SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a woman and have made an arrest.

Shortly after 9:00 a.m. Friday, deputies were sent to 7910 E 109th Street North in rural Sedgwick County to assist EMS, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Benjamin Blick.

 When they arrived they found a 40-year-old woman with critical injuries. 

EMS transported her to Via Christi St. Francis and she later died of her injuries. 

The victim’s husband Craig Johnston, 42, was transported to Sheriff Investigations and later booked on requested charges of Second Degree Murder and violations of the Offender Registration Act, according to Blick.&nbsp;

 Johnston has a previous conviction from Illinois in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the age of 13-16, according to the Offender Registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603540130048.png" alt="Craig Johnston-photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>Craig Johnston-photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a woman and have made an arrest.Shortly after 9:00 a.m. Friday, deputies were sent to 7910 E 109th Street North in rural Sedgwick County to assist EMS, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Benjamin Blick. When they arrived they found a 40-year-old woman with critical injuries. EMS transported her to Via Christi St. Francis and she later died of her injuries. The victim’s husband Craig Johnston, 42, was transported to Sheriff Investigations and later booked on requested charges of Second Degree Murder and violations of the Offender Registration Act, according to Blick.&nbsp; Johnston has a previous conviction from Illinois in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the age of 13-16, according to the Offender Registry.

Sex offender accused of wife's murder in Kansas

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—Authorities issued an Amber Alert Saturday afternoon for two girls in Kansas.

The KBI is looking for 7-year-old Nora Jackson and 3-year-old Aven Jackson. They were last seen in the 14900 block of Hillside Road in Leavenworth.

The 911 call that began this incident was made by an adult that discovered the homicide scene, so the actual time of the abduction and homicide is unknown, according to the KBI.

At 4:30pm, we learned that the Kansas Highway Patrol made an unrelated car stop on the suspect’s vehicle on Highway 169 near the OK border today at approximately 12:35 p.m.  The abducted children were in the vehicle.  It is now believed Jackson may be traveling in Oklahoma, Texas or Arkansas.

At 5:05p.m., the Arkansas State Police agreed to launch an Arkansas AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the abducted children, due to the proximal sighting at the OK / KS border.

Nora has blonde-brown shoulder-length hair, a slender build and blue or hazel eyes. It's unknown what she was last seen wearing. Aven also has blonde hair, blue eyes and a slender build.

Just after 1p.m. Saturday, the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office responded to a cal. in the 14900 block of Hillside and deputies located a two deceased boys in a home and the girls were mising, according to a media release.

The girls' father, Donny Jackson, is suspected in the abduction. Donny Jackson, 40, is 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. He has long brown hair with a slight red color and blue eyes. He also has a full beard.&nbsp;

There is no known direction of travel, but&nbsp; Jackson drives a black 2008 Honda Accord with Kansas license 266MXB.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603573521812.png" alt="Aven and Nora Jackson" />
 <figcaption>Aven and Nora Jackson</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—Authorities issued an Amber Alert Saturday afternoon for two girls in Kansas.The KBI is looking for 7-year-old Nora Jackson and 3-year-old Aven Jackson. They were last seen in the 14900 block of Hillside Road in Leavenworth.The 911 call that began this incident was made by an adult that discovered the homicide scene, so the actual time of the abduction and homicide is unknown, according to the KBI.At 4:30pm, we learned that the Kansas Highway Patrol made an unrelated car stop on the suspect’s vehicle on Highway 169 near the OK border today at approximately 12:35 p.m. The abducted children were in the vehicle. It is now believed Jackson may be traveling in Oklahoma, Texas or Arkansas.At 5:05p.m., the Arkansas State Police agreed to launch an Arkansas AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the abducted children, due to the proximal sighting at the OK / KS border.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603572994719.png" alt="Aven Jackson" />
 <figcaption>Aven Jackson</figcaption>
 </figure>Nora has blonde-brown shoulder-length hair, a slender build and blue or hazel eyes. It's unknown what she was last seen wearing. Aven also has blonde hair, blue eyes and a slender build.Just after 1p.m. Saturday, the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office responded to a cal. in the 14900 block of Hillside and deputies located a two deceased boys in a home and the girls were mising, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603573485901.png" alt="Donny Jackson" />
 <figcaption>Donny Jackson</figcaption>
 </figure>The girls' father, Donny Jackson, is suspected in the abduction. Donny Jackson, 40, is 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. He has long brown hair with a slight red color and blue eyes. He also has a full beard.&nbsp;There is no known direction of travel, but&nbsp; Jackson drives a black 2008 Honda Accord with Kansas license 266MXB.

Update: Amber Alert for 2 Kan. girls after 2 boys found dead

THOMAS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Focus driven by Kendy S. Rubio-Gomez, 24, Selden, was eastbound on US highway 24 eleven miles east of Colby.

The car crossed westbound traffic, traveled off the roadway to the left entered into north ditch, struck a field road, went airborne the rolled and the driver was ejected. The car came to rest on the passengers side in a corn field.

EMS transported Rubio-Gomez to Citizen's Medical Center. The safety restraint was not worn properly, according to the KHP. She was only using the lap belt.

THOMAS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Focus driven by Kendy S. Rubio-Gomez, 24, Selden, was eastbound on US highway 24 eleven miles east of Colby.The car crossed westbound traffic, traveled off the roadway to the left entered into north ditch, struck a field road, went airborne the rolled and the driver was ejected. The car came to rest on the passengers side in a corn field.EMS transported Rubio-Gomez to Citizen's Medical Center. The safety restraint was not worn properly, according to the KHP. She was only using the lap belt.

Kansas woman dies after being ejected in crash

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Republicans who were desperate to have Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall as their candidate for an open Senate seat are finding the race to be anything but the sure thing they once thought it would be.

GOP groups are pouring in millions of dollars to help the two-term congressman win what was supposed to be a safe Republican seat and to keep it from going to a party-switching state senator who was little known outside her suburban Kansas City-area district before the race began.

Like other Democratic candidates around the country, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has been able to raise a lot of money for her campaign and has outspent Marshall 4-to-1 over the past three months, forcing Republican groups to burn through the kind of cash that few thought he would need.

Republicans are sweating a race in a state where they haven’t lost a Senate race since 1932 and where Democrats have sometimes conceded contests by Labor Day. It shows how energized Democrats are about potentially overturning the GOP’s 53-47 Senate majority and how a backlash against President Donald Trump could be a factor even in states he’s expected to carry on Election Day.

“I’m trying to convince people to vote for Marshall, but I shouldn’t be having to do that,” said Tim Shallenburger, a former Kansas GOP chairman and state treasurer. “It should be a given in a U.S. Senate race.”

Bollier was a lifelong moderate Republican before she switched parties at the end of 2018. Her pitch to moderate voters — that she’s an independent centrist — appeals to some Republicans who, like Bollier, support abortion rights and gun-control measures and are disgusted by Trump.

Angela Gegen, a 61-year-old retired postal worker from Wichita, has been making $25 donations to Democratic candidates through the ActBlue website even though she’s a registered Republican. She is also volunteering for a campaign for the first time by making phone calls in support of Bollier.

“There’s a whole a lot of middle ground that the Republicans no longer want to occupy,” she said.

The race is tight, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/politics/kansas-poll-trump-biden.html" target="_blank">New York Times and Siena College poll</a>&nbsp;released Thursday showing Marshall with a 46% to 42% lead over Bollier. The poll was of 755 likely Kansas voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

It’s also by far the most expensive political race in Kansas’ history. Marshall’s and Bollier’s campaigns and outside groups are set to spend more than $52 million by Election Day, according to the media tracking firm Kantar/CMAG. That would amount to spending roughly $28 per registered voter. On Marshall’s side, all but $2.4 million of the $30 million to be spent is from GOP groups.

Bollier raised more than $20 million through September, which is a record for Kansas. Marshall’s total was $5.5 million, including what he raised for his primary race.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/df2fba8f13415f91f4d9314ddc5f5e5f">coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;and Trump’s unpopularity with many voters are also weighing on Kansas Republicans.

Marshall, an obstetrician, this week called Democrats “the party of mask mandates” after at least half the crowd at a Kansas City, Kansas, political event didn’t wear masks. He argued that people see “we’re winning that battle” even though Kansas is experiencing its worst surge in new coronavirus cases and has one of the highest COVID-19 positivity rates in the country.

Bollier, a retired anesthesiologist, contends that Marshall ignores science.

Marshall embraces Trump, arguing that the president remains popular in the state he won by nearly 21 percentage points four years ago. But Thursday’s New York Times and Siena College poll said Trump was the choice of 48% of the likely Kansas voters surveyed and Democrat Joe Biden, 41%.

The Senate race wasn’t supposed to be so hard for Republicans. When four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/275216bff11a438fafb4435c02319876">announced his retirement</a>&nbsp;and efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e416bf60049b45ec8fb28a45af377584">woo Secretary of State Mike Pompeo</a>&nbsp;to the race failed, national party leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cb61b0a7f68c299f72d66cab818cb47b">pushed hard</a>&nbsp;for the nomination to go to Marshall instead of the state’s polarizing former secretary of state Kris Kobach. The leaders feared Kobach, a conservative hardliner, would reprise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/32816d964acc49e188c9de18b9acb3b9">his 2018 loss</a>&nbsp;in the governor’s race to Democrat Laura Kelly and hand the Senate seat to the Democrats.

Marshall, the reasoning went, has a solid political base in his central and western Kansas congressional district and Republicans enjoy a significant advantage in voter registration statewide. And although the GOP is divided enough for Democrats to elect Kansas governors, wavering Republicans have for decades drifted back to the GOP fold in Senate races where different issues are at stake.

Democrats need to gain at least three seats to win a Senate majority if Biden is elected or four if Trump wins a second term, because the vice president can vote as a tie-breaker.

Marshall drove home that point Wednesday after appearing at a bus tour by the conservative and anti-abortion group Concerned Women for America in support of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination. The group’s big pink bus parked Wednesday in front of Frontier Justice, a Kansas City, Kansas, gun shop adorned with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and a storefront proclaiming “Faith - Family - Freedom.”

“People on the coasts see that opportunity and they think they can buy a seat in Kansas or in Iowa,” Marshall said, alluding to how much of the money Bollier’s campaign has raised has come from out of state.

Ashlee Rich Stephenson, national political director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Republicans are trying to avoid the risk that a close race could unexpectedly cost them a Senate seat. The chamber, which overwhelmingly supports Republicans, endorsed Marshall, having backed him in his first congressional race in 2016, when he ousted an incumbent in the primary.

“Protecting and defending is why you see these resources coming in from the Republican side,” she said. “Democrats, this might be the best shot that they have in a while, with the way the environment has been in the suburbs, to try to make something happen.”

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Republicans who were desperate to have Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall as their candidate for an open Senate seat are finding the race to be anything but the sure thing they once thought it would be.GOP groups are pouring in millions of dollars to help the two-term congressman win what was supposed to be a safe Republican seat and to keep it from going to a party-switching state senator who was little known outside her suburban Kansas City-area district before the race began.Like other Democratic candidates around the country, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has been able to raise a lot of money for her campaign and has outspent Marshall 4-to-1 over the past three months, forcing Republican groups to burn through the kind of cash that few thought he would need.Republicans are sweating a race in a state where they haven’t lost a Senate race since 1932 and where Democrats have sometimes conceded contests by Labor Day. It shows how energized Democrats are about potentially overturning the GOP’s 53-47 Senate majority and how a backlash against President Donald Trump could be a factor even in states he’s expected to carry on Election Day.“I’m trying to convince people to vote for Marshall, but I shouldn’t be having to do that,” said Tim Shallenburger, a former Kansas GOP chairman and state treasurer. “It should be a given in a U.S. Senate race.”Bollier was a lifelong moderate Republican before she switched parties at the end of 2018. Her pitch to moderate voters — that she’s an independent centrist — appeals to some Republicans who, like Bollier, support abortion rights and gun-control measures and are disgusted by Trump.Angela Gegen, a 61-year-old retired postal worker from Wichita, has been making $25 donations to Democratic candidates through the ActBlue website even though she’s a registered Republican. She is also volunteering for a campaign for the first time by making phone calls in support of Bollier.“There’s a whole a lot of middle ground that the Republicans no longer want to occupy,” she said.The race is tight, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/politics/kansas-poll-trump-biden.html" target="_blank">New York Times and Siena College poll</a>&nbsp;released Thursday showing Marshall with a 46% to 42% lead over Bollier. The poll was of 755 likely Kansas voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.It’s also by far the most expensive political race in Kansas’ history. Marshall’s and Bollier’s campaigns and outside groups are set to spend more than $52 million by Election Day, according to the media tracking firm Kantar/CMAG. That would amount to spending roughly $28 per registered voter. On Marshall’s side, all but $2.4 million of the $30 million to be spent is from GOP groups.Bollier raised more than $20 million through September, which is a record for Kansas. Marshall’s total was $5.5 million, including what he raised for his primary race.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/df2fba8f13415f91f4d9314ddc5f5e5f">coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;and Trump’s unpopularity with many voters are also weighing on Kansas Republicans.Marshall, an obstetrician, this week called Democrats “the party of mask mandates” after at least half the crowd at a Kansas City, Kansas, political event didn’t wear masks. He argued that people see “we’re winning that battle” even though Kansas is experiencing its worst surge in new coronavirus cases and has one of the highest COVID-19 positivity rates in the country.Bollier, a retired anesthesiologist, contends that Marshall ignores science.Marshall embraces Trump, arguing that the president remains popular in the state he won by nearly 21 percentage points four years ago. But Thursday’s New York Times and Siena College poll said Trump was the choice of 48% of the likely Kansas voters surveyed and Democrat Joe Biden, 41%.The Senate race wasn’t supposed to be so hard for Republicans. When four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/275216bff11a438fafb4435c02319876">announced his retirement</a>&nbsp;and efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e416bf60049b45ec8fb28a45af377584">woo Secretary of State Mike Pompeo</a>&nbsp;to the race failed, national party leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cb61b0a7f68c299f72d66cab818cb47b">pushed hard</a>&nbsp;for the nomination to go to Marshall instead of the state’s polarizing former secretary of state Kris Kobach. The leaders feared Kobach, a conservative hardliner, would reprise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/32816d964acc49e188c9de18b9acb3b9">his 2018 loss</a>&nbsp;in the governor’s race to Democrat Laura Kelly and hand the Senate seat to the Democrats.Marshall, the reasoning went, has a solid political base in his central and western Kansas congressional district and Republicans enjoy a significant advantage in voter registration statewide. And although the GOP is divided enough for Democrats to elect Kansas governors, wavering Republicans have for decades drifted back to the GOP fold in Senate races where different issues are at stake.Democrats need to gain at least three seats to win a Senate majority if Biden is elected or four if Trump wins a second term, because the vice president can vote as a tie-breaker.Marshall drove home that point Wednesday after appearing at a bus tour by the conservative and anti-abortion group Concerned Women for America in support of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination. The group’s big pink bus parked Wednesday in front of Frontier Justice, a Kansas City, Kansas, gun shop adorned with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and a storefront proclaiming “Faith - Family - Freedom.”“People on the coasts see that opportunity and they think they can buy a seat in Kansas or in Iowa,” Marshall said, alluding to how much of the money Bollier’s campaign has raised has come from out of state.Ashlee Rich Stephenson, national political director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Republicans are trying to avoid the risk that a close race could unexpectedly cost them a Senate seat. The chamber, which overwhelmingly supports Republicans, endorsed Marshall, having backed him in his first congressional race in 2016, when he ousted an incumbent in the primary.“Protecting and defending is why you see these resources coming in from the Republican side,” she said. “Democrats, this might be the best shot that they have in a while, with the way the environment has been in the suburbs, to try to make something happen.”___

GOP in ruby red Kansas stresses over costly Senate race

Jerry Jeff Walker, a Texas country singer and songwriter who wrote the pop song “Mr. Bojangles,” has died at age 78.

Walker died Friday of cancer, family spokesman John T. Davis told The Associated Press.

“He had battled throat cancer for many years, and some other health issues,” Davis said Saturday.

Walker emerged from New York’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b632cb7b6563457eae2dab63aae47a4f">Greenwich Village folk scene</a>&nbsp;in the 1960s and he was a founding member of the band Circus Maximus. He&nbsp;<a href="https://jerryjeff.com/" target="_blank">moved to Texas</a>&nbsp;in the 1970s and in 1972 scored a hit with his version of the Guy Clark song “L.A. Freeway.”

Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band in 1973 recorded an album live in Texas called “Viva Terlingua” that became a classic of the country-rock scene. Walker had since released more than 30 albums.

In 1986, he formed independent music label Tried &amp; True Music and released albums under it.

Walker was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017, undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20180323/jerry-jeff-walkers-still-fightin-and-its-about-time-for-a-new-record" target="_blank">told the Austin American Statesman</a>&nbsp;in 2018.

“I guess I took my singing for granted, and now I don’t,” he told the newspaper.

In 2017, it was announced that Walker had donated more than 100 boxes of his music archives to The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, including tapes, photographs, hand-written lyrics and artifacts.

Walker’s survivors include his wife, Susan, son, Django, and daughter, Jessie Jane.

By KEN MILLER, Associated PressJerry Jeff Walker, a Texas country singer and songwriter who wrote the pop song “Mr. Bojangles,” has died at age 78.Walker died Friday of cancer, family spokesman John T. Davis told The Associated Press.“He had battled throat cancer for many years, and some other health issues,” Davis said Saturday.Walker emerged from New York’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b632cb7b6563457eae2dab63aae47a4f">Greenwich Village folk scene</a>&nbsp;in the 1960s and he was a founding member of the band Circus Maximus. He&nbsp;<a href="https://jerryjeff.com/" target="_blank">moved to Texas</a>&nbsp;in the 1970s and in 1972 scored a hit with his version of the Guy Clark song “L.A. Freeway.”Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band in 1973 recorded an album live in Texas called “Viva Terlingua” that became a classic of the country-rock scene. Walker had since released more than 30 albums.In 1986, he formed independent music label Tried &amp; True Music and released albums under it.Walker was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017, undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20180323/jerry-jeff-walkers-still-fightin-and-its-about-time-for-a-new-record" target="_blank">told the Austin American Statesman</a>&nbsp;in 2018.“I guess I took my singing for granted, and now I don’t,” he told the newspaper.In 2017, it was announced that Walker had donated more than 100 boxes of his music archives to The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, including tapes, photographs, hand-written lyrics and artifacts.Walker’s survivors include his wife, Susan, son, Django, and daughter, Jessie Jane.

Jerry Jeff Walker, 'Mr. Bojangles' songwriter, dead at 78 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A decomposing body that a 10-year-old boy found in July in a creek was a missing Kansas City social worker, authorities say.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said Friday that an FBI lab had confirmed that the remains are those of 39-year-old Marina Bischoff. She was last seen leaving a Kansas City police station in May. Police said Bischoff had been arrested the night before on suspicion of driving while impaired and leaving the scene of a crash.

No foul play is suspected, but the final cause of death has yet to be determined. The county medical examiner is still conducting a final exam, Becchina said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592229179886.png" alt="Marina Bischoff photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Marina Bischoff photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A decomposing body that a 10-year-old boy found in July in a creek was a missing Kansas City social worker, authorities say.Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said Friday that an FBI lab had confirmed that the remains are those of 39-year-old Marina Bischoff. She was last seen leaving a Kansas City police station in May. Police said Bischoff had been arrested the night before on suspicion of driving while impaired and leaving the scene of a crash.No foul play is suspected, but the final cause of death has yet to be determined. The county medical examiner is still conducting a final exam, Becchina said.

Police: Body found by boy in KC creek was missing woman

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas set new records Friday for its largest seven-day increases in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths with what its top public health official called “a generalized spread” of the COVID-19 virus.

The state has averaged more than 700 new cases a day this month, and the figure was a record 768 for the seven days ending Friday, beating the previous high mark of 757 for the seven days ending Wednesday. The state Department of Health and Environment reported 1,774 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Wednesday, an increase of 2.4% that brought the total for the pandemic to 76,230.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, said the generalized spread of the virus in Kansas has resulted from resistance to wearing masks in public, continuing to have mass gatherings, crowded school athletic events, and bringing students back to college and university campuses.

“This is absolutely what we’ve been predicting,” Norman said in a text to The Associated Press. “It is the natural consequence of not following the anti-contagion measures in our communities.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said this week that she wants to work with leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-topeka-phil-griffin-kansas-1d391dc693eed0754c33ab83624dad8b">on imposing a bipartisan, statewide mandate</a>&nbsp;for people to wear masks in public. She issued such an order July 2, but state law allowed counties to opt out, and most did.

Top Republican lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-kansas-wichita-f9ad7a79caa07a3422cc5f926bd2919a">argued against</a>&nbsp;a “one-size-fits-all” mandate on diverse communities. But rural counties are seeing the largest numbers of new cases per 1,000 residents, and of the 20 counties with the biggest per capita spikes over the past two weeks, only two, Nemaha and Reno counties, have more than 10,000 residents.

Some Kansas elected officials have argued that a decline in the COVID-19 death rate since the start of the pandemic represents real progress as production of a widely available vaccine grows nearer. But in Kansas, where deaths represent about 1.3% of the reported cases, that figure has slowly inched up this month.

The state health department reported an additional 23 COVID-19-related deaths since Wednesday, bringing the pandemic total to 975. The state saw a record average of 16.57 new deaths a day during the seven days ending Friday, though some of that high mark can be attributed to earlier deaths being included when death certificates are reviewed by local and state health officials.

Kansas also reported another 78 coronavirus hospitalizations to bring the total to 3,584. The state averaged a record 31 new hospitalizations a day in the seven days ending Friday. The previous high mark was 29, also set earlier this month.

Kansas’ latest report comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-michael-brown-2dfc5b8a8a097470f9277db821c00ef5">Missouri and perhaps a handful of other states</a>&nbsp;are seeing alarming increases in hospitalizations but are unable to post accurate data on COVID-19 dashboards because of a flaw in the federal reporting system.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park has angered some residents and split local elected officials by allocating $350,000 in federal relief funds for buying cameras to broadcast games that are being played at an area soccer complex,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article246639993.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star reported.&nbsp;</a>The Overland Park City Council voted 10-2 to approve the plan this week.

City officials argued that streaming games would allow families to watch their children play without having to sit in crowds during the pandemic.

But Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown said “the optics” of the plan “aren’t sitting very well with a lot of people.” Overland Park City Commissioner Faris Farassati, who voted against the plan, said the expenditure seems unnecessary when people are losing jobs and unable to pay rent or utilities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603472813108.png" alt="Friday Oct. 23, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Oct. 23, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas set new records Friday for its largest seven-day increases in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths with what its top public health official called “a generalized spread” of the COVID-19 virus.The state has averaged more than 700 new cases a day this month, and the figure was a record 768 for the seven days ending Friday, beating the previous high mark of 757 for the seven days ending Wednesday. The state Department of Health and Environment reported 1,774 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Wednesday, an increase of 2.4% that brought the total for the pandemic to 76,230.Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, said the generalized spread of the virus in Kansas has resulted from resistance to wearing masks in public, continuing to have mass gatherings, crowded school athletic events, and bringing students back to college and university campuses.“This is absolutely what we’ve been predicting,” Norman said in a text to The Associated Press. “It is the natural consequence of not following the anti-contagion measures in our communities.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603315184965.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly removes her mask prior to her Oct. 21 news conference in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly removes her mask prior to her Oct. 21 news conference in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said this week that she wants to work with leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-topeka-phil-griffin-kansas-1d391dc693eed0754c33ab83624dad8b">on imposing a bipartisan, statewide mandate</a>&nbsp;for people to wear masks in public. She issued such an order July 2, but state law allowed counties to opt out, and most did.Top Republican lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-kansas-wichita-f9ad7a79caa07a3422cc5f926bd2919a">argued against</a>&nbsp;a “one-size-fits-all” mandate on diverse communities. But rural counties are seeing the largest numbers of new cases per 1,000 residents, and of the 20 counties with the biggest per capita spikes over the past two weeks, only two, Nemaha and Reno counties, have more than 10,000 residents.Some Kansas elected officials have argued that a decline in the COVID-19 death rate since the start of the pandemic represents real progress as production of a widely available vaccine grows nearer. But in Kansas, where deaths represent about 1.3% of the reported cases, that figure has slowly inched up this month.The state health department reported an additional 23 COVID-19-related deaths since Wednesday, bringing the pandemic total to 975. The state saw a record average of 16.57 new deaths a day during the seven days ending Friday, though some of that high mark can be attributed to earlier deaths being included when death certificates are reviewed by local and state health officials.Kansas also reported another 78 coronavirus hospitalizations to bring the total to 3,584. The state averaged a record 31 new hospitalizations a day in the seven days ending Friday. The previous high mark was 29, also set earlier this month.Kansas’ latest report comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-michael-brown-2dfc5b8a8a097470f9277db821c00ef5">Missouri and perhaps a handful of other states</a>&nbsp;are seeing alarming increases in hospitalizations but are unable to post accurate data on COVID-19 dashboards because of a flaw in the federal reporting system.Meanwhile, the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park has angered some residents and split local elected officials by allocating $350,000 in federal relief funds for buying cameras to broadcast games that are being played at an area soccer complex,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article246639993.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star reported.&nbsp;</a>The Overland Park City Council voted 10-2 to approve the plan this week.City officials argued that streaming games would allow families to watch their children play without having to sit in crowds during the pandemic.But Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown said “the optics” of the plan “aren’t sitting very well with a lot of people.” Overland Park City Commissioner Faris Farassati, who voted against the plan, said the expenditure seems unnecessary when people are losing jobs and unable to pay rent or utilities.___

Kansas sees record 7-day spikes in COVID-19 cases, deaths

MONTGOMERY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place Friday afternoon in rural Montgomery County.

Just before 1 p.m.Friday, a victim called 911 to report being robbed at gunpoint at the Regal Inn in Coffeyville, according to a media release from the KBI.

 At approximately 1:15 p.m., a KHP trooper observed a vehicle near 3600 Road, in Independence, Kan., that matched the vehicle connected to the robbery. He and another KHP trooper who responded to assist, initiated a car stop on the silver 2006 Chrysler Town and Country minivan occupied by a female driver and a male passenger.

As the troopers attempted the traffic stop, the male passenger, later identified as 32-year-old Wesley Jordan, of Hot Springs, Ark., fired at the troopers. 

A trooper returned fire and the subjects fled, prompting a police pursuit. Near the intersection of 3600 Rd. and 3900 Road., a deputy from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office intercepted the minivan and fired at Jordan. 

The minivan continued west on 3600 Rd., another 1/4 mile, until it came to a stop. Then a KHP trooper fired at Jordan when he exited the minivan.

Jordan was pronounced deceased at the scene by Montgomery County EMS. No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.

The driver was a 26-year-old woman from Coffeyville. She was taken into custody for questioning, and was later arrested by the Coffeyville Police Department for charges related to the armed robbery.

The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed the findings will be turned over to the Montgomery County Attorney for review.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place Friday afternoon in rural Montgomery County.Just before 1 p.m.Friday, a victim called 911 to report being robbed at gunpoint at the Regal Inn in Coffeyville, according to a media release from the KBI. At approximately 1:15 p.m., a KHP trooper observed a vehicle near 3600 Road, in Independence, Kan., that matched the vehicle connected to the robbery. He and another KHP trooper who responded to assist, initiated a car stop on the silver 2006 Chrysler Town and Country minivan occupied by a female driver and a male passenger.As the troopers attempted the traffic stop, the male passenger, later identified as 32-year-old Wesley Jordan, of Hot Springs, Ark., fired at the troopers. A trooper returned fire and the subjects fled, prompting a police pursuit. Near the intersection of 3600 Rd. and 3900 Road., a deputy from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office intercepted the minivan and fired at Jordan. The minivan continued west on 3600 Rd., another 1/4 mile, until it came to a stop. Then a KHP trooper fired at Jordan when he exited the minivan.Jordan was pronounced deceased at the scene by Montgomery County EMS. No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.The driver was a 26-year-old woman from Coffeyville. She was taken into custody for questioning, and was later arrested by the Coffeyville Police Department for charges related to the armed robbery.The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed the findings will be turned over to the Montgomery County Attorney for review.

KBI: One suspect dead after Kan. officer-involved shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at a youth football game in Wichita.

Just after 9:30p.m. police responded to gunshots at Stryker Sports Complex, 2999 N Greenwich Road in Wichita, according to Sgt. Dan Hardy with the Wichita police department's homicide division.

A short time later a man identified as&nbsp;Marquell Nolan, 31, Wichita, arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds and died.

Investigators have learned that Nolan was at the complex and became involved in a verbal altercation with a suspect on the west side of the stadium. The argument turned into a physical altercation and the suspect pulled out a handgun, fired multiple shots at Nolan, according to Sgt. Hardy.

A private vehicle transported Nolan to the hospital and the suspect left the complex.&nbsp; The shooting was not random or related the games being played or officiated Wednesday evening, according to Sgt. Hardy. Police believe Nolan and the suspect knew each other and had been involved in an ongoing feud.

There was a large crowd in attendance as a football game was underway at the stadium at the time of the shooting, according to Sgt. Hardy. There were also separate games being played at the nearby soccer fields to the west of the incident.

Late Thursday morning, police released photos of the suspect and a yellow shoe. A juvenile at the complex had picked up the shoe and it was placed in a vehicle, according to officer Charlie Davidson.&nbsp; The shoe is evidence in the case.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at a youth football game in Wichita.

Just before 10p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to report of a disturbance at Stryker Sports Complex,&nbsp;2999 N Greenwich Road in Wichita, according to police.

At the scene, officers reported hearing gunshots and saw people leaving the scene. EMS transported one victim to a local hospital where he died.

On social media late Wednesday, Capital Sports Institute Executive Board shared that they would cancel the rest of the youth football season due to the shooting.

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the termination of the 2020 Wichita Youth Football Season. We are feeling incredibly disappointed, saddened, and discouraged as it pertains to this community. 

This youth football league was developed with a genuine hope to change the culture surrounding youth football in Wichita. To give inner-city children the opportunity to play under the lights on turf fields, with large crowds cheering them on to victory. 

To allow those children to feel cared for, important, and worthy. To give families a safe, secure environment where their children can learn to play sports. To allow the Wichita youth some time to simply be kids in the midst of a global pandemic. Instead, we were forced as a league to deal with fights, litter, and arguments on a weekly basis, ultimately leading to a permanent Wichita Police Dept. presence and heightened security, clean-up crews, and a permanent admission fee needed to pay for those extra costs. 

As most of you know, tonight during the last game of the evening, a gun was snuck into the premises at Stryker and someone was fatally shot. As a league, we can no longer safely continue with the 2020 season, as it is clearly too dangerous for the children and families of this city. 

Our pleas and desires to change the culture of youth football in Wichita have consistently fallen on deaf ears. We are sending our hopes and prayers not only to the injured party's family, but also to all the families involved in this league and most importantly, to the children who have lost the great opportunity this year to simply play football. 

It is our genuine hope that as a city, as a people, as a culture, we can and will do better."

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact police. Name of the victim has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603385886052.png" alt="Photo of the suspect released by Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the suspect released by Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at a youth football game in Wichita.Just after 9:30p.m. police responded to gunshots at Stryker Sports Complex, 2999 N Greenwich Road in Wichita, according to Sgt. Dan Hardy with the Wichita police department's homicide division.A short time later a man identified as&nbsp;Marquell Nolan, 31, Wichita, arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds and died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603385912429.png" alt="Shooting suspect -photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Shooting suspect -photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators have learned that Nolan was at the complex and became involved in a verbal altercation with a suspect on the west side of the stadium. The argument turned into a physical altercation and the suspect pulled out a handgun, fired multiple shots at Nolan, according to Sgt. Hardy.A private vehicle transported Nolan to the hospital and the suspect left the complex.&nbsp; The shooting was not random or related the games being played or officiated Wednesday evening, according to Sgt. Hardy. Police believe Nolan and the suspect knew each other and had been involved in an ongoing feud.There was a large crowd in attendance as a football game was underway at the stadium at the time of the shooting, according to Sgt. Hardy. There were also separate games being played at the nearby soccer fields to the west of the incident.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603385943511.png" alt="The missing yellow shoe-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>The missing yellow shoe-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Late Thursday morning, police released photos of the suspect and a yellow shoe. A juvenile at the complex had picked up the shoe and it was placed in a vehicle, according to officer Charlie Davidson.&nbsp; The shoe is evidence in the case.------SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at a youth football game in Wichita.Just before 10p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to report of a disturbance at Stryker Sports Complex,&nbsp;2999 N Greenwich Road in Wichita, according to police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603362689813.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>At the scene, officers reported hearing gunshots and saw people leaving the scene. EMS transported one victim to a local hospital where he died.On social media late Wednesday, Capital Sports Institute Executive Board shared that they would cancel the rest of the youth football season due to the shooting."It is with a heavy heart that we announce the termination of the 2020 Wichita Youth Football Season. We are feeling incredibly disappointed, saddened, and discouraged as it pertains to this community. This youth football league was developed with a genuine hope to change the culture surrounding youth football in Wichita. To give inner-city children the opportunity to play under the lights on turf fields, with large crowds cheering them on to victory. To allow those children to feel cared for, important, and worthy. To give families a safe, secure environment where their children can learn to play sports. To allow the Wichita youth some time to simply be kids in the midst of a global pandemic. Instead, we were forced as a league to deal with fights, litter, and arguments on a weekly basis, ultimately leading to a permanent Wichita Police Dept. presence and heightened security, clean-up crews, and a permanent admission fee needed to pay for those extra costs. As most of you know, tonight during the last game of the evening, a gun was snuck into the premises at Stryker and someone was fatally shot. As a league, we can no longer safely continue with the 2020 season, as it is clearly too dangerous for the children and families of this city. Our pleas and desires to change the culture of youth football in Wichita have consistently fallen on deaf ears. We are sending our hopes and prayers not only to the injured party's family, but also to all the families involved in this league and most importantly, to the children who have lost the great opportunity this year to simply play football. It is our genuine hope that as a city, as a people, as a culture, we can and will do better."Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact police. Name of the victim has not been released.

Search continues for  Kan. youth football game gunman

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police officers in Kansas City shot and killed a homicide suspect in a ride-hailing vehicle Friday during an exchange of gunfire, authorities said.

Sgt. Bill Lowe, a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said officers stopped the vehicle in which the man was riding around 12:30 p.m. in an area near the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. The other occupants followed orders to exit the vehicle, but the suspect refused to do so, he added.

The preliminary investigation found that the man pointed a handgun at himself before shooting at officers, Lowe said. He noted that the officers then returned fire, striking the man. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. No officers were hurt.

The patrol, which is investigating the shooting, did not immediately release the man’s name.

Police said officers were stopping the vehicle while investigating the killing of Shermaine Taylor, who was pronounced dead Wednesday in an alley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603505509542.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Friday photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Friday photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police officers in Kansas City shot and killed a homicide suspect in a ride-hailing vehicle Friday during an exchange of gunfire, authorities said.Sgt. Bill Lowe, a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said officers stopped the vehicle in which the man was riding around 12:30 p.m. in an area near the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. The other occupants followed orders to exit the vehicle, but the suspect refused to do so, he added.The preliminary investigation found that the man pointed a handgun at himself before shooting at officers, Lowe said. He noted that the officers then returned fire, striking the man. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. No officers were hurt.The patrol, which is investigating the shooting, did not immediately release the man’s name.Police said officers were stopping the vehicle while investigating the killing of Shermaine Taylor, who was pronounced dead Wednesday in an alley.

KC police fatally shoot homicide suspect in exchange of gunfire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating criminal homicide at a Wichita motel.

Just after 10 a.m.Thursday, police responded to a call of an unresponsive in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 block of South Broadway in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

&nbsp;Officers located a woman later identified as 33-year-old Stephanie Duran of Wichita unresponsive and with injuries to her body.&nbsp; She was pronounced deceased on the scene, according to Davidson.

A staff member of the motel located Duran in the room and called the police.

Investigators are&nbsp; working to determine the circumstances of what occurred and have not reported an arrest.

This is the second homicide in Wichita over the past 24-hours.

Just after 10p.m. Thursday Marquell Nolan, 31, Wichita, died at local hospital after he was shot at a youth football game&nbsp;at Stryker Sports Complex, 2999 N Greenwich Road in Wichita. Police have not reported an arrest in this case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603479329938.png" alt="The murder occurred at the Budget Motel -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The murder occurred at the Budget Motel -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating criminal homicide at a Wichita motel.Just after 10 a.m.Thursday, police responded to a call of an unresponsive in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 block of South Broadway in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;Officers located a woman later identified as 33-year-old Stephanie Duran of Wichita unresponsive and with injuries to her body.&nbsp; She was pronounced deceased on the scene, according to Davidson.A staff member of the motel located Duran in the room and called the police.Investigators are&nbsp; working to determine the circumstances of what occurred and have not reported an arrest.This is the second homicide in Wichita over the past 24-hours.Just after 10p.m. Thursday Marquell Nolan, 31, Wichita, died at local hospital after he was shot at a youth football game&nbsp;at Stryker Sports Complex, 2999 N Greenwich Road in Wichita. Police have not reported an arrest in this case.

Police ID Kan. woman who died in motel room murder

KANSAS CITY (AP) —It didn’t take long for the Kansas City area’s first medical marijuana dispensary to sell out.

Fresh Green dispensary in Lee’s Summit opened Monday and was<a href="https://www.freshgreen.com/"> sold out by the end of the day Tuesday.</a> With only a small number of people allowed inside at one time, the wait to get in was long.

All told, the shop served about 500 customers. Bianca Sullivan, who owns the dispensary with her husband, said most people had to wait about 90 minutes to two hours.

Sullivan hopes the dispensary gets another delivery with 5-10 days from its St. Louis-area grower. Other Kansas City-area dispensaries appear to be weeks away from opening.

To buy the drug, people need <a href="https://www.freshgreen.com/dhss-patient-resources-marijuana-mo">approval from a doctor</a> and a state medical marijuana card.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —It didn’t take long for the Kansas City area’s first medical marijuana dispensary to sell out.Fresh Green dispensary in Lee’s Summit opened Monday and was<a href="https://www.freshgreen.com/"> sold out by the end of the day Tuesday.</a> With only a small number of people allowed inside at one time, the wait to get in was long.All told, the shop served about 500 customers. Bianca Sullivan, who owns the dispensary with her husband, said most people had to wait about 90 minutes to two hours.Sullivan hopes the dispensary gets another delivery with 5-10 days from its St. Louis-area grower. Other Kansas City-area dispensaries appear to be weeks away from opening.To buy the drug, people need <a href="https://www.freshgreen.com/dhss-patient-resources-marijuana-mo">approval from a doctor</a> and a state medical marijuana card.

First medical marijuana dispensary in KC sells out in hours

SALINA – Two suspects have been charged with attempted capital murder in connection with an August incident in Saline County that included shooting and injuring a Salina police officer, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Schmidt filed criminal charges against Shawn Patrick Humphrey, 37, Wichita, and Adam Drew Humphrey, 36, Leavenworth. The incident took place during an attempted traffic stop near Salina. In addition to the officer who was shot and injured, one additional Salina police officer and a Saline County sheriff’s deputy were shot at, but were uninjured.

The charges were filed Friday and arrest warrants executed. Shawn Patrick Humphrey is being held in the Saline County jail, while Adam Drew Humphrey is being held in the Shawnee County jail.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The case is being prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office at the request of the Saline County Attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602299685999.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation in Salina -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation in Salina -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA – Two suspects have been charged with attempted capital murder in connection with an August incident in Saline County that included shooting and injuring a Salina police officer, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598882667907.jpeg" alt="Shawn Humphrey has ten previous convictions that include theft, forgery, criminal threat, burglary, aggravated weapons violation and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Shawn Humphrey has ten previous convictions that include theft, forgery, criminal threat, burglary, aggravated weapons violation and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>Schmidt filed criminal charges against Shawn Patrick Humphrey, 37, Wichita, and Adam Drew Humphrey, 36, Leavenworth. The incident took place during an attempted traffic stop near Salina. In addition to the officer who was shot and injured, one additional Salina police officer and a Saline County sheriff’s deputy were shot at, but were uninjured.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603489138264.png" alt="Adam Humphrey has 18 convictions including aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated battery, battery against a juvenile detention officer, burglary, flee or attempt to elude, reckless driving, obstruction, criminal possession of a firearm and trafficking contraband, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections. He is being held in Shawnee County." />
 <figcaption>Adam Humphrey has 18 convictions including aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated battery, battery against a juvenile detention officer, burglary, flee or attempt to elude, reckless driving, obstruction, criminal possession of a firearm and trafficking contraband, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections. He is being held in Shawnee County.</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges were filed Friday and arrest warrants executed. Shawn Patrick Humphrey is being held in the Saline County jail, while Adam Drew Humphrey is being held in the Shawnee County jail.<ul>
 <li>Shawn Patrick Humphrey is charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of criminal possession of a firearm, one count of possession of methamphetamine and one count of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement.&nbsp;</li><li>Adam Drew Humphrey is charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, one count of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and one count of criminal possession of a firearm.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The case is being prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office at the request of the Saline County Attorney.

2 charged with attempted murder in shooting Salina officer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man arrested in connection with a July murder made his first court appearance in the case Friday.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide and have arrested a fourth suspect identified as&nbsp;33- year-old Lawrence Bailey of Wichita.

Just after 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, a citizen reported a possible criminal homicide occurring at a home in the 800 block of South San Pablo in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Police began investigating and on Monday, July 6, they located the body of 47-year-old Roy Hayden of Wichita inside a vehicle in the 1500 block of North Broadway.

Through further investigation, it was determined that Hayden’s death was related to the information received of the criminal homicide on San Pablo, and three other suspects Ariana Cook 21, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20025626">Matthew Small, </a>35, and&nbsp;19-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20067589">Carlos Delgado </a>all of Wichita were involved, according to Officer Davidson.&nbsp; Police arrested the other three suspects in September.

Bailey is being held on requested charges of 1st-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm. Small and Delgado also remain in custody in Sedgwick County while Cook was transferred to another facility, according to online jail records.

This was not a random incident and is drug-related. Police do not expect additional arrests in the case, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603464191587.png" alt="Bailey photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Bailey photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man arrested in connection with a July murder made his first court appearance in the case Friday.SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide and have arrested a fourth suspect identified as&nbsp;33- year-old Lawrence Bailey of Wichita.Just after 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, a citizen reported a possible criminal homicide occurring at a home in the 800 block of South San Pablo in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Police began investigating and on Monday, July 6, they located the body of 47-year-old Roy Hayden of Wichita inside a vehicle in the 1500 block of North Broadway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599148239408.png" alt="Ariana Cook-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ariana Cook-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Through further investigation, it was determined that Hayden’s death was related to the information received of the criminal homicide on San Pablo, and three other suspects Ariana Cook 21, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20025626">Matthew Small, </a>35, and&nbsp;19-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20067589">Carlos Delgado </a>all of Wichita were involved, according to Officer Davidson.&nbsp; Police arrested the other three suspects in September.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599064385103.png" alt="Small-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Small-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Bailey is being held on requested charges of 1st-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm. Small and Delgado also remain in custody in Sedgwick County while Cook was transferred to another facility, according to online jail records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603465679950.png" alt="Delgado-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Delgado-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>This was not a random incident and is drug-related. Police do not expect additional arrests in the case, according to Davidson.

Police make another arrest for Kansas drug deal murder

TOPEKA, KS – Veterinary staff at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center made the difficult decision to euthanize a 16-year-old African Lion named Avus Friday morning, according to a media release.

 “Avus had been experiencing agerelated issues for some time.” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “Earlier this week we noticed a significant decline in his well-being. We did a comprehensive exam and tried new medication but did not see an improvement in his condition. Today is a sad day for our extended zoo family. Avus led an impactful life at our zoo, inspiring guests to care more about wildlife and conservation.”

Avus was born at the Henry Vilas Zoo on October 14, 2004. Following a recommendation from the AZA’s Species Survival Plan, Avus came to Topeka in the summer of 2006 to pair with lionesses Zuri and Asante. In 2007 Avus and Asante had one offspring, Adia, who in turn provided the pair with two grandsons that live in other AZA zoos. Avus was able to see his home at the Topeka Zoo transform with the opening of Camp Cowabunga in 2018. Zuri and Asante are also classified as geriatric at the ages of sixteen years as well. In the wild, the lifespan of lions is a range between 12-15 years of age.

Avus was an easy favorite to staff and guests alike. He had the most amazing eyes and a face framing mane. He was very laid back and known for pretending he didn't hear zookeepers when it was time to go inside so he could get a few more minutes of sleep. Avus enjoyed enrichment like cologne and taco seasoning, and was excited about participating in training sessions. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603478794227.png" alt="Avus -Photo courtesy Topeka Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Avus -Photo courtesy Topeka Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KS – Veterinary staff at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center made the difficult decision to euthanize a 16-year-old African Lion named Avus Friday morning, according to a media release. “Avus had been experiencing agerelated issues for some time.” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “Earlier this week we noticed a significant decline in his well-being. We did a comprehensive exam and tried new medication but did not see an improvement in his condition. Today is a sad day for our extended zoo family. Avus led an impactful life at our zoo, inspiring guests to care more about wildlife and conservation.”Avus was born at the Henry Vilas Zoo on October 14, 2004. Following a recommendation from the AZA’s Species Survival Plan, Avus came to Topeka in the summer of 2006 to pair with lionesses Zuri and Asante. In 2007 Avus and Asante had one offspring, Adia, who in turn provided the pair with two grandsons that live in other AZA zoos. Avus was able to see his home at the Topeka Zoo transform with the opening of Camp Cowabunga in 2018. Zuri and Asante are also classified as geriatric at the ages of sixteen years as well. In the wild, the lifespan of lions is a range between 12-15 years of age.Avus was an easy favorite to staff and guests alike. He had the most amazing eyes and a face framing mane. He was very laid back and known for pretending he didn't hear zookeepers when it was time to go inside so he could get a few more minutes of sleep. Avus enjoyed enrichment like cologne and taco seasoning, and was excited about participating in training sessions.

 16-year-old African lion euthanized at Kansas zoo

About 4,000 small businesses across the state applied for but did not receive a working capital grant

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/22/kansas-small-businesses-still-in-need-after-depletion-of-cares-act-aid/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Thousands
 of Kansas small businesses lack desperately needed support after fewer 
than a third of those seeking federal relief funds were awarded grants 
for critical pandemic costs.

Nearly 6,000 businesses 
applied for help, but the Kansas Department of Commerce was only able to
 award grants to 1,900 before the <a href="https://www.salina.com/business/20200813/businesses-can-apply-for-cares-act-grants-next-week">$32.5 million allotted</a>
 ran out. Some members of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing 
Kansas, or SPARK, task force want to tap into a portion of the $75 
million in unused reserves to bolster the grant program.

The small business working
 capital grants were available to any business with fewer than 500 
employees. The goal was to help businesses pay working capital expenses,
 such as rent, utilities and mortgage insurance.

David Harwood, a member of
 the SPARK task force responsible for determining where to allocate 
CARES Act funding, said his wife was directly affected when grant 
recipients were announced last month.

“The small business my 
wife is employed by closed their doors two weeks ago because they were 
unable to get one of the small business loans,” Harwood said. “The 
people who are in the most need for the dollars aren’t getting it.”

Harwood and other members 
of Gov. Laura Kelly’s SPARK task force expressed concern for small 
businesses Thursday during a progress update on CARES Act funding 
distribution.

Bob North, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the small business working capital grant was greatly “oversubscribed.”

“We recognize there is a 
lot of unmet need out there for some of these programs,” North said. “We
 are not thrilled to tell 4,000 business no, but if there are additional
 funds over the next few weeks as pending grants process, we do have a 
list of those who were unsuccessful, so they are in a position to fairly
 rapidly work that list.”

Small business support was
 among the top priorities the task force identified during previous 
meetings for CARES Act funding allocation.

Neelima Parasker, 
president and CEO of SnapIT Solution in Overland Park, said given the 
consensus that small businesses aid is of importance, action should be 
taken now with reserve funds.

“I think there is a great 
opportunity for us to reconsider providing some of this grant money that
 is on our waitlist to these small businesses,” Parasker said. “When 
these programs opened, the demand was highest in that bucket. I want to 
reemphasize how we can support our small businesses.”

Julie Lorenz, executive 
director for the Office of Recovery, said there will be time for the 
State Finance Council to distribute reserve funding to small businesses 
as remaining funds from the first three phases of spending are awarded 
and paid.

Through September, about 
$203 million of the total $1.34 billion available to the state in CARES 
Act funding has been awarded and paid out. $293 million has been 
awarded, but not yet paid and nearly $463 million is unawarded or 
planned to be spent soon.

In the interest of 
transparency, the Office of Recovery will launch a dashboard on its 
website next week with information about where all CARES Act funding is 
going, Lorenz said.

Chuck Mageral, owner of 
Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence, said his business was among the 
4,000 not to receive a small business grant.

“I have no doubt that we 
would be able to quickly meet any timeframe that has been part of this 
program, and that money would not come back on the state if we receive 
those funds,” Mageral said. “Let’s do everything we can to buttress up 
that small business need. We have the opportunity to do it. We just need
 to make it happen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603474586200.png" alt="The SPARK task force on Thursday discussed progress made in in CARES Act funding distribution and areas still in need, like small businesses. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The SPARK task force on Thursday discussed progress made in in CARES Act funding distribution and areas still in need, like small businesses. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>About 4,000 small businesses across the state applied for but did not receive a working capital grant</h2>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/22/kansas-small-businesses-still-in-need-after-depletion-of-cares-act-aid/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Thousands
 of Kansas small businesses lack desperately needed support after fewer 
than a third of those seeking federal relief funds were awarded grants 
for critical pandemic costs.Nearly 6,000 businesses 
applied for help, but the Kansas Department of Commerce was only able to
 award grants to 1,900 before the <a href="https://www.salina.com/business/20200813/businesses-can-apply-for-cares-act-grants-next-week">$32.5 million allotted</a>
 ran out. Some members of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing 
Kansas, or SPARK, task force want to tap into a portion of the $75 
million in unused reserves to bolster the grant program.The small business working
 capital grants were available to any business with fewer than 500 
employees. The goal was to help businesses pay working capital expenses,
 such as rent, utilities and mortgage insurance.David Harwood, a member of
 the SPARK task force responsible for determining where to allocate 
CARES Act funding, said his wife was directly affected when grant 
recipients were announced last month.“The small business my 
wife is employed by closed their doors two weeks ago because they were 
unable to get one of the small business loans,” Harwood said. “The 
people who are in the most need for the dollars aren’t getting it.”Harwood and other members 
of Gov. Laura Kelly’s SPARK task force expressed concern for small 
businesses Thursday during a progress update on CARES Act funding 
distribution.Bob North, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the small business working capital grant was greatly “oversubscribed.”“We recognize there is a 
lot of unmet need out there for some of these programs,” North said. “We
 are not thrilled to tell 4,000 business no, but if there are additional
 funds over the next few weeks as pending grants process, we do have a 
list of those who were unsuccessful, so they are in a position to fairly
 rapidly work that list.”Small business support was
 among the top priorities the task force identified during previous 
meetings for CARES Act funding allocation.Neelima Parasker, 
president and CEO of SnapIT Solution in Overland Park, said given the 
consensus that small businesses aid is of importance, action should be 
taken now with reserve funds.“I think there is a great 
opportunity for us to reconsider providing some of this grant money that
 is on our waitlist to these small businesses,” Parasker said. “When 
these programs opened, the demand was highest in that bucket. I want to 
reemphasize how we can support our small businesses.”Julie Lorenz, executive 
director for the Office of Recovery, said there will be time for the 
State Finance Council to distribute reserve funding to small businesses 
as remaining funds from the first three phases of spending are awarded 
and paid.Through September, about 
$203 million of the total $1.34 billion available to the state in CARES 
Act funding has been awarded and paid out. $293 million has been 
awarded, but not yet paid and nearly $463 million is unawarded or 
planned to be spent soon.In the interest of 
transparency, the Office of Recovery will launch a dashboard on its 
website next week with information about where all CARES Act funding is 
going, Lorenz said.Chuck Mageral, owner of 
Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence, said his business was among the 
4,000 not to receive a small business grant.“I have no doubt that we 
would be able to quickly meet any timeframe that has been part of this 
program, and that money would not come back on the state if we receive 
those funds,” Mageral said. “Let’s do everything we can to buttress up 
that small business need. We have the opportunity to do it. We just need
 to make it happen.”

Kan. small businesses still in need after depletion of CARES Act aid

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1,774 to a total of 76,230 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 975, an increase of 23.

<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 1,774 to a total of 76,230 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 975, an increase of 23.<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/2020/10/1603472813108.png" alt="Friday Oct. 23, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Oct. 23, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrat Barbara Bollier said Thursday that she wouldn’t support adding additional justices to the U.S. Supreme Court or vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s plan to raise taxes on high-income earners if she’s elected to Kansas’ open U.S. Senate seat.

Bollier made the comments during a televised debate with Republican nominee Roger Marshall as he described her as too extreme for their GOP-leaning state. Bollier is a state senator and former lifelong moderate Republican who switched parties at the end of 2018, and Marshall is a two-term congressman representing central and western Kansas.

Marshall and other Republicans have been trying to undercut Bollier’s pitch to voters that she is a sensible centrist by saying her election would help Democrats recapture a Senate majority and she’d vote with the party’s liberals.

Some liberals want to add additional justices to the U.S. Supreme Court because conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s likely confirmation would give conservatives a 6-3 majority.

“The Supreme Court should not be politicized, and I have no interest in expanding the number of judges on the court,” Bollier said.

Marshall strongly supports Barrett’s appointment and said Bollier’s fellow Democrats are “extreme” in favoring “packing” the court.

Bollier said she opposes Biden’s plan to increase taxes on people earning more than $400,000 a year. She also said she would keep increases in standard income tax deductions that were part of tax legislation championed by President Donald Trump — after struggling initially to remember the policy and saying, “I’m blanking.” Marshall praised the Trump tax cuts.

Marshall also pressed Bollier aggressively on gun rights, saying she favors confiscating firearms. Bollier said he was misrepresenting her views, but he pointed to recordings of comments she made Oct. 3 at a Kansas City-area event in which she praised a 1990s Australian law passed after a mass shooting that forced the owners of 700,000 guns to sell them to the government.

The congressman, a strong abortion opponent, criticized Bollier as “extreme on this issue” because of her strong support of abortion rights.

“She believes in abortion at any time, and I assume that she would even use federal funds for abortion as well,” Marshall said after Bollier said she trusts women to make their own decisions.

Bollier didn’t have a chance during the debate to reply to Marshall’s comments. After the debate, Bollier spokeswoman Alexandra De Luca noted that federal law generally bars U.S. government funding for most abortions and later texted, “She would not vote for that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603449511714.png" alt="Bollier with Republican nominee Roger Marshall&nbsp; during Thursday's debate -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Bollier with Republican nominee Roger Marshall&nbsp; during Thursday's debate -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrat Barbara Bollier said Thursday that she wouldn’t support adding additional justices to the U.S. Supreme Court or vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s plan to raise taxes on high-income earners if she’s elected to Kansas’ open U.S. Senate seat.Bollier made the comments during a televised debate with Republican nominee Roger Marshall as he described her as too extreme for their GOP-leaning state. Bollier is a state senator and former lifelong moderate Republican who switched parties at the end of 2018, and Marshall is a two-term congressman representing central and western Kansas.Marshall and other Republicans have been trying to undercut Bollier’s pitch to voters that she is a sensible centrist by saying her election would help Democrats recapture a Senate majority and she’d vote with the party’s liberals.Some liberals want to add additional justices to the U.S. Supreme Court because conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s likely confirmation would give conservatives a 6-3 majority.“The Supreme Court should not be politicized, and I have no interest in expanding the number of judges on the court,” Bollier said.Marshall strongly supports Barrett’s appointment and said Bollier’s fellow Democrats are “extreme” in favoring “packing” the court.Bollier said she opposes Biden’s plan to increase taxes on people earning more than $400,000 a year. She also said she would keep increases in standard income tax deductions that were part of tax legislation championed by President Donald Trump — after struggling initially to remember the policy and saying, “I’m blanking.” Marshall praised the Trump tax cuts.Marshall also pressed Bollier aggressively on gun rights, saying she favors confiscating firearms. Bollier said he was misrepresenting her views, but he pointed to recordings of comments she made Oct. 3 at a Kansas City-area event in which she praised a 1990s Australian law passed after a mass shooting that forced the owners of 700,000 guns to sell them to the government.The congressman, a strong abortion opponent, criticized Bollier as “extreme on this issue” because of her strong support of abortion rights.“She believes in abortion at any time, and I assume that she would even use federal funds for abortion as well,” Marshall said after Bollier said she trusts women to make their own decisions.Bollier didn’t have a chance during the debate to reply to Marshall’s comments. After the debate, Bollier spokeswoman Alexandra De Luca noted that federal law generally bars U.S. government funding for most abortions and later texted, “She would not vote for that.”___

Bollier says she opposes expanding court in Senate debate

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack on a woman in Great Bend and have made an arrest.

On October 19, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office became aware of an alleged battery and rape case that occurred October 17, in the southeast part of Great Bend and involved a 42-year-old woman, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The victim did not report the alleged crime until October 19.

After conducting numerous interviews and follow-up investigations, detectives identified a suspect as Tanner J. Cox&nbsp; 32, of Hoisington.

Just after midnight Friday, deputies arrested Cox in a business parking lot on E. 10th Street in Great Bend

&nbsp;He is being held on requested charges of attempted murder in the 2nd degree, rape and violation of a protective order. Cox is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603466955064.png" alt="Cox-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Cox-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack on a woman in Great Bend and have made an arrest.On October 19, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office became aware of an alleged battery and rape case that occurred October 17, in the southeast part of Great Bend and involved a 42-year-old woman, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The victim did not report the alleged crime until October 19.After conducting numerous interviews and follow-up investigations, detectives identified a suspect as Tanner J. Cox&nbsp; 32, of Hoisington.Just after midnight Friday, deputies arrested Cox in a business parking lot on E. 10th Street in Great Bend&nbsp;He is being held on requested charges of attempted murder in the 2nd degree, rape and violation of a protective order. Cox is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond, according to Bellendir.