TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins spent $400,000 in taxpayer-funded communications during a six-month period amid a Republican primary challenge — nearly twice the total spent by the state’s other three representatives, a new federal report shows.

Watkins, who was narrowly elected in 2018 with President Donald Trump’s backing, is running against State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Topeka attorney Dennis Taylor in the Aug. 4 primary for the 2nd District seat.

Watkins’ congressional office allocated at least $400,000 for printing and mailing of correspondence, as well as for online and broadcast messaging from Oct. 1 to March 31, according to quarterly financial reports submitted to the U.S. House’s administration committee.NT

The Topeka Capital Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200607/kansas-rep-watkins-rings-up-400000-in-taxpayer-funded-communications-in-six-months" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;that U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat, spent $33,000 on franking communications during the six-month period. U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican serving the 4th District, reported $100,000 for franking, while U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, the 1st District Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts, filed reports showing $75,000 in franking costs.

Watkins spokesman Dylan Jones has said Watkins prioritized the goal of keeping constituents informed. He said that connection was “a vital component to effective representation and leadership.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591476738251.png" alt="Photo courtesy Rep. Steve Watkins" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Rep. Steve Watkins</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins spent $400,000 in taxpayer-funded communications during a six-month period amid a Republican primary challenge — nearly twice the total spent by the state’s other three representatives, a new federal report shows.Watkins, who was narrowly elected in 2018 with President Donald Trump’s backing, is running against State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Topeka attorney Dennis Taylor in the Aug. 4 primary for the 2nd District seat.Watkins’ congressional office allocated at least $400,000 for printing and mailing of correspondence, as well as for online and broadcast messaging from Oct. 1 to March 31, according to quarterly financial reports submitted to the U.S. House’s administration committee.NTThe Topeka Capital Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200607/kansas-rep-watkins-rings-up-400000-in-taxpayer-funded-communications-in-six-months" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;that U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat, spent $33,000 on franking communications during the six-month period. U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican serving the 4th District, reported $100,000 for franking, while U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, the 1st District Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts, filed reports showing $75,000 in franking costs.Watkins spokesman Dylan Jones has said Watkins prioritized the goal of keeping constituents informed. He said that connection was “a vital component to effective representation and leadership.”

Kan. congressman spent $400K in taxpayer-funded mailing, messaging

Editor's note: The original story indicated the Jeep struck the camper based <a href="https://www.kansas.gov/khp-crashlogs/search/viewDetail/2020-006882">on incorrect information from the KHP.</a> The corrected version of the story is posted below.&nbsp;

WALLACE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Wallace County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by&nbsp; Jenny L&nbsp;McClelland, 32, Colby, was eastbound on U.S. 40 seven miles east of Kansas 27.

&nbsp;The strong winds blew a westbound bumper-pull camper being transported&nbsp; behind a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by Cory J. Chick, 40, Durango, Colorado, onto the Jeep, according to Trooper Tod Hileman.

McClelland was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Bateman Funeral Home. Chick, an adult and 2 children in the Silverado were not injured. 

McClelland was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

&nbsp;The Jeep collided with a westbound bumper-pull camper that was being transported&nbsp; behind a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by Cory J. Chick, 40, Durango, Colorado.

The Jeep came to a rest in a pasture on the north side of roadway.

McClelland was pronounced dead at the scene and transported Bateman Funeral Home. Chick, an adult and 2 children in the Silverado were not injured. McClelland was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Editor's note: The original story indicated the Jeep struck the camper based <a href="https://www.kansas.gov/khp-crashlogs/search/viewDetail/2020-006882">on incorrect information from the KHP.</a> The corrected version of the story is posted below.&nbsp;WALLACE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Wallace County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by&nbsp; Jenny L&nbsp;McClelland, 32, Colby, was eastbound on U.S. 40 seven miles east of Kansas 27.&nbsp;The strong winds blew a westbound bumper-pull camper being transported&nbsp; behind a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by Cory J. Chick, 40, Durango, Colorado, onto the Jeep, according to Trooper Tod Hileman.McClelland was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Bateman Funeral Home. Chick, an adult and 2 children in the Silverado were not injured. McClelland was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.--------WALLACE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Wallace County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by&nbsp; Jenny L&nbsp;McClelland, 32, Colby, was eastbound on U.S. 40 seven miles east of Kansas 27.&nbsp;The Jeep collided with a westbound bumper-pull camper that was being transported&nbsp; behind a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by Cory J. Chick, 40, Durango, Colorado.The Jeep came to a rest in a pasture on the north side of roadway.McClelland was pronounced dead at the scene and transported Bateman Funeral Home. Chick, an adult and 2 children in the Silverado were not injured. McClelland was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Update: Kan. woman dies after bumper-pull camper blown onto Jeep

WICHITA – A Kansas man has been sentenced for trafficking an underage girl in Wichita.

On June 5, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced James Sexton, 27, of Wichita, to 144 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

In February, Sexton was convicted of commercial sexual exploitation of a child.

In August of 2018, members of the Exploited and Missing Child Unit in Wichita were on special assignment targeting online escort ads in an attempt to recover juvenile victims of sex trafficking. An undercover officer called a phone number on one of the ads and set up a meeting at a hotel in northwest Wichita. Police observed a 15-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman walk into the hotel. 

The teenager was a runaway from another county.

After an exchange of money, detectives arrested Sexton, the man who drove them to the location.

The 22-year-old suspect, Kelly Holt of Wichita, was convicted of aggravated endangerment of a child and unlawful use of a communication facility. She is awaiting sentencing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591719628440.png" alt="Sexton booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Sexton booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A Kansas man has been sentenced for trafficking an underage girl in Wichita.On June 5, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced James Sexton, 27, of Wichita, to 144 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.In February, Sexton was convicted of commercial sexual exploitation of a child.In August of 2018, members of the Exploited and Missing Child Unit in Wichita were on special assignment targeting online escort ads in an attempt to recover juvenile victims of sex trafficking. An undercover officer called a phone number on one of the ads and set up a meeting at a hotel in northwest Wichita. Police observed a 15-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman walk into the hotel. The teenager was a runaway from another county.After an exchange of money, detectives arrested Sexton, the man who drove them to the location.The 22-year-old suspect, Kelly Holt of Wichita, was convicted of aggravated endangerment of a child and unlawful use of a communication facility. She is awaiting sentencing.

Kansas man advertised 15-year-old for sex in online ads

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will offer voluntary buyout packages to some faculty members as it grapples with financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor Douglas Girod has said the university faces a budget shortfall of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/96e7e3cfef7e6d0041dfe3c908fd4389">at least $120</a>&nbsp;million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 due to virus-related shutdowns.

Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a Monday message to faculty and staff members that eligible employees must be age 62 or older and meet other requirements.

“This was not an easy decision, however, it is one that will help enable the university to plan and forecast its continued capacity to provide high-quality educational experiences and exceptional research on our Lawrence and Edwards campuses long into the future,” Bichelmeyer said.

Applicants accepted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $100,000 or their fiscal year 2021 budgeted base salary, whichever is lower. They must retire by Dec. 31 and would not be eligible for rehire at the university for 12 months.

Between 500 and 600 faculty and staff are likely eligible for the program, said university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will offer voluntary buyout packages to some faculty members as it grapples with financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic.Chancellor Douglas Girod has said the university faces a budget shortfall of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/96e7e3cfef7e6d0041dfe3c908fd4389">at least $120</a>&nbsp;million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 due to virus-related shutdowns.Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a Monday message to faculty and staff members that eligible employees must be age 62 or older and meet other requirements.“This was not an easy decision, however, it is one that will help enable the university to plan and forecast its continued capacity to provide high-quality educational experiences and exceptional research on our Lawrence and Edwards campuses long into the future,” Bichelmeyer said.Applicants accepted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $100,000 or their fiscal year 2021 budgeted base salary, whichever is lower. They must retire by Dec. 31 and would not be eligible for rehire at the university for 12 months.Between 500 and 600 faculty and staff are likely eligible for the program, said university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.

University of Kansas offers buyouts amid pandemic losses

TOPEKA–The KDHE confirmed the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Lansing Correctional Facility is contained. As a result, the Guardsmen who have supported logistics, food and medical services at the facility concluded their mission on June 4.

“The Kansas National Guard is full of highly trained, professional public servants who are ready at a moment’s notice to serve their fellow Kansans,”&nbsp;Secretary Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.

“We were extremely impressed with their willingness and ability to adapt to their new surroundings and face each task with strength and dignity. On behalf of the department, I want to sincerely thank them for their work.”

The first four Kansas National Guard members arrived at Lansing on April 15 and grew to more than 40 in support of LCF’s COVID-19 response. The Guardsmen were instrumental in monitoring residents for symptoms, carrying out mass testing for the virus and conducting twice-daily health checks. Additional members also provided support in food service, as residents who normally prepare meals were unable to do so while they were quarantined and assisted with the move to the new buildings at the reconstructed facility. Their contributions allowed Lansing employees to remain focused on safety and security tasks with confidence that these services were continuing.

KDHE began assisting KDOC with their COVID-19 preparations in early March and when the situation at LCF escalated, they dedicated a full-time staff member to assist with ensuring the health and safety of the residents. As the agency moves into a new phase of response, the two agencies will continue to partner to determine what additional steps may need to be taken in the future.

“Secretary Lee Norman and Phil Griffin, Director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at KDHE, have been amazing partners to our agency,” Zmuda said. “They have brought the health expertise that we needed to make sure that our staff received the most up-to-date information on the virus and how to keep the men, women and youth in our care safe.”

With the virus contained, residents, staff and contractors at the facility are moving forward with the resumption of many activities. This includes residents returning to their jobs in food service, laundry and maintenance activities as well as essential private industry jobs. In addition, the contracted medical provider will continue providing all services under the terms of their contract. Activities that expose residents to the community, including visitation, volunteers, mentors, and non-essential private industry jobs will not be resumed at this time.

“While we are resuming many activities, we fully recognize that this virus will still be present for the foreseeable future, so we plan to maintain the mitigation strategies that have been implemented at each of our facilities,” Zmuda said. “This resumption of activities is a first step to normalizing operations at Lansing, but one we will do with an abundance of caution and care.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591738839534.png" alt="Kansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are assisting at Lansing Correctional Facility on May 5 supplementing kitchen staff by preparing sack lunches for distribution to residents throughout the facility- photo courtesy Kansas National Guard" />
 <figcaption>Kansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are assisting at Lansing Correctional Facility on May 5 supplementing kitchen staff by preparing sack lunches for distribution to residents throughout the facility- photo courtesy Kansas National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA–The KDHE confirmed the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at Lansing Correctional Facility is contained. As a result, the Guardsmen who have supported logistics, food and medical services at the facility concluded their mission on June 4.“The Kansas National Guard is full of highly trained, professional public servants who are ready at a moment’s notice to serve their fellow Kansans,”&nbsp;Secretary Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.“We were extremely impressed with their willingness and ability to adapt to their new surroundings and face each task with strength and dignity. On behalf of the department, I want to sincerely thank them for their work.”The first four Kansas National Guard members arrived at Lansing on April 15 and grew to more than 40 in support of LCF’s COVID-19 response. The Guardsmen were instrumental in monitoring residents for symptoms, carrying out mass testing for the virus and conducting twice-daily health checks. Additional members also provided support in food service, as residents who normally prepare meals were unable to do so while they were quarantined and assisted with the move to the new buildings at the reconstructed facility. Their contributions allowed Lansing employees to remain focused on safety and security tasks with confidence that these services were continuing.KDHE began assisting KDOC with their COVID-19 preparations in early March and when the situation at LCF escalated, they dedicated a full-time staff member to assist with ensuring the health and safety of the residents. As the agency moves into a new phase of response, the two agencies will continue to partner to determine what additional steps may need to be taken in the future.“Secretary Lee Norman and Phil Griffin, Director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at KDHE, have been amazing partners to our agency,” Zmuda said. “They have brought the health expertise that we needed to make sure that our staff received the most up-to-date information on the virus and how to keep the men, women and youth in our care safe.”With the virus contained, residents, staff and contractors at the facility are moving forward with the resumption of many activities. This includes residents returning to their jobs in food service, laundry and maintenance activities as well as essential private industry jobs. In addition, the contracted medical provider will continue providing all services under the terms of their contract. Activities that expose residents to the community, including visitation, volunteers, mentors, and non-essential private industry jobs will not be resumed at this time.“While we are resuming many activities, we fully recognize that this virus will still be present for the foreseeable future, so we plan to maintain the mitigation strategies that have been implemented at each of our facilities,” Zmuda said. “This resumption of activities is a first step to normalizing operations at Lansing, but one we will do with an abundance of caution and care.”

KDHE: Coronavirus outbreak at Kansas prison is contained

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A trial date has been set for a couple that has been charged in a check-kiting scheme that allegedly cost banks millions of dollars.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/05/31/indictment-plainville-couple-stole-millions-in-check-kiting-scheme-2/" target="_blank">Tyler Gillum and his wife, Camden Gillum, were charged in May 2019 in federal court with carrying out a check-kiting scheme</a>.

Ranchers who sold cattle at two sales at the now-bankrupt Plainville Livestock Commission waited almost 10 months for payment while the financial fallout from the company's bankruptcy was sorted out.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5de67bc1897d147ad4bb1dfd">SEE RELATED STORY: Cattlemen paid in full in Plainville Livestock case; bank also ordered to pay $1.3 M</a>

The couple's trial has been set for Oct. 21. in federal court. The deadline for pretrial motions for the defense has been set for June 15. The deadline for the government to answer has been set for July 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575404210576.jpeg" alt="Former Plainville Livestock Commission building in Plainville. File photo" />
 <figcaption>Former Plainville Livestock Commission building in Plainville. File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA trial date has been set for a couple that has been charged in a check-kiting scheme that allegedly cost banks millions of dollars.<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/05/31/indictment-plainville-couple-stole-millions-in-check-kiting-scheme-2/" target="_blank">Tyler Gillum and his wife, Camden Gillum, were charged in May 2019 in federal court with carrying out a check-kiting scheme</a>.Ranchers who sold cattle at two sales at the now-bankrupt Plainville Livestock Commission waited almost 10 months for payment while the financial fallout from the company's bankruptcy was sorted out.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5de67bc1897d147ad4bb1dfd">SEE RELATED STORY: Cattlemen paid in full in Plainville Livestock case; bank also ordered to pay $1.3 M</a>The couple's trial has been set for Oct. 21. in federal court. The deadline for pretrial motions for the defense has been set for June 15. The deadline for the government to answer has been set for July 15.

Trial date set in Plainville Livestock check-kiting case

The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to locating missing 23-year-old Savanah Schneider of Wichita. The KBI issued a statewide endangered persons advisory for her last week.

The investigation led to a search Tuesday of an area south of Haysville after it was learned Schneider’s cell phone last pinged in the Haysville area, according to officer Charley Davidson.

WPD detectives, Sedgwick County Sheriff Detectives, WPD mounted unit, cadaver K9’s, and article search K9’s searched the area.

Schneider was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo.&nbsp; She is described as 5-foot-8”, 110pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.

Police and family are concerned for her and need help locating her.&nbsp; If you have any information on this case or Schneider’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide endangered persons advisory for a missing Wichita woman.

The whereabouts of Savanah Schneider, 23, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.

She was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo in Wichita.

She is described as 5-foot-8, 110 pounds., with blue eyes and blonde hair. Savanah has an intellectual disability, and WPD is concerned for her welfare.

If you know the whereabouts of Savanah or see her, please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591791485996.png" alt="Savanah Schneider -photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Savanah Schneider -photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to locating missing 23-year-old Savanah Schneider of Wichita. The KBI issued a statewide endangered persons advisory for her last week.The investigation led to a search Tuesday of an area south of Haysville after it was learned Schneider’s cell phone last pinged in the Haysville area, according to officer Charley Davidson.WPD detectives, Sedgwick County Sheriff Detectives, WPD mounted unit, cadaver K9’s, and article search K9’s searched the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591390996010.png" alt="Savanah Schneider" />
 <figcaption>Savanah Schneider</figcaption>
 </figure>Schneider was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo.&nbsp; She is described as 5-foot-8”, 110pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.Police and family are concerned for her and need help locating her.&nbsp; If you have any information on this case or Schneider’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.----------SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide endangered persons advisory for a missing Wichita woman.The whereabouts of Savanah Schneider, 23, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.She was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo in Wichita.She is described as 5-foot-8, 110 pounds., with blue eyes and blonde hair. Savanah has an intellectual disability, and WPD is concerned for her welfare.If you know the whereabouts of Savanah or see her, please call 911 immediately.

Police offer reward to help locate missing Kansas woman

Criminals are seizing on a surge in job losses to steal unemployment benefits from Americans nationwide. This complicates an already tough situation for millions of financially strapped Americans and overwhelmed state unemployment offices.

While there’s no exact measure of how many fraudulent claims have been made, states from Washington to Maine say they’ve seen an increase and numerous federal agencies are working to fight it.

“About 10% of (unemployment insurance) payments are improper under the best of times, and we are in the worst of times,” Scott Dahl, the inspector general for the U.S. Labor Department, told the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. Dahl estimated that at least $26 billion in benefits could be wasted, with the bulk of that going to fraudsters.

This forces unemployed workers, already reeling from the loss of a job, to fight for the benefits they need and are entitled to.

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of these people and when they will get this resolved and get the money they need to live on,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, which has seen a sharp jump in calls for help with unemployment fraud.

Since mid-March, 42.7 million people have applied for unemployment benefits, though some have been rehired as states allow businesses to reopen. On Thursday, the federal government said 21.5 million people are receiving jobless aid. That creates added opportunity for criminals. An extra $600 a week in benefits makes it more lucrative.

Additionally, state unemployment agencies have been overwhelmed by claims and are working to get payments to those in need as fast as possible. In some cases, security experts say the new processes, added workload and outdated systems may have made it easier for criminals to act.

“This is El Dorado for them and it’s pure hell for victims,” said Adam Levin, founder of data security firm CyberScout.

Security experts say the bulk of the fraud appears to be committed by criminals using stolen data to make claims using someone else’s identity. The information has often been gleaned from prior data breaches or direct attacks on state systems.

In many cases, victims don’t know they have been affected until they apply for benefits and find out someone has beat them to the punch. Some even find their benefit payments halted when a criminal usurps their benefits.

Victims should report a suspected fraud to the state, their employer and file a police report. But resolving the issue and getting proper payment means going through the state agency that processes unemployment benefit claims, which is potentially already overwhelmed.

The U.S. Secret Service issued a memo last month that suggested a well-organized Nigerian fraud ring was targeting state unemployment systems, according to the New York Times, which got a copy of the document. But agents were still working to pinpoint who was involved and from where. The memo said that Washington was the hardest-hit state but there was evidence of attacks in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Florida. The California cybersecurity firm Agari estimated last week that at least 11 states have been targeted.

On Thursday, officials in Washington said the state has recovered $333 million out an estimated $550 million to $650 million paid out fraudulently.

Those with jobs are also targets of the fraudsters. Blake Victor Kent said that last week he got a letter from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance informing him that they had commenced payments for his unemployment claim.

“That’s funny, because I am still employed,” he said.

Kent thought his information may have been exposed when he was a victim of a data breach a few years back. But his employer, Massachusetts General Hospital, sent an email a few days later to staff saying they were aware of a number of such cases for employees.

In other cases, criminals are targeting people with false job offers, assistance filing unemployment and to glean personal information. Other people may also be targeted and used as “mules” to move money for the criminals.

Experts warn that if a criminal has enough information to make an unemployment claim, they have enough information to commit other acts of identity theft. So people need to protect themselves from further harm by freezing their credit and monitoring their credit regularly for any irregularities.

People should practice good cyber hygiene as well, suggests John Breyault, who manages the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center. That means changing passwords regularly, using two-factor authentication whenever possible to log into accounts and being wary of offers that seem too good to be true, whether that is by phone, online, mail or in person.

“Until this unemployment problem starts to recede, this is going to be a problem that sticks with us,” Breyault said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587668925586.png" alt="Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia</figcaption>
 </figure>By SARAH SKIDMORE SELL, Associated PressCriminals are seizing on a surge in job losses to steal unemployment benefits from Americans nationwide. This complicates an already tough situation for millions of financially strapped Americans and overwhelmed state unemployment offices.While there’s no exact measure of how many fraudulent claims have been made, states from Washington to Maine say they’ve seen an increase and numerous federal agencies are working to fight it.“About 10% of (unemployment insurance) payments are improper under the best of times, and we are in the worst of times,” Scott Dahl, the inspector general for the U.S. Labor Department, told the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. Dahl estimated that at least $26 billion in benefits could be wasted, with the bulk of that going to fraudsters.This forces unemployed workers, already reeling from the loss of a job, to fight for the benefits they need and are entitled to.“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of these people and when they will get this resolved and get the money they need to live on,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, which has seen a sharp jump in calls for help with unemployment fraud.Since mid-March, 42.7 million people have applied for unemployment benefits, though some have been rehired as states allow businesses to reopen. On Thursday, the federal government said 21.5 million people are receiving jobless aid. That creates added opportunity for criminals. An extra $600 a week in benefits makes it more lucrative.Additionally, state unemployment agencies have been overwhelmed by claims and are working to get payments to those in need as fast as possible. In some cases, security experts say the new processes, added workload and outdated systems may have made it easier for criminals to act.“This is El Dorado for them and it’s pure hell for victims,” said Adam Levin, founder of data security firm CyberScout.Security experts say the bulk of the fraud appears to be committed by criminals using stolen data to make claims using someone else’s identity. The information has often been gleaned from prior data breaches or direct attacks on state systems.In many cases, victims don’t know they have been affected until they apply for benefits and find out someone has beat them to the punch. Some even find their benefit payments halted when a criminal usurps their benefits.Victims should report a suspected fraud to the state, their employer and file a police report. But resolving the issue and getting proper payment means going through the state agency that processes unemployment benefit claims, which is potentially already overwhelmed.The U.S. Secret Service issued a memo last month that suggested a well-organized Nigerian fraud ring was targeting state unemployment systems, according to the New York Times, which got a copy of the document. But agents were still working to pinpoint who was involved and from where. The memo said that Washington was the hardest-hit state but there was evidence of attacks in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Florida. The California cybersecurity firm Agari estimated last week that at least 11 states have been targeted.On Thursday, officials in Washington said the state has recovered $333 million out an estimated $550 million to $650 million paid out fraudulently.Those with jobs are also targets of the fraudsters. Blake Victor Kent said that last week he got a letter from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance informing him that they had commenced payments for his unemployment claim.“That’s funny, because I am still employed,” he said.Kent thought his information may have been exposed when he was a victim of a data breach a few years back. But his employer, Massachusetts General Hospital, sent an email a few days later to staff saying they were aware of a number of such cases for employees.In other cases, criminals are targeting people with false job offers, assistance filing unemployment and to glean personal information. Other people may also be targeted and used as “mules” to move money for the criminals.Experts warn that if a criminal has enough information to make an unemployment claim, they have enough information to commit other acts of identity theft. So people need to protect themselves from further harm by freezing their credit and monitoring their credit regularly for any irregularities.People should practice good cyber hygiene as well, suggests John Breyault, who manages the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center. That means changing passwords regularly, using two-factor authentication whenever possible to log into accounts and being wary of offers that seem too good to be true, whether that is by phone, online, mail or in person.“Until this unemployment problem starts to recede, this is going to be a problem that sticks with us,” Breyault said.__

Criminals stealing unemployment benefits as claims surge

When KU researchers asked counties how they were doing, most had very little gear on hand to collect samples from sick patients

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-06-09/local-health-departments-in-kansas-struggled-to-get-the-tools-for-the-frontline-fight-against-coronavirus">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — County health departments in Kansas lacked 
the resources and manpower to swiftly ramp up “boots-on-the-ground” work
 when the coronavirus pandemic hit, new research suggests.

The work by researchers at <a href="https://journals.ku.edu/kjm/article/view/13727" target="_blank">the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita</a>
 sheds light on the state’s preparedness for the pandemic. Local health 
departments do much of the frontline work gathering test samples from 
sick people and tracking down others who may have been exposed.

“It all comes down to what we can do for the county health departments,” said Talkad Raghuveer, a
 pediatrics professor and co-author of the Kansas Journal of Medicine 
article. “They’re our fighting force. It’s like providing funding for 
the Pentagon.”

KU researchers surveyed local health departments in
 mid- to late April. Three-quarters of the state’s county health 
departments responded.

The survey offers a snapshot of local 
public health resources well into the pandemic and when the coronavirus 
was spreading quickly. Kansas had been <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-03-28/kansas-governor-issues-a-statewide-stay-at-home-order-which-starts-monday" target="_blank">under lockdown</a> for weeks.

County
 health departments said they needed more protective gear or other 
critical supplies. On average, they had just five of the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMvcm2010260" target="_blank">specialized nose swabs</a> used for COVID-19 testing when they answered the researchers’ questions.

“It was not very pretty,” Raghuveer said.

Kansas was, at the time, doing <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2020-04-20/kansas-ranks-lowest-in-coronavirus-testing-which-could-make-it-harder-to-reopen-economy" target="_blank">less testing</a>
 per capita than any other state. As the virus ravaged the coasts, 
Kansas and its health providers struggled to get hold of enough nose 
swabs, surgical masks and other vital gear from private suppliers and 
the federal government.

Meanwhile, the virus spread, taking hold 
in places where Kansans couldn’t avoid close physical proximity to each 
other — food factories, prisons, nursing homes.

More than a quarter of the state’s more than 10,000 <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">known COVID-19 cases</a> are linked to outbreaks at meatpacking plants. Half of its deaths relate to long-term care facilities.

In
 the survey, local health officials reported that they typically had to 
wait three days or more for test results. Some said even if testing 
supplies were available, they couldn’t afford them.

About 30% of 
the health departments that responded also had fewer employees working 
on contact tracing than recommended, the researchers said.

Gianfranco
 Pezzino is the health officer for the state’s third-largest county, 
Shawnee. That county quickly pulled its nurses off of other work to 
focus on coronavirus, and tapped into an existing list of volunteers who
 could rapidly get to work on contact tracing.

In the meantime, 
the agency’s typical public health work on things like measles vaccines 
and sexually transmitted diseases took a backseat.

“I don’t even 
want to think what our immunization coverage rates are going to look 
like when we start coming out of this emergency,” Pezzino said. “That’s 
the price we had to pay to be able to do what we have been able to do in
 the last few weeks.”

Plenty of Kansas health departments don’t even have an epidemiologist, he said, something he has long argued for changing.

“People
 want to know trends,” said Pezzino, also a former state epidemiologist.
 “The age distribution of our cases. The mortality rates. All very 
legitimate questions.”

Since the publication of the KU paper, state mandates on how to reopen the state’s economy <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/kansas-counties-in-charge-of-covid-19-restrictions-after-gov-kelly-vetoes-emergency-powers-bill" target="_blank">have fallen away</a>.
 That’s put increased pressure on counties and local health officials to
 lay out their own rules for keeping people safe, and to get it right.

Nationwide, per-capita spending by local health departments shrank by nearly one-fifth over the past decade, according to the <a href="http://nacchoprofilestudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2019-Profile-Preparedness-Capacity.pdf" target="_blank">National Association of County and City Health Officers</a>. It argues public health departments were poorly positioned to tackle the pandemic.

In the wake of the 2008 Great Recession, state and local health agencies <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6944191/" target="_blank">shed tens of thousands of jobs</a> from a workforce that hasn’t yet recovered. Targeted federal funding for them to prepare for <a href="https://www.tfah.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TFAH_2019_PublicHealthFunding_07.pdf" target="_blank">public health emergencies</a> dropped, too.

Public health experts worry such losses compounded <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hhs-watchdog-agency-finds-severe-hospital-shortages-in-combating-covid-19/2020/04/06/2906af7e-7811-11ea-a130-df573469f094_story.html" target="_blank">other major preparedness gaps</a> exposed by COVID-19, ranging from the nation’s inability to swiftly ramp up production of test materials to inadequate <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-06/kansas-is-looking-high-and-low-for-gear-to-protect-health-care-workers-from-covid-19" target="_blank">supply chains</a> for protective gear.

In Kansas, many local health departments saw their discretionary funding from the state stagnate in recent decades, <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article240915266.html" target="_blank">the Wichita Eagle reported</a>. And <a href="https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/Overall/state/KS" target="_blank">America’s Health Rankings</a> puts the state 40th in the country in terms of public health spending.

The
 KU School of Medicine-Wichita survey found most county health 
departments hadn’t increased their staff since the onset of the 
pandemic.

Departments said they needed help ratcheting up testing 
and educating the public about the coronavirus. They wanted additional 
staff and help with tracing the contacts of sick people.

A month after their responses, Kansas was still training up hundreds of <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-13/kansas-needs-more-people-tracing-covid-19-infections-to-their-source-to-stem-resurgence" target="_blank">contact tracers</a> to shore up counties’ efforts.

Those extra hands on deck will become more important if reopening the economy leads to a larger, second wave of COVID-19 cases.

Saline
 County officials watched the pandemic’s march through other countries, 
preparing for the possibility it would hit closer to home.

So far,
 the central Kansas county has 30 known cases of coronavirus, compared 
to Shawnee County’s 340, and much higher numbers in the Kansas City 
metro and southwest Kansas meatpacking towns. So it’s within the range 
of what the Saline health department staff can handle.

“It would 
have been different had we had a ton of cases in a short period of 
time,” says Jason Tiller, who has headed the department for more than 
five years. “But because of the way that our cases landed, which was 
probably one to two every few days … that workload, while it was 
time-consuming, wasn’t as extensive.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591709948907.png" alt="The coronavirus pandemic shut down non-essential businesses in Kansas for more than a month while county and state health officials tried to stop its spread, prevent hospitals from becoming overloaded, and buy time for acquiring much-needed protective gear and other supplies. Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The coronavirus pandemic shut down non-essential businesses in Kansas for more than a month while county and state health officials tried to stop its spread, prevent hospitals from becoming overloaded, and buy time for acquiring much-needed protective gear and other supplies. Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>When KU researchers asked counties how they were doing, most had very little gear on hand to collect samples from sick patients</h2>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-06-09/local-health-departments-in-kansas-struggled-to-get-the-tools-for-the-frontline-fight-against-coronavirus">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — County health departments in Kansas lacked 
the resources and manpower to swiftly ramp up “boots-on-the-ground” work
 when the coronavirus pandemic hit, new research suggests.The work by researchers at <a href="https://journals.ku.edu/kjm/article/view/13727" target="_blank">the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita</a>
 sheds light on the state’s preparedness for the pandemic. Local health 
departments do much of the frontline work gathering test samples from 
sick people and tracking down others who may have been exposed.“It all comes down to what we can do for the county health departments,” said Talkad Raghuveer, a
 pediatrics professor and co-author of the Kansas Journal of Medicine 
article. “They’re our fighting force. It’s like providing funding for 
the Pentagon.”KU researchers surveyed local health departments in
 mid- to late April. Three-quarters of the state’s county health 
departments responded.The survey offers a snapshot of local 
public health resources well into the pandemic and when the coronavirus 
was spreading quickly. Kansas had been <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-03-28/kansas-governor-issues-a-statewide-stay-at-home-order-which-starts-monday" target="_blank">under lockdown</a> for weeks.County
 health departments said they needed more protective gear or other 
critical supplies. On average, they had just five of the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMvcm2010260" target="_blank">specialized nose swabs</a> used for COVID-19 testing when they answered the researchers’ questions.“It was not very pretty,” Raghuveer said.Kansas was, at the time, doing <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2020-04-20/kansas-ranks-lowest-in-coronavirus-testing-which-could-make-it-harder-to-reopen-economy" target="_blank">less testing</a>
 per capita than any other state. As the virus ravaged the coasts, 
Kansas and its health providers struggled to get hold of enough nose 
swabs, surgical masks and other vital gear from private suppliers and 
the federal government.Meanwhile, the virus spread, taking hold 
in places where Kansans couldn’t avoid close physical proximity to each 
other — food factories, prisons, nursing homes.More than a quarter of the state’s more than 10,000 <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">known COVID-19 cases</a> are linked to outbreaks at meatpacking plants. Half of its deaths relate to long-term care facilities.In
 the survey, local health officials reported that they typically had to 
wait three days or more for test results. Some said even if testing 
supplies were available, they couldn’t afford them.About 30% of 
the health departments that responded also had fewer employees working 
on contact tracing than recommended, the researchers said.Gianfranco
 Pezzino is the health officer for the state’s third-largest county, 
Shawnee. That county quickly pulled its nurses off of other work to 
focus on coronavirus, and tapped into an existing list of volunteers who
 could rapidly get to work on contact tracing.In the meantime, 
the agency’s typical public health work on things like measles vaccines 
and sexually transmitted diseases took a backseat.“I don’t even 
want to think what our immunization coverage rates are going to look 
like when we start coming out of this emergency,” Pezzino said. “That’s 
the price we had to pay to be able to do what we have been able to do in
 the last few weeks.”Plenty of Kansas health departments don’t even have an epidemiologist, he said, something he has long argued for changing.“People
 want to know trends,” said Pezzino, also a former state epidemiologist.
 “The age distribution of our cases. The mortality rates. All very 
legitimate questions.”Since the publication of the KU paper, state mandates on how to reopen the state’s economy <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/kansas-counties-in-charge-of-covid-19-restrictions-after-gov-kelly-vetoes-emergency-powers-bill" target="_blank">have fallen away</a>.
 That’s put increased pressure on counties and local health officials to
 lay out their own rules for keeping people safe, and to get it right.<h2>Long-time struggle</h2>Nationwide, per-capita spending by local health departments shrank by nearly one-fifth over the past decade, according to the <a href="http://nacchoprofilestudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2019-Profile-Preparedness-Capacity.pdf" target="_blank">National Association of County and City Health Officers</a>. It argues public health departments were poorly positioned to tackle the pandemic.In the wake of the 2008 Great Recession, state and local health agencies <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6944191/" target="_blank">shed tens of thousands of jobs</a> from a workforce that hasn’t yet recovered. Targeted federal funding for them to prepare for <a href="https://www.tfah.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TFAH_2019_PublicHealthFunding_07.pdf" target="_blank">public health emergencies</a> dropped, too.Public health experts worry such losses compounded <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hhs-watchdog-agency-finds-severe-hospital-shortages-in-combating-covid-19/2020/04/06/2906af7e-7811-11ea-a130-df573469f094_story.html" target="_blank">other major preparedness gaps</a> exposed by COVID-19, ranging from the nation’s inability to swiftly ramp up production of test materials to inadequate <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-06/kansas-is-looking-high-and-low-for-gear-to-protect-health-care-workers-from-covid-19" target="_blank">supply chains</a> for protective gear.In Kansas, many local health departments saw their discretionary funding from the state stagnate in recent decades, <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article240915266.html" target="_blank">the Wichita Eagle reported</a>. And <a href="https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/Overall/state/KS" target="_blank">America’s Health Rankings</a> puts the state 40th in the country in terms of public health spending.The
 KU School of Medicine-Wichita survey found most county health 
departments hadn’t increased their staff since the onset of the 
pandemic.Departments said they needed help ratcheting up testing 
and educating the public about the coronavirus. They wanted additional 
staff and help with tracing the contacts of sick people.A month after their responses, Kansas was still training up hundreds of <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-13/kansas-needs-more-people-tracing-covid-19-infections-to-their-source-to-stem-resurgence" target="_blank">contact tracers</a> to shore up counties’ efforts.Those extra hands on deck will become more important if reopening the economy leads to a larger, second wave of COVID-19 cases.Saline
 County officials watched the pandemic’s march through other countries, 
preparing for the possibility it would hit closer to home.So far,
 the central Kansas county has 30 known cases of coronavirus, compared 
to Shawnee County’s 340, and much higher numbers in the Kansas City 
metro and southwest Kansas meatpacking towns. So it’s within the range 
of what the Saline health department staff can handle.“It would 
have been different had we had a ton of cases in a short period of 
time,” says Jason Tiller, who has headed the department for more than 
five years. “But because of the way that our cases landed, which was 
probably one to two every few days … that workload, while it was 
time-consuming, wasn’t as extensive.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Kan. health departments struggled to get tools for virus fight

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have made a second arrest.

On April 24, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center began receiving multiple calls about a possible shooting in the 1200 block of NE Quincy Street in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

At the scene officers located an adult male victim identified as  Joseph Hill, 26, of Topeka outside a residence in the area suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Police asked community members in the area to review their home security camera footage to assist with their investigation and identified two suspects.

On Monday, police located Michael D. Flores, 25, Topeka. Flores was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Aiding and Abetting a Battery, according to Koenen.

On May 14, with the assistance of US Marshalls a suspect identified as Vincent Dean Gonzalez-Rook, 22, Topeka was located and taken into custody in California, according to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.

Gonzalez-Rook is being held for Murder in the First Degree, Premeditated  and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591706005286.png" alt="Flores" />
 <figcaption>Flores</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have made a second arrest.On April 24, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center began receiving multiple calls about a possible shooting in the 1200 block of NE Quincy Street in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.At the scene officers located an adult male victim identified as Joseph Hill, 26, of Topeka outside a residence in the area suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Police asked community members in the area to review their home security camera footage to assist with their investigation and identified two suspects.On Monday, police located Michael D. Flores, 25, Topeka. Flores was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Aiding and Abetting a Battery, according to Koenen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588622331728.png" alt="Gonzalez-Rook" />
 <figcaption>Gonzalez-Rook</figcaption>
 </figure>On May 14, with the assistance of US Marshalls a suspect identified as Vincent Dean Gonzalez-Rook, 22, Topeka was located and taken into custody in California, according to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.Gonzalez-Rook is being held for Murder in the First Degree, Premeditated and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.-------

Police capture 2nd suspect in fatal Kansas shooting

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The bill signed by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for COVID-19 response has important provisions in it to balance public health and privacy concerns regarding contact tracing.

"When you're talking about a global pandemic that in Kansas has affected every county, there's not a confirmed case in every county, but there was a state of emergency, and where you're talking about adding literally hundreds of people to do this contact tracing, the issue is, of course, those folks all gather information that sometimes is really quite personal about people," said Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. "What happens to the information? How can it be used? Who may access it? What happens to it when the pandemic is past? All of those basic questions, that in a 21st century information economy we're accustomed to asking about everything, from our cell phones to our video games, have never been asked about contact tracing."

The measure puts in place a privacy law that's specifically targeted at COVID-19 contact tracing. It sets out those basic privacy and civil liberty rights, including an important one for everyone with a device in their pocket.

"One of the modern tools is, of course, digital," Schmidt said. "You can track a person's cell phone and figure out where they've been and whether they've been close to another person's cell phone and then you know they've had contact, so you can communicate that way, but that's really disturbing to a lot of Kansans, understandably. This new law flat prohibits that sort of contact tracing, the cell phone location data tracing."

The scope of contact tracing is the reason to regulate this so tightly. There is a chance some contact tracers may not have as much training this time around as would be typical in smaller disease events.

"It's one thing if you have a very limited outbreak of a disease in a discrete geographic location and the people who are doing the contact tracing are, in their day jobs, for lack of a better term, trained public health professionals and they are used to dealing with things like HIPAA and medical privacy. It's quite another thing when the scope of contact tracing may be so broad, as it is now, that hundreds of people, who aren't necessarily connected to the public health community at all, are being hired to ask these questions and gather this information on behalf of the public health community."

The statute limits the questions those contact tracers can ask, it limits them to sharing the information with only those people who need to know it and it provides for the destruction of the information, once the pandemic has passed

By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The bill signed by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for COVID-19 response has important provisions in it to balance public health and privacy concerns regarding contact tracing."When you're talking about a global pandemic that in Kansas has affected every county, there's not a confirmed case in every county, but there was a state of emergency, and where you're talking about adding literally hundreds of people to do this contact tracing, the issue is, of course, those folks all gather information that sometimes is really quite personal about people," said Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. "What happens to the information? How can it be used? Who may access it? What happens to it when the pandemic is past? All of those basic questions, that in a 21st century information economy we're accustomed to asking about everything, from our cell phones to our video games, have never been asked about contact tracing."The measure puts in place a privacy law that's specifically targeted at COVID-19 contact tracing. It sets out those basic privacy and civil liberty rights, including an important one for everyone with a device in their pocket."One of the modern tools is, of course, digital," Schmidt said. "You can track a person's cell phone and figure out where they've been and whether they've been close to another person's cell phone and then you know they've had contact, so you can communicate that way, but that's really disturbing to a lot of Kansans, understandably. This new law flat prohibits that sort of contact tracing, the cell phone location data tracing."The scope of contact tracing is the reason to regulate this so tightly. There is a chance some contact tracers may not have as much training this time around as would be typical in smaller disease events."It's one thing if you have a very limited outbreak of a disease in a discrete geographic location and the people who are doing the contact tracing are, in their day jobs, for lack of a better term, trained public health professionals and they are used to dealing with things like HIPAA and medical privacy. It's quite another thing when the scope of contact tracing may be so broad, as it is now, that hundreds of people, who aren't necessarily connected to the public health community at all, are being hired to ask these questions and gather this information on behalf of the public health community."The statute limits the questions those contact tracers can ask, it limits them to sharing the information with only those people who need to know it and it provides for the destruction of the information, once the pandemic has passed

Kan. AG: COVID-19 legislation regulates contact tracing

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce held the first joint meeting between Executive and Steering Committees to create the framework for the distribution of up to $525 million for Kansans, businesses, and communities to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=713&amp;v=RnYjc08QvK0&amp;feature=emb_logo">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a> a replay of the meeting.

In a media release, Governor Kelly said, “Kansans have been through so much these past few months. I’m proud of my administration’s efforts to work with our local and federal partners to ensure Kansas families and businesses get the resources they need to recover from the economic damage of COVID-19. We will swiftly disperse these funds, so Kansans can get back to work and to support community preparedness in the event cases begin to rise again.”

This will be the 2nd&nbsp;distribution proposal for the $1,034,052,049 of federal funds Kansas received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Last week, the Executive Committee approved a proposal to distribute an initial round of $400 million in funding to local governments to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19.&nbsp;

“We need to leverage these dollars to benefit Kansans now and, in the future,” Cheryl Harrison-Lee, SPARK executive director, said. “To do that, we need to seek the best ideas from both the public and private sectors for how to make investments that will improve health and economic outcomes across our state. As a former city administrator, I’ve seen first-hand how partnerships with the public and private sectors can deliver projects expediently and generate lasting economic growth.”

The CARES Act requires these funds to be spent by December 30, 2020, which will require entities to work quickly to be eligible for funding.

Committee members spent the bulk of the meeting developing potential investment criteria focused around four sectors: health, infrastructure, education and economic development.&nbsp;

“I appreciate the thoughtfulness and ingenuity our committee members brought to our discussions about investment priorities,” Lyle Butler, SPARK executive committee chair, said. “I’m confident we’ll be able to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of Kansans to make strategic investments that not only accelerate our economic recovery but also generate new opportunities for growth.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591651701038.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly's Spark Executive and Steering Committee meeting Monday- image courtesy office of Kan. governor" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly's Spark Executive and Steering Committee meeting Monday- image courtesy office of Kan. governor</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce held the first joint meeting between Executive and Steering Committees to create the framework for the distribution of up to $525 million for Kansans, businesses, and communities to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=713&amp;v=RnYjc08QvK0&amp;feature=emb_logo">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a> a replay of the meeting.In a media release, Governor Kelly said, “Kansans have been through so much these past few months. I’m proud of my administration’s efforts to work with our local and federal partners to ensure Kansas families and businesses get the resources they need to recover from the economic damage of COVID-19. We will swiftly disperse these funds, so Kansans can get back to work and to support community preparedness in the event cases begin to rise again.”This will be the 2nd&nbsp;distribution proposal for the $1,034,052,049 of federal funds Kansas received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Last week, the Executive Committee approved a proposal to distribute an initial round of $400 million in funding to local governments to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19.&nbsp;“We need to leverage these dollars to benefit Kansans now and, in the future,” Cheryl Harrison-Lee, SPARK executive director, said. “To do that, we need to seek the best ideas from both the public and private sectors for how to make investments that will improve health and economic outcomes across our state. As a former city administrator, I’ve seen first-hand how partnerships with the public and private sectors can deliver projects expediently and generate lasting economic growth.”The CARES Act requires these funds to be spent by December 30, 2020, which will require entities to work quickly to be eligible for funding.Committee members spent the bulk of the meeting developing potential investment criteria focused around four sectors: health, infrastructure, education and economic development.&nbsp;“I appreciate the thoughtfulness and ingenuity our committee members brought to our discussions about investment priorities,” Lyle Butler, SPARK executive committee chair, said. “I’m confident we’ll be able to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of Kansans to make strategic investments that not only accelerate our economic recovery but also generate new opportunities for growth.”

🎥  Gov.'s Task Force meets on distribution of $525M in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man convicted for the murders of two homeless men in Missouri, has been charged with a third similar 2004 homicide, prosecutors said Monday.

Michael J. Gullett, 64, was charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of Steven Cassidy, whose remains were not identified until four years later, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Gullett did not have an attorney listed Monday in court records.

Gullett was previously convicted in the 2012 killing of Joe Loehr, who was found in a homeless camp in Kansas City and the 2004 homicide of Ryon McDonald, whose torso was later found in a river near Jefferson City.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator determined Cassidy was slain about three months after McDonald.

A witness had previously told detectives in August 2004 that he buried a body at the direction of Gullett. Skeletal remains found the next day.

The investigator, Lt. Darron Blankenship, in December interviewed Gullett at Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri, where he is incarcerated. A probable cause statement alleges Gullett named Cassidy as the victim.

Gullett allegedly recalled how he and another person beat Cassidy, who was found near a homeless camp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591699483521.png" alt="Gullett photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Gullett photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man convicted for the murders of two homeless men in Missouri, has been charged with a third similar 2004 homicide, prosecutors said Monday.Michael J. Gullett, 64, was charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of Steven Cassidy, whose remains were not identified until four years later, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.Gullett did not have an attorney listed Monday in court records.Gullett was previously convicted in the 2012 killing of Joe Loehr, who was found in a homeless camp in Kansas City and the 2004 homicide of Ryon McDonald, whose torso was later found in a river near Jefferson City.A Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator determined Cassidy was slain about three months after McDonald.A witness had previously told detectives in August 2004 that he buried a body at the direction of Gullett. Skeletal remains found the next day.The investigator, Lt. Darron Blankenship, in December interviewed Gullett at Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri, where he is incarcerated. A probable cause statement alleges Gullett named Cassidy as the victim.Gullett allegedly recalled how he and another person beat Cassidy, who was found near a homeless camp.

KC man imprisoned for 2 homeless murders charged in third death

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas counties “shouldn’t feel pressure” to loosen restrictions if they aren’t seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases or new hospitalizations, Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday, with cases increasing faster in the four most populous counties than the state as a whole.

Kelly said she’s feeling hopeful because Kansas is making enough progress in containing the novel coronavirus for most of the state’s 105 counties to loosen restrictions further. Her office and the state Department of Health and Environment are advising local officials that as of Monday they can allow mass gatherings of up to 45 people, permit non-essential travel and open swimming pools and summer camps.

But she and Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, acknowledged there are counties not seeing a drop in new cases and hospitalizations or are likely to see declines halt. Norman listed three of the state’s four most populous counties — Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte — as examples.

The state health department reported Monday that Kansas saw coronavirus cases increase 2.5% from Friday, up 257 to a total of 10,650 since the pandemic reached the state in early March. The three counties Norman mentioned, plus Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, together accounted for 55% of the new cases since last week.

“Counties that have plateaued or that are trending in the wrong direction should’t feel pressure,” Kelly said, adding that they’re encouraged to keep current restrictions in place “until they see improvement.”

The Democratic governor imposed a statewide stay-at-home order from March 30 through May 3, then mandated a phased reopening of the state’s economy. However, she converted her requirements into guidelines for local officials on May 26, lifting statewide restrictions in favor of letting counties set their own rules.

Her action was a major concession to the Republican-controlled Legislature after many GOP members had complained for weeks that Kelly was moving too slowly to reopen the economy. The governor also agreed to some limits on her power to direct the state’s response to the pandemic to help persuade lawmakers to extend a state of emergency until at least Sept. 15.

Kelly signed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">approved by lawmakers last week.</a>&nbsp;It limits Kelly’s power to close businesses statewide again and gives legislative leaders some oversight of the pandemic response, including how the state will spend $1.25 billion in federal relief funds.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2016_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The legislation&nbsp;</a>is expected to take effect later this week.

As of Monday, 62% of the state’s 236 reported COVID-19-related deaths were in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in the Kansas City area, the state’s first virus hot spot. Both counties are seeing cases increase faster than in the state as a whole.

The state health department said Wyandotte County had 52 new cases since Friday, an increase of 3.4%, to make the total 1,560, and the county is reporting 75 COVID-19-related deaths. Johnson County saw another 38 cases since Friday, to bring its total to 977 for an increase of 4%, with a total of 71 deaths since the pandemic began.

Sedgwick County, home to the state’s largest city of Wichita, saw a 5.8% jump in cases, up 36 to 660. It is reporting 22 deaths.

Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, had 15 more cases since Friday, an increase of 4.1% to 384 total. It reported seven deaths.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas counties “shouldn’t feel pressure” to loosen restrictions if they aren’t seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases or new hospitalizations, Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday, with cases increasing faster in the four most populous counties than the state as a whole.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F592899934976032%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>Kelly said she’s feeling hopeful because Kansas is making enough progress in containing the novel coronavirus for most of the state’s 105 counties to loosen restrictions further. Her office and the state Department of Health and Environment are advising local officials that as of Monday they can allow mass gatherings of up to 45 people, permit non-essential travel and open swimming pools and summer camps.But she and Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, acknowledged there are counties not seeing a drop in new cases and hospitalizations or are likely to see declines halt. Norman listed three of the state’s four most populous counties — Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte — as examples.The state health department reported Monday that Kansas saw coronavirus cases increase 2.5% from Friday, up 257 to a total of 10,650 since the pandemic reached the state in early March. The three counties Norman mentioned, plus Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, together accounted for 55% of the new cases since last week.“Counties that have plateaued or that are trending in the wrong direction should’t feel pressure,” Kelly said, adding that they’re encouraged to keep current restrictions in place “until they see improvement.”The Democratic governor imposed a statewide stay-at-home order from March 30 through May 3, then mandated a phased reopening of the state’s economy. However, she converted her requirements into guidelines for local officials on May 26, lifting statewide restrictions in favor of letting counties set their own rules.Her action was a major concession to the Republican-controlled Legislature after many GOP members had complained for weeks that Kelly was moving too slowly to reopen the economy. The governor also agreed to some limits on her power to direct the state’s response to the pandemic to help persuade lawmakers to extend a state of emergency until at least Sept. 15.Kelly signed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">approved by lawmakers last week.</a>&nbsp;It limits Kelly’s power to close businesses statewide again and gives legislative leaders some oversight of the pandemic response, including how the state will spend $1.25 billion in federal relief funds.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020s/b2020s/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2016_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The legislation&nbsp;</a>is expected to take effect later this week.As of Monday, 62% of the state’s 236 reported COVID-19-related deaths were in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in the Kansas City area, the state’s first virus hot spot. Both counties are seeing cases increase faster than in the state as a whole.The state health department said Wyandotte County had 52 new cases since Friday, an increase of 3.4%, to make the total 1,560, and the county is reporting 75 COVID-19-related deaths. Johnson County saw another 38 cases since Friday, to bring its total to 977 for an increase of 4%, with a total of 71 deaths since the pandemic began.Sedgwick County, home to the state’s largest city of Wichita, saw a 5.8% jump in cases, up 36 to 660. It is reporting 22 deaths.Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, had 15 more cases since Friday, an increase of 4.1% to 384 total. It reported seven deaths.___

🎥  Governor: Kansas counties shouldn't feel push to ease rules

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying  individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.

With the public's help on Monday afternoon, police identified Joshua A. Simon, 23 of Mayetta and arrested, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following charges Incitement to riot, Criminal damage to property and Unlawful assembly.

Seven people were arrested in Topeka after protesters threw rocks and debris at officers during disturbances that came after generally peaceful gatherings had broken up.

Anyone with information about those pictured is encouraged to email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>&nbsp;or download the P3tips app. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through Crime Stoppers.

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying&nbsp; individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.

The confrontation in Topeka involved about 150 people who gathered around the Law Enforcement Center. It came hours after several hundred people had demonstrated peacefully in downtown Topeka. At one point, some protesters threw rocks and debris at officers trying to rescue a protester who needed medical attention, police said. Some officers were hit with bricks but were not seriously injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591698985075.png" alt="Simon" />
 <figcaption>Simon</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591699034002.png" alt="Simon photo Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Simon photo Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>With the public's help on Monday afternoon, police identified Joshua A. Simon, 23 of Mayetta and arrested, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following charges Incitement to riot, Criminal damage to property and Unlawful assembly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591643178040.png" alt="Photo courtesy Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Seven people were arrested in Topeka after protesters threw rocks and debris at officers during disturbances that came after generally peaceful gatherings had broken up.Anyone with information about those pictured is encouraged to email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>&nbsp;or download the P3tips app. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through Crime Stoppers.-----------TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying&nbsp; individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.Seven people were arrested in Topeka after protesters threw rocks and debris at officers during disturbances that came after generally peaceful gatherings had broken up.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591094592476.png" alt="Police and protesters during the confrontation June 1 in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police and protesters during the confrontation June 1 in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The confrontation in Topeka involved about 150 people who gathered around the Law Enforcement Center. It came hours after several hundred people had demonstrated peacefully in downtown Topeka. At one point, some protesters threw rocks and debris at officers trying to rescue a protester who needed medical attention, police said. Some officers were hit with bricks but were not seriously injured.Anyone with information about those pictured is encouraged to email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>&nbsp;or download the P3tips app. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through Crime Stoppers.

Update: Police ID suspect in Topeka protest confrontation

BROWN COUNTY —A Kansas man avoided injury just before 3:30p.m. Monday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Air Tractor piloted by Colton Joseph Callaway, 24, Cummings, was taking off northbound from the&nbsp; Hiawatha Municipal Airport when the aircraft failed to take off successfully.

It crashed sitting upright in a field just north of the runway.

Callaway was not injured. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591697703422.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —A Kansas man avoided injury just before 3:30p.m. Monday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Air Tractor piloted by Colton Joseph Callaway, 24, Cummings, was taking off northbound from the&nbsp; Hiawatha Municipal Airport when the aircraft failed to take off successfully.It crashed sitting upright in a field just north of the runway.Callaway was not injured. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Kansas man avoids injury after small plane crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Congress are proposing an overhaul of police procedures and accountability after the mass protests over the deaths of black Americans at the hand of law enforcement

The Justice in Policing Act is among the most ambitious law enforcement reforms from Congress in years and confronts several aspects of policing that have come under strong criticism, especially as more and more police violence is captured on cellphone video and shared across the nation and the world.

The package limits legal protections for police, creates a national database of excessive-force encounters and bans police choke holds, among other changes. The changes, if enacted, would have massive implications on policing in the U.S.

It’s not clear whether the legislation will pass, especially in an election year and amid calls to “defund the police” and growing protests. President Donald Trump has tried to set himself up as a “law and order” leader and has criticized the package, claiming Democrats have “gone CRAZY.”

A few things to know about the bill and how it could make a difference:

Under the proposal, the federal civil rights law that governs police misconduct would no longer require prosecutors to prove that an officer’s actions were willful, a high burden of proof. The law would allow an officer to be charged for acting with reckless disregard for someone’s life, causing that person's death.

Under the current law, it is federal crime to willfully deprive someone of their civil rights under the color of authority, but the officer also must have known what they were doing was wrong and against the law and decided to do it anyway. To prove that crime, prosecutors would need to convince a jury that the force used was more than what would be reasonably necessary to arrest or subdue a suspect, meaning convincing jurors that in the middle of an arrest the officer made a clear and willful decision to cause someone’s death.

That was a burden of proof that prosecutors said they couldn’t meet in the case of Eric Garner when they declined to bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo last year.

Police officers are generally not held personally liable for anything that happens on the job, including when someone dies. The concept of qualified immunity has long been a way to protect police from unnecessary lawsuits and to give them the freedom to police without fear of unnecessary retribution.

The bill would amend federal misconduct statutes to make it easier for courts to find officers personally liable for the violation of civil rights. The move could have major consequences for officers who would think twice before abusing their power, but it could also make it more difficult to recruit police nationwide. It could also potentially lead to officers being held financially liable, too. Cities often bear the brunt of misconduct claims. In a 10-year period in New York, for example, the city paid out nearly $1 billion to settle claims made against police.

A long-held grievance has been that prosecutors and police have too cozy a relationship and can’t separate that out when misconduct is an issue. It is part of the investigation now into the the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia. The father and son accused of killing Arbery had a long history with the local district attorney, the father having worked for the DA as an investigator for 20 years. The case is now being investigated by a separate district attorney. Some states have created a special prosecutor to investigate all misconduct claims against local police. The bill provides a grant program for state attorneys general to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments.

A second issue is many officers who wind up involved in a fatal shooting have a long history of misconduct, including Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who has been charged with murder in the death of George Floyd. He had at least a dozen complaints made against him, according to records. But those records are often not made public, making it difficult to know if officers have a track record. The bill calls for a national registry including complaints, disciplinary records and termination records, which proponents say would be a massive step forward in transparency.

Democrats say the ability of the Justice Department’s civil rights division to perform so-called pattern or practice investigations, sweeping probes into police departments that examine whether systemic deficiencies contribute to misconduct or enable it to persist, has been curtailed. The proposal would give specific subpoena power to federal civil rights prosecutors to conduct those investigations and would aid state attorneys general with conducting similar investigations.

The Justice Department hasn’t banned pattern or practice investigations. U.S. Attorney General William Barr, however, has suggested that they may have been previously overused. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms. The consent decrees included those with the police in Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of Michael Brown and in Baltimore following the police custody death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.

Hours before he resigned as attorney general in November 2018, Jeff Sessions signed a memo that sharply curtailed the use of consent decrees. The policy makes their use more difficult to enact and requires top Justice Department officials to approve the deals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591646982223.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with other Congressional Democrats, speaks during a news conference to unveil policing reform and equal justice legislation on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with other Congressional Democrats, speaks during a news conference to unveil policing reform and equal justice legislation on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Congress are proposing an overhaul of police procedures and accountability after the mass protests over the deaths of black Americans at the hand of law enforcementThe Justice in Policing Act is among the most ambitious law enforcement reforms from Congress in years and confronts several aspects of policing that have come under strong criticism, especially as more and more police violence is captured on cellphone video and shared across the nation and the world.The package limits legal protections for police, creates a national database of excessive-force encounters and bans police choke holds, among other changes. The changes, if enacted, would have massive implications on policing in the U.S.It’s not clear whether the legislation will pass, especially in an election year and amid calls to “defund the police” and growing protests. President Donald Trump has tried to set himself up as a “law and order” leader and has criticized the package, claiming Democrats have “gone CRAZY.”A few things to know about the bill and how it could make a difference:CHANGING FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWUnder the proposal, the federal civil rights law that governs police misconduct would no longer require prosecutors to prove that an officer’s actions were willful, a high burden of proof. The law would allow an officer to be charged for acting with reckless disregard for someone’s life, causing that person's death.Under the current law, it is federal crime to willfully deprive someone of their civil rights under the color of authority, but the officer also must have known what they were doing was wrong and against the law and decided to do it anyway. To prove that crime, prosecutors would need to convince a jury that the force used was more than what would be reasonably necessary to arrest or subdue a suspect, meaning convincing jurors that in the middle of an arrest the officer made a clear and willful decision to cause someone’s death.That was a burden of proof that prosecutors said they couldn’t meet in the case of Eric Garner when they declined to bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo last year.QUALIFIED IMMUNITYPolice officers are generally not held personally liable for anything that happens on the job, including when someone dies. The concept of qualified immunity has long been a way to protect police from unnecessary lawsuits and to give them the freedom to police without fear of unnecessary retribution.The bill would amend federal misconduct statutes to make it easier for courts to find officers personally liable for the violation of civil rights. The move could have major consequences for officers who would think twice before abusing their power, but it could also make it more difficult to recruit police nationwide. It could also potentially lead to officers being held financially liable, too. Cities often bear the brunt of misconduct claims. In a 10-year period in New York, for example, the city paid out nearly $1 billion to settle claims made against police.INDEPENDENT AND TRANSPARENTA long-held grievance has been that prosecutors and police have too cozy a relationship and can’t separate that out when misconduct is an issue. It is part of the investigation now into the the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia. The father and son accused of killing Arbery had a long history with the local district attorney, the father having worked for the DA as an investigator for 20 years. The case is now being investigated by a separate district attorney. Some states have created a special prosecutor to investigate all misconduct claims against local police. The bill provides a grant program for state attorneys general to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments.A second issue is many officers who wind up involved in a fatal shooting have a long history of misconduct, including Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who has been charged with murder in the death of George Floyd. He had at least a dozen complaints made against him, according to records. But those records are often not made public, making it difficult to know if officers have a track record. The bill calls for a national registry including complaints, disciplinary records and termination records, which proponents say would be a massive step forward in transparency.PATTERN OR PRACTICE INVESTIGATIONSDemocrats say the ability of the Justice Department’s civil rights division to perform so-called pattern or practice investigations, sweeping probes into police departments that examine whether systemic deficiencies contribute to misconduct or enable it to persist, has been curtailed. The proposal would give specific subpoena power to federal civil rights prosecutors to conduct those investigations and would aid state attorneys general with conducting similar investigations.The Justice Department hasn’t banned pattern or practice investigations. U.S. Attorney General William Barr, however, has suggested that they may have been previously overused. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms. The consent decrees included those with the police in Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of Michael Brown and in Baltimore following the police custody death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.Hours before he resigned as attorney general in November 2018, Jeff Sessions signed a memo that sharply curtailed the use of consent decrees. The policy makes their use more difficult to enact and requires top Justice Department officials to approve the deals.SIGNIFICANT HURDLESOther measures in the legislation are likely to face significant hurdles to enact. And there are some that police officials are likely to argue could endanger officers' lives.The bill calls for a ban on “no knock” warrants, which are typically executed in some of the most dangerous investigations conducted by police departments. The legislation would specifically ban no-knock warrants for all federal drug cases and would require local and state law enforcement agencies to prohibit their use to qualify for some federal funding. Oregon and Florida are the only states that have outlawed such warrants.A no-knock warrant, as its name implies, is an order from a judge that allows police to enter a home without prior notification to the residents, such as ringing a doorbell or banging on the door. In most cases, the law requires that officers must knock and announce themselves before entering a private home to execute a search warrant. Police would generally seek a no-knock warrant if the situation might be extraordinarily dangerous or if a suspect is likely to destroy evidence when police knock on the door. But critics have said their use has increased dramatically in recent years and some departments use them routinely in cases that don’t merit such an exception.There has been a growing call to ban no-knock warrants since 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was killed in her Louisville home by officers in March.