HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Establishment Republican leaders are scrambling to pull out a win in a tense party battle for the nomination in the Kansas Senate race, and they won’t be able to count on last-minute help from President Donald Trump.

Trump has signaled to allies and aides that he won’t endorse in the primary between Rep. Roger Marshall, the preferred candidate of Washington Republicans, and conservative lightning-rod Kris Kobach. Although GOP leaders believe Kobach’s hardline anti-immigration message is too divisive to win a general election — and may jeopardize control of the Senate — Trump has resisted weighing in out of concern for tarnish his own standing with his conservative base, according to two campaign and White House officials.

Trump’s neutrality leaves the Kansas primary heading to a tight finish Tuesday under a barrage of attack ads from political action committees. The field is crowded with candidates and is poised to test whether mainstream Republicans can be scared into unifying to block Kobach from eeking out a win.

“If we lose the Senate and everything else goes to hell, we have no firewall,” retiring Sen. Pat Roberts said in an interview, issuing one of the many increasingly dire warnings coming from Republicans. Roberts has endorsed Marshall. “That’s why the Senate race is so important in Kansas.”

Republican leaders have been trying to avoid a Kobach nomination for seven months, but the stakes have increased in recent weeks. As Trump’s popularity has slumped, fueled by disapproval of his handling of the pandemic and an economic crash, Republican worries about winning Senate seats have spiked. The once-safe seat in a state where Republicans have won every Senate race since 1932 now looks shaky and a loss the GOP can’t afford.

This was a scenario establishment Republicans tried and failed for months to avoid. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to run. GOP leaders tried without much success to narrow the number of candidates — which now stands at 11, including self-funding businessman Bob Hamilton.

All the while Democrats have watched gleefully and coalesced around Democrat with credentials that could appeal to Republicans turned off by Kobach. The presumed Democratic pick, state sen. Barbara Bollier, is a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist and a former lifelong moderate Republican who made national headlines at the end of 2018 by switching parties. Bollier already has raised more than $8 million, more than the top Republicans combined.

Kobach, meanwhile, has been relying on his loyal base attracted to him by the stance on immigration that hurt his failed 2018 campaign for governor. At a recent stop at a bar and grill in Holton, about a half-hour north of Topeka, an audience of about 20 people applauded when he mentioned his involvement in a group seeking to build privately funded sections of a wall along the U.S border with Mexico. Afterward, some said they admire the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">take-no-prisoners style</a>&nbsp;that has made Kobach anathema to many independent and moderate GOP voters.

“He doesn’t wander away from the subject matter, especially on the alien stuff and all of those things — he’s held his ground,” said Bob Sines, from the small northeast Kansas town Hiawatha, the 73-year-old owner of a ham-processing plant.

Marshall, a two-term congressman for western and central Kansas, is backed by key business, agriculture and anti-abortion groups. And he often brags about voting with Trump 98% of the time in the House, in an attempt to bolster his conservative credentials.

While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has worried about whether Kobach can win, Trump’s own advisers have pushed him to endorse Marshall, according to the campaign and White House officials who would not speak on the record because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations.

But the officials say Trump has resisted, largely out of fear that doing so would anger his most conservative supporters. In discussions about the endorsement, the president has told associates that he’s mindful that Kobach’s immigration views are in line with his own and that Kobach remains popular with Trump’s base, the officials said.

Trump also was lobbied to remain neutral by Sen. Ted Cruz, who spoke with Trump about the race on Air Force One on Wednesday, as the men flew to Washington from Cruz’s home state of Texas. Cruz noted Marshall backed John Kasich in 2016, one of Trump’s primary opponents, the officials said.

In Kansas, Kobach has played up his ties to the president even without an endorsement. He notes his role as an informal adviser after being the first prominent Kansas official to endorse Trump’s 2016 bid for president.

Trump tweeted an endorsement for Kobach in 2018 the day before the primary in the governor’s race, helping him win a 343-vote victory over then-Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer. The president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9dc2ed42fbc74738a6c12d1a06c9060a">overruled aides in doing it.</a>

Kobach, a former Kansas secretary of state, built a national profile by advocating for and then helping to write restrictive immigration policies, such as an Arizona “show your papers” law. That helped alienate many voters in the 2018 governor’s election, and even some conservatives have soured on him.

Kobach is backed by billionaire investor and PayPal founder Peter Thiel, who put $850,000 into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b24c5f2819778bf89d3e56f307b0ab19">an anti-Marshall political action committee,&nbsp;</a>according to online campaign finance documents.

But that’s only part of the roughly $11 million PACs have spent on often-slashing ads, according to two media tracking firms. Marshall, confident throughout the race, acknowledged this week that it has tightened.

Kansas does not hold runoffs, and nominees occasionally win with less than a third of the total vote.

“We knew this would be a challenge, but I trust Kansans are going to get this right,” Marshall said during an interview. “Kansans will realize that there’s too much at stake.”

The biggest-spending PAC is Sunflower State, which has Democratic ties. Its ads have criticized Kobach for being too conservative but attacked Marshall more vigorously — fueling suspicions that it’s deliberately boosting Kobach, many Democrats’ preferred challenger for Bollier.

Kobach dismisses doubts about his electability by arguing that a surge of pro-Trump voters will carry him to victory after not showing up for the 2018 election. He contends he’s being attacked by a McConnell-led GOP “swamp” that wants a pliable senator.

“On federal issues, Kansans are more conservative and more red than they are on state issues,” he said. “Whether it be national defense, or the Supreme Court or immigration or the federal budget.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596368574510.png" alt="Rep. Roger Marshall during a campaign stop last week in Gardner, Kansas. -photo Marshall for&nbsp; Senate" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Roger Marshall during a campaign stop last week in Gardner, Kansas. -photo Marshall for&nbsp; Senate</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Establishment Republican leaders are scrambling to pull out a win in a tense party battle for the nomination in the Kansas Senate race, and they won’t be able to count on last-minute help from President Donald Trump.Trump has signaled to allies and aides that he won’t endorse in the primary between Rep. Roger Marshall, the preferred candidate of Washington Republicans, and conservative lightning-rod Kris Kobach. Although GOP leaders believe Kobach’s hardline anti-immigration message is too divisive to win a general election — and may jeopardize control of the Senate — Trump has resisted weighing in out of concern for tarnish his own standing with his conservative base, according to two campaign and White House officials.Trump’s neutrality leaves the Kansas primary heading to a tight finish Tuesday under a barrage of attack ads from political action committees. The field is crowded with candidates and is poised to test whether mainstream Republicans can be scared into unifying to block Kobach from eeking out a win.“If we lose the Senate and everything else goes to hell, we have no firewall,” retiring Sen. Pat Roberts said in an interview, issuing one of the many increasingly dire warnings coming from Republicans. Roberts has endorsed Marshall. “That’s why the Senate race is so important in Kansas.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596368133872.png" alt="Kris Kobach during a campaign stop last week in Garden City-photo courtesy Kobach for Senate" />
 <figcaption>Kris Kobach during a campaign stop last week in Garden City-photo courtesy Kobach for Senate</figcaption>
 </figure>Republican leaders have been trying to avoid a Kobach nomination for seven months, but the stakes have increased in recent weeks. As Trump’s popularity has slumped, fueled by disapproval of his handling of the pandemic and an economic crash, Republican worries about winning Senate seats have spiked. The once-safe seat in a state where Republicans have won every Senate race since 1932 now looks shaky and a loss the GOP can’t afford.This was a scenario establishment Republicans tried and failed for months to avoid. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to run. GOP leaders tried without much success to narrow the number of candidates — which now stands at 11, including self-funding businessman Bob Hamilton.All the while Democrats have watched gleefully and coalesced around Democrat with credentials that could appeal to Republicans turned off by Kobach. The presumed Democratic pick, state sen. Barbara Bollier, is a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist and a former lifelong moderate Republican who made national headlines at the end of 2018 by switching parties. Bollier already has raised more than $8 million, more than the top Republicans combined.Kobach, meanwhile, has been relying on his loyal base attracted to him by the stance on immigration that hurt his failed 2018 campaign for governor. At a recent stop at a bar and grill in Holton, about a half-hour north of Topeka, an audience of about 20 people applauded when he mentioned his involvement in a group seeking to build privately funded sections of a wall along the U.S border with Mexico. Afterward, some said they admire the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">take-no-prisoners style</a>&nbsp;that has made Kobach anathema to many independent and moderate GOP voters.“He doesn’t wander away from the subject matter, especially on the alien stuff and all of those things — he’s held his ground,” said Bob Sines, from the small northeast Kansas town Hiawatha, the 73-year-old owner of a ham-processing plant.Marshall, a two-term congressman for western and central Kansas, is backed by key business, agriculture and anti-abortion groups. And he often brags about voting with Trump 98% of the time in the House, in an attempt to bolster his conservative credentials.While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has worried about whether Kobach can win, Trump’s own advisers have pushed him to endorse Marshall, according to the campaign and White House officials who would not speak on the record because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations.But the officials say Trump has resisted, largely out of fear that doing so would anger his most conservative supporters. In discussions about the endorsement, the president has told associates that he’s mindful that Kobach’s immigration views are in line with his own and that Kobach remains popular with Trump’s base, the officials said.Trump also was lobbied to remain neutral by Sen. Ted Cruz, who spoke with Trump about the race on Air Force One on Wednesday, as the men flew to Washington from Cruz’s home state of Texas. Cruz noted Marshall backed John Kasich in 2016, one of Trump’s primary opponents, the officials said.In Kansas, Kobach has played up his ties to the president even without an endorsement. He notes his role as an informal adviser after being the first prominent Kansas official to endorse Trump’s 2016 bid for president.Trump tweeted an endorsement for Kobach in 2018 the day before the primary in the governor’s race, helping him win a 343-vote victory over then-Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer. The president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9dc2ed42fbc74738a6c12d1a06c9060a">overruled aides in doing it.</a>Kobach, a former Kansas secretary of state, built a national profile by advocating for and then helping to write restrictive immigration policies, such as an Arizona “show your papers” law. That helped alienate many voters in the 2018 governor’s election, and even some conservatives have soured on him.Kobach is backed by billionaire investor and PayPal founder Peter Thiel, who put $850,000 into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b24c5f2819778bf89d3e56f307b0ab19">an anti-Marshall political action committee,&nbsp;</a>according to online campaign finance documents.But that’s only part of the roughly $11 million PACs have spent on often-slashing ads, according to two media tracking firms. Marshall, confident throughout the race, acknowledged this week that it has tightened.Kansas does not hold runoffs, and nominees occasionally win with less than a third of the total vote.“We knew this would be a challenge, but I trust Kansans are going to get this right,” Marshall said during an interview. “Kansans will realize that there’s too much at stake.”The biggest-spending PAC is Sunflower State, which has Democratic ties. Its ads have criticized Kobach for being too conservative but attacked Marshall more vigorously — fueling suspicions that it’s deliberately boosting Kobach, many Democrats’ preferred challenger for Bollier.Kobach dismisses doubts about his electability by arguing that a surge of pro-Trump voters will carry him to victory after not showing up for the 2018 election. He contends he’s being attacked by a McConnell-led GOP “swamp” that wants a pliable senator.“On federal issues, Kansans are more conservative and more red than they are on state issues,” he said. “Whether it be national defense, or the Supreme Court or immigration or the federal budget.”___

Why Trump won't endorse a candidate in Kan. Senate race

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury accident that sent a child to a hospital.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to SE 6th and Lake in Topeka and found a child with critical injuries after being struck by a vehicle, according to Lt. John Trimble.

An ambulance transported the child to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police interviewed the driver and witnesses.&nbsp;

Police released no additional information late Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596451175136.png" alt="Police on the scene of the accident Sunday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the accident Sunday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury accident that sent a child to a hospital.Just after 8:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to SE 6th and Lake in Topeka and found a child with critical injuries after being struck by a vehicle, according to Lt. John Trimble.An ambulance transported the child to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police interviewed the driver and witnesses.&nbsp;Police released no additional information late Sunday.

Police: Kan. child critically injured after struck by vehicle

SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal motel room gun fight have identified a second man who&nbsp; died. On Saturday 23-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Keion Whyte of Wichita died as a result of the gun fight, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Four suspects in the shooting remain in custody.

Just before 1a.m. July 30, police responded to a shooting at the Scotsman Hotel, 5922 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old William Pottorff with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp; 

Shortly after arriving on the scene, Keion Whyte arrived at an area hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed, a woman has been staying at the motel for approximately one month and was being visited by Pottorff, who is an acquaintance,&nbsp;according to Captain Stephens.

While in the room, Whyte and four others later identified as 23-year-old Braxton Cooley, 23-year-old&nbsp; Akakia&nbsp;Farbes, 23-year-old Koby Fisher all of Wichita and 43-year-old Eugene Donnald of O’Fallon, Illinois, forced themselves into the room, and a physical altercation ensued between Pottorff and Whyte.

During the physical altercation, both men pulled out handguns, and there was an exchange of gunfire, leading to Pottorff’s and then White's fatal injuries.

&nbsp;Cooley, Farbes, Donald, Fisher, and an additional person that was in a vehicle during the incident took Whyte to an area hospital, according to Stephens.

Following the investigation, police arrested Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald&nbsp; on requested charges of felony murder and aggravated burglary, according to Stephens.

SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal motel room shooting have arrested four suspects.

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Scotsman Hotel, 5922 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old William Pottorff with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp; 

Shortly after arriving on the scene, a 23-year-old man arrived at an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and in critical condition.&nbsp; He remains hospitalized.

While in the room, the 23-year-old man and four others later identified as 23-year-old Braxton Cooley, 23-year-old&nbsp; Akakia&nbsp;Farbes, 23-year-old Koby Fisher all of Wichita and 43-year-old Eugene Donnald of O’Fallon, Illinois, forced themselves into the room, and a physical altercation ensued between Pottorff and the 23-year-old shooting suspect.

During the physical altercation, both men pulled out handguns, and there was an exchange of gunfire, leading to Pottorff’s fatal injuries and the 23-year-old’s critical injuries.

The 23-year-old was then taken to the area hospital by Cooley, Farbes, Donald, Fisher, and an additional person that was in a vehicle during the incident.

 Police have not released the identity of the 23-year-old in the hospital.

SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 40-year-old William Pottorff.

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police responded to report of a shooting at the Scottsman Inn, 5922 West Kellogg in Wichita, according to&nbsp;Captain Jason Stephens.

When officers arrived, they found Pottorf dead inside one of the motel rooms. He had been staying there with a woman who had rented the room, according to Stephens.

Shortly after police were sent to the motel, officers learned that a 23-year-old man had arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Investigators were able to determine that he was involved in this incident at the motel. He remains in critical condition, according to Stephens.

Through interviews and evidence, police learned that the 23-year-old had been at the motel with four other men. They forcibly entered Pottorf's room.&nbsp; A disturbance occurred between the 23-year-old and Pottorf, according to Captain Stephens. Both brandished firearms and there was exchange of gunfire.

Police were continuing to conduct interviews in the case, according to Stephens.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596107513157.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation early Thursday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation early Thursday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal motel room gun fight have identified a second man who&nbsp; died. On Saturday 23-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Keion Whyte of Wichita died as a result of the gun fight, according to officer Charley Davidson.Four suspects in the shooting remain in custody.Just before 1a.m. July 30, police responded to a shooting at the Scotsman Hotel, 5922 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old William Pottorff with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp; Shortly after arriving on the scene, Keion Whyte arrived at an area hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.&nbsp;The investigation revealed, a woman has been staying at the motel for approximately one month and was being visited by Pottorff, who is an acquaintance,&nbsp;according to Captain Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596146101791.png" alt="Cooley photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cooley photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>While in the room, Whyte and four others later identified as 23-year-old Braxton Cooley, 23-year-old&nbsp; Akakia&nbsp;Farbes, 23-year-old Koby Fisher all of Wichita and 43-year-old Eugene Donnald of O’Fallon, Illinois, forced themselves into the room, and a physical altercation ensued between Pottorff and Whyte.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596159011888.png" alt="Farbes photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Farbes photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the physical altercation, both men pulled out handguns, and there was an exchange of gunfire, leading to Pottorff’s and then White's fatal injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596146211661.png" alt="Fisher photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Fisher photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Cooley, Farbes, Donald, Fisher, and an additional person that was in a vehicle during the incident took Whyte to an area hospital, according to Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596206388150.png" alt="Donnald- photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Donnald- photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the investigation, police arrested Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald&nbsp; on requested charges of felony murder and aggravated burglary, according to Stephens.--------SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal motel room shooting have arrested four suspects.Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Scotsman Hotel, 5922 W. Kellogg in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old William Pottorff with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596107513157.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation early Thursday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation early Thursday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Shortly after arriving on the scene, a 23-year-old man arrived at an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and in critical condition.&nbsp; He remains hospitalized.The investigation revealed, a woman has been staying at the motel for approximately one month and was being visited by Pottorff, who is an acquaintance,&nbsp;according to Captain Stephens.While in the room, the 23-year-old man and four others later identified as 23-year-old Braxton Cooley, 23-year-old&nbsp; Akakia&nbsp;Farbes, 23-year-old Koby Fisher all of Wichita and 43-year-old Eugene Donnald of O’Fallon, Illinois, forced themselves into the room, and a physical altercation ensued between Pottorff and the 23-year-old shooting suspect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596159011888.png" alt="Farbes photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Farbes photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the physical altercation, both men pulled out handguns, and there was an exchange of gunfire, leading to Pottorff’s fatal injuries and the 23-year-old’s critical injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596146211661.png" alt="Fisher photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Fisher photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The 23-year-old was then taken to the area hospital by Cooley, Farbes, Donald, Fisher, and an additional person that was in a vehicle during the incident.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596206388150.png" alt="Donnald- photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Donnald- photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the investigation, police arrested Cooley, Farbes, Fisher and Donnald&nbsp; on requested charges of felony murder and aggravated burglary, according to Stephens. Police have not released the identity of the 23-year-old in the hospital.-------------SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 40-year-old William Pottorff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596107513157.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation early Thursday photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation early Thursday photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police responded to report of a shooting at the Scottsman Inn, 5922 West Kellogg in Wichita, according to&nbsp;Captain Jason Stephens.When officers arrived, they found Pottorf dead inside one of the motel rooms. He had been staying there with a woman who had rented the room, according to Stephens.Shortly after police were sent to the motel, officers learned that a 23-year-old man had arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Investigators were able to determine that he was involved in this incident at the motel. He remains in critical condition, according to Stephens.Through interviews and evidence, police learned that the 23-year-old had been at the motel with four other men. They forcibly entered Pottorf's room.&nbsp; A disturbance occurred between the 23-year-old and Pottorf, according to Captain Stephens. Both brandished firearms and there was exchange of gunfire.Police were continuing to conduct interviews in the case, according to Stephens.

Kan. motel gun fight: 2 dead, 4 jailed for murder, burglary

WASHINGTON (AP) — Slow, grinding negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief bill are set to resume, but the path forward promises to be challenging. Both the Trump administration negotiating team and top Capitol Hill Democrats reported progress over the weekend even as they highlighted their differences.

Ahead of Monday’s talks, all sides predict a long slog ahead despite the lapse of a $600-per-week supplemental COVID jobless benefit, the beginning of school season, and the call of lawmakers’ cherished August recess. Several more days of talks are expected, if not more.

The White House is seeking opportunities to boost President Donald Trump, like another round of $1,200 stimulus payments and extending the supplemental jobless benefit and partial eviction ban. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democratic negotiator, appears intent on an agreement as well, but she’s made it clear she needs big money for state and local governments, unemployment benefits and food aid.

Appearances by the principal negotiators on Sunday’s news shows featured continued political shots by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows at Pelosi for turning down a one-week extension of the $600 benefit in talks last week.

Meadows, however, is understaffed during the talks and seems to struggle with his read on Pelosi. He spent much of his time on CBS’ “Face The Nation” attacking her for opposing a piecemeal approach that would revive jobless benefits immediately but leave other items like food stamps and aid to states for later legislation. She is insisting on a complete package.

Areas of agreement already include the $1,200 direct payment and changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to permit especially hard-hit businesses to obtain another loan under generous forgiveness terms.

But the terms and structure of the unemployment benefit remains a huge sticking point, negotiators said Sunday, and Meadows hasn’t made any concessions yet on the almost $1 trillion Pelosi wants for state and local governments grappling with pandemic-related revenue losses.

“We still have a long ways to go,” Meadows said, adding, “I’m not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term.”

Pelosi said she’d consider reducing the $600 benefit for states with lower unemployment rates. Republicans want to cut the benefit to encourage beneficiaries to return to work and say it is bad policy since it pays many jobless people more money than they made at their previous jobs.T

“But in this agreement it’s $600,” Pelosi said on ABC’s ’This Week.″ “Yes, they might anecdotally have examples, but the fact is, is that they’re subjecting somebody who gets $600 to scrutiny they won’t subject some of the people that are getting millions of dollars” through the loan program for small businesses that keep employees on their payrolls.

Another sticking point is that Republicans want to give more school aid to systems that are restarting with in-school learning, even as Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump’s top coronavirus adviser, cautioned that schools in areas with spikes in cases should delay reopening

“In the areas where we have this widespread case increase, we need to stop the cases, and then we can talk about safely reopening,” Birx said on “This Week.”

The House passed a $3.5 trillion measure in May, but Republicans controlling the Senate have demanded a slower approach, saying it was necessary to take a “pause” before passing additional legislation. Since they announced that strategy, however, coronavirus caseloads have spiked and the economy has absorbed an enormous blow.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596449262607.png" alt="White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows discussed the virus relief negotiation during a press briefing -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows discussed the virus relief negotiation during a press briefing -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Slow, grinding negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief bill are set to resume, but the path forward promises to be challenging. Both the Trump administration negotiating team and top Capitol Hill Democrats reported progress over the weekend even as they highlighted their differences.Ahead of Monday’s talks, all sides predict a long slog ahead despite the lapse of a $600-per-week supplemental COVID jobless benefit, the beginning of school season, and the call of lawmakers’ cherished August recess. Several more days of talks are expected, if not more.The White House is seeking opportunities to boost President Donald Trump, like another round of $1,200 stimulus payments and extending the supplemental jobless benefit and partial eviction ban. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democratic negotiator, appears intent on an agreement as well, but she’s made it clear she needs big money for state and local governments, unemployment benefits and food aid.Appearances by the principal negotiators on Sunday’s news shows featured continued political shots by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows at Pelosi for turning down a one-week extension of the $600 benefit in talks last week.Meadows, however, is understaffed during the talks and seems to struggle with his read on Pelosi. He spent much of his time on CBS’ “Face The Nation” attacking her for opposing a piecemeal approach that would revive jobless benefits immediately but leave other items like food stamps and aid to states for later legislation. She is insisting on a complete package.Areas of agreement already include the $1,200 direct payment and changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to permit especially hard-hit businesses to obtain another loan under generous forgiveness terms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596449788934.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her Friday press briefing -image courtesy office of House Speaker" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her Friday press briefing -image courtesy office of House Speaker</figcaption>
 </figure>But the terms and structure of the unemployment benefit remains a huge sticking point, negotiators said Sunday, and Meadows hasn’t made any concessions yet on the almost $1 trillion Pelosi wants for state and local governments grappling with pandemic-related revenue losses.“We still have a long ways to go,” Meadows said, adding, “I’m not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term.”Pelosi said she’d consider reducing the $600 benefit for states with lower unemployment rates. Republicans want to cut the benefit to encourage beneficiaries to return to work and say it is bad policy since it pays many jobless people more money than they made at their previous jobs.T“But in this agreement it’s $600,” Pelosi said on ABC’s ’This Week.″ “Yes, they might anecdotally have examples, but the fact is, is that they’re subjecting somebody who gets $600 to scrutiny they won’t subject some of the people that are getting millions of dollars” through the loan program for small businesses that keep employees on their payrolls.Another sticking point is that Republicans want to give more school aid to systems that are restarting with in-school learning, even as Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump’s top coronavirus adviser, cautioned that schools in areas with spikes in cases should delay reopening“In the areas where we have this widespread case increase, we need to stop the cases, and then we can talk about safely reopening,” Birx said on “This Week.”The House passed a $3.5 trillion measure in May, but Republicans controlling the Senate have demanded a slower approach, saying it was necessary to take a “pause” before passing additional legislation. Since they announced that strategy, however, coronavirus caseloads have spiked and the economy has absorbed an enormous blow.

No end in sight to virus relief bill negotiations 

KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;–&nbsp;A grand jury in Kansas City, Kan., returned kidnapping charges against six defendants, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

The superseding indictment builds on an indictment initially filed under seal late last year alleging the kidnapping took place in April 2019 in Wyandotte County. 

The indictment alleges a ransom was paid and that some of the defendants carried firearms during the crime. The indictment identifies the victim only as D.B. and provides no further details of the crime. The federal penalty for kidnapping is up to life in prison.

David Carr, 34, Kansas City, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of brandishing a firearm during the crime (count four).

Brandon West, 34, Kansas City, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of receiving and possessing ransom money (count two), one count of brandishing a firearm during the crime (count four).

Randi Serna,&nbsp;30, Wichita, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one).

Brian Spaulding,&nbsp;30, Mission, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of discharging a shotgun during the crime (count three).

Michael Huggins, 39, one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of receiving and possessing ransom money (count two),

James Michael Poterbin, 44, one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of brandishing a firearm during the crime (count four).

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

&nbsp;Kidnapping: Up to life in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

&nbsp;Receiving ransom money: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

Brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence (counts three and four): Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania is prosecuting.

KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;–&nbsp;A grand jury in Kansas City, Kan., returned kidnapping charges against six defendants, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.The superseding indictment builds on an indictment initially filed under seal late last year alleging the kidnapping took place in April 2019 in Wyandotte County. The indictment alleges a ransom was paid and that some of the defendants carried firearms during the crime. The indictment identifies the victim only as D.B. and provides no further details of the crime. The federal penalty for kidnapping is up to life in prison.Charged in the case are the following:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120381636.png" alt="Carr photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Carr photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>David Carr, 34, Kansas City, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of brandishing a firearm during the crime (count four).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120454330.png" alt="West photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>West photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Brandon West, 34, Kansas City, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of receiving and possessing ransom money (count two), one count of brandishing a firearm during the crime (count four).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120513876.png" alt="Serna photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Serna photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Randi Serna,&nbsp;30, Wichita, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120648022.png" alt="Spaulding -photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Spaulding -photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Brian Spaulding,&nbsp;30, Mission, Kan., one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of discharging a shotgun during the crime (count three).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120745567.png" alt="Huggins photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Huggins photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Michael Huggins, 39, one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of receiving and possessing ransom money (count two),<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120824220.png" alt="Poterbin photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Poterbin photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>James Michael Poterbin, 44, one count of kidnapping (count one), one count of brandishing a firearm during the crime (count four).Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:&nbsp;Kidnapping: Up to life in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.&nbsp;Receiving ransom money: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.Brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence (counts three and four): Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania is prosecuting.

Indictment: Ransom paid in 2019 kidnapping in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been sentenced to about 9 years in prison for his role in a triple homicide that left his best friend dead. 

Shane Andrew Mays, 22, Topeka, was sentenced Wednesday for second-degree attempted murder and aggravated battery. 

Those charges relate to the deaths of 19-year-old Matthew Leavitt and 38-year-old Nicole Fisher, who died along with 20-year-old Luke Davis in March 2017 over an unproven rape allegation against Leavitt. 

Mays has said he felt pressured into helping with the murders and his attorneys had argued he was a victim in the case. Four other people have been sentenced in the deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596140237781.png" alt="Mays-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Mays-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been sentenced to about 9 years in prison for his role in a triple homicide that left his best friend dead. Shane Andrew Mays, 22, Topeka, was sentenced Wednesday for second-degree attempted murder and aggravated battery. Those charges relate to the deaths of 19-year-old Matthew Leavitt and 38-year-old Nicole Fisher, who died along with 20-year-old Luke Davis in March 2017 over an unproven rape allegation against Leavitt. Mays has said he felt pressured into helping with the murders and his attorneys had argued he was a victim in the case. Four other people have been sentenced in the deaths.

Kan. man sentenced in triple killing that left best friend dead

WICHITA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating illegal protest activity that has occurred since Wednesday in Wichita.

The Wichita Police Department has monitored and is investigating illegal activity involving a group of protestors who have been meeting downtown, according to officer Charley Davidson. 

The group is alleged to have been blocking traffic, causing disturbances, vandalizing property, aggravated assault with a firearm, and battery. Charges will be forthcoming, according to Davidson.

If anyone has any information regarding illegal activity or can identify photos of protestors who have engaged in illegal behavior, please call WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, or call the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282.

According to Davidson, the Wichita Police Department has always supported individual's right to demonstrate lawfully and has previously worked alongside other demonstration leaders to ensure their groups were able to share their views safely. However, the individuals protesting the past few days refuse to demonstrate lawfully.

"Police will continue to monitor any protest activities throughout Wichita. Illegal activity will not be tolerated, and criminals will be arrested and held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596375478117.png" alt="Black Lives Matter protest late Friday night in Wichita -image courtesy Liberty ICT" />
 <figcaption>Black Lives Matter protest late Friday night in Wichita -image courtesy Liberty ICT</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating illegal protest activity that has occurred since Wednesday in Wichita.The Wichita Police Department has monitored and is investigating illegal activity involving a group of protestors who have been meeting downtown, according to officer Charley Davidson. The group is alleged to have been blocking traffic, causing disturbances, vandalizing property, aggravated assault with a firearm, and battery. Charges will be forthcoming, according to Davidson.If anyone has any information regarding illegal activity or can identify photos of protestors who have engaged in illegal behavior, please call WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, or call the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282.According to Davidson, the Wichita Police Department has always supported individual's right to demonstrate lawfully and has previously worked alongside other demonstration leaders to ensure their groups were able to share their views safely. However, the individuals protesting the past few days refuse to demonstrate lawfully."Police will continue to monitor any protest activities throughout Wichita. Illegal activity will not be tolerated, and criminals will be arrested and held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law."

Police investigate alleged illegal protest activity in Kansas

Kansas City (AP) — John Barrett plans to keep his daughter home from elementary school this year in suburban Atlanta, but he wishes she were going. Molly Ball is sending her teenage sons to school in the same district on Monday, but not without feelings of regret.

As the academic year begins in many places across the country this week, parents are faced with the difficult choice of whether to send their children to school or keep them home for remote learning because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many are unhappy with either option.

“I definitely think it’s healthy for a child to go back to school,” said Ball, who feels her sons, William and Henry, both at River Ridge High School in Georgia’s Cherokee County district, suffered through enough instability in the spring. “At the same time, I wish they weren’t going back to school right now. It’s very scary.”

Offering parents choices eases some of the problems facing schools. If some students stay home, that creates more space in buildings and on buses.

But the number of families with a choice has dwindled as the virus’s spread has prompted school districts to scrap in-person classes — at least to start the academic year — in cities including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/45ec4b2f9a3b1c0007c059ba65b68a4f">Los Angeles</a>, Philadelphia and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/59979f39cefcbc3da55c5f6c20371b67">Washington</a>, as well as parts of the South and Midwest where school is starting this week.

Many districts that don’t begin instruction until after Labor Day are warily tracking the virus — and weighing concerns of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4e8a446186df3c1962137dbe9faf7f38">educators&nbsp;</a>and parents — as they consider plans including hybrid approaches, with in-person learning at least a few days a week.

In Cherokee County, administrators have stuck with plans to offer in-person school five days a week despite pressure from some parents and teachers. The countywide district also rejected demands to require masks inside school buildings. The families of about 23% of Cherokee County’s 43,000 students have opted for them to learn remotely from home.

Barrett said the mask decision contributed to his decision to keep Autumn, who is in a special education program, home to start third grade at Bascomb Elementary School.

“At a minimum, there ought to be a mask mandate, and maybe a staggered schedule. They’re not interested in responding to the realities of the virus as it’s happening in Georgia,” Barrett said.

Barrett works from home and his wife, who has an educational background, isn’t employed. He says that gives them “an ability to bridge the gap.” But he worries that Autumn will still fall behind, especially on her individualized education program, the plan written for each special education student.

“She gives up a lot of the ability to make progress on her IEP,” Barrett said. “It’s a big decision, and it feels like a definite loss.”

Parents are not the only ones who are struggling. Districts that offer two modes of instruction create new challenges for teachers as well, especially those in smaller districts who are being asked to educate students in person and online at the same time.

“The key is going to be the complexity, how they handle it,” said Allen Pratt, executive director of the National Rural Education Association. “Is it going to be standards-driven, what students need to move to the next grade level? Is it going to be equal to face-to-face or better than face-to-face?”

Denise Dalrymple is reluctantly sending her two sons back to first and sixth grades in Cherokee County because she says it’s impossible for her to work otherwise. Like many districts, the county says it will have increased academic expectations for online learning this fall, compared to the spring.

“You basically have to make the student’s education time a priority over your own job,” Dalrymple said.

Others are more enthusiastic about a return.

“It was automatic because my husband and I both work, because it would have upset both of our schedules,” said Jackie Taylor, who has three school-aged children and lives in nearby Canton.

She said her children have been around other kids this summer, making the transition back to school less concerning.

“We use the neighborhood pool, we do the sports,” Taylor said as she watched her son practice baseball. “Obviously they’re in close proximity in the dugouts.”

Siana Onanovic said her son Kelvin will be attending Woodstock High, also in the Cherokee district, in person as a freshman. That’s in part because the special science and engineering curriculum that drew her family to the school’s attendance zone isn’t available online.

But, like many, she had her reservations.

“There are so many pros and cons on each side,” she said.

Kansas City (AP) — John Barrett plans to keep his daughter home from elementary school this year in suburban Atlanta, but he wishes she were going. Molly Ball is sending her teenage sons to school in the same district on Monday, but not without feelings of regret.As the academic year begins in many places across the country this week, parents are faced with the difficult choice of whether to send their children to school or keep them home for remote learning because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many are unhappy with either option.“I definitely think it’s healthy for a child to go back to school,” said Ball, who feels her sons, William and Henry, both at River Ridge High School in Georgia’s Cherokee County district, suffered through enough instability in the spring. “At the same time, I wish they weren’t going back to school right now. It’s very scary.”Offering parents choices eases some of the problems facing schools. If some students stay home, that creates more space in buildings and on buses.But the number of families with a choice has dwindled as the virus’s spread has prompted school districts to scrap in-person classes — at least to start the academic year — in cities including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/45ec4b2f9a3b1c0007c059ba65b68a4f">Los Angeles</a>, Philadelphia and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/59979f39cefcbc3da55c5f6c20371b67">Washington</a>, as well as parts of the South and Midwest where school is starting this week.Many districts that don’t begin instruction until after Labor Day are warily tracking the virus — and weighing concerns of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4e8a446186df3c1962137dbe9faf7f38">educators&nbsp;</a>and parents — as they consider plans including hybrid approaches, with in-person learning at least a few days a week.In Cherokee County, administrators have stuck with plans to offer in-person school five days a week despite pressure from some parents and teachers. The countywide district also rejected demands to require masks inside school buildings. The families of about 23% of Cherokee County’s 43,000 students have opted for them to learn remotely from home.Barrett said the mask decision contributed to his decision to keep Autumn, who is in a special education program, home to start third grade at Bascomb Elementary School.“At a minimum, there ought to be a mask mandate, and maybe a staggered schedule. They’re not interested in responding to the realities of the virus as it’s happening in Georgia,” Barrett said.Barrett works from home and his wife, who has an educational background, isn’t employed. He says that gives them “an ability to bridge the gap.” But he worries that Autumn will still fall behind, especially on her individualized education program, the plan written for each special education student.“She gives up a lot of the ability to make progress on her IEP,” Barrett said. “It’s a big decision, and it feels like a definite loss.”Parents are not the only ones who are struggling. Districts that offer two modes of instruction create new challenges for teachers as well, especially those in smaller districts who are being asked to educate students in person and online at the same time.“The key is going to be the complexity, how they handle it,” said Allen Pratt, executive director of the National Rural Education Association. “Is it going to be standards-driven, what students need to move to the next grade level? Is it going to be equal to face-to-face or better than face-to-face?”Denise Dalrymple is reluctantly sending her two sons back to first and sixth grades in Cherokee County because she says it’s impossible for her to work otherwise. Like many districts, the county says it will have increased academic expectations for online learning this fall, compared to the spring.“You basically have to make the student’s education time a priority over your own job,” Dalrymple said.Others are more enthusiastic about a return.“It was automatic because my husband and I both work, because it would have upset both of our schedules,” said Jackie Taylor, who has three school-aged children and lives in nearby Canton.She said her children have been around other kids this summer, making the transition back to school less concerning.“We use the neighborhood pool, we do the sports,” Taylor said as she watched her son practice baseball. “Obviously they’re in close proximity in the dugouts.”Siana Onanovic said her son Kelvin will be attending Woodstock High, also in the Cherokee district, in person as a freshman. That’s in part because the special science and engineering curriculum that drew her family to the school’s attendance zone isn’t available online.But, like many, she had her reservations.“There are so many pros and cons on each side,” she said.

As school begins amid virus, parents see few good options

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have released additional details in the arrest of a&nbsp; highly sought after shooting suspect.

Just after 3p.m. July 29, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit arrived at a residence in the 1500 block of SE 10th Avenue in Topeka to search for a wanted suspect, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

While arresting the primary individual, a deputy recognized another male subject, Michael D. Shadoan, 35, of Topeka, outside the residence.

Shadoan had a federal warrant for his arrest and was wanted by the Topeka Police Department for questioning in reference to a shooting on July 16. 

When Shadoan realized he was noticed, he ran inside a residence and barricaded himself.

Deputies were notified that Shadoan was armed with a shotgun. A gunshot was also heard inside the residence.

After several hours of negotiating, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team deployed CS gas inside the residence. After a few minutes, Shadoan surrendered and deputies took him&nbsp; into custody. The SWAT Team doctor and paramedic provided medical attention to Shadoan before he was released to the United States Marshals Service.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — After asking the public for assistance in locating a person of interest in a July shooting investigation, police have made an arrest.

Police on the scene of the investigation July 16-photo courtesy WIBW TV

On Wednesday, police arrested 35-year-old&nbsp;Michael D. Shadoan in the 1500 block of SE 10th street in Topeka, according to Police Lieutenant John Trimble.&nbsp;

Just before 6:30 a.m. on July 16, police were dispatched to the 600 block of SW Taylor Street on a report of shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 55-year-old Michael L. Brown of Topeka suffering from life-threatening injuries believed to be associated with the shooting, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Throughout the course of the investigation information was developed indicating that Michael D. Shadoan, 35 of Topeka was a person of interest in the shooting.&nbsp;

Shadoan is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charges of Aggravated Battery.

He has previous convictions for burglary, aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Correctons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595932253972.png" alt="Michael Shadoan-photo Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Michael Shadoan-photo Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have released additional details in the arrest of a&nbsp; highly sought after shooting suspect.Just after 3p.m. July 29, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit arrived at a residence in the 1500 block of SE 10th Avenue in Topeka to search for a wanted suspect, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.While arresting the primary individual, a deputy recognized another male subject, Michael D. Shadoan, 35, of Topeka, outside the residence.Shadoan had a federal warrant for his arrest and was wanted by the Topeka Police Department for questioning in reference to a shooting on July 16. When Shadoan realized he was noticed, he ran inside a residence and barricaded himself.Deputies were notified that Shadoan was armed with a shotgun. A gunshot was also heard inside the residence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596194281857.png" alt="Michael Shadoan following his arrest -photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Michael Shadoan following his arrest -photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>After several hours of negotiating, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team deployed CS gas inside the residence. After a few minutes, Shadoan surrendered and deputies took him&nbsp; into custody. The SWAT Team doctor and paramedic provided medical attention to Shadoan before he was released to the United States Marshals Service.-------SHAWNEE COUNTY — After asking the public for assistance in locating a person of interest in a July shooting investigation, police have made an arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594907101067.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Police on the scene of the investigation July 16-photo courtesy WIBW TVOn Wednesday, police arrested 35-year-old&nbsp;Michael D. Shadoan in the 1500 block of SE 10th street in Topeka, according to Police Lieutenant John Trimble.&nbsp;Just before 6:30 a.m. on July 16, police were dispatched to the 600 block of SW Taylor Street on a report of shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 55-year-old Michael L. Brown of Topeka suffering from life-threatening injuries believed to be associated with the shooting, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.Throughout the course of the investigation information was developed indicating that Michael D. Shadoan, 35 of Topeka was a person of interest in the shooting.&nbsp;Shadoan is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charges of Aggravated Battery.He has previous convictions for burglary, aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Correctons.---------

Kansas shooting suspect released to U.S. Marshals

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-30/feds-say-filth-hazards-at-kansas-group-homes-put-foster-care-children-at-risk">Kansas News Service</a>

Kansas let foster care children live in group homes with broken 
windows, mold, exposed electrical wiring, trashed porches and rodent 
droppings.

That’s according to <a href="https://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region7/71906087.asp" target="_blank">an audit</a>
 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector
 General. Federal inspectors dug into the state’s system of group homes 
in 2018 and 2019, but their final report only came out this week.

The auditors say Kansas wasn’t making homes meet health and safety requirements, even though state inspectors visited regularly.

“The homes were generally allowed to maintain operations without making needed repairs,” they wrote in their report.

Before
 the audit went public, the Kansas Department for Children and Families 
reviewed and responded to the findings. It disputes part of the report, 
saying auditors at times missed important information and documents.

The agency also says it has made changes to improve oversight of 
group homes, spokesman Mike Deines said in an email to the Kansas News 
Service.

In 2018 and 2019, inspectors came to Kansas and visited 
all 31 group homes licensed at the time to house between 5 and 24 kids. 
They said they were met with walls that had holes in them, missing 
windows, subpar fire extinguishers, rundown playgrounds littered with 
trash, beds without proper bedding, long nails sticking out of wooden 
stairs and other dangerous debris.

At one place that housed six 
boys, they found an unsafe gas heater connected to an exposed natural 
gas line running through a child’s room. Another boy’s bed had an 
electric space heater pushed up against it, and the outside decks were 
in disrepair.

“Porches were propped up in a makeshift fashion,” the auditors wrote. “Trash and debris were strewn around.”

Twenty-four
 of the 31 homes violated physical health and safety rules, and 29 broke
 background check or fingerprint requirements. One place housed teenage 
boys and girls, even though its license only allowed it to care for the 
latter.

State inspectors knew but didn’t close the home or make it
 undergo licensing to care for boys, the auditors say. That home has 
since been stripped of its license and closed.

Federal auditors 
said 40 employees at the group homes had out-of-date background 
paperwork on file. More than 120 people had been on the job for more 
than a week before their employers submitted requests for background 
checks to the state. Paperwork was missing or undated for a few dozen 
more workers.

The state agency that oversees foster care pushed 
back against the findings regarding violations of environmental rules 
and background checks. Kansas also said it had begun reviewing employee 
lists at the homes monthly, and had stopped letting them put people to 
work before background checks are complete.

In its email to the Kansas News Service, DCF explained some of the changes.

“While
 we do not agree with all the audit teams' conclusions, we have taken 
several steps to correct deficiencies identified during the previous 
administration,” Deines said.

Gov. Laura Kelly took over in January 2019, and pledged to fix the 
state’s ailing foster care system, which had already come under fire for
 the deaths of several children, as well as putting children in crowded 
spaces, moving them too often and not doing enough to find children that
 go missing.

Under Kelly’s watch, DCF has worked to rope in 
higher-level supervisors when facilities have unresolved violations, 
Deines said, as well as put licensing staff through fire hazard training
 and added a manager position focused on group home oversight and 
licensing.

DCF also sent staff to each of the 31 homes in the federal audit, he said, to make sure the problems identified there get fixed.

Earlier this month, DCF <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-08/kansas-foster-care-advocates-settle-lawsuit-against-the-state" target="_blank">settled a class-action lawsuit</a>
 that accused Kansas of failing to provide mental health care to 
children in foster care, and of putting kids in a different home each 
night, or even keeping them in offices or other spaces not meant for 
housing.

Under the settlement, Kansas must work over the next few 
years to fix those problems and others. It has to make sure foster care 
sites don’t go over capacity and track whether children end up in jail 
or the juvenile justice system.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596206214739.png" alt="A door with a boarded-up window opens to a platform missing its railing. U.S. Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General" />
 <figcaption>A door with a boarded-up window opens to a platform missing its railing. U.S. Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-30/feds-say-filth-hazards-at-kansas-group-homes-put-foster-care-children-at-risk">Kansas News Service</a>Kansas let foster care children live in group homes with broken 
windows, mold, exposed electrical wiring, trashed porches and rodent 
droppings.That’s according to <a href="https://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region7/71906087.asp" target="_blank">an audit</a>
 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector
 General. Federal inspectors dug into the state’s system of group homes 
in 2018 and 2019, but their final report only came out this week.The auditors say Kansas wasn’t making homes meet health and safety requirements, even though state inspectors visited regularly.“The homes were generally allowed to maintain operations without making needed repairs,” they wrote in their report.Before
 the audit went public, the Kansas Department for Children and Families 
reviewed and responded to the findings. It disputes part of the report, 
saying auditors at times missed important information and documents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596206277320.png" alt="A porch at a group home for foster children is blocked with broken furniture, paint cans and other trash." />
 <figcaption>A porch at a group home for foster children is blocked with broken furniture, paint cans and other trash.</figcaption>
 </figure>The agency also says it has made changes to improve oversight of 
group homes, spokesman Mike Deines said in an email to the Kansas News 
Service.In 2018 and 2019, inspectors came to Kansas and visited 
all 31 group homes licensed at the time to house between 5 and 24 kids. 
They said they were met with walls that had holes in them, missing 
windows, subpar fire extinguishers, rundown playgrounds littered with 
trash, beds without proper bedding, long nails sticking out of wooden 
stairs and other dangerous debris.At one place that housed six 
boys, they found an unsafe gas heater connected to an exposed natural 
gas line running through a child’s room. Another boy’s bed had an 
electric space heater pushed up against it, and the outside decks were 
in disrepair.“Porches were propped up in a makeshift fashion,” the auditors wrote. “Trash and debris were strewn around.”Twenty-four
 of the 31 homes violated physical health and safety rules, and 29 broke
 background check or fingerprint requirements. One place housed teenage 
boys and girls, even though its license only allowed it to care for the 
latter.State inspectors knew but didn’t close the home or make it
 undergo licensing to care for boys, the auditors say. That home has 
since been stripped of its license and closed.Federal auditors 
said 40 employees at the group homes had out-of-date background 
paperwork on file. More than 120 people had been on the job for more 
than a week before their employers submitted requests for background 
checks to the state. Paperwork was missing or undated for a few dozen 
more workers.The state agency that oversees foster care pushed 
back against the findings regarding violations of environmental rules 
and background checks. Kansas also said it had begun reviewing employee 
lists at the homes monthly, and had stopped letting them put people to 
work before background checks are complete.In its email to the Kansas News Service, DCF explained some of the changes.“While
 we do not agree with all the audit teams' conclusions, we have taken 
several steps to correct deficiencies identified during the previous 
administration,” Deines said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596206305818.png" alt="Nails poke out of wooden stairs at a group home for foster care children in Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Nails poke out of wooden stairs at a group home for foster care children in Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Laura Kelly took over in January 2019, and pledged to fix the 
state’s ailing foster care system, which had already come under fire for
 the deaths of several children, as well as putting children in crowded 
spaces, moving them too often and not doing enough to find children that
 go missing.Under Kelly’s watch, DCF has worked to rope in 
higher-level supervisors when facilities have unresolved violations, 
Deines said, as well as put licensing staff through fire hazard training
 and added a manager position focused on group home oversight and 
licensing.DCF also sent staff to each of the 31 homes in the federal audit, he said, to make sure the problems identified there get fixed.Earlier this month, DCF <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-08/kansas-foster-care-advocates-settle-lawsuit-against-the-state" target="_blank">settled a class-action lawsuit</a>
 that accused Kansas of failing to provide mental health care to 
children in foster care, and of putting kids in a different home each 
night, or even keeping them in offices or other spaces not meant for 
housing.Under the settlement, Kansas must work over the next few 
years to fix those problems and others. It has to make sure foster care 
sites don’t go over capacity and track whether children end up in jail 
or the juvenile justice system.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Feds: Filth, hazards at Kan. group homes put foster children at risk

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas child welfare agency determined on Friday that a 3-year-old girl whose battered body was found earlier this month died as the result of child abuse, a belated finding that comes months after the agency first received reports of abuse.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families released a “Child Fatality Summary” pertaining to Olivia Ann Jansen in response to an open records request from The Associated Press. The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9313cd8643d6ff402103fd65cb31ba70">had initially balked</a>&nbsp;at releasing any information despite a 2018 law that aimed to make such documents more transparent when a child dies.

Olivia’s remains were found in a shallow grave on July 10 after her father, Howard Jansen III, 29, reported the Kansas City, Kansas, girl missing. The 29-year-old father and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, have since been charged with felony murder and other crimes.

The father’s attorney, James Spies, said he has not seen the agency’s report. Spies said the father “client adamantly denies the charges against him.”

The attorney for the girlfriend did not immediately return a voice message left at her office.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Olivia’s body&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ddd6d421bf98c1b1cef6ff40e46539a1">was covered with bruises</a>&nbsp;and she died of a brain bleed.

The newly released information shows the agency received two reports of alleged physical abuse on Feb. 28. One report alleged her father hit Olivia on the leg, leaving a bruise and possibly breaking her leg. The other report alleged the father’s girlfriend hit the girl.

The agency said it interviewed and observed Olivia on the same day the report was made and observed no marks or bruises. After additional interviews, the person who alleged abuse recanted the story. It found the reports unsubstantiated and closed the case without offering any services.

On June 22, Kansas Protection Report Center received a report alleging the girl’s caregiver was unavailable or unable to care for her and alleging substance abuse. Because they were reported out of state, the agency initiated a video call June 30 with Kirkpatrick and spoke with Olivia during that call. They noted the girl appeared excited about the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

The agency also contacted the father that same day and requested he take a drug test. He tested positive for THC on July 7, The Family in Need of Assessment case remains open.

While the report does not indicate who made the complaints, the girl’s grandparents, Elisabeth and Howard Jansen II, said earlier this month that said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/51ce115cfa9b845b540e732254ebbbb7">they expressed fears</a>&nbsp;to the agency last month that drugs were in the home where Olivia lived.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596232659832.png" alt="Olivia Jansen-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Olivia Jansen-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas child welfare agency determined on Friday that a 3-year-old girl whose battered body was found earlier this month died as the result of child abuse, a belated finding that comes months after the agency first received reports of abuse.The Kansas Department for Children and Families released a “Child Fatality Summary” pertaining to Olivia Ann Jansen in response to an open records request from The Associated Press. The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9313cd8643d6ff402103fd65cb31ba70">had initially balked</a>&nbsp;at releasing any information despite a 2018 law that aimed to make such documents more transparent when a child dies.Olivia’s remains were found in a shallow grave on July 10 after her father, Howard Jansen III, 29, reported the Kansas City, Kansas, girl missing. The 29-year-old father and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, have since been charged with felony murder and other crimes.The father’s attorney, James Spies, said he has not seen the agency’s report. Spies said the father “client adamantly denies the charges against him.”The attorney for the girlfriend did not immediately return a voice message left at her office.According to a probable cause affidavit, Olivia’s body&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ddd6d421bf98c1b1cef6ff40e46539a1">was covered with bruises</a>&nbsp;and she died of a brain bleed.The newly released information shows the agency received two reports of alleged physical abuse on Feb. 28. One report alleged her father hit Olivia on the leg, leaving a bruise and possibly breaking her leg. The other report alleged the father’s girlfriend hit the girl.The agency said it interviewed and observed Olivia on the same day the report was made and observed no marks or bruises. After additional interviews, the person who alleged abuse recanted the story. It found the reports unsubstantiated and closed the case without offering any services.On June 22, Kansas Protection Report Center received a report alleging the girl’s caregiver was unavailable or unable to care for her and alleging substance abuse. Because they were reported out of state, the agency initiated a video call June 30 with Kirkpatrick and spoke with Olivia during that call. They noted the girl appeared excited about the upcoming Independence Day holiday.The agency also contacted the father that same day and requested he take a drug test. He tested positive for THC on July 7, The Family in Need of Assessment case remains open.While the report does not indicate who made the complaints, the girl’s grandparents, Elisabeth and Howard Jansen II, said earlier this month that said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/51ce115cfa9b845b540e732254ebbbb7">they expressed fears</a>&nbsp;to the agency last month that drugs were in the home where Olivia lived.

Agency releases documents on slain 3-year-old Kansas girl 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as&nbsp; &nbsp;19-year-old Andreas Carlyle of Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting call in the 600 block of North Pinecrest in Wichita.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located Carlyle, who had been shot and was lying in the street.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.

This was not a random incident, and investigators are currently working to determine the circumstances of what occurred in this incident.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as&nbsp; &nbsp;19-year-old Andreas Carlyle of Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting call in the 600 block of North Pinecrest in Wichita.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located Carlyle, who had been shot and was lying in the street.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.This was not a random incident, and investigators are currently working to determine the circumstances of what occurred in this incident.

Police ID Kansas teen found shot to death in the street

Federal health officials say an outbreak of salmonella infecting nearly 400 people in more than 30 states has been linked to red onions, and identified a California company as the likely source.

The Food and Drug Administration said<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020#:~:text=Product%20Recall-,Thomson%20International%2C%20Inc.%20has%20notified%20FDA%20that%20it%20will%20be,onions%20from%20Thomson%20International%2C%20Inc."> in a statement</a>&nbsp;that Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California, has notified the food agency that it will be recalling all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions because of the risk of cross-contamination.

This recall would include red, white, yellow, and sweet onions from Thomson International, the agency said.

Thomson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Salmonella Newport has sickened 396 people and landed nearly 60 in the hospital. There have been no deaths linked to the outbreak, which was first identified July 10 and has since grown. The agency says the illnesses began between mid-June and mid-July.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport illnesses that have a genetic fingerprint closely related to the U.S. outbreak, that agency said Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596321000836.png" alt="image FDA" />
 <figcaption>image FDA</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, Associated PressFederal health officials say an outbreak of salmonella infecting nearly 400 people in more than 30 states has been linked to red onions, and identified a California company as the likely source.The Food and Drug Administration said<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020#:~:text=Product%20Recall-,Thomson%20International%2C%20Inc.%20has%20notified%20FDA%20that%20it%20will%20be,onions%20from%20Thomson%20International%2C%20Inc."> in a statement</a>&nbsp;that Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California, has notified the food agency that it will be recalling all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions because of the risk of cross-contamination.This recall would include red, white, yellow, and sweet onions from Thomson International, the agency said.Thomson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Salmonella Newport has sickened 396 people and landed nearly 60 in the hospital. There have been no deaths linked to the outbreak, which was first identified July 10 and has since grown. The agency says the illnesses began between mid-June and mid-July.The Public Health Agency of Canada is also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport illnesses that have a genetic fingerprint closely related to the U.S. outbreak, that agency said Thursday.___

Health officials link US salmonella outbreak to red onions

OSBORNE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a death that occurred Friday in Osborne.

Just after 10:30p.m. Friday, the Osborne Police Department was notified of a shooting that occurred on Washington Street in Osborne,&nbsp; according to a facebook announcement posted by the department Saturday.

"A deceased individual was located in the residence and the scene was secured for processing," the department said.

The Osborne County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation were assisting in the investigation.

The name of the victim has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596324701606.jpeg" alt="KBI on the scene of the investigation -photo Osborne Police" />
 <figcaption>KBI on the scene of the investigation -photo Osborne Police</figcaption>
 </figure>OSBORNE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a death that occurred Friday in Osborne.Just after 10:30p.m. Friday, the Osborne Police Department was notified of a shooting that occurred on Washington Street in Osborne,&nbsp; according to a facebook announcement posted by the department Saturday."A deceased individual was located in the residence and the scene was secured for processing," the department said.The Osborne County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation were assisting in the investigation.The name of the victim has not been released.

Police: Shooting death under investigation in Osborne

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas community college has reached a settlement with the New Jersey family of a football player who died of heatstroke after team conditioning drills in 2018.

Details of the settlement reached between Garden City Community College and the family of Braeden Bradforth, of Newton, New Jersey, were not released. The college said in a news release late Friday that a court recently approved the settlement.

Bradforth, a 315-pound defensive lineman, died after being found unconscious in an alley outside his dormitory after the first day of football conditioning on Aug. 1, 2018. He was 19 years old.

An independent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4660086d9a0c4147ac7256dc30a74cbd">investigation</a>&nbsp;strongly criticized the school, saying a serious lack of oversight caused a chain of events that led to Bradforth’s death. Investigators noted that the coaching staff didn’t consider if Bradforth was properly acclimated to working out in summer temperatures at a higher altitude than he was used to in New Jersey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573757028473.png" alt="Braeden Bradforth with his mother -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Braeden Bradforth with his mother -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas community college has reached a settlement with the New Jersey family of a football player who died of heatstroke after team conditioning drills in 2018.Details of the settlement reached between Garden City Community College and the family of Braeden Bradforth, of Newton, New Jersey, were not released. The college said in a news release late Friday that a court recently approved the settlement.Bradforth, a 315-pound defensive lineman, died after being found unconscious in an alley outside his dormitory after the first day of football conditioning on Aug. 1, 2018. He was 19 years old.An independent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4660086d9a0c4147ac7256dc30a74cbd">investigation</a>&nbsp;strongly criticized the school, saying a serious lack of oversight caused a chain of events that led to Bradforth’s death. Investigators noted that the coaching staff didn’t consider if Bradforth was properly acclimated to working out in summer temperatures at a higher altitude than he was used to in New Jersey.<a href="https://apnews.com/30ff72c661c44b22860a792bec3d9a41">E-mails</a>&nbsp;obtained by The Associated Press last year indicated that 25 minutes elapsed between when an assistant coach was called to Bradforth’s side and paramedics arrived. The assistant coach called the head coach before summoning medical help.The college hired the independent investigators under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62817a10fe554801aa03e489fc4b4688">pressure&nbsp;</a>from Bradforth’s family and New Jersey’s congressional delegation.College President Ryan Ruda said in a news release Friday the school has made several changes to its facilities, procedures and protocols in response to Bradforth’s death and the investigation’s findings.“We continue to extend our deepest condolences to Braeden’s family and friends — there is no comparison to the grief and sorrow they have experienced over the last two years,” Ruda said. “It is the hope of college leaders, including myself, that the settlement will offer some respite to Braeden’s loved ones who have suffered the most from his untimely passing.”The changes at the school include renovating and updating athletic training facilities, creating a sports medicine advisory team that meets monthly to discuss topics concerning the safety of athletes, and drafting plans to respond to medical and emergency needs.Other improvements include the hiring of a third full-time athletic trainer and a new strength and conditioning coach, the start of player welfare checks and the modification of practice times because of heat. All coaching staff also are required to take annual first aid and CPR training.Two attorneys for the family didn’t immediately reply to messages left Saturday at their offices.