KANSAS CITY(AP) — Missouri's health department on Thursday issued another license to the state's only abortion clinic following a yearlong legal battle over whether the Planned Parenthood center could stay open.

“We are pleased to put the licensure issue to rest after more than a year of being targeted by Missouri’s health department," said Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, in a statement.

The Department of Health and Senior Services last year declined to renew the clinic's license, which meant the clinic wouldn't have been allowed to provide abortions.

Planned Parenthood sued. After a yearlong legal battle, the state's Administrative Hearing Commission ruled in May that the health department was wrong not to renew the clinic's license.

Rodríguez said the health department conducted another inspection at the St. Louis clinic before issuing the license.

“That process was prompt, the inspectors were cordial, and we appreciate the department’s work to issue the license,” Rodríguez said.

The health department, which is represented by the state Attorney General's Office, hasn't indicated if it will appeal the Administrative Hearing Commission ruling. Monday is the deadline to appeal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575976892214.png" alt="Planned Parenthood Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Planned Parenthood Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Missouri's health department on Thursday issued another license to the state's only abortion clinic following a yearlong legal battle over whether the Planned Parenthood center could stay open.“We are pleased to put the licensure issue to rest after more than a year of being targeted by Missouri’s health department," said Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, in a statement.The Department of Health and Senior Services last year declined to renew the clinic's license, which meant the clinic wouldn't have been allowed to provide abortions.Planned Parenthood sued. After a yearlong legal battle, the state's Administrative Hearing Commission ruled in May that the health department was wrong not to renew the clinic's license.Rodríguez said the health department conducted another inspection at the St. Louis clinic before issuing the license.“That process was prompt, the inspectors were cordial, and we appreciate the department’s work to issue the license,” Rodríguez said.The health department, which is represented by the state Attorney General's Office, hasn't indicated if it will appeal the Administrative Hearing Commission ruling. Monday is the deadline to appeal.

Missouri's only abortion clinic finally gets license

VINITA, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says one of its troopers shot a man fatally during a traffic stop in northeastern Oklahoma. 

OHP spokeswoman Sarah Stewart says the shooting happened shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 44/Will Rogers Turnpike near Vinita, about 55 miles northeast of Tulsa near the Kansas border. 

Identities, the cause of the shooting, and the reason for the traffic stop weren't immediately released. Stewart said the trooper and a woman who was driving the vehicle in which the man was riding weren't injured.

VINITA, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says one of its troopers shot a man fatally during a traffic stop in northeastern Oklahoma. OHP spokeswoman Sarah Stewart says the shooting happened shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 44/Will Rogers Turnpike near Vinita, about 55 miles northeast of Tulsa near the Kansas border. Identities, the cause of the shooting, and the reason for the traffic stop weren't immediately released. Stewart said the trooper and a woman who was driving the vehicle in which the man was riding weren't injured.

Man fatally shot by trooper during a traffic stop near Kan. border

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday joined a zoom call with Kansas teachers, Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, and Representative Cindy Holscher to discuss ways to improve education access and continuous learning during COVID-19.

“Kansas teachers stepped up when schools were closed, and continued to give our kids the education they deserve,” Governor Kelly said in a media relase. 

“Today Lt. Gov. Rogers, Rep. Cindy Holscher, and I spoke with teachers about the challenges of distance learning and how this administration can support their work in the fall.”

On March 17 Governor Kelly took aggressive actions to save lives and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by closing school buildings for the duration of the school year. In just a few days a group of dedicated teachers and administrators from across the state came together to develop the continuous learning plan, which provided robust guidance on how schools can continue education safely.

“Our state’s educators are resilient, passionate, and dedicated to their students,” Lt. Gov. Rogers said. “I enjoyed our conversation this morning, and I look forward to future discussion and collaboration with educators from across the state.”

During the call, Governor Kelly asked educators how their districts met the challenges presented by the pandemic, and how her administration can support their work as the school year nears.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593119894516.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday joined a zoom call with Kansas teachers, Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, and Representative Cindy Holscher to discuss ways to improve education access and continuous learning during COVID-19.“Kansas teachers stepped up when schools were closed, and continued to give our kids the education they deserve,” Governor Kelly said in a media relase. “Today Lt. Gov. Rogers, Rep. Cindy Holscher, and I spoke with teachers about the challenges of distance learning and how this administration can support their work in the fall.”On March 17 Governor Kelly took aggressive actions to save lives and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by closing school buildings for the duration of the school year. In just a few days a group of dedicated teachers and administrators from across the state came together to develop the continuous learning plan, which provided robust guidance on how schools can continue education safely.“Our state’s educators are resilient, passionate, and dedicated to their students,” Lt. Gov. Rogers said. “I enjoyed our conversation this morning, and I look forward to future discussion and collaboration with educators from across the state.”During the call, Governor Kelly asked educators how their districts met the challenges presented by the pandemic, and how her administration can support their work as the school year nears.&nbsp;

Gov. holds virtual distance learning discussion with Kansas teachers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help with information.&nbsp;

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting in a parking lot in the 900 Block of West Central in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

At the scene, officers located a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his body. EMS transported him to a local hospital for treatment.

During the investigation, police determined the 19-year-old and a friend were in the small parking area on the north side of The Keeper of the Plains when a disturbance occurred with a male suspect, according to Davidson.&nbsp; 

The suspect pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots which struck the victim and also a vehicle owned by the victim's friend.

The victim also reported the suspect took property from him and then fled with other individuals who were in the area.&nbsp; During the investigation, police also recovered multiple shell casings.

Authorities do not believe this is a random incident, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593103931771.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation early Thursday photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation early Thursday photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help with information.&nbsp;Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting in a parking lot in the 900 Block of West Central in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.At the scene, officers located a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his body. EMS transported him to a local hospital for treatment.During the investigation, police determined the 19-year-old and a friend were in the small parking area on the north side of The Keeper of the Plains when a disturbance occurred with a male suspect, according to Davidson.&nbsp; The suspect pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots which struck the victim and also a vehicle owned by the victim's friend.The victim also reported the suspect took property from him and then fled with other individuals who were in the area.&nbsp; During the investigation, police also recovered multiple shell casings.Authorities do not believe this is a random incident, according to Davidson.

Police: 19-year-old Kan man shot during disturbance 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; After two weeks of treatment, a 12-year-old African elephant at the Sedgwick County Zoo is healthy again.

 Zuberi is still receiving anti-viral medication and zoo officials are keeping a very close eye on her just to be sure she continues to do well. The rest of the herd is still testing negative for any EEHV infections, according to a social media report from the zoo.

&nbsp;EEHV stands for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus. It is a hemorrhagic disease that mainly affects elephants under the age of 15 and can be fatal in severe cases. 

EEHV is one of the most deadly viruses for elephants worldwide, both in the wild and in human care. There is no vaccine for EEHV, nor is it preventable. Check out our previous posts for details about Zuberi's treatment.

Last Thursday the zoo reported Zuberi’s bloodwork showed that she had almost no EEHV remaining in her body. She was acting much more like herself, interacting with keepers, participating in training, eating more, and even taking some of her medications orally.

Because EEHV infections affect the blood cells, there are some residual conditions that Zuberi is still being treated for.&nbsp;

After 9 days of intensive treatment and lost sleep, zoo keepers were thrilled to see Zuberi going for a swim in the canal that day as revelaed&nbsp; on the zoo's elephant cams. She was quickly joined by 3 other elephants for some much-needed fun in the sun.

On June 16, the team at the zoo worked together to position Zuberi for a plasma transfusion procedure.&nbsp; The tethers on her legs serve many purposes, both to ensure her safety and the safety of the people caring for her. They are put on after she is sedated and removed before she wakes up. Team members use the ropes to help position her legs, and Lauren and Micaela encouraged Zuberi to take a small step back with her front legs so she'll be perfectly stable for the procedure.

Over the next few days and weeks, zoo employees will continue to monitor the herd and are prepared for possible future EEHV infections, but at the moment they are celebrating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593110416957.png" alt="Zuberi going for a swim last week -photo Sedgwick Co. Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Zuberi going for a swim last week -photo Sedgwick Co. Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; After two weeks of treatment, a 12-year-old African elephant at the Sedgwick County Zoo is healthy again. Zuberi is still receiving anti-viral medication and zoo officials are keeping a very close eye on her just to be sure she continues to do well. The rest of the herd is still testing negative for any EEHV infections, according to a social media report from the zoo.&nbsp;EEHV stands for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus. It is a hemorrhagic disease that mainly affects elephants under the age of 15 and can be fatal in severe cases. EEHV is one of the most deadly viruses for elephants worldwide, both in the wild and in human care. There is no vaccine for EEHV, nor is it preventable. Check out our previous posts for details about Zuberi's treatment.Last Thursday the zoo reported Zuberi’s bloodwork showed that she had almost no EEHV remaining in her body. She was acting much more like herself, interacting with keepers, participating in training, eating more, and even taking some of her medications orally.Because EEHV infections affect the blood cells, there are some residual conditions that Zuberi is still being treated for.&nbsp;After 9 days of intensive treatment and lost sleep, zoo keepers were thrilled to see Zuberi going for a swim in the canal that day as revelaed&nbsp; on the zoo's elephant cams. She was quickly joined by 3 other elephants for some much-needed fun in the sun.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593091309115.png" alt="Zuberi had already been given her sedation medication, and was completely asleep in this photo from the Sedgwick County Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Zuberi had already been given her sedation medication, and was completely asleep in this photo from the Sedgwick County Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>On June 16, the team at the zoo worked together to position Zuberi for a plasma transfusion procedure.&nbsp; The tethers on her legs serve many purposes, both to ensure her safety and the safety of the people caring for her. They are put on after she is sedated and removed before she wakes up. Team members use the ropes to help position her legs, and Lauren and Micaela encouraged Zuberi to take a small step back with her front legs so she'll be perfectly stable for the procedure.Over the next few days and weeks, zoo employees will continue to monitor the herd and are prepared for possible future EEHV infections, but at the moment they are celebrating.

Elephant at Kansas zoo recovers from deadly virus

By STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/how-go-back-college-pandemic-face-masks-social-distancing-and-shorter-semesters">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA —&nbsp;Gone are the days of sneaking late
 into a crowded lecture hall. Reading college students' disapproving 
faces won't be easy. And Thanksgiving is the new Christmas.

There’ll
 be a lot of adjustments this fall for students and professors at 
Kansas’ universities, institutions that have been finalizing plans for 
how they’ll keep everyone safe from the coronavirus when in-person 
instruction returns.

Some details are still being worked out, 
but most four-year universities have agreed on a few main policies, all 
of which rely on the newly classic COVID-19 prevention toolkit — face 
masks, social distancing and cutting back on traveling.

In the classrooms, in hallways, at student unions and on the paths 
between buildings — face masks will be required just about everywhere on
 campus.

Five state universities instituted policies that masks 
must be worn with a few exceptions. Faculty members can ditch it if 
they’re alone in their office. The same goes for students in their 
private dorm rooms or when walking outside with no one nearby.

They’ll
 also be able to lose the masks while eating a salad in the dining hall 
(just don’t expect to make it yourself at KU — they’re doing away with 
all self-serving stations).

At Kansas State, students and staff must go through virtual face mask training.

And while Fort Hays State don’t have a requirement for face masks, the college highly encourages them.

No matter what enrollment looks like when the semester starts, classes will still have plenty of empty seats.

Nearly
 all of the state universities will seat students at least six feet 
apart during classes. In large lecture halls where the desks are bolted 
down, entire rows will be left empty.

Fewer seats mean many 
professors will have to split their class time. For example, instead of 
30 students coming in a couple times a week, half might come in on a 
Monday while the others tackle the online work before switching places 
later in the week.

Hands-on classes like lab work will be given 
some social distancing flexibility due to cramped equipment spaces. But 
universities have asked teachers to be ready to shift to online 
instruction in case a second wave sends students home even earlier than 
planned.

Regardless of what rules universities enforce on campus, they have 
little control over what students do when they leave for Thanksgiving 
break, potentially returning to COVID-19 hotspots.

That’s why most Kansas universities are telling students not to come back after the holiday.

In-person
 classes will resume online the week after Thanksgiving. Some schools 
will provide a few more lessons online, while others will reserve the 
last week of November for studying ahead of finals the next week.

The
 traditional fall break was wrapped into Thanksgiving break in hopes 
that it’ll keep people from traveling during the semester. Emporia State
 students who live on campus will see a cheaper housing bill to reflect 
that shorter stay.

Only KU has laid out its plans for the spring 
semester — classes resume Feb. 1 and no spring break — while everyone 
else waits to see what the pandemic has in store.

Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en">@stevebisaha</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593110007650.png" alt="People leave a building on the University of Kansas in Lawrence in a time before the coronavirus shutdown campus. When students return, they'll have to wear masks most of the time. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service file photo " />
 <figcaption>People leave a building on the University of Kansas in Lawrence in a time before the coronavirus shutdown campus. When students return, they'll have to wear masks most of the time. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service file photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/how-go-back-college-pandemic-face-masks-social-distancing-and-shorter-semesters">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA —&nbsp;Gone are the days of sneaking late
 into a crowded lecture hall. Reading college students' disapproving 
faces won't be easy. And Thanksgiving is the new Christmas.There’ll
 be a lot of adjustments this fall for students and professors at 
Kansas’ universities, institutions that have been finalizing plans for 
how they’ll keep everyone safe from the coronavirus when in-person 
instruction returns.Some details are still being worked out, 
but most four-year universities have agreed on a few main policies, all 
of which rely on the newly classic COVID-19 prevention toolkit — face 
masks, social distancing and cutting back on traveling.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593110080473.png" alt="Credit Stephan Bisaha / freepik.com" />
 <figcaption>Credit Stephan Bisaha / freepik.com</figcaption>
 </figure>In the classrooms, in hallways, at student unions and on the paths 
between buildings — face masks will be required just about everywhere on
 campus.Five state universities instituted policies that masks 
must be worn with a few exceptions. Faculty members can ditch it if 
they’re alone in their office. The same goes for students in their 
private dorm rooms or when walking outside with no one nearby.They’ll
 also be able to lose the masks while eating a salad in the dining hall 
(just don’t expect to make it yourself at KU — they’re doing away with 
all self-serving stations).At Kansas State, students and staff must go through virtual face mask training.And while Fort Hays State don’t have a requirement for face masks, the college highly encourages them.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593110121501.png" alt="Credit Stephan Bisaha / freepik.com" />
 <figcaption>Credit Stephan Bisaha / freepik.com</figcaption>
 </figure>No matter what enrollment looks like when the semester starts, classes will still have plenty of empty seats.Nearly
 all of the state universities will seat students at least six feet 
apart during classes. In large lecture halls where the desks are bolted 
down, entire rows will be left empty.Fewer seats mean many 
professors will have to split their class time. For example, instead of 
30 students coming in a couple times a week, half might come in on a 
Monday while the others tackle the online work before switching places 
later in the week.Hands-on classes like lab work will be given 
some social distancing flexibility due to cramped equipment spaces. But 
universities have asked teachers to be ready to shift to online 
instruction in case a second wave sends students home even earlier than 
planned.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593110172103.png" alt="Credit Stephan Bisaha" />
 <figcaption>Credit Stephan Bisaha</figcaption>
 </figure>Regardless of what rules universities enforce on campus, they have 
little control over what students do when they leave for Thanksgiving 
break, potentially returning to COVID-19 hotspots.That’s why most Kansas universities are telling students not to come back after the holiday.In-person
 classes will resume online the week after Thanksgiving. Some schools 
will provide a few more lessons online, while others will reserve the 
last week of November for studying ahead of finals the next week.The
 traditional fall break was wrapped into Thanksgiving break in hopes 
that it’ll keep people from traveling during the semester. Emporia State
 students who live on campus will see a cheaper housing bill to reflect 
that shorter stay.Only KU has laid out its plans for the spring 
semester — classes resume Feb. 1 and no spring break — while everyone 
else waits to see what the pandemic has in store.Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en">@stevebisaha</a>.

Kan. college students face a different world upon return to campus

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of dollars in coronavirus relief payments have been sent to people behind bars across the United States, and now the IRS is asking state officials to help claw back the cash that the federal tax agency says was mistakenly sent.

The legislation authorizing the payments during the pandemic doesn’t specifically exclude jail or prison inmates, and the IRS has refused to say exactly what legal authority it has to retrieve the money. On its website, it points to the unrelated Social Security Act, which bars incarcerated people from receiving some types of old-age and survivor insurance benefit payments.

“I can’t give you the legal basis. All I can tell you is this is the language the Treasury and ourselves have been using,” IRS spokesman Eric Smith said. “It’s just the same list as in the Social Security Act.”

Tax attorney Kelly Erb, who’s written about the issue on her website, says there’s no legal basis for asking for the checks back.

“I think it’s really disingenuous of the IRS,” Erb said Tuesday. “It’s not a rule just because the IRS puts it on the website. In fact, the IRS actually says that stuff on its website isn’t legal authority. So there’s no actual rule — it’s just guidance — and that guidance can change at any time.”

After Congress passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package in March, checks of up to $1,200 were automatically sent in most cases to people who filed income tax returns for 2018 or 2019, including some who are incarcerated. A couple of weeks later, the IRS directed state correction departments to intercept payments to prisoners and return them.

The IRS doesn’t yet have numbers on how many payments went to prisoners, Smith said. But initial data from some states suggest the numbers are huge: The Kansas Department of Correction alone intercepted more than $200,000 in checks by early June. Idaho and Montana combined had seized over $90,000.

Washington state, meanwhile, had only intercepted about $23,000 by early June. Some states, like Nevada, have refused to release the numbers, citing an IRS request for confidentiality.

While the IRS says checks sent to jail inmates also should be returned, the sheer number of jails and detention centers across the U.S. makes it difficult to tell if many are following those instructions.

The IRS seems to have decided by itself to pull back the payments approved by Congress, said Wanda Bertram, a spokeswoman for the Prison Policy Initiative, a think tank focusing on the harm of mass incarceration. She says prison officials are accustomed to intercepting tax documents to screen for potential scams, priming them to follow this request.

“It appears that the IRS is just making this up,” Bertram said.

Inmates and their families need the money, she said, especially as prisons try to reduce the spread of the virus by instituting lockdown conditions or releasing thousands of inmates who are then trying to get back on their feet.

Lockdowns can increase expenses for inmates because they are often given lower-quality food or fewer meals and need to supplement by buying food from prison commissaries. Family and friends on the outside often cover those costs, and many have lost jobs during the economic downturn, Bertram said.

“Loved ones right now are also under a squeeze because of the pandemic and being out of a job, so when you send a stimulus check for someone, the person in prison is not the only one who benefits from that,” Bertram said.

Intercepting relief checks may also have a disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic inmates, who are incarcerated at a higher rate than white Americans. Black people are imprisoned at roughly twice the rate of Hispanic residents, and more than five times the rate of whites as of last year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Prison officials nationwide have been trying to intercept the checks, with varying results. Officials in Vermont, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arizona and California estimated that they each had intercepted fewer than a dozen checks as of early June. Oregon prison officials had seized 25 payments, with 21 returned to the IRS and four others given to relatives or other joint tax filers.

Kaitlin Felsted, a spokeswoman for the Utah prison system, said the state had intercepted 28 checks so far but noted that any relief money sent to an inmate’s home address wouldn’t be touched by prison officials.

Some states, like Alaska and Wyoming, aren’t tracking the number of payments they intercept.

It’s not clear if inmates have any recourse, said Erb, the tax attorney.

Those who are released before year’s end and who didn’t get a relief check can try to claim the missing money as a credit on their 2021 tax returns, but it’s not clear if the IRS will honor such claims, Erb said. Other inmates may be out of luck.

“I think somebody has to sue, and you have to have the resources to be able to do that,” she said. “I don’t know that there’s anything most people can do besides complain and see if they can attract some attention. You have to have somebody who will step up and be an advocate for that segment of the population.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586818196589.png" alt="U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is in charge of the virus relief payments as part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is in charge of the virus relief payments as part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force</figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of dollars in coronavirus relief payments have been sent to people behind bars across the United States, and now the IRS is asking state officials to help claw back the cash that the federal tax agency says was mistakenly sent.The legislation authorizing the payments during the pandemic doesn’t specifically exclude jail or prison inmates, and the IRS has refused to say exactly what legal authority it has to retrieve the money. On its website, it points to the unrelated Social Security Act, which bars incarcerated people from receiving some types of old-age and survivor insurance benefit payments.“I can’t give you the legal basis. All I can tell you is this is the language the Treasury and ourselves have been using,” IRS spokesman Eric Smith said. “It’s just the same list as in the Social Security Act.”Tax attorney Kelly Erb, who’s written about the issue on her website, says there’s no legal basis for asking for the checks back.“I think it’s really disingenuous of the IRS,” Erb said Tuesday. “It’s not a rule just because the IRS puts it on the website. In fact, the IRS actually says that stuff on its website isn’t legal authority. So there’s no actual rule — it’s just guidance — and that guidance can change at any time.”After Congress passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package in March, checks of up to $1,200 were automatically sent in most cases to people who filed income tax returns for 2018 or 2019, including some who are incarcerated. A couple of weeks later, the IRS directed state correction departments to intercept payments to prisoners and return them.The IRS doesn’t yet have numbers on how many payments went to prisoners, Smith said. But initial data from some states suggest the numbers are huge: The Kansas Department of Correction alone intercepted more than $200,000 in checks by early June. Idaho and Montana combined had seized over $90,000.Washington state, meanwhile, had only intercepted about $23,000 by early June. Some states, like Nevada, have refused to release the numbers, citing an IRS request for confidentiality.While the IRS says checks sent to jail inmates also should be returned, the sheer number of jails and detention centers across the U.S. makes it difficult to tell if many are following those instructions.The IRS seems to have decided by itself to pull back the payments approved by Congress, said Wanda Bertram, a spokeswoman for the Prison Policy Initiative, a think tank focusing on the harm of mass incarceration. She says prison officials are accustomed to intercepting tax documents to screen for potential scams, priming them to follow this request.“It appears that the IRS is just making this up,” Bertram said.Inmates and their families need the money, she said, especially as prisons try to reduce the spread of the virus by instituting lockdown conditions or releasing thousands of inmates who are then trying to get back on their feet.Lockdowns can increase expenses for inmates because they are often given lower-quality food or fewer meals and need to supplement by buying food from prison commissaries. Family and friends on the outside often cover those costs, and many have lost jobs during the economic downturn, Bertram said.“Loved ones right now are also under a squeeze because of the pandemic and being out of a job, so when you send a stimulus check for someone, the person in prison is not the only one who benefits from that,” Bertram said.Intercepting relief checks may also have a disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic inmates, who are incarcerated at a higher rate than white Americans. Black people are imprisoned at roughly twice the rate of Hispanic residents, and more than five times the rate of whites as of last year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.Prison officials nationwide have been trying to intercept the checks, with varying results. Officials in Vermont, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arizona and California estimated that they each had intercepted fewer than a dozen checks as of early June. Oregon prison officials had seized 25 payments, with 21 returned to the IRS and four others given to relatives or other joint tax filers.Kaitlin Felsted, a spokeswoman for the Utah prison system, said the state had intercepted 28 checks so far but noted that any relief money sent to an inmate’s home address wouldn’t be touched by prison officials.Some states, like Alaska and Wyoming, aren’t tracking the number of payments they intercept.It’s not clear if inmates have any recourse, said Erb, the tax attorney.Those who are released before year’s end and who didn’t get a relief check can try to claim the missing money as a credit on their 2021 tax returns, but it’s not clear if the IRS will honor such claims, Erb said. Other inmates may be out of luck.“I think somebody has to sue, and you have to have the resources to be able to do that,” she said. “I don’t know that there’s anything most people can do besides complain and see if they can attract some attention. You have to have somebody who will step up and be an advocate for that segment of the population.”___

Kansas inmates got virus relief checks, and IRS wants them back

WASHINGTON (AP)—The United States Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration can deport some people seeking asylum without allowing them to make their case to a federal judge.

The court's 7-2 ruling applies to people who fail their initial asylum screenings, making them eligible for quick deportation, or expedited removal.

The justices&nbsp;ruled in the case of a man who said he fled persecution as a member of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, but failed to persuade immigration officials that he faced harm if he returned to Sri Lanka. The man was arrested soon after he slipped across the US border from Mexico.&nbsp;

The high court reversed a lower court ruling in favour of the man, Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam, who was placed in expedited removal proceedings that prohibit people who fail initial interviews from asking federal courts for much help.

Since 2004, immigration officials have targeted for quick deportation undocumented immigrants who are picked up within 100 miles (160km) of the US border and within 14 days of entering the country. The Trump administration is seeking to expand that authority so that people detained anywhere in the US and up to two years after they got here could be quickly deported.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court threw out a trial judge's ruling that had blocked the expanded policy. Other legal issues remain to be resolved in the case.

The administration has made&nbsp;dismantling the asylum system a centrepiece of its immigration agenda, saying it is rife with abuse and overwhelmed by meritless claims. Changes include making asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their cases wind through US immigration court, denying asylum to anyone on the Mexican border who passes through another country without first seeking protection there, and flying Hondurans and El Salvadorans to Guatemala with an opportunity to seek asylum there instead of the US.

On Monday, the Trump administration published sweeping new procedural and substantive rules that would make it much more difficult to get asylum, triggering a 30-day period for public comment before they can take effect.

The US became the world's top destination for asylum seekers in 2017, according to UN figures, many of them Mexican and Central American families fleeing endemic violence.

WASHINGTON (AP)—The United States Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration can deport some people seeking asylum without allowing them to make their case to a federal judge.The court's 7-2 ruling applies to people who fail their initial asylum screenings, making them eligible for quick deportation, or expedited removal.The justices&nbsp;ruled in the case of a man who said he fled persecution as a member of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, but failed to persuade immigration officials that he faced harm if he returned to Sri Lanka. The man was arrested soon after he slipped across the US border from Mexico.&nbsp;The high court reversed a lower court ruling in favour of the man, Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam, who was placed in expedited removal proceedings that prohibit people who fail initial interviews from asking federal courts for much help.Since 2004, immigration officials have targeted for quick deportation undocumented immigrants who are picked up within 100 miles (160km) of the US border and within 14 days of entering the country. The Trump administration is seeking to expand that authority so that people detained anywhere in the US and up to two years after they got here could be quickly deported.&nbsp;On Tuesday, a federal appeals court threw out a trial judge's ruling that had blocked the expanded policy. Other legal issues remain to be resolved in the case.The administration has made&nbsp;dismantling the asylum system a centrepiece of its immigration agenda, saying it is rife with abuse and overwhelmed by meritless claims. Changes include making asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their cases wind through US immigration court, denying asylum to anyone on the Mexican border who passes through another country without first seeking protection there, and flying Hondurans and El Salvadorans to Guatemala with an opportunity to seek asylum there instead of the US.On Monday, the Trump administration published sweeping new procedural and substantive rules that would make it much more difficult to get asylum, triggering a 30-day period for public comment before they can take effect.The US became the world's top destination for asylum seekers in 2017, according to UN figures, many of them Mexican and Central American families fleeing endemic violence.

Supreme Court boosts Trump's power to deport immigrants

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sheriff's officials in northeast Kansas have pulled the body of a man from a lake in Miami County. 

Television station WDAF reports that recovery crews found the man's body Wednesday as they were searching for someone who went under the water in Hillsdale Lake on Tuesday. 

Authorities have identified the man as 65-year-old Richard Bangs, of Spring Hill. Rescue crews were first called to a boat ramp on the lake late Tuesday afternoon after a witness reported seeing a person fall out of a boat while trying to tie off. 

Crews searched for hours before suspending the effort overnight and resuming Wednesday morning. Bangs' body was found around noon Wednesday with the help of underwater equipment.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593097421522.png" alt="Scene at Hillsdale Lake during the search Wednesday -photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Scene at Hillsdale Lake during the search Wednesday -photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sheriff's officials in northeast Kansas have pulled the body of a man from a lake in Miami County. Television station WDAF reports that recovery crews found the man's body Wednesday as they were searching for someone who went under the water in Hillsdale Lake on Tuesday. Authorities have identified the man as 65-year-old Richard Bangs, of Spring Hill. Rescue crews were first called to a boat ramp on the lake late Tuesday afternoon after a witness reported seeing a person fall out of a boat while trying to tie off. Crews searched for hours before suspending the effort overnight and resuming Wednesday morning. Bangs' body was found around noon Wednesday with the help of underwater equipment.&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs body of man pulled from Kansas lake

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas congressman who’s been firming up Republican establishment support for his U.S. Senate bid came under attack during a Wednesday night debate over a 12-year-old misdemeanor criminal case and for missing votes while treating coronavirus patients.

Rep. Roger Marshall sought to portray his main GOP primary rival, immigration hardliner Kris Kobach, as an iffy prospect for the November general election. He was playing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e416bf60049b45ec8fb28a45af377584">many Republican leaders’ fears&nbsp;</a>that nominating Kobach will put a normally safe GOP seat in play and greatly complicate the party’s effort to defend its Senate majority. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, lost the 2018 governor’s race after alienating independent and moderate Republican voters.

The debate, live-streamed from an arena in Wichita, came only two days after Marshall picked up the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The two-term congressman already had the backing of other key groups, including the Kansas Farm Bureau and two major anti-abortion organizations, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life.

But Kobach and another GOP candidate, Dave Lindstrom, a businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs professional football player, raised their own questions about Marshall’s viability by referring in their closing statements to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0833b56f01112e0104b8cf7ef22fcfcc">a criminal case&nbsp;</a>against Marshall arising from a confrontation with a fellow western Kansas resident in 2008.

Marshall had pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge. Later, a local prosecutor who was the son of a Marshall business partner helped him get the charge reduced to a traffic infraction, court records show. Both Kobach and Lindstrom called it a “shady, backroom” deal.

Marshall’s campaign dismissed the attacks as “playing games” and called the 2008 case a “frivolous traffic ticket.” Meanwhile, Marshall himself ignored the criticism and touted his work as a doctor who treated patients in coronavirus hotspots in Kansas City and southwest Kansas this spring. But Kobach criticized Marshall for missing two key votes on coronavirus relief measures, suggesting Marshall isn’t willing enough to battle Democrats.

“He was here in Kansas doing a photo-op. Look, if you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. Go for it,” Kobach said. “I would say if you’re going to take this job, do the job — show up.”

Marshall, a longtime obstetrician, said he would always choose helping people over “going to D.C. and watching a vote that was all show, a big parade.”

“I guess this is just about as low as you can get for a failed candidate,” Marshall said of Kobach’s attack.

A fourth Republican candidate, Kansas City-area plumbing company founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6badc095f748142727b7f5f80e022b59">Bob Hamilton,</a>&nbsp;has been running television ads for weeks touting himself as a Trump-like outsider. But he didn’t participate in Wednesday night’s debate because one of his daughters is getting married this week.

The four candidates are vying for the seat currently held by retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

Republicans haven’t lost a Senate race in Kansas since 1932. But they’re spooked this year because presumed Democratic nominee state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a retired Kansas City-area doctor, raised nearly $3.5 million for her campaign by the end of March.

Kobach suggested the 2008 criminal case made Marshall vulnerable to attacks from Bollier and argued that his perceived negatives “have been out there for a long time.” Kobach said in his opening remarks that “there’s a battle for the American soul.”

“The answer is for us to double down on our conservative values, to preserve American history, preserve American monuments, preserve the American creed, preserve that all we hold dear about our country and our constitution,” Kobach said.

His remark comes amid a national push to remove from public spaces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fa842fd5bcf509bdc6d199c31e134f53">Confederate symbols and statues</a>&nbsp;honoring leaders of the pro-slavery South during the Civil War. It’s become a part of protesters’ response to the May 25&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b33f9d6420d570ab3f3f7afece67b6bb">death of George Floyd,</a>&nbsp;a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes during an arrest.

After the debate, Kobach told The Associated Press in a text message that he was referring to “monuments of American presidents” in Washington such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b26d5ea52a8a44c7fcf2772ace9a1c13">Andrew Jackson</a>&nbsp;and Abraham Lincoln. A statue of Lincoln in a park has been criticized because it shows him standing over a freed but kneeling slave.

Asked about Kobach’s remark, Marshall campaign spokesman Eric Pahls said the congressman “is absolutely against any vandalism, including against public property.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas congressman who’s been firming up Republican establishment support for his U.S. Senate bid came under attack during a Wednesday night debate over a 12-year-old misdemeanor criminal case and for missing votes while treating coronavirus patients.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkansasrepublicanparty%2Fvideos%2F2952350438148040%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>Rep. Roger Marshall sought to portray his main GOP primary rival, immigration hardliner Kris Kobach, as an iffy prospect for the November general election. He was playing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e416bf60049b45ec8fb28a45af377584">many Republican leaders’ fears&nbsp;</a>that nominating Kobach will put a normally safe GOP seat in play and greatly complicate the party’s effort to defend its Senate majority. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, lost the 2018 governor’s race after alienating independent and moderate Republican voters.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593083431099.png" alt="Kobach, Lindstrom and Marshall prepare to answer questions prior to Wednesday's debate. Candidate Bob Hamilton didn’t participate because one of his daughters is getting married this week." />
 <figcaption>Kobach, Lindstrom and Marshall prepare to answer questions prior to Wednesday's debate. Candidate Bob Hamilton didn’t participate because one of his daughters is getting married this week.</figcaption>
 </figure>The debate, live-streamed from an arena in Wichita, came only two days after Marshall picked up the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The two-term congressman already had the backing of other key groups, including the Kansas Farm Bureau and two major anti-abortion organizations, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life.But Kobach and another GOP candidate, Dave Lindstrom, a businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs professional football player, raised their own questions about Marshall’s viability by referring in their closing statements to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0833b56f01112e0104b8cf7ef22fcfcc">a criminal case&nbsp;</a>against Marshall arising from a confrontation with a fellow western Kansas resident in 2008.Marshall had pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge. Later, a local prosecutor who was the son of a Marshall business partner helped him get the charge reduced to a traffic infraction, court records show. Both Kobach and Lindstrom called it a “shady, backroom” deal.Marshall’s campaign dismissed the attacks as “playing games” and called the 2008 case a “frivolous traffic ticket.” Meanwhile, Marshall himself ignored the criticism and touted his work as a doctor who treated patients in coronavirus hotspots in Kansas City and southwest Kansas this spring. But Kobach criticized Marshall for missing two key votes on coronavirus relief measures, suggesting Marshall isn’t willing enough to battle Democrats.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593083581441.png" alt="Krish Kobach led the attack on Marshall Wednesday night" />
 <figcaption>Krish Kobach led the attack on Marshall Wednesday night</figcaption>
 </figure>“He was here in Kansas doing a photo-op. Look, if you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. Go for it,” Kobach said. “I would say if you’re going to take this job, do the job — show up.”Marshall, a longtime obstetrician, said he would always choose helping people over “going to D.C. and watching a vote that was all show, a big parade.”“I guess this is just about as low as you can get for a failed candidate,” Marshall said of Kobach’s attack.A fourth Republican candidate, Kansas City-area plumbing company founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6badc095f748142727b7f5f80e022b59">Bob Hamilton,</a>&nbsp;has been running television ads for weeks touting himself as a Trump-like outsider. But he didn’t participate in Wednesday night’s debate because one of his daughters is getting married this week.The four candidates are vying for the seat currently held by retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.Republicans haven’t lost a Senate race in Kansas since 1932. But they’re spooked this year because presumed Democratic nominee state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a retired Kansas City-area doctor, raised nearly $3.5 million for her campaign by the end of March.Kobach suggested the 2008 criminal case made Marshall vulnerable to attacks from Bollier and argued that his perceived negatives “have been out there for a long time.” Kobach said in his opening remarks that “there’s a battle for the American soul.”“The answer is for us to double down on our conservative values, to preserve American history, preserve American monuments, preserve the American creed, preserve that all we hold dear about our country and our constitution,” Kobach said.His remark comes amid a national push to remove from public spaces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fa842fd5bcf509bdc6d199c31e134f53">Confederate symbols and statues</a>&nbsp;honoring leaders of the pro-slavery South during the Civil War. It’s become a part of protesters’ response to the May 25&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b33f9d6420d570ab3f3f7afece67b6bb">death of George Floyd,</a>&nbsp;a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes during an arrest.After the debate, Kobach told The Associated Press in a text message that he was referring to “monuments of American presidents” in Washington such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b26d5ea52a8a44c7fcf2772ace9a1c13">Andrew Jackson</a>&nbsp;and Abraham Lincoln. A statue of Lincoln in a park has been criticized because it shows him standing over a freed but kneeling slave.Asked about Kobach’s remark, Marshall campaign spokesman Eric Pahls said the congressman “is absolutely against any vandalism, including against public property.___

🎥  Rep. Marshall, Kobach exchange blows in GOP Senate debate

Topeka (AP) — A coronavirus resurgence is wiping out two months of progress in the U.S. and sending infections to dire new levels across the South and West, with hospital administrators and health experts warning Wednesday that politicians and a tired-of-being-cooped-up public are letting a disaster unfold.

The U.S. recorded a one-day total of 34,700&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/753ed7dc88ec5ce8906967f268d78b99">new confirmed COVID-19 cases</a>, the highest level since late April, when the number peaked at 36,400, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

While newly confirmed infections have been declining steadily in early hot spots such as New York and New Jersey, several other states set single-day records this week, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma. Some of them also broke hospitalization records, as did North Carolina and South Carolina.

“People got complacent,” said Dr. Marc Boom, CEO of the Houston Methodist hospital system. “And it’s coming back and biting us, quite frankly.”

Kansas on Wednesday saw its largest jump in coronavirus cases in more than six weeks, an increase of more than 500 cases in two days.

The state health department reported the spike two days after Gov. Laura Kelly urged local officials to postpone lifting their last restrictions on businesses and public activities for another two weeks, recommending that they still limit public gatherings to 45 people. The Democratic governor ended statewide restrictions May 26, leaving decisions about the rules to the state’s 105 counties, after weeks of complaints from the Republican-controlled Legislature that she was moving too slowly to reopen the state’s economy.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s top administrator, expressed concern about the latest increase. Kelly called for slowing down the state’s reopening Monday, following two weeks that saw the average daily rise in new cases increases, along with the percentage of positive results from tests, according to Johns Hopkins University.

“This is not surprising, given the laxity people have been demonstrating in protecting themselves and others,” Norman said Wednesday in a text relayed by his staff.

The Department of Health and Environment reported a total of 12,970 cases of the novel coronavirus, up 4.1% from Monday. Of the 505 new cases, 416 or 82% were not from clusters of two or more cases linked to a single location, such as a nursing home, or an event, such as a public gathering.

The state also reported an additional two COVID-19-related deaths since Monday, bringing the total to 261 since the pandemic began in early March.

The virus has been blamed for over 120,000 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/df97326ec00fb7cc4abf5b3821ace984">deaths</a>&nbsp;— the highest toll in the world — and more than 2.3 million confirmed infections nationwide. On Wednesday, the widely cited University of Washington computer model of the outbreak projected nearly 180,000 deaths by Oct. 1.

California reported over 7,100 new cases, and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would withhold pandemic-related funding from local governments that brush off state requirements on masks and other anti-virus measures. Florida’s single-day count surged to 5,500, a 25% jump from the record set last week.

In Texas, which began lifting its shutdowns on May 1, hospitalizations have doubled and new cases have tripled in two weeks. Gov. Greg Abbott told KFDA-TV the state is facing a “massive outbreak” and might need new local restrictions to preserve hospital space.

The Houston area’s intensive care units are nearly full, and two public hospitals are running at capacity, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

Houston Methodist’s Boom said Texans need to “behave perfectly and work together perfectly” to slow the infection rate.

“When I look at a restaurant or a business where people ... are not following the guidelines, where people are just throwing caution to the wind, it makes me angry,” he said.

Just 17 percent of intensive-care beds were available Wednesday in Alabama — including just one in Montgomery — though hospitals can add more, said Dr. Don Williamson, head of the Alabama Hospital Association.

“There is nothing that I’m seeing that makes me think we are getting ahead of this,” he said.

In Arizona, emergency rooms are seeing about 1,200 suspected COVID-19 patients a day, compared with around 500 a month ago. If the trends continue, hospitals will probably exceed capacity within the next several weeks, said Dr. Joseph Gerald, a University of Arizona public health policy professor.

“We are in deep trouble,” said Gerald, urging the state to impose new restrictions on businesses, which Gov. Doug Ducey has refused to do.

Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious-disease expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, said he worries that states will squander what time they have to head off a much larger crisis.

“We’re still talking about subtlety, still arguing whether or not we should wear masks, and still not understanding that a vaccine is not going to rescue us,” he said.

The Texas governor initially barred local officials from fining or penalizing anyone for not wearing a mask as the state reopened. After cases began spiking, Abbott said last week that cities and counties could allow businesses to require masks. So did Arizona’s Ducey, who is a Republican, as is Abbott.

Some business owners are frustrated that officials didn’t do more, and sooner, to require masks.

“I can’t risk my staff, my clientele, myself, my family and everybody else in that chain just because other people are too inconvenienced to wear a piece of cloth on their face,” said Michael Neff, an owner of the Cottonmouth Club in Houston. He closed it this week so staffers could get tested after one had contact with an infected person.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ordered people to wear masks in public as the daily count of hospitalizations and new cases hovered near records. In Florida, several counties and cities recently enacted mask requirements.

In a sign of the shift in the outbreak, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/51398731ffecf2a7a598ea8a77c31888">announced they will ask&nbsp;</a>visitors from states with high infection rates to quarantine themselves for 14 days. In March, Florida issued such an order for visitors from the New York City area, where cases were soaring.

The U.S. Justice Department took aim at Hawaii’s quarantine requirement for visitors, saying it discriminates against out-of-state residents. The Hawaii attorney general’s office says there’s no merit to the government’s arguments and a related lawsuit from out-of-state property owners.

Cases also are surging in some other parts of the world. India reported a record-breaking one-day increase of nearly 16,000 cases. Mexico and Iraq hit new highs as well.

But China appears to have tamed a new outbreak in Beijing, again demonstrating its ability to mobilize vast resources by testing nearly 2.5 million people in 11 days. China, where the virus emerged last year, reported 19 new cases nationwide Thursday. While up from the day before, there was no sign of further geographic spread.

Worldwide, over 9.4 million people have been confirmed infected, and nearly 500,000 have died, by Johns Hopkins’ count.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591654770731.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during a press conference with the governor last week." />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during a press conference with the governor last week.</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka (AP) — A coronavirus resurgence is wiping out two months of progress in the U.S. and sending infections to dire new levels across the South and West, with hospital administrators and health experts warning Wednesday that politicians and a tired-of-being-cooped-up public are letting a disaster unfold.The U.S. recorded a one-day total of 34,700&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/753ed7dc88ec5ce8906967f268d78b99">new confirmed COVID-19 cases</a>, the highest level since late April, when the number peaked at 36,400, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.While newly confirmed infections have been declining steadily in early hot spots such as New York and New Jersey, several other states set single-day records this week, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma. Some of them also broke hospitalization records, as did North Carolina and South Carolina.“People got complacent,” said Dr. Marc Boom, CEO of the Houston Methodist hospital system. “And it’s coming back and biting us, quite frankly.”Kansas on Wednesday saw its largest jump in coronavirus cases in more than six weeks, an increase of more than 500 cases in two days.The state health department reported the spike two days after Gov. Laura Kelly urged local officials to postpone lifting their last restrictions on businesses and public activities for another two weeks, recommending that they still limit public gatherings to 45 people. The Democratic governor ended statewide restrictions May 26, leaving decisions about the rules to the state’s 105 counties, after weeks of complaints from the Republican-controlled Legislature that she was moving too slowly to reopen the state’s economy.Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s top administrator, expressed concern about the latest increase. Kelly called for slowing down the state’s reopening Monday, following two weeks that saw the average daily rise in new cases increases, along with the percentage of positive results from tests, according to Johns Hopkins University.“This is not surprising, given the laxity people have been demonstrating in protecting themselves and others,” Norman said Wednesday in a text relayed by his staff.The Department of Health and Environment reported a total of 12,970 cases of the novel coronavirus, up 4.1% from Monday. Of the 505 new cases, 416 or 82% were not from clusters of two or more cases linked to a single location, such as a nursing home, or an event, such as a public gathering.The state also reported an additional two COVID-19-related deaths since Monday, bringing the total to 261 since the pandemic began in early March.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593018195991.png" alt="Virus infections by County for June 24, 2020 KDHE&nbsp; image" />
 <figcaption>Virus infections by County for June 24, 2020 KDHE&nbsp; image</figcaption>
 </figure>The virus has been blamed for over 120,000 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/df97326ec00fb7cc4abf5b3821ace984">deaths</a>&nbsp;— the highest toll in the world — and more than 2.3 million confirmed infections nationwide. On Wednesday, the widely cited University of Washington computer model of the outbreak projected nearly 180,000 deaths by Oct. 1.California reported over 7,100 new cases, and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would withhold pandemic-related funding from local governments that brush off state requirements on masks and other anti-virus measures. Florida’s single-day count surged to 5,500, a 25% jump from the record set last week.In Texas, which began lifting its shutdowns on May 1, hospitalizations have doubled and new cases have tripled in two weeks. Gov. Greg Abbott told KFDA-TV the state is facing a “massive outbreak” and might need new local restrictions to preserve hospital space.The Houston area’s intensive care units are nearly full, and two public hospitals are running at capacity, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.Houston Methodist’s Boom said Texans need to “behave perfectly and work together perfectly” to slow the infection rate.“When I look at a restaurant or a business where people ... are not following the guidelines, where people are just throwing caution to the wind, it makes me angry,” he said.Just 17 percent of intensive-care beds were available Wednesday in Alabama — including just one in Montgomery — though hospitals can add more, said Dr. Don Williamson, head of the Alabama Hospital Association.“There is nothing that I’m seeing that makes me think we are getting ahead of this,” he said.In Arizona, emergency rooms are seeing about 1,200 suspected COVID-19 patients a day, compared with around 500 a month ago. If the trends continue, hospitals will probably exceed capacity within the next several weeks, said Dr. Joseph Gerald, a University of Arizona public health policy professor.“We are in deep trouble,” said Gerald, urging the state to impose new restrictions on businesses, which Gov. Doug Ducey has refused to do.Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious-disease expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, said he worries that states will squander what time they have to head off a much larger crisis.“We’re still talking about subtlety, still arguing whether or not we should wear masks, and still not understanding that a vaccine is not going to rescue us,” he said.The Texas governor initially barred local officials from fining or penalizing anyone for not wearing a mask as the state reopened. After cases began spiking, Abbott said last week that cities and counties could allow businesses to require masks. So did Arizona’s Ducey, who is a Republican, as is Abbott.Some business owners are frustrated that officials didn’t do more, and sooner, to require masks.“I can’t risk my staff, my clientele, myself, my family and everybody else in that chain just because other people are too inconvenienced to wear a piece of cloth on their face,” said Michael Neff, an owner of the Cottonmouth Club in Houston. He closed it this week so staffers could get tested after one had contact with an infected person.North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ordered people to wear masks in public as the daily count of hospitalizations and new cases hovered near records. In Florida, several counties and cities recently enacted mask requirements.In a sign of the shift in the outbreak, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/51398731ffecf2a7a598ea8a77c31888">announced they will ask&nbsp;</a>visitors from states with high infection rates to quarantine themselves for 14 days. In March, Florida issued such an order for visitors from the New York City area, where cases were soaring.The U.S. Justice Department took aim at Hawaii’s quarantine requirement for visitors, saying it discriminates against out-of-state residents. The Hawaii attorney general’s office says there’s no merit to the government’s arguments and a related lawsuit from out-of-state property owners.Cases also are surging in some other parts of the world. India reported a record-breaking one-day increase of nearly 16,000 cases. Mexico and Iraq hit new highs as well.But China appears to have tamed a new outbreak in Beijing, again demonstrating its ability to mobilize vast resources by testing nearly 2.5 million people in 11 days. China, where the virus emerged last year, reported 19 new cases nationwide Thursday. While up from the day before, there was no sign of further geographic spread.Worldwide, over 9.4 million people have been confirmed infected, and nearly 500,000 have died, by Johns Hopkins’ count.___

'Coming back and biting us': US sees virus resurgence

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a dog was shot and died in Topeka.

Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police responded to report of gunshots in the&nbsp;1300 block of Northeast Quincy Avenue, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Investigators determined&nbsp;that a man was in his yard taking his dogs out, when another dog&nbsp;described as a male black lab&nbsp; approached him in an aggressive manor and he shot the dog.

 The man stated that he felt threatened for his safety and the safety of his dogs.

The dog, who also lived in the 1300 Block of Northeast Quincy, died as a result of the shooting.

Police didn't know of&nbsp; any previous problems with the dog.

The victim declined to press charges against the owner of the dog. Police had not issued any citations early Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593011588982.png" alt="Police on the scene of the incident early Wednesday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the incident early Wednesday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a dog was shot and died in Topeka.Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police responded to report of gunshots in the&nbsp;1300 block of Northeast Quincy Avenue, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.Investigators determined&nbsp;that a man was in his yard taking his dogs out, when another dog&nbsp;described as a male black lab&nbsp; approached him in an aggressive manor and he shot the dog. The man stated that he felt threatened for his safety and the safety of his dogs.The dog, who also lived in the 1300 Block of Northeast Quincy, died as a result of the shooting.Police didn't know of&nbsp; any previous problems with the dog.The victim declined to press charges against the owner of the dog. Police had not issued any citations early Wednesday.No other injuries were reported.

Police: Dog shot, killed during incident at Kansas home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has appointed a commission to examine policing and other racial justice issues and named the superintendent of Topeka’s public schools and a state university administrator to lead it.

Kelly issued an executive order Wednesday to create the 14-member Commission on Racial Equity and Justice and said it would focus first on relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they police. She said it will develop policy proposals for both state and local officials.

The governor promised her administration would tackle such issues following George Floyd’s death May 25 in Minnesota. Floyd, a Black man, was pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer held a knee to his neck for nearly eight minutes, and his death inspired global protests.

The leaders of Kelly’s new commission are Topeka Superintendent Tiffany Anderson and Shannon Portillo, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Kansas campus in Overland Park.

Other commission members include Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, Lawrence public schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis and DeAngela Burns-Wallace, the state Department of Administration’s top administrator.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has appointed a commission to examine policing and other racial justice issues and named the superintendent of Topeka’s public schools and a state university administrator to lead it.Kelly issued an executive order Wednesday to create the 14-member Commission on Racial Equity and Justice and said it would focus first on relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they police. She said it will develop policy proposals for both state and local officials.The governor promised her administration would tackle such issues following George Floyd’s death May 25 in Minnesota. Floyd, a Black man, was pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer held a knee to his neck for nearly eight minutes, and his death inspired global protests.The leaders of Kelly’s new commission are Topeka Superintendent Tiffany Anderson and Shannon Portillo, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Kansas campus in Overland Park.Other commission members include Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, Lawrence public schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis and DeAngela Burns-Wallace, the state Department of Administration’s top administrator.

Kansas governor creates commission on racial justice issues

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


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Gas prices are continuing their traditional summer rise.

"In the 
past week, we've gone up four cents a gallon," said Shawn Steward with 
AAA Kansas. "We're at $1.94, pretty much the same story with the 
national gas price. It went up six cents a gallon in the past week to 
$2.17 a gallon."

Compared to this time last year, we are still over 50 cents lower.

"Gasoline
 demand actually saw a small week over week decline this past week, 
although we've been seeing a general upward trend recently," Steward 
said. "Gas demand continues to be significantly lower, about 21% less, 
compared to one year ago."

Gas prices are up 27 cents a gallon over a month ago in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592583302431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Gas prices are continuing their traditional summer rise."In the 
past week, we've gone up four cents a gallon," said Shawn Steward with 
AAA Kansas. "We're at $1.94, pretty much the same story with the 
national gas price. It went up six cents a gallon in the past week to 
$2.17 a gallon."Compared to this time last year, we are still over 50 cents lower."Gasoline
 demand actually saw a small week over week decline this past week, 
although we've been seeing a general upward trend recently," Steward 
said. "Gas demand continues to be significantly lower, about 21% less, 
compared to one year ago."Gas prices are up 27 cents a gallon over a month ago in Kansas.

Still much lower than last year, but gas prices going up

TOPEKA— The city of Topeka is looking to cut more than 30 jobs next year to deal with a $5 million budget deficit resulting from efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. 

Topeka City Manager Brent Trout on Tuesday proposed cutting 32 full-time position and reducing at least one position to part time in 2021. 

According to a media release, the specific positions eliminated include the Deputy City Manager, Director of Neighborhood Relations and Emergency Manager. The City of Topeka will continue to work closely with Shawnee County Emergency Management for city emergency response. The Neighborhood Relations Department will be absorbed into another department, which will be decided at a later date.

These individuals are not being dismissed due to any conduct or performance issues. However, the effect the pandemic is anticipated to have on the city budget is likely to be severe. This requires that steps be taken to responsibly navigate through this unprecedented event, including the elimination of positions.

“Eliminating these positions was a difficult decision," said Trout.

The elimination of these three positions, including salaries and benefits, will save the city approximately $446,000 in 2021.

The mayor and City Council will consider the proposal before finalizing the budget in August. The proposed cuts come as reduced sales tax revenues have left the city struggling to balance its budget for this year.

TOPEKA— The city of Topeka is looking to cut more than 30 jobs next year to deal with a $5 million budget deficit resulting from efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Topeka City Manager Brent Trout on Tuesday proposed cutting 32 full-time position and reducing at least one position to part time in 2021. According to a media release, the specific positions eliminated include the Deputy City Manager, Director of Neighborhood Relations and Emergency Manager. The City of Topeka will continue to work closely with Shawnee County Emergency Management for city emergency response. The Neighborhood Relations Department will be absorbed into another department, which will be decided at a later date.These individuals are not being dismissed due to any conduct or performance issues. However, the effect the pandemic is anticipated to have on the city budget is likely to be severe. This requires that steps be taken to responsibly navigate through this unprecedented event, including the elimination of positions.“Eliminating these positions was a difficult decision," said Trout.The elimination of these three positions, including salaries and benefits, will save the city approximately $446,000 in 2021.The mayor and City Council will consider the proposal before finalizing the budget in August. The proposed cuts come as reduced sales tax revenues have left the city struggling to balance its budget for this year.

City of Topeka will cut more than 30 jobs to deal with budget crisis

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $809,000 in restitution for Medicare fraud he conducted in 16 states.

Nereus Sutko, 38, Omaha, visited assisted-living facilities, retirement centers and low-income housing complexes in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and 12 other states, federal prosecutors said, where he held pizza and ice cream parties and convinced elderly residents to sign up for Medicare-funded products that he never delivered.

Sutko collected more than $1.8 million from Medicare, Nebraska Medicaid and Iowa Medicaid, much of it based on fraudulent claims, prosecutors said. Sutko pleaded guilty in December to health care fraud.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard on Tuesday also ordered Sutko to forfeit a Corvette and speedboat, among other property he paid for with the ill-gotten money.

Sutko is scheduled to report to prison on Sept. 9 to begin serving the sentence.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $809,000 in restitution for Medicare fraud he conducted in 16 states.Nereus Sutko, 38, Omaha, visited assisted-living facilities, retirement centers and low-income housing complexes in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and 12 other states, federal prosecutors said, where he held pizza and ice cream parties and convinced elderly residents to sign up for Medicare-funded products that he never delivered.Sutko collected more than $1.8 million from Medicare, Nebraska Medicaid and Iowa Medicaid, much of it based on fraudulent claims, prosecutors said. Sutko pleaded guilty in December to health care fraud.U.S. District Judge John Gerrard on Tuesday also ordered Sutko to forfeit a Corvette and speedboat, among other property he paid for with the ill-gotten money.Sutko is scheduled to report to prison on Sept. 9 to begin serving the sentence.

Medicare fraud: Elderly in Kan. got ice cream, man got $1.8M and prison

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Branson, Missouri, may be known for its country music shows and wholesome entertainment, but the tourist hot spot now finds itself at the center of a standoff over Confederate symbolism.

Protesters have been gathering outside a strip mall store Dixie Outfitters, which specializes in Confederate flags, clothing and other merchandise. The protests have drawn people from opposing sides of the debate — Black Lives Matter demonstrators, as well as those who support the store and the Confederate flag.

Confederate statutes, the flag and other symbols have drawn new scrutiny and criticism amid protests that followed the death in Minneapolis of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/DeathofGeorgeFloyd">George Floyd</a>, who died May 25 after a white officer used a knee to pin down the handcuffed Black man’s neck even after Floyd stopped moving.

The protests in Branson have at times become heated. A video posted on social media showed a woman waving the Confederate flag and telling protesters, “I will teach my grandkids to hate you all,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/06/23/dixie-outfitters-branson-missouri-responds-black-lives-matter-protest/3241262001/">Springfield News-Leader</a>&nbsp;reported.

Following a Black Lives Matter demonstration Sunday, the Dixie Outfitters owners thanked supporters and called protesters “thugs” on another social media post.

The post thanked police and a group of people who prayed, then stated, “These thugs don’t just hate us...they hate our country! They hate patriotism, faith and freedom! But God still reigns over Branson, MO!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593024194110.png" alt="Dixie Outfitters in Branson -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Dixie Outfitters in Branson -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Branson, Missouri, may be known for its country music shows and wholesome entertainment, but the tourist hot spot now finds itself at the center of a standoff over Confederate symbolism.Protesters have been gathering outside a strip mall store Dixie Outfitters, which specializes in Confederate flags, clothing and other merchandise. The protests have drawn people from opposing sides of the debate — Black Lives Matter demonstrators, as well as those who support the store and the Confederate flag.Confederate statutes, the flag and other symbols have drawn new scrutiny and criticism amid protests that followed the death in Minneapolis of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/DeathofGeorgeFloyd">George Floyd</a>, who died May 25 after a white officer used a knee to pin down the handcuffed Black man’s neck even after Floyd stopped moving.The protests in Branson have at times become heated. A video posted on social media showed a woman waving the Confederate flag and telling protesters, “I will teach my grandkids to hate you all,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/06/23/dixie-outfitters-branson-missouri-responds-black-lives-matter-protest/3241262001/">Springfield News-Leader</a>&nbsp;reported.Following a Black Lives Matter demonstration Sunday, the Dixie Outfitters owners thanked supporters and called protesters “thugs” on another social media post.The post thanked police and a group of people who prayed, then stated, “These thugs don’t just hate us...they hate our country! They hate patriotism, faith and freedom! But God still reigns over Branson, MO!”Branson leaders are concerned about the negative attention in a town that thrives on tourism — Branson has just 11,500 full-time residents but draws millions of people each year to shows and attractions that are largely family-oriented. Most of the theaters only recently reopened after weeks of shutdown caused by the coronavirus.“I don’t think there’s a Branson-area person that is happy with this situation and the way we’re being characterized across social media,” said Mayor Edd Akers, who on Tuesday issued a proclamation “promoting unity and condemning hate speech.”&nbsp;The Dixie Outfitters store is owned by Anna and Nathan Robb. Nathan Robb is the son of Thomas Robb, an Arkansas-based pastor who was once the leader of the Ku Klux Klan. In 2015, Anna Robb said she and her husband were estranged from Thomas Robb, but acknowledged attending KKK events in the past.At a Branson Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, members were asked by a man in the crowd to voice their stance on the KKK, the Star reported. Two spoke out, two remained silent and Alderman Bob Simmons said the city should do something to support police because “there doesn’t seem to be too many people behind the police departments across the country.”Alderman Larry Milton said, “I’ll answer your question point blank: I despise the KKK. I despise any organization that is violent and violent towards people for the simple reason of the color of their skin.”Alderman Bill Skains also denounced the KKK and said he was almost brought to tears by the video of the woman pledging to teach hate to her grandchildren.“It hurts me to hear these things,” Skains said. “They have no part in this community and I wish they would get the hell out of it.”Branson resident Kelsey Allen told the board that the Confederate flag incites violence and symbolizes racism, slavery and division.“How is that a welcoming, family-friendly community?” Allen asked.