TOPEKA, KAN. –A federal grand jury indicted three illegal aliens who are accused of returning to the United States after being deported,&nbsp; according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Enrique Jaime Ortega-Rodriguez, 40, a Mexican citizen, is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry. The indictment alleges that on July 26, 2020, he was found in Dodge City, Kan. In November 2015, he was deported from San Ysidro, Calif.

Edgar Castro-Motta,&nbsp;39, is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry after being convicted of a felony and deported. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 29, 2020, he was found in Johnson County, Kan. In April 2015, he was deported after being convicted of a felony.

Hector Medina-Espericueta, 55, is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry. The indictment alleges that on June 23, 2020, he was found in Johnson County, Kan. In March 2014, he was deported.

If convicted, each could face up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597866399765.png" alt="Ortega-Rodriguez remains in custody in Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>Ortega-Rodriguez remains in custody in Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. –A federal grand jury indicted three illegal aliens who are accused of returning to the United States after being deported,&nbsp; according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Enrique Jaime Ortega-Rodriguez, 40, a Mexican citizen, is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry. The indictment alleges that on July 26, 2020, he was found in Dodge City, Kan. In November 2015, he was deported from San Ysidro, Calif.Edgar Castro-Motta,&nbsp;39, is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry after being convicted of a felony and deported. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 29, 2020, he was found in Johnson County, Kan. In April 2015, he was deported after being convicted of a felony.Hector Medina-Espericueta, 55, is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry. The indictment alleges that on June 23, 2020, he was found in Johnson County, Kan. In March 2014, he was deported.If convicted, each could face up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated.&nbsp;

Indictments: 3 were deported  but returned to Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 5:00 p.m. Thursday, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 2000 block of SW Van Buren Street in Topeka for a registration violation, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.&nbsp; Deputies located a loaded handgun and methamphetamine.&nbsp;

Deputies arrested the driver, Frank J. Robinson, 44, of Topeka, on requested charges of aggravated criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and driving while suspended.

The passenger, Lori A. Hause, 44, of Topeka, was on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Stallbaumer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598018341698.png" alt="Robinson-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Robinson-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a traffic stop.Just before 5:00 p.m. Thursday, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 2000 block of SW Van Buren Street in Topeka for a registration violation, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.&nbsp; Deputies located a loaded handgun and methamphetamine.&nbsp;Deputies arrested the driver, Frank J. Robinson, 44, of Topeka, on requested charges of aggravated criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and driving while suspended.The passenger, Lori A. Hause, 44, of Topeka, was on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Stallbaumer.

Sheriff deputies find loaded gun, meth during Kan. traffic stop

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state court judge has rejected a freshman Kansas congressman’s request to remove the Topeka area’s prosecutor from a criminal election fraud case against him.

Attorneys for Republican Rep. Steve Watkins failed to show that District Attorney Mike Kagay in Watkins’ home of Shawnee County had “an axe to grind” in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9d6046fd12875b3664cf8388708105e8">filing three felony charges&nbsp;</a>against Watkins, District Judge David Debenham said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apdocs.inside.ap.org/documents/151015-watkins-judges-order-08-18-20.html" target="_blank">a ruling</a>&nbsp;this week. Both Watkins and Kagay are Republicans, but Watkins argued that Kagay was colluding with Watkins’ main primary opponent because they shared a campaign consultant.

Watkins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/43776f9e6a0d4cd6ea07ab802a548f8d">lost his GOP primary race</a>&nbsp;to State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, who made the criminal case a key issue in their eastern Kansas district. Watkins made his request to disqualify Kagay from the criminal case before the state’s Aug. 4 primary.

Debenham rejected Watkins’ argument that it was suspicious for Kagay to refuse to meet with the congressman during the investigation. Kagay said Friday that he has never met with the subject of an investigation while it is pending.

The judge also said he “could not see” how Kagay’s use of the same consultant as LaTurner “illustrates a conflict” even with the consultant’s public opposition to Watkins.

“Any connection is much too tenuous to find a valid conflict of interest,” Debenham wrote in his seven-page opinion.

Authorities began investigating in December whether Watkins broke state election laws by listing a postal box at a UPS Inc. store as his residence on a state voter registration form, but Kagay filed the charges just three weeks before the primary, a half hour ahead of the only televised debate between the GOP candidates.

An attorney for Watkins did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment, and spokesmen for his office and campaign did not immediately respond to emails.

Kagay said: “It is pretty straightforward and the order speaks for itself.”

Watkins is accused of voting illegally in a Topeka City Council race in November 2019 and of trying to mislead a sheriff’s detective who was investigating whether he broke state election laws. He listed the UPS store postal box as his residence last year for voter registration purposes but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/07b5cc37067da9b23bd489a8e6eaddbe">corrected his residential address</a>&nbsp;— twice. It’s now an apartment that lies outside the City Council district that includes the UPS store.

Watkins has said he made a mistake and corrected it, calling the criminal charges “bogus.”

He acknowledged during an interview in late July that he voted in the wrong City Council district but said he did not intend to break the law. He suggested the voter registration resulted from “collegial” work with his staff but denied an allegation that he tried to mislead the detective by blaming the voter registration problem&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f633ee2e7c2aa0f94b86607da66ecc71">on his staff.</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state court judge has rejected a freshman Kansas congressman’s request to remove the Topeka area’s prosecutor from a criminal election fraud case against him.Attorneys for Republican Rep. Steve Watkins failed to show that District Attorney Mike Kagay in Watkins’ home of Shawnee County had “an axe to grind” in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9d6046fd12875b3664cf8388708105e8">filing three felony charges&nbsp;</a>against Watkins, District Judge David Debenham said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apdocs.inside.ap.org/documents/151015-watkins-judges-order-08-18-20.html" target="_blank">a ruling</a>&nbsp;this week. Both Watkins and Kagay are Republicans, but Watkins argued that Kagay was colluding with Watkins’ main primary opponent because they shared a campaign consultant.Watkins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/43776f9e6a0d4cd6ea07ab802a548f8d">lost his GOP primary race</a>&nbsp;to State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, who made the criminal case a key issue in their eastern Kansas district. Watkins made his request to disqualify Kagay from the criminal case before the state’s Aug. 4 primary.Debenham rejected Watkins’ argument that it was suspicious for Kagay to refuse to meet with the congressman during the investigation. Kagay said Friday that he has never met with the subject of an investigation while it is pending.The judge also said he “could not see” how Kagay’s use of the same consultant as LaTurner “illustrates a conflict” even with the consultant’s public opposition to Watkins.“Any connection is much too tenuous to find a valid conflict of interest,” Debenham wrote in his seven-page opinion.Authorities began investigating in December whether Watkins broke state election laws by listing a postal box at a UPS Inc. store as his residence on a state voter registration form, but Kagay filed the charges just three weeks before the primary, a half hour ahead of the only televised debate between the GOP candidates.An attorney for Watkins did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment, and spokesmen for his office and campaign did not immediately respond to emails.Kagay said: “It is pretty straightforward and the order speaks for itself.”Watkins is accused of voting illegally in a Topeka City Council race in November 2019 and of trying to mislead a sheriff’s detective who was investigating whether he broke state election laws. He listed the UPS store postal box as his residence last year for voter registration purposes but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/07b5cc37067da9b23bd489a8e6eaddbe">corrected his residential address</a>&nbsp;— twice. It’s now an apartment that lies outside the City Council district that includes the UPS store.Watkins has said he made a mistake and corrected it, calling the criminal charges “bogus.”He acknowledged during an interview in late July that he voted in the wrong City Council district but said he did not intend to break the law. He suggested the voter registration resulted from “collegial” work with his staff but denied an allegation that he tried to mislead the detective by blaming the voter registration problem&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f633ee2e7c2aa0f94b86607da66ecc71">on his staff.</a>___

Judge rejects request to remove DA in case against Kan. congressman

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas secretary of state’s office has offered each of the state’s 105 counties up to two drop-off boxes where people can deposit their absentee ballots for the November election if they don’t mail them in or want to risk voting in person because of the coronavirus threat.

Local election officials had until Friday to respond to the offer, so the state won’t know how many boxes it will need to buy until early next week, said Katie Koupal, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office.

Response to the offer has been varied, she said. Some counties said they already had enough drop-off boxes and didn’t need any more, while others wanted one or two more.

County elections officials are making those decisions against the backdrop of the public uproar over recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0807b23d98f127a99ceb40d759341bbf">mail operation changes</a>&nbsp;and delivery delays. The new postmaster general told senators Friday that election mail would be prioritized for delivery as in years past, but Democrats warn that his cost-cutting initiatives threatened the election.

During the August primary, elections officials saw an influx of mail-in ballots being personally delivered to local elections offices or polling sites instead of people using the postal service, Koupal said.

She attributed that in part to aggressive public outreach efforts informing people of the various options for returning their primary mail-in ballots in Kansas.

Voters returned about 83% of the more than 315,000 mail-in ballots sent out during the state’s primary election.

Kansas has received $4.6 million in federal CARE Act funding that has to be used this year for the election, Koupal said.

It has spent $1 million on Plexiglas shields to protect election workers and voters at polling sites and for personal protective equipment such as hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, face masks and disposable gloves.

The state set aside about $2.6 million to help reimburse counties for unexpected election expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kansas has a little more than $1 million left, which it plans to use to help pay for the drop boxes, she said.

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas secretary of state’s office has offered each of the state’s 105 counties up to two drop-off boxes where people can deposit their absentee ballots for the November election if they don’t mail them in or want to risk voting in person because of the coronavirus threat.Local election officials had until Friday to respond to the offer, so the state won’t know how many boxes it will need to buy until early next week, said Katie Koupal, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office.Response to the offer has been varied, she said. Some counties said they already had enough drop-off boxes and didn’t need any more, while others wanted one or two more.County elections officials are making those decisions against the backdrop of the public uproar over recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0807b23d98f127a99ceb40d759341bbf">mail operation changes</a>&nbsp;and delivery delays. The new postmaster general told senators Friday that election mail would be prioritized for delivery as in years past, but Democrats warn that his cost-cutting initiatives threatened the election.During the August primary, elections officials saw an influx of mail-in ballots being personally delivered to local elections offices or polling sites instead of people using the postal service, Koupal said.She attributed that in part to aggressive public outreach efforts informing people of the various options for returning their primary mail-in ballots in Kansas.Voters returned about 83% of the more than 315,000 mail-in ballots sent out during the state’s primary election.Kansas has received $4.6 million in federal CARE Act funding that has to be used this year for the election, Koupal said.It has spent $1 million on Plexiglas shields to protect election workers and voters at polling sites and for personal protective equipment such as hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, face masks and disposable gloves.The state set aside about $2.6 million to help reimburse counties for unexpected election expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.Kansas has a little more than $1 million left, which it plans to use to help pay for the drop boxes, she said.

Kansas offers counties drop-off boxes for mail-in ballots

CHICAGO (AP) — An inmate suffered “extreme pain” as he received a dose of pentobarbital during just the second federal execution following a 17-year lag, according to court filings by lawyers representing one of the inmates scheduled to be executed next.

The claim Wesley Purkey may have felt a sensation akin to drowning while immobilized but conscious is disputed by Department of Justice attorneys. They insist the first three lethal injections since 2003 were carried out without a hitch last month at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

This month’s filings were part of motions to halt the execution of Keith Nelson, convicted in the 1999 rape and strangulation of 10-year-old Pamela Butler. Prosecutors said he pulled her into his truck as she skated on rollerblades back to her Kansas home after buying herself cookies.

Nelson’s execution is set for Aug. 28. The execution of Lezmond Mitchell, the only Native American on federal death row, is scheduled for Aug. 26. His lawyers have made similar arguments.

Purkey was convicted federally of kidnapping and killing a 16-year-old girl before dismembering and dumping her body in a septic pond. The first federal execution last month was of Daniel Lewis Lee, convicted of killing an Arkansas family in a 1990s plot to build a whites-only nation.

Here’s a look at issues surrounding the use of pentobarbital:

A: An autopsy performed by a Michigan-based pathologist a week after the 68-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2b06e7abdb84118a1977ba5c084c6516">Purkey was put to death</a>&nbsp;found evidence of “severe bilateral acute pulmonary edema” and “frothy pulmonary edema in trachea and mainstem bronchi,” filings by the attorneys allege.

Those findings mean fluid quickly filled Purkey’s lungs and entered his airway up to his trachea, causing “a near-drowning” sensation, said Dr. Gail Van Norman, a medical expert retained by Nelson’s lawyers to interpret the autopsy.

“These are among the most excruciating feelings known to man,” she said in a filing.

Flash pulmonary edema, where fluid enters the lungs and airways, can only occur when someone is alive, she said.

“It is a virtual medical certainty, that most, if not all, prisoners will experience excruciating suffering, including sensations of drowning and suffocation” from pentobarbital, she added.

The autopsy wasn’t official. It was performed by a Western Michigan University pathologist, Dr. Joyce L. deJong, at the behest of Purkey relatives.

Autopsies weren’t performed of the others executed last month, Nelson’s lawyers said.

Q: HOW DID GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS RESPOND IN FILINGS?

A: They’ve said the execution of Purkey and the other inmates last month “were implemented without any pentobarbital-related complications.” They’ve said previous court rulings have concluded pentobarbital injections are humane.

And even if some pain is involved, that doesn’t render an execution method inhumane, the government attorneys argued, citing a 2008 Supreme Court ruling.

“Simply because an execution method may result in pain, either by accident or as an inescapable consequence of death, does not establish the sort of ‘objectively intolerable risk of harm’ that qualifies as cruel and unusual,” the high court said.

Q: WAS IT CLEAR DURING THE EXECUTION THAT PURKEY SUFFERED?

A: No. There weren’t obvious outward signs he was in pain.

An Associated Press reporter who served as a media witness described Purkey taking several deep breaths and blinking repeatedly as the pentobarbital was injected. The other inmates also twitched for several minutes before their breathing slowed, then stopped.

But death-penalty foes say the paralyzing effects of pentobarbital may make it impossible for the condemned to grimace or thrash around, even if they are feeling excruciating pain.

A: Pentobarbital is a barbiturate that depresses the central nervous system and that, given in a high dosage, causes the heart to stop. It doesn’t have widespread medical uses, though is often used by veterinarians to anesthetize or euthanize animals.

For three federal executions in the early 2000s, a cocktail of drugs was used: sodium thiopental, which has a similar affect as pentobarbital; pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes the body and potassium chloride, a drug that induces cardiac arrest.

But pharmaceuticals later refused to allow those drugs to be used in executions, forcing the federal and many state governments to seek an alternative. Attorney General William Barr last year approved&nbsp;<a href="https://files.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/Federal-Execution-Protocol-Addendum-7-25-19.pdf" target="_blank">reworked execution protocols</a>&nbsp;that called for using pentobarbital alone.

A: Nelson’s lawyers ideally want all executions suspended for good. But legal precedent requires, when arguing one form of execution is cruel, that they offer what they believe are more humane alternatives.

Among the alternatives they suggested: a firing squad.

“Historically, the firing squad has resulted in significantly fewer ‘botched’ executions,” they say in one filing. “Execution by firing squad is both swift and virtually painless.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574950995361.png" alt="Wes Purkey of Kansas was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 16-year-old girl before dismembering, burning and then dumping her body in a septic pond. He also was convicted in a state court in Kansas after using a claw hammer to kill an 80-year-old woman who suffered from polio. He was one of three federal inmates executed in July -photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Wes Purkey of Kansas was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 16-year-old girl before dismembering, burning and then dumping her body in a septic pond. He also was convicted in a state court in Kansas after using a claw hammer to kill an 80-year-old woman who suffered from polio. He was one of three federal inmates executed in July -photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — An inmate suffered “extreme pain” as he received a dose of pentobarbital during just the second federal execution following a 17-year lag, according to court filings by lawyers representing one of the inmates scheduled to be executed next.The claim Wesley Purkey may have felt a sensation akin to drowning while immobilized but conscious is disputed by Department of Justice attorneys. They insist the first three lethal injections since 2003 were carried out without a hitch last month at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.This month’s filings were part of motions to halt the execution of Keith Nelson, convicted in the 1999 rape and strangulation of 10-year-old Pamela Butler. Prosecutors said he pulled her into his truck as she skated on rollerblades back to her Kansas home after buying herself cookies.Nelson’s execution is set for Aug. 28. The execution of Lezmond Mitchell, the only Native American on federal death row, is scheduled for Aug. 26. His lawyers have made similar arguments.Purkey was convicted federally of kidnapping and killing a 16-year-old girl before dismembering and dumping her body in a septic pond. The first federal execution last month was of Daniel Lewis Lee, convicted of killing an Arkansas family in a 1990s plot to build a whites-only nation.Here’s a look at issues surrounding the use of pentobarbital:Q: WHAT’S THE LAWYER’S CLAIM?A: An autopsy performed by a Michigan-based pathologist a week after the 68-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2b06e7abdb84118a1977ba5c084c6516">Purkey was put to death</a>&nbsp;found evidence of “severe bilateral acute pulmonary edema” and “frothy pulmonary edema in trachea and mainstem bronchi,” filings by the attorneys allege.Those findings mean fluid quickly filled Purkey’s lungs and entered his airway up to his trachea, causing “a near-drowning” sensation, said Dr. Gail Van Norman, a medical expert retained by Nelson’s lawyers to interpret the autopsy.“These are among the most excruciating feelings known to man,” she said in a filing.Flash pulmonary edema, where fluid enters the lungs and airways, can only occur when someone is alive, she said.“It is a virtual medical certainty, that most, if not all, prisoners will experience excruciating suffering, including sensations of drowning and suffocation” from pentobarbital, she added.The autopsy wasn’t official. It was performed by a Western Michigan University pathologist, Dr. Joyce L. deJong, at the behest of Purkey relatives.Autopsies weren’t performed of the others executed last month, Nelson’s lawyers said.Q: HOW DID GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS RESPOND IN FILINGS?A: They’ve said the execution of Purkey and the other inmates last month “were implemented without any pentobarbital-related complications.” They’ve said previous court rulings have concluded pentobarbital injections are humane.And even if some pain is involved, that doesn’t render an execution method inhumane, the government attorneys argued, citing a 2008 Supreme Court ruling.“Simply because an execution method may result in pain, either by accident or as an inescapable consequence of death, does not establish the sort of ‘objectively intolerable risk of harm’ that qualifies as cruel and unusual,” the high court said.Q: WAS IT CLEAR DURING THE EXECUTION THAT PURKEY SUFFERED?A: No. There weren’t obvious outward signs he was in pain.An Associated Press reporter who served as a media witness described Purkey taking several deep breaths and blinking repeatedly as the pentobarbital was injected. The other inmates also twitched for several minutes before their breathing slowed, then stopped.But death-penalty foes say the paralyzing effects of pentobarbital may make it impossible for the condemned to grimace or thrash around, even if they are feeling excruciating pain.Q: WHY IS PENTOBARBITAL USED?A: Pentobarbital is a barbiturate that depresses the central nervous system and that, given in a high dosage, causes the heart to stop. It doesn’t have widespread medical uses, though is often used by veterinarians to anesthetize or euthanize animals.For three federal executions in the early 2000s, a cocktail of drugs was used: sodium thiopental, which has a similar affect as pentobarbital; pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes the body and potassium chloride, a drug that induces cardiac arrest.But pharmaceuticals later refused to allow those drugs to be used in executions, forcing the federal and many state governments to seek an alternative. Attorney General William Barr last year approved&nbsp;<a href="https://files.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/Federal-Execution-Protocol-Addendum-7-25-19.pdf" target="_blank">reworked execution protocols</a>&nbsp;that called for using pentobarbital alone.Q: WHAT ABOUT ALTERNATIVES?A: Nelson’s lawyers ideally want all executions suspended for good. But legal precedent requires, when arguing one form of execution is cruel, that they offer what they believe are more humane alternatives.Among the alternatives they suggested: a firing squad.“Historically, the firing squad has resulted in significantly fewer ‘botched’ executions,” they say in one filing. “Execution by firing squad is both swift and virtually painless.”___

Lawyers claim Kan. child killer suffered during execution

WASHINGTON (AP) — A widely used coronavirus test is under scrutiny this week after federal health officials warned that it could deliver inaccurate results if laboratory technicians don’t follow the the latest updates from the manufacturer.

The Food and Drug Administration’s warning over Thermo Fisher’s TaqPath test underscores the complexity of COVID-19 tests and how easily they can be skewed by faulty processing and equipment.

The FDA action follows a report last month by Connecticut public health officials that the test resulted in at least 90 people receiving false positive results for the coronavirus.

Thermo Fisher’s test is one of the standard tools used to screen for COVID-19, run on large, automated machines found in many U.S. hospitals and laboratories. The FDA flagged two separate issues that could potentially result in false results: the chemical mixing process and computer software that runs on the company’s machine. Thermo Fisher has provided new instructions for mixing. And a software update fixes the second problem, the FDA said.

For all positive results, FDA said labs should review the instrument settings.

Thermo Fisher said in a statement that its data shows the issues are rare and most users get accurate results by following company directions.

No test is 100% accurate and all medical tests are expected to deliver a certain small portion of false results. Less is known about the accuracy of COVID-19 tests because of how quickly they were rushed through the regulatory process because of the pandemic.

Thermo Fisher’s test uses molecular technology that is considered the gold standard for detecting the COVID-19 virus and other viruses. The test uses chemicals to extract the genetic material of the virus from a nasal swab, then amplifies it many times until it is detectable with a computer.

Thermo Fisher’s test was among the first granted emergency use by the FDA in mid-March. Like other companies, it got the OK based on laboratory experiments it submitted to regulators. The test successfully detected coronavirus in 60 lab-made samples of the virus, and successfully ruled out the virus in 60 samples that didn’t contain the virus. That was sufficient to meet FDA requirements..

However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/38967d1644ef374d1bcbc7806b383b8e">experts have warned</a>&nbsp;that these laboratory measures are very different from the large patient studies that assess the real-world performance of a test. Those studies can reveal factors that can skew results, such as faulty samples or incorrect processing .

The biggest concern during infectious disease outbreaks is usually avoiding false negatives, or when the test fails to catch people who are actually infected. That can result in some people unknowingly spreading the virus.

But Dr. Albert Ko of Yale’s School of Public Health noted that false positives can also create problems, particularly in places like nursing homes and prisons where people are grouped together based on test results.

“You may wind up putting someone who hasn’t been infected together with people who may be infected and are contagious,” Ko said.

Test results can be affected by a variety of factors, including the type of test used, the quality of the sample and when it was taken during the course of any infection.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A widely used coronavirus test is under scrutiny this week after federal health officials warned that it could deliver inaccurate results if laboratory technicians don’t follow the the latest updates from the manufacturer.The Food and Drug Administration’s warning over Thermo Fisher’s TaqPath test underscores the complexity of COVID-19 tests and how easily they can be skewed by faulty processing and equipment.The FDA action follows a report last month by Connecticut public health officials that the test resulted in at least 90 people receiving false positive results for the coronavirus.WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE TEST?Thermo Fisher’s test is one of the standard tools used to screen for COVID-19, run on large, automated machines found in many U.S. hospitals and laboratories. The FDA flagged two separate issues that could potentially result in false results: the chemical mixing process and computer software that runs on the company’s machine. Thermo Fisher has provided new instructions for mixing. And a software update fixes the second problem, the FDA said.For all positive results, FDA said labs should review the instrument settings.Thermo Fisher said in a statement that its data shows the issues are rare and most users get accurate results by following company directions.HOW ACCURATE ARE COVID-19 TESTS?No test is 100% accurate and all medical tests are expected to deliver a certain small portion of false results. Less is known about the accuracy of COVID-19 tests because of how quickly they were rushed through the regulatory process because of the pandemic.Thermo Fisher’s test uses molecular technology that is considered the gold standard for detecting the COVID-19 virus and other viruses. The test uses chemicals to extract the genetic material of the virus from a nasal swab, then amplifies it many times until it is detectable with a computer.Thermo Fisher’s test was among the first granted emergency use by the FDA in mid-March. Like other companies, it got the OK based on laboratory experiments it submitted to regulators. The test successfully detected coronavirus in 60 lab-made samples of the virus, and successfully ruled out the virus in 60 samples that didn’t contain the virus. That was sufficient to meet FDA requirements..However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/38967d1644ef374d1bcbc7806b383b8e">experts have warned</a>&nbsp;that these laboratory measures are very different from the large patient studies that assess the real-world performance of a test. Those studies can reveal factors that can skew results, such as faulty samples or incorrect processing .HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE FALSE RESULTS?The biggest concern during infectious disease outbreaks is usually avoiding false negatives, or when the test fails to catch people who are actually infected. That can result in some people unknowingly spreading the virus.But Dr. Albert Ko of Yale’s School of Public Health noted that false positives can also create problems, particularly in places like nursing homes and prisons where people are grouped together based on test results.“You may wind up putting someone who hasn’t been infected together with people who may be infected and are contagious,” Ko said.Test results can be affected by a variety of factors, including the type of test used, the quality of the sample and when it was taken during the course of any infection.___

Many steps needed for accurate COVID-19 test results

KANSAS CITY, KAN. –&nbsp;A Kansas man with a prior rape conviction was sentenced today to 197 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. In addition, he was ordered to pay $95,000 in restitution.

&nbsp;James Minter, 47, Linwood, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. In his plea, he admitted that law enforcement received a report from CyberTipline (<a href="https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline" target="_blank">https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline</a>&nbsp;) that he had uploaded a file containing child pornography via the internet. Investigators tracked the upload to Minter’s residence in Linwood. More than 1,000 images and 200 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children were seize from Minter’s devices.

In 1998, Minter was convicted of rape and criminal sodomy after assaulting a 5-year-old child. He was released from prison in May 2018.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597957809548.png" alt="Minter photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Minter photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. –&nbsp;A Kansas man with a prior rape conviction was sentenced today to 197 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. In addition, he was ordered to pay $95,000 in restitution.&nbsp;James Minter, 47, Linwood, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. In his plea, he admitted that law enforcement received a report from CyberTipline (<a href="https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline" target="_blank">https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline</a>&nbsp;) that he had uploaded a file containing child pornography via the internet. Investigators tracked the upload to Minter’s residence in Linwood. More than 1,000 images and 200 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children were seize from Minter’s devices.In 1998, Minter was convicted of rape and criminal sodomy after assaulting a 5-year-old child. He was released from prison in May 2018.

Tipline helps police catch child sex offender in new crime

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The commission that enforces Kansas’ nondiscrimination laws will begin hearing claims from people who allege they are being mistreated because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Kansas Human Rights Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/2EfgPoP" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>Friday that the decision is in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ef3c19a79b65c060fd9e82b9dd87a1d9">ruling&nbsp;</a>that a landmark civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment.

But the commission expanded the ruling beyond employment cases, offering protections for people alleging discrimination in housing and public accommodations, such as retail stores and educational institutions. In, Kansas, any business with four or more employees will be covered; the Supreme Court ruling affects businesses with at least 15 employees.

The LGBT-rights group Equality Kansas has been pushing for more than a decade to add sexual orientation and gender identity to a state law that includes protections based on race, religion, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry and in housing because of familial status.

“This is a great day for fairness in Kansas,” Executive Director Thomas Witt said in a news release.

The conservative Family Policy Alliance of Kansas chastised the decision.

“You’ve shown contempt for Kansans, for their duly elected representatives, and for the law itself,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/FPAofKansas/status/1296946641358819329" target="_blank">a tweet</a>&nbsp;from the group said. “We will work with Kansans every step of the way to help them take back the power you attempted to steal today.”

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The commission that enforces Kansas’ nondiscrimination laws will begin hearing claims from people who allege they are being mistreated because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.The Kansas Human Rights Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/2EfgPoP" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>Friday that the decision is in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ef3c19a79b65c060fd9e82b9dd87a1d9">ruling&nbsp;</a>that a landmark civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment.But the commission expanded the ruling beyond employment cases, offering protections for people alleging discrimination in housing and public accommodations, such as retail stores and educational institutions. In, Kansas, any business with four or more employees will be covered; the Supreme Court ruling affects businesses with at least 15 employees.The LGBT-rights group Equality Kansas has been pushing for more than a decade to add sexual orientation and gender identity to a state law that includes protections based on race, religion, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry and in housing because of familial status.“This is a great day for fairness in Kansas,” Executive Director Thomas Witt said in a news release.The conservative Family Policy Alliance of Kansas chastised the decision.“You’ve shown contempt for Kansans, for their duly elected representatives, and for the law itself,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/FPAofKansas/status/1296946641358819329" target="_blank">a tweet</a>&nbsp;from the group said. “We will work with Kansans every step of the way to help them take back the power you attempted to steal today.”

Kansas commission adds LGBT nondiscrimination protections

Kansas City (AP) — With her baby brother in her arms, Kara Apuzzo tried to follow along in an online class as he squirmed or slept. Other times, the 18-year-old rushed to get ready for work at a front-line job at Target as her virtual high school lessons were still wrapping up.

Last school year was further complicated by computer issues that kept her from logging in and online tools that bedeviled even her teachers. Before the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus pandemic</a>, Apuzzo, who lives in New Haven, Connecticut, knew she wanted to go to college right after high school. Now, she’s not so sure.

“Right now, I don’t know where I want to go with my life,” she said. “I feel so behind when it comes to what do college kids actually do. ... It’s scary, it’s so new — I don’t have any idea what I’m even doing.”

Educational disruptions forced by the pandemic are hurting teenagers at a time when many families also are struggling with layoffs and child care for young kids — challenges that are expected to persist as a new school year gets underway, largely with remote learning.

Some teens have to share computers with siblings or sign in to classes in crowded households or from their cars. Others have been laid off from after-school jobs that help provide for their families or work extra hours in essential industries, leaving less time for school. Students whose parents can’t work from home also have less structure to push them to get their work done.

“They’re at home being their own teachers,” said Nick Mathern, vice president of K-12 Partnerships for the nonprofit Achieving the Dream, which helps students complete degrees through community colleges.

The transition from high school to college can be rocky for many teens, and the coronavirus crisis could widen the gap between kids with wealthier, college-educated parents and their lower-income peers, Mathern said.

“That’s a real danger when it comes to increasing inequality in our country,” he said.

Mathern’s group works with hundreds of U.S. institutions and is affiliated with Gateway to College, which helped Apuzzo improve her grades before the pandemic. Now, she’s planning to work for a year before enrolling in college.

Schools and organizations like his, Mathern says, will have to get more creative in figuring out how to help older students like Apuzzo who are facing a new set of challenges.

Hope Spann, 19, had some of the same difficulties. She spent the last few months of the school year in Chicago, balancing her classwork from Beloit College in Wisconsin with watching her two nieces, ages 3 and 6, while her siblings worked at Walmart and Wendy’s.

Separating squabbles and getting snacks between writing class and art history left the aspiring film designer with migraines and panic attacks.

“It’s definitely interrupting my life. At the same time, I’m doing the things I need to, to keep me healthy and keep my family together,” Spann said.

She’s now started a job at a nursing home and plans to balance it with online classwork when the school year starts.

In Philadelphia, 18-year-old Kayla Hammond works two jobs while helping watch her younger brother and sister. After a shooting near her high school last year, she started an alternative dual-enrollment program to get college credit while finishing high school. Subjects like chemistry and Chinese became overwhelming as she moved back home and looked for new work during the pandemic. She got through it and is planning to return to Philadelphia Community College remotely next month.

“I’m pretty much the only one out of my friends who is still in school,” she said. “They had dreams of going to a four-year college. COVID put that on hold for them.”

A recent report from Measure of America, a project of the New York-based nonprofit Social Science Research Council, says the number of people ages 16 to 24 who are disconnected from both work and school could spike to almost one in four, erasing a decade of gains and hitting levels higher than the Great Recession.

In the Salt Lake City suburb of Magna, 16-year-old Brianne Harmon struggled to find a secluded place for online lessons in a house with several relatives. With a heavy load of homework, she found herself in danger of failing three classes.

“I’m trying not to let my family down, not to let myself down to keep going with my career, but it gets hard with everything piling on,” Harmon said at the time.

That put her at risk of being barred from the drill dance team, a sport she loves. She retreated to her grandmother’s house and stayed up all night to pass her classes. She’s going back to a hybrid of online and in-person school in the fall.

“I’m definitely nervous, but I’m excited to have something else stable in my life right now,” Harmon said.

Her math teacher, Michele Jones, said she heard from a number of students like Harmon.

“The stories you hear are just heartbreaking: ‘I’m taking care of three young siblings, I don’t have time to do school. I really don’t feel safe at home, Mom and Dad lost their jobs, there’s a lot of just stress,’” Jones said.

Along with the pandemic, her students also dealt with an earthquake and a temporary contamination in the water supply this spring. Remote attendance in her class dropped to 20% at times, a worrying number at a key time for math education.

“I do think this is recoverable academically,” Jones said. “For me, what I’m more concerned about is kids being really traumatized by this time. Feeling lost and abandoned and hopeless.”

Kansas City (AP) — With her baby brother in her arms, Kara Apuzzo tried to follow along in an online class as he squirmed or slept. Other times, the 18-year-old rushed to get ready for work at a front-line job at Target as her virtual high school lessons were still wrapping up.Last school year was further complicated by computer issues that kept her from logging in and online tools that bedeviled even her teachers. Before the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus pandemic</a>, Apuzzo, who lives in New Haven, Connecticut, knew she wanted to go to college right after high school. Now, she’s not so sure.“Right now, I don’t know where I want to go with my life,” she said. “I feel so behind when it comes to what do college kids actually do. ... It’s scary, it’s so new — I don’t have any idea what I’m even doing.”Educational disruptions forced by the pandemic are hurting teenagers at a time when many families also are struggling with layoffs and child care for young kids — challenges that are expected to persist as a new school year gets underway, largely with remote learning.Some teens have to share computers with siblings or sign in to classes in crowded households or from their cars. Others have been laid off from after-school jobs that help provide for their families or work extra hours in essential industries, leaving less time for school. Students whose parents can’t work from home also have less structure to push them to get their work done.“They’re at home being their own teachers,” said Nick Mathern, vice president of K-12 Partnerships for the nonprofit Achieving the Dream, which helps students complete degrees through community colleges.The transition from high school to college can be rocky for many teens, and the coronavirus crisis could widen the gap between kids with wealthier, college-educated parents and their lower-income peers, Mathern said.“That’s a real danger when it comes to increasing inequality in our country,” he said.Mathern’s group works with hundreds of U.S. institutions and is affiliated with Gateway to College, which helped Apuzzo improve her grades before the pandemic. Now, she’s planning to work for a year before enrolling in college.Schools and organizations like his, Mathern says, will have to get more creative in figuring out how to help older students like Apuzzo who are facing a new set of challenges.Hope Spann, 19, had some of the same difficulties. She spent the last few months of the school year in Chicago, balancing her classwork from Beloit College in Wisconsin with watching her two nieces, ages 3 and 6, while her siblings worked at Walmart and Wendy’s.Separating squabbles and getting snacks between writing class and art history left the aspiring film designer with migraines and panic attacks.“It’s definitely interrupting my life. At the same time, I’m doing the things I need to, to keep me healthy and keep my family together,” Spann said.She’s now started a job at a nursing home and plans to balance it with online classwork when the school year starts.In Philadelphia, 18-year-old Kayla Hammond works two jobs while helping watch her younger brother and sister. After a shooting near her high school last year, she started an alternative dual-enrollment program to get college credit while finishing high school. Subjects like chemistry and Chinese became overwhelming as she moved back home and looked for new work during the pandemic. She got through it and is planning to return to Philadelphia Community College remotely next month.“I’m pretty much the only one out of my friends who is still in school,” she said. “They had dreams of going to a four-year college. COVID put that on hold for them.”A recent report from Measure of America, a project of the New York-based nonprofit Social Science Research Council, says the number of people ages 16 to 24 who are disconnected from both work and school could spike to almost one in four, erasing a decade of gains and hitting levels higher than the Great Recession.In the Salt Lake City suburb of Magna, 16-year-old Brianne Harmon struggled to find a secluded place for online lessons in a house with several relatives. With a heavy load of homework, she found herself in danger of failing three classes.“I’m trying not to let my family down, not to let myself down to keep going with my career, but it gets hard with everything piling on,” Harmon said at the time.That put her at risk of being barred from the drill dance team, a sport she loves. She retreated to her grandmother’s house and stayed up all night to pass her classes. She’s going back to a hybrid of online and in-person school in the fall.“I’m definitely nervous, but I’m excited to have something else stable in my life right now,” Harmon said.Her math teacher, Michele Jones, said she heard from a number of students like Harmon.“The stories you hear are just heartbreaking: ‘I’m taking care of three young siblings, I don’t have time to do school. I really don’t feel safe at home, Mom and Dad lost their jobs, there’s a lot of just stress,’” Jones said.Along with the pandemic, her students also dealt with an earthquake and a temporary contamination in the water supply this spring. Remote attendance in her class dropped to 20% at times, a worrying number at a key time for math education.“I do think this is recoverable academically,” Jones said. “For me, what I’m more concerned about is kids being really traumatized by this time. Feeling lost and abandoned and hopeless.”

Teens struggle to balance school, family, work amid COVID-19

WICHITA, KAN. –&nbsp;A Kansas&nbsp;guide is losing his hunting privileges for three years because he violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Bryan D. Boxberger, 33, Stafford, Kan., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Wichita to violating the act. In his plea, Boxberger admitted he acted as a waterfowl guide to a party of 13 hunters in Barton County, Kan. With Boxberger’s assistance, the hunters killed 31 white-fronted geese, violating a daily bag limit of two per person.

Boxberger was sentenced to three years on probation, during which he is prohibited from hunting and fishing or acting as a guide. In addition, he was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine directed to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and&nbsp;$10,000 in restitution directed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism-Law Enforcement Division Restitution Fund.

WICHITA, KAN. –&nbsp;A Kansas&nbsp;guide is losing his hunting privileges for three years because he violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Bryan D. Boxberger, 33, Stafford, Kan., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Wichita to violating the act. In his plea, Boxberger admitted he acted as a waterfowl guide to a party of 13 hunters in Barton County, Kan. With Boxberger’s assistance, the hunters killed 31 white-fronted geese, violating a daily bag limit of two per person.Boxberger was sentenced to three years on probation, during which he is prohibited from hunting and fishing or acting as a guide. In addition, he was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine directed to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and&nbsp;$10,000 in restitution directed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism-Law Enforcement Division Restitution Fund.

Kansas hunting guide admits violating migratory bird act

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 23-year-old Kylie Scott of Wichita.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at a business in the 900 block of North Grove, in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; 

At approximately the same time, officers were sent to an area hospital in reference to a walk-in shooting call.

At the hospital, officers contacted Scott who had been shot. She died of her injuries, according to Davidson. 

At the hospital, police also contacted a 54-year-old man who had been shot. He was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, and released.

Investigators are still working to learn all the details of what occurred. This is not believed to be a random incident, according to Davidson.&nbsp;

Police are asking the public if they have any information on this case to contact them.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old woman.

At the hospital, officers contacted the 23-year-old woman who had been shot. She died of her injuries, according to Davidson. 

Investigators are working to learn all the details of what occurred. This is not believed to be a random incident, according to Davidson.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597930074410.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation late Wednesday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation late Wednesday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 23-year-old Kylie Scott of Wichita.Just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at a business in the 900 block of North Grove, in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; At approximately the same time, officers were sent to an area hospital in reference to a walk-in shooting call.At the hospital, officers contacted Scott who had been shot. She died of her injuries, according to Davidson. At the hospital, police also contacted a 54-year-old man who had been shot. He was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, and released.Investigators are still working to learn all the details of what occurred. This is not believed to be a random incident, according to Davidson.&nbsp;Police are asking the public if they have any information on this case to contact them.SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old woman.Just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at a business in the 900 block of North Grove, in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; At approximately the same time, officers were sent to an area hospital in reference to a walk-in shooting call.At the hospital, officers contacted the 23-year-old woman who had been shot. She died of her injuries, according to Davidson. At the hospital, police also contacted a 54-year-old man who had been shot. He was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, and released.Investigators are working to learn all the details of what occurred. This is not believed to be a random incident, according to Davidson.&nbsp;Police are asking the public if they have any information on this case to contact them.

Update: Police contact woman at hospital before she dies from shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — One in five U.S. nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID-19 also struggled to keep staff.

Significantly, there was no improvement from May to July in the shortages of personal protective equipment, known as PPE, or in the staffing shortfalls, according to the analysis of federal data by academic researchers. The summer has seen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">the coronavirus surge across the South, and much of the West and Midwest.</a>

People living in long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but account for 43% of coronavirus deaths, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Similar glaring disparities have been seen with nursing home residents in other countries, but in the U.S. the issue has become politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to hang on to support from older voters in his reelection bid.

“A study that shows that 1 in 5 nursing homes has a severe shortage of PPE and a shortage of staff, and that it did not change from May to July, should be a massive red flag,” said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, a nonprofit that works to improve care for older adults.

“We have had no coherent federal response,” added Fulmer, who was not involved in the research.

Reacting to the study, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a statement that the Trump administration “has provided nursing homes the tools they need to stop the virus’ spread and, ultimately, each nursing home is responsible for its residents’ safety.” CMS sets nursing home standards and pays for much of the care.

<a href="https://health-policy.healthaffairs.org/covid-19/mcgarry" target="_blank">The study published in the journal Health Affairs</a>&nbsp;looked at two periods of four weeks each earlier this summer, from mid-May to mid-June, and from the latter part of June to mid-July. Large outbreaks in nursing homes have been reported in many states since the end of February.

Researchers from the University of Rochester in New York, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data provided by nursing homes to the government at the behest of the Medicare and Medicaid agency, CMS.

They found that during the early part of the summer, 20.7% percent of nursing homes reported a severe PPE shortage, with one week or less of available supply. Shortages of N95 masks — recommended for health care providers — were the most common. The situation had barely changed by midsummer, with 19.1% of nursing homes reporting severe shortages.

As far as staff shortages, 20.8% of nursing homes reported deficiencies in early summer. Commonly those involved nurses and nursing aides. By midsummer, 21.9% of nursing homes reported staff shortages.

Adequate levels of protective equipment and nursing staff are essential components in any infection control plan, experts say, and persistent shortages can feed a vicious cycle that raises risks both for residents and staff.

The study found that high rates of PPE shortages were seen in Iowa, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee, which have struggled to contain the virus this summer.

Nursing homes that reported PPE shortages were more likely to be for-profit, part of a chain, and to have COVID-19 cases among residents and staff.

The report found high rates of staff shortages clustered in the South and Midwest, especially Louisiana, Alabama, eastern Texas and Georgia.

Facilities that were government-owned, received higher shares of their earnings from Medicaid, and had lower quality ratings were more likely to confront staffing shortages.

“We have been slow to provide resources to nursing homes, and when we have provided them, they have been inadequate,” said Harvard health policy professor David Grabowski, one of the study authors.

<a href="https://apnews.com/94fe093a6367bd03dc5c61899af4b9ee">An initial federal effort to supply PPE was widely panned by nursing homes</a>, and Grabowski said a new push to supply N95 masks will probably come up short unless it is sustained. There are about 1 million shifts a day total in nursing homes, he said, and that means very large quantities of N95 masks are needed.

Separately, the Trump administration is trying to supply 14,000 nursing homes with fast-test machines to screen residents and staff for COVID-19. That effort is underway, but isn’t scheduled to be completed until the end of September.

“The federal government should really own this issue,” Grabowski said.

Addressing staffing shortages is seen as the more difficult problem, since nursing home pay is low, and with COVID-19, health risks to workers are high. Grabowski said Congress should earmark money to raise the wages of caregivers. But coronavirus legislation is stalled.

Foundation executive Fulmer said she’s forecasting that the staffing shortage in nursing homes will only get worse.

“These individuals are putting themselves and their families at risk, when they can get minimum wage in other ways,” Fulmer said. “People are just going to say, ‘Enough is enough.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589905440854.png" alt="Over two dozen residents at Brighton Gardens Senior Living Center in Prairie Village, Kansas died from the virus.- google image" />
 <figcaption>Over two dozen residents at Brighton Gardens Senior Living Center in Prairie Village, Kansas died from the virus.- google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — One in five U.S. nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID-19 also struggled to keep staff.Significantly, there was no improvement from May to July in the shortages of personal protective equipment, known as PPE, or in the staffing shortfalls, according to the analysis of federal data by academic researchers. The summer has seen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">the coronavirus surge across the South, and much of the West and Midwest.</a>People living in long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but account for 43% of coronavirus deaths, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Similar glaring disparities have been seen with nursing home residents in other countries, but in the U.S. the issue has become politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to hang on to support from older voters in his reelection bid.“A study that shows that 1 in 5 nursing homes has a severe shortage of PPE and a shortage of staff, and that it did not change from May to July, should be a massive red flag,” said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, a nonprofit that works to improve care for older adults.“We have had no coherent federal response,” added Fulmer, who was not involved in the research.Reacting to the study, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a statement that the Trump administration “has provided nursing homes the tools they need to stop the virus’ spread and, ultimately, each nursing home is responsible for its residents’ safety.” CMS sets nursing home standards and pays for much of the care.<a href="https://health-policy.healthaffairs.org/covid-19/mcgarry" target="_blank">The study published in the journal Health Affairs</a>&nbsp;looked at two periods of four weeks each earlier this summer, from mid-May to mid-June, and from the latter part of June to mid-July. Large outbreaks in nursing homes have been reported in many states since the end of February.Researchers from the University of Rochester in New York, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data provided by nursing homes to the government at the behest of the Medicare and Medicaid agency, CMS.They found that during the early part of the summer, 20.7% percent of nursing homes reported a severe PPE shortage, with one week or less of available supply. Shortages of N95 masks — recommended for health care providers — were the most common. The situation had barely changed by midsummer, with 19.1% of nursing homes reporting severe shortages.As far as staff shortages, 20.8% of nursing homes reported deficiencies in early summer. Commonly those involved nurses and nursing aides. By midsummer, 21.9% of nursing homes reported staff shortages.Adequate levels of protective equipment and nursing staff are essential components in any infection control plan, experts say, and persistent shortages can feed a vicious cycle that raises risks both for residents and staff.The study found that high rates of PPE shortages were seen in Iowa, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee, which have struggled to contain the virus this summer.Nursing homes that reported PPE shortages were more likely to be for-profit, part of a chain, and to have COVID-19 cases among residents and staff.The report found high rates of staff shortages clustered in the South and Midwest, especially Louisiana, Alabama, eastern Texas and Georgia.Facilities that were government-owned, received higher shares of their earnings from Medicaid, and had lower quality ratings were more likely to confront staffing shortages.“We have been slow to provide resources to nursing homes, and when we have provided them, they have been inadequate,” said Harvard health policy professor David Grabowski, one of the study authors.<a href="https://apnews.com/94fe093a6367bd03dc5c61899af4b9ee">An initial federal effort to supply PPE was widely panned by nursing homes</a>, and Grabowski said a new push to supply N95 masks will probably come up short unless it is sustained. There are about 1 million shifts a day total in nursing homes, he said, and that means very large quantities of N95 masks are needed.Separately, the Trump administration is trying to supply 14,000 nursing homes with fast-test machines to screen residents and staff for COVID-19. That effort is underway, but isn’t scheduled to be completed until the end of September.“The federal government should really own this issue,” Grabowski said.Addressing staffing shortages is seen as the more difficult problem, since nursing home pay is low, and with COVID-19, health risks to workers are high. Grabowski said Congress should earmark money to raise the wages of caregivers. But coronavirus legislation is stalled.Foundation executive Fulmer said she’s forecasting that the staffing shortage in nursing homes will only get worse.“These individuals are putting themselves and their families at risk, when they can get minimum wage in other ways,” Fulmer said. “People are just going to say, ‘Enough is enough.’”

1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff in virus rebound

SEDGWCICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Ford Ranger driven by Bruce&nbsp;Goolsby, 51, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 235 near Zoo Boulevard. The driver swerved into lane 1 to avoid rear-ending traffic in lane 2.

 As a result, a southbound 1989 Peterbilt semi driven by Stephen Olson, 60, Burlington Junction, MO., sideswiped the Ford, collided with the guardrail and post and traveled into northbound traffic.

A northbound 2012 Hyundai Azera driven by Haley Habiger, 24, Wichita, and a 2007 Cadillac DTS driven by John McCarty, 85, Wichita,&nbsp;side impacted the semi.

Habiger was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Sedgwick County Coroner. Two passengers in the Hyundai&nbsp; Michael J. Romero, 4 and McKinley G.&nbsp;Selfridge, 1, both of Wichita, were transported to Wesley Medical Center.

McCarty, Goolsby and Olson were not injured. The KHP did not have complete seat belt information.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598097269237.png" alt="The scene of Friday's fatal crash photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The scene of Friday's fatal crash photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWCICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Ford Ranger driven by Bruce&nbsp;Goolsby, 51, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 235 near Zoo Boulevard. The driver swerved into lane 1 to avoid rear-ending traffic in lane 2. As a result, a southbound 1989 Peterbilt semi driven by Stephen Olson, 60, Burlington Junction, MO., sideswiped the Ford, collided with the guardrail and post and traveled into northbound traffic.A northbound 2012 Hyundai Azera driven by Haley Habiger, 24, Wichita, and a 2007 Cadillac DTS driven by John McCarty, 85, Wichita,&nbsp;side impacted the semi.Habiger was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Sedgwick County Coroner. Two passengers in the Hyundai&nbsp; Michael J. Romero, 4 and McKinley G.&nbsp;Selfridge, 1, both of Wichita, were transported to Wesley Medical Center.McCarty, Goolsby and Olson were not injured. The KHP did not have complete seat belt information.&nbsp;

Kansas woman dead, 2 children hospitalized after 4-vehicle crash

This story was first published on Aug. 21, 2020. It was updated on Aug. 22, 2020, to correct who had been neighbors with the suspect. The documents indicate the victim’s father, not the victim, and the suspect may have once been neighbors.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of another man in Kansas City earlier this month.

Thorne McKendrick, 19, is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a weapons count in the Aug. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Brown.

Police found Brown in the street with a gunshot wound on the night of Aug. 1, investigators said. Brown was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

Detectives said in court records that security video shows McKendrick ride up to the area on a bicycle, and Brown coming out of his house. The video then shows Brown grab McKendrick from behind and the two men grappling outside a vehicle before the shooting, police said.

Witnesses, including Brown’s father, identified McKendrick to police from the security video, according to court documents. The father told police “he recognized McKendrick due to them being neighbors in the past and further advised that he tried to mentor McKendrick in the past as well,” according to the documents.

McKendrick is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27.

This story was first published on Aug. 21, 2020. It was updated on Aug. 22, 2020, to correct who had been neighbors with the suspect. The documents indicate the victim’s father, not the victim, and the suspect may have once been neighbors.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of another man in Kansas City earlier this month.

Witnesses told detectives that Brown and McKendrick were once neighbors and that Brown had tried to mentor McKendrick, according to court documents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598024632194.png" alt="McKendrick -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>McKendrick -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>This story was first published on Aug. 21, 2020. It was updated on Aug. 22, 2020, to correct who had been neighbors with the suspect. The documents indicate the victim’s father, not the victim, and the suspect may have once been neighbors.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of another man in Kansas City earlier this month.Thorne McKendrick, 19, is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a weapons count in the Aug. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Brown.Police found Brown in the street with a gunshot wound on the night of Aug. 1, investigators said. Brown was rushed to a hospital, where he died.Detectives said in court records that security video shows McKendrick ride up to the area on a bicycle, and Brown coming out of his house. The video then shows Brown grab McKendrick from behind and the two men grappling outside a vehicle before the shooting, police said.Witnesses, including Brown’s father, identified McKendrick to police from the security video, according to court documents. The father told police “he recognized McKendrick due to them being neighbors in the past and further advised that he tried to mentor McKendrick in the past as well,” according to the documents.McKendrick is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27.___This story was first published on Aug. 21, 2020. It was updated on Aug. 22, 2020, to correct who had been neighbors with the suspect. The documents indicate the victim’s father, not the victim, and the suspect may have once been neighbors.KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of another man in Kansas City earlier this month.Thorne McKendrick, 19, is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a weapons count in the Aug. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Brown.Police found Brown in the street with a gunshot wound on the night of Aug. 1, investigators said. Brown was rushed to a hospital, where he died.Detectives said in court records that security video shows McKendrick ride up to the area on a bicycle, and Brown coming out of his house. The video then shows Brown grab McKendrick from behind and the two men grappling outside a vehicle before the shooting, police said.Witnesses told detectives that Brown and McKendrick were once neighbors and that Brown had tried to mentor McKendrick, according to court documents.McKendrick is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27.

Update: KC teen held in shooting death of former neighbor

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged meth distribution in Great Bend and have made one arrest but continue to search for another suspect.

At noon Friday, deputies executed a search warrant at 333 Fruit Street in the city of Great Bend., according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Officers gained entry to the residence and located the sole occupant identified as Christopher Hughes, 48, of Great Bend. Hughes was found to be in possession of a substantial quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

A second suspect at the residence was not at home at the time of the search warrant. Kenneth Dale Reed of Great Bend is wanted for outstanding warrants for parole violation stemming from a previous drug charge as well as questioning in Friday's search warrant. Reed is a black male, 50 years of age, 5-foot-8 and 226 pounds.&nbsp;

Hughes was placed under arrest on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and transported to the Barton County jail. He is currently being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Anyone with information on Reed is asked to contacxt police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598039281497.jpeg" alt="Hughes-photo BartonCo." />
 <figcaption>Hughes-photo BartonCo.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged meth distribution in Great Bend and have made one arrest but continue to search for another suspect.At noon Friday, deputies executed a search warrant at 333 Fruit Street in the city of Great Bend., according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.Officers gained entry to the residence and located the sole occupant identified as Christopher Hughes, 48, of Great Bend. Hughes was found to be in possession of a substantial quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.A second suspect at the residence was not at home at the time of the search warrant. Kenneth Dale Reed of Great Bend is wanted for outstanding warrants for parole violation stemming from a previous drug charge as well as questioning in Friday's search warrant. Reed is a black male, 50 years of age, 5-foot-8 and 226 pounds.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598039301224.jpeg" alt="Reed photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Reed photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hughes was placed under arrest on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and transported to the Barton County jail. He is currently being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.Anyone with information on Reed is asked to contacxt police.

Sheriff: Search continues for Kan. suspect after drug bust

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/20/u-s-rep-roger-marshall-describes-postal-service-controversy-as-so-called-crisis/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — U.S. Rep. Roger
 Marshall says Democrats and news outlets deliberately aroused public 
fear by denouncing the Trump administration’s now-suspended changes to 
the United States Post Service that raised questions about delivery of 
millions of ballots by mail in November.

Marshall, who represents 
the largely rural 1st District in Congress, referred to the USPS 
controversy as a “so-called crisis.” He is the Republican Party’s 
nominee for U.S. Senate.

“I’m glad to see President
 Trump’s administration put an end to the fearmongering by Democrats and
 the media by choosing to suspend what have been long-standing 
operational practices for the sake of ensuring public trust in our 
electoral process. I am committed to a safe election without fraud,” 
Marshall said.

Democrat Barbara Bollier, a
 state senator from Johnson County, is Marshall’s opponent in the race 
to decide who replaces retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts. She said the 
Trump administration’s politicization of the Postal Service was damaging
 to people across the nation who rely on mail delivery of prescription 
medications, Social Security checks, advance ballots and other 
communications.

“Nearly every Kansan 
relies on the services of the USPS, especially veterans and those living
 in rural areas,” Bollier said. “Congress must take action and provide 
additional emergency assistance to the USPS to keep this crucial 
lifeline alive and strong for the people of Kansas. I will not stand by 
and watch us lose this critical public service that provides so much for
 the people of this state.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598029796323.jpeg" alt="The Kansas congressional delegation has mixed feelings about the Trump administrations now-suspended effort to cut costs at the United States Post Office in ways that could jeopardize timely delivery of mail and complicate voting in the November election. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas congressional delegation has mixed feelings about the Trump administrations now-suspended effort to cut costs at the United States Post Office in ways that could jeopardize timely delivery of mail and complicate voting in the November election. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/20/u-s-rep-roger-marshall-describes-postal-service-controversy-as-so-called-crisis/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — U.S. Rep. Roger
 Marshall says Democrats and news outlets deliberately aroused public 
fear by denouncing the Trump administration’s now-suspended changes to 
the United States Post Service that raised questions about delivery of 
millions of ballots by mail in November.Marshall, who represents 
the largely rural 1st District in Congress, referred to the USPS 
controversy as a “so-called crisis.” He is the Republican Party’s 
nominee for U.S. Senate.“I’m glad to see President
 Trump’s administration put an end to the fearmongering by Democrats and
 the media by choosing to suspend what have been long-standing 
operational practices for the sake of ensuring public trust in our 
electoral process. I am committed to a safe election without fraud,” 
Marshall said.Democrat Barbara Bollier, a
 state senator from Johnson County, is Marshall’s opponent in the race 
to decide who replaces retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts. She said the 
Trump administration’s politicization of the Postal Service was damaging
 to people across the nation who rely on mail delivery of prescription 
medications, Social Security checks, advance ballots and other 
communications.“Nearly every Kansan 
relies on the services of the USPS, especially veterans and those living
 in rural areas,” Bollier said. “Congress must take action and provide 
additional emergency assistance to the USPS to keep this crucial 
lifeline alive and strong for the people of Kansas. I will not stand by 
and watch us lose this critical public service that provides so much for
 the people of this state.”Louis
 DeJoy, the U.S. postmaster general and a major Trump campaign donor, 
was hired in May. He authorized cost-cutting moves amid the COVID-19 
pandemic criticized as an attempt to disenfranchise people voting by 
mail in the November election. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without 
evidence, that mail-in voting was plagued by fraud.On
 Tuesday, DeJoy suspended until after the election changes that included
 removing blue postal boxes, slashing post office hours and blocking 
overtime for mail carriers. It’s not clear whether the Postal Service 
would return mail-sorting equipment that was removed.The House is scheduled to 
return to Washington, D.C., to consider legislation Saturday related to 
the financial and operational status of the USPS. DeJoy has been called 
to testify Friday to a Senate committee and Monday in the House in 
response to bipartisan objections to his management of the Postal 
Service.In a statement, Marshall 
said he had been a leading supporter of the USPS during his three years 
in Congress. He described the Postal Service as a critical part of the 
nation’s communications, health care and business systems. He also said 
USPS had $14 billion in reserve and could borrow $10 billion from the 
federal treasury.“The USPS has been in a 
dire financial situation for years, losing over $80 billion over the 
past 14 years, which is why dramatic structural changes are needed to 
save the USPS,” he said.U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a 
Republican who isn’t up for re-election in 2020, said DeJoy had an 
obligation to work with Congress to put the USPS on firmer financial 
footing and protect integrity of the Postal Service. Erosion of the 
ability of USPS to function reliably could have a “crippling impact” on 
rural communities, Moran said.Gov. Laura Kelly, a 
Democrat, said federal lawmakers had a duty to “support our postal 
workers and strengthen the postal system. Not dismantle it, especially 
during an unprecedented health crisis.”U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, 
the 3rd District Democrat, called for DeJoy’s dismissal as postmaster 
general. She vowed to support legislation to “protect against the 
administration’s attacks on our democracy.”Kali Barnett, the 
Democratic Party’s nominee in the 1st District seat now served by 
Marshall, said residents of the Big First should demand an end to 
“unjustified attacks on the USPS.” She urged voters to return advance 
ballots as early as possible to make sure their voice was heard Nov. 3.Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;