A recently discharged felon was arrested last week in Hays following a reported string of vehicle burglaries that led to a vehicle theft and crash.

Around 2:49 a.m. Dec. 6, the Hays Police Department received a report of a break-in in progress of a vehicle on the 400 block of East Sixth, according to HPD Police Chief Don Scheibler.

The caller said the suspect had a gun, dropped it and picked it up, but according to HPD Deputy Chief Brian Dawson, no weapon was located by police.

Following the report, officers began searching the area for a suspect when another report came in from someone nearby saying they heard tires squealing and a crash, Scheibler said.

That person reported seeing someone who matched the description from the earlier incident flee the scene, and the search moved to the area of the crash.

Isaiah Tai Simpson, 21, was located shortly after and detained after a brief altercation with officers.

Within the crashed vehicle, police reported finding items from other suspected vehicle burglaries.

Simpson was arrested on suspicion of theft, burglary, felony interference, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and driving while suspended.

Dawson said three vehicles were believed to burglarized by Simpson during the evening.

Simpson was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and burglary of a motor vehicle stemming from two incidents in October 2017. He was discharged from the Kansas Department of Corrections on Oct. 5 from those convictions, according to online records.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608069149732.png" alt="Simpson / Ellis County photo" />
 <figcaption>Simpson / Ellis County photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostA recently discharged felon was arrested last week in Hays following a reported string of vehicle burglaries that led to a vehicle theft and crash.Around 2:49 a.m. Dec. 6, the Hays Police Department received a report of a break-in in progress of a vehicle on the 400 block of East Sixth, according to HPD Police Chief Don Scheibler.The caller said the suspect had a gun, dropped it and picked it up, but according to HPD Deputy Chief Brian Dawson, no weapon was located by police.Following the report, officers began searching the area for a suspect when another report came in from someone nearby saying they heard tires squealing and a crash, Scheibler said.That person reported seeing someone who matched the description from the earlier incident flee the scene, and the search moved to the area of the crash.Isaiah Tai Simpson, 21, was located shortly after and detained after a brief altercation with officers.Within the crashed vehicle, police reported finding items from other suspected vehicle burglaries.Simpson was arrested on suspicion of theft, burglary, felony interference, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and driving while suspended.Dawson said three vehicles were believed to burglarized by Simpson during the evening.Simpson was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and burglary of a motor vehicle stemming from two incidents in October 2017. He was discharged from the Kansas Department of Corrections on Oct. 5 from those convictions, according to online records.&nbsp;

Recently discharged felon suspect in vehicle burglaries, vehicle theft

Steven Lacy Replogle, 63, of Southern Pines, N.C., passed away 
December 11, 2020, in Southern Pines. He was born October 20, 1957, in 
Great Bend, Kan., the son of Charles B. Replogle, M.D. and Lois (Lacy) 
Replogle.

He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1976, and later from the 
University of Kansas in 1984, where he was member of Phi Delta Theta 
fraternity. He worked many years in sales for hotels in Kansas, Texas, 
Tennessee and North Carolina. He was the director of Sales for Legacy 
Golf Links in Aberdeen/Pinehurst, N.C. for the last 14 years.

He was a former member of the First Congregational Church in Great 
Bend. He was a life member of the University of Kansas Alumni 
Association, member of AA and proudly celebrated over 24 years of 
sobriety, Sandpiper of Southern Pines Golf Club and Carolina Golf 
Association.&nbsp; Steven was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and 
the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of Pinehurst/Southern Pines 
Aberdeen, traveling all over the Northeast and Canada promoting golf in 
the Pinehurst area. &nbsp;He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle and 
exceptional friend.

He is survived by his mother; three sisters, Jane (Jerry) Barber of 
Richmond, Va., Susan (Jim) Debes and Anne (Larry) Kutina both of Great 
Bend. Also surviving are his adoring nieces and nephews he referred to 
as “his kids”: Parker Rhoads, Caitlin Debes, Colton Debes, Andrew 
Kutina, Madison Debes Blackmon, Elizabeth Kutina, Kyle Barber, Ryan 
Barber and Kristen Barber; and many beloved friends. He was preceded in 
death by his father; his niece, Stephanie Rhoads; and his grandparents.

Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held
 at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the 
First Tee of the Sandhills, PO Box 3791, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608064508720.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Steven Lacy Replogle, 63, of Southern Pines, N.C., passed away 
December 11, 2020, in Southern Pines. He was born October 20, 1957, in 
Great Bend, Kan., the son of Charles B. Replogle, M.D. and Lois (Lacy) 
Replogle.He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1976, and later from the 
University of Kansas in 1984, where he was member of Phi Delta Theta 
fraternity. He worked many years in sales for hotels in Kansas, Texas, 
Tennessee and North Carolina. He was the director of Sales for Legacy 
Golf Links in Aberdeen/Pinehurst, N.C. for the last 14 years.He was a former member of the First Congregational Church in Great 
Bend. He was a life member of the University of Kansas Alumni 
Association, member of AA and proudly celebrated over 24 years of 
sobriety, Sandpiper of Southern Pines Golf Club and Carolina Golf 
Association.&nbsp; Steven was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and 
the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of Pinehurst/Southern Pines 
Aberdeen, traveling all over the Northeast and Canada promoting golf in 
the Pinehurst area. &nbsp;He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle and 
exceptional friend.He is survived by his mother; three sisters, Jane (Jerry) Barber of 
Richmond, Va., Susan (Jim) Debes and Anne (Larry) Kutina both of Great 
Bend. Also surviving are his adoring nieces and nephews he referred to 
as “his kids”: Parker Rhoads, Caitlin Debes, Colton Debes, Andrew 
Kutina, Madison Debes Blackmon, Elizabeth Kutina, Kyle Barber, Ryan 
Barber and Kristen Barber; and many beloved friends. He was preceded in 
death by his father; his niece, Stephanie Rhoads; and his grandparents.Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held
 at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the 
First Tee of the Sandhills, PO Box 3791, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Steven Lacy Replogle

WILBER, Neb. (AP) - A hearing to determine whether a Kansas felon should be sentenced to death for killing a Nebraska woman who arranged a Tinder date with him has been delayed until March after one of his attorneys tested positive for COVID-19.

Aubrey Trail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7242eab656f64cd99b8780881e67deab" target="_blank">was convicted</a>&nbsp;last year of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the November 2017 death and dismemberment of 24-year-old Lincoln store clerk Sydney Loofe, who disappeared after arranging a date with him.

The hearing was scheduled to begin this week in Wilber.

In a court motion seeking a delay, attorney Ben Murray said the coronavirus pandemic has prevented out-of-state witnesses, including Trail's relatives in Tennessee, from traveling to Nebraska.

He also said Trail's attorneys have been able to meet with him in person just once in six months, and argued that the notoriety of the case could draw large crowds and "become a significant community spreading event."

And he said Trail is at high risk for death or serious illness should he contract COVID-19.

Trail's girlfriend, Bailey Boswell, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-lexington-crime-d16bca8562c0af3f96f701659586f699" target="_blank">convicted</a>&nbsp;in October of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and improper disposal of human remains for her role in Loofe's deat

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607567081963.png" alt="Aubrey Trail has previous convictions in Kansas for theft and giving a worthless check, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was scheduled for sentencing in December for Loofe's murder." />
 <figcaption>Aubrey Trail has previous convictions in Kansas for theft and giving a worthless check, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was scheduled for sentencing in December for Loofe's murder.</figcaption>
 </figure>WILBER, Neb. (AP) - A hearing to determine whether a Kansas felon should be sentenced to death for killing a Nebraska woman who arranged a Tinder date with him has been delayed until March after one of his attorneys tested positive for COVID-19.Aubrey Trail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7242eab656f64cd99b8780881e67deab" target="_blank">was convicted</a>&nbsp;last year of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the November 2017 death and dismemberment of 24-year-old Lincoln store clerk Sydney Loofe, who disappeared after arranging a date with him.The hearing was scheduled to begin this week in Wilber.In a court motion seeking a delay, attorney Ben Murray said the coronavirus pandemic has prevented out-of-state witnesses, including Trail's relatives in Tennessee, from traveling to Nebraska.He also said Trail's attorneys have been able to meet with him in person just once in six months, and argued that the notoriety of the case could draw large crowds and "become a significant community spreading event."And he said Trail is at high risk for death or serious illness should he contract COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560911898785.png" alt="Bailey Boswell" />
 <figcaption>Bailey Boswell</figcaption>
 </figure>Trail's girlfriend, Bailey Boswell, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-lexington-crime-d16bca8562c0af3f96f701659586f699" target="_blank">convicted</a>&nbsp;in October of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and improper disposal of human remains for her role in Loofe's deat

Virus forces delay of Kan. felon's death penalty hearing

It is with great sadness to announce the unexpected passing of Nicolas “Cole” Wenzl on Friday, December 11, 2020, in Ellis County, KS at the age of 19 years young.

Cole was born on October 18, 2001, in Topeka, KS.&nbsp; At age 3, he moved to Phillipsburg where he graduated from high school this past May.&nbsp; He then attended Kansas State University and was majoring in Computer Science.&nbsp; Cole’s passions included drawing, playing the tuba in the high school band and computer coding.&nbsp;

Cole is survived by his loving parents Robert L. Wenzl and wife Tina of Manhattan, KS and Stacie A. Ricker and husband Rus of Phillipsburg, KS along with his sisters Cara and Ella Wenzl of Phillipsburg; step brothers Gunnison Ricker of Hays and Greyson Tanner of Wichita; step sisters, August Ricker of Plainville and Shelby Tanner of Kearney, NE; and grandmother Betty Wenzl of Seneca, KS, grandparents Karen and Gene Matia of Littleton, CO, step grandmother Sharon Ricker of Beulah, CO and grandfather Duane Nokes of Denver, CO.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the Huck Boyd Community Center, Phillipsburg. Social distancing and mask are encouraged. &nbsp;The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. &nbsp;Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Friends may sign the book from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, P. O. Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS&nbsp; 67661. &nbsp;The casket will remain closed.

Memorial contributions may be made out to the Cole Wenzl Scholarship Fund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607954065399.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>It is with great sadness to announce the unexpected passing of Nicolas “Cole” Wenzl on Friday, December 11, 2020, in Ellis County, KS at the age of 19 years young.Cole was born on October 18, 2001, in Topeka, KS.&nbsp; At age 3, he moved to Phillipsburg where he graduated from high school this past May.&nbsp; He then attended Kansas State University and was majoring in Computer Science.&nbsp; Cole’s passions included drawing, playing the tuba in the high school band and computer coding.&nbsp;Cole is survived by his loving parents Robert L. Wenzl and wife Tina of Manhattan, KS and Stacie A. Ricker and husband Rus of Phillipsburg, KS along with his sisters Cara and Ella Wenzl of Phillipsburg; step brothers Gunnison Ricker of Hays and Greyson Tanner of Wichita; step sisters, August Ricker of Plainville and Shelby Tanner of Kearney, NE; and grandmother Betty Wenzl of Seneca, KS, grandparents Karen and Gene Matia of Littleton, CO, step grandmother Sharon Ricker of Beulah, CO and grandfather Duane Nokes of Denver, CO.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the Huck Boyd Community Center, Phillipsburg. Social distancing and mask are encouraged. &nbsp;The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. &nbsp;Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.Friends may sign the book from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, P. O. Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS&nbsp; 67661. &nbsp;The casket will remain closed.Memorial contributions may be made out to the Cole Wenzl Scholarship Fund.

Nicolas 'Cole' Wenzl 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a standoff with police.

Just after 2:30 a.m. Dec. 11, police responded to a domestic violence disturbance with a weapon at a residence in the 10900 block of West Harvest Lane in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the family of 29-year-old Courtland Gire outside of the residence.&nbsp; They reported that Gire was threatening family and his 29-year-old girlfriend with a handgun and knife and that he was holding his girlfriend in a bedroom against her will.&nbsp; Gire also reportedly threatened to shoot responding officers.

The situation was resolved peacefully after approximately four hours through the use of Wichita Police Department's crisis negotiators and mental health advisor who were on the scene.&nbsp; 

Gire exited the home and was arrested without the use of force.&nbsp; No one was injured in this incident.&nbsp; Officers also recovered a handgun and knife during the investigation.

Gire remains jailed on requested charges of aggravated assault domestic violence, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of aggravated weapons violation.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp; Gire has over a dozen previous burglary and theft convictions, had been convicted on multiple other felony charges and was dismissed from custody in October, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607782007779.png" alt="Gire photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Gire photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a standoff with police.Just after 2:30 a.m. Dec. 11, police responded to a domestic violence disturbance with a weapon at a residence in the 10900 block of West Harvest Lane in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers contacted the family of 29-year-old Courtland Gire outside of the residence.&nbsp; They reported that Gire was threatening family and his 29-year-old girlfriend with a handgun and knife and that he was holding his girlfriend in a bedroom against her will.&nbsp; Gire also reportedly threatened to shoot responding officers.The situation was resolved peacefully after approximately four hours through the use of Wichita Police Department's crisis negotiators and mental health advisor who were on the scene.&nbsp; Gire exited the home and was arrested without the use of force.&nbsp; No one was injured in this incident.&nbsp; Officers also recovered a handgun and knife during the investigation.Gire remains jailed on requested charges of aggravated assault domestic violence, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of aggravated weapons violation.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp; Gire has over a dozen previous burglary and theft convictions, had been convicted on multiple other felony charges and was dismissed from custody in October, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. man with over a dozen convictions jailed after standoff 

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was indicted in federal court this with distributing heroin, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

James Licht, 39, Topeka, was charged with one count of distributing heroin and one count of unlawful possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.

According to documents filed in court, in October investigators served a search warrant at Licht’s residence in the 1400 block of SW 5th&nbsp;Street in Topeka. Among the items seized were heroin, more than $1,500 in cash, a .45 caliber pistol, a 9 mm pistol, other firearms and drug paraphernalia.

Licht was paying $1,500 to $2,000 an ounce to buy 1 to 2 ounces of heroin each week.

&nbsp;Licht was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a felony conviction in 2019 in Shawnee County District Court.

If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the heroin charge and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607552022193.png" alt="Licht from an earlier arrest in Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Licht from an earlier arrest in Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was indicted in federal court this with distributing heroin, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.James Licht, 39, Topeka, was charged with one count of distributing heroin and one count of unlawful possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.According to documents filed in court, in October investigators served a search warrant at Licht’s residence in the 1400 block of SW 5th&nbsp;Street in Topeka. Among the items seized were heroin, more than $1,500 in cash, a .45 caliber pistol, a 9 mm pistol, other firearms and drug paraphernalia.Licht was paying $1,500 to $2,000 an ounce to buy 1 to 2 ounces of heroin each week.&nbsp;Licht was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a felony conviction in 2019 in Shawnee County District Court.If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the heroin charge and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated.&nbsp;

Indictment: Kan. man paid $1500 a week for ounce of heroin

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was charged in federal court this week with a child sex crime, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

Frederick L. Martin, 25, Sedgwick, Kan., is charged with one count of producing child pornography and one count of committing a crime involving a minor while registered as a sex offender. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Sedgwick County, Kan., during August through October 2020, after an investigation by Homeland Security.

If convicted, he could face a penalty of not less than 35 years and not more than 60 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of producing child pornography, and an additional 10 years (consecutive) on the other count.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607552320735.png" alt="Martin is being held in Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>Martin is being held in Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was charged in federal court this week with a child sex crime, according to the United State's Attorney's office.Frederick L. Martin, 25, Sedgwick, Kan., is charged with one count of producing child pornography and one count of committing a crime involving a minor while registered as a sex offender. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Sedgwick County, Kan., during August through October 2020, after an investigation by Homeland Security.If convicted, he could face a penalty of not less than 35 years and not more than 60 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of producing child pornography, and an additional 10 years (consecutive) on the other count.&nbsp;

Kan. sex offender charged after homeland security investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — As the coronavirus epidemic worsens, U.S. health experts hope Joe Biden’s administration will put in place something Donald Trump’s has not — a comprehensive national testing strategy.

Such a strategy, they say, could systematically check more people for infections and spot surges before they take off. The health experts say it would be an improvement from the current practice, which has professional athletes and students at elite universities getting routine tests while many other Americans stand in line for hours — if they get tested at all.

“We have had no strategy for this virus. Our strategy has been no strategy,” said Dr. Michael Mina, a Harvard University researcher focused on use of testing to track disease.

Some experts say the lack of such a system is one reason for the current national explosion in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

“If we’d had a more robust approach and testing was scaled up as one of the tools, I think much of this third surge would have been avoidable,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

There are differing opinions on what such a strategy should look like, but many experts say rapid and at-home tests should be used so Americans can check themselves and stay away from others if they test positive.

The president-elect has endorsed that strategy, called for making testing free for all Americans, and said government experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies should be empowered to coordinate the entire effort.

“The reality is we’re not testing enough today,” Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, co-chair of Biden’s coronavirus advisory board,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-vivek-murthy-coronavirus-pandemic-89841e7414f76b84b04def0a8478e391">told The Associated Press</a>.

His transition team so far has not gone into further detail.

Testing was one of the first — and most enduring — stumbles in the federal government’s response to the coronavirus epidemic that hit the nation early this year.

In February, the CDC distributed test kits to public health laboratories that initially were faulty. U.S. officials worked with companies to expand testing, but shortages of chemicals, materials and protective equipment meant fewer tests were available than what experts said was necessary.

Worse, some experts say, states and cities competed against each other to buy limited testing services and materials, and with little guidance or training on how to best use the tests.

In April, President Donald Trump declared governors were responsible for testing. Amid complaints about shortages and delays, the federal government began sourcing and shipping key testing supplies to states, beginning with swabs.

In the latest phase, Trump officials are sending more than 100 million rapid, point-of-care tests to states. The government said the first shipments went out in early October.

Such tests are considered key to slowing spread, but states have distributed them differently. For example, Alaska is sending tests to oil drilling sites, Colorado to local public health agencies for testing homeless populations, and Mississippi to veterans’ homes.

There’s also no federal standard for reporting test data. Some states report the number of tests administered, while others tally the number of people tested. Some have counted types of tests that others don’t, which can skew results because some tests are better at diagnosing active infections than others.

Administration officials say they are proud of the current state of testing. Last month, Vice President Mike Pence celebrated that 170 million tests have been completed, and that an expanding array of tests are available.

But the focus should be less on numbers and more on action, said Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health.

“It shouldn’t be anybody who needs a test can get a test,” Khan said. “It should be anybody who has a positive test immediately gets isolated” and the people they were in contact with checked and placed in quarantine.

He was echoed by Nunez-Smith, the Biden coronavirus adviser.

“Testing is only useful when we can act on the test,” said Nunez-Smith, a Yale health equity researcher.

Trump himself has voiced a lack of enthusiasm for comprehensive testing. In a June tweet, the president called testing a double-edged sword that is good to have but “makes us look bad.” And Dr. Scott Atlas — a top pandemic adviser to Trump before he resigned Monday — argued against testing people who aren’t experiencing symptoms.

But some regard such thinking as an attempt to spin a leadership failure into something else.

“The executive branch has seen test results – case counts – as a report card on its performance,” said Carl Bergstrom, a University of Washington evolutionary biologist who studies emerging infectious diseases.

The nation may have a coronavirus vaccines available, but that won’t erase the need for testing, said the Rockefeller Foundation’s Eileen O’Connor.

“We’re not going to get everybody vaccinated right away. And we still don’t know how long that immunity will last,” she said. So testing will still be needed to monitor where the infection is active and to see if infections are occurring in vaccinated people.

In July, the Rockefeller Foundation called for making cheap tests widely available to better identify people who are infected and don’t know it. That would involve developing and making cheap antigen tests, which provide quick results but are less reliable than genetic tests. Foundation officials hoped the government would push companies to manufacture tests the same way it has pushed vaccine makers to mass produce experimental vaccines.

Some Harvard researchers believe that testing half the population each week would be possible by mailing those tests to millions of U.S. households.

Participation would be voluntary, and positive results would have to be confirmed with genetic tests — the home tests are not considered as sensitive as more established lab-based testing. Even so, it could dramatically expand the amount of infection monitoring going on across the nation, its proponents say.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said Americans should have easy tests they can do in their own homes.

“We don’t have that,” he said. “We should have that.”

Versions of such an approach have been tried in some places, including Slovakia and Minnesota. But some experts note there is little precedent for screening tens of millions of people with cheap, rapid tests—which would generate a significant portion of false results. It’s also unclear whether people who test themselves at home will follow instructions to quarantine.

Nearly all experts agree that more data and coordination is needed.

“Having every state do its own thing without guidance from the federal level — from CDC in particular — I think has really hampered us,” said Scott Becker, the chief executive of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. “It is a federal response as much as it is a state response, but it’s a shared responsibility. We need to work together.”

NEW YORK (AP) — As the coronavirus epidemic worsens, U.S. health experts hope Joe Biden’s administration will put in place something Donald Trump’s has not — a comprehensive national testing strategy.Such a strategy, they say, could systematically check more people for infections and spot surges before they take off. The health experts say it would be an improvement from the current practice, which has professional athletes and students at elite universities getting routine tests while many other Americans stand in line for hours — if they get tested at all.“We have had no strategy for this virus. Our strategy has been no strategy,” said Dr. Michael Mina, a Harvard University researcher focused on use of testing to track disease.Some experts say the lack of such a system is one reason for the current national explosion in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.“If we’d had a more robust approach and testing was scaled up as one of the tools, I think much of this third surge would have been avoidable,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.There are differing opinions on what such a strategy should look like, but many experts say rapid and at-home tests should be used so Americans can check themselves and stay away from others if they test positive.The president-elect has endorsed that strategy, called for making testing free for all Americans, and said government experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies should be empowered to coordinate the entire effort.“The reality is we’re not testing enough today,” Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, co-chair of Biden’s coronavirus advisory board,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-vivek-murthy-coronavirus-pandemic-89841e7414f76b84b04def0a8478e391">told The Associated Press</a>.His transition team so far has not gone into further detail.Testing was one of the first — and most enduring — stumbles in the federal government’s response to the coronavirus epidemic that hit the nation early this year.In February, the CDC distributed test kits to public health laboratories that initially were faulty. U.S. officials worked with companies to expand testing, but shortages of chemicals, materials and protective equipment meant fewer tests were available than what experts said was necessary.Worse, some experts say, states and cities competed against each other to buy limited testing services and materials, and with little guidance or training on how to best use the tests.In April, President Donald Trump declared governors were responsible for testing. Amid complaints about shortages and delays, the federal government began sourcing and shipping key testing supplies to states, beginning with swabs.In the latest phase, Trump officials are sending more than 100 million rapid, point-of-care tests to states. The government said the first shipments went out in early October.Such tests are considered key to slowing spread, but states have distributed them differently. For example, Alaska is sending tests to oil drilling sites, Colorado to local public health agencies for testing homeless populations, and Mississippi to veterans’ homes.There’s also no federal standard for reporting test data. Some states report the number of tests administered, while others tally the number of people tested. Some have counted types of tests that others don’t, which can skew results because some tests are better at diagnosing active infections than others.Administration officials say they are proud of the current state of testing. Last month, Vice President Mike Pence celebrated that 170 million tests have been completed, and that an expanding array of tests are available.But the focus should be less on numbers and more on action, said Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health.“It shouldn’t be anybody who needs a test can get a test,” Khan said. “It should be anybody who has a positive test immediately gets isolated” and the people they were in contact with checked and placed in quarantine.He was echoed by Nunez-Smith, the Biden coronavirus adviser.“Testing is only useful when we can act on the test,” said Nunez-Smith, a Yale health equity researcher.Trump himself has voiced a lack of enthusiasm for comprehensive testing. In a June tweet, the president called testing a double-edged sword that is good to have but “makes us look bad.” And Dr. Scott Atlas — a top pandemic adviser to Trump before he resigned Monday — argued against testing people who aren’t experiencing symptoms.But some regard such thinking as an attempt to spin a leadership failure into something else.“The executive branch has seen test results – case counts – as a report card on its performance,” said Carl Bergstrom, a University of Washington evolutionary biologist who studies emerging infectious diseases.The nation may have a coronavirus vaccines available, but that won’t erase the need for testing, said the Rockefeller Foundation’s Eileen O’Connor.“We’re not going to get everybody vaccinated right away. And we still don’t know how long that immunity will last,” she said. So testing will still be needed to monitor where the infection is active and to see if infections are occurring in vaccinated people.What should be done moving forward?In July, the Rockefeller Foundation called for making cheap tests widely available to better identify people who are infected and don’t know it. That would involve developing and making cheap antigen tests, which provide quick results but are less reliable than genetic tests. Foundation officials hoped the government would push companies to manufacture tests the same way it has pushed vaccine makers to mass produce experimental vaccines.Some Harvard researchers believe that testing half the population each week would be possible by mailing those tests to millions of U.S. households.Participation would be voluntary, and positive results would have to be confirmed with genetic tests — the home tests are not considered as sensitive as more established lab-based testing. Even so, it could dramatically expand the amount of infection monitoring going on across the nation, its proponents say.During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said Americans should have easy tests they can do in their own homes.“We don’t have that,” he said. “We should have that.”Versions of such an approach have been tried in some places, including Slovakia and Minnesota. But some experts note there is little precedent for screening tens of millions of people with cheap, rapid tests—which would generate a significant portion of false results. It’s also unclear whether people who test themselves at home will follow instructions to quarantine.Nearly all experts agree that more data and coordination is needed.“Having every state do its own thing without guidance from the federal level — from CDC in particular — I think has really hampered us,” said Scott Becker, the chief executive of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. “It is a federal response as much as it is a state response, but it’s a shared responsibility. We need to work together.”___

Will the US ever have a national COVID-19 testing strategy?

Betty P. Schmidt, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 
2020, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born 
on July 6, 1927, in Salina, Kansas, the daughter of Charles &amp; Freida
 Barnett Rice.&nbsp; Betty was a resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1951 
moving from Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; She was a registered nurse and a 
homemaker.

She was a member of the First Christian Church and numerous other 
organizations all of&nbsp; Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; Betty graduated from Gray 
Hospital School of Registered Nursing in Hutchinson, Kansas on September
 1, 1948.

On October 1, 1950, she married Raymond Schmidt in Great Bend, 
Kansas.&nbsp; He passed away on February 10, 2002, in Scott City, Kansas.

Survivors include her Daughter - Susan &amp; Dan Carter of Scott 
City, Kansas, Three Grandsons - Luke &amp; Christy Carter of Wichita, 
Kansas, Lance Carter of Scott City, Kansas, Jordan &amp; Tirra Carter of
 Scott City, Kansas, Five Great Grandchildren - Beckett Carter of 
Wichita, Kansas, Justice Carter of Wichita, Kansas, Landon Gilbert of 
Topeka, Kansas, Avery Carter of Scott City, Kansas, and Sadie Carter of 
Scott City, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, Two Brothers - Burl Rice, Robert Rice, and One Sister - Odessa Klein.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, 
2020, at the Scott County Cemetery with Rev. Rodney Hopper presiding.&nbsp; 
Services will be Live -Streamed on Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home 
Facebook page starting at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.

Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas

Memorials in Lieu of Flowers can be made to the First Christian 
Church or Scott Recreation Commission in care of Price and Sons Funeral 
Homes.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607785584891.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Betty P. Schmidt, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 
2020, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born 
on July 6, 1927, in Salina, Kansas, the daughter of Charles &amp; Freida
 Barnett Rice.&nbsp; Betty was a resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1951 
moving from Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; She was a registered nurse and a 
homemaker.She was a member of the First Christian Church and numerous other 
organizations all of&nbsp; Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; Betty graduated from Gray 
Hospital School of Registered Nursing in Hutchinson, Kansas on September
 1, 1948.On October 1, 1950, she married Raymond Schmidt in Great Bend, 
Kansas.&nbsp; He passed away on February 10, 2002, in Scott City, Kansas.Survivors include her Daughter - Susan &amp; Dan Carter of Scott 
City, Kansas, Three Grandsons - Luke &amp; Christy Carter of Wichita, 
Kansas, Lance Carter of Scott City, Kansas, Jordan &amp; Tirra Carter of
 Scott City, Kansas, Five Great Grandchildren - Beckett Carter of 
Wichita, Kansas, Justice Carter of Wichita, Kansas, Landon Gilbert of 
Topeka, Kansas, Avery Carter of Scott City, Kansas, and Sadie Carter of 
Scott City, Kansas.She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, Two Brothers - Burl Rice, Robert Rice, and One Sister - Odessa Klein.Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, 
2020, at the Scott County Cemetery with Rev. Rodney Hopper presiding.&nbsp; 
Services will be Live -Streamed on Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home 
Facebook page starting at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, KansasMemorials in Lieu of Flowers can be made to the First Christian 
Church or Scott Recreation Commission in care of Price and Sons Funeral 
Homes.Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Betty P. Schmidt

TOPEKA&nbsp;- Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard took swift action to address allegations of document falsification by employees of St. Francis Ministries (SFM), one of the agency’s foster care case management providers, according to a media release from DCF.

“In mid-November, my agency was made aware of instances where an SFM employee falsified documents to show they had visited with families when they had in fact not made those visits,” Howard said. “Given the seriousness of these allegations I instructed my deputy secretary to immediately begin an investigation.”

After engaging with SFM, DCF learned that SFM was already aware of the allegations and had begun an inquiry at its Salina office. SFM supervisors immediately began contacting foster care providers to confirm visits were being conducted. During the investigation, SFM discovered that one employee did not visit 28 children who were living with 11 different foster care providers. This worker had documented 165 contacts with those children between February and October of 2020 that did not occur. The worker was fired by SFM.

SFM also discovered during its inquiry another case of an employee failing to meet with foster care providers. The employee was fired from the agency in August.

SFM continues its work in Saline County to review each case file to reconcile information from providers with dates of contacts by SFM employees in the case file documentation. The inquiry has so far not turned up any additional instances of document falsification. The case review has shown:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;69% of placements interviewed expressed seeing a member of the Saint Francis case team on a monthly&nbsp;basis.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;78% of fathers interviewed expressed seeing a member of the Saint Francis case team on a monthly&nbsp;basis.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;86% of mothers interviewed expressed seeing a member of the Saint Francis case team on a monthly&nbsp;basis.

DCF has taken additional steps including:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Requesting information related to methods, sampling figures and findings of St. Francis’ case&nbsp;reviews.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DCF’s&nbsp;Audit&nbsp;Services&nbsp;Child&nbsp;Welfare&nbsp;Compliance&nbsp;Team&nbsp;and&nbsp;Quality&nbsp;Assurance&nbsp;Team&nbsp;will&nbsp;serve&nbsp;as&nbsp;peer&nbsp;reviewers&nbsp;assisting&nbsp;in&nbsp;contacting&nbsp;providers&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;case&nbsp;review&nbsp;process.

Financial Mismanagement Investigation

Additionally, Secretary Howard has communicated with St. Francis Ministries interim president/CEO William Clark and Board President Dr. Greg Meissen insisting the agency provide full access to all SFM internal reports and investigation findings pertaining to the expenditure of any monies received by SFM pursuant to its grant with DCF and SFM’s financial stability.

“My agency will not rest until we are assured that Kansas taxpayer funds have been properly spent by SFM,” Howard said. “We know SFM to be good partners and we look forward to full transparency as it relates to both their fiscal affairs and documentation issues.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594298004787.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;- Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard took swift action to address allegations of document falsification by employees of St. Francis Ministries (SFM), one of the agency’s foster care case management providers, according to a media release from DCF.“In mid-November, my agency was made aware of instances where an SFM employee falsified documents to show they had visited with families when they had in fact not made those visits,” Howard said. “Given the seriousness of these allegations I instructed my deputy secretary to immediately begin an investigation.”After engaging with SFM, DCF learned that SFM was already aware of the allegations and had begun an inquiry at its Salina office. SFM supervisors immediately began contacting foster care providers to confirm visits were being conducted. During the investigation, SFM discovered that one employee did not visit 28 children who were living with 11 different foster care providers. This worker had documented 165 contacts with those children between February and October of 2020 that did not occur. The worker was fired by SFM.SFM also discovered during its inquiry another case of an employee failing to meet with foster care providers. The employee was fired from the agency in August.SFM continues its work in Saline County to review each case file to reconcile information from providers with dates of contacts by SFM employees in the case file documentation. The inquiry has so far not turned up any additional instances of document falsification. The case review has shown:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;69% of placements interviewed expressed seeing a member of the Saint Francis case team on a monthly&nbsp;basis.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;78% of fathers interviewed expressed seeing a member of the Saint Francis case team on a monthly&nbsp;basis.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;86% of mothers interviewed expressed seeing a member of the Saint Francis case team on a monthly&nbsp;basis.DCF has taken additional steps including:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Requesting information related to methods, sampling figures and findings of St. Francis’ case&nbsp;reviews.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DCF’s&nbsp;Audit&nbsp;Services&nbsp;Child&nbsp;Welfare&nbsp;Compliance&nbsp;Team&nbsp;and&nbsp;Quality&nbsp;Assurance&nbsp;Team&nbsp;will&nbsp;serve&nbsp;as&nbsp;peer&nbsp;reviewers&nbsp;assisting&nbsp;in&nbsp;contacting&nbsp;providers&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;case&nbsp;review&nbsp;process.Financial Mismanagement InvestigationAdditionally, Secretary Howard has communicated with St. Francis Ministries interim president/CEO William Clark and Board President Dr. Greg Meissen insisting the agency provide full access to all SFM internal reports and investigation findings pertaining to the expenditure of any monies received by SFM pursuant to its grant with DCF and SFM’s financial stability.“My agency will not rest until we are assured that Kansas taxpayer funds have been properly spent by SFM,” Howard said. “We know SFM to be good partners and we look forward to full transparency as it relates to both their fiscal affairs and documentation issues.”

DCF learned foster care worker lied about visiting children

Robert L. “Bob” Braun, age 72, of Hays, Kansas passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at Hays Medical Center. He was born October 24, 1948, in Victoria, Kansas to Adam and Clementine (Rohr) Braun. In 1967 he married Carlotta (Munk) and they later divorced to this union were two children, Robert and Rhonda. On May 18, 2018 he married Michelle (Seitz) in Hays. Bob had worked for the Victoria COOP in his younger days and then for Service Acid and Kansas Acid where he retired from. He also worked maintenance at Via Christi Village, Hays. He was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria 3rd degree Knights of Columbus, and a National Guardsman. He enjoyed his Honda Trike, tinkering with most anything and enjoying his backyard, which was his pride and joy. He is survived by his wife, Michelle of Hays; a son, Robert Anthony “Tony” Braun (Barbara) of Evans, Colorado; a daughter, Rhonda Lang (David) of Lansing, Kansas; a step-son, Mikel Sarver of Hays; a brother, Alfred “Fritz” Braun (Anita) of Victoria; three sisters, Juliana Urban (Paul) of Victoria, Albertine “Tina” Braun (Pete) of Victoria and Charlene Unrein (Frank) of Gorham, Kansas; four granddaughters, Brittney Lang and Taylor Lang both of Lansing, Jordan Sandau (Cody) Gilcrest, Colorado and Hannah Elder (Dylan) of Evans, Colorado as well as one great grandson, Waylynn Anthony Elder. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Rubina Leiker Ziegler, Alvin Braun and Rose Ann Braun. For those wishing to watch livestream, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;and select the Facebook Live tab at the top of the page. Due to COVID-19 concerns, if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on-line guestbook to share your condolences.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, December 12, 2020 at The Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria. Burial will follow in the St. Fidelis Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 5 PM – 8 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM until service time all at the church. A combined parish vigil and Victoria Knights of Columbus rosary will be Friday at 7:00 PM at the church. Arrangements in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601. Memorial contributions will be determined at a later date. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607618296585.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Robert L. “Bob” Braun, age 72, of Hays, Kansas passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at Hays Medical Center. He was born October 24, 1948, in Victoria, Kansas to Adam and Clementine (Rohr) Braun. In 1967 he married Carlotta (Munk) and they later divorced to this union were two children, Robert and Rhonda. On May 18, 2018 he married Michelle (Seitz) in Hays. Bob had worked for the Victoria COOP in his younger days and then for Service Acid and Kansas Acid where he retired from. He also worked maintenance at Via Christi Village, Hays. He was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria 3rd degree Knights of Columbus, and a National Guardsman. He enjoyed his Honda Trike, tinkering with most anything and enjoying his backyard, which was his pride and joy. He is survived by his wife, Michelle of Hays; a son, Robert Anthony “Tony” Braun (Barbara) of Evans, Colorado; a daughter, Rhonda Lang (David) of Lansing, Kansas; a step-son, Mikel Sarver of Hays; a brother, Alfred “Fritz” Braun (Anita) of Victoria; three sisters, Juliana Urban (Paul) of Victoria, Albertine “Tina” Braun (Pete) of Victoria and Charlene Unrein (Frank) of Gorham, Kansas; four granddaughters, Brittney Lang and Taylor Lang both of Lansing, Jordan Sandau (Cody) Gilcrest, Colorado and Hannah Elder (Dylan) of Evans, Colorado as well as one great grandson, Waylynn Anthony Elder. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Rubina Leiker Ziegler, Alvin Braun and Rose Ann Braun. For those wishing to watch livestream, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;and select the Facebook Live tab at the top of the page. Due to COVID-19 concerns, if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on-line guestbook to share your condolences.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, December 12, 2020 at The Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria. Burial will follow in the St. Fidelis Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 5 PM – 8 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM until service time all at the church. A combined parish vigil and Victoria Knights of Columbus rosary will be Friday at 7:00 PM at the church. Arrangements in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601. Memorial contributions will be determined at a later date. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Robert L. 'Bob' Braun

WICHITA – A Kansas man who carjacked a vehicle with young children inside has been sentenced in District Court in Wichita. On Tuesday, Judge William Woolley sentenced Jason Barajas, 32 of Wichita, to 47 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On June 19, 2019, Wichita Police were dispatched to the D&amp;C Store at 2160 S. Broadway. A woman told them she walked into the convenience store to buy something and left her three children, two-years, one-year, and eight months old, in the van. 

The keys were left in the vehicle which was stolen while the woman was inside.

Wichita Police requested 911 to “geo-locate” the van by “pinging” the mother’s cellphone that had been left inside. Police found the vehicle abandoned a half-hour later in the 1500 block of S. Gold with the windows rolled up. The temperature at the time was around 80 degrees. Officers said the children were sweating from the heat and crying in the backseat.

Another cellphone was found in the van that did not belong to the mother. Police used that phone to track down Barajas.

Police later discovered that Barajas had been sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked next to the van when he watched the mother enter the convenience store.

On October 7, 2020, Barajas pled guilty to theft and aggravated endangering a child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607527693358.png" alt="Barajas photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Barajas photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A Kansas man who carjacked a vehicle with young children inside has been sentenced in District Court in Wichita. On Tuesday, Judge William Woolley sentenced Jason Barajas, 32 of Wichita, to 47 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On June 19, 2019, Wichita Police were dispatched to the D&amp;C Store at 2160 S. Broadway. A woman told them she walked into the convenience store to buy something and left her three children, two-years, one-year, and eight months old, in the van. The keys were left in the vehicle which was stolen while the woman was inside.Wichita Police requested 911 to “geo-locate” the van by “pinging” the mother’s cellphone that had been left inside. Police found the vehicle abandoned a half-hour later in the 1500 block of S. Gold with the windows rolled up. The temperature at the time was around 80 degrees. Officers said the children were sweating from the heat and crying in the backseat.Another cellphone was found in the van that did not belong to the mother. Police used that phone to track down Barajas.Police later discovered that Barajas had been sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked next to the van when he watched the mother enter the convenience store.On October 7, 2020, Barajas pled guilty to theft and aggravated endangering a child.

Kan. man sentenced for carjacking van with 3 children 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine faces one final hurdle as it races to become the first shot greenlighted in the U.S.: a panel of experts who will scrutinize the company’s data for any red flags.

or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-1/fda-holds-open-meeting-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here to watch</a>&nbsp;the hearing that begins at 8 a.m. CST

Thursday’s meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel is likely the last step before a U.S. decision to begin shipping millions of doses of the shot, which has shown strong protection against the coronavirus.

The FDA panel functions like a science court that will pick apart the data and debate — in public and live-streamed — whether the shot is safe and effective enough to be cleared for emergency use. The non-government experts specialize in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics. The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-236677e5030e61b70ce432cfd9fd9b8b">is expected to follow</a>&nbsp;the committee’s advice, although it is not required to do so.

The FDA’s decision comes as the coronavirus continues surging across much of the world, claiming more than 1.5 million lives, including more than 289,000 in the U.S.

Hanging over the meeting is a warning from U.K. officials that people with a history of serious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/allergy-reaction-vaccines-rare-explained-4ee5fb2f2553863d9d2659b1f06a0e21">allergic reactions</a>&nbsp;shouldn’t get the vaccine. Government officials there are investigating two reports of reactions that occurred when the country began mass vaccinations.

Still, a positive recommendation and speedy U.S. approval seem nearly certain after FDA scientists issued an overwhelmingly positive initial review of the vaccine earlier this week.

FDA said results from Pfizer’s large, ongoing study showed the shot, which was co-developed with Germany’s BioNTech, was more than 90% effective across people of different ages, races and underlying health conditions, including diabetes and obesity. No major safety issues were uncovered and common vaccine-related side effects like fever, fatigue and injection site pain were tolerable.

“The data presented in the briefing report were consistent with what we heard before and are really exciting,” said Dr. William Moss, head of Johns Hopkins University’s International Vaccine Access Center. “Nothing that I see would delay an emergency use authorization.”

The meeting also gives regulators an opportunity to try to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">public confidence</a>&nbsp;in the breakneck development process that has produced the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and a string of other upcoming shots in less than a year. The FDA has also faced weeks of verbal abuse from President Donald Trump for not rushing out a vaccine before Election Day.

“There have been a lot of questions about why it takes us so long or ‘are we being rigorous enough?’” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in an interview. “I’m hoping that people will see with our transparency that we have taken a very rigorous stance on this.”

Hahn said the agency has already teed up the process to authorize the vaccine by filling out all the legal paperwork in advance, regardless of the ultimate decision.

The FDA uncovered no major safety issues in its review of Pfizer’s 44,000-person study, including no allergic reactions of the type reported in the U.K. But such studies can’t detect rare problems that might only affect a tiny slice of the general population.

FDA reviewers noted four cases of Bell’s palsy that all occurred among people getting the vaccine. They concluded the cases were likely unrelated to the vaccine because they occurred at rates that would be expected without any medical intervention. But the agency did say cases of the nerve disorder should be tracked, given that other vaccines can cause the problem.

“I think we have to be upfront, without scaring people, that we don’t know yet about any potential, rare, long-term adverse events,” Moss said.

The FDA found the vaccine highly effective across various demographic groups.

But it’s unclear how well the vaccine works in people with HIV and other immune-system disorders.

The study excluded pregnant women, but experts will tease apart the data for any hints in case women get vaccinated before realizing they’re pregnant.

A study of children as young as 12 is underway.

Answering some of these questions will require keeping Pfizer’s study going for many more months.

When the FDA panel met in October, experts warned against allowing trial participants who received placebos to switch and get the real vaccine immediately after it receives the FDA’s emergency OK. Doing that could make it impossible to get answers to long-term questions, including how long the protection lasts.

Pfizer and BioNTech say they want to allow such participants to get the vaccine either upon request or, at the latest, after six months of follow-up.

The FDA still hasn’t made clear if it will accept that approach.

“FDA is adamant that they want these trials completed,” said Norman Baylor, former director of FDA’s vaccine office, adding that its expert panel members “know that too.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607605686018.png" alt="During a news conference Wednesday, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman shows the packaging container used to ship the vaccine to the state from Pfizer. It contains a probe to monitor the cold temperature necessary to store the vaccine." />
 <figcaption>During a news conference Wednesday, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman shows the packaging container used to ship the vaccine to the state from Pfizer. It contains a probe to monitor the cold temperature necessary to store the vaccine.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine faces one final hurdle as it races to become the first shot greenlighted in the U.S.: a panel of experts who will scrutinize the company’s data for any red flags.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFDA%2Fvideos%2F849134789187196%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-1/fda-holds-open-meeting-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here to watch</a>&nbsp;the hearing that begins at 8 a.m. CSTThursday’s meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel is likely the last step before a U.S. decision to begin shipping millions of doses of the shot, which has shown strong protection against the coronavirus.The FDA panel functions like a science court that will pick apart the data and debate — in public and live-streamed — whether the shot is safe and effective enough to be cleared for emergency use. The non-government experts specialize in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics. The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-236677e5030e61b70ce432cfd9fd9b8b">is expected to follow</a>&nbsp;the committee’s advice, although it is not required to do so.The FDA’s decision comes as the coronavirus continues surging across much of the world, claiming more than 1.5 million lives, including more than 289,000 in the U.S.Hanging over the meeting is a warning from U.K. officials that people with a history of serious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/allergy-reaction-vaccines-rare-explained-4ee5fb2f2553863d9d2659b1f06a0e21">allergic reactions</a>&nbsp;shouldn’t get the vaccine. Government officials there are investigating two reports of reactions that occurred when the country began mass vaccinations.Still, a positive recommendation and speedy U.S. approval seem nearly certain after FDA scientists issued an overwhelmingly positive initial review of the vaccine earlier this week.FDA said results from Pfizer’s large, ongoing study showed the shot, which was co-developed with Germany’s BioNTech, was more than 90% effective across people of different ages, races and underlying health conditions, including diabetes and obesity. No major safety issues were uncovered and common vaccine-related side effects like fever, fatigue and injection site pain were tolerable.“The data presented in the briefing report were consistent with what we heard before and are really exciting,” said Dr. William Moss, head of Johns Hopkins University’s International Vaccine Access Center. “Nothing that I see would delay an emergency use authorization.”The meeting also gives regulators an opportunity to try to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">public confidence</a>&nbsp;in the breakneck development process that has produced the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and a string of other upcoming shots in less than a year. The FDA has also faced weeks of verbal abuse from President Donald Trump for not rushing out a vaccine before Election Day.“There have been a lot of questions about why it takes us so long or ‘are we being rigorous enough?’” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in an interview. “I’m hoping that people will see with our transparency that we have taken a very rigorous stance on this.”Hahn said the agency has already teed up the process to authorize the vaccine by filling out all the legal paperwork in advance, regardless of the ultimate decision.On Thursday’s agenda:RARE ADVERSE REACTIONSThe FDA uncovered no major safety issues in its review of Pfizer’s 44,000-person study, including no allergic reactions of the type reported in the U.K. But such studies can’t detect rare problems that might only affect a tiny slice of the general population.FDA reviewers noted four cases of Bell’s palsy that all occurred among people getting the vaccine. They concluded the cases were likely unrelated to the vaccine because they occurred at rates that would be expected without any medical intervention. But the agency did say cases of the nerve disorder should be tracked, given that other vaccines can cause the problem.“I think we have to be upfront, without scaring people, that we don’t know yet about any potential, rare, long-term adverse events,” Moss said.EFFICACY QUESTIONSThe FDA found the vaccine highly effective across various demographic groups.But it’s unclear how well the vaccine works in people with HIV and other immune-system disorders.The study excluded pregnant women, but experts will tease apart the data for any hints in case women get vaccinated before realizing they’re pregnant.A study of children as young as 12 is underway.IMPACT OF EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATIONAnswering some of these questions will require keeping Pfizer’s study going for many more months.When the FDA panel met in October, experts warned against allowing trial participants who received placebos to switch and get the real vaccine immediately after it receives the FDA’s emergency OK. Doing that could make it impossible to get answers to long-term questions, including how long the protection lasts.Pfizer and BioNTech say they want to allow such participants to get the vaccine either upon request or, at the latest, after six months of follow-up.The FDA still hasn’t made clear if it will accept that approach.“FDA is adamant that they want these trials completed,” said Norman Baylor, former director of FDA’s vaccine office, adding that its expert panel members “know that too.”___

🎥  Countdown to vaccine: FDA approval hearing 

Nathan L. Turley, age 59, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 
at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on October 31, 
1961, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Melvin Q. and Jean Ann Dauma 
Turley.&nbsp; A resident of Healy, Kansas for over 31 years before moving to 
Scott City, Kansas in 2019, he was a truck driver for Sharp Brothers 
Seed Company in Healy, KS.

He was a member of the Healy United Methodist Church in Healy, 
Kansas, and was a past 4-H Leader in Healy, Kansas.&nbsp; Nathan grew up in 
Scott City and graduated from Scott Community High School in 1980.&nbsp; He 
enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, and loved to 
forge metal.

On November 27, 1982, he married Jacquline “Jackie” Scott in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; She survives.

Survivors include his Wife - Jackie Turley of Scott City, Kansas, Two
 Daughters - Lacy &amp; Jason Stevens of Colby, Kansas, Meladee Griffith
 of Wamego, Kansas, Three Grandchildren - Jonathan Griffith of Wamego, 
Kansas, Blakely Griffith of Wamego, Kansas, Brynnlee Stevens of Colby, 
Kansas, Two Brothers - David &amp; Evelina Turley of Scott City, Kansas,
 Keith Turley of Phoenix, Arizona, One Sister - Connie Wright of Scott 
City, Kansas, Father and Mother In Law - Joe &amp; Donna Scott of Gas, 
Kansas, Two Sisters In Law - Tamera &amp; Cary Schwab of Chanute, 
Kansas, Cindy &amp; Russell Johnson of Dallas, Texas, Two Brothers In 
Law - David &amp; Debi Scott of Healy, Kansas, Steve &amp; Ann Scott of 
Pittsburg, Kansas, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Brother - Noel Turley, 
Three Infant Sons - Tad, Tyler, and Ashlee Turley, and One Granddaughter
 - Madilynn Kay Stevens.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 14, 
2020, at the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas with Rev. Bud 
Tuxhorn presiding.

Memorials may be given to the Nathan Turley Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be from 12:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 
p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home in Scott 
City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607538915814.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nathan L. Turley, age 59, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 
at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on October 31, 
1961, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Melvin Q. and Jean Ann Dauma 
Turley.&nbsp; A resident of Healy, Kansas for over 31 years before moving to 
Scott City, Kansas in 2019, he was a truck driver for Sharp Brothers 
Seed Company in Healy, KS.He was a member of the Healy United Methodist Church in Healy, 
Kansas, and was a past 4-H Leader in Healy, Kansas.&nbsp; Nathan grew up in 
Scott City and graduated from Scott Community High School in 1980.&nbsp; He 
enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, and loved to 
forge metal.On November 27, 1982, he married Jacquline “Jackie” Scott in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; She survives.Survivors include his Wife - Jackie Turley of Scott City, Kansas, Two
 Daughters - Lacy &amp; Jason Stevens of Colby, Kansas, Meladee Griffith
 of Wamego, Kansas, Three Grandchildren - Jonathan Griffith of Wamego, 
Kansas, Blakely Griffith of Wamego, Kansas, Brynnlee Stevens of Colby, 
Kansas, Two Brothers - David &amp; Evelina Turley of Scott City, Kansas,
 Keith Turley of Phoenix, Arizona, One Sister - Connie Wright of Scott 
City, Kansas, Father and Mother In Law - Joe &amp; Donna Scott of Gas, 
Kansas, Two Sisters In Law - Tamera &amp; Cary Schwab of Chanute, 
Kansas, Cindy &amp; Russell Johnson of Dallas, Texas, Two Brothers In 
Law - David &amp; Debi Scott of Healy, Kansas, Steve &amp; Ann Scott of 
Pittsburg, Kansas, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Brother - Noel Turley, 
Three Infant Sons - Tad, Tyler, and Ashlee Turley, and One Granddaughter
 - Madilynn Kay Stevens.Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 14, 
2020, at the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas with Rev. Bud 
Tuxhorn presiding.Memorials may be given to the Nathan Turley Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Homes.Visitation will be from 12:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 
p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home in Scott 
City, Kansas.

Nathan L. Turley

Connie Jo Koch, 59, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Connie was born on October 12, 1961, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Robert Lee and Sharon Maxine (Jones) Hilgenberger.&nbsp; She grew up in Russell, Kansas, and graduated from Russell High School.&nbsp; She was united in marriage to James P. Koch on May 3, 2006, in Russell.&nbsp; She worked as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant at Wheatland Nursing Center and worked as a supervisor at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation.&nbsp; She enjoyed yard work, gardening, cooking, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers Football.&nbsp; Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her daughter, nieces and nephew.

Surviving family include her husband James of the home; daughter Miranda Coleman and fiancé Joseph Cochran of Russell, Kansas; mother Sharon Hilgenberg of Russell, Kansas; 4 great nieces Danikah Coleman, Lexi, Bella and Kaycee Ploutz and great nephew Jax Ploutz. &nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her father and brothers Don and Darin Coleman.

A celebration of Connie’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Friday, December 11, 2020, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Cremation has been selected and burial of the ashes will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Open visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at the mortuary.&nbsp; 

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607461806040.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Connie Jo Koch, 59, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.Connie was born on October 12, 1961, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Robert Lee and Sharon Maxine (Jones) Hilgenberger.&nbsp; She grew up in Russell, Kansas, and graduated from Russell High School.&nbsp; She was united in marriage to James P. Koch on May 3, 2006, in Russell.&nbsp; She worked as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant at Wheatland Nursing Center and worked as a supervisor at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation.&nbsp; She enjoyed yard work, gardening, cooking, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers Football.&nbsp; Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her daughter, nieces and nephew.Surviving family include her husband James of the home; daughter Miranda Coleman and fiancé Joseph Cochran of Russell, Kansas; mother Sharon Hilgenberg of Russell, Kansas; 4 great nieces Danikah Coleman, Lexi, Bella and Kaycee Ploutz and great nephew Jax Ploutz. &nbsp;She was preceded in death by her father and brothers Don and Darin Coleman.A celebration of Connie’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Friday, December 11, 2020, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Cremation has been selected and burial of the ashes will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Open visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at the mortuary.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Connie Jo Koch

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Tina Morton recently faced a choice: Pay bills — or buy a birthday gift for a child? Derrisa Green is falling further behind on rent. Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off.

Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of Americans and their families in the face of a rampaging viral pandemic that has closed shops and restaurants, paralyzed travel and left millions jobless for months. Now, their predicaments stand to grow bleaker yet if Congress fails to extend two unemployment programs that are set to expire the day after Christmas.

If no agreement is reached in negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/momentum-growing-covid-19-relief-392eb300276f9df7303c64cc4e45cf0e">taking place on Capitol Hill,</a>&nbsp;more than 9 million people will lose federal jobless aid that averages about $320 a week and that typically serves as their only source of income.

Green, 39, and her husband are among them. An end to their unemployment benefits would force them to keep missing rent payments on their home in Dyer, Indiana, near Chicago. The couple have eight children. Green's husband is a self-employed truck driver whose business disappeared when the pandemic erupted in the spring. Only in October did he start to pick up occasional work.

He now receives about $235 a week in unemployment aid. Even so, “all of our bills are late,” Green said. They’ve received several shutoff notices from utilities before managing to pay just before service was to be cut off.

“That’s really scary," Green said, "because what are we going to do when we lose the unemployment money?”

The end of jobless aid is approaching at an especially perilous time. Job growth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-17b58d8673d61754b5a85da3e53d5a07">slowed sharply in November,&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-nevada-2308b917aa4466845c1ad123fa34561f">the resurgence of viral cases&nbsp;</a>appears to be out of control across the country.

Even with the prospect of an effective vaccine being widely distributed in coming months, economists say the picture will worsen before it improves. Many foresee a net loss of jobs in December for the first time since April.

On Friday, President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-health-coronavirus-pandemic-holiday-travel-51cac6ad45b2f7093984c7eae7c43529">called on Congress</a>&nbsp;to quickly approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-bills-mitch-mcconnell-197485a0ec4c80a18409c2cef99dd998">a bipartisan $908 billion package</a>&nbsp;that would establish a $300-a-week jobless benefit as well as send aid to states and localities, help schools and universities, revive subsidies for businesses and support transit systems and airlines. Details are still being worked out, but the outlines of a final bill could emerge soon.

More than 20 million people are now receiving unemployment benefits. More than half are beneficiaries of two programs that were part of rescue aid legislation Congress enacted in March. One program made self-employed and contract workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time and provided 39 weeks of support. The other program supplied 13 weeks of extended benefits to the 26 weeks that most states provide.

About 9.1 million who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-jobless-claims-unemployment-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-a9abee07cc3eb7246e7e3c8603430a49">receiving aid from those programs</a>&nbsp;will be cut off Dec. 26, according to a report from the Century Foundation. An additional 4.4 million are expected to exhaust all 39 weeks by year's end. If Congress agrees to provide more weeks of aid and to revive both programs, those beneficiaries could keep receiving aid next year.

That would be a life-saver for Sylvia Soliz who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soliz, 36, who still owes part of her rent for November and December, has received an eviction notice. She's also just had her electricity cut off.

Back in March, Soliz was laid off from her job as a nurse's assistant at a senior living facility. She's now receiving $414 in jobless aid every two weeks. With four children, it doesn't go very far.

“The day I get it, it’s already gone because my kids need so many things,” Soliz said. “Of course, I have to pay a portion to whatever bill I have, so that way I can stretch it out. But every time another check comes in, it’s another bill.”

Soliz is applying for a new job, and she checks in with her old employer. So far, no luck. She also worries about contracting COVID-19. Soliz is hopeful that Congress will agree to provide more aid, but she feels “they are basically gambling with us."

A cutoff of jobless benefits now, with so many millions of Americans still receiving the aid, would be unusually early compared with previous recessions. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the government extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, and the additional aid lasted through 2013. When that program ended, about 1.3 million people lost benefits — a small fraction of the number who would lose jobless aid this time.

Other government protections will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-education-student-loans-e287c7fe6d44de94e08981899d973a91">also expire at the end of this year</a>, including a federal moratorium on evictions for renters. A suspension of payments on federal student loans will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-coronavirus-pandemic-student-loans-fdba50ad8d575b627284563a62aa6a5e">expire at the end of January.</a>

“I am very afraid of people facing homelessness — that’s our top concern," said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “It’s a terrible unforced policy error to make. It will slow the recovery that we’re having by cutting off these benefits so early.”

About one in six renters in the United States are behind on their rent, according to a survey from the Census Bureau. And 12% of adults say their families didn't have enough to eat at some point in the past week, the survey found. That's up from just 3.7% in 2019, according to the left-leaning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-recessions-effects-on-food-housing-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</a>

A wrenching set of choices has confronted Keli Paaske, who lives in the Kansas City area. Since being furloughed in the spring from her sales job at a company that makes fire doors, Paaske, 56, has cut back her grocery budget. She thought she'd be called back once the virus waned. But when her boss phoned in August, it was with a different message: Her job had been eliminated.

Paaske had hesitated to spend $360 needed to euthanize her 15-year old dog, who had a brain tumor, before going through with it. Without unemployment aid, Paaske isn't sure how she would manage. She may seek financial help from her parents, who are in their 80s, something she has resisted doing. If she doesn't find a job by March, she said, she'll stop leasing her car.

Across the country, a cutoff of jobless aid would disproportionately affect Black Americans, according to data from the Century Foundation. About 18% of unemployment aid recipients are Black, the Foundation said, though Black Americans make up just 12% of the workforce. More than 57% of recipients are white. Nearly 13% are Latino. (There is no demographic data on about one-fifth of recipients.)

Tina Morton used to clean houses near where she lives in Winchester, Kentucky. But there’s been little work since the pandemic struck. Like many other single mothers, she has struggled with the need to find another job while simultaneously caring for children — a son and two nephews she has custody of — who are attending school online at home.

“Single parents cannot go out here and ... just find any job," said Morton, 39. “We’ve got our kids here that are stuck at home.”

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Tina Morton recently faced a choice: Pay bills — or buy a birthday gift for a child? Derrisa Green is falling further behind on rent. Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off.Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of Americans and their families in the face of a rampaging viral pandemic that has closed shops and restaurants, paralyzed travel and left millions jobless for months. Now, their predicaments stand to grow bleaker yet if Congress fails to extend two unemployment programs that are set to expire the day after Christmas.If no agreement is reached in negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/momentum-growing-covid-19-relief-392eb300276f9df7303c64cc4e45cf0e">taking place on Capitol Hill,</a>&nbsp;more than 9 million people will lose federal jobless aid that averages about $320 a week and that typically serves as their only source of income.Green, 39, and her husband are among them. An end to their unemployment benefits would force them to keep missing rent payments on their home in Dyer, Indiana, near Chicago. The couple have eight children. Green's husband is a self-employed truck driver whose business disappeared when the pandemic erupted in the spring. Only in October did he start to pick up occasional work.He now receives about $235 a week in unemployment aid. Even so, “all of our bills are late,” Green said. They’ve received several shutoff notices from utilities before managing to pay just before service was to be cut off.“That’s really scary," Green said, "because what are we going to do when we lose the unemployment money?”The end of jobless aid is approaching at an especially perilous time. Job growth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-17b58d8673d61754b5a85da3e53d5a07">slowed sharply in November,&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-nevada-2308b917aa4466845c1ad123fa34561f">the resurgence of viral cases&nbsp;</a>appears to be out of control across the country.Even with the prospect of an effective vaccine being widely distributed in coming months, economists say the picture will worsen before it improves. Many foresee a net loss of jobs in December for the first time since April.On Friday, President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-health-coronavirus-pandemic-holiday-travel-51cac6ad45b2f7093984c7eae7c43529">called on Congress</a>&nbsp;to quickly approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-bills-mitch-mcconnell-197485a0ec4c80a18409c2cef99dd998">a bipartisan $908 billion package</a>&nbsp;that would establish a $300-a-week jobless benefit as well as send aid to states and localities, help schools and universities, revive subsidies for businesses and support transit systems and airlines. Details are still being worked out, but the outlines of a final bill could emerge soon.More than 20 million people are now receiving unemployment benefits. More than half are beneficiaries of two programs that were part of rescue aid legislation Congress enacted in March. One program made self-employed and contract workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time and provided 39 weeks of support. The other program supplied 13 weeks of extended benefits to the 26 weeks that most states provide.About 9.1 million who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-jobless-claims-unemployment-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-a9abee07cc3eb7246e7e3c8603430a49">receiving aid from those programs</a>&nbsp;will be cut off Dec. 26, according to a report from the Century Foundation. An additional 4.4 million are expected to exhaust all 39 weeks by year's end. If Congress agrees to provide more weeks of aid and to revive both programs, those beneficiaries could keep receiving aid next year.That would be a life-saver for Sylvia Soliz who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soliz, 36, who still owes part of her rent for November and December, has received an eviction notice. She's also just had her electricity cut off.Back in March, Soliz was laid off from her job as a nurse's assistant at a senior living facility. She's now receiving $414 in jobless aid every two weeks. With four children, it doesn't go very far.“The day I get it, it’s already gone because my kids need so many things,” Soliz said. “Of course, I have to pay a portion to whatever bill I have, so that way I can stretch it out. But every time another check comes in, it’s another bill.”Soliz is applying for a new job, and she checks in with her old employer. So far, no luck. She also worries about contracting COVID-19. Soliz is hopeful that Congress will agree to provide more aid, but she feels “they are basically gambling with us."A cutoff of jobless benefits now, with so many millions of Americans still receiving the aid, would be unusually early compared with previous recessions. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the government extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, and the additional aid lasted through 2013. When that program ended, about 1.3 million people lost benefits — a small fraction of the number who would lose jobless aid this time.Other government protections will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-education-student-loans-e287c7fe6d44de94e08981899d973a91">also expire at the end of this year</a>, including a federal moratorium on evictions for renters. A suspension of payments on federal student loans will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-coronavirus-pandemic-student-loans-fdba50ad8d575b627284563a62aa6a5e">expire at the end of January.</a>“I am very afraid of people facing homelessness — that’s our top concern," said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “It’s a terrible unforced policy error to make. It will slow the recovery that we’re having by cutting off these benefits so early.”About one in six renters in the United States are behind on their rent, according to a survey from the Census Bureau. And 12% of adults say their families didn't have enough to eat at some point in the past week, the survey found. That's up from just 3.7% in 2019, according to the left-leaning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-recessions-effects-on-food-housing-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</a>A wrenching set of choices has confronted Keli Paaske, who lives in the Kansas City area. Since being furloughed in the spring from her sales job at a company that makes fire doors, Paaske, 56, has cut back her grocery budget. She thought she'd be called back once the virus waned. But when her boss phoned in August, it was with a different message: Her job had been eliminated.Paaske had hesitated to spend $360 needed to euthanize her 15-year old dog, who had a brain tumor, before going through with it. Without unemployment aid, Paaske isn't sure how she would manage. She may seek financial help from her parents, who are in their 80s, something she has resisted doing. If she doesn't find a job by March, she said, she'll stop leasing her car.Across the country, a cutoff of jobless aid would disproportionately affect Black Americans, according to data from the Century Foundation. About 18% of unemployment aid recipients are Black, the Foundation said, though Black Americans make up just 12% of the workforce. More than 57% of recipients are white. Nearly 13% are Latino. (There is no demographic data on about one-fifth of recipients.)Tina Morton used to clean houses near where she lives in Winchester, Kentucky. But there’s been little work since the pandemic struck. Like many other single mothers, she has struggled with the need to find another job while simultaneously caring for children — a son and two nephews she has custody of — who are attending school online at home.“Single parents cannot go out here and ... just find any job," said Morton, 39. “We’ve got our kids here that are stuck at home.”Last week, Morton had to choose between paying a phone bill and buying one of her nephews a birthday present. (She got him a present). If her jobless aid ends, she expects to face painful decisions.She's particularly worried about her two nephews.“That’s what hurts me the most,” she said. “My job is to give them more — give them better than where they came from.”