determine that 
which best serves the greatest number of our fellow citizens, hopefully 
in the shortest amount of time.The “heckler’s veto” and intentionally packing meeting rooms with 
vocal opposition to intimidate public officeholders are tactics as old 
as time, but that does not make them valid in a participatory democracy.<h2>Where First Amendment protections end</h2>Federal and state courts through the years have held that the public 
has a right to attend and speak at government meetings — but also have 
upheld the authority of public officials to set reasonable “time, place 
and manner” rules to ensure orderly sessions or deal with intentional 
disruption.Such rules walk a fine line between protected free speech on matters 
of public interest and allowing government to carry out its 
responsibilities. Courts consistently have said government officials 
cannot restrict speakers because of their viewpoints, however 
controversial or critical.“… when you assemble a number of men to have the 
advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men,
 all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their 
local interests, and their selfish views.” – Benjamin FranklinBut free speech protections do not cover threats of immediate violence — which may well include <a href="https://www.newschannel5.com/news/we-know-who-you-are-group-seen-threatening-medical-professionals-outside-williamson-co-school-board-meeting" target="_blank">protesters threatening harm</a>
 to speakers in the parking lot following a meeting. Even more 
importantly, such threats have a multiplier effect, likely chilling 
speech far beyond the specific target. A new survey by the Freedom 
Forum, to be released Sept. 22, finds significant numbers of our fellow 
Americans today fear retaliation if they voice their opinions.Let’s turn to Franklin again: As he was leaving the Constitutional 
Convention, he reportedly was asked what sort of government the 
delegates had created. His answer: “A republic, if you can keep it.”For more than two centuries, we have kept that republic in no small 
degree because we have freely spoken to each other, secure from 
government interference or punishment — benefiting from that shared 
wisdom Franklin noted.And, just as certainly, we have kept that republic because so many times we also have listened.Gene Policinski is Freedom Forum senior fellow for the First Amendment. You can reach Gene at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>.

FIRST FIVE: Protect assembly, petition by preserving listening at public meetings

TOPEKA (AP) —Kansas will soon release more information on school COVID-19 outbreaks and youth vaccination rates as many districts begin the year without masks, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.

Kelly said a new working group of pediatricians, school nurses and other health care providers will meet weekly to discuss how schools can operate safely amid the pandemic. She said the group will release a weekly report that will provide a list of schools with active outbreaks and best practices on masking, testing and quarantining.

The report also will include a county-by-county breakdown on youth vaccination rates, cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

“There is nothing more important than keeping students healthy and alive,” Kelly said at Wesley Children’s Hospital in Wichita, which has had more children hospitalized with COVID-19 in August than in any other month of the pandemic.

Kelly has repeatedly urged schools to add mask mandates, and many have.

An Associated Press analysis found that as of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-kansas-5381a26a3c11c49a7830bdeaa3f19c71">Friday</a>, 30 of the state’s 50 largest districts have mask mandates in place, with most passed in the last month during often heated meetings and protests. Those 30 districts educate a combined 262,585 of the state’s 476,435 public schoolchildren.

Many of those that started the year without masks have struggled, including the Wellington district, which closed down Friday because of an outbreak. Several other mask-optional district added mandates after having to quarantine large numbers of students.

Kelly said she hoped the “reality on the ground” would drive school boards to require masks.

“But in the event that the school board does not take that step and require masking, then I would turn to every parent in the state of Kansas and just say, ’You can. It is your kid. If you want to put a mask on your kid, regardless of whether or not it is required, please do,’” she said.

Kelly also has urged more people to get vaccinated as the state rate lags behind the national rate by about 10 percentage points. She said some of the vaccine lotteries in other states are “flashy” but that when you look at the data they “really don’t move the needle.”

She said she hoped that the state would have more success with its partnership with the Dillons grocery store chain. Through the program, people can get $50 per dose or a total of $100 to get vaccinated.

Dr. Jennifer Bacani-McKenney, who is a member of the new school pandemic workgroup, said the COVID-19 situation is dire. The family physician in Fredonia said a colleague recently had to call 35 different hospitals to find an intensive care unit bed for a patient. The transfer took 28 hours to arrange.

“We are not in one of the most challenging times we have ever experienced,” said Bacani-McKenney, who also is the mother of an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old.

She said the children like hers who are too young to be vaccinated depend on the community to protect them by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and social distancing.

“Unfortunately we are seeing people not do these basic things to protect each other,” she said, adding that: “The same science we teach our kids in our schools is being ignored in our communities.”

TOPEKA&nbsp;– To protect Kansas students, teachers, and staff from the threat of the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday, the Safer Classrooms Workgroup.

The workgroup, composed of highly skilled health professionals from across Kansas, will highlight the urgency of protecting kids from COVID-19 and use the best available science and information to support Governor Kelly’s administration, local governments, and school districts to promote health and safety in our schools.&nbsp;

“Children are catching the virus, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID at increasingly higher rates. There’s nothing more important than keeping our students healthy and in the classroom,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Safer Classrooms Workgroup will provide information and guidance to give parents, teachers, school boards, and others the tools they need to make informed decisions to protect our students and our communities.”

The Safer Classrooms Workgroup will be composed of pediatricians, family physicians, school nurses, pharmacists, school psychologists, and other health professionals. They will meet weekly to highlight the urgency of protecting our kids from the delta variant, speaking with educators, parents, and advocates about their experiences as schools work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. &nbsp;

Every week, the workgroup will release a “School Safety Report” to serve as a resource for media, parents, schools, communities, and policymakers.&nbsp;

Information in this weekly report will include:

“We got our kids back in school by listening to health professionals, wearing masks, implementing stringent public health protocol, and getting vaccinated,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’ll keep them there by continuing to follow the best health practices. I encourage all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630527713684.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly announced the workgroup plan during a Wednesday press conference in Wichita-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly announced the workgroup plan during a Wednesday press conference in Wichita-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA (AP) —Kansas will soon release more information on school COVID-19 outbreaks and youth vaccination rates as many districts begin the year without masks, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.Kelly said a new working group of pediatricians, school nurses and other health care providers will meet weekly to discuss how schools can operate safely amid the pandemic. She said the group will release a weekly report that will provide a list of schools with active outbreaks and best practices on masking, testing and quarantining.The report also will include a county-by-county breakdown on youth vaccination rates, cases, hospitalizations and deaths.“There is nothing more important than keeping students healthy and alive,” Kelly said at Wesley Children’s Hospital in Wichita, which has had more children hospitalized with COVID-19 in August than in any other month of the pandemic.Kelly has repeatedly urged schools to add mask mandates, and many have.An Associated Press analysis found that as of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-kansas-5381a26a3c11c49a7830bdeaa3f19c71">Friday</a>, 30 of the state’s 50 largest districts have mask mandates in place, with most passed in the last month during often heated meetings and protests. Those 30 districts educate a combined 262,585 of the state’s 476,435 public schoolchildren.Many of those that started the year without masks have struggled, including the Wellington district, which closed down Friday because of an outbreak. Several other mask-optional district added mandates after having to quarantine large numbers of students.Kelly said she hoped the “reality on the ground” would drive school boards to require masks.“But in the event that the school board does not take that step and require masking, then I would turn to every parent in the state of Kansas and just say, ’You can. It is your kid. If you want to put a mask on your kid, regardless of whether or not it is required, please do,’” she said.Kelly also has urged more people to get vaccinated as the state rate lags behind the national rate by about 10 percentage points. She said some of the vaccine lotteries in other states are “flashy” but that when you look at the data they “really don’t move the needle.”She said she hoped that the state would have more success with its partnership with the Dillons grocery store chain. Through the program, people can get $50 per dose or a total of $100 to get vaccinated.Dr. Jennifer Bacani-McKenney, who is a member of the new school pandemic workgroup, said the COVID-19 situation is dire. The family physician in Fredonia said a colleague recently had to call 35 different hospitals to find an intensive care unit bed for a patient. The transfer took 28 hours to arrange.“We are not in one of the most challenging times we have ever experienced,” said Bacani-McKenney, who also is the mother of an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old.She said the children like hers who are too young to be vaccinated depend on the community to protect them by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and social distancing.“Unfortunately we are seeing people not do these basic things to protect each other,” she said, adding that: “The same science we teach our kids in our schools is being ignored in our communities.”-------------TOPEKA&nbsp;– To protect Kansas students, teachers, and staff from the threat of the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday, the Safer Classrooms Workgroup.The workgroup, composed of highly skilled health professionals from across Kansas, will highlight the urgency of protecting kids from COVID-19 and use the best available science and information to support Governor Kelly’s administration, local governments, and school districts to promote health and safety in our schools.&nbsp;“Children are catching the virus, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID at increasingly higher rates. There’s nothing more important than keeping our students healthy and in the classroom,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Safer Classrooms Workgroup will provide information and guidance to give parents, teachers, school boards, and others the tools they need to make informed decisions to protect our students and our communities.”The Safer Classrooms Workgroup will be composed of pediatricians, family physicians, school nurses, pharmacists, school psychologists, and other health professionals. They will meet weekly to highlight the urgency of protecting our kids from the delta variant, speaking with educators, parents, and advocates about their experiences as schools work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. &nbsp;Every week, the workgroup will release a “School Safety Report” to serve as a resource for media, parents, schools, communities, and policymakers.&nbsp;Information in this weekly report will include:<ul>
 <li>Timely and relevant policies on testing and masking in schools, and best practices that can be shared across school districts.</li><li>Updates on school districts with clearly communicated quarantine, testing, and masking policies, to ensure parents and families have what they need to know to keep their children safe.</li><li>Information on school district vaccination and testing events – with resources to help schools plan, publicize, and implement.</li><li>County-level data on youth vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.&nbsp;</li><li>Schools with active outbreaks.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“We got our kids back in school by listening to health professionals, wearing masks, implementing stringent public health protocol, and getting vaccinated,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’ll keep them there by continuing to follow the best health practices. I encourage all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Kansas to release more information on COVID school outbreaks

WASHINGTON (AP) — A deeply divided Supreme Court is allowing a Texas law that bans most abortions to remain in force, for now stripping most women of the right to an abortion in the nation’s second-largest state.

The court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21053670-whole-womans-health-v-jackson" target="_blank">voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal</a>&nbsp;from abortion providers and others that sought to block enforcement of the law that went into effect Wednesday. But the justices also suggested that their order likely isn’t the last word on whether the law can stand because other challenges to it can still be brought.

The Texas law,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May</a>, prohibits abortions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-laws-government-and-politics-health-77c9ba98c4f4ab46fdbd5bcc47b5b938">once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity</a>, usually around six weeks and before many women know they’re pregnant.

It is the strictest law against abortion rights in the United States since the high court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 and part of a broader push by Republicans nationwide to impose new restrictions on abortion. At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.

The high court’s order declining to halt the Texas law came just before midnight Wednesday. The majority said those bringing the case had not met the high burden required for a stay of the law.

“In reaching this conclusion, we stress that we do not purport to resolve definitively any jurisdictional or substantive claim in the applicants’ lawsuit. In particular, this order is not based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of Texas’s law, and in no way limits other procedurally proper challenges to the Texas law, including in Texas state courts,” the unsigned order said.

Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the court’s three liberal justices. Each of the four dissenting justices wrote separate statements expressing their disagreement with the majority.

Roberts noted that while the majority denied the request for emergency relief “the Court’s order is emphatic in making clear that it cannot be understood as sustaining the constitutionality of the law at issue.”

The vote in the case underscores the impact of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-voting-rights-politics-joe-biden-elections-bf6704fa6e900967a705054c801a5495">the death of the liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>&nbsp;last year and then-president Donald Trump’s replacement of her with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-virus-outbreak-ruth-bader-ginsburg-amy-coney-barrett-82a02a618343c98b80ca2b6bf9eafe07">conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett</a>. Had Ginsburg remained on the court there would have been five votes to halt the Texas law.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor called her conservative colleagues’ decision “stunning.” “Presented with an application to enjoin a flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny, a majority of Justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand,” she wrote.

Texas lawmakers wrote the law to evade federal court review by allowing private citizens to bring civil lawsuits in state court against anyone involved in an abortion, other than the patient. Other abortion laws are enforced by state and local officials, with criminal sanctions possible.

In contrast, Texas’ law allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in facilitating abortions. Among other situations, that would include anyone who drives a woman to a clinic to get an abortion. Under the law, anyone who successfully sues another person would be entitled to at least $10,000.

In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan called the law “patently unconstitutional,” saying it allows “private parties to carry out unconstitutional restrictions on the State’s behalf.” And Justice Stephen Breyer said a “woman has a federal constitutional right to obtain an abortion during” the first stage of pregnancy.

After a federal appeals court refused to allow a prompt review of the law before it took effect, the measure’s opponents sought Supreme Court review.

In a statement early Thursday after the high court’s action, Nancy Northup, the head of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents abortion providers challenging the law, vowed to “keep fighting this ban until abortion access is restored in Texas.”

“We are devastated that the Supreme Court has refused to block a law that blatantly violates Roe v. Wade. Right now, people seeking abortion across Texas are panicking — they have no idea where or when they will be able to get an abortion, if ever. Texas politicians have succeeded for the moment in making a mockery of the rule of law, upending abortion care in Texas, and forcing patients to leave the state — if they have the means — to get constitutionally protected healthcare. This should send chills down the spine of everyone in this country who cares about the constitution,” she said.

Texas has long had some of the nation’s toughest abortion restrictions, including a sweeping law passed in 2013. The Supreme Court eventually struck down that law, but not before more than half of the state’s 40-plus clinics closed.

Even before the Texas case arrived at the high court the justices had planned to tackle the issue of abortion rights in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-15-week-ban-5d066a9dc0030a4f8297711f341c9f5a">major case after the court begins hearing arguments again in the fall</a>. That case involves the state of Mississippi, which is asking to be allowed to enforce an abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A deeply divided Supreme Court is allowing a Texas law that bans most abortions to remain in force, for now stripping most women of the right to an abortion in the nation’s second-largest state.The court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21053670-whole-womans-health-v-jackson" target="_blank">voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal</a>&nbsp;from abortion providers and others that sought to block enforcement of the law that went into effect Wednesday. But the justices also suggested that their order likely isn’t the last word on whether the law can stand because other challenges to it can still be brought.The Texas law,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May</a>, prohibits abortions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-laws-government-and-politics-health-77c9ba98c4f4ab46fdbd5bcc47b5b938">once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity</a>, usually around six weeks and before many women know they’re pregnant.It is the strictest law against abortion rights in the United States since the high court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 and part of a broader push by Republicans nationwide to impose new restrictions on abortion. At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.The high court’s order declining to halt the Texas law came just before midnight Wednesday. The majority said those bringing the case had not met the high burden required for a stay of the law.“In reaching this conclusion, we stress that we do not purport to resolve definitively any jurisdictional or substantive claim in the applicants’ lawsuit. In particular, this order is not based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of Texas’s law, and in no way limits other procedurally proper challenges to the Texas law, including in Texas state courts,” the unsigned order said.Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the court’s three liberal justices. Each of the four dissenting justices wrote separate statements expressing their disagreement with the majority.Roberts noted that while the majority denied the request for emergency relief “the Court’s order is emphatic in making clear that it cannot be understood as sustaining the constitutionality of the law at issue.”The vote in the case underscores the impact of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-voting-rights-politics-joe-biden-elections-bf6704fa6e900967a705054c801a5495">the death of the liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>&nbsp;last year and then-president Donald Trump’s replacement of her with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-virus-outbreak-ruth-bader-ginsburg-amy-coney-barrett-82a02a618343c98b80ca2b6bf9eafe07">conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett</a>. Had Ginsburg remained on the court there would have been five votes to halt the Texas law.Justice Sonia Sotomayor called her conservative colleagues’ decision “stunning.” “Presented with an application to enjoin a flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny, a majority of Justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand,” she wrote.Texas lawmakers wrote the law to evade federal court review by allowing private citizens to bring civil lawsuits in state court against anyone involved in an abortion, other than the patient. Other abortion laws are enforced by state and local officials, with criminal sanctions possible.In contrast, Texas’ law allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in facilitating abortions. Among other situations, that would include anyone who drives a woman to a clinic to get an abortion. Under the law, anyone who successfully sues another person would be entitled to at least $10,000.In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan called the law “patently unconstitutional,” saying it allows “private parties to carry out unconstitutional restrictions on the State’s behalf.” And Justice Stephen Breyer said a “woman has a federal constitutional right to obtain an abortion during” the first stage of pregnancy.After a federal appeals court refused to allow a prompt review of the law before it took effect, the measure’s opponents sought Supreme Court review.In a statement early Thursday after the high court’s action, Nancy Northup, the head of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents abortion providers challenging the law, vowed to “keep fighting this ban until abortion access is restored in Texas.”“We are devastated that the Supreme Court has refused to block a law that blatantly violates Roe v. Wade. Right now, people seeking abortion across Texas are panicking — they have no idea where or when they will be able to get an abortion, if ever. Texas politicians have succeeded for the moment in making a mockery of the rule of law, upending abortion care in Texas, and forcing patients to leave the state — if they have the means — to get constitutionally protected healthcare. This should send chills down the spine of everyone in this country who cares about the constitution,” she said.Texas has long had some of the nation’s toughest abortion restrictions, including a sweeping law passed in 2013. The Supreme Court eventually struck down that law, but not before more than half of the state’s 40-plus clinics closed.Even before the Texas case arrived at the high court the justices had planned to tackle the issue of abortion rights in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-15-week-ban-5d066a9dc0030a4f8297711f341c9f5a">major case after the court begins hearing arguments again in the fall</a>. That case involves the state of Mississippi, which is asking to be allowed to enforce an abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.___

Supreme Court decides to leave controversial abortion law in place

PRATT COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a standoff situation at the American Inn, 1336 East First Street in Pratt, according to a media release.

Police made an arrest after the Pratt County Sheriff Office SRT Team made entry to the room and safely apprehend the suspect.&nbsp;

John Michael Goodson, 33, is in custody on requested charges of criminal damage to&nbsp; property, criminal use of a weapon by a felon and unlawful discharge of a weapon in the city limits, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

There were no injuries during the standoff or arrest, according to Pratt Police. Authorities released no additional details early Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630578464096.png" alt="Goodson photo Pratt Co." />
 <figcaption>Goodson photo Pratt Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a standoff situation at the American Inn, 1336 East First Street in Pratt, according to a media release.Police made an arrest after the Pratt County Sheriff Office SRT Team made entry to the room and safely apprehend the suspect.&nbsp;John Michael Goodson, 33, is in custody on requested charges of criminal damage to&nbsp; property, criminal use of a weapon by a felon and unlawful discharge of a weapon in the city limits, according to online jail records.&nbsp;There were no injuries during the standoff or arrest, according to Pratt Police. Authorities released no additional details early Thursday.

Police: Man in custody after standoff at Kansas motel

SALINA —In response to the artist's mandatory requirements that are playing the Stiefel, and a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, the Stiefel Theatre in Salina will begin requiring&nbsp;a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of show date and/or&nbsp;requiring proof of full vaccination&nbsp;for entry into all shows.&nbsp;

This policy will be in effect on&nbsp;Oct. 1, 2021.&nbsp;Ticketholders will be notified of these requirements via email.&nbsp;

The Stiefel Theatre hopes to offer rapid tests for sale (at their cost) from the Stiefel box office located at 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Tests will have to be taken on-site and a Stiefel staff person will provide confirmation of the results and provide a negative test verification for entry into the show (within 72 hours of the date.)&nbsp;&nbsp;

For other locations in Salina that tests are available go to:&nbsp;

"This policy will remain in effect until COVID-19 subsides. We have always made safety a top priority at the Stiefel. We have no choice at this point. Thank you for your understanding," Jane Gates, Stiefel executive director, noted in a news release Thursday.

SALINA —In response to the artist's mandatory requirements that are playing the Stiefel, and a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, the Stiefel Theatre in Salina will begin requiring&nbsp;a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of show date and/or&nbsp;requiring proof of full vaccination&nbsp;for entry into all shows.&nbsp;This policy will be in effect on&nbsp;Oct. 1, 2021.&nbsp;Ticketholders will be notified of these requirements via email.&nbsp; The Stiefel Theatre hopes to offer rapid tests for sale (at their cost) from the Stiefel box office located at 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Tests will have to be taken on-site and a Stiefel staff person will provide confirmation of the results and provide a negative test verification for entry into the show (within 72 hours of the date.)&nbsp;&nbsp;For other locations in Salina that tests are available go to:&nbsp;"This policy will remain in effect until COVID-19 subsides. We have always made safety a top priority at the Stiefel. We have no choice at this point. Thank you for your understanding," Jane Gates, Stiefel executive director, noted in a news release Thursday.

Salina concert venue will require vaccination or negative COVID test

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another school threat this week in Dodge City.

On Wednesday, the Dodge City High School Resource Officer (SRO) was given information that a student made a threat that he was, “going to shoot up the band practice room,” at the high school, according to a media release from Dodge City Police.

Multiple students heard the threat and reported it to school staff. The student has been arrested for the alleged crime of criminal threat, and a case will be filed with the Ford County Attorney’s Office.

This is one of several threats and arrests under investigation at USD 443 over the past week, according to police.

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another school threat this week in Dodge City.On Wednesday, the Dodge City High School Resource Officer (SRO) was given information that a student made a threat that he was, “going to shoot up the band practice room,” at the high school, according to a media release from Dodge City Police.Multiple students heard the threat and reported it to school staff. The student has been arrested for the alleged crime of criminal threat, and a case will be filed with the Ford County Attorney’s Office.This is one of several threats and arrests under investigation at USD 443 over the past week, according to police.

Police make another arrest for threat at Kan. high school

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a theft at Landmark National Bank in Auburn, Kansas.

Just after 3a.m. Wednesday the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received an alarm at the Landmark National Bank in the 1700 block of North Washington Street in Auburn, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

At the scene, deputies learned the automated teller machine (ATM) had been ripped from the cement foundation.

Surveillance footage shows two individuals dressed in black hoodies with gloves and face masks involved. Anyone with information on this incident or the identity of the individuals are asked to call police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630577554257.png" alt="Photo Shawnee County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a theft at Landmark National Bank in Auburn, Kansas.Just after 3a.m. Wednesday the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received an alarm at the Landmark National Bank in the 1700 block of North Washington Street in Auburn, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.At the scene, deputies learned the automated teller machine (ATM) had been ripped from the cement foundation.Surveillance footage shows two individuals dressed in black hoodies with gloves and face masks involved. Anyone with information on this incident or the identity of the individuals are asked to call police.

Sheriff asks for help to ID Kansas suspects in ATM theft

On Wednesday,
 the Federal Trade Commission banned SpyFone and its CEO Scott Zuckerman
 from the surveillance business over allegations that the stalkerware 
app company secretly harvested and shared data on people’s physical 
movements, phone use, and online activities through a hidden device 
hack. The company’s apps sold real-time access to their secret 
surveillance, allowing stalkers and domestic abusers to stealthily track
 the potential targets of their violence. SpyFone’s lack of basic 
security also exposed device owners to hackers, identity thieves, and 
other cyber threats. In addition to imposing the surveillance-business 
ban, the FTC’s order requires SpyFone to delete the illegally harvested 
information and notify device owners that the app had been secretly 
installed.

&nbsp;“SpyFone is a brazen brand name for a 
surveillance business that helped stalkers steal private information,” 
said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer 
Protection. “The stalkerware was hidden from device owners, but was 
fully exposed to hackers who exploited the company’s slipshod security. 
This case is an important reminder that surveillance-based businesses 
pose a significant threat to our safety and security. We will be 
aggressive about seeking surveillance bans when companies and their 
executives egregiously invade our privacy.”

This is the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-brings-first-case-against-developers-stalking-apps">second case</a> the FTC has brought against stalkerware apps, and the first where the FTC is obtaining a ban. In a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/192_3003_spyfone_complaint.pdf">complaint</a>,
 the FTC alleged that Support King, LLC, which did business as 
SpyFone.com, and its CEO sold stalkerware apps that allowed purchasers 
to surreptitiously monitor photos, text messages, web histories, GPS 
locations, and other personal information of the phone on which the app 
was installed without the device owner’s knowledge. &nbsp;

To install 
its software, SpyFone required purchasers who used the apps on Android 
devices to bypass many of the phone’s restrictions. The stalkerware 
company also provided instructions on how to hide the app so that the 
device user was unaware the device was being monitored, the FTC alleged.
 In order to use some functions, such as monitoring email, purchasers 
had to “root” a phone on which the app is installed, which also could 
void warranties and expose the device to security risks. 

The 
illegal secret surveillance provided by the apps made it easy for 
stalkers and abusers to monitor their potential targets and steal 
sensitive information about their physical movements, phone use, and 
online activities. For example, some of the products allowed a purchaser
 to see the device’s live location and view the device user’s emails and
 video chats.&nbsp; 

The stalkerware app company not only illegally 
harvested and shared people’s private information, it also failed to 
keep it secure. The FTC alleges that SpyFone did not put in place basic 
security measures despite promising that it took “reasonable precautions
 to safeguard” the information it illegally harvested. The stalkerware 
apps’ security deficiencies include not encrypting personal information 
it stored, including photos and text messages; failing to ensure that 
only authorized users could access personal information; and 
transmitting purchasers’ passwords in plain text.

Moreover, after a
 hacker accessed the company’s server and obtained personal data of 
about 2,200 consumers in August 2018, the company promised purchasers 
that it would work with an outside data security firm and law 
enforcement authorities to investigate the incident. The FTC, however, 
alleges that the company failed to follow through on this promise.

In
 addition to banning Support King and Zuckerman from offering, 
promoting, selling, or advertising any surveillance app, service, or 
business, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/192_3003_spyfone_agreement_and_order_without_signatures_0.pdf">the proposed settlement&nbsp;</a>requires
 them to delete any information illegally collected from their 
stalkerware apps. It also orders them to notify owners of devices on 
which SpyFone’s apps were installed that their devices might have been 
monitored and the devices might not be secure.

The Commission 
voted 5-0 to issue the proposed administrative complaint and to accept 
the consent order with the company. Commissioner Rohit Chopra issued a 
separate <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/statement-commissioner-rohit-chopra-matter-spyfone">statement</a>.

The
 FTC will publish a description of the package&nbsp;in the Federal Register 
soon. The proposed order will be subject to public comment for 30 days 
after publication in the Federal Register after which the Commission 
will decide whether to make the proposal final. Instructions for filing 
comments will appear in the published notice. Once processed, comments 
will be posted on Regulations.gov.

NOTE: The 
Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to 
believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to 
the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the 
Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force
 of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order 
may result in a civil penalty of up to $43,280.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FTCOn Wednesday,
 the Federal Trade Commission banned SpyFone and its CEO Scott Zuckerman
 from the surveillance business over allegations that the stalkerware 
app company secretly harvested and shared data on people’s physical 
movements, phone use, and online activities through a hidden device 
hack. The company’s apps sold real-time access to their secret 
surveillance, allowing stalkers and domestic abusers to stealthily track
 the potential targets of their violence. SpyFone’s lack of basic 
security also exposed device owners to hackers, identity thieves, and 
other cyber threats. In addition to imposing the surveillance-business 
ban, the FTC’s order requires SpyFone to delete the illegally harvested 
information and notify device owners that the app had been secretly 
installed.&nbsp;“SpyFone is a brazen brand name for a 
surveillance business that helped stalkers steal private information,” 
said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer 
Protection. “The stalkerware was hidden from device owners, but was 
fully exposed to hackers who exploited the company’s slipshod security. 
This case is an important reminder that surveillance-based businesses 
pose a significant threat to our safety and security. We will be 
aggressive about seeking surveillance bans when companies and their 
executives egregiously invade our privacy.”This is the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-brings-first-case-against-developers-stalking-apps">second case</a> the FTC has brought against stalkerware apps, and the first where the FTC is obtaining a ban. In a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/192_3003_spyfone_complaint.pdf">complaint</a>,
 the FTC alleged that Support King, LLC, which did business as 
SpyFone.com, and its CEO sold stalkerware apps that allowed purchasers 
to surreptitiously monitor photos, text messages, web histories, GPS 
locations, and other personal information of the phone on which the app 
was installed without the device owner’s knowledge. &nbsp;To install 
its software, SpyFone required purchasers who used the apps on Android 
devices to bypass many of the phone’s restrictions. The stalkerware 
company also provided instructions on how to hide the app so that the 
device user was unaware the device was being monitored, the FTC alleged.
 In order to use some functions, such as monitoring email, purchasers 
had to “root” a phone on which the app is installed, which also could 
void warranties and expose the device to security risks. The 
illegal secret surveillance provided by the apps made it easy for 
stalkers and abusers to monitor their potential targets and steal 
sensitive information about their physical movements, phone use, and 
online activities. For example, some of the products allowed a purchaser
 to see the device’s live location and view the device user’s emails and
 video chats.&nbsp; The stalkerware app company not only illegally 
harvested and shared people’s private information, it also failed to 
keep it secure. The FTC alleges that SpyFone did not put in place basic 
security measures despite promising that it took “reasonable precautions
 to safeguard” the information it illegally harvested. The stalkerware 
apps’ security deficiencies include not encrypting personal information 
it stored, including photos and text messages; failing to ensure that 
only authorized users could access personal information; and 
transmitting purchasers’ passwords in plain text.Moreover, after a
 hacker accessed the company’s server and obtained personal data of 
about 2,200 consumers in August 2018, the company promised purchasers 
that it would work with an outside data security firm and law 
enforcement authorities to investigate the incident. The FTC, however, 
alleges that the company failed to follow through on this promise.In
 addition to banning Support King and Zuckerman from offering, 
promoting, selling, or advertising any surveillance app, service, or 
business, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/192_3003_spyfone_agreement_and_order_without_signatures_0.pdf">the proposed settlement&nbsp;</a>requires
 them to delete any information illegally collected from their 
stalkerware apps. It also orders them to notify owners of devices on 
which SpyFone’s apps were installed that their devices might have been 
monitored and the devices might not be secure.The Commission 
voted 5-0 to issue the proposed administrative complaint and to accept 
the consent order with the company. Commissioner Rohit Chopra issued a 
separate <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/statement-commissioner-rohit-chopra-matter-spyfone">statement</a>.The
 FTC will publish a description of the package&nbsp;in the Federal Register 
soon. The proposed order will be subject to public comment for 30 days 
after publication in the Federal Register after which the Commission 
will decide whether to make the proposal final. Instructions for filing 
comments will appear in the published notice. Once processed, comments 
will be posted on Regulations.gov.NOTE: The 
Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to 
believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to 
the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the 
Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force
 of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order 
may result in a civil penalty of up to $43,280.

FTC: 'Stalkerware app' maker ordered to delete secretly stolen user data

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A court hearing that could have determined whether a man who has been in prison for more than 40 years would go free must be postponed, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.

A hearing was scheduled for Thursday in Jackson County Court for a judge to hear arguments on whether Kevin Strickland, 62, should be exonerated for a Kansas City triple murder conviction and released from prison, where he has been since 1979.

But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed an emergency motion Wednesday seeking to have the hearing delayed and the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District ruled in his favor. Schmitt has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-b9748da3015f827cc009cc10cfb2478d">he believes Strickland is guilty.</a>

The appeals court ordered attorneys for Schmitt's office and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to meet with Circuit Judge Kevin Harrell Thursday to reschedule the hearing.

Schmitt’s spokesman Chris Nuelle said in a statement that a jury convicted Strickland of killing three people, and noted that the Missouri Supreme Court previously declined to hear Strickland’s case.

“Those victims deserve justice,” Nuelle said.

Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-06e726b7ef07be53ba7bdb6088282548">has argued that evidence used to convict Strickland has been disproved or recanted&nbsp;</a>since his conviction in 1979, which she called a “profound error.” Several legal and political officials have also called for Strickland's release.

Prosecutors said the only person to identify Strickland as the shooter later recanted and sought help to have Strickland released. Two men who were sentenced to prison for shooting the victims have also said that Strickland was not there when John Walker, 20; Sherrie Black, 22; and 21-year-old Larry Ingram, were killed.

Under a new state law that took effect on Saturday, Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">filed a motion</a>&nbsp;asking a judge to exonerate Strickland. Judge Harrell then scheduled Thursday's hearing and also set a hearing for Friday to announce his decision on Strickland's fate.

A funeral for Strickland's mother, who died last week, is scheduled for Saturday, The Kansas City Star reported.

Peters Baker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appeals court ruling.

In his emergency motion, Schmitt argued the quick scheduling of Thursday's hearing did not give his office time to prepare or to depose witnesses. He also said the scheduling of a hearing on Friday — during which Strickland was ordered to appear in court — undermined “the appearance that justice is being fairly administered in this case.”

“This Court appreciates the significant public interests involved in this proceeding, and the Circuit Court’s efforts to resolve this proceeding swiftly,” the appeals court order reads. “Nevertheless, in order to permit the Attorney General to meaningfully participate in the hearing, he must be given notice sufficient to allow his office a reasonable opportunity to prepare for the hearing, given the extensiveness of the relevant record, and the complexity and gravity of the issues involved.”

Schmitt also filed a motion earlier in the week asking that all the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County judges be removed from the case, citing an appearance of favoring Strickland's freedom. But Harrell ruled that Schmitt did not have standing to file motions pertaining to the evidentiary hearing.

The appeals court disagreed, saying Schmitt's office has the right to file motions in the case. It ordered Harrell to rule on all of Schmitt's previous motions.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office filed an emergency motion Wednesday asking the Missouri Court of Appeals to delay a hearing that could determine whether an inmate who has been imprisoned for more than 40 years is freed.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker was scheduled to argue in Thursday's hearing that Kevin Strickland, 62, should be exonerated and released from prison after he was convicted in 1979 and sentenced to life in prison for a triple murder in Kansas City.

Peters Baker has said key pieces of evidence used to convict Strickland have been disproved or withdrawn and his conviction was “a profound error.”

Peters Baker filed her motion seeking the hearing on Saturday. Schmitt said his office wasn't notified until Monday and having the hearing scheduled for three days later did not give attorneys time to prepare or depose witnesses.

The attorney general's office also is seeking to have judges in Jackson County disqualified from the case.

Circuit Judge Kevin Harrell, who was scheduled to preside over Thursday's hearing, had already scheduled another hearing for Friday morning and ordered Strickland to be in court. Schmitt argued the hastily arranged hearings undermine “the appearance that justice is being fairly administered in this case.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620695920927.png" alt="Strickland photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Strickland photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A court hearing that could have determined whether a man who has been in prison for more than 40 years would go free must be postponed, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.A hearing was scheduled for Thursday in Jackson County Court for a judge to hear arguments on whether Kevin Strickland, 62, should be exonerated for a Kansas City triple murder conviction and released from prison, where he has been since 1979.But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed an emergency motion Wednesday seeking to have the hearing delayed and the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District ruled in his favor. Schmitt has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-b9748da3015f827cc009cc10cfb2478d">he believes Strickland is guilty.</a>The appeals court ordered attorneys for Schmitt's office and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to meet with Circuit Judge Kevin Harrell Thursday to reschedule the hearing.Schmitt’s spokesman Chris Nuelle said in a statement that a jury convicted Strickland of killing three people, and noted that the Missouri Supreme Court previously declined to hear Strickland’s case.“Those victims deserve justice,” Nuelle said.Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-06e726b7ef07be53ba7bdb6088282548">has argued that evidence used to convict Strickland has been disproved or recanted&nbsp;</a>since his conviction in 1979, which she called a “profound error.” Several legal and political officials have also called for Strickland's release.Prosecutors said the only person to identify Strickland as the shooter later recanted and sought help to have Strickland released. Two men who were sentenced to prison for shooting the victims have also said that Strickland was not there when John Walker, 20; Sherrie Black, 22; and 21-year-old Larry Ingram, were killed.Under a new state law that took effect on Saturday, Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">filed a motion</a>&nbsp;asking a judge to exonerate Strickland. Judge Harrell then scheduled Thursday's hearing and also set a hearing for Friday to announce his decision on Strickland's fate.A funeral for Strickland's mother, who died last week, is scheduled for Saturday, The Kansas City Star reported.Peters Baker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appeals court ruling.In his emergency motion, Schmitt argued the quick scheduling of Thursday's hearing did not give his office time to prepare or to depose witnesses. He also said the scheduling of a hearing on Friday — during which Strickland was ordered to appear in court — undermined “the appearance that justice is being fairly administered in this case.”“This Court appreciates the significant public interests involved in this proceeding, and the Circuit Court’s efforts to resolve this proceeding swiftly,” the appeals court order reads. “Nevertheless, in order to permit the Attorney General to meaningfully participate in the hearing, he must be given notice sufficient to allow his office a reasonable opportunity to prepare for the hearing, given the extensiveness of the relevant record, and the complexity and gravity of the issues involved.”Schmitt also filed a motion earlier in the week asking that all the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County judges be removed from the case, citing an appearance of favoring Strickland's freedom. But Harrell ruled that Schmitt did not have standing to file motions pertaining to the evidentiary hearing.The appeals court disagreed, saying Schmitt's office has the right to file motions in the case. It ordered Harrell to rule on all of Schmitt's previous motions.-----------KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office filed an emergency motion Wednesday asking the Missouri Court of Appeals to delay a hearing that could determine whether an inmate who has been imprisoned for more than 40 years is freed.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker was scheduled to argue in Thursday's hearing that Kevin Strickland, 62, should be exonerated and released from prison after he was convicted in 1979 and sentenced to life in prison for a triple murder in Kansas City.Peters Baker has said key pieces of evidence used to convict Strickland have been disproved or withdrawn and his conviction was “a profound error.”Peters Baker filed her motion seeking the hearing on Saturday. Schmitt said his office wasn't notified until Monday and having the hearing scheduled for three days later did not give attorneys time to prepare or depose witnesses.The attorney general's office also is seeking to have judges in Jackson County disqualified from the case.Circuit Judge Kevin Harrell, who was scheduled to preside over Thursday's hearing, had already scheduled another hearing for Friday morning and ordered Strickland to be in court. Schmitt argued the hastily arranged hearings undermine “the appearance that justice is being fairly administered in this case.”

Hearing on longtime inmate's freedom postponed

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in the August 25 fatal hit-and-run crash made his first court appearance Tuesday.

Jesus Manuel Olave, Jr.,&nbsp;31 of Wichita, was charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident and for no valid driver’s license, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

At 11:30 p.m. August 25, police were dispatched to a fatal accident at the intersection of 47th Street South and South Hydraulic Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

The investigation revealed a black SUV was&nbsp; eastbound on 47th Street South. The SUV then turned north onto Hydraulic Avenue and struck a westbound 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by&nbsp;37-year-old Kenneth M. Ballinger of Derby.

EMS pronounced Ballinger dead at the scene from his injuries. The driver of the black SUV later identified as Olave, Jr., fled the scene.&nbsp; According to Sedgwick County booking records, police arrested and <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18705970">booked him into</a> jail on the evening of August 26.

&nbsp;His next scheduled court appearance is September 16.&nbsp; He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18705970">in jail on a $250,000 bond,</a> according to the district attorney.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run accident that fatally injured&nbsp;37-year-old Kenneth M. Ballinger of Derby.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to a fatal accident at the intersection of 47th Street South and South Hydraulic Avenue, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

The investigation revealed a black SUV was&nbsp; eastbound on 47th Street South. The SUV then turned north onto Hydraulic Avenue and struck a westbound 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Ballinger.

He died from his injuries. The driver of the black SUV fled the scene. Police have not located the driver.&nbsp; The SUV may have damage to the front right corner.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, See Something Say Something at 316 519-2282 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630068308246.png" alt="Olave Jr. photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Olave Jr. photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in the August 25 fatal hit-and-run crash made his first court appearance Tuesday.Jesus Manuel Olave, Jr.,&nbsp;31 of Wichita, was charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident and for no valid driver’s license, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.At 11:30 p.m. August 25, police were dispatched to a fatal accident at the intersection of 47th Street South and South Hydraulic Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.The investigation revealed a black SUV was&nbsp; eastbound on 47th Street South. The SUV then turned north onto Hydraulic Avenue and struck a westbound 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by&nbsp;37-year-old Kenneth M. Ballinger of Derby.EMS pronounced Ballinger dead at the scene from his injuries. The driver of the black SUV later identified as Olave, Jr., fled the scene.&nbsp; According to Sedgwick County booking records, police arrested and <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18705970">booked him into</a> jail on the evening of August 26.&nbsp;His next scheduled court appearance is September 16.&nbsp; He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18705970">in jail on a $250,000 bond,</a> according to the district attorney.----------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run accident that fatally injured&nbsp;37-year-old Kenneth M. Ballinger of Derby.At approximately 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to a fatal accident at the intersection of 47th Street South and South Hydraulic Avenue, according to Officer Charley Davidson.The investigation revealed a black SUV was&nbsp; eastbound on 47th Street South. The SUV then turned north onto Hydraulic Avenue and struck a westbound 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Ballinger.He died from his injuries. The driver of the black SUV fled the scene. Police have not located the driver.&nbsp; The SUV may have damage to the front right corner.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, See Something Say Something at 316 519-2282 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Police: Kan. man charged in fatal hit-and-run had no license

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials in suburban Kansas City who responded to a condominium kitchen fire say a woman and her dog were found dead inside the unit. The fire occurred Tuesday afternoon, when Overland Park fire crews responded to a call around 3:20 p.m. of a fire along Outlook Drive. 

Overland Park Fire spokesman Jason Rhodes says arriving fighters found smoke coming from a two-story condo and quickly put out the kitchen fire. The woman was found dead in the front room of the home. Officials identified her as 51-year-old Julie Ann Peterson. Rhodes said it was unclear if the fire started from cooking or an electrical problem with the stove.

Overland Park Fire spokesman Jason Rhodes says arriving fighters found smoke coming from a two-story condo and quickly put out the kitchen fire. 

The woman was found dead in the front room of the home. Officials have not released the woman's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630500452499.png" alt="Photo courtesy Overland Park Fire and Rescue" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Overland Park Fire and Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials in suburban Kansas City who responded to a condominium kitchen fire say a woman and her dog were found dead inside the unit. The fire occurred Tuesday afternoon, when Overland Park fire crews responded to a call around 3:20 p.m. of a fire along Outlook Drive. Overland Park Fire spokesman Jason Rhodes says arriving fighters found smoke coming from a two-story condo and quickly put out the kitchen fire. The woman was found dead in the front room of the home. Officials identified her as 51-year-old Julie Ann Peterson. Rhodes said it was unclear if the fire started from cooking or an electrical problem with the stove.------OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials in suburban Kansas City who responded to a condominium kitchen fire say a woman and her dog were found dead inside the unit. The fire occurred Tuesday afternoon, when Overland Park fire crews responded to a call around 3:20 p.m. of a fire along Outlook Drive. Overland Park Fire spokesman Jason Rhodes says arriving fighters found smoke coming from a two-story condo and quickly put out the kitchen fire. The woman was found dead in the front room of the home. Officials have not released the woman's name.

Officials ID Kan. woman who died with her dog in condo fire

By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-08-31/school-districts-look-to-adopt-mask-mandates-following-rough-start-with-covid-19">Kansas News Service</a>

School districts in Ark City, Mulvane and Andover voted this week to require masks for students, employees and visitors.

The
 moves come as positive COVID-19 cases increase in schools, along with 
the number of students forced to quarantine after coming into contact 
with someone who is sick. <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-27/wellington-school-district-cancels-all-classes-and-activities-due-to-covid-19-outbreaks">Wellington closed its schools</a> for more than a week because of an uptick in cases.

As
 of Monday, 30 of Kansas' 50 largest school districts have mask mandates
 in place, with most passed in the last month. Those 30 districts 
educate about 55% of the state's roughly 475,000 students.

Wichita, the state's largest district, began requiring masks for students, employees and visitors <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-23/wichita-boe-votes-to-mandate-masks-for-students-employees">on Monday</a>, regardless of vaccine status.

Here's a rundown of action taken by other local districts:

The Andover School board voted Tuesday night to require face masks at its elementary schools.

But it rejected a motion to extend the requirement to the district’s middle and high schools. The motion failed on a 3-3 vote.

The mask mandate begins Friday. It will run through Oct. 12, when it will be re-evaluated.

The
 district said in an email to Andover parents that the number of 
positive cases among students doubled last week to 38. There also are 
196 students in quarantine.

The 
school board voted in a special meeting Monday night to make masks 
mandatory for students and employees, beginning Wednesday. The mandate 
will run through Sept. 13.

"This decision was made in an effort to keep as many students learning in person as possible," the district said in a statement.

Ark
 City said 32 students and 10 employees are infected, and 211 students 
are in quarantine. The district has about 3,000 students.

The board plans to discuss the mandate at its Sept. 13 meeting and review a modified masking plan currently being developed.

The
 school board voted Monday night to require masks in schools beginning 
Wednesday. The mandate will be re-evaluated on Sept. 27.

As
 of Tuesday, district officials said 44 students and nine employees had 
tested positive. Nearly 200 of the district's roughly 1,800 students are
 in quarantine.

The district said it will use the state health department's rapid testing program beginning Sept. 7.

The Wellington district closed its six schools last Friday because of Covid-19 clusters at some of the schools.

The
 district said it had 40 cases in the first eight days of school. It 
also was testing more than 200 students daily for Covid-19.

The
 schools are scheduled to reopen on Sept. 7, the day after Labor Day. 
The temporary closure also means all sports practices and school-related
 events are canceled.

"This is a challenging time for our 
entire district," Superintendent Adam Hatfield said in a letter on the 
district's website. "Everybody wants our kids in school. We are hoping 
it is only a minor setback."

The Wellington school board has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday to discuss the district's safety and operation plan.

Tom joined KMUW in 2017 after spending 37 years with The Wichita Eagle where he held a variety of reporting and editing roles.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630508183561.png" alt="Alamosbasement / flickr Creative Commons" />
 <figcaption>Alamosbasement / flickr Creative Commons</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-08-31/school-districts-look-to-adopt-mask-mandates-following-rough-start-with-covid-19">Kansas News Service</a>School districts in Ark City, Mulvane and Andover voted this week to require masks for students, employees and visitors.The
 moves come as positive COVID-19 cases increase in schools, along with 
the number of students forced to quarantine after coming into contact 
with someone who is sick. <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-27/wellington-school-district-cancels-all-classes-and-activities-due-to-covid-19-outbreaks">Wellington closed its schools</a> for more than a week because of an uptick in cases.As
 of Monday, 30 of Kansas' 50 largest school districts have mask mandates
 in place, with most passed in the last month. Those 30 districts 
educate about 55% of the state's roughly 475,000 students.Wichita, the state's largest district, began requiring masks for students, employees and visitors <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-23/wichita-boe-votes-to-mandate-masks-for-students-employees">on Monday</a>, regardless of vaccine status.Here's a rundown of action taken by other local districts:<h2>Andover</h2>The Andover School board voted Tuesday night to require face masks at its elementary schools.But it rejected a motion to extend the requirement to the district’s middle and high schools. The motion failed on a 3-3 vote.The mask mandate begins Friday. It will run through Oct. 12, when it will be re-evaluated.The
 district said in an email to Andover parents that the number of 
positive cases among students doubled last week to 38. There also are 
196 students in quarantine.<h2>Ark City</h2>The 
school board voted in a special meeting Monday night to make masks 
mandatory for students and employees, beginning Wednesday. The mandate 
will run through Sept. 13."This decision was made in an effort to keep as many students learning in person as possible," the district said in a statement.Ark
 City said 32 students and 10 employees are infected, and 211 students 
are in quarantine. The district has about 3,000 students.The board plans to discuss the mandate at its Sept. 13 meeting and review a modified masking plan currently being developed.<h2>Mulvane</h2>The
 school board voted Monday night to require masks in schools beginning 
Wednesday. The mandate will be re-evaluated on Sept. 27.As
 of Tuesday, district officials said 44 students and nine employees had 
tested positive. Nearly 200 of the district's roughly 1,800 students are
 in quarantine.The district said it will use the state health department's rapid testing program beginning Sept. 7.<h2>Wellington</h2>The Wellington district closed its six schools last Friday because of Covid-19 clusters at some of the schools.The
 district said it had 40 cases in the first eight days of school. It 
also was testing more than 200 students daily for Covid-19.The
 schools are scheduled to reopen on Sept. 7, the day after Labor Day. 
The temporary closure also means all sports practices and school-related
 events are canceled."This is a challenging time for our 
entire district," Superintendent Adam Hatfield said in a letter on the 
district's website. "Everybody wants our kids in school. We are hoping 
it is only a minor setback."The Wellington school board has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday to discuss the district's safety and operation plan.Tom joined KMUW in 2017 after spending 37 years with The Wichita Eagle where he held a variety of reporting and editing roles.&nbsp;

Kan. schools adopt mask mandates after rough start with COVID

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly will hold a press conference 3:00 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley Children's Hospital in Wichita to provide a COVID-19 update.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4,195 to a total of 373,171, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 24 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,581.

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly will hold a press conference 3:00 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley Children's Hospital in Wichita to provide a COVID-19 update.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fposts%2F825937778105998&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="391" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4,195 to a total of 373,171, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 24 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,581.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630519048780.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 1, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 1, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥  Gov. Kelly updates COVID battle in Kansas 

MAIZE—&nbsp;The man wanted by area law enforcement as a person of interest in a double homicide in Reno County has been captured.

 Kyle Hardwick was taken into custody by Maize police and has been turned over to authorities in Reno County.&nbsp;

Hardwick was listed as a person of interest after two bodies were discovered on a property in eastern Reno County on Friday.

Deputies were sent to that location for a check welfare call. While searching the property, deputies believed they found the missing person, so they got a warrant to search the entire property and found a second man dead.

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities from multiple agencies continue searching for a Kyle Hardwick after authorities found two men dead Friday in Reno County, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were sent to a property in eastern Reno County for a check welfare call, according to a social media report from the Sheriff.&nbsp; They spoke to several friends of a man who hadn't been heard from since Wednesday.

While searching the property, deputies believe they found the missing person, so they then got a warrant to search the entire property and found a second man dead.

They believe both are Hutchinson residents. Police want to speak with Kyle V. Hardwick. He is&nbsp;possibly traveling in a 2000 Red Ford F-150 ex-cab pickup with veteran plates. Hardwick is also known to travel by bus. If you have information on the case, please call Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 620-694-2666 or 800-222-TIPS.

Hardwick is considered armed and dangerous. The victims have not been positively identified, therefore; the names have not been released. Suspected families of the victims have been reached out to in preparation of the worst, according to the sheriff's department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630432406794.png" alt="Hardwick-photo Reno." />
 <figcaption>Hardwick-photo Reno.</figcaption>
 </figure>MAIZE—&nbsp;The man wanted by area law enforcement as a person of interest in a double homicide in Reno County has been captured. Kyle Hardwick was taken into custody by Maize police and has been turned over to authorities in Reno County.&nbsp;Hardwick was listed as a person of interest after two bodies were discovered on a property in eastern Reno County on Friday.Deputies were sent to that location for a check welfare call. While searching the property, deputies believed they found the missing person, so they got a warrant to search the entire property and found a second man dead.---------RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities from multiple agencies continue searching for a Kyle Hardwick after authorities found two men dead Friday in Reno County, according to the Sheriff's Department.Deputies were sent to a property in eastern Reno County for a check welfare call, according to a social media report from the Sheriff.&nbsp; They spoke to several friends of a man who hadn't been heard from since Wednesday.While searching the property, deputies believe they found the missing person, so they then got a warrant to search the entire property and found a second man dead.They believe both are Hutchinson residents. Police want to speak with Kyle V. Hardwick. He is&nbsp;possibly traveling in a 2000 Red Ford F-150 ex-cab pickup with veteran plates. Hardwick is also known to travel by bus. If you have information on the case, please call Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 620-694-2666 or 800-222-TIPS.Hardwick is considered armed and dangerous. The victims have not been positively identified, therefore; the names have not been released. Suspected families of the victims have been reached out to in preparation of the worst, according to the sheriff's department.

Suspect in Kansas double murder captured 

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — American Red Cross volunteers from the northwest Missouri and
greater Kansas City area are responding to national emergencies.

And Red Cross officials hope more area residents respond to
the need and volunteer with the Red Cross.

Red Cross spokeswoman Angie Springs calls this a crazy, busy
season.

“We are working on the West Coast with wildfires there to
flooding in the Midwest,” Springs says. “We have local volunteers from this
area that are in Tennessee right now, responding to flooding to, of course, the
hurricane that came in over weekend with Ida, impacting an already devastated
area that’s still picking up the pieces from hurricanes last year.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577371423374.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — American Red Cross volunteers from the northwest Missouri and
greater Kansas City area are responding to national emergencies.And Red Cross officials hope more area residents respond to
the need and volunteer with the Red Cross.Red Cross spokeswoman Angie Springs calls this a crazy, busy
season.“We are working on the West Coast with wildfires there to
flooding in the Midwest,” Springs says. “We have local volunteers from this
area that are in Tennessee right now, responding to flooding to, of course, the
hurricane that came in over weekend with Ida, impacting an already devastated
area that’s still picking up the pieces from hurricanes last year.”The Red Cross has sent 11 people from the northwest Missouri
and Kansas City region to respond to various national disasters, including to
New Orleans in wake of Hurricane Ida.All volunteers are trained by the Red Cross before being
deployed to disaster zones. More than 90% of the Red Cross workforce is made up
of volunteers.Springs says a group of volunteers from this region spent the
last couple of weeks in California, assisting in wildfire relief.“I had a gentleman this morning from this area that had spent
14 days in California, got back a couple of days ago and he just raised his
hand to go again. And he’s driving an emergency response vehicle down, right as
we speak, to go provide assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Ida,” Springs
tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Springs says all volunteers go through extensive training
before being sent out.“So, we want to ensure that you are as equipped and
comfortable as possible before you hit the ground running,” Springs says. “Whether
that is being a local volunteer here responding to that home fire or, let’s
say, responding to that national disaster and going across the country to
provide help.”The Red Cross anticipates needing more volunteers than normal
this fall, because there are predictions for active hurricane and wildfire
seasons.Click <a href="https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=vms_public_form&amp;form_id=8042">here</a> if interested in volunteering with the American Red
Cross.