Kansas voters have the power to protect their own votes. Plan ahead. Choose the voting method that works best for you. Act early. Act responsibly. Advocate for yourself.&nbsp;

In-person Election Day voting:&nbsp;&nbsp;Poll worker shortages could make lines longer this year, increasing your Covid exposure risk. Will your wait be mercifully short and sanitary, or long and uncomfortably crowded? In-person voting still has problems that threaten your ballot, but it’s familiar and comfortable for many voters. Plus, it avoids challenges unique to mail voting.&nbsp;

In-person early voting: You might have lower Covid risk here since early voting lines are often shorter than Election Day lines. Great option if you prefer the familiarity of in-person voting.&nbsp;

Voting by mail: Low Covid risk, secure, and convenient. However, mail voting introduces certain challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2016, nearly 25% of voters nationally voted by mail, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. Election officials rejected nearly 320,000 of those ballots—about 1%. Already in 2020, over 500,000 mail ballots have been disqualified nationally in primaries, per&nbsp;National Public Radio.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Those rejections mostly stem from voter error, especially among first-time mail voters. Using the wrong color ink. Using a pencil if a pen is required. Stray ballot marks. Not signing the return envelope. Signing the ballot rather than the envelope. Using a different signature than the state has on file. Missing postmark and return deadlines.&nbsp;

Mail voting only works if done correctly. Following the directions is solely the voter’s responsibility, though in Kansas local election officials are supposed to help voters fix those signature issues.&nbsp;

How can Kansans mail vote confidently?&nbsp;

First, apply for your mail ballot now. The deadline is October 27. Apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvotes.org/">www.ksvotes.org</a>, or print an application from the Kansas Secretary of State website. Election officials start mailing ballots to voters on October 14. Applying online before October 14 would be your best bet.&nbsp;

Second, vote your ballot immediately upon arrival. Read the directions. Mark your ballot. Prepare your signed return envelope. Use stamps if necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Third, return your ballot on time. In Kansas, mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3), and delivered to your county election office by the close of business on Friday, November 6. Procrastinating risks missing deadlines.&nbsp;

Beware: you are responsible for your ballot while the postal service has it. If it’s postmarked on time but arrives at the election office late, then your ballot won’t count. Returning your ballot immediately gives it three weeks to arrive. Plenty of time! To be safe, assume your ballot will take a week to reach the elections office. The latest that I would mail a ballot locally is Friday, October 30.&nbsp;

Luckily, Kansans who procrastinate can also return mail ballots in-person rather than mailing them. Google your county elections office. Ask them where to find secure ballot drop off boxes and how early they are accessible.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also return mail ballots at any voting location in your county on Election Day itself or before at early voting locations in your county.&nbsp;

If you still have your mail ballot on October 31, return it in-person. Don’t risk mailing your ballot that late.&nbsp;

Also, ask if your county has an online ballot tracker. Use it to check that officials received your ballot.&nbsp;

Choose wisely and act responsibly, Kansas!&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593101597372.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. " />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas voters have the power to protect their own votes. Plan ahead. Choose the voting method that works best for you. Act early. Act responsibly. Advocate for yourself.&nbsp;What are your voting options?&nbsp;In-person Election Day voting:&nbsp;&nbsp;Poll worker shortages could make lines longer this year, increasing your Covid exposure risk. Will your wait be mercifully short and sanitary, or long and uncomfortably crowded? In-person voting still has problems that threaten your ballot, but it’s familiar and comfortable for many voters. Plus, it avoids challenges unique to mail voting.&nbsp;In-person early voting: You might have lower Covid risk here since early voting lines are often shorter than Election Day lines. Great option if you prefer the familiarity of in-person voting.&nbsp;Voting by mail: Low Covid risk, secure, and convenient. However, mail voting introduces certain challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2016, nearly 25% of voters nationally voted by mail, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. Election officials rejected nearly 320,000 of those ballots—about 1%. Already in 2020, over 500,000 mail ballots have been disqualified nationally in primaries, per&nbsp;National Public Radio.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those rejections mostly stem from voter error, especially among first-time mail voters. Using the wrong color ink. Using a pencil if a pen is required. Stray ballot marks. Not signing the return envelope. Signing the ballot rather than the envelope. Using a different signature than the state has on file. Missing postmark and return deadlines.&nbsp;Mail voting only works if done correctly. Following the directions is solely the voter’s responsibility, though in Kansas local election officials are supposed to help voters fix those signature issues.&nbsp;How can Kansans mail vote confidently?&nbsp;First, apply for your mail ballot now. The deadline is October 27. Apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvotes.org/">www.ksvotes.org</a>, or print an application from the Kansas Secretary of State website. Election officials start mailing ballots to voters on October 14. Applying online before October 14 would be your best bet.&nbsp;Second, vote your ballot immediately upon arrival. Read the directions. Mark your ballot. Prepare your signed return envelope. Use stamps if necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Third, return your ballot on time. In Kansas, mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3), and delivered to your county election office by the close of business on Friday, November 6. Procrastinating risks missing deadlines.&nbsp;Beware: you are responsible for your ballot while the postal service has it. If it’s postmarked on time but arrives at the election office late, then your ballot won’t count. Returning your ballot immediately gives it three weeks to arrive. Plenty of time! To be safe, assume your ballot will take a week to reach the elections office. The latest that I would mail a ballot locally is Friday, October 30.&nbsp;Luckily, Kansans who procrastinate can also return mail ballots in-person rather than mailing them. Google your county elections office. Ask them where to find secure ballot drop off boxes and how early they are accessible.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also return mail ballots at any voting location in your county on Election Day itself or before at early voting locations in your county.&nbsp;If you still have your mail ballot on October 31, return it in-person. Don’t risk mailing your ballot that late.&nbsp;Also, ask if your county has an online ballot tracker. Use it to check that officials received your ballot.&nbsp;Choose wisely and act responsibly, Kansas!&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Kansans must protect their own votes this year 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Five more downtown Hays properties owned by Plainville businessman Chuck Comeau will be up for sheriff sale.

Emprise Bank has been granted foreclosures on properties at 1107, 1109, 1111 Main, 106 W. 12th streets as well as 110 W. 11th St. Bank of Hays is listed as a second mortgage holder on the properties.

The storefronts at 1107 Main St., 106 W. 12th St. and 110 W. 11th St. are vacant, while 1109 and 1111 Main St. are occupied by Couture for Men.

The sheriff's sale has been set for 10 a.m. Sept. 29 at the Ellis County Courthouse.

Tracts 1-3, 1107, 1109, 1111 Main and 106 W. 12th St. will be sold together, with 110 W. 11th St. being sold separately.

Court records indicate $495,311 is owed on tracts 1-3 and $130,244 is owed on tract 4.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/10/18/downtown-hays-business-owners-buy-comeau-properties/">Thirteen downtown Hays properties also owned by Comeau and his Liberty Group were sold at sheriff's sale in October.&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/04/17/dessin-fournir-subsidiaries-file-for-bankruptcy-comeau-properties-foreclosed/">Comeau’s furniture manufacturing company in Plainville, Dessin Fournir, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2019.</a>

RELATED STORY:&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/07/12/comeau-discusses-fall-of-dessin-fournir/">Comeau discusses fall of Dessin Fournir</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599150176791.jpeg" alt="1107, 1109, 1111 Main St in Hays will be up for sheriff's sale on Sept. 29. The properties were owned by&nbsp;Plainville businessman Charles Comeau's Liberty Group." />
 <figcaption>1107, 1109, 1111 Main St in Hays will be up for sheriff's sale on Sept. 29. The properties were owned by&nbsp;Plainville businessman Charles Comeau's Liberty Group.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFive more downtown Hays properties owned by Plainville businessman Chuck Comeau will be up for sheriff sale.Emprise Bank has been granted foreclosures on properties at 1107, 1109, 1111 Main, 106 W. 12th streets as well as 110 W. 11th St. Bank of Hays is listed as a second mortgage holder on the properties.The storefronts at 1107 Main St., 106 W. 12th St. and 110 W. 11th St. are vacant, while 1109 and 1111 Main St. are occupied by Couture for Men.The sheriff's sale has been set for 10 a.m. Sept. 29 at the Ellis County Courthouse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599150261245.jpeg" alt="106 W. 12th Street is also up for sheriff sale." />
 <figcaption>106 W. 12th Street is also up for sheriff sale.</figcaption>
 </figure>Tracts 1-3, 1107, 1109, 1111 Main and 106 W. 12th St. will be sold together, with 110 W. 11th St. being sold separately.Court records indicate $495,311 is owed on tracts 1-3 and $130,244 is owed on tract 4.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599150299124.jpeg" alt="110 W. 11th St., Hays" />
 <figcaption>110 W. 11th St., Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/10/18/downtown-hays-business-owners-buy-comeau-properties/">Thirteen downtown Hays properties also owned by Comeau and his Liberty Group were sold at sheriff's sale in October.&nbsp;</a><a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/04/17/dessin-fournir-subsidiaries-file-for-bankruptcy-comeau-properties-foreclosed/">Comeau’s furniture manufacturing company in Plainville, Dessin Fournir, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2019.</a>RELATED STORY:&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/07/12/comeau-discusses-fall-of-dessin-fournir/">Comeau discusses fall of Dessin Fournir</a>

More former Comeau properties up for sheriff's sale

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County local health officer Dr. Gerald Minns signed a new emergency public health order Thursday, according to a media release from the county. It will take effect Sept. 9 and remain in effect until midnight Oct. 21. 

Residents are sill required to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces. Children age 5 or younger are not required to wear masks. Masks with valves or vents are not allowed.

The order adopts Phase 2 of the Governor's Ad Astra Plan which allows groups of up to 15 people that must be located 6 feet away from other groups.

Businesses will be required to continue operating at 50 percent of the fire code occupancy and close to the public at 11p.m.

Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions when trends move in a positive direction.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County local health officer Dr. Gerald Minns signed a new emergency public health order Thursday, according to a media release from the county. It will take effect Sept. 9 and remain in effect until midnight Oct. 21. Residents are sill required to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces. Children age 5 or younger are not required to wear masks. Masks with valves or vents are not allowed.The order adopts Phase 2 of the Governor's Ad Astra Plan which allows groups of up to 15 people that must be located 6 feet away from other groups.Businesses will be required to continue operating at 50 percent of the fire code occupancy and close to the public at 11p.m.Minns will continue to review and monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and will consider lifting restrictions when trends move in a positive direction.

Sedgwick Co. extends  local mask order until October 21

Pamala Sue “Pam” Erickson, age 60, of Russell, Kansas, died Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born October 12, 1959, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Ronald E. “Ron” and Alfreda J. “Freda” (Foos) Broetzmann.&nbsp; She married Ronald Blau and they later separated she then married Ken Erickson on November 12, 2016 in Russell, Kansas.

She was the director of the Physicians Clinic at the Russell Regional Hospital before she retired.&nbsp; She was a past director of the First Call for Help in Hays.&nbsp; She was a licensed&nbsp;practical nurse and was a graduate of North Central Kansas Technical College.&nbsp; She also received a Bachelor’s Degree in human resource management and a Master’s Degree in&nbsp; adult educations.&nbsp; Pam grew up in Garden City and was a 1977 graduate of Goodland High School.&nbsp; She loved to be with her family, grandchildren and enjoyed her pets. &nbsp;

Survivors include her husband, Ken Erickson, of the home; one son, Josh Blau, Overland Park, KS; one daughter, Chelsee Hoffman and husband, Daniel, Russell, KS; two stepsons, Jason Erickson, Liberty Lake, WA; Jordan Erickson and wife, Michelle, Los Balnon, CA; one sister, Lori Hertel and husband, Stan, Hays, KS; mother-in-law, Margaret Stedman, Oberlin, KS; two grandchildren, Bailee and Landry Hoffman; and one step-grandchild, Elias Erickson. &nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ronald Craig Broetzman; one nephew, Steven Lee Hertel; one niece, Ana Hertel and father-in-law, Phil Erickson.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 5, 2020, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.&nbsp; Burial in Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the mortuary. &nbsp; &nbsp; The family suggests memorials to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Due to the coronavirus, if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on line guestbook.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks will be required at the visitation and funeral services. &nbsp;

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to <a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a> or can be left at guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599163291848.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Pamala Sue “Pam” Erickson, age 60, of Russell, Kansas, died Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born October 12, 1959, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Ronald E. “Ron” and Alfreda J. “Freda” (Foos) Broetzmann.&nbsp; She married Ronald Blau and they later separated she then married Ken Erickson on November 12, 2016 in Russell, Kansas.She was the director of the Physicians Clinic at the Russell Regional Hospital before she retired.&nbsp; She was a past director of the First Call for Help in Hays.&nbsp; She was a licensed&nbsp;practical nurse and was a graduate of North Central Kansas Technical College.&nbsp; She also received a Bachelor’s Degree in human resource management and a Master’s Degree in&nbsp; adult educations.&nbsp; Pam grew up in Garden City and was a 1977 graduate of Goodland High School.&nbsp; She loved to be with her family, grandchildren and enjoyed her pets. &nbsp;Survivors include her husband, Ken Erickson, of the home; one son, Josh Blau, Overland Park, KS; one daughter, Chelsee Hoffman and husband, Daniel, Russell, KS; two stepsons, Jason Erickson, Liberty Lake, WA; Jordan Erickson and wife, Michelle, Los Balnon, CA; one sister, Lori Hertel and husband, Stan, Hays, KS; mother-in-law, Margaret Stedman, Oberlin, KS; two grandchildren, Bailee and Landry Hoffman; and one step-grandchild, Elias Erickson. &nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ronald Craig Broetzman; one nephew, Steven Lee Hertel; one niece, Ana Hertel and father-in-law, Phil Erickson.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 5, 2020, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.&nbsp; Burial in Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the mortuary. &nbsp; &nbsp; The family suggests memorials to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.Due to the coronavirus, if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on line guestbook.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks will be required at the visitation and funeral services. &nbsp;Condolences can be sent via e-mail to <a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a> or can be left at guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

Pamala Sue 'Pam' Erickson

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Before they voted last Thursday in favor of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/71b2e036-1db2-45b6-86a9-c9d86520f000">extending the city's face covering mandate</a> through Oct. 5, both the mayor and vice-mayor of Hays said there must be stepped-up enforcement of the ordinance.

Hays city commissioners are concerned about a recent <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cd32468e-0573-4b1b-8ea0-385401e13657">jump in coronavirus cases in Ellis County</a>, which coincides with the return of students to <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1a22bfd4-b118-410e-94bd-f45dd0f90891">Fort Hays State University</a> and a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cfe15c06-ba22-431c-aeab-9f9865d47abe">dramatic increase in&nbsp;large gatherings near the campus.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cfe15c06-ba22-431c-aeab-9f9865d47abe">RELATED: FHSU reports additional positive cases.&nbsp;</a>

"We've educated the public about voluntary compliance to the point where we're basically talking to ourselves now," Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said during a Tuesday news conference. "We've been working with the Hays Chamber, the Downtown Hays Development Center and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to try and help businesses in being compliant with the ordinance."

The Hays Police Department has also been working with FHSU to educate students about the mask mandate and&nbsp; has provided guidance for safe health standards throughout the school year.

Fines for infractions, which have been in place since the&nbsp;ordinance&nbsp;was became effective on July 27, will now be enforced.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Whether you agree with it or not, it is the law in the city of Hays, so we need to continue to follow the ordinance. We're looking for compliance from everyone," Scheibler said. "That doesn't mean there will be face mask check lanes on the sidewalk."&nbsp;

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) fliers and signs about the face mask ordinance have been created and distributed by the police department to businesses, restaurants and bars in Hays.&nbsp;

"We'll continue to try to educate those who are trying," Scheibler said, "and focus on those that are just blatantly disregarding the ordinance, where we're gonna have to take some sort of action."

Individuals and businesses can be fined up to $100 plus court costs for non-compliance with the ordinance.

Businesses will be considered out of compliance, Scheibler said,&nbsp; if "there are no signs on the door talking about the mask mandate and encouraging their customers to wear a mask. None of the employees are wearing masks. If they've made no effort to separate the tables to allow for social distancing.

"Those are all indications to me they've just chosen to ignore the law of the city of Hays, and the safety of the community is not their concern," he said. "So we're gonna have to take some action with those folks."

The "overwhelming majority" of citizens and businesses are complying with the ordinance, Scheibler pointed out.&nbsp;

"Some of the businesses have been super," he said, "going above and beyond the mask mandate, and I appreciate those businesses."

The <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/733/Face-Mask-Ordinance">ordinance </a>calls for residents and visitors in Hays to wear a face-covering in public, indoors and outdoors, when they are unable to social distance by at least 6 feet.

There are 10 exemptions to the ordinance, primarily for medical conditions and for children younger than age 8.

Enforcement checks will mostly be complaint-driven, according to Scheibler.

"You can send a email to masks@haysusa.com. We get those emails every day. They're dispatched out to the officers to follow up on."&nbsp; &nbsp;

Complaints should not be made to the 911 emergency phone line or to the dispatch center.

Officers on patrol who see a person or business in obvious violation will address the issue at that time.

Scheibler said the police department has a list of about 30 businesses where they've been to provide information and signage, but are still getting complaints their about non-compliance with the ordinance.

"What we're looking for is voluntary compliance. Together we can get through this," he said.&nbsp;"Hopefully, by October, the [positive COVID-19] cases are down and we can get back to the new normal, whatever that might be."

Scheibler noted that persons violating any other city ordinance could also be cited for not wearing a face covering.

"If two guys are fighting in front of the bar and they're not wearing masks and they're not making any effort to social distance, they'll probably get a ticket for the mask mandate.

"So, if you're going to fight, social distance," he joked.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598993869920.png" alt="Hays police officers will begin issuing tickets to those who do not comply with the face covering ordinance, which is in effect through Oct. 5." />
 <figcaption>Hays police officers will begin issuing tickets to those who do not comply with the face covering ordinance, which is in effect through Oct. 5.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostBefore they voted last Thursday in favor of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/71b2e036-1db2-45b6-86a9-c9d86520f000">extending the city's face covering mandate</a> through Oct. 5, both the mayor and vice-mayor of Hays said there must be stepped-up enforcement of the ordinance.Hays city commissioners are concerned about a recent <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cd32468e-0573-4b1b-8ea0-385401e13657">jump in coronavirus cases in Ellis County</a>, which coincides with the return of students to <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1a22bfd4-b118-410e-94bd-f45dd0f90891">Fort Hays State University</a> and a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cfe15c06-ba22-431c-aeab-9f9865d47abe">dramatic increase in&nbsp;large gatherings near the campus.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cfe15c06-ba22-431c-aeab-9f9865d47abe">RELATED: FHSU reports additional positive cases.&nbsp;</a>"We've educated the public about voluntary compliance to the point where we're basically talking to ourselves now," Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said during a Tuesday news conference. "We've been working with the Hays Chamber, the Downtown Hays Development Center and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to try and help businesses in being compliant with the ordinance."The Hays Police Department has also been working with FHSU to educate students about the mask mandate and&nbsp; has provided guidance for safe health standards throughout the school year.Fines for infractions, which have been in place since the&nbsp;ordinance&nbsp;was became effective on July 27, will now be enforced.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;"Whether you agree with it or not, it is the law in the city of Hays, so we need to continue to follow the ordinance. We're looking for compliance from everyone," Scheibler said. "That doesn't mean there will be face mask check lanes on the sidewalk."&nbsp;FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) fliers and signs about the face mask ordinance have been created and distributed by the police department to businesses, restaurants and bars in Hays.&nbsp;"We'll continue to try to educate those who are trying," Scheibler said, "and focus on those that are just blatantly disregarding the ordinance, where we're gonna have to take some sort of action."Individuals and businesses can be fined up to $100 plus court costs for non-compliance with the ordinance.Businesses will be considered out of compliance, Scheibler said,&nbsp; if "there are no signs on the door talking about the mask mandate and encouraging their customers to wear a mask. None of the employees are wearing masks. If they've made no effort to separate the tables to allow for social distancing."Those are all indications to me they've just chosen to ignore the law of the city of Hays, and the safety of the community is not their concern," he said. "So we're gonna have to take some action with those folks."<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0odyG-pOpAc"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The "overwhelming majority" of citizens and businesses are complying with the ordinance, Scheibler pointed out.&nbsp;"Some of the businesses have been super," he said, "going above and beyond the mask mandate, and I appreciate those businesses."The <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/733/Face-Mask-Ordinance">ordinance </a>calls for residents and visitors in Hays to wear a face-covering in public, indoors and outdoors, when they are unable to social distance by at least 6 feet.There are 10 exemptions to the ordinance, primarily for medical conditions and for children younger than age 8.Enforcement checks will mostly be complaint-driven, according to Scheibler."You can send a email to masks@haysusa.com. We get those emails every day. They're dispatched out to the officers to follow up on."&nbsp; &nbsp;Complaints should not be made to the 911 emergency phone line or to the dispatch center.Officers on patrol who see a person or business in obvious violation will address the issue at that time.Scheibler said the police department has a list of about 30 businesses where they've been to provide information and signage, but are still getting complaints their about non-compliance with the ordinance."What we're looking for is voluntary compliance. Together we can get through this," he said.&nbsp;"Hopefully, by October, the [positive COVID-19] cases are down and we can get back to the new normal, whatever that might be."Scheibler noted that persons violating any other city ordinance could also be cited for not wearing a face covering."If two guys are fighting in front of the bar and they're not wearing masks and they're not making any effort to social distance, they'll probably get a ticket for the mask mandate."So, if you're going to fight, social distance," he joked.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎥 Police chief: 'Action will be taken against those disregarding face mask ordinance'

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– K-State football will open the season with a pair of daytime kicks as the Big 12 Conference and its television partners announced game times and television designations for the first weekend of action and select games throughout the season. The Wildcats' September 12 home opener against Arkansas State is slated for a 2:30 p.m., kickoff on FS1. Following a bye week, K-State travels to Norman, Oklahoma, for an 11 a.m., contest that will be shown on FOX. Fans attending K-State's season opener against the Red Wolves next Saturday are reminded of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/news/2020/8/17/k-state-approved-for-reduced-capacity-during-2020-football-season.aspx">new guidelines that will be in place for the 2020 season</a>, which includes mandatory face coverings, no tailgating, no re-entry, alcohols sales for purchase in the general seating sections and additional safety measures. Beginning with K-State's home game against Texas Tech on October 3, game times and television selections will be announced on a 12- or six-day basis for the remainder of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– K-State football will open the season with a pair of daytime kicks as the Big 12 Conference and its television partners announced game times and television designations for the first weekend of action and select games throughout the season. The Wildcats' September 12 home opener against Arkansas State is slated for a 2:30 p.m., kickoff on FS1. Following a bye week, K-State travels to Norman, Oklahoma, for an 11 a.m., contest that will be shown on FOX. Fans attending K-State's season opener against the Red Wolves next Saturday are reminded of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/news/2020/8/17/k-state-approved-for-reduced-capacity-during-2020-football-season.aspx">new guidelines that will be in place for the 2020 season</a>, which includes mandatory face coverings, no tailgating, no re-entry, alcohols sales for purchase in the general seating sections and additional safety measures. Beginning with K-State's home game against Texas Tech on October 3, game times and television selections will be announced on a 12- or six-day basis for the remainder of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas State Athletics

🏈 Game times, TV announced for first two K-State games

Gloria Charlyne Randall, “Granny,” so lovingly known by the younger generations of her family, smiled her last smile on August 30, 2020, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Her final days were spent with her family laughing, shedding tears, and sharing special memories as her extraordinary life was celebrated. And it was extraordinary. Her joyful, seize-the-day attitude was unmatched and unwavering. She had a gift for making those around her feel like they were the most special people in the world.

Gloria was born in Elkhart, Kansas, on October 1, 1934, to Gertrude and Shelby Gamble during the Dust Bowl. Her mother used to tell the story of draping damp sheets over Gloria’s bassinet to keep out the relentless dust.  Gloria’s brother, Gary, was born four years later and it was the beginning of a unique and cherished brother-sister bond.  Gloria attended high school in Ashland, Kansas, where she first knew Philip “Phip” Randall. She went on to study at Washburn University. She was on the dive and synchronized swim team and loved “twirling in the water.”  Gloria didn’t pay much attention to Phip. She laughed and said, “He was just too wild for me!” But one day she DID pay attention to him and everything changed.  They were married in Ashland on August 29, 1954.  

Gloria and Phip lived in married housing on the campus of Kansas State University while he attended vet school. Gloria’s life was anything but dull thanks to Phip’s never-ending pranks.  Their sons, Philip David “Dave” and Jeffrey Scott “Jeff,” were born while Phip was still in school. Upon graduation, they moved to La Crosse, then to Dodge City, and finally were home in Scott City, Kansas, where Wendy Sue and Kristi Kay, their daughters, were both born.  Phip and his partner established Spencer-Randall Veterinary Clinic. Later, Phip and two friends built HRC Feed Yards. Gloria was a full-time wife and mother and loved every minute. They enjoyed their family trips, their friends and were very involved with the First Methodist Church. They developed an exceptionally dear group of friends, “the gang.” Those friendships have endured through the best and worst of times.  

Gloria’s children reminisce fondly about the many camping and boating trips they took to the lake while growing up. Gloria said it became a ritual for Phip to pick her up, fling her over his shoulder and toss her into the lake the minute they set up camp.  Phip earned his small plane pilot’s license and flew his family back and forth to his childhood ranch home in the red dirt canyons of Ashland. The kids and their cousins played hard in the canyons. The tradition of Thanksgiving at the ranch was born. Even today, that area of Kansas is sacred to the family.  K-State remained dear to Gloria and Phip in a big way. It was a sure bet that on game days during football season they’d be decked out in head-to-toe purple cheering on their Wildcats at the stadium. Gloria and her family have never stopped going to the games and when she couldn’t be in the stadium, she was on her couch watching and providing enthusiastic commentary.  

Phip died unexpectedly in 1977 while both boys were in college and both girls were still living at home. Gloria powered on, moved to Garden City, Kansas, and earned her real estate license and travel agent certification. Later she moved to Denver and worked for many years for the Colorado Hospital Association. It was there that she took up ballroom dancing and revived her twirl, but this time on the dance floor instead of in the water.  

Boating on the lake continued to be a family tradition. Gloria loved to ride in the bow of the boat, with the breeze in her hair and wearing her legendary smile. She was still waterskiing at age 70, a family record that may stand forever.   Gloria’s first grandbaby was born in 1979, then came 10 more in quick succession. Gloria was always there to help and always had babies in her arms. Her best advice to the new mothers in the family was, “Don’t worry about all of the rules they tell you at the hospital - you just love that baby - it’s as simple as that.”  

In time Gloria left Denver and moved back to Ashland. She worked as a paraprofessional for the Ashland School District for several years. She re-established the family tradition of Thanksgiving at the ranch in the southern Kansas red dirt canyons. Her grandchildren speak reverently of those Thanksgivings.  Upon retirement, she moved to Manhattan, Kansas, with her daughter, Wendy. It became a hub of activity throughout the year that peaked during the football season.  Ainsworth, Nebraska, was her most recent adventure. She loved the little town and it loved her right back. In the mornings you would find her on the patio drinking coffee and in the evenings a glass of Chardonnay. In between she spent a lot of time at the Senior Center, with her bridge groups and PEO, volunteering at the thrift shop, laughing on the phone with faraway family members, and hosting local family get-togethers.  Gloria bravely fought cancer for 14 months but it became time to join Phip. With one final, perfect twirl, she became the shimmer of the afternoon sun on the lake and the laughter echoing through generations.

Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, Shelby and Gertie Gamble, her brother, Shelby Laverne, and her husband, Philip Randall. She is survived by her sons and their wives, Dave and Mitzi Randall, and Jeff and Shelle Randall, her daughter, Wendy Randall, her daughter and husband, Kristi and Mike McCluskey; her grandchildren and their spouses, Matt and Jessie Thompson Randall, Amber and Mick Thornton, Stephanie and Jerod Fling, Derek and Rachael Randall, Taylor and Dale McIntyre, Ryan and Kate McCluskey, Shelby Schaefer, Bailey Schaefer, Brendan, and Emily McCluskey, Meghan and Noah Trapp, and Katie McCluskey; her great-grandchildren, Gavin, Sydney, Daniel, Aurora, Everleigh, Clark, Cecily, Leo, Luke, Finn, Meadow, Tate and Theodore; and, her brother and wife, Gary and Linda Gamble and their children, Steven, Cindy, and Michael.

Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at 3:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth with Pastor Mick Thornton to officiate at the event.  

Music is to be provided by Linda Gamble as a pianist with special music of “Beyond The Sunset” by Mitzi Randall, and the congregation to sing “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”  Honorary Urn Bearers are Matthew Randall, Derek Randall, Ryan McCluskey, Brendan McCluskey, Gavin Olinger, and Daniel Thornton.  

Inurnment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas later on this year.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Ainsworth Senior Center, 234 W 2nd St, Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210 in Gloria’s name.  Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is entrusted with the service arrangements.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598966146433.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Gloria Charlyne Randall, “Granny,” so lovingly known by the younger generations of her family, smiled her last smile on August 30, 2020, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Her final days were spent with her family laughing, shedding tears, and sharing special memories as her extraordinary life was celebrated. And it was extraordinary. Her joyful, seize-the-day attitude was unmatched and unwavering. She had a gift for making those around her feel like they were the most special people in the world.Gloria was born in Elkhart, Kansas, on October 1, 1934, to Gertrude and Shelby Gamble during the Dust Bowl. Her mother used to tell the story of draping damp sheets over Gloria’s bassinet to keep out the relentless dust. Gloria’s brother, Gary, was born four years later and it was the beginning of a unique and cherished brother-sister bond. Gloria attended high school in Ashland, Kansas, where she first knew Philip “Phip” Randall. She went on to study at Washburn University. She was on the dive and synchronized swim team and loved “twirling in the water.” Gloria didn’t pay much attention to Phip. She laughed and said, “He was just too wild for me!” But one day she DID pay attention to him and everything changed. They were married in Ashland on August 29, 1954. Gloria and Phip lived in married housing on the campus of Kansas State University while he attended vet school. Gloria’s life was anything but dull thanks to Phip’s never-ending pranks. Their sons, Philip David “Dave” and Jeffrey Scott “Jeff,” were born while Phip was still in school. Upon graduation, they moved to La Crosse, then to Dodge City, and finally were home in Scott City, Kansas, where Wendy Sue and Kristi Kay, their daughters, were both born. Phip and his partner established Spencer-Randall Veterinary Clinic. Later, Phip and two friends built HRC Feed Yards. Gloria was a full-time wife and mother and loved every minute. They enjoyed their family trips, their friends and were very involved with the First Methodist Church. They developed an exceptionally dear group of friends, “the gang.” Those friendships have endured through the best and worst of times. Gloria’s children reminisce fondly about the many camping and boating trips they took to the lake while growing up. Gloria said it became a ritual for Phip to pick her up, fling her over his shoulder and toss her into the lake the minute they set up camp. Phip earned his small plane pilot’s license and flew his family back and forth to his childhood ranch home in the red dirt canyons of Ashland. The kids and their cousins played hard in the canyons. The tradition of Thanksgiving at the ranch was born. Even today, that area of Kansas is sacred to the family. K-State remained dear to Gloria and Phip in a big way. It was a sure bet that on game days during football season they’d be decked out in head-to-toe purple cheering on their Wildcats at the stadium. Gloria and her family have never stopped going to the games and when she couldn’t be in the stadium, she was on her couch watching and providing enthusiastic commentary. Phip died unexpectedly in 1977 while both boys were in college and both girls were still living at home. Gloria powered on, moved to Garden City, Kansas, and earned her real estate license and travel agent certification. Later she moved to Denver and worked for many years for the Colorado Hospital Association. It was there that she took up ballroom dancing and revived her twirl, but this time on the dance floor instead of in the water. Boating on the lake continued to be a family tradition. Gloria loved to ride in the bow of the boat, with the breeze in her hair and wearing her legendary smile. She was still waterskiing at age 70, a family record that may stand forever. Gloria’s first grandbaby was born in 1979, then came 10 more in quick succession. Gloria was always there to help and always had babies in her arms. Her best advice to the new mothers in the family was, “Don’t worry about all of the rules they tell you at the hospital - you just love that baby - it’s as simple as that.” In time Gloria left Denver and moved back to Ashland. She worked as a paraprofessional for the Ashland School District for several years. She re-established the family tradition of Thanksgiving at the ranch in the southern Kansas red dirt canyons. Her grandchildren speak reverently of those Thanksgivings. Upon retirement, she moved to Manhattan, Kansas, with her daughter, Wendy. It became a hub of activity throughout the year that peaked during the football season. Ainsworth, Nebraska, was her most recent adventure. She loved the little town and it loved her right back. In the mornings you would find her on the patio drinking coffee and in the evenings a glass of Chardonnay. In between she spent a lot of time at the Senior Center, with her bridge groups and PEO, volunteering at the thrift shop, laughing on the phone with faraway family members, and hosting local family get-togethers. Gloria bravely fought cancer for 14 months but it became time to join Phip. With one final, perfect twirl, she became the shimmer of the afternoon sun on the lake and the laughter echoing through generations.Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, Shelby and Gertie Gamble, her brother, Shelby Laverne, and her husband, Philip Randall. She is survived by her sons and their wives, Dave and Mitzi Randall, and Jeff and Shelle Randall, her daughter, Wendy Randall, her daughter and husband, Kristi and Mike McCluskey; her grandchildren and their spouses, Matt and Jessie Thompson Randall, Amber and Mick Thornton, Stephanie and Jerod Fling, Derek and Rachael Randall, Taylor and Dale McIntyre, Ryan and Kate McCluskey, Shelby Schaefer, Bailey Schaefer, Brendan, and Emily McCluskey, Meghan and Noah Trapp, and Katie McCluskey; her great-grandchildren, Gavin, Sydney, Daniel, Aurora, Everleigh, Clark, Cecily, Leo, Luke, Finn, Meadow, Tate and Theodore; and, her brother and wife, Gary and Linda Gamble and their children, Steven, Cindy, and Michael.Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at 3:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth with Pastor Mick Thornton to officiate at the event. Music is to be provided by Linda Gamble as a pianist with special music of “Beyond The Sunset” by Mitzi Randall, and the congregation to sing “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Honorary Urn Bearers are Matthew Randall, Derek Randall, Ryan McCluskey, Brendan McCluskey, Gavin Olinger, and Daniel Thornton. Inurnment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas later on this year. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Ainsworth Senior Center, 234 W 2nd St, Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210 in Gloria’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is entrusted with the service arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Gloria Charlyne Randall

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has reversed a Topeka real estate developer's conviction for threatening another man, saying a law used to convict him criminalizes free speech.

The court based its decision on its October ruling that struck down a provision of the criminal threat law that made it a crime to speak with reckless disregard for whether one's comments would cause fear. The court found that the law could make some protesters’ comments illegal, violating free speech guarantees.

A Shawnee County District Court jury in 2016 had convicted Kent Lindemuth of making a criminal threat to Michael Matthews, the owner of an Oklahoma trucking company.

In 2014, Matthews told police Lindemuth threatened to kill him over the phone multiple times as he attempted from Oklahoma to retrieve a trailer cab Lindemuth had towed.

The Shawnee County jury convicted Lindemuth of one count of criminal threat for allegedly threatening Matthews before he left Oklahoma. Lindemuth appealed the case to the Kansas Court of Appeals, which in 2018 reversed the trial court's ruling, saying it had failed to instruct jurors. The Supreme Court agreed that the conviction should be reversed, but not because of the jury instruction.

The court on Friday said Lindemuth “simply spoke in the heat of argument and the result of unthinking rage” and, therefore, did not make an “intentional threat.”

The Shawnee County District Attorney’s office can try Lindemuth again or dismiss charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598909143453.png" alt="Kent Lindemuth photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Kent Lindemuth photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has reversed a Topeka real estate developer's conviction for threatening another man, saying a law used to convict him criminalizes free speech.The court based its decision on its October ruling that struck down a provision of the criminal threat law that made it a crime to speak with reckless disregard for whether one's comments would cause fear. The court found that the law could make some protesters’ comments illegal, violating free speech guarantees.A Shawnee County District Court jury in 2016 had convicted Kent Lindemuth of making a criminal threat to Michael Matthews, the owner of an Oklahoma trucking company.In 2014, Matthews told police Lindemuth threatened to kill him over the phone multiple times as he attempted from Oklahoma to retrieve a trailer cab Lindemuth had towed.The Shawnee County jury convicted Lindemuth of one count of criminal threat for allegedly threatening Matthews before he left Oklahoma. Lindemuth appealed the case to the Kansas Court of Appeals, which in 2018 reversed the trial court's ruling, saying it had failed to instruct jurors. The Supreme Court agreed that the conviction should be reversed, but not because of the jury instruction.The court on Friday said Lindemuth “simply spoke in the heat of argument and the result of unthinking rage” and, therefore, did not make an “intentional threat.”The Shawnee County District Attorney’s office can try Lindemuth again or dismiss charges.

Court reverses Kan. developer's criminal threat conviction

KANSAS CITY– A man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies as part of a $3.2 million romance fraud scheme that had victims in Kansas and six other states.

Henry N. Asomani, 35,  Dumfries, Virginia, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ghana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Aug. 25, to 10 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney. The court also ordered Asomani to pay $3.2 million in restitution to his victims, and to forfeit to the government the money he profited from the scheme.

On Dec. 13, 2019, Asomani was found guilty at trial of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.

Asomani was the middle man who received the proceeds of the fraud conspiracy from victims and transferred the proceeds to unknown co-conspirators. Asomani transferred the funds among various accounts; he kept a portion of the proceeds for himself, and funneled the rest of the proceeds to co-conspirators in Ghana. Asomani operated five different companies with 16 different accounts at eight different banks.

Asomani received funds sent by more than a dozen victims across the United States, including three victims in the Kansas City metropolitan area, from Sept. 15, 2015, to Oct. 17, 2017. Although bank investigators and FBI agents warned Asomani that his bank accounts were receiving the proceeds of a fraud scheme, he continued to receive the funds and simply opened new accounts when funds were frozen, or accounts were closed by the banks.

Unknown co-conspirators targeted victims through online dating websites with various romance frauds. The unknown co-conspirators impersonated individuals who were involved in businesses overseas. They convinced the victims that they needed funds to help with moving gold from a foreign country, orphanage expenses, and school and travel expenses. The co-conspirators told the victims they would share the profits when the gold was returned to the United States. In fact, none of the victims received any profit or received any gold from the co-conspirators.

According to court documents, some victims suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the fraud scheme. Some victims lost their retirement savings and some victims were forced to declare bankruptcy. Some victims borrowed money or took cash advances from credit cards in order to send money.

The trial testimony from 13 victims established a loss of over $3.2 million. For example, one victim who resided in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, set up a profile on ChristianMingle.com following the death of her husband to brain cancer. In October 2015, an individual claiming to be “Larry B. White” initiated contact with her. Following numerous conversations by email and telephone, “White” convinced the victim to invest in a Ghana gold mine. “White” promised a 40 percent return on the investment of money. From November 2015 through January 2016, under the direction of “White,” the victim sent funds to multiple entities by check and wire totaling approximately $3,292,000. Of that amount, $2,292,000 was transferred to accounts controlled by Asomani. Asomani spent $50,000 of those proceeds to make a down payment on a 2019 silver Lexus NX300. The victim never received any money or gold profits from “White.”

Another victim, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri, met “Bradley Fischer” on ChristianMingle.com. “Fischer” convinced the victim to send funds for school expenses, travel expenses, and to start a new life in Kansas City. On July 19, 2017, the victim wired $24,000 to Asomani’s bank account. “Fischer” promised to pay the victim back when he got to Kansas City. &nbsp;The victims received $1,000 back from “Fischer” after she realized she was being defrauded and confronted the individual.

Other victims reside in New Jersey, Alaska, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.

Asomani wired $1,789,416 from his bank accounts in the United States to bank accounts in Ghana. He spent approximately $342,278 on auto purchases and auto- or shipping-related expenses as part of the money-laundering scheme. Asomani shipped 18 vehicles to Ghana, having a declared value of approximately $284,190.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576340160303.png" alt="Henry N. Asomani -photo Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff " />
 <figcaption>Henry N. Asomani -photo Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies as part of a $3.2 million romance fraud scheme that had victims in Kansas and six other states.Henry N. Asomani, 35, Dumfries, Virginia, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ghana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Aug. 25, to 10 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney. The court also ordered Asomani to pay $3.2 million in restitution to his victims, and to forfeit to the government the money he profited from the scheme.On Dec. 13, 2019, Asomani was found guilty at trial of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.Asomani was the middle man who received the proceeds of the fraud conspiracy from victims and transferred the proceeds to unknown co-conspirators. Asomani transferred the funds among various accounts; he kept a portion of the proceeds for himself, and funneled the rest of the proceeds to co-conspirators in Ghana. Asomani operated five different companies with 16 different accounts at eight different banks.Asomani received funds sent by more than a dozen victims across the United States, including three victims in the Kansas City metropolitan area, from Sept. 15, 2015, to Oct. 17, 2017. Although bank investigators and FBI agents warned Asomani that his bank accounts were receiving the proceeds of a fraud scheme, he continued to receive the funds and simply opened new accounts when funds were frozen, or accounts were closed by the banks.Unknown co-conspirators targeted victims through online dating websites with various romance frauds. The unknown co-conspirators impersonated individuals who were involved in businesses overseas. They convinced the victims that they needed funds to help with moving gold from a foreign country, orphanage expenses, and school and travel expenses. The co-conspirators told the victims they would share the profits when the gold was returned to the United States. In fact, none of the victims received any profit or received any gold from the co-conspirators.According to court documents, some victims suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the fraud scheme. Some victims lost their retirement savings and some victims were forced to declare bankruptcy. Some victims borrowed money or took cash advances from credit cards in order to send money.The trial testimony from 13 victims established a loss of over $3.2 million. For example, one victim who resided in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, set up a profile on ChristianMingle.com following the death of her husband to brain cancer. In October 2015, an individual claiming to be “Larry B. White” initiated contact with her. Following numerous conversations by email and telephone, “White” convinced the victim to invest in a Ghana gold mine. “White” promised a 40 percent return on the investment of money. From November 2015 through January 2016, under the direction of “White,” the victim sent funds to multiple entities by check and wire totaling approximately $3,292,000. Of that amount, $2,292,000 was transferred to accounts controlled by Asomani. Asomani spent $50,000 of those proceeds to make a down payment on a 2019 silver Lexus NX300. The victim never received any money or gold profits from “White.”Another victim, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri, met “Bradley Fischer” on ChristianMingle.com. “Fischer” convinced the victim to send funds for school expenses, travel expenses, and to start a new life in Kansas City. On July 19, 2017, the victim wired $24,000 to Asomani’s bank account. “Fischer” promised to pay the victim back when he got to Kansas City. &nbsp;The victims received $1,000 back from “Fischer” after she realized she was being defrauded and confronted the individual.Other victims reside in New Jersey, Alaska, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.Asomani wired $1,789,416 from his bank accounts in the United States to bank accounts in Ghana. He spent approximately $342,278 on auto purchases and auto- or shipping-related expenses as part of the money-laundering scheme. Asomani shipped 18 vehicles to Ghana, having a declared value of approximately $284,190.

Man sentenced for $3.2M romance fraud scheme

Loren Lehmann, 81, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2020 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, KS. Loren
 was born November 3, 1938 in Gaylord, KS, the son of Adolph Frank and 
Eva Pearl (Auldridge) Lehmann.&nbsp; Loren enlisted in the United States Army
 on October 17, 1961 and was honorably discharged on October 16, 1963.&nbsp; 
On June 5, 1965 he married Jane Nicholas in Zenda, KS, they later 
divorced.&nbsp; On April 21, 1990 he married Darlene Deneke in Beloit, KS.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, parents, sister Lois Hayes and an infant brother. 
 Loren is survived by his children, Billy Lehmann of Gaylord, Teresa 
(Ron) Corwin of Hutchinson, Greg (Katie) Lehmann of Concordia and four 
grandchildren, Josh and Sha Scheuerman, Mauryn Lehmann and Will Lehmann. Funeral
 Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 4, 2020 at All 
Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor
 Jason Kohler officiating.&nbsp; Visitation will be held on Thursday, 
September 3, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present to 
greet friends &nbsp;from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel.&nbsp; 
Memorials may be given to the Gaylord Fire Department and can be sent in
 care of the funeral chapel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598820724179.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Loren Lehmann, 81, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2020 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, KS. Loren
 was born November 3, 1938 in Gaylord, KS, the son of Adolph Frank and 
Eva Pearl (Auldridge) Lehmann.&nbsp; Loren enlisted in the United States Army
 on October 17, 1961 and was honorably discharged on October 16, 1963.&nbsp; 
On June 5, 1965 he married Jane Nicholas in Zenda, KS, they later 
divorced.&nbsp; On April 21, 1990 he married Darlene Deneke in Beloit, KS.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, parents, sister Lois Hayes and an infant brother. 
 Loren is survived by his children, Billy Lehmann of Gaylord, Teresa 
(Ron) Corwin of Hutchinson, Greg (Katie) Lehmann of Concordia and four 
grandchildren, Josh and Sha Scheuerman, Mauryn Lehmann and Will Lehmann. Funeral
 Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 4, 2020 at All 
Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor
 Jason Kohler officiating.&nbsp; Visitation will be held on Thursday, 
September 3, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present to 
greet friends &nbsp;from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel.&nbsp; 
Memorials may be given to the Gaylord Fire Department and can be sent in
 care of the funeral chapel.

Loren Lehmann

Bradley Neil Rein, age 58, died at his home in Ness City on August 
23, 2020.&nbsp; He was born on October 29, 1961 in Ness City the son of 
Cletus and JoAnn (Dreasher) Rein.

After graduating from Bazine High School in 1980, Brad worked most of
 his life in the oil field around Ness County.&nbsp; On November 21, 1981 he 
married Cheri Stoecklein in Ness City. Together they raised two 
children.

Brad is survived by his daughter, Michelle Rein of Ness City and his 
son, Travis Rein and his wife Tisha of Wichita; five brothers, Dale of 
Burlington, Kansas, Daryl (Vonia) of Cimarron, Joel (Deneise) of 
Hutchinson, Alan of Bazine, and Myron of Ness City and three sisters, 
Cindy Rein of Wichita, Patty Legleiter (Neil) of Hays, and Julie Roane 
of Utica and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his 
parents and his sister Paula Rein.

Graveside memorial service will be held at the Bazine Cemetery on 
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.&nbsp; Friends may come to 
Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 1, 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 
p.m. to sign the book.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Michelle Rein Medical Fund or the Bazine Cemetery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598820200014.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Bradley Neil Rein, age 58, died at his home in Ness City on August 
23, 2020.&nbsp; He was born on October 29, 1961 in Ness City the son of 
Cletus and JoAnn (Dreasher) Rein.After graduating from Bazine High School in 1980, Brad worked most of
 his life in the oil field around Ness County.&nbsp; On November 21, 1981 he 
married Cheri Stoecklein in Ness City. Together they raised two 
children.Brad is survived by his daughter, Michelle Rein of Ness City and his 
son, Travis Rein and his wife Tisha of Wichita; five brothers, Dale of 
Burlington, Kansas, Daryl (Vonia) of Cimarron, Joel (Deneise) of 
Hutchinson, Alan of Bazine, and Myron of Ness City and three sisters, 
Cindy Rein of Wichita, Patty Legleiter (Neil) of Hays, and Julie Roane 
of Utica and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his 
parents and his sister Paula Rein.Graveside memorial service will be held at the Bazine Cemetery on 
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.&nbsp; Friends may come to 
Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 1, 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 
p.m. to sign the book.Memorial contributions may be given to the Michelle Rein Medical Fund or the Bazine Cemetery.

Bradley Neil Rein

NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Amtrak riders in Kansas will encounter reduced service starting in October as part of the rail passenger service’s nationwide cutback in routes because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Southwest Chief, which runs through Kansas from Chicago to Los Angeles, will reduce its service beginning Oct. 12, Amtrak said on its website. Nearly every Amtrak route across the country has been or will be reduced because of a “dramatic drop” in passengers during the pandemic, the company said.

Currently, the Southwest Chief operates seven days a week.

After Oct. 12, the Southwest Chief will leave Chicago on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The train will leave Los Angeles on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The train currently serves Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City.

Amtrak said it hoped to restore all services by June 30, 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592423924832.png" alt="photo courtesy Amtrak" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Amtrak</figcaption>
 </figure>NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Amtrak riders in Kansas will encounter reduced service starting in October as part of the rail passenger service’s nationwide cutback in routes because of the coronavirus pandemic.The Southwest Chief, which runs through Kansas from Chicago to Los Angeles, will reduce its service beginning Oct. 12, Amtrak said on its website. Nearly every Amtrak route across the country has been or will be reduced because of a “dramatic drop” in passengers during the pandemic, the company said.Currently, the Southwest Chief operates seven days a week.After Oct. 12, the Southwest Chief will leave Chicago on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The train will leave Los Angeles on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.The train currently serves Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City.Amtrak said it hoped to restore all services by June 30, 2021.

Amtrak's Southwest Chief to reduce service through Kansas

Melva Elaine Cooper passed away on August 17, 2020. She was a resident of the Gove County Long Term Care in Quinter, KS. 

Melva was born July 7, 1929 to Horace and Hannah Jamison of Quinter, Kansas, 1 of 7 children. After graduating from Quinter High School, Melva was employed by AT&amp;T as a&nbsp;switchboard telephone operator for several years. Melva married Ralph Cooper in October of 1967 and resided to the Cooper family farm in Grinnell, Kansas. They had one son, James Cooper, residing in New Cambria, Kansas.

Melva was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Hannah Jamison, husband Ralph Cooper, brothers Gerald Jamison, Harold Jamison, Carl Jamison, Dwight Jamison, Doyle James Jamison and sister Nola Conley.

Melva is survived by her son James Cooper, his wife Shanon Cooper and their daughter Becca Cooper.

Melva enjoyed her time outdoors in her vegetable garden and tending to her yard and many flowers planted around her house. She also enjoyed and cherished the time she spent with her granddaughter&nbsp;Becca.

No public service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Gove&nbsp;County Long Term Care facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598296041747.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Melva Elaine Cooper passed away on August 17, 2020. She was a resident of the Gove County Long Term Care in Quinter, KS. Melva was born July 7, 1929 to Horace and Hannah Jamison of Quinter, Kansas, 1 of 7 children. After graduating from Quinter High School, Melva was employed by AT&amp;T as a&nbsp;switchboard telephone operator for several years. Melva married Ralph Cooper in October of 1967 and resided to the Cooper family farm in Grinnell, Kansas. They had one son, James Cooper, residing in New Cambria, Kansas.Melva was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Hannah Jamison, husband Ralph Cooper, brothers Gerald Jamison, Harold Jamison, Carl Jamison, Dwight Jamison, Doyle James Jamison and sister Nola Conley.Melva is survived by her son James Cooper, his wife Shanon Cooper and their daughter Becca Cooper.Melva enjoyed her time outdoors in her vegetable garden and tending to her yard and many flowers planted around her house. She also enjoyed and cherished the time she spent with her granddaughter&nbsp;Becca.No public service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Gove&nbsp;County Long Term Care facility.

Melva Elaine Cooper

BY JOCELYN GECKER AND&nbsp;MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays, of up to several months, in getting this year’s most crucial back-to-school supplies: the laptops and other equipment needed for online learning, an Associated Press investigation has found.

The world’s three biggest computer companies, Lenovo, HP and Dell, have told school districts they have a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops, in some cases exacerbated by Trump administration sanctions on Chinese suppliers, according to interviews with over two dozen U.S. schools, districts in 15 states, suppliers, computer companies and industry analysts.

As the school year begins virtually in many places because of the coronavirus, educators nationwide worry that computer shortfalls will compound the inequities — and the headaches for students, families and teachers.

The Wichita Kansas school district has only received two-thirds of the computers and tablets it has ordered to equip students for distance learning because of worldwide supply chain problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Until the supply and demand problem clears up, USD 259 is prioritizing its distribution of the 8,000 devices it has received out of an order of 24,000.

“This is going to be like asking an artist to paint a picture without paint. You can’t have a kid do distance learning without a computer,” said Tom Baumgarten, superintendent of the Morongo County School District in California’s Mojave Desert, where all 8,000 students qualify for free lunch and most need computers for distance learning.

Baumgarten was set to order 5,000 Lenovo Chromebooks in July when his vendor called him off, saying Lenovos were getting “stopped by a government agency because of a component from China that’s not allowed here,” he said. He switched to HPs and was told they would arrive in time for the first day of school Aug. 26. The delivery date then changed to September, then October. The district has about 4,000 old laptops that can serve roughly half of students, but what about the rest, Baumgarten asks rhetorically. “I’m very concerned that I’m not going to be able to get everyone a computer.”

Chromebooks and other low-cost PCs are the computers of choice for most budget-strapped schools. The delays started in the spring and intensified because of high demand and disruptions of supply chains, the same reasons that toilet paper and other pandemic necessities flew off shelves a few months ago. Then came the Trump administration's July 20 announcement targeting Chinese companies it says were implicated in forced labor or other human rights abuses against a Muslim minority population, the Uighurs. The Commerce Department imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies, including the manufacturer of multiple models of Lenovo laptops, which the company says will add several weeks to existing delays, according to a letter Lenovo sent to customers.

School districts are pleading with the Trump administration to resolve the issue, saying that distance learning without laptops will amount to no learning for some of the country’s most vulnerable students.

“It's a tough one because I’m not condoning child slave labor for computers, but can we not hurt more children in the process?” said Matt Bartenhagen, IT director for Williston Public Schools in North Dakota, a district of 4,600 waiting on an order for 2,000 Lenovo Chromebooks. “They were supposed to be delivered in July. Then August. Then late August. The current shipping estimate is ‘hopefully" by the end of the year.

The Denver Public Schools district, the largest in Colorado, is waiting for 12,500 Lenovo Chromebooks ordered in April and May. The district has scrambled to find machines, settled for whatever is available and is handing out everything they get to students that need them. Still, when school starts Wednesday, they will be about 3,000 devices short, says Lara Hussain, an IT director for the district.

“We were promised devices. Our students need devices. And as a result of not receiving devices we will have students starting the school year unable to participate. It’s unconscionable,” said Hussain.

Lenovo had informed Denver and other districts over the spring and summer of supply chain delays. In late July, Lenovo sent a letter to customers to say the “trade controls” announced by the Commerce Department would cause another slowdown of at least several weeks.

“This delay is a new development and is unrelated to supply constraints previously communicated,” Matthew Zielinski, president of Lenovo North America said in the letter, which referred to the sanctions on a Chinese supplier, Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. Ltd. The letter listed 23 Lenovo models for education and corporate customers made by Bitland.

“Effective immediately, we are no longer manufacturing these devices at Bitland,” the letter said, adding that Lenovo is working on “a transition plan” to shift production to other sites.

A Lenovo official told California’s Department of Education the company has a backlog of more than 3 million Chromebooks, said Daniel Thigpen, the department’s spokesman.

Lenovo declined to respond to repeated questions from AP seeking confirmation of the backlog and details on the numbers of devices delayed, replying only to deny a question on whether computers were seized by U.S. customs, as some schools were told by suppliers.

U.S. government agencies said they have no knowledge of the computers' whereabouts and also deny any were seized.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not have any record of detained laptops matching this description,” the agency said in a statement.

The Department of Commerce said it added Hefei Bitland to its so-called Entity List, which restricts the export and in-country transfer of items by sanctioned companies. “It does not apply to the importation of Chromebooks from China,” the department said in a statement, adding, however, “we should all agree that American school children should not be using computers from China that were produced from forced labor.”

There are no nationwide tallies on the numbers of laptops and other devices that schools are waiting for. The Associated Press found that some of America’s biggest school districts are among those with outstanding orders of Chromebooks, other laptops or hotspots for internet connections, including Los Angeles, Clark County, Nevada, Wake County, North Carolina, Houston, Palm Beach and Hawaii, the nation’s only statewide school district.

A recent poll of California's 1,100 districts showed schools across the state are waiting on at least 300,000 backordered computers, said Mary Nicely, a senior policy advisor to the state superintendent. A survey in Alabama found that about 20 schools were waiting on 33,000 computers, said Ryan Hollingsworth, director of the School Superintendents of Alabama.

Smaller districts in Montana, New York, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, New Hampshire and elsewhere are also waiting on laptop orders, with delivery dates that have become moving targets.

Some of the school districts, like Los Angeles, say the outstanding orders are for replacement devices and all students who need a computer will have one. Many districts are asking parents with the means to buy devices for their children but realize that's not an option for many families.

It's also not an easy task with supplies at commercial stores running out. Best Buy's website shows 36 models of new and used Chromebooks priced under $500, the low-cost models that are popular for students. As of this week, 33 of those models were sold out.

The backlog and delays have become so widespread that some students will be forced to start the semester without an essential piece of technology for remote learning, said Michael Flood, senior vice president of Kajeet, which works with more than 2,000 school districts in the U.S. and Canada.

Some school administrators told Flood their laptop and Chromebook suppliers hope deliveries will only be delayed by a month or so. But others are being told their machines may not be available until early 2021.

The shortage stems from exceptionally high demand at a time when the personal computer industry is still recovering from pandemic-driven precautions that shut down the factories of major PC suppliers in China during February and March. Just as the supply chain started ramping back up, new orders poured in from huge companies and government agencies with large numbers of employees working from home — in addition to school districts scrambling to secure machines, said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner Inc., which closely follows the PC industry.

“The bottom line is everyone seems to want a laptop or Chromebook right now and there just isn’t enough supply of it,” Kitagawa said. “It’s a case of very bad timing.”

To make matters worse, many school districts underestimated their needs during spring ordering, assuming that traditional in-person classes would resume in the fall.

In California, most schools were planning for some form of in-person classes in the fall but only learned in July that wouldn’t be possible, when Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively ordered the majority of schools to start with remote learning. It created a mad dash for computers.

Tom Quiambao, director of technology for the Tracy Unified School District in Northern California, said he and his vendor contacted HP directly to ask why his July order for 10,000 HP laptops would take three months to be delivered. He was told, “HP is short 1.7 million units of laptops” because of production shortages in a variety of components made in China, including processors, touchscreens, motherboards and others, Quiambao said.

An HP spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny that number, saying only “we are continuing to leverage our global supply chain to meet the changing needs of our customer.”

Dell offered a similarly brief response to detailed questions about a backlog.

“We can’t comment on demand and supply specifically,” Dell said in an emailed statement, adding the company was seeing increased orders due to virtual learning and trying “to fulfill orders as efficiently as possible.”

With so many customers ordering laptops at the same time, PC manufacturers may be put in the uncomfortable position of deciding who gets them first, said Linn Huang, an analyst for the research firm International Data Corp. Those kind of pecking orders threaten to push small school districts to the back of the laptop line.

That’s part of the problem for the central Texas district of Abilene, where they are waiting for 6,000 Dell Chromebooks, ordered in May and June but not expected until November.

“In Texas, there are over 1,200 school districts and they’re all ordering,” said district spokesman Lance Fleming. Schools are trying to get disinfecting supplies, too. “Who would have ever thought that computers and Clorox Wipes would be on the same level of need in our country.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598006130627.png" alt="The school board in Wichita voted Thursday night to have 6-12 grade students begin the school year with online learning- photo courtesy USD 259." />
 <figcaption>The school board in Wichita voted Thursday night to have 6-12 grade students begin the school year with online learning- photo courtesy USD 259.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JOCELYN GECKER AND&nbsp;MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated PressKANSAS CITY (AP) — Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays, of up to several months, in getting this year’s most crucial back-to-school supplies: the laptops and other equipment needed for online learning, an Associated Press investigation has found.The world’s three biggest computer companies, Lenovo, HP and Dell, have told school districts they have a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops, in some cases exacerbated by Trump administration sanctions on Chinese suppliers, according to interviews with over two dozen U.S. schools, districts in 15 states, suppliers, computer companies and industry analysts.As the school year begins virtually in many places because of the coronavirus, educators nationwide worry that computer shortfalls will compound the inequities — and the headaches for students, families and teachers.The Wichita Kansas school district has only received two-thirds of the computers and tablets it has ordered to equip students for distance learning because of worldwide supply chain problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Until the supply and demand problem clears up, USD 259 is prioritizing its distribution of the 8,000 devices it has received out of an order of 24,000.“This is going to be like asking an artist to paint a picture without paint. You can’t have a kid do distance learning without a computer,” said Tom Baumgarten, superintendent of the Morongo County School District in California’s Mojave Desert, where all 8,000 students qualify for free lunch and most need computers for distance learning.Baumgarten was set to order 5,000 Lenovo Chromebooks in July when his vendor called him off, saying Lenovos were getting “stopped by a government agency because of a component from China that’s not allowed here,” he said. He switched to HPs and was told they would arrive in time for the first day of school Aug. 26. The delivery date then changed to September, then October. The district has about 4,000 old laptops that can serve roughly half of students, but what about the rest, Baumgarten asks rhetorically. “I’m very concerned that I’m not going to be able to get everyone a computer.”Chromebooks and other low-cost PCs are the computers of choice for most budget-strapped schools. The delays started in the spring and intensified because of high demand and disruptions of supply chains, the same reasons that toilet paper and other pandemic necessities flew off shelves a few months ago. Then came the Trump administration's July 20 announcement targeting Chinese companies it says were implicated in forced labor or other human rights abuses against a Muslim minority population, the Uighurs. The Commerce Department imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies, including the manufacturer of multiple models of Lenovo laptops, which the company says will add several weeks to existing delays, according to a letter Lenovo sent to customers.School districts are pleading with the Trump administration to resolve the issue, saying that distance learning without laptops will amount to no learning for some of the country’s most vulnerable students.“It's a tough one because I’m not condoning child slave labor for computers, but can we not hurt more children in the process?” said Matt Bartenhagen, IT director for Williston Public Schools in North Dakota, a district of 4,600 waiting on an order for 2,000 Lenovo Chromebooks. “They were supposed to be delivered in July. Then August. Then late August. The current shipping estimate is ‘hopefully" by the end of the year.The Denver Public Schools district, the largest in Colorado, is waiting for 12,500 Lenovo Chromebooks ordered in April and May. The district has scrambled to find machines, settled for whatever is available and is handing out everything they get to students that need them. Still, when school starts Wednesday, they will be about 3,000 devices short, says Lara Hussain, an IT director for the district.“We were promised devices. Our students need devices. And as a result of not receiving devices we will have students starting the school year unable to participate. It’s unconscionable,” said Hussain.Lenovo had informed Denver and other districts over the spring and summer of supply chain delays. In late July, Lenovo sent a letter to customers to say the “trade controls” announced by the Commerce Department would cause another slowdown of at least several weeks.“This delay is a new development and is unrelated to supply constraints previously communicated,” Matthew Zielinski, president of Lenovo North America said in the letter, which referred to the sanctions on a Chinese supplier, Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. Ltd. The letter listed 23 Lenovo models for education and corporate customers made by Bitland.“Effective immediately, we are no longer manufacturing these devices at Bitland,” the letter said, adding that Lenovo is working on “a transition plan” to shift production to other sites.A Lenovo official told California’s Department of Education the company has a backlog of more than 3 million Chromebooks, said Daniel Thigpen, the department’s spokesman.Lenovo declined to respond to repeated questions from AP seeking confirmation of the backlog and details on the numbers of devices delayed, replying only to deny a question on whether computers were seized by U.S. customs, as some schools were told by suppliers.U.S. government agencies said they have no knowledge of the computers' whereabouts and also deny any were seized.“U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not have any record of detained laptops matching this description,” the agency said in a statement.The Department of Commerce said it added Hefei Bitland to its so-called Entity List, which restricts the export and in-country transfer of items by sanctioned companies. “It does not apply to the importation of Chromebooks from China,” the department said in a statement, adding, however, “we should all agree that American school children should not be using computers from China that were produced from forced labor.”There are no nationwide tallies on the numbers of laptops and other devices that schools are waiting for. The Associated Press found that some of America’s biggest school districts are among those with outstanding orders of Chromebooks, other laptops or hotspots for internet connections, including Los Angeles, Clark County, Nevada, Wake County, North Carolina, Houston, Palm Beach and Hawaii, the nation’s only statewide school district.A recent poll of California's 1,100 districts showed schools across the state are waiting on at least 300,000 backordered computers, said Mary Nicely, a senior policy advisor to the state superintendent. A survey in Alabama found that about 20 schools were waiting on 33,000 computers, said Ryan Hollingsworth, director of the School Superintendents of Alabama.Smaller districts in Montana, New York, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, New Hampshire and elsewhere are also waiting on laptop orders, with delivery dates that have become moving targets.Some of the school districts, like Los Angeles, say the outstanding orders are for replacement devices and all students who need a computer will have one. Many districts are asking parents with the means to buy devices for their children but realize that's not an option for many families.It's also not an easy task with supplies at commercial stores running out. Best Buy's website shows 36 models of new and used Chromebooks priced under $500, the low-cost models that are popular for students. As of this week, 33 of those models were sold out.The backlog and delays have become so widespread that some students will be forced to start the semester without an essential piece of technology for remote learning, said Michael Flood, senior vice president of Kajeet, which works with more than 2,000 school districts in the U.S. and Canada.Some school administrators told Flood their laptop and Chromebook suppliers hope deliveries will only be delayed by a month or so. But others are being told their machines may not be available until early 2021.The shortage stems from exceptionally high demand at a time when the personal computer industry is still recovering from pandemic-driven precautions that shut down the factories of major PC suppliers in China during February and March. Just as the supply chain started ramping back up, new orders poured in from huge companies and government agencies with large numbers of employees working from home — in addition to school districts scrambling to secure machines, said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner Inc., which closely follows the PC industry.“The bottom line is everyone seems to want a laptop or Chromebook right now and there just isn’t enough supply of it,” Kitagawa said. “It’s a case of very bad timing.”To make matters worse, many school districts underestimated their needs during spring ordering, assuming that traditional in-person classes would resume in the fall.In California, most schools were planning for some form of in-person classes in the fall but only learned in July that wouldn’t be possible, when Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively ordered the majority of schools to start with remote learning. It created a mad dash for computers.Tom Quiambao, director of technology for the Tracy Unified School District in Northern California, said he and his vendor contacted HP directly to ask why his July order for 10,000 HP laptops would take three months to be delivered. He was told, “HP is short 1.7 million units of laptops” because of production shortages in a variety of components made in China, including processors, touchscreens, motherboards and others, Quiambao said.An HP spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny that number, saying only “we are continuing to leverage our global supply chain to meet the changing needs of our customer.”Dell offered a similarly brief response to detailed questions about a backlog.“We can’t comment on demand and supply specifically,” Dell said in an emailed statement, adding the company was seeing increased orders due to virtual learning and trying “to fulfill orders as efficiently as possible.”With so many customers ordering laptops at the same time, PC manufacturers may be put in the uncomfortable position of deciding who gets them first, said Linn Huang, an analyst for the research firm International Data Corp. Those kind of pecking orders threaten to push small school districts to the back of the laptop line.That’s part of the problem for the central Texas district of Abilene, where they are waiting for 6,000 Dell Chromebooks, ordered in May and June but not expected until November.“In Texas, there are over 1,200 school districts and they’re all ordering,” said district spokesman Lance Fleming. Schools are trying to get disinfecting supplies, too. “Who would have ever thought that computers and Clorox Wipes would be on the same level of need in our country.”___

US faces back-to-school laptop shortage

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.

The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.

On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.

The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.

In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”

But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.

Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.

The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval. The accusations of an FDA slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on what he refers to as the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”

“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”

During Sunday’s 18-minute press conference, Trump said he thought there had been a “logjam” at the FDA over granting the emergency authorization. He alleged there are people at the FDA “that can see things being held up ... and that’s for political reasons.”

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said the statement, and Hahn’s silence while Trump said it, “was disgraceful.”

“The FDA commissioner basically allowed the president to mischaracterize the decision and attack the integrity of FDA employees. I was horrified,” said Sharfstein, a vice dean at John Hopkins University’s school of public health who was a top FDA official during the Obama administration.

“This is a promising therapy that has not been fully established,” he said

The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.

“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”

Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.

More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.

The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.

But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.

Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598222952199.png" alt="President Trump took only 3 questions during the Sunday evening press conference-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump took only 3 questions during the Sunday evening press conference-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval. The accusations of an FDA slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on what he refers to as the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598222686256.png" alt="President Donald Trump accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, center and HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a media briefing Sunday -photo Courtesy White House." />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump accompanied by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, center and HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a media briefing Sunday -photo Courtesy White House.</figcaption>
 </figure>During Sunday’s 18-minute press conference, Trump said he thought there had been a “logjam” at the FDA over granting the emergency authorization. He alleged there are people at the FDA “that can see things being held up ... and that’s for political reasons.”Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said the statement, and Hahn’s silence while Trump said it, “was disgraceful.”“The FDA commissioner basically allowed the president to mischaracterize the decision and attack the integrity of FDA employees. I was horrified,” said Sharfstein, a vice dean at John Hopkins University’s school of public health who was a top FDA official during the Obama administration.“This is a promising therapy that has not been fully established,” he saidThe push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement. He said “this has been in the works for several weeks.”But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.Rigorous studies are under way around the country, comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.“I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients,” Gottlieb told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598218807664.png" alt="President Trump during the Sunday evening news conference -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during the Sunday evening news conference -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump, in news conferences, “has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions” that have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous, Schaffner said. That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and disinfectant. Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin, a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against.But the president is perhaps best known for his early and ardent embrace of the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Earlier this month, Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates.“I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember” ever happening in the past, Schaffner said.“Everybody is just a little bit nervous,” he said.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Sunday the emergency authorization of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients, in a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising,” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.The announcement came after days of White House officials suggesting there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization — it makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment — in a news conference Sunday evening.The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling with the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, noted: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”An emergency use authorization is not the same as full FDA approval.In the authorization letter, FDA officials emphasized convalescent plasma is still under investigation. “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months,” it said.But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager for a piece of good news on the battle of the pandemic, and the timing allowed him to head into the convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and utilized the White House briefing room to make the announcement.Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval, but the accusations of a slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.There’s no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus and, if so, how best to use it.The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement, which comes just before a pivotal week for the president’s reelection chances. Hahn said “this has been in the works for several weeks” and came after a data validation for which the agency had been waiting.But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.Rigorous studies underway around the country are designed to get that proof, by comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.ADVERTISEMENT“I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients,” Gottlieb told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”Hundreds of drugs are currently being developed as possible treatments against the coronavirus infection, taking a range of approaches.Trump, in news conferences, “has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions” that have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous, Schaffner said. That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and disinfectant. Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin, a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against.But the president is perhaps best known for his early and ardent embrace of the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Earlier this month, Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates.“I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember” ever happening in the past, Schaffner said.“Everybody is just a little bit nervous,” he said.----