&nbsp; Riley County has 12 new positive patients, for a cumulative total of 103 since the COVID-19 pandemic began. &nbsp;People who have come into close contact with the patients are being notified directly. There are 38 active cases, 62 people have recovered, and 3 people have died. Riley County has seen an increase in the number of positive tests as well as the percentage of positives this week. “The fight is far from over,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “If we all do our part and take action to make safety a priority in our daily lives, we can avoid going back to increased community-wide restrictions.” Residents are asked to prioritize health and safety by making the choice to stay home as much as possible, stay 6 feet away from others, wear masks when it's difficult to stay 6 feet away, wash hands frequently, and use hand sanitizer. Staying at least 6 feet away from others is the most important step you can take to prevent spread. Almost all of the new positives are younger, under the age of 35. Younger people are not immune to the disease and can have serious cases. Headache and the loss of taste and/or smell, even without other symptoms, can indicate the presence of disease.&nbsp; Contact a doctor or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400 if you think you might be sick. Avoid places, situations, and activities where social distancing is difficult to maintain. “During the disease investigation and contact tracing process, we’ve pinpointed several bars and restaurants connected to the new patients and their close contacts,” said Riley County Health Department (RCHD) Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams. The RCHD is monitoring two businesses in particular. One business has closed voluntarily and the other may be ordered to close. Any business identified as being connected to multiple cases could be ordered to close to protect public safety. More information about these locations will be released as deemed necessary.

&nbsp; Riley County has 12 new positive patients, for a cumulative total of 103 since the COVID-19 pandemic began. &nbsp;People who have come into close contact with the patients are being notified directly. There are 38 active cases, 62 people have recovered, and 3 people have died. Riley County has seen an increase in the number of positive tests as well as the percentage of positives this week. “The fight is far from over,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “If we all do our part and take action to make safety a priority in our daily lives, we can avoid going back to increased community-wide restrictions.” Residents are asked to prioritize health and safety by making the choice to stay home as much as possible, stay 6 feet away from others, wear masks when it's difficult to stay 6 feet away, wash hands frequently, and use hand sanitizer. Staying at least 6 feet away from others is the most important step you can take to prevent spread. Almost all of the new positives are younger, under the age of 35. Younger people are not immune to the disease and can have serious cases. Headache and the loss of taste and/or smell, even without other symptoms, can indicate the presence of disease.&nbsp; Contact a doctor or call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400 if you think you might be sick. Avoid places, situations, and activities where social distancing is difficult to maintain. “During the disease investigation and contact tracing process, we’ve pinpointed several bars and restaurants connected to the new patients and their close contacts,” said Riley County Health Department (RCHD) Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams. The RCHD is monitoring two businesses in particular. One business has closed voluntarily and the other may be ordered to close. Any business identified as being connected to multiple cases could be ordered to close to protect public safety. More information about these locations will be released as deemed necessary.

COVID-19 positive cases continue to surge upward in Riley County

An update on no-fund warrants approved for Geary Community Hospital to a discussion on the&nbsp; SPARK ( Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas ) program are items on the agenda for a joint Junction City - Geary County - USD 475 meeting on Monday. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

The Spark program includes coronavirus relief funding that is being distributed to counties. That money will be allocated and then must be spent by the end of October.

The agenda for Monday's meeting also includes an update on COVID-19.

An update on no-fund warrants approved for Geary Community Hospital to a discussion on the&nbsp; SPARK ( Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas ) program are items on the agenda for a joint Junction City - Geary County - USD 475 meeting on Monday. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.The Spark program includes coronavirus relief funding that is being distributed to counties. That money will be allocated and then must be spent by the end of October.The agenda for Monday's meeting also includes an update on COVID-19.

City - county - school district leaders are scheduled to meet Monday

Effective, Wednesday July 1st, Geary Community Hospital will allow one visitor with each patient.&nbsp;

All patients, vendors, visitors, and staff must wear a face mask at all times while in the hospital. In a news release GCH noted that patients are strongly encouraged to bring their own mask. If ad patient does not have one a mask will be provided to them.

Geary Community Hospital will continue to implement additional restrictions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592581049988.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Effective, Wednesday July 1st, Geary Community Hospital will allow one visitor with each patient.&nbsp;All patients, vendors, visitors, and staff must wear a face mask at all times while in the hospital. In a news release GCH noted that patients are strongly encouraged to bring their own mask. If ad patient does not have one a mask will be provided to them.Geary Community Hospital will continue to implement additional restrictions.<ul>
 <li>Only the Emergency Room &amp; MAB II doors will be available.&nbsp;</li><li>There will be a formal check-in and check-out&nbsp;process&nbsp;for everyone&nbsp;utilizing&nbsp;the Emergency Room &amp; MAB II doors, including the use of visitor badges.&nbsp; If a patient or visitor does not have a badge, they will be escorted out of the buildings immediately.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Loitering, social visits, and public access to the cafeteria will not be allowed during this time.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Every person must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entering the hospital-&nbsp;no exceptions.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>All vendors and contractors must access through the same point of entrance/exit in the Emergency Room, unless other plans have been approved by authorized GCH personnel.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Security personnel will be enhanced during this time in order to protect citizens’ safety and to assist in enforcing these temporary rules.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

GCH announces plans for updated mask requirements and visitor restrictions

Geary County health and emergency management authorities have been informed by the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment of one new positive COVID-19 case, bringing the county's total since the pandemic began to 33. Two cases are active, there was one fatality, and 30 patients have recovered.

The latest person to be diagnosed positive COVID-19 is a 52-year old man who is in isolation at home.

Geary County health and emergency management authorities have been informed by the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment of one new positive COVID-19 case, bringing the county's total since the pandemic began to 33. Two cases are active, there was one fatality, and 30 patients have recovered.The latest person to be diagnosed positive COVID-19 is a 52-year old man who is in isolation at home.

Geary County officials report one new positive COVID-19 case

&nbsp; Victory with Honors ceremony for Col. Phil Brooks and Col. Andrew Gainey is set for 3 p.m. Friday at the 1st Infantry Division headquarters. According to a Fort Riley release the Commanding General of&nbsp; the Division, Major General John Kolasheski will host the ceremony to welcome Col. Andrew Gainey as the incoming Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver, and to recognize and thank Col. Phil Brooks as the outgoing Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only.&nbsp;

The ceremony can be viewed live at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/</a>

&nbsp; Victory with Honors ceremony for Col. Phil Brooks and Col. Andrew Gainey is set for 3 p.m. Friday at the 1st Infantry Division headquarters. According to a Fort Riley release the Commanding General of&nbsp; the Division, Major General John Kolasheski will host the ceremony to welcome Col. Andrew Gainey as the incoming Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver, and to recognize and thank Col. Phil Brooks as the outgoing Deputy Commanding Officer - Maneuver.Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only.&nbsp;

The ceremony can be viewed live at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision/</a>

Victory with Honors ceremony will be held at Fort Riley

WICHITA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday visited and toured Spirit AeroSystems’ new assembly line making ventilators for the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the public health crisis progressed, Spirit shifted their production to making ventilators to ensure hospitals would have the necessary lifesaving equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilators are portable and suitable for long-term care, ambulatory settings, and ICUs. They are providing the ventilators to local units, FEMA’s strategic stockpile, other states, and countries around the world.

“I applaud Spirit’s quick action to pivot their manufacturing capabilities to produce ventilators, the men and women I met today exemplify what it means to be a Kansan – innovative, courageous, and selfless,” said Governor Kelly. “This crisis has produced many challenges for our families, businesses, and communities. The staff at Spirit are working hard in anticipation of a possible second wave, and we appreciate them for helping not just Kansans, but people across the world.”

Vyaire Medical Inc and Spirit AeroSystems are collaborating to build ventilators at this facility in Wichita in response to COVID-19. Vyaire is the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care. This partnership will increase production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients who need it the most.

In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592516459782.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly at Spirit AeroSystems Thursday afternoon-photo courtesy office of Kansas governor" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly at Spirit AeroSystems Thursday afternoon-photo courtesy office of Kansas governor</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday visited and toured Spirit AeroSystems’ new assembly line making ventilators for the COVID-19 pandemic.As the public health crisis progressed, Spirit shifted their production to making ventilators to ensure hospitals would have the necessary lifesaving equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilators are portable and suitable for long-term care, ambulatory settings, and ICUs. They are providing the ventilators to local units, FEMA’s strategic stockpile, other states, and countries around the world.“I applaud Spirit’s quick action to pivot their manufacturing capabilities to produce ventilators, the men and women I met today exemplify what it means to be a Kansan – innovative, courageous, and selfless,” said Governor Kelly. “This crisis has produced many challenges for our families, businesses, and communities. The staff at Spirit are working hard in anticipation of a possible second wave, and we appreciate them for helping not just Kansans, but people across the world.”Vyaire Medical Inc and Spirit AeroSystems are collaborating to build ventilators at this facility in Wichita in response to COVID-19. Vyaire is the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care. This partnership will increase production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients who need it the most.In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles.

Gov. praises Spirit Aero Systems team for COVID-19 ventilator production

For the past week there has been a discrepancy in the number of COVID-19 cases reported by Geary County compared to what the state was showing on their maps. Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said local officials have been working with KDHE to verify numbers.

As of Thursday, Geary County has had a total of 32 cases since the pandemic began. There are two cases that local authorities were not notified of by KDHE that are now included in the local case count.&nbsp;

Of the 32 total cases, there is only one active positive case. One death has been associated with COVID-19. The remaining 30 patients have all recovered.

Officials still encourage the public to continue social distancing and do frequent hand washing. If you have symptoms, contact your local health provider or the health department.

For the past week there has been a discrepancy in the number of COVID-19 cases reported by Geary County compared to what the state was showing on their maps. Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said local officials have been working with KDHE to verify numbers.As of Thursday, Geary County has had a total of 32 cases since the pandemic began. There are two cases that local authorities were not notified of by KDHE that are now included in the local case count.&nbsp;Of the 32 total cases, there is only one active positive case. One death has been associated with COVID-19. The remaining 30 patients have all recovered.Officials still encourage the public to continue social distancing and do frequent hand washing. If you have symptoms, contact your local health provider or the health department.

Geary County officials were not notified of two positive COVID-19 cases

Geary County will receive $6.37 million dollars and Riley County $14.99 million under the first round of Coronavirus Relief fund distribution. State Sen.Tom Hawk provided those numbers during a virtual Town hall meeting with area elected officials and leaders Wednesday night. Clay County will  also receive $1.6 million dollars.

Hawk hosted the session to gain input from the region he represents so recommendations can be made to the State Finance Council on spending $1.25 billion in federal funding which will be distributed in three phases including $400 million in the first round to counties across Kansas for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements. Phase Two will total $525 million for use in areas ranging from revitalization and economic development to infrastructure.

Counties can use the funds in round one for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements.

During the input portion of the Town Hall, Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher said the counties need some guidelines on how to disperse the money and some criteria. "Our fear is that we do not want to be a clearinghouse per se."Ascher also touched on the figures provided by Sen. Hawk. "They're going to be beating our door down for that money and we need to have some kind of guideline of how we're going to process this."

Hawk said the money must be spent by the September - early October time frame or it must be returned to the state.

Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi observed that if Riley County receives $15 million there will have to be work done on  a resolution to allocate some of the money among cities and school districts in the region. She wants to look at some kind of formula to disburse the funds. "And to spend it by October. That's the other deadline we need to meet."

Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo told the Town Hall officials in his county have discussed the issue with Sedgwick and Johnson Counties about how to replicate use of the money. Those counties received their funds directly from the State.&nbsp;

Vargo said Riley County has a proposal for cost recovery and emergency management services from the same group hired by Sedgwick County.&nbsp; Vargo added Riley County has a budget and planning committee that has been working on this issue for the past week. "We're going to recommend to the Board (&nbsp;County Commission ) for that agreement."

Vargo noted the federal regulations are complicated and changing all the time for County staff to interpret. "So what we envision is taking the advice of this company that we're going to hire for their services to recommend how those funds be allocated because we're going to have to be able to survive a single audit by the federal government. "&nbsp;

The federal Coronavirus Relief funds are being funneled through the State to counties.&nbsp;

The Town Hall session dealt primarily with Riley, Geary and Clay Counties because those are counties represented by Sen. Hawk.

By Dewey TerrillJC Post&nbsp;Geary County will receive $6.37 million dollars and Riley County $14.99 million under the first round of Coronavirus Relief fund distribution. State Sen.Tom Hawk provided those numbers during a virtual Town hall meeting with area elected officials and leaders Wednesday night. Clay County will also receive $1.6 million dollars.Hawk hosted the session to gain input from the region he represents so recommendations can be made to the State Finance Council on spending $1.25 billion in federal funding which will be distributed in three phases including $400 million in the first round to counties across Kansas for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements. Phase Two will total $525 million for use in areas ranging from revitalization and economic development to infrastructure.Counties can use the funds in round one for COVID-19 related expenses and improvements.During the input portion of the Town Hall, Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher said the counties need some guidelines on how to disperse the money and some criteria. "Our fear is that we do not want to be a clearinghouse per se."Ascher also touched on the figures provided by Sen. Hawk. "They're going to be beating our door down for that money and we need to have some kind of guideline of how we're going to process this."Hawk said the money must be spent by the September - early October time frame or it must be returned to the state.Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi observed that if Riley County receives $15 million there will have to be work done on a resolution to allocate some of the money among cities and school districts in the region. She wants to look at some kind of formula to disburse the funds. "And to spend it by October. That's the other deadline we need to meet."Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo told the Town Hall officials in his county have discussed the issue with Sedgwick and Johnson Counties about how to replicate use of the money. Those counties received their funds directly from the State.&nbsp;Vargo said Riley County has a proposal for cost recovery and emergency management services from the same group hired by Sedgwick County.&nbsp; Vargo added Riley County has a budget and planning committee that has been working on this issue for the past week. "We're going to recommend to the Board (&nbsp;County Commission ) for that agreement."Vargo noted the federal regulations are complicated and changing all the time for County staff to interpret. "So what we envision is taking the advice of this company that we're going to hire for their services to recommend how those funds be allocated because we're going to have to be able to survive a single audit by the federal government. "&nbsp;The federal Coronavirus Relief funds are being funneled through the State to counties.&nbsp;The Town Hall session dealt primarily with Riley, Geary and Clay Counties because those are counties represented by Sen. Hawk.

Geary and Riley Counties are targeted to receive several million dollars under a Coronavirus Relief Fund distribution

During round two of the recent successful PowerUpJc promotion to support local businesses the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce set a budget of $10,000. PowerUpJC sold gift cards on behalf of local businesses and then provided 100% in matching funds for each sale, doubling the value of each purchase.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The funds were used up in just six minutes. Dawn Stephens, Director of Member Relations, stated that officials were certain that the funds would be gone even sooner for&nbsp; round two than in round one of the promotion when $11,000 were used up in just four hours. In round two it took just six minutes.&nbsp;

Stephens that you read that right, six minutes" She added, "The webstore was so quickly overwhelmed that when we attempted to shut it down just before hitting the $10,000 mark it took another thirty seconds to respond and by the time all was said and done, we had sold over $13,000 worth of gift cards. We were utterly stunned by the speed at which all of this happened. Also thrilled for our community members and especially business owners. "

But now the Chamber needs to raise more funds to help cover the unexpected sales overage.&nbsp; Mickey Dean, President of Operations, said “Our donors have already been so generous, we simply can’t ask them for more. We had to figure it out on our own and this is how the Junction City Community-Wide 50/50 Raffle came to fruition.”

The Chamber will sell raffle tickets from June 17th - July 1st. Ticket costs are $5 each or five tickets for $20. Tickets will be available in the Chamber office, at Business After Hours, and online. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to cover the PowerUpJC sales overage and an exciting chance for someone to win a significant amount of money!” added Jeff Underhill, Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and mayor of Junction City.

• A winner is drawn and receives 50% of the sales

During round two of the recent successful PowerUpJc promotion to support local businesses the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce set a budget of $10,000. PowerUpJC sold gift cards on behalf of local businesses and then provided 100% in matching funds for each sale, doubling the value of each purchase.&nbsp;&nbsp;The funds were used up in just six minutes. Dawn Stephens, Director of Member Relations, stated that officials were certain that the funds would be gone even sooner for&nbsp; round two than in round one of the promotion when $11,000 were used up in just four hours. In round two it took just six minutes.&nbsp;Stephens that you read that right, six minutes" She added, "The webstore was so quickly overwhelmed that when we attempted to shut it down just before hitting the $10,000 mark it took another thirty seconds to respond and by the time all was said and done, we had sold over $13,000 worth of gift cards. We were utterly stunned by the speed at which all of this happened. Also thrilled for our community members and especially business owners. "But now the Chamber needs to raise more funds to help cover the unexpected sales overage.&nbsp; Mickey Dean, President of Operations, said “Our donors have already been so generous, we simply can’t ask them for more. We had to figure it out on our own and this is how the Junction City Community-Wide 50/50 Raffle came to fruition.”The Chamber will sell raffle tickets from June 17th - July 1st. Ticket costs are $5 each or five tickets for $20. Tickets will be available in the Chamber office, at Business After Hours, and online. “This is a great opportunity for us to cover the PowerUpJC sales overage and an exciting chance for someone to win a significant amount of money!” added Jeff Underhill, Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and mayor of Junction City.This is how a 50/50 raffle works:• Raffle tickets are sold• Sales are totaled• A winner is drawn and receives 50% of the sales<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592448590988.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Chamber will conduct a Junction City community-wide 50/50 raffle

MANHATTAN, Kansas&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State Athletics has confirmed that a total of eight student-athletes have tested positive for active COVID-19 following PCR (polymerase chain reaction)&nbsp;testing of approximately 130 student-athletes through June 17. Each student-athlete that tests positive is medically managed according to current local, state, national, and CDC guidelines, which begins with self-isolation for 10 days and until the patient is without fever for 72 hours without medication, whichever takes longer. These guidelines would also include quarantine for any individuals known to have been in contact with someone who tested positive. The department will continue to work closely and communicate with county and university health officials to evaluate the situation and continue best practices. – k-statesports.com –

KENNY LANNOU Executive Associate A.D. for Communications and Public Relations | K-State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kansas&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State Athletics has confirmed that a total of eight student-athletes have tested positive for active COVID-19 following PCR (polymerase chain reaction)&nbsp;testing of approximately 130 student-athletes through June 17. Each student-athlete that tests positive is medically managed according to current local, state, national, and CDC guidelines, which begins with self-isolation for 10 days and until the patient is without fever for 72 hours without medication, whichever takes longer. These guidelines would also include quarantine for any individuals known to have been in contact with someone who tested positive. The department will continue to work closely and communicate with county and university health officials to evaluate the situation and continue best practices. – k-statesports.com –KENNY LANNOU Executive Associate A.D. for Communications and Public Relations | K-State Athletics

K-State Athletics confirms eight total active positives for COVID-19 as of June 17

&nbsp; &nbsp;The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) has received notice of 11 new positive COVID-19 patients since Monday’s report. The total for the county is now 91, with 26 active cases. None of the new positives are associated with a recent outbreak at the Leonardville Nursing Home. All residents and staff at Leonardville Nursing Home were re-tested this week as per infection control protocols. The test results have been received and there have been no additional positive patients since the five positives were identified last week. “The Leonardville Nursing Home outbreak has been contained, and that is something to celebrate,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The facility deployed a rapid and aggressive response and they were successful. This type of targeted strategy to control the spread of the virus will prevent the need for community-wide restrictions.” Information shared about a possible outbreak at Kansas State University was incorrect. There is no outbreak at that facility. An outbreak identifies a location where 5 or more patients likely contracted the virus. RCHD is working closely with Lafene Health Center and K-State Athletics to maintain the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 2 positive patients who are Riley County residents, one of whom is on a ventilator. One Person Under Investigation is also currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results. “Some increase of positive patients can expected as the community continues the reopening process,” said Gibbs. “We will continue to monitor the data closely, taking a comprehensive look at the totality of circumstances before taking action that will impact the entire Riley County area.”&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp;The Riley County Health Department (RCHD) has received notice of 11 new positive COVID-19 patients since Monday’s report. The total for the county is now 91, with 26 active cases. None of the new positives are associated with a recent outbreak at the Leonardville Nursing Home. All residents and staff at Leonardville Nursing Home were re-tested this week as per infection control protocols. The test results have been received and there have been no additional positive patients since the five positives were identified last week. “The Leonardville Nursing Home outbreak has been contained, and that is something to celebrate,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The facility deployed a rapid and aggressive response and they were successful. This type of targeted strategy to control the spread of the virus will prevent the need for community-wide restrictions.” Information shared about a possible outbreak at Kansas State University was incorrect. There is no outbreak at that facility. An outbreak identifies a location where 5 or more patients likely contracted the virus. RCHD is working closely with Lafene Health Center and K-State Athletics to maintain the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has 2 positive patients who are Riley County residents, one of whom is on a ventilator. One Person Under Investigation is also currently hospitalized. A PUI is a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results. “Some increase of positive patients can expected as the community continues the reopening process,” said Gibbs. “We will continue to monitor the data closely, taking a comprehensive look at the totality of circumstances before taking action that will impact the entire Riley County area.”&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

 Eleven new positive COVID-19 cases are being confirmed in Riley County

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 262 to a total of 11,681, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 262 to a total of 11,681, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 247<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592413557201.png" alt="Wednesday June 17, 2020 KDHE Image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday June 17, 2020 KDHE Image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

reparations are under way for a brick and mortar start to the next school year. That information was provided by USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston during a social media briefing Wednesday.

"Eggleston encouraged students to enroll. "I know that there are some concerns,&nbsp; pandemic and all, but we will plan to have brick and mortar school for the fall. If there are some particulars or some circumstances surrounding health or just concerns we ask that you would please share with the principal of the school. We will be making plans to support students who may have some needs that need to be addressed, or should be addressed so work with us and please be patient with us on that."

Eggleston said officials have been monitoring enrollment and there seems to be great progress as the district prepares for the upcoming school year.&nbsp;

The Superintendent noted that when the school year begins the district will take all the precautionary measured that necessary, based on recommendations from the Geary County Health Department.

Eggleston said there will be a committee formed to talk about the start of the school year, with expertise from across the city.

By Dewey TerrillJC Postreparations are under way for a brick and mortar start to the next school year. That information was provided by USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston during a social media briefing Wednesday."Eggleston encouraged students to enroll. "I know that there are some concerns,&nbsp; pandemic and all, but we will plan to have brick and mortar school for the fall. If there are some particulars or some circumstances surrounding health or just concerns we ask that you would please share with the principal of the school. We will be making plans to support students who may have some needs that need to be addressed, or should be addressed so work with us and please be patient with us on that."Eggleston said officials have been monitoring enrollment and there seems to be great progress as the district prepares for the upcoming school year.&nbsp;The Superintendent noted that when the school year begins the district will take all the precautionary measured that necessary, based on recommendations from the Geary County Health Department.Eggleston said there will be a committee formed to talk about the start of the school year, with expertise from across the city.

USD 475 preparing for the 2020-2021 school year.

Manhattan, Kan. – The Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) will reopen on Tuesday, June 23.

Prior to the public opening, the FHDC will host two Member Exclusive Days to say thank you to members who have supported the Discovery Center during this time and over the years.&nbsp; &nbsp;The doors will be opened exclusively for FHDC Members on Saturday, June 20, from 10 AM - 3 PM&nbsp; and on Sunday, June 21.&nbsp; from 12 PM - 5 PM.&nbsp; The facility will be opened to the public on Tuesday, June 23.

The FHDC will be operating under limited hours until further notice to allow for additional cleaning and safety measures during this time. Hours of operation will be as follows: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. The FHDC will be closed to the public on Mondays for routine maintenance and additional cleaning.

“Our team is excited about welcoming guests in to the Discovery Center and have developed intense safety plans and are prepared for a safe return,” said Susan Adams, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “Our cleaning protocols have been heightened to keep all safe who visit. We have missed everyone and look forward to seeing guests very soon.”

The first floor permanent exhibits displaying the history and culture of the Flint Hills will remain open. The Horizon Ranch Immersive Theater will remain open with a limited capacity of 30 guests per showing. The second floor exhibit areas will be limited to 50 guests in the children’s Prairie Playscape and our traveling exhibit, American Adventure exhibit. The outdoor Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail will remain open.

Guests can expect to find extra safety precautions throughout the FHDC to ensure guest safety and comfort. Signs are located throughout to remind guests to practice social distancing and direct guests to hand sanitizing stations located on each floor. All high-contact touch points located throughout the facility will be disinfected multiple times a day. Toys in the Prairie Playscape will be limited. At the end of each day, used toys will be replaced with clean toys to be used the next day. Used toys will then be sanitized and placed in a secure area for 24 hours to disinfect. Currently the Underground Burrow and slide will be closed. The building will be open at 50% capacity.

FHDC staff and volunteers are required to maintain safe behavioral practices including social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitizing and it is highly recommended for staff and guests to wear face masks. The FHDC also encourages staff, volunteers and guests to stay at home if they are not feeling well.

FHDC Members who have current memberships or memberships that expired during the time of the closure will have the option to donate or extend their memberships for the time the FHDC was closed. Members will need to reach out by phone, in-person or visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/reopen to learn more about the options available.

“We want to make membership renewal fair and equitable,” said Kendra Kuhlman, Assistant Director/Development Officer of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “We can’t wait to welcome our members back to the Discovery Center safely. We are incredibly thankful for the continued community support we’ve received.”

In addition to reopening the facility this summer, the FHDC will be offering in-person Adventure Camps for children entering grades 1-6. Registration for Adventure Camp will open Thursday, June 18 at 8:00 AM. For dates, times, weekly themes and registration information visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/camp.

Manhattan, Kan. – The Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) will reopen on Tuesday, June 23.Prior to the public opening, the FHDC will host two Member Exclusive Days to say thank you to members who have supported the Discovery Center during this time and over the years.&nbsp; &nbsp;The doors will be opened exclusively for FHDC Members on Saturday, June 20, from 10 AM - 3 PM&nbsp; and on Sunday, June 21.&nbsp; from 12 PM - 5 PM.&nbsp; The facility will be opened to the public on Tuesday, June 23.The FHDC will be operating under limited hours until further notice to allow for additional cleaning and safety measures during this time. Hours of operation will be as follows: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. The FHDC will be closed to the public on Mondays for routine maintenance and additional cleaning.“Our team is excited about welcoming guests in to the Discovery Center and have developed intense safety plans and are prepared for a safe return,” said Susan Adams, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “Our cleaning protocols have been heightened to keep all safe who visit. We have missed everyone and look forward to seeing guests very soon.”The first floor permanent exhibits displaying the history and culture of the Flint Hills will remain open. The Horizon Ranch Immersive Theater will remain open with a limited capacity of 30 guests per showing. The second floor exhibit areas will be limited to 50 guests in the children’s Prairie Playscape and our traveling exhibit, American Adventure exhibit. The outdoor Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail will remain open.Guests can expect to find extra safety precautions throughout the FHDC to ensure guest safety and comfort. Signs are located throughout to remind guests to practice social distancing and direct guests to hand sanitizing stations located on each floor. All high-contact touch points located throughout the facility will be disinfected multiple times a day. Toys in the Prairie Playscape will be limited. At the end of each day, used toys will be replaced with clean toys to be used the next day. Used toys will then be sanitized and placed in a secure area for 24 hours to disinfect. Currently the Underground Burrow and slide will be closed. The building will be open at 50% capacity.FHDC staff and volunteers are required to maintain safe behavioral practices including social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitizing and it is highly recommended for staff and guests to wear face masks. The FHDC also encourages staff, volunteers and guests to stay at home if they are not feeling well.FHDC Members who have current memberships or memberships that expired during the time of the closure will have the option to donate or extend their memberships for the time the FHDC was closed. Members will need to reach out by phone, in-person or visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/reopen to learn more about the options available.“We want to make membership renewal fair and equitable,” said Kendra Kuhlman, Assistant Director/Development Officer of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “We can’t wait to welcome our members back to the Discovery Center safely. We are incredibly thankful for the continued community support we’ve received.”In addition to reopening the facility this summer, the FHDC will be offering in-person Adventure Camps for children entering grades 1-6. Registration for Adventure Camp will open Thursday, June 18 at 8:00 AM. For dates, times, weekly themes and registration information visit flinthillsdiscovery.org/camp.

Flint Hills Discovery Center to reopen to the public

K-State has announced a revised plan to observe spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates in combined ceremonies on Nov. 20 for the Polytechnic campus and Nov. 23 and 24 for the Manhattan campus. The commencement ceremonies had initially been set for Dec. 11 and 12 but are now being moved up.

The earlier dates follow the university's efforts to reduce COVID-19 risk for students, their families and their communities by reducing the need for students to travel.

The working group that traditionally plans university commencement ceremonies will collaborate with students, college representatives, medical professionals and other stakeholders to plan ceremonies that honor the graduates and attend to the health and safety of the graduates and guests.

K-State has announced a revised plan to observe spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates in combined ceremonies on Nov. 20 for the Polytechnic campus and Nov. 23 and 24 for the Manhattan campus. The commencement ceremonies had initially been set for Dec. 11 and 12 but are now being moved up.The earlier dates follow the university's efforts to reduce COVID-19 risk for students, their families and their communities by reducing the need for students to travel.The working group that traditionally plans university commencement ceremonies will collaborate with students, college representatives, medical professionals and other stakeholders to plan ceremonies that honor the graduates and attend to the health and safety of the graduates and guests.

K-State schedules earlier commencement ceremonies

Kansas State University will implement additional emergency furloughs for eight employees in Information Technology Services beginning June 28. University Communications and Marketing said the action is estimated to save more than $100,000.

Since May, the university has furloughed 430 employees due to COVID-19 impacts to university operations saving nearly $2.75 million.

K-State's Division of Human Capital Services is working with the affected employees on options for federal and state benefits. Information concerning K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/">emergency and administrative furlough policies</a>&nbsp;can be found at the Human Capital Services website. Furloughed employees may qualify for state unemployment benefits.

Kansas State University will implement additional emergency furloughs for eight employees in Information Technology Services beginning June 28. University Communications and Marketing said the action is estimated to save more than $100,000.Since May, the university has furloughed 430 employees due to COVID-19 impacts to university operations saving nearly $2.75 million.K-State's Division of Human Capital Services is working with the affected employees on options for federal and state benefits. Information concerning K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/">emergency and administrative furlough policies</a>&nbsp;can be found at the Human Capital Services website. Furloughed employees may qualify for state unemployment benefits.

K-State furloughs eight more employees

There were not any additional positive COVID-19 cases reported in Geary County on Monday. Health Officer Tammy Von Busch confirmed there were no new cases since last week. The overall total since the pandemic began remains at 29.

Von Busch said officials were happy about not having any new cases. "So I appreciate everything that people are doing to help protect themselves and protect the community."

Von Busch urged the public to continue to practice all of the precautions ranging from wearing of face masks when they travel to practicing social distancing. "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands."

By Dewey TerrillJC PostThere were not any additional positive COVID-19 cases reported in Geary County on Monday. Health Officer Tammy Von Busch confirmed there were no new cases since last week. The overall total since the pandemic began remains at 29.Von Busch said officials were happy about not having any new cases. "So I appreciate everything that people are doing to help protect themselves and protect the community."Von Busch urged the public to continue to practice all of the precautions ranging from wearing of face masks when they travel to practicing social distancing. "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands."

Geary County remains steady with the positive COVID-19 caseload

Hundreds of K-Staters have supported the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund since it was established in March to address emerging needs of K-State students, faculty and staff as a result of COVID-19. In early May university leaders faced the decision to start implementing targeted emergency furloughs and now more than 400 employees are affected.&nbsp;

A few generous donors made significant gifts to the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund specifically to assist KSU employees affected by university furloughs. Those funds are dedicated to providing relief grants to furloughed K-State staff.

Employees experiencing financial hardships because of COVID-19 furloughs may apply for grant funds - up to $700 - online at ksufoundation.org/emergencyfund/ or in the KSU Foundation's lobby, 1800 Kimball Ave. Priority will be given to those demonstrating need and awards will be reviewed each business day in the order of application with notification of status within three to four business days. Eligible employees may choose to pick up a check at the foundation or have it mailed.

Emergency grants and loans are also available to students experiencing financial hardships, which can be accessed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The KSU Foundation is accepting donations to many of these emergency resources.

Hundreds of K-Staters have supported the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund since it was established in March to address emerging needs of K-State students, faculty and staff as a result of COVID-19. In early May university leaders faced the decision to start implementing targeted emergency furloughs and now more than 400 employees are affected.&nbsp;A few generous donors made significant gifts to the #KStateStrong Emergency Response Fund specifically to assist KSU employees affected by university furloughs. Those funds are dedicated to providing relief grants to furloughed K-State staff.Employees experiencing financial hardships because of COVID-19 furloughs may apply for grant funds - up to $700 - online at ksufoundation.org/emergencyfund/ or in the KSU Foundation's lobby, 1800 Kimball Ave. Priority will be given to those demonstrating need and awards will be reviewed each business day in the order of application with notification of status within three to four business days. Eligible employees may choose to pick up a check at the foundation or have it mailed.Emergency grants and loans are also available to students experiencing financial hardships, which can be accessed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The KSU Foundation is accepting donations to many of these emergency resources.

Emergency funds are available for furloughed K-State employees through the KSU Foundation

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp; discussed  current trends in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas counties during her press briefing on Monday.

Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment also joined the presentation and answered questions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592257031644.png" alt="The map used during Monday's press briefing -courtesy office of Kansas Governor" />
 <figcaption>The map used during Monday's press briefing -courtesy office of Kansas Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp; discussed  current trends in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas counties during her press briefing on Monday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F695916957913310%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment also joined the presentation and answered questions.

🎥  Governor on  COVID-19 trends in Kansas counties

The Geary County Senior reopens today ( Monday ). Hot meals will be served at the facility on South Spring Valley road Monday through Friday. Home-delivered meals will be provided to those who are home bound.

The Center was closed temporarily in March due to COVID-19. Exercise activities also recently began at the facility.

The Geary County Senior reopens today ( Monday ). Hot meals will be served at the facility on South Spring Valley road Monday through Friday. Home-delivered meals will be provided to those who are home bound.The Center was closed temporarily in March due to COVID-19. Exercise activities also recently began at the facility.

Geary County Senior Center is reopening

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Jeremy Rooks works the evening shift at a fast-food restaurant these days to avoid being on the street past dusk. He needs somewhere to go at night: He and his wife are homeless after the extended-stay motel where they had lived since Thanksgiving evicted them in April when they couldn’t pay their rent.

They should have been protected because the Georgia Supreme Court has effectively halted evictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Rooks said the owner still sent a man posing as a sheriff’s deputy, armed with a gun, to throw the couple out a few days after rent was due.

The pandemic has shut housing courts and prompted most states and federal authorities to initiate policies protecting renters from eviction. But not everyone is covered and a number of landlords -- some desperate to pay their mortgages themselves -- are turning to threats and harassment to force tenants out.

“Every day, they tried to basically get us out of there. It was basically like a game to them,” said Rooks, who wasn’t able to make his rent at the Marietta, Georgia, motel after his employer paid him late and his wife was laid off in the pandemic. “One of us had to stay in a room at all times because they wouldn’t redo the keys for us.”

The evictions threaten to exacerbate a problem that has plagued people&nbsp; like Rooks long before the pandemic, when landlords across the U.S. were filing about 300,000 eviction requests every month.

In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly says she is considering using part of Kansas’ share of federal coronavirus relief funds to help people struggling to pay their rent or mortgage because of economic problems tied to the pandemic. 

On May 26, Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions or lenders from starting to foreclose on home mortgages. She said she had to lift the order because keeping it in place would have stressed lenders and businesses that rent homes and apartments. But she said creating a new relief program would be a top priority.

Data and analytics real estate firm Amherst projects that 28 million renters, or about 22.5% of all households, are at risk of eviction. Tenant advocates expect that number to increase significantly unless protections are put in place, and project that many of those affected will be African Americans and households led by women, both of which historically are more likely to be evicted.

In a sign of what could happen nationally, Virginia has seen a crush of proceedings since eviction hearings resumed May 18. About 700 cases already have been heard statewide, according to Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. On top of that, 2,200 cases are on the docket for the end of June and early July in Richmond, which has one of the country’s highest eviction rates.

Rachel Garland, an attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said her group has experienced a spike in calls from tenants who lost their jobs due to the lockdown and fear being evicted. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest eviction rate in the country.

“Even if they can’t be evicted right now, if the courts are closed, the landlords are sending threatening emails, text messages, asking for rent, threatening to lock tenants out,” Garland said.

Alieza Durana of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab said affected tenants face high rates of depression and suicide from the stress, along with mounting debt and homelessness. Additionally, court judgments and debt collection actions against renters are reported to credit bureaus, affecting their ability to access housing for years.

Jose Ortiz, deputy director of Essex/Newark Legal Services, which includes New Jersey’s largest city, said he’s heard complaints from tenants who have been asked to exchange sex for rent and instances where landlords have threatened to alert immigration authorities about tenants living in the country without legal permission if they don’t pay their rent.

“They are not working. They don’t have the income to pay their bills and they are afraid about what will happen once the eviction ban is lifted,” Ortiz said. “Are they going to be displaced? Is there going to be a mad rush to the courthouse to get these tenants evicted?”

Tenants also are complaining about landlords locking them out and shutting off utilities.

Unable to pay her April rent in full on her townhouse in Millersville, Maryland, Dawn McBride said she began getting texts from her landlord suggesting she find work at Walmart or Costco. She said the landlord then tried to get her to sign a rent-deferral agreement, but wouldn’t let her fully read it. She ultimately was handed a 30-day notice to vacate because her lease was month-to-month, a strategy landlords increasingly are using.

“Honestly, it stresses me out a lot because it’s me and my children,” said McBride, who lost her pet-sitting job. “And, you know, I’m just like, `Where are we going to go?’”

Some tenants facing eviction have turned the table on landlords and are organizing rent strikes. From New York to Chicago to San Francisco, tenants are banding together and demanding landlords negotiate with an eye toward forgiving their rent entirely until the pandemic ends.

Many like Diana Hou, who lost her job with a political campaign and has helped organized a rent strike in her Brooklyn building with her half-dozen roommates. are pushing for legislation at the state and federal level to provide rent and mortgage relief.

“Many of us are worried about our prospects of securing housing without income and with a looming debt of unpaid rent. For the majority of the house, not being able to secure housing would mean homelessness in the middle of a pandemic,” Hou said.

Jay Martin, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents 4,000 building owners in New York, said he doesn't condone rent strikes but sympathizes with tenants' plight.

“Renters need a bailout,” Martin said, adding that landlords are supporting federal proposals that would cover back rent and future payments. Without those measures, he predicted a drop in property and real estate taxes that would sap state and city budgets.

The federal government’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package includes eviction moratoriums for most people living in federally subsidized apartments, as well as homes covered by federally backed mortgages. A second $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by the U.S. House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages, but has almost no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.

State and local lawmakers across the country also are stepping in with assistance and proposals aimed at averting a wave of evictions.

New Jersey lawmakers passed a $100 million rent relief bill, while in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation directing $175 million of the federal coronavirus rescue package to rent and mortgage relief. Boston is providing $8 million for rental assistance, Baltimore has designated $13 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to start a rental assistance program, and Philadelphia provided $10 million to help about 13,000 people with their rent.

Other proposals would offer long-term payment plans for those unable to afford rent and programs like mediation before cases head to housing court.

“We have to do something,” said Philadelphia Council member Helen Gym, whose bill would prevent evictions until two months after the state’s emergency order was lifted.

“We can’t go back to business as usual in a city that evicts 18,000 people a year,” she said. “That is just not sustainable.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590531890706.png" alt="In Kansas, Governor Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions." />
 <figcaption>In Kansas, Governor Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Jeremy Rooks works the evening shift at a fast-food restaurant these days to avoid being on the street past dusk. He needs somewhere to go at night: He and his wife are homeless after the extended-stay motel where they had lived since Thanksgiving evicted them in April when they couldn’t pay their rent.They should have been protected because the Georgia Supreme Court has effectively halted evictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Rooks said the owner still sent a man posing as a sheriff’s deputy, armed with a gun, to throw the couple out a few days after rent was due.The pandemic has shut housing courts and prompted most states and federal authorities to initiate policies protecting renters from eviction. But not everyone is covered and a number of landlords -- some desperate to pay their mortgages themselves -- are turning to threats and harassment to force tenants out.“Every day, they tried to basically get us out of there. It was basically like a game to them,” said Rooks, who wasn’t able to make his rent at the Marietta, Georgia, motel after his employer paid him late and his wife was laid off in the pandemic. “One of us had to stay in a room at all times because they wouldn’t redo the keys for us.”The evictions threaten to exacerbate a problem that has plagued people&nbsp; like Rooks long before the pandemic, when landlords across the U.S. were filing about 300,000 eviction requests every month.In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly says she is considering using part of Kansas’ share of federal coronavirus relief funds to help people struggling to pay their rent or mortgage because of economic problems tied to the pandemic. On May 26, Kelly canceled an executive order that had banned landlords from pursuing new evictions or lenders from starting to foreclose on home mortgages. She said she had to lift the order because keeping it in place would have stressed lenders and businesses that rent homes and apartments. But she said creating a new relief program would be a top priority.Data and analytics real estate firm Amherst projects that 28 million renters, or about 22.5% of all households, are at risk of eviction. Tenant advocates expect that number to increase significantly unless protections are put in place, and project that many of those affected will be African Americans and households led by women, both of which historically are more likely to be evicted.In a sign of what could happen nationally, Virginia has seen a crush of proceedings since eviction hearings resumed May 18. About 700 cases already have been heard statewide, according to Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. On top of that, 2,200 cases are on the docket for the end of June and early July in Richmond, which has one of the country’s highest eviction rates.Rachel Garland, an attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said her group has experienced a spike in calls from tenants who lost their jobs due to the lockdown and fear being evicted. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest eviction rate in the country.“Even if they can’t be evicted right now, if the courts are closed, the landlords are sending threatening emails, text messages, asking for rent, threatening to lock tenants out,” Garland said.Alieza Durana of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab said affected tenants face high rates of depression and suicide from the stress, along with mounting debt and homelessness. Additionally, court judgments and debt collection actions against renters are reported to credit bureaus, affecting their ability to access housing for years.Jose Ortiz, deputy director of Essex/Newark Legal Services, which includes New Jersey’s largest city, said he’s heard complaints from tenants who have been asked to exchange sex for rent and instances where landlords have threatened to alert immigration authorities about tenants living in the country without legal permission if they don’t pay their rent.“They are not working. They don’t have the income to pay their bills and they are afraid about what will happen once the eviction ban is lifted,” Ortiz said. “Are they going to be displaced? Is there going to be a mad rush to the courthouse to get these tenants evicted?”Tenants also are complaining about landlords locking them out and shutting off utilities.Unable to pay her April rent in full on her townhouse in Millersville, Maryland, Dawn McBride said she began getting texts from her landlord suggesting she find work at Walmart or Costco. She said the landlord then tried to get her to sign a rent-deferral agreement, but wouldn’t let her fully read it. She ultimately was handed a 30-day notice to vacate because her lease was month-to-month, a strategy landlords increasingly are using.“Honestly, it stresses me out a lot because it’s me and my children,” said McBride, who lost her pet-sitting job. “And, you know, I’m just like, `Where are we going to go?’”Some tenants facing eviction have turned the table on landlords and are organizing rent strikes. From New York to Chicago to San Francisco, tenants are banding together and demanding landlords negotiate with an eye toward forgiving their rent entirely until the pandemic ends.Many like Diana Hou, who lost her job with a political campaign and has helped organized a rent strike in her Brooklyn building with her half-dozen roommates. are pushing for legislation at the state and federal level to provide rent and mortgage relief.“Many of us are worried about our prospects of securing housing without income and with a looming debt of unpaid rent. For the majority of the house, not being able to secure housing would mean homelessness in the middle of a pandemic,” Hou said.Jay Martin, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents 4,000 building owners in New York, said he doesn't condone rent strikes but sympathizes with tenants' plight.“Renters need a bailout,” Martin said, adding that landlords are supporting federal proposals that would cover back rent and future payments. Without those measures, he predicted a drop in property and real estate taxes that would sap state and city budgets.The federal government’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package includes eviction moratoriums for most people living in federally subsidized apartments, as well as homes covered by federally backed mortgages. A second $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by the U.S. House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages, but has almost no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.State and local lawmakers across the country also are stepping in with assistance and proposals aimed at averting a wave of evictions.New Jersey lawmakers passed a $100 million rent relief bill, while in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation directing $175 million of the federal coronavirus rescue package to rent and mortgage relief. Boston is providing $8 million for rental assistance, Baltimore has designated $13 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to start a rental assistance program, and Philadelphia provided $10 million to help about 13,000 people with their rent.Other proposals would offer long-term payment plans for those unable to afford rent and programs like mediation before cases head to housing court.“We have to do something,” said Philadelphia Council member Helen Gym, whose bill would prevent evictions until two months after the state’s emergency order was lifted.“We can’t go back to business as usual in a city that evicts 18,000 people a year,” she said. “That is just not sustainable.”

Tenants behind on rent in pandemic face harassment, eviction

WASHINGTON (AP -RNS )— Each Sunday, Larry Little and his wife, Mary, get ready for church. They dress casually, fill two tumblers with water, climb into their golf cart and drive two miles to The Grove, a grassy field next to their church.

There they find a parking place, turn off the engine and settle in for a live service in front of a Jumbotron and a stage.

The Littles, who live in a retirement community called The Villages, about an hour’s drive northwest of Orlando, Florida, are among the lucky few.

Since mid-March, when state shutdowns forced churches, synagogues and mosques to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have had to mostly rely on online worship services.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.liveoakschurch.org/" target="_blank">Live Oaks Community Church</a>&nbsp;has been able to offer continuous outdoor services — one on Saturday and two on Sunday — with dozens, sometimes hundreds, arriving via their golf carts.

“The only negative is that you don’t have much interaction with the rest of the congregation,” said Larry Little, 77. “Our golf carts are 6 feet apart and they don’t want us outside the golf cart.”

For many, if not most, older congregants living in colder climates or with no access to outdoor services, such options are a luxury.

Unable to find spiritual sustenance or the comforts of community, many are isolated and lonely. They may struggle with using the technology required for viewing online services or connecting virtually with family, friends and community members.

“It’s becoming more of a challenge to figure out how we minister to, and with, these older adults,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Missy Buchanan</a>, a writer and speaker from Rockwall, Texas, with a focus on older adults.

Some congregations are making phone calls and writing letters to older members. Others have bought them tablets and are teaching the least technologically savvy how to connect to online platforms.

Now, as states begin loosening lockdown restrictions and churches contemplate how to reopen safely, clergy and other religious leaders face difficult decisions when it comes to their senior members.

For older people, there’s a cruel reality to those reopenings.

Mounting evidence suggests houses of worship are probably among the riskiest places for older people. Transmission is much more likely indoors where lots of people come into close contact and where droplets with viral particles might linger in the air for as long as eight minutes. Multiple coronavirus cases across the country have been linked to people attending church and synagogue services or events.

Older Americans are also among the most likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19. Eight out of 10 coronavirus deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 years and older, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control.</a>

Many older people like the Littles may not see the insides of a church or synagogue for a very long time.

“When churches regather, older people may be the last to go back,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://amyhanson.org/" target="_blank">Amy Hanson</a>, an instructor in the gerontology department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has a consulting ministry to help churches engage older adults. “Some will want to return. But it will be hard for those who do go back. There’ll be no handshaking and hugging — things older adults are missing. They won’t feel all they’re hoping to feel.”

Older American were nearly twice as likely as younger Americans to attend church, synagogue and mosque before the shutdowns. A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;survey found that 61% of those born before 1945 (the so-called Silent Generation) attended religious services monthly or more, compared with 35% of millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).

In this in-between time, congregations should assess their older adult members, charting whether they live alone or have family nearby. Do they have hearing or vision impairments? Do they have access to chaplains at assisted living or nursing homes?

They would also do well to recognize that older Americans are not monolithic in their needs, said Buchanan, who writes devotionals for older adults. Buchanan has identified four basic groups of older adults: the “go-go’s,” those who are still very active and independent; the “slow-go’s,” those who may have some physical limitations; the “no-go’s,” those who are homebound; and the “not-gonna-make-me-go,” young Boomers who don’t attend religious services on a regular basis.

Many congregational ministries, Buchanan said, focus on only one or two of those groups.

Large churches, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johnsonferry.org/default.aspx?page=4378" target="_blank">Johnson Ferry Baptist Church</a>&nbsp;in Marietta, Georgia, can do a lot more. In the days after the shutdown, the 7,000-member church prepared meals for many isolated church members and made daily phone calls to those living alone.

Now the emphasis has shifted to finding ways to engage older adults and allow them to contribute to the life of the church.

“They’re not here to take up space,” said Peggy Fulghum, minister to older adults at Johnson Ferry. “We want to keep them serving. I try to create ministries for them to be active and serve and give back to the community.”

For example, after noticing that in-person high school graduations were canceled, Fulghum asked older members to write congratulatory cards to high school seniors, encouraging them on their journey to adulthood and sharing a bit of their wisdom.

The cards were mailed to the church and the church staff is now sending them to families with high school seniors.

The church has also started a Tuesday morning Zoom call for older members where they can greet each other, sing a song and pray as a group. They hope it encourages groups of older adults to start their own Zoom gatherings. And the church is retooling its “GrandCamp” ministry to allow grandparents and children to interact through online projects.

Live Oaks Community Church in Florida has recently announced it will resume indoor worship for up to 100 people with social distancing.

The Littles, however, have decided to continue worshipping outdoors — at least for the time being.

“We think the golf cart experience is unique and we enjoy it,” Larry Little said. “It’s completely open and there’s always a little breeze. You don’t feel that sense of isolation. Isolation is worse than the virus for old folks.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584278183206.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By YONAT SHIMRONWASHINGTON (AP -RNS )— Each Sunday, Larry Little and his wife, Mary, get ready for church. They dress casually, fill two tumblers with water, climb into their golf cart and drive two miles to The Grove, a grassy field next to their church.There they find a parking place, turn off the engine and settle in for a live service in front of a Jumbotron and a stage.The Littles, who live in a retirement community called The Villages, about an hour’s drive northwest of Orlando, Florida, are among the lucky few.Since mid-March, when state shutdowns forced churches, synagogues and mosques to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have had to mostly rely on online worship services.But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.liveoakschurch.org/" target="_blank">Live Oaks Community Church</a>&nbsp;has been able to offer continuous outdoor services — one on Saturday and two on Sunday — with dozens, sometimes hundreds, arriving via their golf carts.“The only negative is that you don’t have much interaction with the rest of the congregation,” said Larry Little, 77. “Our golf carts are 6 feet apart and they don’t want us outside the golf cart.”For many, if not most, older congregants living in colder climates or with no access to outdoor services, such options are a luxury.Unable to find spiritual sustenance or the comforts of community, many are isolated and lonely. They may struggle with using the technology required for viewing online services or connecting virtually with family, friends and community members.“It’s becoming more of a challenge to figure out how we minister to, and with, these older adults,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Missy Buchanan</a>, a writer and speaker from Rockwall, Texas, with a focus on older adults.Some congregations are making phone calls and writing letters to older members. Others have bought them tablets and are teaching the least technologically savvy how to connect to online platforms.Now, as states begin loosening lockdown restrictions and churches contemplate how to reopen safely, clergy and other religious leaders face difficult decisions when it comes to their senior members.For older people, there’s a cruel reality to those reopenings.Mounting evidence suggests houses of worship are probably among the riskiest places for older people. Transmission is much more likely indoors where lots of people come into close contact and where droplets with viral particles might linger in the air for as long as eight minutes. Multiple coronavirus cases across the country have been linked to people attending church and synagogue services or events.Older Americans are also among the most likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19. Eight out of 10 coronavirus deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 years and older, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missybuchanan.com/about/" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control.</a>Many older people like the Littles may not see the insides of a church or synagogue for a very long time.“When churches regather, older people may be the last to go back,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://amyhanson.org/" target="_blank">Amy Hanson</a>, an instructor in the gerontology department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has a consulting ministry to help churches engage older adults. “Some will want to return. But it will be hard for those who do go back. There’ll be no handshaking and hugging — things older adults are missing. They won’t feel all they’re hoping to feel.”Older American were nearly twice as likely as younger Americans to attend church, synagogue and mosque before the shutdowns. A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;survey found that 61% of those born before 1945 (the so-called Silent Generation) attended religious services monthly or more, compared with 35% of millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).In this in-between time, congregations should assess their older adult members, charting whether they live alone or have family nearby. Do they have hearing or vision impairments? Do they have access to chaplains at assisted living or nursing homes?They would also do well to recognize that older Americans are not monolithic in their needs, said Buchanan, who writes devotionals for older adults. Buchanan has identified four basic groups of older adults: the “go-go’s,” those who are still very active and independent; the “slow-go’s,” those who may have some physical limitations; the “no-go’s,” those who are homebound; and the “not-gonna-make-me-go,” young Boomers who don’t attend religious services on a regular basis.Many congregational ministries, Buchanan said, focus on only one or two of those groups.Large churches, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johnsonferry.org/default.aspx?page=4378" target="_blank">Johnson Ferry Baptist Church</a>&nbsp;in Marietta, Georgia, can do a lot more. In the days after the shutdown, the 7,000-member church prepared meals for many isolated church members and made daily phone calls to those living alone.Now the emphasis has shifted to finding ways to engage older adults and allow them to contribute to the life of the church.“They’re not here to take up space,” said Peggy Fulghum, minister to older adults at Johnson Ferry. “We want to keep them serving. I try to create ministries for them to be active and serve and give back to the community.”For example, after noticing that in-person high school graduations were canceled, Fulghum asked older members to write congratulatory cards to high school seniors, encouraging them on their journey to adulthood and sharing a bit of their wisdom.The cards were mailed to the church and the church staff is now sending them to families with high school seniors.The church has also started a Tuesday morning Zoom call for older members where they can greet each other, sing a song and pray as a group. They hope it encourages groups of older adults to start their own Zoom gatherings. And the church is retooling its “GrandCamp” ministry to allow grandparents and children to interact through online projects.Live Oaks Community Church in Florida has recently announced it will resume indoor worship for up to 100 people with social distancing.The Littles, however, have decided to continue worshipping outdoors — at least for the time being.“We think the golf cart experience is unique and we enjoy it,” Larry Little said. “It’s completely open and there’s always a little breeze. You don’t feel that sense of isolation. Isolation is worse than the virus for old folks.”

As they reopen, congregations grapple with including seniors

The Army has announced that Fort Riley Chapels are re-opened, beginning Sunday, June 14, since Fort Riley is operating at HPCON level B, effective June 12.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fort-Riley-Religious-Support-2332674223669555/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARB34ze15YBC5h9QkQyrZDh-H2WHv6ErzBHDiv4bY5O0y5PhEdhxmgRnZ4HfFcyBBvdpr5Pwq-iE6aJd&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Fort Riley Religious Support</a>&nbsp;services will continue to be distributed via Facebook.

All attendees must follow protocols, including hand-washing, facemask wear, temperature screening and following allowed capacities. Families may sit together, individuals and family groups must be physically separate.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MainPostChapelFortRiley/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARCCPfsBpayccHeEjiNghxxkslDeZalmhzH2YXul96mtY0KDoSSiRrr4gtw5kyAWv1eOswDqMVNtEQph&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Main Post Chapel Fort Riley</a>&nbsp;(30 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Chapel/687142254684598?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARBq3OhMEF-pG0QleIm_vvIwpME4t9lRt_2LISlRE5X438za-V1hTXrAM5UHV-RQRlglxZh68kK6Bq2J&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Victory Chapel</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHGSFRKS/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARByiDfPXM5YAgSEH7k5KTXL4ralpYi5FAj6_CyT35bxqa0EnZ9yu35cb_WMvk7h676IRxQRuOIQmHzX&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Morris Hill Chapel Gospel Service Fort Riley, KS</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity). Catholic Mass will be conducted at Victory Chapel in 2 sessions: 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Army has announced that Fort Riley Chapels are re-opened, beginning Sunday, June 14, since Fort Riley is operating at HPCON level B, effective June 12.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fort-Riley-Religious-Support-2332674223669555/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARB34ze15YBC5h9QkQyrZDh-H2WHv6ErzBHDiv4bY5O0y5PhEdhxmgRnZ4HfFcyBBvdpr5Pwq-iE6aJd&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Fort Riley Religious Support</a>&nbsp;services will continue to be distributed via Facebook.All attendees must follow protocols, including hand-washing, facemask wear, temperature screening and following allowed capacities. Families may sit together, individuals and family groups must be physically separate.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MainPostChapelFortRiley/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARCCPfsBpayccHeEjiNghxxkslDeZalmhzH2YXul96mtY0KDoSSiRrr4gtw5kyAWv1eOswDqMVNtEQph&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Main Post Chapel Fort Riley</a>&nbsp;(30 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Chapel/687142254684598?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARBq3OhMEF-pG0QleIm_vvIwpME4t9lRt_2LISlRE5X438za-V1hTXrAM5UHV-RQRlglxZh68kK6Bq2J&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Victory Chapel</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHGSFRKS/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARByiDfPXM5YAgSEH7k5KTXL4ralpYi5FAj6_CyT35bxqa0EnZ9yu35cb_WMvk7h676IRxQRuOIQmHzX&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDZC54J7HcScHnIydaCrX5KftxDHvsG1zyOvbt0tCC3Di9yqKr9URhmV6dwymT-VHXtzLcwvbk2pEA6IhLuUAAkEq7CxiVZaQEJVgv7uXaRCCw7y-6yWUA862mLdB1ornuZxtfDWvb2qldNk1jfKz8PKfeQKGEt8c36cWmr2goMe-tIIomQHJjgL8DoR7O0-R7PvCzmagmkhY3fMyNNlDBoVfcrzlREhN9X3HqMAT1zxlVUIQNahHLE0rbr0f1Psj9f8Q5GhhnYxn7fFE5FZS3RITUw9w9m8rtwJsH91DTpBmMNC14CwoSTVzNgWdriNex7eTcHJg-ujdrci82ntqTTCcblHw">Morris Hill Chapel Gospel Service Fort Riley, KS</a>&nbsp;(50 person capacity). Catholic Mass will be conducted at Victory Chapel in 2 sessions: 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Fort Riley Chapels reopen Sunday, June 14

During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a negative impact on the transient guest tax revenues for Geary County. That is the tax paid by users of motel and hotel lodging properties.

Michelle Stimatze, Geary County Convention and Visitor's Bureau director, confirmed in May that the transient guest tax revenues were down 43%. "Travel and tourism, it's really hurt our business. They're talking possibly another spike and that could really set people back once again.&nbsp; Stimatze added they're hoping that is not the case. "We're seeing a lot of the travelers, a lot of the business people starting to get out, go to meetings, that kind of thing."

Stimatze noted that Milford Lake has also been active.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a negative impact on the transient guest tax revenues for Geary County. That is the tax paid by users of motel and hotel lodging properties.Michelle Stimatze, Geary County Convention and Visitor's Bureau director, confirmed in May that the transient guest tax revenues were down 43%. "Travel and tourism, it's really hurt our business. They're talking possibly another spike and that could really set people back once again.&nbsp; Stimatze added they're hoping that is not the case. "We're seeing a lot of the travelers, a lot of the business people starting to get out, go to meetings, that kind of thing."Stimatze noted that Milford Lake has also been active.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Transient guest tax revenues drop during COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.

These are some of the tips <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">in long-awaited guidance</a> from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as includes concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.

But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.

The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising, based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community, he added.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">The guidelines </a>are long overdue, some health experts say.

Julia Marcus, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard Medical School, has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “abstinence-only” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk. She said she was delighted by the CDC’s tips.

“I think it’s a huge step in the right direction,” Marcus said. “These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.”

But there are notable omissions. There’s nothing about precautions to take before going to church, no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time: Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents?

“Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week,“ said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert.

“My empathy goes out to the CDC. It’s very, very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance,” he added.

Stay-at-home orders, school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases. In recent weeks, many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again. And cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines, including some for churches, camps, schools and transit agencies. But until now, the organization hasn’t offered specific advice to people trying to decide whether to take vacations, get their nails done, host barbecues, visit a bank or library, go out to eat or exercise at a gym.

The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, called the new guidelines “common sense suggestions,” not mandates. State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur, but that’s a call for them to make, CDC officials said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586545924801.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman demonstrates how to wear a face mask during a press briefing last month in Topeka." />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman demonstrates how to wear a face mask during a press briefing last month in Topeka.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.These are some of the tips <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">in long-awaited guidance</a> from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as includes concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising, based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community, he added.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/activities.html">The guidelines </a>are long overdue, some health experts say.Julia Marcus, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard Medical School, has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “abstinence-only” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk. She said she was delighted by the CDC’s tips.“I think it’s a huge step in the right direction,” Marcus said. “These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.”But there are notable omissions. There’s nothing about precautions to take before going to church, no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time: Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents?“Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week,“ said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert.“My empathy goes out to the CDC. It’s very, very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance,” he added.Stay-at-home orders, school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases. In recent weeks, many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again. And cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis.The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines, including some for churches, camps, schools and transit agencies. But until now, the organization hasn’t offered specific advice to people trying to decide whether to take vacations, get their nails done, host barbecues, visit a bank or library, go out to eat or exercise at a gym.The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, called the new guidelines “common sense suggestions,” not mandates. State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur, but that’s a call for them to make, CDC officials said.The guidelines repeat earlier advice about wearing face coverings, especially if it’s difficult to keep at least 6 feet away from other people.They also offers a list of questions people should consider before going out, and some things to think about in particular situations. For example, it suggests that house parties be held outside, guests be greeted with a wave instead of a hug and that everyone bring their own food and drinks.

Coronavirus Update