TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ open Senate race has generated close to $14 million worth of ads, with two-thirds of the spending coming from political action committees as establishment Republicans fight to keep hard-right conservative Kris Kobach from winning the GOP nomination.

The Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyT1ziQz_Fs" target="_blank">television</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h64ACHZoCg0" target="_blank">radio</a>&nbsp;spots this past week praising western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/81b17238e1d74d8b3049f30fc7e99b9a">the GOP establishment’s pick&nbsp;</a>in an 11-person field in the Aug. 4 primary. The American Bankers Association’s PAC also began running a pro-Marshall&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPr95qP5vME&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">television ad&nbsp;</a>featuring the Kansas Bankers Association’s CEO.

Political committees are spending more than $9.3 million so far on ads, according to the media tracking firm Advertising Analytics. That compares to the candidates’ $4.6 million, the firm said. Another firm, Media Buying, put the groups’ spending at nearly $9.6 million.

Establishment Republicans and supporters of Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, are waging a fierce campaign because many GOP leaders and activists fear the seat will be in play if Kobach is the nominee. Known nationally for advocating tough immigration policies and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c2a150d5705044aeb44174c1ef359ae5">a take-no-prisoners style,</a>&nbsp;Kobach alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.

Spending by the PACs has easily outpaced the candidates’ fundraising in recent weeks. The top three Republicans and the presumed Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier, have raised more than $1.1 million since June 30, but Advertising Analytics said the Senate Leadership Fund’s advertising alone is more — and it’s just one of three groups spending more than $1 million.

“I am just shocked about the amount of outside money,” said Kelly Arnold, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman. “These are numbers that you normally would see in a general election where it’s very competitive, and the national Democrats and national Republicans are battling it out in the state.”

Republicans want to avoid a hot fall race in Kansas as they battle for their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive contests in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.

The GOP hasn’t lost a Senate race in Kansas since 1932, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/da472b57128ec86d01540e6cd85cd1ca">Republicans are worried&nbsp;</a>about the fundraising prowess of Bollier, a retired Kansas City anesthesiologist and former moderate Republican who switched parties at the end of 2018. She has raised more than $7.9 million for her campaign, including nearly $730,000 since June 30, easily outdoing the Republicans.

“If I’m a Republican looking at this race, I would increasingly be disabusing myself of the notion that this election is over on primary day even if Marshall is the nominee,” said Patrick Miller, a University of Kansas political scientist. “This race is going to have to be on the radar.”

A PAC with Democratic ties, Sunflower State, is doing more than $4 million worth of advertising, according to the two media tracking firms. Sunflower State this week had a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4T5_KcVb2s&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">30-second spot&nbsp;</a>describing Marshall as a “creature of the D.C. swamp.”

Many Republicans see Sunflower State’s efforts as meddling in the Republican race to steer the nomination to Kobach. The GOP also has complained that Bollier is enjoying a gusher of dollars from outside Kansas, and Marshall spokesman Eric Pahls said neither Kobach’s nor Bollier’s supporters “care about the state” itself.

“They’re relying solely on help from Democrats, Hollywood and New York City,” Pahls wrote in a message to The Associated Press.

Kobach also is getting a boost from the Free Forever PAC and did in the past from the small-government free-market Club for Growth, to the tune of $1.1 million in all, according to Advertising Analytics.

But well-funded groups also are attacking Kobach, including the Senate Leadership Fund. The Kansas City area-based Plains PAC has a campaign attacking Kobach so far worth more than $2 million, and the Keep Kansas Great PAC is attacking both Kobach and another top GOP candidate, Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing firm. The latter group, the bankers’ association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are together spending $666,000 to boost Marshall, according to Advertising Analytics.

“The Swamp is showing they are willing to spend an ENDLESS amount of money,” Kobach said in a fundraising email earlier this week.

Hamilton is largely self-funding his campaign with a $3.5 million personal loan, and he’s flooded the airwaves with 15 different television spots. The two tracking firms said his advertising is worth roughly $2.1 million, the most of any Republican running in Kansas.

Marshall is spending about $1.2 million and Kobach, about $200,000. Bollier’s advertising is worth about $858,000 so far, according to Advertising Analytics.

Marshall has raised about $247,000 since June 30 to bring his total fundraising to $2.8 million, and he had $1 million in campaign cash on July 15, according to online finance reports.

Meanwhile, Kobach has raised about $136,000 since June 30, bringing his total to nearly $964,000. He had about $136,000 in cash on July 15.

Hamilton had $964,000 in cash on July 15, and less than $200,000 of his $3.7 million in funds has come from others’ contributions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585145252311.png" alt=" Barbara Bollier, a former Republican, is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat. Credit Jim McLean" />
 <figcaption> Barbara Bollier, a former Republican, is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat. Credit Jim McLean</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ open Senate race has generated close to $14 million worth of ads, with two-thirds of the spending coming from political action committees as establishment Republicans fight to keep hard-right conservative Kris Kobach from winning the GOP nomination.The Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyT1ziQz_Fs" target="_blank">television</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h64ACHZoCg0" target="_blank">radio</a>&nbsp;spots this past week praising western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/81b17238e1d74d8b3049f30fc7e99b9a">the GOP establishment’s pick&nbsp;</a>in an 11-person field in the Aug. 4 primary. The American Bankers Association’s PAC also began running a pro-Marshall&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPr95qP5vME&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">television ad&nbsp;</a>featuring the Kansas Bankers Association’s CEO.Political committees are spending more than $9.3 million so far on ads, according to the media tracking firm Advertising Analytics. That compares to the candidates’ $4.6 million, the firm said. Another firm, Media Buying, put the groups’ spending at nearly $9.6 million.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593083581441.png" alt="Senate candidate Kris Kobach during a GOP debate in June." />
 <figcaption>Senate candidate Kris Kobach during a GOP debate in June.</figcaption>
 </figure>Establishment Republicans and supporters of Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, are waging a fierce campaign because many GOP leaders and activists fear the seat will be in play if Kobach is the nominee. Known nationally for advocating tough immigration policies and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c2a150d5705044aeb44174c1ef359ae5">a take-no-prisoners style,</a>&nbsp;Kobach alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.Spending by the PACs has easily outpaced the candidates’ fundraising in recent weeks. The top three Republicans and the presumed Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier, have raised more than $1.1 million since June 30, but Advertising Analytics said the Senate Leadership Fund’s advertising alone is more — and it’s just one of three groups spending more than $1 million.“I am just shocked about the amount of outside money,” said Kelly Arnold, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman. “These are numbers that you normally would see in a general election where it’s very competitive, and the national Democrats and national Republicans are battling it out in the state.”Republicans want to avoid a hot fall race in Kansas as they battle for their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive contests in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.The GOP hasn’t lost a Senate race in Kansas since 1932, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/da472b57128ec86d01540e6cd85cd1ca">Republicans are worried&nbsp;</a>about the fundraising prowess of Bollier, a retired Kansas City anesthesiologist and former moderate Republican who switched parties at the end of 2018. She has raised more than $7.9 million for her campaign, including nearly $730,000 since June 30, easily outdoing the Republicans.“If I’m a Republican looking at this race, I would increasingly be disabusing myself of the notion that this election is over on primary day even if Marshall is the nominee,” said Patrick Miller, a University of Kansas political scientist. “This race is going to have to be on the radar.”A PAC with Democratic ties, Sunflower State, is doing more than $4 million worth of advertising, according to the two media tracking firms. Sunflower State this week had a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4T5_KcVb2s&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">30-second spot&nbsp;</a>describing Marshall as a “creature of the D.C. swamp.”Many Republicans see Sunflower State’s efforts as meddling in the Republican race to steer the nomination to Kobach. The GOP also has complained that Bollier is enjoying a gusher of dollars from outside Kansas, and Marshall spokesman Eric Pahls said neither Kobach’s nor Bollier’s supporters “care about the state” itself.“They’re relying solely on help from Democrats, Hollywood and New York City,” Pahls wrote in a message to The Associated Press.Kobach also is getting a boost from the Free Forever PAC and did in the past from the small-government free-market Club for Growth, to the tune of $1.1 million in all, according to Advertising Analytics.But well-funded groups also are attacking Kobach, including the Senate Leadership Fund. The Kansas City area-based Plains PAC has a campaign attacking Kobach so far worth more than $2 million, and the Keep Kansas Great PAC is attacking both Kobach and another top GOP candidate, Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing firm. The latter group, the bankers’ association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are together spending $666,000 to boost Marshall, according to Advertising Analytics.“The Swamp is showing they are willing to spend an ENDLESS amount of money,” Kobach said in a fundraising email earlier this week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590269312750.png" alt="Candidates Koback, Hamilton and Marshall at a debate last month" />
 <figcaption>Candidates Koback, Hamilton and Marshall at a debate last month</figcaption>
 </figure>Hamilton is largely self-funding his campaign with a $3.5 million personal loan, and he’s flooded the airwaves with 15 different television spots. The two tracking firms said his advertising is worth roughly $2.1 million, the most of any Republican running in Kansas.Marshall is spending about $1.2 million and Kobach, about $200,000. Bollier’s advertising is worth about $858,000 so far, according to Advertising Analytics.Marshall has raised about $247,000 since June 30 to bring his total fundraising to $2.8 million, and he had $1 million in campaign cash on July 15, according to online finance reports.Meanwhile, Kobach has raised about $136,000 since June 30, bringing his total to nearly $964,000. He had about $136,000 in cash on July 15.Hamilton had $964,000 in cash on July 15, and less than $200,000 of his $3.7 million in funds has come from others’ contributions.

Kansas Senate race ads approach $14M, two-thirds from PACs

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a>, Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Nancy Jensen struggled for nearly two decades to convince state and local government officials and church leaders that a Newton couple operating residential facilities for mentally disabled adults engaged in bizarre physical and sexual abuse under the guise of therapy.

She eventually fled the group homes and experienced the restorative power of a U.S. District Court jury rendering guilty verdicts and of a federal judge dropping the hammer on the husband and wife team of Arlan and Linda Kaufman. They were sentenced in 2006 to lengthy terms in prison from a long-overdue investigation exposing involuntary servitude, health care fraud, forced labor and mail fraud.

When former registered nurse Linda Kaufman sought early release from a 15-year term due to illness, Jensen endorsed that act of compassion. Jensen declined to do the same for Arlan Kaufman, a former social worker who led the Kaufman House business and was ordered to serve 30 years in prison and pay $534,000 in restitution. He petitioned the court for release from a Butner, N.C., prison medical center to seek prostate cancer treatment and elude potential infection with COVID-19.

“I want him to die in prison,” Jensen said. “My heart is sick with the idea of his release.”

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Marten issued a five-page ruling that denied Kaufman’s request for a compassionate release. The judge said Kaufman was at an elevated risk of contracting COVID-19 due to his serious medical challenges, but the heinous nature of his crimes didn’t justify cutting his prison sentence in half.

“Reduction of the sentence to time served, under the circumstances of this case, would be a windfall to the defendant, which would fail to promote respect for the law and would undermine just punishment,” Marten’s order said. “Such a windfall would fail to produce a sentence relative to the nature of seriousness of his many underlying crimes.”

He was convicted of conspiracy, forced labor, involuntary servitude, health care fraud, mail fraud, making a false writing and obstructing a federal audit.

Jensen said she was grateful to judge’s decision served the interests of justice.

“This denial of release says our lives mattered, what happen to us mattered. He has to pay the consequences of what he did to us,” she said.

Former Kaufman House resident Lynn Kohr submitted a letter to the court expressing concern that anyone would seriously contemplate the premature release of Kaufman. She said he shouldn’t be viewed as a victim or allowed to live out the remainder of his life in the comforting arms of family.

“I was often locked in a room with no furniture, not even a bed or chair, and had no access to a toilet,” she said. “I was not even allowed the dignity of being able to wear clothes. I was always naked in that room. He entered the darkened room daily for ‘therapy.’ I was forced to be alone in that room the rest of the time with my hopeless and severely depressed thoughts at the very times I needed to be around people and support.”

Kaufman’s attorneys, Zachary Newland, of Rutland, Vermont, and James Pratt, of Wichita, submitted a 31-page brief in June requesting a federal judge reduce the sentence to time served rather than adhere to a scheduled release date in 2031. His appeal was based in part on passage of the First Step Act, a law signed in 2018 by President Donald Trump to remove obstacles from judicial review of sentences to determine whether “extraordinary and compelling” reasons existed to trim incarceration times.

“A reduction in his sentence is consistent with U.S. sentencing policy and he poses no danger to society,” the document said. “This court should conclude that Dr. Kaufman satisfies the requirements for compassionate release. It is inhumane and unnecessarily punitive to keep an 83-year old man with stage four prostate cancer imprisoned.”

The legal brief argued Kaufman was a “first-time offender,” had a 1% chance of surviving five years and was at high risk of being infected with coronavirus due to his compromised health and advanced age. Those arguments were unconvincing to the warden at the Federal Correctional Facility in Texas. The warden denied his plea for release in April, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons transferred him to North Carolina.

Oncologist Clinton Merrill Jr., who produced a report for Kaufman’s attorneys based on examination of his medical records, confirmed the inmate had terminal metastatic prostate cancer. The doctor said Kaufman’s condition would benefit from more aggressive health care, which Kaufman would have access to if he was freed and allowed to live with a son in St. Louis.

“Due to his age and stage of his disease, Mr. Kaufman has at best a 40% predicted one-year survival,” Merrill said. “It is, therefore, more likely than not, that he will survive for less than one year.”

Linda Kaufman was granted early parole in 2016 due to health complications and died in 2019.

Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, said the organization opposed Kaufman’s early release due to the nature of his crimes and his failure to express remorse for years of reprehensible conduct.

“Mr.&nbsp;Kaufman&nbsp;continually minimized his role throughout the trial, sentencing and resentencing phases, but the evidence was overwhelming that he was the architect of the horrific abuse suffered by the victims,” Nichols said.

In 2004, the Disability Rights Center started providing&nbsp;legal representation to mentally ill individuals at&nbsp;Kaufman&nbsp;group homes in Newton who were subjected to abuse. DRC’s special investigative authority under federal law was relied upon to start a chain reaction that contributed to the arrest and filing of dozens of charges against the Kaufmans.

The Kaufmans served as landlord, counselor, nurse and guardian of the severely mentally disabled men and women under their direct care. The residents were at times compelled to do housework, farm chores and endure treatment while nude and under observation by the Kaufmans. Former residents testified Arlan Kaufman forced them to fondle each other, shave each other’s genitals and to masturbate in front of their peers. Witnesses also said both Kaufmans used a stun gun on the genitals of at least one resident.

Involuntary sexual activities among male and female residents were videotaped and added to the pornography collection found by investigators in the Kaufmans’ possession. All the while, the couple billed Medicare for their unorthodox work.

During the criminal case, several Mennonite churches circulated petitions and sent letters to the federal court seeking leniency for the Kaufmans.

Nichols pointed to the words of U.S. District Court Judge Monti Belot, who presided at the Wichita trial of Linda and Arlan Kaufman, to amplify his opposition to early release.

The judge said: “I have never had a case where an inmate even claimed, much less proved, treatment by prison officials remotely similar to that inflicted upon the residents at Kaufman house.The closest parallel which comes to mind is the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.”

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican representing the Wichita area, added his voice to those opposing Kaufman’s prompt release from prison on humanitarian grounds. In a letter to the Texas prison warden, Estes said granting freedom to Kaufman would trigger a special kind of agony for his victims.

“I plead with you not to inflict further pain upon the mentally ill victims of Arlan Kaufman by setting this evil man free,” the congressman said. “The horrendous nature of Mr. Kaufman’s crimes do not merit a compassionate release.”

After the Kaufmans were arrested, the Kansas Legislature reformed state law to provide greater oversight of group homes for the disabled and to address potential conflicts of interest by operators of those facilities. Credit for that work rests with the Disability Rights Center and with former residents, including Kohr and Jensen. Both women have been nationally recognized for their advocacy.

Jensen said she could still hear Arlan Kaufman’s voice telling her that she would never succeed in life. Affirming his petition for early release would be an insult and renew suffering former residents have worked hard to overcome, she said.

“My heart is sick at the idea of Kaufman’s release,” Jensen said. “Most hurtful is that both he and his family would view his early release as a victory, as vindication and as proof that he did no wrong. We survivors know better. This is not about compassion. If he is released, in his mind, he wins. If he is released, in our experience, we lose.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Jensen-pic.jpg" alt="&nbsp;Nancy Jensen, center, a former resident of a Newton home for mentally ill adults led by Arlan Kaufman, objected to Kaufman's request to be released from federal prison due to poor health after serving 15 years of a 30-year sentence. A federal judge denied the request for compassionate release. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Nancy Jensen, center, a former resident of a Newton home for mentally ill adults led by Arlan Kaufman, objected to Kaufman's request to be released from federal prison due to poor health after serving 15 years of a 30-year sentence. A federal judge denied the request for compassionate release. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a>, Kansas ReflectorTOPEKA — Nancy Jensen struggled for nearly two decades to convince state and local government officials and church leaders that a Newton couple operating residential facilities for mentally disabled adults engaged in bizarre physical and sexual abuse under the guise of therapy.She eventually fled the group homes and experienced the restorative power of a U.S. District Court jury rendering guilty verdicts and of a federal judge dropping the hammer on the husband and wife team of Arlan and Linda Kaufman. They were sentenced in 2006 to lengthy terms in prison from a long-overdue investigation exposing involuntary servitude, health care fraud, forced labor and mail fraud.When former registered nurse Linda Kaufman sought early release from a 15-year term due to illness, Jensen endorsed that act of compassion. Jensen declined to do the same for Arlan Kaufman, a former social worker who led the Kaufman House business and was ordered to serve 30 years in prison and pay $534,000 in restitution. He petitioned the court for release from a Butner, N.C., prison medical center to seek prostate cancer treatment and elude potential infection with COVID-19.“I want him to die in prison,” Jensen said. “My heart is sick with the idea of his release.”On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Marten issued a five-page ruling that denied Kaufman’s request for a compassionate release. The judge said Kaufman was at an elevated risk of contracting COVID-19 due to his serious medical challenges, but the heinous nature of his crimes didn’t justify cutting his prison sentence in half.“Reduction of the sentence to time served, under the circumstances of this case, would be a windfall to the defendant, which would fail to promote respect for the law and would undermine just punishment,” Marten’s order said. “Such a windfall would fail to produce a sentence relative to the nature of seriousness of his many underlying crimes.”He was convicted of conspiracy, forced labor, involuntary servitude, health care fraud, mail fraud, making a false writing and obstructing a federal audit.Jensen said she was grateful to judge’s decision served the interests of justice.“This denial of release says our lives mattered, what happen to us mattered. He has to pay the consequences of what he did to us,” she said.Former Kaufman House resident Lynn Kohr submitted a letter to the court expressing concern that anyone would seriously contemplate the premature release of Kaufman. She said he shouldn’t be viewed as a victim or allowed to live out the remainder of his life in the comforting arms of family.“I was often locked in a room with no furniture, not even a bed or chair, and had no access to a toilet,” she said. “I was not even allowed the dignity of being able to wear clothes. I was always naked in that room. He entered the darkened room daily for ‘therapy.’ I was forced to be alone in that room the rest of the time with my hopeless and severely depressed thoughts at the very times I needed to be around people and support.”<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KaufmanOrder-1024x576.jpg" alt="&nbsp;A U.S. District Court judge rejected an application by former Newton social worker Arlan Kaufman to be released 15 years early from prison due to poor health and risk of COVID-19. Kaufman was convicted with his wife of forced labor, involuntary servitude and other offenses for abusing mentally ill adults under their care. (Illustration/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;A U.S. District Court judge rejected an application by former Newton social worker Arlan Kaufman to be released 15 years early from prison due to poor health and risk of COVID-19. Kaufman was convicted with his wife of forced labor, involuntary servitude and other offenses for abusing mentally ill adults under their care. (Illustration/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Pleas for freedomKaufman’s attorneys, Zachary Newland, of Rutland, Vermont, and James Pratt, of Wichita, submitted a 31-page brief in June requesting a federal judge reduce the sentence to time served rather than adhere to a scheduled release date in 2031. His appeal was based in part on passage of the First Step Act, a law signed in 2018 by President Donald Trump to remove obstacles from judicial review of sentences to determine whether “extraordinary and compelling” reasons existed to trim incarceration times.“A reduction in his sentence is consistent with U.S. sentencing policy and he poses no danger to society,” the document said. “This court should conclude that Dr. Kaufman satisfies the requirements for compassionate release. It is inhumane and unnecessarily punitive to keep an 83-year old man with stage four prostate cancer imprisoned.”The legal brief argued Kaufman was a “first-time offender,” had a 1% chance of surviving five years and was at high risk of being infected with coronavirus due to his compromised health and advanced age. Those arguments were unconvincing to the warden at the Federal Correctional Facility in Texas. The warden denied his plea for release in April, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons transferred him to North Carolina.Oncologist Clinton Merrill Jr., who produced a report for Kaufman’s attorneys based on examination of his medical records, confirmed the inmate had terminal metastatic prostate cancer. The doctor said Kaufman’s condition would benefit from more aggressive health care, which Kaufman would have access to if he was freed and allowed to live with a son in St. Louis.“Due to his age and stage of his disease, Mr. Kaufman has at best a 40% predicted one-year survival,” Merrill said. “It is, therefore, more likely than not, that he will survive for less than one year.”Linda Kaufman was granted early parole in 2016 due to health complications and died in 2019.Criminally offensiveRocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, said the organization opposed Kaufman’s early release due to the nature of his crimes and his failure to express remorse for years of reprehensible conduct.“Mr.&nbsp;Kaufman&nbsp;continually minimized his role throughout the trial, sentencing and resentencing phases, but the evidence was overwhelming that he was the architect of the horrific abuse suffered by the victims,” Nichols said.In 2004, the Disability Rights Center started providing&nbsp;legal representation to mentally ill individuals at&nbsp;Kaufman&nbsp;group homes in Newton who were subjected to abuse. DRC’s special investigative authority under federal law was relied upon to start a chain reaction that contributed to the arrest and filing of dozens of charges against the Kaufmans.The Kaufmans served as landlord, counselor, nurse and guardian of the severely mentally disabled men and women under their direct care. The residents were at times compelled to do housework, farm chores and endure treatment while nude and under observation by the Kaufmans. Former residents testified Arlan Kaufman forced them to fondle each other, shave each other’s genitals and to masturbate in front of their peers. Witnesses also said both Kaufmans used a stun gun on the genitals of at least one resident.Involuntary sexual activities among male and female residents were videotaped and added to the pornography collection found by investigators in the Kaufmans’ possession. All the while, the couple billed Medicare for their unorthodox work.During the criminal case, several Mennonite churches circulated petitions and sent letters to the federal court seeking leniency for the Kaufmans.Nichols pointed to the words of U.S. District Court Judge Monti Belot, who presided at the Wichita trial of Linda and Arlan Kaufman, to amplify his opposition to early release.The judge said: “I have never had a case where an inmate even claimed, much less proved, treatment by prison officials remotely similar to that inflicted upon the residents at Kaufman house.The closest parallel which comes to mind is the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.”‘Survivors know’U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican representing the Wichita area, added his voice to those opposing Kaufman’s prompt release from prison on humanitarian grounds. In a letter to the Texas prison warden, Estes said granting freedom to Kaufman would trigger a special kind of agony for his victims.“I plead with you not to inflict further pain upon the mentally ill victims of Arlan Kaufman by setting this evil man free,” the congressman said. “The horrendous nature of Mr. Kaufman’s crimes do not merit a compassionate release.”After the Kaufmans were arrested, the Kansas Legislature reformed state law to provide greater oversight of group homes for the disabled and to address potential conflicts of interest by operators of those facilities. Credit for that work rests with the Disability Rights Center and with former residents, including Kohr and Jensen. Both women have been nationally recognized for their advocacy.Jensen said she could still hear Arlan Kaufman’s voice telling her that she would never succeed in life. Affirming his petition for early release would be an insult and renew suffering former residents have worked hard to overcome, she said.“My heart is sick at the idea of Kaufman’s release,” Jensen said. “Most hurtful is that both he and his family would view his early release as a victory, as vindication and as proof that he did no wrong. We survivors know better. This is not about compassion. If he is released, in his mind, he wins. If he is released, in our experience, we lose.”

Victims: 15 years in prison not enough for architect of Kaufman House terror

WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court denied a rural Nevada church’s request late Friday to strike down as unconstitutional a 50-person cap on worship services as part of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.

In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.

Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued that the hard cap on religious gatherings was an unconstitutional violation of its parishioners’ First Amendment rights to express and exercise their beliefs.

Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority in denying the request without explanation.

Three justices wrote strongly worded dissenting opinions on behalf of the four conservatives who said they would have granted the injunctive relief while the court fully considers the merits of the case.

“That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful gaming industry and its employees may not come as a surprise, but this Court’s willingness to allow such discrimination is disappointing,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a dissent joined by Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.

“We have a duty to defend the Constitution, and even a public health emergency does not absolve us of that responsibility,” Alito said. “The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. It says nothing about freedom to play craps or blackjack, to feed tokens into a slot machine or to engage in any other game of chance.”

Kavanaugh also wrote his own dissent, as did Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said today’s world “with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges.”

“But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel,” Gorsuch wrote.

David Cortman, senior counsel for Georgia-based Alliance Defending Freedom representing the church, said in an email sent to The Associated Press late Friday that they were disappointed in the ruling but will continue to work to protect Calvary Chapel and others “from discriminatory policies that put religious groups at the back of the line for reopening.”

“When the government treats churches worse than casinos, gyms, and indoor amusement parks in its COVID-19 response, it clearly violates the Constitution,” he said.

The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a U.S. judge in Nevada upheld the state’s policy that allows casinos and other businesses to operate at 50% of normal capacity.

The appellate court in San Francisco is still considering the appeal, but it has denied the church’s request for an emergency injunction in the meantime. Its ruling July 2 pointed to the Supreme Court’s refusal in May to strike down California’s limit on the size of religious gatherings.

The church in Nevada’s Lyon County appealed to the Supreme Court six days later, asking for an emergency injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the cap on religious gatherings at least temporarily while the justices consider the merits of the case.

“The governor allows hundreds to thousands to assemble in pursuit of financial fortunes but only 50 to gather in pursuit of spiritual ones. That is unconstitutional,” its lawyers wrote in their most recent filing to the high court last week.

The church wants to allow as many as 90 people to attend services at the same time — with masks required, sitting 6-feet apart — at the sanctuary with a capacity of 200. Other secular businesses in the state that are allowed to operate at half capacity include gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and water parks.

Nevada’s lawyers said last week several courts nationwide have followed the Supreme Court’s lead in upholding state authority to impose emergency restrictions in response to COVID-19.

“Temporarily narrowing restrictions on the size of mass gatherings, including for religious services, protects the health and well-being of Nevada citizens during a global pandemic,” they wrote.

Alito said in the lead dissent that by allowing thousands to gather in casinos, the state cannot claim to have a compelling interest in limiting religious gatherings to 50 people — regardless of the size of the facility and the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The idea that allowing Calvary Chapel to admit 90 worshipers present a greater public health risk than allowing casinos to operate at 50% capacity is hard to swallow,” he wrote.

Kavanaugh said he agreed that courts should be “very deferential to the states’ line-drawing in opening businesses and allowing certain activities during the pandemic.”

“But COVID-19 is not a blank check for a state to discriminate against religious people, religious organizations and religious services,” he wrote in his own dissent. “Nevada is discriminating against religion.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588794154314.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court denied a rural Nevada church’s request late Friday to strike down as unconstitutional a 50-person cap on worship services as part of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued that the hard cap on religious gatherings was an unconstitutional violation of its parishioners’ First Amendment rights to express and exercise their beliefs.Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority in denying the request without explanation.Three justices wrote strongly worded dissenting opinions on behalf of the four conservatives who said they would have granted the injunctive relief while the court fully considers the merits of the case.“That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful gaming industry and its employees may not come as a surprise, but this Court’s willingness to allow such discrimination is disappointing,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a dissent joined by Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.“We have a duty to defend the Constitution, and even a public health emergency does not absolve us of that responsibility,” Alito said. “The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. It says nothing about freedom to play craps or blackjack, to feed tokens into a slot machine or to engage in any other game of chance.”Kavanaugh also wrote his own dissent, as did Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said today’s world “with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges.”“But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel,” Gorsuch wrote.David Cortman, senior counsel for Georgia-based Alliance Defending Freedom representing the church, said in an email sent to The Associated Press late Friday that they were disappointed in the ruling but will continue to work to protect Calvary Chapel and others “from discriminatory policies that put religious groups at the back of the line for reopening.”“When the government treats churches worse than casinos, gyms, and indoor amusement parks in its COVID-19 response, it clearly violates the Constitution,” he said.The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a U.S. judge in Nevada upheld the state’s policy that allows casinos and other businesses to operate at 50% of normal capacity.The appellate court in San Francisco is still considering the appeal, but it has denied the church’s request for an emergency injunction in the meantime. Its ruling July 2 pointed to the Supreme Court’s refusal in May to strike down California’s limit on the size of religious gatherings.The church in Nevada’s Lyon County appealed to the Supreme Court six days later, asking for an emergency injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the cap on religious gatherings at least temporarily while the justices consider the merits of the case.“The governor allows hundreds to thousands to assemble in pursuit of financial fortunes but only 50 to gather in pursuit of spiritual ones. That is unconstitutional,” its lawyers wrote in their most recent filing to the high court last week.The church wants to allow as many as 90 people to attend services at the same time — with masks required, sitting 6-feet apart — at the sanctuary with a capacity of 200. Other secular businesses in the state that are allowed to operate at half capacity include gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and water parks.Nevada’s lawyers said last week several courts nationwide have followed the Supreme Court’s lead in upholding state authority to impose emergency restrictions in response to COVID-19.“Temporarily narrowing restrictions on the size of mass gatherings, including for religious services, protects the health and well-being of Nevada citizens during a global pandemic,” they wrote.Alito said in the lead dissent that by allowing thousands to gather in casinos, the state cannot claim to have a compelling interest in limiting religious gatherings to 50 people — regardless of the size of the facility and the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the virus.“The idea that allowing Calvary Chapel to admit 90 worshipers present a greater public health risk than allowing casinos to operate at 50% capacity is hard to swallow,” he wrote.Kavanaugh said he agreed that courts should be “very deferential to the states’ line-drawing in opening businesses and allowing certain activities during the pandemic.”“But COVID-19 is not a blank check for a state to discriminate against religious people, religious organizations and religious services,” he wrote in his own dissent. “Nevada is discriminating against religion.”___

US Supreme Court denies church's appeal of virus rule

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka therapist at a treatment facility for at-risk girls has been arrested on suspicion of having sexual encounters with a teenage patient. 

Police arrested 51-year-old Julie Herron Wednesday on suspicion of unlawful sexual relations with a patient. 

Investigators say Herron was a therapist at Florence Crittenton Services in Topeka and a contractor for the Kansas Department for Children and Families when she began an inappropriate relationship with a resident there, who was 16 at the time, in 2015. 

Court records say Herron often took the teen off-site against facility rules and told the girl that sex was part of her therapy. The teen, who is now an adult, also says Herron raped her in a hotel room.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595598825960.png" alt="Herron-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Herron-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka therapist at a treatment facility for at-risk girls has been arrested on suspicion of having sexual encounters with a teenage patient. Police arrested 51-year-old Julie Herron Wednesday on suspicion of unlawful sexual relations with a patient. Investigators say Herron was a therapist at Florence Crittenton Services in Topeka and a contractor for the Kansas Department for Children and Families when she began an inappropriate relationship with a resident there, who was 16 at the time, in 2015. Court records say Herron often took the teen off-site against facility rules and told the girl that sex was part of her therapy. The teen, who is now an adult, also says Herron raped her in a hotel room.&nbsp;

Therapist in Kansas accused of sex with teen patient

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man who was arrested after he allegedly shot three victims in an incident this week has been charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm during an earlier firearm incident.

“Court documents cite a long history of gun violence and drug trafficking by this defendant who terrorized his neighborhood, allegedly shooting several victims this week,” Garrison said. “This is his second federal charge for illegally possessing firearms. Operation LeGend is successfully taking armed, violent criminals like this off the street to make our neighborhoods safer.”

Leamandreal Dorsey, 40, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. That complaint was unsealed and made public Friday following Dorsey’s arrest and initial court appearance.

The federal criminal complaint charges Dorsey with illegally possessing a firearm following a threat to shoot event that occurred on April 1, 2020. Dorsey is charged with possessing a Glock .40-caliber handgun attached to an extended drum magazine that contained 40 live rounds of ammunition.&nbsp;

On April 1, 2020, Kansas City, police officers responded to a reported weapons disturbance in the 2500 block of East 68th Terrace. One of Dorsey’s neighbors told officers that Dorsey pointed a gun at him and threatened him. Officers contacted Dorsey at Dorsey’s residence, sitting on the roof of a black Mercedes-Benz C300. According to the affidavit, Dorsey jumped into the driver’s seat when officers approached. &nbsp;Dorsey was removed from his vehicle and taken into custody. The owner of the vehicle provided consent for the officers to search the car, and they found a backpack in the passenger’s seat that contained the Glock .40-caliber handgun attached to an extended drum magazine, as well as a spare magazine.

Although this incident occurred on April 1, Dorsey was arrested following a separate shooting incident that occurred this week in which three individuals were wounded by gunfire.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Kansas City, Missouri, police officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of E. 68th Terrace at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, concerning a shooting. Six individuals were on the front porch of a residence, the affidavit says, when an individual later identified as Dorsey started shooting at them. According to the victims, Dorsey walked away, but returned minutes later and began shooting again, then fled on foot. Three of the individuals were struck by gunfire and transported to Research Medical Center. Investigators found 31 spent shell casings at the scene.

Later the same day, investigators received a Crime Stoppers tip that identified Dorsey as the shooter.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Dorsey has a prior felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he served three years in federal prison. He also has two prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, and a prior felony conviction for drug trafficking.&nbsp;

The affidavit also cites four previous instances in which Dorsey pointed firearms at people and threatened them. Among those incidents, the affidavit says, Dorsey shot a man in the hip who was running from Dorsey’s residence following a disagreement.

The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595705940430.png" alt="This Glock .40-caliber handgun attached to an extended drum magazine was seized by law enforcement officers at the time of Dorsey's arrest-photo U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri" />
 <figcaption>This Glock .40-caliber handgun attached to an extended drum magazine was seized by law enforcement officers at the time of Dorsey's arrest-photo U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man who was arrested after he allegedly shot three victims in an incident this week has been charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm during an earlier firearm incident.“Court documents cite a long history of gun violence and drug trafficking by this defendant who terrorized his neighborhood, allegedly shooting several victims this week,” Garrison said. “This is his second federal charge for illegally possessing firearms. Operation LeGend is successfully taking armed, violent criminals like this off the street to make our neighborhoods safer.”Leamandreal Dorsey, 40, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. That complaint was unsealed and made public Friday following Dorsey’s arrest and initial court appearance.The federal criminal complaint charges Dorsey with illegally possessing a firearm following a threat to shoot event that occurred on April 1, 2020. Dorsey is charged with possessing a Glock .40-caliber handgun attached to an extended drum magazine that contained 40 live rounds of ammunition.&nbsp;On April 1, 2020, Kansas City, police officers responded to a reported weapons disturbance in the 2500 block of East 68th Terrace. One of Dorsey’s neighbors told officers that Dorsey pointed a gun at him and threatened him. Officers contacted Dorsey at Dorsey’s residence, sitting on the roof of a black Mercedes-Benz C300. According to the affidavit, Dorsey jumped into the driver’s seat when officers approached. &nbsp;Dorsey was removed from his vehicle and taken into custody. The owner of the vehicle provided consent for the officers to search the car, and they found a backpack in the passenger’s seat that contained the Glock .40-caliber handgun attached to an extended drum magazine, as well as a spare magazine.Although this incident occurred on April 1, Dorsey was arrested following a separate shooting incident that occurred this week in which three individuals were wounded by gunfire.According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Kansas City, Missouri, police officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of E. 68th Terrace at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, concerning a shooting. Six individuals were on the front porch of a residence, the affidavit says, when an individual later identified as Dorsey started shooting at them. According to the victims, Dorsey walked away, but returned minutes later and began shooting again, then fled on foot. Three of the individuals were struck by gunfire and transported to Research Medical Center. Investigators found 31 spent shell casings at the scene.Later the same day, investigators received a Crime Stoppers tip that identified Dorsey as the shooter.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Dorsey has a prior felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he served three years in federal prison. He also has two prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, and a prior felony conviction for drug trafficking.&nbsp;The affidavit also cites four previous instances in which Dorsey pointed firearms at people and threatened them. Among those incidents, the affidavit says, Dorsey shot a man in the hip who was running from Dorsey’s residence following a disagreement.The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

U.S. Attorney: Kansas City man ‘Terrorized His Neighborhood’

A young Michigan man has been arrested in Kansas, accused of trying to steal $100,000 from the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta.

Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police arrested 35-year-old John Christopher Colletti of Harper Woods, MI in March.

The Detroit News reports a 17-page criminal complaint against Colletti was unsealed Thursday in federal court in Detroit.

FBI agents claim Colletti used a prosthetic face mask to pose as an elderly gambler wearing a straw hat and glasses while using a walker at the northeast Kansas casino. Colletti, according to federal prosecutors, withdrew $20,000 at a time from casino kiosks.

Federal authorities suspected Colletti of stealing up to ten identities in April and May of last year by buying personal data online to make fake driver’s licenses. Colletti had more than 50 fake ID’s, according to prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors claim Colletti has hit gambling houses before.

Colletti also faces accusations he used a VIP program offering gamblers cash advances at the MGM Grand Detroit where he allegedly defrauded several victims of nearly $100,000. Prosecutors claim he used elaborate disguises to avoid detection by casino security cameras.

Security at Prairie Band Casino became suspicious when Colletti withdrew so much cash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595858047034.png" alt="Colletti photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Colletti photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA young Michigan man has been arrested in Kansas, accused of trying to steal $100,000 from the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta.Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police arrested 35-year-old John Christopher Colletti of Harper Woods, MI in March.The Detroit News reports a 17-page criminal complaint against Colletti was unsealed Thursday in federal court in Detroit.FBI agents claim Colletti used a prosthetic face mask to pose as an elderly gambler wearing a straw hat and glasses while using a walker at the northeast Kansas casino. Colletti, according to federal prosecutors, withdrew $20,000 at a time from casino kiosks.Federal authorities suspected Colletti of stealing up to ten identities in April and May of last year by buying personal data online to make fake driver’s licenses. Colletti had more than 50 fake ID’s, according to prosecutors.Federal prosecutors claim Colletti has hit gambling houses before.Colletti also faces accusations he used a VIP program offering gamblers cash advances at the MGM Grand Detroit where he allegedly defrauded several victims of nearly $100,000. Prosecutors claim he used elaborate disguises to avoid detection by casino security cameras.Security at Prairie Band Casino became suspicious when Colletti withdrew so much cash.

Man allegedly used disguises to steal from casino in Kansas

TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and shooting.

Just after 1a.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of an aggravated burglary in the 500 block of NE Wilson in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble. On person had been shot.

Officers arrived on scene and found the shooting victim. He was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police have accounted for all involved, according to Trimble.&nbsp;

Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595681452075.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting early Saturday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting early Saturday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and shooting.Just after 1a.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of an aggravated burglary in the 500 block of NE Wilson in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble. On person had been shot.Officers arrived on scene and found the shooting victim. He was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police have accounted for all involved, according to Trimble.&nbsp;Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police: Man seriously injured during attempted burglary at Kan. home

MANHATTAN, Kansas —&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been notified that several Kansas residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China, according to a media release from the agency.

 The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time. The packages were sent by mail; some have been labeled as jewelry and they may have Chinese writing on them.&nbsp;

Unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in several other states across the United States over the last several days.

If you receive a package of this type, please DO NOT plant these seeds. If they are in sealed packaging, don’t open the sealed package. Instead, please contact KDA’s plant protection and weed control program at&nbsp;785-564-6698,&nbsp;via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDA.PPWC@ks.gov" target="_blank">KDA.PPWC@ks.gov</a>, or at the complaint reporting portion of the KDA website:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2Fkda-services%2Fcomplaint-form%2Fplant-protection-and-weed-control-complaint&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce19b532d7ef04a4f7b6408d830d3cb33%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637313034553919393&amp;sdata=%2FzHvVCu7MvzVL5MLb0HcvVnXmGv0Z7%2Bx9Ggjqc8FRH4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">report a seed complaint</a>.

Unsolicited seeds could be invasive species, could introduce diseases to local plants, or could be harmful to livestock.&nbsp;Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops. KDA works to prevent the introduction of invasive species and protect Kansas agriculture.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595708437379.png" alt="These unsolicited packages of seeds were received by Kansans recently. The Kansas Department of Agriculture encourages anyone who receives such a package not to plant the seeds, but to notify the department." />
 <figcaption>These unsolicited packages of seeds were received by Kansans recently. The Kansas Department of Agriculture encourages anyone who receives such a package not to plant the seeds, but to notify the department.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kansas —&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been notified that several Kansas residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China, according to a media release from the agency. The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time. The packages were sent by mail; some have been labeled as jewelry and they may have Chinese writing on them.&nbsp;Unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in several other states across the United States over the last several days.If you receive a package of this type, please DO NOT plant these seeds. If they are in sealed packaging, don’t open the sealed package. Instead, please contact KDA’s plant protection and weed control program at&nbsp;785-564-6698,&nbsp;via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDA.PPWC@ks.gov" target="_blank">KDA.PPWC@ks.gov</a>, or at the complaint reporting portion of the KDA website:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2Fkda-services%2Fcomplaint-form%2Fplant-protection-and-weed-control-complaint&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce19b532d7ef04a4f7b6408d830d3cb33%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637313034553919393&amp;sdata=%2FzHvVCu7MvzVL5MLb0HcvVnXmGv0Z7%2Bx9Ggjqc8FRH4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">report a seed complaint</a>.Unsolicited seeds could be invasive species, could introduce diseases to local plants, or could be harmful to livestock.&nbsp;Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops. KDA works to prevent the introduction of invasive species and protect Kansas agriculture.&nbsp;

State warning Kansans to report receipt of any unsolicited packages of seeds

NEW YORK (AP) — Regis Philbin, the genial host who shared his life with television viewers over morning coffee for decades and helped himself and some fans strike it rich with the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” has died at 88.

Philbin died of natural causes Friday night, just over a month before his 89th birthday, according to a statement from his family provided by manager Lewis Kay.

Celebrities routinely stopped by Philbin’s eponymous syndicated morning show, but its heart was in the first 15 minutes, when he and co-host Kathie Lee Gifford — on “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” from 1985-2000 — or Kelly Ripa — on “Live! with Regis and Kelly” from 2001 until his 2011 retirement — bantered about the events of the day. Viewers laughed at Philbin’s mock indignation over not getting the best seat at a restaurant the night before, or being henpecked by his partner.

“Even I have a little trepidation,” he told The Associated Press in 2008, when asked how he does a show every day. “You wake up in the morning and you say, ‘What did I do last night that I can talk about? What’s new in the paper? How are we gonna fill that 20 minutes?’”

“I’m not gonna say it always works out brilliantly, but somehow we connect more often than we don’t,” he added.

After hustling into an entertainment career by parking cars at a Los Angeles TV station, Philbin logged more than 15,000 hours on the air, earning him recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most broadcast hours logged by a TV personality, a record previously held by Hugh Downs.

“Every day, you see the record shattered, pal!” Philbin would tell viewers. “One more hour!”

He was host of the prime-time game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” briefly television’s most popular show at the turn of the century. ABC aired the family-friendly program as often as five times a week. It generated around $1 billion in revenue in its first two years — ABC had said it was the more profitable show in TV history — and helped make Philbin himself a millionaire many times over.

Philbin’s question to contestants, “Is that your final answer?” became a national catchphrase. Philbin was even a fashion trendsetter; he put out a line of monochramactic shirts and ties to match what he wore on the set.

“You wait a lifetime for something like that and sometimes it never happens,” Philbin told the AP in 1999.

In 2008, he returned briefly to the quiz show format with “Million Dollar Password.” He also picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award from the daytime Emmys.

He was the type of TV personality easy to make fun of, and easy to love.

When his son Danny first met his future wife, “we were talking about our families,” Danny told USA Today. “I said, ‘You know that show Regis and Kathie Lee?’ And she said, ‘I hate that show.’ And I said, ‘That’s my dad.’”

Yet Philbin was a favorite of a younger generation’s ironic icon, David Letterman. When Letterman announced that he had to undergo heart surgery, it was on the air to Philbin, who was also there for Letterman’s first day back after his recovery.

Letterman returned the favor, appearing on Philbin’s show when he went back on the air in April 2007 after undergoing heart bypass surgery.

In the 2008 AP interview, Philbin said he saw “getting the best out of your guests” as “a specialty. ... The time constraints mean you’ve got to get right to the point, you’ve got to make it pay off, go to commercial, start again. Play that clip. Say goodbye.” He gave his desktop a decisive rap.

Regis Francis Xavier Philbin grew up in the New York borough of the Bronx, the son of Italian-Irish parents and named for the Roman Catholic boys high school his dad attended. He went to Notre Dame University, and was such an enthusiastic alum, he once said he wanted his ashes scattered there.

After leaving the Navy in 1955, Philbin talked his way into a meeting with the stationmaster at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. He got a job parking cars, then progressed into work as a stagehand, courier, newswriter and producer of a sports telecast. When its sportscaster didn’t show up one day, Philbin filled in.

Philbin got far more on-air experience in San Diego in the early 1960s, when KOGO-TV began producing “The Regis Philbin Show” for a national audience. The program of music and celebrity interviews was taped two weeks before each airing. It was canceled after four months.

In 1967, Philbin was hired as the announcer and sidekick to comic Joey Bishop on his network show. When he heard that he was going to be fired because of poor ratings, Philbin tearfully announced he was leaving on July 12, 1968, walking off during a live broadcast. He returned three days later after letters of support poured in.

He and Bishop had bad blood: Bishop called Philbin an “ingrate” for walking off during a salary dispute and later badmouthing him.

Philbin’s second wife, Joy, was Bishop’s assistant.

After three years of commuting to St. Louis each week for a local Saturday night show, Philbin became a star in local morning television — first in Los Angeles, then in New York. In 1985, he teamed with Kathie Lee Johnson, a year before she married former football star Frank Gifford, and the show went national in 1988.

Philbin’s “sarcastic playfulness” endears him to fans, Good Housekeeping magazine wrote in 2000.

“He’s the little guy protesting the injustices of life, from crime waves to paper cuts,” the magazine wrote. “The ranting is punctuated with Kathie Lee’s familiar cry of ‘Oh, Reege,’ uttered sometimes in sisterly sympathy and sometimes in teacherly admonishment.”

The gentle bickering and eye-rolling exasperation in Philbin and Gifford’s onscreen relationship was familiar to anyone in a long-lasting relationship.

“No arguments, no harsh words in all this time,” Philbin told a theater audience in 2000. “Well, there was the time I didn’t talk to her for two weeks. Didn’t want to interrupt her.”

Gifford left the show in 2000. After a tryout period for a replacement, soap star Ripa (“All My Children”) filled the slot.

The same hustler who parked cars in Hollywood worked just as hard to land the job on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

“I begged my way on,” he told People magazine. “There was a short list, and I wasn’t on it. I called my agent, and we made a full assault on ABC in L.A.”

The audience responded to Philbin’s warm, comic touch in the role. He later jokingly referred to himself as the man who saved ABC. It wasn’t complete hyperbole: ABC was suffering in the ratings before the game became a smash success. Forbes reported that two-thirds of ABC’s operating profit in 2000 was due to “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

Philbin appeared to love every minute of it. Even the ultimate arbiter of hip, the MTV Video Awards, asked him to make an appearance.

“It’s better to be hot,” he told the AP. “It’s fun. I know this business. I was perfectly content with my morning show. People would ask me, ‘What’s next?’ There is nothing next. There are no more mountains for me to climb. Believe me when I tell you, all I wanted when I started this show in 1961 was to be a success nationally.”

The prime-time game burned out quickly because of overuse and ended in 2002.

Philbin enjoyed a side career as a singer that began when he sang “Pennies from Heaven” to Bing Crosby on Bishop’s show. He said a record company called him the next day, and he made an album.

Even though the series “Regis Philbin’s Health Styles,” on Lifetime in the 1980s, was part of his lengthy resume, Philbin had health issues. Doctors performed an angioplasty to relieve a blocked artery in 1993. He underwent bypass surgery in 2007 at age 75.

He’s survived by his wife, Joy, and their daughters J.J. and Joanna Philbin, as well as his daughter Amy Philbin with his first wife, Catherine Faylen, according to People.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595707309234.png" alt="Regis Philbin photo courtesy ABC Television" />
 <figcaption>Regis Philbin photo courtesy ABC Television</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Regis Philbin, the genial host who shared his life with television viewers over morning coffee for decades and helped himself and some fans strike it rich with the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” has died at 88.Philbin died of natural causes Friday night, just over a month before his 89th birthday, according to a statement from his family provided by manager Lewis Kay.Celebrities routinely stopped by Philbin’s eponymous syndicated morning show, but its heart was in the first 15 minutes, when he and co-host Kathie Lee Gifford — on “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” from 1985-2000 — or Kelly Ripa — on “Live! with Regis and Kelly” from 2001 until his 2011 retirement — bantered about the events of the day. Viewers laughed at Philbin’s mock indignation over not getting the best seat at a restaurant the night before, or being henpecked by his partner.“Even I have a little trepidation,” he told The Associated Press in 2008, when asked how he does a show every day. “You wake up in the morning and you say, ‘What did I do last night that I can talk about? What’s new in the paper? How are we gonna fill that 20 minutes?’”“I’m not gonna say it always works out brilliantly, but somehow we connect more often than we don’t,” he added.After hustling into an entertainment career by parking cars at a Los Angeles TV station, Philbin logged more than 15,000 hours on the air, earning him recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most broadcast hours logged by a TV personality, a record previously held by Hugh Downs.“Every day, you see the record shattered, pal!” Philbin would tell viewers. “One more hour!”He was host of the prime-time game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” briefly television’s most popular show at the turn of the century. ABC aired the family-friendly program as often as five times a week. It generated around $1 billion in revenue in its first two years — ABC had said it was the more profitable show in TV history — and helped make Philbin himself a millionaire many times over.Philbin’s question to contestants, “Is that your final answer?” became a national catchphrase. Philbin was even a fashion trendsetter; he put out a line of monochramactic shirts and ties to match what he wore on the set.“You wait a lifetime for something like that and sometimes it never happens,” Philbin told the AP in 1999.In 2008, he returned briefly to the quiz show format with “Million Dollar Password.” He also picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award from the daytime Emmys.He was the type of TV personality easy to make fun of, and easy to love.When his son Danny first met his future wife, “we were talking about our families,” Danny told USA Today. “I said, ‘You know that show Regis and Kathie Lee?’ And she said, ‘I hate that show.’ And I said, ‘That’s my dad.’”Yet Philbin was a favorite of a younger generation’s ironic icon, David Letterman. When Letterman announced that he had to undergo heart surgery, it was on the air to Philbin, who was also there for Letterman’s first day back after his recovery.Letterman returned the favor, appearing on Philbin’s show when he went back on the air in April 2007 after undergoing heart bypass surgery.In the 2008 AP interview, Philbin said he saw “getting the best out of your guests” as “a specialty. ... The time constraints mean you’ve got to get right to the point, you’ve got to make it pay off, go to commercial, start again. Play that clip. Say goodbye.” He gave his desktop a decisive rap.“And make it all conversational.”Regis Francis Xavier Philbin grew up in the New York borough of the Bronx, the son of Italian-Irish parents and named for the Roman Catholic boys high school his dad attended. He went to Notre Dame University, and was such an enthusiastic alum, he once said he wanted his ashes scattered there.After leaving the Navy in 1955, Philbin talked his way into a meeting with the stationmaster at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. He got a job parking cars, then progressed into work as a stagehand, courier, newswriter and producer of a sports telecast. When its sportscaster didn’t show up one day, Philbin filled in.Philbin got far more on-air experience in San Diego in the early 1960s, when KOGO-TV began producing “The Regis Philbin Show” for a national audience. The program of music and celebrity interviews was taped two weeks before each airing. It was canceled after four months.In 1967, Philbin was hired as the announcer and sidekick to comic Joey Bishop on his network show. When he heard that he was going to be fired because of poor ratings, Philbin tearfully announced he was leaving on July 12, 1968, walking off during a live broadcast. He returned three days later after letters of support poured in.He and Bishop had bad blood: Bishop called Philbin an “ingrate” for walking off during a salary dispute and later badmouthing him.Philbin’s second wife, Joy, was Bishop’s assistant.After three years of commuting to St. Louis each week for a local Saturday night show, Philbin became a star in local morning television — first in Los Angeles, then in New York. In 1985, he teamed with Kathie Lee Johnson, a year before she married former football star Frank Gifford, and the show went national in 1988.Philbin’s “sarcastic playfulness” endears him to fans, Good Housekeeping magazine wrote in 2000.“He’s the little guy protesting the injustices of life, from crime waves to paper cuts,” the magazine wrote. “The ranting is punctuated with Kathie Lee’s familiar cry of ‘Oh, Reege,’ uttered sometimes in sisterly sympathy and sometimes in teacherly admonishment.”The gentle bickering and eye-rolling exasperation in Philbin and Gifford’s onscreen relationship was familiar to anyone in a long-lasting relationship.“No arguments, no harsh words in all this time,” Philbin told a theater audience in 2000. “Well, there was the time I didn’t talk to her for two weeks. Didn’t want to interrupt her.”Gifford left the show in 2000. After a tryout period for a replacement, soap star Ripa (“All My Children”) filled the slot.The same hustler who parked cars in Hollywood worked just as hard to land the job on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”“I begged my way on,” he told People magazine. “There was a short list, and I wasn’t on it. I called my agent, and we made a full assault on ABC in L.A.”The audience responded to Philbin’s warm, comic touch in the role. He later jokingly referred to himself as the man who saved ABC. It wasn’t complete hyperbole: ABC was suffering in the ratings before the game became a smash success. Forbes reported that two-thirds of ABC’s operating profit in 2000 was due to “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”Philbin appeared to love every minute of it. Even the ultimate arbiter of hip, the MTV Video Awards, asked him to make an appearance.“It’s better to be hot,” he told the AP. “It’s fun. I know this business. I was perfectly content with my morning show. People would ask me, ‘What’s next?’ There is nothing next. There are no more mountains for me to climb. Believe me when I tell you, all I wanted when I started this show in 1961 was to be a success nationally.”The prime-time game burned out quickly because of overuse and ended in 2002.Philbin enjoyed a side career as a singer that began when he sang “Pennies from Heaven” to Bing Crosby on Bishop’s show. He said a record company called him the next day, and he made an album.Even though the series “Regis Philbin’s Health Styles,” on Lifetime in the 1980s, was part of his lengthy resume, Philbin had health issues. Doctors performed an angioplasty to relieve a blocked artery in 1993. He underwent bypass surgery in 2007 at age 75.He’s survived by his wife, Joy, and their daughters J.J. and Joanna Philbin, as well as his daughter Amy Philbin with his first wife, Catherine Faylen, according to People.

Regis Philbin, television personality and host, dies at 88

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted two Kansas City police officers on felony charges alleging they used excessive force while arresting a Black transgender woman last year.

Officers Matthew G. Brummett and Charles Prichard are charged with “knowingly causing physical injury” to Breona, or “Briya,” Hill as she was handcuffed, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday.

The officers were indicted on a misdemeanor assault charge in May, based largely on a video of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/db41066b7d28cdca8aad6f3317202cbb">the arrest.</a>

Prosecutors said two new witnesses came forward after that indictment, and the grand jury found the officers slammed Hill's face into the sidewalk and kneed her several times while she was handcuffed.

Brad Lemon, president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, said Friday the union stands by the officers. Lemon said he doesn't believe new evidence was found and the new charges were “another example of political prosecution and abuse of power by the Jackson County Prosecutor who is attempting to resurrect a failing career on the backs of the good men and woman of the KCPD.”

The man who filmed the arrest, Roderick Reed, was convicted of violating a city ordinance for refusing police orders to stop filming. He was later pardoned by Mayor Quinton Lucas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589657213001.png" alt="Image from the video of the arrest courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Image from the video of the arrest courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted two Kansas City police officers on felony charges alleging they used excessive force while arresting a Black transgender woman last year.Officers Matthew G. Brummett and Charles Prichard are charged with “knowingly causing physical injury” to Breona, or “Briya,” Hill as she was handcuffed, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday.The officers were indicted on a misdemeanor assault charge in May, based largely on a video of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/db41066b7d28cdca8aad6f3317202cbb">the arrest.</a>Prosecutors said two new witnesses came forward after that indictment, and the grand jury found the officers slammed Hill's face into the sidewalk and kneed her several times while she was handcuffed.Brad Lemon, president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, said Friday the union stands by the officers. Lemon said he doesn't believe new evidence was found and the new charges were “another example of political prosecution and abuse of power by the Jackson County Prosecutor who is attempting to resurrect a failing career on the backs of the good men and woman of the KCPD.”The man who filmed the arrest, Roderick Reed, was convicted of violating a city ordinance for refusing police orders to stop filming. He was later pardoned by Mayor Quinton Lucas.

Felony charges for 2 Kansas City cops recorded during arrest

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Virtual instruction. Mandated masks. Physical distancing. The start of school will look very different this year because of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;— and that’s OK with the vast majority of Americans.

Only about 1 in 10 Americans think daycare centers, preschools or K-12 schools should open this fall without restrictions, according to a new poll from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/" target="_blank">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs</a>. Most think mask requirements and other safety measures are necessary to restart in-person instruction, and roughly 3 in 10 say that teaching kids in classrooms shouldn’t happen at all.

The findings are a sharp contrast to the picture that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/be1ed8b75986393fe0385cae85b6a6c8">President Donald Trump paints as he pressures</a>&nbsp;schools to reopen. Trump said Wednesday that he would be “comfortable” with his son Barron and grandchildren attending school in person this fall.

“I would like to see the schools open,” he told reporters.

<a href="https://apnews.com/462cdd447c84138c17d0bc0100d6f671">Few schools, however, plan to return to business as usual</a>. Many of the nation’s largest school districts have announced that they’ll be entirely virtual in the fall or use a hybrid model that has children in classrooms only a couple of days a week.

The poll finds only 8% of Americans say K-12 schools should open for normal in-person instruction. Just 14% think they can reopen with minor adjustments, while 46% think major adjustments are needed. Another 31% think instruction should not be in person this fall. It’s little different among the parents of school-age children.

The poll also shows Americans feel the same about colleges and universities reopening this fall.

Americans show little confidence in Trump’s handling of education issues. Only 36% say they approve of Trump’s performance, while 63% disapprove. But a stark political divide on opening schools suggests many Republicans are taking cues from the president.

About 9 in 10 Democrats say requiring students and staff to wear masks is essential to reopening, while only about half of Republicans say the same. Democrats are roughly twice as likely as Republicans to say schools should use a mix of in-person and virtual instruction to reduce the number of students in buildings, 77% to 39%.

Patty Kasbek, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, said she desperately wants her two children, ages 5 and 10, to return to school. After months at home, the family is stressed and anxious. But with the virus surging, she doesn’t see a safe way to reopen.

“School shouldn’t even be considered right now,” said Kasbek, 40. “We need to get this under control before we play with the virus. It’s just too dangerous to put our kids out there like guinea pigs.”

Her local school district is planning to reopen with new safety measures, she said, but she’s opting to enroll her children in a virtual school. She isn’t as worried about her own health but fears that reopening schools could spread the virus to others.

“I just see it going very badly, and I’m very, very worried for the teachers,” said Kasbek, who considers herself a Democrat.

The poll finds a majority of Americans, 56%, say they are very or extremely concerned that reopening schools will lead to additional infections in their communities; another 24% are somewhat concerned.

Some, however, see little risk. James Rivers, of Ramsey, Minnesota, said schools should reopen without protective measures against the virus. Rivers, a Republican, says Trump is doing a “fine job” and will have his vote in November.

“I think it should be just business as usual,” said Rivers, 54. “Yes, there is a COVID virus, but is it any more deadly than the common flu? I don’t think so.”

Rivers, who does not have school-age children, said parents who fear the virus can home school. “As for everybody else who isn’t afraid of a virus that has a less than 2% chance of being fatal, send your kid back to school. Let’s get it done,” he said.

Majorities say it is essential that buildings be disinfected daily, temperature checks and face masks be mandatory and desks be spread apart if schools are to reopen.

And 6 in 10 think a mix of in-person and virtual instruction is necessary, to limit the number of students inside at one time. Some of the nation’s largest districts, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7c00390468e4a2a6e3b5fd2d2aad4efc">New York City’s schools</a>, plan to use that model. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cc2afd89f4d2cc572aa08b172283916b">Education Secretary Betsy DeVos</a>&nbsp;says that fails students and taxpayers, arguing that students should be in the classroom every day.

In his campaign to reopen schools, Trump argues that Democrats oppose it for political reasons. He has threatened to cut federal funding for schools that fail to reopen fully. The White House has said he wants to work with Congress to tie future relief funding to reopening. He argues that other countries have reopened schools safely, although some he cites have used the hybrid model that DeVos decried.

The Trump administration also has argued that it’s not just about academics. Students need access to meal programs and mental health services, it says.

But Trump’s demands put him at odds with his own health officials. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8c6cad882541d63afa924f93a1b2329a">rebuked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;for releasing school guidelines that he said were too tough.

The poll finds about half of parents saying they are at least somewhat concerned about their child losing services like school lunches or counseling because of the pandemic.

More say they are worried about their child falling behind academically: 55% are very concerned, with another 21% somewhat concerned.

A majority of parents, 65%, are at least somewhat concerned about their own ability to juggle responsibilities.

Jimmy La Londe, 70, of Hiawassee, Georgia, thinks schools should reopen with safety measures that local officials think are necessary. Still, La Londe, who considers himself a Republican, said keeping schools closed will only hurt students and anger taxpayers.

“They have to keep the momentum, they have to keep people used to going to school,” he said. “I don’t think you can stop school forever.”

The <a href="https://apnorc.org/">AP-NORC poll</a> of 1,057 adults was conducted July 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Virtual instruction. Mandated masks. Physical distancing. The start of school will look very different this year because of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;— and that’s OK with the vast majority of Americans.Only about 1 in 10 Americans think daycare centers, preschools or K-12 schools should open this fall without restrictions, according to a new poll from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/" target="_blank">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs</a>. Most think mask requirements and other safety measures are necessary to restart in-person instruction, and roughly 3 in 10 say that teaching kids in classrooms shouldn’t happen at all.The findings are a sharp contrast to the picture that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/be1ed8b75986393fe0385cae85b6a6c8">President Donald Trump paints as he pressures</a>&nbsp;schools to reopen. Trump said Wednesday that he would be “comfortable” with his son Barron and grandchildren attending school in person this fall.“I would like to see the schools open,” he told reporters.<a href="https://apnews.com/462cdd447c84138c17d0bc0100d6f671">Few schools, however, plan to return to business as usual</a>. Many of the nation’s largest school districts have announced that they’ll be entirely virtual in the fall or use a hybrid model that has children in classrooms only a couple of days a week.The poll finds only 8% of Americans say K-12 schools should open for normal in-person instruction. Just 14% think they can reopen with minor adjustments, while 46% think major adjustments are needed. Another 31% think instruction should not be in person this fall. It’s little different among the parents of school-age children.The poll also shows Americans feel the same about colleges and universities reopening this fall.Americans show little confidence in Trump’s handling of education issues. Only 36% say they approve of Trump’s performance, while 63% disapprove. But a stark political divide on opening schools suggests many Republicans are taking cues from the president.About 9 in 10 Democrats say requiring students and staff to wear masks is essential to reopening, while only about half of Republicans say the same. Democrats are roughly twice as likely as Republicans to say schools should use a mix of in-person and virtual instruction to reduce the number of students in buildings, 77% to 39%.Patty Kasbek, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, said she desperately wants her two children, ages 5 and 10, to return to school. After months at home, the family is stressed and anxious. But with the virus surging, she doesn’t see a safe way to reopen.“School shouldn’t even be considered right now,” said Kasbek, 40. “We need to get this under control before we play with the virus. It’s just too dangerous to put our kids out there like guinea pigs.”Her local school district is planning to reopen with new safety measures, she said, but she’s opting to enroll her children in a virtual school. She isn’t as worried about her own health but fears that reopening schools could spread the virus to others.“I just see it going very badly, and I’m very, very worried for the teachers,” said Kasbek, who considers herself a Democrat.The poll finds a majority of Americans, 56%, say they are very or extremely concerned that reopening schools will lead to additional infections in their communities; another 24% are somewhat concerned.Some, however, see little risk. James Rivers, of Ramsey, Minnesota, said schools should reopen without protective measures against the virus. Rivers, a Republican, says Trump is doing a “fine job” and will have his vote in November.“I think it should be just business as usual,” said Rivers, 54. “Yes, there is a COVID virus, but is it any more deadly than the common flu? I don’t think so.”Rivers, who does not have school-age children, said parents who fear the virus can home school. “As for everybody else who isn’t afraid of a virus that has a less than 2% chance of being fatal, send your kid back to school. Let’s get it done,” he said.Majorities say it is essential that buildings be disinfected daily, temperature checks and face masks be mandatory and desks be spread apart if schools are to reopen.And 6 in 10 think a mix of in-person and virtual instruction is necessary, to limit the number of students inside at one time. Some of the nation’s largest districts, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7c00390468e4a2a6e3b5fd2d2aad4efc">New York City’s schools</a>, plan to use that model. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cc2afd89f4d2cc572aa08b172283916b">Education Secretary Betsy DeVos</a>&nbsp;says that fails students and taxpayers, arguing that students should be in the classroom every day.In his campaign to reopen schools, Trump argues that Democrats oppose it for political reasons. He has threatened to cut federal funding for schools that fail to reopen fully. The White House has said he wants to work with Congress to tie future relief funding to reopening. He argues that other countries have reopened schools safely, although some he cites have used the hybrid model that DeVos decried.The Trump administration also has argued that it’s not just about academics. Students need access to meal programs and mental health services, it says.But Trump’s demands put him at odds with his own health officials. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8c6cad882541d63afa924f93a1b2329a">rebuked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;for releasing school guidelines that he said were too tough.The poll finds about half of parents saying they are at least somewhat concerned about their child losing services like school lunches or counseling because of the pandemic.More say they are worried about their child falling behind academically: 55% are very concerned, with another 21% somewhat concerned.A majority of parents, 65%, are at least somewhat concerned about their own ability to juggle responsibilities.Jimmy La Londe, 70, of Hiawassee, Georgia, thinks schools should reopen with safety measures that local officials think are necessary. Still, La Londe, who considers himself a Republican, said keeping schools closed will only hurt students and anger taxpayers.“They have to keep the momentum, they have to keep people used to going to school,” he said. “I don’t think you can stop school forever.”The <a href="https://apnorc.org/">AP-NORC poll</a> of 1,057 adults was conducted July 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.___

AP-NORC poll: Very few Americans back full school reopening

By <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-24/former-kansas-state-senate-president-dick-bond-has-died">Jim McLean</a>, Kansas News Service

TOPEKA, Kansas —&nbsp;Richard “Dick” Bond, a Republican former president of the Kansas Senate who later broke with the party as it grew more conservative, died Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595697971643.png" alt="Dick Bond&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; photo by Luke X. Martin/ Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Dick Bond&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; photo by Luke X. Martin/ Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-07-24/former-kansas-state-senate-president-dick-bond-has-died">Jim McLean</a>, Kansas News ServiceTOPEKA, Kansas —&nbsp;Richard “Dick” Bond, a Republican former president of the Kansas Senate who later broke with the party as it grew more conservative, died Thursday.He was 84 and had been in failing health.Known for his humor and deft management of the Senate, the banker and attorney had a long political career.He spent 25 years as a top aide to three members of Congress before serving 14 years in the Kansas Legislature representing a district covering Overland Park. He retired from office in 2001 after serving four years as Senate president.Governing Magazine named Bond one of its “public officials of the year” in 2000 for securing $40 million for the first renovation of the Capitol building in Topeka since World War I.At the time, Bond joked the project would probably be “the only thing I’ve done that will have lasting value and importance.”State Sen. Anthony Hensley, the Democratic leader in the Senate, said Bond “single-handedly persuaded his fellow legislators to approve and finance (the Capitol renovation).”Others remembered Bond for his support of public education and his skill in managing a divided Senate. In addition to Democrats, Bond needed to work with a growing group of more conservative Republicans intent on lowering taxes and tightening state restrictions on abortion.“He was both gentle and tough at the same time,” said Burdett Loomis, a University of Kansas political scientist who manages a legislative internship program.“That’s a difficult combination, but I think Dick pulled it off.”Bond broke with his party as it became more conservative. In 2014, he joined more than 100 GOP notables in backing House Democratic leader Paul Davis’ bid to unseat Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.In February 2019, Bond joined two other former Republican Senate presidents in criticizing current Senate President Susan Wagle for blocking a vote on Medicaid expansion.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a former state senator, called Bond a friend in a statement and said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of his death.Kelly said Bond’s ability to work across the aisle “served as a model for every member of the Legislature.”David Adkins, a former Senate colleague of Bond’s and now the chief executive of the Council of State Governments, said on Facebook that Bond “left Kansas a better place for having lived a life of service.”“Dick Bond will always represent the best of Kansas to me,” Adkins wrote.Here's an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b028no755v0an8c/Dick%20Bond%2009-06-19.mp3?dl=0" target="_blank">oral history of Bond talking</a>&nbsp;about his time in the Legislature.Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>&nbsp;or email jim (at) kcur (dot) org.