KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The grandparents of a 3-year-old Kansas girl who was killed said they raised concerns about her safety with child protective services before her death in the latest tragedy involving the state agency responsible for overseeing young children.

Elisabeth and Howard Jansen II spoke out on Sunday after their 29-year-old son Howard Jansen III and his 33-year-old girlfriend Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick were charged in the death of Olivia Ann Jansen.

“She’s gone because of him, and her, and the system that wouldn’t help us,” the girl’s grandfather said.

Olivia’s body was found Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6898de844703fe103c38208407de1f21">nearly nine blocks from her Kansas City home</a>, from which her father had reported her missing. Authorities haven’t released how she died.

Elisabeth Jansen said she expressed fears to the Kansas Department for Children and Families on June 21 that drugs were in the home where Olivia lived.

“We knew it was bad, but we had no idea what we’re finding out now,” Howard Jansen II said.

Their son and Kirkpatrick kept Olivia from them, and they hadn’t seen the girl since March, the grandparents said, adding that Olivia’s biological mother was going to let them take care of the girl once she was released from prison.

Laura Howard, secretary of the Department for Children and Families, said her agency reviews critical incidents to determine if there are any policies or procedures that need to be addressed.

The grandparents were among the dozens of people gathered outside the Wyandotte County courthouse when District Attorney Mark Dupree announced that their son and his girlfriend had been charged with felony murder, aggravated endangering a child and criminal desecration in Olivia’s death.

Dupree said there was nothing he could say to ease their pain, but vowed to seek justice for “baby Olivia.”

Olivia’s grandparents said the little girl was once sassy but, at some point, she lost her spark.

“She knew she was going to die,” Elisabeth Jansen said.

Child welfare officials also have acknowledged that they received repeated reports about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b7a68cf41f8946c89df2a392b8b5a1ea">2-year-old Wichita boy</a>&nbsp;before he was found dead in a motel of a methadone overdose last May. A 3-year-old Wichita boy’s body was found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/45fc892f36244c818e8a83efd0e87d0e">encased in concrete</a>&nbsp;in 2017 after relatives repeatedly reported abuse. In the Kansas City area, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7ad45aca09d6470bb8f854bd731322bc/Unsealed-records-suggest-years-of-abuse-for-slain-Kansas-boy">7-year-old boy</a>&nbsp;was tortured, starved, killed and fed to pigs in 2015 despite extensive involvement with welfare officials.

Earlier this month, the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/75be2df7f84e1921d68afa0f898663df">settled</a>&nbsp;a class-action lawsuit filed by child care advocates who accused the state of not providing foster children with adequate mental health care and moving them too frequently between homes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594468009097.png" alt="Howard Jansen III photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Howard Jansen III photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The grandparents of a 3-year-old Kansas girl who was killed said they raised concerns about her safety with child protective services before her death in the latest tragedy involving the state agency responsible for overseeing young children.Elisabeth and Howard Jansen II spoke out on Sunday after their 29-year-old son Howard Jansen III and his 33-year-old girlfriend Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick were charged in the death of Olivia Ann Jansen.“She’s gone because of him, and her, and the system that wouldn’t help us,” the girl’s grandfather said.Olivia’s body was found Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6898de844703fe103c38208407de1f21">nearly nine blocks from her Kansas City home</a>, from which her father had reported her missing. Authorities haven’t released how she died.Elisabeth Jansen said she expressed fears to the Kansas Department for Children and Families on June 21 that drugs were in the home where Olivia lived.“We knew it was bad, but we had no idea what we’re finding out now,” Howard Jansen II said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594490776368.png" alt="Kirkpatrick-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Kirkpatrick-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Their son and Kirkpatrick kept Olivia from them, and they hadn’t seen the girl since March, the grandparents said, adding that Olivia’s biological mother was going to let them take care of the girl once she was released from prison.Laura Howard, secretary of the Department for Children and Families, said her agency reviews critical incidents to determine if there are any policies or procedures that need to be addressed.The grandparents were among the dozens of people gathered outside the Wyandotte County courthouse when District Attorney Mark Dupree announced that their son and his girlfriend had been charged with felony murder, aggravated endangering a child and criminal desecration in Olivia’s death.Dupree said there was nothing he could say to ease their pain, but vowed to seek justice for “baby Olivia.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594403105823.png" alt="Olivia Jansen-photo KCK police" />
 <figcaption>Olivia Jansen-photo KCK police</figcaption>
 </figure>Olivia’s grandparents said the little girl was once sassy but, at some point, she lost her spark.“She knew she was going to die,” Elisabeth Jansen said.Child welfare officials also have acknowledged that they received repeated reports about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b7a68cf41f8946c89df2a392b8b5a1ea">2-year-old Wichita boy</a>&nbsp;before he was found dead in a motel of a methadone overdose last May. A 3-year-old Wichita boy’s body was found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/45fc892f36244c818e8a83efd0e87d0e">encased in concrete</a>&nbsp;in 2017 after relatives repeatedly reported abuse. In the Kansas City area, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7ad45aca09d6470bb8f854bd731322bc/Unsealed-records-suggest-years-of-abuse-for-slain-Kansas-boy">7-year-old boy</a>&nbsp;was tortured, starved, killed and fed to pigs in 2015 despite extensive involvement with welfare officials.Earlier this month, the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/75be2df7f84e1921d68afa0f898663df">settled</a>&nbsp;a class-action lawsuit filed by child care advocates who accused the state of not providing foster children with adequate mental health care and moving them too frequently between homes.

Grandparents of dead Kansas girl raised concerns to agency

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly during her news conference announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday.

“I can’t in good conscience open schools when cases in our state are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Every action I have taken throughout this pandemic has been done to keep Kansans healthy, keep our state open for business and get our kids back in school.”

The Governor made this decision in consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Education, which continue to monitor health metrics and disease spread in the state.

On Monday, a record coronavirus spike pushed Kansas past 20,000 total cases. ICU capacity in some of the state’s hospitals are under threat, and nearly 300 Kansans have died.

The Governor will also issue an executive order requiring schools to mandate commonsense mitigation strategies outlined in the Kansas Board of Education’s fall plan for schools. Under the order, masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and daily temperature checks will be enforced regardless of the Kansas school district.

“The additional three weeks before opening schools will provide schools time to work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Kansas State Board of Education and I are united in prioritizing the health of our students and faculty, and ensuring we provide a world-class education for our students.”

Further details will be announced next week after the order is released.

On Wednesday morning, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the recommendations for reopening Kansas K-12 schools this fall.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyLrA98vHU&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting.

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly during her news conference announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F277260523563415%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“I can’t in good conscience open schools when cases in our state are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Every action I have taken throughout this pandemic has been done to keep Kansans healthy, keep our state open for business and get our kids back in school.”The Governor made this decision in consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Education, which continue to monitor health metrics and disease spread in the state.On Monday, a record coronavirus spike pushed Kansas past 20,000 total cases. ICU capacity in some of the state’s hospitals are under threat, and nearly 300 Kansans have died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594844055627.png" alt="Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson during Wednesday's news conference" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson during Wednesday's news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>The Governor will also issue an executive order requiring schools to mandate commonsense mitigation strategies outlined in the Kansas Board of Education’s fall plan for schools. Under the order, masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and daily temperature checks will be enforced regardless of the Kansas school district.“The additional three weeks before opening schools will provide schools time to work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Kansas State Board of Education and I are united in prioritizing the health of our students and faculty, and ensuring we provide a world-class education for our students.”Further details will be announced next week after the order is released.On Wednesday morning, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the recommendations for reopening Kansas K-12 schools this fall.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyLrA98vHU&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting.

🎥  Gov. Kelly will delay school reopening in Kansas until after Labor Day

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 875 to a total of 20,933, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 875 to a total of 20,933, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 299.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594832874459.png" alt="June 15, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>June 15, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

FINNEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged criminal threat involving a church in Southwest Kansas.

&nbsp;On July 10, police were dispatched to the Apostolic Church, 3102 E Shulman Avenue in Garden City in reference to a previous criminal threat, according to Police&nbsp;Captain Randy Ralston.

Officers met with a woman about threatening messages from a man who was known to her.

She told police the man had been making threatening comments about the church and the pastor. 

The man&nbsp; identified as Dylan Stegman, 24, Marienthal, Kansas, allegedly disliked the woman attending the church, according to Ralston. 

The woman was concerned about the threatening messages and went to the church to inform the pastor.&nbsp; At that point, the pastor notified police.

Authorities located Stegman in Scott County and and Scott County sheriff's deputies arrested him.

Stegman was transported to the Finney County Law Enforcement Center and booked into the Finney County Jail on a requested charge of criminal threat, according to Ralston.

The case has been forwarded to the Finney County Attorney’s Office for further review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594736254244.png" alt="Stegman" />
 <figcaption>Stegman</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged criminal threat involving a church in Southwest Kansas.&nbsp;On July 10, police were dispatched to the Apostolic Church, 3102 E Shulman Avenue in Garden City in reference to a previous criminal threat, according to Police&nbsp;Captain Randy Ralston.Officers met with a woman about threatening messages from a man who was known to her.She told police the man had been making threatening comments about the church and the pastor. The man&nbsp; identified as Dylan Stegman, 24, Marienthal, Kansas, allegedly disliked the woman attending the church, according to Ralston. The woman was concerned about the threatening messages and went to the church to inform the pastor.&nbsp; At that point, the pastor notified police.Authorities located Stegman in Scott County and and Scott County sheriff's deputies arrested him.Stegman was transported to the Finney County Law Enforcement Center and booked into the Finney County Jail on a requested charge of criminal threat, according to Ralston.The case has been forwarded to the Finney County Attorney’s Office for further review.

Police: Man accused of criminal threat involving Kan. church, pastor

Update: Mental fitness claim halts Kan. killer's execution-- for now

SALINE COUNTY — Two teens were injured in an accident early Tuesday in Saline County.

A 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Brody Murk, 16, Bennington, was northbound in the 4500 Block of North Gerard Road at high rate of speed, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The driver swerved to avoid an oncoming truck pulling a trailer. The truck driver hit the brakes and Murk swerved the Ram off the road and into a tree.

EMS transported Murk and a passenger Jawuan Allen, 16, Salina, to the hospital in Salina, according to Soldan. The other driver was not injured.

The sheriff's office did not release seat belt usage details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594827893084.jpeg" alt="Photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Two teens were injured in an accident early Tuesday in Saline County.A 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Brody Murk, 16, Bennington, was northbound in the 4500 Block of North Gerard Road at high rate of speed, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.The driver swerved to avoid an oncoming truck pulling a trailer. The truck driver hit the brakes and Murk swerved the Ram off the road and into a tree.EMS transported Murk and a passenger Jawuan Allen, 16, Salina, to the hospital in Salina, according to Soldan. The other driver was not injured.The sheriff's office did not release seat belt usage details.

2 Kansas teens hospitalized after pickup crash into tree

TOPEKA— Members of the Kansas State Board of Education discussed the "Navigating Change: Kansas' Guide to Learning and School Safety Operations" document ahead of Governor Kelly's press conference on opening schools.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyLrA98vHU&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;Wednesday's State Board of Education discussion.

&nbsp;The Board&nbsp; approved the “Navigating Change 2020” school reopening guidance document on a 9-0 vote. Board member Steve Roberts was not present.

Some of the operating guidance for schools includes:

— Students above fifth grade, staff and school visitors should wear masks

— Everyone should wash hands every hour

— Social distancing of at least six feet should occur wherever possible

— Students and employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 should be prohibited from school

— Meal service periods should be extended to allow for fewer students in the serving area at one time

— Staff temperatures should be taken daily

— Families should be responsible to take the temperatures of their children

State Board members made clear that the document did not contain any mandates and should be used only to assist school districts. Local school boards will make decisions on the policy for each district on an individual basis in consultation with local health officers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594825185462.png" alt="Members of the Kansas State Board of Education meet online Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Kansas State Board of Education meet online Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— Members of the Kansas State Board of Education discussed the "Navigating Change: Kansas' Guide to Learning and School Safety Operations" document ahead of Governor Kelly's press conference on opening schools. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyLrA98vHU&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;Wednesday's State Board of Education discussion.&nbsp;The Board&nbsp; approved the “Navigating Change 2020” school reopening guidance document on a 9-0 vote. Board member Steve Roberts was not present.Some of the operating guidance for schools includes:— Students above fifth grade, staff and school visitors should wear masks— Everyone should wash hands every hour— Social distancing of at least six feet should occur wherever possible— Students and employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 should be prohibited from school— Meal service periods should be extended to allow for fewer students in the serving area at one time— Staff temperatures should be taken daily— Families should be responsible to take the temperatures of their childrenState Board members made clear that the document did not contain any mandates and should be used only to assist school districts. Local school boards will make decisions on the policy for each district on an individual basis in consultation with local health officers.

🎥  Kansas Board of Education on opening schools

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A U.S. casino company with 29 properties in 10 states is laying off thousands of employees, citing a slow restart to business following closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp. said in a statement Monday that an unspecified number of furloughed employees will not return to work. 

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported 2,500 company workers in Nevada could be affected. The publicly traded company had about 10,000 employees in Nevada and another 14,300 nationally, according to its last annual report. 

It also has properties in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,&nbsp; Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A U.S. casino company with 29 properties in 10 states is laying off thousands of employees, citing a slow restart to business following closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp. said in a statement Monday that an unspecified number of furloughed employees will not return to work. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported 2,500 company workers in Nevada could be affected. The publicly traded company had about 10,000 employees in Nevada and another 14,300 nationally, according to its last annual report. It also has properties in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,&nbsp; Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Casino company laying off workers in Kan., Mo., 8 other states

By ELLE MOXLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2020-07-14/expect-to-see-more-masks-and-occasional-closures-as-kansas-reopens-schools">Kansas News Service</a>

Middle and high school students in Kansas will have to wear face 
masks in schools next year, and buildings will be closed for a cleaning 
anytime someone tests positive for the coronavirus.

Those recommendations and others are in <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Communications/Navigating%20Change/DRAFT%205%20Navigating%20Change%20Kansas%20Guide%20to%20Learning%20and%20School%20Safety%20Operations-WEB.pdf?ver=2020-07-14-113912-290" target="_blank">a 1,100-page guide</a> the Kansas State Board of Education is expected to approve Wednesday, ahead of an announcement from Gov. Laura Kelly.

Education
 Commissioner Randy Watson said support for reopening schools has ebbed 
as coronavirus cases in Kansas have increased. On Monday, the Kansas 
Department of Health and Environment reported another 1,447 positive 
COVID-19 tests.

“There was a time when it was almost, ‘Get back to
 school, open school, open school,’” Watson said at Tuesday’s state 
board meeting. “We still have that, but as we’ve seen the wave fairly 
recently in other states — California, Florida and Texas in particular —
 and in our own state, it’s become, ‘Please don’t open schools; we’ve 
got to have it safe.’”

Watson said decisions about when and how to
 reopen schools will be made locally as the coronavirus is spreading 
much faster in populous Wyandotte, Johnson and Sedgwick counties than it
 is in small, rural communities.

He added that all Kansas school districts will need a plan for what happens when a confirmed case or an outbreak occurs.

Here are five takeaways from the Kansas plan to reopen schools.

1) Districts should prioritize bringing back elementary school students.

Although
 all Kansas schools are encouraged to work toward reopening, the report 
acknowledges that older students — middle and high schoolers — are more 
likely than younger students to spread the coronavirus. Many child care 
facilities that serve young children have been able to reopen safely, 
while outbreaks have been reported at summer camps for teenagers.

As
 such, younger students will not be expected to wear face masks (unless 
required by a state or county order), but students older than 12 who 
face a greater risk of infection will. Teachers and staff will also be 
required to wear masks or face shields. Students with special needs who 
cannot wear masks will be exempt from the requirement.

Districts 
that serve students in elementary, middle and high school in the same 
building should keep the grade levels separate as much as possible.

2) School could be held off-site in some communities.

Watson
 directed school administrators to consider moving classes to other 
venues that are not being used because of the pandemic.

“Look at 
all the facilities that can house a classroom — churches, community 
buildings, Century II in Wichita,” a performing arts facility, Watson 
said. “One of the things you’ll want to consider is starting the year 
spread out.”

Schools can also use those alternative spaces if classrooms or buildings have to close for deep cleaning.

3) Parents, prepare to track what your child did online all day.

The
 “responsible adult” overseeing remote learning in hybrid or virtual 
models will have to report how long students logged in and what classes 
they worked on.

The logs will be used to track the attendance of students who aren’t in school every day.

Several board members expressed concern that this requirement will be too cumbersome.

“Not
 everybody’s responsible, and not everybody’s going to turn it in,” said
 board member Jim Porter, who represents southeast Kansas.

But 
unless state lawmakers waive the statute requiring a minimum of 1,116 
hours of instruction (as they did in the spring), Kansas families will 
have to fill out daily or weekly learning logs.

4) Out-of-school lunch won’t be free for everyone.

When
 Kelly closed school buildings in March, districts had to figure out how
 to continue providing meals for students. The United States Department 
of Agriculture waived some of its rules so that all students could pick 
up these meals, regardless of whether they normally qualify for free 
meals at school.

Moving forward, if schools have to close again, 
only students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch will be 
able to access free meal distribution. Other students can still pick up 
meals, but they’ll have to pay for them which could be a problem for 
newly-eligible families and families who are uncomfortable admitting 
that they need help paying for meals. Feeding America estimates child 
food insecurity in Kansas will increase by 47.6% due to the pandemic, 
per the Kansas plan to reopen schools.

5) Quarantines are likely for teachers, staff, students and families throughout the school year.

Whenever
 someone tests positive for COVID-19, the school or parts of the school 
will have to close for cleaning. Anyone who had close contact with the 
infected individual — within six feet for more than 10 minutes — will be
 required to quarantine for 14 days.

Household members, including 
siblings in other grades, will be expected to quarantine for even longer
 until the infected individual has been symptom-free for 14 days.

Watson
 said there is federal protection for school employees who have to 
quarantine, including 80 hours of paid sick leave, and state education 
officials are working with the Kansas National Education Association and
 the Kansas School Boards Association to figure out how the quarantines 
will work in practice.

“We’re working on how we can go about 
making sure that employees of any type, including food service, are not 
only respected, but that their leave is respected,” Watson said. “We 
have to take care of the people who take care of the kids.”

But 
teachers still have questions that aren’t addressed in the guide, like 
what happens if they’re forced to quarantine more than once during the 
school year.

The Kansas State Board of Education will vote on the guide Wednesday.

Elle Moxley covers education for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594821954446.png" alt="Elementary school students in Kansas won't be expected to wear masks unless they've been sent to the nurse with COVID-19 symptoms. Students older than 12 will have to wear masks, and the Kansas plan to reopen schools calls for having them help make masks and plexiglass barriers. U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Elementary school students in Kansas won't be expected to wear masks unless they've been sent to the nurse with COVID-19 symptoms. Students older than 12 will have to wear masks, and the Kansas plan to reopen schools calls for having them help make masks and plexiglass barriers. U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>By ELLE MOXLEY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2020-07-14/expect-to-see-more-masks-and-occasional-closures-as-kansas-reopens-schools">Kansas News Service</a>Middle and high school students in Kansas will have to wear face 
masks in schools next year, and buildings will be closed for a cleaning 
anytime someone tests positive for the coronavirus.Those recommendations and others are in <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Communications/Navigating%20Change/DRAFT%205%20Navigating%20Change%20Kansas%20Guide%20to%20Learning%20and%20School%20Safety%20Operations-WEB.pdf?ver=2020-07-14-113912-290" target="_blank">a 1,100-page guide</a> the Kansas State Board of Education is expected to approve Wednesday, ahead of an announcement from Gov. Laura Kelly.Education
 Commissioner Randy Watson said support for reopening schools has ebbed 
as coronavirus cases in Kansas have increased. On Monday, the Kansas 
Department of Health and Environment reported another 1,447 positive 
COVID-19 tests.“There was a time when it was almost, ‘Get back to
 school, open school, open school,’” Watson said at Tuesday’s state 
board meeting. “We still have that, but as we’ve seen the wave fairly 
recently in other states — California, Florida and Texas in particular —
 and in our own state, it’s become, ‘Please don’t open schools; we’ve 
got to have it safe.’”Watson said decisions about when and how to
 reopen schools will be made locally as the coronavirus is spreading 
much faster in populous Wyandotte, Johnson and Sedgwick counties than it
 is in small, rural communities.He added that all Kansas school districts will need a plan for what happens when a confirmed case or an outbreak occurs.Here are five takeaways from the Kansas plan to reopen schools.1) Districts should prioritize bringing back elementary school students.Although
 all Kansas schools are encouraged to work toward reopening, the report 
acknowledges that older students — middle and high schoolers — are more 
likely than younger students to spread the coronavirus. Many child care 
facilities that serve young children have been able to reopen safely, 
while outbreaks have been reported at summer camps for teenagers.As
 such, younger students will not be expected to wear face masks (unless 
required by a state or county order), but students older than 12 who 
face a greater risk of infection will. Teachers and staff will also be 
required to wear masks or face shields. Students with special needs who 
cannot wear masks will be exempt from the requirement.Districts 
that serve students in elementary, middle and high school in the same 
building should keep the grade levels separate as much as possible.2) School could be held off-site in some communities.Watson
 directed school administrators to consider moving classes to other 
venues that are not being used because of the pandemic.“Look at 
all the facilities that can house a classroom — churches, community 
buildings, Century II in Wichita,” a performing arts facility, Watson 
said. “One of the things you’ll want to consider is starting the year 
spread out.”Schools can also use those alternative spaces if classrooms or buildings have to close for deep cleaning.3) Parents, prepare to track what your child did online all day.The
 “responsible adult” overseeing remote learning in hybrid or virtual 
models will have to report how long students logged in and what classes 
they worked on.The logs will be used to track the attendance of students who aren’t in school every day.Several board members expressed concern that this requirement will be too cumbersome.“Not
 everybody’s responsible, and not everybody’s going to turn it in,” said
 board member Jim Porter, who represents southeast Kansas.But 
unless state lawmakers waive the statute requiring a minimum of 1,116 
hours of instruction (as they did in the spring), Kansas families will 
have to fill out daily or weekly learning logs.4) Out-of-school lunch won’t be free for everyone.When
 Kelly closed school buildings in March, districts had to figure out how
 to continue providing meals for students. The United States Department 
of Agriculture waived some of its rules so that all students could pick 
up these meals, regardless of whether they normally qualify for free 
meals at school.Moving forward, if schools have to close again, 
only students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch will be 
able to access free meal distribution. Other students can still pick up 
meals, but they’ll have to pay for them which could be a problem for 
newly-eligible families and families who are uncomfortable admitting 
that they need help paying for meals. Feeding America estimates child 
food insecurity in Kansas will increase by 47.6% due to the pandemic, 
per the Kansas plan to reopen schools.5) Quarantines are likely for teachers, staff, students and families throughout the school year.Whenever
 someone tests positive for COVID-19, the school or parts of the school 
will have to close for cleaning. Anyone who had close contact with the 
infected individual — within six feet for more than 10 minutes — will be
 required to quarantine for 14 days.Household members, including 
siblings in other grades, will be expected to quarantine for even longer
 until the infected individual has been symptom-free for 14 days.Watson
 said there is federal protection for school employees who have to 
quarantine, including 80 hours of paid sick leave, and state education 
officials are working with the Kansas National Education Association and
 the Kansas School Boards Association to figure out how the quarantines 
will work in practice.“We’re working on how we can go about 
making sure that employees of any type, including food service, are not 
only respected, but that their leave is respected,” Watson said. “We 
have to take care of the people who take care of the kids.”But 
teachers still have questions that aren’t addressed in the guide, like 
what happens if they’re forced to quarantine more than once during the 
school year.The Kansas State Board of Education will vote on the guide Wednesday.Elle Moxley covers education for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.&nbsp;

Expect more masks, occasional closures as Kansas reopens schools 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A spokesperson for Dillons released a statement Tuesday on their parent company Kroger's policy to deal with the nation's coin shortage.

"The Federal Reserve is experiencing a significant coin shortage across the U.S., resulting from fewer coins being exchanged and spent during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Sheila Lowrie with Dillons. "Like many retailers and businesses, we are adjusting to the temporary shortage in several ways.

"Customers can switch their payment type (e.g., use debit or credit vs. cash), and through our upgraded technology, we can now load coin change to their loyalty card for use during the next shopping trip, provide coin change at a lane with coins available or round up their order to support The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, a public charity committed to creating communities free of hunger and waste.

"We remain committed to providing our customers with an uplifting shopping experience and the freedom and flexibility to choose their payment method during this unprecedented time."

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A spokesperson for Dillons released a statement Tuesday on their parent company Kroger's policy to deal with the nation's coin shortage."The Federal Reserve is experiencing a significant coin shortage across the U.S., resulting from fewer coins being exchanged and spent during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Sheila Lowrie with Dillons. "Like many retailers and businesses, we are adjusting to the temporary shortage in several ways."Customers can switch their payment type (e.g., use debit or credit vs. cash), and through our upgraded technology, we can now load coin change to their loyalty card for use during the next shopping trip, provide coin change at a lane with coins available or round up their order to support The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, a public charity committed to creating communities free of hunger and waste."We remain committed to providing our customers with an uplifting shopping experience and the freedom and flexibility to choose their payment method during this unprecedented time."

Dillons working to deal with the nation's coin shortage

STAFFORD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Stafford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Magnum driven by Seth R. Osborn, 28, Wichita was eastbound on Kansas 19 and failed to yield at a stop sign at U.S. 281 one mile east of Seward.

A northbound 2012 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Andrea M.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 28, Louisburg, struck the Dodge.

A passenger in the van Judy M.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 73, St. John, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Minnis Chapel in St John.

EMS tranported Osborn, McKiearnan, Morgan G&nbsp;McKiearnan, 7; Carter O.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 4; Brook J.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 13, and Timothy O.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 28, all of St. John to the hospital in Great Bend.&nbsp; All seven were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

STAFFORD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Stafford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Magnum driven by Seth R. Osborn, 28, Wichita was eastbound on Kansas 19 and failed to yield at a stop sign at U.S. 281 one mile east of Seward.A northbound 2012 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Andrea M.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 28, Louisburg, struck the Dodge.A passenger in the van Judy M.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 73, St. John, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Minnis Chapel in St John.EMS tranported Osborn, McKiearnan, Morgan G&nbsp;McKiearnan, 7; Carter O.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 4; Brook J.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 13, and Timothy O.&nbsp;McKiearnan, 28, all of St. John to the hospital in Great Bend.&nbsp; All seven were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dead, 6 hospitalized after 2 vehicle crash

By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/college-football-schedules-unsettled-coronavirus-cases-spike-kansas-and-us">Kansas News Service</a>

BALDWIN CITY, Kansas — College athletics departments
 in Kansas are needing to make a call as the number of coronavirus cases
 climb across the country and in their own ranks: Cancel fall sports, 
delay them until the spring, try in-conference games only or something 
in between.

At the center of it all is football — the 
high-contact sport that brings in money from the top college level to 
the small schools.&nbsp;

Dozens of schools have reported coronavirus 
cases among team members at voluntary workouts. And earlier this summer,
 Kansas State became one of the first major college teams in the country
 to shut the workouts down because of a high number of positive tests. 
The University of Kansas soon followed suit.

Already, three of 
the five major college conferences (Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference 
and Pac-12) have said they’ll only play against teams in their 
conference. The Ivy and Patriot leagues are calling off their fall 
seasons entirely. The National Junior College Athletic Association voted
 to move football to the spring.

The Big 12, which includes KU and K-State, is expected to make its decision at the end of the month.

Without
 the money from big-time sports, universities that are already hurting 
financially after having to shift fully online in the spring will 
suffer. But so will the college towns.

Baker University drives 
the economy in Baldwin City, Kansas, a town of more than 4,700 that’s 
about a half-hour from Lawrence. Of the roughly 800-plus students on 
campus at Baker, 66% play one of the school’s 24 varsity sports.

In
 early June, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
(NAIA) announced that all of its schools — Baker included — would be 
reduced to nine regular-season games from 11. It’s still uncertain if 
fans will be allowed to attend the home games because the NAIA is 
leaving it up to schools to follow state and local requirements.

“The potential of not having our family at games, it’s something 
that’s going to be very, very different,” Baker athletics director Nate 
Houser said.

Already, Baldwin City’s 63rd annual Maple Leaf 
Festival has been cancelled for the fall. Apryl Strawn, the manager of 
Jo’s Diner in town, said the possibility of football without fans could 
be devastating to their business.&nbsp;

“It’ll be awful,” Strawn said. “It’ll be absolutely awful.”&nbsp;

The athletes’ health vs. financial health&nbsp;

Whether
 football is played in Baldwin City or at KU, the issue is the same: How
 do you avoid transmission of coronavirus in a sport where you’re lined 
up next to each other and hit other players constantly?

It’s a question KU Director of Athletics Jeff Long has been pondering all summer, and hasn’t been able to answer.

"We
 don’t know what the impact of practicing, closed-quarters hitting, 
tackling, all those things will have on a team,” Long said during a 
Kansas City Public Library virtual forum last month.

Players came
 back to campus for voluntary workouts from all over the country, 
including Texas, which has seen a dramatic spike in cases.&nbsp;

But epidemiologist Dr. Chris Hostler, who is a consultant for the NFL
 and the Big 12 (which KU and K-State are a part of), said coronavirus 
can be anywhere.

“We’re going to continue to have athletes and 
staff who are positives, who are coming from different areas of the 
country,” said Hostler, who is based in Durham, North Carolina. “Or even
 just remaining in their communities.”

And there’s another thing 
to consider: If any scholarship athlete, man or woman, chooses to sit 
out this fall as a health precaution, would he or she lose that full 
ride to college? The Pac-12 says no. With the Big 12 leaving it up to 
its members — K-State says it will honor scholarships but is still 
working out the terms of the language, while KU hadn’t provided its 
policy by the time this story went to print.&nbsp;

But more than 
anything, college administrators are aware of the added financial pinch 
if there are no college football games this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When people 
ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to play football, play basketball?”
 It’s to generate the revenue to fund that program,” Long said.

A major college football program like KU or K-State generates an average of $78 million according to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2989466001/">recent study by USA Today</a>.

Within
 the Big 12, the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU) 
figure to already see less money. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently 
mandated that no schools can have more than 50% fan capacity at home 
games.

But Hostler said what’s happening in Texas won’t dictate a uniform set of recommendations.

“What
 happens in West Virginia is going to be very different than what 
happens a couple states away in Iowa or in Oklahoma,” he said.

Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758329334.png" alt=" Kansas State's football team had several players test positive for COVID-19 this summer. Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo" />
 <figcaption> Kansas State's football team had several players test positive for COVID-19 this summer. Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/college-football-schedules-unsettled-coronavirus-cases-spike-kansas-and-us">Kansas News Service</a>BALDWIN CITY, Kansas — College athletics departments
 in Kansas are needing to make a call as the number of coronavirus cases
 climb across the country and in their own ranks: Cancel fall sports, 
delay them until the spring, try in-conference games only or something 
in between.At the center of it all is football — the 
high-contact sport that brings in money from the top college level to 
the small schools.&nbsp;Dozens of schools have reported coronavirus 
cases among team members at voluntary workouts. And earlier this summer,
 Kansas State became one of the first major college teams in the country
 to shut the workouts down because of a high number of positive tests. 
The University of Kansas soon followed suit.Already, three of 
the five major college conferences (Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference 
and Pac-12) have said they’ll only play against teams in their 
conference. The Ivy and Patriot leagues are calling off their fall 
seasons entirely. The National Junior College Athletic Association voted
 to move football to the spring.The Big 12, which includes KU and K-State, is expected to make its decision at the end of the month.Without
 the money from big-time sports, universities that are already hurting 
financially after having to shift fully online in the spring will 
suffer. But so will the college towns.Baker University drives 
the economy in Baldwin City, Kansas, a town of more than 4,700 that’s 
about a half-hour from Lawrence. Of the roughly 800-plus students on 
campus at Baker, 66% play one of the school’s 24 varsity sports.In
 early June, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
(NAIA) announced that all of its schools — Baker included — would be 
reduced to nine regular-season games from 11. It’s still uncertain if 
fans will be allowed to attend the home games because the NAIA is 
leaving it up to schools to follow state and local requirements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758388532.jpeg" alt=" Nate House is Baker University's athletic director. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Nate House is Baker University's athletic director. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>“The potential of not having our family at games, it’s something 
that’s going to be very, very different,” Baker athletics director Nate 
Houser said.Already, Baldwin City’s 63rd annual Maple Leaf 
Festival has been cancelled for the fall. Apryl Strawn, the manager of 
Jo’s Diner in town, said the possibility of football without fans could 
be devastating to their business.&nbsp;“It’ll be awful,” Strawn said. “It’ll be absolutely awful.”&nbsp;The athletes’ health vs. financial health&nbsp;Whether
 football is played in Baldwin City or at KU, the issue is the same: How
 do you avoid transmission of coronavirus in a sport where you’re lined 
up next to each other and hit other players constantly?It’s a question KU Director of Athletics Jeff Long has been pondering all summer, and hasn’t been able to answer."We
 don’t know what the impact of practicing, closed-quarters hitting, 
tackling, all those things will have on a team,” Long said during a 
Kansas City Public Library virtual forum last month.Players came
 back to campus for voluntary workouts from all over the country, 
including Texas, which has seen a dramatic spike in cases.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758418685.jpeg" alt=" The field before last year's KU vs. K-State rivarly game. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo" />
 <figcaption> The field before last year's KU vs. K-State rivarly game. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>But epidemiologist Dr. Chris Hostler, who is a consultant for the NFL
 and the Big 12 (which KU and K-State are a part of), said coronavirus 
can be anywhere.“We’re going to continue to have athletes and 
staff who are positives, who are coming from different areas of the 
country,” said Hostler, who is based in Durham, North Carolina. “Or even
 just remaining in their communities.”And there’s another thing 
to consider: If any scholarship athlete, man or woman, chooses to sit 
out this fall as a health precaution, would he or she lose that full 
ride to college? The Pac-12 says no. With the Big 12 leaving it up to 
its members — K-State says it will honor scholarships but is still 
working out the terms of the language, while KU hadn’t provided its 
policy by the time this story went to print.&nbsp;But more than 
anything, college administrators are aware of the added financial pinch 
if there are no college football games this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When people 
ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to play football, play basketball?”
 It’s to generate the revenue to fund that program,” Long said.A major college football program like KU or K-State generates an average of $78 million according to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2989466001/">recent study by USA Today</a>.Within
 the Big 12, the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU) 
figure to already see less money. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently 
mandated that no schools can have more than 50% fan capacity at home 
games.But Hostler said what’s happening in Texas won’t dictate a uniform set of recommendations.“What
 happens in West Virginia is going to be very different than what 
happens a couple states away in Iowa or in Oklahoma,” he said.Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter.

College football schedules unsettled as virus cases spike


CLOUD COUNTY — 
Two people died&nbsp; in an accident just before 3p.m. Tuesday in Cloud County.

&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Micheal Eugene Kaufman, 67, and&nbsp; Delinda Lea Kaufman, 67, both of Hutchinson, were riding their 2008 Suzuki VL800 motorcycle attempting to negotiate the curve on K-9 highway three miles west of Concordia.

The motorcyce struck a westbound 2013 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Matthew Curtis Blad, 45, of Beloit.

The Kaufmans were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Nutter Mortuary. Blad was not transported for treatment. The KHP did have details on whether the Kaufmans wore helmets or eye protection.

CLOUD COUNTY — 
Two people died&nbsp; in an accident just before 3p.m. Tuesday in Cloud County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Micheal Eugene Kaufman, 67, and&nbsp; Delinda Lea Kaufman, 67, both of Hutchinson, were riding their 2008 Suzuki VL800 motorcycle attempting to negotiate the curve on K-9 highway three miles west of Concordia.The motorcyce struck a westbound 2013 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Matthew Curtis Blad, 45, of Beloit.The Kaufmans were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Nutter Mortuary. Blad was not transported for treatment. The KHP did have details on whether the Kaufmans wore helmets or eye protection.

Kansas man, woman dead after motorcycle, pickup crash

TOPEKA—The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) has been working with a team of specialists from Accenture for just over two weeks as they provide operational and technological assessments to improve the delivery of unemployment services.

“We know there have been major issues and missteps, we’ve hit the reset button and are focusing on the future,” Governor Kelly said in a media release.

“Accenture is reviewing and providing recommendations to improve the stability of our systems to make sure they are readily available to support Kansans.”

While the assessment is still underway, improvements are already being implemented. Since the pandemic began, KDOL has delivered $1.2 billion in unemployment claims to nearly 200,000 Kansans.

One of the primary difficulties the agency has had is the high volume of calls coming in that require highly-trained customer service representatives to address. At the direction of Governor Kelly, KDOL has worked with Accenture to add call center representatives who are trained in unemployment surge response and will be able to provide progressively higher levels of service to callers. The first group of new representatives started taking calls on Monday and more will start next week after completing training.

In addition to hiring more call center representatives, KDOL has hired seven additional IT employees to speed up implementation of the various federal unemployment programs. Those hires include professionals with specific experience in the programming language that KDOL’s outdated system was built in.

KDOL has also launched a new online virtual agent named Amelia who can answer the agency’s most frequently asked questions regarding unemployment benefits. Amelia can be found in the bottom right hand corner of&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.getkansasbenefits.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C98bfb73e6dde4f20559d08d82801e780%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637303335919164623&amp;sdata=0NKMwGR%2FP0HoXh7kZi8aVdyHycRHz8yw6DIJkArXTNc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.getkansasbenefits.gov</a>&nbsp;and as of Monday afternoon has had nearly 7,000 conversations, exchanging more than 23,000 messages with users.

Accenture has previously worked with more than half a dozen other states in addressing COVID-related programs. Like Kansas, many states have struggled due to the sheer number of unemployment claims and their antiquated computer systems. Accenture has stated that the system in Kansas is one of the most severe cases of outdated technology they have encountered.

As it develops its recommendations, the Accenture team is applying lessons learned from their work in other states, including how to use federal stimulus funds to rebuild antiquated systems and adding automated features to the website to help answer questions and get Kansans paid quicker.

“The response model being implemented will be able to be scaled up as needed and there will be more trained agents and technology workarounds for the current computer system,” KDOL Acting Secretary Ryan Wright said. “Our top priority is to get Kansans paid as quickly as possible and with good customer service.”

Currently, nearly everything in the KDOL system must be done manually with minimal automation, which means processes take longer and fewer Kansans can be served. The data and metrics are not stored in a central location, which makes it cumbersome to verify and difficult to provide consistent system reporting.&nbsp;

“Once the surge response is stabilized, we’ll be able to turn attention to the badly needed system rebuild, so we never face this situation again,” Wright said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593457222137.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) has been working with a team of specialists from Accenture for just over two weeks as they provide operational and technological assessments to improve the delivery of unemployment services.“We know there have been major issues and missteps, we’ve hit the reset button and are focusing on the future,” Governor Kelly said in a media release.“Accenture is reviewing and providing recommendations to improve the stability of our systems to make sure they are readily available to support Kansans.”While the assessment is still underway, improvements are already being implemented. Since the pandemic began, KDOL has delivered $1.2 billion in unemployment claims to nearly 200,000 Kansans.One of the primary difficulties the agency has had is the high volume of calls coming in that require highly-trained customer service representatives to address. At the direction of Governor Kelly, KDOL has worked with Accenture to add call center representatives who are trained in unemployment surge response and will be able to provide progressively higher levels of service to callers. The first group of new representatives started taking calls on Monday and more will start next week after completing training.In addition to hiring more call center representatives, KDOL has hired seven additional IT employees to speed up implementation of the various federal unemployment programs. Those hires include professionals with specific experience in the programming language that KDOL’s outdated system was built in.KDOL has also launched a new online virtual agent named Amelia who can answer the agency’s most frequently asked questions regarding unemployment benefits. Amelia can be found in the bottom right hand corner of&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.getkansasbenefits.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C98bfb73e6dde4f20559d08d82801e780%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637303335919164623&amp;sdata=0NKMwGR%2FP0HoXh7kZi8aVdyHycRHz8yw6DIJkArXTNc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.getkansasbenefits.gov</a>&nbsp;and as of Monday afternoon has had nearly 7,000 conversations, exchanging more than 23,000 messages with users.Accenture has previously worked with more than half a dozen other states in addressing COVID-related programs. Like Kansas, many states have struggled due to the sheer number of unemployment claims and their antiquated computer systems. Accenture has stated that the system in Kansas is one of the most severe cases of outdated technology they have encountered.As it develops its recommendations, the Accenture team is applying lessons learned from their work in other states, including how to use federal stimulus funds to rebuild antiquated systems and adding automated features to the website to help answer questions and get Kansans paid quicker.“The response model being implemented will be able to be scaled up as needed and there will be more trained agents and technology workarounds for the current computer system,” KDOL Acting Secretary Ryan Wright said. “Our top priority is to get Kansans paid as quickly as possible and with good customer service.”Currently, nearly everything in the KDOL system must be done manually with minimal automation, which means processes take longer and fewer Kansans can be served. The data and metrics are not stored in a central location, which makes it cumbersome to verify and difficult to provide consistent system reporting.&nbsp;“Once the surge response is stabilized, we’ll be able to turn attention to the badly needed system rebuild, so we never face this situation again,” Wright said.

Gov.: Kan. Dept. of Labor adds staff to support unemployed

WICHITA, KAN. – A former Kansas construction contractor was sentenced to 34 months in prison Friday for defrauding several of his former customers.

Jeffrey T. Vap, 55, Goddard, the one-time owner of Quality Construction and Remodeling, was convicted of seven counts of felony theft related to construction projects that never started or were never finished, according to the Sedgwick County Attorney's office.

In all of the cases, Vap took significant down payments to start the projects.

The projects involved improvements and remodeling work at a church, a restaurant and several private residences between 2011 and 2016.

Vap was originally granted probation on the seven convictions, in part so that he could pay his former customers more than $50,000 in restitution. 

At the time he was granted probation, Vap was ordered not to work as an independent contractor where he would take money from customers.

In March, Vap was found in violation of his probation for continuing to engage in business as a construction contractor.

Vap asked Judge Eric Williams to reinstate his probation because he had paid all of his restitution and was now suffering health problems.

Judge Williams denied the request for reinstatement of probation and ordered Vap to serve his original sentence

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594668154618.png" alt="Vap -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Vap -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A former Kansas construction contractor was sentenced to 34 months in prison Friday for defrauding several of his former customers.Jeffrey T. Vap, 55, Goddard, the one-time owner of Quality Construction and Remodeling, was convicted of seven counts of felony theft related to construction projects that never started or were never finished, according to the Sedgwick County Attorney's office.In all of the cases, Vap took significant down payments to start the projects.The projects involved improvements and remodeling work at a church, a restaurant and several private residences between 2011 and 2016.Vap was originally granted probation on the seven convictions, in part so that he could pay his former customers more than $50,000 in restitution. At the time he was granted probation, Vap was ordered not to work as an independent contractor where he would take money from customers.In March, Vap was found in violation of his probation for continuing to engage in business as a construction contractor.Vap asked Judge Eric Williams to reinstate his probation because he had paid all of his restitution and was now suffering health problems.Judge Williams denied the request for reinstatement of probation and ordered Vap to serve his original sentence

Kan. construction contractor going to prison for defrauding customers

BOSTON (AP) — Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was announced at the start of a hearing in a federal lawsuit in Boston brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”

A lawyer representing the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said only that the judge’s characterization was correct.

The announcement brings relief to thousands of foreign students who had been at risk of being deported from the country, along with hundreds of universities that were scrambling to reassess their plans for the fall in light of the policy. With the policy rescinded, ICE will revert to a directive from March that suspended typical limits around online education for foreign students.

Under the policy, international students in the U.S. would have been forbidden from taking all their courses online this fall. New visas would not have been issued to students at schools planning to provide all classes online, which includes Harvard. Students already in the U.S. would have faced deportation if they didn’t transfer schools or leave the country voluntarily.

Immigration officials issued the policy last week, reversing earlier guidance from March 13 telling colleges that limits around online education would be suspended during the pandemic. University leaders believed the rule was part of President Donald Trump’s effort to pressure the nation’s schools and colleges to reopen this fall even as new virus cases rise.

The policy drew sharp backlash from higher education institutions, with more than 200 signing court briefs supporting the challenge by Harvard and MIT. Colleges said the policy would put students’ safety at risk and hurt schools financially. Many schools rely on tuition from international students, and some stood to lose millions of dollars in revenue if the rule had taken hold.

Harvard and MIT were the first to contest the policy, but at least seven other federal suits had been filed by universities and states opposing the rule.

The unexpected decision was welcome news to students across the country who had been on edge.

“I feel relief,” said Andrea Calderon, a 29-year-old biology graduate student from Ecuador. “It would have been a very big problem if I had to leave the country right now.”

The City College of New York student said returning home would have made it much harder to finish her thesis and pursue a Ph.D. Internet access at home in Ecuador is spotty, and going through the process to come back to the U.S. in the future would be too expensive, she said.

The American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, praised ICE’s pullback of the rule. The group said the policy was misguided from the start and drew unprecedented opposition from colleges.

“There has never been a case where so many institutions sued the federal government,” said Terry Hartle, the group’s senior vice president. “In this case, the government didn’t even try to defend its policymaking.”

Some opponents, however, were hesitant to call it a closed case. Massachusetts’ Democratic attorney general, who is leading a separate lawsuit against the policy, warned that the Trump administration may attempt again to impose limits on international students.

“This is why we sue. The rule was illegal and the Trump Administration knew they didn’t have a chance,” Maura Healey said on Twitter. “They may try this again. We will be ready.”

Harvard and MIT argued that immigration officials violated procedural rules by issuing the guidance without justification and without allowing the public to respond. They also argued that the policy contradicted ICE’s March 13 directive telling schools that existing limits on online education would be suspended “for the duration of the emergency.”

The suit noted that Trump’s national emergency declaration has not been rescinded and that virus cases are spiking in some regions.

Immigration officials, however, argued that they told colleges all along that any guidance prompted by the pandemic was subject to change. They said the rule was consistent with existing law barring international students from taking classes entirely online. Federal officials said they were providing leniency by allowing students to keep their visas even if they study online from abroad.

BOSTON (AP) — Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online because of the coronavirus pandemic.The decision was announced at the start of a hearing in a federal lawsuit in Boston brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”A lawyer representing the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said only that the judge’s characterization was correct.The announcement brings relief to thousands of foreign students who had been at risk of being deported from the country, along with hundreds of universities that were scrambling to reassess their plans for the fall in light of the policy. With the policy rescinded, ICE will revert to a directive from March that suspended typical limits around online education for foreign students.Under the policy, international students in the U.S. would have been forbidden from taking all their courses online this fall. New visas would not have been issued to students at schools planning to provide all classes online, which includes Harvard. Students already in the U.S. would have faced deportation if they didn’t transfer schools or leave the country voluntarily.Immigration officials issued the policy last week, reversing earlier guidance from March 13 telling colleges that limits around online education would be suspended during the pandemic. University leaders believed the rule was part of President Donald Trump’s effort to pressure the nation’s schools and colleges to reopen this fall even as new virus cases rise.The policy drew sharp backlash from higher education institutions, with more than 200 signing court briefs supporting the challenge by Harvard and MIT. Colleges said the policy would put students’ safety at risk and hurt schools financially. Many schools rely on tuition from international students, and some stood to lose millions of dollars in revenue if the rule had taken hold.Harvard and MIT were the first to contest the policy, but at least seven other federal suits had been filed by universities and states opposing the rule.The unexpected decision was welcome news to students across the country who had been on edge.“I feel relief,” said Andrea Calderon, a 29-year-old biology graduate student from Ecuador. “It would have been a very big problem if I had to leave the country right now.”The City College of New York student said returning home would have made it much harder to finish her thesis and pursue a Ph.D. Internet access at home in Ecuador is spotty, and going through the process to come back to the U.S. in the future would be too expensive, she said.The American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, praised ICE’s pullback of the rule. The group said the policy was misguided from the start and drew unprecedented opposition from colleges.“There has never been a case where so many institutions sued the federal government,” said Terry Hartle, the group’s senior vice president. “In this case, the government didn’t even try to defend its policymaking.”Some opponents, however, were hesitant to call it a closed case. Massachusetts’ Democratic attorney general, who is leading a separate lawsuit against the policy, warned that the Trump administration may attempt again to impose limits on international students.“This is why we sue. The rule was illegal and the Trump Administration knew they didn’t have a chance,” Maura Healey said on Twitter. “They may try this again. We will be ready.”Harvard and MIT argued that immigration officials violated procedural rules by issuing the guidance without justification and without allowing the public to respond. They also argued that the policy contradicted ICE’s March 13 directive telling schools that existing limits on online education would be suspended “for the duration of the emergency.”The suit noted that Trump’s national emergency declaration has not been rescinded and that virus cases are spiking in some regions.Immigration officials, however, argued that they told colleges all along that any guidance prompted by the pandemic was subject to change. They said the rule was consistent with existing law barring international students from taking classes entirely online. Federal officials said they were providing leniency by allowing students to keep their visas even if they study online from abroad.

Trump rescinds rule on foreign students, online classes

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two fatal shootings in Topeka and have identified the victims.&nbsp;

Just after 8p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 1100 block of SW Clay in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

 Officers located two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. One victim had non-life threatening injuries and 66-year-old Harry T. Jenkins was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Just before 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to another shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street and found two victims identified as Crystal D. Andrews, 37, and Mercedes M. Holford, 13, both of Topeka with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594724946557.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation on SW Clay in Topeka Monday evening -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation on SW Clay in Topeka Monday evening -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two fatal shootings in Topeka and have identified the victims.&nbsp;Just after 8p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 1100 block of SW Clay in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson. Officers located two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. One victim had non-life threatening injuries and 66-year-old Harry T. Jenkins was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Just before 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to another shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street and found two victims identified as Crystal D. Andrews, 37, and Mercedes M. Holford, 13, both of Topeka with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police have not announced arrests in either case.--------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two fatal shootings in Topeka.Just after 8p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 1100 block of SW Clay in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson. Officers located two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. One victim had non-life threatening injuries and one victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Just before 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to another shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street and found two victims with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Johnson.Police have not released the names of any of the victims and have not announced arrests in either case.