KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Texas man who oversaw a drug ring in the Kansas City metro area was sentenced Wednesday to 262 months in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Jorge Portillo-Uranga, 36, Teague, Texas, pleaded guilty to seven felony counts including conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation in 2016 of a drug trafficking organization headed by Portillo-Uranga that was selling kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana to buyers in the Kansas City metro area. 

Portillo-Uranga managed the operation from his home in Teague, Texas. Investigators intercepted communications between Portillo-Uranga in Texas and other members of the organization as he directed their movements in obtaining cocaine and delivering it to Kansas City. In various conversations, Portillo-Uranga expressed his suspicions that some of the traffickers were skimming cocaine from the shipments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599164559521.png" alt=" Portillo-Uranga photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption> Portillo-Uranga photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Texas man who oversaw a drug ring in the Kansas City metro area was sentenced Wednesday to 262 months in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Jorge Portillo-Uranga, 36, Teague, Texas, pleaded guilty to seven felony counts including conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation in 2016 of a drug trafficking organization headed by Portillo-Uranga that was selling kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana to buyers in the Kansas City metro area. Portillo-Uranga managed the operation from his home in Teague, Texas. Investigators intercepted communications between Portillo-Uranga in Texas and other members of the organization as he directed their movements in obtaining cocaine and delivering it to Kansas City. In various conversations, Portillo-Uranga expressed his suspicions that some of the traffickers were skimming cocaine from the shipments.

Texas man admits running drug ring in Kansas City 

The Kansas Insurance Department gets thousands of calls a month from
consumers to agents to companies, inquiring about the laws and regulations of
the state of Kansas.

I love hearing from Kansans and I am thrilled at the
opportunity to help. As a pharmacist, working directly with patients was my
favorite part. 

Sometimes the issue they inquire about is an easy fix, sometimes
it takes a little more research, and sometimes we can't do anything at all
because it isn't in our jurisdiction. But, it is important to me that you get
an answer. 

For me, the toughest cases are the ones that could have been
prevented. 

Recently, the Insurance Department has seen an uptick in the number
of complaints due to scams. There will always be bad actors and it is up to
each of us to be on the lookout for them in order to avoid falling victim to
them. I want to warn you about a few scams we know are out there right now. 

•
"Coronavirus Insurance" is not real. It does not exist. Anyone trying
to sell it is trying to scam you. • Beware of phone calls where people claim to
be from your insurance company. They may even have some of your information.
But, don't change your policy during these phone calls. • Request for personal
information. Don't give out any personal information (Medicare number, Social
Security number, credit card number, etc.) to anyone over the phone.

If
everyone behaved themselves we wouldn't have a Consumer Assistance Division, an
Anti-Fraud Division or a Compliance and Enforcement Division for Securities. Each of these divisions is dedicated to ensuring the law is followed, identifying bad actors and helping consumers who have fallen victim. 

If the Insurance Department can help answer your questions, troubleshoot an issue or handle a complaint, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-432- 2484 or email at kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov. You can learn more about other insurance and securities related scams on the Department's website <a href="https://insurance.kansas.gov/">insurance.kansas.gov</a>.

It is an honor to serve you and your family in the Kansas Insurance Department. 

If there is something you think can work better or would help other Kansans have a better experience with insurance, please share it with me at kid.commissioner@ks.gov.&nbsp;

Vicki Schmidt is the Kansas Insurance Commissioner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599164016549.jpeg" alt="Vicki Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Vicki Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Insurance Department gets thousands of calls a month from
consumers to agents to companies, inquiring about the laws and regulations of
the state of Kansas. I love hearing from Kansans and I am thrilled at the
opportunity to help. As a pharmacist, working directly with patients was my
favorite part. Sometimes the issue they inquire about is an easy fix, sometimes
it takes a little more research, and sometimes we can't do anything at all
because it isn't in our jurisdiction. But, it is important to me that you get
an answer. For me, the toughest cases are the ones that could have been
prevented. Recently, the Insurance Department has seen an uptick in the number
of complaints due to scams. There will always be bad actors and it is up to
each of us to be on the lookout for them in order to avoid falling victim to
them. I want to warn you about a few scams we know are out there right now. •
"Coronavirus Insurance" is not real. It does not exist. Anyone trying
to sell it is trying to scam you. • Beware of phone calls where people claim to
be from your insurance company. They may even have some of your information.
But, don't change your policy during these phone calls. • Request for personal
information. Don't give out any personal information (Medicare number, Social
Security number, credit card number, etc.) to anyone over the phone. If
everyone behaved themselves we wouldn't have a Consumer Assistance Division, an
Anti-Fraud Division or a Compliance and Enforcement Division for Securities. Each of these divisions is dedicated to ensuring the law is followed, identifying bad actors and helping consumers who have fallen victim. If the Insurance Department can help answer your questions, troubleshoot an issue or handle a complaint, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-432- 2484 or email at kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov. You can learn more about other insurance and securities related scams on the Department's website <a href="https://insurance.kansas.gov/">insurance.kansas.gov</a>. It is an honor to serve you and your family in the Kansas Insurance Department. If there is something you think can work better or would help other Kansans have a better experience with insurance, please share it with me at kid.commissioner@ks.gov.&nbsp;Vicki Schmidt is the Kansas Insurance Commissioner.

Insurance Commissioner: No such thing as coronavirus insurance

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects following the completion of a search warrant in Shawnee County.

On Sept. 3, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Rossville Police Department, served a narcotic search warrant in the 3300 block of SE Girard Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Officers located three individuals and initially detained them for the investigation.

Following the discovery of narcotics and firearms, officers&nbsp; arrested William C. O’Handlen, 51; Stella M. Hillis, 46, of&nbsp; Walter U. O’Handlen, 51, all of Topeka were arrested and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

William O’Handlen was booked on requested charged that include possession of methamphetamine, criminal use of a weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hillis and Walter O’Handlen were both booked on requested charged of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599224726289.png" alt="William O’Handlen-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>William O’Handlen-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects following the completion of a search warrant in Shawnee County.On Sept. 3, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Rossville Police Department, served a narcotic search warrant in the 3300 block of SE Girard Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Officers located three individuals and initially detained them for the investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599224888013.png" alt="Walter O’Handlen-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Walter O’Handlen-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the discovery of narcotics and firearms, officers&nbsp; arrested William C. O’Handlen, 51; Stella M. Hillis, 46, of&nbsp; Walter U. O’Handlen, 51, all of Topeka were arrested and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599224792206.png" alt="Hillis-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hillis-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>William O’Handlen was booked on requested charged that include possession of methamphetamine, criminal use of a weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hillis and Walter O’Handlen were both booked on requested charged of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kan. twins arrested after Drug Task Force investigation

Robert Courtney pleaded guilty in 2001 to diluting medications over the course of nearly a decade

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-02/federal-judge-denies-compassionate-release-to-former-kansas-city-druggist-who-diluted-cancer-meds">Kansas News Service</a>

A federal judge has denied ex-pharmacist Robert Courtney’s request 
for compassionate release from prison, saying he had not demonstrated 
“extraordinary and compelling” reasons for reducing his 30-year prison 
sentence.

Courtney pleaded guilty in 2001 to diluting cancer and other medications over the course of nearly a decade.

Now
 67, Courtney claims to suffer from a variety of chronic, debilitating 
health conditions. He also says he is at risk of contracting COVID-19 
due to his age and poor health.

But U.S. District Judge Ortrie 
Smith, the judge who sentenced Courtney to prison nearly 19 years ago, 
found none of those reasons sufficient to release Courtney from prison. 
Courtney is incarcerated in the federal penitentiary in Englewood, 
Colorado.

Smith noted that the incidence of Covid-19 at Englewood 
is exceedingly low, about 0.7% of the prison population. And he said 
that Courtney’s health conditions did not place him at increased risk of
 contracting COVID-19.

Courtney also argued that he had 
rehabilitated himself and been a productive inmate. But Smith said those
 were not extraordinary or compelling reasons for his release.

The
 families of Courtney's families were outraged when they learned two 
months ago that the Bureau of Prisons intended to release Courtney to 
home confinement in Trimble, Missouri.  The BOP eventually backtracked 
and canceled its decision. Courtney’s lawyers said the cancellation was 
due to “the numerous threats Courtney’s family received when news of his
 release” was made public.

FBI and Food and Drug Administration 
agents began investigating Courtney in the summer of 2001 after Kansas 
City oncologist Verda Hunter notified them that a salesman from 
drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. had told her Courtney was dispensing far 
more of the cancer medication Gemzar than he was purchasing.

Agents
 set up a sting operation to buy drugs from Courtney, who mixed cancer 
drugs for Hunter, and discovered that the drugs were far less potent 
than Hunter had ordered. One sample contained less than 1 percent of the
 prescribed amount.

Authorities said the scheme lasted for a 
decade and affected as many as 4,200 patients and 98,000 prescriptions 
for cancer medications and a variety of other drugs.

Dan Margolies is senior reporter and editor at KCUR. He can be reached by email at dan@kcur.org or on Twitter @DanMargolies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599152507759.png" alt="The Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse in downtown Kansas City, where Courtney was sentenced to 30 years in prison in December 2002. Chris Murphy" />
 <figcaption>The Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse in downtown Kansas City, where Courtney was sentenced to 30 years in prison in December 2002. Chris Murphy</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Robert Courtney pleaded guilty in 2001 to diluting medications over the course of nearly a decade</h2>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-02/federal-judge-denies-compassionate-release-to-former-kansas-city-druggist-who-diluted-cancer-meds">Kansas News Service</a>A federal judge has denied ex-pharmacist Robert Courtney’s request 
for compassionate release from prison, saying he had not demonstrated 
“extraordinary and compelling” reasons for reducing his 30-year prison 
sentence.Courtney pleaded guilty in 2001 to diluting cancer and other medications over the course of nearly a decade.Now
 67, Courtney claims to suffer from a variety of chronic, debilitating 
health conditions. He also says he is at risk of contracting COVID-19 
due to his age and poor health.But U.S. District Judge Ortrie 
Smith, the judge who sentenced Courtney to prison nearly 19 years ago, 
found none of those reasons sufficient to release Courtney from prison. 
Courtney is incarcerated in the federal penitentiary in Englewood, 
Colorado.Smith noted that the incidence of Covid-19 at Englewood 
is exceedingly low, about 0.7% of the prison population. And he said 
that Courtney’s health conditions did not place him at increased risk of
 contracting COVID-19.Courtney also argued that he had 
rehabilitated himself and been a productive inmate. But Smith said those
 were not extraordinary or compelling reasons for his release.The
 families of Courtney's families were outraged when they learned two 
months ago that the Bureau of Prisons intended to release Courtney to 
home confinement in Trimble, Missouri. The BOP eventually backtracked 
and canceled its decision. Courtney’s lawyers said the cancellation was 
due to “the numerous threats Courtney’s family received when news of his
 release” was made public.FBI and Food and Drug Administration 
agents began investigating Courtney in the summer of 2001 after Kansas 
City oncologist Verda Hunter notified them that a salesman from 
drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. had told her Courtney was dispensing far 
more of the cancer medication Gemzar than he was purchasing.Agents
 set up a sting operation to buy drugs from Courtney, who mixed cancer 
drugs for Hunter, and discovered that the drugs were far less potent 
than Hunter had ordered. One sample contained less than 1 percent of the
 prescribed amount.Authorities said the scheme lasted for a 
decade and affected as many as 4,200 patients and 98,000 prescriptions 
for cancer medications and a variety of other drugs.Dan Margolies is senior reporter and editor at KCUR. He can be reached by email at dan@kcur.org or on Twitter @DanMargolies.

Judge denies release to former KC druggist who diluted cancer meds

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Housing advocates say the Trump administration’s surprise national moratorium on evictions only delays a wave of crushing debt and homelessness, and an attorney representing landlords questions whether the measure is aimed at voters ahead of the November election.

The White House announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act under its broad powers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The measure would forbid landlords from evicting anyone for failure to pay rent, providing the renter meets four criteria.

Critics call it everything from an empty stall tactic to an outright political ploy.

“My first reaction was, ‘Thank God,’” said Matthew Hill, an attorney with the Public Justice Center in Baltimore. But he noted that tenants will be expected to repay their rent when the moratorium expires on Jan. 1, and without some kind of rental assistance, “we are just going to be kicking the can down the road.”

Richard Vetstein, the lead attorney representing landlords who are challenging an eviction moratorium in Massachusetts, called the CDC order “convoluted” and poorly drafted.

“It’s a pretty blatant political play by Trump in an election year,” Vetstein said. “It purports to apply nationwide to every residential situation for nonpayment of rent, so that would be many, many millions of rental properties.”

The move is a good first step, said Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. But the order just “puts the problem on pause.”

“In January, when this would cease to be in place, all of those tenants would still owe all of the rent they owed to start with,” Faith said. “If they are covered by the moratorium and don’t pay what rent they can pay, their hole is thousands of dollars deep.”

Faith also said implementing the order could be “messy,” since it would often fall to local judges to determine if a tenant qualifies. In Ohio alone, that would involve hundreds of housing courts.

— Have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers.

— Demonstrate they have sought government assistance to make their rental payments.

— Are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19 hardships.

— Are likely to become homeless if they are evicted.

The CDC order comes as many local and state eviction bans are set to expire. California’s measure was supposed to end Wednesday, but Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday to extend it through Jan. 31 for people who pay at least 25% of the rent owed during that time.

He described the law as “a bridge to a more permanent solution” from the federal government.

“We need a real, federal commitment of significant new funding to assist struggling tenants and homeowners in California and across the nation,” Newsom said.

Brian Morgenstern, a deputy White House press secretary, said the administration “has also made federal funds available to alleviate any economic impact to tenants, landlords, and property owners.” Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said his agency had allocated nearly $10 billion in resources and rental assistance.

Landlords say the order forces them to shoulder a heavy financial burden.

“It’s great to say nobody can be evicted,” said Mitch Matorin, who is owed $11,400 in back rent on property he owns in Worcester, Massachusetts. “But all that does is push this large societal cost onto the landlords.”

Matorin, a lead plaintiff in the case against the state moratorium, said he has had to dip into savings to make monthly mortgage payments.

“If there is a societal interest that requires no evictions, then society needs to step up and fund it,” he said. “Otherwise, it is incredibly unfair and untenable to shove the cost on the landlords.”

A $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by Democrats in the House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages. A counter proposal from Senate Republicans offers far less. Advocacy groups have sought more than $100 billion.

Vetstein said there were many questions about the order, including whether it applies to eviction cases already filed in the courts. It is also unclear how the order would affect lawsuits like the one in Massachusetts challenging the state moratorium.

“One of our clients is a nurse,” he said. “She is owed over $20,000, and now she is going to be stuck. Through the end of the year she will be owed $30,000, and the tenant can just live there for free. It’s literally going to cause her financial ruin.”

Faith said it’s good to see the administration acknowledge the public health threat posed by evictions that could send people into crowded shelters and other housing. But the moratorium is “not the ideal way to proceed.”

Whatever the order’s limitations, renters like Natasha Blunt are relieved.

“Sign me up!” the New Orleans resident said after learning about the government directive.

A GoFundMe campaign and earnings from a part-time housekeeping job helped her catch up on rent through September on the two-bedroom apartment she shares with her two young grandchildren. But she was worried about what would happen after that.

“Oh my God. That would be a blessing for me and my babies,” said Blunt, who lost her banquet porter’s job at the beginning of the pandemic. “I would be able to buy food. It would just lift a huge weight off my shoulders.”

GoFundMe and donations from several community groups helped Amanda Wood of Columbus, Ohio, stave off eviction in August. But Wood, who is 23 and pregnant and has a 6-month-old at home, is scrambling again to pay September’s bills.

“It makes me feel good that I can’t get evicted,” said Wood, who lost her job with a claims-management company in April. But she’s still worried about paying all those months of rent in January.

“You could still face eviction after that,” she said. “The landlord isn’t going to dismiss all the months of rent that has been built up.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Housing advocates say the Trump administration’s surprise national moratorium on evictions only delays a wave of crushing debt and homelessness, and an attorney representing landlords questions whether the measure is aimed at voters ahead of the November election.The White House announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act under its broad powers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The measure would forbid landlords from evicting anyone for failure to pay rent, providing the renter meets four criteria.Critics call it everything from an empty stall tactic to an outright political ploy.“My first reaction was, ‘Thank God,’” said Matthew Hill, an attorney with the Public Justice Center in Baltimore. But he noted that tenants will be expected to repay their rent when the moratorium expires on Jan. 1, and without some kind of rental assistance, “we are just going to be kicking the can down the road.”Richard Vetstein, the lead attorney representing landlords who are challenging an eviction moratorium in Massachusetts, called the CDC order “convoluted” and poorly drafted.“It’s a pretty blatant political play by Trump in an election year,” Vetstein said. “It purports to apply nationwide to every residential situation for nonpayment of rent, so that would be many, many millions of rental properties.”The move is a good first step, said Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. But the order just “puts the problem on pause.”“In January, when this would cease to be in place, all of those tenants would still owe all of the rent they owed to start with,” Faith said. “If they are covered by the moratorium and don’t pay what rent they can pay, their hole is thousands of dollars deep.”Faith also said implementing the order could be “messy,” since it would often fall to local judges to determine if a tenant qualifies. In Ohio alone, that would involve hundreds of housing courts.The CDC order covers only people who:— Have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers.— Demonstrate they have sought government assistance to make their rental payments.— Are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19 hardships.— Are likely to become homeless if they are evicted.The CDC order comes as many local and state eviction bans are set to expire. California’s measure was supposed to end Wednesday, but Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday to extend it through Jan. 31 for people who pay at least 25% of the rent owed during that time.He described the law as “a bridge to a more permanent solution” from the federal government.“We need a real, federal commitment of significant new funding to assist struggling tenants and homeowners in California and across the nation,” Newsom said.Brian Morgenstern, a deputy White House press secretary, said the administration “has also made federal funds available to alleviate any economic impact to tenants, landlords, and property owners.” Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said his agency had allocated nearly $10 billion in resources and rental assistance.Landlords say the order forces them to shoulder a heavy financial burden.“It’s great to say nobody can be evicted,” said Mitch Matorin, who is owed $11,400 in back rent on property he owns in Worcester, Massachusetts. “But all that does is push this large societal cost onto the landlords.”Matorin, a lead plaintiff in the case against the state moratorium, said he has had to dip into savings to make monthly mortgage payments.“If there is a societal interest that requires no evictions, then society needs to step up and fund it,” he said. “Otherwise, it is incredibly unfair and untenable to shove the cost on the landlords.”A $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by Democrats in the House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages. A counter proposal from Senate Republicans offers far less. Advocacy groups have sought more than $100 billion.Vetstein said there were many questions about the order, including whether it applies to eviction cases already filed in the courts. It is also unclear how the order would affect lawsuits like the one in Massachusetts challenging the state moratorium.“One of our clients is a nurse,” he said. “She is owed over $20,000, and now she is going to be stuck. Through the end of the year she will be owed $30,000, and the tenant can just live there for free. It’s literally going to cause her financial ruin.”Faith said it’s good to see the administration acknowledge the public health threat posed by evictions that could send people into crowded shelters and other housing. But the moratorium is “not the ideal way to proceed.”Whatever the order’s limitations, renters like Natasha Blunt are relieved.“Sign me up!” the New Orleans resident said after learning about the government directive.A GoFundMe campaign and earnings from a part-time housekeeping job helped her catch up on rent through September on the two-bedroom apartment she shares with her two young grandchildren. But she was worried about what would happen after that.“Oh my God. That would be a blessing for me and my babies,” said Blunt, who lost her banquet porter’s job at the beginning of the pandemic. “I would be able to buy food. It would just lift a huge weight off my shoulders.”GoFundMe and donations from several community groups helped Amanda Wood of Columbus, Ohio, stave off eviction in August. But Wood, who is 23 and pregnant and has a 6-month-old at home, is scrambling again to pay September’s bills.“It makes me feel good that I can’t get evicted,” said Wood, who lost her job with a claims-management company in April. But she’s still worried about paying all those months of rent in January.“You could still face eviction after that,” she said. “The landlord isn’t going to dismiss all the months of rent that has been built up.”

Critics: Eviction ban may only delay wave of homelessness

TREGO COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Saturday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Toyota Sienna driven by&nbsp; Meghan Elizabeth Zweifel, 16, Ellis, was traveling on N Road one half mile east of County Road 400 eighteen miles south of WaKeeney.

&nbsp;The driver was texting and lost control of the minivan. The vehicle slid off the roadway and overturned in the north ditch.

EMS transported Zweifel and passengers Journey M. Eck, 16, and Sydney S.&nbsp;Bertelmann, 12, both of Ellis to Hays Medical Center. Eck was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TREGO COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Saturday in Trego County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Toyota Sienna driven by&nbsp; Meghan Elizabeth Zweifel, 16, Ellis, was traveling on N Road one half mile east of County Road 400 eighteen miles south of WaKeeney.&nbsp;The driver was texting and lost control of the minivan. The vehicle slid off the roadway and overturned in the north ditch.EMS transported Zweifel and passengers Journey M. Eck, 16, and Sydney S.&nbsp;Bertelmann, 12, both of Ellis to Hays Medical Center. Eck was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

KHP: Kan. teen texting while driving; 3 hospitalized

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged assault of a police officer.

Just after 3 a.m. Friday, police were at the 900 block of Safford Avenue in Garden City investigating a reckless driver who fled from a vehicle, according to officer Lana Urteaga.

While at the scene, officers observed a man identified as Braulio Guy Ortiz, 31, Garden City, who was agitated and intoxicated. He was carrying a Roman Candle style firework and yelled obscenities at the officers.

Ortiz went inside his residence and returned with a blow torch and attempted to light the firework. He allegedly pointed the firework at one of the officers and approached the officer. Ortiz refused to listen to instructions to drop the firework.

Police arrested Ortiz on requested charges of Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer. The case is under review by the Finney County Attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599252674633.png" alt="Ortiz-Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Ortiz-Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged assault of a police officer.Just after 3 a.m. Friday, police were at the 900 block of Safford Avenue in Garden City investigating a reckless driver who fled from a vehicle, according to officer Lana Urteaga.While at the scene, officers observed a man identified as Braulio Guy Ortiz, 31, Garden City, who was agitated and intoxicated. He was carrying a Roman Candle style firework and yelled obscenities at the officers.Ortiz went inside his residence and returned with a blow torch and attempted to light the firework. He allegedly pointed the firework at one of the officers and approached the officer. Ortiz refused to listen to instructions to drop the firework.Police arrested Ortiz on requested charges of Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer. The case is under review by the Finney County Attorney.

SW Kansas man threatens officer with firework

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced this week to 115 months in federal prison for driving the getaway car in a series of commercial robberies, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Shaiquille Harris, 27, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In his plea, Harris admitted participating in robberies at the following stores:

Kwik Shop, 3959 S. Hydraulic, Wichita, Kan.

Kwik Shop, 3601 E. 47th&nbsp;South, Wichita, Kan.

QuikTrip, 2821 E. 31st&nbsp;South, Wichita, Kan.

Harris admitted that in each case he drove and a co-defendant entered the store to commit the robbery. Co-defendant&nbsp;Brelen VonFange, 28, Wichita, Kan., is awaiting trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599130665819.png" alt="Harris is being held in Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Harris is being held in Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced this week to 115 months in federal prison for driving the getaway car in a series of commercial robberies, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Shaiquille Harris, 27, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In his plea, Harris admitted participating in robberies at the following stores:Kwik Shop, 710 W. 29th, Wichita, Kan.Kwik Shop, 3959 S. Hydraulic, Wichita, Kan.Kwik Shop, 3601 E. 47th&nbsp;South, Wichita, Kan.QuikTrip, 2821 E. 31st&nbsp;South, Wichita, Kan.Harris admitted that in each case he drove and a co-defendant entered the store to commit the robbery. Co-defendant&nbsp;Brelen VonFange, 28, Wichita, Kan., is awaiting trial.

Man sentenced for role in 4 Kan. armed robberies

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An 18-year-old black rhinoceros named Klyde has died unexpectedly at Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo. The zoo said in a Facebook post that the zookeepers reported that Klyde appeared healthy when he went on exhibit Saturday but then collapsed. 

Staff was not able to be revive him. The veterinary team plans to perform a necropsy to learn more about Klyde’s health and a potential cause of death. 

The zoo post described Klyde as having a “gentle demeanor and sweet personality.” The zoo also posted a video that showed guests hand-feeding Klyde.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599337834662.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An 18-year-old black rhinoceros named Klyde has died unexpectedly at Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo. The zoo said in a Facebook post that the zookeepers reported that Klyde appeared healthy when he went on exhibit Saturday but then collapsed. Staff was not able to be revive him. The veterinary team plans to perform a necropsy to learn more about Klyde’s health and a potential cause of death. The zoo post described Klyde as having a “gentle demeanor and sweet personality.” The zoo also posted a video that showed guests hand-feeding Klyde.

18-year-old Rhino named Klyde dies at Kansas zoo

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Five high school golfers who sued after their suburban Kansas City districts put the brakes on fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic have failed to convince a judge to let them play while the case works its way through the courts.

The golfers, all girls, and their parents sued the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts Tuesday, arguing that they should be allowed to play because golf poses a lower risk of spreading the virus than other sports, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article245496975.html" target="_blank">reports.</a>

Blue Valley officials on Friday, though, announced the district would resume high school sports this weekend. Attorney John Duggan, who is representing the families, was not immediately available to comment on how Blue Valley’s decision will affect the lawsuit.

While the case moves through court, the golf players requested a temporary restraining order that would have allowed them to begin immediately competing. But on Friday, Johnson County Judge Robert Wonnell denied that request. A hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 11.

Four of the golfers play for Shawnee Mission East High School, which won the Kansas Class 6A state girls golf tournament last year. The fifth golfer plays for Blue Valley West High School team.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Five high school golfers who sued after their suburban Kansas City districts put the brakes on fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic have failed to convince a judge to let them play while the case works its way through the courts.The golfers, all girls, and their parents sued the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts Tuesday, arguing that they should be allowed to play because golf poses a lower risk of spreading the virus than other sports, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article245496975.html" target="_blank">reports.</a>Blue Valley officials on Friday, though, announced the district would resume high school sports this weekend. Attorney John Duggan, who is representing the families, was not immediately available to comment on how Blue Valley’s decision will affect the lawsuit.While the case moves through court, the golf players requested a temporary restraining order that would have allowed them to begin immediately competing. But on Friday, Johnson County Judge Robert Wonnell denied that request. A hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 11.Four of the golfers play for Shawnee Mission East High School, which won the Kansas Class 6A state girls golf tournament last year. The fifth golfer plays for Blue Valley West High School team.

Judge won’t let Kan. golfers play while pandemic lawsuit proceeds

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced plans to expand the collection of personal “biometric” information by the agency in charge of immigration enforcement, raising concerns about civil liberties and data protection.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it would soon issue a formal proposal for a new regulation for expanding “the authorities and methods” for collecting biometrics, which are physical characteristics such as fingerprints used to identify individuals.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component of DHS, already collects biometric data, including iris scans, from people captured trying to enter the country without legal authority.

DHS said in a written statement that the new rule would authorize new techniques, including voice and facial recognition to verify people’s identity.

The agency did not release the proposed regulation or provide details. BuzzFeed News, which obtained a draft of the policy, reported earlier Tuesday that it included a provision for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is also a component of DHS, to collect biometric data from non-citizens legally working and living in the U.S. or seeking to do so.

It would also require U.S. citizens sponsoring relatives to come to the country to provide biometric data, including in some cases their DNA, if it was needed to verify someone’s identity.

“This is a remarkable expansion of surveillance, especially the idea that immigrants could be called in at any point to give these biometrics,” said Sarah Pierce, an analyst with the Migration Policy Institute.

It typically takes several months for a new regulation to take effect after a public comment period. This measure is likely to prompt legal challenges, as have most immigration measures introduced under President Donald Trump.

Acting Deputy DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli characterized the new regulation in a written statement as a way to improve the verification of people’s identities and modernize operations.

“Leveraging readily available technology to verify the identity of an individual we are screening is responsible governing,” Cuccinelli said. “The collection of biometric information also guards against identity theft and thwarts fraudsters who are not who they claim to be.”

DHS is charged with enforcing the strict immigration enforcement policies that have been a hallmark of the Trump administration. But the agency is also in charge Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is responsible for enabling people to legally live and work in the United States.

A lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy rights watchdog, said there’s no justification for expanding biometric data collection, and no clear rules for how long the information can be retained, how it can be used, and whether it can be shared with foreign governments or other agencies.

“There doesn’t really seem to be any indication that this will help with combating fraud or anything like that,” said EFF staff attorney Saira Hussain. “Rather, it’s about making it so the government can engage in dragnet surveillance of immigrant communities by being able to access some of their most unique and sensitive biometric information.”

There are also concerns about protecting the data. CBP said last year that photos of travelers and their license plates at a border crossing were compromised in a cyber attack on a government contractor.

“The more data you collect and the more sensitive it is the more that opens up the government to potential data breaches,” Hussain said.

Andrea Flores, deputy director of policy for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the new policy would be an invasion of privacy rights and is a part of a broader administration effort to curtail all immigration.

“They really are trying to shut down legal immigration by creating new barriers, in this case asking people to turn over their most personal information and discouraging people from coming forward and using our legal immigration pathways.” said Flores, a policy analyst at DHS in the Obama administration. “It’s saying that immigrants are suspect and not welcome here, and if you’re related to an immigrant we’re also concerned about your presence.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced plans to expand the collection of personal “biometric” information by the agency in charge of immigration enforcement, raising concerns about civil liberties and data protection.In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it would soon issue a formal proposal for a new regulation for expanding “the authorities and methods” for collecting biometrics, which are physical characteristics such as fingerprints used to identify individuals.U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component of DHS, already collects biometric data, including iris scans, from people captured trying to enter the country without legal authority.DHS said in a written statement that the new rule would authorize new techniques, including voice and facial recognition to verify people’s identity.The agency did not release the proposed regulation or provide details. BuzzFeed News, which obtained a draft of the policy, reported earlier Tuesday that it included a provision for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is also a component of DHS, to collect biometric data from non-citizens legally working and living in the U.S. or seeking to do so.It would also require U.S. citizens sponsoring relatives to come to the country to provide biometric data, including in some cases their DNA, if it was needed to verify someone’s identity.“This is a remarkable expansion of surveillance, especially the idea that immigrants could be called in at any point to give these biometrics,” said Sarah Pierce, an analyst with the Migration Policy Institute.It typically takes several months for a new regulation to take effect after a public comment period. This measure is likely to prompt legal challenges, as have most immigration measures introduced under President Donald Trump.Acting Deputy DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli characterized the new regulation in a written statement as a way to improve the verification of people’s identities and modernize operations.“Leveraging readily available technology to verify the identity of an individual we are screening is responsible governing,” Cuccinelli said. “The collection of biometric information also guards against identity theft and thwarts fraudsters who are not who they claim to be.”DHS is charged with enforcing the strict immigration enforcement policies that have been a hallmark of the Trump administration. But the agency is also in charge Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is responsible for enabling people to legally live and work in the United States.A lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy rights watchdog, said there’s no justification for expanding biometric data collection, and no clear rules for how long the information can be retained, how it can be used, and whether it can be shared with foreign governments or other agencies.“There doesn’t really seem to be any indication that this will help with combating fraud or anything like that,” said EFF staff attorney Saira Hussain. “Rather, it’s about making it so the government can engage in dragnet surveillance of immigrant communities by being able to access some of their most unique and sensitive biometric information.”There are also concerns about protecting the data. CBP said last year that photos of travelers and their license plates at a border crossing were compromised in a cyber attack on a government contractor.“The more data you collect and the more sensitive it is the more that opens up the government to potential data breaches,” Hussain said.Andrea Flores, deputy director of policy for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the new policy would be an invasion of privacy rights and is a part of a broader administration effort to curtail all immigration.“They really are trying to shut down legal immigration by creating new barriers, in this case asking people to turn over their most personal information and discouraging people from coming forward and using our legal immigration pathways.” said Flores, a policy analyst at DHS in the Obama administration. “It’s saying that immigrants are suspect and not welcome here, and if you’re related to an immigrant we’re also concerned about your presence.”_____

Homeland Security plans expanded use of personal data

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Four people were injured in an accident just before 4a.m. Saturday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Kelly A. Ferris, 24, Carbondale, was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of Kansas 156.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It entered median, struck a drainage culvert, became airborne, rolled and came to rest on its top in the median.

EMS transported&nbsp;Ferris to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; EMS transported passengers in the Toyota Jeffrey S. Swisher, 30, Emmitt; Merritt Swisher, 2, and Durban Swisher, 4-months, both of Carbondale to Salina Regional Medical Center.

The adults were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Four people were injured in an accident just before 4a.m. Saturday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Kelly A. Ferris, 24, Carbondale, was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of Kansas 156.The driver lost control of the vehicle. It entered median, struck a drainage culvert, became airborne, rolled and came to rest on its top in the median.EMS transported&nbsp;Ferris to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; EMS transported passengers in the Toyota Jeffrey S. Swisher, 30, Emmitt; Merritt Swisher, 2, and Durban Swisher, 4-months, both of Carbondale to Salina Regional Medical Center.The adults were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

2 adults, 2 children hospitalized after I-70 rollover crash

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Stir-crazy in some cases after the dreary Summer of COVID-19, Americans headed into the Labor Day weekend amid warnings from public health officials not to make the same mistakes they did over Memorial Day and July Fourth.

The fear is that backyard parties, crowded bars and other gatherings will cause the coronavirus to come surging back

“I look upon the Labor Day weekend really as a critical point,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert. “Are we going to go in the right direction and continue the momentum downward, or are we going to have to step back a bit as we start another surge?”

The warnings came as a widely cited model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projected a worsening outbreak in the U.S. that will peak in early December at about 2,900 deaths per day, up from about 860 a day now, unless government officials take action.

Over the summer, the U.S. saw a rise in infections, deaths and hospitalizations, primarily in the South and West, that was blamed in part on Americans behaving heedlessly over Memorial Day and July Fourth.

The landscape has improved in recent weeks, with the numbers headed in the right direction in hard-hit states like Florida, Arizona and Texas, but there are certain risk factors that could combine with Labor Day: Children are going back to school, university campuses are seeing soaring case counts, college football is starting, more businesses are open, and flu season is around the corner.

And a few states are heading into the holiday with less room in hospitals than they had over Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Alabama, for example, had about 800 people hospitalized with the virus on July 1. This week, it has just under 1,000.

More beaches will be open on Labor Day than on Memorial Day, but Fauci said that is not cause in itself for concern, as long as people keep their distance.

“I would rather see someone on a beach, being physically separated enough, than someone crowded in an indoor bar,” he said.

Americans, cooped up for months, appeared more than ready to venture out and socialize — though with some precautions.

In New York City, once the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., Jennifer Bolstad of Brooklyn picked up the keys to a rented minivan with plans to drive with her two children to Maryland this weekend to visit family she hasn’t seen in a year.

“I monitored the quarantine list pathologically, and they are finally a place I can visit,” she said, referring to the list of states that New York has advised are safe to travel to. “I think a lot of people are going stir-crazy and are going somewhere this weekend and possibly not be as cautious as they should about not bringing their germs back with them.”

Fellow New Yorker 30-year-old Heather Poole and her fiance, Jason Goldrosen, decided to pack up some bedding along with the makings for s’mores and head to a tiny home on the property of a brewery for the long weekend about two hours north of the city. She figures it will be one last blast of freedom before she is cooped up again this fall.

“It’s kind of a way to enjoy the outdoors and be able to walk outside and not run into a lot of people or feel the need to wear a mask the second you walk out your door,” she said.

In Cicero, Indiana, 40-year-old Matt McInnis planned to continue with tradition by getting together with about 15 neighborhood friends for a barbecue. And forget wearing masks.

“With the picnic being outdoors, we feel that we can space enough, and with the fresh air that we are going to be safe with it being outdoors and in the wide open,” McInnis said. He said they won’t be asking the eight children at the picnic to socially distance either.

Dawn Love of Bolton, Connecticut, decided to host an outdoor breakfast Saturday for her running group, The Crazy Legs, at her cottage on a lake. The 20 members normally run the local roads together every weekend but haven’t seen each other since March.

Love, 62, said she expects just a few people to show up, with some deciding it was still too risky and begging off.

“Everyone is bringing their own breakfast, their own beverage and a mask,” she said. “We’re going to meet and have the chairs 6 feet apart. Wearing the mask will depend on the comfort level with the person you’re talking to. I have a bathroom inside the cottage, with paper towels and a basket, so there is no shared towels.”

The gathering comes as governors throughout the Northeast discouraged people from traveling out of state this weekend. Visitors from 33 states and territories must quarantine for 14 days after arriving in New Jersey, New York or Connecticut.

The outbreak is blamed for about 187,000 deaths and almost 6.2 million confirmed infections in the U.S., by far the highest totals in the world. Cases of COVID-19, which spiked from about 20,000 per day to around 70,000 during the summertime surge in the South, are now down to about 40,000.

Worldwide, the number of deaths has topped 870,000, with more than 26.4 million infections.

The IHME model Friday predicted that worsening outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere will lead to 1.9 million more COVID-19 deaths in the remaining months of 2020 unless governments take action.

Mask mandates and social distancing could save hundreds of thousands of lives, but there is “a tremendous amount of COVID fatigue” among the world’s leaders because of the economic downturn, said IHME’s Dr. Christopher Murray.

Dr. Albert Ko, a Yale University epidemiologist, said he is concerned about students heading back to school across the nation next week after coming back from holiday travel and a weekend of social gatherings.

“Any transmission events that happen here could be amplified unless we’re careful about it,” Ko said. “Whether it’s going to be a perfect storm, l don’t think so. People are aware of the risk, and people have been socially distancing. But this is certainly a concern.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591911691981.png" alt="Snap Chat image of the crowded Memorial weekend pool party at Lake of the Ozarks." />
 <figcaption>Snap Chat image of the crowded Memorial weekend pool party at Lake of the Ozarks.</figcaption>
 </figure>HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Stir-crazy in some cases after the dreary Summer of COVID-19, Americans headed into the Labor Day weekend amid warnings from public health officials not to make the same mistakes they did over Memorial Day and July Fourth.The fear is that backyard parties, crowded bars and other gatherings will cause the coronavirus to come surging back“I look upon the Labor Day weekend really as a critical point,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert. “Are we going to go in the right direction and continue the momentum downward, or are we going to have to step back a bit as we start another surge?”The warnings came as a widely cited model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projected a worsening outbreak in the U.S. that will peak in early December at about 2,900 deaths per day, up from about 860 a day now, unless government officials take action.Over the summer, the U.S. saw a rise in infections, deaths and hospitalizations, primarily in the South and West, that was blamed in part on Americans behaving heedlessly over Memorial Day and July Fourth.The landscape has improved in recent weeks, with the numbers headed in the right direction in hard-hit states like Florida, Arizona and Texas, but there are certain risk factors that could combine with Labor Day: Children are going back to school, university campuses are seeing soaring case counts, college football is starting, more businesses are open, and flu season is around the corner.And a few states are heading into the holiday with less room in hospitals than they had over Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Alabama, for example, had about 800 people hospitalized with the virus on July 1. This week, it has just under 1,000.More beaches will be open on Labor Day than on Memorial Day, but Fauci said that is not cause in itself for concern, as long as people keep their distance.“I would rather see someone on a beach, being physically separated enough, than someone crowded in an indoor bar,” he said.Americans, cooped up for months, appeared more than ready to venture out and socialize — though with some precautions.In New York City, once the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., Jennifer Bolstad of Brooklyn picked up the keys to a rented minivan with plans to drive with her two children to Maryland this weekend to visit family she hasn’t seen in a year.“I monitored the quarantine list pathologically, and they are finally a place I can visit,” she said, referring to the list of states that New York has advised are safe to travel to. “I think a lot of people are going stir-crazy and are going somewhere this weekend and possibly not be as cautious as they should about not bringing their germs back with them.”Fellow New Yorker 30-year-old Heather Poole and her fiance, Jason Goldrosen, decided to pack up some bedding along with the makings for s’mores and head to a tiny home on the property of a brewery for the long weekend about two hours north of the city. She figures it will be one last blast of freedom before she is cooped up again this fall.“It’s kind of a way to enjoy the outdoors and be able to walk outside and not run into a lot of people or feel the need to wear a mask the second you walk out your door,” she said.In Cicero, Indiana, 40-year-old Matt McInnis planned to continue with tradition by getting together with about 15 neighborhood friends for a barbecue. And forget wearing masks.“With the picnic being outdoors, we feel that we can space enough, and with the fresh air that we are going to be safe with it being outdoors and in the wide open,” McInnis said. He said they won’t be asking the eight children at the picnic to socially distance either.Dawn Love of Bolton, Connecticut, decided to host an outdoor breakfast Saturday for her running group, The Crazy Legs, at her cottage on a lake. The 20 members normally run the local roads together every weekend but haven’t seen each other since March.Love, 62, said she expects just a few people to show up, with some deciding it was still too risky and begging off.“Everyone is bringing their own breakfast, their own beverage and a mask,” she said. “We’re going to meet and have the chairs 6 feet apart. Wearing the mask will depend on the comfort level with the person you’re talking to. I have a bathroom inside the cottage, with paper towels and a basket, so there is no shared towels.”The gathering comes as governors throughout the Northeast discouraged people from traveling out of state this weekend. Visitors from 33 states and territories must quarantine for 14 days after arriving in New Jersey, New York or Connecticut.The outbreak is blamed for about 187,000 deaths and almost 6.2 million confirmed infections in the U.S., by far the highest totals in the world. Cases of COVID-19, which spiked from about 20,000 per day to around 70,000 during the summertime surge in the South, are now down to about 40,000.Worldwide, the number of deaths has topped 870,000, with more than 26.4 million infections.The IHME model Friday predicted that worsening outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere will lead to 1.9 million more COVID-19 deaths in the remaining months of 2020 unless governments take action.Mask mandates and social distancing could save hundreds of thousands of lives, but there is “a tremendous amount of COVID fatigue” among the world’s leaders because of the economic downturn, said IHME’s Dr. Christopher Murray.Dr. Albert Ko, a Yale University epidemiologist, said he is concerned about students heading back to school across the nation next week after coming back from holiday travel and a weekend of social gatherings.“Any transmission events that happen here could be amplified unless we’re careful about it,” Ko said. “Whether it’s going to be a perfect storm, l don’t think so. People are aware of the risk, and people have been socially distancing. But this is certainly a concern.”___

Will long Labor Day weekend mean another coronavirus spike?

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities identified on Friday the man and woman who were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a car a day earlier in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Police Department said in a news release that they were Raymond Trimble, 29, and Emonnie Nunez, 18, both of Kansas City.

Officers were called to the scene early Thursday after a caller reported a suspicious vehicle with someone inside. Police found the two people shot to death inside the vehicle and are investigating the deaths as a double homicide.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man and woman were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a car and Kansas City police were investigating the deaths as a double homicide.

Officers were called to the scene early Thursday after a caller reported a suspicious vehicle with someone inside, police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said.

Police found the two people shot to death inside the vehicle, Becchina said.

Detectives are trying to determine if the victims lived in the area and owned the car they were found in, he said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities identified on Friday the man and woman who were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a car a day earlier in Kansas City.The Kansas City Police Department said in a news release that they were Raymond Trimble, 29, and Emonnie Nunez, 18, both of Kansas City.Officers were called to the scene early Thursday after a caller reported a suspicious vehicle with someone inside. Police found the two people shot to death inside the vehicle and are investigating the deaths as a double homicide.--------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man and woman were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a car and Kansas City police were investigating the deaths as a double homicide.Officers were called to the scene early Thursday after a caller reported a suspicious vehicle with someone inside, police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said.Police found the two people shot to death inside the vehicle, Becchina said.Detectives are trying to determine if the victims lived in the area and owned the car they were found in, he said.

Kansas City police ID two shot to death in car

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-03/scathing-federal-inspection-pulls-curtain-back-on-one-of-kansas-deadliest-coronavirus-outbreaks">Kansas News Service</a>

At a Kansas City, Kansas, nursing home, employees tested positive for COVID-19 and went back to work the next day.

Health
 workers cared for residents who had tested negative for the virus in 
the same gowns and masks they’d worn into the rooms of those who’d 
tested positive.

“I wash my hands,” a nurse told inspectors. “But I wear the same PPE.”

Now the <a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/34/9a/c810154543818e1a6e3577a99bbb/riverbend-5.1.20%20-%20Statement%20of%20Deficiencies%20and%20Plan%20of%20Correction.pdf" target="_blank">federal inspection</a>
 that documented those and other risky practices could play into 12 
lawsuits brought by families against Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation
 over the deaths of residents at the nursing home.

Dozens died of the coronavirus at Riverbend — one of the state’s deadliest nursing home outbreaks, a <a href="https://data.cms.gov/Special-Programs-Initiatives-COVID-19-Nursing-Home/COVID-19-Nursing-Home-Dataset/s2uc-8wxp" target="_blank">federal database</a> shows.

“This
 report just confirms the allegations we’ve already made,” said Rachel 
Stahle, a lawyer representing families in seven of the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-23/first-lawsuit-filed-against-kansas-city-kansas-rehab-facility-over-covid-19-death" target="_blank">lawsuits</a>. “It certainly bolsters our position.”

What
 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found at Riverbend, she 
said, makes clear the home wasn’t taking proper steps to control 
infections.

“The report is not surprising,” Stahle said. 
“Nonetheless, it’s still quite shocking. You have numerous employees who
 (were) working with symptoms.”

Riverbend argued a federal law shields it against the lawsuits, but a federal judge <a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/4e/33/13d4bace428da0ebe0034e69e92e/memorandum-order-remanding-case.pdf" target="_blank">rejected the argument</a> two weeks ago. That cleared the way for the families to proceed in state court in Wyandotte County.

Stahle expects discovery — an evidence-gathering stage — will start within a month.

Riverbend didn’t respond to a request for comment on what appears in the inspection report.

After
 scouring Riverbend’s daily logs and interviewing its staff, inspectors 
concluded the home didn’t take vital steps to protect residents. That 
made it likely they would get exposed to the coronavirus, “resulting in 
serious harm or death.”

The inspections took place in late April 
and early May, when the home had about 90 residents. Inspectors found 
employees weren’t following key guidelines to curb the virus’ spread — like segregating residents who’d tested positive for the virus from those who hadn’t.

Inspectors
 saw health workers caring for COVID-19 patients without proper 
protection. Some were missing gloves. Others lacked eye protection or a 
mask.

Residents were in “<a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationEnforcement/Nursing-Home-Enforcement#:~:text=Immediate%20jeopardy%20means%20a%20situation,were%20affected%20by%20the%20deficiency." target="_blank">immediate jeopardy</a>,” the inspectors wrote.

That
 was after the virus made it into Riverbend sometime around late March, 
and ravaged the place. Already, 32 deaths at the facility had been 
attributed to it. The home’s management figured the real toll was higher
 because not everyone who had died had been tested.

Tallies that 
Riverbend later reported to the federal government say 37 residents died
 of COVID-19, and more than 60 residents and 30 staff tested positive.

One
 nurse told inspectors she’d wear a single mask for five days at a time.
 An aide said the building’s director of nursing told her she didn’t 
need one to work with coronavirus patients.

That aide ended up contracting the virus. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html" target="_blank">CDC guidelines</a> say nursing home staff should don an N95 mask when caring for anyone suspected of having the virus.

The
 federal team also saw COVID-19 patients leaving their rooms and eating 
in the same common areas that residents who had tested negative were 
allowed to use.

The home’s managers told inspectors that 21 
residents had still tested negative as of early April. But because a 
large number had tested positive, it was pointless to keep them apart or
 have staff don fresh protective gear between rooms. They assumed 
everyone was actually infected.

One resident who was clearly ill was kept with a roommate who seemed healthy. Both ultimately tested positive.

CMS
 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had already made 
clear by mid-March that nursing homes had to screen staff for a range of
 symptoms and tell anyone who was sick to quarantine at home.

Yet 
day after day, some employees walked into the building without anyone 
documenting their temperature or other symptoms. Others reported having 
coughs, shortness of breath or sore throats, then worked anyway.

A nurse and a medication aide both continued working in the days after they got tested and learned they were positive.

The
 lawsuits against Riverbend accuse it of negligence. They were filed in 
state court, but Riverbend argued a federal court needed to handle the 
matter because the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act 
shielded them against liability.

The PREP Act protects health care
 providers during health emergencies like the current pandemic against 
lawsuits over administering medications and other measures meant to 
combat a disease.

But Riverbend stands accused of failing to take measures, a federal judge found, so the PREP Act doesn’t apply and the cases will move forward in state court.

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/2020/9/1599152326787.png" alt="A photo illustration shows medical-grade gloves and a surgical mask. Federal inspectors found a Kansas City, Kans., nursing home's poor use of protective gear put residents at risk. Carlos Moreno / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>A photo illustration shows medical-grade gloves and a surgical mask. Federal inspectors found a Kansas City, Kans., nursing home's poor use of protective gear put residents at risk. Carlos Moreno / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-03/scathing-federal-inspection-pulls-curtain-back-on-one-of-kansas-deadliest-coronavirus-outbreaks">Kansas News Service</a>At a Kansas City, Kansas, nursing home, employees tested positive for COVID-19 and went back to work the next day.Health
 workers cared for residents who had tested negative for the virus in 
the same gowns and masks they’d worn into the rooms of those who’d 
tested positive.“I wash my hands,” a nurse told inspectors. “But I wear the same PPE.”Now the <a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/34/9a/c810154543818e1a6e3577a99bbb/riverbend-5.1.20%20-%20Statement%20of%20Deficiencies%20and%20Plan%20of%20Correction.pdf" target="_blank">federal inspection</a>
 that documented those and other risky practices could play into 12 
lawsuits brought by families against Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation
 over the deaths of residents at the nursing home.Dozens died of the coronavirus at Riverbend — one of the state’s deadliest nursing home outbreaks, a <a href="https://data.cms.gov/Special-Programs-Initiatives-COVID-19-Nursing-Home/COVID-19-Nursing-Home-Dataset/s2uc-8wxp" target="_blank">federal database</a> shows.“This
 report just confirms the allegations we’ve already made,” said Rachel 
Stahle, a lawyer representing families in seven of the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-23/first-lawsuit-filed-against-kansas-city-kansas-rehab-facility-over-covid-19-death" target="_blank">lawsuits</a>. “It certainly bolsters our position.”What
 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found at Riverbend, she 
said, makes clear the home wasn’t taking proper steps to control 
infections.“The report is not surprising,” Stahle said. 
“Nonetheless, it’s still quite shocking. You have numerous employees who
 (were) working with symptoms.”Riverbend argued a federal law shields it against the lawsuits, but a federal judge <a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/4e/33/13d4bace428da0ebe0034e69e92e/memorandum-order-remanding-case.pdf" target="_blank">rejected the argument</a> two weeks ago. That cleared the way for the families to proceed in state court in Wyandotte County.Stahle expects discovery — an evidence-gathering stage — will start within a month.Riverbend didn’t respond to a request for comment on what appears in the inspection report.<h2>Federal inspection</h2>After
 scouring Riverbend’s daily logs and interviewing its staff, inspectors 
concluded the home didn’t take vital steps to protect residents. That 
made it likely they would get exposed to the coronavirus, “resulting in 
serious harm or death.”The inspections took place in late April 
and early May, when the home had about 90 residents. Inspectors found 
employees weren’t following key guidelines to curb the virus’ spread — like segregating residents who’d tested positive for the virus from those who hadn’t.Inspectors
 saw health workers caring for COVID-19 patients without proper 
protection. Some were missing gloves. Others lacked eye protection or a 
mask.Residents were in “<a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationEnforcement/Nursing-Home-Enforcement#:~:text=Immediate%20jeopardy%20means%20a%20situation,were%20affected%20by%20the%20deficiency." target="_blank">immediate jeopardy</a>,” the inspectors wrote.That
 was after the virus made it into Riverbend sometime around late March, 
and ravaged the place. Already, 32 deaths at the facility had been 
attributed to it. The home’s management figured the real toll was higher
 because not everyone who had died had been tested.Tallies that 
Riverbend later reported to the federal government say 37 residents died
 of COVID-19, and more than 60 residents and 30 staff tested positive.One
 nurse told inspectors she’d wear a single mask for five days at a time.
 An aide said the building’s director of nursing told her she didn’t 
need one to work with coronavirus patients.That aide ended up contracting the virus. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html" target="_blank">CDC guidelines</a> say nursing home staff should don an N95 mask when caring for anyone suspected of having the virus.<h2>No separation</h2>The
 federal team also saw COVID-19 patients leaving their rooms and eating 
in the same common areas that residents who had tested negative were 
allowed to use.The home’s managers told inspectors that 21 
residents had still tested negative as of early April. But because a 
large number had tested positive, it was pointless to keep them apart or
 have staff don fresh protective gear between rooms. They assumed 
everyone was actually infected.One resident who was clearly ill was kept with a roommate who seemed healthy. Both ultimately tested positive.CMS
 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had already made 
clear by mid-March that nursing homes had to screen staff for a range of
 symptoms and tell anyone who was sick to quarantine at home.Yet 
day after day, some employees walked into the building without anyone 
documenting their temperature or other symptoms. Others reported having 
coughs, shortness of breath or sore throats, then worked anyway.A nurse and a medication aide both continued working in the days after they got tested and learned they were positive.The
 lawsuits against Riverbend accuse it of negligence. They were filed in 
state court, but Riverbend argued a federal court needed to handle the 
matter because the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act 
shielded them against liability.The PREP Act protects health care
 providers during health emergencies like the current pandemic against 
lawsuits over administering medications and other measures meant to 
combat a disease.But Riverbend stands accused of failing to take measures, a federal judge found, so the PREP Act doesn’t apply and the cases will move forward in state court.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.