TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka and have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Colten Hawley.

Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for&nbsp;

Hawley was also being sought by the Topeka Police Department for an attempt to locate and alleged kidnapping, criminal threat and theft,&nbsp;according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Hawley was also wanted on a warrant for a parole violation on the original charge of fleeing and eluding, forgery and criminal possession of a firearm.

The officer located the vehicle Hawley&nbsp; had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. 

The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the Hawley in the lot to the north of the motel.

Hawley&nbsp; was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the Hawley, according to Munoz.

Hawley fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. Hawley was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.

He was later booked on requested charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officer, felon in possession of a firearm and felony obstruction, according to Munoz.

The officer did not sustain any injuries in the incident. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.

The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz.&nbsp;

TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka.

Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for a felony crime, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

The officer located the vehicle the suspect had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. 

The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the suspect in the lot to the north of the motel.

The suspect was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the suspect, according to Munoz.

The suspect fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. The suspect was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.

The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz. Police have not released the name of the officer or the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597540083413.png" alt="Hawley" />
 <figcaption>Hawley</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka and have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Colten Hawley.Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for&nbsp;Hawley was also being sought by the Topeka Police Department for an attempt to locate and alleged kidnapping, criminal threat and theft,&nbsp;according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.Hawley was also wanted on a warrant for a parole violation on the original charge of fleeing and eluding, forgery and criminal possession of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597509115770.png" alt="The scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation Saturday morning in Topeka. Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation Saturday morning in Topeka. Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The officer located the vehicle Hawley&nbsp; had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the Hawley in the lot to the north of the motel.Hawley&nbsp; was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the Hawley, according to Munoz.Hawley fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. Hawley was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.He was later booked on requested charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officer, felon in possession of a firearm and felony obstruction, according to Munoz.The officer did not sustain any injuries in the incident. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz.&nbsp;----------TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka.Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for a felony crime, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.The officer located the vehicle the suspect had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the suspect in the lot to the north of the motel.The suspect was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the suspect, according to Munoz.The suspect fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. The suspect was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.The officer did not sustain any injuries in the incident. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz. Police have not released the name of the officer or the suspect.

Police ID suspect in Kansas officer-involved shooting

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — The prosecution of a Kansas researcher ensnared in a U.S. government crackdown on Chinese economic espionage and trade secret theft opens the door to criminalizing workplace disagreements, his attorneys argued Friday in a motion asking a court to throw out the charges.

Feng “Franklin” Tao&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dd57960c3ca268125cb37fc2df2abdc3">is charged</a>&nbsp;with not disclosing on conflict-of-interest forms work he was allegedly doing for China while employed at the University of Kansas — something federal prosecutors have portrayed as a scheme to defraud the university, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

In their request to dismiss the case, defense lawyers Peter Zeidenberg and Michael Dearington wrote that the government seeks to use Tao’s prosecution as a potential new model for the Justice Department to prosecute professors “without having to produce evidence of intellectual property theft or export control violations.”

The motion takes aim at the broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/afbf4d7f4aac4745b01852571179ceb3">China Initiative</a>&nbsp;announced by the Justice Department in 2018 to counter the threat of Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft, including on American college campuses. Since then, federal prosecutors have charged Chinese academics across the country of failing to disclose foreign sources of funding and lying about their links to China.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, has escalated its rhetoric against Beijing and taken steps to confront China, including by shutting down the Chinese consulate in Houston and through executive actions that ban dealings with the Chinese owners of TikTok and WeChat. FBI Director Chris Wray said in a speech last month that the bureau opens a new counterintelligence case linked to China about every 10 hours.

The indictment against Tao alleges that the Lawrence man’s motive was to help China by participating in its “talent plan,” which prosecutors contend is designed to encourage the transfer of original ideas and intellectual property from U.S. universities to Chinese government institutions.

Prosecutors accuse Tao of not informing the University of Kansas that he was selected for the Changjiang Professorship or the salary for his appointment to Fuzhou University in China.

In their motion, his lawyers warn that the case would open the door to criminalizing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d9f286ea73424a55ac0a5d294ec604af">employment disputes</a>&nbsp;that are better resolved by a human resources department. Tao faces 10 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud, based on two conflict-of-interest forms he submitted to the university.

“The Department of Justice is not the Ministry of Truth, and it lacks authority to regulate routine, private miscommunications between employees and employers regarding employee activities,” the motion says.

The motion presents hypothetical scenarios in which an employee who misleads an employer could wind up facing charges, rather than simply being reprimanded or fired by an employer. One example: A doctor’s office employee in Missouri who falsely calls in sick from his home in Kansas could be charged with false statements or wire fraud if the worker continues to collect wages.

“This is because the Indictment equates dishonesty in the workplace with fraud, merely because all employees receive salary from their employers, and false statements, merely because an employer receives federal funding,” the lawyers wrote.

“If the Court permits this Indictment to proceed to trial, it would open the floodgates to a vast range of federal prosecutions for garden-variety employment disputes that otherwise would have, at most, subjected the employee to administrative discipline at work,” they added. “This government overreach would not be limited to university professors.”

Tao, an associate professor of engineering, was born in China and moved to the United States in 2002. He has been employed since August 2014 at the University of Kansas’ Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, which conducts research on sustainable technology to conserve natural resources and energy.

Justice Department prosecutors in recent years have been particularly focused on Chinese government initiatives that recruit professors in specialized areas in the United States to work in China.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/739cdc0c25db16116ee2c30f2fcf83d0">University of Arkansas professor&nbsp;</a>was indicted last month on charges of wire fraud and passport fraud for allegedly failing to disclose ties to the Chinese government and Chinese companies when he received grant money from NASA.

Also last month, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e7eaecdf9b17232358b2baa81dcda679">rheumatology professor</a>&nbsp;who worked at schools including Ohio State University was charged with using millions of dollars in grant money from the U.S. government to help China develop expertise in rheumatology and immunology.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574105486339.png" alt="Feng “Franklin” Tao-photo University of Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Feng “Franklin” Tao-photo University of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — The prosecution of a Kansas researcher ensnared in a U.S. government crackdown on Chinese economic espionage and trade secret theft opens the door to criminalizing workplace disagreements, his attorneys argued Friday in a motion asking a court to throw out the charges.Feng “Franklin” Tao&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dd57960c3ca268125cb37fc2df2abdc3">is charged</a>&nbsp;with not disclosing on conflict-of-interest forms work he was allegedly doing for China while employed at the University of Kansas — something federal prosecutors have portrayed as a scheme to defraud the university, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.In their request to dismiss the case, defense lawyers Peter Zeidenberg and Michael Dearington wrote that the government seeks to use Tao’s prosecution as a potential new model for the Justice Department to prosecute professors “without having to produce evidence of intellectual property theft or export control violations.”The motion takes aim at the broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/afbf4d7f4aac4745b01852571179ceb3">China Initiative</a>&nbsp;announced by the Justice Department in 2018 to counter the threat of Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft, including on American college campuses. Since then, federal prosecutors have charged Chinese academics across the country of failing to disclose foreign sources of funding and lying about their links to China.The Trump administration, meanwhile, has escalated its rhetoric against Beijing and taken steps to confront China, including by shutting down the Chinese consulate in Houston and through executive actions that ban dealings with the Chinese owners of TikTok and WeChat. FBI Director Chris Wray said in a speech last month that the bureau opens a new counterintelligence case linked to China about every 10 hours.The indictment against Tao alleges that the Lawrence man’s motive was to help China by participating in its “talent plan,” which prosecutors contend is designed to encourage the transfer of original ideas and intellectual property from U.S. universities to Chinese government institutions.Prosecutors accuse Tao of not informing the University of Kansas that he was selected for the Changjiang Professorship or the salary for his appointment to Fuzhou University in China.In their motion, his lawyers warn that the case would open the door to criminalizing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d9f286ea73424a55ac0a5d294ec604af">employment disputes</a>&nbsp;that are better resolved by a human resources department. Tao faces 10 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud, based on two conflict-of-interest forms he submitted to the university.“The Department of Justice is not the Ministry of Truth, and it lacks authority to regulate routine, private miscommunications between employees and employers regarding employee activities,” the motion says.The motion presents hypothetical scenarios in which an employee who misleads an employer could wind up facing charges, rather than simply being reprimanded or fired by an employer. One example: A doctor’s office employee in Missouri who falsely calls in sick from his home in Kansas could be charged with false statements or wire fraud if the worker continues to collect wages.“This is because the Indictment equates dishonesty in the workplace with fraud, merely because all employees receive salary from their employers, and false statements, merely because an employer receives federal funding,” the lawyers wrote.“If the Court permits this Indictment to proceed to trial, it would open the floodgates to a vast range of federal prosecutions for garden-variety employment disputes that otherwise would have, at most, subjected the employee to administrative discipline at work,” they added. “This government overreach would not be limited to university professors.”Tao, an associate professor of engineering, was born in China and moved to the United States in 2002. He has been employed since August 2014 at the University of Kansas’ Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, which conducts research on sustainable technology to conserve natural resources and energy.Justice Department prosecutors in recent years have been particularly focused on Chinese government initiatives that recruit professors in specialized areas in the United States to work in China.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/739cdc0c25db16116ee2c30f2fcf83d0">University of Arkansas professor&nbsp;</a>was indicted last month on charges of wire fraud and passport fraud for allegedly failing to disclose ties to the Chinese government and Chinese companies when he received grant money from NASA.Also last month, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e7eaecdf9b17232358b2baa81dcda679">rheumatology professor</a>&nbsp;who worked at schools including Ohio State University was charged with using millions of dollars in grant money from the U.S. government to help China develop expertise in rheumatology and immunology.___

Filing: KU prof's prosecution criminalizes job disputes

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Trump’s top coronavirus adviser used a visit to Kansas to urge people to wear masks regardless of where they live.

“What’s really important for every Kansan to understand is that this epidemic that we have been seeing this summer is both urban and rural,” Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force said Saturday. “So we are really asking all communities, whether you are urban or rural communities, to really wear a mask inside, outside, every day.”

She also stressed that people should socially distance and not have gatherings while in Kansas City, Kansas, for a meeting with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, as well as community and state health officials at KU Medical Center.

“You can’t tell who’s infected,” Birx said. “Much of the spread is asymptomatic. I know we all want to believe that our family members cannot be positive. They are.”

Birx said when communities start seeing a rise in positive cases, leaders need to close the bars, restrict indoor dining, decrease social gatherings and ensure there’s a mask mandate.

“We have been doing that across the South and we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in cases where the population has followed those guidelines,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597516477980.png" alt="Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force in Kansas on Saturday -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force in Kansas on Saturday -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Trump’s top coronavirus adviser used a visit to Kansas to urge people to wear masks regardless of where they live.“What’s really important for every Kansan to understand is that this epidemic that we have been seeing this summer is both urban and rural,” Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force said Saturday. “So we are really asking all communities, whether you are urban or rural communities, to really wear a mask inside, outside, every day.”She also stressed that people should socially distance and not have gatherings while in Kansas City, Kansas, for a meeting with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, as well as community and state health officials at KU Medical Center.“You can’t tell who’s infected,” Birx said. “Much of the spread is asymptomatic. I know we all want to believe that our family members cannot be positive. They are.”Birx said when communities start seeing a rise in positive cases, leaders need to close the bars, restrict indoor dining, decrease social gatherings and ensure there’s a mask mandate.“We have been doing that across the South and we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in cases where the population has followed those guidelines,” she said.

Top coronavirus adviser meets with Kan. governor, health officials

By ALLISON WINTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/14/kansas-makes-history-as-record-number-of-u-s-women-bid-for-congress/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON — More women 
from across the nation are running for Congress this year than ever 
before, and Kansas is leading the way in making history on the ballot.

For the first time ever, 
there will be a female candidate in each of Kansas’ U.S. House and 
Senate races in November. All of the Democratic contenders are women. 
And one Republican woman candidate will challenge Rep. Sharice Davids to
 represent the Kansas City suburbs.

The Kansans are among a 
record-breaking number of women making bids for Congress, according to 
the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

And with presumptive 
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s choice of Sen. Kamala Harris
 as his running mate, there will be another historic female candidate at
 the top of the ballot — the first Black woman and first Asian American 
to run for vice president on a major party ticket.

“In 2020, we’re surpassing
 the records of just two years ago, an encouraging sign that we could be
 entering a new era of women’s political participation,” said Debbie 
Walsh, director of the Center for Women in American Politics at Rutgers.
 “But electoral progress for women should be the norm, not the 
exception, in a political system where women remain significantly 
underrepresented as officeholders.”

Women hold fewer than a 
quarter of seats in Congress, though Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., 
leads the House. In the Kansas Legislature, women hold 26% of the seats.

Democratic women came out 
in record numbers to run for office after the election of President 
Donald Trump. That tide of newly elected female Democratic 
representatives helped to flip control of the House in 2018, leading 
some to call it “the second year of the woman.”

For this year’s general 
election, even more women have launched campaigns. A record 261 women 
have secured nominations for U.S. House seats in the 2020 election — 78 
Republicans and 183 Democrats. Eight states have not yet had their 
primaries, so the number could rise.

Although deep-red Kansas 
is considered a conservative state, it has a long history of supporting 
women’s voting rights and historic elections for women. Kansas was the 
eighth state to provide voting rights to women, the first to elect a 
woman mayor, and the first to elect a female U.S. senator in her own 
right, Republican Sen. Nancy Kassaubaum in 1978.

And in its early days, 
Kansas — established as a free state — was thought of as a progressive 
stronghold that would support women’s right to vote.

“It was a state of 
abolitionists fighting against slavery, and those abolitionists, men and
 women, came here, and once they succeeded in making Kansas a free 
state, a lot of women turned their attention to suffrage,” said Mary 
Moore, director of the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka.

The museum has an <a href="https://www.kshs.org/exhibits/upward/pdfs/upward_to_equality_catalog.pdf">exhibit on the women’s suffrage movement</a>&nbsp;that
 was scheduled to open in March before the museum had to close its doors
 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It hopes to allow visitors again in 
September.

National leaders for 
women’s suffrage chose Kansas as their first battleground in the fight 
for women’s right to vote. A booklet distributed in 1867 heralded their 
campaign with this verse on the cover: “Kansas will win the world’s 
applause / As the sole champion of Woman’s cause / So light the 
bonfires! Have the flag unfurled / To the Banner State of all the 
world.”

The first resolution in 
the nation in favor of suffrage for women and Black men was introduced 
in Kansas in 1867 but ultimately failed. Kansans approved a state 
constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote in 1912 — eight
 years before the United States approved the 19th amendment.

One hundred years later, 
women are voting and running for office in record numbers across the 
United States. In total, 583 women filed to run as major-party 
candidates for primaries for U.S. House seats this year — 227 of them 
Republican and 356 Democrats.

But while more women of 
both parties are making bids, Democratic women have been generally more 
successful in winning their nominations — a trend reflected in Kansas.

“Historically, Kansas and 
other states in the Great Plains and the West have been friendlier to 
electing women throughout the 20th century, for sure. But that is 
changing somewhat, and it is really driven by party,” said Patrick 
Miller, an associate professor of political science at the University of
 Kansas who studies voting behavior.

“In the last 20 years,” he
 said, “Democratic women are winning Democratic primaries more than ever
 before and Republican women are getting less successful over time at 
winning Republican primaries.”

Of the six women who won 
their congressional primaries in Kansas in 2020, five are Democrats. And
 in the predominantly GOP state, most of the Democratic women on the 
ballot face an uphill battle.

“Academic studies show 
that when women run for office they win just as often as men do,” said 
Alexandra Middlewood, an assistant professor of political science at 
Wichita State University. “But this is still Kansas, and Democratic 
candidates are going to struggle in most of our congressional 
districts.”

In 2016, Trump won all but two counties in Kansas and 56% of the vote. Hillary Clinton won 35.7%.

But Gov. Laura Kelly 
recently proved that Democratic women can win in the state. She did so 
largely through strong Democratic turnout in Kansas’ five most populated
 counties and some crossover Republican votes.

Vicki Hiatt, chairwoman of
 the Kansas Democratic Party, said more women have been eager to run for
 office on the heels of Kelly’s victory and Davids’ success in flipping 
the Kansas City suburbs for Democrats in 2018.

“I think women in our 
state have started to see the fact that they could run and could win,” 
Hiatt said in an interview. “Women have just been stepping up, so it was
 not a hard recruiting task.”

Kansas Republican Party 
chairman Mike Kuckelman said he made it one of his goals to recruit more
 Republicans to run for office and “to reach out specially to people of 
color, women, and the Hispanic/Latino communities.”

In the 3rd District, three
 women competed in the Republican primary, along with two men. Amanda 
Adkins, a businesswoman from Overland Park and former chairwoman of the 
Kansas Republican Party, won the primary and will attempt to unseat 
Davids. The contest is rated “lean Democratic” by Cook Political Report,
 a nonpartisan election analysis newsletter.

The other competitive 
House race is expected in the 2nd District, which includes Topeka and 
much of the eastern part of the state.

Michelle De La Isla, the 
first Latina to serve as mayor of Topeka, will face Republican Jake 
LaTurner, who is from southeast Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-2nd-district-laturner-crushes-u-s-rep-watkins-in-gop-primary/">LaTurner&nbsp;defeated incumbent Rep. Steve Watkins</a>&nbsp;in the primary, after Watkins was charged with <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/29/affidavit-rep-steve-watkins-lied-about-address-change-not-voting/">felonies related to voter fraud</a>.
 Cook Political Report ranks the contest as “likely Republican,” but 
recent polls have put the two candidates within a margin of error.

The highest-profile female
 candidate in Kansas is Barbara Bollier, of Mission Hills, who is 
seeking to become the first Democratic U.S. senator from the state since
 1933. The race has gained national attention as Bollier, a former 
Republican state senator who switched parties after the election of 
Trump, has proven herself&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/28/democrats-see-opportunity-for-senate-seat-in-kansas-gop-primary-battle/">a powerful fundraiser and formidable candidate</a>.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-senate-bollier-awaits-winner-of-messy-gop-primary/">She will face U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall,</a>&nbsp;who has played up his bonafides as a Trump supporter. The race&nbsp;is ranked “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.

A new poll, released 
Wednesday, showed Marshall and Bollier in a dead heat. Marshall was two 
points ahead in the survey of 1,200 likely voters, but within the margin
 of error of the poll. SurveyUSA, a nationally recognized polling house,
 conducted the survey after a group of election enthusiasts on Twitter 
crowd-funded the polling effort.

The other two 
congressional races are rated as “solid Republican” by Cook Political 
Report with slim chances for the Democratic women challengers. Democrat 
Kali Barnett, a music teacher from Garden City, will face Republican 
candidate Tracey Mann, of Salina, a former lieutenant governor, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-1st-district-gop-candidate-tracey-mann-prevails-in-bitter-primary-feud/">in western Kansas’ large, rural 1st District.</a>&nbsp;The heavily GOP district has only once sent a Democrat to Congress.

In the 4th District, which
 includes Wichita and south-central Kansas, Democrat Laura Lombard of 
Wichita, a 36-year-old business development consultant, will challenge 
incumbent Republican Ron Estes.

Allison Winter is a Washington, D.C., correspondent for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597415485024.jpeg" alt="For the first time, there will be a woman on the ballot in every congressional race in Kansas. Clockwise from bottom left: Rep. Sharice Davids, Kali Barnett, state Sen. Barbara Bollier, Laura Lombard, Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla, all Democrats, and Republican Amanda Adkins. (Composite by Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>For the first time, there will be a woman on the ballot in every congressional race in Kansas. Clockwise from bottom left: Rep. Sharice Davids, Kali Barnett, state Sen. Barbara Bollier, Laura Lombard, Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla, all Democrats, and Republican Amanda Adkins. (Composite by Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON WINTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/14/kansas-makes-history-as-record-number-of-u-s-women-bid-for-congress/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON — More women 
from across the nation are running for Congress this year than ever 
before, and Kansas is leading the way in making history on the ballot.For the first time ever, 
there will be a female candidate in each of Kansas’ U.S. House and 
Senate races in November. All of the Democratic contenders are women. 
And one Republican woman candidate will challenge Rep. Sharice Davids to
 represent the Kansas City suburbs.The Kansans are among a 
record-breaking number of women making bids for Congress, according to 
the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.And with presumptive 
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s choice of Sen. Kamala Harris
 as his running mate, there will be another historic female candidate at
 the top of the ballot — the first Black woman and first Asian American 
to run for vice president on a major party ticket.“In 2020, we’re surpassing
 the records of just two years ago, an encouraging sign that we could be
 entering a new era of women’s political participation,” said Debbie 
Walsh, director of the Center for Women in American Politics at Rutgers.
 “But electoral progress for women should be the norm, not the 
exception, in a political system where women remain significantly 
underrepresented as officeholders.”Women hold fewer than a 
quarter of seats in Congress, though Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., 
leads the House. In the Kansas Legislature, women hold 26% of the seats.Democratic women came out 
in record numbers to run for office after the election of President 
Donald Trump. That tide of newly elected female Democratic 
representatives helped to flip control of the House in 2018, leading 
some to call it “the second year of the woman.”For this year’s general 
election, even more women have launched campaigns. A record 261 women 
have secured nominations for U.S. House seats in the 2020 election — 78 
Republicans and 183 Democrats. Eight states have not yet had their 
primaries, so the number could rise.<h2>A suffragist history</h2>Although deep-red Kansas 
is considered a conservative state, it has a long history of supporting 
women’s voting rights and historic elections for women. Kansas was the 
eighth state to provide voting rights to women, the first to elect a 
woman mayor, and the first to elect a female U.S. senator in her own 
right, Republican Sen. Nancy Kassaubaum in 1978.And in its early days, 
Kansas — established as a free state — was thought of as a progressive 
stronghold that would support women’s right to vote.“It was a state of 
abolitionists fighting against slavery, and those abolitionists, men and
 women, came here, and once they succeeded in making Kansas a free 
state, a lot of women turned their attention to suffrage,” said Mary 
Moore, director of the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka.The museum has an <a href="https://www.kshs.org/exhibits/upward/pdfs/upward_to_equality_catalog.pdf">exhibit on the women’s suffrage movement</a>&nbsp;that
 was scheduled to open in March before the museum had to close its doors
 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It hopes to allow visitors again in 
September.National leaders for 
women’s suffrage chose Kansas as their first battleground in the fight 
for women’s right to vote. A booklet distributed in 1867 heralded their 
campaign with this verse on the cover: “Kansas will win the world’s 
applause / As the sole champion of Woman’s cause / So light the 
bonfires! Have the flag unfurled / To the Banner State of all the 
world.”The first resolution in 
the nation in favor of suffrage for women and Black men was introduced 
in Kansas in 1867 but ultimately failed. Kansans approved a state 
constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote in 1912 — eight
 years before the United States approved the 19th amendment.<h2>‘This is still Kansas’</h2>One hundred years later, 
women are voting and running for office in record numbers across the 
United States. In total, 583 women filed to run as major-party 
candidates for primaries for U.S. House seats this year — 227 of them 
Republican and 356 Democrats.But while more women of 
both parties are making bids, Democratic women have been generally more 
successful in winning their nominations — a trend reflected in Kansas.“Historically, Kansas and 
other states in the Great Plains and the West have been friendlier to 
electing women throughout the 20th century, for sure. But that is 
changing somewhat, and it is really driven by party,” said Patrick 
Miller, an associate professor of political science at the University of
 Kansas who studies voting behavior.“In the last 20 years,” he
 said, “Democratic women are winning Democratic primaries more than ever
 before and Republican women are getting less successful over time at 
winning Republican primaries.”Of the six women who won 
their congressional primaries in Kansas in 2020, five are Democrats. And
 in the predominantly GOP state, most of the Democratic women on the 
ballot face an uphill battle.“Academic studies show 
that when women run for office they win just as often as men do,” said 
Alexandra Middlewood, an assistant professor of political science at 
Wichita State University. “But this is still Kansas, and Democratic 
candidates are going to struggle in most of our congressional 
districts.”In 2016, Trump won all but two counties in Kansas and 56% of the vote. Hillary Clinton won 35.7%.But Gov. Laura Kelly 
recently proved that Democratic women can win in the state. She did so 
largely through strong Democratic turnout in Kansas’ five most populated
 counties and some crossover Republican votes.Vicki Hiatt, chairwoman of
 the Kansas Democratic Party, said more women have been eager to run for
 office on the heels of Kelly’s victory and Davids’ success in flipping 
the Kansas City suburbs for Democrats in 2018.“I think women in our 
state have started to see the fact that they could run and could win,” 
Hiatt said in an interview. “Women have just been stepping up, so it was
 not a hard recruiting task.”Kansas Republican Party 
chairman Mike Kuckelman said he made it one of his goals to recruit more
 Republicans to run for office and “to reach out specially to people of 
color, women, and the Hispanic/Latino communities.”In the 3rd District, three
 women competed in the Republican primary, along with two men. Amanda 
Adkins, a businesswoman from Overland Park and former chairwoman of the 
Kansas Republican Party, won the primary and will attempt to unseat 
Davids. The contest is rated “lean Democratic” by Cook Political Report,
 a nonpartisan election analysis newsletter.The other competitive 
House race is expected in the 2nd District, which includes Topeka and 
much of the eastern part of the state.Michelle De La Isla, the 
first Latina to serve as mayor of Topeka, will face Republican Jake 
LaTurner, who is from southeast Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-2nd-district-laturner-crushes-u-s-rep-watkins-in-gop-primary/">LaTurner&nbsp;defeated incumbent Rep. Steve Watkins</a>&nbsp;in the primary, after Watkins was charged with <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/29/affidavit-rep-steve-watkins-lied-about-address-change-not-voting/">felonies related to voter fraud</a>.
 Cook Political Report ranks the contest as “likely Republican,” but 
recent polls have put the two candidates within a margin of error.The highest-profile female
 candidate in Kansas is Barbara Bollier, of Mission Hills, who is 
seeking to become the first Democratic U.S. senator from the state since
 1933. The race has gained national attention as Bollier, a former 
Republican state senator who switched parties after the election of 
Trump, has proven herself&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/28/democrats-see-opportunity-for-senate-seat-in-kansas-gop-primary-battle/">a powerful fundraiser and formidable candidate</a>.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-senate-bollier-awaits-winner-of-messy-gop-primary/">She will face U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall,</a>&nbsp;who has played up his bonafides as a Trump supporter. The race&nbsp;is ranked “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.A new poll, released 
Wednesday, showed Marshall and Bollier in a dead heat. Marshall was two 
points ahead in the survey of 1,200 likely voters, but within the margin
 of error of the poll. SurveyUSA, a nationally recognized polling house,
 conducted the survey after a group of election enthusiasts on Twitter 
crowd-funded the polling effort.The other two 
congressional races are rated as “solid Republican” by Cook Political 
Report with slim chances for the Democratic women challengers. Democrat 
Kali Barnett, a music teacher from Garden City, will face Republican 
candidate Tracey Mann, of Salina, a former lieutenant governor, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-1st-district-gop-candidate-tracey-mann-prevails-in-bitter-primary-feud/">in western Kansas’ large, rural 1st District.</a>&nbsp;The heavily GOP district has only once sent a Democrat to Congress.In the 4th District, which
 includes Wichita and south-central Kansas, Democrat Laura Lombard of 
Wichita, a 36-year-old business development consultant, will challenge 
incumbent Republican Ron Estes.Allison Winter is a Washington, D.C., correspondent for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

Kan. makes history as record number of women bid for Congress

MERCER COUNTY, Mo.—One person died in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Saturday during an ATV drag race at Mercer Homecoming Park northeast of Kansas City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Yamaha Banshee driven by Billy G. Nichols, 64, De Kalb, was unable to stop at the end of the race struck a utility pole.

Mercer County EMS transported Nichols to Wright Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; &nbsp;The track is located approximately two hours northeast of Kansas City.

MERCER COUNTY, Mo.—One person died in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Saturday during an ATV drag race at Mercer Homecoming Park northeast of Kansas City.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Yamaha Banshee driven by Billy G. Nichols, 64, De Kalb, was unable to stop at the end of the race struck a utility pole.Mercer County EMS transported Nichols to Wright Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; &nbsp;The track is located approximately two hours northeast of Kansas City.

ATV driver dies after drag race crash 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on&nbsp; multiple charges following a traffic stop.

Just before 9 p.m. Thursday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1998 Ford F150 pickup truck near NW Taylor Street and NW Waddell Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the traffic stop, a K9 unit was deployed. The driver, Jerome N. Townsend, 50, of Topeka, was taken into custody and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and a traffic violation

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597538882674.png" alt="Townsend photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Townsend photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on&nbsp; multiple charges following a traffic stop.Just before 9 p.m. Thursday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1998 Ford F150 pickup truck near NW Taylor Street and NW Waddell Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the traffic stop, a K9 unit was deployed. The driver, Jerome N. Townsend, 50, of Topeka, was taken into custody and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and a traffic violation

Sheriff's K9 helps catch Kansas drug suspect

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City man has been charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm after he used it to threaten a restaurant employee, according to the United State's Attorney's office

Edward Latimore, 46, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, an employee at a KFC restaurant at 3014 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, confronted Latimore on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 8, when Latimore went to the rear of the restaurant to publicly urinate. After they argued, Latimore left the restaurant. But the employee then saw Latimore in the drive-through window area of the restaurant, and they argued again. Latimore allegedly pulled up his shirt and showed the employee a Sig Sauer .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol in his waistband. Latimore drew the firearm from his waistband, the affidavit says, pointed it at the employee, and threatened to kill the employee.

A second KFC employee had taken a photograph of Latimore, which they provided to the police. Officers searched the area for Latimore and found him walking northbound on the east side of Gladstone Boulevard. Officers contacted Latimore, and took the pistol from his waistband and a magazine, loaded with 10 .22-caliber rounds of ammunition, from his left pants pocket.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Latimore has prior felony convictions for assault and armed criminal action.

The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597347896613.png" alt="This Sig Sauer .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol was seized from Edward Latimore when he was arrested-photo courtesy United State's Attorney" />
 <figcaption>This Sig Sauer .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol was seized from Edward Latimore when he was arrested-photo courtesy United State's Attorney</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City man has been charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm after he used it to threaten a restaurant employee, according to the United State's Attorney's officeEdward Latimore, 46, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City with being a felon in possession of a firearm.According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, an employee at a KFC restaurant at 3014 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, confronted Latimore on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 8, when Latimore went to the rear of the restaurant to publicly urinate. After they argued, Latimore left the restaurant. But the employee then saw Latimore in the drive-through window area of the restaurant, and they argued again. Latimore allegedly pulled up his shirt and showed the employee a Sig Sauer .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol in his waistband. Latimore drew the firearm from his waistband, the affidavit says, pointed it at the employee, and threatened to kill the employee.A second KFC employee had taken a photograph of Latimore, which they provided to the police. Officers searched the area for Latimore and found him walking northbound on the east side of Gladstone Boulevard. Officers contacted Latimore, and took the pistol from his waistband and a magazine, loaded with 10 .22-caliber rounds of ammunition, from his left pants pocket.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Latimore has prior felony convictions for assault and armed criminal action.The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.&nbsp;

Man pulled pistol on employee at KC restaurant drive-through

Washington —On Saturday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Yale School of Public Health for its SalivaDirect COVID-19 diagnostic test, which uses a new method of processing saliva samples when testing for COVID-19 infection, according to a media release from the FDA.

“The SalivaDirect test for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 is yet another testing innovation game changer that will reduce the demand for scarce testing resources,” said Assistant Secretary for Health and COVID-19 Testing Coordinator Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D. 

“Our current national expansion of COVID-19 testing is only possible because of FDA’s technical expertise and reduction of regulatory barriers, coupled with the private sector’s ability to innovate and their high motivation to answer complex challenges posed by this pandemic.”

“Providing this type of flexibility for processing saliva samples to test for COVID-19 infection is groundbreaking in terms of efficiency and avoiding shortages of crucial test components like reagents,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “Today’s authorization is another example of the FDA working with test developers to bring the most innovative technology to market in an effort to ensure access to testing for all people in America. The FDA encourages test developers to work with the agency to create innovative, effective products to help address the COVID-19 pandemic and to increase capacity and efficiency in testing.”

SalivaDirect does not require any special type of swab or collection device; a saliva sample can be collected in any sterile container. This test is also unique because it does not require a separate nucleic acid extraction step. This is significant because the extraction kits used for this step in other tests have been prone to shortages in the past. Being able to perform a test without these kits enhances the capacity for increased testing, while reducing the strain on available resources. Additionally, the SalivaDirect methodology has been validated and authorized for use with different combinations of commonly used reagents and instruments, meaning the test could be used broadly in most high-complexity labs.

Yale intends to provide the SalivaDirect protocol to interested laboratories as an “open source” protocol, meaning that designated laboratories could follow the protocol to obtain the required components and perform the test in their lab according to Yale’s instructions for use. Because this test does not rely on any proprietary equipment from Yale and can use a variety of commercially available testing components, it can be assembled and used in high-complexity labs throughout the country, provided they comply with the conditions of authorization in the EUA.

This is the fifth test that the FDA has authorized that uses saliva as a sample for testing. Testing saliva eliminates the need for nasopharyngeal swabs, which have also been prone to shortages, and alleviates the patient discomfort associated with these swabs. Since the saliva sample is self-collected under the observation of a healthcare professional, it could also potentially lower the risk posed to healthcare workers responsible for sample collection. While FDA has seen variable performance in tests using saliva, Yale School of Public Health submitted data with its EUA request from which the FDA determined that Yale’s test meets the criteria for emergency authorization when used to test saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection.

Washington —On Saturday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Yale School of Public Health for its SalivaDirect COVID-19 diagnostic test, which uses a new method of processing saliva samples when testing for COVID-19 infection, according to a media release from the FDA.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: a saliva <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> test developed by <a href="https://twitter.com/YaleSPH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yalesph</a> researchers has recieved emergency use authorization by the FDA. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalivaDirect?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SalivaDirect</a> is fast, inexpensive, and non-invasive. It can be a game changer for accessible testing. <a href="https://t.co/clk3mIciG1">https://t.co/clk3mIciG1</a>&mdash; Yale School of Public Health (@YaleSPH) <a href="https://twitter.com/YaleSPH/status/1294675119881834502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The SalivaDirect test for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 is yet another testing innovation game changer that will reduce the demand for scarce testing resources,” said Assistant Secretary for Health and COVID-19 Testing Coordinator Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D. “Our current national expansion of COVID-19 testing is only possible because of FDA’s technical expertise and reduction of regulatory barriers, coupled with the private sector’s ability to innovate and their high motivation to answer complex challenges posed by this pandemic.”“Providing this type of flexibility for processing saliva samples to test for COVID-19 infection is groundbreaking in terms of efficiency and avoiding shortages of crucial test components like reagents,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “Today’s authorization is another example of the FDA working with test developers to bring the most innovative technology to market in an effort to ensure access to testing for all people in America. The FDA encourages test developers to work with the agency to create innovative, effective products to help address the COVID-19 pandemic and to increase capacity and efficiency in testing.”SalivaDirect does not require any special type of swab or collection device; a saliva sample can be collected in any sterile container. This test is also unique because it does not require a separate nucleic acid extraction step. This is significant because the extraction kits used for this step in other tests have been prone to shortages in the past. Being able to perform a test without these kits enhances the capacity for increased testing, while reducing the strain on available resources. Additionally, the SalivaDirect methodology has been validated and authorized for use with different combinations of commonly used reagents and instruments, meaning the test could be used broadly in most high-complexity labs.Yale intends to provide the SalivaDirect protocol to interested laboratories as an “open source” protocol, meaning that designated laboratories could follow the protocol to obtain the required components and perform the test in their lab according to Yale’s instructions for use. Because this test does not rely on any proprietary equipment from Yale and can use a variety of commercially available testing components, it can be assembled and used in high-complexity labs throughout the country, provided they comply with the conditions of authorization in the EUA.This is the fifth test that the FDA has authorized that uses saliva as a sample for testing. Testing saliva eliminates the need for nasopharyngeal swabs, which have also been prone to shortages, and alleviates the patient discomfort associated with these swabs. Since the saliva sample is self-collected under the observation of a healthcare professional, it could also potentially lower the risk posed to healthcare workers responsible for sample collection. While FDA has seen variable performance in tests using saliva, Yale School of Public Health submitted data with its EUA request from which the FDA determined that Yale’s test meets the criteria for emergency authorization when used to test saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection.

FDA gives emergency approval of saliva #COVID19 test 

Churches in California and Minnesota, backed by a conservative legal group, filed lawsuits this past week against the governors of their states challenging restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak that they contend are violations of religious liberty.

They’re the latest in a long series of legal challenges, many of them in California, pitting clerics and houses of worship who believe they should be exempt from certain restrictions on public gatherings against governors who insist the measures are needed to rein in the pandemic. Most of the suits have been rebuffed; some have succeeded.

In Minnesota, a lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court challenging Gov. Tim Walz’s executive orders requiring 6-foot social distancing and the wearing of face masks at worship services.

“Gov. Walz, a former teacher, gets an F in religious liberties,” said Erick Kaardal, special counsel for the Thomas More Society. “Other states, including Texas, Illinois and Ohio, have excluded churches from COVID-19 mask mandates.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reiterated his defense of Walz’s order, saying it was legally and constitutionally sound.

Teddy Tschann, spokesperson for Walz, said the governor was within his authority taking the action and added that all Walz’s actions have been grounded in the desire to keep Minnesotans safe.

Walz had been embroiled in a battle with Roman Catholic and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations across Minnesota over restrictions he placed on gatherings of more than 10 people. He relented and said they could hold services at 25% of capacity if certain conditions were met after they made it clear they planned to defy the order.

Earlier this month a pastor in Palmetto, Florida, filed a suit challenging Manatee County’s mask mandate. The Rev. Joel Tillis of Suncoast Baptist Church said the order shouldn’t extend to houses of worship because it hinders prayer.

The Thomas More Society, which specializes in litigation on religious issues, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in California Superior Court against Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials. It seeks to prevent the enforcement of “unconstitutional and onerous coronavirus pandemic regulations” against Grace Community Church in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sun Valley.

The pastor, John MacArthur, has been holding services in recent weeks attended by throngs of worshippers in defiance of state and county limits on gatherings.

“We will obey God rather than men,” MacArthur said in a message to his congregation. “He will be on our side.”

MacArthur was greeted with applause Sunday when he welcomed worshippers to his church’s “peaceful protest.”

One of the two Thomas More lawyers representing MacArthur and his church is Jenna Ellis, who also is a senior legal adviser to President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.

“California’s edicts demanding an indefinite shutdown have gone now far past rational or reasonable and are firmly in the territory of tyranny and discrimination,” Ellis said. “This isn’t about health. It’s about blatantly targeting churches.”

The lawsuit contends that restrictions on large gatherings should not be enforced at churches because they were not enforced on large demonstrations against racism and police brutality.

Officials in California, where COVID-19 cases have been surging in recent weeks, say strict restrictions remain necessary in Los Angeles County and other counties that are on a state monitoring list for high rates of new infections.

Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against the church Thursday seeking to have in-door, in-person worship services stopped. The lawsuit also seeks to have the church comply with health order requirements, including the use of face covers and physical distancing at outdoor services.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office referred a request for comment to Newsom’s office, as the new lawsuit addresses the governor’s executive order. Spokesmen for Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Across the country the vast majority of churches have cooperated with health authorities and successfully protected their congregations. Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks.

A few churches have been openly defiant, including one in California’s Ventura County which held indoor worship services Sunday despite a judge’s temporary restraining order.

Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park had vowed to continue in-person services even though the order cited “an immediate threat to public health and safety.”

On Tuesday a different judge declined a county request to order the immediate closure of the church, and scheduled a hearing for Aug. 21.

Earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings in a suit filed by South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, California.

Most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected on July 24 an appeal by a rural Nevada church in a 5-4 decision joined by Chief Justice John Roberts but sharply criticized in three separate conservative dissents. In addition to lax enforcement of social-distancing at protests, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued Nevada’s 50-person cap on worship services was unconstitutional because casinos and other businesses currently can operate at 50% of capacity. Justice Neil Gorscuch wrote, “There is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.”

Religious plaintiffs have prevailed in some litigation, however. In June a federal judge blocked New York state from enforcing restrictions on indoor religious gatherings to 25% capacity when other types of gatherings were limited to 50%.

The plaintiffs, represented by the Thomas More Society, were two Catholic priests from Upstate New York and three Orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn. They argued that the restrictions violated their First Amendment rights to practice their religion.

The society also claimed a victory in May when Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker withdrew certain pandemic-related mandates on houses of worship.

In the new Minnesota case, the plaintiffs were Protestant churches in the towns of Alexandria, Buffalo and Crosby, along with their pastors.

“Our people are commanded to meet together in fellowship,” Eric Anderson, pastor of Life Spring Church in Crosby, said at a news conference Thursday. “They can’t fellowship with masks on their faces.”

Kaardal, the Thomas Moore lawyer, argued that Walz’s executive order usurped the legislature’s lawmaking powers.

By DAVID CRARY, Associated PressChurches in California and Minnesota, backed by a conservative legal group, filed lawsuits this past week against the governors of their states challenging restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak that they contend are violations of religious liberty.They’re the latest in a long series of legal challenges, many of them in California, pitting clerics and houses of worship who believe they should be exempt from certain restrictions on public gatherings against governors who insist the measures are needed to rein in the pandemic. Most of the suits have been rebuffed; some have succeeded.In Minnesota, a lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court challenging Gov. Tim Walz’s executive orders requiring 6-foot social distancing and the wearing of face masks at worship services.“Gov. Walz, a former teacher, gets an F in religious liberties,” said Erick Kaardal, special counsel for the Thomas More Society. “Other states, including Texas, Illinois and Ohio, have excluded churches from COVID-19 mask mandates.”Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reiterated his defense of Walz’s order, saying it was legally and constitutionally sound.Teddy Tschann, spokesperson for Walz, said the governor was within his authority taking the action and added that all Walz’s actions have been grounded in the desire to keep Minnesotans safe.Walz had been embroiled in a battle with Roman Catholic and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations across Minnesota over restrictions he placed on gatherings of more than 10 people. He relented and said they could hold services at 25% of capacity if certain conditions were met after they made it clear they planned to defy the order.Earlier this month a pastor in Palmetto, Florida, filed a suit challenging Manatee County’s mask mandate. The Rev. Joel Tillis of Suncoast Baptist Church said the order shouldn’t extend to houses of worship because it hinders prayer.The Thomas More Society, which specializes in litigation on religious issues, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in California Superior Court against Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials. It seeks to prevent the enforcement of “unconstitutional and onerous coronavirus pandemic regulations” against Grace Community Church in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sun Valley.The pastor, John MacArthur, has been holding services in recent weeks attended by throngs of worshippers in defiance of state and county limits on gatherings.“We will obey God rather than men,” MacArthur said in a message to his congregation. “He will be on our side.”MacArthur was greeted with applause Sunday when he welcomed worshippers to his church’s “peaceful protest.”One of the two Thomas More lawyers representing MacArthur and his church is Jenna Ellis, who also is a senior legal adviser to President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.“California’s edicts demanding an indefinite shutdown have gone now far past rational or reasonable and are firmly in the territory of tyranny and discrimination,” Ellis said. “This isn’t about health. It’s about blatantly targeting churches.”The lawsuit contends that restrictions on large gatherings should not be enforced at churches because they were not enforced on large demonstrations against racism and police brutality.Officials in California, where COVID-19 cases have been surging in recent weeks, say strict restrictions remain necessary in Los Angeles County and other counties that are on a state monitoring list for high rates of new infections.Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against the church Thursday seeking to have in-door, in-person worship services stopped. The lawsuit also seeks to have the church comply with health order requirements, including the use of face covers and physical distancing at outdoor services.Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office referred a request for comment to Newsom’s office, as the new lawsuit addresses the governor’s executive order. Spokesmen for Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Across the country the vast majority of churches have cooperated with health authorities and successfully protected their congregations. Yet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks.A few churches have been openly defiant, including one in California’s Ventura County which held indoor worship services Sunday despite a judge’s temporary restraining order.Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park had vowed to continue in-person services even though the order cited “an immediate threat to public health and safety.”On Tuesday a different judge declined a county request to order the immediate closure of the church, and scheduled a hearing for Aug. 21.Earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings in a suit filed by South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, California.Most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected on July 24 an appeal by a rural Nevada church in a 5-4 decision joined by Chief Justice John Roberts but sharply criticized in three separate conservative dissents. In addition to lax enforcement of social-distancing at protests, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued Nevada’s 50-person cap on worship services was unconstitutional because casinos and other businesses currently can operate at 50% of capacity. Justice Neil Gorscuch wrote, “There is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.”Religious plaintiffs have prevailed in some litigation, however. In June a federal judge blocked New York state from enforcing restrictions on indoor religious gatherings to 25% capacity when other types of gatherings were limited to 50%.The plaintiffs, represented by the Thomas More Society, were two Catholic priests from Upstate New York and three Orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn. They argued that the restrictions violated their First Amendment rights to practice their religion.The society also claimed a victory in May when Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker withdrew certain pandemic-related mandates on houses of worship.In the new Minnesota case, the plaintiffs were Protestant churches in the towns of Alexandria, Buffalo and Crosby, along with their pastors.“Our people are commanded to meet together in fellowship,” Eric Anderson, pastor of Life Spring Church in Crosby, said at a news conference Thursday. “They can’t fellowship with masks on their faces.”Kaardal, the Thomas Moore lawyer, argued that Walz’s executive order usurped the legislature’s lawmaking powers.

More US churches sue to challenge COVID-19 restrictions

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Attorneys for a man accused of killing two brothers from Wisconsin are seeking to have two charges of abandoning a corpse dismissed in the case.

Garland Nelson, of Braymer, Mo., is facing the death penalty in the deaths of 24-year-old Justin Diemel and 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin. They disappeared after visiting Nelson's farm in July 2019 and their burned remains were later found in Missouri and Nebraska.

Nelson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

His attorneys wrote in a court motion that two charges of abandoning a corpse filed against Nelson should be dropped. They argue a person charged with murder cannot also be charged with abandoning the corpse of the alleged murder victim without violating his constitutional rights.

Prosecutors argue Nelson could have followed Missouri law by anonymously reporting where the brothers’ bodies were located.

Nelson’s next court date has not been scheduled because of COVID-19 restrictions. He is asking to appear in person at all court hearings and his defense team is seeking to meet with him in person at the Caldwell County Jail where Nelson is being held.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1564610122687.png" alt="Nelson-photo Caldwell Co." />
 <figcaption>Nelson-photo Caldwell Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Attorneys for a man accused of killing two brothers from Wisconsin are seeking to have two charges of abandoning a corpse dismissed in the case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565280147807.png" alt="Diemel" />
 <figcaption>Diemel</figcaption>
 </figure>Garland Nelson, of Braymer, Mo., is facing the death penalty in the deaths of 24-year-old Justin Diemel and 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin. They disappeared after visiting Nelson's farm in July 2019 and their burned remains were later found in Missouri and Nebraska.Nelson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.His attorneys wrote in a court motion that two charges of abandoning a corpse filed against Nelson should be dropped. They argue a person charged with murder cannot also be charged with abandoning the corpse of the alleged murder victim without violating his constitutional rights.Prosecutors argue Nelson could have followed Missouri law by anonymously reporting where the brothers’ bodies were located.Nelson’s next court date has not been scheduled because of COVID-19 restrictions. He is asking to appear in person at all court hearings and his defense team is seeking to meet with him in person at the Caldwell County Jail where Nelson is being held.

Man charged in killing of 2 brothers disputes 2 charges

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597509115770.png" alt="The scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation Saturday morning in Topeka.&nbsp; Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation Saturday morning in Topeka.&nbsp; Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka.Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for a felony crime, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.The officer located the vehicle the suspect had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the suspect in the lot to the north of the motel.The suspect was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the suspect, according to Munoz.The suspect fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. The suspect was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.The officer did not sustain any injuries in the incident. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz. Police have not released the name of the officer or the suspect.

Suspect jailed after Kan. officer-involved shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — No, Russia isn’t having a Sputnik moment.

The announcement this week by Russian President Vladimir Putin that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcda62ad992db414d65f23b2adb78e44">his country was the first to approve a coronavirus vaccine</a>&nbsp;did not provoke the awe and wonder of the Soviet Union’s launch of the first satellite into orbit in 1957. Instead, it was met by doubts about the science and safety.

But the claim underscored how, like the space race, the competition to have the first vaccine is about international rivalries as well as science. The first nation to develop a way to defeat the novel coronavirus will achieve a kind of moonshot victory and the global status that goes along with it.

That’s valuable to Putin, whose popularity at home has declined amid a stagnant economy and the ravages of the virus outbreak.

“To be the first one out of the block with a coronavirus vaccine would be a real — pardon the pun — shot in the arm for the Kremlin,” said Timothy Frye, a political science professor at Columbia University who specializes in post-Soviet politics.

Russia is not alone in viewing a vaccine in this light. China, where the virus first emerged, has also raced to make progress on a vaccine.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/93a7be6c6ac427e6211074ab9cfc9dbc">A state-owned Chinese company is boasting</a>&nbsp;that its employees, including top executives, received experimental shots even before the government approved testing in people.

President Donald Trump, whose handling of the coronavirus pandemic has put his political fate in grave jeopardy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7cc45cdcb3e53515b8ff4304a4ae5c06">is hoping to get credit for his administration’s aggressive push for a vaccine,&nbsp;</a>ideally one that arrives before Election Day in November.

It’s far from clear at this point whether Putin has beaten Trump to this medical milestone.

Putin said the Health Ministry gave its approval after the vaccine, named “Sputnik V,” underwent the necessary tests. He said one of his two adult daughters had been inoculated. “We should be grateful to those who have taken this first step, which is very important for our country and the whole world,” he said.

No proof was offered and scientists in Russia warned that more testing would be necessary to establish it is safe and effective. Nonetheless, officials said vaccination of doctors could start as early as this month and mass vaccination may begin as early as October.

Scientists around the world have been cautioning that even if vaccine candidates are proven to work, it will take even more time to tell how long the protection will last.

“It’s a too early stage to truly assess whether it’s going to be effective, whether it’s going to work or not,” said Dr. Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton.

It was also too soon to dismiss the Russian claim out of hand.

The country, though economically dependent on the export of natural resources, does have a history of achievement in science, medicine and aerospace — including becoming the first to put a person into space, in 1961.

“It is possible that they concentrated and could do this,” said Daniel Fried, a retired senior U.S. diplomat. “I’m not scoffing at it, but it doesn’t mean that the Russian economy is advanced.”

A vaccine would be the kind of significant achievement that would elevate Putin at home and in the international community.

“They would love to be able to claim credit because the first country to develop the vaccine will gain enormous prestige,” said Fried, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs who is now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council.

It’s also possible Russia had help. The U.S., Britain and Canada l&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47797e89ddb470b3244fae3a799481c5">ast month accused hackers working for Russian intelligence of trying to steal information&nbsp;</a>about a coronavirus vaccine from academic and pharmaceutical research institutions.

In any case, the public is eager for a vaccine as global deaths from the virus surpass 730,000. Some say they would even welcome one from Russia, provided it passes muster with the Food and Drug Administration, which approves vaccines used in the U.S., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends who should receive them.

“I can’t take it anymore. I’m getting crazy,” said Fernanda Henderson, as she strapped her infant into a car seat at a park in the Maryland suburbs of Washington for a break from quarantining at home. “I don’t think the CDC or the FDA would approve something that is not going to work.”

But to Vesna Jezic, a 79-year-old native of Croatia and immunologist who was taking her grandchildren to the same park, the suspiciously fast progress on the vaccine announced by Putin was reason to be doubtful. “You can imagine we don’t trust anything that comes from Russia,” she said.

The Russian president may face similar doubts at home. Frye noted a 2018 Gallup Poll that showed the former Soviet countries have some of the highest rates of anti-vaccination sentiment in the world.

“If it turns out not to work, it would be a real black eye,” he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — No, Russia isn’t having a Sputnik moment.The announcement this week by Russian President Vladimir Putin that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcda62ad992db414d65f23b2adb78e44">his country was the first to approve a coronavirus vaccine</a>&nbsp;did not provoke the awe and wonder of the Soviet Union’s launch of the first satellite into orbit in 1957. Instead, it was met by doubts about the science and safety.But the claim underscored how, like the space race, the competition to have the first vaccine is about international rivalries as well as science. The first nation to develop a way to defeat the novel coronavirus will achieve a kind of moonshot victory and the global status that goes along with it.That’s valuable to Putin, whose popularity at home has declined amid a stagnant economy and the ravages of the virus outbreak.“To be the first one out of the block with a coronavirus vaccine would be a real — pardon the pun — shot in the arm for the Kremlin,” said Timothy Frye, a political science professor at Columbia University who specializes in post-Soviet politics.Russia is not alone in viewing a vaccine in this light. China, where the virus first emerged, has also raced to make progress on a vaccine.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/93a7be6c6ac427e6211074ab9cfc9dbc">A state-owned Chinese company is boasting</a>&nbsp;that its employees, including top executives, received experimental shots even before the government approved testing in people.President Donald Trump, whose handling of the coronavirus pandemic has put his political fate in grave jeopardy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7cc45cdcb3e53515b8ff4304a4ae5c06">is hoping to get credit for his administration’s aggressive push for a vaccine,&nbsp;</a>ideally one that arrives before Election Day in November.It’s far from clear at this point whether Putin has beaten Trump to this medical milestone.Putin said the Health Ministry gave its approval after the vaccine, named “Sputnik V,” underwent the necessary tests. He said one of his two adult daughters had been inoculated. “We should be grateful to those who have taken this first step, which is very important for our country and the whole world,” he said.No proof was offered and scientists in Russia warned that more testing would be necessary to establish it is safe and effective. Nonetheless, officials said vaccination of doctors could start as early as this month and mass vaccination may begin as early as October.Scientists around the world have been cautioning that even if vaccine candidates are proven to work, it will take even more time to tell how long the protection will last.“It’s a too early stage to truly assess whether it’s going to be effective, whether it’s going to work or not,” said Dr. Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton.It was also too soon to dismiss the Russian claim out of hand.The country, though economically dependent on the export of natural resources, does have a history of achievement in science, medicine and aerospace — including becoming the first to put a person into space, in 1961.“It is possible that they concentrated and could do this,” said Daniel Fried, a retired senior U.S. diplomat. “I’m not scoffing at it, but it doesn’t mean that the Russian economy is advanced.”A vaccine would be the kind of significant achievement that would elevate Putin at home and in the international community.“They would love to be able to claim credit because the first country to develop the vaccine will gain enormous prestige,” said Fried, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs who is now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council.It’s also possible Russia had help. The U.S., Britain and Canada l&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47797e89ddb470b3244fae3a799481c5">ast month accused hackers working for Russian intelligence of trying to steal information&nbsp;</a>about a coronavirus vaccine from academic and pharmaceutical research institutions.In any case, the public is eager for a vaccine as global deaths from the virus surpass 730,000. Some say they would even welcome one from Russia, provided it passes muster with the Food and Drug Administration, which approves vaccines used in the U.S., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends who should receive them.“I can’t take it anymore. I’m getting crazy,” said Fernanda Henderson, as she strapped her infant into a car seat at a park in the Maryland suburbs of Washington for a break from quarantining at home. “I don’t think the CDC or the FDA would approve something that is not going to work.”But to Vesna Jezic, a 79-year-old native of Croatia and immunologist who was taking her grandchildren to the same park, the suspiciously fast progress on the vaccine announced by Putin was reason to be doubtful. “You can imagine we don’t trust anything that comes from Russia,” she said.The Russian president may face similar doubts at home. Frye noted a 2018 Gallup Poll that showed the former Soviet countries have some of the highest rates of anti-vaccination sentiment in the world.“If it turns out not to work, it would be a real black eye,” he said.___

Science, politics tied up in global race for a vaccine

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal July double homicide in Topeka and are asking the public for help to identify a suspect.

Just before 2a.m. July 14,&nbsp; police responded to a shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street in Topeka and found two victims identified as Crystal D. Andrews, 37, and Mercedes M. Holford, 13, both of Topeka with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police have not announced arrests in the case and are asking the public to check their video surveillance cameras to see if they might have captured anything. Detectives are still following up with leads in the case.

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

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

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two fatal shootings in Topeka.

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

 Officers located two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. One victim had non-life threatening injuries and one victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Just before 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to another shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street and found two victims with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Johnson.

Police have not released the names of any of the victims and have not announced arrests in either case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597443996541.png" alt="Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives developed still photos of an individual walking by the garage door. They want to ID the suspect and speak with them about the case." />
 <figcaption>Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives developed still photos of an individual walking by the garage door. They want to ID the suspect and speak with them about the case.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal July double homicide in Topeka and are asking the public for help to identify a suspect.Just before 2a.m. July 14,&nbsp; police responded to a shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street in Topeka and found two victims identified as Crystal D. Andrews, 37, and Mercedes M. Holford, 13, both of Topeka with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police have not announced arrests in the case and are asking the public to check their video surveillance cameras to see if they might have captured anything. Detectives are still following up with leads in the case.------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two fatal shootings in Topeka and have identified the victims.&nbsp;Just before 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to another shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street and found two victims identified as Crystal D. Andrews, 37, and Mercedes M. Holford, 13, both of Topeka with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;--------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two fatal shootings in Topeka.Just after 8p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 1100 block of SW Clay in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson. Officers located two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. One victim had non-life threatening injuries and one victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Just before 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to another shooting in the 500 Block of SW 5th Street and found two victims with gunshot wounds dead inside a home, according to Johnson.Police have not released the names of any of the victims and have not announced arrests in either case.

Police ask for help with Kan. double homicide investigation

Kansas City (AP) — Helena Miller listened to teachers, terrified to reenter classrooms, and parents, exhausted from trying to make virtual learning work at home. She heard from school officials who spent hundreds of hours on thousands of details — buses, classrooms, football, arts, special education. She spent countless nights, eyes wide open, her mind wrestling over the safety and education of the 17,000 children she swore to protect.

She thought of her own kids, two in high school and one middle-schooler — the reasons she ran for Rock Hill’s school board six years ago.

And she made the hardest decision of her life: a vote to reopen schools amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, splitting students into two groups that would each spend two days a week in classrooms, with virtual learning the other school days.

“We have an impossible decision to make. And we still have to make it,” Miller said from a tiny box on Zoom at the board’s July meeting.

This Board of Trustees in suburban South Carolina is like thousands of school boards nationwide, where members are tackling a simple but hefty question — do we return to school amid a pandemic? — with no right or even good answers, in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/969fbbf44dd2ba1acea130f95b21ef62">inconsistent testing</a>&nbsp;and a near-constant increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2a03a4e685316eb7d5a6e7181000fbfe">confirmed coronavirus cases.</a>

Behind that question is pressure. Pressure from teachers and bus drivers and janitors, scared to return to work but in need of a paycheck. Pressure from parents and guardians, who need to return to their own jobs but fear for their children’s safety. Pressure from a president who declares&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290488364362170371?s=20" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>&nbsp;“OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!” but whose administration provides little tangible guidance for doing so.

In Rock Hill, everyone has an opinion. The district has more than 17,000 students, and that means about 17,000 proposals on how to go back to school, trustees say, only half-joking.

And in South Carolina, with some of the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42513113bc4821cf291b374ac0541f82">worst virus numbers,&nbsp;</a>even state leaders can’t agree. Gov. Henry McMaster contradicted his education superintendent and said schools must allow a five-days-a-week option for working parents. School boards were left to untangle the mess - Rock Hill called an emergency meeting and ultimately kept its staggered plan.

There’s been plenty more to resolve: Should classes be delayed until after Labor Day? How do kids get to school with buses at half-capacity for social distancing? What about masks and protective equipment? Should students have drama or orchestra if there are no public performances? What will student athletes do in a place like Rock Hill, known for sending football stars Jadeveon Clowney and Stephon Gilmore to the NFL?

School boards represent democracy at its local core: the backbone of communities, a check on superintendents, and the most direct way to influence education policy. And Rock Hill’s strategy was very democratic. The board officially listened to eight committees, some made up of dozens of parents and business or community leaders. Each member spent dozens of hours in emails and informal discussions with people in and around their city of about 75,000 people.

There were teachers to consider. Susan Fields told the board last month, in its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, that she has lupus and must protect herself: “I love my kids, and for 25 years I have always put my students first. This is very odd for me ... for once I am standing up as an educator.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597321153259.png" alt="Members of the USD 497 school board met in Lawrence on Monday" />
 <figcaption>Members of the USD 497 school board met in Lawrence on Monday</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — Helena Miller listened to teachers, terrified to reenter classrooms, and parents, exhausted from trying to make virtual learning work at home. She heard from school officials who spent hundreds of hours on thousands of details — buses, classrooms, football, arts, special education. She spent countless nights, eyes wide open, her mind wrestling over the safety and education of the 17,000 children she swore to protect.She thought of her own kids, two in high school and one middle-schooler — the reasons she ran for Rock Hill’s school board six years ago.And she made the hardest decision of her life: a vote to reopen schools amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, splitting students into two groups that would each spend two days a week in classrooms, with virtual learning the other school days.“We have an impossible decision to make. And we still have to make it,” Miller said from a tiny box on Zoom at the board’s July meeting.This Board of Trustees in suburban South Carolina is like thousands of school boards nationwide, where members are tackling a simple but hefty question — do we return to school amid a pandemic? — with no right or even good answers, in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/969fbbf44dd2ba1acea130f95b21ef62">inconsistent testing</a>&nbsp;and a near-constant increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2a03a4e685316eb7d5a6e7181000fbfe">confirmed coronavirus cases.</a>Behind that question is pressure. Pressure from teachers and bus drivers and janitors, scared to return to work but in need of a paycheck. Pressure from parents and guardians, who need to return to their own jobs but fear for their children’s safety. Pressure from a president who declares&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290488364362170371?s=20" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>&nbsp;“OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!” but whose administration provides little tangible guidance for doing so.In Rock Hill, everyone has an opinion. The district has more than 17,000 students, and that means about 17,000 proposals on how to go back to school, trustees say, only half-joking.And in South Carolina, with some of the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42513113bc4821cf291b374ac0541f82">worst virus numbers,&nbsp;</a>even state leaders can’t agree. Gov. Henry McMaster contradicted his education superintendent and said schools must allow a five-days-a-week option for working parents. School boards were left to untangle the mess - Rock Hill called an emergency meeting and ultimately kept its staggered plan.There’s been plenty more to resolve: Should classes be delayed until after Labor Day? How do kids get to school with buses at half-capacity for social distancing? What about masks and protective equipment? Should students have drama or orchestra if there are no public performances? What will student athletes do in a place like Rock Hill, known for sending football stars Jadeveon Clowney and Stephon Gilmore to the NFL?School boards represent democracy at its local core: the backbone of communities, a check on superintendents, and the most direct way to influence education policy. And Rock Hill’s strategy was very democratic. The board officially listened to eight committees, some made up of dozens of parents and business or community leaders. Each member spent dozens of hours in emails and informal discussions with people in and around their city of about 75,000 people.There were teachers to consider. Susan Fields told the board last month, in its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, that she has lupus and must protect herself: “I love my kids, and for 25 years I have always put my students first. This is very odd for me ... for once I am standing up as an educator.”Special education teacher Shannon Gonzalez reminded the board that it promised extra face shields and gloves for those like her who work with students with significant developmental delays.“It is impossible to teach a class like mine without constant physical contact,” Gonzalez said. “They need hand-over-hand assistance for most everything they do. And for the last eight years, it has been my hand over their hand. It has been my face level with theirs calming them as they come out of a seizure.”And there were parents. At a July meeting, Emily Bell thanked the board for their careful, thoughtful work and told them she wasn’t sure what she would do with her daughter in elementary school.“In the morning, I’m ready for virtual school,” Bell said. “And in the afternoon, I’m ready for my child to be back in the classroom.”Nearly every issued hinged on policy in the school manual, which staffers and board members pored through for hours. Changes had to be passed: Widened circumstances allowing for virtual classes, the end of open-door hours for parents eating lunch with kids, permitting athletes to practice or play if they weren’t physically in school that day.The board didn’t agree on everything, from big matters to small. Trustee Brent Faulkenberry initially didn’t favor the plan for in-person class only two days a week. He wanted five, to help working parents, with online school available for anyone worried about safety.“If families can’t work, they can’t provide for these kids,” he said.Board member Robin Owens told him he made good points, especially about her fear of young children left at home while parents work. The two-day-a-week plan, she said, “falls squarely in the middle, which means that it is probably not going to make anyone happy. Hopefully it will make some people satisfied.”Faulkenberry’s five-day proposal lost 5-2. The board then unanimously agreed to the staggered schedule and delaying the first day of school to Sept. 8, the latest allowed by state law.There was no shouting, no claims of fake science, no accusations that trustees didn’t care for kids. At a time when such arguments erupt everywhere from talks shows to Facebook, from the White House to the corner store, this board prides itself on civil discourse.“I am so thankful to serve on a board where professionalism is put on the forefront,” said Miller, who moved to the United States from Sweden in 1997, became a U.S. citizen in 2006, and has set out since becoming board chairman in 2018 to create a deliberative body that disagrees amiably.Trustees’ ties are forged through regular meetings, trips for training, and school visits together. Even as they met through Zoom, Miller kept some in-person routine. Trustees stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance as video of a waving flag played played. Miller plunked her gavel on a tiny wood box after votes and to end meetings.This month, Miller is gently directing the group back to in-person meetings. If trustees are sending children into schools, she said, the board should physically meet, too. Meetings look much like school, with seats spaced 6 feet (2 meters) apart and everyone in masks.Mask policy was on trustees’ agenda Monday night. Before the pandemic, masks — as face coverings similar to bandanas — could be considered gang attire. Now, students must wear one to enter the building. District officials suggested allowing a classroom “mask break” once teachers and students are settled and socially distanced. Trustees weren’t sure.“We have very small classrooms in very old schools,” Faulkenberry, who’d opted to participate virtually, said from a video screen placed in his seat. “That air is still recirculating.”And what about doors? District policy requires that teachers lock doors during class. But health officials recommend open doors for air circulation.The board approved a preliminary mask policy but agreed to fine-tune it. The issue of doors was left to a future meeting, with only a few weeks until the first day of school.The trustees agree that their work during the pandemic — for which they’re paid their usual salary of $600 monthly, unlike the 62% of school board members nationwide who get no compensation, according to 2018 National School Boards Association figures — has been the hardest of their tenure.“We want what’s best for our children,” said trustee Windy Cole, who’s had her own tears and sleepless nights. “I’ve been in all the meetings, I’ve listened to everything I can, and I trust our district is doing the best possible under these horrible circumstances. We have to just keep praying,”And they’ve been able to find moments of joy. During a long virtual meeting largely focused on the district’s $175 million budget, a school employee announced a summer program where every student from pre-K to grade eight would get a box of books delivered to their home.The trustees cheered. “This makes my heart so happy,” Cole said.After all the talk of taxes, missed celebrations for employees, and the logistics of school amid the virus outbreak, Miller reminded her colleagues: It’s not just “doom and gloom.”And she offered them all a virtual hug.