SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges including his possession of dangerous snakes.

On Wednesday evening, police and members of the&nbsp;Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a narcotics search warrant at a. home at 3600 SE Indiana, in Topeka, according to&nbsp; LT Jerry Monasmith.&nbsp; 

As a result of the investigation, officers found David Kidd, 54, had Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia, and Venomous Snakes.

Officers arrested Kidd and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and the Unlawful possession of venomous snakes. The snakes were humanly rescued by the Northeast Kansas Wild Life Rescue Organization, according to Monasmith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600945439087.png" alt="Kidd photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Kidd photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges including his possession of dangerous snakes.On Wednesday evening, police and members of the&nbsp;Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a narcotics search warrant at a. home at 3600 SE Indiana, in Topeka, according to&nbsp; LT Jerry Monasmith.&nbsp; As a result of the investigation, officers found David Kidd, 54, had Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia, and Venomous Snakes.Officers arrested Kidd and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and the Unlawful possession of venomous snakes. The snakes were humanly rescued by the Northeast Kansas Wild Life Rescue Organization, according to Monasmith.

Drug task force finds venomous snakes at Kan. home

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man has been sentenced for a shooting death in west Wichita.

District Judge Dave Dahl sentenced Tanner Mora, 27 of Wichita, to life with parole eligibility after 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

A jury convicted Mora of felony 1st degree murder during the commission of aggravated robbery which occurred during the sale of marijuana.

In February 2019, police found the body of Lorenzo Wade, 22 of Wichita, in the parking lot of Genesis Health Club in the 3700 block of West 13th Street. He had multiple gunshot wounds. A bag of marijuana was found next to the body. 

Police later arrested Mora and Ashantis Bledsoe, 21, Wichita.&nbsp; He is awaiting trial. Mora and his girlfriend moved to Wichita from Arkansas City a month before the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600962165579.png" alt="Mora photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Mora photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man has been sentenced for a shooting death in west Wichita.District Judge Dave Dahl sentenced Tanner Mora, 27 of Wichita, to life with parole eligibility after 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.A jury convicted Mora of felony 1st degree murder during the commission of aggravated robbery which occurred during the sale of marijuana.In February 2019, police found the body of Lorenzo Wade, 22 of Wichita, in the parking lot of Genesis Health Club in the 3700 block of West 13th Street. He had multiple gunshot wounds. A bag of marijuana was found next to the body. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600962223546.png" alt="Bledsoe photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Bledsoe photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police later arrested Mora and Ashantis Bledsoe, 21, Wichita.&nbsp; He is awaiting trial. Mora and his girlfriend moved to Wichita from Arkansas City a month before the shooting.

Kansas man sentenced for marijuana sale murder

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Nursing homes make up nearly half of the places in Kansas linked to active coronavirus clusters of five or more cases and some of them still are struggling to find testing supplies despite heightened federal testing requirements, a state official told legislators.

The state Department of Health and Environment has resumed its weekly reports on specific coronavirus clusters. It started releasing the data on Sept. 9 but paused it for a week because the first reports included weeks-old cases in the counts for businesses and other places that still had active ones. The latest report, issued Wednesday, lists places that have had five or more active cases within the past 14 days, and only the cases in which symptoms started during that period, not a long-term cumulative total.

The latest health department report lists 29 clusters, including 14 that are tied to nursing homes in 11 counties. Together, the 29 clusters account for 316 cases, including 169, or 53%, that were in nursing homes.

The state has 211 active clusters accounting for about 8,000 of the more than 55,000 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases that Kansas has reported since the pandemic reached the state in early March. Active clusters account for 128 of the 621 reported COVID-19-related deaths reported by the state health department since the pandemic began.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks, from 496 new cases per day on Sept. 9 to 622 per day on Wednesday. That last figure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-kansas-clinical-trials-archive-c87451b4cf129afb6d02d4c8cd0a0fb2">represented the biggest spike in new Kansas cases&nbsp;</a>since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, Scott Brunner, a deputy secretary at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, told a joint legislative budget committee Wednesday that some nursing homes were struggling to meet a federal benchmark requiring homes in more than half the state’s counties to test staff at least once a week because of the spread of the coronavirus locally,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200923/coronavirus-testing-in-nursing-homes-remains-rsquomixed-bagrsquo-state-says" target="_blank">The Topeka Capital Journal reported.&nbsp;</a>Brunner blamed lags in the supply chain.

“It’s a little bit of a mixed bag but I agree that the resourcing element is a concern, and we’ve certainly heard that and want to keep figuring out the best way to meet that,” Brunner said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600981970057.png" alt="Sept. 23, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Sept. 23, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Nursing homes make up nearly half of the places in Kansas linked to active coronavirus clusters of five or more cases and some of them still are struggling to find testing supplies despite heightened federal testing requirements, a state official told legislators.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600895539200.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his Wednesday press briefing" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during his Wednesday press briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>The state Department of Health and Environment has resumed its weekly reports on specific coronavirus clusters. It started releasing the data on Sept. 9 but paused it for a week because the first reports included weeks-old cases in the counts for businesses and other places that still had active ones. The latest report, issued Wednesday, lists places that have had five or more active cases within the past 14 days, and only the cases in which symptoms started during that period, not a long-term cumulative total.The latest health department report lists 29 clusters, including 14 that are tied to nursing homes in 11 counties. Together, the 29 clusters account for 316 cases, including 169, or 53%, that were in nursing homes.The state has 211 active clusters accounting for about 8,000 of the more than 55,000 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases that Kansas has reported since the pandemic reached the state in early March. Active clusters account for 128 of the 621 reported COVID-19-related deaths reported by the state health department since the pandemic began.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks, from 496 new cases per day on Sept. 9 to 622 per day on Wednesday. That last figure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-kansas-clinical-trials-archive-c87451b4cf129afb6d02d4c8cd0a0fb2">represented the biggest spike in new Kansas cases&nbsp;</a>since the pandemic began.Meanwhile, Scott Brunner, a deputy secretary at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, told a joint legislative budget committee Wednesday that some nursing homes were struggling to meet a federal benchmark requiring homes in more than half the state’s counties to test staff at least once a week because of the spread of the coronavirus locally,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200923/coronavirus-testing-in-nursing-homes-remains-rsquomixed-bagrsquo-state-says" target="_blank">The Topeka Capital Journal reported.&nbsp;</a>Brunner blamed lags in the supply chain.“It’s a little bit of a mixed bag but I agree that the resourcing element is a concern, and we’ve certainly heard that and want to keep figuring out the best way to meet that,” Brunner said.

Nursing homes lead list of reported Kansas COVID-19 clusters

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Thursday recognized 367 schools including 6 in Kansas as&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html">National Blue Ribbon Schools</a>&nbsp;for 2020.

The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

The schools in Kansas include Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School, Wichita; Grant F. Timmerman Elementary School, Emporia; St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Wichita; Bradley Elementary School, Leavenworth; Prairie Creek Elementary School, Olathe and Piper Elementary School, Kansas City

Congratulations to this year's National Blue Ribbon School awardees," said Secretary DeVos. "It's a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students' needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives."

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years.&nbsp;

The Education Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores, and graduation rates:

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The U.S. Education Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13. While we regret not having the opportunity to celebrate in person, given the current situation regarding COVID-19, we will celebrate the 317 public and 50 non-public school honorees in the ways that we are able, and they will each receive their plaques and flags via mail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600979430865.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Thursday recognized 367 schools including 6 in Kansas as&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html">National Blue Ribbon Schools</a>&nbsp;for 2020. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.The schools in Kansas include Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School, Wichita; Grant F. Timmerman Elementary School, Emporia; St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Wichita; Bradley Elementary School, Leavenworth; Prairie Creek Elementary School, Olathe and Piper Elementary School, Kansas City<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600979315874.png" alt="Education Secretary Betsy Devos made the announcement Thursday morning-photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Education" />
 <figcaption>Education Secretary Betsy Devos made the announcement Thursday morning-photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Education</figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to this year's National Blue Ribbon School awardees," said Secretary DeVos. "It's a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students' needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives."The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years.&nbsp;The Education Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores, and graduation rates:<ol>
 <li>Exemplary High Performing Schools&nbsp;– These are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.</li><li>Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools&nbsp;– These are among their state's highest performing in closing achievement gaps between a school's student groups and all students.</li>
 </ol>Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The U.S. Education Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13. While we regret not having the opportunity to celebrate in person, given the current situation regarding COVID-19, we will celebrate the 317 public and 50 non-public school honorees in the ways that we are able, and they will each receive their plaques and flags via mail.

6 in Kansas named 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools

ELK COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Elk County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide that occurred in Longton, Kansas, according to a media release from the agency.

Just after 10 a.m. Thursday, following a 911 call from a family member reporting a death, the Elk County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 200 E. 3rd&nbsp;St. in Longton.&nbsp;

When deputies arrived, they discovered a resident of the home, 34-year-old Amy R. Lammon, deceased inside. EMS responded, and the coroner pronounced Lammon dead at the scene.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

Longton is approximately 90 miles southeast of Wichita.

ELK COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Elk County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide that occurred in Longton, Kansas, according to a media release from the agency.Just after 10 a.m. Thursday, following a 911 call from a family member reporting a death, the Elk County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 200 E. 3rd&nbsp;St. in Longton.&nbsp;When deputies arrived, they discovered a resident of the home, 34-year-old Amy R. Lammon, deceased inside. EMS responded, and the coroner pronounced Lammon dead at the scene.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.Longton is approximately 90 miles southeast of Wichita.

KBI: 34-year-old woman found dead in Kansas home

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a vehicle crash in to a home early Wednesday in Salina.

Just before 4a.m. Wednesday, a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was&nbsp; northbound on Montrose Street, ran the stop sign at West South Street, continued across West South Street and into the yard of 918 West South Street, striking the front porch of the residence, according to  Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester. The front of the vehicle was completely under the porch.

Five people were in the home at the time of the crash.&nbsp; They were not injured. A witness observed two suspects running from the scene, according to Forrester.

The registered owner told police that the car was recently sold. A city inspector was called in to check the porch as there was a concern of it collapsing. Police released no additional details.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a vehicle crash in to a home early Wednesday in Salina.Just before 4a.m. Wednesday, a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was&nbsp; northbound on Montrose Street, ran the stop sign at West South Street, continued across West South Street and into the yard of 918 West South Street, striking the front porch of the residence, according to Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester. The front of the vehicle was completely under the porch.Five people were in the home at the time of the crash.&nbsp; They were not injured. A witness observed two suspects running from the scene, according to Forrester.The registered owner told police that the car was recently sold. A city inspector was called in to check the porch as there was a concern of it collapsing. Police released no additional details.

Police search for 2 after car crash into Salina home

A Victoria man currently in the Ellis County jail has been identified as a suspect in a rape case dating back to March 2014.

Cody Schultz, 32, was arrested on Dec. 20, 2019, on suspicion of aggravated criminal sodomy of a child under 14 and electronic solicitation of a child under 14 for a crime that was alleged to have occurred on Dec. 16, 2019.

“The victim reported that she met a young man on social media and agreed to meet him at the park,” the Hays Police Department said at the time. “At the park, the young man reportedly physically restrained the victim and then sexually assaulted her. The suspect then fled the park. The victim ran from the scene with another female and then called the police.”

After the arrest, another count alleged electronic solicitation of a child under the age of 14 was added to the charges relating to a September 2019 incident, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.

The children, in those cases, were aged 12 and 13, he said.

He was formally charged on Jan. 3, 2020, and remained in the Ellis County jail in lieu of a $450,000 bond, Drees said.

"After he was arrested, Lt. Ridgeway worked the original case in 2014 and saw the similarities and asked the (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) &nbsp;to compare the samples collected and we got a hit on the DNA,” said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.

During a bond hearing on Sept. 22 establishing probable cause for the 2014 case, his bond was increased to $500,000, Dress said.

The county attorney has until Sept. 29 to file charges.

In the meantime, Scheibler said identifying Schultz as a suspect was “good police work.”

“We were grateful for the work by Lt. Ridgeway,” Scheibler said. “Five years later and he sees the case similarities and it piqued his interest so he has the KBI do some follow up.”

“At the time, it was frustrating for him, but he did good work upfront,” said HPD deputy chief Brian Dawson.

The work in 2014 allowed the connection to be made by comparing DNA from both cases with the assistance of the KBI.

“That doesn’t happen a whole lot, but thanks to technology and good police work and good follow-up,” Dawson said.

Scheibler also credited the victim for coming forward.

“(It was) the courage of the victim to go through the examination that allowed us to collect that valuable evidence. Again, we are grateful we are able to hold people accountable for their actions,” Scheibler said.

He said the arrest is a proud moment for the department.

While Schultz has been implicated in the crimes, Drees said it is important to remember arrests do not imply guilt.

“All arrests on all charges are allegations of criminal wrongdoing and the defendant maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law,” Drees said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577132104050.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELLHays PostA Victoria man currently in the Ellis County jail has been identified as a suspect in a rape case dating back to March 2014.Cody Schultz, 32, was arrested on Dec. 20, 2019, on suspicion of aggravated criminal sodomy of a child under 14 and electronic solicitation of a child under 14 for a crime that was alleged to have occurred on Dec. 16, 2019.“The victim reported that she met a young man on social media and agreed to meet him at the park,” the Hays Police Department said at the time. “At the park, the young man reportedly physically restrained the victim and then sexually assaulted her. The suspect then fled the park. The victim ran from the scene with another female and then called the police.”After the arrest, another count alleged electronic solicitation of a child under the age of 14 was added to the charges relating to a September 2019 incident, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.The children, in those cases, were aged 12 and 13, he said.He was formally charged on Jan. 3, 2020, and remained in the Ellis County jail in lieu of a $450,000 bond, Drees said."After he was arrested, Lt. Ridgeway worked the original case in 2014 and saw the similarities and asked the (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) &nbsp;to compare the samples collected and we got a hit on the DNA,” said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.The victim in that case was 18.During a bond hearing on Sept. 22 establishing probable cause for the 2014 case, his bond was increased to $500,000, Dress said.The county attorney has until Sept. 29 to file charges.In the meantime, Scheibler said identifying Schultz as a suspect was “good police work.”“We were grateful for the work by Lt. Ridgeway,” Scheibler said. “Five years later and he sees the case similarities and it piqued his interest so he has the KBI do some follow up.”“At the time, it was frustrating for him, but he did good work upfront,” said HPD deputy chief Brian Dawson.The work in 2014 allowed the connection to be made by comparing DNA from both cases with the assistance of the KBI.“That doesn’t happen a whole lot, but thanks to technology and good police work and good follow-up,” Dawson said.Scheibler also credited the victim for coming forward.“(It was) the courage of the victim to go through the examination that allowed us to collect that valuable evidence. Again, we are grateful we are able to hold people accountable for their actions,” Scheibler said.He said the arrest is a proud moment for the department.While Schultz has been implicated in the crimes, Drees said it is important to remember arrests do not imply guilt.“All arrests on all charges are allegations of criminal wrongdoing and the defendant maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law,” Drees said.

Police: Jailed Kan. man a suspect in 2014 rape

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Norman City Council voted to require that masks be worn indoors at house parties if more than 25 people are present to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the college town — a step that angry residents said would infringe on their rights.

The council voted 5-3 on Tuesday night in favor of the ordinance, which took effect immediately and expires Nov. 30, despite the objections of some locals.

“You can make any law that you want to. You come into my house telling me that I got to wear this stupid thing and you’re going to have a firefight on your hands,” said Josh Danforth, who identified himself as an Iraqi war veteran while holding a mask.

Resident Laura Ashford said the ordinance violates the First, Second and 10th amendments to the Constitution.

“You have no authority to command what I do in my home,” Ashford said. “It’s against my constitutional rights as a citizen of the United States of America.”

Council member Kate Bierman said an increase in coronavirus cases — more than 1,000 reported cases per day statewide for each of the past seven days — and a weekend party attended by up to 400 people at a Norman apartment complex illustrate that residents aren’t heeding recommendations to wear masks.

Violating the ordinance carries a fine of $50-$500 and requires at least three violations before a citation can be issued, said Mayor Breea Clark.

“We’re not going to bust into people’s houses to county and make sure everyone is wearing a mask,” Clark said. “We’re going after the clear violations that apparently we’re having trouble enforcing.”

The council also cited large numbers of unmasked people who attended parties on University of Oklahoma football game days. The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Wednesday reported Wednesday that the state had recorded 80,161 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 970 deaths since the start of the pandemic, which were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2a01ee64ae87fb564fac79dfeae1f694">increases</a>&nbsp;of 1,089 cases and eight deaths from Monday. The agency said there were 12,412 active cases.

Dr. Dale Bratzler of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center said the state had seen a substantial increase in reported cases during the past week, largely in rural counties and in state prisons.

“On Monday of this week when we had 1,100 new cases reported in the state, almost 400 of those came out of a single county, Woodward County which is where they’re seeing this large outbreak in the correctional facility,” Bratzler said.

The Kansas State University football team travels to Norman for an 11a.m. game on Saturday against the University of Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Norman City Council voted to require that masks be worn indoors at house parties if more than 25 people are present to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the college town — a step that angry residents said would infringe on their rights.The council voted 5-3 on Tuesday night in favor of the ordinance, which took effect immediately and expires Nov. 30, despite the objections of some locals.“You can make any law that you want to. You come into my house telling me that I got to wear this stupid thing and you’re going to have a firefight on your hands,” said Josh Danforth, who identified himself as an Iraqi war veteran while holding a mask.Resident Laura Ashford said the ordinance violates the First, Second and 10th amendments to the Constitution.“You have no authority to command what I do in my home,” Ashford said. “It’s against my constitutional rights as a citizen of the United States of America.”Council member Kate Bierman said an increase in coronavirus cases — more than 1,000 reported cases per day statewide for each of the past seven days — and a weekend party attended by up to 400 people at a Norman apartment complex illustrate that residents aren’t heeding recommendations to wear masks.Violating the ordinance carries a fine of $50-$500 and requires at least three violations before a citation can be issued, said Mayor Breea Clark.“We’re not going to bust into people’s houses to county and make sure everyone is wearing a mask,” Clark said. “We’re going after the clear violations that apparently we’re having trouble enforcing.”The council also cited large numbers of unmasked people who attended parties on University of Oklahoma football game days. The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Wednesday reported Wednesday that the state had recorded 80,161 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 970 deaths since the start of the pandemic, which were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2a01ee64ae87fb564fac79dfeae1f694">increases</a>&nbsp;of 1,089 cases and eight deaths from Monday. The agency said there were 12,412 active cases.Dr. Dale Bratzler of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center said the state had seen a substantial increase in reported cases during the past week, largely in rural counties and in state prisons.“On Monday of this week when we had 1,100 new cases reported in the state, almost 400 of those came out of a single county, Woodward County which is where they’re seeing this large outbreak in the correctional facility,” Bratzler said.The Kansas State University football team travels to Norman for an 11a.m. game on Saturday against the University of Oklahoma.

City of Norman expands mask mandate to include private homes

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has been arrested in Missouri for his alleged role in an assault on an Iowa police officer in which the officer fired his gun, according to officials.

Ian James Lybarger, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, was arrested Wednesday night following a police chase that began in Red Oak, Iowa, and ended in northwestern Missouri, the Council Bluffs Police Department said Thursday in a news release.

Lybarger is accused of dragging a Council Bluffs police officer last week for several feet in a parking lot as the officer tried to remove him from his car. During the struggle, Officer John Kuebler fired his service weapon, but didn’t hit anyone.

Lybarger is charged in an Iowa warrant with assaulting a police officer, leaving the scene of an injury accident, operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and theft.

Lybarger is being held 90 minutes north of Kansas City the in Rock Port, Missouri, jail.

At the time of the incident, Lybarger was already wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Omaha for felony theft, police said.

Kuebler remains on administrative leave while the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600896351314.png" alt="Lybarger -photo Council Bluffs Police" />
 <figcaption>Lybarger -photo Council Bluffs Police</figcaption>
 </figure>COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has been arrested in Missouri for his alleged role in an assault on an Iowa police officer in which the officer fired his gun, according to officials.Ian James Lybarger, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, was arrested Wednesday night following a police chase that began in Red Oak, Iowa, and ended in northwestern Missouri, the Council Bluffs Police Department said Thursday in a news release.Lybarger is accused of dragging a Council Bluffs police officer last week for several feet in a parking lot as the officer tried to remove him from his car. During the struggle, Officer John Kuebler fired his service weapon, but didn’t hit anyone.Lybarger is charged in an Iowa warrant with assaulting a police officer, leaving the scene of an injury accident, operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and theft.Lybarger is being held 90 minutes north of Kansas City the in Rock Port, Missouri, jail.At the time of the incident, Lybarger was already wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Omaha for felony theft, police said.Kuebler remains on administrative leave while the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigates.

Man wanted in officer assault arrested near Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ruth-bader-ginsburg">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>&nbsp;on Thursday morning, just two days before he announces his nominee to replace her on the high court.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?476148-1/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-lying-repose-supreme-court&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here</a> to watch

The president and first lady Melania Trump — both wearing masks — stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin, surrounded by white flowers. The death of the liberal-leaning justice has sparked a controversy over the balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election.

Trump has called Ginsburg an “amazing woman,” but some spectators were not happy that he came. Moments after he arrived, booing could be heard from those holding about a block away from the building. The spectators chanted “vote him out and honor her wish " as the president stood near the coffin. 

He walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. As the motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of “Breonna Taylor” from some spectators standing on the sidewalk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600956126039.png" alt="President Trump outside the court Thursday morning -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump outside the court Thursday morning -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ruth-bader-ginsburg">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>&nbsp;on Thursday morning, just two days before he announces his nominee to replace her on the high court.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?476148-1/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-lying-repose-supreme-court&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here</a> to watchThe president and first lady Melania Trump — both wearing masks — stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin, surrounded by white flowers. The death of the liberal-leaning justice has sparked a controversy over the balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600966936348.png" alt="Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin outside the Supreme Court Thursday morning-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin outside the Supreme Court Thursday morning-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump has called Ginsburg an “amazing woman,” but some spectators were not happy that he came. Moments after he arrived, booing could be heard from those holding about a block away from the building. The spectators chanted “vote him out and honor her wish " as the president stood near the coffin. He walked back into the court as the chants grew louder. As the motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of “Breonna Taylor” from some spectators standing on the sidewalk.

Crowd jeers as Trump pays respects at court to Ginsburg

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman in Kansas City has been shot to death inside a home, and a man has been arrested in the case, police said.

The shooting happened around 4 a.m. Thursday in the South Town Fork Creek neighborhood, police said in a news release. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting that a woman had been shot and found the victim with a gunshot wound in the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and her name was not immediately released.

Police said that around the same time officers found the victim, a man called police from another location saying he wanted to turn himself in for the shooting. Police soon took the man into custody and said they are not searching for any other suspects. Police did not immediately release his name.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman in Kansas City has been shot to death inside a home, and a man has been arrested in the case, police said.The shooting happened around 4 a.m. Thursday in the South Town Fork Creek neighborhood, police said in a news release. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting that a woman had been shot and found the victim with a gunshot wound in the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and her name was not immediately released.Police said that around the same time officers found the victim, a man called police from another location saying he wanted to turn himself in for the shooting. Police soon took the man into custody and said they are not searching for any other suspects. Police did not immediately release his name.

Man turns himself in for Kansas City woman's shooting death

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The founder of a Johnson County soccer club was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation for inappropriately touching a juvenile girl who he coached.

Jason Cummins, 37, pleaded guilty in July to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child between the ages of 14 and 16. He will serve 19 months in jail if he violates his probation, his attorney, Scott Toth, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/former-arson-fc-coach-sentenced-to-19-months-for-child-sex-offense">KSHB-TV</a>.

As part of his plea deal, Cummins will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and can have no contact with any children except his own.

Court documents indicate Cummins took the girl to his home in Shawnee and touched her without her consent. He had coached her since she was 9 and was coaching the team she played on at the time.

Cummins founded Arson FC in 2014. He stepped down after he was charged.

Less than a month after he pleaded guilty, the entire coaching staff of the club resigned and started a new club — the Johnson County Soccer Club.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597269232186.png" alt="Cummins-photo Kansas Sex offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Cummins-photo Kansas Sex offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The founder of a Johnson County soccer club was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation for inappropriately touching a juvenile girl who he coached.Jason Cummins, 37, pleaded guilty in July to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child between the ages of 14 and 16. He will serve 19 months in jail if he violates his probation, his attorney, Scott Toth, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/former-arson-fc-coach-sentenced-to-19-months-for-child-sex-offense">KSHB-TV</a>.As part of his plea deal, Cummins will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and can have no contact with any children except his own.Court documents indicate Cummins took the girl to his home in Shawnee and touched her without her consent. He had coached her since she was 9 and was coaching the team she played on at the time.Cummins founded Arson FC in 2014. He stepped down after he was charged.Less than a month after he pleaded guilty, the entire coaching staff of the club resigned and started a new club — the Johnson County Soccer Club.

Kansas soccer club leader sentenced for child sex crime

By JIM MCLEAN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-22/trump-and-the-economy-start-to-define-the-race-for-kansas-u-s-senate-seat">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — It’s little surprise that the candidates for 
Kansas’ open U.S. Senate seat sharply disagree on taxes, trade, 
immigration and climate change. What’s unclear is who voters will most 
agree with in November: Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall or 
Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier.

Bollier, a retired doctor, 
believes Marshall’s down-the-line support of President Donald Trump has 
created an opportunity for her to ride anti-Trump sentiment in the 
state’s population centers to an upset.

But Marshall is betting on
 his support of Trump’s tax cuts, trade tactics and hard-line position 
on immigration to carry the day in a state where the president remains <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/kansas/" target="_blank">relatively popular with voters.</a>
 Summing up his core message at a primary debate, Marshall declared, 
“I’m running to keep standing by this president and to stop the left’s 
socialist agenda” — including “radical” immigration and environmental 
policies.

Bollier, however, said those tax cuts benefited the 
wealthy over middle-class Kansans and that the president’s trade 
policies were “reckless” and punished Kansas farmers. Essentially, 
Bollier said in the first debate of the general election, Marshall is 
voting “the way he is told (by party leaders) rather than what’s best 
for Kansas.”

“We need political leaders in Washington who will 
stop the political bickering, stop attacking one another and just get 
things done,” said Bollier, a moderate former Republican who switched 
parties in 2018.

Marshall,
 a two-term congressman from western Kansas and retired obstetrician 
from Great Bend, claims the federal tax cuts enacted in 2017 spurred the
 pre-COVID-19 U.S. economy to record heights and substantially lowered 
taxes for middle-income Kansans.

“It was the greatest economy of 
my lifetime,” Marshall said in a recent interview with the Kansas News 
Service. “The average Kansas family was keeping $2,000 more of their 
hard-earned money.”

A pro-Marshall campaign ad produced by One Nation, a political action
 committee that doesn’t have to disclose its donors and is connected to 
Republican political operative Karl Rove, praised Marshall for 
supporting tax cuts that it said “will increase average household income
 by $4,000.”

Both that claim and Marshall’s are misleading, according to Frank Sammartino, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan<a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/" target="_blank"> Tax Policy Center.</a>

“There was an increase in people’s after-tax income,” Sammartino said, “but it wasn’t anything like $4,000 across the board.”

The figure used in the ad comes from projections Trump’s<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2019/09/26/475083/trumps-corporate-tax-cut-not-trickling/" target="_blank"> Council of Economic advisers formulated</a>
 to boost support for the legislation as Congress was debating it. A Tax
 Policy Center analysis shows that the cuts reduced federal taxes for 
Kansas families earning between $50,000 and $75,000 by an average of 
$930, and 60% of the benefits went to the wealthiest 20% of Kansans.

Other
 provisions in the tax bill, Marshall said, such as the repeal of the 
Affordable Care Act mandate that required Americans to purchase health 
insurance, added to the savings.

But Bollier pushed back, pointing to the uneven distribution of benefits and the fact that the tax cuts<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2020/01/29/trumps-wasteful-tax-cuts-lead-to-continued-trillion-dollar-deficits-in-expanding-economy/#6e8609d966c4" target="_blank"> “ballooned” the federal budget deficit,</a>

“We need a tax system that is fair to all,” she said.

Democratic
 presidential candidate Joe Biden is proposing to repeal the tax cuts 
for those making more than $400,000 a year. Bollier doesn’t support “a 
full repeal of the Trump tax plan,” spokesperson Alexandra De Luca said.
 Instead, she favors making the middle-class tax cuts permanent and 
closing “loopholes for corporations and the wealthy that are driving up 
our national debt.”

Marshall concedes that the 
tariffs Trump imposed on China hurt Kansas farmers. But, he said, 
producers will benefit in the long run. He believes the get-tough 
tactics resulted in a “stronger” trade deal.

“I was just so 
grateful that Kansas farmers stood beside us and helped get us through 
those trade wars,” Marshall said. “They knew we had to stand up to this 
bully.”

On several occasions, Marshall has said the Phase One deal
 has boosted trade with China by 14%. However, U.S. exports to China 
during the first half of 2020 were down 4.6% compared to the first half 
of 2019 and 16.5% lower than the corresponding period in 2017.

<a href="https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-phase-one-tracker-chinas-purchases-us-goods" target="_blank">And an analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics</a>
 shows China falling far short of the purchasing targets it agreed to. 
For example, it committed to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural
 goods by approximately $37 million in 2020; halfway through the year, 
China had spent only $9.9 billion.

Bollier said that Marshall had 
the chance to stand up for Kansas farmers, but that he “instead chose to
 be a yes man for the president and for these harmful policies.”

But
 Marshall has the support of the Kansas Farm Bureau, an influential 
organization that represents thousands of farmers and ranchers.

“Our
 members like him and they respect him,” said Jackie Brundt, a Pratt 
County farmer who serves on KFB’s endorsement committee. “They’re the 
ones who said ‘Marshall’s our guy.’”

In 2018, Marshall worked on a<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/marshall-touts-progress-agricultural-guest-worker-visa" target="_blank"> bipartisan immigration plan</a>
 that, among other things, would have protected a visa program that 
supplies Kansas farmers with seasonal workers. He also questioned the 
practicality of Trump’s plan to fortify the wall on the U.S.-Mexico 
border.

When those positions led to attacks from rivals in this 
year’s primary race, Marshall pivoted to a more hardline stance on 
immigration. He embraced the wall and accused Bollier of being for “open
 borders and sanctuary cities.”

“She will open the door to all immigrants and they will get a free ride,” he said.

Responding
 during their recent debate, Bollier said Congress’ failure to pass 
comprehensive immigration reform is an example of “how broken Washington
 is.”

If elected, Bollier said, she would work for a bipartisan compromise 
that secures the border and protects “Dreamers who were brought to this 
country through no fault of their own.”

“I will be very supportive of making sure people have a path to citizenship,” she said.

Marshall
 said his efforts to strike a compromise have led him to the 
“disappointing” conclusion that “Democrats do not want to fix this 
situation.”

Marshall
 has said voters can assume that Bollier’s switch to the Democratic 
Party means she supports “radical” proposals such as the<a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez" target="_blank"> Green New Deal</a>, a sweeping plan advocated by more left-leaning Democrats to address climate change.

“The Green New Deal will be the end of Kansas agriculture,” Marshall asserted.

Bollier, however, said she doesn’t support the proposal, telling Marshall to “stop deceiving voters.”

Undeterred, Marshall said Democratic leaders in Washington will “come after her vote and she’s going to give it up.”

<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/senate/kansas/" target="_blank">Polls give Marshall the edge</a> but suggest the race could be the closest U.S. Senate contest in decades. A Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas <a href="https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000447" target="_blank">since the 1930s.</a>

Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities
 and civic life. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur .org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600877514015.png" alt="Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier speaking recently at a recent outdoor rally in Lenexa. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier speaking recently at a recent outdoor rally in Lenexa. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-22/trump-and-the-economy-start-to-define-the-race-for-kansas-u-s-senate-seat">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — It’s little surprise that the candidates for 
Kansas’ open U.S. Senate seat sharply disagree on taxes, trade, 
immigration and climate change. What’s unclear is who voters will most 
agree with in November: Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall or 
Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier.Bollier, a retired doctor, 
believes Marshall’s down-the-line support of President Donald Trump has 
created an opportunity for her to ride anti-Trump sentiment in the 
state’s population centers to an upset.But Marshall is betting on
 his support of Trump’s tax cuts, trade tactics and hard-line position 
on immigration to carry the day in a state where the president remains <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/kansas/" target="_blank">relatively popular with voters.</a>
 Summing up his core message at a primary debate, Marshall declared, 
“I’m running to keep standing by this president and to stop the left’s 
socialist agenda” — including “radical” immigration and environmental 
policies.Bollier, however, said those tax cuts benefited the 
wealthy over middle-class Kansans and that the president’s trade 
policies were “reckless” and punished Kansas farmers. Essentially, 
Bollier said in the first debate of the general election, Marshall is 
voting “the way he is told (by party leaders) rather than what’s best 
for Kansas.”“We need political leaders in Washington who will 
stop the political bickering, stop attacking one another and just get 
things done,” said Bollier, a moderate former Republican who switched 
parties in 2018.<h2>Tax cuts</h2>Marshall,
 a two-term congressman from western Kansas and retired obstetrician 
from Great Bend, claims the federal tax cuts enacted in 2017 spurred the
 pre-COVID-19 U.S. economy to record heights and substantially lowered 
taxes for middle-income Kansans.“It was the greatest economy of 
my lifetime,” Marshall said in a recent interview with the Kansas News 
Service. “The average Kansas family was keeping $2,000 more of their 
hard-earned money.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600877579297.png" alt="The Kansas News Service is a local partner with ProPublica's Electionland collaboration." />
 <figcaption>The Kansas News Service is a local partner with ProPublica's Electionland collaboration.</figcaption>
 </figure>A pro-Marshall campaign ad produced by One Nation, a political action
 committee that doesn’t have to disclose its donors and is connected to 
Republican political operative Karl Rove, praised Marshall for 
supporting tax cuts that it said “will increase average household income
 by $4,000.”Both that claim and Marshall’s are misleading, according to Frank Sammartino, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan<a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/" target="_blank"> Tax Policy Center.</a>“There was an increase in people’s after-tax income,” Sammartino said, “but it wasn’t anything like $4,000 across the board.”The figure used in the ad comes from projections Trump’s<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2019/09/26/475083/trumps-corporate-tax-cut-not-trickling/" target="_blank"> Council of Economic advisers formulated</a>
 to boost support for the legislation as Congress was debating it. A Tax
 Policy Center analysis shows that the cuts reduced federal taxes for 
Kansas families earning between $50,000 and $75,000 by an average of 
$930, and 60% of the benefits went to the wealthiest 20% of Kansans.Other
 provisions in the tax bill, Marshall said, such as the repeal of the 
Affordable Care Act mandate that required Americans to purchase health 
insurance, added to the savings.But Bollier pushed back, pointing to the uneven distribution of benefits and the fact that the tax cuts<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2020/01/29/trumps-wasteful-tax-cuts-lead-to-continued-trillion-dollar-deficits-in-expanding-economy/#6e8609d966c4" target="_blank"> “ballooned” the federal budget deficit,</a>“We need a tax system that is fair to all,” she said.Democratic
 presidential candidate Joe Biden is proposing to repeal the tax cuts 
for those making more than $400,000 a year. Bollier doesn’t support “a 
full repeal of the Trump tax plan,” spokesperson Alexandra De Luca said.
 Instead, she favors making the middle-class tax cuts permanent and 
closing “loopholes for corporations and the wealthy that are driving up 
our national debt.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596593743420.png" alt="Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Trade tactics</h2>Marshall concedes that the 
tariffs Trump imposed on China hurt Kansas farmers. But, he said, 
producers will benefit in the long run. He believes the get-tough 
tactics resulted in a “stronger” trade deal.“I was just so 
grateful that Kansas farmers stood beside us and helped get us through 
those trade wars,” Marshall said. “They knew we had to stand up to this 
bully.”On several occasions, Marshall has said the Phase One deal
 has boosted trade with China by 14%. However, U.S. exports to China 
during the first half of 2020 were down 4.6% compared to the first half 
of 2019 and 16.5% lower than the corresponding period in 2017.<a href="https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-phase-one-tracker-chinas-purchases-us-goods" target="_blank">And an analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics</a>
 shows China falling far short of the purchasing targets it agreed to. 
For example, it committed to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural
 goods by approximately $37 million in 2020; halfway through the year, 
China had spent only $9.9 billion.Bollier said that Marshall had 
the chance to stand up for Kansas farmers, but that he “instead chose to
 be a yes man for the president and for these harmful policies.”But
 Marshall has the support of the Kansas Farm Bureau, an influential 
organization that represents thousands of farmers and ranchers.“Our
 members like him and they respect him,” said Jackie Brundt, a Pratt 
County farmer who serves on KFB’s endorsement committee. “They’re the 
ones who said ‘Marshall’s our guy.’”<h2>Immigration</h2>In 2018, Marshall worked on a<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/marshall-touts-progress-agricultural-guest-worker-visa" target="_blank"> bipartisan immigration plan</a>
 that, among other things, would have protected a visa program that 
supplies Kansas farmers with seasonal workers. He also questioned the 
practicality of Trump’s plan to fortify the wall on the U.S.-Mexico 
border.When those positions led to attacks from rivals in this 
year’s primary race, Marshall pivoted to a more hardline stance on 
immigration. He embraced the wall and accused Bollier of being for “open
 borders and sanctuary cities.”“She will open the door to all immigrants and they will get a free ride,” he said.Responding
 during their recent debate, Bollier said Congress’ failure to pass 
comprehensive immigration reform is an example of “how broken Washington
 is.”If elected, Bollier said, she would work for a bipartisan compromise 
that secures the border and protects “Dreamers who were brought to this 
country through no fault of their own.”“I will be very supportive of making sure people have a path to citizenship,” she said.Marshall
 said his efforts to strike a compromise have led him to the 
“disappointing” conclusion that “Democrats do not want to fix this 
situation.”<h2>Climate change</h2>Marshall
 has said voters can assume that Bollier’s switch to the Democratic 
Party means she supports “radical” proposals such as the<a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez" target="_blank"> Green New Deal</a>, a sweeping plan advocated by more left-leaning Democrats to address climate change.“The Green New Deal will be the end of Kansas agriculture,” Marshall asserted.Bollier, however, said she doesn’t support the proposal, telling Marshall to “stop deceiving voters.”Undeterred, Marshall said Democratic leaders in Washington will “come after her vote and she’s going to give it up.”<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/senate/kansas/" target="_blank">Polls give Marshall the edge</a> but suggest the race could be the closest U.S. Senate contest in decades. A Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas <a href="https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000447" target="_blank">since the 1930s.</a>Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities
 and civic life. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur .org.

Trump, the economy start to define Kan. U.S. Senate race

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas set another record Wednesday for its biggest seven-day spike in new confirmed coronavirus cases, and the state’s top public health official said it’s a sign that the state is seeing community spread of the virus even in “frontier” counties.

The state health department reported 1,267 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, an increase of 2.3%, to bring the total to 55,226. The average number of new cases per day was 622 for the seven days ending Wednesday, surpassing the previous record average of 615 for the first seven days of September.

The state also reported another 21 deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total for the pandemic to 621. Nine of those deaths occurred before this week and were added to the total after a regular review of death certificates.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, acknowledged that the number of deaths as a total of positive cases has hovered around 1.1%. He said hospitals aren’t overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, largely because a higher percentage of younger people are getting infected. The median age of Kansas residents testing is 35, having dropped steadily since the end of March.

But Norman said during a Statehouse news conference that a “worrisome concern” is that the state anticipates that cases will continue to rise, and “1.1% of an ever-enlarging number is an ever-enlarging number.”

“We’re getting more widespread community spread statewide,” Norman said. “It’s not as just located in packing plants, nursing homes and the like, and so it’s becoming more community spread in rural and frontier counties.”

Kansas has no statewide mandate for people to wear masks in public because of a pandemic-management law enacted in June as a compromise between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature. The law has left decisions about restrictions on businesses and public gatherings and when K-12 schools should resume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2b5daf37e0f9a8d4f4b108d53a6139fb">to local officials.&nbsp;</a>GOP lawmakers recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9436c3901c2eaaf3ae46d1763804bed9">extracted a public promise</a>&nbsp;from Kelly that she won’t seek to close businesses statewide again, as she did in the spring.

During the past two weeks, the biggest increases in reported cases per 1,000 residents have been in rural central or western Kansas counties. Cheyenne County in the state’s far northwestern corner is in the lead with nearly 17 new cases per 1,000 residents, having seen its total case count jump from nine to 54, according to the state health department.

Four of the top five counties for total cases per 1,000 residents also are in central or western Kansas, led by Ford County in southwestern Kansas, with nearly 82 reported cases per 1,000 residents for the pandemic.

“It’s more widespread — urban, surburban, rural, frontier — and those are contributing to the overall numbers in an unfortunate way,” Norman said. “There’s a lot more young people that are getting infected in schools and colleges and universities and sports.”

Meanwhile, the University of Kansas Medical Center is part of a nationwide clinical trial looking into different treatments for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of the coronavirus who do not require hospitalization.

The first treatment will involve a drug made by Eli Lilly and the use of engineered versions of the same virus-fighting antibodies that the body naturally produces, KCUR-FM reported. The clinical trial is one of at least 40 around the country.

KU Medical Center’s lead investigator, Dr. Mario Castro, said the trial will allow for the introduction of multiple agents to combat COVID-19 as they become available.

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

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas set another record Wednesday for its biggest seven-day spike in new confirmed coronavirus cases, and the state’s top public health official said it’s a sign that the state is seeing community spread of the virus even in “frontier” counties.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F764889104292142%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>The state health department reported 1,267 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, an increase of 2.3%, to bring the total to 55,226. The average number of new cases per day was 622 for the seven days ending Wednesday, surpassing the previous record average of 615 for the first seven days of September.The state also reported another 21 deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total for the pandemic to 621. Nine of those deaths occurred before this week and were added to the total after a regular review of death certificates.Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, acknowledged that the number of deaths as a total of positive cases has hovered around 1.1%. He said hospitals aren’t overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, largely because a higher percentage of younger people are getting infected. The median age of Kansas residents testing is 35, having dropped steadily since the end of March.But Norman said during a Statehouse news conference that a “worrisome concern” is that the state anticipates that cases will continue to rise, and “1.1% of an ever-enlarging number is an ever-enlarging number.”“We’re getting more widespread community spread statewide,” Norman said. “It’s not as just located in packing plants, nursing homes and the like, and so it’s becoming more community spread in rural and frontier counties.”Kansas has no statewide mandate for people to wear masks in public because of a pandemic-management law enacted in June as a compromise between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature. The law has left decisions about restrictions on businesses and public gatherings and when K-12 schools should resume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2b5daf37e0f9a8d4f4b108d53a6139fb">to local officials.&nbsp;</a>GOP lawmakers recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9436c3901c2eaaf3ae46d1763804bed9">extracted a public promise</a>&nbsp;from Kelly that she won’t seek to close businesses statewide again, as she did in the spring.During the past two weeks, the biggest increases in reported cases per 1,000 residents have been in rural central or western Kansas counties. Cheyenne County in the state’s far northwestern corner is in the lead with nearly 17 new cases per 1,000 residents, having seen its total case count jump from nine to 54, according to the state health department.Four of the top five counties for total cases per 1,000 residents also are in central or western Kansas, led by Ford County in southwestern Kansas, with nearly 82 reported cases per 1,000 residents for the pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600881352224.png" alt="Wednesday Sept. 23, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Sept. 23, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s more widespread — urban, surburban, rural, frontier — and those are contributing to the overall numbers in an unfortunate way,” Norman said. “There’s a lot more young people that are getting infected in schools and colleges and universities and sports.”Meanwhile, the University of Kansas Medical Center is part of a nationwide clinical trial looking into different treatments for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of the coronavirus who do not require hospitalization.The first treatment will involve a drug made by Eli Lilly and the use of engineered versions of the same virus-fighting antibodies that the body naturally produces, KCUR-FM reported. The clinical trial is one of at least 40 around the country.KU Medical Center’s lead investigator, Dr. Mario Castro, said the trial will allow for the introduction of multiple agents to combat COVID-19 as they become available.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.

🎥  Even ‘frontier’ counties hit in Kansas’ new COVID-19 spike

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 200 federal agents assigned to the anti-crime task force known as Operation Legend have left Kansas City, authorities announced Wednesday.

Kansas City was the first city where agents from several federal law enforcement agencies were sent to work with local law enforcement to combat violent crime, and the effort was later expanded to eight other U.S. cities.

Operation Legend was named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept in Kansas City in June. President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0950ff59635979d7d2d2d3479f4d9c58">nationwide crackdown&nbsp;</a>on violent crime was needed to reduce spiking crime rates in the nine cities.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison in Kansas City said in a statement Wednesday that Operation Legend was always meant to be a short-term operation. But he said strategies implemented under the program will remain.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that creating a safer community also requires prevention, intervention, and clearance of cases, and as long as children are being killed and the city approaches record homicide numbers, “we have far, far more work to do.”

Garrison and city officials plan a news conference Monday to discuss the impact of Operation Legend and the next steps in combating violent crime

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597859601606.png" alt="Attorney General William Barr discussed Operation Legend during an August news conference in Kansas City-photo U.S. Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General William Barr discussed Operation Legend during an August news conference in Kansas City-photo U.S. Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 200 federal agents assigned to the anti-crime task force known as Operation Legend have left Kansas City, authorities announced Wednesday.Kansas City was the first city where agents from several federal law enforcement agencies were sent to work with local law enforcement to combat violent crime, and the effort was later expanded to eight other U.S. cities.Operation Legend was named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept in Kansas City in June. President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0950ff59635979d7d2d2d3479f4d9c58">nationwide crackdown&nbsp;</a>on violent crime was needed to reduce spiking crime rates in the nine cities.U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison in Kansas City said in a statement Wednesday that Operation Legend was always meant to be a short-term operation. But he said strategies implemented under the program will remain.Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that creating a safer community also requires prevention, intervention, and clearance of cases, and as long as children are being killed and the city approaches record homicide numbers, “we have far, far more work to do.”Garrison and city officials plan a news conference Monday to discuss the impact of Operation Legend and the next steps in combating violent crime

All federal agents from Operation Legend leave Kansas City

NORTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Norton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Malibu driven by Trenton Jacob&nbsp;Brinkman, 25, Norton, was eastbound on U.S. 36 four miles east of Norton.

The driver turned onto Kansas Highway 67 in front of a westbound 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Tucker Levi Johnson, 31, Billings, Montana.

EMS transported Brinkman to Norton County Hospital where he died.&nbsp; Johnson was not injured. Brinkman was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NORTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Norton County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Malibu driven by Trenton Jacob&nbsp;Brinkman, 25, Norton, was eastbound on U.S. 36 four miles east of Norton.The driver turned onto Kansas Highway 67 in front of a westbound 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Tucker Levi Johnson, 31, Billings, Montana.EMS transported Brinkman to Norton County Hospital where he died.&nbsp; Johnson was not injured. Brinkman was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after crash with a semi

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Hours after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for Breonna Taylor’s death and protesters took to the streets, authorities said two officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night during the demonstrations expressing anger over the killings of Black people at the hands of police.

Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was in custody but did not offer details about whether that person was participating in the demonstrations. He says both officers are expected to recover, and one is undergoing surgery.

He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd.

Several shots rang out as protesters in downtown Louisville tried to avoid police blockades, moving down an alleyway as officers lobbed pepper balls, according to an Associated Press journalist. People covered their ears, ran away and frantically looked for places to hide. Police with long guns swarmed the area, then officers in riot gear and military-style vehicles blocked off roadways.

The violence comes after prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, a Black woman, were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s with people inside.

The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylor’s home on March 13.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylor’s family, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” immediately marched through the streets.

Scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square that’s been at the center of protests, but it had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Dozens of patrol cars blocked the city’s major thoroughfare.

Demonstrators also marched in cities like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/655e8cc0c3d0e1b5fed66d51771814e6">New York</a>, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.

Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for nationwide protests that have drawn attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/21a1095fe4da9f6e54cd7661de0ae041">prominent African American celebrities</a>&nbsp;joined those urging that the officers be charged.

The announcement drew sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.

Morgan Julianna Lee, a high school student in Charlotte, North Carolina, watched the announcement at home.

“It’s almost like a slap in the face,” the 15-year-old said by phone. “If I, as a Black woman, ever need justice, I will never get it.”

Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. He also urged Cameron, the state attorney general, to post online all the evidence that could be released without affecting the charges filed.

“Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more,” he said.

The case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0de8765e676adc953416f4dd0b3ea663">exposed the wide gulf&nbsp;</a>between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.

At a news conference, Cameron spoke to that disconnect: “Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief.”

“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. ... My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a2a2d2819d0c45b8f177ce3a94f18159">he added, choking up</a>.

But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no knock,” according to the investigation. The city has since banned such warrants.

“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”

Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor.

Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming in and fired in self-defense.

<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron, who is a Republican, is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.

At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron, saying “justice is not often easy.” He later tweeted that he was “praying for the two police officers that were shot.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600943943691.png" alt="Despite a 9p.m. curfew protesters ran the streets in Louisville -photo courtesy WLKY TV" />
 <figcaption>Despite a 9p.m. curfew protesters ran the streets in Louisville -photo courtesy WLKY TV</figcaption>
 </figure>LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Hours after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for Breonna Taylor’s death and protesters took to the streets, authorities said two officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night during the demonstrations expressing anger over the killings of Black people at the hands of police.Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was in custody but did not offer details about whether that person was participating in the demonstrations. He says both officers are expected to recover, and one is undergoing surgery.He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FBI Louisville and <a href="https://twitter.com/LMPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LMPD</a> are seeking the public&#39;s help regarding the shooting of LMPD officers on 09/23/2020. Anyone with pictures or videos of the incident is asked to provide those files using <a href="https://t.co/6PCitiZl9J">https://t.co/6PCitiZl9J</a>.&mdash; FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBILouisville/status/1309001596894949376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Several shots rang out as protesters in downtown Louisville tried to avoid police blockades, moving down an alleyway as officers lobbed pepper balls, according to an Associated Press journalist. People covered their ears, ran away and frantically looked for places to hide. Police with long guns swarmed the area, then officers in riot gear and military-style vehicles blocked off roadways.The violence comes after prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, a Black woman, were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s with people inside.The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylor’s home on March 13.Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylor’s family, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” immediately marched through the streets.Scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square that’s been at the center of protests, but it had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Dozens of patrol cars blocked the city’s major thoroughfare.Demonstrators also marched in cities like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/655e8cc0c3d0e1b5fed66d51771814e6">New York</a>, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia.Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for nationwide protests that have drawn attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/21a1095fe4da9f6e54cd7661de0ae041">prominent African American celebrities</a>&nbsp;joined those urging that the officers be charged.The announcement drew sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.Morgan Julianna Lee, a high school student in Charlotte, North Carolina, watched the announcement at home.“It’s almost like a slap in the face,” the 15-year-old said by phone. “If I, as a Black woman, ever need justice, I will never get it.”Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. He also urged Cameron, the state attorney general, to post online all the evidence that could be released without affecting the charges filed.“Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more,” he said.The case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0de8765e676adc953416f4dd0b3ea663">exposed the wide gulf&nbsp;</a>between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.At a news conference, Cameron spoke to that disconnect: “Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief.”“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. ... My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a2a2d2819d0c45b8f177ce3a94f18159">he added, choking up</a>.But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no knock,” according to the investigation. The city has since banned such warrants.“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor.Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming in and fired in self-defense.<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron, who is a Republican, is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron, saying “justice is not often easy.” He later tweeted that he was “praying for the two police officers that were shot.”Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, are calling for policing reform.Biden says that while a federal investigation continues, “we do not need to wait for the final judgment of that investigation to do more to deliver justice for Breonna.” He said the country should start by addressing excessive force, banning chokeholds and overhauling no-knock warrants.“We must never stop speaking Breonna’s name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants,” Harris said on Twitter.Hankison was fired on June 23. A termination letter sent by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said he had violated procedures by showing “extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” fired his weapon.Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed administrative reassignment.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42df1f3ebea59ff20a309b8fe04619df">the city settled a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>against the three officers brought by Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.-----------LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600894701581.png" alt="Protesters in the streets of Louisville following Wednesday's announcement photo courtesy WLKY TV" />
 <figcaption>Protesters in the streets of Louisville following Wednesday's announcement photo courtesy WLKY TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor’s neighbors’ homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.The Taylor family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” began marching through the streets. Some sat quietly and wept.Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May — drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities.The charges drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.Right after the decision, protesters brought cases of water to “Injustice Square,” the Louisville park where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c5fe70b4a8eaded10dbcd9bcaa7224b1">people have gathered to demand justice for Taylor</a>. Some began preparing food.Later, police in the city cordoned off a street with yellow tape, telling protesters to move back, and officers in protective gear could be seen handcuffing some people.“Justice has NOT been served,” tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case.Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville’s Metro Council.The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans, and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor working police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.At a news conference, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke to that disconnect.“Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief,” Cameron told reporters after the charges were announced.“But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. And I’ve said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,” he added, choking up.But Cameron, who is the state’s first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no-knock,” according to the investigation.“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/586fb78d7d8af713fb3f496864257a9f">prosecutors later dropped the charge</a>.Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.Regarding the disappointment of those who wanted criminal charges brought in Taylor’s death, he remarked, “The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms. Taylor’s life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally yes.”A Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d91fa6a9f2d6c8adca5f81b8fd03d55b">Cameron is a protégé&nbsp;</a>of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump’s list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.Asked about the decision at a White House event, Trump said he hadn’t had time to consider it yet but would comment when he had. He added: “My message is that I love the Black community, and that I’ve done more for the Black community than any other president, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.”Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, told reporters in Washington that she also hadn’t fully read the decision.“But there’s no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserved justice yesterday, today and tomorrow so I’ll review it,” she said.Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city’s police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing “extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor’s apartment in March.Hankison had previously been placed on administrative reassignment, as were Sgt. Johnathan Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes.On Sept. 15,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42df1f3ebea59ff20a309b8fe04619df">the city settled a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>against the three officers brought by Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. The release in late May of a 911 call by Taylor’s boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fueled by her shooting and the killing of Floyd while at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25.Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyoncé have joined those urging that the officers be charged.___