KANSAS CITY (AP)—October is prime time for flu vaccinations, and the U.S. and Europe are gearing up for what experts hope is high demand as countries seek to avoid a “twindemic” with COVID-19.

“There’s considerable concern as we enter the fall and winter months and into the flu season that we’ll have that dreaded overlap” of flu and the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health said Thursday. He got his own flu shot earlier this week.

A record number of flu vaccine doses are on the way, between 194 million and 198 million for the U.S. alone -- seemingly plenty considering last year just under half of adults got vaccinated and there usually are leftovers.

Still, there’s no way to know how many will seek shots this year and some people occasionally are finding drugstores or clinics temporarily out of stock.

Be patient: Flu vaccine ships gradually. Less than half has been distributed so far, and the CDC and manufacturers say more is in transit.

“This year I think everyone is wanting to get their vaccine and maybe wanting it earlier than usual,” Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Associated Press. “If you’re not able to get your vaccination now, don’t get frustrated” but keep trying.

Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, which is supplying nearly 250 million doses worldwide including 80 million for the U.S., says it has shipments staggered into November.

Vaccine maker Seqirus is exploring if it could squeeze out “a limited number of additional doses” to meet high demand, said spokeswoman Polina Miklush.

Brewing flu vaccine is time-consuming. Once production ends for the year, countries can’t simply order more -- making for a stressful balancing act as they guess how many people will roll up their sleeves.

Germany usually buys 18 million to 19 million doses, and this year ordered more. As German Health Minister Jens Spahn put it: “If we manage, together, to get the flu vaccination rate so high that all 26 million doses are actually used, then I’d be a very happy health minister.”

Spain purchased extra doses in hopes of vaccinating far more older adults and pregnant women than usual, along with key workers in health facilities and nursing homes.

In contrast, Poland, which last year had 100,000 doses go unused, didn’t anticipate this fall’s high demand and is seeking more.

The good news: The same precautions that help stop spread of the coronavirus -- wearing masks, avoiding crowds, washing your hands and keeping your distance -- can help block influenza, too.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/16c5e8f7bcdf06feee506e8836d82e19">Winter just ended in the Southern Hemisphere</a>&nbsp;and countries like South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Chile diagnosed hardly any flu thanks to COVID-19 restrictions combined with a big push for influenza vaccinations.

With the coronavirus still circulating and cold weather coming just as more schools and businesses reopen, there’s no guarantee that countries in the Northern Hemisphere will be as lucky with flu.

“How much flu, we don’t know -- but there will be flu,” predicted Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

A flu vaccine only protects against influenza, not the coronavirus. And while its effectiveness varies from year to year, people vaccinated against flu don’t get as sick, avoiding pneumonia, hospitalization and death, Schaffner said.

The CDC estimated that last year the flu hospitalized 400,000 Americans and killed 22,000.

Adding flu to the toll of COVID-19 -- which has killed more than 1 million people worldwide including more than 206,000 Americans -- would further strain hospitals. Both flu and the coronavirus have similar symptoms and even if they’re mild, Schaffner warned of confusion as people seek testing to learn which illness they have and if anyone they’ve been around needs to quarantine.

“Take flu out of the equation this fall,” Jernigan advised.

Who needs flu vaccine? The U.S. recommends it for everyone starting at 6 months of age. But flu is most dangerous for people over age 65, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions such as heart disease, asthma, even diabetes.

Most Americans with insurance can get it without a co-pay, and there are different kinds to choose from: Regular shots, two types of shots that aim to give older adults a little extra protection, and a nasal spray.

The CDC doesn’t recommend one over another. If you can’t find your preferred type, “we ask people not to shop around and wait forever,” Jernigan said. “The best vaccine to get is the vaccine that’s available to you.”

The CDC this year wants states to increase flu vaccinations among Blacks and Hispanics, who are less likely to get a shot than whites and also are at extra risk from COVID-19. Some states also are holding drive-thru flu vaccinations and outdoor clinics to avoid crowds.

And at the same time they get immunized against flu, older adults and people with chronic illnesses also should ask about getting a vaccine against a type of pneumonia that is a frequent complication, U.S. officials urged.

In much of Europe, those at high risk get prioritized. France has ordered 30% more flu vaccine than last year, with first shots given to the high risk as inoculations begin later this month.

In Italy, doctors and pharmacists have expressed concern about the supply, as the health ministry conducts negotiations with vaccine producers to ensure everyone who wants the vaccine can get it. Italy also lowered the threshold — from age 65 to 60 — for receiving the flu vaccine free of charge.

Britain’s health department expects enough doses for nearly half the population but cautions that phased deliveries might mean some doctors and pharmacies won’t receive shots until later in the fall. Britain typically offers free flu vaccines to older adults, pregnant women and certain other at-risk groups, and are discussing whether others should qualify for a free shot this year.

The World Health Organization said last week that some countries are scrambling to make sure they’ve got enough flu vaccine. WHO encouraged any countries worried about a shortfall to give priority to health workers and older adults.

KANSAS CITY (AP)—October is prime time for flu vaccinations, and the U.S. and Europe are gearing up for what experts hope is high demand as countries seek to avoid a “twindemic” with COVID-19.“There’s considerable concern as we enter the fall and winter months and into the flu season that we’ll have that dreaded overlap” of flu and the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health said Thursday. He got his own flu shot earlier this week.A record number of flu vaccine doses are on the way, between 194 million and 198 million for the U.S. alone -- seemingly plenty considering last year just under half of adults got vaccinated and there usually are leftovers.Still, there’s no way to know how many will seek shots this year and some people occasionally are finding drugstores or clinics temporarily out of stock.Be patient: Flu vaccine ships gradually. Less than half has been distributed so far, and the CDC and manufacturers say more is in transit.“This year I think everyone is wanting to get their vaccine and maybe wanting it earlier than usual,” Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Associated Press. “If you’re not able to get your vaccination now, don’t get frustrated” but keep trying.Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, which is supplying nearly 250 million doses worldwide including 80 million for the U.S., says it has shipments staggered into November.Vaccine maker Seqirus is exploring if it could squeeze out “a limited number of additional doses” to meet high demand, said spokeswoman Polina Miklush.Brewing flu vaccine is time-consuming. Once production ends for the year, countries can’t simply order more -- making for a stressful balancing act as they guess how many people will roll up their sleeves.Germany usually buys 18 million to 19 million doses, and this year ordered more. As German Health Minister Jens Spahn put it: “If we manage, together, to get the flu vaccination rate so high that all 26 million doses are actually used, then I’d be a very happy health minister.”Spain purchased extra doses in hopes of vaccinating far more older adults and pregnant women than usual, along with key workers in health facilities and nursing homes.In contrast, Poland, which last year had 100,000 doses go unused, didn’t anticipate this fall’s high demand and is seeking more.The good news: The same precautions that help stop spread of the coronavirus -- wearing masks, avoiding crowds, washing your hands and keeping your distance -- can help block influenza, too.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/16c5e8f7bcdf06feee506e8836d82e19">Winter just ended in the Southern Hemisphere</a>&nbsp;and countries like South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Chile diagnosed hardly any flu thanks to COVID-19 restrictions combined with a big push for influenza vaccinations.With the coronavirus still circulating and cold weather coming just as more schools and businesses reopen, there’s no guarantee that countries in the Northern Hemisphere will be as lucky with flu.“How much flu, we don’t know -- but there will be flu,” predicted Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.A flu vaccine only protects against influenza, not the coronavirus. And while its effectiveness varies from year to year, people vaccinated against flu don’t get as sick, avoiding pneumonia, hospitalization and death, Schaffner said.The CDC estimated that last year the flu hospitalized 400,000 Americans and killed 22,000.Adding flu to the toll of COVID-19 -- which has killed more than 1 million people worldwide including more than 206,000 Americans -- would further strain hospitals. Both flu and the coronavirus have similar symptoms and even if they’re mild, Schaffner warned of confusion as people seek testing to learn which illness they have and if anyone they’ve been around needs to quarantine.“Take flu out of the equation this fall,” Jernigan advised.Who needs flu vaccine? The U.S. recommends it for everyone starting at 6 months of age. But flu is most dangerous for people over age 65, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions such as heart disease, asthma, even diabetes.Most Americans with insurance can get it without a co-pay, and there are different kinds to choose from: Regular shots, two types of shots that aim to give older adults a little extra protection, and a nasal spray.The CDC doesn’t recommend one over another. If you can’t find your preferred type, “we ask people not to shop around and wait forever,” Jernigan said. “The best vaccine to get is the vaccine that’s available to you.”The CDC this year wants states to increase flu vaccinations among Blacks and Hispanics, who are less likely to get a shot than whites and also are at extra risk from COVID-19. Some states also are holding drive-thru flu vaccinations and outdoor clinics to avoid crowds.And at the same time they get immunized against flu, older adults and people with chronic illnesses also should ask about getting a vaccine against a type of pneumonia that is a frequent complication, U.S. officials urged.In much of Europe, those at high risk get prioritized. France has ordered 30% more flu vaccine than last year, with first shots given to the high risk as inoculations begin later this month.In Italy, doctors and pharmacists have expressed concern about the supply, as the health ministry conducts negotiations with vaccine producers to ensure everyone who wants the vaccine can get it. Italy also lowered the threshold — from age 65 to 60 — for receiving the flu vaccine free of charge.Britain’s health department expects enough doses for nearly half the population but cautions that phased deliveries might mean some doctors and pharmacies won’t receive shots until later in the fall. Britain typically offers free flu vaccines to older adults, pregnant women and certain other at-risk groups, and are discussing whether others should qualify for a free shot this year.The World Health Organization said last week that some countries are scrambling to make sure they’ve got enough flu vaccine. WHO encouraged any countries worried about a shortfall to give priority to health workers and older adults.___

High demand for flu shots? Experts hope to avoid 'twindemic'

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as&nbsp; Christopher McMillon, 38, of Topeka. 

Just after 11:30a.m. Saturday, police responded to a call for service at a home in the 300 Block of SW Polk for a check welfare, according to&nbsp;LT Jerry Monasmith.

On arrival, officers found McMillon with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police released no additional details early Sunday.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.

Just after 11:30a.m. Saturday, police responded to a call for service in the 300 Block of SW Polk for a check welfare, according to&nbsp;LT Jerry Monasmith.

On arrival, officers found a man with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers and Detectives are continuing the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as&nbsp; Christopher McMillon, 38, of Topeka. Just after 11:30a.m. Saturday, police responded to a call for service at a home in the 300 Block of SW Polk for a check welfare, according to&nbsp;LT Jerry Monasmith.On arrival, officers found McMillon with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police released no additional details early Sunday.-----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.Just after 11:30a.m. Saturday, police responded to a call for service in the 300 Block of SW Polk for a check welfare, according to&nbsp;LT Jerry Monasmith.On arrival, officers found a man with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers and Detectives are continuing the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police ID man found dead from gunshot wound at Kan. home 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Protesters are pledging to camp in front of police headquarters in downtown Kansas City until the officer who kneeled on a pregnant Black woman is fired.

KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-10-03/protesters-camp-overnight-at-kansas-city-police-headquarters-following-arrest-of-pregnant-woman">reports&nbsp;</a>that around a dozen protesters spent the night Friday on the lawn outside the police headquarters, with their numbers growing throughout Saturday. They also want Chief Rick Smith to resign.

Witnesses who identified themselves as legal observers and affiliated with a local group of attorneys called “Liberty Lawyers” stood by overnight.

The pregnant woman’s lawyer, Stacy Shaw, said an officer threw the woman to the ground Wednesday night when she complained that he had backed into her as she filmed a balloon release for a homicide victim. But police said in a statement that officers were responding to a report of fighting and that the woman was interfering with officers who were trying to arrest a man.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-racial-injustice-7bd17173b1551b4ada4514c28039094e">Video&nbsp;</a>shows the woman on the ground with the officer’s knee on her back while people in the crowd yell to stop because she is pregnant. Some officers can be heard telling the crowd they will be arrested if they don’t move back.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Video of a Kansas City police officer kneeling on the back of a pregnant Black woman while arresting her have led to calls for the officer involved to be fired and reignited demands that the police chief resign.

Civil rights groups and the police tell different versions of what happened Wednesday night when the woman was arrested. Police say she interfered while they were trying to arrest a man and while they were trying to handcuff her.

The woman's attorney, Stacy Shaw, and others ridiculed that story Friday and said the arrest was another example of the police department's abuse of Black citizens in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating after videos on social media show an officer kneeling on the back of a pregnant woman while handcuffing her during a confrontation.

The officers were arresting a man Wednesday night when the woman “grabbed and touched” the officers, police spokesman Capt. Dave Jackson said Thursday. He said the woman was evaluated and released from a hospital, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article246154085.html">reported</a>.

Jackson said the department has not had a chance to review the officers' video or surveillance video but are taking the incident seriously.

He encouraged anyone who was at the scene and wants to voice concerns about what they saw to file complaints with the Office of Community Complaints or the police department.

The incident in eastern Kansas City began as a fight between two women at a business. Police cleared the area but a man refused to leave and the woman who is shown in the vehicle would not stop interfering with the arrest, WDAF-TV reported.

She and the man were arrested for interfering with the arrest, Jackson said. No names have been released.

Civil rights attorney Stacy Shaw posted the video to social media Thursday.

“It’s just an example of how the police have no regard for anyone,” Shaw said. “If they are going to do this to a visibly pregnant woman, imagine what they’re doing to the kids out in the street.”

<a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=eagleradio-jcpost&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=eagleradio-jcpost&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">Sponsored Links</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601602944860.png" alt="&nbsp;A video shows an officer putting his knee on a woman's back during an arrest Wednesday night. image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;A video shows an officer putting his knee on a woman's back during an arrest Wednesday night. image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Protesters are pledging to camp in front of police headquarters in downtown Kansas City until the officer who kneeled on a pregnant Black woman is fired.KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-10-03/protesters-camp-overnight-at-kansas-city-police-headquarters-following-arrest-of-pregnant-woman">reports&nbsp;</a>that around a dozen protesters spent the night Friday on the lawn outside the police headquarters, with their numbers growing throughout Saturday. They also want Chief Rick Smith to resign.Witnesses who identified themselves as legal observers and affiliated with a local group of attorneys called “Liberty Lawyers” stood by overnight.The pregnant woman’s lawyer, Stacy Shaw, said an officer threw the woman to the ground Wednesday night when she complained that he had backed into her as she filmed a balloon release for a homicide victim. But police said in a statement that officers were responding to a report of fighting and that the woman was interfering with officers who were trying to arrest a man.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-racial-injustice-7bd17173b1551b4ada4514c28039094e">Video&nbsp;</a>shows the woman on the ground with the officer’s knee on her back while people in the crowd yell to stop because she is pregnant. Some officers can be heard telling the crowd they will be arrested if they don’t move back.------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Video of a Kansas City police officer kneeling on the back of a pregnant Black woman while arresting her have led to calls for the officer involved to be fired and reignited demands that the police chief resign.Civil rights groups and the police tell different versions of what happened Wednesday night when the woman was arrested. Police say she interfered while they were trying to arrest a man and while they were trying to handcuff her.The woman's attorney, Stacy Shaw, and others ridiculed that story Friday and said the arrest was another example of the police department's abuse of Black citizens in Kansas City.------KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating after videos on social media show an officer kneeling on the back of a pregnant woman while handcuffing her during a confrontation.The officers were arresting a man Wednesday night when the woman “grabbed and touched” the officers, police spokesman Capt. Dave Jackson said Thursday. He said the woman was evaluated and released from a hospital, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article246154085.html">reported</a>.Jackson said the department has not had a chance to review the officers' video or surveillance video but are taking the incident seriously.He encouraged anyone who was at the scene and wants to voice concerns about what they saw to file complaints with the Office of Community Complaints or the police department.The incident in eastern Kansas City began as a fight between two women at a business. Police cleared the area but a man refused to leave and the woman who is shown in the vehicle would not stop interfering with the arrest, WDAF-TV reported.She and the man were arrested for interfering with the arrest, Jackson said. No names have been released.Civil rights attorney Stacy Shaw posted the video to social media Thursday.“It’s just an example of how the police have no regard for anyone,” Shaw said. “If they are going to do this to a visibly pregnant woman, imagine what they’re doing to the kids out in the street.”<a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=eagleradio-jcpost&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=eagleradio-jcpost&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">Sponsored Links</a>

KC demonstrators camp in protest of pregnant  woman's arrest

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The coronavirus pandemic has posed daunting challenges for houses of worship across the U.S., often entailing large financial losses and suspension of in-person services. It also has sparked moments of gratitude, wonder and inspiration.

In the Chicago suburb of Cary, Lutheran pastor Sarah Wilson recorded a sermon aboard a small plane piloted by a congregation member. The video that went online showed a high-up view of idyllic landscapes.

“It was very spiritual,” Wilson said.

In New York, Episcopal priest Steven Paulikas heard from someone in France who watched a service via Facebook. “I loved your sermon,” was the message.

“It’s a new experience for me,” said Paulikas, of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. “People I’ve never met before, from different states and countries, are joining us online.”

Such positive experiences are not uncommon. Clerics nationwide say they and their congregations responded to the pandemic and resulting lockdowns with creativity, resiliency and invigorated community spirit.

Financially, there’s no simple summary of how houses of worship have fared through six months of pandemic. Revenue at Wilson’s church, St. Barnabas, has been stable even as it resorted to drive-in parking lot services. Paulikas says giving is up 19% at All Saints’.

But in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, offerings fell more than 75% early in the pandemic and remain down 25%, according to chief operating officer Betsy Bohlen, resulting in layoffs, furloughs and some asset sales.

Social service outreach remains vigorous, however. Bohlen said $25 million has been raised for a COVID-19 emergency fund.

The archdiocese, with over 2 million parishioners, has resumed in-person services with attendance limited to 20% capacity.

There are similar challenges in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where in-person attendance is roughly a quarter of pre-pandemic levels and offertory revenue is down about 10% after plunging 30% early in the outbreak.

Its vicar general, the Rev. Daniel Carson, said there have been personnel cuts and departments been asked to trim budgets by 10%.

Live-streaming services has been successful, even attracting some non-Catholics, Carson said, but he hopes parishioners still yearn for in-person worship and Holy Communion.

At Friendship Baptist Church, a mostly African American congregation in Baltimore, pastor Alvin Gwynn Sr. has held in-person services throughout the pandemic, but attendance hasn’t risen much above 80 people — a small fraction of normal. Giving by congregation members is about 60% of normal, enough to keep food-pantry programs running.

Ryan Radke, digital outreach coordinator for the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod, said the financial picture has been mixed for the district’s 215 congregations from Pennsylvania to South Carolina.

Some churches are closing, but those were already threatened before the coronavirus, Radke said. Others are sharing resources as COVID-19 strains their ministries.

Some smaller churches have attracted large, far-flung online audiences — one drew over 1,000 to a recent virtual service, Radke said.

A United Methodist church in College Station, Texas, home to Texas A&amp;M University, launched online services for students after they left campus. Soon relatives of students were tuning in from as far away as Utah and Michigan, regional Bishop Scott Jones said, with some even joining the church.

Similarly, online services by Valley Beth Shalom, a synagogue in Encino, California, have attracted new members from Israel, England and Brazil.

“We can’t gather the same way anymore, not in homes, not in schools and especially not in temples,” Rabbi Noah Farkas said via email. “Our community is gathering, just in very different ways. We are evolving rapidly from the past into the future.”

The Southern Baptist Convention is the nation’s largest Protestant denomination with roughly 47,000 churches. Executive committee president Ronnie Floyd said offerings fell more than 20% at some churches early on, but finances are now stabilizing.

In September the committee reported that annual payments from SBC churches to fund missions, seminaries and administration were down less than 3% from last year, less than some leaders had feared,

Though there are no overall attendance figures, some SBC churches have fared well, such as Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky. Its Sunday attendance rose from about 320 in June to over 470 in September.

New pastor Jonathan Bonar took charge in July and rankled some worshippers by asking everyone to wear masks at services. He defused the friction by organizing a best-mask competition for congregants.

In the United Methodist Church’s Mountain Sky region, covering Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, many pastors serve towns without reliable internet service, according to Bishop Karen Oliveto. One in Columbia Falls, Montana, kept in touch with older congregants by sending them handwritten notes.

“This is the church’s moment,” Oliveto said. “It’s pushed the church to leave the building — they’re coming alive in their communities.”

Scott Jones, UMC bishop for 58 counties in eastern Texas, said one short-term challenge is avoiding singing as in-person services resume.

“Methodists love to sing hymns, but we’re being taught that it’s one of the most dangerous ways to spread the virus,” he said. “That’s a real loss.”

Longer-term, Jones sees a possibility of profound changes in how pastors approach their ministries and wonders how the now-large online cohort will respond when in-church worship is fully restored.

“People have gotten used to watching services from their home in their pajamas with a cup of coffee,” he said. “Some are asking, ’Why do I need to go back to church?′ But there also are a lot of people eager to see their Christian friends and be in a holy place again.”

The Rev. Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, is raising similar questions, such as whether people who converted to a faith after tuning in to online services will stick by their decisions.

Citing a recent survey, Kim said some evangelical online worshippers are sticking firmly with their pre-pandemic churches, others are “church shopping” after seeing alternatives and still others have stopped participating altogether.

Collectively, pastors characterized the pandemic as both a source of anguish and a motive for hopefulness.

“This pandemic isn’t going away anytime soon,” pastor Wilson said in her mid-flight sermon. “This is life here and now, a gift from God.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The coronavirus pandemic has posed daunting challenges for houses of worship across the U.S., often entailing large financial losses and suspension of in-person services. It also has sparked moments of gratitude, wonder and inspiration.In the Chicago suburb of Cary, Lutheran pastor Sarah Wilson recorded a sermon aboard a small plane piloted by a congregation member. The video that went online showed a high-up view of idyllic landscapes.“It was very spiritual,” Wilson said.In New York, Episcopal priest Steven Paulikas heard from someone in France who watched a service via Facebook. “I loved your sermon,” was the message.“It’s a new experience for me,” said Paulikas, of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. “People I’ve never met before, from different states and countries, are joining us online.”Such positive experiences are not uncommon. Clerics nationwide say they and their congregations responded to the pandemic and resulting lockdowns with creativity, resiliency and invigorated community spirit.Financially, there’s no simple summary of how houses of worship have fared through six months of pandemic. Revenue at Wilson’s church, St. Barnabas, has been stable even as it resorted to drive-in parking lot services. Paulikas says giving is up 19% at All Saints’.But in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, offerings fell more than 75% early in the pandemic and remain down 25%, according to chief operating officer Betsy Bohlen, resulting in layoffs, furloughs and some asset sales.Social service outreach remains vigorous, however. Bohlen said $25 million has been raised for a COVID-19 emergency fund.The archdiocese, with over 2 million parishioners, has resumed in-person services with attendance limited to 20% capacity.There are similar challenges in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where in-person attendance is roughly a quarter of pre-pandemic levels and offertory revenue is down about 10% after plunging 30% early in the outbreak.Its vicar general, the Rev. Daniel Carson, said there have been personnel cuts and departments been asked to trim budgets by 10%.Live-streaming services has been successful, even attracting some non-Catholics, Carson said, but he hopes parishioners still yearn for in-person worship and Holy Communion.At Friendship Baptist Church, a mostly African American congregation in Baltimore, pastor Alvin Gwynn Sr. has held in-person services throughout the pandemic, but attendance hasn’t risen much above 80 people — a small fraction of normal. Giving by congregation members is about 60% of normal, enough to keep food-pantry programs running.Ryan Radke, digital outreach coordinator for the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod, said the financial picture has been mixed for the district’s 215 congregations from Pennsylvania to South Carolina.Some churches are closing, but those were already threatened before the coronavirus, Radke said. Others are sharing resources as COVID-19 strains their ministries.Some smaller churches have attracted large, far-flung online audiences — one drew over 1,000 to a recent virtual service, Radke said.A United Methodist church in College Station, Texas, home to Texas A&amp;M University, launched online services for students after they left campus. Soon relatives of students were tuning in from as far away as Utah and Michigan, regional Bishop Scott Jones said, with some even joining the church.Similarly, online services by Valley Beth Shalom, a synagogue in Encino, California, have attracted new members from Israel, England and Brazil.“We can’t gather the same way anymore, not in homes, not in schools and especially not in temples,” Rabbi Noah Farkas said via email. “Our community is gathering, just in very different ways. We are evolving rapidly from the past into the future.”The Southern Baptist Convention is the nation’s largest Protestant denomination with roughly 47,000 churches. Executive committee president Ronnie Floyd said offerings fell more than 20% at some churches early on, but finances are now stabilizing.In September the committee reported that annual payments from SBC churches to fund missions, seminaries and administration were down less than 3% from last year, less than some leaders had feared,Though there are no overall attendance figures, some SBC churches have fared well, such as Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky. Its Sunday attendance rose from about 320 in June to over 470 in September.New pastor Jonathan Bonar took charge in July and rankled some worshippers by asking everyone to wear masks at services. He defused the friction by organizing a best-mask competition for congregants.In the United Methodist Church’s Mountain Sky region, covering Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, many pastors serve towns without reliable internet service, according to Bishop Karen Oliveto. One in Columbia Falls, Montana, kept in touch with older congregants by sending them handwritten notes.“This is the church’s moment,” Oliveto said. “It’s pushed the church to leave the building — they’re coming alive in their communities.”What lies ahead?Scott Jones, UMC bishop for 58 counties in eastern Texas, said one short-term challenge is avoiding singing as in-person services resume.“Methodists love to sing hymns, but we’re being taught that it’s one of the most dangerous ways to spread the virus,” he said. “That’s a real loss.”Longer-term, Jones sees a possibility of profound changes in how pastors approach their ministries and wonders how the now-large online cohort will respond when in-church worship is fully restored.“People have gotten used to watching services from their home in their pajamas with a cup of coffee,” he said. “Some are asking, ’Why do I need to go back to church?′ But there also are a lot of people eager to see their Christian friends and be in a holy place again.”The Rev. Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, is raising similar questions, such as whether people who converted to a faith after tuning in to online services will stick by their decisions.Citing a recent survey, Kim said some evangelical online worshippers are sticking firmly with their pre-pandemic churches, others are “church shopping” after seeing alternatives and still others have stopped participating altogether.Collectively, pastors characterized the pandemic as both a source of anguish and a motive for hopefulness.“This pandemic isn’t going away anytime soon,” pastor Wilson said in her mid-flight sermon. “This is life here and now, a gift from God.”___

Amid pandemic challenges, houses of worship show resiliency

WASHINGTON (AP) —An election year already defined by a cascade of national crises descended further into chaos, with President Donald Trump quarantined at a military hospital with the coronavirus after consistently playing down the threat.

Democratic challenger Joe Biden took down his attack ads Friday and pressed a bipartisan message in battleground Michigan after he and his wife tested negative.

“This cannot be a partisan moment. It must be an American moment. We have to come together as a nation,” Biden declared at a speech in Grand Rapids, warning that the virus “is not going away automatically.”

While Biden vowed to continue his cautious approach to campaigning during the pandemic, the president’s diagnosis injected even greater uncertainty into an election already plagued by crises that have exploded under Trump’s watch: the pandemic, devastating economic fallout and sweeping civil unrest. With millions of Americans already voting, the country on Friday entered uncharted territory that threatened to rattle global markets and political debates around the world.

The development focuses the campaign right where Biden has put his emphasis for months — and where Republicans don’t want it: on Trump’s uneven response to a pandemic that has killed more than 205,000 people in the U.S. And for the short term, it’s grounded Trump under quarantine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, denying him the large public rallies that fuel his campaign just a month before the election.

Biden and other Democratic officeholders wished Trump well in the wake of his diagnosis, although some could not help but admonish the Republican president, who openly ignored his own administration’s social safety recommendations for much of the year.

“Going into crowds unmasked and all the rest was sort of a brazen invitation for this to happen,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on MSNBC.

Late Saturday, the president’s doctor reported that Trump was improving but not out of the woods. Doctors had injected the President with an experimental antibody drug combination still in clinical trials. His campaign announced that all of Trump’s scheduled campaign events were being moved online or temporarily postponed. Trump’s family, a steady presence on the campaign trail, was also grounded.

Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel have tested positive for the virus as well. But Vice President Mike Pence, who has tested negative, will attend his campaign events as planned.

Other world leaders, including Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have contracted the virus and made full recoveries. But strategists in both parties acknowledged the timing is bad.

Millions of Americans have already begun voting in several key states, and tens of millions more will receive absentee mail-in ballots or begin in-person early voting in the coming weeks.

“Trump’s main advantages, including incumbency, have been removed. Rallies, his main vehicle for mobilizing his base, will no longer be possible. Fly-bys with Air Force One as a backdrop are gone,” said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, a frequent Trump critic.

He said that Trump’s infection also “fundamentally undercuts his entire campaign strategy, which was to ignore the pandemic and make unsubstantiated claims that we’ve turned the corner and are making an economic comeback.”

Biden, meanwhile, moved to take down his ads attacking Trump, according to deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, who noted that the campaign would continue running positive ads. The decision was made before news surfaced that Trump would be moved to a military hospital.

Otherwise, Biden is not expected to alter his approach to the campaign significantly as Trump recovers.

The Democratic nominee has been much more cautious on the campaign trail than Trump. Having spent much of the spring and summer avoiding crowds, Biden has held far fewer public events since returning to the campaign trail last month — all of them with small crowds, if any, following social distancing guidelines. Only on Thursday did Biden’s campaign announce that it would resume door-to-door canvassing in addition to its phone and digital outreach to voters.

Biden traveled from Delaware to Michigan on Friday afternoon for a campaign event, while Jill Biden was attending a separate event in New Hampshire. Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, made her previously scheduled trip to Las Vegas as well.

The campaign confirmed Biden, his wife and Harris all tested negative for the virus.

“This is not a matter of politics. It’s a bracing reminder to all of us,” Biden said in Grand Rapids, calling for a nationwide mask mandate as he spoke wearing a surgical mask. “We have to take this virus seriously.

Trump now faces tremendous pressure to adjust his rhetoric and campaign tactics after spending much of the year downplaying the severity of the virus and repeatedly declaring COVID-19 would “disappear.”

As recently as Tuesday, Trump ridiculed Biden on national television for his cautious approach.

“I put a mask on when I think I need it,” Trump said during the debate. “I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”

Two additional debates are scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. The Commission on Presidential Debates has not yet commented on any changes in the debate schedule or health protocols, but has confirmed that next week’s vice presidential debate is on as scheduled.

Both presidential candidates are in high-risk categories for COVID-19 complications. Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese. Biden is 77 years old.

Should Trump emerge with no visible effects, he could declare a speedy recovery as proof that he’s been right about COVID-19 being overblown. But that still would be at odds both with established science and with what Trump himself has said privately. Recordings by journalist Bob Woodward captured Trump in early February detailing the “deadly” consequences of coronavirus, contrary to his public dismissiveness.

“From now until we get to the election, attention is going to be back where it should be: on COVID, the president’s response and the impact — and on health care,” said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright, a Biden supporter. “This proves our candidate was right all along.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601666018204.png" alt="President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump following the Presidential Debate in Cleveland Sept. 29 -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump following the Presidential Debate in Cleveland Sept. 29 -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —An election year already defined by a cascade of national crises descended further into chaos, with President Donald Trump quarantined at a military hospital with the coronavirus after consistently playing down the threat.Democratic challenger Joe Biden took down his attack ads Friday and pressed a bipartisan message in battleground Michigan after he and his wife tested negative.“This cannot be a partisan moment. It must be an American moment. We have to come together as a nation,” Biden declared at a speech in Grand Rapids, warning that the virus “is not going away automatically.”While Biden vowed to continue his cautious approach to campaigning during the pandemic, the president’s diagnosis injected even greater uncertainty into an election already plagued by crises that have exploded under Trump’s watch: the pandemic, devastating economic fallout and sweeping civil unrest. With millions of Americans already voting, the country on Friday entered uncharted territory that threatened to rattle global markets and political debates around the world.The development focuses the campaign right where Biden has put his emphasis for months — and where Republicans don’t want it: on Trump’s uneven response to a pandemic that has killed more than 205,000 people in the U.S. And for the short term, it’s grounded Trump under quarantine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, denying him the large public rallies that fuel his campaign just a month before the election.Biden and other Democratic officeholders wished Trump well in the wake of his diagnosis, although some could not help but admonish the Republican president, who openly ignored his own administration’s social safety recommendations for much of the year.“Going into crowds unmasked and all the rest was sort of a brazen invitation for this to happen,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on MSNBC.Late Saturday, the president’s doctor reported that Trump was improving but not out of the woods. Doctors had injected the President with an experimental antibody drug combination still in clinical trials. His campaign announced that all of Trump’s scheduled campaign events were being moved online or temporarily postponed. Trump’s family, a steady presence on the campaign trail, was also grounded.Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel have tested positive for the virus as well. But Vice President Mike Pence, who has tested negative, will attend his campaign events as planned.Other world leaders, including Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have contracted the virus and made full recoveries. But strategists in both parties acknowledged the timing is bad.Millions of Americans have already begun voting in several key states, and tens of millions more will receive absentee mail-in ballots or begin in-person early voting in the coming weeks.“Trump’s main advantages, including incumbency, have been removed. Rallies, his main vehicle for mobilizing his base, will no longer be possible. Fly-bys with Air Force One as a backdrop are gone,” said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, a frequent Trump critic.He said that Trump’s infection also “fundamentally undercuts his entire campaign strategy, which was to ignore the pandemic and make unsubstantiated claims that we’ve turned the corner and are making an economic comeback.”Biden, meanwhile, moved to take down his ads attacking Trump, according to deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, who noted that the campaign would continue running positive ads. The decision was made before news surfaced that Trump would be moved to a military hospital.Otherwise, Biden is not expected to alter his approach to the campaign significantly as Trump recovers.The Democratic nominee has been much more cautious on the campaign trail than Trump. Having spent much of the spring and summer avoiding crowds, Biden has held far fewer public events since returning to the campaign trail last month — all of them with small crowds, if any, following social distancing guidelines. Only on Thursday did Biden’s campaign announce that it would resume door-to-door canvassing in addition to its phone and digital outreach to voters.Biden traveled from Delaware to Michigan on Friday afternoon for a campaign event, while Jill Biden was attending a separate event in New Hampshire. Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, made her previously scheduled trip to Las Vegas as well.The campaign confirmed Biden, his wife and Harris all tested negative for the virus.“This is not a matter of politics. It’s a bracing reminder to all of us,” Biden said in Grand Rapids, calling for a nationwide mask mandate as he spoke wearing a surgical mask. “We have to take this virus seriously.Trump now faces tremendous pressure to adjust his rhetoric and campaign tactics after spending much of the year downplaying the severity of the virus and repeatedly declaring COVID-19 would “disappear.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601680874450.png" alt="President Trump arriving at Walter Reed National Medical Center Friday evening-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump arriving at Walter Reed National Medical Center Friday evening-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>As recently as Tuesday, Trump ridiculed Biden on national television for his cautious approach.“I put a mask on when I think I need it,” Trump said during the debate. “I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”Two additional debates are scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. The Commission on Presidential Debates has not yet commented on any changes in the debate schedule or health protocols, but has confirmed that next week’s vice presidential debate is on as scheduled.Both presidential candidates are in high-risk categories for COVID-19 complications. Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese. Biden is 77 years old.Should Trump emerge with no visible effects, he could declare a speedy recovery as proof that he’s been right about COVID-19 being overblown. But that still would be at odds both with established science and with what Trump himself has said privately. Recordings by journalist Bob Woodward captured Trump in early February detailing the “deadly” consequences of coronavirus, contrary to his public dismissiveness.“From now until we get to the election, attention is going to be back where it should be: on COVID, the president’s response and the impact — and on health care,” said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright, a Biden supporter. “This proves our candidate was right all along.”___

Trump's diagnosis rocks final stage of presidential campaign

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody.

Just after 6:30a.m. Thursday, a homeowner reported two males possibly burglarizing an outbuilding in the 100 block of southeast Croco Road in rural Shawnee County, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

Deputies arrived and set up a perimeter.&nbsp; A deputy attempted to stop a red 2002 Honda Accord that was leaving the area.&nbsp; The Honda was towing an individual on an ATV that matched the description of the suspect.&nbsp; 

One suspect unhooked the ATV and jumped into the passenger side of the Honda.&nbsp;&nbsp; The driver of the Honda failed to stop for deputies, initiating a brief pursuit that ended near southeast 2nd&nbsp;and Rice Road.

The driver, Anthony A. Weems, 21, of Topeka, was arrested on scene.&nbsp; The passenger, Jacobe Calvin Jeffrey Quiring-Grier, 19, of Topeka, fled from the car, initiating a foot pursuit.&nbsp; 

A K9 officer began tracking and Quiring-Grier was arrested a short time later on the levee between southeast Croco Road and Rice Road, according to Stallbaumer.

A firearm was located on Weems.&nbsp; Another firearm was located in the Honda. Weems and Quiring-Grier were transported to the Law Enforcement Center for additional questioning.

While at the Law Enforcement Center, Quiring-Grier became physically combative and officers were forced to deploy a Taser in order to bring him under control.&nbsp; Once Quiring-Grier was subdued, AMR was dispatched and a physical welfare check was completed. Quiring-Grier was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, flee and elude, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Weems is being held on requested charges of felony theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, and flee and elude.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601585260566.png" alt="Weems photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Weems photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody.Just after 6:30a.m. Thursday, a homeowner reported two males possibly burglarizing an outbuilding in the 100 block of southeast Croco Road in rural Shawnee County, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.Deputies arrived and set up a perimeter.&nbsp; A deputy attempted to stop a red 2002 Honda Accord that was leaving the area.&nbsp; The Honda was towing an individual on an ATV that matched the description of the suspect.&nbsp; One suspect unhooked the ATV and jumped into the passenger side of the Honda.&nbsp;&nbsp; The driver of the Honda failed to stop for deputies, initiating a brief pursuit that ended near southeast 2nd&nbsp;and Rice Road.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601585335475.png" alt="Quiring-Grier-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Quiring-Grier-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, Anthony A. Weems, 21, of Topeka, was arrested on scene.&nbsp; The passenger, Jacobe Calvin Jeffrey Quiring-Grier, 19, of Topeka, fled from the car, initiating a foot pursuit.&nbsp; A K9 officer began tracking and Quiring-Grier was arrested a short time later on the levee between southeast Croco Road and Rice Road, according to Stallbaumer.A firearm was located on Weems.&nbsp; Another firearm was located in the Honda. Weems and Quiring-Grier were transported to the Law Enforcement Center for additional questioning.While at the Law Enforcement Center, Quiring-Grier became physically combative and officers were forced to deploy a Taser in order to bring him under control.&nbsp; Once Quiring-Grier was subdued, AMR was dispatched and a physical welfare check was completed. Quiring-Grier was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, flee and elude, and battery on a law enforcement officer.Weems is being held on requested charges of felony theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, and flee and elude.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Deputies use Taser on Kan. burglary suspect after arrest

WILSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11a.m. Saturday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Freightliner semi driven by Onkar&nbsp;Singh, 29, Lenexa, was south bound on U.S. 75 one mile south of Buffalo, Kansas. 

The semi struck a 2014 Toyota Tundra driven by Barbara L. Miller, 83, Benedict, Kansas that had turned onto U.S. 75 from Kansas highway 39.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Singh was not transported for treatment. Miller was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WILSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11a.m. Saturday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Freightliner semi driven by Onkar&nbsp;Singh, 29, Lenexa, was south bound on U.S. 75 one mile south of Buffalo, Kansas. The semi struck a 2014 Toyota Tundra driven by Barbara L. Miller, 83, Benedict, Kansas that had turned onto U.S. 75 from Kansas highway 39.Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Singh was not transported for treatment. Miller was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after crash with a semi

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.

Just after 10 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 1300 block of north Volutsia in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located a 56-year-old man who had been shot. &nbsp;He was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed unknown suspects began shooting at the residence, striking the victim. &nbsp;Several other individuals inside the home were not injured.

This was not a random incident, according to Davidson. Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601724237150.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.Just after 10 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 1300 block of north Volutsia in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located a 56-year-old man who had been shot. &nbsp;He was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed unknown suspects began shooting at the residence, striking the victim. &nbsp;Several other individuals inside the home were not injured.This was not a random incident, according to Davidson. Police have not reported an arrest.

Police: 56-year-old wounded when suspect shot at Kan. home

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The NFL postponed this week's game between New England and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;after ''positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.'' ESPN reported on Saturday that Patriots&nbsp;quarterback Cam Newton&nbsp;was among those testing positive.

The NFL said on Saturday that the game, originally scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday, will be played on Monday or Tuesday, a move that would be possible only if there is no wider spread of the disease on the rosters.

The Patriots confirmed that a player has tested positive but did not reveal his name. Newton's agent did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking confirmation.

The only known Chiefs player to test positive is quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, a member of the practice squad who has not appeared in a game but would have spent time in meetings with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the team's other QBs.

It is the second game this weekend that has been affected by COVID-19. After an outbreak on the Titans, the matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee was postponed - originally for a day or two, and then until Oct. 25 as the positive tests accumulated.

To fit it in, the Steelers' game against Baltimore that day was pushed back to Nov. 1.

The Patriots had been planning to fly to Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. Instead, players left the facility to await further instructions. The team said in a statement that the COVID-positive player has entered self-quarantine and that players, coaches and staff who were in close contact with him were tested Saturday morning and all were negative.

Earlier this week, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty&nbsp;said the league might have grown overconfident after making it through training camps and the first two weeks of the season without a major outbreak.

''But at the end of the day, we are in a pandemic,'' he said. ''So what happened in Tennessee, although it kind of shocks us, it's not really surprising. I think we all knew at some point we might get some positive tests.

''So it's like, 'We got this,''' he said. ''I think this is just a little shocker, but it's also a wakeup call, like 'Hey, the virus is still here and it will affect any and everybody. It doesn't care that we're trying to play football.'''

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584619937558.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The NFL postponed this week's game between New England and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;after ''positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.'' ESPN reported on Saturday that Patriots&nbsp;quarterback Cam Newton&nbsp;was among those testing positive.The NFL said on Saturday that the game, originally scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday, will be played on Monday or Tuesday, a move that would be possible only if there is no wider spread of the disease on the rosters.The Patriots confirmed that a player has tested positive but did not reveal his name. Newton's agent did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking confirmation.The only known Chiefs player to test positive is quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, a member of the practice squad who has not appeared in a game but would have spent time in meetings with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the team's other QBs.It is the second game this weekend that has been affected by COVID-19. After an outbreak on the Titans, the matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee was postponed - originally for a day or two, and then until Oct. 25 as the positive tests accumulated.To fit it in, the Steelers' game against Baltimore that day was pushed back to Nov. 1.The Patriots had been planning to fly to Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. Instead, players left the facility to await further instructions. The team said in a statement that the COVID-positive player has entered self-quarantine and that players, coaches and staff who were in close contact with him were tested Saturday morning and all were negative.Earlier this week, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty&nbsp;said the league might have grown overconfident after making it through training camps and the first two weeks of the season without a major outbreak.''But at the end of the day, we are in a pandemic,'' he said. ''So what happened in Tennessee, although it kind of shocks us, it's not really surprising. I think we all knew at some point we might get some positive tests.''So it's like, 'We got this,''' he said. ''I think this is just a little shocker, but it's also a wakeup call, like 'Hey, the virus is still here and it will affect any and everybody. It doesn't care that we're trying to play football.'''

🏈 Chiefs-Patriots game off amid report Newton has COVID-19

LAWRENCE—Using "lab on a chip" technology, Foundation Distinguished Professor Steven Soper and graduate students in bioengineering and chemistry are developing a user-friendly COVID-19 test.

“Eventually, our test will go into a home — like an early pregnancy test at home,” said Soper. “Anyone could do it.”

Soper’s team, which includes a half-dozen graduate students in bioengineering and chemistry, is repurposing “lab on a chip” technology he had previously developed to give doctors simple tools to more easily and quickly diagnose conditions ranging from stroke to colon cancer. The goal is to get the new test to market “sooner than later, of course.”

“We’re well-versed in this,” he said.

The test uses a small plastic chip — about 38 by 42 millimeters — that contains 1.5 million tiny pillars, just 10 microns wide and 50 microns tall. Each pillar contains a piece of ribonucleic acid that “recognizes” a protein found in the COVID-19 virus particle.

“When we flow saliva through this forest of pillars that have on the chip surfaces, this DNA molecule will look to bind to the virus particle,” Soper said. The chip will then be exposed to blue light, which will release the RNA-virus bound particles from the pillars and funnel them through a hole just 200 nanometers wide — creating an electrical signal that lets users see if they have the virus.

That sounds complicated. For the user, though, taking the test will be very simple.

“You take a saliva sample, you put it in the chip, and the chip does the processing,” Soper said. The whole process, including results, should take around 15 minutes. Current tests — including one used by KU — involve multiple steps, require a trained operator to implement the test and need an hour or two before results are available.

Soper’s team has been working on the project since early June after researchers were allowed to return to their on-campus labs following KU’s shutdown in March. Funding for the effort comes from the National Institutes of Health. The group includes three graduate students in bioengineering and three graduate students in chemistry.

“I think most students want to contribute to society in terms of research. If we can actually find something that would help a lot of people, that would mean a lot to us,” said Swarnagowri Vaidyanathan, a doctoral student in bioengineering who is working on the project.

Other graduate student team members include Katie Childers and Zheng Zhao, both in bioengineering, as well as chemistry students Uditha Athapattu, Sachindra Gamage and Thilanga Nandana. Maggie Witek, associate research professor of chemistry, and Lulu Zhang, a postdoctoral chemistry student, are also working on the project.

“They basically stopped everything they were doing on their dissertation work to get this done,” Soper said. “Hats off to the graduate students. They’re working like crazy to get this done.”

The next step in the process is to conduct clinical trials of the test between now and the end of the year in order to obtain approval from the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration for widespread use. Once that happens, Soper said, “It’s a matter of manufacturing and getting it out to the market.”

Soper earned his doctorate in bioanalytical chemistry from KU in 1989 and returned to the university as a faculty member in 2016. He brought along his company, BioFluidica, which previously created new products to help doctors test for various types of cancers, including breast, colon and prostate cancer.

The new test, he said, will be adaptable for other viruses that come along in the future — and also to detect illnesses from cancer and radiation poisoning. “We can reprogram the chip so it can be used for other applications,” he said. “There’s many applications for our test, not just COVID-19.”

Soper said the University of Kansas is well-positioned for this kind of effort. A nanofabrication facility opened in Gray-Little Hall a year ago, which enables researchers to create the advanced tools used in the COVID-19 test.

“That’s provided the infrastructure, and that was a big investment by the university,” Soper said. “KU has the resources that we need to move this whole thing forward.”

LAWRENCE—Using "lab on a chip" technology, Foundation Distinguished Professor Steven Soper and graduate students in bioengineering and chemistry are developing a user-friendly COVID-19 test.“Eventually, our test will go into a home — like an early pregnancy test at home,” said Soper. “Anyone could do it.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601481634995.jpeg" alt="Steven Soper" />
 <figcaption>Steven Soper</figcaption>
 </figure>Soper’s team, which includes a half-dozen graduate students in bioengineering and chemistry, is repurposing “lab on a chip” technology he had previously developed to give doctors simple tools to more easily and quickly diagnose conditions ranging from stroke to colon cancer. The goal is to get the new test to market “sooner than later, of course.”“We’re well-versed in this,” he said.The test uses a small plastic chip — about 38 by 42 millimeters — that contains 1.5 million tiny pillars, just 10 microns wide and 50 microns tall. Each pillar contains a piece of ribonucleic acid that “recognizes” a protein found in the COVID-19 virus particle.“When we flow saliva through this forest of pillars that have on the chip surfaces, this DNA molecule will look to bind to the virus particle,” Soper said. The chip will then be exposed to blue light, which will release the RNA-virus bound particles from the pillars and funnel them through a hole just 200 nanometers wide — creating an electrical signal that lets users see if they have the virus.That sounds complicated. For the user, though, taking the test will be very simple.“You take a saliva sample, you put it in the chip, and the chip does the processing,” Soper said. The whole process, including results, should take around 15 minutes. Current tests — including one used by KU — involve multiple steps, require a trained operator to implement the test and need an hour or two before results are available.Soper’s team has been working on the project since early June after researchers were allowed to return to their on-campus labs following KU’s shutdown in March. Funding for the effort comes from the National Institutes of Health. The group includes three graduate students in bioengineering and three graduate students in chemistry.“I think most students want to contribute to society in terms of research. If we can actually find something that would help a lot of people, that would mean a lot to us,” said Swarnagowri Vaidyanathan, a doctoral student in bioengineering who is working on the project.Other graduate student team members include Katie Childers and Zheng Zhao, both in bioengineering, as well as chemistry students Uditha Athapattu, Sachindra Gamage and Thilanga Nandana. Maggie Witek, associate research professor of chemistry, and Lulu Zhang, a postdoctoral chemistry student, are also working on the project.“They basically stopped everything they were doing on their dissertation work to get this done,” Soper said. “Hats off to the graduate students. They’re working like crazy to get this done.”The next step in the process is to conduct clinical trials of the test between now and the end of the year in order to obtain approval from the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration for widespread use. Once that happens, Soper said, “It’s a matter of manufacturing and getting it out to the market.”Soper earned his doctorate in bioanalytical chemistry from KU in 1989 and returned to the university as a faculty member in 2016. He brought along his company, BioFluidica, which previously created new products to help doctors test for various types of cancers, including breast, colon and prostate cancer.The new test, he said, will be adaptable for other viruses that come along in the future — and also to detect illnesses from cancer and radiation poisoning. “We can reprogram the chip so it can be used for other applications,” he said. “There’s many applications for our test, not just COVID-19.”Soper said the University of Kansas is well-positioned for this kind of effort. A nanofabrication facility opened in Gray-Little Hall a year ago, which enables researchers to create the advanced tools used in the COVID-19 test.“That’s provided the infrastructure, and that was a big investment by the university,” Soper said. “KU has the resources that we need to move this whole thing forward.”

KU researchers developing quick-turnaround COVID-19 test

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Health officials in Kansas’ largest county are making it easier for older students to head back to class even as coronavirus outbreaks in schools and sports infect hundreds statewide.

Johnson County’s health department released new criteria Thursday that allow middle and high schoolers to switch to a hybrid mode in which they go in-person part of the time and learn at home the rest as long as there are safety precautions in place such as masks and daily symptoms screenings, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article246150115.html" target="_blank">reports.&nbsp;</a>Health officials previously said that younger students could return to classrooms full-time.

The move comes as the suburban Kansas City county averaged 113 new cases each day last week, which was the third highest new case count since the pandemic began, epidemiologist Elizabeth Holzschuh said. And cases have been rising among children under the age of 19 and showing up in schools.

Even with many students still learning online, 104 of Johnson County’s 169 public schools, or more than 60%, have implemented at least one quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure, officials said.

“We know there will be cases,” Holzschuh told the board of commissioners at its weekly meeting Thursday. “This is not surprising to us. The goal is not to have that widespread transmission and those cases pop up throughout the school.”

The final decision on whether to move from remote to hybrid learning for older students will be made by the county’s individual school districts, which have been the focus of ongoing protests demanding that all students be allowed to learn in person, five days a week.

Statewide, Kansas added 1,362 new confirmed and probable cases from Wednesday to Friday, bringing the total to 61,111. Kansas also added 20 more deaths, raising the overall number since the pandemic began to 698. However, the number of coronavirus cases is thought to be higher because people can be infected without feeling ill and because of limited testing early in the pandemic.

Among the cases, health officials are blaming 87 outbreaks on K-12 schools, colleges and athletics, with 1,209 infections.

Despite the rise, the University of Kansas was preparing to play its first football game before fans, allowing up to 10,000 into Booth Memorial Stadium for its homecoming game against Oklahoma State, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article246165970.html" target="_blank">reports</a>.

And Kansas State was preparing for its second game with fans as it plays host to Texas Tech. Earlier this month, the Wildcats welcomed 11,040 spectators into a stadium with a normal capacity of 50,000 for a game against Arkansas State.

“For the most part everything went well and we learned a lot,” said Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Health officials in Kansas’ largest county are making it easier for older students to head back to class even as coronavirus outbreaks in schools and sports infect hundreds statewide.Johnson County’s health department released new criteria Thursday that allow middle and high schoolers to switch to a hybrid mode in which they go in-person part of the time and learn at home the rest as long as there are safety precautions in place such as masks and daily symptoms screenings, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article246150115.html" target="_blank">reports.&nbsp;</a>Health officials previously said that younger students could return to classrooms full-time.The move comes as the suburban Kansas City county averaged 113 new cases each day last week, which was the third highest new case count since the pandemic began, epidemiologist Elizabeth Holzschuh said. And cases have been rising among children under the age of 19 and showing up in schools.Even with many students still learning online, 104 of Johnson County’s 169 public schools, or more than 60%, have implemented at least one quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure, officials said.“We know there will be cases,” Holzschuh told the board of commissioners at its weekly meeting Thursday. “This is not surprising to us. The goal is not to have that widespread transmission and those cases pop up throughout the school.”The final decision on whether to move from remote to hybrid learning for older students will be made by the county’s individual school districts, which have been the focus of ongoing protests demanding that all students be allowed to learn in person, five days a week.Statewide, Kansas added 1,362 new confirmed and probable cases from Wednesday to Friday, bringing the total to 61,111. Kansas also added 20 more deaths, raising the overall number since the pandemic began to 698. However, the number of coronavirus cases is thought to be higher because people can be infected without feeling ill and because of limited testing early in the pandemic.Among the cases, health officials are blaming 87 outbreaks on K-12 schools, colleges and athletics, with 1,209 infections.Despite the rise, the University of Kansas was preparing to play its first football game before fans, allowing up to 10,000 into Booth Memorial Stadium for its homecoming game against Oklahoma State, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article246165970.html" target="_blank">reports</a>.And Kansas State was preparing for its second game with fans as it plays host to Texas Tech. Earlier this month, the Wildcats welcomed 11,040 spectators into a stadium with a normal capacity of 50,000 for a game against Arkansas State.“For the most part everything went well and we learned a lot,” said Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor.

Officials: Older kids in Kan. largest county can go to class

WASHINGTON (AP) —The experimental antibody drug given to President Donald Trump has been called one of the most promising approaches to preventing serious illness from a COVID-19 infection.

Its maker, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., said the company agreed to supply a single dose, given through an IV, for Trump at the request of his physician under “compassionate use” provisions, when an experimental medicine is provided on a case-by-case emergency basis, while studies of it continue.

The new drug is in late-stage testing and its safety and effectiveness are not yet known. No treatment has yet proved able to prevent serious illness after a coronavirus infection.

Trump was given the experimental drug at the White House on Friday before he was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he’ll be monitored, officials said. So far, Trump has had only mild symptoms, including fatigue.

Several physicians who treat COVID-19, including Dr. David Boulware at the University of Minnesota, had speculated that doctors might use the antibody drug, given that this approach has worked against other diseases in the past.

“They’re not going to just sit around and watch to see if he gets sick,” Boulware said.

Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help the immune system eliminate it. Vaccines trick the body into thinking there’s an infection so it makes these antibodies.

But it can take weeks for them to form after natural infection or a vaccine. The drugs aim to give that protection immediately, by supplying concentrated versions of one or two antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.

Regeneron’s drug contains two antibodies to enhance chances that it will work. The company previously developed a successful Ebola treatment from an antibody combo.

The drug is given as a one-time treatment through an IV. In multiple studies, Regeneron is testing it both for preventing infection and in people already infected, like Trump, to try to prevent serious illness or death.

Earlier this week, Regeneron said partial results from about 275 COVID-19 patients who were not sick enough to need hospitalization suggested it might be cutting how long symptoms last and helping reduce the amount of virus patients harbor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601723631861.png" alt="President Trump leaving the White House Friday evening on his way to Walter Reed National Medical Center.- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump leaving the White House Friday evening on his way to Walter Reed National Medical Center.- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The experimental antibody drug given to President Donald Trump has been called one of the most promising approaches to preventing serious illness from a COVID-19 infection.Its maker, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., said the company agreed to supply a single dose, given through an IV, for Trump at the request of his physician under “compassionate use” provisions, when an experimental medicine is provided on a case-by-case emergency basis, while studies of it continue.The new drug is in late-stage testing and its safety and effectiveness are not yet known. No treatment has yet proved able to prevent serious illness after a coronavirus infection.Trump was given the experimental drug at the White House on Friday before he was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he’ll be monitored, officials said. So far, Trump has had only mild symptoms, including fatigue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601724532173.png" alt="Image Courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Several physicians who treat COVID-19, including Dr. David Boulware at the University of Minnesota, had speculated that doctors might use the antibody drug, given that this approach has worked against other diseases in the past.“They’re not going to just sit around and watch to see if he gets sick,” Boulware said.HOW ANTIBODIES WORKAntibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help the immune system eliminate it. Vaccines trick the body into thinking there’s an infection so it makes these antibodies.But it can take weeks for them to form after natural infection or a vaccine. The drugs aim to give that protection immediately, by supplying concentrated versions of one or two antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.Regeneron’s drug contains two antibodies to enhance chances that it will work. The company previously developed a successful Ebola treatment from an antibody combo.WHAT’S KNOWN SO FARThe drug is given as a one-time treatment through an IV. In multiple studies, Regeneron is testing it both for preventing infection and in people already infected, like Trump, to try to prevent serious illness or death.Earlier this week, Regeneron said partial results from about 275 COVID-19 patients who were not sick enough to need hospitalization suggested it might be cutting how long symptoms last and helping reduce the amount of virus patients harbor.However, the study has not been completed, the results were only announced in a company news release and have not been published or reviewed by other scientists.TRUMP’S OTHER TREATMENTS<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601725205825.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said late Friday that Trump had also been given the antiviral drug remdesivir at the military hospital. The Gilead Sciences drug has been shown to help some COVID-19 patients recover faster.Earlier, Conley said Trump also was taking zinc, vitamin D, an antacid called famotidine, melatonin and aspirin. None of those have been proven to be effective against COVID-19.Trump apparently is not receiving hydroxychloroquine, a drug he widely promoted that has been shown in many studies to be ineffective for preventing or treating COVID-19.___