TOPEKA, Kan. — Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), held a press briefing Wednesday to discuss the latest on coronavirus in Kansas. During the discussion, Dr. Norman talked about sports and the virus, masks, children diagnosed with the virus and much more.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 368, an increase of 3 since Monday.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), held a press briefing Wednesday to discuss the latest on coronavirus in Kansas. During the discussion, Dr. Norman talked about sports and the virus, masks, children diagnosed with the virus and much more.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKDHEnews%2Fvideos%2F3181624445282231%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 368, an increase of 3 since Monday.

🎥  Dr. Lee Norman on increase in coronavirus in Kansas

ATCHISON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a teen suspect in custody.

Just before 7:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to a shots fired call in the 400 block North 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike&nbsp; Wilson.

 Officers found a 17-year-old boy at the scene with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to a hospital. 

It was determined that the shooting suspect had fled the area on foot, according to Wilson.

At 8:15p.m., officers located the 16-year-old suspect at a residence. He was taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal use of a weapon. He was later transported to a juvenile detention facility.

According to investigators, both the victim and the suspect were on walking in the area of 5th and Parallel in Atchison. They were not walking together but a verbal altercation occurred as they were in the 400 block North 5th, according to Wilson. The suspect then shot the victim one time with a handgun.

Police recovered a handgun has been recovered during their investigation, according to Wilson.

Wilson did not release an update on the condition of the 17-year-old.

ATCHISON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a teen suspect in custody.Just before 7:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to a shots fired call in the 400 block North 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike&nbsp; Wilson. Officers found a 17-year-old boy at the scene with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to a hospital. It was determined that the shooting suspect had fled the area on foot, according to Wilson.At 8:15p.m., officers located the 16-year-old suspect at a residence. He was taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal use of a weapon. He was later transported to a juvenile detention facility.According to investigators, both the victim and the suspect were on walking in the area of 5th and Parallel in Atchison. They were not walking together but a verbal altercation occurred as they were in the 400 block North 5th, according to Wilson. The suspect then shot the victim one time with a handgun.Police recovered a handgun has been recovered during their investigation, according to Wilson.Wilson did not release an update on the condition of the 17-year-old.

Police arrest 16-year-old Kan. boy for shooting

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-3rd-district-amanda-adkins-wins-crowded-republican-primary-sharice-davids-next/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Amanda Adkins emerged victorious Tuesday from a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, in a race that focused heavily on who would match up best with Democratic incumbent Sharice Davids in the November general election.

Adkins, an Overland Park resident, defeated four challengers, tallying 31% of the vote with 567 of 642 precincts reporting. Sara Hart Weir of Mission, the former president of the National Down Syndrome Society, was second, with 23% and trailing by nearly 7,000 votes.

The race saw a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/kansas-voters-pivot-to-advance-by-mail-voting-amid-covid-19/">record number of advance mail-in ballots</a>, with more than 77,000 returned across the district as of Monday. Those early results in the 3rd District, which encompasses all of Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as part of Miami County, showed a large advantage for Adkins, which she held throughout the night.

Adkins, a Cerner executive and former chair of the Kansas Republican Party, as well as former campaign manager and advisor to former Gov. Sam Brownback, said her experience as a parent and as a businesswoman made her the most prepared to face Davids.

“There are not enough conservative, female, business-minded voices in Congress,” Adkins said. “As a life-long conservative, I have always believed the government’s role should be that of providing an economic lift to a region, not furthering dependency on the government.”

Following the election, Adkins issued a simple challenge to her forthcoming opponent.

“Sharice Davids, I have one message for you tonight and that is that we are coming for you this November,” Adkins said.

Adkins received endorsements from various big-name GOP legislators including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Most recently, Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets weighed in with his support as a fellow Midwestern politician.

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer congratulated Adkins and denounced the Democratic incumbent.

“Sharice Davids has been nothing more than a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and her socialist agenda since coming to Washington and has failed to stand up for Kansas,” Emmer said. “I look forward to Amanda’s victory this fall and working with her on common-sense conservative solutions for years to come.”

Adkins’ ties to Brownback, however, were heavily scrutinized in the lead-up to the election, especially by the Kansas Democratic Party. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2020-07-29/former-chairwoman-of-the-kansas-gop-says-shes-best-equipped-to-take-on-u-s-rep-sharice-davids">recent KCUR interview</a>, Adkins praised the former governor’s administration as being “fiscally prudent.”

“This is the latest example of how out-of-touch she is with Kansans. Hardworking families are still dealing with the fallout of the Brownback-Adkins tax experiment,” said KDP Executive Director Ben Meers. “No matter how hard she tries to distance herself from her old boss, Kansans will not forget Adkins’ involvement in our state’s largest economic failure.”

Adkins also fell under scrutiny from fellow candidates over financial support from a super PAC heavily funded by her father. The political action committee had put out ads critical of Weir.

Weir, who finished second in the election and in funding, butted heads with Adkins over the nominee’s ads claiming Weir was lying when she said she opposed Obamacare. Weir dismissed those claims, saying she wanted to see significant healthcare change.

“We need to offer a system that offers choice and free-market solutions that actually move all our citizens toward a healthier life and ensures employer-sponsored health insurance is affordable for business and organizations,” Weir said.

“I want to congratulate Amanda Adkins on her victory,” Weir said after the results came in. “As I’ve said from the beginning of this race, the most important thing for the party is that we have a candidate that can defeat Sharice Davids in November. I look forward to working to help make that happen.”

Among the other candidates in the race, Adrienne Vallejo Foster was edging out Mike Beehler for third, and Tom Love was coming in at 7%.

Davids held a kick-off event for the November election, speaking via Zoom as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m. Davids had raised $4 million for the campaign as of July 15; as of the same date, Adkins had raised just under $1 million.

“We have so much to fight for and so much on the line,” said Davids, who defeated longtime Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder in 2018. “We cannot allow this seat to slip back to the GOP. We don’t know who my opponent will be but we do know they will be fueled by dark money and corporate special interests.”

In a statement after the race was called, Davids touted her own track record working to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and provide relief during the coronavirus pandemic. She also criticized Adkins for trying to bring back old policies.

“I’m confident that Kansans will vote to continue the progress we’ve made together and reject Sam Brownback adviser Amanda Adkins’ plan to double down on the failures of the Brownback Administration that gutted funding for our public schools and decimated our economy, the effects of which Kansas families are still feeling today,” Davids said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG-0675.jpg" alt="A sign supporting Amanda Adkins, who currently leads the 3rd Congressional district Republican primary (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A sign supporting Amanda Adkins, who currently leads the 3rd Congressional district Republican primary (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/u-s-house-3rd-district-amanda-adkins-wins-crowded-republican-primary-sharice-davids-next/">Kansas Reflector</a>Amanda Adkins emerged victorious Tuesday from a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, in a race that focused heavily on who would match up best with Democratic incumbent Sharice Davids in the November general election.Adkins, an Overland Park resident, defeated four challengers, tallying 31% of the vote with 567 of 642 precincts reporting. Sara Hart Weir of Mission, the former president of the National Down Syndrome Society, was second, with 23% and trailing by nearly 7,000 votes.The race saw a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/04/kansas-voters-pivot-to-advance-by-mail-voting-amid-covid-19/">record number of advance mail-in ballots</a>, with more than 77,000 returned across the district as of Monday. Those early results in the 3rd District, which encompasses all of Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as part of Miami County, showed a large advantage for Adkins, which she held throughout the night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568149149461.png" alt="Amanda Adkins" />
 <figcaption>Amanda Adkins</figcaption>
 </figure>Adkins, a Cerner executive and former chair of the Kansas Republican Party, as well as former campaign manager and advisor to former Gov. Sam Brownback, said her experience as a parent and as a businesswoman made her the most prepared to face Davids.“There are not enough conservative, female, business-minded voices in Congress,” Adkins said. “As a life-long conservative, I have always believed the government’s role should be that of providing an economic lift to a region, not furthering dependency on the government.”Following the election, Adkins issued a simple challenge to her forthcoming opponent.“Sharice Davids, I have one message for you tonight and that is that we are coming for you this November,” Adkins said.Adkins received endorsements from various big-name GOP legislators including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Most recently, Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets weighed in with his support as a fellow Midwestern politician.National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer congratulated Adkins and denounced the Democratic incumbent.“Sharice Davids has been nothing more than a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and her socialist agenda since coming to Washington and has failed to stand up for Kansas,” Emmer said. “I look forward to Amanda’s victory this fall and working with her on common-sense conservative solutions for years to come.”Adkins’ ties to Brownback, however, were heavily scrutinized in the lead-up to the election, especially by the Kansas Democratic Party. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2020-07-29/former-chairwoman-of-the-kansas-gop-says-shes-best-equipped-to-take-on-u-s-rep-sharice-davids">recent KCUR interview</a>, Adkins praised the former governor’s administration as being “fiscally prudent.”“This is the latest example of how out-of-touch she is with Kansans. Hardworking families are still dealing with the fallout of the Brownback-Adkins tax experiment,” said KDP Executive Director Ben Meers. “No matter how hard she tries to distance herself from her old boss, Kansans will not forget Adkins’ involvement in our state’s largest economic failure.”Adkins also fell under scrutiny from fellow candidates over financial support from a super PAC heavily funded by her father. The political action committee had put out ads critical of Weir.Weir, who finished second in the election and in funding, butted heads with Adkins over the nominee’s ads claiming Weir was lying when she said she opposed Obamacare. Weir dismissed those claims, saying she wanted to see significant healthcare change.“We need to offer a system that offers choice and free-market solutions that actually move all our citizens toward a healthier life and ensures employer-sponsored health insurance is affordable for business and organizations,” Weir said.“I want to congratulate Amanda Adkins on her victory,” Weir said after the results came in. “As I’ve said from the beginning of this race, the most important thing for the party is that we have a candidate that can defeat Sharice Davids in November. I look forward to working to help make that happen.”Among the other candidates in the race, Adrienne Vallejo Foster was edging out Mike Beehler for third, and Tom Love was coming in at 7%.Davids held a kick-off event for the November election, speaking via Zoom as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m. Davids had raised $4 million for the campaign as of July 15; as of the same date, Adkins had raised just under $1 million.“We have so much to fight for and so much on the line,” said Davids, who defeated longtime Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder in 2018. “We cannot allow this seat to slip back to the GOP. We don’t know who my opponent will be but we do know they will be fueled by dark money and corporate special interests.”In a statement after the race was called, Davids touted her own track record working to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and provide relief during the coronavirus pandemic. She also criticized Adkins for trying to bring back old policies.“I’m confident that Kansans will vote to continue the progress we’ve made together and reject Sam Brownback adviser Amanda Adkins’ plan to double down on the failures of the Brownback Administration that gutted funding for our public schools and decimated our economy, the effects of which Kansas families are still feeling today,” Davids said.

Adkins wins crowded Kan. primary, Sharice Davids next

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 841 to a total of 29,717 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 368<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596647146125.png" alt="August 5, 2020, KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>August 5, 2020, KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect captured at the scene of a burglary.

Just after 10p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person at a business in the 4200 block of NW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

 When deputies arrived, they located a man and woman on the property.&nbsp; Deputies determined a Hyundai Sonata driven by the man was reported stolen out of the city of Topeka.&nbsp; 

Deputies attempted to arrest the him but he ran from the scene.&nbsp; After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect later identified as 27-year-old Lyle J. Beaty of Topeka was detained and arrested.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Beaty is being held on requested charges of possession of stolen property and interference with a law enforcement officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596645908455.png" alt="Beaty photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Beaty photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect captured at the scene of a burglary.Just after 10p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person at a business in the 4200 block of NW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer. When deputies arrived, they located a man and woman on the property.&nbsp; Deputies determined a Hyundai Sonata driven by the man was reported stolen out of the city of Topeka.&nbsp; Deputies attempted to arrest the him but he ran from the scene.&nbsp; After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect later identified as 27-year-old Lyle J. Beaty of Topeka was detained and arrested.&nbsp;&nbsp;Beaty is being held on requested charges of possession of stolen property and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Kansas man captured near scene of business burglary

TOPEKA —Voters on Tuesday made Missouri the 38th state to approve expanding Medicaid health care coverage to thousands more low-income adults.

Support for the constitutional amendment means that as many as 250,000 more adults could choose to be covered by government health insurance beginning in July 2021, according to estimates from the state auditor.

&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a statement on the outcome of the vote.

“Last night, Missourians voted to join our neighbors in Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma to become the 39th state to expand Medicaid. Every single Kansas voter must ask themselves why, year after year, Republican leadership in the Legislature has blocked expansion."

“Their obstruction has left 150,000 Kansans without access to healthcare during a global health crisis. They have&nbsp;forfeited $4 billion Kansas taxpayer dollars. They have rejected 13,000 new jobs that we could bring to Kansas."

“Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion.”

The ballot proposal in Missouri will expand eligibility under the terms of the 2010 federal health care law signed by President Barack Obama. That law provides a higher-than-usual federal funding share for states that expand Medicaid coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, about $17,600 for an individual or $30,000 for a family of three.

Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who opposes Medicaid expansion and won the Republican primary for a full term Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/370412b64934d5f8a2db21131d3d1485">moved the vote on the proposal up</a>&nbsp;from the Nov. 3 general election to Tuesday’s primary. Parson said the earlier vote would give the state more time to financially prepare for Medicaid expansion, if it passes. He said his decision was not about politics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594062014716.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly:&nbsp;Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly:&nbsp;Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Voters on Tuesday made Missouri the 38th state to approve expanding Medicaid health care coverage to thousands more low-income adults.Support for the constitutional amendment means that as many as 250,000 more adults could choose to be covered by government health insurance beginning in July 2021, according to estimates from the state auditor.&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a statement on the outcome of the vote.“Last night, Missourians voted to join our neighbors in Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma to become the 39th state to expand Medicaid. Every single Kansas voter must ask themselves why, year after year, Republican leadership in the Legislature has blocked expansion."“Their obstruction has left 150,000 Kansans without access to healthcare during a global health crisis. They have&nbsp;forfeited $4 billion Kansas taxpayer dollars. They have rejected 13,000 new jobs that we could bring to Kansas."“Republican leadership in the Legislature must stop playing politics with Kansans’ lives and support Medicaid expansion.”The ballot proposal in Missouri will expand eligibility under the terms of the 2010 federal health care law signed by President Barack Obama. That law provides a higher-than-usual federal funding share for states that expand Medicaid coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, about $17,600 for an individual or $30,000 for a family of three.Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who opposes Medicaid expansion and won the Republican primary for a full term Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/370412b64934d5f8a2db21131d3d1485">moved the vote on the proposal up</a>&nbsp;from the Nov. 3 general election to Tuesday’s primary. Parson said the earlier vote would give the state more time to financially prepare for Medicaid expansion, if it passes. He said his decision was not about politics.

Kan. Governor calls for Medicaid expansion after Missouri vote

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>


HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Tracey Mann is going to be the Republican nominee for the Kansas 
First District seat in Congress on the November ballot. He understands 
that the legacy of previous First District officeholders will be a 
challenge to obtain.

"That legacy is one of agriculture," Mann 
said. "One of sitting on the House Ag Committee, of representing the 
largest industry in this state, the largest industry in the Big First, 
by far. I'm a farm kid, grew up on a farm, spent hundreds of hours on a 
tractor, combine, worked thousands of head of cattle and excited for the
 opportunity to go and be a voice for Kansas agriculture."

The purse strings are the way Congress is able to hold the executive branch accountable, regardless of who is President.

"Congress
 is who oversees the funding for the EPA and other regulatory agencies,"
 Mann said. "We've got to make sure they're doing what they're supposed 
to but are not overstepping their bounds. Agriculture continues to be 
plagued by a lot of burdensome regulations from the EPA and others. I 
think it's better than it's been, but we still have work to do there."

Mann sees part of his role, should he be elected, to educate urban members on how rural life works.

"We
 have members of the House Ag Committee who have never been on a modern 
family farm, that don't understand what agriculture is like in the year 
2020," Mann said. "They don't understand what it's like to not have a 
good internet connection, what our rural communities go through. It's 
people being willing to advocate for our way of life and for 
agriculture."

Mann will face Democrat Kali Barnett in November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595943509943.png" alt="Tracey Mann will face&nbsp;Kali Barnett in the general election" />
 <figcaption>Tracey Mann will face&nbsp;Kali Barnett in the general election</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Tracey Mann is going to be the Republican nominee for the Kansas 
First District seat in Congress on the November ballot. He understands 
that the legacy of previous First District officeholders will be a 
challenge to obtain."That legacy is one of agriculture," Mann 
said. "One of sitting on the House Ag Committee, of representing the 
largest industry in this state, the largest industry in the Big First, 
by far. I'm a farm kid, grew up on a farm, spent hundreds of hours on a 
tractor, combine, worked thousands of head of cattle and excited for the
 opportunity to go and be a voice for Kansas agriculture."The purse strings are the way Congress is able to hold the executive branch accountable, regardless of who is President."Congress
 is who oversees the funding for the EPA and other regulatory agencies,"
 Mann said. "We've got to make sure they're doing what they're supposed 
to but are not overstepping their bounds. Agriculture continues to be 
plagued by a lot of burdensome regulations from the EPA and others. I 
think it's better than it's been, but we still have work to do there."Mann sees part of his role, should he be elected, to educate urban members on how rural life works."We
 have members of the House Ag Committee who have never been on a modern 
family farm, that don't understand what agriculture is like in the year 
2020," Mann said. "They don't understand what it's like to not have a 
good internet connection, what our rural communities go through. It's 
people being willing to advocate for our way of life and for 
agriculture."Mann will face Democrat Kali Barnett in November.

Mann hopes to keep GOP legacy on ag alive in Big First

By DEBORAH SHAAR <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-pushes-covid-contact-tracing-kdhe">Kansas News Service</a>

The Sedgwick County Health Department is no longer doing COVID-19 contact tracing investigations.

Health
 workers are overwhelmed by the surge in new coronavirus infections that
 the work of tracking down close contacts was outsourced to the state 
health department.

The new strategy comes five months into 
Sedgwick County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited 
testing capabilities and staff, the county has struggled to keep up with
 community transmission of the respiratory disease.

County Health
 Director Adrienne Byrne said moving contact tracing to the state was 
necessary so her staff can focus solely on notifying people who have 
tested positive for COVID-19.

"The Kansas Department of Health 
and Environment is going to pick up our case contact tracing for at 
least the time being because we just can’t do it," she said.

Sedgwick
 County experienced a surge in coronavirus infections since June. On 
June 1, 145 people were considered to be “active” cases; this week, at 
least 2,830 people are infected.

The county’s cumulative COVID-19
 case totals jumped from 626 to 4,436 during the same period. The 
percentage of positive tests went from 2% in June to a high of 13.8% on 
July 23. This week, that important metric declined slightly to 12%.

"We’ve got to make sure that the person who is symptomatic is staying home, and is not out spreading," Byrne said.

Byrne
 said it’s taking longer than usual for health workers to notify people 
who test positive, and for the follow-up work that comes with every 
active case.

"So we’re not even able to do that to the degree 
that we usually do because of the onslaught of new cases that keep 
coming in," she said.

In addition, other staff members are 
assigned to notifying people who test negative. The daily number of 
negative cases grew substantially over the past few months as the county
 increased its coronavirus testing at its drive-thru location and began 
offering mobile testing opportunities throughout the area.

Byrne 
says health workers are documenting close contacts when newly positive 
people provide the information. The department sends letters to let 
contacts know they were exposed to someone who tested positive for 
COVID-19.

"We still get all the names [of close contacts] to 
enter them into the state system," Byrne said, "so that if they become 
positive on down the line, we know who they are connected to."

She expects KDHE disease investigators to follow-up on the local cases.

The
 county health department is still trying to hire about 40 disease 
investigators, and other medical staff to help with the pandemic 
response. Byrne says the county is at capacity for its daily coronavirus
 testing and can’t offer more until a second medical team comes on 
board.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says case 
investigation and contact tracing are considered core disease control 
measures for preventing further spread of COVID-19. The key is taking 
immediate action.

The CDC recommends identifying and warning 
close contacts as soon as possible to ensure they do not interact with 
others. Further, the nation’s top health agency says if communities are 
unable to effectively isolate patients and ensure contacts can separate 
themselves from others, rapid community spread of COVID-19 is likely to 
increase to the point that strict mitigation strategies will again be 
needed to contain the virus.

CDC staff are already working in 
Kansas on contact tracing. KDHE announced in May a plan to hire more 
disease investigators, and to deploy hundreds of volunteers to help 
track COVID cases statewide.

Follow Deborah Shaar on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/deborahshaar?lang=en" target="_blank">@deborahshaar.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596636324912.png" alt=" File / U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Wikipedia " />
 <figcaption> File / U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Wikipedia </figcaption>
 </figure>By DEBORAH SHAAR <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-pushes-covid-contact-tracing-kdhe">Kansas News Service</a>The Sedgwick County Health Department is no longer doing COVID-19 contact tracing investigations.Health
 workers are overwhelmed by the surge in new coronavirus infections that
 the work of tracking down close contacts was outsourced to the state 
health department.The new strategy comes five months into 
Sedgwick County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited 
testing capabilities and staff, the county has struggled to keep up with
 community transmission of the respiratory disease.County Health
 Director Adrienne Byrne said moving contact tracing to the state was 
necessary so her staff can focus solely on notifying people who have 
tested positive for COVID-19."The Kansas Department of Health 
and Environment is going to pick up our case contact tracing for at 
least the time being because we just can’t do it," she said.Sedgwick
 County experienced a surge in coronavirus infections since June. On 
June 1, 145 people were considered to be “active” cases; this week, at 
least 2,830 people are infected.The county’s cumulative COVID-19
 case totals jumped from 626 to 4,436 during the same period. The 
percentage of positive tests went from 2% in June to a high of 13.8% on 
July 23. This week, that important metric declined slightly to 12%."We’ve got to make sure that the person who is symptomatic is staying home, and is not out spreading," Byrne said.Byrne
 said it’s taking longer than usual for health workers to notify people 
who test positive, and for the follow-up work that comes with every 
active case."So we’re not even able to do that to the degree 
that we usually do because of the onslaught of new cases that keep 
coming in," she said.In addition, other staff members are 
assigned to notifying people who test negative. The daily number of 
negative cases grew substantially over the past few months as the county
 increased its coronavirus testing at its drive-thru location and began 
offering mobile testing opportunities throughout the area.Byrne 
says health workers are documenting close contacts when newly positive 
people provide the information. The department sends letters to let 
contacts know they were exposed to someone who tested positive for 
COVID-19."We still get all the names [of close contacts] to 
enter them into the state system," Byrne said, "so that if they become 
positive on down the line, we know who they are connected to."She expects KDHE disease investigators to follow-up on the local cases.The
 county health department is still trying to hire about 40 disease 
investigators, and other medical staff to help with the pandemic 
response. Byrne says the county is at capacity for its daily coronavirus
 testing and can’t offer more until a second medical team comes on 
board.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says case 
investigation and contact tracing are considered core disease control 
measures for preventing further spread of COVID-19. The key is taking 
immediate action.The CDC recommends identifying and warning 
close contacts as soon as possible to ensure they do not interact with 
others. Further, the nation’s top health agency says if communities are 
unable to effectively isolate patients and ensure contacts can separate 
themselves from others, rapid community spread of COVID-19 is likely to 
increase to the point that strict mitigation strategies will again be 
needed to contain the virus.CDC staff are already working in 
Kansas on contact tracing. KDHE announced in May a plan to hire more 
disease investigators, and to deploy hundreds of volunteers to help 
track COVID cases statewide.Follow Deborah Shaar on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/deborahshaar?lang=en" target="_blank">@deborahshaar.</a>&nbsp;

Sedgwick County pushes COVID contact tracing to KDHE 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A child was critically injured in a house fire Tuesday in Topeka.

Just before 4:30p.m.,&nbsp; fire crews responded to a fire in a two-story home at 710 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.

 Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the residence. Three occupants of the structure were able to self-evacuate prior to the fire departments arrival. During a search of the structure, firefighters located one unconscious juvenile victim.

The child was removed from the residence where firefighters began life saving measures.&nbsp; AMR transported the child to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.

A preliminary investigation by the Topeka Fire Department Investigation Unit indicates the fire cause to be undetermined, more likely than not associated with a juvenile playing with a lighter. The origin of the fire was determined to be in the northwest corner of the second floor.

The Estimated dollar loss – $30,000.00; of which $20,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 is associated with contents loss. Six people were displaced as a result of the fire. Working smoke detectors were not located within the structure of fire origin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596627343542.png" alt="Fire crews on the scene of Tuesday's fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews on the scene of Tuesday's fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—A child was critically injured in a house fire Tuesday in Topeka.Just before 4:30p.m.,&nbsp; fire crews responded to a fire in a two-story home at 710 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison. Upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the residence. Three occupants of the structure were able to self-evacuate prior to the fire departments arrival. During a search of the structure, firefighters located one unconscious juvenile victim.The child was removed from the residence where firefighters began life saving measures.&nbsp; AMR transported the child to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.A preliminary investigation by the Topeka Fire Department Investigation Unit indicates the fire cause to be undetermined, more likely than not associated with a juvenile playing with a lighter. The origin of the fire was determined to be in the northwest corner of the second floor.The Estimated dollar loss – $30,000.00; of which $20,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 is associated with contents loss. Six people were displaced as a result of the fire. Working smoke detectors were not located within the structure of fire origin.

Fire Marshal: Child critically injured in Kan. house fire

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.

Marshall prevailed in a crowded primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without a pre-election endorsement from President Donald Trump sought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34a6a9737f0e78ceed84cf312234ab25">by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others</a>&nbsp;for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as a conservative firebrand and informal adviser to Trump.

Marshall will face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former lifelong moderate Republican who received national attention at the end of 2018 by switching parties.

Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018. Marshall and his allies made that loss a key issue as he and Kobach battled atop the GOP field.

Bob and Debbie Rosenberger said Kobach’s loss in 2018 was on their minds as they cast their Republican primary ballots for Marshall at a southwest Topeka church. The retired 62-year-old postal worker and his wife, a retired, 63-year-old nursing home supervisor, said they are Trump supporters and believe Marshall will help him in the Senate.

As for Kobach, Bob Rosenberger said, “Bottom line, I just don’t trust him as much as Roger Marshall.”

The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.

Marshall immediately called for party unity and told his supporters at a watch party at a winery southwest of his central Kansas hometown of Great Bend. He said the GOP’s Senate majority is at stake in his race and said he was strengthened by the contentious primary.

“I’ve always believed in iron sharpening iron,” Marshall said in his livestreamed remarks.

Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. Bollier had raised more than $8 million through July — and her campaign said Tuesday night that the total is now $9 million — a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state.

Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist, while Marshall is an obstetrician.

Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled about $11 million.

Hamilton had a strong showing in running behind Kobach and Marshall in early returns.

Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton and eight other candidates made the field the largest for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.

Dean Crenshaw, a 53-year-old welder from Belle Plaine in south-central Kansas, voted for Kobach for his conservative views despite believing that Democrats preferred to have Bollier face Kobach.

He said he was torn between voting for Kobach and Marshall but didn’t know much about Marshall and he “just voted for the guy I knew the most about.”

McConnell’s first choice in the race was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.

Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — particularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.

Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.

Marshall prevailed in a crowded GOP primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without an endorsement from President Donald Trump sought by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as both an informal adviser to Trump and reputation as a conservative firebrand.

Many Republicans’ fears about Kobach fueled ad campaigns that cost at least $15 million, with most of the spending by political action committees. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.

Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has raised more than $8 million for her campaign, a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state. Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist and former moderate Republican who garnered national headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.

Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled more than $9 million.

Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton sat atop an 11-person field, the largest one for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.

Marshall and his allies made Kobach’s loss in the governor’s race a key issue and argued that he was the best alternative. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s first choice was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.

Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — pa]rticularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596596984370.png" alt="President Trump called Marshall to offer congratulations for the primary win-photo courtesy Marshall for Senate campaign." />
 <figcaption>President Trump called Marshall to offer congratulations for the primary win-photo courtesy Marshall for Senate campaign.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.Marshall prevailed in a crowded primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without a pre-election endorsement from President Donald Trump sought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34a6a9737f0e78ceed84cf312234ab25">by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others</a>&nbsp;for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as a conservative firebrand and informal adviser to Trump.Marshall will face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former lifelong moderate Republican who received national attention at the end of 2018 by switching parties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596596521425.png" alt="Kris Kobach thanked his supporters during a watch party in Leavenworth Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Kris Kobach thanked his supporters during a watch party in Leavenworth Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018. Marshall and his allies made that loss a key issue as he and Kobach battled atop the GOP field.Bob and Debbie Rosenberger said Kobach’s loss in 2018 was on their minds as they cast their Republican primary ballots for Marshall at a southwest Topeka church. The retired 62-year-old postal worker and his wife, a retired, 63-year-old nursing home supervisor, said they are Trump supporters and believe Marshall will help him in the Senate.As for Kobach, Bob Rosenberger said, “Bottom line, I just don’t trust him as much as Roger Marshall.”The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596593743420.png" alt="Rep. Roger Marshall spoke to supporters during his watch party Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Roger Marshall spoke to supporters during his watch party Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Marshall immediately called for party unity and told his supporters at a watch party at a winery southwest of his central Kansas hometown of Great Bend. He said the GOP’s Senate majority is at stake in his race and said he was strengthened by the contentious primary.“I’ve always believed in iron sharpening iron,” Marshall said in his livestreamed remarks.Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. Bollier had raised more than $8 million through July — and her campaign said Tuesday night that the total is now $9 million — a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state.Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist, while Marshall is an obstetrician.Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled about $11 million.Hamilton had a strong showing in running behind Kobach and Marshall in early returns.Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton and eight other candidates made the field the largest for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.Dean Crenshaw, a 53-year-old welder from Belle Plaine in south-central Kansas, voted for Kobach for his conservative views despite believing that Democrats preferred to have Bollier face Kobach.He said he was torn between voting for Kobach and Marshall but didn’t know much about Marshall and he “just voted for the guy I knew the most about.”McConnell’s first choice in the race was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — particularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.____TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.Marshall prevailed in a crowded GOP primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without an endorsement from President Donald Trump sought by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as both an informal adviser to Trump and reputation as a conservative firebrand.Many Republicans’ fears about Kobach fueled ad campaigns that cost at least $15 million, with most of the spending by political action committees. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has raised more than $8 million for her campaign, a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state. Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist and former moderate Republican who garnered national headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled more than $9 million.Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton sat atop an 11-person field, the largest one for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.Marshall and his allies made Kobach’s loss in the governor’s race a key issue and argued that he was the best alternative. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s first choice was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — pa]rticularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.

Kansas GOP picks Rep. Marshall for Senate seat over Kobach

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Kansas' primary election (all times local):

A party-switching Kansas legislator who has raised eyebrows with her campaign’s fundraising success has easily won the Democratic nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Democrats had expected state Sen. Barbara Bollier to prevail in Tuesday’s election because she has raised $8 million for her race and has the backing of party leaders, including former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and two-term Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Her only primary opponent was retired Wichita court services officer and frequent congressional candidate Robert Tillman.

Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist and a former moderate Republican who garnered headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.

She is seeking the seat held by retiring four-term GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. Republicans had an 11-person primary field won easily by western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall.

Polls have close across most of Kansas in a primary election that features a contentious race for the Republican nomination for an open Senate seat.

The polls remained open an hour later Tuesday in four counties along the Colorado border in Mountain Time than in the rest of the state.

At least 265,000 voters cast their ballots in advance of Tuesday’s election.

The GOP ballot for Tuesday’s election included 11 candidates for the seat held by retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. They are led by party establishment-backed western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall and polarizing conservative Kris Kobach.

Freshman Rep. Steve Watkins was trying to beat back a challenge from State Treasurer Jake LaTurner in the Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas. The election came three weeks after felony charges were filed against Watkins, accusing him of voting illegally in 2019 and other crimes. He has called the charges “bogus.”

Election officials in three of Kansas' largest counties reported an uneventful start to voting in the state's primary election, due in part to an increase in advance and mail-in balloting.

Nathan Carter, office administrator for the Johnson County Election Office, said no major problems were reported Tuesday morning. Election workers are concentrating not only on in-person voting but also collecting thousands of mail ballots. The county sent out 106,000 mail-in ballots and received about 70,000 before Tuesday. Voters can bring their ballots to polling sites or to drop-off boxes through Election Day.

In-person voting was steady in Sedgwick County, with short or non-existent waiting times. Deputy Election Commissioner Melissa Schnieders said the county sent about about 56,000 mail-in ballots for this election, a big increase from previous elections. 

She said Tuesday's election was “pretty normal” except for preventative measures the county put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell said turnout in that county was “not huge." He said only three or four poll workers out of more than 400 didn't show up for election duty, which was typical of most elections.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Kansas' primary election (all times local):8 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596590340401.png" alt="State Sen. Barbara Bollier" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Barbara Bollier</figcaption>
 </figure>A party-switching Kansas legislator who has raised eyebrows with her campaign’s fundraising success has easily won the Democratic nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat.Democrats had expected state Sen. Barbara Bollier to prevail in Tuesday’s election because she has raised $8 million for her race and has the backing of party leaders, including former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and two-term Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Her only primary opponent was retired Wichita court services officer and frequent congressional candidate Robert Tillman.Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist and a former moderate Republican who garnered headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.She is seeking the seat held by retiring four-term GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. Republicans had an 11-person primary field won easily by western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall.7:05 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596570585162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Polls have close across most of Kansas in a primary election that features a contentious race for the Republican nomination for an open Senate seat.The polls remained open an hour later Tuesday in four counties along the Colorado border in Mountain Time than in the rest of the state.At least 265,000 voters cast their ballots in advance of Tuesday’s election.The GOP ballot for Tuesday’s election included 11 candidates for the seat held by retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. They are led by party establishment-backed western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall and polarizing conservative Kris Kobach.Freshman Rep. Steve Watkins was trying to beat back a challenge from State Treasurer Jake LaTurner in the Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas. The election came three weeks after felony charges were filed against Watkins, accusing him of voting illegally in 2019 and other crimes. He has called the charges “bogus.”___3 p.m.Election officials in three of Kansas' largest counties reported an uneventful start to voting in the state's primary election, due in part to an increase in advance and mail-in balloting.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;ve taken safety precautions at our polling locations to keep our voters and election workers safe and healthy today: ✅ Physical distancing ✅ Plexiglass shields ✅ Personal protective equipment ✅ Sanitation supplies ✅ Single-use pens and styluses ✅ Additional signage <a href="https://t.co/8K6PFMamrU">pic.twitter.com/8K6PFMamrU</a>&mdash; Johnson County Election Office (@jocoelection) <a href="https://twitter.com/jocoelection/status/1290633591563550720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Nathan Carter, office administrator for the Johnson County Election Office, said no major problems were reported Tuesday morning. Election workers are concentrating not only on in-person voting but also collecting thousands of mail ballots. The county sent out 106,000 mail-in ballots and received about 70,000 before Tuesday. Voters can bring their ballots to polling sites or to drop-off boxes through Election Day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596570585162.png" alt="Voters socially distance in Wichita -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Voters socially distance in Wichita -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In-person voting was steady in Sedgwick County, with short or non-existent waiting times. Deputy Election Commissioner Melissa Schnieders said the county sent about about 56,000 mail-in ballots for this election, a big increase from previous elections. She said Tuesday's election was “pretty normal” except for preventative measures the county put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.And Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell said turnout in that county was “not huge." He said only three or four poll workers out of more than 400 didn't show up for election duty, which was typical of most elections.

Bollier wins Democratic nod for Senate in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 40-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison for intentionally running over 15-year-old Somali student outside a Kansas City mosque.

Ahmed Aden was sentenced in the December 2014 death of Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein, a Somali student, who was hit as he was leaving the Somali Center in Kansas City, the Jackson County Prosecutor's office said.

Aden entered an Alford plea in December to charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Prosecutors said the crime was heinous and that Aden was “outwardly anti-Muslim.”

Aden initially told prosecutors that he intentionally hit the teenager. He said he was looking for men who had threatened him earlier and mistakenly thought Abdisamad boy was one of those men.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596582835169.png" alt="Aden -photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Aden -photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 40-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison for intentionally running over 15-year-old Somali student outside a Kansas City mosque.Ahmed Aden was sentenced in the December 2014 death of Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein, a Somali student, who was hit as he was leaving the Somali Center in Kansas City, the Jackson County Prosecutor's office said.Aden entered an Alford plea in December to charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.Prosecutors said the crime was heinous and that Aden was “outwardly anti-Muslim.”Aden initially told prosecutors that he intentionally hit the teenager. He said he was looking for men who had threatened him earlier and mistakenly thought Abdisamad boy was one of those men.

Man sentenced in death of Somali teen at KC mosque

WASHINGTON (AP) — Frustrated Senate Republicans re-upped their complaints that Democratic negotiators are taking too hard a line in talks on a sweeping coronavirus relief bill, but an afternoon negotiating session brought at least modest concessions from both sides, even as an agreement appears far off.

Top Democrats emerged from a 90-minute meeting Tuesday with Trump administration officials to declare more progress. The Trump team agreed with that assessment and highlighted its offer to extend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/833d91877e2f0fa913c5258978a9e83c">a moratorium on evictions</a>&nbsp;from federally subsidized housing through the end of the year.

“We really went down, issue by issue by issue slogging through this. They made some concessions which we appreciated. We made some concessions that they appreciated,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “We’re still far away on a lot of the important issues but we’re continuing to go back.”

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Tuesday’s session was “probably the most productive meeting we’ve had to date.” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the two sides set a goal of reaching an agreement by the end of the week to permit a vote next week.

“I would characterize concessions made by Secretary Mnuchin and the administration as being far more substantial than the concessions that had been made by the Democrat negotiators,” Meadows said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a pointed reminder that she and Schumer are “legislators with long experience” and a track record of working complicated deals — a rejoinder to critics complaining that they are being too tough and that the talks are taking too long.

“We agree that we want to have an agreement,” Pelosi said. “Let’s engineer back from there as to what we have to do to get that done.”

Another glimmer of hope emerged as a key Senate Republican telegraphed that the party may yield to Democrats on an increase in the food stamp benefit as part of the huge rescue measure, which promises to far exceed a $1 trillion target set by the GOP.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said Tuesday that “you can make an argument that we need some kind of an increase” in food stamps and that he’s raised the topic with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He added that an agreement on that issue could lead to further overall progress on the legislation, which remains stalled despite days of Capitol negotiations.

“They are taking a look at it and I think we can get a positive result,” Roberts told The Associated Press. “If we can get a breakthrough on that, it could lead to some other stuff.”

The food stamp issue — left out of earlier relief bills — is a top priority for Pelosi, among other powerful Democrats, who have passed a 15% increase in the food stamp benefit as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3c1ea3456f7d906dabf3ed336f6c1ad0">their $3.5 trillion coronavirus relief bill</a>.

The overall talks are grinding ahead slowly, though urgency is growing among Senate Republicans, several of whom face tough election races and are eager to deliver a bill before heading home to campaign this month.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Monday that the chamber should not go on recess without passing the huge relief measure, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., offered a jobless benefit proposal that’s more generous than a pending GOP alternative. Both are facing closer-than-hoped reelection bids in states that should be easy holds for Republicans.

Multiple obstacles remain, including an impasse on extending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0255528817e87bcee9087f4b8649b571">$600-per-week pandemic jobless benefit</a>&nbsp;aid to the renters facing eviction. The benefit has helped sustain consumer demand over recent months as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;has wrought havoc. Pelosi wants to extend it through January at a $400 billion-plus cost, while Republicans are proposing an immediate cut to $200 and then replacing the benefit with a cumbersome system that would attempt to provide 70% of a worker’s “replacement wage.”

They are also pressing for funding for the Postal Service. Schumer and Pelosi summoned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a47604cc629c00b3b2e6f5a6376b412">Postmaster General Louis DeJoy</a>&nbsp;to the Capitol on Wednesday to discuss the agency’s worsening performance and need for emergency funding.

“We’ve seen the delay of mail, and we’re very worried about that affect on the election,” Schumer said.

On the Senate floor, McConnell, R-Ky., continued to protest that Democrats are taking too tough a line. But he signaled he’s far more flexible now than he was weeks ago.

“The American people in the end need help,” McConnell told reporters. “And wherever this thing settles between the president ... and the Democrats is something I am prepared to support even if I have some problems with certain parts of it.″

Most members of the Democratic-controlled House have left Washington and won’t return until there is an agreement to vote on, but the GOP-held Senate is trapped in the capital.

Areas of agreement already include another round of $1,200 direct payments and changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b0d2a36521f39010273317fa3562c2e4">the Paycheck Protection Program</a>&nbsp;to permit especially hard-hit businesses to obtain another loan under generous forgiveness terms.

The House passed a $3.5 trillion measure in May, but Republicans controlling the Senate have demanded a slower approach, saying it was necessary to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0646f93b849d126e97bae209c3db67a4">take a “pause” before passing additional legislation</a>. Since they announced that strategy, however,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e3081a60a6abf62effa2e6030556ee30">coronavirus caseloads have spiked</a>&nbsp;and the economy has absorbed an enormous blow.

The Senate GOP draft measure carries a $1.1 trillion price tag, according to an estimate by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Republicans have not released any estimates of their own.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596624511341.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin leaves a virus relief negotiation session Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin leaves a virus relief negotiation session Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Frustrated Senate Republicans re-upped their complaints that Democratic negotiators are taking too hard a line in talks on a sweeping coronavirus relief bill, but an afternoon negotiating session brought at least modest concessions from both sides, even as an agreement appears far off.Top Democrats emerged from a 90-minute meeting Tuesday with Trump administration officials to declare more progress. The Trump team agreed with that assessment and highlighted its offer to extend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/833d91877e2f0fa913c5258978a9e83c">a moratorium on evictions</a>&nbsp;from federally subsidized housing through the end of the year.“We really went down, issue by issue by issue slogging through this. They made some concessions which we appreciated. We made some concessions that they appreciated,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “We’re still far away on a lot of the important issues but we’re continuing to go back.”White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Tuesday’s session was “probably the most productive meeting we’ve had to date.” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the two sides set a goal of reaching an agreement by the end of the week to permit a vote next week.“I would characterize concessions made by Secretary Mnuchin and the administration as being far more substantial than the concessions that had been made by the Democrat negotiators,” Meadows said.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a pointed reminder that she and Schumer are “legislators with long experience” and a track record of working complicated deals — a rejoinder to critics complaining that they are being too tough and that the talks are taking too long.“We agree that we want to have an agreement,” Pelosi said. “Let’s engineer back from there as to what we have to do to get that done.”Another glimmer of hope emerged as a key Senate Republican telegraphed that the party may yield to Democrats on an increase in the food stamp benefit as part of the huge rescue measure, which promises to far exceed a $1 trillion target set by the GOP.Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said Tuesday that “you can make an argument that we need some kind of an increase” in food stamps and that he’s raised the topic with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He added that an agreement on that issue could lead to further overall progress on the legislation, which remains stalled despite days of Capitol negotiations.“They are taking a look at it and I think we can get a positive result,” Roberts told The Associated Press. “If we can get a breakthrough on that, it could lead to some other stuff.”The food stamp issue — left out of earlier relief bills — is a top priority for Pelosi, among other powerful Democrats, who have passed a 15% increase in the food stamp benefit as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3c1ea3456f7d906dabf3ed336f6c1ad0">their $3.5 trillion coronavirus relief bill</a>.The overall talks are grinding ahead slowly, though urgency is growing among Senate Republicans, several of whom face tough election races and are eager to deliver a bill before heading home to campaign this month.Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Monday that the chamber should not go on recess without passing the huge relief measure, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., offered a jobless benefit proposal that’s more generous than a pending GOP alternative. Both are facing closer-than-hoped reelection bids in states that should be easy holds for Republicans.Multiple obstacles remain, including an impasse on extending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0255528817e87bcee9087f4b8649b571">$600-per-week pandemic jobless benefit</a>&nbsp;aid to the renters facing eviction. The benefit has helped sustain consumer demand over recent months as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;has wrought havoc. Pelosi wants to extend it through January at a $400 billion-plus cost, while Republicans are proposing an immediate cut to $200 and then replacing the benefit with a cumbersome system that would attempt to provide 70% of a worker’s “replacement wage.”They are also pressing for funding for the Postal Service. Schumer and Pelosi summoned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a47604cc629c00b3b2e6f5a6376b412">Postmaster General Louis DeJoy</a>&nbsp;to the Capitol on Wednesday to discuss the agency’s worsening performance and need for emergency funding.“We’ve seen the delay of mail, and we’re very worried about that affect on the election,” Schumer said.On the Senate floor, McConnell, R-Ky., continued to protest that Democrats are taking too tough a line. But he signaled he’s far more flexible now than he was weeks ago.“The American people in the end need help,” McConnell told reporters. “And wherever this thing settles between the president ... and the Democrats is something I am prepared to support even if I have some problems with certain parts of it.″Most members of the Democratic-controlled House have left Washington and won’t return until there is an agreement to vote on, but the GOP-held Senate is trapped in the capital.Areas of agreement already include another round of $1,200 direct payments and changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b0d2a36521f39010273317fa3562c2e4">the Paycheck Protection Program</a>&nbsp;to permit especially hard-hit businesses to obtain another loan under generous forgiveness terms.The House passed a $3.5 trillion measure in May, but Republicans controlling the Senate have demanded a slower approach, saying it was necessary to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0646f93b849d126e97bae209c3db67a4">take a “pause” before passing additional legislation</a>. Since they announced that strategy, however,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e3081a60a6abf62effa2e6030556ee30">coronavirus caseloads have spiked</a>&nbsp;and the economy has absorbed an enormous blow.The Senate GOP draft measure carries a $1.1 trillion price tag, according to an estimate by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Republicans have not released any estimates of their own.___

Progress slow as urgency grows on virus relief legislation

Kansas’ state treasurer has unseated freshman Rep. Steve Watkins in the Republican primary with Watkins facing felony criminal charges.

Treasurer Jake LaTurner’s victory in Tuesday’s election came only three weeks after the district attorney in Watkins’ home of Shawnee County filed the charges.

Watkins is accused of voting illegally in a Topeka City Council race in November 2019 and trying to mislead a sheriff’s detective investigating Watkins’ listing of a UPS Inc. store postal box as his residence on a state voter registration form. Watkins has called the criminal charges “bogus” but LaTurner argued that the criminal case made Watkins a vulnerable general election candidate.

Watkins is a former Army officer and military contractor who barely won his seat in 2018 as a political novice. LaTurner is a former state senator who has served as treasurer since 2017.

Amanda Adkins has won the Republican primary in Kansas’ 3rd District.

The 45-year-old Overland Park woman is vice president of strategic growth at the medical records firm Cerner Corporation and former chairwoman of the Kanss Republican Party.

Adkins defeated Adrienne Vallejo Foster, Sara Hart Weir, Mike Beehler, and Tom Love and will face first-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids in the November general election.

Adkins stressed her support for President Donald Trump. Her campaign got a boost from a political action committee financed largely by her father. Davids received national attention as a Native American and openly LGBTQ candidate in 2018 and she’s already raised more than $3.8 million for her re-election campaign.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Kansas' primary election (all times local):Kansas’ state treasurer has unseated freshman Rep. Steve Watkins in the Republican primary with Watkins facing felony criminal charges.Treasurer Jake LaTurner’s victory in Tuesday’s election came only three weeks after the district attorney in Watkins’ home of Shawnee County filed the charges.Watkins is accused of voting illegally in a Topeka City Council race in November 2019 and trying to mislead a sheriff’s detective investigating Watkins’ listing of a UPS Inc. store postal box as his residence on a state voter registration form. Watkins has called the criminal charges “bogus” but LaTurner argued that the criminal case made Watkins a vulnerable general election candidate.Watkins is a former Army officer and military contractor who barely won his seat in 2018 as a political novice. LaTurner is a former state senator who has served as treasurer since 2017._____Amanda Adkins has won the Republican primary in Kansas’ 3rd District.The 45-year-old Overland Park woman is vice president of strategic growth at the medical records firm Cerner Corporation and former chairwoman of the Kanss Republican Party.Adkins defeated Adrienne Vallejo Foster, Sara Hart Weir, Mike Beehler, and Tom Love and will face first-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids in the November general election.Adkins stressed her support for President Donald Trump. Her campaign got a boost from a political action committee financed largely by her father. Davids received national attention as a Native American and openly LGBTQ candidate in 2018 and she’s already raised more than $3.8 million for her re-election campaign._______

Kansas' state treasurer unseats Rep. Watkins in GOP primary

CHASE COUNTY — The health department in Chase County&nbsp; &nbsp;confirmed Monday there were 29 cases of coronavirus at the Chase County Detention Center in Cottonwood Falls. 

The cases include 27 inmates and two staff members, according to a media release.

The inmates involved are men between the ages of 21 and 67. The two staff members are men over the age of 23.

The Chase County Health Department has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and will continue cohorting of detainees based on infection status. There will be no transfers to or from other facilities. Strict mask protocols are being enforced for staff and ongoing education and encouragement of inmate mask protocols.

They will continue testing to identify status of staff and inmates to allow proper cohorting and quarantine/isolation.

IN addition, Chase County will heighten routine and targeted symptom checking.

CHASE COUNTY — The health department in Chase County&nbsp; &nbsp;confirmed Monday there were 29 cases of coronavirus at the Chase County Detention Center in Cottonwood Falls. The cases include 27 inmates and two staff members, according to a media release.The inmates involved are men between the ages of 21 and 67. The two staff members are men over the age of 23.The Chase County Health Department has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and will continue cohorting of detainees based on infection status. There will be no transfers to or from other facilities. Strict mask protocols are being enforced for staff and ongoing education and encouragement of inmate mask protocols.They will continue testing to identify status of staff and inmates to allow proper cohorting and quarantine/isolation.IN addition, Chase County will heighten routine and targeted symptom checking.

KDHE working with jail after 29 test positive for virus

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The American Royal will not hold this year's World Series of Barbecue because it could not find a way to make the event safe during the coronavirus pandemic, the organization announced Tuesday.

Glen Alan Phillips, president and CEO of the American Royal Association, said it was “painful” to cancel the barbecue contest for the first time since it began.

The barbecue, which draws competitors from more than 30 states and several countries, was scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at the Kansas Speedway,

“It gets really challenging to have a large public component to your event, which then leads to major financial revenue issues with not being able to sell tickets,” Phillips said.

The organization also canceled this year's Pro Rodeo, which was scheduled for September 25-26. But Phillips said most equine shows and the livestock show will be held this year.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The American Royal will not hold this year's World Series of Barbecue because it could not find a way to make the event safe during the coronavirus pandemic, the organization announced Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An important announcement regarding the 2020 World Series of Barbecue. For additional details go to <a href="https://t.co/hpFR2qVHPV">https://t.co/hpFR2qVHPV</a>. <a href="https://t.co/3TRzsRv3Un">pic.twitter.com/3TRzsRv3Un</a>&mdash; American Royal (@AmericanRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanRoyal/status/1290733647692169217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Glen Alan Phillips, president and CEO of the American Royal Association, said it was “painful” to cancel the barbecue contest for the first time since it began.The barbecue, which draws competitors from more than 30 states and several countries, was scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at the Kansas Speedway,“It gets really challenging to have a large public component to your event, which then leads to major financial revenue issues with not being able to sell tickets,” Phillips said.The organization also canceled this year's Pro Rodeo, which was scheduled for September 25-26. But Phillips said most equine shows and the livestock show will be held this year.